INSIDE: Honoring local physicians this Doctor’s Day Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 12 | $1.00
Millbrook man arrested in connection with fatal shooting WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
WSFA, the shooting took at the scene. Millbrook both treated for non-life records. Court documents place Wednesday night on Police Department officers threatening injuries at the show Abrams as being Hwy. 14 in Millbrook. A responded to the scene. scene. charged with murder and By Cliff Williams Wilson on was head basketwas released on a investigation and handed itJust off oneFranklin A Millbrook man has car traveling thethe road According to a WSFA day later, said the investigators shooting intoWilson an occupied Staff Writer with the Elmore County Sherball coach at Holtville High $6,000 bond to the appropriate authorities. been arrested in connection was struck by gunfire from article, Maurio D. WilElmore County Sheriff’s vehicle. He is currently 90 minutes afiff’s Office have the alleged vic- trial School and was teratturning He was also placed on adminiswith a fatal shooting of a another vehicle. There were liams, 16, of Montgomery Office arrested Mose awaiting Elmorehimself in accordA virtual teacher at Elmore tim’s phone. Authorities collectplaced on ading to the is Elmore trative leave at that time.” juvenile that took place three occupants in the car was identified as the vicAbrams, 18, of Millbrook, County Jail; his bond set County Jail County School’s Edge program ministrative website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. Wednesday. that was shot into, one of tim. The other two juvein connection with the at $1.5 million, according has been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure ABRAMS As first reported by whom was pronounced dead niles in the vehicle were shooting, according to jail to jail records. with school employee distrib- according to Elwhen 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 uting obscene material to a stu- more County school staff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assisSchools super“Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richknow very little about what is he was not responsible. There Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. 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 reCLIFF WILLIAMS HERALD cooperate with | THE authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminturned himself into authorities port,” Dennis tornado created damage in Coosada necessary.” Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. said. “We had Aa possible preliminary Sunday night. Several area received damage but the heaviest was along Meadow Lane Drive. Molly Cannon helps with cleanup on Meadow Lane. STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Convicted murderer’s sentence lowered from 55 years to 30
Chamber holds luncheon
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
welcoming members
One of five individuals involved in a 2015 crime spree across Mongtomery and Elmore counties saw his sentence reduced this week. By ClifftoWilliams According court records, LaKeith Staffjust Writer Smith was 15 when he and five others came together in Montgomery The Wetumpka Chamber Commerce held its before crossing county lines and of burluncheonhome. to install newwas officers and board glarizingannual a Millbrook Smith the firstInitially, time in ahe while Thursday. tried as members an adult for in 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathwas sentenced to 65 years in prison erings but thetochamber celebrated which was reduced 55 years until the successes of business in Wetumpka. Tuesday’s hearing, during which Cirhaven’t been able to do this for the last coucuit Judge“We Sibley Reynolds resentenced Smith tople 30years,” years.chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your attendance an indication people want to get back “It was a 36-40 ishour crime spree that together and have these opportunities to see each started in Montgomery and included murder, armed robbery, carjacking and See CHAMBER, Page A3 drugs in Montgomery,” 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney CJ Robinson said. “Then they came across the river into Millbrook and started breaking into houses armed with guns.” Robinson said Smith and four others were noticed when breaking into a second Millbrook home. “The second house they went into, a neighbor saw five guys going into a house,” Robinson said. “They said, ‘We know that is not who lives there,’ and called 911. Then law enforcement responded.” See SENTENCED, Page A6
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
NEIGHBOR HELPING NEIGHBOR By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
Storms brings out the best of people in Coosada CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
H
olley Cannon has been living on Meadow Lane Drive in Coosada for 15 years. She has seen neighbors come and go but after Sunday’s possible tornado passed through she saw neighbor helping neighbor. The storm left first responders without the ability to get into the neighborhood just off
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot Jan. Airport Road. “It on was all20. pouring rain,” Police were dispatched to the parking lot “It was locked down in Cannon said. “All the neigharound 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. here,” Cannon said while help- bors were out. Everyone was Once there, they found Centell Winston, ing to clear a neighbor’s yard asking, ‘You OK? You OK? 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound Monday. “You couldn’t get out Yes, we’re good.’” in the driver seat of his vehicle. and you couldn’t get in. Power The home to Cannon’s According to next Wetumpka police chief lines were down. Trees were was basically destroyed by twoshootGreg Benton, this was not a random down.” trees falling on it. ing. Cannon said the worst of the “This “Onwas Sundays there are not random, notusua random storm passed in five minutes ally a bunch of (people) overthe vicact,” said Benton. “We believe and soon after she waschecking tim there,” Cannon said.knew “They and the perpetrator each other.” on neighbors. But she wasn’t cook out. Thank God nobody This is the first homicide in Wetumpka the only one outside following in over three years. The last homicide in See in HELPING, the storm event. the city took place 2018. Page A6 “It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
Dog’s birthday to benefit animal shelter By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
See SHOOTING, Page A3
Guppy grew on the Yourman The second name came quickly farm. as well. “All I was doing was bringing “She saw the leg and said that it home for my shift of feeding is just like the character from schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that‘Take of a myshift in a positive direction. The her,” Yourman said. “As soon as Scary Movie 2— High School. Elmore County Suschool struggling with low moschool experienced a 62 percent I brought her home, my daughter strong hand,’” Yourman said. perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease saw her.” “That is where Hanson came in.” in discipline referrals, in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel50 percent decrease in chronic The family had just days prior Three days later the Yourmans “Kyle Futral is an exceptionlence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase seen a small chihuahua on Facecreated a Facebook page for al book principal and is very proacmany of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent named Guppy. Guppy Hanson to share her story. tive and innovative in his thinkidentified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 per“My daughter said she was, ‘So “She became our dog,” Youringcute,’” and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, encent increase in ACT proficiency Yourman said. “She had man said. “Suddenly people were hiswanted school,”toDennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. name the next family like, ‘Can I send her a present?’ SUBMITTED | THE HERALD As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuanimal Guppy. She says, ‘Look, Hanson Page inspects to See Guppy PRINCIPAL, A3some of the food donated School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL the Elmore County it’s Guppy. Just what we need.’” See ANIMAL, Page A6 Humane Society in honor of her first birthday.
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
Almost a year ago a 1-day-old StaffTzu-beagle Report Shih mix puppy was near death. It had a deformity — The Alabama of “chicken wing forAssociation a leg.” Secondary School Principals But instead Becky Yourman (AASSP) named Holtville High and her family took in Guppy School principal Kyle Futral Hanson from an “oopsy litter”the 2022 Prinand is Alabama using herHigh firstSchool birthday cipal of the Year. to seek food donations for the The High School Principal of Elmore County Humane Society. the Year award was presented to Yourman didn’t intend to take Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a on the small puppy forever but
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