INSIDE, PAGE A2: PASSARETTI NAMED ELMORE COUNTY LIVING EDITOR Inside the Statehouse with Steve Flowers
Check out Elmore County’s top 10 football games of the season
244-7778
PAGE A8
SPORTS, B1
THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 16, 2017
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 119, NO. 33
Bass pleads not guilty; victim’s husband speaks out set for former WPD officer Andrew Bass, according to court records. Retired State Trooper, Byron Merritt, husband of Elaine Merritt, who was killed in the October 2016 crash, responded to quotes in local media, reportedly made by Bass’ attorney Walter James Kendrick. In the comment, Kendrick was
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The Wetumpka police officer indicted by a grand jury for manslaughter in the high-speed collision that resulted in the death of a local woman entered a notguilty plea and waived his arraignment hearing last week. A jury trial date of Sept. 18 has been
ECSO projects highlight commission agenda
quoted as saying that the incident, though tragic, was not a criminal act. Merritt strongly disagrees, and in doing so raises concerns of substances allegedly found in Bass’ toxicology reports that he believes played a role in the crash. In a typed statement Merritt responded.
“I know Andrew Bass didn’t set out on Oct. 22, 2016 to kill my sweet wife, Elaine, but kill her he did with a Dodge Charger and a dose of an illegal controlled substance
‘SO FAR, SO GOOD’
Bass
Moore, Strange head to runoff Runoff Sept. 26 as Democrats pick Jones as US Senate nominee By MITCH SNEED Editor
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
County commissioners approved several items for the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, ranging from the construction of a fallen deputies monument at the jail to an agreement to house Tallassee’s inmates plus a public bid for a range house at the department’s firing range. However, items pertaining to the sheriff’s department were far from the only things they discussed and ultimately approved Monday, also approving employee policy changes, board and committee appointments, roadwork projects and even the recognition of the 130th anniversary of local church. They also heard several pitches from nonprofit organizations operating in the county See COMMISSION • Page A8
See CASE • Page A3
Submitted / The Herald
Elmore County Schools Superintendent Richard Dennis (white shirt) tours school facilities with State School Superintendent Michael Sentence and Assistant State Superintendent Jeff Langham, on the first day of school.
One week in, Superintendent Dennis says things are well By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Today marks the first full week school has been in session and Elmore County’s school superintendent says things have gone smoothly but for the usual hiccups of a new school year, like long traffic lines at elementary schools. But Elmore County Schools Superintendent
Richard Dennis said with the implementation of a new traffic pattern at Wetumpka Elementary School, for example, issues like those would soon be remedied. Those things were essentially par for the course of a new school year, Dennis said, and this new school year is also the first full See SCHOOL • Page A3
There will be a runoff to decide the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate after a crowded field meant no candidate was able to garner a majority of the votes. For the Republicans, Roy Moore and Luther Strange will square off on Sept. 26, after Moore finished with about 41 percent of the vote statewide, followed closely by Strange, who finished with an estimated 31 percent. Mo Brooks was a distant third with about 18 percent. Vote totals were not final at press time Tuesday evening. On the Democratic side, Doug Jones found strong statewide support and garnered about 62 percent of the vote to win the nomination. Robert Kennedy Jr. was running at about 20 percent at press time. In Tallapoosa County, Moore was the top vote getter with 45 See SENATE • Page A2
Local schools and work programs receive grant funding at ceremony By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
A local foundation has once again distributed thousands of dollars in grants to programs in Elmore County run by schools and organizations with an aim to assist residents through difficult times with a number of adult services. Last week the Central Alabama Community Foundation awarded $41,700 to a number of educational entities throughout the five counties that make up its area of reach: Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon and Montgomery. Elmore County was recipient of three
Today’s
Weather
92 76 High
Low
grant awards, which were dispersed through the Elmore County Community Foundation, the local branch of the CACF. The ECCF designated nearly $4,000 of the original amount to three programs which altogether affect nearly every age group in Elmore County. The Elmore County Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) was awarded $1,000. Wetumpka High School Performing Arts Department through the Margaret and Auston Bridges Fund for Arts in Education received $700. A $2,000 donation was given to the See FUNDING • Page A2
Submitted / The Herald
Representing recipients of Central Alabama Community Foundation grants are, left to right, Juanita V. Pierce, Project Coordinator for the Louise O. Newman Center of Learning; Dr. Chasity Bradford, Assistant Professor at Tuskegee University in Biology Department and project volunteer at Louise O. Newman Center of Learning; Dr. Robbie Slater, Principal of Wetumpka High School; Alicia Gowan Schneider, Chief Development Officer of the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama; Rachel Pace, Director of Grants Administration at the McWane Science Center; and Cynthia Brown, Executive Director of the Heritage Training and Career Center.
CONTACT US
334-567-7811 Fax: 334-567-3284
Clay Boshell REALTOR®
Brandt Wright Realty, Inc. Cell:
334.657.6167
www.ClayBoshell.com
THURSDAY: HIGH 93 LOW 76
a k p m Wetu
USPS 681-260
When you’re ready to buy or sell call Clay Boshell! Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated
Flea Market & Antiques 5266 U.S. Hwy. 231 • Wetumpka, AL (Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC)
OVER 100 BOOTHS Everything from odds & ends to fine antiques
334-567-2666
Does it seem hotter lately? It’s ‘cause we have Cubby at Advanced Heating & Air!! Give Cubby a call today for maintenance, service or installation! And ask him about 60 months 0% financing!
AL#11024