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Flu believed to have played role in four local deaths By MITCH SNEED Editor
While state health officials and local medical care providers have not released news of any recent Tallapoosa County deaths where the flu has been the confirmed cause, it is believed that the virus has played a role in at least four local deaths. The most recent cases are a 65-yearold Dadeville woman and her 50-yearold daughter. The daughter died at
Waterfront property suit continues
Health has been notified of both adult and pediatric deaths suspected to be flu-related,” Harris said. “After those reports come in, our epidemiologists work to confirm the cause of death. They have to have a positive test or other information that would confirm that the virus was the sole cause of death. That process takes a little time. At this point in the process, none of these cases have been confirmed as being influenza-related.” See FLU • Page 3
School board ‘TO KILL A terminates PREACHER’ food service contract
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Arguments over motions to dismiss a lawsuit over the sale of waterfront property by the StillWaters Residential Association has been continued. Judge Tom Young Jr. will now hear arguments March 14 at the courthouse in Dadeville. Property owners Lana Williamson and Marian Edel filed suit against the association, Association Board Secretary Pamela Alexander and her husband John, Hubert and Sarah Starzer and others Dec. 1. The suit follows a board approved sale in July 2015 of lakefront property in the resort to the Alexanders and Starzers with a sale price far below market value. The deeds for the sale were recorded in December 2015 and January 2016. Since being served notice of the suit the Alexanders and members of the association board through their attorney Russell Balch of Auburn filed motions to dismiss and for a for a more definite statement as did the Starzers through their attorney Mitch Gavin of See SUIT • Page 3
illness activity is increased in seven of the eight public health districts,” said Alabama’s Acting Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris. “We have also had confirmed influenza outbreaks reported at this time. Alabama recently reported “widespread” geographic spread to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Harris said that confirmation of the cause of death takes some time and starts with the reporting process. “The Alabama Department of Public
home Jan. 18, while the mother passed two days later at East Alabama Medical Center, a source close to the family confirmed. While both had other health issues, both had the flu at the time of their passing. A 53-year-old man and a 92-year-old woman also passed and at the time of their death both were showing flu-like symptoms. In addition to having contracted influenza, they too had other medical issues. “We are aware that influenza-like
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
E. Paul Jones speaks to audience members of his presentation on Rev. William Maxwell to Horizons Unlimited on Monday afternoon.
Local author speaks on ‘Voodoo Preacher’ sion of Horizons Unlimited. Jones began his talk by discussing some of his personal history, how he worked at Russell Mills while putting himself through law school and was an Assistant District Attorney under Tom Young, Sr., before spending a great deal of time recounting the story of the up to six potential murders Reverend Maxwell committed between 1970 and 1977. See JONES • Page 9
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
A crowd of around 80 people filled the Alexander City Board of Education building Monday afternoon to hear local author and former District Attorney E. Paul Jones discuss the story of “The Voodoo Preacher,” Reverend Will Maxwell, the subject of his forthcoming book titled “To Kill a Preacher” during the latest ses-
In a meeting that had been rescheduled twice, the Alexander City Board of Education voted to terminate the system’s food service management contract with Southwest Foodservice Excellence. Since moving to Southwest over the summer of 2017, Alexander City School Superintendent Dr. Darrell Cooper and Chief School Financial Officer Rhonda Blythe said things have not gone as smoothly as the board hoped. “We had a conversation where we asked for a few changes and adjustments,” Blythe said. “They did make changes, but they didn’t make enough based on what they were asked to do.” This included a near-constant battle over the system used to determine nutritional values of the food being served and an issue over holiday pay for employees. “Neither Southwest nor us were truly satisfied with everything,” Cooper said. With the contract having been terminated, the board is opening up bids for any interested groups. These groups will have to be present at the central office Friday at 10 a.m. in order to submit a bid, according to See BOE • Page 9
Federal shutdown has impact locally By MITCH SNEED Editor
While it looks like the federal government is on its way back to being open after being shutdown Saturday morning, many local residents may not have realized the impact the stoppage had locally. While mail still ran, the military got paid and most airtraffic controllers remained on the job, the National Parks were immediately locked down – including Horseshoe Bend National Military Park near
Today’s
Daviston. The gates at the park were locked and a sign tells potential visitors the move is due to the federal government shutdown. For one Fort Payne couple, the closure caught them by surprise Sunday. “We had been in Opelika for a convention and I am a history buff,” Mike Patterson said Sunday after he found the closed sign. “We planned all along to head back home this way just to come to Horseshoe Bend. We rarely get down this See SHUTDOWN • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
National Parks, including Horseshoe Bend, were immediately locked down as the government shutdown began Saturday morning.
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DEAR ABBY: I am a 37-year-old divorced mom of two. I have recently gotten into relationships with two completely different men. One of them, “Steve,” has the life I have always wanted, and he says he loves me more than life itself. The other, “Rick,” I love more than life itself, but sometimes I have the feeling he doesn’t love me as much as I do him. If I were to love Steve the way I love Rick OR if Rick were to love me the way Steve does, the decision would be clear. I can see myself making a life with either of them. I risk losing either one as a friend if I pick the other one. They both love my kids, and I love theirs. Both want to build a life with me. How do I decide which path to take? Once I choose, how do I not have questions or doubts about what might have been if I had chosen the other? HELP! -- STUCK IN A LOVE TRIANGLE DEAR TRIANGLE: You are
DEAR ABBY Advice
no more stuck than you want to be. I know what decision I would make if my choice was between a man who loved me more than life itself and who could give me the life I had always dreamed of, and someone I was crazy about but suspected didn’t love me as much -- but only you can decide what is right for you and your children. I don’t think you should marry either man unless you are confident you can do it without secondguessing yourself. DEAR ABBY: I am 72 years old and I cry a lot. I’m so resentful of my ex-co-workers and my former friends I can’t stand it. I have lost two cherished wives, two children and one grandchild, while those people
still have their first wives and all their children and grandchildren. Why did I have to lose people I loved? I am so full of anger that I no longer believe in God. What am I to do? Do I need therapy? -- OLD AND HATEFUL IN TEXAS DEAR OLD AND HATEFUL: You have suffered more than your share of loss, and for that, please accept my sympathy. The problem with harboring resentment and anger is that, unchecked, they feed upon themselves and grow. A therapist could be helpful by giving you a safe place to vent those emotions. It is normal to cry when in emotional pain, but you could also benefit from talking with a grief counselor or joining a grief support group. Your physician may be able to suggest one. Please don’t wait. DEAR ABBY: My child attends a private elementary school. The school is trying to discourage gossip, which can lead to teasing and bullying.
The way they do it is, when a child asks a question about another child, the teacher’s answer is, “That’s none of your business.” Whether I agree with that response is irrelevant because I feel schools have the right to run themselves the way they deem proper. However, isn’t there a nicer way to phrase it? I think I remember hearing years ago something like, “Please tend to your own affairs.” -- CLAMPING DOWN ON GOSSIP DEAR CLAMPING DOWN: I agree that whoever wrote the script for those educators was less than tactful. A better way to phrase it would be, “You do YOU, and stop worrying about other people,” which might be less harsh. 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 Beverly Ann Duncan
Mr. Ronnie Martin
Funeral Services for Beverly Ann Duncan, 74, of Alexander City, Alabama, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at River of Life Church in Alexander City, Alabama with Pastor Michael Waldrop officiating. Burial will follow in Tallapoosa County Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, January 22, 2018 at River of Life Church in Alexander City, Alabama. Mrs. Duncan was born March 24, 1943 in California and passed away on January 18, 2018 in Alexander City, Alabama. Her hobby/work activities included cross country skiing, boating, bookkeeper, and supervising bookkeeper at Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh. Mrs. Duncan was a great mother and grandmother. She loved
Mr. Ronnie Martin 62 of Camp Hill, AL died on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Lake Martin Community Hospital, Dadeville, AL. Final Arrangements Entrusted to Armour’s Memorial Funeral Home.
Franklin Lee Barron, Sr. Franklin Lee Barron, Sr. passed away Sunday evening, January 21, 2018 at his residence. His funeral will be held Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 3 p.m. in the Chapel of Manry Jordan Hodges Funeral Home, Blakely, GA with Father Ben Dallas officiating. The family will receive friends for visitation starting at 2 p.m. A private, family only burial will follow the funeral service at Crossroads Cemetery, Damascus, Ga. Active Pallbearers will be Christopher Barron, Michael Sears, Triston Usry, Christian Barron, Ben Barron, Eddie McDowell, Heath McDowell and Michael Catrett. Honorary pallbearers will be Hudson Graham, Brad Engram and Kyle Dykes. Frank was born on January 4, 1943 in Columbus, GA to the late Monroe Wiley Barron and Helen Beatrice Polk Barron. He was the owner/ operator of Frank Barron Truck Sales in Damascus, Ga; a member of the White Pond Freewill Baptist Church, a member of the Arlington Masonic Lodge and the Hasan Shrine Temple in Albany and was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Franklin
Lee Barron, Jr. and a brother, Monroe Wiley Barron, Jr. His survivors include his wife; Regina McDowell Barron of Damascus, Ga.; a daughter: Donna Lee Barron of Alexander City. AL; 3 sons: Michael Scott Barron and Tami of Tuscaloosa, AL; Jeffrey Sean Barron and Jessica of Buchanan, GA; Mac Bradley Barron and Katherine of Gainesville, GA; a sister: Wyline B. McDowell and Ladon of Blakely, GA. There are 11 grandchildren: Christopher Barron and Collette of Sylacauga, AL, Alex Barron of Tuscaloosa, AL, Jessica Sears Catrett and Michael of Calera, AL, Michael Sears of Savannah, GA, Robert Christian Barron, Kaylyn Leanne Barron and Lillian Elizabeth Barron, all three of Buchanan, GA, Triston Usry of Statesboro, GA, Benjamin Wilder Barron, Samuel; Wiley Barron and Jude Willett Barron, all three of Gainesville, GA. There are also 3 great grandchildren are Preston Reese Barron, Brighton Presley Barron and Abigail Paige Wilson. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the FreeWill Baptist Childrens Home, PO Box 8, Eldridge, AL 35554 or to the Shriners Childrens Hospital, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
her church family and her pet dogs. Mrs. Duncan is survived by her husband, Richard Duncan; three children, Michael (Ramona) Wallace, Brian (Paula) Duncan and Shelly Duncan; one brother, Larry Robbins; six grandchildren, Heather Ann (Dustin) Graben, Van (Melissa) Duncan, Amanda Duncan, Ricky Duncan, Max Sanford, and Kimberly Sanford; three great grandchildren, AJ, Taylor, and Maddison. She was preceded in death by her parents, Oather & Lela Robbins; son, Robbie Wallace; sister, Darla Robbins; brother, Joseph Robbins and grandson Keith. Alabama Funeral Homes of Dadeville, Alabama are in charge of the arrangements. www. alabamafuneralhomes.com
Betty Jo Jones Betty Jo Jones, 87, resident of Stafford, Virginia, passed quietly from her family’s love on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. The eldest child of Fred K. and Ora Pearl Strickland and life companion and widow of Edward E. Jones, Betty is survived by her four children, Timothy F. Jones of Tempe, AZ, Michael E. Jones of Graham, WA, Shannon K. Cyphers of Cave Creek, AZ, and Kevin B. Jones of Stafford, VA and her siblings, Jean S. Smith, Shirley S. Powell, both of Alexander City, AL, Fay S. Sluder of Auburn, AL, and Ronald K. Strickland of Jacksonville, FL. Mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother,
there was little in life that could deal Betty a setback, and less still that could cool the furnace of her spirit. Her sense of style, captured by her tagline, “snazzydresser,” was a genuine reflection of her sense of self. Betty is remembered for her selfconfidence, independence and her indomitable will, as well as an acute insight and sense of the human spirit and her willingness to express her understanding. She has left her indelible mark for future generations through the meaningful impact on the lives of her four children, all of whom her absence will fuel her memory. Online guestbook at covenantfuneralservice.com.
Obituaries can be submitted to The Outlook from How to Submit funeral homes by e-mail at obits@alexcityoutlook.com Obituaries For more information, call (256) 234-4281.
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Shutdown McMillan announces campaign for State Treasurer
News briefs STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Man dies in apparent hunting accident
At approximately 7:40 p.m. Friday night, Lee County Sheriff deputies and EAMC EMS and Beulah Fire and Rescue responded to a subject unresponsive in the 600 block of Lee Road 263 in the Beulah community. Upon arrival they found 51-year-old Edward Allen Martin Jr. with no signs of life. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene. Martin had gone hunting on his land earlier in the afternoon and when he did not return at dark, family members went looking for him and found him on the ground below his tree stand unresponsive. It appears that he fell about 18-20 feet to the ground. It is unclear at this time if his death was caused by the fall or a medical event caused him to fall. His body has been transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences medical examiner’s office in Montgomery for a postmortem examination. No foul play is suspected. The incident remains under investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Lee County Coroner’s Office.
ment fund built from the proceeds of the sale of the state’s offshore Commissioner oil and gas reserves. of Agriculture and McMillan is an Industries John experienced businessMcMillan is announcman and a staunch ing his campaign for fiscal conservative. the office of Alabama His background and McMillan State Treasurer in prior service make the 2018 Republican him uniquely qualified Primary. McMillan completed for this position. McMillan his qualification requirements served as a Baldwin County to be on the ballot Tuesday, Commissioner, an Alabama June 5. State Representative, “I have spent over 40 years and as the Alabama State protecting, preserving, and Commissioner of Conservation promoting Alabama’s natural and Natural Resources. resources, agricultural resourcDuring his tenure as es, and the industries serving Commissioner of Conservation those sectors. It is now time to and Natural Resources, turn my attention to protecting McMillan’s decisions with and preserving the financial regard to the offshore oil and resources of our state for the gas lease sale played an intenext generation,” McMillan gral part in the establishment states. “As the grandfather of the Alabama Trust Fund, of two teenagers, I underwhich is now managed by stand how important it is for the Office of State Treasurer. Alabama to manage its money McMillan was chief execuwisely so that we are providtive of the Alabama Forestry ing opportunities for growth, Association for 21 years education, and employment for and a Certified Association future generations.” Executive. McMillan also The State Treasurer is served on the Alabama State responsible for the cash manPersonnel Board. McMillan is agement duties of receiving, currently serving his second depositing and investing all term as the Commissioner of state funds, bond management, the Department of Agriculture unclaimed property, two coland Industries (elected in 2010, lege savings programs and re-elected in 2014). management of the state’s colCommissioner McMillan lateral pool for public funds and his wife Kathryn have deposits in the state’s banks. been married for over 50 years. The State Treasurer also plays He and Kathryn have two sons, an important role in managa daughter-in- law, and two ing the Alabama Trust Fund, grandchildren. They reside in Alabama’s $2.8 billion investMontgomery, Alabama. STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Auburn man killed in Lee County crash
A single-vehicle crash at 10:26 a.m. Friday claimed the life of an Auburn man. John Paul Vitruk, 64, was killed when the 2007 GMC pickup he was driving left the roadway, struck a tree and overturned. Vitruk was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred on Alabama 169 near the 16-mile marker, near Lee Road 175. Nothing further is available as Alabama State Troopers continue to investigate.
way and were really looking forward to visiting. I guess we will have to wait for another time.” While the park closure may be the most visible sign of the shutdown locally, there are other things to consider. Think about the IRS. Are they shutting down? It was announced that the IRS had planned to keep just over 35,000 employees, or about 43.5 percent of its workforce, on the job during the shutdown. With half of its people out on furlough, officials say as tax season picks up steam, delayed refunds to taxpayers and huge delays to talk to IRS representatives if you have questions are likely, officials said. While the local Social Security office was open Monday and officials say there will be no delays in checks being sent out or direct deposited, officials say issuing new or replacement Social Security cards will be halted until a stop-gap spending measure is approved. Are you looking at buying a house or securing a loan through the VA or the Small Business Administration? Officials say processing of loans could be impacted. The Small Business Administration transactions may not be processed, and its staff will not be able to respond to inquiries until its funding is restored. According to one surveydriven website study, Alabama gets hit harder than most states in shutdowns. WalletHub released a study that shows Alabama ranking as the 10th most affected state by a governmental shutdown. According to a release, WalletHub compared the
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50 states and the District of Columbia across six key metrics. They range from each state’s share of federal jobs and contracts to the percentage of kids covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Alabama ranks 10th in share of federal jobs, seventh in federal contract dollars per capita, 27th in access to National Parks, and 10th in percentage of children covered for healthcare under the CHIP program. The WalletHub study shows that Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia ranked 1-2-3, which due to the number of federal employees in that area isn’t surprising. Minnesota was the state least impacted by the shutdown, just ahead of Michigan and Indiana. The bottom line is that most people will feel some impact, while the folks in Washington play the blame game. Congress Mike Rogers (R-Saks) who represents Tallapoosa County in Washington released this statement Saturday morning. “One of the fundamental purposes of our government is to provide for the common defense to protect our liberties,” Rogers said in the statement. “Unfortunately, Democrats chose illegal immigrants over our brave men and women who serve in uniform and forced our government to shut down. Their actions also hurt children across East Alabama and the country that rely on CHIP. Playing politics with those who defend our freedom and the healthcare of the kids who need it the most is unconscionable to me.”
continued from page 1
Harris also said the Alabama Department of Public Health does not release the location of flu deaths due to “confidentiality concerns.” Russell Medical has been running a series of ads alerting the public to emergency guidelines for visitors to the hospital. Russell Medical Director of Marketing Susan Foy said the hospital is working to slow the spread of the virus. “We’ve definitely seen an increase in flu cases and have flu alerts for hospital visitors running in the paper and posted throughout the facility, “Foy said. “We have placed kiosks throughout the facility with masks and hand sanitizers as preventative measures.”
To avoid getting and spreading the flu, the Alabama Department of Public Health released this information to help guard yourself against the virus: • Get the flu vaccine; it is not too late • Stay at home if you have a fever • Wash your hands • Cover your cough and sneeze • Clean and disinfect • Learn home care As far as what to look for, officials with Alabama Department of Public Health say the flu can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
Suit Alexander City stating the original “complaint is so vague or ambiguous that a party cannot reasonably be required to frame a responsive pleading.” The Alexanders purchased .59 acres of waterfront property from the StillWaters Residential Association in 2015 for $1,000. The property is adjacent to 1.48 acres of nonwaterfront property the Alexanders have owned for several years. The combined Alexander properties were listed for sale June 7 as 2.07 acres with 204.90 feet of waterfront for $225,000 with no home and a dock that was constructed since the 2015 purchase. The combined lots were listed in May of 2015 for $359,000, just five months after the new deed of the waterfront lot was recorded in the Tallapoosa County Probate Judge’s office. At the same time of the sale to the Alexanders, the StillWaters Residential Association sold with board approval another waterfront lot for $1,000. This lot is adjacent to the Alexanders and includes .74 acres with about 200 feet of waterfront and was recorded Jan. 25, 2016. According to court documents, the suit seeks to have the two waterfront lots in the Cardinal Heights area returned to the association and for the removal of Pamela Alexander from the association’s board. The complaint alleges the sale was improper because it
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did not comply with association bylaws that require a 55 percent approval by the general membership of the association. Balch responded that the association board denies any wrongdoing and cannot rescind the property transactions and that there is no provision in the asso-
ciation bylaws to remove Alexander from the board. According to court documents, parties from both sides have employed at least eight attorneys in the manner including Sara Gottlieb Bragdon who is from the same firm as Balch and Christopher Tomlinson who represents the Alexanders.
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• Fever or feeling feverish/chills • Cough • Sore throat • Runny or stuffy nose • Muscle or body aches
• Headaches • Fatigue (tiredness) Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, although this is more common in children than adults.
MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213
editor@alexcityoutlook.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Steve Baker Mitch Sneed
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Our
Opinion
D
Know Your
Officials Communication with elected officials is the key to good government. To let your most local representatives know how you feel about state or local matters, contact any of the following. Governor Kay Ivey represents the state of Alabama and its 67 counties. She was sworn into office on April 10, 2017, and can be reached at 334242-7100. Her office is located at the State Capitol at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.
Steve Marshall was appointed Alabama’s 50th Attorney General. He was appointed in 2017 and serves as the State’s chief law enforcement officer. He can be reached at 334-242-7300, and his office is located at 501 Washington Avenue, Montgomery. Mark Tuggle (R) represents the 81st District covering Coosa, Chilton and Tallapoosa counties. He can be reached by phone at 256-392-2006 or by email at tughd81@gmail. com. His office is located at 110 Calhoun Street, Suite 108, Alexander City. Tom Whatley represents the 27th District covering Lee, Russell and Tallapoosa County. He was elected to the Alabama Senate on Nov. 2, 2010, and can be reached at 334242-t7865. His office is located at 337 East Magnolia Drive, Auburn.
Kay Ivey
Steve Marshall
Mark Tuggle
Tom Whatley
The
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Playing games with America’s finances
Trash Walks are A great for the community o you want to do something special to help the community? There is an effort set for Saturday that will allow you to do just. The Lake Martin Resource Association and Prosperity Again Through Health is sponsoring another Trash Walk Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers are asked to meet at the plaza in front of Jakes in downtown Alex City at 8:30 then set off to help rid roadsides and other troubled areas of litter that has accumulated over time. These efforts make a difference and since they began in 2015, it has also renewed awareness of the issue. LMRA’s John Thompson tells us that in the three years that Trash Walks have been held, 1,000 man-hours have been contributed by nearly 500 volunteers resulting in the removal of more than 1,000 bags of trash and mounds of automotive tires from these important highways in the Lake Martin Community. We applaud the efforts of agencies like PATH and Lake Martin Resource Association that act as a resource for residents to keep our area clean through trash walks or cleanup days. We encourage residents to get involved in activities that promote sustainable living. We hope you will volunteer Saturday and help. As most mothers teach us, we should clean up what we mess up. Easier said than done when your primary focus is enjoying yourself, we know. If you can’t help Saturday, you can help every day in simple ways. Here are a few ways we can reduce our waste and be proactive about keeping our area clean while we enjoy ourselves: • Use refillable water bottles or tumblers while out instead of plastic • Keep a box of trash bags on your boat or in your vehicle handy so you’re able to pick up trash even if there isn’t a trash can nearby • See an illegal dumpsite? Report it to your local law enforcement agency Let’s try to leave every place we visit not just the way it was, but a little bit better. In doing so we have the power to set the standard of behavior and treatment of our area and one step at a time help reduce pollution and illegal dumpsites that harm the ecosystems in our area, our state and our country.
Outlook
ccording to what little I can find, the last full-fledged U. S. Fiscal Year budget was signed by President Bill Clinton in August 1997! An omnibus spending bill was reluctantly signed by newlyelected President Barack Obama in April 2009, though that legislation was not a FY budget. Since then, congress and the White House have passed countless continuing resolutions (CR) to keep the government funded, but have not passed a FY budget. Many local and state governments are required to have balanced budgets, i.e. they can’t go into debt. Almost all state and local governments that aren’t required to have balanced budgets are in debt, some dreadfully so. The federal government has had to “shutdown” 10 times (counting this year) due to lack of funding (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1995, 2013, and 2018). The shutdown in 1995 (twice that year) lasted a total of 26 days. Shutdown lasted 16 days in 2013. I suspect the vast majority of working Americans have “bankbook” budgets, i.e. if there’s money in the bank, we can buy stuff; and if there isn’t, we’ll have to wait. Many working Americans find they have to buy emergency stuff when there’s no money in the bankbook, so they load up credit cards fully intending to pay off these emergency expenditures as quickly as possible. There is nothing
DANIEL L. GARDNER Columnist
comparable between working Americans managing their budgets and Washington managing federal revenue and spending. In the past two decades, no one in Washington has actually done anything to balance the federal budget, or even to manage revenue and spending responsibly. President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich were the last leaders who formed coalitions to balance real FY budgets. Americans had become politically polarized by election of 2000. We remained extremely polarized until 911 when enemies attacked us and brought many of us back together. That unifying experience didn’t last long, and in 2008 Americans were even more polarized when we elected Barack Obama president and gave complete control of Washington to the Democrats. That’s when federal spending exploded and the powers that be in Washington essentially doubled our national debt in eight years. In 2016, unbeknownst to national media and the political and bureaucratic establishment in Washington, working Americans realized Washington was totally out of control. Voters were given two choices:
1. More-of-the-same Hillary; or, 2. Drain-the-swamp Trump. Last week national media led with headlines about Trump’s language, racism, weight, diet and unfitness for office. In the meantime, the House passed another CR that would fund as many areas of government as Democrats and Republicans could agree on. According to Senate rules, to keep the government funded senators had to pass this CR with 60 votes, meaning at least 9 Democratic senators had to vote ‘yes.’ That would keep the government funded for a few more weeks until congress could pass more CRs as well as new funding bills to keep the government running. Managing finances is not as easy in Washington as it is for working Americans. No one in Washington faces anything harsher for mismanaging our nation’s finances than facing voters every 2, 4, or 6 years. Voters will get to vote for 468 or 469 representatives and senators in about ten months. Who in Washington is serious about managing America’s finances? Who is playing political games with the media, lobbyists, and key constituencies for personal gain? Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@ gmail.com, or interact with him on the Clarion-Ledger web site http://www.clarionledger.com/ story/opinion/
Today’s
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“If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves.” —Thomas A. Edison
Today’s
Scripture
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” —Matthew 7:7-8
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Feds, take ethanol mandate and shovel it!
M
y back is sore from shoveling snow and it’s the federal government’s fault. Maybe I’d better explain. We’ve been getting lots of snow in Pittsburgh of late. When it snows, I need to clear two driveways: mine, which is 50 yards long, and my father’s, which is almost as big. Since my father is having trouble with his knees, I gave him my magnificent new Toro snowblower; it’s a convenience for me to have it in his garage, so I can clear his driveway in fewer than 15 minutes. I purchased an equally powerful, used snowblower to tend to my own driveway. It helps me clear my monster driveway in fewer than 30 minutes or so. On a snowy winter day, I am able to clear both driveways in less than an hour - assuming I can get the snowblowers running. But neither would start during the first heavy snow of the year. And that’s thanks to the federal government. Why? Because of ethanol, an alcohol, made mostly from corn, that can be mixed with gasoline to fuel automobiles and other engines. Ethanol-blended gas became a government requirement in 2005, as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates that biofuels be added to transportation fuels in increasing amounts each year. The concept appeared to be a winner at first. Ethanol is something we can produce in abundance -
TOM PURCELL Columnist
reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Ethanol burns cleaner than pure gasoline - that was supposed to be good for the environment. But it didn’t work out so well. For starters, ethanol requires lots of fossil fuels to produce. Gas-burning tractors farm the fields that grow the corn. Lots of fuel is needed to fertilize, harvest and ship the corn. What’s worse, ethanol caused massive market shifts. Demand for corn increased significantly, driving up the cost of many items, such as popcorn, dairy products and beef (farm animals eat corn), and tequila (South American farmers ditched agave to grow corn, which caused an agave shortage). Which brings us back to my snowblowers. Marketplace reports that ethanol makes small engines run dangerously hot and can melt their many rubber components. According to ATV Illustrated, “ethanol in fuel has a tendency to absorb water from the air and separate from the gasoline, sinking to the bottom of the gas tank, where it quickly degrades and creates gums, varnish and other insoluble debris that can plug fuel flow passages … and
begin corroding the tank and engine intake parts, as well.” Ethanol-blended gasoline degrades faster and more completely than pure gasoline. In the case of my snowblowers, severely degraded fuel from last season clogged the carburetors, injectors and filters so thoroughly, neither would start. I know, now, that I should have shut off the gas valves and drained both snowblowers of gasoline when I was finished with them last season. I know, now, that gasolinestabilizer additives are essential for protecting my small engines from water absorption and separation. I know I should have attempted to start both machines well before the first heavy snow covered both driveways. But I also know that the federal government is the single biggest reason I have such a sore back from manually clearing two massive driveways. To that end, it’s time for Congress and the president to roll back the ethanol mandate to correct its many unintended consequences. While they’re at it, they’d better add one more item to the tax code: a deduction for the 200 bucks I had to spend to rebuild two lousy snowblower carburetors. Tom Purcell is an authorand a Pittsburgh TribuneReview humor columnist and is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons Inc.
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.
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Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Page 5
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The Outlook
The Gold Rush Of 1849 On January 24, 1848, a man by the name of James Marshall discovered gold on the banks of the American River located close to Coloma, California. Mr. Marshall had been sent to the area by his employer, Swiss entrepreneur John Sutter, to build a sawmill for Sutter’s ranch. Sutter and Marshall had no interest in the newly discovered gold and decided to keep the discovery to themselves. Against their desire, word got out and was spread quickly by another man, Samuel Brannan. Brannan soon became the wealthiest man in San Francisco, but it was not from gold. He was a merchant who sold mining supplies to the gold diggers. Sutter lost everything to the gold rush. Many Americans left their homes and jobs seeking the new, easy fortune. So many people came to California during 1849 that the gold diggers were nicknamed “The 49ers.” Americans desiring to go to California had two route options--by land across the Country on the treacherous Oregon Trail, or by sea around the Continent of South America. The Oregon Trail was known for its rugged terrain, and many died from disease or starvation. Those who chose the sea option were also faced with bad conditions and plagued by tropical diseases which were new to Americans at the time, e.g., malaria. Many foreign immigrants also joined the gold rush. The Chinese, Germans, French, Mexicans, and Irish were all part of the Gold Rush. This greatly contributed to making San Francisco, California, the culturally diverse place that it is today. By the late 1850’s, the California Gold Rush was considered to be over.
California Gold Rush Ru ush Cr Crossword ross rosswo swo ord
Axe, Brannan, Buckets, California, Diggers, Dirt, Gold,Gold Rush, Malaria, OUTLOOK KIDZ Marshall, Miner, Oregon Trail, Pan, Pick, Sawmill, Shovel, Water
A Across Clues: Cl 3. This number is part of a famous nickname. 5. Name of the river where gold was discovered. 6. In which city is the American River located? 8. Disease that struck many on their way to CA. 9. This Continent was sailed around en route to California. Down Clues: 1. Merchant who became wealthy by selling goods. 2. This is often used to search for gold in water. 4. Known for its rugged terrain. 7. A Swiss entrepreneur. Did you know that the professional football team, The San Francisco 49er’s, was named after the famous prospectors of the 1840’s Gold Rush in California? The Gold Rush had such an impact on the state that LWV LQÀXHQFH LV VWLOO VHHQ WKHUH WRGD\
Gold Rush Word Search
Gold Rush Word Match Look at the words listed in the two columns below. Draw a line from the ¿UVW FROXPQ WR WKH ZRUG WKDW PDWFKHV it in the second column.
Color It! Crossword Ans: Across-3)Forty-nine 5)American 6) Coloma 8)Malaria 9)South America Down- 1)Brannan 2)Pan 4)Oregon Trail 7)Sutter
Match Answers: Gold Rush Foreign Immigrants James Marshall South America Coloma California John Sutter American River Samuel Brannan Oregon Trail
Column A Gold Foreign James South Coloma John American Samuel Oregon
Column B Sutter River Marshall Rush Brannan Trail Immigrants America California
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A-1 LOCK & KEY THOMAS AUTO PARTS SOCIAL SECURITY Bernie Atkinson (256) 329-2539 • Automotive Parts 3211 Pearson Chapel Road Alexander City, AL AL LIC # 7139
• Machine Shop Services • Paint & Body Supplies • Hydraulic Hose Assemblies
AUTO PARTS
150 Green Street • Alexander City • 256.234.5023 157 E. South Street • Dadeville • 256.825.4155
8:00-4:00 Mon.-Fri • By Appt.(Except Emergencies) 256-234-4295 • After Hours 256-329-7100
Temple Medical Clinic, P.C. YOUR FAMIY CARE CENTER Medicine, Office Surgery, Pediatric, & Industrial James P. Temple, M.D. • Timothy J. Cordin, M.D. Vincent Law, M.D.
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CREDIT UNION
YOUR COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION 256-245-4776 www.myhscu.com
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“We Touch the Lives of the People You Love”
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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MAGGIN EDWARDS, MANAGER 5639 Elmore Road•Elmore, AL•334-567-0446 Toll Free 1-800-246-0220
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“Taking care of your vehicle as if it were my own.” Owner/Operator: Cameron Tolbert
Alex City Internal Medicine & Nephrology
Our Town, Alabama
2888 Dadeville Road•Alexander City, AL
Tolbert’s Elite Mobile Detailing
2600 Hwy. 9 South • Goodwater, AL
Trey Griffin, Owner
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931 Market Place Alexander City, AL
256.329.2066 HOURS: Monday - Friday 9AM - 7PM; Saturday 9AM - 5PM
Page 6
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CommunityCalendar Need Insurance? Call me.
Today is January 23, 2018 Today’s Events
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
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
The Outlook
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
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Participate in your Outlook by calling 256-234-4281, faxing them to 256-234-6550, sending your event to calendar@alexcityoutlook.com or logging on to http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/. Education.
Today’s Birthdays
Bernice McDaniel, Agnes Parrish, Monica Hearn, Martha Burns, Rebecca Ungle, Nathan Wayne Nolen, Alexis Lamberth, Deanna Miller, Kathi Odom, James Nolen and Elizabeth “Libby” Heath are celebrating their birthdays today.
BIG “B” BAR-B-QUE
Today’s Anniversaries
Hickory Grilled Meat
Rhonda and Brian Childs celebrate their anniversary today.
–Since 1978–
“We Cook The Best BETTER!” BBQ • STEAK CHICKEN • CATFISH
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Coosa Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry Designing & Selling Quality Cabinetry since 1991 • Granite • Quartz • Cultured Marble • Laminate Counter Tops
25 Years and still going, Selling quality kitchen & bath cabinetry at reasonable prices. Ben & Peggy Smith, Owners Thur & Fri 9-4 | Sat 9-1 256-675-0176 1222 Hwy 280, Kellyton, AL
Cliff Williams / The Outlook AL 96175
Meals on Wheels is having a Boston Butt fundraiser. Tickets are being sold 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.
CARLISLE HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING New Year’ Year’s Special: Special:
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Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services •Physical Therapy •Occupational Therapy •Speech Therapy 2334 Washington Street Alexander City • 256-329-9061 www.crownemanagement.com
Come Visit Us! Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing
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• Alexander City Outlook • Dadeville Record • Wetumpka Herald • Eclectic Observer • Tallassee Tribune
dB
Lawn Care
Thursday, January 25
meal twice a week to hungry people in the area.
Saturday, January 27
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.
SENIORX: Are you eligible for assistance with diabetic supplies, liquid supplements and medications? SenioRx Coordinator Deborah Jones will be available Jan. 25 by appointment between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. For an appointment please call 1-800-3611636 or 256-761-3575. 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. BENEFIT SINGING: A benefit for Matt and Julie Vernon will be held at Kellyton Revival Center Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. All for Him, Danny Hutcherson, Jimmy Edwards and the Russell Family will be leading the worship in song. The Vernons lost everything in a house fire. A chili supper will follow.
256.267.0518
Sunday, February 4
Monday, January 29
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.
Wednesday, January 31
HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Glenn Wills 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.
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. GRIEF SHARE: A session of GriefShare will be starting soon at the Trinity Campus of First United Methodist 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 256-234-2455 or 256749-9354.
January 31 - February 2
CHURCH REVIVAL: God’s House of Prayer Holiness Church is hosting the Debt Cancellation Revival Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. Financial classes are nightly at 6 p.m. at the church at 573 Harper Avenue. Musical guests include Lemmie Battles, Paul Porter and Bishop Jason Nelson. For more information contact Bishop Frank McCleod at 334-740-0294.
Monday, February 5
Tuesday, February 6
CHARITY BINGO: Niffer’s will be hosting charity bingo on Tuesdays in February to benefit the Lake Martin Area United Way. Cards are $1 each. The first seven rounds are for Niffer’s dollars and the final round is for the jackpot. Niffer’s is located at 7500 Highway 49 South in Dadeville.
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
Friday, February 2
FEAST OF SHARING: St. James
Darrell Brooks, Owner Episcopal Church will hold its Mardi Cutting •Edging Weed Eating •Mulch Weed Control
Saturday, February 3
Gras Auction at the church located at 347 South Central Ave, Alex City. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and will feature live and silent auctions, raffles, wine/beer/non-alcoholic beverages, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and entertainment. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. For information please contact Denise Graves 205-826-4066. For tickets please contact St. James Episcopal Church 256-234-4752. All monies benefit Feast of Sharing, a ministry of St. James and First United Methodist Church, providing a free
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.
The Learning Tree Helping Children Learn and Grow
Friday, February 16
PAGEANT: God’s Beautiful Creations Pageant will be Friday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. at Sardis Missionary Baptist Church in Dadeville in the Fellowship Hall. The event is sponsored by the music ministry. There will be five categories and all ages are welcome to participate. There will also be an Outstanding Couple category. To participate please contact any of the Sardis Missionary Baptist Church choir members.
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
Saturday, February 17
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Saturday, February 24
Harold Cochran 256.234.2700
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. PANCAKE BREAKFAST: There will be a pancake breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Faith Temple Church Gym at 425 Franklin Street from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tickets are $6 for all you can eat pancakes in house and sausage, juice and coffee. Carry out is available. This is a fundraiser for the Faith Christian Academy’s Robotics team which will compete in the National WWII Museum’s Robotics Challenge in New Orleans in May. Tickets are available from FCA students and at the door.
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 Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.
Saturday, March 10
PANCAKE BREAKFAST: The Alexander City Kiwanis Club is hosting a pancake and Conecuh sausage breakfast March 10 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Benjamin Russell High School Cafeteria. It is $6 a ticket and all you can eat. Carry outs are available.
Wednesday, March 29
VIETNAM VETERANS WELCOME HOME: The Auburn Veterans Project is celebrating and reflecting on the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans March 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Auburn High School Auditorium. Speakers will be Joe Galloway and Medal of Honor recipients Bennie Adkins and James Livingston. Family is welcome to accompany their veteran and there will be a light reception afterwards. Visit auburnveteransproect. weebly.com/east-alabama-vietnamveterans-welcome-home-cermony. html. Attendees are asked to RSVP in advance by either emailing Blake Busbin at wbbusbin@auburnschools. org or by calling Auburn High School at 334-887-2120.
H&A Installation, Charge Outs and Repair Sheet Metal Work
FREE Estimates on NEW installations Service a 30 mile radius of Alexander City Licensed and Bonded #:84887 guysheating@live.com 256–234–4198 196 Thompson Ridge Road Alexander City, AL
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
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“I tried to talk to everybody that was mentioned in the book, or a family member,” Jones said. “The only one I couldn’t get was the reverend.” While Jones said he met Maxwell in the early 1970s, describing him as having a soft voice, yet being articulate with good posture and always wearing a black suit, none of the reverend’s family members ever got back in touch with him during the research for the book. Stressing that “To Kill a Preacher” is a work of non-fiction, Jones said he couldn’t report things that were dreamed up. At the same time, some of the rumors that were brought out and reported on in the courtroom were included, as they were part of official court records. With four major characters (Tom Young Sr., Tom Radney, Reverend Maxwell and Robert Louis Burns) and a series of strange events spanning the greater part of a decade, Jones had the crowd fully engaged as he told the story. “Remember though, in Alabama, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court by a jury of their peers,” Jones said. “Reverend Maxwell was never convicted, so he is still presumed innocent.” The story began when Maxwell’s first wife, Mary Lou, was found dead in a car on Highway 22 near Hillabee Creek on Aug. 4, 1970. The reverend was charged
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
E. Paul Jones speaks to audience members of his presentation on Rev. William Maxwell to Horizons Unlimited Monday afternoon.
with first-degree murder and indicted on Aug. 15. The case was finally brought to trial in the fall of 1971, where Maxwell was found not guilty in his wife’s death, despite a witness stating she had seen the reverend hitting Mary Lou earlier in the day before she died. He continued through how Maxwell later married Dorcas Anderson, who had been made a widow after her husband James’ death, before also turning up dead in a car in September 1972, several months after Maxwell’s brother John was found dead in a car in Coosa County. Two more
people related to the reverend mysteriously died over the next few years, the last of which, 16-year old Shirley Ellington, was found dead underneath a car in 1977. During Ellington’s funeral one week after her death, her adopted uncle Robert Louis Burns shot Maxwell in the funeral home, for which he was tried and found not guilty by reason of mental defect. While Maxwell was never found guilty for any of the five killings he was believed to have committed, it was found that all five had fairly generous life insurance policies taken out on them, which would have
BOE Blythe. So far, two companies have expressed interest in submitting a bid: Southern Foodservice Management, who the system has contracted with in the past, and The Nutrition Group, based near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Once the bids are submitted, Blythe said she will review them and make her recommendation to the board at a special board meeting on Monday, Jan. 29. “I’m confident that we will have someone to approve in our meeting next Monday,” Cooper said. The Alexander City Board of Education also
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given the reverend a motive for killing. Further evidence came from statements by others who claimed Maxwell had approached them asking for their assistance in killing some of the individuals who turned up dead. Jones added that it should have been the iconic Alabama writer Harper Lee who wrote the Reverend Maxwell story, after having spent several months in Alexander City, going over the case files and interviewing many of the key figures in the story. He also took the time to answer a handful of questions from the seniors in attendance, including how voodoo was involved in the story. “The rumor was that Maxwell had a great deal of voodoo powers,” Jones said. “He was supposed to have chickens hanging in trees in his yard. One of the voodoo shops in New Orleans admitted Maxwell had been a customer there.” After Jones’ talk concluded, several of the seniors had further questions they wanted to ask, as well as take a closer look at a photo Jones brought of the gun Burns used to kill Maxwell. While many in attendance may have been around and remember Maxwell’s murder as the culmination of the bizarre deaths, they were still very excited to hear Jones give his presentation, while some expressed an anticipation for his book, which he hoped would be released in March.
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handled the following business: • Minutes from the Nov. 28 meeting were approved. • The board approved the November and December financial reports. The general fund was reported to be in good shape overall, though utility usage was up slightly throughout the system in December due to the colder temperatures. • The board approved hiring Chris Williams as a maintenance helper for the system, as well as approving contracts with Brittany Green as a substitute at Stephens Elementary and Demetrius Fleetion
as a paraprofessional at Alexander City Middle School. • Four field trip requests were approved. Three groups from Alexander City Middle School will be taking a trip to the Biblical History Center in LaGrange, Georgia, the Junior Civitans from Alexander City Middle School and Benjamin Russell will be attending the Junior Civitan Convention in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and the Benjamin Russell HOSA organization will be going to Montgomery for a state leadership conference. • After going through a handful of drafts, Ellen
Martin and the calendar committee put together the school calendar for the 2018-2019 and 20192020 school years and presented the final draft to the board. These calendars were approved. • With January being School Board Member Recognition Month, Cooper took the time to recognize the five board members during the meeting, but due to the meeting date change, official recognition was held over until the February meeting. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Alexander City Board of Education will be Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m.
Bradberry Pointe Apartments 1056 Comer Street • Alexander City, AL
(256) 392-4336 TDD Relay Number 711 OFFICE HOURS:
MONDAY - THURSDAY 8AM - 3:30PM
1105 SQUARE FOOT [ 2 BEDROOM, 2 BATH 762 SQUARE FOOT [ 1 BEDROOM, 1 BATH Housing for older persons requiring that all members of the household be age 18 or older with the tenant or co-tenant age 55 or older. Limited rental assistance available for quali½ed applicants. Housing Choice Vouchers accepted. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in real estate related transaction, or in the terms of conditional of such a transaction, race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. The Federal Agency that is responsible for enforcing this law is the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. If a person believes that they have been discriminated against in violation of this law, they should contact the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC 20410 or call (800) 669-9777.
LIZI ARBOGAST SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com
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LUKE ROBINSON Columnist
A snow day in Alexander City W
hen I went to bed last Tuesday, I knew Alexander City could be hit with some snow fall. So, like an anxious schoolboy, I checked and checked and checked the window several times patiently waiting for proof. Snow wouldn’t really affect me much per se, but it’s just cool to see the white powder here. It’s also cool to see our community’s reaction to the possibility of snow. An emotional cocktail of excitement, fear, angst and a weird craving for dairy products. Of course it waits until I am fast asleep to snow so I missed all of nature’s beauty, but at least it did snow and everyone’s Wednesday was changed. In honor of yet another snowy disaster in our small town, I decided to keep a diary of the event last Wednesday. It was a mildly treacherous, if not majorly inconvenient, 24-hour period and I am sure many of you can relate. 4:38 a.m. — I wake up to go to the bathroom. I didn’t check the clock initially, but assumed it was past 6 since there was light outside. Then I noticed the time and realized the brightness was due to the reflection of the moonlight by the snow! 4:40 a.m. — Like a bag of Geritol to the face, it also dawns on me that I am 45 years old because I just woke up to go to the bathroom at 4:38 a.m. 6:15 a.m. — I am feeling pretty smart. Yesterday I went to the grocery and bought four Danishes, a box of coffee pods, a frozen P.F. Chang’s beef and broccoli meal and a frozen pizza. As long as I am not iced in more than one day, I can survive this thing! 6:32 a.m. — I am down to my last Danish already. Dang you Walmart and your decadent, irresistible pastries! 7:35 a.m. — All roads are closed and there is no work today. That means I am going to get stuff done around this house. I have nothing but time and opportunity and lots to do! Just going to play one round of Candy Crush to get my mind activated and then it is house-cleaning time… 7:36 to 9:23 a.m. — … I play Candy Crush. 9:24 a.m. — I am going to clean out this hall closet first. I am not even sure what is in here to begin with: A beige comforter … No wait, it’s a white comforter that just has some beige in it now; a box of old pictures, featuring no one I know; a shoe; more unfolded sheets that are not their original color; a cockroach that must have died from loneliness. You know what, I am just throwing all of this away. 9:33 a.m. — I just walked out of the house to take this junk to the trash. I immediately regret the decision to “tough it out” by wearing pajama pants and an undershirt. It is colder than the dead, lonely cockroach out here. 10:21 a.m. — If it’s just me here, is it too early to fix lunch or do I have to wait until 11? 10:29 a.m. — I begin to make lunch. 10:45 a.m. — This beef and broccoli ain’t bad. I made it in a wok, so it feels more authentic. Of course, I made it in a wok only because I couldn’t find another pan, but that counts. 12:32 p.m. — Not sure I should have eaten that whole package. 12:34 p.m. — Definitely shouldn’t have eaten the whole package. 1:45 p.m. — Think I will watch the National Championship again. 3:33 p.m. — I think the P.F. in P.F. Chang’s means “Please Forgive (us for destroying your innards).” 4:02 p.m. — I am not sure I am going to make it. If someone finds this diary, tell my wife and kids I love them. Block out an afternoon to do it because I have a lot of kids. 4:58 p.m. — TUA! You, glorious freshman, you! 5:07 p.m. — Where did my afternoon good? I guess it’s time for dinner. 5:52 p.m. — And time for ’Bama and Auburn basketball. 5:54 p.m. — Collin Sexton is out with abdominal pain? Did he eat frozen P.F. Chang’s too? No way ’Bama can win without that kid. 8:03 p.m. — ’Bama won without that kid! Unbelievable. 8:09 p.m. — Time for bed again. Luke Robinson is a regular columnist and contributor to Lake Martin Living and BMetro.
LOCALS ON DISPLAY
Elite Series offers area businesses a chance to shine By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
With the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series just around the corner, there are several ways for locals to get involved when the Series comes to Lake Martin on Feb. 8. Not only is the tournament open to the public — fishing fans are encouraged to watch the launch and weigh-in at Wind Creek State Park as well as trail their favorite anglers on the lake — there’s also another way to make yourself part of the event. On the final two days of the tournament, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 10 and 11, each series tournament also features an expo, and the Lake Martin Elite Series Expo is open to anyone. “We are looking for really any and all vendors,” Chamber of Commerce President Ed Collari said. “The event itself is geared toward being a family friendly event, so we’re specifically targeting crafts, food vendors, kids events, anyone with a business locally.” On the days of the expo, Wind Creek will be open to the public, and half of the expo will feature Bassmaster partners, such as companies who specialize in fishing rods, ATVs, lures, fishfinders, boat motors and more.
Courtesy / B.A.S.S.
An Expo featuring local vendors, Bassmaster partnerships and family friendly activities is one of the things to look forward to as the Bassmaster Elite Series comes to Lake Martin in early February.
“Because the Bassmaster Elite Series has their own sponsorships and own partners, we can’t bring anyone in that conflicts with those,” Collari said. “As long as they don’t conflict with those, though, it’s open to anyone else. We’ve had interests from real estate agents to Sign Source will be out there to food vendors, and we’ll have all kinds of stuff for kids.” There are a couple benefits
to becoming a vendor at the expo. For one, it’s completely free of charge, and also, it can give a lot of visibility to a small business. “The tournament itself just draws so many spectators,” Collari said. “You’ll see boats out there trailing fishermen to see how they fish and what they’re using. People also come for the weigh-in, so it’s just a way to capitalize on all that traffic. It’s a good way to get the community involved
and draw more traffic and awareness to the event and create exposure.” For more information on becoming a vendor, contact Collari at 256-234-3461 or via email at ed.collari@ alexcitychamber.com. Editor’s Note: The Outlook will be publishing several stories in the coming weeks leading up to the tournament as well as daily updates once the event begins.
BRHS eliminated from duals championships Cleburne County 63, Weaver 18 Alexandria 58, Springville 15 Mortimer Jordan 71, Corner 10 Dora 48, Hayden 30 Arab 60, Mae Jemison 18 Scottsboro 51, Deshler 30
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Oxford played spoiler once again for Benjamin Russell’s wrestling team this weekend at the AHSAA Duals Championships. After claiming a dominating 57-16 victory over Spanish Fort on Friday, the Wildcats just couldn’t overcome the Yellow Jackets in a 37-32 loss. The defeat marked the third time Oxford has beaten Benjamin Russell by five points or fewer this season. Things started off well enough for the Wildcats (2612), who claimed three wins to start the match. Saxon Coker picked up a major decision at 145, and Michael Parker and Jy Harvey followed it with back-to-back decisions at 152 and 160, respectively, to give the Wildcats a 10-0 lead to start. The match went back and forth from there with the teams trading pins for the next five matches. Victors for BRHS in the span included Conner Burk at 182 and Damien Lawry at 220, both of whom nailed second-period pins. After BRHS’ Bobby Charsha picked up a 16-2 major decision at 106, things started to go downhill. Oxford won the next three matches in a row to build up a 34-26 lead. Robert Graham gave the Wildcats a chance by flattening Oxford’s Wesley Slick in 3:33 to cut Benjamin Russell’s
File / The Outlook
Benjamin Russell’s Saxon Coker, top, had a pin and a major decision on Friday at the AHSAA Dual Championships.
deficit to 34-32 with one bout remaining. But the Yellow Jackets once again proved too strong, as Reed Hill earned a decision in the final match to clinch the victory. Benjamin Russell found a lot more success against Spanish Fort, which it had already beaten previously this season. The Wildcats got pins from Charsha (106 pounds, 1:34), Peyton Young (126, 3:45), Coker (145, 3:58), Hezekiah Hunter (170, 1:13), Burk (182, 5:32), Isaiah Holloway (195, 2:43), Lawry (220, 3:51) and Curtis Norris (285, 2:54). Despite the loss, Benjamin Russell’s season isn’t over. The Wildcats still have two
tri-meets left as well as the Mortimer Jordan Invitational before beginning the individual state championships on Feb. 9. AHSAA Wrestling Duals Tournament First Round Class 6A Benjamin Russell 57, Spanish Fort 16 Oxford 55, Gulf Shores 16 Wetumpka def. Hueytown, no score reported McAdory 59, Stanhope Elmore 17 Chelsea 51, Pinson Valley 26 Gardendale 57, Helena 16 Clay-Chalkville 66, Decatur 18 Athens 34, Southside-Gadsden 33 Class 1A-5A Tallassee 42, Leeds 33 Saint James 42, Moody 31
State Parks seeks input on Gulf State Park Pier STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Have you ever gone fishing at the Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier? If so, Alabama State Parks wants to hear from you. In an effort to continually provide quality outdoor experiences, Alabama State Parks is launching an online survey to learn more about the experiences of anglers who utilize the pier. Everyone from avid fishermen to occasional anglers is encouraged to take the survey so that Alabama State Parks can better provide a quality fishing experience
at the state’s only public pier on the Gulf. The survey is available at www.alapark. com/pier-feedback. “We are thankful for the many visitors who choose the pier as a fishing destination,” said Emily Vanderford, State Parks Natural Resources Planner. “Our goal is to provide them with the best fishing experience possible. The data collected through this survey will help us accomplish that goal and assist us in meeting the needs of our park visitors.” The current Gulf State Park Pier was opened in 2009 after the original pier
was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. The 1,540-foot pier is open 24 hours a day and features an indoor concessionarea, comfort stations and wheelchair accessible rail fishing. For more information about the pier, visit www. alapark.com/Gulf-State-ParkFishing-and-Education-Pier. The Alabama State Parks Division relies on visitor fees and the support of other partners like local communities to fund the majority of their operations. To learn more about Alabama State Parks, visit www. alapark.com.
Quarterfinals Class 7A Central-Phenix City 40, Oak Mountain 30 Thompson 59, Auburn 12 Vestavia Hills 43, Grissom 29 Bob Jones 53, Hewitt Trussville 13 Class 6A Oxford 37, Benjamin Russell 32 McAdory 45, Wetumpka 30 Gardendale 48, Chelsea 24 Clay-Chalkville 33, Athens 32 Class 1A-5A Saint James 36, Tallassee 34 Cleburne County 52, Alexandria 21 Mortimer Jordan 43, Dora 34 Arab 46, Scottsboro 24 Semifinals Tuesday’s pairings Class 7A Thompson at Central-Phenix City, 6 p.m. Bob Jones at Vestavia Hills, 6 p.m. Class 6A McAdory at Oxford, 6 p.m. Clay-Chalkville at Gardendale, 6 p.m. Class 1A-5A Cleburne County at Saint James, 6:30 p.m. Arab at Mortimer Jordan, 6 p.m. Championships (Bill Harris Arena at Birmingham CrossPlex) Class 6A Friday, 6 p.m. Class 7A Saturday, 1 p.m. Class 1A/5A Saturday, 4 p.m.
SPORTS CALENDAR Tuesday, Jan. 23 High school boys basketball Dadeville at Horseshoe Bend, 7 p.m. Horseshoe Bend at LaFayette, 6:30 p.m. Lanett at Reeltown, 6:30 p.m. Central Coosa at Randolph County, 5:30 p.m. High school girls basketball Dadeville at Horseshoe Bend, 5:30 p.m. Horseshoe Bend at LaFayette, 5 p.m. Lanett at Reeltown, 5 p.m. Central Coosa at Randolph County, 5:30 p.m. High school wrestling Reeltown at Beauregard, TBA