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Eclectic Observer Page 2
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The
WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 1, 2017
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 28, No. 5
Eclectic woman arrested on drug charges
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Amber Marie Bice, 31, of Eclectic was arrested Monday when narcotics investigators with the Tallassee Police Department observed what appeared to be a drug transac-
tion inside a vehicle that was in the parking lot of a business in the 700 block of Central Boulevard, which is on the east side of Tallassee. Tallassee police chief, Matt Higgins, supported by patrol officers, conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle immediately
after it left the scene. A search of Ms. Bice and her vehicle resulted in the recovery of substances believed to be methamphetamine and marijuana as well as a marijuana grinder. Bice was placed under arrest on charges of unlawful distribu-
tion of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana second, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Investigators are continuing to look into this case and more charges may be forthcoming.
First meeting held on forming town Parks and Rec Advisory Committee
Hughes rearrested for violating bond terms By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Elmore County Sheriff’s officials report the Wetumpka gym owner who was indicted on rape and burglary charges earlier in January Hughes is back in jail after he was out roughly a week on bond.. Sheriff Bill Franklin said Charles (Chase) Bryant Hughes Jr was arrested without incident Thursday after receiving complaints involving domestic violence harassment. He said the complainant was not the alleged victim of the charges Hughes was arrested on Sept. 11 of last year. Mandy Johnson, a prosecutor with the District Attorney’s Office, said Hughes’ arrest was a result of harassing communications by calls and texts. “Part of the text messages were encouraging the victim not to cooperate with law enforcement,” said Johnson. She said the woman reported the communications See ARREST • Page 2
Bice
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
and office supplies it needs to function. Sales of the book were discussed at the last town council meeting. Mayor Gary Davenport said the Elmore County Economic Development Authority was instrumental in the publication of the book. Davenport said there was a limited printing, and each locality would receive copies based on their populations unless a second printing is issued. Eclectic, Davenport said, might receive anywhere from 30-50 copies of the book. “I’m glad the town allowed me to have this fundraiser,” Coker said. “We’re selling these books and this makes a beautiful addition to your coffee table.” And to patrons of the library and potential buyers of the books as well, Coker said,
An Eclectic town official said a meeting was held last week to begin the formation of a Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and there was high interest by residents wanting to join the board and shape Eclectic’s parks. Mayor Gary Davenport said several people signed up to serve on the board and now it is up to the council to select its members. He said a choice should be ready by the time of the next town council meeting, on Feb. 20. Though the decision falls to the council, Davenport said they wanted public input. He said the majority of the roughly 5-7 member board would be made up of people who have backgrounds in management of parks and recreation type entities, people he said would provide “a little more knowledgeable input than we currently have.” Davenport said the idea behind the committee’s formation was, “basically because of the situation that we’re in where I guess the size of the town and not being able to hire a full time parks and recs employee, this was kind of a meet-in-the-middle type scenario.” He described the committee as a body that would abide by the town council, work as a “liaison” for the different organizations that use the parks and delegate their maintenance. The
See LIBRARY • Page 2
See PARKS • Page 2
Corey Arwood / The Herald
The Eclectic Public Library is selling copies of the coffee-table book “Elmore County: A Legacy of Spirit” to raise funds.
FUNDRAISER ALERT Library raising funds through sales of Elmore County books By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Eclectic Public Library is raising funds by selling copies of a newly published Elmore County coffee-table book that illustrates the towns and cities of the county, along with its picturesque natural scenes. Director Betty Coker said sales of the book would help pay the library’s operating expenses. “We have put a book in our window and we want all our patrons and citizens to know that this will greatly help the library, providing funds for our operations,” said Coker. She said, though the town does pay for most costs associated with the library and it does receive some funding from the state, there are still expenses the library has to raise money to pay, like utilities, internet and phone services
Leadership Elmore County presents drug awareness program By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Leadership Elmore County’s Class of 2017 started its quarterly drug education series with a focus on reaching out to adults and teens about the trends in the area, those on the rise and how to spot and prevent addiction. The lineup of speakers included a Wetumpka Police lieutenant, a Central Alabama Drug Task Force agent, an adolescent counselor with a chemical addiction clinic and a forCorey Arwood / The Observer mer self-described addict. He said they developed their LEC member Frank Bertarelli takes questions from the audience after LEC’s program series with the intent of picking on drug education, held at Wetumpka High School.
up where the DARE program ended by focusing on older teens and adults. Michael Waters was at the event with fellow LEC class members Frank Bertacelli, owner of ZAP Pest Control who has a history in law enforcement, and Wetumpka High School Principal Robbie Slater. Juvenile Judge Patrick Pinkston was in the audience, along with the Elmore County NAACP president Bobby Mays and former Elmore County Board of Education chair Larry Teel. Waters kicked off the night with a reading from a 2013 DEA report.
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“The trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs continues to constitute a dynamic and challenging threat to the United States. Controlled prescription drug (CPD) abuse continues to be the nation’s fastest growing drug problem,” Waters read. “The rates of CPD abuse remain constant. Individuals abusing CPDs have a higher prevalence rate than any other illicit drug except marijuana. Pain relievers are the most common types of CPDs, making it illict and CPDs are the most commonly involved in overdose instance.” As further evidence for the necessity of the series, Waters said the previous day he had See DRUGS • Page 2