OPINION: FACE YOUR PAST AND DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING. PAGE 4
Weekend The Outlook
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March 12-13, 2016 • Vol. 124 • No. 52 • www.alexcityoutlook.com
Robinson won’t seek second term Applications for school board positions due April 15 By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Steve Robinson, who has been a member of the Alexander City Board of Education since 2011, will not seek another term on the board, he said Friday. “My understanding is that there was a city ordinance passed that will not allow a county commissioner to sit on the school board,” said Robinson, who has been a Tallapoosa County commissioner since he was appointed to fill the remainder of Alexander City Mayor Charles Shaw’s term in 2013. “I was told that by a member of the council. “Even if that weren’t the case, I believe that it’s appropriate for as many qualified people to serve in that capacity as possible. Certainly there are a lot of people out there that are more qualified than me. I know several candidates that I would recommend and I See ROBINSON • Page 3
Kenneth Boone / The Outlook
Above, Lydia Staples accepts her award as Tallapoosa County Woman of the Year at Friday’s Lead Forward Women’s Conference. Below, Patricia Barnes tells the story of Sister Schubert rolls.
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR Barnes helps Women’s Conference roll through third successful year By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
You might say the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce’s annual Lead Forward Women’s Conference continued on a roll with its third consecutive sold-out event on Friday. A Sister Schubert yeast roll, that is. A crowd of more than 400 area women – and a few men sprinkled here and there for good measure – packed the auditorium of the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center on the Central Alabama Community College campus to hear Patricia Barnes, See LEAD • Page 5
RIVALS COLLIDE
Wildcats pull away in 2nd half win over Aggies. Sports, page 12.
Probe into golf course funds proves to be costly By MITCH SNEED Editor
Alexander City has been billed $24,603 by an accounting firm hired by Mayor Charles Shaw to search for answers in what is thought be $120,000 in missing golf course funds. Shaw said Friday that the invoice may not have been correct and that he hopes to be able to release some information gathered during what the invoice referred to as a “consulting engagement re: Lakewinds Golf Course” by Birmingham-based accounting firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram. The invoice does not mention a forensic audit, which Shaw said is what was being conducted. “We will have an announcement regarding the audit Monday after lunch,” Shaw said. “We met with them (Friday), but they had wanted to look at one more thing. So they said they would get back to us Monday and we will have an announcement.” After initially denying access to the invoice citing an ongoing investigation, The Outlook received a copy Friday after pointing out that the billing is not part of the investigation. The invoice indicates that the $24,603 is See PROBE • Page 3
Local gas prices rise, reflecting nationwide increase By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Area motorists saw an average increase of 10 cents per gallon this week, as the most common price in Alexander City rose to $1.69, up 20 cents per gallon from just two weeks ago.
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
485.35 Reported on 3/11/16 @ 7 p.m.
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If you had to do a double take when you saw the prices at the pump as you stopped to fuel up, there is no need to have your eyes checked. Gas prices jumped almost 10 cents per gallon overnight to an average of $1.69. That price is about 21 cents a gallon higher than motorists were paying just two weeks ago. “I hated to see them go up,” Mike Patterson said Thursday
morning as he filled up his tank at Cherokee Quick Stop in Alexander City. “I guess I should have filled up yesterday.” According to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 3,348 gas outlets in Alabama, the local increase is on par with the national average where prices jumped 15.8 cents per gallon over the last two weeks. Nationally, prices have increased 6.8 cents per gallon in the last week to $1.87 per gallon according to the website GasBuddy.com. While no one was excited about a price increase, the cost today is
down 61.5 cents per gallon from last year’s average of $2.20. “They may be higher, but at least there aren’t $3 a gallon like they were for a while,” Darlene Hendrix of Alexander City said. “Even at $1.69, I can live with that.” The national average has increased 7.6 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 64.4 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago. The prices on this date over the last five years show some interesting trends: See GAS • Page 3
ARISE marks 40th year of service By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
One Alexander City resident is beyond ecstatic that ARISE buses are still serving the needs of the community after 40 years. “I love the buses,” Janie Hardy said. “I call them. They are at my door. I wouldn’t take anything for them.” Hardy has been riding with ARISE since they started in 1976 and before that, the Tallapoosa County native walked. “I put these foots in the road to get around,” Hardy said. “Then the buses came. Now I ride inside and be comfortable.” Hardy is almost staff – well almost family. She can tell the drivers where to go. “They so nice,” Hardy said. “The driver See ARISE • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Alexander City resident Janie Hardy, left, shares a laugh with ARISE driver David Marbury at Friday’s 40th anniversary celebration for ARISE. Hardy has been riding ARISE vehicles since the program started.
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