Nov. 30, 2018 Alex City Outlook

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SPORTS, PAGE 11

FRIDAY

THE

Justin Bishop reigns supreme

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

November 30, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 236 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

LOTTERY?

Social poll shows area is in favor; local pastors say ‘no’

Nabors

He’s back Nabors returns to office as mayor By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor

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tate lawmakers who consider giving Alabamians a lottery to benefit education in 2019 will be caught between the Bible on one side and the allure of instant fortune on the other, a debate that promises to engage voters in a deeply personal conflict of wills. It looks that way if a Facebook poll being conducted by The Alexander City Outlook and comments from local religious leaders are an indication. Twenty-four hours after the poll was started on The Outlook’s Facebook page, 92 percent of 1,070 respondents said they would play a lottery if Alabama gets one or support the idea. The poll — which asks residents of Tallapoosa, Coosa and Elmore counties for their opinions — will continue until Wednesday, Dec. 5. Local pastors contacted by The Outlook on Thursday made clear their disdain for a lottery. “From a clergy standpoint, I feel we have legitimized the sinfulness of it, trying to say it’s for a good cause,” Flint Hill First United Methodist Church Rev. John Hill said. “I have an issue trying to legitimize something the Bible speaks against.” Supporters have long maintained the state’s poorly funded education system needs the financial boost a lottery would provide. Critics say it is immoral and

another tax on the poor. Alabama is surrounded in the Deep South by lotteries in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, and is one of only five states without a lottery — Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah are the others. It’s possible the Alabama Legislature will again consider a lottery in 2019 after voters rejected it in 1999, another

An ongoing poll on The Outlook’s Facebook page shows the majority of area residents being in favor of a state lottery. Special / The Outlook

See LOTTERY • Page 10

Do you want a state lottery? Visit The Alexander City Outlook’s Facebook page and participate in our poll. Give us your thoughts and your comments may be featured in an upcoming story.

Virigina Bobo, left, Terry Stowes and Mary Brooks sort food that was about to be delivered through the food pantry program at Jehovah Jireh Ministries Thursday.

Just more than two weeks after taking a leave of absence for an illness, Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors returned to city hall Wednesday morning to resume his duties. “It’s great to be back,” Nabors said Thursday morning. “I feel great. I’m excited to be back doing the city’s business.” The mayor said everyone has welcomed him back. “I have been getting hugs and handshakes from everyone as they tell me they are glad to see me back,” Nabors said as another “welcome back” text alert sounded from his cell phone. “I am happy to see everyone.” Nabors said he plans to be at Monday afternoon’s city council meeting before the city’s Christmas parade. In Nabors’ absence, city council president Tommy Spraggins served as interim mayor as provided by state code. Spraggins sat in the mayor’s chair for a council meeting Nov. 12 while Nabors was out. At Monday’s council meeting, there will be a first reading of an ordinance to provide for inspections and certificate of occupancy for residential rental units. It will not likely come up for a vote at the meeting. “They would have to suspend the rules to vote on it Monday,” city clerk Amanda Thomas said. “It takes a unanimous vote do that.” The council is set to See MAYOR • Page 10

Today’s

Local food pantry looking to expand By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Jehovah Jireh Ministries has been holding a food pantry program, “Operation Bread Basket,” for more than a decade. It is now looking to serve more seniors in the coming months. The women and men of the church spend a couple

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

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Alex City Baseball/Softball Advisory Board Open Public Meeting TUESDAY, DEC. 4 • 6:00PM

days each month sorting food from the Montgomery Area Food Bank before delivering it to qualified applicants. “It’s enough for about two weeks,” Virginia Bobo said. “They get meat, bread, vegetables, chips and some snacks.” Members of the church quickly sorted the items See PANTRY • Page 10

Weather

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High

Low

Lake Martin

Lake Levels Reported on 484.97 11/29/18 @ 5 p.m.

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