27, 2022
AUGUST TBALL EDITION KLY HIGH SCHOOL FOO a Co. 22 ... Page 12 ALABAMA’S BIGGEST WEEBryant 35, Holtville 29 ... Page 8 Coosa 34,22,Talladeg 13 Stanhope 14 ... Page 22 ... Page 2 Wetumpka 24, Baker 14 ... Page 4 Ben Russell 33, Clay Central 12 ... Page 6 Tallassee 21, Booker T.
Alma ...... Page 9 Statewide Scoreboard .............0 ... Page 10 ille Elmore County 41, Autaugav
Eufaula d 7 ... Page 14 Autauga County 22, Edgewoo
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Edgewood Academy runs onto the eld before their season opener on Friday night.
SPORTS EXTRA: See scores and coverage of local high school games inside Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
SPORTS EXTRA WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 35 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Main Street Wetumpka recognized by state organization
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By Cliff Williams Main Street Alabama Staff Writer awarded Main Street Wetumpka with three teacher of its nine A virtual at Elmore Awards of excellence County School’s Edgelast program week. has been arrested and charged At the Mainemployee Street Alawith school distribbama annual Awards utingninth obscene material to a stuofdent. Excellence banquet, Main Street Wetumpka homeBill Elmore Countytook Sheriff Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
the Main Street Hero Award for a partnership with the City of Wetumpka Public Wilson was the head basketWorks Department, Excelball coach at Holtville High lence in Business Promotion School and was for Main on Street placed ad-Wetumpka’s Galentine’s on ministrative Main event and Excellence leave Jan. 13in Planning/ Public Space for Main Street according to ElWetumpka’s work on the more County Company Street streetscape. Schools superMain Street Wetumpka intendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
executive director Haley N. Greene was proud to see the efforts of volunteers and staff investigation and handed it off at Main Street Wetumpka to the appropriate authorities. being recognized. He was also placed on adminis“Weleave wereatthrilled to trative that time.” receive three awards at the Dennis said school officials Main Street Alabama Awards follow the same procedure of Excellence banquet last a when administrators receive [week],” said. against “We are report of Greene allegations thankful forand Main Street Alaschool staff employees. “OnceSeewe hand it over, weA2 MAIN STREET, Page know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
Franklin said investigators with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office have the alleged victim’s phone. Authorities collected Wilson’s phone as well. “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.”
Wilson was released on a $6,000 bond 90 minutes after turning himself in according to the Elmore County Jail 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.
HONORING KELLY AT THE KELLY Police Chamber holds luncheon continue
Impact crater inspires Eagle Scout Project
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Memorial Gallery on Company Street. The drawings, painting, illustrations and watercolors were on display for an opening reception Thursday evening as the Kelly honored
J welcoming members
Drew Powell was looking for a community service project to help him earn the rank of Eagle Scout. After a discussion with Wetumpka Crater Commission chairman Kevin Reuter, they had found perfect opportunity for Powell. Bythe Cliff Williams “Wetumpka has one of the best preserved Staff Writer marine craters on planet Earth,” Reuter said. “This wasThe advertised on the main thoroughWetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its fare U.S.annual Highway 231.” to install new officers and board luncheon But there was afor problem members the firstwith timethe in coma while Thursday. mission sign Powell soon had his Theand COVID-19 pandemic putEagle a hamper on gatherings but the chamber celebrated the successes of Scout project. business in Wetumpka. “About two years ago a pretty rough “We haven’t been ableReuter to do said. this for the last coustorm destroyed that signage,” ple years,” ClayconstrucMcConnell said. “Your “Fortunately, Drewchairperson created a new is an indication people tion plan,attendance list of materials, floated his planwant to get back together and have these opportunities to see each through scout leadership for approval and recreated the signage for the Wetumpka craSee CHAMBER, Page A3 ter.” Now the crater commission has its advertising back up on the main thoroughfare. The Crater Commission has tours in late winter when the foliage is still dormant. These guided tours help educate both residents and tourists on one of the most horrific disasters that shaped the Wetumpka landscape. Visit http://www.wetumpkaimpactcratercommission.org for tour dates and times.
ohn Kelly Fitzpatrick and his friends’ artwork are now on display at the Kelly Fitzpatrick
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD
its namesake and Wetumpka native, Fitzpatrick. The exhibition will be up until Sept. 20. The Kelly is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
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
‘YOU ARE BLESSED’
Chamber program reinforces what’s in the backyard See SHOOTING, Page A3
speaker for the luncheon to remind dant in the area. everyone water is crucial to Wetump“Every beautiful city seems to ka. have a river running through it,” Creeks, streams, rivers and lakes “On Saturdays, just look at Coosa Townsend said. “You are blessed. all acrossthe Alabama. Whitfield said. The The festivals and events you have schoolwide assembly atare Holtville school culture from that River of a Adventure,” shift in a positive direction. In Wetumpka they can’t be missed. is full.” a 62 percent usually have something to do with High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low “The mo- parking school lot experienced “You throw a cat from and the attendance To help explain activities are the water.” perintendent Richard Dennis wascan rale, achievement decrease inwhat discipline referrals, backyard andtoita will land in strives water,”for excelavailable and near water ininAlain attendance for the presentation. school that 50on percent decrease chronic Townsend said all of Alabama has Wetumpka Area of Com-with staff, bama and the history7ofpercent hydroelectric “Kyle Futral is an exceptionlence.Chamber By collaborating absenteeism, increase abundant water resources that can be merce executive Shellie issues were power in Whitfield al principal and is very proacmanydirector of the school’s in the region, graduation rate, 33invitpercent used for many things. tive and innovative in his think- said identified and addressed. in CCR rate andPower a 20 per- “We are very blessed,” Townsend Whitfield at the chamber’s sum-Futral’s ed Lee increase Townsend of Alabama ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening,Company’s en- cent increase ACT proficiency said. “We just have so many more mer luncheon. ShorelineinManagement his school,” Dennis said, Whitfieldcouraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. used the fact that water Group. Townsend remarked about rivers than surrounding states. SomeAs principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff stu- the Coosa River, Lake Jordan is such an important part of life in andhow See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 School, Futral has transformed dents, school See CHAMBER, Page A3 Elmore County to caused plan a the theme andculture andtothe streams and creeks are abunFUTURAL By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year Staff Report The Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) named Holtville High School principal Kyle Futral the 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year. The High School Principal of the Year award was presented to Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a
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