SPORTS, PAGE 10
OPINION: BIGGER NEEDS THAN ALLEY PROJECT, PAGE 4.
TUESDAY
THE
Bama wins in Ga. Dome to advance.
POLICE REPORTS Page 2
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
January 3, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 1 www.alexcityoutlook.com
ACPD to get grant for body cameras By MITCH SNEED Editor
Alabama State Rep. Mark Tuggle received word that news of a grant for the Alexander City Police Department should come today. According to paperwork shared by Tuggle, ACPD will receive a Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant that will help the department
replace older body cameras used by officers and make sure the entire department has the equipment. The grant was originally applied for in late 2014 and will provide funding of $8,778 to the department. “The Alexander City Police Department will use these funds to replace and update older body cameras that are worn daily by patrol officers,” the
notification from Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Jim Byard Jr. and Gov. Robert Bentley read. Alexander City Police Department Deputy Chief Jay Turner said Monday that the department had applied for the grant, but hadn’t been notified officially of being selected to receive the funds. He said if the grant has been awarded, it
will make a big difference for the department. “The older cameras need replacing,” Turner said. “We still are able to have enough cameras for patrol division, but the long term goal was to have enough cameras for the entire department. So the grant would definitely put us on course to being able to obtain that goal.” See GRANT • Page 3
Officials report relatively safe holiday locally
Area councils shuffle dates for meetings Due to holidays, some push meetings back
By MITCH SNEED Editor
While New Year’s Eve and the hours that follow are considered the Super Bowl of partying, local law enforcement officials reported very few problems over the holiday period. According to Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett and the Alexander City Police Department, just two DUIs were reported over the holiday. Abbett said that the one DUI in the county he had record of was a case made by Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Other than that, he reported “nothing major.” Alexander City Police Department officials said they were pretty busy with noise complaints due to fireworks use, but records show very few arrests related to the holiday. Deputy Chief Jay Turner said that records show one DUI, two citations for being a minor in possession of alcohol, one arrest for possession of marijuana and two arrests for possession of drug paraphernalia. Turner said that the department may have been helped by football. See SAFE • Page 3
Today’s
Weather
69 52 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.01 Reported on 1/2/17 @ 4 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Traffic avoids puddles on Hillabee Street Monday as rain falls from a passing storm. The area escaped any major damage. Colder temperatures and possible snow is expected in Alabama later this week.
WEATHER WATCH
State braces for extremes in weather, with hint of snow forecast By MITCH SNEED Editor
It looks like Alabama will get a taste of about every kind of weather imaginable this week. After a wet and wild start to the new year with warmer temperatures, three days of rain and the threat of violent storms, it looks like mid week-clearing and cooler weather are on the way. And, depending on the forecaster, there is a possibility of frozen precipitation by week’s end.
Alexander City saw more than 3.9 inches of rain over a two-day period ending at 4 p.m. Monday, as a result thunderstorms. As of late Monday afternoon, there were two reports of some localized flooding and a few limbs down across Tallapoosa County, but the area was not included in the most severe weather warnings and watches as more extreme weather was predicted overnight. Matt Thompson was at AutoZone Monday getting new wiper blades for his truck. The See WEATHER • Page 3
With Monday serving as a quasi-holiday, many area government bodies were forced to make changes to their meeting dates. Alexander City New Site and Camp Hill all fell into that category. The Alexander City City Council normally meets on the first and third Mondays of the month, but will instead meet next Monday, Jan. 9 due to Monday’s city office closures. The change was made at the last meeting of the council and at the same time, the meeting that would have been held Jan. 16, will be moved to Jan. 23. Jan. 16 is the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and again the council wanted to meet on a non-holiday schedule. “That works out, even though they aren’t on the regular days, they are still two weeks apart and we can get on the regular schedule in February of the first and third Mondays,” Alexander City Coty Council President Tommy Spraggins said at the meeting where the schedule adjustments were made. New Site is also on the same schedule as Alexander City, regularly meeting on the first and third Mondays. But rather See MEETINGS • Page 3
Realtor, local artist team to show off home, artwork By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
If the smile on Lake Martin Voice Realty’s Paige Patterson’s face said anything Friday, it said she will do an open house like this again. Friday Patterson partnered with local artist Annie Bartol for an open house. Patterson has a listing on Kayla Court in Jacksons Gap and invited Bartol to hang some of her work for the event. “I have done it before in Birmingham,” Patterson said. “I partnered with a local artist there and it went well. I thought why not try it here.” Bartol is no stranger, she is an Alexander City native. “I thought let’s invite Annie and showcase both the home and the art
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Paige Patterson and Annie Bartol partnered for a real estate open house Friday that featured the home and Bartol’s art.
See ART • Page 3
GOT JUNK! One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Sell your clutter in the Classifieds.
256.277.4219
+
+ Buy
Here + Pay Here + + CLEAN USED CARS No Credit Checks
Cars• Vans• Trucks • SUV’s
Midway Auto,Inc.
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
•Home-like Environment • Specialized Dementia Care Unit •Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services
Off Hwy. 280 • Alexander City, AL (On Right Past the River Bridge)
256.825.9830
A DAMS HEALTH & REHAB 1555 HILLABEE STREET • (256) 329-0847