BOONE: RECENT PAY INCREASES HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR CHANGE, PAGE 4.
Weekend The Outlook
LEARNING THE GAME
Youth players attend local tennis camp, pg. 12
SAVE TIME & GASOLINE!
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
June 20-21, 2015 • Vol. 123 • No. 123 • www.alexcityoutlook.com
Mother arrested in connection with toddler death Arrest follows report from medical examiner indicating the toddler’s death was due to “methadone toxicity”
By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
The mother of a 3-year-old boy who died last December has been arrested and is facing allegations that she is responsible for his death. Alexander City Police arrested Bethany Brown Missildine, Friday after a warrant alleging “chemical endangerment exposure to a child resulting in death” was obtained. Bentley Cole Missildine of Alexander City died at Russell Medical Center on December 27, shortly after officers were called
to a home on Barrett Road. Earlier this week, investigators received toxicology reports that indicated the boy’s death was due to “methadone toxicity.” “It had been an ongoing investigation and, when we received the report from the medical examiner, the decision was made to move forward with an arrest warrant,” Alexander City Police Detective George Long said. “We were able to locate her on Friday in Alexander City and have taken her into custody.” The arrest warrant was dated
Wednesday, June 17. Authorities had been attempting to locate Missildine since that time. As in the case of any unexpected death, particularly of a child, the Alexander City Police Department launched an investigation into the child’s death immediately in December. The complete results of the autopsy and drug testing were not made available until this week, authorities said. Methadone is an opiate that is used sometimes to help recovering
See ARREST, Page 3 Bentley Cole Missildine
A bad day fishing is better than...
Father, sons fishing trip great despite one fish Father’s Day outing including all sons was first in long while By Cliff Williams Outlook Staff Writer
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David Granger / The Outlook
Rev. Al Williams cuts Felton Morgan’s hair as they share their thoughts on Wednesday night’s shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Local pastors react to Charleston church shooting
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
Three pastors of local black churches gathered Friday afternoon at Lou’s Barber and Style Shop on Calhoun Street say Wednesday night’s shooting of nine people in the Charleston, South Carolina’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church was just the latest example of evil in the world and recommended heightened vigilance and a turn to God for protection. “I do believe that God protects us all, but some things just happen,” said Rev. Lou Benson, the owner of the barbershop and pastor at Gap Fellowship Church on Highway 22. “That’s why God says it’ll rain on the just as well as the unjust. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love us. See SHOOTING, Page 3
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
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Dick Chambliss, top right, and his sons, Chad Calhoun, left, Ben Chambliss and Baker Chambliss talk while aboard David Hare’s boat last week. Right, Dick Chambliss reels in the only fish of the day as David Hare reels in one line that was close to the surfacing striper.
Editor’s note: Tallapoosa Traveler is a weekly column that shares some of the special treasures tucked away in our county. Today, we look at Big Beach on Lake Martin.
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Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
Today’s
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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See FISHING, Page 8
Big Beach, a place ‘Where everybody knows your name’
Reported on 6/19/15 @ 1 p.m.
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veryone says that a bad day fishing is better than almost anything else, like a good day at work, a tie, a shirt, or even golf accessories. Baker and Ben Chambliss and Chad Calhoun pushed their father, Alexander City resident Dick Chambliss to the reel as Alex City Guide Service’s David Hare called out to them. “Fish on, fish on,” Hare told his group about 6 a.m. last Friday, not long after dropping live bait in the Kowaliga basin. “Who is up first?” After all, they were taking their father on a fishing trip for Father’s Day, so Mr. Chambliss should be first. Moments later, Mr. Chambliss reeled in what would be the only fish of the day. Hare was disappointed in the fish. “That is only about a five pounder,” Hare said under his breath. Mr. Chambliss couldn’t have cared less about the fish’s size as he posed with
A local getaway on Lake Martin, Big Beach is located on Woods Island.
nyone who has spent time on Lake Martin knows MITCH that on a hot SNEED summer day, Editor despite the incredible beauty and splendor that surrounds you, it can wear you out. With 10,000 boats on the water, it can get choppy out there, and even at 45 mph, the summer sun can cook you like a chicken leg sizzling in Crisco in an electric skillet. See BEACH, Page 5