SPORTS: All-County Boys Soccer Team announced, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
JUNE 2021 • Plan Your Summer
Staycation - Elmore, Coosa &
PLAN YOUR SUMMER
Elmore, Coosa & Tallapoosa Counties Tallapoosa counties 1
LOCAL INSIDE: Plan your next staycation at home A special supplement to
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JUNE 2024
The Wetumpka Herald,
The Tallassee Tribune &
The Dadeville Record
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 26 | $1.00
Former ESCO deputy to serve federal time in brutality case WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Staff Writer Despite appeals for leniency from a wife, a mother, a father virtual teacher at Elmore andAElmore County Sheriff Bill CountyBlake School’s Edge Franklin, Hicks willprogram serve beeninarrested and charged 29has months federal prison for employee distribhiswith part school in an excessive force uting obscene material to a stucase. dent. “This isn’t an average person Elmore County Sheriff kicking someone in the head Bill Franklin said Emmanuel during a bar fight,” AssistantAndre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
United States Attorney Eric Counts said at Hicks’ sentencing Monday. a person sworn Wilson“This was isthe head basketcoach at Holtville High toball uphold the law.” School Countsand saidwas the U.S. Departplaced on adment of Justice in Washington ministrative D.C. saw Hicks, a former Elmore leave Sheriff’s Jan. 13Office deputy, County according excessive to Elperforming force in more County a video online and called Hicks toSchools ask whatsuperwas happening in intendent RichWetumpka. The video shows part ard Dennis. of the encounter between Tristen WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
Quinn and area law enforcement to face them when he is struck by settled out of court with undisin March 2022. Quinn was arrest- Tasers. Hicks is then seen leaping closed financial compensation to ed and placed in and landingsaid on Quinn. Hicks also Wilson Quinn. was released on a Franklin investigators investigation anda police handedvehicle it off theQuinn Elmore $6,000 bond 90 minutes af- L. to appropriate authorities. for the transport where he reportedly with strikes withCounty his fist Sherand Federal District Court Judge iff’s turning himself in accordHe waslaw also placed on adminisstruck enforcement in the withOffice kicks.have the alleged vic- terScott Coogler saw the video that tim’s phone. Authorities collectingcaught to thetheElmore County Jail trative leave at car. that Quinn time.”was back seat of the The Wetumpka Herald first attention of the U.S. Wilson’s as well. Dennis officials ed also able tosaid get school his handcuffed reported on phone the incident in July website. Department of Justice and started “You Itcould seefirst a conversasaid Wilson alsosaid follow thebehind samehim procedure hands from to his 2022. was the time a video Dennis the prosecution of Hicks. He between other sports at Holtwhen administrators front. He then escaped receive the backaof tion of the incidentthe hadtwo,” been Frankreleased. coached at first the video of Hicks leaping report ofvehicle. allegations against said.had “Mr. Wilson is going schools including being the patrol The video from lin Quinn multiple charges from ville towards Quinn was disturbing. school staff and employees. the theBut head a convenience store on U.S. High- tothecontend incident someone and filed anhad intent thetrack judgecoach slowedand theassisvideo “Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. way 231 shows Quinn running to sue in civil court. The City of know very little aboutHe what was not and responsible. There Dennis said See other staff would from law enforcement. turnsis he Wetumpka Elmore County FEDERAL, Page B9 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.
Taste opens to fanfare in Wetumpka
Chamber holds luncheon
Provisions has officially transformed into Taste at The Fain and A treasured landmark the biggest change is no has reopened with a dif- more dry goods. It still ferent name but the same has the familiar faces of mission: to offer a gath- the husband-wife team of ering place in downtown By Cliff Williams See TASTE, Page A7 Wetumpka. Staff Writer By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
welcoming members
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board members for the first time in a while Thursday. The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gatherings but the chamber celebrated the successes of business in Wetumpka. “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your attendance is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3 CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
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 By CLIFF WILLIAMS said. “This opens up a totally letters of intent from busiact,” said Benton. “We believe the vicNews Editor different area for us.” nesses serious about locating tim and the perpetrator knew each other.” Officials broke ground Fri-Thisinisthe complex such as a food the first homicide in Wetumpka here is little in the way day on the first phase of thein over business, a coffee and three years. Theretailer last homicide in of retail shopping in west approximately 35-acre project. another retail operation. The the city took place in 2018. Wetumpka, but that is Five lots with streets and utiliintent yet bind“It’sletter not a of good wayisn’t to start out the new changing. ties will soon be prepared. year,”ing but city leaders said it’s a said Benton. The west of the Coosa The work is done thanks Benton gooddidn’t sign of a commitment want to speculatetoon the River is home to historic in part to a $5 million line the project. buildings, farm land, schools of credit the Wetumpka City City of Wetumpka economSee SHOOTING, Page A3 and the new Wetumpka Fire Council approved in Novem- ic development director Lynn Station. River Town Center on ber. The monies will be repaid Weldon said the River Town Highway 14 across from the as businesses purchase lots. Center is great for everyone in Wetumpka Sports Complex “As lots are sold, the the west part of Wetumpka. will soon fill the void of retail monies go towards the debt,” “A development on this development on the west side Wetumpka public works direc- side of the river will improve town.culture from that of a shift tor Justin Barrett said. “EvenThe the quality of life,” Weldon theof school in a positive direction. “(U.S. Highway) 231 is the sales tax revenue from the said. “It’s a big deal.” school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent where our development has development goes to the debt rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, The site will also help thefor years,” until it is paid off.” in chronic to amostly schoolbeen that over strives excel- 50 percent decrease Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis The city already has three See RETAIL, Page A7 lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perleadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency WILLIAMS | TPI couraging, supporting, organizing in the lastCLIFF five years. Wetumpkathe Mayor Willis, right, speaks about the city’s development of River Town Center. and challenging staffJerry and sturetail is meant and guestsPage on the Coosa River. See PRINCIPAL, A3 west side of theFUTURAL dents, The caused thecomplex school culture toto service residents
RIVER TOWN CENTER TO BRING RETAIL DEVELOPMENT
Taste at The Fain is now open on Bridge Street in Wetumpka. The space was formerly Provisions. It was full of guests for a reception and the first nights of accepting diners.
TO WEST WETUMPKA
Baxley sworn in as Elmore County district judge
T
Ben Baxley was sworn in as Elmore County District Judge replacing Judge PatThe promotion of judges rick Pinkston who is now set in motion by the appoint- in Lewis’ position. All three ment of Judge Bill Lewis to positions were filled by Gov. the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals is over. Friday, See JUDGE, Page A7
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
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 The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis| TPIsaid, CLIFF WILLIAMS New County Court Baxley, of center, the Elmore Year award wasDistrict presented to Judge AsBen principal Holtville High speaks guests following his investiture ceremony Friday. Futralwith on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed Staff Report
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