OPINION: DELAY OF CACC CONSOLIDATION IS BEST FOR ALL. PAGE 4. FOR THURSDAY THE
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Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 May 12, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 95
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Consolidation of CACC delayed to 2017 New timeline aims to implement plan in least disruptive way possible By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Hurry up and wait. That seems to sum up the first few months of the process to consolidate Central Alabama, Chattahoochee Valley and Southern Union State community colleges after Alabama Community College System Chancellor Mark Heinrich announced via email and at the monthly meeting
of the ACCS Board of Trustees on Wednesday that the process was being delayed until 2017. In an email addressed to Dr. Susan Burrow, president of CACC, and Dr. Gary Branch, president of Faulkner State Community College, Heinrich wrote: “As you know, we are working diligently with the three organizations responsible for overseeing educational consolidation to be certain that we satisfy all of the checks and
balances necessary to implement our plan in the least disruptive way possible: The United States Department of Education (DOE), The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. “Due to unforeseen legislative and departmental delays, coupled with key timing issues necessary to ensure that students’ financial aid See CONSOLIDATION • Page 3
New judge, date set for Shaw assault trial
Letter carriers aim to ‘Stamp out Hunger’
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Saturday will be a busy day for the area’s letter carriers. In addition to picking up and delivering the mail, the 18 carriers out of the Alexander City Post Office will also be collecting food for the needy as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ 24th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. So on May 14, postal officials hope the community will deliver in a big way. “We’ve left bags (for donations) and postcards in the mailbox to let everyone know about the food drive,” said Alexander City Postmaster Susan Alexander. “We’ve got signs advertising it around the post office and some of the local businesses have been nice enough to let us put signs in their windows. “The people in Alexander City are always very giving and we know they will come through again this year in a big way. All they need to do See HUNGER • Page 3
Heinrich
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
A sinking feeling A worker cutting grass at Radney Funeral Home discovered a small hole in the pavement near the corner of Cherokee and Dadeville Road. On closer inspection, it was discovered that the hole was a sinkhole that was almost 6 feet deep below the surface of the pavement. The Alabama Department of Transportation responded and dug into the void, finding a storm drainpipe had collapsed allowing the dirt to cave in. Crews worked all day to clear the area and replace the pipe. When work is done the pipe will be repaired and the void will be filled with dense gravel before the pavement is repaired.
The assault case against Alexander City Mayor Charles Shaw and his wife Lavern has a new judge and a new court date. Randolph County District Court Judge Clay Tinney has been assigned to hear the case and the bench trial has been moved up five days to May 19, according to court records. The Shaws turned themselves in after being charged with third-degree assault charges on April 26 following a postmeeting physical altercation with councilman Tony Goss on Monday, April 25. The case was on the docket for May 24 before District Court Judge Kim Taylor. But last week Taylor asked to be removed from the case. Judge Steve Perryman filed paperwork appointing Tinney to hear the case on Wednesday. The new date and judge are the latest in a story that has kept Alexander City residents talking for weeks. See SHAW • Page 3
Lost dog found and returned to owner By MITCH SNEED Editor
The Birmingham woman whose dog was missing following a Saturday accident on Highway 280 is having her face licked again after her 5-month-old Shepherd-Hound mix named Finn was found alive and well Wednesday morning. Jennifer Oxford was elated when she got a message from local firefighter Craig Dunham Wednesday morning, saying he had found Finn sitting on the side of Highway 280, not far from where Saturday’s accident had occurred. “I was actually cleaning a kennel at work when I got the message,” Oxford said. “I can’t tell you how relieved and excited I was. He was in pretty good shape too, just one minor laceration. He’s been checked out and will be home snuggling with me tonight.” Dunham said that he was aware of the
accident and the missing dog because he works as a firefighter in Alexander City and in Kellyton. As he was leaving Kellyton and heading to work in Alexander City Wednesday, there sat Finn on the opposite side of Highway 280 from where the crash occurred. “I saw him sitting there and I knew right away it was him,” Dunham said. “He wasn’t too excited and didn’t want to come to me at first. But the rest of my Wendy’s breakfast did the trick and I picked him up and let his owner know.” It was a happy ending to a story that had gained a lot of attention as people all over the area joined in the search after seeing the story on social media and in The Outlook. Oxford was traveling on Highway 280 near Coosa County Road 89 near Kellyton Submitted / The Outlook when her vehicle left the roadway and began Jennifer Oxford gets a big kiss from her dog Finn who was to roll. missing for four days after being ejected from a car during See FOUND • Page 3 an accident Saturday. +
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Sneed ordered to appear in Shaw case The prosecutor in the thirddegree assault case against the Alexander City mayor and his wife has added a name to the witness list in the case. Assistant District Attorney Michael Weldon subpoenaed Outlook Editor Mitch Sneed to testify and also ordered the paper to supply all images and recordings from the April 25 meeting where a fistfight broke out between Mayor Charles Shaw and Councilman Tony Goss. A day after the fight, Shaw and his wife Lavern were charged with third-degree assault. Court records indicate that in addition to Sneed, potential witnesses are Goss, Alexander City Police Chief Willie G. Robinson, Councilman Bobby Tapley, Municipal Court Clerk Louise Pritchard, Alexander City Parks and Recreation Director Sonny Wilson and ACPD Officer Mark Hill. The bench trial is set before Randolph County District Court Judge Clay Tinney at 9 a.m. on May 19 at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse in Alexander City. – Staff Report
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.66 Reported on 5/11/16 @ 7 p.m.
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