OPINION: GOOD NURSING HOMES VITAL PART OF COMMUNITY. PAGE 4
THE
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GENERALS MARCH IN THE SPRING Generals set to square off with Fayetteville in spring game.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 May 13, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 96 www.alexcityoutlook.com
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Tuggle hints at a run for ag commissioner By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
State Rep. Mark Tuggle of Alexander City told the Dadeville Kiwanis Club on Thursday that he is “seriously considering” a run for state Commissioner of Agriculture
and Industries when his house term expires in two years. Tuggle, who announced that he would not seek another House term in August, indicated he would be interested in a state Senate or – his preference – Congressional seat, but said that he “will not run
against a good friend” and he considers state Sen. Tom Whatley and U.S. Rep Mike Rogers to be good friends. “I’m not going to run against Tom Whatley,” Tuggle said. “Tom See TUGGLE • Page 3
David Granger / The Outlook
Rep. Mark Tuggle, right, talks with Denver Walker at Thursday’s meeting of the Dadeville Kiwanis Club.
Dadeville
Barking dogs lead man to reward in burglaries
Council takes no action on Dixie Youth formal complaint By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The Dadeville City Council took no action following a one-hour executive session after members of the Dadeville Dixie Youth Board filed a formal complaint against a city employee at Tuesday’s council meeting. “What is the policy on an employee who is being investigated for something like theft?” Dadeville Dixie Youth (DDY) Board Member Danielle Williams asked. “We are concerned that the employee may be able to access equipment and inventory. We want to protect our investments made for the children.” Council member Randy Foster asked that the employee’s name not be used in a public forum but DDY board member Brandon Jones confirmed Wednesday they were filing the formal complaint against Dadeville Parks and Recreation Director Scott Baker. “We don’t trust said employee to accept food orders,” Williams said. “That is thousands that come in. What happens when he accepts an order and a bunch of stuff is missing?” Williams said the board is not trying to get the employee terminated. “We are not trying to get someone to lose their job,” Williams said. “Maybe he can be moved to See DADEVILLE • Page 3
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
PUCKER FOR PIG
Principal courts pig in Relay for Life fundraiser BRHS Principal Dr. Anthony Wilkinson, left, puckered up for a pig Thursday morning at Benjamin Russell as Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” played in the background. The big, juicy smooch was part of an effort to help the school’s National Honor Society raise funds for Relay for Life. David McDaniel supplied Wilkinson’s ‘date.’
Johnny Peterson should feed his dogs well tonight. It was the barking of those dogs that woke Peterson at his Wicker Point Road home one night in October 2014. He checked for what was rousing the dogs’ interest and spotted a vehicle parked approximately 50 yards up the hill at the end of his driveway. Peterson armed himself with a .22 and drove up the hill in his truck to confront the stranger. “I asked him what he was doing and he said he had family members that lived on the road and was waiting on somebody to catch up,” Peterson See REWARD • Page 2
David Granger / The Outlook
John Thompson, right, president of Lake Martin Resource Association, and Mack Daugherty present Johnny Peterson with a check for $5,000 for his help in solving 45 burglaries of Lake Martin homes.
Alexander City robotics teams fare well in New Orleans By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
David Granger / The Outlook
Danny Jeong, left, prepares his robot to maneuver a course identical to that used at the National WWII Robotics Challenge. Legotrons robotics coach Nick Nicholson looks on.
A trio of Alexander City robotics teams placed in Saturday’s National WWII Robotics Challenge at the museum’s U.S. Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center in New Orleans. The teams from Central Alabama Community College, Radney Elementary School and Faith Christian Academy were among more than 40 teams from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi who competed in the competition. The CACC team tied for top honors in the robot competition and the Faith Christian Academy team placed second. Radney Elementary’s robotics team placed second in robot design and Faith Christian placed third. “We had a pretty good showing,” said Nick Nicholson, a retired CACC professor who coaches the
CACC Legonators and helps with the Radney Legotrons. “We hope that we can keep the kids interested in robotics for a long time.” Team members for Legonators were Danny Jeong and Aidan Royal, both students at Radney Elementary, and homeschool student Lyra Farrar. Rob Iler assists Nicholson in coaching the Legonators. Radney Legotrons team members were Brayden Bolt, Alli Broom, Jackson Colley, Carlee Fuller, Austin Holley, Jack Jennings, Skyler Oliver, Kayden Ray, Michael Stinson and Devin White. Radney is coached by Christie and Alan Broom. Faith Christian team members were Bella Arami, Autumn Blanks, John Paul Boles, Reid Daughtry, Evan Dunning, Kelly Hernandez, Jake Jennings, Chapman Marlow, See ROBOTICS • Page 3
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Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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Avoiding stairs in fire drill gets out of hand in high-rise
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DEAR ABBY: I am the building manager of a high-rise office building. Every year we perform a fire alarm test to determine that all our fire alarm systems work properly. Employees in the building must evacuate in a timely manner. Two years ago, a very overweight woman told me she had a heart condition and could not make it down the stairs during the drill. I told her to proceed to the stairwell, have one of her co-workers give me her location and in the event of a fire I’d send a fireman up to get her. A year later, another obese woman told me she, too, couldn’t make it down the stairs. Word has gone out in the building. Now 10 other women have asked to be added to the “list” so they won’t have to descend the stairs. I have nightmares about these women standing in stairwells waiting for firemen to help them during a real fire. I have a call in to my local fire chief to see what he/she thinks I should do. Have you any thoughts
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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 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
Friday, May 13, 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
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, (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) Lake Martin Living, The Outlook is published five times Kenneth Boone a week, Tuesday through Saturday Photography and mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, a commercial web printing press. Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011. © 2011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. ReproPOSTMASTER: Send address duction of any part of any issue requires changes to Post Office Box 999, written publisher permission. Alexander City, AL 35011.
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Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Linnie Mae Ellington Whitman
Funeral service for Mrs. Linnie Mae Ellington Whitman 84 of Goodwater, AL will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 16, 2016 at Paradise Mission Full Gospel Church in Goodwater, AL. Burial to follow in in Macedonia Memorial Garden, Goodwater, AL.
on this matter? -- WORRIED BUILDING MANAGER DEAR BUILDING MANAGER: Employees who are disabled need to know the evacuation plan in place for their safety. If others are taking advantage of the system set up for people with disabilities in order to avoid going down the stairs, it is unfair to everyone. I took your question to Austin, Texas, Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr, president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and to Allan Fraser, senior building code specialist at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Both expressed concern that you would create a “list,” because lists can become out-
Arrangements by Armour’s Memorial Services.
Gracie Robinson
Mrs. Gracie Robinson of Eclectic, Alabama died May 11, 2016 and arrangements will be announced later by Wrights Funeral Home.
Mrs. Carolyn Sparks 1947 - 2016
Funeral Service for Mrs. Carolyn Sparks, 69, of Alexander City, will be Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 13, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mrs. Sparks passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at Russell Medical Center. She was born on March 24, 1947 in Alexander, Alabama to Murphy Ferrell and Era Ferrell. She loved listening to gospel music and loved her children and grandchildren. Mrs. Sparks was an all around caring person and loved eating corn puffs. She played softball and went to school with her nephew, Homer Simmons. She is survived by her daughters, Brenda Baird, of Goodwater, and Bobbie Abbott, of Sylacauga; grandchildren, Haley Abbott, Dewayne Thornton, Kaitlyn Hallman, and Stephanie Abbott; great-grandchildren, Sophia Abbott and Isaac Queen; and brother, Richard Ferrell. She was preceded in death by her parents. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com.
David Granger / The Outlook
Left, Susan Burrow, president of Central Alabama Community College, addresses members of the school’s 50th graduating class. Above, graduates file into the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance”. CACC had 114 graduates participate in the spring commencement ceremony.
Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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Daugherty, chief of security for Russell Lands. “We worked on the case for several months, pulling reports on suspicious vehicles on any of the cabin roads. But, thanks to Johnny, we were able to put those suspects on a cabin road where burglaries had occurred.” Daugherty said Peterson’s reward was the second $5,000 reward Lake Martin Resource Association had provided. The previous one, Daugherty said, went to an individual whose attentiveness and reporting helped solve 37 burglaries. Daugherty said in his 23-year career at Russell Lands, the LMRA had distributed 8-10 rewards of $1,000 to persons who helped solve crimes on the lake in addition to the two $5,000 rewards. The amount of the awards was raised in 2008 from $1,000 to $5,000. “The rewards are a great motivator,” Daugherty said. “It is incentive for people to keep their eyes and ears open for suspicious activity.” Individuals are only eligible for the reward when the property that is burglarized is owned by a member of LMRA. Peterson said he had no particular plans for his reward money, but that his wife had already asked him where he was taking her to eat on Thursday night.
CACC 2016 graduates take the stage
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DEAR ABBY: I’m a dad whose children are growing up fast, and our second will soon be out of diapers. Before that happens, I need to get clarity
on public diaper behavior. Often I find myself at a restaurant when it smells like it’s time to change the diaper. Instead of running to the bathroom for a false alarm, I (and most parents I know) pull back the back of the diaper to check while we’re in the middle of the restaurant. Is this bad manners or considered to be practical behavior? -- ON THE SCENT OUT WEST DEAR ON THE SCENT: Pulling back the diaper should not be necessary. Experienced parents know what a clean and empty diaper looks and feels like. Others just pick up their child to determine if he or she passes the “sniff” test. I suggest this is what you do until your child is out of diapers. 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.
continued from page 1
said. “I told him that was the wrong answer because I had already called the sheriff.” The vehicle sped off. But not before Peterson got the license plate number. When the person following the first suspect came by in an older model SUV, Peterson pulled in behind him and got that license plate number, too. Peterson then reported the incident and the tag numbers to Russell Lands Security. Peterson’s attentiveness and actions resulted in the conviction in Coosa County of an individual linked to a Montgomery gang who is suspected in a total of 45 Lake Martin home burglaries. The suspect was convicted on numerous counts of theft of property in the first degree. Charges are still pending against him in Elmore and Tallapoosa counties. Russell Lands officials did not want to name the suspect with cases pending. On Thursday, Peterson was rewarded for his attentiveness with a check for $5,000 from the Lake Martin Resource Association. “It’s a great day to be able to write and present a check for a real good deed of real value for the residents of Lake Martin,” said John Thompson, president of the Lake Martin Resource Association, as he presented Peterson with his check. “Johnny did not ask for any of this,” said Mack
Obituaries Funeral Service for Mr. Robert Lee McGrady, Jr., 71, of Alexander City, will be Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Tim Harris and Rev. Bruce Willis will officiate. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 14, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Mr. McGrady passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at University of Alabama at Birmingham. He was born on September 14, 1944 in Sylacauga, Alabama to Robert McGrady and Louise McGrady. Mr. McGrady retired from R. J. Rental Tobacco Company. He was a very kind and loving father and grandfather. He is survived by his son, Mark McGrady (Severa) of Alexander City; grandchildren; Jasmine Uribe, Amberlie Owens, Kylie McGrady, Danny Uribe, Nick Uribe; great-grandchildren, Kate Uribe, Bella Tucker, Peyton Owens, Mariluna Uribe, Ava Heath, and Isaah Mesa. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome. com.
Advice
Reward
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
Mr. Robert Lee McGrady, Jr. 1944 - 2016
DEAR ABBY
of-date or misplaced and of no use when a fire occurs. People quit, get fired, go on vacation, are home sick, etc. on any given workday. The late chair of NFPA’s Disability Access Review and Advisory Committee Bill Scott -- who was a wheelchair user -- often said, “Everyone, regardless of their disability, has some responsibility to ensure his or her own safety.” Being dependent on others for rescue can be a recipe for disaster. NFPA offers a free Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People With Disabilities, available for download at www.nfpa.org/ disabilities. Chief Kerr and Mr. Fraser recommend you get it. I hope you will take them up on the suggestion, and be a stickler for compliance.
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Dadeville
continued from page 1
another department.” Foster responded. “We will have to discuss this after a formal complaint has been filed in an executive session,” Foster said. “Are you filing a formal complaint?” “Yes I am,” Williams responded. City attorney Robin Reynolds explained that the council could only discuss it an executive session. “You cannot discuss employee discipline in a public forum,”
Reynolds told the council. “That is between the city and the employee . . . and the city will act according to the employee manual.” Dogwood Circle resident Evelyn Cox spoke to the council about street conditions on Dogwood Circle Road. “They patched holes last year,” Cox said. “They have come back. I am coming back to see if you can fix our road. We are trying to get it fixed instead of keeping on patching it.”
Mayor Joe Smith assured Cox the city would take care of it. “We are going to fix it,” Joe Smith said. Dadeville Fire Chief Keith Wilkerson gave a report that pleased the council. “The ladder truck is back in service,” Wilkerson told the council. The truck was out of service as a repair was being performed. There were no rec center rentals. The Dadeville City Council
also: • approved the hiring of a temporary laborer for the street department for June through October and the funds will come from the savings in fuel prices. • approved the hiring of a cemetery worker over the summer that is budgeted. • approved the rezoning of a portion of Fulton Street on the recommendation of the planning and zoning board. • approved the temporary 90-day easement to repair drain-
age issues on private property. • learned there may be some issues creating a truck route around the courthouse. • approved the three renewals of insurance for the city. • approved minutes from the last meeting. • approved payment of bills. . The next meeting of the Dadeville City Council is scheduled for May 24 at 5 p.m. at Dadeville City Hall.
Tuggle
continued from page 1
Whatley’s my friend. And he’s been good to Tallapoosa County, I can promise you that. I’m not going to run against Mike Rogers. I’m not going to run against a friend of mine. But, if he ever quit, that’s the one I want. “But, yes, I’m seriously considering running for ag commissioner, which is a statewide office, an executive cabinet-level position in state government. I’m a 28-year professional forester. I think I’d be a pretty good fit at Ag and Industries.” Tuggle was at the Dadeville Kiwanis Club’s weekly meeting to provide the members with an overview of the recently completed legislative session. The secondterm legislator, who represents House District 81, including portions of Tallapoosa, Coosa and Chilton counties, talked about the session’s successes, like the passage of the best education budget in almost a decade, and its failures, such as the legislature’s failure to pass a bill providing for construction of new and improved state prisons. “It’s a little bit over $6.3 billion,” Tuggle said of the education budget. “We’ve got it going in the right direction. None of our budgets that I’ve been a part of have been prorated, which is a big deal. Before we were elected in 2010, the last three education budgets had been prorated, meaning you just basically quit spending money.” Tuggle said the fiscal year 2017 education budget represented a five percent increase over fiscal year 2016. He said it would allow the state to hire 328 new teachers across the state, add $1.6 million (or $405 per teacher unit) for teacher supplies, increase technology by $5 million, increase arts funding by $500,000, put $3 milion into a teacher mentoring program and put an additional $16 million into pre-K. In addition, K-12 teachers, principals, assistant principals and teachers at two-year colleges received four percent raises and the legislature put $12 million into the Wired Act, which will provide funds for local matches allowing school systems to draw down federal money to increase broadband capacities in their schools. Tuggle also said the state is investing in a proration
Robotics
Finally, Tuggle, a Republican, announced his intention to support the party’s nominee, Donald Trump. “I support Trump 100 percent,” Tuggle said. “I supported (Wisconsin Gov. Scott) Walker and he dropped out, then I supported (Texas Sen. Ted) Cruz and now I support Trump. The nominee is who I will vote for.”
prevention account designed to offset potential shortfalls that existed in years prior to his term. “At the close of last fiscal year we put $120 million into a proration prevention account,” Tuggle said. “And that is from what we like to think of as disciplined and prioritized spending. We don’t spend everything that comes in. That’s the first time we’ve had anything in that account in probably 10 years. And we plan to put another $60 million into it in July.” After a Senate version of the bill that would have provided for the construction of four new prisons, which Tuggle said he could not support, failed, the bill went to a conference committee and resulted in a bill he could. “The prison bill failed,” Tuggle said. “I was a very heavy lean toward supporting the prison bill. It started out, we were going to build three male prisons and a female prison through an $850 million bond issue. It would take about $50 million a year to service that debt. “I’ve toured Holman (Prison in Atmore) and our prisons are awful. And you’ve got to look beyond just the inmate. There are people that work in those prisons every day. Doctors, mental health people, correctional officers. There are people just like me and you in and out of those prisons every day and they deserve a safe work environment, in my opinion. And the inmates deserve a safe incarceration. Like it or not, they deserve to be safe in prison.” Tuggle then cautioned the Kiwanians that Alabama was destined to spend money on prisons whether it be of its own legislative actions or through the intervention of the federal government. “Whether you like the prison issue or not, we’re going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on prisons one way or another,” Tuggle said. “And it’s not far off. Hundreds of millions. In my mind, I do the math and I want to do it the way our prison commissioner thinks he can do it. I want to do it the way we think we can do it, the way we think it fits Alabama. I don’t want a judge telling us what to do and how to do it and, if we don’t get it done in the time they want it done, we starting letting people out of prison.”
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continued from page 1
it on Tuesday. He quickly made his way through the tasks on the field, changing the robots Lego-made implements as needed. Proper alignment of the robot proved key in accomplishing – or failing to accomplish – some of the more tedious tasks like building an airstrip on an island. The robot must roll out and straighten the “airstrip” so that planes can land. The robot is also used to turn a radar dish to search for enemy planes, cross the equator, remove malaria-carrying insects from an island and more. Nicholson said CACC would hold two STEM camps this summer to introduce 5-12 graders to robotics. The camp for this in grades 5-8 is scheduled for June 13-17 and the camp for grades 9-12 is set for June 20-24. The camps will include classes on robotics and programmable logic controllers as well as various competitions for the participants. For more information on the camps, call Mike Mann at 256-215-4319 or email mmann@cacc.edu.
Madison Moncrief, Dylan Palacios, Christopher Phillips, Leslie Pitts and Kylee Stark. Faith is coached by John Patrick Stark. The WWII Museum challenge used the LEGO Mindstorms system on a standard robotics playing field of 4-feet x 8-feet. The theme of the 2016 Challenge was Can Do! and marked the opening of the museum’s new Road to the Pacific galleries with a challenge focused on the Pacific Theater. ‘Can Do!’ was the motto of the Seabees, who built infrastructure, solved problems, and personified the determination behind the war effort on both the home-front and battlefields. The Challenge included both the robot mission and a team project. Teams programmed robots to deliver supplies, fight malaria, cross the equator, and build airstrips while exploring WWII in the Pacific. They also designed, tested, and documented the construction of a pontoon ferry. Legonators’ Danny Jeong, who designed its winning robot, demonstrated
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Our
Opinion Good nursing homes are a vital part of community
M
oving a loved one into a nursing is one of life's turning points – both for the family and the individual. There is no real pleasure in it for anyone. It can be traumatic and painful. Against this backdrop, communities all over the nation are celebrating National Nursing Home Week and all that a nursing home can mean for a family and the mom, dad, brother or sister who will be the future resident. The finest nursing homes do their best to minimize the trauma and lessen the pain of loss, both emotionally and financially. They treat family and soon-to-be-residents as people, not just as numbers on checks. The finest nursing homes rehabilitate as well as offer residence. Many, including those in our community, offer superb rehabilitative care. They get their elderly clients up and about and they urge the not so elderly clients to be independent regardless of the battles they face. The finest nursing homes provide exactly what the name implies – a home to those who need special care and attention. They are warm, friendly places with excellent staffs and medical care. They can offer treatment in ways that no other places can and they allow residents to live out their remaining years with the dignity, respect and care they deserve. Tallapoosa County has one of the highest concentrations of nursing home beds in the state per capita, which means that there is a tremendous demand here. This week we have been called to many activities at area nursing homes and rehabilitation centers in the Lake Martin Community. From beauty pageants, to special dinners, to activities that highlight the good work being done by dedicated professionals who provide care, we have seen clients with big smiles as they were treated to activities that stimulate the mind, heart and soul. What we have learned is that we have some of the finest nursing homes and rehabilitation centers anywhere right here in our own backyard. So during National Nursing Home Week, we salute those in our area who provide this special kind of care.
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T.C. Coley represents District 1, including half of Coley Creek, the Andrew Jackson subdivision, the southern part of Indian Hill, North Central Avenue, part of Pearson’s T.C. Coley Chapel Road, the Northside community and portion of Spring Hill community. His phone number is 212-9316. His address is 2316 North Central Avenue, Kellyton. Steve Robinson represents District 2, which includes the southern part of Alexander City, the Cedar Creek area, Steve Robinson Ourtown and Willow Point. His phone number is 256-654-0047. His address is 1225 Warren Circle, Alexander City. John McKelvey represents District 3, which includes Jackson’s Gap, Hackneyville, New Site and Daviston. His phone number is 256-825-8403. His address is 1285 Freeman Road, Dadeville.
John McKelvey
Emma Jean Thweatt represents District 4, which includes Dadeville, Pace’s Point, northern Camp Hill, Buttston, Dudleyville and part of Eagle Creek. Her daytime phone number is 825-6914 and her evening phone Emma Jean Thweatt number is 825-4207. Her address is 585 Brookwood Circle, Dadeville. George Carleton Jr. represents District 5, which includes southern Camp Hill, Red Ridge, Walnut Hill, Union and Pleasant Ridge. His address is 630 Turner Road Road, Dadeville.
George Carleton Jr.
T
his past week I had the joy of having my knee scoped and a torn meniscus repaired. Surgery is always a physical, mental and emotional experience. Since I retired it seems that all I do is go from one doctor to another. There is always something that needs to be looked after, repaired or removed. I’m beginning to feel like an old house that is in need of constant renovation. Oh well, this is just a part of life and all of us have to endure it. Before this surgery my doctor told me there was nothing to it. Why, according to him, I would be in and out before I knew it. The way he made it sound I thought I was going to a party. However, things were a lot different on my side of this outing. This quick “in” took forever to fill out all the paper work, show my ID three times, have my insurance cards copied four times, give them blood and then promise them my first born. I don’t know how big the lump was in my knee, but they removed a substantial lump from my wallet. Next I was put in Pre-Op where they hooked me up to all kinds of monitors. I felt like I was in a science fiction movie because there were so many machines flashing and beeping. Then they stuck me with an IV
The
GERALD HALLMARK Guest Columnist
line the size of a garden hose and started running all sorts of things into me. The next thing I knew I was groggy and seeing double. I didn’t care if they started surgery right then and there, as long as they left the hose in. I was beginning to see why the doctor said this wasn’t going to be a problem. While I was in this twilight land of unicorns and rainbows a nurse came in, yanked my leg out from under those warm blankets and started shaving all the hair off. When she got through I had one hairy leg and a bald one. She made my kneecap and the back of my bald head match perfectly. Now the problem is everywhere I go this summer I’ll have an odd and even leg. How in the world does a grown man justify a shaved leg? I mentioned this dilemma to my wife and all she wanted to know was what kind of razor they used to get my leg so smooth. Jesus reminded the disciples that their spiritual walk before men was important to their wit-
ness. Those that have seen me walk always commented that I listed to the left. My physical walk was affected by an internal problem and caused me to limp. When we have an internal heart problem of sin we find that our entire life is off center. We tend to lean into that problem and it manifests itself to the world by our spiritual disabilities. Therefore, our spiritual walk can be seen as clearly as our physical walk. The Great Physician is waiting to correct those sin issues just like our earthly doctors are ready to fix our physical problems. True believers always walk by faith, I finally got to the “out” part of this experience and came home. Everyone that has dropped by has been kind and considerate. They ask about the surgery, my present condition and encourage me to hurry and get well. Yet, as they get ready to leave everyone of them comment, “Hey Preacher, do you know that one leg is hairy, and the other one bald?” It’s going to be a long summer. Dr. Gerald Hallmark is a retired minister and an Alexander City resident. His columns appear each Friday in The Outlook.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Today’s
Quote
“ We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for, I don’t know.” – W. H. Auden
Today’s
Scripture “I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, The Lord, am the one who does these things.” – Daniel 10:3
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Reader: It’s time to ‘turn the other cheek’ Dear Editor, IT IS TIME! I continue to be embarrassed for Alexander City when articles appear not only in The Outlook but in newspapers around the state and nation regarding the incident between Mayor Charles Shaw and Councilman Tony Goss. Friends,
living in California, have called asking questions about articles they have seen in USA Today and their local newspapers. This needs to be put behind us and the mayor and council need to being doing the job they were elected to perform. I believe Mr. Goss has gotten
“his pound of flesh” and needs to “turn the other cheek” by withdrawing his complaint against Mayor Shaw. It is time to present a positive image of our town and put this behind us. Willa Alford Alexander City
National election shenanigans uncovered by Trump Dear Editor, I recently submitted the first of two articles addressing current deficiencies in presidential election procedures. The first article addressed the call for a uniprimary election to select our primary election delegates and general election electors. These procedures have become deficient over time, not because of original weaknesses in their design, but because certain realities have emerged that the founding fathers could not possibly have envisioned, realities that prove these irregularities are more unnecessary and undesirable than deficient. Consider this: In the 1770’s and 1780’s, the fastest mode of travel and communication available was the horse, and horse drawn vehicles. The watercraft of the day may have rivaled the horse, and may have just barely exceeded the horses’ speed. Therefore, when the founding fathers constructed Article II of the constitution, formulating the offices of President and Vice President of the United State, the positions of delegates in the selection process of presidential nominees was not even addressed. The positions of electors from each state in the later named Electoral College was the only workable solution to a timely election of the president and vice president each four years. It would have been utterly impossible for every qualified citizen of the country to cast an individual ballot, simply because of the impossible for
every qualified citizen of the country to cast an individual ballot, simply because of the constraints of time and distance in such an enormous span of territory as the thirteen existing states, and so was apparently not considered or discussed, or even imagined. After all, it would have literally taken weeks, even months to gather a halfway correct tally of individual votes from all thirteen states, if it was even possible. Therefore the position of elector was created in the constitution, the only workable solution for that time. But times have changed. And so has technology. Time is no longer a barrier to an effective popular vote of ALL the people. Neither is DISTANCE. It has become readily apparent that the representative votes by delegates and electors are totally superfluous, and very often only serve to create a conflict, especially when the popular vote total elects on general election candidate and the electoral vote total elects the other, as in 2000, for example. The spirit of the Constitution clearly manifests the fact that the founding fathers intended through the election process that every person was to be EQUALLY represented in selecting EVERY political leader on EVERY elective executive and legislative level of government. However, through the ensuing years political maneuvering by less than fair-minded “insiders” and “party-bosses” created and established means
and methods of manipulating election results through everchanging “Convention rules” so as to assure desired outcomes in the nomination and election process. The popular vote was inserted into the process at some point along the way and has been faithfully allowed to continue in order to create the illusion of “one man, one vote”! I am very strongly opposed to frivolous and unnecessary amendments to our foundational constitution, but the time is well overdue when the Constitution should be amended to establish either a pure popular vote ONLY, or a pure representative vote (primary delegates and general electoral college) only. But if the representative option is chose, ALL representatives must be highly publicized and clearly identified so that everyone can know who they are and what their positions on the issues are. They should then be elected by their constituents by popular vote and should fairly represent the voice of their constituency. In the 2016 election activities, especially in the controversy surrounding Donald Trump, an awakening has occurred among the masses to awareness that the popular vote is largely a farce maintained to produce the illusion that my vote counts, when in reality it very well many not count at all. It’s time for change. Ben R. Cleveland Alexander City
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Today is
May 13, 2016 Today’s Events 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 at 7 p.m. For more information contact Prophetess Alisha Morris at 256-3298674 or Elder Beverly McKinney at 256-307-6509.
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Local letter carriers will be collecting nonperishable food items during their regular routes this Saturday in their Stamp Out Hunger food drive. USPS customers are encouraged to simply leave the nonperishable food items in plain sight near their normal mail pickups and the letter carriers will handle the rest. Food collected on the Alexander City routes will go to the Salvation Army and the Christian Crisis Center for distribution. Both organizations are qualified agencies of the Food Bank of East Alabama, a non-profit distribution center working to feed hungry people.
May 13 - May 28 WETUMPKA DEPOT PLAYERS: I Hate Hamlet will be presented by the Wetumpka Depot Players May 12 - May 28. For ticket information call 334-868-1140 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, 334257-3826, email hughesautoparts@ centurytel.net; Priscilla Hammonds, 334-283-2233, email steven505@ centurytel.net; Carolyn Hood, 334319-3434, email auburnhood@aol. com; or Genice Fuqua, 256-5081768, 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 256-7943074. 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
256.234.3481 KarenChannell.com
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 256329-2910 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 256-9902666 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 event 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.
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Rebels wrap up first spring under new coach Johnson JOE MCADORY Sports Columnist
Some predictions that make me scratch my head
T
hose college football “Way Too Early Top 25s” we find on the Internet are nothing more than fun talking points to get us from January to August. Some are released the day after the national championship game. Others versions are “post spring” Top 25s. We can’t really take these predictions to heart because they are educated guesses by folks who watch a lot of college football and believe they have a pulse on what might happen months ahead of time. Preseason picks are based on what a writer or organization believes will happen in the fall (duh, right?) and do not always reflect past seasons. However, what generally happens in the past often repeats itself more times than not. Some lists are accurate. Some are not. And some predictions leave me completely scratching my head. One such list, published May 2 by the Campus Insiders (I’m not sure what that is), really had me wondering. Tennessee may have all the talent in the world and is the sexy pick by many to win the SEC East this season after going 9-4 last year. Fine. I get it. But the Volunteers have not lost fewer than four games since 2004 and have finished in the AP Top 25 just once in the past eight seasons. Yet the Campus Insiders rank Tennessee No. 3 – not in the SEC, but in the nation. Seriously? Alabama has beaten the Vols nine consecutive times and are ranked fourth. Sure, that streak could end in Knoxville this fall but it’s hard for me to fathom the Vols as a national championship contender. Nothing against Tennessee. I like the Vols. I even like orange. I just don’t like the pick. Maybe 12th or something and they can climb from there. I wouldn’t rank the Vols third on a hunch. History tells me that Alabama is king of the hill until it’s knocked off. Another thing about the preseason Top 25 … Campus Insiders ranks LSU No. 1. Yes, the same LSU that endured a November meltdown, squeaked into the Texas Bowl and nearly fired its coach. Bold prediction, though the Tigers – which haven’t beaten Alabama since 2011 – should have athletes galore. Don’t they always? LSU could win the West, but No. 1 in America after last season’s collapse? Clemson is picked No. 2, and should be a top five pick going into the season. Ohio State is No. 5, which is high considering the number of players it lost to draft. Other picks of note: I could go either way on Georgia’s No. 8 ranking. The Bulldogs are due for a big season, but history tells me 9-3 is most logical. I believe Florida State will be better than No. 7 and could very well beat Clemson this season. The teams meet in Tallahassee. Ole Miss lost a ton of talent to the NFL. Are quarterback Chad Kelly and a few promising young stars worth a No. 12 ranking? Arkansas lost its quarterback, star tight end and all-star running backs, yet is ranked No. 26. This could be a rebuilding year in Fayetteville, but I expect a strong season in 2017. Then there’s Auburn. Campus Insiders ranks the Tigers No. 32. Considering what happened on the Plains last season (7-6/ Birmingham Bowl), this is about right. Potential is there for much more in 2016, but a wicked schedule, as usual, doesn’t help. Auburn is most dangerous as the preseason underdog. Joe McAdory is Communications Editor at the Auburn University Harbert College of Business and is the former Sports Editor at the Opelika-Auburn News.
By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
After nearly 30 years with legendary Coach Jackie O’Neal, the Reeltown Rebels closed their first spring under new coach Matt Johnson on Thursday night. The Rebels held their Blue-and-White scrimmage on Thursday, closing out three weeks of spring practices under Johnson. Johnson said the Rebels practiced three days a week, and had hoped to go four days this week until the passing of Coach Ronald Hammonds, a longtime assistant under Coach Jackie O’Neal who was to be a defensive coordinator for Johnson. “Spring has gone well. We’ve gone at it for three weeks, three days a week. We were going to go four (days) this week but, with the passing of Coach Hammonds, we kind of abbreviated this week’s practices,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of been a somber week, but we’ve still been getting after it and had a good week of practice. We’re trying to take some momentum into the summer.” Johnson said the biggest challenge so far has been establishing a new practice schedule while he is still currently teaching at Thomaston, Georgia’s Upson-Lee High School and commuting to Reeltown for afternoon practices. But he added that a familiarity between the assistant coaches and players has made Robert Hudson / The Outlook for a good transition. “I’m still juggling both situations, actu- Reeltown’s Montez Brooks (14) breaks a long run during Thursday evening’s Blue-and-White Game scrimally on the road now leaving Thomaston. mage. Reeltown closed spring practices on Thursday. I’m still teaching here, just commuting to Reeltown,” Johnson said. “But other than know him as a coach. After that, Johnson some of our schemes. “That point it was kind of looking for that, the transition has been well. The kids said the focus shifted to filling some key have been responding well to the change and spots on the depth chart. depth. We’ve got to replace some key areas, “They’ve really embraced it. That was our especially in the secondary and at running how we do practices. That’s probably been the biggest difference for them other than word coming in was ‘embrace the change’ back.” some minor changes to schemes. A lot of it and understand that we’ve got to get better And as spring continued, Johnson said he has still been the same, including the same every day. It’s kind of changed as we’ve was excited to see players develop into their faces on the coaching staff, which has been gone along,” Johnson said. “Week one, the new roles. a plus. That really was a unique situation for way we kind of mapped everything out is “I feel like we’re pretty experienced up me to come in with guys who’ve been there that I wanted the boys to, No. 1, get used to front on both sides of the ball, but finding me. I wanted them to understand my personand know the kids. depth in those other two areas has been cru“So, with the situation we’re in with me ality, how I do things and how we practice. cial for these past two weeks,” Johnson said. not being there full time during the day, that Just kind of the housekeeping things of how “We’ve found some diamonds in the rough really helped out having those guys still on practice is run, the pace of practice, the disciand some guys have stepped up and taken pline and accountability nature of practices. staff means a lot.” Johnson said the idea has been for the Week two, we got more into coaching foot- hold of some roles and that’s been a pleasant players to embrace the changes. He said the ball. Discipline and accountability is still a surprise this week is seeing guys understandfirst week of practice was about getting to big part of that, but we got into some things ing their roles on this team. To take that into know the players and the players getting to and kind of mixed things up and tweaked the summer is huge.”
Generals set to square off with Fayetteville in spring finale By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
Spring practices have been a time to get back to basics for the Horseshoe Bend Generals. The Generals began spring practices last Monday and will close spring tonight at Fayetteville in a jamboree at 6 p.m. Jason Franklin, head coach of Horseshoe Bend, said practices have gone well for the Generals thus far. “It’s been going well so far. We’ve got good numbers out this spring and we feel like we’re making some strides right now,” Franklin said. “It’s still too early to really tell and with the limited amount of practice time you’ve got in the spring you’ve got to be very vanilla and work on the fundamentals. You just see where you end up at the end of it.” Another key focus this spring for the Generals has been building depth, as Franklin said Horseshoe Bend is trying to replace a few starters on defense. “Fundamentals and trying to find some depth have been the most important thing. We’re trying to find some linemen up front and trying to replace a good bit of guys on
the defensive side of the ball,” Franklin said. “We’re trying to find some guys that we anticipate will be able to fill some voids. We’re getting them coached up on fundamentals and make some progress there. But as far as installing plays, Franklin said Horseshoe Bend has kept it pretty basic to establish a foundation going into summer workouts. “Overall, we’re getting some basic things installed right now, nothing too crazy, just basic run game and passing game stuff, base defense stuff,” Franklin said. “We’re giving them a base to move on into the summertime.” And with a spring game against an opponent in Fayetteville, Franklin said Horseshoe Bend will have a better idea of where it stands moving forward. “It gives you a little something to go off of. It gives you some game footage to review with the guys to see where you make mistakes and where you can correct,” Franklin said. “You’re going to get their best 11 early on, so it kind of gives you an idea of how the 11 you put out there is going to play against Cliff Williams / Outlook File Photo the opponent’s best 11. So, that kind of gives you a better measuring stick than you get in Horseshoe Bend’s Drew Hill turns the corner during a game last season. practices sometimes.”
Area softball squads open Regional tourneys at Troy STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Robert Hudson / Outlook File Photo
Horseshoe Bend’s K-Rae Blasingame winds up for a pitch during a game this season. Blasingame struck out seven in Thursday’s game against Zion Chapel in the Class 2A South Central Regional Tournament in Troy.
A trio of area softball teams opened play at the South Central Regional Tournaments on Thursday in Troy. In Class 2A, Horseshoe Bend opened play on Thursday with a 5-3 win over Zion Chapel. In the win over Zion Chapel, K-Rae Blasingame pitched and had seven strikeouts with zero earned runs. The Lady Generals (23-18-3) had a total of six hits in the game. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Horseshoe Bend’s Hannah Adcock hit a line drive to center field, driving in two runs to give the Lady Generals the lead for good. Horseshoe Bend was sched-
uled to play Luverne in its second game at 6:30 p.m. Also in Class 2A, the Reeltown Lady Rebels fell 10-0 to New Brockton in their tournament opener in Troy. The loss sends Reeltown to the loser’s bracket where it was scheduled to play Pickens County in its second game of the day Thursday at 4:30 p.m. In Class 4A, the Dadeville Lady Tigers will play Handley today in their first game of the Class 4A South Central Regional at 3 p.m. in Troy. Thursday evening scores were not available as of press time. For a full rundown of day one at the South Central Regionals in Troy, see the Weekend edition of The Outlook.