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Jan. 12-13, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 9 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Jones talks shutdown
Going back in time
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
As the latest federal government shutdown entered its 20th day on Thursday, Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) spoke about the matter and shared his thoughts on how to end the shutdown during his regularly-scheduled conference call with news outlets from throughout the state. Jones described the shutdown as becoming increasingly expensive and said it was just shy of the record for longest government shutdown, which occurred during Bill Clinton’s administration in 1996 and lasted for 21 days. Locally in Tallapoosa County, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park has been temporarily closed because of the federal government shutdown. The entire park is closed to visitors due to the lapse in funding caused by the shutdown. The main point of contention in this shutdown is President Donald Trump’s demands for $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Some members of Trump Congress, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have called the wall “immoral” and refuse to fund it. While Jones said the United States does need to secure its Southern border and he will continue to support efforts to properly fund border security as he has in the past, “A barrier is not going to stop drugs and terrorists.” With an overwhelming majority of people believing in a strong border, Jones said there are those on both sides of the aisle who feel it is wrong for the Trump administration to hold federal employees and their pay as a bargaining chip. With these employees missing paychecks, it can have a serious ripple effect reaching all the way down to the local level at places like the grocery store. At the same time, certain programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) have seen stopgap measures put into place. “These stopgap measures can ease some of the pain, but they are only Band-Aids,” Jones said. Jones said he feels the best option to resolve the ongoing shutdown is for bills the Senate passed in June 2018 to be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by Trump. “There is common ground we can find,” Jones said, adding he has heard from a number of See SHUTDOWN • Page 3
Local reenactor wishes he could have lived in the 18th century By RON COLQUITT For The Outlook
I
f you are hiking the Alabama wilderness and come across a man clad in fringed leather and a coonskin cap while toting a muzzle-loader rifle, don’t panic and think you’ve entered a time warp. It’s just Hatchett Creek John, also known as John Michael Burton. Most people in the Alexander City area know him as Mickey Burton, who believes he would have been happier living in the 18th century as opposed to being stuck in the 21st century. According to Burton, he yearned to be another Davy Crockett as a child watching Walt Disney shows. To satisfy that desire, he now participates in mountain man/frontiersman reenactments. Disney’s Davy Crockett series in the mid-1950s turned many city boys, including Burton, into would-be mountain men and frontiersmen. “I wanted to be like Davy Crockett,” Burton said. “I was raised hunting and fishing and loved the woods and played in them as much as I could. My dad would take me to local areas to See REENACTOR • Page 3 Ron Colquitt / For The Outlook
John Michael ‘Mickey’ Burton, known to some as Hatchett Creek John, enjoys participating in mountain man/frontiersman reenactments. He said he thinks he would have been happier living in the 18th century.
Transition, resource fair guides special needs children
Rebecca Cornwell, left, speaks to a guest about Autism Speaks at Thursday’s fair. The city schools hosted a transition and resource fair for children with developmental disabilities and their families to deliver information and tools to help prepare for life after high school.
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Nearly 20 individuals with their families came out to Benjamin Russell on Thursday evening to learn more about opportunities for their futures. Alexander City schools hosted the inaugural transition and resource fair for children with developmental disabilities. The purpose was to deliver information and tools so families could help prepare for lives after high school. “The goal is to make the transition from high school to adulthood go as smoothly as possible,” said Melissa Mullins, special education and Autism Speaks advocate. “This is a very important, yet difficult, task for some kids and their families. We want them to have every opportunity to thrive.” The following agencies were on site to offer resources that could benefit these children: Alabama Department of Rehabilitative Services; Central Alabama Community College; Camp ASCCA; Lake Martin Young Professionals; Autism Speaks Volunteer Ambassadors and more. See FAIR • Page 10
We Care About You
Weather
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By AMY PASSARETTI Lake Martin Living Editor
Submitted / The Outlook
Today’s
High
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Lake Martin
Lake Levels
487.64 Reported on 01/11/19 @ 1 p.m.
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