SPORTS: Wetumpka falls in super regional to end season, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 44 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Shooting in Crenshaw leaves at least two injured
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Little is known about a Staff Writer Saturday shooting in Elmore County as witnesses not A virtual teacher are at Elmore coming forward. County School’s Edge program Elmore Bill has been County arrestedSheriff and charged Franklin said his department with school employee distribwas alerted to gunshot uting obscene materialvicto a student. tims who were allegedly shot Elmore County Sheriff Bill in the Crenshaw community Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
sometime before midnight Saturday. “We arewas not the getting Wilson head anybasketbody to come forward to High tell ball coach at Holtville us why there was an exchange School and was ofplaced gunfire,” said. on Franklin ad“We do have at least two ministrative residences leave Jan.in the 13 area in the proximity the rounds according of to where Elwere that entered the morefired County Schools super-people.” homes of older intendent Franklin Richsaid he believes ard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
there was a gathering of teenagers between the ages of 15 and 16 in theand area. investigation handed it off “There was an alleged bonto the appropriate authorities. fire and block party in the He was also placed on adminisarea,” Franklin said. “The trative leave at that time.” homes that were struck by Dennis said school officials gunshots were unconnected follow the same procedure to the administrators bonfire and block party a when receive itself. They didn’t haveagainst anyreport of allegations school and employees. thing tostaff do with that.” “Once we said handtheit two over, we Franklin know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
gunshot victims are ages 28 figuring out where the weapand 29. One was shot in the ons that fired the shots came shoulder and was treated from. was released on a Franklin said investigators Wilson and released. The other was “Webond have90 multiple casings with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 minutes aftransported to UAB with hand from multiple rounds that iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordinjuries. HeAuthorities said no one has ingwetohave collected,” Franklin tim’s phone. collectthe Elmore County Jail provided any real information said. “Our investigators are ed Wilson’s phone as well. website. about what happened Saturday working with another agen“You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also night. cy and other entered thematinto the tion between the two,” Frank- coached sports HoltThe sheriff said some phys- ville [National lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going schoolsIntegrated includingBallistic being toical contend someone had the theInformation head track coach and assisevidence was collected Network]. We security code to his andin tant footballSee coach. from the scene andphone may aid SHOOTING, Page A6 he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminit’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
Six Wetumpka students
Chamber holds luncheon
identifiedPolice in assaults
continue investigation, man no longer suspected
On Friday central office staff restarted the investigation with “fresh and Staff with the Elmore experienced eyes.” Dennis County Board of Education said the staff involved had have completed an investi- years of experience as pringation into alleged assaults cipals looking into such at Wetumpka High School. issues. Members Elmore County Schools Dennis said central of the superintendent Richard office staff, school adminWetumpka Dennis said the school istrators and others are Chambersystem of has identified six limited in what they can Commerce students involved in the say publicly because of the attend the assaults with another six Family Educational Rights chamber’s “A students as victims, accord- and Privacy Act, commonTaste of Our ing to a release. ly referred to as FERPA. Home Town” “We have turned this By Jake Arthur It prevents school officials luncheon. over to local law enforceChief Videographerfrom being able to comCLIFF WILLIAMS/ ment,” Dennis said. ment on disciplinary action THE HERALD An investigation wasare stillof investigating students. Police the fatal shootingHigh in the Wetumpka Walmartbyparkstarted by Wetumpka If it is pursued law ing lot on Jan. 20. School administrators enforcement or prosecutors were dispatched parking lot last Wednesday Police when the it would to bethe done through around 10:45 for a “shots fired” call. assaults were reported to p.m. juvenile court shielded there, theyfrom found have happenedOnce Tuesday. theCentell public.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 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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
‘CREEPY, CRAWLY CAVE’ See CHAMBER, Page A3
Local hospital celebrates Halloween
CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD
Trick or treaters were welcomed to a cave at Elmore County Community Hospital Monday night — but not just any cave. Staff at Ivy Creek Healthcare transformed the cafeteria and hallway to the back of the property into a ‘Creep, Crawly Cave.’ It welcomed thousands of visitors dressed as ghouls, goblins and sperheroes and they all interStaff Report acted with staff in costume as well. If The guests Alabama Association of escaped the Secondary School cave, they were Principals wel(AASSP) named comed withHoltville revel- High as moreKyle hospital Schoolryprincipal Futral the staff set High up a trunk 2022 Alabama School Prinorthe treat in the back cipal of Year. of the facility. The High School Principal of
See SHOOTING, Page CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE A3 HERALD Greta Lambert, retired and Alabama Shakespeare Festival Deputy Artistic Director, worked with theater students on British dialect at Wetumpka High School as they prepare for a state trumbauer competition next week.
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year Theater icon helps
the Year award was presented to Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
57 65 30 55 High High
schoolwide assembly at Holtville High School. Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis was in attendance for the presentation. “Kyle Futral is an exceptional principal and is very proactive and innovative in his thinking and approaches to managing his school,” Dennis said, As principal of Holtville High School, Futral has transformed
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low
the school culture from that of a school struggling with low morale, achievement and attendance to a school that strives for excellence. By collaborating with staff, many of the school’s issues were identified and addressed. Futral’s leadership style of listening, encouraging, supporting, organizing and challenging the staff and students, caused the school culture to
shift in a positive direction. The school experienced a 62 percent decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic WILLIAMS absenteeism,By7 CLIFF percent increase News Editor in the graduation rate, 33 percent increase in CCR rate and a 20 perLambert is officent increase inGreta ACT proficiency cially retired. But she in the last five years. hasn’t yet given up on See acting PRINCIPAL, Page back A3 to the or giving
Wetumpka High program profession she has been a part of for decades. The famed actress has been on the stage at the Alabama Shakespeare FesSee THEATER, Page A6 FUTURAL
a Flea Market & Antiques k p m u Wet 5266 U.S. Hwy. 231 • Wetumpka, AL (Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC)
USPS USPS681-260 681-260 THURS:HIGH HIGH6471LOW LOW3653 THURS:
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666