SPORTS: Wetumpka takes down BRHS on baseball diamond, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8 INSIDE Doctor’s Day celebrated WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 13 | $1.00
Elmore County kennel fined in dog abuse case Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By CLIFF WILLIAMS over the years and started “Blue Ridge Kennel really News Editor noting issues such as malnu- needs to do the right thing,” By Cliff Williams Wilson was the head basket- investigation and handed it off trition, PETAtovice of laboStaff Writer ballinadequate coach at facilities Holtville High thepresident appropriate authorities. Are missing or stolen pets and School repeatedand lackwas of veterratoryHe investigations cases was also placed onDr. adminisbeing forteacher animal testing care starting in 2020. Alka Chandna said.at“They A used virtual at Elmoreinaryplaced on adtrative leave that time.” inCounty ElmoreSchool’s County? Edge programTheministrative facility has been cited just need to get said out ofschool the officials Dennis According to documents more than 80 times since business and let these dogs has been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 follow the same procedure from might havedistrib-then,according and this has attracted have awhen second chance.” withUSDA, schoolit employee to Eladministrators receive a happened. Inspectors haveto a stu-the attention of People for the A 2022 USDA report report of allegations against uting obscene material more County dropped Ethical Treatment of Animals noted school the facility staffdidn’t and employees. dent. by the Blue Ridge Schools superKennels on Rifle Range RoadBill(PETA). “Once we hand it A7 over, we Elmore County Sheriff intendent RichSee KENNEL, Page know very little about what is Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if turned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Franklin said investigators with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office have the alleged victim’s phone. Authorities collected Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversation between the two,” Franklin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
Pillar of Coosada diesholds luncheon Chamber
Blue Ridge Kennel Wilson was released on a has been cited $6,000 bond 90numerous minutestimes af- by ter turning himself in accordthe USDA over the ing to the Elmore Jail lastCounty two years for the care of dogs in website. care as part Dennis said its Wilson alsoof animal at testing for coached other sports Holtthe companion ville schools including beingpet industry. the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected NEW HOHENBERG CREATES MORE
welcoming members
from incorporation until his retirement in 2018. In that time he served multiple terms The Jackson family has as mayor pro tem and interim been a part of western Elmore mayor of the small town. County for generations. But he wasn’t a politician. Cliff Williams It nowBy mourns the death Jackson was a pillar of the StaffJackson Writer Sr. of Theodore community. who was instrumental in Jackson’s youngest son The the founding of Wetumpka Coosada. Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon board Seeofficers PILLAR,and Page A7 He was on the town councilto install new 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 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
See CHAMBER, Page A3
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
OPPORTUNITIES CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
I SUBMITTED | TPI
Theodore Jackson Sr. was the last prinicipal at W.B. Doby High School in Wetumpka. He was also one of the original councilmembers for the town of Coosada serving from 1975 to 1977. He died March 14 at the age of 90.
Former school CNP employee seeks answers
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
f you build it, they will come. For generations, families and athletes have come to Hohenberg Field for fútbol Americano. Now they will come for traditional fútbol after the ribbon was cut on new soccer fields at the City of Wetumpka park.
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. Police were dispatched to the parking lot It is all part of quality of life willp.m. allow soccerfired” call. around“It 10:45 forthe a “shots projects the Elmore CountyOncecommunity to grow here,” Winston, there, they found Centell Commission has put togeth-42 ofWetumpka Parks and Recre- wound Tallassee, dead of a gunshot er with the help of various in the ation director Tiffany Chandriver seat of his vehicle. partners. dler said. “We are excited According to Wetumpka police chief Two new turf soccer fields it.”this was not a random shootGregabout Benton, were constructed just out ing. The Hohenberg Field from under the lights once “This project to life about wascame not random, not a random used on Friday nights. Theyact,”the time the concept of 17 the vicsaid Benton. “We believe will help a growing sport intim and Springs in Millbrook came the perpetrator knew each other.” Wetumpka and demonstrate This about. Millbrook, was a is theInfirst homicideit in Wetumpka the city and county’s effortsin over three years. The last homicide in CREATES, to improve life. the city tookSee place in 2018.Page A5 “It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis, center, cuts the ribbon on the newly renovated Hohenberg Field in Wetumpka. See SHOOTING, Page A3
Holtville’s Futral Alabama New principal board of of the year education member sworn in
Board of Education member. Eclectic resident and Staff Report schoolwide Elmore County Board CNP retiree Beckyassembly Black- at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent of Education officials are mon and board member The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, mostly steadfast in saying Leisa Finley called on Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic By CLIFF WILLIAMS issues regarding an audit superintendent Richard (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionlence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase News Editor last year of Elmore County Dennis as to why no action School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent Child Nutrition Program had been recommended to 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- It was identified addressed. increase in CCR rate and a 20 peralmostand fireworks forFutral’s Bill Meyers’ are resolved. the board at its Tuesday cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency first meeting as a member of the Elmore Almost six School monthsPrincipal later, meeting. The High of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, organizing in the last five years. County Board ofsupporting, Education. it the remains an issue for a explained Year award was presented toBlackmon As principal of she Holtville High Meyers and challenging the staff andthis stu- month appointed earlier retired employee andduring a School, Futral has transformed dents,was See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 FutralCNP on Friday, Jan. 28 caused the school culture to See CNP, Page A5 a current Elmore County See SWORN, Page A7 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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Bill Meyers, left, of Millbrook is sworn in as a member of the Elmore County Board of Education by Elmore County District Court Judge Patrick Pinkston. Meyers replaces Col. Dale Bain who retired from the board last month. FUTURAL
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