Elmore County BOE names two new high school principals
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
investigation
Elmore County and Wetumpka high schools will see new faces leading them this fall.
Dennis
Eclectic native Jason Eason will head Elmore County High School (ECHS) and Holtville High School principal Kyle Futral will lead Wetumpka High School.
staff and employees.
“Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
Futral and his family were on vacation but posted on social media after the Elmore County Board of Education approved his hiring in Wetumpka.
“I am so excited to be joining the WE2 Nation as the new principal at Wetumpka High School,” Futral wrote. But Futral didn’t forget where he has served students in Elmore County for almost a decade but is also looking to the future.
Franklin said investigators with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office have the alleged victim’s phone. Authorities collected Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversation between the two,” Franklin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
Chamber holds luncheon welcoming members
Wilson was released on a $6,000 bond 90 minutes after turning himself in according to the Elmore County Jail website.
“I will certainly miss all the awesome folks in the Holtville community and the lifelong relationships I’ve developed over the last seven years,” Futral wrote. “I will never forget the amazing experience of serving there alongside so many great people. I am ready
Dennis said Wilson also coached other sports at Holtville schools including being the head track coach and assistant football coach.
Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Visitor center for crater in the works
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
The Wetumpka Crater Commission might have a new home downtown.
The City of Wetumpka has partnered with Elmore County, the Elmore County Economic Development Authority and the commission to create a visitor cen-
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD
POW — IT’S A HOT PEPPER
Peppers inspire Wetumpka couple to market
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
How hot is a Carolina Reaper hot pepper?
Andy Powell should know. He is growing them along with many other peppers at his Wetumpka home. Powell has lost count of how many different hot peppers he has tried over the years. But he is growing 80 hot pepper plants in eight different varieties this year from jalapeno all the way to the world’s hottest — the
Carolina Reaper.
“We are in the city limits,” Powell said. “They get fed with city water. These are all homegrown and local.”
Powell likes gardening and hot peppers. His wife Erin said growing and selling them at Main Street Wetumpka’s Community Market has turned into a little hobby business POW-Peppers. POW comes from the couple’s last name — Powell.
said. “Because the gardening season is so long here, we had peppers until November. We had so many we started making jelly and stuff. We made in the neighborhood of 50 jars of pepper jellies along with pickled and candied jalapenos.”
schoolwide assembly at Holtville High School. Elmore County Su perintendent Richard Dennis was in attendance for the presentation.
With inventory on the shelves, the Powells started to think about the Community Market for 2023. They were thinking small as both have full time jobs. Andy is an
“The peppers in the garden did really well last year,” Erin
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
ter in the space left by The Kelly move.
“It will give us another downtown venue for tourism,” Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis said. “For 22 years we have been working on this crater to have some sort of interpretive center to tell the story.”
Former students and others remember longtime educator
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20.
Dr. Patrycya L. Tucker is remembered as a sweet and caring educator.
Police were dispatched to the parking lot around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Once there, they found Centell Winston, 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound in the driver seat of his vehicle.
Tucker died June 2 but her legacy of teaching and guiding other educators to serve children did not. She was a longtime educator in Elmore County and former Elmore County Board of Education member. Former students and current Elmore County Board of Education members remember Tucker as always putting students first.
According to Wetumpka police chief Greg Benton, this was not a random shooting.
“This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.”
cousins and from the same Wetumpka community, Gossum Switch. Saxon said he tries to emulate Tucker in all that he does on board.
This is the first homicide in Wetumpka in over three years. The last homicide in the city took place in 2018.
“It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
“It is a challenge to enhance what she did and make the programs she had better,” Saxon said. “They were already great.”
Board member
“She had a love for children,” Elmore County Board of Education District 2 representative Wendell Saxon said.
“She wanted all children to get a quality education. She was adamant about making sure we cared for the children.”
Tucker served on the board for three terms from 2006 to 2018.
Saxon followed in her footsteps as distant
See SHOOTING, Page A3
Michael Morgan recalled Tucker always being around Elmore County Schools.
“She started in Elmore County when I was 3 years old,” Morgan said. “I don’t ever recall her not being around.”
Tucker also taught at the university level and was important to the founding of the educational advocacy group Emanon Group that supports students
WILSON
CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD
Erin and Andy Powell of Wetumpka have a love of hot peppers. The couple especially Andy love to grow and eat the hottest around including the Carolina Reaper — currently classified as the world’s hottest pepper.
Police Reports
JUNE 12
• Theft of property was reported on U.S. Highway 231.
TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
JUNE 12
• A domestic incident was reported on Darnell Road.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Central Boulevard.
• A suspicious person was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
JUNE 11
• A verbal altercation was reported on Third Avenue.
• Criminal mischief was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Elm Street.
• A civil disturbance was reported on Second Avenue.
• A juvenile complaint was reported on Godwin Road.
• Unauthorized use of a vehicle was reported on Clover Street.
• A disorderly subject was reported on Hillcrest Street.
• Trespassing was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Panhandling was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Notasulga Road. JUNE 10
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Notasulga Road.
• Theft was reported on Sims Avenue.
• A juvenile complaint was reported on Little Road.
• A noise complaint was reported on Little Road.
• A private property motor vehicle accident was reported on Macedonia Road.
• Panhandling was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A white male was arrested on U.S. Highway 231.
• A domestic dispute was reported on Birch Street.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Hall Farm Road.
• Reckless driving was reported on Highway 229.
JUNE 9
• Gunfire was reported on Gen. Chappy James Street.
• A domestic incident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Animal control was requested on Rushing Circle.
• Assistance was given during a medical call on Gilmer Avenue.
• An animal complaint was reported on White Oak Lane.
• A stolen vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A domestic complaint
EDUCATOR
Continued from A1
was reported on Grimes Street.
• A white female was arrested on Burt Mill Road.
• Assistance was given to medics on Hillcrest Street.
• A suspicious person was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Menacing was reported on Gen. Chappy James Street.
• A prowler was reported on Central Boulevard.
JUNE 8
• Trespassing was reported on Macedonia Road.
• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.
• A fight was reported on Gen. Chappy James Street.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Softball Way.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Central Avenue.
• A domestic incident was reported on Grimes Street.
• A white male was arrested during a domestic incident call on Ashurst Avenue.
• Reckless endangerment was reported on Derry Street.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.
• A juvenile complaint was filed on Cotton Ridge Road.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Friendship Road.
• Trespassing was reported on Benson Avenue.
• A white female was arrested during a traffic stop on Highway 229.
• A welfare check was
and teachers throughout Elmore County. Lamar Neighbors was part of the ECHS Class of 1985. He
tions.
BOE
Continued from A1
for this new chapter, though, and to get to work to #WinTheMoment with the staff, students and the whole WE2 Nation! Go Indians.”
Board of Education president and Holtville graduate Michael Morgan said he is both sad and happy about Futral taking the position in Wetumpka.
“If we are going to lose him, at least we lost him to the team,” Morgan said.
Futral replaces Dr. Robbie Slater who took a position in the Elmore County Board of Education central office.
The board also approved hiring Eason at ECHS where he has many family connec -
conducted on Freeman Avenue.
• A Black male was arrested during a disorderly subject call on Friendship Road.
JUNE 7
• A welfare check was conducted on Gilmer Avenue.
• Animal control was requested on Griffith Lane.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.
• Fraud was reported on Central Boulevard.
• A Black male was arrested during a domestic dispute on North Ann Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Gilmer Avenue.
• An animal complaint was reported on Second Street.
• An animal complaint was reported on Wallace Drive.
• A suspicious person was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Friendship Road.
• A hit and run accident was reported on Friendship Road.
• A stolen vehicle was reported on South Tallassee Drive.
JUNE 6
• Reckless driving was reported on Notasulga Road.
• Gunfire was reported on Parler Street.
• A domestic incident was reported on Cliff Street.
• An animal complaint was reported on Freeman Avenue.
memorialized Tucker through comments on her obituary on the Ross-Clayton Funeral Home website.
“[She was] one of the great teachers of ECHS,” Neighbors wrote. “I had her for English and Drama. She had an impact on many students.”
The two hires were just a couple of many handled in Thursday’s specially called board of education meeting.
Superintendent Richard Dennis said the special meeting was necessary for the system to stay on track following personnel transfers for the upcoming school year. He explained to the board there is often a lot of movement among current personnel just after the school year when positions open up.
The filling of positions early in summer allows positions to be advertised, interviews to occur and positions offered to keep schools on track.
“It is crucial because we need principles and assistant principals in July as we open up preparing for the
• A white male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.
• A motor vehicle accident was reported on Central Boulevard.
• A vehicle vs. train accident was reported on Highway 229.
• A suspicious subject was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A stolen vehicle was reported on Murphy Road.
• Animal control was requested on Benson Avenue.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Main Street.
• Harassing communications was reported on Ashurst Avenue.
• A white male was arrested following a vehicle pursuit on Highway 229. JUNE 5
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on E.B. Payne Sr. Drive.
• Forgery was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Violation of a protection order was reported on Riley Road.
• Drug activity was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Reckless driving was reported on Highway 229.
• Burglary was reported on Ice Plant Road.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Notasulga Road.
• Forgery was reported on Highway 229.
• Theft was reported on Freeman Avenue.
• Assistance was given during a medical call on Gilmer Avenue.
ECHS 1992 graduate Stacy Mask Cannon remembered Tucker in much the same way.
“She was one of my favorites,” Cannon wrote. “She had such an impact on so many, including myself. I will forever be grateful to have had the experience to be in her classroom.”
start of the 2023-2024 school year,” Dennis said. “I’m looking forward to it and we are off to a good start.”
Dennis said the system is currently in good shape on finding staff of openings but expects more openings as other employment opportunities across multiple educational systems develop.
“As those happen, you will see some openings occur at the elementary level,” Dennis said. “Most of the current positions that are open I think are on the secondary level.”
IN OTHER ACTION THE ELMORE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION:
• Approved a $242,470 bid to repair and replace the roof of the gym at Wetumpka
Elementary School.
• Approved a $258,663 for HVAC renovations at the ECHS auditorium.
• Approved a $175,000 bid for bleacher renovations at Redland Elementary School.
• Approved a $3,125 contract for landscaping services at the Holtville Child Development Center.
• Approved the $18,500 bid for a 3D printer for the Elmore County Technical Center (ECTC).
• Approved the $35,411 bid for a plasma cutter for ECTC.
The next meeting of the Elmore County Board of Education is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. June 27 at the central office on H.H. Robinson Drive.
Humane Society of Elmore County News
Make sure your pets are ready for disaster
By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director
ters tend to have heavy intake before bad weather and are simply full of homeless pets of varying temperaments and health issues.
Having a crate large enough to accommodate a cat and its litter box, food and water is important for cat owners as your cat(s) might have to stay in that crate for more than a few days. It will be fine and better to leave it a well-appointed crate than losing it when you open a car or hotel room door.
Crating your dog while staying in a new area will protect your dog just the same.
Prepare a Pet Evacuation and Disaster Kit in a sturdy, waterproof carrier containing: Food
Identifying when to evacuate is perhaps the most important step as evacuating with a pet can sometimes slow you down a bit, so be sure to leave early to give yourself the extra travel time. Ensure your pet is wearing a collar, rabies tag and identification tag (we can make custom tags at our shelter) and if at all possible, a microchip — call your veterinarian and make sure your contact information is current. Keep your pets leashed and if your pets are traveling in a carrier, be sure to secure identification to the travel carrier.
Pet of the Week - Martha
Martha is a 2-year-old female Lab mix who weighs about 55 pounds. She came to the shelter as a stray but was never reclaimed. She is a very low key gal who would make a great couch potato buddy. She is good with other dogs as long as they are also low-key as she is not a fan of high-energy dogs.
The Humane Society of Elmore County’s adoption
fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under 1 year old. Cats over 1 can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, deworming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian.
If you are interested in meeting Cola or any of the pets at HSEC, the first step is to fill out an adoption application online. Once approved, you will be contacted by someone from the humane society. HSEC is located at 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka. The phone number is 334567-3377 and the website is www.elmorehumane.org.
for a minimum of three days for each pet, can opener for any canned pet food, bottled water for a minimum of seven days for each pet, food/water bowls, leashes/harnesses/pet carriers, bedding, pet medications, copies of pet medical records, litter/ litter box for cats, disposable bags for pet waste, current photos and description of your pets to help identify them if you were to become separated, as well as toys/treats that may help distract/calm your pet. Take and store photos of
your pets in your cell phone along with their tag and microchip numbers so you can access them in the event you lose or cannot get to stored records.
If you are away and your pets are under the care of a friend/neighbor or even a boarding facility, make sure they have a pet information sheet with your pet’s description, ID tag and microchip numbers, photo, veterinarian address and contact info, information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, and behav-
ioral issues. Also make sure your pet caregiver knows how to contact you in the event of an emergency and where you have gone. There is no better time to prepare than right now. For more tips, go to: https://www. ready.gov/pet-toolkit or https:// www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/disaster-preparedness.
Rea Cord is the executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County.
Kenneth
Page A4 • June 14, 2023
Obituaries:
Observer, Tribune). Obituaries are only accepted via the funeral home in charge of arrangements. We do not accept obituaries from individuals.
Weddings, Engagements, Anniversaries, or Birth
Announcements: These significant family events or milestones are 35 cents per word and $25 for a photo and must be emailed to us at announcements@thewetumpkaherald.com. Include name and telephone number. The text for the announcement must be in the body of the email (not as an attachment) and photographs must be sent as a .jpeg attached to the email. Announcements will appear within 10 days in The Herald or The Tribune.
Far too often recently, I’ve seen local establishments getting just bashed on social media.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with bad reviews. If a person really receives poor service or is treated badly, then there’s a complaint to be made.
However, these social media posts never seem to be that.
Typically, it’s something along the lines of, “I’ve been going to this place for years, but Friday I went there and it took 45 minutes just to get my meal! I am never going back.”
There are so many flaws in this type of review, and frankly, in this type of thinking.
First and foremost, if you’ve been frequenting a place for years and one night is the reason you’ll turn away from it forever, you need to look at your loyalty. Everyone is entitled to a bad night.
This also doesn’t take into consideration any extenuating circumstances. Maybe someone called in; maybe a person quit without notice the day prior. Could it be the restaurant was incredibly busy, or you ordered a meal more complicated than usual?
But I think most importantly, this is just another example of why social media is a threat to our society. In the past, if you had a bad night at a restaurant,
Air your grievances in the right places
LIZI GWIN Managing Editor
you may have told your best friend the next day. You certainly wouldn’t have sent out a mass email to all your friends — and, in many cases, a bunch of strangers too — telling everyone your experience.
money than the menu price for food items — essentially accus ing someone of theft.
hamlet of town, there were luckily many people that rushed to the defense of the restaurant, saying if the issue was taken up with management it would’ve been corrected right away. But not all posts like this are so lucky.
That’s essentially what posting on social media is doing.
It lets an innumerable amount of people see this one bad experience and make judgments from that without knowing a full story.
Moreover, I always wonder to myself if these issues have been brought up with management. Did you speak to someone higher up about an employee you felt was rude, or did you ask to discuss with an owner of a business an issue you’ve had with one of his services?
Accusing someone of theft — or even rude service, increased prices or slow timing — can ruin a small business. And in so many cases, the establishments being critiqued are being done so by people whose businesses are in the same understaffed boat. It seems like now would be the ultimate time for giving some grace.
This story you are about to read took many years to live and several to write.
In 2017, Alabama-based potato chip maker Golden Flake announced it was being bought by Utz, a company out of Pennsylvania.
In May 2018, I noted here in The Tribune about the disappearance of the Golden Flake mascot from the back of the chip bags in a column titled “The Disappearing Clown.” Here’s what I wrote then:
“The back of every Golden Flake bag has featured a clown throwing a potato chip bag into a trash can, saying ‘Don’t litter.’
I always wondered about the identity of this clown. Who is he, and how did he get to appear on every Golden Flake bag?
Recently, I asked Larry, our Golden Flake representative, about the clown, which is being phased out on newer bags of Golden Flake products. He said the clown has always been there and used to have a TV show in Birmingham. Interested, I started looking up Birmingham TV personalities like Country Boy Eddie to see if they once portrayed this clown. But no one knew who he was.”
Moving ahead to July 2019, I began receiving phone calls from a man who claimed to be the real Flako the Clown — the name of the Golden
People don’t need to call management at every turn.
Now, I’m not advocating for “being a Karen.”
However, if there is really an issue, bring it up with someone. I recently saw a post about a local restaurant in Alexander City basically accusing the employees of charging more
around an hour for bad service with a rude waitress. But per haps next time this happens, you should consider your reac tion too. A lot can be solved by calmly talking to a manager or taking your issue up with the right person. But going on social media to air your grievances hurts way more people than you might think.
He left messages asking me to call him back; the people in my house found it funny, as I suppose they should, I was getting telephone calls from a retired clown. What I found out was very interesting and really beyond the scope of this editorial page — it’s really a story more deserving of a full feature in a Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. magazine, but for now, this space will have to do. The gentleman who was contacting me is a well-known writer, teacher, administrator and businessman in Georgia who just happened to see my little story in The Tallassee Tribune. The man’s real name is Chuck Bowen. Speaking with him led to some of the most enlightening phone calls I’ve ever experienced. He also sends packages with some of his wonderfully enjoyable essays and articles that have been published regionally. And that doesn’t even include an appearance on “America’s Got Talent” in 2018. Bowen has had a most interesting
Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor at Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.
career trajectory. After graduating with a teaching certificate in 1949, he was an educator and school administrator in Georgia during the 1950s including a stint pulling double duty as a principal and eighth-grade teacher earning $119 per month.
Then after serving as the Master of Ceremonies for a Phenix City beauty pageant, the call came to work with renowned news-talk station WBML-AM 900 in Warner Robins, Georgia. From there, he heard about a job at WTVM-TV 9 in Columbus and applied – and spent the 1960s employed at WTVM as a news anchor, reporter and personality.
One of the more fascinating facets of early television was the interchangeability of the on-camera jobs. Even at the big networks, a tough hard-news interviewer like Mike Wallace could also be seen hosting game shows and doing commercials during other dayparts. The same was true at local stations, where a news, sports or weather personality also hosted children’s programming or talk shows.
“Romper Room” is an example of a program concept that was imitated with different hosts at local stations across the country; similarly, Bozo the Clown was licensed to TV stations
Flake mascot.
MICHAEL BIRD Columnist
The Wetumpka City Council had the first reading of a lease for the center at its first June meeting and is set to authorize Willis to sign documents for renting the Company Street building next week.
“This is leasing that building for the crater museum,” Willis said. “It is going to be a great addition for us.”
Initially the City of Wetumpka, county and ECEDA will partner to help with the overhead of the center according to Willis.
The crater was discovered by Auburn University geology professor Dr. David King in the 1990s. King has done extensive research and measuring of the crater formed during the late Cretaceous period. Crater commission vice president Marilee Tankersley said the commission previously had space in the second floor of the Wetumpka Administration Building
Continued from A4
everywhere. There was a Birmingham Bozo on WBRC-TV 6, for example, as well as the more famous Bozo on WGN-TV 9 out of Chicago.
So, being a TV clown was nothing new. There was no real coulrophobia, or fear of evil clowns, in those days. A clown was there for laughs, to take the pie in the face, to juggle or perform magic tricks or be sprayed
but the potential of new space is very much welcomed.
“It has been a pleasure to hear some of the ideas on this,” Tankersley said. “We will just have to worry about programming to start with.”
Tankersley said she and others at the commission have already done an inventory of items the commission has available for display in a crater visitor center.
“We have a lot of stuff,”
Tankersley said. “Dr. King has donated some of his teaching materials going back to when he and his students did the initial research on the crater.”
Tankersley said the commission’s inventory also includes detailed measurements of the crater.
“They are good enough to create an amazing model of it,” Tankersley said. “It would be amazing to create one for the new center as everyone would be able to see it in great detail on a small scale but they are
with seltzer.
expensive.”
Tankersley said artist Karen Carr has donated illustrations she created from the Cretaceous period to the commission for display in a visitor center or museum.
“Her work is in the Chicago Field Museum,” Tankersley said. “It is simply amazing.”
Willis and Tankersley said staff with The Kelly will help the crater commission install displays about the crater in the Company Street location.
“They have expertise in that sort of thing,” Willis said.
Tankersley and the commission feel things are finally coming together to be able to highlight the crater on a year around basis with a true visitor’s center.
“With our inventory we have a good start,” Tankersley said. “With help from Dr. King, Karen Carr, city and county officials, I think it will be great. It has been a real community effort to get this going.”
Bowen said as a news man, he handled everything from “ripand-read” Associated Press wire stories to covering local news as a reporter in addition to doing advertisements and serving as a booth announcer.
At WTVM, he did it all — including appearing as Flako the Clown on the Golden Flake show.
Bowen remembered how Channel 9 approached him with the job. “Wanna be a clown?” they asked. His answer: “Sure! More money!”
electrician and Erin is an ultrasound technician. But they wanted to have more than just canned peppers. The Powells had been collecting seeds, some from last year’s harvest including Ghost Peppers and purchased some Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper seeds.
“Everything we have started from seed at our house,” Erin said. “We had mats and heat lamps. We started about 140 back in February. He germinated those. We plan to do that each year now — save some seeds and regerminate,”
At the first two Community Markets of 2023 the Powells sold some of their hot pepper seedlings along with jellies. For the second market Erin wanted to add more to the table, especially with the inventories of jellies being sold off.
“We were trying to come up with something else to make,” Erin said. “I was like, ‘’Let’s make some bread to try.’ We came up with a recipe for cheddar jalapeno bread we liked.”
You see, Bowen and his wife Syd had already made a career out of dressing up and performing with a traveling troupe; Syd and Chuck had enough adventures as a performing couple to fill a thousand movie reels, but that’s another story. The end result was if anyone was prepared for the demands of a TV clown, Chuck Bowen was ready.
“You couldn’t make a mistake,” Bowen said of live television in the 1960s. And as a trusted Columbus media personality, Bowen thrilled to his new role on behalf of the potato chip company.
Erin said the sweeter peppers
“Save your bags and add up your points,” Flako would say to the kids near the conclusion of his broadcast. Viewers could win prizes like toys and games, even bicycles, if they sent in the points on the back of the Golden Flake bags.
“Clowns have always been a part of entertainment since the earliest circus,” Bowen said when I mentioned the modern-day evil clown persona featured in books and films featuring characters such as Pennywise and the Joker. “Time changes everything. How could
such as jalapeno and Hungarian wax hot pepper have been popular along with Cowboy Candy, a candied and pickled jalapeno.
Like the Community Market, the Powells will take July and August off from sales on Merchant’s Alley in downtown Wetumpka. But the hope is the summer months will allow the Powells to replenish their stock.
“We are looking forward to growing a bunch of stuff over the summer,” Erin said. “We want to make some things to have available for the fall. Once the peppers produce we will have a lot of the jellies and a lot of the pickled stuff.”
Andy has planted a lemon pepper he hasn’t tried yet and it’s growing.
“I plan on trying it,” Andy said. “It is my understanding they have a spicy citrus flavor.”
Andy also has plans for his newest hot pepper — the Carolina Reaper.
“I can’t wait until they come in,” Andy said. “I plan on making jellies with those or pickling them. You always have that person that goes, ‘I can eat anything hot.’ I hope someone besides me will eat them.”
you imagine a mascot better than a clown?”
And, boys and girls, that is Chuck Bowen — the proud reallife Flako the Clown on the back of your Golden Flake chip bag, throwing his trash into a barrel that says, “Don’t litter.” Save your bags and add up your points!
Michael Bird is a music teacher at Tallassee High School and radio host on 580 WACQ & FM 98.5 who also enjoys Golden Flake products from Super Foods. Don’t litter!
CLOWN
Camp introduces students to tech programs
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
A record number of incoming high school freshmen now know about the Elmore County Technical Center (ECTC).
ECTC introduced 91 students to the 16 programs of study in Wetumpka last week through the annual Camp Discovery. ECTC career coach Lindsay Jordan said the goal of the camp is to encourage discussion between students and parents of options available for students in Elmore County Schools.
“It gives them a chance to discover more about what they are interested in before they register later in the ninth grade,” Jordan said. “It also gives parents a chance to start planning ahead and think a couple years out.”
in Elmore County Schools.
Students spent four days going from program to program experiencing a little of what ECTC is like and taking part in presentations on programs.
“It is focused on fun,” Jordan said. “We had a good time with them to make sure they were engaged. But at
the sametime teachers give them expectations of what it would be like to be in the class.”
Expectations were explained as students disassembled and reassembled engines in automotive, troubleshot in information technology, a ‘breakout’ room for workplace skills and more.
"In welding, they got to
use the plasma cutter and run a little bead,” Jordan said. “The new culinary program partnered with hospitality to plate Twinkies for a creative dessert. They launched rockets in aviation using baking soda and vinegar. After the HVAC presentation they ate ice cream to demonstrate the principles of heating and cooling in getting ice cream from the store to home.”
Students donned turnout gear and hooked up a firehose in the public safety segment and built charcuterie boards in construction.
“We gave them a T-shirt, a bag and did fun things,” Jordan said. “But if there is something physical that they can take home, we like that too. It gives one more thing for the parents to see what can be learned.”
An extra effort was made this year to encourage participation. In years past
about 80 students attended Camp Discovery. Space was limited to about 100 students.
“That was about the most we could fit into the area where we ate lunch,” Jordan said. “There is some construction going on for the new programs.”
ECTC is in Wetumpka but is open to all students of Elmore County Schools. Jordan said students in Camp Discovery came from all parts of the county.
“We didn’t just have Wetumpka here,” Jordan said. “We had Redland, Millbrook, Holtville and Eclectic too. It is critical they see that because when they get to high school they are all eligible to take classes here.”
The participation extended to the parents as well. In years past parents would just come pick students up each day with not much interaction with staff. Jor-
dan and staff at ECTC hold an open house the last day of Camp Discovery. This year staff worked hard to get parents to come to the open house through email and speaking with the students. The work paid off.
“Parents just kept coming and coming,” Jordan said. “It was wonderful. We looked over at the food table and was like, ‘Wow they ate lunch.’”
Jordan said she was encouraged by the participation of students and parents. She believes responses from parents already indicate more students will enroll as the time register for classes approaches next winter and spring.
“We have already gotten some positive parent feedback saying, ‘Thank you for hosting this. My student experienced things they didn’t think they were going to like and they loved it,’” Jordan said.
Toddler flown to Birmingham as precaution
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
An Elmore County toddler was flown for medical care after a small medical emergency. Holtville residents saw a Haynes
Life Flight helicopter land as an ambulance approached with an Elmore County Sheriff’s Office deputy. A toddler was cradled by medical staff to load onto a helicopter and be flown for care according to Elmore County Sheriff Bill
Franklin. “A toddler had a small medical emergency,” Franklin said. “Just to be extra precautious, they flew him out for medical treatment.” Franklin said he expects everything to be fine with the toddler.
Submissions sought for art guild’s summer show
TPI STAFF Staff Report
The Elmore County Art Guild (ECAG) will hold its Annual Summer Art Show at the Wetumpka Depot Players Theatre next month.
The River and Blues Summer Art Show is July 10 to 28 with an opening reception from 2 to 4 p.m. July 15. “Since 1985, the Elmore County Art Guild Summer Art Show continues to highlight and reward the finest artists of our region,” ECAG said on its website. “The show is open to all artists 18 and older who are members of the guild. Participants may
join at the time of entry.”
Awards will be presented at the reception for first through third place with numerous honorable mentions. First place will receive $300, second place $200 and third place $100. Each artist is limited to three entries and the entry fee is $10 per entry. Intake for this year’s show is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 6.
No copies of other artwork will be accepted. Artwork must not have been shown in previous ECAG shows.
Guild membership is $35 per calendar year or $45 for couples. Membership runs Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.
A prospectus on the show can be found on the guild’s website at www. elmorecountyartguild. com.
County approves bid for 17 Springs
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
The Elmore County Commission gave its go ahead at its Monday meeting to proceed with Phase 2 of 17 Springs.
The commission approved a bid with Stone Builders Inc. but the final number is yet to be fully determined, but officials are hoping for something around $70 million. The costs would be spilt with the City of Millbrook just like the first phase.
“The entire time it has
been like a 50/50 split,” Elmore County chief operations officer Richie Beyer said. “Since there is only one bidder, we are going through the process of value engineering. The price could still go down depending on that. We are working through numbers.”
Value engineering is allowed by Alabama bid law when there is only one bidder on a project. Beyer said the process allows some negotiations.
The county floated bonds in 2021 to fund its
portion of the project. The City of Millbrook is set to take the matter up at its Tuesday meeting.
“This would complete the recreational projects at 17 Springs,” Beyer said. “It would put us in a position to fully build out the park.”
On the front end of the project, Elmore County and the county’s municipalities passed a levelized lodging tax to fund 17 Springs and similar yet to be determined quality
See SPRINGS, Page B3
Embracing Juneteenth
Greetings from the corner of Bridge and Bridge! I do hope everyone reading this column is doing well as the dog days of summer approach. High humidity and pop-up thunderstorms will be our norm for the next few months.
In just a few days, our nation will observe another Monday federal holiday: Juneteenth. The holiday was established in 2021 by the Biden administration.
The reason for the holiday has been celebrated since June 19, 1865 — the day Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army issued an order all slaves in Texas be freed.
U.S. President Abra -
BETHLEHEM EAST
BAPTIST CHURCH
Bethlehem East Baptist Church will have all Sunday school classes beginning at 9:45 a.m.
Sunday morning followed by regular service at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. We will continue with Facebook Live Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Worship Service at 11 a.m.
CARRVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
Regular hours of service are Sundays- 9 a.m. Sunday School and 10 a.m. Morning Worship.
REV.
JONATHAN YARBORO Columnist
ham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. That document did not fully end the practice of chattel slavery in the United States. It granted freedom to all slaves held in the states of the Confederacy. It would take 2 ½ years for that proclamation to be enforced in the state of Texas.
The creation of a federal holiday in recognition of Juneteenth was and continues to be met with controversy. The action is heralded
Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. the church offers Children’s Gospel Project, Youth Bible Study and Adult Prayer Meeting. Regular office hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
EAST TALLASSEE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
ETUMC’s Rivers Edge Flea Market is now closed. The church will start a new project called Rivers Edge Food Pantry. ETUMC will provide canned food, water, dry beans and rice, blankets,
by some as a step in the right direction for our country and lamented as what is wrong with these United States by others. As is always the case, differences of opinion do not have to lead to division.
I attended Ramsay High School from 1980-1984, a Birmingham City School located just below Vulcan on Birmingham’s southside. Ramsay was a magnet school at the time I attended. Any student living in the city limits could apply.
A placement test was part of the admission process. The test results were used for placement purposes in the registration process. I discovered many
years after graduation the main function of that test was to ensure a racially balanced incoming freshman class each year — 50/50 Black to white. By the time my class reached graduation, the racial makeup was closer to 60/40 Black to white. I cannot remember a single time the racial makeup of our class was ever a topic of discussion at the school. It was never an issue.
Obviously, racial makeup, for some reason, was an issue for the powers that be in the Birmingham City School System at that time.
Birmingham was just 15 years removed from the height of the
Church Briefs
and jackets. If you want to donate or help with the cause, call Joan Wood at 334-312-4913.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY
Please join us for Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. when the Rev. Lee Lowery will celebrate the Holy Eucharist. We are asking everyone please to wear a mask. The service will be live streamed on Facebook https://www. facebook.com/EpiphanyTallassee/ For more information, visit the church
website at http://epiphanytallassee.org/
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
First Presbyterian Church, located at 514 Central Blvd. will host a Veteran’s Day Celebration on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for all veterans and first responders and their family members.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
“We are OPEN and everyone is WELCOME! Come worship with us in
Civil Rights Movement and 18 years from the bombing at 16th Street Baptist Church. Racial inequality and its resulting destruction were a known commodity. I do not claim to know the school board’s motive regarding Ramsay’s admission criteria. I do fully claim its outcome. I attended a public high school in Birmingham, Alabama in the early 1980s that was intentionally racially balanced, and there were little to no incidents of racial tension during my entire four years there.
Simply put, race was not an issue.
Acknowledging a significant moment in our nation’s history does
person Sunday mornings at 8:50 a.m. (contemporary) or 11 a.m. (traditional). Sunday School for all ages is offered Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., and a nursery is available for infants. CHILDREN & YOUTH: meet Sunday evenings from 5-6:30 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6-7:15 p.m.; supper is included both days! For more information about our church or the programs we offer, visit our website: fumctallassee.com or call us: 334-283-2195. FUMC
not have to become any kind of issue. It affords opportunity to learn from the past and improve on the future. People of every race and ethnicity can benefit from thinking about what Juneteenth is all about.
The best part is no one has to be demonized in the process.
Division separates supposed winners from losers. When history is examined honestly and sincerely by all, everybody wins. The painful realities of the past can be avoided. Just ask any member of Ramsay Class of 1984.
Rev. Jonathan Yarboro is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Wetumpka.
Tallassee - 1 Jordan Avenue.”
OUR LIFE’S JOURNEY Airs every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on 580 WACQ, FM 98.5 & 101.1, on your smart speaker, your TuneIn app, or on our website www.wacqradio. com. Please share on social media. This set of programs features Msgr. Charles Troncale, Fr. Mateusz Rudzik, Fr. James Dean, Fr. David Carucci, Fr. Patrick Driscoll, and Deacon Jim Labadie.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
MiDDleton SportS eDitor dalton.middleton@thewetumpkaherald.com
Position change sparks Stanhope Elmore’s Walls
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
When Stanhope Elmore needed someone to step up and start at catcher this season, the Mustangs turned to one of their veterans.
Colton Walls, who is signed to play baseball and football at Troy this upcoming year, had some of the most experience behind the
plate as he played catcher as a kid growing up. So he took on the responsibility and made the move from third base to catcher. In the process, he completely dominated in the field, at the plate, and on the mound as Stanhope Elmore reached the AHSAA Class 6A semifinals for the first time since 2006. Walls hit .491 with 17
Tubbs leads
Holtville to Class 5A state title
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Holtville head baseball coach Scott Tubbs knew his 2023 baseball team would have enough talent to make another run, but they needed an identity.
The Bulldogs were coming off a state championship run, where they lost in three games to Russellville. They then lost their best pitcher and four other starters to graduation and had to plug in new faces all across the diamond.
Despite putting in younger players with little experience, Holtville overcame adversity nearly every week and put together a postseason run for the ages.
After clinching the area championship, the Bulldogs lost the first game of the first three rounds of the playoffs but went on to win all three series. They then swept their way through the semifinals and championship series and won the first baseball state title for Holtville since 1983.
For his team’s ability to overcome adversity and claim the state championship, Tubbs has been named the 2023 All-Elmore County Baseball Coach of the Year.
“With a tough schedule early this year, we had a lot of trouble finding our identity,” Tubbs said. “We were having a hard time. But we stuck with our younger guys that didn’t have experience and they were able to get more confident. Then they were able to
make the plays when it mattered.”
Holtville faced a gauntlet schedule this year. Tubbs did not make the team’s schedule until after the Bulldogs finished last year, and a lot of other schedules were full. Some teams didn’t want to play the 5A runner-ups, so Tubbs made his schedule with whoever he could get to play the team.
And that resulted in some early losses.
Coming out of Spring Break, Holtville had a 10-8 record and didn’t have an identity. In those 18 games, the Bulldogs faced the best pitcher on the opposing team 13 times. That resulted in some humbling losses to teams like Opelika, Stanhope Elmore, Collierville and Mosley.
But then Holtville started to find its way and found a resilient personality. The Bulldogs got into area play and were more than ready to face whatever arms opposing teams would throw at them.
They finished the regular season winning eight of their last 11 and entered a first-round playoff matchup against one of the best teams in the state. But Holtville was prepared due to that early schedule.
“You have to use the regular season as an opportunity to figure out what you have and what works for you as a group,” Tubbs said.” That’s what we did even when we lost games. But I’ll be honest. The one
See LEADS, Page B2
doubles, five home runs and 43 RBIs. On the mound, he had an 8-0 record with a 1.20 earned run average and struck out 66 batters compared to nine walks. In the field, he had a .980 fielding percentage. For his success, he has been named the 2023 AllElmore County Baseball
2023 ALL-ELMORE COUNTY BASEBALL TEAM
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
The 2023 baseball season has come to an end, and Elmore County across the board proved to be one of the best counties across the state in terms of baseball. All six teams reached the playoffs and five reached at least the second round. Holtville, led by Coach of the Year Scott Tubbs, won the Class 5A championship. Elmore County and Tallassee each reached the second round of the playoffs, while Stanhope Elmore and Edgewood Academy both earned bids to the semifinals.
Stanhope’s Colton Walls had one of best seasons of anyone in the state, and earned the Elmore County Player of the Year honor in the process. The senior Troy
signee hit .491 with 17 doubles, five home runs and 43 RBIs. On the mound, he had an 8-0 record with a 1.20 earned run average and struck out 66 batters compared to nine walks. In the field, he had a .980 fielding percentage. He wasn’t the only player who saw successful seasons as many county players have picked up statewide honors in the postseason. Here is the 2023 All-Elmore County Baseball Team.
FIRST TEAM
DREY BARRETT, HOLTVILLE INF/P
Barrett had a stellar season both at the plate and on the mound for the Bulldogs this season. He hit .366 with 45 hits, 15 doubles, two triples, five home runs, and 43 RBIs. On the mound,
he went 6-3 with a 2.64 earned run average with 61 strikeouts. He was 5-0 in the playoffs with five complete games.
TY BROOKS, WETUMPKA INF Wetumpka’s star shortstop and South Alabama signee had a knack for getting on base this season. Brooks led the Indians with a .485 batting average and .626 on base percentage. He walked 27 times and stole 14 bases. He had a 99% fielding percentage and made only one error on the year.
EVAN DUNCAN, STANHOPE ELMORE OF/P
Like most of his Stanhope Elmore counterparts, Duncan got it done both on the mound and at the plate this season. The hard-throwing senior went 6-0 on the mound See BASEBALL, Page B2
COUNTY BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
COUNTY BASEBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
FILE THE HERALD
Holtville head baseball coach Scott Tubbs has been named the All-Elmore County Baseball Coach of the Year after leaving
Bulldogs to a 28-14 record and the AHSAA Class 5A state championship.
Drey Barrett Ty Brooks Evan Duncan
Payton Hall Walker Hall Tanner Potts
Sam Silas Payton Stephenson
Cade Everson
Chase Williams
CHANGE Continued from B1
Player of the Year.
“His versatility was one of the key factors to the team’s success all season long,” Stanhope coach DK Shuman said. “For him to put up those kinds of numbers hitting in the 3-hole against the level of competition we played alone is a testament to his ability, but for him to have the same level of success on the mound shows how versatile of a ball player he is.”
When Walls moved to catcher, it not only helped out the team but it helped him out as a player both at the plate and in the field.
Walls already pitched and hit for the Mustangs, so he was used to seeing pitches and understood the strike zone. But when he got behind the plate, he was able to understand the strike zone even better both as a hitter and catcher.
He also learned the different umpires and how they called pitches, and he was able to use that to his advantage. That showed as he struck out only 10 times on the year and was able to work a .601 on-base percentage. He was walked 22 times and hit by pitch another 12 times. That was due to him understanding the zones and understanding pitch sequences.
“Playing catcher helped him gain a better understanding of how pitchers attack hitters based on strengths and weaknesses,” Shuman said. “That also helped in his approach and on the mound. It helped how he attacked hitters and helped identify holes in opposing batter’s swing and timings.”
Another thing that helped lead to his success at the plate was the talent around him. It was no secret he was surrounded with talent in the lineup. The first four batters in Stanhope Elmore’s lineup were all signed or committed to play at a high-level junior college or a Division I school.
All four batters — Walls, Zach Stevens, Chase Williams and Evan Duncan — all hit over .300 and had a combined 19 home runs. That made it to where nobody could pitch around Walls. Duncan hit behind him and had 12 extra base hits and 42 RBIs.
“I had a lot of protection in the lineup,” Walls said. “It’s always good to have players around you that can scare the other team. Anytime Chase, Zach or Evan stepped up to the plate, they could hit the ball out of the park. That made pitchers have to pitch to me this year and that helped me out.”
When it came to his success on the mound, it was basic. Walls threw strikes.
He gave up only 16 free bases this season and that came from nine walks and seven hits by pitch.
Every time Walls took the mound, his approach was just to hit his spots and throw strikes. He said if he could do that, he knew opposing players would make normal high school batter mistakes.
So he filled up the zone as best he could with his high velocity and dangerous breaking balls, and hitters had trouble catching up to the ball.
He struck out 66 batters in 52.2 innings, and allowed only 28 hits during that same span. He had a .147 batting average against him and had a WHIP of 0.70.
“He’s always thrown strikes,” Shuman said. “He’s done a good job of working ahead in counts and being competitive around the zone. He improved both his breaking ball and his changeup, and he got more confident in throwing them in any count. His ability to throw those pitches kept hitters off balanced and always guessing up there.”
Starks excited to lead Edgewood volleyball, girls basketball
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
After three seasons of continuity, the Edgewood Academy volleyball team will have a new face leading the program.
Brad Starks, who was hired in April to lead the girls basketball team, is taking over as coach of the championship-winning volleyball team. The Wildcats have won four consecutive volleyball state championships and six in the last seven years.
He replaces David DeLozier, who was recently announced as the new coach of the Fort Dale program. DeLozier coached the Wildcats for the last three seasons and won the AISA Class AA state championship all three seasons.
“We are excited to have Coach Starks lead our volleyball program,” Edgewood athletics director Chad Michael said. “He turned around the Tuscaloosa Academy program and made them into a playoff team. We expect him to step in and continue to build on the success these
BASEBALL Continued from B1
ladies have had.”
Starks found plenty of success during his tenure as both basketball and volleyball coach at Tuscaloosa Academy. Serving as the girls basketball coach, Starks led his squads to an overall record of 53-14.
He took over a volleyball team that had no prior success and was 3-18 before he took over. He turned the team into a winning program and reached 20 wins this past season.
There was a lot of learning involved when he took over the volleyball program, as he didn’t grow up with volleyball like he did basketball. But he learned as much as he taught his girls, and the team found success.
Now, he’s excited to join a program that is already established and take on the challenge of continuing that success.
“I’m extremely excited to be in a school that cares as much about girls athletics as Edgewood does,” Starks said. “Girls are overshadowed a lot of times, but these girls have had a lot of success recently. There’s a bar in
with one save and a 1.44 ERA. At the plate, he hit .301 with 12 extra base hits and 15 stolen bases and 42 RBIs.
CADE EVERSON, TALLASSEE OF
The Tallassee baseball team made it way back to the playoffs this season, and junior Cade Everson was a big reason why. The outfielder was the leading hitter as he racked up a teamhigh .467 batting average, nearly 100 points higher than anyone else on the team.
PAYTON HALL, ELMORE COUNTY P/1B
Payton Hall has always been one of Elmore County’s best pitchers, but he took that to a new level during his senior campaign. The right-handed ace went 7-0 this year with a 1.83 ERA and struck out 77 batters in only 55.1 innings. At the plate, he hit .380 with six doubles and 25 RBIs.
WALKER HALL, EDGEWOOD ACADEMY P
Hall proved himself as one of the best pitchers in AISA this season. Edgewood Academy’s ace went 6-1 on the mound with a 1.71 earned run average in 61.1 innings. He allowed only 15 earned runs while he struck out 66 batters and walked only 13. In the playoffs, he went 4-0 and pitched three complete game shutouts.
LEADS Continued from B1
thing that really made a difference for this team was nobody cared who got the accolades. Everybody just wanted to win and help the team in whatever role that was.”
Holtville entered the postseason 18-11, and the Bulldogs got punched in the face immediately. After losing starter Markus Broderick to injury just before the playoffs, Mobile Christian came out and run-ruled Holtville, 11-0, in the first game of the first round.
Tubbs said he sensed some doubt following the first loss but didn’t let the Bulldogs think about it for long. He told them to not let the Game 1 loss define them, and they certainly didn’t.
The Bulldogs bounced back in Game 2 and run-
both of these programs and if you’re not meeting that standard, you’re not a part of that standard. I’m excited about that challenge.”
Starks is inheriting a talented volleyball team. The Wildcats, who have won four-consecutive championships, lost three talented college-bound seniors but return arguably the best player in the state in rising senior Lindsey Brown.
Brown is currently committed to play volleyball at the University of Alabama and was the 2022 Elmore County Volleyball Player of the Year.
She’s not the only returning senior, however, as Madison Martin will handle up front at the net, and Katelynn Shaner and Olivia Carlin both return.
Junior Avery White also returns after a stellar sophomore season and she is joined by junior Emerson Boddie. Two juniors, Haidynn Cotterill from Marbury and AC Kelley from Stanhope Elmore, have also transferred in to join the team.
“It’s kind of like someone handing you the keys to a lamborghini,” Starks
TANNER POTTS, HOLTVILLE INF/P
Potts was another Bulldog who played a key role in the state championship run. Playing third base and pitcher, Potts hit .333 with 44 hits, 12 doubles, and 32 RBIs. He was just as effective on the mound as he racked up an 8-3 record with a 3.41 ERA in 67.2 innings. He went 5-0 in the playoffs with five complete games.
SAM SILAS, HOLTVILLE INF
Silas, a Jacksonville State signee, played his best baseball when the lights were the brightest. He hit .400 with 50 hits, eight doubles, one triple, three home runs, 27 RBIs, 49 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. He was named the Class 5A championship game MVP after leading Holtville to the title.
PAYTON STEPHENSON, ELMORE COUNTY INF
Elmore County’s Stephenson proved once again that he was one of the top shortstops in the state of Alabama as he hit .432 with six home runs, five doubles, three triples, and 31 RBIs. He stole 25 bases and only struck out seven times the entire season. He was walked 22 times and hit by a pitch seven times.
CHASE WILLIAMS, STANHOPE ELMORE OF Williams has made a name for himself with his speed the last few seasons, but the senior speedster showed he can also hit for power. The out -
ruled the Leopards right back, 13-3, and knocked around 16 hits.
The two teams came back the next day and Holtville won Game 3, 12-6, to advance to the second round.
“When we beat them by 10 runs in that second game, our guys knew we had it,” Tubbs said. “We had just run-ruled the team that was probably favored to win the whole thing. After that, it just started to click and we started playing some good baseball.”
That wasn’t the last of the adversity Holtville faced, however. The Bulldogs lost Game 1 of the second round to Elmore County and Game 1 of the third round to Headland, but battled back and won both series.
Tubbs didn’t let the losses change how his team played, and he saw the resiliency that his team
joked. “It’s exciting. This is the kind of job that if you were purely a volleyball coach by trade, this is where you want to be. I didn’t come to Edgewood for this, but to be given this set of keys now to this program, it’s exciting. I love the pressure and I love the thought of going out every single day and expecting to be successful.”
Most of the same girls play basketball, and the team is coming off backto-back state championships. The girls won the Class AA state championship for the first time in school history in 2022 then went undefeated at 27-0 and won again for the second time.
Most of the players off that squad are back and are looking for a third-straight championship.
“Anytime you’re stepping into the shoes of a program that’s successful, it’s an honor and a challenge,” Starks said. “I have my unique strengths and perspectives. I just want to build on the foundation that’s already been set.”
fielder hit .313 this year with 15 doubles, five triples, and six home runs. He still showed off his speed with 19 stolen bases and a team-high 43 runs scored.
SECOND TEAM Drew Allison, Edgewood Academy INF Brodie Cockrell, Stanhope Elmore P Randy Davis, Holtville P/1B Trent Harris, Wetumpka P Brock Herring, Elmore County OF Braxton Potts, Holtville OF Zach Stevens, Stanhope Elmore INF Ethan Walls, Stanhope Elmore INF Davis Wells, Wetumpka C/OF Clark Wood, Elmore County INF Colin Woodham, Stanhope Elmore P/INF
HONORABLE MENTION
EDGEWOOD ACADEMY: INF Ethan Evans, OF Hunter Reaves, DH Jackson Hudson, P Logan Moomey.
ELMORE COUNTY: UTIL Brandon White, P Cooper Rogers, C Shea Darnell, INF/P Jaden Eason
HOLTVILLE: OF Weston Tubbs, DH Lane Talley, C Randy Bridges, OF Markus Broderick.
STANHOPE ELMORE: INF Hayden Anderson, OF Tevin Landrum, P Dylan Dent, P Tyler Woodham, P/INF Jackson Stallworth.
TALLASSEE: INF/P Brady Mason, P/OF Jackson Rhodes, OF/P Mason Stewart. WETUMPKA: P/1B Jaxon Shineflew, P Kurtis Schuyler, INF Mason Fuller, C Logan Fawcett.
learned early with the tough schedule.
After the Game 3 walkoff hit over Headland, another injury took place in Holtville’s top base runner.
After scoring the game-winning run, Aiden Perry went down with a torn ACL.
But for Holtville and Tubbs, it was just the nextman-up mentality.
“You hate it for the guys who got hurt because you never want them to get hurt and want them to have the same opportunities as everyone else, but we had other guys step up and play well in those roles,” Tubbs said. “It forces your hand on some things, but it worked out for us because the new guys who stepped in played some of the biggest roles in the playoffs. Good things happen when you try to play the game the right way.”
By the time Holtville reached the playoffs,
nothing could phase the Bulldogs. That showed as Holtville found itself down by two runs in the seventh inning of Game 1. Holtville had been no-hit through 4 ⅔ innings but put it together late with a huge rally.
After a walk, three singles and a sacrifice fly later, Holtville led 3-2 and stunned Sardis in Game 1. Holtville then carried that momentum into Game 2 and turned an early 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 win and a championship series sweep.
“I think by the time we got to the finals and were losing 2-0, you never saw panic in anybody on our staff or our team,” Tubbs said. “We had been there. Getting to the finals last year helped us understand the magnitude of the game as well. It was new for us last year, but we came in with a sense of being relaxed this year. They never panicked.”
County baseball stars named to All-State teams
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
A few of the area’s best baseball players picked up statewide honors on Saturday morning. The Alabama Sports Writers Association released its annual softball All-State teams, and schools from Elmore County were well represented.
Overall, twelve players from the county were selected by sports writers across the state.
In Class 6A, Stanhope Elmore put two players on the first team while Wetumpka had two players selected to the honorable mention team.
Colton Walls was selected to the first team as a pitcher while Chase Williams was selected as a designated hitter. Walls finished his season with an 8-0 record with a 1.20 earned run average with 66 strikeouts in 52.2 innings. He allowed only 28 hits
on the year. In the outfield, Williams recorded a .313 batting average with six home runs,
five triples, 15 doubles and 46 RBIs with 19 stolen bases.
Wetumpka’s Davis
Wells was named honorable mention catcher after hitting .407 with six extra-base hits and
Local softball players named All-State
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
A few of the area’s best softball players picked up statewide honors on Thursday morning.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association released its annual softball All-State teams, and schools from Elmore County were well represented. Overall, 11 players from the county were selected by sports writers across the state.
In Class 6A, Wetumpka led the way with four total players. Junior Mya Holt, senior Ashlynn Campbell, and sophomore Lily Davenport were all named first team while junior Ella Watson was named honorable mention. Holt, named first team as a pitcher, was also named Class 6A’s Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. The Troy commit had a 37-4 record with a 0.74 earned run average and 223 strikeouts. At the plate, she hit .512 with 20 home runs and 96 RBIs. Campbell, named first team infielder, hit .534 with 102 hits,
Continued from A6
of life projects across Elmore County. Since Millbrook has the lion’s share of hotel rooms in the county, events attracted to 17 Springs would fund other projects. Currently initial meetings with appropriate stakeholders are being scheduled to start the discussion of possible future projects in the county.
“I think we will look back in a few years and see that they will have a generational positive
six doubles, three triples, two home runs, 48 RBIs, 90 runs, 28 walks, 78 stolen bases and only five strikeouts. She led the state in runs, hits and stolen bases.
Davenport was named to the first team as a designated hitter, and finished her sophomore year with a .425 batting average with nine home runs, 15 doubles, and 58 RBIs.
Watson finished her junior year with a 15-2 record on the mound with a 1.42 ERA and hit .370 with seven home runs and 47 RBIs.
She was listed as a utility player.
Stanhope Elmore’s Jada McLeod was also named honorable mention at designated hitter after finishing her junior year with a .426 batting average, 11 home runs, 15 doubles, 46 RBIs, and 40 runs scored.
In Class 5A, Holtville sophomore Bailea Boone was the only county player to be named to the first team. She was listed as an outfielder, and shined this year as Holtville’s leadoff hitter. She had a county-best .560 averaged with 54 runs scored and 47 stolen
effect in our county,” Elmore County Commission chair Bart Mercer said.
IN OTHER ACTION THE ELMORE COUNTY COMMISSION:
• Approved minutes of the May 22 meeting.
• Approved a motion declaring June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Elmore County.
• Approved a memorandum of warrants totaling $3,104,613.49 for May 2 through June 2.
• Approved an annual report on Insolvents, errors, litigations and unsold tax liens.
• Approved moving the
23 RBIs. Shortstop Ty Brooks was named honorable mention as a designated hitter after hitting .485 with eight doubles, three triples and 14 stolen bases.
In Class 5A, Sam Silas picked up the Player of the Year honor as well as first team infielder. The Jacksonville State signee hit .400 with 12 extra base hits, 27 RBIs, 49 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. He was named the Class 5A championship game MVP.
Also from Holtville, junior Drey Barrett was listed as a first team utility player while senior Tanner Potts was listed a second team utility player. Barrett hit .366 with 15 doubles, five home runs and 43 RBIs while going 6-3 with a 2.64 ERA on the mound.
Potts hit .333 with 12 doubles and 32 RBIs while going 8-3 with a 3.41 ERA.
Elmore County had
three players selected to the team.
Shortstop Payton Stephenson was picked as a first team infielder, Brock Herring was picked as a first team outfielder, and Payton hall was picked as a second team pitcher. Stephenson hit .432 with six home runs, five doubles, three triples, 31 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. Herring led the team with a .447 batting average with 30 stolen bases and added nine extra base hits.
Hall went undefeated on the mound as he recorded a 7-0 record with a 1.83 ERA and 77 strikeouts.
In AISA, pitcher Walker Hall and infielder Drew Allison were both selected to the second team. Hall finished the year with a 6-1 record with a 1.71 ERA and 66 strikeouts. Allison hit .368 with seven doubles, five triples, one home run and 20 stolen bases.
Wetumpka’s Holt named Gatorade Player of the Year
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
bases.
Tallassee’s Brooke Royster (utility) and Elmore County’s Ashtyn Pannell (designated hitter) were listed on the second team. Royster had a 2.22 ERA in the circle this season and hit .430 with 25 extra base hits and 58 RBIs. Pannell helped lead Elmore County to a third-place finish in Class 5A with a .381 average with 19 doubles, eight triples, 12 home runs and 65 RBIs.
Holtville’s Taylor Price was named honorable mention as a pitcher. She finished the year with an 18-3 record in the circle and a 2.37 ERA.
Two of Edgewood Academy’s stars were selected in AISA.
Junior catcher Lindsey Brown was listed on first team, while senior infielder Jaylyn Strength was listed on second team.
Brown had a team-high .441 average with 30 extra base hits, 66 runs, and 47 stolen bases. Strength hit .300 this season with 12 extra base hits, 21 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
voting center at Seman Community Center to Seman Congregational Christian Church.
• Set a public hearing for a special events retail alcohol license for the The Black Jacket Symphony by JROK Inc. at the Lake martin Amphitheater for 5 p.m. June 26.
• Authorized an application for ADEM ARP funded stormwater program.
• Recognized members of Scouting Troop 185 in attendance working towards badges. The next meeting of the Elmore County Commission is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, June 26.
Wetumpka junior Mya Holt continues to make history. Holt, who recently led Wetumpka to a 54-6-1 overall record and the program’s second state championship, has been named the 2022-2023 Gatorade Alabama Softball Player of the Year. She is the first player from Wetumpka to be selected for the honor and the second player from any school in Elmore County.
The Gatorade Player of the Year award, which recognizes not only athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character development on and off the field, has distinguished Holt as the best high school softball player in the state of Alabama.
She is now a finalist for the National Player of the Year Award, which is announced later this month.
Former Holtville player and now Wetumpka assistant coach, Kaylyn “KK” Dismukes, is the only other player from
Elmore County to win the award. Holt played both pitcher and outfield for the Indians this season as they claimed the 6A state championship. In the circle, she finished the year with a 37-4 overall record with a 0.74 earned run average and she struck out 223 batters. At the plate, she hit .512 with 22 home runs, 20 doubles, 4 triples, and 96 RBIs. Her 96 RBIs was the most of any player in the entire country and her 22 home runs broke her own single-season school record from a year ago.
Holt has also made an impact off the field.
She is a member of the National Honor Society and has volunteered locally with the Montgomery Food Bank, Read Across America and Salvation Army and as part of tornado relief efforts. In the classroom, she maintains a 4.0 GPA. Holt is currently committed to play softball at Troy University and is ranked as the nation’s No. 50 overall prospect in the Class of 2024 by Extra Innings.
| THE HERALD
Holtville’s Sam Silas hits the ball against Demopolis in the semifinals of the Class 5A playoffs. Silas was named the Class 5A Player of the Year after leading Holtville to the state championship.
FILE THE HERALD
Elmore County’s Ashtyn Pannell was named All-State after hitting .381 with 19 doubles, eight triples, 12 home runs, and 65 RBIs.
SUBMITTED | THE HERALD
The first phase of 17 Springs is nearing completion in Millbrook. When finished, the development will have 12 tennis courts, 12 pickleball courts, four tennis courts, a 85,000 square football field house, a football stadium, six softball fields and a commercial development.
SPRINGS
Lake River & Classi eds
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Discussions with partners, close friends, parents and bosses are dicey today. No question. People will be ready to pounce. Therefore, steer clear of sensitive topics. You have to know when to hold and when to fold, and today is not the day for these discussions. Tonight: Listen.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) It’s a blessing that relations with partners and close friends are warm today, because issues related to your work might be dicey! If you disagree about things with co-workers or fellow students, don’t pursue this. Agree to disagree. “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.” Tonight: Work CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Parents must be extra patient with their kids today, because your dealings with them will be challenging. (Some days are like this.) It is what it is. Likewise, romantic discussions will also be challenging. People are emotional and overly sensitive. Keep this in mind. Patience is your best ally. Tonight: Get organized.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Do what you can to keep the peace at home today. This will make life easier for everyone, including you. Conversations with partners and close friends are touchy and sensitive today. It’s important to recognize how important timing is. Wait for a better day to mention your concerns. Then everyone wins.
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Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Robert T Mask and Pamela H Mask, husband and wife, originally in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. solely as nominee for Sun West Mortgage Company, Inc., on October 27, 2017, said mortthe Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in RLPY Book 2017 Page 54024 and Page 72532; the undersigned MidFirst Bank, as Mortgagee/ Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, on July 20, 2023, during the legal hours of sale, all of its rights, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: All that certain property situated in the County of Elmore, and State of Alabama, being described as follows Commence at an iron pin at the NW corner of the East 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 26, Township 19 North, Range 20 East, Elmore County, Alabama, thence South 00 degrees 06 minutes 55 seconds East 492.63 feet to an iron pin, said point being the Point of Beginning, thence South 88 degrees 10 minutes 50 seconds East 624.69 feet to an iron pin, thence South 03 degrees 00 minutes 24 seconds West, 414.11 feet to an iron pin, thence South 89 degrees 45 minutes 55 seconds East 1277.84 feet to an iron pin on the West right of way of South Ann Street (County Rd. No. 73) 60 foot R.O.W. , thence along said right of way South 11 degrees 03 minutes 56 seconds East 30.31 feet to an Iron pin, thence leaving said right of way North 89 degrees 46 minutes 38 seconds West 1285.64 feet to an iron pin, thence South 02 degrees 52 minutes 11 seconds West 381.98 feet to an iron pin, thence North 88 degrees 10 minutes 50 seconds West 580.17 feet to an iron pin, thence North 00 degrees 06 minutes 55 seconds West 826.44 feet to the point of beginning The above described property lies In the East 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 26 and the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 25 all in Township 19 North, Range 20 East, Elmore County, Alabama, and contains 12.30 acres, more or less, according to survey of Ronald Burke, Ala. Reg. No. 16670, dated June 26, 2001.. Property street address for informational purposes: 2412 South Ann Street , Eclectic, AL 360246111. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. The successful bidder must tender a non-refundable deposit of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price plus any deed recording costs and transfer taxes must be paid next business day at the Law the address indicated below. Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due. The Mortgagee/Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. MidFirst Bank, (“Transferee”) Tiffany & Bosco, P.A., 2501 20th Place South, Suite 300, Homewood, AL 35223 www.tblaw.com TB File Number: 23-03956
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 7, 14 and 21, 2023 23-01029 PUBLIC NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE ASPHALT CONTRACTORS, INC. HEREBY GIVES NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF CONTRACT WITH ELMORE COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT FOR ELMORE COUNTY PAVING OF VARIOUS ROADS PROJECT 2023 PW2-1. ALL
CLAIMS SHOULD BE FILED
AT P.O. BOX 241447, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36124
DURING THIS PERIOD. ASPHALT CONTRACTORS, INC.
Wetumpka Herald: May 31, Jun. 7, 14 and 21, 2023 COMPLETION
SALE. Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Rodney L. McCombs II and Anitria T. McCombs, husband and wife, originally in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. solely as nominee for Guild Mortgage Company, on June 5, 2018, said mortgage recorded Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in RLPY Book 2018 Page 25974; the undersigned Guild Mortgage Company, as Mortgagee/Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, on July 19, 2023, during the legal hours of sale, all of its rights, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Lot 9, Block C, according to the Map of Brownstone Plat No. 1, as the Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in Plat Book 14, at Page 62.. Property street address for informational purposes: 476 Brownstone Loop , Elmore, AL 36025. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. The successful bidder must tender a non-refundable deposit of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price plus any deed recording costs and transfer taxes must be paid next business day at the Law at the address indicated below. Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due. The Mortgagee/Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. Guild Mortgage Company, (“Transferee”) Tiffany & Bosco, P.A., 2501 20th Place South, Suite 300, Homewood, AL 35223 www.tblaw.com TB File Number: 23-03921
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 14, 21 and 28, 2023 23-01047
PUBLIC NOTICE
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF BY J&J TOWING 3345581595 ON 7-14-23
1998 TOYOTA AVALON-4T1BF18B6WU261424
2012 MAZDA 2-JM1DE1LY6C0148779
2008 TOYOTA CAMRY-4T1BE46K98U790327 2007 TOYOTA AVALON-4T1BK36B77U248967 2017 Ford Fusion3FA60H75HR236944
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 7 and 14, 2023 AV/98 TOYOTA
PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JEAN M. BASS, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-133 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of JEAN M. BASS, deceased, having been granted to TAMMIE R. BAKER on May 24, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
TAMMIE R. BAKER PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JEAN M. BASS. DECEASED
Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: MICHAEL S. HARPER ATTORNEY AT LAW 213 BARNETT BLVD P O BOX 780608
TALLASSEE, ALABAMA 36078 334-283-6855
Wetumpka Herald: May 31, Jun. 7 and 14, 2023 EST/BASS, J.
SALE. Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by James M. Penn and Nicole Penn Husband and wife, originally in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. solely as nominee for Everett Financial, Inc. dba Supreme Lending, on November 30, 2016, said mortgage recorded Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, in RLPY Book 2016 Page 59649; the undersigned Matrix Financial Services Corporation, as Mortgagee/ Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Wetumpka, Elmore County, Alabama, on July 20, 2023, during the legal hours of sale, all of its rights, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Commence at an iron pin at the Southwest corner of the Northeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of Section 19, Township 20 North, Range 21 East, Elmore County, Alabama; thence South 89 degrees 01 minutes 37 seconds East, along Quarter section line, 964.32 feet to an iron pin, said point being the Point of Beginning; thence leaving Quarter section line North 11 degrees 20 minutes 15 seconds West, 558.88 feet to an iron pin; thence North 50 degrees 11 minutes 45 seconds East, 383.00 feet to a concrete monument on the West right of way of Holley Mill Road, County Road Number 357, 80 feet right of way; thence South 39
55
52
East, along said right of way, 1052.63 feet to an iron pin on the South line of the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 19; thence leaving said right of way, North 89 degrees 01 minutes 37 seconds West, along Quarter section line, 859.45 feet to the Point of Beginning. The above-described property lies in the Northeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter and the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 19, Township 20 North, Range 21 East, Elmore County, Alabama, and contains 10.0 acres, more or less.. Property street address for informational purposes: 396 Holley Mill Rd , Eclectic, AL 36024. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. The successful bidder must tender a non-refundable deposit of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price plus any deed recording costs and transfer taxes must be paid next business day at the Law at the address indicated below. Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due. The Mortgagee/Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. Matrix Financial Services Corporation, (“Transferee”) Tiffany & Bosco, P.A., 2501 20th Place South, Suite 300, Homewood, AL 35223 www.tblaw.com TB File Number: 23-03740
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 14, 21 and 28, 2023 23-01060
PUBLIC NOTICE MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE. Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Jacob Ford, husband and Bianca Ford, wife, originally in favor of PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC Bank, N.A”), on
real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. PNC Bank, National Association, (“Transferee”) Tiffany & Bosco, P.A., 2501 20th Place South, Suite 300, Homewood, AL 35223 www.tblaw.com TB File Number: 23-03112
Wetumpka Herald: May 31, Jun. 7 and 14, 2023 23-03112 PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION TO BID General
Grass Cutting designated locations within the corporate city limits.” Tiffany Robinson, City Clerk Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 7 and 14, 2023
BIDS/GRASS CUTTING PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CURTIS LAMONT BOZEMAN, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-094 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of CURTIS LAMONT, BOZEMAN, deceased, having been granted to LEIA DAN-
IELLE SIDES on May 23rd, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
LEIA DANIELLE SIDES PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF CURTIS LAMONT BOZEMAN, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for Personal Representative:
ED PARISH, JR. THE PARISH LAW FIRM PO BOX 52 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36101-0052 323 ADAMS AVE MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36104 334-263-0003
Wetumpka Herald: May 31, Jun. 7 and 14, 2023
EST/BOZEMAN, C. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA THE TOWN OF ECLECTIC, ALABAMA, Petitioner, v. CIVIL ACTION NO.: CV-2023-900027.00 THE TAXPAYERS AND CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF ECLECTIC, ALABAMA, Defendants.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS AND CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF ECLECTIC, ALABAMA Notice is hereby given to you that a
Public Notices
Public Notices
Public Notices
p ROBERT B. RENEAU LAW OFFICES OF EDWARDS & EDWARDS, P.C. 109 EAST BRIDGE STREET WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-514-1011
CV-2023-900027.00 PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BERTHA CHRYSTINE BROWN, DECEASED CASE NO: 2021-190 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters of Administration over the Estate of BERTHA CHRYSTINE BROWN, deceased, having been granted to ELOYSE SEAMON on May 24th 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
ELOYSE SEAMON ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF BERTHA CHRYSTINE BROWN, DECEASED Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: JAMES E. WILSON, JR. ATTORNEY AT LAW 732 CARTER HILL RD MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36106 334-834-9899
Wetumpka Herald: May 31, Jun. 7 and 14, 2023 EST/BROWN, B.
PUBLIC NOTICE
IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF FRANK H. COUPLAND, III, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-141 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of FRANK H. COUPLAND, III, deceased, having been granted to JANET C. McCLENDON on May 25, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
JANET C. McCLENDON PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF FRANK H. COUPLAND, III, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: CLAUD E. McCOY, JR. ATTORNEY AT LAW 117 NORTH LANIER AVENUE STE 201 LANETT, ALABAMA 36863 334-644-1171
Wetumpka Herald: May 31, Jun. 7 and 14, 2023
EST/COUPLAND, F. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LESTER A. DAVIS, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-142 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 7, 14 and 21, 2023 EST/FILYAW, P. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM HENRY FULLER, SR., DECEASED. CASE NO. 2023-144 NOTICE OF FILING OF WILL FOR PROBATE
TO: JORDAN STRECKER and JONAS FULLER NON-RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND NEXT OF KIN OF WILLIAM HENRY FULLER, SR.; AND TO: ANY OTHER UNKNOWN NEXT OF KIN OF WILLIAM HENRY FULLER, SR., DECEASED AND TO: ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTY YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on May 26, 2023, a certain paper in writing purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of WILLIAM HENRY FULLER, the Probate Court of Elmore County, Alabama by WILLIAM H. FULLER, JR., Petitioner, requesting that such Last Will and Testament be admitted to Probate and Record and that the Petitioner be named as Personal Representative of such Estate. This notice of Filing of Will for Probate is given to you as a next-of-kin of WILLIAM HENRY FULLER, SR. or as an interested party. Unless an objection to admission to Probate and Record of such Last Will and Testament is submitted by you in writing to this Court within ten (10) days oftice, the Court will proceed with considering such Petition without further notice to you.
JOHN THORNTON JUDGE OF PROBATE ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA Address of Petitioner: 9164 Eastchase Parkway #102 Montgomery, Alabama 36117 Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 7, 14 and 21, 2023
EST/FULLER W. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HAL MARK FULMER, DECEASED CASE NO. 2023-115 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters of Administration over the Estate of HAL MARK FULMER, deceased, having been granted to VIRGINIA LYNN CATRETT, on the 22nd day of May 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said Estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
VIRGINIA LYNN CATRETT, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF HAL MARK FULMER
Regina B. Edwards, Esq. The Law Firm of Edwards & Edwards, P.C. Attorney for Administrator 109 E. Bridge Street Wetumpka, AL 36092 (334) 514-1011
Public Notices
g County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
KEITH VICKERS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF DIANE A. MOSELY, DECEASED
Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: TERRY P. WILSON WILSON & JACKSON. LLC 1785 TALIAFERRO TRAIL SUITE 6 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36117 334-260-9998 tpwlaw@proton.com
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 14, 21 and 28, 2023 EST/MOSELY, D. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE JUVENILE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF Case No.: JU-2017-000012.05 BROWN JONATHAN WAYNE II PUBLICATION ORDER In this cause it is made to appear to the Court on Motion For Service By Publication by the Cleveland, Esq., Attorney for Petitioner, that the whereabouts of the above-named child’s mother, Catherine P. Brown, are unknown and cannot be ascertained with reasonable diligence. It further appears that the underlying petition requests that the mother’s parental rights be terminated and that permanent custody of the child be vested in the father. It is, therefore, ORDERED that pursuant
newspaper as may be required under Ala. Code § 12-15-318 (1975), for four (4) consecutive weeks notifying Catherine P. Brown to plead to, answer, and demur to the petition in the this matter in accordance with Rule 1(B), Ala. R.
hearing on
at
a.m.,
U.S.
Alabama. DONE this 30th day of May, 2023. /s/ PATRICK D PINKSTON JUVENILE JUDGE Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2023 JU-2017-12.05 PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE JUVENILE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF: BAILYNN TAYLOR CASE No. JU-2022-229.02 NOTICE OF PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS TO: JESSICA JOHNSON (Mother) You are hereby given notice thatBAILYNN TAYLORhereby given notice that
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of LESTER A. DAVIS, deceased, having been granted to KARON D. GILES on May 31, 2023 by John R. Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
KARON D. GILES
EXECUTRIX OF THE ESTATE OF LESTER A. DAVIS, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for Executrix: ROBERT B. RENEAU LAW OFFICES OF EDWARDS & EDWARDS, P.C. 109 EAST BRIDGE STREET WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-514-1011
Wetumpka Herald: May 31, Jun. 7 and 14, 2023 EST/FULMER, H. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LAURITZ C. JENSEN, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-119 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 7, 14 and 24, 2023 EST/DAVIS L. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PERCY W. FILYAW, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-143 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of LAURITZ C. JENSEN, deceased, having been granted to DEREK SCOTT SVEJDA on June 9, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
DEREK SCOTT SVEJDA PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF LAURITZ C. JENSEN, DECEASED Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: RODERICK B. PERDUE ATTORNEY AT LAW 2033 HOLTVILLE ROAD WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-567-7373
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of PERCY W. FILYAW, deceased, having been granted to SHANNON REBECCA FILYAW on May 31, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
SHANNON REBECCA FILYAW
PERSONAL REPRESENTA-
TIVE OF THE ESTATE OF PERCY W. FILYAW, DECEASED Attorney of Record for Personal Representative:
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 14, 21 and 28, 2023 EST/JENSEN, L. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DIANE A. MOSELY, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-153 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters of Administration over the Estate of DIANE A. MOSELY, deceased, having been granted to KEITH VICKERS on June 7, 2023 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore
This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expense of foreclosure. The successful bidder must tender
Halliday, Watkins & Mann, P.C.. form of a wire transfer, bank or credit union’s cashier’s check, Halliday, Watkins & Mann, P.C.. Halliday, Watkins & Mann, P.C. reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due. If sale is voided, Mortgagee/Transferee shall return the bid amount to the successful purchaser and the Mortgagee/ Transferee shall not be liable to
Public Notices
the purchase for any damages. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the purchaser at the sale shall be only entitled to a return of the deposit and bid amount, if paid. The Mortgagee/ Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit is purchase price against the expenses of sale and indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. THIS FORECLOSURE SALE HAS BEEN CONTINUED TO June 20, 2023 AT THE TIME AND PLACE SET FORTH ABOVE. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee for Residential Accredit Loans, Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed
(“Transferee”)
Halliday, Watkins & Mann, P.C. 244 Inverness Center Drive Birmingham, AL 35242 Phone: (801) 355-2886
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 14, 2023
FC/VANCE PUBLIC NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS RE-ROOFING ECLECTIC MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE ELMORE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WETUMPKA, AL MCKEE PROJECT NO: 23220
Sealed proposals shall be received by Mr. Richard Dennis, Superintendent, at the Elmore 100 H.H. Robison Drive, Wetumpka, Alabama, until 2:00 PM Central Time, Thursday, June 29, 2023, then opened and read aloud for the above referenced project. A Pre-Bid Walkthrough shall occur at 9:00 AM Central Time on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 of the school. The project shall be bid excluding taxes. Bids must be submitted on proposal forms furnished by the Architect or copies thereof. No bid may be withdrawn after scheduled closing for receipt of bids for a period of ninety (90) days. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technical errors if, in the Owners judgment, the best interests of the Owner will check or Bid Bond payable to Elmore County School District in an amount not less amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000.00 must accompany the bidder’s proposal. Performance and statutory labor and material payment bonds will be required at the signing of the Contract. All bidders bidding in amounts exceeding that established by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors must be
Public Notices
licensed under the provisions of Title 34, Chapter 8, Code show evidence of license before bidding or bid will not be received or considered by the Architect. All bidders shall show such evidence by clearly displaying current license number on the outside of the sealed envelope in which the proposal is delivered. PDFs of the project can be reviewed by going to the McKee website @ www.mckeeassoc.com and selecting “Project Bid List”. Also, if you are not receiving NOTIFICATIONS from us, please register on our website, “Project Bid List” by selecting documents may be viewed on-line and printed by General Contractors, SubContractors and Suppliers. Documents published through this procedure are the only documents endorsed by the Architect. The Architect is unable to monitor,sites that provide documents. Addendums will be provided to entities that have CONFIRMED bidding for this particular project. The Architect retains ownership and copyrights of the documents. If bidders require printed sets, please submit request to the Architect at mckeeplans@gmail.com. Include your name, address, phone number and the project name and number. Print sets are to be returned in reusable condition within ten days after bid opening. All RFIs and RFAs regarding the bid documents shall be sent and addressed through emails found on the RFI and RFA forms in the project manual. NOTE: ONLY THE RFI AND RFA FORMS IN THE PROJECT MANUAL WILL BE ACCEPTED. The Architect will not accept inquiries via telephone or fax.
Completion Time: See scope of work in Project Manual. Supervision: Contractor to ensure proper supervision of all work.
Owner: Mr. Richard Dennis, Superintendent, Elmore County Public Schools, 100 H.H. Robison Drive, Wetumpka, Alabama
Architect: McKee and Associates Architects, Inc., 631 South Hull Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104, Phone: (334) 8349933
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 14, 21 and 28, 2023
PROJECT 23-220 PUBLIC NOTICE
THE STATE OF ALABAMA ELMORE COUNTY NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE
By virtue of an execution on a judgment issued out of the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama in Case No. Case No.: CV-2012-000209.00 on or
Public Notices
about August 20, 2013, for a total of $222,315.01 plus interest which has accrued since that date, plus costs in which William B. Cashion, et. al. is the Plaintiff and Steven Mark Hayden, et.al. is the Defendant, as well as the Final Judgment in Elmore County Case Number CV-2017900189.00 on or about January 22, 2022 wherein certain deeds and subsequent deeds were declared to be void I, Bill Franklin as Sheriff of Elmore County, Alabama will sell at public auction for cash between the legal hours of sale, on Monday, the 10 day of July, 2023 at approximately 1pm in front of the Elmore County Judicial Complex located at 8935 U. S. Highway 231, North, whatever equity the Defendant(s) may possess in and to the following described realty, to wit: Parcel: Commence at an iron pin at the Southwest corner of the Northeast Quarter of Section 10, Township 18 North, Range 19 East, Elmore County, Alabama; thence South 87°09’19” East, along onehalf section line, 295.15 ft to an iron pin, said point being the point of beginning; thence North 38°08’59” East, 299.20 ft to an iron pin; thence South 53°11’36” East, 532.67 ft to an iron pin on the north right of way of Alabama Highway No. 14, Tallassee Highway, 80’ R.O.W.; thence southwesterly, along said right of way and curve to the right, having a radius of 2683.62 ft, 299.84 ft, chord being South 70°07’06” West, 229.77 ft to an iron pin; thence leaving said right of way, North 17°43’53” West, 99.77 ft to an iron pin; thence North 57°30’16” West, 98.56 ft to an iron pin on the south line of the Northeast Quarter of Section 10, thence North 87°09’19” West, along onehalf section line, 282.06 ft to the point of beginning. Parcel ID: 17-02-10-0-000-002.001
Property address: 76297 Tallassee Hwy, Wetumpka, AL 36092
Any and all properties described above are subject to any and all restrictions, encumbrances, mortgages, reservations, rights of way, covenants, easements, setback lines, mineral and mining rights of record which affect the subject property. The Draftsman of this document acts as scrivener only. No title search has been made nor title opinion rendered, nor has one been requested. Purchasers are solely and exclusively responsible for their own title history searches and accuracy of legal descriptions and the consequences thereof. Said property will be sold “as is” and subject to all matters of record and all mat-
Public Notices
ters which would be revealed by a visible inspection of the premises. /s/B. Franklin Bill Franklin, Sheriff Elmore County, Alabama
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 7, 14 and 21, 2023
SHERIFF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice to Contractors Federal Aid Project No. STPMN-2619(262) ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA
Sealed bids will be received by the Director of Transportation
set forth in the advertised spec-
bracket range is shown only to
bracket have any bearing on the decision to award this conPublic
Notices
Raise your hand if you want your business to make LESS money next year. We didn’t think you would. Do you need to successfully market on a tight budget? Tallapoosa and Elmore County Classifieds has customizable programs available to fit any budget. DON’T WAIT! Call TODAY 256.414.4250
A FAMILIAR FACE
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Jason Eason is the new principal at Elmore County High School but he is no stranger to Eclectic or the halls of the school.
“I went to school there,” Eason said. “I graduated from there. My parents Jeef and Jane Eason graduated from there. I just had a daughter graduate from there. I have a son that will be a junior there this school year.”
For the last two years Eason was an assistant principal at Wetumpka Middle School and was an assistant principal at Stanhope Elmore High School for four years prior. He interviewed for the posi -
tion once held by Wes Rogers. Eason has high expectations for getting students to succeed.
“I told the panel (last week) it is not a job for me, it is a passion for me,” Eason said. “I feel like I’m prepared. I feel like there are a lot of things we need to accomplish. It is a great community.”
Eason said most of the pieces for ECHS students and staff are already in place.
“Everything is there already,” Eason said. “I just want to turn it up a notch and make it better than it already is for everybody involved.”
Eason said through his family and living in Eclectic he already knows many
of the students and faculty. Eason took to social media Thursday after the Elmore County Board of Education’s vote saying he was very excited about the opportunity to serve as principal at his alma mater.
“ECHS is a great place surrounded by a supportive community and to be able to lead the school that has given so much to me over the years is something I do not take lightly,” Eason wrote. “I look forward to working with an awesome faculty and staff, great students and a community that is second to none.”
Eason said it is hard to describe the feeling of returning to a school that
Feeling Jazzy
he has so many personal connections with.
“Being there walking those halls when I was in high school was special,” Eason said. “We had amazing administrators like Mr. McGhee and Coach Brown. Those are huge shoes to fill.”
Rogers taught and coached Eason in baseball his senior year at ECHS. The team went to the state semifinals, and Eason eventually ended up at Central Alabama Community College the next year to win a state championship and complete his associates degree. An injury stopped his baseball career at Auburn Montgomery and he transferred to Troy Montgomery to
complete his bachelor’s degree. Later Eason completed his masters degree at AUM.
Eason taught in Tallassee and at ECHS before stepping into administration.
Eason said he is looking forward to being a larger part of the community through academics, art and sports — especially Friday nights in the fall.
“There is nothing like the lights of Friday night,” Eason said. “I can’t wait to get back to that. There is nothing like high school football with a packed stadium with students, band going crazy under the lights. It gives me chills going back to that environment.”
KENNETH