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THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
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WEDNESDAY • SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 120, NO. 36
City approves new budget, vehicle, survey
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
The Wetumpka City Council voted to approve its 2018-2019 budget, purchase a new city vehicle and begin a survey of city property during an afternoon meeting on Tuesday at the city’s administrative building. The council unanimously passed the new budget. Mayor Jerry Willis spoke favorably about the new budget, and said it was “very well prepared.”
property where the Wetumpka Municipal Airport is located. The survey is estimated to cost $16,300, and was later approved. Willis said the results survey may allow the city to begin projects for economic development at the airport in the future. “This is getting our ducks in a row to (see), if we have opportunities for development on the airport, that we know exactly what we’ve got and we know what the elevations are and we’re not just whistling in the wind,” Willis said.
costs $19,102, off state bid for the Wetumpka Police Department. Willis said the new vehicle will replace an Impala that was previously driven by retired captain Robert Slowowski. “It’s a vehicle that we needed badly in the police department,” Willis said. “We’ll take the vehicle that it’s replacing, and we’ll put it back in the fleet as a back-up.” Before the meeting adjourned, members went into executive session to discuss a topographical survey of the
“We’re kind of in a different situation than we’ve been,” Willis said. “I’ve been here 10 years as the mayor, and this is the first time that the budget has actually had any wiggle room in it, at all, to allow us to come back and do some of the things that we have needed to do. “Things are looking better for us, and we just want to be good stewards of the taxpayer’s money and handle it correctly.” The council also voted in favor of purchasing a 2017 Ford Explorer, which
Chamber hosting open paranormal investigation
Millbrook man charged with burglary, stalking By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
As a precursor to the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce’s Haunted History Tours, River Region Paranormal and the chamber are inviting the public to participate in a paranormal investigation of the chamber’s building, located at 116 East Bridge Street, at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15. According to Wetumpka Chamber Associate Director Jamie Young, who is also a member of River Region Paranormal, said the chamber’s building is one of the city’s most well-known haunted attractions. Young said the building was built in 1900 and originally served as the Bank of Wetumpka before it closed down during the Great Depression. See PARANORMAL • Page A2
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Cliff Williams / The Herald
The area around the Montgomery Regional Airport is seen from the rear top hatch of a B-17 bomber Monday.
WWII Bomber to be highlight of airshow By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
I
f you see military planes in the sky over the next few days, don’t fret. The area is not in danger as the Red Tails Over Montgomery Air Show is in town. One of the highlights of the show is the
World War II era B-17 bomber “Madras Maiden.” Of the nearly 13,000 Flying Fortresses made, only 13 are still flyable and even fewer fly on a regular basis. Owned by the Liberty Foundation, the “Madras Maiden” will be part of the static display at Saturday’s air show and Lt. Col. Ray Fowler will be See BOMBER • Page A10
Wetumpka invites contestants to sign up for Christmas pageant The city of Wetumpka is currently taking applications for the Miss Christmas on the Coosa pageant. Winners will represent the city at local holiday events. It is open to girls in Elmore County from kindergarten to 12th grade.
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
Registration recently opened for the Miss Christmas on the Coosa pageant, which is slated for Oct. 27 at the Wetumpka Civic Center. According to Wetumpka events coordinator Valencia Smith, the city will take applications from girls between kindergarten and 12th grade who live in Elmore County until Oct. 17. City clerk Tiffany Robinson said the pageant is the first of the city’s annual Christmas on the Coosa festivities. Robinson said winners are will serve as ambassadors during various Christmas on the Coosa See PAGEANT • Page A2
Submitted /
USPS 681-260
A Millbrook man was recently taken into custody and charged with multiple felonies following an incident in Wetumpka. Roger Dale McQueen McQueen, 26, who lists an address on Sandtown Road, was arrested by the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and charged with domestic violence burglary in the third degree, stalking in the first degree, domestic violence harassment in the third degree and criminal trespassing in the first degree on Aug. 27. According to Elmore County Sheriff Bill See MCQUEEN • Page A2
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