OPINION: TIME TO BE EXCITED ABOUT SUMMER IN OUR CITY, PAGE 4.
TUESDAY
THE COMING SOON:
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Strawberry Market, see page 11.
May 3, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 88
www.alexcityoutlook.com
SPORTS, PAGE 12. Wildcats end season at Opelika.
Jim Spann tells citizens, ‘You deserve better’
By MITCH SNEED Editor
A week after a post-meeting fist fight made Alexander City the center of negative attention, the council met and vowed to start fresh and get back to working together. The word “fight” wasn’t mentioned and no apologies came from Mayor Charles Shaw or Tony Goss, the two that were
involved in the fracas, Monday night. But from opening prayer to adjournment, there was a different air. Council President Jim Spann returned for the first time in almost six weeks after battling health issues and set the tone, telling those gathered that he was dedicated to getting back to representing “our city in a mature, professional and progressive
manner.” “Three and a half years ago when we were elected, I believe you and we all envisioned four years of prosperity for our city and its citizen. …Somewhere in this journey, we lost our way,” Spann said. “We became focused on personalities, agendas, and Mitch Sneed / The Outlook egos. As a result, we wasted much Alexander City Council President Jim Spann challeneged council members to time and effort accomplishing “get out of the ditch” and fix the problems that are facing them for betterment of See COUNCIL • Page 7 the city.
TALLASSEE
National Day of Prayer observance set for Thursday
Former library director faces theft charges
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Thursday is the annual National Day of Prayer and the Alexander City Ministerial Association is inviting the citizens of the city to come and participate with them in prayer and scripture readings from noon to 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Alexander City. “We expect the church to be nearly full,” said Lewis Benson, pastor at GAP Fellowship Church for the past 17 years and in his first year as president of the Alexander City Ministerial Association. “First Baptist was kind enough to let us use their facility. They have a new pastor and he’s been very cooperative. The Ministerial Association is very appreciative of that.” Benson said that the nondenominational event will not be a time for preaching, but a time of prayer and scripture reading. Laypersons from the community will read the scriptures and local ministers will lead the prayers. There will also be special music by Richard Taylor of
Court records indicate Kilpatrick arrested on two theft-related charges
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Above, Alexander City Police Cpl. Marcus Billups takes unused medication from a resident in a curbside pickup Saturday at Walgreens. The event collected 12 boxes containing 120 pounds of medication. Tim Phillips carries bags of unneeded medications to be properly disposed of at the drug-take back program.
DRUG TAKE-BACK Agency sponsored program collects 160 pounds of medication By MITCH SNEED Editor
Local residents responded in a big way as local officials sponsored Drug Take-Back Day Saturday at Walgreens in Alexander City. Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett confirmed that residents turned in 12 boxes filled with 160 pounds of medication on Saturday. The event was sponsored by the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department, Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, Drug See MEDICATION • Page 3
See PRAYER • Page 3
Former Tallassee Community Library Director Sharon Kilpatrick has been indicted on two theft related charges and has a date in court set for Wednesday. Court records indicate that Kilpatrick was arrested on March 3 on charges of second-degree theft of property and second-degree theft by deception. Following her arrest, Kilpatrick was released from the Tallapoosa County Jail after posting a $10,000 bond, records show. Tallassee Police Chief Jimmy Rodgers said the charges stem from an investigation following a 2014 audit that showed irregularities in expenditures at the library. “Originally, the state began the investigation and earlier this year they returned it to us,” Rodgers said. “Our investigation found that library funds were used for personal use and the indictments and charges are a result of those findings.” According to the indictment, “Sharon Kilpatrick, alias, whose true name is otherwise unknown to the Grand Jury, did knowingly obtain or exert unauthorized control over, lawful currency of the United States of America, and/or check, the exact denominations of which are otherwise unknown to the Grand Jury, a See LIBRARY • Page 7
United Way Quail Fry nets $12,103 for charity By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Fuller, executive director of the Lake Martin Area United Way, was downright giddy on Monday afternoon. She’d spent most of the day counting money from the United Way’s first quail fry, low country boil and bake sale fundraiser, held Friday night at L.D. Benton’s farm on Elkahatchee Road. And there was a good amount to count. “Our total was $12,107,” Fuller said. “The cool thing is that we had planned for about 125 people. That’s how many we’d planned to feed. We had 300 show up and had plenty of food.
“There are so many people I have to thank. First, we couldn’t have done this without use of L.D. Benton’s barn or Gene Gwaltney, who donated 500 quail. Doug Roberts, our emcee, and The Bankwalkers both donated their time. Our cooks didn’t charge us a penny. “Then there are people who gave so generously, like Nancy Hodges, Jim and Regina Clinton, Jeff Smith and Cindy Gillenwaters, who donated a beautiful pair of sapphire and diamond earrings that were won by Tracy Teel, who found the red dot on the bottom of the Kenneth Boone / The Outlook bake-sale item she bought.” Doug Roberts auctioned off baked goods at the United Way Quail Fry Friday night. Many of Fuller also thanked the cakes and pies sold for more than $100. One of Fred George’s pound cakes sold for $800. See QUAIL • Page 7 All proceeds from the event went to benefit the United Way.
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Today’s
Weather
77 51 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.56 Reported on 5/02/16 @ 3 p.m.
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