SPORTS: Holt throws 2nd perfect game of young season, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 9 | $1.00
Former firefighter gets 30 years in child sex abuse case Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
a child for immoral purposes. “There is no By Cliff Williams Wilson was the head basketA former Wetumpka firefighter doubt what you Staff Writer ball coach at Holtville High will be 62 when he is released from did is despicable,” School and was prison. Booth said at senA virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adJohn Cole Carter, 32, of Elmore, County School’s Edge program ministrative tencing. “You are washas sentenced Thursdayand by 19th been arrested charged CARTER leave Jan. 32 13years old. You Circuit Court Judge Joy Booth are with school employee distrib- according to El-a grown man. foruting transmitting obscene material, You have a huge obscene material to a stu- more County possession of child porngraphy, ego and thought you could get away dent. Schools supersecond-degree sex abuse, electronic with it.” Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richsolicitation a child and enticing Carter pleaded guilty last month Franklinofsaid Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. WILSON Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a returned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. said. “We had a preliminary By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
to sending inappropriate images have forever screwed up mine and The mother blocked Carter in the and encouraging two teenage girls her lives.” child’s phone but Carter still conto perform explicit acts. One of The 13 year-old victim said she tacted the young teenage girl. Franklin said investigators Wilson was released on a investigation and handed it off the victim’s impact statements said knew what they were doing was “You were smart enough to find to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afthere could be more victims, listing wrong. apps such as Pinterest and Notes He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordsix names. “But you made me think you andtowe send County pictures and tim’s phone. Authorities collecting thecould Elmore Jail trative leave at that time.” “While you left [your wife] at loved me and it was OK to do this,” videos,” the victim said. “You made website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. home withthe yoursame son, you were at the victim said.see “Youa knew my me feel like I wasWilson special.” also “You could conversaDennis said follow procedure the fire station staying up ‘til 3 in mom [and your wife] was suspiAssistant district attorney Britat Holtwhen administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports the morning talking to all of us like cious about how close and flirty our tney Pinon said Carter groomed report of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being the we werestaff only and goodemployees. for our bodies,” torelationship to seem. victim andcoach it aided in assisgrooming school contend started someone hadOnce the thefirst head track and the“Once victim we said.hand “You it areover, not a good [your wife] said something to my we security code to his phone and tant football coach. See staff ABUSE, Page A5 person what youabout did towhat us. You mother hangingThere out.” know for very little is he was we notstopped responsible. Dennis said other would going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at 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.
More than 30 shots fired in Millbrook Chamber holds luncheon last month
Police continue investigation, man no longer Kirsch and pilot inspire Millbrooksuspected Middle School
welcoming members
transported to a Montgomery Three defendants hospital Cliff Williams allegedlyByinvolved in for further Writer on a Jan. 15Staff shooting treatment Highway 14 in Millbrook of non-life The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its were in court this week. threatening ERVIN annual luncheon to install new officers and board Two arrested not long injuries. members for the first time in a while Thursday. after the incident waived MillThe COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathpreliminary hearings brook erings but the chamber celebrated the successes of and another was recently police chief business in Wetumpka. arrested by the Millbrook John“We haven’t been able to do this forP.K. the last couPolice Department. son believes ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your Korde’z T. Ervin, 24,indication people want luck played attendance is an to get back and Latrell R. White, a role ineach the together and have these opportunities to see 22, both of Selma were incident, WADE arrested in the moments afterPage he A3 See CHAMBER, after the incident. Gabriel took a look Wade, 21, of Selma was at the scene arrested on Feb. 14. on Highway Court documents 14 in the reveal how dire the inciarea of Old dent was. Prattville A vehicle with one Road — shooting victim inside not only in WHITE “was struck approximatethe quick ly 32 times by gunfire.” apprehension of suspects Another vehicle was but also because of the struck at least three times. large amounts of traffic at The victim sustained a the time. gunshot wound to the left “We are extremely side of his body. He was treated on the scene and See SHOTS, Page A5 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
MAN VS. IMPOSSIBLE By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” Arthur Kirschluncheon. said. “I gave themBy Jake time with the largest being
Chief Videographer some CLIFF homework a 500,000 pound C-17 airWILLIAMS/ for the next fewTHE weeks.” craft. HERALD are stillvisited investigating few students were The homework leads to PoliceKirsch area stu-the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parktreated to a feat of trips to the STEM day on dents to encourage them ing lot on Jan. 20. strength last week. Friday before the air show to look at all career paths. theafter parking lot Millbrook Middle School begins where the Air ForcePolice Hewere saiddispatched he createdtohis around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots students saw Mark Kirsch will have displays highbeing a fourth outfielderfired” for call. Once there, they found Centell Winston, ‘Man vs Impossible’ pull a lighting various careers. 172 Major League Baseball 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound bus loaded with students. It The school visit is somegames and playing briefly in the driver seat of his vehicle. was all to show the students thing Kirsch has been doing with the Savannah Bananas. According to Wetumpka police chief a different career path and for two decades as he perBut Kirsh also gets someGreg Benton, this was not a random shootto highlight STEM careers forms at air shows around thing from visiting with ing. and exhibits to be featured the world. He mainly pulls“This students. was not random, not a random in the April Maxwell Gunt- large vehicles. Kirsch esti“I Benton. use them to believe inspire the vicact,” said “We er Air Show. mates he has pulled sometim and the perpetrator knew each other.” “I try to engage them,” 300 million pounds in that This is the Seefirst IMPOSSIBLE, A9 homicide Page 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 CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI year,” said Benton. Mark Kirsch pulls an Elmore County school bus at Millbrook Middle School last week. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
A
See SHOOTING, Page A3
Two new housing developments Holtville mourns Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year in the works for Wetumpka former coach
schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. By CLIFFThe WILLIAMS High School. Elmore County Suschool struggling with low moschool experienced a 62 percent News Editor By CLIFF WILLIAMS field the team plays on. The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, News Editor Coaches, friends and famSecondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic Hundreds of new homes are possible in ily gathered on the field built (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase Wetumpka if development plans come through. Build it and they will more than 20 years ago SunSchool principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent Two parcels of property including more than come. day for a vigil to remember a 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 per280 acres are under consideration for the City Christopher Motes may life lost tragically and unexcipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency of Wetumpka to annex. Stone Martin Builders haveThe never wonSchool a state champectedly Friday. High Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. has initial plans for approximately 240 homes on pionship in baseball at HoltThey shared stories the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stu- SUBMITTED | TPI ville but his fingerprints are Former Holtville Chrisculture Moats,tocenter, huddlesSee PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents,baseball causedcoach the school FUTURAL See MOURNS, Page A5 with his players in Holtville.The coach died unexpectedly Friday. all over the program and the See HOUSING, Page A9 Staff Report
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