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Annual polar plunge is this weekend
Garrett Moseley is Elmore County Player of the Week
Meet Catcher, the Pet of the Week
Eclectic Observer The
WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 16, 2019
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 30, No. 3
Man killed in incident with task force By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
An Eclectic man was killed by agents of the Elmore County Drug Task Force who executed a search warrant on Jan. 10, according to Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin. Johnny Burney, who lived in a resi-
dence on Moseley Road in the Central community, died after he pointed a loaded handgun at agents, who opened fire, Franklin said. “Thursday, agents of the drug task force here in Elmore County conducted a controlled buy of narcotics at a residence on Moseley Road in Eclectic,” Franklin said. “Pursuant to information
agent informed Burney they were there to conduct a search warrant and for Burney to remain still. “Mr. Burney ran to a separate portion of the house, where the officer alerted other agents on the scene the subject was running,” Franklin said.
from the buy, the agents returned to the courthouse and obtained a search warrant for the residence.” At approximately 6 p.m., task force agents returned to the residence to execute the search warrant. Franklin said one of the agents on scene made visual and verbal contact with Burney through a side bedroom window. The
See BURNEY • Page 2
Commission fills handful of board vacancies By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
A number of vacancies on executive boards have been filled following actions taken by the Elmore County Commission at Monday night’s meeting. “It’s obviously important to have a qualified board,” commission chairman Troy Stubbs said. The commission appointed Eric Jones to the county EMS board, Deborah Holt to the Horseshoe Bend Regional Library Board and Desirae Lewis, Daniel Thompson and Earl Ryser to the Healthcare Authority Board. The commissioners said all the candidates for the Healthcare Authority Board were highly qualified to serve. “I am encouraged to see this list of candidates,” commissioner Bart Mercer said. Commissioner Mack Daugherty added, “I feel good about this list.” During the work session, the commission honored retiring highway department superintendent Lee Colley for his years of service to the county. County chief engineer and operations officer Richie Beyer said he hired Colley in 2003 to initially be part of bridge and project inspections for the county. However, Colley proved his
Donald Campbell / The Observer
As his last official act, outgoing Elmore County Probate Judge John Enslen, left, swears in Judge John Thornton as the new probate judge.
Thornton sworn in as probate judge By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
John Thornton was sworn into office Monday morning as Elmore County’s new probate judge. “I am grateful to Judge Thornton for allowing me to participate in his investiture today as my final official act as probate judge,” outgoing probate judge John Enslen said. “We can already call him Judge Thornton because he has
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served for 22 years as the city judge in Wetumpka.” Enslen mentioned how his predecessor, Jimmy Stubbs, who was also in attendance, helped make the probate judge’s office more efficient, going from typewriters to computers and using software to enter data instead of doing it manually. Enslen said he hoped he left enough in the well dug See JUDGE • Page 3
Annual Lake Martin Polar Plunge this weekend
51 34 High
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Low
THURS: HIGH 59 LOW 50
T-Town Fences Fences, Decks, and Docks
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334-580-0064
See COMMISSION • Page 7
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The fourth annual Lake Martin Young Professionals Polar Plunge is returning Saturday at Kowaliga Restaurant. Tickets are $20 and include food tickets. Children 8 and under get in free.
See PLUNGE • Page 2
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Gassett
Funerals On Site Cremations Pre-Needs • Monuments
Funeral Home & Crematory, LLC
Celebrating 40 Years of Service!
The Lake Martin Young Professionals is hosting the fourth annual Lake Martin YP Polar Plunge Saturday, Jan. 19. The event returns to Kowaliga Restaurant with live music, food and cold water to benefit the Lake Martin Resource Association. “We’re excited to bring the Polar Plunge back to Kowaliga Restaurant for the fourth straight year and again support the Lake Martin Resource Association,” LMYP’s Jacob Meacham said. “The event has grown to become one that people really look forward to. It’s fun, sort of unique and supports a great organization (LMRA) that does tremendous work for Lake Martin in keeping it clean, safe and prosperous. The partnership with LMRA is one of the driving forces for the support that turns out for the event and Kowaliga Restaurant provides a great atmosphere for a really fun time.” Tickets for the event are $20 and include food tickets. Children under 8 get in free.
Joe Al All Allen len Gasse len G Gassett, assett tt, tt Founder 1942-2009
(334) 567-8433 www.gassettfuneralhome.net • 204 East Charles Avenue, Wetumpka, AL 36092