SPORTS: Wetumpka earns top honors at cheer camp, B2 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 33 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Millbrook officially breaks ground on Publix Holtville High School basketball coach arrested By CLIFF WILLIAMS Publix coming to Millfarm,” Millbrook Mayor Al News EditorWilliams brookWilson was a was decades longbasketKelley said. “Theyand bought By Cliff the head investigation handed it off process. It started long it in the lateappropriate 1960s and authorities. just Staff Writer ball coach at Holtville High to the Lots of site work and before Millbrook sat onHeit.” School and waswas on was also placed on adminiseven has already radar forontheadFloriKelley metatCapouaA curbing virtual teacher at Elmorethe placed trativefirst leave that time.” been doneSchool’s on a 14-acre lot da-based grocery chain. It no about 27 years when County Edge program ministrative Dennis said ago school officials onhas U.S. Hwy. 14 next when attorney the tax attorney into been arrested andtochargedstarted leave Jan.tax13 follow the walked same procedure with school employeeBut distrib-Leon according to Elwhen “in administrators Walmart in Millbrook. Capouano and others his office the old-old receive a report of allegations against uting obscene material to a stumore County city officials turned the bought more than 400 acres city hall.” school staff and employees. dent. Schools supershovels over Wednesday, along Hwy. 14 backing up “He told me what he was “Once we hand it over, we Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richofficially breaking ground to Interstate 65. know See very little about what is said Emmanuel Andre “It ardwas Dennis. onFranklin the project. an old family PUBLIX, Page A6 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.”
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.”
CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD
Wilson was released onhas a A lot of dirt beenafmoved $6,000 bond 90already minutes at the site ter turning himself in Publix accordon Highway 14 ing to the Elmore County Jail in Millbrook as a website. groundbreaking Dennis said Wilson also was held last coached other sports at week. Holt-The grocer should ville schools including beingopen sometime next the head track coach and assissummer. tant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
RIBBON CUT FOR CRATER Police MURALS,
Chamber holds luncheon
MORE TO COME Four arrested welcoming members
HENDERSON
JACKSON
SMITH
STEVER
following robbery in Elmore County By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board for the first time in arib while Thursday. By CLIFFmembers WILLIAMS in his cage. They go The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathNews Editor through [the victim’s] erings but the chamberpockets, celebrated the successes take his moneyof business in Wetumpka. Four Wetumpka resand take off.” haven’t do arrest this foraffidavit the last couidents are“We being heldbeen in able to The in ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your the Elmore County Jail court records stated the attendance is an indication people want to get after a gun was pulled victim is 17 years oldback together and have these opportunities to see during the sale of a cell and had agreed to selleach phone. his See gray iPhone 8Page PlusA3 CHAMBER, Elmore County Sheriff to Jeremiah Jackson, Bill Franklin said the 18, of Wetumpka. Jackalleged robbery Thursday son along with Malachi night occurred on Tallas- Smith, 20, of Wetumpka see Highway near Fireexited the vehicle and tower Road. approached the juvenile “The victim was going victim. to sell his phone,” Frank“Smith pulled a dark lin said. “He meets the colored handgun from his buyer at the top of his waistband and placed the driveway. When they barrel of the gun against agree to a deal, the buyer the left side of [the vicgoes back to the vehicle, tim’s] stomach,” the I guess to get money to affidavit said. “Jackson pay him. Another guy gets out and sticks a gun See ARRESTED, Page A6
continue investigation, man no longer suspected
“We didn’t want this were developed with Members to beofstuffy,” Wetumpka Brannon, Auburn Unithe Impact Crater Commisversity Geology proWetumpka ew panels highlight- sion chairman fessor Dr. David King Chamber of Kevin ing the Wetumpka Reuter said. “We didn’t and more. Students Commerce Impact Crater are want attend this to from Redland Elementhe be some only the start of things scientific thing tary School were even chamber’s “A people to come in downtown would have a hard time involved. Taste of Our Wetumpka. understanding, The murals in The Home Town” but someArthur City leaders hope a thingluncheon. that was visually By Jake Alley will help bring Chief Videographer new crater and visitor appealing and told the to life in words and art CLIFF WILLIAMS/ center in downtown story. ATHE lotHERALD of people something that is scatareabout still investigating Wetumpka are not far have no idea this is one Police tered for miles the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka behind the murals. of the best preserved around Wetumpka. Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. “The murals are the marine craters on the “We hope the murals Police were dispatched to the parking lot first step,” Wetumpka planet. We have it on our will show chronologiaround 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Mayor Jerry Willis said. doorstep and it is frecally how the hills and Once there, they found Centell Winston, “The next step is when quently overlooked.” unusual terrain hap42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound The Kelly relocated from The artwork for the in thepened,” mural project driver seat of his vehicle. Company Street [around murals was created by According chair Marilee Tankersley to Wetumpka police chief the corner], we were able local artist Hope Bran- Gregsaid. “Local students Benton, this was not a random shootto acquire the building. non and funded by Gateing. study meteors in science; We have been working way Development Cor- “This here they put their was notcan random, not a random in there getting it ready, poration, Alabama Stateact,”hands on the“We rocks and the vicsaid Benton. believe getting it prepared.” Council on the Arts, First we the know the [murals] tim and perpetrator knew each other.” The new art wall in Community Bank, River Thiscan be first helpful.” is the homicide in Wetumpka The Alley contains 14 Bank and Trust and the in over Tankersley saidlast a grant three years. The homicide in murals, explaining how City of Wetumpka. hastook been received the city place in 2018.from the Wetumpka Impact Reuter said some 50 “It’s not a good way to start out the new Crater was formed. iterations of the murals year,” said Benton. See RIBBON, Page A6 Benton didn’t want to speculate on the By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
N
No bond for man, Millbrook rape suspect Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
See SHOOTING, Page A3
13-year-old schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The victim in High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent July. MillThe Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, A Millbrook will brook Police Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic remain in jail for the Department (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionlence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase foreseeable future as he Det. ZachaSchool principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proacmany of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent faces first-degree rape ry Sumerlin 2022 Alabama High School Printive and innovative in his thinkidentified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 percharges. testified in HOLLEY ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency cipal of the Year. The Millbrook Police an Aniah’s The High began SchoolinvesPrincipal of his school,” couraging, supporting, organizing in the CLIFF last WILLIAMS five years. | THE HERALD Department LawDennis hear- said, the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High The andWetumpka challenging the staff andCommission stuImpact Crater was joined by city officials, Main Street Wetumpka and the Wetumpka tigating allegations of ing Monday morning for Seethe PRINCIPAL, A3Alley that tell theFUTURAL of school Commerce to to cut the ribbon on 14 panels Page in The history of the crater. Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed Area dents,Chamber caused the culture sexual contact made by a See SUSPECT, Page A6 By CLIFF WILLIAMS StaffEditor Report News
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
90 65 67 55 High High
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low
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 HIGH9371LOW LOW6853 THURS:
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666