SPORTS: Bear Woods era to begin for Wetumpka football program, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 33 | $1.00
Elmore County students earn Alfa Foundation Scholarships WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Four local college students By Cliff Williams were among a Staff Writer group of 100 who earned a $1,000 scholarship through the competitive A virtual teacher atAlfa Elmore Foundation Scholarship County School’s EdgeProgram. program Richard Deatsville; has beenBurleson, arrested and charged Jackson Hand, Titus; Judson Harwith school employee distributing obscene and material to aLusstudin, Wetumpka; Abigail terdent. of Wetumpka each received a Elmore County Sheriff Bill scholarship. Franklin said Emmanuel The award may be used Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery toward tuition, fees, books or turned The himself authorities supplies. 100 into scholarship Tuesdayhail afternoon. recipients from 52 different
Wilson was the head basketball coach at Holtville High School and was placed on administrative leave Jan. 13 according to Elmore County BURLESON HAND Schools superintendent counties andRichwill attend 21 difard Dennis. ferent institutions. WILSON “We had a re- for young “It’s important port,”to Dennis people get a good education,” said.Insurance “We had a preliminary Alfa president Jimmy
sity studying political science. Luster is a sophomore at Auburn University studying animal sciences. was released on a Franklin said investigators Wilson investigation and handed it off Scholarships awarded bond 90 are minutes afto the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 based on academics, accordHe was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in participation school and community tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ingin to the Elmore County activJail trative leave at that time.” ities, honors, work experience website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. and futuresaid goals. The program “You could see a conversaDennis Wilson also is follow the same procedure administered Scholarship other through sports at Holtwhen administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached report of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being America. HARDIN LUSTER school staff and employees. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assisThroughout its history, the “Oncesaid. we “These hand itstudents over, we to hisstudying phone and tant football coach.Scholarship Parnell rep- security Auburn code University Alfa Foundation know littleofabout whatand is he was not responsible. Dennis staff$850,000 would resent very the future our state mechanical engineering. There Hand Programsaid hasother awarded for the duties of Wilson at going on,” said. “We isisother information we can’t filltoinstudents I’m glad we Dennis can support them a junior at Auburn University studying at Alabama he iscolleges on admincooperate with authorities if disclose I don’t think through these scholarships.” studyingnow civilbut engineering. Har- Holtville technicalwhile schools, and leave. necessary.” it’s Wilson.” Burleson is a freshman at dinbeneficial is a juniortoat Mr. Auburn Univer- istrative universities.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
Statewide gas prices down nearly 9 cents in one week
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
Staff report TPI Staff By Cliff Williams Average Staffgasoline Writer prices in Alabama have fallen 8.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging The $3.53Wetumpka per gallonChamber Monday, of accordCommerce held its ing to GasBuddy’s survey to of install 3,348 stations annual luncheon new officers and board in Alabama. Pricesfor in Alabama are 60.1 cents Thursday. members the first time in a while per gallonThe lower than a month ago and COVID-19 pandemic putstand a hamper on gath69.4 cents per gallon thancelebrated a year ago. erings but thehigher chamber the successes of The national average price of diesel has business in Wetumpka. declined 14.8 in the lastable week andthis stands “Wecents haven’t been to do for the last couat $5.27 ple per years,” gallon.chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your attendance is an indication peoplethe want to get back According to GasBuddy price reports, together and have these opportunities to see each See GAS, Page A5 See CHAMBER, Page A3 By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
TWO MORE WEEKS OF
FARMERS MARKET
Commission approves 2023 budget By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
T
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
omatoes, potatoes, squash, zucchini and cucumbers. Cakes, fried pies, casseroles and honey Flowers, friendly people and a great view of the Coosa River and downtown Wetumpka.
It’s been happening all summer long at the City of Wetumpka Farmers’ Market on Coosa Street. But only for two more weeks this season. Be sure to visit between 4 and 7 p.m. the next two Thursdays to find a laundry list of fresh vegetables, treats and more.
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
Elmore County already has a budget for fiscal year 2023, thanks in part to a process that started months ago. The process began in late spring with meetings among key staff, meetings with department heads in June and formal presentations to the Elmore County Commission before approval in August. The 2023 budget helps fund several needs See SHOOTING, Page A3 across the county and helps take care of employees. “We have included a potential for a five percent increase in healthcare premiums [for county employees to be covered by the county],” Commission Chair Troy Stubbs said. “We are anticipating increase. That is information that is not Staff an Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The known yet.” High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent The now fund nine Thecommission Alabama will Association of school perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, resource officersSchool — up from three — andinstill Secondary Principals attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic share 25 percent of online sales and col- Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase (AASSP) named Holtville Highuse tax“Kyle lected in the county with TalSchool principal KyleElmore FutralCounty the alandprincipal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent 2022school Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perlassee systems. cipal of the Year. and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency The budget also includes a new HVACing unit The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. and ice machine at the Elmore County Jail and CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging theorstaff and stuVendors sell a variety of colorful handmade hand-grown items at the Wetumpka Farmers Market every Thursday until the end of August. See BUDGET, Page A5 See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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