THURSDAY
THE
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 March 28, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 62 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Special section to honor local doctors inside
Vernon arraigned in federal court STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
A Kellyton man was arraigned in federal court Tuesday on charges of kidnapping, carjacking and firearm possession, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin Sr. Shane Anthony Vernon, 28, of Kellyton was arraigned on eight felony
Vernon escaped from the charges, including one count Coosa County Jail in November of kidnapping, two counts of 2017 and went on to commit carjacking, two counts of being a robberies, burglaries and felon in possession of a firearm kidnapping in Coosa and Elmore and three counts of possessing counties, authorities said. Vernon a firearm in furtherance of a was apprehended in DeKalb crime of violence, according to County, Georgia, three days later a release by the U.S. Attorney’s where authorities there charged office. The crimes are alleged to Vernon him with possession of a firearm have been committed in Elmore by a convicted felon, possession of County in November 2017.
Cooper visitation Friday, funeral Saturday
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Dolly Parton impersonator Melody Knighton helped make the sale for donations for the Imagination Library Tuesday night.
By RON COLQUITT For The Outlook
CLOSING THE GAP Rotary Club hosts dinner to help Imagination Library, get more kids reading By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
F
ive-hundred ninety-nine area children have graduated from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library over the last five years with the help of the Alexander City Rotary Club and another 532 are enrolled. Wednesday night, the club hosted a dinner for invited guests seeking members to join the “Friends of the Imagination Library” and continue the program through the club’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation. Guests at the dinner learned about the program and were treated to a visit from Dolly Parton impersonator Melody Knighton.
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The club currently helps fund the program at Harbor Learning Academy where children receive age-appropriate books from birth to five 5 years old monthly by mail. Rotarian Dana Rickman wants to see more children reading in the community, especially children in underserved areas, to help close the gap in students’ reading abilities when they enter school. “We are trying to change that,” Rickman said. “We have a great disparity in our community. This program will help change that.” The dinner and program were sponsored by Tallapoosa County Commissioner Steve Robinson, Rotary International Foundation District 6860 Local Grant, Alabama Power See LIBRARY • Page 3
The funeral for Rev. Alfred Cooper will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church on Green Street in Alexander City. The iconic black leader died Monday at 90. The former Laurel School assistant principal and football coach also served on the Alexander City Board of Education. Armour’s Memorial Funeral Home on North Central Avenue in Alex City is handling the arrangements. According to a funeral home spokesperson, visitation is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be at Cooper Cemetery in Sawyerville. Laurel and Benjamin Russell merged in 1971 although it was 17 years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the policy of “separate but equal” schools unconstitutional. Having the highly respected Cooper in a position of authority likely kept the integration of Alex City schools calm. “The Rev. Cooper was one of those iconic community leaders as far back as I can remember,” Tallapoosa County Commissioner T.C. Coley Jr. said. “As a member of the school board, he stayed involved in service to the community.” Coley said Cooper was wellrespected by blacks and whites in Alex City, had a positive impact on youths in his community and was a role model for prospective husbands and fathers. See COOPER • Page 2
New equipment cuts to the chase on city streets Crews will be more proactive clearing rights of way
71 44 High
marijuana less than an ounce, possessing an open container and giving a false name. Then-Coosa County Sheriff Terry Wilson said it appeared an electrical malfunction at the Coosa County Jail allowed Vernon to escape. Vernon had escaped authorities the month before and was recaptured the next day. When Vernon was recaptured, Elmore See VERNON • Page 3
Low
By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor 6
54708 90050
8 USPS Permit # 013-080
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
488.40 Reported on 03/27/19 @ 3 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com
Alexander City residents should see cleaner rights of way with a new tractor and three cutting arms chewing brush into mulch five days a week. Last week, the city’s public works department took delivery of a $143,000 Massey Ferguson tractor with a diamond-cutting arm and three attachments, according to facilities maintenance supervisor Kirk Mickaels. The equipment was purchased $7,000 under budget and should continue to save the city money because it can mulch everything it cuts, eliminating the cleanup time involved with the machine it replaced, a 20-year-old Machete that slung debris, Mickaels said.
5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
See EQUIPMENT • Page 3
Crestview Apartments
Jimmy Wigfield / The Outlook
The Alexander City Public Works Department’s new $143,000 tractor, diamond cutting arm and rotary mulching head attachment will more efficiently cut rights of way and intersections and reduce cleanup time.
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