INSIDE: DHR HONORED, INCOME TAX CHANGES HELP LOCALS, MORE
THE
SPORTS, PAGE B1
FRIDAY
Walker Bynum remembered fondly by community
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
February 22, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 38 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
6 miles closed Logging operations close county roads By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
More than 6 miles of Tallapoosa County roads between New Site and Daviston have been deemed impassable by the Tallapoosa County Engineering Department but the closures do not cut off any homes. Rain has created mud on many of the county’s unpaved roads and hampered a major industry in Tallapoosa County – timber. Some logging operations have moved on to drier plots and will return but some have stayed and used logging equipment on county roads creating the problem, according to Tallapoosa County engineer David Moore. “Because of constant rains this past winter and a logging operation continuing to operate in the area it has the roads unsafe for travel,â€? Moore said. “The roads have no houses on them and the property owners in the area are mainly timber companies.â€? Moore said county officials tried to work with loggers before the problem became extreme. “We reached out to the loggers to operate when things were dry,â€? Moore said. “They did not do that and the use of trucks, skidders and dozers in the roadway made them impassable.â€? Moore said the county has closed 6.2 miles of unpaved roads and three weight-restricted bridges on Dipping Vat Road, Doe Lane and the unpaved portion Old Dutch Road, placing berms of dirt to stop traffic for now. “They mainly used Old Dutch Road,â€? Moore said. “It also crosses into Clay County as well.â€? Officials are unsure of the cost to repair the roads. “I have no estimate,â€? Moore said. “Even with four-wheel drive, I couldn’t See ROADS • Page 3
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Former Alexander City councilmember Gwen Coley has spent her entire life on I Street. Jimmy Wigfield / The Outlook
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.68 Reported on 02/21/19 @ 4 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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RUBBLE LIVES ON By RON COLQUITT For The Outlook
M
roads. Roy Granger of Lake Martin Excavating has partnered with Saucier Investments LLC for demolition of the mills. The demolition and salvage operation began in 2013 and is nearly finished. Granger hopes it will be complete by the first of April. To read more, see the full story on Page B2.
Granger said his workers are salvaging as much as they can from the sites, including bricks and heartpine wood. Ron Colquitt / For The Outlook
Gwen Coley loved the council She doesn’t consider herself a historical figure but enjoyed serving others By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
When asked about her memories of being the first black woman to serve on Alexander City’s City Council, Gwen Coley stretched out her arms and wrapped them around her body in a warm embrace. “I enjoyed the council, every day of it,� said Coley, 77. “I loved it. I loved answering every phone call. I didn’t have to fight for anything. I didn’t think of being the first black woman on the council. I never thought I was historical. My color didn’t matter. I just enjoyed people.� Coley was embraced by her fellow citizens four times — she was
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appointed in 1995 after councilmember Garland Gamble was elected to the Tallapoosa County Commission, then elected to her own terms in 1996, 2000 and 2004, each time without a runoff. “Then my doctor told me to stop,â€? Coley said. These days, Coley still enjoys life from her home on I Street where she has spent all of her years. As a child, she played cowboys and Indians in the woods where her home now sits. “They called it Cowboy Hill,â€? Coley said. “I was born on I Street and somebody said I’m going to die on I Street.â€? She raised four children who have See COLEY • Page 3
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