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October 14, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 205 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Benjamin Russell preps for area volleyball tournament, page B1
Work begins on new Hackneyville firehouse By Cliff Williams Outlook Staff Writer
Only a dream four years ago, a new building is taking shape for the Hackneyville Volunteer Fire Department. “We started four years ago when we bought the first lot,” Chief David Jones said. “We now have over four acres.” The new metal building will be 80 feet by 80 feet. “It will be a drive through building,” Chief Jones said. “That way we won’t have to back into the
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
A crew for Tallapoosa County Commission District 3 loads dirt into a county dump truck to help fill in a lot that the Hackneyville Fire Department is building on.
bays. It will be able to house six trucks. The department has been raising funds for a few years now with community events like a shrimp boil and fireworks bash. “We have raised about three fourths of the $100,000 needed,” Chief Jones said. “We got a real god price on the building. We will likely borrow a little money to go ahead and complete the project. We have some that want tosee something before they will give more. So we are trying to go ahead and get it done. This Saturday we
Sunday sales, Blue Creek development discussed
New Site approves $366K budget By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
The New Site Town Council approved a $341,665 budget that is actually less than the appropriations for the current budget year. The council voted unanimously to approve the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget that includes a 2 percent pay raise for most employees, with a 16 percent hike for one water department employee. “It all looks about like we projected,” said Councilman Tim East. “If you look back, last year the numbers came in and it pretty well matches See COUNCIL, Page A5
Today’s
Weather
80 50 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
487.20 Reported on 10/13/15 @ 6 p.m.
County commissioners also vote to give free space to ABC officers By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Storyteller Dolores Hydock shared with those gathered at the 12th Annual Russell Medical Center Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon that the stories that are shared with others can help survivors build a support network that will follow them forever.
RAISING AWARENESS
RMC luncheon features survivors’ stories By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
In a fitting end to a program that centered around storytelling, some 40 women took to the stage at the 12th annual Russell Medical Center Foundation Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon to tell their stories as survivors in the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center ballroom to join local vocalist Keith Garrett in singing
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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Rachel Platten’s hit “Fight Song.” As Garrett sang, some smiled while others fought back tears of joy. Featured speaker Dolores Hydock, a professional storyteller who moved to Alabama while a student to study The American South for her Yale American Studies degree and never left, shared with the group that “there are little stories we share with one another that weave a kind of web friendship between See LUNCHEON, Page A6
A potential new residential development that will include some commercial space in the Blue Creek area was introduced to the Tallapoosa County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. In addition to the news of planned “affordable lake homes,” the commissioners also got a status report on the steps required to make Sunday alcohol sales possible in the county at the regular October meeting which was pushed back a day due to Columbus Day. Jody Bear and Ray Roten of Cypress Development addressed the commission about their plans to build “smaller, cabin-type, permanent units with high-end landscaping.” The homes, as well as some commercial lots, will be situated on the northeast side of the Blue Creek Bridge. The preliminary plat called the development The Harbor at Blue Creek. The homes will be one-bedroom units that Bear said would offer “affordable lake living.” Work could begin on the site within the next two months, Roten said. “It sounds good to me,” Commissioner Emma Jean Thweatt said. “It sounds like they’ve done their preliminary work and it’s not going to cost us anything.” See COMMISSION, Page A5
Wind Creek State Park set for this weekend’s Fall Festival By Corey Arwood
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
are going to have a gospel singing across the street outside the community center starting at 4 p.m. and going until. Before that we have a car show from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.” Last Thursday, things started to move ahead again on the new building site. “The county is moving the dirt for us,” Chief Jones said. “Commissioner John McKelvey has his crew out here helping us. They are doing a great job. We also have run into some luck too. We needed dirt to fill in the lot some. See BUILD, Page A7
Outlook Staff Writer
The annual fall carnival at Wind Creek State Park is coming up and will include two days of Halloween-themed activities for all ages. This is the 10th year of the
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festival at the park and according to park officials there will be enough new activities and entertainment to make this carnival stand out significantly from last year’s. To kick off the festivities on Friday, Oct. 16., there will be a
pumpkin carving contest from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by an outdoor movie shown at 7 p.m. The next day a 5K fun-run starting at 9:30 a.m. will precede the carnival event set to See FESTIVAL, Page A7
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