Issuu

PAGE 4: READERS COMMENT ON RECENT RUSSELL LAYOFFS

TUESDAY

THE LOCAL, PAGE 3

Williams given President’s Community Service Award

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

SPORTS, PAGE 10 BRHS sweeps Dadeville in hoops

January 9, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 6 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

Commissioners hear report on tax collections

Narcotics Task Force targets source of bad ‘No Show’

By MITCH SNEED Editor

Property tax collections are on pace with recent years and the county will not participate in the upcoming Alabama Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. Those two items and more were on the agenda for the Tallapoosa County Commissioners Monday and the county’s elected leaders held their first meeting of the new year. Tallapoosa County Revenue

By MITCH SNEED Editor

Friday turned out to be “Showtime” in the hunt for the source of synthetic marijuana that has caused overdoses and multiple adverse reactions in the area over the last few weeks. In a Friday sweep called “Operation Showtime,” the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, U.S. Marshal Service Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force, Alexander City Police Department SRG Team and Alexander City Housing Authority agents executed search warrants in the Tallapoosa County area. The focus was to root out the source of a synthetic marijuana that has caused at least 11 serious reactions by users, according to law enforcement

Owens

Hunter

Price

White

See COMMISSIONERS • Page 9

Study ranks state among the worst to raise a family STAFF REPORT TPI Staff Submitted / The Outlook

DIGGING FOR 17 A FIX: 33

See FAMILY • Page 9

Cold temperatures keep water crews busy

By MITCH SNEED and CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writers

RAISING A FAMILY IN ALABAMA: th

aff hou ord sin ab g ility

rd median

officials. As a result, eight suspects were arrested for their roles in the distribution of the drugs and agents seized 20 grams of synthetic marijuana, 3 grams

See BUST • Page 3

See WATER • Page 3

st % of families with young kids

jobless rate

Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

The Alexander City Water Department crew has been working all over town to fix leaks caused by the cold weather. Top, Randy Caldwell, left, and Eli Shaw, right, with Scott Colts in the hole get creative to make a repair Sunday morning.

family salary

*adjusted for cost of living

With sub-freezing temperatures lingering in the area for a full week, homeowners weren’t the only ones battling issues with frozen pipes. Municipal water departments were also on the lookout for possible breaks and issues caused by the cold. Alexander City Water Department’s Eddie Futral said they had multiple issues last week. The issues were so

Herron

If you believe the findings of one web-based survey, Alabama is the third worst state in America to raise a family. Citing Alabama’s infant mortality

violent-crime rate

separation & divorce rate

th infant mortality

% of families in poverty

rate

*WalletHub study information

Former Russell president, AU Trustee Dwight Carlisle passes away By MITCH SNEED Editor

File / The Outlook

Russell Medical CEO Jim Peace, left, the late Russell President Dwight Carlisle and Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors pose for a photograph with the Auburn’s bald eagle Spirit last June. Carlisle passed away Saturday at the age of 82.

Today’s

Lake Martin

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A self-made man who served as president of the Russell Corp., Alabama Revenue Commissioner and a member of the Auburn University Board of Trustees has died. Dwight L. Carlisle passed away Saturday at the age of 82, leaving a legacy of leadership, love for his family, Auburn University and the community he called home. Through a life of hard work, integrity and brilliant corporate leadership, Carlisle earned the respect of everyone around him. He grew up in Alexander City and commuted to Auburn University to study textile engineering. He worked as a co-op student at Russell Corporation, the textile and clothing giant headquartered in his hometown. Upon graduation in 1958, he was hired full time at Russell where he rose through the management ranks, learning every job in every plant, until he became the company’s president and

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Reported on 01/08/18 @ 2 p.m.

CEO. The corporation thrived under his leadership. Carlisle became president in 1982, after Eugene C. Gwaltney was named chairman of the board. Under his leadership the company expanded further with facilities in south Alabama and Florida. Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors worked with Carlisle for decades at Russell and called his passing a “great loss for Alexander City and all whose lives he touched.” “He was a friend a friend would want to have,” Nabors said. “He was a great leader and gave so much back in ways that most people never knew. He had battled through several strokes, but even then he showed his strength and battled through that. We are losing a generation of those kinds of leaders. “Dwight, Bill Hardy and those who were part of that group – they were a special breed. Losing him is a great loss for Alexander City and all whose lives he touched. It just goes to See CARLISLE • Page 3

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Mother laments that her kids lack accomplishment and drive

Wednesday

63 55 Low

High

Slight chance of showers

Thursday

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High Chance of showers

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

Cliff Williams Staff Writer, Ext. 212 cliff.williams@alexcityoutlook.com Donald Campbell Staff Writer, Ext. 208 donald.campbell@alexcityoutlook.com Santana Wood Staff Writer/Pagination, Ext. 210 santana.wood@alexcityoutlook.com Advertising Sales Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Tabby Edwards Retail Sales Manager, Ext. 232 tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com Scott Hardy Digital Marketing Coordinator, Ext. 231 scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com Rebecca Carlisle Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 rebecca.carlisle@alexcityoutlook.com Composing Darlene Johnson Composing Department, Ext. 203 darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com Hallie Holloway Composing Department, Ext. 203 hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com Circulation Linda Ewing Office Clerk, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@alexcityoutlook.com

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, Lake magazine, Lake Martin Living, (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) Kenneth Boone The Outlook is published five times Photography and a week, Tuesday through Saturday a commercial web mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, printing press. Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011.

Postal

Information

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

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DEAR ABBY: I have grown children. All of them are underachievers. When contemporaries talk about their children getting jobs, getting married, having kids, going on vacation, buying a house/car, adopting a pet, I have nothing to contribute. My children do not have lives; they work low-paying jobs and scrape by. Worse, they have no ambition to do better. They no longer live with me, but often gather at each other’s places to play video games when they are not working. They are not enjoyable to be around. My life is otherwise good, and I don’t want them bringing me down. My marriage is solid, I work hard, we travel a few times a year and enjoy dining out and meeting with friends. We go to sporting events, live plays, concerts, movies, etc. What is a mother to do? -- LET DOWN IN MISSOURI DEAR LET DOWN: Your children are adults. If they were

DEAR ABBY Advice

motivated, they would be doing more with their lives than playing video games and scraping by. Be glad they are independent and have good relationships with each other -- it’s a plus -- and continue living your life. You can’t live theirs for them. And please stop comparing them to the offspring of your friends and acquaintances. If you do, you will be happier. DEAR ABBY: I have dear friends and neighbors I really enjoy who have asked me to water their plants and feed the cat when they’re away, which is not very often. I enjoy doing these things, and so I always feel awkward when they bring home

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Iva Delle Cunningham Funeral services for Iva Delle Cunningham, age 88, of Smyrna, GA, previously of Roanoke, will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at Quattlebaum Funeral Chapel with Rev. S.T. Janney officiating. Burial will follow at Cedarwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Sunday. Mrs. Cunningham passed away on Friday, January 5,

2018, at Delmar Gardens of Smyrna, GA. Survivors include one daughter, Rebecca Arnoff (husband, Neal) of Atlanta, GA; two grandchildren, Elizabeth Dunn Robinson (husband, Jerry) of Bowling Green, KY and Catherine Dunn Moncus (husband, Ricky) of Alexander City, AL; and three great-grandchildren, Amber Robinson, Austin Moncus, and Dylan Moncus. A Randolph County native, Mrs. Cunningham was born on November 8, 1929, the daughter of Dillard Garrett

Mr. Dwight L. Carlisle 1935 - 2018 Dwight Lester Carlisle Jr. of Auburn, AL passed away peacefully on January 6, 2018. He was born November 7, 1935 in Alexander City, AL. He was preceded in death by his parents, Epsey and Dwight Carlisle; his brother David Carlisle; father-inlaw Charles James Beardsworth, and mother-in-law Nancy Smith Beardsworth. He is survived by his wife, Helen Baggett Carlisle; brother, Hoyt Carlisle (Alyce); children Danice Wilbanks Carlisle, Sarah Rebecca Carlisle (Nancy Collins), Meredith Carlisle McMillan (George), Jennifer Baggett Barna (James), and William Carter Baggett, III (Barbara); and grandchildren, Helen Veronica Barna, James Nicholas Barna, and Stella Kathryn Baggett. He was raised and educated in Alexander City, AL. After graduating with a degree in textile engineering from Auburn University in 1958, Dwight worked his way up through the management ranks at Russell Corporation. He joined the company’s board of directors in 1975, was named president and chief operating officer in 1982 and became president

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Funeral Service for Mr. Tom Meadows, 71, of Dadeville, Alabama, will be Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Rev. Clinton Branch, Shane Harris, and Rev. Freddie Senn will officiate. Burial will follow in the Tallapoosa County Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Langley Funeral Home. Mr. Meadows passed away on

Steven Franklin Weathers Steven Franklin Weathers died at home on January 4, 2018. He was born on July 22, 1956 to Roslyn Anderson and John Cowan Weathers in Alexander City, Alabama. Steve is survived by his wife,

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gifts of jewelry or give me money. I would prefer that they let me do these things for love and friendship, but I don’t know how to make them stop giving me things. Is there something polite I can say to let them know that they should just let me be their friend? I would prefer that to feeling as though I’m being paid for my services. -- FOR LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP DEAR FOR LOVE: Has it occurred to you that your neighbors bring things back for you because they enjoy giving as much as you enjoy doing things for them? If it hasn’t, please consider it. And afterward, if you still feel that their gifts are too much of a quid pro quo, explain that you like them very much and value their friendship, and they don’t need to give you anything in return for the affection you feel for them. I don’t think couching the message in those terms would be rude at all.

DEAR ABBY: Why do people stay in bad marriages? It causes emotional harm to the children (if they have kids), hearing their parents argue and name-call all the time. Wouldn’t it be better to separate? -- UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS DEAR UNHEALTHY: Some couples remain in bad marriages because they can’t afford to live apart or fear being alone if they divorce. Others have dysfunctional love-hate relationships that, I agree, are unhealthy for everyone, including the children who grow up thinking it is normal. In my opinion, if couples can’t live in peace and harmony, they should separate. However, not everyone agrees. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Obituaries

Mr. Tom Meadows 1946 - 2018

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Tuesday, January 9, 2018

The Outlook

Fred R. Wilhelm Fred R. Wilhelm, Kennesaw, GA resident, passed away on November 28, 2017. Formerly of Avon Lake, OH and Alexander City, he had resided in Kennesaw, GA since 2010. He was born in Wilkinsburg, PA on June 18, 1927. He was raised in Ohio, graduating from Lorain High School in 1946. He served in the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) from 1946-1947. He attended Purdue University, where he was a member of Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1951. Fred retired from Parker Hannifin Corporation, Airborne Air and Fuel Products in Elyria, OH in 1991. He enjoyed fishing on Lake

and Carrie Will Henry Brewer. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Roanoke and was self-employed. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Avery M. Cunningham; and several aunts and uncles. Memorials may be floral or the family requests contributions to the American Lung Association of Georgia, 2452 Spring Road SE, Smyrna, GA 30080. Online condolences may be expressed at www. quattlebaumfuneralhome. com.

Ms. Gail Mallory Ms. Gail Mallory of Alexander City, Alabama passed away Monday, January 8, 2018 at her residence. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Wright’s Funeral Home.

and chief executive officer in 1988. In 1991, Carlisle retired from Russell Corporation. In 2003, he was appointed to the post of State Revenue Commissioner for the State of Alabama. Auburn University was always a very important part of Dwight Carlisle’s life. He endowed a scholarship at Auburn University in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. In 1989, he was recognized as a distinguished Auburn Engineer, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science Degree in 1995. In 2004, he was appointed to the Auburn University Board of Trustees. His other board memberships included: Aliant Bank, The Russell Hospital Board, The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, The Jule Collins Smith Museum, The Auburn Alumni Association, The Russell Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athlete Program, The Alabama Department of Archives and History. A lifelong golfer, Dwight enjoyed memberships to Willow Point Country Club, Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club, and Moore’s Mill Country Club. He also enjoyed fly-fishing, was an avid reader and a lover of Art and history. A debilitating stroke in 2010 left him without the ability to speak or walk. With vigorous hard work through physical and speech therapies, he found an improved quality of life, not expected by health professionals. Dwight, his wife Helen, and

Kinesiologist, Jessica Hutzel launched the Carlisle Enrichment Foundation, whose mission is to extend rehabilitation, fitness and exercise programs for people recovering in their homes from stroke, Parkinson’s disease or other brain injuries. Funeral Service for Mr. Dwight L. Carlisle, 82, of Auburn, Alabama, will be Friday, January 12, 2018 at 1:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church, 310 Green Street, Alexander City, AL 35010. Burial will follow at 3:30 pm in the Town Creek Cemetery, 1150 South Gay Street, Auburn, AL 36830. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 12, 2018 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at First United Methodist Church, Alexander City. The honorary pallbearers are Charles James Beardsworth, Jr. Benjamin Buchanan, James Carlisle, Scott Howell, Richard McAdams, Larry Morris, Kenny Needham, John Russell Thomas, Carlisle Towery, Richard Robinson, Mike Smith, James L. Willis, and Gerald McGill. Memorials may be made to The Carlisle Enrichment Foundation, 510 East Samford Avenue, Auburn, AL 36830, or The Jule Collins Smith Museum, 901 South College Street, Auburn, AL 36830. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com.

Sunday, January 7, 2018 at his residence. He was born on January 19, 1946 in Tallapoosa County to Willie Meadows and Vidie Peters Meadows. He was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. He faithfully attended for fifty years, served as a deacon, and happily served in any other capacity needed for the Lord. Mr. Meadows served on the Board of Education of Tallapoosa County for 8 years. He loved the outdoors working with his cows and land and timber. He loved his family very much and believed in taking care of them and others. He is survived by his daughter, Melinda Meadows Brown (Ronnie) of Equality; grandchildren, Will Meadows (Bailey), Isabella Miller, Ryleigh Meadows, and Yonna Hewitt; brothers, Robert Lee Meadows

(Patricia) of Daviston and Joe Neil Meadows of Alexander City; and sisters, Mary Smith (Melvin) of Alexander City, Emma Sue Kizziah of New Site, and Laverne Parrott (Lamar) of New Site. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rachel Branch Meadows; parents; and son, Ashley Meadows. In lieu of flowers the family request contributions to the Rachel Branch Meadows Scholarship Fund managed by the Community Foundation of East Alabama at 1103 Glenn Street, Opelika, AL 36801 or http:// cfeastalabama.org. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.langleyfuneralhome. com.

Melinda Edmondson Weathers; his children, Clay, Daniel and Ellen Weathers; a granddaughter Norah; Melinda’s children Misti, Christi and Gerron, and their children, all of whom Steve loved. He will also be missed by his mother, brother David, sisters Nancy and Margaret, and many

friends. A memorial service will be held at four o’clock on Friday, January 12 at First Presbyterian Church in Alexander City. The family requests contributions be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or to First Presbyterian Church.

Erie and many lakes throughout Ohio, the Southeast, and Canada. He was a former member of the Avon Lake Boat Club and Avon Lake United Church of Christ. Upon retirement, Fred enjoyed 19 years of fishing and gardening on Lake Martin in Alabama. He was a former member of First United Methodist Church of Alexander City and Tallapoosa County Master Gardeners. At the time of his death, Fred was a member and former Trustee of Kennesaw United Methodist Church and Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County (MGVOCC). He is survived by his son, Doug Wilhelm (Darcy) of Perrysburg, Ohio; stepdaughter Cindy Daniell (Todd) of Kennesaw, GA; stepson Keith Binnie of North Ridgeville, Ohio; 6 grandchildren; 2

great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred H. and Edna Wilhelm; his wife, Judy Wilhelm; and his daughter, Nancy Wilhelm. A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, January 16th at 1:00 p.m. at Kennesaw United Methodist Church, 1801 Ben King Road, Kennesaw, GA 30144, Rev. Dr. Diane Parrish officiating. Visitation is from 12-1 in the church narthex preceding the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in Fred’s name be made to Kennesaw United Methodist Church for Foster Care Ministry, or to the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County (MGVOCC), Cobb County Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Suite 200, Marietta, GA 30060.

Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Langley Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Local news

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Your community, your news ...

The Outlook

Page 3 www.alexcityoutlook.com

Jehovah Jireh Ministries’ Williams given President’s Community Service Award a stronger nation through volunteer service.” Rev. Williams received a certified Certificate of Lifetime Achievement signed by President Donald Trump, a certified letter from President and the President’s Lifetime Community Service Award Pen. President’s Trump letter to all 2017 Lifetime Award recipients stated, “As we reflect on your many acts of kindness and charity throughout your life, our Nation draws inspiration from those who answer the call to help their communities and our nation. With your continued efforts to build on our Nation’s culture of service, America will proudly remain a land of the freedom and opportunity for all. Thank you for your enduring commitment to serving your community, and our nation. I trust that you will continue to work for the betterment of others and even a stronger future for the American people.” Pastor Williams and Jehovah Jireh Ministries have a long history of giving back to the community and helping others domestically and abroad. Pastor Williams and Jehovah Jireh Ministries have worked diligently in establishing programs for youth, citizens and seniors over the years through their nonprofit

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

The President’s Volunteer Service Award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation – created by President George W. Bush to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers make to our nation. Those eligible to receive the President’s Call to Service Award, are individuals who have completed 4,000 or more volunteer service hours over the course of their lifetime. Effective October 1, 2017, the Lifetime Community Service Awards include a personalized certificate and a letter of acknowledgement signed by President Trump. This award provides special recognition to lifetime honorees. On December 30, 2017, Pastor Roderick Williams Sr. of Jehovah Jireh Ministries was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award with grateful recognition from the Corporation for National and Community Service and the office of the President of the United States. The recognition read: “The President’s Lifetime Community Service Award Honors Pastor Roderick Williams Sr. for his lifelong commitment to building

Submitted / The Outlook

The President’s Lifetime Community Service Award recently honored Pastor Roderick Williams Sr. Pictured: Seated left to right: Arvella Williams, Pastor Williams holding award and Carrie Williams; standing: Staff and students of Jehovah Jireh Bible Institute Higher Learning and church members.

organization. These programs have consisted of At-Risk mentoring program, Teen Alive Program, Operation Breadbasket feeding families monthly, Mobile Food Pantry supplying groceries to hundreds of families, Senior Citizen Utility Assistance Program, Providing grants for various civic and grassroots organizations, after school tuto-

rial programs, and is actively involved in educational programs to empower individuals to fulfill their lifelong dream to become a high school graduate and college graduate through such private institutions such as Harvard High School International and Jehovah Jireh Bible Institute of Higher Learning. Many of their students have shared testimonies of success such as entering the military,

Bust

continued from page 1

of crack cocaine, a Raven .25 auto pistol and $1,185 in cash. “Operation Showtime was the culmination of controlled buys and physical surveillance over the past few months in the Alexander City and Camp Hill areas,” Tallapoosa Narcotics Task Force Sgt. Fred White said. “The Task Force had been monitoring an increasing amount of calls in reference to the drug ‘no show’ and is taking steps to combat the issue. The drug itself does not affect any one individual the same, whereas its unpredictability makes it even more dangerous.” Arrested as a part of Operation Showtime were: • James “Duke” Owens, 29, of Alexander City on four counts of unlawful distribution of a

Water

attending college, receiving better jobs and employment, becoming chaplains, and receiving other blessings and success because someone took a chance on them, giving them assistance to achieve and to become self sufficient for life. Pastor Williams stated, “My greatest joy is to see all people be successful and productive citizens in life.”

controlled substance, two counts of possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Jemaine Hunter, 33, of Alexander City on two counts of possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Fantashia Price, 27, of Alexander City on two counts of possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Sidney White, 46, of Alexander City on two counts of possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Craig Herron, 26, of Alexander City on two counts of possession of controlled sub-

continued from page 1

severe, they had crews working all weekend to keep water flowing and issues repaired. “We have been busy since right after Christmas,” Futral said. “When you have that extreme cold for an extended period of time what happens is as it warms a little in the day, the ground expands and contracts. If you have a pipe that is in a rocky area that shift can easily cause a break. That and the age of many of the lines we have means that a lot of the pipes are already brittle. “We had three or four a day every day for more than a week.” While some were quick fixes, many were complex with excavation and replacement rather than patching. “We had crews working the entire weekend,” Futral said. “I’m sure there will be more that pop up that haven’t been found or reported, but with this little break in the weather we hope it slows down at least.” In Dadeville, the issues were not as numerous, according to Mayor Wayne Smith. “We did not have anything major,” Smith said Monday. “Just a couple of leaks, one on West Street on the city side of the meter in a yard. Darrel McCollum and the guys got on them quick.” Smith said that some work was done in advance to stave off potential larger issues. “We try to be proactive instead of reactive,” Smith said. “Our volunteer firefighters manned the fire station to be able to help out if needed. We are lucky it didn’t get any colder. All in all we did good.” By the end of the week the area is expected to see temperatures in the mid 60s but meteorologists say another cold front could be back in the area early next week.

Green

Moon

stance and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Tateshawn “Shiraq” Green, 19, of Rockford on three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance, seconddegree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Ronrekus Moon, 34, of

Hollenquest

Marshall

Camp Hill on two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of controlled substance, certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia • Letecia Hollenquest, 32, of Camp Hill on two counts of possession of controlled substance and possession of drug parapher-

Carlisle show that tomorrow is not guaranteed and we should all treasure those people while they are here with us.” Carlisle’s time at the helm was one of great success for Russell. In 1989, Russell Corporation expanded overseas. By 1990, the company operated 13 sewing plants outside Alexander City and employed 15,000 workers. Its sales had increased by 13 percent annually since 1976. Market analysts attributed much of the company’s success to its modernization strategy in the late 1980s and the early 1990s and its development and introduction of NuBlend, an innovative fabric that resisted piling, into its Jerzees line of sportswear. After 33 years he retired from Russell and was named the state’s revenue commissioner by then Gov. Bob Riley. A longtime benefactor of his alma mater, Carlisle was named to the Auburn University Board of Trustees in 2004. He served in that role until 2010 when he suffered a debilitating stroke. In a 2004 interview with Bob Lowry upon his appointment as an AU Trustee, Carlisle talked about his love for the university. “I was born and raised in Alexander City. I attended Benjamin Russell High School and graduated in 1953,” Carlisle told Lowry. “I chose Auburn for two reasons – it was close to home and it offered a textile engineering curriculum. I wanted to be a trustee because I felt I needed to do something to pay Auburn back for what it has done for me. It taught me discipline in the thought process, how to problem solve and to work hard to get ahead in life.” His brother Hoyt Carlisle said Monday that there were a lot of things about his brother that many people never knew. “He was special to me because he kind of blazed a trail for David and I,” Hoyt Carlisle said. “But that’s kind of a big brother’s job I guess. But he did so much in life. He worked construction one summer when he was in college doing construction when they were building Highway 280. He worked out there in the heat and went white-eyed more times than he

nalia. White said that the investigation remains active and didn’t rule out additional arrests. In addition to Operation Showtime, the Task Force made an unrelated arrest of a subject who was mistakenly released on bond for trafficking in methamphetamine after he pled guilty after reaching a plea deal that gave him a five-year sentence. Garon “Big G” Marshall was taken back into custody without incident Friday at a residence in Elmore County. Marshall had told authorities that he planned to turn himself in to the authorities after the holidays were over, but when he didn’t return this week, agents tracked him down and took him into custody.

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could count, but still helped others when they fell out. He was one of the first counselors at Camp Tukabatchee for Boy Scouts. I know I will remember more as time passes. But right now, anyone who has lost a brother knows how I feel – it’s just tough.” Just last year Carlisle was part of a very touching moment when he took part in the rededication of the famed Russell Corp. eagle statue that was taken from the former old corporate headquarters, refurbished by Robinson Iron and then given a new home at Russell Medical. Carlisle stood with Nabors, Russell

Medical’s CEO Jim Peace and others for photos to commemorate the occasion. Having personally felt the impact of battling through the impact of a stroke Carlisle was also responsible for creating The Carlisle Enrichment Foundation. The non-profit organization focused on improving the quality of life of those who are recovering from a stroke or an orthopedic injury, suffering with Parkinson’s disease or from a spinal or neurological condition through exercise and individually developed and activity specific programs.

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Opinion

We have great T public servants

tories that developed over the last week again showed why we are fortunate to have such dedicated public servants here in Alexander City and all across Tallapoosa County. Just consider these examples: A house fire on Jefferson Street last Wednesday badly damaged a young couple’s home but it could have been much worse. A passerby, Ken Cowart spotted smoke and called for help. The Alexander City Fire Department got to the scene quickly and knocked down the flames, but that is only part of the story. Firefighters discovered the family dog inside. The German Shepherd named Alder was lifeless, but a team of firefighters intubated the dog, did compressions, started an IV and didn’t stop until the dog was brought back to life. The dog is still recovering at Auburn University’s Veterinary Hospital, but to see how far he has come is amazing. None of that would have happened had these first responders not went above and beyond to save this beloved family pet. There was also the story of a drug on the streets causing extreme reactions. A form of synthetic marijuana users are calling “No Show” had people passing out, having seizures and going into convulsions among other symptoms. While law enforcement and EMS responded to those calls, multiple agencies worked together to track down the source of those drugs. On Friday, the Tallapoosa Narcotics Task Force announced eight associated arrests. Those results would not have been possible without dedication, determination and group effort. Again, this effort is something that we should appreciate. Also look at what local water departments have done to make sure that the water continued to flow in the extreme cold weather that we experienced last week. Crews worked long hours in the freezing cold to repairs breaks in the lines. From daylight until past dark and all weekend, crews could be spotted working as leaks were reported. We often take our utilities for granted until there is a problem, but these dedicated folks made sure that those problems caused as little disruption as possible. These three examples are only the latest cases where our public servants went above and beyond the call of duty. Join us in giving all of them a round of applause.

Know Your

Officials Steve Marshall was appointed Alabama’s 50th Attorney General. He was appointed in 2017 and serves as the State’s chief law enforcement officer. He can be reached at 334-242-7300, and his office is located at 501 Washington Avenue, Montgomery. Mark Tuggle (R) represents the 81st District covering Coosa, Chilton and Tallapoosa counties. He can be reached by phone at 256-392-2006 or by email at tughd81@gmail. com. His office is located at 110 Calhoun Street, Suite 108, Alexander City. Tom Whatley represents the 27th District covering Lee, Russell and Tallapoosa County. He was elected to the Alabama Senate on Nov. 2, 2010, and can be reached at 334242-t7865. His office is located at 337 East Magnolia Drive, Auburn.

Steve Marshall

Mark Tuggle

Rural America’s struggle

here are 14,321 Dollar General stores in America. It’s chain that many shoppers have never heard of, yet it has more stores than Starbucks. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Dollar General company is worth $22 billion — far more than the nation’s largest grocery chain, Kroger, which has five times the revenue. Sadly, however, Dollar General is thriving because, as the Journal puts it, “rural America is struggling.” The chain builds stores where folks are down on their luck, where 20 percent of customers receive government assistance, and where even Walmart won’t bother doing business. I phoned several Dollar General stores and learned that none sell fresh meat or produce; the grocery aisles feature mostly canned and frozen goods. Many products, such as soft drinks, come in mini sizes to keep unit prices low. And not a single store had any newspapers for sale. Maybe that’s just as well, because headlines these days report that the stock market is remarkably high and unemployment is surprisingly low. But for rural America, news like that doesn’t hit home. Things are looking up in Donald Trump’s America, except, of course, where they are not. The administration’s proudest accomplishment is a tax bill that benefits

PETER FUNT Columnist

millionaires and billionaires. The Joint Committee on Taxation finds that the Senate version of the bill would increase taxes on all Americans making less than $75,000 a year. As Paul Krugman summarizes in The New York Times: “Everything this president and this Congress are doing on economic policy seems designed, not just to widen the gap between the wealthy and everyone else, but to lock in plutocrats’ advantages, making it easier to ensure that their heirs remain on top and the rest stay down.” In rural America, where about 46 million people reside, employment and economic growth have not recovered from the last recession at a pace seen elsewhere in the nation. Childhood poverty — perhaps the most critical metric in determining a population’s well-being — is considerably higher in rural areas than in urban centers. The crisis facing rural America is rooted in the fact that peak-level employment related to natural resources, such as mining and logging, is never coming back. Rural America is mired in a permanent recession.

Its problems are difficult to correct because of a sprawling landscape, scattered government support structures and what often seems to be federal indifference. Many among the predominantly white rural population voted for Trump in 2016 — a sign, perhaps, of utter desperation rather than considered opinion. But according to recent reporting by Politico, Trump now intends to make the most sweeping changes to federal safety net programs in a generation, using legislation and executive actions to target recipients of food stamps, Medicaid and housing benefits. What the rural poor need is greater federal assistance, not less. They would welcome jobs such as repairing the nation’s infrastructure, which Trump campaigned on but doesn’t mention much these days. As things stand, you don’t need a degree in economics to predict rural America’s future. Just consider: By this time next year Dollar General expects to have nearly a thousand more stores. Peter Funt is a writer, speaker and syndicated columnist. His book “Cautiously Optimistic” is available at Amazon. com and CandidCamera. com. This column is distributed exclusively by the newspaper syndicate Cagle Cartoons, Inc.

Today’s

Quote

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.” —E.F. Schumacker

Today’s

Scripture

“Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.” —Amos 5:14-15

alexcityoutlook.com

Daily Poll Weekend Question: Do the Friday job cuts at Russell Brands surprise you?

No: 21 Yes: 6

Tuesday Question: Do you use space heaters in your home? 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.

How to

Readers comment on Russell Brands layoffs

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 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.” When published on the Outlook Facebook page, many readers commented and expressed their feelings toward the news. “My Grandmother and mom worked there back in the ‘50s in Alexander City, AL. The mill is like a ghost town. Vera (sic) sad.”

FACEBOOK COMMENTS Outlook editoral staff

mine there at the sales office 8 years ago and I hated to see all my friends lose their jobs back then as well. It is heart breaking.”

— Brenda Grogan “I worked for Russell for 23 years I hated loosing (sic) my job. That was 18 years ago.”

“So sad to hear. I lost

“Very sad !”

— JohnSharon Kroening “Makes me sick at my stomach!”

— Wade C Davis “I thought Russell brand names were “cu-put”, The Russell name is not American made anymore..”

— Brenda Holloway “This is very sad!”

— Lorrie Ross If you would like to

— Teresa Taylor get your opinion on the “It is so sad... Pretty soon there will be no more Russell mills...”

— Donna Welch Christoff “I worked at sales office when they closed down, I loved working there”

— Pamela Messer Parker “Very sad news. Someone needs to be recruiting new imdustry (sic) for this area”

— Rita Holmes

— Claudia Biggerstaff Tom Whatley

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

“Very sad news.”

— Richard Metcalf Jr

Russell layoffs or anything else going on in the community out to the public, feel free to write us a letter to the editor. Letters may be up to 250 words and you may submit one a week. Letters may be sent to P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011, or emailed to editor@alexcityoutlook. com. Please include your name, address and phone number. Only your name and city will be published. We would love to share your thoughts with the Lake Martin community. This is an editorial written by TPI staff using comments directly from the Outlook Facebook page.

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

What’s your

Opinion?

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

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

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

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The Outlook

The Legacy Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a civil rights activist from Atlanta, Georgia. He was born on January 15, 1929, and was a minister like his father. He became the Pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1953. Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, had four children. He began his non-violent, civil rights activism in the 1950’s. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott which began when Mrs. Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white man. King emphasized the use of non-violent protest through the use of boycotts and sit-ins and through rallies and speeches. His most famous moment as a public speaker was the “I Have a Dream” speech made during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. His words from that day have echoed through history and are still taught to children today. King was also well-known for his written works, such as the piece “Letters from Birmingham Jail” written during an incarceration after his arrest at a non-violent protest. He helped bring about changes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the AmerLFDQ /LEHUWLHV 0HGDOOLRQ LQ IRU KLV HႇRUWV WR FUHDWH HTXDOLW\ DPRQJ DOO UDFHV 'U .LQJ ZDV DVVDVsinated by James Earl Ray on April 4, 1968, while organizing a local march in Memphis, Tennessee. 2Q -DQXDU\ WKH ¿UVW 0DUWLQ /XWKHU .LQJ 'D\ ZDV REVHUYHG DIWHU EHLQJ VLJQHG LQWR ODZ DV D national holiday by President Ronald Reagan. Each year since, Martin Luther King Day is celebrated every third Monday in January to honor the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

CIVIL RIGHTS WORD FIND

WHAT DID THE “I HAVE A DREAM” OUTLOOK KIDZ S PEECH MEAN TO YOU? Find and read a copy of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. In the space below, draw what his speech meant to you. Then ¿QLVK FRORULQJ WKH SLFWXUH EHORZ DQG ¿OO LQ WKH ER[HV 6KDUH ZKDW you drew and wrote with a friend or your class.

DR. KING 1929-1968

List three things a classmate dreams of: 1.___________ 2.___________ 3.___________

List three things you dream of achieving one day: 1._________________ 2._________________ 3._________________

DR. KING CROSSWORD

Across Cues: 3. King’s protests were always what? 5. Woman famous for a bus boycott. 8. King’s church was in which state? 9. Dr. King’s wife’s name. 10. King Memorial is located at the National ___ in Washington, D.C. Down Clues: 1. Dr. King Day is third __ in January. 2. What did Dr. King work towards? 4. “I Have a Dream” is a famous what? 6. City where Dr. King was born. 7. Which President made Martin /XWKHU .LQJ 'D\ RႈFLDO"

Activist, Alabama, Atlanta, Birmingham, Boycott, Civil Rights, Coretta, Demonstrations, Equality, Freedom, Georgia, Honor, Peaceful, Protest, Rosa Parks, Speeches

MAKE IT A DAY ON, NOT A DAY OFF! FIND INFORMATION AND WAYS TO HELP

Crossword Ans: Across-3) nonviolent 5)Roda Parks 8) Alabama 9)Coretta 10)Mall Down-1)Monday 2)Civil Rights 4)Speech 6)Atlanta 7)Reagan

AT: MLKDAY.GOV

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

Page 6

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CommunityCalendar Need Insurance? Call me.

Today is

January 9, 2018 Today’s Event

THROW AWAY DAYS: The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership and the Tallapoosa

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

The Outlook

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

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/. 50. Dumpsters will be available at no charge to residents.

Today’s Birthdays

Tabatha Walton, Betty Duncan Crowder, Jim Shaffer, Sidney Alexander, Alta Campbell, Doug Coker, Amanda Nole and Annie Lee Patten are celebrating birthdays today.

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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

Home Depot in Alexander City held its first Kids Do-It-Yourself Workshop of 2018 Saturday and participants had their choice of projects, including a memo holder and a small birdhouse. Working with Home Depot professionals, the kids learned how to assemble their item and paint and finsh the work. For more on these kids clinics, check with the store at 256-234-6399.

AL 96175

Saturday, January 13

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

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

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

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.

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. To sign up simply come by the Adelia M. Russell Library. For more information, call 256-329- 6796. There is no cost to attend. RETIREE MEETING: The Tallapoosa County Education Retirees Association (TCERA) will meet Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Alexander City City Board of Educaiton. The program will be Pre-K Program in school.

Saturday, January 20

TRADE DAY: Bibb Graves High School Alumni and Friends Monthly Trade Day in Millerville on Highway 9 between Ashland and Goodwater will be held on Jan. 20 from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Refreshments are also available.

Sunday, January 21

256.267.0518

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.

Tuesday, Janurary 23

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP: The Trinity Campus of First United Methodist Church next to Russell Medical is starting a new support group for cancer patients. A kick-off dinner is planned for Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. If interested please make reservations by contacting Andrea Peacock at 256749-1134 or by email at andreapeacock60@gmail.com.

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.

Saturday, February 3

BOSTON BUTT FUNDRAISER: Meals on Wheels is having a Boston Butt Fundraiser. They are selling tickets for a Feb. 3 deliver of a Firetruck Boston Butt at the Meals of Wheels office at Russell Medical or by calling 256-329-7382. Tickets are $35.

Monday, February 5

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

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.

The Learning Tree Helping Children Learn and Grow

The Learning Tree, Inc. is Accepting Applications for 2nd, 3rd, and Weekend Shifts for Direct Care. Applications can be picked up at: 101 S. Dubois Street Tallassee, AL 36078 Or contact Brinda Bell (334) 252-0025, Ext. 101 Email: bbell@learning-tree.org

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Monday, February 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-vietnamveterans-welcome-home-cermony. html. Attendees are asked to RSVP in advance by either emailing Blake Busbin at wbbusbin@auburnschools. org or by calling Auburn High School at 334-887-2120.

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.

Harold Cochran 256.234.2700 haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

Tony Guy, Owner Over 40 Years Experience

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Tuesday, January 9, 2018

The Outlook

www.alexcityoutlook.com

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Tuesday, January 9, 2018

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Commissioners

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Commissioner Eva Middlebrooks gave a report on tax collections and said the last 15 days of 2017 were very busy. “As of Dec. 31, we had collected $20.8 million of the more than $22 million that was billed,” Middlebrooks said. “As an indication, we typically have about 60 properties that go to tax sale and looking at current numbers for the time of year, we are about the same as normal. But also to show how things happen in the cycle, we took in $7 million in the last 15 days of the year alone.” Middlebrooks said there were some differences this cycle compared to past years. Her office collected about $140,000 in fire fees for the Union Volunteer Fire Department and the Tallassee Fire Department. Those fees were instituted by vote of the people last year. “It will be interesting now that those departments have those additional funds to see how they are put to use,”

Middlebrooks said. The county again nixed participation in a tax holiday designed to give residents a break as they get ready for the threat of dangerous weather. Each year cities and counties are given the opportunity to opt in and forego sales tax during this period each year during the state sanctioned weather preparedness sales tax holiday. The state requires the entity to make a decision on whether they will participate or not at least 30 days before the set time period. This year’s weather preparedness sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, and ends at midnight, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018. Alexander City approved participation in December, but the county usually seeks the recommendations of the school system, and that was not for the county to participate so as not to impact tax collection for schools. “I move that we go along with the recommendation of the schools and

not participate in the Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday,” Commissioner T.C. Coley said. The vote carried 5-0. Under the program shoppers can to stock up tax-free on common supplies costing less than $60 that every home and business needs to prepare for a natural disaster or even a general emergency. Items like batteries, tarps, selfpowered radios, weather radios, flashlights, plywood, anchoring systems and non-electric food storage coolers are among the common items that would be tax free that weekend. Generators costing $1,000 or less also can be purchased free of the state’s four-percent sales tax during the threeday tax holiday, while shoppers will be able to get a break in Alexander City, that won’t be the case in the county after Monday’s vote. The commissioners also approved the hiring of a temporary full-time employee in the Tallapoosa County

Family

Probate Court Judge’s office to help fill in for two employees who will be out on maternity leave. The position will be paid from Special Indexing Funds. It was also announced that the FY2018 Federal Aide Road Project would be the paving a portion of Dudleyville Road. In other action the commissioners voted unanimously to: • Approve payment for an indigent burial. • Approve FMLA leave for a county employee • Seek bids for right-of-way mowers • Certify George Carleton Jr. as chairman and T.C. Coley as vice-chairman beginning with the February meeting. Emma Jean Thweatt had served has chairman last term. It was also announced that the courthouse will be closed Monday, Jan. 15 in observance of the birthdays of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert E. Lee.

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rate, unemployment rate, median family income and divorce rates, Alabama ranked 48th in a study released Monday by WalletHub. Only Mississippi and New Mexico rated lower than Alabama in the study that lists Massachusetts as the best state to raise a family. Rounding out the Top 5 of best states are Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Vermont. “Raising a healthy, stable family sometimes requires moving to a new state. And the reasons are often similar: career transitions, better schools, financial challenges or perhaps a general desire to change settings,” a WalletHub release states. “But wants and needs don’t always align in a particular state, which might offer, for instance, a low

income-tax rate yet subpar education system. Consequently, a family must make unnecessary sacrifices — the kinds that are easily avoided by knowing which states offer the best combination of qualities that matter most to parents and their kids.” To help with the evaluation process, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 42 key indicators of familyfriendliness. The data set ranges from median family salary to housing affordability to unemployment rate. In order to determine the best states to raise a family, WalletHub compared the 50 states across five key dimensions: 1) Family Fun, 2) Health & Safety, 3) Education & Child Care, 4) Affordability and 5) Socio-economics. The study evaluated those dimensions

using 42 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for family life. Finally, WalletHub determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the sample. While those numbers may not seem to favor Alabama, another study released Monday seems to contradict that. Alabama was the No. 11 Growth State for 2017, according to U-Haul data analyzing the past year’s U.S. migration trends. Year-over-year arrivals of one-way U-Haul truck rentals increased by 7

DID YOU KNOW?

percent while departures increased by 6 percent from Alabama’s 2016 numbers. Arriving trucks accounted for 50.3 percent of all one-way U-Haul traffic in Alabama, which was ranked No. 21 in growth for 2016 and No. 11 for 2015. Growth States are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul truck rentals entering a state versus leaving a state during a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 1.7 million one-way U-Haul truck rental transactions that occur annually. Texas was the No. 1 Growth State for the second year in a row. Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina and Tennessee rounded out the top five, and North Carolina ranked seventh, continuing a strong growth movement in the Southeast.

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

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

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Tuesday, January 9, 2018

www.alexcityoutlook.com

LUKE ROBINSON Columnist

CLEAN SWEEP

Possible effects BRHS takes of the National down Dadeville Championship By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

nother year, another game where Alabama plays Monday night where the result will come in well after the deadline for my column. With that knowledge, I’m just going to make some if-then statements for the future depending on the outcome of the National Championship game against Georgia. 1. If Alabama wins the game handily, then the question will be how many titles is enough for Nick Saban? Nobody really knows the answer to this question, but I do get the feeling Saban is very cognizant of his place in history right now. He would certainly like to remove any doubt that he is the best coach of all time and I would think that he would coach for a few more years to make sure of that. However, he has made a lot of money and he has accomplished so much already, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that retirement may be imminent. He has also lived with a target on his back for well over a decade now and that kind of scrutiny can weigh heavily on a body and soul. Despite my own beliefs, I am told Saban is actually human (I have always considered him a cyborg) therefore he may be growing weary of the daily — if not hourly — grind of coaching in the SEC. My prediction is Saban coaches at least three to four more years, but frankly nothing would surprise me at this point. (Now, watch him retire 10 minutes after the game.) 2. If Alabama just wins the game by any margin, then I think the season would be a success for several programs. Obviously Alabama will have won the title and it’s hard to call any season where you hoist the ultimate trophy unsuccessful. I also think Georgia will have a lot to look forward to given what they are returning and how the team is recruiting right now. Kirby Smart’s program is definitely on the up-swing. Finally, I think another winner in all of this is Auburn. Despite the disappointing final two games of the season, the Tigers won the Iron Bowl, defeated Georgia once this season and have something to build upon with the return of their quarterback. The idea that Alabama (and Georgia to some degree) has run away from the rest of the conference is refuted by Auburn’s two victories late in the season. 3. If Georgia wins, then God help us all. The Georgia fan base has been so ready for a championship I am not sure exactly how they will handle having one. Outside of the lone game at Auburn (where I’m not sure any team would have won on that given day), this has been one of the most dreamfulfilling seasons a program could ask for should the Bulldogs have won Monday night. Regardless, Georgia is now a legitimate threat to be in the playoffs for the foreseeable future. It should also be noted if Georgia wins a lot of talk will immediately focus upon the fact Alabama’s dynasty is over. That reaction would be rather kneejerky since the Tide will be strong again in 2018 (and 2019, 2020, etc.), but the talk will certainly be there. Welp. That’s all I got for you since I am basically writing this article in the dark. Try me next week when I can have a tangible result to write about. Luke Robinson is a regular columnist and contributor to Lake Martin Living and BMetro.

In both the boys and girls basketball games Monday afternoon, Benjamin Russell got off to a strong start against Dadeville in non-area action. While the boys had to fight to hang on to their lead and a 58-45 victory, the Wildcats’ girls team absolutely dominated the second half and walked away a 58-17 winner. “I think the first half we came out flat,” BRHS girls coach Latreisha Moon said. “I think they played thinking that Dadeville couldn’t beat us, but when the score was pretty close, we had to really go in and regroup because Dadeville was playing pretty good ball.” With more than two weeks since their last game and having recently brought up a slew of JV players to fill out the roster, the Tigers (1-5) started out really strong and were down by just 13 points at the break. But things started to fall apart in the second half. After having turned the ball over just 11 times in the first half, Dadeville matched that amount of miscues in the third quarter alone. “We’ve got some new JV additions, so we’re just learning the plays and learning how to play together,” Dadeville girls coach Pam Holloway said. “We’re trying to establish some roles because we’re pretty much starting over.” Benjamin Russell (9-4) held the Tigers to just two points in the second half. Jaaliyah Caldwell led the Wildcats with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Brooklyn Edwards also posted a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. For Dadeville, Naylee Banks and Quanesha Presley each had six points. Although the Benjamin Russell boys team didn’t have any one standout offensively, they did a nice job of spreading the ball around. They managed to build up a double-digit lead in the first half and never relinquished. The Wildcats have won four of their last five. “We got off to a good start finally,” BRHS boys coach Lewis Daniel said. “I think we’ve

Lizi Arbogast / The Outlook

Benjamin Russell’s Jaaliyah Caldwell (23) defends Dadeville’s Natori Giles on Monday.

been a little bit more efficient offensively. We’ve been playing good defense all year, but we’ve finally gotten to a point where we’re taking advantage of offensive opportunities. The kids have bought into being patient with our offense and making better decisions with our shot selection.” Quin Burroughs led the Wildcats (6-8) with 11 points, and Nick McGhee followed closely behind with nine. Three others — Alex Doss, Zae Stowes and Desmond Bishop — had six points apiece. For Dadeville (5-2), P.J. Eason led the way with 13 points and Jamarion Wilkerson had eight.

After reeling off five straight wins to start the season, the Tigers have lost two in a row. “To be honest, we started off better than we thought we were going to but we’re fine,” Dadeville boys coach Jesse Foster said. “We’re still young and we’ve just gotta play a little bit better defense and get our bigs working inside and making layups, and we’ll be fine.” The Tigers are also struggling with injuries, as Qua Tucker has missed some time with a fractured ankle and forward Kevin Walker has been out the last two games. Both should return within the next two weeks.

Former Wildcats give advice on recruiting process By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

It’s never too young to start thinking about the recruiting process. That was the major message given to Alexander City Middle School athletes who are hoping to one day play for Benjamin Russell and even beyond. Four former Wildcats all of whom are now involved in college sports gave a seminar to the youngsters about the recruiting process and gave their advice on what they wish they knew at that age. Corley Woods, a baseball player for Jacksonville State; Tyre Gray, a football player for Murray State; Darby Hines, a member of the Tiger Paws dance team at Auburn University; and Tae Robinson, a football player for Union (Kentucky) College all spoke on various subjects from the best and worst parts of being a college athlete to the importance of playing multiple sports to how to act on social media. “The best thing about being

Lizi Arbogast / The Outlook

From left, former Benjamin Russell athletes Corley Woods, Darby Hines, Tyre Gray and Tae Robinson speak at Alexander City Middle School about their journeys to college athletics and what they wish they knew at that age.

a college athlete is the impact you can have on younger kids,” Gray said. “People see you out in public, and you put a big smile on their faces.” Robinson added, “You can definitely be an inspiration, and you never know who you are

gonna touch.” One of the biggest messages of the day was the importance of getting good grades and forming solid study habits. BRHS athletic director Pam Robinson opened the seminar with a statement about how frustrating it was to

Benjamin Russell puts 8 in top 10 at Hoover STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Competing against some of the biggest Class 7A schools as well as teams from across the southeast states, Benjamin Russell’s wrestling team proved it could stick with the big dogs at this weekend’s Scott Rohrer Invitational in Hoover. Overall, the Wildcats had eight top-10 finishers. Ryan Spradley and Curtis Norris tied for the best BRHS performances of the day, finishing in sixth place at 140 and 287, respectively. Spradley received a bye through the first round, then had a 5-3 overtime win over Auburn’s Marcus Boler followed by another narrow decision, this time 2-0 against Connor Dubble of Hoover. Spradley had two losses before taking on Vestavia Hills’ Nathaniel Nailen in the fifth-place match.

Nailen earned a 5-0 decision. At 287, Norris was on a roll. Like Spradley, he received a bye through the opening round then produced four straight pins to put him in the semifinals. His quickest pin came against Tuscaloosa County’s Thor Zogg. After falling 3-2 in the semifinals, Norris was forced to forfeit the fifth-place match, leaving him at sixth overall. At 147, Saxon Coker placed seventh after going 3-3 on the day with a pair of pins. Michael Parker earned an eighth-place finish by going 3-4. He also had two pins, and suffered a heartbreaking 4-2 decision in the seventh-place match against HewittTrussville’s Cale Land. The 10th-place finishers for Benjamin Russell were Bobby Charsha (108 pounds, 3-3, 2 pins); Conner Burk (184, 4-3, 2 pins); Isaiah Holloway (197, 3-3, 3 pins); and Damien Lawry (222, 3-3, 1 pin).

see these great athletes not get recruited because of grades. She also added that most schools don’t give full athletic scholarships, so it’s important to have academic scholarships to fall back on. Gray’s biggest advice to the middle schoolers was to understand that the recruiting process starts now — it’s never too early to start thinking about colleges or planning for your future. As much as all four former Wildcats enjoy their college experiences, they also wanted to be clear it isn’t easy to be a collegiate athlete. Gray said, “The hardest part about being a college athlete is balancing your time between academics and athletics,” Gray said. Hines added, “All four us moved away from home straight out of high school, and it really makes you have to grow up instantly. But we all get to do the thing we love and the thing we grew up doing every day.”

SPORTS CALENDAR Tuesday, Jan. 9 High school boys basketball LaFayette at Horseshoe Bend, 6:30 p.m. Reeltown at Lanett, 6:30 p.m. Randolph County at Central Coosa, 7 p.m. High school girls basketball LaFayette at Horseshoe Bend, 5 p.m. Reeltown at Lanett, 5 p.m. Randolph County at Central Coosa, 4:30 p.m. High school wrestling Benjamin Russell at Auburn, 5 p.m. Dadeville in 5-team matchup at Beauregard, 4:15 p.m.