SPORTS: Wetumpka’s Kavosiey Smoke transfers to Colorado, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023 | VOL. 124, NO. 3 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
CALL TO ACTION: Want to help tornado victims? Here’s how.
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
Staff Report TPI Staff By Cliff Williams A donation Staff Writerdrop-off location has been established in Elmore County to provide aid toteacher those inatneed due A virtual Elmore toCounty recent severe weather events in School’s Edge program Autauga, Coosa and Elmore Counhas 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.
ties. Phoenix Wetumpka Industrial Wilson Investorswas havethe made around head basket200,000 square feet of their wareball coach at Holtville High house space located at 3145 Elmore School and was Rd., Wetumpka, available for donaplaced on and ad-storage. tion drop off ministrative “Elmore County is thankful leave Jan. 13 according to Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
NWS identifies EF-3 damage along longtrack tornado path
for the donated space Phoenix Wetumpka Industrial Investors is providing. We appreciate investigation and handed their it off community support as we partner to the appropriate authorities. to meet the needs of our citizens He was also placed on adminisand those in Autauga and Coosa trative at that time.” countiesleave affected by the events of Dennis said school the last week and a half,”officials Elmore 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.”
County Commission Chairman Bart at the gates guard house and indiMercer said. cate they are dropping off donations The location will begin receiving for the tornado victims. on a Franklin said investigators Wilson was released donations Monday, January 16, and If you wish to donate a large with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afbe in operation for the next several quantity of items, call 804-305iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordweeks. 6471 to schedule your donation, tim’sIndividuals phone. Authorities wishing tocollectprovide ing to the Elmore County Jail eddonations Wilson’sshould phoneenter as well. See HELP, Page A3 the facility website. “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtlin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being to contend someone had the the head track coach and assissecurity code to his phone and tant football coach. he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminit’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
Wetumpka celebrates
MLK Day
Chamber holds luncheon
By KAITLIN FLEMING Managing Editor
The violent severe weather last ThursBy CLIFF WILLIAMS day, Jan. 12, has now been identified as News Editor a long-track EF-2 and in some places, an EF-3, tornado. According to the National Weather SerMarchers marked Dr. Martin vice (NWS), the storm began just east of Luther King Jr. Day by walkU.S. Highway 82 in Autauga County at ing from Rogers Chapel AME 12:48 p.m., where a manufactured home Zion Church to the Dr. Martin By Cliff Williams was rolled Luther King Jr. Recreation Staffalong Writer County Road 40. Over the next two miles, the tornado rapidly Center. strengthened as it approached the of Old The Wetumpka Chamber Commerce held its Kingston community, EF-3 damage annual luncheonwhere to install new officers and board began along County Road 43. members for the first time in a while Thursday. “At this location, at least three manuThe COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathfactured homes were obliterated with their erings but the chamber celebrated the successes of frames thrown up to 100 yards,” An NWS business in Wetumpka. report on the storm damage stated. “A “We haven’t able toand do this for the last coupickup truck was sentbeen airborne landed ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell 120 yards to the northeast, where a shal- said. “Your attendance is an indication people want to get back low crater was formed by its impact.” together and have these opportunities The storm became fatal as it continued to see each its path of destruction on Sandy Ridge See CHAMBER, Page A3 Road. “In total, five fatalities occurred along Sandy Ridge Road at three separate residences,” the report said. Two more fatalities were recorded on County Road 140, at the eastern end of the road. “At least five manufactured homes were blown away with their frames thrown considerable distances,” the report continued. “Several vehicles were picked up and thrown, and one pickup truck had its cab separated from the bed.” The storm continued to do damage in Autauga County, but the worst of the damage seems to have been in the three mile stretch of County Road 43 to County Road 42. According to the NWS, wind speeds reached at least 150 mph. “Based on the damage scene and con-
welcoming members
Songs of praise and remembrance rang out from the streets as they were led by Masons along the way. When they reached the center they gathered for speakers and food all in an effort to unite Members the community and pass along of the history. Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer 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, 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound in the driver seat of his vehicle. According to Wetumpka police chief Greg Benton, this was not a random shooting. “This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” This is the first homicide in Wetumpka in over three years. The last homicide in the city took place in 2018. “It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the See SHOOTING, Page A3
See PATH, Page A2
Guided crater tour returns next month Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Marilee Tankersley said. “The next the Wetumpka Civic Center at 6:30 week, down.” News Editor schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of aeverything shift in ashut positive direction. Thep.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 to give a leccommission hasa flyHigh School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low The mo- crater school experienced 62 percentture on the crater and its creation. ers to allow self-directed tours The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was nearly rale, achievement referrals, “He hasn’t been back since we It has been three years and attendance decrease in discipline but the guided tours provide even more Secondary School Principals in attendance for thesince presentation. to a school strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronicstopped the guided tours,” Tankerthe Wetumpka Impactthat Crainformation. (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increasesley said. “We normally have about ter exceptionCommission lence. has been able to “We have hadgraduation lots of interest School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and isoffer veryguided proac-tours many of the school’s of the crater rim issues were in the rate, 33 percent75 to 100 people for it, but we in this,” Tankersley said. “We area 20 per-expect more this time given its been because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and thrilled to be able to offer this guided toursleadership return Feb. 25.of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiencya few years.” cipal of the Year. ing and approachesThe to managing style SUBMITTED | THE HERALD again.” Tankersley said King’s lecture at “Our last guided tour was in High School Principal school,” couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. TheThe National Weather Service confirmedof that a his strong long- Dennis said, Auburn University professor of March 2020,” Impactthe staff and stuthetornado Year award was presented to done Asin principal of Holtville High Wetumpka and challenging track was responsible for the damage Coogeology Dr. David See T. King will bePage at A3 See TOUR, Page A3 Crater Commission vice chair PRINCIPAL, Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to sa, Elmore and Tallapoosa County on Thursday afternoon. FUTURAL Staff Report
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
71 65 58 55 High High
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low
USPS USPS681-260 681-260 THURS: THURS:HIGH HIGH69 71LOW LOW 39 53
a k p m u Wet
Flea Market & Antiques 5266 U.S. Hwy. 231 • Wetumpka, AL (Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC)
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666