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Eclectic Observer Page 4
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The
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THURSDAY • JANUARY 14, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 27, No. 2
Residents to see rise in water fees By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Now that the Eclectic Water Works is the responsibility of the town, residents can expect to see a few changes. Besides changing the verbiage, the city has made a few other adjustments to the water works department since the acquisition. Some of the water department
fees are increasing. “The reconnection fee is going from $40 to $50 and the afterhours fee is going from $40 to $50. The penalty fee for tamper is also going up,” said Gary Davenport, mayor of Eclectic. Davenport said the increase in the fees is in response to the cost of conducting the business. While gas prices are on the decrease, it is the city that foots the bill for it and wages continue
to keep pace with the times. “We have to send somebody to reconnect, which cost us money,” he said. “We have to pay for gas and the employee. If it’s afterhours we pay them time and a half to do that.” The $50 fee is in line with what other water and sewage departments are charging. “All we’re doing is bringing them up to where they are equal to what every-
body else is charging, plus it helps us offset some of those overtime hours,” Davenport said. The fee for tampering with the water department’s equipment is also increasing. “If you check the surrounding water works and sewer boards in the area, two out of the three charge $500, flat,” See FEES • Page 3
FEMA, state officials visit to confirm damages
Commission approves funding for family resource center Amount of $10,000 was requested to fund staffing and other needs
By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor
By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor
The Elmore County Family Resource Center received a boost in their county footprint Monday when the Elmore County Board of Commissioners approved a request to fund the center $10,000 to help with staffing and other needs to regenerate the center. One of the goals of the center is to connect people to agencies and to help people to get resources. Katrina Mitchell, Elmore County Extension Office coordinator, gave the board a presentation requesting the funds and said about six months ago there was a renewed interest to regenerate the center, which Mitchell said had been fairly stagnant. “We know the resources across the county are diminished when people call and need resources,” Mitchell said. “ … The mission of the Elmore County (Family) Resource Center is, and always has been to connect people to resources. … however, at this point the funding had gotten to the point resources are few and far between. … It’s time, it’s time to try to regenerate and see what we can do for the people of Elmore County.” Funds, Mitchell said, would help with having someone answer phones, recreate the Elmore County Family See COMMISSION • Page 2
Today’s
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FRIDAY: HIGH 57 LOW 40
Carmen Rodgers / The Observer
This was the Davis home located on N. Ann Street. The family escaped without injury, but lost all their belongings in the Sunday night blaze.
Fire destroys Eclectic family’s home By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
It was Sunday night when Lisa Davis of Eclectic heard an alarming sound that quickly brought her to her feet. Davis had only a few minutes to gather her children and escape their home on N. Ann St. in Eclectic. The mobile home she
and her family lived in caught fire around 9 p.m. and they escaped with only their lives. Everything they owned was gone in an instant. “I had just went to bed and not even five minutes later I hear the smoke detector go off,” Davis said. “I went to the kitchen because I thought maybe it was my dryer because my
dryer has been shorting out and I saw a light coming from my son’s bedroom. I walked in and his bed was on fire. I told them to run to the back door and I ran to my daughter’s room and grabbed her and pushed us all out of the door and I called 911 as soon as I got out.” It is believed the cause of See FIRE • Page 2
Elmore County could be on the verge of qualifying for Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance relief for its infrastructure following a recent visit by FEMA and Alabama Emergency Management Agency officials. Two officials from FEMA and AEMA officials met with officials from Elmore County for a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment where FEMA representatives in the public assistance area came in to confirm the damage from the recent deluge of rain that caused floods and flash floods across the area and the state. “They look at a representative sampling (of the damage) to verify that we have the damage that meets the specific thresholds for us to be eligible for a county for public assistance … that’s for financial assistance for damages to governmental infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, water systems and drainage systems … parks, public facilities … things like that,” said Eric Jones, Elmore County See FEMA • Page 2
Charges piling up for former Tallassee assistant police chief of someone who does not deserve to wear the badge of law enforcement,” Houston said. “He abused his power as an officer and abused the trust of The charges keep on coming. the public, which he swore to protect After former Tallassee assistant police chief Chris Miles pleaded guilty and serve.” Houston said a federal grand jury in federal court to obstruction of jusalso has returned an indictment against tice, deprivation of rights as well as distribution of marijuana in November Miles for crimes associated with this 2015, he now faces additional charges case. Miles already faces a maximum of on another matter. 20 years in prison after pleading guilty Randall Houston, district attorney for the 19th judicial circuit, confirmed for lying to federal agents about how he obtained information and his assault that an Elmore County grand jury of a suspect in April 2013. returned indictments against Miles Miles also pleaded guilty to selling in connection to a burglary during approximately 16 pounds of marijuana August 2013 on West Butler Street in to a known drug dealer in the area for Tallassee. The grand jury charged Miles with $4,000. “These charges, coupled with the one count each of second-degree federal charges against him, should burglary and second-degree theft of ensure he never has the opportunity to property. do it again,” Houston added. “Chris Miles is a prime example By KEVIN TAYLOR Copy Editor
Former Tallassee assistant Chief of Police Chris Miles and his wife Kelli Miles. Carmen Rodgers / The Observer
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