SPORTS: Wetumpka throws no-hitter against Tallassee, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 10 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Author recounts integration of WHS
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
By CLIFF WILLIAMS The sisters were leaving W.B. Doby Staff Writer School where their aunt was a teacher. By Cliff Williams Franklin said the investigators Wilson was the head basket- investigation and handed it offIt was a place where teachers did Staff Writer County Sherball coach at Holtville High to Bracy the appropriate authorities. Sophia Harris doesn’t want theirwith best,the butElmore segregated schools limhave the alleged vicSchool and was was also placed on adminis-itediff’s anyoneHe to forget history. the Office outcomes because of choices A virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtim’s phone. Authorities collectleave that time.” Harristrative and her sisterat Debra experi- made by leaders. County School’s Edge program ministrative ed Wilson’s phone as well. school officials “We enced theDennis loss ofsaid a home and persehad wanted to better ourselves, has been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 “You could see a conversafollow thepart same cution while being of theprocedure first 12 not that the teachers at Doby were givwith school employee distrib- according to Eltwo,” administrators receive Africanwhen American students to walk the aingtion theirbetween best, but the it was the Franklack of of allegations uting obscene material to a stu- more County lin and said.the“Mr. is going halls ofreport Wetumpka High School.against The funds lack Wilson of support,” Harschool staff and employees. dent. contend someone had the Schools supersisters knew it would be tough but they ris to said. “Our buses were constantly handabout it over, Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richsecurity code to hisThere phone had their“Once reasons.we It wasn’t beingwebreaking down enroute. wasand no know very little about what is Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. he was not responsible. There the first Black student. equipment such as microscopes for WILSON on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a reCLIFF WILLIAMS / THE HERALD “Our going interests was not being with the biology labs. Textbooks that were cooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think turned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Sophia Bracy Harris autographs her book at the Elmore County Trainwhite folks,” Harris said. “The inter- hand-me-downs from Wetumpka had Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” said. “We had a preliminary necessary.” ing School. The book details Harris’ experiences growing up in Elmore est was to get a better education so we part of the front missing and part of the County and integrating Wetumpka High School. could better ourselves.” back missing and love notes through-
Arrest made holds Chamber luncheon LET THE inwelcoming homicide members
By CLIFF WILLIAMS his SUV dead of a gunshot Staff Writer wound. By Cliff Williams Detectives are currently The Wetumpka Staff WriterPolice interviewing Wells. Wells Department has made an will be transported to the arrest in the Jan. 20 mur- Chamber Elmore of County Jail and The Wetumpka Commerce held its der of Tallassee resident to have a $1.5 annual luncheon install new million officers bond and board Centel Winston. available him. Thursday. members for the first time in to a while Calvin J.The Wells of Mont- pandemic The Montgomery COVID-19 put a hamperPoon gathgomery was arrested lice celebrated Department, Mont- of erings but theFrichamber the successes day by the U.S. Marshals gomery County Sheriff’s business in Wetumpka. Fugitive Taskforce and “We haven’t been Office, able to doPrattville this for thePolast coucharged with murder. liceClay Department, Elmore ple years,” chairperson McConnell said. “Your attendancePolice is an indication want to get back The Wetumpka Countypeople Sheriff’s Office, together and have these opportunities to see each Department was called to U.S. Marshals Fugitive the Walmart parking lot on Task Force and Central See CHAMBER, Page A3 U.S. Highway 231 around Alabama CrimeStoppers 11 p.m. Jan. 20 where they have assisted in the invesfound Winston, 42, inside tigation.
GOOD TIMES ROLL
out the book.” The education Harris and her sister Wilson was released onhelp a the were seeking to receive was to $6,000 bond 90improve. minutes afBlack community ter“When turning ineducation accord- you youhimself got a good ing to the Elmore Jail huimprove yourself andCounty you improve website. manity,” Harris said. Dennis Wilson also left Harris wassaid a Bracy. Her family coached other sports atnear Holtthe Flat Rock community Tallasville schools including beingthird see when Harris was finishing the head track coachElmore and assisgrade. She attended County tant football coach. Training School for a couple of years Dennis staff then W.B.said Dobyother School. In would tenth grade fill in for the duties of Wilson at Harris and her sister started to walk the Holtville while he is on adminhalls of Wetumpka High School. Their istrative leave. See INTEGRATION, Page A3
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” By Jake Arthur luncheon. Chief Videographer CLIFF WILLIAMS / THE HERALD CLIFF WILLIAMS/ Food vendors and attendees lined the streets of downtown THE HERALD Wetumpka SaturdayPolice for theare annual Gras parade,the brought stillMardi investigating fatal to the city by theshooting Order of Cimarron. Cars, trucks, Jeeps, in the Wetumpka Walmartfloats, parkhorses, bands, dance groups and 20. more all paraded down the ing lot on Jan. streets and tossed Police Moon were Pies and brightly colored beads to dispatched to the parking lot attendees. Shops were open, some with special Mardi Gras around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” discall. counts, and live music wasthere, heard they throughout downtown area. Once foundthe Centell Winston,
42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound in the driver seat of his vehicle. According to Wetumpka police chief Greg Benton, this was not a random shooting. “This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” This is the first homicide in Wetumpka in over three years. The last homicide in the city took place in 2018. “It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
CLIFF WILLIAMS / THE HERALD
Elmore County Commission chairman Troy Stubbs listens to those for and against allowing Elmore County voters to decide the fate of an ad valorem increase.
See SHOOTING, Page A3
Legislature to decide ad valorem increase vote
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
the Alabama legislature to allow schoolwide a public referassembly at Holtville endum onHigh the matter. School.UlElmore County SuPassionate statements timately commission The Alabama Association of the perintendent Richard Dennis was forSecondary and againstSchool a 10 mill unanimously passed the Principals in attendance for the presentation. ad(AASSP) valorem increase named Holtvilleresolution. High “Kyle Futral is an exceptionwere made to theKyle El-Futral“Itthewould double my School principal al principal and is very proacmore 2022County AlabamaCommisHigh Schooltax,” Prin- Elmore tive and Couninnovative in his thinkcipal of the Year. ing Federation and approaches to managing sion Monday night. ty Farmers The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, The commission was president Richard Edgar the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High holding a public hearing Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a School, Futral has transformed See VOTE, Page A3 on a resolution asking By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer Staff Report
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
73 65 42 55
High High
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low Low
USPS USPS681-260 681-260 THURS:HIGH HIGH7671LOW LOW4553 THURS:
the school culture from that of a school struggling with low morale, achievement and attendance to a school that strives for excellence. By collaborating with staff, many of the school’s issues were identified and addressed. Futral’s leadership style of listening, encouraging, supporting, organizing and challenging the staff and students, caused the school culture to
a k p m u Wet
shift in a positive direction. The school experienced a 62 percent decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism, 7 percent increase in the graduation rate, 33 percent increase in CCR rate and a 20 percent increase in ACT proficiency in the last five years. See PRINCIPAL, Page A3
FUTURAL
Flea Market & Antiques 5266 U.S. Hwy. 231 • Wetumpka, AL (Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC)
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666