CONGRATS TO THE TALLASSEE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2016 Despite the threat of ominous weather, the show went on and the Tallassee High School Class of 2016 were able to toss their caps after singing the school’s Alma Mater during graduation, which was Friday night at J.E “HOT” O’Brien Stadium.
SPORTS, PAGE 12
Prime Time Athletics hosts ribbon cutting ceremony.
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May 25, 2016
TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM
VOL. 117, NO. 19
IDB seeks city approval of new position
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Early this month, the Alabama House of Representatives passed HB 169 to amend section 40-9B-5, Code of Alabama 1975. This House Bill granted the Elmore County Commission the right to supersede a city or the municipality’s industrial authority, the Tallassee
Industrial Development Board’s, ability to abate a county tax, if the city does not have a matching municipality tax. This “new layer of bureaucracy” did not sit well with Rick Dorley, chairman of the Tallassee Industrial Development Board. Dorley maintains that the process of tax abatement should reside in hands of the industrial development board in order to keep the tax abatement process
efficient. HB 169 will add an additional 10-13 days to the current tax abatement process. It is the unnecessary steps and time that Dorley is trying to avoid. “It does away with the one-stop-shop, politicalizes the process and that’s been the board’s take on it the whole time, and still is,” Dorley said. “Before, I could say that I can take care of the abatement. I can no longer say that. I can’t guarantee
American Legion of Tallassee rewards THS students
an industry what another entity, regardless of what that entity is may or may not do.” The Tallassee Industrial Development Board recently declared the title of an Economic Professional and asked the mayor and city council to recognize the new title. Dorley asked for this in the See IDB • Page 11
The man who built Mount Vernon Mill A recount of local, historical figures in building Tallassee
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Sam Benson and Bill L A Taunton surprised a few deserving THS students on Friday, May 13. Students going to state this year are Gracie Miller, Jake Baker, Hudson Deem and Landon Dubose. Tallassee High School sends students to Boys and Girls State, which are the leading programs for teaching students how government works. The program also works to develop leadership skills as well as an appreciation for citizen’s rights. As a participant in the program, the students will run for office, learn public speaking and create and enforce laws. Students will also actively participate in all stages of constructing and managing a working government in this summer program. “Boys and Girls State
The Mount Vernon Mills originated in the Jones Falls area of what is now known to be Baltimore, Maryland. Beginning around 1810, many of the Maryland mills were beginning to transition from flourmills and gristmills to cotton duck mills, and it was one of these converted mills that became the original Mount Vernon Mill. As the company bought more of the local mills, the area soon became the Mount Vernon Company, which was a frontrunner in the fabrication of cloth sails for clipper ships and cloth for canvas tents. Soon after, the Mount Vernon Company shifted its eyes southward and began construction in Tallassee. In 1844, the Tallassee Falls Manufacturing Company went into operation on the west banks of the
Reeltown grown, AU Golden Sunshine
could soon be sold worldwide By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
If you happen to find yourself on Alabama 120 in Tallapoosa County just outside of Reeltown you may have noticed hundreds of trellises lining the highway. Those trellises are part of an intricate pergola system for the growing of kiwi fruit, a very special type of kiwi created right here in Alabama and destined for markets around the world. For Southeast Kiwi Farming Cooperative Vice President and Orchard Manager Clint Wall, the farm is just another day at the office,
See LEGION • Page 11
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but one, which has massive potential for growth. Wall started the local operation in September 2014 after spending many years in New Zealand working as a manager of kiwi farms. Wall, who has 12 years of experience with kiwi farming techniques said that the demand for kiwi, especially in international markets, is high right now. One of the reasons for this is a bacteria known as pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae or PSV, which has wiped out the kiwi industry in other counties. Luckily, the bacteria has not found its way to the U.S., See KIWI • Page 3
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