OPINION: TRAIN SAGA A SIGN OF THE TIMES. PAGE 4
TUESDAY
THE CHAMBER PULSE:
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
See what’s up in local business, Pages A6-A7.
May 23, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 101 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Showers give area a much-needed drink
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Over the weekend, Tallapoosa County was caught in the middle of a pouring rainstorm that seemed set to never end. Despite this, Alexander City came out of the weekend weather in relatively good shape, unlike other areas in central Alabama. “The Alexander City area received around three inches of rain over the weekend,” said John De Block, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the Birmingham office of the National Weather Service. “There were over eight inches that fell in the
Montgomery area.” What makes those three inches of rain from the weekend more beneficial to the area around Lake Martin is that it helped to alleviate the drought conditions that have been plaguing the area since last summer, De Block said. Following the weekend rains, Monday was a relatively busy time for the Alexander City Public Works Department. “We had several reports of tree limbs down today,” said Public Works Administrative Assistant Kristen
SPORTS, PAGE 12 Read a story about a youth baseball player with prosthetic leg and a big heart.
Carmen Rogers / The Outlook
This was the scene at the Thurlow Dam boat launch below Fitzpatrick Bridge Sunday afternoon as first responders recovered the body of a white middle-age female who jumped from the 120-foot high bridge.
See RAIN • Page A2
PARTY AT THE ‘PLEX
Police: Montgomery woman dead after jump from Tallassee’s Fitzpatrick Bridge By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Blues in the Park drew about 1,000 people, all ready to have a good time. Some couldn’t help themselves and took to dancing in the rain-soaked turf at the Sportplex, above. Tents were packed with folks who went all out with decorations and food, despite some steady showers.
Blues in the Park an off-the-charts success By MITCH SNEED Editor
Happy. Festive. Laidback. Incredible. You could pick any or all of those adjectives to describe the first Blue in the Park concert Saturday at Alexander City’s Charles Bailey Sportplex. With the exception of some nagging showers that cut the show a little short, it would have
been hard to imagine a better event or a group of people who enjoyed themselves more. A crowd that was estimated at 1,000 people turned out. They brought tents, coolers, grills, fish fryers, living room rugs, candles for the table, Tiki torches, umbrellas and their dancing shoes. The event was
See BLUES • Page A3
The body of a 56-year-old, white female from Montgomery was discovered Sunday afternoon at Alabama Power’s Dam boat launch near the Thurlow Dam after she apparently jumped to her death from the 120-foot Fitzpatrick Bridge. Tallassee Police Department Lt. Chris Owenby confirmed the identity of the woman Monday afternoon, but the name will not be published of respect for her family. Owenby said the woman had been in Tallassee visiting her family. Just before 4 p.m. Sunday witnesses called the Tallassee Police Department with a report of a woman jumping from the bridge. TPD and Haynes ambulance responded. It took first responders about half an hour to recover the body. Family members identified the body Sunday evening, Owenby said. During the search and recovery, traffic was backed up on Main Street in east Tallassee as police began their investigation. Tallassee Police Chief Matt Higgins said that the department continues to investigate the case.
COOSA GRADS FEATURED INSIDE Tonight Coosa Central will hold graduation with 68 students making that memorable walk and two in memoriam honorary diplomas will be presented. See pictures of the graduates on pages B3-B5. Valedictorian: Olivia Harrell Salutatorian: Lauren Krause Estimated Scholarship/Financial Aid Offer Amount: $1,353,000 Significant Scholarship Offers: Baylee Meadows, Ignatian Scholarship- Spring Hill College ($92,000); Olivia Harrell, four full-tuition scholarships, total financial aid offers: $136,000; Braxton Lashley, five full-tuition scholarships, total financial aid offers: $238,000. Students enlisting in the Armed Forces: Brandon Vanwormer- Army National Guard, Josh Mitchell- U.S. Marine Corps, Dylan Nail- U.S. Marine Corps and Jacob Stephens- U.S. Marine Corps
Coffee Corner, Sixth Street Baptist team up for pancake study break By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Working in conjunction with each other, The Coffee Corner and Sixth Street Baptist Church are holding their first-ever Pancake Study Break at The Coffee Corner from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday evening. Students from Alexander City Middle School, Benjamin Russell High School and Central Alabama Community College are invited to attend the event. “We love our students. We wanted them to feel appreciated and to show our love for them,” Sixth Street Baptist Church Student Minister Brandon Keel said. “This gives them a time to
Today’s
fellowship together.” “The youth pastor knows me pretty well and suggested the idea to me,” said Tony Blanco, coowner of The Coffee Corner. “We agreed to the idea and thought it would be doing something fun for the community. “We’ll be cooking the pancakes,” he added. “We’re prepared for a couple hundred, but we really don’t know how many may show up.” “I don’t know how many will be here, but I would love to see as many as possible,” Keel said. “We’re grateful to them for cooking and helping us love the community.”
Lake Martin
Weather Lake Levels
68 58 High
Low
484.00 Reported on 2/20/17 @ 6 p.m.
Despite only having been recently planned and set up, the word about this event has been getting around. “A poster about this got hung up in Benjamin Russell, and a friend of mine there had someone ask him if he had seen it,” Blanco said. In the future, Keel explained how he would like to add a second event in the fall, as a way to celebrate the start of a new school year. While similar, he noted that the fall event would not be exactly the same as Wednesday night’s pancake party. “I think it would be a good thing to keep it going,” Blanco See PANCAKES • Page A2
“PROVIDING QUALITY ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION SINCE 1961”
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
A day of family fun Amilia Boone and all the folks at Space Walk of Alexander City held a Family Fun Day event at Byers Field Saturday to introduce the business to the community at hundreds turned out through out the day. For more information call 256-750-1546.
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
Bill’s Electric
•Home-like Environment • Specialized Dementia Care Unit •Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443 6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
(256) 234-4555 1814 Airport Blvd • Alexander City, AL
A DAMS HEALTH & REHAB 1555 HILLABEE STREET • (256) 329-0847