COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE! THE
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
SPORTS, PAGE 10
September 13, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 182 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Wildcats’ Hunter, Herron are a dynamic duo.
ARRESTS, PAGE 2 See the latest reports from area law enforcement.
Driver facing negligent homicide indictment
WEDNESDAY
MISTLETOE MIRACLE Special / The Outlook
County road crews clear trees on Church Road in Eagle Creek Tuesday.
By MITCH SNEED Editor
A man who was at the wheel of a semi truck that plowed into the back of a car last December on Highway 280, killing a 38-yearold mother of three, has been indicted by a Hawkins Tallapoosa County Grand Jury. Court records show that 64-year-old Michael Lewis Hawkins of Decatur, Georgia was indicted on charges of See INDICTMENT • Page 3
Legacy Builders prepare for Commitment 2017 By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Working in conjunction with the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes clubs, the group Legacy Builders is getting ready to hold Commitment 2017, a nondenominational worship and fellowship service at the Betty Carol Graham Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19. “This is the first time See LEGACY • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Sandra Mae Mellott poses in front of a massive 122-year-old oak that fell at Mistletoe Bough early Tuesday morning. Below, despite the tremendous size of the tree, the house, including the turret at the side of the front porch, received little or no damage.
Century-old oak falls, but doesn’t damage Bed & Breakfast By MITCH SNEED Editor
Irma moves on out Officials continue cleanup, praise storm response By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Readiness was the name of the game Monday, as police departments, fire departments and public works departments geared up for whatever damage Tropical Storm Irma might bring to Tallapoosa County. Despite fears that the storm could still be fairly intense as it crossed central Alabama, the county saw mostly heavy rain and moderate to high winds. Even so, agencies in Alexander City and Dadeville were ready. “We met Friday and again first thing Monday morning,” Alexander City Director of Public Works Gerard Brewer said. “We mapped out a game plan at around 7:30 Monday morning. We had a good plan in place.” During the early afternoon hours, Brewer said the department received approximately 12 calls about downed tree limbs, as well as a couple of spots where drains had become clogged with debris and were flooding as a result. “We drove around town See STORM • Page 9
When storms threaten your community, home and business owners take precautions, then hope and pray for the best as the weather rolls in. That was exactly what Mistletoe Bough Bed and Breakfast owner Sandra Mae Mellott did as she went to bed Monday night after winds from Tropical Storm Irma had blown through the area. A massive oak tree that has stood tall on the property for more than a century had been the main source of her angst. “We knew that eventually we would probably have to have it taken down, because it had been damaged before,” Mellott said. “It’s right there in front of the inn and it was just so pretty. As I laid down Monday night, I just laid there thinking about it and praying about it – hoping it would make it through See TREE • Page 3
Today’s
Salvation Army meets needs in troubled times EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth in a series of profiles on the 28 agencies that receive funding through the Lake Martin Area United Way. Currently, the Lake Martin Area United Way is holding their 2018 fundraising campaign, “Team United.” To learn how to help, contact the United Way at (256)329-3600 or at www.unitedwaylakemartin.org. By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
File / The Outlook
Tabatha Glassburn, above right, directs the Salvation Army efforts in Tallapoosa County and goes all out to help in times of crisis and need.
We Care About You
Following any sort of major disaster, there are always organizations that race in to offer what aid and assistance they can to those affected by the situation. Among these groups is the Salvation Army. However,
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Lake Martin
they are more than just a disaster relief agency, offering programs of all kinds to the public. In the Lake Martin area, the Salvation Army has set up their headquarters in Alexander City and provides services to Chambers, Coosa, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties, according to local Service Center Manager Tabatha Glassburn. “The primary mission of the See ARMY • Page 3
Lake Levels
490.04 Reported on 9/12/17 @ 4 p.m.
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