THE
2018’S TOP 10 SPORTS STORIES, PAGE B1
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January 2, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 1 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢ INSIDE FOR SUBSCRIBERS
City willing to provide renters time
TOP
10
Ahead of vote to buy property, mayor assures he wants to ‘calm the waters’ By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
Seeking to turn a roil of controversy into a simmer, Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors said he is willing to give residents of rental duplexes on property the city may buy for its new municipal complex the time needed to find new places to live. “My desire is to do whatever we can to calm the waters,” Nabors said. “I don’t want the city to get the blame for a previous contract and I don’t want to upset (the tenants). We’ll do what we can to keep everybody happy without going overboard. You get to a point where the city isn’t responsible for this situation.” On Jan. 7, the city council will vote on a proposed ordinance to buy the former Russell Sales Office and 56 acres of property in order to consolidate all city operations there. The property also includes four duplex homes formerly owned by Russell Corp. and now being rented to seven families. Those renting the units were alarmed when they heard the city wanted to buy the property, fearing they would See RENTERS • Page A3
Suspect arrested after carjacking in Tallassee By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
File / The Outlook
Alexander City Fire Department personnel revived a family’s German Shepherd named Adler after rescuing him from a house fire on Jan. 3, 2018. Above, Todd Sassano comforts the dog after removing a tube that helped revive him.
Tragedy, triumph Top 10 stories reflect on year’s highs and lows
Authorities arrested a Notasulga man early Monday, hours after a suspect stole a car from Victoryland Casino, crashed into another vehicle in Tallassee and abducted a driver at gunpoint before dropping her and her car off at a truck stop, law enforcement officials said. Tallassee police chief Matthew Higgins confirmed Monday afternoon the victim, who is 68, was sexually assaulted during the carjacking. Tallassee Police Department detectives developed a lead on the suspect and, along with Macon County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Alabama Fish and Game officers, executed a search warrant at 2:15 a.m., resulting in the arrest of Terrance Cobb, 20, who was taken into custody without incident, according to Higgins and Macon County Sheriff Andre´ Brunson. Tallassee Mayor Johnny Hammock said authorities caught a break when the suspect used the woman’s cell phone to make See CARJACKING • Page A3
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
T
ragedy seemed to be a theme for 2018 in the Alexander City area, which mourned the passing of noteworthy citizens, saw two years of legal maneuvering finally result in a murder conviction and grieved for a carnival worker who fell to his death. But there were moments of triumph, too. At the beginning of the year, first responders not only saved a house from total destruction during a fire but brought a beloved pet back to life
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with amazing resuscitation efforts. A few months later, a man and his grandson walked away from a fiery plane crash. Here are the top 10 stories of the year in the Alexander City area as selected by the staff of The Outlook.
1. Dog brought back to life
In January, first responders battling a fire at a home on Jefferson Street in Alexander City resuscitated a German Shepherd who had been trapped in the house owned by Brad and Shannon Mullins. Ken Cowart, who was with the Red Cross and See TOP 10 • Pages A10, A11
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