MITCH SNEED EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X213
editor@alexcityoutlook.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Kenneth Boone Mitch Sneed
Outlook The
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Opinion Wanted: People willing to share their opinion
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here is no better time than the now to get something off your mind. A letter to the editor or a guest column published in The Outlook is the best way we know to say what’s on your mind and to reach people in the Lake Martin community. Here are some good reasons to speak out: ■ If you would like to voice an opinion on a topic that impacts a number of residents. ■ If you want to call attention to someone or some group that has achieved something noteworthy. ■ If you want to thank someone who has gone out of their way to help you. ■ If you see a problem in our community and you’d like to suggest a solution. Whatever you have to say, we’d like to help you say it – for free. Just write us a letter or a guest column. We have a few rules designed to help get your thoughts published accurately. First, we require all letters be signed and include a phone number. We won’t publish your phone number, but we will call and confirm that the writer is genuine. In rare instances, we may publish a letter to the editor without including the writer’s name if the letter passes a strict three-pronged test: we have confirmed that the letter is legitimate, revealing the writers’ name would cause harm and publishing the letter is in the best interest of our community. The main difference between a letter to the editor and a guest column is the length. Letters are limited to about 250 words. Guest columns can be twice that length and include a photo of the writer. The best way to get a column or letter to us is to email it to editor@ alexcityoutlook.com. We also accept letters on paper, delivered to our office at 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, or delivered by mail to Editor, The Outlook, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011. Your right to speak out as a citizen, and our right to publish your opinion, is protected by the First Amendment. Exercise your right.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
A date that I will always remember
J
anuary 10 is a date that will always be near and dear to my heart. January 10, 2003, is the date in which I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army following completion of Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Ft. Benning, Georgia. I first joined the army in 1992 and served as a medic for four years. I always dreamed of becoming an officer but never imagined it ever actually coming to fruition. Once my enlistment was up, I returned home and went to school on the G.I. Bill. I worked full time and went to school as much as I could, so it took me five years to complete my Bachelor’s Degree. Upon graduation, I had several people tell me they didn’t think I would ever finish college. For some reason, they thought I’d quit. I believed in myself when others didn’t. A month later, 9/11 happened, and I eventually decided to go back into the army by way of OCS. I had to go before a board in Montgomery and received perfect scores across the board, pun intended. OCS was tough for me for a bunch of reasons. Early on, I hurt my knee but hobbled around on it for a couple of weeks before I could finally take no more. I went to
JODY FULLER Guest Columnist
the doctor who put me on restricted duty, which did not look good to my superiors. I was on the verge of being recycled to another class. I prayed that night like never before. The next morning, my knee had miraculously healed. I write extensively about this in a story called Miracles in Uniform in the book Miracles Happen: 101 Inspirational Stories about Hope, Answered Prayers, and Divine Intervention by Chicken Soup for the Soul. There were other issues, as well, but I graduated on time with my class, even when others thought I wouldn’t. I believed in myself. Three years later, on January 10, 2006, my obligation was up, and I had this crazy idea to leave the comforts of the army, which had included one year in Iraq, to chase the dream of performing stand-up comedy for a living. Once again, people thought I was crazy. They thought I was making a huge mistake. By this point, I’d had well over seven years in the army, so I decided to join the Alabama National Guard.
Each time, I built up any momentum in the comedy world, I was called upon to deploy again. That, however, gave me time to adapt my craft into more of a motivational and inspirational style of comedy, which is so much more rewarding for me. I stay busy with my comedy, speaking, and writing and have done pretty well. I believed in myself when very few others did. On my third tour in Iraq, Auburn won the National Championship on Jan 10, 2010. They, too, believed in themselves when nobody else did. This year was special because I had 16 oz. ribeye grilled to perfection on January 10, the night before I started my 24 Day Challenge, a health and wellness program. I’m just a few days into it, and I’ve already lost five pounds, but now I’m ready for day 25 and another steak, a bigger steak, grilled to perfection. Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www.jodyfuller.com.
Robert Bentley Luther Strange was elected Alabama’s 49th Attorney General first elected in 2010, and serves as the State’s chief law enforcement officer. He can be reached at 334242-7300, and his office is located at 501 Washington Avenue, Luther Strange Montgomery. Mark Tuggle (R) represents the 81st District covering Coosa, Chilton and Tallapoosa counties. He can be reached by phone at 256-392-2006 or by email at tughd81@ gmail.com. His office is located at 110 Mark Tuggle Calhoun Street, Suite 108, Alexander City. Tom Whatley represents the 27th District covering Lee, Russell and Tallapoosa County. He was elected to the Alabama Senate on Nov. 2, 2010, and can be reached at 334-242-t7865. Tom Whatley His office is located at 337 East Magnolia Drive, Auburn.
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” – Robert H. Schuller
Today’s
Scripture “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” –Mark 9:50
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Governor Robert Bentley represents the state of Alabama and its 67 counties. He was elected to office on Nov. 2, 2010, and can be reached at 334242-7100. His office is located at the State Capitol at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.
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Today’s
Letters to the Editor
Legal opinions on gun control should be left with lawyers Dear Editor, This responds to Billy Sellers’ announcement that he is placing all retail stores, public facilities, and government facilities on notice that they are liable for following the law and whatever safety issues that might occur in those facilities because they disallow fire-
arms. Billy, I’d suggest we leave that argument up to those who have legal training, none of which I have, nor do I suspect, you. That said, one of the many wonderful things about our country is that we all have freedom of choice. People
have fought and died to maintain such freedoms. So why not save yourself stress, exercise that freedom, and simply not frequent those places? Dick Bronson Lake Martin
It’s time to start ‘imposing Christian beliefs’ on youngsters Dear Editor, This week I finished one book and started two others, surprisingly all of which expressed the same sentiment. That three books support my opinion, the breakdown of the traditional family strengthens socialism, is a plus for them in my mind. The first was Jessie Lee Peterson’s “The Antidote.” Peterson is a black man who was born and grew up on a plantation down close to Eufaula. His father was absent, but his grandfather was present and made sure Jessie was up early every day, to go to school or work. Granddad also taught him how to use tools so he was able to get and keep jobs later in life. He now lives in the greater LA area and is particularly concerned about how the absent father figure leads to less preparation for jobs and greater numbers of black men’s incarceration because Uncle Sam doesn’t fill the role model bill. His opinion is that two parent families have less need for government inter-
vention, therefore less interest in socialistic policies. Michael Savage, of The Savage Nation, in his new book “Government Zero” is concerned for the growing Socialism here and in Israel, possibly leading to Iran holding a nuclear bomb over the Israelis to force them to turn over part of Israel to be made into the Palestinian State Dennis Prager in “The Ten Commandments,” gives his opinion that “if not the Ten Commandments then what?” will be put in their place? The Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule are the foundation of our culture and legal system. If there is no God, no higher power, then each Commandment and the handling of all the antisocial behaviors mentioned in the Ten Commandments are just people’s opposing opinions. Prager also feels that the breakdown of the family and parent’s failure to insist on being respected, rather than being a buddy, eventually
leads to loss of respect for both parents and authority figures. Our society, especially churches and schools, that are now bowing down to the liberal agenda, are going to have to start “imposing Christian beliefs” on youngsters and stand up to the ACLU and the SPLC’s Communist agenda. The above is a quote from the ACLU to black preachers who went out to give support to youths in the Montgomery area who had been arrested. The Liberty Council is one of the organizations that will aide with legal support if needed. The coach fired for leading prayer after a game is their newest project. If you are interested in supporting one of these organizations any sized donation is appreciated. If you want to keep your support and money at home, support your local church and don’t fail to voice your opinion! That’s my opinion today, Sherry Sellers Alexander City
The subscription rate is $136.00 per year in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties and $177.99 outside the area. Periodicals paid at Alexander City, AL. Newspapers are available at 100 news racks in our area at 50 cents for The Outlook and 50 cents for The Record. We would love to deliver a paper to your door. Call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281, Ext. 204 or e-mail david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook. com.
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We’d like to share your thoughts and opinions with the greater Lake Martin community. It’s free and it only takes a few moments of your time. We have two ways to get your opinion in print: letters to the editor and guest columns. The main difference is length. Letters to the editor are up to 250 words, while guest columns can be up to 500 words. Letters and columns may be sent to P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011, faxed to (256) 2346550 or e-mailed to editor@alexcityoutlook.com. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send us your thoughts today!
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