FORMER COUNCILMAN SOUNDS OFF ON CITY ISSUES, PAGE 4.
ROAD TRIP
THE
Cougars hoping to find season’s first win on the road at Isabella, see page 8.
FRIDAY
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 September 25, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 192 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Football star part of sexual assault probe
New leader named at Horseshoe Bend Park Tagger brings great credentials to new post Staff Report Outlook Staff
Agency. “Years ago it was actually recommended that people dispose of their old meds by flushing them,” said Sabrina Wood, of Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership. She said now studies have shown that flushing medications is not the best method at all. And where the DEA hosts this event to keep drugs off the street and out of the hands of those who would use and abuse them, the Clean Water Partnership’s concern is to keep them out of the environment
National Park Service Southeast Regional Director Stan Austin has selected Barbara Tagger as superintendent of Horseshoe Bend National Military Park in Daviston. Tagger currently serves as site manager for the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, also Tagger in Alabama. She will begin her new assignment Oct.18. “We are very pleased to have Barbara as the superintendent of Horseshoe Bend,” Austin said. “She has a tremendous background in history and preservation and has displayed great leadership skills. We know she will work hard to strengthen the park’s bonds
See DRUGS, Page 3
See PARK, Page 3
Police officials say evidence against Eltoro Freeman will be presented to grand jury By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Alexander City Police Chief Willie Robinson confirmed Wednesday that a sexual assault claim involving former Benjamin Russell and Auburn University football star Eltoro Freeman has been investigated, with the findings likely to be presented to the grand jury. “The incident was first reported in April,” Robinson said. “It was reported by a third party, but we had not had an opportunity to speak with the victim. That has been done now and a sexual assault complaint was signed earlier this week.” Robinson said he could not release any further details of the investigation, but did say that Freeman had not been arrested on charges related to the sexual assault complaint at this time. He said the adult female who filed the complaint has been advised of her options as far as protective orders. “We will allow the process to work See PROBE, Page 3
Outlook Staff Writer
Residents can keep drugs off the street and out of Alabama’s waters by participating in the 10th annual Drug Take-Back event. On Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be a collection center set up at Walgreen’s in Alexander City to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medications. Anyone can bring any kind of over-thecounter or pharmaceutical-grade drug to be disposed by the state Drug Enforcement
By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
The evenings are growing cooler here in Tallapoosa County, promising fall soon and everything that goes along with it. One of those things is the annual Chair-ish Alexander City, sponsored by MainStreet Alexander City, where the artsy-craftsy ladies around town decorate chairs and other pieces of furniture to donate toward a fun and fundraising raffle. “This is our third year to do this,” said Jane Benton Howell, who sits on MainStreet’s Chair-ish committee. “Last year, we raised
Today’s
Weather
74 66 Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
487.74 Reported on 9/24/15 @ 4 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
6
By Corey Arwood
MainStreet gearing up Chair-ish Alexander City events
Decorated chairs like this one, raffles and a big downtown event are all part of what is happening for this year’s Chair-ish Alexander City.
High
DRUG TAKE-BACK Residents get chance to turn in old, unused medications
54708 90050
8
$2,600 and raffled off 43 items. We hope to do even better this year. We build a lot of events around Chair-ish and they’re all lots of fun.” Already, the decorated items are beginning to drift into the MainStreet office. Items are due by Thursday, Oct. 1. Photos of the items will be made available on the MainStreet Alexander City Facebook page and open to in-person viewing at the Lake Martin Area United Way office at 19 Main Street from Thursday, Oct. 8, through Saturday, Oct. 17. “The way it works is you can buy a raffle ticket for a chance on the item you want
for $5,” said Howell. “We will draw for the winners of each item at our Fall Festival on Oct. 17.” Fall Festival will be the culmination of the Chair-ish Alexander City event. Before then, there’s Rally in the Alley from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 8, which will allow residents to socialize, view the pieces to be raffled off at the festival and purchase their raffle tickets. “We’ll have wine and beer and appetizers available at Rally in the Alley, too,” Howell said. “It’s really just a chance for everyone to get together, socialize and see what beautiful
See EVENTS, Page 3
One injured in Thursday crash Alexander City Police Department personnel were called to the scene of a Thursday afternoon crash on Highway 280 at Dean Road. Officials said that the accident remains under investigations, but preliminary information suggests that a maroon Nissan Sentra traveling north of Dean moved into the path of a silver Scion that was eastbound on Highway 280, causing a “TBone” collision, with the Scion striking the Nissan in the driver’s side door. The driver of the Nissan received injuries described as “very serious,” and was still listed in critical condition as of presstime Thursday evening. Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
USPS Permit # 013-080
Now Playing:
The Visit – PG-13 Hotel Transylavania 2 – PG Maze Runner: Scorch Trials – PG-13