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THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 120, NO. 37
Two charged with attempted murder after pursuit
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
A man and a juvenile, both of Eclectic, were taken into custody on Sept. 2 after a manhunt through various parts of Elmore County. Ronald Jason Mann, 32, who lists an address on Ginger Lane, and a 16-yearold juvenile were both charged with two counts of robbery in the first degree and attempted murder in the first degree. According to Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin, Mann and the juvenile picked up a middle-aged couple, who the suspects knew, from the 6000 block of Holtville Road in Wetumpka and drove
them to the “Purple Cow” Chevron gas station on Alabama 143 in the town of Elmore. Franklin said they forced the couple to withdraw money from an ATM, and the couple fled after they gave the money to Mann and the juvenile. Mann and the juvenile drove away and hit an iron Mann guard on a railroad crossing close to 143 in Elmore. According to Franklin, a 47-year-old “good Samaritan” saw that their car was incapacitated and stopped to help. Mann allegedly tried to take the man’s cell phone and then stabbed the man seven times. “He actually was leaned over, trying
Mann and the juvenile, Franklin said they received information from an area in Coosada that led to the arrest. Both suspects were arrested and booked into the Elmore County Jail on bonds totaling $750,000 each. Attempted murder and first degree robbery are both Class A felonies, which are punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison. Both cases were assigned to Elmore County Circuit Court Judge Glenn Goggans. Franklin said Mann’s arrest came only days after he bonded out of the Elmore County Jail on previous charges. “Mr. Mann is a frequent flyer here. He’s been in jail several times,” Franklin said.
to look at the battery (in their car) when he was stabbed,” Franklin said. Franklin said Mann’s knife pierced one of the man’s lungs, his liver, his back, his neck and his lower abdomen. The man was transported to a nearby hospital and was reported to be in critical condition as of Tuesday. “We’re concerned about him, because he was in that condition last week. We’re hoping he’ll get better soon,” Franklin said. Franklin said Mann and the juvenile tried to leave in the victim’s car, but could not find the keys and left on foot. While police were searching for
ECSO deputy hospitalized after contact with substance
County school board holds first budget hearing By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
An Elmore County deputy was transported to a nearby hospital on the morning of Sept. 5, after he made contact with an unknown substance and began experiencing symptoms. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said the deputy was on patrol when he made a traffic stop on Highway 111, halfway between Wetumpka and the Holtville community. Franklin said the deputy arrested 50-year-old Anthony Chapman and 47-year-old Scott Bilbo, both of the Birmingham area, and confiscated evidence from their car. “As he was examining the evidence he was able to seize, some of the See HOSPITALIZED • Page A3
Amalia Kortright / The Herald
A group of Good Dog Project members make dog treats to use at future training sessions at their first meeting.
4-H club launches Good Dog Project By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
T
he Elmore County 4-H Club held its first meeting of the Good Dog Project Friday afternoon. Through the Good Dog Project, volunteer and club leader Stephanie Person said local kids between 9 and 18 have the opportunity
Elmore County Revenue Commissioner Lee Macon explains the difference between using tax sales and selling tax liens during Monday’s work session.
See BUDGET • Page A9
County changes procedure for delinquent property tax collection By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
The Elmore County Commission discussed and unanimously voted to adopt an alternative method of collecting delinquent property taxes during a regularly scheduled work session and business meeting on Monday. According to Elmore County Revenue Commissioner Lee Macon, the resolution will change the sale of property to the sale of tax
Amalia Kortright / The Herald
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to learn about dog training. “They get to learn basic obedience, learn about dog ownership and, eventually, they will get to do dog shows if they want to,” Person said. Person said she decided to start the Good Dog Project for her daughter, who wanted an ageappropriate way to engage her interest in dog See DOG • Page A3
The Elmore County Board of Education discussed federal and state allocations, as well as projected expenditures, for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years during a budget hearing Thursday afternoon. According to Elmore County Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Jason Mann, the majority of the allocations from the state increased from last year. The projected budget for the 2018-19 academic year is more than $106 million. The majority of funding comes from the state and roughly $26 million is expected to come in from local sources. Mann said they were allocated more than $67 million from the state to cover more than 11,000 students enrolled in Elmore County. However, they are
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liens to ensure delinquent property taxes are paid. “We’re going away from a tax sale, which is the sale of property (and) gives certain rights to purchaser, to a lien sale, where we just sell the lien itself,” Macon said. “It helps keep a lot of that property that would rollover to the state every year in the county.” Macon said the resolution will allow people who have a lien placed on their property to See COMMISSION • Page A3
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