SPORTS: Wetumpka sends 7 to state championships, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 7 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00 City of Wetumpka sued for civil rights violations in cat case
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Beverly Roberts and Mary By Cliff Williams Alston filed a federal lawsuit Staff Writer last month against the City of Wetumpka othersatfollowA virtualand teacher Elmore County School’s Edge program ing their June 2022 arrest for has been arrestedforand charged criminal trespass trapping with school employee distribcats. uting obscene material to a student. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
The lawsuit claims the defendants violated Alston and Roberts’ First, Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights.basketThe Wilson was the head lawsuit seeksatmonetary ball coach HoltvilledamHigh ages for and losswas of reputation, School mental placedanguish, on ad- emotional disministrative tress and economic loss. leave 13 handcuffed “TheyJan. violently according to ElMs. Roberts, an 86-year-old more County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
woman, and Ms. Alston, a 61-year-old woman, aggressively forced them into a police car andand then unjustifiinvestigation handed it off ably them,” authorities. the lawsuit to thejailed appropriate states. did so the He was“They also placed onunder adminiscolor ofleave stateatlaw, trative that based time.” on school officials a Dennis patentlysaid absurd, obviously follow theassertion same procedure pretextual that Ms. when administrators receive Roberts and Ms. Alston werea report of allegations against school staff and employees. “Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
‘trespassing’ on public propbefore a jury trial, all the erty.” criminal charges against both Alston and Roberts were women were dismissed by the found guilty of investigators criminal tres- Wilson city. Franklin said was released on a pass,the disorderly conductSherand $6,000 Thebond suit lists the city, afwith Elmore County 90 minutes obstructing government Willis, police iff’s Office have the alleged opervic- terMayor turningJerry himself in accordations in Wetumpka’s munici- ingchief Greg Benton, assistim’s phone. Authorities collectto the Elmore County Jail ed Wilson’s as well. pal court inphone December 2022. website. tant police chief Ed Reeves, “You seeappealed a conversaDennis said Wilson also The could women the and police officers Kameron tion between the two,” coached other sports at Holtverdict to circuit court.FrankBut See SUED, Page A7 lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being to contend someone had the the head track coach and assissecurity code to his phone and tant football coach. he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminit’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
Three Peat
Edgewood girls stomp Sparta for AA championship
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
Chamber holds luncheon
Girls basketball in the AISA runs through Edgewood Academy, and that couldn’t prove truer than it did Friday afternoon.
welcoming members By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
For the third consecutive year, Edgewood Academy claimed the AISA Class AA state championship. The Wildcats beat Sparta Academy, 46-28, in the Multiplex at Cramton See GIRLS, Page B2
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” By Jake Arthur luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI Chief Videographer CLIFF WILLIAMS/ The Edgewood Academy girls basketball team dogpiles after winTHE HERALD ning the AISA Class AA State Championship.
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
NO RAIN FELL ON THIS PARADE, BUT
MOON PIES DID
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 By DALTON act,” said Benton. back“We Friday afternoon. believe the vicMIDDLETONtim and the perpetrator Edgewood beatother.” Abbevknew each Sports Editor Christian, 45-42, in the This is the firstille homicide in Wetumpka stateThe titlelast game in the Mulin over three years. homicide in Edgewood Academy tiplex at Cramton Bowl. the city took place in 2018. wasn’t expected“It’s to make ThetoWildcats not a itgood way start out started the newthe year,” saidAA Benton. back to the AISA Class season with a 3-8 overall Benton want toand speculate the state championship, butdidn’t record, they satonwith that didn’t stop the Wildcats from going back-toSee BOYS, Page See SHOOTING, Page A3 B2
See CHAMBER, Page A3
Back to back
PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the 11th annual Order of Cimarron Mardi Gras Parade and Festival in Wetumpka. Revelers took to the streets and had fun under the threat of rain catching beads, candy, Moon Pies and a good time. Thousands lined the streets from the Farmers Market to the Bibb Graves Bridge, Bridge Street Street and back around to Main Street. Planning will soon start on next year’s fun. See More photos PARADE, Page B11
Edgewood Academy boys top Abbeville for state title
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
Elmore County Black History Museum is one of a kind
schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low moAlabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis collection was rale, achievement and attendance By The CLIFF WILLIAMS It houses the largest of Secondary for the presentation. to ainschool that strives for excelNews Editor School Principals in attendance Black obituaries in one place (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle an exceptionlence. By collaborating with staff, the Futral Deep is South outside Atlanta. School principalisKyle and to is avery proac- many The building 100Futral yearsthe old. al principal It is home community lynch-of the school’s issues were Alabama High School tive and in his thinkIts2022 bricks and floors were Prinmade by ing innovative documentation project. identified and addressed. Futral’s cipal of the Year. approaches students at Tuskegee Institute. ing and This place to is managing the Elmore leadership Coun- style of listening, enThe High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing It was the largest Rosenwald ty Black History Museum. But it the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuSchool in Elmore County. Its disFutral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to See HISTORY, Page A7 plays contain local Black history. Staff Report
Today’s
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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 CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI in the last five years. Edgewood Academy celebrates its second consecutive state TheA3 Wildcats (14-16) beat Abbeville Christian See championship. PRINCIPAL, Page FUTURAL Academy, 45-42.
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