See results from Elmore County's Best of 2022 voting inside Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 39 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
AHoltville jump start in farming High School basketball coach arrested Elmore County family gets grant for upstart farm
By Cliff Williams Writer ByStaff CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer A virtual teacher at Elmore County School’s Edge program Finding someone who is new has been arrested and charged to farming is tough. with school employee distribJust ask Alabama Agriculture uting obscene material to a stuCommissioner Rick Pate. dent. “You go to some ag meetings Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
Wilson was the head basketball coach at Holtville High and they will ask how many fifth School and was generation or fourth generation, placed on adeven seventh generation farmers ministrative there are,” Pate said. “They are leave Jan. 13 real proud and should be. But according to Elnobody asks if there are any more ever County first generation Schools super-farmers.” It’s because there are few intendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
Franklin said investigators Wilson was released on a investigation and handed it off to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes affirst generation farmers and the He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordbarriers to entry are hard. There tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” is finding property for some website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. would-be farmers or finding the “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure capital to start a farming operawhen administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holttion. But said there are still lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being report of Pate allegations against CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD school staff and employees. to contend hadarethe Ashley andsomeone Kade Campbell given the one head of five track $10,000coach grants and at an assisAlabama Ag FARMING, “Once we See hand it over, Page we A6security code to his phone and tant football coach. Credit banquet. know very little about what is he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at cooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminnecessary.” it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.
‘Back 2 Back’ Chamber holds luncheon welcoming members Wetumpka basketball legends ringed after 43 years of waiting
Some gas prices below $3,Police Hurricane Ian could change that
continue investigation, man no longer suspected
many factors driving prices both up and down across the country.” The lowest price of Average gasoline gasoline in Alabama fell prices in Alabama fell to $2.82 Sunday, but 2.5 cents per gallon in By HENRY family, and members of the community, the men By Cliff ZIMMER Williams Members some experts are saying the last week, averaging StaffWriter Writer of the Sports and women of Wetumpka High School’s only Hurricane Ian could cause $3.19 per gallon Monday, Wetumpkaprices to climb again. two basketball championships finally got their according to GasBuddy’s Thes the Wetumpka Chamber Commerce held itschampionship rings from the AHSAA. Chamber of “As Ian nears the U.S. survey of 3,348 stations saying goes, betteroflate than never. Commercecoast, some refiners could in Alabama. Prices in annual No luncheon to install and board The reasoning for why the teams never one knows that new betterofficers than the attend the see limited disruption,” members firstWetumpka time in a while Thursday. 1979 for andthe 1980 Indians basreceived their rings originally is widely disputAlabama are 24.3 cents chamber’s “A The COVID-19 a hamper on gath-ed, but that is all in the past as former players ketball team memberspandemic and staff,put who received Patrick De Haan, head per gallon lower than a Taste of Our but the chamber celebrated ofand coaches now have their jewelry to celebrate theirerings championship rings on Sunday the aftersuccesses 43 of petroleum analysis at month ago and stand 33.7 Home Town” business in Wetumpka. years of waiting. their historic accomplishments. GasBuddy, said Monday By Jake Arthur cents per gallon higher luncheon. morning. “As “We haven’t Surrounded by been able to do this for the last cou“We wanted to bring some excitement a precauChief Videographerthan a year ago. The CLIFF WILLIAMS/ ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your friends, and joy to Wetumpka,” said Curtis tion, GasBuddy has acti- national average price of THE HERALD attendance is an indication people want to get back Mitchell, member of the ‘79 team. vated its FuelPolice Availability has declined 5.1 are stilldiesel investigating the fatal together and have these opportunities to see each “That was our one goal.” Tracker for motorists cents in the last week shooting ininthe Wetumpka Walmart parkAs attendees filed into the Wetumpka Florida, Georgia, ing lotAlaon Jan. 20.and stands at $4.88 per See CHAMBER, Page A3 Civic Center, a slideshow was playing, bama and South Carolina. gallon. to the parking lot Police were dispatched displaying pictures and memories of those Hopefully, disruptions According to GasBudaround 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. legendary seasons. will be veryOnce limited duethey found Centell Winston, there, The crowds murmured after every picture, as See GAS, Page A5 to Ian, but there 42 ofremain Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound people remembered their friends, classmates and in the driver seat of his vehicle. former team members as they once were. According to Wetumpka police chief “Look at him…” Greg Benton, this was not a random shoot“Remember her?” ing. “I forgot you had hair like that!” “This was not random, not a random Nowadays, the afros are long gone and act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” the playing days are over, but the memThis is the first homicide in Wetumpka See LEGENDS, Page A3 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 By CLIFF WILLIAMS Perry said in a release. Staff Writer “The blessing of each See SHOOTING, Page A3 animal by name means Trinity Episcopal that God is mediating Church led by Rector health, healing and life Ally Perry, will bless for the benefit of the all the barking dogs and animal in its relationship meowing cats. with its human partners.” The church is planPerry will bless each Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The ning a special for 3 p.m. animal and its human High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent Sunday at the Wetumpka partner by name. The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, Farmers Market to com“Each pet will receive Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic memorate the Feast Day a blessing certifica(AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase of St. Francis of Assisi. tion reminiscent of the School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent “The service will recevent,” Perry said. “This 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perthe significance event promises to be a cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase inognize ACT proficiency of and give thanks for fun event, especially for The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. the gift of animals and the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuSee PRINCIPAL, A3 nature in Page our lives,” See PETS, Page A5 Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL Staff report TPI Staff
A
Blessing of the pets coming to Wetumpka Farmers Market
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
74 65 50 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 HIGH75 71LOW LOW 55 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