OPINION: MAKE YOURSELF A HARD TARGET FOR CRIMINALS
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Escapee keeps residents on edge By MITCH SNEED and COREY ARWOOD Staff Writers
A man who escaped for the second time in less than a month from the Coosa County Jail kept law enforcement officials in multiple jurisdictions on the run and residents on edge. Shane Anthony Vernon, 27, was able to flee the Coosa County Jail in Rockford Sunday afternoon at about 2:30.
He is described as being 5-7, and weighing 130 pounds. Vernon is said to have several tattoos including “ride or die” on his fist, writing on his right forearm and a Chinese symbol on his neck. Law enforcement officials say if you have any information or were to see Vernon, contact the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office at 256-377-2211 or call your local law enforcement agency. It appears that Vernon took advantage of an
unsecured door to gain his freedom and has been terrorizing residents since his escape. “Vernon was allowed out of his cell to use the inmate telephone system,” Coosa County Sheriff Terry Wilson said in a released statement. “While Vernon was using the phone, he noticed that the correctional officer on duty had failed to properly secure one of the doors in the area of
See ESCAPEE • Page 3
Vernon
Council passes budget
2 Montgomery men arrested after wild chase
A little more than $1 million will be required from reserves
Suspects believed to have been involved in Shady Bay burglaries By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Alexander City has a current budget and it comes at the earliest point in the last four years. The Alexander City City Council voted 6-0 to approve a $55.1 million Fiscal Year 2017/18 budget at Monday’s regular council meeting. Conservative revenue estimates were listed at $53.7 million, meaning the city would use about $1.2 million in reserve funds if the budget is approved as proposed. Alexander City Finance Director Sandy Stanbrough outlined the latest revisions and explained by the end of the year, she expects that deficit to be much lower than the predictions. “These numbers are based on realistic, but very conservative estimates of revenue,” Stanbrough said. “As we saw in October, sales tax revenues were much higher than the previous year. But we budgeted with sales tax being flat from year to year. So I feel very good about where See BUDGET • Page 9
TOURING THE TOWN Stephens students get a feel for city operations in tour By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
School buses carrying third- and fourth-graders made their way throughout Alexander City Monday morning, as the 12 student clubs at Stephens Elementary School got the chance to take a more behind the scenes look at how different parts of the community operate. “At the start of the school year, we had our students take an interest survey,” Stephens Principal April Neese said. “There are 12 clubs at the school this year, See TOUR • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Top, Stephens students speak to magazine staff Amy Passaretti and Betsy Iler during their tour of The Outlook office Monday morning. Above, students take a tour of the police and fire departments on Monday.
A quick response by Jacksons Gap Police to a residential alarm call interrupted a burglary in progress and led to a multijurisdictional, highspeed chase with shots fired last Friday and early Saturday morning. According to Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett, two Montgomery men McCall are in the Tallapoosa County Jail on attempted murder charges after what turned out to be a wild sequence of events. The Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department and the Jacksons Gap Police Sword Department are still actively investigating at least three residential burglaries in the Shady Bay area of Jacksons Gap. “On Friday, Nov. 17 at approximately 11 p.m. the Jackson’s Gap Police Department responded to an alarm call at one of the residences,” Abbett said. “Shortly after arriving Jacksons Gap Police unit gave pursuit to the suspect vehicle. During the pursuit the suspects fired multiple gunshots at the unit which disabled the unit.” Jacksons Gap Police Department Chief B.C. Cooper’s vehicle was hit See BURGLARY • Page 3
Denim and Diamonds Charity Ball a big success By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Nearly 150 guests filled the Rodeo Club in Dadeville Friday night for the sixth annual Denim and Diamonds Charity Ball. Sponsored by the Dadeville Chamber of Commerce as a fundraiser for the Lake Martin Area United Way, the night featured steak and baked potatoes from Poplar Dawgs, a silent auction with 52 wonderful items and the music of Lisa and the E-Lusion. “We do this every year for the Lake Martin Area United Way,” Chamber President Michael Carter said. “It gives people the chance to get dressed up and have a little fun locally.” Among the multitude of items available at the silent auction included six tickets to the Troy game against
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Texas State, golf retreats from both StillWaters and Russell Lands, a case of wine from Hodges Vineyards, a miniature Red Bull refrigerator, a charcoal grill and a United States flag that flew over the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. “This fundraiser has a huge impact for the United Way,” Lake Martin Area United Way Executive Director Sharon Fuller said. “We’re here to have fun and give back to the community.” The Dadeville Chamber of Commerce uses this event not only to raise money for a charitable organization, but also to show the people of Dadeville how hard the chamber tries to work in the community, according to Carter. “We like being able to offer events See CHARITY • Page 9
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.97 Reported on 2/27/17 @ 7:30 p.m.
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
After dinner, guests at the annual Denim and Diamonds Ball took the dance floor of the Rodeo Club, enjoying the music of Lisa and the E-Lusion.
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