Feb 11, 2017 Alex City Outlook

Page 1

INSIDE: Obituaries, page 2 Religion, page 6 Classifieds, page 7 Sports, page 12

Weekend

OPINION, PAGE 4: INNOVATION CENTER GREAT STEP IN AREA TRANSFORMATION

The Outlook

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

February 11-12, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 30 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

$2 of every $100 spent here funds local schools

Suspect in school tax scheme indicted By MITCH SNEED Editor

Last year more than 100 employees of the Alexander City School System were victimized when their personal information was obtained and used to file fraudulent tax returns. Friday, those employees learned that the person authorities believe is

responsible is facing justice. According to a release from the Department of Justice, a federal grand jury in St. Louis indicted a St. Louis resident on mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges relating to a scheme to steal public school employees’ IDs and use them to file federal tax returns. An indictment returned on Feb. 1

secure bank products that allowed him to print refund checks and direct refunds to prepaid debit cards, according to the release. The indictment alleges that Williams had printed refund checks issued in the names of the stolen IDs, and blank check stock and debit cards sent to his residence. See SUSPECT • Page 3

and unsealed Thursday alleges that Kevin K. Williams stole public school employees’ IDs from a payroll company and used them to electronically file fraudulent federal income tax returns in the name of those employees. Williams is accused of stealing several tax preparation businesses’ Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs), which he used to

Local marriage course to begin Sunday

Overtime causes concern Jacksons Gap differs on approach to police pay

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

An Alexander City couple is working once again to strengthen the married lives of local couples with a weekly course aimed at benefitting not only couples in conflict but also couples that are doing well. “Strong marriages make the whole world better. It’s good for the children and it’s good for everybody we relate to if we have a strong marriage,” said Ginny Archer. Archer is a local counselor who along with her husband Lewis, has conducted the “The Marriage See MARRIAGE • Page 9

Today’s

Weather

70 59 High

Low

Lake Martin

Lake Levels

483.93 Reported on 02/10/17 @ 6 p.m.

LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443

laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL

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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080

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By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Overtime for municipal employees has become a topic of discussion in several municipalities in Tallapoosa County – is it paid or not and if so to whom seems to be the question. The New Site Council voted Tuesday night to pay five employees $17,827 for overtime accrued over the last two years but no overtime was approved for the public safety director after being told that police chiefs weren’t eligible for overtime. The council did vote to pay the current Public Safety Director John McKelvey for half of his accrued overtime upon his scheduled retirement sometime before Oct. 1. Discussion at the last council meeting in Jacksons Gap surrounded the overtime See OVERTIME • Page 10

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Mike Sanders, left, Bo Spears and Dawson Spears of North Sand Mountain High School pack up after a day of practice fishing at the Wind Creek Marina Friday.

SCHOOL OF FISH: By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

The hunt is on to find that five fish stringer today that will bring one high school team a win in the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association Classic Qualifier. “I think we will do alright,” Rob Brown, boat captain with Hayden High School said after a round of practice fishing Friday. “We

Student anglers take to Lake Martin for tourney

found some fish and hopefully they will be there for us tomorrow.” Brown is hopeful bad luck does not strike two days in a row. “We are pulling our boat out of the water right now,” Brown explained. “We are having problems with the trolling motor. We are going to pull up under a shade tree and see if See ANGLERS • Page 9

Charges growing in massive burglary ring Protective order By MITCH SNEED Editor

Alexander City Police Department investigators are still following the trail of stolen property that was discovered when two suspects in multiple burglaries in the city were busted late last week and already it has led them to multiple incidents in several cities and counties. Unfortunately, the list is still growing. Last week, Shannon Dale Tate, 45, and Thomas Randall Morris Jr., 33, both of Point Windy Drive in Jacksons Gap, are in jail awaiting final charges and bond being set. After first being charged with two counts of burglary and possession of stolen property, the men now face eight counts as items that were

remains in domestic violence case

located have been matched to the incidents where the theft was reported stolen by victims. “That’s where we are right now is eight, but there will be more,” Alexander City Interim Police Chief Jay Turner said. “Investigators are doing a good job reaching out to other agencies and the reach of this keeps growing.” Tate Turner said that it appears that much of the property was taken in Lee County and Auburn in particular. In addition to warehouses, investigators believe that generators may have been stolen from job sites, while tools including chainsaws were taken from the truck of power company employees and tree-trimming companies. “The amount of property is very Morris See BURGLARY • Page 3

IN-HOME CARE SERVICES For elderly and disabled individuals needing assistance with activities of daily living.

Former Auburn football star Freeman due in court March 23

By ALETHIA RUSSELL Staff Writer

A former prep and college football star and the woman who has made domestic violence allegations against him were ordered to refrain from having any form of contact with each other until the charges are heard in court. Eltora Sanchez Freeman, 27, appeared before Judge Ray Martin Friday morning after a 20-year-old woman filed a motion See FREEMAN • Page 3

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