FRIDAY
THE LOCAL, PAGE 7 CACC holds annual Spring Fling event
SPORTS, PAGE 11
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Jennings named coach of Junior World Cup team
April 20, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 79 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Residents: bridge work causing road issues Residents are seeing new potholes pop up near job sites on Soctt and Sanders Roads. Alexander City Public Works Director Gerard Brewer said he is working to make sure the issues are quickly addressed.
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Contractors have picked up the pace on work on the Scott Road Bridge project trying to meet a deadline that calls for the project to be complete in May. But that furious pace now includes the hauling of massive amounts of dirt to fill the areas around the new bridge and to raise the levels of the road approaching the larger and wider concrete bridge culvert. That’s what has some area residents a bit miffed. Heavily loaded trucks and the added traffic volume are causing some issues on
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Man arrested after leaving scene of an accident with injury A Calera man was arrested Thursday after leaving the scene of an accident in Dadeville Wednesday. “There was a two-vehicle accident at Gibson Road and Youngs Ferry Road,” Dadeville Police Chief David Barbour said. “There Liu was major property damage and one injury.” Barbour said there was an injury to an occupant of one of the vehicles. “They were transported to Russell Medical Center where they were treated and released,” Barbour said. Following the accident, one of the drivers left the scene, causing investigators to look further. Barbour explained a suspect was developed. “During the investigation, we came up with a suspect,” Barbour said. “Adam Ray Liu, 23, of Calera turned himself in after we issued a warrant for leaving the scene of an accident with injury.” Liu posted a $10,000 bond at the Tallapoosa County Jail Thursday afternoon shortly after his arrest.
Today’s
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Lake Levels
Jury to hear closing arguments in child sexual abuse trial
Jim Pearson students take part in a demonstration with CACC chemistry students learning how household chemicals can be used to make slime.
HANDS-ON LEARNING
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Sanders Road as well as on Scott Road. Residents are seeing new potholes pop up in areas not far from where trucks are being loaded with dirt and then leave towards the job site. “We’ve had inspectors out there to monitor that and we will watch it every day,” Alexander City Public Works Director Gerard Brewer said. “We can’t have that. Those quickly become a safety issue so we will take a look and do what we can to address any issues we see.” Brewer said Scott Road will be paved as See ROADS • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Jim Pearson students get unique science lesson from CACC professor, students By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
S
howing off how much fun science can be, Central Alabama Community College Chemistry Professor Dr. Jeremy Carr and several of his chemistry students paid a visit to Jim Pearson Elementary School Wednesday, giving the students there some exciting hands-on experience with various scientific subjects. “We started this about two and a half years ago,” Carr said. “We set up a connection through Jerrie Mattox, the STEM teacher here at Jim Pearson.” Throughout the day Wednesday and Thursday, See SCIENCE • Page 9
Six Benjamin Russell FFA teams recently took part in the state organization’s Central District Competitions. Five of those teams placed high enough to move on to the next level.
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Dr. Jeremy Carr and JaBrendon Farrow demonstrate how rockets work by pumping a cola bottle half-full of water with air, causing enough pressure to build up inside the bottle in order to launch into the air.
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer Submitted / The Outlook
Reported on 04/19/18 @ 5 p.m.
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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See TRIAL • Page 3
ACMS Jazz Band preparing for spring concert
490.38 BRHS FFA has great showing at district competition LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
The jury in a sexual abuse trial will likely begin deliberating the fate of a man charged with sexual abuse of a child as it hears closing arguments today in Alexander City. Kenrell Withers, 32, is charged with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 and two counts of sodomy. A video made during forensic interviews with a girl who was seven years old at the time was shown to a jury on Thursday, which was the trial’s second day. The video showed the victim as she outlined the actions she said Withers did to her in 2014. The video came a day after the girl, who is now 11, struggled to remember the exact details of those allegations while on the witness stand. Assistant District Attorney Kevin Hall also called counselors from the TriCounty Child Advocacy Center who conducted the interviews. They spoke to the child’s state of mind and what they say is common behavior in these cases. Defense Attorney Charles Gillenwaters called the
The FFA chapter from Benjamin Russell High School recently took part in the state organization’s Central District Competitions, going up against teams from 71 other high schools in various categories in order to move on and compete at the state level. Of the six teams of Benjamin Russell students that
participated, five placed high enough to move on to the next level. “At the district competitions, you have to finish in the top four in order to go to the state competitions,” Benjamin Russell FFA sponsor Josh Williams said. “Our Ag Mechanics team placed first, Ag Construction and Poultry Evaluation both took second, Nursery and
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Wrapping up another exciting year of musical learning, the 98 students involved in band at Alexander City Middle School are gearing up for their annual spring concert May 8. “The theme for our show this year is Disney,” ACMS Band Director Greg Coggin said. “We’ll be playing classic Disney songs, a song from a Disney video game and music you might hear at Disney theme parks. We’re just trying to hit a lot of Disney music.” All three band groups at the See CONCERT • Page 3
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