THE
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
SPORTS, PAGE 10
March 28, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 62 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Bradley Stewart only senior on BRHS team
ARRESTS, PAGE 2 Read latest reports from area law enforcement
WEDNESDAY
Archer now medically retired as probate judge
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Leon Archer, shown in a file photo, has been approved for medical retirement and is ending his time in office.
Tallapoosa County Probate Court Judge Leon Archer has been approved for medical retirement through the Retirement System of Alabama and the Alabama Judicial Retirement Fund, ending his time in office. Archer, who turned 70 earlier this month, said he has also withdrawn from the race for the District 3 seat on the Tallapoosa County Commission. “I have enjoyed serving the people of Tallapoosa
County, but the last year or so I’ve been dealing with some health issues and it appears I have a few more in the near future,” Archer said. “I started looking at the possibility of medical retirement around the first of the year and it’s a very lengthy process with a lot of steps. I really didn’t know if it would be approved until I got notification just the other day from Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Lyn Stuart’s office. That’s who approves the state’s judicial retirements.
See ARCHER • Page 3
Severe weather on the horizon?
Teacher cleared in corporal punishment suit
Potential major weather event projected Thursday
Male Reeltown student was badly bruised in 2016 paddling
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
With the start of spring also signaling a growing threat from tornadoes and other severe weather incidents, Tallapoosa County could see the possibility of a thunderstorm Thursday afternoon. Starting at around 1 p.m. and lasting until approximately sundown Thursday, the county could be under threat from rainfall between an inch and an inch and a half, with the potential of winds up to 60 mph and a possible tornado as well, according to information from the National Weather Service obtained early Tuesday afternoon. “The threat could change some, since we’re still two days out,” Tallapoosa County EMA Director Jason Moran said Tuesday afternoon. “The timeline is an estimate at this moment.” After last week’s storm that wrecked parts of the city of Jacksonville, including areas See WEATHER • Page 6
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Clark Morris speaks at a press conference in Montgomery about additional charges against Germaine Moore who was arrested for child pornography. Alex City PD Det. Drew Machen, back left, was on hand having made a related arrest in the case.
Child pornography suspect faces added federal charges By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Germaine Moore now faces federal charges for production of child pornography after a video of him allegedly sexually abusing a child went viral earlier this year. “This is one less person who will victimize our children in this area,” First Assistant U.S.
Attorney Clark Morris said. “This ended a reign of terror for three little girls.” Moore is now facing nine counts of producing still photographs of child pornography and two counts of producing videos. The federal charges come after the search See FEDS • Page 3
A Tallapoosa County jury in Dadeville found a 14-year-old freshman who was bruised after being paddled by a teacher at Reeltown High School in 2016 was not entitled to any damages. The jury delivered a verdict in favor of Reeltown Agricultural Science teacher Clint Burgess who was sued in 2016 after paddling a student in October of that year. The complaint alleged that the minor male student, who is now 16, whose injuries consisted of bruising on his buttocks as a result of the paddling. “Obviously (Burgess) is relieved by the jury’s verdict,” said Attorney Mark Allen Treadwell, who represented Burgess in the suit. “While it’s unfortunate that the student was bruised, there was no evidence of severe injuries, intent to do harm, or any monetary, physical or emotional damages.” The jury saw multiple photos of the bruising caused as a result of the paddling after being placed into evidence by the student’s attorney James R. “Bobby” Bowles. The images, which were taken by the child’s mother the night after the paddling, showed deep purple and red See PADDLING • Page 6
April, May Strand Sessions artists announced By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
With April just around the corner, the Lake Martin Young Professionals organization is gearing up for the annual Strand Sessions series of concerts, making Strand Park in downtown Alexander City the place to be on the first Thursday night of the month in late spring and into the summer months. For the first two sessions, scheduled for April 5 and May 3, the performing artists have been confirmed, according to Jacob Meacham with the Alexander City Chamber of +
Commerce. “In April, acoustic musician Jack Stearns will be performing, and in May, Taylor Hunnicutt and Daniel Raine will be the featured artists,” Meacham said. “We’re currently still working on scheduling the artists for June, July and August.” Since Strand Sessions began two years ago, Meacham said the events have been well received by the community, and that the Chamber of Commerce tries to pick a wide variety of artists, musicians they feel will be well liked and appeal to everyone. See ARTISTS • Page 3
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Taylor Hunnicutt and Daniel Raine will be the featured artists at the May edition of Strand Sessions at Strand Park in downtown Alexander City.
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Today’s
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
Weather
488.42
81 59 High
Reported on 03/27/18 @ 4 p.m.
Low
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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