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SPORTS, PAGE 10 Area collects six gold medals at state track
May 9, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 91 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Brothers face 5 more robbery charges By MITCH SNEED Editor
The trouble continues to mount for two brothers who were charged with an April 25 convenience store robbery. David Edward Jones, 19, and Derrick Lamont Norris, 22, are now facing five additional counts of armed robbery after five individuals reported that they too were robbed by the men on the same night. “The individuals did not initially report the robberies,” Alexander City
Police Department Deputy Chief James Easterwood said. “But after they saw the published reports, over the next couple of days we had five individuals who said they were also hit that night.” Easterwood declined to give specifics of where the individuals were and how the holdups occurred, citing an ongoing investigation. The Outlook has learned that the victims were playing gaming machines inside a building across the street from the Hillabee Quick Stop at 1505 Hillabee Street.
When they were originally arrested, Easterwood said that Jones and Norris entered Hillabee Quick Stop armed with guns and demanded money from the clerk. The clerk refused to give them anything. After a verbal altercation the two men fled the store. As the investigation developed and the individuals reported being robbed, it appears that Jones and Norris either robbed the individuals immediately before or after the incident at the store. See ROBBERIES • Page 3 Jones
Commissioners approve funds for Dudleyville road paving
Dadeville man dies after Sunday attack by dogs 63-year-old man was riding a scooter prior to incident
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Officials are investigating a Sunday dog attack that claimed the life of an elderly man near Jacksons Gap. Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox confirmed that 63-year-old James Derle Patterson was pronounced dead at 5:37 p.m. Sunday. Jacksons Gap Police Department personnel were called to Alf Road, just off Highway 49 at 5:13 p.m. The caller See JUMP • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Edward Mitchell looks over some of the tomato plants that he has for sale. Local growers shared the inside scoop on growing the southern favorite.
VINE RIPENED Local growers share tips for growing tomatoes By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
‘Beware of Dog’ signs were visible from Alf Road in the area where Sunday’s dog attack occurred.
Lime. Almost all local tomato experts agree, lime and work are the keys to growing tomatoes – though there is some disagreement over varieties. “We just an ol’ country farmer,” John Edward Mitchell said. “Just putcha some lime in the ground with them to start with. “They do like a lot of lime, so put a lot down when you plow it up.”
Mitchell has been growing tomato plants since the 1950s in Alexander City. “Lime or calcium will help with blossom end rot,” Dennis Floyd of Floyd’s Feed and Seed in Dadeville said. “Most people think you put ‘em in the ground and that’s it,” Papa’s Produce’s Jimmy Keel said. “But there is a lot more to it than that. You need to do a soil test to find out what your pH is. That determines the soils ability to absorb minerals. If it ain’t right, I don’t care what kind of fertilizer you put on it, it won’t See TOMATO • Page 9
7eventh Time Down to headline Alexander City Celebrates Freedom By MITCH SNEED Editor
Marshall Street Church of God is continuing the tradition of hosting a celebration of God and country and this year they have secured one of the hottest bands in contemporary Christian music to headline the show. The church will once again team with the City of Alexander City and area businesses to host its
Today’s
patriotic Alexander City Celebrates America. The event is set for Monday, July 3, starting at 6 p.m. Pastor Rick Levell from Marshall Street Church of God said this is the 12th year the Christian event has been hosted at the Benjamin Russell High School band field with music, food and fireworks. He also announced that 7eventh Time Down will be the See FREEDOM • Page 3
Lake Martin
Weather Lake Levels
85 60 High
Low
Norris
490.59 Reported on 5/08/17 @ 5 p.m.
Residents along one heavily traveled road in Dadeville got some good news Monday as the Tallapoosa County Commissioners approved the process to use federal funds to pave a road. It was announced at Monday’s meeting that this year District 4 is slated to receive federal funding and a portion of Dudleyville Road will be paved as a result. The commissioners voted 5-0 to initiate the funding for the project. The work will likely begin in June, officials said. In a meeting that took just 12 minutes from gavel to gavel, the commissioners also approved a bid from Hancock Bank for the financing of three new vehicles to be used by the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department. The vehicles are in the budget and had already been approved by the commissioners. Monday’s See COMMISSION • Page 3
Radney Elementary beginner band concludes year with Spring Concert By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Submitted / The Outlook
Contemporary Christian music band 7eventh Time Down will headline the patriotic Alexander City Celebrates America event July 3 at 6 p.m.
“PROVIDING QUALITY ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION SINCE 1961”
The sixth-grade beginner band at Radney Elementary School will wrap up a successful first year with its spring concert tonight at the Radney gym. Band Director Crystal Baldwin said that this concert would feature all 56 members of the beginner band playing a wide range of musical numbers. In addition, several of the students who traveled to Auburn for the Solo and Ensemble Festival will perform some of the music they played there. “They’ve done an outstanding job. They’ve learned to read music and play an instrument well,” Baldwin said. See BAND • Page 3
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