Wetumpka softball claims area championship, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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City lays out four year financial plan Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer By Cliff Williams Staff Writer Almost two decades ago the City of Wetumpka’s finances A different virtual teacher Elmore were than theyatare County School’s Edge program has been arrested and charged with school employee distributing obscene material to a student. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
today. Mayor Jerry Willis had just Wilson headcouncil baskettaken a seatwas on the city ball coach at Holtville High 14 years ago and city leaders School and pondered howwas to make Wetumpplaced ka better. on administrative leave Jan. 13 according to Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
“When I came in office, we owed $13 million and did not investigation and handed have any plan,” Willis saiditatoff to appropriate authorities. lastthe week’s council meeting. He wasit’s also placed adminis“Now a little biton different. trative at that time.”better We seeleave ourselves getting Dennis said school officials follow the same procedure when administrators receive a report of allegations against school staff and employees. “Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
over the next few years with other things coming on line and Franklin investigators our incomesaid should grow.” withFinancially the Elmore County Sherthings are good iff’s Office have vicenough that thethe cityalleged is embarktim’s phone. Authorities collecting on spending $14 million ed Wilson’s phone as well. “You could see a conversation between the two,” Franklin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
over the next four years on 15 different projects without Wilson was released on to a borrowing money or going $6,000 bond 90 minutes afthe bond market. It’s a position ter turning himself in according to the ElmoreSee County PLAN, Jail Page A7 website. Dennis said Wilson also coached other sports at Holtville schools including being the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Changing the status quo
Burdette wants to change Police the Montgomery machine to make Alabama better continue
Chamber holds luncheon
welcoming members
investigation, man no longer suspected
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
in power for decades. Instead of hoping Montgomery politicians will change their ways from afar, Burdette wants to bring change to Montgomery’s political landscape through the office of governor of Alabama. “We have a great state; we have great people,”
Lew Burdette is tired of seeing Alabama at the botMemberstom of so many categories of the — like education, healthWetumpka care and prisons. Chamber of Burdette believes Commerce change is hampered by attend the political corruption with chamber’s “A “unlimited campaign conTaste of Our tributions” keeping many See STATUS QUO, Page A7 Home Town” By Jake Arthur luncheon. Chief Videographer CLIFF WILLIAMS/
By Cliff Williams Staff Writer 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
SHINING STARS
THE HERALD
Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parking lot on Jan. 20. Police were dispatched to the parking lot around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Once there, they found 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. CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD “This was not random Michael Austin Forney of Holtville Highrandom, School andnot BelleaHaynes of Talbelieve the viclassee High Schoolact,” were said namedBenton. this year’s“We Joe Sewell Memorial Overall Award winners. tim 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
See CHAMBER, Page A3
CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD
Wetumpka Elementary School hosted Art Under the Stars where students’ artwork created throughout the school year was displayed in the halls of the school with stars lighting the way. Parents had the ability to mark artwork sold as a fundraiser to help with arts programs at the school. Students toured the school with parents and grandparents looking at not only their creations but that of their friends too.
Sewell award winners share love of math, diamonds and God See SHOOTING, Page A3
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
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
a k p m u Wet
Some can not see how someone can excel shift in a positive direction. The at both academics athletics. school experienced a 62and percent But Michael Austin decrease in discipline referrals, Forney ofinHoltville 50 percent decrease chronic High absenteeism,School 7 percent andincrease Belle Haynes in the graduation rate, 33 percent of Tallassee High School, increase in CCR and Joe a 20Sewell perthisrate year’s cent increaseMemorial in ACT proficiency Overall Award in the last fivewinners, years. can’t see it any other way. See PRINCIPAL, “My heartPage wasA3beat-
ing so fast,” Forney said just moments after being named the winner. “I knew the challenge I was up against. There are so many great people that had the opportunity to win that award. It was by sheer luck I got it. I did work hard through high school. It was a great opportunity to just be here.” Haynes said she was FUTURAL See AWARD, Page A3
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