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THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
WEDNESDAY • JUNE 7, 2017
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
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VOL. 119, NO. 23
Man alleged to have strangled woman, thrown body in well By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
District Judge Glenn Goggans set bond for David Helms at $133,000 and formally charged the 41-year-old Wetumpka man with murder and second-degree escape, both felonies, and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, after Helms was arrested Monday when county authorities discovered the body of 59-year-old Jane Huddleston of Wetumpka in a well where she was placed after apparently being strangled with a dog collar.
14), about three miles west of Helms appeared in the courtthe Claud community. Elmore room at the Elmore County County Sheriff Bill Franklin Judicial Complex wearing jail-issaid the victim had some sort of sue stripes with the pants cut off ligature around her neck which at the knee. He said little, but looked somewhat like a dog colthat he had been refused water by lar. sheriff’s department employees Franklin said the investigation after asking for it “about four or that resulted in the discovery of five times.” Helms Huddleston’s body began early After a tip from an inmate and a brief investigation, Huddleston’s body Monday morning after a county jail was found Monday morning in a well inmate approached corrections officers at 79355 Tallassee Highway (Highway with information about a homicide.
Sunday sales, jails and missing agenda items discussed by council By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The Wetumpka City Council saw agenda items on Sunday alcohol sales, an agreement with the county for continued jail use, a rezoning of land off U.S. 231 and a bid for landscaping at the city airport. The alcohol sales ordinance received its first reading by City Attorney Regina Edwards. The item was listed as “to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday for off-premises See COUNCIL • Page A3
Councilman says city taking losing gamble, but city’s mum on possible litigation By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The city’s not saying much about ominously worded “possible litigation” that has appeared now on two city council meeting agendas, and resulted in two separate instances of executive session, the latest at a special-called meeting last week. The meeting, held, May 31 at 4 p.m. in the City Administration Building, got off to a late start and attendants in professional attire mulled about the chambers, breaking off into groups talking, while See LITIGATION • Page B6
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“It all started (Monday) morning when my chief deputy contacted me to let me know that a corrections officer had been given a note by an inmate that pretty much said what Mr. Helms had done to Mrs. Huddleston,” Franklin said. “From time to time, we’ll get notes like that and a lot of times there’s no validity to them. Inmates are just trying to somehow help themselves out. This was a rare instance where just about everything the inmate said he was told turned out to be true.” See ARREST • Page A3
Tallassee NOW! exhibitions to center on Dixie Art Colony By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
Four art exhibitions – two centered around Elmore County’s historic Dixie Art Colony – are set for Friday and Saturday, June 9-10, during this weekend’s Tallassee NOW! festivities. According to Mark Harris, the exhibitions will take place at the 304 Barnett Blvd. branch of Trustmark Bank, located just west of the Fitzpatrick Bridge. The bank is the old Bank of Tallassee, whose president, Roberts Blount, commissioned Kelly Fitzpatrick to paint four large, oversized murals for the bank’s lobby. The exhibitions all Submitted / Dixie Art Colony Foundation open at 6 p.m. on Friday Arthur Srewart worked to finish the murals that now reside in the lobby of Tallassee’s Trustmark Bank after Kelly with a reception set for Fitzpatrick died of a heart attack after beginning the work. the lobby of Trustmark Bank until 7 :30 p.m. be open from 10 a.m. until of Trustmark and will sketched out and started All exhibitions will also 2 p.m. on June 14 and 17. center on the four murals painting one when he sufbe open from 10 a.m. to Blount commissioned from fered a heart attack and had The exhibitions are: 2 p.m. on Saturday. Two to be taken to the Veterans • Dixie Art Colony: A Fitzgerald in 1952. of the exhibitions, Dixie Look at its Lasting Legacy: “Kelly was working on Administration Hospital in Doodles and Tallassee The exhibit will take these in his studio,” said Montgomery. That’s where – Now & Then, will also place in the main lobby Harris. “He had them all See DIXIE • Page A3
New vest passes WHS student’s bulletproof test By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
A Wetumpka High School junior was interested in making body armor stronger, so he took its existing design, developed a stronger one and then took his design to Los Angeles to win awards at an international science competition. Lucas Lynn said he, his science teacher, Dr. Virginia Villarty and her grandson stayed in a “nice Marriott Hotel” downtown LA near the Los Angeles Convention Center where the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair was being held. Intel, in this case is the Silicon Valley based computer processor developer, and the competition is billed as the largest of its kind worldwide. Lynn said there nearly 80 countries represented and nearly 1,800 individual competitors. Of those, Lynn placed second in the special awards category, which he said meant it was sponsored by societies, companies, universities or similar institutions. The institution that sponsored his award was the Society for Experimental Mechanics Inc. and to the tune of $1,500. See BULLETPROOF • Page B6
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Wetumpka High School student Lucas Lynn explains the methodology of his improved bulletproof vest to visitors to his booth at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, held May 15-19 in Los Angeles.
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PAGE A2 • JUNE 7, 2017
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
THE WETUMPKA HERALD
Obituaries Mr. Raymond Crysell, Jr.
Cecelia Ann Morgan
Mr. Raymond Crysell, Jr. of Millbrook, AL, born on November 15, 1946, passed away on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at the age of 70. Raymond is survived by his daughters, Tina Crysell and April Moses; his sons, Randy Crysell, Bobby Raymond Crysell, Jason Crysell, and Preston Nicholson; his sisters, Ouida Hallford and Edith Mosley; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond R. Crysell, Sr. and Omie Acreman Crysell; his sister, Mae Omie Wasden; and his brothers, James C. Crysell and Robert Crysell. A memorial service has been given at Magnolia Cremations and Funeral Services on June 2, 2017 at 11 a.m., officiated by Ricky Crysell and Jason Crysell. Raymond shall be remembered as a loving father. Honorary pallbearers include Randy Crysell, Bobby Raymond Crysell, Jason Crysell, Preston Nicholson, Justin McGinty, and Wheeler McGinty. The family is grateful for condolences and prayers.
MORGAN, Cecelia Ann, a resident of Wetumpka, Alabama passed away Saturday, June 3, 2017 at the age of 72. Graveside services will be held Thursday, June 8, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Sheppard Cemetery with Rev. Randy Godfrey officiating. Gassett Funeral Home of Wetumpka directing. Mrs. Morgan is preceded in death by her husband, Harold L. Morgan. She is survived by her son, Michael (Paula) Morgan, daughters, Janna (Danny) Chavers, Nicole Boothe (Glynn Esco), and grandchildren, Jeremy and Lisa Marie Morgan, Joshua Mooney, Morgan Chavers, Cameron, Corey, Cole Boothe, Alexis and Garrett Esco, great-grandchildren, Carson Mooney and Jaxon Mooney. A special thank you from the family to Dianne Jackson for her loving loyal service as caregiver for our Mom and Dad along with Lake Martin Hospice. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and son-in-law. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Santuck Baptist Church Building Fund. Online Guest Book available at www.gassettfuneralhome.net
and (Tater) William Matthew Vincent Dooley her Niece (Catfish) Stacie Jean Michelle Dooley all of AL. Chrissy also leaves behind her Mother-In-Law Deborah Haynes Poole, her large extended Blair, Dooley and Calhoun family members. Chrissy is also survived by her best friend, Alysia Vierhout Rohen and her loving family of Students, Colleagues and Friends. Chrissy was predeceased in death by her Paternal Grandfather, George Michael Dooley Sr., Maternal Grandmother, Jean House Blair, Father George Michael Dooley and her Mother Carolyn Blair Dooley. Service arrangements entrusted to Linville Memorial Funeral Home located at 84632 Tallassee Highway, Eclectic, AL 36024. Those who are unable to attend may sign the guest book via their website at www. linvillememorial.com. Viewing and funeral service to be held on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Equality United Methodist Church on CR 259 in Equality, AL. The viewing is from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. for family and friends with the funeral service immediately following.
Eva Woodfin Bone
Elizabeth “Betty” Bastedo
Chrissy Michelle Dooley-Calhoun
Elizabeth “Betty” Bastedo, 73, of Dothan, Alabama, passed away on May 29, 2017. A memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at Christ Church International in Dothan, Alabama with Dr. David Del Vecchio officiating. Mrs. Bastedo was born in Bronx, New York on September 25, 1943. She graduated from Walton High School. She was married to Frank Bastedo for 53 years. Betty is survived by her spouse, Frank Bastedo; her children, Lisa Bastedo, Frank Bastedo, Ann-Marie and Shannon Youngblood; her grandchildren, Kaylyn, Joey, and Jackson; and her brother Frank Perrotta and his family. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations to the Wiregrass Area Food Bank, 382 Twitchell Road, Dothan, Alabama 36303. Alabama Funeral Homes in Dadeville, Alabama are in charge of the arrangements. www.alabamafuneralhomes. com
Chrissy Michelle Dooley-Calhoun was born on October 17, 1973 at West Orange Memorial Hospital in Winter Garden, FL to George Michael and Carolyn Blair Dooley. Chrissy enjoyed her childhood years growing up in Central Florida in the little town of Ocoee. Chrissy attended and graduated from West Orange High School in Winter Garden, FL in 1992. Chrissy moved from Ferndale, FL to Prattville, AL shortly after high school and continued her education with study in Psychology at Auburn University. Chrissy studied Juris Doctor (J.D.) at Jones School of Law, Faulkner University, in Montgomery. Chrissy was a former prosecutor at Eclectic Municipal Court and Program Director of Legal Studies Department at South University. Chrissy met the love of her life, Jeremy Calhoun in Montgomery, AL where they later married in 1995. Chrissy and Jeremy made their home in Eclectic, AL. Chrissy departed our earthly world on May 31, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. with her family by her side. Chrissy is survived by her husband, Jeremy Calhoun, children Amanda Leigh Dooley-Calhoun, Rebecca Lynn Calhoun and Mason Monroe Calhoun. Chrissy leaves behind her Maternal Grandfather, William Johnson Blair of Enterprise, AL formerly of Ocoee and Ferndale, FL. Brothers, Shannon Michael Dooley of Pike County, AL and William Matthew Dooley of Eclectic, AL. Aunt Patricia Blair Alexander (Peter) of FL, Uncle William Russell Blair of AL, Aunt Deborah Sue Glass of FL, Aunt Linda Dooley-Childress of NC. First Cousins, Jenifer Diane Teachman, Kelly Renae Hall, Jessica Alexander Mathesius, William Daniel Blair, Steven M. Glass, Jonathan Ray Glass, Mark Nicolas Glass, Melissa Glass Roberts. Nephews, Shane Langhammer
BONE, Eva Woodfin, beloved wife, mother and “Memaw,” went to be with the Lord on the evening of Sunday, June 4, 2017. Eva was a precious lady to everyone who knew her. She had a very loving and nurturing heart and always welcomed family and friends with open arms. Eva is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Samuel J. Bone; daughters, Betty McDaniel, Mary (Glen) Kibler, Eva Jean (Wayne) Adkinson; and sons, Sam Bone and John (Kathy) Bone. She is also “Memaw” to grandchildren Craig (Stacy) McDaniel, Amanda (Jimmy) Mathis, Candice (Brad) Burton, Jessica (Glenn) Regan, Kathryn (Jonathan) Stout, Miranda Bone (Johnathan Stuckey), Samantha Mantz, Clay Mantz, and Johnny Bone. Her great grandchildren are Cole McDaniel; James and Allie Mathis; Matthew Regan; Joseph, Roger and Eva Kate Burton; and Camden and Grayson Stout. Eva had a great love of nature and thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the back porch with her husband, Samuel, watching the birds and enjoying her beautiful flowers. Eva was a strong Christian lady who will always be remembered for her fun spirit, sweet smile and loving heart and for teaching others the importance of family. The family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. from Wetumpka Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. from Wetumpka Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gerald Wood officiating. Another visitation will be held at New Site Baptist Church one hour after funeral services, 3104 Coosa County Road, Rockford, AL. Interment will follow in New Site Baptist Cemetery. Wetumpka Memorial Funeral Home directing.
Area gas prices down almost 2 cents per gallon Average retail gasoline prices in the Montgomery area have fallen 1.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.07 per gallon Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 205 gas outlets in the area. This compares with the national average that has increased 0.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.37 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com. Including the change in gas prices in Montgomery during the past week, prices yesterday were 13.8 cents per gallon lower than the same day one
year ago and are 5.2 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has increased 1.9 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 0.5 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago. According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on June 5 in Montgomery have ranged widely over the last five years from $2.21 in 2016 to $3.44 in 2014. Areas near Montgomery and their current gas price climate: include Pensacola, with prices currently at $2.32 per gallon, down 0.7 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.33, and Birmingham, where prices averaged$2.05 per gallon Sunday, down 0.5 cents per
gallon from last week’s $2.06. Statewide, prices averaged $2.08 per gallon on Sunday, down 1 cent per gallon from last week’s $2.09. “The first week of the summer driving season is now under our belts, and we saw little change in gas prices nationally,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. com. “Prices have seen little change and as we continue to progress into the summer, we’re seeing gas prices now roughly the same as a year ago in many places. Oil markets failed to be convinced last week by OPEC’s production cuts as U.S. oil production rises to its highest level since summer 2015. This has kept the price of oil constrained and keeps the door propped open for gasoline prices to remain at historically low levels as millions of Americans take to the road.”
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THE WETUMPKA HERALD
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JUNE 7, 2017 • Page A3
Arrest
continued from page 1
Franklin said that after receiving the note, the sheriff’s office began to attempt to locate Huddleston, who Franklin said he had attended high school with and who had also visited the jail in the past. Franklin eventually contacted Huddleston’s estranged husband, who made attempts of his own to contact Huddleston. Franklin contacted the husband later and was told the husband’s texts to Huddleston were not going through. The estranged husband then asked Franklin to do a welfare check. “I had been to Eclectic on another case, so just as soon as I left Eclectic, I went to the 79000 block of Highway 14,� Franklin said. “When I got there, the front
gate was locked and chained. The house sits about 150 yards off the highway and I saw a white male walking down the driveway. Well, that was Helms. “We talked to Helms and he said he had not seen Huddleston and was looking for her. He said he had not seen her since Saturday night.� Franklin said while he was talking with Helms another gentleman he referred to as a “drug associate� of Helms and Huddleston stepped out of the residence. “I know this other gentleman and we pretty much had a cometo-Jesus and I told him we were not leaving until we found Mrs. Huddleston,� Franklin said. “He
“What’s unusual about this case is that Helms had told both the inmate and his drug associate all about the details of the murder,� Franklin said. “We did find some kind of ligature around here neck when we retrieved her body from the well.� Franklin added that when Helms arrived at the county jail he was irate and broke an interior window in the facility. “I guess he was attempting to escape,� Franklin said. “But he’ll be charged with criminal mischief and escape for the window as well as murder.� Franklin said it appears that Helms killed Huddleston between Thursday night and Friday evening.
said he had been there about 45 minutes and about 15 minutes before we got there Helms told him that he had strangled Mrs. Huddleston and put her in a well on the property where he lives. “We detained both men and got written statements from them. We then went to edge of property behind a fenced area and when I got about five yards from the well I got a strong stench of a decomposing body. I looked into the well and you could see the body of a white female lying face down.� Franklin said upon discovering the body he summoned his investigative division, got a search warrant from a local judge and began to collect evidence.
“We made contact with Mrs. Huddleston’s daughter,� Franklin said. “She said her mother brought a check to her in Montgomery Thursday night and she was with Mr. Helms at that time in a truck. Around noon on Friday, Helms comes back to Montgomery and says, ‘Hey, we can’t find your mother.’ Mr. Helms was picked up for shoplifting on Friday evening and that’s when he revealed to the inmate that he had killed Mrs. Huddleston.� Helms had made bond with the Wetumpka Police Department on the shoplifting charges, which enabled him to be at home at the time the sheriff’s office began following up on the tip they had received.
Dixie
continued from page 1
he passed away.â€? Harris said the paintings were not forgotten, but instead finished by Arthur Stewart, a student of Fitzpatrick’s. “Amazingly, Stewart completed painting over 400 square feet in just six weeks,â€? Harris said. “He later told The Birmingham News the amount of paint it took to paint the murals was equal to the amount he would use on about 150 of his oil paintings.â€? Also included in this exhibition will be original work by Fitzgerald, Stewart, Warree LeBron, Carlos Alpha “Shineyâ€? Moon, Genevieve Southerland, Walter Keith Karl Ferdinand Wolfe, Mildred Nungester Wolfe, Anne Wilson Goldthwaite, Louise Smith Everton and more. • Tallassee Community: Art Show, conducted by the McCraney Cottle Arts Council of Tallassee and will take place in the annex on the east side of the bank and feature Tallassee-area artists. • Dixie Doodles: The Lighter Side of the Dixie Art Colony, which will take place in the bank’s annex and
feature painted tin panels rescued from the Nobles Ferry site of the Dixie Art Colony and caricature-type sketches of some of the colonists, silkscreens, watercolors, sketches and pencil sketches by Richard Coe, Austin (Rudy) Martin, Frank Appebee and Kelly Fitzpatrick. • Tallassee – Now & Then: Conducted by the Elmore County Art Guild, this exhibition will take place in the Trustmark bank annex. With about 50 entries at the time of this writing, this exhibition encourages artist to focus on scenes that represent Tallassee’s past and its present day. In 1933, the Dixie Art Colony was held on an experimental basis for two weeks in June at an old Boy Scout camp building on Lake Martin near Kowaliga Creek in Elmore County. Named Camp Dixie, this camp was the site from which the colony derived its name. In 1937, the colony settled on six acres of forested land owned by Judge Malcolm Carmichael and his wife Sallie Boyd Carmichael was located at a place called Noble’s Ferry on Lake Jordan in the Deatsville area.
Council consumption in the City of Wetumpka.� Discussion between Edwards and council members addressed the wording of the ordinance regarding “off-premises consumption.� She said the ordinance would authorize businesses like grocery stores or service stations to sell alcoholic beverages to be taken and consumed elsewhere versus at establishments only. Wetumpka Police Chief Danny Billingsley gave his approval for the city to continue in its agreement between Elmore County and Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin for use of the Elmore County Jail to hold people arrested by the WPD. Billingsley said at $24.50 a day he had no problem continuing the agreement, which has been in place since the ‘90s. The jail-use agreement was for a three-year period with automatic one year renewals. A representative of Larry E. Speaks and Associates Inc., a team of consulting engineers and land surveyors, gave a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of land off U.S. 231 where a Chevron Service Station is located. The Wetumpka Planning Commission, through David Robison, OK’d the rezoning from a classified R-H Rural and Holding to a B-2 Local Business. Prattville-based Landworx, LLC was granted the bid to cut the grass at the city airport for $1,045 per cut.
Sallie Carmichael, the Colony’s primary financial backer nicknamed the Colony site Poka Hutchi, a Creek word meaning “gathering of picture writers.� The colony was active for more than 14 years, from the mid-1930s to the mid-1940s. It offered a very casual atmosphere in which artists were encouraged to experiment by exploring their creative side. Although most were “Sunday artists,� a few were more serious and later became wellknown Southern artists.
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continued from page 1
At times, council communications were discussed as much as the four items that appeared on the agenda. Early on Councilman Percy Gill said he attempted to have a number of items placed on the agenda but none appeared on the finished copy. Of the three items he submitted for discussion or action, one pertained to the appointment of a former city councilwoman to the board of The Coosa River Health Care Authority. The absence of each of the items was discussed between Gill, the council and the city attorney. Some were more resolved than others, as in the case of the CRHA appointee. The second involved the demolition of three homes in his district. After the absence of
each one of his proposed items was debated or discussed by either Willis or the city attorney, the third, a request to resurface a connector street, resulted in a contentious exchange between Willis and Gill. “It’s not on the agenda, there’s no record of my request,� said Gill. “So my point is if I make a request for an agenda or work session I’d like to see the request on the work session or, if its an action item, on the agenda.� Willis said the only thing records were kept on was actions taken, there was no action taken on the item so there was no documentation. Ultimately after some debate Willis struck his mallet and with a resounding bang refused to answer Gill further. “So we’re going to move on now into the meeting,� Willis said. “Can I get a response to
that mayor?� Gill asked. “That’s your response?� In a subsequent phone call, City Clerk Candy Masters said she had only forgot to place the third item pertaining to the street resurfacing on the work session portion of the agenda.
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OPINION
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Birthdays are meant to be special
ast Sunday, we celebrated my birthday. I won’t tell you exactly how old I am, but let’s just say I’m half way to 90. You weren’t planning on using your math skills when you started reading this, were you? It was a great day, complete with a houseful of ladies, homemade chicken casserole, and cake. I got two new pairs of jeans, two new polos, and a Jaws t-shirt to go along with them. The last time I had two new pairs of jeans, President Bush the elder was in office. You think I’m kidding. Ever since I got the Jaws shirt, I’ve been hearing the Jaws music in my head. I seldom had birthday parties growing up, and by “seldom” I think I had one. It’s not a big deal. That’s just the way it was. Mama always got me a cake and present and that was perfect. Now, I’ve had a little birthday celebration three of the last four years, and I kind of like it. I really don’t care anything about the gifts—although I won’t turn them down—I just like being around some of the people I love. Whew! That was cheesy, yet true, nonetheless. This past Sunday, we celebrated Lucy’s birthday. I won’t tell you exactly how old she is, because
JODY FULLER Columnist
I’d like to make it to 90. Let’s just say that she’s an eighties baby—an early eighties baby. I’ll leave it at that. I can hear the Jaws music as I type this paragraph. It was a special day. We’d planned on doing a Low Country Boil outside, but due to the rain, had to move it into the garage. I just opened the garage door and enjoyed the sound of the rain and celebrated with Lucy and the ladies. It was very special: family, food, and flies. Man, there were lots of flies. They apparently like seafood. I’ve always thought birthday were overrated. I mean, everybody has one. Everybody. They not only have them, but they have them every single year. While some people do go overboard—yeah, I’m talking to you, you “birthday weekend”, “birthday week” and “birthday month” celebrators. Stop that. Stop that night. I no longer think of them as overrated. They are special. But, all I need
is an hour or two with family and friends and a thousand Facebook messages and I’m good to go until next year. Birthdays really are special, and we should celebrate the births of the special people in our life. Those people are the ones who help make our lives special in the first place, and on or about Dec. 3, God willing, Lucy and I will celebrate the birth of our first child together. We’re fairly certain it’s a boy. Both my father and brother had nothing but boys. We did the swinging string test and everything. We will find out the gender next week. It’d be nice to have a boy. I need a partner in crime at these birthday dinners. We are blessed and will be excited either way. Our mothers are very happy about having more grandchildren, and Emily is excited about being a big sister. It just hit me that her birthday is December, too. Maybe we’ll have just a “birthday month.” Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www.jodyfuller.com
334-567-7811 • Fax 334-567-3284 email: news@thewetumpkaherald.com THE WETUMPKA HERALD (681-260) is published weekly on Wednesday by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Periodical postage paid at Wetumpka, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Wetumpka Herald, P.O. Box 99, Wetumpka, AL 36092-0099 ISSN # 1536-688X.
We reserve the right to refuse to print any advertisement, news story, photograph or any other material submitted to us for any reason or no reason at all. •Obituaries - $.25 per word per paper. Additional $15 charge for a photo per paper. (Herald, Observer, Tribune). •Weddings/Engagements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a 2-column photo. •Birth Announcements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a photo. SUBSCRIPTION RATES (includes Wednesday) One Year in Elmore, Tallapoosa or Coosa County: $50 One Year Elsewhere: $75 The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription at any time. To subscribe or if you miss your paper, call 256-234-4281. © 2016 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher. ADMINISTRATION Steve Baker publisher@thewetumpkaherald.com David Granger, managing editor david.granger@thewetumpkaherald.com NEWS Corey Arwood, staff writer corey.arwood@thewetumpkaherald.com Carmen Rodgers, staff writer carmen.rodgers@thewetumpkaherald.com SALES Marilyn Hawkins, marketing consultant marilyn.hawkins@TheWetumpkaHerald.com Ext. 305
Young spellers excite with dedication to goal
I
’m sure that some who flipped past the Scripps National Spelling Bee on ESPN on Thursday night kept right on clicking when they saw a bunch of kids on stage participating in a boring spelling contest. Well, I was one of those who stopped. As a former spelling bee champ myself (I won the Elmore County Bee lots of years ago), I was interested. I realized the work these kids had put in to get on that stage that night. I realized there were days and nights of dedication to a singular goal that went in to being among the best kid spellers in the country. And I soon found out that, were I in the spelling bee game today, there is no way that I could compete. These kids were phenomenal. When my television landed on the bee at about 9 p.m., there were some 15 or so spellers left. After two or three rounds, my wife and I each picked not so much our favorites, but who we thought would win. We weren’t even close. Eventually, our favorites and all the others with the exception of Rohan Rajeev, a 14-year-old from Edmond, Oklahoma and Ananya Vinay, a 12-year-old from Fresno, California were eliminated. The championship round began. With words of championship-round difficulty. The two Indian-American children would go a maximum of 25 rounds with these words and, if both made it all the way through
DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
those rounds, the tie would be broken with some test they’d already taken. We never found out anymore about the test. Both of the final two spellers had obviously studied countless hours. Their spelling was dotted with smiles of recognition, at a word itself or at its origin. They had set their minds on a singular goal: to win the 2017 Scripps Spelling Bee. The discipline was beyond admirable. After Rajeev misspelled “marram,” a word of Scandinavian origin defined as “a coarse perennial grass growing on sandy shores and dunes and having awnless flowers crowded into a long spikelike panicle,” Vinay had her opening. All she had to do was to spell two consecutive words correctly and the championship would belong to her. First, she was asked to spell “gifblaar,” which Webster defines as a perennial shrub of southern Africa which is deadly poisonous to stock. She asked her token questions about the word’s origin, it’s part of speech, asked the judge to use it in a sentence, but one got the feeling she knew it all along. She did. The pronouncer, Dr. Jacques
Bailly, an associate professor of classics at the University of Vermont and the winner of the 1980 bee, then informed Vinay that if she spelled the next word correctly she would be declared the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. The next word Bailly spoke – Vinay’s word to spell – was “marocain.” The slightest smile ever broke Vinay’s face and just as quickly disappeared. She hurried through a barrage of questions, barely waiting for Bailly to answer one before another came blasting out. She tugged at her dress, sneaked looks toward her Mom in the audience. “Marocain,” Vinay finally said. “M-a-r-o-c-a-i-n. Marocain.” “That is correct,” the judge said excitedly. Here came the confetti. Here came Vinay’s trophy, her parents and her brother, all seemingly more excited than she was. She showed little emotion, but she was the champion. “C-h-a-m-p-i-o-n.” Champion. It was almost as if she expected to win. She had set her mind to a singular goal. And she had achieved it. David Granger is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Elmore County newspapers. He can be reached at david.granger@ thewetumpkaherald.com
THE WETUMPKA HERALD
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
JUNE 7, 2017 • Page A5
Listening can be a blessing and a burden I
like to hear people talk. I am not an eavesdropper. What I hear is right out there in the open, usually in a crowd, but still extremely interesting. I have found listening can be a blessing and a burden depending on what is being said. For instance, it is good to hear the great talk about Alabama football these past eight to nine years. It wasn’t such a blessing a few odd years ago before the Nick Saban era began. I often correspond with fellow pastors and we share the things we hear so we can learn from one another. I have received two articles across my desk this past week. Both from different men in different parts of the country and both are lists they have heard people say in their churches. One is a blessing and the other a burden but they tell us a lot about the churches they belong to. The first is from a friend in Kentucky who seems despondent these days. Let me list a few comments he has heard over the past few months. “We pay our pastor to do evangelism.” The common meaning behind this statement is that the members have no intentions of sharing their faith. A church with non-evangelistic members is a dying church. “Without our money, this church would be in trouble.” Ouch! The key word here is “our.” Members with this attitude do not give with an open hand; they
perceive the money they give to the church is their Think About money, not God’s money. It This tight-fisted nonstewardship, if prevalent Dr. James in the church, is a sure W. Troglen sign of sickness or death. “This church is not meeting my needs.” For certain, members’ needs should be met. But have you noticed that, often times, the most needy members are the first to complain and the first to leave? We should certainly care for the needs of the flock, but the attitude of the members should be that of serving instead of being served. “We pay the salary of the pastor and staff, so they should listen to us.” This deadly statement has two major inflictors of pain. First, the money is treated with a tight fist, as I noted above. Second, the money is used to control leaders. I served in a church where a member made that statement frequently through the tenure of many pastors both prior to me and after me. Years after I left, I learned he never gave a dollar to the church. “We will let the next generation deal with change.” When older generations make this statement, they are
resolutely refusing to make necessary and immediate changes. Sadly, the next generations won’t stick around in such a church to make the changes. “I was here years before the pastor came; I’ll be here years after he’s gone.” This statement is one of power and control rather than service and giving. It’s about out-lasting each pastor to keep the church just the way the member wants it. It’s a statement that was commonly heard in churches that have closed their doors. The Hebrews felt that once a word was spoken it took on a life of its own for good or ill. But, it could never be taken back. It was out there forever. Words can kill. Words can kill churches because they often have deadly actions behind them. I guess I should add that this friend of mine whose church gave these comments is now closed, boarded up and out of existence. Please hear that last statement again: These are statements are from church members whose churches have already closed their doors. I am convinced these statements were major contributors to the churches’ demise. Words can kill. My next article will be from a friend on the other extreme. Join me.
Area Churches AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-4413 Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8144 Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd. (Co. Rd. 3), Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-9143 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic 541-2006 Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-5754 Crossroads Assembly of God 2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 285-5545 First Assembly of God 3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God
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
Wallsboro United Methodist Church 11066 U.S. 231, Wallsboro
5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 569-2825 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 567-4325 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 20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic 541-4444 Faith 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
large...
Pastor
NURSERY PROVIDED FOR ALL SERVICES
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.
...with the right kind of advertising. • Alexander City Outlook • Dadeville Record • Wetumpka Herald • Eclectic Observer • Tallassee Tribune
256.234.4281
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 Prospect Baptist Prospect Rd., Eclectic 567-5837 Redland Baptist 1266 Dozier Rd., Wetumpka 567-8649 Refuge Baptist Church 3098 Red Hill Road Tallassee 334-857-2638 Rehoberth Baptist 8110 Rifle Range Rd., Tallassee 567-9801 Rushenville Baptist 10098 Georgia Rd., Eclectic 541-2418 Saint James Baptist 1005 Nobles Rd., Wetumpka 567-6209
First
Harmony United Methodist Church
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
“And we know that Presbyterian allChurch things work 100 W. Bridge St. together for good to thoseJonathan who loveYarboro God, Rev. to those who are the Sunday School..9:45 am Morning called Worship..11 according toam His567-8135 purpose.” – Romans 8:28
“In the name of the Lord Jesus – Welcome.”
Mountain View Baptist Church
has been made
Rickey Luster, Music Director
You will receive a warm welcome at this friendly, Christ-centered Church.
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 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 567-4458 New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury 312-1878 New Home Baptist
Many a small thing
Rev. Ryan Johnson
Sunday School..........10:45 a.m. Morning Worship........9:30 a.m. Children’s Church.......9:30 a.m. Wed. Night Service.....6:30 p.m.
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
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 COMMUNITY CHURCH 10286 U.S. Hwy. 231 Wallsboro 567-0476 www.worshipcedarwood.org
Roger Olsen, Pastor Sunday Bible Study..........9:00 AM Sunday Worship.............10:00 AM We are a Congregational Christian Church which, in the name of Jesus, invites all to worship with us. Nursery Check out our Facebook page
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 Counseling Larry Gore, Adm. & Counseling Randy Godfrey, Education 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 • JUNE 7, 2017
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
THE WETUMPKA HERALD
The Summer season begins on Wednesday, June 21. The word “summer� is derived from an Old Norse word, sumar. Summer is the warmest of the four seasons, because it is at this time that the Northern Hemisphere is closest to the Sun. The Southern Hemisphere experiences its Winter at this time, since it is furthest from the Sun. The start of Summer coincides with a phenomenon called the Summer Solstice. A solstice is the longest day of the year in a particular hemisphere, or the day on which we experience the most sunlight. Our Summer in the United States lasts until around the end of September. For many people, Summer is their favorite time of the year. During the Summer in the United States, kids are on break from school. This is a time when they are able to play Summer sports, swim, and spend time on vacation with their families. Picnics are popular, as well as certain foods and drinks like watermelon Circle the two suns that match. and lemonade. During the Summer, many plants and crops, such as citrus fruits, are ready for harvest. These are just a few things that make Summer so enjoyable.
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SPORTS THE WETUMPKA HERALD
DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
On SEC quarterbacks and a potentially wild West
W
e heard it over and over last season. The Southeastern Conference is down because quarterback play is down. In other words, the league lacked marquee players at the most marquee position. Well, things look just a bit different this year. Consider that Jarrett Stidham, who showed glimpses of studliness at Baylor, is now at Auburn and Jalen Hurts should be even better than he was as a freshman at Alabama (yikes!) as should Jacob Eason at Georgia (more yikes!). Further consider Nick Fitzgerald at Mississippi State actually threw for more yards than Eason and finished third in the conference in rushing yards and things look far better behind SEC centers as we head into 2017. And we haven’t even mentioned Mizzou’s Drew Lock or Austin Allen at Arkansas, who passed for the most and second-most yards in the league last season, respectively. Doubtless, there will be a freshman phenom or two among SEC quarterbacks by season’s end, as well. And who knows what to expect from Florida’s expected starter, Luke Del Rio, out most of last year with a sprained knew and a shoulder injury, which resulted in eventual surgery and Del Rio’s missing spring camp. Despite the Gators’ putting together a 5-1 record in the games Del Rio was healthy enough to start, the sophomore’s absence in the spring may have left the door open for either Feleipe Franks or Kyle Trask to take over for the Gators. They both have the capability to surprise. So, with ample talent at QB within the league, that likely means more quality competition within the SEC. My expectation is, too, that the league will prove more competitive – read: dominating – to non-conference foes, as well. The question is who will emerge as the best of the best among the SEC signal-callers I’ve mentioned? Will Alabama’s Hurts be coached to run less for fear of injury that could force the Tide to turn to a backup? And if that threat from Hurts isn’t as evident, will it hurt the Bama’s offensive effectiveness? Can Stidham, the Baylor transfer, perform as well against SEC defenses as he did in the Big 12? I’d say the answer to that is no, but can he perform well enough to help Auburn contend? Everyone who has seen him in practice says he can, but I’m taking a wait-andsee stance. I don’t think Fitzgerald or Lock have the supporting casts around them. I look for improvement – perhaps lots of it – from Georgia’s Eason, too. But Austin Allen might the right stuff. The kid is tough as nails and, if Bret Bielema is successful building to support the youngster the type of running game he prefers, he could step out to an impressive year. Let’s just say Allen is my darkhorse pick for All-SEC quarterback and, behind him, the Razorbacks could prove a threat to the Tide and Tigers hopes in the SEC West. So, with a big nod to the quarterbacks, here are my SEC West preseason rankings: • Alabama … Not time to pick otherwise yet. • Auburn … Stidham helps, but the stable of RBs and OL does, too. • Arkansas … Austin Allen leads the way in a Bielema offense that loves nothing more than showing the ball down defenses’ throats. • LSU … Look for Lowell Narcisse behind center before the year’s out. • Mississippi State … Nick Fitzgerald makes the Bulldogs a formidable foe. • Texas A&M … Down time for Kevin Sumlin. • Ole Miss … Even worse down time for Hugh Freeze. So there you go. A word of warning: please do not wager on these predictions. If you do, I’m not responsible for lost shirts. David Granger is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Elmore County newspapers. He can be reached at david. granger@thewetumpkaherald.com
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Champion hopes to max out all-star opportunity By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
Max Champion is a catcher. That one one word fairly well defines the Wetumpka High School rising senior. And he’s a talented catcher, too. Champion first donned catching gear at age eight with a little encouragement from his father. “It just took off from there,” Champion said. “I just took a knack to it. I guess you could say I was a natural.” Champion was recently chosen as one of 36 high school baseball players in the state to pay in the upcoming North-South baseball allstar game, set for July 18 at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium. David Granger / The Herald It’s an opportunity the Wetumpka High School rising senior catcher Max Champion was selected to play in the Alabama High School Athletic young man is looking forward Association’s North-South All-Star game July 18 in Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium. Champion is one of two catchers to. on the South squad. “I’m excited about the opportunity,” said Champion. Williamson and St. Luke’s State), Hartselle pitcher all-star opportunity will open Garrett Wade and Hewitt- some doors for his baseball “It’s pretty big from what I’ve shortstop Jeremiah Jackson. Trussville pitcher Carson career. Williamson is committed heard. I’ll be going up against “I’ve had a couple of Skipper (both committed to Alabama and Jackson to some good players. I’ve heard jucos come down here and to Auburn), Hueytown Mississippi State. that some of them are SEC The North squad features outfielder T. J. Reeves scout me, one from Meridien, commitments.” Indeed, the game will six SEC commitments: (committed to Alabama) and MIssissipp, I think, and another feature eight players who are Calera pitcher Jacob Smith Randolph outfielder Josh Hall one out of Montgomery,” said Champion. “I’m hoping this two years away from beginning (committed to Vanderbilt), (committed to Ole Miss). and Champion isn’t an SEC Cullman pitcher Will Morrison their SEC careers, including See CHAMPION • Page A8 T.R. Miller outfielder Drew (committed to Mississippi prospect yet, but he hopes his
Brad Bohannon introduced as Tide head baseball coach STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Brad Bohannon was formally introduced as the new head baseball coach at The University of Alabama by Director of Athletics Greg Byrne at a press conference in the Mal M. Moore Athletics Facility Monday morning. “As we were identifying potential candidates, Brad Bohannon’s name continued to surface,” said Byrne. “We sat down on Monday in our home in Tuscaloosa. What I thought it was going to be was an hour conversation of getting reintroduced to Brad and talking a little about the program, and about three and a half hours later he left my house. I could tell right away this is where he wanted to be. He wanted to work with our current team. He wanted to work with our alums and former baseball players and understands the importance in that. He wanted to work with our fanbase and our community. He had a really solid academic and compliance plan. He also had an incredible vision for recruiting.” Bohannon, the 2015 American Baseball Coaches Association and
Kent Gidley / Director of Athletic Photography
Alabama arhletic director Greg Byrne, left, welcomes new head baseball coach Brad Bohannon to Tuscaloosa on June 5 with a Crimson Tide jersey.
Baseball America National Assistant Coach of the Year, brings 14 years of Southeastern Conference coaching experience to Alabama after having served as an assistant at Kentucky from 2004-15 and, most recently,
Auburn from 2016-17. Regarded as one of the best recruiters in the nation, he was responsible for signing 13 Wildcat student-athletes that went on See TIDE • Page A8
Auburn briefs STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Auburn’s baseball season came to an end in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional final Monday night as host Florida State defeated the Tigers 6-0. The Tigers (37-26) made their farthest advance in a postseason since the 2010 season, earning their 20th all-time regional bid and playing in a winner-take-all game on the final day of the regional. “I thought we were going to get them,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “Getting to coach against Coach (Mike) Martin is a big deal to me, personally. (Florida State) has a feeling in their program of an expectation of winning, and that’s what we’re trying to build. Hopefully we can get to (that level) very soon.” The Seminoles took a 2-0 firstinning lead and FSU starter Will Zirzow (4-1) kept Auburn’s hitters off-balance all night as he pitched a complete game, holding Auburn to two hits on the night. AU’s Wiley, Okeke accept USA Basketball U19 World Cup Training Camp invites … Rising sophomore Austin Wiley and incoming freshman Chuma Okeke are
Most folks, when asked about whitewater rafting, think about Olympic kayak runs through treacherous canyons at blinding speed, dancing and pirouetting on the surface of raging, unsympathetic waters. But in central Alabama, a whitewater event of huge proportions is taking place on the Coosa River, which was once thought of as a dead river and ecosystem, but has blossomed into one of great diversity. The 2017 Coosa River Whitewater Festival, an annual event in its 32nd year, is this weekend, June 9-11, at the Coosa Outdoor Center. Proceeds from the event will benefit Corn Creek Park, a public river park in Wetumpka funded by the Coosa River Paddling Club.
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See FESTIVAL • Page A8
Kenneth Boone / The Herald
Paddlers at the 2016 Whitewater Festival celebrate a successful run down the Coosa River. The area should be packed with paddlers as this year’s festival nears.
Coosa River Whitewater Festival set for weekend By EVAN DUDLEY Special to the Wetumpka Herald
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to play professional baseball, including 2014 Golden Spikes Award winner A.J. Reed, while his first recruiting class at Auburn was ranked No. 9 by Collegiate Baseball and includes six current starting position players. “I really think anything can be achieved here at The University of Alabama,” said Bohannon. “My goal going forward is to make Alabama the absolute best place to place college baseball in the country, and we have everything we need in place to make that happen. We’re going to do that by being a players-first program.
Everything that we do as a coaching staff is going to be about making sure that our kids get their college degree, helping them grow as men and hopefully one day be great husbands and fathers while helping them become the best versions of themselves as a baseball player.” Bohannon played a pivotal role in turning around both Kentucky and Auburn within three years on the job. The Wildcats became the first team in SEC history to go from worst to first in only one season, winning 44 games and the program’s first league title in 2006,
while the Tigers won 12 more games in 2017 than in 2016 and advanced to the NCAA tournament. In addition to improving in the win column, the 2017 squad is on pace to set the school record for fielding percentage. McKee Honored as SEC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Alabama swimmer Anton McKee was presented as the 2017 H. Boyd McWhorter Male Southeastern Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year during the league’s annual awards banquet held Thursday night in Destin, Fla., during the league’s spring
meetings. McKee, who graduated in May with a degree in management information systems and a 4.0 grade point average, closed out his Crimson Tide career in April as the 2017 NCAA 200 breaststroke runner-up. He also earned multiple CoSIDA Academic AllAmerica honors while helping lead Alabama to three consecutive NCAA top-10 finishes, marking the first time Alabama has posted a trio of top-10 finishes in a row since 1981-83.
Champion helps me get my name out. I hope I really just show out at the allstar game and hopefully get some people looking at me. “Honestly, I want to have a good game hitting. Try to hit the best I can. Doubles, triples. Try to get some of those. Then just show out the best I can defensively. Throw out some people, block up good, stuff like that.” Asked whether his game his better offensively or defensively and Champion talks more like a defensive catcher, but feels his offense is “coming around.” “I think I used to be better defensively,” Champion said. “That’s always been my main thing. But my offense is coming
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around more now and I think things are more equal. I’m not just a defensive player anymore. “I’ve got a little bit of power, but mainly I’m a contact hitter, just getting on base and moving guys around and things like that.” And while some of the great sports unwashed call the catching gear “the tools of ignorance,” Champion knows they are far from that. He knows there is a reason so many catchers end up major league managers. “I think I’m a good defensive catcher because I block up well and just know the game in my head,” Champion said. “I know my pitchers and how to get them calmed down when they’re
getting ready to pitch. “All the good catchers know their pitchers and know everything they need to know abut their pitchers. How to calm them down and help them have a better game on the mound. Catching’s a hard position. Not a lot of people want to play catcher. So some guys either get back there because their coach told them to or they’re still trying to learn the game. Catching is a lot of knowledge and you have to have the right coaches to really excel at that knowledge part.” Champion gives credit to his father and former coach Taylor Register for doing the most to help him learn the toughest position on
the diamond. “My Dad helped me out,” Champion said. “Most of my travel ball coaches, too. I had a travel ball coach back when I was younger, Taylor Register, that was a catcher in college and he gave me the basic blueprint of what you need to know to be a successful catcher. Know the pitchers, know their pitches, know how to calm them down when they need it and let them know that everything’s going to be okay.” As far as his senior year at WHS, Champion nor any of the Indians that return for next year know yet who their coach will be. Mark Davis was recently
Auburn
dismissed as the head coach and no successor has yet been named. Champion said while it’s difficult, all he and his teammates can do is continue to give the program their best. “It’s been a lot,” Champion said. “We’ve gone through a couple coaches and it was hard to let go of another coach and have to learn everything all over again, but it’s just something we’ve got to get through. Something we’ve got to move past and play better ball. We’ve just got to try to do our best.”
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two of 25 athletes who have accepted USA Basketball U19 World Cup Team training camp invitations June 18-25 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Invitations were issued by the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee. Athletes eligible for this team must be 19 years old or younger (born on or after Jan. 1, 1998) and U.S. citizens. As the 2013 and 2015 FIBA U19 World Champion, the United States will look for a third consecutive gold medal at the July 1-9 event in Cairo, Egypt. “It’s an incredible honor to be given the opportunity to
represent your country in international basketball,” said Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. “Austin has experienced this before, and he has come home with gold and the experience of a lifetime. “I want to thank the U.S. Olympic Committee, Jerry Colangelo, Matt Painter and the selection committee for identifying Chuma Okeke. These invites are typically for McDonald All-American-type players only, but the committee saw through it, and they recognized what a truly outstanding player he is.” Wiley averaged 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18.1 minutes this past season while starting 21 of 22
games. The Hoover native shot 58.0 percent from the floor, scored a career-high 25 points at NIT Champion TCU on Jan. 28 and grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds at No. 23 South Carolina, which reached the Final Four. Okeke, who is ranked 41st nationally, totaled 35 points and 17 rebounds at the Cancer Research Classic on Jan. 11 for Westlake High. He totaled 35 points and 24 rebounds in an 89-83 triple overtime loss to Newton in the state playoffs on Feb. 24. Okeke led Westlake to the 2016 Georgia Class 6A state championship for the first time since 2002.
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“We want to provide an affordable weekend festival for a good cause,” said event organizer Lonnie Carden. “It’s a family-friendly outing and always a good time.” The weekend shoves off Friday with registration from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. with a full practice day from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in preparation for Saturday’s events. Evening entertainment Friday will be provided by Charlie C & Cuzamatics from 8-11 p.m. Saturday begins competition as shuttles leave for Moccasin Gap – a Class II/III whitewater stretch on the Coosa located approximately two miles upriver from the Coosa Outdoor Center – at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. The Junior
Freestyle begins at 11 a.m. followed by the Open Freestyle at noon. The Boater X, which is a relatively new event to whitewater rodeos in the form of a down river race, Sit-On-Top and Stand-Up-Paddler events begin at 2 p.m. with the final event, King of the Wave, set to start at 2:15 p.m. An awards ceremony will be held at 7:30 p.m. followed by music from Bobby Barfield and the Blue Ridge Ramblers. The festival comes to a close Sunday with the family-oriented Lazy Day Paddler float, Hometown Throw Down and the Classic Ender competition. The float takes place between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and the Hometown Throw Down – a competition judged by paddlers themselves – begins at 11 a.m. The festival
concludes with the Classic Ender which showcases traditional kayak dances in classic model boats. “It’s amazing we’ve been at this for 32 years,” Carden said. “There have many obstacles to overcome in bringing this wonderful event to life every year but it’s worth the work.” Registration is $30 and includes camping, entertainment and shuttles to the competition area. The campgrounds will close to the public during the festival. For more information, contact the Coosa Outdoor Center at 334-202-3050 or 334-201-5510.
Registration open for alligator hunts STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) opened online registration for the state’s 12th annual regulated alligator hunts June 2 at 8 a.m. Registration must be completed by 8 a.m. July 11. A total of 260 Alligator Possession Tags will be distributed among four hunting zones (Elmore County is not in an alligator hunting zone). The administrative fee to apply for an Alligator Possession Tag is $22 and individuals may register one time per zone. While the tag is free, the selected hunters and their assistants are required to have valid hunting licenses in their possession while hunting. Only Alabama residents and Alabama lifetime license holders ages 16 years or older may apply for tags. Alabama lifetime license holders may apply for an Alligator Possession Tag even if they have moved out of the state. To register for the 2017 alligator hunts visit www. outdooralabama.com/registration-instructions during the registration period. Hunters will be randomly selected by computer to receive one Alligator Possession Tag each, and the tags are nonw-
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transferable. The random selection process will utilize a preference point system. The system increases the likelihood of repeat registrants being selected for a hunt as long as the applicant continues to apply. The more years an applicant participates in the registration, the higher the likelihood of being selected. If an applicant does not register for the hunt in a given year or is selected and accepts a tag for a hunt, the preference point status is forfeited. Applicants should check their selection status on July 12 after 12 p.m. Those selected to receive a tag must confirm their acceptance online by 8 a.m. July 19. After that date, alternates will be notified to fill any vacancies. Applicants drawn for the hunt must attend a mandatory zone-specific Alligator Training Course provided by the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. If hunters have attended a previous training course, they may be exempted from this requirement. If selected for an Alligator Possession Tag at two or more locations, hunters must choose which location they would like to hunt. The slot for locations not chosen will be filled from a list of randomly selected alternates. Hunting zones, total tags issued per zone and hunt dates
are as follows: Southwest Alabama Zone – 150 Tags Locations: Private and public waters in Baldwin and Mobile counties, and private and public waters in Washington, Clarke and Monroe counties that lie east of U.S. Highway 43 and south of U.S. Highway 84. 2017 Dates: 8 p.m. Aug. 10 until 6 a.m. Aug. 13, and 8 p.m. Aug. 17 until 6 a.m. Aug. 20(nighttime only). Southeast Alabama Zone – 40 Tags Locations: Private and public waters in Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Russell counties (excluding public Alabama state waters in Walter F. George Reservoir/Lake Eufaula and its navigable tributaries). 2017 Dates: 8 p.m. Aug. 12 until 6 a.m. Sept. 4 (nighttime only). West Central Alabama Zone – 50 Tags Locations: Private and public waters in Monroe (north of U.S. Highway 84), Wilcox and Dallas counties. 2017 Dates: 8 p.m. Aug. 10 until 6 a.m. Aug. 13, and 8 p.m. Aug. 17 until 6 a.m. Aug. 20(nighttime only). Lake Eufaula Zone – 20 Tags Location: Public state waters only in the Walter F. George Reservoir/Lake Eufaula and its navigable tributaries, south of Alabama Highway 208 at Omaha Bridge (excludes Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge). 2017 Dates: Sunset Aug. 18 until sunrise Oct. 2 (day and night). An 8-foot minimum length requirement is in effect for alligators harvested in the Lake Eufaula Zone. There is no minimum length for hunts in the other zones. Hunting hours are 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the Southwest, Southeast and West Central zones. For the Lake Eufaula Zone, hunting is allowed both daytime and nighttime hours. All Alabama hunting and boating regulations must be followed. The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is the largest reptile in North America and can exceed 14 feet in length and 1,000 pounds. Known for its prized meat and leather, the species was threatened with extinction due to unregulated harvest during the 1920s, 30s and 40s. No regulations existed in those days to limit the number of alligators harvested. In 1938, it is believed that Alabama was the first state to protect alligators by outlawing these unlimited harvests. Other states soon followed and in 1967, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service placed the American alligator on the Endangered Species list. By 1987, the species was removed from the Endangered Species list and the alligator population has continued to expand. Its history illustrates an excellent conservation success story.
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5 correction officers arrested in bribery scheme, ADOC reports ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn said in the report the ADOC Investigations and Intelligence Several state correctional officers were Division’s Corruption and Fraud swept up in an internal investigation by Task Force that unearthed the the Alabama Department of Corrections at scheme was developed in 2016 and Staton Correctional Facility, among them fully staffed in February of this year. a Wetumpka man arrested on a charge Of the five officers arrested, of using his position for personal gain, four including McDowell resigned according to ADOC. and one, Patrick Jones, 42, of Scrolling through court records at McDowell Montgomery was placed on any given time one might come across mandatory leave. numerous hearings set in Elmore County The remaining officers include: courts for incarcerated persons allegedly in • Joshua Alexander, 26, Hayneville possession of a cellphone. • Ronald Dickerson, 23, Montgomery According to the report, last year more than • Leonard Scott, 31, Montgomery 3,500 illegal cellphones were seized by ADOC Horton said all five had since been released and over 70 contraband arrests were made. from Elmore County Jail. ADOC Communications Director Bob According to the report, “The DOC Horton said he could not speculate if any of investigation revealed the officers accepted those might have originated around the same bribes ranging from home electronics, clothing, time as the state’s investigation but said, “We and automobile accessories to a cruise purchased have seen an uptick in significant incidents.” by inmates who were using contraband He said theses incidents were occurring at cellphones for creating online money accounts Elmore, Staton and Draper prisons and the that facilitated the scheme.” incidents he was referring to were bribery. The report also details March ADOC efforts He was quick to attribute the rise in contraband in Washington, D.C. to petition the Federal to “severe overcrowding and understaffing.” Communications Commission for technology One of the main tools for bribery, Horton to somehow disable or render ineffective said, were cellphones. cellphones used in prisons. “It was uncovered the cellphones were being Horton said there are laws prohibiting the used as part of the bribery,” Horton said. “The jamming of cellphone signals which restrict both cellphones are primarily used for criminal federal and state agencies from the practices activity inside and outside state prisons.” and “there are technologies to mitigate and Horton listed among those activities extortion, effectively render cell phones from being used intimidating victims and drug trafficking. but the technology is limited in its capability.” In all, five officers were arrested on the The report states ADOC has increased its charge and Horton said they were booked into searches and inspections and is installing new Elmore County Jail. body scanners plus considering the use of Court records show Wetumpka’s Jarod canine units. McDowell, 29, was released on a bond of Horton said he did not know if a certain $10,000 after his arrest on May 24. phone was more prevalent than others among ADOC states there was a three-month these incidents investigation into the “bribery scheme” among “We uncover a variety of different type officers and inmates. phones,” Horton said. “In return for giving inmates contraband such He also said the investigation, arrests and as drugs and cellphones, investigators found cellphone crackdown was not in relation to that the inmates were using the cellphones recent prison strikes occurring numerous times to illegally purchase items for the officers in last year across the country and even in Elmore exchange for contraband,” the report states. County prisons. By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Hawkins joins Herald staff as ad account manager STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Marilyn Hawkins has joined the marketing and advertising team at Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. as an advertising account manager, focusing primarily on the Wetumpka market. Marilyn will be based in Wetumpka and will work closely with local businesses and organizations to promote their brand through print and digital media. Hawkins brings with her a wealth of advertising and marketing knowledge and has been a resident of Wetumpka for 13 years. “We are thrilled to have someone of Marilyn’s caliber on our team,” said Advertising Director Tippy Hunter. “The media experience alone makes her a solid step in the right direction for our company. Add to that her deep-rooted knowledge of Elmore County and, I believe, you have a winning combination for our company and local business who will be able to translate her knowledge into their bottom line.”
Retail Sales Manager Tabby Edwards advertisers will benefit from the qualities that Hawkins brings to the position. “Elmore County is such a rapidly growing area and we are beyond excited to have Marilyn,” Edwards said. Hawkins “With her knowledge and experience in media and her effervescent personality, we know she will be a tremendous resource for the businesses in our coverage area.” Hawkins has been on board for only a couple of weeks, but has been busy meeting with business owners and building relationships. “I am looking forward to establishing a solid working relationship with the people of Elmore County and help focus on positive results in our advertising efforts,” Hawkins said. Hawkins can be reached at marilyn. hawkins@thewetumkaherald.com or by calling 334-567-7811 ext. 309.
Bulletproof His project name listed on the awards results of the Society For Science and the Public’s website is: “Shear Radial Strength: Combining Web Geometry with Shear Thickening Fluids to Create a Better Body Armor.” The society that sponsored his award, the SEM has three points stated as goals: “(to) increase the knowledge of physical phenomena; (b) further the understanding of the behavior of materials, structures and systems; and (c) provide the necessary physical basis and verification for analytical and computational approaches to the development of engineering solutions.” Asked where he got the idea for the project, Lynn said it came when he read an article two years ago. While a WHS freshman he said he was perusing the topic of a Tennessee thinktank that had developed a 3D printed fabric for planes that could withstand explosions. He said it begged the question , “How is there a 3D flexible material that could be that strong?” Asked where the drive came from to build better body armor, Lynn said it was a patriotic chore. “I’m an Eagle Scout,” Lynn said. “So anything for the country.” Lynn said he was the only student from Elmore County to compete and was told the last time an Elmore County
Litigation members were gathering minus a mayor. A few minutes later Mayor Jerry Willis emerged from his mayoral chambers where he had apparently been in talks with at least one of the parties interested in the meeting. Two items were on the agenda: • Approval to order an appraisal for former Armory property for Coosa River Health Care Authority • Discussion of possible litigation A local broadcaster present seemed only interested in the former and interviewed Willis after the meeting for a segment appearing later that night. After the appraisal was approved for the CRHCA’s proposed property, Edwards said she advised the council to enter into executive session for 10 minutes. When they returned Willis asked if there was a proposed resolution and District One Councilman Kevin Robbins made a motion for a professional service contract with a Montgomery based legal firm Cappell and Howard for its legal services. District Four Councilman Steve Gantt gave the second, and District Two Councilman Percy Gill was the lone detractor. “That carries,” Willis said. Later in a phone conversation Gill spoke about his vote against the professional services agreement with the law firm. He said he could not talk about the specifics of the discussion that took place in the executive session, but gave what he said was his reasoning for voting against the resolution. The contract with Capell and Howard and the talks of “possible litigation” related to a downtown utilities relocation the city introduced in April, and Gill said he voted against it due to its cost. “They gave me one figure early on and then when we set down to talk about what was presented that figure had doubled,” said Gill. “If the figures are already doubling, no … no I’m not going to support that.” The planned relocation first appeared on an agenda early in April as an ordinance proposing the “direct relocation of overhead utilities on certain streets in Central Business District.” Both Alabama Power and AT&T are now engaged in talks with the city over the ordinance due to the city’s stance that the companies are responsible for the cost of the utilities relocation. Reports from later meetings stated Birmingham based law firms were brought in on behalf of Alabama Power to dispute the city’s claim the companies were responsible for the relocation of their facilities underground. Dan McCrary with the law firm Balch and Bingham rep-
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student had won was nearly a decade ago. From the entire state, Lynn said a delegation of 17 projects were entered from students at public, private and magnet schools. He said his project’s premise revolved around the question: “How do you make body armor lighter weight without decreasing its effectiveness?” “The project I was doing was about body armor. I was trying to make a better body armor by improving the textile itself,” Lynn said. He said he did this by changing its weave. Lynn described what he said was the current pattern of the strands of strong plastic material that make up current vests under the popularized trade name “Kevlar.” He said there was a grid based weave, also known as a tabby weave, in the material used to stop speeding projectiles, e.g. bullets, shrapnel, etc. “I used a hexagonal weave,” Lynn said. “It actually creates a triangle, a triangular pore.” Examining the material of current vests, he said one would observe perpendicular crosses of the plastic threads. “With the hexagonal it implements the third thread,” Lynn said. “It cuts the pore size in half ... creates a tighter weave and increased strength.” On top of the new design he said he
THE WETUMPKA HERALD
coated the threads with a thickening fluid, what he called an application of “liquid body armor” made up of polythelene glycol 200 (PEG 200) and calcium carbonate. His project was reported to have yielded positive results. From projectiles fired at the conventional fabric versus Lynn’s proprietary blend of chemicals and textures, reportedly his design stopped all but two compared with the zero stopped by the former. Asked what he wants to do after school and if its along these lines, Lynn said, “I’m not completely sure.” He said he was considering the Navy, where he said he had already qualified to be a nuclear engineer. However Lynn said his interests are heavily mathematics oriented and some of his favorite numbers follow dollar signs. “I’m considering a finance-math based degree,” Lynn said. “I like numbers and I like dollar signs in front of the numbers.” Asked what he thought of his school trip to LA, Lynn said, “It’s very nice. We got to go to Santa Monica. We got to tour Hollywood.” However he said it was not his first trip to the Boulevard of Dreams. That was his trip to the 2014 college football national championship.
continued from page A1 resenting Alabama Power said the decision would fall to the Alabama Public Service Commission. The Herald is waiting on a reply from the APSC on this matter, but in the April meeting McCrary reportedly said he was confident its decision would not be in the city’s favor. Gill said it was a gamble, and he said he thought it was a game the city would not win. “It’s like a roulette game.” A game, Gill said, “that I think is going to be costly to the taxpayers so I voted no on continuing to pursue litigation. Because I don’t want to see the taxpayers footing the bill on something that I don’t think we’re going to come out ahead on.” “I’m a little bit more conservative,” Gill said. “I’m not for spending on additional legal fees. That money could be put to better use.” The Friday following the Wednesday special meeting, Edwards said she could not comment on the details of the executive session and also could not comment on any potential litigation. She suggested to contact her again in roughly a week-and-ahalf for further information. The next council meeting was Monday, June 5 and the subject did not reappear on the agenda. On the nature of the city’s contract with the law firm, Edwards said, “We have retained them to represent the city and give us advice on legal matters.” Alabama Power’s Area Manager Mike Jordan and AT&T’s External and Legislative Affairs Regional Director Ty Fondren were at the special meeting, and involved in prior debate with the city over the relocation of utilities downtown as part of the city’s renovation efforts for the area. She said they were there as part of the initial ordinance’s requirement the companies prepare and provide plans for the relocations. “They were there to present their plan on the utilities,” Edwards said. “We had passed a ordinance about a month ago … We’re doing this project. They were there just to submit their drawings.” AT&T spokesperson Catherine Stengel said they were not “in a position to comment at this point.” Alabama Power’s Mike Jordan said, “We were bound by the ordinance to provide how we would comply within 30 days.” He said they provided the information to the city at the meeting and at this point he could not speak to any proposed litigation. “As far as as we’re concerned I believe we are in compliance with what the ordinance has asked us to do,” Jordan said. “At this point we’re awaiting response from the city.”
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Participate in your Herald and Observer by calling 256-234-4281, faxing them to 256-234-6550, sending your event to the.editor@thewetumpkaherald.com or logging on to http://www.thewetumpkaherald.com/. Now-June 22 Do you want to play a game? Join the Businesses of Downtown Wetumpka as we have our first Photo Scavenger Hunt! Beginning May 22 and running through June 22 you will search Downtown Wetumpka for many special items located inside our businesses and snap a SELFIE with that item. The more Selfies you take better your chance to win. Over $400 in prizes to be given away including prizes from Grumpy Dog, Vault Variety, Creed Gym, Curves, Scent Wizards and many more. For more information contact Scent Wizards at 334478-3801. Now – July 25 The Wetumpka Public Library will begin its summer reading series, “Build a Better World,” for children entering grades 1-6. There will be a weekly event at the Wetumpka Civic Center each Tuesday from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. These are specially designed activities to encourage children to enjoy reading and maintain their reading skills over the summer holiday. Participants will be given journals to log the books they read and how much time they spend reading. For more information visit www.wetumpkalibrary.com or call (334) 567-1308. June 8 – July 27 The Wetumpka Public Library will begin its summer series for students entering grades 7 – 12. Movies will be shown weekly on Thursdays at 1 p.m. at the library. For more information call (334) 567-1308 or visit www.wetumpkalibrary.com June 17 Join the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce for an in-depth 5 hour paranormal investigation of the most haunted building in Wetumpka from 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. Reservations include a “Paranormal 101” class at the Chamber. Register online at www.wetumpkachamber.com. Call (334) 567-4811 or email jyoung@wetumpkachamber.org for more information.