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VOL. 120, NO. 41
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017
Council approves new city clerk By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The Dadeville City Council took action Tuesday night to hire a new city clerk, following the recent resignation of Mike Gardner, who accepted an accounting position with the Tallapoosa County Board of Education.
“Mr. Gardner, we’re going to miss you,” Mayor Wayne Smith said. The mayor then said the city had received nearly 10 applications from those interested in the position. Upon reviewing the applications, Smith, Gardner and a couple of the council members interviewed the top three candidates. During Tuesday night’s
council meeting, Smith recommended the council approve hiring Debbie Minor, who had been serving as the city’s Utility Billing Clerk. “The other two candidates were highly qualified, but we’re glad to have her,” Councilman Dick Harrelson said. Following Smith’s recommendation, Harrelson made a motion to approve
Commissioners approve liquor license for club
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
27 YEARS of service Dadeville Kiwanis honors, celebrates long-time secretary
Recent storm delivers glancing blow to area
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Tropical Storm Nate brought wind gusts of up to 36 miles per hour and more than 2 inches of rain to Alexander City causing all sorts of problems in the process. But overall, officials say the area fared as well as could be expected considering the circumstances as the storm had lost much of its punch before it arrived. “The biggest thing that we saw were downed trees,” Tallapoosa See NATE • Page A5
See COUNCIL • Page A8
New fire fee bills creating confusion
New owner at site of former Col. Toms gets a great light The site that was the longtime home to a well-known nightspot in Tallapoosa County will again be home to a watering hole. In a meeting that took just nine minutes to complete, the Tallapoosa County Commissioners Tuesday approved a liquor license made by Jeffery Mark Welcher for an establishment at the Highway 49 club formerly known as Colonel Tom’s Tavern on County Road 34 near Dadeville. See CLUB • Page A5
hiring Minor to the city clerk position. Seconded by Councilwoman Betty Adams, the motion was unanimously passed by the council. Following the vote, Smith asked Minor to come forward. “Will you accept the position of city
Donald Campbell / The Record
Top, Betty Hayes makes a wish and blows out her birthday candles during her birthday celebration. Above, Hayes proudly poses with a plaque given to her by her fellow Kiwanians in recognition of her 27 years of service as secretary.
In recognition of her 27 years as the group’s secretary as well as her most recent birthday, the Dadeville Kiwanis Club threw a special party in honor of Betty Hayes during their meeting Thursday afternoon. The fellowship hall at First Presbyterian Church was decorated with balloons and streamers everywhere while Kiwanians, Key Club members and a number of special guests filled the room to honor a woman who was instrumental in the club and growing the number of Key Club members at Dadeville High School. A special birthday poster hung on the wall where visitors could leave See HAYES • Page A8
A measure that was passed by voters during the August senatorial primary that called for the imposition of a $75 residential and $150 commercial fire fee per structure is causing some angst for residents and folks in the office of the Tallapoosa County Revenue Commissioner Eva Middlebrooks. Bills for the fire fee had to be done manually and were sent out to property owners. As they have been received, many are questioning what is going on. “This was on the ballot in August, during the Senate Primary,” Middlebrooks said. “It passed but voter turnout was very low, so there were a lot of people who didn’t know about it. Because it passed so late in the year and required that it be collected immediately, the fees were not included in the estimates that were mailed out this summer. “We’ve received over 300 phone calls in the last few days because people don’t understand what the charge means on their tax bill.” Middlebrooks said that this wasn’t an action that was taken arbitrarily. The vote was a result of House Bill 485 that was passed by the Alabama State Legislature in the session earlier this year. That passage ordered the matter to be put before the people. In the election, voters in the Union Fire District voted overwhelmingly to approve the tax levy. The final vote was 329 to 117. Despite the ballot measure being advertised and posted, some may See FEE • Page A2
Sunday morning fire destroys two trucks in Dadeville the scene,” Wilkerson said. “Two engines and a tanker responded.” The Dadeville Police Two trucks were totaled Department responded to and one was damaged by a block off the area and was fire in the shipping lot Sejin in aided by the Camp Hill Police Dadeville’s William Thweatt Industrial Park Sunday morning. Department. It is not known at this time “Three trucks were involved,” what caused the fire destroying Dadeville Fire Chief Keith the two Venture Express trucks Wilkerson said. “Two were and damaging another. totaled and the other was “It is still under damaged by the fire.” investigation,” Wilkerson said. Wilkerson said the “I am thinking it will be wiring department got the call at 7:42 in the truck that burned all the a.m. Sunday morning. way down.” “We had three units on By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Today’s
Weather
86 62 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.45 Reported on 10/11/17 @ 11 a.m.
Waymon Williams REALTOR®
256-496-2992
1waymon.williams@gmail.com
Cliff Williams / The Record
Sunday’s fire in the shipping lot of Sejin destroyed two trucks and damaged a third belonging to Venture Express.
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