Horizon: Building 2020 by Tallapoosa Publishers

HORIZON BUILDING

2020

A Vision of Progress in Elmore County

Januar y 2 02 0

HORIZONS 2020

STAFF

From the Editor's Desk

“W

hat a beautiful thing it is to be able to stand tall and say, ‘I fell apart, and I survived.’” This quote by an unknown author seemed fitting for our annual publication, Horizons, which focuses content on progress and perseverance in Elmore County. In this instance, the City of Wetumpka has overcome challenges after facing destruction and devastation from a tornado that swept through the downtown area and along the Coosa River. Although completely beyond its control, the city faced a crisis that led to hardships and tragedy. Yet, a year later, Wetumpka stands tall and looks back on the day that strong EF2 tornado ravaged the town with hope and a chance to rebuild. Read Mayor Jerry Willis’ thoughts a year later on page 6. The town and its residents not only survived but thrived when they bound together to demonstrate an extraordinary turnout of volunteers. The first responders acted swiftly and efficiently in the face of danger. City officials showed kindness and generosity to residents and organizations. People lost homes; city equipment was damaged; and public areas suffered great loss. But in the end, Wetumpka survived. There was not one fatality during this natural disaster and very minimal injuries. Oftentimes, once the dust has settled, we are able to spot some positives in a negative situation. Turn to page 14 to read about The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery that lost its space at the City Administration Building to make way for the Wetumpka PD. Board members needed that added push to find their own home base. Even though the police department has adapted to function in sub-par conditions, the new building under renovation will be more secure, modernized and a better quality resource for its citizens. Read more about this journey on page 10. On page 34, read about the First Presbyterian Church, which was demolished but received such grandiose bounty. Aside from its own re-building – mostly funded through insurance – it now has the finances to further its mission of helping others who need it most. Donations flooded the Elmore County Disaster Relief Fund, and the community chipped in to make sure everyone was fed, clothed and housed. While the hope is that Wetumpka would never face a disaster like this again, the reality is that it could at any time. As a result, Emergency Management Agency Director Keith Barnett offers some tips and advice on page 30 about being prepared and urges all residents to take tornado warnings seriously. The surrounding towns all offered their services in whatever ways were needed during that fateful period. Eclectic, Tallassee and Millbrook balanced assisting a sister town in need in conjunction with growing their own communities to enhance quality of lives. So while tragedy struck the town of Wetumpka and surrounding areas in Elmore County, locals learned the true meaning of community. In this issue, we unfold the events surrounding the Jan. 19, 2019 tornado, and hope to inspire our readers to keep persevering, noting the success that’s already been made. What defines us is how well we rise after falling. Wetumpka chose to rise back bigger and better than ever, and we at Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., along with Elmore County, stand in full support.

Chairman Kenneth Boone

kenneth.boone@alexcityoutlook.com

President & Publisher Steve Baker steve.baker@alexcityoutlook.com Managing Editor Betsy Iler

betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com

Editor Amy Passaretti

amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com

Creative Services Audra Spears audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Distribution Manager Erin Burton

erin.burton@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing Consultants Marilyn Hawkins

marilyn.hawkins@thewetumpkaherald.com

Andy Carr andy.carr@tallasseetribune.com

Digital Services Kat Raiford

kat.raiford@alexcityoutlook.com

Elle Fuller elle.fuller@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors Kenneth Boone Cliff Williams Gabrielle Jansen Carmen Rodgers Caleb Turrentine Santana Wood

Lizi Arbogast Daniel Dye Barry Chrietzberg Patrick Glackmeyer Justin Averette

All content, including all stories and photos, are copyright of

Amy Passaretti, Editor 4

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Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 99 127 Company Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-567-7811

CONTENTS ON THE COVER The First Presbyterian Church is an iconic landmark in Wetumpka that was destroyed by the tornado last January. It is currently under construction on the same land, as the bell tower is affixed in place. Photo by Daniel Dye

In This Issue praises Wetumpka's 6 Mayor perseverance and progress PD adapts after 10 Wetumpka building is ravaged inventory 12 Much-needed position created after crisis Kelly carries out its 14 The mission without a home under 18 Transformations way in Tallassee

focuses on 20 Millbrook enhancing quality of life

staff to arrive on the 23 First scene of the Twister: A step24 Tale by-step timeline Director: How to Be 30 EMA Prepared Power a beacon 32 Alabama for the community at iconic 34 Reformation landmark resident launches 40 Eclectic Business Relations Committee

and kindness 44 Donations flood the town HORIZONS 2020

Mayor Willis praises Wetumpka's perseverance and progress STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI

year after disaster struck Wetumpka, Mayor Jerry Willis said he now stands in the same spot where he once saw destruction and despair and sees opportunities and progress. “Going through this makes you stronger. You learn to appreciate things and see the beauty in things I never paid attention to before,” said Willis. “What I saw on that day and what happened on that day – I could have never imagined.” While the loss is certainly felt, it’s also an opportunity to be grateful and recognize the true needs of the community, he added. With the cleanup efforts at about 85 percent, the city has come a long way since Jan. 19, 2019, and it’s been a communal collaboration. “The whole community came together and has been very supportive. It’s a slow process, but we’re gradually climbing back up,” said Willis. The City of Wetumpka has taken on huge expenses with rebuilding, replacing and restoring the town. Willis said Wetumpka received no money from the government since they did not meet the $7 million threshold in damages (as insured residences and infrastructure do not count). They ended up estimating about $5.5 million. “People don’t realize the expense the city has taken on. Just converting the City Administration Building to be suitable for our police department – we had to add technology, security, a vault,” he said. Citywide losses extended to landscaping, lampposts, sidewalks – many things people don’t even think about that were destroyed. Fortunately, the City recently purchased a Wells Fargo building that will be renovated – using mostly city crews – and converted into the new Wetumpka Police Department. Willis hoped they would be moved in by January, but construction is still in the works. “This will be the best police facility we’ve ever had here, and location-wise they will be very visible,” said Willis. The senior center has been operating out of a church in Wallsboro, and the City hopes to renovate another local building to accommodate their programs back in Wetumpka. The next step is to review the properties that were cleared

“Going through this makes you stronger. You learn to appreciate things and see the beauty in things I never paid attention to before.” ~ Mayor Jerry Willis on the west bank of the Coosa River and figure out how the town wants it developed. The city-owned property was almost completely wiped by the tornado, so there’s an opportunity to plan for the needs of the people. “We will be holding meetings to begin planning and determining what to develop over in that area. We have the opportunity to figure out what the need is,” said Willis. “Then we find investors and developers that are interested in taking over the project. It’s a lot of work, but we’ve made a lot of progress.” Willis and City Clerk Tiffany Robinson both expressed how grateful they are to still be working out of the city’s operating budget despite the added expenses. “Everything we did, we were able to do under our operating budget. Thankfully, we haven’t gone in the hole,” said Robinson. The best thing they did, Willis said, was to not budget for every dime. This allowed for a cushion, which they

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Willis reflects on the potential for rebuilding the damaged area along the Coosa River

unfortunately were required to use. While not much has changed in the way of emergency response, the City did create a new position for safety and inventory control. “The city now knows exactly what we have, and it’s accounted for on a daily basis. We had to guess on the numbers of some items we lost because we didn’t know,” said Robinson. “Now we have a list of everything in one place.” For communities that have thankfully never faced such tragedy, Willis said, it would be the best advice he could give. “Create an inventory person if you don’t have one. That’s the one piece of advice I would give right now,” he said. The overwhelming pride in the town’s first responders though is evident. “The tornado was on top of us before we even knew it was here,” said Willis. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way our

first responders handled the situation. They secured the area, assessed it and checked homes for injuries. Fire department, police, EMA – they were all efficient.” The mayor is planning to create a monument of some kind to honor the community for persevering through that heartbreaking day. “We have someone interested in designing it. We don’t know exactly what we would do yet, but we’re having an open dialogue about it,” said Willis. The community was astounded by the support not only of its own but also state directors, representatives, mayors and, of course, the governor. “When Gov. Ivey looks at me and said, ‘you done good, sugar,’ it means a lot,” said Willis.

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Debris from the Wetumpka Police Department building is offloaded to a dump truck

Wetumpka PD adapts after building is ravaged STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

hen tragedy strikes a community, everyone has to make sacrifices for continued progress. No one understands this better than the Wetumpka Police Department personnel who worked two weeks straight with 16-hour days to ensure the safety of Wetumpka residents after the tornado ravished the town. As per their training as first responders, they are accustomed to improvising, adapting and overcoming any situation – and they’ve continued to do it all year. “On the day of the tornado, our department was completely destroyed. But we still had work to do,” said WPD Chief Greg Benton. “Very little was salvageable, and it was very hectic. We had to worry about the safety of everyone in town, all the while looking for a place to operate.” But they improvised. Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis graciously offered the police department use of the second floor in the City Administration Building. “The mayor was even willing to give up his office for me, but I couldn’t let him do that,” said Benton. While the space is a little too tight and the open public access isn’t ideal for security purposes, Benton said, the department appreciates having a place to go. The Elmore County Sheriff ’s Department has even offered up its space for the WPD to conduct interviews.

The roof of the WPD is ripped off during the January 2019 tornado

“During the tornado, everyone was out on the streets working. Most officers keep their equipment in their vehicles, too, so they can be ready to go anytime,” said Benton. “But we lost four vehicles, including equipment inside; we lost records, evidence, computers. We claimed close to a million dollars in loss.” The building that was destroyed was built in the 1800s as a hospital and was then converted into a nursing home before the WPD moved in about nine years ago. “Security was already an issue there with many unsecured entrance points. We had literally just gotten it where it was secure and where we wanted it about two

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weeks before the tornado hit,” said Benton. But they adapted. The Montgomery Police Department sold the WPD five police vehicles at a mere $200 each, which helped them out until insurance money came through. First responders, as a whole, really made it possible for the community to overcome. “It was overwhelming, but we couldn’t have done it without the surrounding areas’ law enforcement, fire departments – close to 15 agencies from the River Region, plus the state, were a huge help,” said WPD Assistant Chief Ed Reeves. “It was a lot of work, re-directing people, keeping people out of downtown. We literally couldn’t have functioned without their help.” The citizens stepped up, as well. “On the day of the tornado, I was watching WSFA, and it said a tornado was coming. I jumped up, got ready, and when I got out there, there were already community members out there,” said Benton. Residents came out with equipment to move trees off the police vehicles, and church members helped move furniture. It was a true team effort. “It was a very impressive moment in the history of Wetumpka and the surrounding areas,” Benton said. It was beyond fortunate that there were no deaths and very few injuries, but the police faced a close call. Five officers were in the patrol room mere minutes before the tornado hit the building. They had just made it outside to look for the incoming funnel when it crashed through the room where they had been sitting and tore off the roof. “It was surreal,” said Benton. “And looking back at the damage and knowing where everything had been located and it not being there – was tough.” The natural disaster not only caused damage on its own but also broke the sprinkler system in the police department, so the building flooded. There was knee-deep water in some areas and even worse on the lower floors, said Benton. As the WPD continues to overcome, they have exciting news ahead and a more suitable home to occupy in the future. An old Wells Fargo building is being renovated, and Benton said. “All the citizens should be proud; it will be a nice

Attorney Jim DeBardelaben (right) transfers documents for the old Wells Fargo bank building to Mayor Jerry Willis for the new police station

Chief Greg Benton is eager to move into the new accommodations

building,” he said. Reeves said the plan is to be in working order at the new location no later than March 1 – and hopefully sooner.

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Dakota Steed Much-needed inventory position created after crisis

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Dakota Steed is the safety and inventory control manager for the City of Wetumpka

STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI PHOTO BY AUDRA SPEARS

akota Steed’s position as safety and inventory control manager with the City of Wetumpka was created as a direct result of the devastating tornadoes demolishing city buildings, vehicles and equipment. When trying to replace items and file for insurance, there was no master inventory list of city-owned items. Mayor Jerry Willis recognized the need for one to prevent any future issues. “If we had an inventory before and prices for what we paid for everything, it would have helped with the replacements and the process would have been expedited,” said Steed. “It took a while to realize everything that was lost and to file everything that was lost.” Creating that running list of cityowned items is a task he’s labored over since the launch of this new position on April 1, 2019. His main job entails risk management and preparation for any major problems. Previously, Steed worked in the public works department as the safety coordinator for seven years. While Steed works in administration, he collaborates with every department head and employee and relies on them to update him when new inventory is purchased. “When something new is purchased, I get a folder ready that has title, registration, brief description, year, price we paid,” said Steed. “Or the model and serial number of equipment.” Using Excel, Steed manages his own system to track inventory divided by department, and the police department vehicles are separated into their own files. There is a master list of vehicles and equipment and one listing all city-owned facilities. “Several police vehicles were totaled in the tornado, and there was so much gear inside between computers and additional equipment we lost. It makes a difference having an inventory of all that,” said Steed. “When you suffer a catastrophe, it’s already a stressful situation, and with no list, it makes it really hard.” Now, Steed retains a master list in the City Administration Building where his office is located, and also keeps a second

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copy elsewhere – just in case something were to happen to either building. When buildings were marred in the tornado, the city re-evaluated its insurance and recognized the need for additional coverage. “If you break down everything, it’s a lot more than you think,” said Steed. “For example, we keep personnel files in binders for more than 50 years after a person has left the job. Each of those binders can be $10 or more. It all adds up.” The Fain Senior Center was completely demolished, and Steed worked with everyone in the program there to recover his or her memories of what was inside. Luckily, there was an abundance of photos recalling events that had taken place in the venue, which were a huge help in identifying what was missing due to the damage. “I mean they had artwork, mirrors – things you don’t think about,” Steed said. The police department was about two-thirds destroyed, and inventory was recollected mostly by memory. Steed could walk through the damage and try to locate items, but it was a huge mess and was an unrealistic venture to pursue. “When we started purchasing new items to get the police department back up and running quickly, we would make copies, inventory it and mark it down right away,” he said. His position also handles worker’s compensation and insurance on city buildings. “It’s a lot of documentation, but I am very organized, and you have to be detailoriented for this job,” said Steed. While one incident could take up a whole day’s work, Steed said, he enjoys that his job requires something different every day. “You can try to be as prepared as you can, but every situation will still be different,” he said. Even though it was a disastrous day, Steed said, being a Wetumpka native, he was especially proud at how everyone came together to help one another. “That’s why I love this town, it’s a true community,” he said.

The Kelly carries out its mission without a home STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS & COURTESY OF CAROL HICKMAN

The second annual Tulotoma Art Trail showcases a variety of local talent

he Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery persevered in 2019 and carried on its mission to support artists despite the lack of a permanent location. Once the tornado destroyed the Wetumpka Police Department, the second floor of the City Administration Building, where The Kelly had been housed, became the best option to relocate the WPD’s operations. “Monday morning after the tornado, Mayor Willis asked to speak with the board and me and told us we had to be out by the end of the week,” said Carol Hickman, past president of The Kelly. “It was the only city-owned location that met the requirements needed by the police.” Every Kelly board member stepped up, packed boxes and moved the gallery’s collections into a 20-foot by 20-foot climate-controlled storage unit by Thursday of that same

week. “The police have to have a home, and we understood that,” said Hickman. “Plus, we had already set into motion to find our own place before this happened. We just hadn’t gotten that far.” They had just set up an exhibit the week before the storm hit, so all the artists were called in to pick up their pieces. The rest of the year’s planned exhibits were put on hold. The Kelly’s building search committee has looked at roughly 20 possible locations, but everything has either been too costly, too small or required too much work. “We haven’t had a capital campaign, so we don’t have a lot of money, but we have the ability to raise it,” said Hickman. Members of The Kelly didn’t miss a beat, and Tuesdays with Kelly, its monthly lunch and learn program, kept classes

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This John Kelly Fitzpatrick painting is one of many available for sale in The Kelly's online auction

“I am so proud of The Kelly and how much we are able to help artists, which is the most important thing.” ~ Carol Hickman, past president of The Kelly

going at Trinity Episcopal Church throughout the year. “We started right back up in February. We continued as normal, and they stayed well attended as normal,” said Hickman. To carry on its mission to exhibit art, The Kelly hosted an online Treasure Hunt collection from April to November. The subjects for each month varied, and artists could submit up to three photos of different works to be included in the gallery each month. They ended up with about 170 pieces in total, which are still posted online at thekelly.org. As a fundraiser for The Kelly’s building fund, the organization also launched an online auction, Vision 2020, with donated artwork, including a John Kelly Fitzpatrick painting, an Eloise Hawkins piece, some oil works, photographs and acrylics from Alabama artists.

“We will receive a portion of the proceeds from the auction sales,” Hickman said. The auction runs until Feb. 28, and participants will be notified if someone outbids their prices. The Kelly still joined with Main Street Wetumpka to host its second annual Tulotoma Art Trail and also implemented a steampunk competition in conjunction in the alleyway. Artists were given a pile of junk that they morphed into creative works of art. All pieces were auctioned off, and the art is still on displayed along the Coosa River. “It was a really successful event, and we hope to make it an annual thing,” said Hickman. The second annual Artists Market, in conjunction with A Dickens Christmas, also was a great success, as more than $4,000 in art was sold. The inaugural Sylvia McConnell

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Donna Pickens leads a pop-up workshop from Alabama Arts Alliance during one of last year's Tuesdays with Kelly

Art Scholarship was awarded to an Elmore County student, and The Kelly is working on endowment of that scholarship. “I am so proud of The Kelly and how much we are able to help artists, which is the most important thing,” said Hickman. In December, The Kelly hosted its annual members party and the new board positions were announced. Belyn Richardson will take the reins in 2020 and lead members into a new year as The Kelly president. “My thought process is to first get settled into a new facility and maybe host less exhibits. I’d like to do something different and team up with other communities and organizations; do some pop-up art exhibits within different closed storefronts; take Tuesdays with Kelly to new locations; and spread our membership,” said Richardson. The board hopes to take more road trips, visit art museums and stay as active as they’ve been in the county, she said. “We were so lucky to have that space with the city for seven years. We will forever be grateful for that. We needed that time to raise money, but we do need a space of our own,” said Hickman. While it wasn’t how they planned for it to happen, it’s a blessing in disguise to get some motivation to find their new permanent site. “It’s a lot like other tragedies. As time goes on, you can recognize some of the positive from it,” said Richardson.

Artists turn junk into beauty at the Tulotoma Art Trail's inaugural steampunk competition in the alleyway

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Mayor Johnny Hammock and Tallassee Superintendent Wade Shipman break ground on a new school parking lot

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Transformation in Tallassee STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI & PHOTOS BY CARMEN RODGERS

allassee Mayor Johnny Hammock said 2019 was the most challenging, yet rewarding, year during his tenure with the city. With a strong focus on infrastructure and economic development, Hammock’s administration has taken a proactive approach, as opposed to a reactive one. “We’re used to patching stuff when it breaks, but we’re trying to be proactive now. These things need to be done, so we are prioritizing them and securing funds for grants,” said Hammock. The City of Tallassee had a busy year with multiple projects working simultaneously. A 1-linear-mile cast iron gas line project wrapped up at the end of the year, and the City is preparing to start another section in the spring. In terms of infrastructure, the City replaced the water filter in the water filter plant; designed the new wastewater facility that will break ground this year; and mapped all the water and sewer lines using a geographic information system. “It’s been beneficial as far as economic development. The three key ingredients are infrastructure, city leadership and workforce development,” said Hammock. “The City is working hard on these areas.” The wastewater facility will have a lifespan of at least 50 years to replace the one that is now out of compliance. This massive project may take a few years to complete, but many grants already have been secured.

A downtown streetscape is under way to repair sidewalks and make them ADA-compliant; install new decorative cast iron light poles; and alter some of the parking in the downtown area. “We are also gearing up to do a utility line replacement, which could cause some issues with the streetscape,” he said. Another imminent project includes the construction of the new Tallassee High School. The repaving of an additional parking lot was completed, and the main building of the current THS will be demolished after this school year. “We will start construction this summer and hold classes in temporary structures. This will be a 14-month construction or one calendar school year,” said Hammock. After the tornado hit Wetumpka, Tallassee gave its own storm shelters a facelift and confirmed safety plans with first responders. “We helped out with Wetumpka during that time,” said Hammock. “We sent some of our fire department, police department and whoever we could to try to assist them or give their guys a break.” Hammock’s main goals for the coming year are to meet deadlines and maintain steady progressions on all ongoing projects. “My hope is everything runs smoothly, and we work on grant management for all of these projects,” he said. “It’s going to be a hectic year, but we have to operate like normal, stay focused and make sure things are done properly.” Hammock discusses the gas line project before touring the work site where outdated cast iron pipes are being replaced

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Millbrook focuses on enhancing quality of life STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI PHOTOS BY BARRY CHRIETZBERG, AMY PASSARETTI & PATRICK GLACKMEYER

nhancing the quality of life for Millbrook citizens will be the first time that Millbrook has a dedicated building and promoting economic development within the for its seniors. The center will be funded in part with a community are the main goals of City of Millbrook Community Development Block Grant. government leaders moving into 2020. This runs the “From my perspective, we want to recruit commercial and gamut from municipal services and facilities to residential retail. We want to provide as many shopping options as we growth, private investment can for our citizens,” said Ann and jobs. Harper, Millbrook’s economic “We’re in a buildingdevelopment director. and-growth mode. We Over the past two years, the have accomplished some city has worked tirelessly to wonderful things in increase its offered amenities Millbrook, but we’re always and conveniences to do striving to do more to further just that. State Route 14 is increase the city’s vitality,” the city’s main commercial said Millbrook Mayor Al corridor where a number Kelley. of dining options and other Since the town doesn’t retail establishments are in the have a traditional downtown works. area, Kelley understands the “To complement the need to think outside the business development, we want box for ways to make the to attract residential growth, area inviting and attractive. and we’re seeing that,” said As a result, he foresees many Harper. projects on the horizon for A 93-lot subdivision what he considers Millbrook’s is under construction off “downtown area” near City Grandview Road. Stone Martin Hall. Builders are focusing on Phase The first project to tackle 1, which includes 34 homes. this year is constructing a Another 61 lots will begin senior center on Grandview construction in March on Road across from City Hall. Ingram Road. The city bought and cleared “We need rooftops to lure Ann Harper and Mayor Al Kelley discuss the property to make room retail, ” said Harper. “They go plans for Millbrook's economic future for the farmhouse-style hand-in-hand.” building as a retreat for the It’s not only national large senior population. chains that are popping up around town, but also the city is “It’s going to be a beautiful building with a big front encouraging small business development with local owners, porch, rocking chairs, white dormers,” said Kelley. “We have she added. a wonderful, thriving senior population that deserves a nice For quality and convenience, Harper also said, a lot of gathering place to accommodate their needs.” street projects are in the works to widen some roads, improve Currently, the senior program is operating out of the intersections and upgrade road conditions. Millbrook Memorial Center, which is a multi-use facility. This “Several roads in our community are targeted for Rebuild

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The senior population currently gathers in Millbrook's Memorial Center for its programs

Alabama, Gov. Ivey’s infrastructure improvement plan to utilize the extra gas tax money,” said Harper. The local city-owned golf course, The Pines, received some much-needed improvements, including a halfmillion-dollar modern irrigation system. “We’re making improvements to everything we can, including our parks,” said Kelley. Millbrook places a lot of value on its community green spaces as focal points for the city and attractive venues to encourage people to get outside and be healthy, said Harper. “Our parks are very important. They are places for our families to congregate and have fun,” she said. “We want to ensure they are well maintained and safe to use.” Another significant consideration for the upcoming year is the decennial Census. The City of Millbrook is working with the Elmore County Commission to make a concerted effort to get everybody counted. “We were severely undercounted in 2010. There were a lot of areas in the city that did not get reported,” said Kelley. “Working with the county, the City of Millbrook will benefit from a grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to help promote the importance of completing the 2020 Census.” April 1, 2020, is National Census Day, and the City is planning an event around that date to encourage residents to participate. Harper said the Census is one of the mayor’s top priorities. Good, accurate data is so important for the equitable distribution of federal and state funds. “We are going to do our best to make sure everyone in Millbrook knows about it and to answer any questions they may have,” she said. All of these efforts combined make Millbrook an attractive location for those looking to relocate. Coming off the heels of a busy year, it looks like Millbrook will continue to forge ahead with its unequivocal enthusiasm. “We’re pleased with our financial position and the improvements we’re able to make,” said Kelley. “It’s been a great year.”

City officials celebrate renovations at Kid's Kingdom

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Village Green Park is home to many events, including the city's new summer concert series

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First on the Scene

Destruction covers streets downtown in Wetumpka on Jan. 19, 2019

STORY BY CALEB TURRENTINE PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

ou cannot get used to seeing that kind of destruction – trees through windows; roads shut down; horrified looks on everyone’s faces. This is not what you want to see in your community. I saw the same things in Tuscaloosa in 2011 and in Tupelo in 2014. I assisted in relief efforts at both of those places, but last January’s tornado destruction was different. This was my town, my people, my community. The first few hours were spent in shock as I avoided downed power wires, held my breath around open gas lines and tried to find a way to do my job without seeming like I was overwhelmed. But to be honest, I was overwhelmed. And that does not happen very often. I live less than a mile away from the majority of the damage in downtown Wetumpka, and I never heard the tornado. I was shaken about how much worse it could have been for me. After walking around some of the sites, I had to make it across the bridge to The Wetumpka Herald office. I successfully made it to Green Street, but then decided I had to go back across to the site of the worst destruction. On my walk back toward the bridge, a woman outside of one of the downtown shops stopped me. She had a different attitude than I expected. Her smile was contagious, and she could not stop pouring her thanks after hearing there were not any major injuries. She recognized me from a Facebook Live video and told me to be safe as I continued to walk around town. Before I walked away, she thanked me for doing what I was doing and keeping everyone informed. “What am I doing?” That’s all I could think. “There were thousands of people trying to get into the town to volunteer their services, and I hadn’t cleaned up a single piece of debris.” But that’s when it all clicked with me. I understood the true sense of community, and I saw every bit of it over those next 24 hours.

Everyone has a part to play to help the community recover, and that was clear on that weekend. The first responders were leading the way, but the number of individuals who walked into the worst areas was astounding. There was never an Caleb Turrentine individual working alone, and you couldn’t walk 20 yards without running into people offering you coffee or water. From the outside, you may have thought Wetumpka was at its lowest points. But if you saw what I saw, you knew the community has never been more alive. After having severe damage at its building, the First Baptist Church in Wetumpka held its services at the Civic Center on Sunday morning. Everyone has heard the following concept before, but it resonated that weekend. “You know Wetumpka First Baptist as a campus or a building,” said FBC Pastor Dr. James Troglen. “But look around you. These people are what Wetumpka First Baptist is.” That doesn’t just apply to churches; it can also be meant for a community. Businesses, homes and church buildings were all lost, but the community is still there. The damage cannot be undone, but it will not be the defining point of this recovery. The outpouring love and unity has shown that this community will be back stronger. As pictures and videos flew through social media over the weekend, one hashtag caught my eye: #We2Strong. Of course, I love a good pun, but this one was more than that. This one made me believe. And so does this community. Caleb Turrentine is a sports writer for Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., and was the first staff member on the scene Jan. 19, 2019.

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Tale of the Twister

“I laid down on the floor next to the bed and didn’t know if I would live ... I felt glass hitting me. It was like knives being thrown at me.” ~ Sharon Watson, resident inside her home when the storm struck Saturday, January 19, 2019

he town of Wetumpka was deeply rattled but bound together in strength and perseverance when an EF2 tornado ripped through downtown leaving a wake of damage along the west bank of the Coosa River. According to the National Weather Service, the tornado reached maximum winds of 135 mph and cut a swath of 700 yards. It traveled a total of 18.18 miles and lasted 23 minutes, and after crossing the Coosa River, it moved parallel to state Route 170 and passed just west of Eclectic. A total of 116 homes in Wetumpka and another 60 in the county were destroyed or damaged in some way. Nearly 20 businesses were significantly damaged at the Wetumpka Industrial Park. The Wetumpka Police Department building on the corner

of Marshall and East Coosa streets was destroyed, along with most of its equipment and five police vehicles – one being brand new. The senior center was lost to the storm and more than 20 computers were destroyed between these two locations. The Wetumpka City Council quickly approved spending $25,000 to replace them, along with additional auxiliary equipment the police department needed to function. The senior center programs resumed at the Elmore County Hospital cafeteria the following week. A beloved landmark in the city, the First Presbyterian Church, was demolished, and First Baptist Church, located across the street, also suffered significant damage. Elmore County Community Hospital sustained minimal loss in the form of a few broken windows and minor roof damage. “This is devastating,” said Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis

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Within eight minutes of a tornado warning, the funnel touched down along the west bank of the Coosa River

on that grim Saturday afternoon. “We were not expecting anything like this. It’s taken a toll on us. We have historic buildings, churches … homes that have been here for 100 years, and they’re flat on the ground.” The true blessing of it all, though, was that there were minimal injuries and zero loss of life. “God bless, we don’t have any major injuries. We just pray we can all come together and put this all back together, and it’ll be even better,” said Willis. Immediately following the storm, the No. 1 effort was to clean the streets and ensure the safety of the residents. A curfew was announced from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to keep everyone off the roads and allow first responders to begin work. “The tremendous amount of damage was right here in the immediate metro area of Wetumpka … We are making it

City equipment was damaged, along with residents' homes and vehicles

safe for our citizens to travel and, most importantly, for our essential services, utilities and law enforcement to get around the community to serve everyone,” said Troy Stubbs, Elmore County Commissioner. The Wetumpka High School lunchroom and Elmore County Courthouse were opened immediately as refuge for those that needed it.

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First Presbyterian congregation holds service at The Wetumpka Depot the day after the storm

Rubble fills the land where the First Presbyterian Church landmark stood

Sunday, January 20, 2019

s early as the morning after the tornado, the community was moved to action when images of its destructive path began circulating on social media. Local officials from surrounding areas, neighbors, first responders and local businesses made a community-wide effort to offer up any assistance necessary. “I cannot say enough about our community and everyone’s desire to serve,” said Troy Stubbs, Elmore County Commissioner. The Elmore County Emergency Management set up a registration station at the Elmore County Department of Human Resources building. Coordinators opened doors at 8 a.m. that Sunday, and people began coming in by the dozens to sign up to help with cleanup efforts. As of Sunday afternoon, 730 volunteers were registered and another 300 signed up Monday. The majority of volunteer efforts were centered in downtown, but Hands On River Region sent several groups into all of the affected areas. “We have chainsaw teams, people with heavy equipment … They are cutting up the trees, removing trees and tarping houses,” said Tammy Spencer with Hands On River Region. Before being sent into the field, volunteers were presented a brief safety course. John Cordell, a member of the Alabama Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, said 10 people were deployed from the Montgomery Baptist Association. “It’s important because we’re told to be doers and not just hearers of the Word,” said Cordell. Members of the Red Cross of Montgomery also set up shop at Wetumpka High School, which opened its door as a shelter throughout the week. The Church of the Highlands and Bridge Church provided food to the shelter.

The businesses in downtown Wetumpka were more than eager to chip in. Teams at Coosa Cleaver began cooking burgers early Sunday morning for first responders, volunteers and those affected. Flowers Bakery donated buns, and some people even donated hamburger meat. Grumpy Dog owner Will Lanum offered free lunches to the community. “We all recover together,” he said. “We will feed the whole city of Wetumpka Monday. We’re offering free lunches to volunteers and first responders, those affected and those just passing through. Everyone’s welcome.” The owners of River Perk served up free coffee throughout the weekend and into Monday. “I feel it’s a responsibility of us downtown. We’ve got a great volunteer base here. There’s a great love of community. It’s a blessing to me to serve someone else,” said owner Johnny Oates. The Central Alabama Community Foundation began to accept monetary donations with 100 percent of proceeds provided to those who were affected. Other ways to contribute included checking in with 211; donating food, clothes and household goods to Adullam House and Faith Baptist Church; and donating nonperishable food to the Elmore County Food Bank.

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Monday, January 21, 2019

swarm of more than 1,000 volunteers helped clean up Wetumpka quickly in the aftermath of the EF2 tornado. That Monday following the Saturday disaster, Gov. Kay Ivey toured her way through the mangled areas of town to observe the immense progress made in a mere two days. “It’s just about as bad as I thought it would be,” said Ivey. “Yes, we lost a lot of property, so there is a lot of discomfort in the area. There is a lot of devastation, 35-plus homes damaged or unlivable … Thank goodness no lives were lost. That’s a blessing. We can replace things but not people. I’m grateful it was no worse than it was.” By Jan. 21, the curfew that was in place was discontinued; the Bibb Graves Bridge was deemed stable and re-opened to Gov. Kay Ivey (center) walks through the damage with EMA director Keith Barnett and Mayor Jerry Willis

traffic; and Wetumpka City Schools were set to re-open the following morning. While the traffic lights were still down, a four-way stop on the west side of the bridge at West Bridge and South Main streets remained in place directed by police officers to allow traffic to come through, as needed. Emergency Management Agency officials began assessing damage in Elmore County to determine if affected areas qualified for federal disaster funds. Elmore County EMA Director Keith Barnett said that to qualify, cumulative damages to infrastructure must exceed $7 million, and in many cases, insured property did not count in that total. As of that Monday, power and cable had been restored to the west side of the river after transmission lines fell into the water, even though there was little to which to attach the fallen power lines. “You all have got a lot to be thankful for, and you’ve got a lot of hard work ahead. I take great comfort in knowing neighbors are helping neighbors in large numbers. You’ve got it so well coordinated,” said Ivey. Fewer than 48 hours after the storm, Elmore County Commissioner Troy Stubbs said tremendous progress had already been made. “We are overwhelmed with the number of people down here working. In some areas, we don’t have enough work for them to do. They’ve made such quick work,” he said. “We have witnessed a community truly coming together. I can’t say enough about the fellowship, the relationships, that are built in a time like this.”

“It was like a really weird pea green afterward, and it was very eerie. I told my husband, ‘We can’t go out there. It’s too quiet.’” ~ Deborah Tyree, resident at Cotton Lakes when the storm struck

First Baptist Church suffers extensive damage, especially to its Child Development Center building on the left

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An encouraging banner hangs above the Bibb Graves Bridge mere days after disaster strikes Wetumpka

“We all recover together.” ~ Will Lanum, owner of Grumpy Dog Thursday, January 24, 2019

etumpka streets were open; traffic was flowing; traffic lights were restored; and the sound of chainsaws had ceased as of Thursday, Jan. 24. Five days after a tornado had taken only a few minutes to annihilate a serene section of town on the west side of the Coosa River, a sense of recovery and momentum was almost palpable. “For the number of days that passed after an event like that, everything was about the best we could have planned for,” said Richie Beyer, Elmore County chief engineer and operations officer. Wetumpka police officers finally stood down from five days of emergency operations that Thursday evening, according to WPD Chief Greg Benton. “There’s a sense of what the town needs. There is a sort of togetherness now that may help,” he said. Twenty-nine members of the police department worked under emergency operations mode without a day off since the twister hammered its way through town. That day marked the first one on which the police department members were granted some rest. “That’s everyone in the police department, 24/7, 12-hour

shifts – nobody took a day off,” said Benton. The WPD also re-located temporarily to the second floor of the City Administration Building to continue operations. In terms of continued recovery and rebuilding, Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis said the city would be meticulous. “You have to pace yourself, and there is a process to follow,” he said. “It’s been a tough week, but we’ve learned a lot.” The community also learned there is virtually unlimited compassion from surrounding areas. The response from neighboring cities and volunteers that helped clean up and provided basic necessities – such as food, water and clothing – was overwhelming. “The outpouring to our community has been fantastic. Alexander City, Prattville, Millbrook, Montgomery, Tallassee, all came together to help us with equipment and personnel,” said Willis. So many donations came through the Adullam House that they had to begin turning people away. Cleanup efforts were still in process, and Willis asked residents to avoid downtown, if possible, to speed up the final debris removal. Willis and the city also made it a personal mission to help find places to stay for residents whose homes were unlivable. Beyer said county crews were cleaning roadsides of debris starting near Wetumpka and going toward Eclectic.

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First responders ensure the safety of residents before allowing traffic to pass through

EMA Director:

How to Prepare

EMA Director Keith Barnett studies one of many weather monitors at EOC

ince 1945, Alabama has seen the largest number of deaths by tornadoes than any other U.S. state. Thankfully, in the Jan. 19, 2019, strong EF2 tornado that hit Elmore County, there were zero deaths and very minimal injuries; however, Elmore County Emergency Management Agency Director Keith Barnett warns residents to take tornado warnings seriously and to always have a plan of action in place. “I highly recommend everyone have an emergency plan and a preparedness kit at all times,” said Barnett. There is a full list of recommended items to have on standby in case of an emergency, and that checklist, along with others, can be found at beready.gov. Some of those include 1 gallon of water per person per day, with a minimum of a three-day supply. Also be sure to consider pets’ food and water. Having canned goods, flashlights, batteries and a standard emergency radio are other items Barnett urges all citizens to gather. “I also highly encourage everyone to sign up for a CERT team class,” said Barnett. “You walk away with the knowledge of how to take care of yourself, family members and immediate neighbors in case of an emergency – enough to help you until

STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS & AMY PASSARETTI

first responders arrive.” These eight-week certified Community Emergency Response Team classes are held twice a year. One is already under way, and the other will kick off around the start of summer. Being prepared is the only way to endure the unpredictable. “There had been a tornado warning for the north side of the county that we were watching the day the tornado hit last January, and the National Weather Service called and said something was coming south. They sent out a warning a minute later, and within eight minutes the first damage was done,” said Barnett. Thirteen minutes is the national average it takes for a tornado to be noticed and touch down, he added. While this isn’t a lot of time, it should be plenty of time to get to a safe place, if prepared. In Elmore County, there are 21 locations that participate in the safer places program. These are entities that open their doors to people when the county goes under a tornado watch and let people stay until the watch ends. This is one factor to consider in an emergency plan of action. “There is no guarantee that they are completely safe, but they are usually safer spots than some homes,” Barnett said.

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Research has found that less than 30 percent of people would use a community storm shelter if they had access to one, he said. “This is extremely alarming. Tornadoes should be taken much more seriously,” said Barnett. So while the county could invest millions to build community shelters, people are not likely to use them. Individual shelters are an option, but it’s an expensive investment, so people that tend to need them the most, don’t have access to the funds. “We currently have 200 people on a waiting list for federal funding to build individual shelters. But those people have to put up the money and are only reimbursed up to 80 percent. So the people that need the shelters can’t afford to build one or put up the thousands of EMA controls all sirens within the county dollars it would take,” said Barnett. and other equipment in its "Comms Room" The January 2019 tornado formed very close to Fort Toulouse, crossed over EMA tracks and tests all 60-plus sirens installed throughout the Coosa River and moved along the the county. There are seven distinct areas, and when one siren in a shoreline until it landed in downtown Wetumpka. territory is hit, they all go off. Wetumpka was only about 2 miles of the 18.1 miles of “Previously we had all the sirens in the county go off, but people damage done by the tornado. There was more damage out in the got complacent. If a warning went off in a northern corner of the unincorporated areas of the county. county, for example, and didn’t affect other areas, people started “While we’re proud of the fact that we sent more than 1,200 volunteers downtown over two days, looking back, we really needed ignoring the sirens,” Barnett said. “Meanwhile, a warning means some helping hands outside the city in the other affected areas,” said take action.” The sirens are tested each night and checked once a month to Barnett. ensure they are working properly. They can only be heard for about EMA is responsible for implementing plans, coordinating 1 mile on a perfect day. Batteries back up them all, as well. resources and assisting the city, police departments, fire The EOC is the central coordination point for emergency departments, etc. As a result, Barnett said, doing needs assessments management operations and is equipped with the necessary tools after the tornado would be beneficial for those who were impacted. to become the seat of government for the duration of a crisis or any Donations came flooding in, but it would have been more efficient threat to public safety. to know exactly what was needed. The building houses two different radar systems that are used to “The day a tornado hits, people want to be involved. It helps heal the community, which I want to do,” said Barnett. “But the problem monitor weather and a variety of other systems, utilized for other non-weather-related emergency events. The team also functions via is we have to allow the situation to settle and make sure it’s safe.” use of an FBI program called Virtual Command Center that tracks The Wetumpka city officials and first responders worked incidents. together to react quickly on that day. While a mass notification system is currently in place, EMA “The City of Wetumpka did a great job with their response also has recently released its free downloadable app for Apple and and coordinating with the fire chief, police chief – everyone was Andriod devices with automatic National Weather Service alerts, accounted for within hours,” said Barnett. “One thing we all could along with many other valuable functions. have done better was to get together more quickly. We were all out “There is a prepared checklist on the app. You also can file a there working and communicating but not quickly and efficiently damage report with pictures straight through the app, where it is enough until we all got in the same room.” then sent to EMA who has the GPS location to plot it on a map for That is exactly what the EMA building is for, he added. It was assessment,” said Barnett. “Another feature I really like is the ‘I’m completed in 2015 and is designed to function for several days OK’ button that can send out a message to someone that you’re safe without any outside resources. There is a backup generator that or that you need help, and again a GPS location will be sent to us.” could supply the entire building’s operations for a couple days if The resource will include a special needs registry for 911 records; there is no power. school closings announcements; traffic alerts and much more. The “We found the need for this building after the 2011 tornadoes app was obtained through a MidSouth Resource Conservation and hit,” said Barnett. Development grant. The Emergency Operations Center is large enough to suit the For more information about Elmore County’s EMA services, needs of the EMA and 911 Dispatch departments that call it home visit elmorecoema.com. but also spacious enough for room to grow.

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Crews with Alabama Power replace the transmission lines across the Coosa River following the EF2 tornado

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Alabama Power a beacon for the community

STORY BY JUSTIN AVERETTE & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

ithin about 24 hours after the tornado from every crew in the Southern Division, including ripped through Wetumpka, Alabama Power transmission, either on site or on the way. employees launched efforts to aid the Nine Alabama Power and 10 contract crews completed community and county. the power restorations, which included replacing about 60 “There are three legs to this stool,” said Alabama broken poles and two crossings over the Coosa River. Power’s Mike Jordan. “First, we have the initial response “By 8 p.m. that Sunday, everyone who could receive with things like power restoration. After that, a number of power was back online,” said Stewart. our employees continued to volunteer their time to help Alabama Power officials also donated $10,000 to the out. Lastly, we have the financial contribution to provide Elmore County Disaster Relief Fund, and Jordan said assistance.” contributing to those in need is part of what the Alabama The company had restored basic electricity and power Power Foundation is all about. services to impacted areas in roughly one day’s time. “We are proud to do this. The foundation was proud Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis praised the company for to come alongside an organization like this and help out. its quick This has all work done been to help The Alabama Power Foundation donated $10,000 in the face of the city of to the Elmore County Disaster Relief Fund. widespread Wetumpka From left, Clay McConnell from Alabama Power, Glenn destruction. re-establish Goggans with ECDRF and Kristi Stewart from Alabama Power “That’s itself and pretty quick to help those get everything affected back up,” return said Willis. to some “You’ve got to semblance of remember that normalcy,” transmission he said. lines came A week across this before the river. We had storm, to get that Alabama back in place. Power All these lines earned the were in the Emergency river. They did Recovery a great job.” Award from At the the Edison height of Electric the storm, Institute, approximately following 3,000 customers were affected by outages in the its work with storms in 2018. The award is given to EEIWetumpka area. Statewide, more than 43,000 Alabama member companies to recognize extraordinary efforts Power customers had outages from the storm system that to restore power to customers after service disruptions spawned the tornado. caused by severe weather or natural events. “We were very lucky to have so many people step up “The dedication of Alabama Power’s crews to restore and do what needed to be done without being told,” said service throughout Alabama after severe weather, Kristi Stewart, engineering supervisor at Wetumpka Crew tornadoes and a derecho wind event illustrates our Headquarters. “Their quick response time allowed us industry’s commitment to customers,” said EEI President to get a first glance at the damage before the area got so Tom Kuhn. “Alabama Power’s crews worked tirelessly in congested you couldn’t get in.” hazardous conditions to quickly and safely restore power. Within a few hours, Stewart said, there was help They are truly deserving of this award.”

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Reformation STORY BY BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS & AUDRA SPEARS

t First Presbyterian Church of Wetumpka, 2019 was a year of re-forming – spiritually, as well as physically – after last year’s tornado flattened the sanctuary, office and youth facility of the 184-year-old congregation. The church building was 163 years old when the storm hit. “Reformation. The temptation is there to see 2019 as a year of redemption, but it’s really reformation. We are constantly being reformed, like the image of the refiner’s fire,” said Rev. Jonathan Yarboro, who has pastored First Presbyterian since 2006. “You start with this huge mass of materials, and in the process of refining it, the impurities fall away. “You refine it by asking ‘What is God doing in the midst of this?’ The answer is that the tornado helped the Church to magnify what was already here.” Before the weather turned on that dark day last year, 2019 was on the books as a planned time of discernment for the Church’s next fiveyear plan, Yarboro explained. As it turned out, the plan that was adopted has almost nothing to do with the rebuilding of what was destroyed by the storm, but it has a lot to do with the new perspective on ministry that the Church has gained through the refining fire. “It’s all ministry,” Yarboro said of the Church’s short-term goals. “We recognize that a lot of energy needs to be directed to the rebuilding of the building, but it’s not energy from us, the Church. Our energy needs to be in another direction.” The EF2 twister took out this prominent city landmark that has been the subject of renowned works of art. First Presbyterian Wetumpka, with its white clapboard siding, 75-foot tall bell tower and picturesque picket fence, was a beloved symbol of the city itself. It attested to Wetumpka’s Christian spirit, longevity and endurance. But in the blink of an eye, it was gone.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The tornado helped the Church to magnify what was already here.â&#x20AC;? ~ Jonathan Yarboro, pastor of First Presbyterian Church

First responders examine the rubble left behind from the First Presbyterian Church

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The view across the Coosa River will soon return to normal

The original bell will peel again in the new church belltower

Yarboro was out of town that Saturday when the storm roared through Wetumpka. He was at a meeting in Montevallo when he learned that the church had been swept from the landscape. His first actions were taken to determine that his wife and two daughters were safe and that no one had been inside the church when the building was destroyed. When the tornado hit, a 4-footdiameter tree fell through the roof of Yarboro’s home on an adjoining lot. The tree missed hitting his 16-year-old daughter by only a few feet. She was home alone at the time. Already, there were great blessings, Yarboro said. “The calls started coming in on my way home. There were at least eight calls from other churches offering to host services for us the next day,” he said. But Yarboro declined them all, choosing instead to meet at The Wetumpka Depot for several weeks until the fellowship hall, which had escaped major damage, could be prepared for services. These were just a few in a long string of blessings that 2019 brought to First Presbyterian Wetumpka. Some of those blessings had been years in the making. In the 1980s, the Church purchased the Freeman House with no specific plan for its service, Yarboro said. “When the tornado hit, we lost the office and youth facility. We were able to set up offices temporarily at the Freeman House, which allowed us to continue to be the Church on our own property. If we had put the office in the fellowship hall, we would not have been able to worship on the property that

is our home.” Another blessing originated when the fellowship hall was built in 2016, Yarboro said. “A member of the Church who was in the insurance business suggested that we review our coverage and make sure it was adequate with the addition of the fellowship hall. It turned out that is was very inadequate, so we were able to increase our coverage then. Because of that, our insurance was great when the tornado hit, and we can rebuild at almost no cost to the Church,” he said. Still, the Church received donations from far and wide. “One of the most heartening things was the number of Churches across the country that had lost historic sanctuaries and took up love offerings for us. A Church in Mexico Beach – still rebuilding after Hurricane Michael – took up an offering and sent it to us.” “Two young girls in Pike Road set up a lemonade stand to raise money for us. Their mother sent us a check for $27,” Yarboro said. “Wind Creek Hospitality gave us $50,000 toward rebuilding the church, but with the insurance, we didn’t need it for that. We called them up and asked if we could do something else with it, and they said that would be fine.” The donations that were not needed to cover construction costs were invested to create a perpetual outreach fund. Interest is drawn from the initial investment to cover the costs of repairs for people who cannot afford to buy the materials needed for the work. “We just put in central heat and air for a retired woman who is living solely on her Social Security. She had been using space heaters and window air conditioners to heat and cool her house,” Yarboro explained. “The Church has always been generous to the community. This response of donations to us was more than we needed, and we felt it was important to use the additional funds to support the community at a new level.” Other blessings were immediate. Though the sanctuary was open – indeed, it has never been locked in the building’s history – no one was inside when the storm raged across the city. In addition, none of the elders in the Church’s session

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The new First Presbyterian Church steel is in place, and the framing is under construction

Wetumpka officials and congregation members break ground on the church in August

(governing body) resigned or declined to serve after the storm, including three that had only just been elected. “No one said, ‘I didn’t sign on for this.’ They all said, ‘Let’s do this,’” he added. When the process of clearing debris and rebuilding the worship space began, two objectives emerged: First, whatever was built back had to look like what was lost; and second, the efforts to rebuild must go beyond the walls of the church building. “What we lost was an iconic building that dated to 1856. It was a very plain structure. There was no stained glass or ornamentation, just plain plaster walls and wood floors,” Yarboro said. The building was on the national register of historical places, so a copy of the plan was on file at the Library of Congress. In addition, the Church had one other copy of the plans. Both sets were scale drawings. The new church, along with its administrative and education wings, is under construction on the footprint of the old with only minor adjustments to the blueprints; primarily, to meet federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The new

building will accommodate 150 on the main floor and 30 in the balcony. And it will be a plain, simple worship space, save two significant elements that were recovered from the rubble of the tornado. The original bell that had peeled from the bell tower for more than 160 years was recovered, though its carriage was destroyed and will be replaced. In addition, a single 3-foot brass cross that hung on a wall behind the pulpit also was rescued from the debris. It will be hung in its place when the new sanctuary is dedicated in August. Safety will be enhanced in the new building. A basement under the education section previously held 75. It will be enlarged to provide shelter for 125. Yarboro said technology plays a small role during Church services; however, the ability to video-cast services for special needs children and adults will be added. An updated hearing assist program also will be installed. And like the old historic church, the new building will not have a lock on the door but will be open to the public at all times. “The entire Church family blossomed because of this. They are more engaged, more giving of their time and talent – not that they weren’t giving before, but it’s off the charts now. In a time when church attendance across the country is dropping off, the pendulum is going the other way for us,” the pastor said. In the meantime, Yarboro and his family recently returned to their home next door to the Freeman House. Like others in the neighborhood where the tornado cut its swath, they are healing from the trauma of what happened or could have happened. Today, they count their many blessings and continue to reform. “2019 was not a bad year,” Yarboro said. “2019 provided a lot of opportunity to rethink our ministry and how we do it. We have chosen to focus on the good things.”

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Explore the Discovery Hall, watch nature-themed movies, and hike 5 miles of boardwalks and trails. Special programs and fishing every Saturday! DAY CAMPS

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www.alabamawildlife.org HORIZONS 2020

Eclectic resident launches Business Relations Committee Pack urges hometown growth STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI & PHOTOS BY GABRIELLE JANSEN

ustin Pack, a Justin Pack discusses 20-year-old his ideas Eclectic resident, for future business proposed the growth in Eclectic establishment of Eclectic’s Business Relations Committee, designed to support growth in his hometown. The government-backed committee will forge ahead full speed in the new year and progress more easily into economic development. The main objective of the BRC is to build business relations with current, new and prospective businesses in Eclectic. “I looked at other chambers and other government-type organizations; spoke with business owners about specifics to our town; spoke at the city and state levels; received feedback from citizens – I talked to many, many people for many months before making this proposal,” said Pack, who was nominated by the Eclectic City Council to be the committee’s inaugural chairman. After a few weeks, Pack began classes at Auburn University and had to step down as chairman. He will still be present at meetings but won’t have nearly as much time as he originally anticipated to lead the crew.

A new chairman has not yet been appointed by the Eclectic Town Council. The chairman will be a two-year term with the option to renew or nominate someone else. “This allows for a four-year city council to have the same chairman throughout their administration, if they choose,” said Pack. The Eclectic mayor will be the advisor to the chairman. Mayor Gary Davenport was immediately drawn to Pack’s idea and asked him to present a more-detailed proposal to the City Council, which also quickly got on board. “The mayor said they had tried a merchant’s association before, but it failed. We figured we could combine the two, so we have government resources, along with outside help,” said Pack. With the town supplying the building and the chairman as a volunteer position, there is very little overhead for the BRC to launch. “We also have done our due diligence. We’re taking it slow and easy, hoping that’s a factor for success,” said Pack. “The

HORIZONS 2020

Local business owners gather at the first official BRC meeting of 2020

former association was put together so quickly, and this one should be more inclusive.” The BRC exists in place of a traditional chamber of commerce, which has its pros and cons. A lot of Eclectic businesses are not competitive, so this really provides an opportunity for them to network and work together, Pack explained. Also, as a government entity, the committee will have access to a business license list and a property list for prospective business owners. “The physical resources come from the town, and there’s an accountability because it’s part of the government,” said Pack. “But a chamber usually has fewer people governing the organization, so we may have a few more hoops to jump through.” The committee will appoint officers and sub-committees, but meetings will be open to anyone that holds a business license within the town limits, including home-based businesses, individuals and clubs and organizations. All decisions will be voted on by whoever wishes to participate, and more than 200 businesses have expressed interest. Vice chairman, treasurer and secretary also are positions up for grabs. While there will not be a board, the officers will help guide meetings. “Our first meeting, we’re going to go step-by-step through the bylaws and redo the whole thing as a group,” said Pack. “We want everyone’s input on how it’s structured.” The committee voted to have $100 annual membership dues to be renewed Jan. 7, 2021. In the coming weeks, the committee will open a bank account to collect these dues. A lot of business failure results from a lack of business

education, so the BRC hopes to be a channel for resources and plans to bring in speakers and workshops to help businesses sustain. “I am very excited to see the interest in the town concerning the committee. I think it will be really great for our businesses and will help everyone involved. It will continue to bring continuity and build pride in our community,” said Davenport. “Plus, the businesses can help each other at the same time.” If the population of Eclectic grows, the town could be deemed a city and be eligible for additional funding and grant opportunities, he added. Pack transferred from Central Alabama Community College to Auburn University this semester to study building science. “Attending a bigger school such as Auburn opens up the opportunity to talk to more people, network, create opportunities for internships. Having those connections could help me help the town with recruiting,” said Pack. “It will give me a more business-oriented mindset.” Future plans for the BRC committee include a community newsletter to keep business owners informed; a downtown redevelopment in a few years; and working on directing more Lake Martin traffic through the heart of Eclectic. “The main benefit of this committee is to network, share ideas, get to know one another and get members involved in town government,” said Pack. “Our goal is to keep current businesses going and prepare for new businesses to come in.”

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Elmore County Disaster Relief Fund STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

Hundreds of residents join forces to clean up from the tornado's aftermath

Volunteers register at the Elmore County Department of Human Resources

he Elmore County Disaster Relief Fund aided 110 families that were affected by the tornado that surged through Elmore County last year, and the fund dispersed more than $200,000. Back in 2011, when disaster struck the area, a group of citizens banded together to raise money to help locals in the aftermath. With the number of damaged homes and affected lives from a set of EF4 tornadoes, community members felt aid would be received more quickly if they raised it on their own. That fund was able to raise $160,000, and Glenn Goggans, along with Daniel Thomas, decided to create a 501(c)(3) for future needs. “We decided to maintain the relief fund, just in case. You never know what else might happen,” said Goggans, chairman of the Elmore County Disaster Relief Fund. “So when the tornado hit in Wetumpka, we said ‘This is what we want to use it for.’” The Elmore County Disaster Relief Fund was reactivated when the Wetumpka tornado hit. The nonprofit is managed by Elmore County volunteers on committees that ensure the

money raised is put in the hands of people who need it. Keith Barnett, director of the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency, checked damages to confirm the necessity of each applicant. “What we did was give the money to people who were hit the worst as it came in,” said Goggans. “We raised $270,000 and gave out $231,000. I was impressed with all the folks who were compassionate to help out.” The group that maintains the fund accounts for every penny, and there is no overhead. They use Jackson Thornton CPA, and everything is reported back to the government. Everyone that donated money also received information to claim contributions as tax deductions. Money was collected from individuals, charity groups, churches, Alabama Power, the Poarch Creek Indians, businesses, etc. “We got the money out pretty fast, too,” said Goggans. “It was a way to get the money directly in the hands of those that needed it.” People remembered the creation of the fund back in 2011, so it was easy to quickly spread the word that it was back in action. Many were eager to contribute. “The community trusted the group of local folks we had on the committee and trusted that money would help local people,” he said. The committee also met with every person who received aid and listened to his or her stories and prayers. “It was pretty inspiring,” said Goggans. When the storms hit Titus and Elmore, the Elmore County Disaster Relief Fund was able to help them, as well. “The people were all very grateful. I told them to not be grateful to us; it’s everyone trying to help everyone,” said Goggans. “We’re just glad we could help and thankful no one was killed.”

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Flooded with donations and kindness PHOTO BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

ollowing the devastation brought on by an EF2 tornado in Wetumpka last January, businesses, individuals, churches and organizations all stepped up to benefit the cause. Families lost their homes and personal items, and in some cases, they lost everything. The community showed up in droves to assist with relief efforts. “We would like to thank everyone for the kind generosity and their thoughts and prayers for this community,” Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis said last year. “The support has been overwhelming. Our needs are many, but we are getting through this because of the people and organizations that are joining forces to help.” About three weeks after the tornado, local musician Ella Langley organized a two-day benefit concert to raise money for relief efforts. As Langley got her big start in Elmore County, she said, it was only fitting to give back. The concert was held at Range 231N in Montgomery, and before the first musician stepped on stage Friday night, ticket sales had brought in more than $5,000. T-shirts also were sold to raise funds. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians donated $100,000 to the Elmore County Disaster Relief Fund, which is conducted in partnership with the Central Alabama Community Foundation, as part of the Tribe’s ongoing Planned Giving Campaign. Other organizations that donated financially include The

Police Chief Greg Benton accepts a donation from the Poarch Creek Indians in front of the old station

Regions Foundation; The Montgomery Area Association of Realtors; The Church of Latter-day Saints; local businessman Pat Whatley, who also created the iconic golden heart and Bibb Graves Bridge logo depicting Wetumpka Strong; the Rotary Club; Wind Creek Casino; and more. Many local businesses and individuals sponsored fundraisers; collected canned goods and other necessities; and offered local services. These included Shoe Station, local schools, Grandview and Wetumpka YMCAs, Market Shoppes, Elmore County branch of the NAACP, AutoSave Tire and more.

Community Appreciation Events Months after the tornado hit, the community had the opportunity to truly show its appreciation for volunteers, first responders and to celebrate its recovery. On May 5, 2019, Main Street Wetumpka, Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Wetumpka collaborated to host a communitywide luncheon as a small token of appreciation for all who were involved in relief efforts. The luncheon at the Wetumpka Civic Center featured entertainment from local band Rainbow, comedian Tim Lovelace, Elmore County Commissioner Mack Daugherty and the group The Upbeats. The City provided the main meat and requested that attendees bring a covered dish to share. Five months after the twiser hit town, the Montgomery Area Musicians Association, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization formed to support local musicians, sponsored a First Responders Celebration Benefit at Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka on May 11, 2019. One hundred percent of the funds raised were donated to area first responder agencies.

“I grew up in a first responder’s household and know firsthand how hard they work, so I suggested we do something for them,” said Alesia Gilliland, founding member and president of MAMA. “I met with the EMA director, the Wetumpka chief of police and attended an emergency awareness event to personally invite them and ask them to spread the word.” The red-white-and-blue themed event featured three local bands – Jeff and the Johnsons, Alter Ego and the new Kandu band – that donated their time. The event also included a raffle with donated artwork, show tickets and gift baskets. A total of $2,700 was raised, and $700 went to the Elmore County Volunteer Firefighters’ Association. Another $2,000 went to the Wetumpka Police Department. Wind Creek Casino contributed the venue, two bars and security to the event in support of the community. “We also had some students at Wetumpka Elementary School write thank-you letters, which were disbursed to the first responders,” said Gilliland.

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Our Advertisers • To Join, Call 334-567-7811 ARC Realty, Lisa Lynn....................................................................... 4 6 AWF...................................................................................39 City of Millbrook......................................................................39 City of Tallassee.......................................................................................3 City of Wetumpka...................................................................43 Collier Ford................................................................................................ 2 Cousins Insurance............................................................................. .. 2 2 Elmore County EDA............................................................29, 46 Elmore County Sherriff................................................................... .. 2 2 First Community Bank...................................................................... 4 3 Garry S. McAnnally, Attorneys at Law................................47 Gassett Funeral Home & Crematory............................................9 H & R Block....................................................................................... 8, 46 Humane Society of Elmore County....................................8 Jackson Thornton................................................................................ 2 9 Jones Auto & Wrecker Service..................................................... 4 6 Lake Martin Properties, Rodney Griffith.................................. 4 6 Liveoak Agency.......................................................................................8 New Stone Realty.................................................................................4 7

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