Students give us a Thanksgiving cooking lesson
2016 All-Area Volleyball team
How do you cook a turkey? Second Graders from Tallassee, Wetumpka & Eclectic Schools help all of us this year with their tips on preparing the perfect turkey and what they are thankful for. (Use caution when following the recipes.)
Eclectic Observer Page 10
INSIDE TODAY
The
Mrs. Nicholson’s Class Tallassee Elementary
THURSDAY • NOVEMBER 24, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 27, No. 47
DEATSVILLE MAN DROWNS IN LAKE JORDAN
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
The body of a Deatsville man was discovered Monday evening in the waters in the Blackberry Cove area of Lake Jordan, according to Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin. Richard Harris, 58, was discovered dead by a Holtville-area woman who spotted his body
floating in the water, Franklin said. Franklin said the Alabama Marine Police is investigating the death, but that the initial theory is that Harris fell from a fishing boat into the lake. Attempts by the Observer to reach Marine Police for more details were unsuccessful.
File / The Observer
The body of a Deatsville man was discovered Monday evening in the waters in the Blackberry Cove area of Lake Jordan. The man was identified as Richard Harris, 58.
County’s jobless numbers up slightly in Oct.
Suspect arrested in BB&T Bank robbery
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Elmore County’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.2 percent was the state’s third-lowest for October, according to figures released today by the Alabama Department of Labor. The Elmore County rate is up from 4.8 percent in September and 4.9 percent from last October. The county’s increase in unemployment is largely the result of a larger number of people looking for work. The county’s civilian labor force increased from 36,570 in September to 37,057 in October. The same factors are at work throughout the state, which saw its unemployment rate rise from September’s 5.4 percent to 5.7 percent in October. October’s rate represents 123,892 unemployed persons, compared to 117,100 in September and 131,421 in October 2015. “An extremely large increase in the number of people who are looking for work combined with an increase in the number of people working in October led to an increase in our unemployment rate,” said Fitzgerald Washington, secretary of the Alabama Department of Labor. “More than 16,000 people entered the workforce in October, and nearly 10,000 more people found work. Compared to last year, nearly 40,000 more people are in the work force and almost 50,000 more people are working. This shows See UNEMPLOYMENT • Page 3
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
William Carroll / The Herald
Four new Elmore County Commissioners were sworn in last week during a special ceremony prior to the commission’s first meeting of the new term. They are (from left to right) District 5 Commissioner Earl Reeves, District 3 Commissioner Troy Stubbs, District 2 Commissioner Cecil “Mack” Daugherty and District 1 Commissioner Kenny Holt.
BRIGHT HORIZON New commissioners talks plans for county’s future By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
Four Elmore County Commissioners took their seats on Wednesday of last week. Monday the Herald interviewed each of the four commissioners about their goals for the county and their plans for the future. Each of the commissioners were asked the same five questions. Their answers are presented here and have been edited for length and clarity. Tell me your plans for the next four years. Do you have any specific goals that you would like to accomplish during your term in office? District 1 Commissioner Kenny Holt said that he had several goals for his term in office. “One of the things I would like to do is review the employee classifications,” Holt said. I would like to see all of the salary ranges and classifications. I don’t think that has been done in some time.” Holt said he also wants to do whatever he and the commission can to promote economic growth. Holt believes that part of that includes ensuring the citizens of Elmore County are safe.
Today’s
“I am going to be a strong advocate for law enforcement,” he said. “We can’t have the growth we need without a county that is secure.” Holt said he also wants to be a good steward of tax dollars and is interesting in reviewing all of the county’s contractual and financial arrangements to ensure that the county is getting the best deal it possibly can for its citizens. District 2 Commissioner Cecil “Mack” Daugherty said that his first priority as a commissioner is to be fiscally responsible. “People are entrusting us to make fiscally responsible decisions,” he said. “Over the last several years there has been zero growth in the county’s general fund budget. I think we need to look at every penny to make sure it is serving a purpose.” Daugherty said the commission’s first responsibility is to ensure that county departments are properly funded. District 3 Commissioner Troy Stubbs said that he is looking forward to building on the good things going on in the county. “We as a county commission have a unique opportunity to press the reset button,” See COMMISSION • Page 3
An early Monday morning carjacking in Elmore County lead to the arrest of Joseph Mark Colley, 33 of Goodwater, for the robbery of the BB&T Bank on Gilmer Ave in Tallassee. Colley and Colley another suspect, Christopher Adam Horsley, 32 of See ARREST • Page 2
Observer moves to Wednesday delivery STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Eclectic Observer readers will soon be able to get their news fix a day earlier. Beginning next week, your newspaper will be delivered on Wednesday rather than Thursday. The change was designed to get news in the hands of readers sooner and better fit the needs of our advertisers. In addition to the new day, the paper will be a multi-section publication with even more news from across Elmore County. So pick up an Eclectic Observer next week and catch up on what’s happening in the area.
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