SPORTS: Wetumpka 14U All-Star team wins World Series, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 29 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Wetumpka officers involved in shooting Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Staff Writer A 20-year-old Black male has died after being shot by law A virtual teacher at Elmore enforcement. County School’s Edge program The Wetumpka Police Departhas been arrested and charged ment dispatched to a distribcall of withwas school employee uting obscene material to a student. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
an armed individual at the intersection of Coosa River Parkway was14theabout head3:30 basketandWilson Highway a.m. ball coach at Holtville High Thursday. School and was “When officers got there, an placed on adofficer spotted some ammuministrative nition inside the vehicle,” leave Jan. 13 Wetumpka police chief Greg according to Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
ment Agency’s) State Bureau of Benton said. “They asked him The officers told him to stop.” Investigation is investigating,” about it, if he had a gun.” Benton said the offender Franklin investigators Wilson was “This released on a investigation handed off Benton said. is standard Benton saidand a short footitpurfired shots said towards officers. to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afsuit ensued and the subject was He is unsure how many shots procedure in officer-involved He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordtased. were fired by Wetumpka Police shootings.” tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” “He fell to the ground and a Benton said he couldn’t Department officers on the website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. gun fell from his hands,” Benton scene. release the name of the person “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure said. “He started to reach for it. who died. “(Alabama Law Enforcewhen administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holt-
report of allegations against school staff and employees. “Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
ville schools including being the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Quinn case still being prosecuted
Chamber holds luncheon
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
According to court documents, the City of Wetumpka dismissed Tristen Quinn still all the charges and an faces a resisting arrest Elmore County grand charge from a March jury no-billed the 2022 traffic stop in charges as well. Wetumpka. Bodin said in his Quinn’s trial was motion to dismiss the original offense of no Membersscheduled for July 12 but has been continued tag light was never of the because the law enforcecited and subsequent Wetumpka ment officer called as a charges “arose out of this Chamber of witness was involved in uncharged and unconstiCommerce a funeral. Quinn’s attortutional stop.” attend the ney Jim Bodin also has Bodin, representatives chamber’s “A a motion filed to dismiss from the 19th Circuit Taste of Our the charge. District Attorney’s Office Home Town” By Jake Arthur Quinn was pulled over went to the chambers of luncheon. Chief Videographer by the Wetumpka Police Elmore County district CLIFF WILLIAMS/ Department for what was court Judge Glenn GogTHE HERALD Police investigating fatal purported in the arrestare stillgans to discussthe a matter shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parknarrative as not having surrounding the case any tag lights.ing lot on Jan. 20. and possible dismissal. Police were dispatched to the parkingtolotthe The traffic stop soon Everyone returned around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. saw six law enforcement courtroom and Goggans Once there, they found Centell Winston, officers from Wetumpka said the matter would go 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound and the Elmore County to trial. in the driver seat of his vehicle. Sheriff’s Department. “All of the other According to Wetumpka police chief Ultimately a video from charges have been Greg Benton, this was not a random shoota nearby convenience dropped,” Bodin said ing. store showed Quinn was after a Wednesday court “This was not random, not a random tased and an act,” officer stephearing. “This one said Benton. “We believe the vicping on him. tim and the perpetrator wasn’tknew dropped.” each other.” By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
welcoming members 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 CLIFF WILLIAMS
ACTION-PACKED WEEKEND WETUMPKA HOSTS RIVER & BLUES FEST, OTHER EVENTS THE HERALD
Wetumpka’s annual River & Blues Music and Arts Festival was held this weekend, featuring several musicians and free, family fun for everyone. Also on Saturday was the Downtown Artists event and the Elmore County Art Guild’s Summer Art Show reception. To see more photos from Saturday’s events, see Page B4
See CHAMBER, Page A3
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
County schools trying to find money for future school buses
Wetumpka High AP success grows See SHOOTING, Page A3
146 students taking 297 exams and 96 scoring By CLIFF WILLIAMS County Board of Educathree or better in 2023. News Editor tion chief financial officer Growing a program by And Wetumpka outJason Mann told the board 39% in a year presents paced the state in terms Costs are going up, at a meeting Wednesday. any organization with of students receiving a Staff Report schoolwide assembly including the price of “The buses are now cost- at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The challenges. three or better on the High School. Elmore school buses. ing between $120,000 and County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent But what about exam and improved on its TheState Alabama Association$139,000.” of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, The of Alabama growing a high school marks — most notably in Secondary School PrincipalsMann in attendance the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic provides $7,700 per year said buses for were Advanced Placement procalculus where Wetump(AASSP) Holtville High Futral with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase per bus that named is less than between“Kyle $80,000 to is an exception- lence. By collaborating CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD gramrate, that33quickly? ka saw 80% of students principal the al just principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation percent 10School years old, but itKyle is notFutral$90,000 a few years Elmore County Board of Education superintendent Wetumpka High taking the exam receive a 2022 Alabama High School Printive$7,700 and innovative think-Dennis identified addressed.board Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perenough. ago. The payment in his Richard speaksand at Thursday’s meeting. School did it. It went three a better. The nationcipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, encent increase in ACT proficiency “We can’t afford to pay per bus from the state was The special called board meeting was held mainly to apThe High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. from 105 students taking al average is 58%. The for the buses. We need meant as a way of keeping prove many summer time hires before the school year the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stu216 exams and 69 scoring state average was 42.5%. and get information about an issue in funding future bus to keep our fleet at 10 See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to three or better in 2022 to FUTURAL See GROWS, Page A6 years old or less,” Elmore See BUSES, Page A6 purchases. By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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