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THURSDAY • MAY 5, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 27, No. 18
Yorkies rescued from Tallassee puppy mill one of them got two to four baths, treatment for fleas, vaccinations, de-wormed, and heartworm tested, Cord said. “Two of them do have heartworms, but we’ve set all of them up with fluffy beds, pillows, food, and love. They’re happy now, and some went out to foster homes yesterday. They’re in great hands” Aside from the dogs’ appearance and condition, they were found living in cages too small for comfort in an outdoor trailer of the couple’s home. For Cord, this situation only amplifies her stance against breeding. “For me, I personally cannot
By LIZ ELY Staff Writer
Tuesday, eight adult Yorkshire terriers and nine puppies of the same breed were rescued from the alleged puppy mill of an elderly couple outside their home near Tallassee. The animals, whose living conditions were less than acceptable according to officials on scene, were brought to the Elmore County Humane Shelter where Executive Director Rea Cord went into overdrive to ensure the animals received proper attention and care. “They were quite dirty, but every
view a dog as a means to make a living off of breeding,” she said. “It’s not illegal, but you need to do right by them. These dogs deserve better. They deserve being valued and cared for. They’re companion animals, and they should not be living in cages just producing animals their whole life.” For Cord, there is a lesson that people can take away from this, but she does not wish to take aim at the couple that mistreated the animals. She admits that breeding can be done correctly, and she hopes that See PUPPY • Page 2
Liz Ely / The Observer
More than 15 dogs were rescued from a puppy mill near Tallassee including these two that have already been adopted.
Two get jail time in DUI stop turned city council arrest
Newspaper announces new leaders
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Steve Baker named Observer’s publisher STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Steve Baker has been named publisher, president and C.E.O. of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Baker, 59, has headed five newspapers in his career, including most recently working as publisher of The York (Neb.) NewsTimes. He was formerly publisher of the Baker Pierre, S.D., Capital Journal and served as president of the South Dakota Newspaper Association. “I have worked in many different areas of newspapers in my 20-plus-year career,” Baker said. “These positions See PUBLISHER • Page 3
Carroll to serve as managing editor STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
William Carroll has been named managing editor of the Tallapoosa Publishers newspapers that serve Elmore County – The Wetumpka Herald, The Ta l l a s s e e Tribune and the Eclectic Observer. Carroll, 40, comes to the area after serving as manCarroll aging editor of The Daily Times Leader in West Point, Mississippi. Carroll will lead a news team that was guided by the late Peggy Blackburn and more recently John Peeler. “We are excited to welcome William to our team,” TPI Editor Mitch Sneed said. See EDITOR • Page 3
Submitted / The Observer
Russell Lands security officer Wendell Elliott of Eclectic celebrated his 86th birthday on Friday, April 29th. Elliott has almost a quarter century with Russell Lands.
AGELESS LEGACY
Elliott has protected prisoners and presidents in law enforcement career By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Law enforcement is in Wendell Elliott’s blood. Elliott’s father was a police officer in Childersburg and a deputy sheriff in Talladega County. So a few years after serving in the Korean Conflict as a petty officer in the U.S. Navy –where he aided four invasions aboard an LCVP (landing craft, vehicle personnel) and earned the National Defense, United Nations and Korean service ribbons – Elliott made his way into his own career in law enforcement.
The Lineville High School graduate, who turned 86 on April 29, now works security for Russell Lands and has been in law enforcement for 56 of those years. He says he plans to remain in law enforcement “until Radney Funeral Home gets me.” Elliott’s career has included time as an investigator, revenue enforcement officer, a uniformed policemen and a security officer. He’s been trained in criminal investigations, court security, personal security and court security. And he has worked with Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. See ELLIOTT • Page 3
Two of the five Eclectic residents arrested from events surrounding a DUI traffic stop last December were sentenced during a municipal court session to 30 days in jail, both later chose to appeal their cases in a district court. A 58 year-old Eclectic woman, Carrie Boseman, was charged with obstructing a government procedure and disorderly conduct, at the scene of the apprehension of Billy Splunge, 60, on a DUI suspicion stop made on Dec. 27, 2015. All together four people would be arrested in connection with events that were said to have taken place at the scene of the stop. The group was arrested after attending a city council meeting, where they had planned to speak, roughly six days after the event, on similar charges to Boseman’s. They were accused of interfering with a police procedure by the Eclectic police officer that stopped Splunge near Boseman’s residence on Nichols Avenue, where it was said they gathered for a card game. An attorney from Montgomery, Terry Heilman, represented Christopher Lindsay, a patrolman with the Eclectic Police Department, who stopped Splunge that night. James Kendrick, an attorney out from Wetumpka, defended both Boseman and Splunge before Eclectic Municipal Judge Guy Holton. Lindsay’s account of events was See CASE • Page 2
Tree planting ceremony held for well known local vet By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
A tree planting ceremony was held at a Wetumpka children’s home for a prominent Elmore County resident who founded Millbrook’s Ark Veterinary Clinic and was said to have been heavily involved in the community and a number of charitable groups. Family and friends of Robert Parker stood under the pavilion at Adullam House Tuesday morning and heard a 14-minute long audio recording he had made before his death March 25, in what was called a tragic farming accident. In the recording, Parker, a
well-known local veterinarian, spoke to his wife, Betsy Parker, along with his children, family and a number of friends and acquaintances. He gave advice, and spoke about his religious convictions in a brief testimonial. One such message of advice from Parker went, “Number one, people are more important than things.” And another, “I encourage you to enjoy life, live each day.” A plaque was placed at the Corey Arwood / The Observer sawtooth oak that was planted A Sawtooth Oak was planted at Wetumpka’s Adullam House on Tuesday morning in honor of Parker and his wife in a ceremony for a celebrated local veterinarian. Mike Hagen, of the Elmore County TREASURE Forest Association, oversaw the planting carried out by an administrator See PLANTING • Page 3 and children from the Adullam House.
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Puppy hopes that this incident will enlighten people on what happens when breeding goes wrong. “The lesson to be learned is for those who are buying,” Cord said. “When you buy from somebody that produces mass numbers of animals where dogs live in a cage instead of a house and live without the love of a family, you continue to support what they do. However, all breeders are not puppy millers. There are caring, decent breeders out there who do it for the love and not the almighty dollar.” For people interested in buying dogs of a certain breed, Cord cautions buyers to beware of what lies behind the scenes. “While purchasers may see a cute, clean puppy, they may not see where the adults are,” she said. “They may never see how the mother and father are living these horrible lives in filth and in cages with minimal care. The puppies aren’t there long because they get sold. Adults
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may live there their entire lives or until they’re used up and discarded.” Cord is pleased to be able to offer the Yorkshire Terriers a temporary home, and the shelter has been inundated with people wanting to adopt the puppies once out of foster care. Cord equates the public’s intense interest as a potential reason behind why breeding Yorkshire Terriers has become so popular. “I was prepared for the community reaction, Cord said. “They’re Yorkies, and those deplorable pictures tug at your heartstrings. Our phone has not stopped ringing and our email is quite busy. We’re very happy that there is so much interest in them and that they have bright futures. However, it is frustrating when we have 150 dogs that need homes also. It’s an explanation for why the couple chose this breed – the demand is there.” For a shelter that is already overpopulated, adding an additional 17 dogs
along with the daily influx of other animals made Tuesday a hectic day. By 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the shelter had already taken in another 24 animals. While Cord is more than eager to help, she does note that she needs more people willing to adopt the shelter’s other residents. “When something like this happens, I go into planning mode,” she said. “There are the logistics we have to plan for to get a number of dogs at one time and bring them back. All of the animals were taken into care, but of course our focus was to get them vaccinated and cared for. At the same time, we had to do that with all of the other dogs and cats coming in. It never ends. The public is focusing on these 17, but we’re dealing with more than that.” As for the popular Yorkshire terriers, Cord is accepting applications for the puppies once they are out of foster care,
Case that Splunge passed close by his patrol car where he was parked on Sunset Drive around midnight and then swerved more than once, which prompted his investigation. While stopped near Boseman’s residence, Lindsay said those inside the house came out and approached him during his procedures with Splunge. He said he began to feel threatened after some members of those gathered began to curse and express that he was not wanted, and they did not approve of what he was doing there, Lindsay said. Lindsay said Boseman “accosted” him, and said to him “Your damn day is coming.” He said he approached her and asked her if she had just threatened him, and the reply he received was a similarly phrased, “Just know your day is coming.” Boseman’s defense attorney argued that the officer did not know what she meant by saying that, and that her interference was verbal in nature. Kendrick invoked the officer’s training under such circumstances, and asked what other phrase he might consider a threat in a similar event. “You’re trained to deescalate situations, not escalate,” said Kendrick. It was later mentioned that Boseman was present at a city council meeting with the intent to speak before the council, where her initial arrest was made. Boseman and Splunge’s defense attorney combated the accusations by drawing out more information surrounding Splunge’s arrest. Kendrick pointed out that Lindsay was parked roadside, next to the curb on a narrow road, with worn yellow lines, at night, in a blue patrol car, with no lights and after a curve. All of which, he indicated might have accounted for Splunge’s swerve. Lindsay said Splunge told him he had drank over six beers that night.
but the process will be lengthy. “The puppies are only one and two weeks old,” she said. “A shelter is not a place for them to grow up, and foster homes are critical. They will be available for adoption later, but it’s very likely we will have preapproved adoptions. Many applications only want a puppy, but we’re not close to them being able to go home with anybody yet.” Cord is saddened by what was found at the puppy mill and has a message for those interested in a new pet. “My heart goes out to the Yorkies, but my heart goes out to all of them,” Cord said. “All pets should be loved and be valued for their companionship and not for their breeding potential. People should look to their local shelters when looking for a pet, and they might be surprised. Please support your local shelters and don’t support puppy mills.”
continued from page 1
Kendrick said he did not confirm when that was or what duration of time they were consumed in. Lindsay said he had found an open container in Splunge’s vehicle, his speech was slurred and his eyes were unfocused. Kendrick let Splunge speak during the hearing as proof that a slur could have been picked up without alcohol. He said Lindsay was not qualified to determine how alcohol interacted with a body, and that no tests were able to determine Splunge’s blood-alcohol level that night because he was physically unable to produce enough air to affect the meter. Two others cases were on the docket that night, resulting from the same incident, that of Boseman’s husband, Kenny Boseman and her son Kevin Benson. They were not seen after Officer Lindsay appeared to grow faint, slumping over the judge’s bench during the hearing. Later, the court bailiff escorted him out, grasping his arm, as he appeared to stumble out of the courtroom around 11 p.m. Others from the group who were present at the DUI incident and the city council arrest were at the trial. The episode, they said, was part of a larger problem with policing tactics, and their community, and they felt the judge’s sentencing policies to be discriminatory. Wanda Kendricks, said there was a lengthy history between them and Lindsay, who they said at one time, was on friendly terms with them and frequently interacted with them at the Boseman residence. The Eclectic Chief of Police, Robert Head said he could not give details about the incidents. And after multiple attempts to reach the Eclectic Municipal Court for details, it was later learned by Head that the court would be closed for the week due to a conference of some kind.
Eclectic Elementary students of the month
Submitted / The Observer
Kindergarten: Casey Crumpton, Logan Lamberth, Kayden Haskins, Conner Lanier, Jefferson Lucas, 1st Grade: Jayda Stepney, Danielle Reynolds, Marley Bickley, Dewey Smith, Leyton Lusby, Caitlyn Stone, 2nd Grade: Blair Ingram, Raevyn Barris, Alanah Knight, Jayden Coats, Marcavius Benson, Abella Kujala, 3rd Grade: Parker Faulk, Mason Ayoub, Kale Williams, Jenna Wood, Jackson Youngblood, Abbee Stringer, 4th Grade: Lauren Woodruff, Taylor Woodfin, Mason Jones, Abbi Williams, Christopher Holt
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Elliott
continued from page 1
“I was assigned to President Nixon’s protection detail while I was in Miami working for Customs in the Treasury Department,” Elliott said. “When he came down to Miami, I was part of that detail.” Elliott was a criminal investigator for customs in Miami for a little bit over two years. During that time, he helped enforce the drug laws through searches and seizures, surveillance, arrests and testimony. He also had an occasion to attend Super Bowl III, which the New York Jets won 16-7 after “Broadway” Joe Namath guaranteed the Jets’ victory over the Baltimore Colts. “I was there as part of the protection detail for Vice President (Spiro) Agnew and Bob Hope, who was his guest that day,” Elliott said. “I didn’t see a single play of the game. I was too busy keeping an eye on the crowd, protecting the vice president. Then at halftime I left to drive Bob Hope to the airport so he could fly out to finish his Christmas special.” In addition to protecting presidents and vice presidents, Elliott has been charge with protecting bad guys, too. He has protected Mafia members and others involved in major crimes while they awaited trial or prepared to testify in a criminal case. “I’ve protected some pretty bad guys,” Elliott said. “Some of the worst of the worst. I’ve never been shot at, but one time I got wind that someone was going to try to take a prisoner away from me. We were between
Opelika and Montgomery and I figured if anybody that was going to take him drove up beside me, the prisoner would motion him. I told the guy with me to take his .357 and if that prisoner motioned toward anybody driving by to shoot him. “We didn’t have one minute’s trouble.” Even with his exciting and eventful life in law enforcement, Elliott has found time for a family. His is married to Lisa and has one son, Adam, a stepson, Jason Wright, and a stepdaughter, Amanda Wright. He also has three step-grandchildren – Makayla, Katherine and Tyler Wright. And, even at 86, he manages to keep up with the latest in law enforcement. “I don’t take any classes or tests anymore,” said Elliott, “but I read things that come out that I need to know.” Of course, with time in with U.S. Customs and the U.S. Marshal’s office, one wonders what the younger whippersnappers in law enforcement could teach Wendell Elliott that he doesn’t already know. Certainly not dedication or longevity, as Russell Lands’ chief of security Mack Daughtery can attest. “For the past several years, I have said to Wendell,‘You can’t retire until I do!’ He apparently took me up on it,” Daugherty said.
Publisher
genuinely nice people who have a desire to get involved here in the Lake Martin community.” Baker said he is looking forward to becoming a part of the community and continuing to help the company grow. “I am very excited to be part of the community and continue the good work Kenneth has started,” Baker said. Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., operates five newspapers: The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, The Wetumpka Herald, The Tallassee Tribune and The Eclectic Observer; three monthly magazines: Lake, Lake Martin Living and Elmore County Living; six web sites associated with the publications; a commercial web printing shop and Kenneth Boone Photography.
Editor
continued from page 1
area papers something our readers can be proud of and hopefully get our communities recognition statewide in the process.” Carroll added that he plans to be very active in the community. “I am looking at staying in Elmore County for quite some time,” he said. “I feel it is important for an editor to see and be seen in the community, so if someone sees me in the community I hope they will come up and introduce themselves, and tell me how we can better serve the area.” Carroll is a graduate of Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi and the Valparaiso University School of Law. His newspaper career includes stops at The Daily Star in Hammond, Louisiana, the BannerNews in Magnolia, Arkansas and the Spencer Magnet in Taylorsville, Kentucky.
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continued from page 1
made a statement shortly after the planting. “He loved the trees and it was a special time for him to be out on that farm,” said Betsy Parker. The chair of the Elmore County TREASURE Forest Association, Mike Hagen, directed the planting. The Wildlife Group’s Allen Deese, who said he routinely sold trees to Parker, donated the tree. Adullam House’s, Philip Powell said Parker let the boys at Adullam House go out to his property to spend a day outdoors. The plaque at the tree reads, “This sawtooth oak in memory of Dr. Robert Parker, a man of faith, family, friends and forests.”
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RODNEY GRIFFITH BROKER CELL: 334-207-0666 WEB: www.rodneygrif¿th.com EMAIL: rodneygrif¿th@windstream.net 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 SOLD 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.
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Planting
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have helped me develop an understanding of how newspapers function and interact with the communities they serve.” “Steve is a highly qualified newspaper publisher who will bring a wealth of experience and new ideas to our company,” Boone said. “We share the same ideals and goals for Tallapoosa Publishers. I am stepping back from the day-to-day operation of TPI, but I will remain active in the management of the company.” Boone will continue to serve as owner and chairman of Tallapoosa Publishers and will contribute stories, columns and photographs for the company’s products. Baker and his wife, Kim, a licensed practical nurse, have a son, Kelly, and two grandchildren, Lucca and Laikyn. “Steve and Kim will be great additions to our community,” Boone said. “They are very civic-minded and
“He has a passion for community journalism and is excited about making our newspapers all they can be. “He brings a fresh perspective and experience in all facets of community news coverage and leadership and we feel confident that he will be a great fit for not only our newspapers, but the communities they serve as well.” Carroll, an avid historian, especially regarding Southern history, said he is excited to be in the community. “I have been here about a week now and I have already discovered quite a few interesting aspects of Elmore County that I think we will focus on in the near future,” he said. “I am really excited about this opportunity.” Carroll said he welcomes feedback from the community on ways to continue making all of the Tallapoosa Publishers newspapers better. “Community newspapers are often the lifeblood of the communities they serve,” he said. “My goal will be to make our
MAY 5, 2016 • PAGE 3
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PAGE 4 • MAY 5, 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.
Only the big bartender in the sky knows when next drink may be
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 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.
M
y moratorium on alcohol continues. The down and dirty of it is that due to personal issues, I was drinking way too much throughout most of last year. I was also eating way too much. On December 22, after a night of excess, I felt awful and had had enough. Two days later, I had a previously scheduled appointment at the VA, where I had a series of labs drawn. A few weeks later, my results came back. My cholesterol was high and my liver tests were slightly elevated due to alcohol consumption. I’d already made the decision to drastically alter my alcohol intake, but this was added incentive to do just that. I had a follow up three months later. I drank some after that decision but haven’t had any since February 8. I recently wrote about an incident where I thought I was ready for a beer. I’d been given a 12-pack of beer and was going to have just one but
JODY FULLER Guest Columnist
dropped the whole thing and that one bottle of beer that I intended to drink sacrificed itself for me. The other 11 are still in my refrigerator. Another time, I was at my buddy’s house for dinner. He was drinking a beer while standing over the grill. In the past few weeks, he’d asked if I wanted one, but I declined each time. This time he didn’t ask. I momentarily felt the urge to have one but didn’t stress about it. I had an angel on one shoulder telling me no and a devil on the other shoulder who was passed out and never said a word. The angel easily won. It was no contest. There are so many styles of microbrews, and I love them all except for porters and stouts. I simply cannot drink them. You’ll see
me wearing a Bama shirt before you see me drinking one of them. Last week, I went to a little restaurant around the corner from my hotel in Jersey City. They had great lunch specials for only $10, which included a beverage of choice. They had an extensive selection of beer on tap, but only three of them were marked for the special. After a few minutes of deliberation, I decided to go with the pale ale. The guy next to me had just ordered one, and it was a thing of beauty. Speaking of a thing of beauty, my bartender walked back over to tell me that the keg of pale ale was empty. The guy next to me had gotten the last pint, so I looked at the menu to see what my other two choices were. There were at least 30 beers on tap so they could have been any style, but they weren’t just any style; they were porter and stout and were going nowhere near my snout. My battle with beer is a lot like the war between North
and South Korea. Technically, they are still at war but have had a truce since 1953. I haven’t quit drinking, I’ve just had a truce since Feb. 8. Early last week, I got back my lab results from the VA. My cholesterol levels were good, and my liver tests were normal. I don’t know when I’ll have my next drink. It may be next week or it may be never, only the big bartender in the sky knows. He’s cut me off for now but is always there to listen. And before anyone gets upset about that analogy, just remember this; he turned water into wine. How cool is that? 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.
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 Steve Baker, publisher publisher@thewetumpkaherald.com William Carroll, managing editor william.carroll@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
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State lost 100 years of congressional seniority in one fell swoop
A
t this time of year Washington, D.C. is a beautiful place to visit. The city is aglow with the blooming of the cherry blossom trees. The cherry blossoms offer a glorious scene as you stroll down the mall and look toward our nation’s capital. This scene has been glimpsed by tourists and visitors for over a century. Each year the National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates a 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Japan to the United States. The current Cherry Blossom Festival has grown tremendously. It is now one of our nation’s greatest springtime celebrations. The first festival was held in 1927 and it has continued to grow over the years. The festival grew to two weeks beginning in 1944. In 2012, the festival expanded to five weeks to honor the 100-year anniversary of the gift of the trees. Over the years, millions have participated in the events and viewed the flowering cherry trees. Today more than 1.5 million people visit Washington to admire the blossoming cherry trees in our nation’s capital. Last April I spent several days walking the Potomac and enjoying the festival and cherry blossoms. It was indeed a magnificent sight. As I walked past the Jefferson Memorial and into the heart of the blossoms that surround the tidal basin, my mind wandered back in time and I began to think about the blossoming relationship that the gift of the trees signified between Japan and the U.S. In 1915, we reciprocated by giving the Japanese an equal number of dogwood trees. Little did we know that 24 years later the Japanese would attack us on a Sunday morning in December 1941. World War II was the most epic war in our nation’s history. Our nation
Inside the Statehouse By Steve Flowers united like no time in our history in response to the war. The World War II years and the two decades after the War was a magical time to serve in Congress. Many of the images we have of Congress were established during the decades of 1941-1961. Many of the legendary icons of congressional history reigned during this time. Congressional power was immense during those years and at the front and center of this pinnacle of power was our Alabama delegation. We were the most powerful state in the nation when it came to leadership and seniority. Our representatives and senators not only had power based on their seniority, they were also very well respected and erudite gentlemen. Gentlemen is the proper description because all ten members of our congressional delegation were men. Both senators and all eight of our congressmen were white male Democrats. If you look back to an early spring day in 1964, you would see a senatorial team from Alabama that was the envy of every state in the nation. Our senatorial duo of Lister Hill and John Sparkman was unparalleled. Strolling along the Potomac from Alabama at that time was an eight-member congressional delegation that boasted of over 120 years of seniority in Washington. These gentlemen were similar in backgrounds. It is as though they were born planning
their paths to Congress. Amazingly all eight graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law and were all attorneys by profession. On a Sunday afternoon in midApril you would likely see some of our delegation casually strolling by the Jefferson Memorial toward the tidal basin admiring the brilliant cherry blossoms in bloom. Among the group were the likes of George Andrews, George Grant, Albert Rains, Bob Jones, Carl Elliot, Armistead Seldon, Kenneth Roberts and George Huddleston. Little did they know that six months later their stellar congressional careers would be snuffed out by straight ticket republican voting in Alabama. The tidal wave that swept them out of office was spawned by Lyndon Johnson’s Civil Rights Act of 1964. White Southerners were so incensed that they voted not only for Goldwater but every other Republican on the ballot. All of our delegation voted against the Civil Rights Act. However, it did not matter. White southern voters took no prisoners. African Americans did not vote in 1964. Johnson passed the Voting Rights Act the next year in 1965. The only members of our delegation to survive the Goldwater landslide tidal wave were Bob Jones, Armistead Selden and George Andrews. If Hill or Sparkman had been on the ballot that year they would probably not have persevered the onslaught. Alabama lost over 100 years of seniority in one fell swoop. 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.
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Cory Diaz Sports Editor Phone 334-567-7811 sports@thewetumpkaherald.com
PAGE 8 • MAY 5, 2016
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
Spring preview: Elmore County looks to ‘fill holes’ this spring By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
Editor’s note: The Wetumpka Herald/ Eclectic Observer is examining each coverage-area high school football team as spring practice kicks off. Opportunity. That’s what the Elmore County football coaching staff offered its players when it opened spring practice April 25. Major contributors, such as Kel Floyd and Markel Leonard, graduated from last season’s Panther team that went 6-4, it’s first winning season since 2011. Not only is ECHS looking at the first phases of finding more playmakers on both sides of the line of scrimmage, head football coach Norman Dean said, but the program aims to snap its four-year playoff drought. Elmore County closes spring May 13 with a three-team jamboree at Dadeville along with Booker T. Washington at 6 p.m. Q: What is the main focus for your team this spring? Dean: Fill in the blanks from the guys who graduated. I think some guys have stepped up real well. We’re having to replace half of the offensive line, the majority of our receiver corps. Defensively, we’re replacing half of the d-line and half of our linebacking corps. That’s one thing I told them, there’s a lot of spots open and it’ll give them a leg up over the summer, with 7-on-7s that’ll put you in a spot to practice. Q: Are you trying anything different this spring than in years past?
Dean: I think the biggest thing we have to do is fit what we’re doing to our personnel. It’s really simple, if you don’t have a tight end and a fullback, you better not run tight end sets with an “I” backfield. We dabble with that in the spring, you do whatever to fit the kids you have to it. We’ve been working an odd-man front on defense because it takes one less d-lineman. That’s one area we’re short in, older guys with experience, is the offensive and defensive lines. Q: Kel Floyd graduated. Who can step up and assume that playmaker role on both sides of the ball? Dean: (Rising senior) Terrence Head. He’s a year older. He’ll definitely be one of the guys we’ll need to go to more. One of younger guys, (rising sophomore) D.J. Patrick, he’ll have to shoulder some of that burden. (Rising senior quarterback) Will Venable will have to make good decisions distributing the ball. Off the top of my head, those three we’re going have to lean on heavily. A young guy or two could step out. Q: What’s the position/unit battle to Cory Diaz / The Observer watch? Dean: A couple of guys that have been Elmore County rising sophomore defensive back Shakwan Bickley, right, breaks up a pass intended impressive this spring, to me, (rising senior) for rising sophomore Donovan Jones during a team practice last week. Ryan Rush at offensive and defensive line. This is a big kid that has big kid skills. A year because of injury and they’re seniors. spring? Dean: Sometimes it takes spring training couple of coaches have come out and seen Easterling Carpenter, he had shoulder surto realize. Ever since the last game last year, gery last year and he was a projected him and were impressed. Has a chance we’ve been referring to our 11th-graders as starter. Mike Guionnaud, he had a knee to play at the next level. Jakobi Bickley, he started for us last year, a senior. He’s injury. He’ll likely start for us this year. seniors. It’s a process. We’re still kind of 6-foot-6. A couple of coaches liked him. That’s four offensive linemen that’ll have to waiting to see. The jury is still out on who’s going to put this team on his back and lead His play seems to be elevated. There are a produce for us. it right now. couple of guys that weren’t able to play last Q: Who’s ready to lead the team this
Brown, Naquin win top Joe Sewell Award honors By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
Panthers track down AHSAA Class 4A state meet spots at sectionals By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
In front of a packed Wetumpka Civic Center, Elmore County High School senior Elissa Brown and Stanhope Elmore High School senior Ty Naquin were chosen for the 12th annual Joe Sewell Memorial Awards Overall Girls and Boys Scholarship winners Tuesday night. Brown and Naquin, selected by the Sewell Awards Board of Directors through a nomination and interview process based on consistent representation of the highest ideals of Christian leadership, earned a $3,000 scholarship apiece. The other Sewell Awards boys winner were: Academic – Brandon Dunn, Holtville; Athletic – Josh Wilson, Elmore County High; Church/Community – Brian Owings, New Life Christian Academy and Leadership – Casey Brumbeloe, Stanhope Elmore. Sewell Awards girls winners were: Academic – Hana Hollis, Wetumpka; Athletic – Emilee Eliss, Edgewood Academy; Church/Community – Riley Greene, Wetumpka and Leadership – Mary Olivia Smith, Elmore County High.
Cory Diaz / The Observer
Left, Stanhope Elmore’s Ty Naquin and Elmore County High’s Elissa Brown were named the overall boys and girls winners of the 12th annual Joe Sewell Memorial Award Scholarships Tuesday night at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Above, ECHS’s Josh Wilson won the Sewell Athletic Boys Award.
Seven Elmore County High track and field athletes reserved their spots at the AHSAA Class 4A state meet this upcoming weekend, qualifying in various events coming off the Section 3 meet at Beauregard Saturday. The young guns led the way for the Panthers as freshman D.J. Patrick and eighth-grader Zefeniah Edwards captured one gold medal apiece in the boys long jump and boys 800-meter run, respectively, at a meet ECHS track and field coach Warren Brown dubbed “the toughest in 4A.” “I knew D.J. and Zefeniah would come out, so I was looking at two (qualifying for state),” Brown said. “Nathan (Whorton) was a possibility, but he hadn’t thrown the javelin well all year. He came out at sectionals and threw the best he has all year. So, we over-exceeded. We took three girls to sectionals, a total of 12 kids and seven qualified. That’s still pretty good.” One of four top-four finishes for Patrick, the ECHS freshman earned the No. 1 spot in the long jump, measuring a leap of 21 feet, 5.5 inches, beating White Plains’ Kevin Carr by six inches. Patrick came in second in the triple jump at 44 feet, two inches behind Handley senior Montavious Staples at 44 feet, eight inches. He also placed third in the 400-meter dash (53.12) and fourth in the 100-meter dash (11.76). Edwards blew by the field in the 800-meter final, clocking in at 2:06.17, six seconds faster than runner-up Dylan McCareeth of White Plains. The eighthgrader crossed the line one place behind Patrick in the 400-meter dash at 53.22, tallying his second top-four finish on the meet. The boys 4X400 relay team of
Edwards, sophomore Jakob Hodges, freshman Dalton Odom and junior Cody Watson qualified for the state meet, running a 3:50.57, good enough for eighth overall at sectionals. Patrick On the girls side, freshman Myzaria Ransaw posted a thirdplace time in the girls 200-meter dash at 28.59, sealing the lone girls state meet bid for the Panthers. Hodges quali- Ransaw fied for state in the boys 110meter hurdles, clocking in at 18.85 seconds, while Whorton, a junior, came in fifth overall at sectionals in the boys javelin toss, throwing 143 feet, 7.5 inches. Edwards While there aren’t as many Panthers making the trek to state as last season, Brown said the group stands a chance to bring back more medals. “We’re excited. D.J. is one of the top long jumpers, triple jumpers – he’s got a real shot at medaling in four events,” Brown said. “Eddie (Cooper) won the long jump last year, so I told D.J. he has to keep it going. We’re not as big as last year, but we can win more medals.”
A glance at the 4A, Area 5 softball tournament By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
Class 4A, Area 5 Tournament Site: Holtville First round games: (3) Dadeville vs. (2) Elmore County, Thursday, 4 p.m.; (1) Holtville will play winner, 6 p.m. Overview: Regular season area champions and host Lady Bulldogs (27-19) arrive at the area tournament in near top form, coming off recent wins over 6A Florence (2-0),
7A Mountain Brook (5-1), 6A Pinson Valley (2-1) and 6A Auburn (6-0) in the last two weeks. With freshman sensation Kaylyn Dismukes in the circle and junior centerfielder Haley Mann’s offensive surge at the leadoff spot of late, HHS looks poised to repeat as area champs. Elmore County (12-22) defeated area rivals Dadeville and Holtville once each, scoring 10 runs in both contests that bookended a three-area-game stretch in as many days April 18-20. The Lady Panthers will need that
kind of offensive output – and for University of Alabama signee and senior shortstop to Elissa Brown to continue hitting .623 – to score with the Dawgs to win the Area 5 tournament title. Players to watch: Holtville – Dismukes, Mann, senior shortstop Reagan Law, freshman leftfielder Cyndi Thornton; Elmore County –Brown, sophomore rightfielder Juaneka Patterson, sophomore pitcher Nicole Ferpes, freshman pitcher Alyssa Beam
Cory Diaz / The Observer