Balloon release set for Saturday in memory of Cadence Orsi
District governor speaks on polio awareness to Rotary Club
For subscribers: Newcomer’s Guide to Elmore County inside
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THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • JULY 25, 2018
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 120, NO. 30
ECSO: Wetumpka man sexually abused child By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
A Wetumpka man was recently booked into the Elmore County Jail after he allegedly subjected an underage victim to sexual contact. According to Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin, Elmore
Strength
Herald editor dies at 58 STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Wetumpka Herald Managing Editor David Granger, 58, died Tuesday afternoon following a stroke he had nearly two weeks ago. Granger started working for Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. when he was hired as a staff writer at The Alexander City Outlook in January 2015. In December 2016, Granger took the position of managing editor for TPI’s Elmore County newspapers overseeing Granger The Wetumpka Herald, The Eclectic Observer and The Tallassee Tribune. Granger is from Opp and had been living in Equality with his wife Lynn Holley Maynard Granger for many years. He graduated from Elmore County High School in Eclectic and earned a bachelor of arts in journalism in 1984 from Auburn University. Throughout his multi-decade journalistic career, Granger earned several awards from the Alabama Press Association and Alabama Sports Writers Association. In the APA’s 2018 Better Newspaper Contest, Granger was awarded third place for his column, “Holidays bring fireworks… to my kidneys!” in the Best Humorous Column category. He also earned second place in Best Editorial Column or Commentary for “Facebook killing sparks quests for answers.” Granger was a big sports fan and a large space of his heart was dedicated to the Atlanta Braves and Auburn Tigers. TPI staff members are sad to lose a piece of their work family and said Granger will be missed but always remembered for his talent and humor.
County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Michael Wayne Strength, 31, at his residence in the Redland community on Wednesday, July 18. Franklin said Strength was formally charged with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12. On July 20, Franklin said Strength was charged with one
count of rape in the first degree, one count of sodomy in the first degree, one count of sexual abuse in the first degree and two counts of enticing a minor. Earlier that week, Franklin said authorities had received a report of the abuse from the victim’s family. Franklin said the abuse is believed
HITTING THE STAGE Cletus
Dog killed by boater on Lake Martin Story spreads on social media; grand jury to decide charges, if any, for suspect By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer Amalia Kortright / The Herald
Characters from ‘Hands on a Hardbody’ reflect on how the competition to win a truck changed their lives during the show’s closing number, ‘Keep Your Hands on It’ at Friday’s musical.
Wetumpka Depot Players present ‘Hands on a Hardbody’ By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
T
he Wetumpka Depot Players production of the musical “Hands on a Hardbody” hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, and will run until Aug. 4. Stage manager Hannah Meherg said the first night drew a crowd that filled about 75 percent of the theater, and higher turnouts are expected throughout the show’s run. “We had a really strong opening night. I
think people were surprised that the musical wasn’t just hilarious, but it was also very poignant and there were some touching moments,” director Kristy Meanor said. “This is a show that the audience could make a connection with. This is about everyday people with everyday struggles, and it was written so that the audience starts to care about each character.” “Hands on a Hardbody” centers around a diverse set of people who have entered a See MUSICAL • Page A3
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
Craft beer tents and vendors lined the Coosa River from the Coosa River Craft House to Coaches Corner during Wetumpka’s inaugural Coosapalooza Brewfest from 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Visitors were able to sample a variety of craft beer from different breweries while walking along the river and listening to live music. “It’s a unique event for the city, our See BREWFEST • Page A5
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By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
The Wetumpka Police Department is currently investigating a burglary that took place at the Humane Society of Elmore County at around 2 a.m. on Monday. Three white male suspects wearing masks, hoods and gloves, climbed fences on the Humane Society’s property, and See BURGLARY • Page A3
Amalia Kortright / The Herald
Chuck Lofton and Kurt McKinney perform for a crowd of onlookers in the afternoon at the city’s first Coosapalooza Brewfest.
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The death of a dog, which police say was killed by a boater near Goat Island on Lake Martin, has gained widespread attention because of provocative Facebook posts. But, Elmore County Sheriff Department officials said a man accused via social media of having killed the dog was not involved in any way. A two-year-old boxer named Cletus was swimming in the lake this past weekend when he was killed by a See DOG • Page A3
Police investigating burglary at local humane shelter
Wetumpka’s first Coosapalooza Brewfest draws a crowd
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to have been happening over the course of several years, and started before the victim had turned 12. Franklin said the victim told authorities the abuse had increased over time. Franklin said the victim said it began as “playful touching,” and had escalated to bondage and See STRENGTH • Page A2
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