SPORTS: Wetumpka’s Danny Crenshaw inducted into ASU Hall of Fame, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 49 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Arrests made in two different prison smuggling attempts
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
By Cliff Williams TwoWriter people are now in the Staff Elmore County Jail after arrests for smuggling were A virtual attempts teacher at Elmore made by the Elmore County County School’s Edge program Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama has been arrested and charged Department Corrections. with school employee distribTwo separate uting obsceneattempts materialmore to a stuthan a year apart resulted in the dent. arrests of Antonio Crumpton, Elmore County Sheriff 34, Bill ofFranklin Montgomery Sarah Woodsaid and Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
ward, 32, of Prattville. It took the Elmore County Sheriff’s 14 months to WilsonOffice was the head basketcatch up with Crumpton after his ball coach at Holtville High alleged attempt to smuggle drugs School and was into state prisons placed on ad-in August 2022. Deputies attempted to take ministrative him into custody leave Jan. 13near the state prisons moretothan according El- a year ago, but the 34-year-old from Montgomery more County eluded law superenforcement. Schools “Patrol was in the area and intendent Richattempted to make a traffic stop,” ard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
Elmore County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Ric Brouillard said. “The car refused to stop. They chased investigation and handed it off him to Montgomery.” to the appropriate authorities. developed HeInvestigators was also placed on adminisCrumpton as a suspect through trative leave at that time.” evidence developed during and Dennis said school officials after the pursuit. He was arrested follow the same procedure Tuesday night about 14receive monthsa when administrators after theofcase started. against report allegations Brouillard saidemployees. Crumpton’s school staff and attempt to other “Oncewas wesimilar hand it over, priswe on smuggling attempts know very little aboutstopped what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
er and have it in a backpack,” Brouillard said. According Brouillard Franklin said investigators Wilson was to released onlaw a enforcement found Crumpton’s with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afthanina accordyear ago iff’s Office have the alleged vic- terbackpack turning more himself and it contained enough tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore CountymethJail amphetamine for the trafficking ed Wilson’s phone as well. website. charge. Itsaid also contained CRUMPTON “You could see WOODWARD a conversaDennis Wilson more also than a pound marijuana, ecstation between the two,” Frank- coached other of sports at Holtby said. the department withislarge sy pills, cell phones and being lighters. lin “Mr. Wilson going ville schools including of drugs and contraband “He track also had something like toamounts contend someone had the the head coach and assispackagedcode together. security to his phone and tant football coach. See SMUGGLING, Page A6 “They wrap it all togethhe was notwill responsible. There Dennis said other staff would is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminit’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
City wants to replace Police lighting at Chamber holds luncheon softball continue fields investigation, man no longer suspected
welcoming members
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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
ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY
A late summer light-
Membersning strike has the City of the of Wetumpka considering Wetumpka replacing lights on six Chamberfields of instead of just one Commerce pole. attend the Estimates to repair the chamber’sdamage “A are $105,000. Taste of Our Home Town” By Jake Arthur luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/
City Planning and Project Director Justin Barrett said the repairs would be on only one pole and leave the city with no guarantee issues on other poles are not rectified and no warranty. City employees researched the issue and
See REPLACE, Page A6
Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3
PROGRAM STUDENTS IN DEMAND
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. According to Wetumpka police |chief CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD The Wetumpka Greg City Council seeking on what it would Benton,isthis was quotes not a random shoottake to replacesing. lights on softball fields at the Wetumpka Sports Complex with LED lighting. would money on “This was The not move random, notsave a random maintenance and utilities. act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” This is the first homicide in Wetumpka in over three years. The last homicide in the city took place in 2018. “It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
lege but fall back on skills Also in Harris’ class is learned at the tech center. James Glenn, a senior at Others use the program to Elmore County’s The Edge tudents in the Elmore get back on track. Harris had online school. He was previCounty Technical Center’s a student who was close to ously a student at Wetumpka electrical technology pro- dropping out of school use but his rodeo ambitions work gram are getting a jump start ECTC’s credit recovery pro- best with virtual classes. to a great career. gram to catch up on academ“I will pursue rodeo a little Instructor Jason Harris said ics. The student was also in bit, but electrical will probstudents leave the program Harris’ program. ably be my career,” Glenn ready for the workforce. “They just loved my prosaid. “It will take me far. (My “I have a few local comgram but hated school,” Har- father) has done electrical his panies that are picking the ris said. “I got him a scholwhole life. He has taught me By CLIFF WILLIAMS students up when they gradarship through SkillsUSA. It a little bit. We help my uncle News Editor uate,” Harris said. “Some are paid for one class and asked with some electrical on the saying they will take anybody him to do it for me.” side.” It is not an easy task to I send that have been through Harris said the student The program introduces narrow a list of 22 teachers the program and have the called him a few weeks after students to the basics of to two for teachers of the basics down. They can the class began. The student electricity. They wire boxes year in Elmore County. apprentice under someone.” informed him he was signing and panels and even learn to The job fell on five Harris has been at the up for a Pell Grant and a full read blueprints. Last week, Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The retired educators and admintech center for 11 years. His High load the next semester. Harris was teaching firstSchool. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent istrators to referrals, follow a rubric have gone on toofbe perintendent “He graduated is now year achievement students howand to use an The students Alabama Association Richard and Dennis was rale, attendance decrease in discipline set out by the Alabama State electricians, engineers and making good money,” Harris Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic Department of Education. See ELECTRICAL, Page A6 beyond. Some go on to colsaid. (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase After two days of interviews School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent and discussions, the judg2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perAirport Road cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase es in selected ACT proficiency Deborah The High School Principal of his school,” couraging, supporting, organizing in the last fiveIntermediate’s years. CLIFF Dennis WILLIAMS |said, THE HERALD Stringfellow and Stanhope Wetumpka junior J.T.presented Blakeley uses on a blueprint of the Wetumpka gymchallenging to determinethe how farand away a rethe Year award was to a scale As principal of Holtville High and staff stuElmore’s Johanna Angelo as See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 ceptacle is from a junction boxa in the electrical technology program at the Elmore County Technical Center. Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to elementary and secondary By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
S
Angelo, Stringfellow selected as county teachers of year
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
55 65 31 55 High High
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low
schools teachers of the year, See SHOOTING, Page A3 respectively. The judges poured over resumes and applications. It is a similar process that will happen over the next few months as the Alabama Teacher of the Year is selected in April 2024. But with work ahead of them, Angelo and Stringfellow along with 20 other teachers celebrated being the best at their schools with a small reception. “This is our favorite time of the year,” Elmore County FUTURAL See TEACHER, 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 HIGH5971LOW LOW3653 THURS:
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666