SPORTS: Another Wetumpka softball player commits to college ball, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
By Cliff Williams An Elmore Staff Writer resident and former City of Wetumpka firefighter is facing chargesatrelated A virtual teacher Elmore to County child pornography afterprogram being School’s Edge arrested in June on felony sex has been arrested and charged abuse withcharges. school employee distribJohn obscene Carter, 32, of Elmore, uting material to a stuwas arrested Tuesday and dent. charged withCounty possession of pornElmore Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
graphic material, distribution of Wilson wasobscene the headmaterial, basketelectronic ball coach at HoltvillesolicitaHigh tion and enticing School and was a child for immorplaced on administrative al purpose. In leave Jan. June, 13 Carter was CARTER charged with facilaccording to Elitating the travel more County ofSchools a child, supersecond-degree sexual abuse upgraded intendent Rich-to a felony and ard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
transmitting obscene material to started in June when the father be released from the Elmore a child by a computer. of a child under 16 came and County Jail until court proceedWetumpka police Lt. Nicholas made a statement to investigaings andwas currently has aon bond Franklin said investigators Wilson released a of investigation and handed it off Betts said the new charges are tors resulting in Carter’s June $45,000 available to him on to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes af-the a result of the investigation that iff’s arrest. recent charges. Office have the alleged vic- termost turning himself in AccordaccordHe was also placed on adminisstarted earlier this year. Benton said the investigation ing to court records, the June tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” “Another victim wasofficials found in edrevealed Carter used Snapchat towebsite. charges have been bound over Wilson’s phone as well. Dennis said school his electronics,” Betts said. send to aa child under Dennis for presentation to a grand jury. “Youmessages could see conversasaid Wilson also follow the same procedure Theadministrators investigation isreceive still ongothe between age of 16.the two,” Frank- coached Carter resigned a tion other sportshisatposition Holt- at when ing. of allegations against lin said. Carter“Mr. posted a $105,000 the schools Wetumpka Fire Department report Wilson is going ville including being Wetumpka police chief Greg tobond in June. He posted Maytrack just before his arrest school staff and employees. contend someone hada the theinhead coach and assis-in Benton investigation $9,000 cash to tant June. “Oncesaid we the hand it over, we security code bond to hisTuesday phone and football coach. know very little about what is he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would 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.
Millbrook council to consider $42 Chamber holds luncheon million in bonds
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected TRAINING TOMORROW’S AUTOMOTIVE
welcoming members
on Highway 14. Phase 1 of the project is already open. The city At its By next meeting, the and Elmore County offiCliff Williams Millbrook City Council cials cut the ribbon on the Staff Writer will be voting on financing complex in August. At a portions ofThe theWetumpka 17 SpringsChamber cost ofofapproximately $80its Commerce held project. annual luncheon to install million, is already newPhase officers and board In a legal ad in for Thethe first time underway and Thursday. includes members in a while WetumpkaThe Herald the Citypandemic a largeput field house with COVID-19 a hamper on gathof Millbrook notice a stadium eringsgave but the chamberbasketball celebratedcourt, the successes of the council will take up with a track and six softbusiness in Wetumpka. a $42 million issue balltofields. “Webond haven’t been able do thisElmore for the County last couto pay for of the isClay providing financial and pleportions years,” chairperson McConnell said. “Your attendance is an indication want to get sports and retail complex Seepeople MILLBROOK, Pageback B2 together and have these opportunities to see each By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
TECHNICIANS CLIFF WILLIAMS/
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. See CHAMBER, Page A3 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 aTallassee, dead of a gunshot By CLIFF WILLIAMS come in and get dirty. We have high school student. He wound in the driver seat of his vehicle. News Editor soap and they will wash up. got that job on his own. The to who Wetumpka police But these kids will go back toAccording gentleman owns the shop chief Greg Benton, this was not a random shoott looks like any automotive school for the rest of the day reached out to me.” ing. shop. with dirty hands. They will Thanem’s job has already random, a random A roll-up door revealing have oil and grease on them.”“This putwas himnot in the middle not of the act,” said Benton. “We believe the viclifts and tools. There are even Some of Warren’s students shop and not on the side looktim and the perpetrator knew each other.” cars on the lifts in various are already working on cars for ing in. This is the first homicide in Wetumpka states of repair. A few parked money. Holtville High School “I have gotten all the way in over three years. The last homicide in out front too. But what sepsenior Landon Thanem likes down to pulling motors out,” the city took place in 2018. arates this automotive shop cars, especially sports cars. “It’sThanem said. “I have done SUBMITTED | THE HERALD not a good way to start out the new from others — everyone there “I like the ‘Fast and Furiother small things. One car, we Ronnie Lovejoy Sr. as published in the British magazine Juke Blues. year,” said Benton. is in high school. The only ous’ cars,” Thanem said. “I Benton broke the whole thing down. on the There is a festival next month to honor the Wetumpka native for didn’t want to speculate exception is Elmore County like muscle cars too.” He needed gaskets, brakes and his contributions to Blues music. Technical Center automotive Thanem’s current vehicle rotors. We needed to do motor See SHOOTING, Page A3 service technology instructor is a Toyota 4Runner he has mounts, that was a headache. DJ Warren. already rebuilt the front end. I did the condenser and other On any given day, dozens After watching his father work freon stuff.” of students are not only getting on cars, Thanem developed his Warren’s other students are instructions in a classroom on own hobby a few years ago. working too. how to repair an automobile, Now, he has had a part-time “Some are working partthey are getting their hands job as an automotive technitime in parts houses,” Warren Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The dirty under the hood. cian. said. “We have them in several High By CLIFF WILLIAMS recording ofSchool. “ Sho’ Elmore Wasn’t County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent “You can’t be scared to “He is not just a lub tech,” places within the industry getTheEditor Alabama AssociationMe” of what perintendent Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, News many in Richard the come in and work,” Warren Warren said. “He is a fullting experience beyond here.” Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic Southeast and his native said. “You can’t be scared to blown mechanic. He is also See TRAINING, Page A5 (AASSP) named Holtville “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase Ronnie Lovejoy Sr. died High Wetumpka already knew principal Kyle Futral— thehe could al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent 22School years ago but his songs play and sing 2022 tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perlive on.Alabama High School Printhe blues. cipal the Year. ingsong and really approaches increase in ACT proficiency Twoof years before Love“That turnedto managing leadership style of listening, en- cent CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. joy’s 2001 death, the world the tables,” Lovejoy told Elmore County Technical Center automotive service technology instructor D.J. Warren, center, shows students inthe Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and studiscovered through his See FESTIVAL, Page B2 Eiland, right, keys to a part on anPage air conditioning rebuild in the shop Thursday. See PRINCIPAL, A3 Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed cluding dents,Summer caused the school culture tolook for installing FUTURAL
I
Wetumpka native, blues singer to be remembered Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year with festival
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