April 3, 2019 Eclectic Observer

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LOCAL, PAGE 5

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Trade Day is coming up on April 13

Photos of local Vietnam veterans sought

SPORTS, PAGE 9

2-out rally gives ECHS win in area tune-up

Eclectic Observer The

WEDNESDAY • APRIL 3, 2019

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Vol. 30, No. 14

Vernon arraigned in federal court STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

A Kellyton man was arraigned in federal court March 26 on charges of kidnapping, carjacking and firearm possession, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin Sr. Shane Anthony Vernon, 28, of

The crimes are alleged to have been committed in Elmore County in November 2017. Vernon escaped from the Coosa County Jail in November 2017 and went on to commit robberies, burglaries and kidnapping in Coosa and Elmore counties, authorities said. Vernon was apprehended in DeKalb

Kellyton was arraigned on eight felony charges, including one count of kidnapping, two counts of carjacking, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to a release Vernon by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

‘I thought I was going to die too’

County, Georgia, three days later where authorities there charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana less than an ounce, possessing an open container and giving a false name. Then-Coosa County Sheriff Terry Wilson said it appeared an electrical malfunction at the Coosa County Jail See VERNON • Page 2

Dustin Taylor, left, and Mason Kassian stand by the ‘No Swimming’ sign at Gold Star Park in Wetumpka where they went into the Coosa River to save a man and a 2-year-old boy from drowning. They said the sign was covered by water that night and the water marks are visible on it. Jimmy Wigfield / The Observer

By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Heroes describe saving boy, man after plunging into river

Cars began to line up early on March 27 when the Eclectic United Methodist Church served 150 families with the help of the Montgomery Area Food Bank’s mobile pantry. “This is their ministry called Mobile Food Pantry, where they take fresh produce and deliver it to local organizations, usually churches,” EUMC’s Terry Kalichak said. According to Kalichak, the church and the MAFB distributed about 12,000 pounds of food to approximately 150 families. More than 20 volunteers from the Eclectic community worked together to load boxes of groceries into vehicles as participants drove through. “We had stations set up and people could drive through and stop at each station and we would fill them up,” volunteer Jennifer Moore said. See CHURCH • Page 2

By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor

M

ason Kassian and Dustin Taylor couldn’t believe what they were hearing and seeing in the rapidly gathering dusk. They were sitting at a picnic table with a couple of girls and playing with some dogs at Wetumpka’s Gold Star Park on the idyllic evening of March 21. Nearby, a man with a rod and reel was filling his cooler with fish off the end of the boat ramp. Kassian and Taylor were thinking of walking back to Creed Gym to lift weights but suddenly heard sirens piercing the air, signaling the beginning of frenetic, life-changing moments fraught with peril in which they would be engaged in the workout of their lives in the cold and stygian waters of the Coosa River. See HEROES • Page 3

Today’s

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Eclectic United Methodist Church feeds 150 families

Going once, going twice, still going Folks flock to Eclectic auction barn for bargains, fellowship By RON COLQUITT For The Observer

Good, old country folks converge on the auction barn in Eclectic on Friday nights to buy, sell and trade everything from tomatoes to tools but mainly it’s just a good excuse to mingle with friends and friendly folk, according to the man known as Hutch. Hutch is Richard A. Hutchinson, the 58-year-old man who leases the cavernous metal building where the auction is held. He serves as auctioneer and clearly enjoys it. Once you get past the big black bear holding a man’s head in his left paw and a lunch box in the other paw, it gets strange. But the people seem happy and quickly make newcomers welcome. See AUCTION • Page 5

Ron Colquitt / For The Observer

Auctioneer Richard ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson works the crowd at the Eclectic auction barn. ‘We can't sell guns and we don't sell livestock but other than that we sell anything,’ Hutchinson said. ‘We don't sell chickens but we sell some stuffed ones.’

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Carmen Rodgers / The Observer

Above: Eclectic United Methodist Church helped feed 150 families in a recent food pantry effort. Right: Paula Castleberry and Donna Goodwin and other volunteers worked by loading groceries.

Church

continued from Page 1

The Montgomery Area Food Bank collects and distributes food and resources to those in need. Through the support of volunteers, donors and 50-plus partner agencies, the organization provided 10 million nutritional meals in the last year. To set up a volunteer experience or discuss donor relations, email info@ mcfoodbank.org.

Vernon

continued from Page 1

allowed Vernon to escape. Vernon had escaped authorities the month before and was recaptured the next day. When Vernon was recaptured, Elmore County District Court Judge Glenn Goggans set a $6 million cash bond officials said was the largest bond they could recall in Elmore County. Here is a timeline of events from events in 2017, according to authorities:

a 2016 Ford Fusion from that residence. 8:30 p.m.: The Ford Fusion was found abandoned near Living Waters Baptist Church on Elmore County Road 80 near the Coosa-Elmore county line.

the victim’s vehicle, a black Grand Prix GT-2. Officials searched the area all night looking for signs of the vehicle, the victim and Vernon.

Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017

6:55 a.m.: Vernon dropped McCord off unharmed in Douglasville, Georgia. McCord made it to a police station to get help. The victim’s Grand Prix was found abandoned and there was no sign of Vernon. Multiple agencies including the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office, Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the State K-9 Tracking Team, the ALEA Aviation Unit and the United States Marshal’s Office were involved in the search.

10:30 a.m.: Vernon, armed with a handgun, invaded a home on Grass Farm Road near Titus, tied up a woman and her husband and locked the woman and a child in a closet. At the home he stole a 2005 silver Chrysler Pacifica with a firefighter tag. He also took cash, clothing and possibly another weapon. 5:30 p.m.: Vernon kidnapped William Richard McCord, 67, from his house on Bradley Road and also took

Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017

2:30 p.m.: Vernon escaped from the Coosa County Jail for the second time in three weeks through a door that had not been secured. 4:30 p.m.: Vernon invaded a home on Highway 231, terrorizing and tying up residents. He stole clothes, guns and

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The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglasville Police Department, Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Bureau of Investigation were also involved in the search. Wilson said U.S. Marshals coordinated what he called a nationwide search. If convicted of all federal charges, Vernon faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum life sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. Vernon’s trial is set for Aug. 12. Franklin cited the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance with the case.

Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017

‘Road to Resurrection’ April 14 at New Home Baptist STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

New Home Baptist Church will host “Road to Resurrection” on Sunday, April 14, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the church located at the corner of Sewell and Spigener roads in Titus. This family event takes travelers on a mini-tour featuring reenactments of the final days of Jesus’ life on Earth through to His resurrection. Travelers can walk the road Jesus travelled beginning with Palm Sunday and meet characters of the story. Submitted / The Observer Travelers can taste the Passover meal, Barabbas is jailed in a scene from New Home Baptist Church’s pass by the garden production of ‘Road to Resurrection’ scheduled for April 14 at Gethsemane, visit from 3 to 5 p.m. at the church in Titus.

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Barabbas in his jail cell, meet a Roman guard who was part of Jesus’ crucifixion detail and, finally, experience the power of the empty tomb and Jesus’ resurrection. Upon arrival, travelers will join others to form groups of 15 to 20 and along with their “travel guide” will journey to six stations. At each station, they will experience powerful moments surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. Groups will begin their journey every 20 minutes starting at 3 p.m. with the last group beginning at 4 p.m. It will take each group approximately one hour to journey through all destinations. Limited onsite registration will be available the day of the event. To request a tour time in advance, email a name, the preferred time and the number in the party to newhometitus@ yahoo.com. Organizers request groups arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the selected tour time. Fellowship, food and fun will be available to everyone. For more information, call the church at 334567-0923.

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APRIL 3, 2019 • PAGE 3

Heroes

continued from Page 1

Instead of a bench press, Taylor, 21, found himself pulling two grown men away from a sinking car. In the ultimate deadlift, Kassian, 20, pulled an upsidedown 2-year-old boy out of the water by his feet and pummeled the water from his lungs and throat. Taylor and Kassian witnessed the end of a police chase where a car with three adults and the 2-year-old were fleeing Alabama Department of Corrections officers who said the adults were trying to smuggle drugs into Tutwiler Prison. Luckily for those in the car, Kassian and Taylor ignored the “No Swimming” sign at the bottom of the boat ramp. Water nearly covered it and the man driving the car was concerned only with keeping the officers behind him, not what was in front of him in the darkness. “We heard the sirens and a big commotion and saw a white car flying down the hill,” Taylor said. “Their windows were down. There were two or three cop cars after them. And I said, ‘They’re never going to stop in time.’ When they hit the bottom of the ramp, I saw sparks flying.” Kassian said, “That car came through here doing every bit of 85.” The Coosa River swallowed the car just as quickly. As Kassian and Taylor ran to the water, a woman emerged from its depths. “Out of all the commotion, this woman was screaming, ‘My baby! My baby!’ Taylor said. Kassian admitted he hesitated at first. “I won’t lie, I didn’t want to go in,” he said. “But when she said, ‘My baby!’ I don’t care what race or gender they are, I’m not going to let somebody drown right in front of us. I don’t understand why she didn’t get her baby.” “So we got in the water,” Taylor said. “We passed her swimming out there. She could swim. That water was cold, maybe 40 or 50 degrees. I said my prayers when I went in the water.” Kassian said the man fishing off the boat ramp narrowly avoided being struck by the car as it plunged into the river but still wanted to help. “He had a cooler full of fish and he dumped them out so we could use the cooler to give them something to float on,” Kassian said. Taylor said he could see the car when he entered the water because people arrived with flashlights. Kassian said he had trouble finding the boy, who he estimated was 40 to 50 yards from the river bank.

Jimmy Wigfield / The Observer

Dustin Taylor, left, and Mason Kassian revisit the boat ramp at Gold Star Park in Wetumpka where they went into the Coosa River to save a man and a 2-year-old boy from drowning. The man and boy were in a car that slammed into the river after being pursued by Alabama Department of Corrections officers who said the adults in the sedan tried to smuggle drugs into Tutwiler Prison.

“When I got to the baby, the only thing I saw was the shoes sticking up out of the water,” Kassian said. “He was upside down. I picked him up like I found him. I got him up and hit him pretty good on the back and he started spitting water up so I knew he was alive. I started swimming back holding him in my arms, keeping his head above the water. It was a (long) swim.” Kassian began to struggle while swimming with one arm. “I started to scream for help myself but no one came out to help me,” he said. “The Lord helped me.” Taylor also had trouble once he reached the car and the two men with the cooler. “Our muscles started to lock up,” he said, “and there was a time out there I thought I was going to die too. When people are drowning, they panic and when I got out to them there was one who was pulling me under. I had both guys. They were both still there at the car. I told them to hold onto the fish cooler. One guy did and the other guy grabbed me. I pushed off the car and the one guy started to slip away. I tried

to grab him but he just went down; the current got him. The other guy was holding onto the cooler and I grabbed him by the foot and swam him in.” Kassian said Garrison Hancock, one of the girls with them at the park, got in the water to take the boy as Kassian approached shore. “I handed the baby off to Garrison,” he said. “She swam out a little way and she was trying to help but she didn’t get far so she handed him back to me and finally I got to the boat ramp and I could touch bottom.” Kassian said he didn’t get a chance to talk with the mother of the boy who was plucked from certain death. “She was in handcuffs,” he said. Authorities also clamped handcuffs on the man when Taylor got him to shore. Kassian said he later talked with the boy’s uncle and grandparents and they thanked him. And he wants to meet the 2-year-old who is unlikely to remember the night Kassian saved his life but owes his future to him. “I didn’t think it was all that much,” Kassian said. “Any person in their right

mind who could swim would have done it. I hope other people would have done that. God had us here at the right time.” The Elmore County High School graduates have accepted praise with humility. “Our family and friends are very proud,” Taylor said. “Our teachers in high school have posted it all over Facebook.” Saving those lives also reinforced their dreams; Taylor wants to be a firefighter and Kassian an Alabama State Trooper. Even the man who emptied his cooler of fish experienced a happy ending. “When we got back up there, he got his cooler back and saved his fish,” Kassian said. Rufus Brown, 31, and Jonisha Jordan, 21, both of Montgomery, were charged with attempting to commit a controlled-substance crime, first-degree possession of marijuana and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. The body of the driver was recovered later that night and his identity has not been released.

Elmore County Museum seeking yearbooks of yesteryear By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

T

he Elmore County Museum is seeking to expand its collection of school yearbooks as part of several hands-on exhibits. “It’s a fun exhibit,” museum curator Sharon Fox said. “We have grandparents bring in grandchildren and they will look at themselves. It’s fun see their reactions. Both kids and older family get a kick out of it.” Fox recalled a child and grandfather who flipped through the pages of the books from decades ago and found a photograph of the grandfather. “The grandchild was a spitting image of the picture,” a laughing Fox said. “The child thought he was looking at a picture of himself. It was

fun to see them share a laugh.” To help promote such interactions, the museum is looking for school yearbooks from Elmore County. “We have (yearbooks) back to the late 1950s,” Fox said. “From there back we have a few but not many. We are hoping people will take a look around and see what they have. We don’t mind if they have writing in them as it just adds character to them.” While the yearbooks are part of an exhibit, Fox said they have other uses. “Some of my only pictures of my ancestors are from yearbooks,” Fox said, “so they can be a little bit useful for genealogy.” Fox said the museum is looking for yearbooks from any Elmore County School. “They can bring them

by,” Fox said. “If they aren’t too far, I can pick them up too.” The museum is also seeking documents and photographs connected to Elmore County. “Some might think it is just a family photograph but it may have something in the background like a house or building that we don’t have,” Fox said. “You would be surprised what all we can locate that way.” Fox said those who donate yearbooks and documents can keep the originals. “Let us make an archival copy of it,” Fox said. “Those copies last for a long time and will be around long after I’m gone.”

Cliff Williams / The Observer

The Elmore County Museum has some of the yearbooks in its collection put under glass to protect them.

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Democrats spin epic novel I

n his book “The Fellowship of the Ring,” J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, “The road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow, if I can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.” This is the first book of Tolkien’s brilliant trilogy about the war for Middle Earth. Perhaps Tolkien’s quote describes last week’s news and goings on in Washington and national politics. The Mueller Report is still very much alive and well, and will ultimately dethrone President Donald Trump according to many national news outlets, Democrats and other #TrumpHaters. On Sunday, March 24, news anchors, reporters, editors and commentators waited breathlessly for Attorney General William Barr to send his letter to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate judiciary committees summarizing, according to Barr’s letter itself, “the principal conclusions reached by the Special Counsel and the results of his investigation.” In that letter, Barr quoted the report, “(The) investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.” Contrary to all the blather coming from CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The

DANIEL GARDNER Columnist Washington Post and a host of Democratic demagogues, Barr’s letter neither summarized Mueller’s report nor claimed to have interpreted Mueller’s report. Please reread Barr’s comments again if you missed that point. Missing that point herself, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “I have said and I’ll say again, no thank you, Mr. Attorney General. We do not need your interpretation. Show us the report and we can draw our own conclusions. We don’t need you interpreting for us.” She continued, “It was condescending. It was arrogant. And it wasn’t the right thing to do.” Earlier in March, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) launched his own investigation “into the alleged obstruction of justice, public corruption and other abuses of power by President Trump, his associates and members of his Administration.” Nadler’s committee served document requests to 81 agencies, entities and individuals believed to have information relevant to the investigation. Later, after Barr had sent his letters to Congress and the public, Nadler demanded “the full and complete Mueller

report, without redactions, as well as access to the underlying evidence.” Barr described the extent of Mueller’s investigation this way: “In the report, the Special Counsel noted that, in completing his investigation, he employed 19 lawyers who were assisted by a team of approximately 40 FBI agents, intelligence forensic accountants and other professional staff. The Special Counsel issued more than 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants, obtained more than 230 orders for communication records, issued almost 50 orders authorizing use of pen registers, made 13 requests to foreign governments for evidence and interviewed approximately 500 witnesses.” Barr, working with Mueller and a team of lawyers and agents in the FBI and Department of Justice, have been examining the nearly 400-page report and supporting documents to redact anything federal law prohibits releasing before delivering the report and supporting documents to Congress and the public around the middle of April. Meanwhile, #TrumpHaters continue to work to remove the president from the White House. Barr promised to release the report in a couple of weeks. “And whither then? I cannot say.” Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Mississippi. You may contact him at PJanMe2@gmail.com.

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Letter to the Editor

Reader tells Trump his words matter Dear Editor, On the same day 50 Muslims were murdered in New Zealand by a white nationalist who ranted against “invaders” in his manifesto, Donald Trump stated the following in the Oval Office as he prepared to veto the congressional resolution overturning his border declaration: “Last month, more than 76,000 illegal migrants arrived at our border. We’re on track for a million illegal aliens to rush our borders. People hate the word ‘invasion’ but that’s what it is. It’s an invasion of drugs and criminals and people.” When Trump demonizes people of color as “invaders and criminals” he appeals to white nationalists’ racial and ethnic fears and resentment both at home and abroad. And as long as he paints them as “the other” he makes them a target. People of color in America hear Trump’s mes-

sage of racial, ethnic, and religious bigotry loud and clear while many white Republicans appear not to. During his press conference, Trump was asked if he sees white nationalism as a rising threat around the world and his response was, “I don’t really. I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems, I guess.” His response is in direct contrast with the facts as white nationalism is certainly a rising threat in the US. Just in the last two years there have been a number of high-profile incidents involving white nationalists, including Charlottesville; the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh; and the recent arrest of a Coast Guard officer, an alleged white supremacist, who was planning an attack. According to organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, the Southern Poverty Law Center and

the FBI, among others, the data suggests these are all part of a broader rise in white nationalism across the U.S. Where are the voices from white Republicans seeking to hold Trump accountable for his bigotry? They appear to be few and far between as his approval rating among Republicans currently sits at 90 percent. But after a military career and another 20 years in law enforcement and public safety, I refuse to live in fear in my own country. So I encourage my fellow white citizens to find their voice and have the courage to speak truth to power. I remind them of the words of Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Michael E. Waters Elmore

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APRIL 3, 2019 • PAGE 5

Trade Day April 13 will benefit Eclectic the Beautiful By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Carmen Rodgers / The Observer

Arturo LeGrand and Dan Coomer share dinner and a conversation during the Red Hill Community Club's Spaghetti Dinner, which was held Saturday. Proceeds from the benefit dinner will help restore the north wing of the community club. Pictured are, from left, Coomer, Barbara Coomer, LeGrand, Joy Jones and Miranda LeGrand.

Red Hill group raises money for museum STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

The Red Hill Historical Preservation Association held its annual spaghetti dinner benefit on Saturday with a goal of raising $1,500 for a restoration project in the historic school building where the club holds meetings. More than 100 preordered tickets were sold. “We have enough food to feed 150

become a popular event for the organization, with a number of dinners in recent years generating funds to put a new roof on the former school. Castleberry said additional help has come from the Red Hill Volunteer Fire Department, which has set up its headquarters on the lower level of the old school. The Red Hill Community Club also serves as the community’s fire station and as a regular gathering place for the community.

people,” association president Paula Castleberry said. “We have had a great turnout.” The group also sold pies for $10 apiece to raise additional funds for the project “The north wing of the building has never been restored,” Castleberry said. “That is this year’s project. We want to turn it into a museum. We’ve gotten a lot of donated items to put in there.” Castleberry said the fundraiser has

Downtown Eclectic will be the scene of Trade Day on April 13 as the community gathers to raise funds for Eclectic the Beautiful. Trade Day, which is held on the second Saturday each month, will be staged at the town hall parking lot. Vendor spaces will be available for those who want to sell their goods. “Anyone who wishes to help Eclectic the Beautiful but does not Winslett want to have a yard sale is asked to donate unwanted items that the group will sell,” Eclectic the Beautiful’s Carmen Winslett said. “Those proceeds will also be used to help with projects the group is working on throughout the town.” Eclectic residents who are planning to have a yard sale on April 13 can advertise through the community organization. “Anyone who would like to have a yard sale at their home can call with the address and it will be published on Facebook and through a flyer available the day of the event so shoppers can find you,” Winslett said. To schedule a donation drop or pickup or for more information, call 334-2010092 or email cwinslett6@yahoo.com.

Auction “Everybody is friendly, everybody knows everybody,” Hutchinson said. “They are just good, old country folks from all walks of life. The mayor comes in here, we’ve had some doctors in here. I know most of the people. “We can’t sell guns and we don’t sell livestock but other than that we sell anything. We don’t sell chickens but we sell some stuffed ones.” Hutchinson joked he even has a “zombie” for sale — a dusty, stuffed raccoon that’s losing some of its fur. Eclectic Mayor Gary Davenport said he’s there most Friday nights. “It’s a tradition here,” he said. “I love it. I buy and sell. I’m an auctioneer too. Best thing I ever bought here was probably some nice, old furniture, antiques. I don’t buy it unless it’s a bargain.” Donald Strickland is another regular at the auction barn. “Sometimes it’s good stuff, sometimes it’s just junk,” he said of the items he buys. “Like they say, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. A fun time is had by all. We are about like family but better than family. We don’t have to be around one another but we enjoy being with each other. We get to choose who we want to be with.” Brady the auction dog is another regular, Strickland said. Walley Roberson is Brady’s owner but the dog

continued from Page 1 doesn’t seem to care whose lap he plops down in as long as he’s petted. “Brady is smarter than most folks here,” Strickland joked. Strickland said he enjoys meeting friends and making new friends at the auctions but that doesn’t distract him when he spies a good bargain. He isn’t crippled but recently bought a motorized wheelchair for $175 at the auction. It’s equipped with headlights, taillights and even turn signals. According to Strickland, a new one goes for about $5,000. “It’s fun to play with,” he said. “The grandkids love to play with it.” James “Duck” Nix, 62, who wears his graying beard down to his chest and his hair to his shoulders, said the auction is a lot of fun. “I’ve been doing this about eight years and I like to get good deals and turn around and give other people good deals,” he said. “I’ve bought some saws that were pretty good electric saws. I’ve bought diecast (miniature) cars, knives, just a little bit of everything. I fit right in with the rednecks because I’m an old redneck.” Like many others, Cheryl Crews, 56, comes for the good times and good deals. “I’ve bought a lot of stuff,” she said. “I’ve bought Teddy bears and pictures. I’ve bought jackets, housewares, toys, all kinds of stuff.”

Lee Keeler, who said he’s in his late 60s, enjoys his role as the auction’s ring man. “I come every Friday night ‘cause I like doing it, just seeing what they’ve got for sale, how

people bid,” he said. “I’m called a ring man. That means you hold up an item for sale, help take the bids and deliver the merchandise to them. I’m not paid. I just do it for fun.”

plant sale

Ron Colquitt / For The Observer

Above: A crowd bids on an item for sale at the Eclectic auction barn. Left: At the Eclectic auction barn, a black bear holds a man's head in his left paw and a lunch box in the other paw.

2019 spring

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PAGE 6 • APRIL 3, 2019

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

ClassiÄeds

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

Employment Job Opportunities

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

Job Opportunities Part-time Sales Clerk Wetumpka Russell Do it Center is now accepting applications for a part-time sales clerk. Retail experience helpful. Applications accepted at Russell Do it Center, 7986 Hwy 231 Wetumpka, AL EOE

Warehouse – Driver Wetumpka Russell Do it Center Accepting applications for the position of warehouseman/ delivery person at the Wetumpka Do it Center. Forklift and warehouse operations experience desired. )XOO WLPH SRVLWLRQ ZLWK EHQH¿WV Valid driver’s license and good driving history required. Please apply in person at: Russell Do it Center 7986, Hwy 231 in Wetumpka, AL. Applications accepted Monday – Friday 7am-4pm. Serious Inquiries Only. EOE

Moco Transportation OTR Drivers Needed 25 yrs old, 2 yrs Exp. Hazmat Required. Good MVR. NO LOCAL RUNS Call: 1-800-328-3209 SEEKING SALESMAN for Rubber & Plastic Items Call to apply: 205-243-6661

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 . 4XDOL¿FDWLRQV 18 months Class A CDL driving H[SHULHQFH ZLWK PRV ÀDWEHG Applicants must meet all D.O.T. requirements. Contact recruiting at 1-800-634-7315 RU FRPH E\ +7/ RI¿FH 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!!!

‡ SP DP /31 51 &KDUJH 1XUVH 6LJQ RQ %RQXV ‡)7 0HGLFDO 5HFRUGV &OHUN 0HGLFDO 5HFRUGV H[S SUHIHUUHG RU 0HGLFDO $VVLVWDQW 'HJUHH

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‡51 /31 &KDUJH 1XUVH 0RQGD\ )ULGD\ SP SP ‡351 3RVLWLRQV )XOO WLPH SRVLWLRQV ZLWK H[FHOOHQW SD\ DQG EHQH¿WV (PDLO UHVXPH DSLWWV#FURZQHKHDOWKFDUH FRP

%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 ‡(PHUJHQF\ 5RRP )7 51 DP SP ‡37 6XUJLFDO 6FUXE 7HFK ‡)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 EHQH¿WV 9DOLG GULYHUœV 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 Monday–Friday 7am-4pm. Serious Inquiries Only. EOE

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

The Eclectic Observer

Job Opportunities

CNA classes starting this month. Come and join our team. ‡)8// 7,0( &1$œ6 30 $0

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‡)XOO WLPH 51 ,QIHFWLRQ FRQWURO :RXQG H[SHULHQFH SUHIHUUHG New Competitive Pay scale 6KLIW 'LIIHUHQWLDO $SSO\ ,Q 3HUVRQ $GDPV +HDOWK DQG 5HKDE +LOODEHH 6WUHHW Alexander City 5HEHFFD &ODUN Wetumpka Area Wood Pallet Operation Needs: ‡0DLQWHQDQFH 0LOOZULJKW Must have working knowledge of welding/ torching, hydraulics, pneumatics, and electrical systems. ‡3URGXFWLRQ 6XSHUYLVRU Report to Plant Manager and be hands on with people/equipment. Must be willing to operate equipment as needed. ‡0DFKLQH 2SHUDWRUV Operate wood sawing, stacking and nailing machinery. Apply at Bass Lumber RU FDOO

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. 3ODQW 'U $OH[DQGHU &LW\ $/ 0RQGD\ )ULGD\ DP SP

Bill Nichols State Veterans Home

Apply at: hmrveteranservices.com Contact:Brandy Holman 256-329-0868

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

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€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 Do you have available jobs? Call 256.277.4219 to let others know about job opportunities at your business.

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

White Oak Transportation

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

The Tallassee Tribune

Job Opportunities

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 Now Hiring Experienced Mechanical/ Structural Draftsman SURÂżFLHQW LQ 'LPHQVLRQDO AutoCAD drafting. Contact Brown Machine & Fabrication, Inc. Alexander City, AL 0RQGD\ 7KXUVGD\

‡&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\ Selling your home? Advertise here and sell it faster. Call Classifieds at 256.277.4219.

The Wetumpka Herald

PUZZLES & HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) You might try to harness your wandering imagination. You even might try to change settings or projects. Let go; relax. Some of your wilder ideas could hold value. Test them out on an equally creative person. Tonight: Continue sharing. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Remain sure of your ideas and the support that you have behind you. If all indicators are correct, you have a sure-bet winner. One person might dampen your spirit with some criticism. Listen; strengthen your plan as a result. Tonight: Respond positively to a loved one or dear friend. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Zero in on what you want, but don’t lose sight of responsibilities. You beneĂ„t because of the manner in which you deal with change, i.e., not losing sight of your commitments. Your ability to adjust always comes through. Tonight: A force to be dealt with. CANCER (June 21-July 22) You see what others don’t. You can take an opportunity and run with it while others are debating the pros and cons of the situation. Relax with the moment; you’ll clearly come into a new type of success or happiness. Tonight: Where you can be entertained. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) A partner and others believe that they have the answers. Listen attentively; should you see a problem, question it. Remain supportive of others, and they’ll become more open with you. Express your feelings loud and clear. Tonight: The only reply is “yes.â€? VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Deal with a diɈerent issue than the usual one that you have with a loved one. This issue can irk you but is cleared out easily. Your vision of a child or loved one could change because of this conversation. A

family member supports your pursuit. Tonight: Stay centered. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You carry a grievance but not trying to clear it out. You feel that the timing could be oɈ and want to approach the issue at a better time. Be aware that there may not be a better time than now. Tonight: OɈ to meet a favorite friend. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) When funneled properly, your imagination will allow you to gain. Look at a certain project with new eyes. You might Ă„nd it easier to handle and complete than you have before. Listen to feedback. Tonight: Make time for a special person in your life. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Allow your creativity to Ă…ourish. Your focus might be trained on your personal or domestic situation. Don’t allow a tight Ă„nancial budget to trip you up. You might Ă„nd an alternate procedure that could work better. Tonight: At home. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Share your thoughts more carefully. You’ll Ă„nd that a loved one will open up after a direct question. You might actually hear too much and be uncomfortable with what you need to handle. Ask pertinent questions. Tonight: Get feedback from someone who is intuitive. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Evaluate what’s happening Ă„nancially. You might feel restrained, but you are restraining yourself. Only you can decide to be free. Friends and associates tend to support you moving in a new direction. Tonight: Where your friends are. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Think through a problem. If you do, you’re likely to succeed beyond your expectations. You could see a personal matter diɈerently as well. Get advice from a respected advisor or friend. Tonight: Midweek break.

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

APRIL 3, 2019 • PAGE 7

Photos of local Vietnam veterans sought By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

A Hawaiian woman who embarked on a project to find deceased Vietnam veterans in her state is asking for help from Tallapoosa County residents to honor their own heroes. Janna Hoehn of Maui, Hawaii, is conducting a nationwide search for photos of fallen Vietnam veterans. She asks anyone from Tallapoosa County who has a photo of a deceased Vietnam veteran to submit it to the Wall of Faces online memorial on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website. Those photos will also accompany the moving wall that travels all over the U.S. “If anyone is related, a friend or a classmate to any of the young men on the list, I would very much appreciate hearing from you,� Hoehn said. “Putting a face with a name changes the whole dynamic of the wall. It keeps our fallen heroes’ memories alive and will honor them. Our heroes’ stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.� There are 58,315 fallen heroes whose names are etched on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., and more than 53,000 photos have been collected. Hoehn is also asking for volunteers to assist in the effort. “I am looking for an individual that would like to volunteer to be my boots on the ground

Submitted / The Observer

Janna Hoehn looks through images of fallen Vietnam War soldiers sent to her by families all over the country.

in your community if we do not find all the photos,� she said. “It may mean a trip to the library to search for obituaries or to a high school to look through yearbooks.� When Hoehn and her hus-

Job Opportunities

Garage Sales Big Bad Yard Sale 5627 Titus Rd, Titus April 5th & 6th Friday & Saturday 7:00am-2:00pm Harley Davidson boots & chaps. All kinds of nice stuff. 334-657-0308

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 Shoneys of Wetumpka Now Hiring Manager Trainees, Cooks and Servers Apply within during business hours Monday-Friday: 4700 US Highway 231 EOE

Auctions & Sales Garage Sales Multi Family Yard Sale 2985 Kent Road Tallassee, Saturday, April 6th 7am-?? Multi Family Yard Sale 2380 Ann Circle April 6th 7am-?? Turn the road in front of 6th street church Household items, adult clothes, boys/girls clothes, jewelry, and toys

band made their first trip to Washington eight years ago their first stop was the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. “Because Vietnam was the war that was going on while I was in high school the first

Lost & Found

Rentals

Furniture & Appliances

Apartments

Notices General Notices

Boats & Watercraft

2 FOUND DOGS Older female, light fawn color. Younger female, brown & white. Terrier, chihuahua type. Free to good home. Vet checked. Shots. Good health. 478-396-1580

Merchandise Whirlpool dishwasher for sale $125 Contact Ronnie 256-234-3128

memorial on my list was the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall,� Hoehn said. “Even though I never knew anyone killed in Vietnam, I wanted a rubbing of one of the names. I approached the wall and choose a name ... Gregory John Crossman, an MIA. When I returned home I decided to research Gregory and try to find his family. In the event they were never able to go to the wall, I would send them the etching, hoping they would share a photo with me of Gregory.� Hoehn continued her search over the next six months but got nowhere and became discouraged. However, she turned to a family member who was familiar with the past and just how it was chronicled. Six weeks later, she found a college photo of Crossman. Hoehn decided to get involved with a national organization that aims to put a face with each fallen Vietnam veteran. “Two years later I saw a story on our local news about the ‘Faces Never Forgotten’ for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund,� she said. “The goal was to put a face with every name that is etched on the wall. I immediately sent in the photo I had of Gregory Crossman. Five days later, I received an email from Jan Scruggs, the founder and president of the wall. He thanked me for sending the photo; it was the first for this hero and he asked me if I

Wetumpka Villas $99 Security Deposit 4XDOLÂżHG $SSOLFDQWV 0XVW 0RYH ,Q 1R /DWHU 7KDQ WR EH HOLJLEOH IRU VSHFLDO ,QFRPH 5HVWULFWLRQV $SSO\ %DFNJURXQG &UHGLW &KHFNV 5HTXLUHG 334-567-8448 300 Rivercrest Circle Wetumpka Equal Opportunity Provider.

could help him find the photos for the 42 Maui County fallen that were killed in Vietnam. I replied, ‘It would be an honor.’ I have always hoped I could to do something for the Vietnam veterans as the way they were treated when they returned was disgraceful. Here was my chance.� She discovered locating more photos was harder than she thought. “What I thought would be a very easy project with Maui being so small was anything but easy,� Hoehn said. “I started by combing the phone books calling every like name of each soldier. I found about 10 of them this way; then off to archived yearbooks for every high school on Maui, I found a few more; then to the library to look for obituaries and I found three more; then I went to the Maui News.� Once Hoehn located all the Maui County photos she decided to continue her mission and began searching for photos of fallen Vietnam veterans in her hometown in California. Since then she has been involved in several Vietnam veteran photo searches, including the search for Native American soldiers, and eventually began searching for every fallen soldier in her home state. Those with photos or information should contact Hoehn at neverforgotten2014@gmail. com. For more information about the Wall of Faces, visit www.vvmf.org/thewall.

Fencing

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Recreational Vehicles

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Put your ad here call 256.277.4219

Tree Service

Raise your hand if you want your business to make LESS money next year.

!UCTION OF 3URPLUS 6EHICLES %QUIPMENT Fayette County Over 75 Vehicles, Plus Heavy Equipment and More!

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Transportation 2004 White Ford Mustang 40th Anniversary Edition 3.9 V-6 engine, 115K miles Asking $4,990 Call 256-392-3429

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HELP WANTED – ADMIN/ PROF CNA’s WANTED! In This Area with Good Pay! Flexible Hours, Full-Time and Part-Time work. Call 1-205-331-4359. Email Resume to nationwidegenomic @gmail.com. Fax -1-205-759-1054. REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES for sale in Evergreen, AL. Restaurant with equipment $195,000. 6 or 12 bay Freight Terminal $295,000. Call Lewis Floyd 1-850-532-9466 FINANCIAL SERVICES DONATE YOUR Car to Charity. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 1-844-810-1257 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY BECOME A PUBLISHED Author! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work. You reap the Rewards! Call for a Free Author’s Submission Kit: 1-888-283-4780 AUTOMOTIVE 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 MISCELLANEOUS OUR PRESENT Truth. Let the bible explain Free Book and Bible Study. P.O . Box 171 Samantha, AL 35482. 1-205-339-4837. Selling your home? Advertise here and sell it faster. Call Classifieds at 256.277.4219.

PAGE 8 • APRIL 3, 2019

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

Eclectic Library needs unwanted shoes By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

The Eclectic Public Library is asking residents to bring their gently used shoes to the library for its annual shoe drive. “We are starting it now but it goes through April and May,” event coordinator Carmen Winslett said. “We did this fundraiser three years ago and it was a great money maker. This time we are aiming a little high and taking a little more time.” Coordinators are aiming high this year with a goal of 5,000 pairs of shoes. “We are hoping people will donate their shoes to the library,” Winslett said. “I think we had over 100 pairs of shoes before we began putting the flyers up. We have to have at least $2,500. If we don’t raise $2,500 then they deduct a shipping fee from the money that we make. Our actual goal is $5,000. That would net the library close to $2,000.”

All sizes and styles of shoes are accepted but only in pairs. The donated shoes will be cleaned, repaired and recycled to people of developing nations through the help of a nonprofit charitable organization. Funds2Orgs, a social enterprise company based in Orlando, Florida, works with organizations to help them raise money collecting used and new shoes that are distributed to microentrepreneurs in developing nations. For more information, call 334-201-0092.

Shoe drop locations include:

• Eclectic Public Library. • Eclectic United Methodist Church. • First Baptist Church of Eclectic. • 1st Community Bank in Eclectic. • Town of Eclectic municipal building. • Rushenville Baptist Church. • Santuck Baptist Church. • Central Baptist Church. • Eclectic Senior Center. • Eclectic Recycle Center.

File / The Observer

The Eclectic Public Library is holding its annual shoe drive and is asking residents to bring gently used shoes to donate.

First Presbyterian plans same look in new church Pastor hopes project will break ground in summer By LINDA G. MILLER For The Observer

First Presbyterian Church pastor Jonathan Yarboro said last week he expects to break ground this summer on the reconstruction of Wetumpka’s landmark structure which was destroyed by a tornado on Jan. 19. The plan is for the church to have the same exterior appearance it had before the tornado and the interior will be similar to but not an exact replica of the original design. Modern building codes will determine a number of changes as will the availability of certain materials. Plans are also being made to convert the former Fellowship Hall into a storm shelter for area residents. The estimated cost to repair the structural damage inflicted on the west wing alone is $400,000 to $450,000, a church official said. In one to two months, the congregation hopes to hear final settlement numbers; the east wing is expected to be completed first. Contractor Steve Russell was chosen early on for the reconstruction project because the church used him to build the Fellowship Hall two years ago. The architect is Freddie Lynn, a former Boy Scout Leader of Troop 13, which has had long affiliation with First Presbyterian. Yarboro said First Presbyterian was insured for its replacement value and expects the project to be complete within a year. Then everyone will again see the familiar view of the church and steeple from the Bibb Graves Bridge. The EF2 tornado that hit Wetumpka on Jan. 19 flattened or severely damaged nearly 200 structures west of the historic bridge in downtown, including the church, which many people saw as a symbol of the community. Much has been accomplished in the two months since. The lot has been cleared of debris and anything salvageable was stored in a safe place. A list of all the contents in the church was submitted to the insurance company so items can be replaced. Church pews and other items attached to the structure will be included in the cost of rebuilding. In only five weeks, repairs were completed on the Fellowship Hall and the Freeman House located behind the church on Tuskeena Street, allowing the congregation and community groups to get back onsite. A sidewalk was completed so children going to Sunday School could safely get from the Fellowship Hall to the Freeman House. Three days after the tornado, Yarboro said the congregation was determined to rebuild the church to its historic former glory. The original cost of building the sanctuary was $2,300 in 1856 and the church was dedicated on June 14, 1857. The east wing was built in 1947 and the west wing in 1957. The exterior is in the Gothic Revival Style and the interior is Greek Revival.

Jimmy Wigfield / The Observer

The bell of the First Presbyterian Church in Wetumpka was found and salvaged after the tornado.

Cliff Williams / The Observer

Jack the Strawberry Dog makes the rounds through the strawberry fields at Oakview Farms in Wetumpka.

Strawberries will soon be plentiful at Oakview Farms By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

W

inter weather and a busy spring break have the strawberries coming slowly this year for Oakview Farms. “We were hit hard this week with spring break,” Oakview Farms co-owner Patty Lambrecht said. “The weather has also affected the berries this year. All this rain — the plants look great but they just aren’t as big and bushy as normal. This is happening statewide.” Lambrecht, who owns the farm with her husband Joe, said warming temperatures will help all the blooms transform into juicy, sweet strawberries many will sample in the field while picking. “We’ve had sun all week but cool nights,” she said Friday. “You can find berries, just not in numbers to open up today. It is a crazy year.” Lambrecht said the public should keep an eye on the farm’s Facebook page to see when the field will be open. When it does, she said there will be plenty of strawberries. “We have 20,000 plants, which is over two acres,” she said. “That is a lot of plants. It is more than we had last year.” Lambrecht said preparation is the key to so many strawberries. “When you do this many, you worry about having enough help,” Lambrecht said. “We have friends who help us and we hire some people. Every year we have them delivered in mid-October.

Cliff Williams / The Observer

Patty Lambrecht looks over some of the strawberries she help set out in October.

The ground is already prepped. The plastic is in, the rye grass is in to keep the weeds down and our help is lined up. Two of us ride the planter. Oct. 15 is our goal date to have them in the ground.” Planting is not the only work that goes into maintaining the strawberries; there is also irrigation and protection from cold weather. “When the frost came in the first of March, we covered them with a fabric before the rain to protect them from the frost,” Lambrecht said. “We only had that one period of time when we covered them this year. Thankfully everything is OK.” In addition to the u-pick operation, Oakview Farms sells strawberries by other means. “We sell them to restaurants like Springhouse,” Lambrecht said. “We sell them at the

farm store too. W We are f open three days a week there and people expect us to have them.” The strawberries will come around, especially for u-pick, and an old friend will likely be there to greet families — Jack the Strawberry Dog. “Jack! Jack! Look up crazy dog!” Lambrecht yelled across the rows of strawberries last week. “He is looking over his plants.” Lambrecht said Jack is as much a part of the u-pick operation as the human employees. “He comes out and entertains the kids,” she said. “Last year he was a puppy and we kept him in a pen. The kids who come back want to check on Jack. They want him to go out and pick with them.”

Lambrecht said Jack has a bit of experience picking strawberries and might be the farm’s best inspector. “He loves strawberries,” she said. “Last year when he was a puppy, he would walk down a row. If he saw a berry he liked, he would pick it but would not tear up the plant. He would pick the berry and leave the green stems so people started calling him Jack the Strawberry Dog.” Lambrecht is not worried her best inspector is eating into the farm’s profits and Jack is not wasteful. “He will eat the entire berry,” Lambrecht said. “I don’t think he eats too much. He is a rescue half Corgi. He has a long body. He only eats three or four at a time.”

Sports

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

APRIL 3, 2019 • PAGE 9

The

Observer

‘FINDING A WAY TO WIN’ 2-out rally gives ECHS win in area tune-up By CALEB TURRENTINE Sports Writer

With two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the fifth inning, Elmore County’s Taylor Henderson had four batters ahead of him but he still knew he would be up to plate before taking to the field. Henderson entered the batter’s box with runners on the corners while trailing Dallas County, 9-8 and he roped a base hit to right field, scoring two runs to give the Panthers their first lead of the game. “I expected to come up,” Henderson said. “We just needed to keep that energy up and that helped carry us. It’s a great feeling to come through there.” Elmore County (135) fell behind 6-0 in the second inning but never gave up on the game. After Henderson’s RBI single, the Panthers added five more runs in the inning and never gave up the lead on their way to a 17-12 win Saturday. “We have preached since Day 1 to fight with two outs and two strikes,” ECHS coach Michael Byrd said. “You have to be ready to play that next pitch and things will start rolling together.” The Panthers had the bottom of their order up in the fifth inning but nine-hole hitter Payne Watts came through with a leadoff triple to get things started. Chase Wilson brought Watts home on an RBI single and Elmore County had its next seven batters reach base as it took a 15-9 lead after five innings. It was the fifth time this season Elmore County has scored at least 15 runs in a game. The Panthers had

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Caleb Turrentine / The Observer

Top: Zach Jones pitched the final five innings to earn the victory in Elmore County’s 17-12 win over Dallas County. Above: Elmore County’s Payne Watts dives back to first base during a pickoff attempt.

nine different players score a run in the game and six players record at least one RBI. Henderson reached base three times in the game and scored twice. Trey Brand led the Panthers with five RBIs while Watts led the team with three runs scored. “They were down on pitching, we were down on pitching and we both have area games coming up,” Byrd said. “We knew what kind of game it would be and I told them if it’s 19-18, that’s the kind of game we’re playing for. I want to see how many runs we can score. Bottom line is finding a way to win and we did that.” Elmore County started Brady Lewis on the mound but he struggled with his command and allowed six runs (two earned) in less than two innings pitched. Brody Ward could not stop

the bleeding, walking three while allowing one hit and two more runs as Dallas County held an 8-3 lead. Zach Jones entered in the third inning to attempt to limit the Hornets with the bases loaded and no outs. He pitched the final five innings for the Panthers, allowing just two earned runs while striking out three. “He comes in and he just competes,” Byrd said. “When you throw it over the plate, you have a chance to win. He’s a sophomore and we pulled him up from JV. Now he’s probably worked his way into the No. 3 starter spot.” Elmore County entered Saturday’s game losing three of its last four games. Despite knowing the upcoming area games were a priority, Byrd said it was good for his team to build some momentum entering

this week. “It’s real big for our morale this week,” Byrd said. “The big game is on Tuesday and we want to go in with confidence, especially on offense. We’re going to have score some runs and we know that.” Elmore County split its first area series with Handley and will now need to climb out of a hole to grab a playoff spot. It does not get easier for the Panthers this week as they play Holtville on Tuesday and Thursday with the possible tiebreaker being played on the road Thursday. “We’re just going to try to win that first one,” Byrd said. “We want to play that first one, see what happens and readjust for the next one. We know all those scenarios are endless so we just worry about one game at a time right now.”

Previewing the final 4 days of college hoops

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here are only four more days of college basketball this season which means the long, seven-month wait between games is way too close. However, after a thrilling CCALEB ALEB weekend of Elite 8 TURRENTINE games, basketball Sports fans are expecting to see more of the same Writer across the final six games of the season. It all gets started on Friday night when the NCAA Women’s Final Four gets underway in Tampa. Unlike the men’s tournament, there have not been many surprises during the women’s tournament and that has us set with four teams that have been among the nation’s best all season. The first game features the top seed in the tournament that statistically looks like one of the greatest teams of all time. Baylor has a plus-19 percent difference between its shooting percentage and its opponents’ shooting percentage this season. The Bears earned the bracket’s top seed behind a 23-game winning streak entering the tournament. They have now extended that to 27 games and only three — yes, THREE — have been decided by single digits. Baylor has eased its way to this point but standing in the way is one of the most prestigious players in the country. Win or lose, Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu has been the most valuable player in this tournament and that will continue Friday night. Ionescu grabbed the first triple-double in an NCAA Tournament game since Draymond Green did it and she had the highest scoring triple-double since Dwayne Wade’s in 2003. She is exciting to watch and when the Ducks surround her with sharpshooters, Oregon can beat anyone in the country. In the second game, we have a rematch of last year’s final four between UConn and Notre Dame. This game has the reigning national champion and a team who has been to 12 consecutive national semifinals. Somehow, the Huskies are the No. 2 seed in this game and they have been using that to drive their play over the last two weeks. Depth was a concern in the past for UConn but it feels like Katie Lou Samuelson has been there for seven years and she could be the difference because of her experience in these big games. On Saturday, the men’s Final Four gets started in Minneapolis. The relatively Cinderella team this year is Auburn but it does not enter as major underdogs like Cinderella teams in the past. The Tigers are the scariest team in the country when they start making consecutive shots. Watching Jared Harper and Bryce Brown is the most excitement we have left in the tournament since Zion Williamson and Duke exited. However, the lone No. 1 seed remaining is Virginia which shook off its March See TURRENTINE • Page 10

Panthers blast Central Coosa in three innings Watts racks up 5 RBIs on grand slam, triple STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Central Coosa was no match for Elmore County’s softball team on Monday afternoon, as the Panthers lit up the scoreboard with 15 hits and 21 runs in a 21-0 victory in just three innings. Not only did the Panthers do well offensively, they also took advantage of four walks and seven Cougar miscues, finishing with only eight earned runs. Eclectic immediately got started in the bottom of the first. Ebone Pierson led off with a walk before she was driven in by a Madelyn Becker triple. Kelina

Daniels followed with a run-scoring single, and Madison Britt was hit by a pitch to put two on. After one out, Akerria Harden kept things going with a single to score Daniels. The Panthers then scored on an error before Alyssa Beam had an RBI single to put them ahead 5-0 before the inning’s end. Eleanor Watts had an incredible day, racking up five RBIs on a grand slam and a triple. Becker, Daniels and Harden also had two hits apiece, and all but two Panthers had at least one single. Beam and Maci Curlee combined for the one-hit victory. See SOFTBALL • Page 10

File / The Observer

Elmore County’s Eleanor Watts had five RBIs in the Panthers’ 21-0 victory over Central Coosa on Monday night. Watts hit a grand slam and a triple.

PAGE 10 • APRIL 3, 2019

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

Elmore County Player of the Week

Coooper pushes Bulldogs to season-high run total By CALEB TURRENTINE Sports Writer

Brooke Cooper has consistently been one of the top hitters in Holtville’s lineup this season but the third baseman took it to another level during the team’s trip to Gulf Shores for a tournament during spring break. Cooper had 13 hits across eight games as the Bulldogs averaged 6.5 runs per game, including a 15-0 win over Pleasant Valley during the second round of bracket play. She is the Elmore County Player of the Week. “The offense didn’t have the flow that we wanted to have top to bottom so we moved the lineup around a little bit,” Holtville coach Darryl Otwell said. “We moved her into that two-hole and she immediately had a big game. She had a solid week at the plate and in the field.” Holtville’s 15 runs in the game is a season high and

File / The Observer

Holtville coach Darryl Otwell says having Brooke Cooper at third base makes the rest of the team’s defense better.

Cooper was in the middle of it the whole game. She finished with four hits, including a double and her first home run of the season. “It felt really good,” Cooper said. “I didn’t think it was going over so I was running to

first and when I heard everyone say it was over, I actually tripped over first base. I was just happy.” She finished that game with a career-high six RBIs and recorded at least one RBI in all six of the team’s wins

during the tournament. Cooper also led the team with four runs scored in the win over Pleasant Valley. In five of Holtville’s victories, the Bulldogs outscored their opponents 44-0 behind big offensive performances across the lineup. Cooper recorded multiple RBIs in four of those wins. “We feel like our lineup, top to bottom, is a really good lineup,” Otwell said. “They really woke up for this week. They look more comfortable at the plate and they’ve started to have better swings.” Cooper more than doubled her season total for runs batted in, knocking in 18 across the eight-game tournament. She is now the team’s RBI leader with 31 on the season, six shy of her career high. “I was really just doing what I normally do,” Cooper said. “I just have to go up there and relax and keep believing in myself.” While Cooper entered the

season as Holtville’s No. 2 pitcher, other players have stepped up in the circle so Cooper can focus more on her hitting and fielding. Her difference at the plate can easily be seen in the scorebook but Otwell said her biggest impact may be in the field. “She is still a threat pitching but she’s got a great glove at third base,” Otwell said. “Whenever she goes to the mound, it can open up some holes in our defense.” While Cooper has shown her variety of skills throughout the season, her bat is a clear strength for the Bulldogs moving forward. She is now batting .398 on the season and has seen that number only rise over the last two weeks. “If they continue to have the bats, we’re going to be tough to beat,” Otwell said. “I told them I don’t care if you’re batting .100 right now, it’s about what we can do late in the season and we’re getting ready to turn that corner.”

Turrentine continued from Page 9 Madness demons to get to the Final Four behind a miracle shot in the Elite 8. The Cavaliers are known for their defense and they still have players that can score the ball efficiently but limiting Auburn’s opportunities in transition and from beyond the arc will be key. In the second game, Michigan State and Texas Tech will be in what’s maybe even more of an unexpected meeting. Both teams just knocked off the top seed in their respective regions and will hope to carry that momentum into Saturday night. The Spartans may hold the biggest edge of any of the four teams because of coach Tom Izzo’s experience in the Final Four. However, if Michigan State is going to win a championship, it’s going to come at the hands of Big Ten Player of the Year Cassius Winston. Winston plays a true point guard who can find the open man in the half court or transition but also knows how to take over the game when needed. Winston is a scorer, a passer and deceptively quick on both ends of the court. If you do not like watching the low-scoring Virginia games, watching Texas Tech reminds you of how fun it can be to watch good defense. The Red Raiders have been the best defense team in the country without playing at a preposterously slow pace. As for the championship games Sunday and Monday, I am standing by my original brackets. While the rest of my picks have been well below average, I had Baylor over UConn in the women’s tournament and Michigan State over Virginia in the men’s tournament so those are the predictions I’m sticking with. Make sure to find plenty of time over the weekend to watch all of these games because by this time next week, there will be no more college basketball for the 2018-19 season. And then the waiting will begin. Caleb Turrentine is a sports writer for The Observer.

Generals erupt in 6th to beat Panthers, 9-6 By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor

Leading 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Elmore County suddenly turned into a leaking bucket and Horseshoe Bend sifted through the mess to score eight runs and rally for a 9-6 victory Friday afternoon in New Site. The Class 2A Generals (7-8) sent 14 batters to the plate and used five walks, two wild pitches, three hit batters, a crucial two-run error, a passed ball and two run-scoring singles in the bottom of the sixth to surge to a 9-5 lead. Three of the runs came with two outs. “We lost one like that earlier in the week to Dadeville (6-5) and it took a lot out of us,” said Horseshoe Bend coach Jason Johnson, “so to do that to a good baseball team and a bigger school should give us a lot of confidence going forward. It’s been a roller coaster year but we’ve played well in four of the last five games. We played well defensively today and if we keep doing that we’ll be fine.” The Class 4A Panthers (12-5), who won nine straight earlier in the season, conserved their best pitchers for an important Area 5 series at Holtville next week but still made too many mistakes on the bases and in the field, coach Michael Byrd said. “We used a lot of young pitchers but we also had some critical baserunning errors early on and should have had two more runs,” said Byrd, who had a lengthy talk with his players in the dugout after the game. “We had a runner leave third a step early on a fly ball … (a)

Ron Colquitt / For The Observer

Top: Elmore County’s Lapatrick Brown is caught stealing by Horseshoe Bend’s Gavin Brazzell. Above: Elmore County’s Landon Maynard threw the first three innings of Friday’s game.

7-1 (lead) looks different than 5-1. We’ve got a big area series with Holtville coming up and that will determine if we get in (to the playoffs) or not. In the big picture this one is not that important but regardless of who is on the mound we’ve got to

finish better.” The Generals left 10 runners on base but emptied them in the bottom of the sixth. Sidearm right-hander Hayden Holton, the third of five ECHS pitchers, entered in relief with one out in the sixth and hit two

Softball Beam racked up five strikeouts in two innings, and Curlee fanned two in the final inning of work.

Elmore County Auburn Club hosting event with Mark Murphy

The Elmore County Auburn Club is hosting Mark Murphy

batters and walked another to load the bases with one out before Byrd replaced him with Brady Lewis. “We probably left Hayden in there too long,” Byrd said. Chandler Lewis stung Lewis’ first pitch to center field for an RBI single, Cole Johnson singled in another run, two runs scored on a passed ball and a walk, and Holt Tidwell’s sacrifice fly gave the Generals a 6-5 lead. Another run scored on a wild pitch before second baseman Cole Downey’s throwing error on Gavin Brazzell’s ground ball off reliever Zach Jones let in two runs for a 9-5 lead. Grant Taylor pitched the first four innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking three. Lee Norrell got the win in relief, pitching three innings of two-hit baseball and allowing one unearned run. “Grant has pitched well for us all year,” Johnson said. “(Elmore County) is one of the better hitting teams we’ll see and Lee came in and did a good job getting outs for us.” Lewis took the loss, allowing five runs on two hits in 1/3 of an inning. Austin Downey and Chase Wilson each had two hits for the Panthers and Payne Watts had a triple and two RBIs. The Generals’ first three batters — Chandler Lewis, Cole Johnson and Taylor — each had two hits and Lewis had two RBIs. “We hit the ball well today but it was with nobody on,” Johnson said. “Our situational hitting has got to get better. We’ve got to move runners over.”

continued from Page 9 from AuburnUndercover and Inside the Auburn Tigers on April 16 at 6:30 p.m. at The Catfish House in Millbrook at 3011 Cobbs Ford Rd. Enjoy dinner and conversation with Murphy as he shares the last Auburn baseball, basketball, football and recruiting news. He will be

available to answer questions about Auburn sports, often with exclusive information not found anywhere else. Cost of attendance and dinner is $20 total and is payable at the door. Cash will be accepted and checks can be made payable to the Elmore County Auburn Club. Doors

will open at 6:15 p.m. at the event will be limited to the first 50 attendees. The Elmore County Auburn Club is sponsored by the Auburn Alumni Association with the purpose of raising funds for scholarships for qualified Elmore County students who will be attend-

ing Auburn University. Membership in the Club is open to all alumni, fans and supporters. Individuals who wish to make contributions toward the Elmore County Auburn Club’s scholarship fund should contact JP or Pam Martin at wareaglenonnie@gmail.com.

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