SPORTS: Holtville baseball rides win streak into Class 5A playoffs, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022 | VOL. 124, NO. 16 | $1.00
CoosaPalooza is back Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
2019.basket- investigation and handed VIP tickets already sold outinvestigators and get said Wilson2018 was and the head it off are Franklin “We’re back in Merchants Alley in downticket holders access at 2 p.m. General ad-Sherball coach at Holtville High to the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County town,” Greene said. “We will have about mission tickets are on sale at bigtickets. School and was He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vicAfter two years off,atMain Streetplaced We- 30 breweries andtrative each will and allow patrons to enter at 3 p.m.collectA virtual teacher Elmore tim’s phone. Authorities on different adleavehave at thatcom time.” tumpka is bringing back the CoosaPaloosamples of their craft beers. We will also The event benefits Main Street WetumpCounty School’s Edge program ministrative as well. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone zahas Brewfest presented by Wind Creek Wehave two bands.” ka. The 2022 CoosaPalooza Brewfest is been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 “You could see a conversafollow the same procedure tumpka. openadministrators the festi- an event forapeople years ofthe agetwo,” or oldwith school employee distrib- accordingRiver tion 21 between Frankto El-Dan is scheduled to when receive The pandemic put a pause val at 2 p.m. and Face the World over er and is a rain lin or shine with noisre-going reporttakes of allegations against utingCOVID-19 obscene material to a stusaid. event “Mr. Wilson more County ondent. the event in 2020 and again in Schools 2021. the music at 4 p.m. funds. Chairs, blankets and small bags had are the school staff and employees. to contend someone superMain StreetCounty Wetumpka executive will be a time for good beer,wegreat foodcode or beverages will and “Once hand allowed. it over, No weoutside Elmore Sheriff Bill direcsecurity to his phone intendent “It RichtorFranklin Haley Greene said this year’s friends and awesome entertainment,” be allowed. available.There know very little about what is Free said Emmanuel Andreevent he bottled was notwater responsible. ardset Dennis. for April 23 fun than those in had Greene tastings cut information off at 6 p.m. we can’t going on,” DennisBeer said. “We will Wilson II, will 32, be of more Montgomery is be other “We a re-said. WILSON cooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think turned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” said. “We had a preliminary necessary.” ByBy CLIFF CliffWILLIAMS Williams Staff Writer Staff Writer
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members By Cliff Williams Staff Writer
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
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 couple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your attendance is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each
CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD
DOWNTOWN
See CHAMBER, Page A3
ART WALK CLIFF WILLIAMS / THE HERALD
The Third Friday Art Walk hosted by Main Street Wetumpka was another success. Hundreds of people wandered downtown Wetumpka to visit with artists. Even some of those going to the Elmore County High School prom stopped in to look around and take photographs.
Encampment brings history to life at Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson
Wilson was released on a $6,000 bond 90 minutes after turning himself in according to the Elmore County Jail website. Dennis said Wilson also coached other sports at HoltSTAFFschools REPORT including being ville the head track coach and assisFortfootball Toulouse-Fort tant coach. Jackson and the Alabama CommisDennis saidHistorical other staff would sioninare theofFrench for hosting the duties Wilsonand at fill Indian War Encampment this Holtville while he is on administrative weekend.leave. The event focuses attention on the main protagonists of the French and Indian War — France, Britain and their American-Indian allies. Living history demonstrations of military, Indian and civilian life will take place on Saturday and Sunday throughout the day. Re-enactors will be dressed and equipped as they appeared in North America during the middle of the 18th century. The encampment is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 23 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 24. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for school age children. Refreshments will be sold by Boy Scout Troop 50 on Saturday. Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson Park is a historic property of the By Jake Alabama Arthur Historical Commission. Chief Videographer The forts are located at 2521 West Fort Toulouse Road, two miles Policewest are of stillU.S. investigating the fatal Highway 231. shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parkFort Toulouse-Fort Jackson ing lot on Jan. 20. Park is a significant archaeoPolicelogical were dispatched the parking lot site. Thisto area is where around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. the Coosa and Tallapoosa River Once there, found Winston, meetthey to form theCentell mighty Alabama 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound River and has been occupied for in the driver seat of his vehicle. 10,000 years. Prehistoric and According to Wetumpka Spanish police chief American-Indians, exGreg Benton, this was not a random shootplorers, French marines, English ing. and Scottish traders, and Ameri“This was not random, not a random can settlers all left their mark on act,” said Benton. “We believe the victhis National Historic Landmark. tim and the perpetrator knew each other.” To learn more about Fort TouThis is the first homicide in Wetumpka louse-Fort or the Alain over three years.Jackson, The last homicide in bama Historical Commission, the city took place in 2018. please visit “It’s not a good waywww.ahc.alabama. to start out the new gov. year,” said Benton.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
Benton didn’t want to speculate on the See SHOOTING, Page A3
Commission recognizes Child Abuse Prevention Month Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
By CLIFF WILLIAMS cause of cooperation between agen- of children, 35 percent involving sexStaff Writer cies, schools, faith communities, civ- ual abuse and 15 percent involving ic organizations, enforcement child neglect. Staff Report schoolwide assemblylaw at Holtville theand school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The The Elmore County CommissionHigh theSchool. business community,” Reed told Reed said Elmore County DHRexperienced is Elmore County Su- school struggling with low moschool a 62 percent passed a resolution at its meeting last the commission. “It is important we also greatly involved in child foster The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, week markingSchool April asPrincipals Child Abusein attendance celebrate the everyone has intoproprograms in the Secondary for role the presentation. a school that strives forarea. excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic Prevention Month. tecting children.” “In 2021 Elmore Countyabsenteeism, averaged 7 percent increase (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, Stacy Reed with Elmore County Reed said Elmore County DHR in85 children in foster care which is a School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent Department of Human Resources vestigated 563 reports of possible huge jump from 2020 where we 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increaseavin CCR rate and a 20 per(DHR) said is a team effort in pro-ing abuse or neglecttoinvolving chil- eraged 68 children,” Reedincrease said. in ACT proficiency CLIFF WILLIAMS / THE HERALD cipal of theitYear. and approaches managing814leadership style about of listening, en- cent tecting from Principal the dangers Reed said said, the agency found 33 Commission chair Troy Stubbs saidfiveMembers The children High School of ofhis dren. school,” Dennis couraging, supporting, organizing in the last years. of the Elmore County Department of Human Resources the of the reports toHigh be trueand with speak to the Elmore County Commission about Child Abuse Preventheworld. Year award was presented to Aspercent principal of Holtville challenging the staff and stuPRINCIPAL, “Prevention of abuse nearlyFutral half involving physical abuse See COMMISSION, Page A3See tion Month andPage thenA3posed for a photograph. Futral on Friday, Jan. is 28effective during abe-School, has transformed dents, caused the school culture to FUTURAL
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