WHS students put on petting zoo for elementary school.
Don’t cross the ‘Crazy Cat Ladies’
Sports: ECHS track team boasts ranked runners.
Eclectic Observer Page 4
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The
THURSDAY • MARCH 3, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 27, No. 9
Sunday morning fire destroys mobile home
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
The Eclectic Fire Department along with the Red Hill Fire Department were dispatched to a possible structure fire at 2:50 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28. The structure fire was in the 3200 block of Chana Creek Rd. Upon arrival at 2:57 a.m., the firemen discovered a singlewide mobile home with heavy smoke and fire erupt-
ing from various sides of the dwelling. “We arrived on scene and set up command, “ said Sergeant Andrew Wood with the Eclectic Fire Department. “Initially, there was heavy smoke billowing from two sides of the residence.” After setting up command, the fireContributed / The Observer fighters assessed the situation and attempted to enter the structure. Firefighters from the Eclectic Fire Department and the Red Hill Fire Department work together to extinSee FIRE • Page 11 guish an early morning fire Sunday in the 3200 block of Chana Creek Road.
Is prison reform a pass for criminals?
Election results favor Houston, Roby Voters elect two new county commissioners STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Voters in Elmore County elected two new county commissioners and gave overwhelming approval to District Attorney Randall Houston, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Martha Roby. It was also a big night for 19th Circuit District Attorney Randall Houston who was a big winner over challenger Casey Biggs. Houston finished with a whopping 71 percent of the vote. “I’m grateful to the voters of the 19th District for again giving me the opportunity to serve them as district attorney,” Houston said. It was the county commission where the big news was made. Challenger Kenny Holt beat out incumbent Mark Hragyil, but will head to a runoff with Shanna Chamblee in District 1. Hragyil had served for two terms. Holt had 1.692 votes and Chamblee had 1,026 in unofficial totals. Hragyil had posted 980 votes. Former commissioner Mack Daugherty beat James “Trey” Taylor in District 2. The unofficial vote total was 966 for Daugherty to 770 for Taylor. Daugherty was relieved and grateful following Tuesday’s election. “I am very humbled and appreciative to the voters of District Two. I can assure them without any reservation that I won’t let them down,” he said. “I See ELECTION • Page 5
Today’s
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Law enforcement officials say prison reform slights victims By MITCH SNEED Editor
Corey Arwood / The Observer
Elmore County Probate Court Judge John Enslen relays vote totals Tuesday at the Wetumpka Civic Center.
Eclectic, county sees very large voter turnout By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Elmore County Probate Judge Chief Elections Officer John Enslen said the 2016 Super Tuesday primary elections for the county produced the largest turnout of voters in recent election history, topping both 2014 and 2012 in voter turnout. When the final results were in late Tuesday night, overall turnout for Elmore County was roughly 45 percent with more than 20,000 registered votes. The numbers for Eclectic nearly mirrored the county averages and saw a slightly higher turnout of about 47 percent of the nearly 1,165 registered voters who cast 547 ballots at Eclectic Methodist Church, the town’s single polling place. “We had an outstanding turnout, the largest turnout in the memory of most voters,” Enslen said.
He explained his thoughts for the increase in numbers. “I think they’re two things that brought out the voters,” Enslen said. “One is a very strong voting support for Donald Trump, second thing were some hotly contested local races particularly commission races and the board of education.” Enslen said he had no position on the importance of any particular local race, and he laughed and said he did not have any comment on the presidential race. However, when the votes came in for the different precincts Enslen had a few clear questionable facial expressions at announcing the numbers of select presidential candidates up for election. Overall Elmore county voters voted 80.10 percent at 3,019 votes for former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and See TURNOUT • Page 11
Winston’s Law raises the punishment in child abuse cases By MITCH SNEED Editor
Those convicted of aggravated child abuse now face the possibility of life in prison after Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed Winston’s Law on Tuesday. The bill was introduced following the indictment of Wetumpka’s Hallee McLeod, a mother who is accused of severely abusing her 4-year-old son. The bill was championed by 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Randall Houston who asked the Alabama Legislature to increase the possible maximum penalty for aggraContributed / The Observer vated child abuse for a child Gov. Robert Bentley hands Alabama Children First’s Christy Cain a pen from TuesSee WINSTON • Page 5 day’s signing of Winston’s Law in Montgomery. Winston, for whom the bill is named smiles big as Disrtict Attorney Randall Houston looks on.
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Prison reform has been an issue in Alabama for decades, with the population in some facilities at more than 200 percent. While the Alabama Legislature introduced a plan that will address many of the issues, many local officials said the plan may help overcrowding at the expense of public safety. In talking with the men elected by the citizens of Elmore and Tallapoosa counties, they see more problems than fixes with the new plan – especially for the victims. “I think it’s the victims who are being forgotten in all this,” Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said. “Being a victim of a crime is a traumatic experience. Then once a suspect is caught, the legal process is long and that’s frustrating. Then throw into the process that even if they are convicted they may not get any jail time – that even makes it worse. I think it’s the victims who are being slighted in this change and I think that needs to be addressed.” Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said that in effort to ease jail overcrowding, the criminals are getting off See REFORM • Page 3
EMS annual giveaway, auction set for March 12 By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Eclectic Middle School’s PTSO Steak Dinner $10,000 Giveaway and Silent Auction is set for Saturday, March 12 inside the Middle school gym with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and dinner beginning at 6p.m. This is the middle school’s largest and most profitable fundraiser of the year. This fundraiser is important to the school system because it offers additional funding that otherwise would not available. “The state provides some funding, See EMS • Page 3