OPINION: KEY CHOICES CAN LEAD TO GOOD HEALTH, PAGE 4.
TUESDAY
THE LOCAL, PAGE 2
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
More on Stop the Violence Rally
SPORTS, PAGE 10 Wildcats fall to Aggies
April 4, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 66 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
City deals with grant, theater name change By MITCH SNEED Editor
The city de-obligated itself from grant funds that would have helped the city airport construct new hangars, a liquor license for a highend downtown cocktail bar was approved and the city saw an ambitious plan and approved a name change for what was the Bama Theater. Those three items were just part of a busy night for the Alexander City City Council, that also included a public hearing on possible
demolition of several dilapidated structures and furnishings and fixture for the completion of Broad Street Plaza. The item that gave the council the most angst was the de-obligation of funds for the T-Hangers at Russell Field. The current hangers are at least 50 years old and in bad shape. The plan was to use a $250,000 grant with an equal match by the city to tear down the buildings and replace with 8 to 12 new structures. Community Development Director Al Jones said the cost of the project would have gone See COUNCIL • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Councilwoman Buffy Colvin hangs ballons for the kids at Saturday’s Stop The Violence Rally at Laurel Park in Alexander City.
New Site Council searches for police candidate
Young victims testify against suspect in sex abuse trial Girls, now 14 and 16, identify alleged attacker, describe abuse By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
The trial for a 42-year-old Alexander City man accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with two girls under the age of 12 began Monday in Alexander City before Judge Tom Young. Henry Lemanns Williams, 42, is charged with sexual abuse of a child and sodomy having been indicted in August of 2015, after the girls reported in 2013 that they were sexually abused by Williams. In testimony Monday, both girls, who are now 14 and 16 respectively, identified Williams as the man who abused them. The girls told the jury about a pattern of abuse that took place over time by Williams and the threats he made should they tell anyone what he had done to them. One of the girls, now 16, testified through tears that Henry Williams sexually abused her, giving details of the acts that he did to her. She said that Williams threatened her, hit her and said he would kill her sisters and brothers if she told anyone. “This one time he was there and I had a headache and didn’t feel well,”
The New Site Town extended the application period for the police officer opening and moved a step closer to getting a grant for the town’s water system. The council is looking to fill a slot vacated by Phillip Weddle when he was promoted to police chief. “We have three applications that have been returned,” Councilmember Michael East said. “We have had the job posted since March 21.” East suggested that the town extend the application period for 10 days to help deepen the applicant pool. “We could extend the application period a few days,” East said. “It would not put us behind to extend it to sometime just before the next meeting.” East has also been work on a pay scale for the position. The starting pay would be about $29,000 and would take seven years to top out in the matrix. The position like all other See NEW SITE • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Residents come out to ‘Stop the Violence’ Above ,Councilwoman Buffy Colvin hangs balloons for the kids at Saturday’s Stop The Violence Rally at Laurel Park in Alexander City. Left, Antonio Dunn playfully lifts up 2-yearold Amari Dunn at Saturday’s Stop The Violence Rally. For more photos from the event see page 2.
See TRIAL • Page 3
Second annual United Way Quail Fry kicks off campaign with food, fun LD Benton drops some battered quail into the fryer at Saturday night’s United Way Quail Fry. Guests were treated to quail, shrimp, gumbo and a great atmosphere as they kicked off their 2018 campaign. For more photos see page 9.
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Today’s
Lake Martin
Weather Lake Levels
82 61 High
Low
489.03
Reported on 4/03/17 @ 8:45 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443 6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
A huge turnout of great people, enjoying fantastic food on a beautiful spring evening to support a great cause – that’s what the second annual United Way Quail Fry Saturday turned out to be. About 300 people turned out for the event at the Russell Lands Carriage House that featured fried quail, a shrimp boil, gumbo and all trimmings. “We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect night,” United Way Director Sharon Fuller said. “It was just an incredible turnout and everything – the food, the people the weather and just the atmosphere – was perfect.” In addition to the food and music and gather-
ing of friend, there was a massive bake sale and baked good auction to top off the evening with some of the confections fetching upwards of $500 each. The event served as the kickoff for the 2018 United Way Fundraising Campaign. The campaign theme is “Team United” and the event was a great example of the combined efforts of countless people to pull off the event. Representatives from the 27 United Way agencies were on hand along with countless volunteers who helped serve, cook and make guests feel welcomed. “I can’t thank everyone enough,” Fuller said. “We had so many people really step up to make this a success. It just couldn’t have gone any better.”
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217 Madison Street, Alexander City, AL
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