How to Cook The Best Thanksgiving Turkey
INSIDE: How to Cook A Turkey by Our Local Students Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
schools share Elementary students from area ksgiving turkey Than ect perf their tips on preparing the for. kful than are they t and wha *Please use extreme caution
when following the recipes
November 2023
A special supplement
to The Wetumpka Herald
e
& The Tallassee Tribun
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 47 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Elmore County to elect different congressional rep
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams The Writer primary ballot will look a Staff little different for Republicans in Elmore Countyteacher in March. A virtual at Elmore Congressman Barry County School’s EdgeMoore program currently represents has been arrested Elmore and charged County in Washington D.C. with school employee distributing isobscene to ainstuMoore seekingmaterial reelection dent. 2 as a Republican, but District Elmore County Bill Elmore County votersSheriff won’t be Franklin Emmanuel able to castsaid a vote for him. Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
the federal courts imposed a new congressional district map on thewas statethe in head October Wilson basketafter the Alabama Legislature ball coach at Holtville High failed to satisfy the courts with School and was two minority districts. Elmore placed on adCounty is now in District 6 and ministrative will share a representative with leave Jan. 13 Autauga, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, according to Elmore County County Shelby and parts of JefSchools superferson County. Republican Gary intendent Rich- is the incumPalmer of Hoover ard Dennis. bent. He was first elected to the WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
position in 2014. mary they will vote in; if there qualified to be on the ballot in Qualifying for the Democrat is a runoff, voters can’t vote in a the Republican primary. and Republican parties ended different Ander- Wilson • Alabama of Criminal Franklinrunoff said election. investigators was Court released on a investigation and handed it off last week. The Alabama Repubson will face the winner of the Appeals Place 2 Rich Anderson afto the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes lican Party KenonMcFeeters Republican primary in NovemThomas Govaninare qualified Office have the alleged vic- terand turning himself accordHe was alsosaid placed adminis- iff’s and Gerrick qualified ber 2024. bethe on the ballotCounty in the Repubtim’s phone. Authorities collect- ingto to Elmore Jail trative leaveWilkins at that time.” for the Republican primary seekAlthough the Democratic lican primary. website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. ing the seat well. According Party notsee have anyone • Alabama Service “You does could a conversaDennis said Public Wilson also follow the assame procedure to the Alabama Democratic seeking a state Elmore coached Commission between theoffice two,”inFrankother President sports at Robert Holt- L. when administrators receive a tion report of allegations against said. “Mr. Wilson is going Party, Elizabeth Anderson quali- lin County, the Republicans do. McCollum Twinklebeing Andress ville schoolsand including school and employees. to contend someone head trackare coach and assisfied forstaff the primary. • Alabama Court ofhad Civilthe theCavanaugh qualified to “Once hand voters it over, to his phone and tant football coach. Elmorewe County willwe security Appealscode Place2 Chad Hanson know little about whatpriis he was not responsible. There Dennis said other would See staff ELECT, Page A6 have tovery select which party’s and Stephen Davis Parker are going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at cooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminnecessary.” it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
Defendant arrested again forPolice trafficking Chamber holds luncheon while out continue on bond
welcoming members
investigation, man no longer suspected
According to court records, on Oct. 28 Members In September, Andrea the Tallasof the Luna Gregory was arrested for trafficking fentanyl in see Police Wetumpka Department Chamberthe of Tallapoosa County portion of Tallassee. Gregory, GREGORY arrested her Commerce attend the 39, posted a $20,000 bond again in chamber’s set“Aby Tallapoosa County the Elmore Taste of District Our Court Judge Kim County portion of the city Home Town” Clayton. for misdemeanor charges By Jake Arthur luncheon. Gregory, with multiof conspiracy to commit Chief Videographer CLIFF WILLIAMS/ ple addresses in the last a controlled substance THE HERALD few months according to Police are still investigating the fatal See ARRESTED, Page A6 court records, shooting reoffended. 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. By CLIFF WILLIAMS thea2021 show “This was notinspired random,bynot random News Editor act,” said Benton. going and inspired inno“We believe the vicvative change in commutim and the perpetrator knew each other.” Wetumpka will be under nities across the country. This is the first homicide in Wetumpka the national spotlight againyears. Wetumpka Chamber in over three The lastArea homicide in as Hometownthe Takeover: of Commerce executive city took place in 2018. Where are they“It’s now? Shellie notairs a gooddirector way to start outWhitfield the new at 7 p.m. Dec.year,” 10. said Benton. said the one episode show HGTV said the showdidn’t will more attention Benton wantbring to speculate on the highlights how Wetumpka has kept momentum TAKEOVER, Page SeeSee SHOOTING, Page A3 A6 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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
‘GRISWOLDS’ See CHAMBER, Page A3
BRING CHRISTMAS VACATION TO DOWNTOWN WETUMPKA
corner of Main and Bridge wold family came out. streets at the foot of the Bibb “People started to ask Graves Bridge. what nights we were going ynn and Tina Sanford The Sanfords and friends to be out there,” Wynn said. intend to have a great have been a hit ever since “The lights got a little closer Christmas, sharing placing a mannequin in their together.” the experience with family River Oaks yard in 2017 near And the production has friends and Wetumpka. a storm drain turned a sewer grown. The classic Griswold Much like Clark Griswold, filled with ‘magical gas.’ station wagon was created Wynn, Tina and friends “We just wanted to win with the help of paint and have created their own cult the city’s contest,” Tina said. body work man John Causey. following. This Christmas “We were like, ‘That gained It will soon be decorated the ‘Griswold’ vacation will such attention. We need to with a Christmas tree dug up, be in the heart of downgrow it.’” just like the movie. There is town Wetumpka. More than Wynn and Tina became the cop car and swimming 50,000 lights have been Clark and Ellen Griswold pool as well. installed already, with more and neighbors and friends It became so popular it planned. ‘Clark’ has already hopped on board too. All created a traffic jam in the Staff Report schoolwide at Holtville the school from that of a had an accident hanging started toassembly string lights on the River Oaksculture neighborhood High School. Elmore County Suschool struggling with low molights from the Sanfords’ River Oaks home and the Thebusiness Alabamaunplugged Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance at the night of judging, the GrisSee GRISWOLDS, Page A6 Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel(AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, enMore than 50,000 lights have been installed on the Unplugged building in downtown Wetumpka with plans The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing to install more. The decoration is an idea stared by the Sanfords more than five years ago. They have been the Year joined awardby was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging staff and stufriends and neighbors to bring Griswolds Christmas Vacation to downtownthe Wetumpka. Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
W
‘Hometown Takeover’ revisit to air next month
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
57 65 39 55 High High
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low
shift in a positive direction. The school experienced a 62 percent decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism, 7 percent increase in the graduation rate, 33 percent CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD increase in CCR rate and a 20 perA HGTV film crew records in front of the the new location cent increase in ACT proficiency for WOW catering in downtown Wetumpka in August for the in the last fiveHometown years. Takeover:Where are they now? The show highlights Wetumpka from Season 1 and Ft. Morgan, Colorado from SeaSee PRINCIPAL, Page A3 FUTURAL son to see what has happened sicne the show orginally aired.
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 HIGH5871LOW LOW4453 THURS:
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666