OPINION: WIND CREEK STATE PARK IS A TREMENDOUS ASSET
FRIDAY
THE WHAT’S UP? See all local events in the calendar, page 7.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 March 11, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 51 www.alexcityoutlook.com
WILDCAT ROUNDUP Catch up on Lady Wildcat softball. Sports, page 8.
ALEXANDER CITY CITY COUNCIL
Sunday alcohol sales issue to be put to a vote By MITCH SNEED Editor
Alexander City residents will get the opportunity to decide if they want Sunday alcohol sales. The Alexander City City Council voted 4-0 Thursday night to approve a resolution allowing for Sunday sales to be placed before the voters
when the city deems appropriate. City council member Bob Howard said the move could be placed on the ballot in August during the regular municipal election. Mitch Sneed / The Outlook “It would be during a city election and the first opportunity would be during the council and may- City council members Bob Howard, left, and Billy Ray Wall raise their hands in faoral election,” Howard said. “Wow, that will get vor of a resolution calling for a vote on Sunday sales of alchohol Thursday night. See COUNCIL• Page 3 The move passed by a 4-0 vote and could be on the ballot in August.
RMC aims to provide info on colon cancer
Road grant, city support may clear way for big retailer
Hospital plans activities for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MIA OSBORN Staff Writer
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Local medical authorities such as Russell Medical Center and the American Cancer Society office in Montgomery are spreading awareness of the lifesaving steps people can take to prevent or cure this disease. Colorectal cancer is the third ranking cause of cancer death for both men and women. When the genders are counted together, colorectal cancer becomes the second deadliest form of cancer. The American Cancer Society predicts that over 134,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2016. Of those, over 49,000 people – more than a third of those diagnosed – will die from the disease. There is a bright side. Colorectal cancer is one of
Lake Levels
485.14 Reported on 3/03/16 @ 4 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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See UNITED WAY • Page 3
See RETAILER • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Randy Haynes, left, outgoing president of Lake Martin Area United Way accepts a gift from Ellen Martin as Sharon Fuller looks on at Thursday night’s celebration and annual meeting.
UNITED WAY SMASHES GOAL Recent campaign exceeded goal by more than $35,000 By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
See AWARNESS • Page 3
Lake Martin
At Thursday night’s, 2016 Lake Martin Area United Way Campaign Wrap-Up and Celebration & Annual Meeting, Mark Spencer, the chairman of the 2016 Lake Martin Area United Way Campaign, praised a community that has overcome the loss of its largest employer and rebuilt itself as a large family of caring industries and businesses.
Alexander City took significant steps toward attracting a major retailer to the area, announcing that a grant had been secured to develop a portion of a road through the former Russell Corp. campus. The steps included a state grant as well as a commitment from the city to assure funds to complete the road if a major retailer does agree to relocate at the site that was once the new No. 1 Mill at Russell. Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance Executive Director Don McClellan announced that the state’s Industrial Access Road and Bridge Committee has granted a request for $585,000 to complete the portion of Central Boulevard from Joseph Street to Russell Boulevard. “Initially, we got a grant to start at Highway 280 and go to Joseph Street, we would use this to complete the next portion,” McClellan said. “It was a long time coming and everyone was involved. It was really a team effort and it good to get this one done.” McClellan said it is all tied to industrial development and recent additions like CES Industries relocating from Jacksons
ARISE to celebrate 40 years of serving the area today By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
ARISE will celebrate 40 years of providing transportation to the citizens of Alexander City today from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the organization’s Bud Porch Center, located at 82 Court Square downtown. Pat Tapley, executive director of ARISE, said the celebration will include a pictorial history of the organization and staff available to talk to visitors about the organization and its purpose. “We want to draw a little attention to ourselves and the service that we provide for the citizens
of the area, so we decided a celebration of our 40th anniversary was a good way to do that,” said Tapley. “We were started by Mr. Ben Russell as a referral service to help people get help that they needed in the community in 1976. Gas was just 59 cents a gallon then. We have the pictures to prove it.” Though ARISE started as a referral service, it has grown into full-fledged transportation program, providing transportation for a fare for citizens in Alexander City, Daviston, Perryville, New Site, Cliff Williams / The Outlook Ourtown, Hackneyville, Dadeville, Kellyton, and ARISE driver David Marbury and dispatcher Anita Perez pose for a photograph on the handicap See ARISE • Page 3 ramp of one of the agency’s buses. ARISE provides low cost transportation to area residents. Now Playing:
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