INSIDE TODAY
Holtville shines in Wetumpka invite.
Opinion page 4
The reality behind the electoral college and swing states.
Sports Page 11
THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
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WEDNESDAY • MARCH 2, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 118, NO.9
ELECTION RESULTS: Daugherty, Stubbs, Houston big winners STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Voters in Elmore County elected two new county commissioners and gave overwhelming approval to District Attorney Randall Houston, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Martha Roby. It was also a big night for 19th Circuit District Attorney Randall Houston who was a big winner over challenger Casey Biggs. Houston finished with a whopping 71 percent of the vote.
“I’m grateful to the voters of the 19th District for again giving me the opportunity to serve them as district attorney,” Houston said. It was the county commission where the big news was made. Challenger Kenny Holt beat out incumbent Mark Hragyil, but will head to a runoff with Shanna Chamblee in District 1. Hragyil had served for two terms. Holt had 1,570 votes and Chamblee had 196 in unofficial totals. Hragyil had posted 867 votes.
over the last four months and I want to personally thank my precious wife and my family who have worked tirelessly. It wasn’t my victory; it was everyone’s victory that lives in District 2. …We’re very thankful, but more importantly we are very humbled that the people would entrust us with their vote.” County Commission Chairman David Bowen, who had been a bit of a lightning rod during his term, was upset by Troy Stubbs in District 3 in Tuesday’s GOP See ELECTION • Page 12
Former commissioner Mack Daugherty beat James “Trey” Taylor in District 2. The unofficial vote total was 966 for Daugherty to 770 for Taylor. Daugherty was relieved and grateful following Tuesday’s election. “I am very humbled and appreciative to the voters of District Two. I can assure them without any reservation that I won’t let them down,” he said. “I will serve all the people in the best way possible. “It is a relief,” Daugherty said. “I had a lot of volunteers to work very hard
WINSTON’S LAW IS LAW
Judge suspends court action for Hallee McLeod pending results
Wetumpka crater tour draws crowds to area
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
A Wetumpka mother, who is accused of the brutal beating of her 4-year-old son, has been ordered to undergo a mental evaluation. Hallee Ann McLeod, 28, was scheduled to be in court for a bond hearing on Tuesday, but that date has been pushed back after Judge Ben Fuller ordered the pre-trial mental evaluation on Friday before she was to enter a plea. The order means McLeod that there will be no additional court action until the evaluation is complete. According to Fuller’s order, the evaluation will strive to determine among other things: • The mental condition of the defendant at the time of the alleged offense. • If the opinion is that the defendant suffered from mental disease or defect at the time of the alleged offense, the relationship, if any, of such mental disease or defect to the alleged offense. • The intelligence quotient or “IQ” of the Defendant and its affect, if any, on • The defendant’s ability to
The public recently had its only chance out the year to stroll the grounds of the site of the impact that left a roughly 5-mile-wide crater and permanently shaped the face of what would become Wetumpka. The interested parties had the chance to learn about a time long before Wetumpka was Wetumpka. According to geologists who studied the area it was a time when there was no one or no thing that did not swim as the area was covered by ocean waters. And in a flash, under one minute and the force of who-knowshow-many atomic bombs a mountainous rim was formed out of the waters in the midst of the shallow ocean that covered what we know today as Wetumpka. What force permanently altered our landscape and formed the gaping crater that has withstood nearly 100 million years of weather? A giant rock that was hurdling through space at thousands of miles per second struck what would later be known as Wetumpka. The Wetumpka Impact Crater See CRATER • Page 3
Judge orders evaluation for abuse suspect
See ABUSE • Page 3
Submitted / The Herald
Gov. Robert Bentley hands Alabama Children First’s Christy Cain a pen from Tuesday’s signing of Winston’s Law in Montgomery. Winston, for whom the bill is named smiles big as Disrtict Attorney Randall Houston looks on.
Bentley signs bill adding teeth to abuse sentences By MITCH SNEED Editor
Those convicted of aggravated child abuse now face the possibility of life in prison after Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed Winston’s Law on Tuesday. The bill was introduced following the indictment of Wetumpka’s Hallee McLeod, a mother who is accused of severely abusing her 4-year-old son. The bill was championed by 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Randall Houston who asked the Alabama Legislature to increase the possible max-
imum penalty for aggravated child abuse for a child under six years of age to life in prison. Under current Alabama law, aggravated child abuse is a Class B felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison, but the new law will elevate the crime to a Class A felony punishable by 10 to 99 years, or life, in prison in cases involving a child younger than six-years-old. By elevating the punishment, this crime will be raised to the same level as attempted murder charges. “It was an incredible day,” Houston See WINSTON • Page 5
Wetumpka FFA hosts petting zoo for elementary students Wetumpka High School students and FFA members brought the fun of the farm to elementary students in a half-day petting zoo last Friday, Feb. 26 as part of National FFA Week. From left to right are: William Pierce, Marshall Alexander, John Graham, Hannah Overton.
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Corey Arwood / The Herald
The Wetumpka Elementary School students were treated to a day of fun with farm animals by their high school counterparts in the FFA, who brought a farm’s worth of animals to their playground for a half-day petting zoo. The lineup included the usual characters found in a storybook farm, from pigs, chickens,
goats, a dog and even a turkey. But despite all of the useful farm animals they brought, both Jason Tew, FFA director, and Bonnie Sullivan, WES principal said the miniature horse was the clear crowd favorite. “They were just learning about farm animals and getting to see farm animals,” Sullivan said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for them to seem the
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Area Calendar March 3
SCHOOL BOARD: Elmore County School Board Meeting will hold a Special Called Board Meeting on Thursday, March 3, at 4:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at Elmore County Board of Education, Boardroom at 100 H. H. Robison Drive, Wetumpka, AL for information call 334-567-1200 or emailwww.elmoreco.com. The purpose of the meeting is to consider a personnel action and other board business. A Work Session will be held following the special called board meeting. LITERACY NIGHT: March 3rd is Literacy Night at WES Activity Center. The public is invited and are encouraged to dress
up as your favorite book character!
March 5
PRAYER AND HEALING SUMMIT: Open Arms International Outreach Ministry is hosting a Prophetic Prayer and Healing Summit March 5 at 3 p.m. at the Jeanette Barrett Civic Room behind the Wetumpka Depot Players. Free and open to the public. FISHING TOURNAMENT: The Eclectic Volunteer Fire Department is host a fishing tournament on March 5 at Wind Creek State Park from safe daylight until 3 p.m. The entry fee for this tournament is $100 per boat and there is a $5
THE WETUMPKA HERALD Hadlee Brooks, Logan Brouillard, Lawson Brouillard, Aidan Brantley, Abri Brantley, sister-in-law, Helen Hand, and special friend, Phyllis Smith. Pallbearers will be Stan Hinson, Rick Brouillard, Sammy Turner, Hassey Brooks, Randy Thomas, and Russ Brooks. A special thanks from the family to Southern Care Hospice and caregivers Ronald and Ethal who treated her with love and care. Visitation will be heldThursday, March 3, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Gassett Funeral Home. Online Guest Book available atwww.gassettfuneralhome.net
Obituaries
launch fee that is required by the state park. Wetumpka City Council Meeting When: March 7, 6 p.m. Where: Wetumpka City Hall Details: A work session will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the regular meeting. ORIENTATION: Wetumpka Elementary School’s Kindergarten Orientation is on Monday, March 14. Registration begins at 3:30 p.m. and an Information Program is at 5:30 p.m.. Elmore County BOE Meeting When: March 14, 4:30 p.m. Where: Eclectic Elementary School Details: Anyone wishing to be placed on the regular board meeting agenda must make an official request to the superintendent’s office before 4 p.m.
March 18
TURF MEETING: The Alabama Cooperative Extension System will be conduction an athletic turf management meeting a the Elmore County Extension Service March 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $10 and you must pre-register at 334-567-6301. This meeting is for coaches or anyone from a school who manages athletic turf and for City Parks and Recreation employees that manage city fields. Topics to be discussed are mowing, aeration, topdressing, irrigation and drainage, overseeding and transition, and maintaining pitcher’s mounds. Dr. Dave han and Dr. Chip East will be conducting this meeting. SPAGHETTI LUNCHEON: First United
Ocie James Colley
Ocie James Colley, 92, of Prattville, passed away February 11, 2016 after a bout with pneumonia. Ocie was the son of Hugh Hall Colley and Mary Powell Colley, and the brother of Reese Colley of Wetumpka. His deceased wife was Mary Novis Huggins Colley and his deceased son was Philip Samuel Colley. He is survived by his son, James Ronald Colley of Carrollton, Georgia. Ocie’s remains were cremated and a visitation will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, March 6, 2016 at Antioch Church in Weoka. In lieu of flowers it is requested that donations be made to the Antioch Church Cemetery Fund.
Helen Jane Thomas
Sara Ann Weldon Young
THOMAS, Helen Jane, a resident of Wetumpka, Al; passed away Monday, February 29, 2016 at the age of 85. She is now experiencing the joy of her Jesus Christ and family. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Gassett Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. James Troglen and Rev. Gerald Wood officiating. Burial will follow at Pine View Gardens with Gassett Funeral Home of Wetumpka directing. Mrs. Thomas is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Lee Thomas, mother, Mary Jane Hand, father, Charlie Lee Hand, sisters, Maudie Rainwater, Mae Dennis, Mary Champion, and brother, John Lee Hand. She is survived by her son, Randy (Chris) Thomas, daughter, Lynn (Dennis) Brouillard, grandchildren, Randy (Chrissy) Thomas II, Ashley (Hassey) Brooks, Richard “Rick” (Lindsay) Brouillard, Casey (Brent) Brantley, step-grandsons, Jason and Roby, great-grandchildren, Ashley Nicole Thomas, Kayla Thomas, Chase Madrid, Methodist Church of Wetumpka, will have their annual Relay for Life Spaghetti Luncheon following the 10:30 worship service on March 20th, 2016 located in the Family Life Center. During lunch, coloring contest and face painting will be available. After the luncheon, children birth - 6th grade, will have an Easter Egg Hunt. Come out and join them on this special day, celebrating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Don’t forget to bring your Easter baskets and a friend! Wetumpka City Council Meeting When: March 21, 6 p.m. Where: Wetumpka City Hall Details: A work session will begin at 6 p.m.,
Many a
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Young, Sara Ann (Weldon), age 82, died peacefully at her daughter’s home in Lilburn, GA on Friday, February 26, 2016. She was born and raised in Wetumpka and lived in Mobile, Tampa and Jacksonville FL before returning to Wetumpka in 1976. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Frank “Shank” Young; her parents, Curtis and Ruth Weldon; a sister, Maribel Watson; and two brothers, Curtis Jr. and Gary “Buddy” Weldon. She is survived by a son, Charles Frank “Chuck” (Joyce) Young, Jr.; a daughter, Dana Lynn (Brad) Baird; five grandchildren; Jessica Leigh Young Brannon, Charles Justin (Ashley) Young, Christopher Frank Young, Brett William Baird and Ashley Anne Baird, and two great-grandchildren; Mason Jordan Brannon and Charleigh Grace Young. Visitation will held on Wednesday, March 2 from 2 - 4 p.m. at Wetumpka Memorial Funeral Home. A celebration of her life will be on Thursday, March 3 at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Wetumpka with Wetumpka Memorial Funeral Home directing. Now she’ll join the chorus in that great city, and she’ll sing up there for evermore.
followed by the regular meeting.
March 30
ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOP: There will be a free estate planning and asset protection workshop at the Archibald Senior Center. Education workshop presented by local attorney Raley Wiggins. Topics include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, living wills, long-term care, Medicaid qualification, and probate administration. Also, how to protect your assets from: divorce, remarriage, creditors, bankruptcy, and nursing homes. Registration is required. Call (334)-625-6774 or online at www.redoaklegalpc.com. Community
Celebration BBQ Cookoff When: April 24, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Where: 7250 Central Plank Rd. Wetumpka, AL 36092 Details: Event is free. Come enjoy food, fun and fellowship and inflatables for the kids.
May 21
PADDLE FOR A PURPOSE: Children’s Harbor Lake Martin Campus is hosting Paddle for a Purpose May 21 at 8:30 a.m. Registration fees are $35 for the mile race and $45 for the 3 and 6 mile race. This event is part of the SUP the South race series. Non-racers are welcome to watch.
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Crater Commission led groups of about 12 on a bus ride of around five or so stops over the key defining characteristics of the crater. Students from the Auburn University Department of Geosciences rode along as their guides. One of those was David Adrian a 23-year-old masters student in the Department of Geosciences. Adrian said their first stop was at a site just off of US Highway 231 where he showed his group the rock where the impact was thought to have penetrated and where it overturned. He said he explained it to his crowd as a sideways “U.” “But you only see the bottom part of it since 85 million years of ero-
continued from page 1
sion got rid of a lot of it,” Adrian explained. From there he led them on to an area, locally know as, “Bald Knob.” He said from the vantage point there they could see from one side of the crater to the other; from its western rim all the way to its eastern rim, Adrian said. He showed them exposed bedrock and went to what is probably the most well known area of the crater with jagged cliffs of multicolored sands and clays, formed after the tsunami from the impact drew back in the some of the minerals of the soil it had blown out, Adrian said. He was veteran tour guide for event held only one day out the year and Adrian said that the efforts of the Wetumpka Impact Crater
Commission that day seemed well received by the visitors on their tours. “They were really interested, and really wanted to learn about it,” Adrian said. “A lot of them grew up around there and they just never really knew anything about it.” Kevin Robbins, a member of the Wetumpka City Council acts as the council representative for the WICC. He drove one of the tour buses on Saturday, Feb. 27, the only public viewing and the day before which was designated for school groups only. He said the event brings a lot of people to Wetumpka. One couple on his bus, Robbins said had “traveled the world” and had Wetumpka’s impact crater on
Zoo animals they might hear about in school and make that connection.” She said it helped to familiarize the elementary students with the animals they often read about in their lessons and books. The FFA director said it was a leadership exercise for the older students who organized and presented the informational petting zoo at the elementary school. He said they enjoyed the event
Abuse
continued from page 1
understand the proceedings and reasonably assist an attorney in the defense against the charges. An Elmore County grand jury indicted McLeod in connection with the September 2015 abuse of her son, charging her with one count of aggravated child abuse and one count of chemical endangerment of a child. The little boy was found in back of her boyfriend’s vehicle in Florida unresponsive near the Bay County Courthouse. Emergency medical technicians said the boy had bruises all over his body and extreme bruising to the groin area. McLeod also faces charges of chemical endangerment of a child after the child was found to have traces of prescription drugs in his system. Investigators indicated that the boy did not have a prescription for those medications. McLeod remains in the Elmore County Jail on a $300,000 bond.
MARCH 2, 2016 • Page 3
their list to visit. He said it was one of only two marine impact craters in the country and was of historical, educational and economic importance to the area. One of WICC’s goals is to build an interpretative center to further encourage tourism to site and the city, Robbins said. The WICC publicity and tour chairman, Marilee Tankersley said this year’s event was a success with over 100 people attending the tours. “The feedback we got was fabulous,” Tankersley said. She said a common reaction she heard from those that attended was, “Gosh I wish I’d done this before.”
continued from page 1
along with younger students but they were there on a mission to teach and by the end of the event they got a brief glimpse into the day of an educator. “They were tired they didn’t realize how much it took teaching,” Tew said. “It was a educational process for them too.” William Pierce, FFA president, and senior at WHS led the project, which Tew said was part of National FFA
Week. “I thought it was a great opportunity for the kids,” Tew said. “Especially for the high school (students) to be able to interact with elementary kids.” He said they taught the elementary students about why they raised the farm animals and the event itself was part of the FFA’s broader goal to teach agriculture to the community. Tew said the event went smooth-
ly and there were no bites, kicks, or scratches from any ornery goat, chicken, or the seemingly sedate miniature horse. This weekend, Tew said students from area schools were going to the Farm City event, part of the Auburn University Cooperative Extension System, which will be held at the Elmore County Extension location across from the Farmer’s Coop in Wetumpka.
Kenneth Boone, Publisher Mitch Sneed, Managing Editor Opinions expressed in guest columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the management of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.
OPINION
Page A4 • MARCH 2, 2016
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Opinion
Prison reform punishes victims, not criminals
T
here is no question that Alabama’s prison system is a mess. Overcrowding, poor conditions and a history littered with abuse of all kinds are just part of what is wrong in the places where criminals are supposed to pay for their crimes. Beginning at the State of the State Address, Gov. Robert Bentley introduced an ambitious plan that will build new prisons, hopefully addressing the conditions that some of the state’s prisons have become famous for. Yes, prisons do need to be replaced, but what came along with the reforms are changes to the sentencing structure that will give criminals such light sentences that it makes crime victims ask the question: Are they getting punished at all? The reforms include: • Creating a new category of felonies (Class D) meant to cover the least serious nonviolent crimes. Those sentenced under the new category would rarely go to prison. • Hiring more parole and probation officers to supervise inmates on the outside. • Establishing less severe punishment for those who commit “technical” violations of probation and parole, such as missing an appointment with an officer. • Forcing the parole board to disclose the reasons they reject parole. Parole approval rates in Alabama dropped from 43 percent in 2008 to 30 percent in 2013. • Giving convicted felons greater opportunities to serve their sentences in their home communities rather than prison. In a community corrections program, adopted and run at the county level, the offender must attend counseling and treatment programs at a facility during the day, with the freedom in most cases to return home at night. Is this what most of Alabamians want? No. In a state where the party of law and order and being tough on crime rules, legislators have passed a set of reforms that will make it almost impossible to keep those convicted locked up for any length of time. We would ask citizens who think this isn’t right and that it’s not what they want to contact their elected state officials and speak out. The victims of crime deserve far better.
Broadband internet competition is positive for Alabama
F
or Alabama’s economy to flourish in the twenty-first century, it is essential that all Alabama families, schools, and businesses have access to highspeed Internet. And the best route to provide the best product always involves competition. If a fifth grader in a rural Alabama county can only access the Internet via a dial-up connection, she will be at a competitive disadvantage compared to her peers in Birmingham or Atlanta. For a recent college graduate who has moved back to his hometown to start a new business, access to quality, high-speed Internet is essential to grow his company and create jobs. A young doctor opening a rural health clinic must send huge amounts of data to other medical practices and hospitals to effectively care for her patients. In each instance, data and information must be transmitted quickly via broadband networks for our Alabama student, entrepreneur, and doctor to succeed. Yet there is a roadblock confronting Alabama’s economic growth: right now, only 66 percent of Alabamians have access to highspeed (broadband) Internet and only a minority of that 66 percent have Internet access via fiber-optic cable. Fiber-optic is a method of delivering broadband that is significantly faster than either cable or DSL, the two alternative delivery modes for broadband. So currently, some Alabamians don’t have access to any high-speed Internet and far too few have access to the fastest delivery method in fiber-optic broadband. Because of the large initial cost to install fiber optic networks nec-
TOM WHATLEY Guest Columnist
essary for broadband Internet, many private telecom/cable companies are unwilling to invest in extending crucial Internet services to rural Alabama. That is why only 44 percent of Alabamians living outside cities have broadband Internet service, according to the Federal Communications Commission. To help fill the broadband gap and spur economic growth, I have introduced legislation in the Alabama Senate to allow public providers of municipal telecommunication services to invest in fiber optic broadband Internet networks. These public entities are already delivering much needed phone service and other utilities to areas that traditionally would not receive a connection. Now, they need to be given the same chance to help increase high-speed Internet connectivity. It levels the playing field for competition, which only benefits consumers. My legislation will improve Internet access by creating new providers, which will directly correlate to increased economic development. Locking our municipal telecom providers into arcane coverage areas is a shortsighted approach to protect growth-limiting monopolies. I believe competition is a good thing for consumers. Internet providers – private and municipal alike – have a profit motive to provide the best service at the best price. However, the municipal service
does not have to generate large profits for shareholders, which means they are more likely to expand coverage to areas where a longer return on capital investment is expected. Some private companies like Google have decided to partner with cities like Huntsville and Austin, Texas to build new fiber-optic networks. That is wonderful. But I am not willing to penalize a smaller city or a rural area if a private company makes a business decision not to invest there. If private Internet providers choose not to build broadband networks in smaller locales, then municipal utilities should have the option to develop those underserved areas. To my mind, it is question of economic fairness for the consumer and economic development for the state. A lot has been said recently about the need to improve Alabama’s roads and bridges, and I certainly agree that our transportation system needs an upgrade. Yet if we ignore the pressing need to expand broadband Internet in Alabama our schools and businesses will languish behind other Southeastern states, no matter how much money we spend on new roads. Over 1.6 million Alabamians lack access to high-speed Internet: that number must be reduced, and quickly, if our state is going to compete and thrive in the twenty-first century. Senator Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) represents Lee, Russell, and Tallapoosa Counties. He is chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee.
The reality of the electoral college votes and swing states 334-567-7811 • Fax 334-567-3284 email: news@thewetumpkaherald.com THE WETUMPKA HERALD (681-260) is published twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday 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, Weekend, 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.
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Y
ou know the outcome of our presidential preference primary yesterday. I do too, today; however, this column had to go to press a few days prior to the primary. Therefore, I will have to report and analyze your voting in a later column. One thing I do know is that we had a lot more attention paid to us in the Heart of Dixie because we had an early primary. The legislature is to be applauded for moving us up to participate in the March 1 SEC primary. It was fun while it lasted but we can say goodbye to presidential candidates in the Heart of Dixie for the remainder of the campaign. Whoever wins the GOP nomination will have to concentrate on the 10 battleground states during the fall. Under our electoral college system of selecting a president, we do not elect a president by a direct vote whereby the presidential candidate who gets the most votes nationwide is elected president. The votes in each of the 50 states are tallied and the candidate who carries each state gets all of that states electoral votes. Let us use Alabama as an example. We have seven congressional seats and two U.S. Senate seats. Therefore, we have nine electoral votes. California, the largest state in the union, has 55 electoral votes. They amazingly have 53 congressional seats, which means they have nearly eight times as many people in the Golden State as we do in Alabama. The bottom line is that the electoral college system favors the larger states, which tend to be liberal and Democratic. This sys-
STEVE FLOWERS Guest Columnist
tem also gives inordinate importance to states that are demographically blended to make them swing states. They are unpredictable and can swing to the Democratic or GOP candidate in the presidential race. The other 40 states essentially become irrelevant. We in Alabama are going to reliably vote for the Republican nominee even if it is Donald Duck. California is going to vote for the Democratic candidate even if it is Mickey Mouse. Therefore, simple math tells you that if the larger states like California and New York are going to vote for the liberal Democratic candidate and smaller states like Alabama and Kansas are going to vote for the conservative Republican candidate, then the advantage goes to the Democrat. You might say that the hay is already in the barn in about 40 states, us included. Because the Electoral College favors a liberal Democrat, Hillary Clinton will more than likely be our next president. A Republican almost has to have a straight flush in all 10 swing states and must carry Florida and Ohio, the two king key swing states. Less you feel cheated, our forefathers appear almost clairvoyant with their foresight in evening the playing field between the small and large states. We have an inherent inordinate advantage in the U.S. Senate. We have two U.S. Senators and California has two U.S. Senators, even though each
of their senators has eight times as many constituents as ours. So before you complain, put yourself in the shoes of a Californian. Their vote does not count in a presidential race and they have about as much representation in the U.S. Senate as a cow in Montana. However, our constitutional fathers left them one bastion of power. The U.S. House of Representatives calls for each congressional district throughout the country to have the same number of people. Everybody counts the same. Therefore, an assumption can be made that presidential politics favors a Democrat and the U.S. Senate favors the Republican Party. Thus, the battleground is the U.S. House of Representatives. Political analysts suggest that the 58 seat Republican control of Congress will continue into the future. That is because of projected population shifts to mostly red states in the south and west and Republican dominance of state legislatures, which draw congressional district maps in most states. This Republican control of state legislatures, which not only occurred in Alabama but throughout the country, gave the omnipotent power of the pencil to the GOP. When liberal Democrats drew the line they created coalition districts of different liberal groups – blacks, Hispanics and progressive whites. The demographic changes occurring in the country favor a Democratic president, but the urbanization of the Democratic ranks has hurt their chances of regaining the U.S. House. This scenario has entrenched the Republican
control of Congress. There are packed districts that are very red Republican conservative seats and very blue liberal Democratic seats and very few moderate lawmakers on Capitol Hill. This is also a recipe for gridlock. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
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MARCH 2, 2016 • Page 5
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WEB: www.rodneygrif¿th.com EMAIL: rodneygrif¿th@windstream.net
continued from page 1
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES FOR LEASE... 5689 U.S. 231 – Metal unit with two bays and of¿ce. Great car lot or outside retail business. High visibility. $800 monthly.
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4300 WETUMPKA HWY. – Old service station. Tanks removed, has kitchen, high traf¿c area. $850 monthly.
3640 U.S. 231 – 2500 sq. ft., 3 large bay doors, bathroom, high traf¿c. $1000 monthly.
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said. “It’s so refreshing to see that the system can work that well and that efficiently when a situation like this warrants it. We are so thankful to have not only gotten this bill passed, but have gotten it signed into law so quickly and with such overwhelming support.” Houston and Bentley were joined at the bill signing ceremony by others who had fought for the bill’s passage. Winston was also there and Houston said that Bentley took time to welcome the boy and made him feel at home. “It really was a celebration of sorts,” Houston said. “The governor was great with Winston. He came out and met him and gave him a governor’s coin and he was tickled to death to have it. He was carrying it all day and showing it off to everyone. I was surprised that he was so comfortable in such a formal setting, but that just says something about the governor and how he handled it all. It was really a great day.” Houston said he was please to have the new law, but hopes it never has to be used. “I hope I never have to use it,” Houston said. “I hope I never, ever see another case like this. But if there is every another district attorney who does have an aggravated abuse case, , I’m glad they will have this law so the people responsible will face a more appropriate penalty.”
we ask questions about lifestyle and home and family as we truly do have not only our pet’s best interest at heart, but the adopter’s as well. In 2015, 37 percent, or almost 1,600 pets, were turned in to our shelter by their owners. That was a 5 percent increase in owner surrendered pets since 2014. We implore prospective pet parents to please think before you obtain a pet, do some homework and take into account that any pet you get is completely dependent on you for its future. For those who find a stray and want to help – once you have done the due diligence to make sure there is no one missing the pet, please take it to a veterinarian for a check-up, vaccinations AND make an appointment for spay or neuter surgery without delay. Far too many preventable and unwanted litters are brought to us from strays a family kept but never had spayed. Please be a part of the solution to pet overpopulation instead of part of the cause!
Internet, books, experts, TV and even our knowledgeable shelter staff, doing some homework before obtaining a pet is just too easy. You might find out that either the pet you were thinking of just might not work for your family or situation, or you can confirm all the good things you were hoping for and learn how to best raise that pet so that it becomes a well-adjusted and loved member of the family. All of the above is why we want to work with our adopters to help try and find the best match for their family, energy level, personality and living situation. All puppies are cute, but if an adopter lives in a small apartment and works all day, then an active Labrador pup guaranteed to chew everything and that will eventually turn into a 70-pound adult just might not be a great fit. A reactive and nervous small dog might be risky in a home with a toddler, and a declawed kitty certainly doesn’t need to go to an adopter who wants an outdoor cat! So, bear with us as
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oving, can’t afford, can’t find homes for all in the litter, too big, digs, chewing everything, no time for, new baby, allergic, too old, too active, keeps running off, got a younger one, can’t take care of, don’t need any more, can’t control, scared of, getting aggressive, keeps breaking the chain, sheds too much, won’t housetrain, not using litter box, too many animals, new partner doesn’t like, kept her puppy/kitten instead, jumps on people, needs too much attention, neighbors complaining, wrong color, chasing livestock, killed dog/cat/ chicken/goat/calf/sheep, too lazy, children not taking care of, simply don’t want …… All of the above are reasons we have been told by owner’s surrendering their pets. For those unpredictable life changes or unavoidable situations where re-homing a pet is in the pet’s best interest or a true necessity for the owner we are glad
our shelter is able to help both the pet and the owner. But our reality is that far too many pets are surrendered for lack of homework before getting the pet, or lack of a true lifetime commitment to that pet. Responsible pet ownership means making sure you are not only ready to take on a pet, but that you will commit to caring for that same pet throughout its entire life. That entails all the challenges of raising and training a puppy or kitten and then also dealing with it during adolescence when you are ready to throw in the towel until the pet matures and settles down. It means committing to providing adequate food and fresh water, shelter, containment to keep the pet safe, bathing and grooming, exercise, vaccinations and necessary veterinary care, pooper scooper patrol, cage cleaning (for a smaller critter), and spaying or neutering to prevent unwanted offspring. And it means dealing with all of this for the entire 10-15-20 year lifespan of that pet. In this age of the
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By REA CORD Executive Director
334) 462-5263
Cell: (
2215 US HWY 231. – Great restaurant location. 3000+/sf., Kitchen/bar. Great views. $1700 monthly.
334) 567-0055
Fax: (
robinsonrealtor @ msn.com
LAKE MARTIN VIEW – 260 South Lands End, 3 bd/2 ba, 1 acre, $135,000. TALLASSEE – McNEAL STREET, 2 bd/1 ba, close to national guard armory, $55,000. COMMERCIAL BUSINESS – Hwy. 229 in Red Hill (formerly Red Hill Cottage Restaurant), over 3000 sq. ft. on 3 ACRES, only $99,500. RIVER HILLS SUBDIVISION – 19 lots, great views of Lake Tallassee, underground utilities, sewage. Prices start at only $20,000. 4 SOLD – 19 remaining. W. PATTON – Brick, 3 bd/1 ba, new heat pump, hardwood floors, 2 lots, REDUCED $65,000. ECLECTIC – NEW MOBILE HOME on 1.2 ACRE lot, 3 bd/ 2 ba, flat yard, lg. SOLDChurch. $69,000. deck, on Ga. Rd. close to Rushenville BEAUTIFUL BRICK HOUSE in Plantation Pines, 4 bd/3.5 baths, 1.6 acre lot very modern and pretty, REDUCED TO $310,000. 3189 LITTLE ROAD – 4 bd/2ba., large lot, very modern, & pretty, only $215,000. 8 ACRES KENT RD – REDUCED TO $45,000. 27 ACRES CLAUDE RD. – $80,000. TALLASSEE GILMER AVE. – 3bd/2 ba next to DQ zoned commercial, REDUCED TO $110,000. TALLASSEE BRICK HOME – on 1 acre with a 2 acre fish pond, 3 bd, 2 ba , large den and kitchen, garage, large screened porch, heat pump, REDUCED FROM $159,000 TO $149,000. 8 more acres also adjacent to it. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY – 8 ACRES close to Walmart on Hwy 14, REDUCED $189,000. MULLINS STREET– Eclectic, 1991 Doublewide mobile home on flat acre lot 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, very private, $45,000. 548 PROSPECT ROAD ECLECTIC- Beautiful home on 4 ACRES, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, Very modern and private, Very close to lake Martin.$279,000.
IF YOU HAVE COLLATERAL, WE HAVE YOUR LOAN. Business Loans for Central Alabama.
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WETUMPKA MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME 8801 Hwy. 231 North, Wetumpka • 334-567-7880
Let us serve your family in time of need. We are here to assist you with:
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Phone 334-567-7811 Fax 334-567-3284 News@TheWetumpkaHerald.com TheWetumpkaHerald.com
PAGE 6 • MARCH 2, 2016
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THE WETUMPKA HERALD
Everything you always wanted to know about lent and more A
lthough the season of Lent is half over, I still get questions from people in the community about Lent, what it is, why we Episcopalians and some other denominations observe Lent and, surprisingly, “can we observe Lent, too.” The answer to the last question, of course, is that anyone can observe Lent and can do so anytime, even halfway through. I think knowing what, how and why about Lent before beginning is important. Lent is a period of 40 days before Easter, (not counting the Sundays as they are “in” Lent, not “of” Lent so, they don’t count as one of the 40 days) Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at Sundown on Holy Saturday (the Saturday before Easter). There are six Sundays in Lent, last of which is Palm Sunday. Lent had its origins in Baptism and Penance. Even though Jesus went out into the wilderness/desert to fast and pray retreat for 40 days, he did not invent Lent, although this part of the Bible account did make a big impression on the Christians of the 2nd Century, as did Moses’ and Elijah’s 40 day fasts. In the first and third centuries, some form of fasting was usually undertaken by those getting ready to be baptized at the Easter Vigil on the Saturday evening before Easter. However, not until 325 AD did a 40-day period of fasting become standard, and even then, it might
BOB HENDERSON Trinity Episcopal
have been 36 days in one place, 40 in another, omitting Sundays in one place, not in another. From at least this time, however, Lent was a time of special discipline and spiritual growth for those who would be baptized at Easter. As infant baptism became the norm, Lent became more and more a time of fasting for all members of the Church as well as a time for public penance. One meal a day was allowed, taken at evening. No meat, fish, eggs or cheese were eaten. As the centuries passed, the fast became less strict, and by the 20th century, except in convents and monasteries, people only fasted on Fridays, and gave up something during Lent. In the early church, once baptized, a person was supposed to stay sinless. There was only one way to remove the “stain of sin” for a baptized person – excommunication. That’s why so many people waited until their deathbed to be baptized. Soon, the church realized that some provision had to be made for those baptized Christians who had sinned, but then repented and wanted
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
to return to the church. This gave rise to Rites of Public Penance. The excommunicated penitent would perform acts of penance, which might include wearing sackcloth and ashes, fasting and prayer, dismissal from public services, laying on of hands. After a suitable period of penance, the penitent was readmitted to communion, usually at Easter. Gradually, this public penitence became more and more associated with Lent. Ashes and penitential psalms were added to the rite of expulsion (excommunication) and the day became known as Ash Wednesday. The Lenten services contained prayers, readings, and a time to scrutinize the lives of those who claimed repentance. At the Ash Wednesday Services, we are invited to the observance of “a holy Lent by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fast, and self-denial, and by reading and mediating of God’s holy Word.” As part of this holy Lent, most of us have been taught to “give something up” for Lent or to do something during Lent to “prepare” ourselves for Easter. What can we do? Yes, we can give up something we enjoy – candy or other favorite food and drink are typical. Others give up using plastic bag or bottles, give up smoking or a favorite TV Program. Giving up is good, but it’s even better when coupled with “taking on” something: additional study, prayers, donating
8000 Titus Road Titus, Ala.
100 W. Bridge St.
Sunday Services at 11 a.m.
Rev. Jonathan Yarboro
Minister Dr. John Brannon
Sunday School..9:45 am Morning Worship..11 am
There is Harmony at Harmony United Methodist Church!
567-8135 “In the name of the Lord Jesus – Welcome.”
Please join us.
Mountain View Baptist Baptist Church Church
11066 U.S. 231, Wallsbooro 11066 U.S. 231, Wallsboro
Pastor Rickey Luster,
Rickey Luster, MusicDirector Director Music
SundaySchool..........10:45 School....10:45 a.m. Sunday a.m. Morning Worship....9:30 a.m. Morning Worship........9:30 a.m. Children’s Church.... 9:30 a.m. Children’s Church.......9:30 a.m. Thur. Night Service....6:00 p.m. Wed. Night Service.....6:30 p.m. You will receive a warm You will receive a warm Welcome at this friendly, welcome at this friendly, Christ-centered Church. Christ-centered Church.
NURSERY PROVIDED PROVIDED FOR NURSERY FOR ALL SERVICES SERVICES ALL
Rev. Bob Henderson is the rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wetumpka.
First Presbyterian Church
Harmony United Methodist Church
Wallsboro United Wallsboro United Methodist Church Methodist Church Rev. Ryan Rev. Ryan Johnson Johnson Pastor
money you would have spent on whatever you gave up, to a good cause. There are any number of “take on” activities, just like there are many things to “give up.” No matter what one decides to give up or take on, these acts should be a means to remind us that Lent is a time for repentance and penance. “Repentance, – literally to “turn around,” – calls us to change our way of life so we can leave the old life behind for a new life in Christ. Penance is not punishment, but are acts designed to reinforce the Repentance.” Lenten disciplines are designed to move us toward God , so the best things to give up or take on are things which help move us closer to God. As we live in the ever increasing pace of our society, assaulted by constant music, electronic beeps, buzzes and other sounds, even machinery sounds, we should remember that Lent is also a time when we can learn how to withdraw from the noise and make time for quiet, reflective moments – moments when we can hear God speak to us. It really doesn’t help to overload ourselves with Lenten discipline. It is far better to pick one thing to do, and do it throughout Lent, than set up a four-page schedule of Lenten events, and stop after two days.
567-4458 1025 Rifle Range Rd. 567-4458 1025 RiÀe Range Rd.
504 West West Osceola 504 OsceolaSt. St. 334-567-4729 334-567-4729
Anthony B. Counts, Pastor InterimWorship Pastor Leader Angie Gallups, Billy of Students AngieReinhardt, Gallups, Min. Worship Leader
Rev. Anthony Rhodes, Senior Pastor Rev. Anthony Rhodes Tammy Driver, Children’s Ministries Senior Pastor Sarah Swedenburg, Worship Ministries Tammy Student Driver:Ministries Derek Blankenship, Children's Director
Billy Reinhardt, Min. of Students SUNDAY Morning Worship.......10:30 SUNDAY School.............9:15 Sunday Morning Worship............10:30 Youth Choir ..................5:00 Evening Worship..........6:00 Sunday School.................9:15 WEDNESDAY Evening Worship..............6:00 Fellowship Meal............5:45 WEDNESDAY Preschool/Children’s Choirs.........................6:00 House of Prayer................6:00 House of Prayer............6:30 Preschool/Children’s Preschool/Children’s Missions............................6:00 Missions........................6:30 Youth Bible Youth BibleStudy.............6:00 Study.........6:30
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.........6:00 Meeting........6:15 p.m. p.m. Calvary Youth.............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
“A Family of Families”
B.R. Johnson, Senior Pastor Larry Gore, Adm. & Counseling Randy Godfrey, Education Amy Pugh, Director of Children & Preschool Chad Middlebrooks, Students SUNDAY Sunday School............9 & 10:30 a.m. Worship........................9 & 10:30 a.m. Evening Celebration.................6 p.m. WEDNESDAY/FAMILY NIGHT Programs for every age 6:15 - 7:30 p.m.
Send your church news and happenings to: news@The Wetumpka Herald.com _________ JayneororShannon Molly CallCall Jayne at 567-7811 to advertise your church’s services in this space
THE WETUMPKA HERALD
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
MARCH 2, 2016 • Page 7
All About Peppers
A pepper is a type of pungent (strong tasting, often spicy) fruit that comes from a variety of different plants. Peppers are used mainly for cooking; they are sometimes dried and ground into spices, used fresh in recipes, jarred and pickled, or made into sauces. A few peppers are known for their medicinal purposes, but all peppers are high in vitamins and antioxidants, making them healthy. There are two main types of peppers--mild, sweet peppers and spicy, hot, chili peppers. Peppers can range from mild to excruciatingly hot, and they vary in color from dark red, orange, or green to light yellow. Most of the heat in peppers comes from a chemical found in them called capsaicin. The more capsaicin, the hotter the pepper is. The heat from peppers is rated by a measurement system known as the Scoville Heat Unit System, created by Wilbur Scoville in 1912. Pure capsaicin is a massive 16 billion on the Scoville scale. The sweet bell pepper measures zero on the scale, while the hottest known pepper, WKH &DUROLQD 5HDSHU WRSV RXW WKH VFDOH DW D UHFRUG ,W ZDV EUHG VSHFL¿FDOO\ IRU KHDW E\ UHsearchers in South Carolina and was recorded as the hottest pepper on Earth in 2013. Other types of hot peppers are the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (previous record holder for hottest pepper at 2,009,000 Anaheim, Banana, Bell, Bhut Jolokia, Scoville units) and the Bhut Jolokia (1,000,000 Scoville units) once known as the World’s spiciest hot Carolina Reaper, Cayenne, Cherry, pepper. There are also more common peppers like the habanero chili (350,000 Scoville units), Thai Habanero, Hungarian, Jalapeùo, pepper (100,000 Scoville units), cayenne pepper (50,000 Scoville units), and the Jalapeùo pepper Moruga Scorpion, Naga Viper, Poblano, (8,000 Scoville units). The sweet peppers--bell peppers, banana peppers, cubanelles, pepperoncinis Pot Douglah, Pot Red, Santa Fe, Scotch and Anaheim peppers--are commonly used for cooking. Bonnet, Serrano, Thai
Types of Peppers Word Search
Name That Pepper!
Name that Pepper: 1. Habanero ___ 2. Cayenne ___ 3. Bell ___ 4. Bhut Jolokia ___ 5. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion ___ 6. JalapeĂąo ___
Look at the pictures below. Using the types listed below, decide which pepper is which. Label them.
A
C
B
D
E
F
Pepper Connect The Dots
Can You Find The 5 Differences?
Name That Pepper Ans:1-C, 2-E, 3-B, 4-A, 5-F, 6-D
A Special Thank You To All Our Sponsors! AFFO RD ABLE
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HEARING INSTRUMENTS
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•
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Spencer J. Coleman, M.D. á żá ťá‚ á żá ¸ Š——Š££ŽŽ Â“Â‘Â’ÂŞÂŠÂ ÂŽÂ¤Â§Â˜Â?–Šထ —Š‹Š˜Š
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42 Coosta River Pkwy., Wetumpka, AL 334-956-9074
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ClassiÄeds
Lake & River Phone (256) 277-4219 Fax (205) 669-4217 The Alexander City Outlook
Reaching more than 22,000 households in Tallapoosa and Elmore counties The Dadeville Record
classifieds@alexcityoutlook.com public.notices@alexcityoutlook.com classifieds@thewetumpkaherald.com public.notices@thewetumpkaherald.com
The Eclectic Observer
The Tallassee Tribune
Needed Immediately!
PART-TIME MAILROOM SUPERVISOR Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. seeks a Part-time Mailroom Supervisor for the TPI Of¿ce in Alexander City. Must be able to work 6pm - Until.
JOBS
Job Includes: Being responsible for daily circulation of papers and inserts and managing of mailroom staff. Ideal candidate must have good organizational skills, friendly attitude and self-motivation. Please come in and ¿ll out an application at:
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. 548 Cherokee Road Alexander City, AL
No Phone Calls Please Drug-free Workplace TPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The Wetumpka Herald
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Page 10 • MARCH 2, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
THE WETUMPKA HERALD
CrimeStoppers seeks help locating suspect in vacuum thefts STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Central Alabama CrimeStoppers is seeking the public’s help in finding a man suspected of ripping off high-dollar vacuum cleaners from the Millbrook Walmart. Millbrook Police Department investigators say that a man was spotted on surveillance camera taking Dyson vacuum cleaners twice in mid-February. Because of the value of the vacuums, the man is facing two possible felony theft charges. On Feb. 11 and again on the Feb. 18, the unknown male entered the Millbrook Walmart and was spotted leaving with the appliances. On Feb. 11, the suspect drove a white Lincoln Town Car. On Feb. 18, the suspect was in a gold Chevy Impala. CrimeStoppers asks anyone with any information or if you you can
identify or know the current whereabouts of this subject, please call the Millbrook Police immediately or Crime Stoppers at 215-STOP. Your tip may lead to a cash reward. Investigator J. Brosius at 334-2855639 is the case agent in this theft case. ABOUT CRIMESTOPPERS: Central Alabama CrimeStoppers is a nonprofit agency that needs and appreciates monetary donations from the community. Make a fast, safe, and secure tax deductible donation by pressing the Donate Button on our Facebook page or at our website www.215STOP.com. Note: A criminal charge is an accusation. The defendant is assumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Submitted / The Herald
The above photo is a screen image from surveillance at the Millbrook Walmart where the crime took place.
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MARCH 2, 2016 • Page 11
Lady Tribe’s bats go cold in Invitational
SEHS’ Byrd attracting D1 offers
By CORY DIAZ The Wetumpka Herald
Wetumpka’s offense fizzled out after a fiery start, falling in the round of 16 to Rehobeth, 5-0, in the Wetumpka Invitational softball tournament Saturday. After an opening victory over Smiths Station, plating nine runs on as many hits, the Lady Indians (3-7) managed just 10 hits in three contests as it lost to Scottsboro, 10-1, defeated Benjamin Russell, 3-2, on three hits, before being shutout by eventual tournament winner Rehobeth. “We’re young as hitters; we’re finding that out,” Wetumpka softball coach Randy Belyeu said. “But we’re also running against everybody’s number one pitcher. Everybody has thrown their number one pitcher against us. So that’s going to help us come April, but right now, we’re struggling. We’re seeing everybody’s number one pitcher, I hope the girls don’t get down, because it’s going to help us down the road.” Juniors Kelsie Cornelius and Mary Beth Slater, along with freshman Amari McCreary hit home runs versus Smiths Station, combining for seven RBIs, igniting the Tribe in its first pool play game. But the Lady Indians couldn’t sustain the offense, as they got two hits from Slater and senior first baseman Marissa Campbell, while junior Taylor Mitchell had her team’s lone RBI versus Scottsboro, who countered with 11 hits -including three homers -- off WHS eighth-grade pitcher Julianna Thames in the loss. Ben Russell outhit Wetumpka, five to three, but a three-run fourth in the first elimination round proved to be enough as Slater picked up her second win of the tourney, limiting the Lady Wildcats to just two runs in the fifth. Sophomore leadoff hitter Alexis Austin went 2-for-2, while seniors Riley Green and Katelyn
Carswell drove in runs. Junior leftfielder Sydney McKissick had two of Wetumpka’s five hits, but it stranded 14 runners on base as Rehobeth made the most of its eight hits in the 5-0 win. “Kelsie, Mary Beth, she hit the ball very well. Katelyn Carswell hit the ball very well, and I’d say Sydney McKissick. Sydney earned a spot this weekend, she hit the ball well when she got in,” Belyeu said. “We’ve got some girls that have got to understand that they have roles on the team and for us to get back to where we were last year, they’ve got to understand their role and they’ve got to play it, not be upset and be a good teammate.” While the start of the season has been inconsistent, Belyeu said his young team will only get better as it continues to gain experience. “We’ve got an eighthand ninth-grade pitcher we’re trying to bring along behind Mary Beth. They just need the experience,” he said. “They’re going to have a lot of growing pains and they’ve got to be strong in mind. We aren’t bad. It’s two weeks into the season, and we’re seeing everybody’s best pitcher.”
Cory Diaz / The Herald
Wetumpka junior catcher Kelsie Cornelius catches a throw during a rundown with a Rehobeth runner during a game in the Wetumpka Invitational Softball Tournament Saturday.
Bama, Florida, Michigan all interested in the rising senior By CORY DIAZ The Wetumpka Herald
Cory Diaz / The Herald
Holtville freshman Kaylyn Dismukes makes contact with a pitch versus Central-Coosa Saturday during the Wetumpka Invitational Softball Tournament.
Holtville shines in Wetumpka invite By CORY DIAZ The Wetumpka Herald
Holtville broke out in a big atmosphere, reaching the quarterfinals in the Wetumpka Invitational Softball Tournament Saturday where it fell, 13-0, to the eventual runner-up Vestavia Hills. Led by freshman ace Kaylyn Dismukes, the Lady Bulldogs (7-4) won three games, including two 1-0 over Billingsley and Northview, and Central-Coosa, 10-2, while its two losses came at the hands of the two final teams, Vestavia Hills and tourney winner, Rehobeth. Dismukes, who was still fighting off the flu, threw a no-hitter against Northview, taking a perfect game into the seventh before hitting a batter, in the round of 16 sealing a 1-0 victory and lifting Holtville to the quarterfinals. “We’ve been battling the flu, and she’s been sick, out of school a couple of days to the doctor,” HHS softball coach Daryl Otwell said. “She’s still got flu symptoms and for her to show up against a good Northview team, that’s probably the best I’ve seen Dismukes in a while. Every pitch was on, she looked confident in every one of her pitches and she didn’t show any sign of fatigue all the way through the game. “It’s very big for us and our team is doing really well in these 1 to nothing ballgames and 2 to 1 ballgames. For her to step up in a game like that after being sick and still pushing through,
it’s phenomenal especially for a freshman.” The Dawgs opened the tourney with another 1-0 win over Billingsley, as Dismukes drove in the game’s lone run with two hits and earned the win in the circle, striking out seven and giving up four hits in 5.2 frames. In its pool play finale, Holtville pushed Rehobeth (13-0) to the last at-bat before the Lady Rebels walked off with the 5-4 victory. Offensively, Dismukes, eighth-grader Brooke Cooper and freshman Cyndi Thornton led HHS with two hits apiece and knocked it all four runs. Junior Savana Culpepper relieved Dismukes, pitching the final 2.2 innings but took the loss after allowing the game-winning hit. The bats came alive for the Bulldogs versus Central-Coosa in the first round of elimination games, scoring more runs versus the Cougars in the 10-2 win than it did the rest of its games (6). “I think we really competed every pitch in this tournament. I felt like we showed up knowing that we can compete in this tournament, and I’m real proud of us,” Otwell said. “At the end of the day, we’ve still got a lot of freshmen. It’s a big atmosphere here playing some of these teams and they competed all the way all weekend. We don’t have a flashy record, 7-4 now, but we’ve lost to some top-notch teams and we’ve competed with these topnotch opponents. I truly feel like it’s going to benefit us come
Seniors steer Indians in 1 win, 2 losses over weekend By CORY DIAZ The Wetumpka Herald
Follow the leaders. That’s what head coach Mark Davis hoped an overall young Wetumpka has taken away from going 3-5 early in the season, including a 13-7 win over Marbury Friday night and two losses to Chilton County, 11-3, and Marbury, 7-2, in eight innings Saturday at Bazemore Field. Seniors Ryan Crockett and Cody Herring guided the Indians in the three-game homestand offensively, combining for 10 hits, six RBIs and three runs scored. Crockett, the Samford University signee, had two hits in each of the contests and on the mound, Herring (2-1), the Pensacola
State College signee, allowed one run through seven innings in a gem during the second game versus Marbury before the Bulldogs capitalized on Indian mistakes in the extra inning. “It’s kind of like follow the leader, right?” Davis said. “With Cody on the mound, he does a great job in the second game pitching into the eighth inning. And losing it right there at the end is kind of heartbreaking but those young guys have got to learn from the older guy. “Sitting there in the threehole, (Crockett’s) got to be that competitor to get in there and put the ball in play every time knowing people respect him, know what he can do. He’s been doing what he’s
supposed to be doing, putting the ball in play, making things happen all over the field. He’s patient, but we got to depend on him to be that guy to drive in some runs.” Sophomore Jon Holbert went 6-for-12 with four RBIs over the three games and won the opening game against Marbury despite giving up seven runs on 10 hits in six frames. But missed opportunities to score runs, as it left 13 on base, and handing out free bases with four errors, including two in the eighth inning in the nightcap against Marbury, led to two defeats for the Tribe. Herring struck out Christopher LeJeune, but the third baseman reached first base on a passed ball to lead-
off the eighth. After a hit-bypitch and two straight walks, the Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead, before a two-run double by Raymond Silas opened up the game as Marbury pushed six runs across. Holbert batted in Elijah Hughes in the bottom of the eight on his second hit of the game, but that was all Wetumpka could muster, as it fell 7-2. “We’re putting the ball in play, but we just got to have those big, two-out hits, score a few runs, bunt some guys over,” Davis said. “Pitchingwise, we got two or three sophomore who’re having to pitch and they’re going to have to step up.” WHS played a doubleheader at Tallassee Tuesday.
Two weeks ago, Zech Byrd wondered if a college football scholarship offer would come. But in a span of eight days, the Stanhope Elmore rising senior tight end garnered nine offers, the first coming from Troy Feb. 18 and his latest from Alabama this past Thursday, with other SEC schools Byrd Ole Miss, Florida, and the Big Ten’s Michigan sprinkled in between. “I’m just proud that I’m doing some good,” Byrd said Monday. “When I didn’t have offers, I was thinking to myself, ‘what am I doing wrong? Why am I not getting offers like everybody else?’ I must be doing something right. That’s all I can say. I’m proud of myself that I am doing well. “It’s been pretty crazy, I ain’t ever experienced anything like this before. So, I’m still handling it.” Basketball has always been Byrd’s favorite sport – still is – but when the rising senior’s first offer came from Troy, it sunk in that he may have a future in football. “It really didn’t hit me until I got my first offer, for real. My favorite sport has been basketball since I was like 4 years old, playing church basketball,” he said. “When I got that Troy offer I was like well, maybe everybody was right and I should stick with football. But I’m going to still play basketball anyway though.” Florida was the first Power 5 conference school to extend an offer to the 6-foot-6, 232-pound prospect, who said had 15 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns as a junior in his first season starting for Stanhope. “(Mustangs head football coach Jeff Foshee) called me into the main office, and he had somebody on the phone for me. When I answered the phone, it was Florida, and my head was just blown,” Byrd said. “(Their coach) was talking to me, and he said, ‘we’d like to offer you a full ride to Florida on scholarship.’ After I left (the office) I called my dad, that’s his favorite school.” Byrd received the offer from Alabama from head coach Nick Saban Friday while on campus, and said he enjoyed his visit. “It’s pretty nice, but I go up there most all of the time, for real. It’s pretty nice. They treat their players how they should be treated and they give them help in the classroom,” Byrd said. “I was still in shock. I wasn’t nervous, but I was just like, ‘man, I’m talking to Nick Saban right now.’ He told me to, ‘keep my head in my books and keep progressing, keep working hard in the weight room and all that, and hopefully, next year I’ll sign with them.’” Byrd said he’s going to let his recruitment run its course, but in the meantime, keep working to get better. “Keep working hard in school first, then just keep working hard in the weight room. Do what my parents tell me to do. One day, I want to be doing something, if it’s football or in my major, nursing. Whatever God has in store for me.”
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primary. The unofficial vote total had Stubbs with 2,636 to 1,691 for Bowen. “I am deeply thankful to the citizens of Elmore County for this great turnout,” Stubbs said. “It proves that the people here are involved in local and national politics. I am proud of the race we ran and all the volunteers who helped along the way. We made a tremendous effort to get out into the community and listen to the residents. I can’t thank everyone enough and look forward to serving them all.” In the county commission races, only one incumbent survived, but the race remained too close to call late Tuesday. The Elmore County Commission District 4 race was a three-man contest with incumbent Joe Faulk facing Johnny W. Ford and Steven Livingston. Faulk emerged as the leader, but will head to a runoff with Livingston after neither candidate was able to garner a majority of the votes Tuesday. In a race that did not have a primary, District 5 County Commissioner Stephanie Daniels Smoke, a Democrat, will face former GOP county commissioner Earl Reeves during the general election in November. Leisa Finley topped Larry Teel for the Place 5 seat on the Elmore County Board of Education. Finley said now the real work begins.
“I’d like to thank everyone for a campaign that we can all be proud of,” Finley said. “It was a victory that was well deserved for our students. Now the real work can begin as we work to make this the best possible school system it can be.” Finley finished with 1,585 votes to 1,184 for Teel. Despite a last-minute push by Tea Party leader Becky Gerritson, incumbent Martha Roby sailed to a big win in Tuesday’s GOP Primary for the Second District U.S. House seat. Vote totals were not complete by the Herald deadline Tuesday evening, but Roby had garnered 70 percent of the vote. Gerritson had 25 percent of the vote to just 5 percent for Bob Rogers. “Today, Alabama voters have honored me - not just with their vote - but with their blessing and with a mandate to fight for conservative solutions,” Roby said in a released statement. “This win matters because it sends a message about who we are going to be as a party in Alabama and what being a conservative means here today. “I’m a conservative who wants to solve problems, not cause problems for conservatives.” Roby will now meet Democrat Nathan Mathis in November. Mathis was unopposed in Tuesday’s primary. Incumbent U.S. Senator Richard Shelby garnered more
than 60 percent of the vote and beat his closest challenger Jonathan McConnell. It was a race that was filled with negative campaigning and ads, but the man who was first elected in 1986 appears to be headed back to Washington for another term at the age of 82. In some of the statewide races, Tom Parker won the GOP Primary for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Parker beat Donna Beaulieu by a 40-percent margin. At press time, Parker had more than 70 percent of the votes. Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh took a big win over challenger Terry Dunn, winning the GOP Primary for president of the Public Service Commission by more than 20 percent. In the presidential primaries, Trump and Clinton were big winners. Clinton had 77 percent of the vote statewide as on 10 p.m. with Bernie Sanders with 19 percent of the vote. Trump had 44 percent, followed by Cruz with 21 percent, while Rubio had about 18 percent. Ben Carson had garnered 11 percent of the vote. In Elmore County, Trump had more than twice as many votes as Ted Cruz, his closest competition. Mitch Sneed, Corey Arwood and Carmen Rodgers all contributed to this report.
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B U L L D O G S
• Kaylyn Dismukes • Holtville • Guided her team offensively and in the cirlce, including a no-hitter, to the quarterfinals of the Wetumpka Invitational Softball Tournament this weekend.