OPINION: UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS ARE A HUMBLING SIGN
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 18, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 56 www.alexcityoutlook.com
WILDCATS AT THE BREAK Sports, Page 8.
Tree pollen causing sneezing, watery eyes By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Warmer weather brings out better conditions for tree pollens to circulate. The pollen in the area is predominantly tree pollens. The pollen count in Alexander City was 10.3 on the 12-point scale which can cause problems for persons with allergies.
Find yourself sneezing a bit more than normal over the last few days? To understand why, most of us need look no further than the hood of our vehicle and the yellow pollen that’s settled there. “Everyone can tell the pollen’s in the air,” said Mickie Jones, who heads the allergy department for Dr. Tony McLeod at Southern Head and Neck Surgery in Alexander City.
Jones said Thursday’s pollen count in Alexander City was 10.3 on the 12-point pollen scale, which can cause problems for persons with allergies. She said the predominant pollens in the air were cedar/juniper, elm and maple. “Of course, the warmer the air, the higher the pollen count,” Jones said. “On the other hand, if it rains or turns cooler, then the pollen count goes down.” Jones said that pollens and other allergens can cause a variety of symptoms, from the clas-
Opelika’s Fuller pens letters to board, ACHE
ACT II opens auditions for summer plays By BETSY ILER TPI Magazine Editor
Alexander City Theatre II (ACT II) this week announced auditions for a summer production of the classic dark comedy, Arsenic and Old Lace. Anyone interested in auditioning for the play can review the script at the Alexander City and Dadeville public libraries and at the Central Alabama Community College media center. The play, written by Joseph Kesselring, was made into a 1944 Frank Capra movie that starred Cary Grant, Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. Bob Hope originally was cast in the lead role, but Cary Grant won the part when Hope wasn’t able to get a release
Attacks Burrow, consolidation process, touts Southern Union Cliff Williams / The Outlook
the
SPREAD LUCK Above, Lake Martin Area United Way director Sharon Fuller shakes the hand of Chapman’s Nursing Home resident Leldon Porch as volunteer Reagan Williams looks on. Fuller, Williams and her staff were visiting residents to give them a little something sweet. Porch has been a longtime donor to the organization. Left, wrapped cookies wait to be given out by United Way staff at Chapman’s Nursing Home.
See PLAYS • Page 3
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
486.42
Today’s
Weather
69 56 High
6
Low
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
The war of letters over the consolidation of Central Alabama Community College with Southern Union State Community College and Chattahoochee Valley Community College continued earlier this week with letters sent Tuesday by Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller to the trustees of the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), members of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) and the three top administrators of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Fuller’s letter to the ACCS Board of Trustees questions the ability of Susan Burrow, president of Central Alabama Community College who has also been named as president of the consolidated institution, and Alexander City’s Susan Foy, a member of the ACCS Board, to remain fair in decision-making related to the consolidation of CACC, Southern Union State Community College and Chattahoochee Valley Community College. “Dr. Susan Burrow has said on several See MERGER • Page 3
Horseshoe Bend FCCLA students qualify for nationals By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Reported on 3/17/16 @ 4 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
sic sneezing and watery eyes to headaches, rashes and swelling. Regardless of the symptoms, most folks who suffer from them seek relief. Jones said that over-the-counter antihistamines sometimes work, but people with more serious symptoms that antihistamines don’t counter need to see a doctor. “It’s hard to say what works for each individual,” said Jones. “Everyone’s different. The antihistamines usually help, but some people really need to See ALLERGIES • Page 3
Five Horseshoe Bend High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members have qualified for nationals at last week’s state convention. Two members nervously looking forward to the cross-country trek to the national convention in San Diego are Abby Hadaway and Nathan Wilson. The partners are taking their second place illustrated talk with them. “It will be my first national convention,” Hadaway said. “And my first plane ride.”
Wilson is also looking forward to the trip and presenting their project on dyslexia, something close to him. “I have dyslexia and want people to know about it,” Wilson said. Horseshoe Bend was close to having more make the trip to San Diego. “It was some of the closest scores I have ever seen,” HBHS FCCLA sponsor Felicia Williams said. “In some cases, the difference between second and third was .33 on a 100 point scale.” It is not the first time Horseshoe Bend students have been to nationals. See FCCLA • Page 3
Submitted / The Outlook
Horseshoe Bend High School’s FCCLA members won many individual and club awards at last week’s state FCCLA convention in Montgomery.
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