OPINION: CITY IS FIGHTING TO REGAIN ITS STRIDE. PAGE 4.
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May 21-22, 2016 • Vol. 124 • No. 102 • www.alexcityoutlook.com
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BRHS’s Coley inks scholarship with Allen. SPORTS, page 12.
County’s jobless rate falls to 8-year-low STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Tallapoosa County’s unemployment rate fell to just 5.3 percent in April, the lowest rate in almost eight years. The last time that the jobless rate was this low was in March 2008, and the current 5.3 percent is down from the 6.1 percent posted in March and the 5.7 percent that was recorded in Tallapoosa County
in April 2015. To put the local good news in perspective, the county rate was much better than the state average. The state’s seasonally adjusted April unemployment rate is 6.1 percent, down from March’s rate of 6.2 percent. “Every aspect of this month’s jobs data reflects positively on Alabama’s economy,” Gov. Robert Bentley said.
“More people are working and more jobs are filled. In fact, we are supporting almost 100,000 more jobs now than we were at the height of the recession. We are continuously working to keep that momentum going, with events like last week’s huge job fair in Birmingham that drew more than 5,000 job seekers.” Alabama’s age and salary employment measured 1,971,300 in April 2016.
RXRFest to bring music, fun to Memorial Day weekend
Family members of Willie Mae Fuller, front right in blue, surround her on the front steps of the Marshall Street Church of God on Mothers Day. Fuller has a simple explanation for her longevitiy: “I’d say that I took pretty good care of myself and acted right,” Fuller said. “It’s like a car, if you take care of it – it will last a good while.”
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Five bands and a Sunday barbecue feast prepared by Springhouse chef Rob McDaniel highlight RXRFest, set for Memorial Day weekend – Friday, May 27, through Sunday, May 29 – at Russell Crossroads on Highway 63. “We believe we’ve got a strong lineup with some local favorites and some that will be new to people in the area,” said Robert Gunn of Russell Lands. “We’re hoping that everyone will come out and enjoy the music and family-friendly good times.” On Friday and Saturday nights, everyone is invited to bring their chairs and coolers and enjoy free music from Sweet Tea and Union Road on Friday and The Bank Walkers and Atlas Road Crew on Saturday. Music begins both nights at 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, Springhouse will host Jonathan Bloom as part of McDaniel’s barbecue finale. Tickets for Sunday’s event – which include music, barbecue, beer and wine – are $55 and are available by visiting Springhouse or calling the restaurant at 256-215-7080. Sweet Tea, a dynamic Alabama country trio that is currently making their mark on country music, gets See RXRFEST • Page 11
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
CELEBRATING A CENTENARIAN Willie Mae Fuller credits hard work in turning 100 By MITCH SNEED Editor
On May 22, 1916 Woodrow Wilson was the president of the Unites States, the country’s population was 101,961,000, gas cost a whopping 18 cents a gallon and World War I dominated newsreels. But in Ashland on that date, Wyatt and Bera Rainwater had big news of their own – the birth of their daughter Willie Mae Rainwater. Now, 100 years later, family and friends will celebrate another milestone in history as Willie Mae Fuller celebrates her 100th birthday. To look at Fuller and talk with her, it’s See 100 • Page 7
Hats off for Coosa High School graduates
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Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
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See UNEMPLOYMENT • Page 7
Scholarships aplenty for Benjamin Russell grads By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Benjamin Russell High School parents, teachers and administrators celebrated the distinguished Class of 2016’s many accomplishments Friday morning at the school’s Senior Awards Ceremony. BRHS Principal Anthony Wilkinson reminded the seniors the fruits of their hard academic labors didn’t come quickly or without help. “It didn’t happen quickly and it didn’t happen overnight,” Wilkinson said, recalling how, over the past year, the seniors have learned how to put together a resume, created a digital portfolio, learned their strengths and weaknesses through a reflective essay and prepared wellenough for interviews through mock sessions that included Wilkinson to confidently tell any recruiter to “bring it on.” “(Class of 2016 member) Chase Burton may have said it best,” Wilkinson said, “when he said, ‘If you dress good, you feel good and if you feel good, you perform good. And if you perform good, you get paid.’” With that the payments began to roll in – in the form of scholarships. Aubrey Forbus, one of three valedictorians for the senior class, will attend the University of Alabama. See AWARDS • Page 3
Dadeville Kiwanis Club awards key clubbers with scholarships
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Lake Martin
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“This is a promising month for us,” Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald Washington said. “There are more people looking for work and more people working this month than there have been all year. The number of people who are unemployed is down. We continue to see growth in our
Members of the Central of Coosa High School Class of 2016 toss their caps into the air after graduation ceremonies Thursday.
All six senior members of the Dadeville High School Key Club received $500 in scholarship money from the Dadeville Kiwanis Club at the Kiwaniians weekly meeting Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Dadeville. Ben Thomas, Dadeville High School Key Club advisor, said this year’s Key Club seniors were special. “The benefits of Key Club are intrinsic,” Thomas said. “These young men and women, they get up early, they work, they do things and they get nothing much more than a pat on the back.” Thomas said that, largely because of the club’s See KIWANIS • Page 11