OPINON: SUMMER HOLIDAYS HELP SHOWCASE LAKE MARTIN, PAGE 4.
Weekend The Outlook
SAVE TIME AND GASOLINE! Today’s
Weather
95 75 High
Low
THE HOLIDAY FORECAST: Today will be mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 95 and overnight lows set for 74. Sunday will be more of the same, with a night of 95 in the forecast. There is a slight chance of showers in the later afternoon hours. The National Weather Service says there is a 30 percent chance of thundershowers. Monday is Independence Day and the high is expected to be 93 with about a 30 percent chance of a popup thunderstorm in the forecast.
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Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
July 2-3, 2016 • Vol. 124 • No. 133 • www.alexcityoutlook.com
RMC a Top 100 Community Hospital STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Becker’s Hospital Review, a nationally recognized healthcare industry trade publication, has named Russell Medical Center in its 100 Great Community Hospitals list. Of the 100 hospitals recognized across the nation, Russell Medical Center was the only community hospital listed in the state of Alabama. For the purposes of this list, Becker’s defines a “community hospital” as one with fewer than 550 beds that have minimal teaching programs, and did not include criti-
cal access hospitals. According to Becker’s, some of the hospitals listed are not far from major metro areas, while others serve more rural communities. Regardless of their location, or their independence or affiliation with a major system, these hospitals are a vital part of their respective communities. The Becker’s editorial team selected hospitals for inclusion based on rankings and awards from such organizations as iVantage Health Analytics, Truven Health Analytics, Healthgrades, CareChex, the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the Leapfrog Group. Included organizations
have earned recognition from one or more of these organizations. In addition to the Becker’s listing, Russell Medical Center has received several accolades recently including: Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award for 2016: Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Tier 1 designation; and most recently named one of iVantage Health Analytics’ Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States. “We are flattered and extremely proud of See HOSPITAL • Page 3
Fire officials ask all to exercise caution with fireworks
CONVENIENCE CUISINE Cherokee Quick Stop offers wide variety of breakfast items to hungry customers
FIREWORKS TODAY IN HACKNEYVILLE
The Hackneyville Volunteer Fire Department will hold the Fourth Annual Fireworks Bash on Saturday, July 2 from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Rexton Lee, Outshine and Baylie Kizziah will be performing. Admission is $5 per person. Barbecue, hamburgers, hotdogs and other refreshments will be available.
SUNDAY AT BRHS
Alex City Celebrate Freedom, sponsored by Marshall Street Church of God and the city will feature the music of contemporary Christian star Josh Wilson and more. Vendors will be on hand with great food and fireworks are at 9:30 p.m. Celebrate Freedom will be at Benjamin Russell High School July 3 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs. No coolers please.
MONDAY AT THE AMP
Don’t miss one of the South’s largest fireworks displays at Lake Martin Amphitheater for the 16th annual Fourth of July Blast, as Russell Lands hosts the Southeast’s largest fireworks show over Lake Martin. Gates open at 5 p.m. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. The Bank Walkers and Sweet Tea will entertain, and the fireworks start at 9 p.m. Call 256-397-1019 for information.
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.07 Reported on 7/1/15 @ 3 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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54708 90050
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of stories on the unexpectedly good food that can be found in convenience stores in Tallapoosa County. Each week we will highlight over fine examples of local convenience cuisine.
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Kent Brooks and Daphnie Gamble of Cherokee Quick Stop pose at the steam table containing the mouth-watering breakfast that customers find at the store. Brooks, right, carefully crafts a made to order breakfast sandwich. Below, Gamble said she starts at 3 a.m. making the nearly 200 biscuits the store serves each morning.
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Biscuits and gravy, country ham, crispy bacon, link and patty sausage, thick slices of fried bologna, three kinds of chicken, steak, pork chops, fried fatback, fried and scrambled eggs, grits, toast and three kinds of jelly. Sound good? If you are looking for a good breakfast – that’s what you will find waiting each morning beginning at 5 o’clock at Cherokee Quick Stop. Kent Brooks and Daphnie Gamble are the driving forces behind the droolinspiring spread and you will find them frying, baking, stirring and serving it up from before daylight until it is all gone. Brooks can usually be found working the grill and the fryer, making sure there are plenty of freshly cooked meats ready for customers. The two fry and scramble eggs throughout the morning to make sure those who grab something for their belly along with their gas have the best possible food. See CUISINE • Page 5
Jacksons Gap woman arrested for prostitution
Tickets are now on sale for the Alexander City Theatre II (ACT II) production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Written by Joseph Kesselring in 1941, the insanely funny play about spinster sisters Abby and Martha Brewster, who have developed the very bad habit of poisoning their lodgers, will be presented next month at the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium. The play will be held July 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and July 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at the following locations: Carlisle’s, Cloud Nine, A Second Act, Little Black Dress, Emporium Wine, MainStreet,
Teresa Darlene Fuller, 44, of Jackson’s Gap was arrested in Opelika for prostitution on June 17 as part of an undercover operation conducted by the Opelika Police Department with other local and federal agencies. In that operation, the Opelika Police Department arrested 11 individuals and all were charged under Alabama’s prostitution laws. Fuller was able to sign her on bond. It is not the first time Fuller has had run ins with the law. According to court documents, Fuller has been arrested numerous times in Tallapoosa County with multiple charges of possession of marijuana charges and drug paraphernalia along with numerous traffic offenses. Most
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
See ACT • Page 3
Audra Spears / The Outlook
ACT II’s production of Arsenic and Old Lace will be held July 14 -15 at the BRHS auditorium.
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Fireworks on the Fourth of July are as American as baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet, but as much fun as celebrating Independence Day with a bang can be, there are also dangers associated with fireworks. Alexander City Fire Department Chief Kem Jones said that national stats show that 40 percent of all fires reported on July 4 are started by fireworks. Also in 2015, 56 percent of the injuries on Independence Day nationally were related to fireworks or fireworks use. With that in mind, Jones said that she hopes that people enjoy the holiday, but keep safety in mind as well. “It has been extremely dry and much of our area is in some level of drought conditions,” Jones said. “With it being dry, grass fires can be an issue. In these See FIREWORKS • Page 3
ACT II’s Arsenic and Old Lace tickets on sale now
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See ARREST • Page 3