March 30, 2016 Tallassee Tribune by Tallapoosa Publishers

OPINION PAGE 4

LOCAL, PAGE 11 Missing Tallassee teen found, returned to parents.

‘This old barn brings back memories. . .’

SPORTS, PAGE 12

The winning streak continues.

INSIDE

LOCAL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, PAGE 2.

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VOL. 117, NO. 13

Miles sentenced to 41 months

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

A former Tallassee Assistant Police Chief has been sentenced to almost four years in prison for beating a suspect and then lying to investigators about his attack. Chris Miles, 41, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for depriving a suspect of his

federally protected rights by beating the suspect with a phone book-sized packet of paper during an interrogation and then lying about the incident to an FBI agent investigating the matter. Miles was also sentenced for selling marijuana that he stole from the police evidence room. Miles pleaded guilty on Nov. 17, 2015, to one count

of deprivation of civil rights, two counts of false statements and one count of possession with intent to distribute. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Myron H. Thompson of the Middle District of Alabama. According to admissions made during his plea hearing, in April of 2013, while he was on duty as assistant police

chief, Miles beat a prisoner who was serving a sentence at Tallassee jail while Miles was interrogating that prisoner about uncharged crimes the prisoner was suspected of having committed. During the questioning, Miles grabbed a thick packet of copy paper and used it to strike the victim multiple times across the victim’s face and

Earth Day begins with town cleanup By MITCH SNEED Editor

The Earth Day 2016’s Team Up to Clean Up event is set for April 18-23. Now is the time to sign up your group or organization’s litter team. Litter teams can sign up to pick up litter around neighborhoods and businesses. Advanced Disposal is providing roll off containers for this year’s Team Up to Clean Up event. These containers will be at City Hall from 8 a.m. until noon, Saturday, April 23. This is for non-hazardous materials only. Parker Tire and Auto will take used oil, tires and batteries all week from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Electronic recycling will also be offered during this event. Drop for electronics will be the Tallassee Recreation Center on Thursday, April 2,1 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. “Electronic recycling will give citizens a chance to get rid of old and outdated household electronics without risking the water supply by sending these items to landfills,” said Whitney Hester with the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce. Items accepted will include: desktop or laptop computers, computer mouses, keyboards, modems, routers, DVD and See CLEANUP • Page 7

Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune

Kat Raiford and her daughter Katelyn enjoyed Saturday’s 4th Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt on the greens of City Hall. Children ages 5 through 7 race to gather as many eggs as possible Saturday.

ON THE HUNT

Tallassee opens City Hall for annual community Easter egg hunt By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

City Hall was filled with children both inside and out Saturday as the Community Easter Egg Hunt began at 2 p.m. The weather was a concern; however, showers stayed at bay long enough for the children to enjoy an afternoon Easter egg hunt. The lawn and many low-lying branches of the smaller trees on the greens were speckled with color as Councilman Terrel Brown and Councilman Rob Rygiel See EGG HUNT • Page 3

Lions Club’s Roaring 5k Run slated for April 9 By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

or visit us at: www.TallasseeTribune.com

The Tallassee Lions Club, along with Neptune Technology Group has planned this year’s Roaring 5K Run. The 5K will benefit the community by offering eye exams and eyewear for children who may not otherwise have the access to those basic needs. Dr. Paris Mullins of Tallassee offers his services at a discounted price in order to help as many children as needed. Neptune is a leading employer in the Tallassee area and the company is very active in the community. The factory is offer-

ing discounted entry fees to its employees who choose to run in this year’s event. “This past year we went to Tallassee Southside Middle School and Tallassee Elementary and we were able to do eye checkups on students in those two schools,” said Laurie Rygiel, with the Tallassee Lions Club. “There were five students who needed our help getting full eye exams through optometrists. We also provided their glasses.” Not only does this event aid in offering eye care to middle and elementary schools, it also See RUN • Page 3

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Three injured in Sunday shooting Reeltown man now facing four counts of attempted murder STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

A Notasulga man is facing attempted murder charges after shooting into an occupied vehicle early Sunday morning, sending three people to the hospital. According to the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department, Jody Wayne Gann, 26, of 17710 Highway 49 South, Notasulga, which is in the Reeltown com- Gann munity was charged with four counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. Officials say that Gann and the victims were traveling in separate vehicles on See SHOOTING • Page 7

By CARMEN RODGERS Tallassee Tribune

Two weeks ago a student from Tallassee High School voluntarily got into a vehicle after school and was not seen for 13 days. After 24 hours with no contact from the child, the Tallassee Police Department immediately opened an investigation into

INSIDE, PAGE 11 Updated information on the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the safe return of missing Tallassee teen.

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head. Miles also repeatedly slapped the victim across the face and head with his hand. His abuse caused the victim to suffer bruising Miles

the whereabouts of the missing child. The first tool used by the TPD was the state-of-the-art surveillance system at the high school. With more than 75 cameras included in this surveillance system there are little to no areas of the school that are not visible by camera. “We had 10 cameras that caught the vehicle,” Stewart said. “One of those caught her getting into the vehicle, another one of those ten got a real good look at the license plate and we were able to zoom in and I had to tinker with it to get it right, but See SURVEILANCE • Page 7

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Obituaries Bridgman, Trevor Thornton, Isabelle Bridgman and Kelly Saucier; and several nieces and nephews. Online condolences at www.linvillememorial.com.

Paula Moreland Acreman

Mrs. Paula Moreland Acreman, 47, of Red Hill, passed away March 21, 2016. She was born December 4, 1968. Visitation will be Saturday, March 26 from 12 noon until 2 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m., at Linville Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Harry Bridgman officiating. A private family burial will follow, Linville Memorial Funeral Home directing. She is survived by her husband, Reginald Acreman; children, Scott Bridgman, Crystol Saucier, Stephanie Thornton and Jordan Bridgman; brothers, Mark Moreland and Joe Moreland; sister, Julie Niemeyer, grandchildren, Carson Saucier, Kaydin

Linville Memorial Funeral Home Eclectic, Alabama

Peggie Joyce Kelley

Mrs. Peggie Joyce Kelley, 64, of Tallassee, passed away March 26, 2016. She was born January 29, 1952. Visitation will be Monday, March 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Linville Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services Tuesday at 2 p.m. from Linville Memorial Chapel with Rev. Chris Whittington officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Linville Memorial Funeral

RODNEY GRIFFITH Lake Martin Properties Serving Lake Martin, Tallassee and the Surrounding Area

RODNEY GRIFFITH BROKER CELL: 334-207-0666 WEB: www.rodneygrif¿th.com EMAIL: rodneygrif¿th@windstream.net 78 ACRES off Lower Tuskegee Hwy., on Cleghorn Road, great hunting only, $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. RIVER HILLS SUBDIVISION – 19 lots, great views of Lake Tallassee, underground utilities, sewage. Prices start at only $20,000. 4 SOLD – 19 remaining. W. PATTON – Brick, 3 bd/1 ba, new heat pump, hardwood floors, 2 lots, REDUCED $65,000. ECLECTIC – NEW MOBILE HOME on 1.2 ACRE lot, 3 bd/ 2 ba, flat yard, lg. SOLDChurch. $69,000. deck, on Ga. Rd. close to Rushenville BEAUTIFUL BRICK HOUSE in Plantation Pines, 4 bd/3.5 baths, 1.6 acre lot very modern and pretty, REDUCED TO $310,000. 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 $110,000. TALLASSEE BRICK HOME – on 1 acre with a 2 acre fish pond, 3 bd, 2 ba , large den and kitchen, garage, large screened porch, heat pump, REDUCED FROM $159,000 TO $149,000. 8 more acres also adjacent to it. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY – 8 ACRES close to Walmart on Hwy 14, REDUCED $189,000. MULLINS STREET– Eclectic, 1991 Doublewide mobile home on flat acre lot 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, very private, $45,000. 548 PROSPECT ROAD ECLECTIC- Beautiful home on 4 ACRES, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, Very modern and private, Very close to lake Martin.$279,000.

Home directing. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, James E. Kelley; sons, Rex Kelley (Cecily) and Scotty Blankenship (Sherry); daughter, Lawana Noah (Donald); brother, Jerry Ledbetter (Sarah); sisters, Shirley Cowan, Brenda Johnston and Ellen Walker ; nine grandchildren and several great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by brother, Harry Ledbetter and sister, Ellen Walker. Online condolences at www.linvillememorial. com. Linville Memorial Funeral Home Eclectic, Alabama

Donna Moore Mason

Donna Moore Mason, 91, of Tallassee, died Thursday, March 24, 2016, at Brown Nursing Home in Alexander City, Alabama. Funeral services will be Saturday, March 26, 2016, at First Baptist Church of Tallassee at 12:00 noon. Visitation will be at the church at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Derek Gentle will officiate the services to include interment at Rose Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Mason is survived by her sons Carlton K. (Thelma) Mason, Jr., of Tallassee, Phillip M. (Camille) Mason of Tallassee, W. Scott (Kiki) Mason of Kentucky and T. Jeff (Diane) Mason of Marietta, Georgia. Her surviving brothers and sisters are Jean Long, Franklin (Tina) Moore, Martha (Buck) Morris, and Amber (Allen) Yoe. Other surviving relatives include her brother-in-law J. Chris (Judy) Mason of Tallassee and her sister-in-law Jacqueline Mason Graves of Montgomery, grandchildren Spencer Mason, Austin Mason, and Cody Mason, her step-grandchildren Heather Burton, Heidi Love, her step-great grandchildren Alexis, Lily, and Hampton Love, Baxlee and Brooks Burton. Donna loved her husband, family, and many friends she made throughout her life. She was a business woman and owned a florist shop for many years in Phenix City,

Alabama. She enjoyed singing, sewing, cooking, and raising her family. She and Carlton returned to Tallassee in 1987. God bless her and may she rest in peace. Corbitt’s Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Patricia W. Mosley

Mrs. Patricia W. Mosley, a resident of Tallassee, Alabama, passed away Tuesday, March 22, 2016, at the age of 74. Funeral services will be Thursday, March, 24, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. from Jeffcoat Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gene Bridgman officiating. Graveside services will be Friday, March 25, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. CST at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery. Mrs. Mosley is survived by her children, John W. Mosley, Jr., Jeri Alisa Reid (J.R.), Billy Mosley (Kathi) and Sheri M. Fowler (David); Mama, Mrs. Eula Bridges; eight grandchildren, Joshua (Lani), Brandi, Brittney, Brandon, Heather (Damon), Hunter, Whitney and Jarid; great grandchildren, Madison, Toree, Eli, Melanie, Cael and Gavin; sisters, Judy Hart (Brenton) and Claudia Harris (Jerry); several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband (58 years as of February 08th), Mr. John W. Mosley, Sr. (SGM Ret.); Daddy, Mr. Robert R. Bridges and sister, Elizabeth Wisener. Mrs. Mosley was a dedicated, military wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister – with a heart of gold. She loved and worked hard for her family and never put herself before anyone else. Her arms were always open for everybody and she never turned anyone away. The family will receive friends Thursday, March 24, 2016, from 5:00 PM until service time at Jeffcoat Funeral Home. Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com. Jeffcoat Funeral Home Directing Tallassee, Alabama

Helen Stuart

Helen Stuart was born on October 6, 1928 in Lowndes County to Ethel and John T. Stuart. She passed away on March 26, 2016. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Linville Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Wednesday, March 30 at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Tallassee with Rev. Derek Gentle officiating. Graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Mt. Hilliard Methodist Church Cemetery, High Ridge Community in Bullock County, Linville Memorial Funeral Home directing. After growing up in the Simsville Community in Bullock County, she graduated from Judson College in 1950. She taught school in Eufaula and then went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a Masters in Religious Education. She served the Home Mission Board (which was transferred to the Foreign Mission Board) in Panama Canal Zone for 25 years. After retiring from the mission field, she became active in Tallassee First Baptist Church and extremely active taking care of her family. She is survived by her nephew, Stuart Lockwood (Patsy), her niece, Amelia Lockwood Barton (Donny), her great-nieces, Jamie Aldridge (John), Betty Clair Hatcher (Ross), Sarah Whiddon (William) and Caroline Lockwood. Aunt Helen loved her great-greats-Donavan Aldridge, Blair Hatcher, Helen Hatcher, Lydia Jean Hatcher, Miriam Whiddon, Adelyn Whiddon, and Ava Whiddon. Gifts may be made in her memory to Tallassee First Baptist Church, or First United Methodist Church of Tallassee, or Mt Hilliard UMC, Mrs. Mitzi Powell, 2856 Co Rd 14, Union Springs, AL 36089, or your favorite charity in lieu of flowers. Online condolences at www.linvillememorial.com. Linville Memorial Funeral

Home Eclectic, Alabama

John Arthur Hester, Jr.

John Arthur “Johnny” Hester, Jr., a resident of Tallassee, Alabama, passed away Friday, March 25, 2016, at the age of 27. Funeral services will be Thursday, March 31, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. from Jeffcoat Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Derrick Scott and Rev. Chris Whittington officiating. Johnny is survived by his mother, Mrs. Linda R. Hester; sisters and brothers, Tammy Bonner, Jamie Hester (Vinnie), Travis Ray and John Richard Hester (Stephanie) and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Mr. John Arthur Hester, Sr. The family will receive friends Thursday, March 31st, from 10:00 a.m. until service time at Jeffcoat Funeral Home. Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com. Jeffcoat Funeral Home Directing Tallassee, Alabama

Sharyn Carol Haynes

Sharyn Carol Louis Haynes, 68, long time resident of Tallassee, AL died peacefully at her home on Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Sharyn was born in Camden, NJ and graduated from Elmore County High School. She was a faithful employee of Sizemore & Sizemore for 36 years. Sharyn was a world traveler, enjoyed playing cards with her friends and spent some of her best days on Lake Martin. She is survived by son, Darryl Duke Haynes, Jr. (Hailey) daughter, Stefanie Warren (Troy) sister, Brenda LouisLee (Danny),and sisterinlaw, Deborah Haynes Johns. Grandchildren Alexis,Sydney, Colt, Case and soontobe grandson Haynes,15 nieces and nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Henry and Ellen Louis, brother Dr. Henry Louis and sister Nancy Goodridge Gant. A memorial service is being scheduled at Linnville Memorial Funeral Home. www.linvillememorial.com

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Sentenced

continued from page 1

and physical pain. Miles also admitted that earlier in 2013 he stole approximately 16 pounds of marijuana from the police evidence room and later sold it to a known drug dealer. “Law enforcement leaders serve as role models for their fellow officers, and at all times they must act with integrity, fairness and professionalism,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Justice requires even-handed treatment for all, and without exception, we will aggressively prosecute any officer who beats an inmate, breaks the law and lies to federal investigators.” U.S. Attorney George L. Beck Jr. of the Middle

District of Alabama said Miles’ actions were inexcusable. “Miles was a maverick, working outside the law,” said Beck. “While we expect interrogations to be thorough, an officer cannot turn an investigation into a punishment. Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of our law enforcement officials act reasonably and within the bounds of the Constitution.” This case was investigated by the Auburn resident agency of the FBI’s Mobile Field Office with the assistance of Alabama’s State Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerusha T. Adams for the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Gabriel Davis of the Civil Rights Division.

Egg Hunt

continued from page 1

along with a few helpers and some cooperative parents carefully placed eggs out-of-sight of the youngsters. Councilman Brown announced that the children could begin their hunt and off they went, each searching for that Golden Egg. Children aged 5 to 7 raced the back greens of City Hall as the City Easter Egg Hunt began, while those 7 to 10 searched on the front greens for eggs and children 4 and under searched for eggs inside the chambers of City Hall. “We hid some of the eggs in the courtroom for the children four and under,” said Mary Carol Payne, Tallassee’s First Lady and coordinator of the event. Children also enjoyed a visit from the Easter Bunny, a special Easter train and most walked away with a bounty of goodies from the candy and prize filled eggs. The children were dressed in their Easter attire, many sporting bunny ears for the occasion. Members of the Tallassee Senior Center stuffed over three thousand plastic eggs in preparation for the Easter Egg Hunt. Most of the eggs had candy or bubble gum inside, while a few eggs contained tiny slips of paper stuck inside, like the slip of paper

Run helps the community as a whole. “There were also people throughout the town that needed eye exams and glasses,” Rygiel said. “In one case the family had experienced a house fire and the daughter had lost her glasses in the fire. We gave her an eye exam and new glasses immediately.” The eye exams and eyeglasses are offered by Dr. Mullins in Tallassee at a discounted rate. “Dr. Mullins is a great asset for us,” she said. “He cares about the kids, especially.” The 5K run also benefits the diabetes association and helps people who are afflicted with diabetes as well. Those interested need to signup as soon as possible. In order to ensure a T-shirt preregistration is required. However, people are welcome to register the day of the event. “We are also taking sign-ups up until 7 o’clock that morning, but T-shirt guarantee is March 31,” Rygiel said. “Everyone who preregisters will receive a T-shirt.” The 5K will begin on Ann Street and follow a route to the River Walk Extension and come back to Ann Street. This event is for people of all athletic skill. We have a lot of people who walk, too.” she said. “They just want to be a part of it. I bet out of 159, at least 40 were walkers.” While last year’s Roaring 5K Run saw more than 150 people turn out for the event, Rygiel has set the goal high this year. “Last year we had 159 runners,” Rygiel said. “We are shooting for a goal of 200 this year and we’re hoping to get other companies involved. Neptune has the highest involvement. They give their employee’s an incentive to run. AES will have runners as well.” The registration

March 30, 2016 • Page 3

one would find in a fortune cookie. The eggs containing only those tiny slips of paper, were the prize eggs. As the prize eggs surfaced, children took their slips of paper inside City Hall to reveal what fortune they had found. Once inside, the children traded their numbered slips of paper for the corresponding numbered prize. “Most of the prizes were chocolate, because we couldn’t put chocolate inside the eggs, it would have melted.” This was the fourth annual Community Easter Egg hunt; however, the city used to hold an event of a similar nature years ago. “When my children were small the city had a community Easter egg hunt and we thought it would be good to bring it back,” Payne said. “So we did, and this is the fourth year holding it on the greens there at City Hall.” All in all, despite dreary skies, The City Easter Egg Hunt was a success. Both children and parents walked away from this event happily, looking forward to next year’s Easter event. “We hope to continue this tradition for many years to come,” said Payne.

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on receiving an appointment to West Point Academy following a congressional nomination from congressman Scott Tifton. Criteria for appointment include exhibiting quality character traits, leadership skills, athletic ability, community service and overall GPA. Frankie is an active member of First Baptist Church of Fairfield, CO; he attends Bay Field High where he will graduate Valedictorian with a GPA of 4.25. He served as Senior Class President, played on the high school State Championship football team and participated in various community service projects. In his personal time, Frankie enjoys treks in and around the Rocky Mountains. He is an avid fly fisherman, often making and marketing his own fishing flies. He frequently attends fiddling gig featuring “The Kitchen Jam Band” or “The Rhapsodies”, and often attends a San Juan Symphony concert all in which his sister, Dawn Turner, plays the violin. Dawn attends the beautiful Fort Lewis College of Durango, CO, and is majoring in Music Business and Music Performance. Frankie is the son of Kip and Lisa Turner of Durango, Co, where Kip is the director of the Durango Airport and Lisa teaches at Fairfield High School. He is the grandson of Gordon and Judy Atkinson Enterprise, AL and Johnny and Jeanie Turner of Dadeville, AL. Frankie will report for Basic Training June 27th, 2016.

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An in-through-the-side-door appreciation of solo vacations

his week’s essay is slated to be published while I’m in Arizona. I’m supposed to be flying into Tucson on Mar. 29 and will be returning from Albuquerque on Apr. 6. This sojourn is a technically a solo trip to sites and facilities in which I have a personal/historical interest, but when you’re in my line of work, you can always write about such quests. For that matter, maybe certain visits could be considered “pilgrimages,” if you’re really into something. Been there, done that a number of times already. Fact is, I’ve got a freelance assignment from a lifestyle magazine about one of the landmarks I’m scheduled to tour, but several others will probably be the subjects of more than one “So-Called Column” in the near future. However, the idea of “separate vacations” for married couples (particularly retirees) might raise some eyebrows at first glance, but an examination of how travel and vacations have evolved might validate such a concept. That said, there still needs to be an emphatic advocacy of family vacations when children are old enough to understand and appreciate such

The SoCalled Column By Willie G. Moseley pastimes. A type of “broad-brush guideline” to which my family paid attention meant central Florida entertainment trips were taken when our daughter was younger, then we worked in historical sites as she got older. That approach was appropriate for everyone concerned, and one wonders how many other stereotypical American families have thought along the same lines over the decades. But I’m making this trip out west on my own, and have done solo excursions before. The point is, the locations I’m planning on visiting would be a lot more interesting to me than for the Missus, and with the writing opportunities figured in, the trip will qualify as a unique type of “working vacation.” There have been times where I’ve had to take a “use-it-or-lose-it”

approach to accumulated vacation days that would have vanished at the end of a calendar year or company fiscal year. I’d usually opt to go some historical sites in locales I’ve never visited. Lesser-populated areas of the Florida Gulf Coast are exemplary. There’s always the possibility of getting enough information about a route or site to come up with a column, but usually, I’ve been interested in such locales anyway. And there may actually be a bit of gender stereotyping about taking solo (quasi-) recreational trips as an adult—while a lot of women would travel to an outlet center with one or more friends, and menfolks would head out on hunting trips with peers, one wonders how many women would head out on their own to places they’ve always wanted to visit. The point is, if numbers about such solitary wanderlust were available these days and times, such aspirations might involve more people— male and female—than one might think. For me, such quests would primarily be history-oriented, more often than not to sites involved with aviation and space travel (and some of the commentaries that have appeared in this newspaper confirm such a

propensity). Having come of age during the Space Race in the ‘60s is the primary reason—I was a penguin/ buff then, and I still am. Accordingly, this trip to Arizona and New Mexico is scheduled to include an aircraft storage facility in Tucson and several space-oriented sites in New Mexico (a lot of Tribune readers are aware that weekly contributor Ronald Brantley was stationed at White Sands Missile Range when he was in the Army, and that site is on the agenda). There’ll also hopefully be some stops at historical locations that were involved with the development of the atomic bomb during World War II, including the site of the first detonation (which is only open to the public two days a year). Thank goodness most average folks usually have opportunities to travel where they want to go, when they want to go. There are a lot more interesting sites in this nation than one might realize, and sometimes it takes solitary go-at-your-own-pace journeys to appreciate such optional availabilities. Moseley is the former editor of The Tribune and a regular columnist.

A roundup of some exciting occurrences in this year's political races

his has been an exciting election year when it comes to presidential politics. It has been an extraordinarily unusual and unpredictable presidential contest to say the least, especially on the Republican side. The GOP race began with an extraordinarily large field. There were 17 candidates as the race began, all with exceptional credentials. The one with the least experience and political resume is the one left standing. One Donald J. Trump has been the story of the year. As we head into the last three months leading up to the nominating convention, conventional wisdom has Donald Trump being the Republican nominee and Hillary Clinton being the Democratic nominee. If that indeed is the case, you will have two brash New Yorkers pitted against each other with the probability of a Titanic, colorful dual headed into the fall campaign. It will be a fun show to watch. It will not be lacking for controversy, acrimony or entertainment. We will have been an important part of the nominating process here in the Heart of Dixie. On Super Tuesday we were a part of the nationwide momentum that probably propelled Trump and Clinton to their parties’ respective nominations. We seem to be lockstep with the rest of

Inside the Statehouse By Steve Flowers the country as we have joined the Trump and Clinton trains. In the past several presidential election cycles we in the South have been different than the rest of the country, particularly on the GOP ledger. We have sided with the evangelical candidate in the race. Not so this year. We here in Alabama, as well as all of our sister southern states, chose Trump in a resounding fashion. Donald Trump, a less than humble, worldly casino owner and developer, won every Alabama county garnering 44 percent of the vote and collecting 36 of Alabama’s 50 delegates to the GOP convention. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, the avowed evangelical candidate, was a distant second with 21 percent of the vote and will be allotted 13 delegates. Marco Rubio was third with 17 percent. Ben Carson got 10 percent and Governor Bentley’s choice, Ohio Governor John Kasich, received 4 percent.

Trump’s campaign brought out a record turnout on primary election day, as well as a record-breaking crowd in Madison/Huntsville the Sunday before the primaries. There were an estimated 25,000 people in attendance in Madison County, where our popular Junior U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions endorsed Trump. He had over 30,000 fans show up in Mobile when he first began his campaign last year. There have not been crowds that large in Alabama politics since the Wallace era. There were 60 percent more people voting in our Republican primary than in 2008 and 40 percent more than 2012. These 865,000 Republican votes cast in our GOP primary - a record - were primarily due to the fervor of the Trump campaign. Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton beat socialist Bernie Sanders 80 percent to 20 percent due largely to 90 percent support from Alabama’s African-American voters. There were 382,000 Democratic voters on March 1. Our Senior U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby won the Republican nomination to an unprecedented sixth sixyear term with a very impressive victory. Shelby received 65 percent of the vote against four opponents. All four were political novices. However, getting 65 percent with

four challengers is very strong. Four incumbent Republican Congresspersons, who were challenged in the primary, won overwhelmingly. U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt in the 4th district, Mike Rogers in the 3rd, Martha Roby in the 2nd, and Bradley Byrne in the 1st won big. Martha Roby and Bradley Byrne were challenged by extreme right wing candidates but prevailed impressively. PSC President Twinkle Cavanaugh defeated challenger Terry Dunn by a 63 to 37 margin. She will continue at the helm of the three-member utility regulating panel. Longtime state school board members Stephanie Bell and Ella Bell, both of Montgomery, won reelection. Shelby County approved Sunday liquor sales by at 4 to 1 margin and two of the last dry counties in the state, Clay and Chilton, went wet. These two referendums portend how overwhelmingly Alabamians would vote in favor of the lottery/casino deal if allowed to vote on this issue. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.

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: Editor editor@tallasseetribune.com • 256-234-4281 Corey Arwood: Reporter corey.arwood@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.

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This old barn T brings back memories JODY FULLER Guest Columnist

couple of Saturdays ago, I drove up to the Ridge Grove Volunteer Fire Department in Chambers County for their annual barbeque. It’s something that’s been on my local bucket list for as long as I can remember but for some reason or another, I never was able to make it. For weeks, I’d planned on going; nothing was going to stop me, not even the funeral of a 101-year -old American war hero. I could do both. I just needed to adjust my plans and so I did. I wasn’t sure if I’d know a single soul there but nevertheless had planned on sitting down and eating with some of the fine folks from that area. By the time I left, I figured I’d know half the people there. As I walked up to the building, I saw a man I’d known since I was four or five years old. A few minutes later, I saw another and then another. By the time I got through talking to them, I didn’t have time to sit down and eat there, and that was OK. I’ll do that next year. I had a funeral to get to. On the way back to Opelika, I took the road less traveled. I enjoy getting off the beaten path, even when I drive across the country. There’s something special about the back roads and reminds me of a much simpler time. I noticed a little empty farmhouse sitting in a pasture behind a barbed wire fence not too far off the road. Hovering over the house were the rather large limbs of a single tree. Dark clouds dominated over it all. It was a beautiful scene, so beautiful, in fact, that I had to take a photo. By the end of the day, the photo had over 200 likes on my Facebook page. Truth be told, I’ve passed that same location and hundreds of similar scenes many times in my life but haven’t slowed down to really take it all in and appreciate it as often as I should. To my credit, I notice these things more than the average Joe but not nearly enough. Judging by the number of likes on that photo, I’m not alone in my appreciation of yesteryear. Now make no mistake about it, I have no desire to go back to the days of smallpox, churning butter, and bathing in the crick. I appreciate my house and its insulation, central heat and air, and indoor plumbing. Kids of today likely can’t understand how people survived that time period without smartphones, tablets, and Netflix, when in fact, it’s quite simple how they survived: faith, family, friends…and farming. Over the next few days, Ruby and I drove along several back roads in Lee, Chambers, and Tallapoosa counties. She had her head sticking out the window taking in every second. I took many photos of old barns, home places, chimneys, and other structures and posted them to my social media, each getting more likes than the next. The barns, in particular, seemed to strike a special chord with many. I know I have special memories of spending countless hours in the loft of the barn at my grandparents’ place in Tallapoosa County. In fact, every home along that country road had a barn, each holding special memories for kids and grandkids alike, I’m sure. Unless your grandparents were city slickers, barns were essential and instrumental in their very existence. I think the connection to our grandparents is what makes barns so special. It takes us back to a simpler time long ago of long summer days out in the country filled with animals, gardens, fruit trees, and most of all, love. I actually had a request from a friend for me to photograph her grandparents’ barn and so I did. To some, those old barns are just old barns, but they just don’t get it. To others, they are the heart and soul of what made us who we are today, and they represent much more than words could ever hope to possibly convey. Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www.jodyfuller.com.

A warranted fear of many past Aprils

here are many great things about the month of April, which begins Friday. It’s the birth of spring. There are April showers which bring May flowers. Springtime events are going on constantly, from yard sales to barbecues, and the spring sports are in full swing: baseball, softball, track and field, and more. And yet, I always fear the third week of April because of all the strange, and sometimes terrible, things that have happened on these days. On the third week of April, 1983, the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, was bombed by terrorists. Sixty-three people died in the attack. It seemed like good news in 1989 when 100,000 young people protested in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The iconic photo of a student standing up to a tank doesn’t show the gruesome Communist crackdown to come. David Koresh and the

March 30, 2016 • Page 5

Bird’s Eye View By Michael Bird Branch Davidians engaged in a final, brutal shootout with law enforcement on this week in 1993, ending with the entire compound exploding into flames. Eighty-one people died. Two years later to the day in 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was destroyed by (at the time) the worst bombing on U.S. soil. 168 people were killed. (I was working in the Troy State University Library that day, and remember going to the box to pick up the New York Times. The picture on the front page was fireman Chris Fields holding the dying baby, Baylee Almon. I was so distraught I could barely finish the work day.)

The Virginia Tech shootings occurred on this week in 2007. Thirty-two people died, and 17 others were wounded. It was on this week in 2010 that the BP oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico and gushed oil for the next six months. On this same week in 1999, two high school students terrorized Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, killing 13 people and injuring 21 others. In 2013, the Boston Marathon bombings occurred, injuring 264 people and killing three. We have unfortunately become too accustomed to bad news. Perhaps it’s the 24/7 media cycle that keeps things stirred up while we stay glued to electronic devices. I am of the belief that we simply know more details about events, and know them sooner, than ever before in history. Ironic: the more we communicate, the less we care about others. Michael Bird is a band director and webmaster for Tallassee City Schools.

You never know what to expect at a funeral

’ve been to a lot of funerals in my days on this earth and I’ve seen some and heard some unusual things. I went to a funeral of a man that was drowned on Lake Martin while fishing. We got to the church and the service started at a reasonable time. Two preachers were going to conduct the service together, little did we know that they were rivals of a sort. One got up and preached awhile and then the other got up, not to be out done he preached even longer. He finally finished and the first preacher said he had a few more things to say. This went on, the sun was going down and we had five miles to go to the cemetery. Finally, the funeral director went up and whispered in the preacher’s ear that this man needed to be buried before dark. The sun was going down but they finally got him buried. I still have scars from where I squirmed the hide off my backside during the funeral and it happened years ago. My daddy didn’t drive. He was a supervisor in the mill and they expected him to attend many events including funerals of mill hands and their families. I was daddy’s driver and he informed me we were to go to a funeral way out in the country near Alex City. We got

The Coffee Breaker By Ronald Brantley

there. The man weighed about 500 pounds. I was young and healthy. I had on a shirt and tie which qualified me to be a pallbearer. After the service was over the pallbearers lifted the casket to carry the man outside into the church graveyard. We hadn’t gone very far when someone ran up behind us and said sit the casket down quick and easy, which we did. The casket was one of those gray cloth covered caskets that came with your insurance policy. The bottom had bulged way out because of the man’s weight and we were fixing to lose him. Two men came with two, 2x4s, slid them under the casket and we finished the trip to the grave. Recently, I witnessed a funeral that I’ll never forget. My family and I attended a funeral out of town, so far out of town that you wouldn’t believe it. There was this neat little country church and we all went in and sat down. The sound man played a couple of songs that someone had taped. It could’ve been a relative or

church member but it wasn’t a very good singer. I spent most of my time trying to figure out the songs, I don’t know if I got them right or not. Then one of the men that was going to preach introduced his daughter and said she was going to sing and he would assist her. I only thought the tape was bad until I heard the live version. After this torment he started to preach and I’m telling the truth so help me. He said I’ve been knowing this man for fourteen years and he never told me he was saved or not. As far as I know he could be down in hell today with Elvis Presley. Now, by this time and after he made a few more remarks I really and truly wanted to get up and leave, but I didn’t. The second preacher was sitting there saying amen and amen, it got worse. There was about 75 people there and he said, I see empty seats in this church, where are they, he knew more people than this. Maybe they didn’t want to come and hear me preach God’s word. When we finally got to the cemetery there wasn’t many graves there and I know why, if he preached their funerals. I’ve seen and heard a lot of things in my day and that was one of them.

RELIGION

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www.TallasseeTribune.com THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

The greatest joke of all, is a joke on Satan

ike jokes? Try this one: A young boy stopped at the pastor’s office to give him a bag of donuts his mother had just cooked. The pastor looked in the bag and asked to boy to wait while he wrote a thankyou note for six donuts. The boy replied, “Do you think you could write it for a dozen?” That might not be the greatest joke of all time, but Easter is. Think about what a joke Easter is on Satan. For thousands of years, the joke was always on us humans. Satan convinced us that we could be gods, and we fell for it, hook. line and sinker. This “joke” brought sin and death into the world. Satan’s joke expanded as the people who cried, “Hosanna” on the road to Jerusalem, assembled at Pilate’s door just a few days later to shout, “Crucify him.” And, they did. How Satan must have laughed as they laid Jesus in the tomb! But, just then, just when Satan thought he’d done it again, God pulled a fast one. On the first day of the week, Jesus rose from the dead and turned the devil’s joke back on him. As Jesus breathed in new life, God’s laughter must have boomed and resounded

REV. BOB HENDERSON Trinity Episcopal

throughout the heavens and all the cosmos, as all the heavenly hosts joined Him in laughter at Satan’s expense. Laughing at the Devil even has a theological name: it is called the risus paschalis, “Easter laughter.” Easter is a great joke – the greatest joke of all time!! Easter reveals God as nothing else has ever done. Only God could draw the greatest good out of the greatest evil. Jesus’ resurrection turned the tables on death. It was the ultimate joke on Satan and death! Death is a disturbing thing. For much of human history (and today) people have had an attitude toward death somewhat like Woody Allen’s: “It’s not that I’m afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Where death had once been disquieting and

fearful, the resurrection shows, as one Sunday School student put: “When you die, God takes care of you like your parents did when you were alive . . . only God doesn’t yell at you all the time.” The risus paschalis is the last laugh on evil and a joyous celebration of God’s triumph. The greatest joke of all time was God’s. So, how come we’re not laughing? The early Christians did – laugh that is. The Monday after Easter was the early Church’s equivalent of April Fool’s Day which they called “Bright Monday.” People flocked to churches to tell jokes, play pranks, eat, sing and dance, throw water on their priest and each other. They laughed at Satan, they laughed at themselves, and they laughed in the joy of the resurrection joke. Unfortunately, during the Middle Ages (also called “The Dark Ages”), we Christians forgot the joke. Penance replaced joy, remorse replaced laughter and churches became gloomy, somber places. Our churches and church services desperately need to recover this spirit of joy and fun. There is a time to

weep and a time to laugh. (Luke 6:22). Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified, is the time to weep; Easter is the time to laugh. When we think of what Jesus has done for us; when we think how surprised the devil must have been on Easter morning, smiles should be the norm, not the exception. And not just smiles, not just chuckles, but laughs – deep, loud, infectious belly laughs; the laughs of a people free from sin, free from death, free in the joy and love of a God who loves a joke as much as he loves us. Easter and Bright Monday are Holy April Fool’s days. The joke is on the devil, who thought Jesus was dead for good (or for evil, I guess). Easter shows that evil is no match for God as the resurrection made the devil a laughingstock. Lets not loose that joy, or that laughter. This Easter, have a good laugh. By the way, did you hear the one about . . . Rev. Bob Henderson is the rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wetumpka.

Religion Briefs • Episcopal Church of the Epiphany There will be NO Sunday School on April 3. At 10:30 a.m. Father Wells Warren will celebrate the Holy Eucharist, with coffee hour to follow. For more information, visit the church website: http://epiphanytallassee.org/ • St. Vincent de Paul April 3 - Patrick Lencioni “Living a Christian Life in a Secular World Part 1” April 10 - Patrick Lencioni “Living a Christian Life in a Secular World Part 2” OUR LIFE’S JOURNEY is a service of St. Vincent de Paul Church and airs weekly from 8:00-8:30 a.m. on 580 WACQ and FM 101.1 in Tallassee. Listen Live on www. wacqradio.com or the TuneIn app on your smartphone. The pastor of St. Vincent de Paul is Monsignor Charles Troncale. • Elam Baptist Church MICHAEL FICCIANI IN CONCERT on Sunday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Michael is an excelled baritone soloist of Waterloo, Iowa. You will be blessed by his ministry in music. Join us. Everyone invited. Visitors always welcome. • House of love and Mercy Will be celebrating their 16-year anniversary. The celebration will be a 2-day event beginning Friday, April 29 at 6pm. The speaker for this great occasion will be Marsha Jean Evans (known as MJ) who used to reside in HOLM AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-4413 Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8144 Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd. (Co. Rd. 3), Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-9143 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic 541-2006 Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-5754 Crossroads Assembly of God 2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 285-5545 First Assembly of God 3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God 5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 569-2825 BAPTIST Abraham Baptist Church Millbrook Antioch Baptist Church 1115 Antioch Rd., Titus 567-2917 Beulah Baptist Church 2350 Grier Rd., Wetumpka 514-2881 Blue Ridge Baptist 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-4325 Brookwood Baptist Grandview Rd., Millbrook Calvary Baptist 504 W. Osceola St., Wetumpka 567-4729 Central Baptist 3545 W. Central Rd., Wetumpka 541-2556 Coosada Baptist 20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic 541-4444

and is now a great supporter who lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On Saturday, April 30 from 9am-12pm the HOLM will hold a silent auction to benefit the HOLM. Looking for a great time and looking forward for women that used to reside in the program as well as many people who live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. • Westside Baptist Church Services are Sunday a.m. 10a.m. 11a.m. and 6p.m. Wednesday night prayer and Bible study 7p.m. All are invited. • Providence Progressive Primitive Baptist Church Providence Progressive Primitive Baptist Church, at 4850 Chana Creek Rd., Tallassee, invites you to our annual spring meeting. The services will be March 29, 30, and 31st beginning at 7 p.m. each night. Elder Keith Hamilton, from the Upper Black Creek Church in Brooklet, GA, will be the guest speaker. Please plan to join us each evening as we worship in message and music • Word of Life Baptist Church Community News We would like to invite you to join us on these Mondays: March 7th, March 14th, and March 21st, at the Word of Life Baptist Church for our Community Celebrations. There will be special speakers each night with great music and refreshments. This will be a time of fellowship and worship for our community. Our regular Sunday Services are Sunday School 9:30 am, and Morning Worship at 10:30

Faith Baptist 64 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-4417 First Baptist Church 205 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-5191 First Baptist of Elmore Hwy. 14 Co. Rd. 74, Elmore Galilee Baptist 95 Old Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-4178 Good Hope Baptist 1766 S. Fleahop Rd., Eclectic Goodship Baptist Hwy. 143, Millbrook Grace Baptist Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka 567-3255 Grandview Pines Baptist Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville Green Ridge Baptist 288 Turner Rd., Wetumpka 567-2486 Harvest Baptist 2990 Main St., Millbrook Hillside Baptist 405 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Holtville Riverside Baptist 7121 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 514-5922 Lake Elam Baptist 4060 Gober Rd., Millbrook Liberty Hill Baptist 61 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-8750 Lighthouse Baptist 2281 Main St., Millbrook Living Water Baptist 1745 Grass Farm Rd. (Co. Rd. 80), Weoka Millbrook Baptist Millbrook 285-4731 Mitts Chapel Baptist 935 Cold Springs Rd., Deatsville 569-1952 Mt. Hebron West Baptist 150 Mt. Hebron Rd., Elmore 567-4441 Mountain View Baptist 1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka 567-4458 New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury 312-1878 New Home Baptist

1605 New Home Rd., Titus 567-0923 New Hope Baptist 6191 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville 569-1267 New Lily Green Baptist 6504 Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville New Nazareth Baptist Hwy. 143, Deatsville Pleasant Hill Baptist Pleasant Hill Rd., Eclectic 541-3460 Prospect Baptist Prospect Rd., Eclectic 567-5837 Redland Baptist 1266 Dozier Rd., Wetumpka 567-8649 Rehoberth Baptist 8110 Rifle Range Rd., Tallassee 567-9801 Rushenville Baptist 10098 Georgia Rd., Eclectic 541-2418 Saint James Baptist 1005 Nobles Rd., Wetumpka 567-6209 Saint James Baptist 101 Gantt Rd., Deatsville 569-3006 Santuck Baptist 7250 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2364 Seman Baptist Seman, Alabama Shoal Creek Baptist 13214 Holtville Rd., Deatsville 569-2482 Springfield Baptist Hwy. 7, Millbrook Thelma Baptist 810 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-3665 Titus Baptist 6930 Titus Rd., Wetumpka 334-531-2120 Tunnell Chapel Baptist 210 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2589 Victory Baptist 5481 Main St., Millbrook Wadsworth Baptist 2780 Hwy. 143, Deatsville 569-2851 BAPTIST - MISSIONARY Atkins Hill 565 Atkins Rd., Wetumpka 567-1141 Cathmagby Baptist 3074 Mitchell Creek Rd., Wetumpka 567-4787

am. Our Wednesday Night Activities are at 6:30 pm. • East Tallassee United Methodist Church 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. • St. John All Nations Pentecostal Foundation Church 3495 Hwy 14 Notasulga, AL 36866. Minister Alma Purter, Pastor. Welcome, welcome, welcome! We look forward to your presence. Program committee: Sis. Brenda Moss 334-401-0706, Sis. Linda Pullium 334-209-3208 and Sis. Judy Moss. • Beulah Baptist Church At Beulah, here is our schedule of services: Contemporary Service 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Traditional Service 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Feed the Sheep 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Nursery is available. All are welcome

First Missionary Baptist at Guilfield 412 Company St., Wetumpka 567-7455 Goodhope 1389 Willow Springs Rd. Wetumpka 567-7133 Lebanon 17877 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 514-1097 Mount Canaan 1125 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-2141 Mount Pisgah 16621 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 567-3668 Mt. Zion 371 AL Hwy. 14, Elmore, 567-2613 Mt. Zion #3 1813 Luke Paschal Rd., Eclectic New Home 5130 Elmore Rd., Wetumpka 567-5966 Second Missionary 760 N. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8601 Spring Chapel Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-6493 Sweetwater 163 Michael Lane, Wetumpka 334-538-9415 Tabernacle Baptist 1020 W. Tallassee St., Wetumpka 567-0620 BAPTIST - PRIMITIVE Bethel Old School 4625 Jackson Rd. (C.R. 103), Wetumpka Providence 4850 Chana Creek Rd., Tallassee CATHOLIC Our Lady of Guadalupe 545 White Rd., Wetumpka 567-0311 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ of Elmore 470 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 567-6670 Church of Christ Grandview Pines 165 Deatsville Hwy., Millbrook Cold Springs Church of Christ 5920 Alabama Hwy. 143, Deatsville Georgia Road Church of Christ 4003 Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-2804 Lightwood Church of Christ 251 New Harmony Rd., Deatsville 569-1510

Redland Road Church of Christ 2480 Redland Rd., Wetumpka 514-3656 Wetumpka Church of Christ W. Bridge St. At W. Main St., Wetumpka 5676561 CHURCH OF GOD Elmore Church of God 10675 Rucker Road, Elmore Gethsemane Church of God 705 Cotton St., Wetumpka 567-9886 Church at the Brook 2890 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Maranatha Church of God 2621 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 567-6786 Victory Tabernacle AOH Church of God Hwy 143, Millbrook Wetumpka Church of God Hwy. 9 N. Wetumpka 215-3091 CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN Cedarwood Congregational Christian 10286 US Hwy 231 N, Wetumpka 567-0476 Seman Congregational Christian 15970 Central Plank Rd., Seman Union Congregational Christian 8188 Lightwood Rd., Marbury 569-2122 EPISCOPAL The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2602 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee 252-8618 Trinity Episcopal Church 5371 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-7534 St. Michael & All Angels Church 5941 Main St., Millbrook HOLINESS New Beginnings Holiness 865 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-9211 Summit Holiness 2050 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Temple of Deliverance Holiness 620 Alabama St., Wetumpka 514-3114 JEHOVAH’S WITNESS Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 9235 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-8100

Submit your church news to editor@tallasseetribune.com •••

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Cleanup CD players, power supply cords, home or cell phones, answering machines, small printers or copiers, mainframe servers, televisions, cable boxes, fax machines, scanners, stereo equipment, cameras, communication cables, typewriters, electronic games, pagers, camcorders, and nickel cadmium or lithium ion batteries. Please do not bring large appliances or industrial equipment. The City Shop will have a roll container available for nonhazardous material and old appliances. The container will be available from 8 a.m. -3 p.m. from Monday

Surveillance

continued from page 1

through Friday. “We are really aiming for 300 participants this year,” Hester said.” This year will be the 7th annual spring Team Up to Clean Up week. I think that it is important for the people of Tallassee to participate to show a sense of pride for our community.” Hester is quick to point out that picking up litter is something that should be done regularly in order to keep the community presentable. “Picking up litter is really something that I would encourage folks to do all year round, but this week gives people an opportunity to come

continued from page 1

I was able to narrow down the tag number. I think I got every number and letter correct.” Because Tallassee High School’s campus is spread out, there are over 30 entrances or exits on campus. This is one reason the administrators at Tallassee High School thought the new surveillance system was needed. “There are a lot of buildings here,” said Assistant Principal Chet Stewart. “The annex buildings, the new gym and the old gym, there are five separate buildings in all.” This surveillance system came with a hefty price tag. However, a grant from the Porch Creek Band out of Wetumpka paid for more than half of the total cost. Last year, principal Coker wrote the grant request and late last year those funds were delivered. From there Tallassee High School wasted no time installing the impressive technology. “We had it installed over the Christmas break,” said Stewart. “We got everything cranked up when we came back from the holidays.” There were a few kinks to work out but those have been smoothed over and the system is serving its purpose. “Since the middle of January we’ve had it working pretty good,” Stewart said. There’s a few issues still, maybe a camera out of focus but we have over 75 cameras, so that’s a lot of adjusting.” This surveillance system proved to be crucial to the police investigation that ultimately brought the missing child home. Tallassee High School had a surveillance system in place before, but it was less than par, and with this new surveillance system, virtually the entire campus is visible. “It was out of date,” Stewart said. “Now we have cameras in the stairwells, where we didn’t before. We have cameras in the courtyard, where we didn’t before.”

together to really do something to keep our community looking nice and well taken care of.” Anyone can join a litter team. Teams can be big or small. Registered litter teams will be given Earth Day T-shirts for each member, on a first come first serve basis, and provided with bags and gloves. The registration form from the Chamber of Commerce website www.tallasseechamber.com or call 334-252-0774

Shooting

March 30, 2016 • Page 7

“Hwy. 9 Since ’89”

Truman·s

Seafood & CatÀsh

8185 Central Plank • Santuck, AL

334.567.3156

Richard Thornton, Owner

THURSDAY - SATURDAY 5-9 PM

Serving all your favorite Seafood... come taste our snow crab!

continued from page 1

Hayes Mill Road in the Moses Flat area at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Both vehicles came to a stop on the dirt portion of Hayes Mill Road. According to a release from Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett, Gann then got out of his vehicle armed with a rifle. Gann reportedly fired several rounds from the rifle in the direction of the victims’ vehicle striking it several times. Three of the individuals sustained injuries, which required medical attention. The victims were taken to Tallassee Community Hospital and, according to Abbett, all three have since been treated and released. No information was given on what may have sparked the shooting. As of Monday evening, Gann remained in custody at the Tallapoosa County Jail with bond set at $175,000.

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Spring is one of the four seasons, and it brings mild, warmer weather. As the Earth revolves around the Sun (It takes one full year for it to completely rotate around the Sun one time.), the side of the Earth you live on, or hemisphere, is either closer to the Sun or farther away. The warmer weather is due to the closer distance to the Sun. The beginning of Spring is marked by the Vernal Equinox. An Equinox, which only happens twice a year, is the only day of the year when both day and night are the same length of time. In the Northern Hemisphere, we experience the Vernal EquiQR[ RU ÂżUVW GD\ RI 6SULQJ DURXQG 0DUFK ZKLOH LQ WKH 6RXWKHUQ +HPLVSKHUH RQ WKH RSSRVLWH VLGH RI WKH (DUWK WKH\ DUH KDYLQJ WKHLU ÂżUVW GD\ RI $XWXPQ 2XU 6SULQJ XVXDOO\ ODVWV XQWLO DURXQG the end of June when the hemisphere is even closer to the Sun, and the hot Summer weather arULYHV 'XULQJ 6SULQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;RZHUV EORRP WUHHV RQFH DJDLQ KDYH JUHHQ OHDYHV SODQWV JURZ DQLPDOV EHFRPH DFWLYH DJDLQ DQG JDUGHQV DUH SODQWHG /RWV RI SHRSOH EHJLQ WR VSHQG PRUH WLPH RXWGRRUV while others â&#x20AC;&#x153;Springâ&#x20AC;? clean their homes.

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Missing Tallassee teen back home Neal was safely returned to parental custody after being spotted in Brewton By CARMEN RODGERS Tallassee Tribune

Kiara Nicole Neal was returned home safely late last night after an almost two week ordeal. It was early in the afternoon Wednesday when a concerned citizen from Brewton spotted Kiara along the roadside and called authorities. “Around 1 p.m. a citizen down in Brewton saw her and recognized her from the media broadcast,” said Tallassee Police Chief Jimmy Rodgers. “They contacted our investigators, who told her to contact the Brewton police. The Brewton Police Department responded and identified her as exactly who she believed her to be, that was Kiara.” Once picked up by Brewton police, Kiara was held there until TDP arrived to pick up the child and bring her home. “They held her until our investigator could get there and we transported her back here and turned her over to her family late last night,” Rodgers said. Dwight Neal, Kiara’s father, was overjoyed once he was reunited with his daughter. “I think relieved is not a strong enough word,” he said. “I think he was ecstatic to have his daughter back and I believe he is going to take every step to get her the help that she needs.” Neal was first reported missing on March 9 after she willingly entered a gold Ford Expedition. The driver of the vehicle is in custody. The individual is identified as Willie Joe Thomas. Thomas has been charged with traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act. He is being held at the Elmore County Jail on a $150,000 cash bond. Thomas told authorities he dropped Neal off at the Walmart on Ann Street in Montgomery. Using surveillance video from that location, police were able to identify another person of inter-

est in the case. This individual, who has yet to be identified, was driving a white pickup pulling a utility trailer. “The individual that we were trying identify through the footage from the Walmart on Ann Street, he lives down around that area and that’s how she got down there,” Rodgers said. The individual in the surveillance video gathered from the Ann Street Walmart has not been charged in this case. “That’s something that is outside of our jurisdiction, other agencies will have to look in to whether to pursue charges on him or not. Our main focus was getting her back home to her family,” Rodgers said. “We brought her back, she is safe and they are taking the necessary measures to get her some help.” Rodgers explained that teenagers do not always make the best decisions and sometimes they just need someone to talk to about things they don’t necessarily feel comfortable talking about with family members. “When you have teenagers sometimes they make unwise decisions. It may not necessarily be issues, but something that she may need to talk to somebody and talk through some issues.” Neal apparently met up with Thomas using the social media app call TAG. TAG is a social media app that allows users to secretly share their location with others through the TAG app. According to Forbes magazine, “Tag lets you quickly share your location with the friends of your choice. You open the app, checkin, select the friends you want to share with, and that’s it. If you move to a new location, you can share again but if you don’t, you’re not tracked so you’re in control of your privacy. You can also attach a photo or video to a “tag” to spice up the moment shared and so friends see what you’re up to.” Because technology can be

used for the good or the bad, one must question the use of iPads at school. “I think you can’t handicap the kids who are benefitting from it because of the handful that are using it for inappropriate means, because whether they are using those iPads, or a home computer there is still an avenue where they can access the Internet,” Rogers said. “I think the iPad is something that is a useful and needed tool in the school’s system.” Rodgers is quick to point out that with or without the iPad, this communication would have occurred. This is why it is important for parents to monitor what their children are doing while on the World Wide Web. “She wasn’t communicating through the iPad to begin with,” Rogers said. “She was borrowing phones from individuals and using their phones.” It took several agencies working together to bring Kiara home safely and Rodgers was very thankful to all the agencies that helped with this case. “This was not only a Tallassee Police Department ordeal,” Rodgers said. “This is another example of us working with so many other agencies. We all came together with the same purpose that was to find this young lady. The state technicians were very instrumental in helping us get the data that we needed, as far as electronic devices. They played a very significant role in this investigation, along with the Elmore County DA’s office; they had an investigator work with us throughout this. You have to have those working relationships with different agencies to accomplish things when we have to go outside of the jurisdiction.”

March 30, 2016 • Page 11

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SPORTS

The Tallassee Tribune • March 30, 2016

Dixie Baseball League holds opening ceremonies Saturday By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

While the skies were dreary, spirits were high during the opening ceremonies of the Tallassee Dixie Ball League. With soggy fields and muddy puddles, the games went on Saturday afternoon. Mayor Bobby Payne, along with Councilmen David Stough, Tarrel Brown, Darrel Wilson and Rob Rygiel were on hand to usher in the season. This year the league has 17 teams. These teams will compete among each other until All-Stars are chosen. At that point, the league will begin the district play. Michael Butler, the voice of Tallassee, announced the players and coaches one by one. As names were called and lines grew, each player gave the other a mighty and spirited highfive as he ran along the long the line of players. The Dixie Youth Boys Baseball is for boys between the ages of 7 and 12. The season will run from April through July. Over the years the Dixie Youth Baseball League has become a very popular pastime for the people of Tallassee. This was evident Saturday when the ballpark was filled with proud mothers, fathers, grandparents and other friends and families of this year’s players and coaches. “They went well considering the rain. We had a good crowd. The kids seemed to be happy, it was good,” said Eric Phillips, commissioner of the Dixie Youth Baseball League. The league leases the ball field from the city and has to fund the equipment needed to play the sport. Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune “We lease the fields from the Tallassee Recreation Brodie Goodwin recently underwent surgery on his feet and will not be able to play baseball this year. Since Goodwin is not able to play the Department,” he said. “Our lease starts on March 1 league thought it would be a nice way to show support to the young man by having him throw out the first pitch of the season. and lasts until the last all-star team is eliminated.” This is costly. The sales from concessions along with Brodie Goodwin recently had surgery on his feet Phillips would like to thank everyone who came out a fundraiser help support the cost of these expenses. and will not be able to play this year. Since Goodwin to support the league as the season opened. He hopes “We also have coke sales to raise money,” he said. is not able to play the league thought it would be a this momentum will continue throughout the season. Phillips said there are 11 districts in the state of nice way to show support to the young man by having “I want to thank everyone for coming out, even Alabama and Tallassee Dixie Baseball is in district him throw out the first pitch of the season. though the weather was bad and I hope people don’t 10. District 10 includes Auburn, Opelika, Beauregard, just come for opening ceremonies, come all year. “He’ll be ready next year,” said Phillips. Valley, Reeltown, Dadeville and Smiths Station.

Auburn QBs go live in first scrimmage

he Auburn Tigers conducted their first scrimmage of spring practice this past ANDY Saturday which consistGRAHAM ed of approximately 100 Guest plays. As usual, the proColumnist ceedings were closed to the public, but we have a fairly comprehensive idea of what took place through interviews by coaches and players and eyewitness accounts from insiders. To be honest, this particular scrimmage sounded very similar to most every spring scrimmage I've ever heard about. There were some big plays, but there were also a lot of mistakes. A number of players did some really good things, but they still have a lot to work on. Yeah, yeah, yeah… Blah, blah, blah… The one thing that actually did happen Saturday that is by far the most important is nobody got hurt. Auburn has had some incredibly bad luck on the injury front the last few years to key contributors, so they're definitely due some good fortune in that area. Health is always a key component to a football program, but Saturday was especially interesting because Gus Malzahn decided to let his quarterbacks go live. In other words, the QB's could be tackled just like any other player in a normal game. The Tigers have done it before, but it's certainly not a common practice especially in the spring. Normally, the risk of getting the quarterback hurt far outweighs any possible gain that might come from seeing live game action (again, especially in the spring). However, these are not exactly "normal" times on the Plains these days. Coach Malzahn understands how important the 2016 season is and also how important finding the right quarterback is going to be. He needs as much usable information as he can get and this is the best way to do it. Last season, Auburn felt like they knew exactly what they had in Jeremy Johnson because of his performance in practice (non-live) and limited game action. Unfortunately, it was painfully obvious by halftime of the Jacksonville State game that Johnson was having major difficulty translating great practice preparation into great game production. I never played a down of college football, but it doesn't take a Hall of Famer to understand that things change when the lights come on. Some people can handle it and some people can't. Perhaps, Gus Malzahn learned something new from watching Jeremy Johnson and Sean White take on the Auburn defense unprotected. He may have, but I doubt it. The main reason the quarterbacks went live Saturday was so the coaching staff could better evaluate John Franklin III. Franklin is the Junior College transfer with blazing speed, a rocket arm and a 28 on the ACT. He also weighs 185 pounds soaking wet. Auburn has to find out quickly if he's tough enough to handle the brutality of the SEC. By all indications, he handled it well this weekend. He showcased his speed by breaking an 80 yard TD run, but he also struggled throwing the ball downfield. It's a long time till the Tigers play a meaningful football game and this was just one practice. It's way too soon to make any judgments about anything, but Auburn needs to continue to gather as much information as possible. After all, that's kind of the whole point of spring practice.

Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune

The Tallassee Tigers were visibly proud of their win over Russell County Friday. The team walked away with a 8-2 win over Russell County in the first game and a 6-4 victory in the second game of the doubleheader.

WINS KEEP ON COMING

Tallassee varsity baseball continues winning streak at doubleheader

By CARMEN RODGERS Tallassee Tribune

On Friday, Tallassee hosted Russell County in a doubleheader that ended up being a double win for Tallassee. In the first game of the doubleheader Dylan Hathcock had five strikeouts, allowed only five hits and walked one player. Jake Burton was 2-4 at the plate, had two doubles and two RBIs. Casey Baynes, Will Peters, Blake Dean, Cody Hamilton and Reid Whitaker each had one hit, making the final score 8-2. In the second game of the doubleheader, Will Peters had five strikeouts, allowed five hits and only two walks. Peters went 2-4 with a RBI. Casey Baynes was 2-4 with a double and a RBI. Dylan Hathcock was 3-4 with three hits and a double. Dee Williams went 1-4 with 2 RBI making the final score 6-4 and giving Tallassee a season record of 18-4 and 3-1 in area play. Tallassee continued their winning-streak with two more wins during a doubleheader against Park Crossing on March 22. During the first game Cody Hamilton came in to relieve Jake Burton and threw the final 3 1/3, striking out three and giving up only two

hits. Burton struck out two and gave up six hits. Jake Burton also batted 2-2 with 4 RBIs, Reid Whitaker batted 2-4 with a double and Dylan Davidson batted 2-2 for the Tigers to defeat Park Crossing 16-6. During the second game of the doubleheader Casey Baynes threw 5 complete innings, striking out six and only giving up one hit. Dee Williams picked up the save, going the final two innings and striking out three. Will Peters led the way at the plate, going 2-4 with a triple and 3 RBIs and Dylan Davidson went 2-2 with one RBI for a final score of 16-5. This left the Tigers with a 16-5 record for the overall season. Last Monday night Tallassee defeated Beauregard in the first game of a double header, securing their spot in state playoffs. “We still have to play BTW once more after spring break,” said Head Coach Adam Clayton. However, with a 18-4 overall record for the season and a 3-1 record in area play, the Tigers have secured their chance at the state championship. The Tallassee Tigers will compete in the Lake Martin Classic beginning Tuesday at 11 a.m. against Handley.