SIGNED UP: Several area athletes ink scholarship deals. Sports, Page 7-8.
Wetumpka, AL 36092
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SATURDAY-SUNDAY • MAY 7 - 8, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 11, NO. 18
Answers sought in Tallassee Mill fire By COREY ARWOOD and CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writers
Flames engulf the structures that were part of the old Mount Vernon Mills complex in Tallassee. Investigators are calling the fire suspicious and are still searching for more answers. Eric Hill / Special
The historic Mt. Vernon mills of Tallassee were still smoldering Friday, two days after having been engulfed in flames, preventing investigators from entering the grounds to begin the search for whatever clues remain from the intense heat of the blaze. At this time there is a joint-investigation between the State Fire Marshals, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and Tallassee police and fire departments. A public information officer with the State Fire Marshals, Steve Holmes, said the agency had begun questioning witnesses, but have not been able to enter the scene
due to how unsafe the remaining structure, and unsupported stone walls are. He attributed some reasons for the intensity of the heat to the structure’s age, dating back to 1839, and the materials that were used, like heart of pine, otherwise known, Holmes said, as fat lighter. “The materials that were used in the mid 1800s, it was sturdy but quite flammable,” said Holmes. The age added to how flammable the materials were, he said, due to how dry and tender the woods were. The building itself had recently come into new ownership as of only a week ago. See FIRE • Page 7
Leni’s Law a lesson in faith, persistence Family of Wetumpka child for which bill is named celebrate passage and signing of new law By WILLIAM B. CARROLL Managing Editor
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed HB61, also known as Leni’s Law, Wednesday, ending a long process to approve a medical treatment, which has been a godsend for many Alabama families. In signing the legislation, Bentley said in a press release, “As a physician, I believe it is extremely important to give patients with a chronic or debilitating disease the option to consider every possible option for treatment. With Leni’s Law, citizens in Alabama will have access to cannabidiol that may help with treatment. Through a study at UAB (University of Alabama-Birmingham), we have seen the benefit of cannabidiol to help with chronic seizures. I hope we will be able to collect information that will determine the efficacy of this substance in other chronic debilitating diseases.” With the Governor’s signature, the law will be effective June 1, ending for many families a battle that began several years ago, including the family of law namesake Leni Young, 4. Young and her family lived in
Wetumpka during at least part of the legislative fight over approval of the use of cannabidiol, but after suffering a setback, the family chose to move to Oregon in order to legally obtain the drug. According to Wayne Young, an Alabama native, the decision to move was a necessary one, after years of working with doctors to help their daughter. “Leni suffered a major stroke in utero,” Young said. “We initially kind of noticed something wasn’t quite right after about a month or so. We did an MRI at UAB, which discovered that she had approximately 85 percent brain damage caused by the stroke. Young said that if such difficult prognosis was not enough, their daughter started to get what he described as “pretty severe seizures” about six months later. Leni, who is small for her age, also suffers from microcephaly and cerebral palsy, as a result of the stroke, which affects her motor skills and the use of her muscles. “She has a wide range of issues that she contends with,” Young said. The worst issues though
Special / The Outlook
Above, father Wayne Young with daughter Leni, while below the Young family, from left to right, Shea, William, Wayne holding Leni, Amy and Thomas.
surround the violent seizures that Leni is forced to deal with. Young noted that at one point his daughter was suffering from as many as a dozen seizures per day. “At one point, we were told by doctors that her quality of life was virtually non-existent and we were told to call in hospice,” Young said. “We discussed a number of possible methods to let her go including the suggestion that we withhold nutrients.” Young said the suggestion that he effectively starve his daughter to death led him to seek out other options. It was during this period See LENI • Page 3
SE Alabama Community Band to perform Monday
Wetumpka Main Street group submits application By WILLIAM B. CARROLL Managing Editor
By LIZ ELY Staff Writer
The Southeast Alabama Community Band is scheduled to perform in Wetumpka for the second time on Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at Wetumpka High School. The concert is free and open to the public, and the performance will feature a repertoire of music known throughout the country and worldwide. Professor of Music at Troy University James Smith, who serves as conductor and Musical Director of the band, anticipates the performance will draw in crowds eager to hear timeless favorites. “It will be an evening of family fun entertainment, it’s that simple. It’s a lighthearted concert that people of all ages can enjoy. From swing and jazz related Submitted / The Herald music, our band can play basically anything,” Smith James Smith, conductor and musical director of the Southeast Alabama said. “We always anticipate a big crowd, and the last Community Band during one of the band’s recent performances. The band time we played in Wetumpka we had an audience of See BAND • Page 3 will be performing a Wetumpka High School Monday at 7 p.m.
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The Wetumpka Downtown group is moving forward with its plan to create an officially designated Main Street association in the city, and with some guidance from Main Street Alabama President and State Coordinator Mary Helmer. The Main Street program is a national program that stresses public-private partnerships, broad community engagement, and strategies that create jobs, spark new investment, attract visitors, and spur growth. The focus of most community Main Street programs is on restoration and reinvigoration of downtown areas in the respective communities. Currently, according to its website, Main Street Alabama has 16 officially designated Main Street programs with 27 cities, of which Wetumpka is a member, listed as network communities. See APPLICATION • Page 3
Page 2 • MAY 7-8, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
Obituaries
Local Snapshots
Beverly Ann Butterworth Dame DAME, Beverly Ann Butterworth; a resident of Wetumpka, Alabama was born on July 20, 1935 in Richmond, Virginia and passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the age of 80. The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 7, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Mountain View Baptist Church. Funeral services are Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Mountain View Baptist Church with Rev. Anthony Counts officiating. Interment will follow at Pine View Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Dame is survived by her husband of 63 years, Kenneth L. “Ken” Dame; sons, Robert Michael Dame (Julie) and Kenneth Wayne Dame; daughters, Deborah Dame Todd (Alan), Kendra
Linda Coll Quinones
Submitted / The Herald
Above, Olivia Hay won first place in Middle School Pins female class at the ASA National Archery Competition in Augusta, Georgia. Hay is a seventh-grade student at Wetumpka Middle School.
Submitted / The Herald
Philip White, a freshman at Wetumpka High School and a member of Boy Scout Troop 13, recently completed his Eagle Scout project. White built two hunting houses to benefit local veterans group America’s Heroes Enjoying Recreation Outdoors. AHERO connects veterans through outdoor activities as a means to help them recover from physical and psychological trauma and reintroduce them to civilian life. White, along with help from members of his scout troop, collected funds and donated materials for the creation of the hunting houses.
QUINONES, Linda Coll; a resident of Wetumpka, Alabama was born on July 27, 1949 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and passed away Wendesday, May 4, 2016 at the age of 66. The family will receive friends on Monday, May 9, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center in Wetumpka. Funeral services are Monday at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church
Dame Cleghorn (Johnny, Jr.) and Cynthia Marie Dame; grandchildren, Heather Dutton, Stuart Dame (Gabby) and John Cleghorn, III; great-grandchild, Micah Dame; along with a host of other family members and friends. Pallbearers will be Don Schulz, Johnny Cleghorn, Jr., John Cleghorn, Stuart Dame, John Gallups, and Alan Todd. Honorary pallbearers are Dave Davidson, Donnie Hardin, Ron Pardo, James Dinsmore, and Larry Loosier. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to The Montgomery Zoo, P.O. Box 3313, Montgomery, AL 36109 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Online Guest Book available at www.gassettfuneralhome.net Family Life Center with Pastor Carlos Herrera officiating. Interment will follow at Pine View Memorial Gardens. Linda is survived by her husband, Rafael D. Quinones; son, John A. Turner; daughters, Linda L. Perez, Liza L. Brame, Layra M. Quinones, Cecilia M. Quinones; and Ivy T. Quinones; sister, Diana I. Coll; sixteen grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marco Antonio Coll and Carmen Maria Melendez Coll. Online Guest Book available at www. gassettfuneralhome.net
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 7
CAMP STEW SALE: The Cedarwood Community Church will be holding a camp stew sale from 7 a.m.
to noon on Saturday, May 7. The church will also be holding an indoor yard sale with many unique items. Included are a wheel chair, walker, hospital bed, dvd’s video games and lots of other items. Cedarwood is located at 10286 Highway 231 in the Wallsboro Community. All proceeds help to support the ongoing community ministries of the church. For more information please call the church office at 334-567-0476.
May 9
BAND CONCERT: The Southeast Alabama Community Band will host a concert Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at Wetumpka High School. Musical director and conductor is James Smith and Director Emeritus is Dr. Johnny Long.
May 10
GOLF TOURNEY: Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament will be held May 10 at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club Come join us for a fun day of lunch, golf and a chance to win bragging rights and CASH!
May 14
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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, 256-508-1768, 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 334-5674729.
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.
May 16
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.
May 17
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 334567-4729 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.
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 334567-4729 or visit our website www.calvarybaptistwetumpka.org
ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Band about 250 people.” The band and non-profit organization was formed after bandmaster Dr. John M. Long retired from Troy University in 1996. At the urging of his previous band members, the community band was created in 2000 and has been conducting performances for 16 years throughout the region. As a volunteer-based organization of 55 members, the band boasts performers of all ages, from high school students to adults in their 80s. “I was one of the original members of the band 16 years ago before I became conductor. Our volunteers come from Southeast Alabama and Northwest Florida. It’s a diverse group of people who get together and love music and playing in a band,” Smith said. The concert at Wetumpka High School will be their third concert of the season. Previous performances this year were held in Elba and Troy, and their final concert is scheduled to be in Montgomery. Smith hopes that the people of Wetumpka will look forward to an interesting line up of songs that go back in time for a chance to reminisce. “This year, we have John Philip Sousa marches and we will have music from Fiddler on the Roof, which is reopening on Broadway and is very current. Professor Ray Smith will sing a Frank Sinatra tribute, and people always love that. Ray is a consummate performer, musician, a great
continued from page 1 vocalist,” Smith said. Along with Sousa’s marches including “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “King Cotton,” the band will also play Mozart’s famous classical piece “Overture to the Marriage of Figaro.” The selections from Fiddler on the Roof will feature vocalists Doc Kirby and Lindsey Gorden, two of the members who commute long distances to rehearse and perform statewide. “The commitment to drive is a tremendous effort, but the musicians do it because they love music and love playing their instruments,” Smith said. “Members get together to play with their high school band members, and it crosses generations. Everyone does it to enjoy the common bond of the musical experience.” As Smith and his crew of volunteers gear up for their second performance in Wetumpka, he encourages the city to attend, for what he hopes will be an exciting evening for all. “Wetumpka is a very warm and friendly setting for the community band,” Smith said. “We are thrilled about playing and really excited about our Wetumpka performance. Several of our members live in Wetumpka, and their friends and families will come. Everyone is welcome to be a part of this evening of musical entertainment.” More information can be found about the Southeast Alabama Community Page through their Facebook page.
MAY 7-8, 2016 • Page 3
Application Wetumpka City Planning and Project Director David Robison updated those assembled for the meeting as to the progress of Wetumpka Downtown, a process which began in earnest a couple of months ago. “We began this whole process with a kickoff meeting on March 11,” he said, adding that Helmer came at that time and gave a presentation to the group regarding the Main Street program. “At that meeting, we began to move forward with the creation (of Wetumpka Downtown,” he said. Robison said that in April the group mailed out 3,900 letters and brochures to the community at large. The brochure included information regarding the group, the Main Street program and the four-point approach utilized by Main Street groups nationwide. “We recently submitted out application to Main Street Alabama on May 2,” he said. “We then have to give an oral presentation to the selection committee for Main Street Alabama on May 19.” Robison said that other requirements, which the group plans to attend to during the summer, includes incorporating the entity as a non-profit organization, which will be independent of the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Wetumpka, as well as having a meeting involving all pledged partners to select a board and a possible Main Street Manager. Helmer said that the application process is taken very seriously by Main Street Alabama and that while she is not on the selection committee, she was excited that Wetumpka had submitted an application to be a designated Main Street community. Helmer said that if selected, Main Street Alabama will commit approximately $60,000 in services to the local group in exchange for a member fee of $5,000. “It is a very good investment for your community,”
continued from page 1 she said. Specifically, Helmer said that the state group would provide a number of services in the first three years of operation. “First thing we do (when a community is selected) is an organizational setup,” Helmer said. She explained that the setup would include outlining the various organizational structures the local entity could assume as part of its overall framework. As part of this initial step the state group brings in a resource team, which would visit the city and spend a week in the community trying to ascertain methods that will help the local entity move forward. “We spend our first night with the public doing a vision session,” she said. “If your citizens aren’t invested they will not invest in you.” Three days into this initial phase, the state group then provides initial recommendations to the local entity. “About six weeks after that, you get a resource book that takes you through the first six weeks of the program,” she said. In the second year, the state Main Street group performs a detailed market analysis for designated communities geared towards determining what types of businesses would best fit in the community’s downtown environment. After that process, the state group will seek communities to brand themselves, with a branding campaign specific to downtown businesses. Helmer noted that if accepted as a designated community, the onus will still be on the local group to ensure success. “Main Street is something you do for yourselves, it is not something that happens to you,” she noted on several occasions.
Leni of time that he first discovered studies being done on CBD oil. “I saw in a number of places that it was getting notoriety for its ability to stop seizures,” he said. Cannabidiol is one of over a hundred cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Young explained that based upon his research the psychoactive properties normally present in the marijuana plant are non-existent or significantly reduced in CBD. At least initially, the Young family sought the refuge of other drugs prescribed to help with seizures, but both harbored significant side effects. “She has been on phenobarbital and clonazepam, which helped to make the seizures non-life threatening but had pretty nasty side effects,” he said. “For instance, the Phenobarbital was causing her teeth to fall out, it is an issue we are still dealing with.” Young said the family eventually became involved with several other families in work leading up to the passage of Carly’s Law in 2014. Carly’s Law involved the approval by the Alabama legislature of the use of CBD by patients as part of a study conducted by UAB. The law was named for the daughter of Birmingham residents Dustin and Amy Chandler, whose daughter suffers from seizures due to a rare genetic disorder. The passage of Carly’s Law in 2014 was looked at as a blessing initially by the Young family, but quickly turned out to be otherwise. “We were left out (of the study), she was left out,” Young said. “We were told she was not on enough drugs to qualify.” Young said at that point his family needed to make a decision. “We were at that point in time where we were looking to move out of Alabama to a more friendly state,” he said. “We were truly blessed with an opportunity to come to Oregon.” Young said the decision to leave Alabama was not an easy one, but it was a necessary one. “I left a company and a
continued from page 1 job with eight years in tenure for my daughter,” he said. “It was pretty hard to walk away from that. All of our family and friends live in Alabama, for instance, we have another daughter currently attending Auburn.” The Youngs also have two boys, both of whom now live in Oregon. After moving to Oregon, the Youngs were able to legally acquire CBD oil, due to a more favorable political climate in the Pacific Coast state. “Once we got here, we were able to get her on the (CBD) oil starting in August of 2015,” Young said. “Within a few short weeks, her change was pretty apparent.” Young said the moment where the change became most apparent was one evening at the Young family home. “She (Leni) was sitting up and watching Frozen,” Young said, noting that this was not something that had been normal prior to the CBD. “Amy (Young) put the video up of her watching Frozen and it was at this point that (State Rep.) Mike Ball (R-Huntsville) said ‘we need to take this further.’” Ball said he remembered the moment quite vividly noting that his connection with the Young family began during the legislative push to get Carly’s Law passed back in 2014. “During the end of the session I remember Amy (Young) handed Leni to me,” Ball said. “I just can’t describe that spiritual moment when I held that child in my hands. That was when I started getting to know her.” Ball said that the original scope of Carly’s Law was eventually narrowed by regulations on the study. “It took forever, and when the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) finally approved it, they narrowed it down to a small number that would be able to access it,” he said. That small number did not include Leni Young. “Last year we were just going into session when I found out that Leni had been turned down for the study,” Ball said, noting that when he learned the information he
went to his office and broke down and cried. “I called Amy and found out that they were going to have to move. This was exactly the type of thing I had hoped to avoid by passing Carly’s Law.” Just before the most recent session, Ball said he was spurred into action again to help those in need of CBD. “I was following them (the Young family) on Facebook,” he said. “I remember waking up in the middle of the night and the first thing I saw was a post that Amy had done. I saw Leni in the video watching frozen, and I saw joy in that child’s face. It was an overwhelming feeling and I knew that I immediately had to do what I started to do with Carly’s Law.” Ball said that Leni’s Law was what Carly’s Law was always supposed to be before the latter bill was converted more into a research study bill. Leni’s Law effectively decriminalizes the use of CBD for certain medical conditions as outlined in the bill. Ball is not the type of legislator one would suspect of being
behind the push for such legislation as he was an investigator with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation for nearly two decades, and before that a state trooper with the Alabama Highway Patrol. “When I first started Carly’s Law I was laughed at,” he said. “You have to remember it was an election year in Alabama in 2014. We went from it being an impossible thing to getting the law passed.” Ball said because of the groundbreaking work on Carly’s Law, passing Leni’s Law was even easier. “It was not as difficult, Amy and the families that had been through Carly’s Law were on board and we all knew what to do,” Ball said. “We (the families) had a relationship of absolute trust.” Young agreed that the second time was much easier than the first. “It was much easier this time around,” he said. “We had the same people involved in Carly’s Law that were involved this time around. There was a core group of families that became friends
and when the opportunity came around we mounted up. Amy has been very dedicated with Facebook and social media to get the word out. I called in for the committee hearing and told our story and how this stuff works.” For Leni the CBD oil works in a paste form which she ingests orally. According to Young, the CBD oil is blended with coconut oil for ingestion, which Leni takes three times per day. According to Young, the results have been impressive. “In the eight months that she has been on it, she went from lethargic to being able to sit up and hold her head up,” he said. “She went from at times a dozen seizures a day to only about six or seven in the last eight months. I would say the oil is 90 percent or more of her progression. Also, since we have been here, we’ve decreased her off of narcotics about 33 percent. If other
families are on those types of medications, the potential for reduction is there.” Young added that his daughter has progressed so much since moving to Oregon that she is also currently involved in physical and speech therapy, which is allowing her the ability to communicate with her family, something practically unheard of prior to their relocation. Young said while he is proud of the work the Alabama legislature did in passing the law that bears his daughter’s name, he is somewhat torn about the process. “I have mixed feelings about it all, for instance, the fact we have to fight and beg and plead to save our daughter’s life,” he said. “But also the fact we were able to come together to pass it and the fact that she has been able to make a positive change for the families and people of the state.”
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Steve Baker, Publisher William Carroll, Managing Editor Opinions expressed in guest columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the management of The Wetumpka Herald
Page 4 • MAY 7-8, 2016
OPINION TheWetumpkaHerald.com
“Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.” --Thomas Jefferson ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
The Herald strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and, above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.
Looking forward to a strong, vibrant newspaper
MARTHA ROBY Guest Columnist
Our next military leaders
E
ach year I have the honor of nominating young men and women for an appointment to our nation’s military academies. The 2016 appointments have now been finalized, and I’m pleased to announce those who have received these prestigious selections. Our service academies are some of the most distinguished institutions in the world. Appointments are highly sought after and require high academic, character and leadership standards. Those appointed must commit to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. My office conducts a rigorous process by which applicants from throughout Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District are reviewed and interviewed by an independent panel of service academy alumni, who recommend the nominations. Once a nominee has been officially appointed, I have the privilege of calling to personally inform them of the good news. It is a special privilege to be the first to thank these exceptional students for their willingness to serve their country and to wish them the best on their exciting endeavors. Listed below are students who were nominated through my office and have received appointments to U.S. military academies for 2016. I join their families, teachers and friends in congratulating them on such a special honor. • Jaemin Francis Ashley: U.S. Military Academy (West Point). Jaemin, son of Eunhee and Thomas Ashley, is from Montgomery and attends Loveless Academic
Magnet Program (LAMP). • Elizabeth Sullivan Brakefield: U.S. Air Force Academy. Elizabeth, daughter of Jill and Lacy Brakefield, is from Dothan and attends the University of Alabama. • Joshua Devon Dye: U.S. Military Academy (West Point). Joshua, son of Gary and Gwen Dye, is from Midland City and attends Northview High School. • Nicholas Burke Forti: U.S. Naval Academy. Nicholas, son of John and Brenda Forti, is from Daleville and attends Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. · Cory James Philpott: U.S. Air Force Academy. Cory, son of Karen Sue and Luke Francis Philpott, is from Andalusia and attends Straughn High School. • William Watson Thomas: U.S. Military Academy (West Point) and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. William, son of Peyton and Jane Thomas, is from Midland City and attends Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. • William Patrick Vincent: U.S. Naval Academy. William, son of Vincent and Leigh Vincent, is from Dothan and attends Houston Academy. • Han David Zhang: U.S. Air Force Academy. Han, son of Ti and Cari Zhang, is from Dothan and attends Northview High School. Congratulations to each of these students on this significant achievement. Martha Roby represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband, Riley and their two children.
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ood morning. As the new President and Publisher of Tallapoosa Publishers, I would like to introduce myself and share a little about my family, career and thoughts on community newspapers. First and foremost, I am married to Kim, a nurse, and have one son, Kelly, a Risk Management Officer for a Bank in South Dakota. He is married to Danielle and we have two wonderful grandchildren, Lucca and Laikyn. I have worked in many different areas of newspapers in my 20-plus-year career. I have held the position of publisher, advertising director, circulation director, marketing director and mailroom supervisor. These positions have helped me develop an understanding of how newspapers function and interact with the communities they serve. A newspaper needs to have a strong, vibrant, editorial voice in the community so residents indeed feel it is their newspaper. Community participation in the discussion is very important and I encourage residents to write letters to the editor, participate in any reader panels we might hold or simply call and let us know about potential news items.
STEVE BAKER Publisher
That participation will help me achieve one goal of mine: to cover local news and events better than any other media. If you let us know of something, especially in advance, we’ll do our best to get it in your newspaper. Focusing intensely on local news helps develop a strong editorial product, which helps to increase readership of both the print and online products. Being positioned as the dominant news source in the market makes the newspaper an easy choice for advertisers to convey their messages of sales and information. Whether it’s a classified ad, an insert in the paper or an ad on a given page, we’ll do our best to craft effective ads to help area businesses achieve their business goals. Circulation is the final leg of the tripod. All other parts of the paper can do their jobs well, but if the paper isn’t delivered on time, in the place requested and in good condition, their efforts go for naught. Superior service in all
aspects of newspaper operations is key. In the past, I’ve held many positions in the communities I’ve served and been an active participant in Rotary, chambers of commerce and local boards such as the St Mary’s Hospital and United Way. These are great forums to keep in touch with the community and I will continue to follow Kenneth Boone’s lead stressing employee involvement of in local events, service clubs and other worthwhile causes. Kim and I grew up in North Dakota and most recently lived in Nebraska. We are very excited to learn about this new region we now call home. Please be patient as you see those Nebraska license plates. Whether you are pleased with something we do or disagree vehemently with a stance we take, I extend an open invitation for anyone to stop by my office if you have a question, concern, or want to talk about the paper in general. That dialogue helps us reflect upon the decisions we make and improve your newspaper. That’s right, your newspaper. I look forward to hearing your point of view. Steve Baker is the publisher at Tallapoosa Publishers.
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. SUBSCRIPTION RATES (includes Wednesday & Saturday) One Year in Elmore, Tallapoosa or Coosa County: $50 One Year Elsewhere: $75 The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription at any time. To subscribe or if you miss your paper, call 256-234-4281. © 2016 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher. ADMINISTRATION Steve Baker, publisher steve.baker@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
Mill town needs to survive crucifixion to survive
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never understood the mythos of the mill. To me, it was always a monument to yesteryear. Last year, I took a drive down and parked and wanted to experience the mill. Now, in all honesty, I’m no stranger to the mill culture. My dad cut his teeth at Russell Mills in Alex City and I remember going to visit him in the Boiler Room and smelling the sawdust and the grease and hearing the noises that went along with his job. Stepping into the corpse of the Tallassee-Mt. Vernon Mill was a different experience. It was vast and quite. It was still. I had a guy that we leading the demolition give me a tour through both buildings - the one built in the 1800s and the one built in the 1900s. Years of cotton fiber remained affixed to the walls and the columns. The older building was completely gutted. The newer building was in the midst as sparks flew and metal clanged. The plan was to take all the metal down and then remove the wood and then finally, the bricks floor by floor until nothing was left. But the best laid plans of
GRIFFIN PRITCHARD Guest Columnist
mice and men often go awry. Tallasseeans awoke Thursday morning to a cornucopia of Facebook videos, media accounts and personal stories from those who were there watching the former TallasseeMt. Vernon Mills burn and rage. The fire, roaring a hellish orange at times, worked its way through what once was the backbone of the town’s oncethriving economy. Flames lit up the skyline as the fire crawled through the two building feasting on years of old, dry wood. Nearly 100 firefighters were called into battle the blaze. But the best they could was quell the beast as fires still burned on into Thursday afternoon. Questions remain about the fire’s origin - but that’s for law enforcement to sort out. The question that now stands is a simple one. Where does Tallassee go from here? An old Baptist preacher once told me that in order to experience the resurrection, you
have to survive the crucifixion. That’s true of the town, as the mills are the second landmark to succumb to flames lit under quizzical circumstances. But there is a light and there is an opportunity to rise from the ashes. The old mills once stood proud and tall but now only a smoldering skeleton remains. Underneath the ashes lies nothing but potential. Potential that will go unrecognized if no one opens their minds to see it. Given the location and, of course barring the dam breaking, Tallassee could have a marina with a new boat launch. It could be developed into an amphitheater and used to house concert or even built into an entertainment district. The mills once stood as an homage to yesteryear. But, those can be seen all throughout the downtown and the town itself. Let this tragedy lead to something grand. Allow the area to grow and to develop into something that will draw people to the town instead having people flee it. It’s that simple. Pritchard is a former editor for The Tallassee Tribune and Elmore County resident.
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ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
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SPORTS
continued from page 1
According to Tallapoosa GIS data, Process Knowledge Corporation out of Birmingham, also known as KMAC Services, acquired it April 28 of this year. The building was valued at $1,124,100, and sat on roughly 19 acres of land valued at $33,260. Tallassee Police Chief Jimmy Rodgers said the owner had been cooperative in the investigation, and was shocked. Rodgers said the company, which is described as providing recycling services, was salvaging the lumber and stonework from the grounds. Certain sections of the mills were to be demolished, while others were going to be developed. An ATF public information officer, Michael Knight, said the ATF was working with the other agencies in an assisting capacity, but because of the size of the fire will remain involved and are beginning their own investigations. He said it is not necessarily a criminal investigation yet, but now they are trying to develop a timeline from witnesses and are also interviewing owners of surrounding properties, even delivery drivers who might routinely travel the area. All of the agencies involved are asking for public help in essentially any form at this point. State Fire Marshalls PIO, Holmes said to call the Alabama Arson Hotline “If they have the slightest idea that something might be able to contribute,” at -800-654-0775. Earlier on Thursday, smoke could be seen billowing from the 19th century historic structure as a helicopter swooped over and dropped buckets of water from the close-by Tallapoosa River, which the large stone compound sits adjacent to. Tallassee Police Chief Rodgers had been up all-night with the nearly 12-hour extinguishing efforts. The fire took a toll on a piece of history that was the foundation on which the town was built. Originally named the Tallassee Mills, the mill built the city’s first hospital, school, theater, bank, pharmacy and many other needed outlets to support a textile community. Originally built on the west side of Talisi Falls, the building became known as the No. 1 Mill until the larger mill, No. 2, was constructed across the river in 1897-98. During the Civil War, various cloths for Confederate uniforms were made there. In 1863, the original mill became an armory for the production of the Talladega Carbine. For the southern armies, the Tallassee Complex was one of the few Confederate ordnance facilities to escape destruction.
MAY 7-8, 2016 • Page 7
2 anglers sign fishing scholarships with Faulkner By WILLIAM B. CARROLL Managing Editor
Two members of the Wetumpka High School fishing team signed scholarship papers with Faulkner University in Montgomery Thursday morning in a ceremony held at the school’s library. Seniors Austin Finley and Stuart Lucas both signed on the dotted line Thursday in a ceremony that included well over 50 students, parents and other supporters. WHS Fishing Coach Barry Corbman was all smiles as he thanked the school’s administration for their continual support of the fishing team’s endeavors. During his presentation Corbman also announced that Lucas had received an additional $1,000 scholarship from the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association, Finley had already received an additional $500 from ASABFA for catching the largest fish at the recent Pell City/Logan Martin Fishing Tournament. Faulkner Fishing Coach Dustin Jones said he was honored to have both young men join his team. “Over the last few years we have really been ramping up the fishing program,” Jones said. “I think both of these young men will be a great addition to build a powerhouse fishing program.” Jones said that the scholarships,
William Carroll / The Herald
Wetumpka High School fishing team members Austin Finley and Stuart Lucas sign scholarship paperwork with Faulkner University in Montgomery Thursday morning.
while partial, cover a substantial portion of the cost of attendance. He said that he selected both Finley and Lucas because he felt they would be a good fit for the school. “We looked at making an investment in guys who are able to produce,” he said while pointing to the numerous trophies won by both Finley and Lucas, which were displayed on the table where the two young men signed their letters of intent. “We were looking for guys who have success in fishing, and as you can see by the trophies here, these two have had quite a bit of success.”
Finley described the experience of signing a college scholarship as “awesome.” Lucas said, “I love it, I can’t wait to start fishing in college.” Both said that when they started on the team neither of them expected that it would end in a college scholarship. Both are also looking forward to remaining on the same team through college and noted as their goal a possible national collegiate fishing title. “I think it is realistic (a national title), especially with the team they already have and the guys they are bringing in,” Lucas said.
SPORTS PAGE 8 • MAY 7-8, 2016
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ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND
Late surge lifts Tribe over rival Mustangs for top spot By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
Behind its young pitchers, Stanhope Elmore contained Wetumpka offensively for the first 11 innings of the Class 6A, Area 5 tournament championship Thursday. The Lady Mustangs forced the “if” game after handing the tournament host Lady Indians their first area loss on the season, 6-2, and held a 1-0 advantage in the winner-take-all contest before WHS’s bats woke up, scoring six runs in the top of the fifth en route to repeating as Area 5 champions, 7-2. Junior centerfielder Sydeny McKissick started the rally, getting a hit off SEHS seventh-grader Harleigh Anderson, who had given up one hit through four frames. Catcher Madison McKee reached on a catcher inference call and first baseman Amari McCreary loaded the bases with a hit before junior MiKayla Holt pushed Wetumpka ahead for its first lead on the night, with a two-run single, punctuated with senior pinch runner Cherrell Thrasher running into Stanhope catcher Braiden Denman.
Senior Riley Greene and sophomore leadoff Alexis Austin followed with consecutive RBI hits and both scored off a deep sacrifice fly from junior pitcher Mary Beth Slater. McKee, who had to fill at catcher when junior standout Kelsie Cornelius exited a game Wednesday after being struck in the neck with a foul tip, said her and her team had to fight through a lot of adversity to win area. “We all were down (in the fifth inning) and thinking we couldn’t come back and try to win,” McKee said. “But we ended up fighting together as a team and getting our bats going and try to come back. “I was a little bit nervous (stepping in for Cornelius). But then, I was like ‘I got to do this for her,’ and step in and be a good teammate. Keep everybody together and just show that we can still win even though we lost a player who got hurt.” Slater earned the win in the area title game, surrendering two runs on as many hits, and finished the tourney with five RBIs, including a two-run home run in the first championship
game. A stellar performance by eighth-grader Sherrell Matthews pushed the title to a sudden death scenario, winning the first game limiting Wetumpka to one run on eight hits, and came in on relief in the second game, throwing 2.1 frames. “After that first game, she got the game ball. She’s been out a few games,” SEHS softball coach Virginia Barber said. “To come out here and pitch like that as an eighth-grader with the stamina that she did, it’s amazing. It just proves how good she is. “(Wetumpka) got the momentum and we lost it. I couldn’t be prouder of our group of girls. To lose every game to them this year and then make them go into two games for the championship.” Offensively, sophomore leadoff Maris Stinchcomb paced the Mustangs for the tournament, going 11-for-18 and scoring six runs. With the rivals heading back to regionals, both teams look to keep their season going. “We kind of expected to get to regionals. So our goal now
Cory Diaz / The Observer
Wetumpka senior rightfielder Laken Watson (4) runs past a diving Stanhope Elmore senior shortstop Kerstie Reynolds (11) during a play in the Class 6A, Area 5 tournament championship series at WHS.
is to go even further than that,” Barber said. “We’ve been pushing our goal to get to Lagoon Park now.”
“On the way to Troy, we’re looking forward to winning, playing together and just winning.”
THE STANHOPE STUNNER: Victory Baptist couple signs with same school Mustangs’ boys soccer Love Eagles
By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
What could make a high school student-athlete’s signing day ceremony better? How about not only sharing signing day with your boyfriend or girlfriend, but signing with the same school. Two days prior to their two-year anniversary on Saturday, that’s what Victory Baptist School quarterback Mason Byrd and cheerleader Ally Weyant did Thursday, as both inked national letters-of-intent with Faulkner University in Montgomery. While Weyant knew she was attending Faulkner for a while, the picture wasn’t as clear for Byrd, who held another offer from an NAIA school in Kansas. “It means a lot to me,” Weyant said. “I knew that I was probably going to go to Faulkner the whole time, but I never knew where he was going to go. The day he told me he finally accepted to Faulkner, I was very excited and excited to see where we can go.” Byrd didn’t throw an interception through his first 20 games of his career, leading Victory to two straight undefeated, state championship seasons and as a result garnered invitations to elite football camp and a high school All-American Game in December 2015, along with the other scholarship offer.
Ultimately, a heftier scholarship amount, plus staying closer to home and his girlfriend won out. The Victory Baptist signal caller became the first 6-man player across the country to sign a football scholarship. “It’s definitely awesome,” Byrd said. “We’ve always wanted to stay close to each other, and the school in Kansas was kind of scary if I didn’t get any other offers. It’s definitely awesome to share this moment together – to be able to look back and know I shared this with her. “There’s really no way to describe it. It’s definitely been a long rollercoaster ride of ups-and-downs, and a lot of hard work has been put in over the last three, four years. This is the day I’ve been looking forward to and dreaming about for a long time. Their coaches told me they normally don’t offer 6- or 8-man players because their skills don’t translate, but he said he liked my football mechanics. He said that they could definitely translate and something we can build off of.” For Weyant, like her boyfriend she said put in the hard work. “It’s not just skill, which skill is a main part of it, but definitely just leadership. Willingness to learn and try as hard as you can in anything you do,” she said. “I always dreamed about it, but I really thought that I could do it. But I’m very happy that I could.” Victory Baptist School senior quarterback Mason Byrd and cheerleader Ally Weyant -- boyfriend and girlfriend -- sign national letters-of-intent Thursday to play football and cheer with Faulkner University. Cory Diaz / The Observer
shocks Cougars
By JEREMY WISE Dothan Eagle for Wetumpka Herald
DOTHAN – One by one, with staccato, the Stanhope Elmore Mustang boys proclaimed “Making history! Making history!” Tuesday night at the Westgate Soccer Complex. They had etched another milestone in the program’s history – and it was against last year’s Class 6A runners-up, no less. The Mustangs played impenetrable defense for 80 minutes, enough to make one quick goal from Frederik Ulloa stand up, as they stunned the Northview Cougars 1-0 in the second round of the playoffs. It was a sweet ending for a sizable Stanhope contingent who made the trip to Dothan. Northview’s girls dominated the first game of the playoff doubleheader 5-0. The boys’ win pushes the Mustangs into the third round for the first time in program history. And for Mustangs head coach Johanna Angelo, it is the culmination of dedicated labor. “I took over the team eight years ago, and when I took it over, it was a co-ed team of 22 who didn’t win anything,” she said. “Slowly and surely, we’ve gotten better and better.” To earn the victory, the Mustangs unleashed an impressive defensive effort. The potent Northview attack managed many shots, including about 11 on goal, but some were easy stops for goalie Michael Young Jr. Anytime Northview attacked the middle of the field, the Mustangs deflected passes, blocked shots and heavily harassed Cougar attackers. Several other shots ended just wide of the net, thanks to the defense. “Dig – I mean just dig,” Angelo said of the game plan. “This is the most skilled team I’ve ever had. They fought
tooth-and-nail, everything they had. Our defense stayed together so incredibly well. It was less about the cute little touches and showmanship. It was more about work.” “Their guys, every time we got the ball, we couldn’t hold the ball for two seconds,” Northview coach Joe Nelson added. “They were on us, so I give the credit to them. They were more aggressive.”
Danny Tindell / Dothan Eagle
Northview’s Migueal Gallegos (9) battles Stanhope Elmore’s Dylan Presciti (14)for the ball during Tuesday’s game in Dothan.
It was a fairly physical game, too – one that got chippy in the first 40 minutes. Several Cougars and Mustangs drew yellow cards in the first half. The biggest play may have come from the defense early in the second half. Northview star Jesus Escalera headed a nice cross-pass to the backside of Young – but a Stanhope defender managed to fill the empty space and keep Northview off the board. “This is the most cohesive we have been – and consistent – throughout a game,” Angelo said of her defense. Stanhope hosts Daphne Saturday at 7 p.m.
SEHS’s Stinchcomb signs with Selma By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
A tryout at Selma University April 3 threw Caleb Stinchcomb a curveball. Only getting college attention prior to visiting Selma for football, the Stanhope Elmore senior received an offer, and on Wednesday, signed with the Bulldogs. “I hadn’t heard much from any schools about baseball,” Stinchcomb said. “I had talked to a lot of schools about football. Never did I ever think I’d get an offer in baseball. I always thought it’d be football. The baseball offer, to know that my career would continue after my senior season, I was tickled to death. It’s a pretty cool feeling.”
The first baseman became the first Mustang baseball player to sign a national letter-of-intent in three years, an accomplishment he called an honor. “All the great players that have come through here before me, to be the first one to sign in three years, it’s pretty special,” Stinchcomb said. Stinchcomb put together his best prep season his final year, hitting .382 with 25 RBIs, 14 walks and nine doubles. Being the lone senior for Stanhope, he said he relished his leadership role on the team. “Coming into this year knowing I’d be the only senior, I had to take it upon myself – I had to lead by example. So showing up each and every day, busting my butt every
single day, no days off, I had to lead these younger guys,” he said. “I think the results turned out pretty much like I wanted it to. Couldn’t ask for a better way to go out.” Stinchcomb verbally committed to play at Selma three days after picking up the offer. While the opportunity to play football on the next level was there, baseball was always his goal. “I’ve played baseball since I was four years old. It’s been my favorite sport, it’s something I always thought I was good at. If Cory Diaz / The Herald you would’ve asked me last year at this time if I’d be in the position I Stanhope Elmore senior first baseman Caleb Stinchcomb, with his am right now, I’d probably say no parents and coaches, pumps his fists Wednesday after signing a way. I’m so happy to continue my national letter-of-intent to play baseball at Selma University. career.”