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OPINION:
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TALLASSEE REELS IN THREE BIG MAT WINS
Downtown tree lighting and more
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PAGE 7 INSIDE:
PAGE 4 The ‘manification’ of Jody Fuller
LOCAL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, PAGE 2.
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December 7, 2016
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VOL. 117, NO. 47
McCraney-Cottle Arts presents ‘Sounds of the Season’ show has been incorporated into this performance. This year, brilliantly vivid Christmas lights seem to come alive as dancers move to the “Sounds of Season”. For those who are fighting the holiday spirit, the Grinch will make a special appearance during Thursday’s performance. Like the choir, the musical line is comprised of various genres. “We’re doing some traditional
the “Sounds of the Season.” “It’s a choir made up of 30-35 people from the community,” As the calendar ticks closer to Cunningham said. “Most of them Christmas, the McCraney-Cottle Arts have a lot of choir experience.” Council is celebrating the season According to Cunningham, this with a musical spectacular that is year’s performance is more than a sure to have something for everyone. concert. Thursday, Dec. 8, beginning at “It’s a community Christmas 7 p.m., Jerry Cunningham, music program,” he said. “It’s not just department chair and former choir concert, but a program.” director at Tallassee High School, More than a concert is exactly will lead an eclectic group from right. Thanks to hard work and Tallassee and surrounding areas in ingenuity, a synchronized light
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
See SEASON • Page 3
Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
Jerry Cunningham leads the choir as the group practices for the upcoming performance of the Sounds of the Season.
Man found guilty in strangulation, abduction case
Tallassee’s senior center gives to Toys for Tots By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
‘Tis the season for giving and no one understands this more than the men and women at the Tallassee Center. This group of kindhearted individuals, led by Jahazel Hooks, came together to make Christmas special for three little boys. “They raised the money themselves,” Hooks said. “Everybody pitched in, we nickeled and dimed until we were able to buy some nice gifts.” It took the group just about a month to raise enough money to purchase the gifts. These gifts will now go to A.C.T.S., where volunteers will distribute the gifts next Tuesday and Wednesday. While the group of seniors does not know who will receive the gifts, they
Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
Above, Santa ushered in the holiday season in the Tallassee Christmas Parade. Below, tiny dancers from The Pointed Toe Dance Studio in Tallassee tookpart in the 2016 Christmas Parade.
HIP, HIP, PARADE! Tallassee residents line street for Christmas parade
See SENIORS • Page 3
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
This group seniors, led by Jahazel Hooks, came together to raise money to make Christmas special for three little boys in the Tallassee community. Seated left to right are Mary Southern, Fannie Henry, Mary Crenshaw, Barbra Pemberton, Sylvia Flowers, Frances Hooks and Delia Nabors. Standing left to right are Jahazel Hooks, Deborah Murphy, Linda Majewski, Delane Peeks, Carol Aldridge, Lenora Coker, Margret Pollard, Karen Baker and Barry Adair.
Tallassee streets were lined with festive parade goers Saturday morning in anticipation of the 2016 Christmas Parade. The parade followed the traditional route, beginning at East Tallassee Church of Christ and continuing to the high school along Central Boulevard and Barnett Boulevard. This year’s grand marshal was the 2016 Francis Wagnon Award winner, Jeana Kervin. Hornsby and Sons Body Shop, LLC, See PARADE • Page 3
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A Tallapoosa County jury took 17 minutes to find Eddie Donnell Thomas guilty in a strangulation and abduction case Monday based on two minutes of video and less than 90 minutes of testimony from the state. “The video Thomas pretty much spoke for itself,” Fifth Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Duerr said. “There was not much arguing needed.” The first one-minute video showed Thomas bursting through a door of a Washington Boulevard home in Tallassee May 3 of this year, moving hastily across the room to a victim known to Thomas before pinning her to the couch, telling her he was going to take her and kill her and then taking the victim from the residence by the neck with her feet dangling in the air. The victim, who was regular sitter for an elderly woman, only learned of the camera in the living room of the home she worked in after the incident. The victim testified that she was working sitting for the elderly woman when she was abducted. “He pinned me to the couch and told me he was going to take me away and kill me,” the victim testified. “He carried me out by See GUILTY • Page 3
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