07-13-22 Wetumpka Herald

Page 1

SPORTS: Millbrook youth baseball sends teams to World Series, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 28 | $1.00 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00

2023 Elmore County Distinguished Young Women announced

Holtville High School basketball coach arrested

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff By Cliff Williams Staff TenWriter rising seniors from across Elmore County A selected virtual teacher were on July at 16 Elmore to County School’s Edge program participate in the Distinguished has been arrested and charged Young Women of Elmore with school employee distribCounty 2023 Scholarship uting obscene material to a stuProgram. dent. The event will be held Elmore County Sheriff Bill at Wetumpka High School Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.

beginning at 6 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Wilson was Phi Chapter ofthe the head DeltabasketKappa ball coach at Holtville High Gamma Society International, School and was an educators’ organization. placed on Teachers and advolunteers give ministrative hours of service to produce this leave Jan. 13 event. according to ElParticipants will be evaluated more County on scholastic achievements, Schools superinterviews, talent performance, intendent Rich-with an self-expression ard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary

Gas prices slowly decreasing, still above four dollars

on-stage question and physical fitness. Scholarship and investigation andare handed it off interview skills the basis for to appropriate authorities. 50the percent of the competition. He The was program also placed on adminisawards trative leave money at that time.” scholarship to the Dennisofsaid officials college the school participant’s follow same procedure choices the and the opportunity when administrators receive a for other college granted report of allegations against scholarships. school staff and employees. “This year’s program will “Oncescholarships we hand ittotaling over, we award know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”

over $6,000,” said Mel Reese (children age five and under and Katie Cole, program are free) and programs are $10 Franklin Wilson chairmen. said “We investigators want to thank each. was released on a with the local Elmore County Sher90 will minutes afall our businesses, friends, $6,000 Thebond winner represent iff’s have alleged victurningCounty himselfatintheaccordandOffice family for the supporting us. ter Elmore statewide tim’s Authorities to the Elmore County Jail on Thisphone. program is basedcollecttotally ingcompetition in Montgomery edon Wilson’s phone as well. website. donations.” January 20-21, 2023. “You a conversaDennis said WilsonYoung also Lastcould year’ssee winner, A’Nyia The Distinguished tion between the two,” Franksports at HoltLynch of Millbrook and several coached Womanother of Alabama will then lin2022 said.category “Mr. Wilson is will going ville schools including being winners advance to the Distinguished togive contend someone had the the head track coach and assisout awards. security code phone and tant football coach. See WOMEN, Page A2 Admissiontoishis $10 per person he was not responsible. There Dennis said other staff would is other information we can’t fill in for the duties of Wilson at disclose now but I don’t think Holtville while he is on adminit’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.” istrative leave.

Police Chamber holds luncheon continue investigation, man no longer Wind Creek Hospitality announces suspected cash stipends for employees

welcoming members

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Average gasoline prices in Alabama have fallen 12.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.25 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy’s of 3,348 stations in Alabama. By survey Cliff Williams Prices in Alabama are Staff Writer 36.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand $1.44 per gallon higher than a year The ago. Wetumpka The national Chamber average price of of Commerce held its diesel hasannual declinedluncheon 8.5 cents to in the last week and install new officers and board stands at $5.65 per gallon. members for the first time in a while Thursday. According to GasBuddy price reports,put thea hamper on gathThe COVID-19 pandemic cheapest station in Alabama was priced at $3.74the successes of erings but the chamber celebrated per gallonbusiness yesterdayinwhile the most expensive was Wetumpka. $4.99 per gallon, a difference of $1.25 per gallon. “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couThe lowest in the state yesterday $3.74 said. “Your pleprice years,” chairperson Claywas McConnell per gallonattendance while the highest was $4.99 people per gallon, is an indication want to get back a difference of $1.25and perhave gallon. together these opportunities to see each The national average price of gasoline has fallen CHAMBER, Page A3 12.8 cents per gallon in the last week, See averaging $4.66 per gallon Monday. The national average is down 34.4 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.54 per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country. Historical gasoline prices in Alabama and the national average going back ten years: July 11, 2021: $2.81 per gallon (U.S. Average: $3.13 per gallon) July 11, 2020: $1.88 per gallon (U.S. Average: $2.19 per gallon) July 11, 2019: $2.39 per gallon (U.S. Average: $2.77 per gallon) July 11, 2018: $2.54 per gallon (U.S. Average: See GAS, Page A3

Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our Home Town” luncheon.

By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer CLIFF WILLIAMS/ STAFF REPORT Band of Creek Indians (parent company of THE HERALD Police are still investigating the fatal TPI Staff WCH). shooting in the Walmart park“We know the importance andWetumpka value of each ing lot on Jan. 20. ind Creek Hospitality (WCH) of our employees and it’s great to help them Police this werepivotal dispatched announced on Tuesday multiple and their families during time to ofthe parking lot around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots efforts to recognize added pressures drastic inflation,” said Stephanie Bryan, Tribal fired” call. Oncemember there, they found Centell Winston, employees are experiencing due to inflation Chairwoman. “Every of our Tribal 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot driving up the cost of groceries and gasoline. Council believes very strongly that they need to wound in the driver seat of his vehicle. “These added and unexpected costs are support our team at this time.” to Wetumpka creating a great burden on our employees, and The second stepAccording is an accelerated roll-out ofpolice chief Greg Benton, this was not a random shootwe want to take steps within our power to relieve flexible working arrangements to help minimize ing. some of that burden where we can” stated fuel and child-care expenses. was not random, not a random Catherine Timmons, Executive Vice President of “If we can create“This schedules where employees act,” said Benton. “We believe the vicHuman Resources for Wind Creek. only have to drive to work three or four days tim and the perpetrator knew each other.” The first step in those efforts is a oneeach week instead of the traditional five days, This is the first homicide in Wetumpka time cash stipend awarded to all Wind Creek it amounts to a 20 percent or even 40 percent in over three years. The last homicide in employees, full-time and part-time alike, the city took place in 2018. supported by the Tribal Council of the Poarch STIPENDS, Pageout A3 the new “It’s not See a good way to start year,” said Benton. Benton didn’t want to speculate on the

W

See SHOOTING, Page A3

Wetumpka police arrest suspects in theft case

Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year

were obtained on July 6, 2022, for notified the Wetumpka Police schoolwide assembly at Holtville the school culture that ofshortly a shift in a positive direction. The both subjects. Department of from her capture HighThe School. Elmore County Suschool struggling with low momale was identified as after CrimeStoppers released thatschool experienced a 62 percent The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and decrease in discipline referrals, The Wetumpka Police Christopher Aaron Clardy. Clardy she was wanted byattendance the Wetumpka Secondary School Principals in attendance for the presentation. to a school that strives for excel50 percent decrease in chronic Department has officially notified is currently in custody in the Police Department. (AASSP) named Holtville High “Kyle Futral is an exception- lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase CrimeStoppers that both suspects Tallapoosa County Jail on unrelated The suspected pair were wanted School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were in the graduation rate, 33 percent involved in a felony theft case have charges. in relation to a felony theft that 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perbeen identified and arrested. The female was identified as occurred at Walmart in Wetumpka cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, en- cent increase in ACT proficiency Both suspects were identified Hayden Danielle Ellerbe. Ellerbe is on June 30, 2022. The suspects SUBMITTED | THE HERALD The High School Principal of his school,” Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing in the last five years. through an anonymous currently in custody in the Coosa are also accused of stealing a 2018 Christopher Aaron Hardy and Hayden Danielle Ellerbe were arrested in connection the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High and challenging the staff and stuCrimeStoppers tip.Jan. The 28 suspects CountyFutral Jail on has unrelated charges. dents, black Ford the same felony theft case inPage Wetumpka. of committing felony theft at PRINCIPAL, A3 They are accusedFUTURAL Futral on Friday, duringare a School, transformed caused theEscape schoolon culture to date to aSee from Tallapoosa County. Warrants Coosa County Sheriff’s Office from the Walmart parking lot. Walmart and also stealing a 2018 Ford Escape from the same Walmart parking lot. STAFF REPORT Staff Report TPI Staff

Today’s

Today’s Weather Weather

90 65 70 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: THURS:HIGH HIGH84 71LOW LOW 68 53

a k p m u Wet

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


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.