SPORTS: All-County Baseball Team announced, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8 INSIDE: Millbrook remembers those who gave all, A7 WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2024 | VOL. 125, NO. 22 | $1.00
Reeves tabbed to be next Wetumpka police chief Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor By Cliff Williams Staff Writer Six years after coming home to Wetumpka A virtual teachertoatserve Elmore asCounty assistant police chief,program Ed School’s Edge Reeves was appointed police has been arrested and charged chief. with school employee distributing obscene material to a stuReeves is a Wetumpka dent. and had worked for the native Elmore County Montgomery PoliceSheriff Depart-Bill Franklin said Emmanuel ment for 17 years before Andre takWilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
ing the assistant chief job in Wetumpka. Reeves’ appointWilson was the head basketment was made at Monday’s ball coach at Holtville High Wetumpka School andCity wasCouncil meeting. placed on ad“You have been a great ministrative assistant chief,” leave Jan. 13 Wetumpka Mayor Jerry according to Willis El- said. “You morebrought County have a lot of knowlSchools edge here superto Wetumpka.” intendent Rich- to the MontPrior to going ard Dennis. gomery Police Department, WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
Reeves worked with the fiscal year 2023, the City of audit.” Wetumpka Fire Department. Wetumpka had $20 million in The city spent $1.3 Franklin said investigators Wilson wasalso released on a investigation and handed it off Reeves will be sworn in at actual revenue compared to a million paying down debtafto the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes a later He replaces chief iff’s budgeted $17 million. It vichad terleaving with $10.48 million. Office have the alleged turningithimself in accordHe was date. also placed on adminisGreg Benton, who is resigning $15 million in actual expenses The council passed a few tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” effective June 1. and had budgeted for $15.5 expenditures that will show up website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. Auditors presented counmillion. in the fiscal year 2024 finan“You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure cilmembers with a standing like where we Frankare cial statements including fire between the two,” coached other sports at Holtwhen administrators receive aof tion“We report of financial allegations against lin said. “Mr.especially Wilson is with going ville schools including being the city’s statements financially, alarm monitoring for the new school staff andmeeting. employees. contend someone had the thefire head track on coach and assisat the council They tonew businesses coming station Holtville Road. “Once handconservative it over, we security to his phone noted thewe city’s online,”code Willis said. “Weand tant football coach. know very worked little about what was not responsible. There staff would See REEVES, Page A5 budgeting well. Foris he expect good gains in the next Dennis said other 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.
Wetumpka Police valedictorian hopes to becomecontinue veterinarian
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
investigation, man no longer suspected
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
By Cliff Williams Staff Writer 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
WETUMPKA CELEBRATES
GRADUATION
Interests are wide for Ashley Dee Fulmer. Members Fulmer just graduated of the with 270 of her classWetumpka mates at Wetumpka High ChamberSchool. of She likes to Commerce write, act, sing, robotics attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
and race. And she was also valedictorian. Fulmer encourages being open minded and taking advantage of every opportunity she can. “You never know what might come from it,” See HOPES, Page A7
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
THE HERALD
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. Police were dispatched to the parking lot CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Wetumpka valedictorian Ashley Dee Fulmer, right, marches onto Once there, they found Centell Winston, the football field at the Wetumpka Sports Complex Tuesday of Tallassee, of a gunshot wound night. Fulmer is 42 headed to Auburndead University. 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 act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” This is the firstofficial homicide in Wetumpka By CLIFF WILLIAMS commencement in over three years. The last in News Editor ceremony athomicide Gold Star the city took place in 2018. Park. “It’sdidn’t not a good way to start out the new Eleven students Some apologized to year,” said Benton. walk at the official their families for their didn’t want to speculate on the Wetumpka HighBenton School mistake, but Pastor Joel graduation Tuesday Thomas said the events See SHOOTING, Page A3 as punishment for a leading to the second “prank.” But they are Wetumpka High School graduates and six celegraduation in as many brated with friends and See CELEBRATES, Page A5 family a day after the
See CHAMBER, Page A3
PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
The Wetumpka High School Class of 2024 has left its mark but will continue to do good in the world. Family and friends watched last week at the Wetumpka Sports Complex as 271 students graduated. They received more than $8.8 million in scholarship offers in academics, athletics, performing arts and beyond to continue their education. The class features Division I athletes, future doctors, veterinarians, scientists, musicians and actors. Some graduates will enter the workforce in the next few days as welders, auto mechanics, carpenters, plumbers and HVAC technicians. Nineteen graduates have enlisted in the military.
Wetumpka ‘Fab 11’ celebrates graduation a day late
See GRADUATION PHOTOS, Page A2
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year Staff Report The Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) named Holtville High School principal Kyle Futral the 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year. The High School Principal of the Year award was presented to Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a
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schoolwide assembly at Holtville High School. Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis was in attendance for the presentation. “Kyle Futral is an exceptional principal and is very proactive and innovative in his thinking and approaches to managing his school,” Dennis said, As principal of Holtville High School, Futral has transformed
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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 CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI in the last five years. Graduates address the crowd at the small ceremony at Gold Star Park Wednesday. to family for not being See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Some apologized FUTURAL able to participate the night before.
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