SPORTS: Wetumpka’s Willie Cox wins 100th match, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 51 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Elmore County High School student dies in Friday wreck
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Masen Goggins, an Elmore Staff Writer County High School student, diedA in a carteacher crash just before virtual at Elmore noon Friday in Wetumpka. County School’s Edge program has arrested and charged As been of Friday afternoon, with school distribtroopers with employee the Alabama uting obscene material to a stuLaw Enforcement Agency dent. were continuing to invesElmore Countysaid Sheriff tigate. A release the Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre crash happened on Harrogate Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
Springs Road east of Wetump- nis said school officials are this month. On Dec. 7, Braka. responding to help students dyn White, 14, of Deatsville, “The was 17-year-old fatal-investigation and families close toit the died said in a crash on Lightwood investigators Wilson the head was basketWilson was released on a and handed off stu-Franklin ly injured when the 2004 dent. The gymauthorities. at ECHS was Road in the Holtville with the Elmore County Sher-commuball coach at Holtville High to the $6,000 bond 90 minutes afappropriate Chevrolet Avalanche the teen He was openalso Friday nity.have White a student the was alleged vic- teratturning himself in accordSchool and was placedfor on students adminis- toiff’s Office was driving left the roadway trative gather counselors Holtville High School. Authorities collect- There, placed on ading to the Elmore County Jail leavewith at that time.” andtim’s phone. and overturned,” the release Dennis area pastors. Elmore County officials website. phone as well. ministrative said school officials ed Wilson’s could see a conversaleave Dennis said Wilson also followThere the same stated.Jan. “The13teen was not was a procedure vigil held in “Youoffered counselors and help to tion between theand two,” Frank-the coached according to Eladministrators using a seat belt at the time ofwhen Goggins’ honor receive Mondaya night students opened foot- other sports at Holtof allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilsonfor is agoing more County the crash and was pronouncedreport at Burt Haynie Field. ball stadium vigil. ville schools including being school staff and employees. to contend someone had the are Schools superthe head track coach and assisdeceased at the scene.” It is the second Elmore Troopers with ALEA “Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and intendent Richtant football coach. Elmore County Schools County Public Schools student still investigating both crashknow very little about what is he was not responsible. There ard Dennis. Dennis said other staff would superintendent Richard Dento die in an automobile crash es. Masen Goggins WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at “We had a recooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminport,” Dennis it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
Administrators feel lucky Police to havecontinue Stringfellow
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
‘Let his light shine’ 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
Friends and family remember Masen Goggins at vigil By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
B
and school See CHAMBER, Pagepersonnel A3
y all accounts Masen Goggins always smiled and had a big heart. The 17-year-old Elmore County High School student died in a car wreck Friday. Still in shock, friends, family members
shared what life with Goggins was like at a Monday prayer vigil. “I have prayed. I cried. I cried for his family, his friends and our school since I learned what happened,” ECHS principal Jason Eason said. “Words sometimes just don’t matter. It is more about being
everyone felt a connection. Stringfellow brought decades of experience in the classroom and as an administrator. She was seeking a great place to work until retirement.
investigation, man no longer suspected
Just over two years ago, Airport Road Intermediate School had three openings Members for teachers. of the Deborah Stringfellow Wetumpka walked in the door and Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
See STRINGFELLOW, Page A7
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
there and loving people. That is what Masen did.” Eason recalled an encounter with Goggins just last week. No word words were spoken, but there it was — Goggins “infectious smile.” “Masen’s light shined bright at Elmore County See REMEMBER, Page A6
CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD
Lighted phones were held up during Amazing Grace by those who attended the vigil for Masen Goggins who died in a crash Friday.
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. SUBMITTED | THE HERALD Police were dispatched to the parking lot Airport Road Intermediate School teacher Deborah Stringfellow, around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. center, poses with assistant principal, left, and principal Marcia Once named there, they found Centell Stephens after being the Elmore County Winston, Schools EleTallassee, dead of a gunshot wound mentary Teacher42ofofthe Year. 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 By CLIFF WILLIAMS perfect fit for Stanhope in over three years. The last homicide in News Editor the city took place Elmore teacher and coach in 2018. Johanna was “It’s not a good way to Angelo, start outwho the new Stanhope Elmore High recently named the Elmore year,” said Benton. School has a five-star teachSecondary Benton didn’t County want toSchools speculate on the er. Teacher of the Year. That may be an athletic See SHOOTING, Page A3 description, but that’s the See ANGELO, Page A7
Angelo is a ‘unicorn’ at Stanhope Elmore
Rescheduled Downtown Dickens Christmas a successof the year Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal
WILLIAMS schoolwide assemblyBy at CLIFF Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The News Editor 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, It almost didn’t happen.that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school The originally scheduled Downtown (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating withDickens staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase Christmas in Wetumpka was canceled duewere to School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues in the graduation rate, 33 percent the threat of severe weather. Instead, downtown 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perbusiness owners and Wetumpka CLIFF | THE HERALD to SUBMITTED | THE HERALD cipal of the Year. ingWILLIAMS and approaches managing leadership style of residents listening, banded en- cent increase in ACT proficiency Children’s librarian Cathy Saylor with Public said, together to pullcouraging, off a last-minute scheduling mir-in the last fiveElmore The High School Principal of the hisWetumpka school,” Dennis supporting, organizing years.County Schools secondary teacher of the year Johanna Library helped withwas story hour at The Herald.of SheHoltville Angelo, center, of Stanhope Elmore poses with county superinacle toHigh turn theand clock back centuries downtown the Year award presented to Wetumpka As principal challenging the staffinand sturead the Night Before Christmas and helped children create Richard of secondary schools See tendent PRINCIPAL, PageDennis, A3 left, and director Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL See CHRISTMAS, Page A6 a construction paper Christmas tree. Dr. Jamie McGowan. Staff Report
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
54 65 30 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 HIGH5971LOW LOW3553 THURS:
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666