City of Wetumpka sued for civil rights violations in cat case
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Holtville High School basketball coach
By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
Beverly Roberts and Mary Alston filed a federal lawsuit last month against the City of Wetumpka and others following their June 2022 arrest for criminal trespass for trapping cats.
The lawsuit claims the defendants violated Alston and Roberts’ First, Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for loss of reputation, mental anguish, emotional distress and economic loss.
“They violently handcuffed Ms. Roberts, an 86-year-old woman, and Ms. Alston, a 61-year-old woman, aggressively forced them into a police car and then unjustifiably jailed them,” the lawsuit states. “They did so under the color of state law, based on a patently absurd, obviously pretextual assertion that Ms. Roberts and Ms. Alston were ‘trespassing’ on public property.” Alston and Roberts were found guilty of criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and obstructing government operations in Wetumpka’s municipal court in December 2022. The women appealed the verdict to circuit court. But before a jury trial, all the criminal charges against both women were dismissed by the city. The suit lists the city, Mayor Jerry Willis, police chief Greg Benton, assistant police chief Ed Reeves, and police officers Kameron
Franklin
tim’s
ed Wilson’s phone as
“You could see a conversation between the two,” Franklin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
Three Peat
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Chamber holds luncheon welcoming members
By Cliff Williams
The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board members for the first time in a while Thursday.
The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gatherings but the chamber celebrated the successes of business in Wetumpka.
“We haven’t been able to do this for the last couple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your attendance is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each
See CHAMBER, Page A3
Wilson was released on a $6,000 bond 90 minutes after turning himself in according to the Elmore County Jail website.
Dennis said Wilson also coached other sports at Holtville schools including being the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Edgewood girls stomp Sparta for AA championship
Girls basketball in the AISA runs through Edgewood Academy, and that couldn’t prove truer than it did Friday afternoon.
Police continue investigation,
For the third consecutive year, Edgewood Academy claimed the AISA Class AA state championship. The Wildcats beat Sparta Academy, 46-28, in the Multiplex at Cramton
luncheon.
CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20.
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.
According to Wetumpka police chief Greg Benton, this was not a random shooting.
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Edgewood
“This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.”
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
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
Staff Report
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
The Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) named Holtville High School principal Kyle Futral the 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year.
The building is 100 years old. Its bricks and floors were made by students at Tuskegee Institute. It was the largest Rosenwald School in Elmore County. Its displays contain local Black history.
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.
It houses the largest collection of Black obituaries in one place in the Deep South outside Atlanta. It is home to a community lynch
ing documentation project. This place is the Elmore Coun
See SHOOTING, Page A3
“Kyle Futral is an exceptional principal and is very proactive and innovative in his thinking and approaches to managing his school,” Dennis said, As principal of Holtville High School, Futral has transformed the school culture from that of a school struggling with low morale, achievement and attendance to a school that strives for excel lence. By collaborating with staff, many of the school’s issues were identified and addressed. Futral’s leadership style of listening, en couraging, supporting, organizing and challenging the staff and stu dents, 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 per cent increase in ACT proficiency in the last five years.
See PRINCIPAL, Page A3
WILSON
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town”
Meet the Candidate: Jason Britt
NAME: Jason Britt
PARTY: Republican
POSITION RUNNING FOR: Elmore County Probate Judge
BIO: I was raised in Elmore County and educated in the Elmore County Public School system. After graduating from Wetumpka High School, I received my Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of West Alabama, my Juris Doctor degree from Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, and my Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Taxation, magna cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law. I am a private practice attorney in Wetumpka at Stone & Britt, LLC, and I serve as a special probate judge for Elmore County. Additionally, I serve our country as a member of the Alabama Army National Guard.
I am married to Allison Britt, and we are the proud parents of two children – Ashley and Noah. My family and I attend New Home Baptist Church in Titus, Alabama, and are committed to our community.
WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE?
I am interested in running
Obituaries
CLYDE ARTHUR LEWIS
Clyde Arthur Lewis, Jr passed away peacefully on January 24, 2024, in his home in Wetumpka, AL. Mr. Lewis was born on October 26, 1943, in Manhattan, NY to Clyde Arthur Lewis, Sr. and Cora Cole Lewis. He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years Diane Lewis, two daughters Jennifer Cooper and Corey Ballard, a son, Clyde Arthur Lewis III, his sister Laurie Strickler
for the position of Elmore County Probate Judge because I can effectively serve the citizens of Elmore County because I have the education, experience, and temperament for this position. As a practicing attorney, most of my law practice is devoted to this area of law, and it has allowed me to obtain an in-depth knowledge of probate law. Elmore County needs someone experienced who can step into this position and make a seamless transition from one administration to the next. I stand ready on day one to accept and execute the duties of this office.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS OFFICE’S ROLE?
As it currently stands, the probate court has three primary functions (judicial; custodian of public records [real estate documentation, marriage documentation, and notary public documentation]; and serves as the county’s chief election officer. Out of all these functions, the office’s judicial function is its most important role because
of Littlestown, Pa, eight grandchildren, Callie, Ruthann, Nova, Addie, Will, Camille, Coralee, and Safina as well as two great-grandchildren, Kylan and Rylan.
Mr. Lewis attended college at Stetson University as well as Rutgers. He had a long career at Nissan of North America where he oversaw service departments in several regions. After leaving Nissan, Mr. Lewis eventually opened
DR. ERIC JONATHAN JENKIE
Dr. Eric Jonathan Jenkie, 49, of Tuscumbia, AL passed away on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. A memorial service will be held at Colbert Memorial Chapel at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 11, 2024. There will be a 2nd Memorial Service Friday, February 16, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Gassett Funeral Home in Wetumpka, AL with the burial in Pleasant Hill Baptist Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Giovanna Jenkie of Tuscumbia; daughters, Anika Jenkie, Lila Jenkie, Käthe Jenkie, and Talia Jenkie; sister, Laurie Anderson Nebraska and Christy Stuart (Jonathan) of Eclectic; parents, Ronald and Diane Jenkie of Wetumpka; in-laws, James and Dia Witherington of Eclectic and Yovany Castillo of Canada; aunts and uncles, Lauralee Thompson, Denise Crapo, Suzanne Holtz, and Russell Vogel.
it is the most requested service of the court, and it is where the probate judge declares the rights, status, and other legal relations of the parties before it.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES YOU BELIEVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS FACE?
My constituents' most significant issue is how to navigate the court system. Not all probate processes are easy. Sometimes, people must go through challenges through no fault of their own or because some issues unexpectedly develop during the course of probate. My office will stand ready to provide responsive customer service to reduce confusion and provide the customer service the citizens of Elmore County deserve.
HOW DO YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS?
My education, well-rounded experience, and temperament are what sets me apart. This venue will allow me to use my talents to serve the citizens of Elmore County and make it a better place for my family and yours. I believe I’m the right choice for the future of Elmore County.
his own golf cart business known as "Clyde's Carts". Known for his considerable skill with fixing anything. Mr. Lewis became well known for his abilities, quick wit, interesting stories, and genuine care regarding all of those around him.
Mr. Lewis was an avid fisherman, dog lover, and home chef. He will be missed by all as he cultivated many lasting relationships. A cel-
God is so good and throughout our lives he has lead us. Word of a pregnancy in 1974 brought delight to our souls. Eric Jonathan Jenkie born October 14th. Sweet blue-eyed 9 Ib baby boy. He was the perfect addition to this camping family. We traveled all over Europe and England. His two sisters Laurie 8 years at the time and Christy 5 at the time were delighted to play with their baby brother. Military life for us in Germany was amazing. We lived on "the hill" which was filled with WWII history. We were privileged to live there 4 years. It was time to go home in 1976- the Bicentennial. What a celebration! It was snowy in Michigan and Eric was sledding with his cousins. Unfortunately, he ended on
ebration of life will be held later in the year to honor his memory and spread his ashes as he directed. In leu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the following: American Cancer Society at www.donate.cancer. org Humane Society of Elmore County at www. elmorehumane.org Lakes and Rivers of Alabama at www.alabamarivers.org
the bottom of a pileup and a broken tibia. He was casted for a long time. He had a life-long love for sports especially soccer and baseball. Graduated from Jeff Davis and headed to Auburn to study Geology, where he met his wife, Giovanna. They were married soon and headed to University of North Alabama for enrollment in Biology. He graduated in three years and worked in a lab afterwards. After a year he felt God calling him to Medical School. He enrolled Virginia VCOM and in fours was finished. While in school four beautiful daughters were born to them...Anika, Lila, Käthe, and Talia. Residencies and Fellowship finished his medical training. The Lord led them to the Shoals at Helen Keller Hospital. After about a year he fulfilled his dream of opening his own private practice called 1Life, neurology center. Eric Jenkie, D.O.
JENKIE
BRITT
Two granted parole in Elmore County crimes
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
A Tennessee woman will be released from Tutwiler Prison on parole. A Montgomery man is being released while an Alabama man was denied parole this week. All three committed crimes in Elmore County. The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles approved the release of Julia Michelle Horton, 45, of Dickson, Tennessee.
Police Reports
WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT FEB. 5
• Domestic violence was reported on Autumnwood Village.
FEB. 4
• Domestic violence was reported on Chapel Road. Feb. 2
• Forgery and theft was reported on U.S. Highway 231.
TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT FEB. 11
• A domestic dispute was reported on Rickey Lane.
• Gunshots were reported on Upper River Road.
• A noise complaint was reported on John Street.
• Burglary was reported on Stroud Street.
• Trespassing was reported on Gilmer Avenue. FEB. 10
• An animal bite was reported on First Avenue.
• A stolen vehicle was reported on Stroud Street.
• An animal complaint was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Assault was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Reckless driving was reported on Highway 229.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Highway 229.
• An animal complaint was reported on Ashurst
According to court records Horton pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in Elmore County in Feb. 2023 and was sentenced to 60 months in prison. She
Avenue.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Suspicious activity was reported on Iris Street.
• Property damage was reported on Ralph Bunchie Street.
• Harassment was reported on Power Avenue. FEB. 9
• A verbal altercation was reported on Hillcrest Street.
• Debris was reported in the roadway on North Ann Avenue.
• A private property motor vehicle accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Jordan Avenue.
• A white male was arrested on Freeman Avenue.
• Harassment was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Theft was reported on First Avenue. FEB. 8
• A domestic incident was reported on North Ann Avenue.
• A juvenile complaint was reported on Laurel Street.
• Assistance was given to medics on Macedonia Road.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on South Tallassee Drive.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
was arrested in March 2020 by the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.
According to minutes of the parole board’s hearing, conditions were placed on Horton’s release. She must wear a GPS ankle monitor and complete Celebrate Recovery, a mental
• A suicidal subject was reported on Washington Circle.
• A white female was arrested on Robertson Drive.
• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.
• A Black female was arrested on West Butler Street.
• Animal control was requested on Second Avenue.
• Harassment was reported on Freeman Avenue. FEB. 7
• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Highway 229.
• Suspicious activity was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Criminal mischief was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• An animal bite was reported on Thelma Drive.
• Harassment was reported on Hillcrest Street.
• A domestic incident was reported on West Gantts Mill Road.
• A white male was arrested on U.S. Highway 231.
• Theft was reported on Ashurst Bar Road. FEB. 6
• Suspicious activity was reported on Third Avenue.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Wallahatchee Drive.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Oak Heights Road.
• Harassing communica-
health followup and a drug assessment.
Jarvarus Rayshau Williams, 33, pleaded guilty in July to first-degree possession of marijuana, resisting arrest and attempting to elude. Williams was arrested in August 2021 by the Millbrook Police Department. As part of his plea agreement, charges of certain persons forbidden to carry a pistol, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing government
tions was reported on Quail Crossings.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Willow Street.
• Reckless driving was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• An animal complaint was reported on Main Street.
• A juvenile complaint was reported on Friendship Road.
• A domestic dispute was reported on Worthington Circle.
• Harassing communications was reported on Barnett Boulevard.
• Littering was reported on Kent Road.
• A Black male was arrested on Peachtree Street.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Jordan Avenue.
operations were dropped.
Williams was convicted in Montgomery County in 2014 for trafficking cocaine and possession of marijuana.
According to minutes from Williams’ parole hearing, his family spoke in favor of his release.
As conditions of parole, Williams must wear a GPS ankle monitor and complete the Parole Reentry Education Program. Willie James Jefferson,
FEB. 5
• Suspicious activity was reported on Friendship Road.
• A welfare check was conducted on Seventh Street.
• A white male was arrested during a traffic stop on Macedonia Road.
• A domestic incident was reported on Washington Street.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Neptune Drive.
• Suspicious activity was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Riverside Court.
• Animal control was requested on Washington Street.
• A motor vehicle accident was reported on Central Boulevard.
70, was denied parole.
According to court records, he is serving a life sentence after a 1985 murder conviction in Perry County. He was convicted of promoting prison contraband in 1999 while incarcerated at a state prison in Elmore County.
He is currently incarcerated at Red Eagle Work Center. Jefferson’s next parole hearing will be in 2029.
• Assistance was given during a medical call on Hillcrest Street.
• A suspicious person was reported on Little Road.
• Theft was reported on Macedonia Road.
• An animal bite was reported on Washington Street.
• Assistance was given during a medical call on Hillcrest Street.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Third Avenue. FEB. 4
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Hillcrest Street.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Third Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on South Tallassee Drive.
HORTON JEFFERSON WILLIAMS
Page A4 • February 14, 2024
Super Bowl is the pinnacle
As the words of the national anthem were sung Sunday, tears started streaming down the face of Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones.
He may have been crying about the beauty of Reba McEntire’s voice singing those words we all know by heart, or he may have been crying at the sheer magnitude of the moment.
GWIN Managing Editor
State Senate Leads
Last week, we discussed the Alabama House of Representatives and highlighted the leaders in the House. This week, we will talk about the prominent members of the very powerful Alabama State Senate.
To begin with, the State Senate is made up of 35 members. The body is overwhelmingly Republican. There are 27 Republicans and a mere eight Democrats. This qualifies for what is called a super majority Republican State Senate.
Our Alabama Constitution is very antiquated and rests all power, even local power, in the legislature. That means that an inordinate amount of legislative time is spent on local legislation. Passing local legislation is not a major problem for legislators from rural and smaller counties. However, that is not the case for Alabama’s most populous county, imperial Jefferson.
The state’s largest county is very diverse and therefore this legislative delegation is diverse and divisive.
What’s
your
It has been my observation over the last 60 years that Jefferson County has had internal fights over their local issues, and it spills over onto the floors of the House and Senate. During my 16 years in the legislature, it was not unusual for an entire legislative day to be consumed while we watched Jefferson County legislators embroiled in an intense debate over whether alcohol could be served on Sunday in their county, while very important state issues languished. For the first time in my memory, two legendary Jefferson County State Senators, Jabo Waggoner and Rodger Smitherman, have forged a bipartisan working relationship that has made for a harmonious working partnership for the good of Jefferson
Opinion?
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The Super Bowl does that to people. It’s the pinnacle of so many people’s careers. Everyone knows it’s the championship of the NFL. It takes hard work, determination, a whole lot of skill and a little bit of luck to get there. It’s the game everyone wants to play, and every fan wants to have a rooting fight. Everyone knows the magnitude of the game, but the magnitude of the moment on people’s careers is really something to think about.
Usher is mostly irrelevant these days. He still makes great music, but his star power isn’t as large as it once was. Until Sunday night, that is.
He blew the house down with guest stars like Lil Jon, Ludacris and the always lovely Alicia Keys. These artists put on a show for the
ages on the biggest stage they’ll ever have. Not only is it a soldout show with artists like Beyonce and Jay Z and actors like Paul Rudd and Blake Lively — even Martha Stewart, Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga were all in the house — it’s one of the biggest worldwide television events ever.
I’d be remiss to write a Super Bowl column without at least mentioning the queen of football herself this year, Miss Taylor Swift.
People have got to stop with the Taylor Swift hate; it’s so unbecoming.
Just like so many others attending the Super Bowl, Taylor Swift has reached the pinnacle of pop, the top of her career and she deserves all the attention in the world. And if Taylor Swift is what made my 9-year-old niece Riley tune in to football this year, then I’m all for it.
People are too protective of their sports fandom in general. So many fans “hopped on the bandwagon” for the Lions this year, and I was here for every single one of them. If you want to root for a sport and it brings you some kind of joy, then I see nothing wrong with that.
Taylor Swift is a true queen. She puts on amazing shows across the globe, gives back endless money to charity and even chugged a beer on the Jumbotron for thousands and thousands of people to see. There’s no reason to hate her. For the briefest of moments when I thought the Detroit Lions might make it to the Super Bowl — there’s always next year — I found a single ticket for the low, low cost of $6,900. It’s not for people like me, clearly. It’s for the people who have made it, and that’s something to truly appreciate.
Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. She can be reached via phone at 434-962-9420 or via email at lizi.gwin@alexcityoutlook.com.
I love the Grammys
Eighteen years ago in The Tallassee Tribune, I wrote a piece called, “I Love the Grammys.” Back then, I had this to say: ‘The Grammys are always different. They are an entertaining throwback to an era where anything was game for the Top 40. Nobody really gets music from one source, much less one radio station or format these days. The Grammys serve as a prime example of how, on rare occasions, all genres of music are joined together once again. I thrill to the mashups seen nowhere else.’ – Michael Bird, Tallassee Tribune “Bird’s Eye View,” February 15, 2006. This year, the 66th annual Grammy Awards may have given us the most entertaining performances in Grammy history – and that’s saying something. I have been so disappointed the past few years at the awards show being an opportunity for artists to showboat about politics, or use the evening as a showcase for the shocking (Sam Smith as Satan, Nicki Minaj possessed, Katy Perry burned at the stake, Lady Gaga emerging from an egg).
What a delightful surprise last week’s Grammys were:
musicians celebrating musicians. I couldn’t believe how good the show was.
The evening began with a celebrated duet featuring Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs. Not only has Combs had a number-one hit with his remake of “Fast Car,” he has made sure that everyone knows it’s a Tracy Chapman song. She first recorded it in 1988 and it was a tremendous success at the time. However, she’s never appeared at the Grammys and has largely stayed out of the public eye since her late ‘90s signature tune “Give Me One Reason” ruled the airwaves.
The reclusive folk singer and the gregarious country star may have made for an unlikely duo, but as soon as the audience realized it was really Tracy playing the familiar guitar lick, the audience at the Crypto.com Arena exploded with applause and admiration. The two trad -
ed verses, with Combs actually appearing to bow down respectfully to Chapman at the end as the glittering audience stayed on their feet. And yet, this was but the beginning. We were treated to stellar performances by Billie Eilish (“What Was I Made For?”); Brandy Clark (“Sister Insecurity”); Dua Lipa (“Houdini”); Fantasia Barrino (“Proud Mary”, a rousing tribute to Tina Turner); Annie Lennox (“Nothing Compares 2 U,” in memory of Sinead O’Connor); Laufey (“From the Start”); Miley Cyrus (“Flowers”, complete with a bunch of real-time ad-libs); Stevie Wonder (duetting with a virtual Tony Bennett on “For Once in My Life”); SZA (“Kill Bill”); Olivia Rodrigo (a cleaned-up version of “Vampire”); and U2 (“Atomic City”, projected onto the Las Vegas Sphere). Billy Joel performed on the Grammys for the first time in 30 years and was the recipient of a lot of love from the audience. He performed his new composition, “Turn the Lights Back On,” complete with a full orchestra. And then, with
See GRAMMYS, Page A5
LIZI
STEVE FLOWERS Columnist
MICHAEL BIRD Columnist
More charges in Millbrook child porn case
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
A Millbrook resident is facing more child porn and child sex abuse charges.
The Millbrook Police Department arrested James C. Mengal, 55, on Feb. 2 and charged him with five counts of possession of child porngraphy.
After sifting through devices seized during a search
warrant at the time of Mengal’s arrest, additional charges have been filed against Mengal. He is now charged with two counts of production of obscene material containing visual depiction of a person under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts and
remembered for may be Joni Mitchell’s.
the sound of breaking glass, pounded out his 1980 classic “You May Be Right”!
However, of all these performances, the one that the 66th Grammy Awards will probably be most
County and the state.
Joni has never been invited to perform at the Grammys. In the past year, however, thanks to admiring friends such as Brandi Carlile, Joni is recording and performing again after learning to walk – and speak –for a third time in her
State Senator Waggoner (R-Vestavia) is the Dean of the Senate. He is one of the most respected and accomplished state Senators in Alabama history. Indeed, he has the longest tenure of legislative service in the history of the state, 50 years. Waggoner also chairs the Senate Rules Committee, which sets the agenda for the Senate.
Waggoner is in an elite leadership group of the Senate, which includes President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper), Education Budget Chairman Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), and General Fund Budget Chairman Greg Albritton (R-Escambia). The new majority leader of the Alabama Senate is Senator Steve Livingston
one count of sex abuse of a child less than 12 years old.
Court documents state images found on Mengal’s devices contain explicit images of children between the ages of 3 and 8.
Millbrook police chief P.K. Johnson anticipates more possible charges against Mengal.
“It is my understanding that there is a tremendous amount of evidence yet to
life. A polio victim as a child, then in more recent years a survivor of both a stroke and a brain aneurysm, the legendary Mitchell has continued to bounce back.
Her performance, with the orchestra, of her career-defining “Both Sides Now,” originally recorded in
(R-Scottsboro). He is well respected and meshes well with Pro Tem Greg Reed.
State Senator April Weaver (R-Bibb/Shelby is doing an excellent job as Chair of the Health Committee. Senator Tom Butler (R-Huntsville) is a veteran legislator and is looked to on health issues, along with Senator Weaver.
Senator Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) is doing excellent work as Chairman of Judiciary. Senator Dan Roberts (R-Jefferson) has become the go to leader on business issues and is a workhorse senator. Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence) is a medical doctor, who is very well liked and respected. He is effective and a good team player.
Senator Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) is doing an excellent job. He is young and has a bright future.
Senator Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) is a quiet, effective leader
be reviewed in this case,” Johnson said. “It would be reasonable to assume that there is a high likelihood that additional charges may be forthcoming.”
The investigation started Jan. 29 and quickly revealed alleged illicit activity was coming from an internet account and phone number believed to be Mengal’s.
Law enforcement conducted a search of Mengal’s resi -
1969, was beautiful and touching. Joni sang it slowly, deliberately, and with more feeling than the first time around. And, she added her own ad-libs to the familiar lyrics. There literally was not a dry eye in the house. Whenever people complain that the good music is gone or
dence seizing multiple devices believed to contain images depicting child pornography.
“Detectives obtained a search warrant for the electronic devices seized during the initial search warrant, which revealed numerous images depicting child pornography,” Johnson said. Mengel is currently in the Elmore County Jail with a $250,000 cash bond available to him.
that it has died, pull up a recording of the 66th Grammy Awards and just enjoy the show.
As Joni sang, “Oh, but now old friends they're acting strange / they shake their heads and say, Joni, you’ve changed / Well something's lost, but something's gained / In
who does not seek glamor, but gets things done. He is head of the Legislative Council for the entire legislature. Senator Andrew Jones (R-Cherokee/Etowah) and Senator Randy Price (R-Lee County) are workhorses for their districts.
Senator Clyde Chambliss (R-Autauga) is a stellar leader in the Senate. He is a favorite of Governor Kay Ivey. Chambliss has been the Sponsor of most of the major legislation including Prisons and Roads over the past few years. Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) continues to be a strong conservative voice for Tuscaloosa. Senator Donnie Chesteen (R-Geneva/Houston) is an outstanding senator. He, like Givhan, is quietly effective. He gets things done for the Wiregrass.
Freshman Republicans Josh Carnley (R-Coffee), Jay Hovey (R-Auburn), and Keith Kelly (R-Anniston) are fast studies and well-liked
CommunityCalendar
THURSDAY, FEB. 15
ACRYLIC PAINTING: Shirley Esco is teaching an introductory course in acrylic painting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at The Art Mill in Millbrook. All skill levels are welcomed and supplies are provided. The cost is $45. To register email danae.morgan@cityofmillbrook-al.gov.
are at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:55 p.m. The tour takes guests to vantage points to view what has been called the best preserved marine impact crater in the world. It costs $25 for adults and $15 for students. Reservations are required by calling 334-567-4637.
THURSDAY, FEB. 29
team players.
Senator Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) is a very likable and effective minority leader. He is aided by the aforementioned Senator Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) as well as respected and revered senate leaders, Senator Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) and Senator Billy Beasley (D-Barbour). Newcomers to the Senate Merika Coleman (D-Bessemer) and Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) have become immediately effective having served previously in the House. The State Senate is full of leaders. See you next week.
Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce will host its Rise & Shine Coffee & Connections event at ASE Credit Union. It will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. April 18 and is an opportunity for local professionals and community leaders to connect. Coffee will be provided.
SATURDAY, APRIL 20
THURSDAY, FEB. 15 - MARCH 2
SPAMALOT: The Wetumpka Depot Players are performing Monty Python’s Spamalot at 7 p.m. Feb. 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, March 1 and 2. There is a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Feb. 25. The comedy is based on the 1975 film and adapted for the stage. Tickets can be purchased at https:// app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=wdp
LOW-COUNTRY BOIL: The Elmore County Pregnancy Center and First Choice are hosting a low country boil benefit at 6 p.m. Feb. 29 at The Eclectic Warehouse in Eclectic. It is a free event but attendees need to register at https://bit.ly/47URxEn.
THURSDAY, MARCH 7
WAR ENCAMPMENT: Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is holding its annual French and Indian War Encampment with demonstrations Saturday, April 20.
SATURDAY, MAY 11
SATURDAY, FEB. 17
LIVING HISTORY SATURDAY: Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is hosting demonstrations of how people lived in the area as settlers began to arrive on Saturday, Feb. 17.
COFFEE & CONNECTIONS: The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce will host its Rise & Shine Coffee & Connections event at Homesouth Roofing. It will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. March 7 and is an opportunity for local professionals and community leaders to connect. Coffee will be provided.
SATURDAY, MARCH 16
SPRING MARKET: Poppy Layne Farm Vintage will be hosting a Spring Barn Market starting at 10 a.m. May 11. Applications are currently available for interested vendors. Email poppylaynefarm@gmail.com for more information. Live music will be featured.
SATURDAY, MAY 18
LIVING HISTORY SATURDAY:
WOMEN’S WORKSHOP: Coosa Jiu Jitsu & Wellness will be hosting an Intentionally Forward Women’s Workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 17 in Wetumpka. The cost is $95 before Feb. 2 and $145 after. Workshop highlights include self defense; cultivating a healthy self-relationship; guided self-reflection activities; and a floral design workshop. To purchase tickets, visit www.stackedintent.com.
DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE: The annual Friendship Fire Department Daddy-Daughter Dance is 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. Food will be served. Tickets are $35 per couple and $5 for each additional daughter. They can be purchased at http://bit. ly/3SxQ4zl.
THURSDAY, FEB. 22
CRATER LECTURE: The Wetumpka Impact Crater Commission is hosting geologist Dr. David King Jr. at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Dr. King will speak about the history of the marine crater in Wetumpka and what Wetumpka was like 85 million years ago.
FEB. 23 - 24
CRATER TOUR: The Wetumpka Impact Crater Commission is holding its annual crater tours Friday, Feb. 23 and 24. On Friday tours are at 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. On Saturday tours
LIVING HISTORY SATURDAY: Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is hosting demonstrations of how people lived in the area as settlers began to arrive on Saturday, March 16.
ANNUAL CHAMBER MEETING: The Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2024 Annual Meeting, ‘The Night A Star Fell,’ from 6 to 10 p.m.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22
BINGO: Paintball 111 in Wetumpka will host a Ladies Only Bingo Night from 6 to 9 p.m. March 22. Tickets are $20 and each bingo card is $1. Doors open at 6 p.m. and bingo begins at 7. Wine is complimentary for women ages 21 and older.
THURSDAY, APRIL 11
MIXER & SILENT AUCTION: Paintball 111 in Wetumpka will be hosting a small business mixer and silent auction from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 11. The proceeds will benefit a charitable organization, and the night is an opportunity to network and unlock potential for business growth. Tickets are $10 per person plus one silent auction item per business. Tickets are for adults only and reserved for small businesses in the area.
THURSDAY, APRIL 18
COFFEE & CONNECTIONS: The
Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is hosting demonstrations of how people lived in the area as settlers began to arrive on Saturday, May 18. ART SHOW: The Wetumpka Downtown Artists will host an art show on Company Street in downtown Wetumpka at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 18.
SUNDAY, JULY 14
MEN’S CONFERENCE: Village Church of Wetumpka is hosting a men’s conference. The keynote speaker is Rick Burgess of Rick and Bubba.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 21
LIVING HISTORY SATURDAY: Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is hosting demonstrations of how people lived in the area as settlers began to arrive on Saturday, Sept. 21.
SATURDAY, OCT. 19
LIVING HISTORY SATURDAY:
Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is hosting demonstrations of how people lived in the area as settlers began to arrive on Saturday, Oct. 19.
NOV. 6-9
ALABAMA FRONTIER DAYS: Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is holding its annual frontier days with demonstrations for school children and parents about life in Alabama as the area was settled Nov. 6-9.
MENGAL
almost wasn’t.
Five years ago, University of Alabama history professor Dr. John M. Giggie was visiting with board members of the Elmore County Black History Museum. He noticed some serious issues.
“The roof was leaking, the floors were filthy,” Giggie said. “There was nothing here.”
Giggie was back again last week, and, as always, bringing university students.
Over the last five years, the floors have been cleaned, walls painted, leaks fixed and new HVAC systems installed — all thanks to a volunteer board of directors and the City of Wetumpka.
“This is the Elmore County Black History Museum,” curator Billie Rawls said. “It is where we house our history of Elmore Countians and world history as well.”
Rawls and others, such as museum board members Winfred Wise, Idell Gill and Yvonne Saxon, once walked the halls as students. But now they serve as teachers to the next generation.
This month, nearly 800 Elmore County fourth graders are walking the halls of the school. The former students served as guides showing what life was like at the school and in the area for Black students and residents before the school closed in 1962 when students were moved to W.B. Doby High School.
“It brings it home to the children,” Elmore County Schools director
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Ricks, Jason Crumpton and Brenden Foster both as city employees and personally as defendants.
“The charges were bogus and the defendants knew this,” the lawsuit states. “The charges were brought maliciously, to harass and embarrass Ms. Roberts and Ms. Alston and to deter them from exercising their right to engage in [trap-neuter-return] and to peaceably assemble on public property.”
In the lawsuit, Alston and Roberts said feral cats were a recurring problem in Wetumpka.
The foundation of the lawsuit started before Alston’s and Roberts’ June 2022 arrest near the Historic Elmore County Courthouse in downtown Wetumpka.
“Willis, Benton and Reeves were angry that they were engaging in the lawful practice of safely and responsibly capturing stray cats and then arranging for the cats’ spaying, neutering and homing,” the lawsuit states.
Wetumpka police officers testified at the December 2022 municipal trial they had warned Roberts she couldn’t come onto Elmore County property for the purposes of feeding or trapping cats well before the June 2022 incident. If she did, an arrest for trespassing was possible,
of elementary schools Amy Harrison said. “It brings relevance to what they learn in the classroom. They will remember this for the rest of their lives. It enhances the pride of their community.”
Saxon told students about home life going back into the 1940s, 30s and before. She said Black residents made many of their own clothes and showed a pedal powered sewing machine in the museum.
“They are eclectic now,” Saxon told the students. “Back then they didn’t have electricity. Can you imagine the leg workout?”
Gill told the fourth graders they were walking through history in the building.
“That is the whole purpose of the museum,” Wise said. “We want to get the kids in here to see things. We just let them roam around. We let them ask questions, we answer them. Seeing the enjoyment on their face makes us happy and all this worthwhile.”
Giggie sees effort from the volunteers to show more than the shocking history of racism.
“You have efforts to create displays of Black domestic life,” Giggie said. “You have a wall of Black veterans. There are very few places in the state like this with this much local Black history displayed.”
Giggie and his team of students have been working on oral histories of some of the oldest Black residents in the area.
“There are so many I have spoken to in this community who, outside their family, have
they testified they told Roberts.
Alston admits in the lawsuit she was on public property in June 2022 waiting for a cat to be captured in a trap. She then saw Willis drive by. Soon after, three Wetumpka police officers told her to leave.
At the municipal trial, officers said they ran Alston’s information through dispatch. She had not been previously trespassed, but told her she needed to leave.
The officers left and they came back. By this time Roberts had joined Alston at the location above the courthouse.
The officers said they knew of the trespass issue against Roberts and had just moments earlier warned Alston. Alston and Roberts were subsequently arrested.
never had their story recorded, much less listened to,” Giggie said.
It also aids in the group’s efforts to find lynching victims from Elmore County. Five years ago, there were five. The number now stands at 23 thanks to information from Rawls and others Giggie and doctoral student Isabella Harrison have spoken to.
“They will tell a story about a body found by the Swayback Bridge,” Giggie said.
“We try to find corroborating evidence but we don’t always find it. Many of these crimes were meant to never be discovered. We still believe they happened. We just lack the normal means of documenting them.”
Giggie and Harrison hope to soon have a interactive map of the locations of the lynchings. Until then, they have drafted a map that is displayed in the museum.
“People are trying to make some corrections to locations,” Harrison said.
The most important part of the lynching documentation project in Elmore County is the biographies they are working on. It is what makes it different from the display in Montgomery at the Equal Justice Initiative.
“Most things on lynchings are when the victims lost their lives and why, but who were they before they died?” Giggie said. “In many ways it is brilliant because most exhibits of this type are why they were killed, not who they were before they were killed. When you center it around the community, you get a
Alston was allegedly denied retrieving her medication as she was being arrested.
After being jailed, Roberts lost consciousness, fell to the floor and hit her head.
“A police officer observed this but did nothing,” the lawsuit stated. “Ms. Roberts was not provided any medical assistance. Ms. Roberts requested to make a phone call, but was denied. She was told that a phone call was a ‘privilege, not a right.’ This is contrary to Alabama Law.”
The lawsuit also alleges police officers delayed filing booking information thus delaying the bonding process.
Alston and Roberts also allege the municipal judge was unfair in December 2022. They say the judge, special city prosecutor and
different kind of memorial.”
The Elmore County Black History Museum is becoming better known outside of Elmore County and small academic circles. Later this month a group from Kentucky is scheduled to visit.
“It is becoming a must stop location because of its significance,” Giggie said. “You can use local history to talk about national events. The movement then begins to make sense.”
Even as new visitors arrive, old visitors will see something new. There will be additions to the obituary collection that has been digitized. There will be additions to the veterans and elected officials in the hall. There will be new displays such as the one for the Bracy family that opened earlier this month and the one planned for the training center later this year.
It all means the future of the museum is healthy.
“It is not meant to be a static display,” Giggie said. “It should be organic that grows with the community.”
court clerk, who are not named in the lawsuit, were joined by Willis and police officers in the clerk’s office for a prayer that was seen, “But out of hearing of the general public.”
“[They were] deprived of a neutral and completely impartial factfinder,” the lawsuit states.
The City of Wetumpka has yet to file a response in the suit. The Wetumpka City Council met for about 10 minutes at its Monday meeting in an executive session for the purposes of discussing pending litigation. It took no action when it resumed its regular session.
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Elmore County fourth graders learned quilts are still made by a group that meets regularly at the Elmore County Black History Museum.The group sits and chats while sewing much like their ancestors did.
Humane Society of Elmore County News
Due diligence done to reunite pets, owners
By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director
One of the most frustrating things for those of us in shelters to read in remarks on lost pets is that “they will be killed’ if taken to the shelter.
That statement just guts each and every shelter staff who comes to work every single day to help animals in need. The very first thing thing we do when a stray is brought by an animal control officer or an individual is to scan it for a microchip, call any number on an ID tag or the vet if a rabies tag, go to our calledin lost reports, and check the oh, so many Facebook pages for lost and found pets.
We do all of this as we are all also pet owners and love nothing more than reuniting pets and owners. We also look at our found reports when we take lost reports to see if we can match up the two and keep that pet from ever coming to the shelter.
Our staff is also quite skilled at sleuthing out owners who have never registered microchips by calling vets, other shelters/rescues, breeders, pet stores, etc.
We cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of keeping your pet’s microchip registration current, especially with good phone numbers. But we also email and send snail mail to try to track down
owners.
Sadly, in most cases where the chip is not current it is because it was never registered in the first place or the pet has been rehomed and the new owner has never updated the chip info. When our pets are adopted, their microchip is registered to the new owner and we will update for that owner if the info changes. And remember – the stray hold time in Alabama for shelters is seven days. Compared to many other cities/areas of the country, seven days is actually a very long time. We are closed only on Sundays and, of course, have a phone, so owners can talk to us if they are out of town or otherwise indisposed. There are costs to reclaiming a pet to be aware of. If an animal is brought in by an Animal Control Officer there are ACO fees pertinent to that jurisdiction ranging from $15-$25 for a first time intake. Those fees do increase if that same animal is brought by Animal Control and can result in a court case if brought in more than three or four times. There are Shelter Boarding fees of $15/day/ animal. And any dog or cat over 12 weeks old that does not have proof of a current rabies vaccination is another $12 so that the owner can take that receipt to a local Vet to have their pet vaccinated for rabies in accordance with Alabama Law.
So, if your pet becomes lost, do not delay calling us at 334-567-3377 to file a lost report and same if you find a pet (and take that pet to a vet or bring it by our shelter so we can scan for a microchip). We too often hear, “Oh we just figured he was out chasing girls, or she would come back in a few days.”
In many instances their pet had been with us since Day 1, but we had no idea who to call when the pet had no collar/tags/microchip. Yes, post on Facebook on your personal page, your neighborhood pages, your next door app, and, for pets lost in Elmore County, to Elmore County Alabama Lost & Found Pets (which we maintain and monitor).
And, very important, a found pet is not the finder’s to just keep or give away as, under law, any finder must do due diligence to find the proper owner. In all honesty this is why it can be best to bring a found pet to your supporting shelter as we do this day in and day out and make sure to validate ownership before a pet is released. And sadly, some people can be, how shall we say – less than gracious about someone finding their pet, so let us deal with those situations at the shelter where we keep the identity of finders, owners and adopters confidential.
Rea Cord is the executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County.
Millbrook’s The Art Mill cultivating success
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
It has been almost two years since Danae Morgan came to Millbrook as the city’s Cultural Arts and Special Events Coordinator. A year after that, Millbrook’s The Art Mill opened its doors. Now, the Millbrook art scene is starting to thrive.
Morgan has been living in Millbrook for years and headed the arts effort at the City of Montgomery’s Armory near the Crampton Bowl.
Coming home to Millbrook has led to a few surprises.
“It has been overwhelmingly successful,”
Morgan said. “We did not imagine this. I knew what it could be in time. I knew Millbrook wanted this, but I had no idea like this.”
Since The Art Mill has opened, it has offered classes in a variety of things. There are lessons from acrylic painting to photography.
“Anything and everything is taught in the building,” Morgan said.
Morgan said she has artists coming in all the time offering to teach or to have gallery showings. Some are from Millbrook, but some Morgan had no clue who they were until they walked in.
“Some live literally across the street,” Morgan said.
Morgan created the arts program at the request of the Millbrook City Council.
“I came in as the special events coordinator,” Morgan said. “I got to talking with the council about what all I had done in my career and they said let’s get art going.”
The city owned the building where The Art Mill is now housed, and Morgan had a plan. She had lived through major renovations with her Millbrook home and saw potential. A year after Morgan started to work in Millbrook, The Art Mill opened.
“It’s been non-stop ever since,” Morgan said. “People are looking for things to do.”
Artist Nancy Cooper teaches a few classes on painting at The Art Mill. Last week it was with homeschooled students, but she also teaches adults.
“I just love it,” Cooper said. “I’m a retired teacher. This gives me a way to still give back.” Artists are always approaching Morgan about space for shows. Currently a mixed media exhibit by Tamara Crutchley is hanging on the walls.
The fenced-in yard offers a green space for art classes and room for children to run off energy during summer camps.
With the development of 17 Springs and the tournaments it will bring, Morgan hopes visitors will find their way to The Art Mill between games.
“This gives everyone a chance to see what we have to offer,” Morgan said. “It will expose residents and visitors to the art scene here in Millbrook. I can see us possibly having a pottery studio to add to what we have here.”
Pet of the Week - Griffie
Griffie is an 8-year old female who weighs about 35 to 40 pounds. She could stand to lose some of those pounds as she is a chunky lady but with the cutest stubby tail. She was adopted from us as a puppy and returned due to her owner’s ill health. Griffie is sweet but nervous being back in our kennels and who can blame her and she is quickly adjusting. She is an indoor lady who is house-trained and good with other dogs and children but afraid of thunder and fireworks. 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 334-567-3377 and the website is www.elmorehumane.org.
Every Elmore County second grader is a super citizen
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Second graders took an oath last week to be the best citizen they can be.
The oath was the conclusion of the Liberty Learning Foundation 10-week program all second graders in Elmore County were a part of at their individual schools.
“It’s part of the super citizen program,” said Libby Liberty, a character in the foundation’s program.
The foundation has many programs centered around creating students who become active in civics with good character. Students learn to be thankful, working with others, public speaking and self confidence.
All county second graders gathered at the Wetumpka High School gym to celebrate and thank those who inspire them. It’s a way to teach students to recognize leaders in the community.
The second graders looked at their own schools and found super citizens to recognize in the celebration.
Coosada second grader Tiran Murray called Title I teacher Lanaye Stokes to the front of the assembly. Murray called Stoke a kind
and gentle person with a soft-spoken voice allowing students to open up.
“You are patient, empathetic,” Murray said. “You have a genuine passion for students. You are the definition of respect for self, respect for others and a respect for property.”
Eclectic Elementary second grader Lily Owenby recognized retired teacher Libbye McGhee.
Owenby said the veteran teacher taught physical education for 30 years and was the 2005 Alabama elementary school PE teacher of the year.
McGhee still volunteers at the school.
“She shares her love of the Lord by starting the Good News Club at Eclectic Elementary,” Owenby said.
Holtville Elementary second grader Ty Grooms honored gifted teacher Rebecca Abrams who has been teaching in Elmore County Schools for 27 years, 22 as a gifted teacher.
“She likes to know students and their interests,” Grooms said. “She gives us something to look forward to.”
Redland Elementary School second grader Emmie
“You are early to work and help us however you can,” Holmes said. “You take the time to talk to us. When we are having a hard time you encourage us.”
Wetumpka Elementary second graders McKenzie Wright and Loumelina Kosaki honored 19th Judicial Circuit Court presiding Judge Bill Lewis. They said Lewis went to the bench in October 2016 and was the first African American to do so in the circuit serving Elmore, Autauga and Chilton counties.
The students thank Lewis for hosting Elmore County Law Day for second graders for the last six years.
“This would not be possible without the help from Judge Lewis,” Wright said. All students took a Helping Hands Pledge promising to help others, to be responsible and to be respectful of others in life.
The program also teaches civics, character, financial literacy, career exploration and personal responsibility to students. The Liberty Learning Foundation has programs for students of all grades.
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Fifth grader Nathan McCord mixes colors at The Art Mill in Millbrook. McCord was learning color theory from artist Nancy Cooper. It is one of many classes offered at the city art center.
Holmes called custodian Lisa Adams to the front of the crowd.
CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TPI
Elmore County second graders cheer after being recognized by the Liberty Learning Foundation as Super Citizens. The program helps teach civic lessons and personal responsibilities.
Wetumpka local brings floral designs to life
By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter
Walking down the aisle there’s one thing that every bride holds — a bouquet of flowers.
Anna Gardner started her business in 2020, the same year she was getting married herself.
She previously took flower arrangement classes in college, where she first fell in love with the art of floral design.
Now, as owner and principal florist of Anna Gardner Events, Gardner travels around the southeast making flower arrangements for weddings.
Although she is based out of Wetumpka, the farthest wedding she has done was in Kentucky, but she also has worked weddings in Georgia, Mississippi and Florida.
“I really enjoy connecting with the bride the most,” she said. “(The bride) is so happy
during her wedding planning process and anything I can do just ease her when she’s stressed out, bring her a little more light throughout her day, that’s my favorite part.”
With any job, the challenges come with figuring out logistics. Sometimes people want flowers on rooftops or over doors. Gardner said she is going to find a way to make that happen for them. With the design process, she added a lot of her inspiration comes from her brides.
“They bring me the best ideas,” she said. “I normally do a venue walkthrough with them. I have a really creative mind, I think, that allows me to visualize what they are wanting and put it into a work of art.”
Gardner enjoys the process of guiding brides through where flowers might look best in the venue or which flowers best incorporate the themes and colors of the wedding. Anna
Gardner Events also does bouquet bars as a vendor for local events. Last month, Gardner was at Clarabelle and Co.'s Galentine's Day event.
While Gardner is busy designing flower arrangements outside of work, her day job is working for the Department of Environmental Management on air pollution control. Gardner said even though she found an unexpected love with floral designs, she still didn’t want to give up engineering.
Gardner got her bachelor’s at Mississippi State University and later went to Auburn University for her master’s in environmental sciences. Even with her career in engineering, Gardner has been in the wedding industry for the past 10 years.
For those looking for florals, be it weddings or other events, individuals can learn more at annagardnerevents.com or call her at 334-399-8275.
Congressman says U.S. needs new leadership
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Gary Palmer believes the country needs to return to its roots.
Palmer represents Alabama Congressional District 6, the new district for Elmore County starting Jan. 1. Palmer has opposition for the seat from Gerrick Wilkins, and both are currently campaigning for the District 6 seat.
Palmer spoke to the Elmore County Republican Party at its annual scholarship dinner and gave a brief update on issues in Washington. He said most of the problems were related to divisive politics.
“It is a tough time in our country’s history,” Palmer said. “We are amazingly resilient people. We’ve gone through tough times. It’s amazing what God does. He raises up the right people at the right time.”
Palmer likened current issues to those in the U.S. in the late 1970s and early 1980s. There was high inflation and high interest rates
“Things were really bad for the country,” Palmer said.
“Homebuilders were leaving the foundations. They couldn’t afford to finish the houses. There was an energy crisis. Military was in shambles. The Soviet Union was in Central America, the Caribbean, central Africa. They had invaded Afghanistan.”
Palmer believes the United States can return to the prominence it found coming out of the Cold War. But the nation has to come together to do it.
He said California has more evangelicals in the country than any other state. Texas is No. 2, but Californians don’t vote in high numbers. Palmer encouraged everyone to get out and vote.
“It is like we are ashamed to admit we have political affiliations,” Palmer said.
“We will talk about Auburn
and Alabama football, but we won’t talk about religion or politics. The time has come and gone for that. We have got to stand together as a people around common values.”
Palmer said he was helping former President Donald Trump craft campaign policy.
“I believe he is the guy to get things done,” Palmer said. “I don’t think Russia would have invaded Ukraine. Because Putin would have thought he would have bombed the Kremlin.”
Palmer is a historian and reflected on the early 1980s as Pope John Paul II was set to visit communist Poland.
He said the Soviet thought about having the Pope assassinated.
“Instead they filled the Polish schools with atheism and tried to muzzle the Polish media,” Palmer said. The Pope journeyed to the Communist Bloc and was greeted by millions seeking change. Eight years after, President Ronald Regan demanded the wall come down in Berlin. It did 18 months later.
Palmer said the Soviet Union has been replaced by China in recent times. It brings similar issues of control over natural resources, many of which China supplies the U.S.
“We have got to focus on critical minerals,” Palmer said. “That has become a national security issue. We don’t mine minerals. We don’t refine them. If we got into a conflict with China we would be up the creek.”
To cut the dependency on China, Palmer said he and other Republicans want to help private investment mines and refineries to mine minerals in Central and South America.
“It’s not government or foreign aid, but private investment to help build out their energy infrastructure,” Palmer said.
The Republican Party
Ivey awards grants for ‘Middle Mile’ broadband projects
Nearly $200 million in grants will impact ‘Middle Mile’ broadband projects across the state.
Gov. Kay Ivey Awards announced the grants last week to continue the expansion of high-speed internet access in Alabama.
also has plans to lower the debt through a balanced budget.
“There are no gimmicks,” Palmer said. “We have a way to get our debt back to a manageable level. We can do this, but we need everybody on board.”
The House of Representatives currently has a slim Republican majority, but the party has had some recent health scares to its top members. Majority leader Steve Scalise is out getting treatment for cancer. Hal Rogers was in a head on collision in Washington D.C. and is still recovering.
Palmer said the Republican Party is trying to hold on until they return, but even then, it’s still just a three-person majority. Palmer wants more Republicans to be elected to the House and for the party to get the majority in the Senate.
Palmer believes the world is waiting to see what happens in this year’s election. He spoke with diplomats and leaders, especially Sweden.
“The media has led you to believe all these European heads of state and diplomats didn’t like Trump,” Palmer said. “I very carefully asked about President Trump. The diplomat said, ‘We like him because when he says something, we know he will do it.’ There is no substitute for certainty in foreign policy.”
Palmer hopes Trump will be elected, and he challenged Elmore County Republicans to help.
“We need to give him four years to get us started in the right direction,” Palmer said. “We all have the chance to be a part of history. Your names may not be written on a page. You may not have your picture in a history book, but what this generation of people do will be reflected in history — to bring back the greatest nation in the world.”
Grants totaling $188,453,905, were awarded to 12 Alabama internet service providers, including Central Access in Elmore County, to install more than 4,000 miles of “middle-mile” projects. It will help fill the gap in broadband expansion to make it more economically feasible and less labor intensive for providers to extend services to unserved businesses and households in the state.
Ivey made the announcement from the Alabama Anchor Institution in her hometown of Camden. Wilcox County and other rural counties are among the areas in Alabama where the middle-mile projects will be completed.
“Rural Alabama, like so many other places in the state, is in need of increased access to high-speed internet, and today we are taking a significant stride in our journey toward full broadband access,” Ivey said. “These middle-mile projects will be extremely beneficial to our anchor institutions and it puts us in a desirable situation where the ‘last mile’ projects that will supply broadband service to businesses and households are more economical and attainable.”
Anchor institutions include schools, hospitals and medical facilities and government and public safety buildings. Many are located on or near the middle-mile routes and more than 790 will be served by the projects.
“In the 21st century, access to affordable, high-speed internet is not a luxury, it is a necessity, and one that many Alabamians have gone without for far too long,” Rep. Terri Sewell said. “I was thrilled to help make this funding available through the American Rescue Plan and I applaud Gov. Ivey and (Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs) Director (Kenneth) Boswell for making these investments. I will continue working to ensure that this funding reaches those who need it most.”
ADECA will administer the program through its Alabama Digital Expansion Division. The division was established by the Alabama Legislature and Ivey to focus on highspeed internet expansion in the state.
“ADECA is pleased to be involved in this broadband-expansion effort that will benefit so many people and improve lives,” Boswell said. “I am grateful to Gov. Ivey and the Alabama Legislature for having the confidence to entrust ADECA with this all-important program.”
Funding for the latest middle-mile program came from an allocation made by the legislature from the state’s share of American Rescue Plan Act Funds.
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and Central Access were granted $2.69 million to provide middle-mile infrastructure along 38 miles in Autauga and Elmore counties to include 33 anchor institutions.
Coosa Valley Technologies Inc. was granted $7 million to provide 110 miles of middle-mile connections in Calhoun, St. Clair and Talladega counties affecting 17 anchor institutions.
Cullman Electric Cooperative was granted $1.46 million to install middle-mile connections in various areas of Cullman County to include 15 anchor institutions and cover 106 miles.
Farmers Telecommunications Corp. was granted $21.6 million to provide two middle-mile fiber routes in Blount, Etowah, Jefferson and Marshall counties totaling 155 miles and connecting 189 anchor institutions.
Alabama Fiber Network was granted $128.8 million to install five middle-mile projects totaling 1,776 miles and connecting 438 anchor institutions in Bibb, Butler, Chilton, Choctaw, Conecuh, Dale, Dallas, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Lowndes, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox counties. Alabama Fiber Network is a coalition of eight rural electric cooperatives.
JMF Solutions was granted $6.3 million for four projects to provide middle-mile connections over a 1,169-mile route in Bibb, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Greene, Lowndes, Macon, Monroe, Randolph and Washington counties. The projects will affect 24 anchor institutions.
Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corp. was granted $5.25 million to provide more than 20 miles of middle-mile infrastructure in the Courtland area in Lawrence County and affecting 16 anchor institutions.
Point Broadband was granted $411,341 to provide a middle-mile project in Blount County totaling 12.4 miles and impacting 21 anchor institutions.
Spectrum Southeast was granted $7.3 million for a middle-mile project in rural southeastern Houston County involving 167 miles and connecting eight anchor institutions.
Tombigbee Electric Cooperative was granted $757,479 to provide a middle-mile project of nearly 50 miles in Winston County and affecting 22 anchor institutions.
Uniti Fiber was granted $4.2 million to provide about 64 miles of middle-mile projects in Butler, Lowndes and Montgomery counties including four anchor institutions.
Yellowhammer Networks was granted $2.52 million for a middle-mile project in Bibb, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter and Wilcox counties to include the cities of Selma, Demopolis and Eutaw and spanning 620 miles. The project will include six anchor institutions.
While Anna Gardner Events largely does florals for weddings, Gardner also does other events like baby showers, bridal showers and sometimes bouquet bars for local events.
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Congressman Gary Palmer speaks at the Elmore County Republican Party Scholarship Dinner. Palmer represents congressional district six, the new district for Elmore County after redistricting goes in effect Jan. 1 2025.
Feeling the ‘tug’ of Jesus
What is your most favorite or most inspired part of a worship service?
To many people, it is the singing and to others it might be the special music, reading of scripture, or preaching of the Word. All these can be God speaking through song or scripture but God speaks more clearly to me toward the end of the service especially when the invitation is given. To my brethren who are not in the Baptist denomination, at the end of every service, an altar call is given and usually at this time, an individual can feel the “tug”
BETHLEHEM
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.
of Jesus speaking to their heart to make a decision for Him. There are several choices that can be made including, special needs prayer, thanksgiving prayer, rededication of one’s life to serve and follow Jesus more closely, but also the “tug” can be Jesus asking you to examine yourself and submit your life to the Lordship of Christ. The name Adelaide A. Pollard is not a household name, but she was a very important person in my life. She was never personally known to me as her life spanned from 1862-1934, but one of her favorite scriptures is also
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-
JACKIE WILBOURN Columnist
one of mine! Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we are all the work of Thy hand.” If we could turn back time to Father’s Day, 1968, Ms. Pollard’s life touched mine, never to be the same. It was a warm day in June, the family was seated in our little country church on the
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
7th row from the front, on the left side. As much as I have tried to remember the message from the pastor that day, my memory fails me. I do remember listening to the words penned by Ms. Pollard as the pianist and music director lead the congregation in the invitational hymn, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Ms. Pollard’s beautiful words came from the words that she was known to have lived by, “it really doesn’t matter what you do with us Lord, just have your own way with our lives.” Her hymn was much like a prayer. She focused each of the four written stanzas’ on “not what or who we are” but “what or who we can be”. As found in scripture, “then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it, (Jeremiah 15:3, 4). Have you been to the potter’s house?
Jackie Wilbourn, member of Bethel Baptist Church, is a chaplain with Alabama Disaster Relief Team.
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
Worship With Us
person Sunday mornings at 8:50 a.m. (contemporary) or 11 a.m. (traditional). Sunday School for all ages is offered Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., and a nursery is available for infants. CHILDREN & YOUTH: meet Sunday evenings from 5-6:30 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6-7:15 p.m.; supper is included both days! For more information about our church or the programs we offer, visit our website: fumctallassee.com or call us: 334-283-2195. FUMC
Tallassee - 1 Jordan Avenue.”
OUR LIFE’S JOURNEY Airs every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on 580 WACQ, FM 98.5 & 101.1, on your smart speaker, your TuneIn app, or on our website www.wacqradio. com. Please share on social media. This set of programs features Msgr. Charles Troncale, Fr. Mateusz Rudzik, Fr. James Dean, Fr. David Carucci, Fr. Patrick Driscoll, and Deacon Jim Labadie.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Dalton MiDDleton SPortS eDitor dalton.middleton@thewetumpkaherald.com
Wetumpka softball nationally ranked to begin season
B y DALTON
MIDDLETON Sports Editor
The Wetumpka softball team is earning national recognition as it enters the 2024 softball season.
The Indians, who won the AHSAA Class 6A state championship last season with a 54-6 record, are ranked No. 23 across the entire country by Maxpreps.com. That rank-
ing is good for second across the state of Alabama as Class 7A’s Hewitt-Trussville is the No. 7 team in the country.
“The Indians won 54 games and a 6A state title in 2023 with a chance to be even better in 2024,” the article stated. “Troy softball commit Mya Holt hit 22 home runs at the plate and struck out 223 in the circle. Anderson commit Lily Dav-
enport is back as well after hitting nine bombs as a sophomore.”
Wetumpka’s team is primed for another big season. The Indians only lost two starters from last year’s team and return a talent-loaded senior class led by Holt, the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year, along with out-
See SOFTBALL, Page B8
WETUMPKA SENDS 7 TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
B y DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Wetumpka put together an impressive showing at the AHSAA Class 6A Super Sectionals wrestling tournament. Led by the senior trio of Willie Cox, Christian Preston and Noah Smith, the Indians took home fourth.
The three seniors all won their respective weight class brackets while four more wrestlers – Swayze Martin, Zach Crosthwait, TJ Watson and Brantley Woodall – all qualified for the state tournament by finishing in the top six. The state tournament begins Thursday at Huntsville’s Von Braun Center.
Overall, Wetumpka earned 173.5 points and finished fourth behind Mountain Brook, Homewood and Pike Road.
“It was really awesome,” Indians coach Josh Highland said. “We put five kids in the finals and three of the five won. It was a really big weekend for us as a program. Seven of our kids are advancing to state and we had two or three more who were a match away from
qualifying. It was a really good team effort.”
Cox (285) and Preston (215) both opened up as the No. 1 seed as they are both the defending Class 6A champions in their weight classes. Both went 4-0 in sectionals.
Cox (40-1) earned a first round bye, then won his four consecutive matches via technical fall, pin and two decisions. He earned a 2-1 decision over Mountain Brook’s Daniel Ellis in the championship.
Preston (36-3) earned back-to-back pins in his first two matches before winning via technical fall in the semi finals and decision in the finals.
The third champion, Smith, earned three technical falls before a decision win over the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the state.
“For those three seniors to win, they are hitting their stride hard right now and capping off the end of their Wetumpka wrestling careers the way they want to end it,” Highland said.
Smith’s win was over the only other wrestler this year to beat him.
He faced Homewood’s
DALTON MIDDLETON TPI
Moeen Almansoob and won, 4-2.
“Noah showed us exactly what he’s been working on since he lost that first match,” Highland said. “When he lost that first one, we tried to change some things up and he took it in stride. We stuck to the game plan and he pulled out the victory like I knew he could.”
The other two wrestlers who competed in the finals were Crosthwait, a junior, and Martin, a freshman.
Crosthwait (195) hasn’t competed in nearly six weeks after suffering an injury, and this was his first tournament back healthy. He went 3-1 in the 190 class and won via technical fall, pin and decision to clinch his spot in the championship match.
He was facing Homewood’s Sam Carroll, the No. 4-ranked wrestler in the weight class while Crosthwait was No. 2. The match was won by Carroll, 4-0, via decision. The two were deadlocked in a 1-0 match for 5:40 of the six minutes before Carroll got Crosthwait turned over for the win.
See STATE, Page B8
Wetumpka’s Swayze Martin wrestles Minor’s Christopher Marable in the 6A Super Sectionals. Martin, only a freshman, finished 2nd overall and qualified for the state championship.
Edgewood Academy’s Wanogho Jr. wins second Super Bowl
BY TPI STAFF STAFF REPORT
One of the
high school
ty history added another trophy to his resume.
Prince Tega Wanogho Jr., a 2015 graduate from Edgewood Academy, won his second straight Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. Wanogho Jr. did not play in the game due to being on the
injured reserve list. Wanogho Jr. has not played since Sept. 27 when he tore his quadriceps against the Chicago Bears in a 41-10 win. He became the first Edgewood Academy player to play and win a Super Bowl last season, and now he has a second ring.
Wanogho Jr. graduated from Auburn and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. After he was released over a year
later, he was signed by the Chiefs where he has played since. Playing as a reserve, he played in every game last season as the Chiefs won the Super Bowl against the Eagles. This season, he played another reserve role and was the swing tackle for the Chiefs. He played two snaps in the first two games. In the 41-10 win over the Bears, he played 14 snaps and seven special teams plays before he was injured.
Elmore County boys eliminate Holtville in area tournament
B y DALTON MIDDLETON
Sports Editor
Jaden Eason wasn’t quite ready for his junior baseball season to start.
Facing an elimination game that would have sent Eason and a few other Panthers heading to the baseball diamond early, Elmore County stunned Holtville on its home court, 53-41, to clinch a playoff berth and advance to the area tournament championship Thursday at Marbury.
Eason, who has served as the team’s sharpshooting guard, knocked down four clutch 3-pointers in the game including one that put the Panthers up by five points with less than a minute left in the game.
“Baseball season is in the back of my mind, but I’m still full on in basketball mode right now,” Eason said. “We knew what we had to do coming in to extend our season two more games, and we had to get it done. It’s great to come in and be able to get it done.”
Much like the last time these two teams met, the first quarter shaped up to be all Holtville. The Bulldogs, led by the 3-point shooting of Caleb Blackmon and Caleb Sutton, were able to give Holtville a 12-6 lead after the first period.
That lead didn’t last long, however, as Elmore County opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back 3’s from Eason and CJ Wilkes while Camron Brown knocked down both of his free throw attempts.
That was the last lead Holtville held.
Elmore County pushed its lead out to nearly 10 points in the third quarter. Eason knocked down a deep 3, and that allowed Brown, Jabari Murphy and Gage Davis to get inside the paint and hit some easy shots.
“Jaden spaced out the floor really well for us just by hitting his first few shots,” Panthers coach Nathan Taylor said. “After he did that, their defense started keying on him and that allowed gaps for Cam and Gage inside.”
Elmore County led, 49-40, in the final minutes of the game when Holtville put together a final run of their own. Sutton hit another 3, then Elijah Headley followed that up with a 3-pointer of his own. But the Bulldogs couldn’t get any closer than 49-47. When the game got to two, Eason found himself open in the corner and hit his final shot of the night.
“I was just making sure I had enough arch on my shot tonight,” Eason said.
Holtville saw its season end with the loss while Elmore County advanced to face Marbury in the area championship. The Panthers lost both games to Marbury in the regular season, 50-38 and 45-42.
Taylor is hoping this one is different.
“We haven’t really hit shots all year except for one or two games, but we did tonight,” Taylor said. “I’m so excited for our guys. They’ve earned this. They stayed together and earned this. We have to defend and rebound. Shots will fall if we can do that.”
Wetumpka’s Ella Watson is one of five Wetumpka seniors who are signed to play college softball next season. The Indians are ranked No. 23 across the nation and No. 2 in Alabama by Maxpreps. com entering 2024.
greatest
football players in Elmore Coun-
DALTON MIDDLETON | TPI
Elmore County’s Jaden Eason knocked down four 3-pointers in the first round of the area tournament against Holtville.
PLAYING THROUGH THE PAIN
Edgewood’s LeMaster steps up in final games
B y DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Gabe LeMaster wasn’t going to sit out of the state tournament.
LeMaster, who is one of the area’s best football players, hadn’t played a single basketball game all season before Thursday. Following the Wildcats’ football season, he suffered a knee injury in the AISA All-Star Football Game and wasn’t even able to jump without dealing with pain.
So he sat on the bench as his Edgewood Academy basketball teammates played through the season.
After trying to come back twice at different times and failing, he was finally able to take the court in the AISA Class AA state tournament.
LeMaster suited up and took the court Thursday and Friday against Hooper Academy and Abbeville Christian Academy, and he helped lead Edgewood to its second straight state championship.
“This year has been a hard year,” LeMaster said. “I tried to play, but I couldn’t. So when I realized it was finally playable right now, that’s why I decided to go out and give everything I had. I just wanted to contribute to my team and do the best I could.”
LeMaster approached coach Scott Phillips on Monday before the semifinals and asked if he could play this week.
Phillips wasn’t going to tell him no.
And now that the championship is secured, Phillips is sure glad he didn’t.
LeMaster came off the bench but played one of the biggest roles in the entire tournament. He scored 14 total points, six in the semifinals against Hooper and eight against
Continued from A1
Edgewood’s
Abbeville in the finals, but his points couldn’t have been bigger.
With his team leading Hooper, 43-41, with 2:11 left in the game, LeMaster came through and hit a massive layup right down the middle of the defense to give the Wildcats a two-possession lead.
He then hit a free throw in the final seconds to give Edgewood a 49-46 lead and forced Hooper to make a 3-pointer to tie the game. They didn’t, and Edgewood advanced.
In the championship, LeMaster hit a massive 3-pointer to help cut into Abbeville’s lead in the third quarter, then he turned the game around with a big play. Leading by four points with 7:03, he went in and drove to the basket and earned an easy layup.
That led to some hostility on Abbeville’s part, and a player was called for a technical foul. Following the free throws, Edgewood led by seven points.
“I don’t think we win this tournament without him,” Phillips said. “I really don’t think we do. What he did this week takes guts. When he hit that 3-pointer, I turned
Bowl in front of a packed audience.
Edgewood finished the year with a 28-3 record and has totaled a 78-9 record with three titles the last three seasons.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Wildcats coach Brad Starks said. “It’s incredible. I’ve never seen a team have to go through what this team went through. We had multiple starters out for extended periods of time and we had to figure out how to grind games out. To see them go through all that and then see the joy on their faces when they hold that trophy, there’s very few things like that.”
It was a relatively slow start compared to Wednesday’s semifinal game for the Wildcats, but Edgewood’s defense was able to control the game while it did just enough scoring to hold the lead.
Avery White started the game with a corner 3-pointer followed by three points from Madison Martin while Lindsey Brown and Lexie Smith each added a basket.
In the second quarter, White knocked down another 3 and Edgewood took a 22-14 lead into the break.
“Those 3s were huge,” Starks said. “We joked recently about how cold she’s been and I told her she would make them in the state championship. She’s a little sassy and looked at me like ‘Probably not.’ But for two of those to go in early, she gave us a cushion and allowed us to play loose and that was massive. That really can’t be understated.”
Edgewood’s eight point halftime lead quickly expanded as senior
Edgewood’s Martin, Brown cap off historic run
B y DALTON
CLIFF WLLIAMS TPI
around and just said ‘I love that kid.’ I know it hurt him this year to not be able to play but I think this soothes him a little bit.”
LeMaster wasn’t completely pain free in the game.
His knee still hurt when he jumped, but that didn’t stop him from grabbing six rebounds or from hitting the big 3-pointer that sparked Edgewood’s third quarter run.
That was his only 3-pointer of the season.
“I knew when I shot it that I was going to make it,” LeMaster said. “I always think I’m going to make it when it leaves my hand.”
For Phillips, he wasn’t surprised in the least. He saw what LeMaster could do on the football field, and LeMaster earned multiple All-County Player of the Year awards for his skill.
And while he didn’t make the All-Tournament team last week, Phillips told him that not making the team doesn’t discount what he did.
“In football, we had the best player on the field in any game we played with Gabe,” Phillips said. “I think this week, he was also one of the best in basketball.”
Lindsey Brown got going in the second half.
Brown scored 13 of her gamehigh 22 points in the second half, which actually matched Sparta’s scoring total in the half. Edgewood only scored 10 points in the third quarter, but six of them came from Brown.
She knocked down a big 3-pointer, then a layup and free throws.
In the fourth quarter, she hit another deep trey and two more layups to keep pushing the lead higher and higher.
“She’s just good,” Starks said.
“She does things that nobody else I’ve seen in this league do. Not just from an ability standpoint. She outworks everybody and knows the game better than everybody else. For her to be out there, you know you have a constant statue of greatness on the court.”
It’s no secret the Cramton Bowl is hard for offenses to play in, but Edgewood’s suffocating defense combined with a packed student section make it even tougher for opposing teams.
That was certainly the case Friday as Edgewood held Sparta to only 28 points, the lowest point total of the year for the Warriors. They entered the game averaging 49 per game.
For Edgewood, it was just another day at the office. It was the third consecutive game that Edgewood and its press defense held its opponent to 28 points or less.
“We started off kind of sluggish the way we did, and then held our third-straight opponent in the state tournament under 30 points,” Starks said. “We know we can score so the question for us was whether we could keep our hands off people and play defense well enough to do what we did.”
MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Before Madison Martin and Lindsey Brown teamed up three years ago, Edgewood Academy’s girls basketball team had never won a state championship.
Now with both girls wrapping up their high school basketball careers together, they walk away with three rings on their hands.
Martin and Brown, the only two seniors in their class, led Edgewood to the AISA Class AA state championship Friday with a win over Sparta Academy. The two of them have led Edgewood to three-consecutive state championships.
“As far as the AISA is concerned, you aren’t going to find two better athletes than Lindsey and Madison,” Edgewood coach Brad Starks said. “They are held to a standard of greatness and they do everything they can to bring everyone around them to that standard. They’ve brought so much to this program, but most importantly, they’ve brought consistency.”
While they have brought consistency, they haven’t gotten much in terms of head coaching.
This year’s state championship may wrap up the famous Three-Peat, but Martin and Brown
Continued from A1
did so with their third different coach in three years.
As sophomores, Jason Fisher was in charge of the team as Edgewood went 23-6 and won the first title in school history. Last season, Darryl Free led the Wildcats to its first undefeated record at 27-0 and back-to-back titles.
This season, Starks took over and the team finished 29-3, the most wins in a season in program history.
“This team and program has been through so much,” Brown said. “That has started with a new coach each of the last three years. That’s been the toughest part. We’ve had to learn a new way of basketball every year for three years. But us girls locked in and stuck together. We’ve had our ups and downs, but when we have had our ups, nobody can beat us.” Martin and Brown’s paths to the Three-Peat were very different. Brown has been a lifelong Edgewood student and been on the varsity squad since she was in junior high. Martin, however, transferred to Edgewood before her sophomore year.
When she got to Edgewood, she didn’t plan on playing basketball. She was just going to play volleyball. But she came out for the team, and it was one of the best deci-
just a 7-12 record when area play opened up on Jan. 5. But after winning three of their four area games and clinching the area championship, Edgewood proved everyone wrong and won its second consecutive state championship with three-straight postseason wins.
“Can I put what this championship means in words? I really don’t think I can,” Wildcats coach Scott Phillips said. “These kids are just fighters. They showed their guts today and they just wanted to win. They weren’t going to lose this game. I told them I didn’t care if we’re 3-20. I don’t want us to be that, but we always had a chance in the end. We just won this thing with a losing record.”
Despite being the defending champs, Edgewood wasn’t even the favorite entering Friday’s championship match. The Wildcats had faced Abbeville twice already this season and went 0-2 in those games, losing once by one point and once in overtime.
But that didn’t matter to sophomore Brock Whitt and his 11 senior teammates.
In fact, it made the win even sweeter.
“It feels even better when nobody expected us to be here,” Whitt said. “Nobody but us thought we’d be here. Coach Phillips has told us from the start that we could be here and we just won it all.”
Edgewood wasn’t able to implement its game plan until Friday morning due to having to play in the semifinals the day prior, but it worked to perfection for Phillips and his team.
He wanted to pressure Abbeville into shooting 3-pointers, and the Generals let the shot attempts fly all game. They connected on four deep shots, but that wasn’t near enough to pull away at any point.
“We didn’t think they would hit enough threes to beat us,” Phillips said. “If we could keep it within one or two possessions, we’d have a chance in the end. The decid-
sions she’s ever made.
“I hated basketball when I first came here,” Martin joked. “To this day, I still say I hate basketball but I come out here and give it my all. I’ll do anything and everything to keep this team going. It’s really just a privilege and an honor to be able to play for Edgewood Academy.”
For Martin, her high school athletic career is now over. She has won six total state championships – three in volleyball and three in basketball. She is now heading to Faulkner to play college volleyball.
Brown, who has 10 state championships –six in volleyball, three in basketball and one softball – still has one last sport left. She will take the field starting this week at shortstop and catcher for Edgewood and try to lead the Wildcats to one final championship.
The two players will be impossible to replace on the court, but Brown knows the team will be fine.
“We’ve built the program the last few years and we’ve given them confidence and mental strength,” Brown said. “If you have those two things, your program can go a long way. There are so many great athletes in our school and they have so much potential going forward.”
ing factor for us was winning the rebounding battle and getting to the goal.”
That started with 6-foot-4 Whitt in the middle. Whitt had a team-high 15 points while adding 13 rebounds and four blocks.
He had a tough matchup down low as Abbeville’s Javarse Turner stands at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, but that didn’t stop Whitt from grabbing rebound after rebound and making his shots when it counted.
Whitt’s biggest points of the night came in the fourth quarter when he ended a 6-0 Abbeville run with a layup to keep the lead 36-34, then he secured the win with free throws in the final 30 seconds.
After getting fouled while running out the clock, Whitt hit both free throw attempts and put Edgewood up, 43-40 with 26.3 seconds left. He then went down the court and recorded a block on defense and was fouled after grabbing the ball.
His next free throw put Edgewood up two possessions with 16 seconds left and Abbeville couldn’t come back.
“Brock is just a gamer,” Phillips said. “ When the lights come on, he’s an absolute gamer. As big as their kid was, I knew we had the better player. He’s skilled and he can give you so much. He’s not going to get all the rebounds, but he’s going to get most of them and he will battle anybody on that court. He’s priceless.”
He wasn’t the only player to get to the goal. Johnny Groves had two big layups in the fourth quarter, including an and-1 free throw to cap off a 3-point play.
He had 14 points, while Gabe LeMaster added eight points, Brody Whitt scored three points and Prescott Bonner added five points.
Twenty-two of the Wildcats’ points came in the paint, and 14 more came from the free throw line after drawing fouls underneath the rim.
“I thought we had the advantage of going to the goal,” Phillips said. “Abbeville is a great team and they’re athletic, but I thought we could get to the goal.”
BOYS
GIRLS
Gabe LeMaster (3) takes a shot against Abbeville Christian’s Ja’Varse Turner (3). In his only two games of the season, LeMaster scored 14 points and helped Edgewood win the state championship.
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Edgewood’s Lindsey Brown (3) and Madison Martin (2) receive the state championship trophy. Brown and Martin, the only two seniors on Edgewood’s team, have won three-straight basketball state championships for the Wildcats.
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Public Notices
Public Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF ELMORE
Default having been made of the terms of the loan documents secured by that certain mortgage executed by Christopher Ralph Sanders And Keisha Sanders Husband And Wife to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as mortgagee, as nominee for Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, its successors and assigns dated September 18, 2019; said mortgage being recorded on September 19, 2019, in Book 2019, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama. Said Mortgage was last sold, assigned and transferred to Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC by assignment recorded in Deed Book of the Judge of Probate of Elmore County, ALABAMA. The undersigned, Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLCunder and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash before the main entrance of the Court House in Elmore County, Alabama during the legal hours of sale (between 11am and 4pm), on the 28th day of February, 2024 the following property, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: COMMENCE AT THE SW CORNER OF THE SE 1/4 OF SECTION 4, T19N, R18E, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA; THENCE NORTH 88 DEG. 06 MIN. 32 SEC. EAST, 1506.72 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE NORTH 27 DEG. 07 MIN. 43 SEC. EAST, 200.00 FEET TO A 1/2” CAPPED REBAR ON THE EAST RIGHT-OF-WAY OF THORNTON ROAD (80’ R.O.W.) AND THE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE ALONG
SAID RIGHT-OF-WAY OF SAID ROAD, NORTH 27 DEG. 10 MIN. 35 SEC. EAST, 152.79 FEET TO A CONCRETE MONUMENT; THENCE ALONG
SAID RIGHT-OF-WAY OF SAID ROAD, NORTH 28 DEG. 01 MIN. 09 SEC. EAST, 45.60 FEET TO A 1/2” CAPPED REBAR; THENCE LEAVING SAID RIGHT-OF-WAY OF SAID ROAD, NORTH 89 DEG. 27 MIN. 04 SEC. EAST, 388.77
FEET TO A 1/2” CAPPED REBAR; THENCE SOUTH 01 DEG. 53 MIN. 58 SEC. EAST, 50.05 FEET TO A 1/2” CAPPED REBAR; THENCE SOUTH 01 DEG. 54 MIN. 01 SEC. EAST, 100.00 FEET TO A 1/2” REBAR CAPPED MARTIN CA-563-LS; THENCE SOUTH 86 DEG. 28
MIN. 06 SEC. WEST, 485.85
FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. SAID PARCEL CONTAINING 1.62 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AND LYING IN THE SE 1/4 OF SECTION 4, T19N, R18E, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA, ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY OF NEIL MARTIN, ALA. LICENSE NO. 31574, DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 2019. Said property is commonly known as 1255 Thornton Road,
Titus, AL 36080. the property address and the legal description the legal description will control. Said property will be sold subject to any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, but not yet due and payable), the right of redemption of any taxing authority, all outstanding liens for public utilities which constitute liens upon the property, any matters which might be disclosed by an accurate survey and inspection of the property, any assessments, liens, encumbrances, easements, rights-of-way, zoning ordinances, restrictions, special assessments, covenants, the statutory right of redemption pursuant to Alabama law, and any matters of record including, but not limited to, those supeout above. Said property will be sold on an “as-is” basis without any representation, warranty or recourse against the abovenamed or the undersigned. The successful bidder must present the winning bid at the time and place of sale. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. The sale will be conducted subsale is not prohibited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and (2) of the status of the loan with the holder of the Mortgage.
LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC as holder of said mortgage McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC Two North Twentieth 2 20th Street North, Suite 1000 Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 216-4238 FT21@mccalla.com File No. 22-03174AL
www.foreclosurehotline.net
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 7, 14 and 21, 2024 22-03174AL
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage dated January 25, 2021, executed by Bette J. Henson, an unmarried woman, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., solely as nominee for Quicken Loans, LLC, which mortgage was recorded on January 29, 2021, in RLPY Book 2021, Page 8736, of the mortgage records in the of Elmore County, Alabama, and which mortgage was, duly transferred and assigned to Rocket Mortgage, LLC FKA Quicken Loans, LLC, notice is hereby given that pursuant to law and the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the undersigned will sell at public outcry, to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the Main entrance to the Elmore County Courthouse at Wetumpka, Alabama, during the legal hours of sale on March 28, 2024, the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Land situated in the County of Elmore in the State of AL LOT NO. 52, GRAND RIDGE PLAT NO. 2, AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA, IN PLAT BOOK 13, AT PAGE 96. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage as well as expenses of foreclosure. 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 of the County where the above-described property is situated. This property will be sold without warranty or recourse, expressed or implied as to condition, 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. The successful bidder must tender full funds at the conclusion of the sale in the form of a or endorsed to Padgett Law Group. No personal checks will be accepted. To this end you outbid the lender and any other not be accepted. Amounts received in excess of the winning bid will be refunded. Padgett Law Group reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidders should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due.
Rocket Mortgage, LLC f/k/a Quicken Loans, LLC
Transferee
Robert J. Wermuth/jmm
Padgett Law Group 4245 Balmoral Drive SW, Suite 101 Huntsville, AL 35801 Attorney for Mortgagee
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 7, 14 and 21, 2024 24-000580-1
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER FORECLOSURE NOTICE
WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a mortgage from BRIANNA LYNN MEACHAM, UNMARRIED WOMAN to MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS INC. AS MORTGAGEE, AS NOMINEE FOR VANDERBILT MORTGAGE AND FINANCE, INC. DBA SILVERTON MORTGAGE, on the 12th day of May, 2021, said mortgage recordof Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, on May 12, 2021, in Deed/Mortgage Book 2021, Page 41638, Elmore County, Alabama Records, said Mortgage having subsequently been transferred and assigned to NewRez LLC d/b/a Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing, by instrument recorded in the aforesaidby given that the undersigned NewRez LLC d/b/a Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing, 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 March 12, 2024, 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: Commence at an iron pin located at the intersection on the north right of way of Tuskeena Street (66` R.O.W.) and the east right of way of North Opothleohola Street (66` R.O.W.), said point being the SW corner of Original Lot 102, West Wetumpdegrees 57 minutes 15 seconds West, along the east right of way of said North Opothleohola Street, 114.94 feet to an iron pin, said point being the POINT 00 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds East, along said right of thence leaving said right of way, South 89 degrees 29 minutes 56 seconds East, 99.19 feet to degrees 57 minutes 15 seconds East, 49.73 feet to an iron 22 minutes 59 seconds West, 100.05 feet to the point of beginning, containing 0.12 acres, more or less. Said legal description being controlling, however the property is more commonly known as 202 N OPOTHLEOHOLA ST, WETUMPKA, AL 36092. 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.
NewRez LLC d/b/a Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing, Mortgagee/Transferee THE BELOW LAW FIRM MAY BE HELD TO BE ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR, UNDER FEDERAL LAW. IF SO, ANY INFORMATION 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. SHP-24-002161 rlselaw.com/property-listing Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 14, 21, 28, 2024 226095
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF ELMORE
Default having been made of the terms of the loan documents secured by that certain mortgage executed by Judy C Reese And Julius Jackson Individually And As Husband And Wifegage being recorded on Juneabama. Said Mortgage was last
assignment recorded in Deed
Contractor’s License Number. If forwarded by mail, the sealed envelope containing the bid must be enclosed in another envelope addressedtaining bids must be addressed as follows, and delivered to Ms. Shannon Duck, Town Clerk, Town of Eclectic, 145 Main Street, Eclectic, Alabama 36024 and marked “Bid For 2024 Sidewalk Improvements or Repairs”. No bidder may withdraw his bid within 30 days after the actual date of the opening thereof.
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 7 and 14, 2024 BIDS
PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DAVID ALLEYN ANDERSON, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-323 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Public Notices
OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of DAVID ALLEYN ANDERSON, deceased, having been granted to JOHN MICHAEL KOCH on February 1, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
JOHN MICHAEL KOCH PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF DAVID ALLEYN ANDERSON, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: JOSEPH K. BAMBURG ATTORNEY AT LAW 4031 US HWY 231 WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36093 334-839-5596
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2024 EST/ANDERSON, D. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JACKIE LEE ANTHONY, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-016 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of JACKIE LEE ANTHONY deceased, having been granted to ILA JANE DURHAM ANTHONY on February 6, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
ILA JANE DURHAM ANTHONY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JACKIE LEE ANTHONY, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: DONALD R. HARRISON, JR. ATTORNEY AT LAW PO BOX 157 DADEVILLE, ALABAMA 36853 256-825-7393
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 14, 21 and 28, 2024 EST/ANTHONY J. PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF ELMORE CASE NO: 2023-297 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROY E. DURHAM, DECEASED
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of ROY E. DURHAM, deceased, having been granted to SABRINA NARJINARI DURHAM on the 9th day of February, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
Public Notices
SABRINA NARJINARI DURHAM, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF ROY E. DURHAM, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for such Per-
sonal Representative:
DOUGLAS M. VOGEL VOGEL LAW FIRM, LLC 41 CAMBRIDGE COURT WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36093 334-409-0088
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 14, 21 and 28, 2024 EST/DURHAM, R. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE RICKEY HOVEY, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-009 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters of Administration over the Estate of GEORGE RICKEY HOVEY, deceased, having been granted to DONNA HOVEY on February 9th, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
DONNA HOVEY ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE RICKEY HOVEY, DECEASED
Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator:
WILLIAM D. AZAR
ATTORNEY AT LAW 800 S MCDONOUGH ST SUITE 105 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36104 334-2699700
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 14, 21 and 28, 2024
EST/HOVEY G.
PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES J. MRACEK, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-305 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of JAMES J. MRACEK, deceased, having been granted to PAULA J. GRIFFITH on January 30, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: MICHAEL S. HARPER ATTORNEY AT LAW 213 BARNETT BLVD PO BOX 780608 PAULA J. GRIFFITH
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES J. MRACEK, DECEASED TALLASSEE, ALABAMA 36078 334-283-6855
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 7, 14 and 21, 2024
EST/MRACEK, J.
Public Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF GERALD B. JONES. SR., DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-018 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of GERALD B. JONES. SR., deceased, having been granted to JANE EVANS JONES on January 30, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
JANE EVANS JONES
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF GERALD B. JONES. SR., DECEASED
Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: D. JASON BRITT STONE & BRITT, LLC
ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW 114 S MAIN ST PO BOX 967 WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-517-6520
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 7, 14 and 21, 2024 EST/JONES G. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BILLY J. MATTHEWS, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-017 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of BILLY J. MATTHEWS, deceased, having been granted to SARAH B. MATTHEWS on January 29, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of forgiven that all persons 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.
SARAH B. MATTHEWS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF BILLY J. MATTHEWS, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for
Personal Representative: ROBERT B. RENEAU LAW FIRM OF EDWARDS & EDWARDS, P.C. 109 EAST BRIDGE STREET WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-5141011
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 7, 14 and 21, 2024 EST/MATTHEWS, B. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BILLY JACK MCPHERSON, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-022 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Public Notices OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of BILLY JACK MCPHERSON. deceased. having been granted to SUSAN M. JONES on February 1, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required. within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
Attorney of Record for SUSAN M. JONES PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF BILLY JACK MCPHERSON, DECEASED
Personal Representative: GERALD A. DANIEL. JR. LAW OFFICE OF G A DANIEL. JR. LLC PO BOX 638 MILLBROOK, ALABAMA 36054 334-285-9444 Jerry@GADanielLaw.com
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 14, 21 and 28, 2024 EST/MCPHERSON, B.
PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF SARAH EMMA MITCHELL, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-024 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters of Administration over the Estate of SARAH EMMA MITCHELL, deceased, having been granted to DANIEL RAY MITCHELL on February 6, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
DANIEL RAY MITCHELL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF SARAH EMMA MITCHELL, DECEASED
Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: ROBERT H. PETTEY SAMFORD & DENSON, LLP PO BOX 2345 OPELIKA, ALABAMA 36803-2345 334-7453504
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 14, 21 and 28, 2024 EST/MITCHELL, S. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MERLE L. ROLAN, DECEASED CASE NO. 2023-281 NOTICE OF FILING OF WILL FOR PROBATE
TO: APRIL BILLINGSLEY, BRANDON ROLAN AND ALL HEIRS AND NEXT OF KIN OF MERLE L. ROLAN, DECEASED: YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on the 6 th day of November, 2023, a certain paper in writing purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of MERLE in the Probate Court of Elmore County, Alabama by Petitioner,
Public Notices
yy LARRY LEE MCENDARFER, JR., requesting that such Last Will and Testament be admitted to Probate and that the Petitioner be named as Administrator of such Estate. This Notice of Filing of Will for Probate is given to you as an heir at law and next of kin of MERLE L. ROLAN. Unless an objection to admission to Probate of such Last Will and Testament or to the appointment of LARRY LEE MCENDARFER, JR. as Administrator is submitted by you in writing to this Court within tention of this notice, the Court will proceed with considering such Petition.
JOHN THORNTON JUDGE OF PROBATE ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA Name and Address of Attorney for Petitioner: REGINA B. EDWARDS, ESQ. The Law Firm of Edwards & Edwards, PC 109 East Bridge Street Wetumpka, AL 36092 (334) 514-1011 Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 7, 14 and 21, 2024 EST/ROLAN, M. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARION FLOYD SIMPSON, SR., DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-021 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE Letters of Administration over the Estate of MARION FLOYD SIMPSON, SR., deceased, having been granted to AMANDA LYNN SIMPSON on February 6th, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred. AMANDA LYNN SIMPSON ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF MARION FLOYD SIMPSON, SR., DECEASED Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: JOSEPH MITCHELL MCGUIRE MCGUIRE & ASSOCIATES, LLC 31 CLAYTON STREET MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36104 334-517-1000 jmcguire@mandabusinesslaw. com
Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 14, 21 and 28, 2024 EST/SIMPSON, M. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BOYD EDWARD STALEY, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-320 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE Letters Testamentary in the Estate of BOYD EDWARD STALEY, deceased, having been granted to LINDA MCCONNELL STALEY on JANUARY 30, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
LINDA MCCONNELL STALEY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF BOYD EDWARD STALEY, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: ANDREW ODOM THE CLEVELAND FIRM, LLC 707 MCQUEEN SMITH ROAD SOUTH PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA 36066 334-365-6266 andrew@clevelandgroup.legal Wetumpka Herald: Feb. 7, 14 and 21, 2024 EST/STALEY, B. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RACHEL ANN WRIGHT, CASE NO. 2019-251 DECEASED. NOTICE OF HEARING REGARDING FINAL SETTLEMENT TO: JAMES BEAU WRIGHT, KEVIN HINTON and CHAD KELLY, WHOSE WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN AND WHO ARE NEXT OF KIN AND LEGATEES OF RACHEL ANN WRIGHT; AND TO JOHN CARTER, A LEGATEE OF THE ESTATE OF RACHEL ANN WRIGHT WHOSE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS WAS IN ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA; AND TO: ANY OTHER UNKNOWN NEXT OF KIN OF RACHEL ANN WRIGHT, DECEASED AND TO: ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTY YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: February 23, 2022, ED PARISH, JR. as Administrator of the Estate of RAthis Court a PETITION AND ACCOUNTING FOR APPROVAL OF PROPOSED FINAL SETTLEMENT of the Estate of RACHEL ANN WRIGHT. Such Petition has been set for hear2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Such Commerce Street, Wetumpka, appear at such hearing and be heard by the Court.
CLASSIFIEDS/PUBLIC NOTICES
Public Notices
y Name and Address of Petitioner: ED PARISH, JR. P O BOX 52 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
36101-0052 323 ADAMS AVE
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36104 334-263-0003
Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2024
EST/WRIGHT, R. PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF ELMORE FORECLOSURE NOTICE
WHEREAS, on August 14, 2023, Brandon Morgan did execute in favor of Protek, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company a Mortgage on certain real estate hereinafter described the Judge of Probate for Elmore County, Alabama, at RLPY Book 2023 at Page 36619. WHEREAS, default has been made in the payment of said Mortgage as provided therein, which default continues at this date and said Mortgage is subject to foreclosure. NOW, THEREFORE, three weeks’ notice is hereby given that the undersigned, will sell at public outcry for cash, to the highest bidder, in front of the courthouse doors, main entrance, in Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, during the legal hours of sale on 03/07/2024, the real estate being situated in Elmore County, Alabama, and more particularly described, towit: Commence at an iron pin at the Southeast Corner of Section 2, T18N, R19E, Elmore County, Alabama; thence North 05 deg. 07 min. 26 sec. West, 432.33 feet to an iron pin on the South Right of
and
to an iron pin; 6) North 57 deg.
58 min. 47 sec. West, 81.91 feet to an iron
1/4 of
Southeast 1/4 of
and the Northeast 1/4 of
11, all in T18N, R19E, Elmore County, Alabama, and contains 0.77 acres, more or less. the point of beginning. As the same appears in the Elmore County, Alabama. Subject to easements, restrictions, and reservations appearing of record. Said sale and conveyance will also be made subject to the legal rights of existing Federal Tax Liens, and/or Special Assessments, if any, which might adversely affect title to subject property. Such sale will be made as provided in said Mortgage for the purpose of paying the debt secured by said Mortgage with interest thereon, any amounts required to be paid for taxes, insurance or other charges provided in said Mortgage, and the expenses of foreclosure, including a reasonable attorney’s fee. Said property will be sold on an “as is, where is” basis subject to any easements, encumbrances and exceptions contained in said Mortgage and those contained the Judge of Probate where the above described property is situated. Said 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 hereto. Mortgagee reserves the right to bid and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness
Public Notices
Public Notices
Public Notices
NOTICE OF POLL WORKER SCHOOL TO BE HELD AT THE WETUMPKA CIVIC CENTER, 410 S. MAIN STREET, IN WETUMPKA, ALABAMA, FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MARCH 5, 2024
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 8:30 am - 11:00 am
Tallaweka Baptist Church, Precinct 11 God’s Congregational Church, Precinct 21 Wetumpka Civic Center, Precinct 29
Friendship Community Center, Precinct 31
Asbury Kent Community Center, Precinct 41
Kowaliga Fire Department, Precinct 51
Asbury Kent Community Center 2872 Kent Road Tallassee, AL 36078 Precinct 41
Kowaliga Volunteer Fire Department 1240 Prospect Road Eclectic, AL 36024 Precinct 51
Redhill Community Center
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Redhill Community Center, Precinct 52 Eclectic Methodist Church, Precinct 61 Seman Congregational Christian Church, Precinct 71
NOTICE OF PRIMARY ELECTION
Pursuant to Section 17-9-5, Code of Alabama, as amended
I, John Thornton, Probate Judge of Elmore County, hereby give the following notice and announcement: The Primary Election of the Democratic and Republican Parties of Elmore County (and throughout Alabama) will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. If a Runoff Election is necessary, it will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The purpose of the Primary Election is: approve or reject one proposed statewide Constitutional Amendment.
FEDERAL OFFICES
• CANDIDATE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
• CANDIDATE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
• UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE, 6 TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT (R)
• DELEGATES TO THE 2024 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, 6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
STATE OFFICES
• CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT (R)
• COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2 (R)
• COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2 (R)
• PRESIDENT, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (R)
• STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 3 (R)
• CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 19TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE NO. 4 (R)
COUNTY OFFICES
• ELMORE COUNTY JUDGE OF PROBATE (R)
• ELMORE COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 1 (R)
• ELMORE COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 2 (R)
• ELMORE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT NO. 7 (R)
PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to amend Section 71.01 authorizing the Legislature to sign and transmit local laws or constitutional amendments before the transmission of basic
PRIMARY POLL WORKER
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tallassee’s McCoy gets revenge in Super Sectionals
B y DALTON MIDDLETON
Sports Editor
Tra’Mel McCoy put the state on high alert this weekend.
Wrestling in the 157-pound class at the AHSAA Class 5A South Super Sectionals at Garrett Coliseum, McCoy claimed the sectional championship with a perfect weekend.
McCoy went 3-0 Saturday night with wins over Elberta’s Jasper Martin, Gulf Shores Kyle Simmons and Beauregard’s Josh Lugo.
Simmons and Lugo are both ranked in the Top 6 of the weight class while Lugo had already beaten McCoy twice this season.
For his performance, McCoy is the Elmore County Player of the Week.
“Tra’Mel really had an
amazing weekend,” Tallassee coach John Mask said. “He’s coming on at the right time. The moment never got too big for him. I know how good he can be and he’s super talented. When the lights are the brightest, he wrestles well.” McCoy got his revenge on No. 6 Lugo. The two met for
Wetumpka’s Rogers, Barker sign football scholarships
B y DALTON MIDDLETON
Sports Editor
After illustrious football careers in the black and gold, Wetumpka’s Nate Rogers and Clark Barker are taking their talents to the college level.
Rogers and Barker both signed National Letters of Intent to play college football Wednesday. Rogers signed with the University of Alabama at Birmingham while Barker signed with the University of South Alabama, both Division I programs. Barker is signing as an offensive lineman.
The senior led Wetumpka with 11 pancake blocks playing at right guard this season and was invited to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic, just the 11th player from Wetumpka to be selected for the honor.
He has played every position on Wetumpka’s offensive line over the last two seasons.
Barker started his summer camps at South Alabama in 2023, but he really didn’t get any recognition from the Jaguars’ coaches during that time. Then about three weeks before signing, South Alabama hired a new offensive line coach (Jason Onyebuagu) and he quickly reached out to Barker and offered him a spot as a preferred walk-on.
“I’ve played everywhere I needed to and that will help me going forward,” Barker
said. “I have experience snapping the ball and I have experience at guard and tackle. I can pull or be on the island. I don’t think I’m big enough to play tackle at the next level so I think I’ll settle in the interior.”
Rogers, Wetumpka’s star quarterback, had a stellar high school career as a three-year starter. He earned Elmore County Player of the Year honors in 2023 after scoring 29 touchdowns to go with his 2,932 offensive yards.
Rogers is a multi-year All-County player and has rushed for over 1,000 yards in all three seasons as the starting quarterback, and he has led the Indians to three straight playoff appearances.
He chose UAB over Marshall and Alabama State.
The Blazers announced Rogers as a running back on Signing Day, but Rogers said he and UAB coach Trent Dilfer are talking about him playing quarterback at the next level. The two started talking about a month before Rogers signed, and he said Dilfer made it his goal to recruit Rogers hard by texting consistently and even visiting some of Rogers’ basketball games.
“This was an awesome journey,” Rogers said. “From the official visit when he started recruiting me, I knew I could be a Blazer. I could really tell they wanted me to be on their team.”
fielders Ella Watson and Riley Dismukes, both West Alabama signees.
Cassidy Bowers, a Pensacola State signee, is also in the outfield while Gadsden State CC signee Mari Beth Parette, who scored the game winning run in the title game a year ago, is back at third base.
The five of them combined for 241 hits, 37 home runs and 219 runs batted in. In the circle, Holt and Watson combined for 52 of the team’s 54 wins and struck out 329 batters while both players had an earned run average under 1.5. Wetumpka opens the season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Prattville Lions Classic against Spanish Fort.
SUVMITTED EDITH MCCARY
Tallassee’s Tra’Mel McCoy went 3-0 and won the 157-pound weight class in the AHSAA South Super Sectionals Tournament. McCoy beat two ranked wrestlers in back-to-back matches to qualify for the state tournament.
the first time on January 3, and Lugo pulled out a 6-4 win in the quad meet. Just two days later, Lugo defeated McCoy again via pin in the third period.
Saturday’s match was much different.
McCoy dominated from start to finish and made quick work of Lugo. He pinned him in only 2:28 into the championship match.
“Tra’Mel was hungry and he wanted that moment,” Mask said. “I’m so proud of him and
excited for him. In the match before that, he beat a Gulf Shores kid who only had three losses on the season. It was just two phenomenal matches. He is continuing to grow.”
This is McCoy’s second year as a varsity starter and his inexperience showed at the beginning of the year, but it’s certainly disappeared now. He started the year 4-3 but is now 25-8 on the year. After his last loss to Lugo on Jan. 5, he is 10-1 and has won 10 straight.
“He was slow coming out of the gate but he’s gotten better and better as the year progressed,” Mask said. “He’s gotten better in all three aspects of the game. He’s listening well and he wants to be successful. He’s a joy to coach.”
Holtville baseball looking to dog-pile once again
B y DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
The faces may change, but there’s a new standard when it comes to the Holt
ville baseball program.
After playing for backto-back AHSAA Class 5A state championships and winning its first title in 40 years last year, Holtville is playing for it all.
It doesn’t matter who graduates or who returns. The standard has been set.
“Our goal is to obviously go back to what we’ve been doing,” Bulldogs coach Scott Tubbs said. “We want the opportunity to play at the end of the year. The personnel has changed but the goal has not. And I think we have enough there this year where we can make another run at it.”
Holtville graduated its No. 1 and No. 2 pitcher in Tanner Potts and Randy Davis, but there’s still plenty of talent on the mound for the Bulldogs.
The secret weapon, who isn’t much of a secret, is Southern Miss signee Drey Barrett. Barrett is coming off a junior season where he went 5-0 with five com
plete games on the mound in the postseason, including the game to clinch the state title.
He is throwing over 90 MPH, but he won’t pitch as much as some would expect. He will likely only throw in area games and postseason games like he has done the last few seasons.
But even without him, Holtville has a few pitchers who can make an impact.
Madison Curry and Carson McCutchin are two of the biggest names who will take the mound, while Marbury transfer AJ Carreon could work himself into being the team’s No. 2 pitcher.
“Right now, I like our pitching staff,” Tubbs said.
“He really wrestled great all tournament,” Highland said. “Even in the loss he wrestled well. He just got winded with it being his first tournament back. I feel like we’ll beat that kid if we wrestle him again.” Martin went 3-1 as well in the 120 weight class. He won via pin, decision and tiebreaker in a double overtime match against Pelham’s Patrick Warner.
FILE | TPI
Holtville’s Drey Barrett, who went 5-0 with five complete games in the postseason last year, returns to lead the Bulldogs for his senior season. The Southern Miss signee also hit .366 with 22 extra base hits.
“I think we have seven or eight guys we can run out there and be competitive with. Last year, I felt like we had four. Who knows if they all pan out, but I like the guys we’re working with right now and I think we have a shot with any of them on the mound.” Potts, Davis and Sam Silas are also all gone from the infield, and there will be some shifting around for the Bulldogs this year. Barrett will start at shortstop while Drew Connor, who had a stellar postseason last year, is even better this year according to Tubbs. He will play some third and second base while Braxton Potts has moved from outfield to the infield.
“Defensively, we lost some key guys, but I think we’re better right now,” Tubbs said. “Our outfield is super fast and has good arms and infield wise, we’re pretty solid. I like what we have.”
He had a tough match in the championship facing No. 2-ranked Stephen Springfield of Mountain Brook and came up on the wrong side of a 21-10 major decision.
“Swayze has come so far since the beginning of the year,” Highland said. “He works hard every single day and he just competed for the finals as a ninth grader. The future is bright for him.”
Troy Watson (126) and Brantley Woodall (157) both qualified for state for finishing fifth and sixth in their classes.
STANHOPE ELMORE, HOLTVILLE SEND 3 TO STATE
The Mustangs and Bulldogs will also be represented in Huntsville this weekend. For Stanhope Elmore, Kristian Seals (150) and Dominic Sager (285) both earned qualifying bids for finishing in the Top 6. Seals finished third place in his weight class after going 3-1 with wins over Wetumpka, Spanish Fort and Mountain Brook. He lost to Homewood’s Bobby Chamorro via decision,
In centerfield will likely be Bryce Watson who started every game in the postseason there. Markus Broderick returns in right field after hitting .274 with two home runs before getting hurt last year.
Carreon will play in the outfield as well as Kelan Kimbro and Jayce Price.
“I think we’re deeper in the outfield right now than we’ve ever been since I’ve been at the school,” Tubbs said. “It’s all going to come down to who hits the ball.” There are some key returners in the lineup. Barrett will start the year in the 3-hole after hitting .366 with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 43 RBIs. Potts hit .297 while catcher Randy Bridges .230 and Connor hit .429 in postseason play.
The Bulldogs open the 2024 season Thursday at 4:30 p.m. against Thorsby at home.
4-0. Sager went 3-2 with wins over Pelham, Robertsdale and Benjamin Russell. He earned the No. 5 seed.
For Holtville, Sam Segarra is the only Bulldog to qualify. He went 3-2 and finished fourth overall in the 150 class in 5A. His only losses came to Elmore County’s Tyler Payton, who won the championship, and Gulf Shores’ Cotton Crowell in the third place match. All three of Segarra’s wins came via pin.
SOFTBALL
CLIFF WILLIAMS TPI
Wetumpka seniors Clark Barker, right, and Nate Rogers both signed National Letters of Intent to play college football Wednesday. Barker signed with South Alabama while Rogers signed with UAB.
THURSDAY, FEB. 15
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
4 (G) Wetumpka at Prattville, 7 p.m.
4 (B) Holtville at Tallassee, 7 p.m.
High School Softball Springwood at Edgewood, 3:30 p 4.m.
4 Wetumpka, Tallassee at Prattville Tournament, TBA
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
4 Springwood at Edgewood, 4 p.m.
4 Stanhope Elmore at PCA, 7 p.m.
4 Wetumpka at Andalusia, 3 p.m.
4 Thorsby at Holtville, 4:30 p.m.
4 Beulah at Tallassee, 4:30 p.m.
4 AHSAA State Wrestling Championships
4 Tallassee,Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore, Elmore County, Holtville at Von Braun Center in Huntsville
FRIDAY, FEB. 16
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
4 Holtville at Lincoln Tournament, TBA
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
4 Holtville at Opelika Tournament, TBA Wetumpka,Tallassee, Stanhope Elmore at Prattville Tournament, TBA
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
4 Wetumpka at Pike Road, 3 p.m.
4 Tallassee at Reeltown, 6:30 p.m.
4 AHSAA State Wrestling Championships
4 Tallassee,Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore, Elmore County, Holtville at Von Braun Center in Huntsville
SATURDAY, FEB. 17
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
(B) Robertsdale at Wetumpka
4 Holtville at Lincoln Tournament, TBA
4 (G) Thompson at Stanhope Elmore, 5:30 p.m.
4 Tallassee at Charles Henderson, 12 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
4 Holtville at Opelika Tournament, TBA
4 Wetumpka,Tallassee, Stanhope Elmore at Prattville Tournament,TBA
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
4 Reeltown at Elmore County, 11 a.m.
4 Dothan/Trinity at Stanhope Elmore, 11 a.m.
4 Holtville vs. Catholic/WS Neal at Greenville, 11 a.m.
4 AHSAA State Wrestling Championships
4 Tallassee,Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore, Elmore County, Holtville at Von Braun Center in Huntsville
MONDAY, FEB. 19
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
4 Holtville at Elmore County, 5:30 p.m.
4 Chilton County at Stanhope Elmore, 5:30 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
4 Edgewood Academy at LeeScott Academy, 2 p.m.
4 Tallassee at Wetumpka, 5 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
4 Edgewood Academy at LeeScott Academy, 2 p.m.
4 Shades Valley at Wetumpka, 1 p.m.
4 Brew Tech at Holtville, 5 p.m.
4 BTW at Tallassee, 6 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEB. 20
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
4 Valley at Tallassee, 5:30 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
4 Holtville at Pike Road, 4:30 p.m.
4 Edgewood Academy at Bessemer Academy, 4 p.m.
4 Montgomery Catholic at Stanhope Elmore, 4:30 p.m.
4 Prattville at Tallassee, 5 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
4 Edgewood Academy at Bessemer Academy, 3:30 p.m.
4 Elmore County at Valley, 4 p.m.
4 Oak Mountain at Stanhope Elmore, 4:30 p.m. SPORTS
Elmore County finishes 4th, sends 7 to state tournament
B y DALTON MIDDLETON
Sports Editor
Elmore County’s wrestling team has accomplished its first goal. Now, the Panthers are looking to make a name for themselves.
Elmore County finished fourth overall in the AHSAA Class 5A Super Sectionals this weekend at Garrett Coliseum. The Panthers had two champions and seven total wrestlers qualify for the state tournament held Thursday in Huntsville.
Freshman Tyler Payton and senior Myles Eyerly both won their weight classes while Shawn Colvin, Luke Reinert, Stran Webb, Dylan Andres and Hayden Fochtmann all qualified by finishing in the top four.
“Making state was our first goal, but we want to do more than just qualify for state,” Panthers coach Mason Thornton said. “We want to go up there and perform well and win some matches. I think we have a shot at placing pretty high as
a team this week.”
At the top of Elmore County’s roster are two of the top wrestlers in the state.
Eyerly, the defending Class 5A champion in heavyweight, is ranked No. 1 as well as Payton in 150. Both have been ranked No. 1 all year long and they showed why. They each went 3-0 after earning first round byes and claimed first place. Eyerly
earned a pin in all three of his matches while Payton won via pin, technical fall and decision.
“They showed why they’re No. 1,” Thornton said. “We had two dominant performances from them in all of their matches.”
Colvin, the Panthers’ other senior with Eyerly, also qualified for the second straight season. He was injured in his last match, but
Thornton is hoping he will be ready to wrestle again this weekend.
The rest of the team were underclassmen or first year wrestlers.
Freshman Stran Webb (113) finished fourth and qualified for the second year in a row. Andres, in his first year wrestling at the varsity level, qualified at the 120. Fochtmann qualified at 157, and he wasn’t even the full time starter until just a few weeks ago. He finished in fourth.
Reinert is a junior but is wrestling for the first time since he was in seventh grade. He finished third in 190 and won two matches.
“It’s pretty exciting to see as a coach,” Thornton said. “You have a bunch of guys who have never even wrestled at sections and they do well on the big stage. It leaves you knowing you have a bright future when they’re qualifying so early in their careers. These guys work hard and that is shown off on a weekend like this.”
Indian Trails race a success
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Build it and they will come.
A decade ago the Wetumpka High School NERDS started competing in Greenpower Racing, an all electric car racing league.
Wetumpka had a single car in the stock class. Last season the Indians added modified and custom class cars and success followed.
The custom car finished third nationally, the stock car fifth and the modified 14th.
But Dr. Virginia Vilardi didn’t let the race team rest on its laurels. The NERDS wanted to host a race in Wetumpka and the Indian Trails was born at the Wetumpka Sports Complex on Saturday.
“The weather held off for the most part,” Vilardi said. “We have lots of teams. The kids are having a good time.”
Greenpower created a half-mile road course in the parking lot of the complex for racers. Vilardi and the NERDS hoped for a good turn out and a reason to do it again next year.
“There were 28 cars in our first one,”Vilardi said.
“Everyone said if you get 20 cars on the first one, you are doing really well. We watched the numbers go up during registration and said this might be a lot for our first time out. I think we will do this again.” The event attracted
teams from four states, including Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
The race league started in Huntsville, so Wetumpka is a central location for a lot of teams making travel easy as they seek out competition.
Vilardi said the NERDS limit their travel because of the expense.
“We don’t want to travel all the way to Huntsville because it is an overnight trip,” she said. “We try to keep travel to about two hours or less one way.”
The NERDS normally take their three cars to Oxford, Talladega and to LaGrange, Georgia to compete. Most of the time they leave hours before the sun rises.
But Saturday the team got to sleep in a little with the race in its backyard.
“I have been involved in the cars since I stepped into that high school,” senior NERD Jake Cagle said. “This is my favorite thing to do.”
Cagle is the crew chief of Wetumpka’s stock car. There is not too much that is allowed in the way of modifications to the car within the rules.
“We have to use the gears [Greenpower] provides,” Cagle said. “You can’t change them.
On the modified and custom, you can use different gears. Custom is pretty much unlimited.”
Greenpower also dictates which motor can be used, but there are some differences in stock
motors.
“No two motors are exactly the same,” Cagle said. “They are the same manufacture and same model, but some are better. Some teams find magic motors. They find one that has a little more juice. You get two of them and put them in identical cars side by side. Same driver weight, one will go faster than the other.”
The one proven way to make the cars faster is the driver. Not only do driving abilities help but the lighter the driver, the faster the car. It is a balance between youth and experience at the wheel. Drivers must also control the car like a race car, and team members make adjustments on the fly. Saturday Cagle was making a repair to the alignment and front right tire.
“The camber was more positive,” Cagle said. “It will eat more tire on the front right.”
After one race Satur-
day, a tire needed to be changed, one of many expenses the team incurs.
“We start the season in the fall with 12 new batteries,” Vilardi said. “We go through three sets a year and are starting to replace those. Some teams use more.”
There are motors too.
The NERDS need to replace them from time to time, but some cars are hard on them depending on the race course.
“We are still trying to get our gear ratio right on the custom car,” Vilardi said. “It just keeps burning up the motors. It’s part of the trouble shooting.”
The issues are not unlike those faced by any type of race team in any league. Even facing adversity, the NERDS are already successful this season.
“We are happy,” Vilardi said. “We have already qualified for Talladega for the nationals in May.”
Elmore Community Hospital sees a first
Staff Report
Podiatrists in Alabama can now operate on more than feet.
Thanks to 2023 legislation, Alabama podiatrists can now operate on ankles.
On Feb. 6 Elmore Community Hospital experienced a first. Podiatrist Dr. Tommy Garnett performed the first ankle arthroscopy at Elmore Community Hospital.
“This type of surgery increases range of motion and decreases pain,” Garnett said.
Elmore Community Hospital director of surgery Pam Sasser coordinated training labs for several podiatrists in the area a few months ago.
“This gave Dr. Garnett, along with several other podiatrists, an opportunity to review and brush up on their skills,” Sasser said.
Garnett has ties to Elmore Community Hospital beyond the operating room.
“My mother worked at this facility years ago and I was even born here,”Garnett said. “What a great ser-
vice to our surrounding community to be able to offer this surgery as an addition to our available procedures.”
Garnett said he loves how hard working Elmore County residents are. He wants to help them live a comfortable life.
“If you can’t walk you can’t work,” Garnett said. “This surgery allows us to use a state of the art nanoscope to clean out the inflammatory tissue that usually occurs from injury or just hard work, so the patient can get moving again.”
Elmore County’s Tyler Payton was one of two champions for the Panthers in Saturday’s 5A Super Sectionals. Payton won the 150-pound weight class with a 3-0 weekend.
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
The middle school division gets set to head out on the half-mile road course created at the Wetumpka Sports Complex for Greenpower Racing.
From Elmore County to the Puppy Bowl
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Sonny took part in this year’s Puppy Bowl, and played on Team Ruff.
He might not be as famous as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, but he is living up a dream in New York City. However his story starts in Elmore County, thanks to a partnership between the Humane Society of Elmore County and a shelter in New York.
“They don’t always have puppies and have adopters that would like puppies, like adopters here,” HSEC executive director Rea Cord said. “It really works out because we are just so overloaded and it helps save more than those puppies' lives.”
When the weather starts cooling off up north, the litters of puppies slow down. That is not the case in Alabama where shelters are filled with animals. To help make room in the Elmore County shelter, Sonny was transported to New York in Sept. 2023.
“We are sometimes just buried in them,” Cord said.
“We can ship off 25 puppies and we will still have 25-30 or more in the shelter.
The likelihood of a disease outbreak increases exponentially with the more puppies in the facility. If you can keep those numbers under control, it reduces the likelihood of a disease outbreak like parvo or severe upper respiratory or things like that.”
Cord said the shelter takes in far more puppies than adult dogs. The young animals present an issue when in close quarters such as the shelter.
“They are coming off dirt roads,” Cord said. “They are coming out of bad places. They are coming from places where nobody has been vaccinated.”
The partnership allows the shelter to take care of more animals.
“It is getting them homes,” Cord said. “It is
saving lives because you don’t end up with disease problems. It gives more space to the dogs people aren’t flocking in for. It really works.”
Sonny and other Elmore County puppies were transported north by Best Friends working through a shelter in New York state in operation for more than 100 years. It’s in a county much like Elmore County in size. The shelter runs similar to Elmore County’s but has some differences.
“The shelter doesn’t take
in animal control animals like we do,” Cord said. “They don’t have the stray hold.”
According to stories posted online by Best Friends, Sonny was fostered by a family in Manhattan, who eventually ended up adopting Sonny. New dog mom Liana Khatri said Sonny has been with her husband to work and has won over everyone.
“He’s famous in our neighborhood, a local celebrity,” Khatri told Good Friends. “Sonny insists on
stopping outside the doorman office until they come out, and he has so many friends in the neighborhood.”
Sonny has opened the doors to the Khatri family to new friends.
“There’s his friend Rigatoni and his friend Randall, and Randall’s mom is April,” Khatri said. “His girlfriend’s name is Matilda. His newest friend Stanley is a 4-month-old Chihuahua and beagle mix who was just adopted. All these people live on different blocks,
but you end up speaking to these people who are your neighbors.”
No matter the outcome of the Puppy Bowl, Cord is hopeful Sonny’s experience brings attention to animal shelters across the country.
“Hopefully it will highlight that there are absolutely wonderful animals in shelters, that is a good thing,” Cord said. “We have puppies, adults and old dogs and young dogs and purebreds. We have a little bit of everything.” SUBMITTED
Local schools benefit from grants
Staff Report
Elmore County students will get an extra learning experience thanks to Bright Ideas Grants.
Some of the grants this year from the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative are aimed at cultivating a student’s passion for writing and literacy, learning proper procedures for drawing blood and learning to grow your own food through hydroponics.
Kimberly Kirkland of Coosada Elementary; Amy Colquitt, Lori Higgins, Michael Miller, Perry Caton and Denise Young of Elmore County Technical Center; Liz Johnson of Holtville Middle School; Allison Gardino, Rhiannon Allison and Lindsey Duncan of Prattville Christian Academy; and Shannon Hughes and Kristy Shaw of Wetumpka Elementary received grants to help encourage students on a path of knowledge. They are among $24,000 in grants to 24 projects across 21 schools, benefiting almost 7,000 students within five counties in CAEC’s service area.
“I cannot express how truly thankful we are to have such dedicated individuals instructing and
influencing the future leaders and workforce of our communities,” CAEC president and CEO Tom Stackhouse said. “We are honored to provide assis-
tance to our educators who work persistently to impact all students by providing them the tools they need to be successful as well as instilling in them the desire for a lifetime of learning. You all are heroes, and we are incredibly thankful to be able to award these funds to you.” CAEC has awarded
$376,000 to local schools through the program, benefiting more than 130,000 students across all grade levels and content areas, since the inception of the Bright Ideas Grant Program. The application process for 2025 Bright Ideas Grants will begin in September.
Sonny has been made famous by the 20th annual Puppy Bowl. His journey started at the Humane Society of Elmore County Animal Shelter. He was then transported to New hyork in Septemeber before he was selected for the famous puppy game.
Kimberly Kirkland of Coosada Elementary; Amy Colquitt, Lori Higgins, Michael Miller, Perry Caton and Denise Young of Elmore County Technical Center; Liz Johnson of Holtville Middle School; Allison Gardino, Rhiannon Allison and Lindsey Duncan of Prattville Christian Academy; and Shannon Hughes and Kristy Shaw of Wetumpka Elementary received grants Bright Ideas Grants from Central Alabama Electric Cooperative.
PHOTOS
WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 14, 2024
MIA COURSEY TO PLAY IN COLLEGIATE BAND
By ADRIAN BUSH For The Observer
F
ans of the Huntingdon College Band should be on the lookout for a rising star in Mia Coursey. Coursey has been committed to play the baritone in the college band, where she will again be under the direction of Elmore County High School’s beloved former band director, Anthony Vittore. Mr. V or “V” as the students affectionately called him, began his new band leadership position at Huntingdon in June of 2023. Of Vittore, Coursey said, “I’ve never had a teacher encourage me as much as he has.”
Always having been musically inclined, when Coursey moved to Eclectic, she was hoping to join the school choir. Upon discovering there was no choir, band was the natural next step. Coursey plays the baritone, which, like the French horn or tuba, is a low-pitched brass instrument in the saxhorn family. If you’ve never heard of a baritone, don’t feel bad.
As Coursey admitted, “No one ever knows what it is.”
Coursey is going to keep the baritone front and center.
Coursey had a tough decision to make, as she had to choose between her two top schools: Huntingdon and Troy University. Ultimately, however, Huntingdon won out.
“I’m excited to meet a whole new band and play with new people,” Coursey said.
But rest assured that there is no love lost when it comes to the closeness of the high school band’s musicians.
“I’ve never been close with people like this who weren’t family,” she said.
This has changed over the years, because when Coursey joined the band, she was just a shy seventh grader.
“I was really quiet and I really didn’t talk to a lot of people but band really opened up for me,” Coursey said. “I was only 13 and I was smaller than everyone else.”
Playing the baritone helped her to learn how to take up space in her new school.
When asked what the secret sauce is in being a really good player,
Coursey said it’s all about daily practice. Right now there are four players in the baritone section at Coursey’s school and she’s both the oldest and the only girl in the section. Was it scary for her to start playing a brand new instrument? Yes, a little.
“You should always try something new; you shouldn’t be scared,” Coursey said. “I didn’t
know anything about playing instruments and in band, I learned about how to read music, play it, and keep time.”
The lifestyle Coursey has chosen is not a complete cake walk. On top of daily practice, she also has to devote her free time almost entirely to band life as well. Coursey said that one of the downsides is, “you can’t just go out
in the evenings and hang out with your friends.”
Instead, she has adapted to the challenge and all of her friends are in band. Also in the band, and following in Coursey’s footsteps, is her brother, Daughtry. He is thirteen and, like his sister, he chose brass for his instrument of choice, the tuba. Who knows, maybe he will be a Hawk soon too.
Elmore County’s Murphy, Thames sign with West Florida
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Jabari Murphy and Jonathan Thames are going to continue terrorizing defenses together.
The Elmore County duo signed National Letters of Intent to play college football together at the University of West Florida on Wednesday.
West Florida is a Division II University located in Pensacola and competes in the Gulf South Conference.
“I think it’s really cool that both of us are going to the same place,” Thames said. “Most people don’t even get an opportunity to play, and I have a teammate there. I have somebody I already know and will be able to have a friend when I get there.”
Murphy, a three-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 44 player in the state, is signing as a receiver while Thames is signing as an offensive lineman.
Murphy recorded 37 catches for 500 yards and five touchdowns this season. In the backfield, he rushed for 363 yards and five touchdowns. He was invited to the AHSAA North-South All-Star Football game.
Murphy had multiple
offers from Division I programs spanning from West Virginia to Mississippi State, but with college football’s transfer portal taking precedence in most programs, his scholarship opportunities at those schools dwindled.
So instead, he looked to the Division 2, Divi-
sion 3 and junior college routes and West Florida came around and started talking to him. After looking into the program, he knew that’s where he wanted to go.
“I’ve always wanted to play college football and I’m glad that I’m going to be able to play ball at the next level and chase
my dreams,” Murphy said. “West Florida has a great program and their campus is beautiful, and that’s really what led me to my decision.”
Thames was one of the best offensive lineman in the county, grading out at 88% block rate and allowing only one sack while earning 43 pancake
blocks, but his recruitment process was very different from Murphy’s.
In fact, he first jumped on the radar of West Florida when the coaches came to visit Murphy at Elmore County.
While visiting, the West Florida coaches saw Thames walking the hallway and asked about
him. They watched film on Thames with Elmore County coach Kyle Caldwell, and they asked Thames to come on a visit.
Thames and his family visited West Florida on a Thursday and received his offer on a Friday.
“I’m just really thankful to the Lord for giving me this opportunity,” Thames said. “I wouldn’t be here without him and all of my coaches and my family helping me get through all the adversity.”
West Florida is not just the average Division II program. The Argonauts, in just eight seasons of having a program, have put the country on notice.
They have played for two national championships, winning one in 2019, and have had nine or more wins in four of the seven seasons they have fielded a team. Since 2019, West Florida has had eight or more wins every season.
“I think we can help them win another national championship,” Murphy said. “Coach (Kaleb) Nobles is a really good coach and they’ve won one title. They’ve played for another one. We’re excited to get down there.”
DALTON MIDDLETON TPI
Elmore County’s Jabari Murphy, left, and Jonathan Thames both signed National Letters of Intent to play college football at the University of West Florida.
SUBMITTED TPI
Elmore County High School senior Mia Coursey will take her playing talents to Huntingdon College.