06-08-22 Wetumpka Herald

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SPORTS: Myrthil hired to lead Holtville boys basketball, track and field, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 23 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00

The Kelly acquires larger building

Holtville High School basketball coach arrested

STAFF REPORT “The building will offer us much need“The building will undergo a signifiTPI Staff ed space for exhibitions plus a venue for cant renovation ahead of our occupation,” By Cliff Williams Franklin saidend investigators Wilson wasthat theis head basketWilson was released on a investigation and handedsaid. it off events needed in Wetumpka,” The Richardson “We are nearing the Staff with ball coach at Holtville to the appropriate authorities. The Writer Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial GalKelly board presidentHigh Belyn Richardson of the design phase and willthe be Elmore moving County Sher- $6,000 bond 90 minutes afiff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordSchool and He was onbidding, adminislery is now the owner of a prime buildsaid in was a release. “It will also allow us also to placed into the permitting and construcvirtual teacher at Elmore tim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to theKAITLIN placed onspace ad- for practicing artists Elmore County Jail | FILE trative leave at that time.” ing A in downtown Wetumpka with views offer that has tion phases very soon.” FLEMING | THE HERALD School’s Dennis said school officials ofCounty the Coosa River. Edge program ministrative long been our vision.” The new building ed andWilson’s space isphone the as well. The Kelly haswebsite. purchased a building on Hill Street that has arrested “You could see a conversa13 will not immediately said Wilson alsoadd a follow the same procedure Thebeen building at 303and Hillcharged Street will leave Jan. The Kelly move will triple the Dennis current space of the gallery and with school distribbetween theA6two,”space FrankEl- location on Company coached other sports at Holtwhen Street. administrators receive a tion offer The Kelly employee triple the current space.according from to its current See KELLY, Page for events. 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.”

THE EXTRA MILE Chamber holds luncheon Stanhope Elmore holds three-day skills camp

welcoming members CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD

The Holtville High School baseball team received a sendoff last Wednesday as they traveled to Oxford to play in the state championship. Students, parents and friends cheered them on Wednesday morning. Holtville advanced through to Game 3 ByofCliff Williams but fell short to Russellville. See page B1 for results of the championship games. Members the championship Staff Writer of the Wetumpka The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon to install new officers and board attend the members for the first time in a while Thursday. chamber’s “A The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathTaste of Our erings but the chamber celebrated the successes of Home Town” business in Wetumpka. luncheon. “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couCLIFF WILLIAMS/ ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your THE HERALD attendance is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each See CHAMBER, Page A3

Prattville police looking for suspect

Police continue investigation, man no longer suspected

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

The Prattville Police Department is investigating a case of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle, as well as a related case of identity theft. Investigators with the Prattville Police Department say that on May 28, 2022, a female used a stole credit card at the Prattville Walmart at 1:10 p.m. The female suspect then left By Jake Arthur the scene in a Chief Videographer Nissan Rogue withPolice no tagare dis-still investigating the fatal played. shooting in the WetumpkaSUBMITTED Walmart| THE parkHERALD Police areJan. asking lot on 20. Police are searching for this ingPolice the public’s were dispatched parking womantointhe relation to lot a case help in identifyaround 10:45 p.m. offoridentity a “shots fired” call. theft and vehicular ing the suspect. Once there, they found Centell Winston, breaking and entering. The 42 of victim’s Tallassee, dead of a gunshot wound vehicle was seat of his vehicle. in the driver parked at the YMCA on McQueen According to Wetumpka policeSmith chief atGreg the time her vehicle had been unlawfully Benton, this was not a random shootentered. ing. The victim’s credit card was taken during thewas break-in. “This not random, not a random If you have any information regarding act,” said Benton. “We believe the victhe identity whereabouts ofeach this suspect, tim and theorperpetrator knew other.” please call the Prattville Thisimmediately is the first homicide in Wetumpka in over three years. The last homicide in the city took place in 2018. See SUSPECT, Page A6 “It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the

City of Wetumpka approves purchase of new police vehicles See SHOOTING, Page A3

these cars.” of night for the City of Wetumpka. The cars are currently in Prattville, Before approving the purchase and according to Benton, there is a of the three new police vehicles, The City of Wetumpka has unan- “heavy demand” for those vehicles. the council voted to approve the imously approved the purchase of The council approved the purpurchase threethat new forin a positive direction. The Staff Report schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school cultureoffrom of trucks a shift three new police vehicles with a total High chasing of the vehicles with very litWetumpka Public Works DepartSchool. Elmore County Su- school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent price tagAlabama of $106,500.45. tle discussion in theDennis formalwas meeting. ment. Theyand also approved tradThe Association of perintendent Richard rale, achievement attendance decrease in discipline referrals, According to Mayor Jerry Willis, “You will get your cars,” Willis ing-in two older Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives fortrucks. excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic finding police vehicles now isHigh nearly “Kyle said toFutral Benton the purchase lence. was By collaborating “I’ve never seen in my (AASSP) named Holtville is after an exceptionwith this staff,done, absenteeism, 7 percent increase impossible. approved. 18 or so years of being here, I’ve School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent “[Police ChiefHigh GregSchool Benton] and tive and Benton then thanked mayoridentified never us trade in a vehicle,” 2022 Alabama Prininnovative in his the thinkand seen addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perhiscipal crew three fully equipped ingand saidstyle Willis. offound the Year. andcouncil. approaches to managing leadership of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency FILE | THE HERALD Dodges,” saidSchool Willis. Principal “The chiefofis his school,” Dennis said, trade-inorganizing of the two vehicles The High couraging,The supporting, in the last five years. Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis speaks during a meeting of the PUBLIC asking for award the council to suspend the Year was presented to As principal WORKS of HoltvilleVEHICLES High and challenging the staff and stuWetumpka City Council. Seeculture PURCHASE, Page A6 See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 the rulesonand moveJan. ahead to secure It was a vehicle purchasing sort Futral Friday, 28 during a School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school to FUTURAL By KAITLIN FLEMING Managing Editor

Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year

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