OPINION: AN INTERIM PASTORATE IN AN ADVENTURE, PAGE 4.
THE
FRIDAY
LET’S PLAY BALL! Alex City 12U team vies for state championship.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 June 24, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 127 www.alexcityoutlook.com
See Sports, page 8.
BEARING DOWN
Board votes to transfer Wilcox By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Randy Stroup / Special to the Outlook
Randy Stroup was in his boat just south of the River Bridge when he caught these images of the bear crossing the river near the River Run subdivision at about 6:45 a.m. Thursday morning. He caught images of the bear’s swim and climb up rocks and into the woods.
Wandering bear creates a buzz on trek across county By MITCH SNEED and CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writers
After a day filled with calls reporting a black bear being spotted eating out of trash cans, growling at animal control officers, crossing rivers and taking a casual swim, Thursday brought more sightings from Tallapoosa County residents. Just before 6 a.m. a resident on Turtleneck Road reported seeing a black bear in his yard and about a half hour after that Whitney Shores said the bear crossed in front of her as she drove on Elbert Road. “So this morning on my way to work, I had to stop to let a big black bear cross the road,” Shores wrote. “I was so stunned I couldn’t get a picture until it was already hitting the woods. Needless to say I didn’t need my morning coffee to wake up.” The bear was spotted less than a half-mile away, then a resident on Midway Circle near Jackson’s Gap called in a report of seeing the bear in a yard near a home there. Alexander City Animal Control Officer Ken Vernon responded to that call and said it appears the bear is covering a lot of ground quickly. See BEAR • Page 3
“I have seen deer, gators, snakes and even fish in the water, but never a bear. It was pretty cool to get that close and see it first hand. I guess a giraffe in the water could top it but I haven’t seen that yet.”
— Randy Stroup INSIDE:
• Track the bear’s path through the area, Page 3 • Cartoonist Jerry King’s take on the bear sightings, Page 4 • Residents sound off on bear’s visit on social media, Page 4
Despite making his case in a prevote transfer conference to remain in his position as director of online learning and alternative programs for the Tallapoosa Board of Education, the board voted unanimously on Thursday to transfer John Wilcox from that position to Reeltown School as assistant principal and teacher. The vote was preceded by a one-hour executive session in which Tallapoosa County Superintendent of Education Joe Windle said the board asked questions about Wilcox’s current role and what it entailed. “The conversation went in-depth about the online learning program, the alternative programs and how they worked and the expectations for the See EDUCATION • Page 3
Country music legend John Conlee to perform in Dadeville STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Country music legend John Conlee (Mr. Rose Colored Glasses), a regular performer at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, will be performing on Friday, July 29, at 9 p.m. at the Rodeo Club Lake Conlee Martin Event Center in Dadeville. During John Conlee’s 40-year career in country music, he has brought to audiences such classic See MUSIC • Page 3
Bunn recovering after double lung transplant progress over the next few days. She really still needs our prayers. “A surgery like this is a big Tallapoosa County’s Ashley change for the body to go through, Bunn had waited nearly two full so she is really fighting hard and years for a double lung transplant battling through that as her body due to cystic fibrosis. gets used to the new organs.” Last Thursday, doctors at A Facebook group called Duke University Medical Center Breathe for Bunn has become a performed the surgery that family clearinghouse for updates on how and friends believe will give the Bunn is progressing as well as 24-year-old woman a second chance additional events that are planned at a normal life. for her benefit. “It was something that we have Just two days after surgery, all been prying for and the prayers a video was posted with Bunn were answered last Thursday,” walking down the hall at Duke. said Ashley Benton, who has been She had the help of a walker and working with the family and others was still using oxygen, but friends to help coordinate fundraising to were excited to see the early help offset the expenses associated improvement. with the process. “The doctors and Benton said that she undergoes Mitch Sneed / The Outlook the staff there have been wonderful. a battery of tests each day and is Ashley Bunn rides in a golf cart at a 2015 fundraising event. The 24-yearAshley’s still in the unit there and See BUNN • Page 3 old received a double lung transplant last week. they hope to see some additional By MITCH SNEED Editor
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.41 Reported on 6/23/16 @ 1 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Today’s
Weather
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Now Playing:
Independence Day: Resurgence – PG-13 Finding Dory 3D – PG Central Intelligence – PG-13
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