INSIDE TODAY
Wetumpka claims area softball title.
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Cancer took the life of a friend, but not his legacy.
SPORTS, PAGE A7
OPINION, PAGE A4
THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • MAY 10, 2017
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 119, NO. 19
Commission talks high-speed Internet
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The Elmore County Commission held a short but informative meeting, and, with little on the agenda, an important topic arose by way of the commissioner’s reports where an at-length discussion was held on the state of the county’s Internet service. “This is really and truly an economic development issue,” County
Commissioner Bart Mercer said at one point during his report. The talks seemed intended to not only inform residents of the commission’s efforts regarding access to high speed Internet service, but also to spell out what the nature of the relationship was between Internet service providers and the county commission. The topic of Internet service has circulated through social media at length, garnering dozens of comments and some
suggestions to take the issue up before the commission. Mercer said through his combined work with the Elmore County Economic Development Authority he had been looking into just what the county’s role was, its capabilities and its limitations in getting residents and businesses access to high-speed and broadband online access. He said he was aware of areas within the county that did not have access to
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Kayak Bass Fishing Trail makes local tourney stop By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Local 3-18-year-olds can spend June and July under the watchful care of a Wetumpka police sergeant, having two meals a day plus snacks, taking field trips and playing at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. Sgt. Ella Roberts said registration is now open for the City of Wetumpka’s C.J. Deputy Summer Program. She gave a break down of the details she said parents and guardians needed or might want to know before registering a child in the program. Roberts wanted to relay these things to the public: • The last day of
this service. “You know it hasn’t been that many years back when high-speed Internet was not totally necessary to conduct life as we normally all would,” said Mercer. “But that’s changed. We have all of our businesses, in order for them to operate in a efficient manner and in order for our students to do their homework in many cases they have to have access to high
David Granger / The Herald
Thousands of rubber ducks race down the Coosa River Saturday, back. In the end, it was the duck belonging to Sam Adams of Montgomery crossing the finish line first, winning $1,500.
PRIZE-WINNING DUCK
Duck proves lucky for Montgomery man, Rotarians By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
“Rubber ducky, you’re the one …” So go the words to Ernie’s song from “Sesame Street” about his favorite bathtub toy. But on Saturday, some 2,353 rubber ducks found their way from Sesame Street to a section of the Coosa River here in Wetumpka
to help raise money for the city’s Rotary Club to use in its efforts to support charitable causes throughout the year. The ducks were bagged in a huge white plastic bag, hoisted above the river from the Bibb Graves Bridge in a bucket truck and, after a countdown, dropped in the river to race toward Gold Star Park on a course See DUCKS • Page A2
The water was warmer this weekend and the fishing was much better on both the Coosa River and Lake Jordan than it was for Wetumpka’s debut on the Kayak Bass Fishing tour in April with the oneon-one Best of the Best battle between kayak fishing titans Matt Ball and Jay Wallen. This weekend, Wetumpka’s twin waters were the battlegrounds for some 40 kayak bass fishermen from 10 states who participated in the city’s 2017 KBF Trail event on Saturday. “We had a good turnout for a first event,” said Gerry Purcell, executive director of the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce. “We had a little more than 40 fishermen who participated from 9 states, including the Carolinas and Ohio. “The fish were biting. We had some really good fish come from the Coosa. Had some good feedback from the anglers, a lot of them had never fished the Coosa. Some of them that never had were hesitant to fish the river, but they said they’d be back and try it. It was a good way for us to get our feet See FISHING • Page A3
Wetumpka Elementary students channel classic painters By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The red carpet was rolled out at Wetumpka Elementary School’s “Art Under the Stars” for the families of the adolescent artists who’s inimitable reproductions of the styles of renowned painters’ styles adorned the halls of the school. Walking into the school out of the late Thursday downpour, parents and guardians were greeted by the students, who handed out brochures with information about the evening. Just off the red carpet, a local music teacher was playing and singing “’Til there
was you.” The hallways were dimly lit with stringed lights, hence “Art Under the Stars.” “Every grade level has an artist that they focus on recreating their artwork,” said WES Principal Bonnie Sullivan. “The theme this year was rolling out the red carpet and that’s why the red carpet was at the front of the building and we have children that are reading and telling about artwork so we kind of make it look like a museum type.” The hallways were separated by grades and the grades were designated a classic painter to emulate in whatever subject See ART • Page A3
Corey Arwood / The Herald
The halls of Wetumpka Elementary School were lit by stringed lights and decorated with children’s artwork while parents strolled to find their child’s own works of art. Pictured, Zaiden Bryant looks at his classmates work, while his mother, Mallory Glenn, and grandmother, Lisa Glenn, are helped by teacher Stephanie Munroe.
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