OPINION PAGE 4
LOCAL, PAGE 2
Tallassee resident auditions for The Voice.
‘Lunch with the governor and a Buick on the stairs’
SPORTS, PAGE 12
Tiger Sharks enjoy ‘fun meet’.
INSIDE
HUMANE SOCIETY PET OF THE WEEK. PAGE 2.
The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA
TALLASSEE, AL 36078
50¢
June 8, 2016
TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM
VOL. 117, NO. 21
Possible sewer expansion in the works
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
In an effort to better serve the citizens of Tallassee, the city is looking into expanding sewer lines to Ina Street, Wood Street and Kent Road. “We have been asked by Councilman Rygiel and the Mayor to take a look at it,” said Russ Robinson, who is Tallassee’s City Engineer. “The original design, which was years ago, required an easement. We have a redesign that would not require easement. We have to check the depth of the propane lines out there. There’s
still some obstacles there but the design looks like it is going to work.” The plans have been designed; now the proposed expansion must be added to the City Council meeting agenda. “It will be up to the Mayor and the City Council to approve the project. Then we have to go through the easement process.” Because of the natural gas lines that are already in place at the proposed locations, a permit from Dixie Propane Company and a permit from the Alabama
Department of Transportation will be in order. “The property owners have wanted to tie-in for a number of years,” said Robinson. “We’re trying to get everyone that we can served with the sewer system. There are property owners on Ina Street right now that are having septic system problems.” This expansion of the sewer system would take place in Ward One, Councilman Rob Rygiel’s ward. Rygiel has been working toward the expansion for a See SEWER • Page 3
Annual Tallassee NOW! set for this weekend
J.E. ‘Hot’ O’Brien left a thriving legacy By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
This year’s Tallassee NOW! will have a special addition to this year’s lineup of events. Saturday at 10 a.m. former players and friends and family will join together to celebrate Coach J.E “Hot” O’Brien and the impact he made on the City of Tallassee. Coach O’Brien passed O’Brien away in 1977 but his legacy lives on in this close-knit community. This is why Bill Patterson and Frank Britt have been working tirelessly to bring former players of Coach O’Brien and their friends and family together to celebrate the See O’BRIEN • Page 7
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
it was all in an effort to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The numbers are trickling in and compared to last year the total is down by nearly $15,000. Last year, the event raised $99,000 and this year the totals are under $85,000. “This year we have raised $84,824.36 and we still have some people left to
The annual Tallassee NOW! is this Friday and Saturday. This year’s event is packed full of fun for everyone. The annual event will kickoff Friday at 9 a.m. with the cook-off check-in at Bell Park. The quilt show will take place at City Hall from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. The annual 5K Run will take place Friday evening at the downtown green space. Registration for the run will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the race starts at 7:30 p.m. The karaoke contest will be at Bell Park from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Following the karaoke contest, the Kevin Adair Band will take the stage at Bell Park. Tailgate Partners will also be on hand Friday night at J.E “Hot” O’Brien Stadium offering bulk barbeque meat sales. Saturday morning the fun begins bright and early with the Farmer’s Market, which will be located at the Mt. Vernon Theater from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. Beginning at 8 a.m. The Tallassee Tailgate’s bulk barbeque meat sales will resume at O’Brien stadium. The meat sale will run until
See RELAY • Page 11
See TALLASSEE • Page 3
Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
Brandon Fomby, Children’s Minister at First Baptist Tallassee, hands out ice cream to children and adults Friday during the 2016 Relay for Life held at J.E “Hot” O’Brien Staduim.
BIG DONATION, BIG EFFORT Relay for Life raises more than $80,000
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
J.E. “Hot” O’Brien Stadium was the place to be Friday evening, as people from Tallassee and surrounding communities joined together to help battle cancer. Teams from area churches, businesses and organizations were set up with food and refreshments for all. Not only did this year’s event offer something for everyone,
Today’s
Pool season at full blast
Weather
89 61 High
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Low
THURS: HIGH 92 LOW 65
CONTACT US 334-567-7811 • Fax: 334-567-3284 Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
USPS 681-260
Normal hurricane season expected this year
Pool season for 2016 began June 1 and ends Saturday, July 30. Hours of operation will be Monday-Saturday from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Daily pass is $3 per day and individual passes are $45. Family passes for up to four people in the same household are $60 and five or more are $75 for the season.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is asking people across the nation to prepare for the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season, which begins today and runs through November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center seasonal outlook for 2016, released last week, states the season will most likely be near-normal, but uncertainty about the formation of Atlantic storms makes predicting this season particularly difficult. The impacts of hurricanes can reach far See HURRICANE • Page 7
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