SPORTS, PAGE 12 Local players sign with Mississippi University for Women
OPINION:
SPORTS
PAGE 4 Whistling is a dying art
Segrest chosen as drum major for Reeltown
INSIDE:
PAGE 12 LOCAL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, PAGE 2.
The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA
TALLASSEE, AL 36078
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May 31, 2017
TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM
VOL. 118, NO. 22
Tallapoosa landfill facing lawsuits Filings in Macon County say landfill runoff caused men’s cancer By CARMEN RODGERS and MITCH SNEED Staff Writers
Three Macon men have filed lawsuits that claim they suffer from colon cancer that was caused by drinking water tainted by dangerous chemicals that came from the Stone’s Throw Landfill in Tallassee, which is located in Tallapoosa County. Jerry Tarver, Andrew Chambliss and Andrew Tarver are the plaintiffs in the lawsuits, which were filed in Macon County Circuit Court by a team of attorneys. The suits seek a jury trial and damages from Advanced Disposal, which owns the landfill,
four other subsidiaries associated with Advanced Disposal and the Utilities Board of Tuskegee, as well as the Macon County Water Authority. The lawsuit claims the utilities are not sufficiently treating water collected from the Tallapoosa River downstream of the landfill. The lawsuits include language that alleges the liquid waste that seeps from the landfill, called leachate, enters Chewacla Creek from discharges at the landfill. From there the water flows into the Tallapoosa River after going through a treatment process at the Tallassee Sewer and Stabilization Pond for treatment. It is treated with chlorine and the suits claim
that process creates an advanced level of cancer-causing chemicals including haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (TTHM). “To treat this, you would have to have a high-dollar reverse osmosis system or something compatible,” said Jay Freeman, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. He said those steps were not being taken for many years. The suits cite information from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which lists HAAs and TTHM among agents that may cause cancer in humans. The plaintiffs’ lawsuits cite See LAWSUIT • Page A2
Submitted / The Tribune
A recent lawsuit filed in Macon County alleges leachate from Stone’s Throw Landfill is not properly treated before it is released into the Tallapoosa River where two miles downstream the Tuskegee Utility Board’s water intake is located.
Tallassee selected as one of 6 ACE communities in incoming 2017 class
Summer Feeding Program
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Tallassee City Schools is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided from 11:30 a.m. until noon on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Tallassee Elementary on Friendship Road beginning May 30. This service will be available through June 14. “This program can relieve some of the financial burden of feeding children throughout the
Submitted / The Tribune
Tallassee High School Principal Matt Coker congratulates co-valedictorian Hudson Deem at J.E. “Hot” O’Brien Stadium Friday night during the 2017 Class of Tallassee High School graduation.
Tallassee celebrates class of 2017 By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
J.E. “Hot” O’Brien Stadium was filled to capacity Friday night as friends, family and loved ones came out to celebrate the 2017 Class of Tallassee High School. THS had two valedictorians this year. Margret Dean and Hudson Deem shared the honors and Jonathan Osborne is this year’s salutatorian. Collectively, this class of seniors brought in over $2 million in scholarship funds. Furthermore, this year’s senior class had 39 seniors who graduated with advanced diplomas and another 31 seniors graduated with honors.
See SUMMER • Page A3
See GRADUATION • Page A3
Three Alabama communities, Jasper, Oneonta and Spanish Fort earned the designation of an “Alabama Community of Excellence” Saturday, May 20, at the opening session of the Alabama League of Municipalities Annual Convention, held in Birmingham. Mayors and community representatives were recognized and received a plaque and a sign to be displayed in a prominent location within their respective communities. The three communities successfully completed the Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) comprehensive threephase approach to economic and community development. In addition to celebrating Jasper, Oneonta and Spanish Fort in earning the prestigious ACE designation, ACE announced that the following six communities were selected to participate in the 2017 incoming class: Bay Minette, Boaz, Center Point, Chelsea, Hanceville, and Tallassee. These communities will begin the ACE process this summer. Community leaders are provided See ACE • Page A7
Tallassee honors fallen soldiers By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
While Monday was the unofficial kick-off to summer, many set this day aside to join the Tallassee Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5035 in honoring our country’s fallen soldiers. As master of ceremonies, Marilyn Durham welcomed the crowd and introduced speakers. Tallassee’s Boy Scout Troop 59, lead by James Davis, presented the country’s colors. Pastor Dric Willford offered the invocation and Mayor Johnny Hammock also welcomed those who in attendance and offered a word of thanks to all the men and women who lost their lives while serving the country. James Bush followed Mayor Hammock at the podium to sing “God Bless the USA.” During the
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singing, participants were brought to their feet as Bush sang “I’ll proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today.” After Bush moved the audience with his vocals, everyone joined together to say “The Pledge of Allegiance.” Sam Jones, a VFW member spoke about his time away and remembered those who gave their lives in service to our nation. “I can tell you first hand that no words can truly tell the horrors of combat,” Jones said as he opened his speech. Following the ceremony, people enjoyed refreshments and snacks. Many spent time afterwards talking to each other and sharing memories with others who have faced similar circumstances both in war and at home.
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Sam Jones, with Tallassee’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5035, laid a wreath at the monument for fallen servicemen during Monday’s Memorial Day Ceremony held at Veteran’s Park across from City Hall.
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