OPINION: YOUTH BASEBALL GOOD FOR ECONOMY, PAGE 4.
TUESDAY
THE SUMMER’S IN
Find events on our community calendar, page 5. Today’s
Weather
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LOCAL BRIEFS
McDANIEL IN COURT TODAY AT 1:30 P.M.
Matthew Clate McDaniel, 33, of Dadeville is scheduled to appear before Circuit Court Judge Kim Taylor at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse in Dadeville today at 1:30 p.m. for a preliminary hearing in his murder trial. McDaniel is charged with murder in the Jan. 17 shooting death of Norman Dean Crayton. McDaniel was arrested in the early morning hours of Jan. 17 after hunters found Crayton’s body in a wooded area off Barron’s Bridge Road south of Dadeville. Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The defense is expected to try to bring the victim’s criminal history into play as witnesses that would have had dealings with Crayton in the criminal justice system have been subpoenaed.
SHAWS SET FOR WEDNESDAY TRIAL ON ASSAULT CHARGES
Alexander City Mayor Charles Shaw and his wife Laverne are scheduled for a 9 a.m. trial on Wednesday morning at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse Annex in Alexander City, before Court Judge Clay Tinney. The Shaws were charged with third-degree assault following an April 25 physical altercation with Councilman Tony Goss after a council work session at City Hall. The fight occurred after the specially called work session and meeting had adjourned due to the loss of control. A total of 25 people have been subpoenaed to testify in the case. The altercation was also captured on police body camera, which is expected to be viewed at the bench trial.
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.19 Reported on 6/27/16 @ 5 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050
8
MAKING A RUN
12U baseball team falls short in championships. Sports, Page 10.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 June 28, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 129
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Dry conditions affecting lake levels By MITCH SNEED Editor
Lack of rain and dry conditions is having an impact on much more than our lawns. Alabama Power released an alert Monday saying that unless significant rain is received soon, the levels of area lakes including Lake Martin could be impacted as soon this weekend. “Despite an extremely wet winter season, the dry conditions that developed this spring have reduced the flows in rivers and streams that feed Alabama Power’s reser-
voirs,” the statement read. “Summer heat and evaporation are also contributing to the reduced flows. In response to these conditions, Alabama Power has minimized water releases from its hydroelectric dams. “In addition, recreational releases from Jordan Dam on the Coosa River will be suspended, starting the July 4 holiday weekend.” A significant portion of Tallapoosa County is listed on the United State’s Drought Monitor as being “abnormally dry.” The current level of Lake Martin is about three-quarters of a foot below the full sum-
mer pool of 491 feet. “It’s really impossible to predict what is ahead,” said Alabama Power spokesperson Allison Westlake. “It’s safe to say that unless there are significant amounts of measurable rainfall, the level will only get lower.” Westlake said that Alabama Power will continue to closely monitor conditions on the lakes and manage the limited water resources carefully. The company will continue to generate power at Martin Dam, but only on a limited level until conditions See LAKE • Page 3
Alex City man arrested after standoff with police
Convicted child abuser receives maximum sentence
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Watkins
A man is in custody following an early Sunday morning standoff with
Alexander City Police Department personnel. William Carl Watkins, 34, of Alexander City was taken into custody on an outstanding theft of property warrant after police were able to get him out of the billiards hall next to Phones and Loans on Cherokee Road just before noon. “We got information that he was at that location,” Alexander City Police Department Cpl. Michael Howell said. “When we arrived we found he had barricaded himself inside.” Howell said there were no shots fired and See STANDOFF • Page 3
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Elks hold flag ceremony Alexander City Elks Lodge #1878 and Alexander City’s Boy Scout Troop 67 held a flag retirement ceremony Saturday. The Elks host at least one such service each year and this year a total of five service worn flags were retired. Above, Scouts Quentin and Konnery Carroll place flags into the flames as Elks salute. Elks’ Leading Knight Donnie Pritchard salutes during the Pledge of Allegiance before the start of the ceremony. “This ceremony is something that a lot of people don’t know about, or hear about anymore,” Pritchard said. “Especially today when some people are throwing our nation’s flag on the ground and burning it – we feel it is very important to hold this special ceremony.”
James Edward McInvale Jr. was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday morning for aggravated child abuse and domestic violence. McInvale was sentenced by Judge Steve Perryman who oversaw his McInvale trial. “I have no doubt you were proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial,” Judge Perryman told McInvale from the bench. “You show no remorse at trial and you have shown no remorse today. As you stand here today, you are still blaming others, including the grandfather of the child. The guilty verdict on both counts was returned in just eight minutes earlier this month. McInvale, 24, of Davis Circle See SENTENCE • Page 3
Spann to speak at reading program finale By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Lake Martin Area United Way’s BuildA-Better Reader summer reading program is coming to a conclusion Wednesday with presentations from weatherman James Spann and a surprise special guest. “Meteorologist James Spann from Birmingham will be here to make a weather presentation,” Scott Hardy of the United Way said. “He always makes things fun for the children.” Spann is the lead meteorologist with ABC 33/40 in Birmingham.
Hardy says there will be another special guest at the program Wednesday at Stephens Elementary, just he cannot say yet. “It is a surprise,” Hardy said. The finale is Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stephens Elementary School. In addition to Spann and a special guest at the finale, the summer program has had weekly programs involving snakes from the Yarbrough Reptile Show, Bricks 4 Kidz, a program that had classes on building robots from Legos and ZUMBA. And that was
in addition to reading programs like community reader and checking out books. Hardy believes this summer program was a success. “We averaged over 200 kids each week,” Hardy said. “Though it could not be done alone. It was my first time working directly with the program,” Hardy said. “I am grateful for all the work our executive director Sharon Fuller and program coordinator Jeri-Lynn Martin put in along with our partners the Alexander City Board of Education and Pediatric Associates.”
USPS Permit # 013-080
File / The Outlook
Birmingham’s ABC 33/40 television weatherman James Spann will be the featured speaker at the Build A Better Reader program finale on Wednesday at Stephens Elementary.
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