Weekend The Outlook
Encourage COUGARS FACE Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 Entrepreneurs! November 7- November 8, 2015 • Vol. 123 • No. 223 • www.alexcityoutlook.com TIGERS IN PLAYOFFS “We need to work toward having sites that are ready to receive companies with the real estate ‘site ready’ where a lot has been graded, utilities are in place, and there is an access road to the site.” — Don McClellan
Today’s
Weather
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THE FORECAST FROM ABC 33/40’s JAMES SPANN: Saturday, will be a cool, wet day. While there will be a few breaks, it will rain most of the day with temperatures holding in the 60s. The rain continues tomorrow night, tapering off after midnight. No risk of severe weather, and no flooding is expected although rain amounts of 1-2 inches are expected. SUNDAY: Looks like the sky will remain mostly cloudy, and a touch of light rain is possible. Temps will be very cool compared to the recent warmth with a high only in the low 60s.
Economic leaders share ‘Christmas Lists’ for area
Two work sessions scheduled to make final decisions and revisions By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
TODAY’S EVENTS BRAWL FOR A CAUSE: Pro Wrestling Alabama will have a show to support Team Natalia, a baby with cancer, with wresting stars WWE Hall of Famer Bullet Bob Armstrong, Action Mike Jackson, Johnny Rage, Super Assassin and many more on Nov.7 at the Alexander City Sportsplex starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. FALL BAZAAR: The Annual St. James Episcopal Church Fall Bazaar will be held on Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 347 South Central Avenue. Featuring delicious homemade food, crafts, plants and beautiful pottery. Come by and see all we have to offer. CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE: The Dadeville Christmas Open House will be Sat., Nov. 7, during regular business hours and Sunday, Nov. 8, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Businesses taking part are Old Bank Antiques, The Blue Hydrangea, Pearson’s Place, LaKay’s Flowers and Gifts, Mix It Up, Plantation House, H &R Block, Tallapoosee Historical Society Museum, USAmeriBank and Lakeside Mercantile.
Prepped industrial sites, fiber optic network, opportunities for retirees top list By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
Tallapoosa County’s unemployment rate for September was six percent, compared to 6.5 percent in August and 6.7 percent in September 2014. Coosa County’s unemployment numbers have shown even more drastic improvement, falling to 6.2 percent in September, down from 6.9 percent in August and 7.9 percent in September 2014. As late as Friday, national unemployment numbers showed a continued decline to five percent – the lowest rate in seven years. It’s likely that area unemployment will reflect the national number to some small degree. In short, the economy in our area is improving. More people are working. Jobs are coming to Tallapoosa and
Coosa counties. But there is still much many would like to see done to make the area more attractive to businesses that might consider locating in the area. Recently, The Outlook asked some local business leaders to share with us their Christmas wish lists for things to make the Tallapoosa-Coosa area in general and Alexander City in particular more attractive to business and industry considering locating here. For Alexander Chamber President Ann Rye, the completion of the cleanup of the old Russell complex was at the top of the list. “If I could wiggle my nose and make a few things happen, the first would be the cleanup of the old Russell complex,” said Rye, who will be resigning her See OPPORTUNITIES, Page 3
SUNDAY VETERANS PROGRAM
By Mitch Sneed
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.82 Reported on 11/6/15 @ 11 a.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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Cliff Williams / The Outlook
A city property off Comer Road is targeted for future industry and crews have been working to clear the site so potential tenants could see the lay of the land and the potential.
Lake Martin cleanup in full swing despite weather
The Alexander City Veterans Day Program will be Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Sportplex Gym..
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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City aims to finish work on budget City leaders will meet Monday to continue to try to hammer out a new budget after Mayor Charles Shaw, Finance Director Sandra Machen and department heads met to cut 7.5 percent in operating expenses from what had been proposed. Alexander City City Council members were given a summary of what the budget
See BUDGET, Page 2
ACPD officers take part in ‘No Shave November’ Beards will help raise funds for ‘Shop With a Cop’ By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
For those of you who have seen local police offers looking a little unkempt recently, don’t fret. There is no shortage of razor blades in local stores. Instead, the Alexander City Police Department is participating in ‘No Shave November’ and officers are paying a
the following locations: • Kowaliga Bridge • Wind Creek Park Marina • New Site Town Hall • Coley Creek public launch “We just hope the rain stays away until we get done,” said John Thompson, president of the Lake Martin Resource Association (LMRA). “Look at all this from essentially one little area out here. Imagine what all is out there. As long as it’s not See CLEANUP, Page 2
price to grow beards to help out a good cause. Alexander City Police Chief Willie Robinson said that the department is allowing officers to grow beards if they pay $30 a month for November and December, with all the funds going to help children in need this Christmas. “They have the No See SHAVE, Page 3
Rain coming, but no big issues, meteorologists say By Corey Arwood
Outlook Editor
More than 45 bags of trash, Styrofoam of all sizes and shapes, ratty old coolers, one with a small tree growing out of it – that was just part of the haul that volunteers took from Lake Martin and unloaded at the City Boat Ramp Friday as the 7th annual Renew Our Rivers Lake Martin Cleanup began Friday. Anyone who is interested in helping can do so Saturday. The cleanup begins at 8 a.m. and volunteers can show up at
would look like after those cuts last week, and Councilman Bob Howard said it appears that a final product may be near. “I think we are getting much closer,” Howard said Friday. “I feel like from looking at the summary, I think we should be able to finalize it this week and hopefully have it approved at our next regular meeting.”
Outlook Staff Writer
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Volunteers unload trash taken out of Lake Martin coves around the City Boat Ramp along Coley Creek Friday. Workers will be back out in full force today.
The Alexander City area was not hit as hard by recent rainfalls compared to surrounding counties, according to a meteorologist from the National Weather Service. The current weather pattern, however, could be one that persists throughout the winter season. Rain is expected to be with us throughout the weekend, but officials say not to worry. There were approximately 1.5-to-2 inches of rainfall in the area over the See RAIN, Page 3
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