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Coulrophobia is a real thing
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THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
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WEDNESDAY • OCTOBER 5, 2016
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VOL. 118, NO.37
Council approves project costs, mayor gets awards
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
A number of cost assessments for city projects were approved at the Monday city council meeting after the council heard a report on the
Holton meets with prison minister
demolition of a residential property and recent work to the MLK Center. Only three items were brought before the council, which came to a close after only 13 minutes. But the council chambers were crowded despite the short agenda.
With no old business, Willis motioned the council to move into the new business and asked for a vote to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Under new business the council See COUNCIL • Page 5
Corey Arwood / The Herald
Missing inmate recaptured
COOSA RIVER CHALLENGE
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The outcome of Jesse Madison Holton’s preliminary hearing last week likely meant the 17-year-old would remain in jail until his grand jury hearing after a district judge refused to lower his $1 million bond and found probable cause on two murders he had been charged with. His case, even though it was said to be in its early stages, has drawn national media attention. Holton who was charged in the shooting death of his father, Michael Holton, 37, a previous mayor and fire chief in Eclectic, and mother, April Owenby Holton, 37, has been See HOLTON • Page 8
City Council member Greg Jones (right), presented Mayor Jerry Willis tokens of appreciation from a regional Nigerian community group at Monday’s meeting.
Cory Diaz / The Herald
Participants in the 14th annual Coosa River Challenge ran, biked, swam, paddled and rappelled Saturday starting at Swayback Trail and ending at Gold Star Park in Wetumpka. Some 215 participants competed in the event.
An Alabama Department of Corrections news release reported the cross-country recapture of a Tallassee man who it said had escaped from an Elmore County work-release center in late September and was serving a 13-year sentence on arson charges. According to the report Dylan Keith Carroll, 24, was caught in Port Angeles, Washington by deputies from the Clallam County Sheriff Office. Carroll In 2009, Carroll was convicted of setting fire to the historic downtown Hotel Talisi, and according to reports the fire spread to another building. He allegedly escaped from the Frank Lee Work Release Center, a minimum-security See INMATE • Page 3
Original Casa Napoli to return to Wetumpka
Breast cancer awareness month paints the town pink
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
For those who remember what the restaurant Casa Napoli was like in its glory days, you are in for a treat, as the original owners are planning to bring back the famous area favorite in its original location. Original owner Bill Rinehart and chef Richard Bowen have decided to return to their old stomping grounds and bring the people of Elmore County an authentic Italian meal. See NAPOLI • Page 3
A citywide breast cancer awareness effort launched this week in Wetumpka and commuters might have noticed the presence of pink ribbons on everything from utility poles to front doors and rear bumpers. Several events have been scheduled for the first week of October, which is largely recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Friday “The Pink Ribbon Walk” will precede a charitable fashion show at the Wetumpka Civic Center. See AWARENESS • Page 2
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Obituaries James Aubrey ‘Bubba’ Ballentine
BALLENTINE, James Aubrey “Bubba”; 85, passed away at his residence in Millbrook on Friday, September 30, 2016. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 4, at 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Hebron West Baptist Church, with Rev. Jim McGriff officiating. Burial will follow at Davis Memorial Cemetery with Military Honors. He served in the U.S. Army for 22 years, retiring in 1974 after having served in Vietnam from 1968-1969. He also served in the U.S. Postal Services for 21 years, retiring in 1996 from the Prattville postal service. He is survived by his wife, Nellie Ruth Hill Ballentine; children, Charles “Shad” (DeeAnn) Ballentine, Terry (Bill) Ballentine, Rita “Sissy” Ballentine, Yolanda
Ballentine, and Melinda Ballentine (Kevin) Pruitt; sisters, Frances Gantt, Jane Chavis, Judy Ballentine Culpepper and Ellen Flowers; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Honorary Pallbearers will be Devin Pruitt, Jordan Pruitt, Scott Ballentine, David Chavis, Chris Hethcox, Joe Gantt and Keith Clayton. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Monday at Mt. Hebron West Baptist Church, and he will lie in state at the church on Tuesday one hour prior to services. Online Guest Book available at www.gassettfuneralhome.net
Dennis Collum
Mr. Dennis Ray Collum, 62, of Deatsville, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2016, surrounded by his family and friends. He was born January 24, 1954. Funeral service will be Tuesday, October 4 at 12 noon at Linville Memorial Funeral Home with Rev. Brad Bakane officiating. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until time of service. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Linville Memorial Funeral Home directing. He is survived by son, Dennis Cade Collum (Meghan); daughter, Kahdra Lambert (John David); sisters, Pat Bakane and Peggy Burns (Chuck); brother, Donald Collum; and grandchildren, Rylynn Collum, Micah Emfinger, Brendan Emfinger and Caitlin Emfinger. He is preceded in death by his wife, Becki Beavers Collum. Online
condolences at www.linvillememorial.com. Linville Memorial Funeral Home Eclectic, Alabama
Leonard “Buddy” Ward
Mr. Leonard “Buddy” Ward, 67, of Wetumpka, passed away September 30, 2016 at his home after a lengthy illness. He was born February 16, 1949. A memorial service was held Sunday, October 2, at 5 p.m. at Grace Point Community Church, Wetumpka, AL. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles Leonard Ward and Mary Jane Ganus Ward; one brother, James Theo Black; and two sisters, Gracie Ward and Agnes Ward Maddox. Buddy is survived by his wife, Valerie Spencer Ward; one sister, Lou Ward Medina (Allen) of Towanda, Illinois; two broth-
Awareness At the show, doctors and registered nurses from Ivy Creek facilities will showcase products from local salons including: A Touch of Class, The Tapp 18, The Vault and clothing from Belk & Lancome. The proceeds from the event will go to the Joy To Life Foundation, said Amanda Hannon, an Ivy Creek marketing chairman and clinic administrator. She said the funds would be provided to those women “who can’t afford to get a mammogram.” The founder of the organization, she said, would also be at the Friday night event that runs from 7-10 p.m. Hannon said the idea behind the fashion show came
ers, Dale Ward (Rina) of Greenville, AL and Willie Jan Ward of Maplesville, AL; sons, Guy Allen Luckie (Eva) of Ramer, AL and Scottie Lewis Ward of Austin, TX; daughters, Michelle Swaney (Chris) and Jennifer Jones (Jon McGinty) of Wetumpka, AL; six grandchildren; four great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Online condolences at www.linvillememorial.com. Linville Memorial Funeral Home Eclectic, Alabama
Anita Virginia Evans Adamson
ADAMSON, Mrs. Anita Virginia Evans, passed away at her Wetumpka home on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at age 85. The family will receive friends at Gassett Funeral Home from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4,
followed by Graveside services at 2:00 p.m. at Pine View Memorial Gardens. She is survived by her husband, Leonard Adamson; children, Bruce (Teresa) Adamson, Greg (Karin) Adamson and Angie (Ronnie) Wright; sister, Sara Nell Rhodes and Sister-in-laws Hazel Evans and Gloria Johnson; grandchildren, Matthew (Carol) Wright, Mitchell (Jenna) Wright, Russell (Lexie) Adamson, and Erica (Jody) Diamond; four great grandchildren and one more on the way, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, M.D. and Tempie Evans, and her brothers, Curtis, Herman and Warren Evans. Flowers accepted or contributions may be made to the Wallsboro United Methodist Church. Online Guest Book available at www.gassettfuneralhome. net
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from a desire to get their providers, doctors and nurses, involved. “We have a lot of female providers in our network and they love fashion…” said Hannon. However she said this year their male counterparts would also join them out on the catwalk. She said donations would be accepted at the door. The city’s special events and tourism manager, Tiffany Robinson, said it was the second year for the partnership. She said the “The Pink Ribbon Walk” would convene at 12 p.m. Friday in front of the Wetumpka Civic
Center where they would hear the personal accounts of breast cancer survivors. Afterwards they will walk to Gold Star Park, she said, for a pink balloon release. “We always feel like it’s important to raise awareness and especially to let everybody know the importance of early detection,” said Robinson, who also serves as the mayor’s assistant. She said that the initial concept behind the larger citywide approach came from a previous Herald editor, Peggy Blackburn. Robinson said the city would be selling pink ribbons that could be purchased at the downtown administration building across from the civic center. Hannon talked about the month-long opportunity for free breast exams offered through their service providers. “We do these kinds of events to get the word out to the community about the importance of early detection,” Hannon said. “We’re trying to get the word out to the community that early detection saves lives.” On Oct. 26 Elmore Community Hospital will have a day of free digital mammograms, according to a “Color The Town Pink” flyer. Hannon said they wanted local residents to know that they did not have to travel to receive a mammogram, and said they wanted to offer a free day for women who might not be able to afford one otherwise. The free physical screenings, she said, would be available throughout the entire month.
Friday Night, Oct. 7, 2016 7:00 PM
Georgia Road Church of Christ Highway 170,Wetumpka, AL Singing with the Saints
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Napoli
continued from page 1
According to Rinehart, he and Bowen were the original partners who opened the restaurant around, as he called it, “the turn of the century,” before selling it to another group who eventually changed the location and the recipes significantly. “This is the original Casa Napoli, with the original owners and the original chef,” he said. Bowen, who is a third generation Italian chef, comes at his background honestly. His grandparents were from Naples, Italy and he grew up in the New York/ New Jersey area learning how to make authentic Italian cuisine. “My grandparents had a homestyle deli, we made a lot of things by hand, like real mozzarella, pastas and lot of other really great things,” he said of his childhood. “We (his family) lived upstairs from the deli, so it was just part of our lives.” Bowen said that he and Rinehart decided to bring back Casa Napoli for a variety of reasons. “Bill and I are retired and we both like to eat,” he said. “We realized that there were few good places we could go to get a really good meal.” Bowen said that Casa Napoli will serve the same type of food it served when it was originally opened, namely old style southern Italian cuisine. “It will be like an Italian family going to their grandma’s house for a family meal,” he said. Both Rinehart and Bowen said that when the restaurant was originally in existence it won a number of awards and was very popular with residents throughout the area. Rinehart specifical-
ly noted that it had been rated as a “four forks” restaurant. “When we were here it was a huge success and we won a lot of awards,” Bowen said. Bowen said that the goal will be to provide high quality dishes for reasonable prices noting that he will be in charge of every item that goes out to the customers. “If it isn’t top quality or I don’t like it, it will not go out,” he said noting he has over 50 years in the restaurant business. “For me this is personal. I take this real seriously. I am real fussy when it comes to the quality.” Bowen said the menu will include a lot of homemade items and always the best and freshest ingredients. “We have purveyors from New York, Atlanta, all over,” he said. “You have got to have all of the right stuff if you are going to make it the right way. You can’t just have any old tomatoes for marinara sauce.” Rinehart said they are even going to replant their herb garden in the back to try to provide the freshest herbs possible Rinehart said it is their attention to detail that is part of why they are bringing the restaurant back. “Everybody in town has been asking me when are we going to be bringing this back,” he said. “We are proud of the fact that when people came here they knew the difference in quality, they knew the real deal.” Work is ongoing at the original location on Highway 231 south of Wetumpka and near the currently closed Welcome Center. Rinehart said he antic-
ipates being open for business possibly as early as late November. “We would like to be reopened by the holidays,” he said. Rinehart noted that initially the restaurant would be open for dinner and Sunday brunch. “We’ve been thinking about possibly being open for early birds, say around 3:30 or 4 p.m.,” he said. “We are still discussing our schedule.” Bowen said the menu would be simple but that he primarily wants to serve the customers. “I like to come around and talk to the folks who come in,” he said. “If perhaps somebody says to me, ‘can you make this?’ I will try to make it for them if we have the right ingredients.” Rinehart said that the ambience for the restaurant will be very nice and welcoming and that one of the draws will be the wine list. “We are going to have a really nice wine list, like we used to have,” he said. “We are going to have a variety of super Tuscans, Chiantis.” “We’ll have Sangiovese, a variety of different types of Chiantis and a really good house wine,” Bowen added. The restaurant will also increase employment in the area. Rinehart said they anticipate hiring 10-11 “really good” employees. “We want professional people, people who really have a love for it,” Bowen said. “For anything to be really good, your heart has to be in it.” As for heart, Bowen has quite a bit of it for the restaurant. “I can’t think of a place I’d rather be,” he said.
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Inmate Lee Work Release Center, a minimum-security facility in Deatsville, around 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22. The ADOC report states Carroll was captured at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, and booking records show that Carroll was placed in Clallam County Jail around 3:44 p.m. that afternoon. Initially the jail records show he was taken into custody on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of a stolen firearm. However, Sunday an additional charge of “fugitive from justice in other state” was added, the records indicate.
OCTOBER 5, 2016 • PAGE 3
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Altogether he was out of state custody for roughly a week-and-ahalf. The ADOC report said a “tip from the public” led the local deputies to Carroll, who reportedly was apprehended “without incident.” Carroll is awaiting extradition back to the state, and will now face charges for the escape, “and other offenses,” stated the report. Around the time he was said to have escaped media reports circulated regarding the possibility that Carroll was armed. A public information manager with ADOC, Bob Horton, said at the time he could not speculate whether Carroll had
a firearm. However a vehicle was stolen near where Carroll was said to have escaped, and Horton said the owner confirmed there was weapon inside. There was no description of the weapon, and with no eyewitnesses Horton said they could not attribute the incident to Carroll. It is not yet clear if the vehicle is the same as the one stolen in Alabama, but according to the AL DOC report it had Texas plates and the jail records show Carroll was charged with possession of a stolen firearm. The ADOC report said that ADOC Investigations and
Intelligence Division worked with U.S. Marshals to find Carroll.
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OPINION
Page 4 • OCTOBER 5, 2016
“Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.” --Thomas Jefferson
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The Herald strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and, above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.
Coulrophobia is a real thing
I
don’t like clowns. Certain things scare me, but talking trees, old ladies with pigtails, and clowns top the list. I’ve never been a fan of clowns, and I’m not referring to career politi- Fuller cians either. I’m talking about the creepy ones. Okay, I’m still not talking about career politicians. I’m talking about Clarabell and Bozo, and for you younger folks, I’m not talking about Hillary and Trump either. I’m talking about the funny-looking freaks with the big red noses and big floppy shoes. Per MerriamWebster’s online dictionary, a clown is someone who performs in a circus, who wears funny clothes and makeup, and who tries to make people laugh. Has a clown ever made you laugh? Clowns are scary. My fear of clowns was deeply entrenched well before Stephen King’s ‘It’ ever graced my television screen. I’ve written previously about the importance of getting to know things that we fear. When it comes to people, lifestyles, and snakes, I firmly believe that; however when it comes to clowns, you can throw that out the window along with the big bowtie and the butcher knife. With that being said, I’m beginning to feel a smidgen of empathy for the laughing lunatics. As much as I detest their existence, they do have a right to exist. I can’t imagine how challenging it is being a young student in Clown College these days. I have no doubt that all the bogus clown sightings sweeping the country in recent weeks have led to an abnormally higher rate of sad clown graduates. They are also being occupationally profiled. I personally witnessed a tiny car of clowns pulled over last week near the Atlanta airport. The authorities had all 20 of them sitting on the curb.
And the sad faces didn’t stop there. Apparently there was a group ahead of them, because another group got in line behind me at the security checkpoint. The TSA agent working the gate told them not to try anything funny. They took off their shoes and jammed up the conveyer belt for three hours. The agent then instructed them to take everything out of their pockets. That handkerchief trick got old real quick. I talked to one of them. He wasn’t all that scary looking. He was old, broken down, and rode a tiny tricycle though the airport. Apparently, he’d been Ronald McDonald’s stunt double earlier in his career. They were headed to a clown convention. I only talked to him to find out which flight they were on. Fortunately for me, they were taking a tiny plane and it was full, but I was ready, willing, and able to change my flight. There was no way I was going to be stuck in a plane with a bunch of clowns. I did that once with a plane full of Florida State fans coming back from Pasadena. Much like the clown sightings sweeping the country, this story is totally fabricated. I did see a big goofy guy with a red nose, but I think he was just battling allergies. I hope it brought a smile to your face. The bogus reports of clowns threatening harm upon our children infuriates me. It seems like people, regardless of age, could find more productive ways to fill their days. But make no mistake about it, whether it’s Bozo or Clarabell, I do have a fear of clowns. By definition, an irrational fear of clowns is known as coulrophobia. The prefix “coulro” comes from the ancient Greek word for “one who goes on stilts,” which, oh by the way, I don’t like those towering tormenting freaks either. Jody Fuller is from Opelika. He is a comic, speaker, writer nd soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. For more information, please visit www. jodyfuller.com.
334-567-7811 • Fax 334-567-3284 email: news@thewetumpkaherald.com THE WETUMPKA HERALD (681-260) is published 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@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 Molly Brethauer, marketing consultant molly.brethaur@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . . Ext. 305
M
onday night I was at the Eclectic Town Council meeting and I was struck by an interesting fact. During the meeting, economic development was discussed in the small town. Specifically Mayor Gary Davenport referenced a number of businesses looking to open in the town. e have heard and seen similar things in Wetumpka. Other Elmore county communities such as Millbrook and Tallassee have also seen recent new businesses. Not only are we seeing new businesses crop up around the county, we are also seeing a plethora of construction projects and other improvements to area communities’ infrastructure
W
Growth is all around WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
that will go a long way to attracting additional businesses to the area. Generally once a week I take time to sit down with Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce Director Gerry Purcell to see what’s happening with businesses in Wetumpka. Almost every week he has some new business to tell me about, many of which open with very little fanfare, but which are all important to community prosperity. I also have frequent talks with Elmore
County Economic Development Authority Director Leisa Finley regarding economic development and area projects. I am pleased to report that again, there are a number of things going on that will be of benefit to our area communities. Elmore County is well positioned to receive significant economic growth and development over the next several years. When I was looking for somewhere to relocate, I liked the idea of taking over the newspapers in this area due to their proximity to a metropolitan area and the population growth the county has experienced over the last several years. Both of these things point to potential further growth
for a community. As Montgomery continues to grow, so too will the communities that surround the city. As such, area communities can shed their “bedroom communities” tag and become more of an integral part of the overall metropolitan area. With that comes more places to shop, more job opportunities and of course the inherent downside of increased traffic and travel delays. All in all though I think there are many positive signs for growth and development for all of our area communities in the upcoming years. William Carroll is the managing editor for the Elmore County newspapers for Tallapoosa Publishers.
A rundown of a few heavy-hitters in state’s political journalism
D
uring this election year I have watched all the politics on television. In order to judge the coverage I have perused all the channels. Over the years political observers have bemoaned the fact that certain networks are biased. Folks, I am here to tell you they are. There is no doubt Fox is a Republican channel and MSNBC and CNN are Democratic networks. George Wallace used to strut around the country running for president as a third party candidate rhetorically saying there ain’t a dime’s worth of difference in the national Republican and Democratic parties. Well, I am here to tell you there is a huge difference. They are miles apart philosophically. They ought to rename the Democratic Party the Liberal Party because believe me they are liberal. They ought to rename the Republican Party the Conservative Party because believe me they are conservative. The most believable, accurate and unbiased political analyst in America is Larry Sabato from the University of Virginia. He has been the premier political analyst, prognosticator and pollster in America for years. When Larry Sabato speaks, people listen. He is right on
STEVE FLOWERS Guest Columnist
target. He is so respected and unbiased that both CNN and Fox use him as an analyst. When it comes to Alabama politics the premier political investigative reporter is Bill Britt who has the Alabama Political Reporter. He and his wife, Susan, are head and shoulders above the rest of the investigative reporters in the state. The two best mainline journalists are Mike Cason with AL.com and Brian Lyman with the Montgomery Advertiser. They are great writers and are thorough, honest and knowledgeable. They are filling a gap left by the great Phil Rawls. A young reporter with AL.com in Mobile, John Sharp, is doing an excellent job covering politics from the Port City and Gulf Coast. He is an excellent writer and gets his facts straight and tells a story when he writes. Tim Lockett with the Anniston Star does a good job of reporting on Alabama politics. The legendary Montgomery lawyer and yellow dog Democratic activist Julian McPhillips has written two good books
in recent years, “The People’s Lawyer” and his most recent memoir, “Civil Rights in my Bones.” It chronicles his years of being a civil rights champion and lawyer for underdog clients. He has made some money with his taking on the big mules and powerful interests. He has won some big judgments for his downtrodden clients. McPhillips was born into privilege and Mobile established gentry. The McPhillips are old Mobile aristocracy. He could have settled into a sophisticated life of practicing law with one of the old Mobile silk-stocking law firms and drinking scotch in the afternoons at the Mobile Country Club and attending Mardi Gras balls. Instead, he chose the life of a liberal civil rights lawyer and by the way he is a tee-totaling minister of a liberal progressive church on the side. McPhillips was an all American wrestler in college at Princeton. After Princeton he graduated from Columbia Law School where he became a liberal activist. He practiced law a short while in New York before coming home to Alabama to begin his Alabama career with Bill Baxley in the early 1970’s. Baxley was a young 29-year-old progres-
sive populist attorney general and he brought with him a host of young liberal Alabama born Ivy Leaguers. It was a legendary troupe that included Julian McPhillips, Tuskegee-born Myron Thompson from Yale Law School, Vanzetta Penn McPherson from Montgomery from Columbia Law School and Decatur-born Hank Caddell from Harvard Law School. Non-Ivy Leaguers in Baxley’s group of assistant attorney generals included Judge Charles Price, Gil Kendrick, Dicky Calhoun, Don Dickert, Tom Sorrells, Bill Stephens, Walter Turner and current U.S. Attorney George Beck. They were better at law than softball. Their team lost almost every game, but they celebrated at the old Sahara anyway. Julian McPhillips has stayed true to his progressive politics. He is a true blue Democrat and was the Democratic standard bearer for the U.S. Senate in 1996 when Jeff Sessions won the open seat. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www. steveflowers.us.
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OCTOBER 5, 2016 • Page 5
Council
continued from page 1
voted to approve a resolution regarding the demolition of a property. The city’s building official, Jason Baker, said it was determined the property was so unstable it created a public nuisance and needed demolishing. The resolution was approved, with a roll call vote. The second item also regarded the demolition of the property, and was a “report of abatement of nuisance.” It included a detailed item list of the costs incurred in the project as read aloud by Candy Masters, city clerk. The third agenda item the council voted on was the approval of what was described as two water meters for the work on the grounds of the Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Center. Willis said the city’s Public Works Department had asked for the rules to be suspended to move forward on the project. In a late July meeting, Public Works Director Tex Grier last mentioned the water line component of the work to the MLK Center property. At the time he said the city was working with the water department on that aspect of the project and he said it should take about a month and a half to complete. Council member Steve Gantt, of District 4, asked about the price difference between the meters, one listed at $400, the other $1525. The lesser of the two it was said would be used in irrigation of the soccer and football fields “at the Dr. MLK,
Jr., Multicultural Center at the Wetumpka Sports Complex” while the other and more costly of the two would be at a concession stand. The rules were voted to be suspended and Gill and Gantt motioned to approve the item. Willis then called for any announcements from “boards and committees.” Council member Greg Jones, of District 5, then made an announcement. “…I represented the city of Wetumpka Saturday night at the Nigerian American Community South Central Alabama Incorporated … and I received on your behalf a token of their appreciation from their president and from their board and
I would like to give that to you tonight, along with a magazine.” He handed Willis what appeared to be a traditional and ornately crafted wooden mask. Jones said he assured the group it would be put in a “prominent place” in the city administration building. The city clerk, Candy Masters, made an announcement as well regarding a commendation Willis was said to have received. She said the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada presented the “award of financial reporting achievement” to Willis. The award is donated, Masters read, “to the
individual designated as instrumental to their government unit achieving a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting.”
The certificate represents the “highest award in government financial reporting” according to its program standards, she read.
Willis responded, “We have a wonderful team that puts all this together so I don’t take credit for this.”
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PAGE 6 • OCTOBER 5, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
THE WETUMPKA HERALD
Celebrating Columbus Day!
Christopher Columbus, the son of a wool merchant and weaver, was born in Genoa, Italy. At the young age of 14, KH VHW VDLO IRU WKH ÂżUVW WLPH .LQJ )HUGLQDQG DQG 4XHHQ ,VDEHOOD RI 6SDLQ EHFDPH LQWHUHVWHG LQ KLV YHU\ DGYHQWXUHsome voyage ideas. On August 2, 1492, Columbus set sail in search of China and The East Indies. The voyage was ÂżQDQFHG E\ WKH .LQJ DQG 4XHHQ &ROXPEXV DQG D PDQ FUHZ WUDYHOHG DERDUG WKUHH VKLSV RQ WKH WULS WR WKH 1HZ :RUOG 7KH VKLSV ZHUH QDPHG 7KH 1LQD 7KH 3LQWD DQG WKH ODUJHVW VKLS ZKLFK &ROXPEXV FRPPDQGHG 7KH 6DQWD Maria. Columbus never actually arrived on the mainland of the Americas, which he believed to be the Indies, until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ÂżUVW SHUVRQ WR GLVFRYHU WKH $PHULFDV KH LV UHFRJQL]HG DV RQH RI WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW contributors to colonization.
Famous Explorers Word Find
Color It! Crossword Ans: Across-2)China 6)Italy 6SDLQ 6DQWD 0DULD 1HZ :RUOG 'RZQ &ROXPEXV ,VDEHOOD +LVSDQLROD )HUGLQDQG
Cabot, Cartier, Columbus, Cortes, da Gama, de Champlain, de Soto, Dias, Drake, Hudson, Magellan, Marquette, Nunez de Balboa, Pizarro, Polo, Ponce de Leon, Vespucci
Columbus Crossword
Across Clues: 2. Which Country was Columbus searching for? 6. Where was Columbus born? 7KLV &RXQWU\ ÂżQDQFHG KLV IDPRXV YR\DJH WR $PHULFD 8. The largest of three ships. 9. What was America called before it was given its new name? 'RZQ &OXHV 1. Explorer who sailed in 1492. 1DPH RI WKH 4XHHQ RI 6SDLQ 6DQWD 0DULD VDQN RII WKH FRDVW RI ZKDW" 1DPH RI WKH .LQJ RI 6SDLQ
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THE WETUMPKA HERALD
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
OCTOBER 5, 2016 • Page 7
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PAGE 8 • OCTOBER 5, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Local Briefs
Police Briefs
State Trooper's report Eclectic man killed in car crash An Eclectic man has died from a car crash when his vehicle struck a tree after it left the roadway and overturned according to a report from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The man was said to be a 37-year-old Leon Livingston Minchew and the incident was described as a single-vehicle crash. The State Trooper's report said only that Minchew's vehicle, described as a 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue, “left the roadway, struck a tree and overturned,” on Elmore County 407, or East Cotton Road, approximately five miles north of Eclectic. According to the report Minchew was pronounced dead at the scene, and no other information is available due to an ongoing investigation, it said. The information was attributed to a public information officer with the ALEA.
The Kelly’s American the Beautiful Exhibit now open STAFF REPORT Gallery Staff
“America the Beautiful: A Photographic Celebration of Places, Faces and Activities” exhibition, sponsored by the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery, will be open for display from now through January 20, 2017, in the Wetumpka Administrative Building on 408 S. Main Street. Co-curators Kathy Atchison and Libby J. Christensen, working with the KFMG board, have brought together the work of seven artists, with a total of 112 pieces, most available for sale. Kathy Atchison has been an officer in the Elmore County Art Guild for several years. She and co-curator Libby Christensen have also participated in numerous KFMG activities since its inception. Christensen is one of the photographers highlighted in this exhibit. She has been published as an international finalist in A Journey of Memories, 2006, by The International Library of Photography and five times in The Best of Photography Annuals by Photographer’s Forum magazine. Locally, she has received 50 awards in photography competitions, including two “Best of Show” awards. Christensen and the other photographers chose many different visions for their expression of “America the Beautiful,” varying in content from landscapes and nature to people, animals and buildings. Christensen primarily focused on travel icons and scenery, primarily from the South and Southwest, for this display, sometimes using computer enhancement. Her brother, John H. Jacobs of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, picked out “compelling subjects” and quirky objects from his extensive travels, using “multiple exposure-bracketed High Dynamic Range” photography.
Wayne Atchison and Mitford A. Fontaine are both recipients of first place awards in recent art competitions. Atchison often works with black and white and likes to express “a good visual story” about people and their activities. He’s also drawn to nature, often depicting bugs, butterflies and sunrises/sunsets. Besides some pictures of people and sunsets, Fontaine enjoys the texture of rust and brick and the interplay of shadows in old buildings and old trucks, often in the local region. Kay Alkire Brummal, president of the Society of Arts and Crafts in Montgomery, shares some of Fontaine’s affinity for texture and also is inspired by the abstract lines, curves, shadows and colors of architectural elements and water reflections. She also experiments with images printed on metal. She and Barbara Bryan both have won multiple awards. Bryan is noted for her portrayals of birds and animals, many captured by telephoto from her Jasmine Hill property, which is “designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat.” Sue Mehearg is the one artist in this group who has worked professionally as a photographer; her primary focus is portraits of people, often enhanced with unusual computer applications. The opening reception is Oct. 11, 5-7 p.m. Also associated with this four-month exhibition are four “Tuesday with Kelly” lunch programs, noon to 1 p.m., on Oct. 18, Nov. 15, Dec. 20 and Jan. 17. Attendees bring sack lunches but receive drink and dessert. The first program, “From Sea to Shining Sea,” will include music by Mary Wolfe, an introduction of the artists, an interactive challenge to guess locations of the photos, and door prizes. For more information, see http://www.thekelly.org/ website.
10:55 p.m.
September 20
• A report was made of theft of property, a felony of the third degree and the fraudulent use of a credit/debit card, also a felony, at the 200 block of Rifle Range Road. The item reported as stolen was a Wells Fargo Visa debit card. The victim was said to be a white male in his 30s.The dates the incident was reported to have taken place were Sept. 8- Sept. 12. The date of the report was said to be Sept. 20 at 4:50 p.m. • A report was made of theft of property, a second degree felony, and unlawful breaking and entering of a motor vehicle, also a felony, at Winn Dixie. The items reported stolen were prescription drugs Norco and Lyrica. The vehicle broken into was a 2008 red Dodge Nitro. The incident was reported to have taken place Sept. 20 at 3:45 p.m. The date of the report was said to have been Sept. 20 at 5:50. • A report was made of theft of property, a fourth degree misdemeanor, at Walmart. The item stolen was said to be a Google Chromecast USB TV Streaming Device valued at $35. The incident was reported to have taken place Sept. 20 at 2:09 p.m. The report was said to have been filed Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. • A report was made of theft of property, a fourth degree misdemeanor at Walmart. The item stolen was US currency said to be valued at $13.90. The incident was reported to have taken place Sept.16 at 12:22 p.m. The date of the report was said to be Sept. 20 at 6:45 p.m. • A report was made of theft of property, a fourth degree misdemeanor, at Pizza Hut. The item reported stolen was a bag of money containing $478.98. The incident was reported to have taken place September 14 at 10 p.m. The date the report was said to have been filed in Sept. 20 at 7:50 p.m. • A report was made of theft of property, a fourth degree misdemeanor at Pizza Hut. The item stolen was a bag of money said to contain $435.40. The date of the incident was said to be Sept. 19 at 10 p.m. The date of the report was said to be Sept. 20 at 7:50 p.m.
September 21
• A report was made of criminal trespassing, a third degree misdemeanor at the 300 block of Government Street. The victim was said to be a white female in her mid-fifties. The incident was reported to have taken place on Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. The date the report was made was said to have been Sept. 21 at 8:31 p.m.
September 23
• A report was made of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle, a felony, in the 300 block of McDonald Drive. The victim was said to be a black female in her mid-thirties. The incident was reported to have taken place between Sept. 22 at 4:30 p.m. and Sept. 23 at 9:45 a.m. The date the report was filed was said to be Sept. 23 at 10:10 a.m. • A report was made of a death investigation on the 200 block of Gunter Avenue. The victim was said to be a white female in her late thirties. The incident was reported to have taken place somewhere between Sept. 21 at 6:42 and Sept. 23 at 10:02 a.m. The date the report was filed was said to have been Sept. 23 at 10:20 a.m. • A report was made of theft of property, a fourth degree misdemeanor, at Dollar General. The stolen property was said to be an assortment of items valuing $200. The date the incident took place was said to have been Sept. 23 at 12:05 p.m. The report was dated Sept. 23 at 12:39 p.m. • A report was made of harassing communications, a misdemeanor, in the 500 block of Mansion Street. The victim was said to be a white female in her mid-thirties. The incident was reported to have taken place Sept. 23 from 8:55 a.m. to 4:19 p.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 23 at 3:55 p.m. • A report was made of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle, a felony, in the 300 block of McDonald Drive. The items reported stolen were one box of German mugs valued at $500, three boxes of Mountain Dew Collection (bottles, cans, toys, etc) valued at $500, two pairs of Fox dirt bike boots valued at $600, a German wooden piggy bank with German coins inside valued at $100, and two German Steiff bears valued at $1,000. The victim was said to have been a white male in his early thirties. The date the incident was reported to have taken place was Sept. 23 between 8 a.m. and 10:48 p.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 23 at
Holton in Elmore County Jail since Sept. 11, the day of the shootings, according to Elmore County Sheriff’s investigators. It was in jail that John Davis, 70, a prison ministry director with Mt. Hebron West Baptist Church of Elmore, said he met Holton. Davis said his group goes to jails, prisons and juvenile centers throughout the county each week to meet with the men, women and children inside. It was something he said he had done for 41 years. On Mondays, Davis said they hold bible studies in English and Spanish at Draper Correctional Facility. Some just like to relax, others have testimonies, while many seek the fellowship of the gatherings, Davis said. It was ultimately to help them prepare for where they would “spend eternity,” Davis said. Davis said the number of detained persons who became involved in a ministry whether as a preacher or in the prison ministry after their sentence ended was “amazing.” “That’s our reward, when they get out and do good and don’t go back,” said Davis. However it was not a friendly bible study where Davis said he met Holton. He was in a pod alone, Davis said. It was a sort of solitary confinement he said, with nothing but white cement walls, a hole in the floor and a pad for Holton to lie on, Davis said. There was no water fountain, no commode, nothing he could harm himself with, he said. Davis was not sure of the exact time he met with Holton, but thought it was a date in late September. He said it was his first visit with the Elmore County High School senior, but he said his age was not unusual. “I deal with a lot of young ones,” Davis said. The youngest, he said, was an 11-year-old boy. That boy (the 11-year old), he said, “made a profession faith.” He said the boy cried and asked for Davis to tell his mother what he had done, but Davis said he was restrict-
THE WETUMPKA HERALD
September 24
• A reported domestic incident took place on the 20 block of Margate Loop of Sept. 24 at 2:37 a.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 24 at 2:50 a.m. • A report was made possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, at Mote 231. The item in possession was said to be a glass pipe with crystal like residue. The incident was reported to have taken place Sept. 24 at 4 a.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 24 at 4:15 a.m. • A report was made of domestic violence, a third degree misdemeanor, on the 400 block of Autauga Street. The date the incident occurred was reported to have been Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 24 at 8:30 p.m. • A report of a domestic complaint was made on the 400 block of Autauga Street on Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 24 7 p.m. A report was made of domestic violence, a third degree misdemeanor, on the 400 block of Autauga Street. The date the incident was said to have occurred is Sept. 24 at 10 p.m. The date the report was filed was said to have been Sept. 24 at 10:25 p.m. • A report was made of harassment, a misdemeanor, on the 100 block of 1st Street Autumnwood Village. The incident was said to have occurred Sept. 24 at 9:35 p.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 24 at 9:50 p.m.
September 25
• A report was made of possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, on the 1300 block of Elmore Road. The items in possession were said to be a clear plastic bag containing a crystal like substance, a digital scale, a glass pipe containing crystal like residue, and one hypodermic syringe. The incident was reported to have occurred Sept. 25 at 4:45 p.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 25 at 5:15 p.m. • A report was made of Domestic Violence (harassment), a third degree misdemeanor and domestic violence (criminal mischief), also a third degree misdemeanor on the 200 block of Autumnwood Village. Items reported as being damaged were the victim’s gray dress, the victim’s perfume, and the victim’s shoes. The incident was said to have occurred Sept. 25 between 9:35 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. The report was filed Sept. 25 at 8:25 p.m.
September 26
• A report was made of carrying a pistol without a permit, a misdemeanor, on the 1600 block of US Hwy. 231. The alleged perpetrator was said to have been carrying a Hi Point 40 caliber semiautomatic pistol along with seven rounds of unfired ammunition. The incident was reported to have occurred Sept. 26 at 12:00 a.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 26 at 3:20 a.m. A report was made of domestic violence (harassment), a misdemeanor in the third degree, on the 50 block of Spinning Wheel Drive. The incident was reported to have occurred on Sept. 26 at 11:46 a.m. The date the report was filed was 12 p.m. A report was made of theft of property, a second degree felony, on the 200 block of Marshall Street. The items said to have been stolen were sixty 2mg Xanax. The incident was reported to have occurred Sept. 26 between 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 26 at 11:29 p.m.
September 28
• A report was made of domestic violence (assault), a third degree misdemeanor, at Chapel Lakes on Chapel Road. The incident was said to have occurred Sept. 27 at 11:15 p.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 28 at 3:21 a.m. • A report was made of theft of property, a second degree felony, at Chapel Lakes Apartments. The items reported stolen were an assortment of Alprozolam tablets valued at $50. The incident was said to have occurred at Sept. 28 between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. • A report was made of criminal mischief, a first degree felony, at Chapel Lakes Apartments. Damaged was reported to a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe valuing $4,000. The incident was said to have occurred Sept. 21 at 12 p.m. The date the report was filed was Sept. 28 at 4:20 p.m.
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ed from contacting the parents of incarcerated children. As for Holton, Davis said he knew what he was alleged of doing from reading the paper. There have been accounts from law enforcement, and testimony made of what has been described as Holton’s unusually calm demeanor. It was a point of prominence in the preliminary hearings as well when an ECSO investigator talked about statements he said Holton made while in jail. Holton’s attorney said it was merely a juvenile trying to compensate for his new living conditions among men behind bars. “He’s young and going through a lot,” Davis said, so Davis “went in and shared the message with him.” He said he could not remember what Holton was wearing, and told a humorous story about his memory. He said he could remember certain details well, and others hardly at all. But with temperatures rising at times to 110 or 112 degrees and no air conditioning, only fans to circulate the air, he said what they wore varied. Davis described some of the details he said he remembered from Holton. “He had baby blue eyes” and light-colored hair, he said. “He was real respectful to me” and was quiet the “whole time” he said he was with Holton in his cell going over the “plan of salvation.” “He must have got some good training somewhere down the road,” Davis said. He seemed “like a normal kid,” there was no shouting, crying, no “carrying on,” nothing exciting, he said. He said he went over “the plan” with Holton, and showed him where to sign his name if he decided to do so. “We didn’t talk anything about his family or his brothers,” Davis said, even though he said he did know some of the family members. Davis said, “He just listened to me and said ‘yes’ and ‘no’,” to his questions.
Holton revealed nothing to him, he said, and that was the way he said he wanted it. However others had, he said. “You never forget some of them, they’ll stick with you for 30 or 40 years,” Davis said. “…You never forget their face.” Usually on initial visits Davis said he felt it was hard to gain the trust of the person he was meeting with. “They sort of check you out to see if you’re sincere,” Davis said. He said he thought Holton’s confinement at the time of his visit was relatively normal, and the space, he thought, was likely for those at risk of harming themselves. And he attested to the power of his mission, and said some had committed murders and got out and started going to church. But the key, he said, was keeping them away from the environment they were in before they entered. For those that will not leave, though, Davis said there was a way of getting out “spiritually alive.” Davis, a Holtville resident, said he started in the prison ministry around 1980. He said he retired from the Air Force in 2003 from the 908th Airlift Wing, and before that was in the Navy. Holton’s case is expected to go before a grand jury at some time likely in 2017. Sheriff Bill Franklin said he would not comment too much on the conditions of Holton’s incarceration but did say that Holton was not in “solitary.” He said Holton was being – or was at one point – held in a cell along with another individual. The jail administration, he said, was also weighing whether to move Holton in what Franklin described as a segment with “population” so he could move about and talk with others. So far, he said, they had not had any problems from Holton.
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Page 12 • OCTOBER 5, 2016
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Tribe looks to nail down playoff By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
Wetumpka can do something this Friday it hasn’t done since 2010. With a win at Helena, the Indians (6-1, 2-1) will lock up a spot in the playoffs, the earliest in a season they’ll have secured a berth in six years. The Tribe’s dealt with the anxiety of needing a win in its last region game the last three years to make the postseason. To understand how the Indians have the chance to clinch a playoff berth at Week 8, WHS head football coach Tim Perry said you have to go back nearly six months. “I think it’s the approach this team has taken, and it goes back to the offseason,” Perry said. “They established goals -- they gave us coaches input as to who they wanted to play in non-region. The also set a goal. They knew it’s been since 2010 since Wetumpka has won a region championship, so they set that as a goal. We’ve been blessed to qualify for the playoffs three out of the last four years, but the last two years we lost in the first round. This group has set a goal to qualify and get past the first round. They set goals higher. “They’ve done the work to accomplish these goals. During the offseason, in the past, we’d have three or four guys come
after school and workout. But this year, we had 15 or 20 guys stay. It’s put them in a situation to accomplish their goals. The credit really goes to the players that have remained focused on their goals, and they’ve made the plays they’ve had to make to win games.” Proof of all the extra work and long days over the spring and summer was evident in the Indians’ 55-53 season-opening victory at Prattville. From there, the team has averaged 40 points per game, while the defense has given up less points in each of the last four weeks, including both of its Class 6A, Region 3 wins over Chilton County and Pelham. “It’s been a team effort. It’s the unselfish attitude the players have taken,” Perry said. “They’re quick to share credit, that is what’s been really special this year so far. No one is really concerned about who makes the play, as long as the play gets made.” Helena (2-4, 1-2) scored the first touchdown in region play on No. 4 Opelika last Friday, but lost, 36-7. For WHS to check off one of its goals and seal a playoff bid, Perry said his team will need to put into motion what’s it worked for the last six months. “We’re going to have to our best game to put ourselves in position to win the game.” Wetumpka and Helena will kickoff at 7 p.m.
Cory Diaz / The Herald
Wetumpka head football coach Tim Perry, right, talks with his offense during Friday night’s game versus Pelham at Hohenberg Field.
Byrd lands on Bama roster for All-Star Classic By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
A lot makes Stanhope Elmore’s Zech Byrd one of the top high school prospects in the state, so there were a lot of reasons he made the Alabama roster for the 30th annual AlabamaMississippi All-Star Classic. Currently listed as Alabama’s top tight end and a three-star recruit on 247sports composite, it further solidified his belief with the senior seeing his name on the 40-player squad, announced Monday by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Cory Diaz / The Herald Association. Stanhope Elmore senior tight end Zech Byrd (3) was named to Alabama’s roster “I’m the No. 1 tight end in for the 30th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic on Monday. The Alabama; a lot (makes me the game will be played at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery on Dec. 10 with kickoff at top tight end), for real,” Byrd said Monday afternoon. “I noon.
know what it takes and I show it every Friday night. “When we’re facing adversity and our team’s down, you know, you’ve got to have somebody make a play to pick the whole team up. So I try and make a play.” The Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic will be played Dec. 10 at Cramton Bowl with kickoff at noon. Byrd, a University of Florida commit, will team up with 17 Division I pledges, including potentially his future quarterback with the Gators, Kadarius Toney, as well as five Alabama and two Auburn commits. Southeastern Conference’s LSU and Arkansas will also be represented in the showcase. Honored by his selection to
the Alabama team, Byrd said he hopes to learn new techniques to prepare him for the SEC and looks forward to getting a jumpstart on building a relationship with Toney. “You know most of the other guys are going to be playing on the next level, so I just want to get myself ready with playing against better people. Obviously, I want to see how my quarterback is going to be,” Byrd said. “I think it’ll be close for real. Mostly those guys are going to be true freshmen, I hope to be one of them, too.” As for his recruitment, Byrd said he’ll take his official visits, unsure of when they’ll be, but that he’s fully committed to the Gators.
Perfect weather greeted challengers over the weekend By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
The weather really couldn’t have been more perfect for the over 200 participants at the Coosa River Challenge this past weekend. According to event organizer Therese Carter with Coosa River Adventures, the event had 233 registrants, with 215 showing up to participate in the event. Carter said the event split participants into skill levels and participants were timed based upon their categories. She said generally the event went well with no serious injuries reported. “We had the usual bumps, scrapes and bruises you get all the time in these types of events,” she said. The event included several running portions, a biking portion, a rappelling section and of course a trip down the river to Gold Star Park in Wetumpka. Along the way there were several special challenges that participants had to complete. “On the early running portion there was a military crawl where people had to crawl under cargo nets,” Carter said. “We didn’t have any special challenges on the bike portion as many people think it is an accomplishment to complete the bike portion. It does take skill because it is a very technical trail along a single track.” On the run down to the dam, Carter said there was a rock jumble where participants had to run along a rocky area near the damn and a rappelling section. Carter said the river challenge required participants to swim their boat and paddle across the river to the rock
jump area before participating in the rappel exercise. Along the river, another challenge known as a “water feature” required participants to swim through two 50-gallon drums that were connected end to end and submerged. Carter said participants also had to perform a number of other challenges that required them to earn tokens and get each of the words in a three-word phrase. “If they got the sentence right then we know they completed each of their tasks,” she said. In all Carter said the event was a huge success. “The weather was really great,” she said. “We have people who have competed in this event for years and every year they really enjoy competing. We have to vary the challenges to keep it interesting but everyone had a really good time.” The winners in each class included: Male individual top overall: Brian Bartlett 3:21:04.37 Male individual under 19: Zack Hirst 4:17:49.98 Male individual 19-40: Tim Homes 4:25:59.13 Male individual 40+: Stephen Dedmon 4:13:29.76 Female individual top overall: Caitlin Thorn 4:24:15.49 Female individual 19-40: Natalie B. Snider 6:12:09.79 Female individual 40+: Tangie Odom 6:06:05.86 Male team top overall: hey Moss 3:24:45.36 Male team under 80 total age: Moody Owen 4:33:02.92 Male team over 80 total age: Williams Ivey 4:15:05.28 Female team top overall: Hulsey Taunton 7:01:41.23
Cory Diaz / The Herald
Participants in the 14th annual Coosa River Challenge ran, biked, paddled and rappelled Saturday starting at Swayback Trail and ending at Gold Star Park in Wetumpka. About 215 participants competed in the event.
Co-ed team: Eaton Eaton 4:04:29.98 Co-ed team under 80 total age: Roberson Pigford 4:34:00.23 Co-ed team over 80 total age: Bullard Bullard 4:59:40.38 Family team top overall: Fagan Fagan 4:17:43.43
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