OPINION: 2016 ELECTION WILL BE CLINTON VS. TRUMP ALL-STARS THURSDAY THE
Youth basketball teams shine at state competition. Sports, page 8.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 March 17, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 55
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Crime down 18.5% in Alex City
By MITCH SNEED Editor
The total number of crimes investigated by the Alexander City Police Department was down 18.5 percent from 2014 according to stats released by Chief Willie Robinson. According to the numbers, there were 318 crimes reported in 2015, with 118 of those ending with an arrest. That’s a clearance rate of 37.1 percent.
rapes as opposed to 10 in 2014, two more auto thefts where the number went from 13 to 15 in 2015 and robberies numbered 15 in 2015, one more than the 14 in 2014. Robinson said it’s hard to cite an exact cause for any changes, but to see the overall number of crimes at a fiveyear low was encouraging. Robinson said that combination of good, solid police work and citizen involvement also paid off in terms of See CRIME • Page 3
“We work very hard to make Alexander City as safe as we possibly can,” Robinson said. “We understand that there are things that happen and it is our job to track down the people responsible. “We have a great set of investigators and they work very closely with patrol,” Robinson said. “They do a very good job of sharing information and that is vital to solving cases.” Only three categories showed increases in 2015. There were 12
ALEXANDER CITY CRIME STATS Crime
2012
Murder 4 Rape 6 Robbery 28 Assaults 24 Burglary 143 Theft 141 Auto theft 18 Arson 3 Total
367
2013
2014
2015
3 13 19 27 134 148 15 2
1 10 14 24 191 135 13 1
0 12 15 18 146 111 15 0
361
389
317
Civitan Club working to reorganize By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Hackneyville’s Bradley Mann, below, has been involved in scouting for 12 years and he will earn his Eagle Scout designation Sunday. The honor comes after earning 35 merit badges and completing ta project that included this pavilion in the park in Hackneyville,
BUILDING CHARACTER
Hackneyville’s Mann set to earn Eagle Scout designation By MITCH SNEED Editor
Since he was 6 years old, Bradley Mann has dreamed on being an Eagle Scout. Sunday, that dream will come true. Boy Scout Troop 62 will hold an Eagle Court of Honor to recognize Mann for achieving the highest honor scouting offers – The Eagle Scout Award. The ceremony will be held at Hackneyville Community Center at 2 p.m. “There is so much that scouting has done for me,” Mann said. “I have learned a lot through all the
activities and through the merit badge program, but more than that, it has instilled a lot of values that I will take with me throughout my life. “Ever since I started scouting when I was 6 years old, I wanted to reach this goal. It’s a great feeling to have it all come together.” Reaching the designation is no easy feat. A successful candidate must earn 35 merit badges and have served his troop as Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader and Quartermaster. Mann, the son of Chris and See SCOUTS • Page 3
Once again Alexander City will have a Civitan Club if a group of local organizers has its way. C Civitan International District officials Brian Dix D and Tony Ledbetter are leading the efforts and an are looking for those that might already be serving in the area. se “We are looking for those that are volunteering in and looking for community service,” Dix said. sa “We are just everyday citizens helping each other.” ot See CIVITAN • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
The Civitan International President Debbie Juhlke, center, visited a recent informational meeting about Civitan in Alexander City. Tony Ledbetter, left, Kearney Hutslter, Amy Steltenpohl, Brian Dix and Lisa Abercombie joined her for a photograph. A group is trying to re-charter the Alex City Civitian Club. Informational meetings are held Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at The Chamber.
Good Friday not a signal to start spring planting By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Some businesses already have plants in stock ready for consumers to plant, but experts say to beware as it is still a bit early to put some vegetables in the ground.
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In the gardening world, there are a couple of folklore “guidelines” that revolve around Good Friday. First, many people will not plant their vegetable garden until Good Friday. They simply wait until that date before they put the first plant or seed in the ground. The other tradition involves only potatoes and requires that, in order to ensure a good crop, potatoes should only be planted on Good Friday. But Shane Harris, Tallapoosa County extension coordinator, says that when it comes to spring planting, it’s best to trust soil and air temperatures and location-specific planting calendars than it is folk-
lore. “Well, some of it depends on what you’re planting,” said Harris. “But around here most of our typical plants, we don’t recommend planting until April. Soil temperature has a lot to do with it. The soil needs to be between 60 and 70 degrees. When it’s cold or we get a lot of rain in the spring, that’s a factor. The soil doesn’t typically warm up as quickly.” Night time air temperatures are also a factor, according to Harris. “The average date of the last killing frost for our area is usually between April 10 and April 15,” Harris said. “We’ve had a killing frost in late April before. Just because the retailers are selling the seeds and transplants doesn’t mean that now’s the right time to plant See KIWANIS • Page 3
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
486.22 Reported on 3/16/16 @ 6 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
Today’s
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Low
54708 90050
8
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