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THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 24, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 118, NO.8
Bentley’s new prison plan includes closing Tutwiler STAFF WRITER TPI Staff
Gov. Robert Bentley on Tuesday announced the introduction of the Alabama Prison Transformation Initiative Act. The legislation will provide for the construction of four modern, efficient prison facilities, including the closure of Wetumpka’s Tutwiler Prison for Women.
“We have made significant progress over the last year to improve our criminal justice system and with the construction of four new and modern prisons, Alabama is poised to be a national leader in safe and effective incarceration of inmates,” Bentley said. “We cannot move our state forward without addressing the issues that have plagued the prison system for decades. We have a good See PRISON • Page 5
File / The Herald
Under Bentley’s new prison reform plan, Tutwiler prison will be closed after constructing four modern, efficient prisons.
Wilson charged with murder for fatal crash last September
House passes Winston’s Law bill In unanimous vote, house passes measure calling for tougher child abuse penalties
By MITCH SNEED Editor File / The Herald
Above, a simulated image of the Wetumpka crater.
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
The Alabama House of Representatives passed the Aggravated Child Abuse bill (SB23) Tuesday. The bill, which has been referred to as Winston’s Law, passed with a vote of 101-0.the bill now goes to Governor Bentley for his signature. Moved by the circumstances surrounding a case he is currently prosecuting, 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Randall Houston asked the Alabama See WINSTON • Page 5
IMPACT CRATER Lecture kicks off tour of Wetumpka meteor strike area By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The Wetumpka Impact Crater Commission is preparing for its annual one-day-only guided tour over the 3-to-4-mile area of crater dated to be around 85 million years old and formed by a “cosmic event” thought to be a
meteor impact. A lecture by the lead geologist who has researched the site for years, David King, from Auburn University’s Department of Geology, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 at the Wetumpka Civic Center. “He will be speaking about our crater See CRATER • Page 5
The driver of a vehicle involved in a Sept. 26 crash that left three people dead is now facing murder charges. Millbrook’s Corey Wilson, 19, has been arrested by Alabama State Troopers and charged with three counts of reckless murder. Bond has been set at $15,000 per count. Court records indicate that Wilson Wilson was behind the wheel of a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe that left the roadway and struck a tree before catching fire at 1:30 a.m. on Coosada Parkway near Millbrook. See CRASH • Page 11
WETUMPKA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AWARDED ALABAMA POWER GRANT FOR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM servation education grants through the Alabama Power Foundation’s Students to Stewards Brighter Minds program. Students to Stewards provides support for dynamic stewardship, conservation education and outdoor classrooms. This year’s Students to Stewards
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
A local school will be able to set up an outdoor classroom thanks to a grant from Alabama Power. Wetumpka Elementary School was one of 16 schools and nonprofit organizations across the state to receive con-
See GRANT • Page 11
CONTACT US 334-567-7811 • Fax: 334-567-3284
USPS 681-260
Contributed / The Herald
Dr. Andre Harrison, grant winners and fourth grade teachers Stacey Williams and Karen Shepherd receive grant from Alabama Power’s Kim Adams.
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