OPINION: IS TRUMP A BULL IN CHINA SHOP?
READY TO RUMBLE
THURSDAY
THE
Benjamin Russell Wildcats eagerly awaiting start of drills, see Sports on page 10.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 July 23, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 146 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Thunderstorms thump area again New Site area hardest hit in second day of weather woes By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
For the second straight day, thunderstorms that brought heavy winds and lighting have left damage scattered across the area. New Site was apparently the hardest hit area as a line of storms that rolled through the area just after 4 p.m. caused several
downed trees, at least three residences damaged and the roof of East Building Supplies blown off. Tallapoosa County Commissioner and New Site Public Safety Director John McKelvey said that reports have the damage occurring over a 30-minute period just after 4 p.m. Like the storms that caused dam-
Winds from Wednesday afternoon’s storm rolled back the roof on East Building Supply in New Site. The storm brought trees in the area and caused power outages.
age in and around Wind Creek State Park Tuesday, there was little notice and no warnings were issued by the National Weather Service. Only weather advisory was issued for the area. “From what they are telling me it blew in pretty quickly and in addition to the lightning, the See STORM, Page 5
Schools seek bids for a new BRHS vocational building By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
FAITH NIGHT Christian sound featured tonight By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Since its inception, Sun Festival has strived to offer a little something for everyone. Already this week the music has included oldies, country and Wednesday’s Motown sounds. Christian music is on the schedule as Faith Night offers two concerts to choose from. Randy Anderson of Radney Funeral Home has brought wellknown Gospel artists to Alexander City in an effort to give back to the community. Celebrate the Son at Sun Festival will feature three-time Grammy Award Nominated and threetime GMA Dove Award winning Southern Gospel Group, Karen Peck and New River. The concert is set for the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium and admission is a non-perishable food item that will be donated to a local food bank. The concert is set to begin at 7 p.m. Karen Peck and New River have appeared at The Grand Ole Opry, The Gaither Homecoming concerts, Opryland Theme Park, Dollywood and Six Flags Over Georgia. At 8 p.m at Strand Park, the allnew Praise in the Park will feature the award–winning sound of “Rush of Fools,” The band was s 2008 Dove Award nominee for New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year – “Undo,” Pop/ Contemporary Song of the Year for “Undo” and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. Chamber President and CEO Ann Rye thanked all the people who See FESTIVAL, Page 9
Hot dogs are about as American as it gets and Wednesday Sun Festival featured the weiner eating contest called Doggin’ It at the Lake at Creek State Park. Top, Cali Ragsdale, left, and Highland Guinn look at Rush Guinn as they take part in the junior division of the hotdog eating contest. Above Ernie Lest of Alexander City eats a hotdog. Lester placed second eating five hotdogs in three minutes. Below children take part in Story Time at the Library. In addition to Christian concerts tonight, scheduled for today are the pie baking contest sponsored by Russell Medical Center and much more. See page 9 inside for more pictures and news.
89 72 High
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
Outlook Staff Writer
In an extremely rare occurrence, a bid put out by the Alexander City Board of Education for a Torchmate computer numeric controlled plasma cutter received identical low bids, requiring that the board decide the winner of the bid by a coin toss. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my 30 years of education,” said Darrell Cooper, superintendent of Alexander City Schools. Board president Kelly Waldrop flipped a nickel to make the decision. The flip was witnessed by Diane Naler, a local certified public accountant. The winner of the flip and the bid was Lincoln Electric. In addition to the odd bid acceptance, the Board heard from Keith Lashley, director of auxiliary services, on the system’s compliance with the Child Internet Protection See BIDS, Page 5
Council work session set tonight on public works reorganization By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
meeting and get something decided,” Councilman Jim Spann said at Monday’s regular council meeting. “We need to get this whole issue behind us.” In previous discussions, Public Works Director and City Engineer Gerard Brewer said the increases would actually save the city money and make the department more efficient. Through retirements and consolidation of duties, some employees would see increases, but the number of supervisors and actual employees would See COUNCIL, Page 5
Lake Martin
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By David Granger
Unauthorized pay raises for city employees has seemingly been discussed and on meeting agendas longer than the first marriage of Kim Kardashian lasted. We’ll, tonight they will be discussed again as the Alexander City City Council will hold a called work session at 5 p.m. in the upstairs conference room at city hall. The specific topic will be raises and the reorganization plan in the city’s public works department. “We need to have this
Today’s
Weather
The Alexander City Board of Education is aadvertising for bids oon the construction oof a new vocational bbuilding for Benjamin Russell High School. R According to Superintendent Darrell S Cooper, the school is C sseeking a builder for a ““30-by-40-foot Butlerttype building that will bbe used as storage and ffor out Career Tech pprogram.” The board has a ddesign from Lathan Associates Architects A oof Hoover. Bids on the cconstruction are due on Aug. 6. A Cooper said the sschool board had nnegotiated with a nneighboring property oowner about a brick bbuilding that could be uused for the school’s ppurposes. However, tthe board wanted a ffive-year guarantee oon the building and tthe building’s owner would only guarantee w iit for one.
Coin flip decides bid after two vendors submit identical proposals
CALL CLASSIFIEDS 256.234.4281
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Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL