OPINION: FUTURE OF OUR AREA IS STILL IN YOUR HANDS, PAGE 4.
NEW AT QB
THURSDAY
THE
Lawson starts season at new position for BRHS
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 August 25, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 171
Sports, Page 10
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Sunday sales start immediately By MITCH SNEED Editor
There will be no waiting period for business and customers hoping to buy or sell alcohol on Sundays as officials say that the Tuesday passage by voters means that it can start as soon as this coming Sunday. Voters in Alexander City as well as those in Dadeville and New Site approved Sunday sales in municipal elections Tuesday. Alabama League of Municipalities General Counsel Lori Lein confirmed Wednesday that when the people pass a measure like Sunday sales, it is immediate.
“Because it has been before the people and advertised, there is no waiting period unless specified by local law,” Lein said. “So in most cases it is effective with passage.” City Clerk Harriett Scott also confirmed that the sales could begin Sunday. In Alexander City the measure passed by a 24 percent margin with 2,357 voting for and just 1,464 against. In Dadeville the vote was more than two-to-one, with 532 for Sunday sales and 254 against. The vote was 183 yes to 172 no votes in New Site. The hours will be from 12 noon to 11 p.m. on Sundays in accordance with the rules set by the council
when it put the question on the ballot. Local businesses say the new rules will put them on a level playing field. “I think it will help us revenue wise and it will also mean more tax dollars for the city too,” said Lynn Patterson who owns a number of convenience stores around Alexander City. “Sunday is naturally a little slower, but just say we do $4 a day in sales on Monday through Saturday. But on Sunday now we do $2. I think this will change that drastically.” Business owner Daniel Yates said that for people with See ALCOHOL • Page 3
School custodian indicted on child sex charges
United Way kickoff event set for Aug. 30 STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
The Lake Martin Area United Way has announced an evening of prizes, fun photos and free hot dogs to celebrate the kickoff for its 2017 campaign. The kickoff event will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 30, in the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center at Central Alabama Community College. Executive Director Sharon Fuller said the free event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend and see what the United Way’s member agencies have been up to. “All of our 27 agencies will come and have displays,” said Fuller. Guests will fill out cards with their names as they enter the event. Those cards will later be exchanged for a dinner of hot dogs with all the trimmings. Guests can eat while they listen to Fuller’s kickoff presentation, starting with the reveal of this campaign’s theme. “This year’s theme is ‘Picture a Brighter Future,’” Fuller said. To celebrate the theme, each agency will decorate a large picture frame that guests can pose inside for photos. Guests will be able to vote on which frame they like best. “I will introduce our United Way board and this season’s pace setter. See UNITED WAY • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Submitted / The Outlook
Benjamin Russell freshman Kathryn Crutchfield addresses the audience during the BRHS Drama Club’s performance of “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” Sunday at Sirote Theatre at the Alys Stephens Center in Birmingham. The performance was a part of L’Chaim, a fundraiser for the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center.
MOVING TRIBUTE BRHS students perform for Holocaust survivors By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
As the Benjamin Russell High School Drama Club performed scenes from the one-act play “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” about the children of the Terezin concentration camp on Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Sirote Theatre in Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Center, there were some in the audience for which the See PLAY • Page 3
A man who served as a custodian at a local elementary school has been indicted on allegations of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12, according to court records. Court records indicate that Arthur Bama Daniel, 61, of Alexander City was indicted on Aug. 12 and arrested on Aug. 18 after results of an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of the child were reported to police earlier this year. Daniel is currently free on a $20,000 bond. Court documents offer few details in the case, but allege that Daniel had sexual contact with a boy under the age of 12. The charge is a Class B felony in the state of Alabama and a conviction on the charge can carry between 1 and 10 years in prison. Daniel, who worked at Stephens Elementary School as See CHARGES • Page 9
Jacksons Gap election results pending provisional ballots votes at the polls and none by absentee according to vote totals. Walker did have the most votes but, One vote really does count. 184 votes total votes were cast in the After all the votes have been tabulated race giving Walker 50 percent of the from Tuesday’s municipal election, total, not the required 50 percent plus 1 Jackson’s Gap voters are still unsure if to win the election without a runoff. incumbent mayor Jeff Walker has been And that is where the provisional reelected or if their will be a runoff ballots come into play. between Walker and Kim Henderson. According to the Alabama Secretary Some of the confusion stems from of State office handout, provisional votes posted outside the polling place ballots can be cast when a voter’s name in the basement of the Jackson’s Gap is not on the voter list, the voter’s name Town Hall that showed the totals without was marked off the list because they the absentee counts and the provisional applied for an absentee ballot, the voter ballots still outstanding. did not provide photo identification as “That posting is handled by the poll required by law or the voter’s right to inspector,” Jackson’s Gap City Clerk vote is being challenged by an inspector. Kathleen Thomas said. “It did not show “Walker had three provisional cast and the absentee ballots or the provisional Mike Crouch had 1,” Thomas said. ballots cast.” Thomas explained that the decision is Walker received 83 votes at the polls not in the hands of the town as to which and nine by absentee giving Walker 92 See JACKSONS GAP • Page 3 total votes and Henderson received 47 By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
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The printout from the polling place at Jackson’s Gap Town Hall showed only the votes cast in person at the polling place Tuesday. There were nine absentee ballots and four provisional ballots cast. The tape was posted by the poll inspector after the closing of voting.
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