SPORTS: Softball, baseball all-state teams announced, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8 INSIDE: TPI racks up Alabama Media awards, A2 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 24 | $1.00
Some Autauga prisoners shipped to Elmore as jail growth is explored WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
day. lets reported inmates in handcuffs being “I have a moral obligation for the loaded onto buses in Prattville. safety, health and security of all individElmore County sheriff Bill Franklin By Williams Franklin said investigators was thethrough head basketWilson was released on a andhis handed it housing off At Cliff least four Autauga County Metro Wilson uals who come the doors ofinvestigation the confirmed jail was some Staff Writer with the Elmore County Sherball coach at Holtville High $6,000 bond 90 minutes afto the appropriate authorities. Jail prisoners are now behind bars at the Autauga County Metro Jail, whether it’s prisoners from Autauga County. iff’s Office have the alleged vicSchool and was ter turning himself in accordHe was also placed on adminisElmore County Jail. But the situation my staff, law enforcement officers or “We got in touch with them and said A virtual teacher at Elmore tim’s phone. Authorities collectplaced on ading to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” only highlights the need for more jail inmates,” Harrell said in a post on social we would like to help them, but we are County School’s Edge program ed Wilson’s phone as well. ministrative website. Dennis said school officials space in Elmore County. media. “...It will be up to the [Autauga] limited in what we can do,” Franklin has been arrested charged Jan. 13 Dennis said Wilson also follow said. the “We same According to Elmoreand County Jail leave County Commission to properly and did procedure take a few of the “You males could see a conversaa with school employee distribtion between the two,” Frankaccording to Elcoached other sports at Holtwhen administrators receive records, at least four male prisoners adequately fix the issues to prevent from them. We weren’t able to take any CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI report of allegations against uting obscene material to a stulin said. “Mr. Wilson is going more County ville schools including being arrived at the Wetumpka facility Thurs- health and safety issues before I, as the of the females. We are well over capaci- A new Elmore County Jail is in the planning stages. current school staff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the the head track coach andThe Schools superassisday afternoon after Autauga County Sheriff of Autauga County, will place ty for females.” jail was completed in 1995 and designed to house 242 prison“Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richsheriff Mark Harrell started to evacuate another individual in the jail.” ers. It frequently has more than 300. Plans are to build a facility know very little about what See is JAIL, Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would Page A5 on site to increase capacity to about 600 inmates. the downtown Prattville facility ThursShortly after the statement media outWILSON 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.”
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Man arrested for transmitting porn Chamber holds luncheon to minor
Police continue investigation, man no longer A BEAUTIFUL DAYsuspected ON THE
welcoming members
old boy that is known to Mr. WitchA known sex Williams offender,” Elmore By Cliff er finds Staff himself in the County Writer Elmore County Jail sheriff Bill The transmitting Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its charged with Franklin luncheon and obscene annual material to a to install new officers said. “Itboard WITCHER Thursday. minor. members for the first time in a while came from The COVID-19 on gathThe Elmore County pandemic put a hamper Mr. Witchthe chamberer’s celebrated Sheriff’serings Officebut arrestphone.”the successes of business in Wetumpka. ed Richard Witcher, 61, Witcher is a regis“Wehe haven’t to do for the last Tuesday and was been able tered sexthis offender. He couple years,” chairpersonwas Clayconvicted McConnellofsaid. “Your booked into the Elmore sexual attendance is an indication want to get12 back County Jail. abusepeople of child under in together and have these opportunities to see “We had some gay 1993. Current records each list porngraphy that was See CHAMBER, Page A3 transmitted to a 14-yearSee ARRESTED, Page A5 By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
RIVER CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
Eagle Scout project benefits Lanark STAFF REPORT TPI Staff Snakes, tortoises and bare feet are benefiting from an Eagle Scout project at the Alabama Nature Center at Lanark in Millbrook.
Parker Tolman recently obtained the Eagle rank after he built a barefoot sensory path, two snake climbing trees and scratching brushes for gopher tortoises and a river cooter at the center. The projects See EAGLE, Page A7
By Jake Arthur PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI Chief Videographer The weather was almost perfect Sunday down the Coosa Police are for stilla float investigating the fatal River. Blue skies, lower humidity shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parkand not too hot. There wasn’t too ing lot on Jan. 20. much traffic in the way of kayaks Police wereSeveral dispatched to the either. couples andparking families lot around made 10:45the p.m. for a “shots fired” float from Jordan Damcall. Once there, theytofound Centell Wetumpka and Winston, most 42 of Tallassee, deadbraved of a gunshot the Classwound III in the driver seat of his vehicle. rapid at Moccasin According to Wetumpka police Gap just like chief Greg Benton, this was not random shoottheawhitewater kayakers did the ing. day before the “This was not random, not aforrandom Coosa Whitewater act,” said Benton. “We believe the vicFestival. tim 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 See SHOOTING, Page A3
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year schoolwide assembly at Holtville High School. Elmore County SuThe Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionSchool principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his thinkcipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing SUBMITTED | TPI The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, Parker Tolman stands next to his barefoot sensory path he the Year award presented Asasprincipal Holtville High constructed at the was Alabama NaturetoCenter part of hisofEagle Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed Scout project. Staff Report
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the school culture from that of a school struggling with low morale, achievement and attendance to a school that strives for excellence. By collaborating with staff, many of the school’s issues were identified and addressed. Futral’s leadership style of listening, encouraging, supporting, organizing and challenging the staff and students, caused the school culture to
shift in a positive direction. The school experienced a 62 percent decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism, 7 percent increase in the graduation rate, 33 percent increase in CCR rate and a 20 percent increase in ACT proficiency in the last five years. See PRINCIPAL, Page A3
FUTURAL
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