NO NEED TO PANIC AT THE PUMP, OPINION PAGE 4.
TUESDAY
THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR
See what’s going on in the area, page 5.
BRHS beats Wetumpka. Sports, Page 12.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 September 20, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 189
www.alexcityoutlook.com
PUMPED UP PRICES Drivers see higher prices for gas in wake of pipeline leak, but no shortages so far By MITCH SNEED Editor
While gas shortages have been reported in some locations across the Southeast, so far the only impact local motorists are seeing as a result of the leak in a fuel distribution line in Shelby County 11 days ago is slightly higher prices.
According to the website GasBuddy.com, regular gas prices have risen as much as .30 cents per gallon in Alexander City since the leak was discovered near Helena in the Colonial Pipeline. The most common price in Alexander City Monday was $1.99, but gas could be found a low as $1.88 and as high as $2.19 depend-
ing on the station. There were at least seven stations that raised prices by $.10 cents per gallon during the day Monday. “I left for work on Friday and it was $1.89, when I came back home it had gone to $2.19,” said Mike Pridmore of Alexander City as he fueled up Monday at Mapco See GAS • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Motorists fuel up Monday at Cherokee Quick Stop in Alexander City. The store has seen prices rise about .20 cents over the last 11 days due to higher prices from suppliers in wake of the gas pipeline leak that has cut supplies short..
City Council gives green light to road projects
Chairish event features eclectic mix of artistic furniture
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
An eclectic mix of customdecorated chairs and other furniture items will be up for grabs at this year’s third annual Chairish event, set for Oct. 22 at Alexander City’s Fall Festival downtown. “We have close to 50 people who have committed to donate items this year and the pieces I have seen so far are equally as creative as the ones we have had in the past,” said Jane Benton Howell of the Chairish committee. “The piece that Wayne Fuller painted is a keepsake piece. It is a handmade antique chair with a hand-painted rendition of Kowaliga on the front and a spearpoint on the back. It is unique. “Debbie Griffith’s Art class is painting a piece this year that is adorable. The children have been working with LMRA to create artwork for the upcoming clean-up cam-
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
ART AND CHAIR-ITY Above, Stephens Elementary School fourth grader Katie Waldrop paints her design on a bench that students are working on for the Chairish event. The design is from Waldrop’s Tshirt design for “Renew our Rivers.” Left, Wayne Fuller works on his Kowlagia themed chair for Chairish at his Alexander City home Monday.
See CHAIRISH • Page 3
Today’s
Weather
89 70 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
487.32
See COUNCIL • Page 3
Girls Ranch Director: ‘Every child needs a first chance’ EDITOR’S NOTE: The United Way of the Lake Martin Area partners with 27 agencies that serve the local area in a variety of important ways. Each year, United Way holds a najor fundraising campaign to raise money this is disbursed among those agencies. For the next several weeks, The Outlook will briefly profile each of those 27 agencies. Today, the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch is featured.
Reported on 9/19/16 @ 7 p.m.
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050
8
Lee and Washington streets took a giant step toward a major makeover Monday night, as the council approved a resolution allowing Mayor Charles Shaw to enter into an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation to help fund the project. Under the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) 2.97 miles of roadway will be paved. The work will include a total reconstruction of Lee Street from U.S. Highway 280 to the rail crossing near what was the Russell Corp. headquarters and then across the tracks and back down Washington Street to the city limits. “I want to make sure that we all understand that this isn’t the road from Highway 280 all the way into town,” Council President Jim Spann said. “It will start at 280 come to that crossing there and then turn and head back away from town on
Who is the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch? The Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch, located in Camp Hill, is one of four ranches operated by the Boys and Girls Ranches of Alabama, a charitable, nonprofit corpora-
tion, sponsored by the Alabama Sheriffs’ Association and managed by a Board of Trustees. The ranch program is funded almost entirely by private donations from concerned individuals, churches, civic clubs, corporations and foundations. The administrative/fundraising office which raises, receives, budgets and disburses funds for the Ranch program, is located in Montgomery. What is the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch? Opened in 1973, the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch is located on property donated by Mr. James D. “Duck” Samford. Currently the campus consists of 5 ranch homes, 2 staff houses, an office, chapel, gym, pool, pond, and various support buildings. The ranchers attend Reeltown School, where they are involved in various extracurricular activities. They are active in youth programs and attend local churches. Ranch
highlights include annual beach trips, days at the water park, spa days, Atlanta Braves baseball and Columbus Cottonmouths hockey games, a fashion shows, nursing home ministry, church food ministry and visits to Children’s Hospital. Life on the ranch today centers around the same premise the ranch program was founded on more than 50 years ago. Children live in family situations with house parents on working ranches where Christian principles, See RANCH • Page 11
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