THE LOCAL, PAGE 10
TUESDAY SPORTS, PAGE 12
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Yard sale brings in $445 for Radney drama club
CACC Trojans head to nationals in multiple sports
May 8, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 91 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Victim in Saturday crash now stable By MITCH SNEED Editor
A local woman who is known to many is now listed as stable after surgery at UAB after being struck by a car as she walked along Highway 280 Saturday. The accident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday in the westbound lanes of Highway 280 in Alexander City, in an area in front of AutoZone, just east of Walmart. The victim’s daughter Christine Smith identified the injured woman as Jacqueline McCain Smith, 60, of Alexander City. She is well-known in
Alexander City and was often seen walking from her apartment to Walmart. Alexander City Police Department Chief Jay Turner said the accident is still under investigation. “We are still actively investigating the accident and will work with the state to do a 3-D mapping of the scene, review all statements from people involved and witnesses,” Turner said. “One thing that we do now have is that all cars are equipped with a black box of sorts. We have that box. It will tell us things like speed, braking and path. Once all that is complete, we will take
Jacqueline McCain Smith, 60, of Alexander City was struck by a car as she walked along Highway 280 Saturday. Following surgery at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Smith is now listed in stable condition. Mitch Sneed /
See CRASH • Page 3
The Outlook
Dadeville man charged in abuse case
City council OKs possible Strand Park fence project
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
A Dadeville man was booked into custody by the Auburn Police Division Monday on charges of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12. According Williams to a release from the Auburn Police Division, Clifford Earl Williams, 43, of Dadeville turned himself in after learning a grand jury indictment had been returned against him. “The arrest stems from an investigation into the sexual abuse of a child that was reported to police on Aug. 10, 2015; the incident occurred at a residence on Oak Street,” the release stated. “The investigation was initiated when officials were made aware that a child had possibly been sexually abused by Williams, while in his care prior to August 10th in 2015. The Auburn Police Division, See WILLIAMS • Page 3
After clearing up two of the main points that had some concerned, the Alexander City City Council approved initiating the exploration of putting a decorative fence and signage along Tallapoosa Street at Strand Park. Alexander City Chamber of Commerce CEO Ed Collari made the presentation to the council and talked about the genesis of the idea and how the project could be funded. “I took part in Leadership Lake Martin class not last year, but the previous year,” Collari said. “We had a strong group and raised the idea of doing this, but time kind of ran out before we had to pick another project. But in talking with some people the idea was raised again and before we went too far, we wanted to get the city’s blessing to at least explore it.” Collari said the idea is to just run the wrought iron-look fence with brick columns along Tallapoosa Street only. The project with would be funded with donations, See FENCE • Page 9
THEY’VE STILL GOT IT ACJC Reunion Singers put on great show Photos by Mitch Sneed
The Alexander City Junior College Reunion Singers put on a great show Saturday. Above, the group relived a memory of a Barber Shop Quartet performance that was put together when ACJC hosted the Miss Alabama Pageant. Pictured are Dr. Brad Willis, Scott Blake, Ken Yates and Greg Willis. Right, Bucky Heard and Yates share a hug. To see more photos from the performance, see Page 11 inside.
Nashville artist and country music star Jeff Bates will be playing a show at the World Famous Rodeo Club in Dadeville Saturday night at 8 p.m.
“Sometimes those small venues bring out the best in people and they really are into the show and you can feed off that energy.”
File / The Outlook
— Jeff Bates Country artist
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Country star Jeff Bates coming to Dadeville Saturday night By MITCH SNEED Editor
Nashville artist Jeff Bates will bring his full band, genre busting show to the World Famous Rodeo Club Saturday night and the man with hits to his credit that include “The Love Song,” “I Wanna Make You Cry” and “Long, Slow Kisses” said he is excited about coming to Dadeville.
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“My good friend Kevin Moon called me about this date and told me a little about the club and the fans there and we just can’t wait,” Bates said in a telephone interview last week. “That’s the beauty of being at the place I am now in my career. You get to play shows at stadiums and festivals with 30,000 and bars and clubs that may have 3,000 or 300. See BATES • Page 3
FIRMLY ROOTED IN LAKE MARTIN AND HERE TO STAY.
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NOW HIRING The City of Alexander City is hiring for a Patrolman with the Alexander City Police Department. This person operates a patrol vehicle to observe for violations of traffic laws, suspicious activities or person, and disturbances of law and order. Must be a minimum of 21 years old, be a graduate from an accredited high school, or have a GED. Can have no felony convictions, and be able to meet minimum standards as established by Alabama State Law for law enforcement officers. Must d have valid driver’s license and driving record suitable for insurability. If interested, please contact Sheronda Cross sheronda.cross@alexandercityal.gov The City of Alexander City is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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Couple disagrees on etiquette of curating their bathroom art
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Directory Telephone: (256) 234-4281 Fax: (256) 234-6550 Website: www.alexcityoutlook.com Management Steve Baker Publisher, Ext. 218 steve.baker@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 Audra Spears Art Director, Ext. 219 audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com Betsy Iler Magazine Managing Editor, Ext. 221 betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com Tippy Hunter Advertising Director, Ext. 206 marketing@alexcityoutlook.com Angela Mullins Business Manager, Ext. 202 angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com Newsroom Amy Passaretti Assistant Magazine Editor, Ext. 227 amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com Lizi Arbogast Sports Editor, Ext. 228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com
Cliff Williams Staff Writer, Ext. 212 cliff.williams@alexcityoutlook.com Donald Campbell Staff Writer, Ext. 208 donald.campbell@alexcityoutlook.com Santana Wood Staff Writer/Pagination, Ext. 210 santana.wood@alexcityoutlook.com Advertising Sales Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Katie Wesson Retail Sales Manager, Ext. 232 tkatie.wesson@alexcityoutlook.com Scott Hardy Digital Marketing Coordinator, Ext. 231 scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com Composing Darlene Johnson Composing Department, Ext. 219 darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com Hallie Holloway Composing Department, Ext. 219 hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com Circulation Linda Ewing Office Clerk, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@alexcityoutlook.com Erin Burton Office Assistant, Ext. 204 erin.burton@alexcityoutlook.com
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, Lake magazine, Lake Martin Living, (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) Kenneth Boone The Outlook is published five times Photography and a week, Tuesday through Saturday a commercial web mornings, by Tallapoosa Publish- printing press. ers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011.
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Post Office Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011.
How to submit obituaries
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
The Outlook
© 2011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Reproduction of any part of any issue requires written publisher permission.
Obituaries can be submitted to The Outlook from funeral homes by email at obits@ alexcityoutlook.com or by fax at (256) 234-6550. For more information, call (256) 234-4281.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a married woman in my 30s. My husband and I own a home, which I have decorated to our taste with the exception of “my” bathroom. My husband and I use separate bathrooms. Mine is the one on the main floor, which is also used by our guests. A few months ago, I purchased a large piece of art to hang in my bathroom. Admittedly, it is a bit provocative, but I don’t consider it to be over the top. My husband said he didn’t care that I hung it, but when his father came to visit recently, he took it down and hid it. I didn’t say anything, but I now feel he is embarrassed by my taste. I’m hosting a couples baby shower in a few weeks, and one of the guests is very religious. My husband suggests I hang the artwork somewhere else or hide it for the party. I don’t feel I should have to redecorate a room in my own home. Am I being unreasonable, or should
DEAR ABBY Advice
I find a less provocative piece of art to hang for our more conservative guests? -- FINE ART LOVER DEAR FINE ART LOVER: While your home is your castle, surely you want your friends and family to be comfortable in it while they visit you. Years ago, I bought an original work of art by Patrick Oliphant titled “Naked Nixon,” which I hung over the toilet in my powder room. While entertaining guests I knew were politically conservative, I switched it out for a print of long-stemmed flowers. If you know there’s a possibility someone will be offended while using a room that’s a “necessity,” the polite thing to do would be to listen to your husband.
DEAR ABBY: We invited friends over for dinner. Because they have toddlers who like to eat early, we started meal preparations accordingly. One hour before they were to arrive, the wife canceled because her daughter was “cranky.” She said she wanted to reschedule for two days later. Since the food was already prepared, we now have leftovers that will last for days. I don’t want to go shopping again because I feel like she already stood us up, and I know she can’t host us for now because she lives with her parents. What’s proper notice when canceling a dinner date? How should we as hosts handle her request to come over a different day, especially so close to the event? -- MIFFED AFTER DINNER DEAR MIFFED: Because she lives with her parents, your guest could have left her cranky daughter with “Nana”
and “Poppy.” Barring illness, the “proper” time to cancel would have been before you bought groceries for the dinner. However, with small children, things do happen, so be forgiving. Because she’s a good friend, put the food you prepared in the fridge for two days and serve it when she shows up. (It may taste better after the flavors meld.) READER ALERT! If you know a student who would like to enter the $5,000 Dear Abby College Columnist Scholarship contest, see the information on DearAbby.com and learn more. The deadline is fast approaching. 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.
Obituaries Mrs. Judith “Judy” Elaine McWaters 1951 - 2018
Timothy “Tim” Dwight Blanks 1955 - 2018
Funeral Service for Mrs. Judith “Judy” Elaine McWaters, 66, of Jacksons Gap, Alabama, were held Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at the Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Wayne Cowhick will officiate. Burial was in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family received friends on Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mrs. McWaters passed away on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at her residence. She was born on December 25, 1951 in Montgomery, Alabama to Rufus Carl Whitehurst and Doris Elizabeth Walker Whitehurst. She loved her family dearly. She retired from the State of Alabama after 25 years of service, attended the Alexander City Methodist Church, and enjoyed going to the beach, gardening, reading, sewing, and cooking. She is survived by her husband, Gary Lee McWaters of Jacksons Gap; sons, Gary Lee McWaters, Jr. (Larissa) of Alexander City, and Steven Wyatt McWaters (Erin) of Jacksons Gap; daughter, Stacey Elaine McWaters Carter (Chris) of Alexander City; grandchildren, Laine McWaters, Emily McWaters, Jeffrey McWaters, Dakota Brown, Kara Truett (Bradley), Asia McWaters, Carson Carter, Jax Carter, and Alex Carter; great-grandchildren, Adam Truett, and Lauren Truett; brothers, Mike Whitehurst (Ramona), and Phillip Whitehurst (Leigh Anne). She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Jeff Whitehurst. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alexander City Methodist Church. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome.com.
Celebration of Life Service for Timothy “Tim” Dwight Blanks, 63, of Alexander City, Alabama, was held Monday, May 7, 2018 at 3:00 pm at the Radney Funeral Home. Randy Anderson officiated. Burial followed in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family received friends on Monday, May 7, 2018 from 1:00 pm to 2:45 pm at Radney Funeral Home. Tim passed away on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at UAB. He was born on February 16, 1955 in Birmingham, Alabama to Daniel Malvin Blanks and Jerrylene Fetner Blanks. He loved his family dearly and loved spending time with his friends as well. He retired after 35 years of service from Russell Corporation. He also enjoyed bowling, softball, golfing, fishing, playing card games with his friends, boating on Lake Martin, and was an avid Alabama Football fan. He is survived by his wife, Joyce W. Blanks of Alexander City; brothers, Daniel K. Blanks (Angie) of Milton, FL, Edward M. Blanks (Donna) of Alexander City, David L. Blanks, and Jonathan K. Blanks both of Eclectic; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a nephew, Jeremy Blanks. Pat Hardy, Ken Williams, Randall Peters, Jason Davis, Ken Joiner, and Bubba Simmons served as active pallbearers, and honorary pallbearers were Eddie Todd, Ronnie Dillard, Mike Key, Lee Williams, and Andrew Williams. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Ave. Suite 1100 N Bethesda, MD 201814 or www.cff.org or to the American Stroke Association, 7272 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231 or www.strokeassociation.org. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www. radneyfuneralhome.com.
Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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Tuesday, May 8, 2018
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The Outlook
Bates
continued from page 1
Sometimes those small venues bring out the best in people and they really are into the show and you can feed off that energy. “We hope that people will come out and enjoy a good night of music and a good time.” The show is set for 8 p.m. and tickets are $15 in advance $20 at door. Tickets are on sale at The Rodeo Club in person during normal business hours, or by calling 256252-1023. Bates comes to Dadeville riding a wave on success on the gospel music charts. His single “Judging Judas” hit the No. 1 spot on the Christian Country Music Chart in February. Bates said that success proved that good music
and a good job cross any and all lines. “I’ve been a country singer almost my whole adult life,” Bates said. “When you are with a major label you do what someone else tells you to and sing what they want you to sing. It’s almost like you work for hire. That song would never have been recorded, much less released on a major label. “But being at the point I am now, I get to sing songs that have meaning to me and my life. That makes it special to me and I think the fans sense that when they come out to hear us.” Bates said fans are likely to hear everything from his standard hits, stuff from his “Me and Conway”
CD, country classics, some gospel and songs that cross all emotional realms. “I love for people to come to a show and leave with the feeling it was at a big party in a field or in their backyard,” Bates said. “My mama told me to ‘go up there and close your eyes and sing what you feel.’ That’s exactly what I have been doing and it sure feels good.” The emotional nature of his music often pulls from some rough times Bates survived in his life. Bates said he became addicted to meth in 1999 and was arrested in 2001 for grand theft and drug possession. He said he could make a lot of excuses, including the grind of travel and performing non-stop.
But when Bates left prison, he was determined to learn from the ordeal. “It taught me what’s important in life and how to put stuff in its proper place,” Bates said. “From what I went through it’s also taught me to be a little more understanding, especially when people who are struggling are making an honest effort. “It also taught me to enjoy every minute, because you never know what tomorrow will bring. I’d like to think some of that shows up in my songs because that’s exactly what I feel in my heart.” The Rodeo Club is located at 10268 County Road 34 in Dadeville. Call 256-252-1023 for information on Saturday’s show.
Crash
continued from page 1
what we have and present it to a grand jury and let them make a determination on what charges if any are appropriate in the case.” Turner said the 19-year-old female driver was at the scene when police arrived, having gone forward and turned around to come back after the impact. He could not comment on what if any other factors may have played a role in the crash. The conditions were warm, dry and overcast and no visibility
issues were reported. The vehicle was a late model silver Hyundai coupe. On the scene damage on the driver’s side front quarter-panel, the driver’s side mirror and door of the car was visible. Smith’s daughter said that her mother had been in a medically induced coma to help with the pain. “She was actually walking to Walmart to get her grandbaby’s birthday present when it happened,”
Smith said. “She’s listed as stable right now. She has multiple fractures and injuries including head trauma. She is scheduled to have the first of many surgeries (Monday.) She has a long, long road ahead of her and she’s going to be here for quite a while. We thank everyone for their concern and we ask that they continue to keep her in their thoughts and prayers.” Smith was initially taken to Russell Medical before eventually
being flown to UAB. Turner said that it was encouraging to hear news on Smith’s improved condition. “It certainly looks much better than it did Saturday,” Turner said. “We hope for continued progress and will keep her in our thoughts and prayers. She is one of those people that we all knew and had interacted with over the years and we certainly are hopeful of a full recovery.”
Williams
continued from page 1
with the assistance of the Lee County Department of Human Resources, investigated the incident and confirmed Williams as the individual responsible.” The case had been presented to grand juries on two separate occasions and each time insufficient evidence was found to proceed to trial with the case. Auburn Police
Chief Paul Register said he was unaware if any new evidence had emerged between the two previous presentments and this one. Williams, who is a staff writer and photographer for Tallapoosa Publishers, issued a brief statement. “From the time these claims initially arose, I have maintained my innocence,” Williams said.
“The allegations were taken up by two grand juries in October 2015 and August 2016. I am innocent. I have and always will maintain my innocence.” Williams was transported to the Lee County Jail and was released after posting a $50,000 bond. Outside of civil matters and a divorce, only a traffic ticket is listed
in Williams’ criminal history. Court records show a June 6 court date has been set for a hearing in the case. By definition, an indictment is only an allegation. Sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 is a Class B felony in Alabama and a conviction can carry a sentence of two to 20 years in prison.
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Opinion
MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213 editor@alexcityoutlook.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Steve Baker Mitch Sneed
Page 4
Outlook
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Our
Political polarization is bad for state, nation
Have something you want to say? Let’s hear it
ur politics is increasingly polarized. Yelling matches on cable news are the norm, and those with opposite viewpoints are labeled as bigoted or anti-American. The division has gotten to the point that, according to the Pew Research Center, most Republicans and Democrats have few or no friends in the opposing party. The question, therefore, is two-fold: a) What are the causes of increased polarization? and b) Is increased polarization something we need to address? I’ll begin with the former. One reason for this increased polarization is that Americans are more often choosing to live among people who are like them politically. Here is an Alabama example of that phenomenon. In 1992, Bob Dole, a Republican, won Marshall County by 15 points. In 2016, Donald Trump’s margin of victory in the county was almost 70 points. Another reason for our increased polarization is the rise of the Internet and social media. While the increased availability of news sources via the Internet is helpful, many choose only to read from sources they agree with politically. The Wall Street Journal offers a tool that allows users to compare the Facebook feeds of people who identify as conservative or liberal. A quick minute or two of comparing the feeds reveals not only the difference between the selection of news, but the frequency of inflammatory rhetoric used to describe people on the other
View
H
ave something you want to get off your chest? Do you wish your opinions could reach beyond just your family and your friends on Facebook? We have a way for you to do just that and reach the entire Lake Martin community. The Outlook is looking for well thought out letters of opinion. And guess what? It doesn’t matter if anyone agrees with you. We just want to hear what you think. Get involved and make your opinion on issues you feel strongly about known. We’ll even let you do it right here in our newspaper. If you’re thinking about writing a letter to the editor, here are some ideas to get your wheels turning. What do you think about the way our city government is being run? What do you think about the proposal to build a fence around Strand Park? How about the community responses to recent events like Strand Sessions? Are you looking forward to the upcoming Blues in the Park event? Do you have any praise or concerns regarding our country’s leadership or current administration? What about state politics? Do you think Gov. Kay Ivey has made a lot of progress in her time as governor? Hey, summer’s right around the corner. What are you looking forward to most as the lake’s best season approaches? And you know what, there are some good folks in this community. Don’t you think so? Have you witnessed good oldfashioned hospitality at any local establishments? Or maybe you’ve just been on the receiving end of a good deed and would like to give credit where it’s due. Do you have a bone to pick with any of the stories in this newspaper? If you have something to say to any of these questions, then send us a letter to the editor. 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? Let’s hear it. Write us at editor@alexcityoutlook. com or Editor, The Alexander City Outlook, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011.
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 Kay Ivey represents the state of Alabama and its 67 counties. She was sworn into office on April 10, 2017, and can be reached at 334242-7100. Her office is located at the State Capitol at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.
Steve Marshall was appointed Alabama’s 50th Attorney General. He was appointed in 2017 and serves as the State’s chief law enforcement officer. He can be reached at 334-242-7300, and his office is located at 501 Washington Avenue, 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 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 334242-t7865. His office is located at 337 East Magnolia Drive, Auburn.
Kay Ivey
Steve Marshall
Mark Tuggle
Tom Whatley
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
The
O
PARKER SNIDER Columnist side. Although choosing to live near like-minded people and following conservative or liberal news sources are not inherently bad practices, by doing so we unknowingly create an echochamber of group-validation that gives no opportunity for differing opinions. This echochamber, with its lack of diverse thought or self-criticism, is a major contributor to increased polarization. So, is this polarization something we need to address? I believe it is. Increased polarization has created antagonistic relationships within our state and country. In our communities, we are bombarded with rhetoric that describes those with different views as unreasonable, ignorant, and even evil. Since we so infrequently interact with those politically different from us, we can find ourselves believing those characterizations. Although it may be hard to accept, most people, regardless of political affiliation, are genuinely trying to work towards the greater good. The difference between conservative and liberal thought, however, is in the means — how we achieve the greatest good. Conservatives, myself included, should therefore spend less time worrying that the left
is deliberately attempting to destroy our country. Instead, we should intentionally befriend those politically different while, at the same time, working diligently to demonstrate that conservative policies most effectively create the most good for the most people. The more we are willing to acknowledge that those on the other side are people made in the image of God—not scheming adversaries to be defeated—the more likely we will arrive at solutions that work. While I believe that these solutions will be overwhelmingly conservative, we should not be afraid of honest discussion and criticism if we really are correct. One benefit of purposefully countering increased polarization is that we will, hopefully, stop being wary of good policy simply because it has some support from the other side. Some pursuits, like reforming civil asset forfeiture, supporting our veterans, and protecting our national security, are not right vs. left issues, but right vs. wrong issues. We should be thankful, not worried, when both sides agree. Undoubtedly, stemming the tide of polarization will be good for both Alabama and the country. It will require work, but it will be effort well spent. Parker Snider is manager of policy relations for the Alabama Policy Institute (API). He can be reached by email communications@ alabamapolicy.org or call 205870-9900.
Today’s
Quote
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” —George Bernard Shaw
Today’s
Scripture
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” —1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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Yes — 71%, 45 voters No — 29%, 18 votes
Tuesday Question: Would you like to see a fence around Strand Park in Alexander City?
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L
The Starbucks stops here
iberal rip-off business Starbucks, which made its money opening stores in only affluent neighborhoods (aka redlining), all but cried last week when one of its stores in Philadelphia had two African-American, non-paying customers arrested. The situation got heated when the men were arrested, but thank goodness a quick- thinking Starbucks regular was able to calm everyone with the soothing sounds of a nearby Kenny G CD. The incident illustrated the heightened racial divide of the last decade. White people couldn’t believe that black people can’t use the restroom and sit in a Starbucks as long as they like. And black people learned how much whites are willing to pay for a cup of coffee. At $9 per cup of some fancy latte drink, Starbucks stores are so white they look like a Brigham Young University study hall – except they sell caffeine. Many Starbucks customers who saw the incident got angry. And imagine how much it takes to anger customers who regularly pay $8 for coffee they have to go fix up themselves and which they could make at home for 50 cents. Starbucks capitulated quickly, I am sure, paying off the two guys and saying it was closing 8,000 stores for racial sensitivity training. 8,000 stores! That’s like three blocks’ worth of Starbucks in Manhattan. Where will white people without offices sit all day? When they reopen, I’d hate to be the first person to order a cup of coffee “black.” Expect a lecture. Now baristas at 8,000 Starbucks stores, who have nose-rings, ironic tattoos and
RON HART Columnist $50K in student loan debt from their Gender Studies degrees, get to be lectured on race so they can then lecture customers on race. That is the mission statement of Starbucks: overcharge for coffee while lecturing customers that they are racist. It is called the “Insult to Injury” program. Starbucks has always been leftist-politically active. Management said they were going to hire 10,000 refugees when Trump instigated his ban on travelers from terrorist countries. Imagine how they would misspell their names on their coffee cups. They have a hard time with American names. A friend of mine told his Starbucks barista that his name was “Marc with a C.” The guy promptly wrote “Cark” on his cup. The good news is, I have heard of guys who cannot remember a date’s name the next morning taking her to Starbucks so she has to say her name again as a reminder. I thought Starbucks solved the racism problem a few years ago when it launched the “Race Together” campaign. Remember that stellar program where baristas wrote provocative statement on cups to “start a conversation” on race relations? That way they could give customers the condescending stink-eye if they thought the customers were racist. This I know for sure. If anyone wants to start a “conversation” with you about race, he is doing
two things: calling you a racist, and presuming to be morally superior to you so he can lecture you on the matter. It hit the right tone for the Starbucks core customer who is too busy to make his own coffee at home in the morning yet still has time to listen to a state college Psych major barista opine on race en route to work. Starbucks is a political action committee that happens to serve overpriced coffee. They seemed like hypocrites when the Philadelphia incident happened. You’d expect this at Cracker Barrel; racism is right there in the name. But to be fair, Starbucks is not a waiting room for people to waste time. It’s a place to finish a term paper or résumé. It is a place you meet someone you don’t quite trust in your home or from whom you are buying something sketchy on Craigslist. You libs have to make a stand for the aggrieved parties and hit Starbucks where it hurts. Nonpaying customers should stop coming to the stores. That’d show ’em. There will be a cost to Starbucks. In addition to lecturing employees of 8,000plus stores on race, it plans to open more stores in innercity and lower middle class neighborhoods. Brilliant idea – now people in impoverished neighborhoods can have a store rob them for a change. And what better temptation would there be than the opportunity to buy $10 latte mochas every morning so they can become poor again? Ron Hart is a libertarian op-ed humorist and awardwinning author. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @ RonaldHart on Twitter.
The subscription rate is $136.00 per year in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties and $177.99 outside the area. Periodicals paid at Alexander City, AL. Newspapers are available at 100 news racks in our area at 75 cents for The Outlook and 50 cents for The Record. We would love to deliver a paper to your door. Call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281, Ext. 204 or email david.kendrick@ alexcityoutlook.com.
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Happy Mother’s Day!
Every year on the second Sunday in May in the United States, we celebrate our Moms. This year, Mother’s Day will be Sunday, May 13, 2018. The KROLGD\ EHFDPH RႈFLDO LQ ZKHQ 3UHVLGHQW Woodrow Wilson made the declaration to make it a nationally recognized day. The history of Mother’s 'D\ VWDUWV EHIRUH WKH \HDU 7KH WUDGLWLRQ RI Mother’s Day in the United States that we celebrate today was created by a woman named Anna Jarvis. Anna Jarvis was the daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis who formed an organization in the 1860’s that helped teach Mothers how to care for their children. In the years following, she used the Mothers’ Clubs to try and bring peace and unity among people who were divided over the Civil War. When her Mother GLHG LQ $QQD EHJDQ D FDPSDLJQ WR FHOHEUDWH 0RWKHUV DV D ZD\ RI UHFRJQL]LQJ KHU OHJDF\ 7KH ÂżUVW 0RWKHUÂśV 'D\ FKXUFK VHUYLFH ZDV KHOG LQ 6LQFH WKHQ SHRSOH KDYH participated in the tradition of honoring their Moms, thanking them for all they do, and making this day each year a special Find the words hidden in the puzzle day for them. Honor a Mom in your life this year! below.
What Is Mom? Word Search
Color It!
All About Mom
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My Mom’s name is ____________, but I call her _________________. Her favorite thing to do with me is ___________________________. My Mom’s favorite thing to drink is ______________, and her favorite food is _____________________. Her favorite television show is ___________________________. Her eyes are ____________, and her hair is ___________________. Amazing, Beautiful, Caring, My favorite thing about my Mom is Cheerleader, Dedicated, Friend, ___________________________. Generous, Giving, Kind, Loving, I like it when we go to _________, 3DWLHQW 3URWHFWLYH 6HOÀHVV and we _____________________. Special, Strong, Supportive, My Mom is special to me because Survivor, Talented, Teacher, Wise ___________________________. I love you, __________________!
............ ............ ............ ............ ............ Mom & Baby ............ ............ ............ Play It With Mom
Each person takes a turn to M draw a line from one dot to another. When a player completes a box, such as the one below, they are allowed anRWKHU WXUQ 3ODFH \RXU LQLWLDO LQ each box that you complete. 3HUVRQ ZLWK WKH PRVW ER[HV is the winner.
)LQG WKH GLႇHUHQFHV in the pictures with the Mother and her babies.
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Page 6
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CommunityCalendar Need Insurance? Call me.
Today is
May 8, 2018 Today’s Events
LUNCH AND LEARN: Thinking about starting your own business? You can learn everything you need to know to start a successful for-profit or non-profit business at this “lunch
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
The Outlook
and learn” workshop being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Opelika Chamber of Commerce at 601 Avenue A in Opelika. The workshop is hosted by CEO of Business Owners and Future Entrepreneurs Professional Network, Inc. The cost is $20 and covers registration and lunch. You can register online at www. joannesconsulting.org. There is lim-
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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/. ited seating available. For more information, call Joanne Finley at 334-332-5970.
Today’s Birthdays
MacArthur White, Gerald Parker and Stanley Jones are celebrating their birthdays today.
Today’s Anniversaries
Angie and Scott Richardson celebrate their anniversary today.
THE MEADOWS ASSISTED LIVING
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Ocie and Belle’s owner Mark Gilliland hosted a fundraiser benefiting the Lake Martin Animal Shelter Saturday. Maker’s Mark was the sponsor of the event and despite multiple local events, there was a great turnout. The mandatory Derby attire, $5 cover charge and additional donations resulted in a $450 contribution and a very fun evening.
May 9-11
CHURCH REVIVAL: Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church is hosting spring revival services May 9 to May 11 at 7 p.m. nightly. The evangelist for the week is Rev. Anthony Shealey of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Loachapoka. Rev. G.H. Pulliam is pastor of Pine Grove.
Friday, May 11
EARLY BIRD SALE: Want to get a jump on the best deals? Red Ridge United Methodist Church will hold a special early bird session for its Annual Mission Fund Yard Sale from 8 to 11 a.m. There will be a wide variety of items as members of the church all donated to help the cause. Every dollar raised goes into the church’s mission fund and the goal this year has been set at $7,000. The sale will be held at the church located at 8091 County Road 34 in Dadeville. For more details, call John Mann at 256-307-2366.
Saturday, May 12
The Learning Tree Helping Children Learn and Grow
The Learning Tree, Inc. is Accepting Applications for 2nd, 3rd, and Weekend Shifts for Direct Care. Applications can be picked up at: 101 S. Dubois Street Tallassee, AL 36078 Or contact Shatia Carr (334) 252-0025, Ext. 101 Email: Scarr@learning-tree.org
JUNQUE JUBILEE: MainStreet Alexander City is hosting Junque Jubilee in downtown Alexander City starting at 8 a.m. with shops opening at 10 a.m. FISH FRY: The Hackneyville Fire Department will be hosting its annual fish fry from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the HVFD in Hackneyville. Bring your family and friends to enjoy some fresh, fried catfish. Fish plates will be available for $10 per plate. This is the HVFD annual fundraising drive to help keep the department active and to help pay for a new fire department. MOTHERS’ PRAYER BREAKFAST: Centerview Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a Mothers’ Prayer Breakfast at 9 a.m. The speaker is Debra Harris, First Lady of Mt. Lovely Baptist Church. Rev. Jimmial Harrison Sr. is pastor of Centerview Missionary Baptist. PANCAKE BREAKFAST: The Comer Methodist Men’s Club is hosting a pancake breakfast from 6 to 10 a.m. It is eat in or carry out for $6 a plate. BENEFIT YARD SALE: Red Ridge United Methodist Church will hold its Annual Mission Fund Yard Sale from 6 a.m. until all the goods are gone. A wide variety of items as members of the church all donate to help the cause. Every dollar raised goes into the church’s mission fund and the goal this year has been set at $7,000. The sale will be held at the church which is located at 8091 County Road 34 in Dadeville. For more details, call John Mann at 256-307-2366. CANDIDATE FAIR: The Coosa County Republican Party is hosting a candidate fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rockford Event Center at 333 School Street in Rockford.
Wednesday, May 16
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LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL: The Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department and the Alexander City Police Department is hosting the 22nd Annual Law Enforcement Memorial at 11 a.m. at the department. The key note speaker will be Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. Lunch will be served afterwards in the Alexander City Police Department.
Thursday, May 17
• • • • •
Alexander City Outlook Dadeville Record Wetumpka Herald Eclectic Observer Tallassee Tribune
WINE AND WORDS: Chuck’s Marina is hosting a “Crawfish Boil, Wine and Words” fundraiser for the Friends of the Dadeville Public Library. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at
the door if available. It includes all-you-can-eat crawfish boil dinner prepared by Chef Raymond LeBlanc, music by the Murray Brown Band, a wine tasting and used book sale. Advance tickets are available at Chuck’s and the Dadeville Public Library.
Friday, May 18
PRODUCTION: The Mt. Vernon Theatre in Tallassee is hosting “The Hoppers” at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18 and are available at mtvernontheatre.net
Saturday, May 19
PERFORMANCE: The Mt. Vernon Theatre in Tallassee is hosting the Central Alabama Youth Wind Symphony at 7 p.m. The Central Alabama Youth Wind Symphony is a youth organization for youths by youths. Directed by Tyler Rodgers, CAYWS has a lot to offer the community, especially in the form of music. The project was started in November as means to bring the community and others together through music and allow area youth to express themselves freely and openly. CAYWS believes in a warm, friendly environment for all teenagers looking to continue their exploration in the field of music. Tickets to the show are $5 and are available at mtvernontheatre.net. ARMED FORCES DAY PICNIC: The Bill Nichols Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans will be holding a Picnic in the Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Strand Park to celebrate Armed Forces Day. Veteran service organizations like the DAV and American Legion will be on hand to pass out information, and the Alabama National Guard will also have a display set up. There will be a military vehicle show, kids activities and food vendors set up in the park as well. The event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend. SINGING: The Kellyton Revival Center is hosting “Singing with The Exhorters” at 5 p.m. Refreshments will be provided afterwards and a love offering will be taken.
Sunday, May 20
BACCALAUREATE SERVICE: The Benjamin Russell Baccalaureate Service is at 7 p.m. at the BRHS auditorium. CHURCH HOMECOMING: Holly Springs Baptist Church in Coosa County is hosting homecoming at 11 a.m. Bro. Donnie Blackmon will be preaching. Everyone is welcome to eat after the service, just bring a chair and some food to share. All former members and family of those buried in the church cemetery are welcome. SINGING: A singing will be held at the Midway Historical School from noon to 2 p.m. at East Mill Drive in Hollins. SOLIDARITY DAY: New Adka Missionary Baptist Church is hosting Solidarity Day May 20 at 11 a.m. The theme is “How to talk about Relationship Problems.” Edward Milner is pastor.
Monday, May 21
SPEECH AND HEARING SCREENING: Auburn University NSSLHA & SAA are proud to offer a free speech, language and hearing screening that will access the following for children and adults: articulation (pronouncing sounds), receptive language (understanding concepts
and spoken language), expressive language (ability to verbally express self), cognition (attention, memory, problem solving), voice quality, fluency and hearing. The screening will be from 1 to 4 p.m. at 1199 Haley Center in Auburn. For further information, please call 334-844-9600.
Wednesday, May 23
SENIORX: Deborah Jones will be at the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce May 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to help seniors determine if they are eligible for assistance with diabetic supplies, liquid supplements and medications. For more information contact Jones at 1-800-361-1636.
Saturday, May 26
CONCERT: The Mt. Vernon Theatre in Tallassee is hosting Bama Breeze in concert, Jimmy Buffet style with a food truck.
Sunday, May 27
Harold Cochran 256.234.2700 haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com
Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services •Physical Therapy •Occupational Therapy •Speech Therapy 2334 Washington Street Alexander City • 256-329-9061 www.crownemanagement.com
Come Visit Us! Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing
–Since 1978–
CELEBRATION TRIBUTE: A celebration tribute in memory of Mr. Thomas “Toot Toot” Marbury will be held at 6 p.m. in Strand Park in downtown Alexander City.
BIG “B” BAR-B-QUE
Friday, June 1
Hickory Grilled Meat
RUMMAGE SALE: The First Presbyterian Church is hosting a rummage sale to clear out the youth house at 371 Jefferson Street June 1 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. There is furniture, appliances, crafts, Bible study kits and more. CAMP HIDDEN LAKE: Applications for the Salvation Army’s Camp Hidden Lake from June 18-23 are due by June 1. The camp is free to those who qualify. Register online at campscui.active.com/orgs/ CampHiddenLake.
Saturday, June 2
LEAVE NO TRACE: Wind Creek State Park is hosting National Trails Day Leave No Trace in the Park at 9 a.m. The hiking event will educate hikers on how to “leave no trace” when hiking. PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY: New Adka Missionary Baptist Church in Dadeville is celebrating the pastoral anniversary of Rev. Edward Milner and and First Lady Emily Milner June 2 at 5 p.m. in the New Adka Education Building at 21 North Thornton Road in Dadeville.
Monday, June 4
SUMMER READING PROGRAM: Adelia Russell and Mamie’s Place libraries will have its summer reading program kickoff event at the Alexander City Sportplex Gym. Registration for both the summer reading program and the children’s talent show will be open until June 8.
June 4 - June 6
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: New Adka and Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist churches are hosting vacation Bible school June 4 to June 6 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the New Adka Missionary Baptist Church.
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256.329.9996 Hwy. 22 West, Alexander City, AL
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Saturday, June 9
PRODUCTION: The Mt. Vernon Theatre in Tallassee is hosting musical artist Andy Griggs in concert at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 and are available at mtvernontheatre.net
June 9 - 14
CAMP: Mt. Vernon Theatre in Tallassee is hosting a theatre camp for kids June 9-14.
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Reaching more than 22,000 households in Tallapoosa and Elmore counties The Dadeville Record
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Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
The Outlook
Fence fundraisers and other means like sponsorships and the named brick pavers which are used in front of the Public Safety Building. He stressed no taxpayer funds would be used. “I want to stress that – no taxpayer funds would be used,” Collari said. “Strictly private funds, unless the city wanted to make a donation.” Council member Buffy Colvin said the safety aspect along Tallapoosa Street is one that concerned her as well. “The things I heard were that people didn’t want it totally enclosed, so along Tallapoosa Street would be good,” Colvin said. “I have been to events with children who are runners and I worried about them taking off in that direction. I like the idea. Some people said if they closed it totally it would look like a cemetery. But one side would be great.” Collari said it was too early to put an exact price on the project, but he mentioned $60,000 or more. He also said it would be the hope to match what is installed and planned across other areas downtown. The council voted unanimously to let the Chamber explore the project. The council also approved using about $8,000 from the city’s community development fund for Americans With Disabilities Act compliance money to contract with Florida-based Municode for a new website that would make the city compliant with federal law governing websites. The new site would be more user friendly and enable people with language and sight issues to use the site. It would also include city code search engines, social media integration and online fillable forms. In other business, the council approved by 6-0 vote: • A resolution to appoint Mary Chambliss as a member to the library board. • A resolution to table a decision on awarding a bid for the street department for a street sweeper to Sansom Equipment for an amount not to exceed $230,208. A vendor who had a lower bid raised questions and the council asked for additional information before making a decision. • A resolution to authorize the mayor to execute an agreement with Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association (ASABFA) for two fishing tournaments. • A resolution to authorize the mayor to approve a lease for a private customer on a T-hangar at T.C. Russell Field.
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continued from page 1
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Alexander City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ed Collari proposes the Strand Park fence project to the Alexander City City Council at Monday’s meeting. The council approved initiating the exploration of putting a decorative fence and signage along Tallapoosa Street at Strand Park after Collari’s presentation on how the idea came about and how it could be funded, without taxpayer funds, which Collari stressed.
File / The Outlook
This artist’s rendering shows what the fence could look like after it is potentially installed along Tallapoosa Street in Strand Park.
• A resolution to authorize the mayor to apply for funds with the Public Safety Foundation Grant Program through Firehouse Subs for hydraulic equipment. Alexander City Fire Department Chief
Reese McAlister said the money would be used for the Jaws of Life devices. Their current tools are 12 years old and new equipment is lighter and more efficient and the grant would make it
possible without city funds. • A request to reschedule the next regular council meeting from Monday, May 21 to Thursday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m.
Page 10
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The Outlook
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Yard sale brings in $445 for Radney’s drama club Photos by Donald Campbell Above, Student and parent volunteers from the Radney Drama Club stand out on the corner near the Salvation Army store Saturday morning, helping guide potential buyers to a yard sale being hosted by the drama club at the school. Left, Radney Elementary School art teacher and drama club sponsor Hannah Hawk poses with members of the drama club and parent volunteers following the yard sale. The sale raised $445 for the group, a total Hawk said was very successful for the organization in getting started for the next school year. Items available at the Radney Drama Club yard sale Saturday included clothes, shoes, and even a table full of Christmas decorations, above.
MIXING AND MINGLING:
Facebook Social Mixer held in Strand Park
Photos by Mitch Sneed Rick Durden, Diane Davis, Amy Banks and others organized a first-of-its-kind event called Alexander City Facebook Social Mixer and held it in downtown Alexander City’s Strand Park Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Durden hoped the event would be an opportunity for people to get away from their phones and computer screens and instead talk face-to-face with their Facebook peers. Durden said the idea came from connecting with friends on Facebook and saying, “We need to get together sometime.” “It was time to stop talking about it and actually do it,” he said. There was no set agenda, just food, music and fellowship along with music from the ‘50s to the ‘90s from DJ Jay Andrews. Many came out for the event and mingled amongst each other, meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones.
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
REUNITED and it feels so good Photos by Mitch Sneed Lake Martin area residents and fans of the former Alexander City Junior College made their way out to the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center at Central Alabama Community College Saturday night as the ACJC Reunion Singers, below, put on a great show. Above left, Alicia Mann Holena talks about fond memories of director Ken Yates, above right, and her time performing with the Alexander City Junior College Choral Group. She credited Yates with instilling a love of music that lives inside her still today. Right, pictured, front row, from left, are Tawana Grier Lowery, Catie Howell Simpkins and Tracy Lambert Carr and, back row, from left, Scott Blake, Pat Bailey and Jeff Ethridge sing during one of the first numbers at Saturday’s reunion concert. Bottom, Dadeville native Bucky Heard belts out a tune during the concert.
The Outlook
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Page 11
LIZI ARBOGAST SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com
Page 12
Sports
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LUKE ROBINSON Columnist
Looking back on some favorite Tide players
F
or non-baseball fans such as myself, it can be a stretch to find topics to write about this time of year. So bear with me while I try something new and not time-sensitive. This practice may become a theme for a few weeks so I hope you dig it. First one: I am going to give you my five favorite Alabama players of my lifetime. Enjoy! Derrick Thomas: I know some people will say Lee Roy Jordan is ’Bama’s best linebacker ever, but for my money, there has never been a defender in college football history who could decide an outcome like Thomas. This man had 27 quarterback sacks in one season — before teams went to 12 regular season games, before there was the potential for extra games via the SEC Championship or College Football Playoffs. Thomas collected sacks the way your grandma does in her broom closet. He literally single-handedly defeated Penn State in 1988. Even against an Army team that ran the wishbone in its bowl game faceoff, Thomas made the last second field goal block to save the game for the Tide in that way. Thomas was, in a word, ridiculous. David Palmer: Alabama has been a wide receiver factory for the NFL under Nick Saban, but The Deuce may be the most unique player to ever wear Crimson. Imagine what Palmer could have done with the talent surrounding UA’s current squads? Deuce wasn’t the fastest or the tallest or the strongest, but he broke more ankles than cheap roller skates. His punt returns were like watching a rose petal float in a mild wind. He glided through defenders with such ease and grace. I bet he was a devil to play freeze tag against in his childhood. Javier Arenas: Like Palmer in so many ways, but very different in others. Yes, Javy was also undersized and lacked the top-end speed, but he seemed to make big plays based on sheer will. Unlike Deuce, Arenas was not a topnotch recruit in high school. In fact, he was a relative afterthought. Whereas Palmer was a natural athlete, Javy more so made himself into a star through the self-created motivational chip on his shoulder. Palmer beat you because of his gifted instinct; Javy beat you because he wanted it more. Not only is Arenas one of my favorite players ever, but he is also the poster child for any two star who hopes to prove the world wrong. Rolondo McClain: Yeah, this pick is a little controversial, I know. Rolo has had a few issues since departing The Capstone. However, when McClain was playing football for Saban and company, there was no fiercer defender on the field. In college, Rolondo was a focused leader who helped transform the culture at Alabama. Despite his obvious mistakes since leaving school, his impact while in Tuscaloosa was undeniable. Julio Jones: I considered Amari Cooper, Mark Ingram, Barrett Jones, Derrick Henry and Shaun Alexander here, but I just can’t leave off Julio. Amari was smoother, Mark and Derrick and Barrett won more hardware and Shaun was the better one-man-show, but Julio is…. Well… Julio. His commitment announcement on ESPN is still historic. His downfield blocking and tough catches through injury are iconic. Like Rolo, Julio was a man not to be trifled with. He is also the most NFL-successful of the players on this list. Minkah Fitzpatrick: I know I limited myself to five earlier, but Minkah has to be on here. He is the Saban-ist-y Sabanbot of all time. He is professional, smart, charismatic and, most of all, talented. Minkah is going to be an All Star in the NFL because he will make himself become one. When Saban retires and people make “an all-Saban team,”Minkah will most definitely be on it. So that’s my list. Who would make yours? Luke Robinson is a regular columnist and contributor to Lake Martin Living and BMetro.
Outlook The
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
NATIONALS BOUND Trojans head to nationals in multiple sports
By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
With Central Alabama Community College’s softball team punching its ticket to nationals with a series win Friday, that makes three of four teams for CACC heading to the big dance. Central Alabama’s women’s tennis team began its national championships Monday, while the golf team will head down to Lubbock, Texas next week for its championship tournament. “The cool thing about the junior college golfers or any (junior college) athletes that are serious about their sport, they have to perform and they have to make good grades for bigger schools to look at them,” CACC golf coach Dave Jennings said. “If either one of those aren’t in the equation, they’re going to Podunk University. This group was really focused on wanting to progress into bigger programs.” Jennings’ Trojans won both their regional championship and their district championship. Caleb O’Toole was the low medalist at districts, and Jennings was named the Region XXII Coach of the Year. He’s also sending Jake Maples and Sam Goldasich to Division I schools, as they’re going to Georgia Southern and UAB, respectively. “This group, they’ve bought into the program,” Jennings said. “They’ve worked hard. Our freshmen have all followed suit with these sophomores, and they want to be successful and move on to bigger universities too, so they’re working extremely hard. And they’re good guys. They have gotten into no trouble, they have gone to class and they’ve just been dynamite.” Jennings is somewhat familiar with Rawls Golf Course in Lubbock, where the Trojans will play for their national title. It’s the same course where CACC won its national championship in 2013. Lubbock is also known for its windy conditions, Jennings said, so he’s hoping some of the up and down weather the Trojans have played through this season will work to their advantage. His hopes are high for a potential repeat of 2013, as Central Alabama sits at No. 5 in the nation heading into the tournament. “I like the way things are coming together,” Jennings said. “I just want to have a chance going into the final round. These guys have closed their tournaments
well. In their last rounds, they’ve been back and come back to win, so they know how to win and we’ve had five wins this year, so they’re not afraid to win. “I’m excited about it, and I know they are too. They’re ready to go tee it up and compete.” As for the tennis team, it’s going to be more challenging to come away as the top dog due to recruiting restraints for JUCOs in Alabama, but CACC coach Wesley Coleman is shooting for a top-10 finish. “I think it would be a great accomplishment and it would be the best finish CACC’s ever had on the women’s side,” Coleman said. “And we can do it. No matter what level in tennis, it always starts with the draw. We gotta have some favorable draws, but I believe it’s definitely a realistic goal that we can achieve.” This season, CACC won its conference championship, the first since 2007, and it did so in dominating fashion. The women lost only one match out of 18 in the finals. They’ve also climbed to No. 12 in the country and are playing at nationals in Waco, Texas. Coleman said his sophomore class has helped “put CACC tennis back on the map.” Ashley Coots, Maggie Blackwell and Catina Gamo were all singles and doubles conference championships, and Gamo was named MVP of the tournament. Coleman also relies on his sophomores that aren’t in the starting six. “Emily Cheshire and Shelley Humphrey (Benjamin Russell) are both really good teammates, great leaders and just girls that I can depend on,” Coleman said. Freshmen Morgan Bishop, Olivia
Submitted / The Outlook
Top, Central Alabama Community College’s women’s tennis team won its first conference championship since 2007. Above, CACC’s Caleb O’Toole was the low medalist at the district tournament, which the Trojans recently won.
Hayes and Kristina LaBoone round out the top six, and Coleman said he’s found a great combination in all six. “To me, it all starts with that sophomore class combined with a talented incoming freshman class that I had this year,” Coleman said. “We are a talented team and very skilled, but more importantly, we just had a lot of depth. If we had an injury, I could sub in a player and I wouldn’t really miss a beat. That’s been a big part. We have some really good practices where we push each other, and competition in practice is what makes you better.”
Dadeville’s Tucker is four-time state champion STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
To say that Dadeville’s three-sport star Qua Tucker stole the show at the 4A State Track Meet in Gulf Shores would be an understatement. Tucker finished the meet with four gold medals with times of 10.63 seconds in the 100, 21.80 in the 200, 14.12 in the 110 hurdles and a 39.39 in the 300 hurdles. Dadeville track coach and principal Chris Hand said it was an incredible performance to witness. “It was just an awesome display of speed and athleticism,” Hand said. “The hurdles are his best events and he just dominated in both of those, but in the 100 and 200, he had to work and drive to win those. “I think people know what a special runner he was going in, but if they didn’t, they do now. It was a treat to watch and we sure are going to miss him.” Tucker, who won three golds a year ago, has signed to play football at Troy University, where he is viewed as a can’t miss prospect at receiver. The Tigers were also represented by Josh Taylor who placed seventh in the 300 hurdles with a time of 42.53. Ladarrius Moore placed ninth in the triple jump with a leap of 41 feet 6.75 inches. Jalen Sullivan leapt 38 feet 3.25 inches for a 21st-place finish in the triple jump. Jamauri Chislom pushed the shot put to a 15th place finish with a distance of 40 feet 6.25 inches. The distance team at Benjamin Russell did well at the state meet.
BRHS distance runners shine
Lance Cunigan paced the group with a second-place finish in the 800 with a time of 1:57.22, a third-place finish in the 1600 with a time of 4:26.03 and a fourth-place
File / The Outlook
Dadeville’s Qua Tucker poses with his track and field medals at last year’s meet. Tucker earned four gold medals over the weekend at the 4A State Track Meet in Gulf Shores.
finish in the 3200 with a 9:46.78. Cunigan helped the 4x800 team to a 20th place finish with a time of 8:59.09. Jay Harrison represented the Wildcats in the 110 hurdles with a 12th-place finish in a time of 16.08. Za Stowes leapt 42-feet 9-and-a-half-inches good enough for a 15th-place finish in the triple jump. The Wildcat girls were represented by Brionna Slaughter who finished 16th in the 100 with a time of 12.90 and by Aaliyah Thomas with a time of 1:01.74 for 18th in the 400.
Shaw gets a taste of gold for Reeltown
Eric Shaw paced the Rebel boys at the state meet in Cullman with three individual medals helping them to a seventh-place finish in 2A as a team. He was awarded gold in the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.14 seconds. Shaw received the silver in the 300 hurdles with a time of 41.09. Shaw also brought home a bronze
in the high jump with leap of six feet. Zantjuan Knight helped his team with 16th places in the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles with times of 19.39 and 46.87. Rhasheed Wilson placed 21st with a time of 48.20 in the 300 hurdles. Cohen Reed placed 15th in the 800 with a time of 2:17.52. Cameron Faison helped his teammates in the long jump with a leap of 20-feet 4-inches — good enough for a bronze. Xavier Mabson placed 11th in the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet 2.75 inches. Derrick Hammonds placed fifth in the javelin with a throw of 144 feet and 7 inches while throwing the discus to a 15th-place finish with a 94-foot 11-inch throw. Caleb Gantt pushed the shot to a 21st place finish with a 37-foot 2-inch toss. The boys 4x100 team finished fourth with a time of 44.89. The girls placed 15th in the state. Taniya Haynes placed seventh in the 100 meters with a time of 13.26. She also placed 10th in the 200 meters with a time of 27.76 and placed eighth in the triple jump with a leap of 32 feet, 3.25 inches. Diyanna Newton placed 20th in the 100meter hurdles crossing the line in 20.28 seconds. Newton also place 22nd in the 200 hurdles with a time of 58.25 seconds. Brekia Riley placed 20th in the 100 hurdles with a time of 20.61 seconds. Makayla Langston tossed the discus 75 feet for an eighth-place finish and also placed eighth in the shot with a throw of 30 feet 2 inches. Nyla Hayden threw the discus 72 feet 6 inches for a 15th-place finish. She also threw the javelin to a third-place finish with a 100-feet 11-inch throw. Hayden’s 27-foot 6-inch throw in the shot was good enough for 16th place. The girls 4x100 team finished in 19th place with a time of 59.37.