April 20, 2017 Alex City Outlook

OPINION:WATER FESTIVAL TEACHES STUDENTS A VALUABLE LESSON, PAGE 4.

THE

THURSDAY

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

Inside, page 6

April 20, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 78 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

Daviston Baptist Church turns 175

KISS MY BASS

Church prepares for Sunday celebration

By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

Daviston Baptist Church, located on Highway 22 in the Daviston community will hold their annual homecoming service on Sunday, April 23, though this year’s homecoming will be a far more special event than most years. This Sunday will mark 175 years since the church’s founding in 1842.

“The congregation has expressed joy in many different ways that the church has been going so long, that they’ve been able to be a witness for as long as they have,” Pastor Shane Dye said.

Deacon Tony Jones discussed how not only had this small start led Daviston Baptist to grow into what it is today, but had also spread to other churches both in the area and elsewhere. What makes this even more amazing is that each of the three churches that emerged from Daviston during the 19th Century also continue to hold services today.

“It’s impressive that six people started this that long ago and it’s still going,” Jones said.

According to the church history, two arms of Daviston extended locally were Mountain Springs Baptist Church in 1883 and Zion Hill Church in 1889. Around this same time, a few See CHURCH • Page 3

By MITCH SNEED Editor

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Above, Dadeville Elementary School fourth grader Claire Smith kisses a bass held by a classmate. At Wednesday’s Tallapoosa County Water Festival the students learned about water quality and conservation.

Students flock to Wind Creek for Fifth Annual Tallapoosa County Water Festival

ing to get away.”

Dadeville Elementary School fourthgrader Claire Smith got a little up close and personal with some of the fish capStudents from Dadeville, Horseshoe Bend and Reeltown Elementary schools tured by the staff as she kissed several of got a little wet while learning Wednesday the fish like she had been practicing.

“I have kissed fish before,” Smith at the Fifth Annual Tallapoosa County Water Festival at Wind Creek State Park said.

The idea of the water festival Wednesday. rests with Sabrina Wood, coordinaStudents learned water conservation tor for Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water and activities in a fun environment.

Partnership.

Staff from the Alabama Wildlife and “There are water festivals like this all Freshwater Fisheries had captured several species of fish Wednesday morning over the state, but we wanted to make and students got a up close and personal. ours a little different,” said Wood. “One of the best ways we could make it differ“Be careful, they will splash and get ent is by having it outdoors. Wind Creek you wet,” Biologist Graves Lovell said as he held up a bass. “They are just trySee WATER • Page 9

By DONALD CAMPBELL and CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Today’s

Weather

78 53 High

Low

By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

Submitted / The Outlook

Members of the Alexander City Middle School Math Team pose for a picture after their recent stellar showing. Pictured from left are Kai Riggins, Valerie Tauro, Landon Daniel, Jaion Kelly and sponsor Susan Green.

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During the annual Southern Union State Community College Mathematics Competition last week, the Alexander City Middle School team, competing at the Algebra I level, placed first among the 17 schools in attendance.

In addition, ACMS student Jaion Kelly finished first out of all the 68 students competing.

“They’re amazing,” said Susan Green, who

Lake Martin

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The suspect in the shooting that claimed the life of a local high basketball star will receive a preliminary hearing in June.

On Monday, Judge Kim Taylor granted a motion filed on behalf of 18-year-old Anthony Davon Parker seeking a preliminary hearing on murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle charges.

Taylor’s order calls for a preliminary hearing on June 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the main courtroom at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse Annex in Alexander City.

Parker, a Benjamin Russell High School graduate who was on scholarship to play Parker football at the University of West Alabama, is charged with a March 28 incident that led to the death of 18-year-old Quentavious Arrion Reese.

Law enforcement officials allege that Parker was at a home off Robinson Road near Alexander City and was looking to purchase a .45 caliber handgun. Parker had been target shooting and Reese had been at the home, before leaving in a vehicle with a group of friends.

A short time later the vehicle carrying Reese returned down the road towards the home and a number of shots, allegedly fired

by Parker, were directed towards the vehicle.

One shot struck Reese in the head as he rode in the back seat of the vehicle.

Reese, a senior at Benjamin Russell High School who had been offered a basketball scholarship, was taken to Russell Medical, then flown the University of Alabama Birmingham Medical Center where he died on Wednesday, March 29.

Parker was charged with murder due to See PARKER • Page 3

ACMS Math Team wins algebra competition

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

See AUDITIONS • Page 3

Preliminary hearing set for murder suspect Parker due in court June 13 to hear evidence in Reese murder case

Auditions set for roles in ‘Our Town’ Auditions for the Alexander City Theatre II (ACT II) production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder are set for 6 p.m.

April 21 and 2 p.m. April 22-23.

Wilder won a Pulitzer Prize in 1938 for this minimalist play written in an attempt to find value for the smallest events of daily life.

SPORTS, PAGE 10 Horseshoe Bend welcomes new coach

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teaches pre-algebra and Algebra I to 8th graders at the middle school.

“I’m impressed how they perform so well in that environment.”

The Alexander City Middle School team consisted of Kai Riggins, Landon Daniel, and Valerie Tauro in addition to Kelly. During the first part of the competition, each student was given a standardized test of 30 questions, scoring five points for each correct answer. Following the standardized test, team See MATH • Page 3

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Ex-wife’s anger at friend’s betrayal spills over to daughter

Friday

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Staff

Directory Alethia Russell Staff Writer/Pagination, Ext. 210 alethia.russell@alexcityoutlook.com Donald Campbell Staff Writer, Ext. 208 donald.campbell@alexcityoutlook.com

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

Advertising Sales Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Emily Gregg Advertising Sales, Ext. 225 emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com Donna Jones Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 donna.jones@alexcityoutlook.com Scott Hardy Advertising Sales, Ext. 208 scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com Tabby Edwards Advertising Sales, Ext. 232 tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com Composing Darlene Johnson Composing Department, Ext. 203 darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com Hallie Holloway Composing Department, Ext. 203 hallie.holloway@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

Postal

Information (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) The Outlook is published five times a week, Tuesday through Saturday mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Post Office Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011.

How to Submit Obituaries

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, Kenneth Boone Photography and a commercial web printing press. © 2011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Reproduction of any part of any issue requires written publisher permission.

Obituaries can be submitted to The Outlook from funeral homes by e-mail at obits@alexcityoutlook.com or by fax at (256) 234-6550.

For more information, call (256) 234-4281.

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Thursday, April 20, 2017

The Outlook

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We Care About You

DEAR ABBY: My ex-husband had an affair with a woman who was one of my dearest friends.

My heart is broken; my marriage is over. I have lost my home and my friend. It has been a struggle for me to recover.

My daughter, with whom I am very close, continues to have a relationship with this woman.

While I know it’s not my place to tell her who to be friends with (she’s 22), I can’t help but feel betrayed.

My daughter is pregnant, and this woman seems to be attempting to play mother and push her way into every detail of my daughter’s pregnancy.

It’s extremely upsetting to me to have to share one more thing with her. She already took my home and husband; I would like to keep my daughter and grandbaby. What to do? -- THE REAL GRANDMA-TO-BE DEAR REAL GRANDMA: Although you cannot cut this woman completely out of your

DEAR ABBY Advice

life because she is now with your ex, calmly discuss this with your daughter. She may have reasons that you are unaware of for wanting to include the woman to the extent that she has.

DEAR ABBY: We need help with our dad. Many of his grandchildren participate in sports.

For some reason, he thinks it’s perfectly fine to sit in the stands surrounded by people he doesn’t know and loudly criticize the other players.

We talk to him before the games. We remind him that he’s sitting by these players’ parents and what he’s doing is not cool.

Some of the parents become

Mr. Jerry Lamar Brown 1941 - 2017 A visitation for Mr. Jerry Lamar Brown, 76, of Goodwater, will be Friday, April 21, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home.

Mr. Brown passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Russell Medical. He was born on March 27, 1941 in Hackneyville, Alabama to Thomas Joseph Brown and Mary Nell Brown. He was a member of Hackneyville Baptist Church. Mr. Brown was a charter member of the Alabama Hunter Education Association and the Lake Martin Quality Deer Management Association, and a member of the Alabama Treasure Forest and the Alabama Forestry Association.

Mr. Brown was a winner of the Helene Mosley award and the W. Kelley Mosley award. He was an International Hunter Education Instructor Hall of

Fame Inductee and a former Alabama Hunter Education Instructor of the Year. He was a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps and retired after 30 years of service. Mr. Brown enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and wildlife photography.

He is survived by his wife, Genelle Brown of Goodwater; sister, Linda Jean Anderson (Dale) of Alexander City; and brothers, Jimmy Ellis Brown of Alexander City and Tommy Joel Brown (Linda) of Clanton.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers the family request contributions may be made to the Hackneyville Baptist Church, 9149 Highway 63 N, Alexander City, AL 35010.

Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www. radneyfuneralhome.com.

Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

F

or more than 80 years, Social Security has helped secure today and tomorrow with information, tools, and resources to meet our customers’ changing needs and lifestyles.

In April, we celebrate National Social Security Month and encourage you to know your Social Security by exploring what you can do online at www. socialsecurity.gov. Social Security is collaborating with groups and organizations around the country to host numerous events and activities to raise awareness about our many valuable benefits, services, and programs.

What Social Security Offers Easy accessibility: www. socialsecurity.gov is available 24/7 with detailed information, publications, Frequently Asked Questions, and other resources for almost any circumstance. Whether you want to estimate the amount of your future Social Security benefits, replace a lost Social Security card, or apply for retirement, disability, or survivors benefits, www.socialsecurity.

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n Camp Hill Town Council meets the first and third Mondays of each month. Meetings are held in town hall at 6 p.m.

Bill’s Electric

n Community Action Agency of Chambers, Tallapoosa, Coosa will holds its regular board of directors meetings every other month at the Central Office in Dadeville.

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Mr. Jerry Mack Carden 1942 - 2017 Memorial Service for Mr. Jerry Mack Carden, 74, of Wadley, will be Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Daviston Methodist Church. Bro. Ray Dunn will officiate. The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 23, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at Daviston Methodist Church.

Mr. Carden passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at his residence. He was born on August 14, 1942 in Tallapoosa County, Alabama to Johnny Daniel Carden and Velma Bernice Carden. He was an active member of Daviston Methodist Church and enjoyed spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Annette B. Carden of Wadley; daughters, Stacy Waldrep (Tommy) of Roanoke, Donna Carden of Wadley, Rhonda Cotter (Bob) of Piper City, IL, and Tammy Hamlet (Joey) of Daviston; 6 grandsons; 2 great grandsons; 1 great granddaughter; 1 brother, 3 sisters.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers the family request contributions be made to the ST. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome.com.

Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

tems for this, conduct continuous reviews to help us ensure proper payments, and much more. And we work hard to educate everyone on best practices for protecting their Social Security number.

KYLLE’ We’re committed to safeguardMCKINNEY ing the information and resources Social Security entrusted to us. Are you looking gov is your reliable source for for secure access to your Social information to help you and your Security information? Visit www. loved ones. socialsecurity.gov/myaccount and Convenient services: Our conve- create your personal my Social nient and secure online services at Security account. www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineserJoin our efforts to promote vices put you in control. You can National Social Security Month. apply for Social Security benefits, Share our message: “Get to know check the status of your application your Social Security and see what or appeal, get an instant benefit ver- you can do online” by sharing our ification letter, verify your lifetime social media posts on Facebook earnings, block electronic access and Twitter. Or you can create your to your information, and so much own message expressing the sucmore — all without having to visit cess you’ve had with our many sera local office or calling to speak to vices and programs. We’re here for a representative. you, through life’s journey, at www.

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Public Meetings

n 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.

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DEAR ABBY: My niece was married by a justice of the peace in October. She and her husband are having a church wedding this summer. What would be the proper date to recognize on a gift? -- DONNA IN NORTH CAROLINA DEAR DONNA: If you are having the wedding gift engraved, you should ask your niece which date she and her husband would prefer.

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be banned from attending. If you won’t do it for the sake of the players and other parents, then do it for your father’s safety because one of these days, an irate parent or relative may punch his lights out.

Obituaries

n 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.

and Your Loved Ones!

quite emotional if things don’t go well and Dad doesn’t need to be doing this. Yet he continues.

Have you any ideas on getting Grandpa to keep his opinions to himself? We don’t want to ban him from games and treat him like a 5-year-old who can’t behave, since he is still able to travel to see us for these visits.

We try to sit away from others, but it’s not always possible. -EMBARRASSED IN HOUSTON DEAR EMBARRASSED: You already know the answer to your problem, and I do not understand why you haven’t taken action. Was your father always this way, or has he become demented? When an adult acts like a 5-year-old and behaves inappropriately after having been cautioned against it, there is cause for concern.

If he is unable to control his behavior at those games, instead of being allowed to ruin them for everyone within earshot, he should ABSOLUTELY

the Commissioners’ Board Room in the courthouse in Rockford. All meetings are open to the public. n Dadeville City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. with a premeeting at 5:30 p.m. in city hall. n Daviston City Council meets the third Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Daviston Fire Department. n Goldville Town Council meets the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the town hall. n Goodwater City Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month.

Meetings are held at the Caldwell Center at 6:30 p.m.

n Coosa County Board of Education n Jackson’s Gap Town Council meets the second Tuesday of each holds called meetings at least once month. Meetings are held in town a month. hall at 6:30 p.m., all Jackson’s Gap n Coosa County Commission meets citizens are encouraged to attend. on the second and fourth Tuesday n Kellyton Town Council meets on of each month. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month at in the Coosa County Courthouse in Rockford at 9:30 a.m. on the second 6:30 p.m. at the community center in Kellyton.

Tuesday and at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday. n New Site City Council meets the first and third Monday of the month n Coosa County Industrial Development Board will hold its reg- at 5 p.m. in the Conference Room in the Town Hall. ularly scheduled meeting the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in

n 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. n Rockford Town Council meets the second Tuesday of each month.

Meetings are held in town hall at 7 p.m. n 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. n 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. n Tallapoosa County 911 Board will meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the 911 Administrative office at 240 West Columbus Street, Dadeville. Call 825-8490 for more information. n Walnut Hill Water Authority meets the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited.

Call 825-9841 to inquire about the agenda.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Page 3

www.alexcityoutlook.com

The Outlook

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Countdown to College event draws hundreds to learn about higher education Above, representatives from Jacksonville State University and Central Alabama Community College were among the many institutions that came out to the area’s Countdown To College informational event Wednesday at Benjamin Russell High School. Hosted by Potential Magazie, the event was aiming to educate students and parents about college admissions and funding opportunities.

Parker

continued from page 1

the fact that allegedly he “recklessly engaged in illegal conduct which created a grave risk of death and caused the death of another person,” police officials said.

Court records show that Parker was arrested and released on March 31 after posting a $250,000 bond that was secured by property.

A preliminary hearing which is often referred to as an evidentiary

hearing or probable cause hearing, is a proceeding, where prosecutors present evidence so that a judge can determine if a crime has actually been committed and if the case should be presented to a grand jury for possible indictment.

Court records show that Parker is represented by Birmingham attorney Emory Anthony Jr.

Church

continued from page 1

members who had moved to Texas started their own church in their new town. This church, First Baptist Church of Jarrell, moved from its founding location in Corn Hill, Texas to Jarrell in the early 20th Century, according to the Williamson County (TX) Historical Commission.

The church history also detailed how construction on the current building began in 1912, with additional sections added during the 1940s and 1950s, while a pastorium was built in 1955 and renovated in 1973.

Throughout its 175 years of existence, Daviston Baptist has been actively involved in the community, and has also worked to serve others outside Alabama.

“We have a strong youth program on Wednesday nights. They do a lot of

community mission work, like visiting shut-ins and helping them around the house,” Jones said. Recently, a group of youth and adults returned from a mission trip to Kentucky, where they helped lead a church service on Sunday and worked in the community throughout the rest of the week.

Sunday’s service is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. with special singers The Dyes. From 11 a.m. until noon, Larry Cummings will be the special speaker, while former pastors of the church will be recognized and allowed to say a few words if they so desire and a representative from the Alabama Baptist Association would be on hand to present the church with a certificate commemorating the anniversary. A lunch will follow the service.

“Everyone is welcome,” Dye said.

Math members engaged in a ciphering competition.

During this event, each student is given three problems, and given a certain amount of time to answer each one. The quicker they reach the correct answer, the more points they score, Green explained. Team scores are based on the combined scores from both the standardized test and ciphering for all four members.

What makes their win even more impressive is which schools Alexander City Middle School was competing against.

“We were the only middle school there this year,” Green said.

At the Algebra I level, their competitors included Beauregard High, Cleburne County High and Pell City High.

“It’s impressive, beating all the high school teams. Some of the students from other high schools were in disbelief that they had lost to middle schoolers,” Green said.

Before the competition, Green looks at her students’ grades, and selects her team from the top four students in her class. This method, along with practicing a few times before making the trip to Wadley has proven effective on the day of the competition.

Audition

continued from page 1

“The story indicates how important life is and is something any age group can see. It’s not a comedy or a tragedy, but you don’t have to clean up the language for it to be family friendly,” said Patti Smith, who will direct ACT II’s summer event, which will be part of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Sun Festival celebration.

The play offers acting roles for more than 20, including three boys and one girl around 11 years old; at least two high school-aged performers; and between 13 and 18 other positions for adults of varied ages. There are also about three one-liner roles that Smith said might be played on a rotating basis by people within the community.

Scripts for the play can be reviewed at Radney Elementary School, Benjamin Russell High School, The Coffee Corner, the Central Alabama Community College Media Center and the Adelia M. Russell Library in Alexander City. All scripts are to stay on premises and cannot be checked out

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 26th • Horseshoe Bend - May 24th Central High School Coosa County - May 30th

continued from page 1

“In the five years since we’ve started going to this competition, we’ve come in first twice, second twice and third once. We’ve had individual winners each year except for the year we finished third,” Green explained.

Even though the exact final scores would not be known for another week or so, and the top teams all usually finish fairly close to each other, Green was most

proud of this year’s team.

Next year, a different group of Alexander City Middle School students will be selected to comprise the math team and take on various high schools at the SUSCC Mathematics Competition. If the past few years is any indication, however, they will be no less talented, and have just as much of a chance to come out on top.

for home reading.

The stage is purposefully left bare in this play because Wilder said the meaning of the play couldn’t be felt if distracted by a full set and ornate costumes and decorations. In his play, Wilder attempted to put the lives of one or two individuals against the backdrop of the galaxy and all the different cultures and millions of lives lived.

The production will be performed at The Arbor at First United Methodist Church on Green Street, with evening shows July 14, 15 and 20 and matinees the following weekend, July 22 and 23.

“We wanted it to run two weekends in case someone was out of town or heard by word of mouth that someone else had enjoyed it. We wanted to give viewers another opportunity,” said Smith.

For information about the auditions, contact Smith at pattinsmith@charter. net.

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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You Made It! 2x4 Grad Tribute Ad:

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Horseshoe Bend High School

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Payment, photos and message must be turned in by Thursday, May 18th.

256-234-4281 • donna.jones@alexcityoutlook.com 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010

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editor@alexcityoutlook.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Steve Baker Mitch Sneed

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Page 4

Our

View

Water Festival teaches students a valuable lesson

W

ednesday and again today, local fourth-graders were treated to a day in the outdoors complete with valuable lessons on conservation, preservation and the importance of water in our world.

The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership worked with other groups to coordinate the Fifth Annual Tallapoosa County Water Festival. Judging from the smiles on the faces of the students the event was a success.

The students attending the two-day water festival experience a wide variety of fun yet educational activities.

They made a bracelet to learn about the water cycle, took part in a scavenger hunt to demonstrate the impact littering has on the environment and caught fish from Lake Martin which showcases the many different kinds of fish that reside in the local ecosystem.

“We are trying to make sure our children learn how valuable water is and how important water quality is. We hope these lessons stay with them, but we also hope they’ll share them to raise awareness about these issues,” said Sabrina Wood of the Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership said. “Our area is so unique because we have both the Tallapoosa River and Lake Martin right here. We’re blessed to have them. For future generations to be able to enjoy Lake Martin, we have to do our part now.”

Around 400 students were slated to participate with the help of about 60 volunteers working to make the event happen.

We’ve said before, but it needs to be said again, that in this region we must be aware of how lucky we are to live where water is plentiful and clean. We do tend to take for granted that what comes out when we turn the tap is potable and spews forth with great volume and force.

We revel in our fortune and seem to think it is a God given right to perform our daily ablutions with seemingly unlimited gallons of water available here. We shouldn’t forget there are places on the planet where a handful of pond scum is treated with reverence.

We are thankful we have dedicated folks helping raise awareness to area children while they are at a young and impressionable age.

Great job on the Tallapoosa County Water Festival. Your dedication is appreciated.

Know Your

Officials

Jim Nabors is mayor of Alexander City. His phone number at city hall is 256-329-6730 and his home number is 256329-1320 His address at city hall is 4 Court Square; Alexander City, AL, 35010. His home address is 1695 Magnolia Street Alexander City, AL, 35010.

Jim Nabors

Bobby Tapley represents District 1. His phone number is 256392-0344. His address is 1821 LaVista Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Public Safety committee.

Bobby Tapley

Buffy Colvin represents District 2. Her phone number is 256-750-0663.

Her address is 786 I Street, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Buildings and Property committee.

Buffy Colvin

Scott Hardy represents District 3. His phone number is 256-4962450. His address is 549 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Parks and Recreation committee.

Scott Hardy

Eric Brown represents District 4. His phone number is 256-3972011. His address is 1421 Parrish Drive, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of the Public Works committee.

O

n a cold February afternoon in 1979, I drove the five miles from my high school to WSSA, a 5000-watt radio station located south of Atlanta.

After interning for a month, I was about to sit behind the microphone for my first onair shift. I would be working “afternoon drive,” meaning I would be the disc jockey bringing people home from their jobs.

The format was country music. Because we were a small station, I would be my own producer. To me, this was the big time and I was 16 years old.

I had the plan in my head.

I would begin my show with Kenny Rogers singing “The Gambler” then seamlessly segue to Emmylou Harris singing “Two More Bottles of Wine.”

I had all my friends and family tuning in to listen to my debut. I was about to be a star.

Let me pause the story to give you a lesson in how radio worked in the late 70s. We played 45 rpm records. As the DJ, I would choose the record and put it on the turntable. I would then turn the volume pod that controlled that turntable all the way to the left until it clicked. That would put the sound only in the studio and not on the air.

DJ chair bringing music to Atlanta.

Suddenly all the lights lit up on the phone lines in the booth.

I thought, “People must RAY WATERS love this.” Every line was Columnist ringing and I’d only been on Then I would put the needle the air a few minutes. The on the record and turn the callers all said the same thing, record with my hand until I “There’s no music on my heard the first sound comradio.” ing through the “studio only” Then it hit me. I had never speaker. I would then spin the turned the volume pod from record by hand back ½ a turn. the queued position to the Next, I would take the broadcast position. volume pod out of the queue I was playing my Kenny position and turn it up. When I Rogers song only to me, not to was ready for the song to play, all of Atlanta. I quickly turned I would push the button that the pod to its proper position. started the turntable and all of Music was finally playing Atlanta would hear my song. I across the airwaves like it was hope you got that. It’s imporsupposed to. Humiliated, I tant for the rest of my story. played song after song without So at 3 p.m. I began my comment. It was not the start I first show. had dreamed of.

“This is Ray Waters, and My first radio day taught I’m ready to take you home me a few valuable lessons.

Atlanta. We’ve got some Almost no one is great at great music lined up for you anything on their first day. this afternoon like the Statler You can get better if you learn Brothers, Dolly Parton, from your mistakes.

Ronnie Milsap, Crystal Gayle, I don’t think I ever forgot to Willie and Waylon and a turn the volume pod up again. whole lot more. Let’s get this And finally I learned that hour started with the sweet music is a wonderful thing, if sounds of Kenny Rogers sing- the people it’s intended for can ing “The Gambler.” actually hear it.

I hit the switch and the music began. It was beautiRay Waters is a minister, ful. I was a professional radio a motivational speaker and announcer. I was only a teen- a regular columnist for The ager but I was sitting in the Outlook.

Tim Funderburk

Quote

“He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.”

– Thomas Carlyle

Today’s

Scripture

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anywho who loves is a child of God and knows God.” – 1 John 4:7

alexcityoutlook.com

Daily Poll Wednesday Question: Do you believe our elected officials are doing enough to avoid conflicts of interest?

No – 19 Yes – 7

Thursday Question: Have you ever been in or been to see a stage play?

Our

Mission

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.

Adopting children and protecting religious liberty

I

n 2014, there were around 400,000 children in the foster care system in America.

Ten percent of those children had been in the system for more than five years. At a time when so many foster children need stable “forever homes,” it is imperative the state of Alabama allow faith-based adoption agencies to do their work unhindered by legal obstruction.

In the state of Massachusetts, the Catholic Charities of Boston had for more than one hundred years been a vital link between foster children and permanent families. Unfortunately, beginning in 2003, the state of Massachusetts began to require all private adoption agencies to adopt a policy of non-discrimination that included same-sex couples.

What did that mean in practice? Well, private adoption agencies like the Catholic Charities of Boston were forced to either abandon their beliefs or close. If a private adoption agency refused to place children with same-sex couples, the state would revoke its state license.

As Ryan Anderson and Sarah Torre document in “Adoption, Foster Care, and

child-placing agencies because the agency declines to provide a child placement which conflicts with the religious beliefs of the provider.

CLYDE Keep in mind that 70 perCHAMBLISS cent of all placements are made Guest by the Department of Human Columnist Resources, and by court ruling, Conscience Protection,” the state agencies cannot discrimiCharity was forced to shutter nate. However, a private, faithits ministry, rather than abanbased adoption agency should don the Christian teaching on not be forced, at the risk of losmarriage and the family. ing its government license, to Media elites in Hollywood place children in situations that and academia are often bent on are not consistent with their attacking traditional Christian religious convictions. values as bigoted. Somehow, There are so many children the contention that children fare who are yearning for good best with a mother and father is homes. backwards and hateful.

Given that close to 30 perThere is a coordinated effort cent of adoptions in Alabama to attack the religious liberties are facilitated through faithof Christians (and all othbased agencies, we need to ers who hold to mainstream encourage even more faithviews on the family) in the based ministries to open their marketplace. But the First hearts and hands to foster chilAmendment guarantees the dren and guard against petty right to the free exercise of reli- bureaucratic attempts to squash gion, and that right extends to the good work done by faithfaith-based adoption agencies. based adoption agencies across Thankfully, the Alabama Alabama.

Senate has taken a commonsense step to protect the reliClyde Chambliss repregious freedoms of adoption sents all or parts of Autauga, agency workers. We passed the Elmore, Chilton, Coosa, and Child Placing Inclusion Act, Tallapoosa Counties in the which forbids state agencies Alabama Senate. from discriminating against

Reader: Thankful for Russell Medical

Tommy Spraggins

Today’s

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.

Letters to the Editor

Tim Funderburk represents District 6.

His phone number is 256-825-2993. His address is 1431 River Oaks, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of Utilities committee.

Lessons learned from mistakes prove valuable

Eric Brown

Tommy Spraggins represents District 5.

His phone number is 256-234-3609. His address is 1539 College Street, Alexander City, AL 35010. Chairman of Finance committee.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Dear Editor, On March 21, Dr. Paul Goldhagen performed a total hip replacement on my right hip. This was done after the arthritic pain had become almost debilitating.

Dr. Goldhagen replaced my hip using the anterior approach technique. This was made possible because RMC had invested in a special surgical table known as the HANA

table. This anterior procedure allows the surgeon to separate the muscles and work between them rather than cutting and reattaching them.

My recovery was nothing short of miraculous. Physical therapy had me up and taking a short walk within four hours of surgery. The staff at Dr. Goldhagen’s office and RMC were very professional as well as friendly in all of my

encounters and the physical therapy staff. They didn’t make surgery fun but it was far better than it could have been. Many thanks for all the smiles and encouragement. We are very fortunate to have progressive physicians and a facility such as RMC in our community.

Joel Graham Alexander City

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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.

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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) 2346550 or e-mailed to editor@alexcityoutlook.com. Please include your name, address and phone number.

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Page 5

Caldwell officially enshrined in to GSU Athletic Hall of Fame average was the fifth best in program history while she used her speed on the base-paths to Dadeville’s Brownie Vaughn record 13 triples, fourth-most in Caldwell is now officially a hall a career in program history. She also set a school record with of famer.

21 steals in a season and then Caldwell was inducted into the Georgia State Athletics Hall broke that mark a year later of Fame along with nine others with 37.

Caldwell was equally impresas part on the Class of 2016. sive on the basketball court, The enshrinement took place standing 15th on the all-time Tuesday night in Atlanta at scoring list with 1,148 point, Georgia State’s annual Studentfourth in assists with 477 and Athlete Banquet. Caldwell and second with 247 career steals. the other inductees received She played in 110 games, their plaques and saw their making 100 starts, leading the names added to the Wall of team in assists all four years Fame in the GSU Sports Arena. of college.

She stands eighth Caldwell was one of the finest female prep athletes to come on Georgia State’s all-time list out of Clayton County, Georgia, with 277 made free throws and having been a four-sport star at 12th in career field goal percentage (72.0).

North Clayton High School.

The class includes two She went to Georgia State coaches, three male studentnear the start of the school’s athletes, four female studentsoftball program, playing for athletes and a husband-wife duo the Panthers from 1986 to 1989 who has contributed greatly to and establishing several major the success of Georgia State. records during her career.

Other inductees were: She was a three-time allconference selection and earned Terrance Brandon, Jenn Feenstra, Mike Hurst, Andrew TAAC MVP honors in 1988 Letherby, Bradley Logan, on a team that went 42-20.

Lisbeth Meincke, Scottie Her .353 single-season batting STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

O’Neill, Evita Rogers and contributors Mac and Brenda Williams.

The Hall of Fame Election Committee was appointed in the spring of 2015 with the task of creating guidelines for nomination and selection. This same group decided the inaugural class last year.

Nearly 100 nominees are now on the ballot for inductions into the Georgia State Athletics Hall of Fame. Georgia State started competing at the NCAA Division I level for the 1963-64 season, however, limited teams existed prior to that season.

Among the criteria for inclusion in the Georgia State Athletics Hall of Fame is a fiveyear window once a studentathlete exhausts their eligibility and a college degree. Coaches and administrators must be removed from their position for a minimum of two years.

Caldwell has taught in Georgia, Auburn and coached at Edward Bell and Dadeville.

She now coaches middle school basketball, having taken a step back to watch her youngest daughter Addie play. Her son

Submitted / The Outlook

Left, Dadeville’s Brownie Vaughn Caldwell received her Georgia State Athletics Hall of Fame Award from Georgia State Director of Athletics Charlie Cobb Tuesday night in Atlanta.

Kyle played multiple sports at Dadeville and was an AllAmerican quarterback at West Alabama before coming back home to coach. Brownie’s oldest daughter Jodie is in her second year on the softball team

Abercrombie joins Walton Law Firm

Alabama’s high courts uphold Moore’s suspension

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff Alexander City native Kisha Abercrombie has joined Auburn-based Walton Law Firm and will serve as the firm’s newest associate attorney. Abercrombie comes to Walton Law Firm after serving as Chief Assistant District Attorney for Lee County from 2011 until her resignation earlier this year.

“We are delighted to welcome Kisha Abercrombie to the Walton Law team,” says Trip Walton, president and founder of Walton Law Firm.

“Her extensive background with the District Attorney’s office and her commitment Abercrombie to each case will make Kisha an invaluable asset to our clients.”

Abercrombie specializes in all felonies, from minor felonies such as drug and property crimes to major felonies such as sexual assault, robbery and murder, in Chambers, Lee, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa counties and surrounding areas. Before joining Walton Law Firm, Abercrombie worked as a career prosecutor for 14 years and tried almost 100 jury trials, including several high-profile cases.

Throughout her career, Abercrombie also served as assistant district attorney in the 5th Circuit, which includes Chambers, Macon, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties, and Assistant District Attorney for the 37th Judicial Circuit in Lee County where she prosecuted numerous felony jury trials in addition to District Court misdemeanors and traffic cases.

“I was drawn to Walton Law Firm because of my respect for Mr. Walton and the staff he employs,” Abercrombie says. “I have successfully prosecuted many difficult cases in the past and am honored to continue my work with such an esteemed team.”

Abercrombie holds a Juris Doctor from Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Jurisprudence from Auburn University Montgomery. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar and the Lee County Bar Association.

Lamberth inducted into UA honor societies Rose Lamberth of Alexander City was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, the Mortar Board honor society and Blue Key Honor Society during the Tapping on the Mound ceremony April 7 at The University of Alabama.

The Omicron Delta Kappa Society is the national leadership honor society for college students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni that recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character. Membership in ODK is a mark of the highest distinction and honor.

Mortar Board is the premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for superior achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. The University of Alabama’s Hypatia Chapter is one of the oldest chapters in the nation.

Blue Key Honor Society is a premier honor society that recognizes college students for balanced and all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership and service.

The University of Alabama, the state’s oldest and largest public institution of higher education, is a student-centered research university that draws the best and brightest to an academic community committed to providing a premier undergraduate and graduate education. UA is dedicated to achieving excellence in scholarship, collaboration and intellectual engagement; providing public outreach and service to the state of Alabama and the nation; and nurturing a campus environment that fosters collegiality, respect and inclusivity.

at Central Alabama Community College.

Her husband David is a coach at Horseshoe Bend and Brownie now serves as a member of the Dadeville City Council.

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Carmen Rodgers / The Outlook

Cleanup began on the Eastside mill last week. These machines and dump trucks are a welcomed site for many. The mill that once housed over 200,000 spindles has been a shell of a building since the May 3 fire that gutted the structure.

Cleanup begins on Eastside mill site

By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Cleanup began on the Eastside mill last week.

The machines and dump trucks on the site are a welcomed site for many. The mill that once housed over 200,000 spindles has been a shell of a building since the May 3 fire that gutted the structure.

Tommy Hudson, owner of the mill, explained his intentions for the mill back in February. He said he would have machines on the ground to begin cleaning up the site in March. This week, those machines began working.

It was announced at Monday’s city council meeting that Hudson plans to sell some of the remaining bricks to the public in an effort to offset the cost of cleanup. However,

no details on purchasing these bricks have been released.

There is still little known about the future of the mill site. According to Hudson, he is listening to the ideas of Tallassee residents.

“We have spoken with people here about various possibilities, but nothing has been decided yet,” Hudson said.

Some of the ideas tossed around include a park or recreation area. There is also a possibility of opening the old bridge, which sits adjacent to the mill, for a walking trail.

Lastly, there has been a rumor of a possible retirement community.

While the future of the east Tallassee mill site remains uncertain, a plan to clear the mill site is in place and work has officially begun to remove the remaining debris.

Ongoing Events GRIEF SHARE: There will be a meeting of Grief Share every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Trinity Campus of First United Methodist Church next door to Russell Medical through June 7.

RECYCLING: The Alexander City Recycling Facility is located at the Public Works Department at 824 Railey Road. All materials should be dropped off behind the green storage shed on the Public Works lot. The facility is always open for unassisted drop off. Assistance with drop off is available between 7 a.m until 3:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Please call 256-4092020 for more information.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP: Every second and fourth Sunday at 5 p.m. the Trinity campus of First United Methodist Church will be a caregiver support group. Call 256-786-1685 for more information.

TOPS MEETING: Take Off Pounds Sensibly is the short name for TOPS Club, Inc., the original nonprofit, noncommercial network of weight-loss support groups throughout the U.S. and Canada. TOPS offers tools

and programs for healthy living and weight management, with exceptional group fellowship and recognition. Established in 1948 to champion weight-loss support and success, we’ve helped millions of people live healthier lives. Come out and visit us. Your first meeting is free. Meetings are held every Thursday @ 6 p.m. at Comer Baptist Church, 341 E. Church St., Alexander City, AL. Call (256) 496-4210 for more information.

WOMEN’S MEETING: Victory Temple Holiness Church in Dadeville is hosting a women’s meeting the first Sunday of every month.

Men are invited too.

AWANA: Wayside Baptist Church hosts Awana Sundays from 4:40 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for ages three to high school. For more information contact George Gardin, student minister, at 864-580-0343.

VOLUNTEER: Southern Care Hospice is seeking volunteers. Please call Lizz Gillenwaters at 256-2341134 or 256-749-3717 for more information.

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore lost his effort to regain his job on Wednesday as the Alabama Supreme Court upheld his suspension for urging defiance of federal rulings allowing gays and lesbians to marry.

The fiery jurist lashed out at Wednesday’s decision, saying he considers his lengthy suspension to be both illegal and a “clear disregard of the will of the people who elected me chief justice.”

“I have done my duty under the laws of this state to uphold the sanctity of marriage and the undeniable truth of God-ordained marriage of one man and one woman. Mere human judges have no authority to say otherwise,” Moore told the Associated Press.

Moore did not discount a potential run for another political office. When asked if he will add his name to the list of Republicans running for governor in 2018, or U.S. Senate this year, he said he will announce his plans for the future next week after discussions with his family.

Moore is the third Republican politician in Alabama to be removed from his duties during a season of scandal in Alabama. The state’s House speaker was convicted of ethics charges last year. Gov. Robert Bentley resigned last week amid an effort to impeach him after the fallout from an alleged affair.

The Alabama Court of the Judiciary, the state panel that disciplines judges, handed down the punishment against Moore in September, saying he violated judicial ethics by urging judges to defy clearly established law as well as a direct federal court order.

The charges against Moore centered on a memo he sent state probate judges on Jan. 6, 2016, six months after the highest court in the nation ruled that gays and lesbians have a fundamental right to marry.

Moore said in the memo that a 2015 Alabama Supreme Court order to refuse marriage licenses to gay couples remained in “full force and effect.”

Alabama’s probate judges at the time were under a federal judge’s order to stop enforcing the state’s gay-marriage ban following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Rep. Ed Henry announces bid for Senate seat Rep. Ed Henry (R-Hartselle) declared on Tuesday that he intends to run for Alabama’s contested U.S. Senate seat in the upcoming special election. Originally scheduled by former Gov. Robert Bentley (R) to take place in 2018, Gov. Kay Ivey (R) moved the election up to this December in compliance with state law.

Henry led impeachment efforts against Bentley in Montgomery from the very beginning of the former governor’s scandals. He, along with Craig Ford (D-Gadsden), introduced the original articles of impeachment that alleged that Bentley was neglectful, corrupt, and incompetent.

While many backed down in their pursuit to hold Bentley accountable, Henry never backed down and constantly remained on the forefront of impeachment efforts. However, as a devout Christian, Henry has longed hoped that the governor will find reconciliation with God and his family.

“I don’t know about draining the swamp, but I have found out that if you throw some dynamite in the swamp, the bottom-dwellers tend to float bellyup,” Henry said.

However, he said he’s not getting into this race to make friends; especially with new campaign rival Sen. Luther Strange (R). In Henry’s eyes, Strange is not capable of helping President Trump drain the swamp, as he is a political lobbyist at heart.

Before resigning as part of a plea deal, Bentley appointed then-state Attorney General Luther Strange to fill the Senate seat vacated by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions (R). Strange has also declared his intention to run to keep his new seat.

Page 6

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Thursday, April 20, 2017

The Outlook

of Central Alabama April from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be a demonstration and practice on weaving an old watercolor into another and general painting.

Today’s Anniversaries

Linda and Ronald Fuller, Bernice and George Harris and Christopher

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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/. and Keneshia Jones are celebrating their anniversaries.

Today’s Birthdays

Jeffery L. Baker, Barry Holt, Myron Oliver, Ema Meigs, Jasmine Pemberton, Shelia Mims, Jason Hardy and Scott Durden are celebrating their birthdays.

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

256.234.3481

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Alexander City Police and Fire Department personnel responded to a single-car accident on Highway 63 near Cabin Road Wednesday. The accident is still under investigation, but one person received non-life threatening injuries and as of Wednesday afternoon, no charges had been filed in the accident.

April 21

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

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OUR TOWN AUDITIONS: Auditions for the ACT II production of Thornton Wilder’s play, “Our Town,” will be held at 6 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center, 264 Tallapoosa St., Alex City.

See April 22 and 23 for additional audition times.

GOSPEL SINGING: The Hyssongs will be at Bay Pine Baptist Church Friday, April 21 at 7 p.m.

CHURCH SINGING: The Perry’s will be at the Family Worship Center at 1676 Sewell St. at 7 p.m.

April 22

OUR TOWN AUDITIONS: Auditions for the ACT II production of Thornton Wilder’s play, “Our Town,” will be held at 2 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center, 264 Tallapoosa St., Alex City.

SPORTING CLAY SHOOT: The Oak’s in Lafayette is hosting a sporting clay shoot, turkey shoot, live auction, gun raffle, long shot booth, guess the load contest and concessions April 22 with registration at 7:30 a.m. The proceeds go to the Children’s Hospital in Birmingham under the Log a Load for Kids program.

NJROTC FUNDRAISER: The Benjamin Russell Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) will be washing cars at Advanced Auto Part’s parking lot (west side of HWY 280) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2017.

The BRHS NJROTC cadets will be accepting donations for their carwashing services in order to raise funding to send selected cadets to NJROTC Basic Leadership Training summer camp located at Camp Shelby, Mississippi in June. Please support your BRHS NJROTC Unit by swinging through and getting your car washed for this worthy cause. Look for the cadets waiving flags and guiding you into the parking lot! Visit the unit website photo gallery at brhsnavyjrotc.weebly.com to see photos of the cadets in action.

AUTISM WALK: Join us in supporting Autism awareness and having fun doing it. The Alexander City Autism Walk will be April 22 at Alexander City Middle School (359 State St., Alexander City, Al 35010).

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

A $30 donation covers registration with a T-shirt included and proceeds going to raise money for Autism research. The walk begins at 9 a.m. and is free for all. There will be a bouncy house, games, snow cones, train rides and a few special guests.

ANNIVERSARY: The Faithful Few will have an anniversary at New Cannan Baptist Church on Highway 50 in Camp Hill April 22 at 5:30 p.m.

PRAISE SERVICE: Hatchett Springs Baptist Church in Goodwater is hosting an evening of praise honoring musicians and choirs of Hatchett Springs Saturday, April 22 at 4 p.m. The guest speaker is Minister Darnell Thomas of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Moody.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT: The Bibb Graves High School Alumni and Friends in Millerville will have a Family Game Night with bingo Saturday, April 22 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be hot dogs, pizza, chips and soft drinks.

SCHOOL REUNION: The New Site School Reunion will be Saturday, April 22 at the Horseshoe Bend School. It starts at 10 a.m. with a covered dish lunch at noon.

All former students and teachers are invited. It is hosted by the Class of 1967.

April 23

OUR TOWN AUDITIONS: Auditions for the ACT II production of Thornton Wilder’s play, “Our Town,” will be held at 2 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center, 264 Tallapoosa St., Alex City.

CHURCH SINGING: Cavalry Heights in Alexander City is hosting the Kempters April 23 at 6 p.m. A love offering will be taken.

PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY: Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church is celebrating the 4th Pastoral Anniversary of Rev. and Sister Melvin C.Kelley Jr. Aunday April 23 at 2 p.m. The guest minister is Rev. Terry L. Magby of New Mount Sellers Missionary Baptist Church of Lafayette.

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY: The Joymasters will perform at 10 a.m. to help celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Family Worship Center at 1676 Sewell Street. Dinner will follow and Tony Harris is the pastor.

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY: The Word Bible Church at 161 Main Street is celebrating its 15th anniversary Sunday, April 23 at 2:30 p.m.

The guest speaker will be Pastor Eddie Marbury of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Dadeville.

The pastor is Apostle Wayne and Min. Brenda Davis.

April 22-30

COMMUNITY THEATRE: The Sylacauga Community Playhouse will present “The Miracle Worker” April 21 at 6:30 p.m., April 22 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., April 23 at 2 p.m., April 28 at 6:30 p.m. April 29 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and April 30 at 2. p.m. at the B.B. Comer High School Auditorium. Cost is $15 in advance and $18 at the door. For more information call 256-369-3003.

April 26-30

FAIR: The Alexander City Kiwanis Club is hosting a fair at the Sportplex April 26-30.

April 27-29, May 4-7, May 11-13

LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS: The Wetumpka Depot Players are presenting ‘Last of the Red Hot Lovers” April 27-29,May 4-7 and May 11-13. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. The May 7 show will start at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $12 in advance at wetumpkadepot.com or email at kmeanor@wtumpkadepot.com and $15 at the door.

April 29

5K RUN: The 5K Spring Sprint benefitting the Central Alabama Community College Ambassador Scholarship Program and Community Service activities will be April 29 at 7:45 a.m at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park with registration at 7:15 a.m. The registration deadline is April 14 and registration fee is $25.

For more information contact CACC at 256-215-4415 or email hhamby@cacc.edu.

PASTOR ANNIVERSARY: The 50th anniversary for Pastor Ida Ruth Meadows will be Saturday, April 29 at 2 p.m. at the Dadeville Recreation Center. The speaker will be Apostle Alton Burris from Fitzgerald, Georgia.

MULE DAY: The Weogufka Center is hosting its annual Mule Day Saturday, April 29 starting at 6:30 a.m. A sausage biscuit breakfast is available from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Events and activities include plowing demonstrations, buggy rides, trail rides, antique car and truck show, The Train Man Mr. Robert Pearson, vendors, the history room, concessions, camper sites, and more.

Vendor booths are available for $20 each.

For more information call Melvin Palmer at 256-249-8886 or Bobby Ezekiel at 256-626-2556 or visit www.weogufkacenter.org or the Facebook page Wegufka Center.

DRUG TAKE BACK: There will be a drug take back event at Walgreens of Alexander City Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Prescription and over the counter drugs are eligible. Law enforcement officials will be on hand to accept medications.

May 6

CAR WASH: The Pine Ridge Mission Team will have a car wash at Arby’s on Saturday, May 6 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The proceeds will help get our team to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and provide VBS and community outreach to the residents of Wounded Knee, South Dakota.

BENEFIT: Mt. Lovely Baptist Church is hosting a benefit program for Edward Lee and Diane Carraker May 6 at 6 p.m. Rev. Bernard Harris is pastor.

May 7

USHER PROGRAM: The Early Rose District Usher’s Special Effort Program will be May 7 at 2:30 p.m. at the Early Rose District Center.

Rev. Develkio A. Wilson is the guest speaker.

All churches are invited.

May 13

BASS BASH: The Tallapoosa Bass Bash will be May 13 starting at 6 a.m. on the Tallapoosa River. to benefit the Opelika/Auburn chapter of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. Prizes will be awarded for best three fish length in conventional and fly rod divisions.

MUSIC FESTIVAL: The Ashland Fun Days Music Festival will be My 13 from noon to 8 p.m. The festival will feature local artists including Terry Robbins, Kevin Moon, Argie Darnell, Rocky the Sax Player with Barry Butler, Tony Jones, Big Sexy and the Twins, Bryan Carter and Friends, Tommy Sellers and more.

Party with Rebel will be headlining the event. There will also be craft vendors and activities for all ages.

May 14

SOLIDARITY DAY: New Adka Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a solidarity day May 14 at 11 a.m. Edward Milner is pastor and all churches are invited.

May 18

ARTS ASSOCIATION: The Artists Association of Central Alabama will travel to the Birmingham Museum May 18. There will be a car pool by meeting at the Sportplex Senior Center at 8 a.m.

haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

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May 20

COMMUNITY PRAYER: The Darian Missionary Baptist Church family and prayer team are offering prayer to the community May 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot on the corner of Laurel and E streets across from Stephens School.

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The Outlook

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Water

continued from page 1

has been a great location to have it at.”

The students attending the water festival had the chance to take part in a wide variety of fun yet educational activities.

These include making a bracelet to learn about the water cycle, a scavenger hunt to demonstrate the impact littering has on the environment, and catching fish from Lake Martin which showcases the many different kinds of fish that reside in the local ecosystem.

“We are trying to make sure our children learn how valuable water is and how important water quality is. We hope these lessons stay with them, but we also hope they’ll share them to raise awareness about these issues,” Wood said.

Wood wants to help educate students now so that the rivers and lakes can be taken care for generations to come.

“Around 200 students take part in this festival each day, along with approximately 60 volunteers to make sure it goes well, Wood explained.

“The first year we did this, I was amazed at the number of students who hadn’t been to Lake Martin before,” she said.

This made her realize that having the event at Wind Creek each year was such a good idea.

Overall, “We’ve gotten a great response from everyone. The students love it, it’s a break from the normal day-to-day classroom routine for them. The teachers feel it’s good to get the students out of the classroom and have some hands-on learning,” Wood said.

Today, fourth-graders from Stephens Elementary School in Alexander City will be visiting Wind Creek for the festival.

WATER FESTIVAL County students enjoy outdoor learning excursion at Wind Creek State Park

Clockwise from top left, volunteer Annette Spivey puts soda in a float to help build an edible aquafier at Wednesday’s Tallapoosa County Water Festival at Wind Creek State Park.

Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Doug Darr shows students from Dadeville Elementary School a war dog.

Lovell of the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries show Tallapoosa County students the boat the department uses to catch fish to measure and check on fish populations. Fourth graders from Horseshoe Bend touch a carp.

Page 9

LIZI ARBOGAST SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228

sports@alexcityoutlook.com

Page 10

Thursday, April 20, 2017

www.alexcityoutlook.com

JOE MCADORY Sports Columnist

Iron Bowl isn’t most important game this year B

elieve it or not, Georgia is Auburn’s most important game this fall.

Is it crazy to proclaim anyone other than Alabama as Auburn’s most important football game this fall?

Call me crazy then.

With the addition of quarterback Jarrett Stidham, some believe Auburn has a chance to contend. But if Auburn can’t clear its annual hurdle with the Georgia Bulldogs on Nov. 11, SEC dreams might already be dashed before the Crimson Tide visit on Nov. 25.

So there it is … Georgia is Auburn’s most important game this fall. Maybe not in folks’ hearts, and maybe not the “biggest” game, but it’s most important for the direction of the season. The Bulldogs have owned the series since 2006 and the Tigers are in dire need of turning the momentum. Beating what should be a loaded Bulldog team could set the Tigers up for an SEC West title game against the Tide, which, only then, would be Auburn’s most important game of the season.

If Alabama isn’t Auburn’s most important game, then who is Alabama’s?

Auburn? Strong argument for both sides, of course. But I’m going to spurn the Iron Bowl again and make the case for Florida State as Alabama’s most important game. Alabama opens the season with the Seminoles on Sept. 2 in what some believe could be a playoff preview in Atlanta’s shiny new stadium.

Should Alabama lose, it would not only be the program’s second-consecutive loss, but it puts what should be a talented team in an early hole. Clear that hurdle and it’s smooth sailing for a while.

What about other SEC programs’ most important games?

• Georgia: Oct. 28 vs. Florida. The Gators have taken recent control of this series, but winning in Jacksonville could propel Georgia further into playoff consideration.

• Florida: Oct. 28 vs. Georgia. Looks like the SEC East Championship Game will be inside the Jacksonville Jaguars’ playground. If Florida loses at home to LSU on Oct. 7, the Georgia game could become one of desperation for Florida.

• South Carolina: Sept. 16 vs.

Kentucky. Not a headliner event by any means, but the Gamecocks need to win its SEC home-opener to possibly avoid going to 0-2 in the conference, or improve to 2-0 and send a message to the rest of the league that they are at least competitive again.

• Missouri: Sept. 9 vs. South Carolina.

This program needs a kick-start after a miserable 2016. Beating a conference foe early would provide much-needed momentum.

• Tennessee: Nov. 18 vs. LSU. Not Florida. Not Georgia. I see two losses there. I’m not impressed with the Butch Jones tenure in Knoxville and should the Vols be mediocre again in 2017, his job might be on the line when the Bayou Bengals visit.

• Kentucky: Sept. 23 vs. Florida. The Cats should be much more formidable this fall and stunning the Gators at home would be a landmark win for a program that needs one.

• LSU: Oct. 14 vs. Auburn: LSU lost this showdown last season by a fraction of a second and a midseason win against a tough opponent could fuel the Bengals down the stretch.

• Texas A&M: Oct. 7 vs. Alabama.

For a program that’s been mired in mediocrity since Johnny Football left, beating the Tide is just the tonic it needs.

• Ole Miss: Nov. 23 at Miss. State.

The Rebels aren’t going bowling, so beating its in-state rival would provide some relief for a miserable new era marred by investigation.

• Arkansas: Sept. 23 vs. Texas A&M. Beat the Aggies and the Hogs should be 4-0 going into October.

• Miss. State: Nov. 23 vs. Ole Miss: I don’t expect a big season in Starkville, so the Egg Bowl trophy will have to do.

Joe McAdory is Communications Editor at Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.

Welcome Coach!

Generals ready for new head coach Averett

By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

Football may be about four months away, but Horseshoe Bend fans are already getting excited about the upcoming gridiron season with the arrival of new coach Josh Averett.

“Everyone talks about change being a challenge, but you really don’t know if a change is going to be good or bad,” Generals junior Dakota Blythe said.

“It might take a little bit of getting used to, but I feel like the team we got is going to be pretty well stacked and we’re going to execute well.

We’re going to follow our new coach.”

Blythe and a handful of Generals were at Horseshoe Bend on Wednesday night for a meet-and-greet with Averett, who was hired just last week. He starts as a history teacher, athletic director and football coach on Monday, which also marks the first day of spring practice.

“Tonight I think is just so people can get to know me,” Averett said. “Put a face to a name before I start on Monday. Everything is going to be a little hectic right away. We’re going to go for three weeks, then we have a jamboree at Jacksonville State on (May 13). We have to get started right away.”

Although Averett is still in a transition period, the community support has been evident. A number of Horseshoe Bend football players attended Wednesday’s gathering, as

Lizi Arbogast / The Outlook

Jimmy Giddens, above left, president of the youth football league, speaks with new Horseshoe Bend coach Josh Averett and Jay Averett at Wednesday’s meet and greet. Below, General football players Drake Conway, center, and Dakota Blythe speak with friends about new Head Coach Averett.

well as many other General coaches and a slew of community members.

“I’ve heard nothing but positive things,” said defensive coordinator Jason Johnson. “Everyone is looking forward to it, I think.”

After a few down years, Horseshoe Bend found some success last year, finishing with a 6-5 record. More than 20 seniors return, and all of them are looking to build upon that success.

Lineman Drake Conway said, “Maybe we’ll have a new offensive or defensive scheme, just something to improve on what we did last year. We’re not a bad team.

We just need more at certain areas. We’ve ran the same offense since seventh grade, so a new offense may throw us a little bit at first, but we’ll be alright.”

Although he’s a new coach, Averett doesn’t plan to change too much. One of his main goals is simply to focus on the kids and play to

their strengths.

“With any coach, any teacher, you’re in it to help the kids,” he said.

“Obviously, there will be some differences with how I do things and how he did things, what we call and how we run things, but football is football. You’re still trying to get the kids to play as hard as you can, and if you get that, you’re going to be successful.”

Luckily, Averett, who played for the University of Alabama, seems to have a group of kids that are

ready to take on any new challenges that come their way.

“I feel like he’ll be a decent coach,” Generals’ Camden Evers said. “To get in Alabama, you have to be a pretty decent player.

Especially a wide receiver, that’s a pretty stacked position at Alabama.”

Blythe said, “He’s a really nice guy and seems very intelligent. It seems like he knows what he’s doing, and I trust in him and trust that he’s going to be a good coach.”

Reeltown, Horseshoe Bend begin playoffs

By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

A big win on Tuesday evening secured the No. 1 spot in area 8 for Reeltown’s baseball team, which will play host to Samson in the first round of the AHSAA Class 2A playoffs beginning Friday.

The doubleheader is slated for 4 and 6 p.m.

The Rebels won’t be the only area baseball team in Class 2A action either.

Horseshoe Bend will take a trip to Cottonwood for a pair of games at 4:30 and 7 p.m.

Both are best-of-three series.

Reeltown (20-6), which has found quite a bit of postseason success under coach Mike Jones, will be up against a tough opponent in Samson (13-9), the runner-up from area 3.

“I know coach (Lucas) Davis, and they’ve got a real good team,” Jones said. “They thought they were going to be top coming out of their region, but lost two late games. He does a real good job with pitching and hitting. We used

to play them for years, so we know each other pretty well.”

Jones hasn’t determined a starting pitcher for Friday’s games, but expects some rotation of Joby Newman, Cade Giddens, Dylan Mask and Trent Thrash to take the mound.

A senior-laden team, one of Reeltown’s biggest strengths is its experience. The Rebels boast eight seniors who have been to the third round of the playoffs twice during their high school careers.

Offensively, Jones will lean on Shep Slurry, Newman, Cale Burton, Giddens, Landon Hunt, Cole Flurry and Hayden Solomon to get the job done at the plate.

“They’re more of gap guys, getting a lot of singles and stealing bases,” Jones said.

“We do a pretty good job moving runners. We haven’t hit a home run all year, so we’re more of line drives in the gaps and move runners.

That’s kind of how we play.”

As for Horseshoe Bend (7-14), the Generals are going are going to need to clean up

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Horseshoe Bend pitcher Grant Taylor pitches against Dadeville last week. The Generals travel to Cottonwood for a best of three series.

their defense. “(Our pitchers) have done a nice job of throwing strikes and battling for us,” Horseshoe Bend coach Jason Johnson said. “If we can play some defense behind them, that’ll been the key. That’s been our biggest struggle is getting outs.”

Starting pitchers against Cottonwood (13-7) will be Jace Rodriguez, Cade Worthy and Grant Taylor, and Johnson said pitching has been the squad’s biggest strength of the

season.

Offensively, Worthy is the top hitter, but there are several that can back him up with hits here and there.

“Chandler Lewis has come on a little bit lately in the leadoff spot,” Johnson said. “Griff Jackson has been swinging it pretty good lately. If we can get those guys going, I think we’ll be alright.”

Both teams will play on Saturday afternoon, if necessary.

Sports Calendar Thursday, April 20 Baseball

Varsity: Blount at BRHS, AHSAA first-round playoff series, 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Softball

JV/Varsity: Benjamin Russell at Valley, 4:30 p.m.

Varsity: Reeltown at Lafayette, 4:30 p.m.

Varsity: Horseshoe Bend at Central Coosa, 1 p.m.

Boys soccer

JV/Varsity: Benjamin Russell at Prattville, 5:30 p.m.

Girls soccer

Track and field

Russell, 1 p.m., if necessary Varsity: Horseshoe Bend at Cottonwood, AHSAA first-round playoff series, 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Boys tennis

Softball

JV/Varsity: Prattville at Benjamin Russell, 5:30 p.m.

Varsity: Benjamin Russell at ASD, 3:45 p.m.

Varsity: Benjamin Russell in section tournament at Opelika, 10 a.m.

Boys, girls golf

Varsity: Benjamin Russell at Sylacauga, 2 p.m.

Friday, April 21 Baseball

Varsity: Blount at Benjamin

Varsity: Benjamin Russell at Briarwood Christian, 5 p.m.

Boys soccer

Varsity: Sylacauga at Benjamin Russell, 7 p.m.

Girls soccer

Varsity: Valley at Benjamin Russell, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 22

Track and field

Varsity: Benjamin Russell at Beauregard, 8:30 a.m.

Monday, April 24 Softball

JV: Reeltown at Holtville, 4:30 p.m.

Varsity: Reeltown at Holtville, 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 28 Girls soccer

Varsity: Benjamin Russell at Northridge, 5 p.m.