Weekend OPINION, PAGE 4: DRUG-RELATED CRIMES NEED OUR ATTENTION
INSIDE: Obituaries, page 2 Religion, page 6 Classifieds, page 7 Sports, page 10
The Outlook
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Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
February 25-26, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 40 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
LIVING BLACK HISTORY
Cost per capita
Percent of annual budget
279
218 180 128
21.7
45
28
8.1
le ty ap evil lex Ci cksons G d a D A Ja
New
Site
Local police spending varies by city, agency By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Beyonce, portrayed by Shytajhia Alexander, Brandon Brown who represented Usain Bolt, and Chresten Johnson, who researched Medger Evers pose at the Living Black History event at Stephens School Friday. Below, Cecilia Radney and Promys Smith both brought Tina Turner to the gym at Stephens.
Law enforcement is expensive. The cost of vehicles, training and pay for personnel who risk their lives to protect others is high. Just how much do local governments pay to protect residents? Using public information and population estimates from the United States Census Bureau The Outlook calculated per capita law enforcement costs in Tallapoosa County. By taking the amount spent by each agency and See POLICE • Page 3
Stephens fourth-graders bring black history to life
Three set to interview for City Clerk position
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Michael Jackson and Ray Charles stood side-by-side, one row over from Hank Aaron, Michael Jordan, Beyonce, Usain Bolt and Medgar Evers. Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Terrell Owens, Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson were there too. Those, plus many more, famous black Americans were all represented by fourthgrade students at Stephens Elementary School Friday in the Living Black History Museum. “They really did an incredible job,” said Stephens teacher Caitlin Stanford. “Over a two-week period the students all spent time
The community and Alexander City’s elected officials have an opportunity to meet with the finalists for the city clerk position on Monday. Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors said that the interviews will be held Monday beginning at 5 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom at the public safety building. Initially about 150 people applied for the job that became available when it was announced that current City Clerk Harriett Scott planned to retire. From that massive pool, a committee worked and narrowed the field to five, four of whom interviewed.
See HISTORY • Page 3
See CLERK • Page 5
New Site Public Safety Director announces retirement By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Above, New Site Public Safety Director John McKelvey put in for retirement earlier this month after 34 years working in public service positions
For one long-time local lawman, he has decided to tack up a gone fishin’ sign. New Site Public Safety Director John McKelvey let Mayor Phil Blasingame and the town council know earlier this month that he planned to retire March 31 after 34 years working in various positions in public service. With his leave time, McKelvey has already spent his last day on the job. While being able to retire at 49 years old is exciting, he said he still sees plenty of things to keep him busy. “It has been the craziest feeling to
wake up and have to decide what to do and where to go that day,” McKelvey said. “When you have been doing the same thing for so long. I’m just here to tell you that it is a shock to the system. “While that has taken some getting used to, what I am looking forward to is spending more time doing some of the things I’ve had to squeeze in time for in the past.” McKelvey said he plans to do more fishing, hunting and getting involved in some of the causes that are close to his heart – most of which involve preserving nature and helping youth. In addition to being one of two sworn officers in New Site for the See MCKELVEY • Page 5
Today’s
Weather
59 34 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.54
Reported on 02/24/17 @ 5:30 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8