THE
TUESDAY
LOCAL, PAGE 6
SPORTS, PAGE 11
HBS’ Rasbury attends Capstone Leadership Academy
BRHS has best team finish, Madolyn Daniel snags Big Fish award
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
March 13, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 51 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Commissioners start tourism authority process Probate renovations again tabled By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
County commissioners Steve Robinson and T.C. Coley discuss the plans for renovations to the probate office in Dadeville that were tabled Monday.
The process of establishing a county tourism authority was launched Monday, but planned renovations to the probate office to add another window for customers were sent back to the drawing board. The Tallapoosa County Commissioners voted to ask the local legislative delegation to sponsor a local bill allowing the creation of the authority. The idea was the brainchild of Commissioner Steve Robinson who said that having one body working together may help concentrate efforts to draw more visitors to the county.
County Administrator Blake Beck explained the resolution. “This will allow us to ask for local legislation of our local delegation that would establish a tourism authority,â€? Beck said. “It would include someone from the commission, the Alexander City (City) Council and an at large appointee.â€? Robinson said because the regular session is nearing an end, it would likely be next year before a bill could be passed barring a special session later this year. “But passage of this resolution will get the ball rolling, even it is next year,â€? Robinson said. “We feel like it is a much-needed move for the entire county.â€? Tallapoosa County Probate Court Judge See COMMISSIONERS • Page 3
County gets mixed news on jobless front STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Tallapoosa County’s unemployment rate jumped in January, up to 4.2 percent from December’s 3.4 percent. The good news, the January numbers are still much better than the 5.7 percent Tallapoosa County posted in January 2017. In all 7,752 were considered See UNEMPLOYMENT • Page 3
Abernathy Farm Supply opens in new location
Downtown businesses to be offered a ‘BOOST’ MainStreet establishes new grant program
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
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By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Businesses in the historic downtown area of Alexander City will soon have the opportunity to receive a new source of funding to help them better promote themselves to customers. Taking the place of the former Missing Piece grant program offered by MainStreet Alexander City is the new BOOST grant program. “We turned the Missing Piece into something new,â€? Stephanie Smith with MainStreet said. “Stores can apply and get up to $1,000 in grant money through the BOOST program.â€? Through Missing Piece, stores like The Coffee Corner and Makers Market were able to get their businesses up and See BOOST • Page 3
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Top right, Abernathy Farm Supply owner Jim Ed Abernathy, his wife Gina, son Major and daughter Maggie pose in front of the counter at the supply store’s new location in the Alex City Shopping Center near Roses and the Longleaf Antique Mall. Above, a silo sits next to the new location, providing customers with another way to purchase the supplies necessary to maintain a healthy working farm.
Events make for a busy, fun-filled weekend in area Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Hundreds of people turned out for the Alexander City Kiwanis Club Pancake breakfast where all-you-can-eat pancakes and Conecuh sausage were on the menu. “It was just an incredible turnout,� Kiwanian David Willis said. “We can’t thank people enough for coming out. Everything we make goes to help different children’s projects. So we appreciate so many people coming out.� The club also had plenty of volunteers to help out. The BRHS Key Club and JROTC, the Alexander City Middle School Builders Club and the Camp Fire Girls were all on hand serving patrons and handling all sorts of tasks. For more photos from this weekend’s breakfast and other area events, see Page 10 inside.
Today’s
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57 30 High
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Lake Martin
Lake Levels
487.46
Reported on 03/12/18 @ 4 p.m.
aving been in business for nearly 15 years, Abernathy Farm Supply has moved to a new location, giving its customers a more convenient location to get all the supplies they need to maintain a healthy farm. “We hoped we could better service the needs of all of our customers here,â€? owner Jim Ed Abernathy said. “We hope this will be a more convenient location for our customers.â€? Having spent much of the weekend moving the store’s inventory from its old location on Highway 22 between Alexander City and New Site to the new store in the See ABERNATHY • Page 9
Jacksons Gap sets interviews for vacant council post By MITCH SNEED Editor
The Jacksons Gap Town Council will interview candidates for a vacant council position at a March 20 meeting after approving the process at a Thursday night special meeting. The position opened up last month when council member Brady Crocker resigned due to added work obligations. “We’ve already gotten some interest from two people who brought resumes See JACKSONS • Page 3
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laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL