TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH!
OPINION: LET’S WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR AREA CLEAN
THURSDAY
THE
Helpful tips to check your health inside.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 January 14, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 10
www.alexcityoutlook.com
TIME FOR A CHANGE?
City Manager-Council idea surfaces again By MITCH SNEED Editor
Alexander City City Councilman Bob Howard said like all elected officials he gets calls about big issues and is stopped on the street, in restaurants and stores and asked about city matters. In recent months after issues with unauthorized pay increases, difficulty finalizing a budget and other governmental struggles, he said one issue raised by those he talks too has been a constant. “I can’t tell you how many people have asked me about it,” Howard said. “That’s no
exaggeration. There have been a lot. They ask why don’t we try the council-city manager form of government. It may be because I was on the council when the issue came up the last time, but I think it’s because the issues we’ve been having shows that we need professional guidance on so many things that we do.” Some cities have gone to a system with a city manager to handle the administration of municipal Mitch Sneed / The Outlook affairs. When that happens, it’s called a councilcity manager type of government and cities have Councilman Bob Howard raised the idea of changing the form of city government Tuesday night and while the idea is not new here, recent issues have again made See COUNCIL • Page 3 hiring a city manager a hot topic.
Whatley favors Rubio in state’s GOP primary
Girl injured in Dec. 14 crash continues miraculous recovery, now at home on the mend
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Sen. Tom Whatley of Auburn, who represents Alexander City as part of state Senate District 27, is supporting Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and seeking to represent the Florida senator as a delegate to the Republican National Convention July 18-21 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. As a candidate to represent Rubio as a delegate, Whatley will be on the ballot for Alabama’s “SEC Primary” – so called because Southern states Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia all hold primaries the same day – set for March 1. Whatley, who has represented District 27 since 2010, said he believes that Rubio is one of the few Republican presidential candidates who can claim the nomination and eventually
By MITCH SNEED Editor
A Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Gracie Deason is greeted by her sister MacKenzie as she arrives home Wednesday. Gracie’s grandfather Douglas Howard helps wheel Gracie to a surprise homecoming party, where family and friends gathered. Deason had been at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham for a month following a Dec. 14 crash that left her in critical condition and battling for her life. Wednesday, she was all smiles as she returned home to decorations, signs, well-wishes, Christmas presents, a personalized ramp, above right, and lots of love.
See WHATLEY • Page 3
Today’s
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fter a month filled with tragedy and uncertainty, Wednesday was a happy day for 7-year-old Gracie Deason. Deason was a passenger in the vehicle with Alexander City Animal Control Officer Kelly Cotney on Dec. 14, when the car hydroplaned on rainsoaked streets and collided with an oncoming truck on Highway 22. While injuries sustained in the crash claimed Cotney’s life, Gracie was critically injured and was rushed to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. There she began a fight for her life. With the help of doctors and countless healthcare professionals, the love of family and friends and constant prayers from the community, Gracie came home Wednesday. “It’s definitely a happy day,” said Gracie’s mother Jamie Peavy. “Two weeks ago she couldn’t even talk and now look at her. It’s amazing at how far See GRACIE • Page 3
Dadeville Fire to purchase air tanks with FEMA grants By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.35 Reported on 01/13/16 @ 6 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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The Dadeville Fire Department has awarded a bid for new air tanks thanks in part to a FEMA Grant. “We got a $125,000 grant from FEMA for new air tanks,” Dadeville Fire Chief Keith Wilkerson told the Dadeville City Council Monday night. “We have a low bid from MES Fire Equipment for $113,030 for 20 bottles and airpacks. We had three bids and they were real close.” The City of Dadeville will have a five percent match in the purchase. Wilkerson asked the council if he could close out this grant and two others. “We have three grants we would See TANKS • Page 3
V in our R eek! d l o S 1 w ed than work less s d e ß i Class and they ! e o for m r your to y! o d f to a will ther a e H ricia Call – Pat
Kenneth Boone / The Outlook
Work on cleanup of debris on the former Russell campus continues as crews are dismantling buildings along Lee Street while others feed a large fire with remnants from the demolition. In the last three weeks, much of the rubble has been reduced to ashes. See how people rate the cleanup effort in a poll on Page 4.
CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS! Call today to place your classified ad!
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I ran a classiße d ad to se ll my ca r and it on ly took four day s and m y car was sold! Classiß eds wor k! – John