OPINION: SCHOOL DAYS STIR MEMORIES. PAGE 4
THE
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Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
A new edition of Lake magazine inside.
August 4, 2015
Vol. 123, No. 154
www.alexcityoutlook.com
SUPER 12 Quarterback Gray will be key for Benjamin Russell, page 10.
City council halts public works plan Pacts to assist SL Alabama expansion, business move to New No. 1 building approved
By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
In a tie, there are no winners. That’s a fact in sports and apparently when it comes to votes of the Alexander City City Council. With a deadlocked vote of 3-3, the reorganization of the public works department and some pay increases that came with it failed to gain approval. The plan was the subject of almost an hour of discussion at a recent work session that became heated at times. Brewer said the plan would see the department reducing the number of superintendents and employees, which would save the city more than $58,000 per year. The plan and raises were put in place after discussion with Mayor Charles Shaw, but was never approved by the city council, which is required by the city’s personnel manual. There wasn’t much discussion before the vote, but Councilman Billy Ray Wall made one last-ditch appeal to push the measure through. “I would just ask that we pass this,” Wall said. “This is just the first part of the reorganization plan. This will give (City Engineer and Public Works Director Gerard See COUNCIL, Page 3
By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Alexander City Councilman Billy Ray Wall made a case for approval of the public works reorganization, but the move failed to pass after the council was deadlocked at 3-3.
Financial incentive agreements that will help one local company as it grows and assist another as it works to bring its business to the area were approved by the Alexander City City Council Monday night. The council voted 6-0 to approve a resolution authorizing Mayor Charles Shaw to enter into a project development agreement between the city, Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance and SL Alabama that will offer assistance as the company works to develop a new parking area. See DEALS, Page 3
Tallapoosa schools set for Thursday opening day
National Guard takes action after incident at local hotel
By Cliff Williams
Outlook Editor
Outlook Staff Writer
Disciplinary action has been taken against some members of the Alabama a National Guard’s 214th Military Police N Company after a July 11 incident where C some guardsmen may have engaged in s lewd behavior including public nudity l at a a local hotel while in Alexander City for f drills. Officials with the U.S. Army and Alabama National Guard said that an A investigation has been finalized into i the t incident. While Alabama National Guard Public Information Officer Lt. G Col. C Shannon Hancock would not offer specifics of the finding or the discipline s handed out, he made it clear the behavh ior i was not acceptable. “An internal unit investigation was conducted,” Hancock said. “Several c service members were identified as s failing to adhere to U.S. Army and f Alabama National Guard standards. A See GUARD, Page 3
By Mitch Sneed
Students in Tallapoosa County Schools may have until Thursday before their summer is over but teachers returned to the classrooms Monday to get things ready for their arrival. “All of the teachers are spending Monday and Tuesday at their schools,” Tallapoosa County Board of Education’s Casey Davis said. “They are having school faculty meetings and getting things ready for students to arrive on Thursday. The county wide teachers institute will be Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Dadeville High School Auditorium.” Cliff Williams / The Outlook Davis explained that Monday Horseshoe Bend School speech therapist Shana Branch hangs a calender in her room Monday may have been the first official as she gets ready for the start of a new school year. Teachers reported Monday and students See SCHOOLS, Page 9 first day of class is Thursday for Tallapoosa County Schools.
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
488.94 Reported on 8/3/15 @ 2 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
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Cliff Williams / The Outlook
High
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Back to school blast Chapman’s Nursing Home held a back-to-school event complete with games, food and school supplies for the children of the facility’s employees. Left, Shakira Davis, 9, dunks on Sawyer Brown while Cassidy Thomas, above, 7, looks around after picking up a hotdog at the event.
Bill’s Electric ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
P.O. Box 673 1814 Airpor t Blvd • Alexander Cit y, AL
(256) 234-4555 “PROVIIDING QUAALITYY ELEECTRRICALL CONSSTRUUCTIIONN SINCE 196 61”
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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