OPINION: GIVING HELPS MAKE LIFE COMPLETE, PAGE 4.
THE
WHAT’S HAPPENING? CALENDAR, PAGE 5.
THURSDAY LAKE MARTIN SLAM FEST
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
December 29, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 261
Sports, page 9-10.
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Rail crossing work scheduled in January By MITCH SNEED Editor
Several area rail crossings will be getting some much-needed attention just after the first of the year. It was announced Wednesday that crews working for Norfolk Southern will be in Mitch Sneed / The Outlook Alabama beginning Jan. 3 to begin rail An ambulance navigates the rail crossing on Commerce Street at Washington Street in Alexan- replacement and crossing work. “A rail gang will be arriving in Alabama der City. The crossing is one of eight in Tallapoosa County that will be addressed as crews from on Jan. 3, but the exact dates that they will Norfolk Southern arrive in Alabama on Jan. 3.
be in Alexander City and Tallapoosa has not been set in stone,” said Lisa McCauley, project coordinator with RoadSafe Rail and Utilities. “But we do have eight that are in Tallapoosa County that will be getting work done in January.” Seeing repair work scheduled is welcomed by area motorists, especially news that the crossing between Lee Street and Washington Streets along Highway 22 in Alexander City is on the list. See RAILROAD • Page 3
Russell Medical awarded its accreditation
Tim Wellborn returns as CEO of Wellborn Forestry Products By MITCH SNEED Editor
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Alexander City’s Russell Medical has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for hospital accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. News of the accomplishment was released Wednesday by Russell Medical President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Peace. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care, according to the release. Peace said the hospital takes pride in this highly desired recognition, and that staff stay ‘Joint Commission Ready’ every day. “We are pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” Peace said. “Staff from across the organization work together daily to develop and implement See HOSPITAL • Page 3
Tim Wellborn has returned to serve as the president and CEO of Alexander City-based Wellborn Forest Products, according to a release issued by the company Tuesday. Having served as Wellborn Forest Products president and CEO from 1996-2008, Tim replaces David Gordon who has Wellborn served in that post since May 2015. According to the release, “Tim will be leading with a new strategic vision while renewing the foundation and legacy that the cabinet company was built upon. Tim will advance the high-end semi-custom cabinet operation’s growth and profitability with an emphasis on craftsmanship through product innovation and technology reinvestment.” Wellborn said it’s the people who have made a career with the company that led him to agree to assume the helm. “The kitchen industry is strong See WELLBORN • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
TRAINING UNDER FIRE The Alexander City Fire Department took advantage of a dilapidated house on Franklin Street near Benjamin Russell High School to train on various aspects of battling a structure fire. Training leaders, like Captain Jeff Brewer above, showed how to help keep a fire contained, keep adjacent structures safe, make sure that utility lines are not damaged as well when various water patterns should be employed were covered during the training fire Wednesday. For more photos, see page 3. Cliff Williams / The Outlook
United Way seeks help to reach goal By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The Lake Martin Area United Way is nearing the end of its yearly campaign and remains a few percentage points away from the fundraising goal of $535,000 to support its nearly 30 local non-profit agency partners. LMAUW Executive Director Sharon Fuller said they have reached 92 percent of the year’s campaign, and will continue working to gather the rest until they had met their goal. Fuller said she was, “Working hard these next few weeks to see how much money we could bring back to the partners.” Currently Fuller said they had raised $491,053.50 and were missing about $44,000.
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“It’s always nerve-racking,” Fuller said about nearing the end of a year’s campaign. Within the next few weeks Fuller said LMAUW would hold an allocation hearing in order for the volunteer board-members to decide how much support could be given to what local agency the LMAUW partnered with. She said they would hear reports from 28 agencies that would recount their year to the board members, detailing what their individual efforts had been, what their needs were and how many lives they had affected through their work and the United Way’s funding. She said some agencies in their network of groups provided services like children’s and veteran’s programs. See UNITED WAY • Page 3
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Cliff Williams / The Outlook
United Way’s Sharon Fuller updates those gathered at an event earlier this month about the progress of the campaign as Ken Cowart of the Alex City Rescue Squad looks on.
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