April 17, 2019 Eclectic Observer

LOCAL, 7

SPORTS, 8

OPINION, 4

Community Easter egg hunt fun for all

Read about ECHS girls, boys soccer inside

Life lessons ‘with love from me to you’

Eclectic Observer The

WEDNESDAY • APRIL 17, 2019

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Vol. 30, No. 16

Town to talk gas contract renewal

By GABRIELLE JANSEN Staff Writer

Eclectic Mayor Gary Davenport announced a new contract for the town’s gas service Monday at the town council meeting.

Davenport said the town is near the end of its 30-year contract with Spire

Alabama and read a newly proposed agreement to the audience.

“We have entered into an agreement with Alabama Gas, which is now Spire Alabama,” Davenport said. “We currently have a franchise agreement with them which was a 30-year agreement, which is coming up for expiration this year. So they are submitting this new

agreement to us.”

Davenport said the one difference in the new contract is the company is going to pay the town 1 percent of the gross gas sales revenue. Davenport said the new agreement also deleted a requirement Spire Alabama would pay 1/2 percent of all of the police jurisdiction revenue.

“They have deleted it out of there because the attorney general of the State of Alabama said they are not required to pay that because the town is not entitled to it and that has been ruled for the whole state of Alabama,” Davenport said. “So everyone’s agreements is getting rid of the tax that was being paid See COUNCIL • Page 2

Sentencing levied in Eclectic robbery

PATCHING UP PROBLEMS

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Unpaved roads, old bridges, adding capacity top priorities for county roads, Beyer says

By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor

E

lmore County will get an infusion of $1.22 million each year due to Alabama’s recently passed gas tax increase but chief engineer Richie Beyer said residents should not expect to see new projects sprouting across the landscape.

What they will see are older bridges being made safe, capacity being added to existing thoroughfares in the growing county and dirt roads getting paved.

“I don’t think we’ll see ribbon cuttings on mega projects,” Beyer said. “But we want to get asphalt and concrete on the road as soon

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as possible. They’ll see additional roads being resurfaced. They’ll start to see bridge projects that have been lingering. A byproduct of keeping roads proactively maintained is people will see better response times from crews on ditches and rights of way and less time spent patching roads.”

Although Beyer doesn’t believe in repairing the worst roads first, he said the No. 1 priority is improving unpaved roads.

“If you took $1.2 million and addressed 30 miles and you were being more proactive and preserving good roads or you were fixing the worst 5 miles you’ve got, over time the investment in the 30 miles will pay off,” he said. “But See ROADS • Page 3

Jimmy Wigfield / The Observer

Old Rifle Range Road in Redland, top, is typical of many of Elmore County’s neediest roads, according to county engineer Richie Beyer. Beyer, above left, and county commission chairman Troy Stubbs walk among the potholes on Old Rifle Range Road.

Circuit Court Judge Sibley Reynolds sentenced two men after they pleaded guilty for their parts in a 2016 robbery in Eclectic resulting in the property owner being shot.

Dexter Antwon McDuffie and Pedro Gwon Bennett, both of Montgomery, were at the Pleasant Hill Road home when the property owner arrived.

McDuffie pleaded guility to first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery and attempted murder.

“The fact this woman lived is a miracle,” assistant district attorney Jillian Evans said. “Shooting her the first time wasn’t enough but you had to shoot her a second time. If you had been successful in killing her, it would be a captial case and the discussion would be a life (sentence) or death penalty.”

McDuffie expressed remorse for the incident.

“No words can change the facts,” McDuffie’s attorney Emmett Hampton said. “I have seen Mr. McDuffie become milder through reading and soul searching.”

McDuffie expressed his regrets to a son of the victim who was present for the See SENTENCING • Page 2

Elmore County superintendent against political games

By GABRIELLE JANSEN Staff Writer

While the Alabama Senate passed a bill to rescind Common Core, Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis said he doesn’t think state schools are using the national standards anyway.

“I don’t really think we’re doing Common Core in Alabama anyway but it’s really more the way it’s taught as opposed to the standards from the way I perceive it,” said Dennis, who said he against repealing it.

“My students in Elmore County specifically, we

tend to lean predominantly toward ACT. I have some who work toward SATs. The other aspect is I want to prepare my students to meet the challenges when they finish whichever avenue they’re trying — postsecondary, plans in the military or jobs.”

Dennis said because Common Core is a set of standards and not instructions on how educators teach standards, he doesn’t think some of the schools in the state are teaching it. “(Common Core is) standards that you set up to make sure that you know you go 100 yards to score a See COMMON CORE • Page 2

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PAGE 2 • APRIL 17, 2019

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THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

Elmore County set to vote on property tax effect in 2006. It makes residents pay a total of 10 mils toward education so school systems can receive funds from the Alabama Education Trust Fund. It is something the City of Tallassee approved years ago and why voters in Tallassee will see three items on their ballots and Elmore County residents will see four items.

Dennis hopes Elmore County voters will do the same thing plus renew the ad valorem taxes already in place.

“All we are trying to do is renew the first three, then replace 778 with 382,” Dennis said. “The reason we have 382 on our ballot and Tallassee doesn’t is because they already have it. They put it into place prior to 778 kicking in. If 382 passes, 778 goes away. It does not expire but is a state-mandated amendment that fills the gap. If none of these were to pass, 10 mils would still be mandated for public educa-

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Voters will go to the polls April 23 in Elmore County to renew ad valorem taxes for education totaling 10 mils but even if voted down Elmore County residents will still pay 10 mils.

“It has been 10 mils,” Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis said. “The total on this is only 10 mils and regardless of outcome will only be 10 mils.”

Currently Elmore County residents are paying for 7 mils they approved more than 20 years ago through three separate measures and are up for renewal due to state law. The other 3 mils Elmore County residents are currently paying, but did not vote on is due to Amendment 778 to the Alabama Constitution which went into

Council

tion in 2022.”

Amendment 778 is how Elmore County residents are currently paying 10 mils of ad valorem instead of the voter-approved 7 mils. Tallassee passed Amendment 382 before 778 took effect and isn’t up for renewal for 20 years.

According to the Alabama Department of Education, in fiscal year 2018 Elmore County Schools gave up its 10 mils of ad valorem tax totaling just shy of $9.5 million in matching funds and received more than $66 million from the Alabama Education Trust Fund. Tallassee Schools received $678,000 in ad valorem taxes through its 10 mils for education and gave it up in matching funds to the Alabama Education Trust Fund to receive more than $10.9 million in 2018.

The federal government is another source of funds for Elmore County schools.

continued from Page 1

to the towns or municipalities for their (police jurisdictions).”

Davenport said the council must have a public hearing before taking action on the new contract at the council’s May meeting. Davenport said representatives from Spire Alabama will be at the meeting.

The council decided to hold the public hearing on May 6, which will also include a discussion on closing Johnson Street.

Councilmen Charles Powell and David Goodwin did not attend the meeting.

In other action, the

Eclectic Town Council: Discussed the upcoming cotton fair and reviewed the most recent trade day and Easter egg hunt.

Heard about preparing to paint crosswalks and posting signs on Sunset Drive for the next few weeks.

Reminded the audience about the 2020 census.

Heard from resident Stephanie Stepney about a speeding Eclectic fire truck and not hearing a tornado warning from the sirens a few weeks ago.

Stepney suggested adding a board at the playground for community members to post announcements.

Gabrielle Jansen / The Observer

Eclectic resident Stephanie Stepney, center, speaks up at the town council meeting Monday.

Common Core

Sentencing continued from Page 1 sentencing for not living up to his family-instilled morals.

“I was not brought up like this,” McDuffie said.

“I want to apologize to you. I didn’t mean for it to go this far.”

McDuffie was sentenced to 25 years in prison for each count to be served concurrently.

Bennett was sentenced to 154 months (12 years 10 months) in prison and to pay $5,757 in restitution after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary and second-degree theft. In the hearing, statements were made that Bennett was the driver for McDuffie in the robbery and Bennett was cooperative with law enforcement.

According to court records and statements to Reynolds, both McDuffie and Bennett had several previous felony convictions leading to extended prison sentences.

Orbia Bozeman, 24, of Montgomery was sentenced to 124 months (10 years 4 months) for his role in a robbery of five individuals in 2016. Bozeman was indicted on five counts of first-degree robbery but pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery.

Reynolds spilt his sentence with three years in prison and 12 months of probation. Bozeman will also pay $750 in restitution.

continued from Page 1

touchdown if that’s the guidelines,” Dennis said.

Dennis said the state is attempting to put schools on a competitive level nationally and internationally due to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores.

“The reason we score so low on NAEP is because we’re not preparing students to do that,” Dennis said.

“That’s not something new. … I think hoops and games is kind of ridiculous

but I understand it’s part of the process.”

Dennis said no matter the standards, Elmore County schools will focus on math and reading for its 11,081 students.

“Whether (the state) changes the standards to whatever they want to, we’re still going to try to teach them how to do math, addition, subtraction, multiplication and then algebra and go from there,” Dennis said. “The lit-

— SMALL CHANGE —

BIG

DIFFERENCE

eracy and the reading is fundamental.

We’ve got to improve it. The math is fundamental. We have to improve it.”

Dennis said repealing Common Core is “ridiculous” and the Alabama Senate can “play political games” because he’s going to continue to prepare his students for graduation.

“Common Core is not what we’re doing, frankly, and some counties or systems may be doing some Common Core,” Dennis said. “I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing. What am I supposed to do?”

Dennis said he thinks politicians haven’t looked at the current math standards.

“I don’t even know what they’re going to do to try to change it,” Dennis said. “I don’t even know specifically what they’re going to try to

achieve in doing this other than just simply some sort of semantic political play. That’s basically what it seems like to me. Nothing had changed previously. Nothing will change this time from my perspective.”

Dennis said the Elmore County system is still working with businesses and industries that want students who are prepared for the workforce after graduation, including timber, aviation and electrical.

“All of those are huge, huge necessities right now across this country and specifically in Alabama,” Dennis said. “We’re going to do our best to make everything count.”

Dennis said the Elmore County system has gained 50 students between October and the end of March.

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APRIL 17, 2019 • PAGE 3

Roads

continued from Page 1

a lot of the unpaved roads are through routes and if they’re completed they could relieve congestion. There are five or six strategic ones that if paved would change traffic patterns and we’re hoping some of this (gas tax money) will allow us to expedite those. If we can invest more in the preventive side and seal those up, our crews will be able to get those roads ready.”

As is the case with many of Alabama’s 67 counties, Elmore County still won’t have enough money to keep its roads and bridges in good shape once the Rebuild Alabama program reaches full implementation in 2022 with a gas tax increase of 10 cents per gallon. The initial 6-cent increase per gallon takes effect Sept. 1.

According to the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, Elmore County needs $10.48 million per year just to maintain roads on a 15-year cycle and replace bridges on a 50-year cycle. Its budget is $4.965 million annually and the extra $1.22 million will bring that to $6.185 million a year — still nearly $4.3 million short of the needs. Beyer said 41 percent of the budget in fiscal year 2017 went to salaries and benefits, 38 percent to materials and operations and 21 percent to equipment and facilities.

The county is responsible for 1,000 miles of roads, 182 of which are unpaved. It has 123 bridges, 20 of which are at least 50 years old, according to the ACCA. “The Elmore County Commission has a backlog of maintenance projects that will consume much of the Rebuild Alabama funding,” Beyer said.

But Beyer and county commission chairman Troy Stubbs aren’t complaining about the first gas tax increase since 1992.

“Rebuild Alabama does help,” Stubbs said. “It doesn’t give us everything we need but it’s a great start. I think we are ahead of the game as far as our ability to stretch the taxpayers’ dollars. (Improving unpaved roads and adding capacity) will help us grow in the proper way and will affect quality of life.”

Beyer hopes his department can stretch the new funds well enough — including using some of it for matching grants — to maintain 15 to 20 miles of roads a year.

“We’re very happy

to have the new revenue,” he said. “We can leverage it and make it go as far as possible.

We can use techniques to stretch the life of the pavement. But no one received the resources they fully need. After 27 years of delay, the true need is just too much for anyone to realistically expect to be fixed with one action.”

Beyer said he’d give Elmore County’s infrastructure a grade of C. “The paved road side is a little better off,” he said. “We have a growing list of bridges — 20 are 50 years old or older and that’s 1/5th of our network. If we are not proactive now, that ‘C’ level could go down quickly.”

Beyer said 164 miles of roads and streets in the county grade below a 79.

“That means you’re getting more into the rehabilitation of the roadway, which is more expensive,” he said.

“People start having an uncomfortable ride on that kind of road. Their front ends get knocked out due to potholes.

With another 213 miles needing some form of immediate attention and four bridges in need of major rehab or replacement now, the Rebuild Alabama allocation the county will begin receiving will be put right to work.”

Beyer and the county commission must balance repairing roads and bridges with making them capable of handling population that grew an estimated 3 percent from 2010 to 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. An estimated 82,000 people live in Elmore County.

“We’re having to add capacity,” Beyer said.

“People are leaving the municipal areas and coming to the county for more space and expect that city service.”

Beyer said 43,000 cars daily traverse the intersection of U.S. Highway 231 at Main Street in Wetumpka and there are some noteworthy roads that need to be widened to four lanes, including Redland Road (11,000 vehicles a day); Deatsville Highway and Coosada Parkway (6,000 a day each); and Rifle Range, Firetower and Dozier roads (5,000 a day each).

“There are very few areas in the county that aren’t seeing growth,” Beyer said. “There’s a lot of (housing) inventory left over from the 2009 crash and now that’s being gobbled up.”

Beyer said many retirees are moving to

! w o N g n i Happen

FUNDS GIVEN TO COMMISSION, CITIES WITHIN COUNTY Elmore County Commission $1,220,083.21

Tallassee

$46,014.48

Coosada

$22,069.23

Deatsville

$21,602.98

Lake Martin and Stubbs said the west side of the county, Redland and Holtville are blossoming with young families.

“We have seen tremendous growth in the last 10 to 15 years and we anticipate continuing to see it,” Stubbs said.

Beyer admits he gets frustrated when he hears critics say the gas tax increase is unnecessary and his department has plenty of money to fix all its roads and bridges, especially since Elmore County’s median income from 201317 was $54,981, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Eclectic

$20,583.89

Elmore

$22,322.33

Millbrook

$111,429.32

Wetumpka $57,397.63

Total

$1,521,503.07

“Plenty is relative,” Beyer said. “Most every county in the state funds their roads and bridges with the gas tax and the last time it was raised was 1992.

Imagine if you were in the workforce in 1992 and your salary today was the same as it was in 1992. Then with inflation, all the things you’re buying get more expensive. Now you’re trying to use that same revenue to buy things that are 50 or 60 percent more. Most people, unless you do road work every day, don’t understand how expensive it is. They pay all

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to exchange that for $400,000 from the state but there are fewer strings with the $400,000,” Beyer said.

Elmore County and its cities can also apply for part of up to $50 million annually provided by ATRIP II to pay for projects of local interest on state-maintained highways.

There is also a $10 million annual grant program for roads and bridges the county and its municipalities can utilize.

“We’ve talked to our mayors about joint projects with the county,” Beyer said. “We’ve talked to them about their needs and what will help us and we could pool resources.”

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their taxes and they think it all goes to roads and bridges.”

The county also determines what gets fixed based on objective criteria instead of commissioners arbitrarily making those decisions as they did in the past.

“It used to be county commissioners had their districts and their own money and they’d decide what needed to be paved,” Stubbs said.

However, the Rebuild Alabama Act gives counties and municipalities more purchasing power through combining resources and easing restrictions.

“We were getting $533,000 from the federal government and now we’re going

RODNEY GRIFFITH

Get Ready fo r Eclectic Public Library

Submitted / Association of County Commissions of Alabama

The graphic above shows statistics about the roads and bridges in Elmore County.

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Steve Baker, Publisher Jimmy Wigfield, Managing Editor Opinions expressed in guest columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the management of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.

Page 4 • APRIL 17, 2019

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Life lessons ‘with love from me to you’

I

saw something circulating through my Facebook feed recently that made me stop and think.

“Comment one total random piece of advice that has helped you in the past.”

I read comments advising friends on everything from being smart by investing in renter’s insurance to being strong and knowing “this too shall pass” and even not to “fry bacon without a shirt on,” which, hey, I can’t disagree with that last one.

It inspired me to think about some life lessons I’ve learned that may help somebody else if I pass them on.

1. First is always best, better known as “FAB.” This is a piece of advice my mama and I came up with and have always relied on. Whether it’s something as simple as where to go for lunch or something as serious as which car to buy, it’s something we live by pretty seriously. It’s essentially the same thing as trusting your gut. When you’re making a decision, big or small, go back to the very first hunch you ever had about the situation and stick to that.

I remember being in school taking a multiple-choice test and flipping from A to B and then remembering the “FAB” rule and sticking to A. Nine times out of 10, my gut was right.

2. Don’t go to the grocery store hungry.

I don’t know how many times I have to remind myself this piece of advice before grocery shopping, but man, it is a bad idea to set foot in a grocery store on an empty stomach. If you’re at Walmart, it’s not so bad because at least the prices are a bit lower, but try walking into Publix hungry and you’ll leave with an empty bank account, a still-empty stomach and grocery bags full of Lord knows what. And while I’m on the subject, don’t go to the grocery store without a list either. It’s just a bad idea. You’re gonna end up buying way more than you need and spending too much money.

3. Learn to say “no.”

Although it’s something I’ve gotten better at in my 20s, it’s still hard for me to do. Whether it’s simply offering to help someone

SANTANA WOOD Design Editor with something, or when I was in high school working two jobs and running a photography business and still always agreeing to cover a co-worker’s shift, I kinda hate to admit I’ve always been a “yesgirl.” Now, having a chronic illness and typically working overtime each week, I have learned how important it is to say no. Whether it’s pacing yourself with your work or telling your friends you just can’t hang out this weekend due to pure exhaustion or being too busy with something else, sometimes you just have to say “no.” Set your priorities straight and have the strength to take care of yourself because at the end of the day, you have to be your own No. 1.

4. Don’t let fear hold you back.

It’s easy for anyone to say “don’t be scared, just go for it,” but it’s harder for one to actually do. Being an anxiety-ridden girl, I will be the first to admit I have let fear hold me back more times than I can count on both my fingers and toes.

However, I’m a work in progress. I am learning to do things that scare me because as uncomfortable as it may be, the best things happen just outside your comfort zone. Step outside of it every now and then and you’ll see I’m right.

5. Nothing good happens after midnight.

Whenever I was in high school, my curfew was midnight. I begged and begged Mama to extend it to 12:30 a.m. because I lived in the small town of Union Springs, which was at least 45 minutes or an hour away from all my friends. My argument was by the time I drove all the way there and hung out for a while, it was already time to go because I’d have to drive all the way home. Mama, being the wonderful woman she is, decided to throw me a bone and let me have it. The couple times my curfew was 12:30 a.m., bad things happened.

The first was shortly after I turned 16 and got my first car. It was a red 2000 Honda Accord and I loved it

to pieces. Her name was Loretta (a tribute to Loretta Lynn, of course).

I was out one night heading home and bam, I hit my first deer. I’d had the car less than a month and ended up with a dent on my hood I had until the time that car died. The second thing that happened scared me enough to beg Mama to change my curfew back to midnight. I was several hundred feet from pulling up to the house when I noticed the stop sign by my house had been spray painted with a giant five on it. Those who know me know that’s my unlucky number and how many bad things have happened to me associated with the number. Moral of the story, if it’s midnight, you better be in bed asleep or something bad just might happen.

6. Slow down.

To quote one of my favorite movies, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” I’m still trying to figure out how in the world it’s April 2019 but that’s truly just time moving fast as it does. For several months, I’ve been so busy I haven’t slowed down to smell the dang roses and definitely haven’t taken a moment to appreciate all I have. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of work and life in general, but it’s just as easy to take a minute and slow down to enjoy this life and all the good that comes with it. Don’t be too busy for your family, friends or yourself. Just slow down, and remember to breathe.

If I had more space, I’d tell you to wear sunscreen, don’t buy offbrand cheese slices or aluminum foil (those are two things you’ve just gotta splurge on for the real brand, trust me) and much more, but I’ve gotta stop somewhere.

Hopefully you’ll take something from my words of 24-year-old “wisdom” and be inspired to think of some of your own. Life can be messy and crazy but there’s always something you can do to make it better. Whether it’s trusting your gut or taking time to slow down, I hope you take my advice.

Santana Wood is the design editor of The Observer, who is also a big fan of The Beatles if you didn’t get the reference in her headline.

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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 Erin Burton or Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

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USPS-005-022 ISSN: 1536-688X The Eclectic Observer is published weekly on Wednesday, by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010.

Periodical postage paid at Wetumpka, Alabama.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Eclectic Observer, P. O. Box 99, Wetumpka, AL 36092-0099.

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. manages The Alexander City Outlook, The Dadeville Record, The Wetumpka Herald, The Tallassee Tribune, The Eclectic Observer, Lake Magazine, Lake Martin Living, Elmore County Living, Kenneth Boone Photography and a commercial web printing press. © 2016 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher.

Letter to the Editor

A ray of hope in the national crisis of student loan debt

Dear Editor, No national crisis, including the immigration problem, exceeds the volume and across the board applicability to all taxpayers as the student loan debt of this country. Government agencies current lists outstanding student loan debt at 44 million debtors owing $1.5 trillion. More than half of those debtors will be repaying debt into their retirement. Obviously, we are at the breaking point where a solution must be sought.

There is, in fact, a glimmer of hope for taxpayers as well as existing students and new students entering post-secondary education. New York University just announced its “tuition free” program of its medical school.

This program, instantly effective, means an elimination of an average of $200,000 of debt for graduating physicians. NYU trustee and Home

Depot co-founder, Ken Langone along with his wife, are personally funding this program. Additionally, the state of Tennessee just passed a law creating a tuition-free education at the University of Tennessee for families earning $54,000 per year or less beginning with the fall 2019 term for all students. The UT program means 47 percent of the new class will be able to graduate debt free.

In addition to the proposed NYU Medical School plan, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a proposed statewide loan program for all curriculum where student loan debt erasure is tied to mandatory service instate for up to three years with service in rural and intercity deprived areas. For instance, a graduating medical student or law student would be required to service needy communities in exchange for forgiven debt.

This program is for families earning

$125,000 per year or less and, of course, would require taxpayer funding initially.

No taxpayer is exempt from worry about what to do about student loans. Obviously, as taxpayers we will all ended up footing the bill. As parents, you and I must face this issue every month as we write the check to repay student debt.

If you are one of those voters who is looking to blame the major banks for this mess, remember the federal student loan program was taken over in 2009 by President Barack Obama with commercial banks no longer being involved.

Sources: CBS News, “60 Minutes;” April 7; New York Times, April 5; U.S. Office of Education, Federal Student Loan Program James W. Anderson Talladega

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

APRIL 17, 2019 • PAGE 5

Jesus is alive and so is His story Q. “If there is a God, why doesn’t He just tell us?”

A. “He did. We crucified Him. That was His plan.”

H

oly Week began on Palm Sunday when Christians around the world commemorated Jesus’ entering Jerusalem amid loud choruses of “Hallelujah.” During the week that He was crucified Jesus presented Himself to the crowds, the religious leaders and his disciples as Messiah, God’s Son, Savior, and the Great I Am. All four gospels recount Jesus telling His disciples the Jewish leaders would reject His claims and turn Him over to the Romans to be crucified. He also told them He would rise from the dead

on the third day, something that confounded the disciples.

Since those days many families around the world have read the stories out loud every spring to teach their children, to reach out to those who have rejected God’s gift and to remind themselves how much God loves us. But why did Jesus have to die? Is there no other way?

After the fall in the garden of Eden, all hope of doing anything to reconcile with God was lost. The first three chapters of Paul’s letter to believers in Rome conclusively demonstrate none of us seeks God. The end of the third chapter offers the only hope that God has reached out to us, that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, offering us the free gift of eternal

DANIEL GARDNER Columnist life. (Romans 3:21-31.)

The Bible says we are inherently bad. Nevertheless, we believe there’s some good in all of us.

Jean Rousseau wrote, “Man is a being who is naturally good and who loves justice and order; that there is no original perversity in the human heart.” Perhaps this is why so many reject God and the Bible.

If Rousseau is right, we don’t need God. We’re all the same and share the same destiny. But what if Jesus is God?

The Bible has always thrown a monkey wrench into the belief that we’re basically good. What did Mark Twain say? “It is not the things which I do not understand in the Bible which trouble me but the things which I do understand.”

When God spoke to Moses from the middle of the burning bush and Moses asked God what His name was, God replied, “I am who I am,” and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14.)

Fifteen-hundred years later the high priest asked Jesus, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus answered, “I am; and you shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

(Mark 14:62.)

After becoming a Christian, C.S. Lewis wrote “Mere Christianity” reasoning Jesus could not have been a great moral teacher. Anyone who made the claims Jesus made would be a “lunatic” or “the devil of hell” but neither great nor moral unless Jesus was who He claimed to be.

According to the Bible after the crucifixion no one believed Jesus could rise from the dead.

Indeed, when Jesus appeared to His followers, they could hardly believe He was alive. Jesus’ resurrection became the cornerstone of the good news.

“Christ is risen!”

“He is risen indeed!”

Daniel Gardner is a syndicated columnist.

Area Churches AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-4413 Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8144 Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd. (Co. Rd. 3), Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-9143 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic 541-2006 Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-5754 Crossroads Assembly of God 2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 285-5545 First Assembly of God 3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God 5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 569-2825 BAPTIST Abraham Baptist Church Millbrook Antioch Baptist Church 1115 Antioch Rd., Titus 5672917 Beulah Baptist Church 2350 Grier Rd., Wetumpka 514-2881 Blue Ridge Baptist 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-4325 Brookwood Baptist Grandview Rd., Millbrook Calvary Baptist 504 W. Osceola St., Wetumpka 567-4729 Central Baptist 3545 W. Central Rd., Wetumpka 541-2556 Coosada Baptist 20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic 5414444 Faith Baptist 64 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-4417 First Baptist Church 205 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-5191 First Baptist of Elmore Hwy. 14 Co. Rd. 74, Elmore Galilee Baptist 95 Old Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-4178 Good Hope Baptist 1766 S. Fleahop Rd., Eclectic Goodship Baptist 1554 Hwy. 143, Millbrook 285-0094 Grace Baptist Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka

567-3255 Grandview Pines Baptist 346 Deatsville Hwy., Millbrook 285-5125 Green Ridge Baptist 288 Turner Rd., Wetumpka 567-2486 Harvest Baptist 2990 Main St., Millbrook Hillside Baptist 405 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Holtville Riverside Baptist 7121 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 514-5922 Lake Elam Baptist 4060 Gober Rd., Millbrook Liberty Hill Baptist 61 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-8750 Lighthouse Baptist 2281 Main St., Millbrook Living Water Baptist 1745 Grass Farm Rd. (Co. Rd. 80), Titus 514-7304 Millbrook Baptist 3431 Browns Road, Millbrook 285-4731 Mitts Chapel Baptist 935 Cold Springs Rd., Deatsville 569-1952 Crossroads Community Church 150 Mt. Hebron Rd., Elmore 567-4441 Mt. Herron East Baptist Church 4355 Mt. Herron Rd. Eclectic, Al 36024 334-857-3689 Mountain View Baptist 1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka 567-4458 New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury 312-1878 New Home Baptist 1605 New Home Rd., Titus 567-0923 New Hope Baptist 6191 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville 569-1267 New Lily Green Baptist 6504 Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville New Nazareth Baptist Hwy. 143, Deatsville Pleasant Hill Baptist Pleasant Hill Rd., Eclectic 541-3460 Prospect Baptist Prospect Rd., Eclectic 5675837 Redland Baptist 1266 Dozier Rd., Wetumpka 567-8649 Refuge Baptist Church 3098 Red Hill Road Tallassee 334-857-2638 Rehoberth Baptist 8110 Rifle Range Rd., Tallassee 567-9801 Rushenville Baptist 10098 Georgia Rd., Eclectic 541-2418 Saint James Baptist 1005 Nobles Rd., Wetumpka 567-6209 Saint James Baptist 101 Gantt Rd., Deatsville 569-3006 Santuck Baptist 7250 Central Plank Rd., We-

tumpka 567-2364 Seman Baptist Seman, Alabama Shoal Creek Baptist 13214 Holtville Rd., Deatsville 569-2482 Springfield Baptist Hwy. 7, Millbrook Thelma Baptist 810 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-3665 Titus Baptist 6930 Titus Rd., Wetumpka 334-531-2120 Tunnell Chapel Baptist 210 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2589 Victory Baptist 5481 Main St., Millbrook Wadsworth Baptist 2780 Hwy. 143, Deatsville 569-2851

Mount Pisgah 16621 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 567-3668 Mt. Zion 371 AL Hwy. 14, Elmore, 5672613 Mt. Zion #3 1813 Luke Paschal Rd., Eclectic New Home 5130 Elmore Rd., Wetumpka 567-5966 Second Missionary 760 N. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8601 Spring Chapel Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-6493 Sweetwater 163 Michael Lane, Wetumpka 334-538-9415 Tabernacle Baptist 1020 W. Tallassee St., Wetumpka 567-0620

BAPTIST - MISSIONARY Atkins Hill 565 Atkins Rd., Wetumpka 567-1141 Cathmagby Baptist 3074 Mitchell Creek Rd., Wetumpka 567-4787 First Missionary Baptist at Guilfield 412 Company St., Wetumpka 567-7455 Goodhope 1389 Willow Springs Rd. Wetumpka 567-7133 Lebanon 17877 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 514-1097 Mount Canaan 1125 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-2141

BAPTIST - PRIMITIVE Bethel Old School 4625 Jackson Rd. (C.R. 103), Wetumpka Providence 4850 Chana Creek Rd., Wetumpka CATHOLIC Our Lady of Guadalupe 545 White Rd., Wetumpka 567-0311 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ of Elmore 470 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 567-6670 Church of Christ Grandview Pines 165 Deatsville Hwy., Millbrook Cold Springs Church of Christ

1 OUT OF 10

ELDERLY PERSONS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE BEING:

Abused, Neglected or Exploited If you suspect this is happening to someone you know, please report it to Adult Protective Services by contacting your local DHR office or calling the

ADULT ABUSE HOTLINE at 1-800-458-7214

HELP STOP THE ABUSE

IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT

5920 Alabama Hwy. 143, Deatsville Georgia Road Church of Christ 4003 Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-2804 Lightwood Church of Christ 251 New Harmony Rd., Deatsville 569-1510 Redland Road Church of Christ 2480 Redland Rd., Wetumpka 514-3656 Wetumpka Church of Christ W. Bridge St. At W. Main St., Wetumpka 567-6561 CHURCH OF GOD Elmore Church of God 10675 Rucker Road, Elmore Gethsemane Church of God 705 Cotton St., Wetumpka 567-9886 Church at the Brook 2890 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Maranatha Church of God 2621 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 567-6786 Victory Tabernacle AOH Church of God 2080 Main Street, Millbrook Wetumpka Church of God Hwy. 9 N. Wetumpka 215-3091 CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN Cedarwood Congregational Christian 10286 US Hwy 231 N, Wetumpka 567-0476 Seman Congregational Christian 15970 Central Plank Rd., Seman Union Congregational Christian 8188 Lightwood Rd., Marbury 569-2122

EPISCOPAL The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2602 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee 252-8618 Trinity Episcopal Church 5371 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-7534 St. Michael & All Angels Church 5941 Main St., Millbrook HOLINESS New Beginnings Holiness 865 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-9211 Summit Holiness 2050 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Temple of Deliverance Holiness 620 Alabama St., Wetumpka 514-3114 JEHOVAH’S WITNESS Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 9235 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-8100 LATTER DAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1405 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-8339 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Cobbs Ford Rd., Millbrook LUTHERAN Christ Lutheran Church 2175 Cobbs Ford Rd., Prattville PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church 100 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8135

ASBESTOS LITIGATION If you began working in a

TEXTILE MILL Cotton mill Tire plant Paper mill Steel mill

or any other industrial setting before 1980: You may have a claim against the asbestos manufacturers.

Call now for your free evaluation.

1-888-432-6020 There’s no excuse for

ELDER ABUSE

“This project was supported by Subgrant #16-VA-VS-076 awarded by the Law Enforcement / Traffic Safety Division of ADECA and the U.S. Department of Justice.” The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice or grant-making component.”

Asbestos Claims, LLC, Jubal L. Hamil Attorney at Law, ARPC7.2.(e) “No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”

R b Rebecca Buckalew, B k l CRNP Tallassee Internal Medicine Tallassee Internal Medicine welcomes Rebecca Buckalew, CRNP to the staff. Rebecca looks forward to continuing the high quality, compassionate healthcare that our patients have always received. Rebecca is located at the Community Medical Plaza.

Please call today for an appointment

334.283.3844

HOURS: Monday - Thursday 8 am - 5 pm Friday 8 am - 12 noon

PAGE 6 • APRIL 17, 2019

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

ClassiÄeds

Lake & River Phone (256) 277-4219 Fax (205) 669-4217 The Alexander City Outlook

Employment

The Dadeville Record

Job Opportunities

The Learning Tree, Inc. is Accepting Applications for 2nd, 3rd and Weekend shifts for Direct Care Applications can be picked up at: 101 S. Dubois Street Tallassee, AL 36078 Or contact Shatia Carr (334)252-0025 Ext. 101 Email: Scarr@learning-tree.org Tallapoosa County Road & Bridge is accepting applications for: Equipment Operator, District Three Deadline is: April 18, 2019 at 12 pm Please apply at: Tallapoosa County Engineering Dept.

20121 Highway 280 Dadeville, AL 36853 Monday - Thursday between the hours of 8 - 12

is hiring CDL-A Drivers in your area Great Pay! ([FHOOHQW %HQHÂżWV Visit our website www.whiteoaktrans.com for more information EOE-M/F/D/V

Hiring experienced carpenters Please apply in person at: 6400 Highway 63 S Alexander City, AL 35010

‡&HUWL¿HG 1XUVLQJ $VVLVWDQWV DP SP SP SP SP DP VKLIWV ([FHOOHQW SD\ DQG EHQH¿WV $SSO\ LQ SHUVRQ DW :DVKLQJWRQ 6WUHHW $OH[DQGHU &LW\

C&J Tech Alabama,Inc. Now Hiring-Production Area 2IIHUHG %HQH¿WV ‡0HGLFDO 'HQWDO 9LVLRQ ‡3DLG 9DFDWLRQ +ROLGD\V ‡/RQJ 6KRUW 7HUP 'LVDELOLW\ 3ODQV ‡ KU RU PRUH (based upon experience) $SSOLFDQWV DSSO\ DW C&J Tech.

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SEEKING SALESMAN for Rubber & Plastic Items Call to apply: 205-243-6661

Now Hiring Experienced Mechanical/ Structural Draftsman SURÂżFLHQW LQ 'LPHQVLRQDO AutoCAD drafting.

Contact Brown Machine & Fabrication, Inc. Alexander City, AL 0RQGD\ 7KXUVGD\

Now Hiring for Full-Time Manufacturing Positions in the Alexander City Area.

All Shifts Available.

Overtime & some Saturdays may be required. Pay rates start at $9.00/hr & increase depending on the company.

Your choice of two Health Insurance Plans available.

Must pass drug screen & client background requirements.

Apply in person at: 207 South Central Avenue Alexander City, AL 35010 or Online at www.asapply-ag.com

We Are Looking to Fill the Following Positions: 1. RN/LPN Nursing Supervisor 2. Caregivers Provide appropriate care and supervision to Elderly and Disabled individuals.

Call us at 256-342-5222 or email: aohcs08@gmail.com

Moco Transportation OTR Drivers Needed 25 yrs old, 2 yrs Exp. Hazmat Required.

Good MVR. NO LOCAL RUNS Call: 1-800-328-3209

classiďŹ eds@thewetumpkaherald.com public.notices@thewetumpkaherald.com

The Eclectic Observer

Job Opportunities

The Tallassee Tribune

Job Opportunities

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Job Opportunities

White Oak Transportation

classiďŹ eds@alexcityoutlook.com public.notices@alexcityoutlook.com

Reaching more than 22,000 households in Tallapoosa and Elmore counties

Bill Nichols State Veterans Home NOW-HIRING!!!

‡51 /31 &KDUJH 1XUVH 6LJQ RQ %RQXV

Apply at: hmrveteranservices.com Contact:Brandy Holman 256-329-0868 ,I LQWHUHVWHG LQ WHDFKLQJ DUW FODVVHV RQ D YROXQWHHU EDVLV FRQWDFW 6KRQGD <RXQJ $'& 'LU RI 5HFUHDWLRQDO 6HUYLFHV ([W

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%URZQ 1XUVLQJ DQG 5HKDELOLWDWLRQ Hiring CDL Drivers, Backhoe Operators, and Laborers Must be highly motivated and able to follow directions Must have own transportation Please call: 334-322-4432 NOW HIRING Â&#x2021;(PHUJHQF\ 5RRP )7 51 DP SP Â&#x2021;37 6XUJLFDO 6FUXE 7HFK Â&#x2021;)7 &513 :HWXPSND 3HGLDWULFV (PDLO UHVXPH OUD]LFN#LY\FUHHNKHDOWK FRP CDL Class B Driver Wetumpka Russell Do it Center Now accepting applications for the position of Class B CDL Driver/Warehouse worker.

Must have experience driving a forklift and delivery trucks with manual trans. Full-time position ZLWK EHQHÂżWV 9DOLG GULYHUÂśV license with Class B CDL license and a good driving history required. Please apply in person at Russell Do it Center, 7986 Hwy 231, Wetumpka, AL Applications accepted Mondayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Friday 7am-4pm.

Serious Inquiries Only.

EOE

Full-time sales clerk Wetumpka Russell Do it Center is now accepting applications for a full-time sales clerk.

Retail experience helpful.

Applications accepted at Russell Do it Center, 7986 Hwy 231 Wetumpka, AL EOE

Warehouse worker Wetumpka Russell Do it Center Accepting applications for the position of warehouseman at the Wetumpka Do it Center.

Forklift and warehouse operations experience desired.

Part-time position with EHQHÂżWV 3OHDVH DSSO\ LQ SHUVRQ at Russell Do it Center 7986, +Z\ LQ :HWXPSND $/ Applications accepted 0RQGD\ Âą )ULGD\ DP SP 6HULRXV ,QTXLULHV 2QO\ EOE DRIVERS Hanna Truck Lines is seeking Professional Flatbed Drivers.

56 cpm-No surprises: Starting pay (all miles): 54cpm, 55cpm at 6 months, 56cpm at 1 year. 100% Outbound loads Pre-loaded & Tarped. 75% Inbound No Tarp. Late Model Peterbilt Trucks. AirRide Trailers. Home weekends. Low cost BCBS Health/Dental Ins. 0DWFKLQJ . 4XDOLÂżFDWLRQV 18 months Class A CDL driving H[SHULHQFH ZLWK PRV Ă&#x20AC;DWEHG Applicants must meet all D.O.T. requirements.

Contact recruiting at 1-800-634-7315 RU FRPH E\ +7/ RIÂżFH DW 1700 Boone Blvd, Northport.

EOE Experienced Machinist Needed Manual Mill & Lathe Operator Contact Brown Machine & Fabrication, Inc. Alexander City, AL Monday - Thursday 256-234-7491

Now Hiring Heavy Equipment Operators and CDL Drivers Competitive pay and EHQHÂżWV 3UH HPSOR\PHQW GUXJ WHVW UHTXLUHG Equal Employment 2SSRUWXQLW\ (PSOR\Hr Call: 205-298-6799 or email us at: jtate@forestryenv.com English Pool Company +LULQJ IRU 2IĂ&#x20AC;FH :RUN -Basic bookkeeping knowledge -Customer-service oriented Salary dependent on H[SHULHQFH *RRG EHQHÂżWV Send resume: PO Box 210668 Montgomery AL 36121 or email applyforenglish@gmail.com Shoneys of Wetumpka Now Hiring Manager Trainees, Cooks and Servers Apply within during business hours Monday-Friday: 4700 US Highway 231 EOE

The Wetumpka Herald

PUZZLES & HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) Generally, you feel passionate about situations and people. A new person who might walk into your life at any time could intrigue you and become a good friend. Give this person the space to reveal him- or herself. Note an element of confusion in present communications. Tonight: Let others express their needs and desires.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Be more forthright and direct in how you make choices. There could be a lot of questions surrounding a seemingly routine matter. You might be sensing some confusion about this situation. Understand your choices.

Allow ingenuity to Ă&#x2026;ow. Tonight: Midweek break.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) You Ă&#x201E;nally Ă&#x2026;ow more with the moment and with those around you. Your imagination soars, especially if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re around a child or loved one. Take some of this gift into your outside life.

Others will appreciate your ingenuity and lightness. Tonight: Only where you can have fun.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Be sure that you can take on another responsibility. Rather than saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;yesâ&#x20AC;? quickly, take your time. You might not want to commit just yet. Time remains your ally. You could want a change or to add more variety in your life.

Tonight: Entertain from your pad.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) A bevy of calls and people greet you this morning. If you have plans, you might screen some of this activity and let others know that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make time later. A call from a distant person or an expert holds important information.

Tonight: Favorite person, favorite spot.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Tension builds, especially around funds. You might wish that you could stretch them further. Examine your budget with care; see whether you possibly can Ă&#x201E;t in a coveted purchase.

Roll with it. Extremes mark the mo-

ment for now. Before you leap, give yourself space to think. Tonight: Keep your Ă&#x201E;nances in mind.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You might want to let others know where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re coming from. As a result, you gain more support than you thought was available. First, decide what you want, be it a situation, relationship or business deal. Tonight: Living it up!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) When the situation is appropriate, take a back seat. Your ability to maneuver a personal matter could be more important than youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re aware it is.

Nevertheless, honor your inner voice Ă&#x201E;rst right now. Tonight: Opt for a good nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re focused and know what you want and expect from certain situations. You could feel as though someone might not be in tune with you. Slow down; approach this person openly and with kindness. Eventually, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll develop an easier Ă&#x2026;ow between the two of you. Tonight: Where your friends are.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You might be focused on completing a job or project. Nothing will delay you from getting that far and achieving the results you desire. For you, more than most signs, the Ă&#x201E;nal product is what counts. Tonight: As you like.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Your ability to empathize and walk in someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s footsteps comes out.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to Ă&#x201E;nd a more eÉ&#x2C6;ective way of communicating to this person.

Ask questions, but be ready for an odd answer. Tonight: Follow the music.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) One-on-one relating will draw the results you desire. You might not be sure what to expect. You can be sure that the person in question will reveal more of his or her authentic self. Even if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t agree with others, remain easygoing. Tonight: Make it special.

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

APRIL 17, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ PAGE 7

Child dies in crash near Tallassee

EGG HUNT FUN

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

A 2-year-old girl was killed Saturday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash about five miles west of Tallassee, according to the Alabama State Troopers.

The child was pronounced dead at Elmore Community Medical Center after the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu in which she was a passenger collided with a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado at

3:45 p.m. on Elmore County Road 73, also known as Flat Rock Road, near the Friendship Community, according to Cpl. Jesse Thornton of the Alabama State Troopers. The girl was not wearing a child-restraint system, Thornton said.

The driver, Tierra Leonard, 28, of

Opelika was transported from the scene for treatment of injuries. The driver of the Silverado was also injured and transported to Baptist Medical Center South, Thornton said.

The Alabama State Troopers are continuing to investigate the incident, Thornton said.

Submitted / The Observer

Eclectic Mayor Gary Davenport and the Easter bunny greeted children and their parents during Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community Easter egg hunt held at Aaron Park in Eclectic, which was sponsored by the Town of Eclectic, First Baptist Church and Eclectic United Methodist Church.

SEARCHING FOR AN EXPERIENCED

PART-TIME KENNEL TECHNICIAN Must have knowledge of all aspects of kennel care. Computer experience a plus. No phone calls. Apply in person.

KOWALIGA WHOLE HEALTH ALTH Pet Care & Resort 8610 Kowaliga Road â&#x20AC;˘ EclecĆ&#x;c, AL

Job Opportunities

Notices

Alexander City (Lake Martin) â&#x20AC;˘Cath Lab Technologist (FT) â&#x20AC;˘Radiation Therapist R.T. (T) (part-time) â&#x20AC;˘RN Med/Surg (FT) â&#x20AC;˘RN ICU/Step-Down (FT) â&#x20AC;˘RN Emergency Dept (FT) â&#x20AC;˘RN OB/Skilled Rehab (FT) â&#x20AC;˘LPN Med/Surg (FT) â&#x20AC;˘LPN (OBGYN Associates) (FT)

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Sports

PAGE 8 • APRIL 17, 2019

The

Observer

Visit our sister website: TallasseeTribune.com TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Split down the middle Holtville keeps section title hopes alive with win over Elmore County

By CALEB TURRENTINE Sports Writer

It took just four minutes of the second half for Holtville’s Iggy Ruiz to put away any thought of a comeback from Elmore County on Thursday night in boys soccer action. He added an assist and a goal to his night before the 45th minute to put the Bulldogs ahead by four goals en route to a 5-0 win to complete their season sweep of the Panthers.

“In soccer, things can get so wild at any moment,” Ruiz said. “We just had to relay that message of ‘one more, one more, one more’ and it piled up to five. We got all that we could.”

Holtville (6-0-5, 5-0-1 Class 4A/5A Section 4) dominated possession throughout the match See BOYS • Page 9

Caleb Turrentine / The Observer

Holtville’s Hunter Wesson (10) battles with Kevin Jenkins during the Bulldogs’ 5-0 win at Elmore County on Thursday.

Shootout victory caps comeback win vs. rivals

By CALEB TURRENTINE Sports Writer

After Elmore County goalkeeper Mackenzie Stephens saw a free kick go just over her fingertips in the first half, you could see the frustration on her face. The goal from Holtville’s Ana Segarra put the Bulldogs ahead by a goal in the 22nd minute but Stephens was called on again and this time she delivered in the game’s most crucial moments Thursday night to give ECHS the ultimate win.

“My team is always going to be there for me,” Stephens said.

“They’re always pushing me to be my best so I knew I wanted to get this one for the whole team.”

Elmore County (7-0-9, 3-0-2 Class 4A/5A Section 4) found an equalizer with less than seven minutes to go in regulation when Rainey Jones sent a cross just in front of the goal and Faith Crozier turned the ball in to send the game to extra time. After the two teams were held scoreless in the 10 added minutes, Stephens was sent to the goal line to stop the

Caleb Turrentine / The Observer

Top: Elmore County’s bench storms the field to celebrate after Emily Spears made the winning penalty kick in Thursday’s win over Holtville. Above: Elmore County’s Kendall Downey (12) holds off a challenge from Holtville’s Kayden Heisler (28) as Joya Kiwele looks to clear the ball.

top shooters from Holtville (4-1-4, 2-0-2) in a penalty shootout.

“I was just trying to read the

Downey’s dominance makes rough landing for HBS

By KAMARRI DARRINGTON For The Observer

There were a lot of firsts for Elmore County baseball in 2019.

The Panthers earned their first winning season since 2012 and were in position to take a playoff spot in Class 4A Area 5.

Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to make the necessary plays and settled for third in the area, one game out of playoff contention.

Monday’s season finale against Class 2A playoff-bound Horseshoe Bend was described as “bittersweet” by Panthers coach Michael Byrd.

Byrd sent senior Austin Downey to the mound on three days’ rest, and he delivered.

Downey struck out seven batters in a complete game, allowing just two hits in a 3-0 win for Elmore County over Horseshoe Bend.

The Panthers (19-7), who posted a 3-24 record two seasons ago, finished the 2019 campaign on a fivegame winning streak but will have to wait until next spring to extend it.

“I thought we really were playing our best baseball at the right time,” Byrd said.

“We’ve been swinging the

DJ Patrick won all three individual events he participated in to lead the Elmore County boys track team to its highest finish of the season at the Auburn Invitational this weekend.

Reece Baker, Zefeniah

LIZI ARBOGAST Sports Editor

Saban’s right: Don’t declare for the draft too soon

M

File / The Observer

Elmore County’s Austin Downey fired a two-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Horseshoe Bend to close out the regular season Monday night.

bats very well and Austin was great today. I was glad to see him throw. It was nice

to end the season with a win and play a complete game as well.”

Elmore County scored 64 runs in its previous four See DOWNEY • Page 9

Patrick leads Panthers to 3rd-place finish in Auburn STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

hips and see where they’re going to shoot it,” Stephens said. “I just See GIRLS • Page 10

Edwards and Kwan Bickley all added top-five finishes for the Panthers.

Patrick started the day with a win in the 400. His time of 49.08 was a full second ahead of the closest competition and earned 10 points for his team in the standings.

In his final two events,

Patrick cut things closer than usual. He finished in a tie for first place with Cullman’s Isaiah Jones in the long jump event with a distance of 21-6.5. Patrick was back for his best event in the triple jump where he posted a distance of 46-5.5. The distance set a new personal record for Patrick and defeated the

Auburn’s Caleb Kariuki by more than 3 feet.

Elmore County dominated the boys relay events, racking up one win and four top-10 finishes. The Panthers ‘A’ team won the 4x400 with a time of 3:30.13 while the ‘B’ team finished just 21 seconds off the leaders for See PANTHERS • Page 9

ore and more players are declaring for the NFL Draft sooner and sooner.

It’s always been typical for an exceptional player to go ahead and declare for the draft for various reasons, but usually because it’s an attempt to avoid any injury and for the player to get his best chance at the draft while he’s at his peak.

But nowadays, student-athletes are starting to declare for the draft seemingly if they even have a shot at going in one of the later rounds. It’s too soon for most of these players.

Last week after Alabama’s spring game, Tide coach Nick Saban made some comments about just this topic.

Alabama had seven underclassmen declare for the NFL Draft this season, and that’s the most since Saban has been with the Crimson Tide.

“The person that loses in that is the player,” Saban said.

Saban talked a lot about the money a player loses out on if he goes in a later round instead of waiting another year and potentially being selected higher.

Saban’s right there. Look at Ronnie Harrison who went in the third round last year and, with safety needs around the league now, could’ve gone a lot higher. Saban also watched Bo Scarbrough declare as an underclassmen last season and be selected in the seventh round.

But more importantly, Saban talked about life after football as a reason players should wait to go onto the next level.

“I tell every recruit that I talk to See ARBOGAST • Page 10

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

APRIL 17, 2019 • PAGE 9

Bulldogs open area play with rout of ECHS

By KAMARRI DARRINGTON For The Observer

Holtville softball coach Daryl Otwell said he challenged the bottom part of his lineup to start producing runs of its own.

Those players delivered to start area play last Tuesday as the Bulldogs earned a 12-4 victory at Elmore County.

It also didn’t hurt that Bulldogs pitcher and Auburn signee KK Dismukes struck out eight of the first nine batters she faced and was perfect through the first three innings.

Holtville (28-8), the No. 2 team in Class 4A, got a leadoff home run from Bella Farmer

Downey

to kick off a six-run barrage in the second inning.

After Haley Walker struck out, Zoe Lowe doubled and Katie Henley singled. Jordan Cousins then hit a two-run single, scoring Walker and Henley, for a 3-0 lead.

Brooke Cooper followed with a single and Dismukes drove in Cousins with one of her own. Then another error by Elmore County resulted in two more runs.

“Earlier in the season, we struggled hitting as games started,” Otwell said. “(Last Tuesday), we had the big second inning. The home run kind of jumpstarted it. We hit a lot of balls hard. We got a

lot of balls bouncing our way.

Anytime you put up six runs in an inning, it gives you an opportunity to get some backups in, and that’s good for us going down the stretch.”

Dismukes was just as dominant at the plate as she was in the circle, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs including a two-run homer in the fourth to extend Holtville’s lead to 8-0. She added a two-run single in the seventh. Dismukes pitched four innings, allowing one run off two hits with nine strikeouts.

Dismukes is hitting well over .500 with 12 home runs after last Tuesday’s game. “(KK) is one of the best players in Class 4A softball,”

Otwell said. “Anytime she’s on the field, you know you’re going to get her best. When she’s on, she’s very tough to beat and you know that one or two runs can get the job done.”

Elmore County’s improving offense finally started connecting in the fourth. Madelyn Becker singled then scored on an RBI double from Madison Britt.

The Panthers (10-9) scored three more runs in the sixth off Cooper, who came in relief for Dismukes to start the fifth.

Ebone Pearson led off the inning with a double, Kelina Daniels added a single then Britt hit an RBI single to score Pearson. Daniels scored on a

groundout by Eleanor Watts then Britt scored on an RBI single by Akerria Harden.

Maci Curlee pitched all seven innings for Elmore County, allowing 12 hits and five walks with one strikeout.

“I feel like our offense is our strong point right now,” Panthers coach Kim Moncrief said. “Maci has done a good job for us in the circle. She battles very hard and has developed multiple pitches even as a sophomore. We’re still making a lot of defensive mistakes, but I believe we’ve got a team that’s feeling more confident that it can play against the better teams in the state.”

continued from Page 8

games, but it didn’t need much Monday as Downey kept putting zeroes on the board.

The scoring started in the third as Trey Brown’s RBI single scored Chase Wilson all the way from first base to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth, Garrett Cole and Brody Ward posted back-to-back hits with two out. Ward was caught at second following a rundown but avoided the out long enough to allow Cole to score the second run.

Wilson started the fifth inning rally with a single, then Trey Brown hit an RBI double for the game’s final run as Elmore County left the bases loaded.

Downey allowed only two baserunners for Horseshoe Bend (9-12) after the second inning, both of whom reached scoring position.

In the fourth, Grant Taylor doubled with one out then was caught trying to come home after a Lee Norrell groundout for a double play.

In the seventh, Cole Johnson led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Downey struck Taylor, forced a flyout by Norrell and struck out Holt Tidwell to end the game.

“I just wanted to dominate today,” Downey said. “I felt good going in and everything just worked for us. We finished the season strong. It’s big for the younger guys, because they’ve seen that what we can do. I’m glad we got to play this game today.”

After a 12-0 loss to Dadeville last Friday, Generals coach Jason Johnson said he wanted to see his team compete harder in their regular-season finale.

Cole Johnson started the game on the mound and allowed a run. Norrell pitched in relief, allowing two runs on five hits. Tidwell allowed a hit in the sixth.

Horseshoe Bend, which finished the regular season losing six of their last nine games, will visit Thorsby in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs Thursday.

Panthers continued from Page 8 10th place.

Elmore County could not repeat in the 4x8 but did grab a second-place finish with a time of 8:21.63. The ‘B’ team came in ninth place and was just eight seconds outside of the top five.

Catia Gilbert earned the only point of the day for the Elmore County girls team. Her throw of 27-9 was good for eighth place in the shot put.

BASEBALL Panther offense thrives as season winds down

Elmore County’s baseball was on the wrong end of the three-way tiebreaker in Class 4A Area 5 but that has not stopped the Panthers from finishing out the season strong. After sweeping Booker T. Washington in its final area series, Elmore County extended its winning streak to four games with a win at Dallas County on Friday night.

During the three games against BTW and Dallas County, the Panthers scored 50 total runs while allowing just 14. It is the most amount of runs for Elmore County in a three-game span this season.

In the opener against BTW, Payne Watts had an inside-the-park grand slam during a 12-run second inning for the Panthers. Watts finished with a season-high five RBIs while Jamie Singleton added three hits and four RBIs of his own.

In the second game, Austin Downey struck out a career-high 18 batters in six innings while allowing just one earned run. He also finished with three hits and four RBIs. The Panthers traveled to Dallas County on Friday and saw their offense get off to another hot start, scoring eight runs in the first two innings of the game. Chase Wilson, Taylor Henderson, Brody Ward and Garrett Cole each tallied two RBIs in the win.

Elmore County Player of the Week

Neci King stepping up at crucial time for Stanhope

By CALEB TURRENTINE Sports Writer

You hear the same thing from every coach across all sports. Everyone wants to be playing their best at the end of the regular season to prepare for the playoffs.

Stanhope Elmore’s Neci King is starting to hit her stride and it showed in the circle and at the plate during the Mustangs’ six games last week. She finished second on the team in hits and runs while grabbing two wins as the team’s ace pitcher. King is the Elmore County Player of the Week.

“Neci is a game changer for sure,” Stanhope coach Virginia Barber said. “She’s pitching phenomenal and we’ve asked her to really step up now. She’s starting to do that for the team and

it’s helping us.”

Stanhope’s week got started with a rivalry game at Wetumpka on Tuesday and King was given the ball to help keep the Mustangs in the race for the regular season area title.

Before entering the circle in the first inning, King made her first impact of the game with her speed on the base paths. After leading off with a single, King raced to third base on an outfield error before scoring the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly.

King singled again in the third inning, advancing Kelbi Johnson to third base on the play. Johnson scored on another sacrifice fly to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.

“We have had her at the bottom of the lineup but we knew we needed to move

File / The Observer

Stanhope Elmore’s Neci King allowed only four earned runs across 17-plus innings in the circle last week.

her to the top,” Barber said. “We needed her speed and her leadership. She’s stepped up since we put her there. It helps our pitchers when they have a lead to work with so that way she can go out and help herself.”

After needing to get out of a jam in the first inning, King allowed only two baserunners over the next four innings and Stanhope extended its lead to 3-0, which was all it needed with King in the circle.

“I think she was throwing a bit of a riseball early that we couldn’t catch up with,” Wetumpka coach Jimmy Reeves said. “We had early opportunities to score but we couldn’t get it done.

We let her settle in and she pitched a good game.”

Stanhope blew the game open in the top of the sev-

Boys and created several chances, tallying a total of 25 shots during the victory. Ruiz finished with two goals and two assists for the Bulldogs.

Ruiz helped open the scoring in the first half by sliding a pass through the backline to Miles Broom who slotted home from eight yards away to give Holtville a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. Broom passed on the favor 10 minutes from the half, finding Tucker Edwards in the middle of the box for a thunderous volley to put the Bulldogs ahead by two.

“Once we start clicking and the passing moving through, you can start to feel the energy,” Ruiz said.

“And the fans really helped us keep that going tonight.”

The trio continued to connect in the second half when Edwards found Broom on the right before Broom picked out Ruiz for a goal in the opening minute. Ruiz added another assist less than three minutes later when he passed to Luc Cyr on the left wing and Cyr scored on a floated ball into the right corner of the net.

“We missed a couple of easy opportunities so we had to work a little bit harder to get those goals,” Holtville coach Robby Broom said. “We tinkered with our angles a little bit and closed in our gap between our midfield and

enth. King added her third hit of the game, knocking in a run on a line drive to center field before coming around to score on a single to put Stanhope ahead 8-0 going to the bottom of the seventh.

After retiring Wetumpka in order in the final inning, King finished with five strikeouts while allowing just three hits in her seventh complete game of the season. She also had her first 3-hit game of the season at the plate, scoring twice and knocking in two runs.

King followed her performance with a two-hit game against Marbury during the team’s tournament over the weekend. She finished the week with seven hits in 18 plate appearances, raising her batting average to above .300 for the first time this season.

continued from Page 8

Caleb Turrentine / The Observer

Elmore County goalkeeper Cade Celka punches a cross over the goal and out for a corner during Thursday’s game against Holtville.

striker. It just opened up.”

Ruiz capped off the scoring with less than 18 minutes on the clock. After a bad giveaway from Elmore County, Edwards played a perfectly weighted through ball and Ruiz finished with a soft shot into the bottom left corner.

“Anytime we come over here to play, Elmore County is going to test us and push us,” Broom said. “I like coming here because we usually play some of our best soccer and that’s what we did tonight. That was probably our best game this

year.”

Elmore County (5-1-11, 2-0-4) could not find many ways to get the ball up the field. The Panthers’ best chance came late in the second half but Holtville’s Tucker Jones blocked a shot in front of an open net to keep the clean sheet.

“Losing to Valley on Tuesday kind of took the life out of us,” ECHS coach John Hilbish said. “Our message has been that we want them to care more about their teammates than themselves.”

After defeating the

Panthers by three goals in the first meeting, Holtville felt confident it could move closer to its goal of a section championship.

However, the Bulldogs cannot afford another loss in section play and they knew the importance of Thursday’s trip to Eclectic.

“We’ve been doing well in the area but we had that slip up against Marbury,” Ruiz said. “Our focus was making sure that didn’t faze us at all. We had to come here and keep doing our business.”

PAGE 10 • APRIL 17, 2019

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

Arbogast

continued from Page 8

the reason that you’re going to college is to prepare yourself for the day you can’t play football,” Saban said.

At the end of the day, of course the ultimate goal is the NFL. Kids at the youngest level of football are thinking about potentially playing in the big leagues. The student-athletes I cover at the high school level have high aspirations, and if you’re going to a school like Alabama to play football, you’re certainly on the right path to have those dreams come true.

But that being said, the vast majority of people who play football aren’t ever going to step foot on the NFL gridiron.

Even if you’re playing for a team like Alabama and winning national championships every other year, there’s still a pretty good chance you aren’t going to go further than that.

And if you are a person who has the potential to play in the NFL, you should soak up all the opportunities you can to go as high as possible in the draft when that day comes. Because Saban’s right — there’s a big difference between thirdround money and firstround money.

Being honest, even guys going in the seventh round are bound to make more money than I can ever imagine, so that’s not really what I’m stuck on.

My bigger reason for thinking people should stay in college as long as possible is for their education. Because no one can predict the future. Sure, you could get drafted No. 1 overall but during your first start, you can have a career-ending injury.

Then what?

Or even if you have a full career playing football and make a boatload of cash, it’s still not a lifelong career. Adam Vinatieri is ancient at 46 years old — the oldest active player in the NFL. He’s bound to retire well before the age of us common folk. Then what?

Sure, he’s got more money than he could possibly spend in a lifetime, but what’s going to keep him entertained?

How will his life be fulfilled? That’s the question all student-athletes should ask because playing football — or any sport for that matter — will not be forever.

Lizi Arbogast is the sports editor of The Observer.

County teams prep for opening round of playoffs

By CALEB TURRENTINE Sports Writer

The area championships have been decided and the brackets are set as the first round of the state baseball playoffs are ready to get underway this weekend.

While Wetumpka will be the only team from the county to host a series in the first round, Holtville and Stanhope Elmore also got into the postseason and will begin their quests for a state title on the road this weekend.

Wetumpka finished with a perfect 4-0 record in area play and will host Benjamin Russell in its opening series. The two teams agreed to move the first two games up to Thursday with the if-necessary Game 3 to be played Friday.

“It’s definitely not going to be easy but we know that every time we go out,” Wetumpka coach Michael Dismukes said.

“Ben Russell is really good and they’re getting better. It’s going to be a great series and we’re looking forward to it.”

Benjamin Russell enters the postseason with a 21-10 record and winners in six of its last eight games. The Wildcats are led on offense by Brett Pitts, who has four homers and 22 RBIs this season while batting .427 at the plate.

Wetumpka will have to deal with the pitching depth of Benjamin Russell, a team which boasts five pitchers with a sub-three ERA with at least 22 innings pitched this season. The Indians hope to use some of the momentum from winning the area title at the plate against the Wildcat pitchers.

“They just took the first step on the ladder but our season isn’t over,” Dismukes said. “We have to keep getting better and get ready for next week. We want to keep building and see how far we can make a run at this thing.”

Wetumpka will host a postseason game for the first time since 2008 and is looking to

Caleb Turrentine / The Observer

Top: Stanhope Elmore coach Wes Dunsieth talks to his team between innings during Friday’s game at Wetumpka.

Above: Wetumpka’s Mason Elmore allowed just three hits across seven innings in the win over Stanhope on Friday afternoon. Both Stanhope and Wetumpka will begin playoffs this week.

make a run deep into the month of May. The program does have a state championship in its past but the team has not been past the second round since 1992.

“Our end goal is a state championship but we have to take it step by step, game by game, pitch by pitch,” Wetumpka outfielder Trey Jones said. “We have some work to do but we’re going to keep improving every day.”

While Wetumpka gets to host its first-round matchup, Stanhope (9-22) will go away from home to open its postseason. The Mustangs’ road does not start with an easy task with Russell County, the top-ranked team in Class 6A, waiting.

“As far as getting ready for Friday, we have to take a look at what Russell County does well,” Stanhope coach Wes Dunsieth said. “And then we have to work on our deficiencies, which right now is offense.

We’re going to get in the cage and work on our fundamentals

of hitting.”

Russell County (31-3) enters the postseason on an eightgame winning streak and has lost only two games against teams from Alabama this season. Logan Austin, an Auburn commit, leads a strong pitching staff which has a combined ERA of 1.48 this season across 189 innings.

Stanhope snapped an eightgame losing streak Monday night with a win against Saint James. However, the Mustangs still have plenty of worries but will attempt to avoid a firstround sweep for the third consecutive season.

“We took about a week off after that five-game winning streak and that didn’t help,” Dunsieth said. “Then we went to Hoover and played against teams we weren’t matched up well against. We’ve taken a step back since spring break.”

Holtville lost its chance at the Class 4A Area 5 title after losing the final two games of

Girls

the series at Handley last week.

However, the Bulldogs (18-7) still held the tiebreaker over Elmore County and are in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

“You have to forget about what you’ve done and focus on how you’re going to respond,” Holtville coach Torey Baird said. “We’re to do what we need to fix what we did wrong at Handley and we hope that will give us a chance this weekend.”

After last season’s run to the quarterfinals, the Bulldogs will start its postseason run with a trip to Dallas County on Friday.

Despite his recent struggles due to a minor leg injury, Drew Nobles is expected to be the starter in Game 1.

“He’s one of those guys that’s going to compete and give you a chance to win every time he’s on the mound,” Baird said. “Even with that little injury, he’s going to go out and give you his best every time.”

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Caleb Turrentine / The Observer

Holtville’s Blakley White (22) stretches out to win the ball against Elmore County’s Faith Crozier during Thursday’s game in Eclectic.

knew I had to do that for my team.”

Holtville’s Hannah Westbrook beat Stephens on the opening penalty and Jones had her shot saved as Elmore County saw its playoff hopes disappearing. However, Stephens responded by saving a shot by Holtville’s Whitney Culverhouse and the score was leveled after Olivia Mitchell converted her penalty for the Panthers.

“It was one step at a time,” Stephens said. “I had to calm myself down and keep my energy up and my focus on the play.”

That was the final save Stephens needed to make as the next two Holtville shooters put the ball over the crossbar.

Elmore County scored its next two shots and clinched the 3-2 win when Emily Spears found the top left of the goal with her penalty.

“We made that first stop, made the first goal and I was just thinking, ‘Here we go,’” Holtville coach David Lovering said. “But two of our best shooters went over the

goal and their goalie came up big so that was tough.”

The victory was Elmore County’s fourth consecutive win and the Panthers now control their own destiny in a race for the playoffs. It also ended a three-game losing streak to Holtville.

“We’ve got all the momentum we could possibly want right now,” ECHS coach Angie Simmons said. “We’ve overcome so much adversity this year. We wanted to bring pride to our school. We wanted to bring it back to Lady Panther soccer and I think we did that.”

After taking the 2-1 lead in the first half, Holtville continued to control the game throughout the first 20 minutes of the second half. When Elmore County needed to find a goal, the team sent defender Kendall Downey to a more forward position and the Panthers began to create more chances.

“We didn’t know if that was going to be a smart move,” Simmons said. “Holtville has a lot of speed but we needed to get something going and it

worked.”

The Panthers are now 4-0-1 at home this season and the players clearly fed off the crowd’s energy late in the second half. Elmore County’s bench was standing and even singing throughout the game to push the players on the field to find an equalizer.

“Our MVP of the night was our bench,” Simmons said.

“They never complained about not going in but we had to do what we had to do to win.

They were always excited.”

Holtville will need Marbury to defeat the Panthers in order to make the playoffs but the Bulldogs do still hold the tiebreaker against Elmore County. Lovering said he thinks this game was hardest on the seniors because of the rivalry but there is still plenty to play for.

“We want them to keep their heads up because we have a lot of big games coming,” Lovering said. “We still have Valley and we still have Marbury in area games. We still have Senior Night. We still have a lot to play for.”