EXTRA! EXTRA! CELEBRATING 125 YEARS
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Friday, June 30, 2017 • Vol. 125, No. 129 • www.alexcityoutlook.com • 75¢
Special section celebrates 125 years of The Outlook service to Alexander City and the entire Lake Martin Community with a special A special logo has been section that looks back at the featured in the pages of the paper’s history, the headlines newspaper over the last few printed in its pages, how things weeks – a symbol that The have changed and what the Outlook is celebrating its 125th future may bring. year. You will hear from owner Today, we kick off a Kenneth Boone, former celebration of 125 years of Editor KA Turner as well as By MITCH SNEED Editor
readers, prominent citizens and former employees about what the paper means to them. In addition to the big news events covered by the paper, there is a special section that highlights the top athletes that graced the pages of The Outlook. While newspapers in See 125 • Page 3
County schools take action on personnel moves
WHATLEY: Special session is very likely
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Personnel matters were the order of the day during a special call meeting of the Tallapoosa County Board of Education Thursday afternoon. Despite board members Matilda WoodyardHamilton and Randy Anderson being absent from the proceedings, the meeting was able to proceed with the other three members and Superintendent Joseph Windle in attendance. With several positions still left to fill, the board approved hiring Alicia Peters as an English and Language Arts teacher at Horseshoe Bend, Samantha Mask as an ELA teacher at Dadeville High School, Ben Burnett and Andrew Padgett to teach science at Dadeville High School, Melissa Box as a Pre-K teacher at Dadeville Elementary School and Rance Kirby to become the new assistant principal at Dadeville Elementary School. The board briefly discussed the positions remaining to be filled, many of which would be resolved during the next board meeting. With several principal contracts up, the board voted to approve renewing See SCHOOLS • Page 7
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Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Dorothy (Addie Caldwell), the Scarecrow (Kahlia Wilson), and the Tin Man (Luke Walker) prepare to follow the Yellow Brick Road during the Dadeville Summer Arts Enrichment Camp’s performance of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Summer arts program draws to a close Tales Around the World,” at 10 a.m. Even though they kept Elementary school the overall story the same, students from Dadeville and Dadeville’s participants put Horseshoe Bend gathered their own spin on the classic throughout the month of June tale, relocating Dorothy’s at their respective schools home to Alabama and for the 2017 Summer Arts Dorothy declaring that, after Enrichment Camp. The camp she had landed in Oz, she culminated Thursday morning must be somewhere north of with an on-stage performance Birmingham. in front of well receiving At Horseshoe Bend, their audiences. Dadeville’s performance consisted of performance began at 9 four separate stories under a.m. with “The Wizard of the banner of “Tunes & Tales Oz,” while Horseshoe Bend Around the World.” The opened their show, “Tunes & show began with the German By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
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By MITCH SNEED Editor
tale of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” continued with the Native American story “The Sun and the Moon,” then told the Namibian story “How the Zebra Got its Stripes,” before concluding with the classic British folktale “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” The four stories were sandwiched between a musical number, “Tour the World.” Both Ashley Gresko, the camp administrator at Horseshoe Bend, and Christie Davis, who administered the Dadeville sessions, said See PROGRAM • Page 7
State Senator Tom Whatley said that despite the likelihood of a special session to address some important issues including prison reform, the recently completed legislative session was productive. In a sit-down with The Outlook, Whatley speculated on what a recent court ruling meant to the urgency of action on the state’s prison and the successes on other fronts during session. Whatley “I do think that a special session is extremely possible,” Whatley said. “I don’t mean to speak for the governor, but we’ve gotten a letter from the federal government and we’ve now received an order from the court. There’s no question that we have to address it.” Whatley said that there were some solid ideas on prisons during the session, but neither cleared both branches of the legislature. He thinks some answers can and must be reached sooner, rather than later. “We had a prison plan and I voted for the prison plan that came out,” See SESSION • Page 3
TPI earns 20 awards from Alabama Press Association
Today’s
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Prison reform, infrastructure concerns could be addressed
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Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.56 Reported on 6/29/17 @ 6 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Work produced by Tallapoosa Publishers has been recognized as some of the state’s best in the 2017 Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspapers Contest. It was announced earlier this month that TPI had earned 13 awards for editorial content and seven for advertising. In addition to these awards, winners in 17 additional categories will be announced Saturday, July 8 at the APA Summer Convention in Orange Beach. Publisher Steve Baker said the awards reflect the staff’s commitment to an outstanding product and serving the needs of the community. “I am happy with how our staff members placed among the
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competition,” Baker said. “Awards are nice but they are not the reason we dedicate ourselves to producing our publications. We feel privileged to tell the story, be the watchdog, and keep the permanent record of Tallapoosa County and the people who call it home. We produce an award-winning quality newspaper every day, and I consider myself lucky to lead such a committed team.” Editor Mitch Sneed took four firstplace awards, two seconds and two thirds in the contest. Sneed’s firsts included Best Spot News Story in Division B for “Judge admits sexting,” Best Spot News Photograph in Division B for “Brawl Kenneth Boone / The Outlook at City Hall,” Best Human-Interest column in Division D with his This photo entitled ‘Supermoon Spectacular’ was judged as Dadeville Record piece entitled “Face the Best Feature Photo in the small daily class in the Alabama See AWARDS • Page 3 Press Association’s Better Newspapers Contest.
Starting Friday: Despicable Me 3 – PG-13 Transformers: The Last Knight– PG-13 Cars 3– G
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www.alexcityoutlook.com
Suicide rate among older men an overlooked tragedy
Saturday
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Staff
Directory 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
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
Advertising Sales Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Tabby Edwards Retail Sales Manager, Ext. 232 tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com Emily Gregg Advertising Sales, Ext. 225 emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com Scott Hardy Advertising Sales, Ext. 208 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
Newsroom Amy Passaretti Assistant Magazine Editor, Ext. 227 amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com Lizi Arbogast Sports Editor, Ext. 228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com
Circulation Linda Ewing Office Clerk, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@alexcityoutlook.com
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, Lake magazine, Lake Martin Living, (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) Kenneth Boone The Outlook is published five times Photography and a week, Tuesday through Saturday a commercial web mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, printing press. Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011.
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Post Office Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011.
How to Submit Obituaries
Friday, June 30, 2017
The Outlook
© 2011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Reproduction of any part of any issue requires written publisher permission.
Obituaries can be submitted to The Outlook from funeral homes by e-mail at obits@alexcityoutlook.com or by fax at (256) 234-6550. For more information, call (256) 234-4281.
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DEAR ABBY: My elderly father’s dearest friend committed suicide yesterday. He shot himself in the head. The family wasn’t even aware that he was depressed. Dad has lost three wonderful friends this way in recent years. He’s heartbroken thinking that his buddies were secretly suffering. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of suicide for men 70 and older in the U.S. is more than double the overall suicide rate. Yet, with all of our suicide prevention efforts, this high-risk group seems to be ignored. How can we help prevent these tragedies? What are the signs of depression in older men? And what can families do if they suspect depression in “Dad,” “Gramps” or “Uncle John”? Thank you for any help you can provide. -- VAN IN MASSACHUSETTS DEAR VAN: Please convey to your father how sorry I am for his loss. I think the first thing
(256) 234-4555 1814 Airport Blvd • Alexander City, AL
DEAR ABBY Advice
people have to remember is that men in general do not manifest depression the way women do because women are more open about sharing their feelings. Men, particularly older men, were not raised to do that because they were taught that expressing emotion was “weak,” so they stay silent. And men who were once breadwinners, active and vital, can become depressed when they retire. Among the RISK FACTORS are: – Having lost a wife or significant other; – Being alone and isolated; – Concern about being a burden; – Substance abuse (alcohol
SIGNS TO LOOK FOR include: – Lack of energy; – Lack of motivation; – Less interest in eating or getting out of the house; – Loss of interest in activities the person once enjoyed. A common mistake people make is thinking these things are happening because a person is old. If you observe a change in someone’s behavior, it is all right to ask the person what’s going on. Keep in mind that people who feel connected are less likely to harm themselves. Isolation is the enemy. Visit them, or take them out so they won’t feel alone. It’s also important to help seniors meet others they can relate to, particularly if their friends are dying off. A senior center can provide a place to socialize and meet new people. Exercise is important, too, and
many senior centers provide exercise facilities. Equally important is volunteering. Older men are valuable assets to the community and should be encouraged to regard themselves that way. They have a lifetime of experience to offer, which should not be wasted. By helping these men get and stay connected, you could actually be saving a life. A final thought: As people age, they often have physical problems that are associated with depression. (Heart disease is one.) If you need advice about how to approach someone about your worries, an excellent resource is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The toll-free number is 800-273-8255. 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 Jane Bandy Smith Jane Bandy Smith, Ph.D, age 82, of Tuscaloosa, died of natural causes on June 27, 2017 at West Alabama Hospice in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. A graveside service will be held Friday, June 30, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery with the Rev. David Meginnis officiating and Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home North directing. The family will receive guests and lunch will be served at Indian Hills Country Club immediately following the service. Pallbearers are grandsons, Will Smith and Foster Smith of Birmingham, Roman Smith and Julian Smith, of Hunstville, Brother-in-law, Dr. Samuel Rushing Smith and nephew, Hans Smith of Anniston. She is survived by son Stuart Edwin Smith of Huntsville, grandsons Roman and Julian Smith. Daughterin-law Laura Holland Smith, granddaughter Ella Hixon Smith and grandsons Will Smith and Foster Smith of Birmingham. Daughter-inlaw, Stephanie Wrobel Smith, granddaughters Catherine Bandy Smith and Stuart Elizabeth Smith of Nashville. Brother-in-law, Dr. Samuel Rushing Smith of Anniston, his wife Christa Griener Smith; nephews, Hans Smith and Alex Smith; nieces, Rusha Smith and Kimberly Smith McElroy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Edwin Bandy of Gadsden; her husband, William David Smith II; son, William David Smith III; daughter, Milyn Bandy Smith; and son Bradley Rushing Smith. Jane was born in Wink, TX, on October 7, 1934. Her family settled in Gadsden, Al where she spent her
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or prescription drugs); – Firearms in the house.
Mr. Jimmy Lynn Jones 1945 - 2017 Funeral Service for Mr. Jimmy Lynn Jones, 72, of Alexander City, Alabama, will be Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Dr. Wayne Wright will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 30, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Jones passed away on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at Russell
childhood years. Later moving with her husband to Tuscaloosa to attend the University of Alabama and ultimately raising her family. She graduated from the University with a BS in 1968 and earned her MA in 1969, she earned her ED.S in 1975 from the College of Education. Later earned her ML.S in 1976 from School of Library & Information Services and her Ph.D from George Peabody College (now Vanderbilt University) in 1978. She was passionate about education and teaching. She is a respected published, professional and educator in her field of Library Media, Instructional Technology and Education and Curriculum. She held various teaching and leadership positions at the University of Alabama, UAB, West Georgia College, University of Georgia, GA Department of Education & AL Department of Education. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Dr. Jane Bandy Smith Memorial Fund, at Christ Episcopal Church of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Mr. Robert Larry Crawford 1949 - 2017 Funeral Service for Mr. Robert Larry Crawford, 67, of Alexander City, Alabama, will be Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Roger Green and Rev. Don Polston will officiate. Burial will follow in the Old Providence Baptist Church Cemetery with Veterans Honors provided by the Medical Center. He was born on January 1, 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Joseph Loveman Jones and Bessie Jewel Jones. He was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Jimmy was a very loving family man and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of his life. He was a member of the Alexander City/Tallapoosa County Rescue Squad for 35 years and served as president for 10 years. Mr. Jones served in the United States Navy for 5 years. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Patricia Jones of Alexander City; daughter, Karen Yarbrough
Alexander City Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 30, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Crawford passed away on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at his residence. He was born on December 26, 1949 in Ashland, Alabama to James Hubert Crawford and Annie Lucille Reeves Crawford. He was an active member of God’s House Church and loved his Church. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, brother, and provided well for his family. He was very patient when playing with his grandchildren. He loved his wife’s cooking and his cat, Penny. He worked for over 25 years at Russell Corp. and then for 7 years as a Process Associate at Hyundai. Mr. Crawford was an avid Alabama fan. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Margie Nell Crawford of Alexander City; son, Robert Shane Crawford of Lineville; daughters, Sonya Michelle Crawford and Sarah Byrd Smith (Eric), both of Sylacauga; grandchildren, Cole Gallups, Cayleigh Gallups, and Ethan Evans; sisters, Frances Brand, Katie Ann McCain, Polly Bachmann, and Debra Jordan (Emil); brothers, James Crawford (Joyce), Terry Crawford (Atrice), Jimmy Crawford, Joe Crawford (Runa), and Roger Crawford (Vicki); many nieces and nephews; and Special Pet, Penny Crawford. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com. Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. (Curtis); grandchildren, Cody Yarbrough, Cory Yarbrough, Julia Bryant, and Emily Dykes; great-grandchildren, Landon Yarbrough, Jaylee Yarbrough; and sister, Judy Keel. He was preceded in death by his son, Joey Michael Dykes; great-grandchild, Emberly Yarbrough; parents; and brothers, Jerry and Joel Jones. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com. Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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Page 3
Rogers confirms $70,858 grant for New Site Fire Department citizens.” Rogers said the grant should be awarded under the 2016 Assistance to Congressman Mike Rogers Firefighters Grant Program, an essential congratulated the men and women federal program which supports first of the New Site Volunteer Fire & responders across Alabama and the Ambulance today for receiving a nation. $70,858 grant from the U.S. Department With these funds, the department of Homeland Security, funding Rogers plans to purchase self-contained said would help the Tallapoosa breathing apparatus units so that the County fire department purchase new firefighters will be better prepared when operations and safety equipment. combating future fires. “Tallapoosa County’s first “With the grant, we’ll be able to responders are our first line of defense,” purchase 14 new apparatus sets for Rogers said. “I congratulate the men the department,” New Site Fire Chief and women of the New Site Volunteer Tommy Latham said. “This includes the Fire & Ambulance for receiving this mask, bottle and the pack that holds the grant and hope it will ultimately bottle.” help increase the safety for all local This equipment ensures that STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
firefighters will have a source of clean, breathable air when entering burning buildings, making their job that much easier. While the FEMA grant money will be highly beneficial to the New Site Fire Department, allowing them to obtain this new equipment, they will not be able to purchase enough sets for each of the 24 volunteer firefighters to have their own unit. Chief Latham expressed how he wished they would have been able to purchase enough to furnish everyone their own pack, but said acquiring the 14 they will be able to purchase through this grant will still go a long way. “This will have a pretty big impact. It’s going to help a lot in the long run,”
Tomato workshop to Schools be held next Friday The tomato is the most popular vegetable crop. Two or three wellSHANE managed plants for each HARRIS member of the family will Tallapoosa County usually provide plenty Extension of fresh, vine-ripened agent tomatoes from about June 1 until the first frost in the fall. The number of cultivars and different types of tomatoes are endless. I love growing Roma type tomatoes for pastes and well as bigger, beefsteak types for slices. We also have the choice of indeterminate and determinate varieties as well as tomatoes that tolerate more heat and others that may be resistant to more diseases. But not only are tomatoes popular with us, but they are just as popular with pests, insects and diseases! The time of year and recent weather events may have worsened some of the problems. Before you go and grab a pesticide off the shelf, it is most important to identify what the problem is. We would like to help with that! The Alabama Extension System will hold a Terrific Tomatoes workshop, Friday, July 7, 2017. This workshop will be held at the Dadeville Rec Center at 670 East Columbus Street across from the Elementary School. We would like for all participants to bring in your problem tomatoes leaves, plants, tomatoes as well as your prized tomato for a taste test. We will discuss all kinds of topics. There will be a tomato grafting as well as a drip irrigation demonstration. We will also talk about tomato varieties - their culinary uses and what grows best in Alabama. A lot of time will be spent on learning to identify different pests as well as environmental disorders of tomatoes. Bring your questions, your plants, and a tomato for the taste test. The workshop will start at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Lunch will be served. The workshop is $15 for the day including lunch. Please register by Thursday, July 6. You can register at the Tallapoosa County Extension System. The address is 125 N. Broadnax Street Dadeville, AL 36853. The phone number is 256-825-1050. We hope to see you there! Harris is an extension agent in Tallapoosa County.
the contracts of James Aulner at Horseshoe Bend, Dr. Charles Dark at Dadeville Elementary School, Chris Hand at Dadeville High School and Chad McKelvey at the Edward Bell Career Tech Center. These new three-year contracts have been standardized based on state-approved templates and using the state salary matrix, according to Windle. The following personnel decisions were also made during
Latham said. According to the Homeland Security Department, which administers the grant, the purpose of the program is to award funding directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated EMS organizations and state fire training academies that are unaffiliated with a hospital. These awards aim to enhance first responders’ ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel, with respect to fire-related hazards. Rogers serves on the Committee on Homeland Security in Congress. “I am pleased to see the federal government is continuing to make these types of investments in the Third District,” he added.
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Thursday’s meeting. • The board accepted the resignations of Dadeville High School ELA teacher Lauren Boulware, Horseshoe Bend bus driver Ronald Kent Smothers and central office secretary Cynthia Wiggins. • The board accepted the retirement of Dadeville Elementary School special needs teacher Debbie Brewer and Horseshoe Bend elementary
teacher Linda Daniel. •The board approved the transfer of Pam Langford from Dadeville High School to become the new principal of Reeltown Elementary School. The next meeting of the Tallapoosa County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, July 10, beginning at 5 p.m. in the board room of the Board of Education building.
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Alexander City date back to 1884, it was in 1892 when Captain J.D. Dickson bought out the town’s newspaper and The Outlook was born. The newspaper has remained dedicated to informing the residents of Tallapoosa County, no matter who owned the paper. The paper’s mission is simple: “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.” Thank you for reading The Outlook and allowing us to be a part of your day. To continue the celebration, The paper will feature a big story from our first 125 years in each Wednesday’s paper. But for today, take a look inside and walk down memory lane with us.
Session Whatley said. It didn’t pass. The Senate plan would allow counties where prisons are currently located to form their own bonding authority, build their own prisons and reach accreditation. The county would have the debt, but the state would lease them back from the counties and it wouldn’t really cost them a thing. They would be able to keep the jobs.” Whatley said that a special session would also be a time when the state could take advantage of any federal initiatives. “If the Trump Administration and Congress put any federal programs in place with matching money for infrastructure
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development, I would think that Gov. Ivey would take advantage of that,” Whatley said. “If that were to happen, I would guess that she would then call a special session. It’s my guess that would be in September and my guess is that she would do a better job than the previous governor at working with the legislature to get some things done.” But there was one bill that Whatley was particularly happy about. “It was a really good session for me, East Alabama and the state,” Whatley said. “For me personally and children in Alabama, I’m especially proud of the autism bill.
It provides ABA therapy coverage for children on the autism spectrum. Why that’s important, is that it has the potential to change the lives of children. … It’s a situation where this therapy is making a tremendous difference and has shown the ability to take children with profound issues and take them to a place where they are confident and lead virtually normal life.” Whatley said that the bill to prevent crossover runoff voting and a bill to shorten the length of time death-row inmates appeals can take in court were also highlights of the session.
Awards your past and do the next right thing,” and Division D’s Best Spot News Story category with “Two arrested after dog shot, woman takes stick to shooter.” Sneed and Kenneth Boone teamed to take second for best editorial “Stop pointing fingers and fix city’s financial mess.” Second place went to Sneed for best human-interest column “Gift of tomatoes came at the perfect time.” Sneed took third place for best headline in Division D for “Can’t bear to stay away,” a story that chronicled a wayward bear’s travels across the area. His other third was for Division B’s Best Spot News Story category for “Fight breaks out at council meeting.” The Outlook took the top two honors in Division B’s Best Feature Photograph category. Boone’s spectacular photo called “Supermoon Spectacular” was first and Cliff Williams took second with his picture “Big times at Timbergut.” The Outlook won first place in production and printing where the work of Pressroom Supervisor Lee Champion was recognized. TPI was awarded second place for best special section newsprint, “Gridiron Guide,” second place for best niche publication for “Lake Martin Living,” second place for best magazine periodical for “Lake Martin Living.” In advertising, TPI took
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the top two places in Best Regularly Scheduled Glossy Special Section, with Lake Magazine’s Swimsuit Issue winning first place and the paper’s progress edition “Small Towns, Big Ideas” taking second in Division B. Audra Spears, Darlene Johnson and Hallie Holloway were honored with a thirdplace finish in the Best Signature Page category for the “Halloween Safety” page. For Best Niche Publication in Division B, the hunting issue of “Lake Martin Living” earned first place. The issue was produced by Betsy Iler, Boone and Audra Spears. Elmore County Living Magazine took third place in Best Niche Publication in Division B. In the Division B Best Magazine periodical category, Lake Magazine was first and Lake Martin Living was third. Elmore County Living took second in Division B in the same category. The Alex City Outlook competes in Division B for papers with a total paid circulation of 21,999 and below. The category includes papers like the Opelika-Auburn News, the Troy Messenger, the Talladega Daily Home, Selma Times-Journal, the Dothan Eagle and the Cullman Times. The Dadeville Record and the Wetumpka Herald are in Division D with the state’s weekly newspapers.
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
This photo entitled ‘Fight breaks out at council meeting,’ above, was judged as the Best Spot News Photo in the small daily class in the Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspapers Contest. Below, Cliff Williams photo ‘Big times at Timbergut was judged second best feature photo.
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213
editor@alexcityoutlook.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Steve Baker Mitch Sneed
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Page 4
Opinion
Our View Make safe and smart decisions this holiday
D
uring the Independence Day holiday, travel is part of the game. Whether it is going on a trip or hitting the water for fun with family and friends to celebrate, arriving to your destination safely is important. That’s why state, county and local law enforcement officials say that they will be stepping up their presence, including several checkpoints to focus on seatbelt and DUI enforcement. Celebration is fine, but if that involves alcohol, please plan ahead, It doesn’t take much alcohol to find yourself in a world of trouble. For an adult, a blood alcohol content of .08 or above is over the limit. Depending on the timeframe in which the alcohol is consumed and the weight of the individual, this amounts to about 2 ½ beers. For individuals under the age of 21, .02 is over the limit, not to mention underage possession laws. So this holiday, allow some extra time to get where you are going and don’t be in a rush. If you are going to drink, do it responsibly and have a designated driver. What is true on the roads, is even more important for those on the lake. Traffic on Lake Martin will be at its highest point of the year, so being attentive and operating a safely equipped watercraft, with a clear head, is a must. Make sure that everyone has a life jacket, that the boat has a fire extinguisher aboard and that all the lights are in working order. Slow down and keep a safe speed where you will have time to react if it becomes necessary. For those venturing to the fireworks show ny water, Marine Patrol Sgt. Mark Fuller offered some good advice last year. “Be early,” Fuller said. “Stay late. Keep your docking lights off as they can blind other boaters. If you are anchored, you still have to keep the 360 degree white light on. If you are drifting or floating, you have to also have your red and green bow lights on along with your stern light.” Fuller says the most chaotic time on the water will come July 4. “The most hectic time on the lake will be after the fireworks show on the Fourth,” Fuller said. “But being courteous and patient should make for a safe trip home.”
Know Your
Officials Communication with elected officials is the key to good government. To let your most local representatives know how you feel about state or local matters, contact any of the following. Governor Kay Ivey represents the state of Alabama and its 67 counties. She was sworn into office on April 10, 2017, and can be reached at 334-242-7100. Her office is located at the State Capitol at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.
Kay Ivey
Luther Strange was elected Alabama’s 49th Attorney General first elected in 2010, and serves as the State’s chief law enforcement officer. He can be reached at 334-242-7300, and Luther Strange 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 256-3922006 or by email at tughd81@gmail.com. Mark Tuggle 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 Tom Whatley 334-242-t7865. His office is located at 337 East Magnolia Drive, Auburn.
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True independence is found in Christ Today’sQuote
T
he 4th of July is coming and it is a great time of celebration, but certain parts of it are tough. The part I think is the toughest is cooking out. Where is it written that a man has to cook out in 100-degree weather like a caveman? My eyebrows are just now growing back from the annual, first lighting of the grill back in May. I think that gas explosion registered six on the Richter scale in Nevada. Like any good Southerner I love barbecue, homemade ice cream and watermelon on the 4th. However, my barbecuing leaves a lot to be desired. The pork loins have all the characteristics of cinder chips, my chickens look like they were cooked with a flame- thrower and the hamburgers are hard enough to be used in the National Hockey League. My fingers and hands are the only things cooked to tender perfection. I guess I could live with the heat and the overcooked meat if I could endure the smoke. My grill smokes like a Florida everglade’s fire. If the American Indians had produced that much smoke they would have had a communication system to rival AT&T. I don’t believe the local volunteer fire department would show up even if my house caught on fire because they would just think I’m cooking out again. NASA told me that they
DR. GERALD HALLMARK Columnist
America is truly a blessed country when a man can complain about having food, freedom and a day to have fun. The July 4th is more than a historical remembrance of our independence, it is also a celebration of an endowed right from our Creator. The pursuit of happiness, not the guarantee of it, is one of these inalienable rights. So, on this special day we fly the flag, say our prayers of gratitude and enjoy this right for the pursuit of happiness. Jesus gave us the same independence from the power of sin when He said He had come that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Now that is a right we can claim that will give us true happiness. That is a real Independence Day celebration! Well, the barbecue will get done, and I mean done, so I’ll move on. To tell you the truth, I need to get the grilling finished because I’m as good with fireworks as I am with cooking. Actually, my wife doesn’t enjoy this pyrotechnical display at all. She just sits there praying that the volunteer fire department won’t think I am just cooking out again.
use my house for thermo-imaging practice with their satellites. So, every year I stand on the deck in my official Father’s Day gift apron, sweating in the sun, coughing in the smoke and charring perfectly good food. While this culinary catastrophe is underway my entire family is in the lake swimming and having a great time. The only time they came to check on me is when they need money to buy more gas for my boat. I can see why my forefathers declared a revolution on the 4th. Somehow I don’t believe Thomas Jefferson had this kind of celebration in mind when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Oh yeah, another thing to remember about this cooking out – never try to pinch off a sample of the meat while it on the grill. I no longer have fingerprints on the index finger and thumb of my left hand. Instead I have scar tissue Dr. Gerald Hallmark is a and water blisters indicating 3rd retired minister from Alexander degree burns. Plus, never put those City whose column appears here burned fingers into your mouth to each Friday. cool them off, they taste terrible!
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.” —George Bernard Shaw
Today’s
Scripture “For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever.” —Psalm 37:28
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Supreme Court strikes blow for religious liberty
N
ormally, the most notable part of a Supreme Court decision is not the dissent. But Monday, Justice Sonia Sotomayor penned a dissent that is much more interesting in its transparency than the relatively mild majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts in a case being watched by everyone interested in the tension between church and state, and the status of that crumbling wall. In Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, a sevenperson majority held that the state of Missouri could not single out faith-based organizations for exclusion from grants that would have paid for property maintenance. The facts are fairly simple. Trinity Lutheran is a church that also ran a preschool program. In 2012, it applied for a grant from a state program to make playgrounds safer. It’s request for funds to resurface its playground was denied based on a state constitutional provision that forbade the use of taxpayer funding to religious institutions. That provision was modeled on what is known as the “Blaine Amendment,” a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution based in an antipathy toward Catholics. Over a century ago, in the wake of the Civil War, a Republican congressman named James Blaine proposed the amendment to prevent, in part, public money going to parochial schools that were filled with immigrant children. Many states adopted the language of the original federal amendment, even though it had failed to muster a two-thirds majority in the Senate. Some of these “mini-Blaines” are still on the books. Which brings us to Missouri. Trinity Lutheran sued the state, claiming that the only reason it was being denied funding was because it was a religious
CHRISTINE FLOWERS Columnist
institution. And, as Roberts wrote in a “you think?” moment, that’s pretty self-evident: “There is no question that Trinity Lutheran was denied a grant simply because of what it is ... a church.” So the only question that remained was, is this exclusion constitutional? Seven members of the court, including some of the more liberal justices, said “no.” According to the chief justice, “the exclusion of Trinity Lutheran from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution all the same, and cannot stand.” I like the use of the word odious. Every now and then a Supreme Court justice has to tell it like it is, and cut through that genteel lexicon that makes it difficult to believe that there are human beings on that highest of benches. This was not simply an illegal, distasteful bit of discrimination against people of faith. It was odious. Of course, not everyone would agree with that conclusion, including most of the members of the ACLU. Every time there is a suggestion that public funds are going to assist religious organizations, the fearsome prospect of a theocracy raises its head. Whether it be a caliphate or Christendom, the churchstate separatists are immediately mobilized. And one of the true believers, excuse the pun, sits on the court. Sotomayor, a woman who wore a Catholic school uniform for
many years, railed against the majority decision. Her words seem particularly over the top, since Roberts took great pains to limit the majority holding to cases involving “playground resurfacing,” and reserved judgment on whether it could be extended to other types of discrimination. It was more about discriminating against entities solely because they were churches or, as Roberts wrote “churches need not apply.” Sotomayor wasn’t buying that. She clearly saw the diagrammed sentence on the wall: “If this separation [of church and state] means anything, it means that the government cannot ... tax its citizens and turn that money over to houses of worship. ... The court today blinds itself to the outcome this history requires and leads us instead to a place where separation of church and state is a constitutional slogan, not a constitutional commitment.” That’s powerful stuff. Sotomayor sets this up as if the poor taxpayers of Missouri were being forced to pay to prevent some Christian kid from scraping his knees on a rough playground. She makes this seem as if it’s then a slippery slope to having taxpayers subsidize the erection of a Mormon Temple, or buy new central air for a mosque. Funny, right? Well actually, maybe not. While I strongly reject the idea that the wall between church and state was built to keep religion out of the public square, it is clear that this case isn’t just about playgrounds. It could change the way that we think about people and places of faith, and their relation to the secular state. Flowers is an attorney and a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News, and can be reached at cflowers1961@gmail.com.
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that the performances the students took part in on Thursday were chosen by the teachers who volunteered to be a part of the camp. “We got together and discussed it, and thought that the kids would enjoy doing ‘The Wizard of Oz,’” Davis said. “I thought that they could learn new literature through this choice,” Gresko said. “Some of these stories don’t get taught any more, so I though it would give them the chance to learn them. “This is meant to be fun and educational, and I wanted to expose them to things they might not see on TV.” During each session at Dadeville, the students would be split into two groups, with one group working on their lines for the play, while the other would work on making the props. About halfway through the day, the two groups would swap up, giving everyone the chance to work on both aspects, according to Davis. At Horseshoe Bend, Gresko described how the first week of camp was spent on various art and music activities and learning more about the kids in attendance. “We started reading the stories we’d be performing in week two,” she said. Once the group at Horseshoe Bend began preparing for Thursday’s performance, an hour each day was devoted to arts and crafts that related to the tales, an hour was spent on rehearsals, and the children were given a Donald Campbell / The Outlook 30 minute break to go outside and play and be children, The narrators and cast, above, of the Namibian tale, “How the Zebra Got its Stripes,” take a bow Thursday morning. The zebra Gresko said. (Jacey Johnson), below left, and baboon (Thomas Kinman) prepare to fight over a watering hole while other animals look on during Tallapoosa County Superintendent Joe Windle said Horseshoe Bend’s performance of “How the Zebra Got its Stripes.” Glinda the Good Witch (Bella Yoder), below right, talks to Dorothy that he believed this was one of the most successful (Addie Caldwell) and a group of Munchkins during Thursday morning’s performance. programs the county school system had taken part in. It has received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback coming not only from the community, but also from the teachers and students that participate in the program. “It shows the creativity and talent that exists in our schools,” Windle said. In the future, both Gresko and Davis said that they wanted the program to continue while expanding to have more participants involved in summer arts enrichment. “I hope to continue this, but it all depends on the funding,” Davis said. “This year, we cut it down to K-6. I’d like to grow it back to K-10.” “I’d love to have a larger group involved in the future,” Gresko said. “It’s free and open to any children.” Thankfully, one potential issue will not be a problem. “We’ll continue to fund this program,” Windle said.
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Today is June 30, 2016 Today’s Events
JEWELRY SALE: The Russell Medical Auxiliary is hosting the Masquerade $5 Jewelry Sale in the Russell Medical Community Room June 30 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. CHILDREN’S NATIVE
Friday, June 30, 2017
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AMERICAN ACTIVITIES: Horseshoe Bend National Military Park will present Children’s Native American Activities June 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to teach children how to create clay pots and play Native American games. Meet at the Wind Creek State Park clubhouse at the campground playground. MOVIE NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting a movie night June 30. Beyond the Mask will start at 7:30 p.m. Concessions will
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Beverly Sasser, Cook Wesley , Allen Stokes, Rhonda Phillips Childs, Amanda Cain, Ty Tharpe and Derow White are celebrating their birthdays today.
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Scottie and Mary Jewell, Knox Faye and Johnny Baker and Chris and Pat Baker are celebrating their anniversaries today.
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The Learning Tree, Inc. is Accepting Applications for Weekend Shifts in 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
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United Martial Arts Academy has conducted “Build a Better World” character development programs at Mamie’s Place this summer for teens ages 12-17. They’ve learned the art and techniques of basic self-defense and positive team work.
Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services •Physical Therapy •Occupational Therapy •Speech Therapy 2334 Washington Street Alexander City • 256-329-9061 www.crownemanagement.com
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Saturday, July 1
CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT: The 2nd Annual Lake Martin Championship Cornhole Tournament will be Saturday, July 1 at The Rodeo Club. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and includes a T-shirt while supplies last. Bags fly at noon. The first tournament is a blind draw for $25 a person and the second tournament is bring your own partner at $20 a team. There is a guaranteed $1,000 in prize money. For more information, contact the Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce or The Rodeo Club.
Sunday, July 2
CHURCH MEMORIAL: The Almighty God Baptist Church in Goodwater is hosting its 37th Church Memorial Sunday, July 2 at 2 p.m. Guest speaker will be Rev. Robert Williams, pastor of Peace and Goodwill Baptist Church in Kellyton. Pastor of Almighty God Baptist Church is Rev. Lorenzo Caldwell.
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Wednesday, July 5
FIELD AND FOREST HIKE: Wind Creek State Park is hosting a field and forest hike July 5 at 9 a.m. The walk is for all ages. Meet at the outdoor classroom across from the beach. MONTHLY LUNCHEON: Bibb Graves High School Alumni and Friends in Millerville will have their Monthly Luncheon on Wednesday July 5 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Please bring a covered dish and a small donation.
Thursday, July 6
BINGO NIGHT: Jake’s Restaurant is hosting a bingo night July 6 from 6-8 p.m. to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Lake Martin Area. Jake’s will also host bingo every Thursday in July to benefit the Boys and Girls Club.
Friday, July 7
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MOVIE NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting a movie night July 7. God’s Not Dead will start at 7:30 p.m. Concessions will be sold.
Saturday, July 8
NIGHT HIKE: Wind Creek State Park is hosting a night hike July 8 at 7:30 p.m. under the light of the full moon to learn about nocturnal animals and how they survive in the dark weather permitting. YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP: Bridge Builders will be hosting a youth football camp for grades first through eighth July 8 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sportplex. For more information contact Hudson Hinton at 256-750-1140 or Tommie Kelly at 256-786-0542.
Sunday, July 9
WELLNESS DAY: The Beacon of Joy Seventh Day Adventist Church is hosting a community health and wellness day at Strand Park July 9 from 3 -6 p.m. There will be live performances, family fun and healthy snacks. For more information, call 256-749-5943. FAMILY REUNION: The Willoughlby Reunion will be Sunday, July 9 at the Daviston Community Center. All family and friends are welcome.
FIELD AND FOREST HIKE: Wind Creek State Park is hosting a field and forest hike July 19 at 9 a.m. The walk is for all ages. Meet at the outdoor classroom across from the beach.
July 10-12
Friday, July 21
CHURCH REVIVAL: Liberty United Methodist Church in Hackneyville is hosting revival July 10-12 at 7 p.m. Rev. Mike Densmore, Rev. Josh Sammons and Rev. James Long will be delivering messages. Everyone is welcome.
July 10-14
ART CAMP: The Kitty Dark Kids Art Camp will be July 10-14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Radney School for children in grades 1-6. The cost is $125 and includes all supplies, lunch, snack and T-shirt. For more information, contact Jamie Dark at 256-794-0688.
Tuesday, July 11
USHER MEETING: There will be an Early Rose District Usher meeting July 11 at 5 p.m. at the Early Rose District Center.
July 11-14
ANNUAL SESSION: Early Rose District Congress of Christian Education is holding its 58th Annual Session July 11-14 daily at 9 a.m. at the Great Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.
July 13-15
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Family Worship Center on Sewell Street is hosting Vacation Bible School July 13-14 from 6-8:30 p.m. and July 15 from 9 a.m. to noon with a parents program July 15 at 11 a.m.
July 19
MOVIE NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting a movie night July 21. The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry will start at 7:30 p.m. Concessions will be sold.
KIDS AND YOUTH CAMP: The Tallapoosa Baptist Association camps will be held July 13-16 at Camp Alamisco on Lake Martin. Youth Camp is for those who have completed grades 7-12. Kids Camp is for those who have completed grades 3-6. The theme is “Following Jesus.” Jeremy Simpson of FBC, Alex City will be the camp pastor. Campers will enjoy playing crazy games, kayaking, swimming, “the blob,” crafts, skits and much more. The cost until June 23 is $85 per camper. After that, the cost is $95 per camper. The final deadline to register is June 30. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.tallapoosabaptist. org under the Resource tab. For more information, please call 256-825-4441.
Friday, July 14
MOVIE NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting a movie night July 14. God’s Not Dead II will start at 7:30 p.m. Concessions will be sold.
Sunday, July 16
HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Tallapoosee Historical Meeting on Sunday, July 16 at 2 p.m. features
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Saturday, July 22
STARGAZING: The Auburn Astronomical Society will set up telescopes to look at the night sky July 22 at 6 p.m. on Hospice Point near the silo at Wind Creek State Park.
Sunday, July 23
CHURCH HOMECOMING: Rock Springs Baptist Church in Jacksons Gap is hosting homecoming July 23 at 10 a.m. Pastor Jamey Williams will bring the message and The Dyes will provide the music. Dinner will be served and everyone is invited.
Wednesday, July 26
FIELD AND FOREST HIKE: Wind Creek State Park is hosting a field and forest hike July 26 at 9 a.m. The walk is for all ages. Meet at the outdoor classroom across from the beach.
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Thursday, July 27
GOSPEL QUARTET: The Carolina Boys Quartet will be at the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium July 27 . Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. The concert is presented by Radney and Langley funeral homes and admission is one non-perishable food item donation to benefit the Tallapoosa Christian Crisis Center and Loaves and Fishes.
July 13-16
July 10-11
THROW AWAY DAY: The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership is partnering with the Tallapoosa County Commission to provide dumpsters for
talks about the restoration of Smith Mountain Fire Tower and the proposed Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association education center at the Tower. The meeting will take place at the Society’s museum on the town square in Dadeville. Refreshments will be served. The public is invited.
public use at the following locations on Monday, July 10 through Tuesday, July 11. The dumpsters will be at the Alexander City Annex– 395 Lee St., Double Bridges– Highway 63, Eagle Creek Fire Department– 90 Old Shepard Rd., Camp Hill Town Hall– 309 Holley Ave. and StillWaters Entrance– Highway 49 Items that can not be placed in the dumpsters include: liquids, appliances with compressors, tires, batteries, light bulbs, TVs, computers, propane tanks and hazardous or medical waste.
Friday, July 28
MOVIE NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting a movie night July 28. WWJD II The Woodcarver will start at 7:30 p.m. Concessions will be sold.
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Saturday, July 29
$500 GIVEAWAY: The Goodwater Disable Veterans Organization is having a $500 giveaway July 29 at 2 p.m. at the Goodwater Disable Veterans Organization, 7882 U.S. Highway 280 in Goodwater. First prize is $250, second is $150 and third is $100. Donations are being accepted by calling Richard McElarth at 256-2764776, Renell Hill at 256-839-6915, Wade McElarth at 256-749-9100 or Willie James Gaddis at 256-861-6177. Proceeds will be used to help feed Veterans. YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP: Bridge Builders will be hosting a youth football camp for grades first through eighth July 29 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sportplex. For more information contact Hudson Hinton at 256-750-1140 or Tommie Kelly at 256-786-0542.
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Phillip Lolley brings tradition to Lake Martin DAVID RAINER Columnist
Guntersville back to normal after glory years
B
ass anglers who fished Lake Guntersville in the first half of the current decade enjoyed possibly the best bass fishing in the nation with phenomenal stringers anchored by 8- to 10- to 12-pound whoppers. When those 30-pound-plus stringers of five bass started to wane the past couple of years, lake property owners and bass anglers who regularly fish the lake, affectionately known as the “Big G,” began to fret and then became downright afraid there was something significantly askew in the lake. Property owners and anglers proclaimed their concerns at both Alabama Conservation Advisory Board meetings earlier this year, prompting the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division to take a closer look at the Tennessee River lake. What that research revealed is staying atop the bass-fishing mountain is not sustainable when natural cycles are in control of a reservoir the size of Guntersville at 69,000plus acres. That stretch of phenomenal fishing was an anomaly, and the current fishing, which still is some of the best in the nation, is back to normal levels. Even as the lake returns to “normal,” it can still produce some outstanding catches. Earlier this year, Casey Martin weighed in a fivefish limit at 40 pounds, 11 ounces. More recently, two anglers in the Alabama Bass Trail tournament had five-fish stringers that exceeded 30 pounds each. Damon Abernethy, WFF’s Assistant Chief of Fisheries, said ironically a drought led to the outstanding fishing Guntersville experienced earlier this decade. Unlike a lot of lakes and reservoirs, there’s not quite as much variability at Guntersville because of the abundant aquatic vegetation and the reduced fluctuations in lake levels. “Guntersville is pretty resilient,” Abernethy said. “The great fishing we’ve had in recent years is not something that is normal. It was the result of an extremely large yearclass that was produced during the drought years of ’07 and ’08. We saw this happen in other reservoirs, but it seemed to be more prevalent at Guntersville. It was not unique. It was related to a weather pattern that affected the whole Southeast. “Fish have a gauntlet they have to get through. There are a lot of years when big spawns and abundant fry are produced, but that’s not
By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
Standing inside Phillip Lolley’s garage in Jacksons Gap, it feels like you’ve entered a football fan’s dream. In addition to trophies, plaques and memorabilia, there are filing cabinets full of old game film and team souvenirs, and the walls are lined with shelves upon shelves of generations worth of playbooks. He’s even got the entire season of playbooks from Auburn University’s 2010 National Championship run, a piece of sports history many in the area would covet a chance to peek at. Lolley has spent his life dedicated to the sport of football, and for the past eight years, he’s called Lake Martin his offseason home. A longtime high school football coach, Lolley joined the Auburn staff as a strength and conditioning coach in 1999 when Tommy Tuberville was the head coach, and he was the defensive backs coach under Gene Chizik during the Tigers’ National Championship. Lolley spent time as a linebackers coach under Gus Malzahn before taking over as the Director of Football External Relationships. Eventually, Lolley retired from Auburn University, but his football journey wasn’t done just yet. He has spent four years with the Canadian Football League and is currently the linebackers coach and defensive run coordinator for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who began their season on Sunday. “Coaching in the CFL is something I wanted to
Lizi Arbogast / The Outlook
Phillip Lolley, above center, poses with his family and collection of championship memorabilia. His family includes, front row, from left, granddaughters Ashley and Haley; back row, son Brad, granddaughter Presley and daughter Brittany. Lolley, below, poses on the back porch of his lake house in Jacksons Gap.
encounter,” Lolley said. “I said to myself, ‘Let’s not go to sleep one day and not wake up and not have tried this.” Despite Lolley spending time around some of the greatest minds in football, he said the Canadian Football was quite literally a whole new ballgame. Not only is the field size different – the CFL’s field is 65 yards wide rather than the NFL’s 53 yards – it is also a 12-on-12 game rather than the 11-man game Lolley was accustomed to. See LOLLEY • Page 10
See GUNTERSVILE • Page 10
Submitted / The Outlook
Benjamin Russell’s varsity cheerleading squad won the overall camp championship at Auburn University earlier this month. Pictured are, front row, from left, Ann Marie Waldrop, Hallie Gordon, Madisyn Johnson, Payton Reynolds; middle row, Paris Morgan, Lucy Tucker, Georganna Hamby, Kathryn Crutchfield, Lauren Watts, coach Sandi Woods; back row, Ashari Chapman, Alaina Young, Margaret Harvey, Lydia Ballard, Camryn Benefield, Caroline Yearkey, Megan Harris and Madeline Yates.
BRHS cheer squads rack up accolades By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
Submitted / Dept. of Natural Resources
Fishing guide Mike Carter, who has caught many big bass at Guntersville, has spearheaded the effort for additional stockings of Florida-strain bass in the lake.
Benjamin Russell’s cheerleaders were on fire last week at the Auburn University camp. Throughout the three-day camp, the Wildcats racked up more than 15 team awards and a handful of other individual recognitions. It culminated in the varsity squad winning the 2017 Overall Camp Championship at the University Cheerleaders Association (UCA) event. On Day 1, both the varsity and JV squads received the banana, which is given to teams showing the most spirit and good leadership throughout the day. Both teams also received a spirit stick, and the varsity team earned a superior ribbon their sideline routine.
Day 2 also featured a spirit stick for both teams, who also earned superior ribbons on their cheer routines. Varsity cheerleader Ali Richardson was a finalist in the jump off, and Payton Reynolds (varsity) and Carson Ray (JV) received Pin-It-Forward awards from the staff. BRHS’ success continued on Day 3, as both teams once again earned spirit sticks and were awarded superior ribbons on their extreme routines. A total of seven Wildcats were named AllAmerican, including varsity cheerleaders Reynolds, Richardson and Ann Marie Waldrop and JV team members Mary Grantleigh Hamby, Macy Daniel, Regan Ashworth and Rena Minnifield. During the final day, the Wildcats excelled at squad competition. The varsity team placed first in game-day
competition, which consists of a sideline, band dance and cheer, and also took third in extreme routine. For JV, the girls were first in sideline and second in extreme routine. Varsity cheerleader Lydia Ballard and JV’s Sydney Vardaman and Teegan Yates earned PinIt-Forward awards from another squad. All five seniors – Reynolds, Richardson, Waldrop, Hallie Gordon and Madisyn Johnson – earned UCA bids, which allows them the opportunity to try out to become a UCA staff member next summer. Finally, both Benjamin Russell’s varsity and JV squads won the Tradition award for showing the most spirit throughout the week, strong leadership, enthusiasm and great camp traditions.
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Friday, June 30, 2017
The Outlook
LakeWinds Junior Golf LakeWinds Golf Course hosts weekly youth clinic and tournament
Lizi Arbogast / The Outlook
Top left: Avery Benton tees off on hole No. 1. Bottom left: Benton Stegall takes a chip shot on hole No. 2. Above, Brian Thompson, left, takes a shot as Jackson Warbrough looks on. Bottom right: Grayson Weithoner takes a shot on hole No. 2 as instructor Jim Gunnells looks on. Every Monday, Gunnells works with youngsters at LakeWinds on individual golfing skills. They then play a weekly tournament on Sunday evenings.
Lolley
continued from page 9
“Speed kills up there; it’s a lot harder to defend,” Lolley said. “To defend a field of that size with 12 athletes and you’ve got six guys on offense that can be in motion at the same time – and they’re attacking the line of scrimmage downhill, they’re attacking it sideways, they’re in bunches and picking you – it’s a new puzzle to me. It’s a challenge, and I love it.” Another foreseeable challenge for Lolley when he joined the CFL was the age difference. After
coaching high school 22 years and being a college coach for nearly 20 more, Lolley said he worried about coaching men. But Lolley oozes charisma and confidence, and he said his players have always responded well to that. “I’m gonna go in and I’m gonna coach and they’re gonna do it my way, end of story,” Lolley said. “If you’re a hard worker, you don’t have to put on a show and they know it. If you go in there and do your job, they’ll
follow you if you lead.” Fortunately, Lolley also has the walk to back up his talk. “If you know what you’re talking about it, (your players) know it too,” he said. “As far as young men go, I’ve coached the fire out of them. When it comes to blocking or tackling, I’m demanding. They can tell you – if it’s not right, they do it again, and I don’t really care if they agree with me or not. “But I’ve been a very lucky man too in that I’ve
never really coached a guy that I can’t reach.” In the offseason, Lolley is a down-to-earth, funloving guy who appreciates his toys and his house right on Lake Martin. With his ties to Auburn and his family – a son, Brad; a daughter, Brittany; and three granddaughters, Ashley, Haley and Presley – in Birmingham, he said Lake Martin was the perfect place to settle. “I love the lake and I love this area and how beautiful it is,” Lolley said. “I looked all over these
two or three counties, and Alex City seemed like a very personable town. I love people, but I also like my country way of living. I love it out here (in Jacksons Gap).” Lolley was all too pleased to talk about his yolo boards, sea doos and his beloved Harley, saying “I like this side of the lake because you can get out and play in it.” But after playing, Lolley has to get back to a grueling football schedule. The CFL allows 20 weeks to play 18 games, not
including preseason or potential playoffs. After the Tiger-Cats’ first game, Lolley spent a week at home in Jacksons Gap, catching up with old friends from Auburn and enjoying his time alone. But now he’ll return to his first love. “You have to be resilient to coach or play up there because it is a tough game and a tough business,” Lolley said. “It’s a very long season, so I’ve always said if you can do without it, you better not go. But I just can’t do
Guntersville
continued from page 9
openers for him because he obviously doesn’t see the results of a spawn while fishing with a rod and reel. “We feel a lot better about the lake now,” Carter said. “The number of fingerlings we saw was more than the biologists were expecting. It was a big shock for me. They told me to begin with that if we saw eight or 10 fish in a seine haul, it would be good. There were times we were getting 25 or 30 fish in a seine. “When the biologists were trying to tell us this at our previous meetings, it was hard to soak it in until you get out there and experience it firsthand. I highly Submitted / Dept. of Natural Resources commend Mr. Keith Floyd for inviting me along.” Those seine hauls revealed an abundance of Carter said he and his customers bass fingerlings in the lake. caught a good many small fish last fall and this spring, which gives him hope for spawn this past spring. the future. Keith Floyd, WFF Fisheries biologist, “We were spoiled,” he said. “Everybody led a crew to four locations on the lake to is looking at what we had four to five do seine hauls to check the number of bass years ago. In my opinion, I think that’s fingerlings in the area. coming back.” “We did 11 seine hauls and caught 221 Abernethy reiterated a great spawn fingerlings,” Floyd said. “That’s an averdoesn’t necessarily translate into a great age of 20 per seine haul. That’s pretty year-class. good from what we normally see. It’s hard “Fertility has a lot to do with it,” he to get an idea of what that means until next said. “The fertility of Guntersville is just spring, but it does mean the bass have right, not too high or too low. It’s in the spawned and spawned pretty heavily.” range where you can grow bigger bass. Floyd took several concerned people The vegetation contributes to it. If you with him on the seine hauls, including have a weedy lake, you find a lot of big Guntersville fishing guide Mike Carter, bream. Big bream grow big bass. That’s who had enjoyed the outstanding fishing why fluctuation in the vegetation levels of a few years ago. can impact your populations. “Mike was very surprised how many “The vegetation also makes the bass were in there,” Floyd said of the seine. at Guntersville easier to catch. It con“I showed Mike some of the long-term centrates the fish on those weed edges. data back to the late ’80s. That cycle he The fish are sitting there ready to ambush had been fishing on for the last 10 years and not having to roam around and look was not normal. The lake is now back to for food. If you were to compare the fish the long-term-average mode. They’re still population in Guntersville to some of catching nice fish, just a little smaller than our other lakes, you might be surprised what they had gotten used to.” to see that they’re not all that different. Carter said the seine hauls were eyeBut they’re a whole lot easier to catch at
Guntersville.” Although the Lake Guntersville Conservation Group has plans to stock largemouth bass in the lake, Abernethy said it will likely have no biological impact. “If the goal is to increase abundance, it’s not going to do that,” Abernethy said. “Stocking can introduce desirable genetic traits into the population. We did that 25 years ago by introducing Florida bass into the lake. Right now we have about 30 percent Florida alleles in those bass.” Florida bass grow fast and big, but the Florida strain is more easily affected by weather changes, especially cold fronts. “We don’t want to go much higher than 30 percent,” Abernethy said. “Then we’ll end up with a bunch of big fish you can’t catch.” Abernethy said other Alabama lakes that benefitted from the 2007-08 yearclass are also settling back down into traditional fishing success. “The bump from that drought spawn is not as evident in other lakes as it was in Guntersville,” he said. “We don’t really know why we got the bump, but it was correlated with the drought and their ability to survive the winter. “And I don’t want people to think the fishing is not good. It might seem bad when you’re coming out of those glory years. We’re settling back to regular years. We’re not concerned about the fishery. It’s just natural variation. It’s happened many, many times before and will continue to happen. It’s environmental variables that we can’t control. All we can do is control harvest, and harvest is not what’s causing the fluctuations.” David Rainer is employed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He writes a weekly column titled Outdoor Alabama Weekly.
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always relevant. The limiting factor is how many survive that first winter. What’s really important is how many you have left the following spring. Environmental factors and species interactions, such as predation and competition, determine that. In theory, you could have a light spawn one year and a heavy spawn the next year and end up with exactly the same number of fish after one year.” Abernethy said bass will lay thousands of eggs because most of them will not survive predation and environmental conditions. “Then some years, the stars will align and that’s what happened in ’08,” he said. “Most bass can live about 10 years, although some can live beyond that. Speaking on population levels, 10 years out, that spawn is essentially gone. That’s what has happened at Guntersville. “There are a few really big fish being caught now. Those are likely the remnants of that ’08 class. That 40-pound bag Casey Martin caught in March was impressive, but the two 30-pound bags at the Alabama Bass Trail were more impressive to me. You don’t see many 30-pound bags in June. There are still some big bass out there, but they will be gone soon, and we’ll be back to normal.” Of course, normal at Guntersville still yields impressive catches of 5- to 8-pound bass. “That ’08 class was such an unusual occurrence,” Abernethy said. “We have never documented a year-class like that. But we do have some pretty decent yearclasses coming up. I don’t see the lake in decline. I see it settling back to where it ought to be. Even when Guntersville is normal, it’s better than most lakes by far.” To allay some of the concerns of those affected anglers and property owners, WFF Fisheries field personnel took a minnow seine to several locations around the lake to check the success of the bass
125 ALEXANDER CITY OUTLOOK
YEARS OF SERVICE
June 2017 A special supplement to The Alexander City Outlook and the Dadeville Record
2
125 YEARS
JUNE 2017
ONE GOOD CELEBRATION DESERVES ANOTHER. We’re proud to honor Tallapoosa Publishers’ milestone in the same year that USAmeriBank is celebrating our own tradition. While we are commemorating our 10th anniversary, the heritage of our service in Alabama goes back 116 years. Our local bankers are grateful for the vital part that Tallapoosa Publishers has played in our community for generations.
CO N G RAT U LAT I O N S
TALLAPOOSA PUBLISHERS!
Mill Square (256) 329-7510
Alexander City (256) 329-7400
Dadeville (256) 215-7300
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Member FDIC #0047-201706-0001
JUNE 2017
125 YEARS
3
The Outlook A 125-year historical expedition By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The Alexander City Outlook celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. To best understand how the paper began and how it has evolved since first being published, one has to take a look not only at the men who have owned the paper since its beginning, but also its contents and appearance. The first newspaper in Alexander City, The Beacon, was published in 1884 by Adolphus Longshore. Longshore published The Beacon until 1887, when it was sold to John Williamson. Upon acquiring the paper, Williamson changed its name to The Vidette. He remained in control for approximately a year, selling it to a group of citizens consisting of T.S. Christian, Sr. and R.N. Parker. Their acquisition signaled another change in the publication’s name, this time becoming The Advance until 1890, when it took on its fourth name, The Dispatch. Parker sold his share of the paper to Captain J.D. Dickson in 1892, when the name was changed for the final time, becoming The Outlook. The publication continued to change hands over the next nearly 80 years, going from Dickson to the group of Fitz. O. Hooton, Joe Grimsley and Earnest Winder. Hooton bought out his partners and was the sole owner of The Outlook for two decades. J.C. Henderson, commonly referred to as “the Ole Crier,” became both publisher and owner after that, owning the publication for much of the 20th century. In 1971, Henderson and co-owner Thomas D. Russell sold The Outlook to James B. Boone, Jr. and the Boone Newspaper organization. Current owner (and then-publisher) Kenneth Boone purchased Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. (a group formed by Boone Newspaper that The Outlook had become a part of) from his father in late 1991. Even though the paper has changed hands many times, the overall mission of the paper has remained the same. Its appearance has varied, but the goal of reporting the news to the public still holds firm, whether it involves major events or local social gatherings.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, The Outlook carried what could essentially be considered a gossip column, referred to as both “Personals” and “Comings and Goings,” depending on when it was published. Proclaiming itself as “Pleasant Mentioning of Prominent People,” this section carried brief notes of what notable locals and out-of-towners visiting Alexander City were up to. These lines were as simple as “Mr. Sim Thomas of Nixburg, was in town last week,” or as in-depth as “Judge R. A. J. Cumbee who has been on the road for several days circulating among his many friends, returned home this place today. The Judge is full of life and encouragement.” While the paper has always kept a close eye on local events, it has also managed to effectively tell state and national stories as well, even finding ways to put a local aspect on a larger story. For example, the local headlines announcing Arthur Surprise from North Carolina as the new secretary-manager for the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce and September 3 as the first day of school for the Tallapoosa County School System had to settle for sitting under a large, bold headline screaming, “JAPS SURRENDER: World War II Ends Tuesday; Glad Tidings Announced At White House By Mr. Truman,” in the August 16, 1945 issue. On Wednesday, January 29, 1986, The Outlook carried a story about the Challenger disaster, interviewing a teacher at Radney Elementary School recounting how she explained the event to her children who watched the event unfold live and a chemistry instructor at Central Alabama Community College talking about how volatile the liquid fuel used on the shuttle was. The issue of September 12, 2001 carried a photograph of the Twin Towers with smoke and flames erupting from the structures, while the articles surrounding it examined the situation both nationally and locally. On one side, the article recounted the major events of that Tuesday. On the other side, the story carried comments from Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions along with Congressman Bob
Riley. Underneath the photo, the superintendents from both the Alexander City and Tallapoosa County school system, the Alexander City fire and police chiefs, and Alexander City Mayor Don McClellan talked about emergency and contingency plans for major situations. Advertisements have always been a big part of newspapers, giving the public a heads-up about the latest sales and new store openings. More recently, it has become more commonplace to have an inserted section full of the latest bargains at stores around the area, but advertisements that stretched across one or more pages were a frequent occurrence in the past. Take for instance, the May 6, 1960 issue. Spread across two pages, Piggly Wiggly wanted customers to know they had some of the best prices in town to help make a great meal to celebrate mother. The large, bold print let readers see that ground beef (makes delicious meatloaf) was 39 cents a pound and Plymouth ice cream would only cost 59 cents for a halfgallon container. A couple pages later, David’s Jewelry wanted Alexander City to know of its grand opening celebrations that Friday and Saturday, enticing potential customers in with gift giveaways and free Coca-Colas available all day both days. So, while The Outlook has gone from printing in black and white to full-color and from a weekly to five days a week, the stories covered remain the same. There may no longer be a column talking about local people traveling from town to town, and advertisements from stores like Belk and A&P may have been replaced with ones from Dollar General and Harbor Freight, but some things have stayed the same. For the past 125 years, The Alexander City Outlook has continued to provide its readers with the news they need and want in the best and most effective manner possible.
Shown is The Outlook from 1892, top, and the current look 2017, below.
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125 YEARS
JUNE 2017
Outlook blessed to be part of this community for 125 years I became publisher of The Outlook in 1989, the same year that the Berlin Wall came down. Chicago’s “Look Away” was the biggest single of the year and the next three biggest songs were “My Prerogative” by Bobby Brown, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison and “Straight Up” by Paula Abdul. 1989 was also the year that the first written proposal for something called the “world wide web” was created. Let’s just say it was a while ago. I was 29 – young and green for a daily newspaper publisher having just left the managing editor’s job at The Selma Times-Journal – and I threw myself into the business of The Outlook, the news of Alexander City and Tallapoosa County and the task of promoting and working to improve our community. In 1991, I purchased Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., from my father’s company, Boone Newspapers, Inc. I have owned the company for 26 years now. Adding in a summer job here as an intern when I was a teenager and the few years when I was publisher but not yet owner, I think I’ve been associated with The Outlook in one way or the other for roughly 29 years. I had two seven-year stints as publisher, 1989-1996 and 2009-2016. Most of that time I was publisher and editor, but I wised up several times and hired good editors in an attempt to get eight hours of sleep each night. For years, people would tell me they saw me at every event in town. That was my goal … and it was a lot of hard work. But I enjoyed it and I saw the newspaper grow and thrive at a time when Russell Corp. was going gangbusters. That’s when Russell was a Fortune 500 company and one of best textile companies in America. Everybody here was on top of the world for a number of years in the early 90’s. I was also sitting in the publisher’s chair when Russell Corp. was moving out of our hometown, a time when many thought Alexander City would wind up a ghost town. That didn’t happen. We – a whole lot of us – worked very hard to rebuild our town. And somehow we succeeded. I don’t know of any other small, rural Southern town that could have withstood the loss of a company that employed the majority of its working residents, yet today Alexander City has record low unemployment, new businesses are popping up every month and downtown looks substan-
Kenneth and Mary Lyman Boone pose in the pressroom at Tallapoosa Publishers. They are committed to being involved in the community and keeping a family atmosphere at The Outlook.
tially better than it did during the golden age. One of my strongest memories and proudest moments as publisher of The Outlook was also one of the worst. It was February in the 1991. That was Parade month back then. We – everybody in the building – had worked extra hard and produced a 100-page special edition newspaper. Most of it was already printed and stacked on pallets on our pressroom floor, waiting to be inserted and delivered to our readers. I didn’t think much about the storm that came through that night. What I didn’t know was that underneath the concrete intersection of Cherokee Road and South Central – and in the storm drain underneath The Outlook’s building – there was a (not literally) beaver dam of sticks, brush and debris. So when the storm dumped rainfall on the city, it filled the storm drains, then hit the clog and backed up in that creek that flows behind the library and under our building.
I got to The Outlook at 8 a.m. that rainy morning and walked back into the composing room. Billy McGhee was putting an ad together with wax and an Exacto knife when he looked into carpeted corner of the room and said, “What’s that?” For a moment, it looked like a dark stain in the gray carpet. Then we noticed it was growing. Billy walked into the pressroom to investigate and came back hollering. The water had backed up over our parking lot and was pouring under the garage door into our pressroom. It was already up to ankle level, which was getting very close to the Parade edition sections stacked on pallets on the floor. At its peak, the dirty water was just below my knees in the pressroom and about ankle-deep as it flowed out through our front door. That’s my worst memory. The strongest and the proudest memory is how every member of The Outlook’s staff stopped what they were doing, rolled up their sleeves and their pant legs, and teamed up to save the parade edition
first, and then our whole newspaper business. Advertising sales reps, writers, composition folks – everybody was hauling paper and equipment to higher ground, or using push brooms to sweep water through the building, or doing what they could to make a bad situation better. We saved the Parade edition. And once the water started to recede, we produced a newspaper for the next day and never missed a beat. It’s hard to convey just how much employees like that mean to a new business owner. That can-do attitude is part of the culture here in Alexander City. I believe it’s the No. 1 reason that Alexander City is thriving today despite major setbacks. For that I’m forever thankful and blessed to be a part of this community, and this business, for 29 years of The Outlook’s 125 years. Boone is chairman of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.
JUNE 2017
125 YEARS
5
Thanks to our readers, our advertisers and our community H ere at The Outlook, we have much to be thankful for as we celebrate our 125 th year of service to the people of Alexander City and Tallapoosa County. First and foremost, we are thankful for you, our readers, and we hope that you will continue to trust us to cover your community earnestly, truthfully and accurately. In a time when some people think that Facebook is a great source for news, we are blessed to have a loyal group of people who still believe their day is not complete if they haven’t read The Outlook. We thank all those who have made us their source for local news. Our advertisers mean the world to us all. We thank them for allowing us to help them grow and tell their story. We can never express just how much we appreciate you trusting us to help get word out to your customers about the good things happening in your business. We are also thankful for the tenacity of the people in our hometown. Alexander City has seen its share of tough times. However, this hardworking community appears to have put its broad shoulders to the task of rebounding and overcome deep eco-
nomic wounds that would have sent other towns belly-up into a future of foundering – if any future at all. The wonderful part of the Alexander City story is that we feel there are even better days to come. For that we are thankful. We are thankful for everyone who has allowed us to share with us the ups and downs of their lives – allowing us to herald their wins and consoling them in their losses. You have shared your stories and your lives with us and our readers. We are proud of every article that was put under a refrigerator magnet or clipped and pasted into a scrapbook. That is what this newspaper has always been about and it will remain the same for the years to come. We thank you for 125 great years, where our readers have welcomed The Outlook into their home, gave a little bit of their valuable time to us so that we can help inform them and make their lives a little better. We hope that you will continue to allow us to make you laugh, cry, scratch your head a little and most of all make you think. Thanks you all for a great 125 years and we look forward to a great future together.
Shown above is the April 29, 1958 issue of The Alexander City Outlook.
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JUNE 2017
Outlook delivers local news While people and technology have changed, newspaper has adapted with the times By MITCH SNEED Editor
When people receive their paper each day, it may not be apparent what all goes into producing those 12 or so pages that they hold in their hands. While some people scan the pages and look for headlines or a picture that catches their eye, consider all the information that each edition of The Outlook contains. On average, you will find 18 stories, articles or columns on the pages of each Outlook. Each edition averages seven color pictures, seven cartoons, two puzzles, 163 classified ads, 14 display ads for local businesses, five pre-printed circulars and 42 calendar items and mentions the name of at least 76 local folks. The Outlook is a business that has gone through a lot of changes over the years. We have gone from being weekly, to twice a week, to daily. We now do much more than just our newspaper. We have two very successful, slick magazines that reach nearly 20,000 people per month. We have websites and social media outlets that allow us to give people information how they want it, when they want it. Our coverage now includes videos and live broadcasts that are viewed by thousands of people. We’ve gone from a manual process to produce the paper to a sophisticated digital process that means we can print color pictures on every page of our newspaper and turn them around in seconds, rather than hours. While we print a newspaper each day, we are a business that starts each day from scratch and produces a brand new product, one that is designed to give our readers an accurate and complete snapshot of what the day in Alexander City is really like. Our office is open just nine hours each day, but we have employees on the job around the clock. Our reporters are armed with scanners and cameras ready to respond to news no matter when or where it happens. They can go live on social media so that our readers are always informed. Get the picture? The Outlook is dedicated to being the information source, news and advertising, for Alexander City and all of the Lake Martin community. “We feel privileged to tell the story, be the watchdog, keep the permanent record of Tallapoosa County and the people who call it home,” Outlook Publisher Steve Baker said. “We produce an award-winning quality newspaper every day, and I consider myself lucky to lead such a committed team.”
The press at The Alexander City Outlook is the centerpiece of the operation. Top, Albert Thompson, Charles Stephens and Press Superintendent Jimmy Nolen look over papers as they come off the press in 1971, the year that the first color pictures were published in the paper. Below, today Press Supervisor Lee Champion is able to print color pictures on every page of the paper. Champion has been honored for three consecutive years for Press Production by the Alabama Press Association.
JUNE 2017
125 YEARS
55
125
people are employed by Tallapoosa Publishers counting fulltime, part-time, and contractors. Each and every one of them play a vital role in making sure the paper that is in the hands of the reader is written, produced and delivered in a professional manner.
That’s the number of years The Outlook has been operating in Alexander City.
We publish a paper
5
9
13,926
days a week
people follow us on Facebook. We reach out to an average of
52 weeks a year
3,300
260
That’s how many Outlook’s are printed each day.
858,000
That adds up to
16,500
That’s how many papers we publish with That’s the number of the exception Alexander City Outlooks of leap year. that we print every year.
papers printed per week.
396,428 That’s the average number of page views that we have each month on alexandercityoutlook.com
72,556 people per week.
5,280 That’s the average number of readers who see our paper each day.
10
125 YEARS
JUNE 2017
Alexander City Outlook continues to make a difference in community
T
he woman came in the front door and asked for our reporter by name. Someone, likely Darlene Yates, stepped around the short wall that separated the reception area from the space occupied by the newsroom, then communicated the customer’s request. The visitor, Darlene said, seemed a bit upset. I always worried when that happened. Because unlike in bigger places, the people who work for The Alexander City Outlook don’t live lives separate from the folks they cover. Those folks were, and are, our neighbors. They’re people who stop you in the grocery aisle and suggest a story. People who call and tell you how hard it is to see that picture of the fatal wreck on the front page and ask what the heck you were thinking by publishing it there. People who shout “take my picture” on the sidelines of a Benjamin Russell game or insist “don’t take my picture” when you’re trying to fill out the last slot in a “Man on the Street” feature. Back in the day, back in
KA TURNER Outlook editor (1992-1998) my day, they might make that mean chicken salad sandwich at Carlisle’s or compete with Al Hartley to see who could actually grow the biggest and best tomatoes in town. Or know I’d pay the tab when my very young nephew up and ordered the biggest steak at Cecil’s. They took me fishing (a lot, but never enough) and let us call it work because the stories showed up in the Lake Martin Fishwrapper. They knew that good services were held every Sunday in the Fishpond community and that the Ole’ Crier was full of wit and wisdom. They may even have stonewalled when asked about a hospital tax (yep, it was over-collected) or worried about winning the water war with Georgia. They made uniforms for Major League
baseball players and NFL football players, and sweatshirts and T-shirts for us all. They searched for people in rescue boats and saved people while wearing police or fire uniforms. They delivered papers in the middle of the night and turned around to preach sermons on Sundays. They were, almost unfailingly, kind to me, and to the young reporters we sent out into our little part of the world to write their stories or take their pictures. They expected our best efforts and did not tolerate anything akin to “fake news.” Most of all, they wanted Alexander City to prosper – a sentiment that Kenneth Boone communicated when he hired me, one that he and his family and those who worked in our merry band understood and embraced. Our newspaper is an economic driver, putting people to work, pairing business owners and customers, buying supplies and services. And it is something more. Then and now, The Outlook reflects the community – its warts and its winsome qualities, its dreams and
realities. It is, at its best, a catalyst that pushes people to act. Which brings me back to that day, and that visitor, who had read a story in the paper that concerned her, and brought her to our door. We’d written of a local couple raising four adult children (each with special needs) whose home had burned, the fire also robbing the family’s father of the tools he used to make a living for them all. Was our information incorrect? Did we make a mistake of fact, or commit an error or judgment or taste that had offended the family? No, our visitor that day didn’t want a correction. She came into the newspaper office and pressed a $100 bill into the hand of the reporter who wrote that story because she knew of no other trusted way to get connect with the family. It was just one day in a long history of days. It was a day in which The Outlook made a difference. KA Turner is now a Senior Editor with Alabama Media Group. Turner was the editor of the Outlook from 1992-1998.
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125 YEARS
11
Headlines and more from the past 125 years November 11, 1892
• The World’s Fair, Something big about this Exposition
April 3, 1941
• Alexander City has modern casket factory
May 28, 1897
• The political circus will open up in Tallapoosa County with a flourish of trumpets when all the candidates for probate judge get out.
May 1, 1941
• Frohsin’s celebrates half-century in Alexander City
December 18, 1941
January 5, 1900
• The New Light Plant in Full Operation
January 27, 1903
• New railroad, Trunk line from Brunswick to Birmingham
• Alexander City grief stricken at Russell Death • Sudden heart attack takes life of local industrialist and state leader • Many out of town friends at Russell funeral service
March 1943
August 25, 1905
• Court Grindings, WS Ham vs. ID Nolen, judgment for the plaintiff for 27 dollars • Wanted, six young women to do work in knitting mill, light work, good pay, Russell MFG. Go.
• War Bond dinner and dance to by bomber ‘Spirit of Tallapoosa County’ • Classified ad for a ‘Good’ 1932 Chevrolet for $187.50
July 1944
• Gene Autry performs in “Gaucho Serenade” at the Strand Theatre.
June 19, 1908
• Cornerstone of our new school building laid
August 9, 1945
• Battle begins on Alabama Income Tax Amendment
January 6, 1914
• People urged to pay road tax, must also pay poll tax by February 1 if they plan to vote in 1915
January 26, 1916
• Steverson and Russell purchase timber rights
August 23, 1916
• Boll Weevil playing havoc with cotton
November 8, 1916
• Bettie-Francis mill puts on night shift, mill recently doubled its capacity greatly enlarging its payroll
April 25, 1917
• Canning factory for Alexander City assured • Newsite item, A crowd of our young people enjoyed a singing at Mr. Booner’s Sunday.
June 12, 1922
• Central urges cooperation, will conduct crossing campaign
October 25, 1925
• Cherokee Bluff Dam to be dedicated Nov. 7
April 26, 1928
• Magnificent new theatre started with a bang in spite of downpour
August 3, 1933
• Gold mine here to open by Christmas to employ about 75, Operation of Hog Mountain Mine to be resumed
November 15, 1945
• The Outlook will be published twice each week beginning Nov. 27 • Avondale Mills place orders for new equipment
April 1947
• Carrollton Georgia vs. Alex City Millers Baseball at Byers field • 10 pound bag of flout for 93 cents • Ray’s Grocery and Fruit Stand on the Dadeville Highway had fish dinners for two for $1.50.
March 7, 1950
• Parking meter revenue will go to city schools, $12,000 to $15,000 annually to help pay 10 new teachers • False clues pile up in murder case
November 24, 1953
• School to bear Jim Pearson name
January 23, 1958
• Alexander City to be a ‘college town’
Jan. 1958
• Shoe Sale at Scarbrough’s, ladies’ dress shoes for $2.99 a pair, children’s for $1.99 a pair • Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commandents” was showing at the Strand Theatre with 50 cent and $1.25 tickets.
July 31, 1961
• Thousands enjoy Wind Creek Park facilities at dedication CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
12
125 YEARS
JUNE 2017
April 2, 1964
August 8, 1996
• Horseshoe Bend Park is dedicated
• Fish study will turn Tallapoosa purple
July 4, 1967
• Wind Creek Park owner Omer McGhee reported 12,000 visited the park, 6,000 were campers and no tables were available after 9 a.m. • 10 pound bag of potatoes was 59 cents at Piggly Wiggly.
August 24, 1996
• City plans boat ramp on Coley Creek
March 8, 1997
• Commissioner found guilty of fraud
September 1967
March 27 1997
• Goodyear Tires were advertised at $15 each.
• Cornell confident CACC programs safe
August 11, 1974
April 8, 1997
• Halfway house will help those who want to be helped
• Russell earns top honor from Sears
June 20, 1977
• County: Let’s try year round school
January 27, 1998
• Maxwell gunned down at funeral
Feburary 11, 1998
January 27, 1983
• 300 jobs lost as Premier Knits closes
• Coach ‘Bear’ Bryant dies
May 5, 1987
July 1, 1998
• Sportplex opening day big success
• Russell responds to rumor of move
November 17, 1990
August 26, 1998
• Blan’s plane found
• Russell to close No. 1 sewing plant
January 5, 1991
May 1, 1999
• Guard prepares for desert move
• City looking to attract new businesses
January 12, 1991
• Start using area codes Sunday
June 8, 1999
February 1, 1991
• 3-year-old cut in dispute over pacifier
March 7, 1991
• No date to finish U.S. 280 4-laning
August 10, 1991
• Mamie’s Place to begin construction after three years preparation
August 21, 1991
• Russell consolidates local plants
• County ready to plan for new jail
January 12, 2000
• New landfill site debated
January 23, 2000
• Foundry’s new process adds 80 jobs
February 5, 2000
• School board rehires 230 teachers, proration causes county officials to cut two teachers
July 1, 200
• Stillwaters makes cutbacks
August 29, 1991
August 11, 2000
• Toddler mauled by pit bulldog
• Traffic flow to get an assist from roundabout
September 12, 1991
• Scores of dead fish surface on Lake Martin
July 21, 2001
• Jobless numbers increase
January 2, 1992
August 7, 2001
• Governor to sign truce in water war
• Council uses funds to open economic development account
March 12, 1992
• New jail ready for criminal occupants
March 19, 1992
• Landfill plans include incinerator
April 21, 1993
• Mayor, council battle over pay increase
May 6, 1993
• Gap makes headlines for Enquiring minds
May 21, 1993
• Russell plans four-day shutdown
February 28, 1995
• City tries to take on mosquitoes
March 14, 1995
• Nation, city reel from terrorist attacks on U.S.
November 3, 1993
• Plane makes emergency runway of 63
May 27, 1994
• Officers seize $14 million in pot plants
August 30, 2001
• Search for Chanty turns to search for killer
September 12, 2001
• Local Habitat gets ‘right to work’
July 10, 1996
• ER docs treat fireworks injures
December 8, 2001
• Hometown pride: BRHS wins first state title
July 18, 1996
January 14, 1995
• Still no budget
• Officials: we won’t know E. coli source
March 1, 2002
Local girl to help ring closing bell with Hank Aaron, Russell
JUNE 2017
125 YEARS
OUTLOOK SPORTS:
13
Great area athletes graced pages of the newspaper
By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
Over the course of 125 years, there were bound to be a lot of athletes from Tallapoosa County to have gone on to do great things. But for a few small towns in Alabama, this county has certainly made a great name for itself in the world of sports. From vintage baseball teams to Benjamin Russell making a mark on the high school wrestling world to a handful of players advancing to the big leagues, athletes from this area have made their mark over the last 125 years. In recent years, The Alexander City Outlook has added Central Coosa to its sports coverage, and many Cougars have also gone on to do great things. Here is a sampling of some of the best athletes The Outlook has covered in its history.
Terrell Owens Benjamin Russell Class of 1993 Between his controversial comments, flamboyant touchdown celebrations and his constant snubs for the NFL Hall of Fame, Terrell Owens is easily one of the most talked about athletes in Outlook history. Despite having the second-most receiving yards and third-most touchdowns in NFL history, Owens wasn’t necessarily a shoe-in for the NFL after his time at Benjamin Russell High School. Owens didn’t start on the football field until his junior year. As a Wildcat, Owens was a four-sport athlete, also participating in baseball, track and basketball. “Terrell’s most exceptional characteristics when he was at Benjamin Russell were his work ethic, his enthusiasm and his passion to play,” said Steve Savarese, Owens’ former coach, in 2015. “He was a latedeveloping student-athlete that only developed because of the strong support he had at home in his mom and the support of the coaches at Benjamin Russell, not just the football coaches, but the track coach, the basketball coaches, all of them.” Owens was also a multi-sport athlete at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he not only played in the Senior Bowl,
he also performed in the 1995 NCAA Basketball Tournament and anchored the school’s 4x100 relay team. Just a third-round draft pick, Owens has been selected for the Pro Bowl six times. His 15,934 receiving yards are second all-time behind only Jerry Rice, and only Rice and Randy Moss have more receiving touchdowns than Owens’ 153.
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125 YEARS
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Jimmy ‘Red’ Phillips Benjamin Russell Class of 1954 A member of Benjamin Russell High School’s first freshman class, Jimmy “Red” Phillips immediately jumped onto the sports scene as a Wildcat. He led the team to a football state championship in 1953, was named to the all-state team and lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track. “I don’t think I missed but two days during my four years playing sports at Benjamin Russell,” Phillips told Lake magazine in 2007 Phillips’ resume continued to grow at Auburn University, where Phillips was a unanimous AllAmerican in 1957 after helping the team to a national championship. Phillips played tight end and defensive end, and now has a scholarship in his name established by the Lake Martin Auburn Club. An Auburn captain, Phillips was sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1957. Success didn’t end in college for Phillips, who was drafted fifth overall by the Los Angeles Rams. He played seven years
for the Rams and three years for the Minnesota Vikings and was named to the Pro Bowl three times. He led the league in receptions in 1961 and was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. “As a player, he may have been the first receiver that had that blinding kind of speed,” said Vince Dooley, a Hall of Fame former coach of the University of Georgia, following Phillips’ death in 2015. “He was a see-you-later alligator guy if there ever was one. Before Jimmy, there weren’t many guys like that.”
Justin Tuck Central Coosa Although his first love was basketball, Justin Tuck was a football standout from the start of his freshman year in high school. After his senior season at Coosa, Tuck was named the Alabama Class 4A Player of the Year and lettered at both linebacker and tight end. For his career, Tuck had 492 tackles, 37 sacks and 17 fumble recoveries as well as 115 catches for 2,106 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was also a member of two state basketball championships. Tuck continued his career at Notre Dame, where he still holds the records for sacks in a career (24.5), tackles for a loss in a season (43) and sacks in a season (13). Tuck was a third round NFL draft pick and won a pair of Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants.
Adalius Thomas Central Coosa
An eventual Super Bowl champion, Adalius Thomas was actually a standout in basketball at Central Coosa as part of the Cougars’ first state championship team in 1995. Thomas was named the Alabama Class 4A Player of the Year as a senior. He was an All-State selection in football as well. Thomas became a star defensive end at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year honors twice during his career. He was named a Freshman AllAmerican in 1996, and was a power forward for the Golden Eagles’ basketball team, making him the first player in school history to play both sports. Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2000, Thomas is a two-time Pro Bowler, one-time First-Team All-Pro selectionand a Super Bowl champion. He led the NFL in nonoffensive touchdowns in 2005.
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125 YEARS
15
Kendall Graveman Benjamin Russell Class of 2009 Now the No. 1 pitcher on the Oakland Athletics’ staff, Kendall Graveman has had one of the most successful baseball careers for an Alexander City player, and it all started right here at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex. “When you venture out and go to other places and see different parts of the country like I have, youth sports are not a priority in some places,” Graveman said. “When I go home and remember how everyone helps to put on a great atmosphere of just loving the kids and giving them a nice place to play, that’s special.” A two-sport athlete at BRHS, Graveman led the Wildcats to both the football and baseball playoffs. As a senior, he posted a 6-3 record a 1.19 ERA to go along with 90 strikeouts in 63 innings of work. Graveman went on to play for Mississippi State, where he started all 10 SEC games during his senior year. Against conference opponents, he was 4-4 with a 2.81 ERA and 59 strikeouts. In 2013, Graveman was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays and
worked his way through the minor leagues before earning a spot on the team in 2014 as part of a roster expansion. He was then traded to Oakland, where he became the A’s only consistent starter in 2016 and was given opening day duties in 2017. “The first thing I take away is just treat everyone the same, no matter how big or small you feel like you’ve made it” Graveman said of his journey to the MLB. “To have that upbringing in Alex City that I was able to have, it’s not easy. There’s no shortcut; it’s always going to take hard work. And to the parents, invest in your kid’s life, on or off the field.” a Reeltown assistant coach, adding another state title to his resume.
Lee Williams, Benjamin Russell
Lee Williams, one of the most decorated amateur golfers, got his start at Benjamin Russell High School. As a senior in 2001, he was an individual state champion and helped the Wildcats to a team championship as well. Before turning pro, Williams already had impressive resume. At Auburn University, he was a three-time All-American and twotime Academic All-American and he was also a runner-up in the NCAA Championship in 2003. Williams was a two-time Walker Club Team Member, a World Amateur Team Member and a semifinalist in the 2003 Amateur. Williams has appeared in several U.S. Opens, with his best finish coming in 2006 when he tied for 40th.
Clarence Martin, Benjamin Russell
A standout at Western Kentucky, Clarence Martin started 113 games with the Hilltoppers, totaling 888 points, 684 rebounds and 198 blocked shots in his career. Martin was selected by the Utah Jazz in the third round of the NBA Draft in 1987 but played as a professional in Japan instead.
Willie Carl Martin, Laurel
Jackie O’Neal, Reeltown
A two-time All-State running back, O’Neal is more revered for his coaching days with the Reeltown Rebels. A college player at Livingston (now the University of West Alabama) where he is the fourth-leading rusher in school history, O’Neal scored 18 career touchdowns and still holds the school record for longest touchdown reception – a 94-yarder in 1974. Prior to O’Neal being inducted into the UWA Hall of Fame in 2007, O’Neal returned to his hometown to become head football coach for 28 years, amassing a career record of 241-110. He won two state championships as a coach and was named Coach of the Year in 1991, 1992, 200, 2001 and 2009. He also spent many years as
Most famously known for being the first black person offered a scholarship to Alabama, Martin was a decorated athlete at Laurel High School. He was a two-time All-State player and was named an All-American despite the Hornets finishing 1-8 in his senior season. Bear Bryant offered Martin a scholarship, but he turned it down to go to a historically black college, Northeastern State. Martin then went on to the CFL, where he won two Grey Cup titles with the Edmonton Eskimos and was named to the All-Canada team several times in his career with Edmonto, Hamilton, Toronto and Winnipeg. Martin returned to Alex City, where he was a coach at Benjamin Russell for about 20 years, including seven as head coach. He led the Wildcats to the 2001 state championship.
Johnny “Lefty” Watwood
A native of Alexander City, Johnny “Lefty” Watwood attended Auburn
University before becoming an outfielder in the MLB for 10 seasons. Mainly an outfielder, Watwood entered the majors in 1929 with the Chicago White Sox. He also had stints with the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. In the 1930s, Watwood posted career highs in games (133), batting average (.382), runs (75), RBIs (51), extra-base hits (31) and on-base percentage (.382) for the most productive season of his career. For his career, Watwood had five home runs and plated 158 runs in 469 games. In 299 outfield appearance, he finished with a collective .948 fielding percentage with just 40 errors in 766 total chances.
Holly Ragsdale, Dadeville The Class 3A Player of the Year in 2006, Holly Ragsdale holds career records at Central Alabama Community College with 53 wins, a 0.59 ERA and 547 strikeouts. She was named All-Central League Player of the Year in 2008 before continuing her career at Auburn University. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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125 YEARS Jamario Moon, Central Coosa
After one year at Meridian Community College, Jamario Moon went undrafted. He played in several NBA Development Leagues and competed with the Harlem Globetrotters in 2004 before signing a two-year deal with the Toronto Raptors in 2007. Moon played a total of 286 games in the NBA, finishing with an average of 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
Mike Boyd, New Site
Mike Boyd was an all-state selection in 1970 and returned to New Site as a basketball coach for 30 years. In 2013, the Horseshoe Bend School gymnasium was renamed in his honor.
Lindsey Harrelson, Benjamin Russell
A member of the first girls basketball from BRHS to go to the state softball tournament, Harrelson went on to play for Central Alabama Community College and led the Trojans to the 2006 ACCC Championship. She continued her career at Auburn, where she started all 56 games as a junior and, after an injury, started 37 of 49 games as a senior.
Rex Barnes, Dadeville
Rex Barnes led Dadeville to a state championship in 1965 and was a twotime All-State selection. He went on to start at defensive tackle for Southern Miss and got the attention of Alabama coach Bear Bryant, who mentioned
Barnes several times on his Sunday replay show.
JUNE 2017
Rangers during his MLB career.
an estimated 40 home runs in four years at BRHS.
Scottie Vines, Benjamin Russell
Kyle Caldwell, Dadeville
An Alabama Sports Writers Association Super 12 selection and Class 4A Quarterback of the Year, Kyle Caldwell threw for 5,729 yards and 50 touchdowns as a Dadeville Tiger. He also played baseball and basketball, serving as captain in all three sports, and threw two touchdown passes in the final two minutes of the All-Star North-South Game to lead South to a 37-33 victory in 2011. Caldwell continued his football career at the University of West Alabama, where he was the runner-up for the Harlon Hill trophy in 2014. He finished his UWA career as the school’s all-time leader in total offense (9,090), passing yards (7,731) and touchdown passes (72). Caldwell returned to Dadeville, where he is currently the head baseball coach and the offensive coordinator for the football team.
Bill White, Benjamin Russell
A standout hitter in high school, Bill White was named to the All-State team as both a pitcher and outfielder. He went on to pitch at Jacksonville State and was drafted in the third round of the MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. White pitched for the
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A three-sport athlete in high school, Scottie Vines was named the Regional MVP in baseball and won an individual Class 6A state championship in the high jump. He graduated from BRHS in 1998 before playing for the University of Wyoming and eventually starting at wide receiver for the Detroit Lions. In his two-year NFL career, Vines amassed 468 yards on 43 receptions.
Richie Stowes, New Site
Richie Stowes was a first-team AllState selection in both football and basketball in 1991 and 1992.
Jerone Jackson, Benjamin Russell
A three-star sport, Jerone Jackson was an all-state quarterback before going on to be a three-year starter at the University of Georgia.
Rodney Crayton, Dadeville
Rodney Crayton was a three-sport star in the mid-1990s. He earned a spot on the All-State football team before taking his talents to the Auburn University secondary.
Russ Johnson, Benjamin Russell
A four-year standout at Benjamin Russell, Russ Johnson had plans to go to Jacksonville State University. Instead, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh round out of high school. Johnson smacked
Brad Ford, Dadeville
Beginning his college football career at Fresno City College, Ford eventually transferred to the University of Alabama before playing 14 games as rookie for the Detroit Lions.
Larry Hill, Benjamin Russell
Not only was Larry Hill a star football player, he was also a three-time state champion as a heavyweight wrestler in the mid-1960s. He went on to be a three-year starter at Auburn University at guard.
Cal Jones, Dadeville
After being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round in 2016, Cal Jones continues to be in the Royals’ system.
Donald Petrey, Alex City H.S.
A two-time All-State football player in high school, Donald Petrey attended Duke University on a football scholarship. He graduated from Alex City in 1935 and entered the military in 1942.
Greg Vinson, Benjamin Russell
Currently an elite fisherman, Greg Vinson earned All-State honors in both football and basketball at BRHS.
Abby Boone, Dadeville
Abby Boone was a first-team AllState selection from Dadeville’s girls basketball team in both 1996 and 1997.
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125 YEARS
17
Lemuel Cunningham: A loyal subscriber since after WWII By SANTANA WOOD Staff Writer
A
day in the life of 93-year-old Lemuel Cunningham is routine, but he likes it that way. He takes care of his family, tends to his garden and reads The Alexander City Outlook. Cunningham is one of The Outlook’s longest continuous subscribers. Cunningham comes down to The Outlook office each month to pay his subscription. He has been a loyal subscriber since the 1950s. According to Cunningham, one of the first things he did upon returning home from the war was subscribe to The Outlook. Cunningham is a World War II Veteran who served in the army for three years. He was stationed in England, France and Germany. “People sent me clippings when I was overseas,” Cunningham said. “When I got back home, that was one of the first things I did was go down and get a paper of my own.” His daughter says his routine is always the same. “He reads the paper on the front porch just about every morning,” said Mary Mayes, Cunningham’s daughter. “He can tell you everything in it, who died — everything.” Cunningham said the sports page and police reports are his favorite sections of the paper that he looks forward to reading first. The oldest living Cunningham in the family, Lemuel has lived in Alex City all of his life and still enjoys calling it home. The Cunninghams even have a street named after them—Cunningham Road is off Fish Pond Road. Cunningham has three children, two of whom are still living, six grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. Mayes said her father lives by himself, but she comes to check on him often. She said the family has encouraged him to live in an assisted living home, but he “won’t have it,” according to Mayes. She said he is independent and stubborn in that way. Cunningham takes care of himself, but also does a lot for the people around him and his family, including his daughter Flora Graham, who is bedridden. Mayes said her father helps Graham out all the time. He drives to town and picks up her prescriptions, groceries and anything else she may need. Mayes said taking care of others is just in her father’s nature. “He and my mother were divorced for 30 years,” Mayes said. “He had a common-law wife for several years and after she died, he and my mother got remarried and stayed together until she passed. He took care of her until the end.” Cunningham said his favorite things to do are work in his garden and cut grass. He also has a dog that he has had for several years. At age 88, Cunningham bought a new pickup truck and just recently renewed his license this year.
Santana Wood / The Outlook
Lemuel Cunningham is The Outlook’s longest subscriber. Mary Mayes, Cunningham’s daughter, said her father spends time each morning on his front porch reading the newspaper.
Mayes said he loves to drive. “He’s the only 93-year-old man I know who wears dress shoes everyday,” Mayes said. “He won’t wear tennis shoes or anything like that. He loves to get dressed up, too.” “I like to look sharp and young,” Cunningham said. Cunningham’s garden is full of beans, squash, cucumbers, okra, peppers and tomatoes. His fridge is also stocked up with his homegrown vegetables.
“I just hope that I can live to be his age and be as active as he is,” said Jesse Mayes, Cunningham’s son-in-law. “I hope I’m able to do the type of things he does.” Howard Shealey, Cunningham’s cousin and neighbor, often works with Cunningham in his garden and said he enjoys spending time with him. “He’s just gonna keep on working in his garden and reading the newspaper,” Shealey said. “That’s what he does and what he likes.”
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125 YEARS
JUNE 2017
The Outlook: Still a big deal in Alex City
Readers, employees express their appreciation for local newspaper STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
While newspaper readership across the country has fallen, that’s not the case in Alexander City. The Outlook still enjoys a large base of subscribers and still has people scrambling to the racks and sales counters to get their day started with their newspaper. What is different here? Editor Mitch Sneed said it’s the people who call the area home and the fact that The Outlook covers local news. “People in this town look at this newspaper as their paper,” Sneed said. “We don’t have major television stations here covering the news every day. They depend on us to keep them informed. That’s a big responsibility and we work hard to give them a newspaper they can be proud of.” Sneed said a trip to cover the opening of a new restaurant illustrates what it means to be “in the paper” to folks in this town. “I was at the grand opening for Dairy Queen and there were more than 200 people in line, waiting on the doors to open,” Sneed said. “Towards the back of the line there was a father and his two kids sitting on the curb waiting. When I got out of the truck with my camera the first thing I heard was all three of them saying ‘I want to be in The Outlook.’ “That doesn’t happen in other places. But here it means something for the paper to cover your game or event. It means something to have your picture or name in the paper. That’s why I love my job so much.” Barbara Young is a long-time educator, a former mayor and an avid reader of the newspaper. She said the paper is important on many fronts.
“I have had a subscription to The Outlook as long as I can remember,” Young said. “Someone asked me why I didn’t go ahead and just pay a year at a time. I told them that I was 86 years old and I didn’t know if I was going to be here next year. So I told them that I would just hold on to some of my money and go six months at a time.” Young said the paper is an integral part of her daily routine. “I look forward to the paper coming,” Young said. “I get up and get my coffee, make my bed and have my breakfast. Then I sit down with the newspaper and read the news and work the crossword puzzle. It was just how I get my day going and it helps keep me informed and the puzzle helps me keep my mind sharp. The paper is a big part of my day. I know there are people who don’t read the paper every day, but the paper means a lot to Alexander City. People depend on it to keep them informed.” As far as the stories, she said she doesn’t always agree with what is written, but she appreciates the fact that the staff works hard to be everywhere. She’s even taken to the social media and loved the live news spots that reporters are doing now, including the streaming of the council meetings.
“I will tell you this, when I was mayor, the newspaper kept my phone from ringing every three or four minutes,” Young said. “The Outlook did such a great job letting people know what is going on that the people knew about things and didn’t have to call me to find out things. That can be so important from the city’s standpoint.” Tippy Hunter serves as advertising director at Tallapoosa Publishers. She’s an Alexander City native who grew up with The Outlook being in her home every day. Now that Hunter works here, she said knowing how the people of Alexander City feel about their newspaper makes it even more important to make sure it serves the community, readers and advertisers well. “The thing about the newspaper is that for that day, the paper chose us to be in the paper,” Hunter said. “In this town, that was a big deal and it still is today. Having your name or picture in The Outlook, people still get excited about that. “In getting ready for this section, I had to go back through a lot of old papers and I’d run into one that I was in or one that had a picture of a friend. They took me right back to that place and time,” Hunter added. “The papers, they may turn yellow, but the memories that are captured in
“The paper means a lot to Alexander City. People depend on it to keep them informed.” — Barbara Young
the newspaper they never fade. Even all these years later, I can look back at those clippings and it all comes right back.” Hunter said seeing her children have the same feelings of accomplishment when they are featured is indeed special. “It was great when it was me,” Hunter said. “But seeing your own kids in the paper, no matter for what reason – it always makes you proud.” Longtime resident, educator and Main Street Director Richard Wagoner still has clippings from important moments in his life and from big headlines in the community. He recently found a copy of his birth announcement written by J.C. Henderson himself. That pride rings out in the voices of former employees as well. People like Linda Thomas who worked at The Outlook for 30 years and Jimmy Nolen who started at the paper in 1950 at the age of 14, say the people who worked at The Outlook were some of the best folks that could be found anywhere. “When I started we were a weekly paper and the paper was much bigger then,” Thomas recalled. “But the people in town depended on us. It wasn’t just for news, it was for important for the businesses as well. “For a long time I was the only one that built the ads in the paper. I can’t tell you what it meant to see someone that you made an ad for and have them tell you how well it worked for them. Still to this day when I see Buddy King who had King Furniture then, he will tell me what a great job I did for him. Austin Holley and Fred Dobbs, they are the same way. Those were some good times and I smile when I think about those people and some of those times.”
First Baptist Church JAMES MYNARD CURT MIZE HUNTER BAKER Minister of Music & Education Minister to Students Minister of Children/Families
www.fbcdadeville.com
•WEDNESDAY SERVICES• Bible Study & Prayer Meeting – 6 P.M. Mission Activities – 6 P.M. Adult Choir Practice – 7 P.M. •SUNDAY SERVICES• Bible Study 4 Life – 9 A.M. Celebrate Worship – 10 A.M. Youth Alive – 5 P.M. Evening Worship – 6 P.M.
178 Tallassee Street • Dadeville • 256.825.6232
JUNE 2017
125 YEARS
Mr. Austin Holley
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For ALL your insurance needs
Founded Holley’s Home Furnishings
in 1960.
His son, Ralph Holley continues the tradition of serving the lake and river region.
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256.234.4141 Alexander City
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• Sun Festival Alexander City • • Leadership Lake Martin • • Lead Forward Women’s Conference • • Lake Martin Young Professionals • • Christmas parade • • Holiday Open House • • Young Entrepreneurs Academy • • Professional Development • • Retail Recruitment • • Workforce readiness •
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