SPORTS, Stanhope barely outlasts Indians in area tourney Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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Arrest in Wetumpka Holtville made High School basketball coachrobbery arrested By CLIFF WILLIAMS By Cliff Williams News Editor Staff Writer
AAMontgomery manatis Elmore in virtual teacher the Elmore County Jail after County School’s Edge program allegedly pistol-whipping a has been arrested and charged cashier and robbing the store with school employee distribFriday, Jan. 20. uting obscene material to a stuRoddrecius Lavelle Golddent. 32, of Montgomery, was smith, Elmore arrested Jan.County 23 afterSheriff a photo Bill Franklin said Emmanuel lineup was presented to theAndre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
victim, who idenWilson was the head baskettified Goldsmith. ball coach at Holtville High Goldsmith was School and charged with was placed on robadfirst-degree ministrative bery, second-deleave Jan.and 13 gree assault according toa Eldischarging gun more County GOLDSMITH into an occupied Schools building. superintendent Rich- and court docPolice reports uments give more details of the ard Dennis. robbery, during Gold“We had a re-whichWILSON port,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
smith allegedly took $79 from think her husband would like ments state. “[Goldsmith] took Franklin said investigators Wilson wasand released investigation off the register ofand thehanded store onitU.S. that. [Goldsmith] pulled out a the money went outonof athe with the Elmore County Sher$6,000 bond 90 minutes afto the appropriate authorities. Highway 231. handgun and pulled her into the store.” iff’s Office have the alleged victer turning himself accordHe The was cashier also placed on adminisreported Goldbathroom, pushed her down to The victim theninlocked the Authorities collect- ingdoors to theand Elmore Jail trative leave atthe thatstore time.” smith entered about 2 tim’s her phone. knees and hit her multiple hit theCounty panic alarm Wilson’s phone as well. website. Dennis school officials a.m. Jan. said 20 asking how much a edtimes around the head.” and called 911. “You a conversaWilson follow thecost. same procedure cup of ice Goldsmith also Thecould policesee report said Gold- Dennis “[She]said locked herselfalso in the between the two,” coached other the sports at Holtwhen receive asked administrators where the restroom wasa tion smith demanded sexualFrankacts bathroom,” documents state. report said.the“Mr. Wilson is going ville schools later including being located.of allegations against linfrom victim. “Moments [Goldsmith] school staff and employees. to contend someone hadback the thereturned head track “...[Goldsmith] asked if “[The victim] pushed andcoach fired and one assisround “Once we tohand it over, code to and tantfrom football coach. she wanted go inside withwe security [Goldsmith] andhishephone dragged his pistol into the front him,” very courtlittle documents state. is heher to not the cash register and know about what was responsible. There Dennis said other staff would See ARREST, “[The on,” victim] said she doesn’t open it,” the of WilsonPage at A3 going Dennis said. “We is made otherher information wedocucan’t fill in for the duties cooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminnecessary.” it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
Wetumpka Parks and Rec recognized by state organization
Restoration family opens Police another Chamber holds luncheon continue location in Wetumpka investigation, man no longer suspected
welcoming members
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Staff Writer In only its first year, the City of Wetumpka Parks and Recreation Department has been recognized The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its by the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association annual luncheon to install new officers and board (ARPA). members for the first time in a of while Thursday. At the ARPA’s annual banquet, the City The COVID-19 pandemic put hamper on gathWetumpka was awarded the 2022 InnovativeaSpeerings but the chamber celebrated the successes of cial Event of the Year for “Walking Wonderland” business in Wetumpka. and 2022 Facility of the Year for programs in cities “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couwith a population below 15,000. Wetumpka Parks ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your attendance isSee anRECOGNIZED, indication people want Page A2 to get back together and have these opportunities to see each See CHAMBER, Page A3
Wetumpka Council approves redistricting By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
Just over two years since Restoration 49 opened in Tallassee, a sister location, Restoration Coffee House, opened in downtown Wetumpka Thursday. Restoration 49 owners Dylan and Haley Daniel are bringing the same recipes that have excited Tallassee to Wetumpka. “It’s the same menu,” Haley said. “Some of the drink names have changed to be more Wetumpka-themed.” The coffee shop features Prevail Coffee, which is roasted in Montgomery and uses Blue Ribbon Dairy milk products. There is also an assortment of pastries. Dylan spent three years renovating the building the Daniels own in Tallassee. While the Daniels do not own the building in Wetumpka, much of the same care in readying the new coffee shop was taken. Just like Restoration 49 Dylan built many of the things a customer can see in the shop from materials found in the original building.
CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD
See LOCATION, Page A3
The 2020 Census showed growth in Wetumpka and that growth forces changes for equal representation of voters by members of the Wetumpka City Council. The council — like many other boards, councils and commissions across the state — worked with Alabama State University’s Lewis Hines to redraw district lines as necessary. In some cases in the five council districts across Wetumpka there was a difference of plus or minus 35%. The legal maximum differential is plus or minus 5%. The council approved a redistricting at its Monday council meeting that brought the council districts back into compliance following the 2020 Census.
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
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 ofCLIFF his WILLIAMS vehicle.| THE HERALD According to Wetumpka police chief Restoration Coffee House has opened in downtown Wetumpka. Dylan and HaGregofBenton, thisbased was not a random shootley Daniel have brought the flavors their Tallassee Restoration 49 coffee house to the Coosa River. ing. “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 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 See SHOOTING, Page A3
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
REZONING APPROVED
The council approved the rezoning of 15 acres ofStaff property along Highway 14 near Gossum Switch assembly at Holtville Report schoolwide Road from RH to B-2. The request came from HighJohn School. Elmore County SuStanley, Wetumpka Mayor JerryofWillis said was Richard Dennis was The who Alabama Association perintendent instrumental in putting the property the Secondary Schooltogether Principals in for attendance for the presentation. Wetumpka Sports Complex. (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionThe B-2principal zoning will allow businesses multiSchool Kyle Futral the and al principal and is very proacfamily dwellings to be built on the property. 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his thinkThe council opened and closed a publicing hearing cipal of the Year. and approaches to managing priorThe to approving the rezoning ordinance where no High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, one signed up to comment on the rezoning. the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High Futral on Friday,See Jan.REDISTRICTING, 28 during a School, Page A6Futral has transformed
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the school culture from that of a school struggling with low morale, achievement and attendance to a school that strives for excellence. By collaborating with staff, many of the school’s issues were identified and addressed. Futral’s leadership style of listening, encouraging, supporting, organizing and challenging the staff and students, caused the school culture to
shift in a positive direction. The school experienced a 62 percent decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism, 7 percent increase in the graduation rate, 33 percent increase in CCR rate and a 20 percent increase in ACT proficiency in the last five years. See PRINCIPAL, Page A3
FUTURAL
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