Dec 9, 2015 Tallassee Tribune by Tallapoosa Publishers

LOCAL, PAGE 2

SPORTS, PAGE 12

Tallassee’s Varsity Basketball team remains hopeful despite 0-4 record.

Santa’s Shop! TES opens Santa shop with a variety of holiday finds!

OPINION

COMMUNITY, PAGE 10

Pet of the Week, inside.

THE OPTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ‘JR.’

The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA

TALLASSEE, AL 36078

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December 9, 2015

TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM

VOL. 116, NO. 45

20 arrested in Wall Street drug sweep By WILLIE G. MOSELEY News Editor

Following complaints from dozens of residents of the Wall Street area of Tallassee, area law enforcement agencies combined forces in an investigation that culminated in a large drug raid Dec. 1 resulting in 20 arrests as well as the confiscation of $1500 in cash, four firearms, marijuana, crystal methedrine, and cocaine. All were taken to the Tallapoosa County Jail. Tallassee Chief of Police Jimmy Rodgers said the highly focused inves-

tigation began in October following a meeting with concerned citizens of that area in southwest Tallassee. “At that that point, the Tallassee Police Department and the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force began a joint activity into the drug activity in that area,” Rodgers said. The local police department has two agents assigned to the Tallapoosa County group. Narcotics agents in the joint investigation perused the area for approximately two and a half months and six search warrants were issued prior to the Dec. 1 raids, Rodgers said.

In addition to the Tallassee Police Department and its Tactical Operations Team and the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, agencies involved in the Tuesday action included the U.S. Marshal Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force, Alexander City Housing Authority, Alexander City Police Department Special Response Group and K-9 Unit, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Tactical Team from Montgomery and the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities emphasized in spite of the large number of arrests and involvement of multiple agencies from multiple juris-

dictions, the investigation is continuing. “This is another step in an ongoing investigation,” said Sgt. Fred White of Tallapoosa County. “It was a cooperative effort of several agencies.” See BUST • Page 7

Erica’s Hair and Tan annual tradition

By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

See MENTOR • Page 11

Two suspects were also arrested on drug charges in the Jordanville Community. See page 8 inside for more.

Local salon gives back with free holiday haircuts

Tutoring, mentoring program planned for THS Tallassee High School plans to implement a student to student tutoring and mentor program. The program will involve older high school students who will assist younger students in the elementary and middle schools with academics. “I think most systems and most schools have always had some type of tutoring programs and have students helping each other,” said Matt Coker, principal at Tallassee High School. “Our plan is to have more of a structured tutoring and mentor program. What we’ve done is, I have worked with Dr. Reyes at the elementary and coach Dean at the Southside Middle School to determine what their needs are. At the elementary school, Dr. Reyes would like

AUTHORITIES MAKE BUST IN JORDANVILLE

By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Tallassee Church of Christ and ran through east Tallassee, across the Fitzpatrick Bridge and terminated at Tallassee High School on Barnett Boulevard. Units included the Tallassee High School and Reeltown High School marching bands, gag vehicles from the

Erica Hopkins, owner of Erica’s Hair and Tan, is continuing an annual tradition by offering free haircuts right before Christmas. On Dec. 12 she, and her staff, will be offering free services from noon until 3 p.m. “This is my fifth year doing it,” Hopkins said. “It’s a way to give back to the community. It’s for people who normally could not afford to have their hair cut.” Hopkins said she Erica Hopkins wants everyone to feel good when they see friends and family during the holiday season. “Some families and parents only have enough to buy their kids Christmas,” she said. “Some parents don’t have enough money leftover for themselves. Everybody wants to look decent when they go see family and friends at Christmas.” While Christmas is a time for children to receive gifts, Hopkins said her gift would be to

See PARADE • Page 11

See HAIRCUT • Page 11

Grand Marshals for this year’s Tallassee Christmas Parade were Dale and Betty Segrest. Willie G. Moseley / The Tribune

HIP, HIP! PARADE! Tallassee celebrates Christmas season with annual parade By WILLIE G. MOSELEY News Editor

Perfect late fall weather greeted the attendees at Tallassee’s annual Christmas parade Saturday, as a bright sun, a cool temperature and cloudless skies made the event enjoyable for participants and parade fans. The parade route began at East

Tallassee City Library has new assistant librarian By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Tallassee’s new assistant librarian, Mary Baker (left), along with the new director, Margret Lumpkin (right), stand in front of the library’s Christmas tree. Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune

Tallassee City Library has a new assistant librarian. Mary Baker, may be new to the area, but her connection isn’t. She met her husband Robert Baker, who is from Tallassee, in South Carolina. Both have backgrounds in the Air Force and after the two married, her husband retired and the two moved back to Tallassee where she would go on to become Tallassee’s newest assistant librarian. “I just moved here in the mid-

dle of July form Charleston, South Carolina,” said Baker. “My husband retired from the Air Force and I separated from the Air Force. He’s from Tallassee so we came back home.” Mary Baker did not completely leave the military field. She continues to serve her country while also serving as assistant librarian. “I’m in the Air National Guard now, out of Birmingham (Alabama), ” Baker said. She said she is looking forward to the opportunity to work at the library.

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“I’m excited to get more knowledge and experience and maybe bring some ideas to the community,” she said. “I was thinking about setting up an after school tutoring program, since we are right down from the high school. I think what I look forward to most is getting more involved with the children’s program. Seeing them come in and reading to them.” She said she hopes to make a few subtle changes to the way things were done in the past. See LIBRARY • Page 10

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Variety of items offered at Tallassee Elementary Santa Shop By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

The Santa Shop is now open for students at Tallassee Elementary School and this year the shop offers a variety of items for everyone on your student’s list. “All of the items are $8 or less so it’s affordable for students.,” said Jose Reyes, principal at Tallassee Elementary School. “They have different things. They have iPad covers, purses, rings, bracelets, coasters, super hero items and things like that.” The Santa Shop is available for students to buy gifts for loved ones at a fraction of the cost of a retail store. Many students plan on buying gifts for family and friends this year. “A lot of times the kids want to buy something for the ones that they love, whether it be mom, dad, grandmother, granddad or friends, so we have those types of items that a child might want to go get someone that they love,” Reyes said. “We want it to be a reasonable price, something that they can afford.” The Santa Shop is open from 8 a.m.2 p.m. this week,. Tuesday, Tallassee Elementary will hold the kindergarten art show and literacy night; therefore, the Santa Shop will be open from 8 a.m.-8p.m. TES’s PTO spearheaded the Santa Shop and all of the money from the shop will go back into the PTO account for future projects. “It’s a fundraiser the PTO has coordinated. They have taken on everything,” Reyes said. “Anytime you have a good strong PTO that can take on things like this. Our PTO has been really good about taking care of everything. All of the money will go back into the PTO account so that they

can afford to do different things throughout the year. Some things that the PTO does, they might provide lunches for teachers during teacher appreciation week, they’ll leave some goodies in the teacher’s boxes or when it’s a teachers birthday they will do something for that teacher and things like that are what they do to let the teachers know they appreciate what they do.” While the Santa Shop is a fundraiser for the school, Reyes said he hopes the students will take away something priceless — the experience of being nice and kind to others. “The Santa shop or anything that we do is a fundraiser; however, I think it’s a great opportunity to help cultivate in the children the idea of doing something nice and kind for others,” he said. “It’s not something that’s very expensive and we as adults, we understand that it’s not always the amount of money spent, it’s just nice to know that someone is thinking about you and someone cares about you, enough to take the time to buy something for me. I think it gives the students the opportunity to see the things and say ‘I’d like to do this for my mom’ or ‘I’d like to do this for my dad’ or a family member or a friend.” For many parents, this is the one and only gift they may get from their child for Christmas and regardless of the monetary value, the gift is often priceless to those parents. “That concept of doing things for others.,” Reyes said. “We live in a society that is all about individualism and me, me, me all the time. We want to strive to make others happy. It may be just a small gift, but I’m sure there is a mother or grandmother out there who would love to get something from their child just to let them know that they are loved.”

Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune

The Santa Shop is now open for students at Tallassee Elementary School. This year, the shop oﬀers a variety of items for everyone.

Christmas with the light architect named Christ By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

There is a Christmas light display in Tallassee that stands as proof to just how elaborate,

intricate and electric Christmas in the digital age can be. And if there was an actual “war on Christmas,” the Christ family home would

deliver a full-fledged Christmas defensive attack on the senses of those who waged it. Maj. Eddie Christ, a full-time Army National Guardsman stationed in Tallassee, designed the light show. Christ may not be the Christ for Christmas’ namesake but he is the architect of The Christ Family Christmas Lightshow. This year Christ said his setup consisted of around 10,000 lights. It is his third year or so setting up the display, he Corey Arwood / The Tribune said, but with the rig that Christ uses he is more Eddie Christ of Tallassee has been creating the hi-tech Christmas display on his house and of a conductor than a yard for three years and a music light show for onlookers with through local radio waves. light-stringer. He said he manipu“He spends the entire way. Mary said their son lates various settings year working on it, as Differences like these will come down over the such as “cyclic,” “cross soon as he takes it down, are good for a marriage, holidays to help him set fading,” “smooth ramp- he starts working on Mary Christ said. up the display. ing,” along with the the next year, coming And she said she helps Eddie Christ said his more normal sounding up with new ideas and him think up possible project however is still a ones, like dimming and new things to add to it, arrangements for his dis- work in progress. twinkling. making adjustments to play and he helps her by And outside of it It is a long way from the songs,” Mary Christ doing the heavy lifting being his own admitted “on, off, or flashing.” for her landscape proj- hobby, he said it is about said. And Christ not only The display was also a ects, and working their Christmas and the spirit has a state of the art work of art for her hus- television. of giving and season of Christmas light show, band, she said, and that They have just cel- joy it represents. he synchronizes his dis- he coordinates the lights ebrated their 25th wedAnd Christ said it does play with music, and with the lyrics and beat ding anniversary in late not add that much to even co-opts local radio of the songs. his electricity since the November of this year. waves so those passing She said her own artisThe Christ’s have two lights are LED and not by can tune in for their tic interests consisted children, a daughter who standard bulbs. own drive-in style light more of landscaping and recently graduated from “It increases a little bit show. natural arrangements, Auburn University, and a but not enough to say, His wife, Mary Christ, and that the two were son who is in his second “whoa I gotta stop.” he said it is his hobby. totally opposite in that year there. said.

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www.TallasseeTribune.com

December 9, 2015 • Page 3

TALLASSEE WELCOMES CHRISTMAS SEASON

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Perfect late fall weather greeted the attendees at Tallassee’s annual Christmas parade Saturday. Top, The “Pride of Tallassee” proffered a rousing medley of Christmas music. Left, A Reeltown High School cheerleader encouraged the crowd to get into the Christmas spirit. Above, the man himself, Santa, waves to the enthusiastic crowd. Below, Patrons of the Wall Street Senior Center enjoyed their cruise in the parade. Willie Moseley / The Tribune

LAKE MARTIN VIEW – 260 South Lands End, 3 bd/2 ba, 1 acre, $135,000. TALLASSEE – McNEAL STREET, 2 bd/1 ba, close to national guard armory, $55,000. COMMERCIAL BUSINESS – Hwy. 229 in Red Hill (formerly Red Hill Cottage Restaurant), over 3000 sq. ft. on 3 ACRES, only $99,500. OAK HEIGHTS – Nice home, 3 bd/1 bath, large kitchen & den, $43,000. REDUCED! RIVER HILLS SUBDIVISION – 23 lots, great views of Lake Tallassee, underground utilities, sewage. Prices start at only $20,000. 2 SOLD – 21 remaining. W. PATTON – Brick, 3 bd/1 ba, new heat pump, hardwood floors, 2 lots, $69,900. ECLECTIC – NEW MOBILE HOME on 1.2 ACRE lot, 3 bd/ 2 ba, flat yard, lg. deck, on Ga. Rd. close to Rushenville Church. $69,000. 2206 HWY. 120 – 2 miles from Reeltown School, brick, 3 bd/2 ba, heat pump, hardwood floors. Beautiful yards, new roof, close to Kiwi Farm. 100% financing for qualified buyer. REDUCED TO $99,500. BEAUTIFUL BRICK HOUSE in Plantation Pines, 4 bd/3.5 baths, 1.6 acre lot very modern and pretty, REDUCED TO $324,000. 18 ACRES on S. Tallassee Drive, $34,000. 3189 LITTLE ROAD – 4 bd/2ba., large lot, very modern, & pretty, only $215,000. 8 ACRES KENT RD – REDUCED TO $45,000. 27 ACRES CLAUDE RD. – $80,000. TALLASSEE GILMER AVE. – 3bd/2 ba next to DQ zoned commercial, REDUCED TO $125,000. RED HILL – Handyman special! 2bd/1 ba on 2 acres, 75% finished, $55,000. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY – 8 ACRES close to Walmart on Hwy 14, REDUCED $198,500.

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THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Our

Opinion

Wonderful parade, parking a problem T

allassee put on a wonderful parade Saturday. Everyone appeared to be in the Christmas spirit and the smiles were flowing just as quickly as the Tallapoosa River. Although I wasn’t in town specifically for the parade, it was a nice addition to the house-hunting mission. With grandkids in tow, we saw the sights and sounds of the parade — it was impressive. Unfortunately, the time allotted to be in Tallassee wasn’t as long as the time the parade took, so I attempted to leave to go on to the next home — but there was nowhere to go. I was north of Barnett Boulevard between S. Dubois Avenue and N. Ann Avenue, east of Tallassee High School. Getting there before the parade, I thought, would be good … until the parade started. Then, the only way out was 7-8 miles out of the way by using the only outlet avail-

able, north on N. Ann Avenue. There were parked cars anywhere there was a spot on the east side of Tallassee High School — one car even parked in the driveway of the home I was looking at. I realized the Christmas parade was a big deal, but wondered if Tallassee was growing so large the city should look at trying to accommodate the influx of vehicular traffic downtown during big events, such as a parade. Monday, I took a drive past the same home, and I saw the same issue, but this time with Tallassee High School students parking well over a block away on the east side of the high school. Tallassee is becoming a popular town to live in being so close to so many things. Tallassee has its own charm and the school system is doing well. Maybe it’s time to look at the importance of adequate parking or facilities for parking during major events.

The options and obligations of 'Jr.' I

t might come as a bit of a surprise, but there’s actually more than one website for Emily Post etiquette advice/ instructions to be found on the Internet. Post, who was born in the 1870s, had an impressive writing career, including five novels. The first edition of her book on etiquette was published in 1922. She was 50. For many decades, that tome (which subsequently appeared in numerous revised versions) was considered the keystone of everyday good behavior, manners and appropriate protocol in the U.S. However, “good manners” seems to be both an extinct phrase and concept these days … but that’s not the subject of this column. Y’see, I ended up on an Emily Post website in search of some direction regarding the “Jr.” appendage on my legal name. By the time 2015 is over (in around three weeks), this annum will have seen quite a bit of transition for my family. The Missus and I are both getting organized regarding

Social Security, Medicare and other facets of the upcoming, er, “golden years” and for all of the so-called attempts by government agencies and supplemental insurances providers to simplify such large and important changes, it’s still a complicated and sometimes confusing process. I’m named after my father, who crossed the way this past August. In addition to the aforementioned age-related personal changes, this year has seen a lot of coordinating to do with my brother about Pop’s estate, personal belongings, memorabilia, etc. My stepsister has had to be involved as well, since my father moved in with her mother after they married. So, all of Pop’s stuff was at Caroline’s house. And Caroline also died this year, seven and a half weeks before Pop. When working out the legalistics of the estate, one niggle I needed to clarify had to do with the (legal) status of my own name. I’d heard that once a father passes away, his

THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE (533-160) is published weekly on Wednesday by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 301 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee, AL 36078. Periodical postage paid at Tallassee, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tallassee Tribune, 301 Gilmer Avenue, Tallassee, AL 36078. ISSN # 2150-3982. We reserve the right to refuse to print any advertisement, news story, photograph or any other material submitted to us for any reason or no reason at all. •Obituaries - $0.25 per word with a $15 charge for a picture. Obituaries can only be accepted by the funeral home handling the arrangements. The Tallassee Tribune does not accept obituaries from individuals. •Weddings/Engagements/Birth Announcements - $0.25 per word with a $15 for a 2 column, color photo. • One year $25 (In Elmore County, Tallapoosa County and Notasulga) Elsewhere $38 The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription with a 30-day notice. The notice can be mailed to the subscriber, or by notice in the newspaper itself. To subscribe or if you missed your paper, call David Kendrick at The Alex City Outlook: 256-234-4281. © 2015 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher. Kenneth Boone, Publisher Mitch Sneed: Managing Editor editor@alexcityoutlook.com • 256-234-4281 Willie G. Moseley: News Editor willie.moseley@tallasseetribune.com • Ext. 102 Carmen Rodgers: Reporter carmen.rodgers@tallasseetribune.com • Ext. 101 The Tallassee Tribune is contract printed each Tuesday evening in Alexander City, Ala. by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. 256-234-4281.

The SoCalled Column By Willie G. Moseley similarly-monikered son was not required to use “Jr.” as a suffix anymore; i.e., since the elder individual was deceased, there was no longer any need to differentiate. However, according to emilypost.com, the discarding of “Jr.” is “optional.” “A man usually does drop the ‘Jr.’ when his namesake dies,” the site details, “unless the suffix is so closely identified with his name that dropping it would cause confusion with the name of his late father.” So it’s up to (the erstwhile) “Jr.” as to when, where and why he should continue to use that additional “caboose” part of his name. But what about the legacy of

the decedent and the (usuallyimplicit) “obligations” that a scion with the same name has regarding such a legacy? There have been a number of “juniors” in the entertainment industry who have been perfectly content to use that addendum in an effort to further their own careers. Sometimes, the senior entertainer is still alive. And such quests by some “juniors” seem legitimate, while other efforts to play off of certain Seniors’ fame is dubious and/or specious. And sometimes, the younger entertainer has (or had) a lifestyle that’s just as wild as the one the old man had. One wonders who might be cited on such a list of two generations of entertainers, and how relatively “famous” and/ or “talented” junior was, compared to his dad. Even non-famous guys with the same name as their father may feel some kind of additional responsibility when it comes to living up to a specific moniker with “Jr.” tacked onto it.

As it turned out, I wasn’t a jock like my father was. When I was growing up, I probably gave my parents more problems than my brother did, but that’s usually the case for the older/oldest sibling; i.e., it goes with the territory — he or she makes a mistake, and younger siblings are made aware that said foul-up is not to be repeated. However, for all of the fairly-standard growing pains that resulted in familial discord, I always recognized that my parents had a lot of friends, and were always well liked by their peers. Some of those friendships dated back to their respective childhoods. So maybe if I’ve simply put out a decent, honest, and ethical effort in all facets of my existence, it will ultimately be considered as a worthwhile (if partial) fulfillment of the legacy that my father left. In my case, the “Jr.” suffix is something that I’ll strive to live up to for the rest of my life. It’s an honorable challenge.

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Talks THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Steve Flowers Inside the Statehouse

Gubernatorial Derby prospects continued. . .

his week we will continue our analysis of the potential horses in the 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial Derby. So far, we have counted down from 18 to 8. In descending order the list includes Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard , Supreme Court Justice Jim Main, Sen. Greg Reed, Sen. Arthur Orr, Mayor Vaughn Stewart, Mayor Walt Maddox, Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Congressman Bradley Byrne, Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, Sen. Del Marsh and State Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan. The next four horses will be revealed today and we will conclude the series next week when we reveal the top three horses. We begin this week with the Number 7 horse, Attorney General Luther Strange. Of the known candidates, Strange will have served eight years in a job that is the best steppingstone to governor. At 6-9, Big Luther will be the tallest horse in the race. He is a proven fundraiser with close personal ties to the Birmingham business community. However, he has had a somewhat controversial tenure. His continuation of the Bob Riley-era gambling circus demagoguery is a tar baby. The Number 6 horse, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, is going to be a player and will make it to the gate. Battle will most likely be in the 2018 Governor’s Race. Being the popular mayor of the Rocket City makes him a contender in the contest. Huntsville is the crown jewel city of the state. It is as though it really does not belong in Alabama. It is like the Silicon Valley of California or the Research Triangle of North Carolina was placed in North Alabama. Huntsville has more PhDs per capita than any city in the southeast. Huntsville is the heart of the vote rich Tennessee Valley. Battle will be the hometown candidate from the area. He will benefit from his name recognition and popularity in his region. He won re-election as mayor of Huntsville with 81 percent of the vote. He will do well in North Alabama. The key will be if he can become more than a regional candidate. Our sixth-ranked horse will benefit from the fact that he is dedicated to running and has been committed to the 2018 Governor’s Race for a while. Contrary to Battle’s dedication to the race, our Number 5 horse, State Treasurer Young Boozer, seems ambivalent about his political future. Boozer has been in banking for his career. He is not a natural politician. He was perfect for the State Treasurer post. Probably when he ran for that job he thought that would be his tenure in politics and he would cap off his career with that experience. Therefore, he is probably wrestling with the decision of whether he should go any further at age 65. He has a great name. He is not the first Young Boozer. His grandfather, Young Boozer, was a successful businessman and mayor of Samson. His father, Young Boozer II, was an ultrasuccessful businessman who starred in football at the University of Alabama with Bear Bryant. He was the hero of a famous Rose Bowl victory over Stanford in the 1920’s. This Young Boozer graduated from Stanford. That leads us to our Number 4 horse, who is a real thoroughbred. Secretary of State John Merrill is the best retail politician on the state stage today. He is the only one on the scene that reminds me of the master politicians of bygone days in Alabama. He is meticulously organized and built a grassroots statewide organization in his victorious race for Secretary of State in 2014. He won the old fashioned way by getting out and meeting people and working from sunup to sundown. His victory illuminated the old friends and neighbors tradition in Alabama politics. He ran like a scolded dog in his hometown of Tuscaloosa and his boyhood family stomping grounds of Cleburne County. He will have to make a tough choice whether to keep his safe Secretary of State post or roll the dice in 2018. We will conclude our handicapping of the horses in the 2018 Alabama Derby next week when we reveal the top three potential horses in the race. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers. us.

December 9, 2015 • Page 5

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In memory of John Lennon

hirty-five years ago this week, John Lennon was shot nine times in the back by a fan. Lennon had autographed an album cover earlier that afternoon for Mark David Chapman, who a few short hours later would end Lennon’s life. There is never a shortage of shocking moments in music. Award telecasts showcasing bad behavior and ill-advised clothing decisions are the norm; songs laced with lyrics intended to alarm parents have been performed since the beginning of popular song; celebrities vanishing completely off the pop culture map, or being found dead, too young, of an overdose. It’s all been done before. Lennon’s murder is perhaps the most shocking incident of all, because it crossed over so many cultural lines. The Beatles had been the most successful rock ‘n’ roll band in history, and deservedly so: they were innovators, building upon what had come before but taking their unique personalities and spinning out something completely new. It didn’t hurt that 73 million people tuned in to see their debut performance on American television — even a Super Bowl doesn’t get those kinds of ratings anymore with today’s fractured audiences. Lennon was an open book and defied category. His pas-

nonbeliever. Bird’s John Lennon, overall, was a peacenik. His most famous Eye View songs, “Imagine” and “Give Peace a Chance,” are used to By Michael this day. What kind of music would he be making were he Bird still alive? The Red Bulletin, a perision for Yoko Ono was disodical for Red Bull aficionaplayed so openly that many dos, posited that question in were taken aback by their October. Their summation too-much-information works was that Lennon would be of art, including films, picmaking electronic music and tures, and album covers that collaborating with hip-hop left, literally, nothing to the star (and Kardashian spouse) imagination. Yet Lennon’s other Kanye West. Strangely, earpartnership, with Paul lier this year, Paul McCartney McCartney, made them the did just that. Lennon’s death was greatest songwriting team of a turning point in popular their generation and perhaps music. Rock became more all time. They are rightfulabout spectacle than subly in the musical pantheon stance, with hair metal alongside Lieber and Stoller, bands dominating the scene. Rodgers and Hammerstein, King and Goffin, and many Although there are thousands of great songs that came out other duos. Mark David Chapman of the early 1980s, what is was a disturbed individual. remembered today as “‘80s He was a big Beatles fan, but music” is mainly the sound in a delusional state during of a synthesizer, brittle and the months prior to the kill- cold. What if Lennon had ing, he began to grow angry lived? In an interview given to with Lennon for certain RKO Radio on the last day of songs he’d performed. These his life, Lennon was looking songs stated that Lennon forward after a five-year perididn’t believe in God, or od of reflection and homeJesus, or the Beatles — and making. He said, “Here I am Chapman added the atheistic now. How are you? How’s brutality of Lennon’s earliyour relationship going? Did est post-Beatles work (he you get through it all? Wasn’t was mad at everything and everyone and took it out on the ‘70s a drag, you know? those first few records) to Well, here we are, let’s make statements such as the “more the ‘80s good, you know… popular than Jesus” comment as long as there is life, there from the Beatles days, and is hope.” decided to rid the world of a

A long time ago when I was a boy

long time ago, when I was growing up in the mill village around Herd Street, the mill didn’t take any time off during the years of World War II (to the best of my knowledge). I think all the schools let out for Thanksgiving Day only, then back to school we went (for a while, on Saturdays). Today everybody has a turkey for Thanksgiving, but when I was growing up we always had a big hen, and mama fixed a smaller chicken to go in the dressing. As a matter of fact, I don’t really remember the first turkey we ever had. There was no such thing as turkey hunting, because turkeys were brought in later. The same is true for deer. As a boy we hunted squirrel and rabbits. If we had ever seen a deer in the woods, it would’ve scared us out of our britches. I can’t recall the exact dates, but I remember when they started bringing deer in here and releasing them. Dr. Majure, the owner of Bama Park, worked hard to bring deer into this part of the country. Was it a good thing? I’ll leave that up to you. I was here before kudzu and we could walk

The Coffee Breaker By Ronald Brantley in the woods. The mill owned all the woods in the small world in which my buddies and I lived, and they let us play, hunt, and explore these woods without fear of somebody getting their shorts twisted because we were on their property. Not only was there no kudzu but the mill had a man walking the woods. He would start a fire, burn off an area and repeat this procedure until all the woods were burned off each year. Why the entire United States didn’t follow suit, I don’t know. Just think of all the forest fires this would’ve prevented. When it came time for a Christmas tree we searched the woods until we found one. My daddy and mama worked in the mill and so it was left up to me to get a tree if we had one. I’d get the axe or bow saw and away I’d go looking for a good tree. If it had a bad side we would just put it in the corner with the good side showing.

My younger sister and I would take the task at hand. I would build an X cross stand for the tree then we would decorate this tree with lights, making sure they burned. Add icicles, roping and by some miracle, two young children would come up with a beautiful Christmas tree. It’s a pity no one ever took a picture of our masterpiece—or maybe its best they didn’t, because the picture in my mind and memory shows a beautiful tree put together by two children with a few presents around this tree. Everything was plugged into one plug because mill houses didn’t have many wall plugs. There was a family up the street that didn’t have much and the man wasn’t much of a provider but one Christmas he got to drinking and went to town shopping and charging. Charging is when you promise to pay later. The more he drank the more he charged and those kids had a Christmas, I’ll bet they still haven’t forgotten. All this happened a long time ago when I was just a boy. In my mind it seems like it all happened just a while ago.

Dear John By John W. Peeler

Dance in the rain, I dare you

o, when was the last time you danced in the rain? Do you remember what it feels like? When the rain comes, many of us dash for cover or move away when we see it coming. But, in life there will always be some rain and we can’t always get away from the darkness thunderstorms sometimes bring ― no matter how hard we try. Everyone faces adversity ― or rain of sorts ― and I have found over the years it’s just best to face the rain until the storm passes … and it will pass. Dancing in the rain is kind of like, well, basking in the sun in reverse. Why we choose natural occurrences as a means to convey how we are doing in life is beyond me. While there are some who don’t like rain, which is considered negative; most seem to prefer sunshine, which is considered positive ― I guess that would be dependent on what your climate is most of the time. It’s funny how we use analogies to get our point across. For instance, why would I want to “walk a mile” in your shoes? Wouldn’t you be left without shoes? That wouldn’t be nice of me, now would it? Besides, if you wanted your shoes back, I’d have to walk two miles. I never thought about “climbing the highest mountain” for anything ― does that mean I’d have to leave the country? I don’t even have a passport. And, certainly, everyone knows you have to “crawl before you can walk.” Although, I have known some children that decided to walk and never crawled. I wonder when it comes to a difficult point in their life, will they have to go back and learn how to crawl first? And we all know “when it rains, it pours.” Sure, we know these examples are just parables and are in fact, lessons in life. Now, back to dancing in the rain. A few weeks ago, there was a thunderstorm, which is common for this time of year. My grandson and I were outside under the carport and it began to pour down rain. Initially, the thunder alarmed him, but after a few minutes (once I determined it wasn’t lightning) I looked at him and said, “Let’s go dance in the rain.” It wasn’t but a split second before we were out in the yard dancing our hearts out without a care in the world. When we were done, meaning when I was tired, I called to him and told him, “Never get so old that you forget to dance in the rain every chance you get.” He acknowledged with a big smile and said, “That was fun.” While he is really too young to know what I was trying to tell him, it will be something I reinforce to him throughout his life. Never run from difficult times or circumstances; embrace them and learn. When things get difficult; remember there is always an answer. And, never let the happy carefree child inside you be overcome with so much burden that you forget to live and love. But, most important, my message to him will be; never forget your happy place — your inner child. And, when the sky darkens around you and the rain threatens to ruin everything, don’t run from the storm ― dance in the rain and find a way to shine.

OBITUARIES/RELIGION

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www.TallasseeTribune.com THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Obituaries Jack Strength

Jack Strength, age 75, of Stockbridge, GA died Dec. 2. He was born in Tallassee, Alabama, to the late Leroyce J. Strength, Sr. and Helen Virginia Jones Strength. Jack was retired from Delta Air Lines, and he served with the National Guard. Mr. Strength is survived by his wife of 50 years, Donna Rich Strength, Stockbridge, Georgia; children, Michelle Young, Tallahassee, Florida, and Scott Strength, Forsyth, Georgia; brother, Perry Strength, Chino Hills, California; grandchildren, Michael Strength, Jonathan Strength, Jacob Strength, Daniel Young, Brittney Young Cooper; and 3 great-grandchildren. Funeral Services were Dec. 6 at The Chapel of Cannon Cleveland Funeral Directors with Rev. Frank Prince officiating. Interment was at Fairview Memorial Gardens. The family In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD, 20852 or kidneyfund.org. Those who wish may sign the on-line guest registry at www.cannonclevelandfunerals.com. Cannon Cleveland Funeral Directors, 770-914-1414.

Raymond Earl Messer

Raymond Earl Messer, a resident of Tallassee, Alabama, passed away Dec, 3 at the age of 82. Graveside services were held, Dec. 7, at Rose Hill Cemetery with Dr. Billy Doyle Gaither officiating. Gassett Funeral Home of Wetumpka directed. Mr. Messer is preceded in death by his parents, Dan & Dovie Gaither Messer; sisters, Mary Katherine Messer, Annie Ruth Jackson; brother, Dan “Windy” Messer. He is survived by one son, Victor Messer; one

daughter, Melissa Heflin; one brother, Charles A. (Geneva) Messer; two grandchildren, Breiana (Robert) Martin, Zachary Messer; two great-grandchildren, Arin & Robert Martin; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Online Guest Book available at www.gassettfuneralhome.net

Frances Janette Hudson

Mrs. Frances Janette Hudson, a resident of Red Hill, Alabama, passed away Dec. 6 at the age of 88. Funeral services were Dec. 8 at Refuge Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Scarborough officiating. Burial was in Refuge Baptist Church Cemetery, Jeffcoat Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Hudson is survived by her husband, Mr. Jack Hudson; son, Bobby Hudson (Teresa); daughter, Teresa Stringer (Matt); god-daughter, June Langley; grandchildren, Tangie Nabors (Lee), Crystal Baker (Ken), April Hurley (Graham) and J.D. Hudson (Heather); great grandchildren, Ashton and Beau Baker, Addison Nabors, Logan Hudson, McKenzie Hurley, Jackson and Hayden Hudson and Pope and Ann Coleman Hudson; brothers, Jarrett Hudson (Mary Jane), Billy Hurston (Barbara) and Gene Hurston (Ann); sister, Betty Thornton (Robert). She is preceded in death by her parents, Vincent and Berta Hurston; brothers, Buddy Hurston, Sam Hurston and Runt Hurston and sisters, Letha Hart and Thelma Day. Mrs. Hudson was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She loved to cook and always had Sunday lunch for all of her family. She never had a harsh word to say about anyone. She lived a life full of joy and love. Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome. com. Jeffcoat Funeral Home Directing Tallassee, Alabama.

Evelyn Chandler Roberson

Mrs. Evelyn Chandler Roberson, 75, of Tallassee, passed away Dec. 5. She was born June 6, 1940. Memorial services were Dec. 8 at Linville Memorial Funeral Home. She is survived by daughter, Barbara Thornton; son, Cecil Chandler; brother, Wayne Connell; sisters, Grace Gonzales and Sara Douglas; and grandchildren, Ryan Chandler, Chelsea Chandler, Kaitlin Chandler, Tyler Thornton, Robert Thornton and Travis Thornton. She is preceded in death by her husband, Herman Chandler. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Linville Memorial Funeral Home. Online condolences at www.linvillememorial.com.

Lily Diane Alexander

Lily Diane Alexander, 67, of Tallassee, Dec. 6. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 at Victory Baptist Church with Rev. Stanley Nunnally officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Dec. 11 at Corbitt’s Funeral Home in Tuskegee, Alabama. Mrs. Alexander is survived by her daughters Diannah Lee, Deannah Miller, Amandah Pritchett, and Hannah Dixon; eight grandchildren; and her siblings Bertie Reeves, Connie Coleman, William Hughes, Kay Hughes and Carlene Ledbetter. Send condolences at www.corbittsfuneralhome.com.

Mr. Fletcher Haynie

Mr. Fletcher Haynie, 83, of Eclectic, passed away Dec. 5. He was born October 13, 1932. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Linville Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Dec 10 at First Baptist

Church of Eclectic with Rev. Britt Green and Rev. Dru Mattox officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Linville Memorial Funeral Home directing. He is survived by wife, Iva Haynie; son, Darrell Haynie; daughter, Charlotte Mattox (Dru); daughter-inlaw, Gail Haynie; brother, Luke Haynie (Pat); grandchildren, David Fletcher Haynie Jr. (Lindsey), Jennifer Salemi (Ryan), Brett Mattox and Aaron Mattox and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by wife, Evelyn Ruth Haynie; son, David Fletcher Haynie Sr.; and siblings, Betty Luke Haynie, Howard Williams “Chicken” Haynie, Lorene Canty and Morris Haynie. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Kindness Ministry, First Baptist Church of Eclectic, PO Box 240400, Eclectic, AL 36024. Online condolences at www. linvillememorial.com.

Clinton Hope ‘Buddy’ Lynn

Clinton Hope “Buddy” Lynn died peacefully on Dec. 7. He was born March 20, 1942 in East Tallassee, Alabama. Buddy is survived by his wife, Janice B. Lynn, his sons, Clint, Eric (Debra), Shey and Bryan (Heather) Lynn , step children Lori and Tim Woodall all of Tallassee, Sisters Ramona(George) Burt of Willston, SC and Beth (Jamie) Baldwin of Tallassee. Buddy leaves 11 grandchildren, six nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews. Buddy was preceded by his parents Hope and Ruth Lynn of Tallassee. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a PFC from July of 1960 to July of 1964. The family will be accepting visitors at the home of Ella and Dale MacFiggen, 115 Windswept, Alexander City.

ReligionBriefs Episcopal Church of the Epiphany Epiphany will participate in the Tallassee Tour of Churches on Saturday, December 12. The church welcomes visitors to stop in during the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to learn more about the church’s architecture, symbols, and worship. On December 13 at 9:30 a.m., Mike Harber will continue leading a series of Advent season discussions on stewardship. At 10:30 a.m., Father Wells Warren will celebrate the Holy Eucharist marking the third Sunday in Advent, with coffee hour to follow. For more information, visit the church website: http://epiphanytallassee.org/

Salem Macon Baptist

The Salem Macon church choir will be presenting a Christmas Musical “All is Well” Sunday Morning, December 13th, during the worship service at 10:30 AM. Plan to come and worship with us, celebrating our Savior’s birth. Don’t forget to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering for Foreign Missions. This offering goes 100% to our missionaries. SMBC Post Office will be open this Sunday. If you would like to give a Christmas card to your church members and friends, pick up the Christmas card list this Wednesday night. On Christmas Eve, December 24th, at 5 PM there will be a Candlelight service. No service on Wednesday night, 23rd.Salem Macon is located on Hwy 14, 6 miles west of Notasulga and 9 miles east of Tallassee at 4647 Tallapoosa St., Notasulga. Rev. Mike Stephens is pastor. Thanks, Ann Owsley annowsley@aol.com 334 257 3565

Elam Baptist Church

WELCOME HOME! Elam Baptist Church, 4686 Notasulga Road, Tallassee, Alabama - Gene Bridgman, Pastor - Kevin Lanier, Worship Leader is a Welcome Home church. If you are seeking a church home, we encourage you to consider the fellowship of Elam. Elam Baptist Church is celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ during the month of December with various events. Sunday, December 6 the Annual Elam Family Christmas and Poinsettia Sunday were part of the Morning Worship Hour. The church was adorned with Christmas decorations including the Christmas tree with the lighting during the service and 26 beautiful red poinsettias given In Memory or In Honor of loved ones or friends were presented by the Children. Special music with Amy Hughes and Scott Slaughter added a Christmas blessing. The Young Adult Class had a Christmas Party

December 6 for their class. A group attended and were blessed with the Eclectic Christmas “Walk to Bethlehem” on Monday, December 7 for a realistic experience of the Christmas story. This was greatly enjoyed by all attending. The Children’s Christmas will be Wednesday, December 16 at 6:00 p.m. “The Joy & Wonder of Christmas” will be an event of Sunday, December 20 presented by the Sanctuary Choir at 11:00 a.m. Elam will have a live Nativity, Wednesday through Friday, December 23-25 at 5:30 p.m. each evening. There will also be a special Christmas Day Service at 5:30 p.m. Friday, December 25 with a fellowship following. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to be a part of this special service and all events and services of Elam. Visitors are always welcome. Join in! God invites you here. A very Merry and Blessed Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! WELCOME HOME!

East Tallassee United Methodist Church

Would like to welcome you to our open house on December 12 at 10:30am until 1pm. Refreshments will be served and Santa Clause will be available for children. We are located at 101 Central Blvd. Also, we will be having special Christmas music through out the month of December. The “River’s Edge Flea Market” is open every Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. All vendors are welcome: new items, old items, crafts, youth groups, ball teams, baked goods, produce and food. The flea market is sponsored by the East Tallassee UMC and is located across from City Hall. We will offer various priced booths. To reserve a space call Joan Wood at 334-312-4913. All proceeds raised by ETUMC will be used for church-sponsored programs.

Friendship Baptist Church

Friendship Closet, a ministry of Friendship Baptist Church located next to the church, is open the first Tuesday of each month from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. If you have a need for clothes, shoes, etc. for women, men and children, come visit us. You will find the presence of God there!

Liberty Baptist Church:

On Tuesday, December 15, at 7pm come join Liberty Baptist in welcoming The Kempters, a vintage gospel band in concert. This is a multi-talented family you do not want to miss. A love offering

will be taken. If you have any questions call the church office at 283-6338.

Carrville Baptist Church:

Our regular Sunday Services are Sunday school at 9:15, Morning Worship at 10:30am and all Sunday Evening activities are at 6pm. Our Wednesday night activities are at 6:30pm.

Beulah Baptist Church

Dec 12-Saturday- 5 p.m.-Sisterhood hosted by Pam Curles in the Fellowship hall. We will have an ornament exchange and reveal our secret sisters. Dec 16-Wednesday- 6:00 p.m. We will deliver fruit baskets and do caroling. Hot dogs and Chili to follow. Dec 24-Christmas Eve Candlelight services at 8 p.m. Everyone is welcome! Jan. 10, 2016-Sunday-Planning meeting is scheduled. Jan 17, 2016-Sunday-Baby shower for Beth Sexton at 2 p.m. Josh and Beth are expecting a baby girl. Thank you, dear God, for this holy season.

First United Methodist Church

Sunday, December 13, the Music Ministry of First United Methodist Church, Tallassee, will present a service of Lessons and Carols at 6pm. This evening will include scripture readings and traditional music of the season that reminds us of the wondrous birth of our Savior. Music will be provided by the Chancel choir, Children’s choirs, Handbell choirs and Encounter band of the church. Make plans now to attend this special evening and invite family and friends.

McCraney Cottle Arts Council’s Tour of Churches

Saturday, December 12 from 10:30 am-1pm Carville Baptist Church, 2436 Notasulga Road East Tallassee United Methodist Church, 314 Central Boulevard Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 2602 Gilmer Avenue First Assembly of God, 185 Friendship Road First Baptist Church, 1279 Friendship Road First Presbyterian Church, 514 Central Avenue First United Methodist Church, 1 Jordan Avenue God’s Congregation Holiness Church, 508 Jordan Avenue St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, 620 Gilmer Avenue Tallaweka Baptist Church, 1419 Gilmer Avenue

Submit your church news to editor@tallasseetribune.com The deadline is FRIDAY at noon.

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The Tallassee Tribune

t t e g t o t

THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

www.TallasseeTribune.com

December 9, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 7

Bust

continued from page 1

with property owners on options to clean up some of the dilapidated structures in that area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are some good people down there and we want to help them,â&#x20AC;? Abbett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From that meeting. It was apparent that there was a problem and we all worked together to address it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are also looking at possibly having some of them burned down with the help of the fire department.

Rodgers said he saw a positive aspect regarding the concern and cooperation of law-abiding citizens. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We usually only have maybe 20 people at community meetings like that,â&#x20AC;? the TPD chief said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but we probably had 50 to 60 or more at the Wall Street Community Center meeting back in early October. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s encouraging and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to take.â&#x20AC;? Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said the arrests were directly related to the outcry from the community and said officials are currently working

â&#x20AC;˘ Shiquita Denise Cardwell, 31, of Tallassee who was charged with three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana first degree. â&#x20AC;˘ Alphonso Cardwell, 53, of Tallassee, was charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. â&#x20AC;˘ Randolph Crawford, 51, of Tallassee, was charged with four counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana first degree. â&#x20AC;˘ Bobby Lewis Williams, 53, of Tallassee, was charged with three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. â&#x20AC;˘ Deroya Devonta Smith, 20, of Tallassee, was charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. â&#x20AC;˘ Christopher Smith, 35, of

The arrested individuals and their respective charges were: â&#x20AC;˘ Dale Marie Cardwell, 50, of Tallassee who was charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana first degree.

A. Cardwell

D. Cardwell

S. Cardwell

R. Chisolm

R. Crawford

W. Freeman

H. Greer

S. Kolb

M. Lightfoot

G. Pate

C. Ricks

A. Riley

T. Riley

J. Schonberger

C. Smith

D. Smith

B. Taylor

T. Thornton

C. Turner

B. Williams

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Tallassee was charged with three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. â&#x20AC;˘ Melvin Lightfoot, 28, of Tallassee was charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. â&#x20AC;˘ Antavia Riley, 27, of Tallassee was charged with four counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana 2nd degree, illegal possession of prescription drugs and possession of a short-barreled shotgun. â&#x20AC;˘ Timmie Riley, 22, of Tallassee, was charged with possession of marijuana 2nd degree, illegal possession of prescription drugs and possession of a short-barreled shotgun. â&#x20AC;˘ Henry Bobo Greer, 51, of Tallassee was charged with possession of marijuana second degree, illegal possession of prescription drugs and possession of a short-barreled shotgun. â&#x20AC;˘ Willie Charles Freeman, 60, of Tallassee was charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime .â&#x20AC;˘ Shannon Kolb, 38, of Tallassee was charged with four counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana second degree. â&#x20AC;˘ Travis Thornton, 24, of Tallassee was charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. â&#x20AC;˘ Brandon Scott Taylor, 25, of Tallassee was charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. â&#x20AC;˘ Christopher Shontae Turner, 41, of Dadeville was charged with: two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

â&#x20AC;˘ Cornelius Ricks, 27, of Tallassee was charged with possession of marijuana second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia. â&#x20AC;˘ Ronnie Chisolm, 55, of Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gap was charged with trafficking in hydrocodone. â&#x20AC;˘ Joseph Schonberger, 48,

of Tallassee was charged with possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana second degree. â&#x20AC;˘ Gregory Pate, 44, of Tallassee was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and non-child support.

LOCAL

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Page 8 • December 9, 2015

www.TallasseeTribune.com THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

IDB approves expansion documents for Two arrested for marijuana industrial park tenant possession and other charges

By Willie G. Moseley Staff Writer

In a brief edition of its monthly meeting, the Tallassee Industrial Development Board was informed that all of the required documents are in order for a site preparation grant for

an expansion by E & I, an automotive tier plant located in the Tallassee Industrial Park. The board voted unanimously to approve the documents. The expansion is not the first for E & I. Vice-chairman Don

Heacock had an inquiry about the status of an easement to be issued to the same company, which would allow pouring of concrete over a utility pipeline. Heacock was informed that certain documentation is still outstanding regarding that easement. Board chairman Rick Dorley told the board that the potential recruitment of a specific new industry is ongoing. The company in question prefers anonymity at this time, so Dorley referred to the initiative as “Project Reseal.” The board was also informed of another issue that is ongoing, which is the county revenue commissioner’s inquiry about ad valorem taxes. The next meeting for the Tallassee Industrial Board is at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 5, 2016 at the board’s offices in the Tallassee Industrial Park.

By Willie G. Moseley Staff Writer

In what might have ultimately seemed like a “preview” of the massive Dec. 1 drug raid on Wall Street, the Tallassee Police Department Special Repsonse Team and the Tallassee Police Department Narcotics Division raided a residence on the 400 block of 3rd Avenue Nov. 29 in the Jordanville area. The search warrant resulted in the confiscation of 103.5 grams of marijuana, prescription medications and several firearms. Brian Keith Caldwell, 34, and Thomas Winns, 37, were arrested and charged with first degree unlawful possession of marijuana and first degree unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and certain person forbidden to possess a firearm. Caldwell was

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Winn

Police Briefs Dec. 1

• False commercial alarm – Gilmer Avenue • Assisted medics – Barnett Boulevard • Transport – Friendship Road • Funeral escort – Friendship Road • Two-vehicle accident, no injury – Kelly Place, report made • Animal complaint – South Tallassee Drive • Information only report made – Clover Street • Inmate transport – U.S. Highway 231 • Complaint of suspicious vehicles – Ashurst Bar Road • Outstanding warrants – Noble Road, white male arrested • False commercial fire alarm – Wall Street • Complaint of dog bite – Friendship Road • Complaint of reckless driving – Alabama Highway 229, unfounded • Traffic stop – Gilmer Avenue • Medical call – Hickory Street • Traffic stop – Gilmer Avenue • Complaint of fight in progress – Powers Avenue • Traffic stop – Gilmer Avenue • Suspicious vehicle – E.B. Payne Sr. Drive • Traffic stop – Alabama Highway 229 • Suspicious vehicle – Alabama Highway 229 • Traffic stop (X 2) – Gilmer Avenue • Traffic stop – Magnolia Street • Noise ordinance – South Harper Street • Traffic stop – Notasulga Road • Transport – Friendship Road • Suspicious vehicle – Alabama Highway 229 • Traffic stop – Alabama Highway 229

Dec. 2

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also charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Both individuals were transported to the Elmore County Jail. Tallassee police c h i e f Caldwell Jimmy Rodgers said due to the concentration on the pending large operation on Wall Street, release of information about the Jordanville arrests was delayed.

• False commercial alarm – Gilmer Avenue • Traffic stop – Gilmer Avenue • White male arrested – Oak Heights Road • Breaking and entering motor vehicle – Benson Avenue, report made • Information only – Wallace Drive, report made • Attempt to contact – Cotton Ridge Road, negative contact • Outstanding warrant – Cotton Ridge Road, black female arrested • False residential alarm – Burton Road • Assist other agency – Wall Street • Assist other agency – General Chappy James Street • Traffic stop – 1st Street • Complaint of criminal mischief – Dorman Avenue • Attempting to elude – North Ann Avenue, white female arrested • Traffic stop – 1st Street • Follow up Redden Avenue • Suspicious vehicle – Macedonia Road • Trespassing – Wallace Drive, report made • Suspicious person – Notasulga Road, negative contact • Domestic incident – Gilmer Avenue, advice given

• Outstanding warrant (other agency) – Gilmer Avenue, white male arrested • Failure to obey, disorderly conduct – Gilmer Avenue, report made • Traffic stop – Freeman Avenue • Public intoxication – Notasulga Road, black female arrested

Dec. 3

• Traffic stop – Jordan Avenue • Animal complaint – 3rd Street • Traffic stop – North Ann Avenue • Private property motor vehicle accident – Alabama Highway 229 Criminal mischief – Barnett Boulevard, report made • Traffic stop – 3rd Street • Complaint of theft – 3rd Avenue, unfounded • Traffic stop – Jordan Avenue • Miscellaneous call – Central Boulevard • Miscellaneous call – Friendship Road • Miscellaneous call – Salem Place • Outstanding warrants – Barnett Boulevard, white female arrested • Assisted other agency – Stewart Street • Black female arrested (X 2) – Barnett Boulevard • Black male arrested (X 2) – Barnett Boulevard • Civil disturbance – Central Boulevard • Complaint of verbal domestic violence – Riverside Avenue, unfounded • Possible burglary in progress – Golden Drive, unfounded • Traffic stop – Darnell Road • Traffic stop (X 3) – Gilmer Avenue • Attempt to elude –Paxton Drive, report made • 911 hang ups – Wallace Drive, advised • Assist medics – 1st Avenue • Outstanding warrant – Barnett Boulevard, white female arrested

Dec. 4

• Report made- Hillcrest Street • Assisted medics – Barnett Boulevard • Forgery – Dark Corners Road, report made • Identity theft – Barnett Boulevard, report made • Welfare check – Kent Road • Juvenile complaint – Neptune Drive • False residential alarm – Knox Street • Assisted other agency – Gilmer Avenue • Traffic stop – Herd Street • Juvenile complaint – Neptune Drive • Funeral escort assistance – Barnett Boulevard • Miscellaneous call – E.B. Payne Sr. Drive • Complaint of trespassing – Redden Avenue • Domestic incident – South Tallassee Drive • Possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia – James Street, white male arrested • Complaint of suspicious vehicle – General Chappy James Street, unfounded

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Pet of the week Roxy is a 7-month-old Labrador mix girl, about 40 pounds. As you can see, Roxy just loves her toys and will carry them everywhere she goes. She is a very active pup who is great with other dogs and just loves everyone. This beautiful girl has been with us since August so let’s get her a family to call her own for Christmas. Our adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under 1 year old; cats over 1 year old can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee completely covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, deworming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough, 45 days of pet health insurance and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian. To meet all the great pets at our shelter come to 255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka, AL, 36092, go to our website at www.elmorehumane.org for more information, email us at hselco@bellsouth.net or give us a call at 334-567-3377. We are open for adoptions 10 a.m. MondayFriday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday..

Humane Society of Elmore County News By REA CORD Elmore HUmane Society

Christmas is coming up fast and it can be a great time to bring home a new pet since you may have time off for the holidays and everyone will be home to welcome the new pet to the family. If you are thinking of adding a pet we do hope you come to our shelter (or any shelter for that matter) to find your new best friend. Surprising your children, parents, or spouse with a pet may work out wonderfully since the giver is also a recipient but we do caution against getting a pet as a gift for a non-family friend. A pet is a very personal bond and one reason we are happy to offer Adoption Gift Certificate/Gift Baskets for you to purchase so that the recipient can come at a later time to find their new best friend. This way the adoption is paid for and you can even add items like food, dishes, toys, etc so the recipient will have everything they need to bring their new puppy or kitten home. These certificates

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Library “I know they have tried to have a book club in the past,” she said. “I’m thinking of trying that again and maybe promote it a little differently to catch people’s attention. Book clubs are great.” Being from a lager city, Baker said she hopes the smaller city will offer her the opportunity to become more involved in the community. “I am not from a small town, so I like idea of getting involved in the community and meeting people,” she said. “Up until now I have volunteered here and there but I want to do more.” In between working at the Library and serving in the Air National Guard, she said she still finds time to attend college. “Park University, it’s

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an online college,” she said. “I almost have my degree in Human Resources Management. I plan on staying here and furthering my education. Maybe go to one of the universities and taking evening classes, so I will be here for a while.” Before Mary Baker became assistant librarian, the position belonged to Margret Lumpkin. Lumpkin is now the director and is settling into her new role at the library. “There’s a lot more paperwork involved,” said Lumpkin. “It makes you think more on how we can improve, whereas before I would think about making my directors job easier. Now, it’s what can I do to make the library better, what does the library need and what are the steps

are good for one year so an adopter doesn’t have to feel rushed if they don’t find ‘the’ one that first visit. This can also give them time to get through the hectic holidays and then look for their new best friend when things calm down at home. We are open for adoptions from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. We will, however, only do pick-ups of pre-approved adoptions on Dec. 24 until noon and then will be closed Dec. 25-26. For your planning, our adoption fees are $100 for dogs & $50 for cats under 1 year old; cats over 1 year old can be adopted by approved adopters for an adoption fee of their choosing. This adoption fee completely covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, de-worming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough, 45 days of pet health insurance and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian. And while we would love it if all of our pets found home for the holidays, we also want potential adopters to make sure they are ready. Christmas parties, visiting relatives, tempting presents under the tree and people food everywhere can also make Christmas a hectic time of year to bring home a new pet. A new puppy can mean a lot of ‘accident’ clean-up and a new kitten will just love climbing the Christmas tree to play with all those decorations and could be a lot to handle with all of the other

to get it that way.” One of Lumpkin’s upcoming goals is to modernize the library’s science-fiction books, she said. “We’re hoping to apply for a book grant next year to update a lot of our nonfiction books,” Lumpkin said. “That’s in the works. I have never applied for a grant before so that could be curious.” Lumpkin said she is very familiar with the library and hopes to leave a lasting impression there. “As an assistant, I had some influence, but as director I guess it’s more about the potential of what mark I can leave on the library,” Lumpkin said. “Because I believe the library has had some great directors that have worked here, there are some big shoes to fill.

They left some good marks on the library. So for me, it’s what can I add to it to make it better, that’s what is important to me.” Lumpkin said she hopes to see the library continue to flourish over the upcoming years. “I expect us to still be going strong, keeping up with the new generation and keeping up with the times,” she said. “We are a lot busier than people give us credit for.” One of Lumpkin’s first points of order, she said, is to make room for more contributions. “During December we are running ‘Black December,’” she said. “Everything in the basement is free. We’re trying to condense the volume down there. There are books, some cassettes, VHS, hardbacks.

ongoing activities. We tell adopters that bringing home a new pet is a bit like adding a four-footed child, so we just want to help potential adopters make sure they are ready for the commitment a new pet brings since we want it to be a lifetime of love for people and pet alike. On Dec. 19, we hope you can stop by for our Shelter Christmas Open House from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. And, visit with Santa, who will also be with us for photos with pets and children. You can take your own photo of your pet with Santa or we can help take a photo using your camera or smart phone. Any donated pet supply item would be greatly appreciated. For those who may not have visited us before, our address is 255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka, AL 36092, and if you need directions just give us a call at 334-567-3377. Don’t forget to check out our Tails End Thrift Store (co-located at the shelter) for gifts for yourself and your friends. Our Thrift Store has clothes, linens, Christmas decorations, books, collectibles, small appliances, toys and so much more. The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 10- 12 and Dec. 17-19 Dec and can also receive donations during those hours. While at our Thrift Store please thank our volunteers who work so hard receiving, sorting and selling all of the donated items on behalf of all the animals we all work so hard to help.

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Mentor us to work mainly with reading. At the middle school, we will work primarily with math.” High school students from the 11th and 12th grades will go trough a screening process and those who qualify will participate in this program. The goal is to help the younger students while simultaneously allowing the older students to gain helpful life skills that will prepare them for life after high school. “We’ll take our juniors and seniors and have two official classes that will be in the master schedule and we will send about 15 students to the elementary and 15 students to the middle school,” Coker said. “They will have a teach-

Parade Montgomery Shriners, students at several area dance schools, city officials, political candidates, beauty queens, horse riders and Santa Claus, among others. Many of the riders on floats tossed candy to delighted children. Sharp-eyed parade-goers may have noticed the Tallassee Fire Department’s aeri-

Haircut see moms and dads alike come in and take advantage of this offer to look good for the holidays. “This is for the mothers and dads, it’s for the kids and it’s for who ever would like a haircut,” Hopkins said. While Hopkins and other hairdresser’s are the one’s who are actually cutting hair, it was a higher calling that moved her to do this for the community. “God gave us his son, Jesus Christ, the gift of salvation for all those who would believe in him,” she said. “I am a Christian myself and God gives each one of us gifts and talents that we can use to glorify him. This is one of my ways of showing the love of Christ and giving back to the community. God has blessed me

December 9, 2015 • Page 11

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er that they will work with. They’ll be mentoring and tutoring the students that Dr. Reyes wants them to help and the students that coach Deans wants them to help. The goal is twofold. We want to help the younger kids academically and socially. We want to have the big brother, big sister, look to it and the second part of is that we want to develop our kids. Our students helping others is beneficial for our students too, on a social platform and also for possibly developing future teachers. We talk a lot about growing our own and it would certainly benefit us in that way. Next school year we will have an actual class for this.”

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al drone hovering over the parade route. Fire chief Travis Jones said that the drone, which can fly as high as 400 feet, was being used to monitor the progress of units along the route. The parade was sponsored by the Greater Tallassee Area Chamber of Commerce.

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and my family so much ad this is the least that I can do.” Hopkins’ said her goal is to help as many people as she can and invites other hairdresser to join in. “ … I have other staff that works for me that will be available, as well, and if there are any other hairdressers out there that would like to join this cause, they are more than welcome,” she said. Hopkins said she is thankful to Tallassee and the surrounding community. “I want to thank them for their business, loyalty and I wish that they have a Merry Christmas.” For additional information, contact Hopkins at 334- 283-4734 or 334-415-8483.

This will be a graded class for the juniors and seniors. There will be an interview process for the selected students to insure only the best students are sent to represent Tallassee High School. “They will get a grade and credit toward graduation,” Coker said. “It will be an elective and we will probably do some picking and choosing. We have them fill out an application and things like that to be a part of the program. This is one of those things that makes a lot of sense because it’s not real hard and it can be beneficial to a lot of people.” While THS spearheaded this tutoring and mentoring program, the

state of Alabama did have some influence in its creation. “The state requires us to do a continuous improvement plan and part of that plan was to create what they call a local indicator,” Coker said. “It has pretty much given each school and each school system the flexibility to do what’s wanted. They give you evaluations on your plan, and about 20 percent of that is how you carry out this local indicator. We obviously want to get our 20 percent but while we’re doing that we might as do something that’s beneficial. This just gave us an opportunity to be more structured about it.”

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Tallassee’s Varsity Basketball team hopeful despite 0-4 record By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Tallassee Tiger Troy Neighbors takes it to the net during Tuesday’s game agaisnt Dadeville. Tallassee lost the game, 55-49. The Tigers remain upbeat despite being winless. Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune

“Never give up,” is Coach Cecil Hollinquest’s motto. “Continue to look forward and never give up,” said Hollinquest, Tallassee’s High School boy’s varsity basketball coach. That was the message he conveyed Dec. 1 after Tallassee lost 55-49 to the Dadeville Tigers. “We didn’t play as well as I hoped we could have,” he said. “We had some errors towards the end, some turnovers, missed some free throws and a few other things that are fixable. That’s what we have been doing, trying to work on some things that we can correct. Right now we’re 0-4, that doesn’t feel good, it doesn’t sit well. We’re back at the drawing board and continue to try to correct some problems, but we’ll be okay.” Dadeville came into the game winless and had to fight hard to beat the Tallassee Tigers. “Dadeville was a great group … well coached by Coach Taylor,” Hollinquest said. “They came in and they hadn’t won a game. It was their second game and I knew it was going to be a dogfight, I mean a catfight since both teams are tigers. I knew that we had to protect the inside, which we didn’t do a great job on that. It was a winnable game. We just had an error here and there that cost us the game.” Despite the loss, Tallassee had a couple of standout players during the game. “Imon Kirt had 12 rebounds,” Hollinquest said. “That was key for us in the rebound department. He also came out with 12 points. Dee Williams had 12 points

as well.” Hollinquest remains upbeat with a positive attitude and is confident his team will rebound from this losing streak and turn the season around for the varsity Tigers. “We’re getting there,” he said. “We’re just not quite where we want to be. Defense is increasing. We’re trying to work on the fixable things. I believe that we work out those fixables, things that we can control, I think we will be a pretty good team.” He said he believes strongly in his team and trusts that with persistence and determination Tallassee will come out on top this season. “Work hard, correct the fixable problems and switch the lineup up,” he said. “We don’t have a set lineup. We’re still looking for five guys that want to lay it on the line. Just continue to pound at and pound at.” While looking forward, Hollinquest finds motivation from a speech given by the late Jim Valvano, one of the greatest coaches in college basketball. “The main thing is, we can’t give up,” he said. “One of the great coaches of college basketball, Jim Valvano, once said, ‘Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.’ Those are seven of the most powerful words in life and also in basketball. We don’t give up. We’re not going to give up. We’re going to continue to work and continue to go back to the drawing board. We even try to be open with the players to see what they think will work. We are trying as a team to get to that point and we’re going to be fine. We’re getting there.”

THS wrestlers remain undefeated as schedule gets into gear By WILLIE G. MOSELEY Tallassee Tribune

Getting into the meat of its 2015-16 schedule by competing three days in a row, Tallassee High School came away with an unblemished tally that keeps them in the undefeated category so far this season. Coach John Mask made some changes to his starting lineup prior to the Thursday night home match against the traditionally-powerful Auburn High School team, which wrestles in Class 7A. The new frontline wrestlers as well as the starters who were already in place proved themselves up to the challenge, vanquishing their visitors from the larger school, 49-15. One intriguing matchup saw Tallassee’s Rio Reyes going up against former THS standout Brady Beasley, who now attends Auburn High, in the 152-lb. weight class. Reyes ultimately won the contest when Beasley withdrew due to a shoulder injury. The THS junior varsity also prevailed over Auburn, 54-30. On Friday, the Tigers traveled to nearby Elmore County High school, and defeated the host Panthers. “The team wrestled well,” Mask said. “I am really impressed by how hard they go at it. If and when someone gets injured, somebody else

Tallasee’s Rio Reyes, left tangles with former THS team member Brady Beasley who now wrestles at Auburn High School. Reyes won due to a shoulder injury to Beasley. Reyes’ win helped Tallassee defeat Auburn. William G. Moseley / The Tribune

has stepped in, and we haven’t missed a beat. The younger wrestlers who are getting their first chance are getting acclimated.” Saturday, Tallassee hosted and ultimately won, its own duals tournament. Going 5-0 for the contest, the Tigers beat Prattville Christian Academy (51-21), the Smiths Station B-team (64-18), Holtville (5921), Beauregard (5424), and Weaver (3931). The Weaver win

was particularly sweet, since that school is in the same classification as THS, and like Tallassee, has a strong wrestling program. “We were ahead by just two points going into the last match,” Mask said, “and if Jordan Price had lost, we would have lost. He got a pin, which sealed the victory. I believe that’s the first time we’ve ever beat them in a dual match. They’ve won seven or eight state titles; we’ve beat them

in tournaments and we beat them at the sectional and state (tournaments) a couple of years ago, but never in a duals match, so that was a big deal.” Monday saw THS playing host to Benjamin Russell High School of Alexander City, another larger school with a strong program, and the Tigers again prevailed, 40-28. “They’d wrestled in the Red Devil Duals in Phenix City (Alabama) last weekend, and had

gone 4-1,” Mask said. “I was nervous about this one, but some of our kids stepped up for injured wrestlers and performed well, beating some of Benjamin Russell’s veterans.” Tallassee’s record is now 9-0. Several wrestlers are undefeated, while others have only one loss. THS was scheduled to host 7A Smiths Station (Alabama) — the varsity this time—at 2 p.m. Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, the Tigers

will return the favor to Weaver, taking part in that school’s meet in Calhoun County. “We’re a great duals team at this point,” Mask said. “We can find ways to win if everybody steps up. It’s yet to be determined how we’ll do in regular bracketing tournaments. We are young and have a ways to go, but the young men are giving a great effort and have performed well when required.”