SPORTS: Crumbaugh’s intuition puts him one step ahead, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 34 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Giving back through Operation Helping Heroes
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS community.” is now dating a police officer in North Staff Writer Hudgins should know. Many in her Carolina. He just graduated from the By Cliff Williams Franklin said investigators Wilson washave the head basketWilson was released on a and handed it off family and are involvedinvestigation in law academy.” Staff Writer thechief Elmore at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. When Country Financial told agentball coach enforcement across the Southeast. Wetumpka deputywith police Ed County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afiff’s Office the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordSchool and He wasoffialso placed on thanked adminis-Hudgins Lani Hudgins it had a donation to help “Mywas husband is a former police Reeves for thehave support. virtual teacher at Elmorearea, tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail placedceron adtrative leave at that firstAresponders in the Wetumpka in Montgomery,” Hudgins said. “He “Wetime.” greatly appreciate it,” Reeves School’s Edge to program ministrative website. school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. sheCounty knew the right place go. went through the academy [in Dennis Mont- said said. has been arrested charged “You could see a conversaJan. 13in 1995 and we went Dennis said Wilson also follow procedure Operation Helpingand Heroes is a pro-leave gomery] down the same Hudgins joked about the police a totion withfrom school employee distribaccording to El- He was a deputy in when administrators receive gram Country Financial to provide to Florida. Pinellas department trying cashbetween the checkthe shetwo,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtof allegations against uting obscene material to a stu-supplies said. Wilson is going ville schools including being more County. County funding for essential equipment, Now we are back inreport Alabama.” brought for pictures lin — the big“Mr. cardboard school staff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assisSchools superand support for heroes in the community. Now Hudgins’ husband is a volunteer one. “Once we hand it over, we Elmore County Sheriff Bill security code to his phone and tant football coach. intendent Rich“They said, ‘We have this available firefighter in Elmore County but she still “I have a big check but have a real know very little about what is Franklin said Emmanuel Andre he was not responsible. There ard Dennis. Dennis said other staff would and it’s for heroes,” Hudgins said. “The has current ties to law enforcement. check as well,” Hudgins said. “It’s my | THE HERALD WILSON of Wilson at going on,” Dennis said. “We Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery is other information we can’t “We had a refill in for the dutiesSUBMITTED only heroes I think of really are police “My brother in law is a police officer honor to be able to help y’all. I want to Members of the Wetumpka Police Department accept a donacooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminturned himself into authorities port,” Dennis officers. I know what they do for the in Florida,” Hudgins said. “My daughter be able to give back to the community.” tion from Operation Helping Heroes. Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
Chamber’s reIMAGINE Women’s Summit attracting attention
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce By Cliff Williams is hosting a conference to inspire women. Staff Writer Chamber Executive Director Shellie Whitfield is hoping the reIMAGINE The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its Women’s Summit will show women they annual luncheon to install new officers and board are not stuck in being stereotyped. members for the first time in a while Thursday. “The idea is if we reimagine ourselves The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathoutside erings of the but age-old narrative, then we the chamber celebrated the successes of in turn can imagine ourselves in busibusiness in Wetumpka. ness,” Whitfield said.been “In able turn to imagine “We haven’t do this for the last couthe impact we can have within our com- said. “Your ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell munitiesattendance and beyond.” is an indication people want to get back The chamber has have linedthese up seven together and opportunities to see each women speakers from across the nation See CHAMBER, Page A3 and no two are the same. “We are bringing in women of all See REIMAGINE, Page A2
Chamber hosting summer luncheon By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Members of the 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
SATURDAYS WITH SAWYER DOWNTOWN ART EVENT TO SHOWCASE LOCAL ARTISTS
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
D
on Sawyer is bringing his artNautical but Nice is coming to the ist friends back to downtown Wetumpka Civic Center thanks to the Wetumpka Saturday for the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce. Downtown Artists Downtown Art This year’s summer luncheon is meant Show. to reintroduce chamber members and othSee SHOOTING, Page A3 Sawyer believes Wetumpka is ers to the outdoor opportunities available an artist mecca with its downtown in the area. shops, galleries and artists in the “We wanted to focus on how amazing streets. it is that we are surrounded by water “What we are doing is trying and outdoor recreation,” Wetumpka Area to show everyone Wetumpka is an Chamber of Commerce Executive Direcart center,” Sawyer said. “We have torStaff Shellie Whitfield said. “There schoolwide is so Report assembly at Holtville the school culture from all these artists in Wetumpka and that of a shift in a positive direction. The much to do. I am constantly amazed at School. Elmore County High Su- They school with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent nearby. are asstruggling good as any Alabama Richard Dennis wasthe country. rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, howThe many peopleAssociation that live in of this perintendent region across We can comSecondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic that don’t know or either take advantage pete with SOHO.” “Kyle Futral is an exceptionBy collaborating of(AASSP) that.” named Holtville High Sawyer lence. said some of the artistswith staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase School principal Kylearea Futral the al principal and is veryrepresented proac- many the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent Whitfield said the is thriving on in theofshow have their 2022 Alabama tive and innovative in hiswork thinkidentified andNew addressed. tourism efforts High sinceSchool HGTVPrinhighlighted on display in the York Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 percipal of and the Year. ing and approaches to managing the area believes the public needs galleries. leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. Downtown Wetumpka artist Don Sawyer has started to invite a few of his artist friends for the Year award wasSee presented to As principal of Holtville High and staff stuLUNCHEON, Page A2 See challenging ART EVENT,the Page A6and Saturdays with Sawyer. 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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