THE
TUESDAY
LOCAL, PAGE 10
SPORTS, PAGE 11 Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Annual anniversary event held at Horseshoe Bend park
March 27, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 61 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
See the latest game highlights in area softball, baseball
Officials: Beware of ‘spring break crime’
By MITCH SNEED Editor
It’s spring break in Alexander City and many people are already packed up and ready to head off for a few days of rest and relaxation. While students are getting a break from class, that doesn’t mean that criminals are taking time off. In fact, Alexander City Police Department Chief Jay Turner said that often times,
the department sees an increase in criminal activity. “Every year we do see cases where people are gone and come home to find that something is missing or in some cases their home has been burglarized or vandalized,” Turner said. “Many times they are crimes of convenience – you left a lawnmower, a bike or a four-wheeler out in the open and they notice that no one is around for a day or two and they seize on that. It could
something valuable that’s left in plain sight through a window of a home or vehicle that attracts a criminal. “The more things that you do to not advertise that you are away the better. Obviously alarms help, but simple things like timers on lights, leaving a car parked where it appears that someone is home and stopping mail and paper delivery can help too.” Turner said there are many things that people just don’t think about that
Alex City Education Foundation embarks on lofty campaign
Businesses encouraged to follow Russell Lands’ lead on litter cleanup
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The Alex City Education Foundation is embarking on a major capital campaign to continue on its mission of “making sure our students and teachers receive the classroom enhancements that provide our Alexander City students with tools to succeed.” The “Be the Difference” campaign goal is to raise $1,000,000 over three years to go to the 1-to-1 Technology Initiative to start replacing devices and increasing funding for educator grants. The goal may seem daunting but is doable, according to Alex City Schools Education Foundation Director Karen Jennings. “We want to set a goal higher than what we have done in the past,” Jennings said. “The most we have had in the past is about $125,000 a year. It is going to take more than just one capital campaign.” Large gifts are nice, but Jennings wants to encourage everyone to contribute no matter the size of the donation. “We want to make sure the whole community buys into it,” Jennings said. “If you have $5 a month to give, that is $60 a year and $300 in five years. That will buy an iPad.” Jennings and the foundation board also wants the gifts to See EDUCATION • Page 3
can also be crime deterrents without a lot of money or effort being spent. Tips include: • Never ever advertise you are leaving town: Social media is a great way to share excitement with friends, but wait until after the trip to tell where you’ve been. Don’t broadcast to criminals that you and your family will be away. If you have children in college, remind them not to Facebook, See CRIME • Page 3
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Two things are consistent in the Lake Martin area – littering and businesses being asked to give to causes. There is a way for a businesses to take care of both of those and provide their employees some team building along the way. It is something Russell Lands has been doing for a while as they do at least two cleanups along Highway 63 every year. “It is good to get out of the office,” Russell Lands Robert Gunn said. “We do it at the beginning of the season and in the fall. You get to visit with employees you are not around as much.” Gunn said they purposefully pair up employees and set up a friendly competition. “We pair up with someone different than we normally work with,” Gunn said. “We challenge each to pick up more trash.” Last week Russell Lands went a little further after picking up more than 140 bags of litter along Highway
Easter events begin in area, keep children entertained Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Above, children look through their eggs after searching along the banks of Lake Martin at the annual Wind Creek State Park Egg Hunt Saturday. Right, the Easter Bunny made an appearance at Wind Creek to be available for autographs before the egg hunt. To see more photos from Saturday’s egg hunt, see Page 10 inside.
See CLEANUP • Page 3
ALDOT representatives talk with BRHS engineering students By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
The Alabama Department of Transportation’s Ken Cash gives BRHS engineering students insight into what it takes to be successful in school and stand out in the world of civil engineering.
Today’s
Lake Martin
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488.20
Weather Lake Levels High
Low
Reported on 03/26/18 @ 11 a.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443 6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Ninth- and 10th grade students in Anthony Hart’s Foundations of Engineering class welcomed some special guests to the classroom Friday afternoon, as representatives from the Alabama Department of Transportation visited the school to talk about civil engineering and how civil engineers play an important role at ALDOT in making sure that Alabama’s roads are designed and built with a multitude of factors in mind. “This is our first time working with the Department of Transportation,” Hart said. “I think it’s great that our students can have
this first-hand view of what civil engineers do.” Steve Haynes, who described himself as being a career ALDOT person, was the first to speak, detailing his more than three decades in the department, what projects he has been a part of and what ALDOT is currently taking on across the region. “In my time there, I’ve worked on a lot of interesting jobs,” Haynes said. “The first project I ever worked on was the big bridge on Highway 280 in Childersburg, the one that has the hump in it.” Since then, Haynes said he has done a lot in pre-construction work, including surveying sites, designing See ALDOT • Page 3