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IINSIDE TODAY
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Dadeville Elementary’s Christi Jones says she was ‘born to serve’
T most extensive The high school football hi coverage in the region
Dadeville, Reeltown prep for rivalry game
THE RECO CORD RD Serving the Dadeville & Lake Martin area since 1897
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VOL. 120, NO. 35
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017
County breaks ground on new DHR building The new building is much needed according Alabama Department of Human Resources Commissioner Nancy Buckner. “This is a wonderful day and you can’t It was an exciting day for the Tallapoosa appreciate it until you go through the building County Department of Human Resources as where these wonderful people currently they broke ground Monday morning on a new work,” Buckner said at the groundbreaking building in Dadeville. ceremony. “We are pleased to have had it all The current building has been in service for these years but it is certainly time to make nearly 50 years and for former DHR employee some improvements for our clients and for our Sharon Gaither the new building is much employees.” needed. The need for a new building was first raised “I am really excited about this,” Gaither said. Cliff Williams / The Record in July 2015 and the commissioners began the “I went to work in that building in Sept. 1970. We moved out of the courthouse into the current search for a piece of property. After one site was Area dignitaries break ground on the new Department of Human Resources See DHR • Page A3 building in Dadeville Monday morning. building. They are in desperate need of this.” By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Task Force arrests three Dadeville residents, seizes drugs, cash, cars
Mayor says new businesses, changes coming to Dadeville By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Three Dadeville residents were arrested last Thursday after a search of a residence found meth, regular and synthetic marijuana and prescription drugs. The Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, Chambers County Drug Task Force and K-9 Unit, Alexander City Housing Authority and McCormick the Alexander City Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence off Booger Hollow Road in Dadeville Thursday. “Investigators Beck had received numerous complaints of illegal narcotic activity taking place at this location,” Sgt. Fred White of the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Buchanan Task Force said. “After weeks See ARRESTS • Page A3
JOIN THE TEAM Team United campaign kicks off with a lofty goal
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Record
Top: United Way Director Sharon Fuller announces as door prizes from pace-setter Russell Brands are given to children in attendance. Middle: Camp Fire Girl Sophie Pike carries around Molly Moncrief at the event. Above: BRHS cheerleaders performed with area squads.
A capacity crowd gathered at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center on the campus of Central Alabama Community College to help kick off the 2018 Lake Martin Area United Way campaign, “Team United.” Guests chowed down on hot dogs and cupcakes while listening to United Way Director Sharon Fuller give a presentation about how important the work United Way does is. “I’m overwhelmed. This is probably the biggest crowd we’ve ever had,” Fuller said, estimating around 250 people had filled the Graham Center’s auditorium. The fundraiser thermometer was officially unveiled during Tuesday night’s event, with a goal of $550,000 for this year’s campaign. With 28 agencies the United Way
County schools push back first budget hearing By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
A special called meeting of the th Tallapoosa County Board of Education Monday night lacked a E majority of the members needed to m hold the session, causing the board h to reschedule their initial budget hearing for fiscal year 2018 and h make it a part of their regularly m scheduled work session on Tuesday, s Sept. 5. S Board members Randy Anderson and a Matilda Woodyard-Hamilton were w absent due to sickness, while Michael Carter was on vacation M See BUDGET • Page A3
See CAMPAIGN • Page A9
Search teams recover Georgia man’s body from Lake Martin
Family and friends remember Spence for the way he lived, not how he died
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
The body of a LaGrange man who had been missing since Monday evening when he was last seen in the waters of Lake Martin has been recovered. After an exhaustive search by countless agencies and volunteers, the body of 44-year-old Thomas Heulan Spence of LaGrange, Georgia was recovered at 4:11 p.m. Sunday in the same general area where he was last seen. Alexander City Police Department Chief Jay Mitch Sneed / The Record Turner said the 44-year-old man had no known Search teams return to shore after recovering the body of 44-year-old Thomas Heuhealth problems and was physically fit, but at lan Spence of LaGrange, Georgia Sunday. An exhaustive six-day search by multiple about 6 p.m. Monday, the pontoon he and four See RECOVERY • Page A5 agencies led to the discovery.
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Dadeville Mayor Wayne Smith was w the special guest at last Thursday’s meeting of the Dadeville T Kiwanis Club, talking about the K many positive things taking place m around town to the members and a Key K Club students in attendance. “My motto is, ‘Onwards and Upwards,’” he said. U His presentation began by talking about the positive changes occurring, a including the plans resident Dianna in Porter has to enhance Keebler Park P See KIWANIS • Page A3
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
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Waymon Williams REALTOR®
256-496-2992
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A six-day search of Lake Martin for the remains of Thomas Heulan Spence was trying for everyone – family, friends and the rescue teams. But Monday, a day after search teams found Spence him in 37 feet of water on the north end of Lake Martin, many of those who knew the 44-year-old husband and father See SPENCE • Page A5
Starting Friday: Annabelle – R Girls Trip – R Logan Lucky– PG-13