OPINION: RECOUPING TRAINING COSTS A GOOD MOVE. PAGE 4. ROAD WIN THURSDAY THE
Wildcats clinch playoff spot in Russell County win.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 April 14, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 75
Sports page 8.
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Lamberth leads UA to SEC MBA Case title By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Alexander City’s Katie Lamberth took the award for best presenter and helped lead the University of Alabama’s Manderson MBA Case team from the Culverhouse College of Commerce to the 2016 SEC MBA Case Competition title.
“It was a big day,” Lamberth said. “Florida was the team to beat and we were able to do it.” It was the University of Alabama’s first conference title in the competition, which is now four years old, and ended the University of Florida’s three-year domination of the competition. Teams of four MBA students
University of Alabama MBA students (from left) Katie Grayson, Matt Collins, Katie Lamberth and Abhinav Bhattacharya celebrate with the SEC MBA Case Champions Trophy.
from each of the 14 SEC universities were presented a business case by Henkel, a multinational company headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany, that produces consumer and industrial products in the laundry and home, beauty care and adhesive technologies sectors. See TITLE • Page 2
Submitted / The Outlook
LOCAL LIFELINE
Taxpayers coming up on filing deadline
Alexander CIty dispatchers Dana Fuller, front, Karen Vaughn and Desiree Smith, back, man the telecommunications center at the Alexander City Public Safety Building. All of the city’s dispatchers were honored this week as part of National Telecommunicators Week.
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
If you’re one of those income tax procrastinators, you owe Uncle Sam a thank you. Why? Because you have three extra days – until Monday, April 18 – to file your taxes this year instead of the usual filing deadline of April 15. “Due to a Washington, D.C. holiday (Emancipation Day) falling on the normal filing deadline of April 15, the tax deadline moves to the next business day, which is Monday, April 18,” said Sharita Hutton of H&R Block. What’s more, if you didn’t file a return for 2012 and would have had a refund coming that year, you may have an extra reason to thank Uncle Sam. “What a lot of people don’t know is the April 18 deadline is not just the deadline for 2015 returns, but also to claim 2012 refunds on an original or amended return,” Hutton said. “The IRS estimates more than 1 million taxpayers did not file a 2012 return and may be due a refund. There is more than $950 million available to these filers in federal tax refunds.” Hutton said that about 90 percent of the federal income tax returns filed are expected to be filed by the deadline, leaving 10 percent to be filed by the extended due date, which falls on Oct. 17 See TAXES • Page 2
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
County dispatch honored on Telecommunications Week
City dispatchers help residents get aid they need
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By MITCH SNEED Editor
In an emergency situation, getting the help you need can be the difference between life and death. That’s why public safety dispatchers, or telecommunicators, are so important. In Alexander City last year, they were responsible for handling 51,148 phone See DISPATCH • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Above, Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department dispatchers Angela Sarver, left, and Elizabeth Griffith staff the phone in the departments communications center Wednesday.
They are the lifeline of the county, dispatchers of the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department. This week is just for them as the week has been designated National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. “They are the first contact that many have with law See COUNTY • Page 3
Martin Bass Fishing star LakeLakeLevels Parker visits Girls 490.14 Ranch in Camp Hill
Relay Idol auditions set for Friday
Reported on 4/13/16 @ 6 p.m.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Are you the next Idol? The local Relay for Life committee is hoping that they can find the Relay Idol. “We are having auditions to find six acts that will move forward,” Committee member Janet Austin said. “Those six acts will move on to the finals and be the entertainment for the Relay for Life event May 6. We have blocked out a hour and
Famous outdoorsman Hank Parker blindly accepted Nick Rauccio’s invitation to support The Boys and Girls Ranches of Alabama months ago by helping celebrate the ranches’ 50th anniversary. But after a visit to Camp Hill’s Sheriff’s Girls Ranch Wednesday, it became clear. “I am not real sure why I agreed to come,” Parker said. “I am a fisherman and this is very much out of my element, but I look at these girls and became very emotional.” Rauccio talked about how he came to invite Parker. “All of you know that we have been producing golf events and the Taste of See RANCH • Page 7
See IDOL • Page 3
Cliff WIlliams / The Outlook
Hank Parker, back left, and Nick Rauccio pose for a photograph with some of the girls of the Alabama Sheriff’s Boys and Girl’s Ranch in Camp Hill.
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Keeping wealth quiet causes millionaire to suffer anxiety
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Directory Telephone: (256) 234-4281 Fax: (256) 234-6550 Website: www.alexcityoutlook.com Management Kenneth Boone Publisher, Ext. 218 kenneth.boone@alexcityoutlook.com Mitch Sneed Editor, Ext. 213 mitch.sneed@alexcityoutlook.com David Kendrick Circulation Manager, Ext. 204 david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com Lee Champion Production Manager, Ext. 220 lee.champion@alexcityoutlook.com Accounting Angela Mullins Bookkeeping, Ext. 202 angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com Mary Lyman Boone Bookkeeping marylyman.boone@alexcityoutlook.com Newsroom Betsy Iler Magazine Managing Editor, Ext. 221 betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com Robert Hudson Sports Editor, Ext. 228 robert.hudson@alexcityoutlook.com Cliff Williams Staff Writer, Ext. 212 cliff.williams@alexcityoutlook.com
Thursday, April 14, 2016
The Outlook
David Granger Staff Writer, Ext. 210 david.granger@alexcityoutlook.com Mia Osborn Assistant Magazine Editor, Ext. 227 mia.osborn@alexcityoutlook.com Advertising Sales Tippy Hunter Advertising Director, Ext. 206 marketing@alexcityoutlook.com Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Kim Morse Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 kim.morse@alexcityoutlook.com Emily Guill Advertising Sales, Ext. 225 emily.guill@alexcityoutlook.com Composing Audra Spears Composing Department, Ext. 219 audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com Darlene Johnson Composing Department, Ext. 203 darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com Hallie Holloway Composing Department, Ext. 203 hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com Alethia Russell Graphic Artist, Ext. 231 alethia.russell@alexcityoutlook.com Circulation Linda Ewing Asst. Circulation Manager, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@alexcityoutlook.com
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, Lake magazine, (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) Lake Martin Living, The Outlook is published five times Kenneth Boone a week, Tuesday through Saturday Photography and mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, a commercial web printing press. Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011. © 2011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. ReproPOSTMASTER: Send address duction of any part of any issue requires changes to Post Office Box 999, written publisher permission. Alexander City, AL 35011.
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DEAR ABBY: I’m a 29-yearold self-made millionaire who has spent the last decade saving and investing my middle-class income. I grew up dirt poor, so at 18 I left home with $5, went straight to work and never looked back. Recently, I’ve realized that I struggle to make friends for fear they’ll find out about my financial situation. Those who know only want to talk about money or treat me differently. Most of my peers are broke and it makes me feel guilty. Those with high incomes blow their money on fancy dinners and luxury vehicles. I’m just a working-class woman who likes driving my 10-year-old car, and I don’t feel like I fit in with anyone. In fact, I’m developing an anxiety. A few months ago I went to the bank to deposit a large sum of money and was mortified to see that the bank teller was a friend of the family. I have gone to the extreme of lying about
DEAR ABBY Advice
owning homes and going on vacations, and it’s making me crazy. I even have issues with letting my young daughter’s friends come over for playdates, for fear that the other moms will think our house is “too nice.” Do I need counseling or is this just a turning point in my life that I need to grasp? -- MONEY WORRIES DEAR MONEY WORRIES: If someone has to have money worries, yours are the nicest kind to have. It would be interesting to know how many successful people share your feelings, because I suspect that you are far from alone in experiencing them. (A psychiatrist once told me that many of
her successful patients feel like frauds despite their considerable accomplishments.) A licensed mental health professional can help you to get past these feelings before they cause your daughter to be isolated, and I think the money would be well spent. P.S. If you feel your banking transactions are not being kept confidential, either change financial institutions or arrange for private banking, which is available for high-net-worth individuals. DEAR ABBY: I am raising two of my grandchildren because their parents can’t take care of them. The kids are still learning acceptable behavior because they were never taught. I’ll give you an example of something that happens often: I was paying for an item at a store and my granddaughter sneaked behind the counter and reached into the display case.
Cupcakes were involved. The saleslady asked her to stop. I immediately got ahold of my wayward offender, glued her to my side until I was finished and then made her apologize. The problem was, the saleslady immediately said, “Oh, it’s OK.” I then had to ask the saleslady to please NOT tell my granddaughter that it was OK, but instead to accept my granddaughter’s apology, because my granddaughter really would think it WAS OK. Your thoughts? -- RAISING GRANDKIDS DEAR RAISING: I think the salesperson was simply being polite and professional, and that those children are lucky to have such a caring grandmother watching out for them. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
Obituaries Mr. Clarence Thomas “Buddy” Nelson 1927 - 2016 Funeral Service for Mr. Clarence Thomas “Buddy” Nelson, 89, of Kennebunkport, ME will be Friday, April 15, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. at the Hillabee Campground United Methodist Church. Rev. David Sherrell and Rev. James Long will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park with veteran honors provided by the Alexander City Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 15, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. until service time at Hillabee Campground United Methodist Church. Mr. Nelson passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2016 in Maine. He was born on January 30, 1927 in Tallapoosa County, Alabama to
Columbus Basil Nelson and Annie Elizabeth Nelson. He was a member of the South Congregation Church in Kennebunkport, ME and grew up in the Hillabee Campground United Methodist Church. He graduated from Auburn University in 1952 with a BS in Industrial Engineering and worked as an executive in the shoe and apparel industry in the US and the Caribbean. He and his wife Sarah spent the last several winters living in Alexander City, and he loved very much the people and land of Hackneyville and Tallapoosa County. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sarah Boone Nelson of Kennebunkport, ME; daughter, Marcia L. (Terrence) McCartin of Alpharetta, GA; son, Thomas Jeffrey (Kathryn) Nelson of St. Paul, MN; grandchildren, Bridget McCartin, Shura McCartin, Andrei McCartin, Andrew Nelson, and Amy Nelson; sister, Mary Edith Voss
of Alexander City; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jessie Lee Nelson; and sister, Helon Mann White. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Hillabee Campground United Methodist Church 8875 Hwy 63 North Alexander City, AL 35010. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome.com. Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Myrtle L. Keel Mrs. Myrtle L. Keel of Daviston, Alabama died April 12, 2016 and arrangements will be announced later by Wright’s Funeral Home.
Title The 14 SEC teams were divided into four divisions and had just 24 hours to develop a solution to a business issue facing Henkel. The teams presented their solutions to judg-
continued from page 1
es, including Henkel executives, and the best team from each division advanced to the finals. “We’re told which company the case concerns and have about a month to do advance research on them,” Lamberth said. “Then we arrive for the weekend competition on Thursday, have dinner with the team members of the other schools and get up Friday and we’re briefed on the case by the company executives. From that we have exactly 24 hours to complete the case and prepare a presentation. It definitely
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requires you to pull an all-nighter.” Lamberth, fresh off a job interview in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, said the competitive experience is definitely looked on as beneficial by potential employers. “It’s a big deal when you’re interviewing to have had that experience,” said the second-year MBA student. “Having been through a case competition tells employers that you work well under pressure and that you have the ability to think on your feet. “The experience you
Taxes
gain through a competition like this is invaluable. You have to come up with realistic solutions, and you can’t be wrong because the judges are a part of the company, and they know their company. The intensity is on a completely different level.” Joining Lamberth on the University of Alabama team were Abhinav Bhattacharya, of Kolkata, India, Matt Collins, of Greensboro, and Katie Grayson, of Fayette. The team’s advisor is Tut Wilson, UA director of MBA recruiting and admissions.
continued from page 1
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this year. If you’re going to be among the 10 percent who don’t have your taxes ready, Hutton suggests you “file something.” “File a return or and extension,” Hutton said. “Nearly 1 in 3 taxpayers wait until April to file, and if you’re one of them, you really need to file something by the 18th. The penalty for not filing a tax return is 10 times greater than the penalty for not paying in full. “The best way to avoid this penalty, which could add up to 25 percent to your tax bill, is to file a completed tax return or apply for an extension by April 18.” And, unlike the old days when filing your taxes meant grabbing a calculator and a pencil, the great majority of taxpayers file electronically – or e-file – today. “The most recent statistics from the IRS show that 94% of returns filed as of March 4, 2016 have been filed electronically,” Hutton said. “Typically, more than 90 percent of individual returns are filed electronically.”
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Dispatch
continued from page 1
calls, 19,260 calls and involved in 177,414 radio transmissions. This week has been designated as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and Alexander City Police Chief Willie G. Robinson said that the dedicated people who handle communications in Alexander City deserve recognition. “They do an incredible job,” Robinson said. “It’s a stressful job, one where they have to remain calm in even the most trying, tough situations. They have to be able to think on their feet and be ready for anything. I really appreciate the job they do for our department.” Dispatchers like Karen Vaughn, Dana Fuller and Desiree Smith who were on duty Wednesday are among nine people who handle the duty for Alexander City. “I think the hardest part is leaving what we do here,” Fuller, who has been on the job for 22 years, said. “It’s hard not to take it home, especially after a day with a lot of emotional calls.” The dispatchers work 12-hour shifts, and calls range from informational calls to some that are life-and-death situations. Vaughn said there are two things she would like to tell residents that would help in any situation.
“We have to ask a lot of questions up front and some people don’t understand why we do that,” Vaughn, who has been on the job for almost 25 years, said. “We have to know exactly where they are and what the situation is so that we can get them the proper assistance. So we ask them to answer the questions, they are for their own good. “The other thing is to remember that 911 is for emergencies. We get people who call for things like the time or directions. We help when we can, but there are other numbers to call for many of those things. But our job is to help and we do all we can to get residents exactly what they need.” Capt. Frank Roth said officers depend on dispatchers to get them to the right place with enough information to handle the situation when they arrive. “We couldn’t do our jobs effectively without them,” Roth said. “To most people they are just the voice on the other end of the phone. To us, they are essential to all that we do. We are blessed to have a group who take what they do very seriously and are dedicated to helping the person on the other end of that phone line get the help they need.”
County
Each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators. The official name of the week when originally introduced in Congress in 1991 was “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.” In the intervening years, it has become known by several other names, including “National Public-Safety Telecommunications Week” and “International Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.”
continued from page 1
“All of our dispatchers are emergency medical dispatch trained,” Abbett said. What that means is that dispatchers are trained to provide help over the phone, from getting the caller started on CPR when needed to providing vital signs so that the dispatcher can prepare first responders. In addition to dispatching law enforcement, the communication officers handle dispatches for the volunteer fire departments, ambulance service and rescue squads in Tallapoosa County.
enforcement,” Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said. “They work behind the scenes.” In 2015, eight fulltime dispatchers who provided services 24 hours a day received 17,438 calls. “We take calls not only for the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department, but for New Site, Jackson’s Gap, Dadeville and Camp Hill,” Abbett said. One might think that dispatchers just sit at a desk and direct calls, but there is more to it. What happens when a medical call comes in? Does dispatch just sit there?
Idol
continued from page 1
half for those acts to perform.” There will be several winners of the Relay Idol. “We will have a winner and a runner-up,” Austin said. “We will also have a People’s Choice winner. We are still working on prizes for the winners but it will definitely be good exposure for everyone.” Get those vocal chords warmed up. Auditions are this Friday. “We will have auditions at Emporium Wine Friday starting at 6 p.m.,” Austin said. “We have some signed up already but will sign people up until 6 p.m. Friday. The advantage to signing up now is that it is first to sign up, first to perform.” For those with that somewhat perfect pitch and something to prove, you can contact Austin at 256-3920963 or Melinda Gilbert at 256-750-1370 to sign up. It will cost $20 for an individual and $30 for a group to audition.
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MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213
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EDITORIAL BOARD Kenneth Boone Mitch Sneed
Outlook The
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Our
Opinion
Recouping training costs a good move
T
axpayers expect the city where they live to be good stewards of their money. That is why a recent move that was in the news in Alexander City was actually good news. The Alexander City City Council approved a move that will help the city recoup lost training expenses that was incurred in training firefighters who left when hired by another city before they had filled their obligation here. Training a candidate to become a firefighter or an emergency medical technician is a costly proposition, with the cost running more than $15,000 per candidate, according to Alexander City Fire Department Chief Kem Jones. That’s why Jones asked the city council for permission to use all means necessary to collect the more than $40,000 that they say the city of Childersburg owes Alexander City under state law. Under Alabama State Code, Section 36-21-7 the agency who funded the training can make demand for the reimbursement by the new employer for training expenses, provided that training is of use in the new position. Under the law, the new employer can be made to pay the “salary paid during training, transportation costs paid to trainee for travel to and from the training facility, room, board, tuition and overtime paid to other employees who fill in for the trainee during his or her absence.” Seeing this kind of move is encouraging. Chief Jones put it best. “It is expensive in terms of taxpayer funds, but it’s also a tremendous investment of time,” Jones said. “It’s not that this is anything new, it’s state law. They know coming in that there is a two-year obligation. It’s not that we want anyone to be here who doesn’t want to be here, but when an employee leaves that you have invested that much time and money in, it’s a setback for the department, but for the citizens as well.” Great move and we hope this action will convince trainees to fulfill their obligation in the future and show cities raiding our staffs that it won’t come without a cost.
Get
Involved T.C. Coley represents District 1, including half of Coley Creek, the Andrew Jackson subdivision, the southern part of Indian Hill, North Central Avenue, part of Pearson’s T.C. Coley Chapel Road, the Northside community and portion of Spring Hill community. His phone number is 212-9316. His address is 2316 North Central Avenue, Kellyton. Steve Robinson represents District 2, which includes the southern part of Alexander City, the Cedar Creek area, Steve Robinson Ourtown and Willow Point. His phone number is 256-654-0047. His address is 1225 Warren Circle, Alexander City. John McKelvey represents District 3, which includes Jackson’s Gap, Hackneyville, New Site and Daviston. His phone number is 256-825-8403. His address is 1285 Freeman Road, New Site.
John McKelvey
Emma Jean Thweatt represents District 4, which includes Dadeville, Pace’s Point, northern Camp Hill, Buttston, Emma Jean Dudleyville and part Thweatt of Eagle Creek. Her daytime phone number is 825-6914 and her evening phone number is 825-4207. Her address is 585 Brookwood Circle, Dadeville.
George Carleton Jr. represents District 5, which includes southern Camp Hill, Red Ridge, Walnut Hill, Union
George Carleton Jr.
I
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Times, they are a'changing
got tickled watching a comedian on YouTube the other day. In the video, he talked about how we respond to our doorbell ringing now as opposed to how we did so 30 years ago. Back then, we were excited to hear it ring. We were thrilled to have “company.” Up in my grandparents’ neck of the woods, they referred to it as “viztin.” People would visit just to visit—to keep each other company for a spell. The homeowners would always offer up something to drink, which was usually sweet tea—sweet tea so thick it could be poured on a pancake. They’d usually try to feed you, too. If the phone rang, they’d either let it ring or pick it up and tell the caller they’d have to call them back, because they had company. Now, the phone takes precedence over everything. Boy, times certainly are a’changing! Today, when the doorbell rings, my heart starts pounding like I’m back in Iraq during a mortar attack. I immediately want to hit the floor or take cover. Once I regain my composure, I tiptoe to the door to see who could possibly be contemplating coming through my front door. What could they possibly want? I tiptoe, even though I have carpet. One can never be too careful when it comes to doorbell ringers. I’ll
JODY FULLER Guest Columnist
look through the peephole to see if it’s a friend or a foe or someone I don’t even know. If I don’t open the door, I stand there and watch them like a one-eyed hawk until they leave. Sometimes, they even have the gall to ring it a second time. Who raises these animals? One of my biggest pet peeves is when I wave or speak to someone and they look at me like I have a carrot poking out of my ear instead of simply waving back or saying hello. How difficult is it to acknowledge someone’s presence? I remember my uncle being so excited about seeing Bo Jackson one time when Bo was still at Auburn. My uncle spoke to him. Bo didn’t strike up a conversation with him. In fact, he didn’t even say hello. He grunted. That’s it; he grunted, but the grunt was acknowledgement. That’s all I’m asking for. In the Army, we answer everything, good, bad, or indifferent, with “hooah.” It’s an acknowledgement. Growing up I knew all of my neighbors. I probably went
into half, if not more, of the houses in my neighborhood at some point during my childhood. I broke bread or windows in some of those houses, too. Nowadays, we don’t even know our neighbors. We may know the people directly next to us, but that’s about it. The folks down the street might as well be living atop Mount Kilimanjaro. Times, they are a’changing. For the record, all the “viztin” I experienced as a child was up around my grandparents’ house in Tallapoosa County. No one ever visited us at our house. Mama didn’t care to have people over, so we kept the house locked up tighter than Fort Knox, hooah. Well, not literally. In fact, we didn’t even lock our doors. We didn’t even have a key for the front door. We’d leave the door unlocked while we were at school all day. Heck, we even left the door unlocked when we loaded up the Pinto to go to Panama City for the week. Who would do that today? No one. Why? Because, times have already changed. Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller. com. For more information, please visit www.jodyfuller.com.
Today’s
Quote
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” – Thomas Jefferson
Today’s
Scripture “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes I am the bread of life.” – John 6:47-48
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A
The Pope knows marriage
fter directing the focus of the Catholic Church away from gay marriage, and saying even atheists who do good deeds can also go to heaven, the new pope has now decided to lighten up on divorces. Pope Francis granted more leeway for clergy to give Holy Communion to divorced people. This is evidence the Catholic Church, under a liberal pope, is wrestling internally to evolve its moral teachings. Full disclosure: My wife is very Catholic (I think she is a Shiite Catholic), which makes me either biased or objective. I’m truly not sure which. And in further disclosure, I lean toward taking my annual Communion at Rosemary Beach Church or the Buckhead Episcopal churches because they offer extensive wine lists. No one can better pair the right wines with Kashi Grain sea salt crackers than an Episcopal priest. Divorce can be good for Christian kids who want to celebrate two Christmases every year. But the Catholic Church has historically taken a firm stand against it, doing all it can to discourage divorce in favor of keeping families together, which is smart long-term. The Vatican released the 60,000-word apostolic exhortation (which is like a papal executive order) entitled “On Love in the Family.” It is like the Bible and the iPhone User Agreement; we just automatically click “I agree.” It’s much easier that way. Previous Church doctrine said divorced persons could not receive Communion until a church court grants an annulment of their last marriage or they abstain from sex with their new spouses. Both seem very practical and workable propositions. Annulments take time and lots of money (interestingly,
RON HART Guest Columnist
paid to the Catholic Church or its lawyers). Rich Catholics have famously paid millions for annulments. Grounds for annulment can include “failure to consummate the marriage,” a leading source of new priests and hairdressers. Annulments are also approved for “psychological immaturity,” a condition affecting 9 of 10 of us American men. The pope said marriage is “a mixture of enjoyment and struggles, tensions and repose, pain and relief, satisfactions and longings, annoyances and pleasures.” He is quite the salesman for marriage. Basically, for every good thing there is an offsetting bad thing. At best it’s a 50/50 proposition, which is why kids today are postponing marriage. It has always interested me that the most prolific sources of advice on marriage and child rearing have been unmarried and childless: Jesus, priests and Oprah. The church has modified some of its views on birth control, which historically was: Just have unprotected sex and pray for the best. But with the Zika and AIDS viruses, the pope has allowed some leeway on condom use. He did ask kids today to spend less time on social media and more time on their spirituality. Today’s youth cannot understand why Jesus had so many followers when he wasn’t even on Twitter. Having said that, the pope joined Twitter for the first time
in an effort to get his message out to young people. It is the Catholic Church’s concerted attempt to reach out to kids in a way that isn’t followed by hush money. Social media is so easy today. When I was young, connecting socially was difficult. I had to walk fifty feet through thick shag carpet to the hallway and dial a rotary phone in order to be online socially. Dialing a rotary phone was difficult. If a friend had more than one 9 in his phone number, I refused to call him. The Catholic Church has grown worldwide and provides many great outreach programs. The Church does produce Mother Theresa-types who do good, educate and care for more people worldwide than any other religion. The Bible has modern-day appeal with its stories of violence, death, revenge, family fights, debauchery, treachery and adultery -- so much so that Fox would like to turn it into a mini-series. The story of the Virgin Mary, if played out today, would be on The Maury Povich Show. Yet the Church, while making strides under this liberal, Bernie Sanders-like pope, remains contradictory. Its logic is often confusing. The pope is still stridently pro-life and wants his flock to have many kids. Yet he opposes in vitro fertilization and forbids the use of a surrogate mother to have children. But because the Vatican paperwork would be so extensive, it refuses to excommunicate the Virgin Mary for this. A libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, Ron’s a frequent guest on CNN. He can be contacted at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @ RonaldHart on Twitter.
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April 14-15
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April 15
RELAY IDOL: Emporium Wine is hosting Relay Idol April 15 at 6 p.m. It can be song or dance, individuals or groups of any age. Six winners will be chosen to advance to the finals on May 6. Costs $20 for an individual and $30 for a group. Fans get in for $2. For more information, contact Janet Austin at 256-392-0963 or Melinda Gilbert at 256-750-1370. LYMAN WARD FUNDRAISER: StillWater’s Neighborhood Council and Stillwaters Golf Club/Copper’s Grill are hosting a fundraiser for the LWMA Golf Team April 15 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 10 percent of your meal will be donated to help the team. Come out and enjoy a great meal and support a worthy cause. AUTISM PEP RALLY: The second annual autism pep rally at Dadeville High School will be Friday, April 15 at 1:45 p.m. GRAND OPENING: ‘E’s What’s Inside’ is hosting a grand opening April 15 at 9 a.m. at 215 North Tallassee St in Dadeville.
April 16
THREE ON A STRING: The Dadeville First United Methodist Church presents Three on a String, Saturday, April 16 at White Acres in Camp Hill. Dinner of beef filet or chicken will start at 6 p.m. and Three on a Sting will play immediately after. Tickets are $50 per person and $100 a couple. For tickets call 256-825-3985 and all proceeds will go towards local missions and support organizations such as Camp ASCCA and the Girls Ranch. CAR SHOW: The 15th annual Klassic Kruisers Fund Raiser Car Show will be April 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. across from the New Site City Hall. There will be multiple giveaways, vendors, swap meet 50s music and door prizes. Proceeds go to local fire departments and needy families. For more information contact Susan Gamble at 256-234-4975, Aaron Perry at 256-234-6024 or Larry Hanson at 256-329-9663. For flea market contact Kendra Turner at 256-234-3588. TRADE DAY: The Bibb Graves School is hosting a trade day April 16 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. SPRING FLING: Wayside Baptist Church will host a spring fling April 16 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. with free hot dogs and drinks, professional face painting, and many more games. ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: The Sisters of Worship will celebrate their first anniversary April 16 at 5 p.m. at the Cooper Rec Center. The doors open at 4 p.m. All groups, choirs and soloists are invited. WOMEN’S AUXILIARY PROGRAM: The Northeast District State Convention
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Center’s last day to visit the book fair in the community room is today from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Debit and credit cards, cash and checks are accepted.
Women’s Auxiliary, Kathlene W. Spradley, President, will have their Annual President and Vice Presidents Special Effort Program at the Miracle Missionary Baptist Church, Alexander City, Al, on Saturday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Cameron Thomas, pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Cropwell, Alabama. SACRED HARP SINGING: The annual Futral, nelson and Henry Memorial Sacred Harp Singing will be, Saturday, April 16 at Smyrna Primitive Baptist Church on Highway 83 east of Goodwater. The singing begins at 9:30 a.m. with a covered dish lunch at noon. Singing resumes in the afternoon. For more information call William Futural at 256-839-6670 or Jack Nelson at 256839-5344. RECYCLE SATURDAY: The Pine Ridge Mission Team is having a Recycle Saturday on April 16 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Alexander City Methodist Church on 11th Avenue. We will be accepting all metals except electronics. Proceeds will help with VBS and community projects this summer on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. TRADE DAY: New Site is a hosting a trade at around town hall Saturday, April 16. Things get started with a pancake breakfast at 6 a.m. that benefits the New Site Volunteer Fire Department. Entertainment starts at 9 a.m. with Justin Farr, 10 a.m. Rachel Wilson, 11 a.m. Karsen Kinman and from noon until will be Rexton Lee and Paige Bentley. There will be food vendors along with others with pottery, jewerly, wood working and more.
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WOODLAWN: First Baptist Church of Dadeville is hosting Woodlawn author Todd Gerelds April 17 at 3 p.m. Gerelds will speak on the book and the movie will be shown. Admission is free but seating is limited and there is no child care. To reserve seats contact glindadennis@gmail.com or call 256-825-6232. WOMEN’S DAY: Haven Memorial United Church will host a women’s day celebration April 17 at 3 p.m. Guest speaker will be Rev. Shirleen Harvey. The pastor is Rev. Paul Hallard. Everyone is welcome. BUILDING DEDICATION: Great Bethel Baptist Church will dedicate its Education Annex in honor of Terrell Owens Sunday, April 17 at 2:30 p.m.
April 17-18
REVIVAL: Campground United Methodist Church is hosting revival services April 17 and 18 at 6:30 p.m. Rev. Mike Wells is the speaker and Rev. David sterrill is the pastor. The church is located at 120 Campground Church Road in Alexander City.
April 18
BOARD MEETING: The Lake Martin Area Industrial Development Authority will have its quarterly meeting on Monday, April 18, 2016 beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty Carol Graham
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April 18-20
CHURCH REVIVAL: The Almighty God Baptist Church in Goodwater is hosting revival services April 18-20 at 7 p.m. nightly. Guest speaker willbe Rev.John Leonard. Everyone is invited.
April 19
MEETING: The Artist Association of Central Alabama will meet April 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church. RETIREES MEETING: There will be a meeting of the Tallapoosa County Education Retirees Association (TCERA) Tuesday, April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Alexander City Board of Education. The program will be Ann Regnier from the Master Gardeners. FINE ARTS NIGHT: Stephens Elementary School will be hosting a fine arts night and the Alexander City Schools Board of Education meeting April 19 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Student art work will be showcased and a musical performance by the Stephens Elementary School Band, Choir and music classes will take place.
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April 21
WINE TASTING: Emporium Wine is hosting a wine tasting April 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Bridget Green from United-Johnson brothers will share summer whites. SENIOR ADULT REVIVAL: Wayside Baptist Church is hosting the Second Annual Senior Adult Revival April 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is sponsored by the Tallapoosa Baptist Association. Preaching will be Dale Huff with a complimentary lunch. There will be an afternoon of singing. Please call 256825-4441 if you plan to attend. BOOK SIGNING: The Adelia M. Russell Memorial Library is hosting a book signing and poetry reading for author Runas C. Powers III and his book, “Verses of Pain and Love� April 21 at 2 p.m.
April 21-23
APPRECIATION SERVICE AND REVIVAL: Victory Temple Holiness Church in Dadeville is hosting Appreciation Service and Revival with Pastor Phylis Sinclair April 21-23 at 7 p.m.
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April 22
PATH GARDEN TEACHING DAY: Join Prosperity Again Through Health and the 4th graders from Stephens Elementary as we prepare Alexander City’s community garden for spring. Ashley Hoppers will lead a program designed to teach the kids about fresh produce as volunteers ready the garden for the next round of crops. The work day will begin at 1:00 at the community garden on Green Street, behind First United methodist Church. Anyone can attend and help. Volunteers should bring their own gloves and trowel. For more information, contact Ella MacFiggen at ellafish62@gmail.com.
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Daviston man dies as a result of Highway 49 crash By MITCH SNEED Editor
A Daviston man has died as a result of injuries suffered in a violent crash Saturday near Dadeville. According to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Jesse Thornton, Kevin Whetstone, 35, of
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across the pool unassisted. For more information call (256) 3296736 ext. 27 PATH FINDERS: The next meeting of PATH FINDERS will be on Thursday, April 14, at noon in the United Way conference room, Main Street, downtown Alexander City. Please join us and help us make strides in 2016 to improve the lives of individuals dealing with dementia in the Lake Martin area. BOOK FAIR: Russell Medical
April 17
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Daviston died Tuesday as a result of the crash that occurred at 4:53 p.m. Saturday on Highway 49. According to Thornton, Whetstone was a passenger in a 2011 Ford Edge that was hit from behind by a 2000 F250 pickup truck near Oskar’s Restaurant at the
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Ranch Montgomery for years,� Rauccio said. “My son mentioned that we need to start looking into working with the outdoorsmen. I asked a few people about it. We need someone who is a Christian, someone who cares about children. Before I could finish, they said you need Hank Parker. I took that information to my computer and researched Hank Parker. When I pull up his website, the first picture I see is Mr. and Mrs. Parker sitting on the steps of their home surrounded by children. I continue to read about his belief in Jesus. So I called him and said I need your help. And he said yes.� Rauccio said the group operates four ranches in the state and has served thousands of children since 1966. “We have raised over 8,000 children and had short term placement of touching the lives of over 10,000 children,� Rauccio said. “It is a
23-mile marker on Highway 49. Whetstone was flown by helicopter for treatment, but was unable to recover from his injuries. Thornton said that the crash remains under investigation and charges related to the crash were not released.
continued from page 1
blessing that children have a place to turn to when things are not going quite right. We provide that service. Long-term child care service is what we do. We are the best at it in the state of Alabama. We are an Alabama charity touching Alabama children.� Parker shared with the girls and others at the Girls Ranch Wednesday that his childhood was much like that of some of the residents of the Sheriff’s ranches in the state. “You see, I am a high school dropout,� Parker shared. “I was raised by a drug addict mom and a drunk for a father. I was voted most unlikely to succeed.� Parker shared with the girls that the foundation is not a reason for a horrible life. “Regardless of where your beginning foundation was poured, all that can be changed,� Parker said. “I have had an incredible life. If you
search the record books and the hall of fame, you would say Hank Parker is successful but that has nothing to do with my success. My success lies with Jesus Christ. All of that was broken, all of that was changed with a relationship with Jesus.� Girl’s Ranch director Jimmy Harmon liked the message that Parker shared. “It has been great,� Harmon said. “His story is great and for these girls to hear it and know that they can overcome.� The successful Parker saw something in the girls Wednesday and finally figured out why he came to Alabama. “When I drove up, it got real clear as to why I am here,� Parker said. “This visit has done a lot for me. You girls are something. You girls are special.�
• • • • •
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Thursday, April 14, 2016
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Benjamin Russell’s Dean signs with Samford DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Baseball’s still grand, thanks to the kids
B
aseball has been around for a while. But it’s still a grand game. The first professional baseball league, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, was formed in 1871. Games considered our national pastime’s “ancestors” date back as much as 400 years prior to that. But even since baseball started on the fields of the first National Association, the game has seen countless amazing accomplishments. Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 straight games. Rickey Henderson stole 1,270 bases over his career. Fernando Tatis, a little-known St. Louis Cardinals infielder, hit two grand slams in one inning. Cal Ripken played in 2,632 straight games. Hank Aaron played in 25 All-Star games. Sam Crawford, a teammate of Ty Cobb, hit 309 triples. Nolan Ryan threw seven no-hitters. Cobb hit .366 for his career. Walter Johnson threw 110 shutouts. The list goes on and, rest assured, all of the aforementioned feats are accompanied by stories. But, in all of baseball’s grand history, there’s never been a Story like Trevor. Trevor John Story was born Nov. 15, 1992 in Irving, Texas. Less than 24 years later, no one knew that Story would be mentioned in the same breath with DiMaggio, Henderson, Ripken, Aaron, Cobb, Ryan, Johnson and others who labored for years to etch their names indelibly in baseball lore. Until Story etched his into that same book of lore in one week by hitting seven home runs in the first six games of his major-league career. Story hit his first two homers off Zack Greinke in the Colorado Rockies 10-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The next day he went deep off Arizona’s Shelby Miller in Colorado’s 11-6 loss. The fourth dinger came off Patrick Corbin in the first inning of Colorado’s 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks. Following the season’s first day off, Story homered off Colin Rea and Ryan Buchter of San Diego in the Rockies loss to the Padres before being held homerless for the first time in his major-league career by San Diego on April 9. But the next day, Story was back at it, taking the Padres’ Brandon Maurer deep in the Rockies’ 6-3 win. Six games. Seven homers. Baseball history. Not bad for a kid whose had a previous season-best of 20 homers between New Britain and Albuquerque last season. But Story’s wasn’t the only fairytale beginning we saw in the major leagues in Week One. How about Ross Stripling, the former Texas A&M pitcher who made his first career start in the majors for the Los Angeles Dodgers against LA’s hated-rival San Francisco Giants on Friday night? What’d the kid do? Only throw 7 and one-third innings of no-hit ball before first-year Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts lifted him for reliever Chris Hatcher with the Dodgers leading 2-0. Hatcher promptly gave up a gametying two-run homer to the Giants Trevor Brown (who, incidentally, through Tuesday had three hits on the year, all homers. What is it about Trevors?) and San Francisco won the game on Brandon Crawford’s 10th inning walk-off home run. Because Stripling had Tommy John surgery in 2014 and was making his return from that time off, Roberts had him on a 100-pitch limit. He stuck to it. The Dodgers paid. Stripling survived and will make his second start tonight against the Diamondbacks. I’ll be watching. Why? Because baseball’s still a grand game. And the Storys and Striplings will keep it that way. Granger is a staff writer for The Outlook.
By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
Benjamin Russell Wildcat Dillon Dean will be running at the collegiate level next season. Dean signed a scholarship to Samford University of Birmingham on Wednesday where he will compete in cross country and track. Dillon said running collegiately will be a dream come true. “Over the past few years, I didn’t know if I was going to do this or not – go to college and be a collegiate athlete – but then in my junior and senior year I finally decided this is what I wanted to do,” Dillon said. “I had to put a lot of work in, especially in this senior year, to make it to where I am and I’m just really appreciative to be able to go there and be able to run collegiately and have that opportunity. It’s always been a goal of mine to run collegiately, and I’m finally getting that opportunity.” Dean, a Class 6A state champion in cross country, said he will also run some events in track at Samford. “As of right now, I kind of talked to the coach, and I will be doing a 5K, which is 3.1 miles and maybe the 3000 meter, which is just 200-300 meters short of two miles,” Dillon said. Dillon added he still has a lot of goals left to accomplish in high school and moving forward to college.
Robert Hudson / The Outlook
Benjamin Russell’s Dillon Dean signed a scholarship with Samford University on Wednesday. Pictured are, back row from left, BRHS Athletics Director Pam Robinson, Coach Paul Oswald, Coach Michelle Tuggle, and BRHS Principal Anthony Wilkinson. Front row from left are Dillon’s mother, Tina Dean, Dillon, and Dillon’s father, Will Dean.
“As I move forward, I’ll have to do a lot of work. We’ll be doing practices at 6 a.m. I’m really excited about it,” Dillon said. “I’m really excited about the competition and being able to run with a team and not by myself. I have a lot of goals that I still have to accomplish this year and accomplish during my collegiate career, so I’m hoping to do very well.” Dillon’s mother, Tina Dean, said she is thankful for the support her son has received. “Just to know that all of
his hard work and dedication has paid off over the years is wonderful,” Tina said. “He’s earned this and he deserves this. I thank the whole community and God that he is where he is.” Dillon’s father, Will, said he knows that Dillon will be successful at whatever he does as long as he keeps working hard. “It’s like I was telling my dad and Tom Young in there, you take a lot of comfort in knowing that whatever he does, from going to college
and in life and as hard as he’s worked for this, he’s going to be successful,” Will said. “It’s very comforting as a parent.” Dillon said he is thankful for his coaches and his faith that has led him to where he is. “My two coaches, Michelle Tuggle and Paul Oswald, and my family and all of my friends have supported me. It’s not been easy my senior year, but they’ve helped me through it,” Dillon said. “And, of course, God is the No. 1 reason that I’m here.”
Wildcats clinch playoff spot in road win over Russell County By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
The Benjamin Russell Wildcats captured another area win and secured a spot in the Class 6A state playoffs with Tuesday’s 12-0 road win over the Russell County Warriors. Benjamin Russell (198, 4-2 in Class 6A-Area 4) scored all of their runs in the game’s first two innings. Sean Rape led the Wildcats from the plate, hitting a home run and going 1-for-3 with three RBI on the afternoon. Benjamin Russell’s Jacob Rogers went 3-for3 with a run scored and a RBI, while Corley Woods
was 1-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI. Benjamin Russell’s Timmy Lawson, Connor Brooks, Tanner Barnett, Darius Jackson, Austin Elliott and Neal Turner each drove in a run during Tuesday’s area victory. Woods picked up the win from the mound for Benjamin Russell, pitching four innings, giving up two hits, walking one and striking out five Warrior batters. Lawson pitched one inning and struck out one for Benjamin Russell. The Wildcats will take the field again today at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at home against Russell County.
Robert Hudson / Outlook File Photo
Benjamin Russell’s Corley Woods, pictured during a game earlier this season, picked up the win in Tuesday’s area game at Russell County.
Wildcats golf gains valuable experience in home tri-match By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
Robert Hudson / The Outlook
Benjamin Russell’s Dawson Self tees off during Tuesday’s tri-match against Tallassee and Opelika at Willow Point Golf and Country Club.
The Benjamin Russell Wildcats fell in their home tri-match on Tuesday at Willow Point Golf and Country Club. The Wildcats played hosts to Opelika and Tallassee high schools in Tuesday’s tri-match, as Opelika won with a score of 185, Tallassee finished second with a score of 210 and Benjamin Russell finished third with a score of 224. Benjamin Russell Coach Wes Tate said he was proud of the effort from the Wildcats, as some of the more inexperienced players got a chance to compete in Tuesday’s home match. “It went OK. We let some guys who have not had match experience before get some match experience on Tuesday,” Tate said. “They responded well. They got out there and competed. Though all the shots didn’t go the way they wanted to, like I said they competed hard and ended up finishing the match.” Benjamin Russell is set to play again today at Sylacauga at 2 p.m.