SPORTS: All-County Volleyball Stars announced , B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 48 | $1.00
Arts are on the rise in Wetumpka Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Mayor Jerry Willis said. Sawyer has played a big role News Editor “We met and talked about in embracing all arts and By Cliff Williams Wilson was the head basket- investigation and handed it off how we could get the arts helping forge a group called Staff Writer ball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. Many believe the arts are going in Wetumpka. From the Downtown Artists who School and was He was also placed on adminishelping revive Wetumpka. It that meeting, we are here hold regular showsatinthat downA virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtrative leave time.” is County all part School’s of an idea almost today.” town Wetumpka. Edge program ministrative Dennis said school officials two in the making. Wetumpka, there is the “Hefollow loves the all procedure hasdecades been arrested and charged Inleave Jan. 13 thearts, same “I remember a Sunday Wetumpka Depot Players the arts,” Willis said. “We with school employee distrib- according to Elwhen administrators receive a afternoon after becoming live theater and The sometimes to tie a ropeagainst reporthave of allegations uting obscene material to a stu-withmore County mayor, we called in a handKelly and its rotating exhibschool staff and employees. dent. Schools superSeewe ARTS, Page ful Elmore of artists,” Wetumpka the art Richshows. Don “Once hand it A2 over, we County Sheriff Billits and intendent know very little about what is Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if turned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD
Franklin said investigators with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office have the alleged victim’s phone. Authorities collected Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversation between the two,” Franklin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
Artist Mary Wilson was released onAnn a Casey of Auburn $6,000 bond 90 minutes afspeaks local ter turning himself in to accordartists in Wetumpka ing to the Elmore County Jail about her website. techniques but also Dennis said how Wilson also to support coached other sports at Holtother artists. ville schools including being the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Commission gives Police Tallassee drone Chamber holds luncheon continue investigation, man no longer suspected
cutting,” Hines said. “With good weather it should be completed in The City of Tallassee is the next week.” now in full possession of a Hines said after the tethered drone after action new year crews would by the Elmore County start trimming back limbs MembersCommission at its Monday and trees on the county’s roadways. of the meeting. Wetumpka The drone was origiIN OTHER ACTION THE Chambernally of purchased by the county through a reimELMORE COUNTY COMMISSION: Commerce bursement grant program • Approved minutes of attend the with the Nov. 13 meeting. chamber’s “A the Alabama Law Agency • Approve the memoTaste of Enforcement Our State Homeland Security randum of warrants and Home Town” By Jake Arthur purchase orders totaling luncheon.Program. “They haveChief beenVideographer using $3,373,576.33 for Nov. 4 CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD it already,” Commissioner through Nov. 17. Police fatal Mack Daugherty said. are still investigating • Set a publicthe hearing shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart park“With mutual aid it will for 5 p.m. Dec. 11 for ing lot on Jan. 20. be able to be used across comments on the transfer Police were dispatched to the parking lot the county in various application of Class II around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. emergency situations.” Package Store Alcohol Once there, they found Centell Winston, The mutual aid arrange- license for Jani Bhai LLC 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound ment is through the as well as the transfer in the driver seat of his vehicle. Elmore CountyAccording Emergen- to of an off premises retail Wetumpka police chief cy Management Agency beer and retail wine Greg Benton, this was not a random shootfor drone use across license for Dollar General ing. Elmore County.“This was notinrandom, Holtville. not a random Commissioner Approved two-year act,”Henry said Benton.• “We believea the vicHines thankedtim theand councontractknew witheach Blackbaud the perpetrator other.” ty’s road crewsThis and is thethe firstfor historical access to homicide in Wetumpka public works in department financial records for audit over three years. The last homicide in for efforts in maintaining purposes. the city took place in 2018. county rights-of-way “It’s notona good way to start out the new the county’s nearly 1,000 year,” said Benton.The next meeting of miles of roads. Benton didn’t the Elmore County want to speculate onComthe “They have just about mission is scheduled for finished the second grass 5 See p.m. Dec. 11. Page A3 SHOOTING, 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
MILLBROOK YOUTH HONOR VETS GRAVES WITH See CHAMBER, Page A3
WREATHS FOR CHRISTMAS
“We have adopted it ans’ Wreaths will be placed as the traditional holiday across local, national and thing to do,” she said. “The military cemeteries as well lacing wreaths on the holidays a lot of times get as veterans’ memorials and graves of veterans is stirred up in gift giving, historic sites. a tradition for Fiona trades and stuff. This is our “Definitely bring your Ellifritz. Saturday to go and honor winter jacket as it is For six years, Fiona, 10, veterans.” always cold,” Fiona said. of Millbrook and others Fiona will be joined by “It is amazing to come and from American Heritage others in the American lay wreaths on our heroes.” Girls Troop AL 0125 Heritage Girls Troop in the Wreaths Across America have championed Wreaths effort. is an idea born of MorAcross America during the “We have a ceremony to rill Worcester, owner of holiday season. kick it off,” Julia said. “We Worcester Wreath Compa“For the last five or six have someone to symboli- ny in Harrington, Maine. years we have covered cally lay a wreath for each According to the organizaBrookside Memorial Garbranch. Then the girls take tion’s website, Worcester den where there are 500 the wreaths to the markwas a 12-year old paper IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS vets [buried],” Fiona said. ers.” boy and won a trip to is no The reason for a munity tree lighting Village Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture direction. Fiona’s mother Julia This year’s event is at Washington D.C.from that of a shift in a positiveThere ‘Grouch’ or percent ‘Scrooge’ to ruin Green High School. Elmore County Suschool struggling with low moschool experienced a 62 Ellifritz said placing the 10:30 a.m. Dec. 16 to coin“It was his first to our the holidayreferrals, season in Elmore • 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. photos Thewreaths Alabamais Association of perintendent rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline something the cide withRichard similarDennis eventswas nation’s capital and one County. with Santa Secondary Principals the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic family School has grown to love in attendance across thefor country where If someone thinks they are a • 6 p.m. tree lighting (AASSP) named Holtville “Kyle an exceptionwith A2 staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase to share with others.High more Futral than 2ismillion Veter- lence. By Seecollaborating WREATHS, Page little down or not in the ChristSchool principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent mas spirit, take a look below to NOV. 30 TO DEC. 3 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCRfind rate and cheer a 20 pera little near you. Wetumpka Depot Playcipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency ers present “Once Upon a The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. THURSDAY, NOV. 30 Christmas.” Tickets available CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuMillbrook Fiona Ellifritz, 10, of Millbrook explains the Wreaths Across America project.dents, She has been the a part of the nationwide See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed caused school culture to • 5 to 7 p.m. Annual comSeeFUTURAL CHRISTMAS, Page A2 program in Millbrook for the last five years and plans to put wreaths on veterans graves Dec. 16. By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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