OPINION: WILLINGNESS TO SERVE CITY IS ADMIRABLE, PAGE 4.
Weekend The Outlook
GROW OUR LOCAL ECONOMY!
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
June 18-19, 2016 • Vol. 124 • No. 123 • www.alexcityoutlook.com
Local Briefs Alexander City native receives pharmacy degree from Auburn Alexander City native Casey Dalton was among 113 Doctor of Pharmacy recipients at Auburn University’s James I. Harrison School of Pharmacy’s Spring 2016 commencement ceremony, held May 10 at Auburn Arena. A 2008 graduate of Benjamin Russell High School, she is the daughter of Chris and Tracy Dalton. She received a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Auburn University in 2014. She has accepted a fulltime pharmacist position with Rite Aid.
By DAVID GRANGER and CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writers
A state inmate who walked away from the Work Release Center on Highway 22 south of Alex City enjoyed less than two hours of freedom before being spotted and apprehended by an alert Alexander City police officer, according to Alexander City
Police Chief Willie G. Robinson. Robert Anthony Frye, 52, who is two years into a 15-year sentence for robbery, escaped at about 5:50 p.m. on Thursday, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. He was wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and a white baseball cap. A be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) bulletin was transmitted by law
enforcement soon after Frye’s escape. According to court documents, Frye listed a Childersburg address and plead guilty to third degree robbery in June 2014 in Shelby County and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. At the same time of the plea, Frye had two counts of theft, public intoxication and impersonating a peace
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By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff WIlliams / The Outlook
The Alexander City Water Department installs a new valve on the water supply system near Broad Street. Below, Eddie Futral turns on the water in the middle of Broad Street.
WATER WORK City works to improve water supply By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The Alexander City Water Department is working to improve the city’s water supply. Friday, the water department installed a valve to aid in the replacement of old pipe that lies under the parking lot in front of the businesses along Broad Street in downtown before the area is renovated as part of a city-wide streetscape project. “As we get chances we are replacing the old water
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A few weeks ago a group of college students decided late on Saturday afternoon to float down the Tallapoosa River on tubes. The group didn’t put into the water at the landing near Horseshoe Bend Military Park until just before 5 p.m., planning to make it to Jaybird Creek in a couple of hours after an enjoyable float. But on a good day that float can take five hours and the group found itself in total darkness, still a long way from their takeout point. Luckily, they had a dry cell phone and were in a place Cliff Williams / The Outlook where they got a wireless signal and Jerry Whetstone, John McKelvey, Ken Cowart called 9-1-1. New Site Public Safety Director and and James ‘Cowboy’ Bailey pose with kayaks Tallapoosa County Commissioner John purchased with funds from the Tallapoosa County Commission for use in river rescues by Alex City See RIVER • Page 5 Rescue Squad.
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pipes in town,” Alexander City Water Department’s Eddie Futral said. “In some cases it’s lead joints. We do a good job monitoring levels and are in good shape there. We do not want a Flint, Michigan here.” The streetscape project on Broad Street is not only giving them an opportunity to replace old pipe but to move and fire hydrants. “We will move that hydrant away from the building towards the street,” Futral said. “It will make it more accessible to See WATER • Page 5
By MITCH SNEED Editor
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officer dropped. Frye was also convicted of second degree burglary in 2007 in Talladega County. On May 4, Frye had filed Frye a motion from See ESCAPE • Page 3
Two express interest in seeking District 6 seat
Kayaks key to river rescue team
Today’s
Browne to vie for U.S. swim team spot SPORTS, page 12.
Inmate’s freedom short-lived
National Guard scholarships available The Alabama National Guard is offering several Minuteman scholarships for the coming academic year. This scholarship is a full tuition or room and board scholarship to the accredited university of the student’s choice. The Minuteman scholarship is for men and women eligible to serve in the Alabama National Guard and comes with a commitment to join the Reserve Officer Training Corps and serve as a commissioned officer in the Alabama Army National Guard. The scholarship also comes with an increasing monthly living stipend, a $600 per semester book stipend and sergeant’s pay for monthly and annual training periods. To get started, the student must have a minimum ACT of 19 or SAT of 920 and must graduate from college and must commission as a second lieutenant before your 32nd birthday. The student must also be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain a Secret security clearance.For complete information or to apply for the scholarship, please contact Capt. Joshua W. Henderson, 334-271-7456 or joshua.w.henderson2. mil@mail.mil.
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Two men say they plan to seek the District 6 seat on the Alexander City City Council. Jason Cromer and Tim Funderburk both confirmed this week that they plan to qualify and run for the seat now occupied by Councilman Tony Goss, who plans to run for mayor. Cromer, 36, works with the Alabama Department of Transportation and lives in the Anne Edwards neighborhood. He said serving the city has been “calling in his heart.” Funderburk, 57, is a life-long Alexander City resident who lives in the River Oaks sub-division. Funderburk said he felt it was time to get involved and help make a difference. Alexander City City Clerk Harriett Scott said qualifying for this year’s municipal election will not begin until July 5 at 8 a.m. and will run through July 19 at 5 p.m. Those are the important dates leading up to the Aug. 23 municipal election day. The qualification process to run for council or mayor is simple. Potential candidates must be a resident of the city for at least 90 days and a registered voter. Candidates for a council position must live in the district where they are seeking the council seat. That means that a candidate would have to live in the district no later than May 25 to be eligible to seek a council seat in See CANDIDATES • Page 5
Wind Creek State Park earns TripAdvisor.com recognition By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Wind Creek State Park continues to garner national recognition as one of the best experiences of its kind for travelers throughout the United States. Most recently, the park, located just off Alabama Highway 63 south of Alexander City on Lake Martin, was among 11 Alabama state parks awarded the 2016 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, a travel website featuring traveler-generated content and reviews. “Over the last three years several of our parks have received an increasing number of excellence awards from TripAdvisor,” said Rob Grant, See WIND CREEK • Page 3