COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE TODAY.
THE
WEDNESDAY
WINTER CLASSIC Generals host local teams in Pepsi Tourney, Sports B1.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 December 9, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 245 www.alexcityoutlook.com
.5% of our sales tax paves local roads
Chamber moves ahead on business incubator By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
The Alexander City Chamber discussed negotiations that will allow it to move into and establish a smallbusiness incubator in the now-vacant USAmeriBank operations building just off U.S. Highway 280 at its monthly meeting Tuesday in First Baptist Church’s Fireside Room. “We’re working with our attorney to fabricate a lease that will be acceptable to
the Chamber,” said Mark Spencer, senior vice president and central Alabama area executive for USAmeriBank and chair of the Chamber’s finance committee. “We’re waiting on the Chamber to see which direction they want to go.” Ann Rye, president of the Chamber, said it was looking for a “hybrid” incubator which could provide a combination of long-term rental space, collaborative space and space for those businesses currently operating “around their kitchen table” and need additional
space. “I think one thing we need to look at are service industries that are needed in this area,” Rye said. “Things like an architect or an engineer. We also need to look at small manufacturing operations.” Spencer said he saw the incubator as a catalyst for economic growth. “I think this will allow us to attract businesses from outside our geographic area,” Spencer said. “That should eventually spur local economic growth. We
have an idea location with frontage on 280. That will be very enticing to businesses.” Spencer also said that USAmeriBank would turn the building over to the Chamber after 15 years for a nominal fee of around $1, which would give the Chamber a real estate asset. Jacob Meacham, vice president of business development for the Chamber, said he and Randy Dawkins of River See CHAMBER, Page A7
Creeks building canoe at Horseshoe Bend Park By Mia Osborn Outlook Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
This week at Horseshoe Bend Military Park, members of the Creek (Muscogee) Nation are connecting with their history as they build a tradiJohn Brown, tional dugout canoe. left,with the These representatives of the Creek nation in Creek Nation in Oklahoma first came to Oklahoma, and town in September, when Butch Fuller use power tools to they oversaw the cutting of a massive poplar tree remove some in Dadeville. Two logs wood from a were sawn from the tree, popular log one of which went back to above. Right, the MCN Cultural Center Brown brought in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. some hand There, it was made into made tools the first of two dugout to use on the canoes. The second canoe canoe that is currently being built at when finished Horseshoe Bend. in March will be To help them craft on display in their canoes by traditional methods, the group turned the Horseshoe Bend National to Butch Fuller, a Lake Military Park Martin local with ties to the Creek nation. Fuller museum. has experience making See CANOE, Page A7
Today’s
66 45 Low
By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
481.21 Reported on 12/8/15 @ 7 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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54708 90050
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Like an army of food trucks, volunteers for Meals on Wheels disperse daily within the Alexander City city limits to deliver 70 hot meals to clients mentally or physically unable to prepare their own. But they’re not only providing warm meals. They’re also warming clients’ hearts. “It’s a great program,” said Linda Boone, the program’s director, who has worked with Meals on Wheels for 24 years. “We help a lot of people remain in their home longer than they normally would be able to. And we give them someone to talk to, if only briefly.”
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FBC Choir and Orchestra December 12th 7:00 pm December 13th 11:00 am
A L E X A N D E R
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
City crews take out problem trees along parts of Circle Drive By Cliff Williams Outlook Staff Writer
The Alexander City Public Works Department closed Circle Drive Tuesday to cut trees in the area. A public works crew could be seen removing Bradford Pear trees between the sidewalk and the street with a bucket truck. The crews also used their trucks to remove the trees and debris from the street and sidewalk. The tree board and the City agreed the trees needed to be removed because the overgrowth of the trees did not meet standard driver height requirements of a 14 feet high window of travel not encroached from top or sides. Additionally, numerous complaints have been received in this area from school bus drivers, recreational vehicles, truck drivers, City service trucks, See TREES, Page A7
Meals on Wheels provides warm meals and warm hearts
Weather High
Alexander City Public Works employees remove trees along Circle Drive Tuesday to allow easier travel of trucks along the street.
C I T Y,
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In order to qualify for Meals on Wheels, one must meet the above criteria and be homebound. Just to make sure, there is a screening committee that looks over the applications. “We have some clients that are long-term and others that are shortterm,” Boone said. “There may be someone who has an injury that just renders them unable to prepare their own meals for a short period of time.” And then there are the meals, prepared hot every day at Russell Medical Center. “They are complete meals with a meat and two vegetables, a dessert, maybe an apple – a lot for $3,” Boone said. “Unless you’re a real heavy eater, it’s usually enough for lunch See MEALS, Page A7
Submitted / The Outlook
The local Meals on Wheels depends on volunteers like former Alexander City mayor and current Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance Director Don McClellan to get food to its clients.