SPORTS: A look back at the top sports moments of 2023, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 1 | $1.00
High-speed chase begins in Wetumpka Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
description on the Equinox, ultimately call was located and crashed at the botFranklin said investigators Wilson headofbasketWilson was released on a investigation and handed it off a traffic stop was was ini- thetom a hill near the ball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes aftiated. The driver did intersection of U.S. School and was He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordmale is in custody not stop, attempting Highway 280 and A virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” after a multi-counto flee and a chase Coven Abbett HighCounty School’s Edge program ministrative website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. ty chase ended in a ensued. way. has been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure wreck on U.S. HighAlabama Law It is unknown at with school employee distrib- according to Elwhen administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtway 280 in Alexander were of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being report uting obscene material toEnforcement a stu- moreAgency County this time if there City on Friday. troopers got involved any injuries in the school staff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assisSchools superAccording to with chase thatRich- crash, but one Elmore “Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. Elmore County Sheriff Billthe intendent Elmore County sheriff came County Sheriff’sknow very little about what is he was not responsible. There Franklin said Emmanuel Andredown ard Highway Dennis. Dennis said other staff would Bill Franklin, a call 63 into Tallapoosa WILSON vehicle going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a re- Department came in himself for reckless County. port,” Dennis sustained minorcooperate damwith authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminturned into authorities driving in the 8400 The chase ended in age. Alexander City Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.” block of Highway a wreck. Spike strips and Eclectic police LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN | THE HERALD 9 in Wetumpka. A were initiated, and departments were also Police from Alexander City, Elmore County and Eclectic respond to a high-speed chase that ended in a vehicle matching the the vehicle, a Chevy part of the chase. wreck on U.S. Highway 280 on Friday. STAFF REPORT TPI Staff By Cliff Williams Staff Writer A 38-year-old white
2023
Chamber holds luncheon
TOP NEWS STORIES OF
welcoming members By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
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 indication people want to get back Compiled is byan CLIFF WILLIAMS together and have these opportunities to see each News Editor
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
way as to what those projects might be. All involve partnering with either the Elmore County Board of Education, Tallassee City Schools, City of Tallassee or the Town of Eclectic. There is also a commercial park at 17 Springs. It fronts Highway 14 and has generated loads of interest. It will feature hotels, restaurants and retail shops. In just a couple of months, the collegiate Blue Gray Tennis tournament held for decades at Montgomery’s Lagoon Park will be hosted on the new tennis courts. The courts also allowed the creation of a tennis team at Stanhope Elmore High School.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
Board of Education president Don Bryant Policethe aresame still person investigating said at the time. “But insidethe fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parkwould not know where they are.” ing lot on Jan. 20. See CHAMBER, Page A3 While the new building and old building Police were dispatched to the parking lot may be similar and both are learning centers, around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Bryant said school buildings are just buildOnce there, they found Centell Winston, ings. 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound “A school building is not the school; it’s in the driver seat of his vehicle. the people who learn and teach inside it,”police chief According to Wetumpka Bryant said. Greg Benton, this was not a random shootThe new building ing. was ready for this school year after students werewas crammed into porta“This not random, not a random bles that covered thesaid bandBenton. practice field. Thethe vicact,” “We believe new facility includes state of the art auditim anda the perpetrator knew each other.” 17 SPRINGS CREATES torium capable ofThis holding student is the the firstentire homicide in Wetumpka GROWTH ACROSS ELMORE COUNTY body and staff for the first years. in over threetime years.inThe last homicide in Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley called 17 Gov. Kay Ivey ribbon cutting theattended city took the place in 2018. Springs visionary. Officials cut the ribbon ceremony before “It’s the not firsta good classes wayintoAugust. start out the new on Phase 1 in 2023 with 12 tennis courts, “We need all year,” of oursaid students Benton.well educated 12 pickleball courts and four soccer fields. to meet the challenges the future,” Ivey Bentonof didn’t want to speculate on the Phase 2 with six softball fields, a track, said at the ribbon cutting. “We want them all football stadium and fieldhouse is currently to be able to get good paying jobs to be able Page A3 See SHOOTING, under construction. It is expected to be comto support their families and enjoy this great pleted early next year. state.” “It is a great day for Millbrook and Elmore Tallassee City Schools superintendent Dr. County,” Kelley said at the ribbon cutting. NEW TALLASSEE HIGH SCHOOL OPENS Brock Nolin said he is sure the new building “This is huge.” It took two years and $21 million. Now will meet the education needs of children of Elmore County and the Grandview YMCA students at Tallassee High School are walkTallassee and hopes its history will be much officials were also present at the ceremony ing the halls of a new building. its predecessor. Staff Report schoolwide assembly as at Holtville the school culture from thatThe of anewshift in a like positive direction. The partners in the quality ofHigh life School. project.Elmore County Tallassee Highstruggling School looks lotmolike the old experienced “I’m excited that new generations will get Su- school with alow school a 62 percent The Elmore County one down to build it. the new structo discipline enjoy thisreferrals, structure,” Nolin said. “The The Alabama Association of Commission perintendent invested Richard Dennis wastornrale, achievement andBut attendance decrease in in the projectPrincipals through in-kind serviceforand ture willtoenable students to learn using 50 newpercentprevious lasted 100 years. I’m really Secondary School in attendance the presentation. a school that strives for exceldecreaseone in chronic cash in hopes it will lodging technology inBy a safe environment. excited to seeincrease what comes in the next 100 (AASSP) named Holtville Highincrease “Kyle Futral taxes, is an exceptionlence. collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent which are in turn to create “The many goal is able toissues put an old alum years.”rate, 33 percent School principal Kyle Futralbeing the used al principal andother is very proacof to thebe school’s were in the graduation qualityHigh of life projects Holtville, Eclectic like me identified out frontand andaddressed. they would know increase in CCR rate and a 20 per2022 Alabama School Prin- intive and innovative in his thinkFutral’s cipal of the ingare andalready approaches to managing of listening, en-City cent increase in ACT proficiency andYear. Tallassee. Discussions underexactly leadership where theystyle were,” Tallassee See BEST, Page A6 The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuSee PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL THE HERALD
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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