SPORTS: Wetumpka boys beat Tallassee in championship, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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Escaped inmate recaptured Georgia HoltvilleAlabama High School basketball coachinarrested By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Staff Writer The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) announced A virtual teacher at Elmore that an inmate who left his program work County School’s Edge has been arrested and charged with school employee distributing obscene material to a student. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
release assignment in MontgomeryWilson Tuesdaywas wasthe apprehended in head basketColumbus, Georgia, Thursday ball coach at Holtville High afternoon. School and was “Linwood placed on Harris ad- left his assigned job at ministrative Maaco Paint and leave Jan. 13 according to Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
Body in Montgomery,” ADOC said in a release about escape.it“The investigation andhis handed off subject may be driving a 2007 Silto the appropriate authorities. verwas Infiniti [Harris] was last He alsoG35. placed on adminisseen wearing brown pants, a black trative leave at that time.” Maaco shirt and a blue hat.” Dennis said school officials follow the same procedure when administrators receive a report of allegations against school staff and employees. “Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
The vehicle was located in Columbus, Georgia, and Harris Franklin said investigators was later taken into custody by the with the Elmore County SherColumbus Police Department. It is iff’s Office have the alleged vicexpected Harris will be extradited tim’s phone. Authorities collectAlabama.phone as well. edtoWilson’s “You could see a conversation between the two,” Franklin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
Harris was sentenced in May 2021 years in prisonon followWilsonto 15 was released a ing a third-degree robbery $6,000 bond 90 minutesconvicafin Russell County and was ter tion turning himself in accordincarcerated at the Frank Coming to the Elmore CountyLee Jail munity Work Center in Deatsville. website. Dennis said Wilson also coached other sports at Holtville schools including being the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Another round of severe storms possible Thursday Police Chamber holds luncheon continue
Tornado tracks across Lake Jordan By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Damage from Tuesday storms in Elmore County is mainly associated with Lake Jordan. Elmore County EMA Director Keith Barnett said no injuries were reported in the storms that started Tuesday afternoon and stretched into Wednesday morning. The first line of storms brought a EF-2 tornado, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The more than 14 hours of storms left numerous down, power lines damBy Clifftrees Williams Staff Writer See TORNADO, Page A3 The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board members for the first time in a while Thursday. The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gatherings but the chamber celebrated the successes of 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
welcoming members
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/
investigation, man no longer suspected
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
Police are still investigating the fatal | THE HERALD shooting in the WetumpkaSUBMITTED Walmart parkThe National Weather Service is predicting severe storms Thursday afternoon. All of Central Alabama is in the yellow, level two out of five, risk area. ing lot on Jan. 20. See CHAMBER, Page A3 Police were dispatched to the parking lot SUBMITTED | THE HERALD By KAITLIN FLEMING tral Alabama. In the “slight” risk around too 10:45 early p.m. to know this time. for aat“shots fired” call. An EF-2 caused damage to homes around Lake Jordan in area, wind gusts up to 60 mph and Once there, As forthey all severe weatherWinston, days, Managing Editor found Centell Elmore County. a tornado or two are possible with 42 of theTallassee, NWS urges to predeadeveryone of a gunshot wound thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. in the pare ahead for the possidriver seatofoftime his vehicle. s cleanup from last week’s The NWS emphasized that 60 ble storms. includes having According to This Wetumpka police chief storms continue, another day mph straight-line winds can be just a severe weather plan — which Greg Benton, this was not a random shootof stormy weather could be as dangerous as some smaller tor- ing.means knowing what to do in case possible Thursday. yourwas areanot is placed under According to the National Weath- nadoes, and that the best course of “This random, not aa severe random action is to not be outside during a thunderstorm warning or a tornaer Service (NWS), a dynamic sysact,” said Benton. “We believe the vic— andknew making tem is expected to move through the severe thunderstorm. tim do andwarning the perpetrator eachsure other.” The main timeframe for severe everyone in your family knows the Mississippi/Alabama region early This is the first homicide in Wetumpka storms comes Thursday around 2 plan. The most important step in Thursday morning. This system in over three years. The last homicide in p.m. and could last until around d the plan is having more than one could bring gusty winds outside the city tookway placeofinreceiving 2018. warn7 p.m. reliable of thunderstorm activity, including By CLIFF WILLIAMS “It’s not a good way to reliable start out ways the new Colder air will return to Alabama ings. The two most sustained winds up to 25 mph. News Editor year,” said Benton. are having a properly programmed Apart from strong winds, a torna- behind the storms. Friday could see Benton didn’t wantradio to speculate the temperatures hovering just shy of NOAA weather in your on home do or two could be possible, along For 20 years the Friends of the Wetump50 degrees and a few snow fluror business and having Wireless with periods of heavy rain. ka Library (FOWL) have been welcoming See SHOOTING, Page A3 ries could be possible early Friday Emergency Alerts (WEA) enabled Rain amounts up to one inch mystery authors to town for Murder on the morning for the northern third of on your cellphone. When WEA is are expected as the system moves Menu. the state. enabled on your cellphone, your through the area. This year is no different. On Sunday, Another round of storms could phone will sound a loud alarm and The NWS’s Storm Prediction Feb. 5 16 authors will cross the Bibb be possible Monday and Tuesday of vibrate strongly when your location Center has outlined a level two out Graves Bridge to have lunch and speak next week, but forecasters say it is is placed under a tornado warning. of five “slight” risk for all of Cenwith guests at the Wetumpka Civic Center. It’s a Idea brought to Wetumpka by Tammy Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The Lynn who got to know Margret Fenton in High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent Birmingham through a similar event called The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease incould discipline referrals, help find James Rives Road in Millbrook, Murder in the Magic City. Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel50 percent decrease in chronic Lewis Upchurch, 74, a Alabama.” “[Fenton] did it on behalf of a group (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionlence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase white male. Upchurch was described called Sisters in Crime,” Wetumpka Public School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proacmany of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent Staff Report located a missing Elmore “He may be living with as being six feet tall weighLibrary Director Susan Hayes said. “When 2022 Alabama High School Prin- started tive and in Staff his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate andthat a 20may per- impair ing 218 pounds with brown man. a condition Friends of the Wetumpka Library in innovativeTPI cipal We of the Year. around with bringing ing and centthe increase ACT proficiency a release enthrough hisinjudgment,” the release eyes and partially gray hair. 2001. played in approaches to managing leadership style ofInlistening, Alabama Law Enforcement stated. “He was last seen The search was canceled The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. The Millbrook Police Jan. on Tuesday at approximate- after the man had been the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challengingAgency the staffonand stu-3, police Seeduring AUTHORS, Page B2Futral hasDepartment See has safely were hoping thetopublic lyPRINCIPAL, 8:45 a.m. inPage theA3 area of located later that evening. Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 a School, transformed dents, caused the school culture FUTURAL
Wetumpka to welcome 16 authors for Murder on the Menu
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Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year Missing elderly man located
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