SPORTS: Check out our all-county soccer teams Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 22 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00 “If a person likes to go to Dollar Tree a lot, we want to know. A friend could pick them up not knowing there are issues and the person reported missing could ask to go to their favorite place. If the By Cliff Williams Franklin said investigators Wilson was the head basket- investigation and handed it off Wilson was released on a place is walking distance, that information Staff Writer ball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afgives us an idea where to look asSchool well.” and was STAFF REPORT He was also placed rectional Facility. iff’s Officestop thealleged early morning haveinthe vic- ter turning himself in WASHINGTON accordon adminisDANIEL
2 arrested for bringing Holtville High School basketball coach arrested contraband to state prison
A—virtual at Elmore tim’s phone. Authorities collectplaced on ad- TPI STAFF trative leave at that time.” to an Alabama According hours of Saturday, May ing to the Elmore County Jail Elmore teacher County Sheriff Bill Franklin County School’s Edge program ministrative ed Wilson’s as well.driven by website. Dennis saidDepartment school officials of Corrections 20.phone The vehicle in Elmore County. has been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 “You could see a conversaDennisADOC said Law Wilson also the same procedure Two Tuskegeefollow residents (ADOC) release, Jadarius Washington in which Daniel Enforcement a tion between with school employee distrib- according to El- were arrested Saturday two,” Frankcoached other Division sports at(LESD), Holtwhen administrators receive after Daniel, 28, and Kathryn wasthe a passenger was reportServices report against 27, uting obscene material to a stu- more County a trespassing vehicle linwere said. “Mr. is going wasof allegations Kelli Washington, ed onWilson property at Elmoreville schools including being schoolCorstaff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the (ECF) Schools super- reported at the Elmore the head track coach and assisSee PRISON, Page A9 detained during a traffic Correctional Facility “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 recooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminturned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
Quick reaction often leads to finding missing persons
COLOR welcomingALWAYS members HELPS
Chamber holds luncheon
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said the general public has no clue how many times his department responds to missing persons calls — especially those with dementia or other mental debilitating issues. By said Cliff the Williams Franklin calls come in about once Staffbut Writer per quarter rarely get to the stage of needing to issue a missing and endangered alert. of Commerce held its “One ofThe the Wetumpka best things Chamber we have going is a luncheonsaid. to install officers and board tracking annual dog,” Franklin “Theynew call and first time in by a while say, ‘Heymembers grandmafor or the momma is out the Thursday. The COVID-19 pandemic hamper on gathlake, in a wooded area or walked off put andawe but the chamber the successes of can’t finderings her.’ We bring our dogcelebrated out there and businessfind in Wetumpka. it will generally them. The tracking dog “We is very good at haven’t that.” been able to do this for the last couple said years,” McConnell Franklin hischairperson departmentClay doesn’t neces- said. “Your attendance is an indication want to get back sarily report a missing person in thepeople first hour together and have these opportunities to see each or so. It gives investigators time to collect information and allow the trackingSee dogCHAMBER, to do Page A3 its work. “Based on the incident, where it is at and what is going on, we try to remedy that situation by getting our guy out there that is trained with that particular K9,” Franklin said. In any case the department works, “information is gold.” Caretakers of those with mental ailments should make note of habits and visitors. “As quick as we can get the information, that is what we want to do,” Franklin said. “Those first few hours are huge.” Franklin said no detail is too small. Something simple and seemingly meaningless could be the information that leads to the missing person. “If a person likes to go to Dollar Tree a lot, we want to know,” Franklin said. “A friend could pick them up not knowing there See MISSING, Page A10
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
S
carecrows, sleighs and now kayaks have been used to catch eyes in downtown Wetumpka. It is all for a good reason — to entice people to stop and
Members of the Wetumpka walk downtown Wetumpka Chamber of with its shops and restaurants. Main Street Commerce Wetumpka exectheGreene utive directorattend Haley chamber’s had an idea to expand“Aon of Our the themes ofTaste landscaping in downtown. Home Town” “I had an luncheon. idea to utilize the CLIFF WILLIAMS/ [Coosa] river,” Greene said. THE HERALD
CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD
Police Landscaping helps continue attract investigation, visitors downtown man no longer suspected
“We need to bring awareness to how awesome this beautiful river is that flows through our downtown.” Greene pulled in the City of Wetumpka Public Works which By Jake Department, Arthur
Chief Videographer See COLOR, Page A9 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.” This is the first homicide in Wetumpka in over three years. The last homicide in the city took place in 2018. “It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
The City of Wetumpka Public Works Department partners with Main Street Wetumpka and SeeCompany SHOOTING, Page A3 Coosa River Adventures to create a river themed landscaping project in the roundabout on Street. The project is just one of many landscape projects the city maintains in downtown Wetumpka.
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
The Kelly to reopen in late June in new location Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The High School. Elmore County and Su- more school with low moBy CLIFF WILLIAMS is moving to a larger location thanstruggling three times TheEditor Alabama Association ofoverlooking perintendent RichardRiver Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance News the Coosa the wall space for hanging Secondary School Principalsand in attendance for the presentation. a school that strives for excelplanning a grand opening art. Buttothe most impressive (AASSP) Holtville Highfor June “Kyle collaborating If anyonenamed sees artwork 29. Futral is an exceptionfeaturelence. of theBynew location with staff, School principal KyleKelly Futral the “We al principal is very school’s issues were being taken from The can’t waitand to get in proacon Hillmany Streetofisthe when a guest Alabama Highdon’t School Prin-here,” tiveKelly and innovative in his thinkand addressed. Futral’s on2022 Company Street, board member walks identified in the door and sees cipal the Year. is not in ing Turner and approaches managing leadership styleBibb of listening, enfear —ofa burglary Wayne said. “Wetohave the Coosa River and The High School Principal ofso much his school,” Dennis said, process. more space.” Gravescouraging, Bridge. supporting, organizing the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuThe Kelly Fitzgerald The Kelly will have almost Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school See KELLY, Page A9culture to Memorial Center for the Arts 2 ½ times the floor space
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
87 65 66 55 High High
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
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school experienced a 62 percent decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism, 7 percent increase in the graduation rate, 33 percent increase in CCR rate and a 20 percent increase in ACT proficiency in the last five years. See PRINCIPAL, Page A3
CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERLAD
The view from the main gallery space of the new Kelly Fitzgerald Memorial Center for the Arts. The building has been under renovations for the last few months and The Kelly is in the process of FUTURAL moving in.
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OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
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