SPORTS: Holtville falls in Game 3 of championship, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 21 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
YMCA opens new pool
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
swimmers. There is also a huge activities for families, but it slide and water toys in the kids’ will develop swimming proBy WilliamsYMCA’s Franklin said investigators Wilson was released on a investigation and handed it off TheCliff Wetumpka area.Wilson was the head basket- grams for our schools and proStaff Writer ball coach at Holtville to life-saving the appropriate authorities. with the Elmore County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afnew pool is open just in time “There is something for High vide swim lessons. School at and washad alsotoo placed adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordfor summer. everyone thewas YMCA,” WeHe have manyonchildren A virtual teacher Elmore Elmore tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail placed on adtrative leave at that time.” The “L” shaped poolatfeaCounty Commissioner drown in the Coosa River in County Edge program Troy ministrative website. Dennis said and school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. tures moreSchool’s than 7,000 square Stubbs said. “Things like the last 10 years teaching SUBMITTED | THE HERALD hasofbeen and charged building “You could see a conversaleave aJan. 13 pool will Dennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure Elmore feet deck arrested with a zero-entry swimming County Commissioner Troy Stubbs speaks during the ribbon cutting for the with school employee distribtion between Elwhen administrators receive and 6-lane competition area for notaccording only bringtorecreational YMCA’sthe newtwo,” pool. Frank- coached other sports at HoltSee POOL, Page A6 a Wetumpka report of allegations against lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going ville schools including being uting obscene material to a stu- more County school staff and employees. dent. to contend someone had the the head track coach and assisSchools super“Once we hand it over, we security code to his phone and tant football coach. Elmore County Sheriff Bill intendent Richknow very little about what is he was not responsible. There Franklin said Emmanuel Andre ard Dennis. Dennis said other staff would WILSON going on,” Dennis said. “We is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery “We had a recooperate with authorities if disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminturned himself into authorities port,” Dennis Tuesday afternoon. it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave. said. “We had a preliminary necessary.” STAFF REPORT
Wetumpka man to serve federal time for sexual exploitation of a child
Chamber holds luncheon
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
STAFF REPORT
Jesse Lemar McCormick, 24, of Wetumpka was sentenced Tuesday to 210 months in prison for sexual exploitation of a child and transferring obscene material to a Membersminor. of the The announcement Wetumpka came from United States ChamberAttorney of Sandra J. StewCommerce art. In addition to his attend the 17.5-year prison sentence,
welcoming members 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 CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD attendance is an indication people want to get back TheseeHoltville together and have these opportunities to each High School baseball team received a sendoff last Wednesday as they traveled to Oxford to play in the state chamSee CHAMBER,pionship. Page A3Students, parents and friends cheered them on Wednesday morning. Holtville advanced through to Game 3 of the championship but fell short to Russellville. See page B1 for results of the championship games.
BULLDOGS SEND-OFF
chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
McCormick was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system. According to McCormick’s plea agreement and other court records, McCormick was involved with several youth groups and organizations in See FEDERAL TIME, Page A6
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer
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. “This was not random, not a random CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD said Benton. thebevicThe Alabama Lawact,” Enforcement Agency “We Marinebelieve Patrol will on the tim and the perpetrator knew each other.”and waters of Alabama over the Memorial Day holiday weekend This boaters. is the first homicide in Wetumpka summer to help protect 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
‘SLOW DOWN’ Marine patrol gives advice for safe boating
See SHOOTING, Page A3
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year BY CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
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
As temperatures rise, so shift in a positive direction. The does boat traffic on lakes school experienced a 62 percent and rivers. decrease in discipline referrals, As boating traffic 50 percent decrease in chronic increases, so do the chancabsenteeism, 7 percent increase es of a mishap. Alabama in the graduation rate, 33 percent Lawrate Enforcement increase in CCR and a 20 per-Agency Marine Patrol Sr. cent increase(ALEA) in ACT proficiency in the last fiveTrooper years. Jonathan Walker offered a few tips to make saferPage andA3more See boating PRINCIPAL, enjoyable for the Memo-
rial Day weekend and summer. “We are really stressing boater safety and boater courtesy, not just for other boats but property owners by watching your wake,” Walker said. “If you are going to be skiing, tubing, wakeboarding or anything like that, try to stay out of the smaller sloughs and respect the property. Other FUTURAL See BOATING, Page A6
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