OPINION, PAGE 4: LABOR DAY IS IMPORTANT TO LOCAL ECONOMY
THURSDAY
THE LOCAL, PAGE 3 Troopers step up patrol for holiday weekend
SPORTS, PAGE 11 BRHS, Central Coosa begin volleyball season
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
August 31, 2017 Vol. 125, No.173 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Holiday weekend a big one for business By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Local businesses tend to do well during this annual holiday weekend. There is game day apparel available at several locations in Alexander City, including Hibbett Sports shown on the right.
An Auburn home football game and what most consider on the last official Lake Martin weekend of the summer have the potential to make this Labor Day weekend a great one for area businesses. A check with local hotels, retailers and stores showed that they are all prepared for heavy traffic over the next three days. Most all of the hotels on Highway 280 were booked near capacity and stores were fully stocked in anticipation. Ed Collari, president and chief executive officer of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, said Friday that the kind of traffic this weekend could
bring means a lot to the economy. “I think there is no doubt that Auburn fans, the folks coming to the game from Birmingham, can have a big impact here,” Collari said. “I think you will see people coming down Highway 280, picking up tailgating supplies, grabbing a bite to eat and picking up last minute items.” He said the fact that Alabama is playing in Atlanta, could also be a good thing locally. Collari said that people have a tendency to settle in, have gatherings and stock up on food and beverages for the night. This year the Russell Retail store will be closed for the first time in recent memory, but other stores are stocked up See BUSINESS • Page 3
Local groups hard at work to provide hurricane relief
County extension office brings back gardening event By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The Tallapoosa County Extension Office and the Tallapoosa County Master Gardener Association have come together again to host the 2017 Fall Gardening Extravaganza. Scheduled from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center at Central Alabama Community College, the Fall Gardening Extravaganza will provide attendees with valuable information about gardening and how to improve their own beds. “We feel like this event is a great opportunity for people to hear from experts in the field of horticulture,” County Extension Coordinator Shane Harris said. “It’s basically a lecture-type format with a variety of topics.” The past two times the two have worked together to host this event, it was very well received, and even sold out on both occasions, according to Harris. Appealing to gardeners of all levels, this event has attracted guests from across Alabama and western Georgia. The 2017 Fall Gardening Extravaganza is slated to have a lineup of guest speakers that are among the best and most See GARDENING • Page 3
Arguably the strongest storm to hit the Gulf Coast since Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Harvey has brought devastation to the coast of Texas, especially the areas around Houston and Galveston. Now that the majority of the storm has passed, residents across southeast Texas begin the arduous task of cleaning up the damage and restoring See RELIEF • Page 5
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Wet Wednesday in the area
Submitted / The Outlook
A motorist navigates through puddled water on Lee Street Wednesday morning. As of 3:30 p.m. a total of 1.34 inches of rain had officially fallen in Alexander City Wednesday, with expectations of possibly another inch coming before midnight. Some areas got as much as 2.5 inches like Bobby Tapley’s rain gauge shows. Rain is expected to continue today, but the chances of precipitation drops to 30 percent Friday and 20 percent Saturday. More weather photos inside on Page 5.
Salvage cars: what to look for in vehicles after a flood By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Following a major natural disaster, such as a flood or a hurricane, the cleanup process includes removing vehicles that were submerged or sustained other environmental damage. While these vehicles are most often sold to junkyards for scrap, some are occasionally rebuilt and sold at used car lots. When cars like these enter the market, how can potential buyers know what they’re getting for the price they pay? “If they’re a flood vehicle, they See VEHICLE • Page 5
Annual orders being taken for cheeseballs, new recipes available By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
It has become a local tradition in Alexander City to purchase homemade cheeseballs made by the women of the First United Methodist Church for the holiday season. The “Say Cheese” fundraiser has been around for a while. “We have been doing it since 2002,” Pam Young said. The biggest change this year is the number of different cheeseballs available. “We have four recipes this time,” Young said. This year the group is offering
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Spicy Senorita, Holiday, Old English Cheddar and English Bleu. The cost of the one-pound cheeseballs is $10 but the English Bleu is $12. The Spicy Senorita is a Mexicanstyle rolled in paprika. The consistent favorite over the years, she said, is Old English Cheddar, which is a traditional strong cheese, with a very smooth texture and rolled in nuts. The Holiday option is seasoned with red and green bell peppers and made with a creamy cheese base. Young also said she noticed the favorite of most men happened to be English Bleu. Rolled in fresh parsley, See CHEESEBALLS • Page 5
54708 90050
Lake Levels
490.54 Reported on 08/30/17 @ 5 p.m.
USPS Permit # 013-080
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Jenny East, Pam Young, Fran Clayton, Sandra Moore, Linda Gunn, Willa Alford, Patsy Shreve and Peg Lawson pose for a photograph at First United Methodist Church. The ladies are getting ready for the annual Say Cheese Cheeseball fundraiser.
Lake Martin
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443 6
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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