INSIDE TODAY
2015 year in review.
Marking successes in 2015 and the priorities for the new year.
SPORTS Page 12
Opinion Page 4
THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 30, 2015
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 118, NO.24
Elmore braces for more rain Current, past rainfall keeps flood concerns fluid
Progress continues on opening roads
By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor
By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor
With the recent rainfall and more rain expected, Alabama Emergency Management Director Art Faulkner will visit Wetumpka Wednesday to see the impact of the flash flooding that occurred over the Christmas holiday and meet Elmore County officials to talk about the current weather situation expected over the next few days. On Monday, Elmore County Emergency Management Agency Director Eric Jones said while the county is trying to get roads back open amidst the continuing and expected rainfall, the county is still assessing some of the problem areas. “What’ve got is the roads that are close … the city crews and county crews have been assessing those, and checking other infrastructure to make sure we See FLOODS• Page 5
Kevin Taylor / The Tribune
Playground equipment is submerged in the waters of the swollen Coosa River Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015.
The outlook for opening up more of the roads closed due to the flash floods that swept across Elmore County Christmas Eve is positive, but there are still roads left to be assessed. “I think we are close to opening two of the three sites that are closed,” said Richie Beyer, Elmore County engineer. “County roads … Holley Mill Road will stay closed indefinitely … we’re still doing damage assessments and costs on that.” Holley Mill Road between Landers Swink Road and state Route 63 will remain closed indefinitely due to a portion of the road being completely gone. Old Rifle Range Road, once some of the water has receded and clean-up work done, will reopen at some point. See ROADS• Page 5
Revisiting the area’s best stories of 2015 STAFF REPORT Herald Staff
National and state news made an immediate impact in Elmore County during 2015. The county was one of the first counties open to issuing same-sex marriage licenses but that was only for a brief time before the probate judge reversed his decision until the final word came down from the U.S. Supreme Court. Before it did, Probate Judge John Enslen stopped all courthouse weddings. When it came to the state, the Poarch Band
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of Creek Indians remained a hot topic statewide until the 11th U.S. Circuit of Appeals ruled the Indians are not bound by Alabama laws restricting gambling in the state. On a more local level, the cities of Millbrook and Wetumpka were finally allowed to sell draft beer and have Sunday alcohol sales after a near three-year wait. Crimes against children also topped the news in 2015 with the entering of guilty pleas by Brandy and Stephen Conrad Jr. as well as the guilty plea of former Tallassee Assistant Police Chief Chris Miles. See REVIEW • Page 2
File / The Herald
Former Wetumpka Police Chief Celia Dixon filed a civil lawsuit against the city citing age and sex discrimination in September.