OPINION: WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU, PAGE 4.
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Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
LOCAL, PAGE 2 Traveling with fire
March 28, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 61 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
SPORTS, PAGE 10 BRHS coach announces retirement
County releases new emergency alert app By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Citizens of Tallapoosa County now have another way to get weather alerts – Tallapoosa Alert. Tallapoosa County EMA Director Jason Moran announced the system Monday. “Tallapoosa County EMA is introducing “Tallapoosa Alert,” a mass notification system to help keep residents safe and informed with reliable notifications during emergencies and
other events,” Moran said. “Tallapoosa Alert will automatically send out weather alerts from the National Weather Service to each land line in the county warranted by the alert.” Moran said setting it up has taken a little while but it will be something that everyone can use. And best of all, it is free to the public and requires little of the county. “It has been a little over a year in the making,” Moran said. “It is very reliable with today’s technology. There is no equipment See EMERGENCY • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Talllapoosa County EMA Director Jason Moran works with Commissioner John McKelvey on setting up his phone for a new system for delivering alerts to citizens.
Turner sworn in as new police chief
Quail Fry kicks off ‘Team United’ campaign By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Are you looking for a way to help the United Way and try something a little different for dinner? The United Way of the Lake Martin Area is hosting a quail fry Saturday to kickoff the 2018 campaign season at The Stables at Russell Crossroads and while it is relatively new to the United Way, it is not new to the community. “This is the second annual United Way Quail Fry,” United Way of the Lake Martin Area’s Courtney Layfield said. “The Red Cross did if for a bunch of years and we got permission from their board to take it over when they stopped doing it.” Last year at L.D Benton’s farm the group was able to raise about $12,000 and hope the change in venue will be as successful if not more. “It is a new venue and we hope it will attract some new people,” Layfield said. “At LD’s farm last year, we had a lot of his friends come out and we hope they will come with us to the Stables. Hopefully we will also draw some people from Willow Point and that area to come out and See QUAIL • Page 3
Kenneth Boone / The Outlook
Reenactors who played soldiers and Native Americans were on hand at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Saturday to commemorate the 203rd anniversary of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.
BLAST FROM THE PAST Anniversary commemoration offers look into past and future By MITCH SNEED Editor
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park marked the anniversary of a battle that drastically changed the landscape of an entire region Saturday. The park welcomed the public to the park for a history lesson on the Battle of Horseshoe Bend and a look into the future of the park.
Park Superintendent Barbara Tagger, with the help of Auburn University History Professor Dr. Keith Hebert and National Park Service Southeastern Regional Director Stan Austin, unveiled plans for an expansive renovation for the park’s museum and exhibit center. “This project will give us the ability to add more exhibits, bring in traveling exhibits and allow us to expand our educational See HORSESHOE • Page 9
Family, friends, elected officials, judges and fellow officers packed the upstairs courtroom at the Alexander City Police Department Monday evening to see one of their own sworn in as the chief of police. Municipal Court Judge Randy Haynes administered the oath of office to Jerry W. “Jay” Turner Monday night before 114 people who were on hand to celebrate his ascension to the department’s top spot. When the oath was complete, Turner received a standing ovation and spent time shaking hands and taking pictures with his family and supporters. Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors thanked Turner for his service and wished him well. “I’m proud to call you Alexander City’s Police Chief and proud to call you my friend,” Nabors said. Council President Tommy Spraggins harkened back to See CHIEF • Page 3
Sparks ends on a high note to win Kowaliga Idol 9 By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Auburn University senior Adam Sparks, 23, was the winner of Kowaliga Idol 9. The finals took place Friday night at the world famous Rodeo Club in Dadeville.
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Adam Sparks hadn’t been in a singing competion since he was in high school, much less win one. But all that changed Friday night. Sparks, a fifth-year senior at Auburn University, survived multiple rounds of eliminations and picked the perfect time to shine to win Kowaliga Country’s Kowaliga Idol 9 Friday night at the World Famous Rodeo Club in Dadeville. “When this all started I never thought I’d win it,” Sparks said. “But when I got into the final 12, I thought I’d give the judges something different to think about and I think that’s what did it.” Sparks sang Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” and followed that up with a spot-on rendition
of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” Sparks matched Steven Tyler trademark high note, something he had never attempted before. “I’ve sung the song before, but I never attempted to hit that note,” Sparks said. “It was just one of those things where in the heat of the moment I went for it and I think that’s what won it.” Sparks picked up a prize package worth about $7,000. The prized included $975 in cash and Sparks said he has already put that to use. “I’m a photographer with the Auburn Plainsman, and I’ve had my eye on a lens that will help me when I shoot sports,” Sparks said. “So that’s where that is going.” The package also included time in a recording studio, something that Sparks said he has never done but is excited about taking in that experi-
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ence. Sparks’ win capped an eight-week journey that included hundreds of contestants who auditioned at clubs all across the region. About 90 singers advanced to the elimination rounds and Friday night 24 were still alive on the final night. After each sang one song each, the field was trimmed to 12 to set up the two-song final round. Ed and Marge Shikoski were thrilled with the way the night went. More than 500 people were on hand for the finals. “Kowaliga Idol 9 was a great success,” Ed Shikoski said. “The talent was outstanding. Everybody came together and put together a great show. The community came out and supported this great show. Marge and I are very humbled to host this event, and excited about plans in the works.”
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