COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE!
WEDNESDAY
THE
The Outlook celebrates 125 years of serving the community. Special edition coming June 29.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
SPORTS, PAGE 10
June 7, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 112 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Paddlers compete on the lake for a good cause.
Residents see rash of IRS scam calls
JSU picks Martin for Teacher Hall of Fame
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Of the thousands of elementary school teachers across the state of Alabama, only one was selected this past May to be inducted into the Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame. This year, the elementary school teacher chosen for this Martin honor was Stephens Elementary’s Jeri-Lynn Martin. “This is a very prestigious recognition,” Superintendent Dr. Darrell Cooper said. “She’s an outstanding teacher. It was very well deserved.” “It’s very difficult to be nominated and make it all the way through the process,” said Director of Elementary Schools Ellen Martin. Every teacher in Alabama has the opportunity to apply to be inducted into the hall of fame, though there is a rigorous process to go from See HONOR • Page 11
It appears that another rash of phone calls from scammers claiming to represent the Internal Revenue Service are being reported by area residents. In the last two weeks the newspaper has received calls from four residents and Alexander City Police Chief Jay Turner said they too have experienced a spike in callers reporting similar calls. Some of the reports claim that the calls were computer generated, while others ay it was a male voice that said they were prepared to file charges and have the resident arrested, seize bank accounts and all of their property. Turner said even though the IRS has now enlisted the help of some outside collection agencies to collect debt, residents should remember that if a call comes out of the blue and you haven’t gotten any sort word correspondence, the call is likely a scam. “The IRS will send you several notices before they turn your account over for collection,” Turner said. “These calls appear to be another series of attempts by scammers to target the elderly by frightening them into sending money to them.” The calls are very convincing and in some cases very professional in See SCAM • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
John Baker of Rickwood Farms and Richard Wagoner talk with a customer at last year’s MainStreet Farmers’ Market in Alexander City. The market makes a return this weekend in the lot next First Baptist Church on Lee Street.
POPULAR PRODUCE MainStreet Farmers’ Market set to resume Saturday By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The much anticipated MainStreet Farmers’ Market returns to Alexander City on Saturday, June 10 at 7 a.m. Unlike in previous years, the 2017 market will set up shop on Lee Street, next to the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. “We have a diverse group of people that come to shop here, but all of them are looking for quality produce,” Market Manager Richard Wagoner said. “They want stuff on Saturday that was picked on Friday.” Tentatively scheduled to run from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Saturday from June to October, the farmers’ market will offer fresh-picked
local produce to customers, as well as a wide variety of other products. There will be homemade jams and jellies, honey, lotions and lip balms made from bee by-products and a USDA-certified seller of pork products, according to Wagoner. “Our produce is seasonal. On Saturday, we’ll start with green tomatoes, squash, zucchini, a few red tomatoes and blueberries,” Wagoner said. “In a couple of weeks, we’ll have sweet corn, and we may have watermelons available by the Fourth of July.” With around 18 to 20 vendors at the market each week, including the ever-popular peach sellers from Chilton County, customers will have plenty of delicious options to choose See MARKET • Page 11
Lake Martin
City schools award food service contracts
Ambulance service, speed Lake Levels 490.56 limit key issues in New Site Reported on 6/6/17 @ 5 p.m.
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The Alexander City Board of Education took care of a major issue during a special called meeting Tuesday morning, passing motions to approve contracts with companies supplying food items to the school cafeterias. With the Child Nutrition Food Service Management Contract up for its fiveyear renewal and re-bidding, the board received two offers, one from Southern Foodservice Management and the other from Southwest See SCHOOLS • Page 6
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
File / The Outlook
New Site Councilman Toby Hanson opened a conversation on updates to the status of ambulance service in the area at the Monday night meeting of the town council.
Ambulance service in New Site has been a rather hot topic in recent months, with several factors surrounding it causing some concerns. Near the end of Monday night’s New Site Town Council meeting, Councilman Toby Hanson asked about the ambulance service at the volunteer fire department. “We have a driver for the ambulance, but we have to have a certified EMT on board as well,” Police Chief Philip Weddle said. “There are certain legal issues, including having qualified people in the ambulance, that have to be met,” Mayor Phil Blasingame explained in a subsequent conversation. The council also had a discussion over what See ISSUES • Page 6
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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