ECHS’s Brown gets All-State recognition
“It’s time government stepped out of marriage business”
Meet Whiskey, Pet of the Week!
Eclectic Observer Page 4
The
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THURSDAY • MARCH 24, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Work at Aaron Park moves ahead
Page 12
Vol. 27, No. 12
OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY
Blue Cross rankings give local medical centers high marks
By CARMEN RODGERS Tallassee Tribune
With opening day right around the corner, the city of Eclectic has taken measures to meet the needed repairs to the complex. The primary issue is parking. A tournament is scheduled for opening day, which is April 2. This tournament will include 19 teams, 12 of which will be from out of town and up until recent measures were taken there was not enough space to facilitate that amount of vehicles at one time. The condition of the park was brought up in the March 7 town hall meeting. “We can’t have tournaments if there is no place to park. We can’t make money and progress the ballpark if we have nowhere for parking. We tried to extend the handicap parking about two weeks ago and the response I got back was that it wasn’t a priority to extend it,” said Patrick Burkett, with the Eclectic Youth Ball League Ball Organization. Since those concerns were expressed the town has made Aaron Park a top priority. The town has created enough parking area to accommodate a tournament like the one scheduled for April 2. “We cleared more land to expand the parking lot. We brought over two truckloads of gravel and we will bring over more, enough to finish the whole parking area,” said See AARON • Page 3
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Corey Diaz / The Observer
In one of the first steps to building new visitors bleachers, the Eclectic Fire Department burned down the old press box at BurtHaynie Field in a controlled fire Tuesday night. The old press box had been standing for all three of Elmore County High School’s three state football championships in 1976, 1978 and 1989, sitting on top of what was formerly the home side of the field. The Elmore County Board of Education approved the demolition of the visitors bleachers and construction of a new set at Burt-Haynie on Oct. 20, 2015.
Weather
73 50 Low
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer FRIDAY: HIGH 66 LOW 43
Aubrey Hornsby is no stranger to the music industry. That is why he thought an event like the Singer Songwriter night would be a success in Eclectic. Hornsby took a chance when he reached out to Jess Meuse to host the event, and it paid off. The first Singer Songwriter event was a huge success with a packed house inside The Warehouse in downtown Eclectic. Since that event was such a success, Hornsby is arranging to do it again. See SINGERS • Page 3
The four medical centers that serve Eclectic residents have all been classified as Tier 1 hospitals by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Community Hospital in Tallassee, Elmore Community Hospital, Russell Medical Center and Lake Martin Community Hospital are now Tier 1 hospitals for Blue Cross Blue Shield. The new rating could mean lower costs for individuals visiting either facility. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama created the tiered program of hospitals in 2006 to ensure cost containment, quality and patient satisfaction at the hospitals in its network. Due to the increase in healthcare costs, this year’s criteria had a greater emphasis on cost. This year, 73 percent of Blue Cross’ network hospitals classified as Tier 1 and 27 percent classified as Tier 2. Scoring will be conducted quarterly, which will give hospitals a chance to improve from Tier 2 to Tier 1. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama members who use Tier 2 hospitals may pay a higher deductible, copay or coinsurance. Any difference in prices paid may be dependent on the type of policy held as well as the hospital’s ranking. The Blue Cross and Blue See TIER • Page 3
Aaron Park opening day parade, ceremony for city league season set for April 2
Next singer songwriter event planned
Today’s
High
4 area hospitals deemed Tier I
Carmen Rodgers / The Observer
Jess Meuse, who placed fourth in the 13th season of American Idol, has agreed to host the second Singer Songwriter event, which will be held at the Warehouse in downtown Eclectic.
The Town of Eclectic is gearing up for the annual opening day ceremony of Aaron Park with a parade and about 14 baseball and softball games to kick off the beginning of the city’s youth leagues. Eclectic Town Clerk Deborah Rowe, said the town event and the Eclectic Youth Ball Organization’s season starter was scheduled for Saturday, April 2. This is the second year Patrick Burkett, EYBO president, said he has overseen the league and the event. He said work had been
ongoing since January at the park to prepare for the season. “A lot of preparation goes into getting the season started,” said Burkett. New batting cages and artificial turf were installed, and the concessions stands along with the parking lot area received renovations as well, Burkett said. The parade is scheduled to depart around 8:30 a.m. from Eclectic High School, and Burkett said the opening ceremony is set to begin around 8:45 a.m. with the first game to be held at 10 a.m. There was a large turnout at last year’s event, and See LEAGUE • Page 3
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