OPINION: SHOULD HILLARY BE INDICTED. PAGE 4.
THURSDAY
THE
READY FOR FOOTBALL?
Wildcats take on B.C. Rain Friday, page 8.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 August 20, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 166 www.alexcityoutlook.com
New Site set to celebrate 50 years as a town By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Submitted / The Outlook
New SIte’s first town council was sworn in back in 1965. Pictured from left are William Duck, Billy Vickers, Mayor Charles Vickers, W.D. Key, Johnny Cotney and James Vickers.
It was 50 years ago that New Site was officially incorporated as a town, and this Sunday city officials will have a reception to commemorate the milestone. What is now New Site began in 1849 as a place where families migrated by wagon to escape the gold rush excitement in nearby Goldville. “They had found a ‘new site’ – legend has it – and they settled here,” New Site Town Clerk
Shelia Fuller said. “From that beginning, the town evolved and survived over the years. Our community was incorporated in 1965 so our residents could establish a public water system. “With the help of many dedicated citizens our first mayor and council members were elected in August 1965. Sunday marks the exact date that the incorporation was complete and we are excited to welcome everyone to come out and mark the occasion.” The reception will be held 2 to 3 p.m. in the community room at
Questions over boat lights in spotlight
School board begins budget process By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
The first public hearing of the Alexander City Schools 2015-16 budget was held Tuesday night immediately following the Alex City Board of Education’s regularly scheduled August meeting. Rhonda Blythe, chief financial officer for Alexander City Schools, talked through the system’s $32.09 million budget with the board members. Darrell Cooper, superintendent of Alexander City Schools, said he was pleased with the budget, particularly with the projected 2.42 months in reserves it will create in the general fund, and funds provided by the state for technology, library enhancement, professional development, textbooks and increased support of classroom instruction. “I’m pleased that we have over two months’ reserves in the general fund when we See BUDGET, Page 3
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
488.51 Reported on 8/19/15 @ 4 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
Today’s
Weather
86 72 High
6
Low
54708 90050
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
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Report on fatal crash creates talk of additional lighting for vessels By Betsy Iler Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Crews from Regeneration work on moving concrete torn from slabs that used to be a building on the old Russell Campus. The cement is being ground up and made into crush run to be used on roads and other surfaces.
SLOW GOING
Cleanup of former Russell properties continues By David Granger
to crush the concrete and then crush the broken brick. But we’re making progress. We should start taking No. 3 down in the Work on the old Russell property by next 30-45 days. I know we have to get Saucier Investments LLC and its contrac- our burn permit renewed, too.” tor, Regeneration LLC, should be comThe salvage operation of five Russell plete within the next year or 18 months, mill buildings began June 2013 and according to Roy Granger, owner of is still ongoing and making progress, Regeneration LLC. Granger said. “It’s a slow process, but we’re making Work currently taking place on the progress on it,” Granger said. “It takes Lee Street site includes crushing concrete time to clean up a site like that. You have See PROGRESS, Page 2 Outlook Staff Writer
TPI Magazine Editor
Monday’s release of the law enforcement report on a June 19 fatal boat accident on Lake Martin has again sparked conversation on nighttime boating and whether legal requirements provide enough safety on the water. Alexander City’s Stanley Sides, 66, was killed after a bass boat piloted by John Kenneth Stewart, 45, of Dadeville, struck the pontoon boat that Sides was in control of at the time of the crash. “Inadequate lighting” on the pontoon boat and “improper lookout” by the driver of a bass boat were cited as contributing factors in the crash that happened at 8:55 p.m. in the river channel between Dennis Creek and Mallard Point. The bass boat was said to be travelling in excess of 40 mph at the time of collision, while the pontoon was moving slowly, but some questioned if the rear light atop the pontoon was bright enough to provide sufficient visibility. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Officer Mark Fuller, who often patrols Lake Martin with ALEA’s Marine Division and investigated that fatal crash, said lighting often is an issue in citations written and accidents occurring after dark. See LIGHTS, Page 3
Ribbon cut to reopen downtown Dadeville Piggly Wiggly store’s history. “It is an emotional day,” White Outlook Staff Writer said. “I am really glad to see people here, cars in the parking lot and to see “The Pig” is alive and kicking people that worked for us.” again in Dadeville. “It is sad not to see the Butchers “I have been shopping here all my life,” customer Vicky Monroe said. “It here but I am happy ‘The Pig’ is is wonderful to have another choice in reopening,” Monroe said. Wednesday was a soft opening for town.” the store as they are still working out The Dadeville Chamber of things. Soon they hope to be able to Commerce held a ribbon cutting accept WIC again and to offer alcoceremony with town, county and hol. state officials on hand Wednesday at Patel, who owns Store 34 in Piggly Wiggly at 132 E. LaFayette Dadeville among other businesses, St. in Dadeville as the store marked takes over a location of the grocery its reopening under new owner Mike chain that had been owned and operPatel. “It is my first grocery store,” Patel ated by Butcher and his family since the early 1980s. The store closed at said. “I was not planning on going this big, but decided to take advantage the end of January. Cliff Williams / The Record Piggly Wiggly has more than 600 of the opportunity here.” independently owned and operated New Piggly Wiggly owner Mike Patel shakes the hand of The reopening brought tears to stores in 17 states, mainly in the Karen White, daughter of Laeman customer Vicky Monroe as the store opened for the first southeast. Butcher who has been part of the time since January. By Cliff Williams
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Town Hall in New Site. The town may have few in numbers – as the 2010 Census claimed just 773 residents – but New Site Public Safety Director and Tallapoosa County Commissioner John McKelvey said it is still a close-knit community where people help each other. “It’s a place that’s not like any other town around here,” McKelvey said. “Just a bunch of good people who really love this little town and are glad to call it home.” See CELEBRATION, Page 3
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