COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE!
THE
TREASURE HUNT Today’s clue on page 4!
WEDNESDAY
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 July 27, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 150 www.alexcityoutlook.com
4% Funds City Services
City deals with cracks on newly paved roads By MITCH SNEED Editor
With funds made available from a half-cent sales tax enacted by the Alexander City City Council Aug. 28, 2014, city residents are finding more roads getting attention than they did in previous years.
Among the first batch of streets to get new asphalt were Church and Lee streets, but in recent weeks lines of crack sealer have appeared on those asphalt surfaces. Despite just being in place for about 15 months, small cracks appeared on those roads. Those cracks appeared even after the city tested a new process that
A motorist travels along Church Street in Alexander City Tuesday, rolling over black lines that come from city crews sealing cracks that appeared in the road which was paved just 15 months ago.
involves the spraying of an agent called Reclamite last December. The compound is billed as a preservative seal when applied to recently paved roads. While officials say that the work does come with a guarantee, cracks See ROADS • Page 5
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Candidates work to bring signs into compliance
Waterfront home sales up, prices down But experts caution against monthly comparisons
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
A day after the size of some signs for candidates for elected office in Alexander City was called into question, some candidates apologized and made adjustments to bring signs into compliance. Several oversized signs that belonged to mayoral candidate Charles Shaw, and council hopefuls Tim Funderburk, Tony Harris and Eric Brown had been taken down or moved onto vehicles or trailers to bring them inline with city code. City code states: “The total sign area for any political sign shall not exceed four (4) square feet.” Square footage is calculated by multiplying the height by the width of an object. For example a sign that is two feet wide by two feet high is four square feet in total area and would be in keeping with city ordinance. A sign that is four feet by four feet or larger, See SIGNS • Page 5
Today’s
Weather
90 72 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
489.28 Reported on 7/26/16 @ 5 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Sun Festival shines on Above, Petite Miss Sun Festival Kirklynn Marabel, 5, of Alexander City hugs Aubie at Tuesday’s Show Your Colors event. Left, Telissa Stone, left, 9, and Sabreia Thomas, 10, paint flower pots at the PATH station at the Taking Care of Me event for the Sun Festival at Strand Park Tuesday. For today’s Pie in the Sky clue and full list of today’s events see page 4.
Lake Martin waterfront sales increased 34 percent from 32 units in May to 43 in June with median prices falling 12 percent from $381,250 in May to $330,000 in June, according to a report by the Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE). The ACRE report showed that sales of Lake Martin waterfront home were down 12.2 percent from 49 in June 2015 and median sales prices down 12 percent from $375,000 in June 2015. Steve Arnberg, vice president for real estate sales for Russell Lands on Lake Martin, says although the numbers are correct, there are other ways to evaluate sales and pricing that show a more accurate picture of the market. “Yes, it is true that we had a huge increase in sales June versus May,” Arnberg said. “That sounds great, but when comparing against last June it is down a bit. So is that good news or is that bad news? “When you are looking at median prices or average prices on a month versus month basis you run the risk of making a decision based on partial data. Rather than a snap-shot in time it is See SALES • Page 5
Jacob’s Ladder kids show sugary sweet appreciation for officers By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Law enforcement officers in the area got a special survival kit Tuesday from the children of Jacob’s Ladder at First United Methodist Church. “This is a small bag of goodies put together by the children here,” Jacob’s Ladder Director Kim McAlister said. “On the front are the instructions for what’s inside. The kit includes LifeSavers for the many times you’ve been one, Smarties to give you wisdom for those split second decisions, Hershey Kisses to show our love for you, gum to help everyone stick together, Pay Day because you aren’t in this for
the money, Peppermint Patty to help you keep your cool, Mounds for the mounds of courage you show and Laffy Taffy to remind you that laughter is a great stress reliever.” The idea came from one of the teachers who happens to be the daughter of an Alexander City Police Department officer. “I saw it online,” Brianna Ray said. “I thought it would be a cool idea.” The idea struck her father. “I am surprised,” DARE officer Brian Ray said. Jacob’s Ladder assembled enough of the bags to give to the Alexander City Police Department, the Tallapoosa See JACOB’S • Page 11
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Alexander City Police Officer Brian Ray holds his daughter Kaitlyn and low-fives students of Jacob’s Ladder while his daughter Brianna looks on. A teacher at Jacob’s Ladder came up with the idea of creating the special survival kit for law enforcement.
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