Tigers end Panthers’ season.
“State’s budget may be Gov. Bentley’s saving grace.”
Find upcoming events on this week’s calendar.
Eclectic Observer Page 4
Page 8
The
Page 2
THURSDAY • APRIL 14, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 27, No. 15
Eclectic Family Care welcomes new nurse practitioner By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Carmen Rodgers / The Observer
Christopher Pritchett recently joined the Eclectic Family Care staff as the facility’s nurse practitioner. Pritchett received his undergraduate degree at Auburn University Montgomery and his CNP degree from Troy State University.
Christopher Pritchett, or Chris as he prefers to be called, is the newest member of the Eclectic Family Care staff. Pritchett has come on board as the facility’s nurse practitioner. Pritchett received his undergraduate degree at Auburn University Montgomery and went on to receive his nurse practitioner degree from Troy University. Pritchett made the move to this area from Georgia more than 20 years ago. “I’ve been living in Wetumpka for the last five years and I lived in
Montgomery for 20 years,” Pritchett said. It was his wife Amy who convinced Pritchett to make the move from Atlanta, where Pritchett originates. “We decided to get out of the city and move out to the country,” he said. Pritchett chose to practice at Eclectic Family Care because he enjoys the laid back, slower pace of small-town life. “I’ve always wanted to get into the health field and I started late in life. I started college when I was 26 years old, so nursing was the best way to get into the medical field.”
Holt takes District 1 County Commission seat
Commission approves elevator bids and event liquor license By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The Elmore County Commissioners considered a liquor license for a local park event, a bid on elevator renovations for the county courthouse and selling county vehicles online at Monday’s meeting. A tax-exempt liquor license application was approved for the Alabama Wildlife Federation and the Lake Martin Wild Game Cook-off 2016 at the Lake Martin Amphitheater in Eclectic on May 14. And a bid inquiry on a renovation project for the passenger elevators at the Elmore County Judicial Complex was accepted. “This is one of the elements from the Blue Print 2020 plan,” said Richie Beyer, county engineer with the Highway Department. According to Elmore County website, the Blueprint 2020 Plan is billed See COMMISSION • Page 2
Today’s
Weather
64 51 High
Pritchett says he is planted here and has no plans on leaving anytime soon. He hopes to stay in the area and embrace small-town life. “Relax and enjoy life,” he said. “That’s what I like about being here, it’s just a little more relaxed than the city.” Pritchett and his wife Amy have two children, Lauren and Jacob. Jacob is junior at St. James School, in Montgomery and Lauren is following in her father’s footsteps by studying to join the medical field. Pritchett hopes that one day he will be working with his daughter. “My daughter is in premed right See NURSE • Page 2
Carmen Rodgers / The Observer
Drum Major Dallas Wade will represent Elmore County High School as a participant in the 2016 All-State Band in Mobile Alabama this week. It has been 13 years since a member of the Maroon Machine has been selected to perform in the All-State band.
ECHS makes honor band Wade is first Maroon Machine member in 13 years to make the All-State Band
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
It has been 13 years since a member of Elmore County High School’s Maroon Machine made it to the All-State Band. Now, 2015-16 Drum Major Dallas Wade has officially broken that 13 year streak. To be in the All-State Band there are tremendous requirements and Wade met those requirements with ease. “I’m the first one in 13 years to go,” Wade said. “You have to learn all 15 scales on your instrument. Then you have to learn two pre-
pared pieces.” Band members are only given six weeks to learn the prepared composition. “You have to tryout in front of two judges who are unknown. Then you sight read and that’s how you’re chosen,” she said. Wade says it was her father and her grandparents who pushed her to be the best of her ability. She has been in the band since she began middle school and while Wade is the current Drum Major, she can play a myriad of instruments. “I was in beginner band in the fifth See BAND • Page 3
Area voter turnout propels Holt with 64 percent against opponent By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Kenny Holt emerged as the winner in a runoff for the District 1 Elmore County Commission seat after a sweeping win in the Republican Primary unoff election Tuesday. Holt won by nearly 300 votes at 673 votes to his opponent Shanna Chamblee’s 375. Elmore County Probate Judge and election official John Enslen, announced the results around 8:30 p.m., and said out of the roughly 9,338 voters in District 1 a total of 1,048 voted for a turnout of 11.22 percent Holt took the vote at 64 percent to Chamblee’s roughly 36 percent total. “I’m ecstatic, that my supporters did what they did and voted for me and had confidence in me,” said Holt, while celebrating his victory.
Sheriff Bill Franklin talks challenges of running a jail By LIZ ELY Staff Writer
Low
FRIDAY: HIGH 60 LOW 51
Corey Arwood / The Observer
Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin, right, appears at a recent press conference with District Attorney Randall Houston. Franklin said the operation of the jail is often one of the most difficult parts of the job.
While people know that the job of sheriff in Elmore County is about enforcing the law in an area that consists of 628 square miles of land and 1,100 miles of shoreline, they may not realize what goes into one of the most difficult parts of the job. In addition to enforcing the laws, Sheriff Bill Franklin says that keeping those who break the law incarcerated is often one of the most challenging aspects of being the county’s top law enforcement agent. The Elmore County Jail houses 242 inmates at maximum capacity, all of whom are under Franklin’s watch. Of those 242 inmates, approximately 32 are women, and the infractions that
CREATIVE PLAY Child Development Center
NOW ENROLLING! Ages 6 Weeks - 4 Years
Free enrollment until September 1, 2016 334-478-3608 Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-6pm 80 Red Eagle Drive, Wetumpka, AL 36092 | www.Creativeplayedc.tk
FREE ESTIMATES!
Hedging, Fall Cleanup, Leaf Removal, All Yard & Lawn Maintenance
(334) 309-4422 • (334) 580-7879
bring the inmates to the jail range from severe crimes such as murder and rape, to menial, less serious actions such as writing a bad check. Franklin, who has held his title since 1991, notes that running a jail can take its toll on both him and his workers. Franklin and the staff must be prepared to deal head-on with many unpleasant situations throughout their workday as each day presents new and unforeseen challenges. “There are a lot of people who go to work and know what they’ll be doing, but the jail is a different animal,” Franklin said. “You literally do not know what you are going to be confronted with from one 5-minute segment to the next. It’s a daily chalSee SHERIFF • Page 3
PAGE 2 • APRIL 14, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Area Calendar APRIL 4-UNTIL
Tallassee High School’s 2016 FFA plant sale begins. You’re more than welcome to come and tour our new greenhouse and look at the plants and facility. Swedish Ivy hanging baskets $8, Wondering Jew hanging baskets $8, Purple Queen hanging baskets $7, Mosquito Plant hanging basket $7, Spider Plant hanging baskets $7, Impatiens hanging baskets $7, Fern hanging baskets $7, Lantana $4, Coleus (single) $5,Marigolds (single) $0.25, Coleus $0.50, Vinca (single) $0.25
APRIL 4-22
Church Coed Softball registration will be held April 4 –April 22 at Recreation Department and tentative date to begin season will be first week of May. Games played on Tuesdays and Thursdays and cost is $450 per team.
April 15
CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS: There will be an event at Holtville Elementary School April 15 at 1:30 p.m. to bring awareness to child abuse and neglect as April is is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Awareness Month. he Elmore County Extension, Family Resource Center, Juvenile Judge, DHR Director, Superintendent of Education and many other community partners will be in attendance as well as about 100 elementary students. This is a celebration of all the good work that the schools, churches, agencies and communities do to strengthen families which prevents child maltreatment.
April 16
CRATERFEST: Wetumpka Craterfest & Duck Dash will feature National and local music artists, Kidzone, Arts & Crafts,
Crater Bus Mini-Tours, Crater Art Exhibit/ Video Saturday, April 16th from 2-7PM at Gold Star Park. Vendor spaces and sponsorships available! Contact Jamie Young at jyoung@ wetumpkachamber.org or 334-567-4811. REELTOWN REUNION: The Sixth Reeltown High School Reunion of the Classes from 1950-1970 will hold its 20-Year Class Reunion on April 16 in the original Reeltown High School Auditorium. The Reunion begins at 10 a.m. for a time to meet, greet and tour the school. The “Assembly” will begin in the auditorium at 11 a.m. The RHS Jazz Band will be guest and play a few jazz tunes. Donations will be received for new Rebel Pride Marching Band uniforms. All donations greatly appreciated. Welcome, recognitions, etc., will follow. Please bring your “ole fashion brown bag/sack lunch” with a drink. No meal will be available. Classes will meet after assembly in the cafeteria for their sack lunch meal. Tours of the school and grounds will be available following the assembly and lunch.
April 16-17
FRENCH INDIAN WAR ENCAMPMENT: Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson Park, the Alabama Historical Commission, and the Friends of the Forts are pleased to announce the annual French & Indian War Encampment taking place April 16-17 at Fort ToulouseFort Jackson Park near Wetumpka. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children six to eighteen years of age. The event takes place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. This special event focuses attention on the
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
Nurse main protagonists of the French & Indian War - France, Britain and their American Indian allies. Additionally, the event features daily life at a French frontier fort and Creek village in the year 1756. Soldiers will engage in mock battles each day and souvenirs replicating items of the time period will be available from merchants on site. Living history demonstrations of military, Indian, and civilian life will take place on Saturday and Sunday throughout the day. Re-enactors will be dressed and equipped as they appeared in North America during the middle of the eighteenth century. Boy Scouts of America Troop 50 will sell food and drink on Saturday; however, there will be no refreshments available for purchase on Sunday so please plan to bring a picnic lunch.
April 17
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY SKATE NIGHT: Come out for a night of skating for the American Cancer Society on Sunday, April 17, 2016 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Skatezone 88 Red Eagle Drive. It will cost $6.00 per person for regular skates and $3.00 more for inline skates. All proceeds go to the Jessica’s Cancer Busters Relay for Life team. For more information call Bubba Wood at (334) 3002134 or Sherry Cole at (334) 313-4311.
April 18-23
EARTH DAY CLEANUP 2016: Sign up a litter team to pick up around your neighborhood, business or call the Chamber of
continued from page 1
now,” he said. “She is going to become a doctor so I might be working for her.” Like Pritchett, his daughter Lauren is attending Auburn University at Montgomery and she is in her final year of premed. “Once we get her through med school, maybe we can get her out here, too” he said. “That would be kind of neat.” Pritchett is thankful to be the newest addition to the Eclectic Family Care and he is looking forward to servicing the community. “Thank you for welcoming me,” he said. “I look forward to serving their needs and I hope I can be of service to them.”
Commission
continued from page 1
as an infrastructure modernization and renewal plan for the growing population of Elmore County and its need for greater services offered. The plan was revealed around June 2015. Beyer said the bid accepted was much lower than anticipated. Where Beyer’s department was originally getting quotes exceeding $50,000, the bid they took ran approximately $37,500. And the commission approved simultaneously the consent docket, which held the items on the Sheriff’s Department’s surplus vehicles being placed on the website Govdeals.com, as well as the approval of what was described as a “proposed plat” for Sunset Ridge. Commerce for a location. Advanced Disposal Sponsor providing a roll off container at City Hall from 8am-noon on Saturday the 23 for nonhazardous material and litter team debris disposal. Parker Tire & Auto will take used oil, tires and batteries all week from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Electronic Recycling drop off at Tallassee Recreation Center April 21 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. The city Shop will have a roll off container available for nonhazardous material disposal and appliances from Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
April 23
SINGING: Dolly Boshell will be singing Saturday April 23 at Antioch Baptist Church. Supper will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the singing starts at 6:30 p.m. Featured will be the Larch Family, Dr. Rick Jones and the Youth of Antioch. Everyone is welcome and there will be no admission charge.
April 24
CHURCH HOMECOMING: Mt. Hebron East Baptist Church in Eclectic will celebrate its 120th Anniverary with homecoming nn Sunday, April 24. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. (omitting Sunday School). Special singers will be “Holy Destiny” of Prattville. Following services, dinner will be served at noon in the church fellowship building. We invite everyone to come and celebrate with us and stay for lunch at noon. COMMUNITY CELEBRATION BBQ: Santuck Baptist Church on Central Plank Road is hosting a community celebration BBQ Sunday, April 24 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
April 30
CEMETERY PRESERVATION WORKSHOP: The Alabama Cemetery Preservation Alliance is hosting its annual cemetery preservation workshop at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Friendship United Methodist Church Cemetery April 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Contact Scott Martin at bevel67@aol.com for additional information.
April and May
MUSEUM EXHIBIT: During the months of April and May, the Elmore County Museum’s exhibit will feature the nationally known Elmore County Band - fondly called “The Big Blue”. The exhibit is filled with yearbooks, pictures of the band beginning in the 1950s and running through the 70s, plaques, scrapbooks, and a video of the 2003 Big Blue reunion! There are some funny, FUNNY stories told on the video! Come by Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 a.m. & 3 p.m. and take a step back in time!
IF YOU HAVE COLLATERAL, WE HAVE YOUR LOAN. Business Loans for Central Alabama.
J. L Lane Lending, LLC. 334.272.4313
May 10
GOLF TOURNEY: Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament will be held May 10 at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club Come join us for a fun day of lunch, golf and a chance to win bragging rights and CASH!
May 14
UNION REUNION: Union Academy, Dadeville, Class of 1974 is hosting a School Reunion BBQ: On Saturday, May 14th from 2 p.m. until at University Station RV, Hwy 14, Auburn. All students, faculty, their families and anyone associated with Union Academy are invited. Contact Eddie Hughes, 334-257-3826, hughesautoparts@centurytel.net; Priscilla Hammonds, 334-283-2233,steven505@ centurytel.net; Carolyn Hood, 334-319-3434, auburnhood@aol.com; or Genice Fuqua, 256-5081768, gfuquaret@gmail. com for more information. Assistance will be provided for those with mobility problems.
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
APRIL 14, 2016 • PAGE 3
Sheriff only as good as the staff that you employ. It takes a unique person to work in a jail. Some people can’t do it – it’s like a zoo on some days. It’s hard to deal with because of the trials and tribulations that go on in a jail setting.” In a setting such as the Elmore County Jail, it is not uncommon for workers to be exposed to unsettling situations such as inmates throwing urine or feces at the correctional staff, however, Franklin and his staff are responsible for the care, custody, and control of the inmates, even when the inmates can become volatile. To combat this, he operates under an ASK, TELL, and MAKE policy that enforces discipline and maintains order to keep chaos at bay. “We hardly ever experience issues or problems with over 90 percent of the inmates, but we are allowed to use force when necessary. As an example, we may ask somebody to go to their cell, and if they refuse, we will tell them to go to their cell. If they continue to refuse, we make them go to their cell. That being said, we have peo-
continued from page 1
ple of all kinds in here, but the majority are not problematic, but two to four percent do present daily problems,” Franklin said. Of that 2 to 4 percent of problematic inmates, Franklin said it boils down to human nature. While some inmates are relatively docile, there are others who are combative by nature, simply due to what they have been exposed to in their life. “A lot of times, they come from problematic, dysfunctional family situations where they are in constant turmoil at home. If they don’t have an element of chaos in their life, something is missing. When the sun goes down, they create chaos, and this could be anything from hollering at a correctional officer, to throwing a plate, or punching county property,” Franklin said. While Franklin must continue to control situations that often turn chaotic, he notes that one of the major problems he encounters are those inmates who suffer from mental illness. He views this as a situation that needs to be rectified, but
Band grade,” Wade said. “I can play 28 instruments, but for All-State, I’m playing clarinet.” Wade has been playing the clarinet for seven years. She admits she was uncertain about joining the band from the start. “I didn’t really want to be in the marching band, but my dad wanted me to and I stayed with it and now I like it.” Wade has set a path that will lead her to follow in the footsteps of Mr. Vittore, Elmore County High School’s Band Director, and many other great band directors. “I plan on attending Troy and getting my doctorate in music theory and teaching at Troy University,” she said. Wade is currently a junior at ECHS. She will be 17 next week and already has scholarship offers from her
he does his very best to ensure that those who face mental disorders are treated fairly. “As best we can, we try to keep the mentally ill in a holding facility where they don’t congregate with other inmates. Other inmates don’t understand the mentally ill. They perceive them as having attitudes, and we spend time educating the inmates on mental illness. Over the years, it seems the state of Alabama has chunked the responsibility of caring for those with mental illness and put it on the county jails. That’s not right, and it needs to be remedied. A jail setting is not a place for the mentally ill,” Franklin said. Among other matters that cause concern are those inmates who require general medical attention. One particular instance that Franklin calls to mind involved a nine-month pregnant woman voluntarily turning herself in for a bad check in order to have her birthing costs covered while in jail – something Franklin feels was not a just and proper expense for the county to endure. But for those instances
were attention is required, Franklin has a nurse and doctor in the facility for 16 hours a day. “Personally, I think prisons across the county are taken advantage of. That instance would have cost approximately $10,000 and is an example of how inmates can take advantage of the system. They often don’t do any preventative medical maintenance prior to coming to jail, and they want to be repaired before being put back into society. It’s an unjust burden. With that said, we do know there are obvious instances when medical situations or emergencies arise and require care. But the real problem are those inmates who ask for things to get their personal situations taken care of,” Franklin said. Other issues that may interfere with the care, custody and control of inmates is the increasing issue of contraband being brought inside. Franklin notes that inmates go to great lengths to bring in prohibited materials before entering. Strip -earching is the approach used to detect illegal substances and the like, and
often there is a misstep with detection. “The degree that some people will go to bring contraband into a facility is likely unimaginable to most people. The men, women, and correctional officers don’t look forward to doing a strip search, and when contraband is brought in, we have to discipline the person who failed to recognize it because we have to take the steps necessary to provide safety for other inmates,” Franklin said. Franklin is not at all jaded by what he encounters running a jail, and he understands that while
some commit crimes that require extreme punishment, there are those who learn their lesson. While there are continuing issues, he insists that is just par for the course. “There are always worries, but that’s how it is with any jail in America. We fully recognize that not everybody who comes to jail is a bad person. There are different types of people who come here, and some merely do a small stint, go home, and we never see them again,” Franklin said.
continued from page 1
school of choice. “I have about four offers from Troy,” she said. Playing in the band comes so naturally to Wade that she makes it sound easy to get these scholarships, which shows how humble this extraordinary young lady is. “Dr. Long and Dr. Walker, they come out sometimes to our performances and if they see exceptional work, they will award a scholarship.” With the school year coming to an end in the next two months, Wade has already found a summer job. However, when asked what she plans to do this summer she simply says, “band”, with a smile. “I’ll go to drum major camp in June and then after that it’s nothing but band.”
RODNEY GRIFFITH Lake Martin Properties Serving Lake Martin, Tallassee and the Surrounding Area
Need CPAP?
RODNEY GRIFFITH BROKER CELL: 334-207-0666 WEB: www.rodneygrif¿th.com EMAIL: rodneygrif¿th@windstream.net
334-514-6183 Serving Elmore County since 1990. Located in Wetumpka at 6251 US Hwy 231 in the Triple C Plaza. www.qualityhomehealthcare.us
78 ACRES off Lower Tuskegee Hwy., on Cleghorn Road, great hunting only, $135,000. TALLASSEE – McNEAL STREET, 2 bd/1 ba, close to national guard armory, $55,000. COMMERCIAL BUSINESS – Hwy. 229 in Red Hill (formerly Red Hill Cottage Restaurant), over 3000 sq. ft. on 3 ACRES, only $99,500. RIVER HILLS SUBDIVISION – 19 lots, great views of Lake Tallassee, underground utilities, sewage. Prices start at only $20,000. 4 SOLD – 19 remaining. W. PATTON – Brick, 3 bd/1 ba, new heat pump, hardwood floors, 2 lots, REDUCED $65,000. ECLECTIC – 5 acre lot on lake point road in eclectic, off highway 80 close to lake martin, modular home or double wides are ok if newer. Only $29000. BEAUTIFUL BRICK HOUSE in Plantation Pines, 4 bd/3.5 baths, 1.6 acre lot very modern and pretty, REDUCED TO $310,000. 3189 LITTLE ROAD – 4 bd/2ba., large lot, very modern, & pretty, only $215,000. 8 ACRES KENT RD – REDUCED TO $45,000. 27 ACRES CLAUDE RD. – $80,000. TALLASSEE GILMER AVE. – 3bd/2 ba next to DQ zoned commercial, REDUCED TO $110,000. TALLASSEE BRICK HOME – on 1 acre with a 2 acre fish pond, 3 bd, 2 ba , large den and kitchen, garage, large screened porch, heat pump, REDUCED FROM $159,000 TO $149,000. 8 more acres also adjacent to it. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY – 8 ACRES close to Walmart on Hwy 14, REDUCED $189,000. MULLINS STREET– Eclectic, 1991 Doublewide mobile home on flat acre lot 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, very private, $45,000. 548 PROSPECT ROAD ECLECTIC- Beautiful home on 4 ACRES, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, Very modern and private, Very close to lake Martin.$279,000.
Kenneth Boone, Publisher Mitch Sneed, Editor Opinions expressed in guest columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the management of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.
PAGE 4 • APRIL 14, 2016
OPINION
“Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.” --Thomas Jefferson THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
The Observer strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and, above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.
Your
Opinion
Conditions at park need to be addressed
Dear Editor, Two years ago I was walking 20 laps a day around the walkway at the Eclectic playground and park in town. I suffered kidney failure and was forced to give up walking until the miracle of dialysis. Since dialysis began, my medications have dropped from 40 a day to nine. I regained the use of my legs and returned to my love of gardening. Recently, I went back to the park to begin walking once more. I was appalled at its condition. Though there had been little rain, standing water, mud and soggy grass covered much of it. Some water was oily and cov-
ered even the sidewalks in two or three areas. Huge fire ant beds multiply every day and are a hazard to anyone using the park. Other seniors and children use this park. It would not be difficult for either to fall into one of those ant beds. Grass is growing in sandy areas meant for children to play. If this park is going to be for public use, these problems should be corrected immediately. I hope the town will take notice and make the park that is under their care, suitable for the residents of Eclectic. James Butler Eclectic
YOUR VIEW Want to share your opinion on a situation, topic, etc.? • WRITE: Your View The Eclectic Observer P.O. Box 99 Wetumpka, AL 36092 • EMAIL: News@TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Times, they are a'changing
I
got tickled watching a comedian on YouTube the other day. In the video, he talked about how we respond to our doorbell ringing now as opposed to how we did so 30 years ago. Back then, we were excited to hear it ring. We were thrilled to have “company.” Up in my grandparents’ neck of the woods, they referred to it as “viztin.” People would visit just to visit—to keep each other company for a spell. The homeowners would always offer up something to drink, which was usually sweet tea—sweet tea so thick it could be poured on a pancake. They’d usually try to feed you, too. If the phone rang, they’d either let it ring or pick it up and tell the caller they’d have to call them back, because they had company. Now, the phone takes precedence over everything. Boy, times certainly are a’changing! Today, when the doorbell rings, my heart starts pounding like I’m back in Iraq during a mortar attack. I immediately want to hit the floor or take cover. Once I regain my composure, I tiptoe to the door to see who could possibly be contemplating coming through my front door. What could they possibly want? I tiptoe, even though I have carpet. One can never be too careful when it comes to doorbell ringers. I’ll look through
JODY FULLER Guest Columnist
the peephole to see if it’s a friend or a foe or someone I don’t even know. If I don’t open the door, I stand there and watch them like a one-eyed hawk until they leave. Sometimes, they even have the gall to ring it a second time. Who raises these animals? One of my biggest pet peeves is when I wave or speak to someone and they look at me like I have a carrot poking out of my ear instead of simply waving back or saying hello. How difficult is it to acknowledge someone’s presence? I remember my uncle being so excited about seeing Bo Jackson one time when Bo was still at Auburn. My uncle spoke to him. Bo didn’t strike up a conversation with him. In fact, he didn’t even say hello. He grunted. That’s it; he grunted, but the grunt was acknowledgement. That’s all I’m asking for. In the Army, we answer everything, good, bad, or indifferent, with “hooah.” It’s an acknowledgement. Growing up I knew all of my
neighbors. I probably went into half, if not more, of the houses in my neighborhood at some point during my childhood. I broke bread or windows in some of those houses, too. Nowadays, we don’t even know our neighbors. We may know the people directly next to us, but that’s about it. The folks down the street might as well be living atop Mount Kilimanjaro. Times, they are a’changing. For the record, all the “viztin” I experienced as a child was up around my grandparents’ house in Tallapoosa County. No one ever visited us at our house. Mama didn’t care to have people over, so we kept the house locked up tighter than Fort Knox, hooah. Well, not literally. In fact, we didn’t even lock our doors. We didn’t even have a key for the front door. We’d leave the door unlocked while we were at school all day. Heck, we even left the door unlocked when we loaded up the Pinto to go to Panama City for the week. Who would do that today? No one. Why? Because, times have already changed. Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@ jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www.jodyfuller.com.
Include your name, address and phone number. Only your name and city will be printed. We reserve the right to edit or to refuse to publish any submission. You may submit one letter per month, limited to 300 words or less.
Eclectic Observer The
334-567-7811 • Fax 334-567-3284 email: news@thewetumpkaherald.com THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER (005-022) is published weekly on Thursday by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Periodical postage paid at Wetumpka, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Eclectic Observer, P.O. Box 99, Wetumpka, AL 36092-0099. ISSN # 1536688X. We reserve the right to refuse to print any advertisement, news story, photograph or any other material submitted to us for any reason or no reason at all. •Obituaries - $.25 per word per paper. Additional $15 charge for a photo per paper. (Herald, Weekend, Observer, Tribune). •Weddings/Engagements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a 2-column photo. •Birth Announcements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a photo. SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Year in Elmore, Tallapoosa or Coosa County: $25 One Year Elsewhere: $38 The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription at any time. To subscribe or if you miss your paper, call 256-234-4281. © 2016 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher. ADMINISTRATION Kenneth Boone, publisher kenneth.boone@thewetumpkaherald.com Mitch Sneed, editor mitch.sneed@thewetumpkaherald.com NEWS Corey Arwood, staff writer corey.arwood@thewetumpkaherald.com Carmen Rodgers, staff writer carmen.rodgers@thewetumpkaherald.com Cory Diaz, sports editor Cory.Diaz@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ext. 306 SALES Jayne Carr, marketing consultant Jayne.Carr@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . . . . . . Ext. 313
State's budgets may be Bentley's saving grace
T
here appears to be very little interest in promoting an effort to impeach Governor Robert Bentley. With very few legislative days left in the session, legislators have a myriad of problems to deal with, not the least of which are the budgets, especially the General Fund. The financial woes surrounding the General Fund cloud the horizon and justly require more attention than the circus of an impeachment charade. In this day of wiretapping, videophones, “burner” phones and loose tongues, most legislators do not want to risk the chance that Bentley could have them on the phone with their paramour. In addition, it would be the height of hypocrisy to have the Speaker of the House preside over an impeachment proceeding with a pending trial awaiting him in less than 30 days on 23 ethics law indictments. It was obvious from the get-go that the impeachment idea would get very little traction given the sponsor of the measure. Rep. Ed Henry, a first term backbencher from Hartselle, is considered somewhat of a nut with a penchant for grandstanding. His colleagues in the House consider him a joke and refer to him as “Headline Henry.” It is common knowledge that Speaker Hubbard and the House leadership have relegated Henry to the backbench. They do not even recognize him when he seeks to speak. It would be hard for him to pass a resolution honoring apple pie and motherhood, much less pass a bill. Furthermore, very few House or Senate members want to substitute Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey for Bentley. At least they know what they have in Bentley. They can push him around
Inside the Statehouse By Steve Flowers and basically ignore him. He has been relegated to a benign punch line. He can serve out his next two years cutting ribbons. However, they are not sure about a new lame duck. Kay Ivey would have very little power, but she could be a loose cannon. Based on reliable sources, the Poarch Creek Indians are clearly one of the driving forces behind the effort to have Gov. Robert Bentley impeached. The Poarch Creek Indians clearly would like to see Kay Ivey as Governor for a number of reasons, but primarily to protect their non-taxed monopoly of casino gambling in the state. The Indian casinos are gearing up for the 2018 elections. However, legislators and gubernatorial aspirants clearly perceive that Alabamians are disenchanted with the “so called Indian gambling” monopoly. The Indian money may be an albatross to any potential candidates. This distrust and disdain for the Indian casinos could be the political death for Attorney General Luther Strange. It is well known that Big Luther plans to run for governor in 2018. It is also rumored that Luther will be the Indian casinos’ horse. If that is the case it is very difficult to hide their money under the new campaign finance laws. They are also so arrogant that they pompous-
ly, like lizards, want to show their money. This could be the kiss of death for Luther. On another front, it has gone under the radar with all the Bentley and Hubbard scandals, but the U.S. Attorney in the Middle District of Alabama has stepped into the ring of the casino gambling circus. He may become the ringmaster under the tent. It should be known by most ninth grade civics students – and hopefully by now our Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore – that the federal courts trump the state courts every day of the week. U.S. Attorney George Beck, a very well-respected man and attorney, has weighed in on what he calls an obvious discriminating enforcement of laws by the state. In a March 21 letter to Luther Strange, Beck adamantly calls out the attorney general for flagrantly giving different and inequitable treatment to the Indians. He clearly asks the attorney general to clarify his position on the matter concerning the Indian casinos and Alabama casinos, especially VictoryLand. Beck focuses on the memorandums of understanding (MOUs) that Attorney General Strange forced the vendors at VictoryLand to sign, which have prevented VictoryLand from reopening. We could have Gov. Robert Bentley, Speaker Mike Hubbard and Attorney General Luther Strange all in hot water at the same time. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
FAITH
Phone 334-567-7811 thewetumpkaherald.com
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
G
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
APRIL 14, 2016 • PAGE 5
God meant for us to be ‘My Brother’s Keeper’
reetings to you from the corner of Bridge and Bridge! In the name of honesty, I should say greetings from the campus of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, since that is literally where I am writing this column. Greetings from both and all places! How about that? Last Thursday, I attended a joint memorial service for De’osha Jackson and Bunny Hunt. I did not know either of them personally, but I know folks close to them. The death of these two folks has been a topic of much conversation in our community. I went because I am a pastor in the community. I saw several people there I have come to know over the last 10 years. There were many people in attendance I have seen with great regularity but have never officially met. I also met a number of strangers that day. I attended because I live in the community affected by this tragedy. My house is only half a block away from the church where the services
REV. JONATHAN YARBORO First Presbyterian Church
took place, and it is only a few blocks away from where the majority of the shooting happened. This tragedy happened where my family and I live. It happened to our neighbors. I attended because one of the churches in our community opened its doors to the community in ways churches sometimes have a hard time doing. On the surface, a larger “white” church opened its doors so that a smaller “black” church could accommodate the large crowd. Don’t buy into the divisive rhetoric of our present culture. One church family welcomed another because they both know each other and they both serve the same Jesus, but I digress. The service was powerful. It bore
faithful witness to the lives being remembered and to the reason for the gathering. There were powerful words shared regarding the loss of life to senseless acts of violence. There were powerful words shared regarding family and community. I was most affected by the message delivered by Rev. Claud Shufford. The text for his sermon was Genesis 4: 8 – 10; the story of Cain murdering his brother Abel. Take a moment to read this text. God questions Cain about his actions. Cain’s response is one we are all too familiar with in our day and time. As I listened to Rev. Shufford apply the teaching of this passage to a specific incident of senseless violence, I began to see a much larger application. Once again, the word of God emerged as a tool for connecting to the present reality of the earthly kingdom. The story of Cain and Abel is about relationships among people of kin. Its application extends far beyond the nuclear family of Adam and Eve. God placed humankind in
the midst of creation to be its keepers. This means God calls human beings to look after one another. So did God create us to be our brother’s or our neighbor’s keeper? If we think in terms of taking responsibility for or directing the lives of others, the answer is no. If we think in terms of caring what happens to others and doing whatever we can to be neighborly, the answer is yes. I attended the services last Thursday because I wanted to be seen. I wanted people in my community to see me there, not for my sake but for the sake of our community. I was blessed to see so many people gathered for the same reason. I care about and believe in the possibilities for the community God created. So do a lot of other people in our community. Thank you, Rev. Shufford, for the powerful reminder that we are all our brother’s keeper. Rev. Yarboro is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Wetumpka
Area Churches AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-4413 Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8144 Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd. (Co. Rd. 3), Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-9143 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic 541-2006 Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-5754 Crossroads Assembly of God 2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 285-5545 First Assembly of God 3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God 5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 569-2825 BAPTIST Abraham Baptist Church Millbrook Antioch Baptist Church 1115 Antioch Rd., Titus 567-2917 Beulah Baptist Church 2350 Grier Rd., Wetumpka 514-2881 Blue Ridge Baptist
4471 Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-4325 Brookwood Baptist Grandview Rd., Millbrook Calvary Baptist 504 W. Osceola St., Wetumpka 567-4729 Central Baptist 3545 W. Central Rd., Wetumpka 541-2556 Coosada Baptist 20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic 541-4444 Faith Baptist 64 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-4417 First Baptist Church 205 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-5191 First Baptist of Elmore Hwy. 14 Co. Rd. 74, Elmore Galilee Baptist 95 Old Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-4178 Good Hope Baptist 1766 S. Fleahop Rd., Eclectic Goodship Baptist Hwy. 143, Millbrook Grace Baptist Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka 567-3255 Grandview Pines Baptist Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville Green Ridge Baptist 288 Turner Rd., Wetumpka 567-2486
Harvest Baptist 2990 Main St., Millbrook Hillside Baptist 405 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Holtville Riverside Baptist 7121 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 514-5922 Lake Elam Baptist 4060 Gober Rd., Millbrook Liberty Hill Baptist 61 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-8750 Lighthouse Baptist 2281 Main St., Millbrook Living Water Baptist 1745 Grass Farm Rd. (Co. Rd. 80), Weoka Millbrook Baptist Millbrook 285-4731 Mitts Chapel Baptist 935 Cold Springs Rd., Deatsville 569-1952 Mt. Hebron West Baptist 150 Mt. Hebron Rd., Elmore 567-4441 Mountain View Baptist 1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka 567-4458 New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury 312-1878 New Home Baptist 1605 New Home Rd., Titus 567-0923 New Hope Baptist 6191 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville 569-1267 New Lily Green Baptist 6504 Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville
New Nazareth Baptist Hwy. 143, Deatsville Pleasant Hill Baptist Pleasant Hill Rd., Eclectic 541-3460 Prospect Baptist Prospect Rd., Eclectic 567-5837 Redland Baptist 1266 Dozier Rd., Wetumpka 567-8649 Rehoberth Baptist 8110 Rifle Range Rd., Tallassee 567-9801 Rushenville Baptist 10098 Georgia Rd., Eclectic 541-2418 Saint James Baptist 1005 Nobles Rd., Wetumpka 567-6209 Saint James Baptist 101 Gantt Rd., Deatsville 569-3006 Santuck Baptist 7250 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2364 Seman Baptist Seman, Alabama Shoal Creek Baptist 13214 Holtville Rd., Deatsville 569-2482 Springfield Baptist Hwy. 7, Millbrook Thelma Baptist 810 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-3665 Titus Baptist 6930 Titus Rd., Wetumpka 334-531-2120 Tunnell Chapel Baptist 210 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2589
Victory Baptist 5481 Main St., Millbrook Wadsworth Baptist 2780 Hwy. 143, Deatsville 569-2851 BAPTIST - MISSIONARY Atkins Hill 565 Atkins Rd., Wetumpka 567-1141 Cathmagby Baptist 3074 Mitchell Creek Rd., Wetumpka 567-4787 First Missionary Baptist at Guilfield 412 Company St., Wetumpka 567-7455 Goodhope 1389 Willow Springs Rd. Wetumpka 567-7133 Lebanon 17877 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 514-1097 Mount Canaan 1125 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-2141 Mount Pisgah 16621 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 567-3668 Mt. Zion 371 AL Hwy. 14, Elmore, 567-2613 Mt. Zion #3 1813 Luke Paschal Rd., Eclectic New Home 5130 Elmore Rd., Wetumpka 567-5966 Second Missionary 760 N. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8601 Spring Chapel Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-6493 Sweetwater
Area Church Services Agapé Assembly of God Hwy. 63 North Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday Night Service 7 p.m. Balm of Gilead Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Bethlehem East Baptist Church Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Discipleship Training 5 p.m. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday Evening 7 p.m. Beulah Missionary Baptist Church P.O. Box 130, Eclectic 36024 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship Services 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday Services 6 p.m. Friday Services 6 p.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Class 1st Tuesday Prayer Meeting 6 p.m. Central Baptist Church Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Adult Choir Practice 5 p.m. Evening Worship Service 6 p.m. Wednesday: Children, Youth and Adult Bible Study/Prayer Meeting 6:30 p.m. Central United Methodist Church Sunday Morning 9:30 a.m.
Chaney Creek Primitive Baptist Church Every Sunday except 2nd Sunday 10:30 a.m. Saturday before 2nd Sunday 10:30 a.m. Chapel United Methodist Church Services 2nd and 4th Sunday 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 2nd and 4th 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 1st, 3rd and 5th 10 a.m. Claud Independent Methodist Church 81232 Tallassee Hwy Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study 7 p.m. Eclectic First Baptist Church Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Discipleship Training 5 p.m. Wednesday: Meal 5:30 p.m. Youth, Children and Adult Studies and Activities 6:15 p.m. Eclectic United Methodist Church 1035 Main Street Morning Service 10:50 a.m. Evening Service 6 p.m. Wednesday: Meal 5:30 p.m. Service 6:30 p.m.
Georgia Road Church of Christ 4003 Georgia Road Sunday: Morning Bible Study 9 a.m. Morning Worship 10 a.m. Evening Worship 5 p.m. Wednesday: Mid-Week Bible Study 7 p.m. Good Hope Baptist Church 1766 S. Fleahop Road Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Discipleship Training 5 p.m. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday: Prayer Service 7 p.m. TeamKID and “R.U.S.H” Youth Celebration 6:30 p.m. Healing Waters Church of God 1639 Kowaliga Road Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday: Family Training Hour 7 p.m. Kendrick Memorial Baptist Church Hwy. 9 Nixburg Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Mt. Hebron Church of Christ 4530 Mt. Hebron Road Sunday: Morning Bible Study 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday:
Mid-Week Bible Study 7 p.m. Mt. Hebron East Baptist Church Sunday School 10 a.m. Sunday Worship 11 a.m. Wednesday: Children in Action 6:30 p.m. Bible Study and Prayer Meeting 6:30 p.m. First Wednesday of Month Potluck supper, Bible study and prayer meeting, 6 p.m. Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Sunday: Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: Bible Study and Prayer Meeting 6:30 p.m. Adult Choir Practice 6:30 p.m. Prospect Baptist Church Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Discipleship Training 6 p.m. Worship Service 7 p.m. Wednesday: Bible Study and Teen Kid 6:30 p.m. Refuge Baptist Church 3098 Red Hill Road Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Rock Springs Baptist Church 375 Rigsby Rd, Tallassee AL 334-283-1156
Submit your church calendar items and events to: thewetumpkaherald.com
Rushenville Baptist Church 10098 Georgia Road Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 5 p.m. Bible Study 6 p.m. GA’s, RA’s 6 p.m. Adult Choir Practice 6:45 p.m. Wednesday: Bible Study and Prayer Meeting 6 p.m. Salem Road Baptist Church 12 Old Salem Road Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Sunday Night Services 6 p.m. Wednesday Evening Prayer 7 p.m. Providence Primitive Baptist Church 4850 Chana Creek Road Bible Study 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Evening Worship 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Prayer and Praise 7 p.m. Union No. 2 Missionary Baptist Church PO Box 240452 Eclectic, AL 36024 Sunday School - 10 a.m. Morning Worship - 11:15 Tuesday Bible Study - 6 p.m. Watson Chapel Congregation 2223 East Cotton Road Sunday School 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m.
ClassiÄeds
Lake & River Fax (205) 669-4217
Reaching more than 22,000 households in Tallapoosa and Elmore counties
The Alexander City Outlook
The Dadeville Record
Phone (256) 277-4219
classifieds@alexcityoutlook.com public.notices@alexcityoutlook.com classifieds@thewetumpkaherald.com public.notices@thewetumpkaherald.com
The Eclectic Observer
The Tallassee Tribune
23; ,-6-2+ %00 437-8-327 %VI ]SY IRIVKIXMG ERH IRXLYWMEWXMG# %VI ]SY HIXIVQMRIH XS WYGGIIH# 8LIR ETTP] SR SYV GEVIIVW TEKI EX [[[ 5YMO4E[R7LST GSQ )UYEP 3TTSVXYRMX] )QTPS]IV
23; ,-6-2+ 7XSVI 1EREKIVW '76W %VI ]SY IRIVKIXMG ERH IRXLYWMEWXMG# %VI ]SY HIXIVQMRIH XS WYGGIIH# 8LIR ETTP] SR SYV GEVIIVW TEKI EX [[[ %P[E]W1SRI] GSQ )UYEP 3TTSVXYRMX] )QTPS]IV
;I VI +VS[MRK ERH ;I 2IIH +SSH 4ISTPI -J ]SY VI LSRIWX KSSH HVMZMRK VIGSVH GER TEWW E HVYK XIWX XLIR [I VI PSSOMRK JSV ]SY 'SQI F] 7IGYVMX] 4IWX 'SRXVSP 'LIVSOII 6H %PI\ 'MX] SV IQEMP WIG T G MRG$QMRHWTVMRK GSQ
Alexander City (Lake Martin) www.russellmedcenter.com RN ICU/Step-Down (ft-prn)
Athletic Trainer (ATC)
RN Med/Surg (PRN) (FT)
Medical Tech (MT)(PRN)
RN OB/PEDS (FT)
Security Guard (PRN)
RN Emergency Dept.
Environmental Servs. (PRN)
Sleep Lab Tech (RPSGT)
LPTA (PRN)
LPN/Clinic FT
Fax: 256/329-7335 or Phone: 256/329-7345 jsherman@russellmedcenter.com
The Wetumpka Herald
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
APRIL 14, 2016 • PAGE 7
r r r r r
LOCAL NEWS THAT’S REALLY LOCAL. Really. 2015 Wetumpka Herald Offensive Player of the Year: Nathan Rourke. See Sports, pg. 8.
50¢
Moore law challenged by Same-sex marriage licenses to be issued out of Elmore County Contributed / The
Herald
licenses to issue any marriage Judge Ensley refuses Oƛice. County Probate from the Elmore
By KEVIN TAYLOR Copy Editor a Supreme A day after Alabam Moore Roy Court Chief Justicee order for all issued an executivthe state to stop , probate judges in marriage licenses issuing same-sex Probate Judge Elmore County issuing any John Enslen stopped . marriage licenses
on the Moore’s order comesdistrict t state heels of differen punch holes in the courts trying to ell v. Hodges landmark Obergef for same-sex case, which allowed marriages. ordered On Wednesday Moore by decision that “until further e Court, the the Alabama Suprem the Alabama existing orders of
Wesley charged with having sex with a student
Probate Court Court Judge John Enslen, in his official official capacity capacity as the the Chief Elections Officer of Elmore County, has petitioned petitioned the Circuit Circuit Co Court of Elmore County County for an emerg emergency declaration declaratio n judgment and fin finding on whether Andre’ L. Harris Harrison, current superintende su perintendent nt of ed superintendent education
Enslen
for Elmore County, can be placed on the ballot as an independent in the upcoming March 1 primary. Harrison, who was previously disqualified as a Republican candidate due to missing a certificate of administration from the Alabama State Department of Education, sent a letter of intent to Enslen Jan. 4 indicating he would run as an independent candidate, the petition alleges. In his petition, Enslen seeks the answers to four basic questions: Whether Harrison can appear on any subsequent ballot for an election after being disqual-
By KEVIN TAYLOR Copy Editor
years, but now It has been nine of Richard Wayne family members peace. Adams can be at Sheriff Bill Franklin Elmore County ent of forensic in said the state departm d his office earlier sciences contacte ly identify Adams, positive the week to body and skeletal whose decomposed near Possum Trot remains were found le community Road in the Deatsvil Feb. 25, 2009. Adams’ remains At the time when yards from 40 were found about Jordan, forensic the banks of Lake identify the sciences could not Their idea was an the top Challenge. was remains. Innovative App award-winner. It entries in skull was up Franklin said Adams’University and The students came app among 1,200 school a By KEVIN TAYLOR a State the sent to Louisian with the app “Money and the state to earn Copy Editor of North Texas. new ment For Me to the University put into the grant as well as later Manage e $5,000 Holtvill and of the stuA group of seven DNA was retrieved You.” tablets for each is cker, Index System. ted. Middle School students “We have a goal-tra Combined DNA and were able dents who participa to additionfunction hoping to raise an school “They got a hit “I was on my way games, a holiday the remains,” Mrs. saving and identify got ly for I tips al $15,000 for their when positive offer to school designing a to then contacted his issues I was almost after collectively Franklin said. “We avoiding money Barrett’s email. app. it,” team the holinew smartphone relatives.” before and after in tears when I read said. the Verbena a jingle Just before the Adams was from days. We also haveHMS stumember Hope Nelson is in County, 2 Thanksgiving break sixthcommunity in Chilton Now their app idea national for the app,” said See REMAINS • Page “We the Cheyanne Barrett’s dent Brooke Carrico. kid and contention to win 2 began Page • look grade students See HOLTVILLE made the app to ing an working on developVerizon adult-friendly.” app to enter in the
nt Student innovators win graenge Verizon app chall Holtville students excel in
Nashville meets Eclectic By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Contributed / The Observer
Good Hope Baptist Church brought Gospel and Art to The Warehouse. The event was held Jan. 17 and brought for fun for children of all ages. The Warehouse is known for hosting community-oriented events
THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY
The Warehouse in Eclectic finds ways to be a staple in the community By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
For years, The Warehouse in downtown Eclectic has been used to bring people together. The facility was once a cotton warehouse where farmers would bring their bounty to be sold. However, it was more than that. At the cotton warehouse people would come together to trade products and goods. Today, The Warehouse is once again bringing people together, in more ways than one. Not only does The Warehouse bring hearts together in marriage, it has become the heart of the community. “Our marriage to the community has been the best union,” said Aubrey Hornsby, who owns and
We live, work and play right here. We know what’s important to Elmore County. Rely on us. a.m., he bell rings at 7:30 than when the tardy don’t said. Redland drivers By JOHN W. PEELER “For instance, the until 6:20 (a.m.),” kids Managing Editor , then start picking up if you go to Redland any amount on the Mullino said. “So, Redland School. If you To a 10-year-old, like a long time, but ) to seem you go (straight eighth and up, then … they rtation school bus may Transpo Schools and Public school and ng are in seventh Elmore County go to the middle Mullino, said evaluati are picked up and Coordinator, Ray capacity of every bus is a high school.” sure bus routes and the growing process to make community is a ed Redland committ buses home constant and ongoing and has school and back students community, he said, students arrive at Elementary School at the only for Redland under safely. are checked out longest routes are and after those buses Mullino said the may be on See BUS • Page 2 though the drivers must have two hours, even as 6 a.m. Drivers the road as early schools no later ve respecti the students at their
CONTACT US
334-567-3284 334-567-7811 • Fax:
USPS 681-260
Page 2 See RESTAURANT Pag
TToday’s Today’ oday’ss
constantly evaluated School bus routes, numbers
Elmore County Public Schools Transportation Department constantly monitors transportation routes and the numbers of students that ride the buses and make any adjustments that may need to be made.
John Peeler / The
Herald
t
a Ma rke mpka Fle Wetu & An tiq uesd 25,000 Sq. Ft.
• Air Conditione
114 DEALER
S
334 -56 7-2 666 mpka
231, 5266 U.S. Hwy. Winn Dixie Shoppin
OPINION
Wetu
g Center • Behind
KFC
Weather W Weat Wea eather e atthe her err
operates The Warehouse in downtown Eclectic. The Warehouse often hosts events specifically for the community. In October The Warehouse hosted the Auburn/Alabama Dance for the children of the town. Many of the local churches of all denominations use the facility for community gatherings. “I think there’s a tradition of The Warehouse partnering with local churches for several years now,” Hornsby said. “Its cross is at the center of town. We love to work with the local churches.” When the town of Eclectic decided to adopt a strategic plan last year, the goal was to envision the town 30 years into the future. In the developed plan The Warehouse is the center of town.
Aubrey Hornsby is no stranger to the entertainment business. He spent many years in Nashville, which is the hub of the country music industry. Today, Hornsby hopes to bring a little bit of Nashville right here to Eclectic. Hornsby said he hopes the newly formed group will offer a creative outlet for women that will allow various perspectives to shine through. “I’d like it to be uplifting, but you have to tell the truth and not every bit of the truth is uplifting,” he said. “Sometimes you have to sing the blues.” Currently, the group hopes to meet on a regular basis at the Warehouse on Main Street in Eclectic. “I want to inspire an ongoing women songwriters night. We call it Songs of Love and Life,” Hornsby said. The group is in its beginning stages and Hornsby is searching for a professional female performer that will offer knowledge and experience to the amateurs See SINGERS • Page 2
Legislators representing Autauga a and Elmore counties, along with A Autauga County Engineer John Mark D Davis and Elmore County Engineer R Richie Beyer toured the two counties r recently for a sampling of the road a bridge issues facing the two counand t ties. The tour is part of the DRIVE A Alabama campaign. Beyer said he and the Davis coll laborated together to highlight the p positive things the counties have done t through the Alabama Transportation R Rehabilitation and Improvement P Program. “This was to show some of our l legislators some of our needs,” he said. “Just to drive home the point to t them we are doing everything we can w with our resources, but we really are i need of some more road and bridge in
funding. We want to take what we’ve done good in ATRIP and leverage some of that money on routes that are eligible for federal funds … which is in our case about 75 percent of our paved road system.” Beyer said only about 200 miles of Elmore County’s 800-mile system is eligible for federal aid money to them. “We’ve got a problem in Elmore County where we are doing anywhere from on an annual basis of 10 to 15 miles of road work and our problem is in the 200 mile range,” he said. “We’re not really making too big a dent in it. As soon as we do 10 to 15 miles a year, we have 10 to 15 miles that fall in that same condition, so we’re not really making that much headway on it.” Beyer said there are 800 miles of paved roadways in the county in addition to the 200 miles of dirt roadways. See TOUR • Page 2
C &S
DEER PROCESSING –Whaley Family–
TALLASSEE, AL
DEDICATED TO
36078
TALLASSEETRIBUNE .COM
MAX GUNTER
THE GROWT H AND PROSPE
RITY OF THE
January 13,
HOUSE ILLEGAL
SEE AREA
earns incom
conditions. Whether it Alabama was gories and was floodi and bridge of hit hard by recent severe closures, soil ng, road four were in those considered, weather and downed powe erosion, nearly any in ranged from good condition, six given count al wells and r lines or individumediocre to y it seemed that septic system and poor s, there matioone lacked enough inforseen from thesome effect could be was little left entire n for a grade ly unaffected damaging by the storm conditions to be deters. mined. that made theirstorm And that meant through the The state receiv more southern states way was put on the t last two ed a “good infrastructu strain over rating of weeks. a re systems, which “B” in the catego ” And Alabama’s earlier in Decem of aviation, ries had been given energy, ports ber a along rail, with that of infrastructure, and a while statew all grade of it ide any given a affect a “C-” in the over- to poor gradereceived mediocre ed community, report card latest was h hard by hit from a “C+” to a s ranging from the holiday also Society of Civil the American “D-” in drinki weather water, bridge ng Engineers. The report water, inland s, waste and storm covered 11 catewaterways and See INFRASTRUC TURE • Page 2
50¢
VOL. 117, NO.
plete
Carmen Rodgers Tribune
/ The
Rec offers self defense classes Director Golde
By CAR CARMEN RODGE RS Staff Writer Writ
REMEMBERING MLK Day with
City celebrates MLK
2
Thurlow Dam with the Àood gates open after recent Àooding in the Tallass ee area. The dam was one of many included in the infrastructure report card.
CCommunity bands ttogether, forms nneighborhood watch
Recently, James Rece and Ricke Ric y Jones Martin, Wanda Jones decided to in Tallassee be proactive and surrounding have for formed the areas. Tallassee Neigh They Watch Group G borhood . The ular meeti meet ngs wheregroup will hold regcommunity uni are welcomembers of the three said said they hope me to join. The spread and and the sayingthe initiative will “see something, See NEIGHBORHO OD • Page 2
IMMIGRANTS
GREATER TALLAS
2016
frastructure
By COREY ARWO OD Staff Writer
NO PLACE TO
n teaches participants easyto-learn techniques
a march and ceremon y
By COREY ARWO OD Staff Writer Blalock, along A number of Jimmy Rodg with Police Chief Tallassee churc have once again the Tallassee ers and members of hes combined effort organize the are expected Police Department s to to be in attend King Jr. Day annual Martin Luther well. ance, as prominent citycelebration and both “It’s just strictl offici als as well y a memorilocal religio al march in as us memory of to speak and leaders are expected and the contri Dr. King attend. The cerem to mankind. bution that he made It’s a celebr march at 10 ony will begin with a across ation all the country a.m. Jan. 18 so we to start at First that is set here in the city of Tallas decided Church in TallasUnited Methodist would come see that we one mile down see and span about Blalock, city together,” said Charles end at 48 Log Gilmer Parkway and also master council member and Circle. of ceremonies Mayor Bobb MLK Day for the event speak and councy Payne is slated to This will be . il member Charl about the seven es th
By COREY ARWO OD Staff Writer Rick Golde instructor and n, self-defense cours e director of department the recreation , could use thesaid he thought anyon e he developed easy-to-learn techniques for the self-d efense classes set to begin in the next week or so. With a chop to the throat, a gouge in the eyes and a knee in the groin to a “body-oppo nent bag,” played one Golden dismetho would-be attack d to incapacitate any Registration er. is now open classes that are scheduled for the to meet for an See DEFENSE • Page 2
In Print & Online! See WAREHOUSE • Page 2
Legislators sample road and bridge issues in Elmore and Autauga
By JOHN PEELER Managing Editor
LOCAL, PG.
10 Learning Tree s Boots and Bow Ties fundraise r set for Feb. 5
The Tallassee Tribune Alabama in
ified for that year; whether Harrison may legally be an independent candidate; whether Harrison’s name should appear on the election ballot in the event he supplies the requisite independent-candidate petition and whether any votes cast for him if his name is placed on the general-election ballot, should be counted. Should Harrison be required to present an independent-candidate petition, the petition would have to contain not less that 625 valid signatures of registered See COURTS Page 2
By COREY ARWOOD ARWOOD Staff Writer Writer
Herald
Reeltown narrows coac h search down to top five candidates, Pg. 11
Vol. 27, No. 4
Restauran Restaurant Restau rantt aims aims high high g withh farm wit farm to plate concept plate con concep cep A small restaurant restaurant opened opened in Eclectic Eclectic this week week run by a farming family family with a vision to turn local local food into into a loca local movement of of farm to table dining. For now, Farm Farm Boyz Eatery Eate Eate serves lunch, lunch, breakfast breakfast and primarily operates as as a bakery and and café from 6:30 a.m.-2 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday Monday through Friday. But if the plans of Whitehill Farm Boyz’ owner, Kevin Kevin Whitehill, pan out it it would eventually serve, what what he called, farm farm to table table dinners dinners. shop Located in the corner corner sho just down from Trustmark Trustmark Bank on Kowaliga Kowaliga Road Road in downtown Eclectic, Eclectic, Farm Farm Boyz operates operates as a working working kitchen and and a base of of operations for projects Whitehill has in mind mind for the community. His restaurant restaurant is focused focused mostly on baked goods. goods. Whitehill said he tries tries to use
REPLACING A LEGEND
Grapplers move to 20-1, defeat Stanhope Elmore.
Probate Prob ate judg judge seeks clarification from Circuit Court on eligibility of independent candidates
working on de students began e Barrett’s sixth-gra app among 1,200 e. It was the top iving break, Cheyann Innovative App Challeng tablets for each of the students Just before the Thanksg to enter in the Verizon well as new a $5,000 grant as developing an app earning the school entries in the state who participated.
By KEVIN TAYLOR Copy Editor A Marbury High School teacher wasand y arrested Thursda count charged with one e of a school employe act engaging in a sexual g with a student, accordin to Millbrook Police P.K. Chief Johnson. Brian J. Wesley, 30, of Millbrook was Wesley arrested in the circuit Elmore County y in clerk’s office Thursda Wetumpka. as a Wesley is listed at social studies teacher g Marbury High, accordin to the school’s website. 2 • See ARREST Page
SPORTS PAGE 12
Page 11
THURSDAY • JANUARY 28, 2016
By JOHN PEELER PEELER Managing Editor Editor
that Alabama Supreme Court a ministerial probate judges have marriage any duty not to issue the Alabama to license contrary e Amendment Sanctity of Marriag on Marriage Protecti a or the Alabam force and effect.” Act remain in full probate judges With that, some order, but not have ignored Moore’s 2 See MARRIAGE • Page
ered Remains originally discov near Possum Trot Road
Kevin Taylor / The
The
Will Wi ll c cur current ur superintendent be on ballot?
Human remains identified from 2009 discovery
Marbury teacher arrested on sex charges
Page 12
TheWetumpkaHerald.com TheWetumpkaHerald.co TheWetumpk aHerald.com m
2016
ALD.COM THEWETUMPKAHER
No marriage
Pet of the Week: Sally
Ecclectic Observer Page 4 Pag
VOL. 11, NO. 2
• JANUARY 9-10, SATURDAY-SUNDAY
Wetumpka, AL 36092
Sports: Lady Panthers trounce Tigers
Opinion: State Opinion: State general gen surface fund woes will surf in new new session. sessi sessi
Carmen Rodger What will be a s / The Tribune cov d bus covere shelter of Jones Mobile Mobile H Home Park, was for the children Ricky Jones. the brainchild Jones. Jones Jone had this built for the neighb of hood and encour encoura orages ag g others to follow suit.
Four TTPD officer s
By CARMEN RODGER RS Staff Writer Writer
Contributed / The Observer
Senator Clyde Chambliss and Representative Mike Holmes listen to Elmore County Engineer Richie Beyer brief the two during the Autauga and Elmore counties road tour. The tour was part of the DRIVE Alabama campaign.
88199 Tallassee Hwy.
receive promotio
LINVILL
(1 Mile from the old Johnny G’s)
E MEMORIAL
•Vacuum-seal Available •Basic Cut . . . Starting at $55 $5 $ 55
( 334) 283-2876 ( 334
See MLK • Page
F U N E R A L Crem
H O ations and Monument s
84632 Talla
M E
ssee Hwy. [ Ecle 334.639.473 ctic, AL 0 www.linv illememorial. com
2
ns
Tallassee Police Depar a promotion tion ceremony tment held Wednesday honor memb members to ers wh who have advan to higher ranks ced . Chris Ch Owen Ch Benny Merri by and Merritt commander tt were promoted to . Owenby b is now commander of invest igatio ig igat at ns and Merri iss commander ander of pat tt pa patrol t s. Mitch Wright and and Alex Hood ell Hoo were Hoo ed d from patrol promo patrol officer r to Sergeant. tThe he ceremony office took p place in front police lice headq headqua uarter rterss w where memb of the e Tallas Tallassee see Police Police D Department ers along ng with with friend s and family , ored d the men. honThe ceremonial event eve even n was the first of it’s t’s kind kind of the the Tallassee Mitchell Wright, Police Alex Hood, Chis of promotion Owenby and See PROMO PROM TION given Wedne Benny Merritt Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune • Page 2 Station. sday during the stand with their Promotions Cerem certi¿ ony at the Tallass cates ee Police
CONTACT US
334-283-6568
/ FAX: 334-2
83-6569
Follow us on
or visit us at:
www.TallasseeTr ibune.com
Tallassee Tra
87118 Hwy.
14 Tallassee,
- FREE ESTI
MAT
nsmission
AL
ES Specializes in Overdrive 30 Years Experience
Q Free Comp uter Diagnostics Q Transmissi (with repair on Tune Ups ) Q Foreign & Q Trucks & Domestic 4-Wheel Drive Q Clutch & 334-283 Axies
-1199 or 334 -657-9924
C&
DEER PROCS ESS
ING
–Whaley Fami
ly–
88199 Talla
(1 Mile from
ssee Hwy.
the old Johnn
y G’s)
•Vacuum-s
•Basic Cut
eal Available
. . . Starting
( 334) 283
at $55 $5 $ 55
-2876 ( 334
¿
$
The Tallassee Tribune
39 for 1 year $ 21 for 1 year $ 21 for 1 year
Call David Kendrick Today 256-234-4281 www.thewetumpkaherald.com • www.thetallasseetribune.com
SPORTS
Cory Diaz Sports Editor Phone 334-567-7811 sports@thewetumpkaherald.com
PAGE 8 • APRIL 14, 2016
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
DADEVILLE TIGERS END PANTHERS’ SEASON By CORY DIAZ The Wetumpka Herald
Dadeville finished off Elmore County, 14-4, in five innings, bursting its lastgasp playoff bubble in its season finale last Thursday at Tony J. McGhee Field. The Tigers roughed up senior pitcher Eli Cobb for 12 runs in the game’s first three frames, and coupled with the five miscues from the Panthers’ defense, ECHS’s postseason dreams faded fast in the Class 4A, Area 5 matchup. Elmore County misses the 4A playoffs for the third consecutive season – and what hurts worse, the young team couldn’t close out the tight area ballgames, head coach Wendell Jackson said. “We were so down in the first part of the season, getting beat pretty bad,” Jackson said. “Then we went on a stretch of about eight to 10 games where we won some games and were losing close games. Then we got to area, still competing and we lost 2-1, 4-1, 4-1.” Senior leadoff Travis Rawls led ECHS offensively with three hits, while fellow senior Nathan Taylor added two hits in Thursday’s loss to Dadeville. Cobb took the loss, striking out five. In relief, junior Chandler Falks threw two innings, giving up two runs off six hits and fanned two hitters. The Panthers (6-20) failed to reach double-digit wins for the second time in the last three seasons and lost 20 games for the first time since 2010. “I think it was inexperience and consistency of play,” Jackson said. “I think it had something to do with injuries, that hurt us a little bit. We only had two guys that had big-time varsity experience, and the reason I can’t say Josh (Wilson) is because he hurt his arm his sophomore
Cory Diaz / The Observer
Elmore County sophomore pitcher Jonathan Stiff (24) offers a pitch versus Holtville earlier this season.
year and his knee his junior year. So he didn’t play so much.” While his young team didn’t breakthrough, Jackson lauded the performance of sophomore right-hander Jonathan Stiff in the area series-opening losses to Holtville, 2-1, and Dadeville, 4-1. “He did as well as he possibly could. Jonathan did a good job of limiting the
opposing hitters and limited the pitches they got to see,” the coach said. “When we threw strikes as a staff, we were pretty successful as far as the defensive part of it. Our offense, we didn’t take advantage of the pitches we got the opportunity to see, whether we didn’t swing at them. And that’s due to inexperience.”
With how the season started, Jackson said he was happy with the way the Panthers ended the season despite whiffing on the postseason. “I was proud of the way we bounced back from the first part of the year. We really competed, and that really said a lot about the guys.”
Dadeville drops Lady Panthers in area opener By CORY DIAZ The Wetumpka Herald
Dadeville’s late charge doomed Elmore County in both teams’ season area opener last Thursday. Trailing 2-0, the Lady Tigers moved four runs across the plate in the bottom of the sixth and held off the Lady Panthers (9-15, 0-1) in the next half inning to win, 4-3, and claim the Class 4A, Area 5 lead. Elmore County, who had beaten Dadeville twice earlier this year, struck first in the second, giving freshman pitcher Alyssa Beam a lead in her first career area game start. “Alyssa had a lot of success in pitching against
them before in a tournament and we won those games,” Lady Panther softball coach Kimberly Moncrief said starting Beam over the more experienced sophomore Nicole Ferpes. “I was trying to maybe not show everybody we have at one time. That way, we have pitchers they haven’t seen before when we go into the area tournament.” Beam, who saw two of her three wins this season came against Dadeville, kept the Tigers off the board through five innings before allowing the late surge. In the loss, she gave up four runs on six hits and struck out two hitters with no walks. Senior shortstop and University of Alabama
signee Elissa Brown paced the Lady Panthers’ offense, accounting for three of the team’s seven total hits, including a double, and scored a run. Sophomore Nicole Ferpes had an RBI double. Junior catcher Ladaisha Pierson went 1-for-3 with a run scored and Beam added a hit. On Tuesday, Elmore County split with Horseshoe Bend, the first a 3-1 win, completing a rain out earlier from this season, and dropping the second game, 4-1. Not getting the type of run and hit production needed to win close, area ballgames, Moncrief said, before the team meets area and county rival Holtville today, it’ll try to improve
Cory Diaz / The Observer
Elmore County sophomore rightfielder Juaneka Patterson (6) lays down a bunt at Horseshoe Bend Tuesday.
its offense. “We were ahead 1-0 (in the second game at Horseshoe Bend), and then they started hitting the ball. They were able to key in on (Ferpes)
and scored some runs,” Moncrief said. “And were not able to hit as well as they were able to hit. “We’ve had some close calls with some good teams. We’re competing,
we’ve just got to learn how to push an extra run or two to get us over the top. Before the area tournament, hopefully we can gel together and learn how to close out tight games.”
Relay team leads Wild Game Cook-off heats up April 28 ECHS to MA invite By CORY DIAZ The Wetumpka Herald
Elmore County boys and girls track and field teams placed 13th and 20th, respectively, Saturday at the Montgomery Academy Invitational Meet. Relay teams pieced together a strong day and garnered big points for both squads. The ECHS girls 4X100-meter relay team crossed the line less than 2.5 seconds behind the event winner Park Crossing, coming in fifth with a time of 53.44. In the boys 4X400-meter relay, the Panthers team placed fourth, running a 3:45.82., while the boys 4X100-meter team finished ninth, posting a 49.10. Individually, freshman D.J. Patrick stayed solid in the jump events, taking second in the boys long jump and third in the boys triple jump. Booker
T. Washington’s Jamichael Manley bested Patrick in both events, clipping the Panther by four inches in the long jump with Manley posting a 21-foot, 7-inch jump and Patrick at 21-foot, 3-inch. Triple jump wasn’t as close as Manley measured out at 43 feet, nine inches and Patrick leapt 41 feet, one inch. Senior sprinter Elissa Brown led the way for the ECHS girls team, securing a ninth-place finish in the 100-meter dash (12.94) and an 11th-place showing in the 200-meter dash (27.19). Sophomore Jakob Hodges came in seventh in the boys 110-meter hurdles event, clocking in at 18.97 and 11th in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 47.44. In the girls long jump, Mazaria Ransaw placed 11th with a try of 12 feet, nine inches.
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Are you ready to taste some of the best wild game the Tri-County area has ever put on a plate? On Thursday, April 28 get your taste buds geared up for the Alabama Wildlife Federation Wild Game Cook-Off as the Cook-Off is moving to the AWF Headquarters in Millbrook. The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. and in addition to the outstanding cuisine, musical entertainment and raffle, there will be a fantastic silent auction. Delicious wild game, fish and fowl will be available for you to sample. Prizes will be awarded to first- through thirdplace in each division, as well as Best Overall and a People’s Choice Award sponsored by POWERSPORTS of Montgomery. The overall winner will be invited to the state finals held at Lanark in Millbrook on August 6 to compete
for the title of AWF 2016 Wild Game Cook-Off State Champion. The event will be the perfect opportunity for sportsmen and women and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy some good ol’ fashion fun and fellowship, and for backyard chefs to show off their culinary skills. Ample servings of great food are always featured, including entrees such as venison, duck, dove, pheasant and much more. Tickets are $50 per person/per couple, and proceeds benefit Alabama Wildlife Federation’s programs and projects. The ticket price includes one Alabama Wildlife Federation membership, a subscription to the Alabama Wildlife magazine, and all of the food you can eat! Tickets are available online at alabamawildlife.org or contact the Alabama Wildlife Federation at 1-800-822-WILD. The Alabama Wildlife Federation, established by sportsmen in 1935, is the state’s oldest and largest citizens’ conservation organization. The mission of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, a 501c3 non-profit group supported by membership dues and donations, is to promote conservation and wise use of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources as a basis for economic and social prosperity. To learn more about the Alabama Wildlife Federation, including membership details, programs and projects, visit www.alabamawildlife.org or by phone at 1-800-822-WILD.