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ka Herald, 23 JUNE 20 Outlook , The Wetump ord er City eville Rec Alexand ent to The Tribune & The Dad supplem ee The Tallass
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 26 | $1.00
Chamber highlights nonprofits at luncheon Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
nonprofit organizations this region really excep- described Wetumpka’s attended to discuss how tional,” Whitfield said. partnership as invaluthey are improving the Just some of the able and instrumental in By Cliff Williams Franklin said investigators Wilson was the head basket- investigation and handed it off Wilson was released on a Not all heroes wear community for the better. organizations represent- helping foster childhood Staff Writer ball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afcapes, and this proved “I feel like there ed were River Region literacy. School and was He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordtrue Thursday at the are people doing work United Way, the Elmore “If every community A virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” Wetumpka Civic Center. and filling in the gaps County Family Resource in Alabama embraced County School’s Edge program ministrative website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. Thebeen Wetumpka to make sure that Center and follow Main Street Short like Wetumpka has arrestedArea and charged “You could see a conversaleave Jan. our 13 Dennis said Wilson also the same procedure Chamber of Commerce community is good for Wetumpka.when administrators thenreceive we would the a be with school employee distribtionatbetween the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtaccording to Elrecognized people whether that is The theme also of allegations top ofagainst the heap lin when it “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being report uting obscene material to a everyone, stu- more said. County impacting lives at its taking care of children, seemed appropriate for comes to readers in this school staff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assisSchools super“Heroes Unite” summer or lost pets, one booth in“Once particular we handworld,” it over,she wesaid. Elmore County Sheriff the Billelderly security code to his phone and tant football coach. intendent Richluncheon. just allard those things that as Short theknow Squirrel A representative fromnot responsible. There verywas little about what is he was Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Dennis. Dennis said other staff would However, instead people are doing the present, Alabama’s litereach group spoke for WILSON of Wilson at going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a reWILLIAM MARLOW | THE HERALD ofturned superheros present, nonprofit workDennis are serv- acy mascot.cooperate with authorities several minutes about nowDr. Holtville while he is on Squirrel, admin-Alaif disclose himself into authorities but I don’t think port,” Dee Dupree Bennett discussed how Short the chamber know, The character’s their organization’s leave. necessary.” Tuesdayexecutive afternoon.direc- ing, you it’s beneficialbama’s to Mr. Wilson.” said. “Weand hadit’sa preliminary literacy mascot, isistrative empowering children across the state tor Shellie Whitfield those people with serco-founder Monito read. More than a dozen nonprofit organizations attended said more than a dozen vant’s hearts that make ca Anderson Young See CHAMBER, Page A2 the luncheon to discuss their missions. By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter
Police Chamber holds luncheonCommission focuses continue on infrastructure investigation, improvements man no longer suspected
welcoming members By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
Members of the By WILLIAM MARLOW Road Intersection and proWetumpka Reporter vided a short history of the ChamberMultimedia of project to the commission Commerce Monday. attend the The Elmore County talked about The county approved chamber’sCommission “A infrastructure projects and the roundabout option and Taste of Our improvements Monday. obtained funding from the Home Town” By Jake Arthur Highway Safety Improveluncheon. During a regularly
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
Chief Videographerment Program to start the scheduled commission meeting, Sain and Associ- design process. ConstrucPolice are investigating the fatal ates, a firm specializing in stilltion began in August 2021 shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parkcivil engineering, informed and concluded in May ing lot on Jan. 20. the commission it received 2022, with a total cost of Police were dispatched to the parking lot an award for a recently $1.2 million. around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. completed road developInitially beginning Once there, they found Centell Winston, ment in the Redland com- 2012, Elmore County con42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound munity. tacted the firm to review in the driver seat of his vehicle. The firm received an intersection to improve According to the Wetumpka police chief Honor Award Greg from Benton, the safety and daily operathis was not a random shootAmerican Council tions, including the crash ing. of Engineering Companies traffic and “This was nothistory, random, not avolume random of Alabama inact,” conjunction speeding issues. the vicsaid Benton. “We believe with the organization’s Commission chairman tim and the perpetrator knew each other.” 2023 Engineering Mercerinand other ThisExcelis the firstBart homicide Wetumpka lence Awards.in over three years. commissioners joined in in The last homicide The group won specifexpressing the city took place in 2018. gratitude to ically for its development firm for its to “It’s not a goodthe way to start outservice the new of the roundabout the Benton. year,”atsaid See COMMISSION, Redland Road Firetower Benton didn’t want to speculate onPage the A2
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3
TOURISM PIECES COMING TOGETHER FOR
SUCCESS IN WETUMPKA
a plan for moving towards a opment,” Allred said. “It is tourism entity or destination clean money. You don’t have management organization in to provide all those services ourism can provide the Wetumpka. but you get the tax benefits.” City of Wetumpka tax “[Wetumpka is] missing The lodging tax reverevenue without the cost out on a lot of revenue,” nue equates to big money. of services residents, busiAllred said. “Statistically, Allred gave an example of an nesses and industry require. overnight visitors spend four 80-room hotel operating at Visitors have been flocktimes what a day tripper will 60% occupancy. He said with ing to the riverside town for spend.” an average daily room rate See SHOOTING, Page A3 years but without enough Those are funds spent by of $100 it would generate hotel rooms, Wetumpka is overnight guests in local nearly $200,000 per year in likely losing big money. businesses and restaurants. tax money. Allred said if an The Wetumpka City Council But without adequate hotel average of two people stay approved hiring Stamp Idea rooms, the city is missing out in a room each night at 60% Group and Yellow House on collection of lodging tax occupancy would bring about to help develop schoolwide — a feeassembly Wetumpka Mayor the35,000 town Staff Publishing Report at Holtville school people culture to from thatper of a shift in a positive direction. The a plan to market the area to High Jerry Willis said County equatesSuto school year.struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent School. Elmore andAssociation recruit hotels. 12% of the roomDennis rate. was rale, achievement Allred said itand is attendance imperative decrease in discipline referrals, Thetourists Alabama of perintendent Richard Stamp’sSchool David Allred led a in attendance “You have topresentation. think about to for Wetumpka to develop its 50 percent decrease in chronic Secondary Principals for the a school that strives for exceldiscussion help cultivate tourism as economic devel- lence. By collaborating (AASSP) namedtoHoltville High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionwith Page staff,A6 absenteeism, 7 percent increase See SUCCESS, School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 percipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency FILE | THE HERALD CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, The roundabout at the intersection of Redland and Firetower Stamp Idea Group’s David Allred leads a presentation on how to better curate the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and sturoads was thePage subject Monday’s Elmore Counand attractions Wetumpka to maximize tourism. See PRINCIPAL, A3 of discussion atFUTURAL Futral on Friday, Jan. 28businesses, during a hotels School, Futral hasintransformed dents, caused the school culture to ty Commission meeting. By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
T
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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