SPORTS: Wetumpka sweeps SEHS for area title, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8 INSIDE: DHR shines light on child abuse, B9 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 16 | $1.00
Fletcher Ellis found Holtville High School basketball coach arrested guilty of attempted murder WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Franklin said investigators Wilson was the head basket- investigation and handed it off Wilson was released on a ball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore $6,000 PETERS bond 90 minutes afHILL County SherJ. BROWN W. BROWN iff’s Office have the alleged vicSchool and was ter turning himself in accordHe was also placed on adminisBy MELODY RATHEL Deliberations lasted about tion from Fletcher in the A virtual teacher Elmore placed on trative leave at that MultimediaatReporter twoadhours. stabbing of time.” Michael Ellistim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail County School’s Edge program ministrative When court adjournedDennis website. said school officials and Donzell Drake Jr. ed Wilson’s phone as well. has been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure Fletcher Ellis Jr., 36, Tuesday afternoon, the At the start of court with school employee distrib- according to Elwhen administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtof Wetumpka, was found final conversation in the Wednesday morning, Fifth report of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being uting obscene material to a stu- more County guilty of two counts of courtroom surrounded the Judicial Circuit Court school staff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assisSchools superattempted murder by a possibility of the jury hear“Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richunanimous vote of the jury. ing a self-defense instrucSeeabout FLETCHER, A5was not responsible. There ELLIS know very little what isPagehe Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. Dennis said other staff would WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminturned himself into authorities port,” Dennis istrativescenes. leave. Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficialBytoLIZI Mr.ARBOGAST Wilson.” GWIN said. “We had a preliminary necessary.” By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
A year later, court proceedings continue Managing Editor
Of the six suspects, two of their records are Six alleged shooters being kept private due to in connection with the the Alabama ConfidentiApril 15 mass shooting in ality Act, which states all Dadeville are still awaiting juvenile suspects tried as their days in court, but that adults remain anonymous doesn’t mean there isn’t unless and until they are a lot going on behind the See COURT, Page A5
Police Chamber holds luncheon continue investigation, man no Sewell finalists longer announced suspected
welcoming members By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the senior athletes in Elmore chamber’sBy“ATPI STAFF Staff Report County who have conTaste of Our sistently represented the Home Town” By Jake Arthur It is the 20th year of highest ideals of Christian luncheon.
The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board members for the first time in a while Thursday. The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gatherings but the chamber celebrated the successes of business in Wetumpka. “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your attendance is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each
Videographerleadership. Each year, one the Joe SewellChief Memorial Award and 24 Elmore male and one female senior investigating the fatal County student Police athletesare arestillfrom Elmore County high shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart finalists. schools are chosen parkfor ing lot on Jan. 20. The award was estabthe top honor — the Joe Police were dispatched to the parking lot lished in 2005 to recognize Sewell Memorial Award around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. outstanding high school See SEWELL, Page B3 Once there, they found Centell Winston, 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound in the driver seat of his vehicle. According to Wetumpka police chief Greg Benton, this was not a random shooting. “This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” This is the first homicide in Wetumpka in over three years. The last homicide in the city took place in 2018. “It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI Benton didn’t want to speculate on the Stanhope Elmore principal Ewell Fuller, left, stands with students at attention during the Pledge of Allegiance at a Purple See SHOOTING, Page A3 Star School ceremony.
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ELMORE COUNTY PET ADOPTED BY
NEW YORK RESIDENT They are really only found “They did our applicain the Netherlands and there tion,” Cord said. “I did the is like a two-year long wait- vet check and I remember t was love at first sight — ing list.” writing them.” even online. Ventura kept searching on Ventura agreed to drive A year ago Kimberly Petfinder.com. She plugged to Alabama to pick up Finn Ventura of Yonkers, New in some details about Lola because the shelter doesn’t York was mourning the but didn’t limit the distance. ship pets. loss of her dog Lola. She Then it happened — Finn Cord put Finn on hold spent time online and figphotos showed up in March. believing Ventura would ured out she was a Dutch “I was in shock because pick up Finn over the weekTulip Hound with origins Finn looks just like my dog end. in the Netherlands. Ventura that passed,” Ventura said. “Then next thing I know was determined she wanted But the dog was 15 hours I got an email that they will another dog just like Lola, schoolwide away in assembly the shelteratat the be there next day,” Staff Report Holtville the schooltheculture from Cord that of a but there was an issue. Humane Elmore said. “They hit thewith roadlow andmoHigh School.Society Elmore of County Su- school struggling “I foundAssociation out this is anof perintendent County. The distance andwas rale, droveachievement straight through.” The Alabama Richard Dennis and attendance Secondary School in attendance forto thecross presentation. school strivesoffor excelextremely rare Principals breed,” seven states was no to aThe firstthat meeting (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle is an exceptionVentura said. “It is almost issue Futral and Ventura contacted lence. By collaborating with staff, Schoolimpossible principal Kyle Futral the al principal andCord. is very proac- many of school’s issues were to find them. director Rea Seethe ADOPTED, Page A7 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, enThe High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuSUBMITTED | TPI relaxes Yonkers, York afterFutral being has adopted from the Elmore Society. Futral onFinn Friday, Jan.in28 duringNew a School, transformed dents,County causedHumane the school culture to By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
I
Stanhope celebrates Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of thePurple yearStar School status
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shift in a positive direction. The By CLIFF WILLIAMS school experienced a 62 percent News Editor decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic Children of those in absenteeism, 7 percent increase the are often in the graduationmilitary rate, 33 percent overlooked. increase in CCR rate and a 20 persee parents cent increase inThey ACT proficiency deploy for months at a in the last five years. time. Many times they uprootedPage andA3moved See are PRINCIPAL, around the world multi-
ple times. In the case of Stanhope Elmore High School senior Julianna Peralta it has been two countries, nine moves and 12 schools. Now, she has been in Millbrook schools since the eighth grade. FUTURAL See PURPLE, Page B3
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