LOCAL, PAGE 2: WAGON TRAIN STOPPING IN CAMP HILL SUNDAY
Weekend The Outlook
SPRING FORWARD Don’t forget to set clocks ahead one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
March 10-11, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 50 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Benjamin Russell graduate to appear on Jeopardy By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Submitted / The Outlook
Jeopardy’s Alex Trebek poses for a photo with Benjamin Russell High School graduate Zach Dark who will be appearing on the show Monday.
What local man will appear on Jeopardy for $200 Alex? Zach Dark, a 2004 BRHS graduate, will appear on Jeopardy Monday. The game show appearance is something he has been preparing for a lifetime. Much of Dark’s life has prepared him for his encounter with Alex Trebek, from playing games with family to taking part in extracurricular activities at Benjamin Russell. “I played Jeopardy with my dad growing up,� Dark said. “I was in scholar’s bowl at Benjamin Russell.� It was that time at Benjamin Russell on the scholar’s bowl that Dark took his passion for
games like Jeopardy to another level. “Gail Wilder was a great coach,â€? Dark said. “She was great in getting us motivated, getting us to tournaments and just making sure we did well. That was definitely an inspiration to pursue something like this.â€? Zach’s dad is partially responsible for the Jeopardy infatuation. “Every opportunity we got we would watch the show,â€? said Dr. Chris Dark, who is principal at Dadeville Elementary School. “We would challenge one another. We kept score. I think that started the interest. “It was a lot of fun until about the third grade when he started to beat me.â€? After graduating BRHS, Zach attended Samford See JEOPARDY • Page 3
Fiery crash prompts effort to help local fire department By MITCH SNEED Editor
There is often no better motivator than a personal experience and for one area family that was certainly the case. Boyd Landry was moving belongings in a U-Haul truck shortly after the December snowstorm when the road conditions, the weight of the truck and the curvy road led to an accident where the truck overturned. The truck, full of fuel, ignited and burst into flames. “People were following me and others came along to help and they called for help,â€? Landry said. “Firefighters from the Equality Fire Department got to the scene pretty quick, but they didn’t have any of their fire trucks.â€? Equality Volunteer Fire Department opened See FIRE • Page 3
CRIME OR ILLNESS? Legal system struggles with mentally ill offenders Cliff Williams photo illustration / The Outlook
Alexander City Police Department officers help stage an illustration that they face often in real life as they deal with people with serious mental issues who are involved in criminal incidents.
EDITORS NOTE: This is the second in a series of how law enforcement faces challenges when dealing with those who are mentally ill.
A
man armed with a knife that had a history of mental issues storms into a police captain’s office and asks to be killed. A known mentally challenged man is shot and killed by law enforcement after repeated commands to drop the handgun he was brandishing were ignored. See POLICE • Page 10
Graves, McDade selected as women of year
Benjamin Russell NJROTC receives $1,000 grant By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Showing its support for the community and organizations that play an important role there, the Walmart Community Grant program recently awarded a $1,000 grant to the Navy JROTC unit at Benjamin Russell High School. “One of our student’s mothers works at Walmart and told us about the program,â€? Navy JROTC instructor Captain Matthew Leahey said. “When applying, we had to explain what we do as a unit, See NJROTC • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Today’s
Weather
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By AMY PASSARETTI Staff Writer
Amy Passaretti / The Outlook
Last year’s Tallapoosa County Woman of the Year Barbara Sokol introduces Lyla Graves as this year’s recipient.
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
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Allison Black Cornelius has turned tragedy into triumph and shared her courageous, inspiring story with a room full of Tallapoosa and Coosa counties women from all walks of life. The fifth annual Lead Forward Women’s Conference, which encourages professional women to strive to success, was a packed house Friday at the Central Alabama Community College Betty Carol Graham Center. Cornelius challenged everyone in the room to find the courage to step up when the moment comes. “Wouldn’t it be great for all of us if we could wake up to societal issues ahead of See WOMEN • Page 10
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