Wetumpka Herald April 9 2025

By Cliff Williams Staff Writer

SUBMITTED TPI

Scott Sullivan, a 10-year veteran MLB pitcher and Alabama Sports Hall of Fame inductee, will be the keynote speaker at next month’s Joe Sewell Award banquet.

Undercover operation nets 8 on child solicitation charges

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The Prattville Police Department arrested eight men from across Alabama and Wisconsin during an undercover operation last month.

Chamber holds luncheon welcoming members

By Cliff Williams Staff Writer

Walter Whiddon, 34, of Dadeville; Tavares Murphy, 22, of Wetumpka; Patrick Murry, 47, of Montgomery; Isaiah Smith, 30, of Alabaster; Cenen Barrera, 22, of Montgomery; Owen Strizic, 48, of Platteville, Wisconsin; Austin Kinsey,

25, of Prattville; and Juan Quintero-Caudillo, 35, of Montgomery were booked into the Elmore County Jail on March 31. All were charged with electronic solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child

CHARGES, Page A6

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

high school senior athletes in Elmore County who have consistently represented the highest ideals of Christian leadership. The award serves to 21st Joe Sewell Award to be presented next month

The Joe Sewell Memorial Award will award $19,000 in scholarships next month to outstanding

See CHAMBER, Page A3

AWARD, Page A6

Statewide agency makes difference in young autistic children’s lives

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter

One in 36 children are estimated to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the U.S., according to the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. As a developmental disorder, autism can impact

AGENCY, Page A6

cipal of the Year. The High School Principal of the Year award was presented to Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a schoolwide assembly at Holtville High School. Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis was in attendance for the presentation.

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Editor’s Note: This story contains information about suicide and may be triggering to some readers. If you are suicidal or having suicidal ideations, please call 988 immediately.

MaKayla Nicole Reeves and Kaylee Simmons were the best of friends.

In March 2023 they were sophomores at Stanhope Elmore High School and greatly involved in the schools JROTC program.

WILLIAMS TPI

“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 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.

The students were grieving the unexpected death of a classmate. Six days later, they had left his funeral and were helping each other through the healing process. “We were taking a break from it all,” Simmons said.

Simmons is presented a certificate by principal Ewell Fuller at the Stanhope Elmore JROTC awards day program. Simmons created MNR: The May Project to aid in suicide prevention.

See PRINCIPAL, Page A3

Police Reports

WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT

APRIL 2

• Shemar Pettaway, 24, of Deatsville, was arrested for two counts of failure to appear.

• Alecia Marshall, 33, of Wetumpka, was arrested for three counts of failure to appear.

• Harassment was

reported on U.S. Highway 231.

APRIL 1

• Anthony Landers, 60, of Wetumpka, was arrested for theft of property.

• Craig Shuford, 58, of Wetumpka, was arrested for driving under the influence.

• Tai McDonald, 22, of Montgomery, was

arrested for four counts of failure to appear.

• Char’myia Mitchell, 19, of Montgomery, was arrested for organized retail theft.

MARCH 28

• William Adair, 37, of Wetumpka, was arrested for failure to appear.

• Russell Evans, 34, of Wetumpka, was

arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Keith Jackson, 62, of Montgomery, was arrested for theft of property.

MARCH 27

• Robert Faulk, 41, of Tallassee, was arrested for failure to appear.

Montgomery woman arrested for drug trafficking

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

A traffic stop last week turned into a trafficking arrest for the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.

A deputy observed a vehicle with improper lights and making an illegal lane change and initiated a traffic stop. The stop escalated when the deputy spoke to the driver.

“There was an odor of marijuana coming from the car,” Elmore County sheriff Bill Franklin said. “There was evidence of drugs vis-

ible in the console area.”

The deputy got the driver and passenger out of the vehicle. In the passenger side of the vehicle, 197 pills believed to be ecstasy were found. White powder believed to be cocaine was found as well. There was also marijuana present.

The passenger, Winifer Weston, 41, of Montgomery, was arrested and charged with trafficking meth-

amphetamine, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal possession of prescription pills and tampering with physical evidence. She was released after posting a $1,539,000 bond.

The driver, John Fuller, 36, of Montgomery, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and possession of marijuana. He was also cited for improper lane change and improper lights. He was released from jail after posting bond the next day.

SE JROTC hosts annual awards program

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Student cadets were honored for the achievements and community service at the annual Stanhope Elmore High School JROTC awards program.

It was a day to recognize cadets in front of their peers, family and school faculty.

“It has been a pleasure to watch these cadets become better citizens,” SE JROTC instructor CSM Nathaniel Bartee said. “I have watched them give up their personal time to support the community and this school.”

Many of the battalion’s nearly 190 student cadets received awards, but not all. Some received multiple awards and recognitions.

“But they have all worked hard,” Bartee said. “Next year most of them will get the opportunity to demonstrate their citizenship and earn these prestigious awards which exemplify their commitment to serve the community, this school, the Corps of Cadets and themselves.”

The program is evident everywhere. SE principal Ewell Fuller

said there is not a school event or happening JROTC cadets are not participating in.

“They were out blowing leaves off the road the morning before Coach Foshee’s funeral,” Fuller said. “They are doing things in support of the school and community even before you can ask them for help.”

Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley helped present community service certificates to cadets who volunteered at least 150 hours in the community. They were Kaylee Simmons, Quinterris Rivers,

Harmonee Fair, Zylan Foulks and William Griffin.

Fuller gave the principal’s award to Kaylee Simmons for demonstrating exceptional dedication and hard work in the JROTC program and the local community.

“Your commitment to learning and helping others with a positive attitude is an inspiration to us all,” Fuller said.

Kloe Peterson was awarded the Let 1 Superior Cadet Award. The Let 2 Superior Cadet Award was given to Emmanuel Peralta. Nich-

olas Frazier was given the Let 3 Superior Cadet Award. The Let 4 Superior Cadet Award went to Quinterris Rivers. Distinguished Cadet Awards went to Jonah Henderson, Alaya Holmes, Maria Escobar and Danaveah Timmons.

The Student Government Award was presented to Blake Schleinkofer, Zoie Ball, Harmonee Fair and Kaylee Simmons.

Varsity Athletic Ribbons were given to Joseph Griffin, William Griffin, Gabriella Brown,

Chase lands one in jail, three damaged patrol vehicles

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Editor’s Note: This story contains information about suicide and may be triggering to some readers. If you are suicidal or having suicidal ideations, please call 988 immediately.

A call about a suicidal person quickly turned into a multi-agency law enforcement chase Wednesday evening.

Tallassee police chief Todd Buce said officers were speaking to someone near the 200 block of Main Street about a call to dispatch concerning a suicidal person.

“Officers were trying to deescalate the situation when he hopped into the car and took off,” Buce said.

“The two officers gave chase and they went around town.” In the process, the driver ran into

two Tallassee police vehicles. He also nearly ran head on into another police vehicle. Buce said the chase went down Highway 229 towards the interstate.

The driver turned around then turned onto Rifle Range Road.

“I had our officers stop because of the danger it was presenting to the public,” Buce said. “About that time Elmore County deputies had caught up.”

Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said the chase on Rifle Range Road approached speeds of 70 to 95 mph.

“He brake checked one of the deputies damaging the brush guard on a patrol vehicle,” Franklin said.

“He did collide with another vehicle about Dozier Road. Thankfully there were no injuries.” Jason Downs, 35, of Duluth, Georgia, was the driver of the vehi-

cle and taken into custody. He is currently in the Elmore County Jail. Buce said Tallassee will likely charge him with two counts of criminal mischief and felony attempting to elude.

The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has charged Downs with driving under the influence-controlled substances, attempt to elude, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental operations, disorderly conduct, failure to possess ex-felon registration card, first-degree criminal mischief, improper lane usage, driving on wrong side of road, reckless driving, driving without insurance, no passing zone, speeding, obstructed windshield, improper lights and failure to register vehicle.

Downs currently has a $54,500 bond available to him on the charges from Elmore County.

Humane Society of Elmore County News

Tips to preventing dog bites

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

We have two important overlapping “National Weeks” next week, so going to talk about one a week ahead - National Dog Bite Prevention Week. While we hope it never happens to anyone, dogs bites do happen, but most commonly as a response to something. A dog may bite to defend itself or its territory to include its puppies, toys, food or treats, or because it is scared, feels threatened, or has been startled. Dogs might bite because they are sick or sore due to injury or illness and might want to be left alone. Some dogs nip and bite during play which is one reason wrestling or playing tug-of-war with

your dog is not advised. And many people are bitten trying t break up a fight between two dogs (in many cases their fight looks and sounds FAR worse than it really is, and a slow, calm approach is best so you can devise a safer way to handle it).

So what can you do to prevent dog bites?

Socialize your dog with children, adults, other animals – this will help your dog be more at ease, and less reactive when confronted with new situations, people and activities.

Be a responsible pet owner by first selecting a dog that is right for your family and living situation so that it can get the exercise and mental stimulation it needs. Leash train your dog for its safety. Having it spayed or neutered can

go a long way to reducing conflicts with other dogs that might endanger others. Ensure your dog is healthy through routine Veterinary visits so an issue can be diagnosed before your dog is in pain or distress and becomes reactive. Understand your breed! Some breeds are very social with people and other animals where others are protective or guarded in their interactions. Don’t try to make a shy or overly protective dog be a social butterfly it was never meant to be. Many working breeds go into protective mode about ‘their’ person while other breeds are happy-go-lucky and look at every new person as a chance for more fun.

Educate yourself and your children about how to reduce risk by avoiding

risky situations:

• If the dog is not with its owner

• If the dog is with its owner but the owner does not give permission to pet the dog

• If the dog is on the other side of a fence— don’t reach through or over a fence to pet a dog

• If a dog is sleeping or eating

• If a dog is sick or injured

• If a dog is resting with her puppies or seems very protective of her puppies and anxious about your presence

• If a dog is playing with a toy

• If a dog is growling or barking

• If a dog appears to be hiding or seeking time alone

• If the dog is clearly

Bo is a male Boxer mix who is 3 years old and weighs about 60 pounds. He was surrendered to us for escaping his fence. Bo is a wonderful dog, loves attention, good with other dogs, actually seems scared of cats, knows sit and shake; he’s playful but also happy to be a couch potato. The Humane Society of Elmore County’s adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under 1 year old. Cats over 1 can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee covers the mandatory spay or

Emanuel Peralta, Katie Haigler, Liam Felio, Ramsey Grimes, Janiya King, Elizabeth McShine, Nicholas Frazier and Kassidy Lowman.

The Air National Guard Red Tail Commendation Award was presented to Taye Crawford.

Dylan Chavez received the Alabama Army National Guard Army Values Award.

The American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award went to Zoie Ball and the American Legion General Military Excellence Award was awarded to Zylan Foulks.

Rekeria Tyes received the Association of the United States Army Award.

The Daedalian Award was awarded to Maria Escobar. Simmons received the Daughters of the American Revolution Award.

The Kiwanis Leadership Award went to Daneaveah Timmons. Taven Cox was awarded the Military Officers Association of America Award.

neuter, basic immunizations, deworming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian.

If you are interested in meeting Bo or any of the pets at HSEC, the first step is to fill out an adoption application online. Once approved, you will be contacted by someone from the humane society. HSEC is located at 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka. The phone number is 334-567-3377 and the website is www.elmorehumane.org.

The Military Order of World Wars Award went to Jasmine Snow.

Aiden Sowell was given the Military Order of the Purple Heart Award.

The Scottish Rite Award went to Quinterrius Rivers.

Emanuel Peralta was presented the Sons of the American Revolution Award.

The United States Army Recruiting Award went to Crystal Hale and Lyric Robinson.

Kamori Gipson was awarded the United States Air Force Aim High Award.

The United States Coast Guard Leadership Award was presented to Quindarius Cook. Allison Acosta was awarded the United States Marine Corp Leadership Award.

The United States Navy Leadership Award was presented to Xavier Maddox.

Olivia Lawrence was awarded the United States Space Force Award.

JROTC Athletics Award for getting 50% or higher on all five parts of the Cadet Challenge were given to William Griffin, Joseph Griffin and Blake Schleinkofer.

indicating to leave it alone

And if you get a new dog, don’t rush everything — bring it home and let it explore, meet people and decompress on the dog’s schedule — not yours.

The Noncommissioned Officers Association for JROTC Award was awarded to Janieh Wise.

Warrant Officer Association Awards went to Kevin McShine, Jakayla Milton, Ashley Trejo and Zylan Foulks.

Aaiden Moorer was given the Reserve Officers Association Award. The Enlisted Association JROTC Award was presented to James Bruno. Recipients of the Top 5 Cadet Challenge Female Awards went to Tiffany Edwards, Ramsey Grimes, Neaheayia Palmore Graham, Lyric Robinson and Gabriella Brown. Top 5 Cadet Challenge Male Awards were given to Caleb Allen, Emanuel Peralta, Taven Cox, William Griffin and Joseph Griffin. The Senior Army Instructor Leadership Award was given to Kloe Peterson, Jasmine Snow, Maria Escobar and Zylan Foulks. The ceremony saw the announcement of new cadet leadership. Maria Escobar will follow Kaylee Simmons as cadet battalion commander. A change of command ceremony will be held at a later day.

Definitely give your new puppy/dog time to get to know you, your family and home before subjecting it to the big scary world of dog parks, pet stores & public events. Sadly dog bites do happen, and, if so, please seek medical attention and report to local authorities for everyone’s safety.

Rea Cord is the executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County.

TIPPY HUNTER General Manager

Why supporting local newspapers is crucial in age of AI

Artificial intelligence is making its mark, and fortunately (or unfortunately), it’s here to stay. What we considered science fiction in the 1980s is no longer fiction. It was 1982 when KITT gave us our first glimpse with his talk-responsive screen disguised as a black Trans Am.

In 1987, RoboCop introduced us to the good versus bad of AI and the ethics associated with it. The good AI being the creation of streamlined processes that lead to more efficiency, and the lack of human emotion from an AI-generated robot that allowed for greater objectivity. The bad AI being the dangers of unchecked artificial intelligence, which brings up the ethics of it all.

Is it ethical to develop machines with human-like capabilities that lack humanness? Is it ethical to forgo human oversight by putting our trust strictly in AI?

I ride the fence on AI’s place in our lives. The social media capabilities, design options, location and navigation services, chat features, facial recognition and personalized recommendations are gamechangers. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying there are a lot of AI components I hope we never have to live without.

When it comes to news, and local newspapers especially, AI is a big NO for me. Recently, AI-generated newsletters have popped up in 47 states. These newsletters were created by an individual who uses AI to curate local news content lifted directly from trusted community newspapers without permission and without paying journalists for their work. The sites for these newsletters are strategically designed to look like local sources, but in reality it is merely AI scraping websites and extracting (stealing) content.

According to a recent Trust in Media study, local newspapers are America’s most trusted source of news. Local newspapers outperformed national papers, television and social media on every trust measure.

See LOCAL, Page A5

We’d

Obituaries are

(Herald,

accepted via the funeral home in charge of arrangements. We do not accept obituaries from individuals. Weddings, Engagements, Anniversaries, or Birth

Announcements: These significant family events or milestones are 35 cents per word and $25 for a photo and must be emailed to us at announcements@thewetumpkaherald.com.

We

“Records were meant to be broken.”

We’ve all heard the phrase, but we’ve also seen records that weren’t meant to be broken.

If you know me, you already know what this column is going to be about. Over 31 years ago, Wayne Gretzky finished his NHL career with 894 career goals.

Ever since then, it’s been the record that’s impossible to break.

It was so unreachable that the second-best player in the NHL, Gordie Howe, also known as Mr. Hockey, scored only 801 goals — a full 93 less. That’s like two full seasons of really good goal scoring Gretzky was ahead. Over the past 31 years, untouchable records across sports have fallen.

LeBron James has become the highest scorer in the NBA. Tom Brady earned his seventh Super Bowl ring — more than any other single player. Emmitt Smith passed Walter Payton with the most rushing yards in an NFL career. Nolan Ryan crushed the strikeout record in the MLB.

Even sports like tennis and golf have seen the height of their sport with guys like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Tiger Woods arguing for the titles for the best players in their sport’s history.

The past 31 years of sports have been incredible, to say the

least.

But one record has always remained the same. Gretzky has always been the best hockey player in the world.

And that likely hasn’t changed. Gretzky still holds almost all the offensive records in the NHL — and even some defensive ones. Wayne Gretzky is hockey.

But there’s a new goal scorer in town, and he hails from the unlikeliest of places — the Washington Capitals.

the way — but he achieved Gretzky’s numbers in the same amount of games. It’s a truly amazing feat.

For many years, the Wash ington Capitals were the laughing stock of the NHL, even during Ovechkin’s career. Whether it was truly bad sea sons — the Caps still hold the record for the worst season in the NHL, another unbreakable record most likely — or getting bounced from the playoffs in the first round year after year after year, the Caps were the guys you broke records against. When you were on a long los ing streak, you could count on the Caps to give you a win. We had the best player in the NHL for years and years and could never win a Stanley Cup.

the Arbogast curse. Teams the Arbogasts root for were teams that lost.

In case you didn’t know, Alexander Ovechkin unbelievably — and in style — broke Gretzky’s goal-scoring record on Sunday against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal in his 1,487th regular-season game. What’s crazier: That’s exactly the number of games Gretzky played in his career as well.

lesson sports can teach us all, especially those who feel cursed.

There are many wonderful things about the month of April. It traditionally signifies the birth of spring. There are April showers which bring May flowers. Springtime events are going on constantly, from yard sales to barbecues, and the spring sports are in full swing: baseball, softball, track and field, and more. And yet, I always fear the third and fourth weeks of April because of all the strange, and sometimes terrible, things that have happened on these days.

On the third week of April, 1983, the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, was bombed by terrorists. 63 people died in the attack. It seemed like good news in 1989 when 100,000 young people protested in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The iconic photo of a student standing up to a tank doesn’t show the gruesome Communist crackdown to come.

There’s lots of arguments as to why all these unbreakable records have been broken. The most common of which is athletes’ careers are much longer now than they were before. But not Ovechkin. Yes, he will play one more season and add to his goal total — making his own untouchable record along

Fear of April

David Koresh and the Branch Davidians engaged in a final, brutal shootout with law enforcement on this week in 1993, ending with the entire compound exploding into flames. 81 people died.

Two years later to the day in 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was destroyed by (at the time) the worst bombing on U.S. soil. 168 people were killed. (I was working in the Troy State University Library that day, and remember going to the box to pick up the afternoon newspapers. The picture on the front page was fireman Chris Fields holding the dying baby, Baylee Almon. I was so distraught I could barely finish the work day.)

The Virginia Tech shootings occurred on this week in 2007. 32 people died, and 17 others were wounded. It was on this week in 2010 that the BP oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico and gushed oil for the

Ovechkin taught us this les son once again this weekend. No matter what other people think or the obstacles you are up against, nothing is impossi ble. Records were meant to be broken.

Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. She can be reached at 434-962-9420 or via email at lizi.gwin@alexcityoutlook.com.

next six months. On this same week in 1999, two high school students terrorized Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, killing 13 people and injuring 21 others. In 2013, the Boston Marathon bombings occurred, injuring 264 people and killing three.

We have unfortunately become too accustomed to bad news. Perhaps it’s the 24/7 media cycle that keeps things stirred up while we stay glued to electronic devices. I am of the belief that we simply know more details about events, and know them sooner, than ever before in history. The irony: the more we communicate, the less we care about others – or, more to the point, the more we know, the more we know we don’t know!

Michael Bird is a music teacher at Faulkner University.

Wetumpka children’s librarian retires

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

It was no April Fool’s joke as Cathy Saylor retired April 1 from being the Wetumpka Public Library children’s librarian.

It’s a position she has held for almost seven years.

“I’m an empty nester and want to be closer to family,” Saylor said. “I will be moving to South Carolina.”

Saylor’s love of libraries came naturally. Her parents took her to libraries as a child and encouraged her reading habits. She came to the Wetumpka library as a

part-time employee.

“I worked at the school as an aide,” Saylor said. “I needed more work so I started here. I’d come over here after three five days a week.”

When children’s librarian Myrna Hays retired, Saylor took over the position.

“I had been helping her some,” Saylor said. It was a time she discovered she loved reading to children and encouraging them to develop reading habits similar to hers.

“Being a children’s librarian is the best,” Saylor said. “I’ve had little ones of my own and saw them develop

Pediatrics wasn’t first choice but best choice

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Dr. Jim Carlile always knew he wanted to go into medicine.

But it took a team of physicians to convince Dr. Jim Carlile he should go into pediatrics.

“I wanted to do gastroenterology because I was fascinated with endoscopy procedures where you look down into someone’s stomach and things like that,” Carlile said. “One of the professors of pediatrics called me in and said the pediatric department here feels that you have a gift in pediatrics. Would you consider it?”

Carlile’s initial reaction was no. But the pediatric professor promised to write Carlile glowing recommendations for gastroenterology if he didn’t like a few of the pediatric classes the department had in mind for him.

That started Carlile’s journey to helping children through medicine. The Brantley native went to Troy and then medical school at the University of Alabama Birmingham. He did his residency at Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, where faculty picked him to be chief resident. While Carlile was chief resident, the hospital’s operator summoned him to the lobby. It wasn’t a patient or parent.

“It was my professor who encouraged me to go into pediatrics,” Carlile said.

“She said she heard I was chief resident and asked how I liked pediatrics now.”

Carlile told his professor she was correct in pushing him to the speciality he didn’t want to be in at the start.

“God gives you a gift that you don’t even know

Continued from A4

that you have,” Carlile said.

“It takes strangers to point it out to you, because you can’t see it. You’re blinded by your own wishes and your own wants.”

Carlile landed in Decatur, Alabama, after residency leading a children’s and women’s medical program. He then went to Montgomery.

“I was spending five minutes or less with patients,” Carlile said. “I wasn’t getting to know them and their families.”

In 2007 Carlile came to Elmore County and Ivy Creek.

“Elmore County is a totally different world,”

Carlile said. “It’s more like an extended family here. I get to spend more time with my patients. I get to know them. They get to know me.”

Carlile raised his family in Elmore County and his practice Carlile Pediatrics continues to grow.

“Now my patients are having kids,” Carlile said. “Now they’re bringing them back here, and it’s just wonderful. I’m not a grandparent, but I now know how a grandparent would feel, because you are just so proud when you see that newborn baby of the patient that you saw when they were little.”

Carlile also studied adolescent medicine. He thought he would like to treat students on college campuses. It allows him to treat patients up to the age of 21. But he didn’t do it.

“I just feel really called to treat children,” Carlile said. “It is an amazing feeling to work with children and build relationships with them and their families. I’m really blessed to be doing what I’m called to do.”

into readers. At the library I saw more kids develop good reading habits. It’s great to see the light turn on about how enjoyable reading is. Those are some great memories.”

Hays started many of the children’s reading clubs and summer reading programs. Saylor expanded them, adding a home school book club and increased attendance at summer reading programs.

“It was great to see kids getting interested in reading,” Saylor said.

Current Wetumpka Public Library director Susan Hays said it is bittersweet to

see Saylor go. But just like Saylor, there is a part-time employee stepping up to fill the role of children’s librarian — Michelle Meeks. Her children have been attending Saylor’s programs for the last several years.

“She and Ms. Myra have laid a great foundation,” Meeks said. “Cathy has already set me up with success with the book clubs and already planning out this year’s summer reading program at the civic center.”

But Saylor isn’t leaving reading or libraries behind.

“I will still read and go to libraries,” Saylor said. “If I work again, I would love for it to be in a library again. There are so many good memories.”

SE JROTC getting obstacle course, climbing tour

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

A new obstacle course and climbing tower are coming to Stanhope Elmore High School thanks to the Elmore County Commission.

The project is aimed at helping the Stanhope Elmore JROTC program excel, help promote tourism, benefit first responders and help with student team building.

“This is a quality of life project we have been able to add,” Elmore County chief operations officer Richie Beyer said. “It is thanks to other projects running under budget.”

The commission gave the Elmore County Board of Education $250,000 to go towards the project. The board of education and City of Millbrook will commit $25,000 each to the project.

The board of education is also supplying the property.

“We bought it back six or seven years ago,” Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis said. “It ties into the practice field over there, between it and Millbrook Middle School.”

The project was a pipe dream for Stanhope Elmore JROTC instructor retired SFC Wayne Kindley. He retired from the Army in September and was a certified air assault obstacle course instructor. He aided the SE JROTC Raider team to a 13th place nationally in fall without a course. Kindley

Planting pinwheels for child abuse prevention

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Pinwheels are on the lawn of the historic Elmore County Courthouse to mark April as child abuse prevention month. The toy is symbolic of the childlike whimsy and lighthearted world everyone hopes children grow up around in order to be happy and healthy. It is a toy several county leaders planted Friday to bring awareness to

Department of Human Resources (DHR) director Michelle Wood said. “We do this every year to start the month. There are several events during the month that take place within the county that recognize child abuse prevention.” Wood was joined by 19th Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Mandy Johnson, Children’s Trust Fund field director Tammy Marshall and Elmore

Wetumpka getting new restaurant, children’s event facility

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

At Monday’s Wetumpka City Council meeting, the council approved the sale of two lots at River Town Center.

City leaders said a restaurant is coming to one and a children’s indoor event facility to the other.

“This makes me happy that we put a development together, then present the lots and they are selling,” Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis said. “It’s going to be beneficial to the City of Wetumpka for years to come.”

The city purchased the property about a year ago and began designing a development.

“The sale of the property will cover our investment in the development,” Willis said. “Then the city will see the benefit of sales tax revenue when the businesses open.”

Willis and other city officials said announcements about what business-

es are coming will be released in the future. Willis said he anticipates construction to start in the next two months.

At the council meeting, change orders were approved to accommodate the sales. One was combining lots to create a lot of about three acres. Another was bringing power to a lot being sold. The last was to work with ALDOT to create larger radius turn-ins into the development to allow for truck traffic.

A preliminary engineering agreement between the city and state was approved by the council for sidewalk and parking improvements along portions of Tallassee Street. The sidewalk project could be funded by an ALDOT TAP grant if approved. The entire project is being designed together in hopes it can be bid as one larger project.

IN OTHER ACTION THE WETUMPKA CITY COUNCIL:

• Approved minutes of the March 17 meeting.

• Approved a contract with Elmore County E911 and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office for Southern Software. It will allow approved police officers access to a phone app to monitor the CAD system at dispatch.

• Approved the Farm City Festival to be hosted by the Elmore County Extension Office on Oct. 24 at the Farmer’s Market.

• Approved Linda Presson hosting an Easter Egg hunt at the Farmer’s Market on April 20.

• Approved EAA Chapter 822 to host a Young Eagles Event with Elmore County JROTC at the Wetumpka Municipal Airport on April 26.

• Approved The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts to host Wildlife Arts Festival on Oct. 25. The next meeting of the Wetumpka City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, April 21.

Eighty percent of Americans believe it is critically important to have a local newspaper, and nearly three out of four say their community would suffer without one. According to the study, readers consistently cite local newspapers as more transparent, more ethical and more invested in their communities. I couldn’t have said the last sentence better

myself. Readers rely on local newspapers because we deliver facts and accountability. We didn’t generate trust by an algorithm. Our journalists earned it by reporting from the frontlines on the stories that matter most, and they know because they live, shop and work in our communities. When AI steals community news, it affects not only your local newspaper but it affects you as well. Why buy a sub-

scription to your local newspaper if AI is going to steal the content and serve it up for you?

This directly affects employees’ salaries at your local news source, and the community risks losing critical coverage. If we were to reduce staff and could no longer cover local news, AI would have no content to scrape. These bots are not going to come to the Benjamin Russell football game and run up and down the field for four quarters or show up at the next Tallassee

school board meeting. At the worst point, our communities become a news desert which leads to the spread of misinformation, loss of trust, reduced accountability and, in some cases, increased isolation and corruption. There’s a lot at stake in the battle with AI. It’s not just your community’s news. It’s your community. It’s your livelihood, and it’s your trust. The best way to protect your local newspaper is to support it. Subscribe to

it. Advertise to its enormous audience. And back the business that we do for you on a daily basis. If you’re not already a subscriber, I’m asking that you please consider joining our club of knowledge and accountability-driven journalists who show up every day for our readers.

Tippy Hunter is the general manager of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. She can be reached at tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook. com. LOCAL

“We were trying to catch our breath because it was all emotional.”

Hours later Simmons joined her friends, classmates and faculty in the parking lot of school after the tragic and unexpected death of Reeves.

“I believe I was the last person to see her alive,” Simmons said. “She was always so full of joy and was so fun to be around. I didn’t see it coming.”

Simmons quickly turned into consoler. She hugged her favorite teacher in the parking lot. Both were grieving.

“These deaths not only touched friends and students but the faculty as well,” Simmons said.

SEHS principal Ewell Fuller said the time period was difficult at the school.

“I had to help plan the funerals of two students in a week,” Fuller said. “It was rough for all of us.” Simmons knew in the moment she couldn’t let her friend’s death be forgotten.

“I saw all that everyone was going through,” Simmons said.

“I was going through it too. I didn’t want them to die in vain.” Simmons went to Fuller and faculty, wanting to do something.

AGENCY

Continued from A1

how a person communicates, behaves and learns.

With April being Autism Awareness month, local organizations are spreading awareness and helping others better understand people with autism.

“Autism is not a mental disability,” program director Heather Fulford with Growing Independence Behavioral Services said.

“They can understand things; you just have to teach them in a different way than you do other

She helped organize a rally as school came back into session to let other students know and faculty know there was support.

“I didn’t know how it was going to go,” Simmons said. “We had more than 50 people there. I would have considered it a success to change one person’s life.

I said, ‘If somebody is sitting in that crowd silently, alone, and they are even considering the idea of suicide, I want tonight to be the reason they don’t.’”

The rally brought a success story. Afterwards, a student came to Simmons and said they had thoughts of taking their own life. They got to talking and kept talking.

Almost two years later, Simmons said the student is once again excelling in school and is set to graduate with her next month. It is the same thing Reeves would be doing if she was still here.

“MaKayla joked about me saving her a seat for graduation that night,” Simmons said.

Simmons said she is unsure just how she and school staff will honor MaKayla that night.

“One thing is for sure,” Simmons said. “There will be a seat next to me for her.”

Simmons realized what she and others at Stanhope Elmore experienced is not unique. She looked at statistics from the Centers for Disease Control

kids who do not have developmental delays or anything like that.”

Autism awareness is also about embracing differences and helping individuals with autism and those who do not have autism better understand each other. Growing Independence Behavioral Services is a part of a wider organization called The Learning Tree, which offers statewide support for those with disabilities. Growing Independence focuses on specifically Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services.

“We implement behav-

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related to suicide. She discovered 22% of children ages 10-19 have thought about suicide.

The CDC said in 2021, 9% of high school students reported attempting suicide during the previous 12 months.

Stanhope Elmore has approximately 1,200 students. The CDC data meant about 120 students had come close to suicide and even more had thought about it. Simmons realized more must be done.

Just shy of two years after the deaths of Jones and Reeves, Simmons launched MNR: The Mak Project. It is a nonprofit organization and website, www.mnrthemakproject.com, dedicated to suicide prevention and awareness for school-age children and those affected by suicide.

Simmons had given Reeves the nickname ‘Mak.’ MNR stands for MaKayla Nicole Reeves but it also stands for Manage, Notice and Remember.

“I want to teach individuals how to manage their mental health, notice the signs of suicidal thoughts in others and remember those lost to suicide,” Simmons said.

It has a contact portion that allows those needing immediate help to reach out. Email goes directly to Simmons, as do the phone calls.

Her mission is to serve the students and faculty of Stanhope

ior therapy to work on socialization, behavior, communication, all types of different skills for preschool aged kids,” Fulford said. “So, we’re basically getting them ready to leave us and go to school. Whatever that school may look like, if it’s just a general education classroom situation, if it’s a special ed class, but we work on those different skills for about two years.”

In addition to therapy, Growing Independence also offers parent training. Fulford said they are with the child for just two years of their life, but the parent is with them for significantly longer. She said it’s important for parents to understand their child’s autism since it is

AWARD

Continued from A1

Elmore and Elmore County. Simmons has already partnered with counselors and family centers to aid in the mission of preventing suicide. She has helped create a small team of students to listen and help guide students. There is help for faculty and staff too.

“They are around students as much or more than families are,” Simmons said. “As we were gathering after the news of MaKayla, I saw the faculty hurting too.”

The project has quickly taken off. Simmons presented her passion project to a meeting of all the principals in Elmore County Schools last month.

“They gave her a standing ovation,” Fuller said. “They can’t believe a student has organized this.”

Simmons understands as a student she can’t give the professional help that is needed, but she can begin to listen and help others find resources. She can also connect with faculty after the loss of a student.

“All of the programs I looked at only helped the students,” Simmons said. “None looked at the teachers.”

The principals inquired about how to bring the Mak Project to their schools. Simmons said it would take one or two student ambassadors at a school to keep things running smoothly.

specific to the individual. Fulford said, to that point, it can be difficult to say certain signs to look for when it comes to deciding to seek a diagnosis. There can be certain tendencies like signs of being nonverbal, difficulty socializing with other kids, repetitive behaviors or disruptions to routines causing, what could be considered, meltdowns or shutdowns.

However, these are just some tendencies. Really deciding to seek a diagnosis is going to come down to knowing your kid — since autism presents differently for every person.

If a child is diagnosed, then they may come to Growing Independence by referral, and most ABA

honor the legacy of Joe Sewell, a native of the Titus community who established a very successful baseball career in the Majors from 1920-1933 and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. Sewell’s athletic skill was apparent as he holds two of Major League Baseball’s records including the lifetime record for fewest strikeouts in his 14 year career with only 114 in 7,132 at-bats. His outstanding character and leadership are qualities that serve as the foundation of this award.

His cousin John Sewell, for whom the top scholarships are named, loved sports and spent much of his free time coaching and helping young people. Both men left a legacy in Elmore County that youth and adults alike can emulate.

The award began in 2005 and

CHARGES

Continued from A1

for an unlawful sex act.

Through her work with Mak Project partners, Simmons, the ambassadors and the partners would help with school wide meetings presenting programs. There would also be support groups for students and faculty and events to help reach out into the community.

“At the moment I just want to work in Elmore County,” Simmons said. “I would like to grow it across the state once we get better organized.”

Simmons juggles her efforts on suicide prevention with being the battalion cadet commander of Stanhope Elmore’s JROTC program. She is also greatly involved in FBLA.

“Everyone has been great giving time when I need it for the Mak project,” Simmons said. It is an area Simmons is greatly interested in. She has already nearly completed a year’s worth of college courses as a high school student. Simmons is aiming to get into counseling when she completes her studies.

Fuller is amazed at Simmons’ efforts, especially with MNR: The Mak Project.

“She has done something I have never seen a student do before on this scale and tough subject matter,” Fuller said.

“She has created the framework and done all the work for something amazing.”

therapy will be covered by health insurance.

Growing Independence has four clinics in the state: Anniston, Albertville, Montgomery and Mobile. Most kids from Tallapoosa County and Elmore County go to the Montgomery clinic.

Growing Independence creates a treatment plan every six months to set up goals for the therapy process. Fulford said there is a great need for more board-certified behavior analysts. They are the ones who develop treatment plans. Growing Independence is also hiring registered behavior technicians, who are the ones actually implementing the therapy.

“The industry right now

this year a top prize of $3,500 will be awarded to one male and one female from the 24 finalists. Male and female category winners in academics, athletics, leadership and church, community and character will receive $1,500 scholarships.

Bios of the 24 finalists can be found inside today’s paper.

The Joe Sewell Memorial Award is the only program of its kind in the River Region that presents scholarship money in conjunction with the awards to overall and category winners.

This year’s Joe Sewell Memorial Award banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, at the Wetumpka Civic Center.

The Joe Sewell Memorial Award Board of Directors also names ninth grade certificate winners, who exemplify the same criteria as the seniors to encourage these youth to continue to excel.

The keynote speaker will be 10-year veteran MLB pitcher and

Barrera was also charged with third-degree escape.

is wide open,” Fulford said. “That is something that would be wonderful if somebody is interested. If they’re interested in social work, special education, anything like that, this is another avenue of being in that same kind of field. We have a lot of social workers who have changed their majors to apply behavior analysis to become a BCBA.”

Additionally, The Learning Tree is a proud partner agency with the Lake Martin Area United Way.

“We really like to make the community aware of what we do and the children that we serve,” Fulford said. “We are just appreciative of all the support we get.”

Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, Scott Sullivan. Sullivan joined Auburn University’s baseball team as a walk-on in 1991, pitching three seasons for the Tigers, finishing with a 13-9 record as a relief pitcher. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1993 MLB draft, and holds the MLB record for leading the league in relief innings pitched for four consecutive years. Sullivan finished his 10-year career with an ERA of 3.98 and 622 strikeouts. In 2024, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Sullivan and his wife Leann are the parents of three children and reside in Auburn.

A limited number of advance banquet tickets are available for sale to the public at Eventbrite.com, an online ticketing website. Tickets will not be available at the door.

For more information regarding the award and scholarship program, visit www.joesewellaward.com.

children for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sex acts.

Messages left with the Prattville Police Department seeking more information on the arrests haven’t been returned. But court documents give some insight into the cases as officers operated from a hotel in the Elmore County portion of Prattville on March 28 and 29.

According to the incident reports, defendants were identified during an undercover operation designed to arrest individuals who solicit children, in this case undercover chat operatives posing as 15-year-old

“They believed the children to be under the age of 16 and at least three years younger than the defendant,” the report states. “(The) defendant communicated via text messages.”

The messages include agreements to engage in sexual acts in exchange for money.

The defendants then traveled to the Prattville hotel and were arrested.

It is a similar operation the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office conducted in November where 15 men were arrested. They were also

charged with human trafficking. Most of the defendants were held without bail.

In the Prattville case, Whiddon, Murphy, Murry, Smith, Strizic, Kinsey, and Quintero-Caudillo, have a $90,000 bond available to them. Barrera has a $105,000 bond available to him.

Whiddon was out of the Tallapoosa County Jail on a $2,500 bond for trafficking opium following a March 2023 arrest.

According to court records as of April 7, all eight defendants remain in the Elmore County Jail.

2025 JOE SEWELL AWARD FINALISTS

AVA FAITH BAXLEY, EDGEWOOD

Ava Faith Baxley is a student at Edgewood Academy. She participates in cheerleading and is engaged in her church’s children’s ministry, youth group and has supported Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child at Mulder Methodist Church. Ava also volunteers at the Elmore County Food Pantry and Redland Elementary School as a Book Buddy, while helping out with Ivy’s Closet. She has been recog-

Robbie Grace Bolton is a student at Elmore County High School, where she excels in volleyball, basketball and cheerleading. She is also actively involved in Church in the Pines at Children’s Harbor. In volleyball, Robbie helped her team become Area Champions, participated in the Super-Regionals and served as team co-captain. As the captain of the basketball team, she led them to an Area Runner-up finish and an Area Championship. In cheerleading, she contributed to

nized as an AISA All-Star Cheerleader and as part of the AISA State Championship teams in 2022 and 2024 and was honored as a UCA Pin It Forward recipient. Additionally, she serves as the volleyball manager for the 2024-2025 season. Academically, Ava is a member of Beta Club and the National Honor Society and serves as the yearbook editor. She has received multiple university scholarships and plans to attend the University of

her team’s first-place finish at the UCA Space Center Regional competition. Academically, Robbie is a member of the National Beta Club, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Pi Kappa Theta Honor Society and the National Society for High School Scholars. She also serves as the Student Council secretary. Outside of school, Robbie has been recognized as the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Grand Champion and supports the Childhood Arthritis & Rheu-

Victoria Christine Bullock is a student at Holtville High School, where she is an athlete in softball and volleyball. She is involved in her community through Shoal Creek Baptist Church, where she serves on the Student Leadership Team, works with the Special Needs Ministry, leads Vacation Bible School and is part of the Discipleship Praise & Media Team. Victoria also attends Passion Camp. In volleyball, she earned Defensive MVP honors, was named to the All-County team and received the Serving Award. Academically, Victoria is the president of Beta Club, the president of the Student Government Association and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a member of Junior Civitan, National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. She won first place at the County Science Fair and the Judges Choice Award at the Regional Science Fair. Victoria is also dedicated to volunteer work, contributing to Field of Dreams, Trunk or Treat, the Food Pantry, Life South Blood Drive and as a Rodeo Volun-

Kayden Elizabeth Edwards is a student at Elmore County High School, where she plays volleyball, basketball and softball. She is a member of Vessel Church, participating in Squad Wars and Vacation Bible School. Kayden has earned athletic honors, including serving as the Basketball Team Captain, being named Softball Offensive MVP and achieving the highest batting average. She is the vice president of the Beta Club and the National English Honor Society,

Price Thomas Goggans is a student at Wetumpka High School, where he participates in cross country, track and field and tennis. He is a member of Frazer Methodist Church, involved in Vacation Bible School, the Student One Leadership Team and Discipleship Now. Price has been recognized as the Tennis Team Captain and for earning 2nd place in Team Sectionals. Academically, he has earned the AP Scholar Award and won first place in DECA Financial Ser-

Kinsley Kennebrew is a student at Tallassee High School, where she is involved in cheerleading and softball. She is a dedicated member of Jerusalem Baptist Church, where she teaches Sunday School and participates in Teens and Tents. Kinsley has served as cheer captain three times and as co-captain, earning the Most Dependable Cheerleader Award and the Academic Excellence Cheerleader Award. She was part of the Magic City Regional Cheer UCA Competition

Montevallo to study political science and law. Ava is the daughter of Ben and Nacole Baxley.

COUNTY

matology Research Alliance.

She plans to pursue a nursing degree at Auburn University.

Robbie is the daughter of Robbie and Grace Bolton.

teer. She has earned a softball scholarship to Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. Victoria is the daughter of Craig and Leia Bullock.

as well as president of Mu Alpha Theta. Kayden is also involved in FCA, Key Club and serves as an SGA representative. She has been recognized as part of the Academic Top 10 and ECHS Elite. Kayden has been involved in community service through the Food Pantry and Operation Christmas Child. She plans to attend either Mississippi State University Honor College or the University of Alabama at Birmingham Honor College, where she will pursue

a biochemistry/pre-dental track. Kayden was also honored with the 9th Grade Joe Sewell Certificate. She is the daughter of Toby and Heather Edwards.

Colby Gant Beyer is a student at Stanhope Elmore High School, where he is involved in football, soccer and golf. He is also a dedicated member of Coosada Baptist Church, participating in DNOW, Refuge and Deep Water. Colby serves as the captain of both the football and soccer teams and has been named an All-County Kicker and All-Region Punter. He won the Florida State Camp Punting competition and was selected for the Kohl’s National Kicking Showcase.

Bailea Catherine Boone is a student at Holtville High School, where she plays volleyball and softball. She is involved in Shoal Creek Baptist Church, participating in Winter Weekend, Passion Camp and Camp Amigos. Bailea has been named Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year, the Team Leader Award and a spot on the 2024 All-County team. In softball, she was named Offensive Player of the Year, served as team captain and was selected for both All-County and All-State

Lily Monroe Davenport is a student at Wetumpka High School, where she plays softball. She is an active member of Taylor Road Baptist Church and has achieved significant success in softball, including being named captain of the North-South All-Star Team, earning All-State honors twice and helping lead her team to the 6A State Championship. Lily was also selected for the State All-Tournament Team and recognized as First Team

Elizabeth Walker Ellis is a student at Edgewood Academy, where she is involved in volleyball, cheerleading and basketball. She is a member of Frazer Church, participating in Doodlebugs, Junior Athletic Camps, Operation Christmas Child and serving as the Lead Organizer for See You at the Pole. Elizabeth has achieved two Volleyball State Championships, two Cheerleading UCA All-American honors and the UCA Pin It Forward Award. She

vices. He serves as the treasurer of the National Honor Society and is also a member of Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Rho Kappa National Honor Society and Student Government Association, where he holds the role of secretary. Price is involved in the yearbook and contributes to community service through Operation Christmas Child, YMCA, Christmas on the Coosa and the Food Bank. He has been awarded a Merit Scholarship to Auburn University, where he plans to major in accounting/finance. Price was also honored with the 9th Grade Joe Sewell Certificate. He is the son of Jamie and Amber Goggans.

Division Winner team and a UCA Semifinalist at Nationals. Academically, Kinsley is a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and holds leadership roles as SGA secretary, SGA vice president, Key Club president, Leo Club president and FCA president. She also contributes to community service through projects like Community Clean-Up, Hall of Pride and Food for Kids and is a member of the Chamber Choir. Kinsley has been award-

ed a Leadership Scholarship to Tuskegee University, where she plans to study animal science. She is the daughter of Cedric and Bonita Brown.

Colby is also a Bryant Jordan Region Winner and received the Stanhope Quarterback Club Scholarship. Colby is a member of the National Honor Society, Science Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. He volunteers at the Wetumpka and Millbrook Food Banks, helps run a Youth Football Camp, supports the Millbrook Senior Center and serves as a YMCA camp counselor. Colby has earned a full academic scholarship to Clemson University, where he will pursue a degree in engineering. He was also honored with the 9th Grade Joe Sewell Certificate. Colby is the son of Richie and Kelli Beyer.

honors. She holds AHSAA season records for batting average, hits and stolen bases and set a single-game AHSAA record for hits. Bailea is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Junior Civitan, DECA and Beta Club, where she serves as vice president. She is also the vice president of the Student Government Association and is involved in Youth Leadership. Bailea volunteers with organizations such as Field of Dreams and the Food Pantry. She plans to attend Faulkner University to continue her

of

All-County. She has been named Wetumpka Herald Player of the week four times and Montgomery Advertiser Player of the week twice. Academically, Lily is a member of the National Honor Society and serves as the historian for the Health Occupation Students of America. She volunteers at Baptist South and has earned certifications in Teen Mental Health, Basic Life Support, First Aid and Patient Care Technician. Lily has been awarded the Anderson University presidential Scholarship and the Denmark Scholarship for nursing. She is the daughter of Ryan and April Davenport.

is also an AISA All-Star and a two-time Cheer State Champion and Basketball State Champion, where she received the Coaches Award. Academically, Elizabeth is the vice president of the Student Government Association, a member of Beta Club and the National Honor Society and serves as the assistant editor for the yearbook. She has been awarded the Prestige Scholarship to the University of Alabama, where she plans to pursue a degree in biology/ pre-dental. Elizabeth was also honored with the 9th Grade Joe Sewell Certificate. She is the daughter of Jeff and Laura Ellis.

ZOIE JALESÉ O’NEAL HOLMES, STANHOPE

Zoie Jalesé O’Neal Holmes is a student at Stanhope Elmore High School, where she plays volleyball. She is a member of Abundant Life Church Ministries, where she participates in the choir, community food distribution and the media team. Zoie has earned several volleyball honors, including being named MVP, receiving the Coaches Award and being selected for 2x First Team All-County and the All-Tour-

Camden Mask is a student at Tallassee High School and an accomplished swimmer. He is an active member of Union Church at Lake Martin, participating in events like the Fall Festival, Operation Christmas Child, Strength to Stand and Disciple Now. Camden has served as swim team captain and earned multiple state accolades, including 4th place in the 100-yard breaststroke, 4th place in the 200-yard IM, 2nd place in the 100-yard breaststroke, 2nd place in the

nament Team for Area 6A Region 2. Academically, she is a member of Beta Club, National Honor Society and National Honor Societies for English, Science and Math. Zoie is also involved in First Priority, Youth Leadership Elmore County, Junior Civitan, Senior Senate, Future Business Leaders of America and serves as the yearbook manager. She participates in the Purple Star Program and has plans to attend Alabama A&M University to major in business. Zoie is the daughter of James and Lisa Holmes.

200-yard IM and 1st place in the 100-yard breaststroke. He was also named an All-American USA Swimmer. Academically, Camden is a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Key Club and FCA, where he serves as music director. He participated in Boys State and is an SGA representative. Camden has earned a swimming scholarship to Henderson State University, where he plans to major in chemistry/pre-dental.

He was also honored with the 9th Grade Joe Sewell Certificate. Camden is the son of John Ernest Mask II and Courtney Conner Mask.

Chaynie Ruth Moulton is a student at Stanhope Elmore High School, where she is a dedicated cheerleader. She is a member of Coosada Baptist Church, participating in Fuge Camp, volunteering in the nursery, being involved in the Refuge Youth Group and assisting with Vacation Bible School and DNOW Weekend. Chaynie has served as cheerleading co-captain and is a four-year varsity

letterman. Academically, she is a member of Beta Club, Junior Civitan, Junior Ambassadors, DECA, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and the National Science Honor Society. Chaynie is also involved in Diamond Dolls, Student Government and Senate. Outside of school, she works as a server at Smoke House Pit BBQ. Chaynie has earned an academic scholarship to Mississippi State Uni-

Clenangelo Sharvis Peake, Jr. is a student at Wetumpka High School, where he plays football. He is a member of Vessel Church, contributing to the Food Drive and church’s Trick or Treat events. On the field, Clenangelo has earned several honors, including First Team All-County, Player of the Week, Max Preps Player of the Week and the Cornerstone Award. Academically, he serves as the chaplain of the National Honor Society and holds

Luke C. Reinert is a student at Elmore County High School, where he participates in football, wrestling, baseball and basketball. He is a member of Santuck Baptist Church, contributing to events such as Eclectic Christmas, VBS, Discipleship Now and the Strength to Stand Youth Conference. Luke has had an outstanding athletic career, earning All-County honors in football in 2022, 2023 and 2024, as well as All-Metro honors in 2022 and 2024 and

versity, where she plans to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She is the daughter of Harold and Tricia Moulton.

JR., WETUMPKA

leadership roles as the vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA). He is also involved in Beta Club, DECA, Journalism, Mu Alpha Theta and Rho Kappa. Clenangelo has received the John Wesley Scholarship to Huntingdon College, as well as opportunities from the University of South Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Alabama A&M University and Jacksonville

State University. He is the son of Kormeshia Peake and the late Clenangelo Sharvis Peake, Sr.

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Allyson Marie Orr is a student at Elmore County High School, where she is involved in softball, volleyball, track and field, cross country and cheerleading. She is a member of Refuge Baptist Church, where she serves as a VBS Pre-K teacher and participates in Operation Christmas Child. Allyson has received the Softball Golden Glove Award, All-County Honorable Mention in volleyball (2021) and All-County 2nd Team (2023). She is also a 2024 State Javelin Qualifier and State Javelin Runner-up and was part of

Ethan Edward Pruitt is a student at Holtville High School, where he is involved in basketball and soccer. He is a member of New Home Missionary Baptist Church, participating in the Missions Conference Flag Bearer, devotion leader, See You at the Pole, Passion Youth Camp, Fort Bluff Youth Camp, Fall Festival, Winter Weekend and serving as an AWANA Youth Leader. Ethan is the basketball team captain and has shown academic and leadership excellence. He is a member

the 2022 Regional Championship Cheer Team. Academically, Allyson is involved in a number of leadership roles and organizations, such as serving as SGA treasurer, Beta Club reporter and being a member of the National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and FCA. She is also a Miss ECHS Elite 2025, participates in Capital City Juniors and is part of First Priority. Allyson volunteers with Lake Martin Harbor Helper and has been honored with the Character in Action Award. She has plans

of the Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society. He was selected as a 2024 Boys State Representative and earned first place in both the 2023 and 2024 DECA Sports Marketing competitions, where he also serves as DECA president. Additionally, Ethan participated in the Regional Science Fair, is active in FFA and serves in Jr. Civitan. He has contributed to his community by volunteering at HES Field Day, Field of Dreams and as a math tutor. Ethan plans to attend Auburn

to attend Southern Union or Auburn University to pursue a pre-dental program. Allyson was also awarded the 9th Grade Joe Sewell Certificate. She is the daughter of Jeffery and Amanda Orr.

All-Region honors in 2024. He was named All-State in 2024 and served as team captain and defensive MVP in his senior year. In wrestling, Luke is a state qualifier for both 2024 and 2025. He is also involved in the Youth Football Camp. Academically, Luke is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta. He is recognized as Mr. ECHS Elite 2025 and serves as an ECHS Ambassador. Luke plans to attend Southern Union or Auburn University to study civil engineering. He is the son of Shaun and Kimberly Reinert.

PARKER LANE SHAW, EDGEWOOD

Parker Lane Shaw is a student at Edgewood Academy, where he participates in football and baseball. He is an active member of Santuck Baptist Church and has contributed to his community through events like Field of Dreams and Tornado Relief. In football, Parker earned 2024 All-State honors, was named first team 2024 AISA All-Star Football and was recognized as the Wetumpka Herald Player of the Week. He also received 2023 All-State

2nd Team honors, All-County recognition and 2022 All-County Honorable Mention. In baseball, Parker was named 2024 All-State, 2024 AISA All-Star and received 2024 All-County Baseball Honorable Mention. He was also a 2023 ALABCA All-Star. Parker is a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society and has earned the Honor Roll Award. He is involved in the fishing team and has participated in a youth football camp. Parker plans to

attend Southern Union State Community College. He is the son of Wade and Ashley Shaw.

ALLI SMITH, TALLASSEE

Alli Smith is a student at Tallassee High School, where she is involved in softball, wrestling and flag football. She is a member of Christ Gospel Baptist Church and contributes to Vacation Bible School.

Alli has received the Leadership Award for 2023-2024 and six MVP awards in softball. She was also recognized as the Most Athletic Female and placed fourth in the Girls Wrestling State competition. Academically, Alli is a mem-

ber of the Beta Club, National Honor Society and serves as the treasurer for the Health Occupation Students of America. She is also involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Lions Club, Key Club and Future Teachers of America. Alli is a member of the Women’s Wrestling Team and has earned an academic scholarship to Huntingdon College, where she plans to study athletic training. She was awarded the 9th Grade Joe

Sewell Certificate. Alli is the daughter of Matt and Ambrea Fannin and Eric Smith.

STANHOPE ELMORE

Harold Jackson Stallworth is a student at Stanhope Elmore High School, where he plays baseball and basketball. He is a member of Coosada Baptist Church, participating in Disciple NOW Weekend, Refuge Student Ministries and the WELCOME Center. Harold has been named to the 2023 All-County Baseball Team Honorable Mention, earned spots in the Minority Prospect All-American Game twice and been selected as an Atlanta Braves Nike 44 Classic Showcase Player. He also leads a team Bible study. Academically, Harold is a member of the Science National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars and Beta Club. He has contributed to his community by volunteering at the Prattville Food Pantry. Harold has been awarded the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association 2025 Scholarship and a full athletic scholarship for

baseball to Pensacola State College. He is the son of Harold and Shonda Stallworth.

Bryson Magee Rigsby is a stu-

dent at Tallassee High School, where he plays in baseball, football and basketball. He is a member of First Baptist Church Tallassee, where he contributes to Vacation Bible School, the Strength to Stand Conference and serves as a student ministry leader, small group leader and kids camp chaperone. Bryson has received the Baseball Tiger Award for hard work and dedication as a freshman,

sophomore and junior and the Basketball Tiger Award as a freshman. He also serves as a Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. Academically, Bryson is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club and Leo Club. He is involved with Tigers Unlimited at Auburn University and plans to pursue a degree in business at either Southern Union State Community College or Auburn University. Bryson was also awarded the 9th Grade Joe Sewell Certificate. He is the son of Abe and Brooke Rigsby.

JOHNNA BETH SIMS, WETUMPKA

Johnna Beth Sims is a student at Wetumpka High School, where she is the tennis team captain and has participated in four years of team sectionals. She has been recognized with the Most Improved Award in tennis. Johnna is a member of Wetumpka Church of Christ, where she participates in the Youth Group. Academically, she is involved in the Beta Club, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Youth Leadership Elmore County.

She also serves as the president of the WHS Art Club.

Johnna has showcased artwork at the Kelly High School Art Show, the Alabama Superintendent’s Art Show and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts “Master” Works Show. She actively contributes to her community through the National Alliance for Mental Illness Walk, Elementary School Fundraisers, the Food Pantry and tutoring. Johnna plans to attend Auburn Uni-

versity to pursue a degree in industrial design. She is the daughter of Craig and Kimberly Sims.

William Michael Smith is a student at Edgewood Academy, where he participates in basketball, football and golf. He is involved in Coosada Baptist Church, contributing to Mission Fuge, Discipleship NOW, the Praise Band and leadership activities, as well as serving as a flag football coach for Harvest Fields Community Church and participating in mission trips. William serves as the basketball team captain and is a member of both the Beta Club and National Honor Society. He is also engaged in dual enrollment and has volunteered as a YMCA soccer coach and basketball coach. William plans to attend Auburn University Montgomery to pursue a degree in education. He is the son of Stuart and Heather Smith.

Tyler Colt Wesson is a student at Holtville High School, where he is a standout soccer player. He is a member of Shoal Creek Baptist Church, participating in the Youth Leadership Team, Light the Night and Operation Christmas Child. As the soccer team captain, Tyler has led the team in goals and assists, earning second Team All-County honors and setting a school record for goals in a game. He has also been a part of a Club Soccer team that reached the State Cup Final four times. Academically, Tyler is involved in the Beta Club, DECA, Mu Alpha Theta, Jr. Civitan, Leaders of the Pack, Skills USA and the National Honor Society. He holds an OSHA-30 Workplace Safety Certification and earned second place in the District Science Fair. Tyler plans to attend the University of Alabama in Huntsville to study civil engineering. He was awarded the 9th Grade Joe Sewell Certificate. Tyler is the son of Travis and April Wesson.

Do others know you’re saved?

HJACKIE WILBOURN Columnist

ow may other people know that we are Christians? Someone asked the question, “How do you know that you have been saved?” And the answer was, “I was there when it happened.” If we have had an experience with Jesus, it is in our hearts. How will others know we are Christians? The most common answer will be, “I hope so, I think so, I guess so.” Those answers are worth nothing. We must examine our individual selves to see where it is genuine or fake. A “hope so” religion will not get us into Heaven nor will we have eternal life. Does the person sitting beside you in worship know if we are saved? After all, we have on shirts that say, “following Jesus”, we have cross earrings dangling from our ears, a beautiful cross is hung around our neck, and don’t forget the Bible we carry under our arm!

Others may know that we are Christians by our attitude toward sin. 1 John 3:9 tells us that one who is born of God does not continue to practice sin. Granted, we may slip up sometimes but he will not stay in our sin. Sin is not the natural element for a Christian. In fact, Satan may tell us to go to worship on Sunday morning but it will be ok to go to the “honkey tonk” on Sunday night. He tells us that going to Wednesday night prayer service is good , but to follow sin the other nights. To be a Christian means that I will conduct

Church Briefs

myself during the week as I would during appointed times of worship. Just as the devil-possessed man was bound by the chains of the devil, Jesus broke the bonds and cast the devil out. The man ran wild and told everyone he saw what Jesus had done and people saw the difference in the man and marveled at the change. People ought to see the difference in us, too. There ought to be a change in us after we have been converted. One day a drunkard came up to Sam Jones, the great Georgia evangelist and said,

“Mr. Jones, I am one of your converts.” Mr. Jones said, “You must be one of mine. You are certainly not one of the Lord’s.” Oh, if our conversion is genuine, our attitude toward sin changes and the world knows it. Our clothes do not often change when we are converted, but our ways ought to change. Our attitude toward sin ought to show the world that we are Christians.

Jackie Wilbourn, member of Bethel Baptist Church, is a chaplain with Alabama Disaster Relief Team.

are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

EAST TALLASSEE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

ETUMC’s Rivers Edge Flea Market is now closed. The church will start a new project called Rivers Edge Food Pantry. ETUMC will provide canned food, water, dry beans and rice, blankets, and jackets. If you want to donate or help with the cause, call Joan Wood at 334-312-4913.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY

Please join us for Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. when the Rev. Lee Lowery will celebrate the Holy Eucharist. We are asking everyone please to wear

a mask. The service will be live streamed on Facebook https:// www.facebook.com/EpiphanyTallassee/ For more information, visit the church website at http://epiphanytallassee.org/

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

First Presbyterian Church, located at 514 Central Blvd. will host a Veteran’s Day Celebration on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for all veterans and first responders and their family members.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

“We are OPEN and everyone is WELCOME! Come worship with us in person Sunday mornings at 8:50 a.m. (contemporary) or 11 a.m.

(traditional). Sunday School for all ages is offered Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., and a nursery is available for infants.

CHILDREN & YOUTH: meet Sunday evenings from 5-6:30 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6-7:15 p.m.; supper is included both days! For more information about our church or the programs we offer, visit our website: fumctallassee. com or call us: 334-283-2195. FUMC Tallassee - 1 Jordan Avenue.”

HILLSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH

Invites you to join us each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. for Sunday School, followed immediately by our Worship Service at 11:00 a.m. Bible Study is Wednesday at 6:00

Worship With Us

p.m. We also offer a Sunday evening prayer gathering for those wishing to join together in prayer. If you need prayer or know someone who does, you may call 33-567-9695 and leave a voicemail prayer request or drop a prayer request by our prayer box located on our sanctuary porch. We will carry all requests to the Lord in our hour of prayer. Hillside is located at 405 Old Montgomery Highway in Wetumpka. If you have questions, please call us at 334567-9695.

HILLSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH Angel’s Attic ministry provides clothing for all members of the family. The Attic is located at 210 Old Montgom-

ery Highway and is open each Wednesday afternoon between the hours of 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. If you wish to donate clothing items, please do so during the Wednesday hours of operation. This is a free service to the community. We look forward to seeing you soon!

OUR LIFE’S JOURNEY Airs every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on 580 WACQ, FM

Girls wrestling finds its footing in Elmore County

Wetumpka

picks up where it

left off with win over Calera

STAFF REPORT

TPI Staff

After over a week off, the Wetumpka softball team came back in the same fashion it left off — winning.

The Indians duke it out with the Eagles of Calera, marching out to a dominating 11-1 victory in just six innings of play. At the plate, they showed why they are regarded as one of the best teams in Class 6A, racking up a monstrous 18 hits on the day.

Lily Davenport had one of the more impressive days in the batter’s box, racking up four hits to pair alongside two runs and one RBI. Chloe

Taylor also dominated in the box as well, picking up three hits, three runs and one RBI in her four at-bats. The rest of the lineup shared in that success; Autymn Hollon, Alyssa Brown, Bailey Carlisle, Sophie Arant and Kyla Richardson all accounting for two hits apiece.

Abigail Adams filled in as the pitcher for Wetumpka, logging one strikeout and two walks while surrendering three hits and one run.

Wetumpka faces off against area opponent Stanhope Elmore this week where it’ll look to continue its winning ways.

Shuman captures 200th career win

By LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN Managing Editor

DK Shuman has been around the block.

He got his start as an assistant baseball coach at Charles Henderson before kicking off his head coaching career at Northside Methodist Academy in Dothan for four years.

He had great success in Dothan and was eventually hired as Stanhope Elmore’s head baseball coach in 2019. For six years, he’s been at the helm of Stanhope and he’s just amassed more and more wins.

Last week, in a shutout

doubleheader against Pike Road, Shuman notched his 200th career win.

“I really wasn’t thinking about it much at the time,” Shuman said. “Honestly, I didn’t even realize it until after the fact. But it is still a special feeling to be able to do this long enough as a head coach to get that many wins, and it took a lot of help along the way.”

While many coaches amass memories along the way, there’s one moment that truly sticks out in Shuman’s head of his career favorites.

By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter

One sport is on the rise in Elmore County, and it just finished its first year as an AHSAA-sanctioned sport: girls’ wrestling. Previously if you were a female athlete who sought to take to the mat, your resources were limited. Of course, there were teams across the

state who had female wrestlers while other opportunities came outside of high school organized sport. Even so, there was still a probability where girl wrestlers had no choice but to compete against boy wrestlers.

Now, that is not the case.

Last year, Alabama became the 42nd state to sanction girls wrestling as a championship sport alongside flag football.

Tallassee wrestling coach

John Mask saw a significant turnout for his school especially. However, there are still hurdles to overcome with the sport.

“We had girls like, I want to say we had 20 sign up, which was great,” Mask said.

“There’s still a lot of parents that may be reluctant or don’t know about it, but I think this

EVERY ATHLETE

By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter

When Bear Woods stepped foot on Wetumpka’s campus he sought to accomplish many things. And now, he’s checked one of those boxes — investing in the weight room.

After three years and countless donations from the Wetumpka community, that dream is now a reality. But what makes this weight room different, excluding the money invested, is the personalization that went into each rack.

Each is branded with a laser-cut emblem of Wetumpka, the team’s logo placed on all the benches, personalized Wetumpka weight plates, all the way down to the ‘W’ at the end of each bar — all while rocking the Indians’ black and gold.

What makes the weight room even more special is that it’s not just for the Wetumpka football team; it’s for every sport, down to the middle school level.

“I’m very proud of this room,” Woods said. “It’s three years running, in terms of raising the funds, to be able to have this weight room done. I’m also the head football coach here, as well as the athletic director, and I’m proud to know that football invested in all of our sporting programs in this way because everyone uses this weight room. I’m proud as the head football coach to help make this a reality three years in,

and the kids love it.”

Of course, the racks themselves were a bulk of the upgrades made, but Woods and Strength and Conditioning coach Ben Singleton invested in software called TeamBuildr. This allows the coaching staff to not only monitor how much weight each athlete is lifting but will even track calories burned alongside what the student-athlete needs to intake for muscle growth.

The use of TeamBuildr helps every sport in regards to muscle growth and Woods praised its ability to promote healthy competition amongst all the sports.

“They’re in there competing with each other,” Woods said. “Talking a little smack, there’ll be messages on the whiteboard when I come in here, and everyone is competing with each other.”

Eventually, Woods plans to have each rack equipped with an iPad to track in real-time who’s lifting the most and catalog their workout. That’s not the only use of technology either, Wetumpka is using laser timing to track student-athletes in the 40-yard dash alongside a 10-yard shuttle while broadcasting the results in the weight room for all to see. An aspect of athletics that Woods did not even have the luxury of having during his professional football career both in the NFL and CFL.

“We actually got the big screen up on the wall, the projector up there that it can mirror who’s lifted the most

weight that day, and it just keeps it competitive,” Woods said. “But the next thing is actually having an iPad on each rack. When I played man, even professionally, if you look back to four years ago, the new movement of testing with the lasers and the technology right has increased so fast that it wasn’t even within my professional career four years ago.”

The use of technology has many benefits, especially with targeting workouts catered to the different sports at Wetumpka. However, this also provides parents a way to see their child’s progress in the weight room and how they can monitor what is needed from them.

“(TeamBuildr) is also another resource for the parents to get involved,” Woods said. “Because when the kid comes home, I know they’re excited about what they have accomplished in this room. They can see themselves getting bigger and stronger. They can see themselves getting faster and the parents have total access. So when a parent walks in and says, ‘Well, how can my son gain more weight?’ or ‘What plan can my daughter get on, to get faster?’ Well, have you looked at your daughter’s profile on her TeamBuildr? Here it is, this is what you can do. You can help her out with this and track this. This is just an endless amount of resources for every kid to utilize.”

Communication fuels Holtville turnaround

By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter

It’s been a steady incline for the Holtville girls soccer team, all because of one adjustment — communication.

The Bulldogs have been on the winning side of things in five of their last six games, and currently are riding a three-game win streak after taking down Wetumpka 4-1 last Thursday. It has not just been the win column piling up, the goals have too.

Holtville has scored five or more goals in three of its last six games while pitching three shutouts in the process. The main difference for the squad during this stretch has been the communication from the girls, according to coach John Stark.

“We really challenged ourselves after spring break,” Stark said. “We had a really good game going into spring break, we came out, we looked like a completely different team. Last time we were out here, communication was an issue. We resolved that in the last three games, we’ve scored as many goals as we had coming into the last three games. So we really challenged the girls to communicate, work together.”

It’s not just Stark who’s noticed an improvement in their communication — the players have too.

“I think we did a lot better communication-wise,” senior Anna Stark said. “I think that’s been something that we’ve been trying to work on a lot. We’ve really

Back in 2021 and 2022, Stanhope Elmore faced off against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa and were defeated in back-to-back years in the postseason. But 2023 was a different story. Again the squads faced off, this time in the quarterfinals, and it was the Mustangs who got the best of Hillcrest.

“To be able to go into

WRESTLING

Continued from B1

gelled as a team, instead of 11 players playing, we’ve really played together, as one.”

The improvement in the communication department has not done nothing but helped the team excel, especially with their offensive output. They’ve been able to build a chemistry amongst each other that was not present at the beginning of the season.

“We had such a good chemistry team last year,” senior Grace White said. “We all worked together, and we didn’t really lose a lot of people, so it was kind of hard to see us fall apart and not have the chemistry that we had last year. But it was just like it clicked. Like it showed how much communication mattered. Because, you have to know where everyone is, one person can’t see the entire field. It takes everybody to see the field.”

Stark also commented on how the communication has been able to build the team’s chemistry during this winning stretch they are on.

“It’s the chemistry,” Stark said about the win streak. “The girls are learning from one another; they’re learning the positions; they’re learning what we want them to do. And I think if you hear from them, they’ll probably say the same thing.”

Holtville is about to hit a three game stretch of just area opponents, and will look to continue to build their chemistry with one another to continue its winning ways.

the semifinals and in a way, avenge those previous two classes,” Shuman said. “That one was a little bit more special because all three times we played them, we were always at their place. We’ve never gotten to play them at home, so that one comes to mind a lot just because of the weight of the game and the history behind it. So I’d say that one’s probably my favorite moment.”

Not only was the win against Pike Road a mile-

year, a lot of people come in, watching it, seeing how they’re not wrestling boys anymore, with just girls versus girls, and seeing the sport. I think we’re going to really see the numbers rise.”

It’s the exposure to the sport that will pay dividends, especially seeing someone being successful at it. Look no further than Wetumpka’s Julianna Eldridge for example — not only has she been crowned a two-time state champion but she is currently ranked amongst the best in the nation. Eldridge is ranked 30th in the country in her weight class as just a sophomore in high school.

PLANTING

Continued from A5

Wetumpka’s late push tops Holtville in high-energy matchup

By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter

It was a back-and-forth affair between the Holtville and Wetumpka boy soccer teams with emotion running high.

However, a late goal by the Indians sealed the fate for the Bulldogs eventually falling 3-2. Gavin Weaver accounted for the Bulldogs first score of the day in the first half while Tyler Wesson accounted for the second. Despite the end result not what he had hoped for, head soccer coach Luke Fussell commended his team’s play.

“I saw my guys giving great effort today and just playing our blue-collar style of soccer, and that’s what we got to have going forward,” Fussell said. “I’m proud of our guys the way they competed, the way they kept their compo-

sure throughout the game when things were going, the way they played as a team. I couldn’t be more proud of our team.”

Wetumpka held control for most of the game, scoring early in the first half thanks to a penalty kick and continued from there. Even with the deficit, Fussell knows his team is not going to buckle or yield in the face of adversity.

“I think it says a lot to like what’s within them, they’re all fighters,” Fussell said. “But also, I think it says even more so, the trust they have in each other as teammates. It feels like we’re hitting our strides as a team with chemistry in order that things don’t go away. Which is what I think any coach could ever ask for out of a team, and I’m just very fortunate to be able to coach these teams without a doubt.”

Fussell knows that chemistry is going to play dividends going into the meat of its area schedule.

Holtville will face a three game stretch with two games against Brewtech and one against Elmore County, vying for a spot in the playoffs.

“I want to see us play with the same mentality that we did tonight, no matter the circumstances, we’re going to play hard,” Fussell said. “We’re going to play for each other, and that’s it. At the end of the day, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I want to see some guys who are role players step up and really feel into that role as they have, and continue to do so. I think that that’s going to be really good for us going forward, we understand our role at this point and really leaning into that as a player.”

stone victory for Shuman, it was also a playoff-clincher for the squad. The Mustangs swept the Patriots in three games, putting them into the playoffs and into an area showdown with rival Wetumpka.

Stanhope Elmore sits with 18 wins on the season, but their season has been plagued with a lot of ups and downs. However, Shuman said that was to be expected.

“With as tough a schedule as we’ve played, some losses

“She’s great for what this sport is trying to do and continues to grow,” Wetumpka wrestling coach Josh Highland said. “It shows that girls can be successful in this sport and that it’s just awesome that she’s a part of this program, and I get to be a part of it and watch her continuously help this sport grow.”

Wrestling in its entirety is different from most. There is a team aspect like most of the other AHSAA-sanctioned sports, but it mostly focuses on the individual. That aspect alone gives any wrestler valuable life lessons according to Mask.

“I think it’s the greatest sport ever, because you have a family and a team, but also you’re out there individually, one on one when you wrestle, so there’s nobody to

Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center, Ivy’s Closest, Alabama Parent Education Center, Elmore County Family Resource Center, CASA of the River Region, Family Sunshine Center and the Elmore County Commission.

Wood said DHR investigated 438 reports of suspected abuse and neglect

TOUR Continued from A5

had presented the idea to school and county officials looking for ways to fund a course not long after he had started as an instructor last fall.

“I was so caught off guard by them telling me that it got approved just because I just

along the way were to be expected,” Shuman said. “I feel like the team has played pretty well throughout the year. The record may not at times look like we were playing that well, but I would put our schedule up against anybody’s as far as toughness goes.”

And Shuman knows that type of schedule will only prepare the Mustangs for what’s looming in the postseason.

“I think our record is

help you,” Mask said. “In other sports, you get a flag in football, and you’re holding the whole team back up. (Wrestling) to me teaches character, discipline, work ethic more than any other sport.”

Both Mask and Highland see the sport growing more throughout the years with the eventual format emulating similar to how the boys wrestling championships are set up, but the challenge now is getting more girls to try out.

Each has taken to the hallways of their respective schools to recruit more girls to join, with Highland focusing on the youth programs to promote the sports at a young age.

“It starts with the youth, now I’m going into the elementary school kids,” Highland said. “I’m trying to get more girls from ele-

involving 605 children living in Elmore County in 2024. The agency also served an average of 29 families each month in 2024 in Elmore County in their own home through protective services. Elmore County also averaged 76 children in foster care in Elmore County in 2024.

Many of the agencies that work with DHR get involved after a report of child abuse. CASA has been helping children in Elmore County for three years.

retired from the Army,” Kindley said. “Getting the $250,000 project approved in the amount of time we got it approved, yeah, it caught me off guard.”

The obstacle course and climbing tower will offer full course training for JROTC cadets who only can train exercises before going to competitions. It’s a place where the cadets have succeeded. They

a testament to these kids’ resilience,” Shuman said.

“Last year was a tough year for us, and we lost some key players to injury. A lot of kids would have packed it up and moved somewhere else, or just given up, but these guys, they got right back to work and they wanted to be better.”

It’s those type of players who have gotten Shuman to where he is today, he said.

“There’s no way I could’ve gotten 200 wins

mentary because it starts there. I have a daughter that’s nine, she’s always been interested because her brothers wrestle, and so now I’m trying to get her to wrestle, and but now seeing her daddy coach a girl wrestle to a state championship, I’m hoping that helps and see that it can be done and that a girl can do it.”

Highland encourages anyone interested, whether it be parents or student-athletes themselves, to ask questions about joining. He knows the more answers he can provide will only result in more people coming out to compete.

Mask hinted the growth of the sport can even make waves in the realm of collegiate athletics. Where it stands now, Huntingdon College is the only university in

Wood said the CASA volunteers help get more people involved in investigations of potential abuse.

“They are a second set of eyes for DHR,” Wood said. “We work in partnership with them. They are in full communication with DHR and caseworkers. When a CASA volunteer is appointed, they contact us and we immediately share information about the case.”

CASA volunteers operate inde-

placed 13th nationally despite having no course to train on.

“It’s impressive really,” Kindley said.

The new tower and course will also allow the Stanhope Elmore JROTC program to host its own competitions. Some competing teams will stay in area hotels and many will eat in the area.

The course, especially the climbing tower will prove valu-

without having great players,” Shuman said. “I couldn’t have done it without an administrator that backs me and supports me, and without having a wife at home that takes care of the stuff at home to allow me to dedicate the time it takes to being a coach. And I wouldn’t have been able to do it without assistant coaches that have really put their time and effort in and really put their hearts in with me.”

Alabama that offers women’s wrestling, and just last week Tallassee’s very own Allie Smith signed her commitment and became the first girl in school history to wrestle at the collegiate level. As the trend of girl wrestlers increases at the high school level, the effect will carry over to college.

“I think you’re going to see the growth at the collegiate level with boys and girls,” Mask said.

“I think you’ll see more girls getting a chance to go to college and wrestle as a result of the sports. I think you’re going to see a massive growth in the number of girls, because it’s in its infancy right now, but as more girls see it and see the success they can have, they’ll want to do it.”

pendently of DHR and can bring a different perspective.

“We share information between the two agencies to make sure that we are seeing everything that is happening and are aware of what is happening in the household,” Wood said. “It is like a second person with a different view.”

Wood said she hopes Friday’s event and the pinwheels help bring awareness to the issue of child abuse and prevention.

able to area first responders. Kindley said the tower will prove valuable to SWAT teams who might need to rappel into assignments.

“This project is beneficial to the area on several levels,” Beyer said. “It made it easy for the commission to be able to help.”

“I can’t wait,” Kindley said.

“It’s great for our JROTC program and will also help with team building for so many other groups.”

The obstacle course will contain cargo nets and ladder climbs. The higher elements will have ground rubber pits to add to the safety element. The course will also allow the cadets to train for a scenario where they carry four rucksacks and a litter simulating removing an injured soldier from the battlefield.

Lake River & Classi eds

Public Notices

AlaScans

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PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT MEETING AND ONLINE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

PROJECT NO. HSIP-0009(591)

ACCESS MANAGEMENT ON AL-9 (US-231)

FROM CHARLES AVENUE TO MAIN STREET ELMORE COUNTY

Notice is hereby given that the State of Alabama Department of Transportation will hold a Public Involvement Meeting on Project No. HSIP-0009(591. This project is located in Elmore County. This project will not require the purchase of additional right-of-way. This informal meeting will be held as follows:

Place: Wetumpka Civic Center

410 S. Main Street Wetumpka, AL. 36092

Date: April 29, 2025

Time: 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.

The presentation will be available as follows: Website: www.aldotinvolved.com April 9, 2025 – May 9, 2025

This meeting will be conducted as an “open house” type format where no formal presentation will be given. Interested persons are urged to attend on April 29, 2025, between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m

Representatives of the State of Alabama Department of Transportation will be present to discuss the proposed project and other technical aspects of this project. Provisions will be made to receive written comments at the meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for interested persons to be informed and participate in the public process of this project. Preliminary Maps as well as other information developed on this Alabama Department of Transportation 100 Capitol Commerce Blvd., Suite 210, Bldg. B Montgomery, AL 36117

Anyone with a disability requiring special assistance, should two days in advance of the meeting. The meeting facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Public attendance is urged, and input is solicited.

By order of the Alabama Department of Transportation, Mr. John R. Cooper, Director.

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Donate your car, truck, boat,

Public Notices

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OF WORK:

The project consists of two phases. Phase One consists of the construction of a two-story administrative building of approximately 27,325 square feet located adjacent to the existing Elmore County Judicial Complex in Wetumpka, Alabama. The building will house the Court Clerk’s ofand secure vault. Additionally, the building will house the and investigative functions, evidence storage, as well as the public-facing functions of theing will be fully sprinklered and connected to the existing facility by an enclosed walkway to allow secure access for staff between both facilities. Phase Two will consist of the selective demolition and renovation of portions of the existing Judicial Building to incorporate two new district courtrooms and required support areas, relocation and consolidation of the Adult Probation and Parolein the judges’ suite and existing courtrooms. The low-slope roof will be removed and replaced with a new membrane roof system, including new insulation, reworking the drainage, and extending the curbs on roof-mounted equipment to alwill be replaced. Underground utilities, grading, and sitework will be part of the project. A Mandatory Pre-bid Conference will be held on April 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM CDT at 2nd at 100 E Commerce St, Wetumpka, AL 36092. Due to the nature of this project, General Contractors wishing to submit a bid must attend the Pre-bid

CLASSIFIEDS/PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF ELMORE

Default having been made of the terms of the loan documents secured by that certain mortgage executed by John Brooks, An Unmarried Man to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as mortgagee, as nominee for Rocket Mortgage, LLC, its successors and assigns dated August 4, 2023; said mortgage being recorded on August 10, 2023, in Book 2023, Page of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama. Said Mortgage was last sold, assigned and transferred to Rocket Mortgage, LLC f/k/a Quicken Loans, LLC by assignment recorded in Deed Book of the Judge of Probate of Elmore County, ALABAMA. The undersigned, Rocket Mortgage, LLC f/k/a Quicken Loans, LLC, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash before the main entrance of the Court House in Elmore County, Alabama during the legal hours of sale (between 11am and 4pm), on the 24th day of April, 2025 the following property, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: LOT 22, BLOCK A, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT OF JAMESTOWN SUBDIVISION, PLAT NO. 1, AS THE SAME APPEARS OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA, IN PLAT BOOK 13, AT PAGE 37. Said property is commonly known as 246 James Dr, Millbrook, AL 36054. the property address and the legal description the legal description will control. Said property will be sold subject to any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, but not yet due and payable), the right of redemption of any taxing authority, all outstanding liens for public utilities which constitute liens upon the property, any matters which might be disclosed by an accurate survey and inspection of the property, any assessments, liens, encumbrances, easements, rights-of-way, zoning ordinances, restrictions, special assessments, covenants, the statutory right of redemption pursuant to Alabama law, and any matters of record including, but not limited to, those supeout above. Said property will be sold on an “as-is” basis without any representation, warranty or recourse against the abovenamed or the undersigned. The successful bidder must present the winning bid at the time and place of sale.

Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. The sale will be conducted subsale is not prohibited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and (2) of the status of the loan with the holder of the Mortgage. ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC as holder of said mortgage McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLP 505 20th Street North, Suite

Public Notices

1775 Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 216-4238 FT21@mccalla.com File No. 24-06498AL www.foreclosurehotline.net

Wetumpka Herald: Mar. 26, Apr. 2 and 9, 2025 24-06498AL/96033 PUBLIC NOTICE

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Michael K. Holmes, a married man and Melissa D. Holmes, his wife, originally in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Guild Mortgage Company LLC, on January 7, 2021, said mortthe Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in RLPY Book 2021 Page 3315; the undersigned Guild Mortgage Company LLC, as Mortgagee/ Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, on April 24, 2025, during the legal hours of sale, all of its rights, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Lot 5, Block 1, Lakeview Estates Plat No. 1, as the same appears of of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in Plat Book 4, at Page 120.. Property street address for informational purposes: 2645 Lakeview Circle , Millbrook, AL 36054. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. The successful bidder must tender a non-refundable deposit of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price plus any deed recording costs and transfer taxes must be paid next business day at the Law at the address indicated below. Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due. The Mortgagee/Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. Guild Mortgage Company LLC, (“Transferee”) Tiffany & Bosco, P.A., 2501 20th Place South, Suite 300, Homewood, AL 35223 www.tblaw.com TB File Number: 25-05001-GM-AL Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 2, 9 and 16, 2025 25-00565

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed on October 25, 2023 by SJDLB-FS Capital Holdings LLC, originally in favor of FTF Lending, LLC, and recorded in RLPY Book 2023 at Page 49394 on October 26, 2025 in RLPY Book 2025 Page of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, and secured indebtedness having been transferred to Horizon Residential Income Fund. LOGS Legal Group LLP, Transferee and under and by virtue of power of sale contained in the said mortgage will, outcry to the highest bidder at the main entrance of the Elmore County, Alabama, Courthouse in the City of Wetumpka, during the legal hours of sale, the following real estate situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to wit: Lot No. 2 of the Jasmine Forest plat made by Ralph H. Hays, Registered Land Surveyor No. the Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in Plat Book For informational purposes only, the property address is: 65 Sky View Drive, Wetumpka, AL 36093. ANY PROPERTY ADDRESS PROVIDED IS NOT PART OF THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY SOLD HEREIN AND IN THE EVENT OF ANY DISCREPANCY, THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION REFERENCED HEREIN SHALL CONTROL.

This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. Furthermore, the property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the mortgagee, nor the employees, agents or authorized representative of the mortgagee make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition, including those suggested by expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. The successful bidder must tender a non-refundable deposit of Five

funds at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price must be paid inness on the next business day

LOGS Legal Group LLP at the address indicated below. LOGS Legal Group LLP reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder, or to reschedule the sale, should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process.

Horizon Residential Income Fund, and its successors and assigns

LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP

Suite 400

***al_phone cmp***/ 25-024600

Transferee

Wetumpka Herald: 249747 PUBLIC NOTICE

Wiregrass Construction Co., Inc hereby gives notice of completion of contract with The Alabama Department of Transportation, for construction of Project No.: HSIP-0009(588) Elmore County, 1.178 mi. Access Management on SR-9 (US-231) from the Junction of Old Montgomery Highway to the Junction of Charles Avenue in Wetumpka. This notice will appear for three consecutive weeks beginning on 03/30/25 and ending 04/19/2025. Allgrass Construction Co., 1342 Carmichael Way, Montgomery, Alabama 36106 during this period.

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 2, 9 and 16, 2025 COMPLETION PUBLIC NOTICE

ASPHALT CONTRACTORS, INC. HEREBY GIVES NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF CONTRACT WITH ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ELMORE COUNTY PROJECT STPMN-2624(251). ALL CLAIMS SHOULD BE FILED AT P.O. BOX 241447, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36124 DURING THIS PERIOD. ASPHALT CONTRACTORS, INC.

Wetumpka Herald: Mar. 26, Apr. 2, 9 and 16, 2025 COMPLETION

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Amanda Ross to United States of America acting through the Rural Housing Service or successor agency, United States Department of Agriculture, dated July 28, 2009 said mortgage recordof Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in Book 2009, Page 42857. Said mortgage was subsequently sold, assigned and transferred to Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the undersigned, Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse in Elmore County, Alabama on April 24, 2025, during the legal hours of sale, all of its right, title, and interest in and to the following describe real estate situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: COMMENCE AT THE NE CORNER OF THE NW 1/4 OF THE NW 1/4 OF SECTION 11, T18N, R19E, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA; THENCE WESTERLY, ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SECTION 11, 1311.50 FEET TO A POINT ON THE EAST MARGIN OF OLD GEORGIA PLANK SPUR, GRAVEL; THENCE SOUTH 08 DEGREES 30’00” EAST, ALONG SAID MARGIN OF ROAD, 141.50 FEET TO AN IRON PIN; THENCE LEAVING SAID ROAD, NORTH 87 DEGREES 37’28” EAST, 308.11 FEET TO AN IRON PIN; THENCE SOUTH 08 DEGREES 30’00” EAST, 305.37 FEET TO AN IRON PIN, SAID POINT BEING THE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE SOUTH 16 DEGREES 45’38” WEST, 197.44 FEET TO AN IRON PIN; THENCE NORTH 86 DEGREES 39’02” WEST, 209.84 FEET TO AN IRON PIN ON THE EAST MARGIN OF THE AFOREMENTIONED ROAD; THENCE NORTH 09 DEGREES 40’50” WEST, ALONG SAID MARGIN OF ROAD, 166.55 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROPERTY LIES IN THE NW 1/4 OF THE NW 1/4 OF SECTION 11, T18N, R19E, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA, AND CONTAINS 1.02 ACRES, MORE OR LESS. Property Street Address for Informational Purposes: 124 Old Georgia Plank Spur Wetumpka AL 36092 Said property will be sold “AS IS”. NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, IS MADE AS TO THE TITLE OF SAID PROPERTY. Said property is subject to but not limited to: any outstanding ad valorem taxes - including taxes which are a lien but not yet due and payable, federal tax liens any matters which might be disclosed by an accurate survey and inspection of the property, any assessments liens, encumbrances, zoning ordinances, restrictions, covenants, and matters of record set out above. Said property will be sold subject to the right of redemption of all parties entitled thereto. The highest bidder must tender the total amount of at the time and place of sale. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand the rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This sale will be made for the purpose of paying the same and all expenses of this sale, as provided in said Mortgage and by Alabama law. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. **This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained may be used for that purpose.** Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Mortgagee or Transferee Jonathan Smothers, Esq

ALAW 420 North 20th Street, Suite 2249 Birmingham, AL 35203 Attorney for Mortgagee/ Transferee 25-002650

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 2, 9 and 16, 2025 25-002650

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASPHALT CONTRACTORS, INC. HEREBY GIVES NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF CONTRACT WITH ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ELMORE COUNTY PROJECT STPAA-0143(505). ALL CLAIMS SHOULD BE FILED AT P.O. BOX 241447, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36124 DURING THIS PERIOD. ASPHALT CONTRACTORS, INC.

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2025

COMPLETION

PUBLIC NOTICE

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Dawn Joyce Davis and Michael Scott Davis, wife and husband, originally in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems,

Public Notices

gy Inc. acting solely as nominee for Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, on March 20, 2023, said mortgage recordof Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in RLPY Book 2023 Page 11479, with Scriveners’s RLPY Book 2024 Page 10099; the undersigned Lakeview Loan Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, on May 14, 2025, during the legal hours of sale, all of its rights, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Commence at the Southeast cor10, Township 19 North, Range 17 East, Elmore County, Alabama; thence North 18 degrees

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE

SALE. Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by John A Archer and Carol A Archer, husband and wife, originally in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Bay Equity LLC, on December 28, 2018, said mortgage recorded in the of Elmore County, Alabama, Loan Servicing, LLC, as Mortgagee/Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the CourtCounty, Alabama, on May 22, 2025, during the legal hours of sale, all of its rights, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, towit: Commencing

AS TO TITLE, AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. The successful bidder must tender a non-refundable deposit of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price plus any deed recording costs and transfer taxes must be paid next business day at the Law at the address indicated below. Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due.serves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, (“Transferee”) Tiffany & Bosco, P.A., 2501 20th Place South, Suite 300, Homewood, AL 35223 www.tblaw.com TB File Number: 24-01313-MT-AL Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 2, 9 and 16, 2025 25-00568

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CLARENCE HAROLD AKINS, DECEASED. CASE NO. 2025-055 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of CLARENCE HAROLD AKINS, deceased, having been granted to SIDNEY WAYNE AKINS on the 28th day of March, 2025, by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

SIDNEY WAYNE AKINS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF CLARENCE HAROLD AKINS, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: REGINA B. EDWARDS, ESQ. THE LAW FIRM OF EDWARDS & EDWARDS, P.C. 109 E. BRIDGE STREET WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/AKINS C.

CLASSIFIEDS/PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices

signs dated April 20, 2023; said mortgage being recorded on April 20, 2023, in Book 2023

the Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama. Said Mortgage was last sold, assigned and transferred to AmeriHome Mortgage Company, LLC by assignment recorded in Deed Book 2023, Page 46392 in the of Elmore County, ALABAMA. The undersigned, AmeriHome Mortgage Company, LLC, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash before the main entrance of the Court House in Elmore County, Alabama during the legal hours of sale (between 11am and 4pm), on the 8th day of May, 2025 the following property, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: COMMENCE AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 33, TOWNSHIP 19 NORTH, RANGE 20 EAST, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA; THENCE EAST A DISTANCE OF 294.11 FEET; THENCE NORTH A DISTANCE OF 37.51 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE REALTY HEREIN DESCRIBED AND CONVEYED; THENCE NORTH 16 DEG. 00 MIN. EAST A DISTANCE OF 419.0 FEET; THENCE NORTH 68 DEG. 00 MIN. WEST A DISTANCE OF 217.0 FEET TO THE EAST RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF ALABAMA HIGHWAY NO. 63; THENCE SOUTH 20 DEG. 31 MIN. 46 SEC. WEST ALONG THE EAST RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF ALABAMA HIGHWAY NO. 63 A DISTANCE OF 247.76 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 70 DEG. 40 MIN. EAST A DISTANCE OF 125.2 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 14 DEG. 30 MIN. EAST A DISTANCE OF 217.5 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. SAID REALTY CONTAINS 1.4 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AND IS SITUATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 33, TOWNSHIP 19 NORTH, RANGE 20 EAST, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA. Said property is commonly known as 3991 Claud Rd, Eclectic, AL 36024. the property address and the legal description the legal description will control. Said property will be sold subject to any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, but not yet due and payable), the right of redemption of any taxing authority, all outstanding liens for public utilities which constitute liens upon the property, any matters which might be disclosed by an accurate survey and inspection of the property, any assessments, liens, encumbrances, easements, rights-of-way, zoning ordinances, restrictions, special assessments, covenants, the statutory right of redemption pursuant to Alabama law, and any matters of record including, but not limited to, those supeout above. Said property will be sold on an “as-is” basis without any representation, warranty or recourse against the abovenamed or the undersigned. The successful bidder must present the winning bid at the time and place of sale. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. The sale will be conducted subsale is not prohibited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and (2) of the status of the loan with the holder of the Mortgage. AMERIHOME MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC as holder of said mortgage McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLP 505 20th Street North, Suite 1775 Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 216-4238 FT21@mccalla.com File No. 25-06791AL www.foreclosurehotline.net

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 2, 9 and 16, 2025 25-06791/96264

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARY E .CALHOUN, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-075 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of MARY E. CALHOUN, deceased, having been granted to DANIEL P. HORTON on March 19, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

DANIEL P. HORTON PER-

SONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF MARY E. CALHOUN, DECEASED.

Address of Personal Representative: 162 Dogwood Ridge Drive Wetumpka, Alabama 36092 334-315-7160

Wetumpka Herald: Mar. 26, Apr. 2 and 9, 2025 EST/CALHOUN M.

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER FORECLOSURE NOTICE

WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a mortgage from SHANE M. ROYALS, A SINGLE MAN, AND MELISSA L. WINDHAM, A SINGLE WOMAN to MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS INC., AS NOMINEE FOR FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION D/B/A RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, on the 3rd day of January, 2014, said mortgage recorded in the on January 13, 2014, in Deed/ Mortgage Book 2014, Page Records, said Mortgage having and assigned to PennyMacment recorded in the aforesaidPennyMac Loan Services, LLC, as Mortgagee/Transferee, unof sale contained in said mortthe main entrance to the Elmore county courthouse located at 100 E Commerce Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 in WetumpMay 14, 2025, during the legal hours of sale, all of its right, title,-

LOT 54 BLOCK F OF COT-

TON LAKES PLAT NO. 10, AS THE SAME IS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA, IN PLAT BOOK 22, AT PAGE 19. -

434 COTTON LAKES BLVD, WETUMPKA, AL 36092. -

property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process.ed to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process.

ject to any easements, enthose contained in the records-

tion of all parties entitled thereto ad valorem taxes (including taxsale is made for the purposeas the expenses of foreclosure. The Mortgagee/Transferee repurchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the inpostponement or cancellation.

PennyMac Loan Services, LLC,

Mortgagee/Transferee THE BELOW LAW FIRM MAY BE HELD TO BE ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR, UNDER FEDERAL LAW. IF SO, ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

Mortgagee/Transferee

3145 Avalon Ridge Place, Suite 100, Peachtree Corners, GA 30071

0992 Case No. PNY-24-022542 04/16/2025, 04/23/2025

Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 250044

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PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BARBARA ANN ARMSTRONG, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2024-301 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of BARBARA ANN ARMSTRONG, deceased, having been granted to ADRIANNE ARMSTRONG on April 1st, 2024 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

ADRIANNE ARMSTRONG PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF BARBARA ANN ARMSTRONG, DECEASED

Name and Address of Attorney for Personal Representative: FERNANDO MORGAN ATTORNEY AT LAW PO BOX 241866 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36124 334-239-7070 fmorganlaw@gmail.com

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/ARMSTRONG, B.

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER FORECLOSURE NOTICE

WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a mortgage from DAVID H BOSHELL, A MARRIED MAN to MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS INC. AS MORTGAGEE, AS NOMINEE FOR MERIDIAN HOME MORTGAGE CORPORATION, on the 27th day of February, 2013, said mortgage Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, on March 7, 2013, in Deed/Mortgage Book 2013, Page 13342, Elmore County, Alabama Records, said Mortgage having subsequently been transferred and assigned to Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, by instrument recorded in notice is hereby given that the undersigned Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, as Mortgagee/ Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash on the Front Steps of the Elmore County Courthouse, 100 East Commerce Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 in Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, on May 8, 2025, during the legal hours of sale, all of its right, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: THE LAND REFERRED TO IN THIS EXHIBIT IS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF ELMORE AND THE STATE OF ALABAMA IN DEED BOOK 127 AT PAGE 2092 AND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCE AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 16, TOWNSHIP 19 NORTH, RANGE 20 EAST, ELMORE

SOUTH DEG 30 MIN 13 SEC EAST ALONG SAID HALF SECTION LINE 314.00 FEET TO A POINT ON THE SOUTH RIGHT OF WAY AND CURVE TO THE RIGHT, CHORD BEING NORTH 43 DEG 45 MIN 32 SEC WEST, ALONG AN EXISTING FENCE 240.66 FEET TO A POINT IN THE CENTERLINE OF AN EXISTING

DEG 32 MIN 20 SEC WEST, ALONG SAID DITCH , MORE OR LESS, 269.86 FEET TO A DEG 27 MIN 47 SEC EAST ALONG SAID DITCH, MORE OR LESS 167.88 FEET TO A POINT LYING 2.0 FEET SOUTHEAST OF AN AXEL

DEG 42 MIN 34 SEC WEST, ALONG AN EXISTING FENCE 103.00 FEET TO AN IRON

50 MIN 13 SEC EAST, ALONG AN EXISTING FENCE MORE OR LESS, 241.53 FEET TO AN

39 DEG 11 MIN 56 SEC WEST, ALONG AN EXISTING FENCE 454.42 FEET TO AN IRON PIN ON THE SOUTH RIGHT OF WAY OF STATE HIGH-

40 DEG 46 MIN 55 SEC EAST, ALONG SAID RIGHT OF WAY, 355.94 FEET TO THE COF THENCE NORTHEAASTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE TO THEING NORTH 40 DEG 45 MIN 00 SEC EAST, 68.67 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROPERTY LIES IN THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER IF THE BORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 16, TOWNSHIP 19 NORTH, RANGE 20 EAST, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA AND CONTAINS 3.87 ACRES MORE OR LESS. Said legal description being controlling, however the property is more commonly known as 10310 GEORGIA RD, ECLECTIC, AL 36024. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process.

An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This property will be sold on an “as is, where is” basis, subject to any easements, encumbrances, and exceptions those contained in the records

Probate in the county where the above-described property is situated. This property will be sold subject to the right of redemption of all parties entitled thereto and subject to any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, whether or not now due and payable). This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. The Mortgagee/Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, Mortgagee/Transferee THE BELOW LAW FIRM MAY BE HELD TO BE ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR, UNDER FEDERAL LAW. IF SO, ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Rubin Lublin, LLC, Attorney for Mortgagee/Transferee

Public Notices

gg

3145 Avalon Ridge Place, Suite 100, Peachtree Corners, GA 30071 Telephone Number: (877) 813-0992 Case No. NAT25-00444-3 rlselaw.com/property-listing

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 250205

PUBLIC NOTICE

REQUESTS FOR BIDS

WETUMPKA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WETUMPKA, AL

Sealed bids will be received until Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 10:00 AM at City of Wetumpka Administrative Building located at 408 South Main Street Wetumpka, AL 36092 and at said time bids will be publicly opened and read aloud for furnishing all labor, materials and equipment and performing all work necessary for: Obstruction Removal at Wetumpka Municipal Airport. Major items of work include: Obstruction removal including clearing of trees. Information for the Project can be found on the following website: https://www.gmcnetwork. com/bids/.ding Documents is Goodwyn Mills Cawood, LLC, located at 117 Jefferson Street North, Huntsville, AL 35801 Attn: Jennifer Farineau Ph: (256) 382-7804 or email: Jennifer. farineau@gmcnetwork.com. Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained from the indicated above, upon payment of a one-time administrative fee sharing access and/or payment of $50.00 for each printed set. Said cost represents the cost of printing, reproduction, handling, and distribution, therefore no refund will be granted. Checks for Bidding Documents shall be payable to “Goodwyn Mills Cawood, LLC.” Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Of-neer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources oth-panied by a bid guaranty in the the total amount of the bid, but not to exceed $50,000. The bid check or bid bond made payable to the City of Wetumpka. All Bidders bidding in amounts exceeding that established by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors must be licensed under the provisions of Title 34, Chapter 8, Code of Alabama, 1975, and must show evidence of license before bidding or bid will not be received the Bidder shall show such evidence by clearly displaying the license number on the outside of the envelope in which the Proposal is delivered. Bids may be held by the City of Wetumpka for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of the bid opening for the purpose of evaluating bids prior to award of contract.

Award of contract is subject to requirements in the contract documents including, but not limited to, the following Federal provisions: 1) Buy American Preference 2) Civil Rights – Title VI Assurancesnity 4) Davis Bacon 5) Debarment and Suspension 6) Foreign Trade Restriction 8) Recovered Materials

The City of Wetumpka reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality or irregularity in the bids received. Jerry Willis, Mayor City of Wetumpka 408 S Main St. PO Box 1180

Wetumpka, Alabama 36092

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 BIDS

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF STEVE BYRON BUTLER, SR., DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-017 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Es-

tate of STEVE BYRON BUT-

LER, SR., deceased, having been granted to SAMUEL B. BUTLER on March 20, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

SAMUEL B. BUTLER PER-

SONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF STEVE BYRON BUTLER, SR., DECEASED.

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: Regina B. Edwards, Esq.

The Law Firm of Edwards & Edwards, P.C. 109 E. Bridge Street Wetumpka, Alabama 36092

Wetumpka Herald: Mar. 26, Apr. 2 and 9, 2025 EST/BUTLER S.

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION FOR SEALED BIDS

The Elmore County Commission is seeking bids to construct the Video Boards at Tallassee High School Stadium, Holtville High School Stadium and Elmore County High School Stadium which includes erosion control, clearing & grubbing, grading & excavation, video board construction, installation, electrical upgrades, and sodding in accordance with the bid Information, construction plans and bid book are available from Elmore County Richie Beyer at wrbechd@ elmoreco.org. A pre-bid conference will be held on Thursday, April 17, address your questions and provide additional information respondents will be required to bid conference will be held at the Elmore County Historic Street, Suite 200, Wetumpka,tend, please provide a company name, representative and contact number via email to Richie -

Failure to attend this meeting will result in the rejection of your Sealed bids are to be received no later than 2:00 P.M. on TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025

Enclose bids in a sealed enthe outside of the bid package along with Bid Proposal for Inquiry 2025-PW12, the bid date, name of the work, name of bidder, and the Alabama General Prepare bid on form bound in No additions or deductions to bid proposal will be accepted if written on outside of sealed

bond payable to Elmore County Commission in an amount of the amount of the bid, but in

proposals to: Elmore County Chief Beyer, Elmore County Commission 100 E. Commerce Street, Suite 200 Wetumpka, AL 36092 Bidders must direct all inquiries concerning construction plans and bid book in writing to Elmore

Wetumpka Herald: BIDS/2025-PW12

Do you have available jobs?

Call 256.277.4219 to let others know about job opportunities at your business.

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA ANN ARRINGTON, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-084 NOTICE OF FILING OF PETITION FOR SUMMARY DISTRIBUTION OF ESTATE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: RANDALL “RANDY’ ARRINGTON, PETITIONER, has--

TROY KING ATTORNEY AT LAW

EST/ARRINGTON P. PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE SALE

Please take notice Top Storage - Wetumpka located at 960 AL170, Wetumpka, AL, 36092 intends to hold a public sale to the highest bidder of the property stored by the following tenants at the storage facility. The sale will occur as an online auction via www.storageauctions.com on 4/17/2025 at 10:00AM. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 2025 L2L- 57398

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ETHEL LORETTA CHANCEY DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-086 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of ETHEL LORETTA CHANCEY, deceased, having been granted to LASHUNDA TUCKER on March 18, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

LASHUNDA TUCKER ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ETHEL LORETTA CHANCEY, DECEASED

Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: WILLIAM M. DELAHAY THE HARRIS FIRM LLC 215 RICHARD ARRINGTON JR., BLVD N SUITE 1000 BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203 205-201-1789

Wetumpka Herald: Mar. 26, Apr. 2 and 9, 2025 EST/CHANCEY, E. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DENNIS ROBERT COLEMAN, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-095 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of DENNIS ROBERT COLEMAN, deceased, having been granted to GLENDA SUE WATKINS on March 27, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

GLENDA SUE WATKINS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF DENNIS ROBERT COLEMAN, DECEASED.

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: REGINA B. EDWARDS, ESQ. THE LAW FIRM OF EDWARDS & EDWARDS, P.C. 109 E. BRIDGE STREET WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 2, 9 and 16, 2025 EST/COLEMAN, D. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIE J. COLLUM, DECEASED CASE NO.: 2025-068 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of WILLIE J. COLLUM, deceased, having been granted to JENNIFER BROWN on March 26, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

JENNIFER BROWN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIE J. COLLUM, DECEASED.

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: MICHAEL S. HARPER ATTORNEY AT LAW 213 BARNETT BLVD P.O. BOX 780608 TALLASSEE, ALABAMA 36078 334-283-6855

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 2, 9 and 16, 2025 EST/COLLUM, W.

Looking for a home?

Look in our classifieds section and learn of great deals for you and your family.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to be held by the Wetumpka Planning Commission at City Hall, 212 South Main Street, April 14, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. concerning: • A petition by Andy Markos to rezone a parcel of land located on the Coosa River Parkway containing 1.14 acres, more or less and lying in and being part of the Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 13, Township 18 North, Range 18 East, Elmore County, Alabama and better described in RLPY 2023 pages 29997-29998, as recorded in the Probatety, Alabama. The rezoning will take the property from R-H (Rural and Holding) to B-2 (Local Business District). Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 2025 HEARING

CLASSIFIEDS/PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DOVIE M. HOGAN, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-069 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of DOVIE M. HOGAN, deceased, having been granted to RICHARD HAROLD HOGAN on March 19, 2025 by D. JA-

SON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

RICHARD HAROLD HOGAN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF DOVIE M. HOGAN, DECEASED.

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative:

SCARLETT TRAVIS ATTORNEY AT LAW

GARRY S. MCANNALLY. LLC 50 WISTERIA PLACE MILLBROOK. ALABAMA 36054

334-285-1976 Scarlett@gmacclosings.com

Wetumpka Herald:

Mar. 26, Apr. 2 and 9, 2025

EST/HOGAN D. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ALLISON

JEHUE HOLLEY, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-104 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of ALLISON JEHUE HOLLEY, deceased, having been granted to JOHN THOMAS HOLLEY on April 4, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

JOHN THOMAS HOLLEY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF ALLISON JEHUE HOLLEY, DECEASED Attorney of Record for Personal Representative:

SCARLETT TRAVIS ATTORNEY AT LAW

GARY S. MCANNALLY, LLC

50 WISTERIA PLACE MILLBROOK, ALABAMA 36054 334-285-1976 scarlett@gmacclosings.com

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/HOLLEY, A. PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARY EVELYN HOPPER, DECEASED CASE NO.: 2025-098 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of MARY EVELYN HOPPER, deceased, having been granted to EVELYN JEANINE PITCHFORD on March 31st, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

EVELYN JEANINE PITCHFORD ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF MARY EVELYN HOPPER, DECEASED

Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator:

MICHAEL S. HARPER ATTORNEY AT LAW 213 BARNETT BLVD P. O. BOX 780608 TALLASSEE, ALABAMA 36078 334-283-6855

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/HOPPER, M. PUBLIC NOTICE

The Council of the City of Wetumpka will hold a public hearing during its regular meeting on Monday, May 5, 2025, concerning an ordinance to amend Ordinance 99-4, entitled “Zoning Ordinance of the City of Wetumpka,” by rezoning Lots 130-155 on Company Street, Wetumpka, Alabama. Public notice of this hearing was of the proposed ordinance on April 2, 2025, in the Wetumpka Herald. Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 2025 MEETING 05.05.25 PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH J. JEFFCOAT A/K/A

JOSEPH JENE JEFFCOAT, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-039

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of JOSEPH J. JEFFCOAT A/K/A JOSERH JENE JEFFCOAT, deceased, having been granted to JO ANN B. JEFFCOAT on the 1st day

Public Notices

y of April, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

JO ANN B. JEFFCOAT

PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH J. JEFFCOAT A/K/A

JOSEPH JENE JEFFCOAT, DECEASED

Attorneys of Record for such

Personal Representative: ROBERT E. L. GILPIN, ESQ. CHARLES C. SMITH, ESQ. GILPIN GIVHAN, PC POST OFFICE DRAWER 4540 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36117

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/JEFFCOAT, J. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM E. LEDBETTER, DECEASED CASE NO.: 2025-085 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of WILLIAM E. LEDBETTER, deceased, having been granted to CYNTHIA LEIGH HETHCOX on April 2, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

CYNTHIA LEIGH HETHCOX PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM E. LEDBETTER, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: MICHAEL S. HARPER ATTORNEY AT LAW 213 BARNETT BLVD PO BOX 780608 TALLASSEE, ALABAMA 36078 334-283-6855

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/LEDBETTER, W. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RAMONA STEPHENS MCCORD, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-079 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of RAMONA STEPHENS MCCORD, deceased, having been granted to JOEL MCCORD on March 17, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

JOEL MCCORD

PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF RAMONA STEPHENS MCCORD, DECEASED.

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: KELLY LEE

ATTORNEY AT LAW 164 WEST 5TH STREET PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA 36067 334-358-0685 kellylee@kellyleelaw.com

Wetumpka Herald: Mar. 26, Apr. 2 and 9, 2025 EST/MCCORD, R. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JEFFREY LYNN MOORE, CASE NO: 2025-092 DECEASED. NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of JEFFREY LYNN MOORE, deceased, having been granted to GERALD A. DANIEL, JR. on April 2, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

GERALD A. DANIEL, JR. ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF JEFFREY LYNN MOORE, DECEASED

Name and Address of Administrator: GERALD A. DANIEL, JR. LAW OFFICE OF G A DANIEL, JR. LLC P O BOX 638 MILLBROOK, ALABAMA 36054 334-285-9444 jerry@gadaniellaw.com

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/MOORE, J. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF KATHRYN JANETT PATTILLO, DECEASED. CASE NO. 2025-102

Public Notices

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of KATHRYN JANETT PATTILLO, deceased, having been granted to CONNIE PATTILLO NORRIS and CYNTHIA PATTILLO EVERETT on the 3rd day of April 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred. CONNIE PATTILLO NORRIS and CYNTHIA PATTILLO EVERETT CO-PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ESTATE OF KATHRYN JANETT PATTILLO, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Co-Personal Representatives: REGINA EDWARDS THE LAW FIRM OF EDWARDS & EDWARDS, P.C. 109 EAST BRIDGE STREET WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-514-1011

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/PATTILLO, K. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HUBERT F. POWELL, DECEASED. CASE NO. 2025-056 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of HUBERT F. POWELL, deceased, having been granted to CHRISTIANA MICHELLE YEAGER on the 19th day of March, 2025 by D. JASON

BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

CHRISTIANA MICHELLE YEAGER PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF HUBERT F. POWELL, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: ASHLEIGH L. HUGHES ATTORNEY AT LAW

THE GRIGGS LAW FIRM, L.L.C. 100 EXECUTIVE PARK DRIVE PO BOX 780452 TALLASSEE, ALABAMA 36078 334-283-2893

Wetumpka Herald: Mar. 26, Apr. 2 and 9, 2025 EST/POWELL, H. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JUDITH LOUISE RADFORD A/K/A JUDITH CARROLL RADFORD, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-070 NOTICE TO NEXT OF KIN OF FILING OF WILL FOR PROBATE

NOTICE TO: WALTER CARROLL, A NON-RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND BEING AN HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF JUDITH

LOUISE RADFORD A/K/A JU-

DITH CARROLL RADFORD. TAKE NOTICE that on March 5, 2025, a certain paper in writing, purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of JUDITH

LOUISE RADFORD A/K/A JUDITH CARROLL RADFORD,bate Court of Elmore County,ing that such Last Will and-

tative of such Estate. This Nois given to you as an heir at law and next of kin of JUDITH LOUISE RADFORD A/K/A JUDITH CARROLL RADFORD, DECEASED.

It is ordered that the 12 th day of May, at 9:00 a.m., 2025, be, and the same hereby is, appointed as the day for the hearing of the said petition, at which time all persons interested may appear and contest the same, if they desire to do so. D. JASON BRITT

ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA Name and Address of Attorney

WILSON & JACKSON, LLC

1785 TALIAFERRO TRAIL

36117 (334) 260-9998

tpwlaw@protonmail.com

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/RADFORD, J. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM B. RITTENOUR, JR., DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-103 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of WILLIAM B. RITTENOUR, JR., deceased, having been granted to MELISSA A. RITTENOUR on April 2, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the

Public Notices yp same to the Court or the same will be barred.

MELISSA A. RITTENOUR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM B. RITTENOUR, JR., DECEASED.

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: ROBERT B. RENEAU, ESQ. THE LAW OFFICE OF EDWARDS & EDWARDS, P.C. 109 E. BRIDGE STREET WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-514-1011

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/RITTENOUR, W. JR. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HELEN BRASWELL SHEFFIELD, DECEASED. CASE NO. 2025-097 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of HELEN BRASWELL SHEFFIELD, deceased, having been granted to MICHAEL HERBERT SHEFFIELD on March 28, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

MICHAEL HERBERT SHEFFIELD PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF HELEN BRASWELL SHEFFIELD, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for

Personal Representative: RODERICK B. PERDUE ATTORNEY AT LAW 2033 HOLTVILLE ROAD WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-567-7373

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 2,8 and 16, 2025 EST/SHEFFIELD H. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARGARET ANNE WEYBRIGHT SHULTZ, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-087 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of MARGARET ANNE WEYBRIGHT SHULTZ, deceased, having been granted to KATRINA L. SHULTZ MITCHELL on March 21, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allmved by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

KATRINA L. SHULTZ MITCHELL PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF MARGARET ANNE WEYBRIGHT SHULTZ, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: RODERICK B. PERDUE

ATTORNEY AT LAW 2033 HOLTVILLE ROAD WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-567-7373

Wetumpka Herald: Mar. 26, Apr. 2 and 9, 2025 EST/SHULTZ, M. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CLAUDIA P. THOMAS, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-078 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of CLAUDIA P. THOMAS, deceased, having been granted to CHARLES REYNOLDS THOMPSON III on April 2, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

CHARLES REYNOLDS THOMPSON III PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF CLAUDIA P. THOMAS, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for

Personal Representative: LARKIN RADNEY BARNES & RADNEY, P.C. 80 NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE PO DRAWER 877 ALEXANDER CITY, ALABAMA 35011 256-329-8438

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 16 and 23, 2025 EST/THOMAS C. PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF WETUMPKA, ALABAMA NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTION AT PUBLIC MEETING

Notice is hereby given that on April 21, 2025, at 6:00, P.M., Central Time (or at such other time as such meeting may be adjourned and reconvened), at the City Hall at 408 S. Main Street, Wetumpka, Alabama, the City Council of the City of Wetumpka, Alabama (the “City”)

Public Notices

p (y) will hold a meeting, which will constitute a public meeting, to consider, discuss, vote upon, and take other action authorizing and approving a Project Development Agreement anddebtedness between the City and POS Virtual Worlds, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company (“POS”), under which POS will acquire property, construct and operate a restaurant within the corporate limits of the City and the City will assist in the form of reduced purchase price being the wholesale price of $7.00 per square foot, which is $4.00 per square foot less than the fair market value of the Project Site as determined by Market Study by RESE, said city assistance in the exact amount of

DOLLARS ($245,678.40) in total and payable in accordance with the terms of the Development Agreement for the purpose of promoting the development of commercial property within the City Limits of Wetumpka which is projected to create a part time jobs. The City believes that the restaurant together with the provision of the assistance will have at least the following continue economic and industrial development within the City, increase the City’s tax revenue, provide additional employment opportunities for the City’s citizens and otherwise promote the health, welfare, and prosperity of the citizens of the City. Further, the City will seek to determine at the public meeting whether the expenditure of public funds as described in this nopublic purpose, notwithstanding to any private entity or entities Notice of this public meeting is being published pursuant to the requirements of Section 94.01 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 (also known as Amendment 772 to the Alabama Constitution of 1901), as amended, and all other applicable laws, to the extent applicable.

BAMA

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 2025 MEETING 04.21.25 1 PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF WETUMPKA, ALABAMA NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTION AT PUBLIC MEETING Notice is hereby given that on April 21, 2025, at 6:00, P.M., Central Time (or at such other time as such meeting may be adjourned and reconvened), at the City Hall at 408 S. Main Street, Wetumpka, Alabama, the City Council of the City of Wetumpka, Alabama (the “City”) will hold a meeting, which will constitute a public meeting, to consider, discuss, vote upon, and take other action authorizing and approving a Project Development Agreement anddebtedness between the City and POS Virtual Worlds, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company (“POS”), under which POS will acquire property, conRecreation Facility within the corporate limits of the City and the City will assist in the form of reduced purchase price being the wholesale price of $7.00 per square foot, which is $4.00 per square foot less than the fair market value of the Project Site as determined by Market Study by RESE, said city assistance

HUNDRED TWENTY TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY AND 00/100

DOLLARS ($522,720.00) and payable in accordance with the terms of the Development Agreement for the purpose of promoting the development of commercial property within the City Limits of Wetumpka which is projected to create a significant number of full and part time jobs. The City believester together with the provision of the assistance will have at least the following public beneconomic and industrial development within the City, increase the City’s tax revenue, provide additional employment opportunities for the City’s citizens and otherwise promote the health, welfare, and prosperity of the citizens of the City. Further, the City will seek to determine at the public meeting whether the expenditure of public funds as described in this notice servespose, notwithstanding any inciprivate entity or entities Notice of this public meeting is being published pursuant to the requirements of Section 94.01 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 (also known as Amendment 772 to the Alabama Constitution of 1901), as amended, and all other applicable laws, to the extent applicable.BAMA

Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 9, 2025 MEETING 04.21.25 2 PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell for cash, at an ONLINE public auction on the 23rd of April 2025, at 9:00am AT STORAGETREASURES. COM. Please note: THIS AUCTION IS NOT IN PERSON. PLEASE DO NOT SHOW UP TO OUR PHYSICAL LOCATION. ALL AUCTION PARTICIPANTS MUST SIGN UP AND BID ONLINE.

Public Notices

Southeast Storage 8416 US-231 Wetumpka, AL 36092 2109:Charles Taylor.302 S. Opothelehola St, Wetumpka, Al 36092

Contents: dresser, couch, love seat, luggage, stove, keyboard, Wetumpka Herald: Apr. 2 and 9, 2025 STORAGE AUCTION

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: Pursuant to AL Self-Service Storage Facilities Act 2021 & to satisfy Owner’s lien Storage Sense Millbrook, will hold an online public auction of the personal property stored in units located at 4180 Al-14, Millbrook,

County sees most successful cleanup in history

and Millbrook schools.

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Elmore County Com-

missioner Henry Hines has been on the commission for five years. And for five years he has been organizing a county cleanup.

It has grown over the years to expand to a three-day weekend in April.

“It allows people to form teams more easily,” Hines said. “It allows for more competition between teams, especially from schools.”

This year’s success was noted well before the cleanup ever started.

“Four weeks before the event we had more people than ever participated signed up,” Hines said. “I’m especially proud of the teams from the Eclectic schools.”

All the schools had various clubs and organizations participate as well.

Area churches created teams.

Athletic teams especially joined in the effort Friday. In Tallassee athletic teams cleanup around schools. The same for the Coosada

“I’ve always said Sunday school groups can get out and participate,” Hines said. “They have taken advantage of the lessons that can be learned along the road.”

The county supplied bags, safety vests and aids to picking up the litter.

This weekend, the teams bagged the litter and left it on the sides of Elmore County roadways. The Elmore County Public Works Department spent part of Monday picking the bagged litter to dispose of it properly.

“The cleanup works best when we work as a team,” Hines said. “A little friendly competition adds to it. It’s amazing how partnerships can make a difference and make everything better.”

Elmore County baseball sits atop of the area

STAFF REPORT

TPI Staff

The Elmore County baseball team rounded out the Class 5A Area 6 slate with back-to-back wins over Beauregard.

In the first game, the Panthers came out on top with a 5-0 victory — showcasing their prowess at the plate. They racked up eight hits in total with Shae Darnell, Evan Spence and Carson Saucier all chipping in with two apiece while Austin Davis and Hayden Jones logged one.

Jadon Eason spent all seven innings on the mound for Elmore County, where he logged nine strikeouts and zero walks. He kept Beauregard off the scoreboard allowing three hits but none of them resulted in runs.

The following game was much of the same result with Elmore County walking away with a 6-3 victory, firmly placing them atop of the area at 4-0.

Shelton Darnell had one of the better days in the batter’s box where he logged three hits, two runs and three RBIs — one of those hits was a home run to center field in the third inning to put the lead at 6-0. Davis also had a solid day at the plate, racking up two hits with one run and one RBI.

Jones and Gage Davis took pitching duties, where they combined for three strikeouts and one walk while surrendering seven hits and three runs.

Elmore County picked up one more dominating 9-3 victory over Marbury to close out the week. The Panthers racked up 11 total hits with Eason accounting for three himself to pair along with two runs and three RBIs.

Elmore County kicks off this week’s action with a game against Reeltown.

Elmore County’s Hayden Jones logged a hit against Beaurguard to hlep improve the Panthers to 4-0 in area play.

PANTHERS SOFTBALL SPLITS IN WEEKEND DOUBLEHEADER

The Elmore County softball team kept busy over the weekend with a doubleheader against Helena and Mortimer Jordan. First up was Helena with the Huskies coming away with a 7-3 victory over the Panthers. Despite some late-game heroics from Elmore County where it scored three runs in the final frame, Helena’s lead was just too much to overcome. Kayden Edwards, Addie Patterson, Bailey Ames and Raevyn Barris accounted for all of Elmore County’s hits on the day. Lalah Cullpepper and Bailey Kennedy split duties in the circle, combining for five strikeouts and three walks. Allowing

five hits and seven runs scored through four innings of play.

Elmore County turned right around to snatch a 6-2 victory over Mortimer Jordan. The hitting saw an uptick from four the previous game to six with Culpepper accounting for two of them herself — adding two runs and four RBIs to her stat line. Addison Hicks, Addi Stephen-

son, Edward and Ames round off the performance at the plate. Stephenson also saw sole duties in the circle. Through three innings she logged two strikeouts and five walks, allowing two hits and two runs. The Panthers return to action with games against St. James, Dadeville and Beauregard to close out the week.