Granger: boss and friend Mitch Sneed will be missed by many
Quail Walk Golf Course entering final days of operation
Countywide cleanup set for next Saturday
OPINION, A4
SPORTS, B1
LOCAL, A6
The Wetumpka Herald Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
WEDNESDAY • JULY 3 2018
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
50¢
VOL. 120, NO. 27
Council passes tax increase at town hall
By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
After a town hall meeting to afford citizens the opportunity to comment on a proposed one-cent sales tax increase, the Wetumpka City Council convened its first-Monday meeting and, moments later, passed the tax 5-1 despite calls for a delay of the vote and a less formal
town hall meeting. Steve Gantt was the sole dissenting vote among the council members. “I see no problem with their asking for a delay of the vote,” Gantt said. “I’ve already met with JacksonThornton and it was a very productive meeting. …Whatever the council votes to do, I’ll do my best to work toward the best interest of this city, but I don’t
see a problem with us tabling this, at least until the next meeting.” Gantt’s statements came after several people in the town hall asked for such a delay, some citing citizens who would have spoken being out of town or spending valuable time with family for the July 4 holiday. “Thirty minutes has been allocated to this open public forum, which is
being held in the middle of a long holiday observed by many of the city’s citizens. Most of the people I contacted to attend this meeting were on vacation out of town,” said Edwin Johnston, who also presented a laundry list of other concerns he had with the tax in the meeting. “In addition to my following comments, I request that the See INCREASE • Page A5
Coosapalooza Brewfest set for July 21
Holton seeks youthful offender status in murder case By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
Main Street Wetumpka and the City of Wetumpka are working together to bring yet another summer celebration to the downtown area. The inaugural Coosapalooza Brewfest, set for July 21, will bring music to multiple downtown stages, craft beers from at least 15 Alabama breweries, local vendors and downtown dining options. “After the success of several recent downtown events, the downtown merchants got together and want to have another event to highlight our downtown,” said Jenny Stubbs, executive director of Main Street Wetumpka. “And since our promotion committee is dedicated to this facet of Main Street revitalization, the all joined in on our committee. “Thankfully, the Coosa River Craft House already See BREWFEST • Page A5
David Granger /
SIGHTS SET HIGH Officials and community members cut the ribbon at Pro-Line Motosports Friday, June 22.
The Herald
PLM owner Malone has been at the top before, wants to return By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
B
randon Malone has seen the bottom. And now he’s convinced he’s got the formula to return to the top. The president and CEO of one of Wetumpka’s
newest businesses, Pro-Line Motorsports, went, he says, from a millionaire to being almost penniless. “In 2016, I completely went belly-up on a $14 million company,” Malone said. “Not even a dollar left. The way that they did it was they See MALONE • Page A3
Missing boy’s body found in Coosa early Friday
Today’s
Weather
92 74 High
Low
WEDNESDAY: HIGH 91 LOW 73
By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
The body of a 15-year-old boy missing in the Coosa River since Wednesday was located early Friday morning by an off-duty Montgomery firefighter. The search for Antavious Love, who disappeared in the river while swimming with friends, was supposed to resume at 8 a.m. Friday. However, the firefighter arrived early, took his boat out and spotted Love’s body caught in a tree See MISSING • Page A2
Madison Holton of Eclectic, accused in the murders of his mother and father, appeared before Judge Sibley Reynolds on Thursday seeking youthful offender status. According to court records, Reynolds currently has the matter under advisement. Youthful offender hearings are closed by Alabama statute. But Thomas J. Azar Jr., Holton’s attorney, said Thursday afternoon he was pleased with how the hearing went. “It being a closed hearing, I can’t say too much about what went on, but I will tell you I feel very good about the hearing,” Azar said. “The judge just said he would get an order out. That could be as early as today or who knows when. And, unfortunately, he’s under no time constraint.” Mandy Johnson, an See HOLTON • Page A2
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Search teams were called out of the water near Gold Star Park Thursday at around 2:30 p.m., but when back searching Friday, the body of 15-year-old Rantavious Love was found before 7 a.m.
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