Wetumpka Herald July 7 2024

Teacher burnout Some veteran teachers feel their needs are ignored

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Holtville High School basketball coach

By Cliff Williams Staff Writer

It’s summertime and the job boards are full of openings in education.

A

Some teachers are getting promotions. Others are moving with their families. Some though feel like they aren’t valued and are leaving. Eclectic Middle School English Language Arts teacher Jenna

Wilson

Mead feels administrators and the central office are too focused on hiring new teachers. She has been in Elmore County Schools for 17 years. The last seven years she has moved classrooms four times, twice in one year and the number of subjects she has taught is countless. The debate unfolded before the Elmore County Board of Education in a public meeting.

“So much focus is on hiring new teachers that the veterans

“We

investigation and handed it

like me are overlooked,” Mead said. “I saw good teachers leave our building forever this year and coworkers tossed around into new subjects. Their personal battles weren’t considered.”

Dennis

The National Education Association reports 44% of veteran teachers feel burned out. The next closest category of government workers is 17%.

“Once

“That is veteran teachers like me,” Mead said.

Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”

Last school year Mead moved back to sixth grade and she said it saved her from burnout.

Franklin said investigators with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office have the alleged victim’s phone. Authorities collected Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversation between the two,” Franklin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”

“I feel I have found my purpose in transitioning kids from the elementary to the secondary mentality,” Mead said. “I am excited for what’s to come — or was.”

Mead was fighting a transfer from teaching sixth grade ELA to teaching seventh grade ELA at EMS. She is fighting for her own well being and did it in front of the Elmore County Board of Education as principal LaTresia Robinson said Mead was needed yet again in seventh grade. It is something Mead feels has been earned after spending so much time caring for students and co-workers while placing her own mental health and family aside. She had already resigned as the school’s volleyball coach and from the 21st Century

Chamber holds luncheon welcoming members

By Cliff Williams Staff Writer

WETUMPKA CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The City of Wetumpka is keeping up with security threats to its networks.

Page A3 Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.

At the Wetumpka City Council meeting Monday, it had a first reading of a resolution seeking to purchase a new firewall for the City Administration Building at a cost of $7,313.44.

“The current one is

By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

CLIFF WILLIAMS TPI

Elmore County commissioner Desirae Lewis Jackson moderates a discussion on broadband in Elmore County. The map shows areas of Elmore County where Central Access from Central Alabama Electric Cooperative is available in Elmore County.

Obituaries

REBECCA ANN COLLIER BATEMAN

Rebecca Ann Collier Bateman

Rebecca (Becky) Bateman of Canton, GA, formerly of Conyers, GA and Wetumpka, AL. passed away peacefully on June 28, 2024, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Rebecca was a lymphoma survivor and had a long-term battle with interstitial lung disease. She is survived by her three children: James Perez Bateman (Pablo) of Decatur, GA, Rebecca Kathleen Bateman (the late Steven) Vadasy of Canton, GA, William Michal Bateman (Roger) of Roswell, GA, and grandchild Kathryn Elizabeth Smith (Addison) of Canton, GA. She was proceeded in death by her loving husband F. Ellis Bateman, Jr., Father James Bernard Collier, Sr. and Mother Bernice Awalt Collier. Rebecca graduated from Wetumpka High School in 1960 where she was a majorette in the marching band and was Miss Wetumpka High School. She met Ellis at a party thrown by her Mother when they were teenagers, and they

ROBERT RUDOLPH HORESOVSKY

Mr. Robert Rudolph Horesovsky, 83, passed away Monday, June 17, 2024, at Haven Hospice - Suwannee Valley Care Center following a brief illness.

He was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1940, the son of the late Bohumil and Milada Vonka Horesovsky and was preceded in death

were married over 50 years. Rebecca attended Auburn University and had a successful career in data entry rising to the managerial level before taking time off to spend more time with her Children who she adored. Rebecca’s pride and joy were her kids and granddaughter. She was actively involved in all of their activities including being a Cub Scout Den Leader twice and a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader. Two of her Cub Scouts rose to the rank of Eagle Scout, including her son William. She was also a volunteer leader for the Rockdale County 4-H twice and she and her husband sponsored several children to attend 4-H Summer Camp over the years. Rebecca served as one of the first members of the Salem High School Parent Advisory Committee in Conyers, GA. Even as a Grandmother she stayed active with her Granddaughter’s activities attend-

by one brother, Johnny Horesovsky.

Robert immigrated to the US during the Second World War. He was a proud Army veteran and called Lake City his home for nearly fifty years. He made his living as a cost accountant and retired from Occidental/PCS Phosphate. He was of the Protestant faith. Robert served his community as president of the Friends of the Library,

ing many softball games, 4-H events, and Girl Scout events. Rebecca was also a member of the “John McIntosh Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution”, where she served as an officer. Her son James followed in her footsteps and is a Member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at the South Canton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dr. David Benson and Chaplain Greg Hall presiding. Interment will follow in the Decatur Cemetery at 299 Bell Street, Decatur, GA. 30030. Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 from 6:00 PM -8:00 PM and on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 from 10:00 AM until the Funeral Hour. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hickory Flat United Methodist Church or The American Lung Association. South Canton Funeral Home, dedicated to the families we serve, 770-479-3377. Online condolences may be made to the family at www. thescfh.com

member of the Kiwanis Club, and as a Boy Scout leader. He spent his free time fishing, hunting, and hiking, and enjoyed nature and going to the beach.

Robert is survived by his wife of fifty-seven and half years, Louise Horesovsky of Lake City, Florida, children Melissa Hartley of Lake City, Robert Horesovsky (Eun Kyung) of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Angela (Tim), along with

grandchildren Julian, Emily (Logan), Caroline, and Thomas Hartley, and two great grandchildren. A memorial service for Robert Horesovsky will be in Harmony United Methodist Church Cemetery, Titus, Alabama. on July 10, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Pastor John Brannon will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Gassett Funeral Home, 204 East Charles Avenue, Wetumpka, AL.

Millbrook officer exposed to fentanyl during traffic stop

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

A Millbrook police officer was administered Narcan after finding illegal narcotics during a traffic stop.

During the search of a vehicle an officer came into contact with what was believed to be illegal narcotics and began to have an adverse reaction including dizziness and shortness of breath.

“Officers on scene acted quickly administering Narcan to the affected officer and summoning Millbrook paramedics to the scene,” Millbrook police chief P.K Johnson said. “The officer was transported to a local medical facility for treatment and evaluation and was later released.”

The traffic stop started Friday when officers observed suspicious behavior at a Millbrook business. An outstanding warrant from Brent, Alabama was discovered when an

officer ran the tag of a vehicle. When they approached the vehicle, officers smelled marijuana emitting from the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle found containers believed to be methamphetamine and marijuana. They also found plastic bags and other items used to sell, package and use illegal narcotics.

Jack T. Robinson, 47, of Jemison, and Tiffany A. Lawley, 31, of Clanton, were arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and chemical endangerment of a first responder.

They were transported to the Elmore County Jail. Robinson has a $44,000 bond available to him. Lawley has a $29,000 bond available to her.

Johnson is thankful the officer is at home and doing fine after an exposure to narcotics from an alleged offender’s vehicle. He said the officers on the scene relied on training to recognize what was going on, administered Narcan and sought further medical treatment for the officer.

But it was all unnecessary.

“This just highlights the ever increasing and inherent dangers our officers face during the course of their duties each day and night,” Johnson said. “Fentanyl has become more prevalent across the country, as an additive to existing narcotics. This situation could have ended much differently and that’s not acceptable.”

Domestic violence suspect arrested after brief chase

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

A Millbrook resident faces more charges after running from law enforcement.

The Millbrook Police Department was trying to locate Martavius B. Jackson, 34, who they needed to serve a third-degree domestic violence warrant on. Instead the encounter led to a chase, both in vehicles and on foot.

Officers encountered Jackson traveling north on Coosada Parkway and tried to initiate a traffic stop. Instead Jackson continued to drive and then changed directions

traveling south on Coosada Parkway. He then turned onto Davis Drive. At times the pursuit reached speeds of more than 60 mph. Jackson nearly collided with patrol vehicles. Jackson attempted to flee on foot in the 4300 block of Davis Drive but was quickly apprehended.

Millbrook police chief P.K. Johnson was pleased there were no injuries in the incident but a misdemeanor warrant for Jackson led

to felony charges.

“I will never understand why people think it’s a good idea to attempt to elude law enforcement, particularly becoming involved in a vehicle pursuit,” Johnson said. “This young man unnecessarily endangered his life and the lives of others by fleeing from our officers. He knew he was wanted. Had he simply pulled over, he would have been arrested and allowed to make a bond and have his day in court.” Jackson was charged with felony attempting to elude law enforcement, reckless endangerment and unlawful possession

of drug paraphernalia. Jackson was taken to the Elmore County Jail and has a $37,000 bond available to him on those charges. Once he makes bail on those, he will then be served with the third-degree domestic violence warrant.

“Had this young man just stopped and allowed himself to be taken into custody, he would more than likely have been released with-in an hour or so with a court date,” Johnson said. “Now he faces all these charges and has yet to be arrested on the original charge. Poor decisions have consequences.”

BATEMAN

LAWLEY

ROBINSON

JACKSON

Emanon celebrates graduating seniors and more

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Fourteen recent Elmore County graduates were recognized for their achievements by the Emanon Group.

The group formed 21 years ago to celebrate the efforts of students, teachers and parents. One student recognized was recent Wetumpka High School graduate Lamyah Mitchell who received six of the 16 scholarships awarded during a tea honoring students from across the county. Mitchell plans to use the scholarship funds to attend Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia where she plans to attend nursing school. She was in the medical services program at the Elmore County Technical Center when she discovered the nursing career path was for her.

“I found out I really enjoyed what you do in nursing and helping people,” Mitchell said. “I want to do it for the rest of my life.”

It helped that Mitchell helped care for her diabetic grandfather. She was also around the nursing profession quite a bit after Mitchell was diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa, a non-contagious chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by painful nodules, abscesses and scarring. Overcoming the diagnosis was noted as one of the reasons for several of the scholarships she was awarded by the Emanon Group. Mitchell won the Emanon Group Leadership, Cora Crosby Francis, Dedrick D. Bowden, James H. Adams Sr. and the Lewis E. Washington scholarships.

Other recent graduates honored by Emanon at this year’s tea were India Allen of Tallassee High School; Elmore County High School’s Kylie Mosher and CJ Wilkes; Montgomery Catholic’s Caleb McCreary; Stanhope Elmore’s Karley Earl, Aysia Jackson, Sydney Jackson and Olivia Stephens; and Wetumpka’s Kaiya Dixon, Ashley Fulmer, Gabrielle

Police Reports

WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT

JUNE 26

• Forgery was reported on U.S. Highway 231. JUNE 23

The Emanon Group recently honored 14 recent area graduates and more than two dozen other students for their success in and out the classroom. The group handed out 16 different scholarships to the graduates.

Jackson, Lamyah Mitchell, Emma Wasden and Kylie Winfree. Emanon Group president Desirae Lewis Jackson said the Emanon Group is an educational advocacy group that honors graduating seniors with scholarships and academic achievement, recognizing parents for their hard work. It also recognizes teachers. Emanon also honored students who still have a few years to go in school, including the following: Airport Road Intermediate School fourth graders

Arabella Banks, Alec Crosby, Aiden Daniels, Avery VanHouten and Eli Watson; Coosada Elementary School second graders

Riley Sky McQueen, Romelo Frank McQueen and Paisley VanHouten and kindergarteners Mariah Roberts and Braelyn Zeigler; Millbrook Middle School sixth grader Cierra D. Gilder Jr., seventh grader Kayson Kendrick and eighth graders Mason Hearn and Jacob Thompson; Stanhope Elmore eleventh graders Sha’Hollene Smith, Caleb Thompson and Savannah Williams; Tallassee High School eleventh grader Kinsley Kennebrew; Redland Elementary School third grader Abram English; Redland Middle School eighth grader Alora Logan, seventh graders Lindsay

• Receiving stolen property was reported on Coosa River Parkway. JUNE 21

• Harassment was reported on Red Eagle Drive. JUNE 19

• Harassment was reported on Chapel Road. JUNE 18

• Domestic violence was reported on West Charles Avenue.

a grant to restore the windows at the Elmore County Museum. At Monday’s meeting it approved the spending of the money.

The council also voted to allow the Elmore County Extension Office to host its annual Farm City Festival at the Farmers Market beginning at 4 p.m. on Oct. 1. It has traditionally

Arianna Davis, Tristyn Lowery Davis and William McBride; sixth graders Ella Kate English, Heaven Scarbrough and Regan Summerlin; Wetumpka Elementary School third graders Joshua Gipson and Ca’Zariah Webster, second grader Karson Jeffery and first graders Jada Mitchell, Cor’Zaviah Webster, Cor’Zavious Webster and Tianna O’Neal Winston; Wetumpka Middle School eighth grader Xavier Morris, fifth graders Jabari Jernigan, Demetria Leonard and Octavious Reeves and third grader Shontae Leonard; Wetumpka High School ninth graders Nicholas Carrell Davis and Brianna Reeves, tenth grader Winston McBride and eleventh grader Alana Morgan Eaves; Eclectic Middle School fifth grader Angel Matthews, fourth grader Chase Matthews, third graders Taleria Matthews and Ja’Shya Milner; Holtville Middle School fifth grader Madyson Robinson; Marbury High School eleventh grader Mackenzie Elaine Houser; Chandler High School eleventh grader Ariel Washington; and homeschooler tenth grader Dallass Warren Tucker, eighth grader Alexander Monroe Tucker and fifth grader James Federick Tucker.

JUNE 17

• Theft was reported on U.S. Highway 231.

• Theft was reported on Cotton Gin Court. JUNE 14

• Theft was reported on U.S. Highway 231.

• Public intoxication and obstructing justice using a false identity was reported

been held at the extension office.

“It has primarily been a children’s event,” county extension coordinator Katrina Mitchell said. “We are hoping the time change and location change will make it more of a community event.”

IN OTHER ACTION THE WETUMPKA CITY COUNCIL:

• Approved minutes of the June 17 meeting.

• Approve a lease for copy

machines from Berney Office Solutions.

• Gave permission to the Family Sunshine Center to hold Cookin’ on the Coosa Mac Down Oct. 5 at the Farmer’s Market.

• Gave permission to Coosa Riverkeepers to host a fly fishing clinic Oct. 12 in Gold Star Park.

The next meeting of the Wetumpka City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, July 15.

CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI

A4 • July 3, 2024

Remember your pets this holiday

The Fourth of July is a day to celebrate pride we have for our nation.

From indulging in American cuisine like hot dogs and hamburgers, to spending time with our loved ones, the day is a representation of American pride. After all, it marks the most important events of American history — the signing of the Declaration of Indepence, separating the 13 colonies from Great Britain, rendering the nation free.

Although the spectacle of fireworks brings joy to those watching, we need to make a conscious effort for those who may not be so amazed.

According to the American Kennel Club, dogs hear frequencies as high as 47,000 to 65,000 Hz. Most humans can only hear between 15,000 and 17,000 Hz. If you find fireworks loud, how much louder do you think it is for them?

The first few fireworks that go off may be a bit startling to us, but because we know the cause of the sound and how to safely avoid being hurt by it, fireworks become a thrilling activity. Pets on the other hand have no concept of what a firework is, or why a loud, repetitive sound keeps going off. This can cause extreme anxiety in pets that could lead to howling, barking or even running away.

If you want to keep your pet comfortable and safe this Fourth of July, keep their ears in mind. To keep them comfortable next Thursday, the AKC recommends soothing them, keeping them inside, walking them before setting off fireworks or playing white noise. For those who want to be fully certain their pets are safe and comfortable, pet ear muffs can keep your pet calm and collected during the celebration.

While The Fourth is one of the most fun days for many Americans, it might not be for your pets. Be sure to keep them in mind.

What’s your

Opinion?

We’d like to share your thoughts and opinions with the community for free. You may submit one letter to the editor per month (300 words or less) and/or a guest column (500 words or less). Include name, address and phone number. We reserve the right to refuse any submissions. Mail: Your View, The Wetumpka Herald 127 Company Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 E-mail: editorelmore@thewetumpkaherald.com

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The Wetumpka Herald is contract printed each Tuesday evening in Alexander City by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. 256-234-4281

Add mocktails to the menu

Some of the TPI family spent the weekend at Perdido Key Beach Resort in Orange Beach for the annual APA conference and awards banquet. The resort was beautiful, complete with a pool and steps-offthe-beach access. But what stood out to me wasn’t the delightful food and the gorgeous views. What really stood out was the mocktails on the menu.

As a recovering alcoholic who is going on six years (God willing) of being sober, there’s nothing like the feeling of inclusivity when it comes to drinking. There’s nothing worse than be the only alcoholic in the room and being relegated to the kids’ drinks. You have no idea how many times I’ve been to a wedding or banquet and ended up with juice or Capri Sun because there’s no non-alcoholic options. See, just because we gave up alcohol doesn’t mean we gave up the feeling of wanting to drink an

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

adult drink. There’s something nice about still getting a fruity or frozen drink without the liquor involved. We want to feel pretty and grown up too.

Not only did the Perdido Key Beach Resort have virgin frozen drinks such as pina coladas and strawberry daiquiris, but it also had a small mocktail menu complete with our very own selection of alcohol-free beverages. Some used ginger beer and others had Sprite as the main drink, but the bar used items it would in other alcoholic drinks, making it so easy to have liquor-free options. I encourage more bars locally to add mocktails to the menu. Despite being sober, I like to frequent local spots. Some plac-

es, such as The Funky Goat in Dadeville and I’m sure many others, will adjust their cocktails to be alcohol-free upon request. But there’s something so refreshing about having the special options.

Even being sober for more than five years, it’s still a difficult journey. There’s a reason people say, “Take it one day at a time,” because some days are harder than others. One of the toughest things about being a recovering alcoholic is feeling like an outsider, especially when it comes to being around people who are drinking.

This selection of mocktails, however small or large, goes a long way in making everyone feel included.

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.

Their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honors

In the summer of 1974, the United States was at a crossroads.

The Watergate scandal raged, and Congressional hearings revealed the shady dealings of the “plumbers” who had done President Nixon’s bidding for him: dirty deeds such as breaking into the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist (Ellsberg had been a whistleblower with the release of the Pentagon Papers); secretly recording every conversation on an elaborate tape system in the White House; and, of course, the infamous break-in at the Watergate office building, home to the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee.

The Vietnam War was winding down; returning prisoners of war were greeted with a society that had radically changed in their absence, while Vietnam veterans faced indifference or outright hostility.

The oil embargo was also happening during this time. Gas prices soared as Americans thought, “can this get any worse?”

On July 4, 1974, radio commentator Paul Harvey aired a special edition of his News & Comment show. He detailed the “rest of the story” of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Some were wealthy, but died in rags; some moved countless times to evade harassment; others lost not only their money, but their families. These weren’t ordinary guys. They were experienced thinkers, politicians, landowners, businessmen. They were leaders, though at the time they were revolutionaries.

Below, I would like to share some of Mr. Harvey’s words. May we all have a greater understanding of the men and women who founded this great nation – who fought for liberty. Happy Independence Day.

“The United States of America was born in 1776. But it was conceived 169 years before that. All others of the world’s revolutions before and since were initiated by men who had nothing to lose. Our founders had everything to lose, nothing to gain. Except one thing … their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

“Fifty-six men placed their names beneath that pledge. Fifty-six men knew — when they signed — that they were risking everything.

“They knew if they won this fight, the best they could expect would be years of hardship in a struggling nation. If they lost, they’d face a hangman’s rope.

“All of the Americans who lived in those times ‘paid the price’. John Adams wrote years later that all through the Revolution he would have given anything to have things returned to the way they were. He wasn’t lamenting his own losses. Any human who has ever seen the suffering of the soldiers and innocents in a war zone has to wonder if an armed conflict is ever a worthy price for change.

But the clock can’t be turned back. The deed was done. And from it a glorious country emerged. They had learned that liberty is so much more important than security, that they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

“Of the 56 signers of the Declaration, few were long to survive. Five were captured by the British and tortured before they died; twelve had their homes – from Rhode Island to Charleston –sacked and looted, occupied by the enemy or burned.

“Two of them lost their sons in the Army; one had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 died in the War from its hardships or from its more merciful bullets.

“I don’t know what impression you’d had of these men who met that hot summer in Philadelphia, but I think it’s important this July 4, that we remember this about them: they were not poor men, they were not wild-eyed pirates; these were men of means, these were rich men, most of them, who enjoyed much ease and luxury in personal living. Not hungry men, prosperous men, wealthy land owners, substantially secure in their prosperity.

“But they considered liberty – this is as much I shall say of it –they had learned that liberty is so much more important than security, that they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And they fulfilled their pledge – they paid the price, and freedom was born.”

Michael Bird is a retired music teacher for Tallassee City Schools.

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

Humane Society of Elmore County News

Pets, livestock ‘petrified of’ fireworks

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

Before we get into Fourth of July pet advice – our shelter and thrift store will be closed on Thursday but back open normal hours Friday. Our Tail’s End Thrift Store will also start Christmas in July on Friday with all Christmas items, to include pet Christmas clothing, on sale for 50% off. It may be hot right now, but Christmas really isn’t all that far away so come check out our sale and get ahead while getting great deals.

This year’s Fourth of July fun started quite early with fireworks in Wetumpka on Saturday. So this is likely to be a long week of noisy celebrations where our pets are concerned. Now is the time to make sure your pet has identification on their collar — rabies tag, personalized ID tag (which we can make in the shelter in a few minutes for $10), or write your phone number on their collar in indelible ink. And micro-

chips are simply perfect as long as your phone number is current on the registry — call your veterinarian for an appointment. Fireworks are at the top of the “Petrified Of” list for pets and livestock. The simplest way to keep your pet(s) safe during fireworks is to bring them inside before any fireworks start and keep them in until well after all the fun has finished. Close curtains, turn up the TV and turn on more lights. They may still be scared and hide in the house, but at least they will be safe at home. If your pet cannot come in the house, then consider containing it in your garage, shop or barn as long as it isn’t so hot to be dangerous to your pet; and make sure any hazardous materials/ items are safely out of reach of your pet no matter where they stay. If you live where fireworks may continue late into the night, then please just keep your pet inside all night long. Now, if the worst happens and your pet is lost, don’t delay look-

Pet of the Week — Jaimie

Jaimie is a 6-month-old Terrier mix that came to us as one of a multi-dog intake. She is a small gal, only about 25 pounds so she should be in the 30-35 pound range when fully grown. She is great with other dogs, bouncy, talkative little gal. She has a very high pitched bark when she wants attention. She is playful and wants to be a part of a loving family.

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 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 Cola 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.

ing for your pet. Pet owners who immediately start searching exponentially increase the chances of finding their pet. If your pet is lost, use social media soon as it truly works. Post photos and information about your lost pet on your personal page as well (make sure to make it ‘public’) as a finder might just go to your page to validate your ownership. Make sure your posts say where (street/neighborhood, city, state) your pet is missing from and for how long so as to not confuse people when your post ends up shared in a different county or even a completely different state. Add a phone number on your posts so people with information can get in touch with you immediately – that means you have to then answer phone numbers you do not know. Update your post often and if your pet is found please also update soonest.

For pets lost in Elmore County call us at 334-567-3377 and leave a message if we are closed. On

Facebook we diligently monitor the “Elmore County Alabama Lost & Found Pets” page.. You can also email information and pics to us at hselco@bellsouth. net as we do print all of those and keep in our Lost & Found files and will check email even on the days we are closed. For finders — given that so many of us don’t answer unknown phone numbers, if you think you have found someone’s missing pet, it may be best to text info and pics. Take the found pet to most any veterinarian or shelter to be scanned for a microchip, And please don’t jump to conclusions about a pet’s condition as you have no idea how long that pet may have been missing or if it spent the last two days in brambles and mud. Finders do not have the legal right to refuse to give a pet back to its legal owner and if true neglect or cruelty is suspected then you must get law enforcement/animal control involved. It is also considered extortion (a crime) if you refuse to give a pet back to an owner unless they pay a fee (of course, owners - if you have offered a reward, please do pay up if your pet is found safe and sound). Also for finders – that pet is not yours to rehome/giveaway/sell. Finders must make all reasonable efforts to help a pet be reunited with its owner and there are no legal number of days for private citizens like there is for bonafide shelters. If contested in a courtroom it will come down to a question of did both the owner and the finder make all reasonable efforts to reunite the pet with its proper owner. This is one reason we often recommend the pet come to the Shelter as we are in the business of verifying and reuniting pets and have decades of experience doing so. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July.

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

Elmore CSFO gets raise in 4-3 vote

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

In a split vote, Jason Mann is getting a raise from the Elmore County Board of Education.

As Elmore County’s chief schools financial officer, Mann’s pay goes from $138,500 to $145,000. He will also get the 2% education salary raise approved by the Alabama legislature this spring. It will bring Mann’s salary to $147,900.

Four board members were fine with the amount, but the three dissenting votes, Bill Meyers, Leisa Finley and Wendell Saxon all agreed the automatic raises built into the contract were too much.

“I have concerns about setting the pay raise at this time for what the pay raise will be next year and the year after if he gets a satisfactory evaluation,” Meyers said. “I would never do that in my own business because you don’t know what the level of funding will be.”

Saxon said he didn’t like the automatic raises either. It means Mann will receive the raises in the contract plus those approved by the legislature for educators in the future.

The increase comes after the board increased Mann’s pay mid-contract in

August 2023. The salary went from $118,000 to $138,500.

“I shared a concern at the last meeting that I thought the raise was a bit excessive,” Meyers said.

The funds for Mann’s salary come from local means unlike teacher salaries, which are primarily funded from the Education Trust Fund. Finley believes the funds used for Mann’s salary increase should be placed in the schools and teacher salaries.

She also asked for a salary matrix study of all personnel to see where discrepancies might lie.

Board members in support of Mann’s pay increase noted the specialized skill set Mann has as CSFO.

“It is a high skill set that is very much in demand in the world of public education,” board member Michael Morgan said. “I feel it is a fair equitable offer to retain a skillset that is very much in demand. He has done a good job for us.”

Meyers agreed on the job Mann has done. He noted Mann has restructured the school board’s debt resulting in significant savings, secured bonds for the construction of Redland Middle School, optimized COVID-19 pandemic funds freeing up monies in the general fund and more.

Board president David Jones said

Mann’s salary was adequate when compared to comparable systems. Jones said of the state’s 134 public school systems, 18 systems are smaller than Elmore County and the CSFO salary is higher. Of those 18 the average pay was $158,000 and the average amount of students was about half of Elmore County’s.

Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis said neighboring systems in Autauga County and Pike Road have gone through multiple CSFOs in the last few years. According to the Alabama State Department of Education, the CSFO in Autauga County currently makes $147,900 and in Pike Road $190,281. Finley said some teachers can never get to a pay of $75,000 per year. Dennis said some teachers with doctorate degrees and, with supplements, make more than $100,000 per year. But Finley was still concerned about the teachers who haven’t spoken up with co-workers, administrators or on social media.

“There is a lot of concern from teachers who are not coming forward because they are afraid of retaliation,” Finley said. “It’s real in their eyes and their reality. It is insulting and concerning. I think it hurts morale in our system.”

Elmore County BOE approves enacting 2% raise early

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Elmore County educators and staff will receive their 2% raise early.

The Alabama Legislature passed a raise for all public school educators in its last session to be effective Oct. 1, which is when state funding will cover the cost of the raise.

At its meeting last week, the Elmore County Board of Education approved a new salary matrix allowing the raise to take effect when an employee’s contract starts for the school year. It means the school system will spend about $200,000 of local funding for teachers and staff to receive the raise early.

According to Elmore County Board of Education chief schools finance officer Jason Mann the monthly payroll for the system is about $4.5 million.

Board member Leisa Finley asked if the raise could be tabled until a third party could study the entire pay matrix of the system. The board approved the raise, 6-1, with Finley voting no and reaffirming her wish for a pay study to be done.

Auditors from the Alabama Department of Public Examiners told the board it had one finding from an audit of financial statements from fiscal year 2023. It was related to coaching supplements for

athletic championships. The board approved payment after work was performed. Last summer the board approved a one-time $3,000 supplement for head coaches who win a state championship and $1,000 for assistant coaches who win a team state championship.

Supplements for fine arts, athletics and the athletics bonuses were approved again at the meeting.

The auditors said there is no issue in repaying the funds and future payments for championships are OK since the measure has already been approved by the board.

Energy manager Paul Anthony said the system is saving funds through utility management.

Anthony said more than $13 million has been saved by the system since the program was started in January 2009.

“We have worked with maintenance (and others) to get it to where the units will not run excessively in the morning when they come on,” Anthony said. “We have to manage humidity issues because that leads to other problems.”

In April 2024 it is estimated the savings at Wetumpka High School for power, water, sewer and gas was more than $14,000.

Anthony visits the schools on a regular basis to ensure HVAC systems and lights are

not costing the school system unnecessary funds. When he finds lights on or HVAC systems set improperly, Anthony leaves notes for the teacher and principal what he found.

“My directions are not 74 to 78,” Anthony said. “My direction to them is to be comfortable. I don’t want 64.”

During the summer the unoccupied temperature is set to between 78 and 80 degrees to avoid humidity and the potential for mold issues.

Former child nutrition program employee Savannah Mayes asked for a grievance hearing with the board. Mayes said she was due a year’s pay following an on-the-job injury at Coosada Elementary School. She said her first injury was May 19, 2021 as she stopped a cart from rolling into students. Mayes said she reported it to an interim manager who is no longer employed with the system. A former co-worker, who is no longer employed by the board and was a witness to the incident, said she reported it as. Witnesses from the board of education’s human resource department had no record of the injury.

Mayes said she was injured again when large cans in the kitchen fell on August 11 on her foot injured earlier in the year. This accident was reported as an on the job injury and approved.

In Alabama, employees

of K-12 education systems do not have worker’s compensation. Instead they must make claims to a board of adjustments.

In Mayes case she was given 90 days paid leave and exhausted her other personal time off. She did not come back to work.

The board denied her claim to pay for back pay.

The board approved to enter contract renewal negotiations with superintendent Richard Dennis as his contract expires Dec. 31. State requires the board to notify a superintendent six months prior to the expiration of a contract if it intends to negotiate a contract.

IN OTHER ACTION THE ELMORE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION:

• Approved minutes of the May 21 and June 11 meetings.

• Awarded a bid to Kelly Education to provide substitute teachers and non-instructional staff.

• Approved teachers who taught at accredited private schools to use their experience towards the salary matrix.

The system will now allow a teacher with a full year of private school teaching one half year experience in Elmore County Schools.

• Accepted a bid in the amount of $30,015 for food safety and sanitation for all child nutrition cafeterias and kitchens.

God will forgive our sins

OJACKIE WILBOURN Columnist

n January 15, 1892, a young man took an old sheet of paper and wrote down 13 rules for formulating the invention of a new game, which came to be called basketball. James Naismith formulated basis rules and wrote down a few handwritten notes on an old piece of plain paper and called the new game “basket ball”. Later, these two yellowish-brown sheets of paper with both typed and handwritten notes on them, appraised for $5 million dollars. Can you imagine rules of such great worth? Taken from the National Basketball Association Interactive Franchise Valuations, the average NBA team is worth $4 billion dollars! James Naismith, M.D. never got one penny from his invention of the sport although his name proudly adorns the world’s only Basketball Hall of Fame!

In God’s Word, we find the Jewish people putting tremendous value on the rules God

gave them. The Psalmist wrote, “I rejoice in following your statues as one rejoices in great riches” (Psalm 119:14 NIV), and “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold” (Psalm 119:72). Although there were volumes of rules to be obeyed, it was virtually impossible to remember all these laws and rules but impossible to obey all the laws and rules. Today, you and I give much value on the Ten rules that God gave Moses to write on the tablets of stone.

American General Douglas MacArthur, (who famously

Church Briefs

broke a lot of rules) coined the phrase, “rules are mostly made to be broken and are too often for the lazy to hide behind.” Lots of current day transgressions or rule breaking can be attributed to the fact that we are simply to lazy to do the right things. (Ex. Do you break the speed limit because we are too lazy to be prepared to leave just a bit earlier or perhaps we are involved in a fender bender because we are pushing the yellow caution light). We are lazy people who hide behind authority! Isaiah 43:25 reads, “I, even I, am He who blots out your

transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers our sins no more.” 1 John 3:4 describes sin as a “transgression” of God’s spiritual law! So much truth to the ole adage, “call it what it is, sin is sin” but … God will forgive and forget our sins. God will blot our transgressions! God will reset our hearts and minds on the path of righteousness! In life, it takes an effort to obey but remember forgiveness is within reach!

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

in the sanctuary. We will continue with Facebook Live Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Worship Service at 11 a.m.

CARRVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH

Regular hours of service are Sundays- 9 a.m. Sunday School and 10 a.m. Morning Worship.

Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. the church offers Children’s Gospel Project, Youth Bible Study and Adult Prayer Meeting. Regular office hours 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, blan-

kets, 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!

Worship With Us

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.”

OUR LIFE’S JOURNEY Airs every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on 580 WACQ, FM 98.5 & 101.1, on your smart speaker, your TuneIn app, or on our website www.wacqradio. com. Please share on social media. This set of programs features Msgr. Charles Troncale, Fr. Mateusz Rudzik, Fr. James Dean, Fr. David Carucci, Fr. Patrick Driscoll, and Deacon Jim Labadie.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. – John 3:17

Proverbs

Dalton MiDDleton SportS eDitor dalton.middleton@thewetumpkaherald.com

Walls finds success in summer circuit

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

It would be difficult to find someone with a busier summer than Ethan Walls.

Walls, a rising senior baseball player who has played the last few seasons at Stanhope Elmore, has traveled all across the Southeast this summer try-

ing to get his name known. Along with normal travel ball tournaments, he participated in the Alabama State Games as well as the East Coast Pro event where he tried out in front of 30 MLB scouts in Oxford, Al.

He’s spent time at the Area Code Tryout at Georgia Tech and has also spent time in

Atlanta at various camps.

“It’s been a truly surreal summer,” Walls said. “I’m very obviously blessed but it’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of hard work paying off. I’m getting to meet all these new people, both players and coaches, and it’s been a fun summer.”

See WALLS, Page B2

BACK TO BACK

Wetumpka wins Battle for the County tourney

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Wetumpka will hold its trophy for another year.

The Indians beat Tallassee, 18-17, in the second annual Battle for the County 7-on7 tournament held at the Wetumpka Sports Complex. The Indians, which also won last season, went 5-1 and beat every single team in the county.

“We lost our first game in the weather and our downpour,” Wetumpka coach Bear Woods said. “We’re in the process that you can’t speed up with the new offensive

coordinator, new quarterback and new receivers so I’m not surprised that we played better in the last game instead of the first game.”

Tyler Johnson led the Indians’ offense the entire tournament, and he found a ton of success after the onslaught of rain that plagued every team in their first games.

Following the first game, Johnson was able to lead Wetumpka to 19 points, 19 points, 37 points, 33 points and 18 points.

Johnson has made big plays for Wetumpka before. As a freshman, he led the Indians on a game-winning drive against Stanhope

DALTON MIDDLETON TPI

Elmore to put Wetumpka in the playoffs. After transferring out of the program, he’s back and leading the offense for one last season.

“I thought Tyler was tremendous,” Woods said. “Physically, he showed he was the best on the field. He showed he could make every throw. He loves the deep ball and he was launching it, and when Evan Dillard was catching them for touchdowns it was incredible. He’s doing a great job and he’s really only three weeks into the new system. The sky’s the limit for Tyler.”

See WINS, Page B2

Wetumpka quarterback Tyler Johnson rolls out to throw the ball against Tallassee in the Battle for the County 7-on-7 tournament. Johnson and the Indians went 5-1 and won the championship for the second-consecutive year.

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Edgewood Academy’s cheerleading team put together quite the weekend.

Competing in the AISA Cheerleading Camp held at Troy University, Edgewood claimed the Large Squad State Championship while the junior varsity team claimed the Medium Squad First Runner Up.

The varsity team entered the competition with 15 cheerleaders, which put them in the Large Squad category for the first time. They quickly took complete control of the new category by finishing first place in Cheer and Game Day, earning them first place overall.

“The large squad was uncharted territory for us,” Edgewood coach Abbie Davis Mercer said. “We set a goal for this back in February when he had tryouts and we knew competing in the bigger division would be tough, but the girls were up for the challenge and wouldn’t accept anything less.”

While the team accomplished its major goal, a lot of the players heard their names called for indi-

vidual awards at the conclusion of the camp. Eleven out of the 15 varsity members were named either UCA All-Americans or AISA All-Stars. Avery White, Baylie Barrett, Harlie Barrett, Emerson Boddie and Payton Williams all earned UCA All-American honors. The AISA All-Stars were Ava Baxley, Caroline Kennedy, Elizabeth Ellis, Boddie, Kinsey Overton and Kori Bence. On the JV team, Avery DeFoor, River Westbrook and Ken-

dyl Dennis were named UCA All-Americans.

“I think it says a lot about our program and how well rounded these girls are to go out there and win individual awards as well,” Mercer said. “We don’t put emphasis on the individual goals, but it’s awesome to see that many names called at the end of the week.”

One of the best individual camps came from Baylie Barrett. Not only did she earn UCA

See BEST, Page B2

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Clint Pitchford isn’t worried about his team’s offense this summer.

Holtville’s girls basketball team has made its name known with a ferocious defense over the last few seasons, and that’s not changing even with a new head coach on the sideline.

Pitchford, who took over this spring after Jason Franklin retired, has entered the summer working on creating defensive chaos for opposing team’s offenses.

That has worked as Holtville played in nine games across four summer play dates. The Bulldogs went 7-2 in those nine games while the defense allowed just 188 total points, which is 20.9 points per game.

“Our girls did really well,” Pitchford said. “We really cranked it up on the defensive side. That was our focus. We spent probably 75-80% of our time this summer on defense. We were able to be really complex on defense, which is what I want to do this season. They did well with it and were very competitive.”

Pitchford and the Bulldogs have started a new team motto for the upcoming season – ‘Holtville Havoc.’

The phrase is coined from one of the defenses that Holtville runs. When Pitchford took over, he kept the plays and defenses that worked and that was one of the most successful. So with the new motto, Holtville has tried to wreak havoc on teams this summer.

In the nine games, Holtville only allowed three teams to score over 20 points.

In the seven games Holtville won, the defense allowed 22, 6, 4, 19, 18, 16 and 15.

In the two losses, Holtville allowed 52 and 36 which was 88 of the 188 total points it allowed.

“We really want to put pressure on teams from the defensive end and create havoc,” Pitchford said. “We want to frustrate teams right from the tip and create our offense through our defense.”

Some of Holtville’s usual suspects were the team leaders this summer.

Senior Ana Brown, who has been on multiple All-County teams during her preps career, was the team’s leader in points in four of the nine games.

Freshman Hailey Phelps, a Holtville soccer star, found success with her height in the paint. She was one of the team’s leaders in points and rebounds almost every game.

Ragen Roberts joined Phelps in the paint as the two formed a dynamic post duo.

“We’re really spread from senior to freshman,” Pitchford. “We have a good group. All four of my seniors are competitive and bring something unique to the table. Then we have a few freshmen and sophomores who are quick, fast guards who allow us to press. We’re going to throw out different combinations as we have a lot of depth and different types of personnel.”

Now with the summer over, Holtville will turn towards just working out conditioning. The team will work out three times a week until school starts to stay in shape.

Pitchford wanted to get everything on the court done in the month of June so his team could focus on working out in July. Multiple players also play other sports such as volleyball and soccer, so now those players can move over and start focusing on other sports.

TPI Ethan Walls pitches against Wetumpka last season. Walls, who has transferred to Prattville Christian Academy for his senior season, has traveled all over the Southeast playing baseball this summer. His fastball has reached up to 93 miles per hour.

SUBMITTED TPI

Edgewood Academy’s cheerleading team poses after winning the AISA Large Squad State Championship. Eleven out of the 15 varsity members were named either UCA All-Americans or AISA All-Stars.

Walls has seen plenty of success this summer and has also seen his velocity grow. Working in the 86-90 mph range, he has seen success early in the summer pitching for TPL 12U Pro Elite.

After accepting an invite to the Yellowhammer State Games held in Albertville, he was sitting around 90-92 mph.

During the state games, he earned the top velocity of any pitcher at the event when he touched 92.1 mph. He was almost two mph higher than the next closest pitcher.

The highest he’s reached this summer is 93 mph.

“I think it all comes from the weight room and the mentality,” Walls said. “I have grown into my body a lot more and I feel like my arm has gotten a lot better. Now I’m just trying to get stronger.”

Walls isn’t just working on his velocity, however. He is working on all facets of his game.

In the recruiting process, he has been asked what he wants to do at the college level.

As a third baseman and pitcher in high school, he wants to do both as long as he can.

During his junior season last year at Stanhope, Walls put together a First Team All-County season. He went 1-2 on the mound with a 4.12 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 37 ⅓ innings.

At the plate, he hit .372 with 42 hits, 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 31 RBIs.

Continued from B1

“I’m really working on my consistency,” Walls said. “I feel like I can be a streaky hitter at times so I’m trying to improve that. On the mound, I want to find the strike zone with all my pitches and just find it more often. And get a little more athleticism, with twitchiness and speed.”

Walls remains uncommitted so far, but he knows all about the recruiting process.

His brother Colton, the 2023 Elmore County Player of the Year, went through this process two years ago. Now Colton is playing baseball at Troy.

While Ethan’s recruiting process is different, his brother has been there to help every way he can.

“Honestly, just seeing the way it worked for him helps me because now I know what to expect,” Walls said. “He’s really proud of me so it’s good to just have him there for me.”

For his senior campaign, Walls left the Stanhope Elmore program and transferred to Prattville Christian Academy.

The Panthers reached the third round of the AHSAA Class 3A playoffs a year ago and also went 2-1 against Walls and the Mustangs.

More importantly, he is joining some of his closest friends on the diamond for his last high school season.

“I’m really excited to go to school with my best friend (Jack Diefenderfer),” Walls said.

“PCA also has a really good pitching coach and great staff in general. I’m excited to have fun my senior year and play with a lot of my friends there.”

Wetumpka’s Fuller commits to LBW baseball

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Mason Fuller will be the next member of his family to play college baseball in Andalusia.

Fuller, a rising senior and starting shortstop for the Wetumpka baseball team, recently committed to play at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.

He is the third member of his family who will play baseball at LBW, joining his older brother and his father.

“It means a lot to me to be able to go play there,” Fuller said. “I just think it’s the best decision for me. Now I get to just play ball. It’s cool to

All-American status, but she was also named the Jump Off Winner and earned a Pin it Forward award.

This was her second-consecutive year to win the jump off. Each team is able to select two members to participate in the competition, and Edgewood selected sisters Baylie and Harlie.

The Barrett sisters then beat every other competitor before having to face each other in the championship round. Baylie earned the win over her sister in the finals.

“That’s two years in a row

Dillard was the team’s best scoring threat on Friday night. He scored in four of the team’s six games and lit up rival Stanhope Elmore in the final round robin game. In that matchup, he scored four touchdowns and led Wetumpka to the highest scoring total of the night by any team – 37 points. He had eight touchdowns on the day. “Evan is really fast and he’s jittery,” Woods said. “A lot like his brother Mike, he has a high football IQ and he understands football. He understands coverages and he knows where the defense opens up. He’s able to really put his routes in a spot to be successful.”

In the bracket portion of the tournament, Wetumpka was the No. 2 seed and faced No. 3 seed Holtville in the semifinals. The two teams went back and forth and were tied with under a minute left when Dillard caught a wide open deep pass for the game-winning touchdown. Holtville had one chance left and the Bulldogs

play there just like my family has. It’s going to be a really cool experience and the same coach (Steve Helms) is there and will have coached all of

of Baylie winning it,” Mercer said. “Baylie is such a hard worker as is, so that just shows how good she is when she goes against the entire camp and takes the trophy home.”

Elizabeth Ellis and Adalie Paulene also earned Pin it Forward honors.

Pin it Forward is one of the special duties of a UCA Camp staffer to recognize a camper for a quality that makes them stand out. The award can be awarded at any time throughout camp and for any reason, but specific qualities camp staff seek out are stepping up to be a leader, setting a good example for their peers, going above and beyond in classes,

were able to get down inside the five-yard line before running out of time.

In the championship game, Wetumpka played a Tallassee team that beat the Indians earlier in the day and was previously undefeated. That didn’t matter, however, as Wetumpka jumped out to a 18-6 lead with just a few minutes left on the clock.

The Tigers were able to cut

Helms got in touch with Fuller around the beginning

having a great spirit and smiling.

Even though the state championship has already been decided for the 20242025 school year, Edgewood’s squad will not take any breaks. The girls will continue working throughout football and basketball season before tryouts for the new school year take place again next February.

“This is the time when our program is built,” Mercer said. “If you’re returning next year, we practice throughout the football and basketball season to help build our program. You can’t just practice from February to June. It’s a year-round thing for us.”

the lead to one point, 18-17, after an interception, turnover on downs and a touchdown pass, but Wetumpka’s defense forced a sack on the final play of the night to secure the onepoint win.

“They made two plays to win that first game in the rain and for both teams to make it back to the championship just shows that both teams competed well,” Woods said.

WINS

WALLS

Wetumpka’s Mason Fuller throws across the diamond. Fuller, a rising senior, recently committed to Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.

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of his junior season this spring. The two parties remained in constant contact and Fuller felt like it was time to commit when the season ended. It helped that he loved the campus and what the college offers.

“I really like their campus,” Fuller said.

“There’s a golf course on campus and they’re getting a brand new facility with a nice field and a jumbotron. I just like all of the scenery.”

Fuller put together a

TEACHER

Continued from A1

Afterschool Program.

solid season for the Indians this spring.

Starting at shortstop and hitting at the top of the lineup, he helped Wetumpka reach the third round of the Class 6A playoffs for the first time in 32 years. He hit .331 on the year with a .451 on base percentage. He recorded 42 hits, second best on the team, with eight doubles and two triples. He drove in 21 RBIs and scored a team-best 42 runs. He struck out only 16 times, one of the lowest totals on the roster. On base, he was

“I have done everything for the benefit of others,” Mead said. “I’m standing here in front of you for the benefit of me and others.” Robinson has been principal at EMS for the last two and half years. She has worked there for 13 years. Robinson said Mead is an excellent teacher. As a seventh grade ELA teacher Robinson said Mead’s students did OK when tested. Their scores had increased 3% over a year.

This past school year Mead moved to the sixth grade when a mentor retired. Her test scores skyrocketed. The growth score alone increased 54%. Students included those who were well behind in reading and improved greatly according to Mead.

It was at a time when EMS’ report card score went down from 82 to 75.

Continued from A1

It is as critical now as when people needed electricity 70 and years ago. It is a big part of the

FILE TPI

Wetumpka’s Mason Fuller catches a throw down to second base.The star shortstop will play college baseball at LBW, where both his brother and his father have also played.

15-for-18 on stolen base attempts.

He will bring that consistent force at the

“My opinion is that it is failing,” Robinson said. “In 13 years that I have worked at Eclectic Middle School, that is the first time we have received a ‘C.’ We have worked tirelessly over the last school year to figure out methods and strategies we could use to increase student achievement, growth and attendance.”

Mead said she can better mentor other teachers and help students staying with the sixth grade. Even with the other sixth grade teachers leaving, Robinson feels Mead should be moved to the seventh grade and teach the same students for a second year in a row.

“She has the momentum with them and has good relationships with our students,” Robinson said. Mead said she wasn’t told much about why Robinson was transferring her. It wasn’t until Mead called the central office she was told of her rights to speak to the board about the decision to transfer. Moments later she was

infrastructure now and is really needed.”

CAEC owns broadband provider Central Access. The two entities provide electricity and internet service to Elmore, Autauga, Chilton and Coosa

plate to the college level, and he believes he can be a consistent fielder in the middle infield

called to the office at EMS and given a letter stating the transfer was necessary because the school had lost a teaching unit funded by the state.

It is a scenario Mead doesn’t agree with.

“Our classrooms are full to the rim with kids,” Mead said. “Why are we losing a teaching unit anyway? We have kids transferring in every week. This situation does not add up.”

Robinson said she had screened and interviewed applicants twice before making the move to transfer Mead to seventh grade. The first applicant turned down Robinson’s offer. The second applicant didn’t check out on references. The position was advertised again and the same applicants applied. Robinson said she felt Mead’s certifications were best suited in the seventh and eighth grades.

Mead implied sixth grade teachers are easier to hire than seventh grade teachers. Her trans-

counties. CAEC joined the internet service provider segment out of necessity. It had six officers and two dozen substations and needed communication between them all. It

as well. Last year, he fielded .836 at shortstop.

“The plan is for me to play middle infield and hit in the one- or two-hole,” Fuller said. “I really think I can help them with my fielding and my hitting. I have a good feel for the game and I feel like I can help them.”

In the meantime, Fuller wants to improve on his fielding and become a better teammate. He isn’t playing baseball in the summer between junior and senior year, but he has been hitting the weight room hard and hitting in the cage.

fer would ease the situation in finding more teachers at EMS. Mead is certified to teach sixth through 12th grade ELA and physical education at all grades.

Robinson said Mead told her discipline was an issue with the sixth graders moving on to seventh grade. Robinson told the board office referrals had increased for the class from 31 to 49 this past school year but 63% of the referrals involved only eight students.

Mead wrote four of the referrals. One student had eight referrals and Mead wrote one. Another had 12 office referrals and Mead wrote two. Another student had two referrals with one written by Mead. Another student was referred to the office early in the school year by Mead but was not a discipline problem the remainder of the year.

“[The students] love and respect her,” Robinson said. Mead is fearful for standing up to the transfer. She believes many

looked outside of the coop to find a provider.

“We realized we can’t communicate and that is where our members are,” Stackhouse said. “If members can’t get communication, that is why they aren’t living on the family farms like they used to. They are beginning to move away.”

Elmore County commissioner Bart Mercer said communication, in particular broadband access, is crucial for rural areas to survive.

“Broadband is as important as water,” Mercer said. “We feel everybody needs to have access.”

Mercer said broadband access affects where homes are built and businesses are located.

“It can limit access to a proper education,” Mercer said. “It could limit access to telemedicine. We really saw it in 2020 when COVID shut things down. It became more obvious how broadband access and lack of it can affect the local economy.”

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic CAEC was able to create Central Access to not only serve its needs but that of the community. At the time an estimated 35% of Elmore County was either underserved or unserved in terms of broadband access. In building out the system Central Access was able to provide broadband access to many of its customers along the way, about 10,000 of CAEC’s nearly 48,000 services. Within that original core, more than 50% of the CAEC customers with the ability to get Central Access have it.

Elmore County was ahead of the curve in serving broadband as students were sent home in March 2020 for the pandemic. But a foundation was laid and county leaders, educators and Central Access were able to put a plan together to deliver broad-

When the time comes to move to LBW and start his college career, he will have the chance to play with his brother Dawson. Fuller, a 2022 graduate of Wetumpka, still has two years of eligibility left after redshirting and transferring from Southern Union. The two haven’t talked much about the opportunity to play together, but Mason won’t turn it down if the opportunity presents itself.

“That’s not currently the plan, but it would definitely be cool,” Fuller said.

other teachers haven’t done it for fear of retaliation.

“The biggest issue that I will face is possible repercussions for speaking out regardless of the outcome,” Mead said. “When teachers witness a coworker speak and then are treated poorly, they tend to keep their opinions to themselves and go into survival mode. I respect that. They have to take care of themselves.

“Teachers, especially veteran teachers should have a voice, feel respected and feel safe.”

The board discussed the possibility of Mead’s transfer in executive session. When it returned to regular session, the recommendation of transfer failed due to lack of motion. It means the board publicly didn’t show support for Mead or Robinson.

For now, Mead will remain in the sixth grade classroom at Eclectic Middle School teaching English Language Arts.

band thanks to knowing where broadband access points were on a map and laying over a bus route map from the Elmore County Board of Education. Leaders also had a map of already established hotspots. Within a few hours it was determined locations for 25 hotspots across the county could easily be installed to allow the required at-home learning.

At the same time Montgomery County installed fewer than 10 hotspots.

The groundwork was laid in 2017 when the county and the Elmore County Economic Development Authority (ECEDA) conducted a broadband accessibility survey. Just because Elmore County had identified broadband access deficiencies, it couldn’t solve the problem.

“Broadband infrastructure is not owned by the government,” Mercer said. “It is owned by non-governmental entities such as a co-op like Central Access or Spectrum, a private business. We couldn’t affect positive change directly. We had to partner with other people to do it.”

Early on, the county could be only a cheerleader. It couldn’t spend funds on broadband access or many other things.

The county provided backup by passing resolutions supporting businesses such as Central Access and Spectrum to apply for federal broadband access grants.

Recent legislation changes now allow local governments to help. In the last year the Elmore County Commission cut out years of red tape to help supply backup fiber to the facilities of the Elmore County Board of Education.

For eight days in the fall of 2023 Elmore County Schools lost internet access. It was a huge hic-

cup as many of the current education methods require internet access.

In the process of Central Access extending fiber to the schools, it has allowed more Elmore County residents to gain access to broadband.

“We are slowly but surely able to reduce to about 17% [in Elmore County] that are unserved or underserved,” Mercer said. Currently Elmore County is trying to be strategic where it spends money on broadband. There are numerous grants ISPs can apply for. In the case of the county schools, the county covered a portion of the costs to allow Central Access to build out the system in less than a year after the school internet outage. The grant process is far longer.

It’s those partnerships

ECEDA director Lisa Van Wagner is concentrating on, especially broadband access since it’s a requirement in every economic development deal.

“Everyday I work on broadband,” Wagner said. “I have about 30 other projects and broadband takes up the majority of ECEDA’s time.” Mercer serves on a national committee of county commissioners broadband task force.

The main topic is broadband access. In Alabama, Elmore County is ahead of the curve but the county’s efforts are also garnering attention nationally through a broadband report from the National Association of County Commissions. It highlighted how leaders seek partnerships to pull projects together.

“It has taken a group of people to get us where we are,” Mercer said. “Our broadband hotspot program was one of the featured programs in the report. We still continually seek out partnerships to better serve the county.”

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Public Notices

Public Notices

davit of MAX CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, that MARY ELIZABETH LACY, Defendant, is either a nonresident of the State of Alabama, whose residence is

Public Notices unknown and cannot be ascertained after reasonable effort, or if being a resident, either MARY ELIZABETH LACY’S residence is unknown and cannot be ascertained after reasonable effort or MARY ELIZABETH LACY has been absent from the State more than thirty days in this cause, or MARY ELIZABETH LACY has concealed her location so that the process can not be served upon MARY ELIZABETH LACY, and further, that the defendant is over the age of twenty-one years. It is therefore, ordered by the Court that publication be made in the Wetumpka Herald a newspaper published in the City of Wetumpka, County of Elmore and State of Alabama, for four consecutive weeks, and the said the issuance of said summons and complaint, and to be and appear MARY ELIZABETH LACY thinks it is proper to defend this suit at the present term of this Court, and within 30 days after this notice by publication is completed.

Wetumpka Herald: July 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2024 2024-900014

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 CEDRIC M MOORER AND SHANNON L MOORER HUSBAND AND WIFE to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as mortgagee, as nominee for TRUSTMARK NATIONAL BANK, on the 7th day of May, 2015, said mortgage recordof Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, on May 13, 2015, in Deed/Mortgage Book 2015, Page 21010, Elmore County, Alabama Records, said Mortgage having subsequently been transferred and assigned to Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, by instrument recorded in the 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 Conners Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 in Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, on July 18, 2024, 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: LOT 18 BLOCK C OF BROOKSADA SPRINGS SUBDIVISION, PLAT NO. 2, AS SHOWN BY PLAT RECORDED IN THE OF PROBATE OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA, IN PLAT BOOK 5, AT PAGE 60. Said legal description being controlling, however the property is more commonly known as 4931 AIRPORT RD, MILLBROOK, AL 36054. 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 3145 Avalon Ridge Place, Suite 100, Peachtree Corners, GA 30071 Telephone Number: (877) 813-0992 Case No. FLB20-03667-22

Ad Run Dates: 04/17/2024, 04/24/2024, 05/01/2024, 07/03/2024 The sale provided for hereinabove which was originally scheduled for May 9, 2024, was postponed announcement being made at the Elmore County Courthouse, Wetumpka, Alabama, during the legal hours of sale. Said foreclosure sale shall be held the Elmore County Courthouse, Wetumpka, Alabama, during the legal hours of sale. rlselaw.com/ property-listing Wetumpka Herald: 231365

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

Default having

the Judge of Probate

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

2004 LEXUS ES-JTHBA30G045028604

2007 CHEVY TAHOE 1GNFC13087R101948

2015 HONDA ACCORD 1HGCR2F58FA077513

2020 NISSAN VERSA 3N1CN8DVXLL882128

Public Notices

10 and 17, 2024

EST/RUTLEDGE, R. PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JUDITH G. THORNTON, CASE NO: 2024-150 DECEASED NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of JUDITH G. THORNTON, deceased, having been granted to CYNTHIA G. YOUNG on June 18, 2024 by John Thornton, 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 G. YOUNG PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JUDITH G. THORNTON, DECEASED Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: KAMMIE B. LEE ATTORNEY AT LAW 109 COMPANY STREET SUITE 240 WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-478-3808 kammieblee@aol.com

Wetumpka Herald: June 26, July 3 and 10, 2024 EST/THORNTON J. PUBLIC NOTICE

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by ALBERT T. EAVES, AN UNMARRIED MAN, to MAX CREDIT UNION on NOVEMBER 16, 2020, said mortgage being recorded in the of ELMORE County, Alabama, 86084, the undersigned MAX CREDIT UNION, as mortgagee (or 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, at the entrance of the Courthouse of ELMORE 2024, between the legal hours of sale, the following described real estate situated in ELMORE County, Alabama, to wit: AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE SOUTHEAST

Public Notices

QUARTER OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION

SEC. EAST, 762.58 FEET

SEC. EAST, 580.55 FEET TO -

(60’ R.O.W. AS SHOWN ON

EAST, 208.71 FEET TO THE THE ABOVE DESCRIBED SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER

AND CONTAINS 1.00 ACRES, MORE OR LESS

Subject to all zoning, easements, restrictions, restrictive covenants and reservations appearing of record. Said sale will also be made subject to any Federal Tax Liens, Ad Valorem Real Estate Taxes and<\\>or Special Assessments of any nature, if any, which might adversely affect the title to the property. The property is being sold “as is, where is”. Said property is sold without warranty or recourse, expressed or implied as to title, use, enjoyment or condition. The mortgagee or transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. All bidders will be required to execute a bidding agreement prior to sale. Copies of the bidding agreement may be obtained prior to the sale. The successful bidder will be required to pay the bid amount at the time

Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumexist 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 attorneys fees and expenses of foreclosure.

Public Notices

p This sale is subject to cancellation or postponement. MAX CREDIT UNION, Mortgagee-Transferee Leonard N. Math

Wetumpka Herald: FC/EAVES

PUBLIC NOTICE LAKE JORDAN STORAGE, LLC 1955 TITUS ROAD TITUS, AL 36080 334-312-2645 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE AND/OR AUCTION

LAKE JORDAN STORAGE, LLC URSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE ALABAMA SELF STORAGE ACT (CODE OF ALA, 1975 8-15-30) HEREBY GIVES NOTICE OF SALE UNDER SAID ACT TO WIT:

DATE: July 13, 2024 TIME: 10:00 AM LOCATION: LAKE JORDAN STORAGE, LLC 1955 TITUS ROAD TITUS, AL 36080

LESSOR WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC SALE FOR CASH REIMBURSEMENT OF STORAGE DUES FOR THE FOLLOWING CONTENTS OF THE FOLLOWING UNITS:

NAME: Kenneth Jefferson

ADDRESS: 41 W Campbellton Street Fairburn, GA 30213 UNIT: Storage Units 9 & 43

NAME: Laketa Austin ADDRESS: 1610 Jones Corner Rd Titus, AL 36080 UNIT: Storage Unit 61

NAME: Emily Kelley ADDRESS: 1930 Gallant Fox Dr Helena, AL 35080 UNIT: Storage Units BS 18

NAME: Lisa Palmer c/o Meagan Daly ADDRESS: 3440 McEntire Close Montgomery, AL 36106 UNIT: Storage Unit 72

NAME: Bob Henderson ADDRESS: 4008 Westwood Lane Apex, NC 27539 UNIT: Storage Unit 71 THE OCCUPANT HAS THE RIGHT TO REDEEM THE CONTENTS ANYTIME PRIOR TO THE SALE. THIS SALE IS BEING HELD TO STATISFY A STATUTORY LESSOR’S LEIN. CASH ONLY

Wetumpka Herald: June 26 and July 3, 2024 STORAGE AUCTION

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell for cash, at an ONLINE public auction on 18th of July, 2024, 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

Southeast Storage 8416 US-231 Wetumpka, AL 36092

3146: Mack Benson:394 Old Tallassee Hwy. Wetumpka, AL 36092

Contents:clothes, speakers, tv, chair, grill, boxes

2112: Cathay Williams-Ashley: 158 Parker Ln. Wetumpka, Al 36092

Contents: boxes, table, chair, paperwork, home decor, clothes, lamp

422:Regan Merritt:5316 Clint Mason Rd Crestview, Fl 32539

Contents: home decor, kid toys, chair, lamp, tv, clothes, boxes

Wetumpka Herald: July 3 and 10, 2024 STORAGE AUCTION

PUBLIC NOTICE

STATE OF ALABAMA ELMORE COUNTY FORECLOSURE NOTICE

WHEREAS, on January 25, 2011, Anrew Reid Smith, III, did execute and deliver to River Bank & Trust a mortgage on certain real estate hereinafter described, which mortgage apthe Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, at Real Property Book 2011, Page 6772, and, WHEREAS, default has been made in the payment of said Mortgage as provided therein, which default continues at this date making said Mortgage subject to foreclosure. NOW, THEREFORE, three weeks notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell at public outcry for cash, to the highest bidder, in front of the courthouse doors, main entrance, in Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, during the legal hours of sale on February 27, 2024, the real estate being more particularly described as lying and being situated in Elmore County, State of Alabama, to-wit: Boundary survey of a 106.35 acre tract of land located mostly in the West ½ of the SW 1/4 of section 28 and partly in the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of section 29, all in T20N, R17E, Elmore County Alabama described as follows: Begin at a fence corner found

Public Notices

g near the SE corner of the West ½ of the SW 1/4 of said section 28; Thence S 88 deg. 54’ 17” W, 2665.41 Feet to a concrete monument found near the SW corner of the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of said section 29; Thence N 0 deg 44’ 10” E, 1339.86 feet to a pipe found at a fence corner; Thence N 1 deg 09’ 04” E, 982.80 feet to an iron pin found; Thence N 90 deg 00’ 00” W, 413.67 feet to an iron pin found on the West edge of a gravel road; Thence

ELMORE COUNTY PREPS FOR FOOTBALL SEASON

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Elmore County is entering the 2024 football season with high hopes. The Panthers are entering Year 3 of the Kyle Caldwell era and are coming off back-to-back winning seasons and playoff appearances. Caldwell will look to continue that playoff streak with a feast or famine schedule this season.

The 10 teams that Elmore County will suit up and play had a combined record of 47-58 a year ago. Only four of the teams had winning records (Central Clay, Valley, Holtville and Beauregard) although seven teams reached the playoffs. No teams made it out of the first round.

Six teams had losing records. Three of the six teams had four wins while the other three had two wins or less.

TRENDS

Elmore County opens its season against three consecutive teams that had a losing record last season. Dadeville went 4-5, Tallassee went 1-9 and Carroll-Ozark went 4-7.

This will be Caldwell’s first game against Dadeville, his alma mater. The Panthers

have not had much success against Dadeville in the past as they’re just 3-9 against the Tigers since 2007.

Elmore County beat Tallassee last year for the first time since 2015.

All four of the teams with winning records come in a row for Elmore County’s schedule. The Panthers will face Beauregard, Valley, Central Clay and Holtville in a five-week stretch around a bye week. Elmore County has never beaten Clay County (0-6), the defending region champs.

Elmore County then ends the season with three matchups with Marbury (2-9), Sylacauga (2-8) and Chilton County (4-6).

GAMES TO WATCH ELMORE COUNTY VS. TALLASSEE, AUG. 30

Even with Tallassee moving down to Class 4A, the two teams stayed on each other’s schedules this season. This rivalry has been one of the most intense in recent history, but it has been dominated by Tallassee. The Tigers had won seven straight before Elmore County’s 34-20 win last year. The last two seasons have been closer games than normal. In 2022, Tallassee pulled

SCHEDULE

Aug.

Aug.

Sept. 13 – Holtville at Elmore County* Sept. 20 – Elmore County at Beauregard*

Sept. 27 – BYE Oct. 4 – Central Clay County at Elmore County*

Oct. 18 – Marbury at Elmore County*

Oct. 25 – Elmore County at Sylacauga*

Nov. 1 – Chilton County at Elmore County * denotes region competition

All four of the teams with winning records come in a row for Elmore County’s schedule. The Panthers will face Beauregard, Valley, Central Clay and Holtville in a five-week stretch around a bye week. Elmore County has never beaten Clay County (0-6), the defending region champs.

out a 26-20 win which was the first time in seven years it had been decided by less than three touchdowns. Last year, it was back-and-forth before Elmore County pulled away late.

ELMORE COUNTY VS. VALLEY, OCT. 11

Elmore County and Valley played in one of the best games of the season last year. The Rams came to Elmore County and after trailing all game, threw a game-winning

Hail Mary touchdown in the final minute of the game. The game pushed Elmore County to a three-seed and didn’t allow the Panthers to host a playoff game. With a lot of Valley’s star players gone, expect Elmore County to be looking for sweet revenge.

OPPOSING PLAYERS TO WATCH LOGAN COPPEDGE, CHILTON COUNTY QUARTERBACK

Coppedge may not have all the stars and hype that other

players in Alabama have, but the quarterback was extremely efficient last year leading Chilton County’s offense. The rising junior passed for 1,701 yards with 15 touchdown passes and only 6 interceptions. By the time Elmore County faces Coppedge in the final week, he will likely be in full form.

LADAMION BOYD, CENTRAL CLAY COUNTY RUNNING BACK

Boyd will be one of the top skill players Elmore County will face this season. Even after going down with a leg injury and missing the final two games of Central Clay’s season last year, Boyd finished his junior campaign with 154 carries for 1,621 yards and 22 touchdowns. He averaged more than 10.5 yards per carry.

ZJ GRADY, BEAUREGARD LINEBACKER

One of the top defensive players Elmore County will face is ZJ Grady, a linebacker from Beauregard. The rising senior is the No. 52-ranked player in the Class of 2025 in Alabama and is ranked as a three-star. Last season, he recorded 75 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble. On offense, he had 37 carries for 251 yards and three touchdowns.

Fermenter’s hosts events all summer

By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter

Those who want a break from the heat of summer can make their way downtown to Fermenter’s Market on the Green.

Fermenter’s is an Alexander City staple when it comes to local nightlife. For years, locals have made memories with friends and family at the bar on Alabama Street. This summer, more memories can be made with the variety of events held throughout the week.

To kick off the week, guests have the option of playing a game of cornhole with their friends on Monday nights. Depending on the week, there may be live music by local artists on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Bar manager Deborah Blankston said the bar normally hosts karaoke Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On these nights, guests have the opportunity to sing their favorite songs to their hearts’ content. Last Friday, the town showed out to sing their favorite songs at the bar. Some chose to give a solo performance while others decided to take the stage with their friends.

Although the venue hosts events sure to satisfy anyone, what makes it a classic is its wide drink selection.

DEPOT

Continued from E1

“What stands out for Fermenter’s is the friendly service, good bartenders and great selection of alcohol,” Blankston said. “We have a good selection of liquors, spirits, craft beer and regular beer.”

Blankston said she sources some beer from breweries in surrounding areas, like The Wicked Weed brewery in LaGrange. In fact, one of the bar’s most unique selections is sourced from that brewery.

“We’ve started carrying the Pernicious from The Wicked Weed,” Blankston said. “It’s a strawberry apricot cocktail that you put on the draft wall. We serve them like we would a draft beer, except it’s a cocktail.”

Blankston also sources some craft beer from in-state breweries in Birmingham and other surrounding areas. While Fermenter’s beer selection is wide, the cocktail and shot variety is selfsame. The beer drinker and cocktail connoisseur alike are sure to find something that will soothe the palate.

No matter what day of the week you find yourself at Fermenter’s, you will almost certainly catch some drink or shot specials.

To keep up with Fermenter’s weekly events, you can follow its page on Facebook, Fermenter’s Market on the Green Alex City. Fermenter’s also has a location in Sylacauga.

artistic director Kristy Meanor said. “We would be reading about some of the character actors and their lives. Their lives were far more interesting than anything you see on film. That is how the characters were born in this play.”

In writing the play, Meanor and Segrest compared notes on the numerous films they had watched. They quickly developed characters they wanted to see on stage. Meanor has always been in theater, and Segrest is a sports journalist with a love of theater.

“We have a lot of fun writing together,” Meanor said. “We think alike. Working with Doug is like having your own drama trudge fact checker. He has an encyclopedia brain for not only sports but movie trivia.”

The characters and story lines came from old movies such as My Girl Friday, Arsenic and Old Lace and You Can’t Take It With You.

The main character Harry Wood is the epitome of leading men of the time as movies transitioned from silent to sound. Wood decides he is better suited as a stuntman.

“All of the characters are identifiable,” Meanor said. “There is a newspaper touch which is fun for Doug because he is a journalist. Anything he writes there is going to be a journalism thing in it. The newspaper gets involved in a story that is going on.”

Most of the play is set around the guesthouse of a Spanish revival home in Burbank, California once owned by Harry.

“He built this big Hollywood mansion,” Meanor said. “He lost all his money because of bad investments and living in the guest house of this mansion because the old lady who bought it let him stay in the guest house. He has adopted some industry friends who aged out of the business with him. It’s snappy dialogue.”

The cast has been rehearsing for the show that opens July 11 and runs through July 27. Tickets are available through the Depot’s website at www. wetumpkadepot.com. Currently Meanor and others are working on the stage including building Harry’s Spanish revival home and guesthouse.

“It is a beast of a set,” Meanor said. “It will be ready by July 11. You have to make a mess to make some nice stuff. We are at the mess stage.”

Down at the BoonDocks

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Editor, Tallapoosa County

It was well worth the wait.

BoonDocks at Bay Pines has finally opened, and every second spent waiting for Lake Martin’s newest bar has paid off.

On the water down a few miles from Lakewinds Golf Course in Jackson’s Gap, BoonDocks offers a variety of frozen and on tap drinks and live music offerings at this distinctive venue.

On the same ground as the already existing Bay Pines marina, both locations work in tandem to please adults and kids alike. You can park your boat on either side of the peninsula, come aboard dry land and grab a slice of pizza in the marina and wash your troubles away with a cool drink.

When I went to BoonDocks, I had a goal in mind: I wanted to spend the day watching soccer and drinking one of the Bushwackers I had heard so much about.

I ordered a large Bushwacker on the recommendation of someone in the parking lot. He was telling someone about how they should have gotten a large size instead of the regular size, so I kept that in mind. The large runs $14 while the regular size cup is $10. You can get a floater of liquor for an additional $4. I opted to just stay with the large and no topper and was highly impressed. The service at the bar was fast and efficient, as droves of boaters came and went to grab themselves their own Bushwackers for a day on the lake. My drink was extra chilly and extra chocolatey and paired well with extremely warm weather between spurts of rain. BoonDocks also has a number of other frozen drinks from margaritas, strawberry daiquiris and

Continued from E1

because I grew up in church,” Lawson said. “I was always around music because of church, but in high school, that is when the content started.”

Lawson is somewhat of a global superstar in terms of TikTok, with her two pinned videos garnering over five million views. To date, she has received over 10 million likes.

Originally, Lawson didn’t have an avenue like TikTok but did skits in person and with friends. When TikTok started gaining its traction in 2018, Lawson hopped aboard and has been a staple face on the app ever since.

“I just blew up,” Lawson said. “It is really dope. It is a great thing. I go places and see people and they recognize me as the girl from TikTok.”

Despite being from Goodwater, a town of roughly 1,500 people, Lawson can go anywhere in the country and be recognized. Whether it be from her music or her online personality, Lawson has carved out her own corner of the internet.

“It is a great thing to have your name out there,” Lawson said. “It is pretty cool. People always want to take pictures.”

Being big on the internet wasn’t ever something Lawson set out to do. She wanted to play basketball in high school, but gave that dream up in favor of track.

Athletics ended up not being her avenue, instead taking her talents to phone screens and headphones across the world. Even still, there is plenty of room for career growth in her eyes.

Miami Vice’s. Non-alcoholic slushies can be purchased in the marina and both locations do have varying menus.

The bar has a pair of televisions and also a handful of on-tap options to go with a number of canned drinks.

I had to partake in a couple chilly Miller Lites on draft as I watched Germany eek out a win over Denmark.

The venue itself is accommodating for quite a number of people, with indoor and outdoor seating available. There is a live music stage near the bar and additional outdoor seating on the opposite side of the marina. Maybe this is more of a personal quirk, but I enjoyed the restrooms set up. The restrooms are converted out of an old shipping container and the facilities were quite nice. While I did not partake myself, there were also ring toss games setup by the bar

“Being from a small town and being global like this, it is a great thing,” Lawson said. “I am still waiting for my moment though. I still feel like I haven’t even reached my full potential.”

At 22, Lawson recorded her first song. Music was something that had been with her her whole life, and even before the internet fame, was something she knew she could do.

“I knew I could sing, but at that time I was just trying to find myself and find my era,” Lawson said. “I have multiple talents, so I started with music first to see how it goes.”

Nowadays, Lawson is a consistent face at local sporting events and large community gatherings around Tallapoosa County. She performed her newest single “Let’s Party” to a raucous reaction at the Coosa v. Benjamin Russell alumni basketball game.

When she isn’t creating content, Lawson organizes and performs for the Sunday FunDay youth events around Alexander City. The events are a community-wide gathering after church to bring youth from Tallapoosa County and beyond together for a day of outdoor activities.

“Getting the community together, I have come to realize that is one of my lanes,” Lawson said.

“The (most recent) Sunday FunDay had a great turnout. The kids feel safer when they are around someone that loves them. And I love the kids and want them to have a good time.”

Across the board, the Sunday FunDay organizers host the events because they didn’t have such gatherings when they were kids. No one around town certainly had someone like Lawson around

that saw constant action between waves of people. There was a constant flow of bodies coming in and out of BoonDocks, many accompanied by dogs, but the venue never felt packed or overwhelmed. The bar staff pumped out as many frozen concoctions as humanly possible, and people came and went with smiles on their faces. The boat slips themselves never got backed up either, as many people came ashore for their drinks to go. BoonDocks is at its zenith over the weekends. Its dining tables are filled with families and friends who all want to partake in its beachy atmosphere. I have enjoyed plenty of cold drinks and fun bars around the lake, but this may be my new favorite. Pay the staff a visit, have a Bushwacker, watch some soccer and have a BoonDocks kind of day. I don’t think you will regret it.

growing up, so she takes it upon herself to show youth they can have a career in media.

“It is very inspiring, especially from where I came from,” Lawson said. “Growing up in Goodwater, you didn’t see too much of that. Now I am able to have that for them and show them that this is what they can do. It is always great to do.”

Lawson is unabashedly herself and portrays that in her music and skits. Her message to youth is to be the same and never change because someone else wants you to.

“To kids, just stay consistent,” Lawson said. “You don’t have to switch things up just because somebody is telling you that you have to do this or that. Just be you.”

The beauty of Lawson’s music and media talents is at any moment, she can create another viral video or another hit song. She doesn’t necessarily have a plan or schedule, but more so waits for the right time.

“I can’t ever say what is next. It’s whatever God sees fit,” Lawson said.

Tallapoosa County’s internet celebrity is well on her way to stardom. Some would say she is already well established in that regard. Lawson doesn’t see herself as a celeb however, but more of an artist. It takes a lot to make a video for millions of people, or a song for car rides at any time of day. And Lawson is always ready to lay down a catchy hook or gut busting video.

“I want to do both,” Lawson said. “Today I could make a funny video and go to the studio and record. It is all the same thing. It’s all art. It is all the same thing, it is just how you do it.”

MELODY RATHEL TPI

Guests at Fermenter’s Market on the Green sang some of their favorite hits Friday night. Those who chose not to sing enjoyed unique craft cocktails and beer while supporting their friends.

HENRY ZIMMER | TPI

A cold Bushwacker at BoonDocks just might be the best way to stay refreshed on a warm summer day.

Box gears up for her fourth Lake Martin Songwriters Festival

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter

One of the festival’s primary songwriters will be returning to the Lake Martin Songwriters Festival who has been there since its inception.

Terri Jo Box first came to Lake Martin for a songwriters retreat at The Pace Place. She received an invitation at the last minute and arrived a day late. She spent her time playing and writing. While staying there, Box met the owners and heard about the future committee beginning the festival. She

Food Spotlight

has been at the songwriters festival every year since.

Box first got into music through church, and she had plenty of family members who played as well.

Her mother played piano and sang, her grandmother played piano and her maternal grandfather was a musician too.

Box is originally from Texas, and she said each time she sees Lake Martin, it reminds her of her favorite lake back home. But the thing that is always stunting about it is how clean and clear it is.

Box has been part of the Nashville music scene for the past two

Jim Bob’s Chicken Fingers

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

When I was in the Alex City Outlook office last week, I went looking for somewhere to quickly eat lunch. I found Jim Bob’s Chicken Fingers on the map, so I made the short drive over.

I am a huge lover of chicken fingers, whether that is Raising Cane’s, Zaxbys, Abners, Huey Magoos or a hometown place.

I went in with high expectations and I left with those expectations met.

I ordered the Finger and Wing combo, which came with three tenders, four wings, a piece of bread, french fries and two sauces.

My total came out to right around $16, which is expensive for a chicken place but I did get one of the largest combos on the menu. Wasn’t an issue.

And once the chicken hit my table, it definitely wasn’t an issue.

I was very impressed with the size of my tenders. It wasn’t like a trip to Zaxby’s where many of your tenders are the size of one of your fingers. These pieces of chicken had some meat on them.

The wings did as well. I feel like wings are usually hit or miss. You can get tiny ones from places, but you never really get large ones. These were probably some of the largest wings I’ve gotten from a fast food chicken place. I ordered mine with hot sauce, and the flavor was fantastic. I dipped it in ranch and it was a perfect blend. Not too hot and extremely flavorful.

I was split down the middle on the fries. They were cooked fantastic and had a great crunch to them, but man were they small. Over half of the fries were smaller than a battery. Some as small as the size of the fingernail on your thumb. Both of the sauces I got were very sweet, which wasn’t a bad thing. I usually think of a special sauce to be like a Raising Canes type sauce, but these were much sweeter. Not my favorite chicken sauce, but I’d still eat it again. One of the best things about my trip was seeing the hospitality. When my food was brought to my table, I was asked if I needed something else. I responded no, but then all of a sudden I was having napkins and an extra plate brought to my table from the server.

I’ll take hospitality I didn’t ask for.

The table next to me also got some hospitality. From what I gathered, they ordered wings but wanted all flats. I don’t know if they asked or just changed their mind, but they asked the server for all flats when it was brought to the table.

So what did they do? Left the whole plate of wings and brought them more that were just all flats.

That’s good customer service. And it was fantastic food.

I’d rate my experience a 9/10 and I would eat there once a week if I lived in Alex City.

decades and she has earned placement on four Grammy-nominated albums. She has also recorded with Eric Church, Joe Nichols, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Trent Tomlinson and more.

However, for this upcoming festival she is excited to play with songwriter Pam Tillis and to return to the people of Lake Martin.

“Just seeing all the locals again that we get to see every year — that’s always fun because we have made friends there now,” Box said.

“It’s fun to see all our lake folk.”

The Lake Martin Songwriters Festival will be July 24-28.

While most locations around Lake Martin offer food alongside extensive and unique drink menus, The Social offers brunch for the days you want to stay on dry land. Those who want a break from the sun can enjoy a daytime performance by Cade Rowland starting at 2 p.m., followed by the Brandon Jordan Band at 7 p.m. Saturday. To wrap up the week, David Jones will be your go-to-guy for the brunch enthusiast. His jazzy set will start off at 11 a.m.

THE SOCIAL HOSTS EXTENSIVE SUMMER LINEUP

By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter

No matter if you’re a local or visitor spending the summer on Lake Martin, The Social has your entertainment needs covered.

So far The Social has seen multiple bands perform this summer, and they are preparing to have plenty more from here on out. General manager Garry Williams and assistant manager Michael Williams said they were happy to have a full lineup this summer.

Last week, the bar saw four different performers from Thursday to Saturday. Johnny Turner kicked off the weekend Thursday night, and the Ricky Fitzgerald Band followed Turner’s performance Friday night. Although he is known locally as Ricky Fitzgerald, he goes by Hank Williams IV, as he is the nephew of Hank Williams Jr., the managers said. The Hunter Hogan Trio took the stage Saturday night, and Chris Eiland concluded the week Sunday night.

For those overwhelmed with local events during Fourth of July week, The Social will cure any fear of missing out as they have events planned during the entire week.

The holiday week began with a performance from Michael Mears, as well as karaoke for those who wanted in on the live music themselves.

The remainder of the week is booked full as Shades of Gray will start jamming out at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

On the Fourth, the Firehawks’

set will start at 7 p.m.; however, the events don’t stop there. Mello Jelly will kick off weekend festivities at 7 p.m. Friday night. While most locations around Lake Martin offer food alongside extensive and unique drink menus, The Social offers brunch for the days you want to stay on dry land. Those who want a break from the sun can enjoy a daytime performance by Cade Rowland starting at 2 p.m., followed by the Brandon Jordan Band at 7 p.m. Saturday. To wrap up the week, David Jones will be your go-to-guy for the brunch enthusiast. His jazzy set will start off at 11 a.m.

In the past, The Social has hosted artists and bands from both near

and far. The Mark Kelley Band, the Patrick Barnett Trio and Wesley Hill are just a few to name. Local duo Kasey Kaschak and Alex Matthews have also performed at the lakeside bar, and will be back later this month.

“It’s a really unique venue,” Kaschak said. “It’s probably the closest I’ve ever played to the water. We had a blast and are excited to go back later in the month.”

Following the holiday week, guests can prepare to see performances from Alex Walker, Mother Moonpie, Tony Graydon and more. To find out more about when your favorite artist will be at The Social, be sure to follow the bar’s Facebook page.

SUBMITTED | TPI

Terri Jo Box has been a staple at the Lake Martin Songwriters Festival, and she will return in 2024.

DALTON MIDDLETON TPI

Jim Bob’s Finger and Wing combo, which features three tenders, four wings, a piece of bread, french fries and two sauces.

MELODY RATHEL | TPI

Hank Williams IV and The Lost Highway Band jammed out at The Social last Friday. They played a variety of old classics and new hits to help guests wind down from a day on Lake Martin.

MELODY RATHEL TPI

Hank Williams IV and The Lost Highway Band got people on their feet last Friday. Many enjoyed dancing with their loved ones as the band played.