Attorney accuses Edgewood of forcing out Carr Sports, Page 10 Wetumpka, AL 36092
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SATURDAY-SUNDAY • JUNE 25-26, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 11, NO. 24
New developments in WPD filming case Authorities search Golden’s residence, attorneyss acquired and ACLU gets involved By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The residence of the Coosada man who filmed Wetumpka police and was arrested after an outpouring of calls came into the WPD from across the nation was searched earlier this week allegedly for electronic devices. Elmore County Sheriff’s Office confirmed an ECSO
representative was asked by WPD to assist in the search of the residence of Keith Golden, which fell outside of its jurisdiction. Sheriff Bill Franklin said he could not talk about the details of the operation since WPD was the lead agency involved. He said they were only there to assist on the service of the search warrant. WPD Police Chief Danny Billingsley said he had no comment on the operation that was ordered and executed by his department. The Elmore County Circuit Clerk’s office said it had not yet received a warrant filing, however, a represen-
tative explained that the issuing agency had 10 days to return the search warrant after it had been carried out. On Thursday, attorneys for Golden, a 43-yearold retired Army staff sergeant, filed an Entry of Appearance. There are three attorneys listed on the entry, two of which are from a from Dothan, and the third with the American Civil Liberties Union of Montgomery. The case name according to the document is State of Alabama v. Keith Golden. An attorney for Golden, Dustin Fowler, of Buntin, Etheredge and Fowler, LLC, said on Thursday he was See GOLDEN • Page 2
Scooter snatcher strikes in parking lot
2016 Elmore County Distinguished Young Women contestants named By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
Tonight, 11 rising senior girls from across the county will compete for scholarships and the title of Distinguished Young Woman of Elmore County. The event will be held in the Elmore County High School auditorium in Eclectic beginning at 7 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Phi Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an educator’s organization. Contestants will be evaluated on scholastic achievements, judges’ interview, talent performance, self-expression with an on-stage question and physical fitness. Scholarship and interview skills are the basis for 50 percent of the competition. The program awards scholarship money to the college chosen by the individual participants and offers opportunities for other college scholarships. Last year’s winner Reagan Law will be on hand to present the scholarship awards. Admission is $10 per person. Programs are $10 each. The winner will represent Elmore County at the
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer Corey Arwood / The Herald
Connor Keahey, 10, and Karis Moore, 10, learns about hives and try to identify “the queen” under the instruction of local master beekeeper Ken Moore.
Abuzz about bees Local kids learn from experts at camp
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Master beekeepers from across the state gathered at Wetumpka Elementary School for The Central Alabama Beekeepers Camp to teach their craft and the importance of honeybees to a new generation of local youths interested in the role of bees and bee-based products. It was part of a two-day event from which students from 9 to 14 could leave ready to expand upon their honeybee interest and turn it into a hobb, or even develop a business making cosmetics, or perform bee removal from properties. The director of CABA, Allyson Andrews, said it was the third year for the camp and its first year being held at WES, through the Elmore County
See DISTINGUISHED • Page 3
School Board. Andrews said she wanted it to turn into an annual event. “We just wanted to make sure that we’re teaching our younger kids about beekeeping, all of us that are master beekeepers that are here. It’s just we’ve got to start them out early for them to hopefully keep the desire,” said Andrews. A master beekeeper out of Millbrook, Ken Moore was an instructor during the “Open Hive” session, where the students wore the safety suits and closely examined the inside of exposed hives. His granddaughter also attended the camp. “My 12-year-old grandson, I sent this thing to them (parents) about this camp to see if he wanted to go. When my son read it to him to see if he wanted to See BEES • Page 5
According to a Central Alabama Crime Stoppers Report, Wetumpka police are looking for a scooter thief who packed up an entire moped from a parking lot into the back of a van and then drove away. Images from surveillance footage released with the report appear to show a burgundy colored van that parks near what was described in the report as a 2015 Honda Metropolitan Scooter. The report stated that the incident occurred on June 9 between 7:40 p.m. and 8:10 p.m. in a retail parking lot off of U.S. Highway 231. Investigators said the suspect was a white male wearing a black tank top and shorts. He was said to have loaded the scooter into the back of the vehicle and left on U.S. Highway 231 traveling north.
Submitted / The Herald
Officials are looking for a scooter thief who packed an entire moped from a parking lot into the back of a van, pictured above, then drove away.
Wetumpka officially kicks off Main Street program By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
CONTACT US 334-567-7811 • Fax: 334-567-3284
The City of Wetumpka and Wetumpka Downtown in partnership with Main Street Alabama officially kicked off the Wetumpka Main Street program Thursday evening with a gathering that included well over 100 area political, business and civic leaders. The city received word earlier this month that the city had been designated by Main Street Alabama as one of four newly selected communities for the Main Street program.
According to Alabama Main Street President and State Coordinator Mary Helmer, the organization immediately began providing Wetumpka with board development, training with work plans and goals, market analysis, which will include economic development strategies geared for downtown development, technical assistance and quarterly training. “When a community is ready for Main Street, our economic development program works,” Helmer said. “It brings jobs, dollars and people back to historic See MAIN STREET • Page 2
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William Carroll / The Herald
Alabama Main Street President and State Coordinator Mary Helmer speaks tothe assembled crowd at the kickoff event for Wetumpka’s Main Street program.
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