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Former Wetumpka firefighter arrested on sex abuse charges
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
travel of a child, secinformation. to send messages to a the Elmore County Jail ond-degree sexual “The father of a child under the age of on Thursday and was abuse upgraded to the a headchild underinvestigation 16 years and16. released 2 ½ hours Wilson was released on a By Cliff Williams Franklin said investigators Wilson was baskethanded it off An Elmore resident felony and transmitold came in Tuesday “I really can’t say later on a Staff Writer Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County$105,000 and former City of ting obscene material and made aHestatement,” anything else about bond. iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordSchool and was was also placed on adminisWetumpka to a child by aoncomBenton said. “Weleave at that thistime.” case,” Benton City of Wetumpka A virtualfirefighter teacher at Elmore tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail placed adtrative is County facingSchool’s felony sex puter. started an investigation said. “Everything is officials said Carterwebsite. Edge program ministrative Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. abuse charges. Wetumpka police which resulted in the the same stillprocedure under investigaresigned his full timeDennis said Wilson also has been arrested and charged “You could see a conversaleave Jan. 13 follow Johnschool Carter, 31, of distribchief Greg Benton Carter.“ tion.” position at Frankthe Citycoached other sports at Holtwith employee the two,” according to El-said arrest of Mr. when administrators receive a tion between Elmore was arrested is inCounty its infant Benton said theof allegations According of Wilson Wetumpka Fire ville schools including being report against tolinElmore uting obscene material to a the stu- case said. “Mr. is going more Thursday and charged stagesSchools and officials investigation revealed County Jail records thishead track coach and assisschool staff and employees. dent. to contend Department someone hadearlier the the superwith facilitating release much Carter used “Once Snapchat Carter waswetaken to code week. CARTERcoach. we hand it over, Elmore Countythe Sheriff cannot Bill intendent security to his phone and tant football Richknow very little about what is he was not responsible. There Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. Dennis said other staff would WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminturned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.” By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Chamber holds luncheon
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
COOSA RIVER WHITEWATER FESTIVAL
RETURNS WITH FUN See CHAMBER, Page A3
County schools summer feeding Police programs have started continue
investigation, man no longer suspected
programs to help promote each other,” Elmore County Schools Child Elmore County chilNutrition Program direcdren can get up to 10 tor Cacyce Davis said. Members meals per week free of “At the libraries, anybody of the charge this summer. in any community can Wetumpka Breakfast and lunch is come to it. We are proChamber ofavailable for those 18 and moting it to the entire Commerce under Monday through county.” attend the Friday at all 15 schools “The Hotspot” was chamber’s “Ain the Elmore County a hit at Elmore County Taste of OurSchool system and at high schools this spring, Home Town”some locations in the and Davis hopes it will luncheon. community.By Jake Arthur remain that way as meals Chief Videographer CLIFF WILLIAMS/ This year will be the are served in conjunction THE HERALD first time Elmore County programs the at the pubPolice are still with investigating fatal Schools’ mobile kitchen lic libraries in Millbrook shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parkwill be useding forlot theonsumJan. 20.and Wetumpka. mer feeding program. The to mobile kitchen Police were dispatched the parking lot “We are partnering around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. FEEDING, Page A6 with other community Once there, they foundSee Centell Winston, 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound in the driver seat of his vehicle. According to Wetumpka police chief Greg Benton, this was not a random shooting. “This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” 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. SUBMITTEDon | THEthe HERALD Benton didn’t want to speculate Watercolor Society of Alabama president Walt Costilow, left, presents the first place Patron ofSee theSHOOTING, Arts award toPage Deb A3 Garst at the 82nd Annual National Exhibition of the Watercolor Society of Alabama held at the Eastern Shore Art Center. Garst is a resident of the Blue Ridge area in Wetumpka. By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
ented local paddlers. American Whitewater. Carden “The biggest rodeo in the said organizers have high country is going on in Vail expectations for 2025 and he Coosa River Whitewa- right now,” Carden said from Saturday’s fun will help build ter Festival returned to the the island at Moccasin Gap momentum back. Coosa River and Moccaon Saturday. “They have all “Unofficially it will be the sin Gap this past weekend. kinds of levels of competition. 40th year,” Carden said. “We The COVID-19 pandemic For us, it takes the pros there are planning to build it up may have stolen two years of because of the big money.” to something similar as the the festival but not the fun. The Vail, Colorado whitefirst.” “We went a little underwater rodeo also attracted Like previous festivals, a ground with it this year,” many of the youth who are barge was floated to the island longtime Coosa River advotrying to break into the kayak- with scaffolding for judging, cate and kayaker Lonnie ing ranks. equipment for a sound system Carden said. “COVID took “If they do good in the and the all important portable away some of the sponsoramateur competition, they toilet. ships but we want to try and will likely have someone “With the numbers that will build it back up again. We come to them wanting to be be there, it is a necessity,” said we were going to make a goodwill sponsor,” Carden Carden said. this the gathering of paddle said. “They get paddles or On Saturday more than buddies. offers to try a new boat every 100 people gathered to This is formal fun.” year. For a young person that either kayak or watch. Part Carden said although is big.” of the fun for everyone Staff Saturday’s Report assembly at Holtville school culturerecreational from that of a shift in a positive direction. The day on the water schoolwide The festival started in 1985 thewas watching High School. Elmore County Suschool struggling with mo- school experienced a 62 percent lacked the big names of and at one point it was one kayakers dropped at low Jordan By CLIFF WILLIAMS Thetoday’s Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, whitewater kayaking, of 10 kayak rodeos across the News Editor Secondary School Principals for therecognized presentation. for excelit featured several highly tal- in attendance United States by to a school that strives See RIVER, Page A6 50 percent decrease in chronic (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase Deb and Steve Garst are School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduationalways rate, 33 percenteach other. inspiring 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rateThe andWetumpka a 20 per- couple WILLIAMS en| THE HERALD cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership styleCLIFF of listening, cent increase in ACT proficiency share many things including This year’s Coosa River Whitewater Festival wasDennis all about fun and relaxation, and there are plans in the works to last five years. The High School Principal of his school,” said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the being artists in the same build the festival up to what the Year award back was presented toit once As was. principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuhousehold and a multitude See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to of experiences. So much so By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
T
in love’ Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the ‘Disastrously year
Art keeps Wetumpka couple inspired
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Deb calls their story “disastrously in love.” Their story starts when Steve was talked into attending an art meeting where Deb was the speaker more than 20 years ago. “I had been single for 18 FUTURALSee ART, Page A6
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