SPORTS: Wetumpka football wraps up spring practice, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 22 | $1.00
Library announces youth summer reading program WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff By Cliff Williams Wetumpka Staff Writer Public Library has planned a variety of activities to encourage children to read A virtual teacher at through Elmore theCounty monthsSchool’s of June and July. Edge program Thebeen themearrested “Oceansand of charged has Possibilities” be celebrated with schoolwill employee distribthroughout the seven weekto a stuuting obscene material program dent. scheduled to start on JuneElmore 7. Children’s librarian Cathy County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
Saylor hopes the program gives children an appreciation for reading. Wilson wasschool the head basket“Now that is out, I ball coach at Holtville hope they continue to read, High School was with their have fun and and engage placed on adcommunity,” Saylor said. “That ministrative is what these activities are leave Jan. 13 intended to do.” according to ElThe program is two-tiered. more County The events held on Tuesdays Schools super— beginning on intendent Rich-June 7 — are
ard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
intended for children entering grades 1 - 6. These sessions will be held at the Wetumpka Civic investigation and handed being it off Center, with the exception to the appropriate authorities. June 21, and will be at the library. HeMovies was also on adminisat placed the library for trative leave at that time.” grades 7 - 12 will be held at Dennis said school officials 1 p.m. on Wednesdays — follow the same procedure beginning June 8. Registration is when administrators receive a requiredofforallegations grades 1 - 6.against report Some of the planned school staff andactivities employees. are a visit from the Alabama “Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
Local law enforcement testing advanced body camera technology
Department of Archives for keeping up with their reading and History, a visit from the and qualify for a prize at the end Montgomery Zoo, a magician, a of the program. Franklin said investigators was released on a musical entertainer, a session of Wilson Information will be handed with the Elmore County Sher$6,000 bond 90 minutes art with the Kelly and the Science out at the first session on afJune 7 iff’s Office have the alleged vic- terorturning himself in accordGuys of Nashville. a packet of information at the tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail “We are very excited to be library beginning on that date. ed Wilson’s phone as well. website. offering this opportunity to the For more information, please “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also children of this area,” Saylor said. call the Wetumpka Library at tion between the two,” Frank- coached other sports at HoltSaylor“Mr. said Wilson that children will ville 334-567-1308, or visit being www. lin said. is going schools including have the opportunity to keep a wetumpkalibrary.com and look to contend someone had the the head track coach and assisreading log, win weekly prizes under “Programs.” security code to his phone and tant football coach. he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
ALBBAA’s Best Fish Photo Contest returns for 2022
Chamber holds luncheon
in South Korea, is a leap in the technology of body cameras that allows video to be taken from multiple directions, not The Clanton Police Department and Chilton County just the direction an officer is facing. The Nexx360 is a Sheriff’s Office have been system of four cameras worn selected to test an advanced on an officer’s shoulders new body camera through the solving issues with current By Cliff Williams 19th Judicial Circuit District body cameras that have a Staff Writer Attorney’s Office. limited field of vision. Investigators with the 19th Video is held saveditsto an SD TheCircuit Wetumpka Judicial have Chamber begun of Commerce card, but is available annual luncheonalso. to install new officers andalso board using the cameras live to be accessed by law members for the first time in a while Thursday. Terri Connell of Chilton enforcement in other County connections Thehad COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gath- parts of thethe county. Footage with NetOps erings but Consulting the chamber celebrated successes of is also uploaded to secure digital International was part business inand Wetumpka. cloud storage. of getting the 19th Judicial “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couCPDsaid. Chief“Your Erick Circuit Districtchairperson selected Clay McConnell ple years,” Smitherman Chilton for attendance using the equipment is an indication people want to getand back County Sheriff John during this finalization of opportunities to see each Shearon together and have these said they were honored to be a development. part of thePage project. See CHAMBER, A3 C.J. Robinson, chief Smitherman described the deputy district attorney for Nexx360 as “some of the most the 19th Judicial Circuit, said advanced technology” he had the new camera system is “cutting edge” technology that ever seen. “We can actually view this addresses current issues. video from a remote location, like “This is the first time in our phones, (911) dispatch center, the United States of America wherever,” Smitherman said. that this technology has been Shearon said having the ability used,” Robinson said. “We are to see what is behind an officer in proud to be part of a proof of concept team to give feedback real time is a great benefit. There are four camera and kind of help this product units being tested by CPD. move along.” The Nexx360, manufactured Smitherman said the devices BY JOYANNA LOVE Special to The Herald
will be rotated so each officer gets a chance to use it. CCSO is testing four as well. Officers are giving feedback on comfort using the device, battery life and other usability issues. Each law enforcement leader present said they were excited to be a part of the project. Robinson said the 15-yearlong working relationship between the three law enforcement leaders made them “uniquely situated to be the perfect group FOR this.” NetOps Consulting International in Montgomery is “the exclusive distributor” for Nexx360, Lee Maurer of NetOps said. Robinson said video footage from these improved body cameras would provide a better view and “the full context” of what happened at a scene to future Grand Jury groups. Robinson is also hopeful to expand the use of the system to other law enforcement agencies in the circuit including the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office. This story was contributed by Joyanna Love, managing editor for The Clanton Advertiser.
Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association wants to see your fish photos again this year. The 2022 Best Fish Photo Contest allows Membersanglers of all ages to of the showcase how they enjoy Wetumpka the bountiful fishing in Chamberthe of Black Belt.
welcoming members
Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.
CLIFF WILLIAMS/
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 SUBMITTED | THE HERALD Greg Benton, this was not a random Collin Hardin and Kaylie Hull pose with Ashlyn Brown forshoota photo. ing. Hardin and Hull will learn about the hospitality industry during a five “This was not random, not a random day camp leading up to a concert in Foley. 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. want to speculate the STAFF REPORT Benton didn’t of its kind camp aton OWA
Two students selected for educational opportunity
TPI Staff
Tunes and Tanlines Music Fest will feature Dustin Lynch, Bailey Zimmerman and Ella Langley Foley, but Wetumpka High School’s Collin Hardin and Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. Alabama SchoolThe of Math High School. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent and Science’s Kaylie Hull The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, will help behind the scenes Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in after a weekchronic long camp. (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 Hardin percentand increase Hull of School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent Wetumpka were among 25 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perstudents across Alabama cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency to participate in five-day The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging,JOYANNA supporting, organizing in the last five years. LOVE | SPECIAL TO THE HERALD Reach and Teach (RNT) Year of award wasfrom presented to ChoiAs Holtville High and challenging theHan staffand and LeetheMaurer NetOps, left, Victor of principal LINKFLOWofand production vice president Young Hoon C.J.stuRobinson Hardin and See camp. PRINCIPAL, Page A3Hull onJudicial Friday, Jan. District 28 during a School, of Futral the 19th Circuit Attorney’s Office. Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to will participate in the first
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
Today’s
Today’s Weather Weather
91 65 68 55
High High
CONTACT CONTACT US US
334-567-7811 334-567-7811 Fax: Fax:334-567-3284 334-567-3284
Low
USPS USPS681-260 681-260 THURS:HIGH HIGH9071LOW LOW6953 THURS:
a k p m u Wet
SUBMITTED / THE HERALD
This photo of Joey Anderson and this 9.4-pounder was entered into the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association’s 2021 See CONTEST, Page A2 Best Fish Photo Contest.
Parks and Resort in Foley See SHOOTING, PagevaluA3 where they will gain able experience working alongside industry professionals to plan and execute the Tunes and Tanlines Music Fest. Hardin enjoys music and plans a career in the arts. “I’m interested in getting to know new people and getting the opportunity to learn new things,” Hardin said. Hull wants to use the experience to see what
FUTURAL See STUDENTS, Page A3
Flea Market & Antiques 5266 U.S. Hwy. 231 • Wetumpka, AL (Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC)
OVER 100 BOOTHS Booth space available starting at $118 per month for 6’ x 10’
334-567-2666