OPINION: SEE WHAT’S ON THE MINDS OF OUR READERS, PAGE 4.
SUPER 12
THURSDAY
THE
Horseshoe Bend’s Heard plans to lead team on road to redemption.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 August 11, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 161
Sports, Page 10
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Hair comment creates controversy Petition started after BRHS principal’s word choice misinterpreted by some By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Alexander City Schools Superintendent spent much of his day on Wednesday visiting with and fielding phone calls from Benjamin Russell High School parents after s petition was posted to the website change.org on
Council candidates take center stage tonight
Tuesday afternoon alleging that Anthony Wilkinson, principal at Benjamin Russell High School, “made an inappropriate statement targeting black male attendees.” “Basically, we’ve tried to address the parents’ concerns, address some of the misinformation, make sure that we communicate more clearly from this point forward, but we’re not changing anything,” Cooper said. “We haven’t changed anything since last year. “Two called me back after checking with their kids and said that the kids agreed he didn’t say anything about ‘thot fros,’ but he did use the word nappy. I tried
to make it clear to everyone I talked to that his intent was not to offend anybody.” The petition was started by Breunika Benton, identified as Cnae Benton on the website, and, as of 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, had 582 supporters. Benton is not a current student at Benjamin Russell, but said she is a 23-year-old currently enrolled at Central Alabama Community College. According to the petition, Wilkinson said over the BRHS intercom, “Boys with the nappy ‘Thot Fros’ See BRHS • Page 6
WHO WILL LEAD ALEXANDER CITY?
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Dadeville
Council talks renovations, campaign sign rules By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
For several weeks, voters have seen political signs multiplying in yards across Alexander City like dandelions in the spring. Election Day is nearing and the Aug. 23 municipal elections are now just 12 days away. Voters will go to the polls to make decisions on who will lead Alexander City for the next four years. After hearing from mayoral candidates Monday night, the stage belongs to candidates for city council tonight as Tallapoosa Publishers presents the 2016 Alexander City City Council Candidate Forum beginning at 6 p.m. at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center at Central Alabama Community College. All 14 of the candidates for council positions have been invited and are expected to be present to answer questions and introduce themselves to voters. Outlook Publisher Steve Baker said the idea is to make sure voters in Alexander City are informed as they
Kenneth Boone / The Outlook
Residents will go to the polls on Aug. 23 to decide who will be mayor and city council members. Voters will get a close look at the candidates for city council tonight at a forum to be held at CACC.
What are the responsibilities of mayor and council? STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
At Monday’s Alexander City Mayoral Forum, three separate residents submitted questions asking for the job description for the mayor and the council members in the mayorcouncil type government that is used here. After some research, Rob Johnston, assistant general counsel with the Alabama League of Municipalities provided this “Duties of the Mayor and Council.” It is an article from the 2012 edition of the piece from the league’s “The Selected Readings for the Municipal Official.” This piece was published in 2012 and answers those questions with facts, law and legal opinion.
See FORUM • Page 9
FORUM INFO A complete look at tonight’s forum, pictures of candidate, timeline and format and a map of council voting districts can be found inside on Page 3.
The duties of the mayor and council: One of the most misunderstood aspects of municipal government is the separation of powers between the mayor and the council. Like government on the state and federal levels, municipal government is divided into three separate but equal branches: executive, legislative and judicial. Each of these branches has distinct duties and powers and restrictions on how far it can intrude into the affairs of the other branches. At the municipal level, the mayor serves as the head of the executive branch. As such, the mayor is responsible for overseeing the dayto-day operations of the municipality. He or she oversees municipal employees, makes sure that bills are paid on time, executes municipal See DUTIES • Page 9
Residents of Dadeville should start to see some movement in the coming months on two projects, the repaving of Lafayette Street and the renovation of the courthouse square. At Tuesday’s Dadeville Council meeting, members voted to allow Goodwyn Mills and Cawood to be the engineering firm on the project. The council also learned that a local contractor will be performing the work for the ATRIP project. “The only bid was from Gary Ingram Paving for $938,667,” City Clerk Mike Gardner said. “We have to add 15 percent for engineering costs and there are costs associated with the railroad.” The city is responsible for a 20 percent funding match for the project which totals $229,301 but the council did not approve the release of those funds just yet. See DADEVILLE • Page 6
Lake Levels Despite rain threat, National Night Out will go on 489.09 Lake Martin
Reported on 8/10/16 @ 3 p.m.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Despite the threat of rain, National Night Out with area first responders will go on. “It is a rain or shine event,” Alexander City Police Lt. James Orr said. “We have had a lot of rain this week, but we will still go on.” Orr is hopeful with current weather predictions. “It keeps getting better,” Orr said. “I keep looking at the hour by hour forecasts and the chance of rain keeps going down.” The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and there is no charge to the public. At the event at the Sportplex, the police department as well as other public safety and first responder groups in the city and county will be on hand with booths, some giveaways and to answer questions from the community.
Lt. Bill Hough of the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department jokes as he cooks hot dogs at last year’s National Night Out at the Sportplex in Alexander City. The 2016 event is set for this evening beginning at 5 p.m. File / The Outlook
See NIGHT OUT • Page 6
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Today’s
Weather
87 73 High
6
Low
54708 90050
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
1720 Dadeville Road • Alexander City, AL
•Home-like Environment • Specialized Dementia Care Unit •Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services
Call Spencer or Dax Today!
Free Consultations
256.234.5331
DOWN PAYMENTS
As Low
500
$
As...........
MONTHLY PAYMENTS As Low
250
$
As........... *Upon Kerley Motors Approval
256-329-1313
A DAMS HEALTH & REHAB 1555 HILLABEE STREET • (256) 329-0847
217 Madison Street, Alexander City, AL “We are a Debt Relief Agency. We help people file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 under the Bankruptcy Code. Alabama State Bar requires the following in every attorney advertisement, “ No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”