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INSIDE:
LOCAL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, PAGE 2.
The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA
TALLASSEE, AL 36078
50¢
March 8, 2017
City to closely monitor lagoon
TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Mayor Johnny Hammock and the Tallassee city council made a motion to add two city employees whose duty it will be to closely monitor what comes in and goes out of the city’s water treatment lagoon; more specifically, to monitor the leachate and septic disposal at the facility. Currently Tallassee is one of few cities in the state that will accept leachate disposal. What is leachate disposal? The technical
definition of leachate is water that has percolated through a solid and leached out some of the constituents. What if that water percolated through solid waste? This is the case with the Advanced Disposal’s leachate disposal. Rainwater that has seeped through thousands of pounds of solid waste is collected and brought to the Tallassee sewage lagoon to be treated. Cities such as Clanton, Montgomery, Prattville or Auburn do not accept leachate due to the amount of metals and bio solids
VOL. 118, NO. 10
found in the substance. Advanced Disposal and the City of Tallassee have a 14-year-old contact that allows the company to dump up to 24,500 gallons of leachate a day into the sewer lagoon. According to Hammock, on Feb. 8, Advanced Disposal dumped six tankers at 7,500 gallons each or 45,000 gallons in one day, almost double the original amount agreed upon. These disposals are currently set up on an honor system. Each tanker that comes in is supposed to leave a ticket at the lagoon
which states how much septic or leachate was disposed of and where it came from. However, the city put up a hidden camera last month and noticed that six tankers came into the lagoon and dumped waste. However, only four tickets were left to be accounted for. This is what the city hopes to change by adding two city employees to closely monitor what comes in and goes out of the city’s sewer lagoon. These will only be temporary See LAGOON • Page 2
Third annual Roaring 5k draws more than 80
Commission hires new county attorney
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
The Elmore County engineer announced he will appear in Washington, D.C., as a panelist before two House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittees on the way federal grant money is disbursed to counties. Highway Department Director Richie Beyer made the announcement at the recent county commission meeting, saying he was asked by Rep. Gary Palmer, who was newly made the chair of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, to speak at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference. “I’m going to be talking about federal highways and disasters,” said Beyer, who went on to say. “...but it’s very frustrating when you can – if it was just strictly See COMMISSION • Page 2
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Donna Funderburk, physical education teacher at Tallassee Elementary School, choreographed a dance to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” for the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope For Heart.
FUN FOR THE HEART TES raises $25k for American Heart Association By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Tallassee Elementary School has an impressive track record when it comes to raising money for a worthy cause and this year’s Jump Rope For Heart fundraiser is no exception.
Coaches Eddie Gantt, Donna Funderburk and Terrell Brown and Jeanne Shirley are the physical education teachers at Tallassee Elementary. They, along with students and parents raised just over $6,000 for the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope For Heart. In the more than 35-year history of Jump See JUMP • Page 3
The Lions Club along with Neptune Technology Group held the third annual Roaring 5K Run on what was a brisk but beautiful Saturday morning. The run began on South Ann Street. From there the participants ran across the Benjamin Fitzpatrick Bridge and turned around and ran back across the bridge. The final legs of the 5K took participants to the river walk and then back to South Ann Street. There was a great turnout for this year’s event with more than 80 participating. Registration began at 7 a.m. and the race began at 8 a.m. sharp. The top three placements went to Eric Sivill, followed by Caleb Weldon who came in second and Kris Winslett, who took third place. Proceeds from this 5K go directly into the community to assist those who need help with See 5K • Page 3
River City Band to perform for art council March 14 By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Tallassee’s own River City Band will preform for the final performance of the 2016-2017 McCraney-Cottle Arts Council season. Made up of 14 band members, The River City Band originated in Tallassee in 2014. The band began with a foundation in jazz and continues to be centered in that genre; however, they now play a range of musical styles. Members include Michael Bird, Ronny Warren, Steve Hammonds, Mike Hammonds, Sena Bird, Rennie Mills, Steve Schieferstein, Wesley Jimmerson, Nathan Taunton, Abby Burch, James Hart, Will
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Mooty, George McCain and Don Darby. “This promises to be a great night out with the family enjoying wonderful local music,” said Mona Mills, director of the McCarney-Cottle Arts Foundation. “You are guaranteed to enjoy a night of local talent.” This is the McCraney-Cottle Arts Council’s 53rd season of “Bringing the Arts to Tallassee”. Like past performances, this performance will be held inside the Tallassee High School Submitted / The Tribune auditorium. For more informaMichael Bird, Ronny Warren, Steve Hammonds, Mike Hammonds, Sena Bird, tion, find McCraney-Cottle on Facebook or call director Mona Rennie Mills, Steve Schieferstein, Wesley Jimmerson, Nathan Taunton, Abby Burch, James Hart, Will Mooty, George McCain and Don Darby make up the Mills (334-201-4892). River City Band. The band will perform March 14 as the season closer for the McCraney-Cottle Arts Foundation.
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