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July 25, 2018
TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM
VOL. 119, NO. 30
Council to amend offsite alcohol sales
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
The Tallassee City Council will consider amending an ordinance that would allow for off-premise alcohol sales to begin at noon rather that 1 p.m. The original ordinance was passed in
2016 with 5-2 vote. According to Mayor Johnny Hammock, there have been several complaints because local restaurants can sell alcohol beginning at noon on Sundays while convenience and package stores must wait until 1 p.m. to sell alcoholic beverages.
“In Wetumpka, you can buy it at twelve o’clock,” Hammock said. “The county passed an ordinance and you can buy on and off premises at 12 p.m.” Currently onsite alcohol sales are permitted on Sunday’s beginning at noon. “Right now, the way it’s written, you
can go to Acapulco and buy a drink,” Hammock said, “but you can’t buy it at Tater’s or the Marathon until 1 p.m.” Hammock said the one-hour difference has created a lot of confusion among business owners and those purchasing alcohol on Sundays. See ALCOHOL • Page A2
City schools unveil alternative school program
Tribune editor dies at 58 STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Tribune Managing Editor David Granger, 58, died Tuesday afternoon following a stroke he had nearly two weeks ago. Granger started working for Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. when he was hired as a staff writer at The Alexander City Outlook in January 2015. In December 2016, Granger took the position of managing editor for TPI’s Elmore County newspapers overseeing The Granger Tribune, The Wetumpka Herald and The Eclectic Observer. Granger is from Opp and had been living in Equality with his wife Lynn Holley Maynard Granger for many years. He graduated from Elmore County High School in Eclectic and earned a bachelor of arts in journalism in 1984 from Auburn University. Throughout his multi-decade journalistic career, Granger earned several awards from the Alabama Press Association and Alabama Sports Writers Association. In the APA’s 2018 Better Newspaper Contest, Granger was awarded third place for his column, “Holidays bring fireworks… to my kidneys!” in the Best Humorous Column category. He also earned second place in Best Editorial Column or Commentary for “Facebook killing sparks quests for answers.” Granger was a big sports fan and a large space of his heart was dedicated to the Atlanta Braves and Auburn Tigers. TPI staff members are sad to lose a piece of their work family and said Granger will be missed but always remembered for his talent and humor.
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
Verizon Wireless employees Alondra Griffin, Mike Hall and Mark Ferguson handed out free backpacks Sunday. Ajaidyn Kennebrew was one of many students from Tallassee and Eclectic who picked up a backpack during the giveaway.
Area youngsters turn out for backpack giveaway By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
W
ith about two weeks of summer remaining, many parents and some students are already looking forward to returning to the classroom. Many students from the Tallassee and Eclectic Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
Local students Tracy Hart and Akheelyn Hutchinson have been selling lemonade to raise money for school supplies.
area took part in Verizon’s backpack giveaway this weekend. The event ran from 1 to 4 p.m. at the 431 Gilmer Ave. location in Tallassee. There were 220 backpacks available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each backpack was filled with pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders, glue and other school supplies. See BACKPACK • Page A2
Tallassee City Schools recently announced an alternative school program will be available beginning this academic year for at risk students. Alternative schools aim to help students whose needs may not be successfully met in regular schools. “We have started an alternative school program,” Tallassee Board of Education superintendent Wade Shipman said. “We modeled it after Alex City’s. Dr. Nolan has been in charge of getting it together.” Students who attend alternative schools and may be at risk of educational failure as indicated by poor grades, truancy, disruptive behavior, pregnancy or similar factors associated with temporary or permanent withdrawal from school. According to Shipman, this program often serves as a transition for students who have been expelled and are now returning to school. “We are trying to find a location for some of the kids that have done things that make it difficult to place them back on campus See ALTERNATIVE • Page A2
When local students are given lemons... They turn to making lemonade for school supply money By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
We have all heard the old saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” and that’s exactly what two local boys are doing. Knowing school is about to start and having limited funds, Reeltown High School sophomore Tracy Hart and Southside Middle School fifth-grader Akheelyn Hutchinson set out to make things a little easier on their families’ budgets. The two young men
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have set up a lemonade stand on the widely-traveled Notasulga Highway in East Tallassee with hopes of cashing in enough money to buy shoes, clothes and other supplies need to begin the academic year. “We’re selling our lemonade to buy school supplies,” said Hutchinson, with a grin that spread from ear to ear. Both of the local students come from large families. Hart comes from a family of eight and Hutchinson is one of five and, with all the siblings See LEMONADE • Page A2
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