INSIDE: n Obituaries, page 2 n Religion, page 6 n Classifieds, page 9 n Sports, page 12
Weekend EDUCATION: ALEX CITY SCHOOLS AWARDED GRANT, PAGE 7.
The Outlook
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
May 6-7, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 90 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
SPORTS:
Reeltown wins area softball tourney, Page 12.
County’s constables fight for their posts
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Legislation that will abolish the positions of constables in Tallapoosa County advanced this week in the Alabama House of Representatives, but the men who hold those positions hope to get the word out to residents that they can still stop the move. House Bill 569, a piece of local legislation introduced by Rep. Pebblin Warren of Tuskegee, passed a day after several local constables made a plea to a legislative not to abolish the elected
positions. In a roll call vote, just 12 representatives voted yes, Alexander City’s Mark Tuggle voted no and 77 representatives did not vote. Now it heads to the Senate where its fate rests with Senators Gerald Dial, Tom Whatley and Clyde Chambliss. James Burkhalter, who heads the Tallapoosa County Constable Association, said Friday that he thinks that the move is political in nature and based on some past issues with constables who are no longer in their positions. “There were some individuals in the past See CONSTABLES • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
James Burkhalter is the head of the Tallapoosa County Constable Association and said he hopes residents will ask senators to reconsider abolishing their positions.
Officials alert residents of disaster drill
Talladega fans bring tourism dollars to area
By MITCH SNEED Editor
In order to test, evaluate and audit current emergency plans, the Tallapoosa County and Alexander City first responders are staging a “mock disaster,” Tuesday, May 9 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Officials hope the exercise will test the plans and response protocols in an effort to increase emergency preparedness for Tallapoosa County and surrounding communities. Drills such as this are helpful in preparing for a real disaster, said Tallapoosa County EMA Director Jason Moran. “We wanted to get the word out in advance to that if people hear scanner traffic or see a large presents of first-responders that they don’t need to be alarmed,” Moran said. We do this ever and it’s very valuable to us in terms of training. It helps us identify issues and things we See DRILL • Page 3
Merchants say it’s hard to put a number on impact, but see benefit By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Thursday night, the club hosted a dinner for invited guests seeking members to join the “Friends of the Imagination Library” to continue the program through the club’s newly created 501c3 non-profit foundation. Currently the club helps fund the program at Harbor Learning Academy where children
Every spring, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series makes its way to central Alabama and the Talladega Superspeedway. Fans from all over the country make the area their home for the weekend hoping to see their favorite driver take home the checkered flag. When race weekend rolls around, Alexander City finds itself sitting along a key thoroughfare for fans traveling north to reach the track. With all these visitors making the journey through town, what kind of economic impact do they have on the area? Wind Creek State Park Superintendent Bruce Adams said that, “We do see a little bit of business. We have approximately 100 reservations due in today (Friday).” Interestingly, though there are a handful of campers at the state park who stay there on the way to Talladega, the majority of them are actually attempting to avoid the race. “A lot of the people we get are from Talladega and the areas impacted by race
See BOOKS • Page 3
See RACE • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Harbor Learning Academy’s Sue Smitherman looks over the shoulder of 5-year-old June Carr as Carr reads ‘Five Little Ducks’ to a group of adults Thursday evening.
Imagination Library
Rotary Club seeks help to expand literacy program By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Nearly 300 children in the area have graduated from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library over the last two years with the help of the Alexander City Rotary Club and another 470 are enrolled.
Cast selected for ACT II's ‘Our Town’
ACMS student wins state DAR essay contest By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Seventh-grader Trace McCaleb was one of approximately 40 students in a pair of honors English classes who had an assignment to write an essay about one of America’s national parks. Today, he not only has one of the best grades of all the participating students, but is also the winner of the statewide Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest. “We had to write about See ESSAY • Page 3
Today’s
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STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Submitted / The Outlook
Actors for the Alexander City Theatre II production of “Our Town” held their first read-thru of the play this week. The cast includes Skye Walker, Mollie Barrett (not pictured), Rodney Meadows, Keith Garrett, Larry Jennings, Scears Barnes (not pictured), Steve Thomas, Allie Reams, Robert Reams, Raylee Moore, Susan McCrispin, Carter Buttram, Marcell Smith, Jake Owens, Mike Moorehouse, Minnie Jones, Aubrey Culver, Olivia Tinoco, Addie Fuller and Regan Ashworth. Performances will be part of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Sun Festival celebration in July.
Patti Smith, Alexander City Theatre II’s (ACT II) director for this summer’s production of “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, announced this week that the play has been cast and is now in rehearsal. “Our Town” is a three-act play about the everyday lives of citizens in the fictional town of Grover’s See CAST • Page 3
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.59
Reported on 05/05/17 @ 5:30 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
She’s Back! Shelby Patterson is back at work and ready to cut, style or color your hair.
GENESIS I HAIR SALON 256.329.8924 3333 Hillabee Road Alexander City, AL
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