LAKE MARTIN LIVING INSIDE FOR SUBSCRIBERS, PLUS SPORTS EXTRA
Weekend The Outlook
Lighting Li h i the h way for f Alexander All d City Ci & Lake L k Martin M i since i 1892
September 15-16, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 184 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
McDaniel’s fiancée charged with witness bribery with the outcome of a murder The witnesses testified the trial,” District Attorney Jeremy murder victim in the case was Duerr said in a release. “She aggressive and was known to be failed. Ms. Sweet didn’t get what of bad character trying to justify she paid for but I intend to see that McDaniel’s stance of “justifiable she will pay for what she got.” homicide” according McDaniel’s attorney Davis Whittelsey in closThe charges stem from ing arguments. McDaniel’s murder trial where it Prosecutors learned of the paywas revealed Sweet made $20 paySweet ments to the witnesses who were ments to each of the four defense witnesses’ jail accounts the day prior to the being housed in the Chambers County Jail along with McDaniel before his trial start of McDaniel’s trial in June.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
A Tallapoosa County woman has been indicted by a Chambers County grand jury for four counts of bribing a witness. Fiancée of convicted murderer Clate McDaniel, Erica Sweet was arrested Friday in Tallapoosa County and transported to the Chambers County Jail. “The defendant is alleged to have paid witnesses in a brazen effort to interfere
and called Chambers County Sheriff Maj. Mike Parrish to the stand in McDaniel’s trial to tell of the misdeed. Parrish testified the four inmates who took the stand for the defense had money deposited to their jail accounts by Sweet. According to court records at press time, Sweet was still being held in the Chambers County Jail on $50,000 bond. If convicted of the four felony counts, Sweet faces up to 10 years in prison on each charge.
IN HARMONY Local organist, pianist still playing together at same church 50 years later
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
T
he 1960s saw musical phenoms like The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beach Boys and Led Zepplin start their storied careers. In 1968, Debbie Brewer and Vicky Patterson living on opposite sides of a Tallapoosa County country church, started to play the piano and organ for the church. While the well-known phenoms have come and gone or rotated members in and out to try and stay alive, Brewer and Patterson have been steady acts every Sunday at Eagle Creek Baptist Church for the last 50 years. It is something along the lines of a miracle to Eagle Creek Baptist pastor Dr. Tim Thompson. “It is the most amazing thing I have ever seen,” Thompson said. “It is an amazing commitment. They must have started when they were 2.” Brewer and Patterson did not start at the age of 2, but the were still awfully young in the summer of 1968. “I was 11 and she was 13,” Patterson said. “Debbie was playing the piano before then.” But they got their start in music even earlier. “I started taking music in the second grade,” Brewer said. “Leila Ponder was the music See CHURCH • Page 3 Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Vicky Patterson, left, and Debbie Brewer have been playing the piano and the organ together at Eagle Creek Baptist Church for 50 years.
Today’s
Weather
91 72 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
489.93 Reported on 09/14/18 @ 3 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050
Wilkinson feels vision is paying off at BRHS
Council talks capital projects, wage study in budget session
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series profiling school principals in the Alexander City and Tallapoosa County School Systems.
By DUSTIN DUNCAN Staff Writer
When the Alexander City City Council goes to approve its budget, hopefully Monday night, it will be looking to find a way to close a $4.7 million gap between what revenues the city is projected to bring in and what it is expected spend as well as capital projects needing to be done throughout the city. It’s not as bad as it
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
See COUNCIL • Page 9
FREE CONSULTATIONS
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Benjamin Russell High School Principal Dr. Anthony Wilkinson arrived five years ago with a vision to help the high school move forward. Since then, he feels the school has made progress, but the process is still being tweaked and improved upon.
For nearly three decades, Dr. Anthony Wilkinson has worked in the field of education, teaching students and overseeing schools. Five years ago, he arrived at Benjamin Russell High School with a vision of how to improve the school and make it a shining example of secondary education. See WILKINSON • Page 3
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
•Home-like Environment • Specialized Dementia Care Unit •Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services “It’s not the end ... It’s a new beginning”
256-329-1313 217 Madison Street, Alexander City, AL “We are a Debt Relief Agency. We help people file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 under the Bankruptcy Code. Alabama State Bar requires the following in every attorney advertisement, “ No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”
A DAMS HEALTH & REHAB 1555 HILLABEE STREET • (256) 329-0847
Planning a Yard Sale? Boost your pro½ts with an ad in the Classi½eds. It’s an easy and affordable way to bring more business to your door! To place your ad call
256.277.4219 The Outlook ClassiÀeds