OPINION: COURT FUNDING CUTS THREATEN JUSTICE IN AL
THE WHAT’S UP?
FRIDAY ALL TOURNAMENT
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 February 26, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 41 www.alexcityoutlook.com
See all local events in the calendar, page 7.
Coosa’s McKinney, Maxwell honored.
Chamber heads letter campaign YOUR ACTION NEEDED TODAY In today’s editorial, The Outlook asks its readers to write in support of making Alexander City the main campus and administrative headquarters of the new regional community college being developed in east central Alabama. See page 4 for our editorial and a sample letter.
Members urged to write letters to keep merged college hub in city By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
The Alexander City Chamber of Commerce is urging its membership to write letters advocating for the current Central Alabama Community College (CACC) to be designated the main campus of the regional college being
formed through the merger of CACC with Southern Union and Chattahoochee Valley community colleges. Ann Rye, chamber president and chief executive officer, emailed all Alex City Chamber membership Thursday urging them to write their own letters or use a form letter that the Chamber provides. “I’m contacting you today requesting
Website holds most answers to FAQ on elections
Rogers faces challenge from former superintendent
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Election day is Tuesday in Tallapoosa County. Are you ready? Do you know when the polls are open? Where you vote? What you need to take with you to be able to vote? According to Clay Helms of the Elections Division of the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. by state law. Anyone in line before 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Poll workers should identify the last person in line at 7 p.m. and no one should be allowed to vote after that person. Tallapoosa County does not list voting places online. However, residents who are unsure of where they vote should call the Board of Registrars at 256-8251081. Helms said polling places may also be located online on the Secretary of State’s elections website, alabamavotes.gov. State law also requires that each voter carry with them to their polling place a governmentissued photo ID. “There are a number of different forms of identification that are acceptable,” Helms said. “They are all listed on our website.” According to the alabamavotes.gov, a voter can use any See ELECTION • Page 3
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
485.18 Reported on 2/25/16 @ 5 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
Today’s
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By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Cyndi Thomas-Sneed / The Outlook
Roger Pearson, Freddie Edwards and Cecil Ray unload a bunk bed off a truck at the new Children’s Harbor Thift Store. The store is moving to its new location March 4 at 8842 Kowaliga Road in Eclectic.
MOVING ON UP Children’s Harbor Thrift Store moving to new location By MITCH SNEED Ediitor
A favorite place for area bargain hunters is getting a new home and crews are busy making the move. The Children’s Harbor Thrift Store will open at its new location at 8842 Kowaliga Road in Eclectic March 4. For that to happen, both the old and new locations will be closed this weekend so the move can be completed, according to Myrle Grate, chief executive officer of Children’s Harbor.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Nat King Cole came to life in Alexander City Thursday thanks to Daphne Simpkins. “I came to love Nat Cole because of my mother,” Simpkins explained. “My mom was quiet. But when Nat Cole was going to play, she would stand and make sure we were all quiet so she could hear.” Simpkins, who is a member of the Alabama Humanities Foundation’s Road Scholars Speakers Bureau, was in town to speak to a group gathered at the Adelia M. Russell Memorial Library Thursday for her program, “Alabama’s Own Nat King Cole.” Simpkins explained how Cole came to learn music and qui-
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“It took us a little longer than we thought, but we are excited about the new facility and all the additional space,” Grate said. “It should allow us to have more items and be more organized. In a store like that, you can never have enough room, but we think it will serve us well.” The new store is just south of the entrance to Lake Martin Amphitheatre, about a mile south of the old location inside the camp where it had operated out of two older buildings. The Children’s Harbor Thrift Store has See HARBOR • Page 3
Incumbent Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) is facing a primary challenge from a former Alabama Superintendent of the Year for his third-district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rogers is serving his sixth term. He was elected to replace Bob Riley in 2002, defeating Democrat Joe Turnham by a slim two percent margin. The 57-year-old DiChiara Calhoun County resident sits on the House committees on Armed Services and Homeland Security. Prior to his election to the U.S. House Rogers served eight years representing Alabama House district 36. Rogers is a graduRogers ate of Jacksonville State University and Birmingham School of Law. Rogers is being challenged by Larry DiChiara, who led Phenix City Schools for 9½ years before the board dismissed him in 2013 without a public explanation.DiChiara announced his candidacy in an October Facebook video in which he said, “‘I love my country See RACE • Page 3
Library program recounts the influence of Nat King Cole
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your immediate response in an effort for our community to unite with one voice as to our desires to be the main campus for the consolidated regional college resulting from the merger of Central Alabama Community College, Southern Union State Community College, and Chattahoochee Valley Community See CACC • Page 3
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etly took part in the Civil Rights movement. “Well, he did not start out singing,” Simpkins said. “He started out playing the piano at four and had an ear for it. He learned to play it by listening to it on the radio.” It was not long he was playing the piano for his dad’s church and choir. “When he was 14 or so, his daddy was preaching,” Simpkins explained. “Nat and his brother would sneak out and go down the streets of Chicago sitting outside of night clubs listening to music, a different kind of music. He learns a different way of playing the piano.” This different style leads to problems at church. “He is listening to the music in the nightclubs,” Simpkins said.
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Daphne Simpkins speaks at the Amelia Russell Memorial Library about the life and career of Alabama’s Nat King Cole.
“Then on Sundays he is playing with the choir. There were times when he was playing, his mother
leading the choir, he would forget where he was and get a little See COLE • Page 3
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