INSIDE: n Obituaries, page 2 n Religion, page 6 n Classifieds, page 9 n Mom tributes, page 8
Weekend OPINION, PAGE 4: BE SURE TO HONOR YOUR MOTHER.
The Outlook
May 13-14, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 95 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
battle in regionals. Page 12
Council to act on landfill expansion
Lunch SNAKES IN without ABUNDANCE shame locally Alex City Schools refuse to embarrass students By DONALD CAMPBELL Editor
Recently, the practice of so-called “school lunch shaming” at public schools has become a far more notable issue all over the country. From Denver, Colorado to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this method involves different methods of getting the message home, including stamping a student’s hand with notes like “I need lunch money,” giving them an alternative meal or having them perform chores around the school to pay off their debt. The Alexander City School System, unlike these schools, chooses not to engage in such practices. “Our policy is that all charged meals need to be paid up, but we never deny any student a meal,” said Alexander City Schools Chief Financial Officer See LUNCH • Page 3
SPORTS: Local softball teams
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Current inert facility is running out of space and mayor says action is needed
By MITCH SNEED Editor Special / The Outlook
This gray rat snake found by John McKelvey in a shop at his home is one of those snakes that looks menacing, but actually does a lot of good things.
Sightings are up, but experts say just leave them alone By MITCH SNEED Editor
A Dadeville man had to be flown to Birmingham for treatment after a timber rattler bit him while he was trying to catch it near his home. He’s now at home and doing well. Ken Vernon with Alexander City Animal Control said that officers have been called out on about 25 calls from residents reporting snakes on their property or in their homes or other structures already this
spring. “I can’t remember a year when we have had so many calls this early,” Vernon said. “But as the temperatures warm up, they are out stirring around. But it seems like there are more and more people seeing them this year than in my recent memory.” Are there more snakes this year? Is it because we had a mild winter? Dr. David Steen, a research professor who specializes in wildlife ecology, See SNAKES • Page ??
Alexander City’s existing inert landfill on North Central has less than four years of life, according to city officials. With that in mind the city council engaged a law firm a few months ago to start the process of locating a place where the city’s future inert waste can be disposed of. Monday night, the council is expected to look at purchasing a piece of property for that use. Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors said that it’s something that has to be done now rather than later. “This is something that the previous council kicked down the road,” Nabors said. “We don’t have the luxury to do that. It is something that’s a pressing issue. These things don’t happen overnight and the process to get one approved is lengthy to say the least. That’s why we have been working very hard to identify a potential location and move forward.” See COUNCIL • Page 3
Students present plans for Young Entrepreneurs Academy By DONALD CAMPBELL Editor
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Mason Sake discusses his strategy for the Garrett Charles Williamson Foundation.
Six students from Benjamin Russell High School participating in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy program went before a panel of potential investors at the Lake Martin Innovation Center on Thursday evening, pitching their business ideas in order to receive funding. Giving off an air similar to the show Shark Tank, these high schoolers stood before the panel of investors, presentations at the
ready to show they had a sound plan and an effective method for executing it in order to land the investment needed to fully launch their ideas into action. Bradley Stewart, Mason Sake, Mally McInnes, Cely Sammons, Drew Morgan and Tyler Watts presented their plans to a group consisting of Tallapoosa Publishers Chairman Kenneth Boone, CACC President Dr. Susan Burrow, Classic Homes President Chad Calhoun, Tallapoosa County President of River Bank & Trust Randy Dawkins, County
Commissioner Steve Robinson, Sales and Operations Manager of Lee Apparel Lauren Smith and the Central Alabama Executive of USAmeriBank Mark Spencer. Each investor on the panel had up to $1,000 they could invest in these business ideas. Each student or partnership had a set amount of time to give their presentation, which was followed up by a time when the panel could ask the young entrepreneurs any questions. Following all of the presentations, the investors retired to the See YEA • Page 11
Radney students race for answers in inaugural math competition By DONALD CAMPBELL Editor
A math problem flashes up on the screen: There is 7/9 of a roast left. If 12 people want to equally share it, how much would each person get? Fifteen students begin quickly working the problem out on the paper in front of them. After a moment of speedy calculating, one students holds up a whiteboard with the answer on it. “That is correct,” calls out Kenyatta Simmons, Radney Elementary School’s instructional coach as the students and parents in the audience clap and cheer. Such was the excitement of
Friday’s math competition at Radney, the first one to be held at the school. Thirty students in total took part in the competition, 15 from each grade. They were divided into teams of five each, representing each of the six math teachers at Radney. “Each teacher selected their team based on the students’ academic scores, performance series and ACT ASPIRE scores,” Simmons said. The problems put in front of the students were based on their Common Core standards, according to Simmons. During each round of competition, the three teams were given 10 questions to solve. Once they See MATH • Page 3
Today’s
Weather
76 57 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.63
Reported on 5/12/17 @ 3:30 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Students at Radney work math problems out on the paper in front of them in a race to beat the other students to get the correct answer in the school’s inaugural math competition. 6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
She’s Back! Shelby Patterson is back at work and ready to cut, style or color your hair.
GENESIS I HAIR SALON 256.329.8924 3333 Hillabee Road Alexander City, AL
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