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Teeter death ruled homicide by medical examiner
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Staff Any Writer potential charges related
to the January death of Chris A virtual teacher Little at Elmore Teeter near Alabama’s bit County School’s Edge program of Texas in Wetumpka will be has been arrested and charged decided by an Elmore County with school employee distributing obscene material to a student. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
Grand Jury. Nineteenth Circuit District WilsonC.J. wasRobinson the headsaid basketAttorney ball coach at Holtville High Teeter’s autopsy report reveals School and was cause of death to be by blunt placed on and ad-was a homicide. force trauma ministrative “I met with the Wetumpka leave Jan. 13 Police Department and we went according to Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
over the autopsy report and the “They can also look at self-deThe incident report from videos of the incident,” Robinson fense as well. I think it will be a WPD initially said it was conFranklin saidpresentation.” investigators Wilson released on a investigation and handed it off said. fairly lengthy ducting was a death investigation with the Elmore County Sher$6,000 bond 90 minutes afto The the appropriate authorities. case will be presented to In January, Teeter died as he and two Glock handguns were iff’s Office have the alleged victer turning himself in accordHe was also placed on administhe next available grand jury. was leaving Little Bit of Texas recovered. tim’s phone.what Authorities collect- ing toWetumpka the Elmore County trative that time.” “It isleave up toatthe grand jury to following the Wetumpka Police ChiefJail Greg ed Wilson’s phone as well. website. Dennis said school officials decide what charges, if any and Police Department has described Benton said no knives or guns “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure against whom,” Robinson said. as an “altercation.” were used during the altercation. when administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtreport of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being school staff and employees. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assis“Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. know very little about what is he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at cooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminnecessary.” it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
ELMORE COUNTY KICKS OFF By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
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. By “We CLIFFhaven’t WILLIAMS while thecousame time promoting been able to do this for theatlast News Editor child abuse prevention. ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your fight child abuse attendance is an indication people wantMany to getwho back inwheels playful a gathered the lawn of the historic together andare have these—opportunities to seeoneach great representation of a care- Elmore County Courthouse to plant See CHAMBER, Page A3 free child. pinwheels. But as playful as the spinning “This is kind of our first step fans are, they are used to help into the month and trying to raise promote April as National Child awareness about child abuse and Abuse Prevention Month. It’s an neglect,” Elmore County Departimage to highlight the agencies ment of Human Resources (DHR) whose job it is to protect children director Michelle Wood said. “We
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
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do this every year to start the month. There are several events CLIFF WILLIAMS/ during the month that take place THE HERALD within the county that recognize child abuse prevention.” The event was mostly fun — playing with pinwheels and taking photographs with a display. But it was meant to highlight that in 2022, DHR and its partner agencies See CHILD, Page A6
MARILYN HAWKINS | THE HERALD
Elmore County residents plant pinwheels in the lawn of the historic Elmore County Courthouse Friday to help kickoff the celebration for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Wetumpka resident has long but short career as artist
New incubator helps minority and women businesses
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Business ideas now have a new place to grow in Wetumpka. The African American Entrepreneurs Association (AAEA) has opened its first office in Alabama on Bridge Street to help minorities and women develop their business ideas. According to AAEA’s Julia KlineFuentes, they are the perfect groups to help flush out business ideas. “Women and minorities have the highest start rate of businesses,” KlineFuentes said. “They also have the highest attrition rate within the first 24 months. Our goal is to be a stop gap to that. We are a conduit that connects them to everything from resources such as finances to education to HR understanding.” By Jake Arthur KlineFuentes was with AAEA in Florida Chief Videographer when she moved to the area to be around family. ButPolice she realized AAEA had the opportunity are still investigating the fatal to help grow minority businesses in Alabama. shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parkAAEA and20. CEO Leslie Giscombe knew ingfounder lot on Jan. KlineFuentes would be a greattoperson to open Police were dispatched the parking lota location in Wetumpka. around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. “We lostthere, a gemthey in Florida when she moved Once found Centell Winston, here,” Giscombe said. “She brought her awe42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound someness here. She blooms wherever she goes. in the driver seat of his vehicle. We think she chose a great city and we are proud According to Wetumpka police chief to beGreg here.” Benton, this was not a random shootAAEA ing. strives to help those with emerging business ideaswas andnot connect the owners with nec“This random, not a random essary resources to help the succeed. act,” said Benton. “Webusinesses believe the vicThrough localthepartnerships helpseach entrepreneurs tim and perpetratoritknew other.” develop business and establish their type of This is the plans first homicide in Wetumpka business fromthree soleyears. proprietorship limited liain over The last to homicide in city took place bilitythe corporation (LLC).in 2018. “It’s not a good way todoesn’t start outoffer the new KlineFuentes said AAEA a cookyear,” said Benton. ie cutter approach to helping entrepreneurs. to speculate on the “WeBenton do all didn’t kinds ofwant stuff,” KlineFuentes said. “We have different speakers covering everything
See SHOOTING, Page A3 created. See MINORITY, Page A6 “He liked to come by and watch me paint,” John Perdue learned Sawyer said. “We talked a about bronzed paper mache lot. I sensed he had some almost 50 years ago. But talent. I just encouraged it is only recently the him.” Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville school that ofpicked a shift in at a positive direction. The Wetumpkathe resident hasculture fromPerdue up art High School. Elmore County Suschool struggling with low moschool experienced a 62 percent started to show and sell Eufaula High School. The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, some of his creations. “I had an art teacher, Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel50 percent decrease in chronic A little more than two Micki Ogburn,” Perdue (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase years ago Perdue wansaid. “I had her for two School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent dered into Don Sawyer’s years. She taught me how CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perstudio on Company Street to take paper mache and City of Wetumpka officials,Wetumpka Area Chamber of Comcipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency in Wetumpka. A little of make a piece of art with The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. merce and others joined representatives of the African AmeriSawyer’s persuasion soon it along CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD can Entrepreneurs Association (AAEA) to cut the ribbon on a the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff andwith stu- the bronze got Perdue back to creating Wetumpka artist John Perdue poses with his creation of his Wetumpka of AAEA is help minorities See PRINCIPAL, Page A3office Thursday.The goal Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL friend Don Sawyer. The bust includes marbles for eyes. and women who are starting a business. and a friendship was soon See ARTIST, Page A6
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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