Chamber highlights nonprofits at luncheon
By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
Not all heroes wear capes, and this proved true Thursday at the Wetumpka Civic Center.
The Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce recognized people impacting lives at its “Heroes Unite” summer luncheon.
nonprofit organizations attended to discuss how they are improving the community for the better.
A virtual teacher at Elmore County School’s Edge program has been arrested and charged with school employee distributing obscene material to a student.
Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
However, instead of superheros present, chamber executive director Shellie Whitfield said more than a dozen
“I feel like there are people doing work and filling in the gaps to make sure that our community is good for everyone, whether that is taking care of children, the elderly or lost pets, just all those things that people are doing the nonprofit work are serving, you know, and it’s those people with servant’s hearts that make
this region really exceptional,” Whitfield said.
Wilson was the head basketball coach at Holtville High School and was placed on administrative leave Jan. 13 according to Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
Just some of the organizations represented were River Region United Way, the Elmore County Family Resource Center and Main Street Wetumpka.
investigation and handed it off to the appropriate authorities. He was also placed on administrative leave at that time.”
described Wetumpka’s partnership as invaluable and instrumental in helping foster childhood literacy.
Dennis said school officials follow the same procedure when administrators receive a report of allegations against school staff and employees.
The theme also seemed appropriate for one booth in particular as Short the Squirrel was present, Alabama’s literacy mascot.
The character’s co-founder Monica Anderson Young
“If every community in Alabama embraced Short like Wetumpka then we would be at the top of the heap when it comes to readers in this world,” she said.
“Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
A representative from each group spoke for several minutes about their organization’s
Franklin said investigators with the Elmore County Sher iff’s Office have the alleged vic tim’s phone. Authorities collect ed Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversa tion between the two,” Frank lin 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.”
See CHAMBER, Page A2
istrative leave.
Chamber holds luncheon welcoming members
TOURISM PIECES COMING TOGETHER FOR SUCCESS IN WETUMPKA
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Tourism can provide the City of Wetumpka tax revenue without the cost of services residents, businesses and industry require.
a plan for moving towards a tourism entity or destination management organization in Wetumpka.
opment,” Allred said. “It is clean money. You don’t have to provide all those services but you get the tax benefits.”
The lodging tax revenue equates to big money.
Commission focuses on infrastructure improvements
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon. CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD
By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter
The Elmore County Commission talked about infrastructure projects and improvements Monday.
Visitors have been flocking to the riverside town for years but without enough hotel rooms, Wetumpka is likely losing big money.
The Wetumpka City Council approved hiring Stamp Idea Group and Yellow House Publishing to help develop a plan to market the area to tourists and recruit hotels.
Stamp’s David Allred led a discussion to help cultivate
“[Wetumpka is] missing out on a lot of revenue,” Allred said. “Statistically, overnight visitors spend four times what a day tripper will spend.”
Those are funds spent by overnight guests in local businesses and restaurants.
But without adequate hotel rooms, the city is missing out on collection of lodging tax — a fee Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis said equates to 12% of the room rate.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
During a regularly scheduled commission meeting, Sain and Associates, a firm specializing in civil engineering, informed the commission it received an award for a recently completed road development in the Redland community.
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
Road Intersection and provided a short history of the project to the commission Monday.
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20.
Police were dispatched to the parking lot around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Once there, they found Centell Winston, 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound in the driver seat of his vehicle.
The firm received an Honor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Alabama in conjunction with the organization’s 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards.
The county approved the roundabout option and obtained funding from the Highway Safety Improvement Program to start the design process. Construction began in August 2021 and concluded in May 2022, with a total cost of $1.2 million.
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.”
Initially beginning 2012, Elmore County contacted the firm to review the intersection to improve safety and daily operations, including the crash history, traffic volume and speeding issues.
This is the first homicide in Wetumpka in over three years. The last homicide in the city took place in 2018.
The group won specifically for its development of the roundabout at the Redland Road Firetower
Commission chairman Bart Mercer and other commissioners joined in expressing gratitude to the firm for its service to
“It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
“You have to think about tourism as economic devel -
“Kyle Futral is an exception al principal and is very proac tive and innovative in his think ing and approaches to managing his school,” Dennis said, As principal of Holtville High School, Futral has transformed
The Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) named Holtville High School principal Kyle Futral the 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year. The High School Principal of the Year award was presented to Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a schoolwide assembly at Holtville High School. Elmore County Su perintendent Richard Dennis was in attendance for the presentation.
Allred gave an example of an 80-room hotel operating at 60% occupancy. He said with an average daily room rate of $100 it would generate nearly $200,000 per year in tax money. Allred said if an average of two people stay in a room each night at 60% occupancy would bring about 35,000 people to town per year. Allred said it is imperative for Wetumpka to develop its
in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on admin-
WILSON
WILLIAM MARLOW | THE HERALD
Dr. Dee Dupree Bennett discussed how Short the Squirrel, Alabama’s literacy mascot, is empowering children across the state to read. More than a dozen nonprofit organizations attended the luncheon to discuss their missions.
Obituaries
MR. RAYMOND BRYANT GREENE
Mr. Raymond Bryant Greene, 79, of Eclectic passed away Sunday, June 18, 2023. He was born September 11, 1943 in Eclectic, AL, son of the late Ida Faye Griffith and Willie Montgomery Greene. In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by his brother John Alvin Greene, son Jason Scott Greene and stepfather George L. Grif-
fith. He is survived by his sister Susan F. Hebert of Fort Myers, FL; brother George L. Griffith, Jr. (Stefani) of Arab, AL; daughters Melanie Rowland (Allan) of Enterprise, AL and Terri Lechner (Dan) of Sacramento, CA; sons James Greene of Elba, AL, Joseph Golding of Colorado and Craig R. Greene (Stephanie) of Atlanta, GA; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received at Refuge Baptist Church, 3098 Red Hill Rd, Tallassee, AL 36078 on Friday, June 30 from 1pm until time of service at 2pm with Rev. Steve Scarborough officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Online condolences may be posted at www.linvillememorial.com.
TERRY (TED) MASON FARMER
Terry (Ted) Mason Farmer, 69, of Wetumpka, Alabama passed away on June 19, 2023 after a long battle with lung cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents James and Edna Farmer and brothers, Danny and David Farmer. Ted is survived by his daughters Terri Parker, Jennifer Pilgrim, and Laura Farmer, along with
COMMISSION
Continued from A1
Elmore County.
The commissioner also approved several motions to revitalize infrastructure throughout Elmore County, including joining other Alabama counties in apply-
CHAMBER
Continued from A1
ing for a planning grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bridge Investment Program and applying for Safe Streets for All grant funding to create a comprehensive safety action plan.
The commission lastly approved the 2024 fiscal year Rebuild Alabama
mission and the resources they provide.
“We felt like it was just time to take a step back and let the light be on them,” Whitfield said. “When people think about a chamber of commerce, they think about businesses and people in suits, but there are a number of different areas and people working to make our community great.”
seven grandchildren: Michael Austin, Jacee Edwards, Elijah Parker, Kadin Edwards, Ethan Parker, Alexis Parker, and Elizabeth Parker, as well as two great-grandchildren: Charlee Pittman and Ryder Edwards. He is also survived by his brother, Steven Farmer. A private family service will be held to celebrate Ted’s life.
County Transportation Plan.
IN OTHER ACTION THE ELMORE COUNTY COMMISSION:
•Approved a motion to authorize the sheriff to execute a three-year contract with NCIC Inmate Communications for correctional communications contract.
•Heard a chief operations officer’s report from Richie Beyer.
•Approved awarding a bid inquiry for a 202323 heavy duty pipe to the lowest responsible bidder.
The event also seemed to resonate with the public.
“It was far beyond our expectations and so was the turnout,” Whitfield said. “It’s sometimes hard to get people to attend a luncheon in the summer and we had way more people at this luncheon than we have ever had at a summer luncheon before so that was encouraging as well.”
She described the day as a culmination of months planning and organizing but said the results were well worth the effort.
The next meeting of the Elmore County Commission is scheduled for 5 p.m. July 11.
“It’s really our job to create opportunities for people to build relationships so that they can prosper,” she said.
Pastor Jordan Headley led innovation followed by words from Pastor Jonathan Yarboro and lunch by 1220 Cafe.
Building on the momentum from the luncheon, Whitfield said the chamber is currently planning its second annual Women’s Leadership Summit scheduled for Aug. 31, which will include speakers from across the United States.
By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director
This is the week for one of our adopted dog’s eighth annual Yappy Barkday Pawty fundraiser at Blue Ridge Animal Clinic in Montgomery.
Phoenix, adopted from our shelter by Elizabeth, is not only a very special dog, but perhaps one of the luckiest dogs ever to have ended up being loved by Elizabeth and Russ.
This is a week-long party that runs through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Phoenix is asking for donations of supplies (Elizabeth has a list at the clinic or check out our website wish list at http://www.elmorehumane.org/hsec-wish-list. html) to help the shelter.
She will also accept monetary donations which will
help us pay for the never-ending needs of medical treatments, vaccines, spay/ neuter surgeries and more.
Phoenix will have T-Shirts for sale, swag bags, refreshments, treats for pets, bandana station, flea and tick prevention samples and so much more. Phoenix has raised thousands of dollars and truckloads of supplies for our shelter which is just incredible and a testament to so many Blue Ridge Animal Clinic clients and their friends and families.
Stop by Blue Ridge Animal Clinic this week and thank Phoenix, Elizabeth and everyone at the clinic for helping our shelter like this.
This coming weekend heralds what will likely be a four-day weekend for many celebrating the Fourth of July.
This means fireworks starting as early as Friday night so this is the week to make sure your pet has identification on its collar — rabies tag, personalized ID tag (which we can make in the shelter in a few minutes for $10), or write your phone number on their collar in indelible ink. Microchips are permanent (collars and tags can come off), so schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to have your pet microchipped as all area shelters scan found pets for chips. And all adopted shelter pets in our area are chipped so there is a good chance a found pet could have a microchip. Pets and livestock do not like loud noises, and fireworks are at the top of their Petrified Of list. Planning ahead is key so your animals will be phys-
ically and mentally safe this weekend. The simplest way to keep your pet(s) safe during fireworks is to bring them inside before any fireworks start and keep them in until well after all the fun has finished. They may still be scared and hide in a quiet spot in the house, but at least they will be safe at home.
If your pet cannot come in the house, then consider containing it in your garage or shop or barn as long as it isn’t too hot to be dangerous to your pet. Also make sure any hazardous materials/items are safely out of reach of your pet no matter where they stay. If you live where fireworks may continue well past your bedtime, then it
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
A new restaurant is heading to downtown Wetumpka.
The Wetumpka City Council approved incentives for a new food establishment at its Tuesday meeting.
“It will be in the space below the Airbnbs downtown,” Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis said. “I’m ready to get something in there.”
The Lofts at Bridge and Hill opened In October 2022 offering seven rooms right in the heart of downtown. Two of the rooms have balconies overlooking Bridge Street. One room is street level and is ADA compliant. IN OTHER ACTION THE WETUMPKA CITY COUNCIL:
• Approved minutes of the June 5 meeting.
• Agreed to enter into a lease for property on Company Street for the Wetumpka Crater Commission visitor center.
• Approved installation of an air conditioning at the police department.
• Approved reroofing the City Administration Building.
The next meeting of the Wetumpka City Council is scheduled for noon, Wednesday, July 5.
Kenneth
Page A4 • June 28, 2023
Last weekend, an OceanGate Expeditions submarine embarked on a journey to visit the wreckage of the RMS Titanic, a staggering 13,000 feet under the ocean’s surface.
It was a story I started following from the beginning as I’m a bit of a Titanic enthusiast. One of my senior capstone projects was about the wreck of the Titanic; did you know many people found out the fate of their loved ones via the newspaper?
Survivors sent letters to the editor to be printed, in hopes of their families seeing it and being reunited.
I, for one, can totally understand how someone would want to see the Titanic wreckage with their own eyes. Five people agreed and took this trip with OceanGate.
Well, just 1 ½ hours into the journey, the submersible lost contact with its host ship and from there, a five-day search ensued as the vessel had air supply for only that time. Ultimately, it was determined the submersible suffered a “catastrophic implosion,” killing everyone on board immediately.
I’ve been following this story since it first happened, thinking how horrible it must be for those five passengers.
LIZI GWIN Managing Editor
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.
Some people jumped onto the scene late in the game, only once the memes started on social media. Someone said to me, “Anything’s fair game on the internet,” but I have to disagree. Poking fun of people who are dead isn’t funny. Saying they were stupid to take the voyage in the first place is really hurtful. Since it was determined the submersible imploded, a lot has been said about the safety of OceanGate’s Titan, which had successfully taken trips to the Titanic wreckage in 2021 and 2022. Let’s be clear about one major thing: There is inherent danger when you go miles below the ocean, no matter what. You could call anyone stupid for doing such a thing; but you could also call someone stupid for bungee jumping or skydiving. You wouldn’t after a person just died, though. Because it’s not funny.
Death isn’t funny.
lot of death to deal with here recent ly, and not one bit of it has been amusing. Imagine losing your fam ily member and the whole world is making fun of that person. Suleman Dawood, one of the passengers, was only 19 and he was taking a Father’s Day trip with his dad, but now he’s dead and people are circu lating memes on the internet.
Let’s talk about the safety concerns too. It wasn’t like this sub had never made it to the Titanic and back successfully because it had, multiple times. I’m sure you’ve heard it was controlled by a video game con troller. Well, so is the U.S. Navy’s latest attack submarine as are laser cannons used by the Army.
Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who was known as “Titanic’s Greatest Explorer” and had taken more than 30 successful trips to the wreck
Daniel Ellsberg died last week. When his name reappeared in the news it was quite interesting as it had been somewhat lost to history yet he played a pivotal role in the D.C. happenings of the early 1970s as the man responsible for the Pentagon Papers.
That was nothing compared to what was going on in the summer of ’74.
The Watergate scandal raged and Congressional hearings revealed the shady dealings of the “plumbers” who had done President Richard Nixon’s bidding for him: Dirty deeds such as breaking into the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist (Ellsberg had been a whistleblower with the release of the Pentagon Papers); secretly recording every conversation on an elaborate tape system in the White House; and, of course, the infamous break-in at the Watergate office building, home to the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee.
The Vietnam War was winding down; returning prisoners of war were greeted with a society that had radically changed in their absences while Vietnam veterans faced indifference or outright hostility.
The oil embargo was also happening during this time. Gas prices soared as Americans thought, “Can this get any worse?”
July 4, 1974, radio commentator Paul Harvey aired a special edition of his “News & Comment” show.
You and I both know we’ve had a
MICHAEL BIRD Columnist
‘Their Lives, Their Fortunes and Their Sacred Honor’
He detailed the “rest of the story” of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Some were wealthy but died in rags; some moved countless times to evade harassment; others lost not only their money but their families. These weren’t ordinary guys. They were experienced thinkers, politicians, landowners and businessmen. They were leaders, though at the time they were revolutionaries.
Every year for Independence Day, I like to revisit radio commentator Paul Harvey’s “Their Lives, Their Fortunes, and Their Sacred Honor.” Reprinted below is the text of his original radio message from 1974, two years before our country’s bicentennial: “The United States of America was born in 1776. But it was conceived 169 years before that. All others of the world’s revolutions before and since were initiated by men who had nothing to lose. Our founders had everything to lose, nothing to gain. Except one thing … their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Fifty-six men placed their names beneath that pledge. Fifty-six men knew — when they signed — that
they were risking everything. They knew if they won this fight, the best they could expect would be years of hardship in a struggling nation. If they lost, they’d face a hangman’s rope.
All of the Americans who lived in those times ‘paid the price’. John Adams wrote years later that all through the Revolution he would have given anything to have things returned to the way they were. He wasn’t lamenting his own losses. Any human who has ever seen the suffering of the soldiers and innocents in a war zone has to wonder if an armed conflict is ever a worthy price for change. But the clock can’t be turned back. The deed was done. And from it a glorious country emerged. They had learned that liberty is so much more important than security, that they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
Of the 56 signers of the Declaration, few were long to survive. Five were captured by the British and tortured before they died; twelve had their homes – from Rhode Island to Charleston – sacked and looted, occupied by the enemy or burned. Two of them lost their sons in the Army; one had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 died in the War from its hardships or from its more merciful bullets.
I don’t know what impression you’d had of these men who met
Theo is a 2-year-old male German Shepherd mix. He was found as a stray and never reclaimed. Theo is about 60 pounds, and he’s very fun loving and happy go lucky. He is good with other dogs but not with cats. He’s handsome and loves attention. The Humane Society of Elmore County’s adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for
cats under 1 year old. Cats over 1 can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, deworming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian.
If you are interested in meeting Cola or any of the pets at HSEC, the first step is to fill out an adoption application online. Once approved, you will be contacted by someone from the humane society. HSEC is located at 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka. The phone number is 334-567-3377 and the website is www.elmorehumane.org.
tourism plan and entity to draw more visitors and more hotels.
Stamp Idea and Yellow House Publishing’s Jenny Stubbs started working together on a plan for Wetumpka weeks ago. The first step was identifying what Wetumpka has to offer to tourists. By identifying “attractors” Allred said audiences who are interested in what Wetumpka has to offer can be developed.
“We want to reach these target audiences in order to foster a healthy tourism ecosystem,”
Allred said. “It feeds itself. If there are no attractors, nobody is going to stay at the hotel
and they will go out of business. We are working on the attractors and the kinds of people we think we can attract.”
What does Wetumpka have to offer tourists?
Allred believes Wetumpka has several niches. One many residents will recognize is outdoor activities but another is developing. Allred said it is evident on several downtown Wetumpka storefronts and new location of the Kelly Fitzgerald Center for the Arts — selftaught Southern Art.
“We can’t say we are a great community for art,” Allred said. “Every community has art. We need to look at the art we have and figure how to categorize it so a visitor understands if they come to Wetumpka they can
see a large collection of self-taught Southern artists.”
Allred said promoting art is already happening in Wetumpka.
“It is celebrated,”
Allred said. “It is cool to me because it is all very compact. If you have a self taught Southern art walk or trail you can do it downtown. You have a good collection already going.”
Other “attractors”
Allred said Wetumpka could own and promote geology and prehistoric history; and outdoor activities to include the Coosa River, birding, hiking and mountain biking. But there is more.
“The Beautiful Table Settings is an attractor,”
Allred said. “The theater is an attractor. Think outside the box about what will get people to stay here.”
Allred sees the Wetumpka Impact Crater as a very unique “attractor” even though it is difficult to see. He was recently on the balcony of the new Kelly Fitzgerald Center for the Arts overlooking the rocks in the Coosa River. Stubbs explained to Allred how the crater was formed and the rocks he saw were part of the formation. He quickly thought of a Pokemon Go-like app based on location.
“You can’t really see the crater,” Allred said. “Build an app that only works when you are in Wetumpka. When you open it up, you can look around in virtual reality and see what Wetumpka looked like when it was a crater. You even layer in dinosaurs.”
Allred said the app is likely to appeal to a tourism segment separate from art but the point is to diversify some. The app would be expensive and require creativeness through partnerships to create.
HONOR
Continued from A4
The key to overnight stays is curation
Encouraging tourists to stay overnight on a regular basis will require businesses and entities to work together.
Allred used performances at the Wetumpka Depot as a chance to capture visitors for overnight stays in hotels and Airbnbs as an example. Allred said the average evening Depot performance ended at 10 p.m.
“They need to let businesses know that so they can stay open later,” Allred said. “Then the Depot needs to let the audience know what businesses are staying open late. They might go have a glass of wine.”
Businesses working together to capture tourists for longer periods of time especially in the evening can lead to more overnight stays.
Curation on a small scale can recruit overnight stays too. Allred said local businesses can help by scheduling what he calls the 8 a.m. meeting for out of town customers or vendors. He said those traveling more than about two hours will greatly consider coming to town the night before, stay in a hotel and eat out.
NEXT STEPS
Allred and Stubbs said many of the parts of the tourism puzzle are already in place for Wetumpka.
“Look at what you got and leverage it — lift it up and share it with other people,” Allred said. “You don’t have to create something new, use what you have around you to bring in visitors.”
Stubbs said the groundwork for multiple “attractors” has been laid over decades but it also is ever changing.
“Our amenities continue to evolve,” Stubbs said. “We need to iden -
tify those resources and landmarks so we can tell those stories and structure it in a way to captivate the audience.”
Stubbs said the current plan being developed is the beginnings of a DMO.
“This DMO will essentially involve all the different tourism organizations that are already concentrating on their expertise but bringing them all together through curation,” Stubbs said.
More overnight stays will require more hotel rooms which the city is already recruiting. The Wetumpka City Council recently approved a study in hopes of getting a Cobblestone hotel property.
Allred said a Wetumpka tourism website needs to be developed. He also believes digital marketing would be successful especially when applied to other markets advertising what Wetumpka has to offer.
“Montgomery has built physical attractions,” Allred said. “Wetumpka can run digital advertising to each one of those attractions and say come 30 minutes north and see an entire community of Southern art. You can exploit people that are already in the area to come discover what you already have to offer.”
Allred suggested a similar approach for community theater. He said with the quality of productions at the Wetumpka Depot, digital marketing would get Wetumpka in front of theater audiences nationwide by geofencing selected theaters.
Allred also likes incremental tourism by working to get tour buses to stop for overnight stays with 40 passengers aboard. He said one to two buses stopping overnight or even for lunch would make an impact on tax revenue.
JOKES
Continued from A4 that hot summer in Philadelphia, but I think it’s important this July 4, that we remember this about them: they were not poor men, they were not wild-
There were probably a lot of people who said climbing Everest was stupid. Going cave diving or swimming
“Y’all can handle 40 people at a time,” Allred said. “A lot of the restaurants here can handle 40 people.”
He said Wetumpka has the ability to host only a few of the people attending large events.
“You can’t handle 10,000 people,” Allred said. “They come, spend some money and leave. Spread the load across the year. Let’s not focus on two events a year.”
Wetumpka doesn’t collect the “clean money” on big events because of the lack of rooms.
Wetumpka residents play a role in promoting tourism. Allred said many residents will have friends and relatives visit. But residents don’t often know what their town has to offer. Allred suggested residents act like a visitor at times.
“It might help to stay in a hotel and walk to town to dine out and shop,” Allred said. “You will figure out we need a sidewalk or crosswalk. It is things you don’t think about because you are not a visitor.”
Another easy step is simply approaching strangers on the sidewalk and engaging in conversation. Allred said a visitor who has two such encounters will report to friends, family and social media he or she just visited the most friendly town around.
“A place where people want to visit is a place where people want to live,”Allred said. “A place where people want to live is a place where people want to visit.
Wetumpka has already done a lot through the downtown redevelopment, and HGTV did a lot. All these things you have done for the community to make your quality of life better also makes for a better visitor experience.”
eyed pirates; these were men of means, these were rich men, most of them, who enjoyed much ease and luxury in personal living. Not hungry men, prosperous men, wealthy landowners, substantially secure in their prosperity. But they considered liberty –this is as much I shall say of it –they had learned that liberty is so much more important than security, that they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And they fulfilled their pledge – they paid the price, and freedom was born.”
with sharks might not be the smartest thing either.
But people do these types of activities all the time. Tons of people are thrill seekers, and explorers are no different. Many times, these
Michael Bird is a music teacher with Tallassee City Schools.
adventures are actually what spawn progress. Imagine what the internet would’ve said about the Wright Brothers in 1903, and look where we are now. We may not be traveling by submarine anytime
soon, but that certainly doesn’t excuse making fun of people who have lost their lives.
Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.
Celebrating interdependence
Greetings from the corner of Bridge and Bridge. pray all is well with anyone reading this column this week. We are on the verge of celebrating our nation’s independence, and I pray those celebrations are all worthy of the things God makes possible in them.
The preamble to our nation’s Declaration of Independence sets a definite tone for what is to follow. The founders of our nation fully and without apology established the boundaries of the declaration they collectively penned. The preamble is the foundation of these united states.
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.
The question I have for all of us as July 4, 2023 approaches is simple. When any of us reads or hears these words, what comes to mind? How does what comes to our minds affect how we live our lives?
The words of the preamble are abundantly clear. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
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,
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” How do any of us interpret those words?
There has been a great deal of discussion regarding the intentions of the founders in this opening statement. Does the distinction “all men” include or exclude women? Does the same distinction refer to people of European descent alone? Were these words penned with the teachings of the Bible in mind?
U.S. history informs interpretation of original intent. Clearly, the founders envisioned, both consciously and subconscious-
ly, certain boundaries to the term “all.” Even if the founders did not state these exceptions, the way things took shape in our nation reflects those boundaries. Clearly, even the most cursory glimpse of U.S. history demonstrates all are not deemed equal in terms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Discussions regarding this reality often become heated and divisive. This is understandable, given what is at stake. At the same time, there is actually no reason for such discussion and reflections on history to become heated and / or divisive.
I imagine at this point, some reading this column
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
are wondering what the preacher man hit his head on. I assure youI am of as sound mind as I ever have been. I love celebrating our nation’s independence. Allow me to tell you why. Since the first time I ever read them, I have heard the words of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence on God’s terms. As I grew older and more familiar with the teachings of scripture, I began to notice similarities in language. Whenever I read “all men,” I hear it and interpret it as God defines it.
God’s “all” is not like humankind’s “all” in that God’s “all” has no exceptions. As a person of faith and a citizen of these
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
United States, I am more concerned with God’s definition of things than I am our founders or anyone else’s. When God’s definition of “all” is utilized in the preamble, there can be no question about what it means to be an American. It means everyone has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It does not mean the government must provide these things. It means government must protect these things. It means empowering through interdependence, which is always God’s ultimate business.
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.
Dalton MiDDleton SportS eDitor dalton.middleton@thewetumpkaherald.com
Wetumpka’s Davenport commits to Anderson University
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Following a breakout season that earned her AllState honors, Wetumpka rising junior Lily Davenport has committed to play college softball at Anderson (South Carolina) University, a Division II private school.
It was an easy choice for the star first baseman, who said she fell in love the first time she visited
campus.
“Their campus was much nicer than any of the other schools I went to,” Davenport said. “They seemed like they took really good care of their students and the whole team seemed close-knit.”
Davenport said her recruiting process was a fairly quick one. She had a travel ball teammate on the roster at Anderson already, so coaches knew of Daven-
Wetumpka to host county 7-on-7 tournament
One county football team will gain bragging rights for the summer this week.
The first Battle for the County 7-on-7 tournament will be played Thursday at the Wetumpka Sports Complex.
All five public schools in Elmore Coun -
ty will play in the tournament. The tournament will begin at 5 p.m. and costs $5 to enter. Kids under 10 can enter free.
The five county teams will each play each other to determine seeding, then the single-elimination tournament will begin.
The final two teams left will play for the championship under the lights.
Holtville football to hit the road six times this season
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Despite a record of only 3-8 last year, Holtville once again reached the Class 5A playoffs. The Bulldogs will look to do so again this fall, and they’ll have a good chance. Holtville returns
Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State quarterback Keiland Baker to lead the offense, and the Bulldogs’ schedule could be fairly trouble free outside of a few matchups.
Holtville’s opponents on the schedule had a combined record of 49-59 last season, with five having four wins or fewer.
On the flip side, the Bulldogs face five teams that had winning records last season including two that reached at least the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.
TRENDS
Holtville will open the season against three teams that had losing records with Fultondale, Alma Bryant and Shelby County. The trio had a combined record of 6-24 last season, but the Bulldogs will hit the road for two of those games.
However, Holtville ends the season with Demopolis, Elmore County and Tallassee, which had a combined record of 24-11 last year and all reached the playoffs.
Holtville will be on the road a lot this season with four of its first six games being played away from Slapout.
The Bulldogs lost to Elmore County last season in a shootout, but Holtville has controlled the series in the last four years with a 3-1 record.
Holtville hasn’t been as successful against Tallassee, however, losing nine of the last 10 games dating back to 1983. The one win was a COVID-19 forfeit win in 2020.
Holtville is undefeated against Shelby County in the three matchups the two teams have played.
GAMES TO WATCH
Holtville and Alma Bryant have faced each other only one time in program history, but last year’s matchup was an absolute thriller. The Bulldogs trailed by as many as three touchdowns in the second half
See HOLTVILLE, Page B2
port early. With that in mind, Davenport was posting stats, clips and other accomplishments on Twitter, tagging the Anderson softball team and coaches in her tweets.
After doing so, June 13 came around and she got a phone call from Anderson coach Tommy Hewitt saying he was interested in her joining the program.
Davenport has always wanted to go out of state, so it was an obvious deci-
sion.
“After that phone call, I knew right away that I wanted to go there and there really wasn’t much to discuss,” she said.
Davenport could be an instant impact player when she gets to the next level in two years. The slugger had a stellar sophomore season during which she hit .425 with a .465 on-base percentage with
WETUMPKA BASKETBALL SEES IMPROVEMENT IN SUMMER
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
The Wetumpka basketball team has high hopes for its 2023-24 basketball season, but the Indians will have to find some young players to step up in big roles. Wetumpka returns two of the top county players in last year’s All-Elmore County
Boys Basketball Player of the Year Nate Rogers and all-county member Malik Owens, but graduated a first team all-county member in D’Marcus Peake. So the Indians took to some summer playdates to see who would step up in his place. Wetumpka played 12 games this summer, going 6-6. With Rogers and
Owens playing this summer, the team was 6-3. But with Rogers on a football recruiting visit out of state, Wetumpka went 0-3 against some tough competition on the final day of action. “The biggest thing we looked at this summer is seeing how this new group would gel,”
See BASKETBALL, Page B2
Wetumpka rising junior Lily Davenport recently committed to play college softball at Anderson University. The All-State selection hit .425 with 24 extra-base hits as a sophomore.
Holtville quarterback Keiland Baker, an All-State selection a year ago, looks to lead the Bulldogs back to the playoffs this season.
BASKETBALL
Continued from B1
Indians coach Steven Thomas said. “We know who we have coming back so we wanted to see who would step up and fill in those big holes we have in the lineup.”
Peake is a big loss for the Indians to fill. The star senior jumped on the scene last year, averaging 16 points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals per game.
“You don’t replace him, but you kind of hope the guys coming back and the new guys are able to find their own identity and put it into the team,” Thomas said. “He was special being an all-around playmaker. So we are looking to the new guys to give us something positive that they bring to the table.” Rising sophomore Andrew Voyles has really impressed Thomas in the playdates.
“He really stepped up this summer with his poise and how he plays the game,” Thomas said. “He’s an easy fit in what we’re trying to do as a team. He’s selfless and plays the game the right way. He’s a pass-first guy and gives us 100% on defense.”
While the Indians went 0-3 in the final playdate without Rogers, Thomas liked the way they played. Thomas mentioned his team plays one way with Rogers leading the group, but he had to see younger players take initiative on offense.
Those younger players took on scoring and leadership roles, and while it did not equate to wins against area opponents Sidney Lanier and Carver in the playdate, the games will prepare his group in the long run.
“It was good to see them without him,” Thomas said. “Those guys had to step up and take their own role and initiative and gel together as a group. They just competed without him and played well.”
Continued from B1
76 hits, 15 doubles, nine home runs and 58 RBIs.
She walked 12 times this year and struck out only 18 times, the second lowest strikeout count for the Indians. In the process, she helped lead the Indians to the AHSAA Class 6A state championship while earning all-state and all-county honors.
When she gets to the college level in 2025, she believes she can help Anderson’s team right away. In the meantime, she’s working on getting stronger and improving her speed and agility both in the field and on the base paths.
“I feel like mentally I’m a really good player,” Davenport said. “I think about things really clearly and of course my bat is my strong suit. I think I’ll be a good asset for a college program, especially with a few more years to go until I get there.”
She is joining an Anderson program that is a postseason mainstay. The Trojans have reached
Edgewood Academy basketball receives championship rings
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
The Edgewood Academy basketball teams received their much-anticipated championship rings Sunday afternoon.
Edgewood Academy hosted a ring ceremony for both the girls and boys basketball teams, which won the AISA
Class AA state championships this spring.
The girls basketball team went undefeated on the season with a 27-0 record and defeated Lakeside in the state title game. The Wildcats have now won back-to-back titles.
Not to be left out, the Edgewood boys finished the year 23-4 and defeated rival Autauga Academy in the
championship for its fourth championship in program history.
Following the ring ceremony, the Edgewood girls team cut down its net and each kept a piece of the championship win. The boys had already cut theirs down before the ceremony.
“This means the world to them and it means the world to me,” Wildcat assistant coach Buzz Phillips said. “I feel like it’s a breath of fresh air everytime I walk in here. These kids work hard and they fight through adversity. When it comes time to play, they’re prepared. This is great. You don’t find many that win 50 ball games combined between both programs.”
the NCAA tournament three of the last four seasons and won 40 games just two years ago.
Last season, Anderson went 28-20 and fell in the South Atlantic Conference tournament. The Trojans were 20-6 at home on the year.
“They’re a very good program,” Davenport said. “They started this past season off strong and were blowing the doors off of teams. I’m supposed to go up there this school year and see them play in person.”
With her college commitment out of the way, Davenport turns her sights towards helping Wetumpka back to state in hopes of winning a second straight championship.
The Indians, who won a statebest 54 wins this year, return eight of their nine starters in the field and both of their two pitchers.
“I want us to make another run at it again,” Davenport said.
“I don’t know if we’ll win state again, but I’d like to get there because we’ll have another strong team. It would be really cool to make another run.”
but came back with two late scores to cut the game to six points. Alma Bryant held on for the win, but Baker and the Bulldogs will look for their revenge when they make the trip to the coast in Week 2. The rivalry game between the Holtville and Marbury Bulldogs hasn’t been within two touchdowns since the 2017 matchup, but the winning team switches seemingly every season. Holtville holds a 3-2 series lead in the last five matchups, and there will be plenty of high tensions when both sets of Bulldogs take the field.
Holtville and Elmore County had a shootout for the ages last season with the Panthers winning, 63-48, and the game setting Holtville’s school record for the most combined points in a game. Four of the last six matchups have been decided by two touchdowns or less.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
JABARI MURPHY, ELMORE COUNTY WIDE RECEIVER
Murphy might be the most talented offensive player Holtville will face all season. The three-star receiver is ranked No. 33 in the state for the Class of 2024. He has offers from multiple SEC programs like Mississippi State and Ole Miss. The slot receiver had 55 catches for 793 yards and 10 touchdowns last year.
KEVIN MCELROY, DEMOPOLIS QUARTERBACK
McElroy proved himself to be one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in Class 5A last year as he helped lead Demopolis to 10 wins. The rising senior completed 58% of his passes for 1,875 yards, 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He added 446 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
CARSON DEERMAN, WEST BLOCTON LINEBACKER Deerman made himself
known as one of the top tacklers in the state last year and showed that as he racked up 10 or more tackles in all but two games. He finished the year with 129 tackles and six sacks. Against Holtville last season, the rising-senior had 12 tackles and one sack.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – Holtville at Fultondale
Sept. 01 – Holtville at Alma Bryant
Sept. 08 – Shelby County at Holtville
Sept. 15 – Selma at Holtville
Sept. 22 – BYE Sept. 29 – Holtville at West Blocton
Oct. 06 – Holtville at Jemison
Oct. 13 – Marbury at Holtville
Oct. 19 – Holtville at Demopolis
Oct. 27 – Elmore County at Holtville
Nov. 3 – Holtville at Tallassee
DAVENPORT
HOLTVILLE Continued from B1
DALTON MIDDLETON THE HERALD
TOP: The Edgewood Academy basketball teams received their championship rings Sunday afternoon.The boys and girls had a combined 50-4 record this year.
ABOVE: The Edgewood Academy boys went 23-4 and beat rival Autauga Academy in the state
Rep. Oliver visits Tallassee Lions
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
State Rep. Ed Oliver is no stranger to Tallassee.
As the District 81 state representative, the Tallapoosa County portion of Tallassee falls in his district. Oliver lives just up Highway 49 south of Dadeville, so the Fitzpatrick Bridge frequently in the path of his travels to and from Montgomery. Being a bit of a history buff, he simply just loves the bridge and Tallassee.
“It is an historic bridge,” Oliver told the Tallassee Lions Club on Tuesday. “It will last a long time because of the way it is built. It is the highest bridge in Alabama. I believe Tallassee is one of the coolest towns I have ever been in.”
Oliver is a member of the Reeltown Lions Club but crossed the river for a visit to talk about his experiences in the Alabama House of Representatives. Oliver was elected in 2018 and the first task at hand was the gas tax. Oliver voted for it in hopes of getting maintenance and repairs to the aging Fitzpatrick Bridge. But politics got in the way, and it took four years to get the bridge moved to his district by the Alabama Department of Transportation.
The process was Oliver’s education of how the legislature works.
“You got people calling you telling you if you vote the wrong way they will kill,” Oliver said. “You realize that in 10 years no one will remember your name. Instead, they will remember the roads they are riding on, what infrastructure is around them and what their quality of life is.”
Before work started on
the bridge, Oliver said every state road in District 81 got “some new blacktop” and in Tallapoosa County 30% more work was done on county roads due to extra funding. In his first year Oliver championed pre-hospital care and rural medicine based on his experiences as an air ambulance pilot for 15 years prior to retirement. “I have been in every little hospital in Alabama at least six times and every big one even more,” Oliver said. “I have landed on top of UAB literally 1,000 times.”
As a pilot he communicated with crews on the ground and 911 dispatch. Oliver brought the experience to one of his first pieces of legislation to get 911 dispatchers
and dispatch center funding for appropriate training. The funds mostly came from tax on every cell phone bill.
Oliver told the Lions he wasn’t going to sponsor every single piece of legislation to come up. Instead he wants to focus on a few “good bills.”
“I try to carry one piece of Republican legislation,” Oliver said. “I will circle two or three things important to me and will carry those too. I might pick up another bill during the session. It will mostly be in rural health.”
Oliver said it is impossible to keep up in detail with the numerous bills for every session. He said every legislator depends on state employees and even lobbyists to help make decisions.
“We have to depend on people to help us,” Oliver said. “They know if they don’t tell the truth they are out for good.”
Along the way Oliver has figured out he can’t solve every problem for everyone. He said he gets numerous phone calls to help with a variety of situations. Oliver said he can help to a certain extent when the issue is under the control of the legislature, but other things are beyond his control.
One such issue is rural broadband.
Overall Oliver said he feels comfortable with what he has done so far in Montgomery. He has passed a few bills important to him, taken care of some infrastructure and learned the job isn’t as dangerous as others.
Oliver has also come to a realization about serving in the legislature.
“I’m not nearly as likely to get killed in the legislature as flying a helicopter,” Oliver said. “I was making decisions about life and death when flying, both for the crew and for the patient.”
“No matter how hard I try or how many phone calls I make, I cannot make Charter or Point Broadband do anything,” Oliver said. “I will call and ask them where they are and what they can do.” Oliver said there is a broadband authority with control of some grant funding so he can try to put some pressure on the companies.
Young Titus business owner sees much success
By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter
Lacy Rae Heffelfinger isn't like most teeangers; she’s a business owner who sells bath products across the United States.
At just 15 years old, Heffelfinger launched Muscadine Creek Creamery, a business in which she offers handcrafted soaps, bath bombs and lotions. However, unlike other bath products, goat milk serves as the foundational ingredient.
“I hope to ship it to every state and have it in stores from Florida to Georgia,” she said. “I even had one person as far as Nebraska. I think I will ship to 16 states now.”
She provides ample opportunity to sell locally, including at McCall & Company in Tallassee and Alabama Goods in Homewood. In addition, customers can find her at Community Market Wetumpka the first Thursday of the month and the Eastchase Farmers Market on a weekly basis.
Her commute to work for the most part, however, consists of simply walking outside to her family-owned and operated dairy goat farm in Titus, where she milks her six goats morning and evening.
“Goats can be tricky,” Heffelfinger said. “They can be troublemakers,
but this is what I'm passionate about.”
She initially imported Nubian dairy goats from Minnesota, which she chose for one particular reason.
“They have one of the creamiest milks — it’s sweet and full of butter so that will make a very nice lather to the soap,” H effelfinger said. “It is more moisturizing compared to other breeds.”
Her goats are also registered with the American Dairy Goat Association.
After getting the milk, she then freezes it in cubes to prevent scorching before mixing in lye, which saponifies the soap.
“People told me whenever I first had goat milk, how good it was for the skin,” she said. “So I just started making it because we all have really sensitive skin.”
She adds oils and butters next before pouring the mixture into molds. After hardening overnight, she slices the compound into individual square bars, but she’s hardly ready to begin shipping to customers.
“I let it cure for six weeks. The long-cure time helps it last longer in your shower or bath,” she said.
Heffelfinger can add colors and fragrances and said her most popular merchandise are bar soap and lotion.
CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD
Alabama legislator Rep. Ed Oliver, District 81 speaks to the Tallassee Lions Club about how the legislature works in Alabama at Tuesday’s meeting.
SUBMITTED | THE HERALD
Lacy Rae Heffelfinger stands in front of her boutique filled with handcrafted soaps, lotions and bath bombs. She is one of Titus’ youngest business owners and is becoming known across the country.
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Public Notices
Public Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER FORECLOSURE NOTICE
WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a mortgage from RAY E. LONG AND PATRICIA E. LONG (HUSBAND + WIFE) to JIM WALTER HOMES, INC., on the 20th day of January, 1996, said mortgage recorded in the March 25, 1996, in Deed/Mortgage Book 171, Page 2686,cords, said Mortgage having and assigned to U.S. Bank National Association, not in its inTrustee of NRZ Inventory Trust,signed U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual NRZ Inventory Trust, as Mortgagee/Transferee, under and -
entrance to the Elmore county courthouse located at 100 E Commerce Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 in Wetumpka, Elmore July 25, 2023, during the legal hours of sale, all of its right, title, and in-
Public Notices
THE EAST RIGHT-OF-WAY OF THE AFORE-MENTIONED ALONG SAID RIGHT-OF-WAY, 94.00 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY LIES IN THE SW1/4 OF THE NE1/4, OF SECTION 3, T-17N, R-17E, ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA, AND CONTAINS 0.53 ACRES, MORE OR LESS.
3840 SANDTOWN RD, MILLBROOK, AL 36054 -
property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process.ed to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process.ject to any easements, enthose contained in the records
tion of all parties entitled thereto ad valorem taxes (including taxsale is made for the purposeas the expenses of foreclosure. The Mortgagee/Transferee repurchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the inpostponement or cancellation.
U.S. Bank National Association, solely as Trustee of NRZ Inventory Trust, Mortgagee/Transferee THE BELOW LAW FIRM MAY BE HELD TO BE ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR, UNDER FEDERAL LAW. IF SO, ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Mortgagee/Transferee 11 N. Water Street, Suite 10290, Mo-SHP-23-01563-1
Jun. 28, Jul. 5 and 12, 2023 212465
PUBLIC NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FILING OF PETITION FOR ADOPTION IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA AT CASE NUMBER: A2023019
TO: CODY FREE, WHOSE WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN, THE FATHER OF L.B.G. AND NOTICE TO ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTY Take notice that a Petition for -
MICHAEL CHANCE, as Petitioner, for the adoption of -
ELAINE GRIFFITHS on Februto contest this adoption. Be ad-a written response with the Pro-
of this notice. The Probate Court
consider such Petition without JOHN THORNTON
PROBATE JUDGE ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA
KYLE C. SHIRLEY MCDOWELL, FAULK & SHIRLEY, LLC
Public Notices
gpy 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
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Matthew L. Ross and Amy K. Ross, originally in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Nationwide Mortgage Concepts, a Limited Liability Corporation, on March 30, 2010, said mortgage recordProbate of Elmore County, Alabama, in RLPY Book 2010 and Page 13550; the undersigned PHH Mortgage 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 August 29, 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, AlaSubdivision, Plat Number 2, as
ty, Alabama, in Plat Book 12, Page 100.. Property street address for informational purposes: 115 Allen Drive , Millbrook, AL 36054. 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 EN-
Public Notices
gy 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 degrees 52 minutes 55 seconds 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.
Public Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JERRY FRANKLIN CHANDLER, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-158 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters of Administration over the Estate of JERRY FRANKLIN CHANDLER, deceased, having been granted to CHERYL FREE on June 16, 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.
CHERYL FREE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF JERRY FRANKLIN CHANDLER, DECEASED Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: JACQUELINE E. AUSTIN ATTORNEY AT LAW PO BOX 908 108 COURT ST WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-567-4874 jeaatty@aol.com
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 21, 28 and Jul. 5, 2023 EST/CHANDLER J. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BOBBY GENE EIDSON, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-160 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of BOBBY GENE EIDSON, deceased, having been granted to EVELYN C. EIDSON on June 15, 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.
EVELYN C. EIDSON PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF BOBBY GENE EIDSON, DECEASED Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: JEFFREY J. COURTNEY COURTNEY & MANN, LLP PO BOX 100 WETUMPKA. ALABAMA 36092 334-567-2545 Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 21, 28 and Jul. 5, 2023 EST/EIDSON, B. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY T. GIBBONS, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-151 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
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BUYERS PROPERTY TO CONSIST OF .5 ACRE LOCATED ON SANDTOWN ROAD, MILLBROOK, AL, ELMORE COUNTY, AL. LEGAL DESCRIPTION TO BE DETERMINED BY DEED OR SURVEY. COMMENCE AT AN IRON PIN AT THE SE CORNER OF LOT “E`` OF AN UN-NAMED PLAT OF LOTS A/F, AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA, IN PLAT BOOK 4, AT PAGE ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID LOT E AND THE NORTH LINE OF THE SW1/4 OF THE NE1/4 OF SECTION 3, T-17N, R-17E, ELMORE COUNTY, 639.73 FEET TO AN IRON PIN ON THE EAST RIGHT-OFWAY OF SANDTOWN ROAD, RIGHT-OF-WAY, 75.71 FEET TO AN IRON PIN, SAID POINT BEING THE POINT OF BEGIN259.80 FEET TO AN IRON FEET TO AN IRON PIN ON
A2023-019 PUBLIC NOTICE
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE 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
TIES 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 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. PHH Mortgage Corporation, (“Transferee”) Tiffany & Bosco, P.A., 2501 20th Place South, Suite 300, Homewood, AL 35223 www.tblaw. Wetumpka Herald: 23-01143
PUBLIC NOTICE
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE
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.
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
IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JOAN ELAINE BEASLEY, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-159 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of JOAN ELAINE BEASLEY, deceased, having been granted to BRYAN PAUL CURTIS on June 16th 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.
BRYAN PAUL CURTIS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JOAN ELAINE BEASLEY, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for
Personal Representative: JAMES E. “SAM” JOHNSTON ATTORNEY AT LAW 4371 MARLER ROAD PIKE ROAD, ALABAMA 36064 334-215-7596
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 28, Jul. 5 and 12, 2023 EST/BEASLEY, J.
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of DOROTHY T. GIBBONS, deceased, having been granted to KENNETH H. GIBBONS on June 15th 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.
KENNETH H. GIBBONS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY T. GIBBONS, DECEASED Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: ROBERT J. MORRIS ATTORNEY AT LAW 10365 HOLTVILLE ROAD DEATSVILLE, ALABAMA 36022 334-569-1820
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 21, 28 and Jul. 5, 2023 EST/GIBBONS D. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CAROLYN CHRISTINE HUNT, DECEASED CASE NO: 2023-166 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of CAROLYN CHRISTINE HUNT, deceased, having been granted to JUSTIN HUNT on June 22, 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.
JUSTIN HUNT PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF CAROLYN CHRISTINE HUNT, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: MICHAEL A. GRIGGS THE GRIGGS LAW FIRM, LLC PO BOX 780452 TALLASSEE, ALABAMA 36078-0452 334-283-2893
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 28, Jul. 5 and 12, 2023 EST/HUNT, C.
CLASSIFIEDS/PUBLIC NOTICES
B6
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023
Public Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF TERESA S. RICHBURG, CASE NO: 2023-172 DECEASED NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
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 REPRESENTA-
TIVE OF THE ESTATE OF LAU-
RITZ C. JENSEN, DECEASED Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: RODERICK B. PERDUE ATTORNEY AT LAW 2033 HOLTVILLE ROAD WETUMPKA, ALABAMA 36092 334-567-7373
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 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
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell for cash, at an ONLINE public auction on 13th of July, 2023, at 9:00am AT STORAGETREASURES.COM
Please note: THIS AUCTION IS NOT IN PERSON. PLEASE DO NOT SHOW UP TO OUR PHYSICAL LOCATION. ALL AUCTION PARTICIPANTS MUST SIGN UP AND BID ONLINE. •3139: Martevion George.245 Copeland Rd, Wetumpka, AL 36092 Contents: table, bikes, heater, dishes, boxes, home decor, clothes and totes Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 28 and Jul. 5, 2023
STORAGE AUCTION
Letters of Administration over the Estate of TERESA S. RICHBURG, deceased, having been granted to MANDERLEY RICHBURG COOLEY on June 23, 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.
MANDERLEY RICHBURG COOLEY
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF TERESA S. RICHBURG, DECEASED Name and Address of Attorney for Administrator: RICHARD K. VANN, JR ATTORNEY AT LAW P O BOX 347 MONTGOMERY. ALABAMA 36101 334-834-1180
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 28, Jul. 5 and 12, 2023
EST/RICHBURG, T. PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ENICE HOWELL TURNER, DECEASED CASE NO. 2023-157 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary on the Estate of said decedent having been granted to ALBERT NEAL TURNER, JR. as Personal Representative on the 13 day of June 2023, by the Honorable John Thornton, Judge of Probate of said County in said State, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are required to present same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.
Name and Address of Attorney: Regina B. Edwards, Esq. The Law Firm of Edwards & Edwards, P.C. 109 E. Bridge Street Wetumpka, AL 36092
ALBERT NEAL TURNER, JR. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF ENICE HOWELL TURNER, DECEASED.
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 21, 28 and Jul. 5, 2023
EST/TURNER, E. PUBLIC NOTICE
POSTPONEMENT OF NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Chad A. Vance and Heather W. Vance, husband and wife, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Mortgagee, as nominee for Homecomings Financial Network, Inc., its successors and assigns, on July 15, 2005, said mortgage being Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, on July 29, 2005 at Book RLPY 2005, at Page 54405. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as
The Elmore County Commission has approved the relocation of the voting place in voting Precinct 0071 in Elmore County, Alabama from the Seman Community Center located at 8705 Balm Road, Equality, Alabama to the Seman Congregational Christian Church located at 15970 Central Plank Road, Eclectic, Alabama. The voting place for Voting in Precinct 0071 Elmore County, Alabama for all future elections, beginning with the Primary Election to be held on March 5, 2024, will be held at the new location.
Wetumpka Herald, June 28, 2023
Public Notices
py Trustee for Residential Accredit Loans, Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through the current holder, 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 Elmore County Courthouse, in Wetumpka, Alabama, on April 21, 2023, during the legal hours of sale, the following described real estate, situated in Elmore County, Alabama, to-wit: Commence at the 2” iron pipe marking the NE corner of the NW 1/4 of Section 34, T18N, R21E; thence North 88 DEG 05 min 06 sec West a distance of 1754.42 feet to a 1/2” rebar capped S.D. Martin, 11726 at the intersection of the Southwest right of way of Elmore County Road 110 and the West right of way of Ben Taylor Drive said point being the point of beginning; thence South 02 DEG 32 min 56 sec West along the West right of way of Ben Taylor Drive a distance of 221.89 feet to a 5/8” leaving said right of way North 87 DEG 22 min 40 sec West a distance of 129.84 to a 5/8” continue North 87 DEG 22 min 40 Sec West a distance of 123.65 to a 1/2” rebar capped Martin; thence North 01 DEG 32 min 43 sec East a distance of 353.49 to a 1/2” rebar capped Martin on the Southwest right of way of Elmore County Road 110; thence along said right of way South 58 DEG 41 min 11 sec East a distance of 123.64 feet to a 1/2” rebar capped Martin; thence continue along said right of way South 56 DEG 42 min 53 sec East a distance of 24.96 feet to a 1/2” rebar capped Martin; thence continue along said right of way South 62 DEG 47 min 18 sec East a distance of 142.87 feet to the point of beginning, said parcel containing 1.67 acres more or less and lying in and being a portion of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 34 and the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 27, all in T18N, R21E. Elmore County, Alabama. This Property will be sold on as “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 part of the foreclosure process. 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 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 July 28, 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. 28, 2023
FC/VANCE 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
Public Notices
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 to Rule 4.3, Ala. R. Civ. Proc., service by publication be made upon Mother by Petitioner in The Wetumpka Herald, a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Wetumpka, Alabama, County of Elmore, and any other 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. Juv. Proc. after the last hearing on September 7, 2023 at 9:00 a.m., Elmore County Judicial Complex, 8935 U.S. Highway 231 North, Wetumpka, 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 that
BAILYNN TAYLOR -
hereby given notice that you are
Public Notices
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 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.
August 09, 2023, at 2:30 P.M. at the Elmore County Judicial Complex in Wetumpka, Alabama
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
JU-2022-229.02
PUBLIC NOTICE
In accordance with Chapter 1, Title 39, code of Alabama, 1975 notice is hereby given that Allied Fence Company, Inc., Contractor, has completed the contract for CHAIN LINK FENCE AND GATE INSTALLATION AT STANHOPE ELMORE HIGH SCHOOL for the Elmore County Board of Education, Owner, settlement of said Contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials or otherwise in connection with the project should immediately notify Elmore County Board of Education, 100 H. H. Robinson Drive, Wetumpka, Alabama 36092
Allied Fence Company, Inc. 7100 Mobile Highway Montgomery, Alabama 36105 Wetumkpa Herald: Jun. 28 and Jul. 5, 2023 NOTICE OF COMPLETION
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
PROJECT 23-220 PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell for cash, at an ONLINE public auction on Monday, July 10th, 2023, at 11:00am AT STORAGETREASURES.COM
Please note: THIS AUCTION IS NOT IN PERSON. PLEASE DO NOT SHOW UP TO OUR PHYSICAL LOCATION. ALL AUCTION PARTICIPANTS MUST SIGN UP AND BID
ONLINE. •661: Tony Cole.1813 Gibbs Circle,Montgomery, Alabama 36108
Contents: Bicycle,boxes
•549:Glenda Gilbert. 205 Willow Springs Road, Wetumpka, Alabama 36093
Contents: Totes, bags, dresser, chairs,
•871:Glenda Gilbert. 205 Willow Springs Road, Wetumpka, Alabama 36093
Contents: Dining Room Set, mattress, tv,boots, curio cabinet, boxes
•832:Kerrell Lynn. PO Box 1087, Wetumpka, Alabama 36092
Contents: Dryer, golf clubs, totes, fan
•204:Lisa Machado. 744 Burbank Drive, Montgomery, Alabama 36117
Contents: Tires, TVs, mattress, totes, clothes
•818:Jennifer Scott. 1205 County Road 532, Hanceville, Alabama 35077
Contents: Boxes,Totes, Clothes
Wetumpka Herald: Jun. 28 and Jul. 5, 2023
STORAGE AUCTION 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
STPMN-2619(262) PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OFSOUTH ALABAMA WOODMEN ASSOCIATION,
South Alabama Woodmen Association, Inc., an Alabama Dissolution with the Alabama creditors or others with claims against the Corporation pursuLaw that claims
Corporation will be barred unclaim is commenced within two notice.
Wetumpka Herald: WOODMEN ASSOCIATION
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.
ECLECTIC HAS LONG HISTORY WITH THE UKULELE
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
The Eclectic Sing Alongs are somewhat new to the area but they are already providing boundless entertainment by playing the ukulele.
Some players have just a few months of playing the small guitar-like instrument under their belts and others — well, decades. Betty Coker brought the tradition back to life when she came to the Eclectic Public Library in 2010.
“They said you can open up this library,” Coker said. “I said I will and I will teach ukulele to anybody that wants to learn.”
Coker has taught group ukulele lessons for the last 13 years for anyone who wanted to learn — following storytime at 11:30 a.m. Saturdays in the library annex.
Before teaching ukulele at the library, Coker taught physical education at Robert E. Lee High School before retiring from public schools. She then taught another 10 years at Edgewood Academy before retiring and taking on the Eclectic Public Library.
At the library, students young and old have turned out to the library on Saturdays to learn, including former high school students.
“We had a class reunion and got to talking,” Lee graduate Marty Lanier said. “We realized [Meme Mulcahy] had a ukulele and I had one but we didn’t know how to play.”
Last summer Mulcahy noticed a Facebook post about Coker’s ukulele lessons.
“My grandaddy played the ukulele,” Mulcahy said. “I thought if he could play, I can too.”
Since registering, Mulcahy and Lanier have hardly missed a session in more than a year.
“We have been a part of it ever since,” Mulcahy said. “We have thoroughly enjoyed it being with the kids.”
Youngsters are also a part of Coker’s free program. Eclectic’s Jairen Stepney, 9, has been coming to the Saturday ukulele lessons for two years. The shy student opened up as he took the stage with a tambourine last Tuesday. Most of the time he said he plays the ukulele.
“I like music,” Jairen said. “It’s fun. I can sing too.”
Coker leads the performances at reading programs, schools and more.
“I always have a good time,” Coker said.
But the students might have more fun, especially her former high school students.
“We were in the Eclectic Christmas parade,” Lanier said. “The theme was the Grinch. Meme painted this huge Grinch for it and we won a prize for it. It was so much fun.”
But the tradition of the Coker and the ukulele goes much further than a few years at the library.
“My mommy taught me to play when I was a little girl,” Coker said.
“My children learned. I taught them and my first cousins. We had a group called the Country Kids. We played on ‘Young World’ on WSFA and all over.”
Coker learned to play the ukulele as a child from her mother. She is unsure where her mother learned to play, but the ukulele played a big role for her father too.
String-Alongs’ perfor-
an
“The story goes that my parents lived not too far apart,” Coker said. “She would go towards the woods with her ukulele and climb a tree. He would hear and go hunting with his gun. That is how they got together.”
Music was always a part of the family as Coker started to sing as a child in Eclectic. Sometimes she would just sing on the stoop at the back of the house.
“Daddy would come out and say,
‘Don’t sing and play so loud. The neighbors will hear you,’” Coker said. “I said, ‘Daddy when I get married I’m going to move out into the country and sing as loud as I want to and nobody will hear.’”
As a child Coker also learned to play the piano and then started playing the organ at First Baptist Church Eclectic.
“I love music,” Coker said. “I have played organ at my church since 1961. I started because my momma always wanted me to play the organ at church.”
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Elmore County’s football team finally got to stretch its legs last week at a 7-on-7 hosted by Alabama State.
Entering Year 2 of the Kyle Caldwell era, the Panthers had a chance to face four opponents, including Class 6A Sidney Lanier, 7A Smith Station, 1A Autaugaville and Purcell Marian out of Ohio.
The Panthers are having to replace 2022 Elmore County Offensive Player of the Year Payton Stephenson at quarterback, and they worked mainly through junior Caleb Spivey, a Reeltown transfer, and sophomore Gage Davis in the tournament.
Elmore County’s usual suspects in three-star receiver Jabari Murphy and running back CJ Wilkes showed off their talents with multiple catches and yards. Both are two of the top players returning this season.
Murphy led the entire county with 10 receiving touchdowns last year while Wilkes led the county with 1,303 rushing yards.
Sophomore Tate McNeely also impressed and caught a touchdown pass. He had two catches, one for a touchdown, last season.=
CLIFF WILLIAMS THE HERALD
ABOVE: The Eclectic String Alongs, including, from left, Meme Mulcahy, Donna Parr and Betty Coker perform in Eclectic recently. Coker has taught ukulele to most everyone in the group.
BELOW: Jairen Stepney, 9, of Eclectic joins Marty Lanier, center, and Cheryl Winter, right, in
Eclectic
mance. The group formed out of lessons from Eclectic Library director Betty Coker.
DALTON MIDDLETON | THE OBSERVER
LEFT: Elmore County’s Caleb Spivey throws a pass attempt in a 7-on-7 game against Ohio’s Purcell Marian this week. RIGHT: Elmore County running back CJ Wilkes attempts to run past a Smith Station defender in the Panthers’ 7-on-7 tournament this week at Alabama State.