SPORTS: Wetumpka baseball focusing on defense, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 5 | $1.00
Water an issue in state prisons over the weekend Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
By Cliff Williams Many in Elmore County saw Staff Writer a drop in water pressure as cold temperatures A virtualaffected teachertheatarea. Elmore It prompted manyEdge property County School’s program owners to turn on faucets prehas been arrested and tocharged vent pipes from employee freezing. distribwith school At theobscene same time, waterto presuting material a stusure was an issue at Elmore and dent. Staton correctional facilities Elmore County Sheriffin Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
western Elmore County. Families of inmates at the two state prisonsWilson have posted on social media was the head basketand called The Wetumpka ball coach at HoltvilleHerald High about a lack water and heat. School andofwas The water placed on issue ad- was acknowledged by the Alabama Department ministrative ofleave Corrections. Jan. 13 “Elmore Correctional Facility according to Eland StatonCounty Correctional Facility more have experienced Schools super-low pressure issues with water intendent Rich-along with all of ard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
A story of survival
Elmore County,” ADOC spokessaid. “We see a higher usage than “We are still experiencing very person Kelly Betts said. “The during the summer months.” high volumes of water leaving the responsible water entity Eddings said said his department plant,” CEWSA posted Friday Franklin investigators Wilson was released on a on investigation andsupply handed it offis working to resolve the issue and is does not supply water to the state Facebook. “If you are still afto the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes dripkeeping ADOC informed.” prisons andhave the utility authority your faucets, Office the alleged vic- terping turning himself stop.” in accordHe was also placed on adminis- iff’s Waterleave usageatinthat Elmore County tim’s had plenty water during the The property phone.ofAuthorities collecting to theauthority Elmoreasked County Jail trative time.” was up during the cold spell and recent cold weather. owners to check to see if the water website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. is not uncommon according to Water usagesee wasa noted on meter wassaid still “spinning” after “You could conversaDennis Wilson also follow the same procedure Elmoreadministrators Water and Sewer Authorisocial media pages for Central the water was sports turned off. a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other at Holtwhen receive ty general Billy against Eddings. lin Elmore and Sewer it is spinning, you being have a report of manager allegations said. Water “Mr. Wilson is Authorgoing ville“If schools including “Coldstaff weather is when we that serves eastern Elmore school and employees. toitycontend someone had the the head track coach and assissee our largest usage,” Eddings County. code to his phone and tant football coach. See WATER, Page A2 “Once we hand it over, we security 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.
Richards opens up about post-shooting journey
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
to leave after that song. She remembers retrieving her cell phone. The last thing Trinity She remembers standing Richards remembers is a by the lightswitch next to lightswitch. her friend Cara Johns, one By Cliff Williams She remembers Staff Writer hearing of just a few people she an announcement about knew at the party. Wetumpka guns. SheThe remembers tell-Chamber of Commerce held its annual she luncheon to install new officers andPage board ing her friends wanted See SURVIVAL, A7 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 By LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN Managing Editor
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
MITCHELL WILL BE MISSED IN By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
WETUMPKA CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3
SUBMITTED | TPI
Trinity Richards was named a homecoming nominee at Pike Road after being a victim in the April 15, 2023 shooting in Dadeville.
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. was notWillis random, random By CLIFF WILLIAMS side Memorial and Gardens in “This[better],” said.not “Wea realact,” said “We believe the vicNews Editor Wetumpka. It’s a funeral service izedBenton. if we were going to work the perpetrator each business he started in 1994. tim andtogether, we had knew to build theother.” This is the first homicide in Wetumpka ancey Joe Mitchell III is Mitchell was instrumental in relationship.” years. The last always homicide in gone but his life’s works bringing Wetumpka together.inIt over three Mitchell and Willis the city took place in 2018. live on in Wetumpka, was evident to Wetumpka Mayor talked about how to help groups “It’s not a good how way to to help start Wetumpout the new Elmore County and beyond. Jerry Willis. of people, year,” said Benton. Mitchell died Jan. 16 at the “He is a major part of the ka grow or how to help someone didn’t wantMitchell to speculate age of 71. He was a deacon community,” Willis said. “He Benton with a burial. calledon the at Second Missionary Baptist served on many boards and com- Willis from time to time seeking SHOOTING, Page A3 Church in Wetumpka. His celemittees. He was very involved in a donation See to help bury someone. bration of life service filled the what we were doing and bringThe largest donations always large sanctuary at True Divine ing the community together. He came from Mitchell. Baptist Church in Montgomwas instrumental in that.” “If we only knew how much ery and everyone spoke highly As mayor, Willis realized he he gave away,” Willis said. of Mitchell. Some sang and needed Mitchell for accomplishThe foundation of Willis’ and preached. Others shared stories ing a goal both had of improvMitchell’s friendship started the school culture from shift in a positive direction. of Mitchell’s passion andthat fire of a ing Wetumpka for all. The pairThe years before. It was before Willis school struggling with low moschool experienced a percent was elected to the Wetumpka but also his compassion. Many realized the foundation 62 of their rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, of those stories included famfriendship needed to grow for it City Council. It was as to school that excel- to50happen. percent decrease in chronic ilyamembers andstrives friendsfor who lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase worked with Mitchell at Hill“We got to know each other See MITCHELL, Page A7 many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perleadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency couraging, supporting, organizing in the lastCLIFF fiveWILLIAMS years.| TPI and challenging the staff and stuMourners arrive for funeral services for Yancey Mitchell III at True Divine Baptist Church in Montgomery. A3 by the community. dents, caused the culture to Theschool Wetumpka businessman diedSee Jan.PRINCIPAL, 16 and was Page celebrated FUTURAL
Y
Sneed’s estate, Honda settle case to have a resolution to everything Despite striking a and to know jury and being prepared the famifor closing arguments, ly will be the case between Mitch taken care Sneed’s estate and of.” SNEED Honda Global was setSneed Staff Report schoolwide tled early Tuesday afterdiedassembly July 1, at Holtville High School. Elmore County Sunoon. 2018, following injuries The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was “We’ve reached a suffered during a car Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. confidential settlement,” crash. (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionsaid Beasley Allen attorSneed’s family School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proacney Ben Baker, who was filed a lawsuit against 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his thinkworking on behalf of Honda due to an alleged cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing Sneed’s family. “We’ve malfunction of the The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, been litigating cou- Honda Accord’s Collision the Year awardfor wasa presented to As principal of Holtville High ple of years and the famFutral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed ily is, I think, just happy See CASE, Page A6 By LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN Managing Editor
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
58 65 32 55 High High
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low
a Flea Market & Antiques k p m u Wet 5266 U.S. Hwy. 231 • Wetumpka, AL (Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC)
USPS USPS681-260 681-260 THURS:HIGH HIGH6071LOW LOW3753 THURS:
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666