SPORTS: Wetumpka boys beat Tallassee in championship, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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Escaped inmate recaptured Georgia HoltvilleAlabama High School basketball coachinarrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Staff Writer The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) announced A virtual teacher at Elmore that an inmate who left his program work County School’s Edge has been arrested and charged with school employee distributing obscene material to a student. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
release assignment in MontgomeryWilson Tuesdaywas wasthe apprehended in head basketColumbus, Georgia, Thursday ball coach at Holtville High afternoon. School and was “Linwood placed on Harris ad- left his assigned job at ministrative Maaco Paint and leave Jan. 13 according to Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
Harris was sentenced in May The vehicle was located in Body in Montgomery,” ADOC said 2021 years in prisonon followColumbus, Georgia, and Harris in a release about his escape. “The Franklin said investigators Wilsonto 15 was released a investigation and handed it off ing a third-degree robbery was later taken into custody by the subject may be driving a 2007 Silafto the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutesconvicin Russell County and was Columbus Policethe Department. It is ter tion verwas Infiniti [Harris] was last iff’s Office have alleged victurning himself in accordHe alsoG35. placed on adminisincarcerated at the Frank Comexpected Harris will be extradited seen wearing brown pants, a black tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore CountyLee Jail trative leave at that time.” munity Work Center in Deatsville. to Alabama. Maaco shirt and a blue hat.” website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure when administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtreport of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being school staff and employees. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assis“Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. know very little about what is he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff 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.
Another round of severe storms possible Thursday Police Chamber holds luncheon continue
Tornado tracks across Lake Jordan By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Damage from Tuesday storms in Elmore County is mainly associated with Lake Jordan. Elmore County EMA Director Keith Barnett said no injuries were reported in the storms that started Tuesday afternoon and stretched into Wednesday morning. The first line of storms brought a EF-2 tornado, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The more than 14 hours of storms left numerous down, power lines damBy Clifftrees Williams Staff Writer See TORNADO, Page A3 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 is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each
welcoming members
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/
investigation, man no longer suspected
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
Police are still investigating the fatal | THE HERALD shooting in the WetumpkaSUBMITTED Walmart parkThe National Weather Service is predicting severe storms Thursday afternoon. All of Central Alabama is in the yellow, level two out of five, risk area. ing lot on Jan. 20. See CHAMBER, Page A3 Police were dispatched to the parking lot SUBMITTED | THE HERALD too 10:45 early p.m. to know this time. tral Alabama. In the “slight” risk around By KAITLIN FLEMING for aat“shots fired” call. An EF-2 caused damage to homes around Lake Jordan in As forthey all severe weatherWinston, days, area, wind gusts up to 60 mph and Once there, Managing Editor found Centell Elmore County. theTallassee, NWS urges to prea tornado or two are possible with 42 of deadeveryone of a gunshot wound pare ahead for the possithunderstorms Thursday afternoon. in the driver seatofoftime his vehicle. s cleanup from last week’s ble storms. includes having The NWS emphasized that 60 According to This Wetumpka police chief storms continue, another day a severe weather plan — which mph straight-line winds can be just Greg Benton, this was not a random shootof stormy weather could be as dangerous as some smaller tor- ing.means knowing what to do in case possible Thursday. yourwas areanot is placed under According to the National Weath- nadoes, and that the best course of “This random, not aa severe random thunderstorm warning or a tornaaction is to not be outside during a er Service (NWS), a dynamic sysact,” said Benton. “We believe the vicdo warning — and making sure tem is expected to move through the severe thunderstorm. tim and the perpetrator knew each other.” everyone in your family knows the The main timeframe for severe Mississippi/Alabama region early This is the first homicide in Wetumpka plan. The most important step in storms comes Thursday around 2 Thursday morning. This system in over threeisyears. Themore last homicide the plan having than one in p.m. and could last until around d could bring gusty winds outside the city took place in 2018. reliable way of receiving warn7 p.m. of thunderstorm activity, including By CLIFF WILLIAMS “It’s notThe a good to reliable start out ways the new ings. twoway most Colder air will return to Alabama sustained winds up to 25 mph. News Editor year,” said Benton. are having a properly programmed Apart from strong winds, a torna- behind the storms. Friday could see Benton didn’t wantradio to speculate the NOAA weather in your on home temperatures hovering just shy of do or two could be possible, along For 20 years the Friends of the Wetumpor business and having Wireless 50 degrees and a few snow flurwith periods of heavy rain. ka Library (FOWL) have been welcoming See SHOOTING, Page A3 Emergency Alerts (WEA) enabled ries could be possible early Friday Rain amounts up to one inch mystery authors to town for Murder on the on your cellphone. When WEA is morning for the northern third of are expected as the system moves Menu. enabled on your cellphone, your the state. through the area. This year is no different. On Sunday, phone will sound a loud alarm and Another round of storms could The NWS’s Storm Prediction Feb. 5 16 authors will cross the Bibb vibrate strongly when your location be possible Monday and Tuesday of Center has outlined a level two out Graves Bridge to have lunch and speak is placed under a tornado warning. next week, but forecasters say it is of five “slight” risk for all of Cenwith guests at the Wetumpka Civic Center. It’s a Idea brought to Wetumpka by Tammy Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The Lynn who got to know Margret Fenton in High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent Birmingham through a similar event called The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease incould discipline referrals, Rives Road in Millbrook, help find James Murder in the Magic City. Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel50 percent decrease in chronic Alabama.” Lewis Upchurch, 74, a “[Fenton] did it on behalf of a group (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionlence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase Upchurch was described white male. called Sisters in Crime,” Wetumpka Public School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proacmany of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent Staff Report as being six feet tall weigh“He may be living with located a missing Elmore Library Director Susan Hayes said. “When 2022 Alabama High School Prin- started tive and in Staff his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate andthat a 20may per- impair ing 218 pounds with brown a condition man. Friends of the Wetumpka Library in innovativeTPI cipal We of the Year. around with bringing ing and centthe increase ACT proficiency eyes and partially gray hair. hisinjudgment,” the release a release enthrough 2001. played in approaches to managing leadership style ofInlistening, The search was canceled stated. “He was last seen Alabama Law Enforcement The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. on Tuesday at approximate- after the man had been Jan. The Millbrook Police the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challengingAgency the staffonand stu-3, police Seeduring AUTHORS, Page B2Futral hasDepartment See located later that evening. lyPRINCIPAL, 8:45 a.m. inPage theA3 area of were hoping thetopublic has safely Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 a School, transformed dents, caused the school culture FUTURAL
Wetumpka to welcome 16 authors for Murder on the Menu
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Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year Missing elderly man located
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