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The Outlook
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Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
August 13-14, 2016 • Vol. 124 • No. 163 • www.alexcityoutlook.com
With 61 students, group seeks donated instruments By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
See BAND • Page 9
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August issue of Lake Martin Living Magazine, Inside.
Sunday sales has benefitted other cities
Radney 6th-graders march out for band Radney Elementary School is entering its first year of a sixth-grade band program. Up until now, band was not available in the Alexander City Schools until students reached the seventh grade at Alexander City Middle School. But this year, there are currently 61 sixth graders enrolled in band at Radney under the direction of Crystal Baldwin, who moved from ACMS to Radney to lead the sixth-grade introductory program. “I was the middle school director for seven years,” said Baldwin. “I’m excited to be here and start this sixthgrade program and excited that we’ve got as many kids as we do that are interested in band. I expect to have even more next year.” Baldwin credits Alexander City Schools Superintendent Darrell Cooper and the board of education for giving the program some startup funding to buy chairs, music stands and some instruments. “Dr. Cooper and the board have been amazing in their support of this program and of the arts in general,” Baldwin said. “We have music and art in all of our schools.” But with 61 participants, Baldwin said the new Radney band program still needs instruments. “I’ve put out flyers, been on ‘Good Morning Lake Martin’ and done all that I can to raise money to buy instruments or to have instruments donated,” Baldwin said.
For Subscribers
Effects of Sunday sales in Pell City foreshadow positives for Alex City
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Alex City Honor Guard members Jim Ed Abernathy, left, and Cecil ‘Sausage’ Bryant salute as Tony East retires a worn American flag at Bryant’s home Friday. Below, Alex City Honor Guard member Tony East puts up the new flag at Bryant’s home Friday.
PRESENT ARMS
Honor Guard replaces worn flag for ‘Sausage’ Bryant By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Members of the Alex City Veterans Honor Guard gathered at the home of one of there own for a ceremony they have never performed before – changing a worn American flag. The group visited founding member Cecil ‘Sausage’ Bryant to offer See FLAG • Page 9
As Alexander City approaches a municipal election which includes a vote on the Sunday sales of alcohol in the city, the lesson learned from one nearby municipality is clear: Sunday sales can prove a boon to the local economy. On Aug. 11 of last year, Pell City, located in St. Clair County, voted to extend sales of alcohol to Sundays. Like currently in Alexander City, alcohol had previously been sold Monday through Saturday. Don Smith, director of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council, said he expects the positive effects of voters’ approval of Sunday alcohol sales in Pell City to be clear when the city creates a report that looks at the first year of sales and their impacts in the coming weeks. “We wanted to wait a year before we measured its impact,” Smith said. “Yesterday marked exactly a year since our vote, so we don’t have any numbers compiled yet, but I feel sure that they will all be positive.” Certainly, even without numbers to show, Pell City can claim certain obvious impacts. “Buffalo Wild Wings, which we announced was locating here a few moths ago, they are here directly as a result of the seven-day alcohol sales,” Smith said. “They need those sales for their Sunday NFL experience and for things they do with other televised athletic events.” Smith said Pell City also announced in June the city would be the location of a new $10 million Premiere Cinemas movie theater, which will also include a bowling alley, arcade, and event rooms. Smith said there are “definitely others looking” at potentially locating in Pell City that would likely not be considering the St. Clair County town were Sunday alcohol sales not allowed. In essence, it looks as if a study Pell City commissioned by the Jacksonville State University Center for Economic Development and Business Research was correct in that legalizing Sunday See SALES • Page 9
Forums show candidates have passion for Alexander City By MITCH SNEED Editor
In just 10 days voters in Alexander City will go to the polls and cast ballots for the people they feel are best qualified to lead the city. After a week filled with forums featuring the candidates for mayor and the city council, the Auburn University political science professor who moderated the events said she left impressed with the level of interest in the election process shown by the candidates as well as the residents of Alexander City. “My general sense is that from attending the mayoral and city council election forums it is evident that many people care about the future and success of Alexander City,” Dr. Bridgett King said. “This is especial-
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ly evident given that with the exception of two council seats, all of the races are contested and competitive. I think both forums were useful to get a sense of what candidates have spent time not only thinking about the issues the city needs to address in the immediate future but also which candidates have given serious thought and consideration to the long-term future and success of Alexander City.” King said that in her position, she didn’t want to talk about specific candidates, but said she believes there are quality candidates in all the races in the Aug. 23 municipal election. “I was impressed, especially during the city council forum, with the amount of passion that was expressed by several of
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
From left, Buffy Colvin speaks at Thursday night’s forum as Sherry Ellison Simpson See FORUM • Page 3 looks on.
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