SPORTS: Wetumpka celebrates homecoming this week, B3 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 38 | $1.00
Sex offender gets 20 years in prison Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
13 counts of the Class C felony Wilson waspossession the head basketof ball coach at Holtville High child pornography School and was is guilty of only one count dismissed. Judge A virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adof electronic solicitation of a Joy Pace Booth County School’s Edge program ministrative child. sentenced Grier has been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 To protect a child from testo the maximum with school employee distrib- GRIER according to Eltifying, a plea deal was struck. of 20 years on the uting obscene material to a stu- more County The deal saw 14 counts of the charge. dent. Schools superClass A felony production Had GrierRichgone to trial and Elmore County Sheriffof Bill intendent porngraphy with minors and found guilty on Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. all 28 counts, WILSON Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a returned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. said. “We had a preliminary By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Staff Writer Technically, Conner Grier
Booth could have stacked the She prosecuted Grier in juvenile That case includes facts such as sentences consecutively with court in 2018 where he was beastilty.” Franklin said investigators Wilson released on a and handed it off ainvestigation maximum sentence of 1,536 found guilty of production of Grier was was in the juvenile with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afto the appropriate authorities. years. Instead, Grier will be porngraphy and served three system at 15 years old. He also He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordin his 40s when he is released years with the Alabama Depart- graduated from high school. tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” from prison and must register as ment of Youth Services. He got married and was just website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. a sex offender. “It was absolutely horrific,” starting a job as a corrections “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure Chief assistant district attorJohnson told Booth at Grier’s officer with the Alabama when administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtney Mandy Johnson said she sentencing. “In the 15 years Department of Corrections report of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being has been dealing with Grier, of my career, it is the single when he was arrested April school staff and employees. to contend someone had the the head track coach andinassis23, for years even though this worst most disgusting juvenile “Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. See OFFENDER, Page A6 is Grier’s adult conviction. case ever been a There part of. Dennis said know veryfirst little about what is he wasI have not responsible. other staff would going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
Council approves ‘tight’ budget Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
this budget as we go,” Willis told the council. “We will look for ways Mayor Jerry Willis and to cut some corners and Wetumpka officials are save some money.” confident in the finanPreviously, the council cial plans City passed a capital projects By for Cliffthe Williams of Wetumpka. But at the plan to cover the next Staff Writer same time understand the four years listing where $19 million year Chamber funding was to come Thefiscal Wetumpka of Commerce held its 2024 budget from.new Willis saidand theboard plan annualapproved luncheon to install officers at Monday’s council tookininto account the members for the first time a while Thursday. meeting will carefulpandemic upcoming The take COVID-19 put a fiscal hamperyear. on gathmanagement. erings but the chamber celebrated the successes of See COUNCIL, Page A6 “We will be tweaking 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 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
RIGHT PLACE, PERFECT TIME CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. Police were dispatched to the parking lot around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Once there, they found Centell Winston, By CLIFF WILLIAMS It was an immediate cardiac42 ofwas a hugedead deal.” Tallassee, of a gunshot wound in the driver seat ofand hisMurray vehicle.had News Editor arrest.” Ballenger Wetumpka police chief Ballenger looked to staff According the AEDtopads on Brabhan Benton, this wasfive not atorandom f there was ever a perfect member Kyle Murray and Greg and completed six shooting. rounds of compressions when time and place to go into said, “Get everything and call “This was not a random cardiac arrest, Elmore 911. It’s go time.” Schwab andrandom, his teamnot of five said Benton. “We believe the vicCounty’s Bob Brabhan expeThe YMCA staff clearedact,” firefighters arrived. tim and “Brady the perpetrator knew each other.” rienced it on July 26. the pool deck of campers and and Kyle were This is the first homicide in Brabhan shocked the staff other members. doing CPR and the AEDWetumpka on in over lasthere,” homicide in of the Wetumpka YMCA and Two staff members took Mr.three Bobyears. when The we got the city took place 2018. the Wetumpka Fire DepartBrabhan’s two year old Schwab said. in “The pads were “It’s not a good way to start out the new ment when he fell ill in the grandson inside to keep him there. We just unplugged said from Benton. pool that morning. distracted. Seconds later, year,”them AED and plugged Benton didn’t want to speculate on the Wetumpka YMCA sports Murray arrives with a bag them into our machine.” and aquatics director Brady and AED and compressions Just like the YMCA staff, SHOOTING, Ballenger and staff were start on Brabhan. Schwab hadSee a team helping Page A3 about to supervise more Luckily, the Wetumpka too. than 40 day campers as they Fire Department was out of “All of us are better than swam. Ballenger was talking the station and on U.S. High- one of us,” Schwab said. “We to a mother when someone way 231 when they got the each had a job. One guy was grabbed his attention scream- call and was quick to provide pulling stuff out of the bag. ing, “We need your help.” assistance and backup. One was doing chest comthe school fromand that of a shift a positive Thepressions. I was working the “I lookculture over there “Weinwent to thedirection. redschool struggling with low school experienced 62 percentmonitor. We worked together Mr. Bob had fallen into themo- light, turned around,acame rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline water,” Ballenger said. “We right back,” Wetumpka referrals,as a team.” topulled a school that strives for excel50 percent decrease in chronic But Brabhan’s heart still him out, took a pulse Fire Department Lt. Brian lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase and there wasn’t anything. Schwab. “Our response time See VICTIM, Page A6 many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perleadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD couraging,Wetumpka supporting, organizing in the lastdirector five years. YMCA sport and aquatics Brady Ballenger, left, meets Bob Brabhan and challenging the staff and stujust weeks after he performed CPR on Brabhan while daughter Audrey Shaw looks on. See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL
YMCA staff and firefighters team up to save cardiac arrest victim
I
CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD
A fresh coat of paint was applied to one of the main buildings at Camp Chandler Thursday. It’s quick work when nearly two dozen Spire employees take the day off and all grab a paint brush, roller or sprayer.
Working on a day off for a good cause
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
STAFF REPORT “The work is part of TPI Staff Spire’s ‘Day for Good’ Staff Report assembly at Holtville effort,”schoolwide Spire spokesperHighRose School. Most people with a son Molly saidElmore in a County SuAlabama of perintendent Richard dayThe off from workAssociation try statement. “It allows every Dennis was School in attendance for the presentation. toSecondary escape the job and Principals Spire employee eight (AASSP) named Holtville High Futral coworkers. hours of“Kyle paid time off isto an exceptionSchool Kyle the al principal and is very proacBut forprincipal more than 20 Futralvolunteer for a nonprofit 2022employees, Alabama High School Printive and innovative Spire volunor organization of their in his thinkcipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing teering together at Camp choice.” The High School Principal of school,”took Dennis Chandler on Lake Jordan Spirehisvehicles oversaid, the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High last week was just what Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has See WORKING, Page A6transformed they wanted to do.
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