OPINION: INTERNET IS AN INCREDIBLE TOOL BUT OFTEN USED BY PREDATORS, PAGE 4.
THURSDAY
THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Inside, page 7
March 2, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 43 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
SPORTS, PAGE 8 Horseshoe Bend softball off to a fast start
‘Cyber tip’ leads to child porn arrest raphy and placed in the Tallapoosa County Jail with a $10,000 bond. According to a release from Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett, the initial investigation began as a result of a cyber tip in which investigators were notified that electronic images containing child pornography had been downloaded. Members of the Tallapoosa
By MITCH SNEED Editor
An Alexander City man has been arrested on child pornography charges after an investigation that started with a “cyber tip.” Benjamin Raymond Butler, 27, of Alexander City was arrested on Tuesday and charged with possession/distribution of child pornog-
County Sheriff’s Department are assigned to the state Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and that connection led to the initiation of an investigation. Sheriff’s Department investigators conducted a search that revealed that images videos were downloaded on devices controlled by Butler and that he was the person responsible for the downloaded
images. Butler was taken into custody without incident and Abbett said that the investigation is ongoing. Count records indicate that Butler has been convicted of burglary and was arrested on charges of sexual abuse in 2009. That case was bound over to a grand jury, but the charges were disposed after the complainant Butler declined to prosecute.
2017 Sun Festival T-shirt Art Contest opens
Russell Wound Care Center rated high by AU nursing By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The Lake Martin Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for artists to design the shirt promoting the Sun Festival in its 2017 Sun Festival T-Shirt Art Contest. “We’re kind of excited because this is the fifth annual Sun Festival,” said Kim Dunn, director of marketing and special events. She said the Sun Festival had finally reached its first major milestone. Each year Dunn said there is new artwork designed for the shirts, and the Chamber was reaching out to local artists and all interested to submit their designs by March 24. “We’re open to all different kinds of ideas,” Dunn said. “The only catch is it has to be reproducible into a T-Shirt.” Despite that she said over their five years in the contest they have seen a number of creations some of which were hand drawn art. She said they try to rotate the judges for the contest by the year, but despite the shuffle the same artist has taken home the prize to all four of the previous competitions. At the time of judging the judges do not know the name of the artist. “It’s pretty funny every year so far the same person has won, but nobody knows whose artwork (it) is,” Dunn said. “It’s been complete coincidence See SUN FESTIVAL • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
ASHES ON THE GO Community marks the season of Lent
Pastor John Verciglio First United Methodist makes a cross with ashes on the forehead on Leann Dean Tuesday morning. The church offered an “Ash Wednesday DriveThru” at Cazadores Restaurant on Cherokee Road in Alexander City from 6:30 to 8 a.m. Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days, not counting Sundays, prior to Easter. Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. Ash Wednesday got its name because the practice of blessing ashes made from palm branches blessed on the previous year’s Palm Sunday, and placing them on the heads of participants to the accompaniment of the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
For two years, Auburn University nursing students have been rotating through the Russell Medical Wound Care Center. Recently, those students have selected the rotation as one of their favorites due to the friendly treatment they get from the staff at the center. “It was one of the most highly rated of the sites that we go to,” said David Crumbbley who is an assistant clinical professor at the Auburn University School of Nursing. “It was rated very highly based on the fact that the physician and the staff are very welcoming and very helpful to the students. They engage in educating the students and take a lot of time with them.” The rating is no surprise to Russell Medical Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Director Dr. Regina Phillips. Phillips has taken her experience as a medical student to make sure any student coming through the See NURSING • Page 3
Military vehicle rally set this weekend at Wind Creek State Park
Victim entrapped in Highway 63 crash
By MITCH SNEED Editor
The area may feel a little more secure this weekend, especially with a very strong military presence in the works. No the National Guard isn’t planning maneuvers around Lake Martin, but it may be the next best thing. The Dixie Division Military Vehicles Club is hosting the East Alabama Regional Spring Rally Friday and Saturday at Wind Creek Park. Local military vehicle enthusiast Gary Poe said he expects a big crowd and all sorts of military See MILITARY • Page 3
Today’s
Weather
61 37 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
485.16 Reported on 3/1/17 @ 2:30 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443 6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
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Personnel from Alexander City Fire and Rescue and Alexander City Police work to free a teen girl from the wreckage of a Nissan Sentra that she was driving Wednesday when it left Highway 63 South and struck a tree. The accident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. and it took first responder more than an hour to extricate the girl. The victim’s name and condition was not released. The accident is still under investigation, but tracks and other evidence at the scene suggested that the car may have dropped two wheels off the shoulder and then veered down a slight embankment into the tree line.
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