July 19, 2017 Wetumpka Herald by Tallapoosa Publishers

INSIDE, PAGE 2: RIVER AND BLUES MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE Meet Gene, Elmore County’s Pet of the Week

Powell sees growth early in WHS hoops tenure

SPORTS, PAGE A7

244-7778

LOCAL, PAGE B5

THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898

Wetumpka, AL 36092

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WEDNESDAY • JULY 19, 2017

THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM

VOL. 119, NO. 29

Justiss is city’s newest city council member By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

David Granger / The Herald

Lynnes Stowe Justiss is all smiles as she takes her seat on the Wetumpka City Council for the first time after being approved to fill the vacant seat of Rebecca Thornton by a 3-0 vote with one abstention. City Clerk Treasurer Candy Masters, Councilman Steve Gantt and Mayor Jerry Willis look on.

Lynnes Stowe Justiss is the newest member of the Wetumpka City Council, approved at Monday night’s council meeting by a 3-0 vote with one abstention and sworn in by Mayor Jerry Willis immediately thereafter. Justiss, 41, is the daughter of former county and municipal judge Thomas Stowe Jr. and the granddaughter of former Wetumpka City councilman Tom Stowe. She is a 20-year employee of the Elmore County Board of Education, where she works

as Title I/ESL (English as a Second Language) coordinator at Wetumpka Middle School. “I am a 41-year resident of District Three,” Justiss wrote in a letter to Willis asking that she be considered for the council seat. “Rebecca Thornton accomplished much and I would like the opportunity to serve District Three to continue this service.” Justiss will serve the remaining three years of the term for which Thornton was elected. In the work session prior to the meeting, Barbara Sims addressed the vacancy, saying she would like to see a general election held

to fill Thornton’s council slot, allowing citizens to get to know candidates and what they stood for. “With the resignation of Rebecca, people in the district are concerned,” Sims said, “I don’t know the rules of order for (filling the council vacancy), but if that (a general election) can be done, I’d like to see that done,” Sims said. “In the event it falls to the City Council, I ask y’all to pray and search your hearts.” Willis explained the process

Main Street receives grant

Commission Chairman holds first town hall and talks of more

$27k granted to help businesses cope with streetscape work

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

Elmore County Commission Chairman Troy Stubbs is active in county government and active as well within his district as a local businessman and supporter of downtown revitalization. Serving in a number of roles locally he took to his district, District Three, and the service hall of Mulder Methodist Church last week to hold what was his first town hall – and possibly the first town hall among commissioners. He introduced himself to the upwards of 30 people there for what turned into a nearly two-hour event. “This is something that I personally have chosen to organize and put together, and I’ve done this because I sincerely want to get to know the citizens of the district and of the county and hear your concerns,” said Stubbs. “There are obviously things that we need to do in the county. There are things that we want to do in the county. There are things that we may be doing that we shouldn’t be doing. A lot of these things you’ll find that I’m pretty well aware of and, hopefully, after this meeting you’ll understand that there are a lot of efforts being put See STUBBS • Page A3

Today’s

Weather

93 75 High

Low

THURSDAY: HIGH 95 LOW 75

a k p m Wetu

See JUSTISS • Page A2

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Submitted / The Herald

The INT League Wakeboard Tournament takes place Saturday and Sunday at Gold Star Park.

INT wakeboarding tourney kicks off Saturday By EVAN DUDLEY Sports Editor

This weekend the Wetumpka River and Blues Music and Arts Festival will take center stage, but long before the music and art get started, there’ll be some action on the slick waters of the Coosa River. The INT League Stop 3 & 4 Wakeboard, Wakeskate and WakeSurf Tournament is this Saturday and Sunday at Gold Star Park begin-

ning at 9:30 a.m. with check-in and on-site registration at 8:30 a.m. and riders meeting at 9:15 a.m. There are various age groups for each of the three events and awards for the top three finishers in each category. Also known as the “Little League of Watersports,” the INT league began in 1993 in Washington and has more than 250 events per year in 27 states. It has maintained its See WAKEBOARDING • Page A3

Main Street Wetumpka recently received a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for $27,000 to use for marketing downtown businesses during the upcoming streetscape, expected to begin later this year. Main Street Wetumpka is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing downtown Wetumpka. The organization has been working closely with the City of Wetumpka to help select and provide benches, receptacles, trees and other items to complement the city’s federally funded streetscape and the grant will provide additional funding to help downtown businesses maintain foot traffic during work on the city’s streetscape. The grant will incorporate a targeted marketing See GRANT • Page A2

New learning approaches coming to WES By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

Wetumpka Elementary School will be implementing new learning approaches this year, thanks to a grant from the Alabama State Department of Education for a new play-based kindegarten program and a new SPARK Academy STEM program, said Bonnie Sullivan, principal at the school. “The grant was open to any elementary school, it was an open grant. They posted it and we applied for it thinking, ‘hey, we can get some extra money for our classrooms,’ which is what they need.” With the grant funds, the school

will purchase resources and teacher training aimed at the play-based kindergarten program. “We had heard about play-based kindergarten,” Sullivan said. “It’s more like a hands-on approach to learning. Reading and math are still going to be the same, the same kind of instruction – the teachers providing instruction, pulling small groups, those kinds of things. But for centers and other parts of the day the students can have choices of where they want to go. Like they can have a writing center, they can have a cooking center, they can have a make-believe center, like

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David Granger / The Herald

John Weis (red shirt) rolls an inflatable globe to a Wetumpka Elementary teacher during training Weis, an education specialist with NASA’s educator professional development collaborative, conducted with several WES teachers on Monday. The training from Weis will be ongoing as part of the WES SPARK See SPARK • Page A8 Academy.

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PAGE A2 • JULY 19, 2017

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Obituaries Mrs. Elizabeth “Beth” Beasley Mrs. Elizabeth “Beth” Beasley, a resident of Eclectic, Alabama, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2017, at the age of 49. Memorial services will be held Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. from Jeffcoat Funeral Home Chapel. Mrs. Beasley is survived by her husband, Jason Beasley; children, Patricia Turner (Mia), Izzy Reed (Shawn), Robert Graham (Brittney), Terry Graham (Sidney); three grandchildren, Malachi Turner, Avery Harper, Betty Ann Reed; mother, Donna Ford; sisters, Rebecca Johnston (Patrick) and Kathy McKinney (Scott); brother, J.R. Ford (Virginia) and several nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. Beth loved to work in the garden and spending time with family, grandchildren and friends. She had many kids who called her “Mom” and always had her doors open for those that needed it. She loved each and every one of the kids that needed her with that special love that only she could have. The family will receive friends Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until service time at Jeffcoat Funeral Home. Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com. Jeffcoat Funeral Home Directing Tallassee, Alabama

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Friday, July 21

Main Street Stage

2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Corner of Commerce and Company Streets Big Bobby & The Blues 7-9 p.m.

Music

Main Stage Behind City Administrative Building 2:30 p.m.: Slim Jeezy and the Feel Good Band 3:30 p.m.: Jason Givens and the Wanderers 5:15 p.m.: Jukebox Brass Band 6:30 p.m.: King Bee 8 p.m.: Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha-Chas

Saturday, July 22

INT League Wakeboarding Coosa River 9:30 a.m.

Gold Star Park 2 p.m.: Jilla Webb 3 p.m.: Jeff Pasley 4 p.m.: Rachael Wilson 5 p.m.: Jimmy Baker

River and Blues Art Show Along the Riverwalk

Kid’s Zone

Gold Star Park

Grant

continued from page 1

plan, $500 grants for eligible businesses and “Dig Downtown” events during the project’s implementation. More specifics on use of the grant money will be formulated later this year, said Main Street Wetumpka Executive Director Jenny Stubbs. “We are dedicated to helping the downtown

grant will certainly help us accomplish that goal.” “Many cities don’t offer construction mitigation programs during street construction projects, but the City is doing everything it can to mitigate the impact of construction on business owners,” said David Robison, planner and project director for

businesses during this streetscape construction period,” said Main Street Wetumpka president Dennis Fain. “While we know there will be disruption, we know the end result will be worth it and everyone will be proud of our new downtown look. We are doing our best to make that transition easier and this

the City of Wetumpka. “With the full support of local businesses and the community, this program has the potential to aid downtown long after the construction is complete.” Main Street Wetumpka became a designated community in June 2016 and is a volunteer-led organization using the

Justiss

continued from page 1

to Sims. Then, after the meeting began and prior to the vote on Justiss’ approval, council member Steve Gantt moved that the filling of the vacancy be tabled.

Getting no second, Gantt’s motion failed and Gantt abstained in the vote to approve Justiss while councilmen Kevin Robbins, Greg Jones and Percy Gill

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voted yes. Justiss was accompanied Monday night by her mother, Susan, and her youngest of three sons, Thomas, who is 9. Her other sons are Luke, 16, and Caleb, 14. Her first official vote as a council member was in favor of Monday night’s adjournment. Also in the work session, local resident Emmett Johnson asked the council about the status of the construction of the Hampton Inn on Main Street. Johnson said the hotel

was “quickly becoming a city eyesore.” Willis said he had to be “very careful” in how he addressed Johnson’s question publicly, but said hoped that “in a very short time” construction would continue. In the only other action of the council, it approved Keisha Frost as a member of Wetumpka Pride, the city group that oversees recycling and purchases made from recycling funds for the city.

Each Ofﬁce is Independently Owned and Operated

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Auburn University is seeking candidates for the position of Agent Assistant to serve in Elmore County. The Agent Assistant will be responsible for implementing and coordinating the goals and objectives of the County 4-H program and the MCHF (Mindful Children Healthy Future) grant. The closing date is July 28, 2017. To apply or for additional information, please visit www. auemployment.com and refer to Requisition #27124. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is an EEO/Vet/ Disability employer.

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JULY 19, 2017 • Page A3

Wakeboaring

continued from page 1

of town,” said Jeff Royal, a community liaison and local promoter for the INT tournament. “We’re happy to be a part of this as it helps to assist new riders and gives them an opportunity to progress in the sport.” After Boby and The Blues on the new Main Street Stage

to host the INT Championships. The tournament is paired with the music and arts festival for the second straight year and the combination has had a symbiotic effect on both events. “The tournament and festival work great together, especially for the participants from out

status in the watersports industry by adding wakeboard slalom, coinciding with the board’s first market appearance, as well as adding wakeboard freestyle and wake skating. The league plans to expand into the remaining 23 states and break international ground while continuing

on Friday night and the wakeboarding wake-up on Saturday morning, the festival shifts into high gear early Saturday afternoon with the handcrafted art show, kids zone and music on both the Gold Star Park and main stages. Music starts at Gold Star at

2 p.m. and at the main stage at 2:30 p.m. Headlining acts King Bee and Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha-Chastake to the main stage Saturday evening at 6:30 and 8 p.m., respectively.

Stubbs

continued from page 1

potential state legislation that might consolidate the facilities shuttering some. With a $34 million payroll and 600 employees, he said it prisons made up 25 percent of the City of Wetumpka’s water and sewer customer base. Third was a topic spoken to directly in a commission meeting, and one that has generated a large amount of debate online by unified groups of detractors against the practices of local internet service providers. Stubbs said the county for the most part was limited in actions it could take in matters of internet service providers in the area because they were private businesses. There is no conspiracy with the county, he said. “It’s a matter of capitalism … It’s a matter of business decisions.” However he said there were actions groups with grievances could take under these circumstances. From the broader topics, he narrowed in on the matters more pertinent to the region of the venue, like recent repairs to a bridge on Redland Road and maintaining drainage on personal properties. One goal of the event seemed to be getting ahead of rumors spreading largely through social media and directing the narrative on county-related matters

forth to resolve some of these things or to be more proactive in certain areas.” He said over time he wanted to hold town halls in different areas located throughout his district. With degrees in finance, business, math and sports administration and time spent working in education, Stubbs said before his time on the commission he was an investment banker and later locally was a math teacher and football coach. He said he decided to start his own business in downtown Wetumpka when he learned he would become a commissioner and also briefly talked about his family. After the introduction he delved into the design of county government – its branches, the commission’s responsibilities, its intersection with local municipalities and the commission’s role as arbiters of its $20 million budget. Then it was on to the issues, a number of which had come up at least once in commission meetings. And he emphasized attendance of the meetings. First on his list was changing local laws, like alcohol legislation recently passed, and the challenges posed by neighboring counties. Second were the prisons located in the county and

versus reacting to it. “This community does a great job on social media, a lot of others don’t,” Stubbs said. However he said he wanted to dispel a number of rumors circulating occasionally through some of the pages. After the speaking event was over, he fielded questions from the audience. “I was pleased with the participation of the citizens here in this area,” Stubbs said. “We had people from this community and Redland and Jasmine Hill. We also had citizens from other areas of the county that traveled this way to participate in this meeting. There was a fairly decent turnout for the first one. Corey Arwood / The Herald All actively participated County Commission Chairman Troy Stubbs held a town hall at Mulder Memorial United Methodand a lot of information ist Church on Firetower Road, the first of his tenure as a commissioner and a practice he said was shared.” he plans to continue throughout his district.

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OPINION

Page A4 • JULY 19, 2017

“Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.” --Thomas Jefferson

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The Herald strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and, above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.

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My hands haven’t seen anything yet

’ve always heard that one can tell a lot by a man’s hands. For example, if they’re soft and smooth, then they very likely don’t work very hard. I once shook the hand of a very well-known politician. It felt as if I was shaking hands with a very non-threatening cloud. I was almost repulsed at the softness of them. On the other hand, pun intended, if the person’s hands are tougher than Tarzan’s feet, then he or she works hard for a living. I think my hands are somewhere in the middle. I don’t necessarily work hard anymore, but I sure do stay busy – too busy. The other day, I was multitasking to a fault. I was transferring clothes from the washing machine to the dryer with one hand while eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the other. After fishing that last sock out of the washer and throwing it into the dryer, without hesitation, I threw my sandwich into the dryer, too, and didn’t realize I’d done so until I was ready to press the start button. I didn’t even look at the clothes. I just pulled out the sandwich and washed them all again. My hands do a lot of dumb things, but where would I be without them. I know there have been incredible advances in technology

JODY FULLER Columnist

over the years, so I would still be able to write, type, and text, but I’d still be left shorthanded in other areas. Sunday morning, I picked vegetables from my garden. It was a wonderful little harvest with an eggplant, beans, tomatoes, okra, and peppers. I grew these with my own hands. Sunday night, Lucy used her hands to cook a lot of it. We’ll be eating the rest this week. Before dinner, I was sitting in the living room when Emily asked if she could paint my nails. I thought about it for a second, and then decided that it’d be okay just if I didn’t have to get up out of my chair. Emily was happy about decorating my semi-soft hands. She even gave me the option of picking my own color. I went with orange and blue but somehow still wound up with sparkly pink nails before it was all said and done. I didn’t mind. Plus, I felt pretty. I even had an excuse to turn down a couple of chores because “my nails were drying.”

Since Lucy cooked dinner, it was my job to wash the dishes. I usually do that anyway. I can’t stand to see dirty dishes. About half way through, I realized that the nail polish was coming off. I was a bit sad, because Emily had done such a great job. Apparently, this wasn’t the best nail polish out there, and my nails may have not been completely dry. Now, my nails look awful. They look like I’ve been soaking my fingertips in expired, off-brand Pepto-Bismol and then tried to scratch it off. It ain’t pretty, folks. We live in a different world than our parents and grandparents. We live in a world where men don’t necessarily need calluses to show how hard they work. We now live in a world where men wash dishes and let little girls paint their nails. It’s simply a different world, but my hands haven’t seen anything, yet, as my world will be totally different in four and a half months when I have a baby on my hands. Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www.jodyfuller.com

334-567-7811 • Fax 334-567-3284 email: news@thewetumpkaherald.com THE WETUMPKA HERALD (681-260) is published weekly on Wednesday by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Periodical postage paid at Wetumpka, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Wetumpka Herald, P.O. Box 99, Wetumpka, AL 36092-0099 ISSN # 1536-688X.

We reserve the right to refuse to print any advertisement, news story, photograph or any other material submitted to us for any reason or no reason at all. •Obituaries - $.25 per word per paper. Additional $15 charge for a photo per paper. (Herald, Observer, Tribune). •Weddings/Engagements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a 2-column photo. •Birth Announcements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a photo. SUBSCRIPTION RATES (includes Wednesday) One Year in Elmore, Tallapoosa or Coosa County: $50 One Year Elsewhere: $75 The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription at any time. To subscribe or if you miss your paper, call 256-234-4281. © 2016 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher. ADMINISTRATION Steve Baker publisher@thewetumpkaherald.com David Granger, managing editor david.granger@thewetumpkaherald.com NEWS Corey Arwood, staff writer corey.arwood@thewetumpkaherald.com Carmen Rodgers, staff writer carmen.rodgers@thewetumpkaherald.com SALES Marilyn Hawkins, marketing consultant marilyn.hawkins@TheWetumpkaHerald.com Ext. 305

Now more than ever we need unfettered free press

here is a word that some have doggedly dismissed that the news of last Tuesday – July 11 – demands not be ignored. It starts with a “c” and ends with “–ollusion.” On July 11, we learned that Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of the president of the United States, had emails that cracked open the Trump campaign’s walnut of willful deceit concerning its potential collusion with Russians to harm the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. (One must consider, at this point, whether the word “potential” is any longer necessary in the preceding sentence.) In fact, Trump Jr. himself produced the damning emails! When he joyfully (“I love it,” the president’s namesake son said in one of the emails he made public) accepted a meeting with a Russian attorney who claimed to have information that would likely damage his father’s Democratic opponent, Trump Jr. was, at the very least, guilty of, in a manner of speaking, sleeping with the enemy. Call it what you will – collusion, cooperation, collaboration, naïveté, treason or by some wholly different name – but Trump Jr.’s action in that acceptance ran counter to some 240 years of principled democracy in our great republic. His action was unprecedented, if not unlawful. And though Trump Jr. contends the meeting turned out to be about adoptions Russia’s end to American adoptions of Russian children in response to sanctions levied against the Putin regime and, he said, was a waste of 20 minutes (after all, discussions of adoption are wasteful, right? But destruction of a political opponent? Now,

DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

that’s a big deal!), he clearly accepted the meeting expecting far more. What must Vladimir Putin, a man who doesn’t think twice about ridding himself of whatever opposition within his own country rankles him before snuffing life from them, be thinking? He’s likely enjoying a potato soda and a constant stream of hearty laughter thinking, “We are destroying them from within.” What’s more, they’re doing it without any real effort. It’s all Trump and his gene-poolcentric “gang that couldn’t shoot straight,” as the late great Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jimmy Breslin referred to schizophrenic New York hoodlum Joseph Gallo’s crew. In fact, there have been schizophrenic episodes in Trump’s seven-month presidency, too, where he says one thing and then tweets something totally counter from his easy chair and cell phone. Frankly, I am more worried about my beloved country than ever. Trump Jr.’s emails are the latest in a string of disturbing developments from this administration, though many of the president’s own tweets and actions have been equally so. But, for me, it’s not that Hillary or Bernie Sanders lost the election to the New York megalomaniac that is the root of my worry. It’s the large chunks of our population who have fallen in lockstep with this president, believing his

side of every story despite his history of lies and half-truths, supporting him in every loony legislative logarithm he posits (read: TrumpCare, which has apparently died another agonizing death) regardless of how ridiculous, heartless and/or self-serving whatever the man says or does may be. A convenient and disheartening close-to-home example is Alabama’s own junior Sen. Luther Strange, who recently told a Montgomery candidate forum, “President Trump is the greatest thing that’s happened to this country. I consider it a biblical miracle that he’s there.” Strange read a different Bible than the one from which I was taught as a child. In mine, no philandering, lying, vain individual would ever have been called a “miracle,” much less a “biblical” one. But Strange’s strange comment serves him politically. Unfortunately, Alabama politics seems to have devolved into a contest to see which candidate can out-Trump the other, the latest in a frightening accumulation of evidence that we need a new Age of Enlightenment in this country to illumine both our hearts and our minds. And, now more than ever, we need an unfettered free press to point us in the direction of the truth, despite whatever attempts at distraction and denigration Trump, Trump Jr. and their minions may concoct. David Granger is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Elmore County newspapers. He can be reached at david.granger@ thewetumpkaherald.com

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TheWetumpkaHerald.com

JULY 19, 2017 • Page A5

The blasphemy of the candy coated gospel

here is an insidious and dangerous blasphemy creeping over our society. I call it the “Candy Coated Gospel.” It would have us believe that if we become or are Christians, true believers, we will live happy, well adjusted, prosperous lives and nothing will ever hurt us. To that, Jesus says: “I do not come to bring peace, but a sword, to tear families apart, and to reward my followers with a cross to bear.” (Matt. 10:34-39.) We hear those words, but don’t believe them. We continue to believe the illusion that sweet, gentle Jesus came to make our lives comfortable, wonderful and blissful. I think that idea started with idyllic descriptions of the stable where Jesus was born, with stories of the baby snuggling up to a lovely white sheep and sleeping on sweet hay. Well, if you’ve ever been around sheep and smelled them, you know that no one willingly snuggles up to one. And if you’ve ever been in a stable, especially one that is basically a cave through which no wind can blow, you know that nothing in

there is very sweet-smelling. The reality is that because of Jesus’ birth, hundreds, perhaps thousands of children two years old and under were slaughtered and murdered. “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword,” and a sword was brought to the children of Bethlehem and the surrounding countryside as Herod sought to eliminate a possible rival. The illusion of gentle Jesus doesn’t stop there, This gentle man tells the Pharisees, that they are hypocrites, the Sadducees that they use their religion only to get rich, and the priests that they are less pure than the lowest outcast. And after confronting the politicians, the priests, the lawyers, the good people of the day at every turn, Jesus finally provokes them enough and they crucify him. But the violence didn’t stop with crucifixion: it’s continued year after year, century after century, millennia after millennia. The words of Jesus have provoked violence and hatred, destroyed families and countries and people. Ask a few of those like Perpetua, ravaged by leopards, bears and boars in the Roman

REV. BOB HENDERSON Trinity Episcopal

arena, about the painless life of a Christian. Ask a few of those tortured by the Spanish inquisition about the carefree Christian life. Ask Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, burned at the stake by Bloody Queen Mary about the Candy Coated Gospel of peace, joy and protection from all harm. That’s why the Candy Coated Gospel is blasphemy. Following Jesus is not about ease, constant success, comfort. Following Jesus is about blood, pain, suffering, violence, torture, tragedy, anguish and misery. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. But the Candy Coated Gospel is so attractive. It sounds so good, we want to believe it and often do, for a while. We want to believe that because we love God and God loves us, nothing bad will ever happen to us. Then, our child discovers

drugs, our mother gets cancer, our best friend is killed in a car wreck, our business goes bankrupt or we experience any one of thousands of tragedies that happen every day and we say: “Why are you doing this to me, God? You promised love, joy and peace and all I feel is pain, loneliness, fear. What’s wrong, don’t you care, are you really there at all? Where’s the good news in this?” we ask. And often, in the moment, in the middle of the hurt and tragedy, we can’t find any good news. But it’s there. The Good News is that God knows about our pain, and that God is there in our pain, not to make it go away, but to share in it! Our task, in the pain, is to keep our eyes on God, to seek God in the tragedy, to find God’s love and hope and strength reflected in the love offered by the people around us. And that’s far easier to do if we don’t believe the blasphemy that tells us God makes everything good and wonderful and marvelous. What God does is take the awful, the terrible, the painful, the hurtful, the misery, and, like the crucifixion and resurrection, redeems something good out

Area Churches AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-4413 Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8144 Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd. (Co. Rd. 3), Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE

F rst © UNITED METHODIST

Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-9143 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic 541-2006 Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-5754 Crossroads Assembly of God 2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 285-5545 First Assembly of God

3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God 5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 5692825 BAPTIST Abraham Baptist Church Millbrook Antioch Baptist Church 1115 Antioch Rd., Titus 567-2917 Beulah Baptist Church

2350 Grier Rd., Wetumpka 514-2881 Blue Ridge Baptist 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 5674325 Brookwood Baptist Grandview Rd., Millbrook Calvary Baptist 504 W. Osceola St., Wetumpka 567-4729 Central Baptist 3545 W. Central Rd., Wetumpka 541-2556 Coosada Baptist

of it. Sometimes it takes time. Sometimes we don’t see it or recognize it, but the promise is there. The Good News is that however bad, God can redeem something good out of it. How many times have we thought we were going to die from the pain of a tragedy in our lives, and later, sometimes years later, looked back to say: “That was best thing that ever happened to me.” Not always, not every time, but how many times? How many times has God redeemed something good out of tragedy? The reality is that Jesus did not come to save us from pain. Jesus came not to bring peace, but the sword; not to bring a life of comfort for believers, but a life of strife, confrontation, and controversy. Jesus brought a sword that has divided families, divided friendships, divided societies and sometimes, cleaves and divides our own hearts. And when the pain gets so bad that we think our heart is going to break and wonder why, we must remember that a broken heart, is also an open heart. And only an open heart can let God in.

20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic 541-4444 Faith Baptist 64 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-4417 First Baptist Church 205 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-5191 First Baptist of Elmore Hwy. 14 Co. Rd. 74, Elmore

First United Methodist Church of Wetumpka

WETUMPKA

306 W. Tuskeena Street • 334-567-7865 www.firstwetumpka.com

Worship: 8:15 AM Chapel • 10:30 AM Sanctuary Wednesday Bible Study • 6:15 PM Summer Schedule: Please Call the Church Office for Children and Youth Activities

ARMONY H United Methodist Church

Wallsboro United Methodist Church 11066 U.S. 231 • Wallsboro Rev. Ryan Johnson, Pastor

8000 Titus Road Titus, AL

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Sunday Services at 11a.m. ___

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SANTUCK BAPTIST CHURCH 7250 Central Plank Road “A Family of Families” B.R. Johnson, Senior Pastor Larry Gore, Adm. & Counseling Randy Godfrey, Education Chad Middlebrooks, Students Matt Fallin, Worship Amy Pugh, Children & Preschool

We are a Congregational Christian Church which, in the name of Jesus, invites all to worship with us.

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PAGE A6 â&#x20AC;˘ JULY 19, 2017

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

ALLIGATORS & CROCODILES

Alligators and crocodiles are both large reptiles that belong to the order Crocodilia. The basic body form of these ancient reptiles has been around since the time of the dinosaurs, making them one of the oldest types of animals on the planet, and has changed little since then. Alligators are found in only two places in the World-- the Southeastern United States and the Yangtze River Region of China. American alligators are normally around 8-12 feet long, but they can grow as long as 20 feet. The Chinese alligator can grow up to seven feet in length. They prefer temperate climates and fresh water. Crocodiles live in tropical environments and are found in many places around the World. The American Crocodile is one of the smaller breeds, measuring around seven feet. They are shy creatures that usually hide from humans. They live in the southernmost tip of Florida, as well as in the Caribbean. The largest of the crocodiles (and all reptiles) is the Saltwater Crocodile which is found in places like Australia and Africa. These animals are extremely dangerous. They have the strongest recorded bite on the planet and can be as long as 21 feet. Nile crocodiles are found around the Nile River and in other parts of the Continent of Africa. They are also very aggressive. All Crocodilia are cold-blooded animals. They are the same temperature as their surroundings and must lie in the sun in order to heat their bodies. 7KH\ DUH QRFWXUQDO DQG SUHIHU WR KXQW DW QLJKW 7KH\ DUH PHDW HDWHUV DQG OLYH PDLQO\ Rá&#x201A;&#x2021; RI ÂżVK VPDOO DQLPDOV DQG ELUGV $W WLPHV WKH\ GR NLOO ODUJHU SUH\ OLNH GHHU 7KHVH UHSWLOHV FDQ EH LGHQWLÂżHG E\ WKHLU VQRXWV $Q DOOLJDWRU KDV D ZLGHU X VKDSHG VQRXW :KHQ KH FORVHV KLV PRXWK \RX FDQQRW VHH his teeth. In comparison, a crocodile has a more-slender, v-shaped snout. When he closes his mouth, some of his teeth still show. Alligators g are also als generally darker in color. Remember to never approach either of these animals!

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JULY 19, 2017 • PAGE A7

Powell sees growth early in WHS hoops tenure By EVAN DUDLEY Sports Editor

EVAN DUDLEY Sports Editor

If you build it, they will come

t’s Alabama All-Star week in Montgomery and a plethora of Elmore County athletes are taking part in the events. I’ll be heading to Riverwalk Stadium as soon as I finish this column to take in the baseball game along with a couple of stops for softball and soccer. The climax of the week is the North-South AllStar football game at Cramton Bowl Thursday night. I’m quite excited about the game as it’ll be my first experience covering a game in the almost 100-year-old stadium. It’s one of my favorite parts of the job. I’ve always been fascinated by the stadiums, ballparks and arenas used for sporting events. I suppose it’s the combination of sounds, smells and the game itself but I feel comfortable within the confines of the press box or keeping pace on the sidelines. And because it’s a slow week in national sports trends or issues – preventing me from forming a strong opinion with ire – I’m prepared to give you my top-five sports venues in which I have covered a game or attended as a fan. 5. The Georgia Dome has been a home away from home for many a SEC sports fan. I’ve attended Kickoff Classics and SEC Championships games and it feels like any other SEC venue on any other Saturday when the best conference in the nation is playing. Sadly, the Georgia Dome has been retired but Mercedes-Benz Stadium will take its place. I imagine when I finally find myself in that stadium, I’ll know Jerry World has a run for its money. 4. I was fortunate to cover a state title game team in Texas last year and captured many games in monolithic high school stadiums. My favorite of these was Waco ISD Stadium, where I covered the state semifinal game in early December 2016. I’ve attended games in Division I FCS and Division II and the school district of Waco has a facility that can rival those of a four-year institution. 3. I could easily place BryantDenny Stadium in my top spot but I’ve kept it at three for the fact I’ve yet to cover a game as a member of the press. That does not, however, make it any less memorable and nostalgic for me. I have witnessed Prothro’s catch on the goal line against Southern Miss, Mt. (Terrence) Cody’s blocked field goal against the hated Vols and, unfortunately, the “Cam-Back.” 2. Sewell-Thomas Stadium had a $40 million facelift two years ago and I was able to cover Alabama baseball in their inaugural season back at the “Joe” after a year in exile at the Hoover Met. The press box had a very open-air feel with large garage doors that opened the media to the sights and sounds of the game. The new amenities brought the old stadium back into the ongoing SEC arms race and can be a big draw for recruits provided the Crimson Tide hired the right man for the job. 1. Jerry World. That’s almost all there is to say. My first visit was the Alabama/USC season opener in 2016 and I saw first-hand the luxuries Jerry Jones uses to keep Dallas fans forgetting the late 1990s and early 2000s. My second visit was for the high school state championships and my scope was much larger. I held down my spot in the press box but was able to navigate the tunnel system and grace the field for post-game interviews. I just hope George Teague didn’t see me taking a selfie on the Star. Evan Dudley is the sports editor of The Herald.

It’s been a little more than a month on the job and the new head basketball coach for Wetumpka High School has planted the seeds for success. It’s not surprising but Derrick Powell has also found a few of those seeds have begun to sprout. The Wetumpka Indians took part in a friendly playday Friday, June 23, at Elba High School and came away with more than victories. “These kids are coachable,” said Powell. “We threw a lot of new things at them and they were able grasp it quickly. That inspires me to know we have an opportunity to teach athletes the game the right way.” The event began with a contest against host Elba that ended with a tie after regulation and two overtime periods. Wetumpka used the momentum from the opening game and won their remaining two games against Luverne and New Brockton. Powell went to Elba with a roster filled with underclassmen, but they’re learning quickly and have taken a liking to Powell’s style. “He is constantly motivating us and building the team up,” said freshman point guard Willie Sagers. “He’s definitely one of the best coaches in our area.” “We think and play together and I really like the fast pace that we play with now,” said freshman forward Jalen Johnson.

Submitted / The Herald

Wetumpka players surround new head coach Derrick Powell during a timeout at the Elba play day.

The Indians will continue to take part in the offseason conditioning program and they have the support from parents, administration and the booster club. It’s a team effort on and off the court and the new coach is well aware of the impact that kind of support can have on a program. “It’s a family,” Powell said. “In order to be successful you must have support of everyone from the parents

to the administration. I love being here at a place that is committed to that support and has welcomed my family with open arms.” Powell is thankful for the opportunity to be in Wetumpka and the booster club is wasting no time in welcoming him to the community. The club sponsored the Biker Tribe Ride Saturday at Wetumpka High School with proceeds benefiting the basketball

program. But Powell and his tribe are still focused on improving every day up and through the beginning of the 2016-2017 season. “Athletes are built in the offseason,” said Powell. His players seem to agree. “The intensity level is up and on the ball,” said senior center Jordan Gilmore. “Defense, offense, it’s all aggressive and pushes us to our limit and beyond.”

Holtville hires Baird as new baseball coach By EVAN DUDLEY Sports Editor

The Holtville Bulldogs baseball team reached the second round of the AHSAA playoffs this past season, but for the third time in as many years, the Bulldogs will enter the coming season with a new coach – one with a championship resume and a youthful spirit. The Elmore County Board of Education, in a June 26 meeting, approved the hiring of 27-year-old Torey Baird as the new head baseball coach of Holtville High School. The hiring follows the resignation of former coach Michael Dismukes, who accepted the head coaching position at Class 6A Wetumpka High School. The talent and tools for success are in place and Baird, a 2008 graduate of Russellville High School, has hit the ground running and already sees the potential in the Holtville program. “We have the support of students, parents, administrators, community members and alumni, which is a great asset for our program,” Baird said. “Everyone is involved and that speaks volumes.” Although this is Baird’s first head coaching position, he has been involved with successful programs since he was in

high school. In his senior year, Baird’s Russellville team reached the third round of the playoffs. He also saw success in travel leagues following his senior year and stood out among his coaches, including Derrek Fikes, now an assistant baseball coach for the 2017 Baird Class 1A Champion Sweet Water Bulldogs. “He was one of the grittiest players I’ve ever coached,” said Fikes. “He played hard all the time and was a loyal teammate, something that everyone loved about him. He’s going to be high energy and very intense and he wants people around him that are that way. He’s one of those guys you want to be around.” “And he’s a pretty funny guy,” Fikes continued. Baird signed to play for Snead State Community College and transferred to Mississippi College in Clinton following his two years at Snead. A knee injury cut Baird’s playing career short but he knew he wanted to coach and returned to Russellville to improve his craft at his alma mater. In Baird’s five years as an assistant at Russellville, the Tigers were area champs

twice and made the playoffs three years culminating in the 2015 Class 5A State Championship. The young coach struck out on his own following the title game and had one year stints at Winston County and Deshler – who was upset in the first round of the 2017 playoffs after winning Class 4A Region 16 – before accepting his first head coach position in Holtville. And it was a quick hire. Within a month of Dismuke’s resignation, Baird was plucked from the applicant pool by Holtville principle Kyle Futral. “Passion. Energy. Commitment. Coach Baird had it all,” said Futral. “He has experience in successful programs and knows what it takes to win and how to do it the right way. He can build on our momentum and keep the program moving forward.” And in his short time in Holtville, Baird and his wife, Danah, have embraced their new community and know exactly what it’s going to take to win. “Be uncommon,” Baird said. “We have the tools to take the next step towards a deep playoff run and win state titles but it takes an uncommon effort from everyone involved.”

Millbrook 8U All-Stars begin World Series play By EVAN DUDLEY Sports Editor

The members of the Millbrook 8-Under All-Stars will be playing baseball at least one more time before the summer fades to fall. The All-Stars had a ninth-place finish at the state tournament last weekend to qualify for the 2017 Dizzy Dean Baseball World Series held today through July 25 at Snowden Grove Park in Southaven, Mississippi. A spot in the World Series was never guaranteed after losses to Southside and Clanton, but the All-Stars pulled an even split in the tournament with a 13-2 win over Shelby County and a 11-3 victory against Centerpoint. “We tell the kids to always be thinking about the next play,” said Willie Wise, one of the coaches for the All-Stars. “They have worked extremely hard all summer. They’ve practiced six days a week for two hours or more at a time and definitely deserve it.” The young squad reports to Southaven Wednesday for opening ceremonies and begins play Thursday.

Submitted / The Herald

The Millbrook 8-Under All-Stars are; top row, from left; Jaden Slater, Sean Reid, Kaleb Sanders, Wes Walker, Jaden Wise and Camreion Gilder; bottom row, from left; Zach Hollon, Adam Wooten, Davis Foshee, Tanner Mehearg, Keontae Hardy and Ayden Sides.

The parents and community are behind the team, planning various fundraisers in preparation for the event and ensuring the children take part in every aspect of the experience. “We are attempting to develop each child

and be proactive in everything we do,” Wise said. “We try to get them to see things in a different light. We want to see them be successful. If you are successful off the field, you will be successful on the field as well.”

PAGE A8 • JULY 19, 2017

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

Depot Players to stage ‘Southern Fried Funeral’ production STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

The Wetumpka Depot Players hit the mid-year mark of their 2017 season with a production of “Southern Fried Funeral.” The big-hearted comedy about a family who puts fun in dysfunction opened Thursday, July 13, and will run through Saturday, July 29, on the Depot stage. In the south, funerals can be a community wide social gathering. From the “grief buffet” filled with casseroles, deviled eggs and pound cakes to impromptu stories and laughter on the front porch, folks south of the Mason-Dixon Line know how to do funerals. “Southern Fried Funeral” is a tribute to the Frye family. The comedy, written by Dietz Osborne and Nate Eppler, is directed by Depot veteran, Kim Mason. “The show is hilarious look

at the Frye family’s preparations for the funeral of their beloved father, Dewey, who dropped dead in the middle of a joke at his Rotary lunch,” Mason said. “The colorful characters, played by a wonderful mix of Depot alumni and new comers, are just wickedly funny. From wayward children, greedy relatives to a busy body who rivals any uptight church lady in history, the play is just a perfect summer comedy. “In this play we have an epic sibling cat fight, a brother who is a few Fruit Loops short of a full bowl and well-meaning friends of the family who show up with soup-laced casseroles and ‘nekkid’ fried chicken. The Frye family has their hands full sending Dewey on to glory. Funerals just seem to bring out the best and worst in people, and the Fyre clan is no exception!” “We have enjoyed the food theme in this show and wanted

to take the opportunity to bring awareness to the Elmore County Food Pantry,” said Kristy Meanor, Depot executive director. “ We are encouraging our patrons to bring a canned good or food item for the Elmore County Food Pantry to the show or when purchasing tickets. Those donating a food item will receive a free ‘world’s best Depot popcorn’ from the concession stand. We are excited about giving this opportunity to our wonderful patrons to help do something good for our community all while enjoying this great show.” The play runs July 13-15, 20,21, 27-29 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 23, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12/$15 and may be purchased at wetumpkadepot.com or by calling 334-868-1440. The theatre is located at 300 S Main Street in historic downtown Wetumpka.

Submitted / The Herald

Southern Fried Funeral will run through July 29th.

SPARK with a stove and kitchen and stuff, but with that they learn how to make recipes, they learn how to make menus, they do a lot of adding and subtracting. It’s those skills all integrated into multiple hands-on approaches. “The grant will allow them to have more resources in the classroom to actually teach with and that the kids can use to learn. Kids can’t just learn one way. They have to learn multiple ways. And when they’re young like that in order for the learning to be sustained, there have to be multiple ways of teaching it and multiple ways of them participating in activities to actually retain the information.” The SPARK (Scientific, Project-based, Academic Research by Kids) Academy is for

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the older students in the school and integrates the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) standards. “In the SPARK Academy, the science standards are interwoven across the curriculum,” said Sullivan. “So, basically, you’re covering a lot more different things, but it’s teaching kids how to be problem-solvers. So instead of me getting up and saying, ‘Okay, boys and girls, we’re going to make this house here. I want you to take out your sticks, I want you to glue them here. I want you to put this stick here. I want you to do whatever to build a house.’ Well, I’m telling them how to build a house. That’s spoon-feeding our kids and that’s why we don’t have as many problem-solvers in our

community because they haven’t been taught to think for themselves. So, with this, they’re going to do a lot more problem-solving, which means it’s going to help them when they get to the middle school and to the high school and to get ready for college.” Tracy Wright will oversee STEM learning and the SPARK Academy at WES. “We’re going to have a room and they’re going to put up the science standards, all of them,” Wright said. “And they’re going to create a project to cover a standard. Once they do that, they’re going to take the other four standards and see how they fit within that project. So you try to cover as many standards under one project that you can which is what

rocket and we talk about what kind of shapes it made. It’s more in-depth. The depth of the kids’ knowledge should go up significantly.” Wright said SPARK Academy will incorporate visitors from NASA for Education, science and technology teachers from Auburn University and representatives of the Civil Air Patrol to train the teachers. Training will be ongoing so that more knowledge is sustained. The SPARK approach, according to Wright, will set students on a learning course that could make them more prepared to fill some of the better jobs Alabama’s technology-based industries offer. “In Alabama, we’re at a deficit for problem-based learners,” Wright said. “We have NASA in north Alabama, we have Mercedes and Hyundai in central Alabama and right now we have battleships being built in the southern part of our state. What they’re doing is they’re pulling

they call cross-curriculum. “ Wright says the STEM approach that WES will employ is a transition from banking education to a more transformative way of teaching and learning. “We’ve done banking education for a very long time. That means you put a penny in there and you expect for it to stay. Transformative is your collaborative, your cooperative, more your problem-solving where you pose a problem and they figure it out with their own strengths. So, with cooperative, it means that we all get together because we all get along. Collaborative means that I’m stronger in math, you’re stronger in English, she’s stronger in science and then we come together as a team to figure out this problem, whatever the problem is. It can be as simple as growing a plant and keeping data on that or as detailed as having someone from NASA come and shoot a water

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in people from out of our country and those from our country are not even coming from the south, but from the north. We have wonderful companies in our state, but we don’t have the people to go and fill those great jobs. Hopefully, we’re on a path to drive that.” Wright said that planning and teacher training are critical to SPARK’s success. “The planning side of this is going to cause a lot more work than the older way of teaching,” Wright said. “One of our big terms is growth mindset, meaning there’s no such thing as a problem or an obstacle, but an opportunity to learn. No matter how hard a task may seem, if you look at it as an opportunity to grow from it, then you’re more successful on your path. And we’re teaching that to not only our kids, but our teachers as well.” “We have a lot going on here, but they’re good changes that are definitely going to benefit the kids now but also going to benefit them when they move on in school,” Sullivan said. “Just think, if you learn and grow your adaptive skills and become problem solvers at this age. I mean, this is when everything sticks, when you learn everything. They’re going to have a whole different mindset. “Our goal is that we’re going to try it out this year, see how it works and then next year we’ll grow into more things that we learn from this year. We didn’t choose to put the whole faculty into it because that’s just too much. That’s just too much change. And the teachers that were chosen, they’re still going to be doing normal instruction. They’re still going be doing their reading and their math the same, but integrating these new and different approaches.”

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TICKET LOCATIONS: Elmore County Food Pantry • Wetumpka First Baptist Church Wetumpka Branches of: Prime South Bank • First Community Bank • River Bank and Trust For More Info: 334-567-5191 or 334-567-3232 www.elmorecountyfoodpantry.net

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Pet of the Week — Gene

Wags & Whiskers Auction two weeks away By REA CORD EHS Executive Director

Gene is a too-cute, eight-month-old dachshund/beagle-looking boy who is only about 30 pounds, so just the perfect size for many families. He is very playful, good with other dogs, happygo-lucky and has a big bark that just says, “Hey! Come and adopt me!” Our adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under one year old; cats over one year old can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee completely covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations,

de-worming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination (if old enough), and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian. To meet all the great pets at our shelter come to 255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka. For more information, go to our website at www.elmorehumane.org, email us at hselco@ bellsouth.net or give us a call at 334567-3377. We are open for adoptions Monday– Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m-3 p.m.

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Two weeks until our 12th annual Wags & Whiskers Auction and your chance to find some treasures while also supporting our shelter. We hope to have a packed house at the Wind Creek Wetumpka Entertainment Center, 100 River Oaks Drive, on Friday, July 28. We will start off the evening with great food provided by Wind Creek, two cash bars, a huge cross-section of items up for auction, door prizes, and more. All the proceeds go directly to our shelter so that we can continue to be a vital resource for both our human and animal communities here in Elmore County. This is both a silent and live auction and don’t worry if this is new to you – we will be happy to show you how it works. Silent auction bidding begins at 6 p.m. when we

open the Entertainment Center doors, but no reason to rush as bidding will go on throughout the evening. Scott & Michelle Williams and the great crew from High as the Sky Auction Company will crank up the live auction bidding around 7 p.m., and DJ Ziggy from PowerSounds USA will keep us all informed throughout the evening as our master of ceremonies. Silent auction bidding will continue throughout and until the cowbell clangs and our many auction volunteers will then help everyone collect their items and do the final payment processing. Parking for our auction will be in the lot across the road from the Entertainment Center and please refrain from parking in the gas station/ store area or behind the Center as your vehicle is subject to being towed. So that we can prepare the printed listings for auction night, any item accepted now may be

held for next year’s auction, or if used this year, will not be listed on-line and may be listed in the ‘too-late to classify’ section of the program. You can preview every item that will be in our auction by checking out our special auction website: www.elmorehumane. auction. There is something for everyone – pet items, weekend hotel/resort packages, Talladega packages, gift certificates, wine and other baskets, artwork, home décor and so much more. You can pre-purchase tickets for $25 person at our shelter (255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka) or at the door. We also have a limited number of tables seating 10 for $300 – come to the shelter at 255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka or call us at 334-5673377 to pay for your table before they are all gone! This is an annual, don’t-miss event so looking forward to seeing everyone on July 28!

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CommunityCalendar NOW – July 25

The Wetumpka Public Library will begin its summer reading series, “Build a Better World,” for children entering grades 1-6. There will be a weekly event at the Wetumpka Civic Center each Tuesday from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. These are specially designed activities to encourage children to enjoy reading and maintain their reading skills over the summer holiday. Participants will be given journals to log the books they read and how much time they spend reading. For more information visit www.wetumpkalibrary. com or call (334) 567-1308.

NOW – July 27

The Wetumpka Public Library will begin its summer series for students entering grades 7 – 12. Movies will be shown weekly on Thursdays at 1 p.m. at the library. For more information call (334) 567-1308 or visit www.wetumpkalibrary.com

NOW-Sept. 11

The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery Presents “A Heritage of Art and Design” featuring the Troy University Department of Art and Design.The exhibition is open daily Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. A reception will be held Tuesday, June 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

July 21

Join us at Santuck Baptist Church for a fun filled family night at 7 p.m. for our 2nd movie night. We will be watching Disney’s “Inside Out” on our new twenty foot movie screen. You do not want to miss this great night of fun for the whole family! Everything is FREE, popcorn, popsicles, and water!

July 22

Wetumpka’s annual River and Blues Music and Arts Festival, 2 p.m. through 10 p.m. in Downtown Wetumpka. This year’s festival will feature Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas plus 2017 International Blues Challenge finalist King Bee and will include a massive kid’s zone and the Riverwalk Fine Arts Show. In addition to the headliners, the music festival will also feature performances by Jukebox Brass

Band, Slim Jeezy & the Feel Good Band, Jimmy Baker, Rachel Wilson, Jeff Pasley, Jilla Webb and more! For more information, visit the website at www.riverandblues.net.

July 23

BAMA Chapter at 6 p.m. on at Coaches Corner in Wetumpka as we kick-off the fall season with Ken Gaddy, director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum. Space is limited so RSVP by July 28 at elcobama@gmail.com or by calling 334-207-5050. Admission is $20 for members and $25 for non-members (memberships are payable at the door $15 Single; $25 Family) and includes a tailgate spread, plenty of tea and water, door prizes and a cash bar.

July 28

Join us for our first ever More for Moms Expo! We are planning a fun and informative day for River Region moms that will feature WSFA 12 News personalities, guest speakers, vendors, fashion show, goody bags and more. For more information visit our Facebook page, More for Moms Expo. • Holtville Riverside Baptist Church will have a gospel singing at 6 p.m. The singes will be Holy Destiny and Justified. For more information please call (334) 2962183. Refreshments will follow.

Rock Springs Baptist Church, located at 375 Rigsby Road in Tallassee, will celebrate its 102nd anniversary at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Richard Hall will speak at the worship service and music will be provided by Ray Funderburk’s group, along with Travis and Charity Shaw. Nursery will be provided for infants up to age 3. There will be a buffet style luncheon served following the service. Everyone is invited to come and participate in this annual event. “Wags N Whiskers,” the Humane Society of Elmore County’s silent auction will be from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. at 100 River Oaks Drive. Tickets are $25 per person. Items for auction can be viewed at www.elmorehumane.org.

July 30 – August 1

Holtville Riverside Baptist Church will Hold Revival services beginning at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening and 7 p.m. Monday – Wednesday evening. Bro. Cory Dennis, pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, will be bringing the message each evening. For more information call (334) 296-2183.

Aug. 4

The Elmore County Homeschool Organization will host a free event open to families from any county in the area that are currently homeschooling or are interested in homeschooling. Light refreshments will be served. Children are welcome; there will be activity tables for their enjoyment. For more information visit www.onlineecho.com/openhouse2017.

Aug. 6

The Kempter Family, a vintage gospel band, will be in concert at Rushenville Baptist Church in Eclectic at 6 p.m.

Aug. 7

Join the Elmore County

Aug. 12

Aug. 26

En Fuego is a FREE Christian music festival, which takes place every year in a beautiful natural amphitheater in central Alabama located at 2701 County Road 23 in Verbena from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. You will hear some of the best bands in the industry for FREE. Did you catch that? For FREE! If you have any questions, please call us at (205) 516-0467.

Aug. 27

Ridge Church is moving! We will begin meeting at Wetumpka High School to expand and better accommodate our community. Services begin at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

Sept. 30

The Titus Bluegrass Festival ill be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Titus Community Center. There will be live bluegrass music, arts & crafts vendors, food, inflatables for kids, and more.

Oct. 5

Adullam House will host its 3rd annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville, AL. Registration

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and Observer by calling 256-234-4281, faxing them to 256-2346550, sending your event to the.editor@thewetumpkaherald.com or logging on to http://www.thewetumpkaherald.com/. begins at 8 a.m., tee-off will be at 9 a.m., followed by lunch. Proceeds from this tournament will fund the much needed expansion at Adullam House Christian Academy. There are a variety of sponsorship levels, or you may simply put together and team and play. Fees are $150 per player and $600 for a foursome. This will include golf, contests, lunch, and a chance and many great door prizes. For more information please visit our website at www. adullamhouse.org/golf.

Oct. 7

Join the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Alabama chapter for the annual “Out of the Darkness” walk at the Buddy Watson Baseball Park in Montgomery. Participation allows you to join the effort with hundreds of thousands across the nation to raise awareness and funds for new research, educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. Check-in and registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. the walk begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. For more information please call FeLishia Franklin at (334) 435- 5802 or email felishiafranklin@gmail.com.

ONGOING EVENTS

• The Elmore County Branch #5026 of the NAACP meets at 6:30 p.m. every third Tuesday (the executive committee) and every fourth Tuesday (full membership) at the Martin Luther King Center located at 200 N. Lancaster Street in Wetumpka. • The DAC Foundation exhibit located at 219 Hill Street in downtown Wetumpka will be open each Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. Our first exhibit at this location, features work by Dixie Art Colony artists Arthur Stewart, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Shiney Moon, Lousie Everton, Karl Wolfe, Billy Wilson and Genevieve Sutherland. Some of the work has never been publicly shown. For information visit DixieArtColony.org or follow us on Facebook. • Celebrate Recovery meets at Grace Point Community Church,

located at 78223 Tallassee Highway, every Tuesday night at 6:15 p.m. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits, and hang-ups! For more information visit gracepoint.info. • Celebrate Recovery meets at Journey Church, located at 2960 East Cobbs Ford Road every Monday at 5:30 p.m. There is a meal and childcare provided. Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Call Larry at (334) 832-5714 or visit myjourneychurch.com for more information. • Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday evening at 6:15 p.m. at Santuck Baptist Church, located at 7250 Central Plank Road. This is a Christ centered 12 step program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hangups. Call (334) 567-2364 for more information. • Fresh Start Recovery meets every Thursday from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church Wetumpka located at 306 W Tuskeena Street. Fresh Start Motorcycle Ministry began when God laid it on the heart of a lifetime biker to minister to those with his background. All are welcome, not a requirement to own/ ride a motorcycle. Format used is the Holy Bible. For information contact ministry leader Paul Henderson at (334) 201-5428. • Gamblers Anonymous meets Saturdays at 6 p.m. at Cedarwood Community Church, located at 10286 U.S. Highway 231 in the Wallsboro/ Wetumpka community. Call (334) 567-0476 for more information. • Griefshare Ministry meets on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. This ministry is for anyone who is dealing with the loss of a loved one and is seeking guidance and encouragement. There is a small fee for the materials and this is open to all people needing support. Contact the church office for more information 334-567-4729 or visit www.calvarybaptistwetumpka.org or our Facebook page @ calvarybaptistwetumpka.

Students create robots, use math, have fun By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

Several Redland Elementary School students spent a week cultivating critical and analytical thought by applying engineering, computing and a little bit of math to bring miniature plastic robotic creations to life. Walking into an

RES classroom Friday morning boys and girls alike sat at their desks absorbed in the creations on their desktops, their laptops sitting beside them. What at first glance could have been mistaken for abstract designs of the imagination were quickly brought into focus when a boy punched in a few

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keys on his computer and a plastic-brick tower retracted and extended a cord it was suspending. He had designed a small crane from the bricks complete with an electric motor that acted on the code he was entering into the computer. Looking to be no more than nine-yearsold, he was working on a hypothetical scenario in which his machine would help clean up after an environmental disaster. Two rows of children were crafting similar structures all around him, each as seemingly engrossed in their project with each addition or subtraction of a plastic brick. In the adjacent room teachers helped the children dismantle their designs and put them away systematically and categorically in toolbox like bins. Owner of Snapology of the River Region, Brian Corbin, said some of the students had just returned from driving the more mobile machines outside, adding

an element of summer sun to their indoors automation. This is Snapology’s first year operating as a franchise, and Corbin broke down the idea behind the 21st century version of kids building with blocks. “Snapology, we are a STEM based company, we focus on elementary and middle school-age children to introduce them to these concepts you know early on. Most parents or even educators they relate the STEM stuff to high school-age kids,” said Corbin. “You see it where they have a robotics team which is great… but there’s still programs out there for younger kids.” STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math. Snapology was at RES for its second full week, which Corbin called a camp. The primary learning tools of the service are the plastic bricks commonly known, trademarked and sold as children’s toys, which Corbin said is called, “Lego education.”

Corey Arwood / The Herald

Wylde Rutter operates from his laptop a crane he constructed out of plastic bricks complete wtih a motor and pulley system at Redland Elementary School’s Snapology camp.

With no other franchises in the state, Corbin said he could branch out but says he stays busy in the area, spending most of his time in the River Region. He said he had organized the classes along with RES’ principal Chad Walls. “We’re constantly looking to add on partners with different venues and that’s what it is, it’s a partnership with Snapology and the facility, like, say, a church or a school,” Corbin said.

The idea, Corbin said was to get elementary and middle school-age children to use robotic kits, laptops, tablets to develop an idea, design it, build on it and reevaluate that design. “We treat this as an education service where the kids do get a lesson. Now it’s fun, they have a great time … they get really involved,” Corbin said. “But there’s also the back end of what they’re learning and they’re not aware of what they’re learning.”

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