Panthers hope for homecoming win
Already tired of presidential race
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The
THURSDAY • SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 27, No. 38
EYCFL establishes gofundme for Holton boys By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
As the town of Eclectic continues to mourn for the Holton and Owenby families, the Eclectic Youth Football and Cheer League has established a GoFundMe account to assist the surviving family members. The Holtons were discovered inside their home on Sept. 11, both with gunshot wounds to the head. Their oldest son, Jesse Madison Holton, is accused of committing
the act. Mike was a beloved member of the community who not only served as the Mayor of Eclectic; he also served as the fire chief before taking office. Mike Holton was dedicated to the service of the community. April worked at the water company on Main Street in Eclectic and nearly everyone in town knew her. She would greet people with a warm smile that was contagious to others. While Eclectic is not crime free, nothing of this magnitude has occurred in the small
town before. The fact that Eclectic is a small town only deepened the hurt felt by so many. “We have immediate family in the league that were affected by this,” said Jake Youland, president of the EYFCL. “They also have numerous friends in the league.” Like so many, the league is hoping to ease the pain of this loss by expressing support and gratitude to the family, who so many knew and admired. “We’re here to do good works, not only within the league but the community as
well,” he said. “We felt like it was the right thing to do.” The EYFCL will also hold a Halloween dance on Oct. 29 and the proceeds from the event will go directly to the family. “It’s free entry with a can of food,” Youland said. “We’ll also be taking donations that night as well.” The Halloween dance will be held at The Field of Champions located at 455 Harden Street. The EYFCL encourages everyone to come out and show support to the Holton/ Owenby family.
Former Tallassee police officer arrested for assault
Council sets parade date, approves past audit By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
At the last town council meeting the mayor and council members convened to cast votes on a wide array of issues ranging from the dates of annual holiday events to financial audits from recent years. A proclamation was on the agenda for the presentation of the 2014 town audit, which the council voted on, said Deborah Rowe, town clerk. She said the amount of appropriations to be designated for the Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission was also approved in the monthly meeting. And a town “charge card” was set up, and a training fee for commercial construction set up by the state was introduced and voted on, Rowe said. Also, a date and time was chosen for the Eclectic Christmas Parade and set for Dec. 3 at 4 p.m., Rowe said, to be followed by a tree lighting ceremony.
A member of the Tallassee Police Department found himself on the wrong side of the law last Wednesday after the Tallapoosa County Grand Jury filed an indictment against 23-year- Smirnoff old Brandon Smirnoff for assault. The alleged assault occurred earlier this year after Smirnoff assisted other officers in the pursuit of a suspect who was attempting to elude police on an ATV. “The vehicle was eventually stopped and the driver was taken into custody,” Police Chief Jimmy Rodgers said in a statement. “It was at this point, while the individual was being transported back to a patrol vehicle, that he alleges that Brandon
File / The Herald
The Titus Bluegrass Festival returns Saturday with a star-studded lineup of performers. Entry is only $5 and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
GOT THE BLUES County Clare ready to wow the crowd in Titus By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
Shannon Slaughter and his group County Clare are busy getting ready to take the stage this Saturday at the annual Titus Bluegrass Festival. Slaughter said the event will mark his first time in Titus and that he is excited to participate in the event. The annual event
will take place at its usual location, behind the Titus Community Center at 5945 Titus Road, beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing until 5:15 p.m. Slaughter is no stranger to the world of bluegrass music. He has penned numerous songs that have received industry recognition and have been recorded by Blue Highway, The Lonesome River Band, Lou Reid and See TITUS • Page 3
See ASSAULT • Page 9
Legislators talk regular, special session at Tea Party meeting WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
William Carroll / The Herald
Wetumpka Tea Party President Becky Gerritson (standing) asks questions of area legislators during a town hall style meeting held at the Elmore Community Hospital Monday evening. State legislators participating from left to right are Representative Reed Ingram, Representative Mike Holmes and Senator Clyde Chambliss.
Local Alabama legislators were on hand at the Wetumpka Tea Party meeting Monday night to discuss issues facing the state and this year’s regular and special sessions. Participants included District 31 Representative Mike Holmes, District 75 Representative Reed Ingram and District 30 Senator Clyde Chambliss. Wetumpka Tea Party President Becky Gerritson acted as the moderator of the event, which was held at the Elmore Community Hospital. Gerritson started the discussion by asking each of the three elected officials what their biggest accomplishment was during the regular session held earlier this year. Each of the three
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agreed on the same premise, namely that passing the budget was probably the most important accomplishment. “Well probably the biggest thing is we got our budgets out ahead of time,” Holmes said, noting that it was relatively easy to complete the budget process as revenue streams, specifically for education, had increased significantly, but he noted that educational funding increases were not having the desired results. “Think about this, in 1966 the education budget was $275 million, today it is $6.287 billion,” Holmes said, he also pointed out that the increase was over 2000 percent. “I don’t feel like we are getting what we are paying for. We have proven See MEETING • Page 3