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THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • MAY 18, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 118, NO.17
Council meeting features contentious discussions By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
There was heated debate of topics both on and off the agenda at Monday’s city council meeting, as several items sparked disagreement between council members, and residents spoke out on issues they saw
regarding their district. Rifts between council members were evident on an issue regarding a one-year professional service agreement, at $32,000 for a Recreation and Leisure Services administrator, currently occupied by Coach Ron Dickerson.
However, overwhelming agreement seemed to be found among the council for upgrades to the radio systems of both the police and fire departments totaling roughly $30,000. Corey Arwood / The Herald Straight away, an issue was taken Yancey Mitchell, a District 2, Wall Street resident, spoke to the council See COUNCIL • Page 2 regarding properties in his community that he said needed demolishing, and what he described to be a defunct abatement board.
Investigators seek answers in Millbrook shooting
Human trafficking a major problem in Alabama By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
TaJuan McCarty of The WellHouse in Birmingham lived her own personal hell, and Monday night she gave the issue of human trafficking a face for the gathered assemblage at the Wetumpka Civic Center. McCarty, who said she used to describe herself as a “former prostitute, whore and a dope fiend,” gave the group a very blunt story regarding the reality of human trafficking in the United States. McCarty set the tone by outlining her life story,
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer William Carroll / The Herald Jay Collier of Collier Ford (left) and Wes Bonner of Riverside Chevrolet (right) provide brand new loaner cars to Holtville Elementary School teacher Jeannie Broom (center left) and Millbrook Middle School teacher Veronica Montgomery (center right). Broom was selected as Elmore County Elementary Teacher of the Year and Montgomery was chosen as Elmore County Secondary Teacher of the Year.
HEAD OF THE CLASS
Elmore County Board Local tech teacher awarded for recognizes teachers of the year electrical expertise
See TRAFFICKING • Page 5
William Carroll / The Herald
TaJuan McCarty speaks to a crowd Monday night about her experience as a victim of human trafficking.
By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Last Friday, 19 area teachers were recognized by their respective schools as teachers of the year. Two teachers, Holtville Elementary School teacher Jeannie Broom and Millbrook Middle See TEACHERS • Page 3
An electrical technology instructor with a diverse background as a political campaign photographer has received three separate awards this year alone from See TECH • Page 2
Group begins weekly water safety testing of Coosa River By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
A nonprofit river conservation group has begun it’s weekly water quality testing of the Coosa River, a free service it performs yearly for the swimmers, boaters and fishermen of the Coosa and any of it’s lakes.
New pharmacy offers innovative approach to healthcare
So far the Coosa Riverkeeper has released the results from two data sets worth of water quality tests, both showing the water at its Wetumpka testing locations to be safe for swimming and general recreational use. Corey Arwood / The Herald Frank Chitwood, a staff “river- An intern collects water samples to test for keeper,” with the organization, said Coosa Riverkeeper, which later publishes See RIVER • Page 3 the test results free online every week.
By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
If you are not familiar with the concept of compounding medications you may want to brush up on the concept, as PharMix Rx, located near Must Stop Café at 66 Village Loop, is bringing the approach
to Elmore County. The store, which celebrated its official grand opening last week, is the newest addition to Wetumpka businesses. According to PharMix owner and pharmacist Holli Anthony, compounding is See PHARMACY • Page 3
Today’s
CONTACT US 334-567-7811 • Fax: 334-567-3284
A weekend shooting in Millbrook has left one man in critical condition and on a ventilator at a Montgomery hospital as Elmore County Sheriff’s investigators wait for him to regain consciousness to clear up inconsistencies in the case. Millbrook Police and rescuers responded to the Millbrook Sonic for a middle aged black male with gunshot wounds. MPD Chief Patrick Johnson said the victim initially told them he was assaulted on the nearby Deatsville Highway, however he said after further investigation, it was found that the shooting occurred in the Breckenridge Subdivision. Sheriff Bill Franklin said they were on the scene around 11 p.m. Friday night. “The problem we have is this See SHOOTING • Page 3
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