SPORTS: Peake’s buzzer-beater lifts Indians past Mustangs in overtime, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 4 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Source: Little Bit of Texas victim beat, kicked while on ground in state right of way
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
By CliffTeeter Williams Chris was a favorite at Staff Writer Alabama’s Little Bit of Texas. Teeter helped get the business A virtual teacher Elmore through tough times and at he enjoyed County Edge going thereSchool’s all the time. Butprogram Teeter hasnobeen and charged will longerarrested enjoy a place he with school distribfrequented as heemployee died as he was uting there obscene material a stuleaving following whattothe Wetumpka dent. Police Department has described as an “altercation.” Elmore County Sheriff Bill An anonymous source withAndre Franklin said Emmanuel knowledge of 32, the incident said Wilson II, of Montgomery Teeter washimself outside and turned intoleaving authorities Tuesday afternoon.
the property when a confrontation happened. “He spun his wheels and slung some gravel, I believe,” thebasketsource Wilson was the head said. think he stuck on High the ball “Icoach at got Holtville cross ties and causing School wasthe wheels to spin. Someone in the parking lot placed on adgave [Teeter] an ministrative obscene finger gesture.” leave Jan. 13 The source according tosaid El- Teeter was on the right of way of U.S. Highway more County 231 when he stopped his truck and Schools superencountered an individual. intendent Rich“It appeared a ard Dennis. punch may have been thrown or blocked,”WILSON the “We had a resource said. “I believe Teeter fell to port,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
the ground and may have struck his it is conducting a death investigaThe source said the videos show truck in the process.” tion. It also states two Glock handTeeter inside the establishment The source said others then guns were recovered. throughout the night before he left joined in. Wetumpka Police Chief Greg and that was all employees Franklin said investigators Wilson releasedworking on a investigation and handed it off “Thisappropriate group never authorities. went inside with Benton no knives or guns were $6,000 that night at Alabama’s LittleafBit of the said Elmore County Sherbond 90 minutes to the before source used duringhave the altercation. on the night Teeter died were Office the alleged vic- ter Texas turning himself in accordHe wasthis,” also the placed on said. adminis- iff’s “Another person cametime.” up and start- tim’sInphone. a social media postcollectAlabama’singmade available to County investigators Authorities to the Elmore Jail as trative leave at that ed kicking.” Little Bit of Texas confirmed Teewere the transactions of the night. website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. Teeter was taken to a nearter’s involvement in helping the “He had some drinks,” the “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure by hospital and later died. The a tion business and the is cooper-coached source other said. “He had dinner. He between thebusiness two,” Franksports at Holtwhen administrators receive Wetumpka Police Department is with an investigation. walked around but never being looked report of allegations against linating said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including awaitingstaff the results of an autopsy to contend “All cameras, 64 of them, were theoverly intoxicated. didn’t school and employees. someone had the head track coachHe and assisby the Alabama Department of working perfectly and video was stumble or lose balance. [The trans“Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. Forensic Affairs. overresponsible. [to the Wetumpka actions]said show whatstaff was would ordered, know very little about what is heturned was not There Dennis other The incident report from the Police Department],” the post said. when it was ordered and when it going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at Wetumpka Police Department said “The truth will be forthcoming.” was delivered.” 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.
Gladys Knight Chamber to perform in holds luncheon Wetumpka
welcoming members
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Staff Writer Seven-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight will take the Wind Creek Casino & The Wetumpka Chamber Commerce held its Hotel (WCW) Entertainment Centerofstage in March. annual luncheon to install new officers and board Knight has recorded than in 38aalbums members for themore first time while Thursday. over the years, including four solo albums The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathduring the pastbut decade: “Good Woman” erings the chamber celebrated the successes of (1991); “Just for You” (1994); business in Wetumpka. the inspirational “Many Roads” andfor the last cou“WeDifferent haven’t been able(1999); to do this “At Last” (2001). “At Last” showed the ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your world that she still is has it takes to record attendance anwhat indication people want to get back a hit album, employing thethese talents of contogether and have opportunities to see each See KNIGHT, Page A3
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer 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 shooting. “This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” This is the first homicide 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 year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
First Baptist welcomes community to new construction CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD
The Elmore County Commission met Monday evening and approved using a contractor to help with debris removal from road rights of way from the Jan. 12 tornado.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
F
our years to the day First Baptist Church Wetumpka was damaged by the 2019 tornado that struck downtown Wetumpka, the church cut the ribbon on newly finished facilities. The church held Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school a brief prayer before culture from that of a High School. Elmore County Suschool struggling with low moBy CLIFF WILLIAMS guests toured a large TheEditor Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance News auditorium, play areas Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to aaschool that strives for excelfor children, welcome (AASSP) named Holtville High weeks, “Kyle Futral is an exceptionBy collaborating with staff, center andlence. new library. With three tornados in eight School Kyle Futral the al principal and is very The proacmany of offithe school’s issues were building was the workprincipal of debris removal has been 2022 Alabama High SchoolCounty Prin- Comtive and innovative in hiscially think-blessed identified and addressed. Futral’s followpiling up for the Elmore cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership ing Sunday’s church style of listening, enmission. School Principal of hispass school,” Dennis said, service. couraging, supporting, organizing ItThe hasHigh recently finished a second the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuSeeduring CLEANUP, Page A2Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 a School,
County to use contractor to help Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year with tornado cleanup shift in a positive direction. The
Today’s
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59 65 38 55 High High
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See SHOOTING, Page A3
school experienced a 62 percent decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism, 7 percent increase in the graduation rate, 33 percent increase in CCR rate and a 20 percent increase in ACT proficiency in the last five years. See PRINCIPAL, Page A3
FUTURAL
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