July 14, 2017 Alex City Outlook

SPORTS, PAGE 9: NEW SITE GYMNAST PLACES 2ND AT REGIONALS

THE

FRIDAY INSIDE, PAGE 2:

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

214th member awarded July 14, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 139 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢ Purple Heart

County juggles two road projects

By MITCH SNEED and CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writers

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

The third load of rock is shown being delivered on Midway Estates Road to repair the road to make it passable again.

Motorists in Tallapoosa County may have encountered two pretty extensive road projects in recent days – one that was planned and one that was an emergency repair.

More than five miles of Elkahatchee Road is being resurfaced as part of an Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program project, while the shoulder and a portion of Midway Estates Road are being shored up after heavy recent rains forced its closure when a large portion of the shoulder caved in and threatened the road.

Commissioner Steve Robinson said the work on Elkahatchee has been in the works for about three years and said it is nice to see it coming to fruition.

“That is an ATRIP II project and what happens is that there is a lengthy process to determine the roads that present the greatest need,” Robinson said. “Elkahatchee was identified as one that needed work. We started the process and this is where it fell in the list of projects.”

The work there has moved very quickly.

The process being used is a triple layer tar and gravel formula that is designed to smooth the surface and extend the life of the road.

Crews came in initially and repaired existing voids and cracks. Then a layer of tar with a coating of small gravel was placed on top of that. That was followed up with more tar and even smaller gravel. A third layer of tar was topped with a very fine grit of rock dust to

Local church to hold ‘First Responder Sunday’

State releases new 2016 graduation rate data STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

Sixth Street Baptist Church in Alexander City will be holding its first ever “First Responder Sunday” during the morning worship service.

“We started thinking about them, and we decided we wanted to do something to honor those who serve our community. They serve, and people notice them, but you don’t always notice them until you need them,” Sixth Street Baptist Church Pastor Matt Haines said.

The service will feature a time for the first responders in attendance to be recognized for their work, as well as a special prayer. Following the sermon, the church will be hosting a luncheon in honor of the first responders and their families.

“In my sermon, I’ll have something about what they do and how that’s actually like Christ in a sense, how he rescues us when nobody else

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Kenya Thomas, 6, of Alexander City reacts after finding out the ‘most dangerous’ end of the snake.

SLITHERING TIME Animal Tales gives children exciting education

See RESPONDERS • Page 3

Today’s

Weather

91 76 High

6

Low

54708 90050

8

USPS Permit # 013-080

Lake Martin

Lake Levels

490.59 Reported on 07/13/17 @ 1 p.m.

LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443

laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL

See ROADS • Page 2

ecosystems.

“I’ve been doing this for eight years,” Ham said. “I’ve always loved animals. I’ve worked A group of over 70 summer reading program with them my whole life.” participants took a seat Thursday afternoon at With an estimated 500 shows on the Mamie’s Place Children’s Library, ready to be schedule for this year, Ham described his work educated and entertained by John Ham and his as being able to give people a better respect Animal Tales show. and understanding of animals from around the The show, “Animal Architects,” featured world. creatures from North and South America, His presentation began with a Mexican Australia and Africa, all of whom are redknee tarantula, which hides in a burrow and very valuable members of their respective See ANIMALS • Page 10

By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

The Alabama State Department of Education has revised the state’s graduation rate after an earlier figure proved inaccurate.

Information released during the Alabama State Board of Education meeting earlier this week showed Alabama’s graduation rate was 87.1 percent in 2016.

That’s higher than the 85 percent rate announced in April, but lower than the 89 percent rate reported in 2015. The previous figures were found to be incorrect.

The new rate was made public after a lengthy discussion about how district-by-district information differed was posted online by the state in April.

As a result of the conflicting information, state officials are now differentiating between Alabama graduates and federal graduates.

Students who take coursework on the “essentials” See GRADUATION • Page 3

Kingz United working hard to make a difference how they could help make a positive impact in their community, while giving Seeking to make a positive local youth motivation and impact in Tallapoosa County, hope. the group Kingz United “I’ve got so much more to recently formed in order to give back to the community,” set good examples for the he said. youth of the area.

Kingz United began their “We’re a new group. We work in the community just started last month,” on Saturday, July 8 with a Kingz United President community cleanup day. The Lamont Shaw said. men went around Dadeville, There are times when it cleaning up as much as they seems like there is not a lot could in the time they had. of hope among those living On Saturday, July 22, the in the county, according to group will be holding a car Shaw. Remembering what wash to raise money in order Tallapoosa County used to purchase back to school to be like, he and the 19 supplies for those in the other middle-aged men of area who may not be able to Kingz United came together See KINGZ • Page 3 to answer the question of

By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer

Starting Friday:

Despicable Me 3 – PG-13 Planet of the Apes – PG-13 Spider-Man: Homecoming 3D– PG-13

Submitted / The Outlook

Kingz United is a new organization in Tallapoosa County striving to be a good influence for the local youth. Their first act of community service was cleaning up around Dadeville.

We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!

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Man answers wife’s hurt feelings with angry shouts

Saturday

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Friday, July 14, 2017

The Outlook

Partly sunny with 50% chance of thunderstorms

Staff

Directory Cliff Williams Staff Writer, Ext. 212 cliff.williams@alexcityoutlook.com Donald Campbell Staff Writer, Ext. 208 donald.campbell@alexcityoutlook.com Santana Wood Staff Writer/Pagination, Ext. 210 santana.wood@alexcityoutlook.com

Telephone: (256) 234-4281 Fax: (256) 234-6550 Website: www.alexcityoutlook.com Management Steve Baker Publisher, Ext. 218 steve.baker@alexcityoutlook.com Mitch Sneed Editor, Ext. 213 mitch.sneed@alexcityoutlook.com David Kendrick Circulation Manager, Ext. 204 david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com Lee Champion Production Manager, Ext. 220 lee.champion@alexcityoutlook.com Audra Spears Art Director, Ext. 219 audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com Betsy Iler Magazine Managing Editor, Ext. 221 betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com Tippy Hunter Advertising Director, Ext. 206 marketing@alexcityoutlook.com Angela Mullins Business Manager, Ext. 202 angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com

Advertising Sales Doug Patterson Newspaper Advertising, Ext. 205 doug.patterson@alexcityoutlook.com Tabby Edwards Retail Sales Manager, Ext. 232 tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com Emily Gregg Advertising Sales, Ext. 225 emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com Scott Hardy Advertising Sales, Ext. 208 scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com Rebecca Carlisle Advertising Sales, Ext. 217 rebecca.carlisle@alexcityoutlook.com

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for two years, and my husband has three grown children. He was recently planning a getaway with the youngest and included me in the plans. I didn’t want to interfere and suggested that his child might want to spend some one-on-one time with him. I later learned that not only were his other kids going, but their spouses were as well.

Everyone was included but me.

I felt very hurt to be excluded.

When I shared with him how I felt, his response was that he couldn’t control his kids, but I feel he could have controlled his response. To exclude me was deliberate. When I told him how hurt I was, he got less than an inch from my face and started screaming about MY kids (who love him like a father). It scared me because he was in my face. I have never had a man scream in my face like that before. I don’t know what to do.

I was truly terrified. -- LOST IN THE EAST

DEAR ABBY Advice

DEAR LOST: Your husband may have reacted the way he did out of guilt. If you haven’t already, tell him that no one has ever spoken to you the way he did and that it terrified you. Tell him that when someone acts that way, the natural conclusion of the person being bullied (which is what he was doing) is to fear the verbal attack will escalate to physical violence.

If he can’t explain calmly why he overreacted when you said you were hurt, then the two of you could use some sessions with a marriage counselor. If he refuses to go, go without him. He was less than honest in not disclosing beforehand that everyone but you would

be vacationing together. During some of your counseling sessions, consider discussing healthy ways to disagree and the dynamics of “vacations with the kids” -- both his and yours -DEAR ABBY: Years before my dad passed away, he started keeping a notebook he called “Jack’s Doomsday Book.”

In it he listed account numbers and balances, names of banks, passwords, locations of documents and other detailed instructions on how to take over his responsibilities if he was incapacitated. He always told Mom and me that if something happened, to find that notebook in which everything was written down.

Mom died first, so when Dad became ill years later, he made sure I had the notebook. I can’t tell you how much easier it made things. I didn’t have to go searching through paperwork to figure out what was what. I knew the banks I

had to go to and what to bring.

It was all there, down to the changes he had made after Mom passed. Even our financial adviser was impressed at how easy Dad made everything for us. Everyone should have a doomsday book. -- JACK’S GIRL IN LOUISIANA DEAR JACK’S GIRL: I couldn’t agree more. I admire your father’s pragmatism.

Too many adults fail to plan ahead for this kind of inevitability, which causes additional problems for survivors at a time when they are trying to cope with their grief. Readers, if you haven’t already done something similar, you should consider it.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

214th member awarded Purple Heart

Composing Darlene Johnson Composing Department, Ext. 203 darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com Hallie Holloway Composing Department, Ext. 203 hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com

Newsroom Amy Passaretti Assistant Magazine Editor, Ext. 227 amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com Lizi Arbogast Sports Editor, Ext. 228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com

Circulation Linda Ewing Office Clerk, Ext. 201 linda.ewing@alexcityoutlook.com

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, Lake magazine, Lake Martin Living, (USPS: 013-080, ISSN: 0738-5110) Kenneth Boone The Outlook is published five times Photography and a week, Tuesday through Saturday a commercial web mornings, by Tallapoosa Publishers, printing press.

Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL, 35011.

Postal

Information

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Post Office Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011.

© 2011 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Reproduction of any part of any issue requires written publisher permission.

Army Sgt. William Frye / Special to The Outlook

How to Submit Obituaries

Obituaries can be submitted to The Outlook from funeral homes by e-mail at obits@alexcityoutlook.com or by fax at (256) 234-6550. For more information, call (256) 234-4281.

Funeral Service for Mrs. Amanda Louise Cain, 63, of Dadeville, Alabama, will be Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Mike Jackson will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 15, 2017 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home.

Mrs. Cain passed away on Thursday, July 13, 2017. She was born on June 30, 1954 in Alexander City, Alabama to Samuel H. Jackson and Louise M. Jackson. She was a member of Kellyton Methodist Church. Mrs. Cain was a very loving

Council hears future is bright in Dadeville

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Obituaries Mrs. Amanda Louise Cain 1954 - 2017

Governor Kay Ivey presents Staff Sgt. Donald P. McCook, Alabama National Guard 214th Military Police Company, with the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in Iraq. The ceremony took place at the State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama, July 12, 2017.

woman who devoted her life to her family. She enjoyed talking on the phone and was an avid Alabama Football fan.

She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Thomas Allen Cain of Dadeville; daughters, Tammy Cain Donaldson (Dave) of Tuscaloosa, Allison Cain Hartley (Allen); grandchildren, Katie Causey, Hayden Hartley, Owen Hartley; mother, Louise M. Jackson; brothers, Phillip R. Jackson (Teresa), Lee Jackson (Carol) and Mike D. Jackson (Connie).

She was preceded in death by her father.

Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www. radneyfuneralhome.com.

Radney Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

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548 Cherokee Road Alexander City, AL 35010 256.234.4281

SOCIAL SECURITY FAYE EDMONDSON Attorney at Law 135 N. Tallassee Street • Dadeville, AL

825-9559 No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

FREE CONSULTATIONS

“It’s not the end ... It’s a new beginning”

256-329-1313 217 Madison Street, Alexander City, AL “We are a Debt Relief Agency. We help people file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 under the Bankruptcy Code. Alabama State Bar requires the following in every attorney advertisement, “ No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”

Things are looking up in Dadeville and to hear Mayor Wayne Smith tell it, it has been a long time coming.

Smith and Dadeville Council members heard from Gary Ingram Paving at Tuesday’s meeting about the hold up on finishing up the Lafayette Street paving project.

“They have another week’s worth of work to do,” Smith said. “They have been waiting on the state to get with them about some issues especially the hole at Broadnax near Bob’s.”

The state has now given the contractor the go ahead on some cleanup and cement work.

“The work should be completed in the next few weeks,” Smith said.

Smith also commended a group of young men who have returned home to help their community.

Kingz United was recognized at the council meeting for its efforts.

“This group organized a cleanup,” Smith said. “They took part in the last cleanup and are organizing a back to school drive too with a fundraiser.”

Smith explained that things are looking up for some new businesses.

“There is a lot of talk about the old IGA building,” Smith said. “There is also a lot of talk about things on Highway 280 and Highway 49.”

The council also:

Roads complete the triple-layer process.

Robinson said the amount of traffic that uses Elkahatchee Road may surprise some people, but not him.

“I lived on Warren Circle for more than 30 years and ran on that road every day, so I know how much traffic there is there.

As a cut through and to all the homes in the area, it draws a lot of motorists every day.

“The traffic and the fact that the city had already done their portion made it even more logical to get it done as soon as we could. That way you have the road almost totally resurfaced from beginning to end – the city’s portion as well as the county’s.”

Crews on the project said they planned to have the bulk of the work done by the end of the day Thursday, with only some minor finishing touches remaining to complete in the days to come.

The repair on Midway Estates Road should be finished next week despite the amount of material needed to complete it. In addition to the repair, crews will also complete work in hopes that it will not happen again.

“Barring weather, we should be finished next week,” Commissioner John McKelvey

• heard about the Tallapoosa County Commission approving their portion of the geotechnical study for the courthouse square renovation project.

• approved changing the bylaws of the Nutritional Center to change the service to the city limits of Dadeville.

• approved a resolution allowing the sale of an ambulance to the Eagle Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

• approved recreation center rentals.

• approved payment of bills.

• approved minutes from the last meeting.

The next meeting of the Dadeville City Council is Tuesday, July 25 at 6 p.m. with a pre-meeting starting at 5:30 p.m.

continued from page 1

Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

Shown above, the bulk of work on Elkahatchee Road is expected to be completed by the end of the day on Thursday, according to the crew.

said. “We are going to build up the roadway some and put some culverts in to hopefully take the water away and keep it from doing it again.”

The repair itself is quite expansive requiring a large amount of material.

Crews could be seen Thursday

carefully placing rock to not only repair the caving issue but in hopes the repair will be the solution to the problem.

“It was a big hole,” McKelvey said. “We put 153 tons of rock into the hole today. We are estimating it will take another 100 tons to fill it.”

Friday, July 14, 2017

Kingz

continued from page 1

afford them. These supplies will then be distributed on August 5, when Kingz United hosts a fish fry and cookout.

“We’ll be offering free haircuts and handing out the back to school supplies. It’s just going to be a fun day for the kids overall,” Shaw said.

The group’s actions may have started relatively small, but they have big plans for the future.

“I want us to try and start a tutoring class,” Shaw said. “Hopefully one day, we’ll be able to help out with scholarships, or just some kind of award for our students.”

So far, the feedback for Kingz United’s actions has been phenomenal, with a number of people wanting to donate assistance to the outreach events. This includes several women offering to donate cases of food for the August 5 fish fry and cookout, according to Shaw.

“We’re just trying to make a difference, set good examples, and be a father figure to those who may not have had such a figure in their life,” he said. “If we can touch just one child, it’ll be worth it.”

Graduation

Responders

pathway are counted as Alabama graduates, but not federal graduates.

Officials said 50,366 students are considered Alabama graduates, while 49,164 students are considered federal graduates.

Former Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Phil Hammonds who investigated the graduation rate discrepancy told the state school board that a series of what he called “unfortunate events” led to the release of bad information.

He indicated that many school systems didn’t get a chance to review their data before it was published.

Though no timeline was given for the public posting of districtlevel 2016 graduation rates was shared, officials said it should be soon.

Previously Alexander City Schools Superintendent Dr. Darrell Cooper and Tallapoosa County Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Windle said they didn’t believe that the grad rates in their systems would change.

can,” Haines said. “The luncheon will provide a time for our church members to serve the police officers, firefighters and their families, talk to them and thank them for what they do.”

Haines estimated that two or three responders are regular attendees at his church, but in order to spread the word around, his congregation has been hard at work inviting all the first

continued from page 1

2:30 p.m. ̽ 4 p.m. Jake’s Show Me the Movie 3 p.m. ̽ 5 p.m. Playhouse Cinemas Hittin’ the Links Glow Golf 5:30 p.m. Lakewinds Golf Course Drone Race 5:30 p.m. Sportplex Football Field

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The Outlook

continued from page 1

responders.

“We did personal invitations for all of them. Since then, we’ve sent out reminder flyers,” he said.

“A number of our members have been sharing the event on Facebook. Many of them are excited for this.”

Since the invitations carried an RSVP, Haines said that, from the responses received so far, he estimated that around 30 to 35

responders and their families would be in attendance Sunday morning.

He also believed that services like this could possibly become a regular event at the church.

The service at Sixth Street Baptist Church begins at 10 a.m.

Sunday, and everyone is invited to take part.

“Anybody who wants to attend is welcome,” Haines said.

Celebrating a

Milestone

Wednesday, July 19 Schedule of Events Friday, July 14

Friday on the Green 6:30 p.m. ̽ 8:30 p.m.

Russell Crossroads “Our Town” by ACT II 7:00 p.m. The Arbor

Saturday, July 15

MainStreet Farmers Market 7 a.m. ̽ 11 a.m. First Baptist Church Slip ͂n’ Slide 5K 8 a.m. Strand Park “Our Town” by ACT II 7:00 p.m. The Arbor

Sunday, July 16

Family Day at the Lake 1 p.m. ̽ 6 p.m. Wind Creek State Park Hook ‘Em at Sun Festival 1 p.m. ̽ 4 p.m. Wind Creek State Park Oh the Places You’ll Canoe 1 p.m. ̽ 4 p.m. Wind Creek State Park Raising the Sail 1 p.m. ̽ 4 p.m. Wind Creek State Park Beach Volleyball Tournament 1 p.m. Wind Creek State Park Canoe Race Me? 3 p.m. Wind Creek State Park Paddleboard Race 4 p.m. Wind Creek State Park Doggin’ It at the Lake 5 p.m. Wind Creek State Park

Monday, July 17

Pie in the Sky Treasure Hunt 6:05 a.m. Tallapoosa County KidsFest Library 9 a.m. ̽ 12 Noon, TBD Hanging Out at the Home 9 a.m. ̽ 11 a.m. Area Nursing Homes Dawg-Gawn Good Parade 5:30 p.m. Strand Park Lip Sync in the Park 7 p.m. ̽ 9 p.m. Strand Park

Tuesday, July 18

Pie in the Sky Treasure Hunt 6:05 a.m. Tallapoosa County KidsFest Healthy Living 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Lake Martin Innovation Center Bingo

Pie in the Sky Treasure Hunt 6:05 a.m. Tallapoosa County KidsFest Magic and a Message 9 a.m. ̽ 11 a.m.

Cooper Recreation Center KidsFest College Bound 2 p.m. ̽ 4 p.m. CACC Show Your Colors 5 p.m. BRHS Band Field Faith Night 6 p.m. BRHS Auditorium

Thursday, July 20

Pie in the Sky Treasure Hunt 6:05 a.m. Tallapoosa County Fun in the Sun 9 a.m. ̽ noon Airport Pavilion Celebrate America’s Heroes 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Bill Nichols Veterans Home KidsFest Get Your Art On 1 p.m. ̽ 3 p.m. Luck of the Draw Studio KidsFest Build Your Own Sundae 2:30 p.m. ̽ 4 p.m. Carlisle’s Drugs Young Professionals Trivia Night 7 p.m. TBD “Our Town” presented by ACT II 7 p.m. The Arbor

Friday, July 21

Pie in the Sky Treasure Hunt 6:05 a.m. Tallapoosa County KidsFest Wet ‘n Wild 9 a.m. ̽ noon Alexander City Pool Pie Baking Contest 11 a.m. Lake Martin Innovation Center Band Battle 7 p.m. Strand Park

The Outlook strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.

Saturday, July 22

MainStreet Farmers Market 7 a.m. ̽ 11 a.m. First Baptist Church Motorcycle Ride & Show 8 a.m. Lake Martin Innovation Center Car Show 8 a.m. Lake Martin Innovation Center On the Pontoon 10 a.m. ̽ noon, 2-4 p.m. Lake Martin “Our Town” presented by ACT II 2 p.m. The Arbor Jeep Show 4 p.m. Downtown Alexander City Cornhole Tournament 4 p.m. Strand Park Moon Taxi Concert 6 p.m. Strand Park

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Page 4

Outlook The

Friday, July 14, 2017

Opinion

The summer belongs to God Throw Away Days H Our View

continue to do good things

O

ne of the qualities that makes our area so special is the beauty that nature provides us here.

We have the sparkling, blue waters of Lake Martin, beautiful rolling hills, scenic rivers and streams, and historic buildings and homes all right here in Tallapoosa County.

With so many great images all around us, why would anyone who calls our community home trash it?

From cars rolling along Highway 280, to boaters sinking beer cans in the lake, or property owners dropping a load of trash on a rural road, we are too often seeing our own residents choosing to take the easy way out. Rather than using trash cans or hauling refuse to a landfill, they are using our beautiful county as a dump.

This needs to stop.

Wouldn’t it be great if our government workers didn’t have to spend countless hours picking up trash along our roads?

Imagine if marine police didn’t have litter as a concern and boaters and swimmers didn’t have to worry about what was at the bottom of the lake. It would be great, wouldn’t it?

Wouldn’t it be great to take a drive and not see a fast-food bag or a lit cigarette flying from the window of the vehicle in front of you? How about if all the illegal dumps were gone overnight?

You know the answers to those questions.

That’s why the success of the Throw Away Day event earlier this week is so important. Dumpsters were strategically placed in all five commission districts in an effort sponsored by the county commissioners and Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership.

While exactly how much trash and unwanted material was collected has not been finalized, we applaud the sponsors and all the area residents who participated.

Every bit of trash that hit these receptacles is one less thing that made its way to the side of area roads and created eyesores as well as work for others.

Together we can keep our area beautiful.

as it been hot, or what? These dog days of summer are draining the life out of folks. I know these days are called dog days after Sirius the Dog Star which announced summer to the Greeks, but I think in our day it just deals with the fact that we sweat and pant like dogs in this heat. Folks are even walking around with their tongues lolled out and sucking air in gulps.

Yep, we are definitely in the dog days of summer.

I’ve learned a new trick because of this heat. When I get into my closed up truck I have discovered that I can drive with just two fingers barley touching the steering wheel. Even as hot as the steering wheel is, it isn’t anything compared to the branding I get on my right hip from the seat belt buckle. For the rest of the summer I think I’ll let my sweet wife start up my truck and cool it off before I get in.

Even though it is so hot that a Sahara Desert Bedouin would seek a shade my wife has given me a list of projects that must be done. As I’m sweating away on these essential honey-dos my lovely bride will look out the window and give me a thumb’s up for encouragement. When I finally sit down from heat exhaustion she will come

DR. GERALD HALLMARK Columnist

out under her umbrella, with a glass of iced tea and ask if I’m going to be able to finish today. If I’m only able to gasp for air and not answer she will sometimes show mercy (or pity) and turn the hose on me to cool me down.

Otherwise, she just nods and goes back inside to the air conditioning.

I know it’s hot because as I lay there in a semiconscious state I can see the tar bubbling on the road. When the pavement assumes a liquid state and starts flowing like lava you can bet it’s hot.

I’d relate more about this phenomenon, but my wife started tapping on the windowpane for me to get up and get busy.

About sundown I finally finished and crawled into the house for rest. As I was sitting on the air conditioning vent drinking my third glass of ice water my sweet wife suggested we go out for supper. After all, she was bored because the heat had cooped her up in the house all day and now she needed a break. I

told her that was fine and suggested she could grab a bite in the hospital cafeteria while I had my coronary in the ER. Mark Twain once said that everybody talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it. Only God can control the weather because He is the Creator of this world. We may complain about weather extremes, but the truth is we live in a beautiful world with a rich variety of weather. In each season God blesses us with a special tapestry of His handiwork.

In Romans Paul says that God is revealed in nature and everyone can know Him through His creation. So, even though it is summer and hot we need to be faithful in God’s house as a testimony to His love for us. Enjoy these long, hot summer days, but don’t forget who gave them to you.

Did I mention that my bride has decided we need a beach vacation? She thinks we could sit on the beach, soak up some sun and enjoy the ocean breeze. I agreed completely and booked us into a seaside hotel in Anchorage, Alaska!

Dr. Gerald Hallmark is a retired minister who lives in Alexander City and is a regular Friday columnist for The Outlook.

Communication with elected officials is the key to good government. To let your most local representatives know how you feel about state or local matters, contact any of the following.

Governor Kay Ivey represents the state of Alabama and its 67 counties. She was sworn into office on April 10, 2017, and can be reached at 334-242-7100.

Her office is located at the State Capitol at 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama.

Kay Ivey

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 334-242-7300, and Luther Strange his office is located at 501 Washington Avenue, Montgomery.

Mark Tuggle (R) represents the 81st District covering Coosa, Chilton and Tallapoosa counties.

He can be reached by phone at 256-3922006 or by email at tughd81@gmail.com.

Mark Tuggle His office is located at 110 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 334Tom Whatley 242-t7865. His office is located at 337 East Magnolia Drive, Auburn.

Quote

“You’re never fully dressed without a smile.”

– Martin Charnin

Today’s

Scripture I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

—John 17:4

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Daily Poll Thursday Question: Do you think criminals in Alabama get tough enough sentences?

No — 85% Yes — 15%

Friday’s Question: Do you think enough has been done to fix area roads?

To participate in this daily poll, log on each day to www. alexcityoutlook.com and vote.

Find out the vote totals in the next edition of The Outlook and see if your vote swayed the results.

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Federal Election Commission needs to fix the system Dear Editor,

As an American citizen and voter, I am stunned by the amount of media coverage and government resources that are being spent chasing the question of whether Russia influenced the 2016 election.

I think many of my fellow Americans would agree with my perspective: our elections have already been so thoroughly influenced by special interests and Big Money – how much more ‘influence’ could Russia possibly exert over the process?

Yesterday’s AP poll was just the latest in a consistent message that the American public has been trying to send for years: our campaign system is broken and voters believe their elected representatives represent wealthy campaign donors or special interests rather than their constituents. Yesterday’s poll found that threequarters of Americans feel they don’t have enough influence over their own government.

That should be a wake-up call that we need to

fix the system — but we’ve seen similar polling numbers for years and nothing’s been done yet.

I personally wish that the media and government would spend at least as many resources covering ‘Money in Politics’ as are now being spent chasing ‘the Russia story.’

I believe the Federal Election Commission is focused on the wrong potential ‘influencer’ today.

Yes, other countries benefit in many ways if they can influence American elections. Yes, special interests benefit in many ways when their secret campaign contributions result in huge government contracts or tax breaks at the expense of middle class taxpayers.

Our government should be working to change the rules that invite this corruption - not act shocked when every bad actor walks in the doors we left not only unlocked but open.

John Pudner Executive Director Take Back Our Republic

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 75 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) 234-6550 or e-mailed to editor@ alexcityoutlook.com. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send us your thoughts today!

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Guilty plea reached in Clay County murder case Jolee Callan, age 18 of Shelby County, to the Pinhoti Trail area of Mount Cheaha where he shot Attorney General Steve her twice in the head, killing her, Marshall and Clay County District before throwing her body off Attorney Jeffrey Willis announced of a 40-foot cliff. Bunner then that Loren Daniel Bunner pleaded left the crime scene and while guilty in Clay County Circuit driving back home to Shelby Court Thursday to the murder of County called 911 to report that Jolee Nicole Callan. Following he “murdered his ex-girlfriend.” his guilty plea, Bunner was He pulled over and waited for law sentenced by the court to serve 52 enforcement to arrive to take him years in prison and pay 9,255.92 into custody. He gave statements in restitution to the Alabama to law enforcement that he and Crime Victims Commission. The Callan had a suicide pact to jump Alabama Attorney General’s off the mountain and when they Office assisted District Attorney couldn’t jump she asked him Willis in the case. to shoot her when she wasn’t On August 20, 2015, Loren looking. He said that after he shot Bunner, age 20 of Shelby her he couldn’t go through with County, lured his ex-girlfriend committing suicide. He confessed STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

to the murder to multiple law enforcement agencies and to two inmates. Bunner, who was age 20 at the time of the murder, was initially granted youthful offender status but after objections from the prosecution the court withdrew the youthful status and ordered the defendant to be tried as an adult.

Bunner pleaded guilty to murder Thursday. His 52-year prison sentence includes 10 years for the use of a firearm in the commission of murder.

“This senseless and selfish crime has been a terrible loss to the family and friends of Jolee and a loss to the community as a whole,” said District Attorney Jeffrey Willis. “Nothing that was done here can correct that. I am,

however, grateful that we were able to conclude the case without the necessity of putting the Callan family through a lengthy trial. I want to personally thank Attorney General Steve Marshall for his willingness to lend his office’s assistance to the prosecution of this case. I want to especially thank Assistant Attorney General Stephanie Billingslea for her tireless work on the case.”

“We have all been struck by the loss suffered by the Callan family and after today’s guilty plea and sentence of the defendant we hope that their healing can finally begin,” said Attorney General Steve Marshall. “A young life full of promise was lost two years ago, and, as prosecutors we have done

our best to ensure that justice was served for Jolee and her family.

My gratitude goes out to District Attorney Jeffrey Willis who allowed my team to assist in the prosecution of this case.”

Attorney General Marshall recognized Assistant Attorney General Stephanie Billingslea and Lori Arnold, Legal Research Assistant, of the Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division for their invaluable work in the case. He also thanked the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office, the Oxford Police Department, Jacksonville State University’s Department of Applied Sciences, and the U.S. Forestry Service for their assistance in the case.

Tallapoosa farmers may be eligible for drought funds identified as high priority will be assigned the highest priority for financial assistance because they USDA-Natural Resources were impacted the most by the Conservation Service (NRCS) drought. Tallapoosa County is State Conservationist for Alabama one of those counties.

Ben Malone announced that the Funding will be provided agency is providing funding to through the Environmental assist landowners impacted by last Quality Incentives Program year’s extreme drought.

(EQIP) and will address fencing, Agricultural producers water troughs, pasture, hay land statewide suffered losses from re-establishment, wells, and months with low rainfall. Eligible prescribed grazing. In addition landowners are encouraged to to others, these practices will not apply by July 28, 2017. Alabama only help landowners recover landowners living in counties losses from the drought, they will STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

serve as a proactive step to help landowners in the event of future drought situations. Measures such as planting drought affected cool season grasses such as fescue and installing water tanks and fencing will make lands more sustainable.

“Landowners across the state have weathered the drought for months and these funds will assist them in replenishing losses and doing what they can to help their grazing lands recover,” said State Conservationist Ben Malone.

During the worst of the drought, USDA reported more

than $30 million in disaster funds were distributed nationally for livestock feed programs and non-insured disaster support. In addition, because livestock feed was in short supply, cattle sales were 19% ahead of 2015. This impacted the value of livestock that was sold.

Alabama landowners who are interested in applying for drought funding should contact their local USDA NRCS service center in Tallapoosa County at 256-329-3084, Ext 2, MondayFriday 7:30 – 4:00 and in Coosa

County at 256-377-4750, Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 7:30 – 4:30 to learn more. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 202509410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 8778339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).

Page 8

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CommunityCalendar SEE ME FOR INSURANCE

Today is July 14, 2017 Today’s Events

Harold Cochran 256.234.2700

MOVIE NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting a movie night July 14. God’s Not Dead II will start at 7:30 p.m. Concessions will be sold.

ANNUAL SESSION: Early Rose District Congress of Christian Education is holding its 58th Annual Session July 11-14 at 9 a.m. daily at the Great Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL:

Friday, July 14, 2017

The Outlook

Family Worship Center on Sewell Street is hosting Vacation Bible School July 13-14 from 6-8:30 p.m. and July 15 from 9 a.m. to noon with a parents program July 15 at 11 a.m.

KIDS AND YOUTH CAMP: The Tallapoosa Baptist Association camps will be held July 13-16 at Camp Alamisco on Lake Martin.

Youth Camp is for those who have completed grades 7-12. Kids Camp is for those who have completed grades 3-6. The theme is “Following Jesus.” Jeremy Simpson of FBC, Alex City will be the camp pastor.

Campers will enjoy playing crazy games, kayaking, swimming, “the blob,” crafts, skits and much more.

The cost until June 23 is $85 per camper. After that, the cost is $95

Submit calendar items:

Participate in your Outlook by calling 256-234-4281, faxing them to 256-234-6550, sending your event to calendar@alexcityoutlook.com or logging on to http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/. per camper. The final deadline to register is June 30. Registration forms can be downloaded at www. tallapoosabaptist.org under the Resource tab. For more information, please call 256-825-4441.

Today’s Birthdays

Gene Baker, Tiffany Clark, Lougenia Ligon, Troy Russell, Roy Russell, Randy Lackey, John Thomas, Melissa Peppers, Ronnie Shores, Jazell Morgan and Phyllis Marie Ross are celebrating their birthdays today.

Today’s Anniversaries

Dru and Charlotte Mattox are celebrating their anniversary today.

The Learning Tree Helping Children Learn and Grow

The Learning Tree, Inc. is Accepting Applications for Weekend Shifts in Direct Care.

Applications can be picked up at: 101 S. Dubois Street Tallassee, AL 36078 Or contact Brinda Bell (334) 252-0025, Ext. 101 Email: bbell@learning-tree.org

haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

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Brown Nursing and Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services •Physical Therapy •Occupational Therapy •Speech Therapy 2334 Washington Street Alexander City • 256-329-9061 www.crownemanagement.com

Come Visit Us! Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing

The Grammy nominated gospel group the Nelons will be in concert Saturday, July 29 at 6 p.m. at the Wetumpka First Baptist Church.

Saturday, July 15

TRADE DAY: Bibb Graves High School Alumni Monthly Trade Day in Millerville on Highway 9 between Ashland and Goodwater will be held on July 15 from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Refreshments are also available.

BOOK SALE: Friends of the Dadeville Public Library is having its summer book sale July 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can fill up a bag of books and get it for $5. Hardback books are $1 and paperbacks are 50 cents.

Sunday, July 16

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HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Tallapoosee Historical Meeting on Sunday, July 16 at 2 p.m. features talks about the restoration of Smith Mountain Fire Tower and the proposed Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association education center at the Tower. The meeting will take place at the Society’s museum on the town square in Dadeville. Refreshments will be served. The public is invited.

CHURCH HOMECOMING: New Hope Baptist Church on Highway 63 South is hosting a homecoming Sunday, July 16 at 10:30 a.m. All for Him will be singing and covered dish lunch follows at noon. For more information, call Lou Ann Fuller at 256392-5218.

WOMEN’S DAY: Bread of Life ACOP Church at 1476 Highway 280 is hosting its annual women’s day program Sunday, July 16 at 3 p.m. Elder Netherland Tuck is pastor. Guest speakers will be Sis. Jennifer Taylor, National Secretary ACOP. CHURCH SINGING: The Johnny McDonald family will be singing at Marshall Street Church Sunday, July 16 at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

July 16-19

...with the right kind of advertising.

•Alexander City Outlook •Dadeville Record •Wetumpka Herald •Eclectic Observer •Tallassee Tribune

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How to add a calendar item: Participate in your

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

By e-mailing your event to calendar@alexcityoutlook.com or call 256-234-4281. _____ Send your news items to editor@alexcityoutlook.com

CHURCH REVIVAL: God’s House Church on Highway 63 is holding revival July 16 at 6 p.m. and July 17-19 at 6:30 p.m.

The guest speaker will be Bro. Ton Harris. The pastor of God’s House Church is Bro. Roger Green.

July 16-20

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Comer Baptist Church, located at 341 East Church Street, will be hosting its Galactic Starveyors Vacation Bible School July 16-20 from 5-8 p.m. for ages 4 years old to 6th grade. For more information, call 256-234-2236 or 256-749-1926.

Tuesday, July 18

RETIREE MEETING: The Tallapoosa County Education Retirees will meet Tuesday, July 18 at 10 a.m. at Catherine’s Market. The program will be on pre-paid funeral arrangements.

Wednesday, July 19

FIELD AND FOREST HIKE: Wind Creek State Park is hosting a field and forest hike July 19 at 9 a.m.

The walk is for all ages. Meet at the outdoor classroom across from the beach.

Thursday, July 20

ART SHOW: Members of the Artists Association of Central Alabama will be presenting their art work and

paintings in a show at the Comer Museum in Sylacauga July 20 from 6-8 p.m. There will be music, wine drinks and refreshments. There will also be an art demonstration by Dottie Holdren.

BINGO: Jake’s Restaurant is hosting bingo night to benefit the Boys and Girls and Club of the Lake Martin Area every Thursday this month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cards are $1 each.

Friday, July 21

MOVIE NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting a movie night July 21. The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry will start at 7:30 p.m.

Concessions will be sold.

Saturday, July 22

STARGAZING: The Auburn Astronomical Society will set up telescopes to look at the night sky July 22 at 6 p.m. on Hospice Point near the silo at Wind Creek State Park.

BINGO NIGHT: Bibb Graves High School Alumni and Friends in Millerville will have Family Game Night Bingo Saturday, July 22 from 5-8 p.m. The event will begin with hot dogs, pizza, chips, and soft drinks.

Sunday, July 23

CHURCH HOMECOMING: Rock Springs Baptist Church in Jacksons Gap is hosting homecoming July 23 at 10 a.m. Pastor Jamey Williams will bring the message and The Dyes will provide the music. Dinner will be served and everyone is invited.

Wednesday, July 26

FIELD AND FOREST HIKE: Wind Creek State Park is hosting a field and forest hike July 26 at 9 a.m.

The walk is for all ages. Meet at the outdoor classroom across from the beach.

HEALTH FAIR: A Summer Safari Health Fair, hosted by The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Senior Services Department will be held at the Bibb Graves High School in Millerville Wednesday, July 26 from 9 a.m. to noon.

There will be health screenings, health education, refreshments, door prizes and more. Special guest will be Brian Peters, meteorologist from ABC 33/40. This event will be indoors and free to the public. For more information contact Tabitha Royal, BSW, service coordinator at 256-751-3740 or email ROYAL.TABITHA@AIDB.ORG. GENEALOGY PROGRAM: The Adelia M. Russell Memorial Library is hosting “Genealogy Connects Us” July 26 at 11 a.m. procedures for collecting, collecting, preserving and storing of church and other organizational records and artifacts will be taught by Sheralyn Belyeu, Loretta Whetstone and Frazine K. Taylor.

Thursday, July 27

GOSPEL QUARTET: The Carolina Boys Quartet will be at the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium July 27. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. The concert is presented by Radney and Langley funeral homes and admission is one non-perishable food item donation to benefit the Tallapoosa Christian Crisis Center and Loaves and Fishes.

BINGO: Jake’s Restaurant is host-

ing bingo night to benefit the Boys and Girls and Club of the Lake Martin Area every Thursday this month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cards are $1 each.

Friday, July 28

MOVIE NIGHT: River of Life Worship Center is hosting a movie night July 28. WWJD II The Woodcarver will start at 7:30 p.m.

Concessions will be sold.

Saturday, July 29

$500 GIVEAWAY: The Goodwater Disabled Veterans Organization is having a $500 giveaway July 29 at 2 p.m. at the Goodwater Disable Veterans Organization, located at 7882 U.S. Highway 280 in Goodwater.

First prize is $250, second is $150 and third is $100.

Donations are being accepted by calling Richard McElarth at 256-2764776, Renell Hill at 256-839-6915, Wade McElarth at 256-749-9100 or Willie James Gaddis at 256-861-6177.

Proceeds will be used to help feed veterans.

YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP: Bridge Builders will be hosting a youth football camp for grades 1-8 July 29 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sportplex.

For more information, contact Hudson Hinton at 256-750-1140 or Tommie Kelly at 256-786-0542.

BENEFIT SINGING: All for Him will be be praising God with the Pritchard family. Sonny went home and those of us that wait for our time to join him will be rejoicing and singing praises for a blessing to fall on his wife and children in their time of need. Please come out and join us at Kellyton Revival Center July 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

BENEFIT SINGING: Mt. Siani Baptist Church in Waverly is hosting a benefit for Edger Tug Woody July 29 at 5:30 p.m. Host Star Wonder gospel singers will be performing. Rev. Cory Hughley is pastor.

BACK 2 SCHOOL DRIVE: The Jacksons Gap Back 2 School Drive is Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jacksons Gap Fire Department.

There will be food, fun and school supplies for students who can’t afford them.

Donations are being accepted through July 25 at the Jacksons Gap Town Hall.

FAMILY REUNION: The Mahan yates Jarvis Family Reunion will be July 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rocky Creek Fellowship Hall. Bring a covered dishes and sit a spell.

Tuesday, August 1

USHER MEETING: There will be a meeting of the Early Rose District ushers August 1 at 5 p.m. at the Early Rose District Center.

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Wednesday, August 2

OPEN HOUSE: Horseshoe Bend School is hosting an open house for high school students. Time is to be determined.

Thursday, August 3

OPEN HOUSE: Horseshoe Bend School is hosting an open house for elementary school students Aug. 3 from 5:30-7 p.m.

For Consistent Advertising

at Low Rates ...

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LIZI ARBOGAST SPORTS EDITOR (256) 234-4281 X228 lizi.arbogast@alexcityoutlook.com

Friday, July 14, 2017

www.alexcityoutlook.com

Page 9

Rookie gymnast exceeds expectations DAVID RAINER Columnist

ADSFR changes over Shipp’s 35-year tenure

W

ith a new pacemaker in place, Dr. Bob Shipp is preparing to oversee the thousands upon thousands of fish from the Gulf of Mexico and Alabama’s coastal waters that will be tossed onto the counter at the weigh station during the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR), scheduled July 21-23 at Dauphin Island.

Shipp, Professor Emeritus of the University of South Alabama’s Marine Sciences Department, will serve as head judge at the weigh station during the 84th rodeo, which is his 35th behind the rodeo scales.

Shipp started as an assistant judge to the late Roy Martin in 1982 and became the head judge when Martin retired in the late ’90s.

During Shipp’s time as head judge, the ADSFR was recognized in 2011 by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest and oldest fishing tournament in the world.

“It’s become probably the biggest single event in Lower Alabama during the summer,” Shipp said. “It’s the focal point of all the activities with thousands and thousands of people who come to Dauphin Island and coastal Alabama.

Plus, you’ve got people from Tennessee and Georgia and other states who come down just for the rodeo.

“What I think is really interesting is that it has become as much a spectator event for non-fishermen as it is for fishermen themselves. It used to be that fishermen were pretty much it. But now with all the display tanks and Most Unusual category, it’s just a great venue for tourists.”

Shipp said the other big change he’s experienced during his rodeo time is how marine science has flourished at the rodeo in the last 10 to 15 years.

“Way back when, there were a couple of us down there for the science,” he said. “Now we have scientists from all over the country and Europe, too, to collect specimens. I would have to count how many masters’ theses and Ph.D. dissertations have come from the rodeo. And the Jaycees (Mobile chapter that hosts the rodeo) have been so supportive.”

One species that has been studied extensively at the ADSFR is Alabama’s favorite reef fish, the red snapper, which has been the center of controversy for numerous years because of season restrictions instituted in federal waters.

“We’ve been able to gather a tremendous amount of information on red snapper in terms of growth and age structure at the rodeo,” Shipp said. “That information is going to be used, eventually, to change the management regime for snapper. That also includes grouper and the other snapper species like vermilion, gray and lane snapper.

“We’ve gotten a tremendous amount of data that has pointed out the importance of artificial structures off of Alabama. We’ve got more than 15,000 artificial reefs that have totally changed the ecosystem and built up the reef fish fishery. That’s due in part because of the rodeo support and the information gathered at the rodeo.”

As part of his continued work at South Alabama, Shipp makes several research trips annually into the Gulf to gather red snapper specimens. The research, funded by the Alabama Marine Resources Division, gathers catch data and video footage during the trips. One species scientists won’t be able to process for this year’s rodeo is triggerfish, which is closed for See SHIPP • Page 10

By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

The moment Camden Hadaway, of New Site, stepped foot in the Top Flight gym, owner and head gymnastics coach Alex Vardaman knew he had something special.

“Every now and then, you’ll have a gymnast that comes in and just blows you away,” Vardaman said. “That one percent where you know they’re just naturally talented, he was one of them.”

Camden proved Vardaman right in more ways than one. After just picking up the sport of gymnastics in August 2016, Camden blew away the competition at the USAG Alabama state championships, taking first by a long shot. He then advanced to the Southeast Regionals where he placed second amongst 75 gymnasts from eight different states.

“He’s really young, but he’s just picked it up so quick,” said Mary Elizabeth Vardaman, co-owner of Top Flight. “My husband (Alex) really has an eye for the ones who are naturally talented. There are so many athletes that we have that we’re able to shape into that kind of athlete, but there are some that you see from the getgo just have it.”

Everything about Camden screams gymnast. From being quietly confident to having an air of seriousness, it’s clear the 8-year-old has found his calling for now. And despite competing against tough competition, Camden doesn’t let the pressure get to him.

“It’s scary but I just pretend no one is watching while I do my events,” he said.

This year, Camden competed at a Level 4, which is the base level for men’s gymnastics. Because of his success, Camden will jump to Level 6 next season where he’ll start learning more intense tricks as well as how to put a routine together himself.

Alex Vardaman said he hopes Camden will be able to skip Level 7 and move straight to 8 after that. Camden turns 9 next week, and him competing at a Level 6 is an amazing feat.

“Just to be not even a year into gymnastics and be at a Level 6 is pretty huge,” Vardaman said. “He’s really strong in his upper body, and he can hit what’s called a V-Hold where he’s up on the bars, and he’ll tuck in and put his knees up in his face. That’s a pretty tough skill for his age.”

Lizi Arbogast / The Outlook

Camden Hadaway completes a high V Hold on the rings at Top Flight Gymnastics. Hadaway placed second at the Southeast Regional earlier this year.

His all-around skill at regionals shows just how impressive his resume is. In men’s gymnastics, there are six events and his lowest score was an 8.9 on the P-Bars.

Camden’s best event was the floor and the pommel horse, where he scored 9.45 on each. He also had a 9.25 on the rings and a 9.2 on the high bar.

“He’s so good at everything; he really is an all-around gymnast,” Mary Elizabeth Vardaman said. “There are things that we’ve had to fix – little errors that he makes – but he’s able to fix them like that and keep going and learn. He’s really solid on every event.”

Gymnastics also takes a serious amount of dedication, especially for someone Camden’s age. Top Flight has negotiated with the Alexander City, Dadeville and Horseshoe Bend school districts for gymnasts to be let out of school early once they hit a certain level, so they can give

the sport enough time and attention.

Most kids on the Top Flight competitive team are practicing five hours per day up to six times a week.

“It takes a lot of dedication and commitment at a very young age, so he has to love it,” Alex Vardaman said. “If you’re not gonna love it, you’re not gonna be here like that. Working like that, there’s a big life lesson in that. Gymnastics is huge in discipline and commitment, and you have to have a lot of heart to do something like that.”

And as much as Camden loves the sport, what he really loves is the competition.

“It’s fun because you get to learn new stuff and go to compete,” Camden said.

“You also get to win medals.”

And if his first year is any indication, Camden will be getting used to winning a lot of medals.

Annual sports camp coming to Camp ASCCA

By LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

It’s not going to be just any regular week at Camp ASCCA next week.

In conjunction with its Teen Week, Camp ASCCA will play host to its annual sports camp which is meant to reach out to athletic kids who also have physical disabilities.

“We want to include them in our camp with kids without disabilities to show them they have a type of interest they can share together,” said Cody Graham, the Outdoor Education Director at Camp ASCCA who will also serve as the sports camp director. “We want them to learn that they love the same sports, and we can all play together and build on those skills.”

Graham, who went to Huntingdon College and majored in exercise science, is the perfect person to direct this sort of camp because his degree focused on adaptable sports. He said Camp ASCCA has a very good relationship with the adaptable sports department at Auburn University because many of them were ASCCA campers at one point.

The Tigers will bring their wheelchair basketball team to next week’s camp, and other sports will include adaptive water skiing, skeet shooting, scuba diving and tennis.

With 11 kids with disabilities attending this summer, Graham said he likes to

File / The Outlook

Landon Clark gets help to go up the ropes on the zip line at Camp ASCCA. Next week, Camp ASCCA will host its sports camp focusing on adaptive sports for kids with disabilities.

make sure they all stick together as a “team” all week.

“We’ll have one lodge with guys on one side of the lodge and girls on the other, but we want to stay together,” Graham said. “We look at it as we’re a team this whole week to build on that sports dynamic.”

The sports camp has been adapting itself throughout the years as well. Due

to lack of facilities, the campers used to leave ASCCA for some of its sports, but now, they have everything set up on campus.

The sports camp is open to youngsters between the ages of 8 and 18, and while it’s open to anybody that has interest, Graham said most of the campers are from Alabama and even a few local kids will be attending this year.

CACC racks up All-Academic awards team selections have an overall GPA of 4.00; second team honors are between 3.80 and A record 235 student-athletes 3.99; and third-team selections from the Alabama Community finish with GPAs between 3.60 College Conference have been and 3.79. award NJCAA honors for First-team honorees from their academic achievements.

CACC were Britney Rice Twenty of those were from (softball), Carden McCay Central Alabama Community (golf), Griffin Fenn (baseball), College.

Justin Barr (baseball), Kallie A total of three NJCAA Beall (tennis), Natalie Landers Academic Student-Athlete (softball), Shelley Humphrey honors are awarded depending (tennis) and William Wrenn on grade-point average. First(baseball).

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

On the second team were Ashton Fielding (softball), Carter Henley (golf), Chelsea Mowery (softball), Christopher Vacarella (baseball), Gregory Stephens (baseball), Loren Bishop (softball) and Micahlyn McBride (tennis).

CACC also had five thirdteam award winners, including Austin Lawrence (baseball), Courtney Ray (softball), Gabriel Wurtz (baseball), Joshua Rice (baseball) and Reynolds Carl (golf).

Page 10

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Friday, July 14, 2017

The Outlook

Animals

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uses trip wires to catch its prey.

As a defensive mechanism, the spider will throw its hairs at any attackers, which can get into places like the eyes and cause severe itching. Out of all the animals Ham demonstrated to the captivated audience, he said this was the only one that would make a good pet.

The next animal he brought forth was an African spur tortoise, which eats the grass of the savanna, digs burrows into the ground to escape predators and the heat, and can live to be 150 years old. With the aid of a volunteer, Ham showed how animal trainers can use targeting to teach animals how they want the creature to behave. By moving towards the end of a plastic baseball bat, the tortoise was rewarded with a sweet potato.

Jumping a little closer to home, Ham then showed off a black-tailed prairie dog from the American Great Plains. A sociable animal, prairie dogs dig burrows, where they live in a family with approximately 12-14 other prairie dogs. These families and their burrows are often grouped together into a town of prairie dogs, the largest recorded of which measured across an area comparable to half the state of Alabama.

Recognizable for those who have watched The Lion King, he next demonstrated a Von der Decken’s Hornbill bird, which makes its home in hollow trees throughout East Africa. Ham let the bird make a couple of short flights from its carrier to his arm and back, along with letting it eat a couple of mealworms and a blueberry.

Moving to South America, the fifth animal on display was a kinkajou, a nocturnal furry creature that lives in the trees of the Amazon rain forest and helps plant growth by eating fruit to spread seeds and drinking nectar to pollinate flowers.

Rounding out the thrilling presentation, four volunteers helped hold a coastal carpet python from Australia. Like a number of other pythons, the coastal carpet python uses its body to constrict its prey.

Following the show, Ham allowed the audience to come up and gently “pet” the python, letting them feel how its scales were very similar to human fingernails.

“Everybody leaves these shows smiling and happy. I never hear any bad reactions,” Ham said.

“Our popularity has really taken off.”

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Top: John Ham with Animal Tales talks about his program with children at Mamie’s Place Children’s Library Thursday. Middle left: Twins Kirklynn and Easton Marable, 6, of Alexander City pet the snake. Bottom left: The tortoise takes a look around at the show.

Shipp all of 2017. Shipp, however, has seen plenty of triggerfish on his research trips.

“We’ve been out several times and the videos show huge, huge triggerfish,” he said.

“They’re also very curious.

They come right up to the camera.”

Shipp said during the trips, the bottom-reading electronics will reveal new spots to probe to determine if the structure is natural or man-made and to see what kind of marine life is present.

“When we put the camera down, it’s amazing,” he said.

“We have never had a single one of those spots that wasn’t just loaded with snapper.”

Thanks to a change in the federal red snapper season, which runs each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through and including Labor Day, there will be tons of big red snapper brought to the rodeo weigh station. Don’t forget to report your catch on Snapper Check.

The rodeo kicks off Saturday with the Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament, which sees about 2,000 youngsters head out to catch any number of fish species. The Roy Martin event is open to all young anglers 15 and under. And the kids will compete in several species not available during the ADSFR, including sea robins, croakers, hardhead catfish, spadefish, oysterfish, pinfish and whiting.

For the big rodeo, those anglers who wish to participate in the jackpot events will have to make captain’s meetings at one of two venues, Orange Beach or Dauphin Island. The meetings for the Raymarine

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Big Game Jackpot, the Jesco King Mackerel Jackpot and the ADSFR Catch & Release Shark Category will be held at J&M Tackle in Orange Beach and the rodeo site at Dauphin Island. The Catch & Release Shark meeting is set for 5 p.m. at J&M Tackle and the ADSFR site on Dauphin Island for a mandatory sign-out. The King Mackerel Jackpot sign-out will be 6 p.m. Thursday at J&M and Dauphin Island, while the Big Game Jackpot will hold its meeting also at 6 p.m. at the two locations. If the participant or representative can’t attend the captain’s meeting, a boat representative has until 5 a.m. Friday to complete the mandatory sign-out at the ADSFR site for the jackpot events and optional cash prize divisions.

Anglers in the big rodeo will compete in 30 categories, 15 inshore and 15 offshore.

There is also a Speckled Trout Jackpot. The speckled trout anglers will fish in two divisions – motorized and nonmotorized.

The Live Weigh-In competition for speckled trout and redfish will return at the Dauphin Island site.

The Live Weigh-In has been a popular addition to the rodeo and numerous trout and redfish have successfully been measured and released to the wild.

The rodeo will continue the special prize category started last year for lionfish. Rodeo anglers are urged to bring as many of the invasive species to the weigh dock as possible.

Lionfish, which threatens the Gulf Coast ecosystem

because it has almost no natural predators, is the rodeo’s exclusive spear-fishing category, and the winner will be decided by the number of fish brought to the weigh station.

Rodeo tickets are available at the usual outlets as well as online at www.adsfr.com.

After the rodeo is finished, Shipp will return to another familiar role – Alabama representative on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Shipp was appointed to a third term on the Council.

Shipp knows the Council’s top agenda item is obviously red snapper.

“I think there is going to be a lot of effort to turn red snapper management over to the states,” he said. “I know most of the legislative people along the five Gulf states are tired of trying to fight these silly regulations that we have in place now.

“If the Council can’t come up with something better than they have now, I think states will eventually take it over.

I think there’s also a lot of disagreement about the state of amberjack and triggerfish, but those are not nearly as serious as the snapper situation.”

Shipp said it’s hard to resolve what the NOAA Fisheries computer models indicate versus what anglers and even the research trips show about the red snapper population.

“Because of the artificial reef efforts, not just Alabama but the other states as well, we have created a tremendous amount of snapper habitat that did not exist before,” he said.

“The population has expanded increasingly rapidly. The

Submitted / Dept. of Natural Resources

Dr. Bob Shipp has been a judge at the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo at Dauphin Island since 1982 and has seen countless red snapper and king mackerel come across the scales.

problem is the way the feds view the population. They need a ratio of ages. They want so many 4- 5- and 6-year-olds.

With the population expanding as rapidly as it is, all these young fish are entering the population and it screws up the model.

“This goal of rebuilding the snapper stock by 2032 was put in place in the 1990s. Here they are looking 30-35 years in advance with no way to address the changes in habitat.

Our hurricane people, with all the data they have, can’t even predict four days out. So how can you predict 30 years out for a fishery. It’s insane.”

Shipp said another reason will likely factor into the transition to state-managed reef fisheries.

“Each state has different habitat,” he said. “Alabama has artificial reefs. Alabama and Texas have oil rigs. Florida has a lot of natural bottom.

Everything is different, so it makes much more sense for the states to manage it.”

David Rainer is employed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He writes a weekly column titled Outdoor Alabama Weekly.