DADEVILLE STANDOUT MAKES HIS COLLEGE CHOICE KNOWN. JENNINGS TO JOIN BROTHER AT UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. PAGE B1.
Columnist Jody Fuller says green is a good thing. Page A4
THE RECORD
Serving the Dadeville & Lake Martin area since 1897
WWW.THEDADEVILLERECORD.COM
VOL. 118, NO. 31
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015
“We kept this a secret for a long time. We even had a fake brochure that I showed Harold while we were printing up the real one without him knowing about it. ” — Shane Harris
FITTING HONOR
Council to rethink stance on grant Dadeville leaders now looking at a way to accept money for street beautification around courthouse By Cliff Williams Record Staff Writer
Betsy Iler / The Record
Dignitaries gathered at Horseshoe Bend boat ramp Friday to cut the ribbon on the new Harold Banks Canoe Trail. Center, Banks holds the sign with Rep. Mark Tuggle.
New canoe trail honors Dadeville’s Harold Banks By Betsy Iler
I
TPI Magazine Editor
t was a successful conspiracy Somehow, Tallapoosa County Extension Coordinator Shane Harris managed to print maps and brochures, as well as large site-designation signs, and invited a host of dignitaries to a ceremony honoring Dadeville’s Harold Banks without the honoree knowing until the words spilled from Harris’ lips at Friday morning’s Harold Banks Canoe Trail dedication. Two years in the making, the 25-mile trail Friday was
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officially named and opened at a ribbon cutting under the Alabama Highway 49 bridge north of Irwin Shoals on the Tallapoosa River. Banks, an enthusiastic proponent of the river’s beauty and serenity, was the first person to solopaddle its entire 258-mile length. He also has been highly involved in the effort to add the 25-mile stretch of waterway to the extensive Alabama Scenic River Trail, which comprises more than 600 miles of water for paddling tourism. “This is shocking to me,” See BANKS, Page A10
The Dadeville City Council learned it may still be able to take advantage of a $400,000 grant to renovate around the courthouse square now that the Tallapoosa County Commission has shown interest in joining the project. “We will get some flexibility from the Alabama Department of Transportation now that the county is coming on board with the project,” CDG engineer Steve Thomas told the council Tuesday. “You have an extended time frame because you are waiting for the county to get their application in.” Tallapoosa County Commissioner Emma Jean Thweatt explained that the idea has not gone before the whole commission. “Blake and I met with Steve Thomas on the issue and would like to join in,” Thweatt said. Thomas says the county is not officially on See GRANT, Page A3
County road crews from 3 districts housed together as a trial run By Mitch Sneed Record Editor
Betsy Iler / The Record
Harold Banks, right, and his grandson Jack hold the sign that will mark the new Tallapoosa Canoe Trail.
Three county commissioners have embarked on a trial run involving their road crews that they believe will be more responsive, productive and save money at the same time. Commissioners T.C. Coley, Steve Robinson and John McKelvey have moved all of their employees and equipment to the shop on Highway 22 South, three miles south of New Site. The idea is to be able to pool resources, save on See CREWS, Page A3
WILL SPECIAL SESSION LEAD TO BUDGET?: Lawmakers’ opinions vary By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
Alexander City’s state lawmakers are hopeful that when the special session of the Alabama Legislature reconvenes on Monday, a solution to the state’s general fund budget shortfall will be workable. “I sincerely hope we can pass a general fund budget,” said Sen. Tom Whatley of Alexander City, who represents Senate District 27. “There have been some good discussions. There’s no consensus, but I believe we’ve made progress toward a solution that will both shore up the general fund and protect Medicaid and the prison system.” Rep. Mark Tuggle of Alexander City represents House District 81. While he
agreed with Whatley, his tone was a bit more subdued. “We’ve had a couple of meetings with committees and we’re still meeting,” Tuggle said. “We have a caucus meeting (Tuesday). Then the leadership will get together and we’ll start to get a feel for what we might be able to get through both (the House and the Senate).” Lawmakers will reconvene on Monday after meeting for 20 minutes on July 13, then adjourning without accepting introductions of any bills in Bentley’s $302 million tax increase plan. The Legislature was expecting the special session to be convened in the middle of August, allowing time for meetings and discussions on the solution to the crisis prior to its start. In fact,
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members of the legislative leadership said they had been told by Bentley to expect an August start. As a whole, the body was shocked at Bentley’s call to convene in mid July. When the special session reconvenes on Monday, the Legislature will have only nine days to craft a solution to the state’s general fund problem. One of the items the public has Tuggle heard much about since the Legislature adjourned the special session is gambling. Two groups – the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and the Alabama Jobs Foundation, whose top backers include former Auburn head football Coach Pat Dye and former Auburn trustee and Alabama Power Co. President Charles McCrary – have purchased full-page See SESSION, Page A10 Whatley