ALL OUTLOOK:
OPINION: YES, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS, PAGE 4
THE
THURSDAY
Simmons guides Cougars to first playoff in 15 years. See Sports, Page 12.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 December 24, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 256 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Demolition activity spotted on Russell campus By MITCH SNEED Editor
An excavator on the former Russell campus operates in a driving rain late Wednesday afternoon. Demolition activity had been absent for about eight weeks before this recent movement, which comes on the heels of heavy talk in the community about a lack of progress on getting the area cleaned up.
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Limited severe threat should end in area tonight
After weeks and weeks of inactivity, demolition activity was again spotted on the former Russell campus Wednesday. Yes, in a driving rain and continuing after day with lights from heavy machinery aglow, parts of a collapsed roof that had been dangling from a building adjacent to Lee Street were being knocked down. Piles of rubble were being moved as an excavator, a front-end loader and trucks moved about the site. The property is now controlled by Saucier Investments LLC and it has contracted with Roy Granger See DEMO • Page 3
Kids say the darnedest things
The Outlook received hundreds of letters to Santa from area school children, many of them included brightly colored pictures like this one.
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Area students share their ‘Letters to Santa’ with The Outlook
It looks like the last shopping day before Christmas will be a wet one – and could include some severe storms, as well. The limited severe weather threat for the Alexander City area, with possible straight-line winds to 60 miles-per-hour and quartersized hail, continues through early this evening, according to Jim Stefkovich, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Birmingham office. “We don’t expect any widespread severe weather, but residents should still remain alert,” Stefkovich said. “The atmosphere is still very unstable in the area with a temperature of about 77 (at approximately 11 a.m Wednesday). But the potential for severe weather, while it exists, is very limited.” At 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, NWS issued a tornado watch until 8 p.m for Autatuga, Bibb,
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Art Linkletter said it years ago. Kids say the darnedest things. And they become particularly fluent in darnedishness when it comes to letters to that jolly old elf, Santa Claus. Take this example, from Jim Pearson student Kyrina Wright: Dear Santa: I want some cheese and I want a dog. I will get some food for the reindeers and you know I am good. Kyrina was brief and polite, as were others. Some, though, were very to the point in their brevity. Santa received this missive from another Jim Pearson student. Dear Santa: I want a ranedeer. Grahan. We’re not sure Santa’s ready to give up Rudolph, but we feel confident Kris Kringle can make Grahan happy. Needless to say, we had tons of fun reading these children’s letters to Santa. We’re sure that you will, too. Consider this another Christmas present from The Outlook to you.
See WEATHER • Page 2
Today’s
Weather
76 64 High
Low
USPS Permit # 013-080
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
480.16
Reported on 12/23/15 @ 7 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
and Regeneration LLC to handle the work. The salvage operation of five Russell mill buildings began June 2013. During the summer, City Building Inspector Gaines Hodnett cited Saucier under the city’s weed abatement ordinance. But then in early October, work seemed to stop, with falling scrap prices being cited. The work comes on the heels of growing concern in the community over the pace of the cleanup in recent weeks. In a recent poll on the Outlook’s website, 116 people responded
‘Star Wars’ crowds big at opening, steady afterwards By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Han Solo and Leia have a son and they, along with a brave Reisistance, are on a quest to find the vanished Luke Skywalker. That’s the very brief synopsis of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which opened in theaters nationwide – including at Alexander City’s Playhouse Cinema – Friday, Dec. 18. The latest “Star Wars” installment is on track to surpass “Avatar” as the worldwide highest-grossing film of all-time, according to the latest reports. Variety reported Wednesday the latest “Star Wars” enjoyed a stellar opening release in cinemas last
week, bringing in $610.8 million as of Monday. By comparison, James Cameron’s “Avatar” grossed $77 million when it hit theaters in 2009, cashing in $2.78 billion overall since its debut. So far, those figures suggest that “Star Wars” has already amassed 22% of the $2.78 billion final gross reached by “Avatar” – so it could potentially top Cameron’s recordbreaking film by the time it leaves the big screen – and it won’t hit China until next month, Variety said. Locally, Playhouse Cinema owner Daniel Yates said while Star Wars has been popular with local movie-goers, the film hasn’t been overwhelming like it is in some cities. “The first few days were big, but See MOVIES • Page 2
David Granger / The Outlook
Customers wait in line at Playhouse Cinemas for tickets to the 7 p.m. showing of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Owners reported big crowds for opening weekend, but said attendance had leveled off.. The movie had earned $610.8 million as of Monday.
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