OPINION: LOW VOTER TURNOUT IS DISTURBING, PAGE 4.
THURSDAY
THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Inside, page A8
August 17, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 163 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
SPORTS, PAGE B1 Three area teams play in Week Zero games
Council gets lesson in retail recruitment By MITCH SNEED Editor
The Alexander City City Council heard a presentation from Birmingham-based Retail Strategies, a company that has been working with the city and Alexander City Chamber of Commerce officials for a little more than two years to help
bring new businesses to the area. Retail Strategies Portfolio Director Scott VonCannon walked city leaders through the services the company has performed and areas where they think that Alexander City can realistically see some success in attracting new retail businesses.
“We have enjoyed our time working with Alexander City and we have nothing but fantastic things to say about Ed (Collari) and Jacob (Meacham) and everyone we’ve worked with at the Chamber,” VonCannon said. “We think Alexander City is in a unique position and has a good story See COUNCIL • Page A2
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Scott VonCannon of Retail Strategies talks about the traits that businesses look for when shopping for new locations.
Alex City BOE talks budgets
Dadeville High gets new sign Electronic sign donated in memory of husband and life-long school supporter
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Those driving along South Street in Dadeville may have noticed a different sign standing next to the parking lot of Dadeville High School in recent months. An electronic board with flashing information has replaced the old marquee, allowing for more information to be shared with the community. Denny The sign was donated to the school, a gift from Lila Corprew Denny in memory of her husband, Donald See SIGN • Page A3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
CACC Ambassadors Payton Bradford, left, Lemar McCormick and Madison Ray work on artwork on one of the drains at Central Alabama Community College Wednesday morning.
‘Keep it Clean’
CACC students paint to educate on water quality By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer Cliff Williams / The Outlook
A new electronic sign has been installed at Dadeville High School.
New artwork is springing up on the Central Alabama Community College campus in an effort to help educate
students about water runoff. CACC Ambassadors joined with the Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership Wednesday, to decorate some of the storm drains on campus in hopes
of educating students about the effects of rainwater runoff. “Our goal with the storm drain marking project at CACC was to reach young See WATER • Page A3
The Alexander City Board of Education received their annual financial audit report during Tuesday night’s meeting. The report, presented by auditor Diane Naler, showed that there had been a small number of issues present over the past 12 months. These included a discrepancy in where unsold raffle tickets had been filed, two schools that had not properly booked interest on CDs and several instances where money coming in through fundraisers had been held by those collecting longer than is allowed. Despite this, there were no funds missing and no serious problems to be noted. “Everything was accounted for,” she said. Financial Officer Rhonda Blythe presented her monthly financial report to the board, stating that the system was in good shape. Both revenue and expenditures were a See BUDGET • Page A3
Local artist’s new mural livens up Mamie’s Place Children’s Library By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Patrons of Mamie’s Place Children’s Library in Alexander City may have noticed a large display of artwork hanging on one wall, adding a new level of vibrancy and color to the building. Four pairs of canvases, each pair measuring eight feet long and four feet high, are mounted over the bookshelves and depict children reading books during each of the four seasons. The artwork was the idea of the library staff, completed by local artist Bonnie Luckie and placed in their current location in June. For the last 10 years, Luckie has been active in the local art community, opening her first art gallery, The Loft Gallery in an
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upstairs section of The Shoppes of Queen’s Attic before eventually landing at her current location, Luck of the Draw in what was once the children’s department of Frohsin’s Department Store. “The library called me, wanting me to fill in the space at the children’s library,” Luckie said. “I ended up deciding to do the four seasons.” Having always been good at drawing trees, she chose to have trees and children reading books in each setting. In the winter scene, a young girl lounges on one of the branches. A boy hangs upside down off a branch in the spring tree. A girl enjoys both reading and swinging in the summer image, while a boy makes his way past some bare See MURAL • Page A3
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.57 Reported on 8/16/17 @ 1 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443 6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Local artist Bonnie Luckie poses under the spring and summer sections of her canvas mural at Mamie’s Place Tuesday morning.
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