SPORTS: Football season already heating up, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 32 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
$75K bond granted to corrections officer charged with murder
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
bond that afternoon and was released accordBy Cliff Williams Wilson wasing the to head basketA former Alabama DepartElmore Staff Writer ball coach at Holtville ment of Corrections officer County JailHigh School and was has been granted bond in a records. A virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adcase involving the murder of SandCounty School’s Edge program ministrative an Elmore Correctional Facilers’ attorney has been arrested and charged SANDERS leave Jan. 13 ity inmate. Michael Griggs with school employee distrib- according to ElDemarcus Sanders was argued Sanders uting obscene material to a stu- more County granted a $75,000 bond deserved bond dent. Schools super-because he Tuesday morning by Elmore had no prior criminal history, Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent RichCounty District Judge Glenn was a decorated veteran and Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. Goggans; Sanders posted currently serves for the AlaWILSON Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a returned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. said. “We had a preliminary By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
bama National Guard. Griggs Sanders’ arrest warrant years of his life in a correcsaid Sanders was not a flight states he gave inmates Fredtional facility — not in a unirisk nor a risk to the public. rick Gooden and Stefranio form but in a jumpsuit.” Franklin access said investigators Wilson waswas released investigation and handed it off The state sought a $75,000 Hampton to inmate Murray taken toona a with the Elmore County Sher$6,000 bond 90 minutes the afto the appropriate authorities. bond. Rubyn James Murray. holding cell following He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accord“I understand with new “It was a situation where incident to get medical tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” bond schedules it could be a guard encountered trouble treatment after Gooden and website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. $1.5 million,” District Attor- with an inmate earlier,” Rob- Hampton allegedly beat “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure ney C.J. Robinson said. “The inson said. “[Sanders] made Murray. Robinson said he is when administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtconversation started and it the decision to give inmates unsure if the holding cell had report of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being dwindled to $75,000. We access to that room. I’m not school staff and employees. to contend someone had the thevideo. head track coach and assiswere trying to compare it to saying code he didn’t bad tant football “I hope coach. so,” Robinson said. “Once we hand it over, we security to hismake phonea and some other cases we had. I decision. I’m not saying it know very little about what is he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would thought $50,000 low.” cost him we many GRANTED, duties of WilsonPage at A6 going on,” Denniswas said. “We ismight other not information can’t fill in for the See cooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminnecessary.” it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
Reward offered to help Police locate escaped murderer
Chamber holds luncheon
continue investigation, man no longer suspected
Correctional Facility in Elmore A man convicted of by ADOC murder in Montgomery Monday County escaped from morning. an Alabama Department According to ADOC, Membersof Corrections prison THOMAS Thomas is of the in Elmore County on Monday. Central Ala5-feet-8 Wetumpka CrimeStoppers is inches tall and weighs Chamberbama of offering a reward for 120 pounds. He also has Commerce information leading to several tattoos. He was attend the last seen wearing brown chamber’shis “A capture. Taste of OurJordan Andrew Thom- pants and a brown shirt. Home Town” as, 30, was reported as Thomas is serving Jake Arthur luncheon.escaped fromByStaton See ESCAPED, Page A6 Chief Videographer STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
welcoming members By Cliff Williams Staff Writer The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board members for the first time in a while Thursday. The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gatherings 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
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
WELCOME BACK
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.shotgun with By CLIFF WILLIAMS According to Wetumpka police chief News Editor two Double Greg Benton, this was not a random shoot00 bucking. An Elmore County shot shells, “This was not random, not a random man has been arrested for racked one act,” said Benton. “We believe the vicallegedly pointing a shotgun in and pointtim and the perpetrator knew each other.” to the head of a 16-year-old. ed it to the This is the first homicide in Wetumpka Wesley Roger Wel16-year-old WELDON in over three years. The last homicide in don Sr., 42, of the Tallassee, boy’s head,” city took place in 2018. was arrested Tuesday and Elmore “It’s not a good way to start out the new charged with aggravated County sheriff Bill Franklin year,” said Benton. child abuse by the Elmore said. “He said something Benton didn’t want to speculate on the to County Sheriff’s Office. See ARREST, Page A5 “He got irate and got a See SHOOTING, Page A3
Sheriff’s department makes child abuse arrest
See CHAMBER, Page A3
Wetumpka students return for first day of school CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD
Tuesday officially marked the end of the summer for Wetumpka students as well as those around Elmore County as it was the first day of school. Whether it was smiling faces or sleepy ones, the students were back roaming the halls and heading for their classrooms early Tuesday morning. See more photos from Elmore County Schools on Page A8.
approved for new Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of theTextbooks year diesel mechanic program
Staff Report
The Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) named Holtville High School principal Kyle Futral the 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year. The High School Principal of the Year award was presented to Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
92 65 75 55 High High
schoolwide assembly at Holtville High School. Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis was in attendance for the presentation. “Kyle Futral is an exceptional principal and is very proactive and innovative in his thinking and approaches to managing his school,” Dennis said, As principal of Holtville High School, Futral has transformed
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low
the school culture from that of a school struggling with low morale, achievement and attendance to a school that strives for excellence. By collaborating with staff, many of the school’s issues were identified and addressed. Futral’s leadership style of listening, encouraging, supporting, organizing and challenging the staff and students, caused the school culture to
shift in a positive direction. The school experienced a WILLIAMS 62 percent By CLIFF decrease in discipline News Editorreferrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism, 7 percent increase Diesel mechanics is in the graduation rate, 33 percent the newest program to increase in CCR rate and a 20 perbe offered at the Elmore cent increase in ACT proficiency County Technical Cenin the last five years. ter, and it’s coming this school year. See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 At an Elmore Coun-
ty Board of Education special called meeting Friday morning, the hire of an instructor and purchase of books was approved specifically for the new program. The new instructor FUTURAL See TEXTBOOKS, Page A6
a Flea Market & Antiques k p m u Wet 5266 U.S. Hwy. 231 • Wetumpka, AL (Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC)
USPS USPS681-260 681-260 THURS:HIGH HIGH9471LOW LOW7653 THURS:
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666