OPINION: MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT, IT IS OK TO ASK FOR HELP, PAGE 4.
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Don’t miss the latest issue of Lake Martin Living inside today’s Outlook!
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 February 18, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 35
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Messy ballots confuse voters Voting directly for presidential choice key By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
When a voter first sees the local version of the March 1 primary ballot – particularly on the Republican side – his or her eyes may begin to glaze over. To say the least, it’s a confusing mess. First, there’s a place to vote directly for your preferred choice for president. Then there are numerous contests between candidates to represent those presidential candidates as their delegates. If the candidate earns delegates. “It seems really confusing, but it’s not if you understand it,” said Denise Bates, chair of the Tallapoosa County Republican Party. “The key is to make sure that you vote directly for your presidential choice and to make sure you turn the page and vote in the See BALLOT • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
LifeSaver Flight Nurse Zack Lancaster tells EMS trainees about the best way to get patients in position to be loaded for flight Wednesday morning at Fire Station 2 in Alexander City. The flight team provided classroom training as well as up close instruction in flight medical care.
AIR-BOURNE
Recruits get EMT training in helicopter transport By MITCH SNEED Editor
When it comes to getting a person in distress to the medical professionals needed to help save their lives, time is important. That means that emergency medical technicians, paramedics and other first responders often turn to medical helicopters to transport patients to trauma centers and hospitals for specialized care. That’s why nine recruits were schooled Wednesday in landing zone training by the Life Saver 4 crew of Flight Nurse
Zack Lancaster, Flight Medic Jake Slick and Pilot Cliff McLeod, under the direction of Alexander City Fire Department Capt. Jeff Brewer. “There are a lot of areas in our coverage area where the situation may dictate that you have to transport a patient by air to get them where they need to be in a timely manner,” Brewer said. “These guys have been good enough to come in during our training to help educate on all aspects of the operation. From setting up a landing zone in day-
CACC merger process advances RFP signifies progress toward newly merged institution
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City, Southern Union Community College and Chattahoochee Valley Community College – the three east Alabama schools currently undergoing a merger approved by the Alabama Community College System in December – have released a request for proposal for organization of “listening tours” and a marketing strategy and timeline for the merged institution. The RFP appears indicative of a quickening pace toward the answer of several key questions that still exist about the merger, such as what it will be called and where it will be headquartered. “A big part of the listening tours will be a part of the process of establishing a regional identity and the individual identities of each campus,” said Susan Burrow, currently the president of CACC and already appointed to lead the merged
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See CACC • Page 3
City manager would have clear responsibilities By MITCH SNEED Editor
Submitted / The Outlook
Under the city manager-council form of government, the mayor would handle ceremonial duties like ribbon cuttings and preside over the council, with the city manager handling the day-to-day operations.
Editor’s note: This is the third in a five-part series on the citymanager form of government. A petition is now active asking for the people to be allowed to vote on a possible change in Alexander City. The petition can be signed each day at the offices of The Outlook. What would a city manager’s duties and powers be if a city manager-council form of government was adopted?
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By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
482.98 Reported on 02/17/16 @ 6 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
Cliff Williams / The Outlook 6
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remove employees of the municipality, except members of certain boards; • Exercise administrative supervision and oversight of employees, offices, departments, boards and agencies; • Keep the council advised as to the financial condition of the municipality; • Work with financial director and department heads to prepare and submit an annual budget in a timely manner being mindful of See MANAGER • Page 5
Local students benefit from 1 to 1 technology initiative
Today’s
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The best answer to this question was stated well in a piece written by Kenneth Smith, a legal counsel with the Alabama League of Municipalities. According to Smith, “the manager is the head of the administrative branch of the municipal government and is responsible to the council for the proper administration of all municipal affairs.” Smith says the powers include: • Enforce all laws and ordinances; • Appoint and, when necessary,
Radney Elementary School math teacher Scarlett McCoy helps students with their new Chromebooks
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One would have believed the students at Radney Elementary School were in a candy store Wednesday. As you walked down the halls and stepped into classrooms, students were bright eyed and grinning as if they had just gotten their favorite treat. But instead – they were working with their newly issued Chromebooks. “The past couple of months we have been working and planning to purchase 2,300 Chromebooks,” Alexander City Schools superintendent Darrell Cooper said. “We are
going to put one in the hands of every single child in the school system.” The effort is part of Cooper’s vision for the system that started when he was hired. “I was asked in the interview process what I would do for the schools if I had the money,” Cooper said. “I said I wanted to have 1-to-1 technology and a comprehensive arts program.” Walking into classrooms at Radney Wednesday, one could see teachers helping their students learn about Google Drive and how it works. “Once you get set up, I can send See CHROMEBOOK • Page 5
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