INSIDE TODAY
Stanhope snaps 10-game losing streak to Wetumpka SPORTS Page 12
Maxwell Gunter no place to house illegal immigrants.
Opinion Page 4
THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • January 13, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 118, NO.26
OSHA cites Elmore facility $50,000
By KEVIN TAYLOR The Wetumpka Herald
For the second time in three years an Elmore plant, which produces fire-reinforced plastic components, has been cited by OSHA for exposing workers to fire and explosion hazards. Amtech Southeast, which is a division of Dynamic Fabrications, was
found to have improperly stored oxygen and acetylene cylinders together as well as failing to label containers that acetone was stored with the proper chemical name and hazard warnings. OSHA cited Amtech for the same violations in February 2014. Another violation Amtech was cited for was for allowing unsecured compressed gas to be stored near an
entrance. “Amtech Southeast continues to expose workers to hazards that were previously identified by inspectors. There is no reason we should be finding those hazards again,” said Joe Roesler, OSHA’s area director in Mobile. “Employers have a legal obligation to ensure works have a safe and healthy workspace, and those who fail to do so will be held accountable.”
The proposed fine against Amtech Southeast is $50,000. In 2014 OSHA cited Amtech Southeast with 15 safety and health violations carrying with it a proposed fine of $50,000. Just like 2014, Amtech has 15 days from the receipt of the citations to respond to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings.
FEMA, state officials visit to confirm damages
Commission approves funding for family resource center Amount of $10,000 was requested to fund staffing and other needs
By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor
By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor
The Elmore County Family Resource Center received a boost in their county footprint Monday when the Elmore County Board of Commissioners approved a request to fund the center $10,000 to help with staffing and other needs to regenerate the center. One of the goals of the center is to connect people to agencies and to help people to get resources. Katrina Mitchell, Elmore County Extension Office coordinator, gave the board a presentation requesting the funds and said about six months ago there was a renewed interest to regenerate the center, which Mitchell said had been fairly stagnate. “We know the resources across the county are diminished when people call and need resources,” Mitchell said. “ … The mission of the Elmore County (Family) Resource Center is, and always has been to connect people to resources. … however, at this point the funding had gotten to the point See COMMISSION • Page 2
Elmore County EMA / The Herald
Wreckage begins to be pulled up near the foot of the Emerald Mountain Toll Bridge Monday afternoon. The concrete truck was struck by another truck early Saturday morning and veered off into the Tallapoosa River.
Missing body found in Tallapoosa River By KEVIN TAYLOR The Wetumpka Herald
Divers discovered the missing body of the driver of a concrete truck, which plummeted into the Tallapoosa River following a Saturday morning collision with another concrete
truck near the Emerald Mountain Toll Bridge, after more than six hours of searching the swift river Monday. Divers found the body of Lonnie Phillips, 66, of Shorter inside the truck cab shortly after 3:30 p.m. Monday, according to
Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin. “It was a long day, but a successful day to finally give (the Phillips) family some closure,” said Eric Jones, director of the Elmore County Emergency
Elmore County could be on the verge of qualifying for Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance relief for its infrastructure following a recent visit by FEMA and Alabama Emergency Management Agency officials. Two officials from FEMA and AEMA officials met with officials from Elmore County for a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment where FEMA representatives in the public assistance area came in to confirm the damage from the recent deluge of rain that caused floods and flash floods across the area and the state. “They look at a representative sampling (of the damage) to verify that we have the damage that meets the specific thresholds for us to be eligible for a county for public assistance
See MISSING • Page 2
See FEMA • Page 2
Depot hosting Bishop Scholarship benefit CONTACT US 334-567-7811 • Fax: 334-567-3284
USPS 681-260
By KEVIN TAYLOR The Wetumpka Herald
Those who knew her could only grow to love her. She was as kind as a soft breeze on a hot summer day and had the quickest wit to go along with her sweet tea southern drawl. Everyone who knew her either called her Miss Grace or Miss Bishop. Her contributions to the Wetumpka community are a mile long, but there is no arguing her passion for the arts. Grace K. Bishop was one of the
founding members of the nationally acclaimed Wetumpka Depot Players community theater group. So to honor her memory as well as raise funds for the Grace Kappes Bishop Scholarship Fund, the Players will host a Sunday afternoon of readings from Bishop’s book “Snippets.” The Depot’s Encore Players, directed by long time friend Hazel Jones, will present a program of readings and stories from “Snippets” at 2 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Wetumpka Depot Theatre. Bishop, who was a retired
Grace K. Bishop was one of the founding members of the nationally acclaimed Wetumpka Depot Players community theater group.
See SCHOLARSHIP • Page 2
Contributed / The Herald
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