OPINION: CRAZIEST PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN YET?
FRIDAY
THE
LOOKING FOR A DEAL Classifieds, Page 6.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 December 18, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 252 www.alexcityoutlook.com
ALLEY CATS! Benjamin Russell bowling shines in first season. Page 8.
FERC approves 3-foot lake level increase By BETSY ILER TPI Magazine Editor
It’s official. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) yesterday issued a new Martin Dam operational license that includes a 3-foot increase in the lake’s winter pool level and a conditional six-week extension of the summer pool. Alabama Power Company’s Hydro Services Manager Jim Crew said that Lake Martin’s water level could begin to rise to the 484-foot (mean sea level) mark as early as Jan. 20, ,
Goodwater city clerk arrested
which is the effective date for the new license. “We still have to operate by the old license until the 20th,” Crew explained. “By the old license, we have about 10 more inches for the lake to drop to get to its lowest level on Dec. 31, so we will continue to operate to get there. By the old license, it would be February before the water level would rise, but we will change our operational mode to the new license on the 20th and start bringing the level up to the 484foot level.” Cliff Williams / The Outlook How fast the water level goes up, Crew Water levels for Lake Martin will soon be higher. FERC approved a new license that will allow See FERC • Page 3 for a three-foot increase in the winter pool.
An uplifting goodbye Horseshoe Bend students honor beloved teacher
STAFF REPORT
By DAVID GRANGER Outlook Staff Writer
Leslie S. (Sherdae) Parker, the city clerk of Goodwater, was arrested today by special agents of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division, Attorney General Luther Strange announced today. Acting on a complaint from a concerned citizen, the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division obtained evidence See GOODWATER Page 2
Hundreds of teal balloons rose into a mostly blue sky over Horseshoe Bend School ‘s Battle Stadium Thursday afternoon. “We love you, Miss Crystal!” students screamed as they watched them rise and drift to the south, slowly disappearing from view. Teal is the color of ovarian cancer awareness and the balloons were released as a tribute to Crystal Coker Morris, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer on Dec. 5. Morris built her life largely around the New Site school. She was a Horseshoe Bend graduate who, after earning a bachelor’s degree secondary education from Auburn Montgomery and a master’s in special education from Phoenix University, returned to her alma mater to teach 10th- through 12th-grade special needs students. She spent a stint as a coach there and her mother, Joyce, is the school’s assistant principal. She was loved by the entire student body and James Aulner, Horseshoe Bend principal, thought Thursday’s ceremony might help them better absorb their loss. “We felt the kids needed to do something for closure,” Aulner said. “Everybody loved her. Being a special needs teacher, she affected all our kids. She was in and out of all of our classrooms and got to know most of them.” “I guess what stood out to me more than anything else was her courage. She was valiant and strong as she battled ovarian cancer. She never complained.”
Cliff WIliams / The Outlook
Autry charged with theft By MITCH SNEED Outlook Editor
Dadeville Police investigators have made an arrest in a case where an employee is suspected of taking thousands from the discount store where she worked. Autry Rebecca Lynn Autry, 23, of Dadeville was arrested by Dadeville police at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday
Horseshoe Bend School fourth graders Olivia Patterson, left, and Maggie Bates watch with their classmates as balloons float away in memory of teacher Crystal Coker Morris. Left, some wrote messages on their balloons to the beloved teacher who lost her battle with ovarian cancer on Dec. 5.
See DADEVILLE • Page 2
See BALLOONS • Page 3
Levels Local organizations partner to make Christmas dinners possible Lake 480.76
Today’s
Lake Martin
Alexander City Lions Club members Erica Benson, left, and Billy Wall along with Crisis Center Director Denise Mosely chat while waiting on clients Thursday.
Now Playing:
Star Wars 3D – PG-13 The Good Dinosaur – PG Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip – PG
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Outlook Staff Writer
More than 45 bags have left the Tallapoosa Christian Crisis Center the last two days filled with food for a Christmas dinner thanks in part to a new partnership with the Alexander City Lions Club. “We have been focusing on families,” Alexander City Lions Club President Billy Wall said. “In the
past, we would help maybe five or six families. This year we wanted to do a little more.” The idea started with members wanting to do something food-related for Christmas. “Members thought about doing a dinner and that did not work out,” Wall said. “We explored other avenues and decided to partner with the Crisis Center.” See FOOD Page 3
GOT JUNK! One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Sell your clutter in the Classifieds.
256.277.4219
Weather
53 29 High
Reported on 12/17/15 @ 3 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
6
Low
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8