Weekend
OPINON: GET OUT AND ENJOY A GREAT WEEKEND, PAGE 4.
The Outl ok
WHAT’S UP? See the calendar, Page 5.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
October 15-16, 2016 • Vol. 124 • No. 208 • www.alexcityoutlook.com
SPORTS EXTRA Your all inclusive guide to area games, INSIDE!
County’s health ranking still lags By MITCH SNEED Editor
Tallapoosa County’s health ranking remained virtually unchanged in 2016 in numbers released recently by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Tallapoosa County ranked 41st among Alabama’s 67 counties in the 2016 County Health Rankings put together by the foundation. Tallapoosa was ranked 41st in 2015 as well.
Among Alabama counties, Tallapoosa’s best ranking was 26th in length of life. Its worst ranking was 55th in physical environment, which takes into account air pollution, drinking water, commute time to work and housing quality. The county also ranked low in quality of life, a category that considers poor health days, poor mental health days and low birth weight. Tallapoosa ranked 55th in quality of life. Tallapoosa County also ranked 35th in clinical care, 37th in physical environ-
ment, 44th in social and economic factors, 42nd in health factors and 35th in health behaviors. Some other key findings include: • 32 percent of Tallapoosa County residents are listed as physically inactive. • 81 percent of people in Tallapoosa County are high school graduates, the exact same percentage of graduates in the state of Alabama. • 62 percent of Tallapoosa County women are on schedule with mammograms.
• 16 percent of county residents are listed as uninsured. • 78 percent of county residents have had diabetic screening. That percentage is 4 percentage points better than a year ago. • 50 percent of children are in singleparent homes. • 21 percent of Tallapoosa County residents are listed as smokers. • 37 percent of residents in the county
A change of luck
Suspects arrested on grand jury indictments
Clayton family gets surprise Magic Moments trip to Disney
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
MONTOGIMERY – “Alright everybody, get out your raffle tickets,” Magic Moments Executive Director Joyce Spielberger told the crowd gathered for the Capital City Clay Shoot Friday. “Check you numbers, 2 – 0 – 6 – 1 – 2.” A confident Chase Clayton of New Site raised his hand among the more than 100 gathered for lunch after the shoot at Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Shooting Club in Montgomery. “Oh my gosh,” Spielberger said. “Come on up.” It was in front of the crowd that Chase was let in on the secret that all his family had already known. “I don’t even know what the raffle prize is,” Spielberger explained to the shooters. “But Chase – you have won a Magic Moments trip to Disney World for you and your family. We are so excited about how courageous you are with all that you have been through these past couple years.” Spielberger assured the shooters that their raffle prizes were still there and it was not rigged.
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Above, Chase Clayton, center, walks back to his seat after finding out he and his family had won a trip to Orlando including Disney World from Magic Moments. Right, the trip was given as a drawing where Chase excitedly raised his hand when he heard his winning number called. Little did he know the fix was in from the beginning.
See DISNEY • Page 11
Today’s
Weather
80 60 High
Low
Lake Levels
485.22 Reported on 10/14/16 @ 6 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
Three people were arrested this week on indictments recently returned by a Tallapoosa County Grand jury, one man for possession of pornographic material, another man for second-degree rape and a woman on theft charges. According to court records, Matthew Paul Smith, 32, of Opelika was indicted on 36 counts of possession of pornographic material in a case investigated by Tallassee Police. Smith was arrested last Sunday, records show. The indictments allege that Smith was found to be in possession of 36 images that depicted a person under the age of 17 in a graphic sexual situation. Smith was arraigned on the charges Wednesday and the case is scheduled on the plea docket on Nov. 2. Fredrikis Marcel Heard, 19, of Auburn was arrested on an indictment for seconddegree rape. The indictment stems from a consensual sexual encounter last December with a See CHARGES• Page 3
Annual Fall Festival, Chairish raffle set next weekend By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Lake Martin
See HEALTH • Page 3
Ready to celebrate the crisper, cooler air, the changing leaves and everything that is fall in Alexander City? Then get ready for what has become the city’s official celebration of fall – MainStreet’s annual Fall Festival – which begins with Rally in the Alley on Thursday evening, Oct. 20, and ends with the festival on Saturday, Oct. 22. The entire celebration culminates at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon when the drawing is held for the approximately 60 hand-decorated items donated this year by local “artists” for the annual
Fall Back Too
Chairish raffle. “It all starts with Rally in the Alley on Thursday evening,” said Jamie Dark, a member of MainStreet’s Fall Festival committee. “It will start at 5 and go until 6:30. All of the Chairish items will be in the alley that connects Main Street to Alabama Street downtown. That will give people interested in them a chance to stroll through and view them while enjoying a glass of wine or beer or just a water.” Currently, the Chairish items are available for viewing at Coley Real Estate, United Way and the MainStreet offices, all See RALLY • Page 3
David Granger / The Outlook
Charles Coley hangs banner advertising next Saturday’s Fall Festival. The event is set to begin at 5 p.m.
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