LAKE MARTIN SLAM FEST START TODAY, PAGE 8
COMMUNITY
COLUMNISTS INSIDE
THE Flowers, Page 5
WEDNESDAY
Morgan, Page 7
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 Fuller, Page 4
December 28, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 260 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Graham, Page 8
Support our unique hometown businesses
High-speed chase ends with crash, arrest
Local man brings joy through ceramics Love of art, people fuels Stowes’ business By MITCH SNEED Editor
A local man who recently purchased a business said that bringing joy to others is what he likes most about owning Ceramics R Us. On an afternoon just before Christmas, Stowes and his partner Andrea Thomas brought plenty of happiness to a group of area senior citizens. See CERAMICS • Page 3
20-year-old facing multiple charges after speeds reach 110 mph
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
John Dakota Winters of Alexander City sits on Highway 63 asphalt after laying down his motorcycle following a late Tuesday morning chase that reached speeds of 110 mph from Alexander City to near the Elmore County line. Alexander City Police, Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department and ALEA State Troopers all responded to the scene and despite the speeds, Winters suffered only minor injuries.
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Antonio Stowes and Andrea Thomas prepare to help seniors at The Meadows with a ceramics class.
By MITCH SNEED Editor
A man who ran from Alexander City Police reaching speeds in excess of 110 mph on a motorcycle has been arrested and is facing multiple charges. John Dakota Winters, 20, of Alexander City was taken into custody shortly before noon Tuesday after laying down his motorcycle on Highway 63 South near Wicker Point. “Initially an officer spotted him speeding and when he attempted to initiate a stop, he took off,” said Alexander City Police Department Capt. James Easterwood. “Not exactly sure why he felt the need to run, but his license was revoked and I guess that may have been what he was thinking. He’s just lucky he wasn’t seriously injured.” Police units gave chase and were able to keep Winters in sight for more than eight miles. But with speeds increasing and the bike nearing the Elmore County line, officers radioed ahead and backed off to the speed limit. See CHASE • Page 11
Weather keeping hunters out of the woods By MITCH SNEED and CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writers
Deer hunting is the most popular game sport in Alabama, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. But due to the drought and temperatures that continue to be unseasonably warm, experts say that the number of hunters in the woods is down from past years. “People just aren’t hunting as often as they have in the past,” Conservation Officer Michael East said. “The drought prevented peo-
Today’s
Weather
67 57 High
ple from planting cover crops and a lot of people have accustomed to hunting those green fields. So without them, a lot of people are staying home.” Fewer people hunting means fewer deer being harvested. Processors like Vick Jackson of Outpost Processing in Waverly are seeing that firsthand. “It has been slower than normal this year,” Jackson said. “The numbers being lower has nothing to do with the health of the heard. I think it has more to do with the drought. The green fields that were planted
did not come up. The drought did not affect the bow hunters because they are normally hunting over acorns and such. Now is when we are seeing the lower numbers.” The warm weather has had an impact on the activity level of deer and hunters alike. In December alone there have been 16 days with high temperatures of 65 degrees or above. “We saw more hunters out since we had that little cold snap earlier this month and with the holidays it increased too,” East said. “If we See HUNTERS • Page 3
File / The Outlook
Local experts say that the deer herd is healthy, but a lower than expected harvest is the result of hunters waiting on better weather.
Alabama’s 2017 Waterfowl Art Contest kicks off Jan. 1
Low
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
483.56 Reported on 12/27/16 @ 2 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8
Alabama artists are invited to enter the 2017 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp art contest, which opens Jan. 1. Alexander City’s Jim Denney has won the contest three times and is sitting out this year again after winning in 2015. Not to be out done Jim’s brother John has won the contest in the past also. “You have to sit out three years after winning,” Jim said. “I won year before last.” The winning artwork will be featured as the design of the 2018-19 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp, which File / The Outlook is required along with the Federal Jim Denney, inset above, won the Alabama Waterfowl Art Contest with Waterfowl Stamp when hunting this painting in 2015. Entries can be submitted for 2017 beginning Jan. 1. migratory waterfowl in Alabama. Like
Riverbend Convenience Store
See ART • Page 3
Dadeville Insurance Come see us for all your Insurance needs.
9120 Hwy. 280 • Alex City
•Progressive •Auto-Owners Insurance •The National Security Group •National General •And More
256-825-6065
114 West Cusseta Street • Dadeville, AL
Non-Ethanol Gas • Live Bait & Tackle
the federal waterfowl stamp, revenues from the sale of Alabama stamps are used to purchase, establish or improve migratory waterfowl habitat. “After you win, the stamps come out about a year later,” Jim explained. “The stamps from my most recent win came out in October.” Entries will be accepted from Jan. 1 to Feb. 15. The competition is open to resident Alabama artists only. Only original horizontal artworks depicting a species of North American migratory duck or goose will be eligible. The Mallard, American Wigeon, and Canada Goose – depicted in the winning artwork of the three previous year’s contests – are not eligible as the subject for the 2018-19 waterfowl
256-825-4612
Bill’s Electric ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
P.O. Box 673 1814 Airpor t Blvd • Alexander Cit y, AL
(256) 234-4555 “PROVIDING QUAALITYY ELEECTRRICALL CONSSTRUUCTIION SINCE 196 61”