OPINION: LAWMAKERS CAN’T KEEP KICKING PRISON CAN. PAGE 4.
FRIDAY
THE
ALL STARS Pair of Wildcats named to soccer All-Star teams.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 May 6, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 91 www.alexcityoutlook.com
See page 8.
Sunday sales vote bill passed By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
The Alabama Legislature approved with time running out in its 2016 regular session a bill sponsored by Alexander City’s Rep. Mark Tuggle that will allow municipalities in Tallapoosa County – as well as the county itself –to hold referendums on the Sunday sales of alcohol. The bill passed with only four minutes remaining in the 2016 regular legislative session, which ended Wednesday night. The city councils of Alexander City, Dadeville and New Site and the Tallapoosa County Commission
‘Yes I Can’ group receives letter from Biden Children sent VP letters after son Beau’s death By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Alexander City’s Yes I Can Mentoring program received an unexpected letter in the mail this week. Teresa Moten, who leads the program for ages 4-12 which meets when schools are not in session, received a letter from Vice President Joe Biden thanking her and several participants in the program for letters and drawings they sent to the vice president upon the death of his son, Beau, in May of last year. “We talked about the president and we talked about the vice president and, when the vice president’s son died, I asked the kids if they wanted to write him letters,” Moten said. “Several of them did. We didn’t expect him to write us back, but he did.” B i d e n ’s l e t t e r, See LETTER • Page 3
(unincorporated areas of the county) have all already passed resolutions approving votes on Sunday sales of alcohol. Passage of the bill on Wednesday makes those referendums possible. In Alexander City, the city council authorized in March a vote on Sunday sales, which would take place at the time of the mayoral and city council municipal elections in August. For unincorporated areas of Tallapoosa County, the bill calls for the referendum to be held as part of the general election in November. The resolution the Alexander City city council passed in March reads, in part:
“(The city council) wishes to give the citizens of Alexander City, Alabama, the right to vote on the ability to provide additional revenue to these businesses and capture sales tax revenue on alcohol that is being spent outside of the city on Sundays … “The Mayor and the City Council believe that the citizens of Alexander City, Alabama, have the fundamental right to vote on whether to allow sales seven days a week subject to the time limitations stated herein.” Ed Collari, president and CEO of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, said the Sunday sales of alcohol in the city would have “enormous potential See SALES • Page 3
Carter Jones, left, celebrates with teacher Vicki Adair, as their team took a first place finish in the oral presentations of the Wildcat Showcase Thursday at Benjamin Russell High School. The two-day competition highlighted student ideas and marketing plans that they put together throughout the year. Below, Jones and Michael McGill show off the Blow Ball they designed to help T-Ball players.
Historic Tallassee Mills razed in overnight blaze By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The historic Tallassee Mills, also known as the Mount Vernon Mills, were engulfed in flames Wednesday night and efforts to fully extinguish the fire are ongoing as a criminal investigation begins into what Tallassee police said were the suspicious circumstances surrounding the blaze. Smoke could be seen billowing from the 19th century historic structure as a helicopter swooped over and dropped buckets of water from the close-by Tallapoosa River, which the large stone compound sits adjacent to. Tallassee Police Chief Jimmy Rodgers had been up all night with the nearly 12-hour extinguishing efforts. He said the department does not yet have See FIRE • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Ingenuity on display Wildcat Showcase student inventions, marketing skills By MITCH SNEED Editor
Benjamin Russell High School celebrated a year’s worth of innovation and marketing Wednesday and Thursday with the Wildcat Showcase, where marketing students showed off and presented projects that they had been working on throughout the year. The ideas were incredible, but the celebration was even more intense. A group from Vicki Adair’s class including Carter Jones, Daly Wagoner
Eric Hill / Special to The Outlook
Investigators are searching for answers after a fire at the historic Tallassee Mills complex.
See SHOWCASE • Page 2
Wax museum, victory parade highlight DES Leadership Day
Today’s
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Dignitaries from throughout Alabama and American history stepped into the halls of Dadeville Elementary School on Thursday to greet guests and tell about themselves as part of the school’s third annual Leadership Day and Wax Museum. The distinguished people from history – ranging from Tallapoosa County Superintendent Joe Windle to George Washington – were actually being played by students who stood in the halls of the school like figures in a wax museum waiting for visitors to push their “on” button and, with the button pushed, reciting the stories of their lives. Some were dressed for the part, like Audrey Champion, who wore the spacesuit of astronaut Sally Ride, Charlotte New, who donned the goggles, cap and flight suit of aviaCliff Williams / The Outlook tor Amelia Earhart, and Jahmari Williams, who wore the black robe of former Supreme Dadeville Elementary School principal Chad McKelvey talks to Leadership Day See LEADERSHIP • Page 3 crowd as ambassadors, guests look on.
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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 6, 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
DEAR ABBY: I’m a gay man in my early 60s. I have been fortunate to live pretty openly, despite being stuck in a small, conservative Southern town. Many guys I have gotten to know over the years are not so lucky, due to being married, afraid for their careers, etc. As a result, many of them lead double lives with their true orientation known only to other gays. When one of these acquaintances passes away, should I attend the funeral services to pay my respects, even though I might not have known anyone else in the family? Or should I stay away to keep tongues from wagging and asking, “How did Sam know THAT GUY?” -- CIRCUMSPECT IN THE SOUTH DEAR CIRCUMSPECT:
DEAR ABBY Advice
Not everyone who attends a funeral is an intimate friend of the deceased. Some of them are people who knew the person from a distance and admired what he or she accomplished in life. If you feel the need to go to the funeral, by all means do. But have an answer prepared in case you are asked questions because “How did you know Bob?” is a common and innocent one. DEAR ABBY: A couple of months after moving in with my boyfriend, I have realized
that his mattress is not a good fit for me. He says that it’s 12 years old and it still has 10 to 15 years left in it. Every day I wake up with an aching, stiff back. I have a job that keeps me standing all day, so my back pain is starting to affect my performance. I like living with him, but how can I get him to replace the mattress? It seems he has chosen the mattress over me, so I guess I’ll start sleeping on the floor. -- SLEEPY IN ST. LOUIS DEAR SLEEPY: According to the website of one of the top mattress manufacturers, the average lifespan of a quality mattress is between eight and 10 years. Mattresses older than that can suffer from deteriorating comfort features and diminished support capabilities. Many consumers wait too
long to replace their mattresses. If you wake up in the morning not feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, or feeling pain or discomfort, then it’s time to replace this one. So talk with your boyfriend again. If he’s not willing to invest in a replacement, suggest buying a firm mattress topper or even splitting the cost for a new mattress. A restful night’s sleep is essential for good health. If you are unable to convince him, then you may have moved in with him too quickly. 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.
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, (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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This Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 19-year-old Trent Buckley of Alexander City skidded on rain-soaked Trussell Road just after 9 p.m. Wednesday evening and flipped. The vehicle ended up on its roof headed in the opposite direction from which it was traveling. Buckley, in red looking at the vehicle, said he is unsure of how it flipped or rolled, but escaped without serious injury.
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 Crystal Williams
Benjamin Russell High School
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We love you so much and couldn’t be more proud of your achievements! Aim for the stars! Love, Mom, Dad, Jacob and Alex
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Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Members of the Dadeville community gathered for the National Day of Prayer at the courthouse Thursday. First Baptist Church Pastor Gary Wiggins welcomed everyone as they prayed for families, education, business, public safety, churches, military and all levels of government.
Showcase and Michael McGill took first in the floor portion of the competition, with an invention called the Blow Ball. “I’m a T-ball coach at the Sportplex and kids struggle hitting off the tee at first,” Jones said. “So I got to thinking about a way to help them where the ball wasn’t moving, but not on the tee.” The group came up with the idea of using a gas powered leaf blower, PVC pipe and by using
the power of the rushing air, the ball is suspended and ready for the hitter to smack. “This way they can practice getting under the ball, on top of the ball and hitting the middle of the ball without worrying about hitting the tee,” Jones said. “It works pretty well.” Adair said that she was proud of the group for coming up with an idea and seeing it all the way through the process.
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continued from page 1
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“I guess you could tell I was excited to see them win,” said Adair, who celebrated wildly with some pretty sweet dance moves as the trophy was presented Thursday. “They really worked hard on it from beginning to end and it was a product that works. From design, to creation, to marketing, they did everything very well.” The group took first place in the floor portion of the presentations and second in Wednesday’s oral portion of the competition. Mike Pinson’s class was first in the oral presentations at the Wildcat Showcase and the class led by Lorraine Whitley took second in the floor portion of the competition. Benjamin Russell Principal Anthony Wilkinson said the projects were a great example of the drive and ingenuity that the students at the school possess. “With every presentation, you would be just blown away,” Wilkinson said. “It’s just amazing to see what they come up with. It makes you feel pretty good about our future.”
Friday, May 6, 2016
Leadership
continued from page 1
People to teach 21st century leadership and life skills to students to create a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader. A panel of “Leader in Me” ambassadors took the stage in the gymnatorium to answer, unrehearsed, questions posed to them by McKelvey. The last question McKelvey asked of the students was why they should keep the “Leader In Me” program in Dadeville Elementary. “It helps us solve real world problems and to be a better person,” said fifthgrader Lauren Arrington. “Sometimes we have a leader inside us and we just have to find it,” said secondgrader Addie Caldwell. “The ‘Leader In Me’ does that and helps it grow big like a little tree.” The Dadeville Elementary Music Club ensemble followed the Q&A by singing a remake of sorts of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” where they sang the chorus as:
Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. All were well-versed on their characters. “It’s a big deal to the students that they get to talk to adults,” said Chad McKelvey, principal at Dadeville Elementary School. “They do the research on the characters themselves, they decide what they’re going to say about their characters. It’s all student-driven.” According to fifth-grade teacher Tabatha Smith, the students draw the name of their character out of a hat. Then they research the person whose name they draw and prepare the statement they will recite when their button is pushed in the “wax museum.” Characters in the museum included Alabamians Hank Aaron, Elizabeth Huntley, Helen Keller, Harper Lee, Rosa Parks, Condolezza Rice, Lurleen B. Wallace and Kathryn Windham as well as those from American history like Washington, Barack Obama, Sacagewea, Jackie Robinson and Paul Revere. The wax museum was opened to visitors immediately after students, teachers, parents and guests gathered in the Donald G. Black Gymnatorium for an opening assembly that included a question-andanswer period with a “Leader In Me” Ambassador panel, a song, a pep presentation and a victory parade. Dadeville Elementary is a FranklinCovey “Leader In Me” school, meaning that it is using Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Successful
You can have it all With the 7 Habits. You will be a leader For the rest of your life. You can have it all. After the song, the Pep It Up! Club led the group in a couple of cheers: “Synergize! Synergize! We will work as one!” and “L-E-A-D-E-R! We are leaders!” The assembly closed with the school’s
Fire a theory for the fire’s origin and a criminal investigation has begun. “It’s suspicious in nature because of the circumstances surrounding it,” said Rodgers. “Being a vacant building, has been vacant for several years now, with no power or anything running to it, that’s one of our major concerns how the fire would have got started.” He said Alabama State Fire Marshals would lead the investigation from this point on. An eyewitness who said she saw the fire at 10:52 p.m. Wednesday night described what seemed to be an advanced fire which began sometime earlier. Angela Hill, a Tallassee resident who works at Gameday Cuts barbershop, said she could feel the heat on the Fitzpatrick Bridge where she said she initially saw the mills burning. Hill said she noticed multiple fires at the structure – two in particular, one of which was larger than the other. Hill said she drove down to the mills to see if the fire was part of some type of controlled burn, or routine. When she noticed there were no police or fire officials present, she said she then reported the fire. She said about five minutes later first responders had arrived, by this time she said flames could be seen from her house, which is near the area. A command center had been set up at the nearby city hall, where numerous agencies intermingled in their investigation effort. Along with the State Fire Marshals, the ATF (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) was present. Wade Moore, a special agent with ATF, said there was no federal element to the investigation yet and his agency was currently only there to assist. As of around 10 a.m. Thursday, Tallassee Fire Department officials said not enough was known to make any guess at a cause. Aerial drones had been used by the fire department to take video footage of the scene. Assistant Chief David Rogers said they were learning
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as a recruiting tool” for certain types of businesses that may be looking at Alexander City as a possible location. “I think this has enormous potential,” said Collari. “It’s beneficial having the opportunity for Sunday sales as far as a recruiting tool particularly to restaurants because it opens up another day for them to responsibly sell alcohol to their customers.” “With certain business, having Sunday sales is almost a must. A business like a Buffalo Wild Wings, a sports bar, not being able to sell alcohol on Sunday would almost definitely put Alexander City out of the running.” The bill, House Bill 549, requires that the referendum read, ““Do you favor the legal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages outside the corporate limits of any municipalities within the county on Sunday as further provided for and regulated by ordinance of the county commission?”
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Dadeville Elementary School students say the Pledge of Allegiance at Thursday’s DES Leadership Day.
first-ever Victory Parade, which featured students and others affiliated with the school crossing the stage showing signs that told of victories in their lives. “I have solved 15,000 math problems,” read one student’s sign. “I got a scholarship to Space Camp,” read another. But not all had to do with victories won at school. “I have already hit three home runs this season,” read one child’s sign. A
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more minute by minute. Tallassee Mayor Bobby Payne said it was a testament to the first responders that there were no injuries so far in the coordinated efforts. “I’m just glad nobody (was) hurt,” said Payne. Nearly 12 hours later, smoke could be seen filtering through surrounding neighborhoods. Police Chief Rodgers said his main concern earlier had been the embers from the blaze landing on the surrounding residences. More information will become available as the investigation continues. The fire took a toll on a piece of history that was the foundation on which the town was built. Originally named the Tallassee Mills, the mill built the city’s first hospital, school, theater, bank, pharmacy and many other needed outlets to support a textile community. Originally built on the west side of Talisi Falls, the building became known as the No. 1 Mill until the larger mill, No. 2, was constructed across the river in 1897-98. During the Civil War, various cloths for Confederate uniforms were made there. In 1863, the original mill became an armory for the production of the Talladega Carbine. For the southern armies, the Tallassee Complex was one of the few Confederate ordnance facilities to escape destruction. The mill resumed normal operation during the late 1860s. Between 1878-80, when a fifth floor and four-story duck mill were added to No. 1 Mill, and between ca. 1886-88, when a weave shed and picker house were also added, the complex was gradually enlarged. In 1900 the Mount Vernon Mills conglomerate absorbed the original company. Textile usage of the facilities on the west bank ceased in the 1960s and in 1991 the oldest structures were sold to a group of Montgomery-based speculators. The original mill had since been gutted of both its original heart-pine substructure and wooden window sash. The enormous building that stood on the east bank of the river was being demolished.
Letter
young girl’s sign told the crowd, “I’ve won trophies for coondog shows!” One adult’s sign boasted, “I am working on a healthier me.” But it was the final sign, carried by DES special education teacher Teresa Brunetti, that brought the crowd’s most enthusiastic cheer. “I have beaten cancer … TWICE!” it read.
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addressed to Yes I Can Mentoring Team, read: “Thank you so much for your beautiful drawings and kind words about Beau. Our entire family is so appreciative of the outpouring of love and support we have received over the past few months. “The members of your generation will be our next leaders. In times of doubt and challenge, Americans lift each other up. One day we will entrust the world to you and your generation. I am confident that you will go on to do great things, with great passion, and for the greater good.” The letter, written on the vice president’s White House stationery, was signed Joseph R. Biden Jr. In August 2013, Beau Biden was admitted to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and diagnosed with brain cancer. On May 20, 2015, he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, because of a recurrence of the cancer. He died there 10 days later, on May 30, 2015, at age 46. In addition to the letter, Biden sent Moten and Yes I Can an autographed photo of himself.
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Page 4
Our
Opinion
Lawmakers can’t keep kicking the prison can
A
bill that would have provided an $800 million state bond issue for the construction of three new 4,000-bed men’s prisons and a smaller women’s prison was among those that failed to gain the approval of the Alabama Legislature in its 2016 regular session. On a more positive note, the Legislature did pass one of the most complete and generous state education budgets in recent memory which included a raise for both K-12 and community college teachers. And locally, the legislature approved a bill that will allow Tallapoosa County, Alexander City, Dadeville and New Site to move forward with referendums on the Sunday sales of alcohol. Call it a mixed bag of results from our state lawmakers, albeit a definite improvement over 2015 when there were two special sessions of the Alabama Legislature which ran into the middle of September before a General Fund budget was passed. Still, the failure to pass legislation authorizing some resolution to Alabama’s problem with overcrowded prisons is disturbing. The state prisons are at 180 percent of their capacity and that severe overcrowding was blamed in recent riots and stabbings by inmates. Critics of the governor’s plan question the $50 million the governor says can be saved by closing the older prisons. That money would be used to pay off the debt for the new facilities. They also question the use of a design-build approach to the construction of the facilities rather than the state’s normal bidding process. A House version of the bill seemed to remedy some of those concerns by mandating that the prison system set aside its first $50 million to pay off the debt every year, delaying the plan for a year to allow for a report on the feasibility of the project and requiring a legislative vote before work can begin. But lawmakers could not agree. One has to wonder how long the federal government will let stand state prisons that hold almost twice their capacities before they mandate that some fix – even if it means the release of certain prisoners – be found for the problem. After last year’s General Fund fiasco, it seemed it was a priority this year. Perhaps fixing our prison population problem should be a priority next year. It’s a can we can’t afford to kick down the legislative road.
Outlook The
Friday, May 6, 2016
Veep sweepstakes fantasy league draft choices
I
t’s been a tough month for Ted Cruz, culminating with him ending his campaign. Cruz pulling out was not a surprise; it is also his preferred birth control method. In an odd move, Ted Cruz threw up a Hail Mary by naming Carly Fiorina as his running mate last week. This made her “just a heartbeat away” from never being the vice president. She wanted to become the first person to lose twice in the same presidential election. Ted Cruz naming his VP was a bit like the Atlanta Braves naming where they are going to have their World Series victory parade. He picked Carly in a hasty manner. It was a three-question vetting process: 1. Are you a woman? 2. How would you be working with Lucifer in the flesh? 3. Are you good at suffering humiliating losses? Sadly, she and Trump would have been better suited as running mates. Carly is bright and measured, and she would help bridge Trump’s gender gap. But it would be uncomfortable; Trump has never voluntarily been that near a woman over 50 in his life. Cruz would have never considered a man as his running mate. He felt two men running together looked too gay-looking. All the while, Hillary is trying to stay above the fray and away from indictment. She has been playing the “woman card” on Donald Trump. If you have not been paying attention, Hillary’s entire campaign platform seems solely that a woman should be our next president. Hillary is a woman, so it should be her. She has been touring the country, including Kansas, and was encouraged to see campaign signs with her slogan, “Ready
RON HART Guest Columnist
for Hillary.” Unfortunately for her, the signs were in front of the prison at Leavenworth. She has also been working on a more likeable image, appearing with daughter Chelsea and the Clintons’ new grandbaby. She says she has gotten good at changing diapers, which might mean that she is preparing to name Bernie Sanders as her running mate. Hillary also looked to soften the perception of her relationship with her husband and political asset, Bill. In another softball CNN interview last week, she was asked to name all the things she loves about Bill and one she doesn’t. She said she doesn’t like that Bill reads in bed and doesn’t turn off the light. If CNN had an ounce of journalistic instincts, the natural follow-up question would be, “Which woman told you that?” Bernie Sanders knows he cannot win. Hillary has the super delegates in her ample pantsuit pockets and, it appears, stuffed in her pants legs. Sanders’ game plan is to stay in the race to notoriety and to burnish his iconic image in hopes of landing perhaps an MSNBC talk show or paid speaking engagements. He wants to be the first person in America ever to make money off of socialism. He could model himself after socialist multi-billionaires who run their countries into the ground with their “sharethe-wealth” populist politics, like
Fidel Castro and Vladimir Putin. Trump has turned this GOP nomination campaign into an episode of The Apprentice. In a last-ditch effort, Cruz and Fiorina cut a deal with John Kasich to combine efforts in order to defeat Trump -- exactly what Gary Busey, Omarosa and Meatloaf would do. For Ted Cruz, the writing was on the wall this last month. Some overweight woman who looks just like Ted Cruz appeared on The Maury Povich Show. She became an instant Internet sensation; last week she was approached about doing a porn film. On the bright side, there might finally be something to curb America’s porn addiction. “TrusTed” is Cruz’s campaign slogan. But a month ago it was reported that he has five mistresses. Trust is key in relationships; one must trust that none of these women says anything. The way the campaign is going, Trump might name Admiral Stockdale as his running mate. The hysteria about Trump winning the nomination is starting to subside. The establishment GOP folk are coming around. Reince Priebus congratulated him on being the presumptive nominee. And even those who said they would move to Canada if Trump is elected president have calmed down. Rosie O’Donnell and Lena Dunham now say they will only move from HBO to Netflix if Trump is elected. A libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, Ron’s a frequent guest on CNN. He can be contacted at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @ RonaldHart on Twitter.
Today’s
Quote
“ Action is the foundational key to all success.” – Pablo Picasso
Today’s
Scripture “All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragant lotions until those three weeks had passed.” – Daniel 10:3
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T
A mother’s love reflects God’s love
his Sunday is a day of love and remembrance because it’s Mother’s Day. All of us can remember something very special about our moms on this important day because they did so many things that helped shape our lives and make us what we are today. I can remember my mother’s support when I first surrendered to preach. I was just a teenager with all the knowledge I thought a preacher would ever need. My mama had to continually pull me up short and remind me of who I really was and what I was about. She knew full well what the Bible meant when it said a person could “be vexed in their spirit” because I kept her exceedingly vexed. For instance, when I filled out the application for a driver’s license it asked where I was born. Being a spiritual 16 yearold giant I wrote, “I was born in sin and raised in iniquity.” That had such a preacher sound about it and I just loved it. Mama read it, whooped me upside the head and I then quickly wrote Birmingham. Maybe that didn’t sound churchy, but I sure heard the sound of church bells for a few days after that lick on the noggin. Because I thought I was a
GERALD HALLMARK Guest Columnist
brilliant theologian at that age I asked mama why I was born. I knew this would bog her down into intellectual speculation as she pondered the meaning of life and the purpose of existence. Plus it would get back at her for not letting me use my Biblical quote. She just looked at me as though I was a slow witted child, sighed and replied, “Because God was punishing me.” Boy, after that there was no reason for me to go to the mountain top in Tibet to find out the meaning of life. I reminded her that I was called of God to be a preacher and that ought to count for something. After all, Jeremiah said he was called to preach before he was even born. She thought a minute and said that when I was born she did take a look at me and quote scripture from the Old Testament. She quoted Sarah on the birth of Isaac, “God has given me cause to laugh, so that all that hear me
will laugh with me.” I asked her if it was because she was so glad I was born and she felt a sense of divine purpose. She gave me that look again, and said, “No, I just looked at you and laughed.” The next thing she will probably tell me is that she dropped me on my head a couple of times. I bet Isaac’s mama never dropped him. Our mothers love us no matter how silly and immature we act. They love us in spite of what we are because they don’t look only at our actions, they look upon our hearts. That is why a mother’s love is the closest thing to God’s love that we can imagine. God loves us with an unmerited love called grace and He has given that same capacity to a mother’s heart. Mother’s Day is our recognition of this innate gift of grace and just how deeply our moms love us. So, this Mother’s Day attend your Father’s house as a testimony to her love. I ought to be glad that my mom didn’t remember the wife of Phinehas. She named her baby Ichabod because she said the glory of God was departed. Now that would give a feller a complex. Anyway, Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers.
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Today’s Birthdays Dee Thurman, Brett Mattox, Bud Champion and Jenny McWhorter are celebrating their birthday.
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Maranda Allen of Sav-A-Life, Kember Carpenter and Leah Holley of FCCLA at Benjamin Russell, Jesse Sprayberry of Junior Civitan and FCCLA sponsor Daphne Davis present items that students collected for Sav-A-Life to the group Thursday.
May 7
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HATCHETT CREEK ROUNDUP: Hatchett Creek Presbyterian Church will host the 20th Annual Hatchett Creek Roundup May 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Speakers will be George C. Smith, Sr. MD, George C. Smith, Jr. MD. and Ashley Lane, MD on Healthcare in Clay County Past Present and Future. FISH FRY: The Hackneyville Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its annual fish fry May 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $10 a plate. CRUISE IN: The Lord’s Crusiers are hosting a cruise in Saturday, May 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Arby’s on Highway 280. All antique cars, trucks and bikes are welcome and listen to music from the 50s, 60s and 70s. For more information call Rob Sizzers at 256-7943846. MOTHERS PRAYER BREAKFAST: Centerview Missionary Baptist Church in Camp Hill is hosting a Mothers Prayer Breakfast Saturday, May 7 at 9 a.m. Rev. Gary Hardy is pastor.
May 9
COMMUNITY GARDEN: Monday, May 9 at 12:30 p.m., fourth graders from Stephens Elementary will plant the community gardens near the First United Methodist Church under the direction of PATH. Everyone is welcome.
May 10
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 of 1966 is having reunion June 4. Your reservation and information sheet was due April 20. If you have not returned, please do so as soon as possible. We have to have a final count before May 10. If need further information call Linda at 256-392-3515 or Martha at 256234-4885.
May 12
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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 256-307-6509.
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 334-868-1140 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, 334-3193434, 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. GRILL MASTER CLASS: The Tallapoosa County Extension office is hosting its first ever Grill Master Class on Saturday, May 14. This basic class will cover food safety, meat selection, types of fuel cooking methods, and cooking tips for beef, pork, and poultry. And true to other Extension programs, this event will be an “eating meeting” and feature taste testing – some samples of cooked items. The Grill Master Class will be held from 9 a.m. – 12 noon at Pavilion #3 at Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City. Cost is $15 per person and reservations are required. Participants are asked to contact the Tallapoosa County Extension office at 256-825-1050 to sign-up or mail in the Grill Master Class Registration Form. Deadline for payment is Friday, May 13. More details: http://offices.aces. edu/tallapoosa/extension-present-grillmaster-class-may-14th/ 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.
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.
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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.
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Friday, May 6, 2016
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Grogan fueled by teammates, desire to succeed By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
Benjamin Russell junior Cole Grogan added another accomplishment on Wednesday, as he was named to the boys South team in the North-South All-Star soccer game for Alabama AllStar Sports Week this July. Grogan, who was named second team on the AL.com Super All-State Boys Soccer team last season, said it is an honor to be named as one of the state’s best. “It’s a great accomplishment to be selected among the 22 in classifications 1A through 7A,” Grogan said. “That’s a big accomplishment for me and my family.” Benjamin Russell Coach Austin Teel said Grogan represents a big part of the Wildcats’ offensive attack from his forward position. “Cole means a lot to us and he’s a very important piece of the puzzle of our team. He has tremendous speed and so he’s able to receive passes that we send through to him and even track down balls that we maybe kick a little too far,” Teel said. “This is an outstanding achievement for him being able to be selected to the All-Star team. In a pool of all of the South teams they have to pick 22 players, so narrowing it down from so many players to that 22 is outstanding for him to be in that group.” Grogan said the biggest strength in his game is his ability to score, but he credits his teammates for helping him thrive on the field. “What I do best is shoot the ball, but I feel like it’s not just me as one person out there. It’s about the team as a whole,” Grogan said. “I feel like my team helps me a lot when I’m out there.” Teel said the All-Star game will present Grogan with more exposure to potentially continue his playing career. “It’ll be excellent for his recruitment. He’s hoping to one day play at the next level in college. He’s actually received three offers currently from colleges to go play soccer,” Teel said. “So, it will really help him continue his career
Robert Hudson / Outlook File Photo
Benjamin Russell’s Asia McWaters winds up for a pitch during a game this season.
Kenneth Boone / The Outlook
Benjamin Russell’s Cole Grogan (11), Grant Hudson, far left, and Thomas Lovett (5) celebrate after a goal during a playoff game against Valley this season.
after high school. There will be a lot of coaches there scouting the players there because this is the best of the best in high school soccer in Alabama. They’ll be watching, and I believe in him. He can only excel. His teammates believe in him and he will do it.” With the Wildcats one game away from returning to the State Final Four, Grogan said his main focus has been working to help his team bring home a state title. “We’ve been working hard every day. Our teamwork has been getting better and our chemistry has gotten better since the beginning of the season,” Grogan said. “I feel like we’re a lot better team now and that we can bring it home this year, hopefully.”
Teel said Grogan has been a great player for BRHS for years and has grown up a lot since joining the varsity squad as an eighth grader. “To be honest, it started in eighth grade. He was a little eighth grader that got moved up to varsity and he’s actually been a starter since then,” Teel said. “He’s had a lot of maturing to do since then and he’s excelled and done that.” Grogan said he hopes to play at the next level and added the thing he loves the most about the game is the friendships he has made along the way. “What I love is that I’ve been playing this game with these boys since I was 6 years old,” Grogan said. “I love the friendships I’ve made and it’s just an awesome feeling to be out there scoring goals.”
Wagoner looks to build off All-Star nomination By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor
This summer, a Benjamin Russell Lady Wildcat will be playing as one of the state’s best soccer players. Benjamin Russell junior Daly Wagoner was selected to the girls South All-Star team where she will compete as one of the state’s best rising seniors in the NorthSouth All-Star soccer game during Alabama All-Star Sports Week this July. Daly said she is excited about the accomplishment that has been a long time coming. “I’ve been on varsity for four of the five years I’ve played soccer in middle school and high school, so I’ve just worked hard and being able to get this honor is a huge achievement for me,” Daly said. Daly’s coach and father, Lee Wagoner, said Daly is a hardworking player that makes an immediate impact when she is on the field. “As a coach and a father, it’s just great to see the accomplishment, first as a player, and secondly to have a child be able to receive an award is outstanding,” Lee said. “Daly is the type of player that every coach dreams to have. She works hard at practice, she doesn’t take days off and she’d have to be seriously injured to not be on the field. Other players gravitate to her because of her leadership ability. She makes an immediate impact when she’s on the field.” For her career, Wagoner has 61 goals and 43 assists. Lee said it is Daly’s distribution skills that make her a great asset to the Lady Wildcats. “She’s a great scorer and a great distributer of the ball. She’s not selfish and she’s
Robert Hudson / Outlook File Photo
Benjamin Russell’s Daly Wagoner advances up the field during a game this season against Stanhope Elmore.
looking to pass first and give a teammate the option to score, but at the same time she’s not afraid to pull the trigger and score herself,” Lee said. Daly said her role in the central midfield is about controlling the flow of the game. “As a center-mid, it’s more about controlling the field and controlling all of your players. Everything works through the middle of the field, so I want to become better at that,” Daly said. “Also, scoring goals, I want to be better at that, get more finishing shots.” She said that moving forward she looks to improve her endurance. “I hope to get a better
endurance level because as a center-mid it’s a lot of running and a lot of work to keep up,” Daly said. “So, I just have to work hard in every game that I do play.” Lee said Daly’s love for the game was apparent from the moment she began walking. “As a father, I knew there was something special about her when she was little. She loved playing soccer in the yard. When she started walking, we’d kick the ball around and we had a little goal she could kick into,” Lee said. “I remember back to the first time she played any kind of organized soccer at the Arbor. It was micro-soccer and it
was indoors. That first game, she didn’t participate really and she was probably four or five at the time. I asked her what’s wrong and she said ‘soccer’s not played inside, it’s played outside.’ So, from then forward we put her in rec league and she just thrived.” Daly is also the third straight Lady Wildcat to be selected to the All-Star game, following in the footsteps of Ruth Anne Ballard last season and Payton Rye the year before. “The past three seasons I’ve been involved with the ladies program, we’ve had girls go to All-Stars with Ruth Anne Ballard, Payton Rye and now Daly being able to represent Benjamin Russell,” Lee said. “It means that they’re one of 36 players in the state of Alabama from 1A to 7A that have been recognized by coaches and officials as being top-notch talent in their respective sport. Hopefully, during All-Star Week she can see different teammates and see players of different ability levels. She’ll get some coaching from good coaches and get some exposure going forward. “From a program standpoint, not every school gets someone on those teams. For our program, I think it shows we’re doing the right things and our players are putting in the hard work that is paying off for them.” Daly said the lessons she has learned at Benjamin Russell have molded her into a better player and person. “Our coaches have always instilled in us team effort and doing everything as a team. It’s not just an ‘I’ sport,” Daly said. “So, they’ve just taught me a lot about how to work with others and how to communicate with each other better. So, it’s molded me as a player and a person.”
Lady Wildcats split two in opening day of area tourney STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
The Benjamin Russell Lady Wildcats split their first two games in the Class 6A-Area 4 Tournament at Valley on Wednesday. The No. 3 Seed Lady Wildcats (1321-1) opened with a narrow, 8-7 loss to the No. 2 seed Opelika Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday in the area tournament. Benjamin Russell out hit Opelika nine hits to the Lady Bulldogs’ seven, but did not score until the top of the sixth. Benjamin Russell trailed 7-0 before scoring five runs in the top of the sixth and two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 7-7, but Opelika scored the game-winning run in the bottom half of the seventh. Taylor McVey was 2-for-4 hitting with two RBI, a home run and two runs scored against Opelika, while JaTori Leonard went 1-for-4 hitting with two RBI and a run scored, and Loren Bishop went 2-for4 hitting with two runs scored and a RBI against the Lady Bulldogs. Chelsey Jordan also drove in a run against Opelika for Benjamin Russell. Asia McWaters pitched four innings, giving up six hits, six runs (three earned), struck out three and gave up two home runs against the Lady Bulldogs. Jayme Marbury pitched two-and-a-third innings in relief, giving up one hit, two runs (one earned) striking out one and walking one. The Lady Wildcats bounced back in the losers’ bracket game, defeating Russell County 7-6 on Wednesday. Leonard was 1-for-3 with a run scored, a RBI and a home run against Russell County, while Bishop went 2-for-5 from the plate with two runs scored, a double and three RBI. Tayla Stowes doubled, going 2-for-2 with a RBI against Russell County. Baylee Atkins also drove in a run against Russell County. McWaters struck out five in three-andtwo-thirds innings, giving up one hit, and two runs (zero earned). Jazmin Miller struck out four in two-and-a-third innings, giving up two hits, one unearned run and walking one.
Robert Hudson / Outlook File Photo
Collier Bonner and Reeltown will travel to Mobile Christian today at 4 p.m. for a round three playoff series.