COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS FEATURED TODAY.
THE
BACK ON THE DIAMOND
WEDNESDAY
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 January 13, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 9 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Softball teams hit the field, Page 8.
Alabama’s dams get incomplete report card
Council talks pay, form of government Discussion becomes heated at times By MITCH SNEED Editor
After a 90-minute work session where the mayor, city council members, department heads and employees couldn’t even agree on what was included in the budget, one Alexander City City Council member floated an idea that made a lot of sense. Council member Bob Howard suggested that the city study looking at changing the form of government to allow for a professional city manager to handle the day-to- day management of the city. “One of the biggest items that I have had conversations about is changing the form of government from a council-mayor to a council-manager form of government,” Howard said. “We talked it about in the last council administration, but I think it’s something we may want to look at again now.” Howard cited state law that allows for a council-manager form of government with five council members, with the mayor being one of those voting members. He said it has worked well in other areas and it would mean that the mayor would still be elected citywide, but would not have any administrative duties. Those would be left to the city manager, who would be hired by the council and mayor, and would be trained in all See COUNCIL • Page 6
CHARGES ADDED Driver in Camp Hill fatal crash facing more charges, Page 2.
Infrastructure rankings show state has many areas of concern By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
David Granger / The Outlook
Hibbett Sports’ employee Keauja Spears helps customers find Alabama Crimson Tide merchandise Tuesday, the day after the Tide took the national championship from the Clemson Tigers. Store officials say they were ‘really, really busy’ as happy Tide fans came in throughout the day.
CHAMPIONSHIP GEAR
Attire commemorates Tide’s Monday night title By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
O.J. Howard, Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake did most of the hard work in the Alabama Crimson Tide’s 45-40 win over the Clemson Tigers for the 2016 college football national championship on Monday night. But local retailers are happy to share in their spoils of victory. Hank Long, manager of Alexander City’s Hibbett Sports in the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center on U.S. 280, opened his store right after Monday night’s game and his stock of commemorative attire sold well both then and this morning, he said. “We’ve been really, really busy,” said Long. “We had a big crowd after the game last night and we’ve been steady this morning.” Last night, Hibbett sold out of the national championship caps like the players wore on the field after the game. “We sold an awful lot of the locker
room shirts like the players wore on the field, too,” Long said. As of Tuesday just before noon, only two locker room shirts remained – both size small. The store had eight different styles of national championship shirts. They included long- and short-sleeved. Long said that last night’s and today’s sales were about the same as sales of Alabama gear following the Crimson Tide’s previous national titles. “They’ve all been followed by strong sales that stay consistent until everyone has what they want,” Long said. “Sales like this following the Iron Bowl and the SEC Championship are always real strong, too, but nothing like the national championship.” Among Tuesday’s stream of Tide title shoppers was Terri Trammell, who came looking for shirts for herself and her mother. “Oh, I’m a big fan,” said Trammell. Alas, she left only halfway happy.
See BOARD • Page 5
School students tour Martin Dam last summer. Despite intense federal regulation Alabama’s dams were given an incomplete ranking.
Today’s
Chamber moves forward with biz incubator plan
Weather
51 30 High
Low
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Members of the Tallapoosa County Board of Education were recognized Monday with presentations from students from all of the county schools at its January meeting. “We want to recognize you for all that you do for the children of Tallapoosa County,” TCBOE superintendent Joe Windle said. “The students made these for you.” The recognition comes along with the state school board association calling January School Board Recognition Month.
Cliff Williams / Outlook file photo
See GEAR • Page 5
County schools recognize board members
Alabama was hit hard by recent severe weather and in nearly any given county it seemed that some effect could be seen from the damaging storm conditions that made their way through the southern states over the last two weeks. And Alabama’s infrastructure, along with that of any given affected community, was also hit hard by the holiday weather conditions. Whether it was flooding, road and bridge closures, soil erosion, downed power lines or individual wells and septic systems, there was little left entirely unaffected by the storms. And that meant more strain was put on infrastructure systems, which earlier in December had been given a statewide overall grade of a “C-” in the latest report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. The report covered 11 categories and of those considered, four were in good condition, six ranged from mediocre to poor and one lacked enough information for a grade to be determined. The state received a “good” rating of a “B” in the categories of aviation, energy, ports and rail, while it received mediocre to poor grades See DAM • Page 5
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Nancy Ammons, left, installs Kenneth Boone as the new chairman of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Wednesday. Ammons will take on the role as immediate past chair serving on several committees.
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Tuesday’s monthly meeting of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors included new officers assuming their roles and hearing that the chamber is closer to creating a business incubator. “We are getting closer,” Ann Rye told the board. “We have a couple of people really interested in it.” The chamber ’s lease with the City of See CHAMBER • Page 6
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.72 Reported on 01/12/16 @ 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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