OPINION: TALLAPOOSA IS A GIVING COUNTY, PAGE 4 .
TUESDAY
THE LOCAL NEWS:
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
BRHS grad completes missile training, Page 10
December 8, 2015
Vol. 123, No. 244
www.alexcityoutlook.com
City council passes $44 million budget By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
With the promise of closer oversight of spending and the promise to pay back more than $2 million taken from reserves, the Alexander City City Council passed a $44 million general fund budget Monday night.
Alex City bands to perform tonight, Thursday
The FY 2016 budget included more than $3 million in capital projects, a number that was cut 67 percent from original requests from department heads. The budget passed by a 5-1 vote, with Councilman Tony Goss being the lone dissenter. Goss had been vocal in his opposition to using any reserve funds to balance the
budget. “Over the years our city reserve balance has dropped from $17 million to under $12 million,” Goss said before the vote. “The 2015 budget is $1.9 million above projected revenues. I am not in support of borrowing $2 million plus See BUDGET, Page 7
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Christmas in the Park set for Saturday
SANTA CLAUS COMES TO TOWN
Sportplex to be transformed into winter wonderland complete with ice skating, carriage rides and more
Outlook Staff Writer
By Cliff Williams
The Alexander City Middle School and Benjamin Russell High School bands will be in concert tonight and Thursday night at the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium. Admission to both concerts is fee and both are set to begin at 7 p.m. The Alexander City Middle School Band beginning band will perform three selections and the eighthgrade band will perform three. The beginning band will perform “Jingle Bells,” “Up on the Rooftop” and “Little Drummer Boy.” The eighth-grade band will perform “Frosty the Snowman,” Winter Wonderland” and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” “It’s just our small part of helping the community get into the Christmas
Outlook Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
See BANDS, Page 3
Weather
65 42 High
Low
Wildcats have strong showing at Red Devil Duels, Page 12.
Councilman Tony Goss was the lone vote against approving the new city budget, saying he wasn’t in favor of pulling from reserves.
By David Granger
Today’s
WEEKEND WARRIORS
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Alexander City’s Hometown Christmas Parade rolled through town Monday night, complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus as well as bands and much more. With the theme of ‘Christmas Vacation,’ the Jackson Drugs “Griswold Station Wagon was a big hit. For more pictures see page 11 inside.
Christmas in the Park will be a little on the wild side this year with some of its animals and attractions taking temporary residence in Alexander City. “We are going to have ice skating in the Sportplex,” Alexander City Parks and Recreation Department’s Jennifer Baker said. “It will be a synthetic ice but will still be fun. We will also have real live reindeer with Santa.” Things get kicked off at 2 p.m. Saturday with the Boys and Girls Club Wild and Crazy Reindeer Chariot Race. All of the other activities start at 4 p.m. The annual event is being spruced up some this year according Baker. “We just want everyone to be able to enjoy Christmas activities here in Alexander City,” Baker said. “What makes this so nice is a family can stay right here in town and not have to travel anywhere.” Activities at this year’s Christmas in the Park include train rides, the Polar Express for children, carriage rides, Christmas music by local groups, a S’mores bar, a Christmas tree lot and a live nativity scene. The evening finishes up with “Frozen” on the screen. See CHRISTMAS, Page 7
VCCA counselors available for help with Affordable Healthcare Act enrollment By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
481.30 Reported on 12/7/15 @ 3 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
The time for enrolling in the Affordable Healthcare Act coverage runs from now until January 31 and Alexander City’s Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama has certified counselors available to assist in the enrollments. “The process is complicated on the surface, but we can sort through it really quickly,” said Larry Workman, one of VCCA’s four certified counselors, adding that persons seeking coverage effective Jan. 1 must enroll by Dec. 15. “Those who need coverage Jan. 1 need to go ahead and enroll and we’re here to help them on Mondays
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Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Kellyton business destroyed by explosion, fire B Tire on Highway 280 in Kellyton was destroyed by fire in the early B’s morning hours Friday. Witnesses told firefighters that the building m appeared to explode and burst into flames. The Kellyton Volunteer Fire a Department responded in just six minutes after the initial call and found D the building engulfed in flames, according to Chief Jerry Sewell of the th Kellyton Fire Department. Sewell said the cause of the fire was still under K investigation, but said the business owner indicated that there had been in ccharging inside the structure at the time of the fire.
See VCCA, Page 3
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