WILDCATS SWEEP AREA RIVALS RUSSELL COUNTY. SPORTS, PAGE 8.
OPINION: MAKING SURE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE IS A SMART MOVE
THURSDAY
THE
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 January 7, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 5
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Road projects in the plans By MITCH SNEED Editor
Paving and repairs on local roads were a constant in 2015 and it appears as though there will be more of the same this year as well. Through federal, state and local projects, residents should see some significant progress in resurfacing area roads in 2016. Two state projects that will be funded through Alabama Transportation
Rehabilitation and Improvement Program should be on track to be completed this year. Alexander City Engineer and Public Works Director Gerard Brewer said that significant projects on Lee Street and also on Washington Street are on the books to be bid out and done this year barring any unforeseen delays. “We feel like Lee Street is for sure,” Brewer said. “That is a very heavily travelled road and the project that is planned can make a big dif-
ference.” Brewer said that the Washington Street project has hit a few snags due to federal requirements along the adjacent railroad tracks. He said officials are asking for some additional engineering for what are called “passive rail crossings.” “This is something that has never been required, because those are not areas that we are actually paving,” See ROAD • Page 2
File / The Outlook
The first projects funded by a new sales tax in Alexander City were completed in 2015 and more should be announced soon.
Camp Hill deals with open seat, sewer woes, legal issues
There’s more than coffee on the corner Coffee Corner owner welcomes crowds to multifaceted coffee shop
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By DAVID GRANGER Outlook Staff Writer
The town of Camp Hill is seeking to fill a council vacancy and to move ahead on the town’s sewage issue all without the services of a town attorney. “We are seeking applications to fill the spot left by the death of Leon Hatcher,” Mayor Danny Evans said. “We declared the spot vacant Thursday at a special called meeting.” At Monday’s meeting the council did not set a deadline for applications but by law the council must act within 90 days of the vacancy or the governor gets to appoint the replacement. Hatcher passed away in November and the council had been unable to declare the spot vacant due to lack of a quorum at the previous two scheduled meetings. The town is currently without an attorney and the news seemed to catch members of the council off guard when it discussed what town attorney Ben Hand had communicated in the lawsuit filled against the town by Alabama Department of Environmental Management. See CAMP HILL• Page 3
If the lunch crowd on Wednesday at Coffee Corner is any indication, the coffee shop and restaurant that is the dreamcome-true of Mary Elizabeth Vardaman is a cinch to become one of the most frequented establishments in Alexander City. Shortly after noon on Monday, Vardaman and her small staff had a full house for lunch. The crowd of mainly young professional types munched on Coffee Corner’s tasty sandwiches and enjoyed conversation and fellowship. Vardaman, always positive anyway, could only smile as she took a short break from her duties to discuss her new Main Street business. “We’ve been very busy, especially during lunch,” Vardaman said. “The size of the crowds has been a little bit surprising, but I never doubted we would do well. The response here in town has been very good.” “It’s really busy in the morning,” Vardaman said. “We are here at 6 a.m. and people stop in on their way to work. “Then, starting at about 7:15, it gets steady. There are people in here most of the time. They may come in one by one, but they’re here. And we haven’t been open since school’s been in break.
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Mary Elizabeth Vardaman stands in the Coffee Corner Wednesday afternoon. Vardaman’s shop has attracted crowds since opening in December following winning the “Missing Piece” competition.
See COFFEE • Page 3 Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Exercise, diet key to resolution success By DAVID GRANGER Outlook Staff Writer
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Each year, there’s a single New Year’s resolution that individuals make more than any other. Lose weight. It sounds easy, but, if it were, there wouldn’t be entire industries built around incline machines and those fancy schmancy FitBits. But Cara Tidwell, fitness director at Total Fitness at RMC, says there are some simple steps that can be taken to lose that pesky paunch. “First of all, you’ve got to do a certain amount of cardiovascular exercise,” said Tidwell. “That could be walking, running, riding your bike, hiking – whatever you enjoy.
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It could even be exercising along with a video, as long as that video is approved by a national fitness organization. “We recommend that every individual do at least 150 minutes of cardiovascular work a week. That may sound like a lot, but if you break it down, it’s only 20 minutes a day.” But Tidwell says that exercise isn’t enough for successful weight loss. There’s the matter of diet, too. And when it comes to eating, Tidwell advises to “drop the potatoes and (sodas) and pick up the fruit and water.” “It’s really important that you balance your exercise with your diet,” See RESOLUTION • Page 2
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Wife says stoppage time has run out for soccer enthusiast
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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, January 7, 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: My husband, an avid soccer player, injured himself twice last year, which left him unable to work for months at a time. He refuses to hang up his cleats because he says it’s his “one true passion.” I think he’s being selfish because his soccer injuries have caused a financial, emotional and physical strain on our family. I can’t be the only wife/mom who doesn’t want the additional risk. Any advice on how to get through to him? -- SPORTS WIFE IN CLEVELAND DEAR SPORTS WIFE: I don’t know how old your husband is, but two serious injuries in one year may be a hint from Father Time that his reflexes aren’t as acute as they once were, and he should channel his passion in another direction. (Coaching, perhaps?) Assuming you have insurance, contact your agent and ask if there is additional coverage your husband can take out
DEAR ABBY Advice
in case he is seriously injured again. Of course, it won’t guarantee that he won’t hurt himself, but it might give you some peace of mind in case he does. DEAR ABBY: I’m 23 and live with my parents -- a situation I am working to change, to be sure. When I come home from work, I occasionally like to have a glass of wine or a beer. Obviously, because I’m an adult, this should not be a problem, but every time I touch alcohol my mom freaks out. There is a history of alcoholism in my family, so I somewhat understand where she’s coming from. But I feel she needs to realize that I can have a glass
Obituaries Doris Louise Stephens Maddox
Ms. Doris Louise Stephens Maddox went home to be with her Jesus Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Russell Medical Center. Ms. Maddox better known as Big Mama was a true Christian Woman who for lived by the grace of God. Funeral Service will be Friday, January 8, 2016 at 1 p.m. in Bass Funeral Chapel. Family will receive friends on Thursday, January 7, 2016 from 5 – 7 p.m. Ms. Maddox was born November 21, 1921 to Hugh Ray and Dovie Stephens. She was preceded in
or two of wine and it doesn’t mean I’m getting drunk or an alcoholic. I am my own person, in control of my body, and I know my limits. My family’s view of alcohol seems to have been skewed because of our history. Abby, one glass of wine a night does not an alcoholic make, right? -- UNWINDING IN NEW ENGLAND DEAR UNWINDING: Ordinarily, I would say no. But a tendency toward addiction can run in families, and for someone with a predisposition to alcoholism, a glass (or two) of wine every night could escalate and lead to problems. Because you live in your mother’s house, try to be more sensitive to her feelings and respect them. She has experienced firsthand what it’s like to live with someone who has an alcohol problem, and it isn’t pretty. That’s why she is so sensitive about it.
death by her husband, Cecil Maddox. She is survived by 2 children, Marie T. Atkinson and Patricia Moore (Will) Rodgers. 7 grandchildren: Becky Atkinson (Larry) Mann, Cindy Atkinson (Stanley) Trimble, Bernie Atkinson, Charles Atkinson, Lisa Moore Lee, Julie Moore, Richard (Heather) Moore. 11 Great Grandchildren: Stephen Mann, Christopher (Angie) Mann, Lori Trimble (Douglas) Baker, Jason “JJ” Trimble, Colie (Jessica) Atkinson, Clayton (Sara) Atkinson, Ashley Atkinson (Josh) Boksuntiea, John Tyler Landrum, Matthew Yarbrough, Isaiah Moore, Amelia Moore. 9 Great Great Grandchildren: Skye Mann, Dusten (Kaylee) Bence,
Bass Funeral Home and Cremations directing.
continued from page 1
Brewer said. “But we are working right now to sort through all that to see if we can reach an agreement on those. “Right now I’d say it’s about a 90 percent likelihood that we can get that done this year.” Alexander City residents could also soon get a look at a long-range plan for projects to be funded by the half-cent sales tax, a fund that has been named the Alexander City Road Improvement Project or ACRIP. “We put together a long-range road maintenance plan and that along with the plans for this year have been presented to the mayor,” Brewer said. “We hope to have that finalized so that we can present it to the council in the near future. We are excited about what those funds will make possible in new paving, engineers and patching and repairs as well. We feel like it will make a very noticeable difference.” The fund is expected to generate about $1.15 million this year and Brewer said he has a plan in place to let people in the area that may experience delays or restrictions due to the work know in advance what to expect. “We can tell people that we are going to be doing some paving, but well before that work ever begins there are a lot of things that have to be done to prepare for that,” Brewer said. “We plan to use door hangers, plus other notifications to let people know well in advance that we will be there and what it is we will be doing. For example, a lot of times
before a road can be paved, we have to clip shoulders to clear the way. It could be a shock if people don’t know it’s coming. We feel like we can lessen that blow if people know and can prepare.” While there are several smaller projects planned in the county, one of the more drastic undertakings will be along Cowpens Road where a federally funded paving project is set for the spring. Cowpens Road will be paved from Goldville Cutoff to Highway 22 in the spring. The stretch of road, which is a little more than two miles, will complete a project that was started about five years ago. County Engineer David Moore said earlier that the project will widen the road to 20 feet and add striping. The Alabama Department of Transportation also has two pretty big projects in the works. Area Operations Engineer Mike Corley said that ALDOT has bid out a project that will replace the rail signal arms on Main Street in downtown Alexander City. “The bid on that project could be awarded within the next few days,” Corley said. “We will come in and replace the poles and the signal and the railroad will place the arms and make adjustments to the crossing itself.” Corley said that ALDOT will also pave Alabama Highway 22 from Alexander City to the Coosa County line later this year.
Resolution
continued from page 1
Tidwell said. “Sometimes people work hard on their exercise, but they leave off their fruits and vegetables. They need to concentrate on those healthy foods as well as their workouts.” Tidwell, who received her bachelor’s degree in health promotion from Auburn University, has been in the fitness industry for 20 years, including four in the Alex City Parks and Recreation Department and the most recent 11 at Russell Medical. She said if an individual came into Total Fitness at RMC looking to lose a few pounds the process would be a little more complicated than ramping up the exercise and changing the diet. “If someone came in to just lose a few pounds, we’d look at their health history first,” Tidwell said. “Then we’d look at their orthopedic history. From that, we’d come up with a specific exercise prescription. “You know, running seems so simple, but some people can’t run because of an injury or something else in their history. That’s why we look at those kinds of things.”
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And Total Fitness doesn’t stop at 20 minutes a day of cardiovascular exercise,Tidwell says. “We work on a patients endurance, so we work them up to where they’re capable of an hour a day of cardio,” Tidwell said. “If you want to lose weight, you’ve got to adjust. “That’s why I love the FitBits so much,” Tidwell said. “It counts both your calories and your steps and might encourage you to take the stairs rather than the elevator or park farther away from the store than normal because you can see from those devices how the little things add up. Little changes in your life can make a big difference.” Fitness-oriented programs that Total Fitness offers include aquatics, both swimming lessons and a swimming technique course, aerobics, personal training and total lifestyle change (a specialty weight-loss program for persons looking to lose a significant amount of weight). The facility also offers rehabilitation programs including aquatics therapy, cardiac rehab, physical therapy, occupational therapy and sports medicine.
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Olyvia Baker, Roxi Baker, Colie Wyatt Atkinson, Mahailey Boksuntiea, Jaxon Boksuntiea, Maddie Atkinson, Kaitlyn Delong, Tyler Griffin. 1 Great Great Great Grandchild, Terry James “TJ” Bence. Sister in law, Lois Stephens. She was preceded in death by: 4 brothers, 3 sisters and several nieces and nephews. 2 sons-in-law: Bernard Colie “BC” Atkinson and Paul Moore. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial be given to: New Harvest Ministeries, P. O. Box 218, Kellyton, AL 35089
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Coffee
continued from page 1
Tomorrow they start back, so we’ll see. I’m pretty sure we’ll be flooded after school for frappes and pizza.” Vardaman said that she always wanted to own a coffee shop. Her favorite job ever – as a barista at a Mobile coffee shop called Carpe Diem, where she worked while a business student at the University of South Alabama – helped spawn the idea and, on Dec. 17, Coffee Corner opened. “I worked at a coffee shop in Mobile,” Vardaman said. “I knew it was what I wanted to do next. It just worked out for me.” How it worked out is a story in itself. Alexander City’s MainStreet held a competition called the Missing Piece contest. Anyone with a business idea was encouraged to enter and the judges looked for that business that was the missing piece to Alexander City’s retail mix and had the best plans for the business. Vardaman and her husband, Alex, who also own Top Flight Gymnastics, were judged the winners. Prizes included $10,000 worth of start-up services from Lee Marketing Group and Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., design services by Jamie Willis Dark Interiors and a complimentary membership to the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce. “That was a key in us making this work,” said Vardaman. “I’m so thankful to everyone involved in the Missing Piece contest.” Vardaman said the main reason she enjoyed her college job so much and the reason she opted to open a coffee shop was the atmosphere. “I just love the fact that people will come in a coffee shop and hang out,” Vardaman said.”They’ll just relax and read the newspaper or whatever and don’t feel in any rush to get up and free a table. That’s how we want them to feel.“
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As far as the coffees, Vardaman said Coffee Corner offers specialty drinks with espresso, lattes, smoothies, frappuccinos and brewed coffees. She said all of the beans for the brewed coffees are roasted in Auburn and that Coffee Corner offers their own handmade syrups for their drinks. “Some of our favorites are the white chocolate mocha, our frappes – we sell out of the mixes about every two weeks – and a new one called the Nutty Nana Frappe, which contains bananas, peanut butter and chocolate,” Vardaman said. “As far as our brewed coffees, our Bootlegger Dark Roast is our most expensive, but has also turned out to be the most popular dark roast we have right now.” For lunch, Coffee Corner offers mostly a menu of sandwiches, including turkey melts and ham and cheese melts served on croissants, teriyaki steak and teriyaki chicken, roast beef with au jus and a club. “There’s really no place here to get this kind of sandwich,” said Vardaman. “We use high quality breads and high quality meats and the customers have told us how much they enjoy them. They especially like the club and the turkey melt.” For breakfast, the restaurant offers croissants, bagels, muffins, cinnamon rolls with homemade icing (a Vardaman recommendation) and scones. The next items to be added to the menu? Pizza, craft beers from Southern breweries and – somewhere farther down the road – coffee made from beans roasted on site. “In the beginning of the process I just wanted to strictly do a coffee shop,” Vardaman said. “I didn’t want to branch out into anything else. My husband had to talk me into the food part. I’m glad he did because it’s been very successful.”
Camp Hill
continued from page 1
Council member Anthony Pogue was concerned that Hand was not in attendance at Monday’s meeting. “He is not going to be with us,” Evans said. “He is fired?” Pogue asked. “Yes,” Evans responded. Pogue even questioned why he was being paid for meetings he did not attend. “I should not be getting paid for meetings I did not attend,” Pogue said. “I have stated before that I do not want to be paid by direct deposit. Also, while we are at it, here is my repayment for the meetings that I have not attended. I don’t want to be in trouble with the Ethics Commission.” The issue appeared to be the subject of the executive session held at the end of the meeting in which Pogue walked out before the council reconvened. The town had contracted with Hand to install Quick Books to allow for an audit that would facilitate applying for grants for projects the town needs. “We cannot apply for grants until we get this audit,” Evans said. Council member Will York explained that the Auburn University Center for Governmental Studies would now be doing it at a lower cost than originally quoted. “They quoted initially on perceived volume,” York said. “But after seeing what we had they modified their quote.” Not having an audit has lead to the town’s inability to apply for grants and, according to consultant Jon Broadway, shows a lack of organization and procedure that has allowed the sewage lagoon to fall into disrepair. “The biggest problem I see with the sewage issues is the lack of administration and organization,” Broadway told the council. “Nobody knows what they are supposed to be doing or who they answer to. We can spend all the money in the world, but without some organization, you will be right back to where you started in just a few years. I see that 80 percent of the problems are administrative and 20 percent are with the lagoon.”
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Broadway also said that the issues at the lagoon went beyond what he initially thought. He explained that a grate needs to be installed to keep most of the larger trash like clothing and shoes from the lagoon, a new pump needs to be installed, aeration needs to installed and better monitoring of the effluent. Broadway explained that the costs to bring the lagoon back into usable specs would be between $276,000 and $481,000 and that the costs would be on the lower end of that range if the town improved the administrative procedures. At the meeting, former Camp Hill Police Chief Roosevelt Finley requested payment from the town for his services for recent subpoenas regarding the Markis Heard murder case. “I need to get paid for going to court for the town,” Finley explained to the council. “I am showing you the subpoenas that I received.” Evans explained that they cannot do that with the wrongful termination suit he filed is still ongoing. “My attorney says to have your attorney contact her and go from there,” Evans said. Finley responded that he is doing what his attorney has instructed him to do. “My attorney said to come here and talk to you all about it,” Finley explained. The Camp Hill Town Council also: • approved payment of bills. • moved the next council meeting to Tuesday, Jan. 19 because of the Martin Luther King holiday. • approved Ezell Smith to attend the League of Municipalities annual convention in Huntsville May 14-17. • heard an update from council member Will York that the insurance company has paid for the repair of the siren minus the $1,000 deductible and that the repair company is just waiting on payment to proceed. • approved minutes of the Nov. 16 meeting. • heard from Council member Smith thanking everyone for their efforts in the Camp Hill Public Library’s holiday food drive.
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Page 4
Our
Opinion Making sure schools are safe a smart move
B
e prepared. It may be a motto for the Boy Scouts of America, but the same could be said for local first responders and those at the Tallapoosa County Board of Education. Earlier this week, the Tallapoosa County Schools completed a series of table-top exercises designed to pull together officials from every aspect of emergency management as well as from all levels of the school system so that they will be prepared just in case. Groups worked through how to handle every detail should an active shooter strike at a school. It was encouraging to see the interaction and how seriously everyone involved took the drill. The command staff at the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department, Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department dispatchers, the New Site Police Department, the New Site Volunteer Fire Department, the Alexander City Police Department, the Alexander City Fire Department, the Alexander City Rescue Squad, Tallapoosa County EMA, Dadeville Police and Fire and several other volunteer firstrespondersl have all been a part of the training. “For decades, schools have had fire drills on a monthly basis and we all got pretty good at that,” Tallapoosa County Schools Superintendent Joe Windle said. “But I talked to the sheriff about it and we’ve never lost a child to fire in a school. But the very scenario that has proven to be deadly elsewhere, we had never trained for. So in 2012 we got serious about safety in our schools. Since then, we have had active shooter drills at all of our schools. The training we are doing is that next step, the graduation so to speak, where all the training comes together.” The effort was driven by the school system and extensive work by Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy David McMichael. We applaud this proactive move. The team approach shown was impressive and it’s always better to be prepared and not need the training, than to need it and not be prepared.
Outlook The
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Education in Alabama needs a unified voice
P
ublic education in Alabama does not have a unified voice. This vacuum allows efforts that defy common sense to gather momentum. We have come to a point where we either commit ourselves to standing up for public schools – or resigning ourselves to the fact that those with little understanding of what goes on in today’s classroom, those who run Washington think tanks funded by giant foundations and millionaires from outside Alabama, will increasingly call the shots. Let’s look at how this perfect storm came about. If we are honest we begin with the election of Barack Obama as President in 2008. The dislike of the president in Alabama was immediate, intense and visceral. Recognizing this, Republican leadership begin developing a game plan to take control of the Statehouse in 2010. When the dust settled on the November 2010 election, the GOP claimed 17 new House seats and nine Senate seats. For the first time in 136 years, Republicans controlled both the Senate and the House. They immediately took dead aim at the Alabama Education Association. Lame duck Gov. Bob Riley called a special session shortly after the election (legislators take office immediately upon election while constitutional officers do not take office until mid-January following their election). One of the bills stopped payroll deductions to pay dues to the Alabama Education Association and the Alabama State Employees Association. For decades AEA was the 800-pound gorilla in state politics. Paul Hubbert, AEA executive secretary, was definitely
LARRY LEE Guest Columnist
someone to be reckoned with by lawmakers. He was not loved by everyone in education. But even his detractors knew he had their back and that he had a voice regarding legislation dealing with education. Hubbert announced his retirement in 2011 and was replaced by Henry Mabry. To say that went badly is a huge understatement. How has public education fared since 2010? Not very well. The Alabama Accountability Act in 2013 was the first indication that educators were on the outside looking in. The fact that it was a radical piece of education policy that was kept a secret from the education community until the 11th hour left no doubt that legislative leadership has little regard for public education. What was education’s response? Not much. Yes, there was a lawsuit to stop the accountability act and more than 30 school systems fileda “friend of the court” brief in support, but education failed to draw a line in the sand and make a determined effort to defeat those who voted for this bill. This emboldened those in charge at the Statehouse. So in 2015 we get a charter school bill. We amend the accountability act so that it diverts more money from the Education Trust Fund. (We have now diverted $66.8 million) We take $80 million from ETF to prop up the General Fund. We create a new bureaucracy at the state department of education to work with charter
schools and we put a politicallyappointed board in charge which can overrule local school boards. The next legislative session begins in February. A bill titled RAISE Act of 2016 has now surfaced. It is even more drastic than the accountability act. For one it says that teachers will be evaluated in large part by the scores of their students on standardized tests. Such efforts have been studied by countless researchers and come up short in most cases. It also creates the Alabama Longitudinal Data System that will gather info from 12 sources and operate under the direction of another politically-appointed board. One can only guess at the millions of dollars it will require and how much work it will create for local school systems. I have yet to talk to an educator who thinks this legislation has merit. (And from all indications, whoever wrote the bill, like with the accountability act, did not seek input from Alabama educators.) This bill is not good for our public schools. It should be killed. As much as for what it signifies as for what it does. We did not draw the line in the sand in 2014. We should in 2016. This is why Alabama education needs a voice. One that is driven by passionate educators and concerned citizens who get informed and contact their legislators, their newspaper editors and their fellow educators and neighbors. We don’t need this raise but we do need to raise our voices. Larry Lee is a longtime advocate for public education. larrylee133@gmail.com. Read his blog: larryeducation.com
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 334242-7300, and his office is located at 501 Washington Avenue, Luther Strange Montgomery. 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 Mark Tuggle Calhoun Street, Suite 108, Alexander City. 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-t7865. Tom Whatley His office is located at 337 East Magnolia Drive, Auburn.
Today’s
Scripture “So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.” –1 Corinthians 9:26
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Today’s
“
Moderation is the key to a good life
Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey, whiskey makes my baby, feel a little frisky.” I’ve sung this song by country music icon Luke Bryan numerous times over the last 40 days and 40 nights. Ok, maybe it wasn’t that long, but we sure had enough rain in East Alabama to build an ark. In fact, 40 years ago we could have built it at the Monkey Park in Opelika and filled it with monkeys, because it was flooded and it had monkeys. Really. Rain really is a good thing, but it doesn’t lead to my baby being frisky. My baby is a two and half year old chocolate lab that hates rain. I actually have to go out in the rain with her when she needs to “water the grass.” Rain, like most things, is great in moderation. Hear that Bama fans? I know you’re proud of your Crimson Tide, as evident by all the flags, tags, and stickers all over your car. We get it. You like Alabama. My brother, mother, and step-father love Alabama. My dad did, too. I have but one Auburn sticker on my car and it says “alumni.” War Eagle! But I digress—moderation is key to just about everything. When the rain is washing out roads and bridges and impact-
JODY FULLER Guest Columnist
ing people’s lives in a negative manner, it’s too much. The same principle stands whether we’re talking about cheeseburgers, chicken wings, or cold beer. Cold beer is my downfall. I know I’m not an alcoholic, but sometimes, against my better judgment, I over-indulge, and then I hate myself for the next few days. That happened way too often in 2015. I think I’m getting better, though. I had a wake-up call not too long ago that did the trick. Literally. I was in a hotel after a night of drinking at the hotel bar when a wake-up call startled me at 4 a.m. I had a plane to catch. Flying early in the morning after a night of drinking really makes one question his judgment. I’d say that 90 percent of the regrets I have in life involve alcohol. That’s a true statement. I’m not proud of that, but it’s a fact. I was arrested for underage drinking when I was 19 years old, but that led to my decision to enlist in the army, which is the best decision I ever made. We
always have the ability to turn a negative situation into something positive. I don’t have to drink. I’ve gone months without drinking a single swallow, but I do enjoy a cold beer in moderation. On my recent trip to Kuwait, I was more concerned with four days without bacon than I was beer. Beer good. Bacon better. With that said, even bacon should be consumed in moderation, unless you have a desire to keep a can of bacon grease on the oven like my grandmother. Her home in Tallapoosa County was a magical place filled with Crisco cans, circus peanuts, and Cool Whip bowls. In hindsight, moderation was also lacking with respect to her collection of Cool Whip bowls. And before anybody gives me a hard time, about calling Luke Bryan a country music icon, I was joking. That’s like calling Willie Nelson a hip-hop mogul. For the record, I like Luke Bryan, but only in moderation. Jody Fuller is a comedian, 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.
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Thursday, January 7, 2016
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Austin Hill, left, is presented a check for $500 by Tallapoosa Publishers Account Representative Emily Guill after having his name drawn as the winner in the final Santa’s Cash Giveaway of the year. Congratulations to Mr. Hill , and thank you to all of the sponsors and contestants in this year’s promotion.
January 9
PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Comer United Methodist Church will host a pancake breakfast with sausage and/ or bacon Jan. 9 from 6 a.m. till 10 a.m. for $6 a plate. It is all you can eat dine in only and plates to go are available.
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, Marilyn Owens, Lebron Spradley and the Grande Finale Charlene Benton. MISSIONARIES SPEAKING: Calvary Heights Baptist Church will host international missionaries Greg and Laura Sharp. They will speak Jan. 10 at the 11 a.m. worship service. Everyone is invited to hear about their mission to Africa. A love offering will be taken. CONCERT: 4 ONE Quartet from Michigan will be in concert Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. at Family Worship Center at 1676 Swell St. Pastor Tony Harris is pastor and everyone is welcome.
January 11
Come Visit Us!
SURVIVOR’S OF SUICIDE: The group Survivor’s of Suicide support group for those who have lost a friend or loved one to suicide will meet Monday, Jan. 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lake Martin Family Therapy at 393 Green Street in Alexander City. For more information or directions please call 256-3293002.
Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing
January 16
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TRADE DAY: The Bibb Graves School in Millerville is hosting Trade Day Jan. 16 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
January 17
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GOSPEL SINGING: Hillabee Baptist Church will host a gospel singing and concert with Adam Crabb and The Griffith Family Jan. 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A love offering will be taken.
January 19
MEETING: The Artist Association of East Alabama will meet Jan. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the United Way Conference Room.
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. PUBLIC MEETING: The Tallapoosa County Commission/Emergency Management Agency is scheduling a public meeting on January 21 at 10 a.m. to update its Hazard Mitigation Plan. The meeting will take place at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse, Dadeville in the Extension Auditorium downstairs. the public, private nonprofits, municipalities, school board, universities/colleges, utility/water/sewer boards, fire departments, and elected officials are among those invited and encouraged to attend. participation is required in order to apply for federal hazard mitigation grants in the future.
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 nonalcoholic 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.
January 23
BINGO NIGHT: Bibb Graves School in Millerville is hosting family bingo night Jan. 23 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. TRASH WALK: The next PATH Trash Walk is scheduled for Saturday, January 23 at 9:00 AM. We will meet at the fountain in front of Jake’s Restaurant to receive supplies and assignments. Come out and join your friends and neighbors for a healthy walk while removing unsightly litter from the roadways of the “most scenic� county in Alabama. For additional information contact John Thompson at jthompson@ lmra.info
January 25
HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Steve Flowers will be the speaker for Horizons Unlimited Jan. 25 at the Alexander City Board of Education from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
January 30
ART WORKSHOP: The Artist Association of Central Alabama is hosting a Zantangle Art Workshop Jan 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the United Way Conference Room. Cost is $35 for members and $45 for non-members, all supplies included. Call Martha McKnight at 256-8256503 or Dottie Holdren at 256-377-4918 with questions or to register.
January 31
BIG DAY: Lake Pointe Baptist Church invites everyone to celebrate a Big Day for the church on Sunday, January 31, 2016, beginning at 10 AM. Lake Pointe is a new church and the new pastor will be introducing the church strategy of “Come! Let Us Build!� in the morning worship on January 31st. The worship music will be led by Anthony Counts, former pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church in Wetumpka. Faron Golden, pastor at Lake Pointe, will be sharing the church’s plan for serving the community and surrounding area through the message from God’s Word. Lake Pointe is located at 8352 Highway 50, Dadeville, Alabama 36853, and is just a short drive from Tallassee. Everyone is welcome.
February 1
HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Dr. Mark Conversino will be the speaker for Horizons Unlimited Feb. 1 at the Alexander City Board of Education from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• • • • •
Alexander City Outlook Dadeville Record Wetumpka Herald Eclectic Observer Tallassee Tribune
February 7
PASTOR ANNIVERSARY: New Harmony Missionary Baptist Church in Camp Hill will celebrate it’s 7th Pastor’s Anniversary honoring Rev. and Sister Melvin C. Kelley, Jr. Sunday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m.
Season Speaks
February 8
HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Troy Jones will be the speaker for Horizons Unlimited Feb. 8 at the Alexander City Board of Education from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
February 11 - February 27
WETUMPKA DEPOT PLAYERS: Steel Magnolias will be presented by the Wetumpka Depot Players Feb. 11- Feb. 27. For ticket information call 334-8681140 or go to wetumpkadepot.com.
February 16
MEETING: The Artist Association of East Alabama will meet Feb. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the United Way Conference Room.
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February 22
HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Julie Williams will be the speaker for Horizons Unlimited Feb. 22 at the Alexander City Board of Education from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
February 29
HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Jerry Armor will be the speaker for Horizons Unlimited Feb. 29 at the Alexander City Board of Education from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Ongoing Events DISNEY WORLD TRIP: The Learning Community Outreach Initative is sponsoring a trip to Disney World March 20-24. All who are interested should contact Rico Kelly at 256-7940397 or Wanda Zachery at 256-7943365. 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 @ 256-215-4494 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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Wildcats capture key area wins over Russell County By Robert Hudson Outlook Sports Editor
The Benjamin Russell Wildcats boys battled from behind to capture their first area win of the season with Tuesday’s 86-81 home victory over Russell County. The Wildcats (6-12, 1-1 in Class 6A-Area 5) handed Russell County its first area defeat in the process, but had to claw back from a big firstquarter deficit after trailing 27-11 going into the second period. “This is a team (Russell County) that’s been averaging in the upper 80s and 90s through the course of the year. We held them to 11 points in the second period to take a 37-36 lead at half,” said BRHS Coach Jeff Hines. “After three, they were up 58-57, but we outscored them 29-23. They came in here 2-0 in the area having already beaten Valley and Opelika, so we had our backs against the wall so to speak. I told our guys in practices leading up to this, we have got to protect our home court, and we did that. “I was extremely proud of our guys. We played, obviously, one of our better games.” Timmy Lawson had 29 points and five assists for Benjamin Russell, while Tyre Gray had 14 points, William Grant had 10 points and eight rebounds, and Quen Reese had 10 points. The win marks the fourth straight for a Wildcat team that
struggled to start the season. Hines said he is proud of the effort and the character of his team. “This group started out 0-7 and won two out of the next seven to finish 2-12 at Christmas. But since then we’ve won four in a row,” Hines said. “That tells you a little bit about the character of this bunch and how hard they’ve worked. Every day, we’ve got to come to work. We turn around and we’ve got another huge, huge ball game at Opelika, which is another area game.” Hines said the effort on the boards was key to Tuesday night’s win. “Offensive rebounds are something that has not been where it needs to be, but last night we had 23 offensive rebounds. When you’re rebounding offensively, that creates more opportunities for you to score,” Hines said. “Tae Johnson, he showed up with only four points in the book, but look closer and you see he had 11 rebounds and eight of those were offensive rebounds. Those are the kind of stats that no one really sees, but they’re important. I think Alex Doss also played well. He had six steals. Those are important.” And moving forward, Hines said he is excited to see the team falling into its roles. “One thing I’m excited about is that these guys are starting to figure out where their roles are and where their strengths are
Robert Hudson / Outlook File Photo
Benjamin Russell’s Chynna Allen had 14 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday’s area win over Russell County.
with a key 45-41 win over Russell County at home on Tuesday night. Latreisha Moon, head coach of Benjamin Russell (8-8, 1-1 in Class 6A-Area 5), said the difference in the game was the Lady Wildcats’ post play. “I thought our post play was really good last night. The difference in the game was our Benjamin Russell 45, post play because they didn’t have anybody who could Russell County 41 The Benjamin Russell Lady answer it,” Moon said. “When Wildcats brought their record we got the ball down there to to .500 overall and in the area them they’d score, and also
to help this basketball team,” Hines said. “I think our perimeter play has been really good, not saying that our post play hasn’t. But our post play is making significant strides right now. All 14 have a role and everyone is filling their role right now, which is why we’re having the success we are.”
our rebounding was great. We outrebounded them, so we’re getting better on the boards.” Chynna Allen had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaaliyah Caldwell had 14 points and 17 rebounds for Benjamin Russell. Moon said the win was a big confidence builder for BRHS, but they will have to quickly turn their attention to another area opponent in Opelika. “It was very important for us to get this area win. We have Opelika Thursday night and I want the girls going in there knowing they can win,” Moon said. “So, as far as our confidence, this win was very important. I want them to understand, know and believe that if they play hard they will win in the end. They told me it’s been a long time since they’ve won against Russell County, so they were excited about the win and so was I.” And Moon added she hopes to continue to see the improvement her team has shown over the past few games. “We went over to LaFayette, Georgia and played a couple of games in a tournament there and played some very good talent over there. We won our first game and lost our second game, which put us in fourth place,” Moon said. “But I think we’ve improved a lot. We’re not turning the ball over as much as we’ve done in the past.” Benjamin Russell travels to Opelika tonight at 6 p.m.
Dadeville swept on the road at area rival Elmore County By Cory Diaz The Wetumpka Herald
Elmore County turned up the defense and turned Dadeville over in a 60-35 area matchup rout Tuesday at home. It was the sixth straight victory for the Panthers, who improved to 2-0 in Class 4A, Area 5 play and 12-4 overall, quadrupling its win total from last season. To close out the first half, ECHS forced six turnovers in a row, taking a 27-10 advantage into halftime. It followed that up, causing five more turnovers in 12 third-period possessions for the Tigers, as the Panthers extended their lead to 41-17 after three. “We just played hard for real,” senior guard Johnnie Jasper said. “We really didn’t do much, just played defense, just keep going at it. The offense kept rolling as we went on with the defense.” Elmore County scored seven points off the Dadeville turnovers to close out the half, and almost all of its third-quarter production were points off turnovers. “We picked up the pressure,” ECHS boys basketball coach Warren Brown said. “(Assistant coach Nathan) Taylor said ‘let’s run our press.’ We played them in the Alex City Tournament and we saw what was good for us and what didn’t work so well. We fell back and let them earn it, that’s why it was a low scoring first half. We wanted to stretch the lead, so let’s jump in it and got a couple of turnovers, one thing to another, that’s what pressure does. We were able to build on that lead.”
The Panthers converted several offensive rebounds to points, helping the team jump out to an early, first-period lead and pull away. With guard trio Jasper, Tyric Belyeu and Neal Cook, who scored 15, 14 and 13, respectively, driving, Brown said it opens up rebounding lanes for his team. “When we’re attacking, everybody is sucked in and it kind of leaves the two bigs and everybody is going after the scorers, Johnnie and Neal Cook, who’s scoring double digits as well. It gives us a free lane to crash the boards and that’s what’s happening,” Brown said. “The spacing on the court, guys knocking down shots around the perimeter has been good and it’s opening things up. That’s what it’s supposed to look like when you’re playing well.” Getting the program’s first area win over a foe other than Holtville in nearly two years was a momentum builder, Jasper said. “We’re going to eat. We’re going to keep at it, we’re going to try to go to the playoffs and finish strong,” the senior said. “Last year, we wasn’t doing too good. But this year, we want it more.”
Lady Panthers 59, Lady Tigers 25
Elmore County sprinted past Dadeville, 59-25, in a Class 4A, Area 5 tilt at ECHS Tuesday. It was all about the start for the Lady Panthers (8-4, 2-0) as they missed just two field goal attempts and outscored the Lady
Cory Diaz / The Wetumpka Herald
Dadeville’s Tre Johnson (40) and Isaiah Hicks (10) battle Elmore County’s Johnnie Jasper for a rebound during Tuesday night’s game.
Tigers, 19-2, in the opening quarter. Dadeville made the contest’s first basket, then the Panthers proceeded to account for the next 33 points. After a near 12-minute offensive drought, Lady Tiger guard Quanesha Presley sank a layup, while Elmore County led, 37-6, at halftime. Presley paced Dadeville with 13 points for the night. ECHS shot 69 percent as a team from the field for the game, thanks to easy baskets off turnovers.
Senior point guard Elissa Brown paced the Panthers with 32 points on a 94 field goal percentage performance due to her game-high seven steals on the defensive side of the floor. As a team, Elmore County had 12 steals. Sophomore forward Hannah Gibson had two steals and scored all six of her points in the first half. Freshman forward Diamond Brown led the Panthers with four rebounds and added six points.
Title game will either be Watson’s finest hour or nightmare come true
B
efore we give Alabama its umpteenth national championship, consider the quarterback that has given Nick Saban’s defenses fits. He’s mobile. He’s agile. He’s the conductor of a fast-paced, quickstrike offense that can throw on the run and turn would-be sacks into positive yards. He’s not exactly Connor Cook, Michigan State’s quarterback who turned into a human piñata in the New Year’s Eve semifinal. He’s Tim Tebow, who led the Gators to a 31-20 victory over Alabama in the 2008 SEC Championship Game. Tebow, the Heisman Trophy winner a year prior, could beat you with his legs and arm and he didn’t let Florida down that night in Atlanta, throwing for three touchdowns. He’s Cam Newton, director of the Cam-back. Newton, a
JOE MCADORY Sports Columnist
running-passing nightmare for defenses, and Auburn overcame a 24-0 second period deficit to stun the Tide 28-27. The 2010 Heisman Trophy winner passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another. His legs and right arm have directed the Carolina Panthers to 15-1 this season. He’s Johnny Manziel, who came into Tuscaloosa as a freshman in 2012 and stunned the crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium by leading Texas A&M to a 20-0 lead in the first period. Manziel passed for 253 yards and rushed for 92 yards as the Aggies held off No. 1 Alabama, 29-24.
But Manziel wasn’t finished. As a sophomore, Manziel puzzled the Tide defense to the tune of 464 passing yards – including a 95-yarder to Mike Evans in the fourth quarter, 98 rushing yards and five touchdowns. All he didn’t do that September afternoon in College Station was win. Final score: Alabama 49, Texas A&M 42. Manziel’s pro career, however, is going in another direction than Newton’s. He’s Nick Marshall, arguably the best read-option quarterback I’ve ever witnessed. The Auburn quarterback could burn you with speed and fool you with his hands. ‘Who has the ball?’ was a problem many defenses couldn’t answer in 2013. Alabama came to Jordan-Hare Stadium ranked No. 1, but left 34-28 losers. Sure, the Kick Six had something to do with it, but Marshall, Tre Mason and Auburn’s up-
tempo pace rushed for better than 300 yards. Insert tin horn comment here, Nick Saban. A year later in Tuscaloosa, Marshall passed for more yards (456) than any Auburn passer in history. Marshall, who threw for three touchdowns, directed an offense that lit up the Tide defense for 630 yards and 44 points. Alabama and it’s offensive wrecking crew put up 55 points for the win, however. He’s Cardale Jones, Ohio State’s freshman quarterback who started just two games in 2014. Facing the best defense he’s ever seen, Jones used his wheels to escape pressure, keep the chains moving, pass for 242 yards and lead the Buckeyes to a stunning playoff semifinal win last January. He’s not Dak Prescott. Mississippi State’s star may have the attributes, but he never
beat Alabama in three tries. Is he Clemson’s Deshaun Watson? We’re about to find out. Watson is the reason why the Tigers are 14-0 and in the national championship game. The numbers: Watson not only passed for 3,704 yards and 31 touchdowns, but the sophomore rushed for another 1,032 yards and 12 scores. He’s fast, slithery, mobile, accurate and has moxie. Watson is arguably better than some quarterbacks on this list. But one thing is certain: Watson has not faced a defense like Alabama’s. Monday night will either be his finest hour, or nightmare come true. Joe McAdory is former Sports Editor of the Opelika-Auburn News and is Communications Editor for the Auburn University Raymond J. Harbert College of Business.