INSIDE: Obituaries, page 2 Religion, page 6 Classifieds, page 9 Sports, page 7
Weekend OPINION, PAGE 4: DRUG-RELATED CRIMES NEED OUR ATTENTION
The Outlook
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Alex City Youth Sports, Page 7-8
March 25-26, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 60 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Weather
City crime numbers up
75 59
Despite increase, ACPD shows success in clearing crimes
Today’s
High
Low
By MITCH SNEED Editor
According to recently released statistics from the Alexander City Police Department there was a slight rise in crimes in 2016. While the number of crimes is up slightly, the rate at which the crimes have been solved, called the clearance rate, improved
WEATHER Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Higher rainfall amounts possible in thunderstorms.
and is much higher than the national rate. Overall there were 337 crimes investigated in 2016, compared to 317 in 2015. That represents a 6 percent increase. Of those 337 crimes, 127 were closed with an arrest for a 38 percent closure rate. “Many crimes are crimes of passion or opportunity,” Alexander City Police Chief Jay Turner said. “In those instances, officers have little opportunity to prevent See CRIME • Page 3
ALEXANDER CITY CRIME STATS Crime
Murder 4 Rape 6 Robbery 28 Assaults 24 Burglary 143 Theft 141 Auto theft 18 Arson 3 Total
Yes I Can Mentoring Program set next week at Stephens
Horseshoe Bend battle anniversary activities set today Horseshoe Bend National Military Park will welcome gests free of charge today to commemorate the 203rd Anniversary of the Battle of the Horseshoe. At 10 a.m. there will be a program held at the tent in front of the visitor center with remarks from the National Park Service Southeast Regional Director Stan Austin, the National Park Service Deputy Regional Director Sherri Fields and Dr. Keith Hebert from Auburn University. The design plans for the park’s new museum exhibits will be unveiled by Superintendent Tagger. This annual event recreates traditional Creek Indian life, frontier life in the year 1814 and emphasizes the importance of the battle in United States history through a variety of special demonstrations and interpretive programs. For more information call Horseshoe Bend National Military Park at 256-234-7111 or visit us on Facebook. Horseshoe Bend NMP is located 12 miles north of Dadeville on Alabama Highway 49.
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
488.37
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Stacy Shaw shows the Technology Club kids from Jim Pearson Elementary the different ways the bank utilizes technology to operate like the palm scanner, below, that allows access into the safety deposit box vault.
Pearson’s Technology Club tours USAmeriBank By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Members of the Jim Pearson School Technology Club took advantage of the last day of school before spring break for club day to visit USAmeriBank to see how the bank uses technology. “We use technology everywhere,” Retail Service Specialist Stacy Shaw said. “You just walked in and you have already been photographed on three different cameras.” Shaw explained the reason for the cameras and much of the technology was for security and business operations. The students were amazed as they tried to get See BANK • Page 12
6
54708 90050
8
1 10 14 24 191 135 13 1 361
389
0 12 15 18 146 111 15 0
2 7 18 39 131 122 13 2
317
337
Tallapoosa County saw its February jobless rate drop significantly. In February, the seasonally adjusted February unemployment rate in the county fell to just 5.6 percent – one of the lowest rates in more than eight years. That rate is down from the 6.2 percent posted in the county in January and lower than the 6.1 percent rate posted in February of last year. The good news came in a Friday morning release from Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington, which also featured some good news at the state level. Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted February unemployment rate is 6.2 percent, down from January’s rate of 6.4 percent, and above January 2016’s rate of 6.0 percent. February’s rate represented 2,067,042 people working, up from January’s count of 2,053,837, and significantly higher than February 2016’s count of 2,036,314. February’s rate represents 136,826 unemployed persons, compared to See UNEMPLOYMENT • Page 3
Board aims for to finalize process by April 10 By MITCH SNEED Editor
Tallapoosa County Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Windle said the process of hiring a new head football coach at Horseshoe Bend is on schedule and that the aim is to complete the process in time to make a recommendation board at its April 10 meeting. Windle said they received 41 applications for the position and said there were some quality, experienced coaches in the mix. “Of those 41, I’d say that there are 15 or 20 that jump out at you,” Windle said. “There are people with head coaching experience from three states, some that have won state championships in the past. So we have some very good candidates See COACH • Page 3
been 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
3 13 19 27 134 148 15 2
2015 2016
Horseshoe Bend coaching search on schedule
Many a
laceyshowell@gmail.com
2014
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Reported on 03/24/17 @ 5:30 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
367
2013
County’s jobless rate falls in February
LOCAL BRIEFS
Local resident Teresa Moten will again offer her Yes I Can Mentoring Program next week during Spring Break in the cafeteria at Stephens School in Alexander City. Children will take part in lessons in character, reading and other activities and will have visits from the library and a field trip to tour city hall. The program is free of charge and runs from 10 a.m. to noon each day. Children will also be fed as part of the school system’s Spring Break Food Program.
2012
small thing
has
made
large... ...with the right kind of advertising.
USPS Permit # 013-080
256.234.4281
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Construction crews issue one last reminder for area residents Gary Ingram Paving and Grading has been working hard to keep drivers aware of the upcoming construction on Lee Street beginning Monday. All week workers have been getting barriers and barrels in place so they can be used. Creative electronic signs have been in place to remind drivers of potential delays once the project begins. Friday, drivers could see the above message as they turned from Highway 280 onto Lee Street. Thanks to the efforts of the city, Ingram and the media, drivers should have few excuses not to be aware of the work so they can plan to take alternate routes during the project.