INSIDE:
Dance, Dance, Dance
Weekend The Outlook
■ Opinion, page 4 ■ Religion, page 6 ■ Classifieds, page 7 ■ Sports, page 11
Stephens Elem holds dance, page 11
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
February 16-17, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 34 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Undecided on seeking death penalty By CLIFF WILLAMS Staff Writer
Tallapoosa County assistant district attorney Kevin Hall said Friday the state has not decided if it will seek the death penalty against Nicholas Seth Harrison in the murder of Denzel Pope. Circuit Judge Ray Martin asked Hall if the state had
decided if it was going to seek the death penalty in the case. “There is no decision yet,” Hall said. Martin also appointed Thomas Goree Jr. as co-counsel to serve with Tim Davis as Harrison’s defense team. Harrison was indicted in January for capital murder in the death of Pope, 21, of Sylacauga, who died after
being shot while traveling in a light gold four-door 1993 Acura Legend on Sept. 19. Pope’s vehicle came to a stop on the side of the westbound lanes of Highway 280, just west of Tallapoosa Ford and across from McDaniel Supply and Storage. Alexander City Police Department Det. Drew Machen testified at a preliminary
hearing in December 2017 about written statements from witnesses in the case, including one from Pope’s girlfriend and her close friend. Machen read statement excerpts that claimed Harrison was part of a plot to set Pope up for being unfaithful to his girlfriend. Another woman was then used to send messages to Pope and arrange a meeting.
But rather than a woman showing up, witness statements indicate Harrison confronted Pope and chased after him from Walmart where the meeting was held. ACPD Det. Riley Foshee testified about how Harrison was identified as a suspect and his role in the investigation. A short time after authorities See ARRAIGNMENT • Page 3
More charges for Burkhalter Now facing electronic solicitation and interference with child custody By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
File / The Outlook
Downtown Alexander City, seen in this aerial shot taken in December, may see a 12-month moratorium on new businesses in the historic district, such as pawn shops, payday loans and package stores, among others, if the city council takes action Monday.
MORATORIUM IN HISTORIC DISTRICT? Council to consider restricting some types of businesses Monday By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
A resolution calling for a one-year moratorium on certain businesses in the downtown historic district — such as those selling title loans, vape and tobacco products and liquor — will be considered at Monday evening’s
meeting of the Alexander City City Council. “It’s a temporary 12-month moratorium,” Mayor Jim Nabors said. “What gave rise to that is the historic downtown people want to preserve the historical district. Hoover did it recently. Decatur has done it. I think it has the council’s support. It’s been
talked about for several weeks.” Main Street Alexander City executive director Stacy Jeffcoat said her organization supports the resolution to give officials time to evaluate how they want the downtown historic district to appear. City attorney Larkin Radney, who See MORATORIUM • Page 10
David Burkhalter is now facing charges in Clay County after he was arrested and charged with the rape of a 15-yearold student at Randolph County High, authorities said Friday. Burkhalter, 30, a former emcee and TV and radio co-host in Alexander City, has been charged with electronic solicitation of a minor and interfering with child custody in Clay County, according Burkhalter to a release from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office Friday. “During the course of the investigation, it was determined there was probable cause for an arrest,” the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said. Earlier this week, Burkhalter turned himself in to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department and was charged with having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old student, according to court records and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department. He is being held in jail there on a $1.5 million cash bond; the bond for the charges in Clay County is $30,000. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said it opened its investigation Friday with assistance from investigators of the Wedowee Police Department, the Randolph County Narcotics Unit, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department and the Prattville Police Department. See BURKHALTER • Page 10
Today’s
Patsy Cline lives on 66 53 through local singer Weather
High
Low
By RON COLQUITT For The Outlook
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
483.64 Reported on 2/15/19 @ 2 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
As a child, Tina Marie Hosey cried when her father told her Patsy Cline was killed in a plane crash. But now the country music legend comes alive each time Hosey takes the stage and mesmerizes the audience with a rendition of Cline’s hits. Cline was only 30 years old when she died in the crash nearly 57 years ago on her way to Nashville, Tennessee, but her popularity hasn’t diminished. On YouTube, her song “I Fall to Pieces” has racked up 14 million views. Tina Marie is Hosey’s stage name and she has a split personality — she finds it hard to keep Cline quiet for very long. Ron Colquitt / For The Outlook As she was going over a list of her favorite Cline recordings, Hosey belted out: Tina Marie Hosey of Dadeville impersonates Patsy Cline “See the pyramids along the Nile, at local venues and sometimes as she goes about her See IMPERSONATOR • Page 10 business.
Crestview Apartments
Alex City native opens clinic in Birmingham By AMEERA STEWARD The Birmingham Times
Spending long periods of time in a hospital with her mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer, gave Alexander City’s Tiffany Alexander a love for healthcare and helping others. “We always had a great medical staff (at Russell Medical), so it’s just kind of where I spent my time,” Alexander said. “Their care and their love for (my mother) definitely made me fall in love with the profession.” Alexander’s mom died in See CLINIC • Page 3
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