OPINION: ‘THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IS GETTING UGLY’ PAGE 4
THE
FRIDAY
MAKING PLANS? See today’s calendar for Easter activities & more.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 March 25, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 61 www.alexcityoutlook.com
A ROUGH START Wildcats fall on the road. Sports, page 8.
County jail inmate found with gun By MITCH SNEED Editor An inmate in the Tallapoosa County Jail was found to be armed with a handgun after being transported to the jail by Jacksons Gap Police. Tallapoosa County Jimmy Abbett said Thursday that 20-year-old Daquan Denzell Sheeley was arrested and had
Sheeley
charges of first-degree promoting prison contraband added when he was found to be in possession of a gun Wednesday. Sheeley, whose booking documents list his address as 924 Manoy Drive in Jacksons Gap, was found to have the gun after officials received information that Sheeley had a weapon. A detailed search found that a Taurus PT 609 9 mm handgun, loaded with five live rounds, according to court records. The gun was recovered and secured, and no one was injured in the process. Sheeley and two other individuals
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Movie on the life of Hank Williams hits theaters, sparking interest due to local ties
A Wednesday call to Alexander City Police in reference to a domestic violence complaint has led to attempted murder charges. Alexander City Police Department Deputy Chief Jay Turner said Thursday that Kristy Black, 29, has been charged with attempted murder when an investigation into a domestic violence complaint found that she fired a weapon at a man Turner called her “common law husband.” “Officers were called to a Third Street address after a female called to report a domestic violence situation,” Turner said. “Upon arrival, information led them to an Eighth Avenue address. As the investigation progressed, they found that the female was actually the aggressor. They also found that a shot had been fired towards the male. That’s when charges were upgraded to attempted murder.” Turner said there have been previous visits to the residence where disputes have been reported between Black and the victim. As of Thursday evening, Black had been transported to the Tallapoosa County Jail where bond was set at $50,000.
Lake Levels
487.28 Reported on 3/24/16 @ 5 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
69 47 High
6
Low
54708 90050
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we are talking with our folks to determine where the issue may be and make sure that it doesn’t happen again. “The department takes pride in operating the facility in a professional manner to insure the safety of all the inmates housed in our facility. Once the investigation is completed, necessary action will be taken to prevent this from happening to our staff and the inmates being housed in our facility.” Records indicate that Sheeley was arrested Monday and the weapon was found at 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday.
NOW SHOWING: ‘I Saw The Light’
Woman accused of attempted murder
Lake Martin
were arrested on unrelated charges by the Jacksons Gap Police Department and all were transported to the Tallapoosa County Jail by the Jacksons Gap Police Department and the Dadeville Police Department, according to a released statement by Abbett. The Tallapoosa County Jail serves as a holding facility for several municipal police agencies in the county. “There were two agencies involved and we are discussing the procedures on both sides of the investigation,” Abbett said. “They are talking with their people and
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Hank Williams was country music royalty, and his genius is evidenced by the staying power of the lyrics to his songs that touch on every emotion on a life’s journey. Tonight, “I Saw the Light” a movie that chronicles the too short life of Williams hits theaters. The movie is based on his life adapted from the book “Hank Williams: The Biography” with British actor Tom Hiddleston playing the lead role as Williams. Many local folks can’t wait to see how the big screen portrays one of Alabama’s favorite sons and a man who made a mark here in Alexander City and the Lake Martin community. The local interest is understandable. Just four and a half months before Hank’s passing, Alexander City got a glimpse of the downward See HANK • Page 7
Meeting on future of Councill Middle victim of stormy weather STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
The public meeting that the Tallapoosa County Board of Education on the potential closure of Councill Middle School has been canceled due to weather. The meeting will be rescheduled. “We will reschedule the meeting for sometime after spring break,” Tallapoosa County Board of Education’s Casey Davis said. County Schools are out See COUNCILL • Page 7
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Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Driver escapes serious injury in violent crash Alexander City Police were called to the scene of single-vehicle crash on Scott Road. Despite skidding off a rain-soaked street and striking a tree head on, the driver of the Ford SUV did not suffer life-threatening injuries. The report was not complete Thursday afternoon, the name of the driver was not available as the investigation was ongoing. Now Playing:
Miracles from Heaven – PG Batman Vs. Superman (3D) – PG-13 Allegiant – PG-13 (The Divergent Series)
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Wife’s weight loss draws looks from wrong direction
Saturday
76 58 High
Low
Mostly sunny
Sunday
72 56 High
Low
80 percent chance of rain
Staff
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
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.
Postal
Information
WHATLEY MONUMENT Company Better Service A Family Tradition 1049 Hillabee Street Alexander City, AL C.M. “Mike” Whatley, Owner
329-1217
Friday, March 25, 2016
The Outlook
Mrs. Patsyen Heard Funeral service for Mrs. Patsyen Heard 57 of Goodwater, AL; 12 noon; Saturday, March 26, 2016; Hatchet Springs Baptist Church, Goodwater, AL. Burial, Macedonia Memorial Garden, Goodwater, AL. Arrangements by Armour’s Memorial Services.
SOCIAL SECURITY FAYE EDMONDSON
DEAR ABBY: I’m 39 and have been married for nine years. Three years into our marriage I got sick and lost a lot of weight. I now turn heads everywhere I go. All except the head I want to turn -- my husband’s. He drives a truck and all he does is talk to and sext larger, unattractive older women. He has gone to counseling and 12-step meetings, and I’ve told him to get out numerous times. Nothing has helped. I’m now getting to the point that I feel I can work again. Is it wrong for me to be making an exit plan for when my son from a previous marriage turns 18? -- TURNS THE WRONG HEADS DEAR TURNS: If I told you it was wrong, would you stop doing it and remain in an unhappy marriage? I doubt it. If your husband is attracted to other women and acting on it, you should absolutely prepare yourself for the day you
Obituaries Mrs. Juanita “Ma” Speaks Laster 1935-2016 Funeral service for Mrs. Juanita “Ma” Speaks Laster, 80, of Alexander City, will be Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Jack Womack will officiate. Entombment will follow in the
Miss Alexis Neal 2016-2016 Miss Neal passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at Children’s Hospital of Alabama. She was born on March 3, 2016 in Children’s Hospital of Alabama, Jefferson County to Collin Neal and Yazzmine Clark. She is survived by her mother, Yazzmine Clark; father, Collin Neal; sister, Alisa Neal; grandmother, Gina Bader; grandfather, Alan Bader; great-grandmother, Debbie Truss; great-grandfather, Don Glasscock; step-grandmother, Sally Choate; aunts, Ashlea Bader, Angelica Dial, Chyane Ivie, and Heather Ivie; uncles, Dan Jarvis (Kay), David Evan, and Jamie Sims; cousin, Tristian Evans and Christina Truss; and great-aunt, Crystal Jarvis. She was preceded in death by her great-grandparent, Rose Glasscock; grandfather, Derick Clark, Sr. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com.
Attorney at Law
135 N. Tallassee Street • Dadeville, AL
256-825-9559 No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
DEAR ABBY Advice
declare your independence. It’s far more sensible than being unprepared. DEAR ABBY: My brother got married a year ago after dating for less than a year. His wife started calling my parents Mom and Dad from the get-go. I didn’t realize how much it would bother me, but it does and, frankly, I resent her for it. I’m very close to my parents, and I view our bond as sacred. To me, Mom and Dad aren’t names you use lightly, to be cute or as a term of endearment. The relationship is earned and unique. I would never think of Hillview Mausoleum. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 25, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m at Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Mrs. Laster passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at Adams Health and Rehab. She was born on November 21, 1935 in Alexander City, Alabama to John Forrest Speaks and Mary Elizabeth Dean Speaks. Mrs. Laster was a devoted
Mr. Kenneth S. Glenn A memorial service for Mr. Kenneth S. Glenn of Birmingham, AL., will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Southside Baptist Church, 1016 19th St. South, Birmingham, AL 35205, with Dr. Timothy L. Kelley officiating. Mr. Glenn passed away after a short illness on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at St. Vincent’s East Medical Center, Birmingham, AL. He was a graduate of Benjamin Russell High School where he excelled in the school’s marching band. He attended Jacksonville State University (JSU Marching Southerners), in Jacksonville,
Mrs. Evelyn DeLee 1950-2016 Funeral service for Mrs. Evelyn DeLee, 65, of Kellyton, will be Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Larry Cummings will officiate. Burial will follow in the Fellowship Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 25, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mrs. DeLee passed away on Wednesday, March 23,
calling my husband’s parents Mom and Dad, and I don’t feel that I’m offending them by not doing so. Is there a proper way to discuss this with my brother and sister-in-law without hurting feelings or creating tension? -- ANNOYED SISTER-IN-LAW DEAR ANNOYED: Calm down and curb the attitude, because if you say anything you will appear to be jealous and petty. What your sister-inlaw is doing is very common. Regardless of what she calls your parents, you are still their daughter and she is not. If they didn’t like her calling them Mom and Dad, I’m sure they would let her know they preferred she choose something else. DEAR ABBY: I have been in a relationship with a really great guy for five years. He is wonderful to my son and treats him as his own. The problem is, I don’t
think I am capable of truly being in love with anyone. I care deeply about him -- as much as I am capable of loving. My question is, would it be unfair to him if I agree to marry him knowing he loves me more than I love him? -- TO MARRY OR NOT TO MARRY DEAR T.M. OR N.T.M.: I’m not sure many couples love each other equally. More often one loves the other more. If you think you can be a good wife to this man, then marry him. Obviously, you have a high degree of compatibility, or he wouldn’t be considering marriage to you. 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.
wife, mother and grandmother. She loved watching her grandkids at the ball field, and the game wouldn’t start until Ma & Pa arrived. She is survived by her spouse, William Frank Laster; daughter, Debra Joyce Corley (William), of Alexander City; grandchildren, Sandi Woods, Steven Corley (Nikki), Sean Corley; great-grandchildren, Corley Woods, Campbell Woods, Anna Corley, and Thomas Corley; brother,
Bernard Speaks of Alexander City. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Gordon Speaks and Johnny Speaks; and sisters, Edith Bailey, Ruth Mc Cord, Shug Spraggins, and Voncile Shores. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www. radneyfuneralhome.com.
AL., and later joined the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. He is survived by his wife Lisa C. Glenn of Birmingham, AL; parents Susie J. Davis and Willie F. Davis of Alexander City, AL.; 3 children Jennifer Mickel (Brian) of Lebanon, TN; Kimberly Emerson (Gregg) and Josh Cochran (Vanessa) of Birmingham, AL.; five grandchildren; brother Steven Glenn of Dadeville, AL., sister Monica Davis Gilmore of Alexander City, AL.., adopted brother Dwayne Aycock (Sue), god-daughter(Ashley) of Tampa, FL.; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He is preceded in recent
deaths by his grandmother Annie Pearl Robinson, cousins Sheila Shelton Burks, Daphney Chambliss, Aunt Augustine Glenn and Uncle Thomas Glenn. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations are made in Mr. Glenn’s memory to the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners music program so that deserving students can carry on the music he so dearly loved. Checks may be made payable to JSU Foundation, 700 Pelham Road North. Jacksonville, AL 36265. Arrangements provided by Cremation Center of Birmingham, Woodstock, AL.
2016 at her residence. She was born on August 5, 1950 in Troop County, Georgia to Roy Webster DeLee and Ruby Dean Laster DeLee. Mrs. DeLee enjoyed fishing and her animals. She never met a stranger and enjoyed being with her “children and grandchildren”. She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Glen Hall of Kellyton; sisters, Benita Brewer of Summerville, GA and Janice Bozone of Lanett; brothers, Ridgeway DeLee and William DeLee of Lanett; step-daughter, Fran Harris of
Lineville; step-grandchildren, Peyton Hill and Haley Hill. Pallbearers will be Brian Howe, Riley Howe, Lamar Selman, Bronson Selman, Cody Mast and Cody Hall. Benjamin Selman will serve as an honorary pallbearer. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Paul David DeLee. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www. radneyfuneralhome.com.
Mr. Mitchell Cole Arnold 1980-2016
Baptist Church. He enjoyed working with automobiles, riding the dirt roads, and fishing. Mitchell loved his family tremendously. He is survived by his wife of 4 years, Carrie Lynn Ellington Arnold of Alexander City; father, George Eddie Arnold of Goodwater; son, Will Arnold; daughter, Hollie Ellington; son, Zachary Ellington; and uncle, Wayne Hunter (Diane). He was preceded in death by his mother, Julia Hunter Arnold; brother, Michael Arnold; grandparents, Albert and Edna Hunter. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www. radneyfuneralhome.com.
Funeral service for Mr. Mitchell Cole Arnold, 35, of Alexander City, will be Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Randy Anderson and Rev. Norman Strickling will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 25, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Arnold passed away on Thursday, March 24, 2016 at his residence. He was born on November 7, 1980 in Haleyville, Alabama to George Eddie Arnold and Julia Hunter Arnold. He was a member of Town Creek
Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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The Outlook
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Today is March 25, 2016 Today’s Events LAST SUPPER: Flint Hill United Methodist Church will presenting a live and moving reenactment of Leonardo Di Vinci’s The Last Supper today at 6 p.m. Tickets will be available at Flint Hill UMC, from church members, Cloud Nine, Lake Martin Humane Society, The Coffee Corner and Lake Broadcasting. You will not be
turned down if you do not have a ticket. For more information call 256234-5047. TENNEBUE SERVICE: Comer Memorial Methodist is hosting a Tennebue Service March 25 at 7:30 p.m. CRUCIFIXION REENACTMENT: Mt Zion Baptist Church on Highway 63 South will display a reenactment of the resurrection of Jesus Christ March 25 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., all day on March 26 and to noon on March 27. BAKE SALE: USAmeriBank is
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Participate in your Outlook by calling 256-234-4281, faxing them to 256-234-6550, sending your event to calendar@alexcityoutlook.com or logging on to http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/. hosting a bake sale for Relay for Life at both Alexander City locations Friday, March 25. Sales will begin at 9 a.m.
Today’s Anniversary
There are no anniversaries for today’s calendar.
Today’s Birthdays
Joyce Johnson, Linda Gunn, Elgie Joiner, Katie Thomas, Arthur Boleware and Payton Porch are celebrating their birthdays today.
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Come Visit Us! Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing
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Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Alexander City Lions Club president Billy Wall presents a donation to Karen Hurst of the Tallapoosa County Crisis Center at a recent meeting. The Lions Club has done other things for the Crisis Center like purchasing hams to go with the meals at Christmas time.
March 26
FAMILY BINGO NIGHT: Bibb Graves School is hosting family bingo night March 26 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ART WORKSHOP: The Artist Association of Central Alabama is hosting a watercolor bird on a branch workshop March 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Social Hall. Contact Dottie at 256-377-4918 to register. EGG HUNT: Men of Honor (MOH) will be hosting a Easter Egg Hunt on March 26th 2016 from 1pm to 4pm at the park in Camp Hill, Al. Bring kinds of all ages lunch will be provided to all Easter egg hunters everyone is welcome to come. EGGSTRAVAGANZA: Leadership Lake Martin is hosting Eggstravaganza in Strand Park March 26 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. with proceeds benefiting Outdoor Friends Forever. The Easter bunny will be available for pictures. There will be a cupcake contest with an entry fee of $10 per category. There will be a bake sale and games including a three-legged race, egg toss and egg on a spoon. EGG HUNT: The Sixth Street Baptist Church Easter Egg Hunt will be March 26 at 10 a.m. at 6th Street Park. Games, snack and candy-filled eggs. Hunts for infants through 6th graders. EGG HUNT: Calvary Heights Baptist Church will host an Easter Egg Hunt March 26 from 9 a.m. til 11 a.m. There will be a magic show featuring Carl Kelly. Everything is for ages infant through sixth grade. The church is located at the intersection of Highway 280 and Elkahatchee Road. EGG HUNT: Kellyton United Methodist Church is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, March 25, 2016, beginning at4:30 pm. All children through 6th grade are invited. Prizes for each age category. Easter Bunny will make a surprise appearance, parents be sure to bring your cameras. Dinner will be served. Kellyton United Methodist Church is located one block from downtown Kellyton, 85 Smyrna Road. EGG HUNT: Community Easter Egg Hunt will be Saturday, March 26th 10a.m. Wall Street AME Zion Church, 71 Zion Street, Tallassee, AL (334) 283-2594. Look us up on facebook www.wallstreetamez.com Event Coordinator is Mrs. Della Hayes, Pastor, Edwrin Sutton. Everyone is invited! EGG HUNT: Comer Baptist Church is hosing a community Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. There will be activities for all ages.
THROW AWAY DAY PATH and Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership are organizing a county wide clean up for the weekend of April 23. Tallapoosa County Commissioners are providing dumpsters at the following locations throughout the county. • District 1: Downtown Alexander
City, next to fire department • District 2: Double Bridge area on Highway 63 (1 mile south of Elkahatchee Creek Bridge) • District 3: Two locations Hackneyville Volunteer Fire Department and County shop in New Site • District 4: Three locations including across from Siggars Grocery on Gibson Road, Camp Hill Town Hall and County Shop in Dadeville • District 5: Four locations including Red Ridge Methodist (Highway 34), Wall Street Nutrition Center (Tallassee), Reeltown Volunteer Fire Department and Union Volunteer Fire Department
RUN TO THE SON: The Children’s Ministry of Vertical Point Church is hosting a Run to the Son 5K Color Run March 26 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Sportplex to benefit VerticalKidz. Cost is $35.
March 27
SUNRISE SERVICE: Comer Memorial Methodist Church is hosting a sunrise service at 6 a.m. and an Easter Service at 11 a.m. EASTER SERVICE: Orr Street Baptist Church invites everyone to Easter Service on Sunday, March 27. Sunrise service begins at 6 a.m. with breakfast served at 7 a.m. Sunday morning service begins at 10:30 a.m. There will be no Sunday school or evening service. EASTER SERVICE: Calvary Heights Baptist Church is hosting an Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. followed by breakfast. EASTER SERVICE: Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Highway 63 South is having Easter Service at 11 a.m. Children’s church and nursery provided. SUNRISE SERVICE: Mt. Zion Baptist Church will host outdoor Easter Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. at the Wind CreekStateParkPavillion. Old fashion breakfast will follow. FAMILY AND FRIENDS DAY: Centerview Baptist Church of Camp Hill is hosting friends and family day March 27 at 2 p.m. Rev. Gary Hardy is pastor and Rev. Eddie Hunter will be the guest. EASTER SERVICES: River Road Baptist Church is hosting a sunrise service at 7 a.m. Breakfast will follow. The Cantata will be at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited. EASTER MUSICAL: Hillabee Baptist Church is hosting its Easter Musical March 27 starting at 10:30 a.m. COMMUNITY EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE: There will be a community-wide Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday, March 27, at Strand Park at 7 a.m. The service is open to all in the community. Rev. Steve King, pastor of First Baptist Church of Alexander City will bring the message. Music will be by Scott Blake and Brian Bice. Please bring a lawn chair if you plan to attend. EASTER SERVICE: Great Bethel Missionary Baptist Church is hosting its annual Easter Program Sunday, March 27 at 10 a.m. Rev. Emerson Ware, Jr. is pastor
March 28
MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION: The next meeting of the Alexander City Area Ministerial Association will be Monday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist
BOSTON BUTT SALE Due to the High Risk of severe weather Thursday the Benjamin Russell High School baseball team Boston Butt Pick Up/ Delivery Date will be today from 5-7 pm. The coaches parking lot at the Sportplex will be the site of the drive through. Please inform any of your customers of this change. There are unsold Boston Butts that may be purchased onsite during the delivery period of the pre-sold Boston Butts. The Boston Butts were cooked by “Good Ole Boys Bar-B-Que and may be purchased for $25 each. You may pay with cash or a personal check. Please have any checks for additional Boston Butts already made out to BRHS, include a physical address and phone number on each check written. Church on King Street. Attention will be given to a by-law change and to a city-wide Christian event for the association to sponsor in 2016. Also, there will be opportunity for sharing news from the churches, fellowship, and intercessory prayer. All Christian ministers are invited. For more information, contact Bill Middlebrooks, secretary at 256-234-3371. MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: Lake Martin Young Professionals are hosting a Meet and Greet and Membership Drive Monday, March 28 at 5 p.m. at Emporium Wine.
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April 3
MEN AND WOMEN DAY: New Harmony Missionary Baptist Church is celebrating men and women day April 3 at 2 p.m. Guest minister is Rev. Jessie Bradshaw. Pastor of New Harmony is Rev. Melvin Kelley Jr.
April 9
HUMMINGBIRD TALK: Fred Bassett, a certified master bird bander will be speaking at Wind Creek State Park at the Campground Pavilion Saturday, April 9 at 2 p.m. Bassett has banded more than 35,000 hummingbirds in more than 1,000 locations.
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EDITORIAL BOARD Kenneth Boone Mitch Sneed
Outlook The
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Our
Opinion
Let us know what you think about the issues
W
hat do you think about the investigation into money missing from Alexander City? How do you feel about revelations that Gov. Robert Bentley may have had an affair with a staffer? What are your views on gun control or about gay marriage? Or how our national politicians and how they perform in national debates or on the campaign trail? Do you have somebody you’d like to thank publically? How do you feel about Lake Martin’s seasonally swinging water levels? Do you have thoughts on how Tallapoosa County can attract more new businesses and industry that will provide jobs for our residents? Have you been on the receiving end of a good deed and would like to give credit where credit is due? Do you have a bone to pick with any of the stories in this newspaper? If you have something to say about any of these questions, then the answer is a letter to the editor or a guest column. This newspaper’s editorial page is an open forum for our community and we encourage you to write us and make your opinion known. It’s free. If you need help writing, our editors will be happy to help you craft a letter. Our rules are simple: no cussin’, no libel, no slander. Basically, if you’d say it around the dinner table with your grandmother, it’s probably acceptable as a letter to the editor. So let’s get the conversation started. What’s on your mind? Write us at editor@alexcityoutlook.com or Editor, The Alexander City Outlook, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 25011.
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 334242-7100. His office is located at the State Capitol at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.
Luther Strange
Robert Bentley
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.
Friday, March 25, 2016
The presidential race is getting ugly
T
here are five candidates left. We have been dealt Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. If it were a poker hand, I’d fold. This has been one of the wildest presidential campaign seasons ever. As we roll toward the general election, our nation comes closer and closer to one of those allimportant, “historic firsts” the media so love: We could elect our first orange president, one who has vodka and steak named after him to boot. In an anti-establishment year, Trump destroyed Bush Three. Jeb Bush spent hundreds of millions of the GOP establishment’s dollars and never got much above low double digits in the polls. If we have learned anything about movie sequels, they usually end up being a very expensive disappointment. Each side’s leading candidate has huge unfavorable ratings. Both Hillary and The Donald are disliked by about 55% of the country. Bill Cosby and former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle have lower unfavorable ratings than our leading presidential candidates -- and about the same odds of being indicted. In another potentially “historic first,” Hillary and Bill Clinton might become the first two-impeachment family. What she knowingly did with her private email server, sending and receiving classified documents outside the government system, was a hundred times worse than what General David Petraeus did. He let his girlfriend know his schedule -- and she had a security clearance. He was indicted because he differed with Obama on his Iraq strategy and thus was a politi-
RON HART Guest Columnist
cal enemy. This administration’s legacy will be one of selective prosecutions against people or organizations who take them on. Not many folks have pointed out that, along with an extensive list of Republicans Obama has sicced his jackbooted DOJ government thugs on, Obama’s henchmen went after Rush Limbaugh’s biggest sponsor, Life Lock. This should scare us all. And they protect their thugs who do their bidding like Lois Lerner. Nothing happened to her. Hillary reasoned that she had to make peace with Obama so he would not indict her. The Clintons never got along with the Obamas. Hillary initially ran against Obama on many issues, but has since settled for running on his record after they met for lunch at the White House. It was a quaint meeting: just the two of them and their food tasters. It will be interesting to see how much Hillary uses Bill for help in the general election. He has made robo-calls in the past for Democrat candidates, but out of habit Bill hangs up when a woman’s husband answers the phone. He perfected this talent back in Arkansas where he was the first to do robo-booty-calls. It would not be a surprise if the Clinton camp makes robo-calls saying that Trump was recently endorsed by a mild-mannered, AfricanAmerican doctor who is a well-liked family man yet
who has recently fallen in the polls. They would go on to imply it was Dr. Bill Cosby. To be fair, Bill Cosby has avoided indictment on 99% of allegations by women of his past sexual misconduct because of our statutes of limitation. That is the one law that makes Bill and Hillary Clinton consider being strict “rule of law” Constitutional constructionists. The Clinton campaign has hinted that they will find a place in the White House for their beloved Bill Clinton if Hillary is elected. She will be in the West Wing a-Presidentin’, so I presume they will put Bill in the East Wing basement where Hillary Clinton can’t make any surprise pop-in visits. I just hope the Internet in that basement is good so Bill’s videos don’t take too much time buffering. Democrats have to have a charismatic person to peddle their flawed ideology. Obama has been a great salesman, as was Bill Clinton. The Republicans have not had a great messenger since the “Great Communicator,” Ronald Reagan. Given this lack, and since Hillary is so totally unlikable, it will be a slog for her to win without Bill. He is so loved by both the media and Democrats that they have preserved his childhood home in Hope, Arkansas for the world to see. On display are his house and the lake near his home where they say he learned to walk. A libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, Ron’s a frequent guest on CNN. He can be contacted at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @ RonaldHart on Twitter.
Alabama’s sad state of affairs
A
labama is, once again, making national news for all the wrong reasons. In the modern political era, our state has seen two governors face criminal convictions, one of whom remains in prison. Now, our governor has been caught on tape confirming year-long rumors that he was unfaithful to his wife of 50 years. One headline read, “Alabama’s ‘family values’ governor mired in sex scandal.” The Office of the Governor of Alabama has become a laughingstock to the rest of the country. As yesterday’s events unfolded, I was struck with acute disappointment. But that disappointment gave way to anger when I read the statement released by the governor’s alleged mistress yesterday evening. She said: “There is no way that man [former law enforcement chief Spencer Collier] would have said what he did . . . about another man. He only said what he said about my professional abilities because I am a woman. His comments were clear, demonstrated gender bias.” She concludes, “Unfortunately, there are still some people who are set on hindering the ability of women to work in the political arena.” As a woman working in the political arena, I found myself speechless. Gender bias is defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary as the “unfair difference in the way women and men are treated” and by the Oxford Dictionary as “an inclination of prejudice against one gender.” Gender bias has been blamed – with varying degrees of veracity – for Hillary Clinton’s “shrillness,” the wage gap between men and women, and the reason why there are so few female CEOs. Is there gender bias in Montgomery? In some cases,
KATHERINE ROBERTSON Guest Columnist
but Mrs. Mason cannot claim it. Where true bias exists, people are treated in a certain way (usually negative) due to some preconceived notion about them, whether based on their age, appearance, or ethnicity – not based in reason. Knowing the evidence that was now available to the public, Mrs. Mason did not deny anything, but in a desperate diversion, tried to claim that her gender was to blame for her present predicament. Her statements are a disservice to women in politics, especially in Alabama politics where women face undeniable challenges. Currently, only 15 percent of Alabama’s state-level elected officials are women. Though the environment for women in the State House has come a long way, it can be a seedy place, and it remains, in some quarters, a ‘good ol’ boys’ club.’ The affair culture requires professional women to carefully navigate their friendliness, their feminism, their tone, and, of course, their appearance. By making a false claim of gender bias in a world where gender bias does exist, Mrs. Mason has diluted this reality. In his statements, Spencer Collier described the unprecedented influence that Mrs. Mason wielded over the governor. He never once said that she was unqualified for her senior-level role, nor did he question her professional abilities. Sadly, whatever went on between Mrs. Mason and the governor has made her professional abilities all but irrelevant. It will be impos-
sible for the public to know what amount of her success should be attributed to her intellect versus her amorous relationship with the governor. A stereotype that still exists-that women can shortcut their way to the top – has been reinforced, a further setback to other women of influence in Montgomery. The state’s political science programs are filled with young women, as are our law schools. My alma mater, the University of Alabama School of Law, boasts a 54 percent female enrollment. Anytime I’m invited to speak to these groups, I tell them how badly Alabama needs more bright young women involved in state-level politics. But what kind of experience can they expect, should they take my advice? What message has this episode sent to the dozens of adorable middle-school girls who line the halls to page for their hometown representative or the college-aged female interns shadowing lawmakers? We should be setting the bar high for these young women, reminding them that with strong character, hard work, and professionalism anything is possible. Above all, we should demonstrate the willingness to take responsibility for our actions. The statement released yesterday will not be soon forgotten by women who have actually struggled with inequitable treatment in their professions. Rather than expressing remorse, which the public would likely sympathize with, Mrs. Mason chose to cry wolf and play the gender card. As a result, whatever gender bias previously existed in Montgomery has just been dialed up a notch. Katherine Green Robertson is Vice President for the Alabama Policy Institute (API).
Today’s
Quote
“ It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” – John Wooden
Today’s
Scripture “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me and my place of safety.” – Psalm 18:2
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Daily Poll Thursday Question: Do you think Gov. Robert Bentley should resign?
Yes – 29 No – 16
Friday Question: Are you planning on going to an Easter service? 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.
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Friday, March 25, 2016
Councill
The Outlook
continued from page 1
of school Friday for Good Friday and next week for spring break. Tallapoosa County Superintendent Joe Windle said earlier this week that he has not gotten much feedback on the possible move. “News about this is out there in the community now and I haven’t gotten one call for it or against it,” said Windle. “I met with the teachers at Councill about three weeks ago and informed them of the possibility. You would have thought at that point that I would have started getting feedback. “This is a small community. Usually, something like this gets mentioned at the barbershop or the beauty shop or on Facebook and it creates some sort of outcry and you get a lot of feedback. But not in this case.” Councill Middle School is located at 254 Leach Street in Dadeville. The school, originally built in 1954, was named after Dr. William Hooper Councill, a former slave and a contemporary of Booker T. Washington when Washington was president of Tuskegee and Councill was the first president of Huntsville Normal School, now Alabama A&M University Councill School serves grades 6 through 8. It was closed in 1970 and, between then and 1980, served many purposes, including housing a sewing plant. The main building reopened in 1980 as the kindergarten annex for Dadeville Elementary. In the summer of 2005, the facility was remodeled to serve as a middle school. Windle said the main reason for potentially closing Councill was the loss of students in the Dadeville area
Hank spiral brought on by alcoholism and prescription drug abuse that began as Williams struggled to cope with years of back pain. Aug. 17, 1952 is a day that will live forever in the history of Alexander City. That was the day that Williams was arrested and spent some time in the Alexander City Jail. The original citation was unearthed several years ago as the Alexander City Police Department was going through old files. That citation has been duplicated and now hangs in the office of Deputy Chief Jay Turner along with the now famous photo of a bare-chested Williams standing outside of his Alexander City Jail cell. The charges were public drunkenness and disorderly conduct and the paperwork shows an 11:25 arrest time. The 6-1, 150-pound Williams had been at the old Russell Hotel, which is near where Piggly Wiggly sits today, and made a fuss after a day of traveling and
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drinking, according to historical accounts. “I believe he was more or less having DTs,” Chief Winfred Patterson was quoted as saying in “Hank Williams: The Biography” by Colin Escott, George Merritt and William MacEwen. After a few hours, reports indicate that Darwin Dobbs, who had been hosting Williams and some friends at his Lake Martin cabin, posted a $25 bond and paid the $10 fine and Williams was on his way. Legend has it that it was after getting out of jail that Hank penned “Kaw-Liga,” which would become a No. 1 song after his death. Before he became ill, Williams was a regular visitor to Lake Martin and the Alexander City area. His recorded interviews with long-time Alexander City
disc jockey Bob McKinnon have survived and are available on YouTube. In 1950, Williams talked with McKinnon about his love for Alabama, Alexander City and the people who called the area home. “Alabama is my home and always will be,” Williams said. “We are kind of partial to the people in Alabama and the good people there in Alexander City. We get back to Montgomery every two or three months and visit my momma. It is sure good to get back home. … I’d like to thank everybody in Alexander City for supporting us and buying our records.” There is also a memorial of sorts to Williams along the shores of Lake Martin at Children’s Harbor. The Hank Williams Cabin is located there.
The cabin had belonged to the Dobbs family and it has been restored to the same state it was in back in August 1952. The cabin is said to be the place where Williams’ hit “Kaw-Liga” was written and some say that “Your Cheatin’ Heart” was also written by Williams while staying there on one of the many trips where he blew into town to take a break from life on the road or hide out from trouble. Williams died at the age of 29 on New Year’s Day in 1953 in Oak Hill, West Virginia leaving Nashville saddened for the loss of a musical giant. As for the movie, early reviews have been mixed. For local fans who would like to see it, you will have to take a trip. The nearest showing will be in Opelika and Auburn.
ROBERT HUDSON SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228
sports@alexcityoutlook.com
Page 8
Friday, March 25, 2016
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OPENING DAY A WEEK AWAY Youth baseball, softball set to begin new season on April 1
JOE MCADORY Sports Columnist
It’s time to put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame
I
Robert Hudson / Outlook File Photo
Players march on the field during last year’s youth baseball and softball Opening Day Ceremony. This year’s opening ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 2, with games starting on Friday, April 1. By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
Opening Day in Alexander City is officially one week away. The 2016 youth baseball and softball season will begin on Friday, April 1, at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex. Alexander Smith, president of the Alex City Youth Baseball and Softball Board, said that games will begin on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and the traditional Opening Day Ceremony will be on the following Saturday morning. “The teams will play one game on Friday night to get the season started, and then Saturday morning at 8 a.m. we’ll have the traditional ceremony,” Smith said. “We’ll have all of the teams on the field at once on Saturday to do the group picture, and then the mayor is going to come out and throw the first pitch for us. We’ll have a lot of entertainment that day, we’ll have the snow cone truck and the concessions going that day. And there will also be a couple fundraisers going on. We’re looking forward to it.” Saturday’s events will be on the main field at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex.
This year, Smith said there will be about 500 children participating in the Alex City youth baseball and softball season. This year will also feature changes on the softball side. “We’re right around 500 kids registered for youth baseball and youth softball together this year, which is about where we need to be. We’ll have 3 year olds up to 16 year olds this year,” Smith said. “Our softball side of the association has gone over to NSA, which is a new league, and the coaches and girls are excited about that. The reason they are excited about that is because at the end of the season when they go play tournament play, there will be a lot more tournaments to get to the state competition. Also, Dadeville has gone to the NSA, so for the first time in a long time, our softball girls will be competing against Dadeville. They’ll come play us and we’ll go play them.” Smith added that Alexander City will also host the state championship for the 12 year olds in baseball. “This year, we also received the bid for Robert Hudson / Outlook File Photo the 12-year-old State Championship for the Brett David Johnson of the 11-12 year old boys,” Smith said. “That will be hosted here Braves pitches during one of the Opening in Alex City on June 25.” Day games last season.
Wildcats look to rebound after road area losses By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
Coming out of Wednesday’s area clash with the rival Opelika Bulldogs, the Benjamin Russell Wildcats now find themselves in a hole. Benjamin Russell fell 10-0 to Opelika in their second area contest of the season, and finished Wednesday with a narrow 3-2 loss in the tiebreaker game against the Bulldogs. The pair of road defeats came one day after Tuesday’s 8-4 area loss to those same Bulldogs in Alexander City. Richy Brooks, head coach of the Wildcats (12-8, 0-2 in Class 6A-Area 4), said he was not disappointed in Tuesday’s performance, but added that same effort was not present in Wednesday’s defeats. “On day one, I thought we just scrapped. We got some hit by pitches and we got seven hits off their guy. We layed down some nice bunts in the inning where we got four runs. We also got some big hits with runners on to take the lead,” Brooks said. “I was not disappointed in the Tuesday effort. I just think on Tuesday we didn’t pitch well at the end of the game. We didn’t close the deal out and gave them too many opportunities to get back in it.” In Tuesday’s game, Opelika’s Mitch Meyers’ 12-strikeout performance led the Bulldogs to victory. Brooks said the Wildcats got some good opportunities in game one which helped them jump to their 4-2 lead going into the top of the sixth. “To be honest, I thought we fought really hard in that first game. I thought we played about as hard as we could play in it,” Brooks said. “But we didn’t do everything right. We faced their guy last year when he went to Valley High School and he’s a top pitcher, no doubt about it. So, we knew what we were facing and we knew that we were going to have limited opportunities to score.
But we had more scoring opportunities than I had hoped for going in.” But Brooks said down the stretch, the Wildcats let the game slip away, which was helped by the Bulldogs’ hitting in a four-run top of the sixth. “Three different innings I thought we had opportunities to score, but we only got it done the one inning where we took the lead going into the top of the sixth. That one kind of hurts when you let it get away,” Brooks said. “We did (let it get away) and I think we let that affect our play on Wednesday. We played very flat Wednesday and we didn’t play with any intensity at all. It’s almost like we had left it all out there on Tuesday night. You can’t do that in a three-game series like that.” Wednesday opened up with the 10-0 loss in which Meyers had four RBI and Thomas Manley had a three-run homer for the Bulldogs. While the games in back-to-back days against Opelika was a tough proposition, Brooks said it is a scenario the Wildcats have to do better in if they want to make it to the postseason. “This was a hard one because we played them on back-to-back nights, but it’s just like I told the kids, that’s how the playoffs are, too. You’ve got the doubleheader on Friday and then the extra game on Saturday,
so you have to learn to do that,” Brooks said. “We didn’t handle it very well and we’ve put ourselves in a hole now area-wise at 0-2. So, we have four area games left that we have to battle in and those two tiebreaker games. We have to somehow come out of there and get in the playoffs. I don’t care if it’s as a No. 1 seed or a No. 2 seed, we’ve got to figure out a way to get in there.” In the tiebreaker game, the Wildcats lost 3-2 on Wednesday. Connor Brooks was 1-for-3 with a RBI and Austin Elliott had one RBI in the loss, as Benjamin Russell was also hurt by five errors defensively. Brooks said he thought the pitching performance was good in game two, and a huge positive was the return of Sean Rape on the mound and Connor Brooks pitching in relief. Both pitchers had been battling injuries for most of the first half of the season. “But Wednesday, we had a really nice pitched game in game two and they beat us with one hit and we ended up losing 3-2,” Brooks said. “We walked and hit batters in the middle of the game. Positive thing there was that we’ve got Sean Rape back and he threw, and Connor Brooks came back and threw some. We haven’t had those two all year, so that’s important for us to get some arms back. Hopefully, we can keep them healthy and they can get some work next week during the classic, and help us in the two remaining area series.” Rape pitched three innings, gave up one hit, one earned run and struck out five batters with no walks in the third game. “We’ve been going all year without those two arms, and that’s been big. One of them pitched two innings and the other probably pitched four innings all year,” Brooks said. “Those are two that we were counting on to play a lot of innings this year.” Benjamin Russell will return to action on Monday in the annual Lake Martin Classic. For a full preview of the Classic, see Saturday’s edition of The Outlook.
t was a simple base hit, but thousands cheered Pete Rose as he stood on first base at Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium on a hot summer night in 1978. The Reds’ third baseman, who waved his hat to acknowledge the crowd during a short time out, had singled off of Braves’ pitcher Phil Neikro, growing his single-game hit streak to 44. Joe DiMaggio still holds the record at 56. For the first professional baseball game of my life, it was a thrill to watch. There I was, a little kid who passionately followed the Big Red Machine, witnessed history and a 3-2 Cincinnati victory. Not a bad indoctrination into the game. Rose’s hit streak ended the next night, but he remains baseball’s alltime leader in hits (4,256), games (14,053) and even outs (10,328). The dude won three batting titles, two Gold Gloves, the MVP and three World Series championships (two with the Reds and another with the Phillies). Regardless of what Rose did as manager of the Reds in the late 1980s – his numbers as a player are far beyond Hall-of-Fame caliber. Rose’s decision to gamble on baseball not only led to his banishment from the game, but he ultimately served prison time for tax evasion. Since his resignation as Reds manager in 1989, Rose’s notoriety revolves around his forced disassociation from the game and numerous calls for reinstatement. Let’s get this straight – it is proven that he gambled on games in which he was the Reds’ manager. It is not known whether or not he gambled against his own team. With this grey area, we must assume this was a possibility. Managers have the greatest means to impact the direction of games through calls from the dugout, lineups, pitching changes, etc. Yeah – pretty damning stuff. The outcome of baseball games is supposed the be dictated by skill and strategy. So, yes, Rose should never, ever be inducted into Cooperstown as a baseball manager. That should be the catch, and a strong distinction between his roles should be made in this case. Baseball’s all-time leader in several categories and a player who earned the nickname “Charlie Hustle” because he gave all he had on the field (how many players loaf today?) and influenced a wave of little leaguers to give their best should be reinstated into baseball and given an opportunity to be voted into the Hall of Fame as a player and player only. And if baseball were to take this step – it must also be noted his crimes against the game and banishment that followed – to serve as a lesson for all. Gambling can wreck lives, particularly when one becomes addicted to the thrill of taking chances. In this case, gambling damaged the credibility of the sport he was involved in. Barry Bonds is baseball’s home run king, but proven illegal steroid abuse make his numbers illegitimate. If performance-enhancing drugs were legal, then vote him in. They obviously made him a much better player, though I thought he was pretty darn good in his early, pre-steroid years. He didn’t need steroids to be successful. His decision. His problem. Same goes for Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriquez and Rafael Palmeiro. Put Pete, now 74, in the Hall of Fame as a player. Smear his gambling activities as a manager, as if we haven’t enough already. Then let’s move on. Joe McAdory is Communications Editor at the Auburn University Harbert College of Business and is former Sports Editor at the Opelika-Auburn News.