Area Calendar Inside!
Pet of the Week in Elmore County
Malzahn, Auburn Ambush coming to Willow Point
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WEDNESDAY • MAY 31, 2017
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 28, No. 22
U.S. News ranks ECHS among its ‘Best High Schools’ By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
Eclectic’s Elmore County High School was recently ranked the 39th best high school in Alabama by a U.S. News & World Report study of the nation’s high schools and was named a nationally recognized school, earning a bronze medal, by the magazine, making it the highest ranked high school in Elmore County and the only one to earn a bronze medal or above. “This is truly an honor for us,” said Elmore County High School Principal Wes Rogers. “I think this is the third
consecutive year that we’ve been ranked a bronze-medal school and it speaks volumes to the support of our community, the efforts of our faculty and staff and the work of our kids. It is truly a team effort.” High school graduation rates were one part of the U.S. News Best High Schools methodology. With the help of North Carolina-based research firm RTI International, U.S. News used a fourstep process to calculate the rankings. First, U.S. News looked at student performance on state-required tests during the 2014-2015 school year. Schools had to perform better than sta-
tistically expected on these tests in their state, given their student poverty levels, to make it to the next step. Then, schools were evaluated on whether their least-advantaged students – those of black, Hispanic and low-income backgrounds – performed at or better than the state average. The third step required schools that passed the first two steps to have a graduation rate of at least 75 percent. Those that did made it to the final phase – which determined if their national ranking was a gold, silver or bronze medal. In this fourth step, U.S. News looked at how well schools prepared students
Daugherty remembers Army friend’s songs at Memorial Day ceremony
for college based on participation in and performance on Advanced Placement exams. Among non-magnet county schools in the state, ECHS ranked 14th. In 2017, Elmore County graduated a senior class of 106 students that pulled in from colleges and universities, charities and branches of the military more than $2 million in scholarship money. Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School in Montgomery and Homewood High School in Homewood were Alabama’s only two gold-medal schools. Twenty-nine schools in the state earned silver medals.
County School Board audit cites collections at Stanhope By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
David Granger / The Tribune
A National Guardsman stands at attention with the U.S. flag as Elmore County Commissioner Mack Daugherty addresses the crowd at Eclectic Memorial Day ceremony. By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
A crowd of just more than 50 people gathered Monday in The Warehouse in Eclectic to remember fallen American soldiers in the annual show of appreciation in the Elmore County town. The event was scheduled to take
place at the town’s Veterans Wall, as always, but was moved indoors to The Warehouse after showers blew through and additional bad weather looked to be possible. Elmore Couny Commissioner Mack Daugherty, a resident of Eclectic and a veteran of the U.S. Army, was the keynote speaker at the event.
Daugherty talked about the cost of war – he said more than a half million young Americans had died on battlefields since World War I – but also about the freedoms those lives taken so early sustained for us and how we should be more appreciative as a nation. See ARMY • Page 2
The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts recently released its audit report on the Elmore County Board of Education and among its findings was a reported noncompliance resulting from instances of funds collected by teachers and held for up to a month before being turned over to a bookkeeper. Elmore County Schools Superintendent Richard Dennis had spoke at length on the issue in a previous BOE meeting and at the latest meeting examiner Dixie Broadwater announced her offices findings. “We also noted no matters to indicate that the board has not complied with in material respects to applicable laws and regulations,” said Broadwater. “In addition we issued an unmodified opinion on the board’s major federal financial assistance program for fiscal year 2016. We tested the Child Nutrition Program and there were no problems noted with this program.” “We did however note the following finding … concerning 2016-001. It relates to inadequate internal controls over funds collected by teachers at Stanhope Elmore High School.” She said the report could be found online at www.examiners.alabama.gov. Dennis said the schools’ Chief Financial Officer Michael Mann had drafted a new financial policy handbook See AUDIT • Page 2
Tallapoosa landfill facing law suits Filings in Macon County say landfill runoff caused men’s cancer By CARMEN RODGERS and MITCH SNEED Staff Writers
Three Macon men have filed lawsuits that claim they suffer from colon cancer that was caused by drinking water tainted by dangerous chemicals that came from the Stone’s Throw Landfill in Tallassee, which is located in Tallapoosa County. Jerry Tarver, Andrew Chambliss and Andrew Tarver are the plaintiffs in the lawsuits, which were filed in Macon County Circuit Court by a team of attorneys. The suits seek a jury trial and damages from Advanced Disposal, which owns the landfill,
four other subsidiaries associated with Advanced Disposal and the Utilities Board of Tuskegee, as well as the Macon County Water Authority. The lawsuit claims the utilities are not sufficiently treating water collected from the Tallapoosa River downstream of the landfill. The lawsuits include language that alleges the liquid waste that seeps from the landfill, called leachate, enters Chewacla Creek from discharges at the landfill. From there the water flows into the Tallapoosa River after going through a treatment process at the Tallassee Sewer and Stabilization Pond for treatment. It is treated with chlorine and the suits claim
that process creates an advanced level of cancer-causing chemicals including haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (TTHM). “To treat this, you would have to have a high-dollar reverse osmosis system or something compatible,” said Jay Freeman, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. He said those steps were not being taken for many years. The suits cite information from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which lists HAAs and TTHM among agents that may cause cancer in humans. The plaintiffs’ lawsuits cite See LAWSUIT • Page 2
Submitted / The Tribune
A recent lawsuit filed in Macon County alleges leachate from Stone’s Throw Landfill is not properly treated before it is released into the Tallapoosa River where two miles downstream the Tuskegee Utility Board’s water intake is located.
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PAGE 2 • MAY 31, 2017
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THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
Audit
continued from page 1
that spelled out the rules school officials and parents with school organizaations needed to follow in regards of fundraising. Mann said the book would spare the schools auditing woes in the future and Dennis said consequences for those who did not follow its guidelines would be made clear. He said to watch for information about these cases. Details from the report stated the issue with Stanhope Elmore High School to be
a “significant deficiency.” Regardless of this issue the report, signed by Chief Examiner Ronald L. Jones, states within the confines of their examinations no “material weaknesses” were found among schools. The examiners’ report its states: “The Board’s Local School Accounting and Reporting Policy requires all money collected by teachers to be remitted to the bookkeeper on a daily basis. During the testing of receipts at StanhopeElmore High School, there were numer-
ous instances of money collected by teachers which was not remitted to the bookkeeper on a daily basis. In some instances, teachers held money for up to thirty-two days before remitting it to the bookkeeper.” Its recommendation for the board was simply to somehow ensure teachers who collect the funds give them to a bookkeeper daily. A response, signed by Jason Mann, to Jones was included in the audit, it stated: “All bookkeepers and Local
School administrators have been made aware ofthe policy in the ECBOE policy manual on daily receipts. They have all been given specific directions on how to avoid this in the future. The CSFO is also in the process of updating and completing a new county-wide accounting procedures manual to be made available to all ECBOE employees. The estimated completion date on the manual updates is summer 2017.”
Lawsuit
continued from page 1
records from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) showing discharges of HAAs and TTHM that exceed acceptable levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The suit says: “Advanced Disposal Defendants knew or should have known the danger to Plaintiff created by the multiple unlawful discharges into the Tallapoosa River through the Tallassee Sewer and Stabilization Pond, just two to three miles from the intake for the Tuskegee Utilities Board, as well as the multiple unlawful discharged into Chewacla Creek and its tributaries.” They also cite an October 2016 action from ADEM listing 40 violations related
to discharges from the Tallassee pond, including pH (acidic water), total suspended solids and other substances they say are consistent with untreated or partially treated leachate discharge. There are measures in place that are meant to prevent water pollution, as alleged to have taken place in the instance at issue. ADEM administers the EPA’s Clean Water Act through the state by issuing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or storm water discharge permits. “Permits to entities like the City of Tallassee’s Sewer and Stabilization Pond, as well as the Stone’s Throw Landfill, these parameters have been
violated multiple times over a period of many years,” Freeman said. Freeman said while there are currently three lawsuits filed in this matter, he said that could be the tip of the iceberg. “This is certainly cause for alarm,” Freeman said. “ It’s a situation that could potentially impact thousands of people.” Attempts to reach attorneys for the defendants were unsuccessful Thursday afternoon. A search of court records does not include any dates set associated with the suits or any information on which judge may be assigned to the case. The suits conclude asking the court to “enter an award of damages com-
mensurate to the level of injuries caused by the defendants in this case, in an amount to be determined by a jury, and to enter an injunction precluding the defendants from further destruction of the Tallapoosa River and the Plaintiff’s water supply.” Since taking office, Tallassee Mayor Johnny Hammock has put procedures in place that will hold those who dispose of waste at the city’s sewer lagoon accountable for what is brought into the facility. A camera system will soon be installed that will track every vehicle that comes into and goes out of the facility. The city of Tallassee is not named as a defendant in the suits.
Army
continued from page 1
“Every veterans park in this nation should be overflowing today,” Daugherty said. “But, sadly, I’m afraid that Memorial Day to so many in this nation has become just another long holiday weekend of partying and having fun without much consideration or thought or concern about the price that was paid by so many so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we have today. “I want to honor the families of those sol-
diers, because every one of them was a son, lot of fathers, brothers and sisters that were looking forward to coming home. They didn’t get to come home. They didn’t get to raise their children and grandchildren as we’ve been blessed to do. They didn’t get to walk that daughter down the aisle at that wedding. All those special occasions. So with all those soldiers, the families suffered immensely, as well, and continue to do so.”
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Daugherty talked about the young soldiers who walked icy ground in Europe in World War I, stormed the beaches of Normandy, jumped from Huey helicopters in the jungles of Vietnam and fought in “the 120-degreeplus weather, riding in that vehicle that would never make its destination because of a roadside bomb.” Most poignantly, he talked about his own experience in the Army and how a voice singing a familiar song in a communion shower brought some sense of normalcy to what, for him, were “anxious” times. Daugherty said 47 years ago he boarded a Trailways bus in Alexander City for Fort Campbell, Kentucky. When he and his class of recruits got there Daugherty said, “everybody was kind of anxious.
And one night I was in the shower, and all of you military guys know the shower’s as long as the building or longer. It just went on forever. So there were maybe 30, 40, 50 guys in the shower at one time and, all of a sudden, way down the row, I heard someone singing, “Gonna lay down my worries … down by the riverside.” Then a little further down, there was a second guy that joined in singing that second part. Well, the minute I head that singing the music sounded like home to me. So I felt it was necessary to sing that third part and we got a trio going at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in the shower 47 years ago. “And that first guy that started singing that song was named Elijah Jones, he was from a little town in the Delta of Mississippi. He became a great friend in the next few months
we were together. We’d spend almost every night after chow time gathered around one of our beds singing those old gospel songs that we grew up singing, those hymns of faith that most all of us knew. And as we did, that crowd around us got larger and larger. And finally, I think, the whole half of the company was in our barracks, coming over from the other barracks at night to sing and join in. Daugherty continued, “I say that to say that there’s a camaraderie, there’s a bond, there’s a friendship that all of you military men know that you really can’t explain. A few months later, we got our orders, we prepared to go our different ways and as we did so, we said our goodbyes. A few months later, I got the news that Elijah had been killed in combat. So every Memorial Day
without exception I reminisce to those days in Fort Campbell, Kentucky when that song by that one young soldier from Mississippi made it so much better for a lot of young boys that were homesick and created a bond among us. So, today I honor and I think about all the soldiers who have made such a sacrifice, but I especially think about Elijah.” In addition to Daugherty’s remarks, attendees were invited to honor their veterans by placing flowers at the foot of the stage in their honor. “Taps” was played to adjourn the ceremony. Eclectic the Beautiful has sponsored the annual Eclectic Memorial Day remembrance ceremony for 19 years, beginning in 1998.
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Honoring our heroes on Memorial Day By KYLEE’ D. MCKINNEY Alabama Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
On Memorial Day, we honor the soldiers and service members who have given their lives for our nation. Social Security respects the heroism and courage of our military service members, and we remember those who have given their lives in defense of freedom. Part of how we honor service members is the way we provide Social Security benefits. The unexpected loss of a family member is a difficult experience for anyone. Social Security helps by providing benefits to protect service members’ dependents. Widows, widowers, and their dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits. You can learn more about Social Security survivors benefits at www. socialsecurity.gov/survivors. It’s also important to recognize those service members who are still with us, especially those who have been wounded. Just as they served us, we have the obligation to serve them. Social Security has benefits to assist veterans when an injury prevents them from returning to active duty. Wounded military service members can also receive expedited processing of their Social Security disability claims. For example, Social Security will provide expedited processing of disability claims filed by veterans who
have a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Compensation rating of 100 percent Permanent & Total (P&T). Depending on the situation, some family members of military personnel, including dependent children and, in some cases, spouses, may be eligible to receive benefits. You can get answers to commonly asked questions and find useful information about the application process at www.socialsecurity.gov/ woundedwarriors. Service members can also receive Social Security in addition to military retirement benefits. The good news is that your military retirement benefit does not reduce your Social Security retirement benefit. Learn more about Social Security retirement benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/retirement. You may also want to visit the Military Service page of our Retirement Planner, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/ planners/retire/veterans.html. Service members are also eligible for Medicare at age 65. If you have health insurance from the VA or under the Tricare or Champva programs, your health benefits may change, or end, when you become eligible for Medicare. Learn more about Medicare benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicare. In acknowledgment of those who died for our country, those who served, and those who serve today, we at Social Security honor and thank you.
MAY 31, 2017 • PAGE 3
Pet of the Week — B.B.
B.B. is a two-year old American Bulldog/Lab mix-looking girl, about 50 pounds. She is an active, energetic girl, but very sweet - good with dogs, cats, children and even horses. She seems much more comfortable with women and children and can be a bit skittish with men until she feels comfortable. Our adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under one year old. Cats over one year old can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee completely covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, de-worming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination (if old enough), and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian. To meet all the great pets at our shelter come to 255 Central Plank Road, in Wetumpka. For more information, go to our website at www.elmorehumane.org, email us at hselco@bellsouth.net or give us a call at 334-567-3377. We are open for adoptions Monday–Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m-3 p.m.
Alabama sees cheapest gas prices on Memorial Day since 2005 STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Average retail gasoline prices in the Montgomery area, including Elmore County, have fallen 1.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.09 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 205 gas outlets in Montgomery. The price is the cheapest in Alabama on a Memorial Day since 2005, according to Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com. This compares with the national average that has fallen 0.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.36 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy. com. Including the change in gas prices in Montgomery during the past week, prices yesterday were 4.5 cents
per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 5.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 1.9 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 3.5 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago. According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on May 30 in Montgomery have ranged widely over the last five years from a low of $2.13 per gallon in 2016 to a high of $3.46 per gallon in 2014. Areas near Montgomery and their current gas price climate include Pensacola, at an average price of $2.33 per gallon, up 1.1 cents from last week’s $2.32/g, and Birmingham, at an average of $2.06 per gallon, down 1.1 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.07. Statewide in Alabama, the average price on Monday was $2.09, up slightly from last week’s $2.08.
“With the summer driving season officially started, gasoline prices stand just a few cents higher than where they started last summer, an impressive feat,” said DeHaan. “Surprisingly, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Maine, Missouri and Iowa just witnessed the cheapest Memorial Day at the pump since 2005, a major feat. With the national average now seeing minor decline and roughly at the same point it was a week ago, summer gas prices are shaping up to be quite a bit lower than previous expectations and similar to what we saw last summer. This sets up a great summer season to hit the road, pointing to rising U.S. oil production in the midst of oil production cuts from OPEC for the stable prices.”
“YOUR LOCAL GAS GO.” Submitted / The Herald
For the sixth straight year, the Elmore County Farmer’s Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee won the award for the most pop tops collected, gathering 474 pounds. Shown here with the pop tops are David Heflin of the Elmore County Farmer’s Federation and Betty Barrett of the Women’s Leadership Committee.
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PAGE 4 • MAY 31, 2017
OPINION
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Potential Russian dealings should scare bejeezus out of us
Y
a’ll have to believe me. It’s not that I want to continue to drag up what I feel are the missteps of the Trump administration, but it’s just that it seems there are so many. At it seems that so many of them are about one thing that should really scare the bejeezus out of us all – improper contacts between those close to the president and Russia. Remember Russia? The Evil Empire. Some of you are old enough to remember those old films featuring a cartoon turtle that were shown to every schoolkid in the country teaching them to “duck and cover,” in as turtle-like a manner as possible, to protect ourselves from nuclear attack. From who? From Russia, that’s who. This is the same country whose leader allegedly banged his shoe at the United Nations in anger at our country and said, “I will bury you.” This event, which took place in 1960 – the year of my birth – touched off the Cold War, which would last until the wall separating Berlin came down in 1991. There are great differences between the United States and Russia, but, largely, they can be summed up with a comparison of our freedoms, including the freedoms of religion and the press. They can be summed up by our comparative respect for human life and human rights. Russia has a hunger for power that one can imagine it would use in destructive ways. Our power and fortune has historically been used in a battle against human rights abuse. It is those glaring differences
DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
between the U.S. and Russia and Russia’s willingness to use military might to knock down those in its region who dare oppose Putin that make me wonder why there aren’t millions of Americans crying out for the Trump administration to rid itself of those among the campaign and currently in the White House who have seen reason to deal with Russia without reporting those dealings through proper channels. It’s a strong word, but I’d venture to say that Vladimir Putin hates America. We curtailed the strength of his Motherland. He would like nothing more than to return the favor to us – or worse. He would like to, as Kruschev, allegedly said, “bury” us. I don’t know what or if anything has happened between Trump, his campaign machinery or his administration. I do know that there is one hell of a lot of smoke. I would venture to guess that something is burning somewhere in Trumpland. I want to find out what that something is. And I simply do not understand those that are willing to forgive this man – a womanizer, a conspiracy theorist, a political neophyte, a man who uses his bully pulpit to disparage all press except those who agree with him – for something about which we would be up in arms were he any other president.
And we’re simply talking about the evidence here. God only knows what actually has happened between Trump and/or his forces and the Russians. Now we have Jared Kushner, Trump’s boy wonder, who also happens to be his son-in-law, entangled in the web. Kushner, from the get-go, has had no business in any position of authoritative advisor. Nor should Ivanka – and she’s a smart girl, perhaps smarter than her husband. Some things simply aren’t to be done, especially when the safety and reputation of our country are at stake. Here’s a question: When a foreign leader looks at Trump and realizes that he has all of the expertise in this country to choose from to advise him on any matter and sees, at his elbow, that his chief advisor is his 36-year-old son-inlaw, what do you suppose that leader thinks? I’ll tell you what I’d think: Either he’s not very smart, he’s looking out for the long-term interest of his family at the risk of our country or both. That’s what I’d think. I’d love to hear if you’d think differently. Editor’s note: Two weeks ago I mistakenly identified Andrew McCabe as assistant attorney general. He is not. McCabe is acting director of the FBI. I was referring to Rod Rosenstein, deputy attorney general. I regret the error. David Granger is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Elmore County newspapers. He can be reached at david.granger@ thewetumpkaherald.com
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THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER (005-022) is published weekly on Thursday by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Periodical postage paid at Wetumpka, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Eclectic Observer, P.O. Box 99, Wetumpka, AL 36092-0099. ISSN # 1536688X. We reserve the right to refuse to print any advertisement, news story, photograph or any other material submitted to us for any reason or no reason at all. •Obituaries - $.25 per word per paper. Additional $15 charge for a photo per paper. (Herald, Weekend, Observer, Tribune). •Weddings/Engagements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a 2-column photo. •Birth Announcements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a photo. SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Year in Elmore, Tallapoosa or Coosa County: $25 One Year Elsewhere: $38 The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription at any time. To subscribe or if you miss your paper, call 256-234-4281. © 2016 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher. ADMINISTRATION Steve Baker, publisher publisher@thewetumpkaherald.com David Granger, managing editor david.granger@thewetumpkaherald.com NEWS Corey Arwood, staff writer corey.arwood@thewetumpkaherald.com Carmen Rodgers, staff writer carmen.rodgers@thewetumpkaherald.com Cory Diaz, sports editor Cory.Diaz@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . Ext. 306
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A ride that became a night of enlightenment
Y
ears ago, I was riding down the road with my friend Adrian. He was driving; I was in the passenger seat. When we stopped at a traffic light, I heard one of the funniest questions ever asked. “Do you think they drove all the way up here from Ecuador?” the male voice asked. “Do what?” I asked. “That car in front of us. The tag says they’re from Ecuador,” he said. I leaned forward and looked real hard. “Dude, that says educator,” I said, as I burst into laughter. “I’m going to use that in my show. That’s hilarious.” And I did and continue to do so. It’s always a guaranteed laugh. He’s always claimed that he didn’t say that. I was certain he did. He was sitting right next to me. Now, there’s more to the story. Last weekend, I gave a short talk, little show kind of thing to a select group of Opelika High School seniors and their families out at Spring Villa. I hadn’t been out there at night in 30 years. There was no sign of Penn Yonge or any ghosts, although I wasn’t exactly looking for them either. My friend Jeff, who is the groundskeeper out there, did show me a photo of an alleged ghost, so that had me kind of spooked, but that paled like Casper the Friendly Ghost in comparison to my biggest fear of the evening: speak-
JODY FULLER Columnist
ing to kids. Most of my shows are for adults. That doesn’t mean my show is dirty. It just means that kids don’t always get my humor. I was worried. Adding to my worry, the events of the evening took place outside. I hate doing comedy outside, because even if they’re laughing, the laughter usually dissipates into the air before it reaches my ears. Comedians feed off energy—well that and junk food from gas stations. I really began to worry when half the folks were still talking while the food was being blessed. To their credit, they were under the pavilion and didn’t realize the blessing was taking place. Still, I worried. After my introduction, I got up and did my thing. The seniors sat in chairs near the stage, while their families stood amongst them. It actually went pretty well. I told the kids that I was literally old enough to be their parents, because many of their parents were indeed my classmates at Opelika High. It was pretty cool. The football players really seemed to like my football joke about being a stuttering quar-
terback. Everyone liked my “educator” joke. Afterwards, as I stood around talking to my friends Jason and Michael, a funny thing happened. Michael’s son Kolby, a senior, walked over and changed the narrative forever. “Mr. Jody, I remember that Ecuador story. I’m the one who said it,” he said. Perplexed as I was, I listened. “We were all coming back from the movies, and I saw that tag and asked that question. You started laughing and said you were going to use it in your show,” he explained. It all came back to me. Kolby was in the back seat with Adrian’s son Blake. We, of course, were in the front seat. I always thought it was Adrian since he is who I was sitting next to. As I was getting ready to leave, Jason leaned in and said, “You know, it does look like Ecuador. I’ve thought that same thing.” We all got a big kick out of it. It turned out to be a great night—a night of celebration for the seniors and a night of enlightenment for me. I don’t believe it could have gone any better. Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www. jodyfuller.com
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PAGE 5 • MAY 31, 2017
DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
Braves may be year away from contention When the Atlanta Braves opened their 2017 season on April 3 at New York’s Citi Field against the New York Mets and took a 6-0 pounding right out of the season’s chute, things looked bleak for those who even casually root for the only truly Southern (No, Texas and Florida, you don’t count. Texas teams are southwestern and Florida teams are, well, let’s call them “otherworldly.” They’re definitely not Southern.) team in Major League Baseball. I’m talking about folks like my late father, who built his schedule around Braves games. Dad would water the garden on summer evenings and then come in, settle in his chair and begin to argue balls and strikes and plays at first as he watched Atlanta games. He wouldn’t do it loudly or angrily, just so he could be heard and his disagreement on record. So, for those of us who lived through the glory days of Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Schmoltz, the Atlanta opener was a bitter pill to swallow. “Will the Braves ever be contenders again?” we thought. Or, at least, I did. Well, the Braves aren’t contenders yet, but things are beginning to look up. Even with first baseman Freddie Freeman, the Brave most likely to be the next star to whom the team will hitch its offensive wagon, out for two months with a broken hand, the Braves have shown more life of late than the team has in some time (well, up until the last two series with the Pirates and Giants, anyway). Sure, Atlanta misses Freeman, but the smart acquisition of Matt Adams from the St. Louis Cardinals to fill in at first base has done a lot to ease the pain. Adams has hit two homers in his time as a member of the Braves and had at least one additional game-winning hit. As for the Braves pitching staff, well, Julio Teheran is the starter of whom the most was expected, but Mike Foltynewicz is fast becoming the ace of the staff, though his last start was disappointing. Previous to that outing, Folty went five innings in a win over the Pirates, giving up only one earned run and striking out five in the process. Teheran’s most recent outing wasn’t his worst (Josh Collmenter’s ninth-inning effort, however, was a whole ‘nother story), in fact he didn’t allow an earned run in six innings. But his defense – particularly shortstop Jace Peterson, in the lineup to give Dansby Swanson a day of rest – turned a good performance into a disaster and a 12-5 Atlanta loss. Jaime Gomez is certainly more than serviceable, but has been inconsistent. Thankfully, his last start was indicative of a turnaround. Though he showed signs of improvement, Teheran’s record stands at 3-4 with an ERA of almost 5 (4.88). That’s not what Atlanta expected from its purported ace. But the real pitching strength has proven to be the Braves’ bullpen, particularly the triumvirate of Jose Ramirez, Anodys Vizcaino and Jim Johnson. Johnson is the Braves’ closer and has nine saves and two wins in 20 games (Remember, he’s made appearances in Braves losing streaks – and Atlanta’s been nothing if not streaky – where he pitched merely to get work in). Ramirez sports a 2.08 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 21.2 innings pitched. Vizcaino has wicked stuff and may be the closer-in-waiting, truth be told. And the offense? Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I loved the addition of Brandon Phillips at second base from the getgo. Ender Inciarte, not my favorite Brave last year, has grown on me, as has Nick Markakis. At times, both appear magical with their bats. Lots of deep counts and opposite-field knocks. Throw in Matt Kemp, a known-quantity power guy, the surprisingly effective catching combo of Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki and the aforementioned shortstop Swanson, who will only get better – perhaps much better – and – voila! – there’s no sure out short of the pitcher in the lineup and several who can bang walls and clear fences. As I see it there are three things key to the Braves becoming contenders: • Returning Freddie Freeman and third baseman Adonis Garcia to health. • Continuing to develop prospects in a minor league system thought to be MLB’s best. • Obtaining a front-line starter via trade or free agency at the trade deadline or following the season. When the Braves would do this would likely be dependent on how close they can pull to the Washington Nationals in the standings. It might still be another year before there’s playoff fever in Atlanta. Meanwhile, take the time to sharpen those tomahawks, tune in some baseball and start choppin’.
Little legs setting big records at EES STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
With childhood obesity affecting a historically high number of children these days, you don’t normally have a mental image of elementary students running several miles a week in their physical education classes. However, it is not uncommon at Eclectic Elementary School. Cardiovascular fitness and lifelong exercise habits are a couple of objectives in JeAnne Adams’ and Naomi Sullivan’s physical education program. All students participate in the one-mile run/walk each week and their times are recorded. The number of miles accrued reaps a variety of rewards. This year the 50-mile club had 80 members grades 2-4. Their goal was to reach 50 miles (under a 12-minute time limit) by the end of the school year. Several of the students participated in 5Ks and fun runs on the weekends, which added to their number of miles. Third-grader Asher Justice set a school record with 140 miles and three fourth graders – Frankie Mann, John Kujala &
Submitted / The Outlook
Left to right, third-grader Asher Justice set a school record of 140 miles and fourth-graders Frankie Mann, John Kujala and Jacobie Brown all topped 100 miles All four boys ran miles under seven minutes. Students run in physical education class to benefit cardiovascular fitness and encourage exercise. The competition encourages participation.
Jacobie Brown – exceeded 100 miles. Each student who reached 50 miles or more received a t-shirt and a trophy at the end of the school year during the awards assembly. Medals were awarded to the four who exceeded 100+ miles. Award medals were also given to those students who made it on the “Fast & Furious” wall. Boys who ran their mile under seven minutes all
qualified for inclusion on the wall. They were Frankie Mann (6:24), Carson Saucier (6:30), Jackson Mann (6:35), Trinnen Coston (6:43), Braxton Roberson (6:46), Eli McGhee (6:47), Shelton Darnell (6:48), Jacobie Brown (6:54), Mason Ayoub (6:55), Jacob Baker (6:57), Asher Justice (6:58) and John Kujala (6:59). Girls who ran under a
mile under eight minutes earned a spot on the “Fast & Furious” wall. They were Kate Johnson (6:50), Natilee Fomby (6:57), Brenna & Bailey Walker (6:59), Addison Darden (7:23), Addi Stephenson (7:40), Bailey Arnold (7:44), Abbee Stringer (7:55), Breasia Marshall (7:55), Abella Kujala (7:55), Lexi Martin (7:58) and Gracie Nicholas (7:59).
Malzahn, Auburn Ambush coming to Willow Point By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The recently chartered Lake Martin Auburn Club, a member of the Auburn Alumni Association, has been selected as one of four Auburn Clubs to host an Auburn Ambush event this year. The event will be held at Willow Point Golf and Country Club on Thursday, June 8, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. “We’re pleased they elected us to hold this,” Lake Martin Auburn Club President Larkin Radney said. “It’s a real feather in our cap.” The former Auburn Club in the area, the Tallapoosa-Coosa-Clay County Auburn Club, went inactive over a decade ago and the Auburn Alumni Association subsequently pulled their charter. Recently, a group of interested individuals came together and wanted to charter a new group, according to Radney. Despite the lengthy process to apply and receive certification, the Alumni Association officially granted them a charter as the Lake Martin Auburn Club in June 2016. Having only been an official Auburn Club for less than a year makes it that much more impressive that they were selected to join Auburn clubs in Dallas, Tampa Bay and the
Muscle Shoals area to host Auburn Ambushes. “It’s a real compliment to us and what we’ve achieved,” Radney said. “Auburn Ambush is the premier event for the Alumni Association.” During the event, attendees will be treated to a buffet dinner and a cash bar will be available. Following dinner, head football coach Gus Malzahn and Rod Bramblett, the “Voice of the Auburn Tigers,” will be on hand to speak and answer questions in essentially a meetand-greet format. Aubie will also attend and be available for photos. “Willow Point has been gracious enough to dedicate their entire facility to us that night,” Radney said. With the chance to hear Malzahn and Bramblett speak, he added that he expects a huge crowd to attend the Lake Martin Auburn Ambush. Anyone wanting to attend the June 8 event at Willow Point can register at either alumni.auburn. edu/ambushlakemartin or by writing to Lake Martin Auburn Club, P.O. Box 245, Alexander City, AL 35011, though Radney suggested that it would be easier for those interested in attending to register online. Registration must be completed by Thursday, June 1, at 4:45 p.m. Member registration
File / The Herald
Auburn Head Football Coach Gus Malzahn will headline the Lake Martin Auburn Club’s “Auburn Ambush” event, set for June 8 at Willow Point Country Club on Lake Martin. The event is one of only four to he held this year. Others are slated for Dallas, Tampa Bay and the Muscle Shoals area.
will cost $50 per person, while non-members can attend for $55 per person. “It’ll be a very nice buffet dinner, a chance to meet Coach Malzahn and get some photos with him and Aubie,” Radney said.
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CommunityCalendar NOW – June 2 The exhibition, Stardust: From the Alabama Pastel Society, is at The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery. This is a juried exhibition and is opened to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30p.m. on the second floor of the City Administration Building, 408 South Main Street, Wetumpka, Alabama. Admission is free. NOW – June 22 Do you want to play a game? Join the Businesses of Downtown Wetumpka as we have our first Photo Scavenger Hunt! Beginning May 22 and running through June 22 you will search Downtown Wetumpka for many special items located inside our businesses and snap a SELFIE with that item. The more Selfies you take better your chance to win. Over $400 in prizes to be given away including prizes from Grumpy Dog, Vault Variety, Creed Gym, Curves, Scent Wizards and many more. For more information contact Scent Wizards at 334-478-3801. June 3 Elmore County NWTF Chapter Volunteers invite young people under the age of 18 and their parents to enjoy a day of outdoor fun at Fort Toulouse. Registration is free and includes lunch for the youth participant. Preregistration is required by May 31. Onsite registration will also be available. Supervised activities will include: crafts, archery, hunter safety, BB gun shooting, Hatchet Throw, Black Powder Shooting, and many other events. For registration information about this year’s Jakes Event, contact Barbara
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Submit calendar items: Participate in your Herald and Observer by calling 334-567-7811, faxing them to 334-567-3284, sending your event to the.editor@thewetumpkaherald.com or logging on to http://www.thewetumpkaherald.com/.
Burchard, bburc24315@aol.com. Registration Form can be located on our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/ElmoreCountyNWTF/ or online at http://bit. ly/2017ECJAKES. June 26-29 Vacation Bible is coming to Calvary Baptist Church each evening from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Come join us as we “Camp Out: Getting S’more of Jesus.” Ages 3 years through sixth grade invited to attend. For more information call (334) 567-4729. June 6 – July 25 The Wetumpka Public Library will begin its summer reading series, “Build a Better World,” for children entering grades 1-6. There will be a weekly event at the Wetumpka Civic Center each Tuesday from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. These are specially designed activities to encourage children to enjoy reading and maintain their reading skills over the summer holiday. Participants will be given journals to log the books they read and how much time they spend reading. For more information visit www.wetumpkalibrary.com or call (334) 567-1308. June 8 – July 27 The Wetumpka Public Library will begin its summer series for students entering grades 7 – 12. Movies will be shown weekly on Thursdays at 1 p.m. at the library. For more information call (334) 567-1308 or visit www. wetumpkalibrary.com
June 17 Join the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce for an in-depth 5 hour paranormal investigation of the most haunted building in Wetumpka from 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. Reservations include a “Paranormal 101” class at the Chamber. Register online at www.wetumpkachamber. com. Call (334) 567-4811 or email jyoung@wetumpkachamber.org for more information. June 20 Tuesdays with Kelly: Dr. Kenyon Holder, art historian, and professor in the Art and Design Department of Troy University will give an overview of the next exhibit, A Heritage of Art & Design: An International Survey from Troy University, at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery, 408 South Main St. This lunch and learn event starts at noon and ends at 1 pm. Desserts and drinks provided. Door prize awarded. Open to the public. June 24 The Shoppes at Eastchase, Blackfinn Ameripub, the Montgomery Bicycle Club, and Ability Sport Network at Huntingdon College invite you to ride Cycling for sight at 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. There is are optional 20-mile, 45-mile, 65-mile and 100-mile fun rides to benefit the Montgomery Lions Club Community Foundation charities. This is the seventh ride in the Alabama Backroads Century Series, This ride will commemorate Helen Keller, a native Alabamian who courageously challenged Lions Club members to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness. Visit www.montgomerylionsclub.com for more information.
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