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LOCAL, PAGE 2 One airlifted to UAB after two-vehicle wreck
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
March 27, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 61 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
SPORTS, PAGE 10 Dadeville earns comeback win in final frame
Human remains found in 2 counties By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Human remains authorities believe belong to the same person were found in Coosa and Talladega counties Monday. “They are believed to be the same person,” Coosa
County Sheriff Michael Howell said. “Authorities in Talladega County were alerted to human remains in the Talladega Springs area and determined they were from a home in Coosa County. There, more human remains were found. We believe those to be from the
same person.” The home is on Coosa County Road 99, according to Howell. He said the remains had been there for quite some time, probably months. “We are not certain how long the remains have been there but can say for quite
a while,” Howell said. “Animals played a role in the decomposition of the remains and may have sped up the process.” As of Tuesday afternoon Howell said authorities could not identify the remains. “The remains have been transported to (the Alabama
Department of Forensic Sciences),” Howell said. “They should confirm we are dealing with just one body. We have no ID yet but have something solid that should lead to it in the next day or two.” The investigation started See INVESTIGATION • Page 3
Leaders say Cooper is irreplaceable By RON COLQUITT For The Outlook
Gabrielle Jansen / The Outlook
Alexander City Schools superintendent Keith Lankford looks at Stephens Elementary student Molly Moncrief’s classwork.
Subtle change can cause ‘tsunami’ Superintendents against Common Core repeal, think issues will arise in class By GABRIELLE JANSEN Staff Writer
Two local school superintendents oppose any effort by the legislature to repeal Common Core, saying educators have been left out of the process and it would be too costly to reverse. Alabama adopted Common Core standards in 2010 and they were fully implemented during the 2013-14 school year. The Alabama Senate voted 23-7 last week to repeal Common Core and sent the bill to the Alabama House of Representatives
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Weather
6
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54708 90050
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
488.27 Reported on 03/26/19 @ 6 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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Firefighter recruits start their careers with Alex City Fire Department By GABRIELLE JANSEN Staff Writer
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for consideration. Alexander City Schools superintendent Dr. Keith Lankford and Tallapoosa County Schools superintendent Dr. Joe Windle said they are against repealing Common Core for multiple reasons, including the difficulties of constantly changing learning standards and the fact educators were not consulted when creating the bill. “My opinion on that is if our standards were so good back (before Common Core) wouldn’t the nation have adopted our standards?” Lankford said. “So I’m not for it at all.” See COMMON CORE • Page 3
Twelve firefighter rookies from the area started their careers this week at Alexander City Fire Department’s recruitment school. “These guys have very little or no experience prior to being here and we start from the beginning,” Alexander City fire Capt. Jeff Brewer said. The department is teaching its new firefighters and also rookies from Lafayette, Sylacauga, Opelika and Huguley. Five recruits are going to work for Alexander City Fire Department. Brewer said the department teaches the rookies basic fire instruction and emergency service skills. “It saves Alexander City a lot of money because we can do in-house training and we don’t have to send them somewhere else and pay another department to do our training for us,” Brewer said. “By being able to host training here it gives our shift personnel the opportunity See FIREFIGHTERS • Page 12
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Gabrielle Jansen / The Outlook
New recruits take notes during a basic firefighter class Tuesday morning at the Alexander City Fire Department Station 2.
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An iconic black leader died Monday and his passing will leave a void that can’t easily be filled, friends of the late Rev. Alfred Cooper said following news of his death. Cooper, 90, helped in the peaceful integration of the Alexander City Schools in the 1970s and was featured in a Black Cooper History Month profile in The Outlook last month. “When that time came, we just integrated and went on with the regular work that we normally did,” Cooper said in the story. “We didn’t have any problems. We just went on with the program as laid out by the board of education.” Tallapoosa County Commissioner T.C. Coley Jr. said Cooper cannot be replaced. “Like most people, I am deeply saddened by his passing,” Coley said. “The Rev. Cooper was one of those iconic community leaders as far back as I can remember. As a member of See COOPER • Page 12
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