SPORTS: All-County Softball Team announced, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8 INSIDE: Sheriff’s office buys new vehicles, A5 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 23 | $1.00
Deatsville manbasketball arrested forarrested rape Holtville High School coach WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
raped Wilson on Lakewas Jordan was oninvestigation a pontoon boat ‘was very said drunk,’” Levchik allegedly toldwas the released on a investigators the Saturhead basketWilson andwith handedwords it off she Franklin day. ball coach at Holtville High Michael Wayne Levchik, 42, records state. “[Levchik] victim. to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afASchool 17-year-old came to of Deatsville theplaced early eveslowed the boat down andthe alleged The victim iff’s Office have vicand was ter reported turning himself in accordHe wasinalso on adminisEditor’s Note: This story the Elmore County Sheriff’s ning hours of May 25. pulled into a secluded area.” Levchik came A virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing across to the the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” contains information about Department with her moth“The [victim] stated that Levchik allegedly told boat, removed her County School’s Edge program ministrative website.bathing Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. sexual assault and may er onleave May 27 to report Mr. Levchik been pro- procedure the victim “You to remove hersee topa conversasuit bottom and performed has been arrested andbecharged could Jan. 13 she Dennis said Wilson also followhad the same triggering to some readers.distribwas according sexually assaulted her throughout the receive and then removed his swim sexual actssports at Holta tion with school employee between the two,”several Frank-different to El- while viding when coached other administrators boating on the lake. Court holidayreport weekend with alco- against trunks. lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being of allegations uting obscene material to a stumore County See ARRESTED, Pagecoach A8 and A teenager said she was records indicate the victim holic beverages andand in her you tan,” LEVCHIK school staff employees.“This is dent. tohow contend someone had the Schools superthe head track assis“Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richknow very little about what is he was not responsible. There Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. Dennis said other staff would WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminturned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
ByBy CLIFF CliffWILLIAMS Williams News Staff Editor Writer
Coosada seeking AG opinion on Millbrook Police annexation continue
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
rearrange the boundaries of a municipality unless it’s to the determinant,” Even after the 12 Coosada Mayor Jim property owners of Houston said. “They Rodgers View Court crossed into our jurisBy Cliff Williams Memberssaid they wanted to be diction.” Staff Writer of the in Millbrook, Coosada Houston brought the Wetumpka fought. Now after the idea to the Coosada The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its ChamberAlabama of legislature Town Council at last Commerce annual luncheon to install new officers and board passed a law placing the week’s meeting to have attend the members for the first time in a while Thursday. subdivision, Coosada is town attorney Tyler chamber’s “A fighting. The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathstill Winans draft a letter Taste of OurIt is now seeking the erings but the chamber celebrated the successes of seeking the opinion. Home Town” business in Wetumpka. opinion of theByAlabama Jake Arthur Winans said the request luncheon.Attorney General’s “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couChief Videographerwould be sent the next CLIFF WILLIAMS/ ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your Office on the matter. day following the counTHE HERALD attendance is an indication people want to get back “We want clarification cil’s approval. the If the Police are still investigating fatal together and have these opportunities to see each on this on where theyin the Wetumpka town getsWalmart an opinion shooting parkcan annex property that it could then follow up ing lot on Jan. 20. See CHAMBER, Page A3 lies outside thePolice corpowith challenging thelot were dispatched to the parking rate limits butaround inside10:45 p.m. legislative act. for a “shots fired” call. the police jurisdiction “What they Winston, have done Once there, they found Centell and also on the state 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound constitution they OPINION, Page A8 in thecan driver seat of hisSee vehicle. According to Wetumpka police chief Greg Benton, this was not a random shooting. PHOTOS BY LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN | TPI “This was not random, not a random Teachers from across the state joined togethact,” said Benton. “We believe the vicer at Stanhope Elmore High School on Montim and the perpetrator knew each other.” day for a STEM energy education workshop This is the first homicide in Wetumpka called Empower. Teachers learned about the in over three years. The last homicide in science of energy, electricity and efficiency. the city took place in 2018. By CLIFF WILLIAMS of three Alabama citOne exercise was building a room tempera“It’s not a goodies way to start out the new News Editor NLC is visiting as ture box out of cardboard, aluminum foil and year,” said Benton. part of its Centennial other materials; the box would then hold ice didn’t Roadshow. want to speculate the The NationalBenton League NLC on is celin the center while outdoors in the heat. The of Cities brought its ebrating its 100 years of exercises were to show teachers how best Centennial Roadshow serving municipalities See SHOOTING, Page A3 to teach STEM lessons in their classrooms. 100 Years, 100 Cities to by visiting 100 cities. It Wetumpka on Saturday. started at the University It’s the most recent of Kansas where NLC national attention the was founded. The roadCity of Wetumpka has show is being filmed and received since HGTV documented. At its last Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The revisited last summer stop in Tampa, many of High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percentTakewith Hometown the cities will be highBy The CLIFFAlabama WILLIAMS Troyperintendent Stubbs is pleased Association of Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, over. lighted and an airing of a News Editor School Principals withinthe results.for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease Secondary attendance in chronic “We got a call a few documentary is planned general fund (AASSP) named Holtville High The“Kyle Futral is budan exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism,weeks 7 percent agoincrease that said we for next spring. Budgets, gambling and the get is billion. School principal Kyle Futral al $3.4 principal andThe is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation 33 percent wererate, selected as one of “This initiative is part education wereHigh all on the Prineducation fund bud2022 Alabama School tive andtrust innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR ratestops,” and a 20 pertheir Wetumpka of NLC’s year-long celtable get is billion. Both cipalwhen of the the Year.2024 leging$9.35 and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent in ACT proficiency CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI increasetourism manager Andrew ebration, marking a cenislative session started in of numbers are record setting The High School Principal his school,” Dennis said, Troy Stubbs couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years.said. “We are very tury of commitment to gives members of the Elmore County Stieb February in Montgomery. the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuCommission an update about matters in the Alaexcited.” See STUBBS, Pagetransformed A7 See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 For the on most part, Rep. bama Legistulure. Futral Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL Wetumpka is one See ATTENTION, Page A7 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
STEM
investigation, man no longer suspected
ENRICHMENT Stanhope hosts statewide STEM workshop
Wetumpka gets more national attention
Holtville’s Alabama principal of the year Stubbs pleased overallFutral with the session
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
89 65 72 55 High High
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low
a Flea Market & Antiques k p m u Wet 5266 U.S. Hwy. 231 • Wetumpka, AL (Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC)
USPS USPS681-260 681-260 THURS:HIGH HIGH8971LOW LOW7153 THURS:
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666