DADEVILLE FACES DO OR DIE AGAINST ELMORE, PAGE 10.
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A special Breast Cancer Awareness section inserted today.
THURSDAY
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 October 15, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 206 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Alexander City fights to balance a budget By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Councilman Jim Spann suggest a 7.5 percent across-the-board cut in the general fund budget to help create some funding for capital projects. Even at that, there is still a large gap from the amount requested.
The Alexander City City Council has asked the mayor and department heads to cut 7.5 percent from the general fund budget to get back in the black. Councilman Jim Spann, the chairman of the finance committee, asked the council if the across-the-board cut would be preferable over line-by-line cuts, at a budget work session
Dadeville changes trick or treat time
Chair-ish to include other furniture items
By Cliff Williams Outlook Staff Writer
By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
Sixty-seven hand-decorated furniture items – chairs, benches, tables and lamps – will be raffled off Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at MainStreet Alexander City’s third annual “Chair-ish” event, according to members of MainStreet’s “Chair-ish” committee. “We were very pleased with the number of people who participated and the items they donated,” said Peggy Clayton of the committee. Committee member Jamie Dark said the 67 items are an increase of 15 from the number of items donated as part of “Chair-ish” last year, when the raffle raised $2,600. Themes of submissions include Auburn and/ or Alabama, cats, dogs, birds, Lake Martin, fishing and Batman, among others. There’s even a homemade kid’s stove, a kid’s chair painted to resemble a Rubik’s See CHAIRISH, Page 5
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
487.15
Reported on 10/14/15 @ 4 p.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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Wednesday, “We could sit here and go through that process, but it makes much more sense to do it with the 7.5 percent cut,” Spann said. “We tried the other way and spent three hours and came up with $215,000. We have too far to go to try that again in my opinion.” With a plan to address the general fund shortfall, attention turned to the capital budget where a large gap exists between requests and funding. See BUDGET, Page 9
David Granger / The Outlook
Several of the 67 donated and individually decorated Chair-ish items on display in the Lake Martin Area United Way Conference Room. The chairs will be raffled off Saturday at 2 p.m. in downtown Alexander City. Items may be viewed a final time and raffle tickets purchased at MainStreet Farmers Market Saturday morning.
The Dadeville City Council changed the time for this year’s Trick or Treat. “I think for safety reasons, we need to wait till 6 p.m. to start trick or treat,” Dadeville Police Chief David Barbour explained to the council. “That way it will allow for those that want to get away from town before things start to do so.” The council voted to move the start time to 6 p.m. and keep the end at 8 p.m. for Friday Oct. 30. In Alexander CIty the tradition will remain on Saturday Oct. 31. “It has always been two hours for as long as I can remember,” Council member Frank Goodman said. Building Inspector Michael Richardson brought to the council’s attention the need to create a board of adjustment along with planning and zoning, as currently, when he denies a building permit or planning and zoning denies something there is little that can be done to appeal except through the courts. The council after discussion with town attorney Robin Reynolds decided not sign a letter for an insurance company that insures First Baptist Church of Dadeville that wanted the city to allow the church to close a portion of a street between the church and a playground when the playground was in use. The council is going to allow the public works department to paint a crosswalk and install pedestrian warning signs near the cross walk. Councilman Goodman commended city workers and first responders for their efforts See DADEVILLE, Page 9
Tech Center cuts ribbon on electronics and automation program By Corey Arwood Outlook Staff Writer
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Camp Hill’s Edward Bell Career Technical Center for new programs that school officials say will give students a competitive edge straight out of high school at higher wages in area jobs. Both new and upgraded programs offered at the center were showcased at Tuesday’s open house ceremony, but the ribbon cutting earlier that day was focused on the installment of the school’s Industrial Electronics and Automation Program. A member of the Alabama State Board of
Education, Ella Bell, district 5 representative, was selected to perform the ribbon cutting. Also present at the ceremony were Representative Mark Tuggle, and Joseph Windle, superintendent of the Tallapoosa County Board of Education, along with several of Bell’s family members. After the ceremony a who’s-who of local leaders were guided by Gerry Moses, director of career and technical education for Tallapoosa County Schools, on a tour of the facilities, where they viewed several Corey Arwood / The Outlook students in action at the new Rep. Mark Tuggle in blue suit, Superintendent Joe Windle, and Dr. Ella Bell District 5 equipment. member State Board of Education cut a ribbon at the Edward Bell Career Technical See CENTER, Page 5 Center. Joining them were family members Bell.
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