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FOR SUBSCRIBERS: LAKE MARTIN LIVING INSIDE TODAY THE TUESDAY

SPORTS, PAGE 10

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

BRHS goes 3-1 at Bulldawg Brawl

January 16, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 11 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

Wintry weather in today’s forecast City and county schools take precaution with closures By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

Winter left its mark in Tallapoosa County in December, bringing a relatively significant snowfall to the area in the weeks before Christmas. Later today, a new winter front will come out of the northwest, bringing plunging temperatures and the potential for snowfall across the county tonight. “The main thing we are looking at right now is that a strong cold front will be coming into the Alexander City area from the northwest, which will bring with it the chance for snow beginning in the 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. range,”

meteorologist Nathan Owen with the National Weather Service office in Birmingham said early Monday afternoon. “Right now, we are projecting less than two inches.” After the main body of the front moves through, Owen said temperatures will dip into the 20s and even high teens tonight, which will freeze any precipitation on roadways and create serious ice issues. “The main chance for snow will be (today). It should be pretty dry after the front comes through,” he said. “The cold will continue throughout Wednesday, with temperatures falling into the high teens again Wednesday night, See WEATHER • Page 3

File / The Outlook

In preparation for today’s wintry mix of weather, city and county schools have taken precaution by having closures.

Local woman spots big cat near downtown

KEEPING the dream

ALIVE

‘I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,’ said Alexander City’s Ellen Dean By MITCH SNEED Editor

Imagine getting up early to get a jump start on the day. You start a load of laundry, pick up a throw rug and head to the back door to shake it out. As you stand there at the door, rug in hand, you spot something that you just can’t believe. “I saw something moving and I just stood there and looked,” Ellen Dean said. “It was coming closer and then I was able to start to make out the shape it was a big cat, and it was walking up my driveway like it didn’t have a care in the world. “It got closer and it looked just like a See CAT • Page 9

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity step dance in Monday’s parade celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The parade began at 9 a.m. and made its way through Alexander City as area residents watched along the streets.

City celebrates MLK Day with parade, program By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

Monday was a day of celebration in Alexander City, as local citizens came together to remember the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Beginning with a parade through town, followed by a special program at the Stephens Elementary School gymnasium, public officials gathered

with members of the community to continue moving towards the dream Dr. King had for the future. “I feel today was a very good day,” Martin Luther King Celebration Committee Chairwoman Ouida Maxwell said. “I’m grateful for all the people who came out today.” Jimmy Boleware served as the master of ceremonies, welcoming the public to the celebration, yet also

expressing his belief that there are serious issues needing to be tackled. “No show is a real epidemic in our country today, and I’m not talking about synthetic marijuana,” Boleware said. “You need to get out and vote and make a difference.” Reverend John Leonard gave the invocation, while Coosa County Commissioner Unzell Kelley, See MLK • Page 3

Special / Alabama Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources

Ellen Dean said she saw a big cat, that looked just like the mountain lion shown in this image, walk up her driveway on LaFayette Street Sunday morning.

Badcock furniture store opens in Alexander City

Two area high schools given ‘Best Hustle Award’ By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

Two high schools in Tallapoosa County were recently recognized by the organization Alabama Possible for successfully growing the number of seniors completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, during the early window between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1. By seeing a growth of at least 10 percent of students submitting their FAFSA application during this time period, Benjamin Russell and Reeltown high schools were among 180 high schools across the state to be given the Best Hustle Award. A non-profit organization, See AWARD • Page 9

Today’s

Weather

45 15 High

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Badcock Home Furniture & More offers in-house financing instead of rent-to-own programs. It officially opened for business Monday in Alexander City.

Lake Martin

Lake Levels

483.90

Reported on 01/15/18 @ 4 p.m.

Low

Badcock Home Furniture & More quietly opened its doors in Alexander City. But Monday was not quiet for having not done any promotions yet. “Today has gone well,” Store Manager Rick Metcalf said. “We have had a good day.” While many associate Badcock with large big box outlets, Metcalf says don’t. “Badcock is a family owned business,” Metcalf said. “We have been around since 1904. It is the best company I have ever worked for. See BADCOCK • Page 3

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Husband’s long beard hard for wife to stomach at dinner

Wednesday

33 17 Low

High Sunny

Thursday

44 23 Low

High Sunny

Staff

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

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Information (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110)

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 katie.wesson@alexcityoutlook.com Scott Hardy Digital Marketing Coordinator, Ext. 231 scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com Rebecca Carlisle Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 rebecca.carlisle@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, Kenneth Boone Photography and a commercial web printing press.

The Outlook is published five times a week, Tuesday through Saturday mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box © 2011 Tallapoosa 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011. Publishers, Inc. Reproduction of any part of any issue POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Post Office Box 999, requires written publisher permission. Alexander City, AL 35011.

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DEAR ABBY: My husband has a long, bushy, ugly beard, and although I don’t like it, I realize he’s entitled to wear his facial hair any way he likes it. The problem is, when he eats, his beard gets into his plate and in the food, which I find nauseating. -- TOO MUCH HAIR IN TEXAS DEAR TOO MUCH HAIR: If your husband’s beard is so long it drags his food off his plate, the first thing you should do is suggest that he sit up straighter when he’s eating. However, if he’s unwilling -- or unable -- to do that, perhaps he would consider using one hand to hold his beard aside when he’s about to take a forkful, or using hair clips to keep it away from his food. Readers, if you have suggestions to help this grossed-out Texas wife, I’d love to see them. DEAR ABBY: My mother is a smart, independent woman -until she gets a boyfriend. She has been dating ever since Dad died in 1994.

DEAR ABBY Advice

Every relationship starts out well; the guy seems nice. Then he moves into her house and things change. Mom stops thinking for herself and turns into a brainless, spineless puppet. It causes conflict between us because she thinks I’m selfish and trying to sabotage her relationship. She has had her current boyfriend for two years. I’m 37, disabled and require some help from Mom. So do my grandparents and a family friend Mom takes care of to supplement her income. The boyfriend is pushing Mom to spend three to four months of the year with him in Arizona, leaving those of us who need her without help. None of these men ever

help her out financially. Should I say nothing and let her disappear? What happens to the people who depend on her? -- JUST HER DAUGHTER IN COLORADO DEAR JUST: What happens to the ADULTS who depend on your mother is they arrange for outside assistance during the time she’s in Arizona. And if this is the first time in years that she will have taken a break, you should all wish her well. DEAR ABBY: One of my co-workers constantly interrupts when I’m having a conversation with other people. It doesn’t seem to matter who I am speaking with or what the subject is. She’ll interrupt in the middle of the conversation, and everyone must stop and look at her or acknowledge her. We are in a professional environment, and I feel her behavior is extremely discourteous. The subjects she discusses are things like the sandwiches her husband bought the day

before, what they had for dinner that night or whatever is trending at the moment. She never discusses work-related issues. This happens every day and it’s disruptive. Would you kindly share some ideas on how to deal with her interruptions? -BOTHERED OFFICE GUY DEAR OFFICE GUY: Obviously, your co-worker was never taught that interrupting while others are talking is rude. Because it bothers you, the next time she does it, tell her it’s distracting when she breaks into your conversations and to please stop. If she persists, and other co-workers feel as you do about it, bring it to the attention of your supervisor or HR and let that person handle it. 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 Mr. William Henry Arnold, Jr. 1932-2018 William H. Arnold, Jr., 85, a native of Atmore, Alabama and long time resident of Huntsville, Alabama and recently of Alexander City, Alabama, had his Heaven Day on Friday, January 12, 2018. He is reunited with his wife, Barbara Smith Arnold, of Atmore, Alabama, who preceded him to Heaven. Dad, known as Bill, is survived by a sister, Mary Susan Arnold Curry (Walt Curry) of La Mesa, CA, by two daughters, Betty Arnold Vardaman (Blue Vardaman) of Alexander City, Gwyn Arnold Alexander of Muscle Shoals, and son Doug Arnold (Jeanie Arnold) of Alexander City. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his mother and father, Pearlie Mae Campbell Arnold and William Henry Arnold, son-in-law Kelly Alexander, and one great grandchild, Makiah Kaitlyn King (age 4). Bill was born to a family led by a mechanical and steam engine

Herbert “Herb” Winston Freeman 1924 - 2018 Funeral Service for Herbert “Herb” Winston Freeman, 93, of Alexander City, AL will be Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Phillip Robinson will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 18, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Freeman passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Bill Nichols State Veterans Home. He was born on February 2, 1924 in Cullman County, AL to William Hiram Freeman and Vessie Bice Freeman. He was a World War II Army Veteran, member of the American Legion,

Maureen Foreman Sorrell 1941 - 2018 Funeral Service for Maureen Foreman Sorrell, 76, of Alexander City, will be Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Randy Anderson will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 14, 2018 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mrs. Sorrell passed away on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at Russell Medical. She was born on September 16, 1941 in Tallapoosa

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engineer working at Swift Lumber in Atmore, Alabama. He became an excellent student and member of the Barnes Boys football dynasty playing guard from 1947 to 1949. While serving in the Atmore Army National Guard during the Korean War he became an expert in advanced radar systems. Following the war, he finished Auburn University in Electrical Engineering in three years and attended graduate school in Magnetics and Guidance Systems at the University of New Mexico and MIT in Boston. Subsequently he completed another Masters in Management at the University of Alabama, Huntsville, AL. His engineering career spanned the Atlas Rocket program, Saturn and Saturn Five launches (managing the Boeing launch simulations) to managing the Anti-ballistic Missile Defense Agency Laboratory (ABMDA) in Huntsville, Alabama, which was the development phase of the Iron Dome. His guidance system work in his later years extended to precision guidance of “Star Wars”

laser weapons applications in ICBM warfare. He spent years with Stanford Research Institute, Boeing Company and Teledyne Brown Engineering. In his last years he served and loved Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Huntsville as well as being a volunteer at the Huntsville Senior Center. He loved swimming at Piedmont Pool, Auburn Football and his family. He will be greatly missed. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Big Oak Ranch, www.bigoak. org, one of his favorite charities, in lieu of flowers. Memorial Services for Mr. William H. Arnold, will be Monday, January 15, 2018 at 11:00 am at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home with Rev. Blue Vardaman officiating. Veteran Honors will be provided by the Alexander City Veterans Honor Guard. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com.

and a member of the Alexander City Honor Guard. He worked for Russell Corporation for 30 years. He was a faithful member of Sixth Street Baptist Church for many years. Mr. Freeman loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was an avid Auburn fan. He is survived by his daughter, Carol Freeman Jackson (Lee) of Jacksons Gap, AL; sons, Keith Freeman of Ft. Worth, TX and Mark Freeman (Linda) of Vestavia, AL; granddaughters, Kim Jackson Boykin (Scott) of Spanish Fort, AL, Allison Riedlinger (Dave) of Mobile, AL, Barret Freeman Trowbridge (Stuart) of Trussville, AL, and Anna Freeman Uhrig (Drew) of Vestavia, AL; grandson, Britt Jackson (Brandi), of Spanish Fort, AL; brothers, Herschel Freeman of Decatur, AL, Javan

Freeman of Cullman, AL, and Roland Freeman of Crane Hill, AL; and eleven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Jadia Whitton Freeman, his parents, two brothers, and two sisters. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, in honor of his great grandson, Nolan Trowbridge, who has leukemia. Children’s of Alabama Foundation 1600 7th Ave. South Birmingham, AL 35233 Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com.

County to Render Patrick Foreman and Annie Laura Tucker Foreman. She loved her family dearly. She had a special love for keeping children and was known as everyone’s “Nanny.” She enjoyed working in her yard, cooking, the Beach and traveling. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, George “Buddy” Sorrell; son, Joseph Winston Sorrell (Stacey) of Prattville; daughter, Shelia Diane Sprayberry (Mark) of Alexander City; granddaughters, Whitney Amber Hubbard (Missy),Jessica Lauren Sprayberry; grandsons, Jackson Ray Sorrell (Heather), Patrick Corbin Sprayberry and fianc«, Callie Burns; great-granddaughters, Taitley Rae

Deavers, Millie Allyson Sorrell, brothers, Billy Ray Foreman (Joyce) of New Site, Phillip Lynn Foreman (Lynn) of Alexander City, sisters-inlaw, Charlotte Foreman, Edna Earl Thornton (Adrain); and special loved one, Crystal Mulkey. She was preceded in death by her parents, granddaughter, Allyson Leigh Sorrell, brother, Donald Foreman, sisters, Shirley Coger, and Barbara Cavender. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com.

Radney Funeral Home in Alexander City is in charge of the arrangements.

Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Roger Reaves

Mrs. Margaret Milner

Mr. Roger Reaves passed Monday, January 15, 2018 at his residence. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Wright’s Funeral Home.

Mrs. Margaret Milner 88 of Alexander City, AL died on Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Russell Medical Center, Alexander City, AL. Final arrangements pending. Final Arrangements Entrusted to Armour’s Memorial Funeral Home

How to Submit Obituaries Obituaries can be submitted to The Outlook from funeral homes by email at obits@alexcityoutlook.com For more information, call (256) 234-4281.

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Tuesday, January 16, 2018

The Outlook

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MLK

continued from page 1

Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors, city council members Buffy Colvin and Scott Hardy and Tyrone Oliver contributed their own welcoming remarks. “Why are we here? We’re here to keep the dream alive,” Kelley said. “If we take that first step in strong faith, we can continue the dream.” “No matter who you are and no matter where you’re sitting in the gym today, you are somebody,” Colvin said. “Dr. King was a public servant,” Hardy added. “You don’t have to be a politician in order to be a public servant.” Adding to the celebration was music from the group The Family, who performed three songs that had the crowd clapping their hands in time with the music and fully energized for more of the celebration. The main speaker for Monday’s celebration was Tallapoosa County Commissioner T.C. Coley, who discussed what has been accomplished in the years since King’s assassination in 1968 and what the public can do to continue moving forward to further realize King’s dream. “As we look back on the last 50 years, we’ve accomplished a lot,” Coley said. “Not everything has improved like we hoped it would.” Coley reminded the crowd that to move forward and make America great, people have to be willing to take a stand, which will not always be easy. These stands may not always be major earth-shattering movements, but when these stands are taken, no matter how big or small, they can make a difference, and be even more powerful if made with love. “Love has everything to do with it. Love requires action,” Coley said. “The center of Dr. King’s nonviolence was love. Agape love does not begin by discriminating between the worthy and unworthy. It makes no distinction between friend and enemy.” Coley concluded his talk by discussing how the promise of America is opportunity and what leadership means in the context of Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement. “America truly is a melting pot. Everybody brings a different ingredient to the recipe,” Coley said. “Our country is in a dangerous place right now. Leadership doesn’t always mean having the biggest stick, it means having the biggest heart. We need to learn to respect the people in other countries.” The celebration program concluded with The Family leading the audience in one final song, the same song that Dr. King and his followers used more than half a century ago, “We Shall Overcome.” As the crowd slowly began to disperse, there was still a sense of celebration in the air, happy to have taken part in remembering a man who advocated for everyone to come together and show peaceful love for everyone, no matter who they may be. “I am so thankful for all the support we had today,” Maxwell said. “There was a good showing of diversity today. I saw some different faces out in the community today watching the parade, and there were some new groups taking part in the parade. “If we could get the desire of love in our hearts and spread it to everyone in the world, it would solve everything.”

The MLK Celebration Parade made its way through Alexander City Monday morning as bands performed and area residents crowded the streets. Following the parade, a program was held at Stephens Elementary School where T.C. Coley, above left, spoke along with several other public officials. The Family, above right, provided entertainment during the program. Left, artwork from students was on display for the program. Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Weather but we could start seeing a slight warming on Thursday, with temperatures climbing up into the low 40s.” With this storm front having the potential to bring another round of snow to Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency at 6 p.m. Monday evening. “All Alabamians should take time to be prepared for the potential of winter weather. I have directed essential state agencies to be on the ready should they be needed over the next couple of days,” Ivey said. “As with any severe weather event, being prepared is of utmost importance. Everyone should take the necessary precautions now and stay informed of the latest weather forecasts for their area. This State of Emergency will ensure that all available state resources are ready if and when they are needed.”

continued from page 1

With this state of emergency having been issued, all critical state resources were activated and scheduled to be in place by 6 a.m. These resources include the Alabama Emergency Management Agency’s State Operations Center in Clanton and the Alabama National Guard. In preparation for whatever the weather brings, the city and county schools took action Monday, sending out notifications to students, parents and teachers. Tallapoosa County Director of Student Services Casey Davis said that all county schools will be dismissing at 2 p.m. and all after-school activities, including sporting events and practices are cancelled. He also said school will be cancelled completely on Wednesday. Alexander City Schools Superintendent Dr. Darrell Cooper said the city schools will

also be dismissing at 2 p.m., but are delaying opening by three hours on Wednesday, rather than canceling school completely. “Bus and school schedules will both be delayed by three hours, so if your student gets on the bus at 6:30 a.m., they will be getting on at 9:30 a.m.,” Cooper said. “We will be monitoring for further closings and we will make a decision by 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. We are basing all of our information on what the National Weather Service is saying. We will adjust our schedules as necessary if needed.” Tallapoosa County EMA Director Jason Moran said the county was preparing to stage vehicles in areas around the county, especially places near bridges in order to make the roads a little bit more manageable. “The county vehicles will be carrying sand, while some of the state vehi-

Badcock They treat everyone like they are a member of the Badcock family. We treat our customers the same way.” Metcalf is new to the area but not the rest of the Badcock staff. “Everyone we hired is local,” Metcalf said. “We hire locally. “I moved here from Ormond Beach, Florida. I moved here in the beginning of December. When I came up here, I just packed a bunch of shorts because I knew I was going to be working on the store. Then I get up here, its like 30 degrees, 20 degrees snow.” Metcalf is married and has five children. Badcock does not keep much inventory on hand but customers who

Page 3

cles have a brine solution they can use to keep state roadways clear,” he said. “I am encouraging people to stay off the roadways if they can.” For those who have to get out and travel, Moran recommended having blankets, food and water in the car in case they were to become stranded for any period of time. With the wind chill making it feel like 0 degrees outside, he stressed that people exercise extreme caution when being outdoors. While indoors, Moran reminded people to maintain a three-foot radius of clearance around space heaters, plugging them directly into a wall socket instead of a power strip and not using appliances like stoves and ovens for heating homes. “Traveling is our utmost concern, but there could be some issues with power outages as well,” he said. “Be safe and have a plan in place.”

continued from page 1

make purchases will not wait long for product delivery. “The way it works is everything here is a display model,” Metcalf said. “We get everything shipped in two times a week from the distribution center. But it is not like a lot of box stores where you have to wait a week, two weeks, or three weeks to get your merchandise. You have it in just a couple days from our distribution center in LaGrange.” A distribution center gives the idea that Badcock is a big company, but it helps with selection and pricing. “Our company is pretty big,” Metcalfsaid. “We have like 350 to 360 stores and three distribution centers. We carry a wide variety from

Catnapper to Ashley. It is all quality furniture. We don’t cheap out. If you buy something, you want something you can pass down. That is the type of furniture we carry and we warranty it.” The furniture store carries more than just furniture. “We offer everything from home furniture to appliances,” Metcalf said. “We even offer lawn equipment from lawn mowers to blowers and tillers. You name it we have everything.” Everyone should know the location of the Badcock Furniture. “It was a Fred’s location,” Metcalf said. But Metcalf and Badcock did more

than just move into the building. “We cosmetically changed a lot of the inside of it,” Metcalf said. “We put up new walls, fresh paint, inlay tile. We put a lot of work into it.” Badcock will have an official grand opening in February, and the store will be open seven days a week. Metcalf says many have one thing wrong with how Badcock Home Furniture & More operates. “We are not rent to own,” Metcalf said. “That is a misconception. People think we are but we are not. When you finance from us, you own the merchandise. If you miss a payment, there is no one knocking on your door Monday to repossess it. You are purchasing from us.”

MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213

editor@alexcityoutlook.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Steve Baker Mitch Sneed

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Page 4

Our

Opinion

1. Avoid close contact.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

2. Stay home when you are sick.

If possible, stay home from work, school and running errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.

3. Cover your mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

The

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Some frozen American heroes

Take these tips W to prevent getting the flu

ou would have to be living under a rock not to know that the flu is spreading rapidly in our area, the state and across the country. This year’s strain is proving to be very active and is delivering a severe impact to those who contract the virus. Gov. Kay Ivey even declared a state of emergency late last week. So this goes without saying, but it is important to take all the precautions you can to avoid becoming a victim of the flu bug. At the risk of being repetitive, take care of yourself and be proactive. The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent flu. Other tips include:

Outlook

hile much of the world, and even the Western United States, is bathed in some unusually warm weather, the South and East are shivering in freezing cold weather. It is worth remembering the brave sacrifice of thousands of Americans decades ago at a critical moment, and honor those who are engaging in similar service today. As I write this, I’m finishing up Jeff Shaara’s “The Frozen Hours,” which documents the tale of the American forces in Korea, struggling through the bitter winter of 1950. After North Korea’s surprise unprovoked assault on South Korea in the summer of 1950, the American 8th army under unsung hero General Walton Walker stubbornly held a tiny section of the country known as “the Pusan Perimeter.” General Douglas MacArthur launched a brilliant amphibious landing behind the North Korean forces (the Korean People’s Army), retaking the South Korean capital of Seoul, and linked up with General Walker to destroy the KPA. Then MacArthur ordered the invasion of North Korea, which produced the capture of the North Korean capital of Pyongyang by the 8th Army, the ROK (Republic of Korea forces from the South), and the taking of much of the aggressor by the U.S. Marine Corps, of course. In fact, the majority of the story is written from the perspective of Marine General Oliver P. Smith of the Marine First Division and Private First Class Pete Riley of Fox

JOHN TURES Columnist

Company. They are ordered to race to the Yalu River border with China by General MacArthur and his 10th Corps subordinate Gen. Ned Almond, overeager for a victory, even as a nervous President Harry Truman frets about a wider war emerging from such a provocative act. The marines themselves are concerned about being ordered up a narrow road in bitter cold, with their reports of Chinese soldiers massing in and around their forces being ignored by MacArthur and Almond. Then the Chinese, led by General Sung Shi-Lun (the third character in the story) spring their ambush. Suddenly, the U.S. Marines are surrounded by a force several times their size, in a nearly indefensible series of pockets, in temperatures that reached -30. Food freezes. Weapons don’t work. Frostbite is always present. Some soldiers had to cut their gloves to free up their trigger fingers to fire. The Chinese always attack at night, and hide during the day from air and artillery assaults. I’ve never read a scarier book. I actually felt warmer running outside in 14-degree weather than I did listening to this book in the car with the heater running. But against all odds, those U.S. Marines make it, fighting their way back to the seaport

for evacuation, inflicting many Chinese casualties along the Chosin Reservoir. Imagine Texans breaking out from several Alamos after being surrounded by a large attacking force from Mexico … in the middle of winter, or those 300 Spartans fighting past the Persian army at Thermopylae, in a blizzard, and you’ll see how amazing this American courage truly is. One wonders if we have such heroes today. In addition to our armed forces fighting in Afghanistan and other inhospitable places (even serving in Korea), we also have heroes here at home. From New York City all the way down to my small Georgia town, people are running warming centers and shelters, helping people escape from the cold, staffed by business owners, church leaders and some who earn little more than the people who stretch out on those sleeping bags on cots. And yes, some of those who will be saved are veterans. Without these brave volunteers, our losses from this freeze would be catastrophic. Even if you can’t shoot, march, carry a wounded buddy or even last for long in the outdoor freeze, you can still help save a life these days from the cold. And I bet the spirits of the “Chosin Few” marines of Korea would salute you for your service. John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. He can be reached at jtures@ lagrange.edu. His Twitter account is JohnTures2.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

6. Practice other good health habits.

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

Scripture

“Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” —John 8:31-32

alexcityoutlook.com

Daily Poll Weekend Question: Did you go to the Polar Plunge event this weekend?

Yes — 8%, 3 votes No — 92%, 33 votes

Tuesday Question: Are you looking forward to the chance of snow? 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.

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.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Officials

Today’s

Mission

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Know Your

Quote

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” —Albert Einstein

Our

4. Clean your hands.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food. We want you all stay well, so do what you can to make yourself a hard target for the flu virus this season.

Today’s

How to

The GOP can’t get burnt on DACA deal

veryone knows something has to be done for America’s DACA kids. Everyone with a good heart or a working brain knows it’s not their fault their parents sneaked them into the country when they were kids under 16. It’s true that by law they are illegal immigrants. But most DACA kids have grown up to become good, lawabiding Americans. They’ve gone to school here. They’ve worked and paid taxes here. They’ve even served in our military. Everyone except a few people on the far fringe knows it’d be wrong to deport these 800,000 so-called “Dreamers” — now or in the future. As we saw in Washington this week, DACA kids have become a bargaining chip for President Trump in his efforts to get Congress to build a border wall and reform immigration policy. President Obama created America’s DACA kids by executive order in 2012 with his Deferred Action for Child Arrivals program, which delayed the deportation of “Dreamers” who signed up for it for two years. President Trump has already announced his administration’s plans to phase out DACA, though this week a federal judge temporarily blocked that executive decision until a bunch of lawsuits challenging it are settled. Trump and his Republican allies say they want to extend protections for the “Dreamers” as part of a larger legislative bill that also funds the wall and ends chain immigration.

MICHAEL REAGAN Columnist

Democrats in Congress say to Trump, “OK, but extend DACA’s protections first, then we’ll deal with the border wall and other stuff later.” The DACA bar fight is still in the first round. But already it’s a perfect example of how bad the Republicans are at educating the public about what they do in Washington and why they do it the way they do. In this case, Republicans need to explain to the country why they are insisting on Congress doing DACA and immigration reform together. The reason is because Republicans remember how badly they were burned by Democrats in 1986, after my father signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, aka the Simpson–Mazzoli Act. Part one of Simpson-Mazzoli allowed 3 million illegal immigrants to have a pathway to citizenship. That’s the only part of the bill people remember today – the so-called “Reagan Amnesty.” But nearly everyone – particularly the mainstream liberal media that thinks American political history started when they woke up this morning – forgets about the second part. Part 2 of Simpson-Mazzoli was an agreement to secure the southern border – which was

never implemented in 1986 or to this day. That’s the memory Republicans are still haunted by today. They have good reason to not trust Democrats to keep their word on border security if they negotiate a two-step DACAimmigration deal. Now it’s up to the president, the speaker of the house and every important Republican in Washington to explain to the public why it’s so important for DACA and border security to be done together. The mainstream media will never fairly or fully explain the Republicans’ position on their own, but if President Trump starts talking and tweeting about it, they’ll have to. If Trump can bring enough attention to the GOP side of the immigration debate, a win-win bipartisan deal might be possible. The Republicans will have to cave on DACA and the Democrats will have to cave on the border wall. President Trump has already said he’ll be willing to take the political hit to get an immigration reform deal done. Let him. He doesn’t care anyway. He can say or do just about anything. The worst that can happen to him is that in 2020 he has to go back to being a billionaire. Michael Reagan is a syndicated columnist distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons. He is the son of President Ronald Reagan and a political consultant. Reagan may be reached at Reagan@ caglecartoons.com.

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.

What’s your

Opinion?

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, January 16, 2018

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The Outlook

All About an Eclipse

Celestial Word Find

The Great American Eclipse that occured on August 21, 2017, sparked an interest in many people about astronomical events. While it was a rare occurence for a total solar HFOLSVH WR FURVV WKH OHQJWK RI RXU HQWLUH 1DWLRQ LW ZDV GH¿QLWHO\ QRW WKH RQO\ DVWURQRPLFDO HYHQW WKDW \RX FDQ REVHUYH LQ \RXU OLIHWLPH 7KHUH DUH PDQ\ GLႇHUHQW W\SHV RI HFOLSVHV and celestial events that can be observed and studied and you don’t have to be a scientist to watch them. (Please remember: ALWAYS USE APPROVED FILTERS, WHEN NEEDED, TO PROTECT YOUR EYES DURING ANY SOLAR EVENT.) An eclipse is an astronomical event where one celestial body partially or totally covers another celestial ERG\ VXFK DV WKH (DUWK 0RRQ RU 6XQ 7KHUH DUH VRODU HFOLSVHV WKDW DႇHFW WKH 6XQ DQG OXQDU HFOLSVHV WKDW DႇHFW WKH 0RRQ $ SDUWLDO HFOLSVH RQO\ EORFNV RXW SDUW RI D ERG\ ZKLOH a total eclipse blocks out all of it. When a solar eclipse occurs, the Sun is blocked from view by the Moon. That portion of the Sun appears black. If you are in the path of totality, you can see the Sun’s atmosphere, called the corona, at the peak of the eclipse. The sky becomes temporarily dark, and it looks like nighttime. The next total solar eclipse in the U.S. will occur on April 8, 2024. During a Lunar eclipse, direct sunlight to the Moon is blocked by the Earth. Sometimes, as a result, the Moon appears to be bright red, orange, or yellow. This is often referred to as a Blood Moon. The next lunar eclipse visible in the U.S. will be on January 31, 2018. A Transit is a similair event where another planet comes between the Earth and the Sun. The only Transits that occur with Earth are with Mercury and Venus. Transits with Venus are very rare. Only two will occur in this Century; they occurred in 2004 and 2012. Transits with Mercury are more-common, with Astronomy, Blood Moon, Celestial, Corona, 14 occurring in this Century. The next will occur on November 11, 2019. You must have Dark, Day, Earth, Eclipse, Filter, Light, Lunar, ELQRFXODUV RU D WHOHVFRSH ZLWK D VRODU ¿OWHU WR EH DEOH WR VHH LW ,W ZLOO DSSHDU DV D WLQ\ Mercury, Moon, Night, Partial, Solar, Sun, black dot. These are just some of the cool things that you can see. Talk to your parents Total, Transit, Venus or teachers to learn more, and you can become n amatuer astrronomer!

connect the dots

Eclipse crossword puzzle

Across Clues: 2. Term that refers to the Sun. 4. When a planet appears as a dot against the Sun. 7. Sun’s atmosphere is called the? 8. Type of eclipse that is incomplete. 10. Blocks harmful rays while sun gazing. Down Clues: 1. When the moon appears to be red. 3. Always use proper eye ________. 5. Point when an eclipse is complete. 6. Venus and ____ can be seen as a Transit. 9. This term refers to the Moon.

***ALWAYS BE SURE TO WEAR PROPER EYE PROTECTION. ASK AN ADULT FOR HELP.***

Crossword Ans: Across-2) Solar 4)Transit 7) Corona 8) Partial 10)Solar Filter Down-1) Blood Moon 3) Protection 5) Totality 6) Mercury 9) Lunar

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256.329.2066 HOURS: Monday - Friday 9AM - 7PM; Saturday 9AM - 5PM

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CommunityCalendar Need Insurance? Call me.

Today is January 16, 2018 Today’s Events

BEEKEEPING COURSE: The 2018 Beginner Beekeeping Course will start Jan. 16 and will be on Tuesdays through Feb. 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Dadeville Recreation Center. Cost is $45 for adults and $35 for students. Call the Extension Office at 256-825-1050 for more information. The deadline for registration is Jan. 11. COMPUTER CLASSES: The Adelia M. Russell Library is offer-

ing computer classes in 2018. One program is for beginners, with a separate advanced program for individuals seeking to move beyond the basics. The advanced class is aimed at anyone wanting to improve their skill set and/or enhance their employment opportunities. The basic classes will begin Jan. 16 and the advanced classes will begin Jan. 18. Each session will last approximately one hour from 3 to 4 p.m. and will meet for four straight weeks. Classes will be small and the atmosphere will be relaxed. To sign up, simply visit the Adelia M. Russell Library. For more information, call 256-329- 6796. There is

256.234.3481

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Come Visit Us! Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing

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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

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Today’s Birthdays

–Since 1978–

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Huey Humphrey, Charles Lewis, Tellis Oneal Stone, Darrell Everett Burns and Darrell Newman are celebrating their birthdays today.

Hickory Grilled Meat

Today’s Anniversaries

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Donna and Randall Jones celebrate their anniversary today.

Outlook

Saturday, January 20

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 Jan. 20 from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Refreshments are also available. BINGO NIGHT: The Weogufka Center for Arts, Entertainment and Education is hosting a chili supper and bingo night Jan. 20. Supper is from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 and is $5. Bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. with cards starting at $1. 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, January 22

Need your business to

no cost to attend. RETIREE MEETING: The Tallapoosa County Education Retirees Association (TCERA) will meet Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Alexander City Board of Education. The program will be Pre-K Programs in school.

File / The

Sunday, January 21

Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation

Submit calendar items:

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/.

BBQ • STEAK CHICKEN • CATFISH

Hwy. 22 West, Alexander City, AL

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 Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.

KarenChannell.com

CARLISLE

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

The Outlook

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 Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. PARENT MEETING: Dadeville High School will be holding its Chromebook Parent Meeting on Monday, Jan. 22 at the Dadeville High School Auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will go over proper usage of the devices and the Chromebook Use Agreement recently approved by the Tallapoosa County Board of Education. BOARD MEETING: The Lake Martin Area Industrial Development Authority will be having their quarterly board meeting Monday, Jan. 22 beginning at 10 a.m. in the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center located on the campus of Central Alabama Community College. MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION MEETING: The Alexander City Are Ministerial Association will hold its monthly meeting Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. The church address is 1098 King Street Alexander City. King Street is off of Highway 63 South heading toward Wind Creek State Park. It is a little less than two miles on the right once you turn off of HIghway 280. Follow King Street all the way to the end and it will bring you directly to the church.

Tuesday, January 23

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP: A new support group for cancer patients and families is starting up to help with support through the process. A kick-off dinner is planned for Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Trinity Campus First United Methodist Church next to Russell Medical. If interested please make reservations by contacting Andrea Peacock by phone at 256-749-1134 or by email at andreapeacock60@gmail.com. PARENT MEETING: Reeltown High School will be holding its Chromebook Parent Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at the Reeltown Lunchroom beginning at 6 p.m. The meeting will go over proper usage of the device and the Chromebook Use Agreement recently approved by the Tallapoosa County Board of Education.

Saturday, January 27

FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Bibb Graves High School Alumni and Friends in Millerville will have Family Game Night Bingo Saturday, Jan. 27 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. It will begin with hot dogs, pizza, chips and soft drinks.

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. Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Janurary 31

GRIEF SHARE: A session of GriefShare will be starting soon at the Trinity Campus of First United Methodisat next to Russell Medical. GriefShare helps those who have experienced the death of a loved one to realize that there is hope amidst the pain and uncertainty of grief. The journey can be made lighter when shared with others who are trained to listen with compassion and are able to provide guidelines on how to move forward. There will be two separate groups meeting at the same location on the same days, one at 10 a.m. and the other at 6 p.m. Both are identical material. Meetings will start Jan. 31 and continue each Wednesday through April 25. The facilitators are Dr. Tomeka McGhee and Patsy Coe Densmore. For more information call 256-2342455 or 256749-9354.

Saturday, February 3

BOSTON BUTT FUNDRAISER: Meals on Wheels is having a Boston Butt Fundraiser. They are selling tickets for a Feb. 3 delivery of a Firetruck Boston Butt at the Meals on Wheels office at Russell Medical or by calling 256-329-7382. Tickets are $35. BOOK SALE: The Friends of the Dadeville Public Library will host a book sale on the lower level of the Dadeville Library Saturday, Feb. 3 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fill a grocery bag for $5 or three bags for just $15.

Sunday, February 4

PASTOR’S ANNIVERSARY: New Harmony Missionary Baptist Church in Camp Hill is hosting the 9th Pastor’s Anniversary honoring Rev. and Sis. Melvin C. Kelley, Jr. Sunday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. The guest minister will be Rev. Ira Moss, pastor of New Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Tuskegee.

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 Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.

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!

Wednesday, February 7

SITE REVIEW: Central Alabama Community College will host a site review for continuing accreditation of its Associate Degree in Nursing program by the ACEN on Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. in Building J of the Childersburg Campus. For further information, go to the CACC homepage at www. cacc.edu. ENGLISH LEARNER’S CLUB: The Adelia M. Russell Library is hosting the English Learner’s Club starting Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Registration starts Jan. 3. The club will help speakers of other languages learn, develop and improve English skills, learn American slang, idioms and other useful phrases and work on fluency activities and interview questions. For questions and information, call 256-329-6796 or visit the Adelia M. Russell Library.

Friday, February 9

VALENTINES CELEBRATION:The Equality Performing Arts Center is hosting a Royal Valentine’s Celebration Friday, Feb. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Six past state pageant winners and the reigning Ms. Alabama Sr. America will perform popular love songs, a romantic aria and tap dance. the EPAC is located on Alabama Highway 9 in Equality.

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 Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.

Saturday, February 17

PANCAKE BREAKFAST: The Dadeville Kiwanis Club will be holding its annual pancake breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 7 until 11 a.m. at the Dadeville Elementary School Cafeteria. Tickets are $6 per person and includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, ham, coffee, juice and milk. For tickets, see any member of the Dadeville Kiwanis Club, or contact Tony Johnson at 256-825-6364 or Peggy Bullard at 256-825-9415.

Harold Cochran 256.234.2700 haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

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Tuesday, January 16, 2018

The Outlook

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Tuesday, January 16, 2018

The Outlook

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Award Alabama Possible seeks to remove barriers to prosperity through advocacy, education and collaboration with other agencies. One campaign the group manages, Cash for College Alabama, promotes encouraging high school students to apply for financial aid to continue their education at the post-secondary level. More than 300 schools participate in Cash for College, and during the period between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1, students at these schools filled out more than 10,000 FAFSA forms, according to a press release from Alabama Possible. “High school seniors need to complete the form as early as possible so they can access the money they need for college,” Alabama Possible Executive Director Kristina Scott said. “We are thrilled to see so many Cash for College schools promoting early FAFSA completion, and we congratulate them for earning a Best Hustle Award.” “I’m extremely proud to win the award,” Benjamin Russell Principal Dr. Anthony Wilkinson said. “This goes back to all the hard work our counselors, our senior teachers and our staff do to promote this. We do stress to the students to go ahead and fill out the FAFSA, whether or not they are planning on going to college, since they

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might change their mind and decide to go. I couldn’t be more proud of them.” During this early window, the FAFSA completion percentage at Benjamin Russell jumped from 26.32 percent to 37.38 percent, while Reeltown experienced an explosive growth, going from 24.62 percent completion to 59.09 percent, numbers which had guidance counselors at both schools feeling happy. “This makes me feel really great,” Reeltown High School Guidance Counselor Kim Counts said. “It means they’re at least looking at going on and continuing their education, either in a technical program or at a four-year school.” “Personally, it makes me feel like the students and parents are really on top of things,” Benjamin Russell Guidance Counselor Richard Burton said. “They are taking the initiative to go ahead and get things done and not wait until the last minute.” In order to help boost FAFSA numbers at Reeltown, Counts said the high school held a FAFSA Frenzy Week in October, where students and parents could learn more about the application and fill out the forms while on campus. Counts also said some students went home and completed the application

there, but these forms still counted towards the overall total of completed forms from Reeltown. At Benjamin Russell, Burton said he takes the time to sit down with the senior class every September, before following up these senior conferences with a Financial Aid Night in October, where representatives from the Financial Aid office at Central Alabama Community College join Burton in answering any questions students and parents may have. To help keep FAFSA completion numbers growing in future years, Counts and Burton both said they would be interested in expanding their programs to encourage even more students to fill out an application. This includes continuing to strengthen the partnerships the schools have with CACC and Southern Union and tying it in with more events, such as the College Application Campaign Week Reeltown held immediately following FAFSA Frenzy Week. “Most likely, the plan is to have another FAFSA Frenzy Week next fall,” Counts said. “I’m always open to new suggestions. One new thing we’re doing this year is having a signing day for our students who have received academic scholarships, just like those who earn

Cat small female lion. It was tan, had a long tail and was about the size of a lab. I was just mesmerized, staring at it because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. But it stopped and looked right at me and I could tell exactly what it was. It was a mountain lion, wildcat or cougar — whatever you want to call it. I just couldn’t believe it.” Dean said she watched as the cat “trotted up (their) driveway and crossed Lafayette Street.” She went and told her husband Kenny and by the time they got out to check again, the animal was out of sight. But Kenny and Ellen both said dogs in the neighborhood were barking like crazy in the direction the cat was last seen traveling. Dean said she immediately went online looking for images of what she had seen and when she eyed the pictures of mountain lions, she had no doubt what she had watched navigate her driveway Sunday morning just after daylight. “It was a mountain lion,” Dean said. “I know what people will think, but it wasn’t a bobcat. It didn’t have spots and it had a long tail. It was a mountain lion,

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athletic scholarships.” “There is always room for growth,” Burton said. “We want to see our students moving in that direction, and I feel that will continue to happen.” “We want to continue promoting this, getting the word out to give students and parents the opportunity to ask questions,” Wilkinson added. “Whether we have events like a family engagement night here at the school or whether we go out into places like the community centers and talk, we want to continue to communicate with students and parents, letting them know we’re here to help them.” Whether these students choose to pursue majors in the liberal arts from a large four-year university or a technical degree from CACC or Southern Union, having the financial boost the FAFSA provides brings these students one step closer to achieving their dreams. And with so many Benjamin Russell and Reeltown seniors choosing to be so proactive and finish up their applications, these two high schools are well-deserving of their recently awarded Best Hustle Award. “All around, this is a good program. It just improves everything,” Burton said. “It is getting students prepared for going on to the next level.”

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I know what I saw.” After Dean posted what she saw on Facebook, she found she wasn’t the only one who had seen or heard a big cat in that same general area. Vickie Herring Lux posted that she saw the same kind of cat during the same timeframe close by. “Saw him in my backyard on Ridgeview,” Lux wrote in a Facebook post. “My back yard backs up to the old Cohen house on Ridgeway. He was going down the power line cutover and was in no hurry.” Others reported they had heard a catlike “scream” in the past and recently in that area. Some said their dogs were agitated and barking around the time of Dean’s sighting. According to an article published by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by Wildlife Biologist Frank Allen entitled The Truth About Black Panthers and Bears in Alabama, it would be rare, but not impossible to spot a mountain lion in Alexander City. “The last confirmed mountain lion in Alabama was killed around 1948 in St.

Clair County,” Allen wrote. “Free ranging mountain lions can still occasionally enter the state, but these instances are highly unlikely. Reports of mountain lion sightings in Alabama are common, but these are probably cases of either mistaken identity or released captives.” Alabama Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Lt. Michael East works this area on a regular basis. He said while he hasn’t gotten a picture that would allow him to confirm a sighting, he said the calls do come in fairly regularly. “Over the years we’ve gotten a good many calls from people who think they’ve seen one,” East said. “Who knows, because we’ve seen some pretty strange things. I know our biologists say that it would be extremely rare to have one range up into this area. We haven’t had any killed on roads or any that came with good, verifiable pictures. Anything is possible, but like our biologists have said it would be pretty rare. I’d like to get them in touch with our folks so they can hear exactly what they saw.” There have been multiple confirmed sightings in Tennessee, Missouri and

Arkansas in recent years according to published reports. Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division’s Large Carnivore Coordinator Thomas Harms said in published reports the notion of mountain lions or Cougars in Alabama is possible. “As a biologist, I need some kind of confirmed physical evidence before I can reasonably believe they are here,” Harms said in a Jan. 1, 2016 article posted on www.wideopenspaces.com. “However, just because we don’t have any confirmation yet doesn’t mean there isn’t a possibility that mountain lions (or cougars) are here.” So what should you do should you see such a creature? Experts give this advice: ͌ Leave it alone and give it space. ͌ Don’t run and avoid quick movements. ͌ Make a lot of noise, make yourself as big as possible and back away slowly. ͌ Report the sighting to the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries at 334-242-3465.

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

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Tuesday, January 16, 2018

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Today’s sports games postponed STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Due to expected inclement weather on Tuesday, the entire slate of games has been postponed. Basketball games included Auburn at Benjamin Russell, Dadeville at Tallassee, Horseshoe Bend at Lanett and Reeltown at Loachapoka; and a tri-meet wrestling match between Benjamin Russell, St. James and Beauregard has also been postponed. Rescheduled dates will be added to our local sports calendar as they are received. The rest of the week’s games includes: Thursday, Jan. 18 High school boys basketball Alabama Christian at Dadeville, 7 p.m. Horseshoe Bend in tri-county tournament at Cleburne, TBA Pike Road at Reeltown, 7 p.m. Beulah at Central Coosa, 7 p.m. High school girls basketball Alabama Christian at Dadeville, 5:30 p.m. Horseshoe Bend in tri-county tournament at Cleburne County, TBA Pike Road at Reeltown, 5:30 p.m. Beulah at Central Coosa, 5:30 p.m. High school wrestling BRHS at Stanhope Elmore, 5 Beauregard, Beulah at Dadeville, 2 Friday, Jan. 19 High school boys basketball Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell, 7 p.m. Dadeville at Central Coosa, 7 p.m. Horseshoe Bend in tri-county tournament at Cleburne, TBA Beulah at Reeltown, 7:30 p.m. High school girls basketball Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell, 5:30 Horseshoe Bend in tri-county tournament at Cleburne, TBA Beulah at Reeltown, 5:30 p.m.

STRONG SHOWING File / The Outlook

Benjamin Russell’s Nyshad Hannon, bottom, went 4-0 at the Bulldawg Brawl, including 3 pins.

BRHS goes 3-1 at Bulldawg Brawl STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Despite a one-point loss to rival Wetumpka, Benjamin Russell’s wrestling team had a nearly flawless performance at the Bulldawg Brawl in Opelika on Monday. The Wildcats had dominating wins over Auburn, 66-6; Spanish Fort, 55-15; and Columbus (Georgia), 65-3. But they suffered a heartwrenching loss to the Indians, 33-32. Things started off well enough for Benjamin Russell (25-11) against Wetumpka, as Bobby Charsha picked up a 10-1 major decision to kick it off. The teams then traded pins before Wetumpka went on a three-bout streak including two pins and a 2-1 decision at 138. It remained a battle from there, and the Wildcats had a chance to

pull out a win trailing 33-25 with two bouts left. Although both of Benjamin Russell’s big men did their jobs with a decision for Damien Lawry and a major for Curtis Norris, it wasn’t quite enough to overcome the deficit. There were several Wildcats who had perfect days. Nyshad Hannon, Charsha and Michael Parker each went undefeated on the day, picking up all four of their wins on the mat. Hannon had three pins and a decision at 120 pounds, and Charsha had a pin, two majors and a decision. At 152, Parker won in all different ways, with a 46-econd pin, a second-period tech fall, a major decision and a decision. Lawry and Hezekiah Hunter also were 4-0 at 220 and 170, respectively, but both won at least one of their bouts via forfeit. Lawry had a pin and a decision in addition

to two forfeit victories, while Hunter had a trio of pins. Four other Benjamin Russell wrestlers were 3-1 on the day. Robert Graham, at 132, was a point-scoring machine. All three of his wins came via tech fall, including a 20-5 victory in 3:28, a 23-7 win in 5:22 and a 17-2 victory in 5:23. At 145 and 160, respectively, Saxon Coker and Jy Harvey each had two pins and a tech fall for their three victories. At 285, Norris had two pins and a major decision and tied for the fastest BRHS pin of the day in 37 seconds. Matching Norris’s quick pin was Conner Burk at 182, who actually flattened two of his opponents in the time. Burk went 2-2 on the day. Isaiah Holloway (195 pounds, 2 pins) and Kyle Mattox (113, 2 pins) also were 2-2.

Momentum changes can happen in unlikeliest ways

here is no greater moment in sports than the rare immediate momentum change to end a game. The ultrasurprising, awe-inspiring, jawdropping 180-degree turn fate randomly takes at the most crucial of times. If you watch enough sports, you see unpredictable impetus shifts throughout various games all the time. A big fumble in the third quarter or back-to-back-toback 3-pointers from the former walk-on to end a half. We all accept momentum swings are part of the game and storms simply need to be weathered by their victims at the time. But a momentum swing within a momentum swing following a momentum swing the likes of which we saw in the national championship game last Monday? That’s unheard of. I thought the game was played in Atlanta; turns out it took place in the Bermuda Triangle of the Twilight Zone! There was the first half, which was a clunker. Then, right after halftime, there was a series of

LUKE ROBINSON Columnist

bizarre events Ripley himself would not believe. A green true freshmen quarterback coming in to relieve a former SEC Player of the Year? Consecutive interceptions by unsung defensive players for their respective teams? A touchdown pass caught by a player it was not intended for? A missed chip-shot field goal to win the natty with no time left by ’Bama? (OK, given the Tide’s kicking history, that’s not so weird.) Monstrous sacks by both teams in overtime, yet they both still score points? All of those facts are strange in their own right and deserve their own commentary. However, something else stood out to me even more: The suddenness of the ending. Reflect upon some of the

last several classic national championship games if you will. Alabama-Clemson in 2016 and 2015, Auburn-Oregon in 2010 and Auburn-FSU in 2013. All of those aforementioned contests were awesome. But even though they all were decided in the waning seconds, all of them gave time for fans to prepare for what end was eventually coming. The UA-Clemson games ended with onside kicks and kneel downs. The AU-Oregon game ended on a field goal we all knew would be good. AU-FSU ended in a desperation quadruple throwback for a short gain. All incredible games, but all gave us just a little time to get ready for their ultimate endings. We had no such time last Monday. No one could have possibly predicted Tua Tagovailoa — an unseasoned backup quarterback — could mentally withstand losing 16 yards on his first play in overtime, only to blast a perfectly-spiraled rocket into the waiting arms fellow true freshman

Devonta Smith for only his seventh catch of the year. After that big sack of Tagovailoa — while all fans watching were frantically running plays in our minds trying to determine how the Tide could just get a little closer each of the next few downs to make a field goal possible to tie the game again — Tua and Devonta had other ideas. They decided to end the game right then and there, on second down and 26. The kid just calmly tossed a guided dart straight through Georgia’s metaphoric jugular for the national championship. After a few seconds of jubilation, I looked around the stadium and realized people were not really sure this game was over. Heck, I wasn’t even sure the game was over. It seemed so surreal, so unnatural. No one’s brain had conceived the possibility of such a play, especially from a true freshman quarterback on the usually incredibly conservative Alabama squad. But with a simultaneous

unwavering cruelty and stunning beauty, it truly happened. Suddenly, viciously and emphatically on the biggest stage, it happened. Even 20 minutes after the fact, when my wife and I finally decided to head to the exits, there was nothing but awkward silence through the stadium. We maneuvered our way to the stairs through the sea of hushed humanity brushing mostly against the shoulders of muted red-andblack clad zombies. After what seemed like an eternity of listening to nothing but squeaky shoes shuffle, one stranger said, “It is just too quiet in here.” I replied, “Yes, it is an eerie sound.” A Georgia fan next to me slowly turned towards us, tearyeyed and pale as a ghost. He sadly said, “That… that is the sound of hearts breaking.” Luke Robinson is a regular columnist and contributor to Lake Martin Living and BMetro.

Submitted / The Outlook

Dadeville presents football awards Left: Doug Patterson, right, receives the Eddie Williams Award from Dadeville coach Richard White at the Dadeville High School Football Awards Banquet. Above: Special awards were presented to players at the Dadeville High School Football Awards Banquet. Pictured are, from left, Morgan Davis (The Jamie Sindall Award and Team Captain), Alex Sims (Special Teams Player Award), Max McClendon (Defensive Player Award), coach Richard White, Qua Tucker (Offensive Player Award and Team Captain) and Ab Abernathy (Team Captain).