SPORTS, PAGE 12
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June 22, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 124 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Judge: Resolution needed to save Great Bethel Attorneys in the lawsuit involving former leaders of Great Bethel Baptist Church and its minister Rev. Dr. Emerson Ware Jr., Mitch Gavin, left, and Jason Jackson, right, leave court Thursday with documents. The sides were asked to talk to attempt to reach a joint resolution.
No decision made in church leaders’ suit against its pastor and message were delivered on this day by Judge Ray Martin. Without making a final legal decision on the suit, his words The trial in a civil lawsuit involving drew “amens” from the gallery worthy of a former leaders at Alexander City’s Great Sunday morning in church. Bethel Baptist Church and the church’s “As far as relief, I’m telling you I’m longtime minister Rev. Dr. Emerson Ware not making a ruling here today,” Martin Jr. resumed Thursday. While testimony and told plaintiff’s attorney Mitch Gavin and documents were presented, including the defense attorney Jason Jackson. “There’s pastor testifying in his defense, the sermon See BETHEL • Page 7 By MITCH SNEED Editor
States to collect sales tax from online retailers
Volunteers clean locker doors at Benjamin Russell High School as a part of United Way’s annual Day of Action Thursday morning. They also scrubbed graffiti off bathroom stalls and did some landscaping work at the school.
Unclear if recent court ruling will help small businesses By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned a ruling Thursday that barred states from collecting sales taxes on items shipped from out of state. Some think it might help with infrastructure. Alexander City Chamber of Commerce President Ed Collari thinks it could help in some ways but is not sure how for small business. “I think that ruling is extremely beneficial for states because it will increase their tax base and help support things like education, roads, healthcare and so much more,” Collari said. “But I am not sure if that will encourage more people to shop local. It can’t hurt. And shopping local is critical to the survival See RULING • Page 3
“I think that ruling is extremely beneficial for states because it will increase their tax base and help support things like education, roads, healthcare and so much more.” —Ed Collari Chamber president & CEO
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Submitted / The Outlook
Police seeking help in robbery ACPD looking to identify black male who robbed AutoZone, held employees at gunpoint By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Law enforcement responded to an armed robbery at AutoZone in Alexander City Wednesday night. “A black male entered AutoZone Wednesday night and held employees at gun point,” PAGE 3 Alexander City PHOTOS Police Chief Jay INSIDE: See Turner said. “He still camera was able to get images from away with an robbery to unspecified amount help ACPD identify of cash.” The unidentified suspect gunman did one last thing before leaving the store. “He locked employees in the See ROBBERY • Page 3
‘TEAM EFFORT’ Director calls annual Day of Action huge success
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Nearly 120 volunteers from throughout Tallapoosa County came together Thursday morning for the annual Lake
Martin Area United Way Day of Action, working to clean up sites in Alexander City and Dadeville. “We had around 70 at Benjamin Russell, 30 at Dadeville Elementary and See ACTION • Page 11
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
According to police, a black male left AutoZone with an unspecified amount of cash after robbing employees at gunpoint Wednesday night. He locked employees in a back room and fled the store and now police are asking the public for help in identifying him.
Local amateur radio club holding annual Field Day By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Demolition underway on Old No. 1 Crews from Roy Granger’s Regeneration LLC have been on the site of what was the Old No. 1 Building along Highway 280 and Central Blvd. this week dismantling some of the extensions to the buildings. The former Russell Corp. building and property is now owned by Saucier Investments LLC. Material being taken from the demolition is being sorted and stacked for salvage. There is no indication if the work is part of a pending deal with a potential buyer. Attempts to reach Saucier officials for information were unsuccessful.
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Members of the Lake Martin Amateur Radio Club will be gathering at the airport pavilion in Alexander City Saturday for the annual American Radio Relay League’s Field Day event, communicating with other amateur radio operators across the country and around the world. “We’ve been doing this for over 30 years now,” LMARC Secretary Danny Lloyd said. “Once a year, the American Radio Relay League sponsors this event for amateur radio operators to test their response time in case of a natural disaster or other emergency.” Starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, amateur radio See RADIO • Page 9
Lake Levels
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