SPORTS: Stanhope graduate prepares for NFL Draft, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 13 | $1.00
Not Guilty Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, 2, 2022 | VOL. Thursday and Friday,FEBRUARY circumstantial evidence tying 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Whitehurst of Redland sat qui- Whitehurst to the death. etly as a jury deliberated his After nearly nine hours of fate — coming back to 19th deliberation the jury came to Circuit Court Judge Bill Lewis Lewis wanting lunch. with a not guilty verdict. “We just need a break from “I didn’t do anything to handedeach other,”Franklin a note to Lewis By Cliff Williams said investigators Wilson was the head basketinvestigation and it off Starr,” Whitehurst told law authorities. from the jury Staff Writer withsaid. the Elmore County Sherball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate enforcement in aalso 2016 inter-on adminisAfter lunch Lewis acknowliff’s Office have the alleged vicSchool and was He was placed By CLIFF WILLIAMS law enforcement view. trative leave at that time.” edged the tim’s jury was splitAuthorities on A virtual teacher at Elmore phone. collectplaced on pull ad-behind County School’s Edge program ed of Wilson’s phone as well. ministrative Dennis said but school officials News Editor him two years ago to arrest And the jury agreed the decision Whitehurst’s has been arrested and charged “You could see a conversaleave Jan. 13 follow the same him for the murder of his not without disagreement in procedure with school employee tion betweenPage the A6 two,” Frankaccording to Elwhen receive a See Thomas Whitehurst saw distribex-wife Starr Mulder. the murder trialadministrators with only CHARGE, report of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going uting obscene material to a stu- more County school staff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the Schools super“Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richknow very little about what is he was not responsible. There Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think turned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
Jury acquits Whitehurst for murder charge
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board members for the first time in a while Thursday. The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gatherings but the chamber celebrated the successes of business in Wetumpka. “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your attendance is an indication people wantThe to get back By CLIFF WILLIAMS new season wasn’t together and have these opportunities to see each News Editor filmed in Wetumpka or Ala-
New HGTV season will bring more attention to Wetumpka
B
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
bama;Page instead See CHAMBER, A3 it is highlighting
en and Erin Napier are getting ready host season two of Home Town Takeover and with it will come more attention to Wetumpka.
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
Ft. Morgan, Colorado but will still likely bring more tourists to Wetumpka. “I fully expect us to see more people come to town as
the new season prepares to start,” Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Shellie Whitfield said. “I would think there will be mentions of Wetumpka and
THE HERALD
See HGTV, Page A6
FILE | THE HERALD
The next season of HGTV’s Hometown Take Over will bring more attention to Wetumpka even though it is not filmed in Wetumpka. Ft. Morgan, Colorado is getting the makeover and the new show will likely have references to downtown Wetumpka. The show has resulted in nationwide interest in Wetumpka.
Council extends entertainment district hours
SUBMITTED | THE HERALD
Starr Mulder was murdered in 2016, and her exhusband Thomas Whitehurst was charged with the Wilson was released on Friday, a murder. On $6,000 bond 90 he minutes af-not was found ter turning himself in by accordguilty a jury in 19th Circuit ing to the Elmorethe County Jail Court. website. Dennis said Wilson also coached other sports at Holtville schools including being the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Elmore County still assessing storm damage Police
continue investigation, man no longer suspected
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Elmore County EMA staff are working to determine the total damage from storms last Sunday and Monday after an EF1 tornado struck the Elmore County portion of Lake Martin, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Damaged areas included Castaway Island and The Ridge. “We don’t have any numbers on exactly what we have,” Elmore County EMA director Keith Barnett said. “We are still out in all those areas going door to door doing our damage assessment.” Barnett said the Meadow Lane Drive neighborhood in Coosada was likely declared By Jake Arthur straight winds by the NWS. Chiefline Videographer It is important for damage to be correctly assessed as itare affects state the and fatal federal Police still possible investigating declarations to help with any assistance. shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart park“For assistance you have to have ing public lot on Jan. 20. $8.9 million in uninsured damages in the lot state Police were dispatched to the parking fromaround one event,” Barnett said. “For individual 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. assistance they don’t set a hard number but Once there, they found Centell Winston, they42 normally look for about 75 to 100 homes of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound that in have or vehicle. are destroyed with the major driver damage seat of his no insurance. If you have 75 homes destroyed According to Wetumpka police chief and Greg 30 don’t have insurance, you are Benton, this was not a random not shootthere. It makes it tough.” ing. Currently, Barnett’s staff isnot going door-to“This was not random, a random dooract,” to find if there“We are any needs. saidout Benton. believe the vic“We homes with significant tim have and the perpetrator knew eachdamage other.” and some arefirst major, probably a handful This that is the homicide in Wetumpka three years. The last that in areover destroyed,” Barnett said.homicide in the city Barnett took place 2018.wasn’t any damLuckily, saidin there not infrastructure. a good way to start out the new age to“It’s public year,” said Benton. From Sunday afternoon to Monday afterBenton didn’t want speculate noon the Coosa River roseto 16.5 feet inon the
See SHOOTING, Page A3 A6 See DAMAGE, Page about the issue but Brown said afterbetter received with some modificawards his constituents were against tions. the issue — especially extending “It was the Sunday morning part of The extension of hours for the hours into “church time.” it,” Brown said. “There wasn’t much Wetumpka Downtown Entertainment “I contacted over 100 people in issue with the rest of it. District was approved by the my district,” Brown said. “They were Had it been 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. it Staff Report at Holtville culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The Wetumpka City Council at Monday’s schoolwide disturbedassembly that it was 10 a.m. on athe schoolwould have been better.” School. Elmore County Su- school struggling lowvote mo-wasschool experienced a 62 percent council meeting in a 5-1 vote. DistrictHighSunday.” Brownwith said his not decidThe Alabama Joe Association was downrale, achievement attendance 5 Councilmember Brown wasofthe perintendent BrownRichard said he Dennis rode around ed by hisand stance on alcohol.decrease in discipline referrals, Secondary the presentation. a school that strives for excel50 percent decrease in chronic lone dissentingSchool vote. Principals in attendance town on afor Sunday and didn’t seetoany “I don’t drink,” Brown said. “It (AASSP) Futralopen is anatexceptionlence. Bydoesn’t collaborating staff,other absenteeism, 7 percent increase Now fromnamed 10 a.mHoltville to 9 p.m.High seven “Kyle businesses 9 a.m. Only one botherwith me that people School principal the al principal and opened is very atproacissues were days a week, adultsKyle 21 orFutral older can place, a gym, 11 a.m. many of the do. school’s It is a personal choice.”in the graduation rate, 33 percent 2022 HighanSchool Prin-cup tive and innovative in his thinkaddressed. Futral’s in CCR rate and a 20 perwalk theAlabama streets with approved Brown said residents in Riveridentified and Before the council madeincrease a decision cipala downtown of the Year.establishment with ing Oaks, and approaches to managing style of listening, en-the cent from Meadowbrook and on U.S.leadershiptwo residents spoke on issue.increase in ACT proficiency CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD The Highbeverage. School Principal of his school,” said,have an issuecouraging, supporting, an alcoholic HighwayDennis 231 don’t “I support organizing the extension in ofthe thelast five years. Thurlow Dam almost looked normal last Wednesday. Only part the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuThere was no discussion among with the entertainment district but the of the spillway excess water down the TalSee PRINCIPAL, Page A3 was in use allowing Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 a School, Futralof has transformed dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL councilmembers during theduring meeting extension hours would have been See COUNCIL, Page B3 lapoosa River.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
86 65 62 55 High High
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low
a Flea Market & Antiques k p m u Wet 5266 U.S. Hwy. 231 • Wetumpka, AL (Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC)
USPS USPS681-260 681-260 THURS:HIGH HIGH8171LOW LOW5853 THURS:
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666