COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE!
THE Encourage Entrepreneurs!
WEDNESDAY SPORTS, PAGE 8.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 May 18, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 99 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Generals represented in North-South All-Star game.
Burglars strike another local store Shattered glass remains at the bottom of the door at What’s Curb Market after Tuesday morning’s burglary. It is the fifth incident at a local store in less than a month.
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Alexander City Police Department investigators are investigating yet another convenience store break-in after What’sFoshee Curb Market on Dadeville Road was hit early Tuesday morning. Alexander City Police Department Lt. James Easterwood said the front window on the door of the business was smashed with a large rock at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. “They broke the class in the front door,” Easterwood said. “But the alarm went off and we had a unit in the area.
They left without taking anything as far as we can tell, but it was another incident much like the others that we have had in the area recently.” There were no eyewitnesses and investigators are still looking through surveillance video to see if they can pull an image that may help identify the person or persons responsible. “If anyone out there may have seen anything or has any information, we would love to hear from them,” Easterwood said. To report information call Det. George Long at 256-397-1135. This was the fifth incident involving
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Grants to Alexander City’s Jim Pearson Elementary School and New Site’s Horseshoe Bend School were among 155 awarded today that will provide more than 2,700 additional Alabama four-year-olds with access to high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten. “Voluntary PreKindergarten is a proven program that prepares students for success,” Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said. “Only 20 percent of Alabama’s four-year-olds are currently enrolled in the First Class program. Along with the support of legislative funding, we will continue to expand access to this program until every Alabama parent who wants See GRANT • Page 7
Today’s
Weather
82 64 Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.55 Reported on 5/17/16 @ 8 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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See STORE • Page 6
Chamber board looks for council candidates
Local schools to get grants for First Class Pre-K program
High
convenience stores in Alexander City in less than a month. In late April, the JetPep on Highway 280 and the Delta Express on Highway 22 just behind Who’s Diner were also hit in a similar manner. On Tuesday May 10, Lynn’s Quick Stop was targeted by burglars who smashed the front door of the store at about 5 a.m. and took cash. Store owners have offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for that burglary.
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Regina Wilson, right, talks about book selection with her granddaughter Re’Asia Brooks at the library’s Parents Night event Monday.
READY TO READ Library set to launch summer reading program By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Mamie’s Place Children’s Library is gearing up for the summer reading program, “On you mark, get set, READ!” Monday evening the library hosted parents night to get children registered for the pro-
gram and to let parents know what the plans for summer events. Regina Wilson was trying to convince her granddaughter to read more Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy mysteries. “I like Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” Re’Asia Brooks told Wilson. Wilson and Brooks did agree on one book, See READ • Page 6
School board OKs 4 percent pay hike for employees
Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony set for Thursday
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
The Alexander City Board of Education unanimously approved four percent pay raises for all employees not covered by the state education budget passed recently by the Alabama Legislature. The board passed four percent pay raises for all board employees, raised all non-athletic supplements by four percent and granted a four percent raise to all substitutes in the system, including substitute nurses, substitute bus drivers and others. See SCHOOLS • Page 6
With no real idea of how many Alexander City Council members will seek re-election and some developers shying away from the city because of its recent financial mismanagement, the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce is encouraging its membership to urge more individuals to get involved and consider running for office. “I’ve had at least two developers tell me that I have a difficult job promoting and building Alexander City,” said Chamber President Ed Collari at Tuesday afternoon’s Chamber Board meeting. “And when there’s an issue with the local government, it makes it easier for developers to stay away. It makes the challenge to recruit businesses to Alexander City even more difficult when we’re not all in alignment.” Collari said that getting the involvement of new people with See CHAMBER • Page 7
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Nest with curb appeal An Osprey sits in a nest near Camp ASCCA on Lake Martin. Thought it was interesting that it appears that the bird, also known as a fish hawk or a river hawk, has added a shade tree to his abode.
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Those who gave their lives in the service of Tallapoosa County residents will be honored Thursday during the 20th Annual Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial. The memorial, which is a joint effort by the Alexander City Police and Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Departments, will begin at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 19 outside the Alexander City Police Department Headquarters. “Each year in May we hold this event to honor those who made the See MEMORIAL • Page 7