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WHAT’S UP? See local events on the Community Calendar, Page 5.
SPORTS, PAGE 10 Horseshoe Bend set to begin state tourney run
May 17, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 97 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
City schools hire 2 new principals By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Two Alexander City schools will be under the guidance of new principals when students return to their classrooms in August. During the personnel section of the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Darrell Cooper noted that Tracie Blakely will take over at Alexander City Middle School while Dr. John Prestridge will become the new principal at Radney
Elementary School. “I will do what it takes to turn Alexander City Middle School around,” Blakely said, while Prestridge expressed a similar sentiment for Radney. Cooper said that Andrew Caves, who has served as principal at Radney, is moving to North Alabama to be closer to family. Reginald Clifton, who has been at Alexander City Middle, will serve at the central office next school year.
board and audience at Tuesday night’s Alexander City Board of Education meeting reminding everyone about the joys of Surge soda, Furbies and The Ren and Stimpy Show. Kelly and three other students were selected from the honors English class at the middle school to showcase their research into historical decades from 1850-2009. Along with the presentations about the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, See SCHOOLS • Page 11
At this time, Cooper also said there were three resignations, three retirements, six non-renewals, seven transfers and 12 new hires within the school system. The night was also featured presentations from students at Alexander City Middle School and Benjamin Russell High School. Dressed up like Steve Urkel, Alexander City Middle School eighthgrader Jaion Kelly stood before the
A NOTE OF THANKS
New Site Council agrees to fund Little Free Library
Rogers talks taxes and healthcare By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The New Site Town Council is joining in the campaign to grow the Little Free Library program in their corner of Tallapoosa County. The council approved funds of up to $350 to be spent on purchasing a Little Free Library box during Monday night’s council meeting. Jamie Foshee, who lives in New Site and worked at Mamie’s Place Children’s Library made her presentation to the council, including how she helped start the first registered free library in the county in September 2016 and how the program worked. She also See COUNCIL • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Former Mayor Barbara Young sings the praises of Harriett Scott who worked for 32 years in the office of the city clerk in Alexander City. Scott is retired and the city recognized here at a luncheon on Wednesday.
City says goodbye to longtime clerk Harriett Scott
By MITCH SNEED Editor
No matter who was in office and what was going on at the time, there has been one steadying force in Alexander City for the last 32 years – Harriett Scott. Scott worked in the clerk’s
office for more than three decades, serving as city clerk for the last seven years. The city held a luncheon for her Wednesday to give those who have worked with her and depended on her a chance to say thanks and wish her well.
“I can’t even start to tell you all how much Harriett meant to me when I served as mayor,” said former Mayor Barbara Young. “She was a world of help to me and I can’t thank her enough. She has more information See HARRIETT • Page 11
Mike Rogers spoke of increased spending for defense at Thursday’s Dadeville Kiwanis Club meeting and a way to pay for it by lowering income taxes while at the same time encouraging big businesses to bring trillions of dollars from overseas back to the U.S. But he also suggested changes to Social Security to make it Rogers solvent for at least another 50 years. “It goes back to the Laffer Curve,” Rogers said of the effect of lowering taxes to pay for defense. “When you cut rates, consumers have more to spend and it spurs the economy.” Rogers says the Laffer Curve has See ROGERS • Page 3
Lake Martin
Stephens Elementary students raise $5k for Jump Rope for Heart 490.58
Lake Levels
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Few organs in the human body are as critical to maintain as the heart. Tasked with pumping blood throughout the system, the heart is crucial to maintaining life. At Stephens Elementary School, the students are taught this through the American Heart Association’s annual Jump Rope for Heart program. Every February, these students learn more about the heart and cardiovascular system and why it is so important to maintain a healthy heart. “We’ve been having Jump Rope for Heart here since 2002,” said Stephens PE teacher Gary Graveman. “With obesity and diabetes being such a major issue
today, it’s important to learn about developing a strong heart and lungs.” During one week in February, the students are divided into groups of five or six and take turns jumping for two minutes each, before cycling out to allow the next group in to jump, Graveman explained. Coupled with the jumping event, the students also use this campaign to raise money for the American Heart Association. “Some of this money goes to small children who need heart surgery but may not be able to afford it, so we’re also teaching them to care about others as well,” Graveman said. Donald Campbell / The Outlook This year, the third- and Members of the Stephens Elementary Jump Rope for Heart team practice fourth-graders at Stephens See HEART • Page 11 Tuesday in the school gym.
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