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

Wetumpka, AL 36092

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WEDNESDAY • JUNE 28, 2017

THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM

VOL. 119, NO. 26

Commission honors longtime registrar By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

The Elmore County Commission honored a longtime county registrar and heard updates to activities that took place in the county over the last week at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday afternoon. The Commission honored longtime

Elmore County registrar Nancy Taylor with a proclamation commending her for her 14 years of service to the Board of Registrars. On hand to honor Taylor was State Auditor Jim Zeigler, one of three state auditors who appointed Taylor to the board. The other two were Beth Chapman, who made Taylor’s original appointment in 2003, and Samantha

Shaw. “The integrity of the election process does not begin at the polls,” Zeigler said. “It begins at the registrar’s desk. Now it falls to me to find three or four people to replace this one person.” Taylor was shocked at Zeigler’s coming from Montgomery for the proclamation.

“I’m just so shocked and honored that he came down to be here for this,” Taylor said. “It makes it even more special.” But Taylor wasn’t verbose in her remarks. “I’m not one to make a speech,” she said. “I talk on the phone all day long.” Taylor’s family was on hand to see their loved one honored. See TAYLOR • Page A2

PINKSTON SHINES

Second group filed complaint for religious endorsement

David Granger / The Herald

The Jessie R. Foster Early Head Start Center on Queen Ann Road in Wetumpka was one of two county EHS centers operated by the Elmore Community Action Agency closed last Tuesday by the Administration for Children and Families because of safety concerns.

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

Early Head Start centers closed due to safety concerns Elmore Community Action Agency Head Start centers also affected By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

Two Elmore County Early Head Start centers and a third in Autauga County – all operated by Elmore Community Action Agency – were forced by federal officials to close, effective Tuesday, June 21. The agency’s 14 Head Start centers in Autauga, Chilton, Elmore and Shelby counties had already ended programming for the summer and were not affected, but will reopen under a new grantee. J.R. Foster Early Head Start in See HEAD START • Page A2

Today’s

Weather

89 71 High

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USPS 681-260

Another complaint comes to city, WPD

Submitted / The Herald

Emily Pinkston, center, a rising senior at Wetumpka High School, was named Elmore County’s Distinguished Young Woman Saturday night at Wetumpka High School. Pinkston is shown here flanked by first runner-up Kasie Thomas, left, also of WHS, and Brantley White, second runner-up, of Holtville High.

Wetumpka student wins Distinguished Young Woman By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

Emily Pinkston, a student at Wetumpka High School and the daughter of District Judge Patrick Pinkston and his wife, Georgia, was named Elmore County’s Distinguished Young Woman for 2018 on Saturday night at Wetumpka High School. Pinkston was also the winner of the DYW scholastic award and the talent

award. She performed a musical theater piece titled “I Know It’s Today” from “Shrek the Musical,” a song about Fiona waiting in the tower for her Prince. “I’m happy and extremely excited,” said Pinkston, who spoke via telephone from a Latter Day Saints church camp in Nauvoo, Illinois. “Most of all, I’m thankful for the opportunity to represent Elmore County.” See DYW • Page B6

The organization lodging complaints against the city and police department over religious activities asserts the actions are not merely matters of differing viewpoints but of legality and there are violations of law occurring. But the Freedom From Religion Foundation was apparently not alone its efforts seeking redress from the city regarding religious activities. City Attorney Regina Edwards recently told The Herald that before the FFRF sent its series of letters to both her and Wetumpka Police Chief Danny Billingsley, another group – the American Atheists Legal Center – sent a letter to Mayor Jerry Willis regarding at least one of the same matters. Edwards said she spoke with the police chief to remedy at least one item from the list of issues addressed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Attorneys from the FFRF wrote Billingsley and Edwards letters notifying the city officials of what they said were constitutional violations happening within See COMPLAINT • Page A3

City of Wetumpka to host July 4 celebration By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

The City of Wetumpka will host its annual Fourth of July celebration on Independence Day at 6 p.m. in Gold Star Park. The activities will continue until 9 p.m. and culminate in a fireworks show sponsored by Wind Creek Casino, according to Tiffany Richardson, the city’s events director. “There will be live music for the adults and activities for the kids, as well,” Richardson said. “Wishbone will be playing. They’re a great Montgomery-based classic rock and dance cover band. They’re pretty popular in the River Region. “For the kids, we’ll have inflatables – slides, bounce houses, things of that nature – and other activities, too.” Richardson said Grumpy Dog and Sno Biz will be on hand providing food and refreshment, but coolers Submitted / The Herald are welcome. Montgomery-based Wishbone, a classic rock and dance-cover band, will rock the City of WeSee CELEBRATION • Page B6 tumpka’s July 4 celebration.

PAGE A2 • JUNE 28, 2017

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

Taylor

continued from page 1

The Commission also spent some time commending the county’s highway and emergency management personnel for their work during last week’s rains, the sinkhole on Redland Road and the search for the body of Dustin Levi Ragan, the 25-year-old man who drowned in a fishing accident near Jordan Dam. The Commission’s comments followed reports from County Engineer Richie Beyer and County EMA Director Eric Jones. “We’re trying to recover from the recent rainfall events,” Beyer said. “And trying to accelerate that recovery.” Beyer said that one of his department’s emphases was the work on the Ingram Road culverts in order to get the work completed before the start of the school year. He also commended the county EMA for its assistance in

the work on the Redland Road sinkhole effort. “EMA did an excellent job of not only keeping us informed, but checking with us and making sure we had the right resources and hung with us until Friday night right until we got Redland Road back open,” Beyer said. Jones also talked about the weather and the tragedy that happened last week and over the weekend and said the county escaped worse problems than it might have had. “We had several waves associated with Tropical Storm Cindy come through on top of all the rain we’d already had,” Jones said. “We were very fortunate not to receive more rainfall. We were really keeping an eye on our dirt-road infrastructure.” Jones also discussed the recent FEMA approval extended to all required jurisdictions in the county

of the county’s hazardous mitigation plan. “I just want to extend a big thanks to all the stakeholders agencies that have put a lot of work and effort into this plan,” Jones said, adding that there were more than 70 stakeholders and partner agencies involved. After the Commission completed its work session, it approved unanimously several items on a lightning-fast agenda, which included: • Reappointments of Peggy Francis and Patricia Harden to the Montgomery Area Mental David Granger / The Herald Health Authority Board; Longtime registrar Nancy Taylor listens as Elmore County Commission Chairman Troy Stubbs, • Reappointment of center, reads a proclamation honoring her for her years of service to the county. State Auditor Debbie Jones to the Horseshoe Bend Regional Jim Zeigler, left, was on hand at Monday’s meeting to honor Taylor. Library Board; travel memorandum and legislative session; poll books, designed to • Approval of the an emergency illness dec• Approval of the sale prevent crossover voting proclamations honoring laration and approval of a to the Eclectic Police in primaries and general Nancy Taylor and recogelections, from one of sev- Department a 2008 Crown resignation in the sheriff’s nizing World Elder Abuse office and a hire in the eral potential vendors. The Victoria for the price of Awareness Day; highway department. state legislature passed leg- $2,500; and • Approval of a resolu• Approval of a consent islation outlawing crosstion to purchase electronic over voting in the recent docket consisting of a

Head Start

continued from page 1

Wetumpka and Robinson Springs Early Head Start Center in Millbrook along with Autaugaville Early Head Start Center in Autauga County served a combined total of 88 infants and toddlers, according to information from the Administration of Children and Families, the division of the federal Department of Health & Human Services, which administers the Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Elmore Community Action Agency is listed on the HHS website as the

244-7778

grantee for 17 Head Start and Early Head Start centers in Autauga, Chilton, Elmore and Shelby counties. According to information received by The Herald in an email from Pat Fisher, a public information specialist for the Administration for Children and Families, Community Action Agency of Central Alabama, now known as Elmore Community Action Agency, was notified in December 2014 of its “termination as a Head Start grantee because of uncorrected deficiencies; they did not provide for the maintenance, repair, safety and security of all facilities. Health and safety issues were identified at several centers, ” according to the letter signed by Jeffrey L. Franklin, regional program manager for the ACF. Cited were

the facilities’ failure to comply with rules and regulations regarding the storage of “flammable and other dangerous materials and potential poisons,” maintenance of working fire extinguishers, an “appropriate number” of “installed and tested” smoke detectors, “clearly visible” exits and “clearly marked” evacuation routes, daily cleaning of indoor and outdoor premises and ensuring that paints on interior and exterior premises were lead-free. The letter also stated generally that the violating sites’ did not ensure “compliance with Federal laws including regulations and applicable State and local laws including regulations.” Elmore Community Action Agency appealed the ACF decision to terminate the grants for the

facilities and, in a letter dated June 20, that appeal was denied and the termination “effective immediately,” resulting in the closing of all three Early Head Start centers, which were set to close for the remainder of the summer on June 30. The Herald was referred to ACF for response to any questions by Elmore Community Action Agency’s Elaine Pace. According to a second Fisher email, the Elmore Community Action Agency’s termination “affects both the Head Start and Early Head Start programs operated by that grantee. The Head Start centers were already closed for the summer, thus children and families are not immediately impacted.” Other facilities that had been operated by Elmore Community Action

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Agency in the county include Eclectic Head Start Center, Lucille M. Swindle Head Start Center in Wetumpka, Robinson Springs Head Start Center and Tallassee Head Start Center. The Early Head Start centers cited for violations by ACF are the only three early centers operated by Elmore Community Action Agency. ACF has deployed Community Development Institute (CDI) Head Start to serve as an interim provider of Head Start services in this service area. CDI Head Start has an ongoing relationship with ACF to provide Head Start services on an interim basis in areas where there is no designated provider. CDI operates under a new grant established for the same amount as that of the prior grantee. Elmore Community Action Agency will be responsible for closing out its grants for its facilities. CDI Head Start will operate the affected centers under all-new management, including

fiscal management, human resources and information technology. Operations are based in Denver, Colorado and Denver-based support staff will help local staff perform their responsibilities. A program director hired by CDI will be responsible for day-to-day program operations. CDI Head Start will provide Head Start services until a formal competitive process for finding a successor grantee to Elmore Community Action Agency can be completed by ACF and a Head Start grant is awarded to that agency. CDI Head Start has deployed a facilities team to assess the condition of the facilities for resuming Head Start and Early Head Start operations in the fall. In the event facilities are found to be unusable, the Office of Head Start says it “will work to minimize disruption to children and families while seeking permanent high-quality facilities in which to serve the children of these counties.”

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THE WETUMPKA HERALD

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

JUNE 28, 2017 • Page A3

Complaint

continued from page 1

the police department and city government. The letters are dated from January and June, the first addressed to Billingsley, the second to Edwards. In the letter to Edwards, FFRF attorney Christopher Line stated no response to their letters had been received and on Monday he said the Wisconsin-based nonprofit had still not received one. “This particular case it’s definitely a legality issue, there’s unconstitutional conduct that they’re engaging in,” said Line. “Sometimes the things that we deal with are more sort of policy based, but in this case they’re definitely violating the law.” He said several follow-up communications had been sent to Edwards, with no response and he welcomed a reply.

Last week Edwards said she did respond to one of the organization’s letters. She said she received it much earlier in the year and mistakenly thought the letter was sent last year, a mix up that she said occurred because it had been a lengthy amount of time since the letter and her reply. “They said they sent me the letter,” said Edwards, who later said, “I wrote them a response.” However the element of confusion was not the date, but the organization she sent the reply to, she later discovered. The American Atheists Legal Center had apparently written Mayor Jerry Willis on Oct. 17 concerning the officer who was the also a subject of the June letter to Edwards from the FFRF. Edwards provided her

reply to the AALC organization and not the FFRF. She wrote on behalf of the mayor. “As requested we have investigated the situation that you mentioned in your letter. The Officer involved was on her way to work at the time of the incident in question. She was not on duty and was not acting in her capacity as a Wetumpka Police officer or representing the Police Department or the City. However, this officer has been directed by the Chief to discontinue any such type activities while in uniform, whether on duty or not,” Edwards wrote. “You can be assured that the City of Wetumpka does not endorse or promote any particular religious viewpoint.” One of the subjects in the June FFRF letter to Edwards was the female WPD officer who also

appeared in pictures shared on the WPD and city’s Facebook pages with children allegedly holding a sort-of bible study with local children. Other issues included daily devotionals at a youth summer program overseen by the WPD, a meal service operated out of a WPD facility called People Extending Christian Kindness (PECK) and social media posts shared by the city and the department, some of which contain explicitly religious references containing prayers and bible verses. In initial phone calls about the letters Billingsley said he had no comment and efforts to reach him Monday were unsuccessful. But Edwards said she did talk with Billingsley and made suggestions regarding any similar conduct of the officers in the

future. Off hours and not in uniform, were the limitations she said she gave the chief over any officers’ desire to engage in any kind of religious activity. “So there’s no appearance that the city is endorsing any particular type of religion,” Edwards said. The FFRF said the WPD was proselytizing. In the June letter to Edwards, Line states: “We write to ensure that the City of Wetumpka does not let the Wetumpka Police Department proselytize, endorse specific religions or host religious events. The police department’s proselytizing and the endorsement of this proselytizing through the official Facebook pages of the City and the Department violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by favoring a specific reli-

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gion over others.” Edwards said in speaking with Billingsley she was reassured that the PECK dinners were not restricted to Christian organizations but any who wished to provide food for the homeless. She said it was not sponsored by the city, but PECK was allowed to use a room in the old police department facilities “that they otherwise don’t use.” “The police department does not endorse any specific religion or host any religious events,” Edwards said. “We do support the community and we do support the citizens in this community.” Regarding the social media posts of the city and department, Edwards said she would have to investigate the matter further before officially responding.

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OPINION

Page A4 • JUNE 28, 2017

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

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

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

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Ninety minutes is a long time

ast week, I spoke at the SEAS Educational Conference in Mississippi for 90 minutes. For a stuttering guy, that’s only about 45 minutes’ worth of material but still a long time, nonetheless. It’s a whole episode of Saturday Night Live. It’s an episode and a half of 60 Minutes. It’s how long it takes Lucy to figure out what she wants to order at a drive-thru window. Like I said, it’s a long time. Now, it’s one thing to just get up there and run your pie hole for 90 minutes, but it’s something else to hold the audience’s attention for the duration. I’ve been slotted for 90 minutes on a handful of occasions but for a variety of reasons never had to go the full allotted time. I’m usually just fine with that and thought this was going to be the case for this event. I was booked for the SEAS conference based on the recommendation of a representative from the Mississippi Department of Education who’d seen me speak earlier in the year at the Mississippi Association of School Superintendent’s winter conference. There must be lots of Baptists in The Magnolia State, because at both events, the attendees congregated near

JODY FULLER Columnist

the back of the venue. Perhaps I need to start taking a retired Sergeant Major on the road with me to move everyone up front before I start each talk. Veterans know what I mean. Performing comedy and speaking is much easier for me when I can almost reach out and touch the folks on the front row. I don’t like having that gap. I need to connect with my audience. The venue for the SEAS conference was in a small auditorium inside the Jackson Hilton. It was really nice, but there was no one on the first row. The second row, however, was comprised of three ladies sitting side by side by side. They were awesome! Once I told that first joke, I knew I had them and everyone else for that matter. I could’ve talked for three hours. It really wasn’t a speech or a comedy performance; it was a talk. I let them know my story and how much I appreciated educators and how much educators have meant to me in my life. I cut up with them,

and they returned the favor. It was just an overall good time and a great way to kick off the day. They even booked me on the spot for their Arkansas chapter’s conference next year, so I reckon I did a pretty good job. Many times, event planners bring me in to kick off conferences or to send their attendees home with a smile on their face. Sometimes they have me speak after lunch. That’s just a shameless plug and not really relevant to this article at all but something to keep in mind. Mississippi has been very good to me the past few years. I’m booked for the Mississippi Sheriff’s Association’s conference in December, just three days after the expected due date of our little girl. I’ll be sleeping at a very nice hotel away from the baby. I know I’ll miss her, but at least I should be able to get more than 90 minutes of uninterrupted sleep. Ninety minutes is a long time. Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www.jodyfuller.com

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

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

I am outraged at the stance taken by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, ostensibly using the provision of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution as its basis for its complaint against the City of Wetumpka and the Wetumpka Police Department. Concerning the WPD, FFRF alleges that an officer, while on duty, participated in some sort of bible study with children on the officer’s beat. One has to assume that FFRF would have no problem if this officer had been arresting or hand-cuffing these same children if they were caught stealing, pillaging or participating in some other unhealthy activity. Concerning the City of Wetumpka, FFRF further alleges

that the city (and the WPD) hosts or otherwise participates in a monthly dinner feeding elements of the community. With police and community relations being frayed all across this country, you would think that ‘everybody and his brother’ would welcome any effort designed to bridge the gap between the ‘policed and the police.’ Not so with FFRF apparently. I’m reminded of a passage in the Bible (oops, did I dare say ‘Bible?) in Matthew Chapter 12 where Jesus and his disciples were going through a corn field and the disciples being hungry, ‘plucked some corn and began to eat.’ The Pharisees (or was that the FFRF?) quickly attacked this as prohibited activity. Jesus’ paraphrased response was that it is always good to do good. And

while the ‘strict letter of the law’ (U.S. Constitution) may indeed speak against this, the ‘spirit of the law’ in no way condemns this activity; and neither should you nor me. All it takes for evil to triumph is for ‘good’ to sit on the sidelines and do nothing. In the early 60’s, and largely through the efforts of one woman, prayer was removed from our schools. Please don’t be like Rip Van Winkle and ‘sleep through’ this time in our history. If you believe what the WPD and the City of Wetumpka are doing is positive and worthwhile, I urge you to wake up and speak out against any effort to stop or otherwise curb these types of activities. Bobby L. Mays Wetumpka

Despite headwinds, a successful legislative session

he possible impeachment and eventual resignation of a governor create a gale wind that can quickly transform into a hurricane. Such a tempest was the setting for the 2017 session of the Alabama Legislature. The outcome – resignation, and now, a fresh start at the Capitol under Gov. Kay Ivey – has been extensively covered in the media. Understandably, less ink has been spilled on the significant policy achievements of the legislative session, but Alabamians have a right to feel proud of the work done by their legislative representatives this past spring. First, the basics: the Legislature fulfilled its primary constitutional duty by passing balanced budgets for the General Fund and the Education Trust Fund. Conservative Republican legislators stood up for taxpayers by approving these budgets without any tax increases. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 General Fund budget includes an increase of $3.3 million for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to put 30 new state troopers on the road. Of all the functions of state government, public safety is paramount and I was glad to support the targeted increase for state troopers. The budget also increases funding for the courts, including for juvenile probation officers, some of whom who were in danger of being laid off. Meanwhile, most of the large state agencies – including Medicaid,

CLYDE CHAMBLISS State Senator

Corrections, and the Department of Human Resources – were level-funded. Since Alabamians elected a Republican majority to the House and Senate in 2010, fiscal discipline has defined the budgeting process for both state agencies and our schools and universities. For example, in 2011 the Legislature established the Rolling Reserve Act, which forces the Legislature to annually set aside a portion of the Education budget’s revenue growth in an emergency fund. Because of that fiscal discipline, proration – the sudden, mid-year slashing of school budgets – hasn’t occurred since 2010. The FY 2018 Education budget is the beneficiary of such disciplined spending over the past seven years. At $6.4 billion, it is the largest Education budget since 2008, and provides funding for one hundred and fifty additional teachers, along with a $13 million increase to build 122 new classrooms for First Class, Alabama’s voluntary Pre-K program, which was recently named the best Pre-K system in the nation by the National Institute for Early Education Research. I was also happy to support an

increase of $11 million for dual enrollment programs, which are essential for giving our students the real-world tools they will need for employment after graduation. Along with the budgets, the Legislature passed a number of substantive bills, including: autism therapy insurance coverage, a constitutional amendment declaring Alabama a right-to-life state, religious freedom protections for faith-based adoption agencies, a ban on assisted suicide, a bill to require civics testing, a protection of historic monuments, a measure to shorten death-penalty appeals, the legalization of midwifery, a tax credit for the revitalization of historic buildings and an update to the Alabama Jobs Act to give cities more flexibility when recruiting new businesses. All in all, 1,030 bills were introduced and approximately three hundred were passed by both chambers of the Legislature and sent to the Governor’s desk. Despite headwinds, I am encouraged that conservatives in the Alabama Senate and House led the way in moving our state forward during the 2017 session. I am proud of our work and I am grateful for the strong leadership of Gov. Ivey. Thank you for allowing me to represent you in Montgomery. State Sen. Clyde Chambliss Jr. represents Senate District 30, which includes portions of Elmore, Autauga, Chilton, Coosa and Tallapoosa counties.

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

JUNE 28, 2017 • Page A5

Life too short not to be a blessing Greetings from the corner of Bridge and Bridge! Wetumpka is finally drying out. The old lock is still under water, but the high waters of the last few days are receding. One of my mentors passed away Friday night from a terminal illness. He was in his early 60s. I attended a visitation for an acquaintance and son of a dear friend last Tuesday. He was 45. I ran into another good friend Friday whose wife is now under Hospice care because there is no known treatment for her recurring cancer. She is in her 30s. Situations like these remind me that life is indeed very short. While culturally we still cling to a “good life” as one that reaches at least past 80 years, we are all reminded on a regular basis of lives lost that lower that average. People

die every day and most do not make it to their golden years. I don’t know about you, but I do not have to wait for Ash Wednesday to roll around each year to be reminded of human mortality. Daily living is all the reminder any of us needs, as it turns out. Mortal life has an unscripted beginning and end. This is part of divine design. What troubles me is the alltoo-human tendency to assign responsibility for the scripted part to God. When a person dies – especially if it is unexpected, tragic, or “before their time” – many people rush to see the hand of God at work. We all have a tendency to blame God for taking lives that have not reached well-lived status. How is this comforting? We say and hear things like “God must have needed another angel in heaven” or “God

Rev. Jonathan Yarboro knew how much they were suffering.” These expressions and others like them are meant to comfort, but applying them to the larger picture of human existence paints a bleak picture of the God who created everything and everyone. In each of the three examples I shared from this past week, I would like to point out a different understanding of God’s involvement in the unscripted nature of mortal life. God’s gift of grace is not subject to the uncertainties of mortal life. All of us face a basic dilem-

ma when faced with death. The power of death is real and is experienced by the living for extended periods of time. The power of death has the ability to hide the presence of divine blessing, but it cannot wipe it out completely. This is the dilemma. When faced with unexpected, tragic, or before-their-time incidents of death, how do any of us work out this dilemma? We know that grieving and mourning are necessary and healthy ways of processing death. What is the appropriate time period for acknowledging the power of death without allowing it to permanently cloud our understanding of divine blessing? There is no appropriate time. Grieving and mourning is a personal and individual thing. They must be given the freedom to exist in order to

Area Churches

3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God 5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 5692825

AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-4413 Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8144 Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd. (Co. Rd. 3), Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-9143 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic 541-2006 Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-5754 Crossroads Assembly of God 2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 285-5545 First Assembly of God

Wallsboro United Methodist Church 11066 U.S. 231, Wallsbooro

Rev. Ryan Johnson Pastor Rickey Luster, Music Director Sunday School....10:45 a.m. Morning Worship....9:30 a.m. Children’s Church.... 9:30 a.m. Thur. Night Service....6:00 p.m. You will receive a warm Welcome at this friendly, Christ-centered Church. NURSERY PROVIDED FOR ALL SERVICES

BAPTIST Abraham Baptist Church Millbrook Antioch Baptist Church 1115 Antioch Rd., Titus 567-2917 Beulah Baptist Church 2350 Grier Rd., Wetumpka 514-2881 Blue Ridge Baptist 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 5674325 Brookwood Baptist Grandview Rd., Millbrook Calvary Baptist 504 W. Osceola St., Wetumpka 567-4729 Central Baptist 3545 W. Central Rd., Wetumpka 541-2556 Coosada Baptist

Wetumpka Church of Christ 408 West Bridge Street

Jason Chesser Minister Sunday Prayer and Fellowship.......8:30 a.m. Bible Study.............9 a.m. Worship service...10 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study........7 p.m.

Visitors Welcome At All Services

20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic 541-4444 Faith Baptist 64 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-4417 First Baptist Church 205 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-5191 First Baptist of Elmore Hwy. 14 Co. Rd. 74, Elmore Galilee Baptist 95 Old Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-4178 Good Hope Baptist 1766 S. Fleahop Rd., Eclectic Goodship Baptist Hwy. 143, Millbrook Grace Baptist Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka 567-3255 Grandview Pines Baptist Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville

Green Ridge Baptist 288 Turner Rd., Wetumpka 567-2486 Harvest Baptist 2990 Main St., Millbrook Hillside Baptist 405 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Holtville Riverside Baptist 7121 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 514-5922 Lake Elam Baptist 4060 Gober Rd., Millbrook Liberty Hill Baptist 61 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-8750 Lighthouse Baptist 2281 Main St., Millbrook Living Water Baptist 1745 Grass Farm Rd. (Co. Rd. 80), Weoka Millbrook Baptist Millbrook 285-4731 Mitts Chapel Baptist 935 Cold Springs Rd., Deatsville 569-1952 Mt. Hebron West Baptist

Harmony United Methodist Church 8000 Titus Road Titus, Ala.

Sunday Services at 11 a.m. Minister Dr. John Brannon There is Harmony at Harmony United Methodist Church! Please join us.

205 W. Bridge Street • Wetumpka, AL (334) 567-5191 SUNDAY WEDNESDAY Sunday School...................9:00 am Fellowship Meal...............5:00 pm Kids’ Activities.................6:00 pm Worship Service..............10:00 am Youth Worship..................6:00 pm Evening Worship..............5:00 pm Prayer & Bible Study.......6:15 pm Visit us at fbcwetumpka.com

11066 U.S. 231, Wallsboro

Wetumpka, Pastor AL 36092 Rickey Luster, Music Director

Jason Chesser Minister

Sunday School..........10:45 a.m. Morning Worship........9:30 a.m. Sunday Prayer & Fellowship...............8:30 Children’s Church.......9:30 a.m. a.m. BibleNight Study..............9:00 Wed. Service.....6:30 a.m. p.m.

Worship Service....10:00 a.m. You will receive a warm

welcome at this friendly, Wednesday Christ-centered Church. Bible Study..............7:00 p.m. NURSERY PROVIDED Visitors Welcome FOR ALL SERVICES At All Services

Rev. Yarboro is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Wetumpka

150 Mt. Hebron Rd., Elmore 567-4441 Mt. Herron East Baptist Church 4355 Mt. Herron Rd. Eclectic, Al 36024 334-857-3689 Mountain View Baptist 1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka 5674458 New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury 3121878 New Home Baptist 1605 New Home Rd., Titus 567-0923 New Hope Baptist 6191 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville 569-1267 New Lily Green Baptist 6504 Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville New Nazareth Baptist Hwy. 143, Deatsville Pleasant Hill Baptist Pleasant Hill Rd., Eclectic 541-3460

First “And we know that Presbyterian allChurch things work 100 W. Bridge St. together for good to Rev. thoseJonathan who loveYarboro God, Sunday to thoseSchool..9:45 who are theam Morning Worship..11 am called according to His567-8135 purpose.” “In the name of the Romans– Welcome.” 8:28 Lord–Jesus Mountain View Baptist Church

Wallsboro United Methodist Church Rev. Ryan Johnson 408 West Bridge Street

prevent them from becoming all-consuming. Grieving and mourning are part of life. So is divine blessing. God has already demonstrated that blessing overcomes all else in every time and place. Our ability to grieve and mourn is actually a divine blessing. They are God’s way of helping us through trying times. Losing people we care about is incredibly difficult, but there are always blessings in and around death to help us along. Those blessings come in the form of people who express love and concern. Those blessings facilitate celebration of life even under the most trying circumstances. Be blessed and be a blessing. Life is too short not to be.

567-4458 1025 Rifle Range Rd.

504 Osceola Street 504West West Osceola St. 334-567-4729 334-567-4729 •••• Anthony Rhodes Rev.Rev. Anthony Rhodes, Senior Pastor Senior Pastor Sarah Swedenburg, Worship Ministries

Anthony B. Counts, Pastor Angie Gallups, Worship Leader Billy Reinhardt, Min. of Students

Derek Blankenship, Tammy Student Driver:Ministries

SUNDAY Morning Worship.......10:30 Sunday School.............9:15 Youth Choir ..................5:00 Evening Worship..........6:00 WEDNESDAY Fellowship Meal............5:45 Preschool/Children’s Choirs.........................6:00 House of Prayer............6:30 Preschool/Children’s Missions........................6:30 Youth Bible Study.........6:30

Children's Director

SUNDAY SERVICES SUNDAY SERVICES Sunday School...........9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship.....10:30 School........9:30 a.m. a.m. Morning MorningWorship.......6:00 Worship...10:30p.m. a.m. Evening Evening Worship.....6:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY SERVICES WEDNESDAY SERVICES Prayer Meeting...........6:00 p.m. Supper.....................5:30 p.m. Choir PrayerRehearsal.........6:45 Meeting........6:15 p.m. p.m. Student Worship........6:00 p.m. Choir Practice..........7:00 p.m. Calvary Kids...............6:00 p.m.

CEDARWOOD CEDARWOOD COMMUNITY COMMUNITY CHURCH CHURCH 10286U.S. U.S. Hwy. 10286 Hwy.231 231 WallsboroAL Wallsboro, (334)567-0476 567-0476

www.worshipcedarwood.org www.worshipcedarwood.org

Roger ! Olsen, ! ! Pastor SundayBible BibleStudy..........9:00 Study........9:00 AM Sunday AM Sunday AM SundayWorship.............10:00 Worship...........10:00 AM We are a Congregational We are a Congregational Christian Church which, in Christian Church which, in the name of Jesus, invites the name of Jesus, invites all to worship with us.

all to worship with us. Nursery

Nursery

___ Check out our page page Check Facebook out our Facebook

Santuck Baptist Church

7250 Central Plank Road 7250 Central C Plank Road “A Family of Families” “A Family of Families”

B.R. Johnson, Senior Pastor Larry Gore, Adm. & Counseling Counseling Randy Godfrey, Education Chad Middlebrooks, Students Amy Pugh, Director of Matt Fallin, Worship Children & Preschool Amy Pugh, Children & Students Preschool Chad Middlebrooks,

SUNDAY SUNDAY Sunday School........9 & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School............9 & 10:30 a.m. Worship...................9 &&10:30 Worship........................9 10:30a.m. a.m. EveningCelebration.................6 Celebration...........5 p.m. Evening p.m.

WEDNESDAY/FAMILY NIGHT WEDNESDAY/FAMILY NIGHT Programs for every age Programs 6:15 -- 7:30 p.m. 6:15

Send your church news and happenings to: news@The Wetumpka Herald.com _________ Call Marilyn Call Jayne or Shannon atat334.567.7811 567-7811 to to advertise advertiseyour your church’s church’sservices services in inthis thisspace space

PAGE A6 â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 28, 2017

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

Happy Fourth Of July, America! On July 4, 1776, the Founding Fathers of the United States of America signed the Declaration of Independence declaring that the 13 colonies were an independent nation free from control by the British Government. These 13 original colonies, which are now states, were Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The colonists wanted freedom from laws passed by the British Government which they felt were unfair, especially tax laws. Revolting against a tax on tea, a group of colonists known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sons of Libertyâ&#x20AC;? disguised themselves as Native Americans and threw around 350 crates of tea from three British East India Company ships into Boston Harbor in December 1773. This act is known as the Boston Tea Party. The British Government responded to the revolt by passing laws that increased royal control. The colonies rallied together, and a colonial committee decided to convene the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in September 1774. 7KH ÂżUVW &RQJUHVV GHPDQGHG WKDW %ULWDLQ UHSHDO DOO RI WKH XQIDLU ODZV WKH\ KDG SDVVHG VLQFH DQG they called for a colonial boycott of British goods. The Revolutionary War began on April 19, 1775, and ended in victory for the United States with the Peace of Paris Treaty which was signed on September 3, 1783. In 1870, the United States Congress passed a law making IndeAmerica, Boston, Boycott, Colonists, SHQGHQFH 'D\ DQ Rá&#x201A;&#x2C6;FLDO KROLGD\ DOWKRXJK FHOHEUDWLRQV RQ WKDW GD\ ZHUH DOUHDG\ YHU\ FRPPRQ England, Freedom, Independence, Liberty, Militia, Redcoats, Revolt, Rights, 7KH KROLGD\ DOVR NQRZQ DV 7KH )RXUWK RI -XO\ EHFDPH DQ Rá&#x201A;&#x2C6;FLDO SDLG )HGHUDO KROLGD\ IRU DOO government employees in 1938. Today, the holiday has become a staple of summer activities. Taxes, Tea, War )LUHZRUNV DUH VHW Rá&#x201A;&#x2021; LQ PDQ\ WRZQV DQG FLWLHV WR PDUN WKH RFFDVLRQ DQG SDUWLHV DQG SLFQLFV are common.

American Word Search

July 4 Crossword Time

American Bald Eagle Color It!

Fireworks Safety Fireworks are a tradition for many people, but they are also very GDQJHURXV 1HYHU VHW Rá&#x201A;&#x2021; ÂżUHworks!! An adult should handle DQG OLJKW WKH ÂżUHZRUNV DW DOO WLPHV It is never okay to play with them or use them alone. Stay safe!

Crossword Ans: Across-3)Picnics 4)tea 8)Boston 9)Native Americans Down-1)IndepenGHQFH ÂżUHZRUNV WKLUWHHQ 5)Liberty 6)taxes 7)Boycott

How Many Words Can You Spell From The Word Patriotism? __________________ __________________ __________________

Across Clues: 3. People have these on July 4. 4. Sons of Liberty dumped this out. 8. Which city was site of Tea Party? 9. Sons of Liberty dressed as what? Down Clues: 1. Colonists wanted this from England. 6HW Rá&#x201A;&#x2021; DW QLJKW WR FHOHEUDWH 4. The number of original colonies. 5. Group named the Sons of _____. 6. Colonists said ___ were not fair. 7. Act taken against British goods.

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JUNE 28, 2017 • PAGE A7

Stubbs continues to chase dream at West Georgia By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

Like any other young man who grows up loving the game of baseball, Hunter Stubbs’ dream is to one day play it professionally. But the 2012 Wetumpka High School product knows there are parts of his game he needs to work on if he’s to have a chance to live his dream. “The things I really need to do are to get stronger and faster,” said Stubbs. “Last year, I only hit one home run, but I hit .350 with double-digit doubles. If I was a little stronger, some of those would have gone out.” “He is a very versatile athlete that can play either second or third,” West Georgia head coach Skip Fite said of Stubbs. “Hunter is also a good baserunner and brings solid speed on the base paths.” Stubbs will have the time and opportunity to work on his strength and speed next year as a first-year junior signee at the University of West Georgia

in Carrollton, Georgia. He played the previous two seasons at Southern Union State Community College in Wadley and signed recently as a part of the 15-member Wolves recruiting class. Stubbs is listed as a middle infielder by the Wolves, but said he is predominantly a second baseman. He said he had offers from other NCAA Divison II schools (West Georgia is a member of the Division II Gulf South Conference) and several NAIA schools, but felt at home at West Georgia where the Wolves will be looking to improve on last season’s 17-30 record. “My coach at Southern Union (Joe Jordan) always reminded us through the recruiting process to go where we felt most at home,” Stubbs said. “I went there a time or two and I just felt wanted. I have a couple of buddies over there, I like the town and I like the school. It just felt right. “I think they’re looking for some older guys. I think

Submitted / The Herald

Hunter Stubbs, a 2012 graduate from Wetumpka High School, has signed with the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia.

the coach is bringing in some JUCO guys that he hopes can make an impact their first year. It’s different with freshmen. Even at the biggest and best

high schools, they haven’t played this level of competition. It takes a little experience.” In the meantime, Stubbs

is playing this summer in the Metro League, a challenging amateur league in Montgomery. “It’s a fun league, but it’s See STUBBS • Page A8

EVAN DUDLEY Sports Editor

Pay no mind D

uring the course of my career as a sports journalist, I’ve found that column writing can be cathartic as much as it is enjoyable. The flip side to that coin is the introductory column where I attempt to sell all of you my brand of Gonzo journalism. An introductory column you say? That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do. I’ll make it short and sweet. My life began in north Alabama in the small agricultural town of Hamilton. I grew up 10 minutes from the Mississippi border and within earshot of my cousins. A childhood not dissimilar to many of you, I’m sure. I graduated from high school in 2001 and began a 15-year journey that would end in earning my journalism degree from the University of Alabama after many years on the road as a touring musician. Both careers require a certain amount of human interaction so the differences are minute in origin. Prior to arriving here, I served as sports editor for the Wood County Monitor in Mineola, Texas where I covered five independent school districts and the 2016 Class 3A-Division 1 UIL state football champion Mineola Yellowjackets. Prep sports is king in Texas, so my qualifications speak for themselves. Not a bad journey to Wetumpka from across four states and two decades. I won’t try to promise you anything beyond that I will give you my best work. My plan is to be the definitive source of prep sports in Elmore County as well as tell the stories that may never be told. Because at the end of the day the only thing worth a damn in this world is people. And telling their stories is what brings me joy. If you happen to see me out and about, feel free to give me a shout. I’m always open to meeting new folks and embracing them. I’m also open to talk shop anytime, categories include sports (obviously), music (written and recorded prior to 1996) and – if you’re lucky – quantum physics. To say I’m a relaxed and “chill” guy would be an understatement. I thrive on personal relationships. I leave you today with a phrase – handed down from one southern mama to another throughout the years – that best encapsulates my personal theme. And anybody who may already be tired of LaVar Ball. Pay no mind. Evan Dudley is the sports editor of The Herald.

Evan Dudley / The Herald

From left, Mark Presnell, Landon Bertarelli, Brian Overton and Gerry Purcell gather at the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce in honor of Bertarelli’s inaugural KBF tour.

Bertarelli begins career in kayak bass fishing By EVAN DUDLEY Sports Editor

As the sun rises and shines its light onto the cool waters of the Coosa, a solitary man can be found. His bright red kayak floats there in the brown water, drifting in the morning mist while he ties a lure, his mind free from the trials and successes he experiences on a daily basis. There’s nothing in this water to take his mind away from the task at hand. Landon Bertarelli is fishing today. Bertarelli, a 23-year-old lifelong resident of Wetumpka, is blazing his own path in the fishing world as he is set to begin his career in kayak bass fishing this weekend at Wheeler Lake in Tennessee. “It’s interesting and fun,” Bertarelli said. “And groundbreaking in that I’m the first in the area to give this a

real chance and fish the trails others don’t.” The story of Bertarelli’s fascination with kayak bass fishing began in February when the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the Kayak Bass Fishing’s “Best of the Best” event pitting the 2016 Angler of the Year against the 2016 National Champion during the course of three days on Lake Jordan and the Coosa. It was at this event that Bertarelli met Chad Hoover, founder and president of KBF. “Chad really helped me after I spoke to him about my interest in the sport,” Bertarelli said. “He even stayed with us during the Coosa festival a couple of weeks ago and has been a strong mentor to me as I continue to move forward.” Hoover, along with Bertarelli’s father Frank, have been instrumental

Indians host 7-on-7 event By EVAN DUDLEY Sports Editor

It’s only the end of June but the heat and sweat still work the same way they do in August. Two-a-days are a month away and a little taste of the elements is exactly what area teams needed Monday evening in a friendly 7-on-7 event hosted by Wetumpka High School at Hohenberg Field. Stanhope Elmore and Elmore County joined host Wetumpka – along with three other area schools – at the AHSAA-sanctioned event that allows high school players to grab valuable reps in a usual downtime during the offseason. New Stanhope Elmore head coach Brian Bradford was pleased to see his new team in action against opposition other than themselves. Bradford said the event had a friendly competitive nature to it but also saw the experience his players can gain from it coming off a disapSee WHS • Page A8

in preparing him as he takes to the lake for his first tournament this weekend and will continue his inaugural tour in September on Lake Guntersville followed by a KBF open event in October at Toledo Bend in Texas. He plans to finish this first season in November on Lake Pickwick located on the borders of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. One man alone can be an island but it never hurts to have a little help. And Bertarelli is receiving it in spades from two local sponsors as well as a rod sponsor he had been chasing for almost five years. Mark Presnell, owner of Mark’s Service Center and Body Shop Inc., and Brian and Tom Overton, owners of Overton Properties LLC, have pledged their support to the young See BERTARELLI • Page A8

UA places 127 athletes on SEC academic honor roll STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

For the second year in a row, The University of Alabama led the Southeastern Conference’s Spring Academic Honor Roll with 127 honors the league office announced Monday. The Crimson Tide’s rowing team led the way with 36 honors, tied for the most of any team in the SEC this spring. The Tide was second in the SEC among baseball teams with 16 players on the honor roll while the men’s golf team (seven) was tied for second and softball (14) was tied for third in the league for their respective sports. Mike Oczypok, who graduated with his MBA in May, led the

baseball players, while 2017 Southern Amateur Champion Jonathan Hardee led men’s golf and Academic All-Americans Chandler Dare and Sydney Littlejohn paced the softball team. Academic All-American Alex Gholston was one of 25 members of the women’s track and field team to earn the conference accolade, while Academic All-District honoree Payton Ballard was one of 14 members of the men’s track and field squad to earn the honor. The women’s tennis team tallied five honors, led by the two-time NCAA champion Erin Routliffe, while men’s tennis totaled four honors led by 2017 ITA Player to Watch Mazen See ALABAMA • Page A8

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competitive,” Stubbs said. “There are a lot of collegiate players that play, but the team I’m on now is pretty much all JUCOs. You’re always going to see some pretty good arms.” And even in a fun amateur league, if there are pitchers with pretty good arms that give you a good challenge at the plate, it’s yet another place to work toward the dream. “For sure, that’s always the dream,” Stubbs said. “It’s a long shot for me, but you’re not going to get there if you don’t work at it. Just get your education and be prepared to do something else if it doesn’t pan out.”

Bertarelli with whom they share a love of the outdoors and their community. “Landon is the first in our area to invest himself in this sport,” said (Brian) Overton. “We love the outdoors ourselves and our community even more. The opportunity to help a young man make a name for himself and shed a positive light on our community was one we could not pass up.” As far as a professional sponsorship was concerned, Bertarelli was somewhat concerned as he had been trying to create a package with Kistler Rods for roughly five years, but the innovative sport caught Kistler’s eye when Bertarelli approached them about sponsorship. “It was strange but it makes a whole lot of sense,”

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pointing season. Wetumpka head coach Tim Perry patrolled the sidelines all evening, balancing coaching duties and being the 7-on-7 commissioner. Perry said the event is a great opportunity for area schools to meet and compete in a friendly manner. But Wetumpka is not done for the moment. The Indians will participate in the ALFCA Reginal Championship – in partnership with the Alabama Football Coaches Association – Thursday at Emory Folmar YMCA soccer complex in Montgomery. Wetumpka begins pool play Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and enters the single-elimination tournament from 3-6 p.m.

Osama. To earn a place on the honor roll, a student must earn a 3.0 or better grade point average for either the preceding academic year or their career and be a sophomore or better in academic standing. The spring list honors those student-athletes that participate in baseball, beach volleyball, men’s and women’s golf, lacrosse, rowing, softball, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s track and field. A total of 1,245 SEC student-athletes earned the honor during the spring of 2017. So far this season, Alabama has placed 270 students on the SEC Fall, Winter and Spring honor rolls. Additional names will

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Bertarelli said. “I’ve always loved their rods and they’re 100% American made which is always a positive in helping a small business.” Surprisingly, considering kayak bass fishing is rooted in the outdoors and on bodies of water, the sport has grown exponentially thanks to modern technology. YouTube videos blanket the Internet and have an inspirational effect on sportsmen looking for a new challenge. KBF also has in its hands in conservation as they honor the catch-and-release method during their events. The TourneyX app allows anglers to document their catch as soon as they land it – photographing the fish on a board and uploading it onto the database – and release the fish back into the water

immediately. The future looks bright for KBF as they continue to grow their brand and eventually create a professional “Elite” series for the organization. The purse for the 2018 National Championship is slotted at $100,000 and, with the way the sport is growing, it will be a matter of a few years before winners are taking home B.A.S.S.-like paydays. The KBF has also taken a liking to Wetumpka and has two tournaments planned for 2018 and 2019. The “Best of the Best” event that spurred Bertarelli will be televised on the World Fishing Network in the fall and it seems a strong relationship is forming between the KBF and the Wetumpka area. “This will ultimately

bring a lot of interest into our community,” said Gerry Purcell, executive director of the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our area, which includes the Coosa and numerous lakes, is one of the most fertile areas in the Southeast and can be a destination for the KBF.” With the support of his community and the tutelage of one of the sports founders, Bertarelli has his sights set high, but is always appreciative and grateful for the opportunity. “Fishing has always been one of my first loves,” said Bertarelli. “And fishing in a different venue has allowed me the opportunity to travel and experience places that I might not be afforded otherwise.”

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be added to the Tide’s tally when the firstyear list comes out later this week. Men’s, women’s swimming and diving earn academic honor: The Alabama men’s and women’s swimming and diving squads were both named Scholar AllAmerica Teams by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). In addition to both teams earning the honor, a total of 26 Crimson Tide swimmers and divers were named Scholar AllAmericans. Alabama’s total individual honors ranks third nationally and first in the Southeastern Conference. The UA men’s 15 individu-

al honors is second nationally and first in the SEC while the women rank 15th nationally with 11. “Academics are the cornerstone of our mission at The University of Alabama,” UA head coach Dennis Pursley said. “We are extremely proud of the long tradition of scholastic excellence that our program has established and these honors are certainly an indication of the continuation of our success in the classroom.” Alabama’s men tallied a 3.43 team grade point average while the women posted a 3.46 in the spring. The men’s GPA ranks them 12th nationally among NCAA Division I teams and first among SEC squads.

The Crimson Tide men were second by team grade point average among teams that finished in the top-25 at the 2017 NCAA Championships. These latest academic honors come on the heels of Alabama swimming and diving leading the nation with four CoSIDA At-Large Academic All-Americans – Anton McKee, Connor Oslin, Pavel Romanov and Luke Kaliszak. McKee was named the H. Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Oslin was voted the SEC Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year. On the men’s side of the slate, McKee, Oslin, Romanov and Kaliszak, along with

Laurent Bams and Robert Howard earned First Team Scholar All-America honors. Knox Auerbach, Braxton Young, Daniel Kober, Carl Madden, Jacob Kelsoe, Szymmy Day, Will Freeman, David Morton and Brent Sagert earned honorable-mention recognition. For the women, Bailey Scott, Mia Nonnenberg, Katie Coughlin and Emma Murray earned First Team Scholar AllAmerica accolades. Temarie Tomley, Caroline Korst, Lexi Souther, Justine Macfarlane, Marian Yurchishin, Alexis Preski and Kara Fredlock earned honorable-mention honors.

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Elmore County School Board approves big budget upgrade items By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

The Elmore County Board of Education met Monday in a comparatively short, yet well-attended session where all items were approved save a roughly $1.5 million LED lighting enhancement project tabled by board members for further discussion. A number of long-running topics of debate between board members and administration on pay rates and school-wide policy changes were approved. The meeting itself lasted roughly 40 minutes, which was noted by the Superintendent Richard Dennis. In a prior meeting Dennis had introduced a measure that

would reduce the time it took to get through an agenda by altering the format of a consent agenda to be approved in one vote for or against its contents in bulk. A number of bids were approved for upgrades at three school cafeterias and items under the school system’s Child Nutrition Program. Eclectic Elementary, Wetumpka Elementary, Stanhope Elmore High and Holtville High schools were included as recipients of cafeteria-related items in a $41,470 bid from a company named Mobile Fixture. A bid for $26,320 with a Terrell Enterprises for “cafeteria signage” at HHS was approved.

“Breakfast in the classroom equipment” for bid from a SevenOKs company for roughly $18,000 was approved for Wetumpka Elementary. Dennis addressed the board about proposed renovations to two wings of Stanhope Elmore High School, which was priced higher than he said they wanted to spend at around $454,000. Instead, he said, they focused on classroom improvements, ceilings and restrooms and were able to cut costs. Three policy procedure changes were approved with little discussion. The third pertaining to virtual schools was approved but had been the subject of some talk at previous meetings, largely centered on the potentially negative impacts

other systems’ virtual programs might have on Elmore County schools if changes were not made. Those changes were not spelled out in the meeting. A $9-per-student software, Glimpse Tracking Data, was approved per student and Dennis said that totaled around $100,000. As for the nearly-$1.5 million lighting enhancement project with GreenTech Energy Service and LED Solutions board members voted to table the item until a later meeting. Board member Mark Nelson asked if the proposed savings guaranteed by the companies could be put in writing, to which the chief financial officer said it had been.

Nelson requested that representatives of the companies be present at the meeting for further discussion and Chairman Michael Morgan asked the CFO to contact other school districts over their performance. Board member Dale Bain requested the item be tabled. And the long-time board member and previous chairman, Larry Teel, was nominated by Board Member Leisa Finley for an award from the Alabama Association of School Boards. Morgan announced the award entry and said of the award, “It’s kind of like the Heisman.”

Fisherman’s body located in Coosa after two days By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

The body of a man who went missing while bowfishing from the shoreline near the Jordan Dam Friday was recovered after almost two days of high waters and search efforts, officials say. Dustin Levi Ragan, 25, of Wetumpka was found by a boater about three miles from the dam on Sunday afternoon at about 4 p.m., Chief Deputy Ricky Lowery of the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office said. No foul play was suspected, and Lowery said there were no physical signs to determine exactly what happened to Ragan. He said the body was discovered around Moccasin Gap

by the boater, who Lowery said he did not believe was intentionally searching for it. “We located some items (Ragan) was using while fishing,” Lowery added. The location of those items plus communications Lowery said Ragan had with friends prior to his disappearance were why authorities started their search below Jordan Dam. Lowery said it appeared the 25-year-old man was bowfishing off shore, which he accessed via a walkway below the dam. “He was on it, possibly slipped,” said Lowery. “(We) may never know exactly what happened.” Authorities began the search for Ragan on Saturday morning and continued until loca-

tion Ragan on Sunday afternoon. He had reportedly been missing since Friday at 7 p.m. Lowery said Sunday multiple agencies worked to locate Ragan. “We did a search and divers dove Saturday morning but due to weather conditions and the water from the dam, the search had to be called Saturday morning until we could get better conditions to put the divers in the water,” said Lowery in an email Sunday. Alabama Power and Elmore County Emergency Management Agency assisted in the search, according to both AP and EMA officials. EMA Director Eric Jones said his agency was acting as a liaison between the power

company and the sheriff’s office concerning water flow from the dam and the number of flood gates open over the weekend. “What we were looking for with the power company was a window that was safe for operations to be conducted right below the dam,” said Jones. “(Friday) things were of such (a) nature that they couldn’t hold it long,” he said referring to water levels. “They held it long as they could … today (Saturday) they have worked to pull Jordan lake reservoir down.” He said the EMA had been assisting since about 10:40 p.m. Friday after the man was reported missing. But he said the rains were so heavy over that time that

conditions were not safe for a search. “It’s just really unfortunate the timing, with all of the heavy rains that we’ve had,” Jones said. “We just haven’t (had) safe conditions to get in the river.” Alabama Power Area Manager Mike Jordan said the company worked with the sheriff’s department and the county EMA to facilitate the search. “Alabama Power is working closely with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Department and the Elmore County EMA to assist in search efforts. At the request of the EMA, certain flood gates were closed and flows reduced,” said Jordan in a Saturday email.

Number of lost pets skyrockets with Fourth’s fireworks By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

We hope to see a big turnout this Friday, June 30 for the Bow Wow Boogie at the Smokehouse BBQ Millbrook at 2461 Main St. in Millbrook from 6:30 – 9 p.m. for a great evening of music on behalf of our shelter. The Wishbone Tribute Band will be playing and there is no charge to attend, though donations of money and/or shelter supplies will gladly be accepted. For those wanting to bring us supplies the following are our biggest needs: nonclumping clay cat litter, bleach, Fabuloso liquid detergent, liquid dishwashing detergent, dog and cat Toys and peanut butter or vienna sausages (for giving medication to the dogs/cats). Like many our staff is

looking forward to the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, but we also dread it as well. Why? Because the number of lost pets skyrockets on and around the holiday from all of the fireworks activity. With the Fourth being on a Tuesday, pet owners need to be prepared for fireworks activity starting the weekend prior and on Tuesday. Preventing a lost pet on holidays like the Fourth and New Year’s is easy – just bring your dogs and cats inside before any fireworks start and keep them in until well after all of the flashes and bangs are 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 so hot to be dangerous to your pet. And make sure any hazardous materials are safely out of reach of your pet no matter where they stay. Once the fireworks are done you should then be able to safely let your pet back outside, but it will be safest to wait until the next morning if you have fireworks-loving neighbors. Making sure your pet has identification on their collar will greatly help them get back home. If their rabies tag is current a finder or shelter can call the vet on the tag to find the owner but, keep in mind, that only works when the vet’s office is open. Even better is a personalized ID tag or write your phone number on their collar in indelible ink. Microchips will always be there (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. We have an engraving machine at the shelter and can make pet owners customized tags in just a few minutes at very low cost ($7-10) anytime the shelter is open MondayFriday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Pets found with ID tags with your phone number will likely never have to even come to our shelter since the finder can call you to retrieve your pet. If your pet does become lost (or you find a pet), please call us at the shelter at 334567-3377 as soon as possible so we can take a report (leave a message if we are closed). Facebook has also become an

excellent resource to help lost and found pets so please go to our “Lost & Found Pets in Elmore County, AL” Facebook page to post pics and info. There are also Lost & Found Pet” pages for all the counties and many towns around Elmore County and we advise that you post your missing pet to every area page you can. Perhaps most important is posting a photo of your pet and post a phone number where you can be reached in the event you are out and not on Facebook. We cannot stress enough the difference photos make in reuniting pets and their families, so if you don’t have any, take them without delay! You can also email information and pics to us at hselco@bellsouth.net as we do print all of those and keep in our lost & found files and will check email even on the days we are closed.

Pet of the Week — Dizzy

Corey Arwood / The Herald

Waters from rains associated with Tropical Storm Cindy roar down the banks and into the Coosa River last Thursday. According to Elmore County EMA Director Eric Jones, most areas of Elmore County reported nearly seven inches of the wet stuff as the storm moved through. Fortunately, both County EMA and Wetumpka Public Works reported no major damages due to the rains.

Dizzy is a young, petite Lab mix girl, nine months old and only about 40 pounds, so not going to get much bigger. She is a higher energy gal and she loves water, so if you are looking for the perfect-sized pontoon boat companion Dizzy is it. She is good with other dogs, cats and children and has been with us far too long so, let’s get her in a home before July 4. Our adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under one year old; cats over one year old can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee completely covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, de-worming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination (if old enough) and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian. To meet all the great pets at our shelter come to 255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka. For more information, go to our website at www.elmorehumane.org, email us at hselco@bellsouth. net or give us a call at 334-567-3377. We are open for adoptions Monday – Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

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CommunityCalendar June 29

Main Street Wetumpka will host a market study presentation from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Many of Wetumpka’s residents took an online survey. At this meeting you will learn what those surveys were all about as we discover what you want more of or would like to see in your downtown. The presentation will be given by Jay Schlinsog with Downtown Pros, in collaboration with Main Street Wetumpka and Main Street Alabama.

June 30

Market Shoppes of Wetumpka will hold its ribbon cutting at the 211 Hill St.. facility in Wetumpka in the former We-2 Gifts building.

July 4

The City of Wetumpka will hold its annual July 4 fireworks show at Gold Star Park. The show will be preceded by music from “Wishbone” and free activities for children from 6-9 p.m. and the fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. The event is sponsored by the City of Wetumpka and Wind Creek Casino. For more information, visit cityofwetumpka. com or call 334-567-5147. • In observance of Independence Day, Advanced Disposal will be closed and all routes will be delayed one day after the holiday. Thank you and have a safe holiday! • The Lake Jordan’s HOBO Association’s annual 4th of July fireworks show will be at dark. The fireworks are shot from the east side (Titus side) of Lake Jordan dam. The show is best viewed from the water.

July 10-14

Join Holtville Riverside Baptist Church

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for “Galactic Starveyors” Vacation Bible School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Ages 4 years the 6th grade are welcome. Call Tammy at (334) 850-8185 for more information.

come; there will be activity tables for their enjoyment. For more information visit www. onlineecho.com/open-house2017.

July 15

Join us for our first ever More for Moms Expo! We are planning a fun and informative day for River Region moms that will feature WSFA 12 News personalities, guest speakers, vendors, fashion show, goody bags and more. For more information visit our Facebook page, More for Moms Expo.

The Wetumpka Basketball Boosters will be hosting the inaugural “Biker Tribe Ride” from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Wetumpka High School. There will be a bike show and car show as well as a charity bike ride. For additional information email We2basketball@gmail.com. • The Wetumpka High School Band Boosters are holding their first yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wetumpka High School. There is rental space available for anyone interested in participating. Contact DeDe Wilson at dedewilson@live.com by 5 p.m. on July 7 for registration instructions.

July 22

Wetumpka’s annual River and Blues Music and Arts Festival, 2 p.m. through 10 p.m. in Downtown Wetumpka. This year’s festival will feature Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas plus 2017 International Blues Challenge finalist King Bee and will include a massive kid’s zone and the Riverwalk Fine Arts Show. In addition to the headliners, the music festival will also feature performances by Jukebox Brass Band, Slim Jeezy & the Feel Good Band, Jimmy Baker, Rachel Wilson, Jeff Pasley, Jilla Webb and more! For more information, visit the website at www.riverandblues.net.

Aug. 4

The Elmore County Homeschool Organization will host a free event open to families from any county in the area that are currently homeschooling or are interested in homeschooling. Light refreshments will be served. Children are wel-

Aug. 12

ONGOING EVENTS

• The Elmore County Branch #5026 of the NAACP meets at 6:30 p.m. every third Tuesday (the executive committee) and every fourth Tuesday (full membership) at the Martin Luther King Center located at 200 N. Lancaster Street in Wetumpka. • The DAC Foundation exhibit located at 219 Hill Street in downtown Wetumpka will be open each Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. Our first exhibit at this location, features work by Dixie Art Colony artists Arthur Stewart, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Shiney Moon, Lousie Everton, Karl Wolfe, Billy Wilson and Genevieve Sutherland. Some of the work has never been publicly shown. For information visit DixieArtColony.org or follow us on Facebook. • Celebrate Recovery meets at Grace Point Community Church, located at 78223 Tallassee Highway, every Tuesday night at 6:15 p.m. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits, and hang-ups! For more information visit gracepoint.info. • Celebrate Recovery meets at Journey Church, located at 2960 East Cobbs Ford

DYW

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Pinkston, who is Mormon, will attend undergraduate school at Brigham Young University before medical school, likely majoring in biology. Pinkston is not the first in her family to be Elmore County’s Distinguished Young Woman. Her sister, Audrey, won the county title in 2015, she said. Finishing as first and second runners-up, respectively, were Kacie Thomas, also of Wetumpka High School, and Brantley White of Holtville High School. Other awards went to Thomas (interview and self-expression), Jeslyn Bradley of

WHS (talent and fitness), White (“Be Your Best Self” essay), Morgan Vogel of Alabama Christian Academy (self-expression), Taylor Barnes of Prattville Christian Academy (spirit), Sarah Staton of Holtville High (interview), Katie Martin of WHS (scholastic) and Katelyn Schulte of WHS (fitness). A total of 17 young ladies entered the competition. Pinkston will now advance to the state DYW competition, set for Jan. 19-20 in Montgomery at Frazier Memorial Methodist Church. There, $42,500 in scholarship money will be available to the contestants.

The Distinguished Young Women program (formerly Junior Miss) combines the chance to win college scholarships with a program that offers life skills training to prepare young women for the world after high school. Each year, DYW makes available over $1.1 billion in scholarships. The program takes place in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. with only some states, like Alabama, having local programs. In Alabama, the competition is open only to rising seniors. Each DYW program evaluates participants in scholastics (which make up 25 percent of the participant’s score), inter-

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view (25 percent), talent (20 percent), fitness (15 percent) and self-expression (15 percent). Local program winners, in states where locals are available, advance to the state level. All state winners participate in the National Finals, held in Mobile the June after they graduate from high school. In addition, through DYW’s Life Skills program, which includes workshops and online resources, participants can learn skills like interviewing, public speaking, self-confidence building and much more. These skills not only prepare everyone for the DYW program, but also for the world after high school and college.

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

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And the entire evening of family fun is free, Richardson said. “It’s just a good, wholesome family way to celebrate the Fourth of July,” Richardson said. “The city invites everyone to bring their families, their chairs, their dancing shoes and their coolers and get ready to have a great time.” Other area Fourth of July activities are scheduled as well. The Lake Jordan Home Owners and Boat Owners (HOBO) will have a fireworks show at dark on Lake Jordan. The fireworks are shot from the east side Lake Jordan Dam, which is the Titus side, but the show is best viewed from the water. Also, Advanced Disposal reminds its customers that no garbage routes will run on Tuesday and all routes delayed one day this week due to the holiday.