LOCAL BUSINESS GUIDE
OPINION: CELEBRATE RURAL HOSPITAL DAY, PAGE 4.
THE
THURSDAY
See special section inside today’s Outlook!
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 November 19, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 231 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Community corrections program taking shape By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
New Community Corrections Director Beth Alford is busy getting everything in place for a possible January start up for the program. The hope is to be able to keep closer tabs on newly released inmates.
Teacher touts new science standards
Beth Alford’s office in the basement of the Tallapoosa County Courthouse in Dadeville is easy to miss. The new director of the county’s Community Corrections is tucked in a small space in the basement, with a paper sign attached to her door. While you have to look hard to find her office, there is plenty of work going on inside.
Alford officially began her job on Nov. 1, but she has been working on getting the innovative new program up and running since the middle of September. Community corrections allows for local handling of select inmates prior to their full re-entry into society. The program makes sure that the inmates are working, paying restitution, fines, fees and child support. The program also offers them support in finding work, learning job skills and making sure
A DRIVING RAIN
BRHS’s Sassano dispels myths By Corey Arwood Outlook Sports Writer
Alexander City Schools, along with the rest of the 137 school-systems throughout the state, have begun reviewing potential science textbooks for use starting next school year. There was an open hearing held last week by the Alabama State Textbook Committee for public review of the different textbook options. Now it is up to the decision of each school which textbook will be chosen to represent the recently revised science standards. A science teacher at Benjamin Russell High School welcomed the changes that have been made to the standards and said that they were long overdue. Emily Sasser-Sassano teaches 12th grade AP Biology and Human Anatomy & Physiology. A BRHS graduate, she got her B.S. in biology from Faulkner University, and obtained her master’s of education in biology from Auburn University at Montgomery, and has national board certification in adolescence and young adulthood. She was the state’s lead biology teacher for the Global Climate Change Education committee, a partnership between Auburn University and NASA, and was a part See SCIENCE, Page 2
Today’s
Weather
70 45 High
6
54708 90050
By Cliff Williams Outlook Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Just over an inch and half of rain fell Wednesday in Alexander City with over seven-tenths of an inch falling between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., when the above image was taken. A maximum wind gust of 32 m.p.h. was recorded at 11:15 a.m. City officials dealt with two calls of trees down as a result. Several auto accidents in the area were attributed to the wet, slick roads. Today’s weather starts with fog before 8 a.m. before becoming sunny with a high of 70 degrees.
8
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.30
Reported on 11/18/15 @ 6:30 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
Tallapoosa County Board of Education Board members got an update on income from the new one-cent sales tax and approved a corrective action plan that is needed for the audit that is soon to be released from the Alabama Department of Public Examiners. “Our October statement from RDS reflects the first month of collection of that new sales tax,” Tallapoosa County Schools financial officer Phil Blasingame said. “It showed collections of $232, 507 for September. It is about double when compared to the previous month with $115,879 being collected in August.” With the update some board members think the county commission will get the answers it is looking for. “Is this what the commission wanted?” Board Member Michael Carter said. “This is really the first month that we can give them any numbers. I thought it was odd they requested this in October.” “It was collected in September. and given to us in Oct.,” Blasingame said. “We just got it, we have not had a chance to do anything with it. Blasingame went on to explain how the funds will be used. “Our No. 1 priority and what we have stated since we have asked for the tax was to first take care of the reserve. We are looking at $1.974 million to get the reserve fund back to where it needs to be. That will take care of the deficit balance there. What it looks like with the new tax is it will take us two years to get this.” The new sales tax will help correct finding from a yet to be released audit for fiscal year 2014. See EDUCATION, Page 3
Food drive set for Friday’s Benjamin Russell playoff game Outlook Staff
USPS Permit # 013-080
County schools gets tax update BOE also approves corrective action for recent state audit
Staff Report
Low
that they have the tools to keep themselves out of trouble with the law in the future. Alford, who has been in corrections and probation since she was 18 years old, said she has known about the program since it was first introduced in the state. That’s why she feels it will be a great asset to Tallapoosa County. “I think that most people want to do the right thing, but they may See CORRECTIONS, Page 3
Football season is always a great time to come out and support your favorite team. This Friday night, the Benjamin Russell Wildcats take on Bessemer City at our very own Sportplex in the quarterfinals. Wildcat fans need to be in full force to show these players, band, cheer and dance squads how proud we are of them for representing the Alexander City community. Playing football in November also allows the Wildcat Athletic Department an opportunity to give back. That’s exactly what the Cats want to do this Friday night and this is how. BRHS Principal Dr. Anthony Wilkinson has agreed to partner with the Tallapoosa County Crisis Center to help our local families during the upcoming holiday season.
“This Wildcat game is a great school and community event and it comes during a tough time of the year for so many needy families,” Wilkerson said. “We’d like to take advantage of a great turnout Friday night to generate can goods and nonperishable items for the Tallapoosa County Crisis Center. “A great crowd participation will hopefully transform into a great donation from our Wildcat Athletic Dept. and our fans. Just as we appreciate the warm outpouring of support that we received from our fans with our “214th Christmas Card” campaign, we’d greatly appreciate our fans getting active with the “Wildcat Can Drive.” The Tallapoosa County Crisis Center will have boxes set up inside the gates on the home side from 5:30-
File / The Outlook
Fans attending Friday’s Wildcats football game are asked to See DRIVE, Page 3 bring canned and non-perishable food items.