Folmar finalizes coaching staff at Edgewood Academy
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SATURDAY-SUNDAY • JULY 16-17, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 11, NO. 27
Grand jury dismisses Golden charges
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
An Elmore County grand jury dismissed the criminal charges of the Coosada man who filmed Wetumpka police and was later arrested for allegedly “interfering” with police operations when his online video generated calls to their department. The jury came to the “no bill” ruling on Friday, said Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson, which meant the current criminal charge filed against Golden by WPD officials on “interfer-
ence with public safety communications,” a Class C felony, was thrown out. In a “no bill” reading, Robinson said follow-up evidence could be investigated and result in another trial, however, he said he could not say what evidence was used in the grand jury. “We reviewed all the evidence that was available,” Robinson said. He said he does not know what other evidence might be available and does not personally know of anything new, but if more emerged it would be presented to the DA’s office. Robinson mentioned the search con-
ducted on Golden’s property June 16 and said he did think there were follow-up investigations ongoing. He said if any evidence of criminality was found the case could be revisited. Evidence has been largely in question after days turned into weeks as The Herald attempted to retrieve a copy of the search warrant return listing the items taken from Golden’s residence by the WPD. According to Alabama law there is a 10-day time limit on returning the document to the judge who signed off on the warrant.
However, an assistant at the Elmore County Circuit Clerk’s Office said the warrant was given to them on Wednesday, July 13, nearly a month after it was signed. Golden’s attorney with the Dothan firm Buntin, Etheredge & Fowler said a “motion to produce” was filed to obtain the document. Circuit Clerk Bryan Justiss said it was a “gray area” regarding the 10-day timeframe to return the document, but said on Thursday someone with the WPD had delivered the document directly to the judge. See CHARGES • Page 5
Red Hill Community concert set for July 30
Local NAACP, Wetumpka police to meet
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Members to address recent events nationally and in communities By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
A meeting between local community leaders and Wetumpka police is planned for next week in regard to the tense climate from events involving law enforcement across the nation. Over recent weeks, incidents of police shootings and the targeting of police in Dallas has sparked both ongoing protests and outpourings of gratitude for police throughout the nation as well as in Alabama cities, extending both into Millbrook and Wetumpka. There were reports of a small protest held in front of the Wetumpka courthouse last Sunday and another after a Millbrook man called on others to rally in downtown Montgomery in response to a local police shooting that took place years ago. However, at the same time, residents of both cities have donated goods and delivered cards, flowers and made statements of appreciation to local law enforcement. The Wetumpka protest appeared to be made up of roughly a handful of people with signs in response to police shootings in past weeks in Louisiana and Minneapolis, while there seemed to be a larger crowd See MEETING • Page 3
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Participants gather at the Elmore County Board of Education Boardroom to see if they would be drawn as part of the random selection process for seats in the district’s new Pre-K program.
FIRST EARLY LEARNERS
Students chosen for county’s first Pre-K program By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
Parents and students learned Tuesday whether they would be part of the Elmore County School District’s first Pre-K class during a random selection process held at the Board of Education. The process selected 64 students – 32 for Wetumpka Elementary and 32 for Coosada Elementary – as part of a program that Elmore County Superintendent Dr. Andre Harrison said he hopes will be
a model program. “Our goal is to establish a model firstclass Pre-K program for the entire state,” said Harrison. Harrison said that when he first became superintendent he knew the district needed to reach students as soon as possible in order to be effective. “Early intervention is important for children to be able to achieve later in school,” he said. “I knew that this was something that we needed here in Elmore See PRE-K • Page 3
The Red Hill Community Club will be hosting a benefit concert at the old Red Hill School building located at the corner of Highway 229 (Red Hill Road) and East Cotton Road on July 30 to help raise funds for a new roof for the old school building-turned-community center. Red Hill Community Club President Paula Castelberry said that the building is an important landmark in the Red Hill community and that the club received an estimate of $30,000 to replace the roof on the structure. “My father helped build this building,” she said. “He was working for a local contractor at the time. Also my husband went to the school until the ninth grade.” The building also has additional historical significance. Club Secretary/Treasurer Ray Hall said the school was finished in the 1920s See CONCERT • Page 5
Leadership Elmore County seeks class of 2017 By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
Leadership Elmore County is gearing up for another year and another class of future leaders. According to LEC Chairman Jenifer Glover, the group took last year off to completely revamp the program. “We wanted to make it more of a curriculum-based program with a positive leadership aspect tied into each of our sessions,” she said. Glover said the program will consist of nine classes, of which participants must attend six in order to graduate. The classes will run from a group retreat in September until May.
“We will have a kick-off meeting in August and then an overnight retreat at the 4-H Center in September which will include a variety of team-building exercises,” Glover said. “Participants must attend the September session as it is one of the most important ones for getting to know your fellow class members.” Glover said that more than 170 participants have been involved in the program since its inception and that LEC is looking for 15-20 candidates for its 2017 graduating class. “We have had a wide range of people in the program from elementary school teachers to CEOs of major organizations,” she said. See LEADERSHIP • Page 3
Submitted / The Herald
Pictured above are participants with the 2015 Leadership Elmore County class. LEC is seeking the leaders of tomorrow for its 2017 class.
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Page 2 • JULY 16-17, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Area Calendar
July 31
BACK TO SCHOOL: Calvary Baptist Wetumpka will be hosting our Annual “Back -2- School Bash on July 31 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on this event, please contact the church office 334-567-4729 or visit our website www.calvarybaptistwetumpka.org.
August 13
Obituaries
ers from surrounding school systems.
July 19
TUESDAYS WITH KELLY: Tuesdays With Kelly are lunch and learn events at noon on the third Tuesday of each month at The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery 408 South Main Street. Bring a sack lunch, drinks and desserts provided. Free, Open to the Public, Fun, Music and Door Prizes! Tuesday, July 19 is “The Way I See It” with Priscilla Crommelin Ball and Lt. Colonel Quentin C. Crommelin Jr., children of the late Priscilla Crommelin. DANCE CLASSES: Dance Generation registers now for fall classes. Registration at Tallassee Studio July 19 4:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m. For more information call Shawn at 334-283-2201.
Beulah Baptist Church will hold the Annual Teachers Luncheon on Aug. 13 at 1 p.m. In order to honor the Reeltown School Teachers and Aides and some other teach-
ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
August 26-27
The Tallassee High School Class of 1981 is planning its class reunion, to be held Aug. 26 and 27 in Tallassee. If you are a member of the class and have not been contacted by a classmate, please call Suzy Solomon Wilson at 334-2838172.
ONGOING EVENTS POOL SEASON: The Tallassee Pool season for 2016 will end Saturday, July 30. Hours of operation will be Monday-Saturday from 1pm-5pm. Daily pass is $3 per day and individual pass is $45, family pass for up to four in same household is $60 and five or more $75 for season. First session of swim lessons for ages 4 and up (must be 4 by time of lesson) will begin June 13 – June 24, Second session will be June 27 – July 8 (closed July 4) Third session will be July 11-22. Registration fee for Tiny Tots is $55 and Levels 1-6 will be $65. You may register at Recreation Department until Thursday, May 26 and after May 26 please register at pool. WATER AEROBICS: Water Aerobics classes will go through July 28th. Classes will be each Tuesday and Thursday night at 7 p.m at the City Pool. No need to register...just pay $3 each day you exercise. Lap swimming will also be available during that time if you do not want to participate in the aerobic class. SWIM LESSONS: First session of swim lessons for ages 4 and up (must be 4 by time of lesson) will run through June 24. Second session will be June 27 –July 8 (closed July 4) Third session will be July 11-22. Registration fee for Tiny Tots is $55 and Levels 1-6 will be $65. You may register at Recreation Department until Thursday, May 26 and after May 26 please register at pool. CHILD FIND: The Tallassee City School System is launching its annual campaign to assist children—birth to age 21—who have disabilities and may need special services. The campaign urges parents, service providers, and concerned citizens to contact Child Find, a program to locate, identify and evaluate children with disabilities or children who are believed to have disabilities. The Tallassee City School System wishes to notify you of the availability of special education services in our public schools. If you have questions regarding our programs, or if you wish to refer a student, please contact Lynell Carr at (334) 283-5675 or Child Find (Alabama Department of Education) at 1-800-548-2547.” ART EXHIBITION: There is a free exhibit of 65 works of art by the late Priscilla Crommelin featuring vibrant still life and floral paintings, portraits and landscapes at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery. TENNIS LESSONS: Grassroots Tennis Association will be offering eight weeks of free tennis lessons this Summer throughout the rural and inner city underprivileged communities. SUMMER READING PROGRAM: Readers of all age will explore all thing sports and fitness this summer as Wetumpka Public Library presents “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read” during their summer library program. The 2016 Summer Library Program is open to young people, preschool, through young adult, with programs, prize drawings, story times and more. Preschool Story Time for infant through those entering kindergarten is on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. this is a year round program. Summer program for those entering first through sixth grade will meet Tuesday afternoon from 2 – 3 p.m. at the Wetumpka Civic Center beginning June 14 – July 26. The Teen Program for those entering seventh and up will meet Thursday afternoons beginning June 16 – July 28 in the Library for movies. Registration begins May 2, 2016. You may download a registration form from our website: www. wetumpkalibrary.com or come in for a copy. For more information you may call 334-567-1308. Find us on Facebook. All programs are free. SATURDAY NIGHT JAMBOREE: Every second and fourth Saturday of the month is the Highway 231 Saturday
Debra Lynne Reeder, nee Foster, known to family and friends as Lynne, 60, of Sugar Grove, IL, passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2016, after a long battle with cancer. Reeder Lynne was an extraordinary woman, strong and fiercely loving, who touched and inspired so many people. Born to Howard and Maxine Foster of Wetumpka, Alabama on March 16, 1956, Lynne bounced around the country as a military brat. Upon her graduation from Wetumpka High School, she enlisted in the Air Force, where she played and sang in the Air Force Band. She primarily served in the Panama Canal Zone and loved the adventure, riding through the jungles on her horse Allegro. She finished her Air Force career at Chanute Air Force base near Champaign, Illinois and lived there for many years where she became a fitness instructor and competitive body builder, met her husband Jeff Facer, and had daughter Lindsay. A few years later, Lynne changed careers and became an instructional designer. She was a gifted business woman, succeeding first in senior leadership roles at numerous large companies, and later as the owner of a successful technology company. She met her husband Leon Reeder in Champaign, moved to the Chicago
area, and had daughter Brynne. Lynne had a solid faith and sang on the worship teams at the churches she attended over the years. She loved serving at Hesed House and on the boards of Covenant Christian School and Inaside Chicago Dance. She was an accomplished seamstress, nationally recognized for the dance costumes and tutus she loved to make. She proved supermoms do exist by seamlessly running a business while ensuring her family’s needs always came first. She was a devoted mom, attending every volleyball game her oldest played and taking on the task of homeschooling so her youngest could pursue a professional dance career. She loved her family, friends, pets, cooking, rollercoasters, wine, Spring Break trips, and the list goes on. Lynne is preceded in death by her mother Maxine. She is survived by her father, Howard, and her brother, Danny; her husband, Leon Reeder; her daughters Lindsay (Ryan) Hansen and Brynne Reeder; her beloved stepchildren Aaron (Cindy) Reeder and Lane (Jared) Shaw; her “sister” Kimberly Holstine and “other kids” Kaelie, Michael, and Patrick; and her six grandchildren Braden, Madison, Julien, Harper, Jeffrey and Riley. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Covenant Christian School, 10 N. Edgelawn Dr., Aurora, IL, 60506, covenantchristianaurora. org/covenant_circle_44. html or Living Well Cancer Center, 442 Williamsburg Ave., Geneva, IL, 60134, https://livingwellcrc.org/ donate-online.
Night Jamboree at the Alabama League of the South Cultural Center Building at 12814 Highway 231 North in Wetumpka. There will be country, gospel, and rock and roll music in a good atmosphere. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be line dancing, no alcohol, no smoking and no charge. Donations accepted for upkeep of the building. Contact Ray Funderburk at R&R Music and things at 334991-4682 or 224-850-9804 with questions. SANTUCK FLEA MARKET: First Saturday, MarchDecember, dawn to 2 p.m in the area surrounding Santuck Baptist Church. An outdoor flea market with booths featuring arts, crafts, antiques, novelties, imports, food and more. Free admission to the public with free parking available. For info, call 334-567-7400. BLUEGRASS JAM: First Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka. All acoustic instruments welcome - guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass, singers. Beginner, intermediate, advanced and listeners. For info, call 334-578-9485. SIT AND SEW: First Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka. All sewers and knitters welcome. Bring your own sewing machine or hand-sewing project. Assistance and encouragement to help you through your project. Ironing board and iron provided. Free. For info, call 334-578-9485 or visit www.arrac. org. POTTERY CLASS: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka For age 16 and older. $80 for four classes or $20 per week. Taught every Saturday by Rick Bowman. Bring your own tools or use art center tools. Center provides other supplies. For info, call 334-313-1646.
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ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Pre-K
continued from page 1
to prepare grant applications to the DOE in hopes of obtaining funds for the Pre-K program. “We initially applied for two classrooms at a total of $300,000,” Moore said. “We were then notified in early May that more funds were available from the state so we applied for two more grants.” In total, the district received $540,000 for four Pre-K classrooms, two in Wetumpka and two in Coosada. “With the grants we are able to provide fully certified teachers in each classroom,” Moore said. Moore said that the district was looking at between 15-18 students in each classroom and ultimately selected 64 students – 16 in each class – through the random draw. “We had 125 applications,” Moore said, noting that
County.” The program that Wetumpka and Coosada are participating in is set by the Alabama Department of Education, specifically the Department of Early Childhood Education. The department follows what is called the “Alabama Developmental Standards for Preschool Children” a more than 100-page document that outlines the program structure. “The Department has a set curriculum which is aligned with necessary Pre-K skills to make sure that the foundation is set for kindergarten,” Harrison said. Claire Moore, Elmore County Schools’ interim assistant superintendent for elementary schools/federal programs, was instrumental in the process, according to Harrison. Moore spent significant time and effort
Leadership
continued from page 1
“Every class has its own class project, which is selected during the retreat,” she said. Glover added that the group also works closely with Youth Leadership of Elmore County and views its interaction with the youth leadership group as an important aspect of the program. “We also offer a scholarship program for students,” she said. “This year, for instance, we provided a $1,000 scholarship to a high school senior in Elmore County.” For more information interested candidates may go to the leadershipelmorecounty.org website under ‘About’ and the mission and application section. Completed applications may be mailed or submitted to info@ LeadershipElmoreCounty.org. There is no cost for submitting an application. The application deadline is July 31. Selections for the program will be made on Aug. 1.
“We are looking for people who want to learn, give back and be leaders in our community.” Glover said the program costs $450 and that this cost covers the entire program. “In most cases the company you work for will pay that,” she said. “We have also done scholarships for those who might not be able to pay. We don’t want people not to participate because of the costs.” Participants will have to dedicate one weekday a month to the program. Glover said they were still finalizing the calendar for the course but that it would include an education portion, three city government sections in Millbrook, Wetumpka and Tallassee, a class on county and state government, a military event and a health and human services day. She said the schedule is for participants to meet the second Tuesday of each month from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Glover said the program also includes a class project.
Meeting at the protest organized by the Millbrook man. Local police said they were aware of both of these and to some extent monitored the activities. A meeting between the Elmore County NAACP and Wetumpka police officials was arranged for next week to discuss recent events and community – police relations, NAACP president Bobby Mays said. Millbrook Police chief P.K. Johnston, and Captain Robert Sliwowsky, with the WPD, recently talked with The Herald in separate interviews and both officials shared their similar views on the issues and what they saw as the effect to both local police
JULY 16-17, 2016 • Page 3
continued from page 1
to the Wetumpka protest in front of the courthouse downtown last Sunday. Johnston said he had heard about the protests in regard to Millbrook that took place in downtown Montgomery. “We make it our business to stay aware of potential threats with things going on around us as well as current events even,” said Johnston. Both officials said nothing has changed with
departments and across the U.S. Both officials gave their account of the days following recent protests and the Dallas incident and talked at length on what they viewed as issues they feel affect them and their agencies. Both Johnston and Sliwowski said they were aware of local protests. “We just let them do what they needed to do,” said Sliwowski, in regard
the way their departments operate or the procedures their officers use. Speaking about the days after the Dallas shootings, each said there was an outpouring of condolences and gratitude from residents in their communities.
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the district had a great response to information it provided to parents. “Right now, we are going through and verifying addresses and ages.” The program will run at the same time as the elementary schools and the school calendar will be the same for the Pre-K students as for older students, Moore said. Those students not selected during the draw have been placed on the waiting list. “Dr. Harrison drew every child’s name, so we have a waiting list for all of the students who might not have been selected during the process,” Moore said. Moore said the funds from the state also allow the district to provide breakfast, lunch and a snack to each student and funds for additional playground equipment.
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Steve Baker, Publisher William Carroll, Managing Editor Opinions expressed in guest columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the management of The Wetumpka Herald
Page 4 • JULY 16-17, 2016
OPINION
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ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
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We tried to warn the city of Wetumpka O ften in life we are presented with one of those “I told you so” type moments. Some prefer to say nothing and simply revel in their superior knowledge, others like to use the situation as an opportunity to rub it in. I am generally of the later type, I think lessons are never truly learned unless there is an equivalent amount of shame placed at the feet of those who have done wrong in order to correct their actions. In this case we have an “I told you so” moment regarding the Lynwood Keith Golden-Wetumpka Police Department video taping case. This will now be the third editorial I have written on this issue. The first was written after the story broke on the videotaping incident, but before the police department made the bone-headed decision of filing charges against Golden. The second of course was meant to chastise the police department and the city to perhaps feel some shame and occurred after charges were filed against Golden. Now that Golden’s pointless charges have been washed away by the grand jury we shall revisit this issue again, if only to reiterate why the city and police department should perhaps listen to voice outside their own echo chamber. This matter was originally set for a preliminary hearing and reporter Corey Arwood was in close contact with the attorneys for Golden. It appeared as though they were prepared for a hearing to contest the police department’s version of the facts. The matter however was taken instead to the grand jury. Why? While Alabama grand juries might be more selective than other grand juries but there is an old saying that a grand jury would “indict a ham sandwich” meaning that most grand juries are merely a rubber stamp for prosecutors to move cases forward. In fact, there has been quite a lot of debate about whether states should eliminate the grand jury process all together. In fact, the United States and Liberia are the only countries that still utilize a grand jury system. Even the U.K. where the system was originally created, no longer uses it. And yet the grand jury didn’t rubber stamp this case, perhaps because the Golden matter didn’t even rise to the level of a ham
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WILLIAM CARROLL
Managing Editor
sandwich; even a rubber stamp couldn’t be applied to this tragedy. It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that the grand jury rejected this case. The statute Golden was charged under doesn’t have anything to do with what he was alleged to have done. As was stated in the previous editorial, the statute exists to thwart terrorist activities that undermine the entire communications system, not simply to deal with dispatchers who can’t do their jobs effectively enough to answer several hundred phone calls in a day. The probable cause statement in the affidavit filed with the search warrant asserts that Golden shared the video with an affiliate who instructed others to make phone calls and send emails in an effort to flood WPD’s communications systems and then asserts that most of these were computer generated spam calls. The Wetumpka Herald received a number of calls from people all over the nation during that same period of time, many of them wondering what we were going to do about the situation and how we were going to write about the situation. I talked to a dozen or so people myself and not a one of them was a robotic spammer, all were concerned callers who wanted to know what our position was on the matter and how in depth we intended to cover it. Again Alabama Code section 13A-10-16 does not cover the circumstances outlined by WPD at all in its affidavit and it was a stretch for the department to think it did. Also, Golden was effectively being charged for what other people did, specifically other people who were asserting their constitutional rights. It is scary to think that you can be arrested for other people’s conduct, especially when that conduct is protected by the U.S. Constitution. In dealing with the city of Wetumpka though it has become apparent that the city isn’t quite as keen on First Amendment rights as it perhaps should be.
The sad thing is, the police department had to know it didn’t have enough evidence to pin anything on Golden, because some time after he was arrested, the department served a search warrant on his home in order to get electronic devices in what appeared to be a fishing expedition hoping to locate something that would justify their charges. Having been a former prosecutor myself I knew they were fishing, hoping to tie something to a case they should not have filed to begin with. Once you start using search warrants to fish, your case is basically dead on arrival and probably should have been dismissed. Personally, I would never have taken this matter to the grand jury, I would have chastised the officers for bringing it and laying it at my feet. This brings a laundry list of people who made errors in this case: 1. The Wetumpka Police Department for filing charges in the first place. 2. The city of Wetumpka for standing by the P.D. in its decision even though the city risks a huge lawsuit in the process. 3. The district attorney’s office for continuing to prosecute this farce, a good prosecutor wouldn’t have wasted their time with it, and 4. Judge Glenn Goggans, who should have actually held up his duty under the law and rejected the warrant as lacking probable cause. The comedy of errors brings shame not only to Wetumpka, but also to Elmore County. Come on guys, get your act together. Now with Golden again a free man, with no charges pending against him, one wonders what the next step is? Will he now sue the city for these bogus charges? No one could blame him if he did. Will the city look for an even more inventive, and equally asinine way of trying to charge him with a crime? I would hope not. I would hope at this point that the city and the police department have learned their lesson. When people seek to assert their constitutional rights, let them, and if they make you look foolish in doing so, grin and bear it, don’t make matters worse. Carroll is the managing editor of The Herald.
If Whole Foods ever opens, I’ll be there
I
n case you didn’t know it, Whole Foods is coming to Montgomery. I know because I’ve kept up with the progress of construction of the store since they started – about a quarter-century ago. See, I like health-food grocery stores. I went to the grand opening of Montgomery’s first healthy grocery, EarthFare – a Winn Dixiesized supermarket that’s organic, free of glutens and where the eggs were laid by hens with so much room to roam, that if you put an eggshell to your ear, you can hear its Mommy cackle with delight. First off, the place was packed. I never knew there were so many people in the area that preferred their dinners without glutens. There were a couple guys cooking something – something really good for you, I’m sure – outside. It smelled good enough, but I couldn’t get close enough to see what it was. I’m guessing it was some kind of meat that had been fed nothing but mother’s milk, apples, pomegranates and wheat germ and raised in its own two-acre pen that’s cleaned and re-floored on the half-hour with alternating layers of fresh cedar chips and goose down. Or it could have been hot dogs. Anyway, I fought my way through the crowd and into the store and there was the produce section. I mean, that should be where you start in a gluten-free
DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
organistore, right? The piles of red tomatoes still on the vine, the exotic citrus (what’s a Minneola tangelo, anyway?), the shiny avocadoes were alluring, no doubt. But since it was the middle of my workday and I had nowhere to put these babies, I had to zoom right through produce (after stopping briefly to ogle and fondle the organic limes and imagine how well they would mingle with a not-so-organic cocktail; alas, I’ve since given up drinking) to the coffees (Fair Trade, baby!) and teas, nuts and dried fruit, herbs and herbal remedies until finally I found something familiar --- potato chips! Or at least they some organic goodies in potato chip-like bags. In all seriousness, it took some rooting around, but I finally found me some organic tortilla chips, a bag of worry-free barbecue chips and a couple jars of salsa – a regular and a roasted garlic. Both organic, of course. I tossed in a small plastic (the horror!) jug of organic lemonade and, with a quick calculation, figured my tab would exceed the $10 I needed to buy to get my free whole chicken, baby carrots and rustic ‘tater salad with the coupon I had tucked away in my pocket. So
I hit the meat counter for the chicken (never seen so much veggie meat!), back to produce for the carrots, then to the deli for the ‘tater salad. (I must make an observation here: There is something to this whole organic, gluten-free, non-milk milk lifestyle. This place was the anti-Wal-Mart! Not a single fat person in a motorized grocery cart in sight! These folks were all slender, well-groomed and looking quite sporty in their cashmere and khaki.) So, finally, I took my place in the checkout line behind this nice, slim woman who smelled faintly of tapioca and apple strudel. Standing there, I notice that all these peeps had brought their own fabric grocery bags. It was obvious that I was gonna look like a real rube leaving the store with paper grocery bags. Luckily, EarthFare sells the bags, too. Right there in the checkout line so country boys like me who enjoy the occasional gluten can grab one and not look like a complete buffoon. So that’s what I did. To sum up, I bought $17 worth of organic, gluten-free groceries in addition to the free chicken, carrots and ‘tater salad. I felt healthier immediately. And I can’t wait for Whole Foods to open in a few years. If we’re not both dead by then, maybe you’ll see me. I’ll be the guy with the egg in his ear. Granger is a staff writer for The Herald.
ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
JULY 16-17, 2016 • Page 5
Charges
continued from page 1
As a result he said his office was late in getting its copy. According to the document, Detective Mike Hafley ordered the search warrant, which was signed by District Judge Glenn Goggans. On the document Hafley described the grounds for issuing the warrant. “On 06/03/2016, the above listed (Keith Golden) individual posted a video on the Internet about the Wetumpka Police Department along with phone numbers and email addresses of the Wetumpka City Hall, the Wetumpka City Attorney, and the District’s Attorney’s Office.” He goes on to write that Golden allegedly shared the video with an “affiliate,” listed as a David Warden of News Now Houston.
Warden, Hafley wrote, “instructed others” to call WPD and “flood” their phone system and dispatch call center and also “send emails.” He said this resulted in hundreds of calls from across the country and even Canada. “Most of these calls were computer generated, spam calls,” Hafley wrote. The result of those “intentional actions," according to the document, was the shutting down of what was described as the primary contact lines which were said to have operated the dispatch for all other emergency services of Wetumpka. In previous interviews, Police Chief Danny Billingsley said he ordered the phone lines to be turned off in order to route the calls through the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.
He also said he ordered the initial arrest of Golden days following the video’s posting online. Ultimately, the document states that Hafley believed there to be a “conspiracy to interfere with law enforcement communication” which could be found in Golden’s online correspondence with Warden. According to the results of the warrant there were four items seized from Golden’s residence. An HP computer was listed as taken from an office along with an Ipad, a Dell laptop and a Samsung phone from a bedroom. The date and times of the search are recorded as June 21, from 8:54 a.m. to 9:19 a.m. When asked what his thoughts were on the case being dismissed, Golden’s attorney, Dustin Fowler said, “Justice prevails.”
Concert
continued from page 1
and had its last class in 1966. Prior to the current brick building at the site, Hall said there was a wooden structure that served the community until the brick building replaced it. “The school has hosted some famous people over the years,” Castleberry said. “Hank Williams (Sr.) and other Grand Ole Opry stars played there.” The structure regularly hosts what Castelberry called “country music jam sessions” every Friday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., so it is no stranger to musical talent. The benefit concert will feature Cecil Malone & Montgomery Junction at 3 p.m., Cowboy, Bill and Company at 5 p.m. and The Kevin Adair Band at 7 p.m. “Each band will play an hour-anda-half set and then there will be a 30-minute break for the next band to be ready,” she said. Castleberry said that Cecil Malone & Montgomery Junction feature “an outstanding saxophone player and drum-
mer.” “They have done several benefits over the years for us,” she said. “Cowboy, Bill and Company have a featured guitarist named Michael Clark who is really good.” Castleberry said that the Kevin Adair Band was a bit newer and that she was not as familiar with them, but was looking forward to hearing their music. The benefit concert is free to the public, but donations will be accepted to help with the roof repair. Castleberry said that hot dogs with all of the trimmings will be served and coffee, cold drinks and water will be available. “We have about $9,000 toward the roof right now,” she said, noting that the club is also conducting other fundraising activities. “We are selling engraved bricks from the school as well. We have already sold 10 and we have about 200.” Castleberry said the bricks cost $125. The center is also available for rent
Submitted / The Herald
The Red Hill Community Center (formerly the Red Hill School) will host a fundraising concert on July 30 from 3 to 9 p.m. to collect funds to repair the center’s roof.
at a cost of $175 and is available for different types of functions. “People rent the building for
reunions, parties, weddings and receptions,” she said. “We really want people to use the building.”
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ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
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WPD officer receives donations for K9 treatment Officer Hunter Saint with the Wetumpka Police Department said on Thursday donations for his K9 patrol partner, Keela, had reached $7,870. However on Friday his “Gofundme” page showed nearly 200 donations, up an additional 20 or so from the day before. Saint said the amount had been raised in less than a week, after he made public Keela’s condition. The 4-year-old German Sheppard is undergoing treatments for epilepsy by veterinarians with Auburn University. He said Keela had been with the force since 2015. “She’s a family member,” said Saint. She has another appointment in about two weeks, and Saint said he was waiting to learn more from the veterinarians
at this time. He said that any amount of donations which exceed Keela’s treatment cost would stay
in the WPD’s K9 Unit, and his goal was for the construction of kennels for the dogs.
Alabama. The Wetumpka Herald and The Tallassee Tribune along with its sister publications have been the voice of central Alabama since 1892. Wetumpka enjoys steady growth along with a list of many recreational opportunities.
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ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
JULY 16-17, 2016 • Page 9
Children’s Harbor welcomes families dealing with rare form of dwarfism By MITCH SNEED Editor
When Ben and Luanne Russell envisioned Children’s Harbor and what it could potentially mean to children, an image like what is happening this week at the facility on the shores of Lake Martin was exactly what came to mind. This week, Children’s Harbor is hosting 18 families from all over the nation and the world for RhizoKids, a camp and educational experience for those who have children with a rare and terminal form of extreme dwarfism called Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata or RCDP. This is the first year Children’s Harbor has hosted the gathering that began in 2008 as a tool for parents who have children with the disease that is known to exist in about 100 children worldwide. RhizoKids Co-founder Tracey Thomas of Sylacauga said they are blessed to have found Children’s Harbor and humbled by the generosity and hospitality that everyone has shown this week. “When we started this back in 2008, we didn’t know how or what this would become,” Thomas said. “We have used the Centennial Lodge at St. Vincent’s hospital and then after that first year we moved to Chestnut Bay on Lake Wiess up near Centre. It was nice, but it was very expensive and it wasn’t designed for special children like ours. “When we were awarded the grant here at Children’s Harbor, I just cried. We have a place that was designed with them in mind and it has been incredible. It’s a feeling that we have finally found a home. The people here have been incredible. The money we save will allow RhizoKids International to fund research projects that will help improve the quality of life for children with RCDP.” RhizoKids got its start in 2007 when Thomas’ son, Jackson, was born at St. Vincent’s in Birmingham. She learned that another child, Ian Ellis, had been born five weeks earlier at the hospital that also was diagnosed with RCDP. The two families were contacted by hospital officials. To have two children in the same basic area with the rare disease was extremely unusual. Thomas and Mary Ellis met and started doing research on ways they could help their
sons. “All of the articles about RCDP that we could find on the Internet were written by Dr. Nancy Braverman from Canada,” Thomas said. “Knowing it was a long-shot, we decided to contact Dr. Braverman to see if we could bring our boys to Canada for her to examine. They emailed back and said ‘No, she will come to you.’ A short time later we had set up the first meeting and other families we had been networking with also came. It was so great to get together and share information and learn from the others. We knew it was something that we had to continue.” But in the previous locations, the families had to rent a circus-type tent and eat outdoors in the Alabama heat. This year, meals are enjoyed inside, with air conditioning. Thomas said that has brought a whole new level of comfort to the group. Each year a team of doctors and researchers come to the gathering to examine the children and track the trends and advancement. Seminars and presentations are made, but parents like Mindy Lee from Ohio, who has two children, Jake and Jordan, who have RCDP, say the sharing between families is one of the most valuable parts of RhizoKids. “People may see you and your kids and say they understand, but they really can’t fully feel what we feel,” Lee said. “For so many of us, we’ve been told at one time or another to just take your kids home and love them while you have them. But to be around people who really do understand, who you can share stories and things that have helped them, that is so valuable.” Thursday, Dr. Braverman and other medical professionals examined children in the meeting room. Outside they enjoyed the pool, rides on the lake and their families and siblings were able to be together, have fun and be around other families who also know what they go through on a daily basis. Herb and Melinda Holladay of Banning, South Carolina watched as doctors tested and measured their son, Ethan, who recently turned 9 years old. “This is an incredible place and what we get out of coming here is something that we can’t say enough about,” Herb said. Children’s Harbor CEO Myrle Grate
Dr. Lydia Marcus a pediatric fellow from UAB and Dr. Wedad from McGill University in Canda examine Ethan Holladay who came to Children’s Harbor from Banning, South Carolina with his parents Herb and Melinda. Below, Christie, Makenna, 3, Mark and Hanna Loyd pose for a picture aftrer Makenna’s exam Thurday at Children’s Harbor. The Loyd’s came from ARkansas to bnetwork with other families dealing with RCDP.
said he was excited that Children’s Harbor was able to help such a deserving group as they strive to improve the quality of life for their kids. “When we first heard about RhizoKids, we felt like this would be a perfect place for them,” Grate said. “Through our grant program, we were able to make it available to them so that they can put the money they had been using for facilities to use for research and other things to improve the quality of life for these families.” Thomas said that this year’s group includes families, children and grandparents who are searching for more information and how they can help their special kids. “Even though we lost Jackson, I knew this was something that I had to find a way to continue,” Thomas said. “It does too much good. I mean, we know our kids are sick. But in a setting like this where it’s not clinical and we see people enjoying life and sharing success stories and even the stories of
dealing with a loss, it only confirms that feeling of how important this is. “We can’t thank Children’s Harbor enough for making it even easier for us to continue doing what we do.”
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ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
Davis: New pitch count rule ‘good for AHSAA’ By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) approved a pitch count rule for high school baseball across the nation Tuesday, but Alabama coaches already knew it was coming. Back on Oct. 21, 2015, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Central Board of Control, in a proactive move, passed its own pitch count rule that will be in place for the start of the 2017 season. With limitations based on level of play, the new statute limits varsity pitchers to 120 pitches per day, and if a pitcher exceeds 76 throws they are required, by rule, to take three days’ rest between appearances. “I think it’s a good thing to have each team be on the same playing ground as each other,” Wetumpka head baseball coach Mark Davis said. “With the pitch count rule, once you hit that magical number, whatever it is, it limits each team to what they want. The rule looks out for the kid, as far as arm care
Cory Diaz / The Herald
Wetumpka senior pitcher Cody Herring (8) offers a pitch to a bunting Park Crossing hitter during the 2016 baseball season.
for each player on the mound.” Attempts to get thoughts from Holtville baseball coach Michael Dismukes were unsuccessful. According to AHSAA’s new regulation, if a pitcher tosses 51-75
pitches, the player needs two days rest and between 26-50 throws, one day’s rest is required. Davis, who helped guide the Indians back to the Class 6A playoffs last season for the first time since 2011, said
according the new rule, a pitcher could hit 240 pitches a week, a number none of his guys came close to this past year. “If you’ve got six games that week, that kid throws 24 pitches a game – that’s a bunch of pitches to be a closer. They can throw 200 pitches a week,” Davis said. “A pitcher can throw 120 pitches on Monday and do it again Friday, that’s 240 pitches allowed per week. This past season, our kids didn’t come close to 240. “That’s kind of how this new rule is, either you throw them a lot, you throw them once a week or see who you got and keep the numbers down so they throw several times a week.” Davis said the new pitching rule would also affect the game on the offensive side as well. “You’ll have teams who’ll take a whole lot, so that pitcher will have to get off the mound by the fourth or fifth inning. It’s going to be a good thing, watching out for kids playing,” he said. “The other thing it’s going to be hard, as a starter, to go a certain amount of innings.”
Folmar completes athletic staff at Edgewood Academy By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
Completing his first coaching staff last week, Eric Folmar finally feels like Edgewood Academy can get back to football. Nearly a month after longtime football and baseball coach Bobby Carr stepped down, the new Wildcats head football coach finalized his staff July 5. Folmar retained assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator Michael Norris, offensive and defensive line coach Jack Weldon and head junior varsity coach, varsity running backs coach and co-offensive coordinator Josh Roberts from last season’s staff, while he hired Michael Dozier, Justin Jackson and Tommy Bracknell. Dozier will coach wide receivers and defensive backs, Jackson will oversee the linebackers and will be Folmar’s assistant baseball coach,
and both will be co-strength and conditioning coaches. Bracknell will assist Weldon with the linemen and will be the JV defensive coordinator. Carr stepped down June 14 and on June 24, Mickey McDermott, an attorney representing families who wanted to withdraw, accused the board of “road-blocking” student-athletes from leaving by charging $1,300 for transcripts and of “institutional racism,” previously reported by The Wetumpka Herald. Folmar couldn’t comment on the allegations Friday, but said by getting all his coaches in place, Edgewood can finally move on. “Having us all together to get to work, and to get back to football,” Folmar said. “There’s been so many other things pulling us in different directions the past few weeks. It’s great to have the staff together to work on the x’s and o’s. It’s a great group of guys that are not only good
coaches, but are very passionate about the school, and want to see us do what’s best for Edgewood and the kids as well.” Asked how many kids are left at the school to play varsity football after the resignation of Carr, Folmar said he didn’t want to talk about it. “It’s very fluid, I’ll say that.” With a “fluid” number of players and without having his full staff in place, on June 29 Edgewood officially backed out of the inaugural Southeastern Commission of Independent Schools Kickoff Classic, set for Aug. 13. Folmar said he’s still searching for a 10th game, and if the Wildcats don’t find an opponent by the first of August, they’ll stick with a ninegame schedule. “It’s tough this late, but we’ve talked with several schools,” If we don’t have anything by the end of July, we’ll go ahead and hop in a jamboree somewhere.”
Cory Diaz / The Herald
Eric Folmar was introduced as Edgewood Academy’s new football and baseball head coach June 20 at EA.
Cory Diaz / The Herald
Elmore County High School set up their new weight room Monday. The new equipment and racks, valued at roughly $75,000, were used for the first time Tuesday. Pictured left, some junior varsity football players hit the weights Wednesday. Right, eighth-grader Sam Bartlett shoulders one of the new bars to squat Wednesday.
New weight room lifts motivation in ECHS athletes By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
Elmore County High student-athletes’ wait to break in their new weight room ended this week. Monday morning, the new equipment by Total Strength and Speed, totaling around $75,000, was delivered to campus. Coaches put together everything, and on Tuesday morning, varsity Panther football players got their first taste of their new, customized weight room. “It’s a lot nicer than I thought; I know it was going to be nice, but it’s super nice,” rising senior quarterback Will Venable said Wednesday morning. “It’s good to finally be able to get in there, put some
work in there. I’ve enjoyed it these first two days we’ve gotten to go in there.” ECHS’s new setup features a long strip of artificial turf, a new sound system and close to 10,000 pounds of plates for six double-sided racks that will allow up to 60 athletes to work out simultaneously. “This will really change what we can get done,” Elmore County High strength and conditioning coach Daniel Carpenter said. “Total Strength did a fantastic job designing what we wanted. It’s quality equipment; I don’t know if we have to ever replace this stuff.” The school’s “EC” logo can be found on all of the tsunami weight bars, benches and leg workout machines and “Elmore County” and “Panthers” are alternated on the racks.
“Creates more energy,” rising senior offensive lineman Ryan Rush said. “When you walk in there, this is what we worked for. You get a little pumped when you go in there. Brand new racks, brand new weights. We’ve got different equipment in there, more space, which is a good thing because we got kind of clustered (in the old weight room). “It’s definitely an upgrade from the last gym. We’ve come a long way, done a lot of fundraisers, raised a lot of money and I’m really glad we got this especially with it being my senior year. I can get in there, put some work in and show these other younger guys. And they show the younger guys below them.” Senior defensive end Jakobi Bickley said the new weight room will help him
and his teammates seek out an opportunity to play on the next level. “I’ll need to put in work because I’m trying to go to the next level and have an opportunity at the next level,” Bickley said. “It’s great. We’re going to have to put in work, on the field and in the weight room. We’re going to see how it turns out.” With the new equipment and setup, Venable said he hopes the newness will motivate the Panthers this summer, going into fall camp and football season. “I hope it motivates us a little more, an incentive to come. You know, we got a new weight room, let’s go in there and make the most of it,” he said. “Hopefully that translates to the field and we do our best.”