Elmore County searches for offense.
“Gov. Bently has paid his due penance in alleged affair.”
Find upcoming events on this week’s calendar.
Eclectic Observer Page 4
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The
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THURSDAY • APRIL 7, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 27, No. 11
Elmore County builds to receive energy efficient overhaul By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Elmore County is expected to have its yearly energy expenditures cut nearly in half after entering into an agreement with an energy savings company to develop a plan to reduce utilities costs by updating existing county buildings. At a recent County Commission meeting Richie Beyer, county engineer, said bond details were currently being worked out to secure the funding for a
20-year contract with Schneider Electric. The southeast sales team leader with the company, Todd Smith, said Elmore County facilities would be brought up to 2016 standards, and save $4.4 million throughout the duration of the partnership. “We were able to reduce the energy and water consumption of the county by 38 percent which is huge,” said Smith. He said Schneider had worked on 40 or so projects throughout the state with
various counties and the Elmore County estimates were on the higher end. “They’ve analyzed current buildings and said if you put these improvements in place you will realize this much savings to your current budget,” said Beyer. He said county costs for electricity, natural gas, water and sewer usage were $400,000 and the money saved was going to be used to finance the physical upgrades to the buildings such as the heating and cooling as well as water
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Today’s
Weather
Dr. Harrison received the Outstanding Educational Administrator Award STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Carmen Rodgers / The Observer
In Eclectic Middle School’s annual catapult launch competition, Buckie Lanier and Wyatt Adams took the win for distance with their very large catapult, which launched its projectile 473 feet, and Austin Rewis won the accuracy portion of the competition.”
Eclectic Middle goes medieval
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
The parking lot at Eclectic Middle School looked more like an ancient medieval battlefield as Mr. Joe Creamer, history teacher, and Mrs. Sherry Taylor, math and science teacher, held the annual catapult competition Friday, April 1. The winners for distance was Buckie Lanier and Wyatt Adams and Austin Rewis won the accuracy portion of the competition. This competition is something Mr. Creamer brought with him from his teaching days in Wetumpka, where this competition was also fierce.
“I’ve been doing this for at least seven or eight years,” he said. Lanier and Adams’ catapult was large with a distinct unkindness to it. However, this “monstrosity” catapult sent its projectile nearly 500 feet. “Theirs went 473,” he said. They did a real good job.” Lanier and Adams were extremely close to beating the previous record held by Cody and Ty Dennis who are now sophomores at Elmore County High School. See CATAPULT • Page 3
Elmore County Superintendent of Education Dr. Andre’ Harrison received the Auburn University College of Education Outstanding Educational Administrator Award. According to the University, this award was established to recognize Auburn University graduates who have made great contributions in administrative or supervisory roles. “I am very grateful to the Lord for allowing me to serve the students of Elmore County for 23 years as an educator in various capacities, and I am thankful to Auburn University College of Education for recognizing my service as an educator,” Harrison See HARRISON • Page 3
Local humane society always in need of volunteers By LIZ ELY TPI Staff
74 50 High
See ENERGY • Page 3
Harrison honored by Auburn University
Choice Bus visits area schools Friday was not the typical April 1 at Eclectic Middle School. In fact, it was more of a reality check for students. The Choice Bus was on campus giving students a first-hand look at how their choices have consequences. The Choice Bus is equipped with a life-sized jail cell complete with metal bunk beds, commode and sink. The bus is also equipped with audio and video capability to broadcast a video of testimony given by true inmates. The Choice Bus travels from Texas to New York in an effort to better the choices of students and, in turn, raise the graduation rate in the country. The Choice Bus visited three schools in Alabama with two of those three in Elmore County. On Tuesday, March 29, the Choice Bus visited students at Lanier High School in Montgomery and from there the bus headed north and visited Holtville Middle School March 30. and the final stop was at Eclectic Middle School, where students entered the bus one class at a time in intervals of 25-30 minutes. This Choice Bus is an educational tool used by the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation. “The foundation was created to help educators, community See CHOICE • Page 3
systems. Smith said they began working with the county about six months ago, and work would begin soon on the roughly ninemonth long project. He said they looked at the courthouse first and found outdated air conditioning and heating systems. “What we’re doing at the historic courthouse is pretty amazing,” Smith said.
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Liz Ely / The Observer
Volunteeres like Executive Director Rea Cord, are essential to running the Elmore County Humane Society and citizens are always encouraged to volunteer.
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The Humane Society of Elmore County has been in operation since 1984, and Executive Director Rea Cord has been a part of its team for 12 years. The shelter operates as a non-profit, helping to feed and bathe pets and find them new homes. Its neighbor, the Tail Ends Thrift Store, is run solely by volunteers whose efforts help to give back to the shelter, something that Cord notes is invaluable. “The thrift store is extremely important. The money earned there comes back to the shelter to help pay the shelter’s bills, and it’s run 100 percent by volunteers. They assist with many things, and there are dozens of ways people can volunteer,” Cord said. Of the various ways in which volunteers give back, Cord notes that aside from the thrift store, volunteers can help the animals exercise, foster pets or help with fundraising. The efforts of the volunteers do not go unnoticed by Cord and she is grateful for the
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continued help. “We have many, many volunteers that are invaluable. There are a lot of volunteers that do a tremendous amount, and we are indebted to them. We love them all. They help us go beyond the bare minimum and they don’t get paid a dime. Our board members are all volunteers as well and they handle a lot,” Cord said. While Cord acknowledges the shelter’s success would not be possible without the volunteers’ efforts, she notes that both the shelter and the Tail Ends Thrift Store doe need extra helping hands from time to time. “Our thrift store could use volunteers, and we welcome more. In general with volunteering, we like to see what people want to do. Having volunteers is vital to be able to take in more dogs and puppies. One staff person can only handle so much,” Cord said. For Cord, an obvious animal lover, being a vital agency for Elmore County is a driving factor in her team’s commitment to being the best they can be. She is grateful to the See VOLUNTEERS • Page 3