INSIDE, PAGE 4: WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR OPINION
SPORTS, PAGE 9:
THE
Undefeated Wildcats may meet their match
FRIDAY
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
September 22, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 189 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Charges now capital murder for suspected killer ACPD’s Turner says additional charges are possible By MITCH SNEED Editor
A Valley man saw charges against him upgraded to capital murder for shooting and killing a man as he drove down Highway 280 Tuesday night and Alexander City Police Chief Jay Turner said there could be additional charges coming in the case.
Turner said Nicholas Seth Harrison, 21, of Valley has now been arrested and charged with capital murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle or building, reckless endangerment and possession of a controlled substance. Turner said the murder charge could be upgraded to capital murder and other charges could be added as well. “The reason for a capital murder
charge is we feel like the criteria for that crime fits in this situation,” Turner said. “Without getting into specifics of the motive or the crime, we did find evidence of premeditation and that is one of the factors that can raise a shooting death to the capital level.” Investigators say evidence uncovered in the investigation points to Harrison being the person directly responsible for the death of 21-year-old Denzel Pope of Sylacauga. Turner said that there could be addi-
tional charges and other parties implicated as the case is presented to the grand jury. “This is still an active investigation and we will take what we find and present it to the grand jury and let them Harrison determine any additional action,” Turner said. See CHARGES • Page 3
City clerk Gardner moving to county board of education By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Alexander City Kiwanis Club hosting annual peanut sale The Alexander City Middle School Builders Club helped out the Alexander City Kiwanis Club with its annual peanut sale by helping bag the shipment into 2 and half pound bags. Stopping by Tapley Appliance Center to help Thursday were, above, Builders Club Sponsor Tonya Simmons, left, secretary Karlee Fuller, volunteer Cameron Caldwell, Cam Caldwell and Builders Club vice president Torie Spann. The peanuts are $5 and available at Tapley Appliance Center, Radio Shack, River Bank, Tallapoosa Ford, Town and Country Cleaners and Shoe Repair, Alexander City Board of Education and Hare and Dunlap. Right, Karlee Fuller, left, gets help from Cam Caldwell topping off a bag of peanuts.
BRHS band comes to attention for funeral procession
Today’s
Weather
88 67 High
6
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Low
54708 90050
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
A man who has been a stabilizing presence at Dadeville City Hall has a new opportunity to do the same thing in a new position. Dadeville City Clerk Mike Gardner was approved by the Tallapoosa County Board of Education to be hired as a new financial administrative assistant at the most recent board meeting. Gardner will be working with current Chief School Financial Officer Tommy Thweatt when he arrives in the central office the first of October. “I feel very appreciative that they feel I can do this job,” Gardner said. Thweatt felt positive about Gardner being hired by the county school system and working in the financial department with him. “I think he’ll be a huge help here,” Thweatt said “He has a lot of accounting experience. I’m looking forward to getting him in here.” Similar to Thweatt, Tallapoosa County School Superintendent Joe Windle felt very good about hiring Gardner to the central office. “He has a lot of accounting experience with the Russell Corp. and the City of Dadeville. During the hiring process, it became obvious he was the best choice for us,” Windle said. “It was a decision we feel will make our central office staff that much stronger. He was a great hire.” Mayor Wayne Smith said Gardner See GARDNER • Page 3
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.69 Reported on 09/21/17 @ 4 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
The air in front of Benjamin Russell High School was alive with music Monday afternoon, as the marching band was hard at work practicing their Friday night show. Suddenly, the sound went silent, as quickly as if a radio had been switched off. A funeral procession was making its way up Cherokee Road before turning on to South Central Avenue. Paying their respects to the deceased, the band stopped their practice and stood silent facing the roadway until the procession passed. “It became a tradition where they stop what they’re doing, turn to face Cherokee Road and come to parade rest,” Benjamin Russell Band Director Dale Bloodworth said. “It gives them a moment to stop and reflect, remind them there’s so much more in the world than what they’re doing. “They won’t even put their instruments down. See BAND • Page 3
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
•Home-like Environment • Specialized Dementia Care Unit •Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services
A DAMS HEALTH & REHAB 1555 HILLABEE STREET • (256) 329-0847
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Members of the Pride of Benjamin Russell practice Thursday afternoon as traffic passes on Cherokee Road. The band has a tradition to pause as a funeral procession passes.
Starting Friday: IT – R LEGO Ninjago – PG
Kingsman: The Golden Circle– R
Page 2
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Daughters blame mom’s fiance for breaking up her marriage
Saturday
86 67 Low
High
Partly sunny with a 20% chance of isolated thunderstorms
Sunday
86 65 Low
High Mostly sunny
Staff
Directory Telephone: (256) 234-4281 Fax: (256) 234-6550 Website: www.alexcityoutlook.com Management Steve Baker Publisher, Ext. 218 steve.baker@alexcityoutlook.com Mitch Sneed Editor, Ext. 213 mitch.sneed@alexcityoutlook.com David Kendrick Circulation Manager, Ext. 204 david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com Lee Champion Production Manager, Ext. 220 lee.champion@alexcityoutlook.com Audra Spears Art Director, Ext. 219 audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com Betsy Iler Magazine Managing Editor, Ext. 221 betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com Tippy Hunter Advertising Director, Ext. 206 marketing@alexcityoutlook.com Angela Mullins Business Manager, Ext. 202 angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com Newsroom Amy Passaretti Assistant Magazine Editor, Ext. 227 amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com Lizi Arbogast Sports Editor, Ext. 228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com
Cliff Williams Staff Writer, Ext. 212 cliff.williams@alexcityoutlook.com Donald Campbell Staff Writer, Ext. 208 donald.campbell@alexcityoutlook.com Santana Wood Staff Writer/Pagination, Ext. 210 santana.wood@alexcityoutlook.com Advertising Sales Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Tabby Edwards Retail Sales Manager, Ext. 232 tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com Emily Gregg Advertising Sales, Ext. 225 emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com Scott Hardy Advertising Sales, Ext. 231 scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com Rebecca Carlisle Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 rebecca.carlisle@alexcityoutlook.com Composing Darlene Johnson Composing Department, Ext. 203 darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com Hallie Holloway Composing Department, Ext. 203 hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com Circulation Linda Ewing Office Clerk, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@alexcityoutlook.com
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, Lake magazine, Lake Martin Living, (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) Kenneth Boone The Outlook is published five times Photography and a week, Tuesday through Saturday a commercial web mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, printing press. Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011.
Postal
Information
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Post Office Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011.
SOCIAL SECURITY FAYE EDMONDSON Attorney at Law
135 N. Tallassee Street • Dadeville, AL
825-9559
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Friday, September 22, 2017
The Outlook
© 2011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Reproduction of any part of any issue requires written publisher permission.
Obituaries Ms. Nelda Faye McNeal Ms. Nelda Faye McNeal passed away Wednesday, September 20 at Russell Medical. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Wright’s Funeral Home.
How to Submit Obituaries
Obituaries can be submitted to The Outlook from funeral homes by e-mail at obits@ alexcityoutlook.com or by fax at (256) 234-6550. For more information, call (256) 234-4281.
FREE CONSULTATIONS
“It’s not the end ... It’s a new beginning”
256-329-1313 217 Madison Street, Alexander City, AL “We are a Debt Relief Agency. We help people file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 under the Bankruptcy Code. Alabama State Bar requires the following in every attorney advertisement, “ No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”
DEAR ABBY: My fiancee and I plan to be married next year. I met her after she left her husband because he had cheated on her twice. She refuses to tell her daughters that she left their dad because he cheated, so I am doomed to be the “bad guy” for eternity. They think I’m “the man who stole Mama from Daddy.” Her youngest (age 25) thinks I’m the devil incarnate and is unbelievably rude to me, no matter who is around. I’m thinking marriage will be hell because she and her mother interact every day. What am I to do? -- BLAMELESS IN THE SOUTH DEAR BLAMELESS: This is not a question of what “you” should do. It’s a question of what you and your fiancee should do together. While it may not be necessary for her to tell her adult daughters that their father was a cheater, and that’s the reason she left him, she should definitely call a family meeting and clear the air by telling them that you were not
DEAR ABBY Advice
the reason the marriage ended. She should also insist that you be treated with respect -- if not affection. However, if she’s unwilling to do that, then you should seriously consider calling off the wedding because a marriage under those conditions would be miserable for you. Her daughters would guarantee it. DEAR ABBY: This is in response to “Another Husband in Oregon” (Sept. 3) who wondered about the “man cave” behavior he had observed in his neighbors. I can tell you from personal experience that the appeal of spending long hours working on mechanical things in a garage or workshop in
total solitude is strong for many men. Regarding the guy who rebuilt an antique truck from the ground up, if you go to any car show featuring restored cars, you can’t help but admire the time, energy, skill and commitment some men put into a restoration. These can be works of art. Balance is very important to a successful marriage. Before a wife complains about too much time spent in the “cave” (and not all do complain), she should consider the upside. He is safe, he’s not blowing family money in a bar or at a blackjack table, and he’s not chasing other women. And he just may be creating something unique that will give him great pride and satisfaction. -- PAUL IN WISCONSIN DEAR PAUL: When I put the question about “garaged husbands” out to my readers, they were forthcoming with their views. The responses -- predominantly from men, but also some of their wives -- were overwhelmingly positive.
While the theory of spending too much time in the garage as a result of being “frozen out of the bedroom” was raised, most readers affirmed the value of having separate time from a spouse -- as long as it is only “spare” time. Wives wrote that it enables them to catch up on reading, shopping, a project with the kids or grandkids, or watch a favorite TV show or movie. Both spouses extolled the results produced in the “cave” -- restored vintage cars, woodworking items and various repairs. Visiting is permitted, and there’s learning to be had for the kids. And, as a number of readers reminded us, “At least you know where he is.” 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.
Reeltown celebrates James Denning Day By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disorder that affects the function of nerves and muscles. Based on U.S. population studies, a little over 6,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. That’s 15 new cases a day. It is estimated there are more than 20,000 Americans that have the disease at any given time. This is why Reeltown First Baptist Church will honor James Denning, a local ALS patient, with James Denning Day on Sunday, Oct. 8, from 2-5 p.m. at the Reeltown High School band field. This event will feature a community-wide concert. With the headliners, RamCorps from the University of Mobile, taking the stage at 3 p.m. Not only is this event for the community, but it is made possible by the community. Therefore, coordinators are currently seeking volunteers and sponsors to help make this day one to remember. “Local churches, businesses and individuals are joining together to make The James Denning Day a success,” said Julie Brock, event coordinator. “Bring your lawn chairs, tent and spend a great afternoon helping the Denning family. The concert is free but please bring money for games, food, and a donation for the Dennings.” According to event coordinators, there will be plenty of fun for everyone in the family, including games such as the James Denning dunk challenge. Food and drinks will be available during the event. This special event will not only be fun, it will raise funds to assist the Denning family in the purchase of a special handicapped-accessible van. Because of ALS, Denning is paralyzed
Submitted / The Outlook
Reeltown First Baptist Church will honor James Denning, a local ALS patient, with James Denning Day on Sunday, Oct. 8, from 2-5 p.m. at the Reeltown High School band field. Denning is pictured above with his wife, Jennifer, and their two sons, Connor and Zackary.
on one side of his body, leaving him with very limited mobility. James Denning was born and raised in Tallassee. He attended school and graduated from Tallassee High School in 1984. After graduation, James jumped right into working in the air conditioning business, which he stayed in for 30 years. In 1995, James moved to Montgomery and married Jennifer Huntley in 1997. In August of 2003 they were blessed with the birth of their twin boys Connor and Zackary. In May of 2014, James suffered an on the job injury to his foot. Infection set in leading the doctors to have a PICC line inserted in James’ arm so that antibiotics would get into his system quicker. A few months after the PICC line was removed, Denning and his wife
noticed that something wasn’t right. James’ right forearm seemed to be having spasms. Initially, they wrote it off thinking that the PICC line had hit a nerve during insertion. Months later at a regular check up, James showed his doctor the spams in his arm. After looking at it and hearing his wife say “when he walks through a doorway, he ping pongs off the threshold,” James was referred to a Montgomery neurologist. Denning underwent several tests, every so often being asked, “Does anyone in your family have ALS?” The answer each time being an emphatic but puzzled “no.” Two weeks later James noticed that he couldn’t grip his fork, hold his toothbrush or use fingernail clippers. After consulting the neurologist with this sudden change, Denning was
referred to Tuscaloosa to a neurologist who “specializes in this.” But, what was “this”? The Dennings soon found out when Dr. Gwen Claussen of Alabama Neurology and Sleep Medicine confirmed the suspicion of ALS. After several trips to Tuscaloosa and what seemed like an arsenal of tests, on December 31, 2015, James Denning was officially diagnosed with ALS. Denning and his family continue to battle ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) daily. Not only will James Denning Day benefit this deserving family, it will shed light on ALS and strengthen awareness for others who may be affected by it. If you would like to volunteer or get your church or business involved please contact RFBC at 334-257-4515.
month.
the Daviston Fire Department.
in the Town Hall.
Coosa County Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in the Coosa County Courthouse in Rockford at 9:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday and at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday.
Goldville Town Council meets the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the town hall.
Ray Water Authority meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Ray Water Authority Office. All customers are invited to attend.
Public Meetings Alexander City Board of Education meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in the board office at 375 Lee St. or local school at 5 p.m.
Where Good Friends Meet! Southern-Style Cuisine Catering Available from 5-500
Stop by Today! SUN - THU 10:30am - 8:00pm FRI - SAT 10:30am - 9:00pm
Alexander City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. Meetings are held in the courtroom at the old city hall at 5:30 p.m. Camp Hill Town Council meets the first and third Mondays of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 6 p.m.
at Blue Creek
Community Action Agency of Chambers, Tallapoosa, Coosa will holds its regular board of directors meetings every other month at the Central Office in Dadeville.
6684 Hwy 49 South • 256-825-4827 www.oskarscafe.com
Coosa County Board of Education holds called meetings at least once a
Coosa County Industrial Development Board will hold its regularly scheduled meeting the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room in the courthouse in Rockford. All meetings are open to the public. Dadeville City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. with a pre-meeting at 5:30 p.m. in city hall. Daviston City Council meets the third Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at
Goodwater City Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held at the Caldwell Center at 6:30 p.m. Jackson’s Gap Town Council meets the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 6:30 p.m., all Jackson’s Gap citizens are encouraged to attend. Kellyton Town Council meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the community center in Kellyton. New Site City Council meets the first and third Monday of the month at 5 p.m. in the Conference Room
Rockford Town Council meets the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 7 p.m. Tallapoosa County Board of Education meets on the second Monday of each month. Meetings are held in the new central office at 679 East Columbus Street, Dadeville, AL 36853. Tallapoosa County Commission meets the second Monday of the month at 9 a.m. in the courthouse in Dadeville, with a pre-meeting also open to the public 30 minutes before each regular session.
Friday, September 22, 2017
The Outlook
Page 3
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Band
continued from page 1
Whether they’ve got a 50-pound set of drums or a tuba, they will stand there with their instrument.” Bloodworth said this has been a tradition for the band since their practice field moved to its current location when the new high school building was constructed. He also takes the time to explain this to his students on a regular basis, making sure they understand the meaning and purpose of stopping practice to pay their respects. “We never know when a procession will come by,” he said. “The kids will watch for processions, and they know what to do.” People who were traveling in the procession Monday noticed the gesture offered by the marching band and took to social media, recognizing the band for their actions. These comments began to spread and were even noticed by members of the Alexander City Board of Education, who talked about the post after the adjournment of Tuesday night’s board meeting. Bloodworth said he wants his band members to be good stewards and do things that represent themselves, their band and the school with a great deal of pride. He said he is not a big fan of shouting from the rooftops to get recognition for the band and the things they do, but he thought it was nice the band received the shout-out they did regarding their actions Monday afternoon. “The public is always welcome to come by and visit,” he said. “We may make a lot of noise, but sometimes, our silence speaks a little bit louder than our music.”
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Members of the Pride of Benjamin Russell practice Thursday afternoon as traffic passes on Cherokee Road. The band has a tradition to pause as a funeral procession passes.
Charges
continued from page 1
Tuesday at 8:57 p.m. police received a call of an accident with one car on the side of Highway 280, just west of Tallapoosa Ford and across from McDaniel Supply and Storage. On the way to the scene a passerby who stopped to help reported to dispatch that the man inside was unresponsive and appeared to have been shot. Upon arrival officers discovered a man dead inside what appeared to be a light gold four-door 1993 Acura Legend. When Alexander City Fire Department Paramedics arrived they found Pope lifeless inside. He was later pronounced dead by Tallapoosa County Deputy Coroner Ken Cowart. A few minutes later a caller reported reckless driving on Highway 280 near Dadeville to the county dispatch center. The call was broadcast and Dadeville Police Department officers spotted a vehicle matching the description in the call. After making a traffic stop, the driver was identified as Harrison. Police also located a handgun, illegal drugs and found evidence to suggest Harrison was intoxicated. He was taken into custody on the traffic and drug charges. Dadeville investigators reached out to Alexander City officials and they identified Harrison as a suspect in the shooting of Pope. The vehicle Harrison was driving also had damage that appeared to be consistent with the damage found on the car driven by Pope. According to court records, no bond was set for Harrison who remained in the Tallapoosa County Jail Thursday evening.
Gardner
continued from page 1
has turned his resignation to the city of Dadeville in, but that it could not be acted upon until the next council meeting, as the council as a whole has the power to hire, fire and accept the resignations of city employees. “Mr. Gardner is doing an excellent job, but I will wish him well in whatever he does,” Smith said.
WHAT! You’re not a
subscriber? Why not subscribe today?
548 Cherokee Road Alexander City, AL 35010 256.234.4281
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Area law enforcement officials locate and inspect evidence on the scene of the crime Tuesday night.
TPI Part-Time Mail Inserter
Evening & Night Schedules
Must be able to: - Stand for extended periods of time - Lift up to 45 lbs. - Work Quickly with attention to detail - Count Accurately & Bundle If you are dependable, work well with others & would like to make extra cash, stop by our of¿ce for an application.
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. 548 Cherokee Road, Alex City No phone calls please TPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer Drug Free Workplace
MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213
editor@alexcityoutlook.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Steve Baker Mitch Sneed
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Page 4
Opinion
Our View
A
The
Friday, September 22, 2017
Christ claims us as his kinfolks
We want to hear I your opinion
re you looking for a way to voice your opinion on current events? Are you tired of only being able to air your opinion with friends and family? Why not try the public? Have you ever thought about writing a letter to the editor for all of the area to read? The Outlook is looking for well thought out letters of opinion. It does not matter if anyone agrees with you. Get involved and make your opinion on issues you feel strongly about known. We will even let you do that through the newspaper. What do you think about the way our city government is being run? How about the community responses to recent national events? Do you feel like sharing something about how football season is going so far? How about the recent Highway 280 murder in Alexander City? Do you have any praise or concerns regarding our country’s leadership or current administration? Do you have any thoughts on the school boards approving new budgets? Have you been on the receiving end of a good deed and would like to give credit where credit is due? Do you want to get the word out about something you think could help our community? Do you have a bone to pick with any of the stories in this newspaper? If you have something to say about any of these questions, then the answer is a letter to the editor or a guest column. This newspaper’s editorial page is an open forum for our community and we encourage you to write us and make your opinion known. It’s free. If you need help writing, our editors will be happy to help you craft a letter. Our rules are simple: no cussin’, no libel, no slander. Basically, if you’d say it around the dinner table with your grandmother, it’s probably acceptable as a letter to the editor. So let’s get the conversation started. What’s on your mind? Write us at editor@alexcityoutlook.com or Editor, The Alexander City Outlook, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 25011.
Outlook
recently attended a reunion and this experience reminded me once again that southerners are a unique people with a rich heritage. It’s hard for some folks to understand this southern mindset, specially as it relates to families. One of the unique characteristics of this southernism involves “kin claiming.” This is the art of asking questions about family backgrounds, comparing them to your own and seeing if there are any connections. Nowhere else in the world is this practiced with the intensity of southerners, especially at family reunions. I think some of the DNA testing people ought to set up a booth at these reunions because they could make a fortune. So, there I stood with a bowl of banana pudding in one hand, a glass of iced tea in the other, talking to total strangers trying to make family connections. No stone was left unturned in this search for long, lost relations. After all, a third cousin, twice removed, on mamma’s side of the family, that you have never met or seen, but have just found out about, suddenly has as much value as a first cousin with whom you grew up. After all, family is family and blood is thicker than water. One of the unspoken rules in this genealogi-
isn’t too bad of a practice, except from the snuff-dipping branch of the family tree. It’s great to be in a famDR. GERALD ily and be loved and needHALLMARK ed. Genealogy is important Columnist to our heritage and sense of being. God listed the genealogy of His Son cal survey is that any kin twice in the Bible because found dating back to the of its importance. Christ “War Between the States” belonged to the Jewish practically puts you in family by blood, but adoptthe family will. I was ed the world as a family granted due honor and given another bowl of pud- through His blood. This means the church ding when I told them my is the family of God, purmamma was a member chased by Christ’s death of the Daughter’s of the and claimed in His resConfederacy and three urrection. I don’t think of my folks fought with there is a greater sense of Johnston. I believe there belonging than when a perwere tears in some of the son is in fellowship with older folk’s eyes when I God’s people. Being in the mentioned these pertinent family means Christ found family facts. Finally, we made a con- you, claimed you and sealed you with the kiss of nection with lost family. His love. This bestowed It seems that one lady’s upon you a status of full married cousin had a membership into the eterbrother-in-law, from a nal family of faith. That previous marriage, that is what I call kin claiming was related to my niece’s in the greatest sense of the husband’s mother’s family. This blood tie occurred word! Oh yeah, there is a third somewhere around the end part to this kin claiming of World War II, so it was of lost relatives. As soon considered very recent. as they make this connecThe second part of tion they want to borrow southern kin claiming money. I don’t need newcame in after this revelafound relatives for this tion of family ties. This is the “kissing cousin” phase because my wife handles this job very well on her of the survey. All inhabiown. tations are dropped and you dutifully receive your Dr. Gerald Hallmark “sugar” (this is a small, quick kiss in case you ain’t is a retired minister who lives in Alexander City. from the south) as a seal and testament that you are His column appears in The Outlook every Friday. one of the family. This
Scripture “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” —John 14:21
alexcityoutlook.com
Daily Poll Thursday Question: Do you own a gun to use in means of self defense?
Yes – 63%, 32 votes No – 37%, 19 votes
Friday’s Question: Have you ever had your financial account compromised?
To participate in this daily poll, log on each day to www. alexcityoutlook.com and vote. Find out the vote totals in the next edition of The Outlook and see if your vote swayed the results.
Our
Mission
The subscription rate is $136.00 per year in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties and $177.99 outside the area. Periodicals paid at Alexander City, AL. Newspapers are available at 100 news racks in our area at 75 cents for The Outlook and 50 cents for The Record. We would love to deliver a paper to your door. Call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281, Ext. 204 or e-mail david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook. com.
What’s your
Opinion?
Governor Kay Ivey represents the state of Alabama and its 67 counties. She was sworn into office on April 10, 2017, and can be reached at 334-2427100. Her office is located at the State Kay Ivey Capitol at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.
Tom Whatley represents the 27th District covering Lee, Russell and Tallapoosa County. He was elected to the Alabama Senate on Nov. 2, 2010, and can be reached at 334-242-t7865. Tom Whatley His office is located at 337 East Magnolia Drive, Auburn.
Today’s
Subscribe
Communication with elected officials is the key to good government. To let your most local representatives know how you feel about state or local matters, contact any of the following.
Mark Tuggle
“Life is half spent before we know what it is.” —George Herbert
How to
Officials
Mark Tuggle (R) represents the 81st District covering Coosa, Chilton and Tallapoosa counties. He can be reached by phone at 256392-2006 or by email at tughd81@ gmail.com. His office is located at 110 Calhoun Street, Suite 108, Alexander City.
Quote
The Outlook strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.
Know Your
Steve Marshall was appointed Alabama’s 50th Attorney General. He was appointed in 2017 and serves as the State’s chief law enforcement officer. He can be reached at 334-242-7300, and his office is located Steve Marshall at 501 Washington Avenue, Montgomery.
Today’s
Letter to the Editor
Let’s get the Social Security Guarantee Act passed Dear Editor, Lets talk about your Social Security check. How would you feel if the Republicans in Washington could reduce your Social Security check? It could happen. You see, they have been taking our (FICA) tax withholding from our paychecks and putting it in the general fund spending it on petty projects that will help them get re-elected. Most people don’t know this and that is why we are working very hard to stop them. We have a bill pushing through Congress called the Social Security Guarantee Act that would prohibit them from reducing or cutting the amount of your full Social
Security check. This will be a big fight but we will win this fight because we are taking it to the people because it affects them. We ask all of you to call your Senators, your Representatives and Congressman in Washington to tell them not to cut your Social Security benefits. They are looking to get reelected. Even newly elected members will be asking these questions. This fight is worth having. We have too many elderly depending on their Social Security and are not able to speak up for themselves so we have to speak for them. This is very important. Under Flemming v. Nester, a ruling by the United States
Supreme Court, the federal government is under no obligation to pay you Social Security. The proposed Social Security Guarantee Act Bill is to guarantee the right of individuals to receive Social Security benefits under Title II of Social Security Act in full with an accurate annual cost of living adjustment. So we need people to start asking these questions to the candidates that are running and those that are seeking reelection. You have a right to protect what you have worked for and paid into. So let’s work together and get this passed. Arlean Wyckoff Alexander City
We’d like to share your thoughts and opinions with the greater Lake Martin community. It’s free and it only takes a few moments of your time. We have two ways to get your opinion in print: letters to the editor and guest columns. The main difference is length. Letters to the editor are up to 250 words, while guest columns can be up to 500 words. Letters and columns may be sent to P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011, faxed to (256) 234-6550 or e-mailed to editor@ alexcityoutlook.com. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send us your thoughts today!
Follow us
On the Web
Follow The Outlook on the Internet on our website or on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Log on to http://www. alexcityoutloook. com. There you will be able to view stories and multimedia posted by The Outlook. You can also click on the Facebook link to join The Outlook’s fan club or click on the Twitter link to start receiving tweets on your phone as we post updates. You can also subscribe to our RSS (Rich Site Summary) feed on the Outlook’s home page. Check it out today.
Friday, September 22, 2017
The Outlook
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Page 5
Page 6
www.alexcityoutlook.com
The Outlook
Friday, September 22, 2017
Friday, September 22, 2017
The Outlook
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Page 7
‘2001 — A Space Odyssey:’ Remembrance, reflections and reality N
ext year, the iconic movie “2001—A Space Odyssey” and its novelization (based on the screenplay) will turn 50 years old. Arguably the most visionary cinematic presentation in history, the 1968 film had been inspired by a 1948 short story called “The Sentinel,” written by legendary science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, who co-wrote the screenplay for “2001” with director Stanley Kubrick nearly two decades later. Curiously, the novel and screenplay were developed and written at the same time; i.e., one didn’t inspire the creation of the other, as is usually the case. And there were differences in the two plots, particularly the final destination of the crewed planetary probe—in the book, it’s Saturn (and its moon Iapetus). In the movie, it’s Jupiter, which was substituted due to special effects problems with presenting a realistic representation of Saturn’s rings. The realism of space travel was accurately portrayed, which may have befuddled some persons who expected
WILLIE MOSELEY Columnist
little green men to show up. For example, the airless void of space means that there’s no sound, and the episode where an astronaut has to break back into his spaceship because he’s been locked out by a malfunctioning computer is a memorable action sequence…and it’s completely silent. The soundtrack was intriguing, including “The Blue Danube” and some modern choral/ orchestral compositions. The introductory fanfare of “Also Sprach Zarathrustra” was so enthralling and memorable that it would become the opening/walk-on theme for Elvis Presley and Grand Funk Railroad concerts. But, as noted earlier, the movie version of “2001” may have come across as more, er, cerebral than any other space movie ever made, and one might have expected such from a production with which the brilliant Clarke
was affiliated. So perhaps it wasn’t surprising that when the movie aired on network television in the mid-‘70s— one time only, if I remember correctly—more than one person I knew fell asleep during the introductory ancient-primates-in-Africa segment. And that part of the film is actually based on another Clarke short story, “Encounter in the Dawn,” published in 1953. And nearly a half-century following the presentation of the book and movie, and 16 years after the actual annum, it’s intriguing to compare what Clarke had envisioned and how things actually turned out. Viewing the film (again) would be helpful, but (re-)reading the novelization is practically mandatory. For starters, space travel and exploration didn’t evolve as rapidly as Clarke postulated. Yes, there’s an international space station presently in orbit around Earth, but it’s not the way station in the form of a giant rotating wheel to which humans commute back and forth on a regular basis. Moreover, the commuter spacecraft is represented as
being operated by a future version of Pan American World Airways (you can see the company name and the familiar blue logo on the rocket on the cover illustration of the earliest edition of the book). However, Pan Am went bankrupt in the early ‘90s. There’s also the presumption that by 2001, the human species would have already established a strong presence on the Moon and had already landed on Mars, being as how there’s a spacecraft on the way to one of the “gas giant” planets. Trouble is, human beings haven’t visited the Moon in some 45 years. Clarke figured that the Soviet Union would still be in existence in 2001, and estimated that by that year 38 nations would have nuclear weapons. Some of the nomenclature has evolved as well; i.e., “stewardess” has now been replaced by “flight attendant.” But the advent of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in recent times seems to be closer to Clarke’s timeline than some other facets—compare what’s been happening these
DID YOU KNOW?
days with robots, driverless cars, etc., to the movie’s depiction of the HAL 9000 computer—with its all-seeing eye and soulless voice— that’s in charge of running the Jupiter mission. To some observers, contemporary A.I. developments been somewhat disconcerting, but the film’s, er, termination of astronauts Hunter, Kaminski and Whitehead is one of the most straightforward-yetjarring murder sequences in the history of cinema. Replete with warbling alarms and out-of-control readouts on bio-monitoring systems, it can still give a viewer a case of the willies. The book begat three (optional) sequels, set in 2010, 2061, and 3001, but the original is still the greatest, by far. Historical differences aside, the cinematic and print versions of “2001—A Space Odyssey” are still valid to readers that appreciate imaginative-yet-plausible science fiction. It’ll always have a spot on my office bookshelf. Willie Moseley is a retired TPI reporter.
According to a 2013 Pulse Survey, Tallapoosa Publishers reaches at least 86% of all Tallapoosa County.
Let Us Help Market Your Message! 256.234.4281
Page 8
www.alexcityoutlook.com
CommunityCalendar Need Insurance? Call me.
256.234.3481 KarenChannell.com
Today is September 22, 2017 Today’s Events
CLASS REUNION: There will be a class reunion for the Dadeville High School Classes of 1958, 1978 and 1998 Sept. 22 with a pregame homecoming reception at the Dadeville High School Media Center. Former students and spouses will receive tickets to the football game and will be recognized at the pregame activities. Class pictures will be made for $10. HOMECOMING: Dadeville High School is celebrating Homecoming Sept. 22. The theme is “Rock the Bulldogs.” Everyone is invited to he homecoming parade. Entry fee is $15 and the entry forms are located in the school office with a deadline
Friday, September 22, 2017
The Outlook
to enter of Sept. 20. ROTARY GOLF TOURNAMENT: The Alexander City Rotary Club is hosting a charity golf tournament Friday, Sept. 22 at the LakeWinds Golf Course. Registration begins at 11 a.m., lunch will be available at noon and tournament play starts at 1 p.m. It is two-person scramble tournament. The is cost is $100 for a two-person team or $50 for an individual player. It will benefit the Alexander City Rotary Club Foundation. Anyone interested in participating contact Dana Rickman at 256-6256392 or email dana@campascca. org. WOMEN’S CONFERENCE: The Weogufka Family Worship Center is hosting its annual Women’s Conference Friday, Sept. 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring Tolie Meggs of Out of the Boat
Submit calendar items:
Participate in your Outlook by calling 256-234-4281, faxing them to 256-234-6550, sending your event to calendar@alexcityoutlook.com or logging on to http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/. Ministries in Tuscaloosa. The Weogufka Family Worship Center is located at 20771 County Road 29/ Coaling Road. MUSIC WORKSHOP: The Power of Praise and Worship musical workshop with Eugene C. Brown of Baltimore Maryland will be Sept. 22 starting at 6 p.m. and Sept. 23 starting at 9:30 a.m. at Hatchett Springs Baptist Church in Goodwater. Registration is Sept. 22 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is $20 a person.
Today’s Birthdays
Laura Crayton, Brenda Scott, Connor Landers, Kyle Williams, Mary Pippins, Wesley Nelson, Loc Le, Isabella Goodwin and Belinda Holley are celebrating their birthdays today.
–Since 1978–
BIG “B” BAR-B-QUE “We Cook The Best BETTER!”
Hickory Grilled Meat BBQ • STEAK CHICKEN • CATFISH
256.329.9996 Hwy. 22 West, Alexander City, AL
Today’s Anniversaries
Brian and Deanna Miller are celebrating their anniversary today.
AL 96175
CARLISLE HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 367 US H W Y . 280 A L E X A N D E R C I T Y , AL
256-234-0019 CA RLISLE AC.COM
Submitted / The Outlook
The 2017-18 session of Junior Leadership Lake Martin has begun. This is the 10th year of offering the program for high school juniors from the Lake Martin area. Orientation for all students and parents was held in August at First Baptist Church in Alexander City. The program was outlined to the students and their parents with a schedule of this year’s events presented. Team Day was the first school session Sept. 19 at Camp ASCCA. The students participated in several games to get acquainted and then were broken up into teams to complete several of the challenges put in front of them. The focus of these challenges is to promote communication and teamwork as well as have a fun time. After lunch the day concluded with students climbing the vertical wall and riding the zip line down. The next event will be Criminal Justice Day in October. Participating students in this year’s Junior Leadership Lake Martin are: from Benjamin Russell, Jessie Culver, Alexis Deloney, Blair Dunn, Ryan Green, John Hayden Johnson, Ethan McDaniel, Nick McGhee, Asia McWaters, Paris Morgan and Kyla Stowes; from Dadeville, Marley Davis, Zander McClendon, Jake Outlaw, Zach Rickman and Jayla Tolbert; from Horseshoe Bend, Savannah Brazzell, Colby Cheaney, Grace Denham, Emma Walker and Maggie Wood; from Reeltown, Anna Cochran, Savannah Hornsby, Marlee Knox, Peyton Ledbetter and Morgan McGuire.
Now - September 28
Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services •Physical Therapy •Occupational Therapy •Speech Therapy 2334 Washington Street Alexander City • 256-329-9061 www.crownemanagement.com
Come Visit Us! Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY: Haven Memorial United Methodist Church at 354 Christian Street in Alexander City is hosting a women’s Bible study “Battlefield of the Mind” by Joyce Meyer Thursdays Sept. 14, 21, 28 from noon to 1 p.m. Bring your lunch. For more information contact Joanne Finley at 334-332-5970 or Pastor Nolan at 256-682-3810.
Now - September 30
CHEESE BALLS: The UMW of First United Methodist Church are taking orders for their annual cheese ball fundraiser through Sept. 30. Orders can be placed through the church office. Four varieties are being offered from $10 to $12 each. Pick up will be Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Fellowship Hall.
Saturday, September 23
Need your business to
STAND OUT from the crowd?
Call us, we can help!
256.234.4281
• Alexander City Outlook • Dadeville Record • Wetumpka Herald • Eclectic Observer • Tallassee Tribune
dB
Lawn Care Darrell Brooks, Owner Cutting •Edging Weed Eating •Mulch Weed Control
256.267.0518
STARGAZING: The Auburn Astronomical Society will set up telescopes to look at the night sky Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. on Hospice Point near the silo at Wind Creek State Park. WOMEN’S CONFERENCE: Sistas for a Cause are hosting their third annual women’s conference, “Broken but Still Blessed,” Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. at Miracle Missionary Baptist Church on I Street in Alexander City. ALABAMA POWER OPEN HOUSE: Alabama Power is hosting a public education open house Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Square in downtown Dadeville. FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Bibb Graves High School Alumni and Friends in Millerville will have Family Game Night Bingo from 5:00 until 8:00 Saturday September 23. Five free Bingo cards to the first 10 kids age 10 and under. Game prizes and door prizes. Begin with hot dogs, pizza, chips and soft drinks.
Sunday, September 24
CHURCH ANNIVERSARY: Wayside Baptist will celebrate 70 years of ministry on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 10:30 a.m. Special music will be provided by Eric and Whitney Miller and also the gospel trio Justified. The speaker will be Gerry Tapley. Everyone is invited to join with us for the service and a covered dish lunch afterward. CHURCH HOMECOMING: The Socaptoy Church Homecoming will be Sunday, Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. with guest speaker Brother Pete McElrath. There will be a business to follow and dinner on the grounds at noon. MUSICAL: The choir at Red Ridge will present the musical “God
Bless the USA,“ a patriotic musical consisting of seven presentations with narration under the direction of Dr. Kim Walls at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 24. Recognition will be given to the community’s first responders and military personnel for their role in supporting freedom of religion and peace in our nation. All are welcome and special invitation is given to first responders and military personnel, both active and retired. The church is located at 8091 County Road 34.
Monday, September 25
HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Terry Robbins will present “Merle Haggard, The People’s Poet” to Horizons Unlimited Monday, Sept. 25 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alexander City Board of Education Building at 375 Lee Street Alexander City. MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION MEETING: There will be a meeting of the Alexander City Area Ministerial Association Monday, Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Family Worship Center at 1676 Sewell Street.
September 28-29
CLOTHING SALE: Russell Medical Auxiliary will host a clothing sale featuring Britches and Bows on Sept. 28-29. The sale will be in the Russell Medical Community Room beginning at 7 a.m. Women’s clothing, sizes small – 3x along with boys’ and girls’ clothing will be available. Proceeds will benefit projects and services of the Russell Medical Volunteer Auxiliary.
Friday, September 29
GARDENING EXTRAVAGANZA: The Tallapoosa County Extension Service is hosting its Fall Gardening Extravaganza Friday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center at Central Alabama Community College. Speaking will be Chris VanCleave, Sara L. Van Beck, Felder Rushing and Carol Reese. Cost is $25 and you can register by call the extension service at 256-8251050.
Saturday, September 30
FAMILY REUNION: The Germany family reunion is Saturday, Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. at the Daviston Community Center. All members of the Germany family are invited. Please bring a covered dish.
Sunday, October 1
CHURCH HOMECOMING: New Elkahatchee Baptist Church is hosting homecoming services Oct. 1 at 10:30 a.m. with Diane Sherrell. SUNDAY DINNER: Duncan
Memorial United Methodist Church is hosting Sunday dinner Sunday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. The free dinner will be served in the clubhouse building next to the church at 3997 Hillabee Road in Alexander City. The pastor of Duncan Memorial is Rev. Wayne Hicks. All are invited to this free, causal dinner. FAMILY AND FRIENDS DAY: Friendship Missionary Baptist Church will be hosting its annual family and friends day Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. The guest speaker will be Rev. Jimmy Thomas, pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Dadeville. Rev. Roosevelt Gregory is pastor. COMEDY NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting Comedy Night with Joe Phillips Sunday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m.
The Learning Tree Helping Children Learn and Grow
The Learning Tree, Inc. is Accepting Applications for Weekend Shifts in Direct Care. Applications can be picked up at: 101 S. Dubois Street Tallassee, AL 36078 Or contact Brinda Bell (334) 252-0025, Ext. 101 Email: bbell@learning-tree.org
SEE ME FOR INSURANCE
Harold Cochran 256.234.2700 haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com
Monday, October 2
HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Sarah Bliss Wright will present “Ida Quilt Project” to Horizons Unlimited Monday, Oct. 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alexander City Board of Education Building at 375 Lee Street Alexander City.
Tuesday, October 3
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: The 34th Annual National Night Out “Light Up the Night against Crime” will be Oct. 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Alexander City Sportplex. This will showcase various public safety and emergency response agencies that operate in the Alexander City and surrounding areas including state, county, EMA, businesses and church groups. All events are free and there will be hotdogs and drinks while supplies last.
Saturday, October 7
HEALTH FAIR: Hatchett Spring’s Baptist Church YAM will be conducting their 3rd Annual Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Goodwater Community Center from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. This event is free to the Goodwater Community and surrounding areas. We will kick off the day with our Heart walk/run at 8 a.m., followed by a CPR class at 9 a.m., registration required, and Health Fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There will have free health care supplies, health and vision screenings, college prep info., diabetes education, breast cancer awareness, skin wellness, dental hygiene, life insurance, Sam’s Club, Zumba, kid’s fun, blood drive, motivational speakers, snacks, door prizes and so much more! For more information or to find out how you can become a part of this event, please contact 205-240-6229 or 256-7493223.
Tony Guy, Owner Over 40 Years Experience
H&A Installation, Charge Outs and Repair Sheet Metal Work
FREE Estimates on NEW installations Service a 30 mile radius of Alexander City Licensed and Bonded #:84887 guysheating@live.com 256–234–4198 196 Thompson Ridge Road Alexander City, AL
Many a small thingg
largge... hhasass bbeen eeen mmade ade
...with the right kind of advertising.
LIZI ARBOGAST SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com
Friday, September 22, 2017
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Page 9
Game of the Week
TRUE TEST ON THE HORIZON By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
Everyone around Alexander City is putting more and more stock in the Benjamin Russell football team. And they should. The Wildcats currently sit atop the Class 6A Region 3 standings with a 3-0 (2-0) record, but this week, they’re going to get a taste of where they actually stand. In one of the biggest rivalry matchups around the area, Benjamin Russell plays host to the Opelika Bulldogs (3-1, 1-0) tonight. “This is gonna be a challenge for us, but we’ll find out a little something about ourselves,” BRHS coach Danny Horn said. “We’ve got to play extremely hard, and we’re just gonna have to keep fighting to the end. I think this bunch will. I’ve been pleased with how we’ve played in the fourth quarter in most games, so I’m excited. I’m anxious to see how we do against a really, really good football team.” Opelika is coming off a 41-14 win over Chilton County and moved up to the No. 5 spot in the Alabama Sports Writers Association poll. The Bulldogs managed to earn a huge victory last year despite playing behind backup quarterback Brody Davis, who took over for an injured Cade Blackmon. The top two skill players to look out for are wide receiver Jorden Heard and running back Branton Barnett, who scored three times a week ago. “It’s typical Opelika,” Horn said. “It really amazes me how year after year after year after year, it’s like they clone them. Every year, I say, ‘Well, I’m
Undefeated Wildcats may meet their match
Cari Dean / Shelby County Reporter
Benjamin Russell quarterback Landon Cotney drops back for a pass against Chelsea. The Wildcats may need to utilize their passing game more this week against the Opelika Bulldogs.
glad he’s (graduated), then next year, they have one just like him.” But what Horn is even more wary about than Opelika’s offense is its defense. “Defensively, all 11 players stand out; they are really that good defensively,” Horn said. “They lock down your corners with man coverage and the safeties play the run and the pass equally well. It looks like they have 15 players over there on defense at times.” But if anyone is going to match the Opelika defense right
SCOTT HARDY Digital Marketing
BRHS-Opelika rivalry has special meaning
I
’ve been attending Benjamin Russell High School football games for as far back as I can remember. When I was growing up, the social event of the weekend was going to cheer on our beloved Wildcats. The importance placed on supporting the boys in maroon and gray was something instilled in me at a very young age. While all the games were of significance to the younger me, there was always one game that despite any circumstances, I had to make sure I witnessed, and that was the matchup versus the Opelika Bulldogs. My mother was a graduate of BRHS, while my father was an alumnus of Opelika. He is my idol, so to say I was conflicted when it came to this game is an understatement. However, Stephanie eventually won out over Charlie and I became the ultimate fanboy for the Cats. Since then, my disdain for Opelika athletics has mirrored that of the Crimson Tide. There are some that would argue I’m a closet ’Bammer … but that’s a story for another column. My most memorable moment in the rivalry dates back to the year 2000. Opelika played host for this particular contest. It’s been nearly 20 years, but I can practically still give you a play by play of that entire game. Current Alexander City Middle School head football coach and former standout for Ben Russell, Shundell Russaw, nearly decapitated Opelika’s Lamarcus Rowell on a punt return. We secured a 3-0 See HARDY • Page 10
BENJAMIN RUSSELL VS. OPELIKA Game date: Opelika Bulldogs at Benjamin Russell Wildcats ... Friday, 7 p.m. ... Class 6A Region 3 game. Media coverage: Follow @liziarbogast on Twitter for live updates ... Listen live on Kowaliga 97.5 Teams: Opelika (3-1, 1-0) is coming off a 41-14 win against Chilton County ... BRHS (3-0, 2-0) shut out Chelsea, 27-0, a week ago. Series: The Bulldogs lead 30-28-3 and won last year, 34-0. Outlook prediction: Opelika by 10. now, it’s Benjamin Russell’s, which is coming off its first shutout since 2015.
ning the turnover battle. They One of the biggest reasons for the blanking of Chelsea a week ago was the Wildcats winSee BRHS • Page 10
Dadeville looks for 1st region win 2-ranked Green Wave tough through the first two quarters, but a couple of costly plays nearThis early in the season, it’s ing the end of the first half gave difficult to call a game a mustLeeds a 28-14 lead heading into win, but looking at the rest of the locker room. Dadeville’s schedule and know“If we didn’t get a punt ing it is currently 0-2 in the blocked and that long touchdown region, the Tigers are looking at returned for 86 yards, it’s a 14-14 tonight’s homecoming game ver- game at halftime and we’re in it,” sus Holtville as one they can’t let White said. “But they put two on slip away. us there, and we have to get that “I hate to say it’s a muststuff corrected. We’re not good win, but yeah,” Dadeville coach enough to overcome that sort of Richard White said. “We’re 0-2 stuff. But we still have a chance in the region, and at this point to make the playoffs. There’s a in the season, we can’t afford lot of ballgames to play.” to lose another game this early. Kadore Glenn has been a big We’ve got to find a way to win catalyst for Dadeville’s offenthis ballgame and get on track to sive success, but injuries have find some more down the line.” gotten the best of the Tigers Although White’s Tigers have recently. Top running back Qua struggled the past two weeks Tucker missed the game against against the likes of Munford and Munford, and starting quarterLeeds, they’re not giving up hope back Jeff Rice didn’t play versus yet. Dadeville played the No. See DADEVILLE • Page 10 By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Dadeville’s Jalen Sullivan holds on for dear life in the open field as Leeds receiver Jaylen Washington tries to spin away after a 38-yard pickup last week.
Generals need to rebound after loss By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
Kenneth Boone / The Outlook
Horseshoe Bend’s Trace Meadows (23) should be poised to have a big game this week against Ranburne.
There’s no doubt about it — Horseshoe Bend is reeling from its loss to the Reeltown Rebels. Not only was it a loss against a rival the Generals have never beaten, it also put them in an 0-2 hole in the in Class 2A Region 5. “We’re definitely still hurting,” Horseshoe Bend coach Josh Averett said earlier this week. “We thought we had chances to win, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Now we’re just treating every game like a must-win, and that starts Friday night.” Tonight, Horseshoe Bend (1-2, 0-2) is taking a trip to Ranburne (2-1, 2-0), which the Generals beat handily last season. On paper, Horseshoe Bend should be the favorite. Ranburne is coming off a one-point win to Woodland, which was easily beaten by Reeltown a week ago. But with five games left in region play, Averett said See GENERALS • Page 10
Page 10
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Friday, September 22, 2017
The Outlook
Reeltown faces uphill battle vs. Lanett By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
Especially with the news of Keke Hughley’s season-ending injury, Reeltown’s football team is going to have its hands full with No. 2-ranked Lanett. Offense might be the name of the game as Reeltown hosts the Panthers, who are explosive from just about every skill position. Caden Story is the definition of a dual-threat quarterback, and receivers Qua Pollard and Trikweze Bridges are listed at 6-foot-7 and 6-4, respectively. Johnson said he’ll also be looking out for running back Ja’Won Howell. “Their running back really sets the tone for their offense,” Johnson said. “He moves around from slot to running back, but he does a really good job for them and runs the ball extremely well.” The game plan for Reeltown going in will be quite similar to what it was against Horseshoe Bend. The Rebels need to have sustained drives, win the time-of-possession battle and finish with touchdowns. “No. 1, we need to limit the big plays, which goes back to limiting the production of their big-play players, which is a lot of them,” Johnson said. “We’ve gotta
Kenneth Boone / The Outlook
Reeltown’s Tre Tre Hughley (24) avoids a tackle against Horseshoe Bend. Hughley was one of two 100-yard rushers for the Rebels last week.
control the ball. Basically, we’ve got to offensively do what we did last week — control the line of scrimmage, control the time of possession, get first downs and keep their offense on the sideline.”
What should be encouraging for Johnson’s Rebels is how well they played after Hughley went down in the first quarter of last week’s victory. Both Tre Tre Hughley and Cameron Faison had
more than 100 yards on the ground. Quarterback Landon Hunt is also developing quite well as is another player Johnson is giving a lot of praise, but he’s not one that jumps off
the stat sheets. That’s fullback Jordan Whitlow, who paved the way for Hughley and Faison’s success last week. “We have probably one of the best fullbacks I’ve ever coached,” Johnson said. “We’ve had great fullbacks here, but Jordan Whitlow and what he does at the fullback position is special. A lot of people don’t even notice him because he doesn’t get the ball much, but if it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have 300 yards rushing. I can’t say enough about how he’s developed.” Defensively, the Rebels have been strong all season but they’ll be put to their biggest test yet. With Johnson’s brand of football, it’s the defensive line that seems to be the power of the defense, and although it struggled a bit last week, it still has a lot to be proud of. The front four will need to be on point if the Rebels hope to pull out an upset tonight. “We trust that they’re physical; they’re quick, they’re athletic and they’ve got great motors,” Johnson said. “They played hard last week and with effort, but not disciplined. Our defense is based around those front four guys because when they’re going and doing what they’re supposed to be doing, they’re pretty special.”
Newcomers hope to boost Coosa will continue this week. “With the lack of players, we also have a lack of skill players,” Rary said. “To be so small, we’re linemen One big thing is stopping Central heavy, so we needed to find more Coosa’s football team right now, and ways to get Donta in space. One of that’s roster numbers. the ways we’re trying to do that is to After playing what Cougar coach think about some of the things they Shane Rary called a “fantastic first were doing with Raymond (Graham) half,” fatigue and lack of depth last year. We’ve got a mobile simply got the best of them in a quarterback back there that makes shutout loss to Prattville Christian them respect him, and that would last week. hopefully open up our passing game But Central Coosa is attempting to and open up a lot of things.” shake things off as it heads to Beulah The addition of some new players tonight. should also help out the Cougars. “After our first game against Top receiver Dawson Duncan is out Montgomery Catholic, we talked with an injury with no timetable for about our start,” Rary said. “The last a return, but freshmen Xavier Moon, two weeks, we got a little bit better Quin Brooks and Carson Caldwell with how we’ve started, and now we have joined the team and are hoping just have to finish. When things don’t to help bring Coosa some success. go your way, you can’t just stop. Beulah isn’t going to be easy, With all the adversity we had to deal though. Rary called the Bobcats with already, I felt like we’d be more “the best 1-2 team he’s seen on prepared for that than we were last film.” Beulah (1-2) has losses to Montgomery Academy and Southside week.” Selma to its name, but those are also But the Cougars are continuing to two of the top teams in Class 3A change some things up in hopes of finding a recipe that’ll work for them. Region 3. “They don’t do a whole lot but they One big change was moving Donta do it well,” Rary said. “Offensively, Daniel to quarterback and putting they’ve got some things that worry Tadarius Parker in at tailback. That By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor
Hardy
continued from page 9
victory that night and my interest in wanting to play for coach Phil Lazenby and Willie Carl Martin reached the heights of Mt. Everest that evening. Fast forward to 2001 and I’m a member of the ACMS football team. We are 5-0 and preparing to welcome the Bulldogs to town. I wasn’t the greatest of athletes by any means, but I’d like to consider myself at the very least a serviceable player. Without boring you with the details of the game, I’ll just say we suffered our lone loss of the season that day, 14-7. We got stuffed on a fourth and 9, when coach Sammy Teel’s favorite play, proright 90 draw, failed for the first time all night. That same Opelika team handed us our only loss in basketball during our two-year stint at the middle school. I’ve cried only twice due to a sporting event and both were caused by Opelika. Tonight, our Wildcats will battle the Bulldogs and I’m sure coach Danny Horn and the players would greatly appreciate your support. I know with his fiery demeanor and the fact we’ve only beaten them twice this millennium, there is no need for pep talks. However, my girlfriend, who is a teacher in the Opelika school system and I have a friendly dinner wager on the outcome of tonight’s game. Keep in mind that she is also a 2012 BRHS grad, so if you guys needed any extra bulletin board material to overcome the Bulldogs, there you have it. Good luck tonight! Scott Hardy is a digital marketing coordinator for Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.
BRHS
continued from page 9
forced five turnovers, including two inside their own 30-yard line, and had just one of their own. Stopping the run was also a key factor in last week’s victory, as the Hornets managed just 140 yards on the ground. “I think we’re better than we were last year, especially defensively,” Horn said. “But we still got a ways to go because we’re still giving up the big play. We’ve been bending, just not breaking a whole lot. I like the effort they’ve been giving on the defensive side; that’s been tremendous. We’re also causing some turnovers this year, and that always helps.” Where Benjamin Russell needs to have a strong showing to walk away with a win tonight is offensively. Although the Wildcats are averaging more than four touchdowns per game, they still haven’t put together the complete effort Horn is looking for. “We have a lot to prove offensively,” Horn said. “I don’t think we’ve really played up to our potential offensively yet. We have to do a better job running the ball than we did last week, and we’re going to have to mix in more passes than we normally would. To beat them, you’ve got to be able to throw the ball successfully.” At least by this time tomorrow, the Wildcat faithful will have a better idea where its team stands.
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Central Coosa’s Tadarius Parker (40) scrambles to recover a high snap last week against Prattville Christian. The Cougars continue to struggle with numbers but face a winnable opponent this week in Beulah.
us as far as scheme-wise, but we’ve made some adjustments to that. Defensively, they run more of a 3-4 look, which is something a little different than what we’ve seen.” The Bobcats’ offense runs through
quarterback Nolan Earle and running back Cade Dowdell. Rary said two of their top defensive players are outside linebacker Lonzie Portis and defensive line Hunter Bryant.
Dadeville Leeds. Although Tucker is back, White said he’s uncertain if Rice will return this week; he has a day-to-day shoulder injury. Luckily for the Tigers, backup quarterback Slade McCullers played fairly well last Friday. “Slade played well being thrown in there and having to play the whole game at quarterback,” White said. “He’s eager to play and very receptive to what we’re trying to do.” White is hoping to get the offense moving again this week as it stalled against the Green Wave during last week’s second half. This year has been
continued from page 9
full of adjustments for the Tigers, who are used to what White called a “quick-strike offense.” This season, the Tigers are more suited for an offensive attack that pounds the ball on sustained drives. “Probably the biggest thing offensively is our running backs are not patient to let the holes develop,” White said. “There have been several holes we could’ve run in, and the backs kick it outside and of course there’s no blocking outside so we’re getting tackled. Had they been patient, we would’ve popped it for 6 or 7 yards or maybe even 40 or 50.” On paper, Dadeville should
Generals the goal is to win at least four of them in hopes of achieving their ultimate goals. “We’re just kind of waiting on that breakout game,” Averett said. “I think we’re a lot better than we’ve offensively shown. Defense has been there, so we’re just waiting on that big game where we score a bunch of points.” One thing that would really help Horseshoe Bend is if No. 2 running back Joe Railey could make his return. While Trace Meadows is doing just
have no problem getting on the right side of the track against the winless Bulldogs. Holtville quarterback Drake Baker stands at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, and White said they’ll need to limit his potential production. “Holtville is kinda like us — they’re struggling in certain areas, but they’ve got some good-looking kids,” White said. “Their quarterback is tough to bring down, so we’ve gotta put pressure on them. They run a lot of Tony Franklin system in the passing game, so if we can get some pressure on him and make him do some things he doesn’t want to do, we have a chance to win.”
continued from page 9
fine, teams are starting to key in on him as he’s gotten around 90 percent of the carries since Railey went down with a highankle sprain. Averett said he’s hopeful Railey will return this week. The Generals will also look to get quarterback Cade Worthy going a bit more. Although he’s come up big in a few situations, his completion percentage hasn’t been great so far. “We definitely want some more completions, but a lot of
times, the penalties and things have gotten us backed up,” Averett said. “We’ve put ourselves in some bad situations, and if they know we’re throwing the ball, it makes it more difficult so that’s what we’ve gotten into so far.” Defensively, aside from the game against Lanett, Horseshoe Bend has been relatively on point. The biggest standout so far has been Parker Branch, who is averaging 15 tackles per game through three games this season.