SPORTS: Wetumpka seniors finish winningest class, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8 INSIDE: Holtville, Stanhope celebrate graduation WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 21 | $1.00
Senior prank results in 11 students Holtville School basketball coach arrested not walking atHigh Wetumpka graduation WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By Cliff Williams Wilson was the head basket- investigation and handed it off ByStaff CLIFF WILLIAMS thanball a decade of work. in the prank subsequentauthorities. Writer coach at Holtville High to theand appropriate News Editor Now, 11 of 271 seniors at cleanup, but has been told she School and was He was also placed on adminisWetumpka High School will not cannot participate in graduation. A virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtrative leave at that time.” Graduation is supposed at Tuesday night’s gradu“TheyDennis had copy paper, flour,officials County School’s Edge to programwalkministrative said school behas a time of celebration for stuation ceremonies because of a ketchup, silly string, party been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 follow the same procedure dents, andemployee staff. prank.” Cassandra Lucas withfamily school distrib-“senior according to Elwhen administrators receive a Page A7against It is aobscene celebration of moreto a stu-said more her daughter was involved reportSeeofPRANK, allegations uting material County school staff and employees. dent. Schools super“Once we hand it over, we Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richknow very little about what is Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if turned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.”
Franklin said investigators with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office have the alleged victim’s phone. Authorities collected Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversation between the two,” Franklin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
This is a frame grab from a video of some of the paper, streamers, pine straw and flour left by Wetumpka High School seniors during Wilson wasa prank released on aElevlast week. $6,000 bond en 90seniors minutes have afbeen ter turning himself in and accordidentified as of ing to the Elmore County Jail Monday morning still not be allowed to parwebsite. ticipate in graduation Dennis said Wilson also coached otherceremonies. sports at Holtville schools including being the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Wetumpka ‘significantly’ impacted by vandalism Police
Chamber holds luncheon
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
welcoming members By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
STILL GLOWING 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 By CLIFF WILLIAMS honor in a Montgomery ceremoSee CHAMBER, Page ago, A3 but last week News Editor ny two weeks students and faculty celebrated here is no ‘I’ in team, but as ALFA presented her with a for Team Stringfellow, vehicle for her to travel the state there is no doubt who the in for the next year. quarterback is at Airport InterARIS fourth grader Lauryn mediate School. It’s Deborah Simmons has seen how effective Stringfellow — Alabama’s Stringfellow is in her classroom. Teacher of the Year. “She means a lot to us,” LauStringfellow was given the ryn said. “She is helpful.”
Team Stringfellow still relishing in Teacher of the Year honors
SUBMITTED | TPI
continue investigation, man no longer suspected
The “vandalism” at Wetumpka High School left at least three halls and the commons area of the school a mess. Ketchup and mustard Members was squirted on floors and of the walls. Bags of flour were Wetumpka scattered throughout the Chamber of same area. Bathroom trash Commerce cans were dumped in one attend the hall. A banner was partialchamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
ly torn down. Desks and tables were moved and/ or turned upside down. Streamers and silly string were used. Bails of hay, straw and paper were scattered in many halls and the classroom students entered about 10 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. It was part of a senior prank that Elmore County Schools superintendent See VANDALISM, Page A7
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
Deatsville resident arrested for Wetumpka kidnapping, robbery
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
THE HERALD
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parkStringfellow has been in ing lot on Jan. 20. education for more than four Police were dispatched to the parking lot decades. She came to ARIS around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. three years ago and was paired Once there, they found Centell Winston, with teacher Sydni Edwards to 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound By CLIFF WILLIAMS demanded help pour knowledge into fourth in the driver seat of his vehicle. News Editor money. The graders. According to Wetumpka police victimchief went “We are hand and hand Greg Benton, this was not a random shootBobby McCall is in the to the bedtogether all the time,” Edwards ing. Elmore County Jail after room and “This was not random, not handed a random a Friday arrest for kidnapover See TEACHER, Page A7 act,” said Benton. “We believe the The vicping, first-degree robbery, cash. tim and the perpetrator knew each other.” first-degree burglary, victim was This is the firstMCCALL homicide in Wetumpka possession of a controlled then bound in over three years. The last homicide in CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI substance and possession with zip ties the city took place in 2018. ARIS fourth grade teacher Deborah Stringfellow addresses students, faculty and of marijuana. and forced into the back dignitaries at the school Friday as she was honored with a celebration and a car. “It’s not a good way to start out the new McCall, 37, of Deatsseat of the victim’s vehicle. year,” said Benton. ville, was connected to The offenders then Benton didn’t want to speculate on the an April 24 incident on re-entered the residence Coosa River Parkway. The and “stole” jewelry. Court See SHOOTING, Page A3 Wetumpka Police Departdocuments said the value ment responded after a vic- of the vehicle, jewelry and tim called 911. Someone a phone was more than By CLIFF WILLIAMS 1775. was approached at a home $115,000. The offenders News Editor Sexton had finished all of while letting dogs out in drove away and soon his classes in December for the early morning. released the victim. In eight hours David high school graduation. He “The dogs immediateAbout 18 hours later Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The Alexander Sexton first didn’t stick around taking ly started barking at two the victim’s vehicle was High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent became a Marine, then a easy classes or working a Black males dressed in located by the Wetumpka The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, Holtville High School grad- job near home. all black that were hiding Police Department off of Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic uate. “I wanted to better on the side of the resiHighway 111. (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase Sexton followed one of myself,” Sexton said after dence,” court documents McCall had been arrestSchool principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent the2022 Marine Corps values graduation at Holtville Fristate. “One of the Black ed by the Elmore County Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perincipal the process — “First to day night. were a to managing leadership style of listening, pulled a gun. Sheriff’s Office on outCLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI increase males of the Year. ing “There and approaches en- cent in ACTthen proficiency Fight.” is representative and the way said,Holtville Highcouraging, other Black male was standing warrants and was School graduate David Alexander TheItHigh School Principallotofof benefits his school,” Dennis supporting, organizingSexton in the last fiveThe years. ofthe Marine history having they are. The Marines first High graduated Marine Corps boot armed with a bow and in possession of a bow and Year award was presented to As principal are of Holtville andfrom challenging the staff andcamp stu- Friday morning in Paris Island, South before to traveling been at the of 28 during a School, Futral has transformed arrow.” See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Futral on forefront Friday, Jan. dents, caused theCarolina school culture FUTURAL See MARINE, Page A7 to Friday evening’s Holtville graduation. most American battles since The alleged offenders See ARRESTED, Page A7
T
Marine and high school graduation in the same day
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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