2017 was a year packed full of news but some of those stories stand out more than others. As readers ring in 2018, The Tribune would like to look back at the top 10 stories of 2017.
1. One of the most talked about stories of 2017 was the announcement of Tallassee’s new Police Chief, Matthew Higgins. Before applying for the position of Chief of Police, Higgins served a bomb squad commander for Autauga County. He also served as canine bureau commander and precinct commander. Higgins worked for the Montgomery Police Department for 22 years. He is also a retired Master Sergeant/E-7 in the Air Force Reserves and served four tours of duty. He is a combat veteran who was deployed to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Kuwait.
kAm~C:8:?2==J[ E96C6 H6C6 @G6C b_ 2AA=:42?ED 7@C E96 A@D:E:@?D] |2J@C y@9??J w2>>@4<[ 2=@?8 H:E9 >6>36CD @7 E96 4:EJ 4@F?4:=[ DA6?E 23@FE cd >:?FE6D H:E9 6249 42?5:52E6 E@ D66 H9@ H@F=5 36 E96 >@DE BF2=:7:65 E@ =625 E96 r:EJ @7 %2==2DD66’D A@=:46 7@C46]k^Am
kAma] $A@CED 2C6 2=H2JD 2 9@E E@A:4 :? %2==2DD66 2?5 E9:D J62C H2D ?@ 6I46AE:@?] %96 a_`e\`f %2==2DD66 w:89 $49@@= HC6DE=:?8 E62> A=2465 E9:C5 :? E96 DE2E6 7@C 2== `p\dp E62>D 2E E96 p=232>2 $E2E6 (C6DE=:?8 %@FC?2>6?E u63] `e\`g]k^Am
kAmtI4:E6>6?E H2D :? E96 2:C 2E E96 $@FE9D:56 |:55=6 $49@@= q2D632== 4@>A=6I 2D E96 %:86CD >256 :E E@ E96 E9:C5 C@F?5 @7 A=2J@77D E9:D J62C] xE 925 366? `` J62CD D:?46 %2==2DD66 25G2?465 E@ E96 E9:C5 C@F?5 @7 A=2J@77D 2?5 H@? E96:C =2DE DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A EH@ J62CD =2E6C :? `hhg]k^Am
kAm%2==2DD66’D a_`g G2CD:EJ 7@@E32== E62> 925 2?@E96C 8C62E J62C] %96 %:86CD 25G2?465 E@ E96 D64@?5 C@F?5 @7 E96 7@@E32== A=2J@77D E9:D J62C 2?5 6?565 E96 J62C H:E9 2 `_\a C64@C5]k^Am
kAmb] %2==2DD66 t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@= 92D 2? :>AC6DD:G6 EC24< C64@C5 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ C2:D:?8 >@?6J 7@C 2 H@CE9J 42FD6[ 2?5 E9:D J62C’D yF>A #@A6 u@C w62CE 7F?5C2:D6C H2D ?@ 6I46AE:@?] r@249 t55:6 v2?EE[ r@249 s@??2 uF?56C3FC<[ r@249 %6CC6== qC@H? 2?5 |CD] y62??6 $9:C=6J 2C6 E96 A9JD:42= 65F42E:@? E62496CD 2?5 4@2496D 2E %t$ 2?5 E96J C2:D65 ;FDE @G6C Se[___ H:E9 E96 96=A @7 92C5H@C<:?8 DEF56?ED 7@C E96 p>6C:42? w62CE pDD@4:2E:@?’D yF>A #@A6 u@C w62CE] %9:D :D E96 7@FCE9 J62C E92E %t$ 92D A2CE:4:A2E65 :? yF>A #@A6 u@C w62CE 2?5 E96:C 4@==64E:G6 E@E2= :D @G6C Sad[___]k^Am
kAmc] #6=2J 7@C {:76 92D 2=H2JD 366? 2 =625:?8 7F?5C2:D6C 7@C E96 r:EJ @7 %2==2DD66] x? J62CD A2DE E9:D D>2== 4:EJ 4@==64E65 >@C6 5@?2E:@?D 7@C E96 p>6C:42? r2?46C $@4:6EJ E92? =2C86C ?6:893@C:?8 4:E:6D[ D@>6E:>6D E9C66 E:>6D 2D >F49]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ :? C646?E J62CD E96 7F?5C2:D6C 92D 366? @? E96 564=:?6] pEE6?52?46 92D 72==6? 2D H6== 2D 7F?5D C2:D65] u@C >@DE @7 :ED 6I:DE6?46[ %2==2DD66’D #6=2J 7@C {:76 92D 366? 96=5 2E E96 7@@E32== DE25:F> @? v:=>6C pG6?F6 :? 62C=J yF?6 2?5 H:E9 C64@C5 E6>A6C2EFC6D =2DE J62C[ w@E ~’qC:6? $E25:F> 82G6 ?6H >62?:?8 E@ E96 H@C5 “9@E]”k^Am
kAm%9:D J62C[ E96 8C@FA’D @C82?:K6CD 564:565 E@ 492?86 E9:?8D 2 3:E :? 9@A6D @7 C6G2>A:?8 E96 7F?5C2:D6C 2?5 C6=@42E65 E@ r:EJ w2== 7@C E96 2??F2= C646AE:@?[ DFCG:G@C’D H2=< 2?5 =F>:?2C:2]k^Am
kAm~C82?:K6CD 2=D@ 9@DE65 2 D@7E32== E@FC?2>6?E 2E E96 %2==2DD66 $@7E32== r@>A=6I[ H9:49 H2D @A6? E@ E96 AF3=:4] {@42= 49FC49 8C@FAD[ 4@>A2?:6D 2?5 @C82?:K2E:@?D 4@>A6E65 E@ 36 ?2>65 E96 a_`f #6=2J 7@C {:76 $@7E32== 492>AD]k^Am
kAm%96 >@G6 5:5 5CF> FA :?E6C6DE :? E96 6G6?E 3FE 2EE6?52?46 H2D DE:== ?@H96C6 ?62C H92E :E H2D J62CD 28@] (9:=6 ?@E9:?8 :D D6E :? DE@?6[ 255:E:@?2= 492?86D 4@F=5 36 :? DE@C6 7@C E9:D J62C’D p>6C:42? r2?46C $@4:6EJ #6=2J 7@C {:76]k^Am
kAmd] %2==2DD66 A@=:46 @77:46CD C646:G65 E9C66 ?6H 4CF:D6CD 62C=:6C :? E96 J62C] |6>36CD @7 %2==2DD66’D 4:EJ 4@F?4:= 2=@?8 H:E9 |2J@C y@9??J w2>>@4< G@E65 :? 72G@C @7 255:?8 ?6H A@=:46 42CD E@ E96 7=66E 27E6C >6492?:42= AC@3=6>D =67E D@>6 @77:46CD H:E9@FE 2 A2EC@= 42C] %96 E@E2= 4@DE 7@C E96 G69:4=6D 42>6 E@ Sfe[deh[ H9:49 H2D A2:5 7@C E9C@F89 &$sp vC2?E 7F?5:?8]k^Am
kAme] xE’D ?@ D64C6E E92E %2==2DD66 92D 2 G6CJ 8:G:?8 4@>>F?:EJ] x7 E96C6 :D 2 ?665[ E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2=H2JD 4@>6D E@86E96C E@ >66E E96 56>2?5] %9:D E:>6[ 9@H6G6C[ E96 A6@A=6 @7 %2==2DD66 92G6 8@?6 23@G6 2?5 36J@?5 E96 42== @7 5FEJ] %@86E96C[ 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D @H?6CD 5@?2E65 @G6C Sd_[___ E@ E96 %2==2DD66 !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E E9C@F89 E96 q=F6 y62? q2== 7F?5C2:D6C]k^Am
kAm%96 7F?5C2:D6C H2D E96 3C2:?49:=5 @7 %2==2DD66’D |2J@C w2>>@4< 2?5 E96 4:EJ’D ?6H 49:67 @7 A@=:46[ |2EE w:88:?D] %96 EH@ H6C6 56G:D:?8 2 A=2? E@ 7F?5 2 4:EJH:56 DFCG6:==2?46 DJDE6> 2?5 >F49 ?66565 E24E:42= 862C 7@C E96 @77:46CD 2E %!s]k^Am
kAm%96 %2==2DD66 r@>>F?:EJ s6G6=@A>6?E r@CA@C2E:@? @C82?:K65 E96 6G6?E 2?5 H:E9 E96 96=A @7 DA@?D@CD 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 2C62 6?@F89 >@?6J H2D C2:D65 E@ AFC492D6 E96 DFCG6:==2?46 DJDE6> 2?5 E24E:42= 862C]k^Am
kAmf] %2==2DD66 H2D ?2>65 2? prt r@>>F?:EJ @7 tI46==6?46 E9:D J62C] x? @C56C E@ 364@>6 2? prt r@>>F?:EJ[ E96C6 H6C6 46CE2:? 4C:E6C:2 E92E %2==2DD66 925 E@ >66E] r@>>F?:EJ =6256CD 92G6 366? AC@G:565 H:E9 EC2:?:?8 2?5 H@C<D9@AD E@ 56G6=@A G:D:@? DE2E6>6?ED[ :>A=6>6?E2E:@? DEC2E68:6D 2?5 2 DFDE2:?23=6 =6256CD9:A 56G6=@A>6?E AC@8C2>D] %9:D >62?D :>A=6>6?E:?8 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 A=2?]k^Am
kAm%2==2DD66 H:== C646:G6 2DD:DE2?46 5FC:?8 E9:D AC@46DD 7C@> EH@ H6==\<?@H? D@FC46D]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 8@:?8 E@ H@C< H:E9 r6?EC2= p=232>2 #68:@?2= !=2??:?8 s6G6=@A>6?E r@>>:DD:@?[” D2:5 |2J@C w2>>@4<] “(6 92G6 366? 2H2C565 2 Sd`[___ 8C2?E 7C@> E96 &$sp E@ 4@G6C E96 4@DE @7 E9:D AC@;64E]”k^Am
kAm%96 &$sp 92D AC@G:565 7F?5:?8 7@C E9:D AC@;64E :? E96 7@C> @7 2 Sd`[___ 56G6=@A>6?E 8C2?E] %9:D 8C2?E C6BF:C6D S`a[d__ :? >2E49:?8 7F?5D[ 7F?5:?8 E92E rp#!s 92D 28C665 E@ AC@G:56]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ w2>>@4<[ E96C6 H:== 36 D6G6C2= E@A:4D @7 5:D4FDD:@?]k^Am
kAmr@>AC696?D:G6 A=2??:?8 :D 2 AC@46DD E92E 56E6C>:?6D 4@>>F?:EJ 8@2=D 2?5 2DA:C2E:@?D :? E6C>D @7 4@>>F?:EJ 56G6=@A>6?E] %96 @FE4@>6 @7 4@>AC696?D:G6 A=2??:?8 :D E96 4@>AC696?D:G6 A=2?[ H9:49 5:4E2E6D AF3=:4 A@=:4J :? E6C>D @7 EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[ FE:=:E:6D[ =2?5 FD6[ C64C62E:@? 2?5 9@FD:?8] ~?46 E96 4@>AC696?D:G6 A=2? 368:?D E@ E2<6 D92A6[ E96 4:EJ H:== 368:? E@ H@C< @? 2? 6G6? >@C6 56E2:=65 =6G6=]k^Am
kAmg] y6CCJ rF??:?892> H2D ?2>65 5:C64E@C @7 E96 %2==2DD66 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46 27E6C 7@C>6C 5:C64E@C[ |:49@?6 #@J6[ C6D:8?65 7C@> E96 A@D:E:@?] rF??:?892> :D 2 %2==2DD66 ?2E:G6 H:E9 2 =@?8 9:DE@CJ @7 5:C64E:?8 >FD:4 3@E9 2E %2==2DD66 w:89 $49@@= 2D E96 5:C64E@C @7 E96 >FD:4 56A2CE>6?E 2?5 2E u:CDE &?:E65 |6E9@5:DE r9FC49 @7 %2==2DD66 2D E96 49@:C 5:C64E@C] rF??:?892> :D 2=D@ <?@H? 2D E96 G@:46 @7 E96 %:86CD[ 2D 96 :D E96 E62> !p 2??@F?46C 2E 9@>6 82>6D]k^Am
kAmrF??:?892> D2JD E9:D H:== 36 2 7C6D9 492==6?86[ @?6 96 :D 6286C E@ E2<6 @?]k^Am
kAm“x 2> 9@?@C65 E@ 36 4@?D:56C65[” D2:5 rF??:?892>] “%9:D H:== 36 2 ?6H 492==6?86 2?5 x 2> C62==J =@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ :E] x 92G6 E96 %2==2DD66 4@>>F?:EJ 2E 962CE] x 8C6H FA 96C6[ >J 72>:=J 92D 8C@H? FA 96C6 2?5 x 46CE2:?=J H2?E E@ 5@ H92E x 42? E@ >2<6 2 5:776C6?46 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 x 2> 6I4:E65 23@FE E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ]”k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 rF??:?892>’D 7:CDE E2D<D 2E 92?5 H:== 36 AFEE:?8 E96 7:?:D9:?8 E@F496D @? E96 FA4@>:?8 492>36C 32?BF6E[ H9:49 H:== 36 96=5 @? u63] ` 2E E96 (6EF>A<2 r:G:4k^Am
kAmr6?E6C]k^Am
kAmh] %96 r:EJ @7 %2==2DD66 >256 E96 564:D:@? E@ D6== E96 9:DE@C:4 $6G6? v23=6D AC@A6CEJ] %96 AC@A6CEJ @?46 9@FD65 E96 %2==2DD66 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46 2?5 >@C6 C646?E=J H2D FD65 2D 2 C6?E2= G6?F6 7@C H655:?8D[ A2CE:6D 2?5 @E96C DA64:2= 82E96C:?8D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E9C66 H66<D @A6? 7@C 3:5D[ %2==2DD66’D r:EJ r@F?4:=[ H:E9 E96 6I46AE:@? @7 4@F?4:=>2? s2G:5 $E@F89[ G@E65 E@ 2446AE }@29 vC:88D yC]’D 3:5 @7 Sa`f[___ 7@C E96 9:DE@C:4 AC@A6CEJ @? v:=>6C pG6?F6] |@DE A6@A=6 <?@H vC:88D 2D E96 @H?6C 2?5 @A6C2E@C @7 E96 `aa_ r27é] w6 2?5 9:D 72>:=J @C:8:?2E6 7C@> %2==2DD66] vC:88D 2DDFC65 E96 4@F?4:= E92E E96 AC@A6CEJ H@F=5 36 C6DE@C65 E@ “H92E :E @?46 H2D]”k^Am
kAm`_] ~G6C b_ 4J4=:DED 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 DE2E6 D6E E96:C 6J6D @? %2==2DD66 E9:D J62C 7@C E96 D64@?5 2??F2= s2> r6?EFCJ #:56] rJ4=:DED 925 E9C66 4@FCD6D E@ 49@@D6 7C@>[ 2? `g\>:=6[ e_\>:=6 @C `__\>:=6 4@FCD6] (:E9 E96 DF446DD @7 E9:D D64@?5 6G6?E[ %2==2DD66 :D ?@H @? E96 p=232>2 q24<C@25D r6?EFCJ $6C:6D] %9:D 6G6?E 92D E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ 86?6C2E6 E9@FD2?5D @7 5@==2CD :? C6G6?F6 7@C E96 =@42= 64@?@>J 2D C:56CD 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 C68:@? 6>32C< @? %2==2DD66 7@C E9:D @?6\@7\2\<:?5 46?EFCJ C:56]k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQJ;eB@ 2;&Qmk5:G :5lQig;Q 4=2DDlQ2;#Q E23:?56IlQ_Q 52E2\E@@=E:AlQ$9@H EC:>>65 4@?E6?EQmk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
