LOCAL: Dadeville shooting survivor Shamiyah Laney Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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‘Cat ladies’ Holtville High School basketball coach arrested case no longer being prosecuted Philstavious Shaunkivia
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 County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afSchool and was He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordA virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” County School’s Edge program ministrative website. Dennis said school officials 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 with school employee distrib- according to Elwhen 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 uting obscene material to a stu- more County Corbin Holston Marsiah Collins school staff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assisSchools superBy CLIFF WILLIAMS Dowdell “KeKe” Nicole Smith “Once we hand it over, we security code“Phil” Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richto his phone and tant football coach. News Editorsaid Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. know very little about what is he was not responsible. There Franklin 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 reThe City of Wetumpka is no longer pursuing cooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminturned himself into authorities port,” Dennis third-degree criminal trespass charges against Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.” Beverly Roberts, 85, and Mary Alston, 61. The Wetumpka women were found guilty of third-degree criminal trespassing in December in municipal court and appealed the decision to circuit court. According to court records, last Wednesday the City of Wetumpka through its prosecutor W. Kendrick James filed motions to have the charges against the women nolle prosse, meaning the city is no longer prosecuting the trespassing charges from June 2022 arrests. The motion was granted by 19th Circuit Court Judge Amanda Baxley Wednesday afternoon. James had recused himself from the original By Cliff Members case because of a Williams conflict of interest but filed a Staff Writer of the notice of appearance with court to file the nollee Wetumpka prosse motion, stating the appearance was only The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its Chamber of for the motion. Commerce annual luncheon to install new officers and board No reason was given for the City of attend the members for the first time in a while Thursday. See CAT, Page A6 chamber’s “A The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathBy Cliff Williams Staff Writer
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members erings 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
Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
Elmore County Schools hosted its third annual ability games at the Wetumpka Sports Complex Friday. The event featured students from all of the Elmore County Schools taking part in a field day highlighted by a visit from Gov. Kay Ivey, Aubie and Big Al.
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. Police were dispatched to the parking lot around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. 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 three years. The last homicide “The City of in Law Enforcementover Agenthe city took place in 2018. cy (ALEA) public affairs Dadeville a good way to start outisthe new coordinator, said“It’s the not shootsaid Benton.a tight-knit ing occurred atyear,” a birthday Benton party and it remains an didn’t want to speculate on the
4 DEAD, 32 WOUNDED
IN DADEVILLE SHOOTING that left four people dead and 32 others wounded. The shooting occurred around 10:34 p.m. Saturhe Dadeville comday, according to officials, munity is in mourn- at Mahogany Masterpiece ing after a mass in downtown Dadeville. shooting Saturday night Jeremy Burkett, Alabama
‘Let the Games begin!’
BY WILL MARLOW & LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN TPI Staff
Elmore County Schools host third annual Ability Games
T
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3
CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERLAND
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
ongoing investigation.
See SHOOTING, Page B3
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal ofLIVES the year REMEMBERING LOST
Elmore County students competed basketball, balance beam, tic-tac-toe and more at the WetumpReport assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The kaStaff Sports Complex — all under the eyes ofschoolwide Gov. High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent Kay Ivey. TheElmore Alabama Association perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, The County Schools thirdofannual Ability Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excelpercent decrease in chronic By HENRY ZIMMER Publishers from 50 Saturday The fatalities includGames highlighted the special needs students in a (AASSP) Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionwithmass staff,shooting absenteeism, 7 percent increase Sports Writerlence. By collaborating night’s in ed Philstavious “Phil” day of fun fornamed all. School principal Futral the on such al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in thecurgraduation rate, 33 percent Dadeville. Two were Dowdell and Shaunkivia “It’s great to comeKyle together and put a 2022 Alabama Highextraordinary School Prin-and tive and innovative in his thinkFutral’s students, increase in CCR rate andNicole a 20 perThe fouridentified deceasedand addressed. rent Dadeville “KeKe” Smith, wonderful day for these resilient cipalfolks of the Year. their talents whileing and approaches to managing leadership style of one listening, cent increase in ACT proficiency victims have been idena DHSengraduate and young showcasing building High School Principal of last hisa school,” Dennis said,tified by Tallapoosa couraging, supporting, in the last five years. See LIVES, Page B3 oneorganizing an Opelika graduate. theirThe confidence and memories that will the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuSee PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to See GAMES, Page A6
4 left dead after mass shooting in Dadeville
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community full of wonderful people. What we have dealt with is something no community should have to endure.”
See SHOOTING, Page A3
— Dadeville Police Department chief Jonathan Floyd
FUTURAL
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