SPORTS: Wetumpka hires Dismukes as pitching coach, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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Millbrook woman dies in Montgomery County crash Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
TPI STAFF Staff ByReport Cliff Williams Staff Writer An early Saturday mornvirtual teacher at Elmore ingAautomobile accident in County School’s Edgethe program Montgomery claimed life has been arrested and charged with school employee distributing obscene material to a student. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
of Marcia J. Lasinski, 54, of Millbrook. Wilson was the head basketALEA released a statement ball coach at Holtville High School and was a two-vehicle Saturday about placed on ad- 331 about 12 accident on U.S. ministrative miles south of Montgomery leave Jan. 13 according to Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
in Montgomery County. Solomon L. Smith III, 39, of approximately 1 a.m. Satur“Lasinski and was handed fatally it off Wetumpka,” said in day. was released on a Franklin saidALEA investigators Wilson investigation injured when the 2006 Honda with the the statement. was $6,000 Nothing is availElmore “Lasinski County Sherbond further 90 minutes afto the appropriate authorities. Office havedeceased the alleged turning himself in accordHe was also on adminisAccord sheplaced was driving col- iff’s pronounced at victhe terable as Troopers with ALEA’s phone. Authorities collect- ingHighway to the Elmore Jailcontrative leave at that lided head-on withtime.” the 2008 tim’s scene.” PatrolCounty Division phone as well.at website. DennisRam saidtruck school officials Dodge driven by ed Wilson’s The crash happened tinue to investigate. “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure when administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtreport of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being school staff and employees. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assis“Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. know very little about what is he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at cooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminnecessary.” it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
RIVER AND BLUES
Music, arts festival more than a decade strong
Chamber holds luncheon
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Nwelcoming members ext month the Wetumpka River and Blues Music and Art Festival returns. The idea blossomed By Cliff Williams inStaff 2012 as city leaders Writer were looking for something offer residents ThetoWetumpka Chambertoof Commerce held its highlight life in a annual luncheon to small install new officers and board river town.forAtthethe members firsttime time in a while Thursday. Wetumpka City Clerk The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathTiffany Robinson wascelebrated the erings but the chamber the successes of events specialist and on business in Wetumpka. the“We committee of city haven’t been able and to do this for the last coucommunity leaders ple years,” chairpersonorgaClay McConnell said. “Your attendance nizing it. is an indication people want to get back FILE | THE HERALD together and have to see each “We wanted to these offer opportunitiesABOVE: What started as a small music show with one band quality entertainment and and no stage Page A3 has turned into quite an event each year music for our citizens,”See CHAMBER, in Wetumpka, and it returns in July. BELOW: The Wetumpka River and Blues Music See RIVER, Page A5 and Art Festival draws a huge crowd each year.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
Members SUBMITTED | THE HERALD of the Kyle Futral, right, and his family recently took a vacation to New Wetumpka York. After he was approved by the Elmore County Board of Chamber of Education as Wetumpka High School’s new principal, the family Commerce donned Wetumpka gear and posed with the Empire State Buildattend theing in the background. chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” By Jake Arthur luncheon.
Futral looking forward to building on success in Wetumpka
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. Police were dispatched to the parking lot around for a “shots fired” call. By CLIFF WILLIAMS 10:45 p.m. a family,” Futral said. “It Once there, they found Centell Winston, News Editor gets me closer to them. It 42 of Tallassee, dead a gunshot madeofsense to do wound it for my in the driver seat of his vehicle. Kyle Futral wasn’t look- family.” According police chief ing for a new job; it came to Wetumpka Futral likes to learn and Greg Benton, this was not a random shootto him. grow and the Wetumpka ing. For the last seven years opportunity allows for that “This was not random, not a random Futral was principal at professionally. act,” said Benton. “We believe the vicHoltville High School and “I was intrigued about tim and the perpetrator knew each other.” content on being there for the position because it is This is the first homicide in Wetumpka a while longer.in over three years. a new with ain Thechallenge last homicide “I was as happy as I bigger school,” Futral said. the city took place in 2018. could be,” Futral said. “I “I think it will stretch me “It’s not a good way to start out the new could die at the office in Benton. some and cause me to have year,” said Holtville and I would’ve learn newon things Benton didn’t to want to some speculate the to been just fine. Wetumpka operate on a bigger scale.” just offered an opportunity Futral said the challenge See SHOOTING, Page A3 to do things on a bigger at Wetumpka is more perscale and with the city sonal than anything else and all they have done as he doesn’t need to turn attracting economic devel- around a failing school. opment.” “It is on an upward Dr. Robbie Slater leavtrajectory already and I’m ing Wetumpka Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. High The School looking forward to being for the Elmore County able to jump in there and High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent Board of Education Cencontinue to push it forThe Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, tral Office left a job Futral ward,” Futral said. Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic By(AASSP) CLIFF WILLIAMS cil unanimously approved worked on now for severplanning of Phases 1 and couldn’t ignore because of Futral is looking fornamed Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase News Editor accepting a bid to comal years.” 2 and the construction of family. ward to furthering proSchool principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent plete Phase 2 of the projMillbrook project Phase 1. The first phase Futral’s family lives in grams Holtville doesn’t 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perMoreofwork will soon ect on Highway 14. Stuart Peters styleincludes four soccer and his children have due to staffing and cipal the Year. ing and approaches tomanager managing leadership of listening, en- cent increase Wetumpka in ACT proficiency be underway 17 Principal “Phase is the pulse reminded council mem- supporting, fields, 12 tennis courts the size of the school. The High at School of his2school,” Dennis said, couraging, organizing in the last fiveattend years.Redland schools. Springs. ratetoof 17As Springs,” bers the project has pickleball “They play youth league “TV production does a the Year award was presented principalMillof Holtville High and challengingand the 12 staff and stu- courts. At itson Tuesday brook Al Futral Kelleyhas transformed already been in the works See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 and we sports in Wetumpka Futral Friday,meeting Jan. 28 during a Mayor School, dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL the Millbrook City Coun- said. “This has been for four years with master See MILLBROOK, Page A5 See FUTRAL, Page A5 spend a lot of time there as
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
Millbrook council approves 17 Springs Phase 2 bid
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