OPINION: SHOPPER HAS FAITH RESTORED, PAGE 4.
THE
TUESDAY
MORE OF THE DREAM
MLK Day program photos. See page 7.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 January 19, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 13
www.alexcityoutlook.com
WILDCATS SPLIT AREA GAME. SPORTS, PAGE 12.
Reality show star charged in murder McDaniel arrested in Sunday shooting death of Norman Crayton By MITCH SNEED Editor
Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said his department is investigating an early Sunday morning homicide. Abbett said that Matthew Clate McDaniel, 33, of Dadeville is in custody at the Tallapoosa County Jail on murder charges. McDaniel is suspected of shooting Norman Deon Crayton, 40, of Jacksons Gap to death early Sunday morning. As of Monday, McDaniel remained in cus-
tody. A bond has been set at $250,000. “On Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016 at approximately 4:43 a.m. the department received a call regarding a body being found by hunters in a wooded area off Barron’s Bridge Road located south of Dadeville,” Abbett said in a released statement. “Upon arriving on the scene the body was identified as Norman Deon Crayton, age 40, of Jacksons Gap. The initial investigation revealed the victim has sustained gunshot wounds that caused his death.”
Abbett said the investigation led them to identify McDaniel as a suspect in the shooting death. “Further investigation lead to the arrest of McDaniel,” Abbett said. “McDaniel has been charged with murder and remains in the Tallapoosa County Jail.” Abbett did not elaborate on a possible motive or offer any information on events that may have led to the shooting. Witnesses told the Outlook that the two See SHOOTING • Page 3
Mardi Gras Auction set for Friday at St. James
TCSD Photo
Matthew Clate McDaniel, 33, is charged with murder and is jail with a $250,000 bond.
KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE IN ALEX CITY 26th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration stresses helping others
STAFF REPORT Outlook Staff
Fluff up your feather boa and polish those plastic beads. St. James Episcopal Church is getting ready to host its inaugural Mardi Gras Auction this Friday, Jan. 22. Don’t be fooled by the name: the event has grown beyond a single auction to become nearly a full day of fun, all to benefit the local Feast of Sharing ministry. “It’s turning out to be a huge event,” said Laurel Goldsmith, a member of the auction planning committee. Along with fellow committee members Susan Mange, Susan Codding, and Heidi Ross, Goldsmith has organized the Mardi Gras auction from the beginning. Together, they have organized dozens of prizes that will be up for grabs during the event. Auction items include artwork from the St. James potter’s guild and their watercolor painting group, as well as small furniture, decor, and other crafts. Some auction items aren’t items See AUCTION • Page 3
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Outlook Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Participants in the 26th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade walk down Jefferson Street Monday morning, while the Pre-K class at Woody Woodpecker Daycare lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the Celebration at Cooper Community Center.
If Monday’s Martin King Day Celebration at the Cooper Community Center is any indication, Alexander City young people are well on their way to making King’s dream come true. 2005 Benjamin Russell graduate Vy Moon encouraged adults to share their God-given talents with the youth just like adults did while he was a child. “I want to give a big shout out to those people who groomed me, made me the person I am today,” Moon said. “They are family, my mom, my dad, my grandmother. They helped me get where I am at today. Train a child in the way they should go and when they grow old they will not depart from it.” Moon now lives in Montgomery, works at a radio station and produces his own Christian Hip Hop music. “I did not get here on my own,” Moon said. “I got here because I gave Him my talents and asked Him to raise me up and will do the same for you.” Moon was not the only person with Alexander City connections to take part in the celebration. Area youth from the Pre-K Class See DREAM • Page 7
A time for healing: Crowd gathers Sunday for Camp Hill vigil
Today’s
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By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
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Members of the Camp Hill community gathered Sunday to pray–not only for the families of recent tragedies–but for the entire town. “We want to pray for the community,” Camp Hill Council Member Ezell Smith said. We are here to pray for the city, the bereaved, the sick, homeless and those that are lost.” Just over a week ago four Camp Hill residents, James Moss, 47, Eric Moore, 40, Willie Ballard, 44, and 48-year-old Angela Barnett, were killed in an automobile accident near their home at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Holley Avenue. The driver of the vehicle responsible for the accident according to Camp Hill Police Chief Johnny Potts, Cobe Dashawn Bowens is also from Camp Hill. “We are here to pray to seek God’s intervention for help,” Smith said. “We are here to seek God’s help in all matters of the town.” The Town of Camp Hill is struggling with back See VIGIL • Page 3
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
483.36 Reported on 01/17/16 @ 6 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Lilla Thomas of the Camp Hill Public Library leads a song at the prayer vigil in Camp Hill Sunday. The vigil was held for families of recent tragedies and to pray for the town.
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