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THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
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WEDNESDAY • JULY 5, 2017
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 119, NO. 27
Council hears plea for Boys & Girls Club Thornton tenders resignation Boys & Girls Club afloat highlighted a brief meeting of the Wetumpka City Council on Monday. After the business of the council concluded, Mayor Jerry Willis read a letter from
By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
The resignation of a council member and the plea from a supporter for help to study ways to keep the Wetumpka
City takes legal aim at utility companies
Rebecca Wingett Thornton, council member representing District 3, resigning her post, effective June 30, because her “other personal and business commitments have become to great for me to be able to fulfill this position on the council. I feel it is best for me to make room for someone with the time to devote to the job,”
Thornton wrote. Thornton was not present at Monday’s meeting. The work session prior to the meeting was highlighted by a statement from Barb Sims, known as one of the biggest supporters of the local Boys & Girls Club, saying that she had learned last week that the local Boys & Girls Club was
MOTHER HONORS SON
See COMPLAINT • Page A2
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See COUNCIL • Page A2
Main Street talks downtown Organization also breaks down survey results and upcoming strategies
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The City of Wetumpka has filed a complaint against three utility companies arguing that above ground facilities should be relocated at the utilities’ expense for downtown renovations. One company responded in a statement saying the city’s ordinance would place the expense on its customers and those living outside Wetumpka would essentially subsidize the city’s downtown plans. Heavy weight in the matter has been placed on the Alabama Public Service Commission, which regulates Alabama Power. The APSC has established “Rules and Regulations for Electric Service” applying to Alabama Power Co. Two sections within the 54-page document deal specifically with the relocation of utilities and expense. The complaint found in the court document “City of Wetumpka vs Alabama Power et. al.,” was initiated on June 20, and the “et. al.,” or list of defendants, includes Bellsouth Telecommunications LLC. and Charter Communications Inc. The matter first came before
“closing its doors in the next week to two weeks.” Sims pleaded with the council, which had financially supported the club up until this budget year, to form a committee or otherwise study ways that it might again support the club in the future.
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
David Granger / The Herald
Tionette Lewis, left, and her daughter, Adonaijah Nowden, talk about their donation of life jackets locally and to the Alabama Marine Police in honor Lewis’ son, Shalom, who drowned in the Coosa River while swimming in June 2014.
Local woman honors drowned son with donation of life jackets By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
Tionette Lewis doesn’t want her son’s 2014 drowning to have been in vain. So she’s begun an annual drive to collect life jackets to be distributed locally and through Alabama’s Marine Police. “I had an officer tell me about the water,”
Lewis said, gesturing toward the Coosa River, “It looks really good on top, but once you get underneath that calm, it’s pure hell.” “Not only do you need knowledge, but you need a lifejacket.” So Lewis has taken it upon herself, with the help of some friends, to get those life jackets to See LIFEJACKETS • Page A3
Those that braved the rain to be at Main Street Wetumpka’s Market Study Presentation got an inside look at the organization’s downtown directive – from what it has accomplished so far to what it plans to accomplish next. The small crowd of approximately 30 at the Wetumpka Civic Center late Thursday afternoon sat before the MSW board of directors along with Main Street Alabama representatives and the author of the survey whose findings were on display. The Economic Vitality Committee Chair and Elmore County Commission Chairman Troy Stubbs led the event introducing the afternoon’s speakers, including Main Street Alabama’s State Coordinator Mary Helmer and Jay Schlinsog, owner of Tennessee-based Downtown Professionals Network. Board members Jenny Stubbs, Main Street executive director and wife of Troy Stubbs, Dennis Fain, president, Lynn Weldon, treasurer See PRESENTATION • Page A3
Judge’s report favors Dixon and Crenshaw By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The case delving to the core of Wetumpka city government, asserting corruption extending from the mayor outward to council members, police officers and fire officials is nearing trial, despite recent city efforts to thwart its day in court. A U.S. magistrate judge assigned the case and denied the city’s motion for summary judgment in his June report and recommendation. The city has since filed its objections to his report. The high-profile case of ex-police chief Cecelia Dixon and ex-deputy chief of police, now lieutenant, Anthony Crenshaw and their allegations of the “scheme of Mayor Jerry Willis,” per the report, is set to go forward to trial, unless the city’s latest objections to the judge’s report are successful. The nature of Willis’ “scheme” as written See CASE • Page A8
a k p m Wetu
Submitted / The Herald
The high-profile case involving Cecelia Dixon, above, is set to go forward to trial unless the city’s latest objections to the report are successful.
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