SPORTS: Wetumpka faces Huskies in opening round, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 45 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Quinn guilty of resisting arrest; former deputy federally indicted
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Hicks appeared in federal court Friday with Quinn and said his department News Editor to answer to the indictment and was not asked for help in looking into the matter By Cliff Williams said investigators Wilson wasNo thefuture head court basketinvestigation and after handed it off inFranklin detained. dates have shortly it happened March 2022. Staff Writer with the Elmore County Shercoach authorities. It’s been 20 months since Tristen ball been set at yetHoltville for Hicks. High to the appropriate “Our office called (Alabama Law Office have the alleged vicand was He was alsoEnforcement placed on adminisQuinn was stopped by the Wetumpka SchoolElmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin Agency) soiff’s an impartial A virtual teacher at was Elmore tim’s phone. Authorities collectad-after the indictment trative at that time.” Police Department. Quinn found placed said on Friday was leave investigation could be conducted,” County School’s Edge programJustministrative edon Wilson’s Dennis said school guilty of resisting arrest Thursday. unsealed in federal court that Hicks Franklin said.officials “He was put admin- phone as well. has charged Jan.for13the Elmore County Sheriff’s follow theistrative sameleave procedure one daybeen later,arrested a formerand Elmore Coun- leave worked without pay.“You After could a few see a conversaa seeking school tion between whentoadministrators receive ty with deputy sheriffemployee involved indistribQuinn’s according Office to forElseveral years. Hicks came months of that, he left employ- the two,” Frankreport allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going uting obscene to a stuCounty arrest was indictedmaterial by a federal grand more Elmore County after a stint at the Mont-of ment elsewhere.” school staff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the Schools superjury for depriving an arrestee of his gomery Police Department. “Once we hand it over, we Elmore County Sheriff Bill securityPage codeA6to his phone and intendent Richcivil rights under color of law. Blake Franklin was aware of the incident See GUILTY, know very little about what is he was not responsible. There Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think turned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
Council approves financing for economic development
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
potentially purchase property and begin some site work to make them The City of Wetumpka more attractive to develis hoping to draw the opers. eye of developers. “We are looking at By Cliff Williams The Wetumpka City things on the west side Writer CouncilStaff approved of town,” Willis said. financing up to $5 milEdwards said some of The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its lion for economic devel- the projects under conannual luncheon to install new officers and board opment at its Monday sideration are along the members for the first time in a while Thursday. meeting. City attorney Coosa River Parkway The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathJustin Edwards said the and near downtown. erings but the chamber celebrated the successes of financing deal is still in “There are some realbusiness in Wetumpka. negotiations but it would ly good ideas,” “We haven’t been able to do this for theEdwards last coube similar to a line of said. ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your credit. attendance is an indication Edwards saidtoheget back people want “The together city would be believes the city and have these opportunities to would see each able to make draws on not be out any money on it,” Edwards said. “The the See projects as the potenCHAMBER, Page A3 city would only pay tial tax revenue and sale interest if it makes a of the property would draw.” more than cover the Edwards and Mayor city’s financing costs. Jerry Willis said the See APPROVES, Page A5 funds are needed to By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
Computers, networks and the internet are evolving by the second.
Tristen Quinn is pictured Wilson was released on a with injuries $6,000 bond 90 minutes on Marchaf5, ter turning himself 2022. in accordA former ing to the Elmore County Jail Elmore County website. Sheriff’s Office Dennis said Wilson deputy also has been federally indicted coached other sports at Holtfor depriving ville schools including being an of his the head track coacharrestee and assistant football coach. civil rights under colorwould of law. Dennis said other staff fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
SPLASH PAD CLIFF WILLIAMS/
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
DEDICATED TO COMMUNITY ICON
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. there,Fogal they found Centell By CLIFF WILLIAMS willingness to do the gruntOnce son,” said. “He wasWinston, 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot News Editor work,” Reed said. “He was a great city councilman. Hewound in the driver vehicle. willing to do it in a camhad meseat on of thehis Wetumpka According to Wetumpka police chief ercy Gill never passed paign, in an organization Pride board for eight years. Greg Benton, this was not a random up a chance to shake a and the community when the He was a special person. Heshoothand or talk with some- limelight wasn’t there.” ing. probably would have been was one not random, notsenaa random one. Reed and Alabama State “This mayor day, maybe act,” said Benton. “We believe Family and friends said University president Dr. tor. He was that bright.” the victim and the perpetrator knewJerry each other.” he was always networking. Quinton Ross said Gill’s Wetumpka Mayor This is the first homicide in Wetumpka If the presence at the dedica- work helped them reach the Willis said he always wanted in over three years. The last homicide in tion of the Wetumpka Splash positions they are in today. to be around Gill because he the city took place in 2018. Pad was any indication of “Percy could have been was highly knowledgeable “It’s not a good way to start out the new Gill’s network of friends and anywhere in the world, but in almost everything. year,” said Benton. brothers, Gill is legendary. he wanted to come home,” Benton“Ididn’t madewant sure to I got a seat on the speculate Gill was only elected to Ross said. “He wanted to close to Percy,” Willis said. serve as a councilmember come home to this commu“It was because I knew he SHOOTING, Page A3 but the dedication was an nity and invest in it. That was smart. See I knew he knew indication his influence is what he did. He was all what he was doing. I learned went well beyond Wetump- about uniting the communi- a lot from him.” ka. Montgomery Mayor ty and providing for young Gill served on the Steven Reed met Gill when people. He was on that mis- Wetumpka City Council rephe moved back to the area. sion everyday.” resenting District 2. It is a Quickly through meetings Wetumpka resident Jordan position Cynthia Tucker curthe school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The with Omega Psi Phi FraterFogal said Gill would sit rently holds. She said Gill school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent nity, Inc. a friendship bloswith her husband and play rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, is the reason she is there her dog. to somed. a school that strives for excel- with 50 percent decrease in chronic and considered him a good “I was inspired by his “He was See SPLASH, Page A6 lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism,a 7special percentperincrease many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perleadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. Family of stuPercy Gill and dignitaries gather for a photograph at the and challenging the staff and dedication Splash PadPage in Gill’s See PRINCIPAL, A3 memory. dents, caused the school culture to of the Wetumpka FUTURAL
P
Learning to protect tomorrow’s threats today By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
SUBMITTED THE HERALD
The Elmore County Technical Center cybersecurity program is preparing high school students to enter the workforce in See LEARNING, Page A6
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year schoolwide assembly at Holtville High School. Elmore County SuThe Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionSchool principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his thinkCLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing Elmore TechnicalPrincipal Center cybersecurity instructor Colby TheCounty High School of his school,” Dennis said, Faust was a Holtville graduate who took IT classes at the school the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and then landed an IT job upon graduation. He has returned to Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed lead the cybersecurity program. Staff Report
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