SPORTS: Edgewood Academy athletes participate in All-Star Game, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 50 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
‘He would have been alive today’
CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
Mother wants fire extinguishers in every vehicle after son’s death
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Teresa Cameron is using the trapped under the dash of his News Editor By Cliff Williams wasGardner the head basket-vehicle investigation andaccident handed it off deathWilson of her son Camfollowing the Staff Writer ball coach at Holtville authorities. eron to try and prevent unneces-Highand to thatthe he appropriate couldn’t escape the was He that wasfollowed also placed on adminisHow does a mother cope with sarySchool deaths and in automobile fires flames shortly virtual teacher at Elmore by placed adtrative leave at that time.” the A death of a child? springingon to action. afterwards. How does a mother copeprogram Gardner Cameron was killed “HeDennis could not getschool out,” TereCounty School’s Edge ministrative said officials knowing onearrested simple thing sa said of Gardner. “He called has been and might charged in March leave during Jan. an 13accident on follow the same procedure have death of distribher Oldaccording Salem Road withprevented school the employee to near El- Eclectic. when administrators receive a FIRE, Pageagainst A2 child? her son’s foot was report of See allegations uting obscene material to a stu- Teresa more said County school staff and employees. dent. Schools super“Once we hand it over, we Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richknow very little about what is Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if turned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
Central and south Alabama at risk for severe weather Wednesday
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.”
Chamber holds luncheon
Staff Report TPI Staff
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
welcoming members Santa comes to town on jet ski
Portions of central and south Alabama are at risk for severe storms on Wednesday. Early Tuesday, NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) added By Cliff Williams an “enhanced” level three severe weatherStaff riskWriter for southwest Alabama and expanded a lower-level threat Wetumpka for strongThe storms fartherChamber into the of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board state, including parts of Elmore members for the first time in a while Thursday. County. The COVID-19 pandemic Southwest Elmore County has aput a hamper on gatherings but the chamber celebrated the successes of level two “slight risk” and the northbusiness in Wetumpka. east portions of the county have a “We haven’t been able to do this for the last coustandard level one “marginal” risk. ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your Tornadoes, damaging winds and attendance is an indication people want to get back together and have these Page opportunities to see each See WEATHER, A3
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3
SUBMITTED | THE HERALD
The National Weather Service has defined a level two and level one threat of severe weather for portions of Elmore County Wednesday and Thursday.
A roadside memorial has been built on Old Salem Road Wilson was releasedby on friendsa and $6,000 bond 90 minutes familyafof ter turning himself in accordGardner Cameron. ing 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.
CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD
Christmas on the Coosa in Wetumpka was a huge hit with locals. At night, there was a parade, fireworks and Santa Claus on a jet ski. During the day, there was a festival with face painting, a car show and a market. For more photos from the events, visit www. thewetumpkaherald.com.
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
AWF’s Westervelt Forest officially open See SHOOTING, Page A3
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
general public,” AWF said in a release. “To date, non-native invasive grasses and trees have been treated and longleaf pine, loblolly pine and hardThe Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) has wood trees have been planted. Prescribed burnopened Westervelt Forest — a 70 acre working ing, establishing native warm season grass and Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The forest and wildlife demonstration area at AWF wildflower habitat and timber stand improvement High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent State Headquarters in Millbrook. practices in existing pine and mixed pine-hardThe Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement andfamily attendance in discipline wood referrals, The former farm anddecrease forest was stands are planned for 2023.” Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel50 percent decrease in chronic acquired by AWF in 2019 with the help of TuscaAccording to AWF Executive Director Tim L. (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, and absenteeism, percentGothard increasethe Westervelt Forest’s location will give loosa’s Westervelt Company others who7value School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent good land stewardship. AWF Land Stewardship Biologists the opportu2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified “The and addressed. increaseisinrehabilCCR rate andnity a 20topershared goalFutral’s for the property share what they have been doing to assist | THE HERALD cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to SUBMITTED managing leadership style of listening, cent increase in ACT proficiency itation of the forest and enwildlife habitat, docuprivate landowners for the last 20 years across Representatives the Alabama Wildlife Federation and The Westervelt The HighofSchool Principal of his (AWF) school,” Dennis said, Company unveiled couraging, supporting, organizingstory in and the last five years. menting the rehabilitation utilizing the Alabama. “Westervelt cuttingtoDec. 6.As The principal 70-acre working forest and wildlife the YearForest” awardwith wasa ribbon presented of Holtville High demonand challenging the staff and stuproperty for educational programs for landowners, stration at AWF Stateduring Headquarters in Millbrook will behas viewable to the 50,000+dents, an- caused Page A3 Futralarea, onlocated Friday, Jan. 28 a School, Futral transformed schoolprofessionals, culture to See FOREST, Page A3 naturalthe resource students See andPRINCIPAL, the FUTURAL nual visitors to AWF’s State Headquarters and Alabama Nature Center facility.
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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