Feb. 12, 2016 Alex City Outlook

OFFICERS GAIN MUCH RESPECT FOR GOOD DEED. PAGE 4.

FRIDAY

THE WHAT’S UP?

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 February 12, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 31 www.alexcityoutlook.com

See all local events in the calendar, page 7.

City officials pay Alabama cities with population of 13K-22K

READY TO RUMBLE Wildcats ready for sectionals, page 8.

Are city leaders overpaid?

Pay

State avg.

AC now

Mayor

$53,419

$60,000

In advance of election, council-mayor pay debated

Council

$8,300

$10,500

By MITCH SNEED Editor

Total

$61,719

$70,500

Source: 2014 Auburn University Study for the Alabama League of Municipalities

Before qualifying for elections in Alexander City begins, the current council must consider any changes to pay for the mayor and council members if they feel a change is needed.

While it is unclear what action may be taken, statistics show Alexander City elected officials making

more than the average for elected officials in other municipalities across the state of similar size.

According to a 2014 Auburn University study done for the Alabama League of Municipalities, the average salary for a mayor of a city with more than 13,000 residents and less than 22,000 residents is $53,419. Currently the mayor of Alexander City

Valentine’s event gives chance to rescue shelter pets

BRHS Robotics not just about the cool toys Students use robots, drones to prepare for lucrative careers

By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer

You don’t have to buy roses for Rover to share your Valentine’s Day love with man’s best friend.

Instead, you and your human sweetheart can enjoy hors d’oeuvres, music and dancing at the Lake Martin Event Center at the Rodeo Club on Saturday night and help homeless dogs, too.

The event center has partnered with Rescue K911 Inc. in Camp Hill for “An Evening of Dance and Romance,” which begins at 8 p.m. and benefits the non-profit (501(c)3), nokill animal shelter.

Rescue K911 was founded by Larry and Loraine Weaver in 1997 after they moved to Tallapoosa County from Florida.

“We had just moved here and we were coming home from town one day,” said Lorraine Weaver. “We rounded the corner and came across a stray dog.

He was in rough shape.

We took him home, bathed him and fed him and, of course, took him to the vet the next day. The vet said See PETS • Page 2

Lake Martin

Lake Levels

482.76 Reported on 2/11/16 @ 3 p.m.

Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL

Today’s

Weather

62 30 High

6

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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080

8

See SALARY • Page 3

By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Horsehoe Bend High School students eat cupcakes as they celebrate FCCLA Week. Below, carnations await the students to assemble for Valentine’s gifts that were purchased.

70 YEARS LATER Horseshoe Bend FCCLA celebrates 70 years of service

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Members of the Horseshoe Bend High School FCCLA have been busy this week as they celebrate FCCLA Week.

Not only are they celebrating 70 years of homemaking, but they are raising funds as part of statewide effort from FCCLA. “We have been selling carnations and stuffed animals,” HBHS 11th grader Austin Bowen said.

The students have been involved See FCCLA • Page 3

Whatley’s ‘Ava’s Law’ passed by state Senate

Lewis honored by Humane Society for work on Patterson animal cruelty case

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

A bill sponsored by Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Auburn), which could strengthen the penalty for aggravated child abuse, has been passed by the Senate.

Whatley, who represents Tallapoosa County, introduced Ava’s Law. With Senate passage, the bill will now moves to the Alabama House of Representatives.

Under Ava’s Law, a person could be charged with murder if they commit aggravated child abuse that results in a child’s See AVA • Page 2

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Chief Assistant District Attorney speaks after receiving an award from The Humane Society’s Mindy Gilbert.

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Students in Anthony Hart’s robotics classes at Benjamin Russell High School get to play with a lot of cool toys.

They get to tinker with the small Lex robot, they get to fool around with any of several drones in the classroom and soon they’ll have a miniaturized industrial-type robot to take for a spin.

But it’s not about fun and games.

It’s about preparing the students for David Granger / The Outlook a possible BRHS Robotics teacher career in what Anthony Hart shows Robot, has become, drone. according to Hart, a booming field.

“I hope some of the students pursue careers in robotics,” said Hart, in his second year of teaching robotics at Benjamin Russell. “That’s a big, big career field right now. Right up the road here, Mercedes hired 2,000 people in the last year and most of them were hired for jobs involving robotics. The robot that we bought here mimics the robot that See ROBOTICS • Page 3

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For the second year in a row, the Humane Society of the United States is recognizing a member of law enforcement from Tallapoosa County.

Alabama Director for the Humane Society of the United States Mindy Gilbert came to Alexander City to recognize Alabama Fifth Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant District Attorney Damon Lewis for his efforts in the prosecution of Nicholas Patterson for animal cruelty.

See ANIMALS • Page 3

Page 2

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Parenting at ex’s house becomes an issue for new wife

Saturday

43 24 Low

High Sunny

Sunday

49 36 Low

High Sunny

Staff

Directory Telephone: (256) 234-4281 Fax: (256) 234-6550 Website: www.alexcityoutlook.com

Mia Osborn Assistant Magazine Editor, Ext. 227 mia.osborn@alexcityoutlook.com

Management Kenneth Boone Publisher, Ext. 218 kenneth.boone@alexcityoutlook.com Mitch Sneed Editor, Ext. 213 mitch.sneed@alexcityoutlook.com David Kendrick Circulation Manager, Ext. 204 david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com Lee Champion Production Manager, Ext. 220 lee.champion@alexcityoutlook.com

Advertising Sales Tippy Hunter Advertising Director, Ext. 206 marketing@alexcityoutlook.com Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Kim Morse Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 kim.morse@alexcityoutlook.com Emily Guill Advertising Sales, Ext. 225 emily.guill@alexcityoutlook.com Debbie DeWildt Advertising Sales, Ext. 214 debbie.dewildt@alexcityoutlook.com

Accounting Angela Mullins Bookkeeping, Ext. 202 angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com Mary Lyman Boone Bookkeeping marylyman.boone@alexcityoutlook.com Newsroom Betsy Iler Magazine Managing Editor, Ext. 221 betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com Robert Hudson Sports Editor, Ext. 228 robert.hudson@alexcityoutlook.com Cliff Williams Staff Writer, Ext. 212 cliff.williams@alexcityoutlook.com David Granger Staff Writer, Ext. 210 david.granger@alexcityoutlook.com

Friday, February 12, 2016

The Outlook

Composing Audra Spears Composing Department, Ext. 219 audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com Darlene Johnson Composing Department, Ext. 203 darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com Hallie Holloway Composing Department, Ext. 203 hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com Alethia Russell Graphic Artist, Ext. 231 alethia.russell@alexcityoutlook.com Circulation Linda Ewing Asst. Circulation Manager, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@alexcityoutlook.com

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, Lake magazine, (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) Lake Martin Living, The Outlook is published five times Kenneth Boone a week, Tuesday through Saturday Photography and mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, a commercial web printing press.

Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011. © 2011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. ReproPOSTMASTER: Send address duction of any part of any issue requires changes to Post Office Box 999, written publisher permission.

Alexander City, AL 35011.

Postal

Information

For Subscriptions, Call 256- 234- 4281

DEAR ABBY: I am a divorced father who has recently remarried. I have parenting time with my children one weeknight and every other weekend.

My children have told me that during the week they prefer doing their homework at their mother’s home. They say that by the time I pick them up, prepare dinner and they start their homework, it’s already time to return to their mother’s. They are at ages where homework assignments can take several hours.

My ex is OK with me spending time with them at her home.

She uses the time to run errands and do other things she may not have time for during the week.

When there’s no school, I bring the kids to our house. All weekend parenting time takes place at my home.

The problem is, my present wife can’t stand that I spend time with my children at my ex’s home. She doesn’t understand why I won’t bring them here. I

Obituaries

DEAR ABBY Advice

feel there’s ample opportunity on the weekends for my kids to be at our house and for her to build a relationship with them.

Academics are crucial at this point in their lives.

So -- do I disrupt their homework to accommodate my wife? Or should I continue the arrangement that my kids, my former wife and I have established? -- PARENTING TIME IN NEBRASKA DEAR PARENTING TIME: It appears you have married a woman who is insecure. Your children’s reasons for wanting to stay at their mother’s during the week seem valid. You didn’t mention how long you and wife

No. 2 have been married, but if it’s a brand-new marriage, point out that during school breaks and summer vacation she will have the midweek time to bond with your children that she’s craving.

DEAR ABBY: My employer hosted a professional development workshop on workplace etiquette and conduct related to gender and personal identity.

The facilitator told us to make sure we always use the gender pronoun preferred by the person we are talking to or about.

But she didn’t give any guidance about how to know what those pronouns are if it’s not clear from someone’s outward appearance. Additionally, I have learned I’m not very good at guessing.

Is there a polite way to ask someone if they prefer to be called he or she? What about people who don’t use either?

It seems like there’s a lot of

Ava

William L. Poole

Mr. William L. Poole, Jr. age 76 of Eclectic, AL passed away on February 5, 2016.

A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, February 13, 2016 at Epiphany Episcopal Church in Tallassee Al. Alabama Funeral Homes and Cremation Centers in Dadeville, AL are handling the arrangements.

Mae Francis Wilson

Funeral service for Mae Francis Wilson 68 of Goodwater, AL; Saturday, February 13, 2016; 2 p.m., Armour’s Memorial Chapel, Alexander City, AL; Burial, Simmons Cemetery, Millerville, AL. Arrangements by Armour’s Memorial Services.

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death.

Under current Alabama legal code, aggravated child abuse that leads to the unintentional death of a child is limited to prosecution as manslaughter, the maximum punishment for which is 20 years in prison.

“This closes a loophole in the law and gives our district attorneys the authority they need to fully prosecute people who abuse children so violently a child dies,” Whatley said in a released statement. “If

an innocent person is unintentionally killed during the course of a robbery, that death can be prosecuted as murder.

Under Ava’s Law, child abuse that leads to a death could also be prosecuted as a murder.”

Ava’s Law is named after Ava Zapata, a four-year old girl from Lee County who died in May 2012 after being abused and killed by her mother’s boyfriend.

Pets said he was starving and would probably die, but we took care of him and he survived.

“We’ve got seven acres here in Camp Hill and Rescue K911 has been our mission ever since. It’s our calling, our ministry.”

Tickets for the event are $10 or $5 plus a cash donation or a donated supply item (a bag of dog food, for example) for the shelter. Tickets will be available at the door or may be purchased in advance and any supplies may be dropped off at

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

continued from page 1

Mary L. Moon

Mrs. Mary L. Moon of Alexander City Alabama died February 11, 2016 and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Wright’s Funeral Home.

opportunity to offend someone.

I’d hate to upset anyone by using the wrong pronoun, but I also don’t want to admit to the person that I can’t tell if he or she is a man or woman. It’s like walking in a minefield. -WHAT’S RIGHT? DEAR WHAT’S RIGHT: This is such new territory, it may take a while for the general public to adjust. However, the person’s name should be a clue about which gender he or she identifies with. While I wouldn’t recommend asking what gender the person is, it wouldn’t be inappropriate to use the word “they” when speaking about the person because that pronoun is being used more in the singular.

continued from page 1

Alabama Funeral Homes, Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce, Lake Martin Community Hospital, Lake Martin Experience, Lake Martin Medicine, Lake Martin Pharmacy, Lake Martin Pizza Co., Lakeside Mercantile, Piggly Wiggly Dadeville and Southside Collision.

In addition to music from The Heartthrobs and an opportunity to share romance on the dance floor, the night will feature light hors d’oeuvres.

“The Heartthrobs are four of the finest musicians that I know within a 60-mile or so radius,” said Ed Shikoski, owner of the Rodeo Club. “We put them together just for this event and decided to call them the Heartthrobs. Isn’t that clever? But, seriously, they are fine musicians.”

Shikoski said those who attend will also enjoy the food, which is being supplied by another local supporter of Rescue K911.

“The hors d’oeuvres are being furnished by Lake Martin Pizza Co. and will include some items they’ll be introducing soon,” said

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Shikoski. “They’ll have stromboli, meatball sliders and some skewered vegetables. And they’re doing it because they’re committed to Rescue K911 and what they do.

“The in-house lights and sound will be spectacular, the room will be decorated to the nines. It should be a very romantic atmosphere.”

Shikoski said providing the venue and atmosphere was all done because he and his wife Marge believe in Rescue K911 and what it does.

“Marge and I are big dog lovers,” Shikoski said. “A couple of years ago, it came to our attention that K911 was a no-kill shelter. These people are totally committed. They take all kinds of dogs, even those that have issues such as blindness or other things like that. And they are exclusively dependent on personal donations and volunteers. If you’ve never been out there, they really are a ground-up organization doing truly phenomenal things.”

Rescue K911 is dedicated to reducing overpopulation, abuse and neglect of domestic animals. Since 1997, Rescue K911 has successfully placed over 1,000 animals in homes.

The Lake Martin Event Center is located in Dadeville at 10268 County Road 34. If you have questions about the benefit, please call the event center at 256-825-7503.

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Friday, February 12, 2016

Salary

continued from page 1

receives a total compensation of $60,000.

The same study shows that council members in cities of similar size to Alexander City average $8,300 annually in salary. Members of the Alexander City City Council currently are compensated at a rate of $10,500 annually.

That means that the mayor and members of the council here are paid more than the state average.

But still some think that an increase in pay would be warranted.

At a recent work session, Council President Jim Spann said it was his opinion that the mayor and council needed a pay increase.

On Jan. 12, Spann stressed that any action taken on pay for elected officials would not begin until after the next election.

“There are 26 people who work for the city that make more money than the mayor,” Spann said.

“Some of them in excess of $30,000 or $40,000 more. Personally, I know in all my years of working, I’ve never seen a place where the boss makes less than the employees. I think the mayor’s salary needs to go up. I think the council’s salary needs to go up.

“I think the city council needs to be in the range of a county commissioner.”

County commissioners make “in the neighborhood of $20,000,” Spann said.

Using Spann’s thoughts, city employees cannot make more than $99,999 due to a cap that is in place. To pay the mayor more than the highest paid employee would put the mayor at a salary of more

than $100,000, higher than any other mayor listed on the Auburn study.

To pay an Alexander City City Council member $20,000 would also make them the highest paid council members in the state, if the numbers in the Auburn study are correct.

Even though the cities’ sizes aren’t exactly the same consider these numbers: Auburn pays its council members $7,200 annually and its mayor $16,000. But Auburn has a city manager who handles day-to-day operations.

Among similar sized cities, the numbers still vary.

The mayor of Jasper is paid $57,523 and council members make $7,200. In Troy, the mayor is paid $48,000 and council members make $10,400. In Foley, the mayor is paid $30,000 and council members make $12,000.

The pay for mayor is $52,000 in Ozark, while council members make $7,200.

The mayor of Sylacauga is paid $42,699 and council members make $9,900.

So what will the council do in regards to pay?

Discussion has been limited, but City Clerk Harriett Scott said at the most recent meeting of the council that if the council desired to make any changes, it would need to come at Monday’s scheduled meeting.

Council members Tony Goss and Billy Ray Walls said they were not in favor of any increase in council pay.

Robotics

continued from page 1

they have at the Mercedes plant.

They probably have about 30,000 robots (at the Vance facility).

“The field is just wide open.

In fact, I just went to a programming class and there was a guy in the programming class making $230,000 a year and he’s 23 years old.”

Hart said his robotics program covers the basics of the burgeoning career field.

“We teach them about basic robotics,” Hart said. “We’ve got Introduction to Robotics, I teach that. That’s where we teach them about digital circuits, how robots work, the basics of robotics.

We participate in a program at Auburn University called BEST (Boosting Engineering Science and Technology) Robotics where we build a robot and compete with other schools in this area. We didn’t do it this year, we did it last year. We got a lot of equipment in this year, so we didn’t get to participate.”

One recent addition to the Benjamin Russell robotics program that will aid in the training of robotics students is a $60,000 Kuka robot, obtained through a workforce development grant the school received from the Alabama State Department of Education.

Currently, the students train using a Vex robot. The Kuka is a miniaturized version of the same type of robot used in automobile manufacturing and other industries.

The Kuka robot is scheduled to be assembled next week and Hart has big plans for its use, including applying for a certification program from Kuka, Inc., that his students can earn.

“I want to implement a certificate from Kuka so I can certify my students as programmers,”

FCCLA

Hart said. “Again, we just got this, I just went through the training myself, but I hope that is something that we can soon offer.”

While all companies don’t use Kuka robots, Hart said that all industrial robots are similar in their operation and programming.

He compared the knowledge necessary to program different brands of industrial robots to the knowledge necessary to drive different makes of cars.

“Different companies use different brands of robots,” Hart said. “Mercedes may use one brand, Honda another and Kia another. But they’re just like cars.

Basically, they’re all similar in the way they operate, like a Chevrolet is similar to a Honda or a Kia. There is very little difference in them.”

Hart said certification showing the ability to program a Kuka robot would prove beneficial for his students regardless of the brand of robot used by a particular manufacturer.

“Basically, the certification would show that the student has the aptitude and that he or she is familiar with the programming,” Hart said. “So the employer would know if they sent them to school on that robot that they could quickly pick up any differences in how they operate.”

Hart’s career technical teaching extends beyond robotics to engineering.

“In the engineering, we try to get them to want to pursue engineering as a career,” Hart said.

“We teach different aspects of engineering. Engineering sort of prepares you for any technical career. Engineers are people with technical minds and they participate in all kinds of different things

continued from page 1

in scavenger hunts for the FCCLA logo too.

The creations are being put together in FCCLA advisor Felicia Williams’ room for delivery today.

“It is a state FCCLA project,” Williams said.

The money will be donated to the Juvenile

Diabetes Research Organization when we go to the state FCCLA convention in March.

We currently have bout 18 students going and have applied for several awards.”

for the future. What I see these students doing is trying to open up their minds to be creative, being able to analyze and being able to create. I see these students going on to careers as auto mechanics, engineering, woodworking. Really, all kinds of things.”

A Camp Hill native, Hart holds a degree from Alabama A&M University in Huntsville and did master’s work at Syracuse (New York) University in electrical engineering. He retired after 30 years as an engineer/manager at IBM in Owego, New York, before moving back home to Tallapoosa County.

After taking two years off, he taught algebra at Dadeville High School for a year before becoming certified to teach engineering and robotics and teaching one year at Camp Hill’s Edward Bell Technical Center before coming to Benjamin Russell.

The Tallapoosa County native says he’s enjoyed his tenure at BRHS and is excited about what the school is doing for students interested in fields where career technical education is a better fit.

“I love it here,” Hart said. “I like that we seem to have put a new concentration on career tech here, because not all kids are cut out for four-year colleges. It’s not necessarily a matter of intelligence, but of what they want to do. So we’re putting more emphasis on these other careers and that’s a great thing.”

Robotics and engineering are among several career and technical programs at Benjamin Russell and other area schools.

February is Career Tech Month and, throughout the month, The Outlook will highlight several of these programs.

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Page 3

www.alexcityoutlook.com

The Outlook

Animals

continued from page 1

“I am delighted to once again be in this district to recognize the adjudication of animal cruelty crimes,” Gilbert said. “Every year, the Humane Society, in conjunction with the sheriff’s association, recognizes cases across the country by picking some to acknowledge. For 2015, there were nine cases from across the nation to be picked and this is one of them.”

“I am honored,” Lewis said of the recognition.

Lewis gave credit to others for their help in making the case.

“Kelly Cotney and Ken Vernon made the case,” Lewis said. “The owners of the animals stretched to Washington and back and were reunited with their animals thanks in part to attorney Kevin Hall.”

In June 2014, collie breeder Nicholas Patterson was arrested and went on the run after officials found several purebred show dogs neglected, starving and some already dead.

Patterson plead guilty to nine counts of animal abuse and three counts of finan+

cial transaction card fraud in March. Under the agreement, Patterson received 10 years on each of nine of the abuse counts and three years on each of the fraud charges.

In accordance with sentencing guidelines, Patterson’s time on the abuse charges was split, two years to serve and eight on probation. All of the sentences are running concurrently. The time given on the fraud charges will also run along with the abuse sentences.

Patterson is currently serving two years, with credit for time served, and then faces eight years of probation. Under the terms he will never be allowed to own an animal again.

Lewis explained the efforts to finally get animal cruelty on the radar.

“I have been doing this since 1998,” Lewis said. “I have pushed the envelope with aggravated animal cruelty.”

Last year, the Humane Society recognized New Site Director of Public Safety John McKelvey for his efforts in taking down a dog fighting operation.

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BUSINESS LICENSES ARE DUE Business licenses for the City of Alexander City, Alabama are due and payable on or before February 15, 2016. City Hall is open on Presidents’ Day. The license obligation may be paid in person at the City Hall on Court Square in the License Department Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, or the payment may be mailed. If mailed the postmark must indicate on or before February 15, 2016. All business licenses paid on or after February 16, 2016 will be subject to a 15% late fee. All mailed payments postmarked February 16, 2016 or after will be subject to the same late fee.

Harriett Scott, City Clerk

MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213

editor@alexcityoutlook.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Kenneth Boone Mitch Sneed

Outlook The

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Page 4

Our

A magical day in Birmingham

Opinion Caring officers earn respect for random act of kindness

W

e expect a lot of our law enforcement officers.

We expect them to keep our families and streets safe and, when our living space or rights to ownership are violated, we expect them to respond, investigate and find the person responsible.

Here in our city, our police perform their expected duties well.

We respect them for that.

But when we have officers that go beyond their call – such as Capt. Mario Hodge and Officer Troy Middlebrooks did last week – that respect is magnified.

Hodge and Middlebrooks are the two Alex City officers who drove 14 hours to return David Mathews, 63, of Hartford, Kentucky, home after the man left his home on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 26, for an appointment at the VA Clinic in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, only to show up at Southern Care Hospice in Alexander City 32 hours later.

Hodge said Mathews, who suffers from dementia, “was very confused and was asking about his wife and the VA clinic.”

Middlebrooks said Mathews “reminded me of my wife’s grandfather. … I just didn’t want him to go through more than he already had.”

So Hodge and Middlebrooks took a lot of time – all but four hours without pay – and drove Mathews back to Hartford.

When the two got near Mathews’ home, they were met by Kentucky officers who led them the last few miles. “(His family was) very thankful and glad to see him for sure,” said Hodge. “We were just glad we found him and were able to help.

It’s our job to help people.”

With respect to Hodge, this was more than work. This was caring.

It is a comfort and a matter of pride to rest knowing our Alexander City police officers have hearts like Hodge and Middlebrooks and are would respond to a stranger in need with such a random act of kindness.

As citizens protected by such men, we should consider it a challenge to conduct ourselves similarly, both to our neighbors and those who visit our wonderful community – whether intentionally or by unfortunate accident.

Friday, February 12, 2016

I

don’t necessarily know my way around Birmingham.

I know the interstates and that dreadful stretch of US Highway 280 that leads into the city from the southeast.

The traffic there can be terrible. The only traffic comparable to that was the mill traffic in the seventies.

While driving in that area, if you happened to hear that horn go off, you sped up or you got stuck in that traffic for, literally, minutes. It was awful.

I had a speaking gig in the Magic City on Thursday.

The day started early as I was picked up at my hotel by my friend Susan, who drove me to WBRC Fox 6 to appear on Good Day Alabama. On the way over to the station, she asked me if I knew my way around Birmingham.

“I do not,” I replied.

“You don’t? So what big cities did you go to when you were growing up?” she inquired.

“Auburn,” I said with a smile.

As we approached the station, we drove alongside Vulcan Park, home of the Vulcan, one of Alabama’s most iconic landmarks. It ranks up there with the USS Alabama and the Boll Weevil Monument, but did you know you can see the Vulcan’s bare bottom. Who knew? I had no

JODY FULLER Guest Columnist

idea. I’d only seen his front side from the main highway.

I was blown away, almost literally. It was quite windy atop that mountain.

The interview went well, but I could’ve used some make-up on the particular morning. I was shiny.

I’ve been on a health and wellness kick as of late and try to eat healthier. I stress the word healthier and not healthy, because I love food and refuse to go through life and not enjoy great grub. I went to SAW’s BBQ, another iconic Birmingham landmark, for lunch. If you’ve never been there, you are missing out. It may very well be the best BBQ in Alabama.

After waking up from a BBQ induced food coma, I got ready for my show at Iron City B’ham. It was an incredible venue in the heart of downtown. The event was a fundraiser for Workshops, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides job training and employment services for people with disabilities. They have been providing this great service for well over 100

years.

My father, who was blind, benefited from a similar program at the Talladega School for the Blind. He went through the Business Enterprise Program where he learned to service vending machines, which he did at government buildings in Montgomery for several years until his passing in 1981.

Seeing him walk to the bus stop every day with nothing but his keen senses and a cane set a great example for my brother and me. You see, programs like these have a trickle-down effect that benefit us all.

I was honored to be the headlining comedian for their “Comedy for a Cause” event.

The show went off without a hitch and ended with a long, standing ovation — not bad for a stuttering kid from Opelika.

We all have the ability to do great things and to be role models for those who look up to us. Sometimes, we just need a little help getting there.

John McKelvey represents District 3, which includes Jackson’s Gap, Hackneyville, New Site and Daviston.

His phone number is 256-825-8403.

His address is 1285 Freeman Road, Dadeville.

John McKelvey

Emma Jean Thweatt represents District 4, which includes Dadeville, Pace’s Point, northern Camp Hill, Buttston, Dudleyville and part of Eagle Creek.

Her daytime phone number is 825-6914 and her evening phone Emma Jean Thweatt number is 825-4207. Her address is 585 Brookwood Circle, Dadeville.

George Carleton Jr. represents District 5, which includes southern Camp Hill, Red Ridge, Walnut Hill, Union and Pleasant Ridge. His address is 630 Turner Road Road, Dadeville.

George Carleton Jr.

“Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.”

– George S. Patton

Today’s

Scripture “And it is impossible to please God without faith.

Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek him.

– Hebrews 11:6

alexcityoutlook.com

Daily Poll Thursday Question: Have you already decided which presidential candidate you would like to vote for?

No – 8

Friday Question: Do you already have plans for Valentine’s Day?

To participate in this daily poll, log on each day to www.alexcityoutlook.com and vote. Find out the vote totals in the next edition of The Outlook and see if your vote swayed the results.

Our

Mission The Outlook strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.

How to

Subscribe The subscription rate is $136.00 per year in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties and $177.99 outside the area. Periodicals paid at Alexander City, AL. Newspapers are available at 100 news racks in our area at 50 cents for The Outlook and 50 cents for The Record. We would love to deliver a paper to your door. Call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281, Ext. 204 or e-mail david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook. com.

Involved

Steve Robinson represents District 2, which includes the southern part of Alexander City, the Cedar Creek area, Steve Robinson Ourtown and Willow Point. His phone number is 256-654-0047. His address is 1225 Warren Circle, Alexander City.

Quote

Yes – 13

Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www.jodyfuller.com.

Get

T.C. Coley represents District 1, including half of Coley Creek, the Andrew Jackson subdivision, the southern part of Indian Hill, North Central Avenue, part of Pearson’s T.C. Coley Chapel Road, the Northside community and portion of Spring Hill community. His phone number is 212-9316.

His address is 2316 North Central Avenue, Kellyton.

Today’s

Letters to the Editor

Instead of hate, it’s better to agree to disagree Instead of hate, it’s better to agree to disagree Dear Editor, I would like to thank Dr. Sellers for his response to my letter. His reply was completely absent of any demagoguery, hyperbole or opinion stated as fact. His letter is an excellent example for others to use in any response (oral or written) to someone who does not share his point of view. We can agree to disagree.

But on another subject, it is my opinion that Islam is a very violent religion, and I do not want

our nation to open our borders to people who hate everything we stand for. On the other hand, since he did mention a return to Judeo-Christian principles and a reading of the American Trilogy, I suggest that folks might use their computers to research violence in the Old Testament. It makes it hard for us to throw stones.

However, Mrs. Seller’s letter of Feb. 11th was the exact opposite of Dr. Seller’s letter. Not only was it shocking but offensive to me. I believe it would be especially offensive to many clergy. In contrast to Dr. Seller’s letter, this letter was full of hate,

fear, innuendo, demagoguery, hyperbole and opinion stated as undeniable fact.

Mrs. Sellers, I hope you have the courage, understanding and ability to research and comprehend the violence in JudeoChristian history. Then again, maybe that is exactly what you are advocating — a return to our basic instincts. May the God I believe in show you more mercy, grace, and love than you evidently have for others.

David French Alexander City

Reader: an old friend is in serious trouble

Dear Editor, Growing up in the rural south brings on bittersweet memories.

While we were extremely pooron the lower end of the poverty scale, we didn’t realize it since we had never experienced anything better.

We had one single item to build our dreams, hopes and fantasies on: the Sears Roebuck catalog! It was our window to the real world, our source for new school clothes once a year. And yes, the best part of all, the day the annual Sears Christmas Wish Book catalog arrived! These memories are of this simple, innocent time with us five kids huddled around Mom as she parceled out the

meager cash we squirreled away from the cotton crop. Wonderful, sweet times!

The sadness is very real today as read in the news that Sears, is in deep, deep financial woes-possibly beyond redemption. The telltale signs have been evident for months with their stock off by more than 20 percent in the past year. Instead of a bright Christmas season in 2015, sales actually dropped by 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter Kmart, which is owned by Sears, was down by 7.2 percent. To add to their misery, sales are off by 9.2 percent so far in the first quarter of 2016.

Sears has tried to respond proactively by selling off $300

million in assets.. Yet, they have confirmed that 50 stores will be closed immediately with several more being considered for liquidation.

This 123-year old company is much more than a major business in America. It is an institution! Perhaps this is what is so difficult swallow. Another pillar of our past fading. Not unlike so many of our generation who too are fading.

Sears, Roebuck & Company, thanks for wonderful memories, great years and for contributing to what has made America great!

James W. Anderson Talladega

What’s your

Opinion?

We’d like to share your thoughts and opinions with the greater Lake Martin community. It’s free and it only takes a few moments of your time. We have two ways to get your opinion in print: letters to the editor and guest columns. The main difference is length. Letters to the editor are up to 250 words, while guest columns can be up to 500 words. Letters and columns may be sent to P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011, faxed to (256) 2346550 or e-mailed to editor@alexcityoutlook.com. Please include your name, address and phone number.

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Thursday, February 12, 2016

The Outlook

CommunityCalendar SEE ME FOR Today is INSURANCE February 12, 2016 Today’s Events

SOCCER REGISTRATION: Alexander City Youth Soccer will host registration Feb. 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m at the Sportplex Gym. VALENTINE GALA: Bridge

Builders of Alexander City is hosting a Valentine Gala. Feb. 12 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Cooper Community Center.

It is $20 per couple or $80 a table.

Raffle tickets will be sold at $1 ticket with a $50 first prie and Valentine’s Gift basket for 2nd.

Contact Hudson R. Hinton at 256750-1140 or Mike Goggans at 256749-2556.

Page 7

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Submit calendar items:

Participate in your Outlook by calling 256-234-4281, faxing them to 256-234-6550, sending your event to calendar@alexcityoutlook.com or logging on to http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/.

Today’s Anniversary

Chris and April Rainwater are celebrating their anniversary today.

Today’s Birthdays

Carrey Blackmon, Jeff Thomas, TJ Mattox, Dorothy Peoples, Sherry Hayes, Bryan Shanahan and Aisha Holley are celebrating their birthday today.

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Children who are members of the Boys and Girls Club of the Lake Martin Area pose for a photograph with administrative staff and Jennifer Searcy. Mrs. Searcy made a donation to the Boys and Girls Club in memory of her late husband John Searcy who was a long time board member and was presented the Boys and Girls Club Presidential Award with over 4,000 hours in volunteer service. The unit at Stephens Elementary School is named in his honor.

February 13

Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services •Physical Therapy •Occupational Therapy •Speech Therapy 2334 Washington Street Alexander City • 256-329-9061 www.crownemanagement.com

Come Visit Us! Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing

SERVING LUNCH IN THE CAFÉ Tuesday - Saturday 11am-1:30pm

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VALENTINE�S DAY SEMINAR: There will be a seminar Feb. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Arbor to celebrate marriage. The night will include dinner, door prizes and the Date Night Challenge.

The video by comedians Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley will allow couples to learn how to recognize why marriage is valuable, to invest in their marriage and join a community that is for their marriage.

There is no cost.

If you are interested, call Megan Sanders at 256-827-9127 or Angelia Windsor at 256-827-9226.

SOCCER REGISTRATION: Alexander City Youth Soccer will host registration Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Sportplex Gym. BASEBALL SOFTBALL TBALL REGISTRATION: Dadevile Dixie Youth will have registration for baseball, softball and t-ball Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Dadeville Recreation Center. 7-12 year old baseball and softball is $60 and 3-6 year old T-ball is $45. Payment and a copy of the child’s birth certificate must be presented at registration.

VALENTINE’S BANQUET: Sixth Street Baptist Church is having it’s annual Valentine’s Banquet on Saturday, February 13, at 6:00 p.m. in the church gymnasium. Special entertainment for the evening will be comedy by Mutzie, a clean Christian comedian from the New Orleans area.

Cost for dinner is $10 per person and includes your choice of steak, chicken breast, or hamburger steak along with sides, salad, and dessert. Space is limited and all registrations must be received by Sunday, February 7. To register, please call the church office at 256-234-2408 or email Ginger Young at gyoung@sixthstreetbaptistchurch. com.

February 15

SOS: Survivor’s of Suicide support group for those who have lost a friend or loved one to suicide will meet Monday, February 15, from 6-8 p.m at LakeMartin Family Therapy (393 Green Street, Alexander City). For more information or directions please call 256-329-3002.

February 16

MEETING: The Artist Association of East Alabama will meet Feb. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the United Way Conference Room.

February 18

FREEDMEN’S BUREAU PROJECT: The Adelia M. Russell Memorial Library will be hosting a project on the Freedmen’s Bureau Project Feb. 18 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Call or stop by the library for more information and to register.

Learn how to index rare Freedmen’s Bureau records from 1865-1868.

These records, which include the names of millions of freed slaves, will be available to the public for the first time when the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture opens this fall in Washington DC. The records will be online and free for everyone to learn about their family histories.

Williams will be the speaker for Horizons Unlimited Feb. 22 at the Alexander City Board of Education from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

February 27

FAMILY BINGO NIGHT: The Bibb Graves School is hosting a family bingo night Feb. 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

POLAR PLUNGE: Wind Creek State Park will host its Polar Bear Leap for Leap Year Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.

Participates should meet at the beach. Park entrance fees apply to non-campers.

For more information call 256-3290845.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Faith Christian Academy will host a pancake breakfast on Saturday, February 27 from 6:00 a.m. til 11:00 a.m. in the Faith Temple Gym on the corner of February 19-20 Franklin and Gorgas Streets.

MINGLING OF SOULS: A simulThe proceeds will benefit the FCA cast will be shown at the First Baptist Church Chapel called The Mingling of Robotics Team who will go to New Orleans for Competition. All you can Souls Simulcast with Matt and Laren eat (in house) or take out is available.

Chandler.

It will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. Price is $6. Plates include Pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. Tickets are 19 and Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The cost is $10 per couple and focus- available from FCA students or at the door. es on building healthy relationships in marriage. Contact Bill Stinson at bill @ fbc-ac.org for more information.

Call 256-234-4281 or stop by our ofĂšce at 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL

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February 29

February 20

PANCAKE BREAKFAST: The Alexander City Kiwanis Club is hosting its annual pancake breakfast Feb. 20 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the BRHS Lunchroom.

The breakfast is all you can eat and there will be Conecuh Sausage.

Tickets are $6 each.

TRADE DAY: The Bibb Graves School will hosts a trade day Feb. 20 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST: There will be a pancake breakfast at the New Site Town Hall Feb. 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. with proceeds going to the New Site Volunteer Fire and Ambulance.

February 21

ANNUAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY DAY: Great Bethel Missionary Baptist Church is hosting its annual friends and family day Sunday, Feb. 21 at 10:30 a.m.

Special guest and church is Rev. Wayne Cowhick, pastor of Alexander City Methodist Church.

February 22

HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Julie

HORIZONS UNLIMITED: Jerry Armor will be the speaker for Horizons Unlimited Feb. 29 at the Alexander City Board of Education from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

March 5

BOSTON BUTT SALE: There is a Boston Butt sale to benefit Carley Blankenship and family with pick up March 5 at Alex City Methodist Church from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased by calling or texting Kristi at 256-596-2171 or Celia at 256-496-2745 and at JR’s Sports Bar and Grill or see Ashley Barker at City Hall.

Cash or check only.

RUMMAGE SALE: The Pine Ridge Mission team of the Alexander City Methodist Church will hold its annual Rummage Sale on Saturday March 5 6 a.m.- 10 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. We will have furniture, household items, clothes, toys and much more.

The proceeds will benefit our annual mission trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation this summer.

256.234.3481 KarenChannell.com

Need your business to

STAND OUT from the crowd?

Call us, we can help!

256.234.4281

• • • • •

Alexander City Outlook Dadeville Record Wetumpka Herald Eclectic Observer Tallassee Tribune

ROBERT HUDSON SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228

sports@alexcityoutlook.com

Page 8

Friday, February 12, 2016

www.alexcityoutlook.com

READY TO RUMBLE

File Photo / The Outlook

Tayla Stowes (3) had 12 points in Wednesday’s loss to Valley.

Benjamin Russell, Coosa among squads eliminated

By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor

As area tournaments in basketball got underway on Tuesday, a number of local teams saw their seasons come to an end.

In Class 2A-Area 5, the Horseshoe Bend and Reeltown boys and girls teams were each eliminated on Tuesday night in the tournament hosted by Lanett.

The Reeltown boys fell 65-53 to the LaFayette Bulldogs, while the Reeltown girls fell 54-33 to the LaFayette Lady Bulldogs.

Horseshoe Bend’s boys fell 89-37 to the host Lanett Panthers, while the Horseshoe Bend girl’s also fell 62-33 to the host Lanett Lady Panthers.

The losses in the area tournament openers end the season for each team.

In Class 6A-Area 5, the Benjamin Russell Lady Wildcats suffered a narrow 45-39 loss to the Valley Lady Rams on Wednesday in Opelika.

Tayla Stowes had 12 points and Jaaliyah Caldwell had 10 points for the Lady Wildcats as they finished the season 9-16.

Benjamin Russell Coach Latreisha Moon said she is proud of the improvement the Lady Wildcats showed over the course of the season.

“I think we got better toward the end of the season. In the beginning we had a whole lot of work to do – and I know we still have a lot of work to do,” Moon said. “But we only lost by five points last night.”

In Class 3A-Area 5, the CentralCoosa Lady Cougars saw their season come to a premature end with a 62-49 loss to the Prattville Christian Lady Panthers on Wednesday at Montgomery Academy.

Ryesha Whetstone had 17 points, Shania Tuck had 14 points, Malia Kelly had eight points and ShaeLenzia Suttles had five points for Coosa as they finished 18-6.

Coosa Coach Syreeta McKinney said it was not the way the Lady Cougars wanted their season to end, but they have a foundation to build on next year.

“We had a very promising season, but like I said before, once you get to this point everybody is going to be just as good as you are if not better,” McKinney said. “When we got down there, I think we were kind of shocked and the pressure was on.

But overall I’m proud of the girls.

I’m proud of their effort. Didn’t do it this year, but most of our girls are coming back next year. My starting five is coming back and we’ve just got to go back to the basics.”

Robert Hudson / The Outlook

Benjamin Russell’s Tae Robinson, right, grapples with an opponent during matches against Smiths Station earlier this season. Benjamin Russell will compete in sectionals in Montgomery today and Saturday.

Wildcats head to sectionals for two-day competition

By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor

The Benjamin Russell Wildcats are ready to take the next step as they are entering crunch time in the 2016 season.

The Wildcats will begin competition in the Super Sectional Wrestling Tournament today and Saturday in Montgomery at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.

Benjamin Russell Coach Jeremy Stanford said the Wildcats are looking to send multiple wrestlers to the state competition in Huntsville.

“We’ll leave Friday at 6 a.m. going down there to Montgomery and weighins will be from 7-9 a.m. with wrestling starting at 11 a.m. We’re looking pretty good going in. Besides one class, we’ve got a full roster taking 13 guys to sectionals,” Stanford said. “We

feel pretty good about some of the guys and where they’re at. We’re looking to have them finish in that top eight so that they qualify for state. We’ve got a couple of guys that we want to really do well, but the rest of the team we’re looking for them to find their place so that they can make it to state.”

After placing first at the Dawghouse Duals in Opelika, Stanford said the Wildcats have built momentum heading into this weekend.

“I feel like we’ve got a little confidence coming out of that last week of the season. We had some wins and won that last tournament at the Dawghouse Duals,” Stanford said. “We’ve got a little confidence now. We had a rough stretch there in the middle of January where some of our guys were not as confident as we would have liked for them to display. But we’ve worked

hard these last couple of weeks and we’re ready to get back on the mat and show what we can do.”

With a defending state champion in senior Daniel Bland and a pair of top six finishers in seniors Thomas Coley and Tae Robinson, Stanford said the Wildcats are expecting big things from the two-day event.

“We’re hoping for Daniel to win sectionals and we’re also hoping that T. Coley and Tae Robinson can win at sectionals,” Stanford said. “The rest of our guys we want to see them place in that top eight so that they can go to state and help us get some points there. Every position we can get helps.

Taking a nearly full roster will help us as a team. I think we’re in a good position. Hopefully we can go down there and do what we need to do and hopefully win sectionals.”

Dadeville wrestling ready to compete at sectionals

By ROBERT HUDSON Sports Editor

With the high school wrestling season winding down, the Dadeville Tigers are set for another milestone in the first year of their program.

The Tigers will take nine wrestlers to the Super Sectional Wrestling Tournament in Montgomery at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl on Friday and Saturday.

Dadeville wrestling Coach Ben Gross said the Tigers will take nine weight classes to the sectional tournament with a goal to have wrestlers qualify for state.

“We have nine people going to sectionals and hopefully they qualify for state.

They have to place in the top eight in order to advance to state,” Gross said. “I feel pretty confident that we can place in the top eight. The better they place at sectionals will prepare them more for state in seeding purposes.”

Dadeville wrestlers who will participate in the sectional tournament are Troy Cruz at 106 pounds, RJ Ford at 132 pounds, Tyler Munoz at 152 pounds, PJ Pritchard at 160 pounds, Dillan Ray at 170 pounds, DJ Pearson at 182 pounds, Carson McClendon at 195 pounds, Ab Abernathy at 220 pounds, and Branterro Banks at 285 pounds.

“We have two seniors that will be going and will hopefully get a shot at state because this is their last chance. The rest of our guys are juniors, sophomores and freshmen,” Gross said. “DJ Pearson and PJ Pritchard are our only two seniors going and I have high hopes for both of them.”

Gross said the sectional tournament will not only be a first-time experience from a program perspective, but also in its format that has not been seen before by the team’s wrestlers.

“It’s going to be eye opening because they’re used to our dual matches where

File Photo / The Outlook

Dadeville’s DJ Pearson, left, and Carson McClendon will be among the nine Tiger wrestlers that compete at sectionals this weekend.

there are usually only two or three teams, and this tournament is pretty much an individual tournament besides team points,” Gross said. “There will be hundreds of wrestlers there. If they win their first two matches they advance to the second day, lose two and they’re out. Sectionals are like no other and it might be a little shellshock for them because they didn’t get to many tournaments this year due to the late start of our season.

“Sectionals are definitely going to be eye opening for them because there will be tons of wrestlers there and they wrestle two days straight. We’ll be there at 7 a.m. for weigh-ins with wrestling starting at 9 a.m.”

Gross said the team is looking forward

to the sectional tournament, and he added he is proud of the progress the Tigers have made this season.

“A lot of teams have been complementing our performance for us being a first-year team. I filmed every one of their matches and I actually sat down and looked at all of the film on Tuesday,” Gross said. “You can take any film from the first of the year and it doesn’t even look like the same kids at the end of the year up to our last match. They got third at a team tournament when we only have nine weight classes out of the 14 filled, so that’s a big accomplishment for them. I feel very strong about the nine that we’re taking. I am extremely proud of what they’ve all accomplished this year.”