LAKE MARTIN SLAM FEST CONTINUES
OPINION: AN OVATION FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING, PAGE 4.
FRIDAY
THE
Sports, page 10
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
December 30, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 262 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Outlook photographers share their ‘Pictures of the Year’ After nearly three months of no rain, a statewide no-burn burn order was lifted after moderate rains washed through the area in late November. Jim Pearson student Steven Watkins admired God’s faucet drip on the windowpaine of the bus soon after.
Mitch Sneed capture most of the images you see in each edition of the paper. If a picture is worth a Those three have been honthousand words, the imag- ored for their work with es captured by the staff of a camera more times than the Outlook in 2016 would they can count. Judging speak volumes about a year from a look back through that filled with highs and the pages of 2016’s 260 lows, triumph and tragedy editions, it looks like it and news of all kinds. will be another banner While everyone at the year. Outlook takes pictures – As a way of recapping photographers Kenneth the year, our photographers Boone, Cliff Williams and STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
pulled some of their favorite images from the files and will be featured in the paper over the next two days. The first installment of the Outlook’s 2016 Photo Flashback can be found on pages 6 and 7 inside, with more to be featured in the weekend edition, our final paper of the year. We hope you enjoy this look back.
State, Feds reach driver’s license agreement STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
L.D. Benton of Benton’s Clearing and Grading works Thurdsay to remove debris from a lot on Confederate Street where the house that had been there was demolished under a dilapidated structure grant the city received. The grant will help the city and the owners of these structures get rid of unwanted buildings at no cost to the owner and only a small match to the city.
BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE
Work moving quickly on destruction of dilapidated structures Thursday Benton’s Clearing and Grading were finishing up removal of a house on Confederate Street off Scott Road. That was the fifth building that the contractors who were awarded Dilapidated structures in Alexander City are being taken the bid last week have already removed. down rather than falling down. Through a grant, work is Alexander City was awarded $250,000 in Community underway on a project that could eventually mean the elimina- Development Block Grants through the Alabama Department tion of as many as 50 problem buildings. See GRANT • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency announced an agreement on Wednesday to ensure that driver’s licenses services in the state will be more accessible to all residents. In September 2015 Alabama said it was eliminating services at 31 driver’s license field offices in 30 counties. The problem was that the closures appeared to disproportionately impact African-American residents in the state. The DOT opened an investigation in December 2015 to determine whether the action violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits entities that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin in their programs or activities. Through the investigation, it was determined that African-Americans in the state’s “Black Belt” region, which is named for the area’s dark, fertile soil, were being disproportionately underserved by driver’s license services in Alabama. See LICENSES • Page 3
Community health and clean-up walk scheduled Jan.7 By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Local non-profit leaders are encouraging residents to take a walk for the health of it, and pick up trash along the way to help clean and restore their community. President of the Lake Martin Resource Association John Thompson, said he wants people to make a habit of picking up trash out on walks as a way to encourage healthy activity that benefits the individual and everyone around them. He extended an open invitation to the January PATH Trash Walk to be held Saturday, Jan. 7 at Strand Park starting at 8:30 a.m. Thompson said he has participated in the walks for 20 years, and this is his third organizing with the Lake Martin area health and wellness organization PATH, or Prosperity Again Thru Health.
Today’s
Lake Martin
Weather
Lake Levels
59 48 High
Thompson said he had noticed an excess of litter out along the roadways of Alexander City this time of year, “this year particularly.” Though he said he did not know what to specifically attribute it to he said, “It seemed like everywhere I went … it seems to be pretty prevalent right now.” He said there is generally high participation at the events. At their December walk Thompson said there were 13 volunteers, while a few years ago upwards of 70 people broke into two groups to clean up the city and around Martin Dam. As to the location of their walks Thompson said they chose them, based on where they see a lot of litter. Thompson said they last met at the double bridge on State Route 63, and made their way to U.S. Route 280 removing refuse all along
483.59
Low
Reported on 12/29/16 @7:30 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443 6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
See TRASH WALK • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
While the clover may not be in bloom on Jan. 7 for the PATH Trash Walk, volunteers will again assemble like they did here last April to help make our community a cleaner place.
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