May 12, 2016 Eclectic Observer by Tallapoosa Publishers

Lady Tigers knocks out ECHS in area tourney

National Stuttering Awareness week continues

Looking for something? Check this week’s classifieds.

Eclectic Observer Page 4

Page 8

The

Page 6

THURSDAY • MAY 12, 2016

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Vol. 27, No. 19

Commission approves franchise agreement By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor

The Elmore County Commission made quick work of its work session agenda Monday night. On the agenda were a couple of new items including approving a franchise agreement with Troy Cable. Jimmy Copeland and Pamela Parker

represented Troy at the meeting. Copeland said that Troy had recently been awarded a contract to bring a fiber network to Eclectic schools. Copeland explained to the commissioners that as part of the project to bring the fiber to the schools the company would also put in equipment for homes and businesses along the fiber line to connect them to the

Eclectic Middle School to honor teachers, staff

Superintendent Harrison recaps 2015-16 school year Talks advance placement courses, future goals By LIZ ELY Staff Writer

Superintendent of Elmore County Schools, Dr. Andre’ L. Harrison, is proud of what has been achieved over the past year and has few Harrison regrets. He has high hopes for the future of the school system, and as he plans for next year, he is steadfast in his goal to ensure the success of his students. “We’ve had a great school year. Students See RECAP • Page 3

Today’s

Weather

87 66 High

ment unanimously. The commission also voted to approve the 19th Judicial District Attorney’s domestic violence grant application. Beverly Stone was on-hand from the district attorney’s office and indicated to the commissioners that the Alabama Department of Economic and See COMMISSION • Page 2

fiber network. Copeland said that the initial project with the schools will involve a $480,000 investment, while phase two will bring an additional investment of $160,000 to $172,000. “This will ultimately provide up to 30 gigabits of connectivity,” Copeland said. During the commission’s regular meeting, the board approved the agree-

William Carroll / The Observer

Caroline McDonnell, 2, smiles after dropping off a bag of shoes to Eclectic Public Library Director Betty Coker as part of the library’s shoe donation program.

Soles for a cause Library looks to shoe drive to collect funds for bills

By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor

Most libraries spend their time looking for donations of books, but the Eclectic Public Library has taken up a new request recently seeking 2,500 shoes for two worthwhile causes, funds for the library and shoes for impoverished people

throughout the world. Eclectic Public Library Director Betty Coker said that the idea was the brainchild of one of her board members, Paul Sexton, who pitched the idea to Coker as a way to raise funds for the library during the board’s April 12 meeting. The organization that Coker is working with on this See DONATIONS • Page 2

Public, family and friends invited to celebrate retiring educators By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

The faculty and staff of Eclectic Middle School would like to invite the public to a reception on Sunday, May 15, from 2:30 p.m until 4:30 p.m. at the ECHS Auditorium in honor of three members of the EMS family who are retiring this year after a combined total of more than 60 years in education. During this time, these three incredible women have touched the lives of literally hundreds of students. Mrs. Dana Gunn has served as the Title I teacher at EMS for 15 years. In this capacity, she has helped children in a small group setting, working See CELEBRATE • Page 2

ADOC addresses Elmore prison strike By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

Low

FRIDAY: HIGH 82 LOW 58

About 300 prisoners at Elmore Correctional Facility refused to work for over a week, prompting a prison lockdown during inmate protests over living conditions and issues with payment for work, an official with the Alabama Department of Corrections said. The work stoppage was held in a coordinated effort with prisoners at William C. Holman Correctional Facility who also refused to work after their morning meal on Sunday, May 1. About 80 percent of the inmates at Elmore Correctional Facility had returned to work as of May 9, said ADOC public information manager Bob Horton, while he said the remaining 60 or so continue to hold out. The Holman stoppage continues, shuttering its sewing industry operations, while production at the plate plant has recently commenced after prisoners from Mobile were brought in to work. He said the inmates were communicating to media See STRIKE • Page 3

Woman commits suicide outside local business By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

Corey Arwood / The Observer

Prisoners and guards can be seen Tuesday afternoon at the Elmore County Correctional Center. A recent work stoppage involving prisoners at the center is nearly over, but nearly 60 holdouts remain.

Elmore County Sheriff’s Department reported a woman in her mid 60s committed suicide in front of Lake Martin Mini Mall on Monday. A Hayne’s Life Flight was dispatched to the scene, after a man discovered the woman but it was said the shot killed her nearly instantly. Sheriff Bill Franklin said he had multiple inquiries regarding the incident from people and media unclear as to what happened. A question was posted on an Elmore County-centered social See SUICIDE • Page 2

FREE ESTIMATES!

Hedging, Fall Cleanup, Leaf Removal, All Yard & Lawn Maintenance

(334) 309-4422 • (334) 580-7879

e Th

MEATa W&e3ek 7 Days

334.472.8200

2534 AL 14 • Millbrook, AL

Located next to Dismukes Feed & Seed

Join us this Sunday for a Special Mother’s Day Menu! HOURS: Mon. & Tues. 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. Wed. - Sat. 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

725 Kelly Fitzpatrick Drive • Wetumpka, AL Phone: 334-300-0270

Embroidery • Decal Vinyl • Heat Press Vinyl

PAGE 2 • MAY 12, 2016

Commission

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

continued from page 1

Community Affairs had informed her office that the award amount for this year would be $140,000, which also requires county matching funds. Elmore County’s match would be $17,203.27 and the district attorney’s contribution would be $29,463.40, for a total of $186,666.67. The commission voted unanimously to approve a budget amendment for the county’s drug task force. County Administrator Grace McDuffie told the commissioners that the amendment was to decrease budget transfers in and out between the credit fund and the federal forfeiture fund. She also said that $7,000 of the federal forfeiture funds were being used for vehicle maintenance and that the board’s approval was necessary as these were non-budgeted expenditures. The commission also approved: • A budget amendment for the Redland Road Corridor project. County Engineer Richie Breyer said that this was part of a reimbursable preliminary engineering project where the county would need to spend money prior to being reimbursed. Breyer said there were some technical discrepancies with the numbers and this amendment was meant to correct those. • An Alabama Department of Transportation agreement for emergency repairs of county roads due to a flooding incident on December 23, 2015. Breyer explained that this was the federal highway portion of the flood relief packages and amounted to a little less than $41,000 in relief. • The consent docket, including a notification of the issuance of a liquor license to Lord Ganesh, LLC for the Friendship Package Store in Tallassee. Emergency Management Director Eric Jones told commissioners that next Wednesday afternoon involving EMA employees plugging into the state’s hurricane exercises. He also said that his agency has been working with the board of education to update their safety plans. Other matters before the commission: • The promotion of Corrections Officer Anna Smirnoff to sergeant. • Termination of Corrections Officer Joshua Singleton. • Resignation of Equipment Operator Samuel Poague.

RODNEY GRIFFITH Lake Martin Properties Serving Lake Martin, Tallassee and the Surrounding Area

RODNEY GRIFFITH BROKER CELL: 334-207-0666

Celebrate to help them improve their math and reading skills. Prior to coming to Eclectic Middle, she taught kindergarten for 10 years in Tallapoosa County. She said she looks forward to working part-time with her husband, Stacey Gunn, in their family business when she is not relaxing, traveling or volunteering with their church. Mrs. Linda Hensley has been the bookkeeper at EMS for a total of eight years, but she has also worked at the Elmore County Board of Education as the local school liaison / local school auditor. She came to the school system after a rewarding career with BellSouth and after spending some time with a local law firm. Mrs. Hensley is looking forward to spending more time with her husband David, quilting, scrapbooking and keeping up with her grandsons! Mrs. Renae Venable has been the librarian at EMS since the school opened 15 years ago. Prior to that, she spent 13 years in other positions in the county including being a Title I teacher at Wetumpka Intermediate School

continued from page 1

and a 7th and 8th grade English teacher at Elmore County High School. Like Mrs. Gunn and Mrs. Hensley, Mrs. Venable looks forward to spending more time with her family - her husband, Craig, and their children Evan, Will, and Jana. When asked about these three pending retirements, EMS principal Dr. Blair Andress said, “I have been telling these three ladies for months that I wasn’t going to let them leave. I even threatened to tear up their retirement letters so they would have to come back! The three of them are such important members of our EMS family that we can’t even imagine EMS without them here each and every day, but we are excited for them. They have worked hard, and they deserve whatever dreams they can imagine for the next chapter.” Family and friends are invited to come honor these tireless educators who have given of themselves for the students of Elmore County in general and Eclectic in particular.

Donations project is Funds2Orgs, an organization that collects shoes for families around the world. According to the Funds2Orgs website, the group works with partners in 26 developing nations. The shoes provided as part of the drive become inventory for families who survive on as little as $2 per day. Part of the group’s goal is to keep shoes from ending up as trash in landfills and repurposing the footwear for families in need. Coker said that after the board meeting she contacted Funds2Orgs by email and phone and received a welcome package from the group. The library then entered into an agreement with the organization to provide 2,500 shoes for what Coker said would earn the library approximately $1,000. “They sent all of the supplies we would need for the shoe drive,” Coker said. “They sent plastic bags and rubber bands to wrap around the shoes.” Coker said that the library is asking those wishing to donate to provide new or gently used shoes as part of the drive. “We have had great community support already including surrounding communities,” Coker said. “The churches are helping, the Eclectic Senior Center is lending a hand, even the schools are helping to get shoes for us.” Coker said the agreement requires the library to provide 2,500 pairs of shoes, but that they will still receive money if they are short of the goal. “Our hope is actually to exceed the number because they will pay us more if we can get more than 2,500 shoes,” she said.

Need CPAP?

WEB: www.rodneygrif¿th.com EMAIL: rodneygrif¿th@windstream.net 78 ACRES off Lower Tuskegee Hwy., on Cleghorn Road, great hunting only, $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 – 5 acre lot on lake point road in eclectic, off highway 80 close to lake martin, modular home or double wides are ok if newer. Only $29000. 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. 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. 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.

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

continued from page 1

According to Coker, the funds will be used to pay the library’s utility bills. “We struggle quite a bit here,” she said. “The town (Eclectic) pays my salary and they pay some of the power bills and insurance, the state also contributes some, but it isn’t enough to cover all of our expenses. We have to pay for our Internet service, gas and electricity.” Coker said that the library does receive quite a bit of help from grants and other community groups and that every bit helps. “We have received several grants,” she said. “The Elmore County Community foundation has been very helpful. We have also received grants from the Daniel Foundation (of Alabama).” In fact one grant from the Daniel Foundation in the amount of $7,500 helped to renovate the library’s current building. Coker also relies on hundreds of community contributors. Coker has a hand written log book where she makes a note of the names and contact information of everyone who has contributed to the library. Some of the contributors included volunteers. “I have wonderful volunteers,” Coker said, mentioning two, Deb Miller and Gretta Pack, by name. “They are here as much as I am, but they aren’t paid to be here.” Even with all that help, the library still faces a tough time at times. “We have had a number of fundraisers over the years,” Coker said. “I hate to see our account low, but we do what we can with what we have.” As of Tuesday afternoon the library had collected 550 pairs of shoes, but at least 50 or 60 additional pair had not yet been bagged and catalogued. During the interview of Coker, one young patron donated a whole bag full of her old shoes. “This is just wonderful,” Coker said referring to the young donor, Caroline McDonnell, 2. “These are the types of people we have in our community, willing to step in and lend a hand.”

Obituaries Aaron Stephens

334-514-6183 Serving Elmore County since 1990. Located in Wetumpka at 6251 US Hwy 231 in the Triple C Plaza. www.qualityhomehealthcare.us

Aaron Michael Stephens, 27, of Eclectic, passed away April 27, 2016. He was born December 2, 1988. Graveside services were Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 2:00 pm at Watson Chapel Cemetery with Rev. Ken Keppel officiating, Linville Memorial Funeral Home directing. He is survived by his mother, Robin Stephens; father, Michael Hornsby; maternal grandmother, Loretta Stephens; paternal grandmother, Marie Hornsby; children, Dalton James Stephens and Kaitlyn Stephens; brother, Dyron Johnston; sisters, Jamie Kelly, Jessica Hornsby and Shainna Hornsby; and cousins, Jeremiah Stephens, Johnna Stephens, John Michael Stephens, Lauren Marie Stephens; Morgan Dew and Mike Hornsby. He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, James Stephens Sr; paternal grandfather, Rogers Hornsby; and brother, James Stephens Jr. Online condolences at www.linvillememorial.com Linville Memorial Funeral Home Eclectic, Alabama

Suicide

continued from page 1

IF YOU HAVE COLLATERAL, WE HAVE YOUR LOAN. Business Loans for Central Alabama.

J. L Lane Lending, LLC. 334.272.4313

media page, as users guessed about the presence of a life flight, law enforcement and a woman lying on the ground. Franklin said there were questions about the possibility of a drive-by shooting having occurred at the mini mall. The woman was described as distraught and left a note, Franklin said, explaining her actions to her husband and son. The woman’s name is not being used out of respect for the family. Franklin said the woman knew several people at the mini mall and said she was frequent visitor there. The location factored into law enforcement’s views on the reasoning behind the location, Franklin said, as someone would likely discover the body on the property. A tree shielded the view from those in the store and it was speculated that she thought someone would have heard the shot, which came from a .22 pistol.

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Recap

continued from page 1

continue to do well at the secondary level and advanced placement courses, and we are very pleased,” Harrison said. “From an academic standpoint, our students are fully prepared to meet all standards. As an educator, I want to make sure the students obtain the necessary skills to stay successful through our school system.” One of Harrison’s primary goals for his students is to thoroughly equip them for life after graduation, and he anticipates high ACT scores from those graduating seniors electing to attend college. “I’m still trying to determine the number, but we’ve had a lot of success with students and the ACT. My main goal overall is to ensure that when a student leaves our system, that he or she will be ready for college and be prepared,” Harrison said. However dedicated Harrison is to preparing students for college, he is equally determined that students choosing to join the workforce have the skills they need to do so. For that, he has added more elective courses to ready the students with proper credentials. Harrison has added a culinary arts program, is restructuring the Career-Technical Education facility to make room for an automotive shop, and most recently, has implemented a new arts program. “We have now been able to employ music teachers to provide elementary students music education. That is such a highlight for me. We’re getting so much feedback, and my goal is to connect the dots in music education from kindergarten through grade 12,” Harrison said. Along with these new additions, one of the key ways that Harrison ensures his students’ success is through assuring that classroom environments are conducive for learning. “We want to be innovative and keep academics at the forefront but make sure we have good facilities so that everything flows well,” he said. “For the upcoming year, I’m excited about facility upgrades. A good classroom makes a huge difference in the teaching and learning process.” While Harrison praises the school’s success and looks forward to the future, he notes that his role as superintendent does not come without hiccups. One concern that continues to reign paramount is the school’s budget. While the budget may decrease, expectations tend to increase. “As a state-funded school system, we operate mainly from state dollars,” Harrison said. “That can be challenging compared to schools with local fund-

ing. We have to make tough decisions to reach every student’s needs. We have to perform at the same level or higher with fewer dollars.” Despite potential budget problems, Harrison remains optimistic and positive regarding the school system’s status. In addition, he promises to continue to ask for help while maintaining a sense of accountability. “I am very proud of where our school system is. In short, I think we use our money and resources well to do what we need to do for our students here in Elmore County,” Harrison said. “I will continue to make sure that legislators and people making decisions know what our needs are, and at the same time, I’ll hold myself accountable.” Holding himself accountable is important to Harrison who, along with maintaining operations, must be available to meet with parents and address their complaints. For that, he keeps his cell phone handy in order to address the parents directly. “I try to be available for the good, the bad, and the ugly. When parents have concerns, I tell them to message me, and they all have access to my cell phone. When there is a concern, I have a 24-hour rule that either a staff member or myself will reach out. We try to make sure to handle any concern,” Harrison said. From upgrading facilities and prepping students for the outside world, Harrison’s achievements as superintendent are hard to overlook. However, he is adamant that credit for the success of the school system be given to his staff. “It starts with our teachers, of course, and our support staff. Everybody is part of the machine. I credit those at the local level, and then that reaches to the central office where we all work together,” Harrison said. “I don’t credit myself for the success. It goes to me to make it happen, but we are the Elmore County family.” Harrison, who openly admits that his role brings him much joy, is determined for the school system to stay on a successful trajectory. As he continues his quest, he has bright plans for upcoming years. “I really enjoy my job, and one thing I have done as superintendent is open myself up to parents and the community,” Harrison said. “I’m going to continue to build partnerships with the community to support our students. I want to be the voice of Elmore County schools and tell the story of our success.”

Strike an issue with the inmates having to work without being compensated,” said Horton. It was reported that a group called the Free Alabama Movement has organized the actions taken by the inmates. A description on a Free Alabama Movement, FAM, social media page states the group is dedicated to the “non-violent and peaceful protests” of Alabama prisoners for “civil and human rights” reforms to the ADOC system centered on issues of overcrowding, recidivism rates and “tough on crime” sentencing. Horton said he did not know how much money had been disrupted by the work stoppage. He said at the Elmore County Correction Facility, ADOC only made revenue from its recycling center, which he said served four vendors. Inmates from the Red Eagle Facility out of

MAY 12, 2016 • PAGE 3

continued from page 1

Montgomery were brought in to maintain operations at the recycling center, which Horton said had generated about $18,000 since last October. “We depend on this revenue to make up the difference between the state funding and what it takes to actually operate the prison system, so nobody is making any money off of the

internal operations because we have to reinvest it back into the department of corrections to maintain operations,” Horton said. Most work done by the inmates is unpaid, however Horton said there are paid positions within the prison system at around 25 to 75 cents per hour. Horton said some of the inmates concerns would

have been addressed by Governor Robert Bentley’s prison reform measures, and Senate Bill 67, which failed to pass during the last legislative session.

BBQ FESTIVAL June 10-11, 2016 Present receipt(s) from any one retail business in the City Limits of Tallassee totaling $100.00 or more, dated between May 15, 2016-June 7,2016 and receive up to 6 BBQ plates from Tallassee Now BBQ Festival $1.00 Each! Bring receipts to the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce to redeem. Chamber OfÀce is open Mon.,Tues., Thurs., and Fri. from 9 am to 12 pm.

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Recap

continued from page 1

make tough decisions to reach every student’s needs. We have to perform at the same level or higher with fewer dollars.” Despite potential budget problems, Harrison remains optimistic and positive regarding the school system’s status. In addition, he promises to continue to ask for help while maintaining a sense of accountability. “I am very proud of where our school system is. In short, I think we use our money and resources well to do what we need to do for our students here in Elmore County,” Harrison said. “I will continue to make sure that legislators and people making decisions know what our needs are, and at the same time, I’ll hold myself accountable.” Holding himself accountable is important to Harrison who, along with maintaining operations, must be available to meet with parents and address their complaints. For that, he keeps his cell phone handy in order to address the parents directly. “I try to be available for the good, the bad, and the ugly. When parents have concerns, I tell them to message me, and they all have access to my cell phone. When there is a concern, I have a 24-hour rule that either a staff member or myself will reach out. We try to make sure to handle any concern,” Harrison said. From upgrading facilities and prepping students for the outside world, Harrison’s achievements as superintendent are hard to overlook. However, he is adamant that credit for the success of the school system be given to his staff. “It starts with our teachers, of course, and our support staff. Everybody is part of the machine. I credit those at the local level, and then that reaches to the central office where we all work together,” Harrison said. “I don’t credit myself for the success. It goes to me to make it happen, but we are the Elmore County family.” Harrison, who openly admits that his role brings him much joy, is determined for the school system to stay on a successful trajectory. As he continues his quest, he has bright plans for upcoming years. “I really enjoy my job, and one thing I have done as superintendent is open myself up to parents and the community,” Harrison said. “I’m going to continue to build partnerships with the community to support our students. I want to be the voice of Elmore County schools and tell the story of our success.”

Strike and coordinating their actions through the use of “illegal cell phones.” Horton said they had not made their demands known to ADOC, however they had expressed their objectives to media sources. “According to them they’re voicing an opinion of protest against the overcrowding. They also have a question about the U.S. Constitution in regard to the 13th amendment that abolished slavery and they have an issue, according to these inmates, they have an issue with the inmates having to work without being compensated,” said Horton. It was reported that a group called the Free Alabama Movement has organized the actions taken by the inmates. A description on a Free Alabama Movement, FAM, social media page states the group is dedicated to the “non-violent and peaceful protests” of Alabama prisoners for “civil and human rights” reforms to the ADOC system centered on issues of

MAY 12, 2016 • PAGE 3

continued from page 1

overcrowding, recidivism rates and “tough on crime” sentencing. Horton said he did not know how much money had been disrupted by the work stoppage. He said at the Elmore County Correction Facility, ADOC only made revenue from its recycling center, which he said served four vendors. Inmates from the Red Eagle Facility out of Montgomery were brought in to maintain operations at the recycling center, which

Horton said had generated about $18,000 since last October. “We depend on this revenue to make up the difference between the state funding and what it takes to actually operate the prison system, so nobody is making any money off of the internal operations because we have to reinvest it back into the department of corrections to maintain operations,” Horton said. Most work done by the inmates is unpaid, however Horton said there are paid

positions within the prison system at around 25 to 75 cents per hour. Horton said some of the inmates concerns would have been addressed Governor Robert Bentley’s prison reform measures, and Senate Bill 67, which failed to pass during the last legislative session.

Steve Baker, Publisher Mitch Sneed, Editor Opinions expressed in guest columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the management of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.

PAGE 4 • MAY 12, 2016

OPINION

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

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

National Stuttering Awareness week is upon us

ay 9-13 is National Stuttering Awareness Week. Even though I do my best to bring awareness year round, this week is particularly fun for me. I try to make people aware in a fun and humorous way. I feel that people are more likely to retain the knowledge when they become aware in an entertaining manner. When I was a child, one of my favorite cartoon characters was Porky Pig. We had so much in common, with the two biggest common denominators being that we both stutter and neither one of us like to wear pants. My style of comedy transitioned over the years as more and more people thanked me for telling stories of our daily struggles. Additionally, friends and family of people who stutter would come up and thank me, too, because they had no idea what their loved one was going through. Many of us keep our pain tucked away in a dark place. Some of you are probably asking yourself, “What’s the big deal?” Like anything, it depends on its severity. If I’m the only person you know who stutters, then you know that it rarely bothers me, although my stutter has picked up as of late, which is just fine with me. I embraced my stutter when I was in the 8th grade and never looked back. There are, however, some people who lack the confidence because they stutter on just about every word. I understand and can empathize with them. It’s important for them to know that they are not alone. Just imagine being super smart and highly capable but not landing a job, because you don’t interview well. Imagine not being able to order something from a menu, because you “couldn’t get it out.” Lastly, imagine not being able to say

your child’s name. Stuttering is still one of the great unknowns. There are many old wives tales as to the causes of stuttering and just as many cures. Personally, I Fuller believe I was dropped on my mouth as a baby. There are several outstanding organizations out there for those who are seeking help, whether it be the person who stutters, the parents, or speech-language pathologists. The ones that stand out to me are The Stuttering Foundation, The American Institute for Stuttering, and The National Stuttering Association. I’m most closely associated with the National Stuttering Association. Each year, there is an amazing conference with 800 of my closest stuttering friends. It’s a four-day conference, but for any other group, it would likely be 2 days. This year, it takes place in Atlanta from July 5-10. I always have a great time and come away from it feeling like a champ. You see, it’s not a pity party. If it was, I wouldn’t be a part of it. It’s empowerment, encouragement, enrichment, and entertainment. Personally, I’m glad I stutter. I’m glad I’m unique. I’m glad I embraced who I am, and I encourage you to do the same. Until next time, “Th-Th-ThThat’s all, folks!” 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.

Alabama: the new progressive Mecca?

ast week I had the opportunity to speak with the Young family and Alabama State Rep. Mike Ball R-Huntsville regarding the law named after Leni Young involving the use of cannabidiol oil. Without rehashing the entire story (you can read the piece in this past weekend’s Elmore County Weekend). Leni Young is a girl who has struggled with a variety of health issues since an in utero stroke caused significant damage to her brain, thus causing a litany of other problems including severe seizures. Parents Wayne and Amy Young have spent years working with medical professionals and the legislative process here in Alabama to get Leni the help she needs. While I have not done my own study of the cannabidiol research conducted by the University of AlabamaBirmingham, it seems that the science supports the use of this drug to help combat the primary issue that Leni Young faces, seizures. Alabama is not usually the state one thinks of regarding the legalization of any cannabis related substance, and yet the state has now passed at least two laws on the subject. The first, Carly’s Law in 2014, allowed for those participating in the UAB study to get CBD. The second, Leni’s Law, opened up that framework to other families and individuals in need. The fact that the state could

WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor

look at the scientific evidence and pass these laws is actually quite impressive. Drug laws are some of the most politicized laws in existence, with both parties attempting to find some form of moral high ground (no pun intended) in the debate. Generally the Republican argument regarding drugs is that they are protecting families and our youth. The Democrat argument tends to follow more personal freedom type issues, with many liberal Democrats supporting legalization. The reality is that neither of those arguments are specifically true, they are simply policy points. Politicians tend to look at which way the wind is blowing, especially with respect to constituents, and attempt to find common ground with voters that will ensure they get elected. Both Democrats and Republicans know whom they need to court if they are to insure they retain their seats. This is especially true with respect to marijuana. While the cannabis plant can actually serve a variety of purposes, it is the hallucinogenic affect of its well-known compound THC that actually cre-

ates the majority of the problem. The remainder of the plant has a number of other possible drugs, like CBD, which could actually serve a purpose if we look beyond our fear of the plant’s more negative issues. The fact that both parties, virtually unanimously, could look at the evidence and actually make an informed decision on this issue gives hope that our state is not completely lost when it comes to common sense. This is what we actually want our legislature to do. We want them to look at actual facts and make decisions based upon those facts. We do not want them acting out of ignorance or fear, which all too often is the prevailing concern. When I interviewed Mike Ball, he said that initially other representatives and senators thought he was crazy, especially in 2014 when he first broached this issue. He would only be deemed crazy if the legislature runs under a business as usual approach, concerned more about their seats than the well-being of the citizens of the state. The reality is that we need more legislators to act and think outside of the box. Perhaps if they did, we might actually solve a few of our problems. William Carroll is the managing editor of the Wetumpka Herald, the Eclectic Observer and the Tallassee Tribune.

Eclectic Observer The

334-567-7811 • Fax 334-567-3284 email: news@thewetumpkaherald.com THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER (005-022) is published weekly on Thursday by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Periodical postage paid at Wetumpka, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Eclectic Observer, 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. SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Year in Elmore, Tallapoosa or Coosa County: $25 One Year Elsewhere: $38 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 publisher@thewetumpkaherald.com William Carroll, managing editor william.carroll@thewetumpkaherald.com NEWS Corey Arwood, staff writer corey.arwood@thewetumpkaherald.com Carmen Rodgers, staff writer carmen.rodgers@thewetumpkaherald.com Cory Diaz, sports editor Cory.Diaz@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . Ext. 306 SALES Jayne Carr, marketing consultant Jayne.Carr@TheWetumpkaHerald.com . . . . . . Ext. 313 Molly Brethauer, marketing consultant molly.brethaur@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . . Ext. 305

State legislature inaction risks roadways, history preservation

or the past five or six years the legislature has pretty much cut state government to the bone. One of the areas that legislators have taken an ax to are Alabama’s cultural heritage agencies. These organizations throughout the state have taken it on the chin. There is an informal partnership of seven state agencies that have sought to educate Alabamians about the importance of our rich and dynamic history. The alliance is comprised of the Alabama Agricultural Museum in Dothan, Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park in Brierfield, Tannehill Ironworks State Park in McCalla, the Historic Blakely Authority in Spanish Fort, the historic Chattahoochee Commission in Eufaula, the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile and the St. Stephens Historical Commission in St. Stephens. This alliance’s membership of educational institutions represents nearly two centuries of combined service to Alabamians in promoting and preserving the state’s history. These institutions have played a significant role in the cultural life of our state by educating residents and visitors to the state about our past. Their work runs the gambit from Alabama’s rich Native American history to its formative years and the important role in the Civil War to the vital role of the agriculture and iron industries in Alabama’s development. They preserve some of our state’s most special places and provide a crucial resource for educators. They are preserving Alabama’s heritage. In fact, the tourism dollars generated annually by these agencies more than offset the modest appropriations they formally receive from the legislature. These agencies’ core functions are educational in nature. These cultural history agencies

Inside the Statehouse By Steve Flowers are small potatoes in state spending. However, our state roads are another story and they are falling apart. At least 15 percent of the state’s urban roads are in very poor condition and another 35 percent are rated as mediocre. This is according to a recent report from TRIP, a national transportation research group. The same study revealed that 25 percent of Alabama’s bridges are deemed structurally deficient. Since 2012 the state has had a windfall in federal money to help with our road and bridge building in the state. This joint federal state project known as ATRIP, an acronym for Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program, has been a godsend for rural roads in the state. Many a county commissioner has praised the lord for this manna from heaven. This program has been a $1 billion boost to help counties repair and improve roads and bridges. However, ATRIP is coming to an end. Our state road program and entire transportation budget is funded totally with revenue from gasoline taxes. In fact, they are separate from the General Fund and operate autonomously from the rest of the state agencies. The Alabama Department of Transportation has been a good steward with its money. It has put its resources into proper projects without regard to politics. In past years, governors used road projects to reward their friends and punish their enemies. The current Bentley administration has chosen a businessman to head the agency and the agency has

made the most important arteries and roadways a priority. The current gasoline tax of 18 cents per gallon has been the same since 1993. As you know, things like equipment and materials have gone up significantly since then. In addition, more fuel-efficient cars have hit the road causing a decrease in revenue. Some legislators and mayors are seeking a gas tax increase in either this year or next year’s legislative session. During legislative sessions a good many of you have asked why straightforward, no nonsense, good government legislation fails to pass even though it appears to have universal and overwhelming support. You will remember old sayings you heard from your elders when you were young. One of these sage adages, “It takes an act of congress” pertains to getting something accomplished. In politics, there is no clearer truism. It is hard to pass a piece of legislation through congress and it is as equally difficult to channel a bill through the labyrinth of legislative approval in Alabama. Ask any successful lobbyist or legislator which side they would rather be on in legislative wars and they will tell you that they much prefer to be against a bill than trying to pass it. It is much harder to steer a bill through the legislative process than it is to kill a bill. The Senate rules are such that if a handful of the 35 Senators are adamantly opposed to something then they can easily kill the bill. That is why nothing much happens in the legislature. 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.

FAITH

Phone 334-567-7811 thewetumpkaherald.com

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

MAY 12, 2016 • PAGE 5

‘Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit’

orty days after Easter, many denominations celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, commemorating and remembering that while Jesus has ascended into heaven and is no longer with us physically here on earth, God remains part of us and with us through the Holy Spirit. On the Sunday following Ascension Day, we Episcopalians always pray this prayer: O God, the King of Glory You have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your Kingdom in heaven: do not leave us comfortless but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before . . . The Feast of the Ascension makes it clear that Jesus is gone. Jesus is not here on earth, physically. And so, in this prayer, we recognize our human fear of being abandoned by praying: “Do not leave us comfortless.” What a plaintive prayer that is – “do not leave us comfortless”; do not leave us alone now that Jesus has left us, do not abandon us, O God, in our misery, our fear, our sorrow. But are the words of that prayer real? Are they true? Can God really bring comfort, through the Holy Spirit, or are they just words? The words of this prayer certainly aren’t words that take away pain. But, you know, nowhere in the Bible, are we promised a life without pain. The fact is, we are promised just the opposite. We are promised pain as Adam and Eve leave the garden. We are promised pain by the proph-

BOB HENDERSON Trinity Episcopal

ets. We are promised pain by the example of Jesus on the cross. We are promised pain by the example of thousands of martyrs over the centuries. Often, people begin hating God because they have suffered pain: illness, loss of loved ones, disappointment. They haven’t listened accurately to the promise. Pain is part of life itself, and in particular, part of the Christian life. Neither do the words of the prayer mean that we will never feel abandoned and alone. We will – most of us have. Despite loving, caring people around us, we all sometime feel totally alone, as if nobody, absolutely nobody, cares, understands or will even listen to us in our pain. We feel as if we can’t talk to our friends, to our spouse, our children, our parents, not even our God. Even though we sometimes feel alone, the fact is, we are never alone, never abandoned. There is almost always somebody we could talk to, somebody that would take an interest in us, if we would or could just ask. In those situations when we feel abandoned, the issue is not being alone – the issue is risk and trust. Can, will we risk asking people for help, even if it is just listening; and, can, will we trust them enough to share our pain with them. Often we’re too afraid to try. We can also go to God. Asking

God to hear us is a no-risk proposition. We can pray, talk to God, share our pain with God any time, any place, if we will. Most times, we just don’t. God is always with us, always ready to listen. But, God does not always solve our problem in the way we want or expect it to be solved. Neither will God wipe away all the pain. Finally the words of the prayer don’t mean that we won’t fear. Fear, to me, is the exact opposite of comfort. Fear is what I fear the most. I have a long history of fear. When I was a child, about 5, I guess, we went to Florida and I learned about crabs. We walked on the beach, saw sand crabs; caught crabs off the dock. They were scary. After we came home, I began making sure the sheets, blankets and bedspread were pulled up off the floor every night. I knew that if they were hanging down, just as soon as the lights were turned off, crabs would come out from under my bed, and crawl up those sheets into my bed, to do who knows what to me. I’m afraid every day, every time I step into the church for a service; every time I step into the pulpit. Having had cancer, I’m afraid every time a new bump comes up on my arm or leg. Yes, I’m a mass of fears: fear of being late; fear of not being good enough; fear of not being loved. Then, there is the fear for others. Every time I hear about someone killed or another tragedy, fear. Saturday, two police cars raced pass us, blue lights and sirens on. I wondered what human tragedy were they going to. Daily, we see human tragedy on television. There is no comfort. I try not to let those fears rule

my life, at least not all the time. I try not to give in to the fear telling myself and struggling to believe that God will make everything all right no matter how bad it seems. I think that is called trust, maybe faith, too – and I have it, sometimes, but not always. Pain, abandonment, fear, these three take away comfort, but the greatest of these is fear. How do we find God’s comfort, how do we let God comfort us? I think we do it by accepting our circumstances, even when they are painful; by trusting, even when we feel abandoned; by loving even when we are afraid. God’s promise is that He has sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us, strengthen us, exalt us. That means, that in the midst of our pain, we can find comfort and strength because God is with us, God does not abandon us, God has not and will not leave us, even though Jesus has physically left this earth. Unfortunately, the only way we will ever know if the words of this prayer are true is by believing God will not leave us comfortless, without evidence to prove it, or by experiencing it. That’s not easy, because when we hurt, when we feel lost and abandoned; when we’re afraid, it’s really hard to believe that God could ever bring any comfort. But, I do know this. I know that even though Jesus has ascended to God, God is still with us, right here, right now. And, that’s enough for me. I hope it’s good enough for you, too; at least, until you experience it. Rev. Bob Henderson is a rector at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Area Church Services Agapé Assembly of God Hwy. 63 North Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday Night Service 7 p.m. Balm of Gilead Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Bethlehem East Baptist Church Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Discipleship Training 5 p.m. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday Evening 7 p.m. Beulah Missionary Baptist Church P.O. Box 130, Eclectic 36024 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship Services 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday Services 6 p.m. Friday Services 6 p.m. Prayer Meeting and Bible Class 1st Tuesday Prayer Meeting 6 p.m. Central Baptist Church Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Adult Choir Practice 5 p.m. Evening Worship Service 6 p.m. Wednesday: Children, Youth and Adult Bible Study/Prayer Meeting 6:30 p.m. Central United Methodist Church Sunday Morning 9:30 a.m.



Chaney Creek Primitive Baptist Church Every Sunday except 2nd Sunday 10:30 a.m. Saturday before 2nd Sunday 10:30 a.m. Chapel United Methodist Church Services 2nd and 4th Sunday 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 2nd and 4th 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 1st, 3rd and 5th 10 a.m. Claud Independent Methodist Church 81232 Tallassee Hwy Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study 7 p.m. Eclectic First Baptist Church Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Discipleship Training 5 p.m. Wednesday: Meal 5:30 p.m. Youth, Children and Adult Studies and Activities 6:15 p.m. Eclectic United Methodist Church 1035 Main Street Morning Service 10:50 a.m. Evening Service 6 p.m. Wednesday: Meal 5:30 p.m. Service 6:30 p.m.

Georgia Road Church of Christ 4003 Georgia Road Sunday: Morning Bible Study 9 a.m. Morning Worship 10 a.m. Evening Worship 5 p.m. Wednesday: Mid-Week Bible Study 7 p.m. Good Hope Baptist Church 1766 S. Fleahop Road Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Discipleship Training 5 p.m. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday: Prayer Service 7 p.m. TeamKID and “R.U.S.H” Youth Celebration 6:30 p.m. Healing Waters Church of God 1639 Kowaliga Road Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday: Family Training Hour 7 p.m. Kendrick Memorial Baptist Church Hwy. 9 Nixburg Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Mt. Hebron Church of Christ 4530 Mt. Hebron Road Sunday: Morning Bible Study 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday:

Mid-Week Bible Study 7 p.m. Mt. Hebron East Baptist Church Sunday School 10 a.m. Sunday Worship 11 a.m. Wednesday: Children in Action 6:30 p.m. Bible Study and Prayer Meeting 6:30 p.m. First Wednesday of Month Potluck supper, Bible study and prayer meeting, 6 p.m. Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Sunday: Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: Bible Study and Prayer Meeting 6:30 p.m. Adult Choir Practice 6:30 p.m. Prospect Baptist Church Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Discipleship Training 6 p.m. Worship Service 7 p.m. Wednesday: Bible Study and Teen Kid 6:30 p.m. Refuge Baptist Church 3098 Red Hill Road Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Rock Springs Baptist Church 375 Rigsby Rd, Tallassee AL 334-283-1156

Submit your church calendar items and events to: thewetumpkaherald.com

Rushenville Baptist Church 10098 Georgia Road Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 5 p.m. Bible Study 6 p.m. GA’s, RA’s 6 p.m. Adult Choir Practice 6:45 p.m. Wednesday: Bible Study and Prayer Meeting 6 p.m. Salem Road Baptist Church 12 Old Salem Road Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Sunday Night Services 6 p.m. Wednesday Evening Prayer 7 p.m. Providence Primitive Baptist Church 4850 Chana Creek Road Bible Study 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Evening Worship 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Prayer and Praise 7 p.m. Union No. 2 Missionary Baptist Church PO Box 240452 Eclectic, AL 36024 Sunday School - 10 a.m. Morning Worship - 11:15 Tuesday Bible Study - 6 p.m. Watson Chapel Congregation 2223 East Cotton Road Sunday School 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m.



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

Alexander City (Lake Martin) www.russellmedcenter.com LPN/Clinic (FT) RN ICU/Step-Down (FT/PRN) Athletic Trainer (ATC) RN Med/Surg (PRN) (FT) Medical Tech (MT)(PRN/FT) RN OB/PEDS (FT/PRN) Security Guard (PRN) RN (FT) Student Loan Reimbursement Program Surgical Technologist (FT) ER Skilled Tech (FT) Director Environmental Servs. Sleep Lab Tech (RPSGT)

Fax: 256/329-7335 or Phone: 256/329-7345 jsherman@russellmedcenter.com

The Wetumpka Herald

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

MAY 12, 2016 • PAGE 7

Area Calendar May

MUSEUM EXHIBIT: During the months of April and May, the Elmore County Museum’s exhibit will feature the nationally known Elmore County Band - fondly called “The Big Blue”. The exhibit is filled with yearbooks, pictures of the band beginning in the 1950s and running through the 70s, plaques, scrapbooks, and a video of the 2003 Big Blue reunion! There are some funny, FUNNY stories told on the video! Come by Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10 a.m. & 3 p.m. and take a step back in time!

MAY 12

TRYOUTS: Basketball tryouts in the Tallassee High School Gym 5 p.m.

MAY 12-UNTIL

RELAY PLANNING: Relayers, cancer survivors, community leaders, team captains and hard workers are all needed to help plan the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. Relay For Life is a unique fundraising event that allows participants from all walks of life – including patients, medical support staff, corporations, civic organizations, churches and community volunteers – to join together in the fight against cancer. Volunteers from the Tallassee Community are needed. If you would like to join the Relay For Life of Tallassee as a volunteer or team participant, call Amber Voss with the American Cancer Society at 334-6128174.

May 14

UNION REUNION: Union Academy, Dadeville, Class of 1974 is hosting a School Reunion BBQ: On Saturday, May 14th from 2 p.m. until at University Station RV, Hwy 14, Auburn. All students, faculty, their families and anyone associated with Union Academy are invited. Contact Eddie Hughes, 334-257-3826, hughesautoparts@centurytel.net; Priscilla Hammonds, 334-283-2233,steven505@centurytel.net; Carolyn Hood, 334-319-3434, auburnhood@aol.com; or Genice Fuqua, 256508-1768, gfuquaret@gmail.com for more information. Assistance will be provided for those with mobility problems. LADIES NIGHT: Calvary Baptist Wetumpka Ladies Ministry invites all ladies to “Ladies Night At Calvary” on Saturday, May 14 at 6:00 p.m. The event will consist of food, fellowship, and a movie. For more information contact the church office at 334-567-4729. YARD SALE: Cain’s Chapel UMC huge yard sale is 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, 2016 (during the Slapout VFD parade and barbeque sale). There will be electronics, TVs, sports equipment, clothes, household items, sheets, pictures, etc. The yard sale will be inside the air conditioned Family Life Center.

May 15

GRADUATE CELEBRATION: Calvary Baptist Wetumpka will have celebrate our graduates on Sunday, May 15 at 10:30 a.m. This is a time to say Congratulations

to the Class of 2016. CHURCH HOMECOMING: Homecoming will be observed at Darien Primitive Baptist Church on Sunday, May 15, beginning at 10:30 a.m. CST. Elder Jonathan Blakeley of Wetumpka, AL will be the guest minister. A covered dish lunch will follow the morning service. All friends and descendants of former members are cordially invited to attend this service. Darien Church is located 5 miles west of Wadley, just off Hwy. 22 at Cotney’s old store.

held on Sunday, May 22nd beginning at 10:00 a.m., at Balm of Gilead Church located at 5187 Balm Road. The quest singers will be the Master’s Touch from the Valley. Lunch will be served at noon. SINGING: Titus Baptist Church in Titus is hosting a singing Sunday, May 22 at 6 p.m. The Dyes will be singing. Free admission and love offering will be taken.

MAY 23

May 16

Tallassee City Council meeting at City Hall from 6 p.m.-7 p.m.

May 17

ART ON THE LAKE: Children’s Harbor Lake Martin Campus is hosting Art on the Lake May 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and May 29 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Art on the Lake provides an opportunity for artists from all over the Southeast to showcase their art including canvas, jewelry, pottery and sculpture are available for purchase with a portion of the sale benefiting Children’s Harbor.

STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Family and Child Development is excited to be part of bringing this speaker Tajuan McCarty to Wetumpka. McCarty will be speaking at the Wetumpka Civic Center Monday, May 16th 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is a free event open to the public please see the attached flyer. Content may not be appropriate for children under 12 years of age. GRIEFSHARE: Calvary Baptist Wetumpka is once again offering GriefShare (A Ministry Helping Those Deal with Loss of Loved Ones). The next sessions will begin on Tuesday, May 17. The morning sessions will begin at 10:00 a.m. and the evening sessions at 6:30 p.m. There is a small charge for the workbook and materials. For more information please contact the church office 334-5674729 or visit our website www.calvarybaptistwetumpka.org

May 19

AFTER HOURS: Chamber Business After Hours, Sunset Reception is set for Thursday, May 19 at Wind Creek Wetumpka, 100 River Oaks Drive, Wetumpka from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. SCHOOL ENDS: Final day of the 20152016 school year

May 28-29

JUNE 1

POOL OPENING DAY: Pool season for 2016 begins Wednesday June 1 at 1 p.m. and ends Saturday, July 30. Hours of operation will be Monday-Saturday from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Daily pass is $3 per day and individual pass is $45, family pass for up to four in same household is $60 and five or more $75 for season.

JUNE 7

Industrial Development Board meeting 1 Twin Creek Drive from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

JUNE 10-11

TALLASSEE NOW: Tallassee Now event is set for June 11 at Bell Park and J.E. “Hot” O’Brien Stadium.

JUNE 13-JULY 8

MAY 20

GRADUATION: THS Graduation 8 p.m. at J.E “Hot” O’Brien Stadium.

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. GOSPEL CONCERT: The LeFevre Quartet will be in Concert Saturday, May 21 at Calvary Baptist Wetumpka. The LeFevre Quartet is recognized as one of Southern Gospel Music’s top groups. The Concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. There is no charge for the concert. However, a Love Offering Will Be Received for the quartet. For more information please contact the church office 334-567-4729 or visit our website www.calvarybaptistwetumpka.org

SWIM LESSONS: First session of swim lessons for ages 4 and up (must be 4 by time of lesson) will be June 13-June 24, Second session will be June 27-July 8 (closed July 4) Third session will be July 11-22. Registration fee for Tiny Tots is $55 and Levels 1-6 will be $65. You may register at Recreation Department until Thursday, May 26, and after May 26 please register at pool.

JUNE 28-30

HOOPS CAMP: The Tallassee boy’s basketball team is hosting a summer camp June 28-30. The camp is for boys and girls ages 8-14 and will be grouped in ages 8-11 and 12-14. The camp will be held from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. and will be run by the varsity coaches and players. There will be drills for shooting, ball handling and five-onfive drills. There will also be a contest for free throw shooting and a 3-point shooter contest. For more information call coach Cecil Hollinquest at (256) 404-2657 or call the high school (334) 283-2187.

May 22

FOURTH SUNDAY SINGING: The annual 4th Sunday Singing in May will be

ONGOING EVENTS

TENNIS LESSONS: Grassroots Tennis Association will be offering (8) Weeks of Free Tennis Lessons this Summer throughout the rural and inner city underprivileged communities. A player can become a recipient of Free Tennis Lessons by contacting this organization before (May 27th, 2016) by calling (334-439-8198). SUMMER READING PROGRAM: Readers of all age will explore all thing sports and fitness this summer as Wetumpka Public Library presents “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read” during their summer library program. The 2016 Summer Library Program is open to young people, preschool, through young adult, with programs, prize drawings, story times and more. Preschool Story Time for infant through those entering kindergarten is on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. this is a year round program. Summer program for those entering first through sixth grade will meet Tuesday afternoon from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Wetumpka Civic Center beginning June 14 – July 26. The Teen Program for those entering seventh and up will meet Thursday afternoons beginning June 16 – July 28 in the Library for movies. Registration begins May 2, 2016. You may download a registration form from our website: www.wetumpkalibrary.com or come in for a copy. For more information you may call 334-567-1308. Find us on Facebook. All programs are free. SATURDAY NIGHT JAMBOREE: Every second and fourth Saturday of the month is the Highway 231 Saturday Night Jamboree at the Alabama League of the South Cultural Center Building at 12814 Highway 231 North in Wetumpka. There will be country, gospel, and rock and roll music in a good atmosphere. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be line dancing, no alcohol, no smoking and no charge. Donations accepted for upkeep of the building. Contact Ray Funderburk at R&R Music and things at 334-991-4682 or 224-8509804 with questions. WETUMPKA CITY POPS: Wetumpka City Pops community band rehearses on Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Wetumpka City Administration building. Any woodwind, brass, and percussion players are encouraged to participate. Santuck Flea Market When: First Saturday, March-December, dawn to 2 p.m. Where: Area surrounding Santuck Baptist Church Details: An outdoor flea market with booths featuring arts, crafts, antiques, novelties, imports, food and more. Free admission to the public with free parking available. For info, call 334-567-7400. Bluegrass Jam When: First Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Where: Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka Details: All acoustic instruments welcome - guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass, singers. Beginner, intermediate, advanced and listeners. For info, call 334-578-9485.

SPORTS

Cory Diaz Sports Editor Phone 334-567-7811 sports@thewetumpkaherald.com

PAGE 8 • MAY 12, 2016

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER

PATRICK TAKES BRONZE, LEADS ECHS AT STATE By CORY DIAZ The Wetumpka Herald

The Elmore County track and field team brought home one medal from the AHSAA Class 4A State Meet Saturday at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores. Panther freshman D.J. Patrick earned a bronze medal in the boys long jump and finished in the top six in the 400-meter dash and triple jump. Competing in four separate state meet events, Patrick wasn’t sure he would do as well as he did. “It was great,” Patrick said Wednesday. “I wasn’t 100 percent the whole time because when I first got down there, I rolled my ankle. It messed up my triple jump, but I was still able to come back with a medal. I was proud of that.” The freshman took third with a 20-foot, 9.5inch leap in the long jump, ran a 51.91 to come in fifth in the 400 and jumped 41 feet, 10 inches to place sixth in the triple jump. Patrick won at least one gold medal at every meet this season, and had collected 10 total leading up to state, and while

he couldn’t continue his streak, he said he was proud of how he competed. “I felt good about the 100-meter and the 400meter because I’m a freshman and everybody I was running against was seniors and juniors. To come in fifth in the 400, it felt real good because I was racing against the fastest in 4A on the 400,” Patrick said. “I was just trying to keep up with everybody. I felt good coming out of it, and a lot of people were mad they got beat by a freshman.” Eighth-grader Zefeniah Edwards had two top-15 showings, coming in 11th in the 400, clocking in at 53.80, and 15th in the 800-meter run at 2:09.05. On the girls side, freshman Myzaria Ransaw (27.70) failed to qualify for the finals of the girls 200-meter by 0.21. Junior Nathan Whorton placed 11th in the boys javelin, measuring a toss of 141 feet, four inches, and the boys 4X400 relay team, consisting of Edwards, Jakob Hodges, Dalton Odom and Cody Watson, finished 17th out of 23 teams, posting a time of 3:48.98. “Nathan practiced hard,

mainly focuses on javelin. He was close to making finals, but the dudes we was competing with been doing it for years,” Patrick said. “Myzaria, our girl, she was fantastic. This is her first year going to state and I knew she was all excited and kind of scared and whatnot. But she came out there and she performed really well to face the girls she faced because she was in the third heat and that’s the fastest heat. “Our relay team did better than I thought they would. One of the handoffs, there were people in the way so it slowed our time down.” During big meets like state with a small contingency of athletes, Patrick said the group relies on each other even more. “We count on each other a lot. We all warm up together, everybody stays Contributed / The Observer focused – either you’re under the tent, or you’re Elmore County freshman D.J. Patrick, right, poses with Sipsey Valley’s Brylan Shirley, gold medalist, out competing,” he said. and Northside’s Andrew Robertson, silver medalist, after Saturday’s AHSAA state meet in Gulf Shores. “When you’re under the under his belt, Patrick the phases, I did a bunch better and stronger. Work tent, everybody is focused said he learned a lot com- of watching everybody, to get faster, just working in. Say if I was mad or peting with the best of the see what they do, just try- on my form. I’m always anything, it’ll mess up the ing to get better,” Patrick working after school, best. team because everybody “It was pretty excit- said. “That’s really all it always running, trying else will be mad. We all ing. I got to see new was, just trying to get bet- to get better, working on bounce off one another’s people and saw how they ter and work on my form my triple jump and long emotions.” jump. Just working on warmed up and competed. and being explosive. With his first state meet “I’ve got to come back getting my times down.” How they went through

Lady Tigers knock out Elmore County in area tourney By CORY DIAZ The Wetumpka Herald

Elmore County expended all of its fight in the opening game of the Class 4A, Area 5 tournament Thursday, as it was knocked out of regional contention Friday, falling to Dadeville, 13-7, at HHS. The Lady Panthers (13-24) won a wild one versus Dadeville in the tourney opener, 18-12, where both teams combined for 26 hits, but couldn’t match intensity, losing to host Holtville in the winner’s bracket, 11-1, Thursday, setting up a rematch with the Lady Tigers. In the elimination game, Dadeville plated three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 advantage, but ECHS battled back in the third with RBI hits from sophomores Nicole Ferpes and Kelli Hobbs and eighth-grader Kierra Harden to go ahead, 5-3. But the Lady Tigers answered back, going for the knockout punch, scoring 10 runs off Ferpes, who took the loss giving up 11 runs in 2.2 innings-pitched, in the bottom half to put the game away.

Elmore County senior shortstop and University of Alabama signee Elissa Brown went 2-for-3 and scored three runs in her final high school game to lead her team, and while Dadeville went up, 13-5, didn’t count her team out. “I know they scored 10 runs, but it was only the third inning,” Brown said. “We could’ve got it back little by little, but we just didn’t have it in us. I mean, we tried but it just wasn’t enough.” “We were really trying, we just fell really short. Like yesterday, it was 18-12, which we had to fight. I just wish we could’ve had that fight in us today, but I don’t know what happened. In the final at-bat of her illustrious career, Brown got an RBI single, driving in Zoe Lowe with one out in the top of the sixth, before coming around to score after a steal and a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Juaneka Patterson, as DHS lead, 13-7. “I’m glad I finished with a hit. Throughout, it’s been pretty good,” Brown said. “Our season as a whole wasn’t too well, I’m just glad I got to produce as well as I did and that really

Cory Diaz / The Observer

Elmore County freshman pitcher Alyssa Beam (12) squares around to bunt against Dadeville during Friday’s Class 4A, Area 5 tournament game at Holtville.

helped the team.” Against Dadeville in the tourney opener, senior Abbie Ryals and Harden

led the Panthers, with three RBIs apiece, while Patterson and Mackenzie Lewis added two RBIs each.

Rawls signs to play football at Huntingdon College By CORY DIAZ The Wetumpka Herald

Travis Rawls became Elmore County High’s third senior to sign to play football on the college level Thursday, inking a national letter-of-intent with Huntingdon College. The two-way player joined fellow seniors Kell Floyd (Lenoir Rhyne) and Markel Leonard (Lane College) to sign football scholarships this spring. Holding another offer from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Rawls said Huntingdon’s atmosphere is what drew him in. “Huntingdon is a small college, and they’re D-III,” Rawls said. “They’re close by home. It was a lot like being at home when I went and visited. It feels good to just have another chance to go somewhere and play at the next level.” Playing at running back and defensive back for the Panthers, Rawls earned First-Team All-Area honors his senior year at defensive back, finishing with four interceptions – all in the last three games of the season – to go along with his 28 tackles.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior said the Hawks are looking at him to play running back, where in his final prep campaign he had 43 carries for 220 carries and three touchdowns. “They looked at me doing a little bit of running back. At safety, I just feel more comfortable and more free,” he said. “It’s easier to mess up and not notice. It’s just an easier task than being at running back.” Elmore County collected its first winning season since 2011 at 6-4 in 2015, and Rawls hopes to carry over that momentum as he joins the Hawks coming off their first conference championship and first playoff victory. “I really haven’t looked that much into it. Coming from Eclectic, we’ve only had one winning season since I’ve been here,” he said. “It’ll definitely be a big change. “It was always fun because I grew up playing against the people that I played against in high school throughout little league. I’ll definitely miss my friends that I played with throughout these eight years. But I’m ready to move on.”

Contributed / The Observer

Elmore County senior running back/defensive back Travis Rawls, flanked by his family, signed a national letter-of-intent Thursday to play college football at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.