OPINION: SEE WHAT OUR READERS ARE THINKING, PAGE 4.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
THE
Wildcats’ tackle thinks his best is still to come, page 8
FRIDAY
MAKING PLANS? See our community calendar for all the local events, page 7
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 August 14, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 162 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Eagle Scouts complete bridge-to-bridge paddle By Cliff Williams Outlook Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Ryan Jones, left, and Matt Harris, Alexander City natives and Eagle Scouts paddle their canoe in the Kowaliga basin.
Thursday was not the typical late summer day at the lake for Alexander City natives Matt Harris and Ryan Jones. Instead of relaxing before the pair heads back to school at Central Alabama Community College and Auburn University, they decided to paddle a canoe from the put in at Coley Creek and paddle all the way to Kowaliga Restaurant. Yes, paddle a canoe 15 miles in one day. It may sounds crazy to
most people, but paddling is nothing new to the pair of Eagle Scouts. “Two and half weeks ago we got back from the Boy Scout High Adventure Base in Minnesota,” Harris said. “We were canoeing for two weeks in the Quetico Provincial Park just north of the Boundary Waters Cane Area in northern Minnesota. We canoed 139 miles.” “We decided after we came back,” Jones said. “If we could do that – we could do this little stretch.” They began the trek at the city
BAND BONANZA
Alabama gets high automotive rankings Local suppliers figure into No. 2 national rank By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Business Facilities Magazine has ranked Alabama as the No. 2 state in the country for “Automotive Manufacturing Strength” and local employers can smile knowing they played a roll in the high marks. Record output at Alabama’s three auto assembly plants were obviously a big factor in allowing Alabama to surpass Tennessee this year, after ranking below Tennessee in the No. 3 spot last year. The magazine reported that nearly a million vehicles were produced in 2014 by Alabama plants for Mercedes, Honda and Hyundai. While those numbers are impressive, automotive parts suppliers like the six that call the local area home, also figured into the recently released rankings.
High school bands from Dadeville, Horseshoe Bend and Reeltown gave a sneak peek at this year’s halftime shows Thursday night at the Second annual Band Bonanza in Dadeville. Above Brooke Roberson performs with the Horseshoe Bend Band, below, Twyla Walker warms up with the Reeltown Band and right Camden Shockley plays the saxophone in Dadeville’s Zombie show.
See RANKING, Page 2
Today’s
Weather
By Carmen Rogers
Lake Levels
488.74 Reported on 8/13/15 @ 3 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
6
For the Outlook
Low
Lake Martin
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8
Paving projects moving forward
Contractors ask for patience from motorists as they work to finish several major projects in the area By Carmen Rogers For the Outlook
As anyone with students attending Benjamin Russell High School or anyone who travels Highway 63 or Highway 22 knows – there is a lot of grading and paving currently in progress on these roadways. The paving contractor handling most of the work says that the delays will be worth the wait. “We should be finished with the work on Highway 63 and Highway 22 just around the middle of September, if we get good weather, it might alter by a week or two but we should be done by mid September,” said David Ingram of Gary Ingram Paving and Grading. The summer is a very busy time for paving contractors. Ingram crews have been working in the area since early spring. See ROADS, Page 3
Local industry helps Red Cross ease blood shortage
90 70 High
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
boat ramp off Coley Creek at about 8 a.m. Almost nine hours later, motorists honked their horns above as they paddled their canoe under the Kowaliga Bridge. “The boaters were polite,” Jones said. “Most waved.” “One boater at Acapulco Rock talked to us as we paddled by,” Harris said. The trip was not without a little adventure. “We did not tip over,” Jones commented. “We decided to take a little break See PADDLE, Page 3
There is critical need for blood donations right now and local manufacturer AmTech worked with the Red Cross to help meet the demand Thursday. AmTech held a blood drive for the Red Cross Thursday so its employees and local residents could donate. “AmTech is all about giving back to the community and that was the main thing, especially by donating the blood back to the local hospital this helps the local community,” said Mallory Padgett, HR director of AmTech. AmTech has 123 employees and provides contract-manufacturing services, mostly wiring harnesses, to original equipment manufacturers in the commercial, industrial, medical and automotive business.
Now Playing:
Vacation – R Fantastic Four – PG-13 Man From Uncle – PG-13
In all, 28 people turned out to donate, and even though three were ineligible, the plant still reached its goal of 25 pints collected. In addition to the blood given to the local hospital, AmTech will contribute $3 for each blood donation and the Red Cross will match that amount. The money raised will be given to the local school system. So as a result, a $125 donation will be given to the Alexander City School System. “We do this quarterly. We will hold the next blood drive in November and that drive will have an Auburn vs. Alabama theme to help boost donations,” Padgett said. AmTech employee Sandra White said she has a personal reason for donating blood. “Probably nine or 10 years ago Carmen Rogers / The Outlook my friend’s husband had to have A Red Cross technician prepares to package blood donated at AmSee BLOOD, Page 3 Tech for transport to area hospitals Thursday.