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Jan. 6, 2018 Alex City Outlook

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INSIDE: Arrests, page 2 Opinion, page 4 Calendar, page 5 News, page 7 Religion, page 6 Classifieds, page 7 Sports, page 12

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The Outlook

Lighting Li h i the h way for f Alexander All d City Ci & Lake L k Martin M i since i 1892

SPORTS, PAGE 12 Alabama vs. Georgia

January 6-7, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 5 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

Russell lays off 75 employees

GLOBAL FIREFIGHTER

By MITCH SNEED Editor

A total of 75 permanent employees of Russell Brands LLC were notified Friday that they would be laid off. Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors confirmed late Friday that company officials had notified the city of the move. The reduction in force is expected to drop the number of See RUSSELL • Page 11

Public rallies behind dog injured in house fire By MITCH SNEED Editor

Adler’s story is one that had residents of the Lake Martin community on an emotional roller coaster from the time he See ADLER • Page 3

From South Pole to Iraq, Alex City native travels the world for work By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Legislators offer insight for upcoming session

O

ne might think someone is crazy to be out and about in this bone-chilling cold in a T-shirt and sliders not even covering their feet as the rest of us are rummaging

By MITCH SNEED and DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writers

through the mothballs to find the little bit of winter clothing we have. But just this week Fred Milner was out eating breakfast doing just such a thing. “This ain’t nothing,” the Alexander City native said. “I worked for a year in See MILNER • Page 11

Montgomery will be a hive of activity again when the Alabama State Legislature reconvenes for its 2018 session on Tuesday. And with 2018 being an election year for both state legislators and the governor’s office, there is a lot Whatley that many of these politicians will seek to accomplish before the end of the session. Senators Tom Whatley and Clyde Chambliss both expressed a belief that the biggest issue is making sure that a workable budget for the next fiscal year is in place long before the 2018 session is See LEGISLATORS • Page 3 Chambliss

Fred Milner, middle, submitted photos that show the Milky Way, above, and the Southern Lights, left, as seen from near the McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Milner is not fazed by the recent cold front that hit Alexander City because according to him, after living in Antarctica for a year, “This ain’t nothing.”

Area hospitals continuing to battle flu cases

Today’s

Weather

44 24

By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Since the start of the new year, at least six flu cases have been reported at the Russell Medical Center Emergency Room. Tamiflu, above, can help treat the flu. Local health officials remind residents that it is not too late to get the flu shot.

High

With winter firmly settled in across Tallapoosa County, the conditions are ripe for more cases of the flu to continue popping up. The contagion could become even more widespread now that students are returning to school in both the Alexander City and Tallapoosa County systems. With this issue on the continued rise, local health officials are urging caution in an effort to keep the flu from spreading. Following a spike in late November and early December, at least six cases of the flu have been reported at the emergency room of Russell Medical Center since the start of the new year. “We noticed an increase right after Thanksgiving,” Russell Medical Center

We Care About You

See FLU • Page 10

Low

Lake Martin

Lake Levels

483.96 Reported on 01/05/18 @ 3 p.m.

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Man left wife high and dry, now begs for second chance

Sunday

47 36 Low

High Mostly sunny

Monday

51 43 Low

High 90 percent chance of rain

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

Postal

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

Weekend Edition, January 6-7, 2018

The Outlook

Cliff Williams Staff Writer, Ext. 212 cliff.williams@alexcityoutlook.com Donald Campbell Staff Writer, Ext. 208 donald.campbell@alexcityoutlook.com Santana Wood Staff Writer/Pagination, Ext. 210 santana.wood@alexcityoutlook.com Advertising Sales Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Tabby Edwards Retail Sales Manager, Ext. 232 tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com Scott Hardy Digital Marketing Coordinator, Ext. 208 scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com Emily Gregg Advertising Sales, Ext. 225 emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com Rebecca Carlisle Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 rebecca.carlisle@alexcityoutlook.com

DEAR ABBY: I was divorced for 10 years, and am now remarried. Four months after we said “I do,” my first husband left me (on Valentine’s Day!) without a word. It was out of character for him not to come home, and I was so worried I reported him to the police as a missing person. If that wasn’t enough, he left me owing the power and water bills, and our rent was three months behind. A few weeks later, he sent me an email. It read: “Don’t bother me. I’m fine. Move on!” I was trying to do exactly that when, a month later, he knocked on my door, asking me to forgive him. I thought I had, but it still bothers me. My ex is now begging me to give him a second chance. He has changed so much for the good, and he says he has never been with anyone more than two weeks because they can’t live up to me. I have always

of my time reading on various topics. When I told him his comment hurt me, he laughed and said that just proved I wasn’t as intelligent as he is. I know he’s not DEAR ABBY: I have right, but I can’t stop thinkbeen going through some ing about it. Can you help tough times during the last me? -- STREET SMART IN few months. I have handled ALASKA them as well as I can, but DEAR STREET SMART: something just pushed me Gladly! The individual you over the edge. I’m not formally educated. were talking to isn’t intelligent; he is a classless boor I have no college educawho tries to make himself tion. I graduated from high feel superior by putting down school, but I was homeschooled and people tend to the people around him. If you are as smart as you not take me seriously when they find that out. I opted out say you are, you will avoid of college because I couldn’t him as though he has an infectious social disease. It’s afford the loans. I love to learn and have continued to true, because cruelty can be contagious. educate myself. But today, someone I Dear Abby is written by respected told me I’m not Abigail Van Buren, also as smart as he is because known as Jeanne Phillips, I never went to college. He outright called me stupid and and was founded by her said I should stop pretending mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www. to be intelligent. DearAbby.com or P.O. Box Abby, I am skilled with 69440, Los Angeles, CA my hands. I own my own 90069. business and spend most you with brutal disregard. If he has changed, he wouldn’t be trying to break up your marriage. Be warned.

DEAR ABBY Advice

loved him. He had a drinking problem, but he has been clean and sober now for nine years. I’m not really happy with my second husband. I haven’t been for a long time, and now I have someone I have always loved who wants me back, and I don’t know what to do. Please help. -- CONFOUNDED IN NORTH CAROLINA DEAR CONFOUNDED: I’m sorry you didn’t describe what has gone wrong in your second marriage because if it’s fixable, you promised to love and honor your current husband until ... well, you know the drill. It would be a mistake to throw him aside without first trying to fix the problem. Your first husband treated

Passed out man cared for by police, fire

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

Reproduction of any part of any issue requires written publisher permission. Cliff Williams / The Outlook

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

WHATLEY MONUMENT Many a small thing has

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Police Reports Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department January 4

• Marisa Martin of Elkhatchee Road in Alexander City was arrested for attempt to elude law enforcement. • Jerry Connell of Churchill Road in Camp Hill was arrested for domestic violence third harassment.

January 3

• A resident of Buttson Road in Dadeville filed a report for theft of property. • A resident of County Road in Dadeville filed a report for theft of property.

January 2

• Catlin Hand of Buttston Road in Dadeville was

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appear warrant for possession, receive controlled and use and possession of drug paraphernalia. A resident of Taylor Street in Dadeville filed a report in reference to theft.

January 1

• Roy Carwile of Lilly Avenue in Tallassee was arrested on a warrant for probation violation assault second and was transported to the county jail.

December 30

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• James Benson of Tallassee Highway in Tallassee was arrested on outstanding warrants for failure to appear possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Vanessa Hubbard of Forest Street in Alexander City was arrested on an outstanding warrant for probation violation. • Mark Kessler of Holiday Drive in Dadeville was arrested for domestic violence assault.

December 28

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The Alexander City Police and Fire Departments were called to the scene of an unresponsive man on J Street Friday just after 3 p.m. Bystanders on the scene said the man was walking down the street with others when he passed out. Bystanders said those he was walking with left the scene before police arrived. The man was taken by ambulance to Russell Medical but could be seen slowly regaining his senses. It was unclear if the this was related to simlar recent incidents in the area.

• A resident at Weatherford Circle in Jacksons Gap filed a report for theft. • A resident at Genie Martin Road in Jacksons Gap filed a report for identity theft. • Patrick Murphy of Peckerwood Road in Jacksons Gap was arrested on a warrant for probation violation and was transported to the county jail.

December 26

• A resident of North Gate Drive in Opelika filed a report for theft of property.

Dadeville Police Department January 2

• A Dadeville man, age 51, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and promoting prison contraband at Tallapoosa County Jail. • A report was filed for breaking and entering a motor vehicle and theft of property that occurred on Farrington Street. • A report was filed for breaking and entering a motor vehicle and theft of property that occurred on Clark Street. • An Alexander City woman, age 42, was arrest-

ed on a warrant for failure to appear • A report was filed for harassment that occurred on Highway 280. • A report was filed for criminal mischief that occurred on Spring Street.

January 1

• A Tallassee man, age 20, was arrested for minor in consumption of alcohol on Old Susanna Road. • A Tallassee man, age 20, was arrested for minor in consumption of alcohol, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving under the influence on Old Susanna Road. • A report was filed for domestic violence and criminal mischief that occurred on Reeder Road.

December 31

• An Opelika man, age 39, was arrested for public intoxication on Okefuske Street.

December 30

• A report was filed for criminal mischief that occurred on Herren Street. • A Sylacauga man, age 20, was arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia on Highway 280. • A Dadeville man, age 51, was arrested for domestic violence on Herren Street. • A Tallassee man, age 57, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear.

December 29

A Dadeville man, age 32, was arrested for possession of marijuana on Railroad Street.

December 28

• Two reports were filed for breaking and entering a motor vehicle and theft of property that occurred on E. Cusseta Street. • A report was filed for theft of property that occurred on N. Broadnax Street. • A report was filed domestic violence that occurred on Wink Drive.

December 27

• Three reports were filed for breaking and entering a motor vehicle and theft of property that occurred on Cedar Hill Drive.


Weekend Edition, January 6-7, 2018

The Outlook

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Adler was pulled out of a burning house on Jefferson Street Wednesday morning. Adler is Brad and Shannon Mullins’ male German Shepherd, who was home alone when fire broke out in a back bedroom of their brick home. After the fire was discovered, Alexander City Fire Department firefighters arrived on the scene and began battling the fire. That’s when they found Adler lifeless in a smokefilled front corner of the home. He was apparently trying to make it to a door and that was as far as he could get before collapsing. The Outlook’s video from the effort to revive him, the pictures from that dramatic day and the story about what all went into the rescue have reached more than 57,000 people so far. That shows how much people care about their pets and the effort by Alexander City first responders to save the dog’s life. Adler was revived at the scene, taken to Dadeville Animal Hospital where he was stabilized and is now at the Auburn University Veterinary Teaching Hospital where he is getting constant care for the respiratory distress that he experienced from the smoke and fire. While family say that doctors have told them that he is not out of danger, he is showing signs of recovery. He responds to his name, moves about in his kennel and appears to enjoy the attention of visitors. On a visit Friday, Adler was wagging his tail and seemed very alert. Now local folks are trying to help the family with the mounting costs of Adler’s care. Lake Martin Animal Shelter Director Mia Chandler has started a campaign to raise at least $3,000 to help. “It was just an incredible story,” Chandler said. “To see these people go

continued from page 1 ACFD’s Todd Sassano comforts Adler Wednesday after he was injured in a house fire. The dog was revived and now is in stable condition. Lake Martin Animal Shelter Director Mia Chandler has started a campaign to raise at least $3,000 dollars to help the family with the mounting costs of Adler’s care. Donations can be made by going to www. lakemartinanimalshelter. com and following the tab that reads “Ways to Help,” then select the donate online option. When you make the donation, specify that it is for Adler. Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

above and beyond, fighting to save this dog, who is a member of that family’s life was just incredible. Plus, to be able to see the video as that happened, all the incredible pictures – that touched a lot of people. Even better is that this incredible story has a happy ending so far.” An exact cost of Adler’s care is unknown, but to say it will be in the thousands is a certainty. Chandler started with a goal of $3,000 and was about halfway there Friday afternoon. Donations can be made by going to www.lakemartinanimalshelter.com and use the tab near the top that reads “Ways to Help,” then select the donate online option. When you make the donation, specify that it’s for Adler. Dr. Sonja Hansen is one of the team treating Adler. She said Adler is suffering injuries that are consistent in

these situations. The extent of Adler’s injuries has not been shared, but in events like this thermal injury to the upper airway, possible damage to the lining of the walls of the trachea and lungs, irritation or chemical injury to the airways from soot, asphyxiation, and toxicity from carbon monoxide (CO) and other gases such as cyanide are common. The long and short of it – Adler is lucky to be alive. “We are seeing encouraging signs, but he still has a ways to go,” Dr. Hansen said. “The main thing is his breathing and we are monitoring that closely. He also has some injury to his eyes most likely due to not closing his eyes while in the house with the fire. That causes some issues. Also, he experienced some oxygen deprivation, which is common in animals that have

Legislators entering its final days. “Obviously, budgets are the things that we focus on most,” Chambliss said. “The goal is to approach this a little differently and work to get through them and approved early in the session. In the past, this hasn’t always been the case and we ended up passing budgets in the 11th hour, often time ending up with a document that wasn’t all that it should have been. We hope it will be different this time.” Along with the general fund budget, Whatley said the education budget should be a top priority of the legislature. In his district, the senator said there are two major four-year institutions, three twoyear colleges and 10 public school districts, and with education being a key component in driving economic growth, Whatley stressed how important he felt it was to make sure education in the state was properly funded. Along with the general fund and education budgets, Chambliss and Whatley both listed a number of discussion items they felt could be addressed during the 2018 session. “I think mental healthcare in our prisons and other matters involving our prisons that are the subject of lawsuits will again be something we will have to deal with and find answers,” Chambliss said. “Those things take money and are tied very close to the budget. That’s again why the budget is so important.” Chambliss has also pre-filed two bills he wants to bring to the Senate floor. His first proposed piece of legislation wants to establish statewide guidelines for schools to handle education for juvenile sex offenders. “Right now, schools are struggling to know what to do and how to handle it,” he said. “The goal of this bill is to do what is right for everyone, the offenders, the victims, the school and safety.” Chambliss’ second pre-filed bill seeks to establish the crime of voyeurism, better defining a practice that has become more common with the advent of technology, where people use digital cameras, phones or other electronics means to take compromising pictures of unknowing victims. Under the current law, law enforcement officials are required to prove that sexual gratification was gained from the images, which can be very difficult to prove in a court of law. “Our law needs to catch up with technology,” Chambliss said. “That’s what this bill is designed to do.” Whatley shared some of the topics he wanted to see brought before the state Senate, all of which will benefit the people of Alabama in one way or another. “One thing I really want to see expanded is the rural broadband

Page 3

experienced cardiac arrest like Adler did. Usually in time, they overcome that. “The good thing is that he is stable, he is recognizing his owners and showing some other good cognitive signs and movement. We are doing everything we can and hoping for the best.” Chandler said that to see where is his now from where this started is nothing short of a miracle and thanked everyone who has donated so far. “It’s just so exciting to see his progress and that he is responding,” Chandler said. “To think that all this started with a tragedy where some very dedicated and caring people did everything in their power to give Adler a chance. It just restores your faith and makes you feel good. It shows miracles are possible.”

continued from page 1

network,” Whatley said. “The digital footprint in an area is something companies really look at when they are considering where to locate or expand their operations.” He said that, while broadband access has been expanded predominantly in the state’s metropolitan areas, he will continue to push for further expansions in the more rural areas of Alabama. “I have had bills in the past to address this, and I will continue to push for this expansion,” Whatley said. “It’s not going to be easy, none of this is easy, but we need to start the discussion.” With recent legislation from Washington reforming the American tax code and the welfare institution, Whatley said he wants to bring changes in these regards to the state level as well. This includes adjusting the income ranges for more middle-class Alabamians in order to give them a slightly larger income-tax break, while also passing a resolution asking the state Department of Human Resources and the Department of Public Health to follow the new federal guidelines on welfare payments. Two other key discussion points Whatley hopes to see come before the Senate this session will benefit the state economy by making it easier for veterans to start up small businesses, as well as continuing to help the largest state industry, agriculture. “Helping veterans, I have a plan I call ‘The Entrepreneurial Soldier,’” he said. “Under this, startup companies owned by veterans would, for a specific period of time, have the state fees for such businesses wiped out.” With agriculture having approximately a $70 billion impact on the Alabama economy annually, Whatley wants to see a plan put into place that gives younger Alabamians interested in going into the agriculture industry an easier path to operating their own farms. “It’s expensive to start up a farm,” Whatley said. “This plan would offer tax credits to older, more established farmers if they sell or lease their operations to young people going into the agriculture industry.” This legislation will have to establish a cap on the amount of credits that can be awarded through the program, which would be overseen by the state Department of Agriculture and who would more clearly define how the program would work, but the legislation as a whole would help maintain the state’s farming industry. As motor vehicles continue to evolve and some car manufacturers have been able to design and build autonomous vehicles, Whatley said this is one crucial topic the

state will need to address. Some of the questions he felt would be the most important to answer included how these vehicles would be implemented, how this would affect state revenues and who would be liable in an accident. With Chambliss and Whatley sharing the important discussion topics they feel should be brought

before the Alabama State Legislature during its 2018 session, along with the ideas other senators and representatives will bring to the table after reconvening on Tuesday, the 2018 legislative session may very well mean a busy time in Montgomery. State Representative Mark Tuggle could not be reached for comment.


Opinion Outlook The

Opinion

Our View

A look at this week’s highs and lows

I

t was a week filled with highs and lows and news that touched our emotions in many ways here in the Lake Martin community. So today, we look back on this week’s The Good, The Bad and The Ugly from the pages of The Outlook. THE GOOD: There are not enough good words that can be used to describe the effort by our local first responders who worked tirelessly at the scene of a Jefferson Street house fire to not only save the house, but to revive the family dog who was found lifeless inside. A lot has already been written, shared and seen about that incredible effort, but today we would like to add one more thank you to a growing list. We are glad we have such dedicated, caring folks protecting us. THE BAD: We have seen too many examples of the impact that addiction can have on lives this week. From a drug store burglary near Dadeville where a man busted out a store window to get to pharmaceuticals, to more incidents where people fell out from apparent use of synthetic marijuana, drugs have been in the news far too often. While a person won’t start to break free from the grip that addiction can have on them until they want to get better, we can help. Take the time to push those we may know in those situations to get help and support them as they fight that fight. THE UGLY: The idea of three teens attacking a man minding his own business along a city street is about as ugly as it gets. That happened right here in Alexander City this week. Wednesday afternoon a group of male teens jumped a man. From there they punched him, kicked and stomped him and used a knife on him. After beating him into submission, the hoodie-wearing punks took his cell phone and less than $10 in cash. Three of those suspected in the attack have been arrested by Alexander City Police. Before we celebrate the fact that they are off the streets, they are juveniles. That means these boys probably won’t be treated with the same level of severity of the act they committed.

MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213 editor@alexcityoutlook.com

Weekend Edition, January 6-7, 2018

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Seven ways industries can survive in 2018

L

ost in the Democrats’ lock-step opposition to any tax cuts for individuals, and especially corporations, is the fact that free-market capitalism is a far more virtuous and moral system than government. The leftist narrative (which presupposes the evils of capitalism and capitalists in order to sell their statist/ socialist agenda), is that government knows better what to do with your money than you do. The facts are clear: Freemarket capitalism has done far more to improve the lot of humankind wherever it is allowed to flourish. Until this tax bill passed, the U.S. taxed that virtue at the highest levels in the industrialized world. Now we are about the same. To see the abundance that our historically free enterprise system has bestowed on us, compare the U.S. to the rest of the world. Travel to any thirdworld country with a strong central government and a stranglehold on business, and witness the poverty, crime and misery spawned in places like Venezuela, North Korea and Cuba. Virtue is also reflected in that businessmen have to resign when faced with sexual harassment allegations; politicians just use taxpayer money or campaign funds to quietly pay off accusers and keep their positions. With this trend, 2018 will prove to be the hardest year ever to sleep your way to the top. Trump had to disband his White House Business Council after CEOs ran scared and began quitting over his Charlottesville/

RON HART Columnist

Confederate monuments stand. Even the head of Kentucky Fried Chicken’s parent company distanced himself from Trump. With his KFC business, that CEO must live in fear that the Confederate monument protestors will be all over him if they ever connect the dots on Colonel Sanders. Given what we taxpayers have done for corporations, I ask corporations to do this for us in 2018: 1. The governmentcontrolled airline industry has to price its product reasonably. Because they are given monopoly routes, an Atlanta to Memphis flight costs $850, while a flight to Dallas (where Southwest competes) is $225. And treat customers better. If we have to change our flight, do not double our fare that day if you have open seats. Also, quit nickel-and-diming us on fees. The United Airlines passenger who was beaten and dragged off his plane feels just about how we all do. 2. Fast food places, start rounding up to a nickel on purchases. We do not want to be handed pennies or a receipt when we buy something from you. Wendy’s, do not hand me a receipt. It is like saying, “Here, you throw this away.” I am just buying a Frosty; there’s no need to bring paperwork into it. 3. Target or any online retailer, when we buy something, do not hound

us with your emails. I just ordered some socks from you to be delivered; that does not make us pen pals. These companies make opting out of their email database harder than solving a Rubik’s Cube — just to stop emails. 4. Shampoo and conditioner makers, make the labels on your damn bottles clearer. You have us in a very vulnerable state, in the shower with no eyeglasses on. Do not always write “shampoo” and “conditioner” on your bottles so small that you know we will waste your product and use more of it. You know what you are doing. Stop. 5. Printer ink makers, we are on to you too. Stop selling us $38 printers with ink refills that only you sell and which cost $75 a pop. 6. Coffee makers and heat/air control manufacturers, stop making them so complicated that we need an engineering degree for a simple on and off. 7. And fried chicken restaurants like Chick-fil-A, quit portraying as healthy the “chicken” you sell in commercials where cows say it is healthier than red meat. Fried chicken has killed more Southerners than the Union Army, the lottery and three-wheeler ATVs combined. Those are the main areas in which businesses continue to play games with us, but they are a tiny fraction of the games government pulls on us each day. Ron Hart is a libertarian op-ed humorist and awardwinning author. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @RonaldHart on Twitter.

John McKelvey represents District 3, which includes Jackson’s Gap, Hackneyville, New Site and Daviston. McKelvey currently serves as chairman. His phone number is 256-794-4405. His address is 1285 Freeman John McKelvey Road, Dadeville. Emma Jean Thweatt represents District 4, which includes Dadeville, Pace’s Point, northern Camp Hill, Buttston, Dudleyville and part of Eagle Creek. She can be reached at 8254207. Her address is 585 Brookwood Circle, Dadeville.

Emma Jean Thweatt

George Carleton Jr. represents District 5, which includes southern Camp Hill, Red Ridge, Walnut Hill, Union and Pleasant Ridge. His address is 630 Turner Road Road, Dadeville.

George Carleton Jr.

Today’s

Scripture

“Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” —Isaiah 1:16-17

alexcityoutlook.com

Daily Poll Friday’s question: Are you taking precautions to protect the plumbing in your home during the cold weather?

Yes – 30 No – 7

Weekend question: Do the Friday job cuts at Russell Brands surprise you?

To participate in this daily poll, log on each day to www.alexcityoutlook.com and vote. Find out the vote totals in the next edition of The Outlook and see if your vote swayed the results.

Our

Mission

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

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The subscription rate is $136.00 per year in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties and $177.99 outside the area. Periodicals paid at Alexander City, AL. Newspapers are available at 100 news racks in our area at 75 cents for The Outlook and 50 cents for The Record. We would love to deliver a paper to your door. Call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281, Ext. 204 or e-mail david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook. com.

Officials

Steve Robinson represents District 2, which includes the southern part of Alexander City, the Cedar Creek area, Ourtown and Willow Point. His phone number Steve Robinson is 256-654-0047. His address is 300 Heritage Drive Alexander City.

Quote

“A ruler should be slow to punish and swift to reward.” —Ovid

How to

Know Your

T.C. Coley represents District 1, including half of Coley Creek, the Andrew Jackson subdivision, the southern part of Indian Hill, North Central Avenue, part of Pearson’s Chapel Road, the Northside community and portion of Spring Hill T.C. Coley community. His phone number is 256-212-9316. His address is 2316 North Central Avenue, Kellyton.

Today’s

What’s your

Opinion?

Letter to the Editor

READER: Trump is president, get over it Dear Editor, Dec. 29th, The Outlook voiced its opinion on Jones and Moore stating Jones won, saying let’s get back to normal, stating regardless of how we feel about the outcome, it’s time to move and give Jones a chance, that Moore should take his loss like a man and just go home. Really? That’s a democratic opinion, how about giving President Trump a chance? He won. 62 million of us voted for him, if Hillary can’t accept her loss like a grown woman she should shut up and go home. The Outlook does more than its share of slamming President Trump, so is that normal? I hope not. The normal that we the people face every day is a struggle to stay above water, the loss of good manufacturing jobs from failed government trade policies like NAFTA that affected millions of hard working families. Other countries got manufacturing jobs as Americans lost theirs. President Clinton, Bush and Obama and Congress are responsible for these trade

failures. Their great life continued as ours changed. Remember Russell Corp? It went to Mexico and Russell employees had to go to Mexico to train them. Is this the new normal? I hope not. Right now left wing nuts and liberal politicians are drooling at the possibility of impeaching President Trump. This is their main priority as they continue to ignore the many problems we face. This is disgusting. It’s all a game to them and as usual we are the losers. Right now Democrats are fighting hard for sanctuary cities for illegals and for DACA. Where are the sanctuary areas for 650 killed this year in Chicago and victims in too many other cities? American citizens must come first. We are $20 trillion in debt with no end in sight, facing low wage, part-time jobs as the new normal. We have millions of our own facing despair and poverty — no “American Dream” for themselves or their children. All this and more as left wing liberals and Democrats fight for so-called “rights” of illegals and their families. This is

wrong and should not be the normal. No president is ever without negative controversy but Trump faces it every minute of the day from left wing liberal nuts. They continue to mock his America first slogan, his strong stand on NATO and U.N. paying their fair share. I am proud of President Trump standing ground for America. We continue to send foreign aid checks to countries that continue to send us their poor people that cross our border illegally becoming another burden to our society, housing, schooling, food and utilities. This should not be the new normal as millions of our citizens continue to face poverty, failing schools and gang shootings. Dignity, normalcy and common sense aren’t bad things, and I agree with that 100 percent but ever since Trump’s election, dignity, normalcy and common sense have disappeared and sideshow craziness took over. If this country is to survive, this must stop now. The election is over, move on, go home — take your own advice. Annette Lynch Alexander City

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) 2346550 or e-mailed to editor@alexcityoutlook.com. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send us your thoughts today!

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Weekend Edition, January 6-7, 2018

CommunityCalendar Need Insurance? Call me.

This weekend is January 6-7, 2018 Today’s Birthdays

Marvette Razz, Amanda Green,

Barry Croley and Nettie Lou Lankford are celebrating birthdays today.

Sunday’s Birthdays

Elener Wyckoff, Morgan Jones, Beth Nicholson, Molly Joiner and J.T. Mann celebrate their birthdays

Page 5

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The Outlook

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/. Sunday.

Monday’s Birthdays

Daniel Forbus, Kennedy Hawkins, Jared Hawkins, Modesta Gravette, Catherine Davis, Timothy Grant, Amanda Vickers, Trey Jones, Kennedy Nelms and Helen Armour celebrate their birthdays Monday.

–Since 1978–

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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

Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

This Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Engine pulling 112 empty coal hopper cars rolls through Alexander City at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. While rail traffic has dropped off significantly, empty coal cars that have dropped loads at power plants across the South still use the line about four times a week currently.

AL 96175

Monday, January 8

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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

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

256.267.0518

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

January 8-9

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

Saturday, January 13

BOOK SALE: The Friends of the Dadeville Public Library will host a book sale on the lower level of the Dadeville Library Saturday, Jan. 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fill a grocery bag for $5 or three bags for just $15. MLK PRAYER BREAKFAST: The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer breakfast will be Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Stephens Elementary Gym at 8 a.m. Tickets are $10. FAMILY GATHERING: The Norris, Holley and Edwards families are gathering at the Bud Porch Building in Alexander City Saturday Jan. 13 from noon to 5 p.m. Bring a dish. There will be door prizes. Contact Linda Nix for more information at 256-786-9279. PANCAKE BREAKFAST: The Comer Methodist Men’s Club is hosting a pancake breakfast Jan. 13 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. It is eat in or carry out for $6 a plate.

To sign up simply come by the Adelia M. Russell Library. For more information, call 256-329- 6796. There is no cost to attend.

Sunday, January 21

HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING: The Tallapoosee Historical Society will meet at the Historical Museum on the square in Dadeville on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 2 p.m. Dr. Charles Mitchell will be the speaker. He will present “A Pictorial History of Alabama Agriculture.” While working at Auburn, Dr. Mitchell accumulated lots of old photographs related to Alabama agriculture. Several years ago, he began organizing them and realized that these old pictures could actually tell the chronological story of Alabama’s agriculture from the Creek Indians to modern production. He will share these photographs with the Tallapoosee Historical Society Please make plans to attend. The meeting is open to the public, there is no admission fee and free refreshments will be served.

Monday, January 22

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

Monday, January 29

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

Monday, February 5

Monday, January 15

MLK CELEBRATION: The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be Monday, Jan. 15. It will start with a parade at 9 a.m. beginning at Stephens Elementary School and a program at the Stephens Elementary School gym at 11 a.m.

Tuesday, January 16

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 and the deadline for registration is Jan. 11. COMPUTER CLASSES: The Adelia M. Russell Library is offering 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 January 16, 2018, and the advanced classes will begin January 18, 2018; each session will last approximately one hour (3 p.m. to 4 p.m.) and will meet for four straight weeks. Classes will be small and the atmosphere will be relaxed.

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

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 p.m. 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 call 256-329-6796 or visit the Adelia M. Russell Library.

Monday, February 12

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

Monday, February 26

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

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 p.m. 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-vietnam-veterans-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.

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!

Harold Cochran 256.234.2700 haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

April 9-10

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

July 16-17

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

October 15-16

THROW AWAY DAYS: The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership and the Tallapoosa County Commission are holding Throw Away Days October 15-16. Dumpsters will be located at the Alex City Annex at 395 Lee Street, Double Bridges on Highway 63, the Old Daviston School on Highway 22, the Camp Hill Town Hall at 309 Holley Ave. and the Union Community Center at 4191 Highway 50. Dumpsters will be available at no charge to residents.

Tony Guy, Owner Over 40 Years Experience

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


Page 6

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Weekend Edition, January 6-7, 2018

The Outlook

In Community, We Share Tallapoosa County Devotional Page

SECURITY Grace’s Flowers and Gifts PEST CONTROL

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Make prayer time a priority in 2018

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Since 1976

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H

appy 2018! Have you she willingly and obediently made your New Year’s accepted God’s plan and resolutions? I’ve been purpose for her life. God had known to make some and keep a plan, and she accepted it. We some, and to really feel good are blessed beyond measure! about some I have kept. But, As quoted by Evelyn usually New Year’s resolutions Christenson, “We must put are laughed at because everyone into practice what God has knows we’re going to break told us in His answer. And our Carol Page them! obedience to His answer to our Good News As I was thinking about what prayer opens the curtain on the Baptist Church next act of our lives!” I would like to spend more time doing this year, prayer came to When we ask “Who am I, my mind. For years I’ve had the habit of Lord,” He whispers “You are mine.” He quiet time with the Lord — first thing has set His plan in motion for each of in the morning. But my quality time in us, and if we don’t listen, we miss His prayer always comes up short. It seems blessings. like I do everything else on my agenda His Word says, “So shall my word before I spend time with my Lord in His be which goes forth from my mouth, it presence. shall not return to me empty, without We are too busy these days trying to accomplishing what I desire, and without make it through the day, the hour, the succeeding in the matter for which I sent minute, and when we are, the important it.” — Isaiah 55:22 NASB things get put on the back burner. Being I would say there are no ifs, ands or busy is a poor excuse, and it is our loss. buts on that word from scripture. On a positive note, when we do spend Make 2018 your best year yet by time with the Lord in prayer and He making prayer time with the Lord a answers our prayer, whether exciting, priority in your life, and to be obedient to mind-boggling or difficult, the next step His answers. is obedience. When God answers our Love and blessings! prayer with a command, instruction or an open door, He fully expects us to obey. Carol Page is a member of Good A perfect example of obedience is News Baptist Church and a regular faith seen in the response of Mary, when columnist for The Outlook. This devotional and directory made possible by these businesses who encourage all of us to attend worship services!

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Compliments of Mayor Jim Nabors and City Employees

ALEXANDER CITY HOME OF LAKE MARTIN

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Church Directory

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11133 Hwy. 280 • Jackson’s son’s Gap, AL

1326 Dadeville Road Alexander City, AL

St. John A.M.E. Off Hwy. 280 on Hwy. 9 Socopatoy, (256) 215-3532 ASSEMBLIES OF GOD Cedar Street Church of God 703 E. Boulevard, Alex City Faith Assembly of God 590 Horseshoe Bend Rd., Dadeville 256-825-7741 River of Life Worship Center 407 Hillabee St., Alex City, 256-329-9593 INDEPENDENT BAPTIST Liberty Baptist 1365 Hillabee St., Alex City 256-329-8830 New Life Baptist County Road 14, Alex City, 256-329-2635 Victory Baptist 280 By-Pass, Alex City West End Baptist Off 280 West, 256-234-2130

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Member by Invitation Selected Independent Funeral Homes www.radneyfuneralhome.com

IVER BANK & TRUST S E R V I C E

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Whirlpool • Kitchen Aid Maytag • Amana Holland Grills Full Service Department

Tapley Appliance Center 574 S. Central Avenue Alexander City, AL 256.329.9762

SOCIAL SECURITY FAYE EDMONDSON Attorney at Law

135 N. Tallassee Street • Dadeville, AL

256-825-9559 No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

DRIVE A LITTLE, SAVE A LOT!

TALLASSEE AUTOMOTIVE

Mountain Springs Baptist Off Hwy. 22, Daviston

Pleasant Grove Church of Christ 1819 Bay Pine Rd, Jackson’s Gap

Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist 835 Valley Rd., Camp Hill 334-257-4442

Mt. Carmel Baptist 3610 Dudleyville Rd., Dadeville

Southview Church of Christ 2325 Dadeville Rd., Alex City 256-329-0212

Ridge Grove Missionary Baptist Alexander City, 256-234-6972

Mt. Zion Baptist Hwy. 63 South, Alex City 256-234-7748

Rocky Mt. Baptist New Site community

New Beginning Baptist 1076 Coley Creek Rd.

Seleeta Baptist Booker St., Alex City 256-329-2685

Bread of Life A.C.O.P. Church of God Hwy. 280, Kellyton

New Concord Baptist Off hwy. 49, Dadeville, 256-825-5390

Cedar Street Church of God 711 Martin Luther King Blvd. Alex City

Shady Grove Baptist Jackson’s Gap Community

New Elkahatchee Baptist Elkahatchee Rd., Alex City 256-329-9942

The Great Bethel Missionary 520 Christian St., Alex City 256-234-5513

New Hope Baptist Lake Martin, off Hwy. 63 256-329-5218

Dadeville Church of God 425 Horseshoe Bend Rd. (Hwy. 49 N.) Dadeville 256-825-8820

Unity Baptist Robinson Rd., Alex City

New Life Baptist Jackson’s Gap, 256-825-6190 / 256-329-2635

Marshall Street Church of God 428 Marshall Street, Alex City 256-234-3180

New Pine Grove Baptist Off Hwy. 22, Perryville

New Faith Tabernacle A.C.O.P. Church of God “J” Street

Zion Hill Missionary Baptist 583 S. Broadnax St., Dadeville BAPTIST – SOUTHERN Bay Pine Baptist 1480 Bay Pine Rd. Jackson’s Gap, 256-825-4433

New Providence Baptist Pearson Chapel Rd., Alex City

New Harvest Ministries Church of God Hwy 280 & Coosa 28 256-329-2331

Bethany Baptist Church Bethany Road

New Rocky Mount Baptist 670 Peckerwood Rd., Jackson’s Gap 256-794-3846

Cross Key Baptist Hackneyville, 256-329-9716

Bethel Baptist Smith Mt. Rd., Jackson’s Gap 256-825-5070

New Salem Road New Site Rd., New Site, 256-234-2932

Darian Missionary Baptist Church Pearson Chapel Rd., Alex City 256-329-3865

Beulah Baptist Smith Mt. Rd., Jackson’s Gap 256-825-9882

Old Providence Baptist Off Hwy. 63 N., near Hackneyville

The Church of God 13th Ave. N., Alex City 256-329-1696

Old Union Baptist 1106 Davis Circle 256-596-1873

Washington Street A.C.O.P. Church of God Washington Street

Orr Street Baptist 1000 “O” Street (Hwy. 63N) Alex City, 256-234-3171

CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY Church of God of Prophecy 303 Poplar Rd., Alex City, 256-234-6941

Elam Baptist Robertson Rd. Alex City Early Rose Baptist 201 E Street, Alexander City

Calvary Baptist 819 Main St., Dadeville, 256-825-5989

Flint Hill Baptist Hwy. 280, Dadeville

Calvary Heights Baptist Elkahatchee, Rd., Alex City 256-234-7224

Friendship Baptist Our Town Community, 256-329-5243

Camp Hill Baptist Downtown Camp Hill, 256-896-2811

Hollins Springs Baptist Hwy. 280, Goodwater

Comer Memorial 941 E. Church St., Alex City 256-234-2236

Jackson’s Gap Baptist Church 21 East Church St. 256-825-6814

Daviston Baptist Daviston, 395-4327

Macedonia Baptist Macedonia Circle, Goodwater 256-839-5793 Marietta Baptist Goodwater Miracle Missionary Baptist 1687 “I” Street 256-215-9788, 256-215-9787 Mt. Calvary Baptist 329 King St., Alex City, 256-234-5631 Mt. Olive Baptist Hwy. 280 & Jct. 49, Goodwater Mt. Sinai Baptist Fish Pond Rd., Coosa County 256-329-2337 Mt. Zion Baptist Hwy. 22, New Site Mt. Zion East StillWaters Dr., 256-825-4991 Mt. Zion West Our Town Community, 256-234-7748 New Elam Baptist Hwy. 9, Burtonville, 256-234-2037 New Bethel Baptist Rock St., Dadeville, 256-825-7726 Peace & Goodwill Baptist Cottage Grove Community Alexander City, 256-377-4634 Pine Grove Baptist Eagle Creek Rd., Dadeville

Eagle Creek Baptist Hwy. 49, Dadeville, 256-825-6048 Fellowship Baptist Buttston Community Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church on Claybrook Drive, Alex City 256-839-5339 First Baptist Court Square, Alex City 256-234-6351 First Baptist Tallassee St., Dadeville, 256-825-6232 Good News Baptist Church 10493 Hwy. 280, Jackson’s Gap 256-825-2555 Hackneyville Baptist Hwy. 63 N., Hackneyville Hillabee Baptist Hillabee Rd., Alex City 256-234-6798 Horseshoe Bend Baptist Hwy. 280, Dadeville Jackson’s Gap Baptist Jackson’s Gap, 256-825-4951 Kellyton Baptist Kellyton, 256-329-1512 Kendrick Baptist Church Nixburg Lake Martin Baptist Hwy 34, Dadeville 256-825-7434 Lake Pointe Baptist 8352 Hwy. 50W, Dadeville Lebanon Baptist Mt. Carmel Rd., Dadeville, 256-234-7541

Perryville Baptist Perryville, 256-234-3588

Ray Baptist Rockford Hwy., Alex City, 256-234-7609 River Road Baptist 148 Dean Rd., Alex City, 256-234-6971 Rocky Creek Baptist Samford Rd., Cowpens Community Rocky Mount Baptist Hwy. 22 E., Alex City, 256-329-2327 Rock Springs Baptist Jackson’s Gap, 256-839-6263 Russell Farm Baptist Hwy. 63 beyond Our Town

Pentecostal Church of God 163 Franklin Street, Alex City 256-215-4055

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1515 Worthy Road, Alex City (Corner of Worthy Place and Dadeville Road)

Pine Grove Baptist Camp Hill

House of Restoration Holiness 519 Slaughter Ave., Camp Hill, 256-749-2373, 256-896-2904

Fellowship Revival Center Mission 316 6th Ave., Alex City 256-329-1510 weekends

Sunny Level Baptist Church Sunny Acres Subdivision Sewell Street

Kellyton Revival Center Co. Road 87 South Kellyton

Town Creek Baptist Camp Ground Rd., Alex City

Liberty Life Christian Center 321 “S” Street, Alex City

Wayside Baptist 21 Wayside Circle, Alex City 256-234-5564

Passion Church 3340 Hwy. 63 N., Alex City 256-409-9590

Zion Hill Baptist Hwy. 79, near Horseshoe Bend

The Family Worship Center 365 Scott Road, Alex City

CATHOLIC St. John the Apostle 454 N. Central Ave., Alex City 256-234-3631

METHODIST – UNITED Alexander City Methodist 11th Ave. N., Alex City 256-329-1284

CHURCH OF CHRIST Alex City Church of Christ 945 Tallapoosa St., Alex City 256-234-6494

Bradford Methodist Hwy. 9, Goodwater

“Taking care of your vehicle as if it were my own.” Owner/Operator: Cameron Tolbert

(256) 786-1007 @ Email: camtoll2 gmail.com

Goodwater U.M. Main St., Goodwater, 256-839-6661 Haven United Methodist 354 Christian St., Alex City 256-329-8394

256.329.7400

JOWERS LANDSCAPE

Hillabee Campground UMC 120 CC Road, Alex City Sunday School 10am Sunday Service 11am

Fire Pits | Stone Work | Shrubs & More

Kellyton U.M., Kellyton, 256-329-1681

256.307.9087

For An Effortlessly Beautiful Yard

Liberty United Methodist Liberty Rd., Hackneyville Mt. Godfrey New Site New Site U.M. New Site, 256-234-7834 Pearson Chapel U.M. Pearson Chapel Rd., Alex City Red Ridge United Methodist 8091 County Road 34, Dadeville 256-825-9820 Sunnylevel United Methodist 3202 Hwy. 63N, Alex City 256-234-6877 Trinity United Methodist 280 By-pass, Alex City, 256-234-2455 Union United Methodist 4428 Hwy. 50, Dadeville 256-825-2241 METHODIST – INDEPENDENT Daviston Independent Methodist Daviston, 395-4207 PENTECOSTAL Pentecostals of Dadeville 115 West Columbus Street Dadeville, 256-596-3411

First Presbyterian Okefuske, Dadeville, 256-825-4081

Sixth Street Baptist Sixth St., Alex City, 256-234-2408

Meadows St. Church of Christ 306 Meadows St., Alex City

Flint Hill U.M., Alex City 256-234-5047

EPISCOPAL Saint James Episcopal Church 121 South Central Ave., Alex City 256-234-4752 HOLINESS Alex City Emmanuel Holiness Hillabee St., Alex City

BANKING ON VALUES

First United Methodist Dadeville, 256-825-4404

PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian 371 Jefferson St., Alex City 256-329-0524

FULL GOSPEL Dadeville Foursquare Gospel Church Old 280 By-pass

Dadeville Church of Christ East LaFayette St., Dadeville

First United Methodist 310 Green St., Alex City 256-234-6322

CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Dadeville Church of the Nazarene Corner Hwy. 280 and 49, 256-825-8191

Sandy Creek Baptist Alex City

Tolbert’s Elite Mobile Detailing 1618 Gilmer Avenue • Tallassee, AL (334) 262-2544 www.tallasseeautomotive.com

CHURCH OF GOD Alex City No. 2 A.C.O.P. Church of God Local Street, Alex City

BAPTIST – MISSIONARY Bethlehem Baptist New Site

Liberty Church 1034 Liberty Church Rd. Willow Point Alex City

Our Business Is God’s Business

Pleasant Home Baptist Clay County

Robinson Memorial Presbyterian Robinson Rd., Alex City UNITED PENTECOSTAL Alex City Apostolic 3708 Robinson Rd., Alexander City, 256-329-1573 INDEPENDENT Faith Temple Franklin Street, Alex City, 256-234-6421 Family Worship Center 1676 Sewell Street 256-839-6895 First Congregational Christian 11th Ave. South, Alex City GAP Fellowship Ministries P.O. Box 1571, Alex City God’s House 9334 Hwy 63N, Alex City Roger Green Sun. Service: 11:00 & 6:00 Wed. Bible Study: 6:30 Jehovah-Jireh Ministries 252 Tallapoosa St., Alex City 256-215-4211 Leap of Faith Outreach Ministry 886 Terrance Drive, 256-234-7119

Comer Memorial U.M. 427 East Church St., 256-329-3467

New Bethel Fellowship Church 5474 Rock Springs Road Jackson’s Gap 256-825-3367 The Baha’I Faith 740 Newell Street, Camp Hill 256-896-4007

Duncan Memorial U.M. 3997 Hillabee Rd., Alex City 256-234-6708

The Word Bible Church 161 Main St., Alex City, 256-215-5646

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Local news

Weekend Edition, January 6-7, 2018 Your community, your news ...

The Outlook

Page 7 www.alexcityoutlook.com

Polar Plunge set for Jan. 13 STAFF REPORT Lake Martin Young Professionals

The Lake Martin Young Professionals organization is hosting the Third Annual LMYP Polar Plunge on Saturday, Jan. 13 at Kowaliga Restaurant on Lake Martin in support of the Lake Martin Resource Association (LMRA). The event combines live music, tasty food, and brave participants dashing into the cold waters of Lake Martin to serve as a fundraiser for LMRA, a membersupported, non-profit dedicated to the cleanliness, safety and preservation of Lake Martin and the adjacent areas. The event has raised more than $8,000 in its first two years which LMRA has used to fund the purchase and installation of lighted buoys to make for safer nighttime navigation of Lake Martin. “We’re excited to bring the Polar Plunge back to Kowaliga Restaurant for the third-straight year and again support the Lake Martin Resource Association,” said LMYP President Emily McDaniel. “The event has grown to become one that people really look forward to. It’s fun, sort of unique and supports a great organization (LMRA) that does tremendous work for Lake Martin in keeping it clean, safe and prosperous. The partnership with LMRA is one of the driving forces for the support that turns out for the event, and Kowaliga Restaurant provides

File / The Outlook

Participants rush into the cold waters of the lake during last year’s Polar Plunge hosted by the Lake Martin Young Professionals organization. This year’s plunge will be Saturday, Jan. 13 at Kowaliga Restaurant on Lake Martin.

a great atmosphere for a really run time.” Tickets for the event are $20, which includes four food tickets to be used at Kowaliga’s special menu Polar Plunge food stations. Kids under the age of 8 get in free. In addition to a delicious selection of food, there will also be live music from Dallas Dorsey & The

Rails, a costume contest and a “Dash for the Cash”. Doors open at 10 a.m. and registration for the Plunge lasts until 11:45. The Plunge takes place at 12 noon which will be immediately followed by the Dash for the Cash where participants race out to a buoy and back the shore for the chance at a $100 cash prize.

Another $100 cash prize will be awarded for the best costume in the Polar Plunge Costume Contest. Adding to the fun for the event is the Polar Plunge Photo Booth. Expect a polar marine experience complete with fun props, Snapchat filters and everything necessary for a memorable picture. Dallas

Dorsey and The Rails will play their mix of country music, southern rock and Americana tunes from 1-4 p.m. Men’s and women’s dressing rooms are available as soon as participants exit the frigid waters to dry off and change clothes. Tickets will be available at the door or can be purchased in advance online at EventBrite.com (search LMYP Polar Plunge). Polar Plunge tee shirts will also be available on the day of ($10 if you take the plunge, $20 if you don’t). The 2018 LMYP Polar Plunge is presented by USAmeriBank and hosted at Kowaliga Restaurant. Other sponsors include Brian E. Dix, M.D., Dark Insurance Agency, Lake Martin Dock Company (Gold Sponsors), Central Alabama Community College, GCI Design, Russell Medical – Total Healthcare, SDM Inc., Steve Robinson – Tallapoosa County Commissioner (Silver Sponsors), Ballard Construction (Dash for the Cash Sponsor), Russell Marine (Photo Booth Sponsor), Tallapoosa Publishers (Entertainment Sponsor), Zajac’s Auto Collision (Dressing Room Sponsor), Lake Martin Realty (Registration Sponsor) and David Willis, Raymond James Financial Advisor (Costume Contest Sponsor). More information can be found at www.lakemartinyp. com or by contacting the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce at 256-234-3461.

State report shows early gubernatorial campaign funding, spending STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

With the 2018 primaries for state offices on the horizon, a recent report from the office of Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill listed how much funding candidates seeking the governorship currently have received and spent. The report listed campaign totals from 16 different candidates, including current governor Kay Ivey, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb. Also among those listed are three candidates who dissolved their campaigns: former Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville, state corrections officer Stacy Lee George and Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, who swapped over to run for Lieutenant Governor. Of the 13 candidates still listed as being in the race for the governor’s office, Ivey and Battle have the largest war chests still available to them. The report stated that Ivey has currently taken in $2,335,571.24, along with $635.28 in non-monetary contributions. She has spent $270,838.74, leaving the current governor $2,064,732.50 in her re-election fund. Battle was the only other candidate with a war chest of at least $1 million, having received $1,456,961, and after expenses, still has $1,193,302.92 on hand. The report also included the amounts on hand for Cobb ($146,381.41), Birminghambased minister Scott Dawson ($363,315.27), James Fields of Cullman County ($1,112.18), State Senator Bill Hightower ($619,869.35), Mark Johnston, the executive director of Camp McDowell, a camp run by the Episcopal church near Nauvoo ($11,505.62), Birmingham businessman Joshua Jones ($236,461.71), Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox ($198,446.18), John McMillan, the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Industries ($53,143.55), Dothan minister Anthony White ($2,850 in non-monetary contributions, but $0 in actual funds) and State Auditor Jim Zeigler ($916.11). While his campaign is still listed as active in the Secretary of State’s report, Jefferson County Commissioner William Carrington dropped out in mid-2017 with $6,063 left in his campaign fund. With the qualifying window for candidates to officially apply to run for state office opening Monday and the primary season to follow, this puts Ivey, Battle and Hightower in the best financial position coming out of the gate.

Submitted / The Outlook

The graphic above is a submitted illustration to demonstrate when area residents should dial 9-1-1 and also when 2-1-1 is a more appropriate number to call.

2-1-1 provides public with informational resources By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

When disasters strike and caring individuals want to help, or when people need information on volunteering in the community, the 2-1-1 telephone system exists for just such an occasion. An initiative of the United Way, 2-1-1 connects members of the public with specialists who can point them in the right direction with whatever services are needed in the situation at hand. “We started this in Alabama after Hurricane Katrina,” Lake Martin Area United Way Executive Director Sharon Fuller said. “We realized we weren’t prepared in case of a disaster like this.” When a caller dials 2-1-1, the automated system will then ask for that person’s zip code, which will help direct them to the proper call center for the help they need. During disasters, callers can get information directing them to the nearest shelter, where to find disaster relief assistance or even how to volunteer with relief effort organizations. “With the recent cold weather

we’ve been having, if any warming stations had opened up in the area, the public would be able to be notified about them,” Fuller added. 2-1-1 can be beneficial in nondisaster situations as well, paring civic-minded individuals with volunteer organizations looking for those wanting to donate time, as well as guiding those in need of assistance like food banks, rehabilitation, job training, home health care for seniors and afterschool programs for children to the correct resource groups. For those who do not speak English, 2-1-1 is able to connect them with a representative who can communicate in other languages. While 2-1-1 attempts to be a comprehensive resource guide, it is up to the individual counties and groups like United Way to make sure that all the information is accurate when those looking for help call in for information. “My role is to make sure that all the information regarding our area is kept updated,” Courtney Layfield with the United Way said. “I work with the call center to make sure that all the info they

need is in and is correct.” Over the course of an average month, Layfield said the call center that covers Tallapoosa and Coosa counties receives between 50 and 60 calls covering a wide range of reasons. On certain calls, she said callers would speak to a specialist, who would not only assist at the time of the call, but would also call back later in order to follow up and ensure the caller had received the proper assistance. As an initiative of the United Way organization, Layfield said that United Way groups across the state help provide funding in order to keep the 2-1-1 network in operation. “I think this is absolutely a successful program,” Layfield said. “It’s a 24/7 service. They are there for a lot of reasons. It’s all about helping people. It keeps people connected state-wide.” For more information about the 2-1-1 system, its website is 211connectsalabama.org. The 2-1-1 website also serves as a way those looking for information can reach the system, and text messaging is another option for the public.


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Weekend Edition, January 6-7, 2018

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Weekend Edition, January 6-7, 2018

The Outlook

Flu

continued from page 1

Infection Prevention Coordinator Traci Kelley said. “We are encouraging all of our employees to get the flu vaccine. If they choose not to get the vaccine, we ask them to wear a face mask while at work.” However, there are some patients at the hospital who are put on droplet precaution, according to Kelley. When entering the room of a patient on droplet precaution, all hospital employees are required to wear a mask, even if they have received the flu vaccine. Tammy Coker with the Russell Medical Center Urgent Care said since reopening on the day after Christmas, the number of flu cases coming in to the urgent care facility have continued to rise. “Since the day after Christmas, we’ve seen over 50 cases come in here,” she said. “It is continuing to go up. Right now, Type A influenza is the most common, which means easily transmittable.” Along with the more typical symptoms that come with the flu, Coker said in many of the cases she has seen, people have come in complaining of nausea and vomiting. In Dadeville, Ivy Creek Healthcare Chief Compliance Officer Agustin Latorre said the Lake Martin Community Hospital had not been heavily hit with flu cases, staying in what he called the mild trending towards moderate range. “There was an increase recently in the numbers at the emergency room, but it was not a severe increase,”

Submitted / The Outlook

If you have any combination or all of these symptoms above, local health officials advise you to go to the urgent care facility. They advise avoiding the emergency room if possible in order to limit spreading of the flu. According to Tammy Coker at Urgent Care, there are people with chronic illnesses in the emergency room and the goal is to not add the flu to complicate things for someone who may have pneumonia or a related illness. If you have not yet contracted the flu and want to take precautions against it, it is not too late to get the flu shot, according to officials. It is also suggested to take measures to keep good hygiene by washing your hands often.

he said. “We have really been pushing prevention education and the flu vaccine.” Since coming to Ivy Creek Healthcare from Miami, Latorre said he and his co-workers have been hard at work pushing education into all healthcare areas offered by Ivy Creek. “A lot of the education was school-based, and we’ve really expanded it across the entire brand,” he said. “We

started our flu efforts about three weeks ahead of what we had initially scheduled. It has been successful so far.” It is this effort in growing education in the community as a whole, along with heavily pushing this year’s flu vaccine, Latorre felt has helped keep the number of cases in the Dadeville area lower. In order to further curtail the spread of any contagion, Kelley issued a reminder for

the general public to follow good respiratory etiquette, including coughing or sneezing into a sleeve instead of onto a hand, and regularly washing one’s hands and using hand sanitizer when necessary. “Try to use common sense,” Coker said. “You know your own body better than anyone else. Protect yourself.” For people who feel they may have contracted the

DID YOU KNOW?

flu or are having flu-like symptoms, Kelley suggested these individuals go to the urgent care facility instead of the hospital emergency room. “The goal is to limit the spread of the flu,” she said. “There are people with chronic illnesses in the emergency room, and we don’t want to add the flu and complicate things for someone who may have something like pneumonia,” Coker added. Coker also said those feeling like they are beginning to experience symptoms of the flu should go to their primary care physician or a facility like the urgent care center right away, as certain medicines like Tamiflu are only effective during the initial stages of the flu. Kelley, Latorre and Coker all urged those who have become sick to stay at home and not expose others to any possible contagions. “People can spread the flu before they even know they have it,” Kelley said. “Wash your hands and isolate yourself if you get sick,” Latorre said. “The flu contagion can be in your body for five to seven days, while Tamiflu can reduce that to three to five days,” Coker said. “If you get sick, stay at home for at least 72 hours. Before you return to work or school, make sure your symptoms are gone and any fever you might have had has gone.” Lastly, Kelley said that anyone who still wanted to receive this year’s flu vaccine could do so. “You still have time to get the shot,” she said.

According to a 2013 Pulse Survey, Tallapoosa Publishers reaches at least 86% of all Tallapoosa County.

Let Us Help Market Your Message! 256.234.4281


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Milner

continued from page 1

Antarctica.” You see, this weather with highs in the 30s and lows in the teens is just an average summer near the South Pole. “The coldest it got while I was there was -85 degrees,” Milner said. “Some days in the summer, it never gets over freezing.” But how does a firefighter go from Alexander City to Antarctica? – contracting. Milner found out about contracting while training for plane crash response. “At the training at Ft. Rucker were all these guys talking about contracting,” Milner said. “So I looked into it and I decided to take my talents abroad.” Milner still had obligations so a short 6-week contract in Antarctica was not an option. Pacific Architects and Engineers, who Milner works for, had options for up to one-year contracts. “I still had a mortgage and family,” Milner said. “I was not going to quit my job and just go for six weeks. I said if I am going to go I am going to go for the year. I talked to my wife and my grown kids – they were like, ‘we are out of school so go abroad.’” Milner went to Denver for a psych evaluation. “They don’t normally have people commit for a year,” Milner said. “When you go down there, you need to have your mind made up, especially if you are going for the winter.” The year near the South Pole is something Milner will never forget. “How many people do you know that can say they have been to the bottom of the world?” Milner quipped. “It was a great experience. In the summer you get to experience the 24 hours of daylight. During the winter is the 24 hours of darkness. You get see the Milky Way and the Aurora lights in the winter. They seem like they are so close that you can reach out and touch them. It was the experience of a lifetime.” All while watching the population of McMurdo Station go from 1200 to 1300 in the summer to about 150 people in the winter. As to his work duties, thing were similar to home with some ‘obvious differences. “We were fire prevention,” Milner said. “We did all the inspections. We taught a lot of classes, fire extinguishing, CPR, AED. But we also tried to make it as normal as possible. We still had our annual training like training for an airplane crash. “One of the major things that everyone has to learn survival for cold weather. If we are at the airfield and we have a storm that comes in and you can’t get back to base you have to know what to do because weather is unpredictable.” Like fire departments in the United

Submitted / The Outlook

Fred Milner submitted these photos that show the Milky Way, top, and the Southern Lights, above, as seen from near the McMurdo Station in Antarctica.

States, Milner worked 24-hour shifts but with only one day off. He filled that time as well since communication to home was limited. “I bartended at the bar,” Milner said. “I worked at the store. They have some necessities there and commodities. I also worked out. You have to find things to do to keep your mindset right, to keep yourself going. You can call home all day and night but not the video chat. You find things to do.” After a year in Antarctica, Milner was not done contracting. “I went from a lieutenant in Antarctica to an assistant fire chief in Iraq,” Milner said. “I am stationed in Basrah. I’m enjoying it.” But Iraq is different than Antarctica. “We have weekly alarms of incoming,” Milner said. “We are in their country. We have to respect a lot the things they do. You have to be culturally aware. It is all about respect.”

Russell people employed at what is now primarily a distribution center down to around 250 people. “It’s just sad for the employees and for Alexander City,” Nabors said. “We will reach out and do what we can to offer assistance. For those of us who were part of Russell for so long, it’s just another tough pill to swallow.” Russell Brands, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Fruit of the Loom, is a supplier and distributor of sports equipment and apparel under many brands, including Russell Athletic, Spalding, Huffy Sports, Bike Athletic and American Athletic Inc. Attempts to reach company officials for comment were unsuccessful late Friday, but it is believed that one factor is the discontinuation of team athletic apparel. That entire operation was shut down at the end of 2017. Just six years ago, Russell Brands still had 750 employees in Alexander City. Earlier this year when it was announced that the company would cease manufacturing of athletic team uniforms, company officials said it was unclear how the move would impact the estimated 500 Russell employees who were working in Alexander City at that time. Russell got its start

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Milner has spent last two years working as firefighter at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and in Iraq but is thankful of his Alexander City roots. “I have lived here all my life,” Milner said. “I started my life, career here.” Milner worked for Russell from 1989 to 1999. “I worked at No. 7 bleachery for most of my time and at Coosa Rings Spinning,” Milner said. “I went to Washington D.C. and worked with Sprint Telecommunications.” After getting laid off following Sept. 11 Milner returned to Alexander City. “I came back and got on with the fire department in 2002,” Milner said. “I learned a lot and gained a lot of knowledge. I am thankful for the experience I got with the Alexander City Fire Department and the training I got there. They have a great group of guys and I wish them all the best but God has a different plan for me.”

Milner explained just about anybody can get into contracting, even in Antarctica. “If you are adventurous and not scared of the cold, I would advise you to look into going,” Milner said. “Every job (occupation) that is here is there. They look for everybody. They have to make the town run.” Milner likes many things about contracting. “One of the best things about contracting is the diverse people I get to work with especially in Iraq,” Milner said. “I work with people from Africa, Australia, and the Iraqi nationals. You get to see the world. You travel a lot. I have been to Europe, Australia New Zealand, Iraq and I especially like Dubai. Dubai is especially awesome.” The Antarctica assignment did not allow for a trip home or the rest and relaxation some get with other contracts. Milner’s current contract in Iraq allowed the ‘R&Rs’ and he spent much of December at home in Alexander City with family. “I have three children 27, 25 and 20,” Milner said. “I have two grandchildren, five and one born in October. I have been spending a lot of bonding time with him.” Milner has no plans of quitting contracting soon and hopes someday to get the preferred assignment in the Caribbean. “I hope to keep doing it several more years,” he said. “Then I will come back and finish up my state retirement.” Milner’s current contract in Iraq ends in April and he plans to go back. “I plan on renewing,” Milner said. “If not it will be because I was offered the Bahamas.”

continued from page 1

in 1902 in Alexander City and has operated continuously in Alexander City since that time. While Russell has been a trusted name in apparel for more than a century, it was the team uniform line production that fueled a meteoric rise from the 1970s through the mid-1990s. Most industry followers say Russell Athletic was at its peak in 1992 when it signed a five-year contract with Major League Baseball teams to be the exclusive provider of uniforms. In 1995, Russell rode those team ties to reach a record $1.25 billion in sales. The company had 18,000 employees worldwide at that time. But five years later, the company began a tailspin. The company headquarters were moved to Atlanta in 1999 and about 6,000 jobs were eliminated by 2002 as many jobs were moved to Mexico and Honduras. In 2006, Russell Corporation was purchased by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. for $600 million and was made a division of Fruit of the Loom. It wasn’t long before nearly all but about 1,000 Russell jobs in Alexander City were lost. Since then the numbers of employees has steadily dwindled.


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

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Weekend Edition, January 6-7, 2018

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Alabama, Georgia to meet for championship STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Alabama will take on Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship game Monday at 7 p.m. at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The teams: Alabama (12-1, 7-1 SEC) will face conference rival and SEC Champion Georgia (13-1, 7-1). This will mark the second SEC vs. SEC national championship game in the last seven seasons. Alabama is looking to win its fifth national championship in the last 10 seasons, while Georgia is aiming to secure its first since 1980. Georgia is the fifth different SEC team since 2008 to advance to the national championship game. National rankings: Georgia is No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, while Alabama is ranked No. 4 by the CFP. This is the first time in the four-year history of the CFP neither the No. 1 or No. 2 ranked team advanced to the final. SEC in the national championship: This will mark the 11th time in the last 12 seasons, and 13th overall since 1998, a team from the SEC has advanced to the national championship game. This will be the ninth time since 2006 the SEC will win the national championship. Where to watch: ESPN will televise the game nationally for the eighth straight year. ESPN has aired the game nationally since the 2011 BCS National Championship Game when Auburn defeated Oregon. Where to listen: ESPN Radio will broadcast the game. The game is available on SiriusXM College SportsNation Channel 80, with the Georgia broadcast airing on Channel 84, while Alabama will air on Channel 81. ESPN Radio has carried the game since 1999. Series: Alabama and Georgia will meet for the 68th time. The last meeting came in the 2015 regular season, a 38-10 Alabama win in Athens. The two teams also met in Atlanta for the 2012 SEC Championship, also an Alabama win (32-28). The last Georgia win in the series came in overtime in 2007 in Tuscaloosa, Nick Saban’s first season at Alabama. SEC in the CFP: The SEC is now 5-2 all-time in College Football Playoff games, playing in three of the four championship games and winning two to lead the nation. The SEC also leads the nation with five teams advancing to the Playoff since its inception in 2014. All information provided by SEC Football.

ALL GOOD THINGS END Lizi Arbogast / The Outlook

Dadeville’s Tykeem Holley, left, puts pressure on Reeltown’s Eric Shaw on Friday night.

Reeltown hands Dadeville first loss By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

Riding a hot streak has both positives and negatives. It’s a good way for a team to get confident in its abilities, but it also means opponents are gunning for you that much harder. Having defeated Reeltown once already this season, Dadeville’s boys basketball team was feeling the target on its back Friday night. It got into foul trouble early, which changed the makeup of the game in the Rebels’ favor. Although Dadeville made a late push, Reeltown held the Tigers off for a 70-56 victory. “Well, when you finish the game with four players (on the court) and when your big guy can’t stay in the ballgame, it’s a rough one,” Dadeville coach Jesse Foster said. “They were sitting over on the bench with me, and I need them in the ballgame. But they gotta adjust their game to the way the referees are calling it, and they were calling it pretty tight tonight.” Reeltown (6-3) was in the double bonus with 1:27 still left in the first

quarter, and the Rebels took advantage in a back-and-fourth first half. They built up as much as an eight-point lead and took a 35-30 edge into the locker room. While Dadeville still struggled with fouls and turnovers in the third quarter, Reeltown looked galvanized coming out of the break and started the second half on a 10-2 run. The Tigers had 10 of their 28 turnovers in the third quarter alone. “They played pretty good defense, and we turned the ball over entirely too much,” Foster said. “That’s just stuff we gotta work on, but it wasn’t nothing so drastic that we can’t work on it, so we’re going to get better at it.” Dadeville (5-1) showed off its winning mentality by pulling within 51-48 with 7:28 left in the game. But after a pair of Reeltown free throws, Tre Tre Hughley nailed a 3-pointer, which seemed to spark both himself and his teammates. Hughley had seven of his 12 points in the final frame, including another longball to give Reeltown a double-digit lead it never

relinquished. “I told him it’s in his hands,” Rebel coach Jonathan Gardner said. “That’s what a point guard does, and we put it in the point guard’s hands. I told him he was gonna make some mistakes, but you just gotta bust your butt and get back when you do make those mistakes.” Despite the win, the game was obviously sloppy on both sides of the ball. Reeltown had an uncharacteristic 24 turnovers, including three steals by Dadeville’s Jamarion Wilkerson and two apiece from Jalen Sulliven and PJ Eason. “In a rivalry game, there’s a lot of intensity with the players, fans and coaches,” Gardner said. “You need to get your players to stay focused on the court and not what the fans are saying, so that’s a challenge.” Reeltown’s Eric Shaw led all scorers with 20 points and also had seven rebounds. Trey O’Neal added 11 points and was one board shy a doubledouble. For the Tigers, Jay Patrick scored 14 points and nine rebounds, and Wilkerson contributed 10.

The time I almost became a ‘Bammer’

N

ew Year. Same ’Bama. Monday, the Crimson Tide will look to garner their fifth national championship during the 11-year tenure of coach Nick Saban. Despite Auburn’s two national championship appearances during that time, the competitive consistency and dominance of its biggest rival has been hard to stomach. However, no matter how salty one becomes, it is hard to dismiss or not appreciate the success displayed during the past decade. You might remember that I previously mentioned that some would argue I’m a closet “Bammer.” While I resent the remark, there’s some truth to the label. During the 2008 season, the catalyst for the program’s current place atop the sport, I attended my fair share of Alabama games. One of which was versus Tennessee where nose tackle Terrance Cody famously blocked not one but two field goals, including the game winner that caused an eruption of cheers that could be heard from Northport. The combination of tears and cigar smoke caused a neglect for my Auburn fandom, and I began to join in the celebration. Little did I know, that would be the foundation for my hidden fondness for the boys in Crimson. After losing to Tim Tebow’s Florida Gators in the SEC Championship, Alabama was awarded a Sugar Bowl appearance to face the Utes from Utah. Fresh off my 21st birthday, my longtime friend Luke Chapman offered me a ticket to the game and my first visit to N’Awlins when I could truly take in the ambiance of the Big Easy. Prior to our departure for New Orleans, Luke made it known it was his mission to flip me like Saban has done to so many of Auburn’s recruits. During our stay, we had the opportunity to spend an evening at one of the local watering holes designated for players, their parents and friends of the program.

SCOTT HARDY Columnist

Apparently, the memo my allegiance was up for grabs was made known because the red carpet was laid out. I’m not sure I paid for a single beverage that night. The following day, we decided to head to another crimson-filled establishment. While we were well on our way to another enjoyable experience, two girls approached me and asked, “Hey, are you Andrew Zow?” Before I could correct them, my friends made sure to acknowledge their perceived recognition of the former Tide quarterback. Game day had finally arrived and as we made our way to the Superdome, I told Luke and our friend Louis if Alabama won, I would pledge my loyalty to the Crimson White. As we now know, a win was not in the cards, as Utah went on to claim victory 31-17; thus, bringing an abrupt conclusion to the possibility of me becoming an Alabama fan. My current relationship with Alabama is like the option on Facebook, it’s complicated. I love Auburn but to say I have never wavered in my support would be untruthful. I do not root for Alabama but at times I get disheartened as an Auburn fan that we may never achieve the level of success Alabama’s fans have had the luxury to experience. Rapper Drake describes jealousy as “love and hate at the same time,” and that is the perfect way for me to articulate my feelings when the Thin Red Line is mentioned. Scott Hardy is a digital marketing coordinator for Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Carmen Rodgers / The Outlook

Benjamin Russell’s Hezekiah Hunter, top, takes control of Jacob Ledbetter, of Tallassee, on Thursday.

Wilcats cruise by Tallassee, 44-24 By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

Despite having a few wrestlers missing, Benjamin Russell got back to its winning ways Thursday afternoon with a 44-24 victory over Tallassee. “We were a little rusty but that’s to be expected,” BRHS coach Michael Ransaw said. “All week long, we’ve been wrestling. We had a rough weekend last weekend, and we had a few guys out.” Benjamin Russell has been going at the mats hard recently. Coming off its Region 2 Duals last Wednesday, the Wildcats also battled in the Barry Mask Invitational last weekend with some wrestlers taking on as many as eight matches throughout the day. They suffered a tough loss against Smiths Station before their match against Tallassee, and they went right back at it at the Scott Rohrer Hoover Invitational, which began Friday. Against Tallassee, the Wildcats got off to a strong start, taking a forfeit at 106 and Kyle Mattox pinning Grant Hall at 113. But the Tigers immediately responded with back-to-back pins

of their own before BRHS finally put more points on the board. Benjamin Russell collected 20 team points over the course of the next four points with a tech fall from Robert Graham at 132, a 5-0 decision by Ryan Spradley at 138 and consecutive pins from Saxon Coker and Michael Parker at 145 and 152, respectively. Although the Wildcats had to give up a forfeit at 160, they put the match out of reach with back-to-back decisions. Hezekiah Hunter gutted out a 13-6 win over Tallassee’s Jacob Ledbetter at 170, and Conner Burk immediately followed with an 8-2 decision at 182. Curtis Norris capped off the win with a pin at 285 to set the final score. “Tallassee’s always a tough team,” Ransaw said. “They are going to come at you and they are going to keep coming at you. I told the guys before the match, ‘They aren’t as strong as they used to be, but they continue to come after you.’” The win pushes Benjamin Russell’s record to 22-9 on the season. Editor’s Note: Carmen Rodgers contributed to this article.

LOCAL SPORTS CALENDAR Saturday, Jan. 6 High school wrestling Benjamin Russell at Hoover tournament, 5 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 8 High school boys basketball Benjamin Russell at Dadeville, 4:30 p.m.

High school girls basketball Benjamin Russell at Dadeville, 3 p.m.


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Jan. 6, 2018 Alex City Outlook by Tallapoosa Publishers - Issuu