SPORTS, PAGE B1
INSIDE, PAGE A8
Tallassee takes down Marbury in Round 1
ECLECTIC, PAGE B6
Joe Sewell finalists announced
‘Boot Camp’ field day provides fun
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VOL. 126, NO. 17
APRIL 24, 2024
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Arrests made in February for death of Tallassee teenager By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor Three individuals have been arrested and charged in the shooting death of 16-year-old
Jeffrey Thompson of Tallassee. More arrests are expected. Thompson was killed Feb. 16 in Tuskegee, Tuskegee police chief Jennifer Jordan and 5th Judicial Circuit District Attorney
Mike Segrest said in a statement. Jordan and Segrest did not release names of those arrested. According to court records, Takeo Malikque Potts, 19, of Tallassee was arrested Monday
in connection to the death of Thompson and charged with reckless murder. Court records do not indicate a bond amount. Names of the other two arrested could not yet be found in
court records. “More warrants have been issued and more arrests are imminent,” Segrest said. “More information will be made available when appropriate.”
Michael Randall Thompson
Tallassee police searching for a missing person By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
HALL OF PRIDE INDUCTEE NEVER LET OBSTACLES STOP HER the odds as she was successful in school and became a librarian, inspiring others as -O-A-N she overcame challenge after It is how you spell deter- challenge. Her biography was mination for anyone who all that was needed for her knows Joan O’Daniel. to be selected as one of the O’Daniel wasn’t given Tallassee High School Alummuch of a chance but her ni Association Hall of Pride grit, determination and belief Class of 2024 Inductees. in God was all she needed. “I had many obstacles to O’Daniel wasn’t expected to overcome,” O’Daniel said. live long after birth. She beat “With the help of my family By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
J
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
and God I was able to overcome.” At birth O’Daniel’s umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck seven times. Doctors didn’t give her much of a chance to even live, but she proved them wrong. Eventually, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, but even that didn’t stop her. See INDUCTEE, Page A6
Joan O’Daniel, left, speaks to members of the crowd after she was inducted into the Tallassee High School Alumni Association Hall of Pride. O’Daniel was recognized for not giving up when she had every opportunity to.
Law enforcement hopes the public can aid in the search for a missing person. The Tallassee Police Department is searching for Michael Randall Thompson, 60. According to Tallassee police chief Todd Buce, Thompson was last seen about 1 p.m. Sunday near Eclectic. “On Wednesday, his wallet and possible blood
stains were located at his residence on Clover Lane,” Buce said. Over the weekend his red 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, license plate A0B020T was found in Macon County unoccupied. Thompson is about 5-foot-5 tall and weighs about 135 pounds. Anyone with information about Thompson is asked to call the Tallassee Police Department at 334283-6586.
Quality of life projects to begin in fall funded by the Elmore County Commission. All of the work is on properWork to install new arti- ty owned by the Elmore ficial turf fields in Eclectic, County Board of EducaHoltville and Tallassee will tion and Tallassee City begin in earnest in OctoSchools. Elmore County ber as part of the Phase 2 Quality of Life projects See QUALITY, Page A6 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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