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Sunday sales moves towards ballot By MITCH SNEED Editor
Barring any unforeseen setbacks, county voters could go to the polls in November of next year to decide whether they want to allow Sunday sales of alcohol. The Tallapoosa County Commissioners voted 5-0 to pass a resolution asking the local legislative delegation to introduce a local bill calling for a referendum. With the timing of the session, County Attorney Thomas
Radney said the soonest a vote could come without a special election would be in the November election. “I have had discussions with Rep. Mark Tuggle and I don’t think it will be an issue for it to be introduced in the session in February,” Radney said. “Once that local law is passed, then it could be put to a vote. I think realistically, it would be November of next year when it could be on the ballot.” The commissioners have heard from two separate groups of business people in recent months asking for a Sunday
sales measure to be considered. The underlying message from businesses is that being able to serve alcohol on Sunday would even the playing field with businesses in Lee and Elmore counties. Radney said the language of the referendum will allow for alcohol to be served until 2 a.m. on Sunday. At that time, sales would stop and not be allowed to begin again until noon on Sunday. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the resolution and ask legislators to introduce the measure in
Two severely injured in Monday crash
Today’s
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Trustees approve Southern Union, CAAC, Chattahoochee Valley merge By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Above, local realtor Amy Clark blocks a snowball as she rides ‘Vixon’ in the Wild and Crazy Reindeer Race at Christmas in the Park, while below, Cali Ragsdale takes her turn on the synthetic ice.
CHRISTMAS CROWD
Christmas in the Park event draws a whopping 8,000 By MITCH SNEED Editor
Betsy Iler / The Outlook
Lake Levels
481.02 Reported on 12/14/15 @ 6 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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To say that the first Christmas in the Park sponsored by the Alexander City Parks and Recreation Department MORE was a success • See more pictures from would be an u n d e r s t a t e - weekend events. Page 11 • Our view: Event shows ment. The holiday what is possible. Page 4 themed event with carriage rides, Santa visits, skating and S’Mores was held Saturday at the See PARK Page 11
The merger of Alexander City’s Central Alabama Community College (CACC), Southern Union State Community College and Chattahoochee Valley Community College is officially a go, said Susan Burrow, president of CACC who will also serve as president of the merged colleges. “The Board of Trustees voted unanimously last Thursday to approve the resolution of the intent to merge the three schools,” said Burrow. “Now we look to the next steps.” Burrow said those next steps include informing institutional accrediting agencies of the intent to merge. In the coming months, she said, detailed documents and merger plans will be submitted as required to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges and the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees. The merger process is expected to take several months prior to receiving final approval from the Board of Trustees. Once approved, the college will follow a transition plan to ensure all operating systems are working together See MERGER Page 3
DELAYED, NOT FORGOTTEN: Lee awarded long-awaited diploma By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Lake Martin
See BALLOT Page 3
College merger gets official green light
By MITCH SNEED Editor
The Alexander City Police Department is investigating a two-car crash on Highway 22 Monday that left one of their own and a child badly injured. Officials say that a passenger car driven by Alexander City Animal Control Officer Kelly Cotney skidded on rainsoaked streets at about 8 a.m. and struck another vehicle. The crash site was near the intersection of Hillabee Road and 11th Street, not far from Buck’s Restaurant. Both Cotney and her young female passenger were transported to Birmingham for treatment of what officials described as “very serious injuries.” Cotney was taken to the University of AlabamaBirmingham Trauma Center, while the child was taken to Children’s Hospital of Alabama. The driver of the second vehicle, whose name was not released, was not transported for treatment, officials said. Details of the accident were not available, as officials said the crash is still under See CRASH Page 3
February. The commissioners also heard a presentation from Tallapoosa County Schools Chief Financial Officer Phil Blasingame that outlined the plan for use of the new 1 percent sales tax and progress on replenishing state-mandated reserves. A plan that the school board approved and submitted to the state calls for personnel reductions, reorganization of staff and money from the new tax to help
After waiting for more than 70 years, Nathan Lee finally has his Dadeville High School diploma. Lee, at the time a junior at Dadeville High and fresh off a football season that saw him score nine Tiger touchdowns and earn honorable mention all-state honors at end, decided to forego his senior year and join the service. His stint in the U.S. Navy began in December 1943, just weeks after he returned a late fourthquarter intercepted lateral 70 yards to lead Dadeville’s 13-7 win over crosscounty rival Alex City. Lee had told his son, Randy, many times his greatest regret was not having
his high school diploma. So, Monday night at the Tallapoosa County Board of Education’s December meeting, Superintendent Joe Windle introduced Lee and Dadeville High School Principal Chris Hand presented the spry 90-year-old with the long-awaited sheepskin. “I want you to know, Mr. Lee, that this is a particular honor for me as a retired military person,” said Windle. “I appreciate the recognition,” Lee said. “Thank you very much. “The reason I’m not saying a lot is that when you get as old as I am you tend to get emotional, but I do appreciate this.” After the football season of 1943, See DIPLOMA Page 3
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Nathan Lee, left, speaks with Tallapoosa County School Superintendent Joe Windle as the board of education awarded Lee his high school diploma.
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Wife’s retirement jitters need adjustment therapy
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Staff
Directory David Granger Staff Writer, Ext. 210 david.granger@alexcityoutlook.com Mia Osborn Assistant Magazine Editor, Ext. 227 mia.osborn@alexcityoutlook.com
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
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
Accounting Angela Mullins Bookkeeping, Ext. 202 angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com Mary Lyman Boone Bookkeeping marylyman.boone@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
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
Circulation Linda Ewing Asst. Circulation Manager, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@alexcityoutlook.com
The Outlook is published five times a week, Tuesday through Saturday mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011.
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, Lake magazine, Lake Martin Living, Kenneth Boone Photography and a commercial web printing press.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Post Office Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011.
© 2011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Reproduction of any part of any issue requires written publisher permission.
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Tuesday, December 15, 2015
The Outlook
DEAR ABBY: I’m writing about the letter you printed from “Excited in Maryland” (Aug. 16), whose wife makes snide comments about his impending retirement. That milestone is the biggest, scariest life change people make -- a time marker like no other. With many people, our identity is tied to our careers. In my case, I enjoyed a long, successful career as a social worker, counselor, teacher and mother. I wasn’t the primary breadwinner and was able to work less than full time. When I retired seven years ago, my day was my own, with little accountability to my husband. I had quiet when I wanted it, music of my own choosing, ate when and what I wanted -- and complete privacy all day, every day. My husband, one of the nicest men I’ve ever known, retired two years ago, and I still haven’t come to terms with the fact that he’s home all the time. He doesn’t ask
Obituaries Sammie Watts Funeral Services for Mrs. Sammie Watts, age 71, of Alexander City were held Monday, December 14,2015 at 11 a.m. with Mr. John David Parker officiating. Mrs. Watts died at Russell Medical Center, December 12, 2015. She was born in Calhoun County, Alabama to William Bert Snellings and Vera Lene Snelling. She was a
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Betty Wallis Lester, 78 of Jackson’s Gap, Alabama passed away on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at Life Care Center of Collegedale, TN. She was born June 21, 1937 in Troy, Alabama to Paul and Lillian Wallis. She received an undergraduate degree Lester from Jacksonville State University and a Masters from Georgia State University. She taught as a public school teacher for many years before retiring to raise her two sons.
Mary Olive Carr Funeral Services for Mary Olive Carr will be Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Bass Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Larry Cummings will officiate. Burial will follow in Socapatoy Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. until time of service at Bass Funeral Home. Mrs. Carr passed away December 14, 2015 at Russell Medical Center.
DEAR ABBY Advice
me to do anything differently, but he’s HERE, which means my definition of privacy has changed. I realize how lucky I am to have him, our long marriage, our health, our kids and financial stability. I just need a predictable block of time I can depend on to have the house all to myself. That letter writer’s wife may be worried about the huge change that is coming. My husband has enough interests, hobbies and projects that he’s always busy, but we are different people. He can get lost in his project while I’m “on alert” for any interruption, real or imagined. A couple of my friends have decided to postpone retirement because they don’t member of Alexander City Church of Christ. Mrs. Watts is survived by a son, Neal Watts of Alexander City; two daughters, Carol (Sandy) Osburn of Sylcauga and Brenda (Tom) McSweeney; two brothers, William Vance Snelling and Robert Snelling; four sisters, Alma Dean Benefield, Mary Emma Brewster, Marie Joyce Snelling and Judy Ann McCellan; six grandchildren, Brianna (Patrick) Nash, Mitch McSweeney, Anna McSweeney, Brooks Osburn, Sam Osburn,
and Case Osburn. She is also survived by two great grandchildren; Brently and Bryson Nash. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Roy Watts, a brother, David Wayne Snelling, and a sister Doris M. Alford. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Alexander City Church of Christ.
She was an active member of First United Methodist Church. She has been a member of the Beacon Class of First United Methodist Church and Alexander City Kiwanis serving in the roles of treasurer and secretary. She was preceded in death by her husband, Allen Lee Lester and her parents. She is survived by sons, Chris (Audrey) Lester and Michael Lester; grandchildren, Beth (Daniel) Fuller and Ryan Lester; greatgrandchildren, Caleb Fuller and Abigail Fuller; brother-
in-law, Robert Charles Lester; two nieces and one nephew. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 19, at First United Methodist Church of Alexander City with visitation to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First United Methodist Church of Alexander City, 310 Green Street, Alexander City, AL 35010. Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family.
She was born February 5, 1932 to Lawrence and Inez McCain Estes. She is survived by Sons, Cameron Carr and Wayne Carr; Daughters, Kathy Patillo and Danita Lloyd. Brother, Judson Estes and Sister, Jesse Neighbors. Grandchildren, Scotty (Kerrie) Carr, Brandie Carr (Rickey Morgan), Ryan Carr, Joshua Carr, Jared Carr, Angie Heath, Michelle (Shane) Carden, Alisha (Rodney) Withlow, April Miller, Lyndsey, Cody (Lauren) Cheatam, 5 great
grandchildren and 1 greatgreat grandchild. She was preceded in death by, her husband Leroy Carr; parents; brother, Reginald Estes and sister, Kathrine Estes.
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want to be home all day with their husbands. They are both mental health therapists, but they can’t talk with their husbands about it. If THEY can’t, then who can? This seems to be the most major life challenge yet, but I can’t find anyone who’s willing to discuss it. Is there anyone out there to honestly help us negotiate this phase? -- LIZ IN IOWA DEAR LIZ: Because of the complicated nature of their work, many therapists have therapists of their own. That is what I would have recommended, if either of the couples you mentioned in your letter had asked, to improve their level of communication. As for the rest of us “regular” folks, a licensed family therapist would be qualified to help. I agree that retirement requires an adjustment on the part of both spouses. You should look for a counselor who is older and who can empathize with what you and your husband are experiencing.
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Kenneth Moody A Memorial Service for Mr. Kenneth Moody will be held Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Bass Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Rev. Albert Pike officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to service time on Wednesday. A private family committal will follow at a later date. Bass Funeral Home & Cremations directing. bassfuneralhomeandcremations.com
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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.
Mr. Joseph Glenn Jr. Mr. Joseph Glenn Jr. of Alexander City, Alabama died December 12, 2015 and arrangements will be announced later by Wright’s Funeral Home. Wright’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Barnes Haver Smith Jr. 1951-2015 Funeral service for Mr. Barnes Haver Smith Jr., 64, of Alexander City, will be Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Randy Anderson will officiate. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Barnes Smith Jr. passed away on Sunday, December 13, 2015. He was born on February 7, 1951 in Tallapoosa County, Alabama to Barnes Haver Smith, Sr. and Wynema Coker Smith. Mr. Smith loved spending time with his grandchildren. He was very much the outdoorsman and enjoyed spending time on Lake Martin fishing. He was an avid Auburn fan. Mr. Smith loved gardening and canning vegetables. He is survived by his son, Joshua Barnes Smith (Cassie), of Canton, GA; sisters, Claudia Elizabeth Mayfield of Alexander City, Mary Emma Berry (David), of Jacksons Gap; fiancé, Freida Winslett; grandsons, Tate and Hagan Smith; niece, Stephanie Chavez; nephews, Brad Spurlin, Barry Hill; step-nephew, Scott Berry; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother-in-law, Russell Mayfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123 Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com. Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Ballot
continued from page 1
rebuild the reserve. The state requires the equivalent of one month’s operating funds to be in reserves. For Tallapoosa County Schools, that would be a little more than $1 million. He said if the budget holds true, there would be about $351,947 to go towards reestablishing the reserve funds. “It’s going to take us two to three years to get to where the state wants us to be,” Blasingame told commissioners. “We didn’t get here overnight and we aren’t going to get out of it overnight either. It’s going to take some time and we promise to be diligent with the funds. But we ask for your patience and we will get there.” Commissioner T.C, Coley, who voted for the new tax along with Emma Jean Thweatt and George Carleton Jr., explained the concern. “The tax was not part of the debate was what level of cuts and savings would be made to go along with the tax funds to correct the issue,” Coley said. “I see the cuts and savings you mentioned, but do you anticipate further cuts and savings? I think that’s what people want to see.” Blasingame said that one issue is that the county is unlike traditional businesses where personnel can be cut immediately and savings be seen within a month. “What we start the year with, we pretty much have to end the year with, so it takes a little more time,” Blasingame said. “We will start the budget process in January. I can’t speak for the board, but I would think that we would continue to look for additional savings at that time.” Blasingame said that he would provide
additional information as needed by the commissioners and suggest quarterly updates. In other action: • Approved by a 5-0 vote the minutes of Nov. 9 meeting. • Approved by a 5-0 vote the warrants and purchase orders. • Approved by a 5-0 vote the seeking of a bid for a dishwasher at the jail. • Approved by a 5-0 vote a lounge retail liquor license Class II (package) license for Walnut Hill Liquor. • Approved by a 5-0 vote a Retail Beer (off premise only) license for Walnut Hill Eagle. • Approved by a 5-0 vote a plan that will be submitted to the Department of Corrections for the Tallapoosa County Community Corrections Program. • Approved by a 5-0 vote the change of leave year to follow the calendar year rather than the fiscal year which is the practice currently. • Approved by a 5-0 vote a resolution authorizing an engineering firm to proceed with FY2016 TAP application for courthouse square streetscape improvements. • Added a line to the application for utilities on county right-of-way that includes language that will require any road that is cut to be returned to original or better condition following completion of the utility installation. • As a part of the county’s safety plan to comply with insurance savings plan, a policy on seat belt use will be added to the county’s personnel policy standards. Employees who fail to comply and wear seatbelts while operating a county vehicle will be subject to disciplinary action.
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Page 3
Merger
continued from page 1
to deliver service and instruction to the entire region served by the three merging colleges. “I believe the formation of a regional college enhances our ability to provide comprehensive and high quality service to our communities, said Burrow. “There are significant commonalities of economies, cultures and geography in east Alabama that provide us with the needed elements to create a regional vision while delivering service locally.” Burrow said the key to the new college meeting its mission will be the commitment of faculty, staff and administrators. ““The mission of a community college is to provide
local affordable access to opportunities that enhance quality of life for citizens through education, training and cultural experiences,” said Burrow. “Across the three institutions, we have talented faculty, staff and administrators who are committed to the ultimate goal of student and community success. Through the talent and expertise of these individuals the newly formed regional college will meet all of these needs and will work to ensure student success and community development is delivered locally for each community.” The merger will include all campuses of the three affected schools.
Crash
continued from page 1
investigation. They did say that weather could have been a contributing factor. Alexander City Police Chief Willie Robinson and others from the department went to Birmingham to check on Cotney Monday afternoon. Due to privacy laws, additional details of the medical conditions of Cotney and the passenger were not released. Cotney is well-known in the community, having been with the department since 2008. After Monday’s crash Cotney’s personal Facebook
page was filled with prayer requests and concerns from friends and loved ones. Mayor Charles Shaw said that city hall, as well as the police department, were flooded with callers expressing their concern. “There are a lot of people who care deeply for them and there are a lot people here praying for them, too,” Shaw said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them and both families and we’d just ask that everyone continue to do the same.”
Diploma Lee, whose mother had held him back a year in school because of a childhood illness, decided it was time for him to enter military service. At that time, a young recruit could choose whether he preferred the Army or the Navy. “My friend, Bob, that went to Anniston with me to enlist told me to select Navy,” Lee said. “I told him, ‘Well, I talked with Mama about it and we were kind of thinking Army.’ But Bob talked me into picking the Navy and they selected me for the Navy and I met Bob after and he had his head down. He told me the Navy wouldn’t take him because he was colorblind. So I got the Navy and he got the Army.” “He ended up going to Miami, Ohio, University for training as a radio operator and he always told everyone that’s where he went to college,” said Lee’s son, Randy Sr. “He ended up being on a ship after D-Day. He made 37 trips across the English Channel on an LST. Went up the Seine River to Paris. He remembers seeing the White Cliffs of Dover.” Actually, Radio Operator Third Class Nathan Lee was on four different LSTs or tank
continued from page 1
landing ships – LST-3, LST-493, LST-534 and LST-528 (also known as the USS Catahoula Parish) – amphibious vehicles responsible for most of WWII’s island landings. LST-493, Lee’s first assignment, was lost when it ran hard aground in the breakwater off of Plymouth, U.K., on April 21, 1945. Lee mustered out of the Navy in June of 1946 in Louisiana and made his way to New Orleans. He received $300 from the government and got a hotel room. Looking out his window, he noticed a men’s store across the street. There, he bought a new Palm Beach suit (“The kind (Donald) Trump would have worn back then,” Windle said.) and a new pair of shoes. He went back to his room and took a bath, left all the clothes he was wearing on the bed, picked up his duffel bag which contained everything he owned that he wanted to hang on to and caught a bus back to Alabama. In Alabama, he reenrolled in Dadeville High School again, but met and married his wife of 67 years, Celia Jackson Lee, and dropped out again to work.
Lee held a number of jobs, but mainly he sold cars at most every dealership in Alexander City. The first car he sold was a 1958 Ford Edsel. He also sold a car as a salesmen at Dean Motor Co. to former Auburn All-American and New York Giants quarterback Travis Tidwell, quite the thrill for a lifelong Auburn fan. “Travis was headed to some kind of meeting in Auburn and his car broke down,” Lee said. “It was a Falcon and it was kind of motley, had a few years on it, but we towed his car in and I lent him my demo – a 1971 Mercury Grand Marquis – to go to the meeting. “Well, he went to the meeting and, when he got back, he bought my demo.” Retired now, Lee still takes a keen interest in the Auburn Tigers football team. He attended every Auburn home game in the 2015 season. But tonight was about realizing a dream. “I often wondered what would have happened if I’d graduated back then,” Lee said, gazing at his new Dadeville High diploma. “But we had a wonderful life, me, my wife and kids, anyway.” Lee’s wife died in
February 2014. His sons, Tommy and Randy, both live in Alexander City. His daughter, Melinda Graham, lives in Crestview, Florida. Lee said that he plans to participate in the Dadeville graduation ceremony when the time comes in May. After all, his new diploma makes him a member of the DHS Class of 2016. “I’ll be there, good Lord willing,” Lee said. “I just hope they put me on the girls’ side.”
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Page 4
Our
Opinion
Congrats on effort for Christmas in the Park
C
hristmas in the Park was a new event for Alexander City this holiday season. No one knew what to expect. Certainly, the folks who put the event together had no inkling that they would get what they got on Saturday – a crowd estimated at some 8,000 Yuletide merrymakers. That’s almost twice what the city’s annual OktoberFest draws each year. Suprisingly, it’s also almost 3,000 more than a Benjamin Russell Wildcats playoff football game normally draws. So congratulations to all who made Christmas in the Park such a stunningly successful reality. Sure, the weather probably helped (It’s hard to beat a dry 70-degree day in mid December). But the chance to go ice skating (even if on synthetic ice), see the most raucous reindeer races ever, enjoy s’mores and other refreshments and simply enjoy the day with friends and neighbors were the real draws. “I don’t know where they all came from,” said Sonny Wilson, Alexander City’s Parks & Rec director. “They were from all around, judging from the cars that came in here. It was unbelievable. I have lived here my whole life. I’m 42 years old and I have never seen that many people at one event here in Alexander City. I know for a fact that we have never had that many people in this park.” One would think – hope – that those in the park were not only enjoying themselves, but also witnessing the birth of a new tradition here in Alexander City. If the first Christmas in the Park is any indication, it should become an annual affair. As Wilson pointed out, when four times as many people show up for an event than are expected, some problems are bound to arise. But you persevere, live and learn. We’re sure those responsible for Christmas in the Park will do just that. Congratulations to Wilson and Alexander City’s Parks & Recreation for hitting a homerun with Alexander City’s first-ever Christmas in the Park event.
Know Your
Officials
Communication with elected officials is the key to good government. To let your most local representatives know how you feel about state or local matters, contact any of the following. Governor Robert Bentley represents the state of Alabama and its 67 counties. He was elected to office on Nov. 2, 2010, and can be reached at 334-242-7100. His office is located at the State Capitol at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Robert Bentley Alabama.
Luther Strange was elected Alabama’s 49th Attorney General first elected in 2010, and serves as the State’s chief law enforcement officer. He can be reached at 334-242-7300, and his office is located at 501 Washington Avenue, Montgomery.
Luther Strange
Mark Tuggle (R) represents the 81st District covering Coosa, Chilton and Tallapoosa counties. He can be reached by phone at 256-392-2006 or by email at tughd81@ gmail.com. His office is located at 110 Calhoun Street, Suite 108, Alexander City.
Mark Tuggle Tom Whatley represents the 27th District covering Lee, Russell and Tallapoosa County. He was elected to the Alabama Senate on Nov. 2, 2010, and can be reached at 334-242-7865. His office is located at 337 East Magnolia Drive,
Auburn.
Tom Whatley
Outlook The
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Giving back for Christmas across East Alabama
E
ach year before Christmas, I like to take the opportunity to highlight some of the great things the folks across East Alabama are doing for each other. Our state is filled with people who give back to their communities and towns by helping those who need it the most. The Tuskegee Fire Department collects Toys for Tots, Tuskegee municipal employees adopt families through DHR for Christmas and the Macon County Ministers Council provides for needy families. In Randolph County, the Pilot Club provides toys for the less fortunate. The Christian Service Center in Chambers County provides food, clothing and gifts for the needy. In St. Clair County, a mom who was having a bad day was slipped a $100 bill and a Bible verse. She shared the story on social media in hopes of finding the good Samaritan, but has promised
MIKE ROGERS Guest Columnist
to pay it forward. Pell City police officers have been working hard to help raise money and have toys donated for families in their area. Alabama Childhood Food Solutions, which covers Talladega County, helps provide food for children from low income families. These children receive free breakfasts and lunches at school, but don’t know where their next meal will come from on weekends or holidays. In Lincoln, the Toys for Tykes program is underway to ensure needy children in the area have gifts. The Cleburne County Toys for Tots Program has been collecting toys since before Halloween, so there should be some very happy faces Christmas morning.
In Pike Road, the town is hosting a supplies drive for Veterans for the sixth year in a row. The items will be delivered to Veterans in the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) at both Montgomery and Tuskegee. In Anniston, at the Regional Medical Center (RMC), employees at the hospital are purchasing toys and gifts for the children of needy employees of RMC. This is just a small sampling of some of the wonderful ways East Alabamians are giving back to those less fortunate during the holidays. I wish you all a blessed and Merry Christmas season. I want to hear from you on this or any issue. Please sign up for my e-Newsletter at www.mikerogers.house. gov, like me on Facebook at Congressman Mike D. Rogers. Mike Rogers is a Republican who represents Tallapoosa County in Congress.
Today’s
Quote
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
Today’s
Scripture “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” – Ephesians 4:31
alexcityoutlook.com
Daily Poll Weekend Question: Does Alabama spend enough money on education?
Yes - 23 No - 43
Tuesday Question: Will you travel more than 50 miles away for the holidays? To participate in this daily poll, log on each day to www.alexcityoutlook.com and vote. Find out the vote totals in the next edition of The Outlook and see if your vote swayed the results.
Our
Mission
Social hosting during the holiday season
M
any times we hear adults say ‘I want to keep my child safe. As long as they aren’t driving, I’ll allow them to drink at my house where I can keep an eye on them’. While this sentiment is heartfelt, it is illegal. Social hosting is not a new trend. It has occurred in all communities for years with very little consequence and has made its mark as a cultural norm in the last few decades, especially in southern culture. In Alabama, Region 3 (which includes Tallapoosa County) has held its place as the most effected region for underage drinking. With underage drinking continuing to rise, the acceptability of social hosting also rises. Social hosting in Alabama refers to adults who host parties where alcohol is served on property they control, knowingly allowing an underage person to use alcohol or a controlled substance, and/or fails to take reasonable action to prevent an underage person from possessing or using alcohol or a
CHELSEA NEIGHBORS East Alabama Mental Health
controlled substance. Through social host liability laws, adults can be held responsible for these parties if underage people are served, regardless of who furnishes the alcohol. Social hosting occurs throughout the year; however numbers increase during the holiday season, especially around Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It is important for parents/adults to be the example and set the standard for the youth in our community. Participating in social hosting sends the message to our youth that it is okay to break the law, and encourages them to participate at other locations. Many adults argue that social hosting is allowing their child to drink at home and keeps them in a safe environment; however
underage drinking is never safe. Not only do parents influence the decisions adolescents and youth make, community members and other adults are major influences in a child’s life. Tallapoosa County CARES encourages our community to take the stand for our youth and show we care by refusing to provide alcohol to our underage citizens. Let’s create a safe environment for our youth to grow and thrive without the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. 21 is the law for a reason. Keep your youth safe and choose to refuse social hosting. If you would like to receive more information please visit: www.madd.org or www.alcoholfreechildren.org. Follow East Alabama Mental Health and Tallapoosa County CARES on Twitter and like us on Facebook to receive updates and events happening around our community. If you are interested in joining Tallapoosa County CARES (Coalition Advocating for Responsible Environments) please call Debbie Campbell at 256-215-3029.
Letter to the Editor
Attacks on Donald Trump not based in fact Dear Editor: Unless you have been out of the country or living under a rock, you surely have heard the uproar by virtually everyone from the President and both political parties on down attacking Presidential Candidate Donald trump for saying the U.S. must consider “temporarily” banning new Muslim immigrants. Understandably, the major media is pushing these attacks for all its worth. Donald Trump IS NOT dumb! Have we forgotten that in the early 1940’s President Roosevelt seized and sent some 140,000 Japanese to internment camps. The Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality
Act of 1952 that empowers and dictates the President to ban and prevent any and all groups that are deemed to be a danger to the security of the U.S. (Title 8 (8 U.S.C. Chapter 12). He is empowered to use executive orders to enforce this law. During the Iranian crisis in 1979, President Jimmy Carter exercised this law to ban new Iranians from coming to the U.S. as well as screening and actually deporting hundreds Iranians students.. Pre-World War II, many German Jews fleeing the Nazis were actually prohibited from coming to this country with Roosevelt’s support. The USS St. Louis carrying 935 Jews was
turned away from our shores because we felt they were a “danger to the public!” In reality, with the passage of the Immigration of 1924, all immigration was severely curtailed bringing it to almost zero from the early 1930s to the 1950s. The most shocking aspect of this Act is that is actually banned ALL Arabs and Asians from the U.S! So, the accepted argument preached by the Democrats and Republicans that what Donald Trump is suggesting is “unconstitutional” is just plain untrue and garbage. James W. Anderson Talladega
The Outlook strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.
How to
Subscribe The subscription rate is $136.00 per year in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties and $177.99 outside the area. Periodicals paid at Alexander City, AL. Newspapers are available at 100 news racks in our area at 50 cents for The Outlook and 50 cents for The Record. We would love to deliver a paper to your door. Call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281, Ext. 204 or e-mail david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook. com.
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Opinion?
We’d like to share your thoughts and opinions with the greater Lake Martin community. It’s free and it only takes a few moments of your time. We have two ways to get your opinion in print: letters to the editor and guest columns. The main difference is length. Letters to the editor are up to 250 words, while guest columns can be up to 500 words. Letters and columns may be sent to P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011, faxed to (256) 2346550 or e-mailed to editor@alexcityoutlook.com. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send us your thoughts today!
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Tuesday, December 15, 2015
The Outlook
CommunityCalendar Today is December 15, 2015 SEASONAL ART Now Showing in the Gallery
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Andrew and Tammy Salinas are celebrating an anniversary today.
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Jackie Causey, Hendrekia Johnson, Kendall Gamble, Roderick Jones, Desiree Sharpe, Karissa Claybrook, Gary Claybrook, Grace Boone, and Payton Reynolds are celebrating a birthday today.
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Hayden Harrell tells Santa what is on his list as Santa visited the students like he has done for the last several years in the Benjamin Russell High School classroom of teacher Lynn McVey.
December 3 - December 18
FOOD DRIVE: The Camp Hill Library is collecting nonperishable food donations at various stores around Dadeville and Camp Hill. Look for the boxes from 3 Dec through 18 Dec. Donations of meats are welcome closer to the Dec 18th finish. The support of citizens and stores is greatly appreciated by those in need over the holidays.
December 17
256.234.3481 KarenChannell.com
CHAMPAGNE TASTING: Emporium Wine will host a champagne tasting from 5 P.m. to 7 P.m. at 128 Calhoun Street, Alexander City. No charge for this event.
December 18
Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services •Physical Therapy •Occupational Therapy •Speech Therapy 2334 Washington Street Alexander City • 256-329-9061 www.crownemanagement.com
Come Visit Us! Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing
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CHRISTMAS DINNER: Victory Temple Holiness Church will hold a community Christmas Dinner December 18 at 6 p.m. at the Dadeville Housing Resident Service Building in Dadeville. Everyone is welcome. STUFFED WITH LOVE: The Dadeville Public Library is collecting new stuffed animals for the Stuffed With Love campaign to be donated to the Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center. Now through December 18, bring a new stuffed animal to the library circulation desk to help support this amazing agency and show these kids good people are still out there.
December 19
TRADE DAY: Bibb Graves School will be hosting a trade day Dec. 19 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. VOTER PHOTO ID: The Camp Hill Public Library will host a voter photo id event and pre-Kwanzza celebration De. 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. You can register to vote, get voter id, apply for an absentee ballot. There will also be poetry reading. It is sponsored by the Alabama New South Coalition.
December 19-20
CHRISTMAS DRAMA: The Family Worship Center at 1676 Swell St. is hosting a Christmas Drama, “A Breath Away,� Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. and Dec. 20 at 10 a.m.
December 20
BEAUTY PAGEANT: Miss Winter Wonderland Beauty Pageant will be December 20, 2015. Registration is now in progress - Early Bird Registration - $30 (Until Nov. 20), Standard Registration - $45 (Nov. 21 - Nov. 30), Late Registration - $10.00 Additional Fee (After Nov. 30). Cash prizes will be awarded to supreme winners in each category. Each contestant that enters will receive a participant’s trophy. For registration packet, please email to misswinterwonderlandpageant@gmail.com or call 256-749-6204. CHRISTMAS CANTATA: Calvary Baptist Church will be presenting the adult cantata “Christ Was Born For This..A Christmas Blessing.� There will be no Sunday School. There will be a fellowship meal following the contata. Dennis Floyd is the minister of music. Rev. Reggie Gable is the pastor. Everyone is encouraged to bring a friend to hear this wonderful message in song about the greatest gift of all, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. CHRISTMAS CANTATA: Hillabee Baptist Church will present its Christmas Cantata Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. The free event is under the direc-
tion of Mrs. Bea Pate. Rev. Josh Sammons is pastor. Everyone is invited.
December 21
CHRISTMAS AT MAMIE’S: Mamie’s Place Children’s Library is hosting Christmas at Mamie’s Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will be Christmas movies and hot chocolate. For more information call 256-2344644.
December 25
CHRISTMAS MEAL: Comer Methodist Church is hosting a Christmas Dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is invited to have a hot meal and enjoy fellowship. Tickets can be picked up at the Nutrition Center and the Salvation Army. You do not have to have a ticket to have a meal. Call 256-234-7831 for more info.
December 26
COMMUNITY FORUM: Churches, schools, organizations, clubs, youth and adults are invited to a community forum on Emergency Preparedness, Get ready, stay ready, what to do when there is a disaster and Serious Advice for Effective Encounters Saturday, Dec. 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. They will also be teaching young people how to respond when approached by law enforcement. It is sponsored by the Central Alabama Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Incorpated.
December 27
NOTE BURNING CEREMONY: Peace and Goodwill M.B.C. will have a note burning ceremony for the Community Life Center Dec. 27 at 2 p.m. at 188 County Road 30 in Kellyton. Guest will be Rev. Dr. Emerson Ware, Jr. of Great Bethel Baptist Church. Rev. Robert Williams is pastor of Peace and Goodwill.
January 10
HAIR AND FASHION SHOW: Gloria Boleware celebrates 37 years of service with a community hair and fashion show Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. at Passion Church on Highway 63. It will feature Hair 4 Daze, Dea Love’ Reesie Williams, Adrian Young, Team Katlin,Sharmaine Stowes, Nalarence Davis Show Models, GoGetters, Ent Marilyn Owens Lebron Spradley and the Grande Finale Charlene Benton.
January 21
WINE TASTING: Emporium Wine will host a wine tasting event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 128 Calhoun Street, Alexander City. There is no charge for this event.
January 22
MARDI GRAS AUCTION: St. James Episcopal Church will host live and silent auctions at this inaugural event to support the Feast of Sharing ministry, which provides free meals twice a week at First United Methodist Church to some 100 people in need. Auction items will include original art, a Russell Marine wakeboarding package, framed photography by Kenneth Boone, handmade pottery items, a
vacation at the beach for the whole family, the Rev. Rob Iler’s handyman services for a day and more. There will be beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and entertainment. Tickets are $25 per person and can be reserved by calling St. James Episcopal Church at 256-234-4752. For information, contact Heidi Ross at 256-794-7010 or Susan Mange at 601-431-8239. FREE SPEECH AND HEARING SCREENING: The Auburn University NSSLHA and SAA are having a free speech and hearing screening Friday, January 22 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.. No appointment is necessary. All children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Please note that very young or handicapped individuals may not be able to respond to the speech hearing screening and may require a more formal evaluation at a later appointment date. Services will be provided by the Auburn University Speech and Hearing Clinic Room 1199 Haley Center.
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Ongoing Events AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ASSISTANCE: VCCA certified volunteers will provide Affordable Care Act Assistance by appointment – Marketplace Open Enrollment (based on income) assistance will be offered November 2 through December 30 (except during the weeks of 11/23 and 12/21) on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Please call the VCCA office at 256-234-0347 on Mondays or Wednesdays (9 a.m. -2 p.m.) to set up an appointment. WOMAN MEETING: Every first Sunday, Victory Temple Holiness Church hosts a woman’s meeting, at 237 Aster St. in Dadeville. Everyone is invited. The meeting starts at 2 p.m. READY TO WORK: Ready to Work is a FREE jobs skills training program offered at Central Alabama Community College Career Center. Classes meet Monday through Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until noon. Completion of the program depends on the skill level of the individual. For more information contact Elaine Balint, instructor, at 256-215-4496 (leave message) or ebalint@cacc. edu. OFFICE CAREERS: The Office Careers Technology program is funded by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and was created to help dislocated workers learn new employable skills. To qualify for the programs be a dislocated worker (layoff) or a low income family. Anyone interested in the classes should contact the Alexander City Career Center @ 256215-4494 and ask about the WIOA program. Most all dislocated workers automatically qualify for financial assistance. The program is 52 weeks and is open entry/open exit. Students learn at their own pace in a non-traditional classroom setting. Classes begin when students are approved and they may leave when they receive any or all of the certificates offered. Classes are Monday--Thursday, 8:00 a.m.--3:00 p.m. (with a lunch break). All textbooks and class materials are supplied. Certificates available are receptionist, inventory clerk, data entry clerk, administrative assistant, accounting office clerk, medical office clerk, legal office clerk.
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Page 6
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Tuesday, December 15, 2015
The Outlook
PULSE
Our Community, Our Readers, Your Chamber
Chamber sponsors ribbon cuttings
And, that’s a wrap! By ANN RYE Chamber President & CEO
Celebrating Chamber businesses with red ribbons
By ANN RYE Chamber President & CEO
The Daughtry Insurance AgencyNationwide Long standing chamber member and Our Future Is Now investors Mark and Stephanie Daughtry celebrated the opening of their new Daughtry Insurance AgencyNationwide location at 746 Commerce Drive in Alexander City. With a red ribbon welcome, the chamber celebrates in their expansion! Mark and Stephanie remodeled existing commercial space to house their insurance business while providing appropriate commercial space for other businesses to locate within the structure. If you’re looking for insurance or a business looking for a great location, stop by Daughtry Insurance Agency and speak with one of their staff. The Daughtry Insurance Agency has been locally owned for more than 30 years and Submitted / The Outlook takes pride in excellent customer service, a (Top) Owners Mark and Stephanie Daughtry are surrounded by supporters as they cut well-educated and trained staff and standing the red ribbon in celebration of their new location for The Daughtry Agency – Nationwide. beside their customers to help them (Above) Chamber Ambassadors and city leadership turn out to celebrate the opening of See RIBBON, Page 7 Super 8 in Alexander City. Owner Jay Patel stands proud of his newly remodeled facility.
LLM class and board supports toy drive By ANN RYE Chamber President & CEO
Submitted / The Outlook
Tabatha Glassburn, Salvation Army Service Center Manager, accepts the Leadership Lake Martin class and board member toy donations for their annual Christmas Toy Drive at last week’s Leadership Lake Martin class day. LLM traditionally provides support to Salvation Army during each Christmas season.
Each year the Salvation Army struggles to meet the needs of those families requesting assistance for Christmas. Leadership Lake Martin traditionally provides their support in hopes that no child is disappointed come Dec. 25. This year the larger LLM class size of 26 students certainly came in handy in meeting a portion of the need for 197 children of our area. They made a formal presentation of their toy donations at lunch last week during their
Criminal Justice Leadership Day. Tabatha Glassburn, Service Center Manager for the Alexander City Salvation Army, shared that the agency has seen an increase from 2014 of 117 children to this year’s 197. Families complete an application and provide supporting documentation to receive assistance. Criteria is set by the Salvation Army and is based on one or more factors which include income level, urgency of need and/or unusual circumstances surrounding job loss, home destruction or See TOY, Page 7
We’ve got nine or ten more working days in the year; however, if you can get on someone’s calendar between the staff Christmas parties or 2016 planning meetings, Rye well … you’re more influential than I am. As for 2015, it is just about in the bag. The chamber will also take this time to reflect. Looking back at our strategic plan, we’ll be identifying our performance and holding ourselves accountable in preparation for our Annual Meeting on Jan. 28.. However, a few things surface as accomplishments without going to the drawing board. First, we successfully presented and secured not one, but two memorandums of understanding between The City of Alexander City and MAB American Management, LLC. This project, publicly announced via The Outlook some months back, stands to bring much needed new development to the area by means of a grocery anchored retail complex. Many retailers wait in the wind as we look for creative ways to solve the completion of Central Boulevard and establish a vision for redevelopment of the Russell Mills campus. We’ve focused on the need for housing for our citizens 55 years and older and partnered with developers to fulfill this need. Working collectively with city leadership, we will continue to navigate through this opportunity. Further, we’ve gained the support of our city and county to pursue a conference center concept for Lake Martin and partnered with our state officials to discover its possibilities. A big win for the chamber was the recruitment of Jacob Meacham , VP of Business Development, to See WRAP, Page 7
Shop local Saturday yields more than $60k in retail sales By ANN RYE Chamber President & CEO
The chamber’s Shop Local campaign took on new meaning for shoppers as well as retailers the first Saturday of December. In an effort to shift the focus to hometown support of those retailers that have invested the time and dollars to operate a business in Alexander City and to build our sales tax base for services offered via The City of Alexander City, the chamber claimed Dec. 5 as Shop Local Saturday. Shoppers could register to win a $500 chamber cash award plus a $25 gift card from each of the 29 participating retailers for every $25 they spent. With the chamber’s $500 cash prize, the winner stood to win $1,225. People shopped to the tune of over $60,000 on Dec. 5, a total tallied by
counting $25 for every entry submitted to the drawing. We are happy to announce the winner of the drawing. Mrs. Emma Wilson was ecstatic to learn of her new fortune. Chairman of the Board, Ms. Nancy Ammons, phoned Emma from the chamber’s December board meeting where the drawing was held. Mrs. Wilson shared that she had over 130 entries in the drawing from her purchase of new living room furniture from Holley’s Home Furnishings. Emma encouraged everyone to support their home community stating, “I’ve been a member of this community for many years and I love to shop in Alexander City. I try not to give any other community my money.” Thank you to Emma and to all of those who took advantage of Shop Local Saturday this holiday season.
Submitted / The Outlook
Ann Rye, chamber CEO, presents Emma Wilson with her Shop Local Saturday winnings of $500 chamber cash and $725 in merchant gift cards.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
The Outlook
www.alexcityoutlook.com
PULSE
Page 7
Our Community, Our Readers, Your Chamber
Lake Martin Young Professionals show their community support By JACOB MEACHAM VP Business Development
Since the reorganization of the Lake Martin Young Professionals back in September, it’s been a goal of the group to show support for the community by giving back in a variety of ways. A couple of recent examples of this were on display with a check presentation by the group to the Cancer Center at Russell Medical Center on Dec. 2 and an event held at Jake’s on Nov. 27 in support of Meals on Wheels. Back on Oct. 29, LMYP hosted a Halloween Party at J.R.’s Sports Bar & Grill. Of course it was an awesome time to get together, be social, connect with friends, and even make some new ones, but it was also the group’s opportunity to show that it can be a catalyst for philanthropy. Through a combination of LMYP members donating money and additional contributions from event sponsors River Bank & Trust and J.R.’s, we were able to raise $800 and donate the entire amount to the Cancer Center. Not all small towns are lucky enough to have the array of healthcare services that RMC provides to our area, so we’re thankful for the work done by everyone at RMC and happy to have the opportunity to help support their organization. On Nov. 27, LMYP hosted the Thanksgiving Bash and Iron Bowl party at Jake’s in support of Meals on Wheels. We collected close to 300 pounds of food items that were donated to Meals on Wheels and
distributed throughout the area to families and individuals in need. Not only did we collect food, but group members also signed up to help deliver meals around the community over the coming weeks. Thank you to Jake’s for providing a great venue for the event that featured Alabama/Auburn Iron Bowl Trivia with some pretty cool prizes given to participating teams. We also watched the BRHS Wildcats football team on TV as they took on Spanish Fort in the state semifinal game, and although they came up just short of winning the game, it was great to see how supportive everyone was of our hometown boys as they represented our city with class on a big stage. As you can tell, our group has been busy over the last few months, and we’re continuing to build positive momentum as we move forward. When you ride through the Sportplex this holiday season to check out all the Christmas lights, you’ll even see the LMYP decorations displayed alongside other community organizations and businesses. It’s a reminder that we’re here to stay and plan on being a steady presence in the community that continues to grow our network through activities and events that will help improve the careers, social lives, and character of our members. We’re busy planning for 2016, so stay tuned to what’s going on with LMYP by signing up for email newsletter updates at lakemartinyp.com, and be sure to check us out on social media as well for the latest!
Toy illness. Currently, the local staff has identified the 197 mentioned but expects that between now and the holiday, the number will grow. Glassburn was appreciative of the Leadership Lake Martin and Board Member donation of toys. She shared that 68 Angels are still left on the tree that need to be adopted. To help provide support, simply stop by the Salvation Army and choose an angel. Each Angel has a code number for privacy and provides gender, age, and Christmas wishes. Glassburn can help with ideas since she knows the families and the personalities of all the children. Most families gaining assistance this year are first-time recipients. When asked what drew her to this type of leadership, Glassburn shared her background with Home Depot
continued from page 1
where she served as a Team Depot member. Glassburn commented, “I like making a difference in a community I grew up in (Dadeville) and I learned how good that felt when I worked on the Team Depot projects. The Salvation Army position came available and I’ve enjoyed helping these families that are counting on us for the holidays.” Glassburn goes for Christmas training at The Salvation Army headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi each year. “No two communities are the same – some fill a truck with toys but I like making it more personal in our small community,” she said. Leadership Lake Martin encourages you to seek out an opportunity to serve others this Christmas season!
Submitted / The Outlook
(Above) Lake Martin Young Professionals members present an $800 check to the Cancer Center at RMC from money raised at the group’s Halloween Party. (Bottom Left) Jacob Meacham presents Meals on Wheels Director Linda Boone with food items collected during the LMYP Thanksgiving Bash & Iron Bowl Party.
Ribbon
The property offers a budget option for travelers still wanting all the conveniences and upgrades. Super 8 provides a fitness facility, outdoor pool, in-room mini refrigerators and microwaves to their guests and complementary hot breakfast to get the morning off right. Jay and his family are commitSuper 8 ted to Alexander City through their Owner Jay Patel hasn’t just ownership of two hospitality propchanged the name of the property erties: American Inn and now Super located at 4335 US Highway 280, 8. Alexander City. Super 8 brings an They welcome you to stop by for entirely new experience to those traveling to Alexander City in com- a tour of the facility in hopes that you will recommend this property to parison to the previous property your business associates and those management. traveling to the Alexander City area. New granite vanities, hardwood The chamber would like to thank product floors, contemporary designed beds and new bedding are Jay Patel for his improvements to just the tip of the improvements this this property and continued investproperty has seen via the transition. ment in our city. identify the right coverage to meet their needs as well as supporting them throughout a claim. Daughtry Insurance Agency is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday by appointment. Give them a call today at 256-234-7781.
Wrap the team. Jacob passionately works towards progress for Alexander City and engages with existing business leaders to find opportunities for the chamber to support and assist in their growth. Through Jacob’s leadership, the Young Professionals group reorganized with their own set of by-laws and dues structure under the umbrella of the chamber and are more engaged than ever in making a difference in this region. We launched a national entrepreneurial program in our high school which identified 11 students with a bright future for making a job rather than taking a job. Big things are coming out of this group and we are starting to grow our own (businesses) at an early age in Alexander City. Follow YEA! information on our chamber Facebook page for updates. I don’t think we could be more aggressive with a marketing plan that spans every social media site, print, and television broadcasting opportunity. Now more than ever, people know who Alexander City is
continued from page 1
continued from page 1
and they are letting us know they are interested. Shop Local, a term many thought was about buying something at the Farmer’s Market, has taken its true meaning of buying within your tax jurisdiction to support local infrastructure, schools, and progress. With our Shop Local campaign and t-shirt challenge, we’ve raised awareness. People think twice before purchasing out of town and the chamber leads the educational process in why it is so important that we shop local to build our own community. Tourism continues to be an economic engine and the chamber, in 2015, secured its spot on the Alabama Bass Trail (ABT). The ABT relationship provided additional opportunity. We will host the Carhartt Collegiate BassMasters in early March. Sun Festival continues to grow and 2015 brought nearly 4,000 to the cumulative concert event featuring David Nail. With workforce and education, we expanded the Gateway Scholarship opportunity changing the quali-
fying GPA requirements to a 2.75 for academic study and 2.25 for technical study. We have 31 students currently on Gateway, up from 9 in the spring of 2015. We identified the “Best and Brightest” students from CACC and hosted the first networking reception for these students with the business community this summer. And, we will partner with LMEDA to support the annual career expo for our city and county students. I wish I had space to accurately provide you the details of all the great things that are happening at the chamber; however, I would be at fault if I didn’t reserve the opportunity to thank the chamber executive board and board of directors. Their leadership has been priceless and their desires to make our community a thriving place for business and commerce are obvious. Thank you to those who have served and to Nancy Ammons who served as our 2015 Chairman. I look forward to 2016 as the fruits of your leadership will certainly pay off.
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Page 8
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
The Outlook
Kids
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The Tallassee Tribune
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Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Page 11
www.alexcityoutlook.com
The Outlook
Betsy Iler / The Outlook
Above, people attending Christmas in the Park jammed the Sportplex to take in the activities offered by sponsors and the Alexander City Parks and Recreation Department Saturday. Below right, 4-year-old Savannah Potter gets a great view of the Wild and Crazy Reindeer races from atop the shoulders of her dad Adam Potter. Below left, former Camp ASCCA staff member Robert French takes a plunge in the pool at Camp ASCCA for their first ever Jingle Jump Saturday. Bottom left, camp counselor Brett Gray does a belly flop for the cause. The event raise over $37,000 that will go towards camperships this summer.
A weekend to remember Christmas in the Park, Jingle Jump produced plenty of memorable images
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Park Sportplex and drew an estimated 8,000 people, almost triple what was anticipated. Alexander City Parks and Recreation Department Director Sonny Wilson said they couldn’t believe the turnout. “I don’t know where they all came from, Wilson said. “They were from all around, judging from the cars that came in here. It was unbelievable. “I have lived here my whole life, I’m 42 years old, and I have never seen that many people at one event here in Alexander City. I know for a fact that we have never had that many people in this park.” Think about these numbers. OctoberFest is very popular each year and Wilson said that 4,500 is the maximum that have attended that event. A playoff crowd for a Benjamin Russell Playoff game usually draws about 5,000 or so. So put 8,000 in the Sportplex and you see how hungry people were for an event like Christmas in the Park. “I think it was everything,” Wilson said. “There was great weather and I think it was something new, too. I think all of that went into it. I will put our staff up with anyone and we had everyone there working, all 12 of us, but it was definitely crazy at times.” Wilson said the logistics of getting all the people in and out became a big issue. With one way in and one way out, many of the staff had to be shifted to directing traffic. Virtually every available space suitable for parking was full at times during the event, Wilson said.
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
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“It was our first time and we learned a lot,” Wilson said. “When you plan for 2,000 to 3,000 and you wind up with 8,000, there are going to be some waits. There were some people who complained about that. But the beauty of it is that the kids had a great time. “It was such a blessing to see all those kids of every color and social background out there playing together and enjoying the event, that was what it was all about. I told someone after it was all over that if you consider that you can go to Six Flags or Disney World you pay $50 to $100 per person and still you have lines. We did it all for free except for the skating.” The skating rink is a perfect example of the can-do spirit that made the event possible. The staff didn’t realize that a cement slab was needed for skaters until early in the week. In one day, Wayne Coker rallied troops and poured a 35-by-52 slab and had it ready for installation of the skating surface. Wilson said while there wasn’t enough time for everyone to get to skate as long as they would have liked, he reminded residents that the rink is still there and available until Dec. 19. “It will be open from 5 to 9 each day until Dec. 19,” Wilson said. “I hope anyone who didn’t get to skate Saturday, will come out and enjoy it while it is here.”
A word of thanks
The staff singled out several business and individuals for their support of Christmas in the Park. Those on
the ‘thank you’ list were: Alex City Parks & Rec Staff Mayor & City Council Steve Robinson - Tallapoosa County Commissioner Boys & Girls Club of Lake Martin Smores: Lake Martin Home Health Russell Medical Center Walgreens 1st Choice Medical Polar Express: Rodney Kilgore As well as: Maryshay Ray & friends ACMS Junior Civitian BRHS students Wayne Coker Alex City Rescue Squad Alex City Police Department Cam Caldwell Eugene/Melissa Reynolds Firetruck BBQ ACPR 50+ Group Home Depot Jacob’s Ladder Kids First Baptist Children’s Choir BRHS Choir Kiersten Mattox BRHS Band Members
ROBERT HUDSON SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228 sports@alexcityoutlook.com
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Page 12
LUKE ROBINSON Sports Columnist
A few thoughts from the week in sports news
A
few scattered thoughts for your reading pleasure… Derrick Henry won the Heisman Trophy as predicted Saturday. It was certainly a deserved award for a guy who broke records held by the likes of Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker. I want to be clear though: Saying Henry deserved the award does NOT mean Christian McAffrey of Stanford or DeShaun Watson of Clemson were unworthy. Obviously, the hardware can only go to one player and all three were viable candidates with solid arguments. Heisman-winning criteria has always been difficult to pinpoint; Is it the best player on the best team? The most valuable player? The player with the best stats? Do West Coast players face longer odds because of kick times (by the way, Marcus Mariota of Oregon won last year, sooooo…)? Does character REALLY come into play? It’s difficult to tell because the answer seems to change from year to year. Some have suggested that Henry was the beneficiary of an Alabama-slanted media. Maybe he did get a bump in voting for that fact, but where was that “slant” when Derrick Thomas had 27 sacks BY HIMSELF in 1988? Or when John Hannah was far and away one of the best offensive lineman in football history? Derrick Henry won this award based on his achievements (and he proved he was even more worthy with his awe-inspiring, humble speech), but I have no issue saying the other two players up for the Heisman are fantastic as well. Before Avery Johnson was even on the radar to become Alabama’s basketball coach an Auburn fan told me, “I don’t care who ‘Bama hires, he won’t be as good as Bruce Pearl.” Sadly, I agreed. Thankfully, we may have both been wrong. In beating a solid Clemson team on the road Sunday (and with his starting point guard and best player in Dazon Ingram), Avery Johnson has shown himself to be a very capable and potentially even great college coach. The SEC slate will be difficult considering depth and injuries, but for the moment I am beyond excited about the future of Tide hoops. The Mississippi high school all stars stopped a seven game winning streak by their counterparts from Alabama on Saturday. This contest is usually my favorite of the year and the 2015 version was no different. There were soon-to-be stars all over the field, but three who stood out to me were DK Metcalf (a wide receiver from Oxford, MS), AJ Brown (a WR from Starkville) and Ben Davis (a linebacker from Gordo). Metcalf is committed to Ole Miss and Brown will soon choose between ‘Bama and Miss State and they both look like Julio Jones-AJ Green hybrids. I would be shocked if either is a four-year guy in college as they seem to have all of the tools to be long time NFL receivers. Meanwhile, Davis – who will likely end up in Tuscaloosa – showed strength, athleticism and speed all throughout the day, but specifically on a pick-six for the game’s first score. Speaking of the AL-MS game, in the “One Who Got Away Department” you can add the name PJ Hall from Hoover. Hall was the only Alabama DB who stood a prayer against Brown or Metcalf and he really boosted his stock with a two interception performance. It appears Hall will wind up out of state (maybe Louisville) and may even come back to haunt the Tide and Tigers later. Robinson is a sports columnist for The Outlook and president of the Lake Martin Bama Club.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
A COUGAR CLASSIC Coosa boys, girls claim first place at Classic Basketball Tourney By Robert Hudson Outlook Sports Editor
NEW SITE – First place belonged to Central-Coosa at Saturday’s Classic Basketball Tournament at Horseshoe Bend School, as the Cougars’ boys and girls swept the tournament. The following is a wrap up of Saturday’s action.
Lady Generals 43, Lady Tigers 32
The Horseshoe Bend Lady Generals closed the 2015 Classic with a victory, as they defeated the Dadeville Lady Tigers 43-32 in the girls’ consolation game. Zakkiah Lyons led the Lady Generals with 15 points, while Becca Norrell added 11 points. Jamela Moss had 9 points for Dadeville, while Raven Tuck added 8 points. Erica Meigs, head coach of Horseshoe Bend (2-4), said the Lady Generals worked better together to get easier shots. “They played real well today and I was very pleased. The girls played a lot better today than they did on day one,” Meigs said. “They played more like a team today, made smarter passes and got better looks down low for some easier shots. We still need to work on some free throws.” Dadeville Coach Pam Holloway said the Lady Tigers (1-5) showed a lot of improvement on day two of the Classic. “I saw a lot more effort from the girls, and I was pleased with that,” Holloway said. “I saw a lot of girls understanding their role a little better and understanding the defense I’ve been trying to teach them and getting them understanding what’s happening on the floor, so I was very proud of that.”
a few open shots it made it a better game for us. The press is still giving us problems and we turned it over a little too much, but we’re going to get better. I thought we played pretty well.”
Lady Cougars 69, Lady Wildcats 64
Wildcats 64, Generals 37
While the Horseshoe Bend Generals closed the gap at halftime, the Benjamin Russell Wildcats pulled away in the second half for a 64-37 win in the boys’ consolation game. After leading 9-7 after the first, the Wildcats (2-9) turned on the full-court press to take a 22-7 lead midway through the second quarter. But the Generals (0-5) started to come back, cutting the lead down to 26-17 with help from an Isac Holt 3-pointer. Horseshoe Bend’s Tyus Ford added a pair of free throws to make it 26-19, but Benjamin Russell’s Tay Johnson scored under the basket to push the Wildcats’ lead up to 28-19 with a minute left in the first half. Ford scored on a layup to make it 28-21, but the Wildcats closed the half with a basket from Myles Whetstone that made it 30-21 at the break. However, the Wildcats opened the second half with a 9-0 run to put the game out of reach before taking a 46-25 lead into the final quarter. Shannon Woody led the Wildcats with 19 points. Ford and Trace Meadows each had 12 points for the Generals. Benjamin Russell Coach Jeff Hines said he was pleased with his team’s effort in the win. “I thought our effort, No. 1, was much better. There are still a lot of things that we have to clean up, but our guys are starting to figure out that we’re going to have to defend,” Hines said. “You’ve got to give them (Horseshoe Bend) credit because they played their rear ends off. Coach Kison is doing a good job with them. It was more about us right now figuring out who we are and what our identity is.” Generals Coach Chad Kison said the Generals played well defensively. “I thought defensively we played all right. We boxed out pretty well, we limited their second-shot opportunities and I thought we played with some intensity,” Kison said. “I thought we got after it and once we hit
The Central-Coosa Lady Cougars remained undefeated and took the girls’ championship in the Classic with a 69-64 win over the Benjamin Russell Lady Wildcats. The Lady Wildcats (6-4) took a 52-51 lead midway through the final quarter on a basket by Jaaliyah Caldwell. But the Lady Cougars (9-0) countered with a 6-0 run that put them on top for good, with Ryesha Whetstone going 1-of-2 from the line, Shania Tuck scoring in the paint and Malia Kelly hitting a 3-pointer that made it 57-52 with 4:01 left. Caldwell stopped the run with another basket, but Coosa went up 63-54 thanks to a 6-0 run. Coosa Coach Syreeta McKinney said her team never gave up despite trailing most of the third quarter. “The difference for me and my team is that we don’t quit, we don’t get tired. We still fight no matter what the score,” McKinney said. “I told them they have to learn how to control their emotions. I knew this game was going to be the type of game that could go any way. I told the girls we worked too hard to let someone take what we deserve. I kept them calm. We played a great team and a great coach.” Latreisha Moon, head coach of Benjamin Russell, said the Lady Wildcats gave Kelly too many open looks, as she scored 25 points on the night. “I think we let up on defense and let No. 20 (Kelly) just set up out there and shoot the ball,” Moon said. “Instead, we should have done better defending at the top. That was the difference in the game.” Tuck added 24 points for Coosa, while Caldwell led Benjamin Russell with 20 points and Chynna Allen added 10 points.
Cougars 67, Tigers 50
The Central-Coosa Cougars pulled away in the second half of the Classic boys’ championship to take a 67-50 win over the Dadeville Tigers. After trailing 30-29 at the
Robert Hudson / The Outlook
The Central-Coosa boys, top, and girls, center finished first place at this year’s Classic. At bottom, Central’s Cedarius Askew (24) drives past Dadeville’s Isaiah Hicks.
break, Dadeville (3-3) cut it to 34-32 with free throws from Isaiah Hicks and Qua Tucker early in the third. Coosa (7-3) countered with an 8-0 run with Cedarius Askew scoring all points during that run to make it 42-32 with 2:09 left in the third. Dadeville cut it to 46-38 at the end of the third, but Coosa outscored Dadeville 14-6 to open the final quarter. Shane Smith, head coach of Coosa, said the Cougars capitalized from the line and made their adjustments on defense. “We started doing a little bit better job rebounding, and that got us some transition baskets because we would get out and push the ball down the floor,” Smith said. “We got some good shots at the basket and made our free throws for the most part in the second half. We had to go back to our 2-3 zone when some of our other stuff wasn’t working, and I think we stepped up our effort and played a little harder in the second half.” Dadeville Coach Rodney Taylor agreed that free throws were the difference. But he added that the Tigers have improved since they lost to the Cougars earlier in the season. “I think the difference was free
throws. I don’t know that they missed many. And also, probably us on the defensive end allowing too much dribble penetration and getting no help on defense,” Taylor said. “Even on the few free throws they missed we weren’t boxing out and getting boards. We’re not the best shooting team, but we’ve improved. We’ve got some things to work on like everyone does, but going from two weeks ago to today we’re a lot better than what we were.” Askew led Coosa with 23 points, while Anfernee Richardson had 22 points. Tucker had 11 points for Dadeville, while Hicks added 11 points. The girls’ all-tournament team includes Benjamin Russell’s Aaliyah Thomas, Tayla Stowes and Shay Johnson, CentralCoosa’s Whetstone, Kelly and Jazmyn Hoytt, Dadeville’s Raven Tuck and Jasmine Hill, and Horseshoe Bend’s Norrell and Lyons. The boys all-tournament team includes Benjamin Russell’s Shannon Woody, Horseshoe Bend’s Holt and Meadows, Dadeville’s Hicks, Tucker and Margarius Buchanan, and Central-Coosa’s Askew, Richardson and David McKinney.