SPORTS: Check out our All-County Boys Basketball Team Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 10 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Friends remember Stanhope junior Nate Jones
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Jones who died unexpectedly and tragically his face. I never called him Nate. I called the morning of Feb. 26. him ‘Nate the Great.’ I still call him that. Friends, family and students and staff “He was a special member at our church By Cliff Note: Williams Franklin said investigators Wilson was the headHigh basketWilson was released on a investigationand and offof lives.” Editor’s After our latest press of Stanhope Elmore School gathered hashanded touched ita lot Staff Writer County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afat Holtville Highplayer to and the appropriate deadline, The Herald was made aware of ball coach to remember the junior soccer Jonesauthorities. shared the soccerwith field the withElmore his iff’s Angelo Office on have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordand was Hehelp was also teammates placed onand adminisa second death of a Stanhope Elmore HighSchool encourage everyone to reach out for coach Johanna School student. Our staff isatworking dili- placed in times distress at vigil at the school. against Wetumpka. Angelo Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail A virtual teacher Elmore tim’s phone. on of adtrative leaveFriday at thatnight time.” gently to update the community as soon asministrative Coaches and pastors shared memories of described game as “hard tough — County School’s Edge program ed and Wilson’s phone as well. website. Dennis said schooltheofficials possible. For arrested more information, visit our leaveJones before Stanhopethe lots of things happened,” but“You she noticed has been and charged couldtwo see a conversaJan. 13 candles were lit in thefollow Dennis said Wilson also same procedure website www.thewetumpkaherald.com. ElmoretoGymnasium. things she will cherisha of tion Jones.between the two,” Frank- coached other sports CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD with at school employee distrib- Ifaccording Elat Holtwhen administrators receive you or someone youmaterial know is struggling “Nate was an amazing young man,” “Nate gaveagainst me the most smile,”Wilson Friends and family a vigil in memory report of allegations uting obscene to a stu- with linbeautiful said. “Mr. is going more County ville attended schools including being of suicidal Grandview said. “It was a touching one that someone Stanhope Elmore Jones last school staff Angelo and employees. dent. thoughts, please contact the 9-8-8Schools to contend had the super-Pines Baptist Church pastor theHigh headSchool track junior coach Nate and assisSuicide & Crisis Lifeline.Sheriff Bill intendent ChanceRichSangster said. “He was funny, smart,we hand it over, we security code to his Wednesday the school gym after his unexpected “Once Elmore County phone and at tant football coach. Many have cherished memories of Nateard Dennis. kind. You always saw him with a smile Page A2 deathThere Sunday morning. knowonvery little about what is See Franklin said Emmanuel Andre heJONES, was not responsible. 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.”
‘A Failed Police Chamber holds luncheon Experiment’ continue
welcoming members
investigation, man no longer suspected
District attorney explains hands are tied on keeping guilty behind bars
By CLIFF WILLIAMS
Members News Editor of the Wetumpka Court dockets are packed and riddled with names. Chamber of Some of those names are repeat offenders and 19th Commerce Judicial Circuit District Attorney C.J. Robinson said the attend the Prison Reform Act of 2015 passed by the Alabama legislachamber’s “Ature has tied the hands of law enforcement, prosecutors and Taste of Our judges. Robinson said the 2015 legislation to control the Home Town”prison population is “a failed experiment.” “In 2015By ourJake stateArthur put a price tag on public safety,” luncheon.
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
Chief“We Videographer Robinson said. had to make a decision. Our state decided that instead of increasing prison capacity, we Police the fatal would prioritize who are was still goinginvestigating in.” shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parkRobinson said the state prisons were at 197 percent of lot on Jan. 20. capacity in ing 2014. dispatched to theact parking “That has Police shrunk were once the prison reform came lot in,” around for a “shots fired” call. Robinson said. “For10:45 every p.m. one person that goes in, essentially two come Onceout.” there, they found Centell Winston, But in reducing the prisondead population, Robinson said the 42 of Tallassee, of a gunshot wound in the driver seat of his vehicle. See EXPERIMENT, Page A3 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. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3
‘The Incredible Lunchroom Ladies’
Wetumpka council approves purchase of police vehicles
Lunchroom staff join students in character parade at Wetumpka Elementary
See SHOOTING, Page A3
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
New patrol vehicles are coming to the Wetumpka Police Department. The Wetumpka City Council approved the purchase of three new vehicles fully equipped at a cost of nearly $142,000. “We are down five vehicles,” Wetumpka Mayor Jerry shift in a positiveWillis direction. told theThe council at its meeting Monday. “They have school experienced a 62 percent transmission and engine issues.” decrease in discipline referrals, Wetumpka police chief Greg Benton said some of those 50 percent decrease in chronic vehicles will come back to the department after repairs are absenteeism, 7 percent increase completed. in the graduation rate, “A33 lot percent of that is warranty work,” Benton said. “It takes increase in CCR rate and for a 20that permonths work.” cent increase in ACT proficiency in the last five years. HOURS COULD CHANGE FOR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT The council held a first reading for amending the
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year N
ot to be outdone by Dr. Suess and other authors, the lunchroom staff at Wetumpka Elementary School joined in the fun for Read Across America. schoolwide assembly at Holtville Staff Report With their yellow aprons and kitchenHigh School. Elmore County Suutensils, the staff joined Thing 1 and The Alabama Association of Thing perintendent Richard Dennis was 2, Cat in the Hat, Harry Potter and Secondary School Principalsmoreinfor attendance for the presentation. the annual named book character parade through“Kyle the Futral is an exception(AASSP) Holtville High halls of the school. The parade completes the School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proacweek of activities surrounding Read Across 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his thinkAmerica where reading was celebrated. cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing The program is designed to encourage stuThe High School Principal of school,” Dennis said, dents to read and learn how reading canhis help the Year award was presented to As take them anywhere in life they want to go. principal of Holtville High Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed
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the school culture from that of a school struggling with low morale, achievement and attendance to a school that strives for excellence. By collaborating with staff, many of the school’s issues were identified and addressed. Futral’s leadership style of listening, encouraging, supporting, organizing and challenging the staff and students, caused the school culture to
See PRINCIPAL, Page A3
FUTURAL See POLICE VEHICLES, Page A2
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