LOCAL WOMAN GUILTY OF THEFT FROM EMPLOYER, PAGE 3
Weekend The Outlook
Encourage Entrepreneurs!
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
November 21-22, 2015 • Vol. 123 • No. 233 • www.alexcityoutlook.com
Wildcats continue state title hunt, page 10
Residents report a visit from a black bear By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Submitted / The Outlook
While the bear was a little camera shy, Johnnie Warren took this picture of the mess created by a small black bear on the deck of his Fish Pond Road home Thursday night.
Living in an area of Alexander City, Johnnie and Adelia Warren are used to seeing wildlife around their Fish Pond Road home. But Thursday night they had a close encounter of the bear kind, as a black bear came foraging for food on their back deck. Johnnie said the bear came around 6 p.m. and he was first tipped off when a motion-sensitive security light came on unexpectedly.
“We keep our track in a heavy, 55-gallon can on the back deck,” Warren said. “I strap the lid down with an elastic tie and then it is tied to the railing with another elastic cord. “When I saw that light come on, I looked through the blinds, out the window and the bear was there already digging through the trash,” Johnnie said. “I turned around and got the camera and went to the back door and I guess in rattling the door to get it unlocked I guess I got his attention.” Johnnie said that as he opened
County’s jobless numbers improves
AG files appeal of gambling seizure ruling By Kevin Taylor The Wetumpka Herald
Attorney General Luther Strange filed a 72-page brief Thursday to the State Supreme Court appealing a circuit court judge’s ruling that the bingo machines and cash seized during the Feb. 19, 2013, raid of VictoryLand be returned. Strange contends Circuit Court Judge William Shashy’s ruling was improper. The three points of argument laid out in the extensive brief are that Shashy “improperly dismissed” the seizure of the machines and cash under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Secondly, “the trial court improperly redefined the game of bingo.” And lastly, the court “incorrectly” found that the machines were legal bingo machines. VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor said See APPEAL, Page XX
the door the bear was already making his way down the steps and off into the dark yard that is adjacent to a wooded area. “When I opened that door, all I saw was that black rump as it was moving off the porch,” Warren said. “I guess the noise scared him off. I know the light coming on didn’t stop him. I think he appreciated that because he could find something to eat a little easier. “I guess opening that door and seeing me, he decided he didn’t want to stick around.” See BEAR, Page 2
October’s 5.5 percent unemployment rate is a seven-year low Staff Report David Granger / The Outlook
Scout Treadwell works as a mock recruiter for Ole Miss Friday during Career Exploration Day activities. The idea was to have students complete a self-assessment that could help them as they prepare for the next level.
MOCK UP FOR SUCCESS Mock College and Career Day helps BRHS students find focus
Advanced Placement English classes manned the booths for 11 area colleges and 11 area businesses. The students entered the BRHS Friday was Career Exploration Day at Gymnasium, where the event was Benjamin Russell High School. held, by class. The day began with the More importantly, it was a chance for every student on the BRHS campus freshmen at 8 a.m. and ended with the seniors at approximately 10 a.m. All to conduct a serious self-assessment of where they stand on the road to making of the students were given 15 minutes to browse the booths and ask questions their dreams become reality. of the recruiters. When the 15 minutes Career Exploration Day is also were up, Anthony Wilkinson, principal at called Mock College and Career Day. That’s because not only are those being Benjamin Russell, directed the students recruited students, but the recruiters are See CAREER, Page 9 as well. Seniors from Misty Bishop’s By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
Outlook Staff
The unemployment rate in Tallapoosa County fell to yet another seven-year low in October, with Gov. Robert Bentley announcing on Friday that the county’s unemployment rate was at 5.5 percent for the month. That rate is down from September’s 5.8 percent and almost a full percentage point under the 6.4 percent unemployment rate posted in Tallapoosa County in October 2014. On top of that good news, Tallapoosa County is showing a better unemployment rate than the state average. According to stats released Friday, Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted October unemployment rate is 5.9 percent, down from September’s rate of 6.0 percent and below October 2014’s rate of 6.2 percent. “More jobs are being created, Alabama’s unemployment rate continues to drop and our economy is growing,” Bentley said in a released statement. “The wage and salary employment is at its highest level for the year. It has not been this high in almost seven years. We are one step closer to full employment and my effort to See JOBS, Page 3
Poker Walk supports music and memory program By Corey Arwood Outlook Staff Writer
Play some poker, stroll through town, visit the shops and enjoy the entertainment district, all while casually benefiting a local charity effort for sufferers of Alzheimer’s and dementia. The proceeds from the fun and games will go to a local effort to alleviate symptoms of memory loss through recent, unique techniques involving music therapies. “Were having a poker walk Tuesday from 5 to 6:30 downtown,” said Kay Thomas, a volunteer and member of PATH Lake Martin’s
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
483.26 Reported on 11/20/15 @ 3 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
board of directors. “It’s to benefit PATH Finders music and memory program,” Used and new iPods will be collected through a donation drive. Later interviews will be conducted with each individual’s family members about their past and their music preferences. “Training will be needed for this,” Martin said, “and the proceeds from the poker walk will go to that.” A unique song list will be constructed for each person based on the information collected from the family interviews. See WALK Page 3
Students prepare for Christmas concert The Alexander City Schools Choral Department is preparing to present its Annual Christmas Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. The concert will be held at the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium and will feature the choirs of Alexander City Middle School and Benjamin Russell High School. The choirs will present holiday favorites such as “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Above, Jared Glenn and Maggie Whatley practice for the production. Cliff Williams / The Outlook
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