THE
LOCAL, PAGE A10 Area residents have mixed opinions on gas tax
TUESDAY SPORTS, PAGE B1
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Coosa lands 3 on all-state, Freeman 2A coach of year
March 12, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 50 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
BOE presents $34M ‘shopping list’ to county Tallapoosa County Schools superintendent Joe Windle makes the case for continuing the 1-cent sales tax passed by the Tallapoosa County Commission 40 months ago.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The Tallapoosa County Commission was given a presentation on a facility assessment for Tallapoosa County schools as part of a plea to keep a new 1-cent sales tax in place at Monday’s commission meeting. Last fall the commission tabled a resolution to rescind the 1-cent sales tax and asked leaders with county schools to present a plan of what they would do with the funding. Tallapoosa County schools superintendent Joe Windle said schools need the tax to remain in place so projects at all county
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
school campuses could take care of life-safety issues and bring facilities up to code. To help make the case, county schools brought back Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood executive vice president Fred Lynn who presented a facility assessment to the county school board in February. “It is a $34 million shopping list,” Lynn said. “It is about half renovations and half capital projects. It comes down to many of the facilities are tired; they need some work done.” Lynn said about $17.24 million was needed in renovations and $16.94 million was See COMMISSION • Page A3
History remains alive with Frohsin’s restoration
Craven guilty of harassment By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
District court judge Kim Taylor found Frank Steven Craven guilty of harassment in a Christmas time incident at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Buttson. Several members of the church were present as were family members of Craven. Many were sworn in to testify including several Tallapoosa County deputy sheriffs. Ultimately, Taylor heard from Craven, Lighthouse Baptist pastor Carl Stokes and church member Wendy Watson. Watson set the scene for the events leading to Craven being arrested for harassment. “The adults were having Bible study in a back room,” Watson testified. “I was in the sanctuary with the children. We were practicing for the church Christmas program.” It was there things started to change Watson said. “I heard gunshots,” Watson said. “I poked my head outside and told my daughter who was smoking to come inside. My daughter and two men came in the door.” Watson said she didn’t know who Craven was at the time and said he asked to speak with the preacher. Watson said her daughter got Stokes from the Bible study to speak with Craven. “They sat at a table and started talking,” Watson said. “Everything was fine – then (I) started hearing cussing. It just got See CRAVEN • Page A10
Today’s
Weather
73 63 High
Low
Lake Levels
486.19 Reported on 03/11/19 @ 6 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
54708 90050
8 USPS Permit # 013-080
By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
N
Jimmy Wigfield / The Outlook
Frohsin’s Clothier in downtown Alexander City has been brought back to life and appears as it did in the early 20th century. Owner Keith Watson said the sign now adorning the front of the building was uncovered when black glass panels were removed during the renovation. The store held its grand opening on Saturday after the original business housed in the building had been closed since 1996.
ewly opened Frohsin’s Clothier owner Keith Watson admits he likes to find buildings nobody else wants or which seem to have decayed beyond being salvageable. In a way, that’s how he views downtown Alexander City and the community as a whole — it’s all worth saving. “I like finding the eyesore,” said Watson, who moved from Georgia to Alex City in November to restore and reopen the former Frohsin’s Department Store building and by the end of the year is planning to open a restaurant in an old recycling building he’s leasing from the city near the Thomas C. Russell Field airport. Watson respects the Frohsins and what they have meant to the city but said he also wants to marry progress with tradition and feels change is positive. “I think Alex City has a bright future,” he said. “We can turn it into a city of tourism and other things. It’s a big change going See FROHSIN’S • Page A9
Judge to hear about landfill property today By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
Lake Martin
6
New owner marries tradition with progress downtown
The City of Alexander City can officially start the process of extending the life of its landfill if Tallapoosa County Probate Judge Tal East approves a condemnation request today for property around the landfill owned by Clay Services Corp. Currently, the landfill has between two and three years of usable life remaining, according to city attorney Larkin Radney and city public works director Gerard Brewer. Adding the 108 acres owned by Clay Services Corp. and another 40 already bought from McGill Timber Co. would expand the footprint of the landfill 11 times. It currently sits on 13.3 acres, Brewer said. “If we get this extra acreage, that should set us up for another 40 or 50 years and that might be on the low side,” Brewer said. Radney said East will conduct deliberations beginning at 11 a.m. at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse in
Jimmy Wigfield / The Outlook
See LANDFILL • Page A3
Demolition debris is seen scattered about the Alex City inert landfill off North Central Avenue.
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