June 23 Alex CIty Outlook

Page 1

OUTLOOK EARNS 18 APA AWARDS, PAGE 11.

TUESDAY

THE

OPINION

SKILLS CAMP Youth footballers learn from grid legends. Page 12

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

Readers sound off on important issues, Page 4.

June 23, 2015

Vol. 123, No. 124

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Officials probe fatal boat crash By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor

ALEA / Special to The Outlook

This Alabama Law Enforcement released photo shows the damage to a pontoon boat involved in Friday’s fatal crash that killed 66-year-old Stanley Sides.

Authorities are still investigating a twovessel crash Friday that left a local man dead. Stanley Sides, 66, of Alexander City was killed when the pontoon boat he was operating was struck from behind by a bass boat at 8:45 p.m. Friday. According to Sgt. Steve Jarrett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the accident happened in the Tallapoosa River channel of Lake Martin between Dennis Creek and Mallard Point in Tallapoosa County. Two other passengers were said to have been injured, but few details were released. “They were treated for their injuries at Russell Medical Center,” Jarrett said. Jarrett said that no final determination on possible charges, or the cause of the crash were available. Both boats have been

TripAdvisor website recognizes Wind Creek

Two council members told to ‘BE CAREFUL’ Goss, Ellison-Simpson mailed letter over employee pay issue

By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer

Wind Creek State Park is one of 10 Alabama state parks recently awarded the 2015 Certificate of Excellence from the TripAdvisor travel website. TripAdvisor features travelergenerated content and reviews. The Certificate of Excellence award is indicative of establishments that provide excellent guest experiences and consistently achieve positive reviews on the TripAdvisor website, tripadvisor.com. “In the past two years, 11 of our state parks have received Certificate of Excellence awards from TripAdvisor,” said Greg Lein, director of Alabama State Parks. “We are extremely proud that our customers regard our parks in such a consistently positive manner. The entire parks division deeply appreciates our staff, park volunteers, and See PARK, Page 5

impounded and are being examined as part of the investigation. “It’s too early to speculate on a cause or additional details, so there’s nothing available for release at this time,” Jarrett said. “We are actively investigating this case and will update everyone as soon as we can.” The names of the occupants of the bass boat were not released, but indications were that they received only minor injuries. While authorities investigated, funeral arrangements were announced Monday for Mr. Sides. The funeral will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Alexander City where he was an active member and a deacon. The family will receive friends today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. A complete obituary appears on page 2 of today’s newspaper.

By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor

Submitted / The Outlook

T above letter was received Friday by Alexander City City Council members Tony Goss and The Sherry Ellison-Simpson suggesting that if raises are cut, employees will get even at the ballot box. S

While many citizens are thankful that irregularities with the way that some pay increases for Alexander City’s city employees is being looked at, there is someone who is apparently trying to get to a pair council members at the center of the investigation into the matter. Council members Tony Goss and Sherry Ellison-Simpson each received letters with identical text Friday, issuing a warning to them if “raises are cut.” The letter appears in the photo accompanying this story. The letter was unsigned and carried a postmark from Birmingham. It was dated June 17. “I don’t have any idea who is responsible, but the reason that we are interested in this is not to hurt the employees,” EllisonSimpson said. “We want to make sure that each and every employee is being treated fairly and the only way for us to do that is to make sure that the procedures in place are

Spann to be featured speaker at Brainiac Boot Camp By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer

Popular meteorologist James Spann of Birmingham’s ABC 33/40 will talk to campers at the Summer Reading Camp at Stephens Elementary School on Wednesday at 1 p.m. This is Spann’s second straight year as a presenter at the camp, according to Sharon Fuller, executive director of the Lake Martin Area United Way which, along with Pediatrics Associates and the Alexander City Board of Education, sponsors the seven-week camp. “When James Spann came last year we had a tremendous response from the community,” Fuller said. “So much so that he was eager to come back this year. “He hasn’t told us exactly what he’s going to talk about this time, but it will be something about weather.” Spann has been awarded the two

highest honors in the nation for a broadcast meteorologist. The National Weather Association named Spann Broadcaster of the Year in 2012 “for his passionate dedication to serving the Central Alabama community with critical weather information for over thirty years, especially during the deadly April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak.” He also won the American Meteorological Society’s Award for Broadcast Meteorology in January 2013. The AMS stated he was the winner in part because of “his tireless efforts to advance the public’s awareness of and engagement in the science of meteorology, particularly severe weather forecasting and response”. Fuller said those wishing to attend Spann’s presentation only may do so at no charge, but adults must accompany children. See SPANN, Page 5

See LETTER, Page 5

Lake Martin

Lake Levels

489.51 Reported on 6/15/15 @ 2 p.m.

Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL

Today’s

Weather

95 74 High

File / The Outlook

Meteorologist James Spann of Birmingham’s ABC 33/40 will talk to campers at the Summer Reading Camp Wednesday.

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