THURSDAY
THE LOCAL, PAGE 3
Officials investigating stabbing incident
SPORTS, PAGE 10
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Central Coosa’s Davis signs to play with College of the Desert
May 17, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 98 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Great Bethel trial to resume June 21 A civil lawsuit trial involving former leaders at Great Bethel Baptist Church and its longtime minister Rev. Dr. Emerson Ware Jr. is set to resume on June 21.
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Ware
File / The Outlook
The trial in a civil lawsuit involving former leaders at Alexander City’s Great Bethel Baptist Church and the church’s longtime minister Rev. Dr. Emerson Ware Jr. will resume on June 21. According to an order signed by Judge Ray Martin Wednesday, testimony and the presentation of evidence will resume at 9 a.m. in the case. The trial was suspended on April 26 when
mountains of financial evidence bogged down testimony. The suit, which was filed on behalf of a group of the church’s board of directors on Oct. 12, 2017, seeks to recover nearly $100,000 as well as complete records and accounting of charges dating back to 2001 made using a business credit card issued in the church’s name. The suit also asks the court to determine which set of bylaws are legally the ones by
See BETHEL • Page 9
City school board honors student achievement
City tax revenue down slightly from last year
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
With one week to go in the 2017-2018 school year, the Alexander City Board of Education held moments of special recognition for a multitude of students and groups throughout the city school system during Tuesday night’s board meeting. The Top 10 academic students were brought before the audience, who introduced themselves and told briefly what their plans were after graduation next week. “I had the chance to sit down and have lunch with these students about a week ago,” Superintendent Dr. Darrell Cooper said. “This is one great and sharp bunch of students.” Barbara Thompson with the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) talked about the progress made throughout the year, working with parents for the ultimate benefit of the children. She also wanted to recognize eight families who had participated in the program for three See BOE • Page 5
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Area law enforcement salute during Wednesday’s fallen officer memorial. Cliff Williams / The Outlook
PAYING TRIBUTE Officials honor memory of local fallen officers By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Officials honored the memory of law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty with the 22nd Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service in Alexander City Wednesday. Alexander City Police Chief Jay Turner, Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett and Alexander See FALLEN • Page 3
Central Alabama Community College students and their families filled the auditorium at the Betty Carol Graham Center Tuesday for the school’s annual spring graduation ceremony and nurse pinning. “We had 114 students participate in the graduation ceremony this morning, but we had 148 graduate this semester,” CACC President Dr. Susan Burrow said. “We had 19 who
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completed the nursing program take part in the pinning ceremony.” A wide range of degrees and certifications were conferred during Tuesday morning’s graduation, including Associate of Science, Associate in Occupational Technology and short-term certifications in a multitude of technological and industrial fields. This was followed in the afternoon with the nurse pinning, where the latest group of
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Submitted /
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— AG Steve Marshall
CACC graduates 148 students Tuesday
CACC President Dr. Susan Burrow presents a graduate with his diploma at the school’s annual spring graduation ceremony. Burrow said CACC had 148 graduates this semester and 19 who completed the nursing program and took part in the pinning ceremony.
High
“... These officers of law enforcement who have given their lives in the line of duty are heroes.”
The boost in sales tax revenue that came with the construction of the Sabal Trail Pipeline appears to be over, but numbers show there has still been substantial economic growth in Alexander City over the last three years. The April tax revenue collected by the city shows revenue being down compared to last year, but still above the 2016 levels. Records show the city took in $902,165 in in April this year in sales and use taxes. Last year the total for April’s sales and use tax was $966,134. That’s a 6.6 percent decrease for the month. In 2016, the city collected $829,265 in sales and use tax in April, about 8 percent less than the city collected this year. “We are down a little from last year, but we’re still in good shape,” Alexander City City Council President Tommy Spraggins said. “Overall, about 3.3 percent down from last year, but we expected that, because last year was abnormally high.” Alexander City had a record tax year last fiscal year, seeing
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