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May 16, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 96 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Council OKs land purchase for landfill
One dead, one under arrest in Goodwater shooting
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
A man was shot and killed in shooting Saturday night in Goodwater and authorities say they have arrested the man they believe is responsible. Goodwater Police Chief Gerald Whetstone said officers were called to McElrath investigate reports of gunfire in the 200 block of Line Street in Goodwater at 8:33 p.m. Saturday evening. When officers arrived, they found 26-year-old Anthony Tyrone Greene injured, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the chest. According to Whetstone, Greene was rushed from the scene at 8:38 p.m. to Russell Medical, where staff began treatment. “We put out a BOLO (Be On The Lookout) for a maroon Oldsmobile Cutlass based on information that we received from two witnesses who were at the scene,” Whetstone said. “At 9:55 p.m., we received a call from the Alexander City Police Department who had stopped the Cutlass at the Allen’s Food Mart at the corner of U.S. Highway 280 and Highway 63. I arrived on the scene there at 10:06 and took Memphis Bernard McElrath Jr. into See MURDER • Page 3
City Engineer Gerard Brewer explains details of the proposed land deal that would allow the city to expand its inert landfill.
The thought of not having an operational inert landfill in Alexander City isn’t something that the city council wants to enter into conversation. So the Alexander City City Council took steps to begin a long process
of expanding the current facility. The council voted 6-0 Monday night to approve two separate items that would start the ball rolling on acquisition and testing about 140 acres adjacent to the current facility off North Central Avenue. Alexander City Public Works Director and City
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
A crew from Gary Ingram Paving and Grading lays asphalt on two lanes of Lee Street Monday. Plans are to shift traffic to these lanes Wednesday and begin work on the other side at that time.
ROADWAY RENEWAL Lee Street project reaches milestone as paving begins By MITCH SNEED Editor
Reconstruction of Lee Street reached a milestone Monday morning as crews began laying asphalt on two lanes of the new road base Jeffrey Harte of Gary Ingram Paving and Grading of Dadeville, said that this process will likely take about three days, then make way for another phase. “What you see happening now is one of what will eventually be three layers of asphalt that will be put in place,” Harte said.
Members of the local organization PATH, or Prosperity Again Through Health, will meet with Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Health Care Improvement Task Force on Wednesday afternoon. PATH’s meeting in Montgomery is looking to gain support to move forward a project setting Alexander City up as a pilot case for the feasibility of making Alabama a Blue Zone state. “We’ve been working on this for over a year now,” said PATH President Ella MacFiggen. “We’re excited to be having this meeting.” Blue Zone is a community-wide initiative designed to increase the health of that locale, according to MacFiggen. Currently, approximately 40 cities and 5 states across the country have taken
steps to become Blue Zones. Several years ago, Dr. Will Ferniany, the CEO of the UAB Health System attempted to start a Blue Zone initiative in Birmingham, but was unsuccessful, MacFiggen explained. During Wednesday’s meeting, he will be joining the delegation from PATH in speaking to Governor Ivey and the task force. The plan to push for the Alexander City and Lake Martin area being a pilot project for the Blue Zone initiative to go state-wide began in November 2016. A questionnaire was distributed to the attendees of a meeting about Blue Zone. When the results were tabulated, 90 percent of Alexander City’s leaders agreed that something needed to be done, MacFiggen said. See PATH • Page 3
“The plans are to get these first two layers down and then traffic will be shifted to these newly paved lanes and the same process you have seen on this side will begin on the other two lanes.” Harte said that on the lanes where traffic is currently, plans are to go ahead and put all three layers of asphalt down and then shift traffic one more time to complete the top layer on the other side.” The work is funded through the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and See ROAD • Page 3
Low
Between midnight and 1 a.m. Saturday morning, a house on Lashley Road in New Site was completely destroyed in a fire. “Nobody was at home when the house caught fire and there were no injuries,” said New Site Police Chief Philip Weddle. As of Monday morning, the fire was under investigation by both New Site officials and the Alabama State Fire Marshal, according to Weddle. No further details were available. See FIRE • Page 3
Regina Dawn Thomas / Submitted
A home on Lashley Road in New Site was completely destroyed by fire early Saturday morning.
Memorial service for fallen officers to be held Wednesday By MITCH SNEED Editor
File / The Outlook
Tallapoosa County Sheriff Department Deputy Chief David McMichael plays Taps at last year’s memorial service.
Those who gave their lives in the service of Tallapoosa County residents will be honored Wednesday during the 21st Annual Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial. The memorial, which is a joint effort by the Alexander City Police and Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Departments, will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 17 outside the Alexander City Police Department Headquarters. “Each year in May we hold this event to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” Alexander City Police Department Capt. James Orr said. “Every day, law enforcement officers come to work and never know what danger they may face. So to stop and honor those who lost their lives helping keep our communities safe is See MEMORIAL• Page 3
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Red Cross helping after family left homeless due to Saturday fire
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
89 64
Engineer Gerard Brewer told the council that the land would be ideal due to the location if the multitiered testing process proves it to be suitable. “We have about three and a half to four years left in the current facility,” Brewer said. “It takes
Family home destroyed by fire in New Site
PATH to pitch Blue Zone to Ivey
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