SPORTS, PAGE 10
THE
Tigers miss goals, never give up on season
TUESDAY
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
November 20, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 229 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Rescue squad helps with helicopter recovery By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Minutes after Friday’s fatal helicopter crash on Lake Mitchell, the Alex City Tallapoosa County Rescue Squad sprang into action. “We got a call Friday after lunch,� the rescue squad’s Ken Cowart said. “We took our new sonar.�
Not long after arriving on the scene at Cargile Creek on Lake Mitchell, members of the Alex City Tallapoosa County Rescue Squad found the helicopter in about 70 feet of water but Cowart also credited witnesses on the scene and other evidence that helped narrow the search. There was even a broken power line in the area. “They knew about where it was,�
Cowart said. “We got some good pictures of it Friday afternoon.� To aid with recovery efforts, rescuers worked with Alabama Power to shut down flow to nearby Mitchell Dam and they had to deal with fog on the lake Saturday morning. Two bodies were recovered from the wreckage Sunday morning, including retired Columbus, Georgia, police
officer David Hall, who piloted the helicopter, according to the Columbus Police Department. The sonar and rescue squads watched the operation from the surface. “Sunday, we got images of divers going into the wreckage,â€? Cowart said. The helicopter was being flown to See RESCUE • Page 3
Tourism authority idea presented to council by interim mayor
Wigfield named managing editor STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Alexander City officially has an interim mayor. City Council President Tommy Spraggins is serving in the role in the absence of Mayor Jim Nabors, who is experiencing health issues but may return in a few weeks. “I talked to the mayor this morning (Monday),â€? Spraggins said. “He told me he will be back by mid-December. Thanks for the anticipated support in the next few weeks.â€? With Spraggins serving temporarily as the city’s chief executive, it changes the voting dynamics of the council. “It’s my conservative opinion you (Spraggins) cannot vote since the mayor cannot vote,â€? city attorney Larkin Radney said. Tim Funderburke will replace Spraggins as the interim council president, and Spraggins’ move means there are only five council members and a majority vote of three, not four, Radney said. Three members are now required for a quorum. Councilman Eric Brown was absent from Monday’s meeting. In his first meeting as interim mayor, Spraggins pushed for the creation of a tourism board, which has been allotted $150,000 in the fiscal-year 2019 budget. “What I am presenting as an idea is to create an official See TOURISM • Page 9
Today’s
Weather
55 34 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
487.00 Reported on 11/19/18 @ 3 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050
8
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FUNDS AND FUN Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Above: Lisa and the ELusions take to the stage at the Lake Martin Event Center Friday night for the Denim and Diamonds Ball benefitting the Lake Martin Area United Way. Left: Guests look over silent auction items on Friday.
Veteran journalist Jimmy Wigfield, who has 43 years of experience at newspapers in Alabama, has been named the managing editor of The Alexander City Outlook and its affiliated weekly newspapers owned by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Wigfield, Wigfield 57, a native of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, succeeds Mitch Sneed, who was killed in an automobile accident in July. “We are very fortunate to have a person of Jimmy’s background and education at Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.,â€? president/publisher Steve Baker said. “As we continue to enhance the newspaper, we needed someone with Jimmy’s experience and steady hand.â€? Wigfield began working for newspapers at age 13, when he began writing for the Mobile County News. Afterward, he embarked on a 32-year career as a sportswriter, columnist and editor with the Mobile Press-Register. When the Press-Register was downsized along with the Birmingham News and Huntsville Times in 2012, Wigfield became editor of the weekly Call News, where he served three years. The Call News was named the most See WIGFIELD • Page 3
Job shadowing proves valuable for local high school students By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Nearly 80 students from Benjamin Russell recently spent part of their school day away from the classroom, learning more about careers they may be interested in by taking part in a job shadowing event. “This is our second year of doing this,â€? teacher and business department coordinator Kim Davis said. “We had students from health science, cosmetology, business, engineering, ag construction, national resources and advertising and design classes take part in this event.â€? For three hours, these students shadowed professionals at Russell Medical, the Alabama Department of Transportation, Russell Lands, several local beauty salons and many other businesses around town, learning more about career See SHADOWING • Page 3
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Submitted / The Outlook
Stephanie Daughtry, Macy Daniel, Mary Grantleigh Hamby, Addie Ward and Madison Fuller get some hands-on experience in the world of insurance at the Daughtry Insurance Agency office during a recent job-shadowing event Benjamin Russell offered some of it students.
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