Wetumpka Herald Aug. 23 2023

Council approves tourism manager job description

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

By Cliff Williams Staff Writer

The City of Wetumpka is on

its way to creating a full-time tourism department.

At its Monday meeting the Wetumpka City Council approved a job description for a tourism manager. However, the position is far from being filled according to Mayor Jerry Willis.

“We will advertise it and promote the position,” Willis said. “There is also a conference coming up where we will talk about it. We want to make sure we identify the correct person for the position that will help us move Wetumpka forward.”

When hired, the new employee will have an office at the Wetumpka Impact Crater Discovery and Visitor Center on Company Street. Willis said he did not know the timeframe yet of when a

See COUNCIL, Page A6

Record county budget brings new jobs

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Elmore County will spend nearly $74 million in fiscal year 2024 after the Elmore County Commission approved its newest budget last week.

funds for the 17 Springs project being spent.”

Chamber holds luncheon welcoming members

By Cliff Williams Staff Writer

It is almost double any budget in the county’s history. But county leaders said it is all funded and includes some out of the ordinary spending as the county prepares for the future.

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

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

“It was not a typical budget year,” Elmore County chief operations officer Richie Beyer said.

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

“This isn’t a regular budget as it includes funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) being spent on infrastructure and bond

The county implemented a levelized lodging tax several years ago as the 17 Springs project came to life. The idea is to let the lodging tax help pay for quality of life projects across the county. ARPA allowed the county to give many employees Temporary Premium Pay. As ARPA comes to an end, the commission and county staff chose to keep funding the increased pay. The budget also has the county absorbing the 2% increase in health insurance premiums. Employees working for the county will see a new retiree healthcare program to help incentivize long-term employment in

See CHAMBER, Page A3

See BUDGET, Page A2

County schools working to get attendance up

told the board last week.

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The school year isn’t even two weeks old but student attendance at Elmore County Schools is down 1.7% compared to last year.

The games officially begin with 17 Springs ribbon cutting

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

How do you celebrate the official opening of a new pickleball, tennis and soccer complex? With a game of course.

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

While it may seem a little alarming, officials have a chance to encourage enrollment and attendance before the real count of average daily membership (ADM) starts the day after Labor Day.

“That is not unusual. You end up enrolling more. Our goal is to have as many in place by Labor Day.”

Last school year 11,456 students were enrolled in Elmore County Schools.

By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer

Now open are four soccer fields, 12 tennis courts and 12 pickleball courts.

conversations at the Grandview YMCA lots of ideas were discussed.

Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20.

“It is a great day for Millbrook and Elmore County,” Kelley said. “This is huge.”

But it was no ordinary game. Local talent took to the “Pickledome,” making rules up as they went along. Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley wasn’t going to be denied on his homecourt playing with the YMCA’ s Gary Cobbs in his first ever pickleball game. Kelley practiced only Saturday as he prepared for the friendly grudge match. They faced Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis and Elmore County Commission Chair Bart Mercer.

The fun during the game at the new 17 Springs only cemented the partnership of the City of Millbrook, Elmore County, Elmore County Economic Development Authority, Elmore County Board of Education and the YMCA.

Police were dispatched to the parking lot around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Once there, they found Centell Winston, 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound in the driver seat of his vehicle.

“We were talking about things we wanted to do and could do,” Kelley said. “You know what we did? We bought a junkyard.”

According to Wetumpka police chief Greg Benton, this was not a random shooting.

“This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.”

The 17 Springs project dates back to 2017. The partners were wanting to create something special, not only the playing surfaces in Millbrook but something to improve the quality of life across Elmore County.

The junkyard will become a commercial district. Kelley and other city officials are already talking about how close the city is to inking deals with hotels, restaurants and retailers for it.

This is the first homicide in Wetumpka in over three years. The last homicide in the city took place in 2018.

“It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton.

Benton didn’t want to speculate on the

See SHOOTING, Page A3

Staff Report

So far this year 11,189 students are enrolled. Last year the ADM was 11,378.

The Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals

Getting the ADM up is crucial as it sets a tone for how spending goes for the next year.

(AASSP) named Holtville High School principal Kyle Futral the 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year.

“We are 188 students down from our ADM last year,” Elmore County Board of Education superintendent Richard Dennis

“Whatever that ADM is is what we are funded on for the next year,” Dennis said.

“I have no clue what the rules are,” Kelley said while warming up. “I’ll make them up as I go.”

Kelley said the vision of 17 Springs started to take shape. Bill Meyers with the YMCA had an idea of creating ballfields for area children. Elmore County chief operating officer Richie Beyer has children in the Millbrook schools who play sports.

Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year

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

While this school year’s state funding is based on

“Kyle Futral is an exceptional principal and is very proactive and innovative in his thinking and approaches to managing his school,” Dennis said, As principal of Holtville High School, Futral has transformed

See COUNTY, Page A6

Kelley was jovial about the game as he is about many things but was all business in talking about 17 Springs at the Phase 1 ribbon cutting.

“We went out into the community and did some surveys and what kind of sporting events everyone wanted to see,” City of Millbrook project manager Stuart Peters said. “We did feasibility studies, lots of meetings, lots of hours. This is the fruits of that labor.”

Kelley said in the initial

CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD

“We rode around this property in a four-wheeler looking around wanting to put a football field here, a soccer field there,” Kelley said. “All of a sudden that vision that Bill Meyers had started coming See SPRINGS, Page A6

The 17 Springs Phase 1 Ribbon Cutting last week. The first phase of the project brought four soccer fields, 12 tennis courts and 12 pickle ball courts. Phase 2 of the project is slated to be completed in 2025.

See PRINCIPAL, Page A3

the school culture from that of a school struggling with low morale, achievement and attendance to a school that strives for excellence. By collaborating with staff, many of the school’s issues were identified and addressed. Futral’s leadership style of listening, encouraging, supporting, organizing and challenging the staff and students, caused the school culture to shift in a positive direction. The school experienced a 62 percent decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism, 7 percent increase in the graduation rate, 33 percent increase in CCR rate and a 20 percent increase in ACT proficiency in the last five years.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis, center, speaks as a program on how to improve Wetumpka’s tourism efforts was presented by Stamp Idea Group’s David Allred, left.

Police Reports

WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT

AUG 15

• Harassment was reported on Shelby Street. AUG. 12

• Harassing communications was reported on North Street.

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

AUG. 21

• Assistance was given to a citizen on East Patton Street.

• A noise complaint was reported on Sims Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on East Roosevelt Street.

• A noise complaint was reported on Sunwood Court.

AUG. 20

• Harassing communications was reported on Ice Plant Road.

AUG. 19

• A noise complaint was reported on Second Avenue.

• A suspicious person was reported on Patterson Street.

• A civil disturbance was reported on Washington Street.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Second Avenue.

• A civil disturbance was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A verbal altercation was reported on South Tallassee Drive.

• Breaking and entering a vehicle was reported on West Patton Street.

• Assistance was given during a medical call on Washington Street.

• An assault was reported on Friendship Road.

• A verbal altercation was reported on Patterson Street.

AUG. 18

• A mentally disturbed person was reported on Mott Lane.

• The roadway was reported blocked on Second Avenue.

• A domestic incident was reported on Third Avenue.

• A welfare check was conducted on Peachtree Street.

• Gun fire was reported on Second Street.

• Theft was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• A fight was reported on Notasulga Road.

• A child custody dispute was reported on Macedonia Road.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

BUDGET

Continued from A1

• Criminal mischief was reported on Second Avenue.

• Harassing communications was reported on Gammills Store Road.

• Assault was reported on Notasulga Road.

• Drug activity was reported on Hanil Drive.

AUG. 17

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Notasulga Road.

•Assistance was given to a motorist on Whatley Drive.

• Theft was reported on North McKenzie Street.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on South Dubois Street.

• A white female was arrested on Kelly Place.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Highway 229.

AUG. 16

• A suspicious person was reported on Third Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Washington Street.

• Animal cruelty was reported on Notasulga Road.

• Harassment was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Friendship Road.

• An animal complaint

was reported on Willow Street.

• Assistance was given to the Tallassee Fire Department on Thelma Drive.

• Animal control was requested on Central Boulevard.

• An animal complaint was reported on Camellia Drive.

• A white female was arrested on U.S. Highway 231.

• An animal complaint was reported on mcArthur Street.

• A welfare check was conducted on Darnell Road.

• An animal complaint was reported on Macedonia Road.

• A prowler was reported on Hickory Street.

AUG. 15

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• A civil disturbance was reported on Thompson Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• Forgery was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Harassing communications was reported on Riverside Drive.

• A downed powerline was reported on Hornsby Lane.

• A motor vehicle accident was reported on Oak Heights Road.

• Fraudulent use of a

debit or credit card was reported on Central Boulevard.

• A white male was arrested on Honeysuckle Lane.

• An intoxicated person was reported on Notasulga Road.

• A white male was arrested on Noble Road.

• A white female was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

AUG. 14

• A prowler was reported on Mott Lane.

• Unauthorized use of a vehicle was reported on South Tallassee Drive.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Trespassing was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on West Gantts Mill Road.

• Burglary was reported on Highway 229.

• An animal complaint was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Sims Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Third Street.

• An animal complaint was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on West James Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

county positions.

“The budget sets in place a pay rate change put into motion through premium pay,” Beyer said. “It will help with retention and recruitment of employees, specifically in public safety and public works. We are a year ahead of schedule in getting that into place.”

The new budget creates two new deputy sheriff positions for the Elmore County Sheriff’s Department, adds a new correctional officer at the Elmore County Jail, creates two APOST certified correctional officer pay slots in public safety and provides a $5 per hour supplement to aid in the cooperative effort with Elmore County Schools for nine school resource officers.

The budget also creates a new engineer position to assist with facilities, environmental services and public works. It creates an additional probate clerk position and creates three positions as part of a plan to reduce purchasing, acquisition, training, inventory and human resource burdens from all departments.

“It puts public safety people back to public safety, and not administrative,” Beyer said. “Public works people are in the same boat. There were some efficiencies added to make it work.”

The approved budget continues to support the volunteer fire departments in Elmore County with an increased allocation to cover worker’s compensation and reporting software costs. It includes an anticipated 15% increase in property, liability and worker compensation insurance.

The budget continues the 25% allocation of sales tax collected from online sales with the Elmore County and Tallassee City boards of education. The funds are shared equally on a per student basis with Elmore County receiving approximately 90% and Tallassee about 10%.

The public will still see no charge for paying bills online as a way to encourage the habit.

The nearly $74 million includes close to $1.8 million for the Elmore County Rebuild Alabama Funded and Federal Aid Exchange Funded projects previously approved by the commission.

Commissioners said they were happy with the budget and all the areas it touched.

“We have increased our funding to volunteer fire departments,” commission chair Bart Mercer said. “That has increased six

to eight fold over the last five years. We want to continue that.”

Commissioner Mack Daugherty, a retired law enforcement officer, said he is proud to see continuing support for law enforcement as the county grows.

“As the county grows, just like our fire departments and other essential services, it needs to grow,” Daughtery said. “People who are moving into the county want to know how law enforcement is. What is the crime rate? We are blessed in this county.”

Daugherty said Beyer and his staff made this budget one of, if not, the easiest budgeting he has been a part of in his two terms on the commission.

“I have heard from the department heads how smoothly the budget process was,” Daughtery said. “It is due to your work and leadership.”

Events are coming for Humane Society

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

We will have a busy month between September and October as we have a new event this year.

We will be looking for all of the area pickleball enthusiasts as Saturday, Oct. 7 is our first ever Paddles for Paws from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Paddles for Paws is a pickleball tournament at 17 Springs in Millbrook, benefiting our shelter.

Registration is $35 + a $5 service fee, which includes one event, a tournament T-shirt, snacks and drinks. The planned format will be round robin. Depending on the number of teams

in a bracket, the tournament director reserves the right to adjust the format. Small brackets may be combined. Eligible participants for Paddles for Paws must be 19 or older. Completed teams (both partners registered and paid) have priority on available slots. Teams not paid in full or without partners may be moved to the waiting list to make room for paid teams. There will be a food truck available for lunch. All participants must comply with the 17 Springs Rules of Use. We are soliciting sponsors for Paddles for Paws and think that is a great way to get your business name

seen and support our shelter. If you would like to sponsor the event, donate prizes, volunteer at the event or have questions, email HSECPaddlesforPaws@gmail.com. Any prize donations can be dropped off at Humane Society of Elmore County, 255 Central Plank Rd. in Wetumpka. You can also call us at 334-567-3377. Before Paddles for Paws we have our 17th Annual Bark in the Park at Fort Toulouse from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17 with a rain date of Sept. 24. As we look forward to a huge crowd of both humans and dogs enjoying the afternoon

Pope is a male, Lab/ Hound mix who is about 9 ½ months old. He weighs about 50 pounds. He is a simply wonderful young dog. He loves people and is playful, friendly, very chill and laid back. He’s ready to have a family all his own. Want to go camping or hiking? Pope says sure. Want to just stay at home and chill in front of the TV? Pope says sounds great to him. Want to go for walks, meet people and other dogs? Pope says I’m

your man. Want your children to grow up with their best buddy ever? Pope says he loves children. The Humane Society of Elmore County’s adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under 1 year old. Cats over 1 can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, deworming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination

if old enough and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian.

If you are interested in meeting Cola or any of the pets at HSEC, the first step is to fill out an adoption application online. Once approved, you will be contacted by someone from the humane society. HSEC is located at 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka. The phone number is 334567-3377 and the website is www.elmorehumane. org.

Johnny Brown denied youthful offender status in shooting case

By LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN Managing Editor

Johnny Letron Brown, 20, of Tuskegee, will officially be tried as an adult in the case involving the Dadeville shooting on April 15.

A youthful offender hearing was held Thursday morning where Brown’s lawyers argued he should be tried in juvenile court. Any defendant under the age of 21 can apply for youthful offender status and if granted, the maximum punishment would be three years in jail.

“That’s why we argued against it,” 5th Circuit district attorney Mike Segrest said. “Because the maximum range of punishment if YO is granted is three years, and

at Fort Toulouse, it’s time for area vendors to jump on board. We welcome local businesses, clubs, civic groups, etc. to join us and our vendor fee is only $40. Vendors must bring your own tables/popup/chairs and there is no electricity available so if you must bring a generator, please let us know for site planning.

You can find our vendor application/ payment online. If you prefer us to email you

the letter and forms in .pdf for printing, email us at hselco@bellsouth. net or message us on our shelter Facebook page.

There will be plenty to do and see at Bark in the Park – vendors, food, demonstrations, microchip clinic, blessing of the pets, pet parade, Bark in the Park T-shirts and a great selection of pet and other great silent auction items! Admission to Bark

in the Park is $5/ person 13 years old and older. ALL dogs coming to Bark in the Park must be good in public, meaning good around children, adults and other dogs in a very busy situation, and they must have a current rabies tag/proof of rabies vaccination to come to the park.

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

given this situation, we are going to be seeking the maximum penalty.”

Judge Isaac Wharton denied the youthful offender request.

For Brown and the other four defendants currently being tried as adults, they are each charged with four counts of reckless murder, 24 counts of first-degree assault and one count of third-degree assault.

Those defendants are Willie George Brown Jr., 19, and Wilson LaMar Hill Jr., 20, both of Auburn, and Ty Reik McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, both of BROWN

See OFFENDER, Page A5

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

My brother, our soldiers deserve better

IWeddings, Engagements, Anniversaries, or Birth

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

f you know me at all, you probably know my family has been reeling since the death of my 21-year-old brother-in-law, Sgt. Dylan Gentry. He died at his home on what is now known as Fort Cavazos, formerly Fort Hood, on May 1, 2023.

After weeks and weeks of calling, asking, begging, we finally received his death certificate on Aug. 11 and the autopsy report on Aug. 12 — nearly 4 ½ months after he passed. Suddenly, there are new details on the autopsy report which we had not been told prior. Most glaringly, we had been told by several Army officials Dylan died in a hospital; now we are coming to find out he was never even taken to a hospital.

The Army ruled it a clear-cut suicide complete with letters to family, but the family has never been privy to those messages. We had previously been told there was a full-blown investigation being done — but why, if it was obviously a suicide?

In March, a Fort Hood solider Ana Basalduaruiz was found dead and the Army ruled it a suicide in less than five days. So what took so long to find out more about my brother’s death? Why did our family have to reach out countless times to be provided with a death certificate that was finalized in July?

Fort Hood is known for mysterious deaths and an abnormally high suicide rate. Just this week, a verdict was handed down in the Vanessa Guillen case; Guillen was bludgeoned to death by a fellow soldier in April 2020. Look her up on Netflix; there’s a whole documentary about her story.

I’ve learned of a mother named Margie Taylor, who is fighting to find out more about her son’s death.

Spc. Joey Lenz died Feb. 1, 2022, of an apparent heart attack. Medical officials found Lenz’s heart was enlarged, and Taylor believes the Army knew and did nothing to help him.

I’ve talked with the widow of a soldier who died in 2016. She told me how her soldier, Staff Sgt. Miguel Colonvazquez, was scheduled to do training but the weather was horrible, and he warned his lieutenant the training should not be performed that day. Colonvazquez was told to perform the training anyway, according to his wife, and his vehicle overturned in flooding waters, killing eight Fort Hood soldiers and one West Point Cadet. Another former soldier, who was in the same unit as Dylan just prior to his arrival at Fort Hood, reached out to inform me just how toxic that particular troop is. He admitted even he attempted suicide while stationed there.

This is from only about three days of doing research and a couple of Facebook posts, so I am certain there are many more similar stories out there.

Our soldiers deserve better, period. Most of these deaths involve very young people who have their entire lives ahead of them. Guillen was only 20 years old. Dylan was just 21. I know for Dylan, he gave his entire adulthood to the military, and the Army should be giving answers, not adding to the questions.

People keep asking me, “What do you think happened to Dylan?”

First of all, it’s not my job to figure that out. I don’t know what happened.

But what I do know is this: Dylan said he had seen something he shouldn’t have before he died, and he was scared. His time of death has now changed three times. He was not taken to a hospital, when we had been told for months he was pronounced dead at the hospital. His widow, who he knew for a total of about 18 months leading up to his death, has barely spoken to his family since his death, has lied about the circumstances surrounding their living situation as they were separated prior to his death, has taken off her wedding ring and entered a new relationship, and blocked Dylan’s close family on social media. She is the person most likely to legally get information from the military, but she doesn’t seem interested.

Many other stories about the days leading up to and following his death have changed through the past five months or so; I could fill the whole paper with the inconsistencies. I won’t do that, but I will say Dylan’s family deserves answers. All the families going through this deserve the truth. There are far, far too many stories just like ours. There is no reason the military should be hiding behind lies and half-truths. These soldiers are willing to give up their lives for our country — but they definitely shouldn’t be losing their lives on our home soil. The military needs to do better, and it needs to start now.

Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Considering the era in which it originally aired, on a network known at the time for “jiggle TV” and light entertainment, the fact “Barney Miller” ever made it to air and found success was nothing short of miraculous. Created and produced by television veteran Danny Arnold (“Bewitched”, “That Girl”) and with a stellar cast headed by professional clarinetist Hal Linden as the title character, “Barney Miller” was set in a dirty, dingy New York Police Department squad room in the fictional Twelfth Precinct.

When I was younger and this show was airing new episodes, I remember our family watching it and I knew some of the characters’ names. It wasn’t until later on I realized just how good this situation comedy really was.

What is interesting is the program began as a two-hour film called “The Life and Times of Captain Barney Miller,” which featured many of the same characters who found their way to the weekly series but was

initially more focused on balancing Barney’s home and work life. By the time the series began in 1975, Linden became perhaps the most dignified straight man in television history as the Barney Miller character dealt with the personalities of his staff, the people who were brought in off the street, city politics (such as being passed over repeatedly for a promotion), paperwork, and city problems.

Working at the ol’ one-two (the nickname for the precinct used by Inspector Lugar, an old-timer played to perfection by James Gregory) along with Barney included the earnest, striving Detective Stanley Thaddeus “Wojo” Wojciehowicz (Max Gail); clotheshorse and aspiring author Detective Ron Harris

(Ron Glass); gambler and bad coffee-making Sergeant Nick Yemana (Jack Soo); overly knowledgeable with humor-on-wry Detective Arthur P. Dietrich (Steve Landesberg); and the perpetually troubled by his wife, and his hemorrhoids, Sergeant Phil Fish (Abe Vigoda). Other main characters included Chano Amenguale (Gregory Sierra) and Carl Levitt (Ron Carey).

There was enough going on with those guys in the squad room to justify a sitcom, but this series had a stable of character actors who were used in various roles as arrestees over the years. Each episode usually includes someone being hauled in for one crime or another — while a lot of the perpetrators are into the regular stuff such as theft or prostitution, occasionally someone is picked up who claims they are a werewolf or when our guys have to throw a ventriloquist’s dummy into the slammer.

“Barney Miller” had its fair share of standout episodes. People often

The life and times of Capt. Barney Miller

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

Tuskegee.

The indictments stem from a mass shooting in downtown Dadeville that left four dead and 32 injured. The defendants are being charged with the murders of Cobin Holston, Philstavious Dowdell, Marsiah Collins and Shaunkivia Smith.

According to Segrest, if found guilty as adults, the maximum punishment would be a total of four life sentences and 441 years in prison, and that’s what he intends to ask for.

“This is a case where I don’t think there’s any question that youthful offender status should be denied,” Segrest said. “I think the evidence shows that clearly. Lexi Dowdell (who is a sister of one of the victims) testified at the hearing; the family and several of the victims were there. Probably at least 40 or 50 people were there.”

The sixth alleged shooter is a 15-year-old juvenile who has not been named.

In addition to Johnny Brown, the other defendants’ attorneys also made a motion for youthful offender status as well.

Three of those four defendants’ attorneys asked for a continuance, and those will be moved to Oct. 26, when all four youthful offender hearings are now scheduled to take place.

From there, Segrest expects other motions to

MILLER

Continued from A4 often cite the silly third season highlight, “Hash,” in which the squad unknowingly partakes in drug-laced brownies baked by Wojo’s girlfriend. There’s also more serious material such as “The Harris Incident,” from season five, in which Harris is in the process of arresting a felon when two white police officers shoot at him. Each character was so

appear and he said this is just one step in a long battle.

“We chose to indict them all as co-defendants, and I anticipate each of them will ask for the case to be severed and to be tried separately,” he said. “We will oppose that, but I’m sure there will be arguments for that. We could also face a potential transfer of venue. They could make the argument that because of the magnitude in Dadeville, they can’t get a fair trial here. We would argue against that too, of course.”

Wharton limited the people who could enter the courtroom Thursday to victims and their parents, but there are many others who are still suffering. Segrest met with many of those people after the hearing and said although this is a win for the prosecution, there still weren’t any happy faces.

“I can’t say anybody was happy because everybody is still reeling,” Segrest said. “School just started back and there’s anxiety about that. There’s so many of these kids that were affected that aren’t considered ‘victims’ because they didn’t get shot. They have friends whose lives will be forever changed, and just think about what they saw.

“Their lives are changed forever, and they’re still trying to cope and grasp everything. It was a very emotional meeting with everybody, but I think we all felt a little better after getting together.” OFFENDER

well-written and pitch-perfect. And in the way the show played out, even the “bad guys” were treated like human beings. Everyone was shown to have worth, even people who maybe didn’t even believe in that fact themselves.

“Barney Miller” thoughtfully tackled it all, in real time, what was happening in the late 1970s and early 1980s: politics, age discrimination, nuclear power, economic issues, racism, gender identity, sexuality, and more. Like a stage play, most of

Millbrook hosts back-to-school event

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

All About the Bounce in Millbrook let the community in on Saturday for its second annual customer appreciation and back to school event.

The Penser Boulevard business made this year’s event bigger than last year.

“This year we opened up again to let everyone in to learn more about us and to celebrate the start of school,” All About the Bounce manager Andrew Raife said. “We are giving away some computers, a couple scholarships and school supplies.”

The company also invited in two high school brothers from Montgomery with their lemonade stand.

“They are in tenth grade and want to be entrepreneurs,” Raife said. “We are just trying to help them out and promote them some. We also brought out another new business — Chill Out with their frozen treats.”

Owners Renault and Pamela Johnson said they wanted to con-

tinue on the event’s success last year that served more than 100 children in the local community. The event served up food, drink and good times to all through All About the Bounce’s game rooms and bouncy houses. Even the mobile game cave was

parked outside for the event.

“Earlier this morning the game cave was in use before it came here,” Raife said. “It can all be rented out. We host parties too. We typically do weekends, but will schedule whenever they want.”

Growing business comes to downtown Wetumpka

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

In three years, Lana Hebert has grown a side business to the point of needing a brick and mortar building to keep up with demand.

It all started during the COVID-19 pandemic and Herbert was teaching seventh grade science to students from Eclectic Middle School from home.

See BUSINESS, Page A6

the action took place in a single room. The immediacy of the presentation brought the viewer right into what was going on, making every episode engaging. I might add the theme song by Allyn Ferguson and Jack Elliott features the best bass guitar lick and rhythm section groove in television history. The theme is also presented over the credits, with a garbage barge being towed down the river in the shadows of the Manhattan skyline — a perfect analogy for what is happening on the pro-

gram itself.

The show ran for eight seasons, and by the time it was over, every single actor had received at least one Emmy nomination.

I discovered recently my teaching partner, Mrs. Kelley Hill, and her husband, Dr. Adam Hill, were binge-watching “Barney Miller.” It just so happened I was doing the same, watching an episode or two every night.

I had re-familiarized myself with many of the episodes

during the COVID-19 quarantines of 2020 after finding them on Amazon Prime, but since then, they have also appeared on Tubi as well as broadcast channels FeTV (Family Entertainment Television) and Antenna TV. So there’s no excuse –turn on your television and cue up some “Barney Miller” for a few laughs with the fellows down at the ol’ one-two.

Michael Bird is a music teacher for Tallassee City Schools.

Calling all artists! Lake Martin Living’s Art & Photo contest is taking submissions through September 8th. Submit your artwork for a chance to be featured in the October issue! Acceptable artworks include acrylics, oil, watercolor, pastels, photography and mixed media. 3D works are accepted as long as they can be hung on the wall. No free-standing sculptures. Entries must depict the beauty and lifestyle of Alabama. All entries must be ready to hang. Please make sure that the artist’s name, address and telephone number is on the back of each entry. Don’t miss out on the chance to win cash prizes!

A reception will be held September 28 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Dadeville Performing Arts Center. (Tickets $15)

This event will benefit the Dadeville Performing Arts Center. Please let us know if you would like to become a sponsor. Call Betsy Iler at 256-234-4281for more information.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD A boy celebrates while playing a game at Saturday’s back-to-school event at All About the Bounce in Millbrook.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD People peruse and chat during Lil’ Farmhouse Market’s opening last week.

Changes coming for chamber’s ambassador program

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The Wetumpka Area

Chamber of Commerce is retooling its ambassador program to make it more effective for the business community.

Chamber director of membership and marketing Andrew Stieb said the chamber wants to move the ambassador program beyond “membership growth in a sales format.”

“The ambassadors

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have always existed to help promote the chamber, “ Stieb said. “We want to make it more cohesive to establish a larger network and develop volunteers. We are refocusing the member outreach side of it.”

BUSINESS

Continued from A5

The ambassadors will not be one large group. Instead two teams of six will be selected from the initial application process. The teams will compete individually and as teams while completing various tasks each month. Each of the teams will be assigned four or five businesses each month to visit. The selected businesses might be chamber members, former chamber members or those who have never been part of the chamber.

“It is to help start conversations with businesses about the chamber, what it can provide and what the business provides to help grow a

See CHANGES, Page B8

over the years.

“A lot of the crafting I did was T-shirts, home decor with a farm feel,” Herbert said. “I grew up on a farm and that is where the farm stuff came from.”

“I started more crafting and different stuff at home,” Herbert said. “It started to grow into this.”

At first Herbert was selling her wares on Facebook. Then she started setting up a temporary shop at Main Street Wetumpka’s monthly Community Market.

“We always hoped it would grow into something where it gives me more flexibility and maybe something my husband Bruce could help with,” Herbert said.

The couple cut the ribbon Friday to their Company Street location with family, friends and officials. The brick and mortar location for Lil’ Farmhouse Market came to be very quickly.

“We had been praying for direction from God and this came open,” Herbert said. “Not even two weeks ago we signed the paperwork on it and here we are.”

Herbert is now welcoming customers to peruse clothing, jewelry and more. It all features her own tastes developed

COUNCIL Continued from A1

tourism manager would be hired.

Even family likes her sense of style.

“I had clothes from 1997 that I hold onto,” Herbert said. “I don’t hoard them. I have two adult girls who when they come home, ‘Oh going in your closet is like going shopping.’”

Herbert grew up in Kentucky and moved to Louisiana with her military family. She met her husband Bruce there as he was working after Hurricane Katrina.

The Heberts moved to Elmore County from Louisiana in 2015 to be closer to family. She has a brother living in Chattanooga, Tennessee and sister in Pensacola, Florida.

“We have family all over,” Herbert said. “Elmore County was in between my parents and siblings. My mom is 83. This is easier to be closer to all the family. I’m the youngest and it was easier for me to move.”

Elmore County is also easier for two other hobbies for the Herberts.

“We love the fact it is between the

mountains and the beach,” Herbert said. “It is perfect if you like hiking in the mountains one weekend and the beach the next weekend. You are not far from any of it.”

The couple was living in small town Louisiana before moving to Elmore County. They believe they made the right choice in picking a new home in the Wallsboro community in 2015. Herbert said they didn’t realize much of the small character of Elmore County and Wetumpka until they moved.

“When we moved here it was like ‘Oh my gosh. It has the same small town feel,’” Herbert said. “Everyone is so sweet. I immediately got a teaching job. Everyone was very helpful. We loved that feeling. Everyone is willing to help. We like the Wetumpka area.” Since moving to Elmore County, the couple has moved again to a farm in the Holtville area, but they kept the little farm house in Wallsboro and still use it to hold inventory for the business.

“That is where the name came from — Lil’ Farmhouse Market,” Herbert said. “We used it as we got ready for the Community Market this year.”

IN OTHER ACTION THE WETUMPKA CITY COUNCIL:

The council also approved a job description for recreation ball coordinator within the parks and recreation department.

• Approved minutes of the Aug. 7 meeting.

• Approved purchasing items for ticket booths at the Wetumpka Sports Complex.

yet to be built.

SPRING

Continued from A1

together with a lot of other people.”

There were more meetings and more meetings and pickleball was often brought up. But Kelley had one question.

“I finally asked, ‘What is pickleball?’” Kelley said. “I got explained to a little bit about what pickleball was. It is a growing sport.”

Kelley, Cobbs, Mercer and Dennis got to see the popularity of pickleball on the night of the ribbon cutting. All the other courts were in use when the Kelley-Cobbs team defeated Mercer and Dennis. Players were waiting for Kelley’s game to finish to play themselves.

The pickleball courts came from a community survey early in the design process of 17 Springs. Then architects Seay, Seay and Litchfield designed the complex. But Kelley said he still was having problems with visualizing the complex, including Phase 2 which is currently under construction. Phase 2 includes softball fields, a stadium and track and a gymnasium able to house four basketball courts. The architectural firm then created a video of something

COUNTY Continued from A1

last year’s ADM, next year’s state funding is based on the ADM determined in the 20 days after Labor Day. If it is down, but growth is anticipated in the coming year, funds need to be saved for next year.

Schools currently with the biggest ADM deficits compared to last year are Millbrook Middle School down 72.1 students, Wetumpka Middle School 66.25 students, Wetumpka Elementary School 37.6 students and Coosada Elementary School 36.3 students.

Wetumpka High School is currently seeing a gain of 59.30 students compared to last year and Eclectic Elementary School has also seen a gain of 30.75 students.

Dennis said he is

• Approved purchasing pipe for Autauga Street project.

• Approved a lounge retail liquor license for Stop N Shop on Georgia Road after no comments at a public hearing.

• Contracted with Larry Speaks and Associates for professional services. The engi-

“How do you fly through something that isn’t there?” Kelley said. “We had a flyover, a drone went through it. That vision coming in about a year [Phase 2], we flew through it. We could see the kids playing. We could see the food trucks. We could see everything that is going on. We flew through the front door of the building. We could see people in the lobby buying tickets. We could people in the concession stand. I got the vision that day.”

The vision is broader for county officials. Elmore County has invested a lot in the project through in kind services, moving large amounts of earth on the project and paving the parking lot. It also invested funds from a bond issue years ago into the project.

The idea is the taxes collected from visitors to 17 Springs will be used throughout Elmore County in places like Tallassee, Eclectic, Wetumpka and Holtville.

ECEDA’s Art Faulkner said a levelized lodging tax implemented two years ago will benefit the whole county. A lodging tax is primarily collected in Millbrook because that is where the majority of the Elmore County hotels

confident students will continue to enroll before the official ADM is calculated.

The board of education is still working through details to amend the current contract of chief school finance officer Jason Mann. He currently earns $118,377, but systems nearby and about the same size are currently paying much higher.

Board member David Jones is leading the research and discussion about Mann’s contract that is set to expire June 2024. Jones said Pike Road is paying the CSFO $145,000 per year and Autauga County is paying $135,000. Jones suggested a yearly salary of $138,500 for the remainder of Mann’s contract based on looking at the adjacent school systems and those systems across the state with about the same ADM plus or minus 2,000 students.

neering firm will help with the bid process and replacement of a storm drain near the intersection of South Main Street and U.S. Highway 231 that collapsed.

• Approved use of Merchants Alley on Oct. 14 for Family Sunshine Center to host Cookin’ on the Coosa.

are located. The tax will now be further distributed.

“It puts our local governments in a position to have a mechanism to capture the tourism dollars and supplement our more traditional tourism projects,” Faulkner said. “It will have benefits all the way from the east and the Tallapoosa River to the west and Interstate 65.”

Dennis said 17 Springs and other projects coming across the county will benefit students as well. Dennis said the partnership opened the door for higher quality competition arenas for schools and for new sports to be offered.

“If you look at these facilities, as a single organization, we would not be able to provide these type of facilities for our schools and students,” Dennis said. “It allowed us to open a program for tennis here in Millbrook that we previously did not have.”

County officials believe 17 Springs is the sign of other quality of life projects to come across the county.

“We are excited to see what the economic impact this is going to have on the local economy,” Mercer said. “We know the commercial development will have an impact. It is going to be a benefit to all of Elmore County.”

Jones said the position is competitive across the state.

“Jason was courted with some offers,” Jones said. “He graciously stayed with us. I feel as if he will stay with us, he needs to be rewarded.”

Board member Michael Morgan said a potential increase helps “buy some time” as the board looks to negotiate Mann’s contract.

“I think these things have gotten a little more savvy,” Morgan said. “There may be some incentives to be worked into a new contract based on successes. Amending would give us time to do that.”

The board did not vote on the increase but will allow an attorney to draw up an amended contract with a June 2024 expiration to likely be acted on at the board’s next meeting.

IN OTHER ACTION THE ELMORE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION:

• Approved minutes of the June 27, July 18, July 28 and Aug. 4 meetings.

• Awarded bonuses for AHSAA state championships to coaches on the supplement list for Holtville High School Baseball and Wetumpka High School Softball.

• Approved athletic supplements for the next school year.

• Accepted a bid in the amount of $14,600 to pressure wash the roofs of Millbrook Middle School and Wetumpka Elementary School

• Approved a 240 working day calendar for 12 month employees. The next scheduled meeting of the Elmore County Board of Education is 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19. There is a special called meeting scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23.

The cost of living

Greetings from the corner of Bridge and Bridge. Summer heat and humidity has made its way back to our region. Those few days without triple digit heat indices sure were nice, but it is August in central Alabama after all.

During the middle of the last heat wave, I heard a local comedian make a wonderful theological observation. He asked, “Do you know why hellfire and brimstone sermons aren’t necessary in central Alabama?” He answered, saying, “August! People living here are reminded about the fires of hell every time they open the door!”

Talk about preaching the truth!

Presbyterians in general and

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

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

REV.

JONATHAN YARBORO Columnist

this one in particular are not known for fire and brimstone sermons. I, for one, take that as a compliment. After all, I have always found gospel truth to speak in much more powerful ways. Proclaiming the need to turn or burn, in my experience, is too easily dismissed as self-righteousness. Gospel truth as witnessed and taught by God in Jesus Christ is more even handed and much more challenging. The Word of God, Jesus

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

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

EAST TALLASSEE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

ETUMC’s Rivers Edge Flea Market is now closed. The church will start a new project called Rivers Edge Food Pantry. ETUMC will provide canned food, water, dry beans and rice, blan-

Christ, spoke the same message everywhere he went. His message to the Pharisees was the same message he shared with the woman at the well. He did not alter his message to suit any given audience.

The essence of that message is captured in the Gospel of John. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another.”(John 13:24 NRSVue)

Jesus did not need to mention the fires of hell in order to get to the heart of the matter.

Most people living in the earthly kingdom are familiar with the “new commandment” issued by Jesus to love one another. We find it in the synoptic Gospels of Mat-

Church Briefs

kets, and jackets. If you want to donate or help with the cause, call Joan Wood at 334-312-4913.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY

Please join us for Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. when the Rev. Lee Lowery will celebrate the Holy Eucharist. We are asking everyone please to wear a mask. The service will be live streamed on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ EpiphanyTallassee/ For more information, visit the

thew, Mark, and Luke. John kicks things up a notch. John records Jesus saying to love one another as all are loved by God in Jesus Christ. John’s recording bypasses all questions related to the persistent response from humankind regarding the identity of the neighbor. The new commandment issued by Jesus according to John rises above human limitation. It directly reflects what is actually at stake for anyone seeking to live in faith.

The love of God in Jesus Christ shows no partiality. None of the issues that mislead human activity are present. Since God in Jesus Christ embodies no means of separating one human being from another in terms of worth, no human being should either. Think about that. Every child of God in every place and time should think about the things that divide us. Those things are real and

church website at http:// epiphanytallassee.org/

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

“We are OPEN and everyone is WELCOME! Come worship with us in

have immense power to guide our activity. Gospel truth dispels every single one of those issues.

The call to love one another as we are loved by God in Jesus Christ is the same for CEOs as it is for Custodians. It is the same for home owners and the homeless. It is the same for the wealthy and the poor. It is the same for male and female, regardless of any means of orientation.

The cost of living, in God’s terms, never changes. It is not affected by economies, changes in supply and demand, evolving technologies, or anything else. The Apostle Paul observed that “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.”(Romans 8:39)

Are we willing to embody that observation? Gospel truth says we all should be.

Rev. Jonathan Yarboro is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Wetumpka.

person Sunday mornings at 8:50 a.m. (contemporary) or 11 a.m. (traditional). Sunday School for all ages is offered Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., and a nursery is available for infants. CHILDREN & YOUTH: meet Sunday evenings from 5-6:30 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6-7:15 p.m.; supper is included both days! For more information about our church or the programs we offer, visit our website: fumctallassee.com or call us: 334-283-2195. FUMC

Tallassee - 1 Jordan Avenue.”

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

Dalton MiDDleton SportS eDitor dalton.middleton@thewetumpkaherald.com

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Wetumpka volleyball team will look vastly different when the Indians take the court for the first time in 2023.

Wetumpka begins its season Thursday at Prattville, and there will be a lot of new faces on the varsity squad. Leading the team is Katrina Sowell, who is

replacing DeAnna Smith. Sowell has served as the team’s JV coach the last few years. The Indians are also not returning three seniors from last year’s team, all of whom have been All-County players in the last two seasons.

“We have a little bit of a new culture this year with all the changes,” Sowell said. “It’s been an adjust-

ment but it’s been a good adjustment. We have a lot of young girls but they’re really impressive. It’s a lot of changes and looks a little different than we did in the past, but it’s a good kind of different.”

Wetumpka will most certainly be young. The Indians have only one senior on the team in Star Angier, and

See YOUNG, Page B3

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

TALLASSEE (0-0) AT REELTOWN (0-0)

THE PLAYERS

Tallassee: K Alec Carswell was 26-for-38 on point after touchdowns last season. … RB/LB Joseph Hooks looks to be the team’s leading linebacker to begin the year. … OL Braden Arnold will be one of the team’s top offensive linemen at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds.

Powerhouse offenses on display in opener

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Writer

There are going to be fireworks at Martin-Savarese Stadium on Friday night.

As Wetumpka travels to Benjamin Russell, two of the state’s highest powered offenses will clash in a football game that will rival many seen deep in the playoffs.

Both team’s coaches are in their second seasons with their respective programs, each looking to build off playoff runs the year prior.

For Benjamin Russell to be successful, it all starts with stopping the three-headed monster of Wetumpka’s offense.

The Indians will trot out three of Elmore County’s brightest stars in quarterback Nate Rogers, running back Mike Dillard and wide receiver Malik Owens.

Rogers is the centerpiece, having combined for over 2,000 yards last year.

As a junior, Rogers had 1,378 passing yards and 10 touchdowns

as well as 13 touchdowns on the ground on 1,172 rushing yards.

“They have a really good football team, obviously everything they do runs through their quarterback,” BRHS coach Smitty Grider said. “He is their guy. He is a tremendous athlete. He throws the ball well. He does everything well. Defensively, we will have our hands full trying to contain him.”

Rogers is joined in the backfield by returning contributor Dillard, who tallied almost 400 yards and seven scores while splitting duties with fellow back Jamarion Thrasher.

Each back brings a different element to Wetumpka’s game, with Dillard measuring in at 5-foot-9, 210 pounds and being the bruiser, while Thrasher is a speedster at 5-11 and 150 pounds.

On the outside, the talent level certainly does not decrease as Rogers will look to involve Owens more than the offense did a year ago.

Owens caught 20 balls for

almost 300 yards and a single score, but figures to be an even bigger threat in his senior year.

Grider said with as many wrinkles as Wetumpka can throw at a defense, his team will have to play as stout on the defensive side as they will have to all season.

The Wildcats lost most of their defensive starters last year due to graduation, including four All-Outlook First-Team members.

“We have just got to play solid technique football,” Grider siad. “It is almost like playing an option team when you play a quarterback like that. We all have to do our job consistently throughout the game and not get lulled into doing someone else’s job. Everybody has a role, everybody has an assignment. Hopefully, we can limit the big plays.”

For Wetumpka’s defense, the black and gold will have to face equally as many threats from Benjamin Russell’s offense.

Reeltown: QB Jake Hornsby completed 44 of 75 passes for 473 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INTs; he added 5 TDs rushing. … RB Arthur Woods had 121 carries for 1,232 yards, 14 TDs; added 6 INTs on defense. … DB Tae Martin had 6 INTs and 2 sacks.

FOUR DOWNS

Tallassee has won two straight in the series, including a 37-13 win last season.

Reeltown opens the season ranked as the No. 3 Class 3A team in the state.

Tallassee finished with a 7-5 record last season; Reeltown finished 10-2. Mike Battles enters the season with 194 career coaching wins.

NEXT UP: Booker T. Washington at Tallassee; Reeltown has a bye week.

HOLTVILLE (0-0) AT FULTONDALE (0-0)

THE PLAYERS Holtville: QB Keiland Baker completed 71 of 139 passes for 913 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs; added 630 rushing yards, 9 TDs. … WR Erik Atkins had 28 catches for 480 yards, 5 TDs. … LB Josh Jimenez recorded 64 tackles.

FOUR DOWNS

Holtville beat Fultondale, 58-8, in last sea -

son’s opener. Holtville finished with a 3-8 record last season; Fultondale finished 0-10.

Keon Handley enters his first year leading Fultondale after coaching five seasons at Fairfield. Fultondale has a record of 2-27 since the beginning of 2020.

NEXT UP: Holtville at Alma Bryant; Fultondale at George Washington Carver in Birmingham.

ELMORE COUNTY (0-0) AT MARBURY (0-0)

THE PLAYERS

Young Indians look to continue success GAME OF THE WEEK

Elmore County: WR Jabari Murphy had 55 catches for 793 yards, 10 TDs; added 1 rushing TD. … RB CJ Wilkes rushed 178 times for 1,303 yards, 13 TDs; added 125 receiving yards. … LB/S Jackson Mann recorded 116 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4 fumble recoveries.

Marbury: RB Carsyn Cobb rushed 16 times for 158 yards and 1 TD in last year’s matchup. … QB James Fowler completed 9 of 14 passes for 88 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. … LB Cason Woodruff recorded 5 tackles in last year’s game to lead the Bulldogs.

FOUR DOWNS

Elmore County beat Marbury, 35-17, in last season’s opener.

Elmore County currently holds a 7-4-1 overall record in the series.

Marbury’s Houston Powell is entering his first year as head coach of the Bulldogs. Marbury has only one win (2018) against Elmore County since 1968.

NEXT UP : Elmore County hosts Autaugaville; Marbury at John Carroll.

Stephens hired to lead Stanhope Elmore softball

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Wil Stephens is no longer a volunteer.

Stanhope Elmore has announced the hiring of Stephens as the head softball coach. He has served as a volunteer coach for the Mustangs since 2018 and is replacing Keith Jones, who left this offseason after two years as head coach.

“I’m really excited to take over,” Stephens said. “I’ve been able to learn under two great coaches and this year, I get to put what I know and combine it with what I’ve learned and see if I can take this program up a notch and take it to the next level.” Stephens first volunteered to be an assistant coach under Virginia Barber in 2018. After the 2021 season, Jones was hired to replace Barber and Stephens continued to be a volunteer. When he began helping out, he never did so in anticipation he may eventually get the head coaching job. He just felt the softball team deserved as much support as some of the boys teams. “There are some boys teams who have four or five coaches, so I really started helping out just to show them

SUBMITTED THE HERALD

Wil Stephens, left, has been hired to lead the Stanhope Elmore softball program. He has served as one of the team’s assistant coaches since 2018.

FILE THE HERALD Wetumpka’s volleyball team looks to make another postseason run this year. The Indians will be led by a new head coach this season as Katrina Sowell has taken over the program.

Edgewood drops season opener

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Edgewood Academy’s season opener did not go to plan.

The Wildcats dropped the opening game of the 2013 season to Fort Dale, 45-6, on the road. Fort Dale went up 31-0 early in the second half in a dominant performance.

“We had two really good drives early and just turned the ball over,” head coach Chad Michael said.

“We had a couple of good plays and then fumbled the ball. You can’t do that. When we get big plays, we can’t turn the ball over. We aren’t a team that gets a lot of big plays.”

Using a couple of

passing plays, Edgewood took the opening kickoff straight down the field before stalling in the red zone. A turnover on downs gave Fort Dale the ball, and the Eagles connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead.

The initial touchdown came on third-and-long, and Edgewood missed two tackles on the play to allow the Eagles to score.

On the Wildcats’ next drive, they turned the ball over via fumble, which led to another Fort Dale touchdown where the Wildcats had a blown coverage in the secondary. Another fumble followed, and Edgewood found itself down 21-0 just three

support and give them someone else that supports them,” Stephens said. “It’s never been about money. It’s just about supporting. So that’s why I’ve been volunteering. And now, I’ve actually garnered a lot of support from the community and there are a lot of people happy to see me stepping into the role.”

Because he’s been a volunteer for the last five seasons, there’s nobody better suited to take over the program

minutes into the second quarter.

“Defensively, we had some misalignments early that really hurt us,” Michael said. “I have to do a better job of getting us in position. If we aren’t lining up correctly, that’s on me.”

Fort Dale added a field goal and another touchdown before Edgewood found a big play.

On a kickoff return, senior Gabe LeMaster caught the ball near the endzone and returned it 97 yards for Edgewood’s lone touchdown of the game.

After Fort Dale’s next touchdown, LeMaster returned another kickoff back to the Fort Dale 30,

than Stephens this season. He knows all of the returning players, and he has an idea of the state of the program.

Better yet, he knows exactly what his team needs to improve this year.

That starts with tryouts on Saturday.

“We have some good girls coming back, but we also have a large group of younger girls, including seventh and eighth graders, who are looking to compete to play,” Stephens said. “We are going into the fall and our tryouts will be very open. We could look very different than we did last year.

and 149 kickoff return yards with one touchdown.

Ethan Evans, making his first start at quarterback, finished 12-for-18 with 93 yards and intercepted a pass on defense.

Running back Parker Shaw carried 12 times for 48 yards, most of which came in the second half.

“Parker is a good back,” Michael said. “You want to give him a lot of carries because he wears down the defense in the second half and you saw him do exactly that late in the game.”

but was tackled and Edgewood’s drive stalled out on the goal line.

“We have to find a way to get Gabe the ball more,” Michael said. “We

We’ll have a lot of competition and that excites me.”

There are a few staples that look to be returning to the diamond.

Jada McLeod, the team’s top player last year, will look to command the middle infield again. Last season as a junior, she hit .426 with 11 home runs, 15 doubles and 46 RBIs.

Celeste Ragsdale, a rising senior, hit .311 while four other position players also return to the lineup.

In the circle, Savannah Wyatt was the top pitcher last year. She pitched 140 innings as a sophomore, and pitched a

did it early and then they switched things up. But then he had two great kick returns for us.”

LeMaster finished with five catches for 34 yards

complete game shutout as the Mustangs clinched a regional berth for the first time in three years.

The Mustangs beat Chilton County in the regional tournament to claim the No. 2 seed and went on to play in the 6A central regional at Lagoon Park.

There, Stanhope claimed one regional victory before seeing its season come to an end.

Now Stephens is hoping his team can build off that and make an even deeper run.

“Our goal this year will be to make that same type of

On the defense, Cooper Freeman tallied six tackles, while Shaw and Zayne Talley each had four.

regional run and maybe win a couple of games there,” Stephens said. “Class 6A softball is one of the toughest divisions in all of high school sports. If we could potentially win an area championship and make a deeper run, I will call that a surprising success. But that’s our goal.”

In the meantime, Stephens is still going to be an assistant coach on the basketball court. He has made a few assistant coach hires to help run softball team workouts in the fall, and he will transition to the diamond when practice starts in January.

DALTON MIDDLETON | THE HERALD

TOP: Edgewood Academy’s Zayne Talley sacks Fort Dale quarterback Ethan Alford on Friday night.

ABOVE: Edgewood Academy’s Landon Smith runs with the football after catching a pass on Friday night.

Edgewood volleyball starts season with tourney win

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Wildcats started the 2023 season exactly how the last four have ended — with a trophy in hand.

Edgewood Academy’s volleyball team hit the road this weekend and claimed the Glenwood Varsity Tournament championship. The tournament featured four of the top six ranked teams in the AISA preseason polls, and the No. 1-ranked Wildcats went 6-0 on the day, dropping only one set.

In the championship match, No. 1 Edgewood took down No. 2 Glenwood, 2-0 (26-24, 25-13).

“We wanted to play to the same standard that we played to in our jamboree last weekend,” first-year head coach Brad Starks said. “We want to play fast and with an energy that is higher than everyone else’s. I thought we did that for the vast majority of the day and we were fortunate enough to be successful.”

Edgewood has now won two tournament championships already this season, despite the first one officially being a jamboree. The Wildcats won the Macon East jamboree and only dropped one set in their first five games. It was the same way this weekend at Glenwood. The Wildcats swept through their four pool play games, then faced Evangel Christian in the semifinals. Edgewood took the first set then dropped the second set after what Starks called a “lack of focus” over a seven-point stretch.

Despite dropping a close set, the Wildcats came back and took care of business in the final.

In the championship game against Glenwood, the two teams went back-and-forth with Edgewood leading most of the match.

OFFENSES Continued from B1

The Wildcats will roll out senior quarterback

Gabe Benton, senior wide receiver Malcolm Simmons and senior running back/wide receiver Chris Foster as their trio.

Last season, Benton accounted for almost over 3,000 yards passing and over 30 touchdowns, while only throwing five interceptions. His season earned him a spot on the All-State Honorable Mention list at quarterback. On the outside is Sim-

YOUNG Continued from B1

SUBMITTED THE HERALD

After taking a hard-fought 26-24 win in Set 1, Edgewood cruised in the second set and took home the trophy.

Overall this season, Edgewood has defeated No. 2 Glenwood twice, No. 3 Macon East twice, No. 5 Hooper twice and No. 6 Lee-Scott once.

“Glenwood was really pumped up that first game,” Starks said.

“They cut it close, but we made enough plays to close it out and it must’ve taken the wind out of them because we had a pretty nice set in the second set. They came out swinging and we answered and fortunately held on.”

Edgewood’s dynasty has been known for years, and the 2023 season could be its best season yet. The Wildcats have a stellar senior class led by Alabama commit Lindsey Brown, who is serving as the team’s top setter and outside hitter.

She is joined by three other talented seniors in middle hitter Madison Martin, libero Katelynn Shaner and defensive specialist Olivia Carlin.

All four girls have the potential to play college volleyball, and they all play different positions on the court so there is no stepping on each other’s toes. They just go out on the floor

mons, who is as big a playmaker as there is in the state of Alabama.

The Auburn commit can do it all for the Wildcats, accounting for over 1,000 yards last season and earning All-State Second-Team honors as the team’s punter. Foster will play all over the field for the Cats. He will run the ball, he will catch it in space and be used on special teams as a returner. Last year, Foster had over 1,000 yards receiving, good for second on the team.

Wetumpka coach Bear Woods noted BRHS’ high scoring offense last year–

two juniors in Madison Young and Baylie Wilson. The rest of the team consists of seven sophomore players and two eighth graders.

While the Indians may be young, there is experience on the team.

Angier is one of the team’s most experienced players as the lone senior, of course, but sophomores Cheyenne Boshell and Ashlynn Turner are both returning starters.

Boshell is one of the team’s setters, and she started alongside her sister Julie last season.

Turner has basically been starting for two seasons. She was thrown into action as the team’s starting libero in 2021 as an eighth grader, then started last season.

“It’s awesome having the leadership we have with some of the younger experienced girls,” Sowell said. “There’s some continuity with that too. Even the ones who are new to varsity have played with the others at the club or JV level. So we have a lot of

together and handle business.

“It’s pretty unbelievable how good they are,” Starks said. “All four of them are just incredibly solid and they’re so knowledgeable. For a senior class, top to bottom, they all do something different and they’re all very talented. It’s nice that when I came in, I didn’t have to worry about playing or not playing my seniors because they’re four of the best players we have.”

Not to be outdone by her senior counterparts, junior Avery White showed out in the Glenwood Tournament this weekend.

The setter and outside hitter is much like Brown with her versatility, but is just a year younger. She showed her range in five games this weekend. During that span, she recorded 16 assists, 11 kills and an impressive 11 aces. Her play earned her the Edgewood Player of the Week honor.

“Avery is just an outstanding athlete,” Starks said. “She has an effortless kind of grace about her. Everything she does is extremely fluid and smooth. She gets high above the net, she can pass, she can swing, and she can run the offense. She’s starting to come into her own in terms of understanding her abilities and we saw a lot of that this weekend.”

that did lose senior wide receiver Corri Milliner to graduation, now at UAB–as an offense that could easily replicate their numbers in 2023. Much of that has to do with Simmons.

“I think Benjamin Russell scored over 40 points in six of their games,” Woods said. “They can play. We played them in a 7-on-7 and their receiver (Simmons), he’s a special player.”

Opening the year with a budding powerhouse like Benjamin Russell is quite the test for Wetumpka, as it will be for the Wildcats as well.

FOOTBALL

Continued from B1

STANHOPE ELMORE (0-0) AT SHADES VALLEY (0-0) THE PLAYERS

Stanhope Elmore: QB

Jacob Bryant completed 157 of 261 passes for 1,766 yards, 14 TDs, 9 INTs. … RB KO Jackson rushed 53 times for 226 yards. … DE Donnie Arnold recorded 52 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and 9 quarterback hurries.

Shades Valley: LB Ethan Johnson recorded 151 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and scored 3 TDs. QB Steven Brown totaled over 2,000 yards and 23 TDs. … WR Ji’Quez Daniels had 25 catches for 256 yards, 3 TDs.

FOUR DOWNS

Shades Valley beat Stanhope Elmore, 20-13, in last season’s opener. Both teams finished fifth in their region last season and did not make the playoffs.

won its last 3.

NEXT UP: Stanhope Elmore hosts Eufaula; Shades Valley hosts Fairfield.

EDGEWOOD ACADEMY (0-1) AT AUTAUGA ACADEMY (1-0) THE PLAYERS Edgewood Academy: QB Ethan Evans is 12-of-18 passing for 93 yards; added one INT on defense. … WR Gabe LeMaster has 5 catches for 34 yards; added 149 yards and one TD on special teams. … LB/RB Parker Shaw has 12 carries for 48 yards; added 4 tackles on defense.

FOUR DOWNS

Woods said his team is ready for the challenge and eager to get the game underway.

bonding on our team.”

Being the lone senior, Angier has taken on a leadership role as she is the captain. She’s also taken on a new role when it comes to how she will be used on the court. She was used a middle hitter last year, but now she is transitioning to a more versatile role.

During the team’s play dates this summer, it was using a 5-1 rotation and that forced the team to do more things. Sowell realized she needed a hitter to play all around the court, so she moved Angier to outside hitter and had her rotate around. That allowed Sowell to discover that Angier’s passing is just as good as some of the defensive specialists on her team, and now she can be used at all times.

“Star gets excited when the younger girls get a block on her or play well against her,” “She wants the team to get better and knows the young girls need to have that competition. Her leadership on the court is second to none, and she’s a really great passer. Her hitting and blocking is superb, but her passing is right up there too.”

“It is a gauntlet,” Woods said. “We are going to have the test of all tests to start the season. But we will be ready for that. Our guys hear us speak about winning the moment and how those moments prepare you for the next.”

Benjamin Russell holds the all-time edge in the series 25-19-1, but the Cats have not picked up a win in the series since 2011.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Alex City, but start time could be pushed back by an hour due to heat concerns.

Wetumpka will look to build on the recent success of area championships and postseason appearances. Last year’s team went 24-14 and claimed the AHSAA Class 6A, Area 5 championship but had the worst draw in the postseason.

Their regional run came up short when they lost to Bayside Academy, which was playing in 6A for the first time. Bayside went on to win the Class 6A state championship for its 21st-consecutive state championship.

Bayside will once again play in Class 6A, but Sowell and the Indians aren’t worrying about other teams. They’re worried about correcting their own mistakes and just playing the best volleyball they can play.

“It’s all about consistency,” Sowell said. “No matter what team it is, it’s a game of mistakes. You can’t let yourself get into a slump when you make a few mistakes, and our group is really good at not getting defeated by themselves when they make mistakes. You have to move forward, and you can’t let the little things get to you if you want to be successful late in the season.”

Stanhope Elmore Hunter Adams is entering his first year as head coach of the Mustangs. Shades Valley lost 3 of its last 4 games last season; Stanhope Elmore

Autauga Academy beat Edgewood Academy, 22-7, in last season’s opener. Last week, Edgewood lost to Fort Dale, 45-6; Autauga beat Abbeville Christian, 49-16. Autauga Academy has won four straight against Edgewood since 2016. Jeremy Burton, Autauga’s headmaster, is coaching the team this season. NEXT UP: Edgewood Academy hosts Chambers Academy; Autauga Academy hosts Bessemer.

Edgewood Academy’s volleyball team, winners of the last four AISA Class AA state championships, started its season with a tournament win at Glenwood this weekend.

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WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a mortgage from JANITA LORANE BALL AND HUSBAND, STEVEN TYREE BALL, JOINT TENANTS to MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEM, INC. AS MORTGAGEE, AS NOMINEE FOR TJC Mortgage Inc., on the 27th day of November, 2018, said mortgage recorded

as

in

DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18

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FORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

Rubin Lublin, LLC, Attorney for Mortgagee/Transferee 11 N. Water Street, Suite 10290, Mobile, AL 36602 Telephone Number: (877) 8130992 Case No. PNY-20-0285524 Ad Run Dates: 08/09/2023, 08/16/2023, 08/23/2023 rlselaw.com/property-listing

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 9, 16 and 23, 2023 214995

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Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Janet M Rogers, married and David Rogers aka David R Rogers, married, originally in favor of Regions Mortgage, Inc., on January 24, 2002, said mortthe Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in Book 2002 Page 10265; the undersigned Regions Bank d/b/a Regions Mortgage, succesor by merger to Regions Mortgage, Inc , as Mortgagee/Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, on September 14, 2023, during the legal hours of sale, all of its rights, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Lot 23, according to the Plat of Blue Ridge Valley Subdivision Plat No. 1, as the same appears of of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in Plat Book 10, at Page 51.. Property street address for informational purposes: 184 AL 36093. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL

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Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, on December 20, 2018, in Deed/Mortgage Book 2018, Page 60301, Elmore County, Alabama Records, said Mortgage having subsequently been transferred and assigned to PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, by instrument recorded in notice is hereby given that the undersigned PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, as Mortgagee/ Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash at the main entrance to the Elmore county courthouse located at 100 E Commerce Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 in Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, on September 13, 2023, during the legal hours of sale, all of its right, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: LOT 12, JORDANVILLE, TOWN OF TALLASSEE, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 1, AT PAGE 48, IN THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA AND A PART OF LOT 11, JORDANVILLE, TOWN OF TALLASSEE, ALABAMA, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 1 AT PAGE 48 IN THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA, BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: FOR A POINT OF BEGINNING COMMENCE AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SAID LOT -

GREES 38 MINUTES 17 SECONDS EAST AND ON THE EAST BOUNDARY OF SAID LOT 11, SAID EAST BOUNDARY ALSO BEING THE WEST RIGHT-OF-WAY OF JORDAN

SOUTH 81 DEGREES 51 MINUTES 31 SECONDS WEST

156.00 FEET TO A POINT ON THE WEST BOUNDARY NORTH 08 DEGREES 38 MINUTES 17 SECONDS WEST AND ON SAID WEST BOUNDARY, ALSO BEING THE EAST RIGHT-OF-WAY OF AN ALLEY, 10 FEET IN WIDTH, 8.00 FEET TO THE NORTHWEST

THENCE NORTH 81 DEGREES 51 MINUTES 31 SECONDS EAST AND ON THE NORTH BOUNDARY OF SAID LOT 11, 156.00 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. SAID PARCEL CONTAINING 0.0287 ACRES MORE OR LESS. Said legal description being controlling, however the property is more commonly known as 402 JORDAN AVE, TALLASSEE, AL 36078. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This property will be sold on an “as is, where is” basis, subject to any easements, encumbrances, and exceptions those contained in the records

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

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Samuel Walter Campbell and Hannah Marie Campbell, husband and wife, originally in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., acting solely as nominee for CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC, on February 25, 2021, said mortgage recordProbate of Elmore County, Alabama, in RLPY Book 2021 and Page 20865; the undersigned PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, as Mortgagee/Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, on September 14, 2023, during the legal hours of sale, all of its rights, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Lot 3, Block B,division, according to a map or of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in Plat Book 18, at Page 6, reference to which is hereby made in and of and as a part of this description.. Property street address for informational purposes: 1352 Old US HIghway 231 , Wetumpka, AL 36092. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WAR-PRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO

abama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. The successful bidder must tender a non-refundable deposit of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price plus any deed recording costs and transfer taxes must be paid next business day at the Law at the address indicated below. Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due. The Mortgagee/Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. PennyMac Loan Services, Bosco, P.A., 2501 20th Place South, Suite 300, Homewood, AL 35223 www.tblaw.com TB

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 23, 30 and Sept. 6, 2023 23-01583

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that an application has been made to the Elmore County Commission for 020- Restaurant Retail Liquor Alcohol License Application for Lil Fish Tail by Southern Investments Company LLC at 1333 Lightwood Road, Deatsville, AL 36022. The Public hearing on said application is set before the County Commission at 5:00 PM, Monday September 11, 2023 in the Elmore County Courthouse Courtroom, 100 East Commerce Street, Wetumpka, Alabama. Anyone desiring to speak either for or against said application should appear in person at said time or may indicate their wishes in writing to: Elmore County Commission 100 East Commerce St., Suite 200 Wetumpka, AL 36092 wrbechd@elmoreco.org

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 23, 2023 APPLICATION

PUBLIC NOTICE

The following will be auctioned off by J&J Towing & Automotive on 9-21-23

2020 River Puma4X4TPUG2XLP084812

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LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FILING OF PETITION FOR ADOPTION IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA AT CASE NUMBER: A2023011

TO: WILL LEATHERBERRY, WHOSE WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN, THE FATHER OF K.L.H. AND NOTICE TO ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTY Take notice that a Petition for -

JOHNSON, as Petitioner, for born to HEATHER ANNETTE have the right to contest this intend to contest this adoption, -

Court proceeding to consider such Petition without further noJOHN THORNTON

PROBATE JUDGE

ELMORE COUNTY. ALABAMA

TERINNA S. MOON ATTORNEYS AT LAW

A2023-011

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ASPHALT CONTRACTORS, INC. HEREBY GIVES NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF CONTRACT WITH ELMORE COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT FOR ELMORE COUNTY PAVING OF 17 SPRINGS SPORTS COMPLEX PROJECT 2023 PW2-3. ALL CLAIMS SHOULD BE FILED AT P.O. BOX 241447, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36124 DURING THIS PERIOD.

ASPHALT CONTRACTORS, INC.

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 16, 23, 30 and Sep. 6, 2023 COMPLETION PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Jackson Prime Construction at 562 Charlie Jackson Rd. Union Springs, AL 36089, has completed all work on The Panther Palace Park. All persons having any claim for labor, materials, or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify the above-named contractor and Engineer, Larry E. Speaks and Associates at 535 Herron St. Montgomery, AL 36104. Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2023 COMPLETION PUBLIC NOTICE

BIBB CO. TRACT, LLC, IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF Plaintiff, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA v. “LAND”; WALTON BLANTON; et. al. Defendants. CASE NO.: CV-2023-900164 PROPOSED ORDER OF PUBLICATION

In this cause, it appearing to the Clerk of the Circuit Court by II, attorney for the Plaintiff, thatof CV-2023-900164, currently

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GRANT NO. 1SEP23 DOE 05, until THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023, at 2:00 PM-CST, at which time and place bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at Millbrook City Hall - 3160 Main Street, Millbrook, Alabama. The Project is generally described as but not limited to;cent and high-pressure sodium -

The Bid and Contract documents consist of the Advertisement for Bids, Information for Bidders, Bid Bond Agreement and other associated documents that may be examined at Millbrook City Hall - 3160 Main Street, Millbrook, Alabama. An electronic copy of the same may be obtained by contacting Stuart Peters - Landmark Engineering at stuart@landmark-eng.com

This agreement is for services related to a project that is subject to the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirements under Title IX of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”), Pub. L. 177-58. Absent an approved waiver, all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in this project must be produced in the United States, of Management and Budget’s Memorandum M-22-11, Initial Implementation Guidance on Application of Buy America Preference in Federal Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure, April 18,2022. All bidders will be required to Bond for 5% of bid price (maximum-$10,000) made payable to the City of Millbrook. All bidders must comply with the requirements of the Contractor’s Licensing Law of the State the type of work for which a proposal is submitted. Award will be made only to competent and responsible bidders as mandated by Title 39 of the Code of Alabama. All bidders must be licensed under Title 34 of the Code of Alabama. that they must provide the information necessary to show evidence of license before an award is made. The Contractor may include the following information with his bid: Name of Company, Address of Company, Telephone Number of Company, Company Contact Person, Contractor’s Current License Number, Issuing Agency (State and Expiration Date), Bid No bidder may withdraw his bid within 30 (thirty) days after the actual date of the opening thereof. The successful bidder will be allowed 30 (thirty) days to complete this project. The City of Millbrook, Alabama, in any contract entered into this advertisement, women and minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technical errors if, in their judgment, the best interests of the City will thereby be promoted.

CITY OF MILLBROOK Al Kelley, Mayor City of Millbrook P.O. Box 630 Millbrook, AL 36054 Phone: 334-285-6428 Fax: 334-285-6460 ATTN: City Clerk

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PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF VIRGINIA C. ALLEN, FORMERLY KNOWN AS: VIRGINIA C. STEINGRUBER, DECEASED CASE NO. 2023-200 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

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2:00 PM, September 14, 2023

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PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA CYPRESS BEND, LLC, Plaintiff, V. Case No.: CV-2023-900192.00 A TRACT OF LAND, Defendant. ORDER OF NOTICE BY PUBLICATION

in the Circuit Court of Elmore County, Alabama, on or about August 9, 2023, averring that unknown to the Plaintiff which have or may have an interest County, Alabama, shall make

bama 36022, an answer to the of the last publication of this

follows: A portion of the South Half (S

Partial sets will not be available. To expedite distribution of bid documents, deposit check(s) should be emailed and mailed

ing in Elmore County, Alabama follows: Commence at a 2 inch open pipe, marking the Southeast -

Code of Alabama. All bidders

inch rebar set set on the Eastco easement; thence continue

inch re bar set; thence contin-

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feet; thence northeasterly, east-

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OF ESTATE

plaint in this cause before the -

CV-2023-900164

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ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS LEGACY PARK FIELDS AND RESTROOMS/ CONCESSIONS ENERGY-EFFICIENT RETROFITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS & NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SEP GRANT NO. 1SEP23 DOE 05 Millbrook, Alabama

The City Clerk of the City of Millbrook will receive bids for LEGACY PARK FIELDS AND RESTROOMS/ CONCESSIONS ENERGY-EFFICIENT RETROFITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS & NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS = SEP

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of VIRGINIA C. ALLEN, formerly known as VIRGINIA C. STEINGRUBER, deceased, having been granted to WILLIAM GEORGE STEINGRUBER on July 31, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notide is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: D. JASON BRITT WILLIAM GEORGE STEINGRUBER PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF VIRGINIA C. ALLEN, formerly known as VIRGINIA C. STEINGRUBER, DECEASED STONE, BRITT & WEBB, LLC ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW 114 S MAIN ST PO BOX 967 WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-517-6520 Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 9, 16 and 23, 2023 EST/ALLEN V.

A PRE-BID CONFERENCE willAugust 31, 2023

JMR+H Architecture, PC 445 Dexter Avenue, Suite 5050 Montgomery, AL 36104 Telephone: (334) 420-5672 Fax: (334) 420-5692

BIDS/23-1311

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ELSIE MAE HOLLEY, DECEASED CASE NO. 2023-203 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary on the Estate of said decedent having been granted to RAMONA THORNTON as Executor on the day 3rd day of August 2023, by the Honorable John Thornton, Judge of Probate of said County in said State, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are required to present same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

RAMONA THORNTON EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF ELSIE MAE HOLLEY, DECEASED.

Name and Address of Attorney: Regina B. Edwards, Esq. The Law Firm of Edwards & Edwards, P.C. 109 E. Bridge Street Wetumpka, AL 36092 Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 9, 16 and 23, 2023 EST/HOLLEY, E.

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of way; thence continue along the west right of way for the fol-

point on the west right of way of

CV-2023-900192.00

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF ELMORE CASE NO: 2023-207

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ANITA GAYE JONES, DECEASED

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of ANITA GAYE JONES, deceased, having been granted to JOHN WESLEY WHITLEY on the 15th day of August, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

JOHN WESLEY WHITLEY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF ANITA GAYE JONES, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: ALYSSA L. HAWKINS ATTORNEY AT LAW 6595 ROSWELL ROAD SUITE G-6193 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30328 334-521-6163 alyssa@ahawkinslaw.com

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 23, 30, Sept. 6, 2023 EST/JONES A. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DELORES HARGROVE JONES, WHO WAS ALSO KNOWN AS DELORES ANN JONES, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-206 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of DELORES HARGROVE JONES, who was also known as DELORES ANN JONES, deceased, having been granted to DONDRA WOOD on August 9, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

DONDRA WOOD PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF DELORES HARGROVE JONES, WHO WAS ALSO KNOWN AS DELORES ANN JONES, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: JOHN H. HENDERSON ATTORNEY AT LAW 4031 US HIGHWAY 231 WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36093 334-478-3196

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 16, 23 and 30, 2023

EST/JONES, D. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ANNETTE LANDERS, DECEASED CASE NO. 2023-202 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

the South half of the Southwest

centerline: Commence at a 2 inch open pipe, marking the Southeast

Letters Testamentary on the Estate of said decedent having been granted to RICHARD LANDERS, Jr. as Personal Representative on the 4th day of August 2023, by the Honorable John Thornton, Judge of Probate of said County in said State, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are required to present same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. RICHARD LANDERS, JR. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF ANNETTE LANDERS, DECEASED. Name and Address of Attorney: Regina B. Edwards, Esq. The Law Firm of Edwards & Edwards, P.C. 109 E. Bridge Street Wetumpka, AL 36092

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of TIMOTHY AUSTIN MAYER, deceased, having been granted to JINITH LYNN MAYER on August 1, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred. JINITH LYNN MAYER PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF TIMOTHY AUSTIN MAYER, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: ROBERT J. MORRIS ATTORNEY AT LAW 10365 HOLTVILLE ROAD DEATSVILLE, ALABAMA 36022 334-569-1820

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 9, 16 and 23, 2023 EST/MAYER, T. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF: THE ESTATE OF JASON SCOTT MULLINS, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-199 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Ancillary Letters of Administration for the estate of JASON SCOTT MULLINS having been granted to the undersigned on the 18th day of August 2023, by John Thornton, Judge of Probate, of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

WILLIAM CHAD BARRETT

Ancillary Administrator of the Estate of JASON SCOTT MULLINS, Deceased

Ancillary Administrator’s Attorney: JUSTIN EDWARDS THE LAW FIRM OF EDWARDS & EDWARDS, P.C. 109 EAST BRIDGE STREET WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-514-1011

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 23, 30 and Sept. 6, 2023 EST/MULLINS, J. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF GLENDA L. NELSON, who is also known as: GLENDA LEILANI NELSON DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-124 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of GLENDA L. NELSON, who was also known as GLENDA LEILANI NELSON, deceased, having been granted to JOSEPH B. KEITHAHN on August 4, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

JOSEPH B. KEITHAHN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF GLENDA L. NELSON, who was also known as GLENDA LEILANI NELSON, DECEASED Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: JOSHUA PENDERGRASS ATTORNEY AT LAW 145 WEST MAIN STREET PRATTVILLE. ALABAMA 36067 334-365-5924

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 9, 16 and 23, 2023 EST/NELSON, G. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BETTY HAZEL PAIGE, DECEASED CASE NO. 2023-205 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters of Administration over the Estate of BETTY HAZEL PAIGE, deceased, having been granted to CYNTHIA BYRD, on the 9 th day of August 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said Estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

CYNTHIA BYRD, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF BETTY HAZEL PAIGE

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

ment; thence continue along

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 9, 16 and 23, 2023 EST/LANDERS A.

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF TIMOTHY AUSTIN MAYER, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-197 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

beginning of a curve concave

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 16, 23 and 30, 2023 EST/PAIGE B.

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DARRELL W. SMITH, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-191

CLASSIFIEDS/PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of DARRELL W. SMITH, deceased, having been granted to MARLENE T. SMITH on August 9, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

MARLENE T. SMITH PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF DARRELL W. SMITH, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative:

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

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 16, 23 and 30, 2023

EST/SMITH, D. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LINDA KAY SMITH, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-204 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of LINDA KAY SMITH, deceased, having been granted to KIMBERLY LYNN SHERER on August 2, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

KIMBERLY LYNN SHERER PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF LINDA KAY SMITH, DECEASED

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative:

JIM PINO ATTORNEY AT LAW

363 CANYON PARK DRIVE PELHAM. ALABAMA 35124

205-663-1581

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 9, 16 and 23, 2023

EST/SMITH L. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF THOMAS ARTHUR WALTHALL, IV, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-190 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of THOMAS ARTHUR WALTHALL, IV, deceased, having been granted to TWYLA ELLIS WALTHALL on August 9, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, noticed hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

TWYLA ELLIS WALTHALL PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF THOMAS ARTHUR WALTHALL, IV, DECEASED Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: WILL O’REAR, JR. SASSER & O’REAR, LLC 7007 FULTON COURT MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36117 334-356-2400

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 16, 23 and 30, 2023 EST/WALTHALL, IV PUBLIC NOTICE MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

Default having being made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage dated April 23, 2018 executed by Lee M. Burton an unmarried man, in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. solely as nominee for Trustmark National Bank, said Mortgage being recorded April 27, 2018, in RLPY Book of the Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama; having later been assigned to Trustmark National Bank by instrument recorded in RLPY Book the Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama. Said default continues and notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Trustmark National Bank, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash at the main entrance to the County Courthouse, Elmore County, Alabama on 09/13/2023, during the legal hours of sale, the following described real estate situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Lot No. 36 according to Plat of Clairewood Subdivision Plat No. 2 Elmore County, Alabama as the same is recorded in Plat Book 13 at Page 102 in the Of-more County, Alabama. For informational purposes only, the property address is: 230 Rosemere Dr., Tallassee, AL 36078. Any property address provided is not part of the legal description of the property sold herein and in the event of any

Public Notices

y discrepancy, the legal description referenced herein shall control. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS-IS, WHEREIS” BASIS, SUBJECT TO ANY EASEMENTS, ENCUMBRANCES, AND EXCEPTIONS REFLECTED IN THE MORTGAGE AND THOSE CONTAINED IN THE RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY IS SITUATED. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO.

Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by mortgage as well as the expenses of foreclosure, including a reasonable attorney’s fees and other purposes set out in said mortgage. Trustmark National Bank Paul K. Lavelle, Esq. Attorney for Mortgagee Spina, & Lavelle, P.C. One Perimeter Park SouthSuite 400N Birmingham, Alabama 35243 (205) 298-1800 40-FC-23-01180

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 9, 16 and 23, 2023

FC/BURTON

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE JUVENILE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF: JOHN S. GLAZE

MICHAEL D. GLAZE CASE No. JU-2013-169.14 CASE No. JU-2013-170.14 NOTICE OF PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS

TO: AMANDA HALL (Mother)& MICHAEL SHAWN GLAZE (Father) You are hereby given noticeJOHN STEVEN GLAZE, born on Oc-MICHAEL DOUGLAS GLAZE born on February 09, 2011, atOctober 04, 2023, at 1:30 P.M. at the Elmore County Judicial Complex in Wetumpka, Alabama

JU-2013-169.14 PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF RESOLUTION VACATING A PORTION OF NEELY ROAD IN ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Pursuant to a proposal by the Elmore County Commission, the said Commission conducted a public hearing on the 14th day of August, 2023 regarding whether or not to vacate a portion of Neely Road, and is more particularly and accurately described as follows: ANY AND ALL OF THAT PORTION OF NEELY ROAD THAT BEGINS AT THE NORTHERNMOST POINT OF NEELY ROAD WHICH LIES IN PARCEL 03 05 22 0 001 002.000 WHICH IS OWNED BY WILLIAM SIMS AND CONTINUES ON NEELY ROAD ADJACENT TO PARCEL 03 05 22 0 001 003.000 AND PARCEL 03 05 22 0 001 001.000 WHICH IS OWNED BY DONALD ELWIN PRIESTER BACK TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. In accordance with Alabama law, proponents and opponents to the proposed vacation were given the opportunity to speak on the issue. Following the public hearing, the Elmore County Commission found that no entity or person would be cut off from access by the vacation of the subject portion of Neely Road, but to the contrary, all other entities and persons already have reasonable and convenient access to their properties, and that it is in the best interest of the public that such portion of the subject real property be vacated. By unanimous consent of The Elmore County Commission on the 14 th day of August, 2023, a resolution was passed vacating the above-described portion of Neely Road located in Elmore County, Alabama.

Jeffrey J. Courtney Attorney for the Elmore County Commission

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 23, 30, Sept 6 and 13, 2023 NOTICE 2

Public Notices

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

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage and security agreement executed by DEMETRIA TAYLOR JEFFERSON and KENNETH TERENCE JEFFERSON, a married couple, on the 20th day of December 2021, to 21ST MORTGAGE CORPORATION, as recorded in RLPY Book 2022, Page 589, in the of Elmore County, Alabama; 21ST MORTGAGE CORPORATION, as Mortgagee, by reason of such default having declared all of the indebtedness secured by said mortgage and security agreement due and payable and such default continuing, notice is hereby given that, acting under the power of sale contained in said mortgage and security agreement, and as authorized by Section 7-9A-604(a)(2) of the Code of Alabama of 1975 as amended, 21ST MORTGAGE CORPORATION, as Mortgagee, will sell at public outcry, for cash to the highest bidder, in front of the Courthouse door, in the City of Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, during the legal hours of sale on September 6, 2023, the following described real and personal property situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Commence at an iron pin at the SW corner of the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 36, T21N, R17E, Elmore County, Alabama; thence North 01 degrees 40 minutes 16 seconds East along 1/4 section line 485.21 feet to an iron pin; thence North 01 degrees 18 minutes 48 seconds East along 1/4 section line 355.14 feet to an iron pin, said point being the POINT OF BEGINNING; thence North 01 degrees 19 minutes 24 seconds East along 1/4 section line 465.65 feet to an iron pin; thence South 89 degrees 16 minutes 47 seconds East 397.26 feet to an iron pin; thence South 01 degrees 18 minutes 50 seconds West 256.95 feet to an iron pin; thence North 88 degrees 43 minutes 17 seconds East 397.07 feet to an iron pin; thence South 08 degrees 11 minutes 55 seconds East 173.64 feet to an iron pin; thence North 89 degrees 29 minutes 57 seconds East 184.10 feet to an iron pin; thence North 89 degrees 01 minutes 27 seconds East 261.95 feet to an iron pin on the West right of way of County Road No. 29, Titus Road, 60’ R.O.W.; thence Southwesterly along said right of way and curve to the right, having a radius of 7050.41 feet, 483.85 feet, chord bearing South 12 degrees 53 minutes 36 seconds West 483.76 feet to an iron pin; thence leaving said right of way North 69 degrees 54 minutes 20 seconds West 335.16 feet to an iron pin; thence North 15 degrees 18 minutes 03 seconds East 113.20 feet to an iron pin; thence North 77 degrees 07 minutes 17 seconds West 899.63 feet to the point of beginning.

The above-described property lies in the SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 36, T21N, R17E, Elmore County, Alabama, according to the survey by Ronald Burke, AL. Reg. No. 16670, dated August 14, 2018.

INCLUDING a security interest in one (1) 2021 CMH TRU manufactured home, Serial Nos. SA4081643ALA and SA4081643ALB; together with the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto attached to and used in connection with the premises herein described. This property will be sold on an “as is, where is” basis, subject to any easements, encum-ed in the mortgage and those contained in the records of the the county where the above-described property is situated. This property will be sold without warranty or recourse, expressed or implied as to title, use and/or enjoyment and will be sold subject to the right of redemption of all parties entitled thereto. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. Said sale will be made subject to any existing Federal Tax Lien, if any, and/or Special Assessments, if any, which might adversely affect the title to the subject property. Said sale will be made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by the above-described mortgage, and the proceeds thereof will be applied as provided by the terms of the said mortgage. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation; contact Margery Oglesby at the phone number shown below prior to attending the sale.

Kristofor D. Sodergren Attorney for 21st Mortgage Corporation ROSEN HARWOOD, P.A.

2200 Jack Warner Pkwy Ste

200 P.O. Box 2727

Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 (205) 344-5000

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 16, 23 and 30, 2023

FC/JEFFERSON

Sell

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF RESOLUTION VACATING A PORTION OF LAKESHORE COURT IN ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Pursuant to a proposal by the Elmore County Commission, the said Commission conducted a public hearing on the 14 th day of August, 2023 regarding whether or not to vacate a portion of Lakeshore Court, and is more particularly and accurately described as follows: A PORTION OF LAKESHORE COURT IN ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA THAT COMMENCES 75 FEET FROM THE SOUTHWEST END OF PARCEL 13 04 18 0 001 020.002 THAT IS ADJACENT TO LAKESHORE COURT AND OWNED BY WILLIAM M. AND LAURA L. SPIVEY AND EXTENDING ACROSS LAKESHORE COURT IN A STRAIGHT LINE TO PARCEL 13 04 18 0 001

022.000 WHICH IS OWNED BY PAUL HARRIS AND/OR PAUL HARRIS AND JUDITH V. HARRIS. THEN, EXTENDING SOUTHWESTERLY TO INCLUDE ANY AND ALL OF THE AREA OF LAKESHORE COURT THAT IS ADJACENT TO PARCELS 13 04 18 0 001

021.00 OWNED BY PAUL ALLEN HARRIS AND JUDITH V. HARRIS AND 13 04 18 0 001

022.000 THAT IS OWNED BY PAUL HARRIS AND/OR PAUL HARRIS AND JUDITH HARRIS, AND PARCEL 13 04 18 0 001 024.000 THAT IS OWNED BY ELIZABETH V. BONNER. In accordance with Alabama law, proponents and opponents to the proposed vacation were given the opportunity to speak on the issue. Following the public hearing, the Elmore County Commission found that no entity or person would be cut off from access by the vacation of the subject portion of Lakeshore Court, but to the contrary, all other entities and persons already have reasonable and convenient access to their properties, and that it is in the best interest of the public that such portion of the subject real property be vacated. By unanimous consent of The Elmore County Commission on the 14 th day of August, 2023, a resolution was passed vacating the above-described portion of Lakeshore Court located in Elmore County, Alabama.

Jeffrey J. Courtney Attorney for the Elmore County Commission

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 23, 30, Sept. 6 and 13, 2023 NOTICE 1

PUBLIC NOTICE

POSTPONEMENT OF NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Chad A. Vance and Heather W. Vance, husband and wife, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Mortgagee, as nominee for Homecomings Financial Network, Inc., its successors and assigns, on July 15, 2005, said mortgage being Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, on July 29, 2005 at Book RLPY 2005, at Page 54405. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee for Residential Accredit Loans, Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through , the current holder, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Elmore County Courthouse, in Wetumpka, Alabama, on April 21, 2023, during the legal hours of sale, the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Commence at the 2” iron pipe marking the NE corner of the NW 1/4 of Section 34, T18N, R21E; thence North 88 DEG 05 min 06 sec West a distance of 1754.42 feet to a 1/2” rebar capped S.D. Martin, 11726 at the intersection of the Southwest right of way of Elmore County Road 110 and the West right of way of Ben Taylor Drive said point being the point of beginning; thence South 02 DEG 32 min 56 sec West along the West right of way of Ben Taylor Drive a distance of 221.89 feet thence leaving said right of way North 87 DEG 22 min 40 sec West a distance of

Public Notices

j right of redemption of all parties

Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as part of the foreclosure process. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expense of foreclosure. The successful bidder must tender Halliday, Watkins & Mann, P.C.. form of a wire transfer, bank or credit union’s cashier’s check, Halliday, Watkins & Mann, P.C.. Halliday, Watkins & Mann, P.C. reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due. If sale is voided, Mortgagee/Transferee shall return the bid amount to the successful purchaser and the Mortgagee/ Transferee shall not be liable to the purchase for any damages. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the purchaser at the sale shall be only entitled to a return of the deposit and bid amount, if paid. The Mortgagee/ Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit is purchase price against the expenses of sale and indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. THIS FORECLOSURE SALE HAS BEEN CONTINUED TO September 19, 2023 AT THE TIME AND PLACE SET FORTH ABOVE. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee for Residential Accredit Loans, Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-

(“Transferee”) Halliday, Watkins & Mann, P.C. 244 Inverness Center Drive Birmingham, AL 35242 Phone: (801) 355-2886

Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 23, 2023 POSTPONEMENT/VANCE

PUBLIC NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE OF PROPOSED VACATION OF, A PORTION OF DISMUKES ROAD IN ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Pursuant to the proposal of the Elmore County Commission to vacate a portion of Dismukes Road in Elmore County, Alabama, the Elmore County Commission will consider the said vacation of a portion of Dismukes Road, which is more particularly and accurately described as follows: Lying in the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of section 32, and the NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of section 31, all in T18N, R17E Elmore County, Alabama DESCRIPTION: COMMENCE AT A 1/2” REBAR (CAPPED “WILLIFORD”) FOUND AT THE NW CORNER OF SECTION 32, T18N, R17E, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA; THENCE RUN S00°32’17”W ALONG THE WEST LINE OF SAID SECTION, A DISTANCE OF 503.15 FEET TO A CALCULATED POINT; THENCE LEAVING SAID SECTION LINE RUN N56°24’04”E, A DISTANCE OF 29.66 FEET TO A CALCULATED POINT ON THE WEST MARGIN OF DISMUKES ROAD (PRESCRIPTIVE RIGHT OF WAY), SAID POINT BEING THE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE RUN N56°24’04”E, DISTANCE OF 79.50 FEET TO A CALCULATED POINT ON THE EAST MARGIN OF SAID DISMUKES ROAD; THENCE RUN ALONG SAID EAST MARGIN, ALONG A CURVE TO THE LEFT (RADIUS 349.38 FEET), THE CHORD OF WHICH BEARS S16°06’31”W, A DISTANCE OF 187.61 FEET TO A CALCULATED POINT; THENCE CONTINUE ALONG SAID EAST MARGIN RUN S00°32’02”W, A DISTANCE OF 34.53 FEET TO A 1/2” REBAR (CAPPED “BURKE”) FOUND; THENCE CONTINUE ALONG SAID EAST MARGIN RUN S00°32’15”W, A DISTANCE OF 127.49 FEET TO A CALCU-

Public Notices

LATED POINT; THENCE CONTINUE ALONG SAID EAST MARGIN RUN S00°32’17”W, A DISTANCE OF 167.90 FEET TO A CALCULATED POINT; THENCE RUN ALONG A JOG IN SAID EAST MARGIN S86°19’14”E, A DISTANCE OF 13.35 FEET TO A 6” X 6” CONCRETE MONUMENT FOUND; THENCE CONTINUE ALONG SAID EAST MARGIN RUN S03°22’46”W, A DISTANCE OF 168.39 FEET TO A 6” X 6” CONCRETE MONUMENT FOUND AT THE INTERSECTION OF SAID EAST MARGIN, AND THE NORTH RIGHT OF WAY LINE (WIDTH VARIES) OF ALABAMA HIGHWAY 14 (ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECT NO. F-281(3)); THENCE LEAVING SAID EAST MARGIN OF DISMUKES ROAD RUN S56°24’30”W ALONG SAID NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF ALABAMA HIGHWAY 14, A DISTANCE OF 101.28 FEET TO A 6” x 6” CONCRETE MONUMENT FOUND AT THE INTERSECTION OF SAID NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF ALABAMA HIGHWAY 14, AND SAID WEST MARGIN OF DISMUKES ROAD; THENCE LEAVING SAID NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF ALABAMA HIGHWAY 14 RUN N03°34’08”E ALONG SAID WEST MARGIN, A DISTANCE OF 229.70 FEET TO A 6” x 6” CONCRETE MONUMENT FOUND; THENCE RUN ALONG A JOG IN SAID WEST MARGIN S86°19’14”E A DISTANCE OF 26.76 FEET TO A 1/2” REBAR (CAPPED “BURKE”) FOUND; THENCE CONTINUE ALONG SAID WEST MARGIN RUN N00°32’17”E, A DISTANCE OF 165.70 FEET TO A 1/2” CRIMPED TOP PIPE FOUND; THENCE CONTINUE ALONG SAID WEST MARGIN RUN N00°32’15”E, A DISTANCE OF 127.49 FEET TO A 1/2” REBAR (CAPPED “WILLIFORD”); THENCE CONTINUE ALONG SAID WEST MARGIN RUN N00°32’02”E, A DISTANCE OF 34.53 FEET TO A CALCULATED POINT; THENCE CONTINUE ALONG SAID WEST MARGIN, ALONG A CURVE TO THE RIGHT (RADIUS 389.38 FEET), THE CHORD OF WHICH BEARS N10°45’52”E, A DISTANCE OF 138.31 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY LIES IN THE NW 1/4 OF THE NW 1/4, OF SECTION 32, AND THE NE 1/4 OF THE NE 1/4, OF SECTION 31, ALL IN T18N, R17E, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA, AND CONTAINS 0.82 ACRES, MORE OR LESS. said petition, the Elmore County Commission will conduct a public hearing on the proposed vacation. This public hearing shall be held at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Elmore County Commission set for 5:00 p.m. on the 11th day of September 2023, at the Elmore County Courthouse, 100 E. Commerce Street, in Wetumpka, Alabama. Any citizen alleging to be affected by the proposed vacation may submit a written objection to the Elmore County Commission or may request an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing.

DON’T WAIT! Call TODAY 256.277.4219 Sell

Jeffrey J. Courtney Attorney for the Elmore County Commission Wetumpka Herald: Aug. 16, 23, 30 and Sep. 6, 2023 VACATION/DISMUKES RD

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

We didn’t think you would. Do you need to successfully market on a tight budget? Tallapoosa and Elmore County Classifieds has customizable programs available to fit any budget.

Eclectic local achieves statewide recognition

By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter

A game show isn’t the only place to win prizes and in Alex City, it could even occur by farming.

Benjamin Russell High School teacher Josh Williams tested his farming knowledge Saturday at the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Expo in Mobile.

The high school FFA advisor joined alongside his wife, Bailey, in competing in the statewide Excellence in Agriculture contest.

According to Alabama Farmers Federation communications director Mary Johns Wilson, the contest encompasses more than farmers, instead highlighting contributions of people who work in an agriculture-related career.

“These are people who maybe work for extension or

maybe they're an ag teacher, like Josh is, where we still consider them to be part of the agriculture industry, but they're not raising cattle every day or out raising row crops,” she said.

Williams possesses a multitude of agriculture experiences, many of which he gained in Tallapoosa County.

“We competed based off me being an ag teacher here at Benjamin Russell and some of the different ag projects and FFA contests that our students are involved in exposing them to the industry,” he said.

The contest is also geared toward developing young farmers into future problem-solvers for the industry.

“They have to also talk about the three biggest issues that they see facing the agriculture industry, and they have to take one of those and expound on it and offer some

solutions,” Wilson said.

For Williams, he and his wife pulled from experiences they personally encountered while working in the agriculture industry. They discussed an issue they saw on each the local, state and national level.

Among those challenges included a lack of broadband internet access for farmers, the financial barriers new people face joining the industry and how social media propagates farming misconceptions.

Williams said he proposed solutions to these issues based on his experiences as an agriculture teacher and as a young farmer himself after he recently bought a farm in Elmore County.

“A lot of these are issues that's been there for a while, and we've just looked for new and different ways that we could try to combat

them,” he said.

Josh and Bailey Williams, of Eclectic, were named the first runner-up in the statewide contest. A banquet was hosted for the two alongside other contestants following the competition where they were brought on stage to receive special awards — a plaque as well as a campfire stove.

“So we got to be awarded (the campfire stove) and be recognized for competing and contributing to agriculture in Tallapoosa County,” Josh Williams said. “It was nice to be able to go up on stage there at the closing banquet and be recognized for those efforts.”

Williams said he competed not just for himself but for his students to benefit as well.

“It’s good for the (BRHS) students as well to see you stay involved after the high

school level and do the things that you're encourag

ing them to do and be able to come back and say, ‘Hey, this is why this was benefi

cial and what I learned from it,’” he said.

AFF Young Farmers Division director Hunter McBrayer said Williams' tenure as a teacher also stood out during the competition.

“This competition is for people that are involved, or that are advocates for agriculture,” he said. “Part of that criteria is obviously we want to know their story, what drew them to agriculture, but really the main part of this competition boils down to what are you doing for agriculture every day. Some folks like Josh are obviously an agro-science educator so he's working with FFA; he's working to get kids involved in the community.”

network of understanding,” Stieb said. “We want to let businesses know there are people here to support them. If they need resources, the ambassadors offer a great chance to come back and say they are struggling with this regulation that has popped for their industry or whatever it might be.”

The rest of the year

the ambassadors will also be tasked with conducting brief surveys to aid the chamber in better serving the business community of Elmore County.

“We want to make sure we can curate a structure that is effective for the businesses in our area,” Stieb said. “You can create something that is great on paper, but if it doesn’t really fit anybody, what is the point of it? Certain benefits only go so far for certain business -

es. We want to find out how we can adapt, and what we can do differently.”

Stieb believes the information is vital especially as businesses start to fine tune what works and doesn’t in a post-pandemic environment. Applications to become an ambassador are available on the chamber’s website at wetumpkachamber.org/ ambassadors.

Stieb said there is a committee involving

members of the chamber’s board of directors to select two teams of five ambassadors and a board member will act as the lead of each team. He also hopes the teams will be diverse in the types of businesses members come through.

“We will sort through the applications and make a decision on what is the best fit for that specific team,” Stieb said. “If you have a team where everyone is from the same industry, they will be

more focused on what that industry can provide. If we can create a diverse group of people from various industries, we will have a better understanding and broader perspective of ideas.”

The hope is to grow the program in the future having more teams and more ambassadors.

“We are going to start with a smaller group to make it easier to learn, manage and work out the kinks,” Stieb said.

“If we had 25 people right off the bat, it will be hard for us to figure out what works for everybody.”

He also hopes the revamped ambassador program led by board members will develop board members of tomorrow with a working knowledge of the chamber.

“It is more of a commitment than meeting once a month if you can make it and give some input here and there,” Stieb said.

SUBMITTED | THE OBSERVER

From left, to right: Alabama Farmers Federation president Jimmy Parnell presents Josh and Bailey Williams with their award.

ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

GRIDIRON GUIDE ‘23

SCOREBOARD

In-depth Season Previews Players to Watch Rosters, schedules, team info

AUGUST 2023

SAY NO TO OPIOIDS

Don’t get sidelined. Make the RIGHT play. You are smarter and stronger than any substance.

ON THE COVER

From left, Wetumpka’s Malik Owens, Nate Rogers and Mike Dillard look to lead the Indians’ offense this season. Wetumpka returns 8 starters to an offense that averaged 28.5 points per game.

Gridiron Guide is an annual publication of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. It is designed to highlight the local prep football teams in the Elmore County region.

STAFF

GENERAL MANAGER

Tippy Hunter

CHAIRMAN

Kenneth Boone

EDITORIAL

Lizi Arbogast Gwin, News Editor

Dalton Middleton, Sports Editor

Cliff Williams, Staff Writer

Henry Zimmer, Sports Editor

Abigail Murphy, Multimedia Reporter

Willam Marlow, Multimedia Reporter

CREATIVE SERVICES

Audra Spears, Art Director

ADVERTISING

Renee Trice, Advertising Director

Sheryl Jennings, Account Manager

CIRCULATION

Sam Himes

Linda Ewing

ACCOUNTING

Angela Mullins

PRODUCTION

Lee Champion

4page

Indians

Adams takes over as head coach, defense to lead Mustangs

6page

VETERAN-HEAVY SQUAD

Returning starters to lead the way for Wetumpka, especially early in the season

10 page Tigers relying on lineman to set the tone for season IN THE TRENCHES

Photo by Cliff Williams Cover designed by Audra Spears

Players to Watch

County athletes ready to hit the ground running

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Braden Arnold, Tallassee

At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, Arnold is one of the most commanding presences of any football player in the county. The senior lineman helped Tallassee to the second round of the playoffs a year ago, and now he returns for his last season to lead both the Tigers’ offensive and defensive lines.

Donnie Arnold, Stanhope Elmore

It will be hard to find someone who is as disruptive in the backfield as Donnie Arnold was a year ago. The star defensive end and linebacker recorded 52 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries and forced two fumbles. With a lot of experience returning for the Mustangs’ defense, expect another big year from the bruiser.

Ethan Bailey, Wetumpka

Ethan Bailey was sidelined for much of Wetumpka’s season last year with an injury, but he showed a true knack for getting into opposing team’s backfields once he returned. In the Indians’ final three games of the year, he recorded 16 tackles, three tackles for loss and four sacks. Expect big numbers from Bailey

with a full season of playing time.

Keiland Baker, Holtville

Despite splitting time at quarterback last year, Baker was one of the lone players to earn AllState honors a year ago. Now the full time starter, Baker is looking to shine in his junior season and lead Holtville back to the playoffs. In limited action last year, Baker passed for 913 yards and nine touchdowns. He did most of his work on the ground as he had 630 rushing yards and nine more touchdowns.

Dashaun Caffee, Stanhope Elmore

Dashaun Caffee proved to be one of the best defensive backs across the entire state, and he’s finally being recognized for his efforts. Recently named a three-star athlete and Top 100 player in the state, Caffee recorded five interceptions along with four defended passes, both of which led Stanhope. He added 68 tackles, one sack and a blocked punt.

Tristan Gulledge, Holtville

After a stellar junior season playing offense, defense and special teams, Gulledge was invited to a handful of camps this summer where he earned Top lineman awards. The 6-foot-3, 270 pound tackle will continue to pace an Holtville offense

that averaged 160 rushing yards per game a year ago. He will also play defensive line and long snapper for the Bulldogs.

Gabe LeMaster, Edgewood Academy LeMaster played seemingly every role possible for the Wildcats last season, but really found his groove once he settled in at safety. The senior recorded a county-high six interceptions, all in the second half of the season, and was a big play threat on the offense. Between running back and receiver, he had 1,213 yards and nine touchdowns.

Christian McCary, Tallassee McCary is one of Tallassee’s best athletes in the entire school, and he’s showcased that both on the football field and on the wrestling mat. The senior linebacker returns for another year of starting in the middle of the defense, and he is taking a big-

ger role on the offense as one of the Tigers’ top running backs.

Jabari Murphy, Elmore County Murphy is the highestrated athlete in Elmore County this season as he is ranked as a threestar recruit and the state’s 35th best player in the Class of 2024. Murphy has a multitude of SEC and Division I offers, and he will showcase his receiving abilities again this year. Last season, he had 55 catches for 793 yards and a county-high 10 touchdown receptions.

Luke Reinert, Elmore County Reinert is returning to the defensive line after a stellar sophomore season a year ago. He terrified opposing quarterbacks as he recorded a team-high nine sacks, but he was able to do more than just hit the quarterback. He plugged holes and recorded tackles, tallying 68 total tackles and 13 tackles for

loss. He also forced two fumbles.

Nate Rogers, Wetumpka Rogers is entering his third year as the starting quarterback for the Indians, and he’s looking to build off an impressive junior season a year ago. The dual-threat star already has Division I offers from the likes of Marshall and Alabama State, and his stats show why. He rushed for 1,172 yards and 13 touchdowns while passing for 1,378 yards and 10 more scores.

Parker Shaw, Edgewood Academy Shaw was one of only a handful of players across the entire county who recorded triple digit tackles last year. The junior recorded 111 tackles and four tackles for loss and was Edgewood’s only player to reach the century mark. He returns to lead the defense and will also be the Wildcats’ starting running back.

Lighting SCOREBOARD UP THE Indians’ offense ready to put on a show

By DALTON MIDDLETON

Sports Editor

The Wetumpka offense is expecting to put on a light show this fall.

When the Indians score a touchdown, the Wetumpka Sports Complex flicks its lights on and off as the Indians celebrate.

With eight offensive starters returning from a Wetumpka team that finished 7-4 and averaged nearly 30 points per game, the sky’s the limit for the Indians under second-year offensive coordinator Jonathan Chandler.

“We definitely feel a lot better about our offense going into Game 1 in the second year than we did at any point last season,” Chandler said. “With that being said, everything in our offense runs through Nate Rogers. Our relationship is a year stronger and we understand what we’re trying to accomplish. And now everything we do is running through his arm and his legs.”

While eight starters return, there is nobody on the Wetumpka roster who has more varsity experience than Rogers.

The senior quarterback is entering his third game as a starter and has only ever missed partial time due to a small injury during his sophomore year in 2021.

He’s improved every season he’s been a starter.

In 2021, he passed for 1,045 yards and only seven touchdowns, while adding 828 rushing yards and five touchdowns. It was an impressive debut, but then Chandler took over the offense and Rogers took his game to a new level.

Last season, Rogers increased his passing yards, rushing yards and touchdowns in both categories as the Indians won two more games.

Rogers had 1,378 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, while he scored 13 touchdowns on 1,172 rushing yards. He helped the Indians average 28.5 points per game, 12 points per game better than the 2021 season.

Now he wants to see that same level of improvement one last time.

“I expect us to be better than last year and be more productive than last year,” Rogers said. “I expect to score on every drive we have. Everything flows a little faster for us now this season. The speed of our game is faster, and I can get the call and move guys around faster. Everything is flowing much easier.”

Rogers has a few Division I offers such as Alabama State and Marshall, and it’s clear why when he

“I expect us to be better than last year and be more productive than last year. I expect us to score on every drive we have.”

—

Nate Rogers Wetumpka quarterback

takes off with the football. Rogers is one of the fastest and most elusive quarterbacks in the state, which is why he averaged 10 yards per rush last season.

He isn’t the only dangerous runner on the Indians, however, as both seniors Mike Dillard and Jamarion Thrasher return to the Wetumpka offense this year.

Both running backs had big years a year ago, and will split carries like they did. They’re very different running backs, as Dillard is a 5-foot-9, 210-pound bruiser while Thrasher is a speedster at 5-11 and 150 pounds.

Dillard last season rushed for 372 yards and seven touchdowns, while Thrasher was used both as a running back and receiver and rushed for 275 yards and two touchdowns.

The backfield trio combined for all 22 rushing touchdowns the Indians scored last season and had all but 63 of Wetumpka’s rushing yards.

“It’s almost like we have a thunder and lightning duo but multiplied by two,” Chandler said. “Mike is more of a downhill, physical runner while Thrasher uses his speed. Then you have Nate and Mike, and it’s almost the same thing.”

More often than not when Rogers, Dillard or Thrasher touched the ball, it was going for positive yards. They averaged 6.8 yards per carry combined, and Dillard believes that number will be even better this season.

“I think we’re a top five backfield in the state,” Dillard said. “When teams play us, they should fear us.”

While the Indians have found success running the ball, they aren’t limited to just the run game. Rogers has progressed tremendously as a passer since his first start for the Indians, and now he’s seen even more improvement as he enters Year 2 under Chandler.

Just this summer, Rogers has impressed with his passing in the team’s various 7-on-7 tournaments and OTAs.

In the Battle for Elmore County 7-on-7 tournament, Rogers led the Indians to the championship and scored 59 points in the final two games.

That has a lot to do with not only Rogers but also his receiving corps that returns three starters.

At 6-2, Malik Owens is the team’s leading receiver from a year ago while Thrasher will play out there along with senior Kaden Cook.

Owens looks like the typical Class 6A receiver with his height and speed, and he recorded 20 catches for 227 yards and one touchdown a year ago. Thrasher had 16 catches for 99 yards, while Cook had 13 catches for 141 yards.

This summer, Owens and Rogers connected for touchdown after touchdown in the 7-on-7s, and the two have built a good relationship not only on the football field but the basketball court and just as friends.

Both players were All-County basketball players as juniors, and now Owens plans to use his height and hands to help expand the Wetumpka offense.

“Malik has a really good idea of what we’re trying to do in his second year in this offense,” Chandler said. “That goes into the way he plays. He is very confident out there and really knows how to use his size to his advantage.”

While skill players score all the touchdowns, no offense is good without a solid offensive line and every player on the team knows it.

Luckily for the Indians, they return three talented starters in their offensive line in Clark Barker, Patrick Barfoot and Lexton Hollenquest. Those three guys, along with Tavon Grays and Jon Glass who are being looked at to start, know everything begins with them.

And they have to show that they can be physical enough to win in 6A football.

“If we want to make a deep playoff run, we have to play physically,” Dillard said. “I want to show teams who we are this year.”

Wetumpka’s Nate Rogers returns for his senior season after scoring 23 touchdowns last year.

WETUMPK A INDIANS WETUMPKA Veteran team looks to continue success

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Wetumpka head coach Bear Woods is a defensive coach through and through, but he has high praise for his offense entering the 2023 football season.

The Indians return eight of their 11 offensive starters from a year ago, including all but one skill player and two offensive linemen.

That experienced bunch is led by quarterback Nate Rogers who is entering his third year leading the Indians’ offense.

“Our offense is either really good, or we’re really bad on defense because those guys have looked incredible at practice so far,” Woods said. “The offense is definitely ahead of where it was last year. This is Nate’s first full year of having coach (JC) Chandler with him, and I can see vast improvement with the returning offensive line.”

Rogers has been known for his running ability but shined as both a rusher and a passer last year with 1,378 passing and 1,172 rushing yards with a combined 23 touchdowns.

Joining him in the backfield will be two running

backs with experience.

Michael Dillard is the bruiser while Jamarion Thrasher is the speedster in the backfield.

Last season, Dillard had 372 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Thrasher amassed 275 yards and two touchdowns.

“Those two are really like the old cliche,” Woods said. “They’re thunder and lightning. You don’t have to change the plays, but it’s a change of tempo when either one of them is in. It causes issues for linebackers and it can feel like a different offense with whichever one of them is out there.”

Thrasher was also one of the returning starting receivers from last season and will continue to play a hybrid role. He’s one of three returning receivers, including seniors Malik Owens and Kaden Cook. The three combined for 59 receptions and more than 500 yards last season.

Evan Dillard, Mike’s brother, will also play a big role in the passing game alongside tight ends John Hudson Wingard and Daunte Sundown, both of whom Woods said will give the Indians some personnel mismatches they didn’t have last season.

The three starting offensive linemen who return

are Clark Barker, Patrick Barfoot and Lexton Hollenquest. The other two spots are still open as the season begins, but Tavon Grays and Jon Glass both look to play big roles in whatever spot they land.

“Both Tavon and Jon are two guys who have seen major improvements both on the field and in the weight room this offseason,” Woods said. “We’re hoping for a big season from them, and they’ve answered the bell so far. We just have to get them some reps in a game.”

Wetumpka returns four starters to the defensive side, but there is plenty of experience roaming the field for the Indians.

On the defensive line, Ethan Blake and Ethan Bailey will play big roles. Both are coming off injuries from last year, and Bailey’s held him out for over half the season. Despite playing in only five games, he still recorded four sacks.

Joining them on the defensive line is Cooper Wheat, Elijah Peake, Tyler McIntyre, Amari Jackson and Ken Myles.

“We have a really good rotation out there,” Woods said. “We have multiple guys who will play signifi-

File / Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Wetumpka’s Kaden Cook is one of three starters returning at receiver for the Indians. at a glance

2023 Wetumpka schedule

Aug. 25 – at Benjamin Russell

Sept. 1 – BAKER

Sept. 8 – PIKE ROAD*

Sept. 15 – at Park Crossing*

Sept. 22 – RUSSELL COUNTY*

Sept. 29 – at Greenville

Oct. 6 – STANHOPE ELMORE*

Oct. 13 – at Montgomery Carver*

Oct. 20 – BYE

Oct. 27 – at Sidney Lanier*

Nov. 6 – CENTRAL CLAY COUNTY

* - region game

HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS

WETUMPKA INDIANS

Coach: Bear Woods, 2nd season, 7-4 overall Class, Region: AHSAA Class 6A, Region 2

Last year: 7-4, 4-2 in Region 2; lost to Saraland in first round of playoffs

Returning Starters: Nate Rogers (Sr., QB), Michael Dillard (Sr., RB), Malik Owens (Sr., WR), Kaden Cook (Sr., WR), Jamarion Thrasher (Sr., WR), Clark Barker (Sr., OL), Patrick Barfoot (Sr., OL), Lexton Hollenquest (Jr., OL), Jushon Fleming (Jr., LB), Ethan Blake (Sr., DL), Ethan Bailey (Jr., DL), James Ball (Sr., DB).

Class Distribution: 23 seniors, 16 juniors, 31 sophomores, 20 freshmen Stadium: City of Wetumpka Sports Complex Stadium; 2350 Coosa River Parkway, Wetumpka AL 36092

WETUMPKA ROSTER

Wetumpka

cant roles.”

Jushon Fleming will be the key returner in the linebacker group, and he showed the ability to get into the backfield with 3.5 sacks last year. He will play in a role similar to the role Dorion Jackson, who is now at Troy, played last year and will play linebacker and a little safety.

“Jushon has a knack for the football and scored multiple defensive touchdowns last year,” Woods said. “He always finds himself around the ball and he’s our juice guy. He does a really good job of rallying the guys.”

Cleangelo Peake will be another big time player for Wetumpka’s defense. The junior has missed each of the last two seasons with torn ACLs in both of his knees. This year, however, Woods expects big things out of him.

Finn Southwick, who started a few games last year, can play any of the linebacker roles, while Mike Dillard will play both ways and contribute at linebacker.

At free safety will be Kelby Johnson, who like Southwick, started multiple games early last season. Due to his skillset, speed and IQ, Woods moved him to the secondary. He is joined by safety Micah Bigelow, who

also played linebacker last year. At corner, Davin Lee is going to see a lot of reps along with Jayden Bennett and James Browning.

“We expect all three of those guys to get significant time at corner, and with what we’re able to do, both Jayden and Davin can play safety too,” Woods said. “You’ll see them at both spots.”

The Indians lost one of the best kickers and punters in the state last year, but Gabe Myrick is stepping in and will take on the special teams duties. He has a strong leg and looks to instantly pick up where the Indians left off. Charles Dennis will be the team’s long snapper to begin the year.

The Indians play one of the toughest schedules in all of Class 6A and start the season with games against Benjamin Russell, Baker and Pike Road. All three of those teams have multiple SEC skill players, and will test Wetumpka’s defense over and over again.

“Those first three games are a gauntlet,” Woods said. “It’s going to be the test of all tests. We will be ready, and if we can come out of those three games as a better football team regardless of wins or losses, we will be ready for the rest of the year.”

TALLASSEE TIGERS

Tigers relying on linemen to set tone

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

There will be a lot of new faces that step foot in the end zone for Tallassee this season, but the Tigers paving the way on the offensive line are more than veterans.

Tallassee returns only four starters on its offense in 2023, but three are coming on the offensive line and all three have started or played on the Tigers’ line for the last two seasons.

Seniors Braden Arnold, Ben Carwile and Ja’Twon Griffin are all starting again, while senior Joel Holcomb will play center after gaining experience last year while John Jeffery will also play a big role.

Tallassee will rotate seven or eight linemen throughout each game while most will also play defense and get breaks.

“Every good team that I’ve been a part of started with the offensive line,” Tigers coach Mike Battles said. “Most of these guys have been playing together for many years, and there’s some that have been playing together in the (Tallassee Youth Football League). They take a lot of pride in the offensive line. They take pride in blocking as a unit. The success of a team requires that they do their job better than anyone else.”

Behind the offensive line will be a lot of new faces. After losing a four-year starter at quarterback with Tyler Ellis moving on to the next level, juniors Mason Battles and Bryson Rigsby are fighting for the starting spot. Both players bring different skill sets to the position, and Battles plans on using both when they’re needed.

At running back, three guys will take the majority of reps. Senior Christian McCary, junior Joseph Hooks and sophomore Jaiden McKenzie will all be in the backfield.

McCary and Hooks are bigger kids as they both wrestle. McCary is 180 pounds while Hooks is 190. McKenzie is 5-foot8 and 170 and is more of a speedster than the other two.

All three will play both ways, so they will be used by committee on offense while the other two get a small breather. “Joseph and Christian are both big strong kids, but they can run too,” Battles said. “They all bring different things. Jaiden is more of a slasher and quick. You want to get him the ball in space. But we feel good about any set or any play we run, it doesn’t matter which one is in there. Whoever is in, we will call the whole offense.”

McKenzie will also be used as a receiver while Brodie Ellis and Chase

2023 Tallassee schedule

Aug. 24 – at Reeltown

Sept. 1 – BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Sept. 8 – at Central Clay County*

Sept. 15 – BEAUREGARD*

Sept. 22 – at Marbury

Sept. 29 – CHILTON COUNTY

Oct. 6 – ELMORE COUNTY*

Oct. 13 – at Valley*

Oct. 20 – at Sylacauga*

Oct. 27 – BYE

Nov. 3 – HOLTVILLE

* - region game HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS

Chumley both return as experienced players. They started some games at receiver last season, and both will play significant roles in the passing game this year.

Most of the same guys will play on defense, as Chumley and Ellis will both play in the secondary, which is one of the most inexperienced units for the Tigers, but there is a lot of promise.

When Rigsby isn’t playing quarterback, he will be playing safety. He’s joined by Courtland Roberts, Rush Wright and McKenzie. While there hasn’t been many starting varsity reps for those players, Battles liked what he saw from those guys in 7-on-7s and camps this summer.

The Tigers faced Wetumpka and Stan-

hope both in a 7-on-7 tournament, and the inexperienced secondary held its own against some talented offenses.

Where Tallassee’s experience is, much like on offense, is in the front seven.

On the line, Brandon Barrow is a returning starter and is hard to stop when he picks up steam. AJ Henry, only a sophomore but already 6-1, started and played a lot as a freshman a year ago and has potential out of the roof, Battles said. Eli Whittington has been a two-year starter on the line, and Vincent Diego will play significant reps as well.

“The guys up front are going to set the tone,” Battles said. “Those guys have all played a lot of football. We have two ends and a nose guard and we’ll make

sure they’re fresh by rotating them in. Hooks and McCary will set the tone from the outside linebacker roles whether in coverage or blitzing off the ends. While they try to keep opposing offenses inside, Caleb Segrest and Carter Sayers will patrol the middle of the field.

On special teams, Alec Carswell returns as the starting kicker. Carswell got better and better during his junior season and drilled his last 11 PATs of the 2022 season.

“There’s plenty of kids who have great legs, but it takes a lot of mental power to be a kicker,” Battles said. “Alec knows we may call on him at any time to go out and kick a field goal, and he’s confident now.”

File / Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Tallassee’s Jaiden McKenzie runs against Sylacauga last season. McKenzie is one of the team’s leading backs entering the year.

TALLASSEE TIGERS at a glance

Coach: Mike Battles, 12th season, 77-45 overall Class, Region: AHSAA Class 5A, Region 4

Last year: 7-5, 3-2 in Region 4; lost to Charles Henderson in second round of playoffs

Returning Starters: Braden Arnold (Sr., OL/DL), Ben Carwile (Sr., OL/DL), Ja’Twon Griffin (Sr., OL/DL), Eli Whittington (Jr., DE), Joseph Hooks (Jr., LB), Christian McCary (Sr., LB), Brandon Barrow (Sr., DL), Brodie Ellis (Sr., WR), Chase Chumley (Sr., WR). Class Distribution: 12 seniors, 16 juniors, 17 sophomores, 8 freshmen Stadium: J.E. “Hot” O’Brien Stadium; 302 Gilmer Avenue, Tallassee AL 36078

TALLASSEE ROSTER

Sr.

OL/DL So.

Segrest LB/OL Sr.

Addeo OL/LB So.

STANHOPE ELMORE MUSTANGS

Defense to propel Mustangs in Adams’ first year

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

For Hunter Adams, it’s always defense first.

Adams is entering his first year as the head coach of the Stanhope Elmore football team. He has been the team’s defensive coordinator since 2017 but was promoted to head coach this offseason after the Mustangs missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

Despite being over the entire team now instead of just defense, it doesn’t change his philosophy — and it certainly doesn’t change the team’s personnel.

The Mustangs return eight starters to their defense and Adams is excited to see what that experience can do when it’s game time.

“Our defensive system is relatively the same, so we have a lot of guys who know the system coming back to our team,” Adams said. “We have some impact players on that side of the ball so we feel confident about having something we can hang our hat on every Friday night.”

Where the Mustangs will be the strongest is in their

front seven on the defense.

Donnie Arnold and Thomas Williams are both returning starters at defensive end, and both have been massive impact players for multiple years now.

The two combined for exactly 100 tackles with 10.5 sacks last year, and they’ll be only helped by a powerful nose guard in senior Bunny Jackson, who Adams said is the most consistent player he’s had on the field since the spring.

“Bunny is the voice of our group,” Adams said.

Dezmond Barnes returns to add depth to that group, while Arnold will sometimes play linebacker depending on the scheme.

At inside linebacker are CJ Jackson, who started the second half of last season, and Kam Anderson, who missed last season with a knee injury.

While Adams said the front seven will be the team’s strong suit, the secondary is very experienced entering 2023 as well.

Three of the four starters return from last season in

Aug. 25 – at Shades Valley

Sept. 1 – EUFAULA

Sept. 8 – at Russell County*

Sept. 15 – BYE

Sept. 22 – CARVER MONTGOMERY*

Sept. 29 – at Prattville

Oct. 6 – at Wetumpka*

Oct. 13 – SIDNEY LANIER*

Oct. 20 – at Pike Road*

Oct. 27 – PARK CROSSING*

Nov. 2 – MINOR

* – region game HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS

File / Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Stanhope Elmore’s Jamari Coleman catches a pass against DaShaun Caffee in practice.

STANHOPE ELMORE ROSTER

Stanhope

seniors Ortez Morris, DaShaun Caffee and KC Cunningham.

Caffee was the team’s star last season with five interceptions and four more defended passes, and he’s started picking up the offers to show for it.

“Our secondary has a chance to be a strength for us,” Adams said. “Dashaun is our field general and is an extension of myself when it comes to coaching on the field. He’s also got extreme length, and I don’t think you’ll find anyone in the state who covers more ground than he does.”

Morris will play both cornerback and safety, and he is one of the most physical secondary players at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. He had two interceptions last season. Cunningham will also play safety and is the team’s Swiss Army Knife as he’s done everything on the defense the last two seasons.

As experienced as the defense is, the offense could be described as inexperienced. There are five returning starters on the offense, but three are on the offensive line.

Haeden Hughes will return as one of the team’s tackles, while Cameron Hodge will play on the interior. The rest of the line is underclassmen.

Sophomores Macin James, Gabe Lewis and Xavier Foxhall will round out the line.

“That group is really going to determine how our season goes,” Adams said. “They’ve made more progress than any other position group has made for us from May until now. The entire offensive line that we will roll out is mobile. They have a chance to be really special.”

The least amount of experience on

the team is going to be in the receiver slot.

There isn’t a single receiver who caught a pass from last season as the team graduated over a handful of seniors in that position. But while there isn’t experience, there is promise.

Jamari Coleman and DeKameron Jones will be the two main names at receiver this season and both had good summers. KO Jackson, who primarily played running back last season, will turn to a more hybrid role this year and play both in the backfield and spread out at receiver.

With Jackson taking on both positions, that opens up opportunities for other players in the backfield. Adams said rising junior Arthur McQueen will receive a lot of carries after playing sparingly last season, while getting senior Orenthal Martin back this year will help with his athleticism.

Whichever player is back there will be joined by arguably the most experienced player on the team in quarterback Jacob Bryant.

Bryant is entering his third year as a starter for Stanhope and passed for 1,766 yards and 14 touchdowns last year despite missing games due to injury. With no returning receivers and three sophomores on the offensive line, Adams knows the offense goes where Bryant goes this year.

“Jacob’s really done a great job of taking control of this new offense,” Adams said. “It takes somebody who knows what they’re doing and can command the offense, and with some of the inexperience we have, he’s absolutely vital for this team and he knows that.”

STANHOPE ELMORE

MUSTANGS

at a glance

Coach: Hunter Adams, 1st season, 0-0 overall

Class, Region: AHSAA Class 6A, Region 2

Last year: 4-6, 3-3 in Region 2; missed playoffs

Returning Starters: KO Jackson (Sr., RB); Jacob Bryant (Sr., QB); Dashaun Caffee (Sr., FS), Donnie Arnold (Sr., DL); Orenthal Martin (Sr., SS); Thomas Williams (Sr., DE); CJ Jackson (Sr., LB); Cameron Hodge (Jr., OL); Macin James (So., OL); Haedon Hughes (Sr., OL); Dezmond Barnes (Jr., DL); Ortez Morris (Sr., DB); KC Cunningham (Sr., DB).

Class Distribution: 15 seniors, 16 juniors, 26 sophomores, 21 freshmen

Stadium: Foshee-Henderson Stadium; 4300 Main St., Millbrook AL 36054

2023 Elmore County schedule

Aug. 25 – at Marbury

Sept. 1 – AUTAUGAVILLE

Sept. 8 – at Sylacauga*

Sept. 15 – CENTRAL CLAY COUNTY*

Sept. 22 – BYE

Sept. 29 – ST. CLAIR COUNTY

Oct. 6 – at Tallassee*

Oct. 13 – at Beauregard*

Oct. 20 – VALLEY*

Oct. 27 – at Holtville Nov. 3 – JEMISON

* - region game HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS

ELMORE COUNTY PANTHERS Senior class looks to leave lasting legacy

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Elmore County’s senior class has one last chance to leave its mark on the program.

The Panthers made a triumphant return to the playoffs last season for the first time in more than a decade. They won seven football games after going winless in 2021, and now 21 seniors return for one last season wearing maroon.

Elmore County has 11 returning starters, including seven on offense, ready to make another run at the postseason.

“These guys understand that this is their chance to leave a legacy that is going to be bigger than themselves,” ECHS second-year coach Kyle Caldwell said.

The majority of Elmore County’s experience comes on the offensive line.

All five starters return this year with four of them being seniors in Jonathan Thames, Myles Eyerly, Trevor Brown and Hunter Collins. The lone underclassmen in the starting rotation is sophomore Colby Blackwell while there’s more experience back than just

the returning starters.

Senior Elias Collins, a transfer from Edgewood Academy, was an AllElmore County member a year ago for the Wildcats.

“It’s so important to have an experienced offensive line,” Caldwell said.

“All of those kids understand that if they’re needed to play another position, their experience allows them to jump in and be successful there. We have a lot of leadership up front.”

Behind the line is a plethora of talented skill players.

At running back, senior CJ Wilkes handles the majority of snaps. The All-County player rushed for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns a season ago. He is joined in the backfield by Parker Hobbs, who started two years ago as a freshman before transitioning to defense last season. Connor Pike and Tyler Payton will also receive reps at running back, while receivers Jabari Murphy and Cade Everson will get snaps too.

Murphy and Everson will primarily play receiver, though. Murphy, a three-star recruit with a handful of SEC offers, will play in the slot. He had 10 touchdown catches last season. Ever-

son is a transfer from Tallassee and scored eight touchdowns for the Tigers last year.

While those two headline the talented bunch, there are more Panthers who will catch passes. Tight end Justin Brooks will split at receiver some while Hayes Fulmer and Noah Wilmoth will each play big roles.

“Hayes got a lot of experience last year and has had a great offseason,” Caldwell said. “He’s one of our most improved players and we’re expecting big things from him. Noah reminds me a lot of Garrett Allen from last year — not much experience but with his mannerisms and his intelligence on the field. We are hoping to get a lot of production out of those two guys.”

A new face will be at quarterback.

Elmore County Offensive Player of the Year Payton Stephenson is gone after a stellar senior campaign, and now the Panthers are looking at a quarterback battle between a few different players such as Ryals McNeely, Gage Davis, Seth McGhee and Caleb Spivey.

The offense returns much more experience than the defense, but the players who do return for Elmore County are some of the most important from last season.

Jackson Mann, Chris Holt and Luke Reinert, the team’s three leading tacklers last season, return to key the defense. Combined, the three had 272 tackles, 23 for a loss and 13.5 sacks.

“Those three guys are going to be the quarterbacks of our defense,” Caldwell said. “They line everybody up and they get the plays in. They are going to be leaned upon heavily for our defense simply because of the experience they have.”

Reinert, who had nine sacks last season, will once again play defensive line while he is joined by Kaden Hragyil, Landon Yawakia and Brandon White as some of the key players who headline the front seven.

There will be more young players who rotate in and out while playing hybrid roles between tackle and end, and defensive end and outside linebackers.

One hybrid player is Holt, who had 88 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss last year. He played both defensive end and linebacker last season but is going to be the team’s main middle linebacker this year.

Mann, who led the team with 116

File / Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Elmore County’s C.J. Wilkes breaks a Sylacauga tackle for a score. Wilkes will handle the majority of snaps at running back.

ELMORE COUNTY ROSTER

tackles last season, will play a hybrid role between linebacker and safety, but is looking to play more safety this year. Senior Cam Brown and junior Shea Darnell will also play safety.

When Brown is not playing safety, he will rotate over to cornerback and will be joined by Mason Goggins, Thomas Payton and Tyler Payton, one of the other returning starters on the defense.

McNeely, Everson and Murphy will also see time on defense when needed. When it comes to special teams,

continued from Page 16

star soccer player Tate McNeely has joined the team and will handle all the kicking duties.

When the team lines up to receive kicks and punts, the Panthers will have one of the most dangerous units in the entire state with Murphy, Everson and Wilkes all back there.

“That’s as dangerous as it gets back there,” Caldwell said. “That makes teams have to give you good field position because they don’t want to kick it to any of them. We will play that to our favor this year.”

ELMORE COUNTY PANTHERS

at a glance

Coach: Kyle Caldwell, 2nd year, 7-4 overall Class, Region: AHSAA Class 5A, Region 4

Last year: 7-4, 2-3 in Region 4; lost to Demopolis in first round of playoffs

Returning Starters: CJ Wilkes, (Sr., RB), Jabari Murphy (Sr., WR), Jonathan Thames (Sr., OL), Myles Eyerly (Sr., OL), Trevor Brown (Sr., OL), Hunter Collins (Sr., OL), Colby Blackwell (So., OL), Jackson Mann (Jr., LB), Luke Reinert (Jr., DL/LB), Chris Holt (Sr., LB), Tyler Payton (Fr., LB/RB)

Class Distribution: 21 seniors, 18 juniors, 18 sophomores, 19 freshmen

Stadium: Burt-Haynie Field; 155 N. College St., Eclectic AL 36024

EDGEWOOD ACADEMY Defense to headline talented Wildcats’ squad

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Defense wins championships.

It’s an old football cliche, but Edgewood Academy coach Chad Michael knows it to be true. And it nearly proved itself last season for the Wildcats.

Edgewood finished only 6-6 last year but made it to the semifinals of the AISA Class AA state playoffs. That was due to the Wildcats’ defense playing lights out as they held three of their last five opponents to under 12 points.

The majority of that defense is back in 2023, and Michael’s expectations are sky-high entering the season.

“I’m an old defensive coordinator at heart because I want to win games on the defensive side of the ball,” Michael said. “When you have guys returning on that side of the ball that have the experience ours do, expectations get high. We understand that we can win games on that side of the ball and don’t have to rely completely on our offense to win us games.”

The defense will be spear-headed by linebacker duo Cooper Freeman and Parker Shaw, both of whom had stellar sophomore seasons. Both were full-time starters, and Shaw led the entire team with 111 total tackles and four for loss. He was the only Wildcat to reach the century mark in tackles.

“Parker and Cooper, at the end of last season, were playing as good of football as I’ve had two guys play, especially as sophomores,” Michael said. “Now as juniors, they’re understanding our scheme more and not missing assignments. When they don’t miss assignments, they both get faster and more comfortable.”

Joining Shaw and Freeman in the box will be a talented defensive line.

Sophomore Brock Whitt, at 6-5 and 230 pounds, is one of the biggest and most athletic players in AISA. He was the Wildcats’ leading defensive lineman a year ago before his season was cut short at six games. In the six games he did play, he had seven tackles for loss and two sacks.

He is joined by Zayne Talley at defensive end, a returning starter, and Will Reevers at defensive tackle.

“If Brock can stay healthy, he’s as good as he wants to be,” Michael said. “He has a chance to be a Division I kid. He’s very athletic and very strong, and he’s going to

Academy’s Gabe LeMaster (3) was the Elmore County Two-Way Player of the Year last season.

help out Zayne on the other side too because he will see a lot of attention.

Zayne could have a really big year for us.”

In the Edgewood secondary will be arguably the Wildcats’ best player, Gabe LeMaster. The senior was last year’s Elmore County TwoWay Player of the Year after recording 72 tackles and a county-high six interceptions, all of which came at safety. He is joined by Jack Adams at safety, while senior Tanner Trunks has seen vast improvement at cornerback and “is really starting to trust himself,” Michael said.

With only 20 players on the roster, nearly everyone who starts on the defense will also start on the offense.

LeMaster will play both running back and receiver, where he scored 10 total touchdowns a year ago. Trunks will also play receiver as well as senior Brody Whitt. Whitt had 21 catches for 277 yards and three touchdowns last year, which is behind only LeMaster in terms of returning players.

Sophomore Landon Smith also looks to make an impact with his shiftiness and speed.

When LeMaster isn’t in the back-

2023 Edgewood schedule

Aug. 19 – BYE

Aug. 26 – AUTAUGA ACADEMY

Sept. 2 – at Chambers Academy*

Sept. 9 – ABBEVILLE CHRISTIAN*

Sept. 16 – at Lowndes Academy

Sept. 23 – FORT DALE ACADEMY

Sept. 30 – BANKS ACADEMY

Oct. 6 – at Macon East Academy*

Oct. 14 – HOOPER ACADEMY*

Oct. 20 – at Lakeside

Oct. 28 – at Lee-Scott Academy

* - region game

HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS

File / Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Edgewood

EDGEWOOD ROSTER

EDGEWOOD WILDCATS at a glance

Coach: Chad Michael, 3rd season, 12-10 overall Class, Region: AISA-AA, Region 1

Last year: 5-6, 2-2 in AISA-AA Region 1; lost to Escambia Academy in first round of playoffs

Returning Starters: JB Collier (SR., WR); Gabe LeMaster (JR., WR/DB); Austin Champion (SR., QB); Bradley Boone (SR., RB/S); Wes Reeves (SR., OL/DL); Bryson Boone (SR., OL/DL)

Class Distribution: 7 seniors, 6 juniors, 7 sophomores, 5 freshmen

Stadium Name: Charles P. Storrs Field at Edgewood Stadium

Stadium Location: 5474 Elmore Road, Elmore, AL 36025

field, Shaw will be the main running back. The junior is up to 215 pounds and is running the ball well for Edgewood in the preseason.

“Parker does a really good job of staying behind his pads and being a downhill runner,” Michael said. “Don’t be fooled though. He is somebody who is fast enough to break one if he needs to though.”

On the offensive line, Reeves, Talley, Matt Cox and Jackson Hudson are all experienced players who return. The biggest newcomer to the line is Freeman, who will play one of the guard positions.

The line will have a new quarterback to protect as All-County QB Austin Champion is graduated after three years of starting. Now, junior Ethan Evans takes over at the helm.

This will be the first time Michael has had an inexperienced quarterback starting, but he likes what Evans brings to the field as more of an athletic quarterback who can move around with his feet and extend plays.

“I’ve had to learn as a coach that there are things that I can’t just assume that he knows like I could with the past guys,” Michael said. “You have to spend more time with the details. But he takes coaching really well and he’s come a long way. As a coach, that’s all you want. He wants to be coached and wants to be better.”

The Wildcats are still working through special teams, but it looks as if the do-it-all LeMaster will be the team’s punter and most likely returning kicks as well. Last season, LeMaster had 252 return yards and a touchdown.

HOLT VILLE HOLTVILLE BULLDOGS

Holtville looks to control the trenches

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

When Holtville takes the field for the first time in 2023, football coach Jason Franklin is expecting his Bulldogs to be dominant in the trenches.

Holtville, which went 3-8 and reached the AHSAA Class 5A playoffs a year ago, returns a lot of experience to this year’s team. The Bulldogs return 12 total starters, six on each side of the ball, with three each on the offensive and defensive lines.

Franklin knows his team will have to be strong in the trenches to compete in 5A football, and he feels this is the best his Holtville team has looked there in a few years.

“We’re good and we’re very strong across the front,” Franklin said. “We’re a lot stronger up front and inside right now than we were at any point of last season. We have a core group that we can rotate,

which is always good to have, but we’re still progressing there right now.”

Heading the offensive front is a trio of starters, two of whom are multi-year starters entering their senior season in tackles Tristan Gulledge and Carson Reese. Directly in the middle of the two is junior Clifford Edwards, who is the starting center and has played significant reps both on offense and defense.

Playing at guard will be Tyson Ratliff and John Sanders, while Casey Shaner and Doc Barton will serve as the sixth and seventh men in the rotation.

They’ll be blocking for an All-State quarterback in Keiland Baker, who is entering his first full season as the starter. Last season, Baker split time as the starter yet still put together an impressive sophomore campaign. He passed for 913 yards, rushed for 630 yards and scored 18 total touchdowns.

“Being a full-time starter now, he’s not going to be sharing duties like he did early in his career,” Franklin

said. “It’s his time and he gets to take the reins of the offense. We’ll just have to have him make some better decisions this year.”

After having Shawn Brackett as a staple in the backfield each of the last three seasons, Holtville will turn to a running back by committee. There are around five players who will receive the most carries — Cedrick Croskey, Hunter Chavis, Josh Jimenez, Jaquez Brown and Luke Strength.

Brown played receiver mostly last year, but Franklin wanted his athleticism in the backfield.

With Brown making the move, it opened up a few slots in the passing game.

Erik Adkins and Elijah Headley return as starters and they bring some height, with Adkins being 6-foot2 and Headley at 6-5.

They aren’t the only tall players, however, as newcomer Caleb Blackmon is on the team after playing

Holtville’s Keiland Baker was named an All-State player last year after scoring 18 touchdowns.

HOLTVILLE ROSTER

Name Position Grade

HOLTVILLE BULLDOGS at a glance

Coach: Jason Franklin, 7th season, 30-35 overall

Class, Region: AHSAA Class 5A, Region 3

Last year: 3-8, 2-3 in Region 3; lost to Central Clay County in first round of playoffs

Returning Starters: Keiland Baker (Jr., QB), Erik Adkins (Sr., WR), Carson Reese (Sr., OL), Tristan Gulledge (Sr., OL), Clifford Edwards (Jr., OL/DL), Elijah Headley (Jr., WR), Josh Jimenez (Sr., LB), Chasen Webster (Sr., DB), Tyson Ratliff (Jr., DL), Anthony Chunn (Jr., DL), Hunter Phelps (Sr., DL), Luke Strength (Sr., LB)

Class Distribution: 19 seniors, 17 juniors, 15 sophomores, 28 freshmen

Stadium: Boykin Field; 10425 Holtville Road, Holtville AL 36022

Holtville

basketball only last season. The senior also stands over 6-2, while CJ Lee will also play receiver by playing a hybrid role in both the slot and outside positions.

“We’re going to have some true length from the receiving spot and we will try to use that to our advantage,” Franklin said. “We’re going to be twodeep at every spot there. We feel good about that position being our strong point.”

Back in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball is junior Anthony Chunn, who is coming off an ACL injury.

His pure athleticism alone separates him from other players, but he is now learning the techniques of being a defensive end and has caused issues for Holtville’s offense seemingly every practice.

Joining him are Hunter Phelps and Ratliff, along with Ark Turner who

Franklin says reminds him a lot of Chunn in terms of athleticism.

Jimenez is the team’s leading tackler returning, and he will star in the linebacker corps alongside Owen Jackson and freshman DaShaun Zeigler.

The most experienced bunch of the defense is the defensive backs, which features Croskey, Blackmon, Brock Godwin at safety, Chasen Webster, AJ Carreon, Adam Wilson and Tanner Russell.

“We have a lot of experienced guys who have played snaps not just last year, but some the year before,” Franklin said. “If they can continue getting reps, they can be really good.”

Headley returns not only at receiver but also as the team’s punter after averaging over 30 yards per punt last season. Zach Welch, a soccer player, has joined the team as the kicker and is showing promise entering the season.

2023 Holtville schedule

Aug. 25 – at Fultondale Sept. 1 – at Alma Bryant

Sept. 8 – SHELBY COUNTY*

Sept. 15 – SELMA* Sept. 22 – BYE

Sept. 29 – at West Blocton

Oct. 6 – at Jemison*

Oct. 13 – MARBURY*

Oct. 20 – at Demopolis* Oct. 27 – ELMORE COUNTY Nov. 3 – at Tallassee * - region game HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS

Izaih Lasiter DE So.

The Reeltown Rebels are looking for more than a third round playoff berth in the team’s eighth season under coach Matt Johnson.

REELTOWN REBELS

A return to the playoffs in view for Reeltown

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Writer

The Reeltown Rebels have large playoff aspirations in 2023 — and they should.

Since coach Matt Johnson took over the football program eight seasons ago, the Rebels have won at almost every step of the way.

In his time in blue and white, Johnson’s teams have made the playoffs every year but once, made it to the second round of the playoffs twice and have had a championship berth.

After a run to the third round of the playoffs last year and winning eight straight regular season games, it seems like the Rebels are locked and ready to pick up where they left off in November.

The work for Reeltown started early in the spring, as the Rebels geared up for the summer with their annual Blue-White Scrimmage. Then the team competed in multiple summer OTAs before competing in the team’s annual Iron Man Competition.

A preview into how good this year’s Reeltown team can be was evidenced during the two grueling days of Iron

Man.

“I think overall this is one of the most competitive we have had,” Johnson said. “In sheer numbers on the sheet, it was the closest race by the numbers we have had.”

This season’s list featured two freshmen, one sophomore, three juniors and four seniors.

According to Johnson, four or five players just missed the top 10, two players tied in the top 10 and only a single point separated the top two placements.

Junior receiver-tight end-punterlinebacker Demetrius Brown won this year’s competition, edging out senior running back and defensive back Arthur Woods.

“I think they are competing at a high level,” Johnson said. “That goes back to the culture of hardwork and them working hard all offseason. (Iron Man) is a chance to really just get after it and show what you got. The very first day was probably the most energy we have ever had in the weight room. It was almost like we had to bring it a notch down.”

Woods and Brown are just a few of the returning stars that helped Reel-

town reach its 10-2 record last season.

Quarterback Jake Hornsby returns as the signal caller on both offense and defense. Hornsby passed for 10 touchdowns last year, while adding five on the ground. Aside from his duties under center, Hornsby is the vocal leader of the defense at linebacker.

Johnson’s son Cruise will also look to have an increased role beside Hornsby, on defense along with leading the way at fullback for guys like Woods.

Hornsby’s weapons on the outside will largely be upperclassmen, targeting guys such as Larry Butler, Xavier Thomas, Finn Henderson, Tae Martin and Baylor Clayton.

Clayton, a junior tight end, spent time with many of his fellow studentathletes at college camps and showcases, and was even invited to a select tight end camp at Georgia.

The offensive line lost its two cornerstones in tackles Lane Burns and Logan Dillard.

In the OTAs, it does not look like the line has lost much of its edge.

Bowman Brumbeloe will be the left tackle, slotting in at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds.

The line also returns mainstays Zach

Dylan Bryant and swingman JJ Kendrick.

“Zach and Jacob are guys that have been in this program for years and have started and gotten quality reps,” Johnson said. “Getting both of them back healthy is big. They are going to solidify that offensive line group.”

Many of those same players on offense will turn around and play defense for the Rebels.

Martin, during his sophomore year, earned All-Outlook honors and a second-team nod on the All-State list. Woods, Clayton and Martin all earned first-team honors. Hornsby and Thomas each were honorable mentions.

Johnson’s team will also look towards its future talent to supplement on both offense and defense. Freshman Alijah Woods and Traylen Roberts have had big showings during the team’s summer camps.

Woods, who plays quarterback and defensive back, snagged a late interception at the OTA at Holtville and filled in for Hornsby at quarterback during big wins last season.

His dual-threat ability provides Reeltown with an excellent 1-2 punch

Riley, Jacob Hornsby,

Henry Zimmer / Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

REELTOWN ROSTER

Reeltown

at quarterback if the team ever needed to use it.

Roberts has also stood out as he and Alijah Woods both placed in the top-10 during Iron Man.

“Those two freshmen are special,” Johnson said. “Both of them will play lots of quality reps on varsity. Alijah is one of our top players in OTAs this summer. Traylen split reps at running back in the spring. He is a load.”

Reeltown again opens its season with a Thursday night game against rival Tallassee.

This year’s game will feature yet another exciting storyline, as former Tallassee coach LD Bell is now coaching

55 Jacob Hornsby

Rashad Potts

Jontavious Nettles

Jaquan Harris

65 Caden Dillard

67 Cason Kelley

75 Brayden Bryant

Bowman Brumbeloe

2023 Reeltown schedule

Aug. 24- TALLASSEE

Sept. 1- BYE

Sept. 8- at LaFayette*

Sept. 15- GOSHEN*

Sept. 22- at Barbour County*

Sept. 29- at Cleburne County

Oct. 6- at Lanett*

Oct. 13- at Horseshoe Bend*

Oct. 20- LUVERNE*

Oct. 27- HIGHLAND HOME*

Nov. 3- BYE

continued from Page 22

across the river with Johnson’s staff.

The Tallassee game last season marked the only regular season loss for Reeltown.

Every player and coach knows the massivity of the game.

While it does not count towards playoff seeding, it does mean a lot of bragging rights.

“That is a huge game right off the bat,” Johnson said. “It is a big rivalry, a huge atmosphere. You don’t get that atmosphere until you get deep in the playoffs. They are a 5A school, so we know that is a challenge in itself. It is a meaningful game. We are ready to get it started.”

REELTOWN REBELS at a glance

Coach: Matt Johnson, 8th year, 55-27

Class, Region: AHSAA 2A, Region 3

Last Year: 10-2, 7-0 in region, lost in third round of playoffs to B.B. Comer

Returning Starters: Jake Hornsby (Sr, QB/LB), Arthur Woods (SR, WR/DB), Tae Martin (JR, WR/DB), Baylor Clayton (JR, TE/ LB) Zack Riley (SR, OL/DL), Bowman Brumbeloe (JR, OL/DL)

Class Distribution: 9 seniors, 15 juniors, 10 sophomores, 10 freshman, 2 eighth graders

Stadium: Nix-Webster-O’Neal Stadium, 4085 Hwy. 120 Reeltown