OPINION
SPORTS
PAGE A5
PAGE B1
Brantley: How boys learned survival INSIDE:
SPORTS, PAGE B2 TIGERS FACE OFF IN 7-ON-7
All-County Baseball Team inside today LOCAL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, PAGE 2.
The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA
TALLASSEE, AL 36078
50¢
July 18, 2018
TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM
VOL. 119, NO. 29
Dozier elected as circuit clerk
City talks Emfinger Subdivision drain issues at meeting
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
Wetumpka resident Michael Dozier was elected as Elmore County Circuit Clerk during the Republican primary runoff election Tuesday defeating incumbent Brian Justiss by more than 1,000 votes. Dozier received a total of 5,379 votes and Justiss received 4,078 votes. Dozier will begin his six-year term in January 2019. “I’m excited to serve the people of Elmore County,” Dozier said. “We’re just going to do what we have to do to be fully prepared for the day that we take office.” Dozier referred to his campaign as “long and draining,” and said he is happy to have won after running for office for the first time. “It’s a lot of hard work. We went door to door, not only for the primary, but also for the runoff. It’s not cheap for sure,” Dozier said. As the son of former Elmore County Circuit Clerk Larry Dozier, who served in the office for 16 years, Dozier said his background is one of the things that prompted him to run. “I grew up in the office,” Dozier said. When making the decision to run, Dozier said he believed he was capable of improving “the state of the office.” “I felt like it was time for me to take a stand and try to bring the office back to where it once was and to do my part in serving the people,” Dozier said. One of the problems facing Elmore County residents, Dozier said, was the lack of timely responses to phone calls made to the circuit clerk’s office. “That’s going to be the number one thing we try to fix, immediately,” Dozier said. Justiss said he is glad to have served his six-year term as circuit clerk and is thankful for his time in office. “I enjoyed representing and helping the people of Elmore County and providing the services I was elected to provide,” Justiss said. Out of the 55,385 Elmore County residents who are registered to vote, a total of 10,479 cast their ballots. Elmore County’s overall voter turnout amounted to 18.92 percent, with 30 out of 31 precincts reporting. Provisional ballots will be counted at a later date.
Today’s
Weather
92 72 High
Low
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Residences of a local neighborhood have lived with continuous drainage issue that has caused major problems for many years. The shopping center that once housed Big Bear and Bargain Town was built in the mid 1960s. Located on Highway 14, the shopping center was built on a steep hill above the neighborhood and has long been a headache for those who live there. See EMFINGER • Page A2
Dam work an inconvenience for local boaters A newly created Department of Transportation grant program could fully fund the long-talked about walking bridge project. The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program will disburse $1.5 billion for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impacts, including funding for roads, bridges, transit, rail or port support. Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
New grant option available for walking bridge project By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
The idea of creating a pedestrian bridge using the old bridge that was replaced by the Fitzpatrick Bridge years ago was once again the topic at the most recent Tallassee City Council work session that was held last Tuesday. Greg Clark, executive director of
the Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, was on hand to inform the council about a new federal grant program that could fully fund the walking bridge project. The new Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program See BRIDGE • Page A2
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Alabama Power recently began work to replace the spill gates at Thurlow Dam. In order to do this the water level in Lake Thurlow had to be dropped to ensure against overflow during the construction. Lake levels have continually dropped since work began on the dam. Levels are so low the only boat access to Lake Thurlow is no longer accessible because it no longer extends into the water. This has caused frustrations for many who regularly utilize the boat ramp. “I can’t put my boat in,” lifelong Tallassee resident Bill Patterson said. During Tuesday’s work session, Tallassee Mayor Johnny Hammock informed See DAM • Page A2
Chamber Chat event a success, organizers say By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
THURS: HIGH 93 LOW 72
CONTACT US 334-567-7811 Fax: 334-567-3284
The Tallassee Chamber of Commerce held a Chamber Chat last week at BB&T Bank on Gilmer Avenue. Several business owners and community members attended the event. Tallassee’s 1220 Café catered the event. With attendance down due to busy summer agendas but according to event coordinators, this Chamber Chat was well received. “It went well,” Tallassee Chamber of Commerce See CHAMBER • Page A3
USPS 681-260
Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
Community members had an opportunity to do a little networking Thursday during the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Chat, which was hosted by BB&T on Gilmer Avenue.
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