OPINION: IS IT TIME FOR BENTLEY TO RESIGN?
TUESDAY
THE COOSA GETS PROBATE JUDGE Inside, Page 5.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 March 29, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 63
www.alexcityoutlook.com
LAKE MARTIN CLASSIC: Dadevillefallsintournamentopener,full schedule inside. Page 12.
Local churches vote on merger First United, Trinity Methodist Churches could become one after vote
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Two Alexander City churches appear on the verge of a merger that would give the single church a presence both downtown and on U.S. 280. The membership of Trinity United Methodist Church, located immediately west of Russell Medical Center on 280, will vote on Thursday night whether to accept an invitation to become a part of First United Methodist Church of Alexander City.
Trinity Pastor Gene Lankford said Trinity has seen its membership decline steadily over the last several years. The First United membership voted to extend the invitation to Trinity last week, according to Todd Henderson, pastor at First United. “It’s a lot like a marriage proposal,” explained Henderson. “First, we had to decide whether we wanted to ask them the question (whether they want to merge). Now, they have to decide whether this is something that they want to do. That’s where it stands for now.”
Henderson said the potential of the two churches becoming one is something that has been on his mind for several years now. “I’ve been thinking about it probably for about four years,” Henderson said. “It was last year that I talked with some of the leadership and others at both churches about it. The discussions have become very formal in the last several months.” Henderson said the combining of the churches would “bring new life” to Trinity, which has a membership of approximately 80 people, but has seen
Alexander City’s Baylie Kizziah is handed the Kowaliga Idol winner’s trophy from Kowliga Country’s David Burkhalter Friday night at the Rodeo Club. Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Kizziah wins Kowaliga Idol, Eggstravagantturnoutforegghunt takes top prize in competition
Above, Olivia Booker and Jasmine Scott of Alexander City lead Amber Thomas and Millie Ann Harrell in a three-legged race. Below left, in the egg toss, Charlie Conn tosses an egg to his partner Michaelann Waggoner. Below right, Gavin Brown, 7, of New Site hunts for eggs.
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Alexander City’s Baylie Kizziah outlasted more than 50 other contestants to be named as the winner of Kowaliga Idol 8 Friday night at the World Famous Rodeo Club. Kizzah’s flawless performances of hits including Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton’s classic “I Will Always Love You” gave her the edge in what Kowaliga See IDOL • Page 3
Weather
73 49 High
Low
Lake Martin
487.88 Reported on 3/28/16 @ 5 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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Reeltown man now facing four counts of attempted murder By MITCH SNEED Editor
A Reeltown man is facing attempted murder charges after shooting into an occupied vehicle early Sunday morning, sending three people to the hospital. According to the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department, Jody Wayne Gann, 26, of 17710 Highway 49 South, Notasulga, which Gann is in the Reeltown community, was charged with four counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. Officials say that Gann and the victims were traveling in separate vehicles on Hayes Mill Road in the Moses Flat area at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning. See SHOOTING • Page 3
Weldon-Langley team wins BRHS Cheerleaders fishing tourney By MITCH SNEED Editor
Lake Levels
See MERGER • Page 3
Three injured in Sunday shooting
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Today’s
its attendance diminish to 20-30 each Sunday. “Their experiencing a reality of a decrease in numbers and energy – an inability to help their church to grow,” Henderson said. “They have tried and continue to try a lot of different things, but they just haven’t been able to grow. “From our perspective, we’ve tried to approach this the right way. We’d love to have them, but we understand it’s a difficult decision. We’re just trying
The Benjamin Russell High School Cheerleaders welcomed more than 50 teams Saturday for their annual fishing tournament at Wind Creek State Park and after a long day on the water, a Wetumpka duo took top honors. The team of Trip Weldon and Felton Langley came in with a bag of five fish they weighed in at 17.36 pounds to take top prize. “We fished all over the lake,” Weldon said. “We fished from here to Kowaliga Bridge and most of what we caught was in shallow water. It was a pretty good day for us.” Langley said that all of their
keepers were caught “blind.” “A lot of people were sighting fish and then going after them,” Langley said. “But we were straight fishing blind and had a little luck.” The team of Jeremy Miller and Caleb Brown finished second with a weight of 16.71 pounds. The third place team was Chad and Jerry Newbolt with a weight of 16.44 pounds. In the team’s bag was the big fish of the day. The Newbolts boated a 9.67-pound largemouth, the largest fish by almost four pounds. Fourth place went to Don Belew and Norman Browning See FISHING • Page 3
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Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Trip Weldon, right, and Felton Langley, left, came in with a bag of five fish that weighed in at 17.36 pounds to take top prize.
––––– LIVE IN CONCERT –––––
Doxology
From the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
APRIL 5th 7:00 PM
FOR RENT 1 BEDROOM APT. Move in tomorrow. Afford able monthly re nt. Call Norma 5556300.
Admission is FREE but a love offering for the group will be graciously accepted.
ALEXANDER
C I T Y,
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Worship God • Love People • Make Disciples
64 Court Square Alexander City, AL www.fbc-ac.org