SPORTS: Wetumpka to take on Ben Russell in Round 2, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8 INSIDE: Joe Sewell finalists announced, A8 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 17 | $1.00
Two Publix set to open mid-summer in Elmore County Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By CLIFF WILLIAMS ing to U.S. 231 South in frame is expected for the News Editor Wetumpka around Christopening of Publix on HighBy Cliff Williams Wilson the head basketinvestigation and handed it off mas in 2022.was Millbrook way 14. Staff ball coach Holtville appropriate authorities. NewWriter grocery store officials joinedatPublix offi-HighAt to thethe moment, informaand was He was also retailers placed onis adminisoptions for residents of cialsSchool for a groundbreaking tion about other A virtual teacher at Elmoreceremony placed inonAugust ad- 2023 trative leaveCompany’s at that time.” Millbrook and Wetumplimited. Moore School’s to Edge programin western ministrative Dennis said school officials kaCounty are scheduled open Elmore County. Gene Cody is handling has been arrested and charged Trotman leave Jan. follow the same procedure soon. said 13 the leasing for retailers beyond with distrib-Wetumpka according to El- is set administrators Bothschool stores employee started conlocation Publixwhen in the Wetumpka receive a report of allegations against uting obscene to a stu-to open moremid-July. CountyCity struction about material the same development. school staff and employees. dent. Schools supertime. Charlie Trotman with of Millbrook economic “We can currently “Once we hand it over, we Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent RichThe Trotman Company development director Ann know very little about what is Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. announced Publix comHarper said a similar time See PUBLIX, Page A7 WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if turned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Franklin said investigators with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office have the alleged victim’s phone. Authorities collected Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversation between the two,” Franklin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
Quality of life projects to begin in fall
Chamber holds luncheon
Education and Tallassee City Schools. Elmore County superintendent Work to install new Richard Dennis said artificial turf fields in there was a meeting of Eclectic, Holtville and county and school offiTallassee will begin cials last week to project By in CliffOctober Williams in earnest a timeline for the work. Staffthe Writer as part of Phase 2 Engineering and surveyQuality of Life projects ing work is currently of Commerce funded byThe theWetumpka Elmore Chamber underway to allowheld the its annual luncheon to install new officers and board County Commission. bid process to be commembers for the first time in a while Thursday. All of the work is on pleted by the beginning COVID-19 property The owned by the pandemic put a hamper on gathbutBoard the chamber celebrated the successes of See PROJECTS, Page A7 Elmore erings County 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 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
welcoming members
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
Publix will open in July in Wetumpka. Wilson was released on a Developers said $6,000 bond 90 minutes afTropical Smoothie ter turning himself accordCafeinwill join it. ing to the Elmore County Jail Other retailers website. are in the works. Dennis said Publix Wilson also will also coached other sports at Holtopen this summer ville schools including being in Millbrook. the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
FUN FOR ALL AT THE CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
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 By CLIFF WILLIAMS kids to be the center of act,” the said students we “We do it,” Mill-the vicBenton. believe News Editor show. They come out and brook police chief P.K. tim and the perpetrator knew each other.” support their classmates on This Johnson is the firstsaid. homicide in Wetumpka heers and laughter Friday nights or any other Mann said,The “Other than in over three years. last homicide in were the order of the day with a ball game. Itthe citya took few place challenges they in 2018. day for the Elmore is their day to have their “It’s have, theyway justtowant not a good start to out the new County Public Schools time.” fun. They just want year,” have said Benton. Fourth Annual Ability Even before arriving Benton their moment shine.” on the didn’t want to speculate Games. at the Wetumpka Sports Volunteers and sponsors Kickball, chess and bas- Complex the event was love the ability games asPage A3 See SHOOTING, ketball were just some of significant. Pep walks well. the activities planned for greeted students as they “The Ability Games some of Elmore County’s loaded the buses, and is great for all involved, most special students. in Millbrook, the police especially our special “This is a huge event department even gave needs students here in that we love to do every the buses a police escort, Elmore County,” Elmore year,” culture Elmorefrom County complete with lights and The County Board of Educathe school that of a shift in a positive direction. Schools chiefwith schools sirens.experienced a 62 percent tion vice-chair Michael school struggling low mo- school officer Jason “Anytime we can referrals, do rale,financial achievement and attendance decrease in discipline “It allows these 50 something special for the See GAMES, Page A7 to a Mann school said. that strives for excelpercent decrease in chronic lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perleadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency WILLIAMS couraging, supporting, organizing in the lastCLIFF five years.| TPI The Ability Games and challenging the staff andserve stu- as a chance to allow everyone to have fun in an athletic game. Sometimes it is playing with an oversized ball. See soccer PRINCIPAL, Page A3 dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL
ABILITY GAMES
See CHAMBER, Page A3
C
FILE | TPI
It’s an entrance many locals take for granted entering downtown Wetumpka. But entering downtown over the Bibb Graves has been described as iconic and used in movies and television shows. Main Street Wetumpka hopes to use it to bring in a special group of Main Street guests.
They’re Coming Main Street America to visit Wetumpka as part of national conference
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
downtown Wetumpka. schoolwide assembly at Holtville Main Street America is County SuHigh School. Elmore coming to town as part The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was Many say imitation is of its national conferSecondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. the best form of flattery. ence in Birmingham (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral isnext an exceptionIf that’s the case, a Futralmonth. School principal Kyle the al principal and is very proacbus load of Main Street 2022 Alabama High School Prin-“They tiveare andtouring innovative in his thinkprofessionals are on the select ing cities 90 to managing cipal of the Year. andwithin approaches wayThe to High learn School how local Street Principalmiles,” of hisMain school,” Dennis said, leaders and volunteers executiveof Holtville High the Year award was presentedWetumpka to As principal led efforts to revitalize See VISIT, Page Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral hasA7transformed ByStaff CLIFF WILLIAMS Report News Editor
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