‘Cats kick South Choctaw out of second round . Sports, Page 8. Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
SATURDAY-SUNDAY • APRIL 23-24, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 11, NO. 16
Third victim from March drive-by shooting dies
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
A third victim has died from the March 19 shooting in Wetumpka that killed two, injured two more and resulted in the arrest of Marcus Edwards, who now faces three counts of murder. Jacoreian Jennings, 24, died Saturday, April 16, according to an obituary from Wetumpka’s Hillside Memorial and Gardens funeral home.
Edwards waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday after a warrant was signed to change one of the first degree assault charges he faced into a murder charge. A spokesperson for the office of Elmore County District Attorney Randall Houston said his case would now be presented directly to a grand jury on a date which has yet to be determined. Edwards faced f, two murder charges and two charges of assault in the first
degree that were read to him at a March 21 bond hearing before Elmore County District Judge Glenn Goggans. At the hearing Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson said approximately 10 different bullets were fired from a 9-millimeter handgun and hit a target in the densely populated area of South Shelby Street where the shooting occurred. Allegedly, Edwards shot into a crowd from a vehicle as he was travelling with
a passenger. The shooting was allegedly the result of a dispute among family members. Killed were, D’Osha Jackson, 19, and Darryl “Bunny” Hunt. Roderick Jones was injured and Jennings recently died from his injuries. A Montgomery man that was said to be Edwards’ uncle, Martin A. King, 34, was arrested later and charged with supplying the handgun to the alleged shooter.
Commission hosts Government Day session
Elmore County summer food service begins at close of school year
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
With the school year coming to a close, any resident of Elmore County can still ensure at least two meals a day for a child 18 years old and under during the months of June and July. On one day last summer there were up to 1,200 children served lunch through the Break For a Plate Summer Food Service Program, said Kim Smith, the child nutrition director with Elmore County School Board. It is the second year the county has offered the program which is provided by the USDA and the Alabama Department of Education. The program offers breakfast and lunch, free of charge, five days a week, and this year Smith said the service would be expanding to two locations at Stanhope High School and Wetumpka High School. There are very few restrictions on who can access the program, and enrollment in a county school is not a requirement. Smith said as long they are in Elmore County, 18 or under, they can receive the two meals. The service is not limited to individuals. According to See SUMMER • Page 3
Submitted / The Herald
Dr. Andre’ Harrison accepts the Auburn University College of Education Outstanding Administrator Award from College of Education Dean Betty Lou Whitford, right, and Dr. Sherri Downer, left.
OUTSTANDING ADMIN Dr. Andre’ Harrison honored by AU College of Education STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Dr. Andre’ Harrison serves as the Superintendent of Education for the Elmore County Board of Education, in Wetumpka. At a ceremony in April, he won the Auburn University College of Education Outstanding Administrator Award. During his 23-year tenure as an educator in Elmore County, he has served as a teacher, library media specialist, interim principal, acting principal, transition principal, attendance, textbook, and library media education coordinator, and Director of Curriculum, Instruction, interim assistant superintendent for instructional services and human resources, assistant superintendent of education, deputy superintendent/chief of staff, and
acting superintendent of education. In addition to his work with Elmore County, he has been an adjunct instructor for Alabama State University in the areas of English and K-12 education since 1995. He has also served as an adjunct instructor for Auburn University. He was among the first group of certified AdvancED Lead Evaluators in the United States to evaluate school districts using the AdvancED District Accreditation Protocol. He has had the opportunity to serve on and lead external review teams at the district and school levels. He received a bachelor’s degree in English/language arts, a Master’s in English, a Class A certification in library media education, and a Class A certification in education administration from Alabama State See ADMIN • Page 3
The County Commission met before roughly 300 or more high school seniors from across Elmore County in a special County Government Day meeting to illustrate a commission meeting, and show how some of the county’s decisions were made. The meeting was conducted normally with a work session and business meeting. Occasionally a council member would explain the proceedings to the students. A special item in the work session was a proclamation read by Elmore County Juvenile Court Judge Patrick Pinkston in coordination with the County Extension Office and Department of Human Resources for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Pinkston read the proclamation, which he said was a joining of forces between his office as juvenile judge and the commission on the issue of child abuse. See COMMISSION • Page 3
Corey Arwood / The Herald
Roughly 300 students attending a demonstration on how the County Commission handles local government affairs.
Lanier and crew work towards new trail construction By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
CONTACT US 334-567-7811 • Fax: 334-567-3284
Jimmy K. Lanier is at it again, cleaning and clearing land for hikers to enjoy. Lanier and a crew of five men are working hard to clear the walking paths for the Forever Wild trails that will follow the majority of the length of Gold Mine Road where the Highline and Lowline Railroad, which carried needed materials during the construction of Martin Dam, once ran. The railroad system was the most effective and efficient method of carrying the heavy supplies needed to construct the
It’s Easy!! Place your vehicle in our classi¿eds until it sells! $ 00
49
Ad includes photo with a description. (20 word limit)
256-277.4219
pka m u t e W
Carmen Rodgers / The Herald
Bill Garnett and Jimmy K. Lanier stand behind years of trash and debris that has been illegally dumped into the ravine that will soon be part of the new Alabama Forever Wild hiking trails that will follow the old Highline and Lowline Railroad bed.
Flea Market & Antiques
25,000 Sq. Ft. • Air Conditioned rk! s Wo eks d e ҕ i Class ld in 2 we ds.
ar so ssifie “My c ing the cla ” – John us k you! Than 548 Cherokee Road Ƈ Alexander City, AL
Call Today!
massive dam. The train tracks made a loop down to the dam. This loop included a total of seven bridges. Today, however, there are no signs of these bridges. This is why the Hiking Association plans on building a suspension bridge for hikers to cross at the exact location where the railroad trestle once stood. “This suspension bridge will be the longest suspension bridge this side of the Mississippi,” said Lanier. The total stretch of the suspension bridge will span well over the length of a football field. See TRAIL • Page 3
114 DEALERS
334-567-2666
5266 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC