Police Reports

Wetumpka Police Department

NOV. 23

• Domestic violence was reported on U.S. Highway 231.

NOV. 22

• Theft was reported on U.S. Highway 231.

NOV. 20

• Domestic violence was reported on Hollowood Lane.

• Criminal mischief was reported on East Micanopy Street.

NOV. 19

• Assault was reported on U.S. Highway 231.

NOV. 18

• Theft was reported on East Bridge Street.

NOV. 17

• Identity theft was reported on Country Club Loop.

NOV. 16

• Theft was reported on U.S. Highway 231.

NOV. 13

• Domestic violence was reported in Wetumpka.

Tallassee Police Department

DEC. 1

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Martin Street.

NOV. 30

• A suspicious person was reported on East Patton Street.

• A vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Rifle Range Road.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Notasulga Road.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Recreation Center Road.

• Debris in the road was reported on Highway 229.

• A Black male was arrested during a traffic stop on Jordan Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Friendship Road.

• Animal control was requested on Cliff

Continued from A1

Stubbs said the future and the decisions made will not always be correct, but with time everyone should learn and things will correct themselves.

“We are always going to have challenges,” Stubbs said. “We are always going to have trouble. We are always going to have bumps in the road. We can’t wish those things away. But what we can do is be better at overcoming them and learn from them. Then we come out better on the other side and make a greater difference. I encourage you to not stop when you come to a barrier in the road, but learn from it, grow from it and become

Kerby, Colt Hunsinger, Olivia Hunsinger, Kevin Wilkinson, Isabella Sanchez; sister-in-law Glenda Miller; numerous nieces and nephews.

Lois Jean Lamberth

Lois Jean Lamberth, 92, of Eclectic, passed away November 25, 2022. She was born February 3, 1930 in Dayton, Ohio. She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles H. Lamberth; grandson, John David Lamberth and brother, W. E. Overman. She is survived by her son, Charles F. Lamberth. No services have been scheduled. Online condolences at www. linvillememorial.com.

• Theft was reported on Wall Street.

• Animal control was requested on Cliff Street.

• Animal control was requested on East Roosevelt Street.

• Assistance was given to the Tallassee Fire Department on New Quarters Road.

NOV. 29

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• Unauthorized use of a vehicle was reported on Rickey Lane.

• A Black male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on West Main Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Central Boulevard.

• Harassment was reported on Washington Street.

• A motor vehicle accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A white male was arrested during a breaking and entering a vehicle call on Highway 229.

• A white male was arrested during a traffic stop on Gilmer Avenue.

• Trespassing was reported on Mott Lane.

• A welfare check was conducted on Hudson Place.

• A vehicle accident was reported on South Dubois Street.

• Theft was reported on Washington Street.

• A welfare check was conducted on Washington Street.

NOV. 28

• A traffic accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Central Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Washington Street.

• Harassment was reported on Second Street.

• Animal cruelty was reported on Hicks Store Road.

• A welfare check was conducted on East Roosevelt Street.

• Theft by deception was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A white male was arrested during a suspicious person call on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• A suspicious person was reported on Third Street.

NOV. 27 better for it. Life doesn’t get easier, we just get better at dealing with it with time.”

• A traffic accident was reported on Highway 229.

Stubbs said the issue is that people see faults in things and don’t look at what is going well.

“It’s really hard to take time to show real intent and to work through problems to make a difference,” Stubbs said. “It’s easy to cast stones at others. And to say you wouldn’t make that decision. That is the easy route. I encourage everyone to not take that route.”

Stubbs said negative thoughts have a way of growing and cautioned about constantly being negative.

“Our emotions are contagious,” Stubbs said. “If we are cynical and negative, then our kids are cynical and negative. Then their friends are cynical and negative and we are

• Identity theft was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to medics on Seventh Street.

• A welfare check was conducted on West James Street.

• A welfare check was conducted on Rushing Circle.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Sims Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Friendship Road.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• Shoplifting was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

A parking violation was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Trespassing was reported on Second Street.

• Theft was reported on North McKenzie Street.

• A domestic dispute was reported on East Roosevelt Street.

• A welfare check was conducted on the Fitzpatrick Bridge.

• The roadway was reported blocked on Notasulga Road.

NOV. 26

• A domestic incident was reported on Washington Street.

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Kent Road.

• A motor vehicle accident with injuries was reported on Highway 229.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Hicks Store Road.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Washington Boulevard.

• A Black male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Sims Avenue.

NOV. 25 creating an environment that I don’t think any of us want in the future in the state of Alabama. We want to create a positive, healthy environment. We have a great responsibility as adults and leaders to do that and to be positive and uplifting.”

• A domestic dispute was reported on Cliff Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on West Patton Street.

• A suspicious person was reported on Washington Street.

• Lost property was reported on Sims Avenue.

• Criminal mischief was reported on Washington Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on North Ann Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Little Road.

Stubbs said the environment has changed in the last decade making people choose something other than public service.

“We are seeing less and less people willing to serve in elected positions because of the challenges they face, the scrutiny they find themselves under and in many cases they feel they can never win,” Stubbs said. “They feel they can never be truly appreciated.”

Stubbs said the opposite is true and that there are many ways to serve one’s community without running for political office or feel the need to try and influence every issue at once.

“There are many ways that we do serve and some are in elected capacities but others perhaps just serving our neighbor, serving our friends, being a light in our community in whatever we do,” Stubbs said. “Wherever we work, whatever circle of friends we are in, whatever church we belong to, we can make a difference. That is where change is going to happen. It’s not going to happen in Washington D.C.”

As a commissioner, Stubbs was big on what he called the five pillars of a great community — education, public safety, economic development, healthcare and infrastructure. Stubbs said individuals make a difference by identifying needs in those areas and taking action.

“If we can find a way in our sphere of influence to lift one of those pillars up, then positive things will happen,” Stubbs said. “We have seen positive things happen in Elmore County and we have seen positive things happen in the state of Alabama over the last couple years. But there is plenty of work to do and I look forward to being a part of that. I look forward to working with my fellow delegation from Elmore County.”

Students

trees down.”

Dillard runs track at Wetumpka High School and was surprised to see the Wetumpka High School football team help clear the area including trees in his yard.

“Most people won’t do something like this,” Dillard said. “It makes me feel good.”

But Dillard wasn’t clearing debris from his yard Thursday. He was operating a chainsaw with the help of the football team to clear trees that fell across an 82-year-old neighbor’s driveway.

Wetumpka football coach Bear Woods quickly said yes to Dennis’ call for help Wednesday afternoon.

“Living on North Bridge Street and being one of the houses hit in 2019, my family was part of that,” Woods said. “If it weren’t for everyone showing up from the county and Wetumpka, the cleanup wouldn’t have been possible. I was the recipient of this hospitality and now being able to pass it along to others. It’s wonderful.”

Woods was out with his team helping pull limbs and vines making the

Tallassee.

“At first we started to roll back over to go back to sleep,” Mays said while sifting through the rubble of his home Wednesday afternoon. “Let’s face it, we live in the South and are used to hearing a tornado siren.”

But something tugged at Mays to be proactive and get ready.

“We didn’t go back to sleep — something told us to get up and get dressed,” Mays said. “We had the news playing and stepped out the door looking the direction it was coming from. I was waiting for them to say something to where I could judge ‘Do we leave or do we stay.’”

Mays had stepped outside looking west to see if there was anything visible when announcers said Dark Corners Road — less than a quarter mile away from the Mays’ family home. He knew there was no time to go somewhere else. With only seconds to spare, Mays packed his family into a small three feet by three feet space between a bedroom, bathroom and living room.

“It was kind of sketchy,” Mays said. “We said, ‘Oh Lord, it’s either going to be the end or You are going to watch over us.’ It’s going to be one or the other. There was no question about it. If the AC unit came down we were done. If it didn’t we were good.”

The house started to rip apart from around the family. The roof peeled back and the wind took the air conditioning unit and threw it hundreds of yards away.

“God said, ‘I’ll take that on over there,’” Mays said. “There is the squirrel cage out in the field. My cook top and roof to my porch is somewhere out there too.”

Then it got quiet.

“We couldn’t get out without help,” Mays said. “It was dark and didn’t know what was there because we couldn’t see a thing.”

Mays was able to peek around from the safe spot.

“At first we were like we’re good,” Mays said. “The tornado is gone and it quit raining. I peeked my head out and thought my

Continued from A1 has been with TPI, he has covered many of the issues in Elmore County on a part time basis including the 2019 tornado in Wetumpka and the last year covering news surrounding Tallassee City Hall.

Williams is looking forward to furthering his knowledge and coverage of Elmore County.

“I have been able to watch how Elmore County has developed and grown since I was a child,” Williams said. “It has an interesting history with caring and interesting people. Many of the communities of Elmore County and their people remind me of growing up in Tallapoosa County. I can’t wait to get to know more about Elmore County.”

Williams sees a huge potential in Elmore County especially for its residents.

“I think Elmore County has great things ahead of it,” Williams said. “Just look driveway passable but was thankful for a team building moment bigger than football.

“This is everything that we preach on daily in our program,” Woods said. “We ask, ‘Are you a Me-tumpka guy or a We-tumpka guy? This is a Wetumpka opportunity right here.

“We are working together as a tribe and as a county as whole to help those that are in need today. It is good to have a team activity that has nothing to do with football, because we are showing the team it is never about you, it’s about us — we.”

TV might still be good. About two minutes later it started to downpour.”

But the family was still stuck until help arrived nearly a half hour later. Mays said a coworker was first to get there just in front of the Tallassee Fire Department. Mays said he started to hand children off to safety.

Wednesday afternoon, Mays was still trying to figure out how the family made it through a direct hit. All that stood safely of the home was where the family sought shelter and prayed as the winds struck.

“Just seeing where we were and trying to figure out how that is still standing with all that is around it, it’s not possible,” Mays said. “There are no words for it. It’s incomprehensible that one square of wall in our entire house is still standing. The walls are there, not the roof but they are still sturdy.”

But Mays said he believes he has an answer as to how the family survived.

“God is good and He held us all tight,” Mays said. “The kids have some scratches but that’s it. I’m like if that is all we got, we’re good. We’re good.”

The Tallassee community has stepped in to help pull together clothing, toiletries and more to aid the family as it recovers.

“Our community being what it is has gone head over heels helping,” Mays said. “They are coming together doing whatever they can to help us out in any way they can from clothes to whatever they can do.”

Dreamcatcher Comics and Collectables is taking donations of clothing and toiletries. Boys sizes 8-8, 1-12 and 12-14 are needed, mens 3x and women’s XL. Shoe sizes are boys 1, 3 and 6, men’s size 13 and women’s size 9 and all toiletry items.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by Kevin Schweitzer to help the family get reestablished and find another rental home in Tallassee.

“We were talking about moving into town,” Mays said. “I guess now we will move into town. We weren’t given a lot of options this time, but we will make it work.”

But Mays is most proud no one was seriously injured.

“Now it is a matter of trying to dig it all out and salvage what we can,” Mays said. “At least we are good. I would rather lose stuff than have a bad injury or death.” around and there is growth everywhere. I look forward to seeing what all Elmore County has to offer.”

Williams has more than two decades of full-time experience in community journalism winning numerous awards along the way for photography, news writing and feature writing. Williams previously worked at the Opelika-Auburn News and at the Times-Georgian in Carrollton, Georgia before coming to TPI. Williams knows his way around big events, having photographed college and high school sports at all levels and spoken to many state and national leaders for stories. He still photographs various national championships for the NCAA and his work has been published in publications world wide.

Williams wants readers to let him know when they have story ideas or just want to chat. He can be reached by email at cliff.williams@tallasseetribune.com or cliff.williams@thewetumpkaherald.com.

Williams can also be reached on his cell phone at 334-740-1116.

Chairman Tippy Hunter, General Manager Kaitlin Fleming, Managing Editor

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