Weekend BASSMASTER TOURNAMENT RESULTS AND MORE ON PAGE 11
The Outlook
SPORTS, PAGE 11 Coosa wins area title
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
February 10-11, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 30 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
INSIDE TODAY: Arrests, page 2 Opinion, page 4 Religion, page 6 Classifieds, page 7 News, page 10 Sports, page 11
Eagles thriving on Lake Martin
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Bassmaster professional Keith Combs works Elkahatchee Creek Friday morning.
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
A
labama Power Company employees counted a record 35 bald eagles on five company reservoirs during the annual nationwide midwinter survey in January, according to a release issued by the company Thursday. For those of you who frequent Lake Martin, that should come as no surprise. According to the study, Alabama Power spotted nine at Lake Martin during the month of January. It reported seeing six adult eagles and three juveniles. To formulate this year’s count, a combination of 10 APC full-time and contract employees on boats braved cold temperatures during the surveys on Logan Martin, Lay, Smith, Harris and Martin reservoirs on Jan. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11, biologist Chad Fitch said. In addition, two U.S. Forest Service personnel assisted with the Smith Lake survey. Those familiar with Lake Martin say that number sounds low. Lake Martin visitors have reported eagle sightings near Wind Creek State Park and Pace’s Peninsula on the east side of Lake Martin, but also have sighted a nest at Dixie Island south of Chimney Rock. Officials have also been told of several sightings at Pitchford Hollow and near the Needle Eye in the lake’s northwest corner. Wind Creek’s Park Manager Bruce Adams said bald eagles recently have been sighted at the park marina, and a nest is known to exist in the back of the slough behind the park’s marina. Last summer, a pair was seen frequently along Elkahatchee Creek and near Bay Pines. Jimmy Lanier, trail builder extraordinaire and founder of the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA), said he often sees eagles as he walks the CRATA system. “I would see them all the time, especially on the Deadening Trail,” Lanier told Betsy Iler for a 2016 LAKE Magazine story. “I have seen them land on those big dead See EAGLES • Page 9
Lake Martin, Alex City drawing high praise from anglers By MITCH SNEED Editor
Lake Martin, Wind Creek and Alexander City are drawing rave reviews from the professional fishermen in town for Bassmaster Elite at Lake Martin. More than 2,000 people flooded Wind Creek State Park Friday for weigh-ins on Day 2 of the See ANGLERS • Page 3
County Democrats hear from area candidates Sneed talks election, Page 4. By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Kenneth Boone / The Outlook
Alabama Power Company employees recently counted a record 35 bald eagles on five company reservoirs during the annual nationwide midwinter survey in January.
A crowd of around 40 people filled the Charles “Bud” Porch Center in Alexander City Thursday evening for the monthly meeting of the Tallapoosa County Democratic Party, eager to hear what several of the candidates running for state Segrest and local offices had to say about their campaigns. “We are all citizens of this country, and in the voting box, there is no discrimination,” Interim Chair Carol Gowan said as she opened the meeting. “We have gotten new people into the party. More and more people have been coming out See DEMOCRATS • Page 3
Local family comes together for Birmingham marathon By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The annual Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham is scheduled for Sunday, where runners will pace themselves on a course winding through the streets of the Magic City. Among them will be local resident John Ferguson, joined for the first time by his entire family, all of whom will be taking part in either the marathon or the halfmarathon. “We have done some running before, but this is the first time we’ve all come together to do
this,” Ann Ferguson said. “Our son (Craig) lives in New Jersey, and this is the first full marathon he’ll be participating in. One of our daughters (Kate Gaskin) will be running in the half-marathon and our other daughter (Carrie Wilson) and I will be walking the halfmarathon. My husband John will be running in the marathon, and this will be his 65th marathon. “Kate was the instigator of all of us doing this together. Her husband is in the Air Force, and she told us last year while living in Colorado Springs that she wanted us to do See MARATHON • Page 9
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
•Home-like Environment • Specialized Dementia Care Unit •Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services
+
Today’s
Weather
67 60 High
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.73
Reported on 02/09/18 @ 11 a.m.
The Ferguson family from Alexander City will all be coming together Sunday to take part in the annual Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham, walking or running in both the marathon and the half-marathon. From left to right, John Ferguson, Ann Ferguson, Carrie Wilson, Kate Gaskin and Craig Ferguson.
Here + Pay Here + + CLEAN USED CARS
1555 HILLABEE STREET • (256) 329-0847
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708
90050
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
FREE CONSULTATIONS
Cars• Vans• Trucks • SUV’s
Midway Auto,Inc.
Off Hwy. 280 • Alexander City, AL
A DAMS HEALTH & REHAB
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
Submitted / The Outlook
+ Buy
No Credit Checks
Low
(On Right Past the River Bridge)
256.825.9830
“It’s not the end ... It’s a new beginning”
256-329-1313 217 Madison Street, Alexander City, AL “We are a Debt Relief Agency. We help people file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 under the Bankruptcy Code. Alabama State Bar requires the following in every attorney advertisement, “ No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”