OPINION: CITY GOVERNMENT MAKES PROGRESS, BUT . . . PAGE 4.
THE EBTC ROBOTICS TEAM WINS GOLD. PAGE 7
TUESDAY
AREA CHAMPS! Horseshoe Bend takes home tournament trophy, page 12.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 May 10, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 93
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New DHR site moves toward purchase By MITCH SNEED Editor
A big step in the process of finding a site for a new Tallapoosa County Department of Human Resources building and plans for the public vote on Sunday alcohol sales tipped the action items for the Tallapoosa County Commissioners Monday. The commissioners voted 4-0 to authorized Commission Chairman Steve
Robinson to execute the documents needed to purchase land for a new DHR building. The only thing lacking is an appraisal to make sure the projected cost is inline with the actual value of the property, according to County Administrator Blake Beck. Tallapoosa County Administrator Blake Beck updated the commissioners on the progress at Monday’s meeting. “As I mentioned at the last meeting,
we have identified a piece of property, had discussions with the owner and it has now been surveyed,” Beck said. “Once the appraisal is done, we can have the purchase documents drawn up. “That will clear the the way for us to set up a building commission and get the construction plans in place.” It has been a yearlong process compounded by one failed attempt on a parcel
Stephens students get hands on at community garden By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
In a matter of moments third graders from Stephens Elementary School were going from holding worms and compost to tasting fennel straight from the garden as the students helped PATH plant their spring garden. “We found a worm,” one student said. “There’s a spider,” another said. “I found a centipede,” yet another said. The students were looking through compost that is used in the garden near the First United Methodist Church. “That looks like an egg shell,” another student said. “That looks like a pumpkin seed.” “Compost is nature’s way of recycling,” PATH Board member Ashley Hoppers explained to the students before they planted vegetables. “We want to start where it all begins. It comes from healthy soil. This stuff under your feet is full of life. It is full of animals and stuff you cannot see. It is these underground organisms that help us have
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
near Highway 280. The Alabama Department of Human Resources asked the commissioners to help identify a site for a new building and secure the property last July. The city of Dadeville has also been active in the search. The city had suggested property it owns near Highway 280 behind the Subway across from Highway 49, but it was found to be See COMMISSION • Page 3
Judge in Shaw assault case recuses himself
Left, PATH Board Member Ashley Hoppers talks about what happens when soil is tilled too much and what good soil should look like. Bottom left, PATH volunteer Joe Martin shows third-grader David Barnett how to help a root bound sweet potato plant before planting it in one of the raised beds at the PATH Community Garden. Bottom right, Alese Pike pushes soil onto the roots of a bell pepper plant.
As of now, date for bench trial remains May 24 By MITCH SNEED Editor
GARDEN PARTY
The judge assigned to the misdemeanor assault case against the Alexander City mayor and his wife has recused himself from the proceedings. Mayor Charles Shaw and his wife Lavern turned themselves in on third-degree assault charges on April 26 following a post-meeting physical altercation with councilman Tony Goss on Monday, April 25. The case was set for a bench trial on May 24 before Circuit Court Judge Kim Taylor. But last week Taylor asked to be removed from the case. “For good and sufficient reason, (Judge Kim Taylor) hereby recuses himself from any further proceedings in this action and respectfully requests the Presiding Circuit Judge, Hon. Steve Perryman to assign another judge to preside over this matter,” the request reads. Court records do not list any new judge assignment or change in the court date as a result of Taylor’s recusal. The news was the latest in an incident that has kept Alexander City talking since the fight occurred. After the specially called work session had
See GARDEN • Page 11
See RECUSE • Page 3
Accident victim seeking information on lost dog By MITCH SNEED Editor
Having a violent, rollover auto crash is a harrowing experience, but Jennifer Oxford saw the experience become even more troubling when she realized that her dog was missing after a Saturday crash. Oxford was traveling on Highway 280 near Coosa County Road 89 near Kellyton when her vehicle left the roadway and began to roll. “We rolled five times,” Oxford said Monday. “It was at about 6 p.m. Saturday. We were so fortunate that we both only ended up with some minor buries and scratches.” Oxford said that in the process of rolling, the vehicle’s sunroof popped out and her 5-month-old Shepherd-Hound mix named Finn was ejected from the vehicle. “Once the car came to a stop and we realized that we were okay, our first thought was for Finn,” Oxford said. “We looked around, but a witness told us that they saw him run-
ning away. I can only imagine how scared he was after that ordeal.” Oxford took to social media to spread the word and is hoping that someone will see this and come forward with information about her beloved Finn. “Maybe someone has found him and they haven’t heard about the accident and know that we are desperate to find him,” Oxford said. “We are reaching out for any information that may help us find him.” Finn is a tri-colored pup with white, brown and black markings. At the time of the crash he was wearing both an orange collar with blue paw prints and a black with teal trim harness. He was also wearing tags that had Oxford’s information inscribed on them. “If anyone has him or has seen him if they could contact me I would be so appreciative,” Oxford said. “He weighs 33 pounds and is super sweet. He is my world and I would do anything to get him back.” Oxford can be contacted via email at joxford22@gmail.com
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Readers give breast implants reviews both pro and con
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Staff
Directory Telephone: (256) 234-4281 Fax: (256) 234-6550 Website: www.alexcityoutlook.com Management Steve Baker Publisher, Ext. 218 steve.baker@alexcityoutlook.com Mitch Sneed Editor, Ext. 213 mitch.sneed@alexcityoutlook.com David Kendrick Circulation Manager, Ext. 204 david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com Lee Champion Production Manager, Ext. 220 lee.champion@alexcityoutlook.com Accounting Angela Mullins Bookkeeping, Ext. 202 angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com Mary Lyman Boone Bookkeeping marylyman.boone@alexcityoutlook.com Newsroom Betsy Iler Magazine Managing Editor, Ext. 221 betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com Robert Hudson Sports Editor, Ext. 228 robert.hudson@alexcityoutlook.com Cliff Williams Staff Writer, Ext. 212 cliff.williams@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
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
The Outlook
David Granger Staff Writer, Ext. 210 david.granger@alexcityoutlook.com Mia Osborn Assistant Magazine Editor, Ext. 227 mia.osborn@alexcityoutlook.com Advertising Sales Tippy Hunter Advertising Director, Ext. 206 marketing@alexcityoutlook.com Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Kim Morse Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 kim.morse@alexcityoutlook.com Composing Audra Spears Composing Department, Ext. 219 audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com Darlene Johnson Composing Department, Ext. 203 darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com Hallie Holloway Composing Department, Ext. 203 hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com Alethia Russell Graphic Artist, Ext. 231 alethia.russell@alexcityoutlook.com Circulation Linda Ewing Asst. Circulation Manager, 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 For more information, call (256) 234-4281.
DEAR ABBY: “Doesn’t Want to Lose Him” (Dec. 16) wants breast implants, but her boyfriend is against it. I had breast augmentation at age 27 for the same reasons she wants them. I was flat-chested, and clothing, especially summer clothing, never fit or looked right. My husband was supportive, and it turned out to be one of the best things I’ve done for my selfconfidence. I not only became more outgoing, but my career also took off. I want to urge “Doesn’t” to talk to her plastic surgeon about her goals. She shouldn’t allow herself to be pushed into a larger size than she feels comfortable with, and she shouldn’t be unrealistic about how it will change her. She implied that the surgery wouldn’t alter who she is inside, but isn’t that her goal -- to have more self-assurance? She’ll see a big change in her life. It will be gradual, but she’ll become a more confident version of herself. She should forget the boyfriend if he can’t find it in himself to be supportive, because if she does get the implants, I predict that in a year, she will have
DEAR ABBY Advice
outgrown him anyway. (Pun intended.) -- KNOWS WELL IN SAVANNAH DEAR KNOWS WELL: Thank you for your comments. Readers had various reactions to this letter. Read on: DEAR ABBY: I doubt that implants will give her anything more than a superficial boost in confidence, because external attractiveness is fleeting. I’d suggest she look inward for selfesteem rather than try to paste it onto her outsides. Values such as kindness, compassion, development of her talents, expanding her awareness and being of service to others will give her self-esteem to last a lifetime. I’ve been small-breasted all my life and admit that sometimes I have wished I had more “up front,” but now at 66, I have a healthy, fit body and have learned self-acceptance. -- M.H. IN BERKELEY, CALIF.
Obituaries
DEAR ABBY: I was lucky my husband didn’t have any objections. I had it done, but never expected the pain to be so bad. I felt better about the way clothes looked on me, but that feeling didn’t last. I recently had them removed because I suspected they were leaking (saline). They were uncomfortable. I could sleep only on my back. Running was not fun. They didn’t feel natural and they didn’t look great naked. I realized having them was a big mistake. Afterward, I found out they HADN’T leaked; they had just “shifted.” I feel better now and no one noticed anything. I’ve heard others love their implants, but I just wanted to let “Doesn’t” know there are some women who regret having it done. -- LEE IN HILO, HAWAII DEAR ABBY: I wanted breast implants about 10 years ago because my proportions were off and clothes didn’t fit well. My then-boyfriend tried to talk me out of it, but I didn’t listen. Abby, I have never once regretted getting implants. I’m happy, healthy and more confident. Looking back, I believe my boyfriend tried to talk me
Mr. Harold H. Easterwood 1943 - 2016
Mr. Robert L. McKelvey 1964 - 2016
Funeral Service for Mr. Robert L. McKelvey, 51, of Dadeville, will be Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Eagle Creek Baptist Church. Rev. Harold Cummings and Rev. David Johnson will officiate. Burial will follow in the Eagle Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Langley Funeral Home. Mr. McKelvey passed away on Monday, May 9, 2016 at his residence. He was born on May 18, 1964 in Alexander City to Leonard Cannie McKelvey and Lola Mae Haggerty McKelvey. He enjoyed riding his four-wheeler, hunting, and fishing. Rob loved to be around people and anyone who met him loved him and enjoyed being with him. He was a big jokester and was always smiling. He is survived by his parents, Leonard and Lola McKelvey of Dadeville; brothers, Todd (Rita) McKelvey of Alexander City, John (Regina) McKelvey, and Greg McKelvey both of Dadeville; nephews, Chris (Millicent) McKelvey and Wesley Carter; Great Nephew, Jenzen McKelvey; Great Niece, Aspen Chaney; and by several aunt, uncles, and cousins. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.langleyfuneralhome.com. Langley Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Funeral Service for Mr. Harold H. Easterwood, 72, of Alexander City, will be Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Jerry Wheeles will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Easterwood passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2016 at Chapman’s Healthcare. He was born on July 17, 1943 in Alexander City, Alabama to James Hugh Easterwood and Geneva Easterwood. Harold enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Every January he and his wife would make a trip to Orange Beach where he enjoyed watching the birds and spending quality time with his wife. In his younger years he enjoyed hunting and fishing
Mr. Benny Lamar Pinkard 1949 - 2016
Funeral Service for Mr. Benny Lamar Pinkard, 66, of Alexander City, will be Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Mark Sprayberry will officiate. Burial will follow in the Antioch Christian Church Cemetery in Roanoke. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. Pinkard passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2016 at Grandview Medical Center. He was born on October 5, 1949 in Roanoke, Alabama to Thomas Malone Pinkard and Georgia Bell Messer Pinkard. Mr. Pinkard drove a truck for many years. He enjoyed dancing and being with his family. He had a big heart and was always joking and lifting others up. He is survived by his wife, Janice
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out of it because he was afraid of other men noticing me. He’d say things to make me feel selfconscious about my appearance. I suspect he knew I’d eventually wise up and the surgery would expedite it. Today, I’m married to a wonderful man who doesn’t mind my assets at all. -- HAPPY IN BRANDON, FLA. DEAR ABBY: There’s a strange irony here. The greatest challenge to the woman’s self-esteem is her boyfriend -- not because he is against the implants, but because of the belittling way he talks to her. In keeping with her low self-image, she has chosen a mate who feels threatened by her desire to be more confident. A nurturing boyfriend would lift her up more than any breast enhancement could. If she had a more supportive boyfriend, she would probably decide she didn’t need the surgery. What a paradox! -- JON IN BALTIMORE 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.
with his father and brothers. He is survived by his wife, Vickie Easterwood of Alexander City; sons, Larry James Easterwood of Tuscaloosa, David Harold Easterwood (Lynn) of LaGrange GA; daughter, Gina Wall (Scott) of Alexander City; son, Scott Ryan Easterwood (Brandy) of Birmingham; mother, Geneva Easterwood of Alexander City; grandchildren, Larkin Easterwood, Logan Wall, Colton Wall; brothers, Phil Easterwood (Peggy) and Mark Easterwood (Debra). He was preceded in death by his father, James Hugh Easterwood. The family will accept flowers or memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association, P O Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www. radneyfuneralhome.com. Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Pinkard of Alexander City; daughters, Donna (Tommy) Wilson of Gaffney, SC, Angie (Jason) Clanton of Alexander City, Sandy Pinkard of Gaffney, SC, Lisa Arquette of Gaffney, SC, Tammy (Loyd) Cobb of Gaffney, SC; sons, Jamie (Carolyn) Fuller of Kellyton, Johnny (Naomi) Pinkard of Gaffney, SC, Timmy Tucker and Jimmy Tucker, both of Eclectic; thirteen grandchildren, Joseph, Garrett, Blake, Heather, Ashley, Linda, Kendra, Courtney, Tori, Amber, Lilly, Sheila and Hayley; seven great grandchildren; sisters, Idella Boggess of Ozark, Janelle Powell of Spartanburg, SC, and Brenda Denton of Valley. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers and five sisters. 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
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Commission
continued from page 1
unsuitable. So the search was resumed and Beck said the parcel being considered is in keeping with what DHR had asked for. Without naming the exact location, it has been learned that the site is near Dadeville, not far from the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department headquarters. The building will actually be paid for by the state, using a system where the county secures bonds using the state’s credit rating. The county would actually own the building, but would lease the building back to DHR and the rent paid by the agency would repay the bonds. Alabama DHR Commissioner for Administrative Services Joel Marsh told commissioners that he had seen the proposed site and feels it will be a suitable location. In another discussion item, Beck updated commissioners on the status of the bill to allow a vote of the people on Sunday alcohol sales. The bill allowing a
vote of the people was passed on the session’s final night and is awaiting the signature of Gov. Robert Bentley. “The bill sets parameters on how it has to be advertised and when it can be done,” Beck said. “For us, the vote would be in the regular November election, provided that the governor signs it into law.” Commissioner John McKelvey was not able to attend Monday’s meeting due to the death of his bother. In other action the commissioners voted 4-0 to: • Approve the minutes of the April 11 meetings. • Approve the warrants and purchase orders. • Approve a letter designating ARISE as the officials public transportation arm for the county which will help the organization with funding. • Approve a resolution authorizing an agreement between the commission and the Alabama Secretary of State that will allow the county to recoup moneys spent for handling mailed notifications that are required
Recuse
FOR RENT continued from page 1
adjourned due to the loss of control, Shaw rushed around the table towards Goss as he stood up. Shaw then punched Goss in the side of the face and landed another punch as Goss retreated and started defending himself. Others, including the mayor’s wife, appeared to join in the rush towards Goss. City employees and others gathered at the meeting worked to break it up. Alexander City Police Chief Willie Robinson grabbed Goss and restrained him while a second officer had to use a headlock to pull Shaw away. Goss swore out warrants at the office of the Tallapoosa County Circuit Court Clerk at the Alexander City Courthouse Annex. Goss said he was told that the charges needed to be filed in circuit court because Alexander City Police Chief Willie Robinson and the city’s court clerk were both witnesses to the altercation. Shaw said in a written statement released on social media that Goss had “cussed” his wife, prompting his action. The arrest warrants filed in the circuit court clerk’s office claim that Shaw punched Goss at least twice and in addition to injuries to his faces, Goss reported that his glasses were broken in
the altercation. The complaint filed by Goss against Lavern Shaw alleges that she kicked the councilman in the ankles while Goss was being restrained by Chief Robinson. Court records indicate that potential witnesses in the trial are Goss, Robinson, Councilman Bobby Tapley, Municipal Court Clerk Louise Pritchard, Alexander City Parks and Recreation Director Sonny Wilson and ACPD Officer Mark Hill. The altercation was captured on the body camera of a police officer working security during the meeting. The Outlook requested a copy or to view the video, but City Attorney Larkin Radney denied the request, citing an ongoing investigation. Third-degree assault is a Class A misdemeanor and is defined as “a person commits the crime of assault in the third degree if: with intent to cause physical injury to another person, he causes physical injury to any person; or, 2. He recklessly causes physical injury to another person.” If found guilty, a person can face up to one year in jail and a fine up to $6,000, in addition to any court costs.
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Strawberry market opens downtown
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under the federal Voter Registration Act. • Approved leave under the Family Medical Leave Act for an employee. • Approve a resolution that updates the Tallapoosa Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan has been revised by Tallapoosa County Emergency Management Agency Director Jason Moran. • Approved the moving of the polling place in the Buttston community. The polling place had been at the Buttston Volunteer Fire Department, but due to the conditions there, the Buttston Baptist Church Fellowship Hall will be used. Sheriff Jimmy Abbett updated the commissioners on the plan. It was also learned that the Manoy polling place will also need work before elections due to some electrical issues. • It was also announced that the courthouse will be closed May 30 for Memorial Day and June 6 for Jefferson Davis’ birthday.
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MainStreet Alexander City held its fourth annual Strawberry Market downtown Saturday. Here, Keith Evans of Sugar Hill Farms in Verbena puts out plump, juicy strawberries for customers at the market. But while strawberries were plentiful, Richard Wagoner, director of MainStreet Alexander City said venders selling everything from herbs to boiled peanuts had good days. But the strawberries were the big draw. “That is always one of the most popular days we have at the market,” Wagoner said. “I tell people, you don’t want to be late or the strawberries will be gone.” Evans said that Sugar Hill Farms brought about 100 gallons of berries and went home with an empty truck.
11th Annual 50+ May Day Celebration Hosted by Alexander City Parks & Rec.
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MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213
editor@alexcityoutlook.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Steve Baker Mitch Sneed
Outlook The
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Page 4
Our
Opinion Our city government can work, but . . .
B
ut.
It’s a word that has just three letters, yet has the incredible power to negate even the most powerful preceding statement. I’m sorry, but… I know it was wrong, but… I hear you, but… You have a point, but… Get the picture? That brings us to the state of the city government in Alexander City. We have some great employees here. The city has all the resources it needs to become a major player in the recruitment of business, tourists and industry. It’s already been shown that when everyone is clicking on all cylinders much can be accomplished. The issue has been that sometimes the engine running our city sputters and rattles like a 1967 slant six with a broken rocker arm, trying to run with water in the gas. There have been issues for more than two years and most say that poor communication is the root of the problem. The physical altercation and resulting criminal charges only raised the angst to a whole new level – one that demanded action. We applaud the council, the mayor and Bro. Wayne Cowhick for starting the conversation, identifying the problem and working to pinpoint where things went wrong. Word is that progress was made at a closed-door session last Thursday. Issues were aired, frank statements were made and ways to repair things that bothered the majority were put in place. As Council President Jim Spann put it, “The good thing is that we all got what was bothering us out in the open. You can’t fix a problem unless you know what it is. I think we took that step for sure.” Now here comes that word, but… “But some of those that were involved in those confrontations, well, they have a week to consider making some statements or make some other decisions,” Spann said. Let’s hope they make the right decisions. We know this group is capable of working together. The Outlook archives show that over the past three and a half years, the votes taken by the council have been unanimous 97.3 percent of the time. Yes, 97.3 percent of the time the council were in total agreement. Is 2.7 percent of anything worth fighting over? No, but…
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 Robert Bentley represents the state of Alabama and its 67 counties. He was elected to office on Nov. 2, 2010, and can be reached at 334-242-7100. His office is located at the State Capitol at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.
Luther Strange was elected Alabama’s Robert Bentley 49th Attorney General first elected in 2010, and serves as the State’s chief law enforcement officer. He can be reached at 334242-7300, and his office is located at 501 Washington Avenue, Montgomery. Mark Tuggle (R) Luther Strange 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. His office is located at 110 Mark Tuggle 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.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Vernon Ingram’s last trip to church
N
ot a soul moved as the plaintive notes of Taps hung over this little spit of south Alabama that was now wrapping its earthy arms around one of its own. It was late April when Vernon Ingram made his last trip to the Oakey Streak Methodist Church, which he joined as a teenager in 1936. In between he traveled the world in the service of the U.S. Air Force. India, Tripoli, Libya, Puerto Rico were all stops for this boy from a Depression era farm who answered when his country called. As family and friends gathered at the gravesite, a military detail paid their last respects. The coffin was covered with an American flag, just like the one that sits over my right shoulder in a wooden frame as I write. The one that covered my father’s coffin on a wet, cold February day ten years ago. Ceremonial shots cracked above the pines that stretched to the horizon. The sound reminded us all that service to our country is a duty that Vernon’s generation did not take lightly. That when Hitler set his forces on his neighboring countries and Pearl Harbor was engulfed in flames. kids who knew more about chopping cotton than where Germany or Japan were, kids out of Red Level High School like Vernon Ingram and Arnie Lee went
LARRY LEE Guest Columnist
willingly to serve their country.. Like so many rural places, Oakey Streak was far different when Vernon and Daddy went to war than it is today. Tucked just across the Covington County line in Butler County, it was teeming with life back then. The surrounding countryside was home to dozens of sharecroppers and yeomen farmers furiously trying to scratch out a meager sustenance from the sandy bottoms and red clay ridges. A man’s worth was measured by the value of his team of mules and the number of children he had to work the fields. But even 75 years ago the Oakey Streak Methodist Church already had a rich history. Community families had been making the trek to its cemetery for decades. Organized in 1831, the present church has stood since the 1880s. One moves reverently among the graves. Many marked only by rocks. No headstone to tell us who rests there eternally. One grave is the resting place of a soldier killed at the Battle
of Sharpsburg, Maryland in the Civil War. A small sign marks the site of 21 unmarked graves of infants. A harsh reminder of a world before antibiotics. Oakey Streak was once a thriving community. It even had one or two doctors. I remember when grandpa would go to see Dr. Jernigan at Oakey Streak. But that was then. Today, the sharecroppers’ fields have been reclaimed by thickets where endless pine trees march off in rows across thousands of acres – a testament to both farm mechanization and federal programs. Fittingly, the church is on the National Register of Historic Places. On the fourth Sunday of October the church celebrates “homecoming.” Two long concrete tables under an awning beside the church will be lined with peas, butterbeans, fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, turnip greens, casseroles of all sorts, peach cobbler, caramel cake, cornbread and sweet tea. There will be hugs and laughter and endless stories as kinfolks and neighbors gather once again to pay their respects to days and people gone by. And Vernon Ingram will be waiting. Larry Lee lives in Montgomery. He can be reached at larrylee133@ gmail.com
Mill town needs to survive crucifixion to thrive
I
never understood the mythos of the mill. To me, it was always a monument to yesteryear. Last year, I took a drive down and parked and wanted to experience the mill. Now, in all honesty, I’m no stranger to the mill culture. My dad cut his teeth at Russell Mills in Alex City and I remember going to visit him in the Boiler Room and smelling the sawdust and the grease and hearing the noises that went along with his job. Stepping into the corpse of the Tallassee-Mt. Vernon Mill was a different experience. It was vast and quiet. It was still. I had a guy that was leading the demolition give me a tour through both buildings - the one built in the 1800s and the one built in the 1900s. Years of cotton fiber remained affixed to the walls and the columns. The older building was completely gutted. The newer building was in the midst as sparks flew and metal clanged. The plan was to take all the metal down and then remove the wood and then finally, the bricks floor by floor until nothing was left. But the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Tallasseeans awoke
GRIFFIN PRITCHARD Guest Columnist
Thursday morning to a cornucopia of Facebook videos, media accounts and personal stories from those who were there watching the former Tallassee-Mt. Vernon Mills burn and rage. The fire, roaring a hellish orange at times, worked its way through what once was the backbone of the town’s once-thriving economy. Flames lit up the skyline as the fire crawled through the two building feasting on years of old, dry wood. Nearly 100 firefighters were called into battle the blaze. But the best they could was quell the beast as fires still burned on into Thursday afternoon. Questions remain about the fire’s origin - but that’s for law enforcement to sort out. The question that now stands is a simple one. Where does Tallassee go from here? An old Baptist preacher once told me that in order to experience the resurrection, you have to survive the crucifixion. That’s true of the town,
as the mills are the second landmark to succumb to flames lit under quizzical circumstances. But there is a light and there is an opportunity to rise from the ashes. The old mills once stood proud and tall but now only a smoldering skeleton remains. Underneath the ashes lies nothing but potential. Potential that will go unrecognized if no one opens their minds to see it. Given the location and, of course barring the dam breaking, Tallassee could have a marina with a new boat launch. It could be developed into an amphitheater and used to house concert or even built into an entertainment district. The mills once stood as an homage to yesteryear. But, those can be seen all throughout the downtown and the town itself. Let this tragedy lead to something grand. Allow the area to grow and to develop into something that will draw people to the town instead having people flee it. It’s that simple. Pritchard is a former editor for The Tallassee Tribune and Elmore County resident.
Letters to the Editor
Thanks to all who’ve dedicated their lives to hospitals
Dear Editor, For late nights, long days, for attention to detail, for caring, for reminding us it’s going to be ok and for making sure it is … these are some of the words of thanks found in a video posted online to celebrate National Hospital Week at alaha.org. I want to offer a special thank you to the almost 80,000 men and women who work in Alabama’s hospitals. They are some of the finest people I’ve met, and their jobs, while meaningful, are often not easy. Let me explain. Taking care of someone’s health is not always textbook. Each patient brings his or her own unique illness or condition, so hospital staff must always be on their toes, thinking one step ahead about how the next
patient might need something different and responding quickly if there’s a sudden change. Besides pregnant women, most patients are not in the hospital because they want to be there. Hospital employees care for individuals during some of the most difficult emotional and physical times of their lives. Facing life and death on a daily basis isn’t easy, but hospital staff do it, often because they experienced life-saving hospital care themselves or had the calling passed down from a family member who was a nurse or a doctor. In addition to those providing direct patient care, there are many others who work in hospitals and are extremely important to the care of patients … those who keep the lights
on, who make sure equipment is in top working condition, who make images that identify cancers, who prepare the food, who sanitize the rooms and many more. Each hospital has hundreds, sometimes thousands, of individuals who work 24/7 to provide the best possible care for patients. To all of you who have heard the call and followed your heart to work in a hospital, we honor you and thank you for making our lives and our communities better. Donald E. Williamson, MD, President Alabama Hospital Association Montgomery
Today’s
Quote
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot
Today’s
Scripture “In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.” – 2 Corinthians 2:4
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Tuesday, May 10, 2016
The Outlook
CommunityCalendar Need Insurance? Call me.
Today is
May 10, 2016 Today’s Events
FOOD SAFETY FOR FUNDRAISERS: This is a class being offered by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System for organizations to receive some food
safety training in quantity cooking. Tallapoosa County Extension will host classes on May 3 and May 10 at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse Extension auditorium in Dadeville. Class time is 6 p.m. – 8 pm. More details: https://offices.aces.edu/tallapoosa/food-safety-fund-raisers/ BRHS 50TH REUNION: The Benjamin Russell High School Class
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of 1966 is having a reunion June 4. Your reservation and information sheet was due April 20. If you have not returned it, please do so as soon as possible. We have to have a final count today. If you need further information call Linda at 256-392-3515 or Martha at 256-234-4885.
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The Hyssongs will be presenting a concert of Gospel Music at Bay Pine Baptist Church Friday, June 3 at 7 p.m. Dell, Susan, and Richard Hyssong travel full-time as the award-winning Hyssongs. their energetic family ministry combines family vocal harmony, humor and brass instruments to delight audiences through the powerful medium of music. The group has been singing together as a family for 20 years.
May 12
PATH FINDERS: The next meeting of PATH FINDERS will be on May 12 at noon in the United Way conference room, Main Street, downtown Alexander City. Please join us and help us make strides in 2016 to improve the lives of individuals dealing with dementia in the Lake Martin area.
May 12-13
PASTORAL APPRECIATION: The Second Pastoral Appreciation honoring Elder Neverland Tuck of the Bread of Life Apostolic Church of Promise located on Highway 280 West, Kellyton ,Alabama will be held on May 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. nightly. For more information contact Prophetess Alisha Morris at 256-3298674 or Elder Beverly McKinney at 256307-6509.
May 12 - May 28
WETUMPKA DEPOT PLAYERS: I Hate Hamlet will be presented by the Wetumpka Depot Players May 12 - May 28. For ticket information call 334-8681140 or go to wetumpkadepot.com.
May 14
CLASS REUNION: Union Academy, Dadeville, AL, Senior Class of 1974 is hosting a School Reunion BBQ on Saturday, May 14, 2 p.m. until at University Station RV Park, Hwy 14, Auburn. All students, faculty, their families, and anyone associated with Union Academy are invited. Contact Eddie Hughes, 334-257-3826, email hughesautoparts@centurytel.net; Priscilla Hammonds, 334-283-2233, email steven505@centurytel.net; Carolyn Hood, 334-319-3434, email auburnhood@aol. com; or Genice Fuqua, 256-508-1768, email gfuquaret@gmail.com for more information. Assistance will be provided for those with mobility problems. CLAY SHOOT: The Alex City Kiwanis is once again sponsoring it’s annual Five-Stand Clay Shoot at Five Star Plantation. This year’s event will be Saturday, May 14th. Five person teams will compete against one another with each team getting 25 shots per person. Trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Full five-man teams are $800, a half team is $400, and individual entry is $160. Entry deadline is Friday, May 6th. For more information or to register, please contact Dr. Matt Haines at mhaines@sixthstreetbaptistchurch.com or call 256-794-3074. You can also contact through the Alexander City Kiwanis Facebook page. LAUREL CLASS OF 1969: Laurel High School Class of 1969 will have a meeting Saturday, May 14, 10:30 a.m. to talk about the 50th year anniversary reunion. PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Comer United Methodist Church is hosting a pancake breakfast May 14 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cost is $6 a plate and consists of bacon and or sausage and pancakes. It is all you can eat dine in only. To go plates available. WOMENS RETREAT: Mt. Zion Baptist Church is hosting a women’s retreat May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be three amazing speakers with a salad luncheon. Bring your favorite salad to share and enjoy a day of fellowship.
May 15
GOSPEL SINGING: Goodwater Baptist Church is hosting a gospel singing May 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with lunch in between. Bring a covered dish. The Joyful Hearts will be performing and a love offering will be taken.
CHURCH HOMECOMING: Holly Springs Baptist Church and Cemetery of Coosa County will host a homecoming May 15 at 10 a.m. with lunch after the service. Please join us if you have family buried in the cemetery or you used to go to church there. HOMECOMING: The Midway School Historical Association will be hosting homecoming May 15. Lunch will be at noon and singing afterwards. SOLIDARITY DAY: The New Adka Church is hosting Solidarity Day may 15 at 11 a.m.
May 16
PARENT NIGHT: Mamie’s Place Children’s Library is hosting parent night for the annual summer reading program May 16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be registration for the summer reading program, door prizes, pizza and fun run information.
May 17
MEETING: The Artist Association of Central Alabama will meet May 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church.
May 18
MAY DAY: The Alexander City Parks and Recreation Department’s 50+ Club is hosting its 11th annual May Day Celebration at Wind Creek State Park Wednesday, may 18 starting at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony. There will be door prizes, bingo, music, boat rides, horseshoe tournament, rook and food. If you are bringing a group of 8 or more, please call in you count by May 13 at 256-329-2910 Free and open to all of Tallapoosa County, just the $2 entrance fee at the park. For more information email corley. holt@alexandercityal.gov.
May 19
WINE TASTING: Emporium Wine is hosting a wine tasting May 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. John Mark Davis of Pinnacle Imports will have wines from the Pacific Northwest. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MEMORIAL: The Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department and the Alexander City Police Department are hosting the 20th Annual Law Enforcement Memorial at the Alexander City Police Department May 19 at 11 a.m. Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill. In the event of bad weather, the ceremony will take place at the First Baptist Church.
May 20
AWARDS DAY: Coosa Central Middle School Awards Day for fifth through seventh grades will be May 20 at 9 a.m. The eighth grade promotion ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. DSC FUNDRAISER: The Dixie Sailing Club is hosting a $5,000 Drawdown at The Ridge Club May 20 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The proceeds will be used to promote the youth sailing program. There will be a silent auction, music, food and drinks. For tickets check the club’s website at www.dixiesailingclub. com.
May 21
PADDLE FOR A PURPOSE: Children’s Harbor Lake Martin Campus is hosting Paddle for a Purpose May 21 at 8:30 a.m. Registration fees are $35 for the mile race and $45 for the 3 and 6 mile race. This event is part of the SUP the South race series. Non-racers are welcome to watch.
MOTORCYCLE RIDE FOR VETERANS: Anyone with a motorcycle is welcome to the 2nd annual Armed Forces Day Ride for Veterans supporting Bill Nichols Veterans Home. Registration is $20 per bike plus $5 for additional riders. The ride starts at 10 a.m. from the New Site Town Hall. Bikers will ride down Highway 22 before returning to the town hall at 2 p.m. for a meal. All proceeds go to the Bill Nichols activities fund. This event is organized by the DAV Bill Nichols Chapter 13 and the Clay County Sheriff and sponsored by Bike Riders for the American Soldier and local supporters. For more information, contact Ray Latham at 256-990-2666 or Cory Powell at 256-329-9502. TRADE DAY: The Bibb Graves School is hosting a trade day May 21 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. BREATHE FOR BUNN: The third annual Breathe for Bunn 3-mile walk/run will be held Saturday, May 21 at 9 a.m. The Breathe for Bunn Walk/Run is a 3 mile walk or run dedicated to raising awareness of Cystic Fibrosis while also raising funds to benefit Ashley Bunn as she prepares for a double lung transplant. The walk will start and end at the Courthouse Square in downtown Dadeville this year. BLESSING OF THE FLEET: Pastor Bill Brown will bless the fleet at Harbor Pointe Marina May 21 at 11 a.m. Colorful decorations are good and the evet is sponsored by Stillwaters Yacht Club. BENEFIT SINGING: There will be a benefit singing and silent bake auction at the Kellyton Revival Center May 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to benefit Brenda Thompson for unexpected funeral cost and medical bills for grandchildren she is raising.
Call 256-234-4281 or stop by our ofÚce at 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL
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May 22
CHURCH HOMECOMING AND SACRED HARP SINGING: Rocky Mount Primitive Baptist Church will observe Homecoming and Sacred Harp Singing on Sunday, May 22, beginning at 10 a.m. followed by a covered dish lunch at noon. There will also be singing in the afternoon. The church is located three miles SW of Daviston on County Road 79. FAMILY AND FRIENDS DAY: Coger Hill C.M.E. Church in Daviston is hosting Family and Friends Day May 22 at 2 p.m. The Rev. T. Caldwell, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Five Points will be the guest speaker. Everyone is welcome. CHOIR ANNIVERSARY: New Popular Spring Missionary Baptist Church in Dadeville will host its annual choir anniversary Sunday May 22 at 2 p.m. Guest minister will be Rev. Emerson Ware.
May 27
OLD FASHIONED GOOD TIME: The old Coosa County/J.D. Thompson School campus will be the site of a real old fashioned good time, going back in the day with fun. Activities will include a May Pole, horseshoes, car games, twohole golf, bingo, art contest and more. Concessions will be available but please no large bills. Kendall Burton will be the guest speaker. Please bring a lawn chair. BOSTON BUTT SALE: The Alexander City Methodist Church is selling tickets for Boston Butts for Memorial Day. Cost is $28 for one or $50 for two.
May 28
ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL: Bibb Graves School is hosting an arts and crafts festival May 28. There will also be a car show.
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Tuesday, May 10, 2016
The Outlook
ALL ABOUT NURSES
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Brown Nursing Home 2334 Washington St. Alexander City, AL 35010 Phone: (256) 329-9061 www.crownemanagement.com
1649 Highway 22 West • Alexander City, AL 256-215-5323 We’re Just a Heart Beat Away
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YOUR LAKE MARTIN CHEVY DEALER Full Service Tire Center • Free Estimates Parts, Service & Body Shop
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135 N. Tallassee Street • Dadeville, AL 8:00-4:00 Mon.-Fri • By Appt.(Except Emergencies) 256-234-4295 • After Hours 256-329-7100
Temple Medical Clinic, P.C. YOUR FAMIY CARE CENTER Medicine, Office Surgery, Pediatric, & Industrial James P. Temple, M.D. • Timothy J. Cordin, M.D. Vincent Law, M.D.
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Tuesday, May 10, 2016
The Outlook
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JOBS available
The Outlook in Alexander City (alexcityoutlook.com) is a multi-media news and sales organization that is located in Alexander City, Alabama. The Outlook and its sister publications have been the voice of central Alabama since 1892. Alexander City enjoys steady growth along with a list of many recreational opportunities. We currently are seeking one outside and one inside advertising account executive.
As an Advertising account executive you will be expected to develop new business and maintain an existing Submitted / The Outlook
Kendravious Golatte, left, and David Washburn compete in the SkillsUSA state robotics competition. The pair won first place .
EBCTC mobile robotics team wins gold at SkillsUSA STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
The Edward Bell Career Technical Center Mobile Robotics Team won 1st place at the SkillsUSA State Conference and Competitions. The team consists of David Washburn and Kendravious Golatte. The competition was held April 19th – 21st, 2016 in Birmingham, AL. The students were tasked with designing, building, and programming a robot to compete on a set course. Their final product was engineered to gather, lift, and shoot balls into a small net. The competition included an autonomous and driver control period as well as a presentation to judges. “We are extremely proud of these students and Mrs. Brooks. This is the first year of the EBCTC program and the first year attending SkillsUSA state completion. It is really impressive and a compliment to our students, to win against teams who have competed for many years.” The students will now move on to the National SkillsUSA competition which will be held June 20 – 24, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky. Funds are being raised for the trip to National Skills USA. Should you wish to contribute, please contact Madison Brooks at Edward Bell Career Technical Center at 256-896-0160.
Public Meetings 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. 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. Camp Hill Town Council meets the first and third Mondays of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 6 p.m.
of each month. Meetings are held upstairs in the courthouse 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 second and fourth Monday of the month at 5 p.m. in the Conference Room in the Town Hall.
Community Action Agency of Chambers, Tallapoosa, Coosa will holds its regular board of directors meetings every other month at the Central Office in Dadeville.
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.
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. 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.
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.
Dadeville City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. in city hall. Daviston City Council meets the third Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Daviston Fire Department. Goldville Town Council meets the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the town hall. Goodwater City Council meets on the second Tuesday
Tallapoosa County 911 Board will meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the 911 Administrative office at 240 West Columbus Street, Dadeville. Call 825-8490 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.
GOT JUNK! One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Sell your clutter in the Classifieds.
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account base of clients by selling a variety of advertising products and services. Some of our advertising products include print, online and mobile editions of the newspaper, magazines, inserts, direct mail and email marketing. Tis role is critical to supporting the over all revenue objectives at out organization. Our Account Executives use a consultative sales approach to identify the marketing and advertising needs of their clients in order to make effective recommendations. At the close of sale, this position requires you to complete detailed paperwork to fulfill orders that include placement of ads, the creative message, and reports to communicate campaign performance.
Qualifications Ideal candidates will have 2 plus years of outside sales experience. Most importantly, the candidate will have a demonstrated track record of achievement and be able to work in a fast paced and deadline oriented environment. Bachelor’s degree preferred. Candidates must have excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills including basic computer skills for Microsoft office suite including Google for email, scheduling, and documents. Our outside sales positions require you to have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
Please email resume to marketing @alexcityoutlook.com
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The Outlook
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Making a Difference in a Child’s Education The following sponsors have joined with The Alexander City Outlook and The Dadeville Record to promote the use of newspapers as an educational resource by providing Tuesday edition papers to city and county schools in the area. • Russell Medical Center • Russell Lands • Representative Mark Tuggle • Tallapoosa County Sheriff, Jimmy Abbett • Grace’s Flowers & Gifts • Barbara Young • Udora Berry
To become a sponsor in The Alexander City or Tallapoosa County School System Please contact David Kendrick at 256-234-4281 or david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com 548 Cherokee Rd., Alexander City, AL 35010
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The Outlook
Congratulate your GRAD! This month The Outlook will publish senior photos for the local graduating classes. We will include graduate photos and your special message on or near the graduation pages. Benjamin Russell - May 27th • Horseshoe Bend - May 24th Central High School Coosa County - May 19th
Congrats! We are so proud of you! Always believe in yourself and dream big. We Love You!! Mom, Dad & Sissy
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Top, Stephens Elementary School third-graders Ava Franklin, left, and Katie Waldrop look for what is good compost. The girls found worms, egg shells, dryer lint, a pumpkin seed, and a spider to name a few things. Above, Stephens Elementary School third grader Harper Elliot draws a dionsaur on a sign as classmate Ryder Mobley looks while naming their raised bed.
Garden food.” After a quick lesson on composting and how it works, the students quickly got some dark soil under their fingernails planting. “We are going to be planting seven different crops and several herbs,” Hoppers explained. “We are going to plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and sweet potatoes. We have some different types squash and some okra.” Soon students are off to one of eight raised beds working with a volunteer to plant. The process is meant to introduce children to vegetables and a healthy lifestyle. “This is our third year to have this garden,” PATH president Ella MacFiggen said. “PATH’s mission is to try and make the Lake Martin area the healthiest in the state in the next 10 years. We have been encouraging folks to shop at the famer’s markets but now we are trying to get to the kids and try to instill in them a love of vegetables and how to grow them. Almost all of the city schools have a bed for gardening.” The gifted third graders were accompanied by their teacher Laurie Barrett Monday.
Crystal Williams
Benjamin Russell High School
2x2 Grad Tribute Ad:
$65
‘15
You Made It! continued from page 1
“They wanted a group to come out and help,” Barrett said. “We already have beds at school so this makes sense. We have eight raised beds just like here and two compost bins.” Monday the students got reinforcement of what they have been learning already. “It is great,” Barrett said. “We are learning about cover to keep weeds from growing and some more about composting. We use weeds in our compost. Sometimes we get some stuff from the lunchroom. The kids get real excited when they get a box of rotten potatoes. This enhances our efforts.” Some students got to taste some of the herbs already growing. “It is sweet,” Ryder Mobley said after tasting fennel for the first time. “It tastes kinda like a popsicle,” Harper Elliott said. “I also learned you can put it in cookies, or with cucumbers in olive oil.” With kids smiling everywhere, MacFiggen reflected on the day. “I think it has gone great,” MacFiggen said. “I think they have done a great job. The proof will be in the produce.”
2x4 Grad Tribute Ad:
$95 *other ad sizes available upon request.
We love you so much and couldn’t be more proud of your achievements! Aim for the stars! Love, Mom, Dad, Jacob and Alex
‘15
Kaleb Johnson
Horseshoe Bend High School
Email, call or come by Tallapoosa Publishers. Payment, photos and message must be turned in by Noon on May 17th.
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ROBERT HUDSON SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228
sports@alexcityoutlook.com
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Tuesday, May 10, 2016
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LUKE ROBINSON Sports Columnist
Assorted, scattered thoughts from the week that was
LADY GENERALS TAKE TITLE Horseshoe Bend headed to Regionals after taking area crown at Reeltown
I
t’s time for another assortment of random paragraphs based on scattered thoughts…. n I will start with a prediction: Alabama and Auburn both use three different starting quarterbacks in the 2016 season. I am not good enough to predict who those three are or in what order they appear, but there is so much uncertainty it seems certain that a musical chairs scenario will break out. n Skipper Mitch Gaspard led Alabama to a baseball series win over Auburn in Tuscaloosa this weekend. While any series over the Tigers is usually cherished, defeating this particular group shouldn’t warrant accolades. Frankly, I am ready for UA to make a change at the top. The team seems to have hit the same glass ceiling it hits annually under the current regime. However, I am afraid the Tide powers-that-be will continue to keep Gaspard around for another year (and maybe many more “another years” after that). Gaspard is a lot like former Georgia football coach Mark Richt in a loose sense. Wins enough to be kept around, but very few trophies to show for the wins. Richt won more often, but Gaspard never loses enough to get fired. It is becoming more and more obvious, though, that for Alabama to advance to the next level it will need to be done under different leadership. n Alabama received a commitment from a kid in the 2019 graduating class. I love recruiting as much as anyone, but these types of early pledges by young kids are getting old. The over/under on “flips” this guy does has be to set at three with three years to go until his signing day. These commitments are tough on coaches, though; the coach wants the kid to feel comfortable enough to commit any time, BUT now the player has inadvertently put a target on his back in the sense that other teams’ coaches will want him even more than before! n The NBA Playoffs….. Yeah, I am not watching that just yet. I need a couple of more weeks to want to get involved with those. n I did see “Captain America: Civil War” this past weekend. I am not much into hyperbole, but that film may have been the best piece of cinema of all time. (OK… maybe I am into hyperbole just a little bit!) This movie did have something for everyone, though. Do you like comic book heroes? This film is for you. Do you like a thinking-man’s conflict without easy resolution? This film is for you. Do you like cool action sequences? Stunning visual effects? Great acting?…… Do you like Scarlett Johansson in leathery outfits? This film is definitely for you then. I give it an unheard of “12 shields up” on my completely arbitrary rating system. Get there now and tell them Luke sent cha! (You won’t get a discount or anything, but I think it’d be funny when the ticket –taker says, “Luke who?”) Robinson is a sports columnist for The Outlook and is president of the Lake Martin Area Bama Club.
Submitted Photo / The Outlook
The Horseshoe Bend Lady Generals pose with their area tournament title trophy on Thursday evening in Reeltown. Horseshoe Bend will travel to Troy this week for the Class 2A South Central Regional. By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
The Horseshoe Bend Lady Generals left Reeltown with an area crown and will enter this week’s South Central Regional Tournament as a No. 1 seed in Class 2A. The Lady Generals (22-18-3) defeated LaFayette 16-1 last Thursday in Reeltown to kick off the Class 2A-Area 8 Tournament before falling 4-1 to the hosting Lady Rebels. Horseshoe Bend bounced back with an 18-1 win over LaFayette in the losers’ bracket before beating Reeltown 2–1 and 7-1 in back-to-back games to win the area title. Bernie Robidart, head coach of Horseshoe Bend, said the Lady Generals played well in their last five, and have shown considerable improvement at the plate over the course of the 2016 season. “The area tournament went pretty good. We won. We played five games and played really well through all of them, so I was really happy,” Robidart said. “Right now, we’re doing pretty good, actually. We’re playing pretty solid and not giving up. Our
batting average the first five games of the season was .151. But at a tournanent we played a couple of weeks ago, we were at .301, so we’re really coming together there.” Robidart said Horseshoe Bend seemed to hit its stride in the second game against Reeltown last Thursday. “We beat Reeltown 7-1 in the second game where we hit a home run, and got a couple of doubles. But by the time we played the fifth game, we were getting a little tired,” Robidart said. “So, we didn’t do as well, but if we can keep our momentum going we can kind of stay in the groove. Everything seems to be working, so we’re hoping to continue on.” With the area tournament win, Horseshoe Bend will head to Troy for the South Central Regional where it will play Zion Chapel at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. Horseshoe Bend beat Zion Chapel in its first game against Zion Chapel and lost the second game at last season’s South Central Regional Tournament. Robidart said he believes the Lady Generals and Zion Chapel come from the
two toughest areas of the four that will be represented at regionals. “I think, probably, the area that they came from and the area we came from are likely the two best out of the four areas that will be there at Regionals,” Robidart said. “We’re playing them as their area’s No. 2 seed and Reeltown is playing their No. 1 seed in New Brockton. I’d like to think we’re going to come out of there with three straight wins. I think the first and second place teams are going to come out of that if I had to guess, but you just don’t know.” With pitching and hitting currently proving to be a strength for Horseshoe Bend, Robidart said he is feeling good about the Lady Generals’ chances. “I feel OK with where we’re at. Kynsley (Blasingame) is pitching pretty well, our hitting is a lot better and we’re a lot smarter on the base paths than we used to be,” Robidart said. “I think everything is coming together. We’re really gelling as a team right now. We’re working at it every inning on offense and defense and it feels pretty good.”
Wildcats fall at Northridge in third round By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
The 2016 season came to a heartbreaking end for the Benjamin Russell Wildcats, as they fell 2-1 at Northridge in Tuscaloosa on Saturday in round three of the Class 6A State Playoffs. Benjamin Russell Coach Austin Teel said the Wildcats (20-6-1) were disappointed in falling short of their goal of returning to the Final Four and bringing home a state title. “It was a very heartbreaking loss for the kids and for myself. We set our goals very high this year and expected to achieve those goals kind of like what we did last year and having returned nine starters from that team,” Teel said. “It was very heartbreaking. In my opinion, the difference in the game was mental toughness. I’ve been stressing the whole season about how do you respond to adversity and how do you respond when things aren’t going the way it’s supposed to go. Do we fight back as a team or do we crumble down and sink into our shell? And to be honest, the latter is what happened.” Franklin Staples scored the lone goal in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Northridge. Teel said Northridge executed its game plan of defending Benjamin Russell’s highscoring offense to perfection. “It was a very ‘David vs. Goliath’ type of game and, ironically, we were Goliath this time. That’s great that we’re getting respect from the community of Alabama soccer,” Teel said. “Their coach had a great game plan for us, they respected our offense and played a lot of good defense. His players executed it to perfection. That was one way that mental toughness was our weakness. We couldn’t respond to how they were playing against us and we couldn’t respond when we went down 1-0. Just our mental toughness was one of the key differences in the game.” Despite the loss, Teel said he told the Wildcats to be proud of what they have accomplished this season.
Robert Hudson / Outlook File Photo
Senior Franklin Staples (8) scored Benjamin Russell’s only goal in Saturday’s 2-1 road loss to Northridge.
“I told them after the game, ‘you’ve got to be proud of yourself.’ Another 20-win season, we did that this season, which is very hard to achieve with all the games we do play including tournaments. So, I was very proud of that,” Teel said. “Two of our players actually passed the 100-goal mark for their careers (Cole Grogan and Grant Hudson), so that’s extremely good when you have not just one guy, but two guys who work together to do that. We’ve just got to learn to deal with adversity.” He added that he is proud of the senior
class that has been with the program since they were in middle school. “Overall, I’m glad that our 11 seniors stuck with soccer all the way from their seventh-grade year to their 12th-grade year,” Teel said. “All 11 seniors found a way to contribute to this team and to this program, whether it was being an inspiration off the bench or being on the field starting and scoring goals. I was very proud of all 11 sticking out with soccer for their entire careers.”