ECLECTIC, N EW PAGE A12 YEAR’S Santa-Laws New Year’s Savings across SAVIN GS ! comes to town the region 2024 LOCAL, INSIDE
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VOL. 125, NO. 50
Driving safety program in the works for county schools news of a death of students in crashes where law enforcement said Elmore County Public seatbelts were not worn. Schools are trying to Each time schools gave stop another tragedy in students access to help the wake of the deaths of and facilities as they two Elmore County stu- mourned the deaths. dents in December. But Dennis wants to do Twice in less than a more. month superintendent “Those are tragic sitRichard Dennis’ phone uations,” Dennis said. has rang delivering the “We have had some law By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
enforcement reach out to us to potentially do assemblies at the schools to emphasize the safety that is necessary.” With many students who drive and given the nature of the county, Dennis said it’s easy for speeds to creep up on rural roads. “We got to realize and reinforce proper driving
habits,” Dennis said. “We have to emphasize wearing seat belts.” Not all students in the system take driver’s education classes. Dennis said between law enforcement, school resource officers and school staff materials and assemblies at See SAFETY, Page A3
SUBMITTED | THE TRIBUNE
Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis said he is working on a program to stress the importance of safe driving after the death of two students who were not wearing seat belts at the time of their car crashes.
Two additional circuit judges coming to Elmore County of studies, legislation and a public referendum. The first study was in 2016. With growth comes “It came out and said pain. As the population of we needed six circuit judgElmore County has grown, es as opposed to the three so has the number of cases we have,” Lewis said. in court. “With all the movement Presiding 19th Circuit in central Alabama into Court Judge Bill Lewis is Elmore and Autauga, our from Elmore County. Add- judges were handling more ing two judges will speed cases per judge than any up the judicial system other judges in the state.” especially for divorce and The 19th circuit currentchild custody issues. The ly has three circuit court new judges are the result See JUDGES, Page A3 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
BRINGING MUSIC TO LIFE Children experience music, theater at camp
holiday respite to create a short Christmas program. Michaela Bird and Brooke hildren looking to get Carrico have been around away from parents the stage for years. Bird is Christmas shopping had the daughter of Tallassee the perfect opportunity with High School choral director A Broadway Holiday theMichael Bird. She is also ater and music camp. the theater director at SylaVeterans of children’s cauga High School. Carrico camp at the Wetumpka has been on the stage at the Depot returned for the short Depot since the age of 6 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE TRIBUNE
and is currently majoring in marketing and music business at Nashville’s Belmont University. “We started working together last summer with the summer Broadway camp,” Bird said. “We did two of those.” The pair saw interests See MUSIC, Page A3
Michaela Bird, left, leads a singing lesson at the Wetumpka Depot. Bird and Brooke Carrico have combined to create summer and winter performing arts classes for area youth.
County schools pleased with report card, but room for improvement school is a lot like going to the movies. “The longer you are In addition to other out of the theater and not measures, Elmore Counwatching, you are missing ty Schools will focus on what is going on,” Dennis attendance to improve its said. “You can’t consisstate report card. tently do that and have Overall the Elmore success. You have some County Schools received students that are really an 85, a B, but superinten- intelligent and compendent Richard Dennis said sate. The average child administrators had already will suffer. The more they begun working on issues are out, the more they will noted in the recent grades. suffer academically.” Those include attendance. He said being present at See SCHOOLS, Page A3 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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