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September 22, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 189 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Charges now capital murder for suspected killer ACPD’s Turner says additional charges are possible By MITCH SNEED Editor
A Valley man saw charges against him upgraded to capital murder for shooting and killing a man as he drove down Highway 280 Tuesday night and Alexander City Police Chief Jay Turner said there could be additional charges coming in the case.
Turner said Nicholas Seth Harrison, 21, of Valley has now been arrested and charged with capital murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle or building, reckless endangerment and possession of a controlled substance. Turner said the murder charge could be upgraded to capital murder and other charges could be added as well. “The reason for a capital murder
charge is we feel like the criteria for that crime fits in this situation,” Turner said. “Without getting into specifics of the motive or the crime, we did find evidence of premeditation and that is one of the factors that can raise a shooting death to the capital level.” Investigators say evidence uncovered in the investigation points to Harrison being the person directly responsible for the death of 21-year-old Denzel Pope of Sylacauga. Turner said that there could be addi-
tional charges and other parties implicated as the case is presented to the grand jury. “This is still an active investigation and we will take what we find and present it to the grand jury and let them Harrison determine any additional action,” Turner said. See CHARGES • Page 3
City clerk Gardner moving to county board of education By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Alexander City Kiwanis Club hosting annual peanut sale The Alexander City Middle School Builders Club helped out the Alexander City Kiwanis Club with its annual peanut sale by helping bag the shipment into 2 and half pound bags. Stopping by Tapley Appliance Center to help Thursday were, above, Builders Club Sponsor Tonya Simmons, left, secretary Karlee Fuller, volunteer Cameron Caldwell, Cam Caldwell and Builders Club vice president Torie Spann. The peanuts are $5 and available at Tapley Appliance Center, Radio Shack, River Bank, Tallapoosa Ford, Town and Country Cleaners and Shoe Repair, Alexander City Board of Education and Hare and Dunlap. Right, Karlee Fuller, left, gets help from Cam Caldwell topping off a bag of peanuts.
BRHS band comes to attention for funeral procession
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A man who has been a stabilizing presence at Dadeville City Hall has a new opportunity to do the same thing in a new position. Dadeville City Clerk Mike Gardner was approved by the Tallapoosa County Board of Education to be hired as a new financial administrative assistant at the most recent board meeting. Gardner will be working with current Chief School Financial Officer Tommy Thweatt when he arrives in the central office the first of October. “I feel very appreciative that they feel I can do this job,” Gardner said. Thweatt felt positive about Gardner being hired by the county school system and working in the financial department with him. “I think he’ll be a huge help here,” Thweatt said “He has a lot of accounting experience. I’m looking forward to getting him in here.” Similar to Thweatt, Tallapoosa County School Superintendent Joe Windle felt very good about hiring Gardner to the central office. “He has a lot of accounting experience with the Russell Corp. and the City of Dadeville. During the hiring process, it became obvious he was the best choice for us,” Windle said. “It was a decision we feel will make our central office staff that much stronger. He was a great hire.” Mayor Wayne Smith said Gardner See GARDNER • Page 3
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USPS Permit # 013-080
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.69 Reported on 09/21/17 @ 4 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
The air in front of Benjamin Russell High School was alive with music Monday afternoon, as the marching band was hard at work practicing their Friday night show. Suddenly, the sound went silent, as quickly as if a radio had been switched off. A funeral procession was making its way up Cherokee Road before turning on to South Central Avenue. Paying their respects to the deceased, the band stopped their practice and stood silent facing the roadway until the procession passed. “It became a tradition where they stop what they’re doing, turn to face Cherokee Road and come to parade rest,” Benjamin Russell Band Director Dale Bloodworth said. “It gives them a moment to stop and reflect, remind them there’s so much more in the world than what they’re doing. “They won’t even put their instruments down. See BAND • Page 3
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Members of the Pride of Benjamin Russell practice Thursday afternoon as traffic passes on Cherokee Road. The band has a tradition to pause as a funeral procession passes.
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