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The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA
TALLASSEE, AL 36078
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August 16, 2017
TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM
VOL. 118, NO. 33
Tallassee woman busted for alleged online baby stroller scam Tallassee, was arrested on federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced A. Clark Morris, acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. State and Federal investigators worked to collect evidence against English and Tallassee Police Department assisted with the search warrant on Kent Road around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
By MITCH SNEED and CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writers
A Tallassee woman is facing multiple federal charges for allegedly using online marketplaces to take buyers money by offering high-dollar baby strollers that didn’t exist. On Tuesday, Aug. 8, 42-year-old Tanya Lee English, who also goes by the name Tonya Roberts, from
“We went out and helped serve the search warrant and assisted with evidence recovery,” said Tallassee Police Chief Matthew Higgins. “They came to us with the investigation and since it was in our area they asked for assistance in serving the search warrant.” According to court documents, it is alleged that English orchestrated a scheme to defraud numerous individuals and businesses using the popular online
marketplaces Craigslist and eBay. She carried out the scheme by posting ads on those two websites that listed highend baby strollers such as “Uppababy Vista” and “Bugaboo Donkey” for sale at prices far below their retail value. English would include her contact information and a brief description of the items, but unknown to the buyers, she did not actually have the strollers See SCAM • Page 2
SHIPMAN TALKS BUSES Moore, Strange head to runoff
Runoff Sept. 26 as Democrats pick Jones as US Senate nominee By MITCH SNEED Editor There will be a runoff to decide the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate after a crowded field meant no candidate was able to garner a majority of the votes. For the Republicans, Roy Moore and Luther Strange will square off on Sept. 26, after Moore finished with about 41 percent of the vote statewide,
Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
Beverly Golden and her puppet, Uncle Elmo, delivered a laughter-laced speech about her many years in the classroom during Saturday’s Teachers Luncheon at Beulah Baptist Church. Behind Golden just a few of the many door prizes are visible. These gifts were showered upon teachers from Reeltown, Tallassee and Eclectic.
Teacher’s luncheon big hit among educators By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
The eighth annual Teachers Luncheon was held Saturday at Beulah Baptist Church and thanks to generous donations and a lot of hard work, area teachers are starting the year off right. There were a total of 74 teachers who received office supplies, cleaning supplies and much more. “We had a total of 137 in attendance and 74 were teachers,” said Dottie Carnes, event coordinator. Volunteers from Beulah Baptist began planning this event last year and their hard work and dedication paid off. The group raised just under $10,000 in door prizes to deliver to teachers. These donations came See LUNCHEON • Page 2
See SENATE • Page 2 Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
Shipman scores Future buses will have air conditioning high on evaluation Braving the elements could one day be a thing of the past for Tallassee students who ride a bus. Tallassee’s school superintendent, Wade Shipman, says future buses added to the fleet will be equipped with air conditioning. The school system added one new bus that is equipped with air conditioning this year.
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
It was recently announced that the Elmore County Board of Education purchased over fifty new buses to their fleet of 126. The school system purchased these buses on a lease –purchase agreement. While these buses are owned and operated by the Elmore County Board of Education, several Tallassee students will be transported to and from school on the buses. “Elmore County, who I believe provides nine bus routes for us, they bought 59 new
buses,” said Wade Shipman, superintendent of Tallassee Board of Education. “Some of those buses ultimately end up on our routes, which is good.” Tallassee did purchase one new school bus this year. A new special-needs bus was added to the fleet. This bus was purchased in part with fleet renewal funding. The state provides fleet renewal incentives for buses that are less than a decade old. “The funding formula for the sate is, as long as a bus is 10 years old or younger, then we get annual fleet renewal See BUSES • Page 3
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
The results are in and, according to the Alabama Association of School Boards along with the Tallassee Board of Education, Wade Shipman is doing an above average job in all areas. The state evaluation looks at several topics including communication, decision-making skills, employee recruitment, comprehensive planning, See SHIPMAN • Page 3
College and Career Night set for Aug. 22 “This is for any student who wants to know more about college and funding options for college,” Cole said. There will also be recruiters from various branches of the military on hand to explain the opportunities available for students who may not seek the traditional route to college. Several trade schools will also be on hand to explain what their programs have to offer students in the area. “We’ll have some people from the military institutions there,” she said. “We realize that every student is not going to go straight to college. In the past, we have had the marines, the army and the national guard.” While College and Career Night is designed for high school students, this event is open for all who are See CAREER • Page 3
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Flat Rock Missionary Baptist Church will hold College and Career Night for students of all ages from around the Tallassee area. There will be college and university recruiters on hand to offer information about various programs and financial aid options. “We just felt like there was a need to let students know that they have options,” said Michelle Cole, event coordinator. The event will offer students an opportunity to see what these colleges and universities have to offer. Even students who already know what university or college and which program they wanted to attend are encouraged to attend.
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Students from Tallassee and surrounding areas are encouraged to attend College and Career Night at Flat Rock Missionary Baptist Church on Aug. 22 from 6-8:30 p.m. This event is for students and parents to gain information about continuing their education and securing funding to do so.
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