SPORTS: Holt wins 100th career game for Indians, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8 INSIDE: Learning to weld for the future, A5 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 15 | $1.00
Bill aims to improve mental health access Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By CLIFF WILLIAMS help for Alabama citizens, medicate with street drugs or News Editor particularly for drug abusers. other drugs.” By Cliff Williams thebill head basket-Theinvestigation and handed it off “AWilson big partwas of this bill will allow probate Staff Writer ball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. It’s no secret Alabama has is really integrating mental judges to order mental health School and was He was also placed on fallen short on access to men- health and substance use committals with an under- adminisA virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtrative leave at that time.” tal healthcare, especially for treatment,” Alabama Depart- lying substance abuse issue. County School’s Edge program ministrative Dennis said school those who have been dealing ment of Mental Health com- Doing so gets the individual officials hasissues been for arrested leave Kim Jan.Boswell 13 the and same procedure with years.and chargedmissioner said. mentalfollow health help begin with school employee distribaccording to Elwhen administrators Now a bill is making its “If you look at the bill, you’ll substance abuse treatment. Itreceive a report of allegations uting obscene material to a stumore County way through the Alabama see that more often than not will also expand the author- against school staff and employees. dent. Schools superlegislature that would give folks who have a mental ity of probate judges to seek “Once we hand it over, we Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richprobate judges more flexibil- health issue if it’s not being know very little about what is Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. ity in getting mental health treated, they will often self See IMPROVE, Page A7 WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a returned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
port,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Franklin said investigators with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office have the alleged victim’s phone. Authorities collected Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversation between the two,” Franklin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
Students Chamber holds luncheon treating students
welcoming members
Stanhope FCCLA hosts Super Kids Prom
at creating something special for Stanhope’s Super Kids. Cliff Williams It hasBy only been a couStudents in special Staffsince Writer ple weeks Stanhope education have always Elmore held its prom. But been welcomed to prom; Thethe Wetumpka even before prom, stu-Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to installSee new officers and board STUDENTS, Page A7 dents were already looking 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 want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/
Alabama state Sen. Will Barfoot is sponWilson was released on a soring legislation that $6,000 bond 90 minutes afwould give probate ter turning himself in more accordjudges abilities ing to the Elmore County to help thoseJail needwebsite. ing mental health. Dennis said Barfoot Wilsonsaidalso he coached other sports attoo Holthas seen many ville schools including being times in law practice the head track coach assis-judgwhereand probate es are handcuffed tant football coach. by current Alabama Dennis said other staff would laws. of Wilson at fill in for the duties Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. See CHAMBER, Page A3 Police were dispatched to the parking lot around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Once there, they found Centell Winston, CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound Stanhope Elmore family and consumer sciences teacher Michelle in the driver seat of his vehicle. McCauley, right, speaks to students who were buddies before the According to Wetumpka police chief Super Kids Prom. The buddies made sure the Super Kids had a Greg Benton, this was not a random shootgood time by dancing and attending to their needs. ing. “This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the vicBy CLIFF WILLIAMS Stephen Carmody has gone vested some of the not yetother.” tim and the perpetrator knew each News Editor inside the fences and wallsThisready and started is the carrots first homicide in Wetumpka of Tutwiler almost everyin over tothree eat. years. The last homicide in place in 2018. arrots, blueberries, Wednesday to help with the city took “They were so worried not aifgood to start greens. a garden. The gardening “It’sthat theyway don’t pickout it the new said Benton. Many chastise chilprogram is in its sixth year,”now, somebody else is didn’t wantthem,” to speculate dren when they are harvest- year and was started with Benton gonna to get Car- on the By CLIFF WILLIAMS Elmore. ed early, but what about a USDA grant. To expand mody said. News Editor Students had a chance when someone is hungry the program, art was added The prisoners yet againPage A3 See SHOOTING, to meet Lt. Com. Thomas or fearful they are gone with the help of Troy Unipulled at Carmody’s heartThe Blue Angels left Zimmerman who flies the tomorrow? It’s all items versity art professor Dr. strings as they started to town almost as fast as they No. 6 of the Blue Angels most take for granted. Kelly C. Berwager. share. arrived last week, but the Carrots, blueberries, colTwo of the prisoners See ANGELS, Page A7 smiles are still at Stanhope lard greens. GARDEN PROGRAM returned to the garden from These are items some This year’s winter/early their dorm as Carmody was Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville thepeople school take culture that ofbut a shift in garden a positive direction. The still working. They wanted forfrom granted, spring includes High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low moat Julia Tutwiler Prison for school carrots,experienced blueberriesa 62 andpercent more carrots to share with The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement in discipline Women, theseand areattendance the life- decrease greens. Just last week,referrals, Car- those in their prison dorm Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to ablood schoolfor that strives for excel- 50 percent decreasebrought in chronic many prisoners. mody was almost (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence.Troy By collaborating with 7 percent University’s Dr.staff, absenteeism, to tears as the prisonerincrease harSee ROOTS, Page A7 School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 percipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the lastCLIFF five years.| TPI WILLIAMS CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuDr. Stephen Carmody, left, and Dr. Kelly C. Berwager pose for a photograph in front of artwork created by prisoners at Navy Blue Angels petty officer second class Grant Causey, left, SeesixPRINCIPAL, Page A3 project and Berwager Futral on Friday, 28 during a to School, Futral has transformed Tutwiler. dents,Carmody caused the culture to the prison for hasschool been going inside years for a gardening for four with art. FUTURAL and Lt. Com. ThomasJan. Zimmerman speak students at Stanhope Elmore High School about team work and trust.
ROOTS OF HOPE Art show shows journey from despair in prison
Blue Angels inspire students at Stanhope
C
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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