INSIDE:
Weekend
OPINION, PAGE 4: GAINING GRANT DOLLARS IS GOOD NEWS
The Outlook
Obituaries, page 2 Opinion, page 4 Religion, page 6 Classifieds, page 7 Sports, page 10
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
January 20-21, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 15 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
SPORTS, PAGE 10 New ‘Triple Threat’ series:
Worthy a leader in all 3 sports
County’s jobless rate at decade low 3.3 percent STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Tallapoosa County saw its December jobless rate fall to 3.3 percent, its lowest level in more than a decade and lower than the state average of 3.5 percent. According to statistics released Friday by the Alabama Department of Labor, only 611 Tallapoosa County residents were classified as unemployed. That is 24 fewer
people than were jobless in the county in November. Tallapoosa County’s unemployment rate ranked in the state’s Top 20 lowest jobless percentages at No. 18. In contrast, the 2016 average unemployment rate for Tallapoosa County was 5.6 percent. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey applauded the numbers released Friday, showing
There are a few businesses hiring in the Alexander City area like Lake Martin Pizza Company on Broad Street. Cliff Williams /
See UNEMPLOYMENT • Page 9
The Outlook
TIDE POD CHALLENGE?
O
ver the past few years, young people across the United States have developed strange challenges to engage in. These included the “cinnamon challenge,” where a person would have to swallow an entire spoonful of cinnamon within 60 seconds without drinking anything, the “salt and ice chal-
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Three candidates have officially qualified to be on the ballot to serve as the state representative for District 81, the seat currently held by Mark Tuggle. Last year, Tuggle announced he would not be running for re-election, leaving the See QUALIFYING • Page 9
Work getting done in Montgomery despite recent weather
Dangerous challenge the latest ‘fad’ for teens By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Election qualifying continues, more names released
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
lenge,” where challenge participants place salt on their skin and then place ice on top of the salt, and the “mannequin challenge,” where those taking part have to remain frozen in place while music plays in the background. Most recently, the newest challenge to participate in has become the “Tide pod challenge.” In this, participants film themselves eating the colorful pods of laundry detergent, chewing them and either spitting See TIDE • Page 3
The weather slowed state legislators this week but it did not stop them as they look to ways to pass Tuggle budgets and other legislation this year. “Weather shut down committee day on Wednesday but we passed legislation out of the House on Tuesday and Thursday,” State House District 81 Representative Mark Tuggle said. “House and Senate Budget Chairmen have been working with the Governor on her General Fund and Education budget priorities and her budget proposals See MONTGOMERY • Page 3
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. rolls out new logo STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
This is the new logo for Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Publisher Steve Baker calls it “fresh, modern, meaningful and timeless.” It represents the company’s expansion into a Total Media Company.
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Like everything around us, TPI is evolving. In the last year, our operation has expanded from a company that publishes the highest quality newspapers and magazines to a Total Media Company that offers our readers and customers multiple print and digital options to not only receive information, but to reach advertisers and grow their businesses. As a symbol of that change and expansion into the latest digital media trends, we are proud to debut our new corporate
‘Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. logo. “Our new logo was developed through a thoughtful, collaborative process,” TPI Publisher Steve Baker said. “We wanted a logo that stayed true to our roots while also capturing our growth. “Our new logo is fresh, modern, meaningful and timeless, a symbol of where we’ve been and where we’re headed, and as always, united in our mission of community coverage. We’re carrying over our signature colors into a visual expression of everything that TPI stands for.” See LOGO • Page 9
Today’s
Weather
58 38 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
483.95 Reported on 01/19/18 @ 3 p.m.
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