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WEDNESDAY A-DAY FLASHBACK
Merger of Methodist churches set for June
New Site preps for annual Trade Day Annual car show, breakfast, sale Saturday By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The Town of New Site will host a trade day Saturday, April 16, at Town Hall featuring many items one might see at a fall festival and there will be a car show across the street. “The Trade Day is combined with the car show,” Town Clerk Shelia Fuller said. “The 15th Annual Klassic Kruisers Car Show will be across the street next to the volunteer fire department.” Fuller says the day will get started early with a fundraiser. “At 6 a.m. at Town Hall will be a pancake breakfast for the volunteer fire department,” Fuller said. “Starting at 9 a.m. the entertainment will start and go until about 1 or 2 p.m.” Vendors of all sorts will there. “We will have food vendors with hotdogs and such,” Fuller said. “We will also have the normal vendors too. Last year we had woodworking, jewelry and pottery to name a few. They should be ready by about 8 to 9 a.m. and go until about 2 p.m.” Fuller described some of what can be expected across the street at the car show. “They will have some giveaways,” Fuller said. “They will also have some food vendors and car type vendors too.” If you go: The pancake breakfast starts at 6 a.m. at Town Hall. The 15th annual Klassic See TRADE • Page 5
Today’s
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Graham reviews spring takeaways, Page 8.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 April 13, 2016 Vol. 124, No.74 www.alexcityoutlook.com
FUMC and Trinity finalize plans to combine efforts
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Cliff WIlliams / The Outlook
Benjamin Russell senior Trevor Gravette has overcome a series of childhood setbacks to become a success not only in the classroom, but in athletics as well. He has received a full scholarship to Auburn and was chosen as one of five Alabama’s Young Heroes.
YOUNG HERO
BRHS student turns tragedy to triumph By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Benjamin Russell senior Trevor Gravette is all about inner strength. He’s had to be. At 2, his mother, taken by the allure of drugs, was forced to give him up. Soon after that, his father went to prison for reasons Gravette still doesn’t know, though his father is still incarcerated. Gravette moved on to live with his paternal grandmother, Dorothy Holley,
who became his mother-figure until she died of a heart attack when Gravette was 10. His aunt, Sherronica Holley, took the young man under her wing, but those wings folded when she died of a stroke the following year. Currently, Gravette lives with his paternal grandfather, Burl Holley, and two cousins. And that inner strength. “After you get over the sadness and the sorrow of it, it’s like what doesn’t See HERO • Page 6
Beginning in June, Trinity United Methodist Church will become a part of Alexander City’s First United Methodist Church. Congregations of both churches overwhelmingly approved the merger in recent votes, according to Todd Henderson, pastor at First United Methodist Church. “Both votes were very much in the affirmative and now it’s full steam ahead,” said Henderson. “Now Trinity will take some time to honor their life as a church, have some celebrations and get ready for the next chapter.” Unfortunately, Henderson, largely the architect of the merger, won’t be around to see it to its fruition. “I knew that going in,” said Henderson, who will be assigned to First United Methodist Church in Cullman effective June 22. “That was a part of all of this. Still, I feel a little like Moses. I can see the promised land, but I can’t go in.” John Verciglio, currently the pastor at St. Marks in Northport, will assume the leadership of the First United Methodist congregation around the time of the merger, Henderson said. “John and his wife Lisa are very excited about their appointment to Alexander City,” said Henderson. “They are excited about everything that is going on here and looking forward to being a big part of this new chapter in our church’s life.” Verciglio will be joined at First United by Mike Dinsmore, currently at First United Methodist Church of Alabaster, who will retire and join First United Methodist in Alex City as assistant pastor. Dinsmore was raised a member of the Trinity church. “Mike and his wife, Patsy, are excited about returning to Alex City,” Henderson said. Henderson said that, after the merger, worship services would continue to take place at both See MERGER • Page 6
Local groups to take part in Graham’s Decision America By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Lake Martin
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Franklin Graham is appearing in Montgomery Thursday as part of his Decision America Tour 2016 and Alexander City will be represented at the rally. According to the tour’s website Graham is challenging Christians to live their faith. “I’m going to every state in our country to challenge Christians to live out their faith at home, in public and at the ballot box,” Graham said. “I will share the Gospel.”
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Cliff Williams / The Outlook Submitted / The Outlook
Rev. Franklin Graham is on his Decision America Tour and will be in Montgomery Thursday.
Graham is in the middle of hosting rallies at each state’s capitol and will be on the Capitol’s step Thursday at noon. Bill Middlebrooks of the Alexander City Area Ministerial Association said several local churches are taking groups to the event, but said that it is something that would have an impact with anyone who attends. “We feel like it’s just a tremendous See GRAHAM • Page 5
Steve Robinson, second from left, of AmTech speaks with students at Horseshoe Bend High School after Roger Hendrick, left, CEO of AmTech donated a hydroponics system to the school.
Donation gives Horseshoe Bend students a chance to experience hydroponics By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Students at Horseshoe Bend High School now have a chance to learn about hydroponics thanks to a donation from Roger Hendrick. Hendrick is CEO of AmTech and purchased the
equipment to help his daughter learn about growing food in areas with water shortages. “She got into studying about water shortage,” Hendrick said. “She has projects as part of her education and hydroponics was one of See DONATION • Page 2
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