AND THEY’RE OFF
OPINION: COOPER REC MEETING COULD PROVE FRUITFUL, PAGE 4.
Tigers v. Lafayette in first away game tonight
FRIDAY
THE
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 August 19, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 167 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Sports, page 8.
Former MLB pitcher named CACC head baseball coach By CATHY HIGGINS Sports Editor
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Larry Thomas has been selected as the new head baseball coach at Central Alabama Community College. Arriving in Alexander City on Thursday, Thomas fills the position vacated by Doug Kovash on Aug. 9. Thomas played with the
Larry Johnson
White Sox from 1995-97 and the Texas Rangers in 1998 as a left-handed pitcher and righthanded batter. Born in Miami, Thomas considers himself from New England. “I’m from Boston,” he said. But Thomas didn’t travel south to get to Alex City. Instead he is moving here from Mobile. “I had my own baseball acad-
emy in Mobile for 10 years,” he said. In addition to working with youth athletes along the Gulf Coast area, Thomas has plenty of coaching experience, including at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and as both assistant and head coach at Bishop State. So taking on the head coach position at CACC is something he’s very comfortable with.
Camp Hill enters deal with ADEM By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
See CAMP HILL • Page 3
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Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Outgoing Stephens Elementary School Principal Kim Smith talks to students as they load buses Thursday afternoon. Smith was greeted by hugs from students and parents as news spread of her leaving for Dothan.
FINAL FAREWELL Smith leaving Stephens to return ‘home’ to Dothan school By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Kim Smith, principal at Alexander City’s Stephens Elementary School for the last seven years, is resigning her position to accept a job as assistant principal in Dothan, her hometown. Smith’s resignation is effective Sept. 6, but the 20-year veteran educator will take leave time which will allow her to begin her duties at Dothan City Schools’ Girard See STEPHENS • Page 3
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Central Alabama Community College welding students Allen Hamlin and Wyatt Martin were selected by the American Welding Society to receive district scholarships for their achievements during this past academic year. Hamlin, a sophomore from Lineville, and Martin, a freshman from Dadeville, both discovered welding in high school and grew to love everything about it. “I like working with my hands and doing things that are application-based,” Hamlin said. “After talking with my parents and discussing my options, we all decided that this would be the direction for me. I knew CACC had an outstanding welding program and, after being here for almost two years, I can honestly say it is awesome.” Both students were given a list of scholarships by their instructor, D.J. James, who was selected as the AWS Section Educator of the Year and the AWS Section Certified Welding Inspector of the Year. “Both of these kids are extremely hard workers,” James said of Hamlin and Martin. “I usually have to run them out of the shop at the end of the day because they want to stay as long as See CACC • Page 2
Dadeville’s candidates participate in forum as election approaches By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
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See COACH • Page 3
Two CACC welding students awarded scholarships
Camp Hill
Camp Hill Town Council learned at Monday’s meeting that the most important thing they can get done at the moment is financial audits. The audits are part of a consent decree that the town will soon enter into as a result of the lawsuit filed by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) over the town’s sewage treatment facility. Town attorney Charles Gillenwaters explained that a recent conference call was made with ADEM, the attorney general, Gillenwaters, Mayor
“I’ve coached in a conference before,” he said. The quality of the school’s baseball program is what attracted Thomas to the job. “It’s always been a good program,” he said. “When the job became available, I jumped on it.” CACC Athletic Director Kathleen Thompson is glad he
One constant theme came from the four candidates running for mayor in Dadeville – working together. Tuesday night, the Dadeville Chamber of Commerce hosted a forum to allow the community to meet and hear from over 20 residents running for council and mayor.
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Larry Whitfield, who moderated the forum, commented about the quality of the candidates. “I am glad I am not able to vote in the election,” Whitfield said. “There are some good candidates here. I don’t know that I could make up my mind.” Frank Goodman, Mike Ingram, See FORUM • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Around 100 people attended the first-ever candidates forum in Dadeville Tuesday night hosted by the Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce.
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