Wetumpka Herald Nov. 13 2024

By Cliff Williams Staff Writer

WPD makes drug trafficking arrest

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

A

The Wetumpka Police Department responded to a call of a

vehicle accident on Coosa River Parkway near Holtville Road early Wednesday morning and soon arrested Sean Blackburn, 36, of Wetumpka. “He was initially arrested for driving under the influence,” Wetumpka police chief Ed Reeves said. “He was then charged with trafficking because of the amount of illegal pills he had. He had two different kinds

of prescription narcotics.”

Blackburn was charged with driving under the influence of controlled substances, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and drug trafficking.

tim’s phone. Authorities collected Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversa tion between the two,” Frank lin 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.”

According to the Elmore County inmate roster, Blackburn posted a $1,510,000 bond less than 24 hours after his arrest.

Chamber holds luncheon welcoming members

By Cliff Williams Staff Writer

The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board members for the first time in a while Thursday.

The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gatherings but the chamber celebrated the successes of business in Wetumpka.

“We haven’t been able to do this for the last couple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your attendance is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each

See CHAMBER, Page A3

WES STUDENT SURPRISED BY VETERAN SISTER

Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

High school students are getting smarter.

The Wetumpka High School weather balloon team launched a balloon and cargo in Wetumpka. As the winds shifted at the various levels of the atmosphere so did their projections of where it would land. Early Friday morning it was predicted to go to Alexander City. By launch time at Hoenberg Field, winds had shifted some

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

TBy Jake Arthur Chief Videographer

he mission was critical Thursday as D’Mya Rawls walked the halls of Wetumpka Elementary School.

Staff Report

The Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) named Holtville High School principal Kyle Futral the 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year. The High School Principal of the Year award was presented to Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a schoolwide assembly at Holtville High School. Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis was in attendance for the presentation.

The freshly minted U.S. Army soldier was on her way to surprise her brother Ethan Ewing, who is in the second grade. Rawls graduated from Wetumpka High School in May. She was the cadet battalion commander for JROTC and also headed up the drill team. Rawls shipped out to basic training in June. Ethan got to hear from his sister occasionally.

“Everytime I called he was like, ‘I miss you.’”

Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year

“We got to call home on Sundays,” Rawls said.

CLIFF WILLIAMS TPI

The two siblings were able to briefly reunite when Rawls graduated from basic training in September. Rawls went on to Virginia for Advanced Individual Training. More freedom with the phone came, but time was still

D’Mya Rawls, left, of Wetumpka goes to hug her younger brother and second grader Ethan Ewing at Wetumpka Elementary School. It was a surprise reunion for Ethan.

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

“Kyle Futral is an exceptional principal and is very proactive and innovative in his thinking and approaches to managing his school,” Dennis said, As principal of Holtville High School, Futral has transformed the school culture from that of a school struggling with low morale, achievement and attendance to a school that strives for excellence. By collaborating with staff, many of the school’s issues were identified and addressed. Futral’s leadership style of listening, encouraging, supporting, organizing and challenging the staff and students, caused the school culture to shift in a positive direction. The school experienced a 62 percent decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism, 7 percent increase in the graduation rate, 33 percent increase in CCR rate and a 20 percent increase in ACT proficiency in the last five years.

For more than a decade Trinity Episcopal Church has hosted the Elmore County Tribute to Veterans Concert and Gallery of Honor to recognize local veterans.

See PRINCIPAL, Page A3

This year retired Army Sgt. Donald Truman Carswell and retired Air Force SMSGT Thomas Cecil

Stubbs were honored at the program. Retired Army CW4 Gardner Perdue introduced the two honorees starting with Stubbs who will celebrate his 90th birthday Nov. 17. He served 21 years including two tours in Vietnam.

“He first deployed with the first air commandos, which is today called

Wilson was released on a $6,000 bond 90 minutes after turning himself in according to the Elmore County Jail website.

WILSON

ADOC officer arrested for sex acts with inmate

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

A Montgomery man is in the Elmore County Jail just yards away from where he worked as a corrections officer days earlier.

Former Alabama Department of Corrections Sgt. Laquentin Brantley, 34, of Montgomery, was arrested Thursday and charged with custodial sexual conduct and first-degree sodomy.

Brantley is accused of coercing an inmate at Tutwiler Prison for

Women to perform sex acts.

ADOC investigators spoke with an inmate on Oct. 25 at Tutwiler

“...Brantley coerced her to perform oral sex on him by threat of writing her up for disciplinaries any time he felt like it to keep her from getting out of prison and going home to her kids,” court documents state.

The inmate was wearing a tank

top during an encounter and Brantley requested to see her breasts. Court documents state Brantley fondled the inmate.

“A little later on, Brantley returned and had (the inmate) perform oral sex on him,” court documents state. According to Alabama state law, a prisoner cannot consent to sexual contact with an officer.

Brantley is being held in the Elmore County Jail with no bond available to him pending an Aniah’s Law hearing.

Former Stanhope Elmore student, teacher and coach Rick Samsal,

donation to help with the school’s technology.

SEHS legend donates to school

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Rick Samsal is a familiar name at Stanhope High School. He scored the first touchdown in Foshee-Henderson Stadium. He returned to coach and teach history for 37 years. Samsal has mem-

Police Reports

ories of every building on the Stanhope Elmore campus past and present.

“We used to play in a barn that was right where the office is,” Samsal said. “Me and Billy James, we would bring our pellet guns in there and shoot rats.” Stanhope and the Millbrook community

WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT

NOV. 7

• Sean Blackburn, 36, of Wetumpka, was arrested for driving under the influence, drug trafficking, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

NOV. 6

• Caitlin Wiggins, 22, of Montgomery, was arrested for two counts of failure to appear.

NOV. 5

• Unauthorized use of a vehicle was reported on Rumbling Waters Drive.

• Theft was reported on Hol-

made Samsal who he is.

Samsal remembers when you could purchase fresh beef and pork raised on nearby farms in small family stores in what is now Millbrook.

“This was a very small community back then,” Samsal said. “It’s hard to believe that we’re 6A now.”

lowood Court. NOV. 4

• Brandon Bazzell, 39, of Montgomery, was arrested for failure to appear.

NOV. 3

• David Perez, 24, of Montgomery, was arrested for driving under the influence and reckless endangerment.

• Harassment was reported on U.S. Highway 231. NOV. 2

• Ethan Bosworth, 22, of Deatsville, was arrested for driving under the influence.

• Jason Finch, 48, of Wetumpka,

Samsal said the school was the hub of the community, and Stanhope Elmore principal Ewell Fuller agreed and said it remains the hub of the community today.

“The school is kind of the spinal cord of the community and Coach

SEHS, Page A3

was arrested for domestic violence.

• Michael Brant, 26, of Montgomery, was arrested for driving under the influence.

• Andere Jackson, 41, of Wetumpka, was arrested for driving under the influence.

• Domestic violence was reported on North Bridge Street.

NOV. 1

• Javaris Young, 35, of Wetumpka, was arrested for failure to obey and resisting arrest.

OCT. 31

• Terina Jackson, 63, of Wetumpka, was arrested for failure to appear.

CLIFF WILLIAMS TPI

center, stands with school administrators as he makes a sizable

Humane Society of Elmore County News

Shelter volunteers deserve appreciation

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

In the spirit of better late than never, last week was National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week and certainly deserves recognition, albeit a tad late.

On a daily basis, animal shelter staffs are working tirelessly helping the never-ending flood of homeless and unwanted pets, 365 days/year. Shelters provide a place for homeless and unwanted animals to go when no one else can take them in — the young ones, old ones, nice pets, vicious & scared, diseased, injured, starved, healthy. Shelters see them all.

So please thank the staffs of Shelters in your area any day of the year, as besides helping animals in need they are also help-

ing people, often with very little appreciation.

The No. 1 thing every pet owner can do to support shelters is to be a responsible pet owner:

1. Responsible owners keeping their pet safely at home so it does not get lost or injured adding to the load for Animal Control Officers, citizens and Shelters alike.

2. Responsible owners see to their pet’s physical and mental well-being so that they will live long and happy lives with the same family.

3. Responsible owners see to the medical needs of their pet, especially preventive Veterinary Care (vaccinations, parasite prevention to include heartworm prevention) to keep them healthy.

4. Responsible owners will

spay or neuter their pet to prevent yet more unwanted litters – 60% of our Shelter’s intake is under six-months old so we know well the impact of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.

5. Responsible owners do their homework before getting a pet so that it will be a good ‘fit’ for their family and lifestyle and not end up needing to be rehomed due to a spur of the moment or ill-informed decision.

6. Responsible owners educate their children on interacting with pets and helping in their care. After all, today’s children are tomorrow’s pet owners/ advocates.

Responsible pet owners keep pets from coming into shelters in the first place which needs to be the primary goal of our com-

munities. True success in the animal sheltering world would be less need of our services, not more.

Shelters also need your moral support as what they deal with every day is very often overwhelming, heartbreaking and extremely frustrating. Shelter staff live the reality of far more animals coming in than are going out but not for their lack of trying.

Unsocialized, scared, injured, diseased and dangerous animals are sadly a daily occurrence making Shelter work also quite hazardous for the staff. Shelter work is a field very often taken for granted by the public and all but ignored too often by community leadership. Since most shelters are non-profit organizations, of

course they can also use your financial support whether that be by donating money, food, supplies, your time, and your advocacy. Just like every home and business, costs for utilities, pet food and supplies, wages, facility upkeep, insurance, vehicles, fuel costs and more keep going up.

Your support helps ensure that your community will have a Shelter as adopting and rescuing many pets starts with them having a place to go in the first place.

If your community did not have a shelter, then where would all of those animals go? Think about that.

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

Veterans Day program draws students, veterans together

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Students from Holtville and Elmore County high schools came to Wetumpka High School for the school’s annual veterans day program.

It was hosted by the Wetumpka High School JROTC, which also includes students from two other Elmore County schools.

“I remember this program when I was the principal at Holtville,” current Wetumpka High School principal Kyle Futural said. “It was always special.” Making this year ’s program even more special was the speaker — retired Col. Charles A. Bonasera who lives in the Titus community. He retired as a JRTOC instructor at Stanhope Elmore High School this past summer. Bonasera’s children are in the Wetumpka schools.

“If you have the oppor-

tunity, please take the time to get to know some of the veterans that may be a part of your family,” Bonasera said. “They have some stories to tell.”

Bonasera spent some time with veterans in attendance at the program as they waited in the lobby to be introduced to the students and escorted to their seats by members of the WHS JROTC.

“They have got some stories to tell,” he said. Bonasera addressed the

veterans. He said the military gave them all opportunities to do unbelievable things and then protect the country.

“They send you to these far off, God forsaken places to fight under the flag which you did honorably,” Bonasera said. “I am very proud to be a part of your club, because your club means something.”

Bonasera served all around the world, mostly flying helicopters for the Army. He said Veterans

lost his checkbook. When new checks arrived he saw the check number 3281 and it called to him.

Samsal is at the center of it all, especially the high school,” Fuller said.

Fuller said Samsal nonchalantly called him about a month ago wanting to make a donation. Fuller believed it to be a smaller donation and didn’t think much of it.

But Samsal said he was ready to give the school $10,000 to go towards pretty much anything school officials wanted.

“He said, ‘You got any room in your checking account?’” Fuller recalled.

Samsal had been cleaning his house and

“I was No. 81 when I played ball,” Samsal said. “It took it as a reason to go ahead and give part of what I was planning to give when I passed.”

The amount stunned Fuller. The principal assembled a committee to determine how best to honor the donation and Samsal.

“I didn’t want it to go into the general fund and just get lost,” Fuller said.

Fuller also wanted to make sure Samsal’s gift helped the school and community and was

Day is one of the three most important holidays to him. The others are Memorial Day and Christmas.

Bonasera said Veterans Day and the people it honors gives everyone a unique chance at learning a lesson from those who were there.

“We are in the midst of living history right here today,” Bonasera said. “With us today are veterans who have served through a span of decades from WWII to recent conflicts. Each generation has faced its own challenges, its own battles and made its own sacrifices for the cause of freedom.”

Bonasera also recognized the newest generation of veterans who served in Afghanistan and other recent conflicts.

“You faced an enemy that hides in the shadows like thieves in the night, where you had to search them out in their homes and caves,” Bonasera

Pet of the Week - Ricki

Ricki is a female Shepherd/Border Collie type mix who is 1 year old and weighs 41 pounds. She came in with three other dogs as strays so we know is good with other dogs. She is very sweet, playful, active and loves attention. Ricki would love to learn what life is like with a family to call her own. 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 Ricki 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.

around for generations.

The committee decided the funds should be spent on technology.

Fuller said most monitors and computers don’t last too terribly long and the committee went to work. They settled on a large screen and projector for the new gym at the school.

“It’s one of the largest gathering places we have,” Fuller said. “This way his gift can be used by many.”

The projector will be connected to the gym’s sound system and housed in the school’s library when not in use.

Samsal was pleased with the idea. So much so, he made another

announcement before leaving.

“There is another $10,000 for the school when I die,” Samsal said.

said. “You've done so with courage and determination. Your adapting resilience in the face of unconventional warfare has been absolutely remarkable.”

Bonasera then challenged the students in

attendance at the program.

“You will continue a fight that will challenge the American way of life every day,” Bonasera said. “Stay strong and continue to fight. The American way of life is worth fighting for.”

CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI

Veterans were greeted by family, friends and students at the Wetumpka High School Veterans Day Program.

General Manager

Arbogast Gwin, Managing Editor

Page A4 • November 13, 2024

AHonor veterans year-round

ll around Tallapoosa County, organizations and schools have programs to honor veterans for Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

While we celebrate this upcoming observance day, let us not forget the sacrifice these men and women have made for our country the remaining 365 days of the year. The United States military is a force for freedom and for that, we must thank our veterans every chance we get.

Luckily, Tallapoosa County has shown it stands with its veterans.

Multiple schools are hosting Veterans Day programs for the public and inviting local veterans to join. In Alexander City, Stephens Elementary is hosting its program at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

In Dadeville, the elementary school will have its Veterans Day program at 12:30 p.m. Thursday and the high school will have a program at 9 a.m. and another at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

The Dadeville Performing Arts Center will also have a Veterans Day program at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. In Reeltown, both the high school and elementary will have a program at 9 a.m. Thursday.

However, these are just a few examples and there are plenty more across the community.

“Strength is a condition that declares actions have consequences,” President Ronald Regan said in 1985 during the Veterans Day National Ceremony. “Strength is a prudent warning to the belligerent that aggression need not go unanswered. Peace fails when we forget what we stand for. It fails when we forget that our Republic is based on firm principles, principles that have real meaning, that with them, we are the last, best hope of man on Earth; without them, we’re little more than the crust of a continent.”

So remember, honor your veterans for Veterans Day and each day of the year for the freedoms they fought for you to have.

With every presidential cycle comes a lot of emotion.

There is tons of buildup on both sides. From rallies with thousands of supporters to seemingly endless emails and texts about backing both candidates, voters are inundated with information for months leading up to the big day.

Then comes the night of the election.

Voters swarm the polls and poll workers are pressured to count quickly but accurately. For years, it was an obvious winner. With the way the electoral college is set up, there hasn’t always been a need to wait until the wee hours of the morning. But the past few presidential elections haven’t been that way.

It’s taken nearly every state to be decided before a winner has been named, and more and more states are becoming battlegrounds.

And of course with every election, there is a winner and there is a loser. That in and of itself makes for emotions to fly freely Parties pour resources, time, energy and more into a campaign, and someone comes out victorious of course, but someone always loses.

For the past few presidential

The Wetumpka Word

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

elections, there has been a lot of divisiveness. People have been extreme on both sides of the table, and even violence has ensued.

There was no foretelling of President Donald Trump’s win this year. The likelihood of someone coming back from a presidential election defeat is so slim. It hasn’t happened since Grover Cleveland did so in the 1800s.

But the former president and now-president elect has an undeniable charisma. He also has name recognition on his side. But most importantly, the Democrats have a larger problem on their hands.

After inflation went through the roof and prices skyrocketed during President Joe Biden’s tenure thus far, the Democrats have become more and more detached from the everyday American.

understand the nuances of what’s happening in Israel and they know what makes the gas prices rise and lower. But most people aren’t affect ed as much by political views specifically. Many voters aren’t necessarily concerned about gay marriage or immigration policies. Instead, they are worried about what affects them most. They are worried about how far their paycheck takes them and if they’ll be able to afford food for their families.

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

Obituaries: 35 cents per word with a $25 charge for picture per paper (Herald, Observer, Tribune). Obituaries are only accepted via the funeral home in charge of arrangements. We do not accept obituaries from individuals. Weddings, Engagements, Anniversaries, or Birth

Announcements: These significant family events or milestones are 35 cents per word and $25 for a photo and must be emailed to us at announcements@thewetumpkaherald.com. Include name and telephone number. The text for the announcement must be in the body of the email (not as an attachment) and photographs must be sent as a .jpeg attached to the email. Announcements will appear within 10 days in The Herald or The Tribune.

We reserve the right to refuse to print any advertisement, news story, photograph or any other material submitted to us for any reason or no reason at all.

The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription with a 30-day notice. The notice can be mailed to the subscriber, or by notice in the newspaper itself. To subscribe or if you missed your paper, call Baily Terry or Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

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

being a party of the elite if they are trying to connect with real people. They can’t be surprised when people are feeling left out of the party if they’re not doing enough to reach everyday voters. broken hearts last week but a lot of people who also became very hopeful about their futures. What needs to happen now is a sense of moving forward together. on both sides of the political spec trum has gone on long enough.

For all of Trump’s faults, he has a way of connecting with people. There are plenty of people who are politically aware. They

Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor of Tallapoosa

lishers Inc.

Should Wetumpka have the Indians as its mascot?

There’s a level of nuance to this.

The American Indian experience is far from a monolith with various different tribes, personal beliefs and life experiences. I, as a white person, cannot speak to what it is like being an American Indian in this country. And I don’t claim to.

From the American Indian voices, I have listened to, both in person and through media, I side with the opinion that says, Indians as a mascot is dehumanizing. Speaking to my own bias, we, non-Native people, have a tendency to not think of American Indians as people of today, but people of the past. Alongside that we don’t think of tribes as nations within a nation, with sovereignty and rights.

Because of this bias, there’s a certain level of cognitive dissonance that makes it feel like it’s ok to have Indians be a mascot. And half the time Indian mascots aren’t showing appreciation but are a collection of stereotypes.

Yet again, there’s nuance to this.

Tulalip Tribes member Dr. Stephanie Fryberg on the All My Relations Podcast noted some American Indians would rather be visible in some way than be completely invisible. While others do see it solely as discrimination.

Fryberg’s research has found data that shows how mascots, such as Chief Wahoo, can actually lower self-esteem in Native youth, and she, herself, voiced how uncomfortable she felt with her school’s tomahawk mascot.

Along with Fryberg on the podcast was also activist Amanda Blackhorse. Unlike Fryberg, she grew up on a reservation and was shocked when she saw how school

mascots were using and misrepresenting Native culture.

“For a lot of people, they don’t truly understand the issue until they’ve actually experienced it, or seen it, or have been affected by stereotypes in some sort of negative way,” Blackhorse said. “And for me, I think it was a combination of me growing up on the Navajo rez really sheltered, and then leaving and then going to a completely different state and experiencing what I experienced with seeing what happens at these games, the type of culture that is there.”

Meanwhile, Oglala Lakota Nation citizen Tamee Livermont wrote about her experience going to high school with an Indian mascot on WeRNative. She explained in many ways the mascot depicts American Indians as not an existing population.

“It’s difficult to see ‘honor’ when you watch a sports game and see fake headdresses, ‘war paint’ and offensive chants,” Livermont states. “They mock our traditions and cultures as if we no longer exist. Whatever the intention is, we are more than a mascot. We are people. We are still here, and we deserve respect.”

Wetumpka may have an intention of honoring the past, but it is hurting the present and the future. Because at the end of the day, using an entire group of people as a mascot is inhumane. Especially when we consider, historically, all

that white people have taken from American Indians.

And I’m not just talking about the Trail of Tears, but also the assimilation efforts that Native people were forced to participate in. In Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book Braiding Sweetgrass, she discusses how assimilation has left many American Indian populations without a connection to their own cultures, and some have languages that are on the verge of extinction. And now we want to take what’s left, or at least the stereotypes of what’s left, and use it for our own gain again. But the point of this column and me voicing my opinion isn’t to advocate for immediately stripping Wetumpka as the Indians. It’s to start a conversation. While I believe there needs to be changes, my opinion is just one out of thousands.

I weaved in some American Indian creators and writers because as a white person I have my limitations in providing a well-rounded perspective on the issue and, to be fair, not every American Indian is going to agree with me or the people I quoted. My hope is that us, non-native people, will start engaging with American Indian books, podcasts, videos and again start a conversation. It is Native American Heritage Month after all, and we need to learn about other’s experiences if we want any chance of being compassionate individuals. We are all works in progress and forever growing, including myself and the Wetumpka Indians.

Abigail Murphy is the Dadeville beat reporter for Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

NSDAR hosts grave marker dedication in Millbrook

STAFF REPORT

TPI STAFF

The Captain William Bibb Chapter

National Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated an America 250. Real Daughter grave for Mary Bibb Hall at the Hall-Rawlinson Cemetery in Millbrook in front of a large crowd Nov. 2. They also rededicated the NSDAR grave marker for Revolutionary War Patriot Bolling Hall.

At the entrance of the cemetery, a table draped with a long white cloth held the registry book alongside a wicker basket decorated with a stars and stripes bow holding the programs. Captain William Bibb Daughters were joined for this special commemoration by Daughters from chapters around the State, ASDAR officers, members of the Alabama Society Sons of the American Revolution, as well as several descendants of Mary Bibb Hall and Bolling Hall.

The setting of fall leaves, heirloom climbing roses and red berried nandinas were perfect as the ceremony began with the presentation of the colors by the ALSSAR Color Guard and with an invocation given by Alicia Chalker, Captain William Bibb Chaplain. State Page co-chair Kathleen Tobias sang the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by chapter Daughter Jessie Burris and her son, Henry Hughes.

Reading of the Preamble and American’s Creed was by chapter Daughter and State Americanism Chair Elizabeth Gillian. Chapter regent Jane Burris welcomed all in attendance to this special dedication to honor Mary Bibb Hall and her father, Bolling Hall.

Regent Burris recognized special guests. Greetings were brought by ASDAR Chaplain Rebecca Riddick and General John Archer Elmore ALSSAR President, Dr. James “Skip” Dotherow. Jeanne Hall Ashley, a descendant of Bolling Hall, presented a brief family history.

Bolling Hall was born on Dec. 25, 1767, in Dinwiddie, Virginia, to Hugh and Mary Dixon Hall. Bolling entered the war at the age of 16. He married Jane Abercrombie on Oct. 25, 1798, in Sparta, Georgia. Bolling died on Feb. 25, 1836, in Autauga County and was buried at Ellerslie.

Mary Bibb Hall was born on Aug. 17, 1821, in Autauga County, to Bolling and Jane Abercrombie Hall. She married William B. Hall on Nov. 24, 1836, in her hometown. She died January 9, 1909, in Elmore County and was buried at Ellerslie.

Mary Bibb Hall is a Real Daughter. In other words, she is the biological daughter of a person who served in the Revolutionary War and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mary Bibb Hall, a member of the Joseph Habersham Chapter NSDAR in Atlanta, was one of only 767 Real Daughters across the United States. Her application was accepted by the NSDAR Board of Management on Dec. 5, 1900.

The ceremony continued with the unveiling of the NSDAR Real Daughter marker by Chapter Registrar and Bolling Hall descendant, Cheryll Bass. The NSDAR Patriot Marker at Bolling Hall’s grave was originally placed by the Francis Marion Chapter NSDAR in 1928. Francis Marion DAR Regent Amanda Gunn and Recording Secretary Janice Davis presided over the rededication of Patriot Bolling Hall’s marker.

The ceremony concluded with the ALSSAR Honor Guard performing a musket volley, playing taps by bugler James Quakenbush of Bugles Across America and the retiring of colors by ALSSAR Color Guard.

Those who attended the ceremony were invited to a reception held on the lawn of Ellerslie. Jeanne Hall Ashley graciously opened Bolling Hall’s home for tours during the reception.

The Captain William Bibb Chapter was blessed with a beautiful day for this commemoration and wishes to express its gratitude to all of those that helped make the ceremony possible, especially the John Archer Elmore Chapter of SAR, Jeanne Hall Ashley and Daniel Killingsworth.

The DAR is a service organization with genealogically based membership. Its mission is patriotism, education and historic preservation. If interested in learning more about DAR membership, contact the Captain William Bibb Chapter directly at captainwmbibb@gmail.com or visit the National Society’s website at dar.org.

Millbrook honors veterans

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

VETERAN

Continued from A1

greatly limited.

Rawls finished AIT Wednesday and got to Wetumpka late Wednesday night.

“I decided to surprise him,” Rawls said before walking into Ethan’s classroom. “He doesn’t know I’m here.”

For Rawls’ mother Shaneka Merkerson, the reunion is special.

“This is the first time they’ve been apart,” Merkerson said. “It’s the first time she’s been away from home.”

Thursday afternoon, a parade of Rawls’ family walked into the second grade classroom of Lanie Smith. Rawls walked in and hugged her brother without saying a word.

“This is great,” Ethan said. Merkerson just watched it all with a grin on her face.

“It means a lot,” Merkerson said. “I’m very proud of her.”

CommunityCalendar

NOV. 14

BACK PORCH PLAY: There will be a public reading of Back Porch Play by Adrian Lee Bush at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Wetumpka Depot. Admission is free but donations to the Wetumpka are welcomed.

NOV. 18-19

JEWELRY SHOW: The Elmore Community Hospital is hosting a $5 jewelry show from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 18 and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov.19 in the hospital’s cafeteria to benefit the Elmore Community Hospital’s Blessing Box Community Project.

NOV. 22-24

DEC. 1-2

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: The Wetumpka Depot is presenting A Charlie Brown Christmas with children at 2 and 3 p.m. Dec. 1 and at 6 and 7 p.m. Dec. 2.

But the reunion wasn’t the first thing Rawls did as a veteran. She visited with the JROTC program at the Elmore County Technical Center. It’s the same program that was at Wetumpka last year. There she visited with JROTC instructors retired MAJ Joey Hutto and retired SFC Danny Hunter and the students to talk about life in basic training. It was Hunter and Hutto who introduced Rawls to the way of the soldier but it didn’t seal the deal for the Army.

“I had always been around the Army, because I was in Army, JROTC,” Rawls said. “I already knew I was gonna go into the military. I just didn’t know what way. Then my recruiter came to speak to us. It was then I was really interested in the Army.”

AIT training saw Rawls complete culinary training. She doesn’t yet know her next assignment with the Army but her next mission with Ethan is walking the halls of WES Tuesday as part of the Veterans Day parade at the school.

Christmas With Friends at 6:30 p.m. at the Wetumpka Civic Center. There is no admission but all donations will benefit the Elmore County Food Pantry, Sav-A-Life in Alexander City and Sylacauga’s Care House.

DEC. 12-15

HOLIDAY DISHING: The Wetumpka Depot Players are performing Holiday Dishing at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 15. Tickets can be purchased at www.wetumpkadepot.com.

DEC. 14

CHRISTMAS ON COOSA: The City of Wetumpka is hosting Christmas on the Coosa Saturday, Dec. 14.

AKC EVENTS: The Montgomery Kennel Club and Montgomery Alabama Dog Obedience Club are hosting the AKC Performance Events at the Wetumpka Sports Complex Nov. 22-24.

NOV. 23

HOLIDAY MARKET: The Alabama Backs the Blue Holiday Market is Nov. 23 at the Wetumpka Sports Complex.

WIRE WRAP WORKSHOP: The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts is hosting a wire wrap workshop with Elmore County artist Marilyn Winborn from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 23. It cost $45 and includes supplies.

NOV. 26

TREE LIGHTING: The Town of Notasulga is hosting its tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Nov. 26.

NOV. 30

CHRISTMAS LAUNCH: The Book Nook in downtown Tallassee at 13 South Ann Avenue is hosting Operation Christmas Launch from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30. There will be storytime and a free photo with Santa in exchange for donating a new book. All books will be gifted to local children in need for the holidays.

DEC. 1

LIGHT UP BELL PARK: The Tallassee Chamber of Commerce is hoping the community will help Light Up Bell Park with Christmas Trees. The annual Christmas tree display will open at 6 p.m. Dec. 1. Businesses and individuals are invited to create a tree. Those interested should contactChristy Parker at 334-2017974 or the chamber at 334-283-5151.

DEC. 3

COOKIE DECORATING CLASS: The Book Nook in downtown Tallassee at 13 South Ann Avenue is partnering with the Coosa River Cookie Company for a Christmas Cookie Decorating class on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. Spots are limited and cost is $60 per person.

DEC. 5 TREE LIGHTING: The City of Millbrook is Spirit of Christmas Tree Lighting from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at Village Green Park.

DEC. 6-7

DOWNTOWN DICKENS: The Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Wetumpka and Main Street Wetumpka are hosting A Downtown Dickens Christmas from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6-7.

DEC. 7

HOLIDAY MARKET: The City of Wetumpka Farmers Market is holding its annual holiday market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the farmers market on Coosa Street. CHRISTMAS PARADE: The City of Millbrook is holding its Christmas parade at 2 p.m. Dec. 7. It starts at Mill Creek Sports Complex and ends on Main Street at Coosada Road. All entries must register by Nov. 22. There is a festival at Village Green Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DEC. 9

CHRISTMAS WITH FRIENDS: The Fireball Singers and The Modulators are presenting their annual benefit concert

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE: The Town of Eclectic is hosting Eclectic’s First Christmas Village from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 14 in the pecan orchard near downtown. There will be vendors, games, Santa, a bonfire, snow machine, s’mores station, hot chocolate and a Christmas tree walk.

CHARACTER BREAKFAST: The annual Christms on the Coosa Character and Pancake Breakfast will be at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. at the Wetumpka Civic Center.

JAN. 25

ART SUMMIT: The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts is hosting its second annual River Region Art Summit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25.

FEB. 1

GALETINES: Main Street Wetumpka is hosting Galetines on Main from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1. Downtown merchants will be offering deals and discounts.

FEB. 2

MURDER ON THE MENU: Friends of the Wetumpka Public Library are hosting the Murder on the Menu author talk on Feb. 2.

ONGOING

SUPPORT GROUP: The last Thursday of every month, Restoration 49 Coffee Shop plays host to a support group for parents who have lost a child. The meetings begin at 6 p.m. each month. For more information, please contact Heather Baker at hbakerjj@aol. com.

CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI Members of the American Heritage Girls in Millbrook greeted veterans during a short ceremony Thursday at the Millbrook Civic Center.

and the landing zone was predicted to be Opelika Middle School. Just over two hours later in Opelika less than three miles from the middle school.

The weather balloon is helping teach math, science, history and even English in a single project.

“Data is something that children struggle with on tests,” Elmore County Schools STEM coordinator Tracy Wright said. “It’s because you’re putting numbers on a piece of paper and doing something with it. When you do something in the real world and you get that same data, we can say what the data points are telling us. It’s putting project based hands on learning in our children’s hands.”

The idea is students get to see the results of experimentation live and in a team environment.

“Even when the students disagree on a data interpretation, they learn to discuss it,” Wright said. “It all leads to a better understanding of what is going on.”

For two months, a team of students has been working on the project putting together computers and instruments to track altitude, GPS positioning and transmitters to send the information along a radio network used by HAM operators.

Freshman Jeremiah Ray said he is learning team work with the project.

“No matter if you’re arguing or if you’re getting along, it still contributes, one way or another if done correctly helps the project along,” Ray said.

“Everyone has a role, no matter how big or how small it is.”

Two weeks ago the team performed a test to make sure Friday would be a success. Like many science experiments, it partially failed. The team did not acquire enough helium to fully inflate the balloon.

Friday’s launch went off without a hitch. As predicted the balloon drifted to the west first and as it gained altitude and caught upper

level winds it started moving east northeast. At times it traveled as fast as 80 mph and others about 20 mph. It soared above 88,000 feet until a planned burst of the balloon due to expansion just west of Auburn. The cargo in a styrofoam cooler then fell to the ground slowed by a parachute. All the while collecting data and images on a GoPro camera drifting to a resting place in the woods along Jeter Avenue in Opelika.

Three of the team members got in a chase vehicle following the balloon as best they could. They went through Tallassee and onto Interstate 85. Heading east they stopped at Bucee’s It was all monitored through the GPS coordinates sent out by similar technology tracking the balloon. Ray stayed behind to watch from the STEM lab. When he noticed the chase vehicles stopped, he put in a request.

“Please bring me some food from Bucee’s,” Ray told the team over phone. It was all documented by the Wetumpka High School video production team. They were at the launch that was watched by students from the Wetumpka Child Development Program and central office staff. They filmed in the STEM lab as Ray and Wright tracked the balloon and the team gave chase. It too was recorded in the YouTube live broadcast.

Sophomore Domonic Vilardi said the balloon project gives the sciences extra attention.

“We’ve been a STEM program for years,” Vilardi said. “We’re trying to expand our outreach.”

But there are plans for another balloon launch. Wright said students are already working on the next payload being mindful of the temperatures at 80,000 feet.

“We hope to get more and different data next time,” Wright said. “We also have a math, a science, a history and an English teacher watching to try and build an interdisciplinary lesson around it.”

Perdue said.

Stubbs received a Vietnam Service Medal with a bronze star, an Air Medal with eight oak leaf

LUNCH WITH A VETERAN

clusters and a Presidential Unit Citation.

But one of Stubbs’ most memorable stories from his time in the Air Force was flying in a C-7 Caribou.

“That was an aircraft that was particularly adapted for short landing fields and short take off fields so they could get into really remote areas,” Perdue said.

One mission was called Santa Blue, flying into the remote mountains of Vietnam.

“They took Christmas gifts to those families and to the special forces units that were embedded with us in the next tunnel,” Perdue said.

After Stubbs retired from the Air Force, he worked for the State of

ARREST

Continued from A1

Alabama for 20 years.

“Then he worked for an additional 15 years for the same folks,” Perdue said. “He was a clown. He still has two horse drawn hearses that are stored at his house. He’s very proud that he is the oldest Alabama auctioneer.”

Carswell’s family has a history of military service going back to the American Revolution.

“Their family was of Irish descent from 1772,” Perdue said. “Their family received a grant of 250 acres in Burke County, Georgia, from King George II several years before the American Revolution. The family, however, served with the U.S. in the American Revolution.”

Two of Carswell’s

Blackburn was arrested in 2019 following a reported theft from the WPD’s evidence locker. Black-

descendants were in the Civil War. Five were in WWII.

In 1968 Carswell was a member of the 101st Airborne in Vietnam.

“His job was to go out for two to three weeks at a time on search and destroy missions in the jungle,” Perdue said. “He always walked point because he trusted himself more than he did others.”

Carswell received two Purple Hearts — once after getting shot in the arm and another after the person behind him stepped on a landmine injuring Carswell’s legs and back.

“The entry ultimately led to his medical separation and retirement with nine years, seven months

burn was no longer employed as a police officer following the arrest. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to second-degree theft, illegal possession of a credit or debit card and tampering with physical evidence. According to court records, Black-

and 19 days,” Perdue said.

Carswell also received a Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.

It’s the 13th year for Trinity Episcopal Church to host the Elmore County Tribute to Veterans. But the church’s relationship with veterans goes back to when the church moved to its current location on U.S. Highway 231 in 1972.

Rev. Edwin R. Carter led the first service at Trinity. Before that he served as an Army chaplain achieving the rank of colonel. It is believed Carter served the Holy Sacrament to Gen. George Patton and King George VI.

burn was sentenced to 14 months in prison, a 22-month suspended sentence and three years of probation. According to court records, prosecutors have filed a motion to revoke Blackburn’s probation.

PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS TPI

Veteran parents of Holtville Elementary School were treated to a school lunch with their child Thursday. It was the school’s way of honoring Veterans Day and let students share with others what their parents do.Veterans came to lunch, some in the BDUs and ate the same lunch as the students at no cost thanks to the Holtville Elementary School PTO.

What the holy Trinity truly means

The greatest mystery of Christianity is the holy Trinity. The word “Trinity” comes from the Latin word “Trinitas,” meaning “threefold,” and was first used by Tertullian in the middle of the second century to describe the concept of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one God in three divine Persons. The reason that it is the greatest Christian mystery is because it is about the eternal and infinite nature of God!

There are intimations of this reality in the Old Testament, but it was never explicitly stated. A few of these examples are from the first book of the Bible, Genesis. In the first chapter, God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen 1:26). Some other passages that indicate that there is a plurality in God are: Genesis 3:22 & 11:7 along with Isaiah 6:8.

Though Jesus spoke of the Father and the Holy Spirit, He never explained the relationship in detail. That led to

FATHER JAMES DEAN Columnist

a number of early heresies in the Church, among them was Arianism, Modalism, Docetism, Adoptionism, Partialism, Tritheism, Ebionism and Macedonianism. Arianism (named after Arius, the priest who championed it) was the most popular of them and taught that Jesus Christ was the first of all created beings, but not of the same divine nature as God. It took the First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea in 325 A.D.) to definitively refute it, which is cemented in the Nicene Creed, which is much more detailed than the earlier written Apostles’ Creed when speaking about Jesus Christ.

An Ecumenical (meaning “general”) Council is a worldwide meeting of all of

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.

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.

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-

There are intimations of this reality in the Old Testament, but it was never explicitly stated. A few of these examples are from the first book of the Bible, Genesis. In the first chapter, God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen 1:26). Some other passages that indicate that there is a plurality in God are: Genesis 3:22 & 11:7 along with Isaiah 6:8.

the bishops of the Catholic Church, presided over by the pope, to (usually) discuss particular doctrine(s) of the faith that are being disputed and unsettling the faithful. There have been 21 such Councils in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church from Nicaea (in 325 A.D.) to the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The latter one was a pastoral council, not issuing any new clarifications of dogmas as the previous 20 Councils had done. The holy Trinity is an inti-

Church Briefs

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

mate part of the Christian life. St. John wrote that “God is love” (1 John 4:16) and to have love there must be more than a singularity. We have come to understand, in our limited human intellect, that the Son (or Word) of God was eternally generated (begotten) of the Father and the eternal love between the Father and the Son is so powerful, real and awesome, that it is a distinct divine Person, the Holy Spirit. Yes, this is mysterious and inadequate, but that is what you get when you try to

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!

fit the infinite into the finite human mind.

Why is this important and relevant? Because we are created in the image of God and the better we understand God, the more we will find our dignity and identity, our call and mission – in this life and eternity! Stay tuned as I will try to flesh this out in my future columns.

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

up

Proverbs 10:12

Father James Dean is the pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Wetumpka.

Jordan King propels Tallassee to a win in playoffs

By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor

You would be hard pressed to find a box score from any Tallassee game that did not have Jordan King’s fingerprints all over it this season. He has been the catalyst for a surging hot Tallassee football team. His performance from Round 1 of the AHSAA Class 4A playoffs was no different, and he is the Elmore County Player of the Week. King finished his night with close to 80 rushing yards, adding two rushing touchdowns and a forced fumble on the defensive side of the ball.

always around the ball and a real knack for the big play,” O’Neal said. “We trust him to do the right things and provide the big play when we need it, which he does.”

Tallassee coach Lawrence “L.A.” O’Neal said King is simply just “ that guy” for this Tiger’s team. “We go as he goes, he is

King has a very unique role on this team as he is used in many different ways. He will line up at half back and wideout and will even

TIGER GIRLS BASKETBALL

By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter

he Wetumpka girls bas-

Tketball team heads into its third year under head coach Harriet Winchester with the season right at the doorsteps with a match against Autauga Academy this Thursday.

After losing some valuable contributors from last year ’s squad, the roster for the Indians will be young. However, after a grueling offseason, Winchester has high expectations for the team before it hits the court this year.

“Last year was a good year but I feel like this year will be an even better year,” Win-

| TPI Wetumpka girls basketball

By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor

Alfonzo Johnson’s squad has had this girls basketball season on their mind since last year’s end, due to the warranted excitement based on a talented and experienced roster. Despite the gauntlet of area teams Tallassee will play this season, there is reason to believe the Tigers will compete in every single game — no matter who is across the floor. With dynamic playmakers returning such as Cheyann Easterling and Reese Gough, Johnson’s

chester said. “Last year, we used that as a building year

We had a lot of different pieces, we’ve lost a lot of people, and we have asked kids to do things that they haven’t done before. But this year, with my younger players, we have spent the entire summer and last year growing and learning

The Wetumpka and Holtville cheer squads are headed to Birmingham later this month for the state championships as both are seeking a critically acclaimed trophy in each of their respective classifications. Bulldog coach Lauren Woodruff is very excited for the opportunity and believes her team has a chance of placing in competition.

Cheer squads in pursuit of glory at state finals

By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor

Over recent years, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of sports and especially female sports. One of those has been the foundation for pure display of athleticism, unity and resilience. That sport is competitive cheerleading — a combination of gymnastics, dance and acrobatics.

The Wetumpka and Holtville cheer squads are headed to Birmingham later this month for the state championships as both are seeking a critically acclaimed trophy in each of their respective classifications.

Bulldog coach Lauren Woodruff is very excited for the opportunity and believes her team has a chance of placing in competition.

“We have such a good group and it has been so fun working with these girls day in and day out,” Woodruff said.

The identity of Holtville’s squad is being a

tight-knit group, and this has benefited their performances tremendously.

“The last three seasons we have sort of gotten away from naming a captain and instead just prioritized being as close to a team as we can,” Woodruff said.

For Wetumpka’s part, Indian coach Alexandria Roberts will have her team ready to capture the moment as she credits the success to the girls’ hard work and dedication on a consistent basis.

“My girls have shown up each and every day just ready to work and ready to get better,” Roberts said.

Roberts is tasked with managing multiple squads as he says the number of girls coming to tryouts for cheerleading have increased.

“I think the sport is growing and the popularity around it is definitely going to continue to grow,” Roberts said.

Both squads will aim to win at state on Nov. 19-20 at the Bill Harris Arena.

Holtville’s cheer team will be competing in

state tournament. BELOW: Wetumpka’s cheer team will be competing in the state tournament. FILE | TPI

Wetumpka’s Andrew Voyles is one of the key players returning to the roster this season.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

See TALLASSEE, Page B3

See GIRLS, Page B3

See STARTERS, Page B3

Stanhope Elmore Basketball Preseason preview

By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor

When Stanhope Elmore boys basketball coach Austin Moncus and his impressive coaching resume stepped on campus just last July, he admittingly did not have much prior knowledge of what to expect of his new team.

One of the youngest head coaches in Class 6A, Moncus came into Millbrook with previous displays of success from his tenure at Chilton County He was just 18 wins shy of 100 only six seasons into his coaching career. “ I definitely think the most important thing in coaching nowadays is relationships like you have to have a relationship with your kids, more so now than ever, because it’s so easy, especially with social media, for them to just go play somewhere else, or to go do something else,” Moncus said. The Mustangs starting lineup is likely to resemble the youthfulness of its coach, as it will only have one senior in the starting rotation.

“Judah Gilbert is a guy that played a little bit last year,” Moncus said. “He’s a tough kid, really bought

into the weight room aspect of what we want to do, but he can also score, he plays defense, and he kind of sets the tone for us offensively and defensively, just with his energy and his effort.”

The Mustangs will look to utilize their abundance of youth by playing an up tempo style of offense and a man-to-man defensive approach.

“We’re gonna press, and we’re gonna shoot a lot of good look shots, so the style of play that we have is a really fun style of watch,” Moncus said.

Despite not having fulfilled the usual high expectation of the program in recent years, it is very apparent that under the Moncus regime, Stanhope Elmore basketball is in very good hands. The Mustangs welcome the challenge of being inexperienced and belonging to a very competitive area which also includes Wetumpka and Percy Julian.

“I like our guys, I really do, and I am more than anything just excited to witness the product that we will put on the floor,” Moncus said.

The Mustangs opened their season Tuesday against Marbury.

By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter

Basketball season is finally here with Holtville gearing up for its first game against Billingsley slated for Nov. 19.

The Bulldogs will be a senior-heavy squad, but most of those players saw an ample amount of playing time last year.

The experience sprinkled throughout the roster will prove to be beneficial considering how difficult of a schedule they have this year.

“We’ve got six seniors, four of them with significant playing time,” coach Greg Parker said. “The other two got some playing time. So we’re going to be experienced in that, we are going to have some issues with depth, but I’m hoping that our seniority

is going to really play out and help us along the road, schedule-wise, we don’t have an easy schedule.”

The core will consist of Arkevious Turner, Elijah Headley, Braxton Gaither, Ethan Pruitt and Kelton Shuford. Each of those players brings a different element to the squad both offensively and defensively.

“Arkevious Turner was a big part of our offense last year down in the post, and he’s back as a senior, so he’s one year older, so I’m thinking that he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with,” Parker said. “Elijah Headley is another one that didn’t start out playing a whole lot, but then at the end of the year, he ended up starting every game in the last half the season. Then you got Braxton Gaith-

er, Kelton Shuford and Ethan Pruitt. Those are our guards, they’re going to bring a lot of seniority also, they’re all seniors, so we were very senior-

heavy. But those three are definitely going to help us on the outside, shooting the ball, getting the ball down the floor.”

Holtville region had a

bit of a switch up, Elmore County is out and Booker T. Washington Magnet is in while Marbury stays. Last year, Holtville finished at the bottom of the

region at 1-4 but will lean on the senior-heavy squad to improve upon not just the region record but the overall record as well.

The biggest thing that will gauge how the team performs will be when the slate of games at the beginning of the schedule. The Bulldogs will look to learn throughout the process and steadily improve as the season goes on.

“I’d rather learn on the floor playing than practicing too much,” Park said. “You can always get the game time experience that way. Philosophy-wise, we’re going to be who we are. As a coach, you have to change your full life, change what you do based on the personnel that you have and what we do good.”

Stanhope’s Jaden Tillman (2) looks to contribute heavy on offense for the Mustangs.

Edgewood looking for 4th straight state championship

By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor

The Edgewood Academy girls basketball team is no stranger to success.

Coming off three consecutive state championships, Edgewood coach Brad Starks believes there is no sign of slowing down this season even though the Wildcats are attempting to replace one of the most productive players in recent memory in Lindsey Brown.

Brown graduated last year and has since become a constant in the starting lineup for the University of Alabama volleyball team.

“Obviously, we’re coming off our third championship in a row, but we lost what I thought was the best player in the state,” Starks said. “But I think we have a chance to be a really good, athletic team. Once we kind of figure out some rotations, kind of figure out exactly how the team needs to place, holistically, I think we have a chance to have a really successful season.”

Allowing his coaching philosophy to adjust to the personnel on the roster is a strength of Starks, as he has won many games in recent seasons while altering the

game-plan to best benefit the players on the floor.

Madison Martin, who graduated from Edgewood last year, was a dominant presence in the paint standing at a staggering 6-foot-1 and propelling her squad to victories by aver-

aging 21 points per game.

“When you’re that tall and that athletic, you can fix a lot of mistakes defensively, and she got put backs and stuff like that,” Starks said. “To lose those two huge pieces where one averaged probably

21 a game, and got a lot of rebounds and steals is going to be the main task at hand for us,” Starks said.

Points by committee will be an expectation for the Wildcats, especially early on. The Wildcats will utilize the initial

front of the season to give players chances to experience important minutes allowing them to develop the roster off of performance.

Edgewood tipped off its season last week, playing two games so far.

Edgewood basketball plans to restore order this season

By AUSTIN ELLIOTT

Sports Editor

The Edgewood Academy boys basketball team will look to return to their usual winning ways this season.

Under the brilliant leadership of Hall of Fame caliber coach Scott Phillips, the Wildcats are in great shape to make a run late into the season. This being the first year since Phillips arrived at Edgewood, that he has his group of guys on the roster.

Since Phillips first arrived at Edgewood, he has gone through several rebuilding years but this time should be a little different.

“You know when I first got here to Edgewood, I walked into a situation where I had 11 out of 14 seniors on my roster so that was kind of unheard of,” Phillips said. “There was not a lot of building going on there, because those guys are gone in the next three months so it was a challenge.”

Now all that has changed as Edgewood is coming off a state

STARTERS

Continued from B1

optimism for this year’s team is through the roof.

championship and are looking to build into a repeat.

“I love the guys we have and I feel like we have the foundation of relationships in place to guide us through the year and achieve something special,” Phillips said.

The duality between Phillips and Edgewood Academy could not seem to be more of a perfect fit being that they both represent standard and winning.

“We know what the expectation is and we know what road lies ahead for us, but we also know that we are going into this thing prepared and ready to roll up our sleeves,” Phillips said.

The style of play that will be displayed on the floor this year for the Cats is a very aggressive style.

“If we are not missing shots then we are not taking enough of them, I want my guys to play confident and control the pace of the game,” Phillips said. The Wildcats will tip off their season against Abbeville Christian Academy on Nov. 22.

“The mentality with our athletic program is we are trying to make the playoffs,” Johnson said. “We have established ourselves as a department with every other sport experiencing some success so we believe it is our time to start adapting those winning ways as well.”

GIRLS

Continued from B1

from that. So I feel like this year we’re going to do extremely well.”

Although there are going to be some younger players getting some of their first taste of varsity basketball the main core will be seniors Keyanna Rudolph, Jordan Harris and Zariah Clark. Win-

TALLASSEE

Continued from B1

Having traveled around the state and even making a trip down to Florida to play in some summer games, Johnson feels like he’s gotten to know his team well.

“We have grown together,

chester will lean on that senior leadership to help get the younger girls acclimated.

“I have three seniors coming back, and we already challenged them this summer to make sure they teach our younger girls as much as they can in the little bit of time that we have with them,” Winchester said. “My three seniors that are coming back, they are key players,

take direct snaps in a formation that is strategically designed to put the

because if you look at my roster we are young on paper, but I have coached these girls at the varsity level for a few years now,” Johnson said.

It is very clear the next wave of athletic accolades lies in the hands of the current group.

The Tigers’ style of play on both fronts will utilize their athleticism in every key spot. They are going to be fast and conditioned as most of the players are involved with other sports year round.

and I feel like their wisdom of the game, they’ve taken the time to teach the girls stuff that we haven’t been able to teach them. I feel like because our girls are familiar with all the other opponents that we’re going to play, our senior girls are familiar with all the other opponents that we’re playing, that right there will put us above everybody.”

Winchester has used

ball in his hands. He is also a vital piece in the Tallassee secondary as one of the top defenders on the team.

“Two guys on our offense that we always try to get the ball to in space are Chase Chumlee and Jor -

“We will look to push the floor on offense and be aggravating on defense playing mostly a man to man attack,” Johnson said. “Our girls come into the season already in shape so we won’t have to worry about getting them prepared for a season on that front.”

not just experience as a former high school standout but also leans on what she learned as a standout player at Troy University. Pulling in experience of her own along with the help from her seniors has translated into camaraderie amongst the players and coaches.

“I have been able to be a part of two championship teams and there is a huge difference from being a

Although Tallassee has not seen the playoffs in almost 10 years, it is this team the program feels will ignite the spark and return back to where it belongs — the postseason. The Tigers opened their season on the road at Prattville on Tuesday night.

player and being a coach,” Winchester said. “But fortunately, being a part of two different programs on high school and the college level, I was able to morph both of them into what I’m doing at Wetumpka now, especially with my assistant coaches that also have experience as well. Being in two different areas, learning how to coach different personnel. So in high school, you

dan King,” O’Neal said. “Those guys make things happen when they have the ball with room to operate.”

King’s success both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball have been key to the revitalization of Tallassee’s football team. There

have to see you have to talk to high school players in a different manner that you would talk to a college player. Knowing how to do both kind of helps me relate to the players and help them.”

Wetumpka will look to improve upon its record from last year, but with the help of its senior core could result in the team competing for an area title.

is no better platform for him to continue his success than in the playoffs.

Tallassee will look for him to continue his success in the second round of the playoffs as the Tigers host Ashford on Friday.

Brad Starks anticipates a fourth straight state title for Edgewood Academy’s girl’s basketball team.

Edgewood coach Scott Phillips is gearing up for the start of the basketball season.

Job Opportunities

Pets & Livestock

resumes and cover letters.

Full-Time Grade I Outside Water Operator Wall Street Water Authority Requirements: •Current Alabama Grade I Operator Certificate.

•Extensive knowledge of Surface Water Distribution.

•Work weekends/nights and holidays, if necessary.

•Lifting/shoveling/climbing ladders required.

•Backhoe/mini-track operating experience.

•Pass drug test.

•Have valid driver’s license.

Mail Resumes/References: Wall Street Water Authority 5059 Notasulga Road Tallassee, AL 36078

Attention:Wanda Ingram, Office Manager 334-283-5002 -EOE-

Multiple Grounds

Maintenance Workers needed for Rotolo Consultants, Inc.: Operate vehicles/powered equipment for landscaping/ Lawncare; Use hand tools; Prune/trim trees, shrubs, or hedges; Gather/remove litter; Rake/mulch/compost leaves; Follow landscape designs; Use garden tools. Haul/spread topsoil/pine straw; Create forms, mix/pour cement for garden borders, and bulkheads. Monitor/adjust water consumption using irrigation methods; Monitor/maintain seasonal irrigation systems; Install rock gardens, ponds, decks, drainage systems, irrigation systems, retaining walls, fences, planters, or playground equipment. 3 mos. exp req’d. Work in Alexander City, AL Contact at LJURADO@rotoloconsultants. com.

The Town of Eclectic Paramedic position in the EMS division of the Eclectic Fire Department. Apply in person at Eclectic Town Hall, 145 Main Street, Eclectic.

Construction Company at Lake Martin and surrounding area looking for skilled carpenters and construction equipment operators. Top pay based on experience. Serious inquiries

CLASSIFIEDS/PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices

Public Notices

Public Notices

Public Notices

AlaScans

AlaScans

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-833-955-3163

ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS Needing Siding, Window or Roofs. We are opening a these homes for advertising. SAVE HUNDREDS. 100% Financing*.SR/Military discounts. $1000 OFF with this ad. ENDS SOON *wac 800-350-0591

AUTOMOTIVE GOT AN UNWANTED CAR??? DONATE IT TO PATRIOTIC HEARTS. Fast free pick up. All 50 States. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans business. Call 24/7: 1-855-405-8927

AUTO INSURANCE from $29 month Free 2-minute Quote! We Compare all Insurance providers offers for you! Lowest Rates! Call Now 866-450-0943 STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE! A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call Now for a no-obligation quote: 1-877-551-4740

VEHICLE TITLE Problems?

We have a solution! Call Jason Steward Enterprises, We’re Alabama’s #1 Vehicle Title Problem Experts! Free telephone consultation. North AL 1-256-850-0527, Central AL 1-205-267-5735, South AL 1-251-342-8538.

Public Notices

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARIAN K. NIXON, DECEASED CASE NO. 2024-279 NOTICE OF FILING OF WILL FOR PROBATE

y sey, husband and wife, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as mortgagee, as nominee for Calusa Investments, LLC, its successors and assigns dated January 30, 2006; said mortgage being recorded on February 15, 2006 in Deed Book 2006, Page 11025, Probate of Elmore County, Alabama. Said Mortgage was last sold, assigned and transferred to Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB not individually, but solely as Trustee for Residential Mortgage Aggregation Trust by assignment recorded in Deed Book 2023, Page 3259, Probate of Elmore County, Alabama. The undersigned, Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB not individually, but solely as Trustee for Residential Mortgage Aggregation Trust, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash before the main entrance of the Court House in Elmore County, Alabama during the legal hours of sale (between 11am and 4pm), on December 5, 2024 the following property, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Lot 12, according to the Plat of Lake Breeze Subdivision Plat No. 1, as the same appears of of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in Plat Book 11, at Page 93. Said property is commonly known as 63 S Jordan Dam Road, Wetumpka, AL 36092. the property address and the legal description, the legal description will control. Said property will be sold subject to any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, but not yet due and payable), the right of redemption of any taxing authority, all outstanding liens for public utilities which constitute liens upon the property, any matters which might be disclosed by an accurate survey and inspection of the property, any assessments, liens, encumbrances, easements, rights-of-way, zoning ordinances, restrictions, special assessments, covenants, the statutory right of redemption pursuant to Alabama law, and any matters of record including, but not limited to, those supeout above. Said property will be sold on an “as-is” basis without any representation, warranty or recourse against the abovenamed or the undersigned. The successful bidder must present the winning bid at the time and place of sale.

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF ELMORE

Call Today! 1-877-568-2248

UPDATE YOUR HOME with Beautiful New Blinds & Shades. FREE in-home estimates make it convenient to shop from home. Professional installation. Top quality - Made in the USA. Call for free consultation: 1-855-405-8839. Ask about our specials! Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-683-2005 Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-877-323-5516 today to schedule a free quote. power move. Safe Step. North Americas #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-844-871-6175 Call LeafGuard and say goodbye to gutter cleaning for good. No cleaning. No leaking.

TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF: CECIL LITTLE, deceased, ANNETTE LITTLE, deceased, DORA LITTLE, deceased, WOODROW LITTLE, deceased, ANNIE LOU LITTLE EDWARDS, deceased, BARNEY NEAL LITTLE, deceased, OTIS FRANKLIN LITTLE, deceased, and DAWSON LITTLE CAVER, deceased., AND TO: ANY OTHER UNKNOWN NEXT OF KIN OF MARIAN K. NIXON, DECEASED, AND TO: ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTY YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on October 11, 2024, a certain paper in writing purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of MARIAN K. NIXON, deCourt of Elmore County, Alabama by MIRANDA STINSON, Petitioner, requesting that such Last Will and Testament be admitted to Probate and Record and that the Petitioner be named as Personal Representative of such Estate. This notice of Filing of Will for Probate is given to you as a next-of-kin of MARIAN K. NIXON or as an interested party. Unless an objection to admission to Probate and Record of such Last Will and Testament is submitted by you in writing to this Court within ten (10) days oftice, the Court will proceed with considering such Petition without further notice to you.

JOHN THORNTON

JUDGE OF PROBATE ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA Name and Address of Attorney for Petitioner: D. JASON BRITT STONE & BRITT, LLC 114 S MAIN ST P O BOX 967 WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-517-6520

Wetumpka Herald: Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and 13, 2024 2024-279

PUBLIC NOTICE

Omega Coatings & Construction, LLC hereby gives notice of completion of contract with the State of Alabama for construction of Project No. BR0014(550) in Elmore County. This notice will appear for three consecutive weeks beginning on November 13th and ending on November 27th. All claims Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34683 Omega Coatings & Construction, LLC

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 13, 20, and 27, 2024

COMPLETION

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF ELMORE

Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. The sale will be conducted subsale is not prohibited under the U.S. -

status of the loan with the holder of the Mortgage. WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB NOT INDIVIDUALLY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE AGGREGATION TRUST as holder of said mortgage 22-03318AL McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC 505 20th Street N, Suite 1775 Birmingham, AL 35203 Telephone: (205) 216-4238 FT21@mccalla.com File No. 22-03318AL www.foreclosurehotline.net 22-03318AL

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 6, 13 and 20, 2024 22-033318AL

Looking for a home?

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

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DONALD DUANE ARLEDGE, CASE NO: 2024-123 DECEASED NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of DONALD DUANE ARLEDGE, deceased, having been granted to DION D. ARLEDGE on October 30, 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.

DION D. ARLEDGE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF DONALD DUANE ARLEDGE, DECEASED Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: LEE A. RANKIN ATTORNEY AT LAW PO BOX 240550 ECLECTIC. ALABAMA 36024 334-472-1098

Default having been made of the terms of the loan documents secured by that certain mortgage executed by Ashley D Matin A/K/A Ashley D Moss , Unmarried to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as mortgagee, as nominee for SunTrust Mortgage, Inc., its successors and assigns dated November 25, 2015; said mortgage being recorded on January 7, 2016, in Book 2016, Page Probate of Elmore County, Alabama. Said Mortgage was last sold, assigned and transferred to Truist Bank by assignment recorded in Deed Book 2024, the Judge of Probate of Elmore County, ALABAMA. The undersigned, Truist Bank, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash before the main entrance of the Court House in Elmore County, Alabama during the legal hours of sale (between 11am and 4pm), on the 19th day of December, 2024 the following property, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Lot 2 in Block G, according to the Map of Grandview Pines Plat No. 1, as said Map apthe Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in Map Book 7, at Page 85. Said property is commonly known as 472 Catalpa Rd, Millbrook, AL 36054. the property address and the legal description the legal description will control. Said property will be sold subject to any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, but not yet due and payable), the right of redemption of any taxing authority, all outstanding liens for public utilities which constitute liens upon the property, any matters which might be disclosed by an accurate survey and inspection of the property, any assessments, liens, encumbrances, easements, rights-of-way, zoning ordinances, restrictions, special assessments, covenants, the statutory right of redemption pursuant to Alabama law, and any matters of record including, but not limited to, those supeout above. Said property will be sold on an “as-is” basis without any representation, warranty or recourse against the abovenamed or the undersigned. The successful bidder must present the winning bid at the time and place of sale. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. The sale will be conducted subsale is not prohibited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and (2) of the status of the loan with the holder of the Mortgage.

TRUIST BANK as holder of said mortgage McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC 505 20th Street North, Suite 1775 Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 216-4238 FT21@mccalla.com File No. 24-06443AL www.foreclosurehotline.net

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 13, 20 and 27, 2024 24-06443AL PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF EMMETT BLAIR BISHOP, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-236 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of EMMETT BLAIR BISHOP, deceased, having been granted to LYNDA L. DENHAM AND STEPHANIE G. CERCONE on the 5th day of November, 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.

LYNDA L. DENHAM AND STEPHANIE G. CERCONE CO-PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ESTATE OF EMMETT BLAIR BISHOP, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Co-Personal Representatives: GERALD A. DANIEL, JR. LAW OFFICE OF GA DANIEL, JR. LLC PO BOX 638 MILLBROOK, ALABAMA 36054 334-285-9444

Jerry@GADanielLaw.com

PARCEL 1 Commence at a stone at the NE corner of Section 23, T19N ,R18E, Elmore County, Alabama; thence S 02° 09’ 00” E, along the east line of Section 23, 665.29 feet to an iron pin; thence S 89° 46’ 50” W, 982.15 feet to an iron pin; thence S 02° 09’ 00” E, 454.28 feet to an iron pin on the west right of way of County Road No. 667, Old U.S. Highway 231, 66’ R.O.W., said point being the point of beginning; thence leaving said right of way, N 88° 41’ 32” W, 74.31 feet to an iron pin; thence S 51° 47’ 35” W, 304.7 feet to an iron pin; thence N 00° 36’ 43” W, 210.14 feet to an iron pin; thence N 89° 23’ 17” E, 300.00 feet to an iron pin on the west right of way of the aforementioned road; thence S 31° 00’ 41” E, along said right of way, 31.00 feet to the point of beginning. The above-described property lies in the NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 23, T19N, R18E, Elmore County, Alabama, and contains 0.69 acres, more or less.

PARCEL 2 Commence at a stone at the NE corner of Section 23, T19N, R18E, Elmore County, Alabama; thence S02°09’00”E, along the east line of Section 23, 665.29 feet to an iron pin; thence S89°46’50”W, 982.15 feet to an iron pin; thence S02°09’00”E, 454.28 feet to an iron pin on the west right of way of County Road No. 667, Old U.S. Highway 231, 66’ R.O.W., said point being the point of beginning; thence leaving said right of way, S01°12’58”E, 211.03 feet to an iron pin; thence N87°41’51”W, 321.54 feet to an iron pin, thence N00°19’13”E, 16.44 feet to an iron pin; thence N51°47’35”E, 304.70 feet to an iron pin; thence S88°41’32”E, 74.31 feet to the point of beginning. The above-described property lies in the NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 23, 19N, R18E, Elmore County, Alabama, And contains 1.00 acres, more or less, and contains church Property as shown on Pearson Plat No, 1 (revised), as recorded inbate, Elmore County, Alabama, in Plat Book 8 at Page 99. AND STATE OF ALABAMA Department of Revenue Defendant BILL CRUMPTON and WENDY CRUMPTON, Defendants

Plaintiff in the above-styled to Foreclose on Tax Lien Redemption Rights and Quiet Title against the above-styled Defendants for unimproved land located in Wetumpka, Alabama, 13-06-23-0-001-009.003, and fully described above. Answers to the pleadings relevant to this proceeding must legible copies of same with Michael Dozier, Circuit Clerk, P.O. Box 310, Wetumpka, Alabama-

231, Wetumpka, AL 36092, 1st s/ Michael Dozier Michael Dozier Circuit Clerk, Elmore Co., AL Plaintiff’s Attorney: Of Counsel Wetumpka, AL 36093 (334)478-3196

Wetumpka Herald: Oct. 30, Nov. 6, 13, and 20, 2024 29-CV-2024-900267

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell for cash, at an ONLINE public auction on Wednesday, December the 4th 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

3082: Rodrequiz Young,503 McCanpy St, Wetumpka, Al 36092 :Contents:coffee table, head board, tv, mattress, boxes, pictures and DVDs Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 13 and 20, 2024 STORAGE AUCTION

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA JUSTIN SLADE YOUNG, PLAINTIFF, CASE NO.: 29-CV-2024-900268.00 V. A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 35, TOWNSHIP 20 NORTH, RANGE 20 EAST, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: TO LOCATE THE POINT OF BEGINNING COMMENCE AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE SAID NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER, THENCE S87°55’51 “E AND ON THE NORTH BOUNDARY OF THE SAID NORTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHEASTER QUARTER, 342.86 FEET TO THE NORTH POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE CONTINUE S87°55’51’E AND ON SAID NORTH BOUNDARY, 383.13 FEET; THENCE S10°02’11”W, 0.39 FEET; THENCE N89°02’49”W, 163.41 FEET; THENCE S17°41’02”W, 43.59 FEET; THENCE S22°44’58”E, 45.19 FEET TO A POINT ON THE NORTH RIGHTOF-WAY OF MT. HEBRON ROAD (ELMORE ) COUNTY ROAD NO. 80); THENCE S71°18’44”W AND ON SAID RIGHT-OF-WAY, 232.34 FEET; THENCE N01°12’42”W, 169.19 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. SAID PARCEL CONTAINING 0.64 ACRES, MORE OR LESS. AND PAULINE THERESA FALLON Defendant Justin Slade Young, the named Plaintiff in the above-styled to Foreclose on Tax Lien ReTitle against the above-styleddress 7999 HOLTVILLE ROAD, WETUMPKA, AL 36092, also 08-28-0-000-005.001, and fully described above.

chael Dozier, Circuit Clerk, P.O.

cated in the Elmore County Jus/ Michael Dozier Michael Dozier Circuit Clerk, Elmore Co., AL Plaintiff’s Attorney: Justiss & Henderson Of Counsel 4031 US HWY 231 (334)478-3196

Oct. 30, Nov. 6, 13,and 20, 2024 29-CV-2024-900268

Put your ad here call 256.277.4219

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT EDWIN BROWN, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-283 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE Letters of Administration over the Estate of ROBERT EDWIN BROWN, deceased, having been granted to JAMES EDWIN BROWN on October 23, 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.

JAMES EDWIN BROWN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT EDWIN BROWN, DECEASED Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: MITCHELL E. GAVIN ATTORNEY AT LAW 1258 LEE STREET P O BOX 248 ALEXANDER CITY, ALABAMA 35011 256-329-2211 megavin@bellsouth.net

Wetumpka Herald: Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and 13, 2024 EST/BROWN R.

limited time, waving ALL installation costs! (Additional and vary by dealer.) Offer ends 6/30/24. Call 1-877-205-0836

Default having been made of the terms of the loan documents secured by that certain mortgage executed by Joseph A Lindsey and Jennifer D Lind-

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 6, 13 and 20, 2024 EST/ARLEDGE, D.

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 13, 20 and 27, 2024 EST/BISHOP E. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA JUSTIN SLADE YOUNG, PLAINTIFF, CASE NO.: 29-CV-2024-900267 V.

CLASSIFIEDS/PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

WETUMPKA WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARD

WETUMPKA, ALABAMA

Sealed bids will be received at Wetumpka Water Works & Sew-

Thursday, December 19, 2024 at which time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud for CMGM230096(1) 10:30 a.m. local time and CMGM230096(3) 10:00 a.m. local time.

CMGM230096(1) CWSRF Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements - The Project includes the following Work: WWTF improvements to in-fusers with blowers, aeration basin weirs, return sludge screw pumps, mechanical screen, chlorine equipment upgrades, electrical, Scada and all related appurtenances.

CMGM230096(3) CWSRF Elmore County Public Works Lift Station & Force Main Improvements - The Project includes the following Work: The installation of a new lift station and 1215 LF of 4” PVC force main and related appurtenances. Information for the Project can be found at the following designated website: www.gmcnetwork.comding Documents is Goodwyngmcnetwork.com. Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing

copies of the Bidding Docuas described below.

Copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained from hours indicated above, upon time administrative fee for digeach printed set. Said cost represents the cost of printing, reproduction, handling, and distribution, therefore no refund will be granted. Checks for Bidding Documents shall be payable to “GMC.” Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be availablesponsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the IsBid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. This project is being funded by SRF Project No: CS010460-06 and will require DBE documentation from the low, responsive, responsible bidder no later than 10 days after the bid opening. This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award numState of Alabama by the U. S. Department of Treasury. All participants must comply with all federal requirementsAppropriations Act and related the Participant understands includes, among other, requirements that all of the iron and steel products used in the Project are to be produced in and those imposed by the Build requirements. The Owner reserves the right to waive any informalities, or to reject any or all bids, and to award the contract to the lowest, responsive, and responsible bidder. All bidders shall submit, upon request, a list of projects “successfully completed” in the scope of work and approximate in this project. All bidders must comply with requirements of the Contractor’s Licensing Law of the State of Alabama and be which the proposal is submitted. his bid, security in the amount, form and subject to the conditions provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

All Bidders bidding in amounts exceeding that established by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors must be licensed under the provisions

evidence of license before bidding or bid will not be received the Bidder shall show such evidence by clearly displaying the license number on the outside of the envelope in which the Proposal is delivered. Bidders will be fully responsible for the delivery of their bids in a timely manner. Reliance upon U.S. Mail or other carriers is at the bidder’s risk. Late bids will not be considered.

thereof. Owner: Wetumpka Water Works & Sewer Board By: John Strickland

Title: Chairman Wetumpaka Herald: BIDS/7803

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BETTY JO CAWTHON, DECEASED CASE NO. 2024-286

Public Notices

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary on the Estate of said decedent having been granted to DONNA J. POEPPELMEIER as Personal Representative on the 25 th day of October, 2024, by the Honorable JOHN THORNTON, Judge of Probate of said County in said State, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are required to present same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

DONNA J. POEPPELMEIER PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF BETTY JO CAWTHON, DECEASED.

Name and Address of Attorney: Regina B. Edwards, Esq. The Law Firm of Edwards & Edwards, P.C. 109 E. Bridge Street Wetumpka, AL 36092

Wetumpka Herald: Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and 13, 2024 EST/CAWTHON, B. PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH L. GRISWOLD, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-192 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of JOSEPH L. GRISWOLD, deceased, having been granted to NATALIE S. JORDAN on October 29, 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.

NATALIE S. JORDAN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH L. GRISWOLD, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: ANDREW ODOM THE CLEVELAND FIRM, LLC 707 MCQUEEN SMITH ROAD SOUTH PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA 36066 334-365-6266 andrew@clevelandgroup.legal

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 6, 13 and 20, 2024 EST/GRISWOLD J.

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF REUBEN DOUGLAS HALL, JR., DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-248 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of REUBEN DOUGLAS HALL, JR., deceased, having been granted to BRYAN C. HALL on October 22, 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.

BRYAN C. HALL

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF REUBEN DOUGLAS HALL, JR., DECEASED Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: JOHN B. BRADLEY VOGEL LAW FIRM, LLC 41 CAMBRIDGE COURT WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36093 334-409-0088

Wetumpka Herald: Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and 13, 2024 EST/HALL R. JR. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROBIN MARIE HAVRON, DECEASED CASE NO. 2024-294 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of ROBIN MARIE HAVRON, deceased, having been granted to STEPHEN LAFAYETTE HAVRON, on the 5th day of November 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.

STEPHEN LAFAYETTE HAVRON, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ROBIN MARIE HAVRON

Regina B. Edwards, Esq. The Law Firm of Edwards & Edwards, P.C. Attorney for Administrator 109 E. Bridge Street Wetumpka, AL 36092 (334) 514-1011

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARY E. HINES, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-260 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of MARY E. HINES, deceased, having been granted to HENRY R. HINES, JR. on October 24, 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.

HENRY R. HINES, JR. PER-

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

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: JEFFREY J. COURTNEY ATTORNEY AT LAW PO BOX 100 WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092

334-567-2545

Wetumpka Herald: Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and 13, 2024

EST/HINES M.

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JULIA N. MORRIS, DECEASED CASE NO. 2024-292 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary on the Estate of said decedent having been granted to JOSEPH CALEB MORRIS as Executor on the 31st day of October 2024, by the Honorable John Thornton, Judge of Probate of said County in said State, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are required to present same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

JOSEPH CALEB MORRIS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF JULIA N. MORRIS, DECEASED.

Name and Address of Attorney: Regina B. Edwards, Esq.

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

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 6, 13 and 20, 2024 EST/MORRIS, J.

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CHASE ANTHONY POLLARD, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-287 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of CHASE ANTHONY POLLARD, deceased, having been granted to KELLY OWENS SINGLETON on October 29, 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. KELLY OWENS SINGLETON ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF CHASE ANTHONY POLLARD, DECEASED Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: JUSTIN EDWARDS THE LAW FIRM OF EDWARDS & EDWARDS, P.C. 109 EAST BRIDGE STREET WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-514-1011

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 6, 13 and 20, 2024 EST/POLLARD C.

Do you have available jobs?

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

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA ANN STEWART POLLARD, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-285 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of PATRICIA ANN STEWART POLLARD, deceased, having been granted to HAROLD BRYAN MCDONALD on October 22, 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.

HAROLD BRYAN MCDONALD PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA ANN STEWART POLLARD, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: D. JASON BRITT STONE & BRITT, LLC

ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW 114 S MAIN ST PO BOX 967 WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-517-6520

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF EMERAL RITTER, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-296 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of EMERAL RITTER, who is also known as EMERAL MARY RITTER, deceased, having been granted to CHERYL MENEES on November 8, 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.

CHERYL MENEES PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF EMERAL RITTER, DECEASED Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: JONATHAN D. WYNN II THE CLEVELAND FIRM, LLC 707 MCQUEEN SMITH ROAD SOUTH PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA 36066 334-365-6266 jonathan@clevelandgroup.legal Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 13, 20 and 27, 2024 EST/RITTER, E.

Do you have available jobs?

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

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT J. SANFORD, DECEASED CASE NO. 2024-288 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary on the Estate of said decedent having been granted to DEBRA COLLEY SANFORD as Personal Representative on the 29th day of October, 2024, by the Honorable JOHN THORNTON, Judge of Probate of said County in said State, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are required to present same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

DEBRA COLLEY SANFORD PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT J. SANFORD, DECEASED.

Name and Address of Attorney: Regina B. Edwards, Esq. The Law Firm of Edwards & Edwards, P.C. 109 E. Bridge Street Wetumpka, AL 36092 Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 6, 13 and 20, 2024 EST/SANFORD, R.

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF ELMORE CASE NO: 2024-019 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BRADFORD HIGGINS SMITH, DECEASED Letters Testamentary in the Estate of BRADFORD HIGGINS SMITH, deceased, having been granted to MICHAEL JARED SMITH on the 31st day of October, 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.

MICHAEL JARED SMITH

PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF BRADFORD HIGGINS SMITH, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for such Personal Representative: ED PARISH, JR. THE PARISH LAW FIRM P O BOX 52 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36101-0052 323 ADAMS AVE MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36104 334-263-0003

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 6, 13 and 20, 2024 EST/SMITH, B.

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM CLAUDE WOOD, III, DECEASED CASE NO. 2024-293 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of WILLIAM CLAUDE WOOD, III, deceased, having been granted to WILLIAM C. WOOD, on the 1st day of November 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.

Public Notices

gq The Law Firm of Edwards & Edwards, P.C. Attorney for Administrator 109 E. Bridge Street Wetumpka, AL 36092 (334) 514-1011

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 13, 20, and 27, 2024 EST/WOOD, W. III

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDINANCE 2024-13

Public Notices

ppp at this time and that it should be declared surplus; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Wetumpka desires for the Property to be utilized in a serve the City and its citizens and serve an equal or greater retention of land; and WHEREAS, the expansion of Alabama Highway 14 will provide for enhanced transportation to and from the Airport; and WHEREAS, The City believes that the conveyance of the Property to the Alabama Department of Transportation (State of Alabama) for the purposes stated herein would serve a valid pub-zens of our City and the County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Wetumpka that the Property, as described above, is not needed for municipal purposes at this time and is hereby declared surplus property, and further, that the public interest shall be improved by its conveyance to Alabama Department of Transportation (State of Alabama) in accordance with and subject to the following conditions:

SECTION 1. The City shall convey the Property to the State of Alabama for use by the Alabama Department of Transportation, under the following terms: a) The City shall convey the property to the State of Alabama for the uses delineated herein and authorized under its organizational statute subject to the following reservations, easements, covenants, and restrictions which shall be upon the property in perpetuity, and shall run with the land, to wit:

I. The City of Wetumpka, Alabama reserves unto itself, its successors and assigns, for the aircraft in the airspace above the surface of the real property hereinafter described, together with the right to cause in said airspace such noise as may be inherent in the operations of aircraft, now known or hereafter in the said airspace, for use of said airspace for landing on, or taking off from or operating on Wetumpka Municipal Airport. II. The height of any structures, objects of natural growth and other obstructions on the hereinafter described real property shall be restricted to such a height so as to comply with Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 77. III. Any use of the hereinafter described real property which would interfere with the landing or takeoff of aircraft at Wetumpka Municipal Airport or interfere with air navigation and or communication facilities serving Wetumpka Municipal Airport, or otherwise constitute an airport hazard is prohibited. IV. No access shall be permitted from the subject property onto Wetumpka Municipal Airport property for aeronautical purposes. b) The State of Alabama shall pay unto the City the appraised fair market value of the property which has been determined to be Thirty Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($35,000.00) and all closing costs required for the consummation of the sale.

Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 13, 20 and 27, 2024 EST/HAVRON R.

Wetumpka Herald: Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and 13, 2024 EST/POLLARD P.

WILLIAM C. WOOD, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM CLAUDE WOOD, III Regina B. Edwards, Esq.

AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE CONVEYANCE OF A PART OF THE NW ¼ OF THE NE ¼, SECTION 23, TOWNSHIP 18-N, RANGE 17-E, IDENTIFIED AS TRACT NO. 63 ON PROJECT NO. STPAA-0014 (541) IN ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA TO THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pursuant to Section 11-47-20 Code of Alabama, (1975 as amended) BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Wetumpka, Alabama, as follows: WHEREAS, The City of Wetumpka is the owner of approximately 2.00 acres of real property (the “Property”), located at NORTH OF ALABAMA HWY 14, ELMORE, ALABAMA which is more particularly described as: Commencing at the northeast corner of the NW 1/4 of the NE 1/4, Section 23, Township 18-North and Range 17-East; thence south and along the quarter section line a distance of 589’, more or less, to a point on the acquired R/W line [(said line between a point that is offset 100’LT and perpendicular to centerline of project at station 177+75 and a point that is offset 77’LT and perpendicular to centerline of project at station 178+25)( said point being on the grantor’s east property line)], said point being the point of BEGINNING; thence S 0º44’31” W and along the grantor’s said property line a distance of 61.06 feet to a point on the present north R/W line of SR14; thence S 88º12’1” W and along said present R/W line a distance of 490.70 feet to a point on said present R/W line; thence following the curvature thereof an arc distance of 548.21 feet and along said present R/W line to a point on said present R/W line (said arc having a chord bearing of N 85º58’59” W, a clockwise direction, a chord distance of 547.27 feet and a radius of 2700.03 feet); thence N 80º43’14” W and along said present R/W line a distance of 240.34 feet to a point on the grantor’s west property line; thence N 0º40’37” E and along the grantor’s said property line a distance of 75.40 feet to a point on the acquired R/W line (said line offset 100’LT and parallel with centerline of project);FORM ROW-4 Rev 04/21/15 thence S 79º55’3” E and along the acquired R/W line a distance of 253.76 feet to a point on the acquired R/W line (said point offset 100’LT and perpendicular to centerline of project at PC station 167+37.14); thence following the curvature thereof an arc distance of 571.39 feet and along the acquired R/W line to a point on the acquired R/W line (said point offset 100’LT and perpendicular to centerline of project at PT station 173+29.19)(said arc having a chord bearing of S 85º50’16” E, a counterclockwise direction, a chord distance of 570.37 feet and a radius of 2764.59 feet); thence N88º14’29” E and along the acquired R/W line a distance of 445.81 feet to a point on the acquired R/W line (said point offset 100’LT and perpendicular to centerline of project at station 177+75); thence S 67º3’29” E and along the acquired R/W line a distance of 9.95 feet to the point and place of BEGINNING, containing 2.00 acres, more or less.; and WHEREAS, on January 23, 1948, the United States Government, under the Surplus Property Act of 1944, conveyed the Airport property (Elmore Auxiliary No. 2 to Gunter Field) to the City of Wetumpka by the Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in Deed Book R-73, Page 39, subject to certain requirements and restrictions, and stated that the property “shall be used for public airport purposes.” The United States Government additionally executed a supplement deed on April 8, 1948, which is recorded on R-73, page 505 in the aforeincluded a restriction that no property transferred “shall be used, leased, sold, salvaged or disposed of by the City for other than airport purposes without the written consent of the Civil Aeronautics Administrator” and that such consent would only be given under certain circumstances; and WHEREAS, the Mayor for the City of Wetumpka sent a letter dated May 21, 2024 to the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) requesting the Property be released from its federal obligations; and WHEREAS, the FAA granted said release upon certain terms and conditions and executed a Deed Of Release, granting the property unto the City of Wetumpka removing the restrictions placed upon the property by those deeds recorded at Deed Book R-73, Page 39 and the Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama; and WHEREAS, the City of Wetumpka is not presently using the Property and the Council of the City of Wetumpka has determined that the property is not needed for municipal purposes

SECTION 2. Pursuant to the authority granted by Section 1147-20 of the Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended, the Mayor and City Clerk shall be and hereby are authorized and directed to execute and attest, respectively, said Statutory Warranty Deed for and on behalf of the City of Wetumpka, Alabama; and furthermore, the Mayor is hereby further authorized to execute any other necessary and proper documents required to carry out the conveyance of such Property on behalf of the City.

SECTION 3. If any provision of this ordinance shall be declared unconstitutional, or otherwise invalid, it shall have no effect on the remaining provisions of this ordinance. SECTION 4. This ordinance shall become effective upon the adoption and publication as required by law. ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this the 4th day of November, 2024.

Signed: Jerry Willis, Mayor ATTEST: Tiffany Robinson, City Clerk Wetumpka Herald: Nov. 13, 2024 ORDINANCE 2024-13 PUBLIC NOTICE ORDINANCE [To Amend Ordinance Book 2011, Page 024, Ordinance Book 2016-A, Page 009 and Ordinance Book 2020, Page 005 to Re-Describe the Legal Descriptions of City Council Districts Pursuant to 2020 Federal Census and Designate Voting Locations.] WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution Book 2023-B, Page 272, on December 19, 2023, the City Council of the City of Prattville established Redistricting Guidelines and Milestones for the 2024 Redistricting Process in accordance with the 2020 Federal Census. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED that Ordinance Book 2011, Page 024, Ordinance Book 2016-A, Page 009 and Ordinance Book Page 2020, Page 005 are hereby amended pursuant to the 2020 Federal Census and the City Council districts are those areas within the Corporate Limits re-described by the Legal Description as follows: COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 As the point of beginning, start at the intersection of W 6th Street and Upper Kingston Road; run north along Upper Kingston Road to Gardner Looking for a home? Look in our classifieds section and learn of great deals for you and your family.

Public Notices

Public Notices

Public Notices y

Phasega County in Book 5, Page 18; run west along said southern boundary to the southeast corner of Lot 14 and the southern boundary of Riverchase Phase 4 subdivision as recorded in the of Autauga County in Book 5, Page 137; run west along said Trail to Fairview Avenue; run west along Fairview Avenue to Diane Drive; run southeast along Diane Drive to old Fairview Avenue (old Hwy 14); run west along old Fairview Avenue to Fairview Avenue; run west along Fairview Avenue to Edgewood Avenue; run west along Edgewood Avenue to Walker Street; run north along Walker Street to Skidmore Avenue; run west along Skidmore Avenue to N Memorial Drive, being the point of beginning.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 As the point of beginning, start at the intersection of Cobbs Ford Road and the Autauga County and Elmore County boundary; run north along said county boundary to Covered Bridge Parkway; run southwesterly along Covered Bridge Parkway to the eastern tributary of Pine Creek; run southwesterly along the eastern tributary of Pine Creek to the southeast corner of Section 2, T-17-N, R-16-E, also being the southeast corner of the Glynwood Baptist Church property; run north along said section line to the southeast corner of Lot 19C and the southern boundary of Autauga Station Subdivision Plat No. 4 as recorded in the of Autauga County in Book 5, Page 234; run westerly along said southern boundary to McQueen Smith Road; run south along McQueen Smith Road to the southeast corner of Lot 1 of Block 2 and the southern boundary of Riverchase Phase I subdivision as recorded in the of Autauga County in Book 4, Page 100; run west along said southern boundary to the southeast corner of Lot 1 of Block 3 and the southern boundary of Riverchase Phase II as recordof Probate of Autauga County in Book 5, Page 18; run west along said southern boundary to the southeast corner of Lot 14 and the southern boundary of Riverchase Phase 4 subdi-tauga County in Book 5, Page 137; run west along said southto Fairview Avenue; run west along Fairview Avenue to Pine Creek; run south along Pine Creek to E Main Street; run east along E Main Street and Cobbs Ford Road to the coun-

By: Paula G. Barlow, City Clerk APPROVED: By: Bill Gillespie, 2024, PAGE 021

Wetumpka

Eclectic receives grant for sewer system upgrade

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

A $400,000 grant to expand wastewater treatment will aid in growth in Eclectic.

Gov. Kay Ivey announced last week the Town of Eclectic received a $400,000 Community Block Development Grant to aid in growth. Eclectic’s grant was part of $17 million in funding the governor announced. In Eclectic, the funding will allow the town to double the wastewater treat-

ment center ’s capacity just six years after a new package plant for sewage was made operational.

“With the housing developments coming in we are getting ahead of the game,” Eclectic Mayor Gary Davenport said.

“With the schools, homes and businesses we currently have, we are operating at about 75% capacity.”

When the new package plant was installed, it was done in such a way to be easily added onto.

“The reason we did that at that plant is we are good for the next 100 years,” Davenport said. “We can expand there to continue to serve the community.”

The older sewage lagoons were left usable to have a suitable backup in case of an emergency. They are still in place and will remain after the capacity of the treatment facility has been increased as a backup to any additions to the system.

The grant requires just a 10% match from the town.

The estimate for the project is $440,000. The town will fund $40,000. The six year old facility will still be operational.

“We are not replacing the current plant,” Davenport said.

“We are just wanting to put in another tank so that when flow comes in over our current maximum, it doubles our capacity without us having to file with the government.”

Town leaders believe it is better to go ahead and get ready for the anticipated growth in the area.

Elmore County basketball plans to turn the tides

By AUSTIN ELLIOTT

Sports Editor

Nathan Taylor is at the forefront of the Elmore County boys basketball program and he is ready to see his guys excel on the hardwood.

With some key returning players to his starting rotation, the Panthers feel optimistic about the product they will see this season.

“We have a great mix of veteran leadership and some young guys who have seen some varsity minutes for us,” Taylor said.

The Panthers will return most of their point production this year as Jadon Eason and Gage Davis are both coming off huge seasons last

year

“Having Jaden and Gage come back is going to be huge for us in multiple ways this year,” Taylor said. “Jaden is our scoring leader from last season and Gage is a floor general for us.”

This is sure to aid the Panthers team as they embark on a highly talented area matchup tree including Beauregard and Valley.

“We like where we are at right now,” Taylor said. “I believe that we will compete with this area this year looking at what we have on the roster.”

The Panthers have been short of their goals in previous seasons by not making it into the postseason,

but it feels as if this is the team to turn it around.

Taylor’s coaching philosophy is sure to be evident in the style of play his team will show this year.

“We talk about margins every single day and what it means to be great on a consistent basis,” Taylor said. “We are looking to out rebound and out shoot every team that we play. I don’t want us hesitating to take a shot, if our guys have open looks then we will take it.”

The Panthers will pursue an up tempo pace and look to cash in on transition baskets. Elmore County will start its season Friday at Dadeville.

“We are set for the future,” he said. “All we have to do is be sure our infrastructure keeps up with it.”

Davenport estimates about 100 new homes will be serviced by town utilities in the next 10 years.

“We have two developments that are projected over the next 10 years to construct about 75 rooftops,” Davenport said.

“There is another development that is projected over the next five years to construct 12 to 15 rooftops.”

A new area and a new mindset has the Panthers feeling optimistic about what is on the road ahead this season. At the head of the operation will be coach Kyle Caldwell, who believes all the ingredients are in place for his squad to make a strong statement this year.

New season means new opportunities for Elmore County hoops

By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor

The Elmore County girls basketball team is in high anticipation for this upcoming season and for good reason.

A new area and a new mindset has the Panthers feeling optimistic about what is on the road ahead this season. At the head of the operation will be coach Kyle Caldwell, who believes all the ingredients are in place for his squad to make a strong statement this year.

“Even though we’re losing our top two scorers from last year and only returning three seniors, I still feel like this team we have coming back is the foundation we need for major success,” Caldwell said.

The Panthers are a part of the Class 5A Area 7 which includes the likes of Valley and Beauregard.

“We are well aware that the route we have is tough and our work will be laid out for us,” Caldwell said. “That is why we took the approach of beefing up the regular season schedule as much as possible in order to feel as prepared as possible

when we get into the meaningful games later on in the season.”

The bulk of the ball handling will be done by Kayden Edwards, who is primed for a monster year offensively after a very productive season last year. Another key piece returning for the Panthers will be guard Raevyn Barris, who will see big minutes in her junior season.

“One of our biggest strengths this year will be our ability to play defense on and off the ball, because of our athleticism,” Caldwell said.

“We have some speed that will allow us to stretch the floor at times and control the pace of play when we want to.”

With only one win necessary in the area tournament to advance in the postseason, Caldwell is very well aware of just how important the front half of the schedule is for his team.

“The tougher the games are leading up to our area opponents, the better we will feel about the back half of those meaningful games,” Caldwell said.

The Panthers will begin their season on the road in Dadeville on Friday.

The Elmore County girls basketball team is ready to begin

season against Dadeville.

The Elmore County boys basketball team has been hard at work this offseason.

Arts & Entertainment

Celebrating 35 years of art and framing at Red Hill Gallery

By ADRIAN BUSH For TPI

Situated in Red Hill is an art gallery that has been the heart of a thriving creative community for over three decades: Red Hill Gallery.

Since its inception in 1989, the gallery’s founder Loren Martorana has been on a journey marked by passion, art, friendship and unforget-

table moments, each leaving an indelible mark on the gallery’s history. Recently, Martorana sat down to talk about the 35-year journey, memorable milestones, and his imminent retirement. Red Hill Gallery’s story began at a surprising location: Montgomery Mall. Originally, the gallery opened as a franchise called “Deck the Walls,” specializing in

picture framing. Martorana, an art major with a passion for the arts, turned this small framing shop into a place of artistic exploration and expression. Over time, as the business grew and Martorana’s vision evolved, the gallery found its current home on Red Hill, giving it the name and character that

GERMANY MEETS TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

Blaskapelle Lüchtringen performs at Lake Martin

By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter

It’s not everyday you get to meet one person from Germany on Lake Martin — much less 47 people. On Oct. 18, Blaskapelle Lüchtringen made an appearance at the lake in honor of Oktoberfest. The band tours only every six years, and this year, Lake Martin was one of their stops.

The band is completely instrumental, with all 47 members playing various instruments to play classic German songs.

The planning for the band’s trip to Lake Martin started years ago in Las Vegas, Nevada. Steve and Karin Oldham, Lake Martin residents, met the band when the band last toured the United States. The Oldhams lived in Las Vegas where they saw them perform at a German bar. Steve said he got in touch with the band in 2019 and began setting up a performance. After moving to Dadeville, Steve got in touch with the band, and scheduled

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Trees are starting to “grow”

SUBMITTED TPI Owner Loren Martorana reflects on the history and development of the Red Hill Gallery as he approaches his possible retirement.

Woodworking Wonders

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter

What started as a small hobby soon grew to be much more.

Adam Marano of Tallapoosa Time was a software engineer for much of his career. He started tinkering with woodworking as a way to decompress, and one of his first creations were cornhole boards for his daughter.

For the most part, Marano would make pieces for his family to start. People would come over to their house and comment on some of his works, pretty soon he started getting requests from other family members and friends. Marano said Tallapoosa Time didn’t really take off as a business until he moved to Lake Martin about four years ago.

Tallapoosa Time now creates pieces by combining woodworking, engraving and epoxy techniques. With all this extra inventory, Marano did his first festival in Dadeville three to four years ago, and now he’s a regular at many nearby festivals.

“You started talking with people, ‘Can you do this? Can you do that?’” he said. “My natural engineering training

says, ‘Yeah I can do that. I don’t know how to do it yet, but I like the challenge of thinking about it and saying how can I do it, but how can I do it a little bit different.’”

A lot of Tallapoosa Time’s festival pieces are his smaller items like coasters, cutting boards, ornaments and party cup holders. His favorite things to work on are the bigger pieces like tables. By the start of 2025, Tallapoosa Time will have a storefront area in Lake Martin Lifestyle Management’s store, which will be opening near Highway 49 and 50. In honor of that, Marano is working on a large epoxy river countertop with Lake Martin Lifestyle Management’s name printed on it. The countertop is pushing 200 pounds. Marano said that’s another thing about this business, is you have to find ways to use simple machines to help you move and lift your pieces around.

Marano gets a lot of his hardwoods from a place in Montgomery and some of the more exotic woods from a place in Arizona. Although he is always looking for more local sources. Marano uses

A Prescription for Laughter

Tom’s Foolery returns to DPAC with four new members

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter

They say laughter is the best medicine so consider Dadeville Performing Arts Center your new pharmacy.

Tom’s Foolery Improv Comedy Troupe made its return to DPAC and this time with a larger cast. These four new members, Michaela Fryer, Ryan Gibson, Emily Haga and Emma Knott, joined the improv group over the summer and Dadeville will be their debut performance.

Fryer started improv in high school as an offshoot of her hometown’s community theater group. She later took a hiatus from theater to complete her master’s and undergraduate degree. Recently she has reconnected with this outlet.

Her first venture was Auburn Area Community Theatre’s “The Game’s Afoot,” where she and the other new members got acquainted with improv comedy troupe’s producer Thomas Maple. After creating connections during the play’s production, the four knew they wanted to join the improv troupe.

“I have noticed the biggest challenge isn’t necessarily getting on stage and performing,”

Fryer said of improv. “It’s getting involved and meshing with a new group of people.”

Luckily, this troupe has been a lot of fun and easy to work with. She said you can’t force being funny or the connections, but those things have come naturally with the existing members and the new members.

By day, Fryer is

a speech language pathologist with her own private practice and performs autism evaluations for local pediatricians. At the upcoming improv comedy performance, she was the moderator for the improv games that make up the performance acts.

New member Emily Haga said this was her first time with improv, but she has been with theater for a bit longer. She said she was pretty shy in high school and joined Auburn Area Community Theatre to branch out.

During the day she works at the Auburn University’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, and she enjoys having this outlet to perform comedy with others.

“I’m nervous, but I trust everybody that

we are with,” Haga said before the first performance. “We are all going to have fun.”

Haga said one important thing about this troupe for her is not only do the members get a good laugh, but the audience as well. Life can be hard sometimes and having a place to be present and laugh is needed.

New member Emma Knott came in from Florida to join the troupe at the Dadeville performance. While she started taking improv classes around high school, she joined this improv comedy troupe at the same time as the others.

Knott said after sitting in on a practice she knew she needed to join. Right now, Knott is working at Disney World and will return to Auburn full time

this January.

“I’m excited to experience it,” Knott said of the Dadeville performance, “because our practices have been amazing.”

New member Ryan Gibson said he has always had an interest in improv. He started theater in high school and undergrad and he credits it for one of the reasons he came out of his shell.

Like Fryer, Gibson took a break during his graduate degree and residency.

Gibson recently got back into theater through AACT and later joined this improv comedy troupe. Gibson said even though it’s improv, the troupe still rehearses but the rehearsals are different than a play rehearsal would be with memorizing lines and getting into characters. Its rehearsal focuses on

how to interact with each other and read each other through ever-changing scenarios.

“The reason I keep coming back is it’s just really enjoyable and we get to truly be ourselves,” Gibson said. “A lot of times we have to put on that professional hat, but here we can really be ourselves and have also cultivated some powerful friendships that show in the way we act with each other, how we are comfortable with each other, and it comes out in our comedy, I think at least.”

Outside of theater, Gibson works as a faculty member with Auburn University’s Veterinary College and owns his own neurology consultation business.

The DPAC performance was at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9.

Good cookin’ in Tallassee

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

I left some for y’all. I always have.

I’m talking about some good ole down home Southern cooking. I’m always looking for a great meal. You know the kind cooked with fatback. The kind of meal that leaves you wanting a nap afterwards. I’m usually successful and my waistline shows I’m qualified at finding good food.

My first introduction to Larry Melvin’s Restaurant in East Tallassee on Highway 14 came a few years ago when Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. sent me to Tallassee to work. It’s a metal building set among pecan trees. The sign quickly lets you know you are there. It also hints at a past.

“Food once thought lost,” it says. Sure ‘nough. I thought it was food once lost. Walking through the door I quickly noticed a few photos that piqued my interest — Hotel Talisi.

I remember many a family meal at the famed downtown Tallassee hotel. We would all be belly up to the table until the silverware could no longer clean the plate. I quickly learned using my tongue to remove the last bits of gravy was not appropriate. It required a roll. The selection of meats and vegetables was always memorable. The quality left its mark. A mark all other meat and threes

have been measured against for more than four decades. With my mind flooded with memories, I asked what happened to the recipes from the famed Hotel Talisi restaurant. Much to my amazement, many are at Larry Melvin’s. Three of the staff brought the secrets of the Hotel Talisi restaurant across the river. It’s as if they escaped with gold. Fried chicken, pork chops, sweet potatoes, chicken and dumplings, desserts and more have been resurrected.

As a child Hotel Talisi’s ‘nana pudding was the one above all others. It’s at Larry Melvin’s from time to time. Today I tried to keep my waistline in mind. I went for the baked chicken, peas and splurged with the ooey gooey goodness of chicken and dumplin’s. The chicken was moist and went well with the peas and roll. It was just like you grandma’s The dumplin’s were plentiful. They were full of starchy goodness.

I walked in hoping to have ‘nana pudding to finish my meal. The waitress said strawberry cobbler was all they had left of dessert options for the day. The strawberry cobbler was a first for me — at least a first for me at Larry Melvin’s. It had that crust all great cobbler has. It’s a little gooey on the underside with a bit of crunch on top. Then there is the fruit. It was great. It had that jam flavor and texture. A few large pieces of

strawberry. Now I’m home on the couch holding my eyes open with toothpicks as I write this fighting off the food induced want to nap. My waistline will grow some. But don’t worry, I left y’all some though you might have to use a biscuit to scrape up the remaining strawberry cobbler. Next time I hope to get my favorite — ‘nana pudding. Who wants to join me under the pecan trees at Larry Melvin’s?

GRAPHIC BY ABIGAIL MURPHY TPI

From left, Michaela Fryer, Ryan Gibson, Emma Knott and Emily Haga are the newest members of Tom’s Foolery Improv Comedy Troupe.

FOOD SPOTLIGHT

The Sexy Fresh at Lake Martin Brewing

By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter

Anytime I’d do any driving in Alexander City I constantly went past Lake Martin Brewing and it had always piqued my interest. So once the drink spotlight rolled around, I knew I had to go and visit.

When I walked in I gave my typical spiel and asked the bartender for a recommendation. He looked to his coworkers and they both agreed upon a drink called the Sexy Fresh. Now, I’m not a cocktail connoisseur, but I’ll admit I had never heard of a drink with that name.

However, the drink came with a story. The BigSexy-Jones Show, a band fronted by Jason Tapley aka BigSexy and Bo Jones, frequently perform at Lake Martin Brewing and with the help of bartender Dougie Fresh came up with a drink that has seen multiple iterations since its conception.

The iteration I received of the Sexy Fresh was Peach Schnapps, Platinum Vodka and cranberry juice with a slice of lime for decoration. It took only one sip to know I was a fan and would go down as one of those drinks I won’t know the damage of until it’s too late.

The mixtures of the peach and cranberry mixed well together with the drink as a whole, not on the strong side, which I enjoyed.

There were plenty of other things on the menu to drink with a selection of cold beers as well as a gnarly display of bourbon among other liquor for whatever cocktails you fancy. When I went in it was not soon after they opened, so the crowd had not arrived just yet. However, whenever I have driven past Lake Martin Brewing in the past I know that it definitely attracts a crowd.

I stayed for a little bit longer where I ordered a Michelob Ultra and sat around watching the plethora of college football I had surrounding

me. I was told about the many events they’ll have at Lake Martin Brewing and with the proximity to me I know this will not be my last visit.

For my first time, I had no complaints, the staff was awesome and the drinks were great. When I eventually ended up closing my tab my

total came to just over $15 for three drinks and compared to the prices I was paying in college it felt like a steal. I encourage everyone

locals now cherish.

When asked about his standout memories of the gallery, Martorana chuckled and said, “Too many.” Some moments, however, stand out more than others.

One of the earliest came when actor Burt Reynolds visited Red Hill’s former Montgomery Mall location. The news of Reynolds’ visit was so widely covered that the story made it to newspapers across the country, leaving Martorana both surprised and thrilled. Martorana fondly remembered Reynolds as a true gentleman.

ROOTED

Continued from E1

Wilson went home, still on oxygen and was determined to try something — painting. With no formal training she picked up the paint brush and the strokes flowed from the heart. Wilson’s paintings of trees and sometimes their roots are found almost daily planted on the sidewalk of Company Street. It’s the sign Wilson is there and working.

“I’m rooted in my

Over the years, Martorana also had the privilege of working with notable figures, including Terry Bowden, whose first image as Auburn’s football coach was published by Red Hill Gallery. From these unforgettable moments to the deep connections formed with loyal clients, Martorana’s career has been rich in experience and joy. But he’s also had to overcome difficulties.

One of the biggest shifts Red Hill Gallery has navigated has been the economic challenges of recent years, from rising material costs to fluctuating demands. Martorana credits the loyalty of his customers and Alabama

faith,” Wilson said. Working in Sawyer’s studio is something she has been doing for the last 18 months since Wilson retired from handling the business side of a medical office for nearly 30 years. Her only training in art came from Sawyer. Wilson brought her paintings of trees to Sawyer for critiques.

“He said, ‘You got it. You don’t need me for nothing,’” Wilson said the conversation with Sawyer went. Wilson thought she needed him “a lot.”

artists for helping the gallery thrive.

“Lake Martin’s art scene exploded during COVID,” Martorana said. “I’ve watched a lot of careers just blow up.”

If you ask Martorana to define Red Hill Gallery in a single phrase, Martorana quickly responds with, “Framing and Art, in that order.”

The gallery is renowned for its exceptional picture framing, which Martorana describes as an art form of its own, requiring the skill and craftsmanship akin to a furniture maker.

“Framing pictures is kind of like your hairstylist,” Martorana said. “Once you find

Like Sawyer, Wilson found her calling to paint from God. Sawyer added churches and crosses to many of his works. Wilson’s reference to God is the tree.

“I was looking in the Bible one day and it was talking about the strength, structure and shelter a tree provides,” Wilson said. “Its roots also run deep.”

It stuck with Wilson. She shared her thoughts with Sawyer.

“He said, ‘You got to paint it,’” Wilson said Sawyer’s advice was.

someone you trust, you stick with them.”

On the other hand, Martorana notes that picture framers don’t usually make a fortune in their chosen field. It requires passion, not profit-seeking.

After 35 years, Martorana is preparing to retire, a decision he’s met with both joy and sadness from the community. Red Hill Gallery has been more than a gallery for its visitors; it’s been a trusted friend.

“People have already been asking who will take over,” Martorana said. “If nobody steps up, it’s done.”

Oct. 18 saw the gallery’s 35th anniversary celebration, a night filled with music,

“He said, ‘You’ve got to have the feeling, not just something on your brain. I don’t want you to paint like a girl.’” Wilson brought her trees to Sawyer who looked at them in the same Company Street studio she now occupies.

“He looked at them and just shake his head,” Wilson said. “He said, ‘I don’t know how you do this. There is just something about that tree. I don’t know what it is, you keep doing it. You just keep doing it.’”

to go try the current iteration of the

Fresh before BigSexy and Dougie Fresh make adjustments to the recipe.

art and community. Over 75 people gathered, enjoying live music by the band Funky Business, featuring Rob Gallagher on drums and a gallery-wide 30% sale, paying homage to three and a half decades of creativity and camaraderie.

Martorana’s journey is a testament to the power of passion and resilience in the arts. His advice to new gallery owners is simple yet profound — he said new gallery owners should pick this field because they have a passion for it.

After a career dedicated to supporting artists, making friends and bringing fine art to Alabama, Martorana’s legacy at Red Hill Gallery is one of lasting impact.

Their conversations led to ideas of Wilson her own studio someday.

Wilson wasn’t sure what was going to happen after Sawyer died in July. She had been helping him with the Company Street studio opening it up. Sawyer would drive by almost daily.

“He would toot that horn to let me know he was there,” Wilson said. She got the studio in August but didn’t open up for a couple months. Wilson left the outside of the studio mostly like

Sawyer left it. There are the bright flowers and Hollywood Fish. Inside, Wilson made a little more her own.

“I have painted some,” Wilson said. “But it still feels like his space.” Wilson still hears the occasional horn blow but it’s not Sawyer looking at her from under the brim of his hat. It’s more of a feeling of Sawyer’s presence.

“I miss him,” Wilson said. “I look up knowing it’s not him. It was all in God’s plan and timing.”

Sexy

SAMUEL HIGGS | TPI

The Sexy Fresh at Lake Martin Brewing in Alexander City.

GALLERY Continued from E1

AN OKTOBERFEST TO REMEMBER

PHOTOS BY LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN | TPI

Thousands flocked to Alexander City for last month’s Oktoberfest featuring vendors, food trucks, games for kids and more. The Imagination Station hosted its soft opening during Oktoberfest and vendors from florists to hand massages to retail options were available.

Continued from E1

local lumber mills in Tallapoosa County and right now he has some walnut woods that came from a tree a past customer cut down in their property.

“People have accused me of being an artist,” Marano said. “I don’t consider myself an artist. I say God’s the artist because the beauty is actually in the wood and in the trees he developed.”

With Tallapoosa Time, Marano said he likes to find ways to help out the community as well. He donates pieces to nonprofits for their silent auction; some include United Way, The

Girls Ranch, Dixie Sailing Club, Children’s Harbor and, most recently, he did a Lake Martin LED backlit sign for Loaves and Fishes’ silent auction in November While Marano doesn’t have a storefront currently, the Tallapoosa Time Facebook page is where people can request orders or find out what he has in his inventory. These past few months have been busy for Marano prepping for the recent fall festivals. He said he worked 7 days a week for nearly a month just building up inventory for the smaller items. Although for all his pieces, Marano said the consistent factor is utility — he wants to create beautiful things people can use in day to day life.

Continued from E1

with their new tour,” Steve said. “They’ve toured Texas, New Orleans, Dadeville and they’re going to Miami next.”

All 47 band members stayed with members of the Lake Martin Yacht Club.The band performed on a piece of land the club has been clearing off as an event space. Kathy said she was thrilled to have the band perform on the property.

“It’s just been a wonderful opportunity for us,” Kathy said. “We’ve been so blessed, I feel blessed. It’s been a large amount of planning, and the planning was fun. We enjoyed it. I think everybody that went to a committee meeting had a lot of fun doing it, and we just watched it go from one little idea to this.”

To really get immersed in the culture, guests were treated to various German food items and other traditional German refreshments.

ABIGAIL MURPHY TPI

Tallapoosa Time has many smaller pieces like coasters, wooden Christmas trees, oraments and cutting boards.