OPINION PAGE 4
LOCAL, PAGE 11
‘Only big bartender in the sky knows when next drink may come.’
Meet Sam, HSEC Pet of the Week.
SPORTS, PAGE 12
Tallassee honors 2015-16 basketball team.
INSIDE
LOCAL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, PAGE 2.
The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA
TALLASSEE, AL 36078
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May 4, 2016
TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM
VOL. 117, NO. 16
Former library director faces theft charges By MITCH SNEED Editor
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
Baker named CEO of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.
Tallassee VFW hosts Cruzin for Christina
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
The Tallassee VFW has planned a benefit ride for Christina Griggs, a resident of Tallassee. Griggs was diagnosed almost two years ago with a rare blood cancer called Polycythemia Vera, which is now being somewhat controlled by chemotherapy. She will need a bone marrow transplant in order to be cured of the disease. The benefit ride will begin at the Patton Plaza parking lot, in front of the former Winn-Dixie building. Registration will start at 8 a.m. on May 7 and “kick stands up” at 10 a.m. The course of the ride will take riders from Patton Plaza to Lake Martin and the benefit ride will end at the Tallassee VFW where a swabbing station will be onsite collecting samples that will be used to potentially find a match for Griggs. In Griggs’ case, the swab will be used to screen for individuals who have matching See CHRISTINA • Page 3
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which are otherwise unknown to the Grand Jury, a further description of which is otherwise unknown to the Grand Jury, the property of Tallassee Community Library, of a value in excess of $500 but which does not exceed Kilpatrick See LIBRARY • Page 7
Steve Baker has been named publisher, president and C.E.O. of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Baker, 59, has headed five newspapers in his career, including most recently working as publisher of The York (Neb.) News- Baker Times. He was formerly publisher See PUBLISHER • Page 7 Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
DJ Rodgers orders a Polish sausage from one of the food vendors. Vendors offered sausage dogs, corn dogs, pretzels, lemonade, nachos and funnel cakes, all traditional fair cuisine.
Carousels & charity Spring carnival brings food, fun and proceeds By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
This year’s Spring Carnival was an tremendous success, with large crowds attending each night. Children enjoyed the smaller rides, such as the Bear Affair and the Merry-Go-Round. There were also larger rides for older children and adults, such as Pharo’s Fury. For those who did not show up to ride, there were
games and plenty of fair-food eats. “I think it was a big success. I’m not exactly sure how much we made yet, but I know we did better than we did last year,” said Travis Jones, Chief of the Tallassee Fire Department. “The good weather, the time of year and something for everyone to do, it just all came together.”
Carroll named managing editor for TPI’s Elmore County publications STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
William Carroll has been named managing editor of the Tallapoosa Publishers newspapers that serve Elmore County – The Wetumpka Herald, The Tallassee Tribune and the Eclectic Observer. Carroll, 40, comes to the area after serving as managing editor of The Daily Times Leader in Carroll West Point, Mississippi. Carroll will lead a news team that was guided by the late Peggy Blackburn and more recently See EDITOR • Page 7
See CARNIVAL • Page 3
House of Love and Mercy celebrates 16 years of service By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
It was 16 years ago when Bishop Adolphus Gauntt realized there was a need for a women’s shelter in Tallassee that would serve the community and surrounding areas. Originally the house was opened to migrant working women. “Women would come here to work, the seasonal workers and there would be one woman in a house full of five or more men. It wasn’t a good environment for them,” said Gauntt who is bishop of God’s Congregation Holiness Church at 508 Jordan Ave. This what inspired Gauntt to open the doors at the House of Love and Mercy. Since then the house has become
a beacon of hope for many woman who find themselves in need of shelter. The house is an eight-bed facility for women who are at least 18 years old. The house is open to all women, regardless of color to get back on their feet. Because the house is associated with God’s Congregation Holiness Church, it is also a Christian environment. Marsha Jean (MJ) Evans from Minneapolis, Minnesota found refugee in the House of Love and Mercy almost six years ago and she has carried those Christian values with her since. “I was on my way to WellSpring, which is a bible training center for women who had struggled with addiction issues,” Evans said. “It was an accident and at first I was
angry because I was supposed to go into this program and for some reason they didn’t have an opening in time. So I had four days where I had nowhere to go.” During those four days, Evan says she learned so much. “I remember it was October 2010,” she recalled. “There were three other girls there and a house mother and we had such good times learning about God. We had bible study in the morning, afternoon and, sometimes, in the evening.” While Evans was angry when she arrived at the House of Love and Mercy, she left with a lighter heart. “”Pastor Gauntt is prophetic and a really good teacher of the word of God,” she said.
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Marsha Jean (MJ) Evans from Minneapolis, Minnesota found refuge in the House of Love and Mercy in Tallassee almost 6 years ago. Evans was a guest speaker during the house’s 16year celebration ceremony.
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