COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE!
THE SPORTS, PAGE 8 High school football championship predictions
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Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
November 30, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 240 www.alexcityoutlook.com
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After 72 days, rain finally returns By MITCH SNEED Editor
Tallapoosa County residents were treated to an aquatic tap dance on their roofs early Tuesday morning as a heavy, driving rain fell across the area for the first time in 72 days. An average of 2 inches of rain fell across the county, with some areas getting as much as 3.14 inches and others reporting 1.58 inches of rain.
Regardless of the amount it was welcomed by everyone – especially farmers like New Site’s Toby Hanson. “That was just what we needed and it’s going to be a big help,” Hanson said. “I was so excited when I heard it I got up after it started around midnight and sat there watching it come down. “It sure was a welcomed sight.” Hanson said that if the forecast is
correct and another two inches grace the area before the front passes, it means he will be planting this afternoon or Thursday morning. “The ground will soak it up pretty quickly and I have the planters and seed sitting here ready to go,” Hanson said. “We will get the rye grass planted and that will be a big, big help with how much we have to feed through the winter.” See RAIN • Page 11
By Chris Mann / Special to The Outlook
Chamber plans for Shop Local Saturday
PARADE IN THE SEASON Christmas Carols the theme for Hometown Christmas Parade
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’ to ‘Jingle Bells’ to ‘Silent Night’ are likely just a few of the Christmas tunes one will hear Monday night as the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce hosts the Hometown Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. The theme for this year’s parade is Christmas Carols. “We try to pick a theme that everyone will enjoy,” the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce’s Kim Dunn said. “We think that the Christmas Carol theme will draw both the religious and non secular groups.” Dunn said they try to mix up the themes from year to year. “We try to do something a little different each year,” Dunn said. “It has been a little while since we did Christmas Carols.” The theme choice has drawn some new participants to the See PARADE • Page 11
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Adeline Treadwell and Tess Staples perform a scene that they will do at this week’s competition before the Alexander City School Board Tuesday night.
A NEW LEADER
April Neese named new principal at Stephens “We are excited to have her available to move into the principal’s position at Stephens.” Nathaniel Stephens has a new principal The board also approved Shelena after members of the Alexander City Eldred as the new assistant at Pearson, Board of Education approved the hiring of taking the spot created by Neese’s April Neese to lead the school. promotion. Eldred has an extensive Neese has been with the system for background as a kindergarten teacher and several years and had served as an reading coach. assistant principal at Jim Pearson since The board also approved Karen 2014. Jennings as the new executive director of “Ms. Neese has been a part of our the Alexander City Schools Foundation, system for several years and has done a Shanna Thompson as a paraprofessional great job with at Jim Pearson,” Alexander at Alexander City Middle School, City School Superintendent Dr. Darrell See SCHOOLS • Page 11 Cooper said. By MITCH SNEED Editor
Who would like more than $600 in gift cards to local businesses? Many would but there is only one way to enter and that is to take part in Shop Local Saturday this weekend in Alexander City. All the lucky winner has to do is shop. “You get one entry for every $25 you spend at one of the sponsoring businesses,” the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Kim Dunn said. “Let’s say you spend $100 at Cloud Nine Saturday, you would get four entries. It takes just a moment to enter.” Dunn said the spending only counts on Saturday and that the Chamber would gather all of the entries. “We will gather all of the entries,” Dunn said. “We will draw at the Chamber of Commerce after the Christmas Parade.” In addition to walking away with a $25 gift card to each of the 26 sponsoring businesses, one lucky winner will walk away with a lot more. “They will also receive a gift from each of the Chamber’s Board of Directors,” Dunn said. “Someone will be extremely happy.” There is set hours for the Shop Local Saturday beyond the businesses normal See BIZ • Page 11
Firefighters contain Hackneyville area blaze By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
More than 100 acres burned Monday afternoon just north of Hackneyville. Firefighters from the Hackneyville Volunteer Fire Department responded to a woods fire about 3 p.m. Monday. According to Hackneyville Fire Chief David Jones, the fire stretched from near Pearson Chapel Road to Highway 63 just south of Dillard Road and it is not just forest. “There are several homes in the area,” Jones said. According to firefighters flames reached 10 feet into the air at times
Rain created a rolling stream of water across a parking lot as about 2 inches of rain fell in Alexander City early Tuesday morning.
Today’s
Weather
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and the winds of the approaching weather front made things more difficult. HVFD was assisted by Bluff Springs Volunteer Fire Department and the Alabama Forestry Commission responded with two bull dozers to put in fire breaks. By 8 p.m. Monday the fire was contained but still burning. According to HVFD Assistant Chief Paul Mathis, the rain passing through Monday night and Tuesday helped and as of Tuesday afternoon no further response has been needed at the scene. HVFD responded to another woods fire Friday in the same Cliff Williams / The Outlook general area. Hackneyville Volunteer Fire Department Chief David Jones speaks on the See FIRE • Page 11 phone after an evening of fighting a woods fire Monday afternoon.
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