AUBURN TIGER TURNAROUND?
OPINION: A NIGHT TO FORGET, PAGE 4.
THURSDAY
THE
Joe McAdory: Ten most important players for Auburn in 2016 football season, see page 8.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 December 10, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 246 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Officials warn of donation scheme
Marriage license fees to increase By MITCH SNEED Editor
It’s about to become more expensive to get married in Alabama. Tallapoosa County Probate Court Judge Leon Archer said that his office has been notified that the state will add $30 to the standard fee for marriage licenses beginning Jan. 1. That means that in Tallapoosa County the cost to get a marriage license will go from $41 to $71. The Legislature approved a fee hike last general session. The bill was signed into law in June by Gov. Robert Bentley. The increase will go toward creation of the Domestic Violence Trust Fund, according to Archer, citing a memo from state officials. The additional funds will assist in operating shelters and providing assistance programs for victims of domestic violence, according to literature released by Bentley’s See LICENSE • Page 7
OPEN SOON
Residents report several sketchy door-to-door solicitations By MITCH SNEED Editor
“Scott Blake will sing a couple of patriotic songs and after the ceremony we’ll have a reception in our large dining room. We’ll also offer tours of the expansion.” Marsh is the commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. Construction on the expansion began 18 months ago, Fuller said. Sixty-five percent of the funding for the expansion was provided by the federal Veterans
Police have received calls from residents in recent days about people collecting door-to-door for several different groups. In one instance, the solicitor said they were collecting for a local volunteer fire department. Another said they were collecting for needy families at Christmas. Alexander City Police Chief Willie Robinson said that while no arrests were made in the recent incidents. Residents are right to be wary. “The best rule of thumb is to only donate through officials channels and to know exactly who the donation is going to,” Robinson said. There are several great organizations and ways to donate to help charities, like through United Way or your church. I would say that it’s better to go that route than taking a chance on someone knocking at your door.”
See EXPANSION • Page 7
See SCAM • Page 7
Renovations to the Bill Nichols State Veterans will be revealed Friday at a ribbon cutting Friday at the facilCliff Williams / The Outlook ity. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Rear Admiral Clyde Marsh will speak.
Massive Bill Nichols expansion to open Friday By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Officials will cut the ribbon on a $4 million expansion of the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home Dayroom Expansion Project on Friday, Dec. 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the facility. “We’re going to cut the ribbon and our speaker is going to be Commissioner (Rear Admiral Clyde) Marsh,” said Kathryn Fuller, director of Bill Nichols.
Boys and Girls Club’s Chariot Race fundraiser set for Saturday By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Crews finish up road work Crews put the finishing touches on a paving project on Church Street as reflective marking were put in place Wednesday. Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Today’s
Weather
71 54 High
6
Low
54708 90050
8
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Lake Martin
Lake Levels
481.22 Reported on12/09/15 @ 6 p.m.
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By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The Spirit of a Hometown Christmas Parade in Dadeville Sunday will travel into a clean square thanks to the recommendation of the City Council. “I think we need to clean up around the Square before the parade,” Council Member Mickey Tarpley said. “There are leaves everywhere and cups and other debris in the shrubs.” After a small discussion with city department head’s at Tuesday’s Council meeting, it was decided that crews would clean around the square either Thursday or Friday morning before cars park. The parade will start near the Dadeville High School Football Field at 2 p.m. Sunday before heading
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– will be saddled by each team’s rider, and the chariot will be pushed by the rider’s blindfolded partner through a course which will include a number of mystery obstacles which may or may not include an ice hazard, deer, jingle bells or even Grandma, Reynolds said. There’s also a chance for audience participation as artificial snowballs to hurl at the riders will be available for purchase. The teams will run in heats of two at a time and will be timed. See FUNDRAISER • Page 7
Dadeville’s Spirit of Hometown Christmas Parade Sunday
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It’s going to be wild. It’s going to be crazy. It’s going to be the Boys and Girl Club of the Lake Martin Area’s first ever Wild & Crazy Reindeer Chariot Race at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Sportsplex. In an event like few in the Lake Martin area have ever seen, partners will team-navigate reindeer chariots through a course filled with obstacles in an effort to claim the coveted Gleaming Reindeer
Trophy. “Our board president, Shannon Bost, saw a race like this in Jackson, Louisiana, and we felt like it would be something different, a lot of fun and a way for us to raise some funds, too,” said Melissa Reynolds, director of the Boys and Girls Club. “We’re excited about bringing the community a different kind of Christmas activity.” The decorated miniature reindeer – appropriately named Vixen and Comet and made for the Boys and Girls Club by Home Depot
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down Lafayette Street, then on to the Square. Dadeville Mayor Joe Smith will be grand marshall. Following the parade there will be booths with baked goods and Christmas crafts for sale. Council member Randy Foster informed the council that the Lafayette Street A-Trip paving project was still on hold while waiting for an answer from the railroad. Dadeville Fire Chief Keith Wilkerson informed the council that the department had its holiday party last week and awarded fire officer of the year to assistant chief Ralph Emerson and firefighter of the year to William Slay. “We hope that we can keep doing this,” Wilkerson said of the awards. “We gave them a plaque and are keeping a plaque on the wall at the See PARADE • Page 7
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Santa spent plenty of time meeting with children last year at the Spirit of a Hometown Christmas Parade in Dadeville. This year’s parade is set for Sunday downtown. Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
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