OPINION: IF MOORE DOESN’T DO THE RIGHT THING, VOTERS SHOULD
TUESDAY
THE
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
LOCAL, PAGE 9
Area pays tribute to veterans
SPORTS, PAGE 10
November 14, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 226 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Central Coosa kicks off area hoops action Alexander City Schools Maintenance Director Mark Simmons holds up a 4-foot long rattlesnake that was found on the campus of Radney Monday afternoon. Students were outside during a fire drill when the snake was spotted sunning itself near the parking lot. Children were kept away from the area while police and officials responded.
Officials deal with snake on school campus By MITCH SNEED Editor
One Alexander City School was forced to deal harshly with an unwanted visitor on campus Monday – a 4-foot rattlesnake. At about 1:30 p.m., Radney students and staff were involved in a fire drill where staff and students were moved outside the building. At that time a staff member noticed the snake in an area near the school’s parking lot. Alexander City Schools maintenance personnel and the Alexander City Police Department were dispatched quickly to the school. Officer Tommy Maness was the officer who used a special tool that the police department is equipped with to kill the snake just to make sure that it didn’t have a chance to endanger anyone at the school. “It looks like it had crawled out of the woods to sun itself and they spotted it when they were out for the
drill,� Maness said. “It’s my understanding that the children weren’t real close to the snake, but in a situation like that with cooler temperatures coming you don’t want to leave it near the school.� Alexander City Schools Maintenance Director Mark Simmons also responded as did other maintenance personnel. “You don’t get calls like that every day,� Simmons said. “Usually it’s a socket that doesn’t work or a light is out, but can’t say we hear a rattlesnake at a school very often. I’m glad the police were here to handle the dirty work on this one.� Police credited the school staff for being observant and keeping children well away from the area and acting quickly. Most of the children weren’t even aware that the snake was there and school officials made sure they weren’t alarmed. Before the dead snake was taken from the area it was measured at 45 inches without its head and six rattles were counted on the snake’s tail.
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Commissioners OK developments, polling place swap
Filings, hearings to come in murder case By CLIFF WILLIAMS and MITCH SNEED Staff Writers
Matthew Clate McDaniel appeared Monday with his attorney Davis Whittelsey McDaniel before Judge Steve Perryman in Dadeville. While the case was on the plea docket for the day, Perryman, Whittelsey and Chief Assistant District Attorney Mike Weldon were going over scheduling items for the case where McDaniel is charged with the murder of Norman Dean Crayton. Weldon explained after Monday’s hearing the case cannot be set for trial yet. “We have got to have the immunity hearing first,â€? Weldon said. “There will be several filings ahead of it. We can’t go to trial to until we have the hearing.â€? Whittelsey filed a motion seeking immunity from prosecution on the See MCDANIEL • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Two new residential developments and a change in one of the county’s polling places were approved Monday at a meeting of the Tallapoosa County Commissioners. The Harbor at Blue Creek and Cottages at Lake Martin both got the thumbs up from commissioners. The Harbor at Blue Creek is a cluster of one-bedroom units that are being billed as “affordable lake living.â€? Located on a part of the lake off Highway 49 across See COMMISSION • Page 3
Holiday Open House sees good turnout for local businesses
Council takes another crack at the budget
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Families filled downtown Alexander City Sunday afternoon for the annual Holiday Open House celebrations. Shops up and down Main Street welcomed customers wanting to get an early jump on their Christmas shopping, while others just took in the sights and enjoyed the afternoon. “Overall, everything seemed to go really well,â€? Alexander City Chamber of Commerce President Ed Collari said. “There was a steady flow of traffic in and out of stores. The participants did an excellent job in promoting themselves.â€? Collari and the other members of the See SHOPPING • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Area residents walk the streets and sidewalks of downtown during the Holiday Open House Sunday. Local businesses welcomed shoppers throughout the day having a successful turnout.
The work towards passing a budget continued Monday night as the Alexander City City Council had several questions answered and eyed revisions to the proposed Fiscal Year 2017/18 budget. The city has been operating on a continuation of last year’s budget since the Oct. 1 deadline passed. It will do so until a new budget can be put in place. See BUDGET • Page 2
DAR presents Good Citizenship Awards to local students By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Members of the Tohopeka Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution gathered at the Tallapoosa County Board of Education office Monday afternoon to present five deserving high school seniors from throughout the county with the DAR Good Citizenship Award. “We think this is one of the most important things we host,� Tallapoosa County Schools Superintendent Joe Windle said. “You all have made a difficult, difficult cut,� he told the students being honored.
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Being recognized with the Good Citizenship Award were Ezra Robinson from Benjamin Russell High School, Frederick Hutcherson from Dadeville High School, Cade Worthy from Horseshoe Bend, Katelyn Cotten from Reeltown High School and Rogan Norrell from Lyman Ward Military Academy. Betty Carol Graham and Pam Young presented the students with a certificate and a pin, recognizing their achievements as winners of the DAR Good Citizenship Award. “You are among a unique group of Donald Campbell / The Outlook people,â€? Young said. Frederick Hutcherson receives his pin from Pam Young, recognizing him for winning the DAR See DAR • Page 3 Good Citizenship Award Monday afternoon. Four other local students were also awarded.
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