SPORTS: Trio of Indians win state championships, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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Holtville High School basketball coach arrested Wilson was the head basketball coach at Holtville High School and was A virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adCounty School’s Edge program ministrative has been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 CLIFF WILLIAMS “All to indications from with By school employee distrib- according ElEditor the people utingNews obscene material to a stu- more Countyhe was with (say) he was OK,” Tanks dent. Schools superEditor’s This said. “You Elmore CountyNote: Sheriff Bill intendent Rich-never know story contains informaa person is going Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ardwhat Dennis. WILSON tion / sex- “We through Wilson II,about 32, of suicide Montgomery had aon re-the inside. ual assault and may be port,” They Dennis heard a gunshot. turned himself into authorities triggering to some read- said. They called Tuesday afternoon. “We had aus.” preliminary ers. If you are suicidal or The FBI reports suicide having suicidal ideations, among law enforcement please call 988 immediofficers is not uncomately. mon. In 2022, 32 law he unexpected death of Elmore County SIMS deputy sheriff Stephen Sims shocked many. enforcement officers died Sims died Thursday of by suicide in the U.S. a self-inflicted gunshot Nine attempts were not wound while attending successful. law enforcement training The FBI said potential in Fultondale. factors contribute to law By Cliff Williams Fultondale Police enforcement suicide such Staff Writer Department spokesperson as relationship problems, Sgt. John Tanks said four burnout, depression and The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its Elmore County to deputies annual luncheon install new PTSD. officers and board had just returned to the in a while Elmore County Sheriff members for the first time Thursday. Fultondale Event Center Bill Franklin sent staff The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathafter lunch to continue to Fultondale to be with erings but the chamber celebrated the successes of training for dealing with Sims’ family and the business in Wetumpka. sex“We offenders. other deputies. Frankhaven’t been able to do this for the last cou“They to walk lin hassaid. taken measures ple years,”started chairperson Clay McConnell “Your back into the towant helptohis attendance is anfacility,” indication people get department back Tanks said. stayed grievetoand from together and “One have these opportunities see recover each behind and he committed the experience. See CHAMBER, suicide.” “WithPage ourA3chaplain The Fultondale Police and others we are going Department is investo offer to support them tigating the death and and see if they are in investigators have spoken need of help or counselwith many on the scene ing,” Franklin said. “It Thursday. is something that they By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
investigation and handed it off to the appropriate authorities. He was also placed on administrative leave at that time.” Dennis said school officials follow the same procedure are not around or witness when administrators receive a much in life. Hopereport of their allegations against fully none of itemployees. will hapschool staff and pen again weitknow “Once webut hand over, we from very time little to time things know about what is are going happen.” going on,” to Dennis said. “We Sims was attending cooperate with authorities if training hosted by the necessary.” Covenant Rescue Group of Gardendale. According to the group’s website the organization is involved in efforts to rescue victims and arrest criminals involved in human trafficking. They share a passion for helping children who fall victim to human trafficking. Following Sims death, Covenant released a statement. “Our prayers go out to the family, friends and colleagues of the officer during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement read. “We cannot begin to express the sorrow we feel for their loss.” The organization encourages anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide or in need of support to reach out for help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273TALK (8255), providing
Franklin said investigators Wilson was released on a with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afiff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordtim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail ed Wilson’s phone as well. website. “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtlin 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. CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI he was not responsible. There firstDennis other staffshe would When Pattie Grasper arrivedsaid in Wetumpka, enrolled for theCounty dutiesTraining of Wilson at It is other information we can’t in the seventh grade at fill thein Elmore School. brick think building behind the while main building in 1924. Holtville he is onbuilt admindisclose nowwas butjnIadon’t She graduate fromistrative the school in 1959 and recalls a daily leave. it’s beneficial towould Mr. Wilson.” prayer meeting.
Work ethic taught Police Chamber holds luncheonat Elmore County T continue investigation, Training School man no longer suspected
welcoming members
By CLIFF WILLIAMS
Chief Videographer The knee replacement has See SCHOOL, Page A7 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 shootBy CLIFF WILLIAMS working in the plumbing. News Editor industry getting “This was noting random, notand a random their“We start at thethe Elmore act,” said Benton. believe vicSome teenagers are Countyknew Technical Centim and the perpetrator each other.” making nearly This $20 is perthe firstter. homicide in Wetumpka in over three years.“Everybody The last homicide hour in a summer job. needs in a city took place in 2018. Wetumpka They aren’tthe flipping plumber,” “It’s not a goodjunior way toJackson start outWebster the new burgers or making good year,” said Benton. money from household didn’t want to speculate theA7 chores. Instead,Benton they are See ECTC,on Page
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
ECTC creates plumbers before graduation
See HELP, Page A7
Sheriff remembers seasoned deputy help out.” Sims started his law enforcement career in 2003 Stephen Sims was always at the Montgomery Police first. Department where he was Elmore County Sheriff awarded the Medal of Valor Bill Franklin said Sims, 43, in 2005. was dependable and always He also worked at the there for others. Wetumpka Police Depart“He got along with ment and the Alabama Staff Report assembly at Holtville everyone,” Franklin said. schoolwide State Fire Marshal’s Office School. Elmore “Everyone seemed to like High before coming toCounty the SuTheStephen. AlabamaHe Association RichardSheriff’s Dennis was was alwaysof perintendent Elmore County Secondary School Principals run, run, run, go, go, go. in attendance Office. for the presentation. (AASSP) namedstepped Holtville Highor “Kyle is in an several exceptionHe never down “HeFutral served School principal FutralIfthe principal and is very proacaway from Kyle anything. we al capacities beyond being 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tivea and innovative in deputy his thinkwere going into a house police officer or cipal of theaYear. and approaches to said. managing with search warrant, he ingsheriff,” Franklin Thewould High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, be the first in line to Sims was most recently the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
with the Elmore County Drug Task Force and the Special Operations Unit within the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office. Previously he served on the Central Alabama Drug Task Force and the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force. “He was at the forefront the from that of a of aschool lot of culture what we did,” school struggling Franklin said. with low morale, achievement andby attendance Sims is survived a to a school that children. strives for excelwife and four lence. collaborating with9staff, HisBy visitation is from many of 11:30 the school’s issues were a.m. to a.m. Wednesidentified and addressed. Futral’s day at Shoal Creek Baptist leadership style of listening, Church. His funeral serviceencouraging, organizing will beginsupporting, at 11:30 a.m. and challenging the staff and students, caused the school culture to
slowed her. She works
MembersNews Editor only two days a week of the instead of five. Her famWetumpka No one would say a ily has urged Glasper to Chamberword of if Pattie Glasper live out her days without Commerce stayed at home and didn’t work, but it wouldn’t sit attend the work. well with her. chamber’s “A She has had both knees “I wish I could still Taste of replaced Our and at 82, the work the whole week like Home Town” Wetumpka native has Arthur I used to,” Glasper said. By Jake luncheon.earned her retirement.
See SHOOTING, Page A3
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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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 CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI increase in CCR rate and a 20 perTechnical Center plumbing instructor James cent increaseElmore in ACTCounty proficiency in the last fiveBroadway years. shows students how to connect copper pipe using a solider iron in the shop. He has students complete an art type in the class cutting and connecting See piece PRINCIPAL, Page to A3demonstrate skills FUTURAL the pipe.
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