OPINION: CITY PROMISES ACTION ON CODE ENFORCEMENT SOON. PAGE 4.
THURSDAY
THE
SPORTS, PAGE 10 Read the inspiring story of Ranley Clayton.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
June 8, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 113 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
CRASH REPORT: By MITCH SNEED Editor
Submitted / The Outlook
David Lee Currier, 67, shown with his wife of 48 years, Jeanette Carol Currier, both passed away from injuries suffered in a March 28 plane crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report that shows engine failure as the likely cause of a March 28 plane crash near Dadeville that claimed the life of a passenger that day and the pilot 11 days later. Pilot David Lee Currier died from injuries received in the crash and post crash
Pilot in March 28th crash near Dadeville told tower ‘It appears to be engine failure’
fire on April 8 at an Atlanta hospital. Currier’s wife of 48 years, Jeanette Carol Currier, 66, of Daleville, was pronounced dead at the crash site which was in a remote area off Slaughter’s Crossing, not too far from the Thweatt Industrial Park. The report lays out weather conditions and communications between the pilot and air traffic controllers in the four minutes leading up to the
noon central time crash. Currier alerted controllers at 11:57 a.m. that he had an issue. “N8169Y I have a… it appears to be an engine failure… declare an emergency at this time,” was reported as Currier’s words in the report. Data contained in the report shows that after that call, the single-engine Beechcraft A36 Bonanza was falling at about 1,000
feet per minute from its cruising altitude of 5,000 feet. From that alert, the reports states: “Over the next 1 minute, the airplane continued on a northerly track before it began a turn to the west as the controller identified the closest public airport, private strip, state highway and open areas for potential forced landing See PLANE • Page 3
BRING ON THE BANDS Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Alexander City Independent Methodist Church Pastor Wayne Cowhick reads “Barnyard Boogie” to some of the attendees at Wednesday’s United Way summer reading program kickoff.
United Way summer reading has major initial turnout By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The Outlook’s own Audra Spears was the winner in this year’s Jazz Fest Art Contest with this design that combines the shape of the state and a musician playing jazz trombone.
Two-day music festival set to begin Friday By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Get jazzed up. One of the top music festivals in the state is almost here. The 27th annual Alexander City Jazz Fest is set to begin at 6 p.m. Friday night at
Strand Park in downtown Alexander City before resuming at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night at the Lake Martin Amphitheater. Friday night kicks off at 6 p.m. with The Sofia See MUSIC • Page 9
The Stephens Elementary School gym was full of children Wednesday morning as magician David Floyd performed his “Science and Magic” show for the first week of the Lake Martin Area United Way’s summer reading program. Floyd pulled bananas out of a hat, turned water into snow, and put a strip of “do not cross” tape back together after cutting it into pieces. At the same time, he explained some of the science behind his magic tricks. With the help of some volunteers, he showed how the human body could conduct electricity by having them hold the ends of small light tubes, along with other similar demonstrations. “We had 330 children here today,” Program Director Jeri-Lynn Martin said. “Today, we had the science and magic show. There’s Zumba in the gym, popsicles out front, a community reader, and they’ll also be allowed to check out books from our library.” These participants came from all over Alexander City. Groups included Jacob’s Ladder Creative Learning Center, Woody Woodpecker Learning Center, Next Generation Daycare, Harbor Learning Academy and the Boys & Girls Club of the Lake Martin Area. Other than the main performer to lead off each Wednesday’s program and the community reader, this format will be the usual setup every day, according to Martin. During community readers story time, Brother See READING • Page 3
Alabama ranks No. 40 on WalletHub’s list of safe states STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
A web-based research study found that Alabama ranks 40th on its list of safest states in America. In order to determine the safest states in America, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states across 37 key safety indicators grouped into
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five different categories. The data set ranges from assaults per capita to unemployment rate to total loss amounts from climate disasters per capita. The study found that Vermont was the safest state, followed by Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New Hampshire. The study found that Mississippi was the least safe state. Louisiana,
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.56 Reported on 6/7/17 @ 4:00 p.m.
Oklahoma, South Carolina Missouri and Arkansas ranked No. 49-45 respectively. WalletHub officials say the study was in response to recent headlines with news of mass shootings, terrorist attacks, hate crimes and natural disasters. “Safety is a fundamental human need,” a press release from WalletHub read. “And we require some form
of it, such as personal and financial protection, in every setting of daily life. But we’re likely to feel more secure in some states than in others.” According to WalletHub the study took into account financial safety, workplace safety, road safety and emergency preparedness. See SAFE • Page 3
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Directory Telephone: (256) 234-4281 Fax: (256) 234-6550 Website: www.alexcityoutlook.com Management Steve Baker Publisher, Ext. 218 steve.baker@alexcityoutlook.com Mitch Sneed Editor, Ext. 213 mitch.sneed@alexcityoutlook.com David Kendrick Circulation Manager, Ext. 204 david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com Lee Champion Production Manager, Ext. 220 lee.champion@alexcityoutlook.com Audra Spears Art Director, Ext. 219 audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com Betsy Iler Magazine Managing Editor, Ext. 221 betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com Tippy Hunter Advertising Director, Ext. 206 marketing@alexcityoutlook.com Angela Mullins Business Manager, Ext. 202 angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com Newsroom Amy Passaretti Assistant Magazine Editor, Ext. 227 amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com Lizi Arbogast Sports Editor, Ext. 228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com
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Information (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) The Outlook is published five times a week, Tuesday through Saturday mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Post Office Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011.
How to Submit Obituaries
Thursday, June 8, 2017
The Outlook
Cliff Williams Staff Writer, Ext. 212 cliff.williams@alexcityoutlook.com Donald Campbell Staff Writer, Ext. 208 donald.campbell@alexcityoutlook.com Santana Wood Staff Writer/Pagination, Ext. 210 santana.wood@alexcityoutlook.com Advertising Sales Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Tabby Edwards Retail Sales Manager, Ext. 232 tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com 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 Circulation Linda Ewing Office Clerk, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@alexcityoutlook.com
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, Lake magazine, Lake Martin Living, Kenneth Boone Photography and a commercial web printing press. © 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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parties are supposed to be happy, and he already knows you’re not. It may not be possible to move forward and keep his friendship. If he needs another procedure, give him a deadline to have it done. If he hasn’t had it by then, feel free to file. DEAR ABBY: My grown son has broken up with his girlfriend. They were together for five months. He feels his life is over. His dad and I have been helping him get over it. He has a 7-year-old son who lives with him and we want him to be strong. He calls us every day and he’s beginning to sound like a broken record, repeating the same story again and again.
I know time will make it easier, but in the short term, how do we help him tap into his inner strength and be an adult about this? He goes to work, so that’s a blessing. How do people make it through breakups and cope with the grief? -- SAD FOR HIM DEAR SAD: They depend upon their friends and family to listen to them while they vent. And if that doesn’t work, they do it in the office of a licensed therapist. Because what you’re telling your son hasn’t helped, please suggest it. DEAR ABBY: When I was 7, my mother hosted a birthday party for me. When we made out the guest list, there was a girl who wasn’t popular who I didn’t want to invite. Mom told me to invite her or I wouldn’t have a party. I invited her, but she didn’t come. That lesson of inclusiveness made a big impression on me. Later, in school, I became an unpopular girl. I missed many
Mr. Johnnie Paul Rainwater 1938 - 2017 Funeral Service for Mr. Johnnie Paul Rainwater, 78, of Rockford, Alabama, will be Friday, June 9, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Randy Anderson and Sister Peggy Ott will officiate. Burial will follow in the Kendrick Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 9, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Veterans Honor’s will be provided by the Alexander City Veteran’s Honor Guard
at the graveside. Mr. Rainwater passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at his residence. He was born on November 15, 1938 in Blount County, Alabama to Robert M. Rainwater and Sarah Jane Rainwater. He was a member of the Kendrick Baptist Church. Mr. Rainwater loved life and lived it to the fullest. He spent many hours working with wood making birdhouses for his family and friends. He is survived by his Wife of 50 years, Dianne Rainwater of Rockford; Daughters, Paula Dianne McCollum (Shayne), Amanda Joyce Rainwater; Son, Johnnie Eugene
Mr. Robert Lynn Coker 1955 - 2017 Funeral Service for Mr. Robert Lynn Coker, 61, of New Site, Alabama, was Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Clyde Coker officiated. Burial followed in the Old Harmony Cemetery in New Site. The family received friends on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Coker passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Russell Medical. He was born on July 22, 1955 in Alexander City, Alabama to Robert Franklin Coker and Radene Hand Coker. Lynn was a Baptist by Faith. He worked for 20+ years for the Tallapoosa County Commission District 3 as a heavy equipment operator and truck driver. He was an avid Alabama fan, loved tinkering
Mr. James Donald Fuller 1939 - 2017 Funeral Service for Mr. James Donald Fuller, 78, of Alexander City, will be Friday, June 9, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Hillabee Baptist Church. Rev. Josh Sammons will officiate. Burial will follow in the Alexander City Cemetery with Veteran Honors by the Alexander City Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 8, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Fuller passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at his residence. He was born on January 1, 1939 in Opelika, Alabama to James Lawton Fuller and Ruby Lee Fuller. He was an active member of Hillabee Baptist Church. Mr. Fuller retired from
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Russell Corp. after 43 years of dedicated service. He enjoyed baking and was known for his famous coconut cake and chocolate cake. He also enjoyed fishing, Auburn football, cutting grass, and making birdhouses. He had a wonderful servant’s heart and loved doing for others. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marie Bryant Fuller of Alexander City; daughter, Donna Marie Fuller of Alexander City and Kathy Leigh Jordan (Keith) of Goodwater; sister, Carol Adams of Alexander City; two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Nan Burton, Bonnie Fielding, and Martha Thornton. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be given to Hillabee Baptist Church, 1781 Hialeah Circle or the Parkinson’s Foundation,
Alexander City Board of Education meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in the board office at 375 Lee St. or local school at 5 p.m.
Coosa County Board of Education holds called meetings at least once a month. Coosa County Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in the Coosa County Courthouse in Rockford at 9:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday and at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday.
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Coosa County Industrial Development Board will hold its regularly scheduled meeting the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room in the courthouse in Rockford. All meetings are open to the public. Dadeville City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. with a pre-meeting at 5:30 p.m. in city hall.
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Daviston City Council meets the third Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Daviston Fire Department.
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1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018. The family would like to give a special thank you to Jennifer Abercrombie for her exceptional care of daddy during his last month of life. Also, thank you to the Southern Care Hospice staff and their kindness. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com. Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Michael L. Norris Mr. Michael L. Norris passed away Tuesday, June 6 at his residence. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Wright’s Funeral Home.
Public Meetings
Community Action Agency of Chambers, Tallapoosa, Coosa will holds its regular board of directors meetings every other month at the Central Office in Dadeville.
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Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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Camp Hill Town Council meets the first and third Mondays of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 6 p.m.
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Rainwater; Ten Grandchildren; Six Great-grandchildren; Brother, Glenn Rainwater and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; Sisters, Catherine LaRue, Maxine Stidham, Pauline Posey, Annie Underwood, Billy Jean Rainwater; Brothers, James and Robert Rainwater. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com.
with small engines and enjoyed spending time at the creek. Lynn loved his family very much, especially his grandbabies. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Sherry Harris Coker of New Site; daughter, Tasha Coker of New Site; grandchildren, Reanna Norrell, Gracie Norrell and Aliah Weldon; father, Robert Franklin Coker of New Site; sister, Sandra Ledbetter (Dallas) of New Site; special cousin, Randy Jones (Kathleen) of New Site; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and numerous other family members. He was preceded in death by his mother, Radene Hand Coker; daughter, Sheena Coker; and brother, Jerry Allen Coker. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www. radneyfuneralhome.com.
Alexander City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. Meetings are held in the courtroom at the old city hall at 5:30 p.m.
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Obituaries
SOCIAL SECURITY FAYE EDMONDSON
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of my classmates’ parties because of it, but the lesson stayed with me. In high school and beyond I have befriended people who were unpopular or who are seen as misfits. And you know what? My life has been richer from these experiences. So I would like to offer a belated thank-you to my mother for making me invite that little girl years ago, because it shaped my life. -KATHY IN PENNSYLVANIA DEAR KATHY: Your mother is a wise and compassionate woman. The lesson here is, popularity can be fleeting. But having compassion for people who need it is forever.
Goodwater City Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held at the Caldwell Center at 6:30 p.m. Jackson’s Gap Town Council meets the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 6:30 p.m., all Jackson’s Gap citizens are encouraged to attend. Kellyton Town Council meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the community center in Kellyton. New Site City Council meets the first and third Monday of the month at 5 p.m. in the Conference Room in the Town Hall. Ray Water Authority meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Ray Water Authority Office. All customers are invited to attend. Rockford Town Council meets the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 7 p.m. Tallapoosa County Board of Education meets on the second Monday of each month. Meetings are held in the new central office at 679 East Columbus Street, Dadeville, AL 36853. Tallapoosa County Commission meets the second Monday of the month at 9 a.m. in the courthouse in Dadeville, with a pre-meeting also open to the public 30 minutes before each regular session. Tallapoosa County 911 Board will meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the 911 Administrative office at 240 West Columbus Street, Dadeville. Call 8258490 for more information. Walnut Hill Water Authority meets the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited. Call 825-9841 to inquire about the agenda.
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Thursday, June 8, 2017
The Outlook
Plane
Page 3
continued from page 1
sites, which the pilot acknowledged.” With no power and little altitude to glide to safety, it appears that Currier aimed for the only clearing he could find. The report recounts the final 36 seconds that were recorded that day. “At 11:58:59, the airplane was tracking westbound at 1,500 feet msl and 86 knots groundspeed when the pilot announced, ‘Atlanta 69Y it looks like I’m coming down…’ and that he did not have a runway in sight. There were no further communications from the accident airplane. At 11:59:34, the last radar target was observed on a westerly track over densely wooded terrain.” Investigators who worked the crash scene discovered that the “initial impact point was in trees about 30 feet above the ground. Most tree trunks
displayed blunt fractures, but some displayed clean angular cuts. Tree trunk and branch sections displaying angular cuts were scattered along the wreckage path. The main wreckage was inverted, faced opposite the direction of travel, and was consumed by post-crash fire.” The report indicates that the propeller was still attached to the engine, but had been damaged in the crash and fire. The motor would not turn by hand. The report shows that the plane had been in good mechanical condition, that it had been properly maintained and that Currier had extensive training as a pilot and a wealth of flight hours. He retired from the Army as a CW 5, and at the time of the crash he worked as an instructor pilot for URS Contractors at Fort Rucker near Enterprise. Keith Holloway of the NTSB stressed that the report
Safe
was preliminary and that a final determination can take 12 months or more to complete. The report is another step in a process that was filled with drama and tragedy. The remote nature of the crash scene made it tough for rescuers to get to the site and then had to contend with the fire. Once first-responders got to the victim, the pilot was flown from the wreckage after a daring longrope rescue by Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Troopers, who said Currier had tried to shield his wife from the fire after the crash. He was flown to Columbus Medical Center where he was stabilized before being taken to Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital, which has one of the Southeast’s top burn units. It was there that he later succumbed to his injuries.
continued from page 1
Alabama got particularly low marks for financial safety, where the state’s unemployment rate, the foreclosure rate, median credit score and incidents of identity theft and financial account fraud were among the nation’s highest. The state ranked 48th in financial safety, according to WalletHub. Some other key stats showed: • New Hampshire has the fewest murders and non-negligent manslaughters per 100,000 residents, 1.05, which is 9.8 times fewer than in the Louisiana, registering the most at 10.30. • Vermont has the fewest thefts per 1,000
residents, 14.23, which is 2.7 times fewer than in the Hawaii, registering the most at 38.80. • Louisiana has the most law-enforcement employees per 100,000 residents, 485.97, which is 2.4 times more than in Kentucky, registering the fewest at 200.62. • Idaho has the fewest pedestrian and pedalcyclist fatalities per 100,000 residents, 0.49, which is 8.4 times fewer than in Delaware, registering the most at 4.10. • Florida has the lowest share of high school students who were bullied online, 11.58 percent,
Reading
which is 1.8 times lower than in Idaho, registering the highest at 21.08 percent. • Rhode Island has the fewest fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, 1.2, which is 10.4 times fewer than in North Dakota, registering the most at 12.5. • New Hampshire and South Dakota share the lowest unemployment rate, 2.8 percent, which is 2.4 times lower than in the New Mexico, registering the highest at 6.7 percent.
continued from page 1
Wayne Cowhick, the pastor of Alexander City Independent Methodist Church read the book Barnyard Boogie to the children, and had them interact with the book,
making the correct animal noises for each page. “I’ve been doing this every year,” Cowhick said. “I enjoy coming here and being a part of this. It’s a real highlight.”
At the end of the story, when the farmer gets all the animals to sing together, Cowhick had small groups of children represent some of the animals, while a handful of volunteers
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Top: David Floyd and a group of assistants join hands to show how the human body can be a part of an electrical circuit. Bottom: Attendees at Wednesday’s United Way summer reading program kickoff get moving with Zumba dance exercises.
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working with the program were chosen for the others. Once everyone was divvied up, he had them all make their respective animal noises, resulting in loud, enthusiastic mooing, howling and quacking, among other sounds. Following the excitement stirred up from the morning’s activities, the participants gathered together in the cafeteria for lunch before returning to their various daycares and other facilities. If the groups of happy children leaving Stephens Elementary carrying books of all sizes that they will be allowed to keep was any indication, the 2017 installment of the United Way summer reading program will be even better than it has in the past.
MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213
editor@alexcityoutlook.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Steve Baker Mitch Sneed
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Page 4
Our
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Leave judgment to the Man in charge Today’sQuote
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City promises action on code L enforcement soon
F
or about four years, Alexander City has been without an officer to ride herd on code violations across the
city. Instead, the responsibility has been bounced like a super ball in a phone booth between any police officer who is available and the City Building Department. With a list of ordinances and codes that more than fills five three-ring binders, it’s hard to have any consistency without one person dedicated to the task. The city has a weed abatement ordinance that is designed to force people to at least cut their grass every now and then. We understand that it has been raining a lot over the last few weeks, but there are properties in Alexander City where the grass hasn’t been cut in more than a year. A check of city council meeting agendas for this year show that not one single property has been cited and brought before the council to start the process of getting these areas cleaned up. The last time that we can find any action under the weed ordinance was on Aug. 2, 2016. Charles Shaw was still the mayor then and Sandra Machen was reinstated to her job as finance director at that same meeting. See, there has been a lot of water to pass under the bridge since then. The city council passed an amended junk ordinance to speed up the process of getting junk and debris removed from properties. That was last November and to date, we’ve not seen any citations yet. The last time that the city actually completed a budget and put it in place, the council at that time said money was so tight they couldn’t fund a police department request to hire someone to handle that duty. We’ve been assured by Mayor Jim Nabors that a “match has been lit” under the people responsible currently for enforcing those codes and to expect action. He said they are working on a budget and hope to fund a code enforcement officer. That’s good news and we hope to see movement soon. Alexander City has a lot of potential, but the city’s ordinances just need to be enforced to help us get there.
ast week at church I momentarily was an ass. Don’t worry, no one saw it. No one knows about it till right now. But I was, and I knew it. Here’s the story. In the middle of our service each week we take a moment to shake hands and greet each other. Last week at that time, I was near the back of the auditorium, and I saw a young couple that I know very well just arriving for the service. I glanced at my watch. They were 30 minutes late. As I headed to greet them, I began to judge. These thoughts quickly raced through my mind: • Half of the service is over. • You can’t succeed unless you are punctual. • It seems odd to arrive 30 minutes late to an hour long service. • I’m glad I have never had issues with arriving on time. • Etc, etc., etc…. When I got to them, I hugged them. The couple was wet with perspiration. That was when it hit me. These two were late because of walking over three miles with their toddler to be at church in nearly 90-degree heat. I had judged this young couple, and I was so wrong. What is even crazier is
RAY WATERS Columnist
I know this couple’s story. Both mom and dad work very hard to try to succeed. When the wife worked at the Atlanta Airport Starbucks, her husband would get up and walk her and their baby to the bus stop a mile away at 4:30 in the morning. Then he would walk with their baby two more miles to a sitter where he would drop off his son and then walk two more miles to his job. At the end of the day, they would do it all over again in a reversed order. I had never had a day in my life when I had to walk to a job, a bus or church. That Sunday morning, I let a judgmental thought cross my mind about two people who were doing their absolute best. Shame on me. I bet it happens all the time. We see a homeless man on the street, and we judge him. We never stop to think he has a story. Only later do we find out he was a Gulf War veteran who has no living family members to help him. When he returned home
with a PTSD diagnosis, he has not been healthy enough to get a job. He does the best he can. Don’t judge him. We see the person using food stamps in the grocery store line. They have some meat and seafood in their buggy, and we began to judge. We think I don’t buy that cut of meat or that good seafood why are they allowed to buy it on the government’s dime? And we begin making horrible judgments about someone we don’t know. Stop it! I have been around long enough to know I don’t have all the information to grasp their story and I need to mind my business, not theirs. I don’t like it when I judge. It seems small-minded. I want to live a big life. And big life people cut other people slack. A big life recognizes others have struggles we can’t even imagine. Big life focuses on being the best person I can be without judging others. Friends, stop judging. It is ugly. Ian Maclaren said it well. Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Always be kind. Ray Waters is a minister, a motivational speaker and a syndicated columnist. His column appears here each Thursday.
represents District 1. His phone number is 256392-0344. His address is 1821 LaVista Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Public Safety committee.
Bobby Tapley
Buffy Colvin represents District 2. Her phone number is 256-750-0663. Her address is 786 I Street, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Buildings and Property committee.
Buffy Colvin
Scott Hardy represents District 3. His phone number is 256-4962450. His address is 549 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Parks and Recreation committee.
Scott Hardy
Eric Brown represents District 4. His phone number is 256-3972011. His address is 1421 Parrish Drive, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Public Works committee.
Eric Brown
Tommy Spraggins represents District 5. His phone number is 256-234-3609. His address is 1539 College Street, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of Finance committee.
Tommy Spraggins
Tim Funderburk represents District 6. His phone number is 256-825-2993. His address is 1431 River Oaks, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of Utilities committee.
Tim Funderburk
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” —Matthew 7:7
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Know Your Jim Nabors is mayor of Alexander City. His phone number at city hall is 256-329-6730 and his home number is 256329-1320 His address at city hall is 4 Court Square; Alexander City, AL, 35010. His home address is 1695 Magnolia Street Alexander City, AL, 35010.
“When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: ‘Whose?’” —Don Marquis
I
’m sure that some who flipped past the Scripps National Spelling Bee on ESPN on Thursday night kept right on clicking when they saw a bunch of kids on stage participating in a boring spelling contest. Well, I was one of those who stopped. As a former spelling bee champ myself (I won the Elmore County Bee lots of years ago), I was interested. I realized the work these kids had put in to get on that stage that night. I realized there were days and nights of dedication to a singular goal that went in to being among the best kid spellers in the country. And I soon found out that, were I in the spelling bee game today, there is no way that I could compete. These kids were phenomenal. When my television landed on the bee at about 9 p.m., there were some 15 or so spellers left. After two or three rounds, my wife and I each picked not so much our favorites, but who we thought would win. We weren’t even close. Eventually, our favorites and all the others with the exception of Rohan Rajeev, a 14-year-old from Edmond, Oklahoma and Ananya Vinay, a 12-year-old from Fresno, California were eliminated. The championship round began. With words of championship-round difficulty. The two Indian-American children would go a maximum of 25 rounds with these words and,
DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
if both made it all the way through those rounds, the tie would be broken with some test they’d already taken. We never found out anymore about the test. Both of the final two spellers had obviously studied countless hours. Their spelling was dotted with smiles of recognition, at a word itself or at its origin. They had set their minds on a singular goal: to win the 2017 Scripps Spelling Bee. The discipline was beyond admirable. After Rajeev misspelled “marram,” a word of Scandinavian origin defined as “a coarse perennial grass growing on sandy shores and dunes and having awnless flowers crowded into a long spikelike panicle,” Vinay had her opening. All she had to do was to spell two consecutive words correctly and the championship would belong to her. First, she was asked to spell “gifblaar,” which Webster defines as a perennial shrub of southern Africa which is deadly poisonous to stock. She asked her token questions about the word’s origin, it’s part of speech, asked the judge to use it in a sentence, but one got the feeling she knew it all along. She did.
The pronouncer, Dr. Jacques Bailly, an associate professor of classics at the University of Vermont and the winner of the 1980 bee, then informed Vinay that if she spelled the next word correctly she would be declared the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. The next word Bailly spoke – Vinay’s word to spell – was “marocain.” The slightest smile ever broke Vinay’s face and just as quickly disappeared. She hurried through a barrage of questions, barely waiting for Bailly to answer one before another came blasting out. She tugged at her dress, sneaked looks toward her Mom in the audience. “Marocain,” Vinay finally said. “M-a-r-o-c-a-i-n. Marocain.” “That is correct,” the judge said excitedly. Here came the confetti. Here came Vinay’s trophy, her parents and her brother, all seemingly more excited than she was. She showed little emotion, but she was the champion. “C-h-a-m-p-i-o-n.” Champion. It was almost as if she expected to win. She had set her mind to a singular goal. And she had achieved it. David Granger is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Elmore County newspapers. He can be reached at david. granger@thewetumpkaherald. com
The subscription rate is $136.00 per year in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties and $177.99 outside the area. Periodicals paid at Alexander City, AL. Newspapers are available at 100 news racks in our area at 75 cents for The Outlook and 50 cents for The Record. We would love to deliver a paper to your door. Call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281, Ext. 204 or e-mail david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook. com.
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Thursday, June 8, 2017
The Outlook
CommunityCalendar SEE ME FOR INSURANCE
Today is
June 8, 2017 Today’s Events:
Harold Cochran 256.234.2700 haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com
PRECIOUS MEMORIES GIFTS & MORE
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Wayside Baptist Church is hosting Vacation Bible School, Galactic Starveyors, June 4 to June 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. nightly for 3-yearolds to sixth grade. There will be snacks, crafts, games, Bible study and rally time. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Highway 63 South is hosting Galactic Starveyors Vacation Bible School June 4-8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM: The Reeltown High School Cafeteria will be June 5-30 with breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to noon. Contact Nina Hollingsworth at 256-825-0746. CHURCH REVIVAL: New Harmony Baptist Church is hosting revival services June 6-8 at 7 p.m. nightly.
Guest speakers will be, Tuesday, Rev. Darrell Jordan of Macedonia Baptist Church in Lafayette, Wednesday, Rev. Jimmy Thomas of Mt. Zion East Missionary Baptist Church in Dadeville and Thursday, Rev. Robert Cadenhead of Macedonia Baptist Church in Gold Hill. MONTHLY LUNCHEON: Bibb Graves High School Alumni and Friends in Millerville will have their Monthly Luncheon on Wednesday June 7, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Please bring a covered dish and a small donation. MINISTERS MEETING: There will be a meeting of ministers in the Early Rose District June 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Early Rose District Center. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss pertinent community issues, violence in the community, grief counseling and other things. Facilitators are Audrey Colvin, Sean Bland, T.C. Coley, David Wyckoff, Michael Ransaw, Frank Walker, Rev. E.L Hunter and Rev. David Russell. SUMMER BAZAAR: Applications
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Participate in your Outlook by calling 256-234-4281, faxing them to 256-234-6550, sending your event to calendar@alexcityoutlook.com or logging on to http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/. for vendors extended to June 8. Vendor spaces available for the June 24 Annual Summer Bazaar Fundraiser for two local not for profits ---Lake Martin Laubach Literacy Program and Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama, Inc. The bazaar be held in the parking lots of the Karen Channel State Farm Bldg. For vendors selling handmade or new items, spaces will be located inside the VCCA offices. There will be limited flea market spaces available outside. If you are talented and would like to set up a table with your goods contact Rita at literacylakemartin@ yahoo.com or Carley at carleyatvcca@gmail.com or 256-234-0347.
Today’s Anniversaries:
Larry and Sandra Gaddis are celebrating their anniversary today.
Today’s Birthdays:
Marleigh Harper, Beth Kelly, Herbert Norred, Hayden Jay Forbus, Courtney Jones, Sharlena Thomas and Cheyenne Thomas are celebrating their birthdays today.
The Learning Tree Helping Children Learn and Grow
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
Need Insurance? Call me.
Monogramming Boutique Clothing Clothing Jewelry Bathing S Suits uits & More More 10147 County Road 34 Dadeville, AL
256.234.3481
256-496-4017
KarenChannell.com
Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services Hardwood Floors Ceramic Tile Carpet & Vinyl
•Physical Therapy •Occupational Therapy •Speech Therapy
Locally Owned for Over 45 Years
256-234-6071
2334 Washington Street Alexander City • 256-329-9061 www.crownemanagement.com
Come Visit Us! Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing
dB
1945 Hwy 280 • Alexander City
Submitted / The Outlook
Have you seen a croc on Lake Martin? A reader submitted this photograph via email with a subject line of ‘A Croc on Lake Martin.’ It caught our attention. Have you seen something that is funny or interesting? Send us your photograph at editor@alexcityoutlook.com with who or what is the photograph and what is going. Your picture might appear in the Outlook or online.
Friday, June 9
NIGHT HIKE: Wind Creek State Park is hosting a night hike June 9 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. Darrell Brooks, Owner MOVIE NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting a movie Cutting •Edging night June 9. Mom’s Night Out will start Weed Eating •Mulch at 7:30 p.m. Concessions will be sold.
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CLASS REUNION: The Benjamin Russell High School Class of 1987 is having 30th Reunion Festivities June 9 and 10 in Alexander City. Contact Ben Farrow at farrocb@ auburn.edu for more information. CLASS REUNION: The BRHS Class of 1977 will be celebrating its 40th Reunion June 9 and 10. Friday, June 9 a tent will be set up at Jazz Fest in downtown Alexander City. Saturday, June 10 Jakes restaurant has been reserved. It is $25 for a single or $50 a couple with a cash bar. You can mail a check to Amy Oliver Duncan, 1415 Clubview Drive Alexander City 35010 or pay at the door.
Saturday, June 10
GOSPEL SINGING: Chosen Annoited will be singing at the Kellyton Revival Center June 10 at 6 p.m. A love offering will be taken. Come out and enjoy some great gospel music. BIRDING PADDLE: Wind Creek State Park is hosting a birding paddle on Elkahatchee Creek June 10 at 7:30 a.m. The paddle will start from the Elkahatchee Bridge and go to Wind Creek State Park watching for birds along the way. This is sponsored by the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail and Wind Creek State Park. CLASS MEETING: The Laurel High School Class of 1969 will meet at the Cooper Recreation Center Saturday, June 10 at 10 a.m. RABIES CLINIC: Dr. John W. Caldwell with Animal Care Center is having a rabies clinic with shots available for $10 Saturday, June 10 from 7:30 a.m. to 8;15 a.m. at the Daviston Fire Department, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. in New Site at Halls Propane and in Perryville from 9:30 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. across from East Building Supply. ART FESTIVAL: The Lil’ Calypso Art Fest benefitting the Union Volunteer Fire Department is Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chuck’s Marina. There will be canvas art, folk art, handcrafted furniture, pottery, handcrafted jewelry, metal art and glass art.
June 11-14
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Calvary Heights Baptist Church across from the Russell Retail Store is hosting vacation Bible School June 11-14 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for ages kindergarten to sixth grade.
June 11-15
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Kellyton Baptist Church is hosting vacation Bible school for children ages three through adults June 11 throught June 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Kids and teenagers will experience Galactic Starveyors with Bible study and special activities. Adults will have the opportunity to participate in Bible Study. Call VBS Glenda ‘Tater’ Eason at 256-839-6922 with questions. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Orr Street Baptist Church is hosting their 2017 Vacation Bible School “Galactic Starveyers” June 11-15 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a meal nightly at 5:30 p.m. VBS registration and celebration will be Wednesday, June 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Kellyton Baptist Chuch is hosting vacation Bible school, Galactic Starveyors for ages three to adults from June 11-15 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information contact Glenda “Tater” Eason at 256-839-6922.
June 12-16
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: First Baptist Church of Dadeville is hosting Vacation Bible School, Galactic Starveyors, June 12-16 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Children ages four through sixth grade are invited. Registration at www.fbcdadeville.com VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: New Beginning Baptist Church on Coley Creek Road is hosting Galactic Starveyors Vacation Bible School June 12 to June 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. nightly. For more information or van pick up call Robin at 256-750-0068.
Tuesday, June 13
USHERS MEETING: The Early Rose District Usher’s meeting will be June 13 at 5 p.m. at the Early Rose District Center.
Wednesday, June 14
FIELD AND FOREST HIKE: Wind Creek State Park is hosting a field and forest hike June 14 at 9 a.m. The walk is for all ages. Meet at the outdoor classroom across from the beach. MOVIE: There will be free viewings of an environmental and other movies for teenagers at the Cooper Recreation Center on Wednesday June
14, Tuesday, June 20, and Wednesday, June 28. Adults Please allow and advise your teenagers to come. “For ages 13 to 17 years old” Movie starts at 2 p.m., and questions and discussions afterward. Check it out! For information please call Ms. Dean @ 256794-0172 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
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Thursday, June 15
STORYTELLING: Dolores Hydock will be at Red Ridge Methodist Church presenting “Close Encounters of the Storytelling Kind” June 15 at noon.
Friday, June 16
MOVIE NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting a movie night June 16. Miracles from Heaven will start at 7:30 p.m. Concessions will be sold.
June 16-17
RODEO: The 11th Annual Lake Martin Area Rodeo benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of the Lake Martin Area will be June 16 and June 17 at the Alexander City Horse Arena. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the Brett Woody Bar W Rodeo will begin at 7 p.m.
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Saturday, June 17
COMMUNITY PRAYER: The Darian Missionary Baptist Church family and prayer team are offering prayer to the community June 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot on the corner of Laurel and E streets across from Stephens School. STARGAZING: The Auburn Astronomical Society will set up telescopes to look at the night sky June 17 at 7 p.m. on Hospice Point near the silo at Wind Creek State Park. WATER WARS: Wind Creek State Park is hosting Water Wars June 17 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. with water slides, gold fish races, duck races, Team Sponge wars, Tear Water relay and more. Bring a towel, super soaker water gun, sunscreen clothes to get wet in and lots of energy. Team games will need a team of five. Teams can register at the marina store until 10 a.m. on June 17. TRADE DAY: Bibb Graves High School Alumni Monthly Trade Day in Millerville on Highway 9 between Ashland and Goodwater will be held on June 17 from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Refreshments are also available. WOMANS DAY PROGRAM: The Word Bible Church Ministry is hosting a woman’s day program June 17 at 3 p.m. at the Early Rose District Center. Guest speaker will be First Lady Prophetess Tonda West of Fountain of Hope, Praise, and Worship Ministry in Montgomery.
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County pays tribute to one of its own
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
A hearse carrying the body of Robert Coker follows much of the heavy equipment operated by Tallapoosa County Wednesday. Coker was a long-time employee of the county operating heavy equipment and a truck. Coker passed away Sunday.
Music Goodman Group, a jazz funk band from Nashville. Their leader, drummer Sofia Goodman has been featured on the 2014 album “The World is Love” from rock fusion band HuDost, as well as performing with them at Bonnaroo in 2012. At 7:30 p.m., singersongwriter Randall Bramblett takes the stage. Describing himself
continued from page 1
on his website as being heavily influenced by the blues, his over 40 year career has seen Bramblett on stage with such iconic musicians as Steve Winwood, The Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic. The night closes out with Delta Rae starting up at 9 p.m. A folk rock group from North Carolina, the group has been a part of over 100
shows each year and has been featured at Lollapalooza, Tortuga Music Festival and Austin City Limits among other festivals. Delta Rae’s appearance at Jazz Fest is one of their stops during their summer 2017 tour. The festival picks up again on Saturday evening with Shadowood beginning their set at 6:30 p.m. Hailing from
Submitted / The Outlook
Paul Thorn, above, is set to close out the 27th Annual Jazz Fest Saturday at the Lake Martin Amphitheater. Below, Delta Rae will take the stage Friday night at 9 p.m. at Strand Park.
Atlanta, the band states on their Facebook page that, “If you blended Jackopierce, RUNDMC, Guster, CSNY, and Barenaked Ladies together, you’d have a shadowood smoothie.” The music continues at 8 p.m. with The Stooges Brass Band, one of the top brass bands from the city of New Orleans. The Stooges Brass Band has competed
for the title of “Red Bull Street Kings: Best Brass Band,” performed at music festivals in both the United States and internationally, and toured Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan on behalf of the U.S. State Department. Capping off another exciting Jazz Fest, The Paul Thorn Band’s performance starts at 9:30 p.m.
The group’s members have individually been credited with playing with musicians such as Huey Lewis and the News, Keith Anderson and Hank Williams, Jr., among many others. Both nights are free to attend. If you’re looking for a great weekend outing with some good music, look no further than the 27th annual Alexander City Jazz Fest.
LIZI ARBOGAST SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228
lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com
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Thursday, June 8, 2017
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JOE MCADORY Columnist
I’m picking Alabama to win in every game, except it probably won’t
L
et’s throw this out here: Alabama should be the favorite in each football game this season. Why? Because Alabama absolutely puts more talent on the field than anybody each week (duh) and has a remarkable record of 112-14 since 2008. But let’s get another thing straight: I believe the Tide will lose somewhere along the way. The odds are not in any team’s favor – no matter how great they are – to run the table. Injuries happen. Bad calls are made. Uncanny mistakes happen at the worst times. In other words, the ball bounces funny. Besides, Alabama hasn’t had a perfect season since 2009 and five of the last six champions had blemishes. That said, let’s see how this season stacks up, game-by-game. Sept. 2 vs. Florida State (in Atlanta): This is arguably the Tide’s toughest test and it happens right out of the gate. I’m interested to see how a younger Alabama defense fares against what could be an explosive Seminole attack. Alabama win percentage: 65 percent. Sept. 9 vs. Fresno State: Fans should be more concerned with the thermometer. Considering this game kicks off at 2:30 p.m., I predict a ton of sweat and dehydration. Alabama win percentage: 98 percent. Sept. 16 vs. Colorado State: The Rams have been a feisty bunch in recent years and could challenge the Alabama secondary. Sort of. For a secondconsecutive week, Alabama should have multiple ball-carriers, going to the bench early. Alabama win percentage: 95 percent. Sept. 23 at Vanderbilt: The Commodores created some excitement late last season and even went bowling. Who knows? Perhaps Vandy can keep the first SEC contest of the season interesting. But seriously … Alabama win percentage: 90 percent. Sept. 30 vs. Ole Miss: A year ago some had the Rebels as national contenders. I believe this program now has bigger issues than trying to win football games. It was difficult to fathom how this team got so good so fast. Perhaps the truth will be revealed. Alabama win percentage: 90 percent. Oct. 7 at Texas A&M: This is probably the least amount of hype an Aggie team has had since joining the SEC in 2012. Alabama win percentage: 70 percent. Oct. 14 vs. Arkansas: The Hogs were delivered a tough blow in the offseason when running back Rawleigh Williams, the team’s leading rusher in 2016, had to retire. Alabama win percentage: 85 percent. Oct. 21 vs. Tennessee: The Third Saturday in October has been a complete joke since Phil Fulmer was unceremoniously let go after the 2008 season, or since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa. Will this ever be a big game again? Alabama win percentage: 80 percent. Nov. 4 vs. LSU: The Third Saturday in October has been replaced by the First Saturday in November. It’s an annual showdown of raw talent. Derrius Guice is awesome, but does LSU have anyone else? Alabama win percentage: 65 percent. Nov. 11 at Miss. State: Someone told me Nick Fitzgerald and the Bulldogs were going to contend in the SEC this year. I don’t see it, but eight wins isn’t out of the question. Alabama win percentage: 75 percent. Nov. 18 vs. Mercer: Really? Have mercy! Alabama win percentage: 99.9999 percent. Nov. 25 at Auburn: Much of this depends on if new Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham lives up to the hype. This should be Auburn’s best team since 2014, and this game’s on the Plains. Alabama win percentage: 65 percent, and subject to fall. There you go. I pick Alabama to win every regular season game, believing an upset somewhere along the line will probably happen. Next week: Auburn. Joe McAdory is Communications Editor at Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.
RANLEY REBOUNDS Ranley Clayton perseveres after ATV accident
By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
Basketball isn’t necessarily thought of as a contact sport. There are a bit of bumps and bruises, but it doesn’t have the tackling of football or the all-out fighting of hockey. Except in Ranley Clayton’s case. “I always tell everybody that if they like basketball, they’ll really love wheelchair basketball,” she said. “It’s a lot more interesting and there’s so much more contact. You’ve got people ramming into each other and being flipped over; it’s a lot more interactive and physical.” Clayton would know. After a 2014 ATV accident that paralyzed her from the waist down, she had to re-learn a sport she loved. A graduate of Horseshoe Bend, Clayton was a top basketball and softball player with big dreams. But one fateful day in August, those dreams changed when she ejected from her Razor, broke all of her ribs, a finger and her T9 and T10 vertebrae and severed her spinal cord. Clayton wouldn’t say those dreams were altered, though. “It was crazy, but honestly, I had the best outlook on life,” Clayton said. “I never lost the smile on my face. I knew I could still do whatever I wanted to do. It never got me down like you’d think. Whenever they told me I was paralyzed, it really didn’t faze me at all. My parents freaked out, but I told them I was going to be OK.” After a year of rehabilitation and learning how to live everyday life in a wheelchair, Clayton was ready to pursue one of those old goals. In October 2015, she and her family visited Auburn and checked out the AU wheelchair basketball team. A recent graduate of Central Alabama Community College, Clayton competed for the Tigers as a part-time player last season and will join the Auburn campus and her teammates in the fall. “Last year, when she was up there living in Alex City, she was only able to make a couple practices a week,” Tigers head coach Robb Taylor said. “Having the ability to practice with her team for two-and-a-half hours every morning, it’ll make her a better overall player.” But Clayton’s list of impressive attributes doesn’t end there. Not only does she play wheelchair basketball, she also technically plays for a men’s team. Auburn does not have a co-ed or women’s team, and Clayton is the only female on her squad. “She has a great attitude, she’s a hard worker and she doesn’t back down from anyone,” Taylor said. “Even though she’ll be the only female on our team, there’s not a single person in the league that she’s intimidated by. She just goes about her business.” Clayton said, “It’s a whole lot different being the only girl. But I like doing that because it’s so much more challenging. I have to adapt to their size and speed.” And challenges are always met when it comes to Clayton. At the time of her accident, Clayton’s road vehicle was a Jeep Wrangler. During the process of getting her driver’s license back, she had to prove to her vocational rehab counselor that she could not just drive, but get her wheelchair in and out of the Jeep. Her counselor asked for video evidence she was able to do it, and in just one night, Clayton proved she could. Now, as a wheelchair basketball player, Clayton is considered having a Class 1 disability – each player is assigned a classification number and teams can only have up to 14 points on the court at one time. Class 1 is designated as one of the more severely disabled players on the court, but again, she doesn’t see it that way. “She does a good job of working within herself and using the ability that she has to make sure she’s in great position on the court,” Taylor said. “She battles just as hard as everyone else, and she may even have an advantage because she’s in an everyday chair and knows how to use her chair in ways that an able-body player may struggle with.”
Ranley Clayton, of Horseshoe Bend, now plays for the Auburn Wheelchair Basketball team after being paralyzed from the waist down in an ATV accident in 2014. Clayton is a recent graduate of Central Alabama Community College. She played basketball and softball for the Generals.
team,” said
Submitted / The Outlook
“I never lost the smile on my face. I knew I could still do whatever I wanted to do. It never got me down like you’d think.” Auburn’s team
plays in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, which also includes Alabama, Missouri, Illinois and Arizona State. The season starts in October with the national championship played in mid-March. According to Taylor, the Tigers play between 30 and 40 games per season. They attend eight to 10 tournaments per year and played anywhere from four to six games at the two-day tournaments. “Everything is the same as in ablebody basketball with the one exception being that there is no double-dribble,” Taylor said. “We still have traveling, so for every two pushes of the wheel, they have to dribble, but other than that, we play on the same sized court, the hoop is still 10 feet tall and the foul line and 3-point line are still the same distance.” And for Clayton, it seems like the sky could be the limit. “I could see her being the first athlete from our program making a Paralympic
— Ranley Clayton Taylor, who was the assistant coach for the U.S. women’s Paralympic team for the 2008 Olympics and an assistant for the gold-winning men’s team for the 2016 Olympics. “Being a former able-body athlete, she understands basketball enough to make a U.S. team in the future if that’s something she wants to do. That’s another reason I’m excited to get her on campus and work with her every day, that way she can put herself in a position to make a tryout for a U.S. team down the line.” Clayton said, “That’s probably my highest goal that I’ve set. It’s going to take some time and a lot of work, but that’s the ultimate goal. I really just wanted to exceed everybody’s expectations. I plan to go as far as I can and push as hard I can just to keep overcoming everything.” She’s definitely on the right path.