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ARRESTS, PAGE 9 See the latest reports from area law enforcement
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
OPINION, PAGE 4 Rural roads are just as important as major ones
March 20, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 56 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Hutcherson files for change of venue Attorney says publicity will cause unfair trial in porn case By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
An attorney representing Justin Kyle Hutcherson has filed a change of venue motion based on pretrial publicity. “All local media has
sensationalized the nature of the charge against the defendant to the point that it will be impossible for the defendant to receive a fair and impartial jury in Tallapoosa County,” the motion states. Opelika attorney Zachary
D. Alsobrook represents Hutcherson, 32, New Site, who has been indicted on Hutcherson 61 counts involving an investigation
into the possession of child pornography. Alsobrook said in his motion filed March 13 citizens in Tallapoosa County and the district attorney shared a story by The Outlook on Facebook and the district attorney went on to comment about it. “The district attorney assured concerned citizens that
Streets of gold:
New Site hopes to have clinic by early 2020
Gas tax will help but will it be enough to fund Alex City’s wish list?
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The New Site Town Council hopes to start construction of a medical clinic and pharmacy soon and will keep its employee health insurance with Local Government Health Insurance. New Site Mayor Phil Blasingame said the town will need to offer perks to draw healthcare. “Incentives is the name of the game,” he told the New Site council Monday night. Blasingame said he was talking to Russell Medical about providing a medical clinic and to Brad Jackson about bringing a pharmacy into the same building if the council elects to go through with the project, which the town hopes will result in a clinic by 2020. “(Russell Medical CEO) Jim Peace has taking the clinic plan to his finance committee,” Blasingame said. “Between them, they are talking six new jobs, one being a nurse practitioner and the other a pharmacist.” The incentive being considered is for Russell Medical to sign a sixyear lease with the first year requiring no rent and See COUNCIL • Page 12
Today’s
Weather
66 44 High
Low
By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
The man who oversees pavement on streets and making sure bridges are safe enough to support traffic isn’t sure how much money Alexander City will ultimately reap from the state’s gas tax increase. Gerard Brewer, the city’s public works director, has a dream list of projects nonetheless but may not have the funds to see them brought to fruition. “I was glad to see it because any additional funding we can get is needed,” Brewer said of the gas tax increase, which will amount to 10 cents more per gallon within three years to raise an estimated $320 million for infrastructure improvements statewide. Brewer admitted the new gas tax is not popular with his neighbors. “My neighbors were out in the yard one day and we met at the mailboxes,” Brewer said. “They were saying, ‘Can you believe it, as poorly as they manage money they’ve got the nerve to ask for more?’ I got my mail and went inside.” Brewer’s department currently has a $1.35 million annual budget to repair and maintain streets and bridges but he said the city’s sophisticated MicroPAVER software has calculated $2.4 million is needed to maintain streets at a level
SMOKE IN THE AIR Photos by Cliff Williams / The Outlook Drivers called 911 Tuesday reporting a fire in the woods on Highway 63 South. The Alexander City Fire Department responded to the initial call until it could be confirmed it was a controlled burn. Russell Lands is performing controlled burns on much of its property over the next few weeks to control brush and duff to prevent larger fires in the future.
See WISH LIST • Page 3
Nabors likes terms for financing
Resource officers act as liaisons By GABRIELLE JANSEN Staff Writer
6
54708 90050
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
487.30 Reported on 3/19/19 @ 3 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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The Alexander City school resource officers are the liaison between the schools and Alexander City Police Department, according to Capt. James Orr. Alexander City school resource officer Brian Ray has been in his position for six years at Benjamin Russell while Jim Pearson Elementary and Stephens See LIAISONS • Page 10
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his office had a very strong case,” Alsobrook’s motion stated. Hutcherson was indicted by a Tallapoosa County grand jury March 1. Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jeremy Duerr told The Outlook about the charges after Hutcherson’s arrest on March 1. See HUTCHERSON • Page 12
By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
Gabrielle Jansen / The Outlook
Benjamin Russell school resource officer Brian Ray, left, and officer David Johnson, the SRO for Jim Pearson and Stephens Elementary, pose for a photo outside Benjamin Russell.
Crestview Apartments
Mayor Jim Nabors said Alexander City wants to close on the purchase of the former Russell Sales Office and 56 acres of property by April 1 and a benchmark financing rate continues to bode well for saving money on the $9 million project to move city hall. “We have told (current property owner) Gary (Nelson) we want to try and close on April 1,” Nabors said. “Then See DEAL • Page 10
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