TROJANS SET FOR OPENING DAY SATURDAY AT SPORTPLEX, SPORTS PAGE 8.
OPINION: GOOD NEIGHBORS ARE A VALUABLE ASSET. PAGE 4.
FRIDAY
THE
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 January 29, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 21
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Sentimental anvil taken from resident’s yard By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Alexander City’s Linda Hunt poses near the stump where her uncle’s blacksmith anvil was mounted before it recently went missing late last month while she was out of town.
Linda Hunt can remember her Uncle George Gregg blacksmithing in rural Clay County. He used a large anvil that Hunt says weighed “I don’t know how much” and she estimates was 150 years old. “He wouldn’t let me get close to it when I was a kid,” Hunt said. “He wouldn’t even let me get that close after I got older. He was afraid I would get burned. He was
a wonderful person and I loved him dearly.” Hunt grew up where Tallapoosa, Clay and Randolph counties join and that’s where her Uncle George’s blacksmith shop was located. She now lives on Washington Street in Alexander City and says the anvil was recently stolen from her backyard where it rested next to a utility building. She wants it back because it belonged to her beloved uncle. “Uncle George had that anvil
Burrow gives insight into regional college
Indictment alleges theft from nursing home patient by area woman
Chamber hears importance and potential of merger from Burrow
STAFF REPORT Outlook Staff
A former employee of an Alexander City nursing home has been indicted by the Tallapoosa County Grand Jury for theft of patient trust fund monies. Elener Wyckoff, 47, of Alexander City surrendered to the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office after a warrant was issued. She has been released on $ 10,000 bond. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit presented evidence to a Tallapoosa County grand jury resulting in an indictment dated Jan. 19. The indictment accuses Wyckoff of one count of theft of property in the second degree. It is alleged that while acting as a social services assistant for Adams Nursing Home, Wyckoff caused several checks to be made from the patient trust fund. As a social services assistant, one of Wyckoff’s duties was to manage the patient trust fund and purchase items based on the needs See THEFT • Page 3
Today’s
Weather
56 36 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.48 Reported on 01/28/16 @ 5 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8
all his life,” Hunt said. “He was 80-something when he died. I watched him use it when I was a kid and I’m 76. He had a blacksmith shop. His family was all blacksmiths and farmers and preachers. I can remember my daddy (Stenson Cook) working on that anvil, too.” Hunt said that she went out of town for Christmas and returned to Alexander City on Dec. 30. But it wasn’t until Sunday, Jan. 24, that See ANVIL • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
A man who has been a shining inspiration for community spirit and volunteerism and the woman who revitalized the local business community received top honors at the 105th Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. The highlights of the meeting included Lake Martin Resource Association President John Thompson receiving the Community Spirit
Central Alabama Community College President Dr. Susan Burrow delivered the keynote address to the 105th Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, pinch-hitting for her boss Dr. Mark Heinrich, who is the chancellor Alabama Community College System. Heinrich suffered the loss of his mother and was unable to be at the meeting. As talk of a merger Mitch Sneed / The Outlook of CACC, Chattahoochee CACC President Dr. Susan Burrow talks about Valley the plans for a merged Community regional college Thursday. College and Southern Union to form a new regional college intensifies, Burrow provided insight into the mission and direction of that new entity. “You will be hearing a lot from us
See AWARDS • Page 3
See CACC • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Above, Ann Rye is presented the Business Person of the Year Award by Kenneth Boone Thursday at the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting. Below, John Thompson thanks the crowd after being presented with the Community Spirit Award.
DESERVING HONORS
Rye, Thompson selected for Chamber’s top awards By MITCH SNEED Editor
Local family to appear today on ‘Family Feud’ with Steve Harvey By MITCH SNEED Editor
An episode of the television game show “Family Feud” featuring a local family will be on the air today. The Fincher family can be seen on today at 3 p.m. on WNCF and at 6:30 p.m. on WABM competing for big money on the show featuring Steve Harvey as the host. The Fincher team included Jerry Fincher, Rene’ Fincher, Rachael Hutchison, Amanda Fincher and Colt Fincher and their journey to the small screen began last March with an audition in Birmingham. “When Family Feud
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
•Home-like Environment • Specialized Dementia Care Unit •Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services
A DAMS HEALTH & REHAB 1555 HILLABEE STREET • (256) 329-0847
came to Birmingham to do auditions last March, I sent an email telling them we were interested,” Amanda Fincher said. “They sent us back an audition date and time. Apparently, all of Alabama was also auditioning that day. There were several hundred families that were auditioning between the Saturday and Sunday dates. “Luckily, we came prepared to stand out. I was eight months pregnant and used it to my advantage. Each family was called up to do a mock version of the game in front of everyone and right before the game See FEUD • Page 3
Submitted / The Outlook
A local family will appear on Family Feud with Steve Harvey today. The Fincher team included Jerry Fincher, Rene’ Fincher, Rachael Hutchison, Amanda Fincher and Colt Fincher, shown here with Harvey in the center. They said the journey began last March with auditions in Birmingham.
Now Playing:
Kung Fu Panda 3 3D – PG The Finest Hours 3D – PG-13 The Boy – PG-13