SPORTS: Wetumpka Softball wins area title, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 19 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Wetumpka Depot Players going to nationals for a third time
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
It is the third time for the is beyond description. We Depot to be highlighted at consider this opportunity to the national festival. once again be ambassadors By Cliff Williams Depot Wilson was the headthebasket- for investigation handed it off The Wetumpka “For a community Wetumpkaand as we share Staff Writer ball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. Players production of “A ater troupe, one appearance the national spotlight with School and was He was also placed on adminisStorm Came Up” is one at nationals is something an elite group of only 11 A virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtrative leave at that time.” of 12 productions to be you talk about for the rest other companies.” County School’s Edge program ministrative Dennis said school officials performed at the nationof your life,” Wetumpka The production was perhas been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 follow the same procedure alwith American Association Depot Artist Director formed earlier this year in a school employee distrib- according to Elwhen administrators receive ofuting Community Theatre Kristy Meanor said. “To do Kentucky the American report of atallegations against obscene material to a stu- more County (AACT) Festival next it yet again, with a work school staff and employees. dent. Schools superSee NATIONALS, Page A6 month. very Richpersonal to me “Once we hand it over, we Elmore County Sheriff Bill that’s intendent 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.”
SUBMITTED | THE HERALD
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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.”
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members 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
BAXLEY AND SIDES OVERALL
SEWELL AWARD WINNERS A
senior from Wetumpka High School and from Elmore County High School were named the overall
winners of the 19th annual Joe Sewell Memorial Scholarship. Wetumpka’s Gavin Baxley and Elmore County’s Courtney Sides took the stage at the Wetumpka Civic Center with 25 other finalists from across
A decision can change your Police lifecontinue or end it
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
investigation, man no longer suspected
The unexpected death of Philip Lutzenkirchen almost nine years ago wasn’t the first time Abby Lutzenkirchen Forristall felt tested. Members Instead of shying away, Forristall used God of the and her big brother as motivation to encourage Wetumpka others to pause and make better choices. Chamber of Forristall, of the Lutzie 43 Foundation, Commerce was the speaker at the 19th annual Joe Sewell attend the Memorial Award Banquet and shared her jourchamber’s “A ney as a student, athlete “ and most importantly Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
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schools in Elmore County. Baxley and Sides, along with 13 other finalists, were ninth certificate winners of the award as freshmen. See SEWELL, Page A6
CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD
The 19th Annual Joe Sewell Memorial Awards recognized 27 students from schools across Elmore County. Philip Lutzenkirchen’s sister Abby Forristall was the speaker.
See LIFE, Page A6
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
See CHAMBER, Page A3
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Johntavius Osborne, left, and Tunisia perform Wilson wasThomas released on a “Aminutes Storm Came $6,000 bond in90 afUp.” The ter turning himself inproduction accordby theCounty Wetumpka ing to the Elmore Jail Depot Players will website. be performed at the Dennis said Wilson also national American coached other sports at HoltAssociation of ville schools Community including Theatre being the head trackFestival coach and next assismonth. tant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. Police were dispatched to the parking lot around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Once there, they found Centell Winston, 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound in the driver seat of his vehicle. 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.” CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD This is the first homicide in Philip Lutzenkirchen’s sister Abby ForristallWetumpka spoke at the in Joe overSewell threeMemorial years. The last homicide in 19th Annual Awards that recognized the city took place in 2018. 27 students from schools across Elmore County. Elmore “It’s not Sides a good to start out the new County’s Courtney andway Wetumpka’s Gavan Baxley year,” Benton. were named the said overall winners. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
Murals tell creation of Wetumpka Impact Crater See SHOOTING, Page A3
Commission’s (WICC) Marilee impact can be found up to 13 Tankersley said. “Students study miles away. The formation is also this in science, here they can put visible in the Coosa River from Colorful new murals in The their hands on the rocks and the the Bibb Graves Bridge where Alley give a quick history of murals will help.” rock layers point towards the rim Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The Wetumpka’s Crater. Tankersley said she hopes the of the crater to the east of downHigh School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent The Wetumpka Impact Crater 15 panels of murals and informatown Wetumpka. The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, Commission commissioned local tion help better tell the story of “The river likely flowed over Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic artist Hope Brannon to create the the crater’s creation. the crater years ago as the ocean (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase murals to depict how a meteor “I think it will help tell the receded,” Tankersley said. “It School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent created the impact crater 85 milstory of the creation of the craslowly eroded away and the river 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perlion years leadership ago. ter,” Tankersley “It hapcipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing style of listening, encent increasesaid. in ACT proficiency moved to where it ran around the these pictures willorganizing penedinabout thefive time of the crater.” The High School Principal of his school,” said, “We hope couraging, supporting, the last years. CLIFF WILLIAMSDennis | THE HERALD show chronologically how decline of dinosaurs and yes some The Alley attracts crowds with Year award presented to has installed As principal Holtville High and challenging thethe staff and stuThethe Wetumpka Impactwas Crater Commission a series ofofmurals hills and unusual terrain died See during the impact.” PRINCIPAL, Page A3 in The Alleyon to Friday, help explain how Wetumpka Impact Crater was created Futral Jan. 28the during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused thehapschool cultureprobably to FUTURAL See MURALS, Page A6 pened,” Wetumpka Impact Crater Some of the debris from the 85 million years ago. By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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