OPINION: THE ‘MELTING POT’ USED TO BE A GOOD THING
FRIDAY
THE
HOLIDAY SPIRIT
See the calendar for local Christmas events, Page 5.
CLASSIC IN THE MAKING Pepsi Classic schedule inside, see Page 8.
Alabama ranks among lowest in school funding
TODAY ECLECTIC EVENTS
Merry Christmas to All: An Eclectic Event starts at 5 p.m. Dec. 11 in downtown Eclectic with the Eclectic Christmas Parade followed by visits with Santa and the town tree-lighting ceremony in front of Town Hall. At 7:30 p.m. the Community Choir will present a live cantata, “Fantasi Noel,” in the High School Auditorium. To round out the evening your are invited to bring your guitar and join the Christmas Jam Session at 9 p.m. with national singer and songwriter Keith Moody in the Warehouse downtown. If you want to participate in the parade or just want to enjoy the event and need information, call Lisa Elliott or Heather Martin at 334541-3581.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 December 11, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 247 www.alexcityoutlook.com
STAFF REPORTS Outlook Staff
Alabama ranks second worst in the country in state K-12 education funding cuts, with state support down 17.3 percent since the start of the Great Recession, according to a report released Thursday by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a nonpartisan policy research organization based in Washington, D.C. Alexander City Schools Superintendent Dr. Darrell Cooper said the numbers don’t surprise him. “When you look at the amount of funding that has been cut since 2007, it stands to reason that our state would be near the bottom of that category,” Cooper said. “The funding cuts
are in all areas from instruction, to nutrition to transportation. In buses and transportation alone, our costs have risen, while funding has decreased. “Those are rankings that you don’t like to hear when you are near the bottom.” Only Oklahoma has seen deeper per-student state funding cuts since 2008 than Alabama. Overall, Alabama cut its total state and local investment in K-12 schools by 11.3 percent per student between 2008 and 2014, the seventh worst cut in the nation. Cooper said the decreased state and federal funding has forced deep cuts and forced more of the burden on local systems. Tallapoosa County Schools Superintendent Joe Windle lobbied the county commission to
Suspects in recent thefts facing charges
SATURDAY CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK
Saturday from 2 to 9 p.m. enjoy a wide range of holiday activities at the Sportplex. At 2 p.m. the Wild and Crazy Reindeer Chariot Race sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club will be held. At 4 p.m. Christmas music by local groups, Polar Express Train Rides, visits with Santa and his live reindeer, pictures with your favorite “Frozen” characters, S’mores bar sponsored by Lake Martin Home Health and local businesses, hot chocolate and coffee, skating in the park. At 5 p.m. experience a Live Nativity scene, carriage rides in the park. All activities are free except skating and it is $5 per person.
TOY DRIVE
Church and Main will host its second annual Toy Drive on Dec. 12 at Lake Martin Baptist Church. The line-up for the evening will include Zach Channel, 49 North, and Church and Main. Admission is a new, unwrapped toy.
YARD SALE AT RADNEY
Radney Drama Club is having a huge yard sale Saturday, Dec. 12 in the Radney school lunchroom from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Come out and get some great deals! Clothes, toys, strollers, costumes, and much more will be for sale.
enact a 1 percent sales tax for schools earlier this year. He cited funding cuts as the main factor in his system lacking the reserves mandated by the state. This erosion in education support could make it harder for workers to compete for highly skilled jobs in the global economy, said Kimble Forrister, executive director of Arise Citizens’ Policy Project (ACPP). Cutting education also could make it more difficult for communities to attract well-paying jobs and could deprive local businesses of a strong customer base, Forrister said. “If we want a strong future for our state, we need to invest in it now,” Forrister said. “Alabama See SCHOOLS • Page 3
Agencies working together to see if other cases could be lined to pair By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Stephanie Sims, along with William, 10, Anthony, 9, Michael 8, and 2-year-old twins Savannah and Rebecca were joined by Alexander City Police Officer David Sealey as they shopped for Christmas at Walmart Thursday.
SHOP WITH A COP ACPD brings joy to families this Christmas
By MITCH SNEED Editor
There is nothing like the joy on a child’s face as they receive the perfect toy they had dreamed of for Christmas. Members of the Alexander City Police Department began their annual Shop with a Cop giving campaign on Thursday at Walmart in Alexander City and five young children lit up the aisles with smiles as they picked out their gifts. Stephanie Sims, along with William,
10, Anthony, 9, Michael, 8, and 2-year-old twins Savannah and Rebecca, joined by Alexander City Police Officer David Sealey were the first family to shop this Christmas. The department will help nine families this Christmas season – totaling 21 children in all this year. “My grandmother was a police officer, so I have nothing but respect and admiration for what they do,” Sims said. “This only reinforces that feeling for me. There is no way that I can thank them enough for this. See SHOP • Page 3
The Alexander City Police Department investigators have arrested two people believed to be involved in a number of thefts from residences and vehicles in Alexander City and other parts of Tallapoosa County. Alicia Myers Markel of Eclectic and Brandon Ryan Bazzell of Montgomery were arrested Saturday, Dec. 5 on Point Windy Drive for receiving stolen property, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Investigators are currently working with other agencies and residents to link the items discovered with recent incidents in the area. “The ones that we have them on were all in that Point Windy area,” said Alexander City Police Capt. Tommy Lovett. “Other agencies have been checking with us and it’s possible that there could be additional charges when all is said and done.” Investigators in Jackson’s Gap, Dadeville and the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department have all been working theft from vehicle complaints. The incidents have occurred over a threeweek period and in many cases the items taken have shown up in other jurisdictions, including Montgomery. See SAFETY• Page 3
Today’s
Lake Martin
Levels Local man says ‘being good’ key to long life Lake 481.18 Cunningham celebrates 92 years of life with his family
Weather
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Reported on 12/10/15 @ 6 p.m.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
More than likely at some point today, Fish Pond resident Lemuel Cunningham will make a trip to Piggly Wiggly. “He goes to the Piggly Wiggly most every day,” Cunningham’s daughter Mary Mayes said. Only today he is another year older, 92. Cunningham has two daughters, six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. The Fish Pond community resident served three years in the Army as an ambulance
driver in England, France and Germany during World War II before coming home to work for the City of Alexander. He retired from the city after 30 years of service but that did not stop his work. “He is always working in the garden,” Mayes said. “He won’t let anyone else in that garden. He grows enough for all of us. I think he likes to watch it grow.” “He also likes to cut grass,” Cunningham’s other daughter Flora Graham said. Graham and Mayes think their father is pretty special and love that he is still around for them to love on. See LIFE• Page 3
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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USPS Permit # 013-080
Cliff WIlliams / The Outlook
Lemuel Cunningham blows out the candles on his birthday cake Thursday afternoon. Cunningham’s birthday is today and the Fish Pond Community native is 92 years-old.
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