EDITORS NOTE: This is the third of a four part series looking back at the year 2018 in Chambers County and Troup County.

July 1

VALLEY HUNTING STORE ROBBED

Chambley’s Quality Outdoor Products in Valley was burglarized by two masked men. Stolen items included crossbows and handguns.

July 7

CEMETERY CLEANUP LEADS TO ASSAULT

The Resthaven cemetery manager was assaulted by a resident unhappy with cemetery upkeep. The management of the cemetery had been the subject of much uncertainty for a long time, with the financially-plagued cemetery recently declaring bankruptcy.

July 11

VALLEY UPSET OVER FACEBOOK SATIRE PAGE

Thw City of Valley issued a plea for a satirical Facebook page to change its logo from the city’s seal. The page made a similar-but-different logo in compliance.

July 13

COUNTY CUTS RIBBON ON NEW FIGHT AGAINST OPIOIDS

Chambers County officials cut the ribbon on a new prescription drug take-back box. In a partnership between East Alabama Mental Health and the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, the box was developed to be a permanent location where people can dispose of drugs they don’t want, don’t need or that have expired.

July 18

RACE STILL DEVELOPING

Results for the Republican nomination for State Representative District 38 came back inconclusive. Debbie Wood eventually beat out Todd Rauch for the nomination by 7 votes.

July 21

OWEN NAMED HEADMASTER OF CHAMBERS ACADEMY

David Owen replaced John Mehaffey as Chambers Academy’s headmaster. “[Chambers Academy] has got a great history,” he said. “The school will be celebrating its 50th anniversary as we roll the calendar into 2019. They’ve been doing a lot of things right for a long time, yesterday and today. I just want to be a part of tomorrow.”

July 23

EMERGENCY SERVICES JOIN FORCES

Mayor Leonard Riley of Valley authorizes Valley EMS to work with East Alabama Water, Sewer and Fire Protection District. “We are doing this for financial reasons,” Riley said, explaining that the city had lost somewhere between $310,000 and $358,000 in each of the last three years while running Valley EMS. A $500,000 loss was projected for 2018.

July 26

CHAMBERS COUNTY TEAMS WITH SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

After being unanimously agreed upon in early June, the partnership between Schneider Electric and Chambers County kicked-off in July. Schneider is a nationwide energy management company that improved upon energy efficiency for organizations, municipalities and even the Chambers County School District. In this new, $1.7 million partnership with the county, Schneider will create $2.6 million in savings over a 20-year period — equaling $133,000 a year.

July 28

ONE DEAD, FIVE INJURED IN I-85 SINGLE CAR WRECK

According to West Point Fire Department Chief Mitt Smith, one SUV carrying six people was traveling down the interstate when it went over a guardrail and dropped 10 feet down into an embankment.

Aug. 1

CHAMBERS COUNTY EMA RECEIVES SELF-SUPPORTING TOWER

The Chambers County Commission’s Rules, Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously to provide up to $20,000 for needed upgrades on a self-supporting trailer and tower system. The system had recently been acquired by the Chambers County Emergency Management Agency at no cost.

Aug. 2

Waste water treatment vandalism leads to spill

The Lanett Waste Water Treatment Plant was vandalized, resulting in an estimated 2,289,500 gallons of sewage overflow. According to a city press release, an unknown individual or group entered the plant sometime between 8 p.m. Sunday, July 29 and 7 a.m. Monday, July 30. An unspecified amount of damage was done to the facility and equipment, causing a backup in four manholes near Tanyard Creek.

Aug. 4

Springwood cuts ribbon on student housing

The International House of Springwood was the next step in bringing in more students from around the world.

Aug. 7

LaFayette barbers prepare students for school

The fifth annual LaFayette Barbers “Bookbags and Free Haircuts” event brought out local barbers to give students a fresh cut for school.

Aug. 8

Lanett road named in honor of former commissioner

Ross Dunn, civil rights pioneer, community leader and first African-American person to be elected to the Chambers County Commission was memorialized in the area by way of roadway dedication.

Aug. 14

Galaxy Auto Sales owner charged with trafficking

Lanett’s Galaxy Auto owner James Patrick Cannon, along with a second individual named Meredith Brooke Wilkerson, were arrested on charges including drug trafficking and possession of drugs, untaxed liquor and drug paraphernalia.

Aug. 15

Candidate for sheriff arrested in Autauga County

The Republican candidate for Chambers County Sheriff, Chad Roberts, was arrested in Autauga County for failing to pay child support. He later lost the election to incumbent Sheriff Sid Lockhart.

Aug. 17

16-year-old Valley High School student brings gun to school

A Valley High School student was arrested Tuesday, Aug. 14 for bringing a gun to school. “He had not made any threats to anybody or said anything about using the gun,” Valley Police Chief Tommy Weldon said. “He told officers that he had bought the pistol from someone, but wouldn’t say who or from where, and that he was going to give it to his granddaddy for his birthday.”

Aug. 22

Third man wanted in West Point murder case apprehended

Trent Murphy, 24, of West Point was arrested at the Verandas phase of the Venue Apartment Complex in Valley. Murphy was charged with the June 13 murder of Reggie Pearson.

Sept. 4

Chattabrewchee holds anniversary festivities over Labor Day weekend

While the brewery had consistent business year-round, Saturday saw even more folks coming through to celebrate the business’s one-year anniversary. Live music, free food and the best beer kept people occupied all day, enjoying each other’s company and the first college football games of the season on mounted screens.

Sept. 19

City of Lanett revokes Chris Clark paving contract

At the recommendation of Mayor Kyle McCoy, the council unanimously approved a resolution to revoke a contract to Chris Clark Grading & Paving, Inc. for street paving due to poor job performance. The $304,000 contract had been awarded on June 4 with a 60-day period for completion. That expired on Aug. 4.

Sept. 22

GVACC awards members at annual meeting

Members of the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and local leaders packed out the showroom of King Ford in Valley to celebrate and reflect on the last year of GVACC accomplishments and ongoings during the 2018 Annual Membership meeting.

Sept. 25

Kidnapped baby returned to father

The Valley Police Department found four-month-old Kaylee Roxanne Mc-Gill, who had been missing since Wednesday, Sept. 19.