SPORTS: Wetumpka softball falls in Elite Eight, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8 INSIDE: Holtville Elementary hosts field day, B3 WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 19 | $1.00
Wetumpka Holtville High School basketball coach arrested votes to settle ‘Cat Ladies’ case WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
A virtual teacher at Elmore County School’s Edge program has been arrested and charged with school employee distributing obscene material to a student. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
Wilson was the head basketball coach at Holtville High School and was placed on administrative leave Jan. 13 according to Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
CELEBRATING
ART
investigation and handed it off to the appropriate authorities. He was also placed on administrative leave at that time.” Dennis said school officials follow the same procedure when administrators receive a report of allegations against school staff and employees. “Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
Franklin said investigators Wilson was released on a with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afiff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordtim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail ed Wilson’s phone as well. website. “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also CLIFF WILLIAMS litigation.” tion betweenBythe two,” Frank- coachedofother sports at HoltNews Editor The settlement being vote by lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including the council came after to contend someone had the the head track coach and assis-a 10 A his casephone that brought the football minute executive session security code to and tant coach. City of Wetumpka lots of to discuss litigahe was not responsible. There Dennis said otherongoing staff would attention is no more. tion in Monday’s meetis other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at TheI Wetumpka ing. According court while he is ontoadmindisclose now but don’t thinkCityHoltville Council voted to settle the records, both parties have it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. “Cat Ladies” case for not been ordered by federal more than $50,000. courts to report a potential “It is a very difficult settlement by May 17. case to defend,” Mayor In January Beverly RobJerry Willis said after erts and Mary Alston filed Monday’s city council a federal lawsuit against meeting. “It would probthe City of Wetumpka and ably be expensive. This is others following their June in the best interest of the See SETTLE, Page A7 city to avoid the high costs
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members FOR 25 YEARS AT WES
By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board By CLIFF is all celebrated at members forWILLIAMS the first time in a whileItThursday. News Editor Art Under The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on the gath-Stars at the school. erings but the chamber celebrated the successes of rom “It was once at all the business in historical Wetumpka.cave drawings from 40,000 elementary schools across “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couyears ago to today’s the county,” principal ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your computer-generated said. “We attendance is an indication peopleGigi wantHankins to get back art, artand hashave evolved. At started everyone together these opportunities to before see each Wetumpka Elementary else and we are still conSee CHAMBER, School, art has advanced tinuing Page to doA3it. It is one from construction paper of our biggest events to to animation over the last bring in the parents.” 25 years. Teachers save all the
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artwork students create throughout the year. Near the end of the school year, the halls of the school become a gallery, where students serve as docents for their parents. “The kids love to explain to the parents what they did,” second grade teacher Taryn
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
THE HERALD
Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley,are right, signs up to speak at a local Police still investigating the fatallegislation committee hearing last Wetumpka week. He was surrounded shooting in the Walmart park- by residents of theing Rodgers lot onView Jan.Court. 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 shootBy CLIFF WILLIAMS corporate limits petitioned ing. News Editor “This was nottorandom, be in Millbrook’s cornot a random porate It isthe anviceffort act,” said Benton. “Welimits. believe The Rodgers View by the residents define tim and the perpetrator knew eachtoother.” Court neighborhood is the firstwhere they in live, but more This is homicide Wetumpka one step closerintoover being in years. importantly identifyin three The last to homicide Millbrook. the city took place who in responds 2018. to the small The owners of allnot 12 a goodneighborhood during an “It’s way to start out the new homes on the dead emergency. year,”end said Benton. street borderingBenton both didn’t want to speculate on the Coosada and Millbrook See SENATE, Page A7 See SHOOTING, Page A3
Millbrook annexation now in the senate
See ART, Page A5
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
TOP: Wetumpka Elementary School students pause to visit with faculty as they walk the halls with parents at Art Under the Stars. Each hall had a different theme but the all related to viewing the art under the light of stars. ABOVE: Wetumpka Elementary students played the recorder in the music room at Art Under the Stars. The annual event attracts hundreds of parents and family to see what the students have done over they school year.
Lewis honors past with oath of office
Coosada seeking Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the yearand correct maps revenue The future lies ahead for Judge Bill Lewis
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
after was sworn into the Alabamaschoolwide Court of assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The StaffheReport By CLIFF WILLIAMS High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent Civil Appeals on Thursday. News Editor The Alabama Association perintendent Lewis acknowledged his pastofin his investi- Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, Secondary attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic ture service inSchool front of Principals the appellate in courts of Property owners in (AASSP)including named Holtville High “Kyle Alabama, the state’s supreme court.Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase the police jurisdiction School principal Futral the al Lewis is the fourthKyle Black individual to principal serve as and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent of the Town of Coosada High School Printiveon and a 2022 judgeAlabama in the appellate courts and first theinnovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perare faced with a choice. cipalofofcivil the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency court appeals. Annex into the town, pay CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI The High School the Principal of hisand school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. “I have witnessed development Alabama Supreme Court associate justice William B. Sellers, adup to $750 per year for the Year award Bill was Lewis,” presentedcivil to rights As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stugrowth of Judge ministers the oath of office to Judge Bill Lewis as his wife Jenna, fire and police services or See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to See LEWIS, Page A5 mother Dorothy and son Billy look on. face a bill from Coosada
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for emergency services that could be $10,000 or more. There are also issues as to what the corporate limits are and what is the police jurisdiction and fire district of Coosada. Part of the problem stems from the Town FUTURAL See COOSADA, Page A7
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