COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE!
WEDNESDAY
THE
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
PRIDE, PAGE B8 BRHS band prepares for weekend performances
SPORTS, PAGE B1 Horseshoe Bend hosts Dadeville volleyball
October 18, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 207 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
City enjoys big tax revenue year By MITCH SNEED Editor
Fiscal year 2016-17 was a record one for Alexander City in terms of tax collection, with final numbers showing increases in every category across the board. Ward Sellers, who handles business licenses and tax collection for the
city, provided the Alexander City City Council, with the year-end stats and Council President Tommy Spraggins gave the glowing report at Monday night’s council meeting. The city collected $13,165,259, an increase of $1,182,415. Those numbers represent a 9.9 percent increase. “These numbers are incredible,” Spraggins said. “I mean there are
construction, but we saw increases even in July, August and September – months after the actual construction was complete,” Spraggins said. “I hope that’s a trend that we see continue. Those kind of numbers really make a difference.” The city also welcomed new businesses including Harbor Freight See TAXES • Page A6
increases year-over-year in every category. That is really good news for the city and shows positive movement in the economy.” The biggest gain came in sales tax collections. The city took in $821,875 more in 2016-17 than the previous year. That’s a jump of 8.7 percent. “Some of that I’m sure can be attributed to the Sabal Trail Pipeline
Wind Creek set for its Fall Festival
New Site gets news on 2 grants
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Halloween has become a bigger weekend for Wind Creek State Park than Labor Day. While the park is known to attract guests to take advantage of the waters of Lake Martin, the annual fall festival at the park has guests filling the park for other reasons. Some 10 years ago, park staff came up with the idea of holding a fall festival and inviting park visitors to take part in the festivities. And it has grown ever since. The weekend festival complete with a trick-ortreat even has attracted a regular camping crowd with many changing their habits from camping on the waterfront. See FESTIVAL • Page A5
Fashion Show, Bluegrass Concert on tap Thursday night STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
For those looking for something to do Thursday night in Alexander City, there are a couple of very good options available. The Lake Martin Area United Way will be hosting their annual Downtown Showdown Fashion Show beginning at 6 p.m., while the music group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver will take the stage at 7 p.m. at the Benjamin Russell auditorium. A key fundraiser for the United Way, the fifth annual Downtown Showdown will See EVENTS • Page A5
Funds will help with water project and new playground By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
A RECORD Y-EAR Corn leads crops with high production levels By MITCH SNEED AND CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writers
T
he feel of fall in the air Tuesday morning was finally the kind of weather associated with harvest season. For the last couple of weeks, local farmers have been running wide open, trying to get crops in with temperatures more like July than October. But according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service and the United States Department of Agriculture, some area farmers will see record years for some crops. Corn has benefitted the most from ample rains and warm temperatures. USDA stats show Tallapoosa County with an estimated 2,300 acres planed in corn and New Site’s Toby Hanson has a big chunk of that acreage.
“It was a very good year, especially on our higher ground,” Hanson said. “On that upper land, we are seeing in the 210 to 215 bushel per acre range. But on the low land it was only about 110 to 120. What it amounts to, we almost got too much water there. “But overall, this sandy soil and the moisture we got,m it was really a good combination.” Hanson did say they he lost some corn when the remnants of Irma came through the area. His yield on soybeans were also well above last year when the drought took a toll. The USDA says Alabama could see a record yield for corn when all is said and done. In the state, the USDA shows 250,000 acres planted in corn. Early estimates show the yield is 170 bushels per acre, which would be a new record. If numbers hold, the USDA predicts See CORN • Page A6
Above, Toby Hanson monitors grain going into a silo. At left he combines, left. The weather has meant for a good corn crop.
The New Site Town Council had many positive things to report during their regular meeting Monday night, including the awarding of a pair of highly sought after grants, an engineering firm being brought in to examine what work needs done at the New Site gymnasium and the hiring of a part-time Senior Citizens Director. Mayor Phil Blasingame informed the council Jan Kennedy was set to become the new part-time Senior Citizens Director, and would be starting in the position Dec. 1. He also said she would be going around See GRANTS • Page A5
‘Under Age, Under Arrest’ talk delivered at Central Coosa Middle School By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board delivered a sobering presentation to the students of Central Coosa Middle School Monday afternoon. Called “Under Age, Under Arrest,” the program was created by the ABC Board administrator four years ago. Since then, 75,000 students across the state have heard this presentation, according to Dean Argo, the government relations and communications manager with the ABC Board. “We want to make sure young See MADD • Page A6
Today’s
Lake Martin
Weather
Lake Levels
73 49
490.44
High
Low
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