INSIDE:
LOCAL, PAGE 3: BRHS JROTC TAKES PART IN WIND CREEK COMPETITION
Weekend The Outlook
Obituaries, page 2 Arrests, page 3 Opinion, page 4 DEADLINE TO Calendar, page 5 REGISTER TO VOTE Religion, page 6 IS MONDAY Classifieds, page 7 Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 More information Sports, page 12 November 25-26, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 234 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢ on Page 4.
Crossover voters will not be prosecuted
By MITCH SNEED Editor
‘A SIGNATURE EVENT’ JazzFest and Sun Festival to coincide in 2018
United Way taking part in Giving Tuesday
By MITCH SNEED Editor
JazzFest, an event in its 28th year, and Sun Festival will become into one massive week-long celebration in 2018. Alexander City Chamber of Commerce CEO Ed Collari revealed the development at Monday’s meeting of the Alexander City City Council, saying by combined the festivals over the same week should give the area “a signature event that could draw visitors from across the Southeast who would stay for several days.” “The JazzFest has been around for 28 years and the track record it has is incredible,” Collari told the council. “But it has been done by a committee, and over time it has gotten down to where just a handful of people were having to handle the majority of the work. Primarily it was driven by Russell Lands and Robert Gunn in particular. “So they approached the Chamber about taking it over and we were glad to See FESTIVAL • Page 10
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Lake Levels
483.99 Reported on 11/24/17 @ Noon
After hearing from the state’s probate court judges, including Tallapoosa County’s Leon Archer, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said that the case against those who improperly crossed over Archer and voted in the Sept. 26 Republican runoff for U.S. Senate is now closed. Merrill said that the investigation showed that no prosecution was warranted. “We were very excited to see that our efforts to educate and inform voters, in conjunction and cooperation with Merrill local election officials, were successful and that the probate judges have determined these findings do not warrant prosecution,” said Merrill. See CROSSOVER • Page 10
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
File / The Outlook
Top, guests mingle as Randall Bramblett entertains the crowd at JazzFest held earlier this year. Middle, Izabella, left, 6, and Caden Bowen, 9, take an oath to help take care of their pets from Lake Martin Animal Shelter Director Mia Chandler earlier this year at Sun Festival. Above, Moon Taxi performs at this year’s Sun Festival. In 2018, Sun Festival and JazzFest will coincide during the same week.
Starting in 2012, Giving Tuesday was created as a way for people around the world to give back to their communities. Falling on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday follows the three major shopping days of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. On this day of helping and giving to others, the Lake Martin Area United Way will be launching a dedicated effort to get the word out about the organization and the agencies it partners with. “We have participated in Giving Tuesday before, but not at the level we are this year,” United Way Marketing Director Courtney Layfield said. “This year, we’re partnering with Kowaliga Country and the television station.” Members of the Lake Martin Area United Way will be on The Front Porch with Kenny Dean Tuesday morning talking about the See UNITED • Page 9
Volunteer Connections gives locals outlet to help others By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
In any community, there are a number of citizens that are willing to go above and beyond to help their neighbors in any particular situation. Sometimes, however, these caring individuals may not know how to go about offering up their services. For the residents of Alexander City and Lake Martin, Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama exists as a way for people looking to give See VOLUNTEER • Page 9
EDITOR’S NOTE
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708
90050
USPS Permit # 013-080
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This is the 22nd in a series of profiles on the 28 agencies that receive funding through the Lake Martin Area United Way. Currently, the Lake Martin Area United Way is holding its 2018 fundraising campaign, “Team United.” To learn how to help, contact the United Way at 256-329-3600 or at www.unitedwaylakemartin.org.
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Alexander City takes on Black Friday Shoppers look over items at Cloud Nine as they take a look for Black Friday sales. To see more photos from Black Friday in the area, see Page 10 inside.
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