COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE! THE
WEDNESDAY
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
POLICE REPORTS
SPORTS, PAGE B1
See what local law enforcement Lyman Ward loses another has been dealing with, Page 2. October 4, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 197 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢ high-scoring affair.
Train traffic rising Empty coal and grain trains now using P-Line regularly By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
An empty coal train rumbles through Alexander City Monday afternoon just after 3 p.m. A person familiar with train routing indicated that train traffic could ramp up to about two a day after dropping to about two a week for the last several months.
Just when it appeared that train traffic may be coming to an end in Alexander City, it looks like traffic is again returning to what is known as the P-Line. Officials with Norfolk Southern declined to comment on any specifics, but traffic has picked up in recent days after seeing only about two trains per week for
the last four months or so. A source close to the situation indicated that empty coal trains that dropped loads to fuel Plant Scherer in Juliette, Georgia just north of Macon and approximately 70 miles south of Atlanta are now returning using the P-Line which runs through Columbus Georgia, Opelika and on through Alexander City to points west. The plant uses a tremendous amount of coal,
and therefore requires a constant flow of hopper cars full of coal. Plant Scherer is one of the nation’s largest, is capable of producing 3,600 megawatts of electricity and on average can supply enough energy to power approximately 1.5 million homes. The P-Line has also seen an increase in empty grain trains originating in South See TRAINS • Page A3
Camp Hill tries to deal with financial woes
New Site looks to get building issues resolved
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The Camp Hill Town Council is trying to avoid legal problems by entering into an agreement with a contractor who did work for the town and by settling up with former employees for unused leave. The town has come to an agreement with TankPro to avoid legal action over its past due account for reconditioning the town’s water tower. In approving the minutes from the last meeting, Councilmember Dean Bonner wanted to add the town agreed to See FUNDS • Page A7
A notice was recently attached to the front door of the New Site Gymnasium, stating all work on the building was to halt, and the gym was closed due to not meeting certain state and county guidelines. Mayor Phil Blasingame said he had talked with the county and state building inspectors at length about the issues at the site, including having a life safety plan and getting engineers inside the gym. Previous inspectors had also noted issues with the elementary building, namely that the doors leading into former classrooms did not properly meet fire code as they open the wrong way and create a fire hazard. Several of the smaller items, like exit signs, railings and power outlets had been See ISSUES • Page A3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
LIGHTING THE NIGHT AGAINST CRIME
Local law enforcement took part in the 34th Annual National Night Out at the Sportplex Tuesday. Above, Lt. Dalton Peterson of the Alabama National Guard 214th Military Police helps 12-year-old Carter Williams learn the operation of a .50 caliber machine gun at the National Night Out. For more pictures see page A7 inside.
Trent Carboni tabbed to be Tallapoosa County Extension Service 4-H agent By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
An old face has taken a new position with the Tallapoosa County Extension Service as Trent Carboni has been named a regional extension agent for 4-H in the county. Carboni is no stranger to Tallapoosa County as he is a 2012 graduate of Reeltown High School, did an internship with the Extension Service in Tallapoosa County and has been an agent assistant in Tallapoosa County since graduating from Auburn with a degree in Ag Communications in 2016.
“We have been letting him hang out,” said the Extension Service’s Sallie Mason. “He is official now.” “We hired him as a 20-hour per week type position first,” Extension Service County Coordinator Shane Harris said. “We got some more funds and we liked him, so we kept him around.” Most 4-H agents in Alabama have two counties to work but thanks to the Extension Service Centennial program, Carboni will only work in Tallapoosa County, in part due to Harris’ growth of the 4-H program here. “When I came on as
county coordinator six years ago, we made a commitment to 4-H,” Harris said. “When we applied for the Centennial program, we were the highest in the state until the most recent numbers came in, then Calhoun County passed us in May. We are now second in the state. We have 1,500 kids involved in 4-H in Tallapoosa County. All of the new programs helped get us here.” Harris and Carboni said the programs include RiverKids, sport fishing and shooting sports. The enrollment and new programs helped with the See AGENT • Page A3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Tallapoosa County Extension Service County Coordinator Shane Harris, right, helps Trent Carboni cut a cake celebrating Carboni being named the new extension agent in Tallapoosa County servicing the 4-H program.
Alex City Youth Wrestling Registration Ages 4-12 Saturday, October 7TH 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 10th and Thursday, October 12th 5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: BRHS Girls Gym Contact Eric Miller at 256.749.7399 for more information.
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
FIRMLY ROOTED IN LAKE MARTIN AND HERE TO STAY.
FREE CONSULTATIONS
Evening & Weekend Appointments Available Upon Request
256-329-1313 • 217 Madison Street, Alexander City, AL “We are a Debt Relief Agency. We help people file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 under the Bankruptcy Code. Alabama State Bar requires the following in every attorney advertisement, “ No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”
•Home-like Environment • Specialized Dementia Care Unit •Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services
A DAMS HEALTH & REHAB 1555 HILLABEE STREET • (256) 329-0847
Today’s
Lake Martin
Weather
Lake Levels
81 60
490.67
High
Low
Reported on 10/3/17 @ 1 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
8