INSIDE TODAY:
Weekend The Outlook
• Obituaries, A2 • Opinion, A4 • Events, A5 • Sports, B1 Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 • Faith, B3 February 23-24, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 39 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢ • Local, B4
BASEBALL, B1 BRHS vs. Stanhope
Burkhalter now facing charges in 3 counties By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
David Burkhalter now faces four more felony counts related to a sexual relationship with a student and has been charged with 14 felonies in Randolph, Clay and Calhoun counties. Authorities from the Seventh Judicial Circuit charged Burkhalter on Thursday
with second-degree rape, two counts of second-degree sodomy and school employee sexual contact with a student, according to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department. He was also charged with a second-degree sexual abuse, a Class A misdemeanor, and his bond was set at $55,500. Burkhalter, 30, was charged Feb. 13 with raping a 15-year-old student at
Randolph County High School, where Burkhalter taught math and was the boys basketball coach. Burkhalter, a former emcee and TV and radio co-host in Alexander City, was charged with two counts of second-degree rape, one count of sodomy, two counts of electronic solicitation of a child, two counts of violation of the school employee sex act with a student
less than 19 years of age and one count of enticing a child in Randolph County, according to court records and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department. He turned himself in and is being held there on a $1.5 million cash bond. Burkhalter is also charged with electronic solicitation of a minor and interfering with child custody in Clay See BURKHALTER • Page A3
Hugs are free from Walmart greeter who overcame cruelty in her youth
CHARIOTS OF TIRE
By RON COLQUITT For The Outlook
Restoring cars turns local man’s ignition switch By RON COLQUITT For The Outlook
fully customized, red 1940 Ford is not something one would expect to find in a rickety garage in rural Tallapoosa County. But when Darrell Baker opens the door, car history comes pouring out. Baker, 75, said he bought the Ford in March 1970 from a man in Sylacauga and towed it to his garage south of Alexander City. The previous owner had stuffed the Ford’s engine bay with a 409 Chevrolet engine and made other modifications; it was the proverbial diamond
A
See CARS • Page A3
Ron Colquitt / For The Outlook
Darrell Baker cruises in his fully customized 1940 Ford. Baker bought the Ford in 1970 but waited years to restore it and install the 327 Chevrolet engine, pictured above.
Flor wants well-paying jobs for graduates
Today’s
Weather
77 54 High
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part question-and-answer series with Dr. Doug Flor, Central Alabama Community College’s new dean of workforce and economic development.
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
By GABRIELLE JANSEN Staff Writer
485.40 Reported on 02/22/19 @ 1 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Gabrielle Jansen / The Outlook 6
54708 90050
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USPS Permit # 013-080
Janice Bland said she has been called “ugly and stupid,” so it would be understandable if she had grown into a bitter and defensive woman. Instead, she can be found as a greeter at Walmart in Alexander City, where for a dozen years she has brightened the days of thousands of customers entering the store. She quickly tells Bland people she loves her job and not many people get past her without a warm hug, a sweet smile or both. “Everybody needs a hug, to have somebody smile at them and take a moment to care,” Bland said. Bland, 57, didn’t get much of that while growing up in Phenix City. While she came from a close-knit family that included three siblings, she was constantly picked on at Smiths Station and didn’t graduate. “I had a rough high school, a rough school altogether,” Bland said. “They picked on me a lot because I was real quiet and shy. I didn’t like conflict and people could see that in me and they would tease me and hurt my feelings. There were times I wish I could have been somewhere else. Kids are cruel but they are young and don’t understand. “They called me ugly and stupid and every name in the book to make me feel like I wasn’t a person. I See GREETER • Page A3
Dr. Doug Flor started his position as the dean of workforce and economic development at Central Alabama Community College in November of last year.
Crestview Apartments
Dr. Doug Flor, Central Alabama Community College’s new dean of workforce and economic development, said he has plenty of new ideas for the program to offer, including courses teaching marine mechanics and cyber security, and evening and weekend classes for those who want to be commercial truck drivers. He came to CACC with a core objective to improve skilled labor in the area. “I care about people finding jobs — good, meaningful, well-paying jobs,” Flor said. “Did you know that 30 percent of high school See FLOR • Page A8
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