SPORTS: Wetumpka’s Zach Crosthwait named Player of the Week, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 50 | $1.00
Friends and family remember Bradyn White Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By CLIFF WILLIAMS the football field to remember morning as parents prayed News Editor their friend. All were wonin front of Holtville High dering what the future holds Schoolinvestigation for their children. He it off By Cliff Williams Wilson was the head basketand handed Holtville High School’s without the 14-year-old Holtwas on the field Friday night Staff Writer ball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. Boykin-Chapman Field is villeSchool High School student. as theHe community mourned and was was also placed on adminisonlyAavirtual mile and half from “I can’t believe what hapand remembered White. teacher at Elmore placed on adtrative leave at that time.” where a single-car took pened [Thursday],” Camden “We Dennis can not turn headsofficials County School’s crash Edge program ministrative said our school thehas lifebeen of Bradyn White Williamson said. “I don’t to this,” Stinard said. “There arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 follow the same procedure Thursday. what I will do without are tons of emotions going receive a with school employee distrib-know according to Elwhen administrators Just over 24 hours afterto a stu-him.more It is kind of hard.” on. There are of a lot of crushed against report allegations uting obscene material County school staff and employees. Schools superthedent. wreck a community of The Gathering Place Pastor “Once we hand it B7 over, we Elmore Countygathered SheriffatBillD.J.intendent Richfriends and family Stinard was there Friday See REMEMBER, Page know very little about what is Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. 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.”
CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD
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.”
Friends and family gather for on a vigil Wilson was released a to honor the memory $6,000 bond 90 minutes afof 14 year old ter turning himself in accordBradyn White who ing to the Elmore County Jail died in a car crash website. Thursday. Dennis said Wilson also coached other sports at Holtville schools including being the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
One juvenile dead, four teens injured in Police Holtville wreck continue
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
investigation, man no longer suspected
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
‘DINO-MITE’ CHRISTMAS KICKS OFF
HOLIDAY SEASON
spread quickly Thursday afternoon and evening. Prayers were held at sporting events involving Holtville teams. Other Elmore County schools posted messages of support on social media. Holtville High School principal Sean Kreauter addressed the situation in a
The Slapout community is mourning Friday after MembersBradyn White, a Holtville of the High School student, died Wetumpka in a wreck Thursday afterChambernoon of on Lightwood Road. Commerce The crash also left four attend the juveniles injured, ages 14 chamber’s “A through 17. Taste of Our News of the wreck Home Town” By Jake Arthur luncheon. Chief Videographer CLIFF WILLIAMS/
See WRECK, Page B7
THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3
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 Greg Benton, this was not a random shooting. “This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” This is the first homicide in Wetumpka | THE HERALD in over three years. The CLIFF last WILLIAMS homicide in Wetumpka High School has recently been named an A+ Colthe city took place in 2018. lege Ready School of Excellence. The achievement is based on “It’s not good way to start outschool the new AP classes and testing for athe 2022-23 academic year. If year,” said Benton. the school meets A+’s next goal it will earn School of Distinction. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
Success Breeds Success Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of theWetumpka year High honored See SHOOTING, Page A3
schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic CLIFF WILLIAMS (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism,By 7 percent increase News Editor School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perCLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD pipeline between cipal of the Year. ing and managing leadership stylevacation of listening, en-real cent increase in A ACT proficiency Wetumpka attracted a special guest Saturday — aapproaches wakeboardingtoSanta. He was taking a last-minute before the The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. Wetumpka high and midbusiness of Christmas started. Santa and fireworks closed out the 51st annual Christmas on the Coosa “Have a Dino-Mite the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and studle schools helped the Christmas in the Crater!” celebration.Thousands lined the streets of Wetumpka as dinosaurs mixed with Elvis and National See former PRINCIPAL, A3 from Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, has transformed the school culture earnPage an award Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation for a parade. Next upFutral is the rescheduled Downtowndents, Dickenscaused Christmas from 5 to 8 p.m.to Friday. Staff Report
by A+ College Ready
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A+ College Ready. Over the summer Wetumpka High School learned it had excellent Advanced Placement AP scores. Just last month FUTURAL See SUCCESS, Page B7
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