GET OUT: AREA EVENTS FEATURED ON PAGE 5 INSIDE.
TUESDAY
THE
AREA’S BEST Gray selected top offensive player. Page 10
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 December 22, 2015
Vol. 123, No. 254
www.alexcityoutlook.com
REMEMBERING COTNEY Memorial service filled with touching moments, images. Page 4
City council deadlocked in vote on land sale deal By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Council member Sherry Ellison-Simpson raised questions about some positions and the pay grades on the city’s personnel authorization list and one of three who voted against a land deal to unanswered questions about language in the contract.
Some believed the passage of the city budget would end the talk amongst members of the Alexander City City Council of salary adjustments and personnel authorization lists. There were also some who believed that maybe there would be a new sense of harmony and they would start seeing things the same way again. Wrong on both accounts. It was learned Monday that several items that
were discussed in budget work sessions may not have been included in the personnel authorization list that accompanied the budget, when it was approved by the council two seeks ago. Among those items were some grade changes for some recreation department employees. Council member Sherry Ellison-Simpson raised those concerns. “These are things we all agreed to in the work session and I just want to know if they’re in the budget or not,” Ellison-Simpson said. “If they See COUNCIL • Page 9
Ice skating at at Sportplex a big hit with area residents
Alex City native pens first book Humorous experiences in years as a pharmacist shared
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Alexander City attracted people from across the state this past week. No they were not here to visit the lake or to hunt. They came to ice skate. “They came here from Montgomery, Prattville, Auburn and Birmingham,” Alexander City Parks and Recreation Director Sonny Wilson said. “Overall, I think it was good for everyone. It brought out the community and brought others into our community.” The ice skating rink attracted over 1,000 for the week. “Everybody loved it,” Wilson said. “We even had five or six groups to use it for Christmas parties, like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.” Wilson said the ice skating would not have been possible without the help of two key individuals. “Without the help of Tallapoosa County Commissioner Steve Robinson See ICE • Page 3
Today’s
Weather
70 62 High
Low
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Above, teens spent a chilly Friday night on the synthetic ice at the Sportplex. The festive lights made for a great holiday outing for the more than 1,000 who came out to take their turn on skates in the week after Christmas in the Park. Left, students from Jacob’s Ladder scheduled an ice skating outing Friday at the Sportplex.
Diane Wilcher’s customer wanted her to believe that tornadoes were drug-selective. He’d come back to fill his wife’s pain medication two weeks early. He’d sought to refill them early before, so he visit wasn’t a complete surprise. It was after a tornado hit the Birmingham area and did significant damage. Wilcher informed the man the she couldn’t fill the prescription for two more weeks. “He said, ‘But the tornado tore up our house.’” Wicher said. “But, amazingly, the tornado didn’t touch his wife’s blood pressure or cholesterol medications, all of which were in the same daily pill organizer. See BOOK • Page 3
Businesses, government offices set holiday hours STAFF REPORTS Outlook Staff
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
480.28 Reported on 12/21/15 @ 6 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
6
54708 90050
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
With Santa barreling his way from the North Pole on Christmas Eve to deliver his goodies, some services will either close their offices or be open only a portion of the day. According to the city and Tallapoosa County, both city and county offices will be closed all day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They will resume normal hours on Monday, Dec. 28. The Alexander City Post Office at 233 Lee St. will be be open on Thursday from 8 a.m. until noon and will close Christmas Day. It will reopen for normal hours ( 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.) on Saturday, Dec. 26. All local banks will close for a portion of the day on Thursday. USAmeriBank, Region’s Bank, Renasant Bank and River Bank & Trust will all close at noon on Thursday. BB&T and Well’s Fargo will both close at 2 p.m. The offices of The Outlook will be closed Friday and will re-open for normal business on Monday, Dec. 28.
CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS! of g a set ection, s dvertisin After a the classißed h the it tires in ry pleased w received ve s I ll a I was c f t o sale. amoun sed with a rs has e h lo s c li d b d an osa Pu vice an Tallapo ustomer ser them e c s u t a e ly r e g deßnit I will the future! -Doug again in
Call Classifieds to today to place your ad!
22556-277-4219
Submitted / The Outlook
All aglow with Christmas Spirit The Spurlin home off Washington Street in the Sleepy Hollow subdivision is decorated in its holiday finest and Haver Spurlin and Hank Hunter pose for a picture. Do you know of a great light display in our area? Snap a picture and email it to us with the address to editor@alexcityoutlook.com
Hardwood Floors Ceramic Tile Carpet & Vinyl
Hair Botox Available exclusively in Rachelle’s Chair This product is formaldehyde free and restores hair to it’s natural healthy state. Eliminates Frizz • Repairs Broken Bonds • Promotes Growth • Smooths Unruly Hair
Locally Owned for Over 45 Years
256-234-6071
DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER RECEIVE 25% OFF THIS REVOLUTIONARY SERVICE Gift Certifcates Available • Book Your Appointment Now!
256.234.2007
792 Commerce Drive, Ste 103 • Alexander City, AL 35010 Check out my website for weekly specials! www.rachelleschair.rocks
1945 Hwy 280 • Alexander City
HOLMAN FLOOR COMPANY “WE’RE
THE PROFESSIONALS”