OPINION: CITY NEEDS ABILITY, IDEAS TO CREATE BETTER FUTURE. PAGE 4. MAKING THURSDAY THE WAVES
BRHS’s Schouten signs skiing scholarship with ULL.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 May 19, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 100
Sports, Page 12.
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Status of golf course funds probe uncertain By MITCH SNEED Editor
The status of the criminal investigation into money missing from Alexander City’s Lakewinds Golf Course remains unclear. Officials from the office of Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange say that it is standard operating procedure not to comment on the status of any investiga-
tion or even confirm or deny that they are involved in a possible probe. Mike Lewis, the press secretary for Luther Strange said Monday that they did receive information from the office of Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney E. Paul Jones, but said that was about all that he could confirm. “Typically, we don’t comment on anything that our office is involved in unless
we have an arrest or an indictment,” Lewis said. “So at this time, we can’t confirm or deny that we are investigating the issue there.” On March 22, Jones said he believed there was criminal activity and said a forensic audit was needed to determine where any possible criminal wrongdoing occurred. On April 18, Jones wrote a letter to Mayor Charles Shaw saying he had
asked for the help of the AG’s office in the probe. Questions into the golf course funds were raised by resident Wendell Scroggins at a council meeting on Jan. 25, alleging that a number of checks that patrons had written for goods and services at Lakewinds seemed to have See AUDIT • Page 5
City council to name new school board member
United Way plans annual Day of Action June 16
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
The Lake Martin Area United Way will have its annual Day of Action on the morning of June 16 at Reeltown Elementary, Alexander City Middle, Jim Pearson Elementary and Central-Coosa Elementary schools and is looking for volunteers to help make it a success. “People enjoy coming and helping,” said Sharon Fuller, executive director of the Lake Martin Area United Way. “They come in their work clothes and they leave dripping wet with sweat. We’ve had up to 200 volunteers in the past. The more volunteers we have, the more we can do for the schools.” Fuller said volunteers can choose to work at any of the four schools they wish. She said the volunteers – which will include the local United Way staff and board members as well as representatives of some of the local United Way agencies – will be doing painting and general cleanup at Reeltown Elementary, general cleanup and raking of pea gravel around the school at Central-Coosa Elementary, pressure washing at
With warm weather comes swimming. Whether at the lake or the pool, everyone needs to be careful regardless of experience. Barbara Sokol helps teach Red Cross Lifeguard classes and has a few reminders for everyone. “First of the swimming season is always a difficult time for several different reasons,” Sokol said. “One
See ACTION • Page 3
See SWIMMING • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff Willams / The Outlook
Above, Cade McKeever is rescued by Ben Chappell in drills for lifeguard training Monday afternoon. Below, Lifeguard canidates swim laps at the Russell Pool Monday afternoon. Sammy Teel and Barbara Sokol are currently teaching lifeguard lessons with the upcoming swim season.
A splash of safety City pool, lifeguards gearing up for summer By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
The Alexander City City Council is set to meet tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom at the public safety building. The council will name a new member to the Alexander City Board of Education. Five candidates have applied to fill the seat that is being vacated by Steve Robinson. He opted to step down due to obligations with the Tallapoosa County Board of Commissioners and “to open the door to others interested in serving.” The interviews are set to begin at 4 p.m. on Monday, with each candidate scheduled for 30-minute sessions. Interviews will be held in the upstairs conference room at City Hall. The candidates are Denise Bates, Sean Bland, Leanne Calhoun, Amy Hampton and Brett Pritchard. The council is also expected to reappoint Sheryn Belyeu, Madolyn Radney and Roslyn Weathers to Adelia M. Russell Library Board. In other items, the council will consider: • A resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an amendment See COUNCIL • Page 3
Atlanta Christian artist papa to headline ‘Praise in Park’ cert and he puts on a phenomenal show,” Dunn said. “I think that everyone what he has to say through his music. It’s free, so we just hope that everyone will come out and enjoy it.” Papa has recorded several Christian albums including “Matt Papa Live,” “This Changes Everything,” “Look and Live,” “Your Kingdom Come,” “You Are God” and “Scripture Songs & Hymns” I and II. Of his album “Look and Live,” Papa said, “This album, and hopefully my life, is a call to every human being who is stuck in the muck of addiction, sin and selfishness, to lift up your head and to see that the only thing that can truly liberate you, the only thing that can truly captivate you, which is the beauty and glory of God.” To accompany the album, Papa also wrote his first book, also titled “Look & Live.” The book is a “loud and See PRAISE • Page 3
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Submitted / The Outlook
Atlanta’s Matt Papa will be the headline attraction for this year’s ‘Praise in the Park’ event during Sun Festival.
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Atlanta’s Matt Papa will headline Sun Festival’s Praise in the Park, set for 8 p.m. on Thursday July 28, at Strand Park. Papa is a recording artist, songwriter, worship leader, and author. He is husband of seven years to Lauren, and father to three girls – Paisley, Stella and Sofi – and a new little boy named Jackson. Papa’s service to Christ through song, preaching, writing, and mentoring is conducted with a heart that longs to see bring people from every corner of the world to Christ. Kim Dunn, director of marketing and special events for the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce says Sun Festival attendees will enjoy Papa’s musical gift. “I have personally seen him in con-
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