Tallassee Tribune Jan. 3 2024 by Tallapoosa Publishers

One person dead following early Sunday fire

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The Tallassee Fire Department responded to a deadly fire early Sunday morning.

Just after midnight, a house fire on McArthur Street broke out.

“We were notified of a person possibly entrapped in the home,”

Tallassee fire chief Eric Jones said. “Firefighters broke the window to a

bedroom and entered. A two-man team searched the bedroom in blacked out, high heat conditions and found the occupant.”

Firefighters got the occupant to the window, and a Tallassee Police Department officer aided another firefighter in removing the person.

“The two firefighters were forced to bail out the window due to the conditions in the house,” Jones said. “They began

CPR and the occupant was transported to the emergency room where they were pronounced deceased.”

Jones said the search for the occupant took three minutes as the home was burning, limiting entry.

“The (quickness) is credited to experienced, well-trained firefighters that hopped off the rig ready to work,” Jones said.

2023

project through in-kind service and cash in hopes it will increase lodging taxes, which are in turn being used to create other quality of life projects in Holtville, Eclectic and Tallassee. Discussions are already underway as to what those projects might be. All involve partnering with either the Elmore County Board of Education, Tallassee City Schools, City of Tallassee or the Town of Eclectic.

There is also a commercial park at 17 Springs. It fronts Highway 14 and has generated loads of interest. It will feature hotels, restaurants and retail shops.

Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley called 17 Springs visionary. Officials cut the ribbon on Phase 1 in 2023 with 12 tennis courts, 12 pickleball courts and four soccer fields. Phase 2 with six softball fields, a track, football stadium and fieldhouse is currently under construction. It is expected to be completed early next year.

“It is a great day for Millbrook and Elmore County,” Kelley said at the ribbon cutting. “This is huge.”

Elmore County and the Grandview YMCA officials were also present at the ceremony as partners in the quality of life project.

The Elmore County Commission invested in the

School looks a lot like the old one torn down to build it. But the new structure will enable students to learn using new technology in a safe environment.

“The goal is to be able to put an old alum like me out front and they would know exactly where they were,” Tallassee City Board of Education president Don Bryant said at the time. “But the same person inside would not know where they are.”

While the new building and old building may be similar and both are learning centers, Bryant said school buildings are just buildings.

“A school building is not the school; it’s the people who learn and teach inside it,” Bryant said.

In just a couple of months, the collegiate Blue Gray Tennis tournament held for decades at Montgomery’s Lagoon Park will be hosted on the new tennis courts. The courts also allowed the creation of a tennis team at Stanhope Elmore High School. NEW TALLASSEE HIGH SCHOOL OPENS

It took two years and $21 million. Now students at Tallassee High School are walking the halls of a new building. The new Tallassee High

The new building was ready for this school year after students were crammed into portables that covered the band practice field. The new facility includes a state of the art auditorium capable of holding the entire student body and staff for the first time in years.

Gov. Kay Ivey attended the ribbon cutting ceremony before the first classes in August.

“We need all of our students well educated to meet the challenges of the future,” Ivey said at the ribbon cutting. “We want them all to be able to get good paying jobs to be able to support their families and enjoy this great state.”

Tallassee City Schools superintendent Dr.

See BEST, Page B4

Weather Today’s High Low 46 32 THURS: HIGH 54 LOW 30 USPS 681-260 334-567-7811 Fax: 334-567-3284 CONTACT US Tallassee, al 36078 $1.00 TallasseeTribune com Vol. 126, no. 1 JANUARY 3, 2024 SEE RECENT ARREST REPORTS, PAGE A2 INSIDE: LOCAL, PAGE A3 High-speed chase ends in arrest SPORTS, PAGE B1 A LOOK BACK AT THE TOP SPORTS MOMENTS OF 2023 LOCAL, PAGE B8 LMRA collecting Christmas trees for disposal Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does. CALL US! 548 Cherokee Road • Alexander City, AL 256.234.4281 www.alexcityoutlook.com

SUBMITTED | THE TRIBUNE A helmet worn by a Tallassee firefighter was damaged while removing an occupant from a burning home early Sunday morning.

Compiled by CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Police Reports

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

JAN. 1

• Trespassing was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Henderson Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Ashurst Avenue.

• Gunfire was reported on Hickory Street.

DEC. 31

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Herren Hill Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Popular Street.

• A noise complaint was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A welfare check was conducted on Sunwood Court.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Sunwood Court.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Hanil Drive.

• Loud music was reported on Rickey Lane.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Seventh Street.

• Animal control was requested on Magnolia Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Taylor Road.

DEC. 30

• A private property motor vehicle accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Gunfire was reported on First Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Washington Street.

• Criminal mischief was reported on James Street.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer

Avenue.

• Unauthorized use of a vehicle was reported on James Street.

• An animal complaint was reported on Paxton Drive.

• Animal control was requested on Central Boulevard.

DEC. 29

• Assistance was given to medics on Grimes Street.

• Reckless driving was reported on Highway 229.

• Assistance was given to medics on Macedonia Road.

• Assistance was given to medics on Notasulga Road.

DEC. 28

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Notasulga Road.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Rickey Lane.

• Burglary was reported on Riverhills Court.

• A domestic incident was reported on Upper River Road.

DEC. 27

• Gunfire was reported on Second Avenue.

DEC. 26

• Criminal mischief was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A white female was arrested on Freeman Avenue during a domestic violence call.

• Theft was reported on Second Avenue.

• Theft was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on Joy Street.

• A white female was arrested during a traffic stop on Highway 229.

• Assistance was given

to a motorist on Jordan Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Notasulga Road.

• A Black male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Barnett Boulevard. DEC. 25

• Criminal mischief was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Trespassing was reported on Ashurst Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Washington Street.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Interstate 85.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Ashurst Bar Road.

• An intoxicated person was reported on Ashurst Avenue.

• A missing person was reported on Greenwood Road.

• Menacing was reported on Stewart Street.

• Criminal mischief was reported on Stewart Street.

• A welfare check was reported on Macedonia Road.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Ashurst Bar Road.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• Menacing was reported on Stewart Street.

• A fight with weapons was reported on Stewart Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Joy Street. DEC. 24

• A domestic dispute was reported on First Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Benson Drive.

• Animal control was requested on Barnett Boulevard.

• A welfare check was conducted on Central Boulevard.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Highway 229.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on E.b. Payne Senior Drive.

• Theft and criminal mischief was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A white female was arrested on North Ann Avenue.

DEC. 23

• A welfare check was reported on Indian Lane.

• A domestic indecent was reported on Hickory Street.

WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT

DEC. 23

• Tampering with physical evidence and possession of marijuana was reports on River Oaks Drive.

Dec. 22

• Domestic violence was reported on Lee Street,

DEC. 19

• Assault was reported on the Coosa River Parkway.

DEC. 18

• Theft was reported on North Opothleohola Street.

• A noise complaint was reported on North Ashurst Avenue.

• Unlawful breaking and entering and theft was reported on Durr Court.

‘American Pickers’ looking for Alabama collections

STAFF REPORT

TPI Staff

Rural Alabama is known for its unique and potentially valuable collections of antiques, rare items and more. That’s why “American Pickers” is returning to Alabama and the show is looking for collections to view.

Multiple episodes of The History Channel’s hit TV series will be filmed in Alabama throughout 2024. “American Pickers” is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking.” The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques.

They are always excited to find historically significant or rare items, in addition to unforgettable characters and their collections.

As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, they want to meet characters with amazing stories and fun items. They hope to give historically significant objects

Pet of the Week - Shirley

a new lease on life while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way. The Pickers have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them.

The show is looking for leads and would love to know about your hidden treasure. If you or someone you

know has a unique item and story to tell and ready to sell, “American Pickers” would like to hear from you. The pickers do not pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums or anything open to the public.

If interested, please send name, phone number, location and description of the collection with a photo to americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 646-493-2184.

Shirley is a female Beagle. She is about 7 years old and weighs 30 pounds. She was picked up as a stray and her owner never came for her. She is a super sweet gal. She is great with other dogs and loves people. She is pretty laid back but does still like to follow her nose.

The Humane Society of Elmore County’s adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under 1 year old. Cats over 1 can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, deworming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian. If you are interested in meeting Cola or any of the pets at HSEC, the first step is to fill out an adoption application online. Once approved, you will be contacted by someone from the humane society. HSEC is located at 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka. The phone number is 334567-3377 and the website is www.elmorehumane.org.

Page A2 • Wednesday, January 3, 2024 www.TallasseeTribune.com The Tallassee Tribune

SUBMITTED | THE TRIBUNE ‘American Pickers’ is returning to Alabama and is looking for local collections for potential episodes in February.

Humane Society of Elmore County News

10 New Year’s resolutions for pet owners

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

1. Keep identification on your pet! A collar, current rabies tag & a personalized identification with a good phone number will get your lost pet back to you. Get your pet microchipped by your veterinarian as it is the perfect back-up to tags. Have photos of your pet just in case.

2. Keep your pet safely contained at home. Fences not only make good neighbors but keep your pets safe from cars, guns, getting lost and so much

more. Keep cats indoors if at all possible.

3. Take your pet to the vet at least once per year to keep vaccinations current, get your heartworm prevention renewed and have your pet get a general check-up.

4. Spay and neuter your pet.

There are just so many health and behavior benefits for both female and male pets. It will also reduce the overpopulation that results in far too many homeless pets.

5. Feed your dog the best quality food you can and don’t overdo the treats. Chubby pets

can develop many health problems and shorten their lives. Treats do not equal love.

6. Take care of your pet’s coat, teeth and nails. Dirty or matted coats cannot effectively protect your pet from the elements, may hide health problems, and are uncomfortable for your pet. Long nails can be painful and can eventually cripple your pet. Bad breath may be because of tooth decay or gum disease and should be checked out by your veterinarian.

7. Keep your yard and litter box clean. Cats have less litter

box problems when the box is cleaned regularly to remove waste and picking up feces in the yard frequently can help reduce smell, flies and parasites.

8. Pet proof your home and property. Keep poisons of all kinds out of pet reach, watch out for poisonous plants indoors and outside, keep electrical cords out of reach, don’t leave out strings or ribbons for a cat to swallow and make sure there is no antifreeze leaking from older vehicles.

9. Learn about your pet and its breed traits so you can bet-

ter understand what motivates your pet. Do homework on a breed or pet before bringing a new one home.

10. Spend time interacting with your pet. Our pets are social animals that thrive on human attention. Teach your pet manners so it is pleasant for others to be around. Our pets love us unconditionally; love them back with all your heart and take care of them the best you can.

Rea Cord is the executive director at the Humane Society of Elmore County.

ALEA warns people to be prepared in the cold

By TPI Staff

As 2023 ends and the final days of December are being enjoyed, it’s a reminder winter is here as local forecasters are calling for freezing temperatures, rain and possible snow flurries in the northern part of the state.

“Whether you are traveling long distances for a New Year’s celebration, going to watch your favorite team play in a bowl game, or staying close to home, we encourage everyone to prepare your vehicle before departing for the trip,” Alabama Law Enforcement Agency secretary Hal Taylor said.

“Even if you plan to be in an area of the state that will not experience rain or snow, it is smart to pack emergency supplies and ensure your vehicle is winter ready. The weather can change without notice and when the temperature drops the last place anyone wants to be is stranded on the side of the road without being properly equipped.”

PREPARE YOUR VEHICLE AND CHECK:

• Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers and interior

lights. Be sure to also check your trailer brake lights and turn signals, if necessary.

• Defrosters and all windshield wipers; and replace any worn blades.

• The cooling system for leaks; also test the coolant and drain or replace if necessary.

• Your battery, charging system and belts. When temps drop, so does battery power.

• Tires (including spare) and their age. Check the tread, sidewalls and inflation pressure. Carry items in your vehicle to handle common winter driving-related tasks, and supplies you might need in an emergency, including jumper cables, flashlights and warning devices (flares and emergency markers); blankets for protection from the cold; and a cell phone and charger, water, food and any necessary medications. Remember to gas up your vehicle or plug it in if it is electrical. When driving in potentially icy conditions, do not utilize your vehicle’s cruise control, which creates issues and could cause you to lose control, especially when crossing frozen or iced-over bridges. Plan your route, check

weather conditions and always remain courteous and cautious when driving on the roadways.

ALEA’s Director of Public Safety, Colonel Jon Archer, said, “Being a courteous driver is a simple driving behavior that goes a long way and makes our roads safer for everyone. Some of the top contributing circumstances we continually see in traffic crashes are following too closely, improper lane change or usage, driving over the posted speed limit and driving while distracted. As we look forward to a new year and continue the Agency’s ‘12 Days of Safety’ campaign, we encourage everyone to include safety and the habit of being a courteous driver in their New Year’s resolutions.”

TAKE THE PLEDGE TO BE A COURTEOUS DRIVER THIS WEEKEND AND THROUGHOUT 2024 BY:

• Avoid cruising in the left lane. The left lane is intended to be used for passing. Once you have passed another vehicle, please move back to the middle or right lane to keep the left lane open. In Alabama, a vehicle may not remain in the leftmost lane for more than 1.5

miles without completely passing another vehicle.

• Don’t follow too closely. Always follow at a safe distance to allow yourself time to react. Adjust your following distance to appropriately match weather conditions, road conditions, visibility and traffic.

• Always use your turn signal when changing lanes. Making sure other drivers are aware of a change in your path ensures they have time to react and can help avoid a crash. Don’t forget to check your blind spots, as well.

• Remember to share the road with pedestrians and cyclists. We share the responsibility to keep vulnerable road users safe. Be especially careful when turning at intersections and when driving in heavily populated areas, or even driving through congested parking lots as the holiday sales continue.

• Move over. It isn’t just courteous; it’s the law. When you see emergency vehicles, road maintenance, tow trucks or vehicles on the side of the road with their hazards on, safely move over to provide space and proceed cautiously. If you are unable to move over

High-speed chase ends in Alexander City

A 38-year-old white male is in custody after a multi-county chase ended in a wreck on U.S. Highway 280 in Alexander City on Friday.

According to Elmore County sheriff Bill Franklin, a call came in for reckless driving in the 8400 block of Highway 9 in Wetumpka. A vehicle matching the description on the call was located and a traffic stop was initiated. The driver did not stop, attempting to flee and a chase ensued.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency troopers got involved with the chase that came down Highway 63 into Tallapoosa County. The chase ended in a wreck. Spike strips were initiated, and the vehicle, a Chevy Equinox, ultimately

The Tallassee Tribune www.TallasseeTribune.com Wednesday, January 3, 2024 • Page A3

STAFF REPORT

because of traffic, slow down to 15 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.

STAFF

REPORT By TPI Staff

bottom of a hill near the intersection of U.S. Highway 280 and Coven Abbett Highway. It is unknown at this time if there were any injuries in the crash, but one Elmore County Sheriff’s Department vehicle sustained minor damage. Alexander City and Eclectic police departments were also part of the

crashed at the

chase.

LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN THE TRIBUNE The 38-year-old white male driver of this Chevy Equinox was taken into custody following a multi-county high-speed chase. LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN | THE TRIBUNE Police from Alexander City, Elmore County and Eclectic respond to

high-speed chase that ended in

wreck on

U.S.

Highway 280 on Friday.

Tallassee Talks

A new Outlook for a new year

Looking back on 2023 isn’t easy. One date that’ll always stick in my mind is April 15, 2023 — the day of the mass shooting in Dadeville. I’ll never forget texting my brother around 1 a.m. that morning, still not quite knowing the magnitude of the situation but starting to understand. The text was simple, just a few words. But I knew when Bob woke up the next morning and saw it, he’d read the heaviness in my words.

“I think we’ve had a mass shooting, friend.”

Boy, did I want to be wrong, but as you know, I wasn’t. The Dadeville shooting claimed the lives of four people, Phil Dowdell, Keke Smith, Corbin Holston and Marsiah Collins, and injured 32 others. It’s still hard for me to fully grasp the magnitude of what happened that night and what we, collectively as a community, experienced in the days and weeks following. There are countless people, myself included, who I know remember and think about that night every single day, even now, nearly nine months later.

Another date I’ll never forget: May 1, 2023. Just two weeks and two days after I got the call about a potential shooting in Dadeville, I got what then became the worst call of my life. “Dylan’s dead.”

“Wait, what? Who?” I responded. I was so in the throws of the Dadeville shooting and our response to and coverage of the aftermath. There were kids still in the hospital

and some still in critical condition.

I had a brief thought, “Was there another victim I didn’t know about? Was his name Dylan?”

But as you know, I was wrong about that one. No, the Dylan who had died was my sweet, baby brother-in-law who was just 21 years old.

Much like the night of the shooting, I didn’t fully understand — and maybe still don’t — how imperably our lives had changed in that one moment.

On top of these two events that were so impactful for me and so many others, the countless deaths our staff has covered and dealt with this year is truly unbelievable. When I heard Josh Brewer, a former coworker of mine, had lost his step-son Kade Senn, a senior at Benjamin Russell, my breath was taken away once again. I cried silent, streaming tears as I sat on the bleachers for the funeral of Johnny Nolen, a man I am proud I could call my friend.

There have been so many car wrecks resulting in deaths as well as a number of suicides throughout our three-county coverage area. In short, 2023 has been a tough one and I’m ready for it to go.

That’s not to say hard things won’t happen in 2024 and beyond, and we will be right there beside

the families, victims and survivors telling their stories as best we can. But it’s time to take a new Outlook into a new year.

For years, The Alexander City Outlook and Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. has been a source of critique for some readers. I know better than anyone you’re not going to please everyone, but I want to really stress in 2024 how The Outlook as well as the other TPI products are your newspapers. We are just the voice. It touched my heart when Josh’s family wrote a letter to the editor explaining how at a time when they felt they didn’t have a voice after their son died, The Outlook was there to give them that voice. That’s exactly what we want to do. I pour my heart out in these columns for many reasons, most importantly because I hope to help people. But I also hope to show you I, along with the rest of the TPI staff, am as human as anyone else. I mourned alongside the community when the Dadeville massacre occurred, and I lost a loved one just like so many others. I don’t write that for sympathy, but to show you, the readers, I care. We care. You may think you’d do things differently if you were in our shoes, but true journalism written with integrity is unbiased. I can promise you, however, we care about this community more than most. And we’re going to continue to show that in 2024.

Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor at Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Obituaries: 35 cents per word with a $25 charge for picture per paper (Herald, Observer, Tribune). Obituaries are only accepted via the funeral home in charge of arrangements. We do not accept obituaries from individuals.

Weddings, Engagements, Anniversaries, or Birth

Announcements: These significant family events or milestones are 35 cents per word and $25 for a photo and must be emailed to us at announcements@thewetumpkaherald.com. Include name and telephone number. The text for the announcement must be in the body of the email (not as an attachment) and photographs must be sent as a .jpeg attached to the email. Announcements will appear within 10 days in The Herald or The Tribune.

ith apologies to Cousin Rendell, here is the first installment of our annual two-part series looking back at musicians, actors, politicians and other cultural celebrities who died in 2023.

It’s difficult to imagine a world without Jimmy Buffett, proud son of the Gulf Coast who made Margaritaville into a brand. He died at 76, leaving behind a whole lot of good times at the beach for the rest of us to enjoy. His last meal was a bowl of gumbeaux. There is a short list of musicians who can say they co-founded a major rock and roll band – an even shorter list has musicians who started more than one. Denny Laine, who died at 79, was one of the founders of the Moody Blues then co-founded Wings with Paul McCartney and stayed with him for over a decade. Similarly, Randy Meisner was a founding member of Poco in the ’60s and the Eagles in the ‘70s. He died at 77 this year. And how could we leave off David Crosby, who was a co-founder of The Byrds in the ‘60s then Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the ‘70s and beyond?

Croz was legendary for his behavior, yes, but mostly we’ll fondly remember his lyrics and that angelic voice that never faltered.

Tony Bennett died at 96 but stayed on the stage nearly to the end as the legendary keeper of the Great American Songbook. Tina Turner may have achieved fame thanks to her powerful performances with Ike, but bravely came back from nothing to become a megastar on her own.

Gordon Lightfoot was a musician’s musician, a songwriter’s songwriter, and created anthemic music loved by millions. Harry Belafonte made Calypso famous but is remembered just as much for his valiant behavior during the Civil Rights era.

Robbie Robertson of The Band was a part of the Hawks, the backing band for Ronnie Hawkins then Bob Dylan. With The Band, however, Robertson helped to create a

distinctly unique vision of what can only be called Americana, despite 4/5 of the group being from Canada. Gary Rossington was a co-founder of Lynyrd Skynyrd and helped bring them into the current age. Wayne Shorter was a member of the legendary Miles Davis Quintet and a wildly creative player on his own. Pop genius Burt Bacharach made it to 94, never giving up his glorious gift for inventing melodies. Jeff Beck was a master of the guitar and was just as comfortable with shredding alongside metalheads as he was performing jazz fusion or even classical guitar; he was without peer. The music world also remembered Terry Kirkman of The Association, and the man who penned classics such as “Cherish;” Cynthia Weil, who with Barry Mann wrote some of the more memorable Brill Building songs and stayed active into modern times; Steve Harwell, the unique voice of hits by Smash Mouth; Gary Wright, the “Dream Weaver”; DJ Casper, the originator of the ubiquitous party dance “Cha Cha Slide”; Roger Whittaker, whose heavy orchestration and booming baritone soothed listeners in the synthpop ‘80s; and Sinead O’Connor, known for her early ‘90s hits

Page A4 • January 3, 2024 www.TallasseeTribune.com The Tallassee Tribune The Tallassee Tribune 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. 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 Erin Burton or Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281. The Tallassee Tribune is contract printed each Tuesday evening in Alexander City by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. 256-234-4281 www.tallasseetribune.com Mission Our The Tribune strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves. Opinion? What’s your We’d like to share your thoughts and opinions with the community for free. You may submit one letter to the editor per month (300 words or less) and/ or a guest column (500 words or less). Include name, address and phone number. We reserve the right to refuse any submissions. Mail: Your View, The Tallassee Tribune 211 Barnett Blvd., Tallassee, AL 36078 Email: editorelmore@thewetumpkaherald.com On the Web Follow us Follow The Tallassee Tribune at www.tallasseetribune.com or on Facebook and Twitter. Submissions Subscribe Today! $25 annually For residents in Elmore County, Tallapoosa County and Notasulga. $38 annually elsewhere. Call 256-234-4281 Information Postal USPS-533-160 ISSN: 2150-3983 The Tallassee Tribune is published weekly on Wednesday, by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Periodical postage paid at Tallassee, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tallassee Tribune, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, The Wetumpka Herald, The Tallassee Tribune, The Eclectic Observer, Lake Magazine, Lake Martin Living, Elmore County Living, Kenneth Boone Photography and a commercial web printing press. © 2015 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher.

Hail and Farewell

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

See FAREWELL, Page B5

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

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Let 2024 be filled with Jesus’

In 2023, more Protestant churches closed than were planted.

Christianity decreased while the “no religion” increased. “At that time many will turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people”, (Matthew 24:10-11).

We have a group of people who are self-identified Christians and the predominant reason these churchgoers offer for not attending worship service is they practice their faith in “other ways.” Almost half of evangelicals in this category say this is a very important reason for not going to church more often. We all know the story of the serpent deceiving Eve in the Book of Genesis but in 2 Corinthians 11:3, we read where ”our thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ”.

As we sit in worship services and Bible Studies, take the opportunity to look around and see all the imperfect, sinful people you are amongst us. Now the challenge is to go to your favorite restaurant, favorite entertainment venue, your job, and wherever people gather; you are going to see imperfect, sinful people but for strange reason, by justification, it is ok to associate with them outside the walls of a house of worship but not in the church that was ordained by our creator?

Some 32 years ago, a gospel singing group penned these words and it is probably more pertinent today than it was back then.

love

The following exerts are parts of the lyrics attributed to the Mullins Family. I wonder what kind of church would my church be, if every member was just like me? How many souls would be saved today, if it all depended on what I say?

I wonder how many prayers would my Lord have to answer, if all that He heard came from me? I wonder, what kind of church would my church be if every member was just like me?

Tallassee Churches

How many times have I said “I love Jesus”, and turned a deaf ear to a need?

How many times have I said I’m a Christian, but never one soul did I lead? How many luxuries have I passed by, to have more to give the Lord? Jesus I promise as long as I live, from now on, I’m gonna do more. No wonder my pastor has so many burdens, I never did offer to bear, no wonder the members have bowed down with sorrow, I never did

offer to share.

No wonder the heathen are dying in sin, no wonder the missions are lack! My heart is so cold and I’ve lost my first love, but Jesus I’m on my way back. Let 2024 be filled with love, joy, kindness and might the world see Jesus in us!

Team.

Surrounding Area Churches

Visit our sister websites: www.AlexCityOutlook.com www.TheWetumpkaHerald.com Religion Page A6 • Wednesday, January 3, 2024 www.TallasseeTribune.com The Tallassee Tribune BAPTIST Bethlehem East 7561 Upper River Road Calvary Baptist Church 293 N Wesson Street Word of Life 501 Sims Avenue Carrville Baptist Church 2436 Notasulga Road East Tallassee Baptist Church 314 Central Boulevard Elam Baptist Church 4686 Notasulga Road First Baptist Church 1279 Friendship Road Flatrock Missionary Baptist Church 1024 Flat Rock Road Friendship 4345 Friendship Road Liberty Baptist Church 574 Liberty Road Mount Zion Baptist Church 64 Log Circle Providence Primitive Baptist Church 4850 Chana Creek Road Refuge Baptist Church 3098 Red Hill Road Rehoberth Baptist 8110 Rie Range Road River Road 239 Lower Tuskegee Road Riverside Heights Hispanic Mission 495 Little Road Rock Springs 375 Rigsby Road Rock Springs Baptist Church 2810 Rock Springs Drive Tallassee First 1279 Friendship Road Tallaweka Baptist Church 1419 Gilmer Avenue Westside Baptist Church 1825 Gilmer Avenue CATHOLIC St Vincent De Paul Parish 620 Gilmer Avenue CHRISTIAN/OTHER Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ 1072 Muskogee Trail East Tallassee Church of Christ 501 Central Boulevard First Presbyterian Church 514 Central Blvd Light of Jesus Outreach Ministries 140 Gin Street Macedonia Christian Church 2685 Macedonia Road Mount Olive Congregational Christian Church NACCC 492 Kent Road Oak Heights Church of Christ 74 Manning Circle Tallassee Church of Christ 209 Gilmer Avenue Wind Rain & Fire Ministries International 1201 Gilmer Avenue Vessel Church 84632 Tallassee Hwy, Eclectic God’s Church, Campre Ministries 209 Barnett Bouelvard The Lord Our Righteousness Center, Inc. 4566 Claud Road Eclectic Tallassee First Assembly of God 185 Friendship Road EPISCOPAL Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2602 Gilmer Avenue METHODIST East Tallassee United Methodist Church 101 Central Boulevard First United Methodist Church 1 Jordan Avenue New Zion 3523 Ashurst Bar Road Oak Valley United Methodist Church 3889 Burt Mill Road Oak Valley Station United Methodist 162 Parsonage Road St. Paul Tallassee 101 Herren Hill Road Wall Street 71 Zion Street INDEPENDENT Abundant Life Church 2634 Lower Tuskegee Road Saint Mark All Nationals Pentecostal Foundation Church 30 Stewart Street Tallassee Church of God 134 Adams Street Tallassee Holiness Church 194 Honeysuckle Lane God’s Congregation Holiness Church 508 Jordan Avenue Claud Independent Methodist Church 81232 Tallassee Highway in Eclectic

AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd., Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231, Wetumpka ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka Crossroads Church 504 Autauga St., Wetumpka First Assembly of God 3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God 5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka BAPTIST Abraham Baptist Church 2520 Lynwood Dr., Millbrook Antioch Baptist Church 1115 Antioch Rd., Titus Beulah Baptist Church 2350 Grier Rd., Wetumpka Blue Ridge Baptist 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka Brookwood Baptist 3111 Grandview Rd., Millbrook Calvary Baptist 504 W. Osceola St., Wetumpka Central Baptist 3545 W. Central Rd., Wetumpka Coosada Baptist 20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic Faith Baptist 64 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka First Baptist Church 205 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka First Baptist of Elmore Hwy. 14 Co. Rd. 74, Elmore Galilee Baptist 95 Old Georgia Rd., Wetumpka Good Hope Baptist 1766 S. Fleahop Rd., Eclectic Goodship Baptist 1554 Hwy. 143, Millbrook Grace Baptist 304 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Grandview Pines Baptist 346 Deatsville Hwy., Millbrook Green Ridge Baptist 288 Turner Rd., Wetumpka Harvest Baptist 2990 Main St., Millbrook Hillside Baptist 405 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Holtville Riverside Baptist 7121 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka Lake Elam Baptist 4060 Gober Rd., Millbrook Liberty Hill Baptist 61 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka Lighthouse Baptist 2281 Main St., Millbrook Living Water Baptist 1745 Grass Farm Rd., Titus Millbrook Baptist Millbrook Mitts Chapel Baptist 935 Cold Springs Rd., Deatsville Mt. Hebron West Baptist 150 Mt. Hebron Rd., Elmore Mt. Herron East Baptist Church 4355 Mt. Herron Rd., Eclectic Mountain View Baptist 1025 Rie Range Rd., Wetumpka New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury New Home Baptist 1605 New Home Rd., Titus New Hope Baptist 6191 Light-wood Rd., Deatsville New Lily Green Baptist 6504 Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville New Nazareth Baptist Hwy. 143, Deatsville Pleasant Hill Baptist Pleasant Hill Rd., Eclectic Prospect Baptist Prospect Rd., Eclectic Redland Baptist 1266 Dozier Rd., Wetumpka Rushenville Baptist 10098 Georgia Rd., Eclectic Saint James Baptist 1005 Nobles Rd., Wetumpka Saint James Baptist 101 Gantt Rd., Deatsville Santuck Baptist 7250 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka Seman Baptist Seman, Alabama Shoal Creek Baptist 13214 Holtville Rd., Deatsville Springeld Baptist Hwy. 7, Millbrook Thelma Baptist 810 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka Titus Baptist 6930 Titus Rd., Wetumpka Tunnell Chapel Baptist 210 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka Victory Baptist 5481 Main St., Millbrook Wadsworth Baptist 2780 Hwy. 143, Deatsville BAPTIST - MISSIONARY Atkins Hill 565 Atkins Rd., Wetumpka Cathmagby Baptist 3074 Mitchell Creek Rd., Wetumpka First Missionary Baptist at Guileld 412 Company St., Wetumpka Goodhope 1389 Willow Springs Rd. Wetumpka Lebanon 17877 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus Mount Canaan 1125 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka Mount Pisgah 16621 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus Mt. Zion 371 AL Hwy. 14, Elmore Mt. Zion #3 1813 Luke Paschal Rd., Eclectic New Home 5130 Elmore Rd., Wetumpka Second Missionary 760 N. Bridge St., Wetumpka Spring Chapel Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka Sweetwater 163 Michael Lane, Wetumpka Tabernacle Baptist 1020 W. Tallassee St., Wetumpka BAPTIST - PRIMITIVE Bethel Old School 4625 Jackson Rd., Wetumpka Providence 4850 Chana Creek Rd., Wetumpka CATHOLIC Our Lady of Guadalupe 545 White Rd., Wetumpka CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ of Elmore 470 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 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 Lightwood Church of Christ 251 New Harmony Rd., Deatsville Redland Road Church of Christ 2480 Redland Rd., Wetumpka Wetumpka Church of Christ W. Bridge St. At W. Main St., Wetumpka CHURCH OF GOD Elmore Church of God 10675 Rucker Road, Elmore Gethsemane Church of God 705 Cotton St., Wetumpka Church at the Brook 2890 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Maranatha Church of God 2621 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka Victory Tabernacle AOH Church of God 2080 Main Street, Millbrook Wetumpka Church of God Hwy. 9 N. Wetumpka CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN Cedarwood Congregational Christian 10286 US Hwy 231 N, Wetumpka Seman Congregational Christian 15970 Central Plank Rd., Seman Union Congregational Christian 8188 Lightwood Rd., Marbury EPISCOPAL The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2602 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee Trinity Episcopal Church 5371 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka St. Michael & All Angels Church 5941 Main St., Millbrook HOLINESS New Beginnings Holiness 865 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka Summit Holiness 2050 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Temple of Deliverance Holiness 620 Alabama St., Wetumpka JEHOVAH’S WITNESS Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 9235 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka LATTER DAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1405 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Cobbs Ford Rd., Millbrook LUTHERAN Christ Lutheran Church 2175 Cobbs Ford Rd., Prattville PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church 100 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka Millbrook Presbyterian Corner of Main St. & Coosada Rd. Valley View Presbyterian - PCA 4125 Rie Range Rd. Wetumpka SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST First Elmore Seventh Day Adventist 210 Lucky Town Rd., Elmore INDEPENDENT METHODIST Claud Independent Methodist Church 81232 Tallassee Hwy, Eclectic UNITED METHODIST Cain’s Chapel United Methodist 96 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville Central United Methodist Church 11721 Central Plank Rd. Central Elmore United Methodist Church 40 Hatchet St., Elmore First United Methodist Church 306 W. Tuskeena St., Wetumpka First United Methodist Church 3350 Edgewood, Millbrook Harmony United Methodist Church 8000 Titus Rd., Titus Mulder Memorial United Methodist 3454 Fire Tower Rd., Wetumpka New Style United Methodist 64 Old Georgia Plank Spur, Wetumpka Pierce Chapel United Methodist 1003 Pierce Chapel Rd., Santuck Providence United Methodist 1540 Providence Rd., Titus Robinson Springs Methodist Church 5980 Main St., Millbrook Trinity United Methodist 135 Little Weoka Creek Rd., Equality Union United Methodist 691 Central Rd. Eclectic Wallsboro United Methodist 11066 US Hwy. 231, Wetumpka CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Millbrook Church of the Nazarene 3251 Browns Rd., Millbrook PENTECOSTAL Faith Deliverance Church 475 Jackson St., Elmore Victory Temple 1173 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka OTHER Central Bible Chapel 3630 Edgewood Rd., Millbrook Chapel of Praise Hwy. 14, Millbrook Cornerstone Full Gospel 9301 US Hwy. 231, Wetumpka East Chapel MP Church Airport Rd., Millbrook Grace Bible Church 2251 Main St., Millbrook Gracepoint Community Church 78223 Tallassee Highway, Wetumpka New Life Church - Millbrook Sanctuary Worship Center 1688 Ceasarville Rd., Wetumpka Servant Fellowship Church Wetumpka The Worship Center 2705 Williams Rd., Wetumpka Time of Refreshing Fellowship 117 E. Bridge St., Wetumpka Words of Life Church 105 Cousins Rd., Wetumpka

Jackie Wilbourn, member of Bethel Baptist Church, is a chaplain with Alabama Baptist Disaster JACKIE WILBOURN Columnist

Tallassee football hits the road in 2024

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Tallassee football team

will be putting plenty of miles on buses come next fall.

Tallassee recently released its 2024 football schedule and the Tigers will be hitting the road over and over again to begin the year.

The first four games on Tallassee’s schedule are on the road – against Montgomery Academy, Elmore County, Munford and Booker T. Washington Tuskegee. The Tigers only have one home game before Oct. 18 and hit the road six of the first seven games of the season.

In those six road games, Tallassee gets three short distances and three far distances. The Tigers will travel to Elmore County (12 miles), BTW Tuskegee (17 miles) and Montgomery Academy (31 miles), while their other three drives are all over an hour or more.

Tallassee travels to Handley (67 miles), Munford (82 miles) and Cleburne County (96 miles).

“That’s the way it fell for us this year,” Tallassee principal Drew Glass said. “I tried to balance out our games at five

in 2024.

and Holtville on the schedule was my goal,” Glass said. “I wanted to keep Reeltown as well. I talked to (Reeltown head football coach) Matt (Johnson) and he already had their schedule done. When I didn’t get Reeltown, we wanted to stay local and we got Montgomery Academy. … In two years when it’s time to schedule again, we really want to get Reeltown back on the schedule.”

home and five away because that’s ideal, but it just didn’t work out in our non-region games this season. … On the flip side, next year we have six home games and they come to us.”

One big change from the Tigers schedule this season is the absence of rival Reeltown.

The two teams have faced each other 20 times in the history of the rivalry and are stalemated at 10-10 in the history books. After facing each other 16 times between 1984 and 2003, the two teams did not face each other for 17 years.

The rivalry was picked back up in 2020, and the two teams are 2-2 against each other

since. Reeltown beat Tallassee last season, 41-14, en route to its 2A state championship appearance.

Despite dropping one rival, Tallassee did keep Elmore County and Holtville, both non-region opponents for the upcoming year, on the schedule.

Tallassee and Elmore County have played every season since 1971 and once the classes were set, Elmore County was phone call number one for Glass.

Holtville and Tallassee is another deep-rooted rivalry that started back in the 1930s. The two teams have played 35 times since then and 11 times since 2004.

“Keeping Elmore County

Tallassee finished last season with a 1-9 record and was moved down to Class 4A during the reclassification earlier this month. While moving down classifications could seem like a good omen for the Tigers, Tallassee’s schedule is certainly not easier than it was last year.

Not only does Tallassee have to hit the road six times, but the Tigers will face seven teams that reached the playoffs in their respective classifications.

That includes Elmore County and Holtville, both of which were playoff teams in 5A. Montgomery Academy and Cleburne County each reached the 4A playoffs last year. While those four teams only reached the first round, three other opponents went deeper into the

postseason.

Handley, which went 10-2 last year, reached the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. Tuskegee went 9-5, but went on a playoff run for the ages as it reached the Class 4A semifinals before falling to eventual champion Montgomery Catholic.

St. James also reached the semifinals, but in 3A. The Trojans went 11-3 and also lost to an eventual state champion in Mobile Christian.

Overall, Tallassee’s opponents recorded a 60-54 record overall and a 7-7 record in the playoffs.

2024 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Aug. 23 - at Montgomery Academy Aug. 30 - at Elmore County Sept. 6 - at Munford* Sept. 13 - at Booker T. Washington*

Sept. 20 - BULLOCK COUNTY*

Sept. 27 - BYE

Oct. 4 - at Cleburne County*

Oct. 11 - at Handley*

Oct. 18 - ST. JAMES*

Oct. 25 - TALLADEGA*

Nov. 1 - HOLTVILLE HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS * - region game

Tallassee wrestling wins Beast at the Beach

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Tallassee wrestling team just can’t stop winning.

To kick off its Christmas break, the Tallassee wrestling team hit the road to Ft. Walton, Florida to take on teams from Florida, Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee in the annual Beast at the Beach tournament.

Not only did Tallassee gain some valuable experience, but the Tigers went 8-0 across the two days and claimed the championship trophy at the end.

Tallassee defeated Ft. Walton Beach 59-13, North Bay Haven 68-9, Archbishop Shaw 54-17, Tate 66-15, Harris County 41-31, Archbishop Shaw 49-30, Gulf Breeze 45-30 and Collierville 53-14.

With the wins, Tallassee’s duals team moves to

24-0 on the season.

“We exceeded my expectations down there,” coach John Mask said. “Previously, the best we’ve ever finished down there was third place. We’ve always wanted to win that tournament. I don’t know if I ever thought we could win it and hopefully this helps us down the road at state. There was some top-notch competition there.”

Junior Land Bell was named the tournament’s most valuable wrestler.

Bell, Tallassee’s defending state champion, went 8-0 in the tournament with some massive wins.

In his eight wins, he tallied four wins via pin, two forfeit wins, one major decision and one regular decision.

While starting the weekend off with a major decision, he seemed to get better and better as

the weekend went on and never fatigued. Both of his forfeit wins came on Day 1, and sandwiched two pins in the third and fourth matches. In those matches, he pinned an opponent from Harris County (Ga.) in the third period while pinning Archbishop Shaw’s Dominick Randazzo in the first period.

To start the quarterfinals on Day 2, the team faced Archbishop Shaw again. Instead of facing Randazzo again, Archbishop threw out Caleb Williams on the mat. Williams didn’t fare much better as Bell pinned him just three minutes into the match.

In the semifinals, he recorded another pin then faced a tough match in the championship against Collierville. He beat Damen Pullen by decision, 6-1, and gave Pullen (27-4) his second loss of the weekend.

“Land has unlimited potential,” Mask said. “He has everything you want with his speed and his quickness. He wrestled some top-ranked kids out of Florida and Tennessee. A lot of people told me before the finals match that the Tennessee kid is really good and we needed to watch out, but I assured them that I thought our guy was pretty good himself. He went out there and won that match.”

While Bell took home MVP honors, he wasn’t the only Tallassee wrestler to impress on the weekend. Thirteen total Tallassee wrestlers took home positive records from the event, while a few more left undefeated.

Ramon Lozada (120) and Christian McCary (165) both went undefeated on the weekend. Lozada was 6-0 with two pins, two decisions, one major

Woods should’ve been a 2A Back of the Year finalist

It’s one thing to call Reeltown the Tigers and not apologize for it, but it’s a whole different issue when an individual player is left out of a contest he clearly should’ve been nominated for.

Earlier this week, the Alabama Sports Writers Association released its all-state and back/lineman of the year finalists. The Class 2A Back of the Year finalists are B.B. Comer’s Kamore Harris, Tuscaloosa Academy’s Preston Lancaster and Fyffe’s Logan Anderson.

It seems pretty clear Anderson will win the award regardless. He had nearly 3,000 yards and scored 45 touchdowns; he had four scores in the state championship and broke Fyffe’s single-season record for rushing yards. I don’t think anyone would argue he clearly deserves it. However, the fact Woods isn’t even on the list is nothing short of a travesty.

Let’s start with the No. 1 problem with the ASWA’s list: There should be more than two categories. There’s Back of the Year and Lineman of the Year. That’s it. If you’re a defensive back or linebacker, you’re essentially eliminated from contention because Back of the Year is always a skill player. Quarterbacks, though, are considered in the Back of the Year category.

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

So, for Lancaster, he had nearly 4,000 passing yards and scored 46 touchdowns — but how do you compare passing yards with rushing yards?

Quarterback of the Year should be its own separate category. That would leave an open spot for Woods where he should be.

Another issue is it seems pretty clear Harris was given the nod because he is the reigning Class 2A Back of the Year. But you can’t argue stats. Harris had 1,422 rushing yards; Woods had 2,241. Harris scored 24 touchdowns; Woods 33. Woods did have a significantly higher number of carries, but he also played on the defensive side of the ball, which might should be considered or not depending on your viewpoint. He had 71 tackles, a sack and a pair of interceptions. Meanwhile, Reeltown defeated Comer when the teams met in the semifinals. The only difference you can really pick out between Woods and Harris is B.B. Comer lived and died by Harris. He was the go-to guy on

seemingly every play, and although Woods certainly carried a large load for Reeltown, there were other skill players who complemented him quite nicely. But the fact Woods’ teammates were better shouldn’t knock him.

It just seems a shame to have a list of something “of the year,” which is a huge honor for these kids, and not include someone who so clearly deserves it.

Reeltown is already reeling (no pun intended) from the Tigers fiasco, to which the AHSAA refuses to even issue an apology for. When Reeltown played at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the state championship and the team’s name was on the big screens and ticker tapes, it was listed as the Reeltown Tigers.

Not only is Reeltown actually the Rebels, its biggest rivals in both Dadeville and Tallassee are the Tigers, and it had just beaten the B.B. Comer Tigers to advance to the championship. Clearly, this was an honest human mistake. Someone probably had a million things to do and just simply messed up. But it’s just as simple to issue an apology, and Arthur Woods deserves one too.

Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor at Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

decision and one forfeit win.

McCary was 7-0 with three pins, one win via injury timeout, one decision and two forfeits. Just behind them was Joseph Hooks, Nolan Addeo and Avery Brantley, all of which went 7-1.

Hooks (175) had two pins, one technical fall and four forfeit wins. Brantley had two forfeit wins but also added three pins, one technical fall and one major decision. Addeo was tied for a team-best five pins while earning another win via decision and one via forfeit.

Thomas Patterson also only had one loss as he went 6-1 with two pins and three major decisions. Mason Nelson, despite going 6-2, had one of the best weekends of any Tigers. Nelson earned five pins and his two losses came to two very tough

opponents. He lost to a defending state champion in Preston Neufeld, who is 11-0 this season.

His other loss came to Gulf Breeze’s Gavin Samons who has a career 48-9 overall record.

Tra’Mel McCoy was also 6-2 with three forfeit wins and three pins. Ethan Jones went 5-3, Aiden Bridgman went 2-3, John Creswell went 1-6, Jude Rogers went 3-3, Braden Arnold went 2-1, Ja’Twon Griffin went 3-2, Preston Parker went 0-1 and Jacob Patterson went 1-0.

“It was like a dream come true,” Mask said.

“Everybody was clicking and everybody was wrestling well. Momentum is big in wrestling. You come out of the gate and start winning, your teammates start winning and it’s a chain reaction. We had a lot of that this weekend.”

The Tallassee Tribune www.TallasseeTribune.com Wednesday, January 3, 2024 • Page B3 (334) 309-4422 (334) 580-7879 FREE ESTIMATES! • EDGING • TRIMMING • WEED EATING • PINE STRAW All Lawn Maintenance SUBSCRIBE TODAY. 256-234-4281 alexcityoutlook.com | lakemagazine.life thewetumpkaherald.com | tallasseetribune.com TIRED OF ALL THE DRAMA AND NONE OF THE FACTS? TRUST TALLAPOOSA PUBLISHERS. We are your #1 source for the news & information that matters to you. IN PRINT & ONLINE.

FILE | THE TRIBUNE

The Tallassee football team, led by rising sophomore Trent Morris at quarterback, will play on the road in six of the first seven games of the season

Brock Nolin said he is sure the new building will meet the education needs of children of Tallassee and hopes its history will be much like its predecessor.

“I’m excited that new generations will get to enjoy this structure,” Nolin said. “The previous one lasted 100 years. I’m really excited to see what comes in the next 100 years.”

HGTV RETURNS

Everyone’s favorite HGTV stars Ben and Erin Napier highlighted Wetumpka again after the 2021 Hometown Takeover. The December show highlighted what has happened in Wetumpka since the show did 12 makeover projects in four months of filming in 2020.

The show featured new stores such as Restoration Coffee and how WOW Catering is moving to Wetumpka. It also featured how the arts have grown through the growth of The Kelly.

The hour-long show featured remarks from Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Shellie Whitfield who is hopeful the show will remind visitors of what is happening in town.

“It is another thing to be proud of to be here in Wetumpka,” Whitfield said of the filming. “It should be a good pick me up for everyone who watches and for the community.”

NO MORE MURALS FROM STEVE LEE

Many of the murals in downtown Wetumpka and Tallassee were created by one person — Steve Lee. He died in August but not without leaving his mark.

Lee’s murals can be seen on the side of WACQ radio station in Tallassee, the old hotel on East Bridge Street in Wetumpka and beyond.

Former Main Street Wetumpka executive director Jenny Stubbs said many didn’t know who did the murals and window paintings in Wetumpka.

“He made his mark without people realizing it was him — he was all over downtown,” Stubbs said after Lee’s passing. “He did some permanent work and did tons of window work that would be used and taken off. Then he would do something else depending on the season or event going on downtown.”

Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Shellie Whitfield said Lee was at work improving the image of downtown Wetumpka long before HGTV was on the scene.

“He came down here and started painting windows for that first Dickens Christmas,” Whitfield said.

“We had all those windows. Now, everybody has used him. He has done more buildings than not.” Stubbs credits Lee for completing the final phase of the mural in The Alleyway.P Prior to that, it was Lee’s work on windows for the Downtown Dickens Christmas that solidified his role as a go-to artist.

“When we started immersing downtown in these events, it was important that all of downtown was vibrant and lit up,” Stubbs said. “One way to do that, and make it a cohesive experience, was to try to paint as many windows as you could. As you can imagine that was not an easy feat. But if anybody could do it, Steve would and he did. He was truly remarkable, not just for Dickens but with any event downtown.”

Lee’s technique was old school, similar to window painting from the 1960s.

“His methodology made it that more authentic,” Stubbs said. “The way he painted on windows is the way they used to do it. He didn’t really use any digital technology. It gave authenticity to downtown itself as it continued to evolve.”

WHITEWATER FESTIVAL RETURNS

The COVID-19 pandemic may have stolen two years of Coosa River Whitewater Festival, which finally returned to the Coosa River and Moccasin Gap in 2023.

“We went a little underground with it this year,” longtime Coosa River advocate and kayaker Lonnie Carden said. “COVID took away some of the sponsorships but we want to try and build it back up again. We said we were going to make this the gathering of paddle buddies.

This is formal fun.”

Carden said although the water lacked the big names of today’s whitewater kayaking, it featured several highly talented local paddlers. In the past, it has featured some of the great whitewater paddlers.

Carden hopes the festival returns to its former glory. The festival started in 1985 and at one point it was one of 10 kayak rodeos across the United States recognized by American Whitewater. Carden said organizers have high expectations for 2025. This year’s fun helped build momentum back.

“Unofficially it will be the 40th year,” Carden said. “We are planning to build it up to something similar as the first.”

POLICE BRUTALITY CASE STILL ONGOING

It’s been almost two years since Tristen Quinn was stopped by the Wetumpka Police Department.

Now the case is still making its way through the courts. Quinn has appealed his conviction of resisting arrest to circuit court after numerous other charges were dropped when a video surfaced of an Elmore County deputy sheriff leaping onto Quinn’s face during the arrest. The former deputy, Blake Hicks was indicted in November by a federal grand jury for depriving an arrestee of his civil rights under color of law.

No court dates have been set in either case.

TWO JANUARY TORNADOS

FOLLOW SIMILAR PATHS

Lake Jordan saw two tornadoes strike in two weeks in January 2023.

Their paths affected northern Elmore County just miles apart. The first was an EF-2 on Jan. 3. It came during a day which saw 14 hours of storms and left numerous trees down, power lines damaged, boats sunk, and piers and homes damaged.

“On the Holtville side damage is primarily along Coosa River Road and Lightwood Road,” Elmore County Emergency Management Agency director

Keith Barnett said. “On the Titus side is Island Road and all the roads that run off it. There was also damage in the Holiday Shores area along Island Lake Road and Speigner Road.”

The tornado began in a wooded area near the Autauga/Elmore County line, with snapped tree tops observed west of Highway 143. It continued northeastward and began to intensify as it reached Coosa River Road and Foreman Road, where multiple trees were uprooted, a barn was damaged and minor shingle damage occurred to residences.

The tornado reached its maximum intensity as it neared the northeast side of Lake Jordan. Multiple residences on Circle Drive suffered roof damage. Many trees were snapped and some boat houses were destroyed.

Ten days later a tornado struck again.

After leaving behind destruction in Selma, and deaths in Autauga County, the vortex left homes damaged in Elmore County before crossing into Coosa and Tallapoosa counties.

“There is widespread damage from the Autauga County line in the Lightwood Community all the way through Lake Jordan to the Coosa and Tallapoosa county lines,” Barnett said at the time.

“There are numerous homes with major damage.”

Many residents were not home as the tornado passed through just after 1 p.m., but many quickly returned home to pick up what they could. In Lightwood, one mobile home was rolled from its moorings about 100 yards. Residents along with friends and family were trying to salvage what they could. The same occurred at another home that was totally demolished on its foundation.

The storm and tornado left debris everywhere, closing roads and numerous power outages.

TALLASSEE PROJECTS FINISHING UP

DOWNTOWN

After years of working through the grant process, the streets and sidewalks in downtown Tallassee are almost new again. Work began almost two years ago to replace decades old utilities and install new sidewalks, lighting and asphalt. The process even saw the city tear down the burned out remains of the Hotel Talisi.

Tallassee Public Works director James Gardner said the projects are finally coming to an end.

“They are looking at somewhere around the end of February being done,” Gardner said. “They have started on asphalt and it is looking good. There is still more work to be done.”

Councilmember Linda Mosher owns a dress shop on Ann Street. The sidewalk in front of her store was torn away to be replaced as part of the TAP streetscape project downtown. She is pleased with the work.

“Downtown is looking great,” Mosher said. “I walk that block quite frequently. If you start on Ann Street now you can see what it is like in progress. But when you go around the block and see what it is going to be.”

In December 2021, city leaders approved a $1,493,925 bid for infrastructure under the streets. It also approved the demolition of the Hotel Talisi.

Earlier this year, the council approved a bid for the streetscape and repaving in the amount of $1,884,752.40. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) provided $1.1 million in grant funding for the project. The city’s match for the grant totals $205,000 but the city is also funding the repaving of the streets.

With the work entering the final stages, Mosher believes the work will make downtown Tallassee attractive to many and not just to shop.

“Get ready because everybody is going to want to come,” she said. “It is better than I could have ever dreamed.”

GRANT TO REPLACE GAS LINES IN WEST TALLASSEE

Thanks to a $9.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration work can begin replacing the 17.75 miles of cast iron gas lines remaining in the Elmore County portion of Tallassee. The city contains a high percentage of lines still using cast iron. It has been working to replace them, but funding made it difficult.

Mayor Sarah Hill said the issue came to prominence in May 2021 as Tallassee High School was set to host senior awards day in the school’s gymnasium.

“The City of Tallassee narrowly avoided a catastrophe,” Hill said. “Seniors were there to receive scholarships and to be recognized for their hard work for 12 years.”

Engineering work has already started on the project. The grant allows funds from a utility bond issue to be used on other utilities.

Hill said the city intends to apply for the grant again to hopefully replace cast iron gas lines in East Tallassee.

MASS SHOOTING IN DADEVILLE

On April 15, Dadeville was met with a mass shooting off North Broadnax Street resulting in four deaths and 32 injured. The original gathering that night was for Alexis Dowdell’s 16th birthday party held inside Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio.

Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell of Camp Hill, Corbin Dahmontrey Holston of Dadeville, Marsiah Emmanuel Collins of Opelika and Shaunkivia “KeKe” Nicole Smith of Dadeville were the four deaths.

During the aftermath, multiple prayer vigils were held in memory and honor of the victims. Four days later, two arrests were made. Over the course of the week, six arrests were made including Willie George Brown Jr., 19, and Wilson LaMar Hill Jr., 20, both of Auburn, and Johnny Letron Brown, 20, Ty Reik McCullough, 17, Travis McCullough, 16, and Sherman Peters III, 15, all of Tuskegee. By May, the suspects were indicted on 145 counts and denied bond. Come October, the three suspects under the age of 18 were all denied youthful offender status.

During the months after the shooting, the community came together with local school systems increasing mental health services, fundraisers for the victims and their families being organized and law enforcement being recognized for their work.

The site of the shooting became a memorial for loved ones with a banner hung by local students reading “Dadeville Strong” and flowers, candles and picture frames all lining the front facade of the building. Memorial services continued to be held in the following weeks.

“My favorite place to be is my best friend’s house, having a girls night and just laughing and playing around,” a letter from KeKe read during her memorial service.

Graduation that May was met with empty chairs and family members shared how they have coped with the loss. School athletes carried on, remembering their fellow teammates and finding ways to honor their lost friends. Those who were injured during the shooting slowly returned home and some began to share their stories days after the tragedy.

“I was asking like why them, why not me?,” survivor Shaniyah McCoy said in April of seeing Phil dead at the scene. “I was crying, I was trying to be strong for them. I almost wrecked out the parking lot. They all I got; they the only people I hang with.”

The shooting saw several victims from Elmore County who survived.

Across Elmore County several teens died unexpectedly in the past year.

DEPUTIES SAVE INFANT

In April two Elmore County Sheriff’s office deputies arrived at a Titus home to a call of an infant in distress. David Salum and Elmore County Investigator Bill Wilson arrived to find a family giving 3-month old Veralee Grace Wooten CPR.

“We turned the baby over to her stomach to do the Heimlich and were able to clear the airway,” Salum said. “Once we got the airway clear, we could work on the breathing and circulation.”

Wilson was checking with the ambulance seeing how far out the medics were. But they were too far away — he knew he had to act.

“I made a decision to get in the truck while [Salum] was working on her in the back and go to the hospital,” Wilson said. “That was the quickest thing that I could think of to get her the help she was going to need.”

The vehicle sped down U.S. Highway 231 to the Elmore Community Hospital and ultimately the crew got the break it needed 10 miles into the journey.

“Once we hit the Collier Bridge she opened her eyes and started crying,” Salum said. “She probably wasn’t excited to see me, but we were excited to see her. It was a relief.”

Veralee was flown to Children’s Hospital, but a few weeks later, visited with Salum and Wilson at the sheriff’s department to thank them for their life-saving work.

“She has inherited two new uncles,” Veralee’s grandmother Tonya Kennedy said. “They will always be invited — proms, graduations. Her wedding, we want you there. We appreciate you Uncle Salum and Uncle Wilson.”

HERALD CELEBRATES 125TH ANNIVERSARY

The Wetumpka Herald is Elmore County’s oldest newspaper. The past year it celebrated 125 years of serving Elmore County. It has seen changes over the years moving around downtown Wetumpka. It has also been family owned since its inception.

Page B4 • Wednesday, January 3, 2024 www.TallasseeTribune.com The Tallassee Tribune

BEST Continued from A1

Elmore County Community Calendar

TUESDAY, JAN. 9

LUNCH & LEARN: First Presbyterian Wetumpka will host a Disaster Preparedness and Alabama Weather Lunch & Learn at noon Jan. 9. Bring a sack lunch and listen to guest speaker Alvin King, the director for disaster preparedness and response. Drinks will be provided.

THURSDAY, JAN. 11

EXTENSION MEETING:

The 4-H Livestock Club will host its meeting at the Elmore County Extension Office at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11. The poultry industry will be the subject matter.

FRIDAY, JAN. 12

GRAND OPENING:

Scooter’s is hosting its grand opening from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 12 in Wetumpka. It will have a buy one, get one free deal when customers order from the mobile app. A free sticker will be given out with every order. Scooter’s will be located at 5331 U.S. Highway 231.

SATURDAY, JAN. 13

SELF-DEFENSE

COURSE: A Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals course will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 13 in Tallassee. The course is a complete guide to understanding the basics of firearms ownership, safety and nomenclature, and how it applies to home or self defense. The cost is $75 and includes the Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals book. For more information, visit usconcealedcarry.com.

SUNDAY, JAN. 14

MLK BANQUET: The Elmore County Civic Improvement League will be hosting the 2024 MLK Banquet to commemorate

Wednesday, Jan. 3

High School Wrestling

the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The theme for this year’s banquet is “Living the Dream: It Starts With Me - Spreading Hope, Courage, and Unity.” Advance tickets are $40, or $50 at the door. The event will be held at the Wetumpka Civic Center.

SATURDAY, JAN. 20

DIY WORKSHOP: Lowe’s in Wetumpka is hosting a DIY-U Workshop for kids from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 20. Children will be able to make their own toolbox.

FRIDAY, JAN. 26

VISION BOARD PARTY: The Fizz Co. will be playing host to a Girls Night Out vision board party by Dirty South Cookies. A vision board is a collage of images, quotes and dreams that help you visualize your goals and aspirations. The cost is $30 per person and tickets are available on Eventbrite. The event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. in Millbrook.

SATURDAY, JAN. 27

ART SUMMIT: The River Region Art Summit will be hosted from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Kelly Fitzpatrick in downtown Wetumpka. It’s an opportunity to learn about art opporutnities in the River Region with guest speakers discussing art exhibitions and shows, fellowship chances, art programs and classes and more. Featured will be the Alabama State Council of the Arts, the Alabama Arts Alliance, the Montgomery Art Center, King’s Canvas and the Wetumpka Crater & Visitor Center. The summit is free to the public.

THURSDAY, FEB. 1

SCHOLARSHIP

DINNER: The Elmore

4 Elmore County, Tallassee, Holtville at Class 5A, Region 3

Duals (Beauregard), TBD

High School Basketball

4 Tallassee at Lafayette, 6 p.m.

4 Notasulga at Holtville, 1 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 4

High School Wrestling

4 Elmore County, Tallassee,

and notoriety for being kicked off “Saturday Night Live” permanently when she bashed the pope.

County Republican Party will host its annual scholarship dinner at 6 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Wetumpka Civic Center. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer will be guest speaker. Palmer has represented Alabama’s 6th District, which includes Elmore COunty, since 2015 and currently serves as chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

SATURDAY, FEB. 3

GALENTINE’S: Main Street Wetumpka will host its third annual Galentine’s on Main event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb 3. Downtown merchants will be offering deals and discounts for all to enjoy. More details will be coming.

VALENTINE MARKET: The City of Wetumpka Farmers Market will be hosting a special Valentine Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 3. Interested vendors should contact dsteed@cityofwetumpka. com or call 334-567-5147.

PAINT THE PARK:

The 10th annual Paint the Park for Jody will be held at 9 a.m. Feb. 3 at Gold Star Park in downtown Wetumpka. Proceeds benefit the Jody Marie Sanford Memorial Scholarship Fund. Jody was a track and field star at Wetumpka High School who died Feb. 2, 2014. Registration is $10 before Jan. 22 or $20 after. Same-day registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 10

MARDI GRAS: The Order of Cimarron will be hosting its annual Mardi Gras parade and festival in downtown Wetumpka from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 10. Tons of vendors will

Holtville at Class 5A, Region 3 Duals (Beauregard), TBD High School Basketball

4 Elmore County Tournament, TBD

Friday, Jan. 5

High School Wrestling

4 Elmore County, Tallassee, Holtville at Julian McPhillips Tournament (St. James), TBD High School Basketball 4 Elmore County

be featured at Gold Star Park. The parade begins at 1 p.m.

ONGOING

SUPPORT GROUP:

The last Thursday of every month, Restoration 49 Coffee Shop plays host to a support group for parents who have lost a child. The meetings begin at 6 p.m. each month. For more information, please contact Heather Baker at hbakerjj@aol.com.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME: After more than a year long hiatus, Preschool Storytime has resumed at the Wetumpka Public Library. The first story time was held on Friday, May 14, and will take place every Friday at the library at 10 a.m.

ECLECTIC TOWN

COUNCIL MEETINGS: Eclectic Town Council meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at Town Hall. Council meetings begin at 7 p.m. with work sessions taking place prior to the meeting at 6 p.m. Meetings are held in the Dr. M. L. Fielder Municipal Building, 145 Main Street.

NAACP MEETINGS: The Elmore County Branch No. 5026 of the NAACP meets at 6:30 p.m. every third Tuesday (executive committee) and every fourth Tuesday (full membership) at the Martin Luther King Center at 200 North Lancaster St. in Wetumpka.

OPEN MIC: The Equality Performing Arts Center hosts an open mic jam session from 7 to 9 p.m. every second Friday of the month at 560 Highway 9 in Equality. There is no charge but donations are welcome as they keep the center

SPORTS CALENDAR

Tournament, TBD 4 Autauga Academy at Edgewood Academy, 4 p.m.

4 Marbury at Tallassee, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 6

High School Wrestling

4 Elmore County, Tallassee, Holtville at Julian McPhillips Tournament (St. James), TBD 4 Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore at Class 6A, Region 2 Duals (Russell County), TBD

running. Bring a snack or finger food to share during the intermission.

RED HILL COMMUNITY

CLUB MEETINGS: Red Hill Community Club Meetings are held every second Monday of the month. Join the Red Hill Historical Preservation Association in the auditorium of the Old Red Hill School, located off state Route 229 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss upcoming events.

MOUNT HEBRON

CHURCH OF CHRIST: Come join us at 4530 Mt. Hebron Road in Eclectic. Our Sunday school begins at 9 a.m. followed by worship service at 10:30. There is also a Wednesday night Bible study at 7 p.m. For more information call Pastor Edwin Walker at 334-541-2025

LUNCH AND LEARN: Lunch and learn Tuesdays with Kelly are scheduled at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery at 124 Company Street in Wetumpka from noon to 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. For more information, visit www.thekelly.org.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY GRACE POINT: Celebrate Recovery meets at Grace Point Community Church at 78223 Tallassee Highway in Wetumpka each Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. All are welcome to the meetings which provide a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hangups. For more information, visit www. Gracepoint.info or contact Gwin Greathouse at gwingreathouse@gmail. com.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY SANTUCK: Celebrate Recovery meets

High School Basketball 4 Elmore County Tournament, TBD

Monday, Jan. 8

High School Bowling 4 Lanier/Prattville at Stanhope Elmore, 3:30 p.m.

High School Basketball 4 Lee-Scott at Edgewood Academy, 4 p.m.

4 Sidney Lanier at Tallassee, 6 p.m.

each Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at Santuck Baptist Church at 7250 Central Plank Rd. This is a Christ-centered, 12-step program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hangups. Call 334-567-2364 for more information or contact jyates@santuckbaptist.org.

GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Gamblers Anonymous meets Saturdays at 6 p.m. at Cedarwood Community Church at 10286 U.S. Highway 231 in Wallsboro/ Wetumpka. Call 334-5670476 for more information.

AA MEETING: Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held Mondays at 7 p.m. located at 105 Tuskeena St. in Wetumpka. RED HILL SCHOOL: The Red Hill School on Highway 229 in the Red Hill Community in Tallassee is open Fridays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for local live music performances. No admission is charged but donations are welcomed to maintain the building and pay for refreshments.

MASTER GARDENER

HELPLINE: If you have gardening questions you can call the Master Gardener Helpline at 1-877-252-4769. The helpline starts March 1 and ends in August.

CHILDREN’S HARBOR: Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store Located on state route 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of children’s harbor and the Family Center at Children’s Hospital. Call 334-857-2008 for more information.

Tuesday, Jan. 9 High School Wrestling

4 Elmore County/Selma at Stanhope Elmore, TBD

4 Reeltown/St. James at Holtville, TBD High School Basketball

4 Edgewood Academy at Hooper, 4 p.m.

4 Marbury at Holtville, 5 p.m.

4 Sidney Lanier at Wetumpka, 6 p.m.

4 Carver at Stanhope Elmore, 6 p.m.

Legendary writer, director, producer and creator Norman Lear died at 101 in 2023. It’s difficult to imagine what TV would have been like without “All in the Family,” “Maude,” “Good Times,” “Sanford & Son,” “The Jeffersons,” and “One Day at a Time,” among his other creations. Gone too young at age 54 was Matthew Perry, who will always be remembered for his role as Chandler Bing, for many the heart of “Friends” from 19942004. Richard Belzer, age 78, may be known to modern audiences for “Law and Order,” but the guy started off as a comedian! Cindy Williams was the Shirley

of “Laverne & Shirley,” and she died at 76. David McCallum crossed the generations as the star of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” in the 1960s and was still performing as a cast member on “N.C.I.S.” in the 2020s. What a career he had in his 90 years!

Television evangelists Charles Stanley (“In Touch”) and Pat Robertson (“The 700 Club”) moved on this year. Stanley was 90, Robertson was 93. Both stayed viable and visible to the end, with Robertson bringing the evangelical vote into politics during the 1980s and beyond. And how about Paul Reubens – a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman? He turned a standup act into a legend, and though his movies were fun, future generations will still marvel at “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” a truly inventive and creative Saturday morning children’s television program that aired in the

early ‘90s. Pee Wee was 70 years old. Now, a TV legend who made it the closest to 100 without going over (he was 99) was Bob Barker, who started out at the dawn of television as the host of “Truth or Consequences” for two decades before taking over “The Price is Right” in 1972 and hosting it until 2007.

member of all time – but everyone on both sides of the aisle called upon him for wisdom when it was needed.

youthful.

Michael Bird is a music teacher for Tallassee City Schools. FAREWELL Continued from A4

Sandra Day O’Connor died at age 96; she was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court. Rosalynn Carter, also 96, was the true lifelong partner of President Jimmy Carter – he was the first person she met when she was born. Congress lost Dianne Feinstein at age 90 and Pat Schroeder at age 82. Daniel Ellsberg, 92, was the military analyst who leaked The Pentagon Papers. Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger made it to 100 and, depending on one’s point of view, was either the best or worst cabinet

Newton Minow, the FCC chief who declared television as “a vast wasteland,” and comedian, singer, and censor-busting television co-host Tommy Smothers died at 97 and 86, respectively. Andre Braugher, 61, did it all on “Homicide” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Ryan O’Neal, 82, was a heartthrob in the 1970s thanks to roles in “Love Story,” “What’s Up Doc?”, and “Paper Moon,” among other films. And speaking of heartthrobs of the 1970s, it didn’t get much better than Suzanne Somers, 76. She became hugely successful in her role as Chrissy Snow on “Three’s Company.” Raquel Welch, 82, was mighty fine and could still justifiably be a pinup girl, for she remained eternally beautiful and

Arleen Sorkin originated the role of Harley Quinn as a cartoon; she’ll also be fondly remembered in the soap world as Calliope from “Days of our Lives.” “One Life to Live” stars Andrea Evans (Tina) was 66; Ellen Holly (Carla), 92; Kamar de los Reyes (Antonio), 56. Billy Miller, Billy on “The Young and the Restless,” was 43. Tyler Christopher, 50, made an impression as Nikolas on “General Hospital” and later Stefan on “Days of our Lives.” GH also lost the legendary Jacklyn Zeman, 70, who had played Bobbie since 1977. Jeffrey Carlson, 48, of “All My Children” and AMC’s Peter White (Lincoln), 86. Nicolas Coster, 89, had been on nearly every daytime drama ever created but may be best remembered for his role as Lionel on “Santa Barbara.”. Legendary soap actress Elizabeth Hubbard, 89, originated

Althea on “The Doctors” from 1963-1982, then a year later created the role of Lucinda on “As the World Turns,” where she stayed until the end of the show in 2010. We also lost Jerry Springer, former mayor and talk show host; George Maharis of “Route 66”; Richard Moll of “Night Court”; Robert Blake of the Little Rascals and “Baretta”; and Charles Kimbrough, Jim Dial of “Murphy Brown”. On the big screen, we’ll remember “Shaft” and Richard Roundtree; Piper Laurie of “Carrie”; Michael Gambon of “Harry Potter”; Alan Arkin of more movies than can be named; Glenda Jackson, same; and Burt Young of the “Rocky” films. Next week, we will continue our year in review.

The Tallassee Tribune www.TallasseeTribune.com Wednesday, January 3, 2024 • Page B5

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Page B6 • Wednesday, January 3, 2024 www.TallasseeTribune.com The Tallassee Tribune SUDOKU PUZZLES & HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) Be careful when dealing with family members today, because you might make promises that you later can’t keep. You know how you can be impulsive and jump into things at a moment’s notice. Well, today the entire world has this urge. Watch out! Tonight: You’re friendly and optimistic! TAURUS (April 20-May 20) This is a lovely day to schmooze with others. You are upbeat, optimistic and ready to think big! However, think twice before you commit to anything or agree to do something for someone. You might bite oﬀ more than you can chew. (And you can chew a lot.) Tonight: You care. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Be careful with nancial matters today, this includes nancial negotiations as well as spending money or shopping. You might think something looks better than it really does, which means you should give everything a sober second thought. If shopping, keep your receipts. Tonight: You’re popular! CANCER (June 21-July 22) The Moon is in your sign today dancing with Jupiter, which makes you feel friendly and popular with others, especially groups. You feel benevolent and generous to those around you. You’ll be forgiving and willing to take the high road if disputes occur. Practice moderation. Tonight: You impress others! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Your interest in spiritual and religious matters will be strong today. It will be interesting to talk to a group that has intriguing or mind-expanding information. You want to learn more, and you have an open mind today. It’s a good day for self-reection. Tonight: Travel looks promising. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) This is a wonderful day to enjoy the company of others, especially female acquaintances. You will love the stimulation of meetings and interactions with clubs and organizations. In particular, you will nd it rewarding to work for a charitable group where you can do some good. Tonight: Wealth, gifts and romance will bless you. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You make a wonderful impression on others today, which is something you might use to your advantage. However, be aware that you will be tempted to be excessive or go overboard in some way. You might feel that you should go along with things or agree with others. Be careful! Tonight: Happy times with others! SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Fascinating conversations plus a chance to explore studies or ideas about philosophy, metaphysics, politics or religion will appeal to you today. Look for ways to help others if you can. You’re hungry to learn and expand your world! You will also jump at any chance to travel. Bon voyage! Tonight: Group eﬀorts. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today you might be dealing with the wealth and resources of your partner or someone else. This includes discussions about inheritances, shared property and insurance matters. Don’t give away the farm! Maintain a healthy self-interest. Tonight: Happy romance. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You feel benevolent and caring to others today, which is why you will overlook little details that might normally be irksome. Possibly, you will attract someone to you who is “thinking big.” If so, you will have an uplifting conversation about thought-provoking ideas. Enjoy! Tonight: Entertain! AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Work-related travel is likely. You will benet from working with others, especially groups. As you interact with others, you will want to help someone in a caring way if you have a chance. You might join like-minded friends to improve your neighborhood or your country. Tonight: Schmooze! PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) This is a lovely day to kick back and relax. Accept invitations to schmooze. You’re full of good feelings and in a positive frame of mind. In discussions about politics and religion, keep things light. It’s easy to suddenly get self-righteous and opinionated. Yes, even you. Tonight: Financial opportunities.

Classi eds Reaching more than 22,000 households in Tallapoosa and Elmore counties Phone (256) 277-4219 Fax (205) 669-4217 The Alexander City Outlook The Dadeville Record The Tallassee Tribune The Wetumpka Herald classiﬁeds@alexcityoutlook.com public.notices@alexcityoutlook.com classiﬁeds@thewetumpkaherald.com public.notices@thewetumpkaherald.com CLASSIFIEDS Page B6 • January 3, 2024 www.TallasseeTribune.com THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE Visit our sister websites: www.AlexCityOutlook.com www.TheWetumpkaHerald.com *Includes product and labor; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other those customers who qualify. See your dealer for details. ©2024 BCI Acrylic, Inc. The Bath or Shower You’ve Always Wanted IN AS LITTLE AS 1 DAY OFFER EXPIRES 3/31/2024 Military & Senior Discounts Available $1000 OFF* No Payments & No Interest for 18 Months AND (877) 368-0690 CALL NOW ! Employment Job Opportunities The Learning Tree, Inc. is Accepting Applications for 2nd, 3rd and Weekend shifts for Direct Care Applications can be picked up at: 101 S. Dubois Street Tallassee, AL 36078 Or contact Angela Waites (334)252-0025 Ext. 101 Email: angela.waites@ learning-tree.org City of LaFayette Hiring Pick-up application at LaFayette City Hall Or contact (334)-864-7181 or *The City of LaFayette is an Equal Opportunity Employer Mulder Church Seeks Full-time Director of Student Ministries for Spiritual Development of 7-12th Graders. Must love teens, have strong organization skills. Apply at info@mulderchurch.com Job Opportunities Bill Nichols State Veterans Home NOW-HIRING!!! •RN/LPN Charge Nurse Full-Time 7pm-7am Sign-On Bonus Available!! •CNA 3p-11p and 11p-7a “Walk in Wednesday 10am-2pm to apply for any open position” Apply at: hmrveteranservices.com Contact: Brandy Holman 256-329-0868 Job Opportunities Wind Creek Casino FOH/BOH Kitchen cleaning. 9pm-5am shift. $14-$18 hr. Full-time position w/40hrs guaranteed. For immediate hire contact Creek Clean at (251)236-2609 or (559)862-5801 Are you looking for employment at this time? Are you currently employed and wanting to make a career change? We have job opportunities in both the Alexander City area and the Dadeville area. Let us get you started on If you are interested, please contact Alex City Branch at 256-329-3477 for more information or apply online at We look forward to hearing Job Opportunities SJA, INC. DADEVILLE, AL NOW HIRING FOR MULTIPLE JOB OPENINGS! HR Manager Manufacturing Supervisor Manufacturing Team Leader Mail Resume to 274 Thweatt Industrial Blvd, Dadeville, AL 36853 or email sjahr@sejinamerica.com SJA, INC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. •Receptionist Computer & other secretarial skills required. •Assistant Tax Return Pro Computer skills & some tax knowledge required. Positions in Tallassee. 334-201-0654 Notices General Notices Dadeville Housing Authority 845 Freeman Drive Dadeville, AL 36853 256-825-6004 Sell your home in the classifieds call 256.277.4219 Do you have available jobs? Call 256.277.4219 to let others know about job opportunities at your business. Do you have available jobs? Call 256.277.4219 to let others know about job opportunities at your business.

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The Tallassee Tribune www.TallasseeTribune.com Wednesday, January 3, 2024 • Page B7 SJA, INC. DADEVILLE, AL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS: HR Manager [Full-Time, On-Site] Req’d: Bach’s Deg. Pref: Major in HR Mgmt. or Business Admin. Job Duties: Personnel Mgmt, Employee Compensation and Benefits Mgmt. and other HR Role and Responsibilities. Manufacturing Supervisor [Full-Time, On-Site] Pref: Min. of 3 yrs previous supervisory exp. in the Automotive or Mfg. industry. Manufacturing Team Leader [Full-Time, On-Site] Pref: Min. of 2 yrs previous supervisory exp. in the Automotive or Mfg. industry. Mail Resume to 274 Thweatt Industrial Blvd, Dadeville, AL 36853 or email to sjahr@sejinamerica.com SJA, INC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SUDOKU ANSWERS CLASSIFIEDS THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE www.TallasseeTribune.com January 3, 2024 • Page B7 Visit our sister websites: www.AlexCityOutlook.com www.TheWetumpkaHerald.com Limited Time Offer. Restrictions may apply. 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WARD BECOMES FIRST MARINE IN HIS FAMILY

By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter

Alexander Ward is the newest Marine in town as of Dec. 15.

Ward graduated in Parris Island, South Carolina where his family joined him to celebrate his completion of the first part of his training as a Marine.

Ward, a former Elmore County High School student, finished Marine basic training last month.

Joining the military was something Ward has been keen on. He completed his senior year of high school online to graduate earlier so he could join the Marines as soon as possible.

“I joined the Marines because I would be the first one in my biological family to join the military,” Ward said. “Because of that, I wanted to set the standard and the bar for

my future family to allow them to be better citizens.”

Prior to his graduation he had to complete several tasks, including boot camp. During boot camp, he learned several new skills, along with many life lessons.

“When I started my entire platoon, I didn’t know what was going on, so we pretty much had to grow and learn together,” Ward said. “That helps people grow a sense of awareness and allows you to connect with others. It also opens you up to the idea that you never know what other people are going through or what they’ve been through to be (in the military).”

Ward said he gained several new skills from basic training. Managing diet and exercise, balancing finances and learning to communicate more effectively are some of

the key takeaways from Ward’s time.

The biggest lesson Ward learned from basic training was to never give up.

Now that he has graduated from basic training, he will now be moving into Marine Combat Training, which must be completed by Marines not entering infantry.

There, Ward will receive training in combat skills for entry-level Marines. He will attend this training at Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune in North Carolina.

“Graduating (from basic training) basically means that I’ve had the commitment to make it this far,” Ward said. “I’m not going to stop now. I’m going to continue and work even harder.”

After Ward completes MCT he will move forward to his Military Occupational Specialty train-

SUBMITTED | THE OBSERVER

ing; this is where he will receive training for his future job in the Marines. He will be training to learn how to do communications technology.

Marines whose MOS is in communications are responsible for managing communication networks and information systems; however, he has more plans for the future.

Currently, he is on a four-year contract with communications technology as his MOS. His goal is to train to work with the Marine Forces Special Operations Command after his current four-year contract.

“Marines aren’t confined to one career during their service,” Ward said. “They might send them off to somewhere else for a different job.”

The MARSOC has several jobs ranging from fire specialists, communi-

cations specialists, canine handlers and more.

“I plan to go into MARSOC in two years,” Ward said. “I can’t do it any sooner because I need to be proficient at the job I get.”

After MCT and MOS training, Ward is eager to join the MARSOC to serve the Marine Special Forces. Ward said he is specifically interested in becoming more proficient in his physical skills.

“The MARSOC is the best of the best,” Ward said. “(Joining the MARSOC) allows you to compete with the best of the best, as well as sharpen your skills with hand-tohand combat and weaponry.”

Ward was able to be home for the holidays, and will be home until the end of January. Ward will begin MCT training at Camp Lejeune on Jan. 23.

Safe disposal of Christmas trees available through LMRA

By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter

Taking down decorations after Christmas can be fatiguing after a series of holiday celebrations.

Many may bring their trees to be sunk in Lake Martin in an attempt to dispose of their tree; however, the Lake Martin Resource Association urges people not to take their trees to Lake Martin on their own.

This year LMRA, Alabama Power Shoreline Management and several volunteer fire departments are teaming up to safely gather and dispose of real Christmas trees.

LMRA president Jodie McGirt explained these organizations will be accepting real Christmas trees at several volunteer fire departments throughout the area.

“We are doing a collection of Christmas trees to recycle,” McGirt said. “What we ask is that the trees that we receive are real and undecorated.”

Many volunteer fire departments throughout Tallapoosa and Elmore counties will provide drop-off areas for real trees. Drop-off locations will be found at these volunteer fire departments: Union, Friendship, Red Hill, Seman, Santuck, Buyck, Windermere, Real Island, Tallassee and Kowaliga.

Once the fire departments receive all of the Christmas trees, they will contact LMRA to collect the trees and take them to Lake Martin. Dropping the trees in specific areas helps to enhance the ecosystem in the lake, and it creates new habitats for fish.

“What LMRA does is collect all the trees, store them until January or February, bundle them, attach cinder blocks to them and then drop them at strategic locations in the lake,” McGirt said. “We then document the coordinates, and then APSM updates their website so that fishermen know where these new fish habitats will be.”

Sinking trees in strategic

and specific locations not only benefits the underwater ecosystem, but it helps keep the lake safe. If the trees were placed in more trafficked areas of the lake, they could damage boat motors or endanger swimmers.

“Some people may place trees under their dock to bring more fish to their dock. I don’t want to swim with fish, and it may scare smaller children if a tree comes loose,” McGirt said. “Another (danger) is that trees may become dislodged where people thought they anchored them. Then they become a hazard to boats, jet skis, skiers and everybody on the lake; it’s a huge safety component.”

In addition to increasing safety of Lake Martin, it also helps to take the stress off people who want to dispose of their trees themselves while benefiting the environment.

“It’s a professional way to dispose of Christmas trees; it’s recycled in essence,”

McGirt said. “Instead of random trees being placed throughout the lake, they’re in specific locations. It also really helps us develop the habitats for the fish in Lake Martin.” McGirt said that they plan to receive many trees this holiday season; they will receive trees from Home Depot and Lowe’s to be recycled in the lake. The volunteer fire depart

ments will be accepting trees until Jan. 5. There will be signs at each location designating where trees can be dropped off.

For those who may not be able to drop off their tree by Jan. 5, McGirt urges not to dispose of trees in Lake Martin. Instead she suggests taking them to the woods so various wildlife can utilize it, or to burn it with caution in a fire-safe area.

TheWetumpkaHerald.com Vol. 33, No. 1 WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 3, 2024

Alexander Ward, right, poses with his mother Jennie Zinn after graduating from Marine Corps basic training in December.

FILE | THE OBSERVER Christmas trees that are real and undecorated can be dropped off at various volunteer departments for safe disposal.

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SUBMITTED | THE OBSERVER

Safe disposal of Christmas trees available through LMRA