HIT THE ROAD
OPINION: LET’S GET INVOLVED TO STOP THE VANDALISM, PAGE 4.
THURSDAY
THE
Lady Wildcats head to Wetumpka, Page 10.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 September 15, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 186
www.alexcityoutlook.com
No water in Goodwater after water main break By MITCH SNEED Editor
The name of the town would suggest that all would be well with the water in the town of Goodwater, but that has not been the case. Many residents have found themselves without water for large portions of three days as officials work
to repair a major break in the line that supplies water for most of the town’s 1,391 residents. According to town officials, a fault in a 12-inch water line located near the spot where U.S Highway 280 crosses Highway 9 began to impact water pressure Monday evening. The fault turned into a major break, forcing officials to cut the
flow at times to work on the line. One issue is that the line is more than 25 feet below the surface and locating the break was difficult. After the break was located, opening up enough area to repair the break properly was a bigger task. Elmore Unbehant, who serves as chairman of the Town of See GOODWATER • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Crews work Wednesday to repair a water main break that stopped water flow in Goodwater.
Preliminary hearing today for suspect in April murder
Police make arrest in store burglary By MITCH SNEED Editor
Two separate area convenience stories were the victims of would-be burglars, but Alexander City Police Department officials say that nothing was taken at one store and an arrest has been made in the second incident. Alexander City Police Department Deputy Chief Jay Turner said that in the early morning hours of Tuesday, police were called to the Delta Express convenience store on Hillabee Street on an alarm call. Police found the front door glass broken, but once store management arrived it was found that nothing was taken. At 1:24 a.m. on Wednesday, an alarm alerted police to another similar incident at the Koons Convenience store on Jefferson Street. Police responded along with storeowners and found that the glass in the front door was smashed. “The owner was on the scene quickly and in checking See BURGLARIES • Page 2
By MITCH SNEED Editor
David Granger / The Outlook
Kowaliga front of the house manager Stacey Jones returns the tomahawk to the wooden Indian statue in the lobby of the popular restaurant.
AKowaliga PIECE RESTORED Restaurant statue gets his tomahawk back
But Kowaliga, who stands in the lobby of Kowaliga Restaurant on the banks of Lake Martin, is beaming inside. Kowaliga may not be smiling outwardly. He has his tomahawk back. Unfortunately, the Indian maid he loved so The tomahawk had been missing since Sept. in song – purchased by a wealthy customer and 4 when 19-year-old John Mason Friday, visittaken far away, according to Hank Williams, ing the restaurant on a trip to Lake Martin who made Kowaliga the wooden Indian famous – has not returned. See KOWALIGA • Page 3 By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
The man suspected of shooting and killing his neighbor as he mowed his lawn on a riding lawn mower on April 20 will appear in today. A preliminary hearing date for accused killer Franklin Price Jr. is set for 1:30 p.m. before Judge Kim Taylor at Price the Alexander City Annex of the Tallapoosa County Courthouse. The preliminary hearing was set June 1 at the request of Franklin’s court-appointed defense attorney Mitchell Gavin. Price lived across Highway 63 from 49-year-old Clyde Wilson, who died after being shot once while cutting his grass on a riding lawnmower Wednesday, April 20, at about 9:30 a.m. See HEARING • Page 3
Lake Martin
Lake Levels Vandalism at Smith Mountain, trails has trail association upset 487.66 STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Smith Mountain and its historic fire tower are revered by many, but after a rash of vandalism and theft, the members of the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association are fed up and aren’t going to take it anymore. “For a long time, the Smith Mountain Tower area remained relatively free from problems, but for some reason there has been a lot of mischief this year,” said Jimmy Lanier, founder of Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association. “Recently we have had problems with graffiti painted on the gorgeous rock formations, damage to our kiosks, theft of trail signs and other signs in and around the
tower, people building fires, damage to longleaf pines on the mountain, and far too much litter.” The trail association has taken a number of steps to stop these problems. Electronic surveillance devices have been installed that send signals and pictures wirelessly to a frequently monitored website. Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association also has a Facebook page with hundreds of followers and the potential to reach many more. When a couple recently removed a sign from the Smith Mountain Tower, their picture was posted on Facebook and through hundreds of shares, the post reached over 30,000 people. In less See VANDALISM • Page 3
Fall Back Too
Reported on 9/14/16 @ 6 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Today’s
Weather
89 70 High
Low
Submitted / The Outlook
Members of the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association say there has been a lot of mischief, theft and vandalism this year at Smith Mountain. Investigators are looking for suspects involved with graffiti like the one pictured above.
Easier Times
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