SPORTS: Wetumpka preparing for spring sports Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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Black History Museum to reopen after renovations
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Staff NewWriter paint, new air conditioning, new board and new hours are A coming the Elmore Counvirtualto teacher at Elmore tyCounty Black History Museum. School’s Edge program Thebeen Elmore County Black has arrested and charged History Museum is houseddistribin with school employee the old Elmore Training uting obsceneCounty material to a stuSchool. dent. While currently closed for Elmore renovations, a newSheriff museum County Bill board hopessaid it will reopen soon. Franklin Emmanuel Andre “I am pleased Wilson II, 32, to of announce Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
new leadership and board of directors of the Elmore County Wilson Black History Museum and was the head basketTeachers Home,” Wetumpka ball coach at Holtville High councilmember Cheryl Tucker School and was said. “This seven-member board placed on adwas appointed by me to manage ministrative and operate Elmore County leave Jan.the13 Black History Museum.” according to ElTucker said the diverse board more County will bring new ideas to the Schoolsand supermuseum its facilities in an intendent Rich-visitors on Afrieffort to educate ardAmerican Dennis. history and life in can WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
Elmore County. Winfred Wise attended Elmore Countyand Training Franklin said investigators investigation handedSchool it off in first and second and is with the Elmore County Sherto the appropriate grades authorities. the was board’s other iff’s Office have the alleged vicHe alsopresident. placed onThe adminissix board members, Stephanie tim’s phone. Authorities collecttrative leave at that time.” Stepney, Williams, Idell ed Wilson’s phone as well. Dennis Pamela said school officials Gill, Michael Waters,procedure Elaine “You could see a conversafollow the same Lewis and Yvonne Saxon, have when administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frankconnections to Elmore County report of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going and its rich Black heritage. Like school staff employees. to contend someone had the the other six and board members, “Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and know very See little about what MUSEUM, PageisA3 he was not responsible. There going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t cooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think necessary.” it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
‘The Kelly’ starts capital campaign for bigger building
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Bysecret Cliff Williams It’s no downtown Wetumpka is attracStaff Writer tive and now another building is being renovated that will attract even more visitors to the downThe Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its town area. annualFitzpatrick luncheon toCenter install for newthe officers and board The Kelly Arts has members for theonfirst time in a while Thursday. purchased a building Hill Street and now the The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper arts museum will be larger and have view. on gathbut the chamber celebrated the successes of “Thiserings building is just working out great for business in Wetumpka. us,” Kelly volunteer Tra Cosby said. “It will have an iconic view of theable bridge, and “We haven’t been to do river this for thethe last couchurches.” ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your The building faces Streetpeople and iswant nexttodoor attendance is anHill indication get back to Coaches Corner. was originally together and The have building these opportunities to see each built when there was little interest in seeing the See CHAMBER, river and the view the bluff offered. Now thePage A3 view will be part of the gallery. “One of our members had an idea you could put a window and get a view,” Cosby said. “But everyone wanted some kind of porch.” Adding on a porch suspended over the bluff was cost prohibitive but the original building design saved the day. “One of our members who had looked at the building had come up with the idea of just recessing the balcony in the existing building,” Cosby said. “The metal structure is here so there is nothing really structural to do this.” Large windows surround the entrance to the balcony being constructed. The current Kelly museum on Company Street is 1,800 square feet. The new Kelly will be 4,800 square feet. The extra space means more
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/
CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD
Winfred Wise attendWilson was released on a ed Elmore County $6,000 bond 90 minutes af-in first Training School ter turning himselfandin second accordgrades ing to the Elmore and County is theJail board’s website. president. The other Dennis said Wilson six board also members coached other sports at Holt-Stepare Stephanie ville schools including being ney, Pamela Williams, the head track coach Idelland Gill, assisMichael Watant football coach.ters, Elaine Lewis and Saxon. Dennis said otherYvonne staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parkCLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD lotnow onwon Jan.twice 20. in a row. See our full covEdgewood’s girls basketball team celebrates a state championship against Lakeside.The girlsing have erage on Page B1. 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 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
CLEAN SWEEP CHAMPS Edgewood boys, girls basketball bring home state titles
See CAMPAIGN, Page A3
See SHOOTING, Page A3
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The 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, Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 percipal of the Year. and |approaches to managing leadership style of listening, cent in ACT proficiency CLIFFing WILLIAMS THE HERALD CLIFFenWILLIAMS | THE increase HERALD High his by school,” couraging, organizing the last The The balcony of theSchool new KellyPrincipal building wasofcreated removingDennis and said, A pair of Edgewood boyssupporting, basketball players embrace afterinwinning the five years. constructing new wall. Thepresented balcony givestoiconic views of the Coosa state championship over Autagua on stuFriday night. the Year aaward was As principal of Holtville High and challenging theAcademy staff and See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 River and the Graves Bridge. Futral on Bibb Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to Staff Report
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