SPORTS: Dillard brothers look to make big impact at Wetumpka, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 28 | $1.00
Spike strips used to stop Friday morning pursuit WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS to initiate a News Editor traffic stop of By Cliff Williams Wilson wasLashaun the head A. basketStaff Writer ball coach at Holtville High The Wetumpka Police Washington, School and was Department aided in stop24, of Clanton A an virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adping alleged defendant on Interstate County from School’s program ministrative 65. Instead, running an Edge Alabama has Enforcement been arrested and charged leave Jan. Washington 13 Law Agency WASHINGTON with school employee distribaccording to Eltrooper Friday morning. led troopers uting obscene material to a stu- more County According to law enforce- and other law enforcement dent. Schools superment, troopers were trying on a chase that eventually Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent RichFranklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. WILSON Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a returned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. said. “We had a preliminary
headed east on Highway 14. Wetumpka deputy chief investigation handed it off of police Edand Reeves said to the appropriate authorities. Wetumpka police officers He was also placed on adminisheaded west. trative leave thatspike time.”strips “We usedatour Dennis said school and assisted them inofficials stopfollow same procedure ping thethe car,” Reeves said. when administrators receive a Elmore County Sheriff report of allegations against Bill Franklin said the driver school staff and employees. of the car then ran on foot. “Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
“He had something in his germent. ALEA said in a hand,” Franklin said. “They statement Friday afternoon Franklin saidwhat investigators was released on a didn’t know it was. He Wilson Washington has several with the Elmore County Sher$6,000 bond 90 minutes afran to a nearby barn.” other outstanding warrants iff’sCattle Office have the alleged victer turning himself in accordstarted to scatter and is being held without tim’s Authorities to the Elmore County Jail and phone. Washington wascollectsoon ingbond. ed Wilson’s phone as well. website. apprehended. Franklin said an Alabama “You could seewas a conversasaid of Wilson also Washington taken to Dennis Department Corrections tion between the two,” Frankcoached other sports at Holtthe Elmore County Jail and dog tracking team arrived lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being charged with attempting to on the scene but was not to contend someone had the the head track coach and assiselude and reckless endanused. security code to his phone and tant football coach. he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminit’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
Millbrook resident recalls Police late June Chamber holds luncheon pursuit on I65 continue investigation, man no longer suspected
welcoming members
door. He kind of pushed me out of the way.” Ofield said she saw Ashley L. Ofield is law enforcement vehiMembersunscathed physically but cles pass by her as they of the is unsure what will hap- chased the truck. pen to her Hyundai Tus“I never spun or anyWetumpka thing, thank goodness,” Chambercon of after it was struck on Interstate 65 in late Ofield said. Commerce June. The Millbrook resiattend the Ofield was one of two dent made it to the side chamber’s “A drivers who of the road and waited. Taste of innocent Our Alabama Law Enforce“I first called my Home Town” Jake Arthur husband,” Ofield said. troopers luncheon.ment AgencyBy Chiefby Videographer said was struck a “I knew I was OK, but CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD 2018 Dodge Ram 3500 wanted to let him know Police are stillASAP investigating thewas fatal driven by Isaias Garcia, that there shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart park35, of Rowlett, Texas, an issue. I then called ing lot on Jan. 20. during a high-speed pur- *HP and then called the Police were dispatched to the parking lot suit. doctor to reschedule my around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Ofield had just appointment.” Once there, they found Centell Winston, merged onto the interGarcia struck another 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound state in the right lane, vehicle before crashing. in the driver seat of his vehicle. heading to a doctor’s enforcement said According to Law Wetumpka police chief appointment.Greg There was Garcia was pronounced Benton, this was not a random shoota SUV in front ing.of her in dead at the scene and his the middle lane. wasa transport“This was notpassenger random, not random “This whiteact,” truck ed to anbelieve area hospital. saidflies Benton. “We the vicup beside metim in and the the midTwenty perpetrator knewminutes each other.” dle lane,” Ofield the ordeal, Ofield Thissaid. is the firstinto homicide in Wetumpka “I thought heinwas notified her homicide insurance overgoing three years. The last in to run into the of place company theback city took in 2018.she had been that SUV, but instead in aoutwreck. “It’s not ahegoodinvolved way to start the new swerved to the right, year,” saidhitBenton.“They were the ones ting my vehicle at about Benton didn’t want to speculate on the midway on the driver’s See MILLBROOK, Page A6 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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 is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor See CHAMBER, Page A3
FIRE DESTROYS SPECTRE HOUSE
W
eather is the cause of a Sunday evening fire in the fictional Town of Spectre. Former Montgomery Mayor and Congressman Bobby Bright, who owns Jackson Island Lake, said no one was hurt and all the goats are fine after the blaze. “It was a lightning See FIRE, Page A6
SUBMITTED | THE HERALD
ABOVE: One of the homes built as part of the set of Spectre in Big Fish burned after a lightning strike. No people or goats were harmed in the event. TOP: The Town of Spectre was built on Jackson Island Lake in Millbrook.
See SHOOTING, Page A3
Christmas in July helps retailers through slow season Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
ByStaff CLIFF WILLIAMS Report News Editor
The Alabama Association of With no gift givingPrincipals holiday Secondary School in(AASSP) sight, July and August named Holtville can High beSchool harmful to theKyle bottom line principal Futral the of2022 retailers. Alabama High School PrinMainofStreet Wetumpka has cipal the Year. organized Christmas in July of The High School Principal tothe help promote downtown Year award was presented to businesses and create shop- a Futral on Friday, Jan. 28a during
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
90 65 71 55 High High
ping event to coincide with schoolwide assembly at Holtville Alabama’s Back-to-School High School. Elmore County Susales tax holiday. perintendent Richard Dennis was “It is a push people to in attendance for for the presentation. shop small, eat local and sup“Kyle Futral is an exceptionport small businesses al principal and is veryaround proactown,” StreetinWetumptive andMain innovative his thinkka director Haley ingexecutive and approaches to managing Greene said.Dennis “January, his school,” said, FebruaryAsand then July and August principal of Holtville High are the slowest months retail School, Futral has transformed
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wise. Thisculture is trying help a lot,” “It is The typthe school fromtothat of a shift in aMartin positivesaid. direction. boost the economic atmoically a slow time in retail. school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percentIt sphere in downtown.” could beina discipline boost thatreferrals, helps us rale, achievement and attendance decrease The Shoppes Downtown’s make it through the summer to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic Pam said the with Christtime.” lence.Martin By collaborating staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase mas in July event is just what Martin said creating events many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent businesses need to help get helps bring people to the identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perthrough areaincrease who might notproficiency otherwise leadershipwhat styleisoftraditionally listening, en- cent in ACT acouraging, summersupporting, slump. organizing income. Those additional peothe last five years. time of the stutraf- ple combined with those who and“This challenging theyear, staff and See to PRINCIPAL, Page A3 fic thecaused eventthe brings means support downdents, schoolinculture to will come
town events add to the bottom line for small businesses. “Sometimes the events can triple and even quadruple what we would typically have on a normal day,” Martin said. “It is a big boost.” This year’s Christmas in July is Saturday, July 22 and See CHRISTMAS, Page A6 FUTURAL
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