Issuu

OPINION: GET OUT AND VOTE TODAY

THE

TUESDAY

SPORTS, PAGE 10

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

LOCAL, PAGE 2

Luke Holt finishes fine career

December 12, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 245 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

Holiday open house held

Archer remodel, employee request snubbed By MITCH SNEED Editor

Tallapoosa County Probate Court Judge Leon Archer asked the Tallapoosa County Commissioners for permissions Monday to spend money raised by indexing fees in his office to hire a new employee to help while others are out and to revamp the offices in the courthouse in Dadeville. The commissioners didn’t say yes or no, they didn’t even make a motion to bring it to a vote. The snub made Archer as mad as hornet in a Coke can and he told them so. “Can I ask why?” Archer asked. “”It’s no money out of the county budget at all. This is money out of our indexing fees. I have checked with the state auditor and they say

it’s fine to fund the renovations with that money. They say it’s fine to pay an employee from those funds. I just don’t get it.” Commissioner T.C. Coley said he thought it seemed to be a little early for another renovation when one was done about 10 years ago. Commissioner Emma Jean Thweatt said she was concerned about hiring an employee with those funds and what could happen when a new probate judge takes office. Commissioner John McKelvey asked if the commissioners could visit and get an idea of how the renovation plans would help efficiency. Archer said he didn’t have time to wait, because the Department of Corrections would be doing the work and he feared they would See COMMISIONERS • Page 9

Tallapoosa County Probate Court Judge Leon Archer presents his proposal to the county commissioners Monday morning. The answer was neither yes or no. Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

SN-OMG 2017 Winter Storm Benji will long be remembered in Tallapoosa County

Senate race, property tax vote on the ballot

By MITCH SNEED and CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writers

By MITCH SNEED Editor

Nearly 8 inches of snow, hundreds of issues on area roads, forecasts that were far from reality, thousands without power, cable and internet and angst over school closings is how SNOMG 2017 or, Winter Storm Benji as it is properly known, will be remembered in Tallapoosa County. Friday’s winter storm caught many off guard as the National Weather Service See SNOW • Page 3

tons of sand put on troubled area roads to keep motorists safe

40 2,400

inches of snow

without power

students stranded for a brief time

91 61 motorist assists, accidents, etc. in a 26-hour period

calls to 911

Important elections held today

Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

Winter Storm Benji created some postcard quality images, but plenty of road and power issues too.

Tallapoosa County voters are asked to go to the polls today to help select a new U.S. Senator and decide whether they will support a 3 mill property tax hike for those living in the Tallapoosa County School District, which will help fund education. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. so that voters can cast their ballot for Doug Jones, Roy Moore or write in a candidate for U.S. Senator. In a race that has seen record spending and an all out barrage of political ads on television, radio and the Internet, experts say turnout is the key in the race. Tallapoosa County Probate Court Judge Leon Archer said that poll workers have been trained and voters will us electronic poll books for the first time. “We trained everyone on the new process on Thursday and we are anxious to see how it goes,” Archer said. “We think See ELECTION • Page 9

Third-graders take trip on Polar Express

JazzFest art contest accepting entries

By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

Students in Jeri-Lynn Martin’s third-grade class at Stephens Elementary School took a special trip Monday to the North Pole via the Polar Express. Her students were allowed to wear their pajamas to class and were treated to hot chocolate and a showing of the 2004 film “The Polar Express.” While Martin gave her students the chance to enjoy some of their time in the classroom, she also used the movie as a way to reinforce some of the lessons she has recently covered. “Ever since I put the book out See EXPRESS • Page 9

Even though the 2018 Alexander City Jazz Fest is still six months away, the Jazz Fest committee has already started planning for the event, including spreading the word about the annual art contest to select a design for the 28th annual Jazz Fest posters and t-shirts. Robert Gunn, who helps head up the art contest, said this competition has been going on for as long as he can remember. “This is a great way to get the community and the students in the schools involved in creating the design,” he said. “We encourage See JAZZFEST • Page 2

Today’s

Donald Campbell / The Outlook

Dressed as one of Santa’s elves, third-grade teacher Jeri-Lynn Martin leads her students in a group discussion comparing and contrasting the book and movie “The Polar Express” Monday morning.

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Husband’s Luddite attitude puts a heavy burden on wife

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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 Tabby Edwards Retail Sales Manager, Ext. 232 tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com Scott Hardy Digital Marketing Coordinator, Ext. 231 scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com Emily Gregg Advertising Sales, Ext. 225 emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com Rebecca Carlisle Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 rebecca.carlisle@alexcityoutlook.com Grant Peterson Advertising Sales, Ext. 209 grant.peterson@alexcityoutlook.com Composing Darlene Johnson Composing Department, Ext. 203 darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com Hallie Holloway Composing Department, Ext. 203 hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com Circulation Linda Ewing Office Clerk, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@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 Publishers, printing press. Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011.

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Information

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Post Office Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011.

JazzFest everyone interested to submit. We love to see all these submissions.” Between now and March 16, anyone in the community is welcome to send in original artwork to be considered for the design. “There have been a number of electronically submitted entries over the past several years,” Gunn said. “It has made it easier for some people to participate by allowing electronic submission.” Once all entries are in, Gunn said the planning committee would review all of the art and select a winner from all of the student entries as well as from the general public. Sometimes, the student whose art was chosen as the winner at the school level has gone on to win the overall contest as well. After the winner has been chosen and notified, he or she will be recognized on stage during Jazz Fest as the design winner, along with receiving $250, getting a special table

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

The Outlook

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together for 40 years. Like most people, we’ve had our good times and bad, but we’ve both been committed to the marriage, and so we’ve made it work. Now I’m faced with a problem for which I see no solution. My husband refuses to learn to use a computer. He knows nothing about computers, not even how to turn one on! As you know, computers are now key to even the most fundamental tasks. That means, as the only computer user in the house, all tasks are MY responsibility. Banking, bill paying, communication with family, friends, lawyers, financial advisers, arrangements for social events, business meetings, medical appointments, travel and other activities are totally up to me. He does NONE of it! He washes the dishes and takes out the trash, but any function that requires brains and technology are totally left to me.

husband what he would do in the case of YOUR sudden death. He, too, would be left completely adrift. It couldn’t hurt to warn him. DEAR ABBY Advice

I’m tired! Is this fair? I’ve asked many times for him to go to our public library and take lessons on computer use, but he adamantly refuses. How do I handle this? -- IT’S ALL ON ME IN NEW YORK DEAR ALL ON YOU: After 40 years you are not going to change your husband, so appreciate the things he does do. I know you’re tired and it may not seem fair, but grit your teeth and forge ahead. You have no idea how lucky you really are. Many wives know little or nothing about the family finances. If something unforeseen happens to their husbands, they are left scrambling to learn about realities for which they are not equipped. P.S. Consider asking your

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 Donnie H. Royal The funeral service for Donnie H. Royal, age 71 of Goodwater, will be held today, Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Chapel Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Stone officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery. Mr. Royal will lie in state at the church from 1:00 p.m. until service time. Mr. Royal passed away on Friday, December 8, 2017 at Clay County Hospital. He was born in Goodwater and had lived most of his life in Clay County. He was a graduate of Bibb Graves High School and had worked for Russell Mills. Mr. Royal enjoyed Alabama football, listening to music, and loved playing with his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. He was a member of Oak Chapel Baptist Church. Mr. Royal is survived

by two daughters: Rhonda Ivy (Josh) of Lineville and Donna Johnson (Jamie) of Ashland; one son, Dale Royal (Becky) of Alexander City; one sister, Dean Johnson of Goodwater; one brother, Charles Royal of Ashland; 10 grandchildren, 4 greatgrandchildren and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents: Noble L. Royal and Bessie Claud Heath Royal; his wife, Louise White Royal; one greatgranddaughter, Lucy Rose Hunter and one infant brother. Pallbearers will be Bradley Royal, Brittany Hunter, Brandon Hunter, Leslie Brooks, Eli Johnson, Carly Royal and Trevor Royal. Benefield Funeral Home of Ashland in charge of the arrangements. www. benefieldfuneralhome. com.

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during the Friday night events and VIP parking during the festival. The school winner will also be honored, being awarded with $25 and a plaque for best student submission. All submissions to the art contest must meet several guidelines, including being in a vertical layout no larger than 16 inches by 20 inches. All submissions must include “28th Annual Alexander City Jazz Fest” and “June 8-9, 2018” in the design, utilizing four separate colors without blending or shading any of them. Artists are limited to submitting no more than three different designs for the competition. Once a submission is ready, it can be dropped off at the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce offices, mailing it to Jazz Fest Poster Contest, Attn: Robert Gunn, 2544 Willow Point Road, Alexander City, AL 35010, or e-mailing it to info@alexcityjazzfest. com. “Some of these guidelines, including the rules on color, it makes it easier to transfer artwork to the printer,” Gunn said. “The size makes it easier for it to fit on the poster and the shirt.” Over the years, the number of submissions has been as few as 80 and as many as 300, according to Gunn. Whether there are only a few entries or a multitude, the Jazz Fest committee is looking forward to seeing the many different kinds of artwork that the community submits for the competition. “This is part of what we do, part of our program,” Gunn said. “This gets us excited and in gear for the rest of the planning season.”

DEAR ABBY: I am a widow, and I often dine out with my youngest son. Invariably, because I have a 25-year-old man with me and no husband, we are shown to an undesirable table in the restaurant. Usually, I say nothing. This evening, we were escorted to a room way in the back of a large restaurant (two-thirds full). The only other occupants were a couple with two small children who looked to be about 2 or 3. When I requested a different table, my son was furious. He said what I had done was rude. We were moved to another table. It was between the hostess station and the kitchen door. I sat there and said nothing. This was an expensive restaurant, and our bill was more than $100. Was I rude? I would appreciate your opinion.

-- NEW SEAT IN FLORIDA DEAR NEW SEAT: Your son was mistaken. To ask to be seated at a table in a different part of the restaurant was not rude; it was your prerogative. If you preferred a location in the front of the place rather than near the kitchen or a family with small children, you should have repeated your request. And if the host or hostess had a problem with it, you should have left and enjoyed dinner at a restaurant more accommodating than that one. TO MY JEWISH READERS: The eight days of Hanukkah begin at sundown. Happy Hanukkah, everyone! May we all enjoy a joyous festival of lights.

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park hosts holiday open house Horseshoe Bend National Military Park hosted a holiday open house from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday evening. Guests enjoyed the luminaries along the pathways and battlefield. Above, National Park rangers sit around a fire for story telling at the park. Right, guests enter the visitor center at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park as the park hosted a open house Saturday. Bottom, luminaires light the way at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park for the event. Cliff Williams / The Outlook

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Arthur Price Allen Sylacauga, AL Memorial service for Mr. Arthur Price Allen, 90, will be Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Radney-Smith Chapel. Mr. Allen passed away Sunday, December 10, 2017 at his residence. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Seaborn & Lillie Allen, brothers, Clyde L Allen and James Floyd Allen, sister, Gladys McGinty. Mr. Allen was a member of First Baptist Church in

Mr. Gordon Roberts 1942 - 2017 Funeral Service for Mr. Gordon Roberts, 75, of Alexander City, will be Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Bro. Jeff Hardy will officiate. Burial will follow in the Jackson’s Gap Cemetery. The

Palmdale, Ca. He is survived by his wife, Ruby Jean Allen; two sons, Arthur Phillip Allen, Ronald Lynn Allen; two sisters, Lois Lovelady, Edith Williams; 4 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Coosa Valley Hospice. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneysmith.com. Radney-Smith Funeral Home in Sylacauga, AL will direct the services. family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www. radneyfuneralhome.com. Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

The Outlook

Snow predicted the storm would come in two waves – one mid morning and the other Friday evening stretching the resources of Alexander City first responders. “This was one that caught all of us off guard,” Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors said. “Looking at the information that we had early Friday, there was no indication that we would have experienced what we did. But I am so proud of the way that our folks answered the call. The first responders, public works, roads, water and light and power – they worked straight through to minimize the issues. I know they are still out there working to see what they can do better the next time.” As the first wave of snow struck about at 10 a.m., police started responding to wrecks and providing assistance to motorists until Saturday. “We responded to 91 motorist assists, accidents, cars sliding off roads in the 26 hours from 10 a.m. Friday to noon Saturday,” Alexander City Police Chief Jay Turner said. To put things into perspective Turner said the department responds to an average of four accidents in a 24-hour period and a few more when the weather changes. “When we have a dry spell and then get some rain, going from dry to wet, we will have a few more accidents,” Turner said. “It might go up to 10 in a 24 hour period.” The volume of calls caused the department to call in extra personnel not only for patrolling the streets but to handle the phone calls. “We normally have two in dispatch,” Turner said. “We doubled it to four for the storm. For accidents we can get five or more phone calls per accident and they have to sort through each call. With the storm, we had so many calls coming in we had to add dispatchers.” Turner said after the roads were closed shortly after 3 p.m. Friday that all calls from motorists were classified as motorist assists. Turner said roads reopened Saturday. The Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department even got their share of calls. In the same time frame Sheriff Jimmy Abbett reported 61 calls to 911 and a total of 411 calls to other lines at the department. “We had two dispatchers in the center at all times,” Abbett said. “At times we had three depending on call volume.” Abbett said the dispatchers try to log all the calls. “We dispatch all of the calls,” Abbett said. “Sometimes we don’t get all of them logged though.” The storm left about 45 students stranded at Alexander City Schools for a brief time. The Alexander City Police Department teamed up with the Alexander City Fire Department to get students home. “Dr. Cooper called us about 3 p.m. (Friday),” Turner said. “There were about 15 students at the high school and about 30 at the middle school. We teamed up with the fire department and the school resource officers and all the students were home by 5 p.m.” The police employed the Humvees they recently secured from government surplus and they were a big help, Turner said. Tallapoosa County Schools sent out notice at 10 a.m. Friday that they would be closing at 11:30 a.m. The timing hit at the height of the early wave of Friday snow causing some

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minor issues at Horseshoe Bend School where buses were delayed for brief time while sand was applied to area roads. Tallapoosa County EMA Director Jason Moran praised everyone who worked so hard to render assistance through the storm. He said that the Red Cross Shelter that opened at the Sportplex Saturday actually took in no residents. “We were surprised, but I think for the most part most people had their power back on,” Moran said. “There were a few scattered areas that had issues longer, but I know a lot of people worked very hard to lessen the impact and help when needed.” County road crews were out non-stop until Sunday evening and then back out early Monday morning. In District 3 alone, they used 40 tons of sand to put on trouble areas and lost count of how many trees they removed from the roads. In Alexander City, public works and the roads department worked to get sand out in potentially bad areas and worked throughout the storm. The storm even struck area utilities. At the height of the storm, Ricky Waller with the Alexander City Light Department said that about 1,700 customers were dark. “It was pretty overwhelming, but we had every employee we had on the road with the exception of one,” Waller said. “We had most of them back on by 7 p.m. Saturday and most of the issues were caused by trees on lines and transformers. The last things to come back on were the Dobbs Pumping Station and the trailer park on Knight Road. That happened at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday. We appreciate everyone’s patience and the kinds words. We wish we never had anyone out, but the best we can do is work hard to get folks back on as quickly as possible.” Alabama Power responded to outages across the state and was assisted by crews from other states. “Our crews were able to restore service to more than 70,000 customers by this morning,” Alabama Power spokesperson JackiLyn Lowry said. “Due to the widespread outages across central Alabama, additional resources from seven states were brought in to help with the recovery efforts. Winter Storm Benji left 2,400 customers in Tallapoosa County without service. Our crews and support personnel worked around the clock until everyone was back on. Currently, we have no outages related to the winter weather event in Tallapoosa County.”

Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

Many people enjoyed the snow by making snowmen, like Braxton and Brandon Magouirk, middle left, who show off two of the snowmen they built along Scott Road Saturday. The two also made a snow dog and a snow cat in their yard. Others had issues as the nearly 8 inches of snow caused havoc on area roads, downed trees and caused power outages around the area. Nearly 40 tons of sand was put on troubled roads in the area. Due to the weather and trouble on area roads, the post office delivered mail on Sunday which is a rarity.

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Page 4

Our

Opinion

Outlook The

An apology, explanation on how decisions were made

Do your duty D and vote today

oday is Election Day and we get to make an important decision about who will be our U.S. Senator. There is also an important tax vote on the ballot to those in Tallapoosa County. As important as voting is, more and more these days we see people who don’t feel the need to cast their ballot. Some think they don’t have the time or feel like their vote doesn’t matter or simply do not care. Many others are disillusioned by the negative ads and flow of misinformation that leaves them with no idea of what to believe. The truth is that – and maybe in this election more so than most – your vote is as important as it ever was. There have been many, many elections that have been decided by less than 100 votes, especially on the local level. So thinking that your vote does not count could not be farther from the truth. Maybe you feel that when it comes down to it, all the candidates are the same, so why bother voting? Even if this is how you truly feel, remember that the winning candidates can have an enormous impact on our lives. They vote on tax rates and how your money is spent. Since we don’t get to weigh in on each issue, we have to elect people who feel the same way that we do if we can even hope to have our views heard. Consider this: Our government is supposed to represent us. If we don’t express our wishes about who we want representing us and about the proposed laws and changes to laws, we will not be represented as intended. A vote is a powerful form of expression, a meaningful way of impacting our city. The truth is that we are rarely asked our wishes or opinions about things that matter. So when we are asked to voice our wishes, we should do so – even if we do so silently behind a voting-booth curtain. America is a nation where every voice can be heard and those who vote ensure that in at least this one way, their voices are heard. Why would you want to miss out on that opportunity? Or shirk that responsibility? Even more importantly, men and women over the years have sacrificed everything to ensure we continue to have the freedoms we have, including the right to vote. So go to the polls and make your wishes known.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

ear faculty, staff, students, parents and community members, the purpose of this writing is multi-fold. First, I want to apologize for the unsafe conditions our students, staff, and parents were subjected to last Friday during the snow event. Second, I want to provide information regarding the decisions to have school on Friday and to not release until regular dismissal time. And lastly, I want to thank the many people responsible for making sure all of our students arrived home safely. In hindsight, there is no doubt the decision to have school last Friday turned out to be the wrong decision. I take full responsibility in making that decision. Regardless of the situation, the full responsibility falls on my shoulders. I sincerely apologize for the dangerous situation all were placed in last Friday. In providing the following explanation, I first want to say that in no way do I suggest any blame on any parties other than myself. Predicting weather is not easy; it’s an inexact science. Many outstanding professionals provide us help in making our weather-related school decisions, and I am extremely grateful for their assistance. More times than not, they get it right. Prior to making the decision last Friday, several sources were consulted to obtain the best information possible. On Thursday, we participated in a meeting with the local officials at the Tallapoosa County EMA and received a briefing

DARRELL COOPER Superintendent of Alexander City Schools

from the National Weather Service officials. I also had an opportunity to hear Josh Johnson, WSFA Chief Meteorologist, provide information at our local Kiwanis meeting. All sources were predicting snow and sleet in the amount of ½ to 2 inches of accumulation on grass and structures. There was no expectation of accumulation on roadways; the reasoning was the ground surface temperature was still at 50 degrees or above. The forecast was for temperature to never go below freezing and to climb to 38 degrees by mid-day. With the idea that our roads would be clear, the decision was made to have a regular school day. Friday morning, we started at 4:30 a.m. to monitor the roads and weather. As predicted, Friday morning started with rain, and there were no road issues during morning school traffic. Also as predicted, the snow and sleet started later in the morning with accumulation on grassy surfaces. What was not expected was the fact the temperature did not rise as predicted, hovering around 33 degrees through the morning, and the heavy snowfall experienced between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Once the heavy snowfall began to unexpectedly accumulate on roadways, we consulted forecasts and other officials. We learned

the expectations were for temperatures to rise and the snow would turn to rain, which would melt the snow on the roads. At this time, a decision was made to stay in school and hope for rain to melt the snow making roadways safer for travel. The snow did turn into rain and our roadways began to improve. Once the rain began to melt the snow, we decided to wait to dismiss school at regular time. Our decision was based on the fact temperatures were predicted to rise and more rain would make our roadways even safer. Unfortunately, temperatures did not rise and just prior to our release time, heavy snowfall returned and roadways began to deteriorate again during the afternoon school traffic. Even though the situation we faced was not ideal, through the outstanding work of our bus drivers, the Alexander City Police Department, the Alexander City Fire Department, and all other ACS employees, all of our students were safely at home by approximately 5 p.m. These men and women deserve all the credit in working through a bad situation and safely delivering our students. Again, I sincerely apologize for the issues experienced Friday. The safety of our students and staff are most important. My decisions on Friday were made with good intentions, but unfortunately subjected many to unsafe conditions. Darrell Cooper is Superintendent of Alexander City Schools.

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.

Mark Tuggle

alexcityoutlook.com

Daily Poll Weekend Question: Did you enjoy the snowstorm?

Yes — 66%, 43 votes No — 34%, 22 votes

Tuesday Question: Did you vote in the special election today? 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.

Our

Mission

The Outlook strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.

Opinion?

Letters to the Editor

I wanted to share an experience to let the people of Alexander City know what great people they have living in their town. I would rather thank the people by name, but since I wasn’t able to get their names, I figured writing the newspaper may be the best way to say thank you and express my appreciation that there are still people out there with big hearts and that care about others. On trip to Birmingham Friday in the snow to go to see a specialist, I stopped at the Alexander City Mapco as the

roads were getting rough to pick up a few items before finishing the final leg of the trip. When I finished paying for my gas and drink and returned to my car, I realized that one of my wiper blades was hanging on the hood. I tried and tried but couldn’t figure out how to fix it. In that snow, I was worried about driving without a wiper That’s when a young man in a big four-wheel drive red Ford pickup truck noticed that I was having trouble. He came and asked if he could help. He looked at my wipers and told me it wouldn’t be hard to fix. By this time another man and his sweet wife had come

to check on me, too. Before I knew it tools were out, one man had run across the way to a parts store and came back with something to fix it They had it fixed in no time. I tried to pay them, but they would have no part of that. They shook my hand and they were gone before I could even get their names. So to those who helped me last Friday morning at the Alexander City Mapco, I say thank you. It is so nice to know that there are good people in the world. Delores Owen Smiths Station

Does Alabama really want Moore as a legacy? Dear Editor,

Tom Whatley

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” —John 3:17

What’s your

Dear Editor,

Steve Marshall

Scripture

Thanks to Alex City’s good samaritans Kay Ivey

Today’s

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 e-mail david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook. com.

Officials 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.

Quote

“A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.” —Kahlil Gibra

How to

Know Your 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.

Today’s

Roy Moore? Really, Alabama? You admit you believe the women who have come forward and you are still considering voting for this man? This is who you believe in? This is your Christian who you will follow no matter what.

Just suppose that one of these women were your daughter. Are you saying that your 14-year-old daughter is OK with dating a 32-year-old man? Really? We no longer live in the 17th century. I live in Florida and people all over this country are talking about this. You are a laughing stock on the national

news. That’s not something to be proud of. If this election goes in Roy Moore’s favor, Alabama will have to live with the stigma forever. Good luck Alabama. The world is watching. Randy Meier Melbourne, Florida

We’d like to share your thoughts and opinions with the greater Lake Martin community. It’s free and it only takes a few moments of your time. We have two ways to get your opinion in print: letters to the editor and guest columns. The main difference is length. Letters to the editor are up to 250 words, while guest columns can be up to 500 words. Letters and columns may be sent to P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011, faxed to (256) 234-6550 or e-mailed to editor@ alexcityoutlook.com. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send us your thoughts today!

On the Web

Follow The Outlook on the Internet on our website or on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Log on to http://www.alexcityoutloook. com. There you will be able to view stories and multimedia posted by The Outlook. You can also click on the Facebook link to join The Outlook’s fan club or click on the Twitter link to start receiving tweets on your phone as we post updates. You can also subscribe to our RSS (Rich Site Summary) feed on the Outlook’s home page. Check it out today.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

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The Outlook

Happy Winter To All Our Friends!

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Winter Crossword

Winter Word Find

Melted Snowman Cookies

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DADEVILLE HEALTHCARE CENTER Kim Russell, Administrator 385 E. LaFayette St., Dadeville 256.825.9244

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Weight Loss Center 256-409-1500

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Buy Here, Pay Here! Payments Start at $199 Mo. (256) 212-1300

Warry Sexton - Owner

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Tuesday, December 12, 2017

The Outlook

CommunityCalendar

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/.

Need Insurance?

Bob and Martha Kerley and Sue and Robert Kennedy celebrate their anniversaries today.

Today is December 12, 2017

Call me.

Today’s Birthdays

Julie Blankenship, Troy Eason, Chad Nicholson snd Shirley Campbell are celebrating their birthdays today.

Submit calendar items:

Today’s Anniversaries

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Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

As snow slowly melted away, the changing temperatures created a fog over the River Bridge Monday morning.

25 Years and still going, Selling quality kitchen & bath cabinetry at reasonable prices. Ben & Peggy Smith, Owners

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• Alexander City Outlook • Dadeville Record • Wetumpka Herald • Eclectic Observer • Tallassee Tribune

Lawn Care Darrell Brooks, Owner Cutting •Edging Weed Eating •Mulch Weed Control

256.267.0518

CHRISTMAS CONCERT: The Capitol Sounds Concert Band will be in concert Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the St. James United Methodist Church at 9045 Vaughn Road in Montgomery. Admission is free. SENIORX: Deborah Jones, a SenioRx coordinator will be available Dec. 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce to help seniors determine if they are eligible for assistance with diabetic supplies, liquid supplements and maintenance medications. Jones can be contacted at 1-800-361-1636 for more information. SHOP LOCAL LATE: MainStreet Alexander City and downtown Alexander City businesses are hosting Shop Local Late on Thursdays in December. Participating stores are open until 7 p.m. Bring your downtown receipts to Cloud Nine to be entered to win a Christmas gift basket. Spent $25 get one raffle ticket. Spend $50 get two and spend $150 get five. The winner will be announced Thursday, Dec. 21 at Cloud Nine. CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE: Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama is sponsoring a Christmas Open House Thursday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to come by and visit. VCCA is located at 5030 Cherokee Road next to the Karen Channel State Farm office. For more information email vcca.al@gmail.com or call 256-2340347.

Friday, December 15

RENTED CHRISTMAS: Alexander City Theatre II will present a heartwarming holiday story in two acts with carols and the reading of the Christmas story from the Book of Luke. The play begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults; $7 for students and are available at the door and on the ACT II website at www.act2fineartscenter.com. COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS DINNER: Victory Temple Holiness Church at 237 Aster Street in Dadeville is hosting its annual community Christmas Dinner Dec. 15 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. It is dine in or carry out.

Saturday, December 16

TRADE DAY: Bibb Graves High School Alumni and Friends Monthly Trade Day in Millerville on Highway 9 between Ashland and Goodwater will be held on December 16 from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Refreshments are also available. RENTED CHRISTMAS: Alexander City Theatre II will present a heartwarming holiday story in two acts with carols and the reading of the Christmas story from the Book of Luke. There will be two performances of the play - 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Benjamin Russell auditorium. Tickets are $12 for adults; $7 for students and are available online at the door and online at the website www. act2fineartscenter.com. BENEFIT SINGING: Bay Pine Baptist Church is hosting a benefit singing and cake auction for the family of Lienna Taylor. Taylor was recently diagnosed with AML Leukemia and is currently at UAB. She has left her job for treatments and her husband is now the sole provider for the family of four. Sining at the end of the cake auction will be Heaven’s Crossroads, Zach Channell and All for Him. For more information contact Charlie Crouch at 256-749-3090. CHRISTMAS PARADE: The town of Camp Hill is hosting a Christmas Parade Saturday, Dec. 16 starting at

2 p.m. After the parade there will be Christmas festivities in the Edward Bell Gym with Christmas carols, cookies and hot chocolate.

Sunday, December 17

CHRISTMAS CANTATA: Red Ridge United Methodist Church is presenting its Christmas cantata “How Should a King Come” by Randy Vader and Rose Aspinall Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m. under the direction of Dr. Kim Walls with a full orchestra composed of professional, amateur and student musicians. Dramatization will depict scenes of the birth of Jesus Christ directed by Marian Edell and Sue Mason. Refreshments and coffee will be served following the concert. All are invited. The church is located at 8091 County Road 34 at the corner of 49 and 34 in Dadeville. Call 256-825-9820 for more information or visit redridgeumc.org. Vicki Cater is pastor.

Thursday, December 21

SHOP LOCAL LATE: MainStreet Alexander City and downtown Alexander City businesses are hosting Shop Local Late on Thursdays in December. Participating stores are open until 7 p.m. Bring your downtown receipts to Cloud Nine to be entered to win a Christmas gift basket. Spent $25 get one raffle ticket. Spend $50 get two and spend $150 get five. The winner will be announced Thursday, Dec. 21 at Cloud Nine.

Monday, December 25

CHRISTMAS DINNER: Comer Methodist Church is hosting a Christmas Dinner Dec. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is invited to have a hot meal and fellowship. Tickets can be picked up at the Nutrition Center and the Salvation Army. You do not have to have a ticket to get a meal. For more information call 256-2347831.

Monday, Janurary 8

HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Craigger Browne will present “Tribute to Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan” to Horizons Unlimited Monday, Jan. 8 starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Alexander City Board of Education. Horizons Unlimited membership is $20 per person or $30 per couple. Registration for winter quarter begins 1 p.m. Jan. 8.

January 8-9

THROW AWAY DAYS: The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership and the Tallapoosa County Commission are holding Throw Away Days January 8-9. Dumpsters will be located at at the Alex City Annex at 395 Lee Street, Double Bridges on Highway 63, the Old Daviston School on Highway 22, the Camp Hill Town at 309 Holley Ave. and the Union Community Center at 4191 Highway 50. Dumpsters will be available at no charge to residents.

Sunday, January 21

HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING: The Tallapoosee Historical Society will meet at the Historical Museum on the square in Dadeville on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 2 p.m. Dr. Charles Mitchell will be the speaker. He will present “A Pictorial History of Alabama Agriculture.” While working at Auburn, Dr. Mitchell accumulated lots of old photographs related to Alabama agriculture. Several years ago, he began organizing them and realized that these old pictures could actually tell the chronological story of

Alabama’s agriculture from the Creek Indians to modern production. He will share these photographs with the Tallapoosee Historical Society Please make plans to attend. The meeting is open to the public, there is no admission fee and free refreshments will be served.

Monday, Janurary 22

HORIZONS UNLIMITED: E. Paul Jones will present “Reverend Maxwell” to Horizons Unlimited Monday, Jan. 22 starting at 1:30 p.m.at the Alexander City Board of Education. Horizons Unlimited membership is $20 per person or $30 per couple. Registration for winter quarter begins 1 p.m. Jan. 8.

Monday, January 29

HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Marilee Tankersley will present “Wetumpka Impact Crater” to Horizons Unlimited Monday, Jan. 29 starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Alexander City Board of Education. Horizons Unlimited membership is $20 per person or $30 per couple. Registration for winter quarter begins 1 p.m. Jan. 8.

Thur & Fri 9-4 | Sat 9-1 256-675-0176 1222 Hwy 280, Kellyton, AL

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 Brinda Bell (334) 252-0025, Ext. 101 Email: bbell@learning-tree.org

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Monday, February 5

HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Glen Willis will present “Forgotten Alabama” to Horizons Unlimited Monday, Feb. 5 starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Alexander City Board of Education. Horizons Unlimited membership is $20 per person or $30 per couple. Registration for winter quarter begins 1 p.m. Jan. 8.

Monday, February 12

HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Peggy Shores will present “Songs from the Heart” to Horizons Unlimited Monday, Feb. 12 starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Alexander City Board of Education. Horizons Unlimited membership is $20 per person or $30 per couple. Registration for winter quarter begins 1 p.m. Jan. 8.

Harold Cochran 256.234.2700 haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

Tony Guy, Owner Over 40 Years Experience

Monday, February 26

HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Dr. James Hansen will present “Neil Armstrong” to Horizons Unlimited Monday, Feb. 26 starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Alexander City Board of Education. Horizons Unlimited membership is $20 per person or $30 per couple. Registration for winter quarter begins 1 p.m. Jan. 8.

April 9-10

THROW AWAY DAYS: The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership and the Tallapoosa County Commission are holding Throw Away Days April 9-10. Dumpsters will be located at at the Alex City Annex at 395 Lee Street, Double Bridges on Highway 63, the Old Daviston School on Highway 22, the Camp Hill Town at 309 Holley Ave. and the Union Community Center at 4191 Highway 50. Dumpsters will be available at no charge to residents.

July 16-17

THROW AWAY DAYS: The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership and the Tallapoosa County Commission are holding Throw Away Days July 16-17. Dumpsters will be located at at the Alex City Annex at 395 Lee Street, Double Bridges on Highway 63, the Old Daviston School on Highway 22, the Camp Hill Town at 309 Holley Ave. and the Union Community Center at 4191 Highway 50. Dumpsters will be available at no charge to residents.

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Tuesday, December 12, 2017

The Outlook

www.alexcityoutlook.com

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Express in November, my students have been begging me to read it to them,” Martin said. “I did read it to them, but I decided to take it above and beyond.” To go along with the concept of comparing and contrasting, which Martin recently spent lesson time discussing, she read the book to her students before showing them the movie, then leading them in a discussion on some of the things that were the same, as well as several of the differences between the two versions of the story. Some of the students noticed a handful of the major changes made between the book and movie, while a couple noticed smaller details that changed, such as the boy running down the stairs in his house to go outside in the book, while there were no such stairs in the film. “I thought this would be a great opportunity to let them experience more of the magic of Christmastime,” Martin said. “We just finished our testing for the semester, so I wanted them to have a little fun.” In order to make the day even more exciting for her students, Martin took the time to decorate her classroom, bringing in the assistance of her intern, fellow third-

continued from page 1

Donald Campbell / The Outlook

Jeri-Lynn Martin decorated her room with the help of her intern, fellow teacher Rachael Lustic and Lustic’s husband along with the area around her door to welcome students to her special Polar Express celebration Monday at Stephens Elementary School.

grade teacher Rachael Lustic and Lustic’s husband to get Martin’s room and doorway decorated in anticipation of the day’s activities. “It took us about a month to get all this ready, but it was worth it,” Martin said. “We hand-painted all of this.” The door itself had the words “The

Polar Express” on it, along with a view of the train from the front as it raced through the snow to reach the North Pole in time. Next to the door was a space made to look like a ticket window, in front of which stood the young boy and the conductor from the story. Elsewhere along the wall was a side view of the train, as well as a

Commissioners move on to a different project. “I really need to know today,” Archer said. “I can’t wait another month, because they will move on and who knows when they will get back around to us.” McKelvey asked Archer another question. “How long have you had these plans?” McKelvey asked. “About two months,” Archer answered. “Then why are we just hearing about this now when it is so urgent,” McKelvey said.

painted version of Santa’s village from the film. In front of Martin’s classroom door stood two sets of candy cane pole connected with tinsel garland, forming a rope line to help the students queue up and prepare to enter the classroom in an orderly fashion as part of the activities. “This morning, as they prepared to come in to the room, I gave each of the students a golden ticket so they would be able to board the Polar Express,” Martin said. Inside the room, the students’ desks were pushed together to form three rows, each of which was covered with green and red plastic tablecloths, while the cutout of a train engine stood at one end of each row, adding to the feel of being on the Polar Express. The fun learning for these students will continue Tuesday, as Martin and Lustic’s students will be taking part in a presentation, “Christmas Around the World,” showcasing the ways people from places like Germany, the Netherlands and India celebrate the holiday season. “We try to keep our students engaged,” Martin said. “If our students are engaged, they can be more successful.”

continued from page 1

After another exchange Archer said it wasn’t fair to the employees in his office because the changes would improve communication with the public and add muchneeded storage space. “But you gave approval for the revenue office to be done and you paid for that,” Archer said. “This one isn’t costing the county a dime. … Is this being done because (County Administrator) Mr. (Blake) Beck says it’s not a good idea?” Beck stopped Archer and answered that. “I haven’t said that at all,” Beck said.

After the meeting Archer said that he felt that the move by commissioners showed little respect for him and the employees in his office. He called the snub “politics at its best.” “The law says the money can be used for those purposes but the commissioners say I can’t,” Archer said after the meeting. “I would be making improvements and out of my funds. It’s like giving them a gift and they don’t want it. You explain that to me.” The commissioners did matching grant

Election in time it will speed up the process and make for shorter waits and a more accurate process.” Voters will also be asked if they favor property tax resolution that could help the financial stability of the Tallapoosa County School system is also on the ballot. The resolution calls for voters who reside in an area that lies within the Tallapoosa County School District to decide if a 3 mill property tax increase should be “levied for public school purposes” in Tallapoosa County. Alexander

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funds to pave the track at Dadeville High School. ADECA announced the grant last month and the county would be responsible for about $51,000, but Beck said most of that would come in in-kind services. The commissioners also recognized Judy Slaughter for 38 years of service to the probate office. She will retire at the end of the week. The commissioners also approved a resolution of support for the Macon County effort to be the site of a plant to make a new military T-100 jet training aircraft.

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City and Tallassee voters will not have this measure on their ballots. While getting a tax vote approved in Alabama is always tough, this one is very small by most standards. The millage increase would mean the owner of a $100,000 home would see an increase of just $30. The polling places remain largely the same as in previous elections. One exception is that for years voters in the Pearson Chapel area have voted at what was formerly Moncrief’s Store. But due to availability and the fact that

Moncrief’s has no water, the commissioners approved moving the polling place to Pearson Chapel Church. “The church is less than a half mile up on the right from the store and it will be a more suitable location,” said Sheriff Jimmy Abbett when the decision was made to make the swap. “I will get with the election folks and make sure the new location is on the cards that are sent out to voters.” Voters are reminded that the must have valid identification to vote. All Alabama voters must present

photo identification at the polling booth in order to vote in Alabama, such as a valid: • Alabama driver’s license or nondriver ID card. • Alabama Photo Voter ID. • A state issued ID (can be from any state) • U.S. passport. • Student/employee ID card issued by a public or private university. • Government ID card. • U.S. military ID card. • Tribal ID card.

LIZI ARBOGAST SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com

Page 10

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

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LUKE ROBINSON Columnist

First snowfall at Bryant Denny

SENIOR SUCCESS

ast week’s Super 7 AHSAA football championships were as fun as always. Not every game was a classic, but the snowfall Friday made for some memorable moments. I have probably seen no fewer than 100 games in Bryant Denny Stadium, yet I had never seen snow on the ground there during one of them. That said, I saw enough this one time to get my fill. Snow and Alabama go together like vodka and cereal (don’t ask me how I know that). Bottom line: Snow is ov-er-ra-ted … clap, clap, clapclapclap … While in Tuscaloosa, I was once again reminded there is not a group of people as ravenous as a gaggle of media members presented with food. No matter the meal, no morsel was left uneaten regardless of taste or variety. Of course, as a broadcaster myself, I was also inhaling food like it had the antidote in it. I wasn’t even all that hungry usually, yet there I was pouncing on anything put out for consumption like a hungry lion being given a barbeque sandwich. I would literally be mid-chew and ask myself, “Why am I eating this?” It all goes back to something one of my high school teachers told me in the ninth grade: The most powerful word in the English language is “free.” Kavosiey Smoke of Wetumpka may not have led his team to a state title last week, but the kid is a heck of an athlete. I am guessing he winds up in the SEC, but not at ’Bama or Auburn unfortunately. He also, obviously, has the best name in the history of sports. I have been married to my wife for more than three years and we have been together more than five total. We have traveled all over the country and even to foreign lands together. We have a 1 year old baby girl and just completed building a house together. However, Saturday night around 6:28 p.m. I learned the woman I love — the mother of one of my precious children — may be a stranger to me. As we were driving to a Christmas party listening to SiriusXM Radio’s Backspin channel, the classic rap masterpiece “Basketball” by Kurtis Blow came on the airwaves. Obviously, I cranked it to 11 and began to spit fire like a hip-hop dragon eating a ghost pepper. Somewhere around the lyric, “And number 33, my man Kareem is the center of my starting team…” I turned to my bride and I instinctively knew the tragic truth: She had never heard this song in her life. Man, just when you think you know a person, right?! Tennessee’s hire of Jeremy Pruitt is certainly a good one even if the school took a circuitous route to get to him. Pruitt is a fiery coach and energetic recruiter. He’s also relatable to players and fans alike which is a stark departure from its previous coach who thought a “turnover trash can” was a cool idea. However, although I like Pruitt’s chances long term, his first five SEC opponents next year are Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Alabama and South Carolina. Good luck with that. Gus Malzahn’s ascent into the “7 Million Dollar a Year Man” club may puzzle some people, but it’s just the football world we live in now. If you are an Auburn fan and feel like Malzahn is overpaid, consider this: He is still paid less (yet has accomplished a lot more) than Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. Signing him to an extension was a no-brainer. I will admit it: I have always underappreciated the Army/ Navy game. As a college football fan, I never understood that game’s allure since its athletes weren’t of Power 5 caliber. As an Alabama fan, I would be offended Army/Navy would even be mentioned in the same breath as The Iron Bowl. Well, I was wrong. I watched Saturday’s contest all the way through and it had me captivated from the kickoff to the very end of the game. Army/Navy is what every rivalry should be and I wholeheartedly apologize for not recognizing that sooner. That game is officially on my bucket list now. Luke Robinson is a regular columnist and contributor to Lake Martin Living and BMetro.

Holt finishes fine career at Ouachita Baptist By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

Since graduating from Horseshoe Bend in 2014, Luke Holt has been through some ups and downs on the football field. But it ended on a high note, as Holt won Defensive Player of the Year on his Senior Night at Ouachita Baptist University (Arkansas) and also earned a spot on the Great American Conference First Team. Holt began at Faulkner University, playing one season there. But he just wasn’t happy there, so he transferred to Fort Scott Community College (Kansas) before landing a spot at Ouachita, a Division II program in Arkadelphia. “I actually went back out to fall camp in Kansas, and I was out there for about five days,” Holt explained. “I got a call from the defensive coordinator at OBU, and he said they wanted me to come play out there. I was offered a full scholarship. I picked up, moved to Arkansas and was starting in a game about three weeks later.” Much like Holt’s fastpaced move from Kansas to Arkansas, his fast-paced game is what makes him stand out as a linebacker for the Tigers. Holt started in all but one game at Ouachita through his sophomore, junior and senior season, and he capped off his career with an incredible Senior Night performance. Holt was named the Tigers’ Defensive Player of the Game after totaling 14 tackles against

Dr. Wesley Kluck / Ouachita Baptist

Top: Luke Holt (25), of Horseshoe Bend, finished out a successful senior season at Ouachita Baptist University. Above: Holt, center, poses with his mother, Beth, and his father, Turk, poses on Senior Night.

Henderson State, including 11 solo, and forcing and recovering a fumble. “Henderson State runs a lot of plays, and we had a really good defensive scheme that game,” Holt said. “I really don’t know what happened for me to have the stats that I did, but I was hustling, running around and I felt like I could get to the ball. I didn’t feel like I had that kind of game, but then they said the stats that I had. It was really cool. The coaches put us in good positions, though.” Throughout the season, Holt has had a nose for the ball. During the regular season, Holt finished with 71 tackles, including four for a loss. He also had two forced fumbles, an interception and three pass

breakups. “I just think that I got a lot more comfortable with the way we were running things,” Holt said. “Me and Elijah (Jones), the guy that started beside me, we knew what the coaches wanted from us, and as the season went on, we kind of operated on the same wave length.” Holt played inside linebacker this year for the Tigers but was an outside linebacker last season. Being from a school like Horseshoe Bend, Holt is used to switching positions. He played linebacker, running back and punter for the Generals and was also the holder for the kicker. And although he doesn’t return home to New Site much anymore, Holt still holds onto a lot of the things he learned as a

Snowy Super 7 closes out football season STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Despite the snow and freezing temperatures, seven teams across the state of Alabama went home happy last week, as they brought back the AHSAA football state championships to their hometowns. Kicking off the action was Hoover’s dominating 48-20 victory over McGill-Toolen in Class 7A action on Wednesday night. Hoover quarterback Jalen Parker completed 11 of 15 passes for 265 yards and four touchdowns to earn MVP honors as the Bucs (113) added state championship No. 13 in program history. Hoover knocked off three straight undefeated teams in the playoffs, including McGillToolen, to earn the 7A crown. In Class 6A, both Pinson Valley and Wetumpka were attempting their first ever state championship, but it was Pinson Valley that walked away the victor, 31-10. Bo Nix earned the 6A MVP as he rushed for two

touchdowns and passed for another to lead Pinson Valley to victory after trailing 10-7 at halftime. The Class 5A game was the closest contest, with St. Paul’s Episcopal edging Briarwood Christian, 17-14. St. Paul’s receiver Oliver Willman snagged a 6-yard pass from quarterback Swift Lyle on fourth and goal with 1:54 left in the fourth quarter to give the Saints (14-1) a win over previously-unbeaten Briarwood Christian (14-1). Lyle was named the 5A MVP after going 14 of 22 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. UMS-Wright did all its damage in the first half of the Class 4A championship and held off Fayette County, 21-7. Bulldog running back Symon Smith had 144 of his 200 yards in the first half, scoring on touchdown runs of 14 and 55 yards. The championship was the seventh in school history. After trailing by a point in Class 3A, Hillcrest-Evergreen blanked Randolph County in the second half to earn a 26-14 victory for its first state title

in school history. The Jaguars outgained Randolph County, 380-287, and running back Andray Pope scored on rushes of 2 and 71 yards in the second half. Lanett overcame a 15-0 first-quarter deficit in Class 2A, scoring 33 unanswered points to beat Leroy, 33-15, to conclude an undefeated season and give the school its first football state championship. For the Panthers, Truitt finished with 90 yards on 13 carries to earn MVP honors, and quarterback Kristian Story rushed for 70 yards on 13 carries and was 11 of 19 for 129 passing yards and two touchdowns. In Class 1A, Sweet Water’s Shamar Lewis scooped up a fumble and raced 64 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to seal the Bulldogs’ 20-6 victory over Pickens County. Sweet Water won its 10th state championship overall and first since 2010. It totaled 283 yards on 56 carries and completed one pass for 50 yards, while Pickens County passed for 233 yards but netted only 22 rushing.

General. “Coach (Jason) Franklin really taught me when I was there you can do anything you want if you work hard,” Holt said. “I had transferred from a different school and just bounced from place to place, but then I moved to Horseshoe Bend (for junior and senior years). When I mentioned I wanted to play college ball, he didn’t seem surprised. He did a lot to help put me in the situation that I’ve been in. And I just really learned to love playing football at Horseshoe Bend.” Preparing for graduation in the spring, Holt is a kinesiology major and a dietetics and nutrition minor. He has been looking into furthering his education in either chiropractic or physical therapy. He’s even thought about getting into coaching, but for so long, his focus has been football first, so it’ll take some adjusting to change that mindset. “Football has taught me so much about how to be responsible, to manage your time and to enjoy the moments when you’re in them and enjoy the relationships you get to build and the places you get to go,” Holt said. “Over the past few weeks (since the season ended), I’ve had a chance to sit back and think about what an opportunity it’s been, the amazing people I’ve been able to meet and how I’ve played football in pretty much every state imaginable. It’s been really amazing.”

LOCAL CALENDAR Tuesday, Dec. 12 High school boys basketball Benjamin Russell at Elmore County, 7 p.m. Tallassee at Dadeville, 7 p.m. Reeltown at Horseshoe Bend, 6:30 p.m. Childersburg at Central Coosa, TBA High school girls basketball Benjamin Russell at Elmore County, 5:30 p.m. Tallassee at Dadeville, 5:30 p.m. Reeltown at Horseshoe Bend, 5 p.m. Childersburg at Central Coosa, 6 p.m. High school wrestling Tallassee, Auburn at Benjamin Russell, 5:30 p.m. Dadeville in quad match at Beauregard, 4:15 p.m. Middle school basketball Childersburg at Alexander City, 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 High school boys basketball Elmore County at Dadeville, 7 p.m. Reeltown at LaFayette, 6:30 High school girls basketball Elmore County at Dadeville, 5:30 p.m. Reeltown at LaFayette, 5 p.m. High school wrestling Reeltown at Beulah, 5 p.m.