SPORTS: ALL COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM RELEASED, B1 & B2 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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‘We are excited’
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested Franklin said investigators Wilson was the head basket- investigation and handed it off Wilson was released on a ball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afSchool and was He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordA virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” County School’s Edge program ministrative website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. has been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure By CLIFF WILLIAMS Authority BELand opportunities foramany in Alabama,” with school employee distrib- according tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at Holtto El-director Cary Cox said when administrators receive Staff Writer a fast-growing apparel Blakeslee said. “After a lin comprehensive report of allegations against uting obscene material to a stu- more LA+CANVAS, said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being County manufacturer U.S.A” we ultimately concluded that our school staffsearch, and employees. dent. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assisSchools super- with a “Made in the Wetumpka native Isaac Stubbs evacuated Ukraine about PortionsCounty of a Wetumpka building focus. location in Wetumpka was notcode only to his phone “Once wenew hand it over, we security Elmore Sheriff Bill vacant and tant football coach. intendent RichRussia invaded the country on Feb. 24. since 2013 will see life again. “It’s always exciting when aknow company optimal to enhance manufacturing very little about what isour he Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. was not responsible.a month TherebeforeDennis said other staff would WILSON Gov. Kay Iveyofannounced Thursday Los chooses to put down roots here,”going Cox said. advanced on,” footprint Dennis and said.technologically “We is other Wilson II, 32, Montgomery information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at “We had a reAngeles-based BELLA+CANVAS will “They had opportunities to go elsewhere. operations levels, butifalsodisclose ideal in terms cooperate with authorities turned himself into authorities port,” nowof but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminDennis invest $11.9 million to establish an operIt’s satisfying when so many necessary.” entities in support from the local government and ac- to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial said. “We had a preliminary ation in a building once operated by Rus- Elmore County came together to put this cess to great new team members.” sell Corp. together.” Elmore County is home to many former “The decision by BELLA+CANVAS BELLA+CANVAS president Chris textile industry employees. Frontier Spinto locate its high-tech cutting facility in Blakeslee said in a statement the company ning Mills opened in Wetumpka in 2001. Wetumpka is welcome news for Elmore produces clothing for the retail and whole- The plant closed in 2019 and 148 employCounty and for Alabama,” Ivey said in a sale markets, while also offering clothing ees lost jobs as the company consolidatstatement. “Not only will the company’s design and manufacturing services. The ed operations to Carolina. Frontier had growth project spark the creation of a sig- company is known for its domestic manu- just two years earlier invested more than Wetumpka native reflects on nificant number of jobs, but it also under- facturing mission, the development of in- $6 million to expand its operations in Elmission, evacuation from Ukraine scores how Alabama is ready and eager novative new fabrics, and its sustainabili- more County. to play a role in America’s manufacturing ty practices. Cox said the workforce in Elmore CounBy JACOB HOLMES renaissance.” “We are thrilled to be part of the comSee JOBS, Page A3 Special to The Herald Elmore County Economic Development munity and look forward to creating jobs By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
Over 500 new jobs coming to Wetumpka
‘HOPE Police LAST’ Chamber holds luncheon DIES continue
welcoming members By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
Industry announcement just part of growth in Wetumpka
The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board members for the first time in a while Thursday. The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gatherings but the chamber celebrated the successes of business in Wetumpka. “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couBy CLIFF WILLIAMS ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your Staff Writer attendance is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each Wetumpka is on nearly everyone’s radar. See CHAMBER, Page A3 Hometown Takeover has brought growth, visitors and new industry. While Los Angeles based BELLA+CANVAS just announced its opening a high-tech textile plant in Wetumpka, its presence is already in town. “[Thursday] I was downtown in one of our merchants and happened to notice in the shop she carries this line,” Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis said. “It’s one of the products they will be producing and it’s alCLIFF WILLIAMS / THE HERALD ready on the shelves of some of our Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis holds up a shirt made by new stores in downtown.” Wetumpka industry BELLA+CANVAS. It can be found in Willis said he has met with comdowntown Wetumpka. pany officials and the product of
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
the plant will be different from the CLIFF WILLIAMS/ textiles produced in the area in the THE HERALD past. “They are not screen printed,” Willis said. “They are down with the old block and paint thing. It’s a unique method they use and we’re happy to have them here.” Willis said officials have been working hard for almost a decade to find another tenant for the building. “We have been marketing through the county and the state the old Russell facility for a number of years,” Willis said. “Phoenix came in and purchased the property about a year ago. It gives us the opportunity to continue marketing it. The state was a great help to us See GROWTH, Page A3
investigation, man no longer suspected
Wetumpka native Isaac Stubbs evacuated Ukraine about a month before Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24. “Saying goodbye to my friends in those circumstances was heartbreaking,” Stubbs said. Stubbs had been serving in Ukraine on his two-year mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He in the footsteps of his father, Troy Byfollows Jake Arthur Stubbs, chairman of the Elmore County ComChief Videographer mission and candidate to represent District 31 inPolice the Alabama of Representatives. are stillHouse investigating the fatal The elder Stubbs took his mission shooting in the Wetumpkatwo-year Walmart parkto Russia from 1998-2000. ing lot on Jan. 20. ThePolice tensions and Ukraine were between dispatchedRussia to the parking lot around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. SeeCentell UKRAINE, Page A3 Once there, they found 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
Two employees put on leave at Wetumpka High School
By CLIFF WILLIAMS See SHOOTING, Page A3 Staff Writer Elmore County Schools superintendent has placed two employees at Wetumpka High School on administrative leave. “Two personnel at Wetumpka High School were placed on leave [Wednesday] morning,” shift in a positive direction. Thesaid. “There’s an investigation. I canDennis school experienced a 62not percent comment further.” decrease in discipline referrals, Dennis said he could not identify the person50 percent decrease in nel chronic involved or what led to his decision for the absenteeism, 7 percent increase administrative leave. in the graduation rate, 33 percent The Elmore County Board of Education held increase in CCR rate and a 20 pera special called meeting Monday where it briefcent increase in ACT proficiency ly went into executive session. in the last five years. “That was for an unrelated matter,” Dennis said See PRINCIPAL, PageWednesday. A3
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year Staff Report The Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP) named Holtville High School principal Kyle Futral the 2022 Alabama High School Principal of the Year. The High School Principal of the Year award was presented to Futral on Friday, Jan. 28 during a
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schoolwide assembly at Holtville High School. Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis was in attendance for the presentation. “Kyle Futral is an exceptional principal and is very proactive and innovative in his thinking and approaches to managing his school,” Dennis said, As principal of Holtville High School, Futral has transformed
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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
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