PAGE 4, LOSS AS A LESSON: BE SAFE AND BUCKLE UP
TUESDAY
THE SPORTS, PAGE 11
Cougar girls advance to Elite 8, boys suffer loss
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
LOCAL NEWS, PAGE 10
February 20, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 36 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Motown Magic a hit at BRHS
Details of man’s shooting remain a mystery Local man shows up at ER with gunshot wound to the stomach By MITCH SNEED Editor
An Alexander City man remains hospitalized in Birmingham after showing up at the emergency room Monday morning with a bullet wound in his
abdomen. Just before 9 a.m., medical personnel alerted the Alexander City Police Department after a man described as a 49-year-old black male came to the Russell Medical Emergency Department seeking treatment. He told medical professionals that he had been shot. Police responded, but Deputy Chief James Easterwood said they weren’t able to get reliable information from the man
Monday afternoon, but Easterwood indicated that the man was alert and it didn’t appear that the injuries were lifethreatening. “You never know in these things, but they talked like he would recover in time,” Easterwood said. “The investigation is active and ongoing and we should have some answers in the next day or two when we are able to get more information from the victim.”
before he was transferred to the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center. “He told us that he was shot at his residence on Red Bud Street by a female, but he only knew a first name,” Easterwood said. “We checked that out, but it doesn’t appear that the information was very reliable. We will wait until he is stabilized and talk with him again to see if we can get to the bottom of it.” The man’s condition was not known
Two face drug charges after search of local ‘trap house’
City should realize real savings with jail deal
Officials arrest two, seize drugs, cash and vehicle at Booger Hollow residence
By MITCH SNEED Editor
A deal was finalized that will get Alexander City out of the jail business, but Monday night the Alexander City City Council learned why the move makes sense. The council voted 6-0 to authorize the mayor to sign a contract with Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department to begin housing its inmates at the Tallapoosa County Jail. That means the switch could begin on March 1. The contract calls for the city to pay a $50 book-in fee, $10 per day for meals, pay all medical costs for its inmates and provide transportation to the facility. While on the surface, that sounds like a lot, Alexander City Police Chief Jay Turner explained the saving that should be realized. “We average 3.9 inmates per day and just to feed those as well as the felony inmates who are here for day or two before transfer costs us on average about $40,000,” Turner said. “At $10 per day per inmate with the county, we will pay $14,000 if those levels remain the same. The $50 booking fee, while that sounds like a lot, it will be charged back to the inmate in court fees. So while it may take some time to recover, we will get a good bit of that back.” Turner said they will See COUNCIL • Page 9
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Father and daughter killed in violent crash on Highway 280 near Camp Hill By MITCH SNEED Editor
A Dadeville father and his young daughter lost their lives Saturday after a violent crash on Highway 280 near Camp Hill. According to Camp Hill Interim Police Chief Danny Williams, a 2001 Ford F-150 carrying a family of five was traveling eastbound on Highway 280 when it collided with a Saturn with a single occupant. Records show that the call reporting the accident came in at 12:39 p.m. “The family in the Ford truck was traveling eastbound and the Saturn was crossing Highway See CRASH • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
A violent accident that occurred at Highway 280 and County Road 89 near Camp Hill, above, killed a father and daughter Saturday. The father, Arlo Burton, was airlifted from the scene by LifeSaver but suffered a cardiac arrest in flight. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at East Alabama Medical Center’s ER at 2:07 p.m. Just before being airlifted to a trauma center, the daughter, Armani Burton, went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead in the ER at 3:08 p.m.
Goodwater’s Arnzer Lee Johnson, shown seated center surrounded by his children, turned 105 Friday. To honor him, a crowd of 109 family and friends gathered at the Goodwater Community Center for a surprise party and celebration. Johnson, who still looks surprisingly young and gets around very well, took the big day in stride. “I’m just another day older, that’s all,” Johnson said. Johnson was born in Clay County and spent several years in Florida before returning to make his home in Goodwater. Johnson, who is still very sharp and possesses a quick wit, shared his secret to a long life. “I worked hard, I laugh a lot and I bow my head every day,” Johnson said. “Tell everybody to pray for me and I will see you all in five years when I’m 110.” More photos can be seen on Page 9 inside.
Lake Martin
Weather Lake Levels
484.28
80 64 High
Low
Reported on 2/19/18 @ 4 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443 6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
See ARRESTS • Page 3
Prayer vigil to be held this evening in Strand Park
Johnson celebrates 105 years on earth
Today’s
Complaints from citizens about potential drug activity touched off an investigation that led to two arrested and the seizure of McCormick drugs, cash and a vehicle. The Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, Alexander City Police Handley Department, Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department and US Marshal Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force executed a search warrant Friday at a residence off Booger Hollow Road in Dadeville. Investigators had been receiving numerous complaints of illegal narcotic activity at this residence. During a search of the suspected “trap house” investigators recovered approximately 16 grams of crystal methamphetamine,
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
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Following last week’s tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, local community members will come together tonight for a prayer vigil and balloon release to remember the 17 killed in the shooting. The event is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. in Strand See VIGIL • Page 3
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