Tallassee Tribune Feb. 8 2023

Restoration family opens another location

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Just over two years since Restoration 49 opened in Tallassee, a sister location, Restoration Coffee House, opened in downtown Wetumpka Thursday.

“It’s the same menu,” Haley said. “Some of the drink names have changed to be more Wetumpka-themed.”

The coffee shop features Prevail Coffee, which is roasted in Montgomery and uses Blue Ribbon Dairy milk products. There is also

Restoration 49 owners Dylan and Haley Daniel are bringing the same recipes that have excited Tallassee to Wetumpka.

an assortment of pastries.

Dylan spent three years renovating the building the Daniels own in Tallassee. While the Daniels do not own the building in Wetumpka, much of the same care in readying the new coffee shop was taken.

See LOCATION, Page A3

On the Road Again

The ‘Pride of Tallassee’ Marching band has been in existence for 85 years. The nearly nine decades of music make it one of the longest-running school band programs in the state.

This year the Tallassee High School band has already had a stellar year.

“The band has already performed at ten regular-season football games and two playoff games, pep rallies, parades, bonfires, other school events and attended two marching band competitions,” band director Dr. Robert Glasscock said. “Then, during Thanksgiving week, the Pride

Tiger Laundry opens on Gilmer Avenue

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The Robertsons have reopened Tiger Laundry but the business is nothing new to them. Their family knows laundromats. They should as the Robertson family has been associated in some shape, form or fashion with one in a building on Gilmer Avenue for decades.

“[Eric Robertson’s] family has owned the building since the 70s,” Eric’s wife Tonya said. “His family bought it when it was a Dairy Delite. They bought the building when that business closed and have rented it out to others throughout the years. They rented it out to a couple of guys in the 80s who turned it into a laundromat and dry cleaning service.”

Eric was a Tallassee native and Tonya from Eclectic. While only sort of associated with the business early on, the family dove in wholeheartedly more than two decades ago.

“In the early 2000s my husband’s aunt decided to take it over when the owners of the laundry service retired,” Robertson said.

Now fast forward to the last couple of years and Eric and Tonya became more involved in the family operation.

“[His aunt] got sick with cancer and we were taking care of everything while she was in and out

See LAUNDRY, Page A3

Obituaries

KENNETH ALAN CULLARS

Kenneth Alan Cullars, age 67, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. He was born September 22, 1955 in Tallassee, Alabama. Growing up, Alan was raised in a Christian home by his grandparents, Dewitt Cullars and Clara Cullars. At the age of 17, he entered the U.S. Navy where he served on the USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam era. For many years following the Navy, he worked as a Welder. In 1987, Alan met and fell in love with Julia and they were married in Tallassee at a family residence. In 2014, he received a Bible College Diploma from Faith Bible Institute. He loved the Lord and cared deeply for the young and elderly. He always had time to listen and pray with people.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 am on Friday, February 3, 2023 with funeral service to follow at 10:00 am at Macedonia Christian Church with

Police Reports

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

FEB. 2

Rev. David Hooks officiating. Burial will follow in Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery. Alan is preceded in death by his grandparents, Dewitt Cullars and Clara Cullars; his parents, Kenneth Dewitt Cullars (Ann) and mother Willa Mae Reynolds (Rick); and sister, Debra Ann Schrader. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Julia Ann Cullars; brothers, Matt Reynolds, Mark Reynolds, Richard Reynolds, Russell Reynolds, Keith McConnell and Kevin McConnell; and brother-inlaw, Paul Carmichael; and numerous nieces and nephews. Online condolences may be posted at www.linvillememorial.com.

EVA MICHELLE

O’DANIEL

Mrs. Eva Michelle O’ Daniel, a resident of Tallassee, Alabama passed away Sunday, January 29, 2023, at the age of 54. She was born March 26, 1968, in Montgomery, Alabama, to Aubrey Clayton and Clara Williams Aldridge.

• A suspicious person was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

FEB. 1

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on East Roosevelt Street.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Rickey Lane.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A noise complaint was reported on Grimes Street.

• Animal control was requested on Grimes Street.

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given during a medical on South Tallassee Drive.

• A suspicious person was reported on Magnolia Street.

• Assistance was given during a medical call on Gilmer Avenue.

• Fraudulent use of a credit card was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• A Black male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• A white male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Gilmer Avenue.

JAN. 31

• A domestic dispute was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• Unauthorized use of a vehicle was reported on Herd Street.

• A juvenile complaint was reported on Rickey Lane.

• Reckless driving was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A suspicious person was reported on Eubanks Street.

• Unauthorized use of a vehicle was reported on Sims Avenue.

• Harassing communications was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Burglary was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on Dorman Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Fourth Street.

• Littering was reported on New Quarters Road.

• An animal complaint was reported on First Avenue.

Mrs. O’Daniel is survived by her husband, Paul O’Daniel; son, Tony Aldridge; step son, Ryan O’Daniel; step daughter, Mariah O’Daniel; sisters, Nell Willcut (Dale) and Teresa Fuller; brothers, Davis Aldridge and Ricky Aldridge; granddaughter, Alissa Bailey Phillips and grandson, Caden Dillard and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Clara Aldridge; sons, Alex O’Daniel and Shawn O’Daniel; sister, Brenda Osborne and brothers, Don Aldridge and Clarence Aldridge.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. On line condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com.

Jeffcoat Funeral Home Directing Tallassee, Alabama

GERALD RAY ROBERTS

Dr. Gerald Ray Roberts of Evergreen passed away Mon-

• Harassing communications was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• Animal control was requested on Derry Street.

• An animal complaint was reported on Macedonia Road.

• A welfare check was conducted on Highway 229.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Lee Street.

JAN. 30

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Tallassee Highway.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on North Ann Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Macedonia Road.

• An animal complaint was reported on Derry Street.

• Littering was reported on Noble Road.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Highway 229.

• Harassment was reported on Grimes Street. A white female was arrested on Benson Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Second Street.

• Trespassing was reported on First Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Freeman Avenue.

JAN. 29

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• Property damage was reported on Noble Road.

• Criminal trespass was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Assistance was given during a medical call on Powers Extension.

• Trespassing was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• A stolen vehicle was reported on Powers Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Kent Road.

• Assistance was given during a medical call on Gilmer Avenue.

• Property damage was reported on Highway 229.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Claire Street.

• Trespassing was reported on Lee Street.

JAN. 28

• Gunfire was reported on Riley Road.

• A noise complaint was reported on Hillcrest Street.

• A fight in progress was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

day, January 23, 2023 at Evergreen Nursing Home. He was 91.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Cope-Keahey Funeral Home.

Survivors include, sons, Dr. Mark Anthony (Nita) Roberts of Evergreen, Eric Ray Roberts of Tallasee, Bruce Edward Roberts of Brewton, Brian Wayne Roberts of Franklin, Peter Brent Roberts of Huntsville and Steve Porter Orr of Prattville, grandchildren, Jessica Roberts Pierce, Whitley Roberts Harper, Dylan Scott Roberts, Kaylie Roberts Fannin, Ethan Timothy Roberts, Ellie Katherine Roberts, Kaitlyn Michelle Roberts and Brianna Nicole Roberts and 7 great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by sons, Timothy Allen Roberts and David Scott Roberts. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or charity of ones choice.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Notasulga Road.

• A white male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• A Black male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Harassment was reported on Central Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

JAN. 27

• A domestic dispute was reported on Washington Street.

• A white male was arrested during a traffic stop on North Ann Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Hicks Store Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Indian Trail.

• Disorderly conduct was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Trespassing was reported on Redden Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• A white female was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Panhandling was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Jordan Avenue.

• An assault was reported on King Street.

• A Black female was arrested on Barnett Boulevard. An abandoned vehicle was reported on South Tallassee Drive.

• A fight was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT

FEB. 1

• Domestic violence was reported on Barnes Court.

• Harassment was reported on Hospital Drive.

JAN. 30

• Domestic violence was reported on Milly Francis Street. JAN. 28

• Domestic violence was reported on Red Eagle Drive.

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

JAN. 27

• A suicidal subject was reported on U.S. Highway 231.

JAN. 26

• A death investigation was conducted on St. Thomas Avenue.

S U B S C R I B E

Continued from A1

Later this month the band is doing something it has never done before. It will be something band members will be able to remember for a lifetime.

“The Tallassee High School Band has accepted an invitation to perform at the King Felix III Mardi Gras Parade on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in downtown Mobile,” Glasscock said. “Band members are very excited for the honor of getting to play on the ‘real’ Fat Tuesday in the original home of Mardi Gras celebrations in North America.”

Just like Restoration 49 Dylan built many of the things a customer can see in the shop from materials found in the original building.

“The wood on the coffee bar and many of the tables is from the building,” Dylan said.

“The building was from 1906 and we were able to salvage some of the heart pine from it.” Dylan said he worked on the coffee bar for about a year.

The Daniels weren’t necessarily looking for a second location for their coffee shop but didn’t rule it out either.

LAUNDRY

of the hospital with treatments,” Tonya said.

“When things started looking bad and she wasn’t going to make it, my husband and I decided to purchase the business. We thought about selling it but we didn’t want to see it go, but we wanted to keep it in the family. ”

The purchase from the aunt and Eric’s brother put the business solely in the name of Eric and Tonya Robertson.

Now the husband and wife team have put their touches on the business and hope to see it grow.

“That was back in September,” Tonya said. “We closed it in October and opened it Jan. 14. We spent that time renovating it, fixing it up and getting new machines. Now we are open again.”

Fourteen new washing machines, up to 60 pounds, big enough to handle the biggest bed spreads, 16 new dryers and a new play area for children waiting on parents to do laundry have been installed.

The new machines take only quarters for now but Robertson is hopeful to change that soon.

“Technology is coming where the machines can be talked to through an app,” Robertson said. “As business picks up we will be able to pay for a service where customers can pay for the machines through the app.”

Tiger Laundry is located on Gilmer Avenue across from Hardees. It is open from 5 a.m. to midnight seven days a week and has a drop off service from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

While Tiger Laundry is already open again, Robertson said there will be a little celebration later this month.

“We are going to do a grand opening on Feb. 18,” Robertson said.

“The owner of the building approached us,” Dylan said. “He is a really nice guy. We are very blessed to be here.”

Haley said there were other draws to Wetumpka too.

“We have family in Wetumpka,” Haley said. “We have family in Eclectic too.”

Just like in Tallassee, the Daniels are frequently behind the counter working shifts with employees all while trying to connect with customers.

“We are excited to meet the community,” Dylan said.

Haley is hoping for the same success they have had in Tallassee.

“We are only on day one, so we are not sure just yet,” she said. “But I’m sure it is going to be great. It has already been a lot of fun.”

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE

Restoration Coffee House has opened in downtown Wetumpka. Most of the tables and the coffee bar were made by

Alabama making strides in Broadband

If you took a nighttime plane ride across much of the rural South in the early 1900s, you would see nothing but darkness on the ground below because electricity at the time was centered mainly around highly populated areas.

But through federal, state and private sector partnerships, electricity was brought to rural America to light up homes and power the products many of us today take for granted. Life without access to electricity is tough for most of us to even imagine but there was a time not too long ago when many simply did not have it. The same is true today of high-speed internet access. Unfortunately, many homes, businesses, and communities in Alabama and across the country, do not have access to this essential 21st century necessity due to lack of broadband infrastructure — which you can think of as the highway that connects individuals and businesses to internet providers.

STEVE FLOWERS Columnist

of Marshall County and State Representative Randall Shedd of Blount/Cullman Counties deserve accolades for their involvement with this expansion of broadband in our state.

To name a few steps the state has taken, in 2017, Ivey issued an executive order establishing the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) as the state agency to oversee broadband planning and expansion.

Since 2018, Alabama has invested $64.1 million in state funding through grant awards supporting 100 projects through the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund. The state has committed to over $300 million more in state and federal funding for broadband expansion.

network to make statewide broadband service availability a more attainable goal throughout Alabama.

The grantee — Fiber Utility Network — will use existing fiber infrastructure and new infrastructure to create a middle mile network that includes almost 3,000 miles of fiber — including approximately 1,089 miles from electric co-ops, more than 1,000 miles leased from Alabama Power, and more than 500 miles that will need to be constructed.

This is a big deal for the state, as more than 300 Alabama cities and towns with populations of less than 10,000 are within 10 miles of the planned path.

As late as last week, a crowning coup to our broadband expansion occurred when it was announced that the U.S. Treasury has approved $191.8 million to go toward expanding broadband in the state. This grant will connect 55,000 households and businesses to broadband.

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But there’s good news for Alabama. While states across the country are scrambling to build out the infrastructure needed to provide their residences with access to high-speed internet, Alabama is serving as an example of how to do it the right way.

Over the past few years, Alabama has been ambitious — and innovative — in the way that it has set the state up to deal with the buildout of broadband infrastructure. Gov. Kay Ivey, the state legislature and groups such as the Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition, which includes organizations ranging from Alabama Power to the Alabama Hospital Association, deserve a lot of credit for the success the state is currently seeing on broadband. Along with Ivey, State Senator Clay Schofield

In November 2021, ADECA established a new Alabama Digital Expansion Division, which was created through the Connect Alabama Act of 2021. This act also created the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority to work with ADECA to oversee broadband expansion in the state.

In December 2021, ADECA released the Alabama Broadband Map and Alabama Connectivity Plan to guide the state’s efforts and recommend strategies to expand broadband. The map included months of collaborative work and the participation of 57 internet service providers to give a clear and accurate picture of broadband availability in the state down to the address level.

Recently Ivey awarded a multi-million dollar grant to fund a “middle-mile” broadband

Expanding broadband infrastructure so that all Alabamians have access to essential, high-speed internet is no easy task. It takes time, effort, financial investment and the collaboration of both state and local elected officials, private sector groups and others to successfully build out of the infrastructure needed to get Alabamians connected.

I believe that our state leaders and business community have been able to do that and have set up Alabama as a model for how to get it right when delivering broadband access to its citizens.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is a political columnist mainly writing on politics in Alabama. Flowers served 16 years in the state legislature. Flowers may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.

Saint Valentine

Our junior high newspaper called him the “founder of love,” but I wouldn’t go that far — though, perhaps more than most, he practiced what he preached.

We celebrate his day next week on Feb. 14.

Valentinus, known to all as Saint Valentine, lived during the third century way back in the 200s. His name is associated with the tradition of courtly love.

St. Valentine was a priest and later bishop. He was born and raised in Interamna. As it turned out his life would end there as well.

He loved God and His people. He was an advocate of the three magic words asked of us: “love one another.” He was eager to hear and support anyone who was in love.

During the reign of Claudius II, known as Claudius Gothicus, Valentine ran into trouble. In those days, it was illegal to profess Christianity at all.

Valentine, not following governmental instruction, was put into the custody of an aristocrat named Asterius. Legend says that Asterius made the mistake of letting the preacher talk. Valentine went on about the light of Christ and Asterius listened intently as he had a daughter who was blind.

Asterius made a deal with Valentine — if Valentine could cure his daughter of blindness, he would convert to Christianity.

Valentine put his hands over the girl’s eyes and chanted, “Lord Jesus Christ, enlighten your handmaid, because you are God, the True Light.”

The child could see. Asterius and his family were baptized. But the Emperor ordered them to be executed.

Valentine went even further and as a pastor performed wedding ceremonies — which were also illegal. At the time, the emperor proclaimed that there would be no romantic love going on because it weakened the Roman warriors. Thus, no weddings.

This was an odd way to promote military service, especially building the next generation, but I digress.

Valentine ran afoul of these laws and not only preached the Gospel, he actively performed the Sacrament of Marriage for couples who wanted to get hitched. This brought him into direct conflict with government authorities. He was arrested, jailed and tortured.

Claudius took a liking to this prisoner at first — until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor. Infuriated, the priest was condemned to death.

He was beaten with clubs and stones. When that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate (Via Flaminia) on Feb. 14, 269 A.D.

There are relics that survive to this day. In 1836, renowned Irish priest Fr. John Spratt was given a small vessel tinged with Valentine’s blood by Pope Gregory XVI. This reliquary can be seen today in Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin, Ireland.

Other relics of Valentine may be found at Roquemaure in France; Stephansdom in Vienna; Balzan in Malta; and Glasgow, Scotland. His corpse is located at a church in Birmingham, England.

St. Valentine gave his life so others could love — that is a story that should sound very familiar to anyone who has studied Christianity.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Saying Police Reform Doesn’t Work Is A ‘Cop Out’ Answer

You’ve probably come to recognize the names of victims of police shootings: Jacob Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Bell … Wait, who is Michael Bell? If you want to see how this affects everyone and about police reform, please read on.

On Nov. 9, 2004, Michael Bell was shot in the head and killed outside of his home by Kenosha, Wisconsin police officers. He had been partying with friends when he was pulled over and ignored commands to stay in his car.

The officers claimed he resisted arrest and reached for one of the officer’s guns, so lethal force was justified. The family says he was kicked and choked, Tased and eventually shot in the head as he was pinned to his car.

Kenosha refused to prosecute the officers. But the city settled with Michael Bell’s father (of the same name) for $1.75 million if it could admit no wrongdoing or liability.

Bell’s father spent half of that money backing a bill requiring someone outside of the officers of the department themselves to investigate the shooting.

As USA Today reported, Jim Palmer of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association noted a majority of Wisconsin police departments do that. Did I mention Bell is white? That’s

right. That’s not a statement to deny Black lives matter, or to say “All lives matter” when preceded by the word “No” and a comma. All do. But Black lives matter.

The point was to show this isn’t a case of “someone else’s problem” or a belief it won’t happen to you or your child. Just ask Michael Bell’s father, who was a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel. He’s still calling for an outside investigation into his son’s death.

Is this an anti-police column? Just read any of my other articles on this subject. I am a strong supporter of the police, opposing the defund the police movement. Several of my students I’ve taught work for police departments or are officers and investigators. I’ve done a ride along and attended police training. I’ve had our city’s police chief Lou Dekmar (soon to retire) speak to students about police reform, even bringing in Israeli police expert Yitzhak Almog, who helped introduce our department to non-lethal policing tactics. I also respectfully disagree with

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, who said “I don’t know that there’s any law that can stop that evil that we saw that is just, I mean, just difficult to watch,” on NBC’s “Meet the Press” when explaining why he doesn’t support national police reform (though I agree with him that we need to boost recruitment of officers).

But my analysis shows police reform does work. When adopted, they reduce police shootings, often from cutting down on tough arrests for trivial offenses, as noted by Campaign Zero. And they are less likely to occur in urban settings than rural ones. Real statistical progress made between 2014 through 2016 ended in September of 2017 when the Justice Department significantly scaled back a program to help reform police departments, especially on police shootings. So when leaders throw up their hands and say there’s nothing that can be done, that’s a “cop out” answer. Evidence shows police reform works and should be brought back to America.

John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. His views are his own. He can be reached at jtures@ lagrange.edu. His Twitter account is JohnTures2.

Tallassee is more than just a city

When I first came to the area back in 2017, I never expected to stay long-term.

I was trying to escape a bad situation back in Pennsylvania, and to be honest, it was a way out.

But then I got here, and everything changed.

My delivery truck with all my belongings wasn’t set to arrive for another few weeks; all I had was what I could fit in my car — an air mattress, a small TV, some clothes, a DVD player and all seven seasons of “Gilmore Girls.”

That was about it.

Until I met Betsy and Rob Iler at Kenneth Boone’s Easter celebration — my first day in town, and Kenneth still had the kindness to invite me. Betsy insisted I borrow a whole bed from her as her son was away at college; and Rob insisted he deliver it and bring it inside for me.

Woah, I certainly wasn’t

ARBOGAST Managing Editor

in Pennsylvania anymore. I wondered why everyone was so nice. Who were these people?

That’s when I started to learn what I now know to be true: Elmore County isn’t just a rural area. It is a family. Sure, Tallassee — and Elmore County as a whole — has its set of issues. It’s a rumor mill worse than I’ve ever seen; there are cliques and it’s hard to break in as an outsider; sometimes the city and its residents can be our own worst enemy. However, when there’s a tragedy, we rally. When there’s a cause, we support. When there’s a new business in town, we visit. We encourage people to succeed and help those who need it. Just like a family: We may

not always like each other, but we always love each other. (I hated when my mom said that growing up, by the way.)

I say all this for two reasons. First and foremost, I love Elmore County. Especially as an “outsider,” I see just how much potential this area has; I see it in the people and the businesses, in the city organizations working for our residents. I see it all around, and I believe it wholeheartedly. Secondly, I returned to Tallapoosa Publishers for one reason, and one reason only: This is my family.

When Mitch Sneed died, we lost the head of our family. We scrambled; we grieved; we had no idea what we were doing. But we were family, so we forged ahead. We did our best to honor Mitch every single day. And as I somehow sit in his office today (I still can’t wrap

my head around all this), I vow to do that once again. Mitch knew how important local journalism was. It is the lifeblood of a community. It provides checks and balances to our local government; it gives us the opportunity to recognize all the amazing folks in our community; and it keeps citizens informed — no matter what. If you have a question about what’s happening in the community, we will have an answer for you. And if we don’t, we’ll find it. We will write about the good, the bad, the mundane, and everything in between because that’s what Mitch taught us to do. “Mitch Sneed be everywhere.”

That’s what we will strive to do: Be everywhere.

Lizi Arbogast is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

JOHN TURES Columnist

LIZI

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Pet of the Week – Franklin

Franklin is a 10-month-old Husky mix, who weighs about 45 pounds. Franklin is a great dog, but he is a high energy boy — young, all puppy, loves people, and would thrive with a very active owner or maybe as a running buddy. He is good with other dogs, cats and children.

Our 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 completely covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, de-worming, 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 Franklin or any of our pets, our first step is our Adoption Application you can do here: https://elmorehumane.org/adoptionapplication-online-form2.html. Once approved, we will coordinate with you to set up an appointment to meet & adopt. We are located at 255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka, AL, 36092, our phone number is 334-567-3377 and our website is www. elmorehumane.org for more information.

Shelter operation is more

By Rea Cord Executive Director

than just adoptions

Day to day in a shelter like ours is a lot busier and more involved than many people may think.

While the public sees our adoptable pets on-line, what you cannot see is all of the work that has been done to get many of them ready for adoption. Pets coming in injured or debilitated from neglect are sadly a very common occurrence and treatment or help starts the minute they arrive.

If an animal is badly injured or debilitated our first step will be to get it to a supporting veterinarian immediately. A dog that came into us on Saturday with a badly injured foot and went to a vet without delay and is staying in their care. That dog is getting all appropriate care and if no owner comes forward to reclaim, we and the veterinarian of course will see to its needs to help it recover fully. This dog’s recovery is likely to be a month to two or more months and that is just one of many we are often dealing with.

In addition to the dog noted above, we always have others recovering from neglect and issues such as mange, respiratory infections, severe flea and tick infestations, intestinal parasites and poor nutrition. We pretty much always have dogs undergoing heartworm treatment which is why prevention is so important to us.

Long-term neglect is not ‘fixable’ overnight, so it is not uncommon for us to have had dogs or cats a month or more before they are recovered and ready to be placed for adoption.

Too often we receive animals that are terribly underweight from starvation and/or severe intestinal parasites. Re-feeding a starved pet is not just putting food in front of them as they may need multiple small meals during the day to get their recovery safely started. Pets with large internal parasite loads have to be de-wormed carefully so as not to shock their system and then often have to be de-wormed multiple times to finally rid them of their parasites.

Many, many cats and kittens come to us with upper respiratory issues that can be from contagious cat diseases or just bad overall health from poor nutrition, internal and external parasites, and stress.

Goopy eyes and runny noses are more the norm for large numbers of kittens during ‘kitten season,’ and our kitty quarantine area is generally full during those months as we work to help many of these kittens get well enough to be placed for adoption.

What about all of those puppies and kittens too young to be without a mother?

Our staff whips up kitten and puppy meals geared to their needs and that means a lot of goopy foods and dirty puppy and kitten faces needing to be cleaned after they eat throughout the day. That is a lot of puppy and kitten cleaning going on depending on the time of year.

If we have a nursing mother that is able and willing to take on new babies it makes life a lot easier and we are certainly grateful for some wonderful mother dogs and cats who prove to be incredible moms.

Of course, our foster families are unsung heroes as they take on babies to raise until they are ready to find their new homes.

Shelter work is a lot more than just putting food and water down daily. There are medications, vaccinations and parasite preventives to be given, feeding to be monitored, baths to keep them clean, illness/injury issues to be dealt with, exercise to help their physical and psychological health, behavior assessments so that we can help pets and adopters find great matches and lots of documentation to go along with it all.

Spay and neuter surgeries have to be scheduled with all the accompanying paperwork followed by photography sessions so the world can see our wonderful pets online.

Of course, helping a potential adopter meet the pet they may adopt is the goal of all of this work so that we can turn our focus back to all those still coming in so we can start the process all over again.

So, while this is likely our slowest month of the year based on normal statistics, there is truly very little ‘down’ time in a shelter as there is no end to caring for 200 plus pets every day. But no matter the numbers, you can trust that our staff is there to help all that come to us to the best of our ability as we all love animals and work to find them better futures.

Humane Society of Elmore County

Make every day with Jesus better than the last

outcome of conviction.

and keeps me, and He’s the One I’m living for. Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.”

— Robert C. Loveless

Years ago, Sunday School met in a general assembly before dividing into individual classrooms. Each child would go around with those little hands open and

collect money for our penny march which was for the Baptist Children’s Home. Everyone always sang this little chorus as we collected our money. I heard this tune recently and it just “won’t go away.” I was unable to find a lot of information about the hymn but the word impounded upon my heart. Has Jesus been

JACKIE WILBOURN Columnist

sweeter to you every day of your life since you were saved? For some of us that could be decades ago.

Do we actually love Him more and more or is it just something that Christians are supposed say and show no action? Lastly, can we truly say that Jesus saved us?

If so, we know He keeps us.

Have you ever considered that Jesus offers each one of us the “kiss of life” — salvation?

When an individual has to be resuscitated, often we say they are receiving the “kiss of life” because the breath of an individual is blown into the

Tallassee Churches

victim’s lungs. Jesus asked Judas in Luke 22:48, “Are you betraying the Son of Man with a “kiss?”

In Jesus day, a kiss meant something similar to a handshake today. What was a mark of friendship was quickly turned into an act of betrayal. It happens today, in marriages, among friends, between business associates, and even in the church family. Even at just a late moment, Judas could have been forgiven but like Judas, we must confess that we have not been faithful.

Consecration is the natural

Consecration is defined as the action of making or declaring something, typically a church sacred. A conviction is a strong belief or opinion. Make every day with Jesus sweeter than the day before but remember that spare time is not adequate for the study of the scriptures and ministry of the Word, although any time devoted to these activities will be time well spent.

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

Tallassee begins girls soccer program

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Last May, Tallassee soccer coach

Matt Tarpley was approached by three students and asked if he would be interested in coaching a girl’s soccer team at the high school.

He said he definitely would, but the girls would have to find around 20 of their friends to sign up if they really wanted to begin a team. So he taped a piece of paper on a desk and before the day was over, 36 girls had written their names down as interested.

Ironically, none of the original three girls stuck with the team, but plenty of other students were interested. So for the first time in school history, Tallassee will field a girls soccer team with 23 players on the roster.

The Lady Tigers kick off their season on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. against LAMP in a tournament in Montgomery.

“It was crazy,” Tarpley said. “We had a tryout back in October of this year once school got started, and now we have 23 girls on the roster for the first team in school history.

We’ve got a pretty good group of girls and we’re excited. We’re looking forward to it.”

Tarpley is starting the program from the ground up.

Tarpley can count on one hand how many girls on his roster have ever played soccer before in their lives, and even less than that have played on a real team. Most have just played recreationally at church or with friends.

That led to some practices where Tarpley had to teach the team the

Tallassee’s Ellis signs with Butler CC football

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

After four years of starting for the Tallassee football program, quarterback Tyler Ellis has found a home in the college ranks.

Ellis signed his National Letter of Intent to play college football with Butler Community College on Wednesday. He was the only Tallassee player to sign an NLI on National Signing Day.

Butler Community College is located in El Dorado, Kansas, and has traditionally been a powerhouse among junior college football teams. Butler reached out and initially offered Ellis during this football season, and they’ve been in constant contact ever since.

“This feels amazing,” Ellis said. “It’s a great thing to show other people that somebody from Tallassee can do it. The coaches connected well with me at Butler and I really think they can help me get to the Division I football level or higher.”

Ellis has already proven to be a valuable starter at the high school level, and now he hopes to take that to the next level.

He has started almost every single football game for Tallassee since 2019, and he has displayed every skill and trait that a coach can ask out of a quarterback.

He’s also proven to be a winner. He’s had three winnings seasons in four years of starting, and his only losing season came in 2020, the COVID season. During that season, Tallassee had multiple forfeit losses.

Ellis has led the Tigers to the playoffs each of the last two seasons, and he helped Tallassee win a playoff game this fall with

a four-touchdown performance against Selma on the road in the first round.

Ellis has always been a pass-first quarterback, but he showed off his skills with his legs this season. He tallied 942 rushing yards to go with 14 rushing touchdowns this year.

He’ll take all the passing and rushing skills he’s learned over the last four years to Kansas.

“I think I can take a lot of playing time with me,” Ellis said of his skillset. “I’ve played a lot of football so I think that will help me when I get there. They told me that my ability to run is one of the reasons they were looking at me, and I would be one of the first dual-threat quarterbacks they’ve had. That’s nice to hear.”

Ellis is joining a Butler football program that is used to winning just like he is. Since 2017, Butler has had only one full season where the team had less than eight wins in a season.

That was a 1-9 season in 2021, but the team rallied back in 2022 with an 8-4 season. They are coached by Brice Vignery, who just finished his first season as head coach. He has spent the last 11 years with Butler, however, in some capacity. He also played for Butler.

In his 13 years as a player and coach, he has helped lead Butler to a 106-29 overall record with six conference titles and a national championship.

Ellis is excited to get to a program that knows how to win.

“They were ranked No. 9 this year out of all the teams in junior college, and all four of their losses came to teams ranked in the Top 5,” Ellis said.

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

During Friday’s indoor track and field state championship finals, Reeltown’s track team fielded multiple podium placements including two second place overalls by Arthur Woods.

Much of what made Reeltown’s football team so powerful this year was the same reason Reeltown did so well in track and field: the kids are downright fast.

In Woods’ second place 60 meter hurdle meet, he ran a 9.05 split which was a mere .01 seconds behind the first place finisher. A little over one second behind him, placing fifth, was another Rebel in JJ Kendrick.

In the 60 meter dash Woods placed second, coming .03 seconds shy of a first place finish. Only .07 seconds behind Woods was Spain in third place. Competing in long jump, Woods finished third overall. In 11th was Omor Ponds.

As a whole squad, the team put together a second place finish in the 4x200 relay. The relay team came just .22 seconds behind the first place team from Montgomery Academy. The relayers consisted of Woods, Spain, Kendrick and Ponds.

On the girls side of things, Reeltown’s Sandrea Coleman placed eighth overall in the long jump and ninth in the shot put.

“Competing at state was fun,” Woods said. “The team also did great.”

Friday was Spain’s first and final time competing in the indoor track state championship. While Spain mostly focuses on the outdoor track competitions, his time at indoors was more than well spent.

“I was so excited to make state and place for it being my first time,” Spain said. “My track career is going well, if I may say so. I still have outdoor and I am hoping to place in state again.”

While Spain probably considers himself a football player above all else, being able to compete in track and show off the speed he possesses is actually what pushes him to not only do well on the track, but also in football and basketball.

See SOCCER, Page B2

SUMIITED THE TRIBUNE

Tallassee will field a girls soccer team for the first time in school history this season.

SUBMITTED THE TRIBUNE

Reeltown’s Arthur Woods, left, and Connor Spain, right, pose with their medals from the 60-meter hurdle race at the AHSAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday.

COURTESY PHOTO | THE TRIBUNE

Tallassee’s Tyler Ellis, a four-year starter at quarterback for the Tigers, has signed a National Letter of Intent with the Butler Community College football team.

Elmore County Community Calendar

NOW - FEB. 18

HOLLYWOOD, NEBRASKA:

The Wetumpka Depot Players will be premiering HollYwood, Nebraska by Kenneth Jones Feb. 2-18.

FEB. 16

COFFEE MEETING: The Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce is holding a Rise and Shine Coffee and Conversation at CB&S Bank from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Feb. 16.

FEB. 18

MARDI GRAS: The Order of Cimarron is hosting the 2023 Wetumpka Mardi Gras and Festival. Vendors will be in Goldstar Park starting at 9 a.m. and the parade starts at 1 p.m.

FEB. 23

CRATER TOUR: Auburn University professor of geology Dr. David T. King will give a lecture on the Wetumpka Crater at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Wetumpka Civic Center.

FEB. 25

CRATER TOUR: Guided tours of the Wetumpka Meteor Crater are being hosted by the Wetumpka Impact Crater Commission Saturday, Feb. 25 at 8:25 a.m., 9:55 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children over 10. Payments can be sent to 408 S. Main Street Wetumpka and checks

TRACK

Continued from B1

“The things I like about track is just that it’s something I’ve started to really enjoy and it’s a time I can show my athleticism,” Spain said. “It’s also giving me the courage to really train to play sports in college.”

As for Woods, he still has a full year to improve and potentially bring some more first place hardwear

made out to the Wetumpka Crater Commission. The tour starts at Trinity Episcopal Church.

MARCH 11

SPRING FESTIVAL: The Tallassee Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual spring festival March 11 on the grounds of Tallassee City Hall.

MARCH 20-25

BEAUTIFUL TABLE

SETTINGS: May Eason is bringing back the Beautiful Table Settings Bash March 20-25 at the Wetumpka Civic Center in two different sessions.

APRIL 15

COOSAPALOOZA: Main Street Wetumpka is hosting the 2023 CoosaPalooza Brewfest from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 15.

APRIL 22

DOWNTOWN ART SHOW: Don Sawyer is hosting a Downtown Artists Art Show in downtown Wetumpka Saturday, April 22.

ONGOING

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME:

After more than a year long hiatus, Preschool Storytime has resumed at the Wetumpka Public Library. The first story time was held on Friday, May 14, and will take place every Friday at the library at 10 a.m.

ECLECTIC TOWN COUNCIL

back.

“I am proud of myself for placing second in my events, but I think I can improve the way I come out of the starting blocks so I can get a little bit more of a lead,” Woods said.

Spain and Woods both said that bonding with their teammates, especially on the bus rides home, are what they will remember fondly outside of just running and jumping.

For Spain, seeing how his teammates and himself have grown and improved was special in his final months as a Rebel.

“I would say the best memories I’ve made is probably getting to run with my friends and teammates and the bus rides to the meets and just getting closer and seeing all the work everyone puts in to be the best they can be,” Spain said.

SOCCER

Continued from B1

complete basics of soccer. He taught the girls what a throw-in is, what a corner kick is, and what a goal kick is. He even had to teach the girls what part of their foot to kick the ball with. But despite the lack

MEETINGS: Eclectic Town Council meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at Town Hall. Council meetings begin at 7 p.m. with work sessions taking place prior to the meeting at 6 p.m. Meetings are held in the Dr. M. L. Fielder Municipal Building, 145 Main Street.

NAACP MEETINGS: The Elmore County Branch No. 5026 of the NAACP meets at 6:30 p.m. every third Tuesday (executive committee) and every fourth Tuesday (full membership) at the Martin Luther King Center at 200 North Lancaster St. in Wetumpka.

LIVING WORD: You belong here. You and your family are always welcome here. We are located at 1826 Kowaliga Road Eclectic, across from the Dollar General. Call 334-4920777 for more information.

OPEN MIC: The Equality Performing Arts Center hosts an open mic jam session from 7 to 9 p.m. every second Friday of the month at 560 Highway 9 in Equality. There is no charge but donations are welcome as they keep the center running. Bring a snack or finger food to share during the intermission.

RED HILL COMMUNITY

CLUB MEETINGS: Red Hill Community Club Meetings are held every second Monday of the month. Join the Red Hill Historical Preservation Association in the auditorium of the Old Red Hill School, located off state Route 229 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss upcoming events.

of experience, he said the girls have enjoyed learning the sport.

“We will certainly take our lumps this year,” Tarpley said. “We’re really starting at ground zero with this group. We’re teaching basic rules and basic fundamentals. It’s enjoyable and it’s stressful, but I think the girls are having a good time. I think they enjoy being a part of a team.”

Tarpley is a believer of always telling his teams the truth, even if it’s a hard truth to tell. So he didn’t shy away from sitting his girls down and telling them that they’re going to have some hardships this season. On Friday, the team will play its first ever game against LAMP. They then move on to face Booker T. Washington on Saturday before another match with Brewbaker Tech on Saturday.

By Saturday night, Tarpley believes his girls will have a better idea of what soccer is like in the state of Alabama and what varsity girls soccer looks like.

When that happens, he is hoping it doesn’t break the girls’ spirits and they return to practice on Monday looking to continue improving.

“I will never lie to my team, even if the truth hurts,” Tarpley said. “I’ve told them that they’re in for a very rude awakening. This weekend will be the girls first game ever, and they’re playing LAMP, which is already an established program. We have three really tough games against schools who have been playing soccer for years.”

SUBMITTED | THE TRIBUNE

Reeltown’s 4x200 relay team poses with its second-place medals from the AHSAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday.

Lake River & Classi eds

Opportunities

Job Opportunities

Job Opportunities

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If you are interested, please contact Allegiance Staffing Alex City Branch at 256-329-3477 for more information or apply online at www.allegiancestaffing.com.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!!

Need to Place an Ad? Call 256-277-4219 for more information.

HIRING The Alexander City Housing Authority is currently accepting applications for •Groundskeeper •Lead Groundskeeper Required application and detailed job description can be obtained at the ACHA Central Office located at 2110 County Road, Alexander City, AL or can be downloaded from www.alexcityhousing.org

Adams Health & Rehab Now Hiring for the Following:

•Part time Licensed Beautician •Infection Control/ Treatment Coordinator RN (Monday-Friday) Sign-on Bonus

Company paid Infection training Competitive Pay

Adams Healthcare 256-329-0847 ask for Jennifer Kittrell, DON Put your ad here call 256.414.4250 Looking for a home?

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

Notices

Pets & Livestock

Domestic Pets

Business

Transportation

Rentals

Apartments

professional office or medical space. Call (240)815-4172!

Reeltown Elementary teacher wins Tallapoosa County Teacher of the Year

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia reporter

The day begins with passing out papers onto each student’s desk. It’s still too early for kids to be in the classroom, but the teache rs are already there — preparing.

“It’s not just teaching a set of standards or teaching somebody how to read,” Reeltown third-grade teacher Hilary Rasmussen said. “It’s actually teaching them about life.” Rasmussen recently won 2023 Tallapoosa County Teacher of the Year, and she said finding out she won was shocking to say the least.

“I teared up. I was just in awe because there’s so many people there that deserved it, all the teachers in the county, we work really hard,” she said.

Removing some tears from her eyes, Rasmussen said this is a job that you need support to do. Although she won the award individually, she credits a lot of it to her team — from her fellow third grade teachers to administration support.

Rasmussen teaches both reading and social studies, using multisensory activities and sometimes involving technology like learning apps. However, she also winds up having to teach students the mundane things like navigating friendships.

During an average school day, Rasmussen generally teaches the whole class a lesson first. Then the kids break up into small groups, and she goes around targeting specific skills each group needs help with.

“You just have to carve out time because you want them to come to school,” Rasmussen said. “You want those experiences for them because they need to be in charge of their learning and if they’re excited, then they’re going to be in charge of it.”

Her classes also do activities like Kahoot, independent work with worksheets and group work so the students can learn from each other.

Rasmussen said this is such a formative time with reading specifically because third grade tends to be the “make it or break it point” for many students.

“Learning to read is just such a fundamental skill,” she said. “If they can’t learn to read, it’s gonna be really hard for them to get past anything in life. We’re really hit -

ting that last foundational skill.” While Rasmussen has found her path with teaching, it’s not where her profession started. Prior to becoming a teacher two years ago, she worked at the sheriff’s department and at the Alabama Sheriff’s Girls Ranch.

Working in other professions, Rasmussen saw some of the consequences of a poor education, and she no longer wanted to be on the sidelines saying what education should be. Instead, she wanted to be part of the solution.

“I think I’ve just been running from the profession my whole life,” she said. “I just wasn’t ready to say, ‘OK, this is what I want to do.’

It was around the pandemic she realized teaching was something she

needed to do as the field of education was changing vastly.

At the end of the day, Rasmussen said it’s about being there for the students.

“It’s all about building relationships with the kids,” she said. “I think that’s why I’ve been successful is that I have been able to build a relationship and not all relationships are going to be amazing relationships. It’s just that I’ve gotten to know that child and I know how to get them motivated… I can’t force them to do the work, but once they buy into their education, they buy into the school. They want to do it then.”

The Tallapoosa County Teacher of the Year award was presented during the Jan. 23 Tallapoosa County Board of Education meeting.

ABIGAIL MURPHY THE TRIBUNE

Hilary Rasmussen, third grade teacher at Reeltown Elementary School, won Tallapoosa County 2023 Teacher of the Year.

County basketball teams battle for playoff spots

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Elmore County boys basketball team has already clinched a playoff berth, and now the Panthers are fighting to host in the first round.

Elmore County, which swept through its area opponents in the regular season this year, is the No. 1 seed in the AHSAA Class 5A, Area 6 basketball tournament this week.

With the area featuring only three teams and Elmore County having earned the No. 1 seed, the Panthers were given a bye in the first round and advanced directly to the championship game at 6 p.m. Friday night.

That means the Panthers are guaranteed to be one of the top 2 seeds and have already clinched a playoff berth. If the Panthers win Friday, they’ll host a sub-regional game. If they lose, they will travel in the playoffs.

Elmore County awaits the winner of the No. 2 and No. 3 seed, which is Marbury and Holtville, respectively. They play at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Holtville and Marbury have faced off twice this season, and Marbury has come out on the winning side both times. Marbury won the first matchup, 73-59, then won the second game two weeks later, 80-63. Holtville will need a big game if the Bulldogs want to see their season continue.

Elmore County went 2-0 against both Holtville and 1-1 against Marbury in the regular season. Against Holtville, Elmore County won by a combined 31 points, with the closest game being a nine-point victory.

The Panthers beat Marbury, 82-76, before dropping the second matchup against the Bulldogs by 16 points.

On the girls side of the bracket, Marbury earned the No. 1 seed and has already clinched a first round bye and playoff berth.

In the first round game, No. 2-ranked

Holtville hosted No. 3 Elmore County at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Find coverage online at www.thewetumpkaherald.com.

The Holtville girls are in the midst of the best season in school history. The Lady Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 26-4 overall record, shattering their school record for wins in a single season (12). Two of those 26 wins have come against Elmore County this season, and neither game was a close matchup.

Holtville won the first game between the rivals, 46-15. Just eight days later, Holtville won again, 55-26.

CLASS 5A, AREA 7

Both Tallassee teams are fighting for a playoff spot. The Tallassee girls earned

the No. 3 seed after securing only one area win during the regular season.

Tallassee traveled to Beauregard on Monday night, with the winner advancing to the area championship. Beauregard won both matchups against Tallassee this season, but the Lady Tigers are playing much better as of late.

In the first matchup Jan. 13, Beauregard won 51-17. On Jan. 27, Tallassee lost again, but this time by only six points. During the last week of play, Tallassee went 1-2, but all three losses were big improvements from earlier in the season.

On the boys side of the bracket, Tallassee earned the No. 2 seed and hosted Beauregard on Tuesday night. The Tigers had no issue with Beauregard during the

regular season with the closest game being a 19-point win.

Tallassee beat Beauregard both times, 70-39 and 54-35. The Tigers have also won six of their last seven games to end the regular season.

CLASS 6A, AREA 3

The rivalry between Stanhope Elmore and Wetumpka reached new heights on Monday night. In the Class 6A, Area 3 girls tournament, Stanhope Elmore earned the No. 3 seed while Wetumpka earned the No. 2 seed.

That means the two rivals faced each other on Monday at Montgomery-Carver High School, with the winner advancing to the championship and the playoffs and the loser being eliminated. The Wetumpka and Stanhope girls have played three times this regular season, twice in area play and once in the county tournament.

Wetumpka has won all three times, and they’ve all been decided by 12 points or less. Their most recent matchup was Jan. 21, and Wetumpka won, 58-46. In that win, Emily Smith hit six 3-pointers to help the Lady Indians.

On the boys side of the bracket, also hosted at Carver, Wetumpka is the No. 4 seed while Stanhope Elmore is the No. 3 seed. Both teams are fighting for a playoff spot.

On Tuesday, Stanhope Elmore faced Sidney Lanier. The two teams split the regular season series, 1-1, with both teams winning on their home court.

Stanhope won at home, 72-68, before losing on the road, 60-29, in a game where head coach David Cochran said his team never got off the bus.

Following that game, No. 4 Wetumpka faced No. 1 Carver. Wetumpka lost both regular season games against Carver, and neither game was closer than 17 points.

Carver beat Wetumpka, 69-52 and 87-41 this year. It’s a win or go home situation for both Stanhope and Wetumpka boys.

DALTON MIDDLETON THE OBSERVER

Payton Stephenson and the Elmore County boys basketball team have already clinched a playoff berth. They await the winner of Holtville and Marbury in the AHSAA Class 5A, Area 6 basketball tournament.