OPINION: VOTE ON LOTTERY ISSUE IS A GOOD MOVE, PAGE 4.
SUPER 12
THURSDAY
THE
QB Buchanan looks forward to big year for Tigers
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 July 28, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 151
Sports, Page 8
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Bentley calls for vote on lottery By MITCH SNEED Editor
Gov. Robert Bentley announced Wednesday that he would call a special session asking the Alabama Legislature to take up the issue of a lottery to help solve the state’s budget woes. “I am asking that each legislator allow the people back home the right to vote on a statewide lottery,” Bentley said in a released statement. “I have faith in the people of this state to make the right
and the best choice. I trust the voters and our legislators must do the same. Let’s not stand in the way and deny your rights. Montgomery doesn’t have all the answers. Let’s hear from the people of this great state about whether it’s time to approve a statewide lottery to help fund essential state services.” Alabama Senate Minority Leader Quinton T. Ross Jr. (D-Montgomery) said it’s rare that he agrees with the governor, but he is glad Bentley finally sees that an idea long favored by the state’s
Democrats is a viable option for the state. “We are pleased that the governor has decided to entertain legalized gaming after Democrats have been pushing the issue for years,” Ross said in a released statement. “We need to legalize and tax our existing gaming facilities, as well as create a statewide lottery so our state can adequately fund and expand our struggling Medicaid system and properly support our underfunded educational system. These gaming dollars can provide stability and long-term economic streams for
many of our General Fund and Education Trust Fund needs.” It is estimated that $250 million a year leaves Alabama and goes into the coffers of nearby states where gaming is legal, such as Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee. During his last two runs for office, Bentley repeatedly said he was in favor of allowing the people to vote on having a lottery. So why now, when he is facing lawsuits over improper spending, an See LOTTERY • Page 2
AUGUST 8: Registration deadline nears for city voters
Sun Festival turns into ‘Son’ Festival Gold City Quartet, Matt Papa featured in Faith Night concerts By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Faith Night takes center stage at Sun Festival tonight with performances by Christian artists at Strand Park and Benjamin Russell High School auditorium. Sponsored by Radney Funeral Home and Daniel Yates and Lynn Patterson, the night has become a feature attraction of the annual Chamber of Commerce summer festival. “We started out a long time ago before Sun Festival ever came doing the community concert and collecting food for the food bank,” said Randy Anderson, owner of Radney Funeral Home. “When Sun Festival came along, we got on board with Celebrate the Son and also helped to sponsor the Praise in the Park and got involved with that, too. We’ve traditionally raised between 1,200 and 1,400 pounds of food every year. We collect canned food items at both venues, at Strand Park and at BRHS. “Last year we had about 800 people at Benjamin Russell for Celebrate the Son. We’re thinking this year we may pack it out. It holds about 1,100 people.” The music starts at Strand Park at 6:30 p.m. with Matt Papa, a Christian recording artist, songwriter, worship leader, See FAITH • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Plenty of festival fun Above, body guard Quin Burroughs,16, tries to look on as Bradley Stewart, 16, left, Corley Woods, 18, and Matthew McClure, 16, lip sync to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A” Wednesday evening at the Sun Festival’s Lip Sync Battle in Strand Park. Right, local magician Carl Kelly performs a magic show at the Cooper Recreation Center. See page 7 for a schedule of today’s Sun Festival events and the clue to the Pie in The Sky Treasure Hunt.
Do you want your voice heard in the Aug. 23 municipal elections? You still have time to register to vote if you have not already done so. Under Alabama law, voters must be registered at least 14 days prior to Election Day to be eligible to cast a ballot. That means that to vote, you must be registered by Aug. 8 to vote in the Aug. 23 elections. How and where can a person register? Tallapoosa County has a variety of ways to register for voting. The Tallapoosa County Courthouse is located on 125 North Broadnax St. in Dadeville and is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents in Alexander City might want to visit See VOTE • Page 3
Tallapoosa County schools prepare for opening Institute Day gets new look; DHS kicks off open houses
Board makes final moves prior to school year
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
489.27 Reported on 7/27/16 @ 6 p.m.
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
The Tallapoosa County Board of Education made several last-minute personnel moves at a specially called meeting on Wednesday at the board’s central office building. “These will be the last changes that we need to make prior to the school year unless something comes up,” said Tallapoosa County Schools Superintendent Joe Windle. All board members – Windle, Chairman Martin Johnson, Randy Cliff Williams / The Outlook Anderson, Michael Carter, Karen White and Matilda Woodyard-Hamilton – were Dadeville Elementary third-grade teacher Kayla Claybrook painted her classroom this week and spent Wednesday cleaning and dusting present for the meeting. See BOARD • Page 3 items in it.
Prior to the start of the school year for Tallapoosa County Schools on Wednesday, Aug. 3, the school system will hold its annual Institute Day on Tuesday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Dadeville High School auditorium. Usually, Tallapoosa County Superintendent Joe Windle uses the opportunity to provide teachers with updates on requirements, new processes, etc., but this time he plans to do things differently. “Most institutes are informationproviding opportunities, because we have the entire workforce together in See SCHEDULE • Page 3
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