Weekend
INSIDE, PAGE 2: SCAFFOLD UNIT COLLAPSES LEAVING TWO MEN INJURED
The Outlook
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
July 15-16, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 100 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Full slate of Sun Festival events set STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Sun Festival has begun and this weekend features some of the most popular events of the entire nine-day run. This year’s event is the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce’s Fifth Annual Sun Festival and this year more than 50 events are planned throughout the week. Today, The MainStreet Farmer’s Market kicks things off at 7 a.m., followed by the inaugural Slip N Slide 5K downtown. Check in is at 7 a.m. at Strand Park and the race is set to begin
Online education programs offer virtual school alternatives
at 8 a.m. Runners will run the 5K through the streets of downtown Alexander City or can compete in the 1-mile fun run. Runners will be able to cool off at the end with a trip or two down the adultsized slip-n-slide. The first male and female to cross the 5K finish line will receive a Sun Festival medal. The 5K starts at the top of Strand Park, and travels down Madison Street to Cherokee Road, with a turn right onto Jr. College Drive. Instead of going down the hill at CACC, runners will circle the round-about to the right, then head back down Jr. College Drive
toward Cherokee Road, turn left onto Cherokee Road, turn right onto Heard Boulevard in front of BRHS. Runners will then circle through the bus line at BRHS and back down Heard Boulevard, turn right back onto Cherokee Road, veer left onto Church Street, go halfway through the round-about onto Main Street, turn right into the alley beside Alabama Street Makers Market, turn right at the back of the alley and end at the top of Strand Park where they started. “We had done the Glow Run in the past and we thought this would be a See SUN FESTIVAL • Page 3
See VIRTUAL • Page 3
Sun Festival Preview Celebrating the 4th Eagle’s New Home Luke asks “Is God Dead?”
ALABAMA GRAPHITE July 2017 lakemartinmagazine.com Lake Martin Living 1
FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Lake Martin Living inside
File / The Outlook
The hot dog eating contest, Doggin’ it at the Lake, is set for Sunday at 5 p.m. at Wind Creek State Park.
REALTOR OF THE YEAR
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
As technology has continued to increase its capabilities, the world of education has benefited greatly. With online communication easier than ever before, online schooling has become a highly popular alternative to traditional school. This has become even more common recently in Alabama, since a mandate from the state legislature requires all high schools offer some form of online education for their students. Earlier this year, Connections Academy, a free online school system available in a number of states across the country, was approved for usage in Alabama. Overseen by the Limestone County School District, Alabama Connections Academy allows students from kindergarten to 12th grade to receive a their education without having to set foot in a traditional classroom. “Virtual school is the wave of the future,” Limestone County Executive Director of HR and Operations Tommy Hunter said. “This is for
LLake aake kee Martin Living People, events and culture in the Lake Region
Scantron set to replace ACT ASPIRE By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Emily McDaniel talks with fellow Realtors after being named Realtor of the Year by the Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors.
McDaniel awarded by Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors held their annual Realtor of the Year dinner Thursday evening awarding Russell Lands’ Emily McDaniel the title. Last year’s recipient of the award, Todd Clark, tried to hold the crowd in suspense before dropping any real clues as the winner’s real identity.
“I have been waiting all year to surprise someone,” Clark said. “This years Realtor of the year is a very civic minded person. He or she is involved in local organizations and programs. This Realtor is involved in the LMRA board. This Realtor is young and energetic and passionate about the Lake Martin area.” Clark’s last clue let everyone know who
After four years of using the ACT ASPIRE test to assess elementary and high school students throughout Alabama, the state Department of Education decided to drop the ASPIRE, moving in a new direction. Recently, State Superintendent Michael Sentance told the state Board of Education that the ASPIRE would be replaced in the upcoming school year with the Scantron test, formerly known as GlobalScholar. “Scantron will be used this upcoming spring for grades three through eight while we continue to look for a permanent replacement for the ASPIRE,” Alabama Department of Education Public Information Manager Malissa Valdes-Hubert said. Alabama was given permission from the federal Department of Education to drop the ASPIRE and temporarily utilize the Scantron test, according to Valdes. While Scantron would be used for the time being in assessing student achievement during the year, key staff at the department would be actively searching for an effective and permanent replacement. See SCANTRON • Page 3
See MCDANIEL • Page 3
Floaters need to take precautions to save themselves By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
File / The Outlook
4-Hers practiced their newly acquired kayaking skills on Sandy Creek recently following a safety class at RiverKids Kayaking Kamp.
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It used to be kayaking was something rarely seen on the creeks and rivers in the area. You saw it magazines and on television out west. A few locals managed to get kayaks to go along with the few canoes around to float down the gentle flowing waterways of the area. Now kayaks are stacked up and available for purchase at Walmart and are available for rent from a few different vendors. With ready access to a new sport in the area, the number of people taking part has increased and so have the accidents.
Since the Memorial Day weekend, three people have perished while kayaking along the Tallapoosa River. Just Tuesday, Charles Edward Stewart perished on the Tallapoosa River just below the Thurlow Dam and another reportedly victim made it out safely. “They were both wearing a lifejacket at the time that they exited their vessels,” Tallassee Fire Department Assistant Chief David Rodgers said. “One victim was able to get to the rocks and get himself out of the water. The other victim was floating in the middle of the river and could not make it to See SAFETY • Page 3
Today’s
Weather
89 73 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.57
Reported on 07/14/17 @ 10 a.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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