SPORTS: All-County baseball team, player of the year chosen, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 25 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
County commission approves revised plan for APR funds
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
BY WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter By Cliff Williams Staff TheWriter Elmore County Commission focused on virtual future teacherduring at Elmore theAcounty’s School’s program a County regularly called Edge meeting been arrested and charged onhas Monday, June 13, with with school employee the committee’s agenda distributing obscene material to a stuoutlining several infrastructure dent. improvements and upgrades County Sheriff Bill forElmore government services. Franklin said Emmanuel Chairman Troy Stubbs Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
noted many of the investments stemming from needs that Wilson was the head basketdeveloped during the COVIDballpandemic, coach at including Holtvilleissues High 19 School and was quality of relating to county placed onand ad-public health. life, safety ministrative “We’ve observed over leave 13years in the last Jan. several according the county,toinEllight of the more County pandemic, general needs that Schools superwe have in the county. All of intendent those areasRichare covered in this ard Dennis. plan to effectively utilize the WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
ARP funding that came from the federal government,” he investigation and handed it off said. to the appropriate authorities. Much of the improvements He was placed on adminiswill bealso funded through the trative leave at thatAmerican time.” county’s revised Dennis Plan said allocation school officials Rescue plan, follow theboard sameapproved procedure which the when receive a duringadministrators the June 13 meeting. report of allegations against The government funds will school staff and employees. also provide a benefit to all “Once employees we hand itinover, we county the form know very little about what of additional compensation,is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
with quarterly pay raises until 2025, at which time the Franklin said will investigators pay increases become with the Elmore County Sherpermanent. iff’s Office the alleged Stubbshave explained that victhe tim’s phone. Authorities collectcompensation plan will assist edcounty Wilson’s phone as during well. the employees “You could see a conversaongoing economic recovery tion between the two,” Frankfrom the pandemic. lin said. “Mr. Wilson “The lion’s share is of going toour contend someone had the allocation is for our security code to his phone employees. I think that isand heproving was nottoresponsible. be a positiveThere thing is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
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
CAMP HELPS PEDIATRIC BURN VICTIMS BE A KID
CLIFF WILLIAMS/ THE HERALD
See CHAMBER, Page A3
in light of the economy, inflation and the other Wilson wasthat released on a are challenges households $6,000 bond minutes facing. I’m 90 pleased that afour ter employees turning himself accordin theincounty are ingreceiving to the Elmore County Jailnow additional funds website. and will for the next several Dennis years,” said StubbsWilson said. also coached other sports at HoltStubbs then shifted to ville schools including being discussing essential services theupgrades, head trackadding coach and that assisthe tant football coach. Dennis said other staff would See APR FUNDS, Page A3 fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
GasPolice prices dipcontinue slightly investigation, man no longer suspected
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Average gasoline prices in Alabama have fallen 4.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.57 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,348 stations in Alabama. Prices in Alabama are 27.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.78 per gallon higher than a year ago. The price of diesel has risen 2.6 cents nationally in the past week and stands at $5.80 per gallon. By Jake Arthur See GAS, Page A3 Chief Videographer 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 act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” SUBMITTED | THE HERALD This is the first homicide in Wetumpka In this image from social media video, an object Tallassee in over threeBuce years. last homicide in Police Chief Todd said isThe a cell phone is seen moving the city took place in 2018. from Perry Jackson towards a Tallassee police officer who “It’s not gooda way the who newwas 19 seconds latera used taser to on start Perry out Jackson, year,” said Benton. handcuffed at the time of the incident Sunday afternoon. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
feel safe. It’s a great community and a great group of people.” Pediatric Burn Foundation irefighters and child burn of America Alabama victims have something more executive director Scotty than just fire in common. Roberson has been They have Camp Conquest. involved all 22 years Children’s Harbor has been of the camp that serves hosting Camp Conquest for 22 pediatric burn victims years for pediatric burn victims between the ages of See SHOOTING, Page A3 to be just a kid. seven and 16. “It’s a place where we can “We have served be ourselves and a kid can be 700 children over the BY CLIFF WILLIAMS a kid,” pediatric burn survivor years,” Roberson said. Staff Writer Isaac Floyd and Camp Conquest “This year we have 27 veteran camp of eight years said. kids. It’s centered around the Tallassee man was in handcuffs “We children and the commaride Staffdon’t Reportlet our burn scars schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. A The when hold us back. We are survivors.” building their selfSuesteem, Highof School. Elmore County school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percenthe was tased by police officers WILLIAMS | THE HERALD with the Tallassee Police Department Floyd said every camperofis aperintendent their confidence andwas physical The Alabama Association Richard Dennis rale, achievement and attendanceCLIFFdecrease in discipline referrals, Campers and counselors take part in the color Sunday afternoon. burn victim School but the Principals camp is so in attendance stamina. to help themtoafter Secondary forIt’s the presentation. a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic games at Camp Conquest at Children’s Harbor. Two videos on social media show much more. they haveissustained a major (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral an exceptionlence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase two Tallassee police officers taking “Camp Conquest me the means burn injury.” School principal Kyle to Futral al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent Perry a 2022 bunch of kids coming specialidentified group and helping us,”Futral’s Roberson said.in CCR rate and a 20 per-Jackson into custody. Jackson Alabama High School together Prin- tive andRoberson innovative said in hisathinkaddressed. increase cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, enwas handcuffed behind his back and cent increase in ACT proficiency to have fun,” Floyd said. “We of people serves as volunteers “Firefighters serve in several The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. officers were searching Jackson’s all have something in common. throughout the week. roles — counselors, serving as the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuThis place helps everyone learn “We have firefighters See PRINCIPAL, Page A3 Futraleach on Friday, during aus School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to See CAMP, Page from otherJan. and28makes from all over the state here A2 See TASER, Page A3 FUTURAL BY CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
F
Tallassee police say cell phone toss led to taser use
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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