LOCAL, PAGE 10
OPINION, PAGE 4
Wind up the summer and gear up for back to school with our area calendar.
A rundown of the state’s soap opera political scene.
SPORTS, PAGE 12
6U Softball team representing at World Series
INSIDE
LOCAL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, PAGE 2.
The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA
TALLASSEE, AL 36078
50¢
August 3, 2016
TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM
VOL. 117, NO. 29
Community celebrates with back to school bashes By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Next week the halls of all three area schools will once again be bustling with students, faculty and staff as the 2016/2017 school year kicks off. That is why the Tallassee Police Department along with the Tallassee Community Outreach joined forces to celebrate the upcoming start of the school year. The back-to-school kickoff celebration was
held Saturday from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. During that time, inflatables, a gravity wheel ride, Haynes life flight helicopter, Tallassee Fire Department, Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources and local businesses were on hand to welcome children and parents to the upcoming academic year. Local businesses donated school supplies for children and community outreach brought drinks to keep the kids cool during the summer heat.
There were many city officials on hand to join in the celebration. Mayor Payne and his wife, Mary Carol were present for the celebration, as were Councilman Terrel Brown and Councilman Rob Rygiel. “We want to send the kids off to school with a positive attitude,” said Rygiel. “I think it is important for the Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune community to come together to celebrate Officer Brian Clayton helps young Katelyn Fannin climb down form the zero gravity wheel Saturday during the See SCHOOL • Page 3 Back to School Kickoff celebration at City Hall.
Blood banks at critically low supply
FINAL DAYS OF SUMMER
Life South declares state of emergency, need for donations By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
Summer readers enjoyed pizza, Kool-Aid and a soaking Wednesday, thanks to the Tallassee Community Library and the Tallassee Fire Department. This was the final bash for the 2016 summer reading program.
Library summer reading program holds end of summer party By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Tallassee’s community library offered a treat for the children who participated in the summer reading program this week. The library, along with the Tallassee Fire Department, collaborated to deliver an unforgettable afternoon of
Today’s
Weather
94 74 High
Low
THURS: HIGH 94 LOW 73
CONTACT US 334-567-7811 • Fax: 334-567-3284
fun, food and friends. Wednesday afternoon the fire department took their pumper truck over to City Hall and sprayed water for the children. According to Chief Travis Jones, the department pumped nearly one thousand gallons of water on the summer readers. While the fire department made
sure the kids were cool, Little Caesars Pizzas and Kool-Aid kept them full and refreshed for the afternoon of excitement. This year, there were fewer children enrolled in the summer reading program than years past. However, the children who did enroll pulled their weight See LIBRARY • Page 7
Red Hill event draws large crowd raises funds for renovation By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
A very large crowd greeted those in attendance Saturday night at the old Red Hill School building as part of a benefit concert to help raise funds for a new roof for the school building, which is now used as a community center. The Red Hill Community Club put the event on and Club President Paula Castleberry said that the event gener-
USPS 681-260
ated $2,100, which will go toward the cost of the new roof. The concert event included music by Cecil Malone & Montgomery Junction, Cowboy, Bill and Company and The Kevin Adair Band. Previously, Castleberry said that the group had raised approximately $9,000 for the roof repair and that the estimated cost to replace the roof would be about $30,000. The building is not only important as a community center for the Red Hill See RED HILL • Page 7
T TRUITT INSURANCE & BONDING, INC. Business Coverages Home & Auto Life Products
319 Barnett Blvd. Tallassee, Alabama 36078 P: 334.991.4688 Toll Free 877-787-5727 dolan @truittinsurance.com www.truittinsurance.com
Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
A full house came to hear live country music Saturday at the Red Hill Community Club located at the old Red Hill School. Pictured is Cecil Malone and Montgomery Junction, one of the three acts on tap for the fundraiser.
LINVILLE MEMORIAL
Dolan A. Fannin Jr., LUTCF
Surety Programs
The Red Cross recently announced that they have less than a five-day supply of blood. Life South has been in the area in an effort to curb this emergency shortage of banked blood. Every year the summer months put a strain on the blood supply, but this year has been even more demanding than years past. “We’ve had such a bad month, July, that it has put us into an emergency need,” said April Stinson, a Life South Recruiter. “It’s not so much the need, as it is accidents go up as donations go down. The need is always there. Whether for an accident or if people need it for other reasons, but the need is always there.” See BLOOD • Page 3
F U N E R A L
FREE ESTIMATES!
Hedging, Fall Cleanup, Leaf Removal, All Yard & Lawn Maintenance
(334) 309-4422 • (334) 580-7879
H O M E
Cremations and Monuments
84632 Tallassee Hwy. [ Eclectic, AL
334.639.4730 www.linvillememorial.com