Weekend OPINION, PAGE 4: BE SAFE AS YOU TRAVEL THIS LABOR DAY
The Outlook
SPORTS, PAGE 12
INSIDE: Obituaries, page 2 Religion, page 6 Classifieds, page 7 Sports, page 12
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September 2-3, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 175 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Parker indicted in Reese murder case By MITCH SNEED Editor
The man suspected of firing the shot that led to the death of an 18-year-old Benjamin Russell basketball standout has been indicted by a Tallapoosa County Grand Jury. A grand jury returned indictments of charges of reckless murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle against Anthony Davon Parker. Parker, now 19, was arrested on March 30 as a result of the March 28 shooting on Robinson
Road that led to the death of 18-yearold Quentavious Arrion Reese. The indictments read in part: “Parker did recklessly engage in conduct which manifested extreme indifference to human life and created a grave risk of death to a person other than the said Anthony Davon Parker, and did thereby cause the death of Quentavious Arrion Reese, by shooting a .45 caliber pistol into an occupied vehicle.” The incident has been a very emotional one for people in Alexander City. Both men were well known and
had bright futures ahead of them. Parker was on a football scholarship to West Alabama at the time of the shooting. Nearly 300 people attended the tearfilled memorial service for Reese. It is alleged that Parker was at the home of Jeffery Bruno off Robinson Road near Alexander City and was shooting a .45 caliber handgun. Parker had been target shooting and Reese had been at the home, before leaving in a vehicle with a group of friends. A short time later the vehicle carrying Reese returned down the road towards
FUN-FILLED DAY Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Wind Creek State Park is sold out when it comes to camping for the holiday weekend.
Walking around Wind Creek State Park Thursday one could find empty campsites – maybe coming to the conclusion the park is struggling. But state officials say it is just the opposite and campground occupancy is up with the online reservation system. Thursday, plenty of water front sites were empty but according to Wind Creek’s Gerad Martin, they are not available for the holiday weekend. “We are completely full,” Martin said of the weekend. “We will have over 550 in here Friday afternoon.” Before the online reservation some campers would show up a week in advance to get the spot they wanted under a first-come, See RESERVATION • Page 3
Today’s
Weather
84 64 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.73 Reported on 09/01/17 @ 4 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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Area officials preach holiday road safety By MITCH SNEED Editor
Online reservation system working well at Wind Creek By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
the home and a number of shots, allegedly fired by Parker, were directed towards the vehicle. One shot struck Reese in the head as he rode in the back seat of the vehicle, according to information heard at a Parker preliminary hearing. Reese, who was a senior at Benjamin Russell High School and had been offered a basketball See INDICTMENT • Page 9
Submitted / The Outlook
Grandparents lunch, diaper drive at Reeltown Elementary make great start to Labor Day weekend By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
More than 250 grandparents filled the hallways of Reeltown Elementary School Friday morning, ready to spend a part of the half-day for students with their grandchildren. Grandparents were able to eat an early lunch with their students, have their photos taken together by a photographer from Tallassee, and admire special artworks their grandchildren made for them. “This is a tradition we have every year at our school,” said Reeltown Elementary Principal Pam Langford. “We normally do this closer to Grandparents’ Day, but we were See GRANDPARENTS • Page 9
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Top: Grandparents and grandchildren alike enjoyed the special lunch time together Friday morning. Above: A sign welcomes the special guests into Reeltown Elementary.
Holiday weekends always mean heavier traffic as visitors to Lake Martin come to the area to enjoy the holiday. Area law enforcement officials hope that this weekend will be a safe one, despite the flood of people. Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said that while Labor Day isn’t normally as busy as July 4th weekend, this weekend has a combination of factors that could see it become a very busy time on area roads. “As far as our local traffic, it’s not as busy as it would be on July Fourth or Memorial Day, but you have to mix in the fact that Auburn has a home ballgame this weekend. You’ll have a lot of traffic in the area,” Abbett said. “With football games and Labor Day, it will be a tremendous amount of traffic in the area because a lot of people will extend their recreation from going to the ballgame and then staying on the lake and things of that nature.” Abbett said the sheriff’s office will continue its routine patrols throughout the weekend and also check boat ramps and provide assistance where needed, as well as stress the importance of travel safety. He’s hoping that the weather will cooperate so road conditions are not hazardous and that drivers will do See SAFETY • Page 9
Dadeville Kiwanis gets Keebler Park update By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Dadeville resident Dianna Porter shared her plans for bringing new life to Keebler Park during the weekly meeting of the Dadeville Kiwanis Club. From the initial phases beginning this fall, to long-range ideas to be implemented over the next decade or so, she captured the attention of all the Kiwanians in attendance. “I gained approval last month from the city council for this,” Porter said. Beginning with the development of a rain garden and a butterfly garden this fall, some of her long-term plans include being certified as both a bird and a wildlife sanctuary, turning part of the park into an outdoor classroom for the local schools and adding a wellness path to the walking path running through the park. To help with plans for making the park an interpretive center, Porter and Tallapoosa County Extension Coordinator Shane Harris See KIWANIS • Page 3
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Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Dianna Porter points out a tree in Keebler Park that will have its branches trimmed up during the work planned for the park.
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