SPORTS
INSIDE
INSIDE
Former Prattville coach Clark retires as football coach Page A7
Whatley concedes Senate District 27 race to Hovey Page A2
Rain doesn’t dampen patriotic spirits Page A9
THE RECORD Serving the Dadeville & Lake Martin area since 1897
WWW.THEDADEVILLERECORD.COM
VOL. 126, NO. 27
THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022
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Lake Martin area under heat advisory another day. The heat advisory comes as heat indices could rise to 105 degrees The National Weather Service or higher. Temperatures that high has placed the Lake Martin area can be dangerous for anyone outand surrounding areas under a heat side for extended periods of time, advisory until at least Thursday, according to National Weather SerJuly 7. Tallapoosa County was vice officials. placed under a heat advisory Tues“Take extra precautions if workday around noon. The original heat ing or spending time outdoors,” advisory was set to expire Wednes- said the National Weather Service day at 9 p.m. but by noon on in a statement about the heat adviWednesday, the National Weather sory. Service extended the advisory Temperatures in Alexander City By KAITLIN FLEMING Managing Editor
SUBMITED
reached 91 degrees on Tuesday, with a dewpoint of 72 degrees, and is forecast to reach 95 degrees Thursday. The National Weather Service office in Calera placed most of central Alabama in the original heat advisory, except for Clay, Cleburne, Chambers and Randolph County. As of Wednesday morning, those counties had been placed under the advisory as well. The current advisory is set to expire Thursday, July 7 at 9 p.m.
THE RECORD
The National Weather Service has placed the Lake Martin area and surrounding areas under a heat advisory until at least Thursday, July 7.
Camp Hill mayor to host ACT prep course by a nonprofit organization of the same name. The ACT test covers four acaOver the next few demic skill areas: English, weeks, Camp Hill Mayor mathematics, reading, and Messiah Cole-Williams scientific reasoning. It also will be hosting free ACT offers an optional direct preparation sessions as part writing test. of an initiative to promote Williams-Cole is a educational opportunities Camp Hill native, growing in Camp Hill. in the community before Beginning Thursday, attending Opelika High July 6, Cole-Williams will School. Willimas-Cole have tutoring sessions graduated from Auburn for interested students University with a degree at Camp Hill’s Public in interdisciplinary studLibrary. The sessions will ies and has studied a host span the month of July of subjects ranging from with tutoring every Thurs- political science, business day at 6 p.m. Each session and civic engagement. will focus on a different Now, Williams-Cole is subject of the ACT test, utilizing his educational beginning with math and experience and knowledge then progressing to Engto prepare Camp Hill’s lish, reading and science. next generation for college The ACT is a standard- and the workforce. ized test used for college Participants can register admissions in the United at https://forms.gle/Wk3xStates. It is administered wFCYrAaXsZNJ8. By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter
WILLIAM MARLOW | THE RECORD
Councilwoman Teneeshia Goodman-Johnson discussing her motion for a no-chase police policy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, June 28.
DADEVILLE COUNCIL MEMBER PROPOSES NO-CHASE
POLICY IN WAKE OF POLICE OFFICER’S DEATH
By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter
A WILLIAM MARLOW | THE RECORD
Fire Chief Scott Atkins explained during a city council meeting on Tuesday that the department needs additional equipment to combat fires in the Dadeville area.
Dadeville fire department requests additional fire truck By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter The Dadeville Fire Department submitted a needs assessment to city leaders on Tuesday, June 28, outlining urgent equipment requirements for the department, including a
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95 74 High
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proposal for an additional fire truck. Fire Chief Scott Atkins explained during a regularly scheduled city council meeting that the department is currently struggling to combat fires See FIRE TRUCK, Page A2
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.42 MSL Reported on 07/06/22 at 10 a.m.
Dadeville city council member submitted a motion on Tuesday, June 28, requesting a no-chase police policy be implemented in the city following the death of a Chambers County deputy last week. Councilwoman Teneeshia Goodman-Johnson made the proposal during a regularly called city council meeting, citing safety issues with the law enforcement protocol, and petitions that the Dadeville police consider restricting the department’s use of vehicle pursuits in capturing criminal suspects. “The main thing I want for the citizens of Dadeville is safety,” Johnson said. “I want them safe no matter if they are at home or if they are on the road. I also want the people that are traveling through Dadeville to be safe.” Goodman-Johnson explained that her request stems from the recent death of Chambers County Sheriff’s Deputy J’mar C. Abel, 24, who died on June 20 after losing control of his patrol vehicle
while assisting with the pursuit of a suspect from a neighboring county. According to ALEA, the officer was fatally injured after his assigned patrol vehicle, a 2017 Ford Explorer, left the roadway, struck a ditch and overturned. Abel was transported to the Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange, Georgia, where he later succumbed to his injuries and died. Goodman-Johnson recounted the incident during the meeting, and stated that she feels police engaging in high-speed pursuits increases vehicle accidents. “No matter what, we want our officers to be safe as well as ensure our citizens are safe. If you are coming down the road and cut me off, that could be an accident right then and there. Maybe radio ahead and give a heads up that this car is coming with a good description, but the high speed chases I am totally against,” Goodman-Johnson said. Instead, Goodman-Johnson would prefer the policy only be permitted for time-sensitive emergencies such as kidnapping.
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“Don’t get me wrong. Now if something happens, like a little girl getting abducted, we want you to get there,” Goodman-Johnson said. “If somebody is coming through Dadeville, and you try to stop them, again, more than likely something’s wrong if they don’t stop. That should, however, not make us put our officers nor other people in danger.” However, Goodman-Johsnon noted that the protocol feels excessive without extensive probable cause or for more minor offenses such as drug possession. “Some of you may disagree with me, but that is okay. I’m good with controversy, but I am not willing to put me or you in danger,” Goodman-Johnson said. “I don’t care if it’s a little bit of drugs because Jackson Gap has a chance to get them. Alex City has a chance to get them. I want everybody to be safe. I want these officers to go home to their families.” Councilman Tony Wolfe responded with his reactions, saying he felt the protocol is situSee POLICY, Page A2
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