April 19, 2017 Wetumpka Herald by Tallapoosa Publishers

INSIDE TODAY Bulldogs tighten area title race

We will never be abandoned

Facebook killing sparks quest for answers

SPORTS, PAGE A7

FAITH PAGE 5

OPINION, PAGE A4

THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898

Wetumpka, AL 36092

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WEDNESDAY • APRIL 19, 2017

Council approves utility relocation

THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM

By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

Despite public comments from representatives of AT&T and Alabama Power Co. that intimated an attorney general’s opinion wouldn’t prevent the city’s payment for the effort, the Wetumpka City Council on Monday night unanimously approved an ordinance that

would direct the relocation of overhead utilities underground on certain streets in the city’s central business district. The city had sought and received an attorney general’s opinion on who would be responsible for the expense of the relocation. On March 24, Attorney General Steven Marshall’s opinion stated “a municipality may require

VOL. 119, NO. 16

a public utility company to relocate its aboveground utility lines and reinstall them in underground conduits or elsewhere.” However, the opinion went on to say that, while a public utility not regulated by the Alabama Public Service Commission “must” pay for such relocation, “the extent of such payment

See COUNCIL • Page A3

David Granger / The Herald

Reginald King, a ninth-grade teacher at Lee High School in Montgomery and a Wetumpka resident, receives from Mayor Jerry Willis the Pride Award for the role he played in saving a student’s life.

French and Indian Encampment set this weekend

Annual Lake Jordan cleanup set for Saturday

By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

Wetumpka’s Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson Park will offer a glimpse into mid18th century life and warfare this weekend when it hosts the French & Indian War Encampment, focusing attention on the main protagonists of French & Indian War (also known as the Seven Years War) – France, Britain and their American Indian allies. The event is sponsored by the Alabama Historical Commission and the Friends of the Forts and takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-18. “What we’re going to be showing is a snapshot of 18th-century life and this is just a little bit before the American See REENACTMENT • Page A3

On Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m., volunteers will take to the lake to take from the lake an anticipated tons of garbage accumulated over the years from storms, dumping or litter in a decades-old event designed by residents to keep water and properties clean. The chairwoman of Lake Jordan Home Owners and Boat Owners Inc., more locally known as HOBO, said she expects a large haul this year from reports she has heard from lake-goers. Barbara Dryer said the record from one event was six tons, while the least they have ever gathered from the lake was three tons of garbage. “It’s going to be a lot of trash out there,” said Dreyer. “People calling in saying, ‘Boy, we’re going to have our work cut out for (us).’” She said the group organized in 1991 and she has been involved since its beginning. “Our first activity was a cleanup,” See CLEANUP • Page A2

Today’s

Weather

David Granger / The Herald

Bella Bertarelli, Frank Bertarelli and Jackie Monk examine some of the flowers in the shade house at Bertarelli’s new Wallsboro business, The Green House, which will eventually feature the plant farm, a farmer’s market and a restaurant.

The Green House is a growing enterprise Bertarelli’s. So what’s it called? The Green House. As an entrepreneur, when Frank Bertarelli “We wanted something that said what it decides to put out a shingle for a business, he is and that was memorable,” said Bertarelli. prefers a straightforward, to-the-point name. “What’s a better name?” His primary business – a pest control The Green House has been open for a few enterprise – is called Zap, descriptive of what weeks now. It’s owned by Bertarelli, but he does to the bugs he targets. operated by veteran plant persons Joe and Now, Bertarelli has ventured into the world Jackie Monk, who have 15 years each at the of plants. Passers-by may have noticed Montgomery Garden Center on U.S. 231 and the greenhouse that sits off Kildee Drive See GREEN HOUSE • Page A2 not far from U.S. 231 in Wallsboro. That’s By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

Local Boy Scout project to renovate overlooked park

86 61 High

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

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Kendall Buelman uses a sledgehammer to demolish a rotting gazebo at Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Roadside Park along U.S. 231.

Just off the highway traveling into Wetumpka, many might have noticed piles of debris gathered alongside a small roadside park that houses two gazebos and picnic benches, aptly named the John Kelly Fitzpatrick Roadside Park. A few weeks ago, the structures were torn down by a Wetumpka High School freshman and his father. No authorities were called and no charges filed because it was part a scheduled demolition and phase one of Kendall Buelman’s Eagle Scout project with Wetumpka Troop 50. “The one’s that were there were in really bad shape,” said

Troop leader Gardner Perdue. “They had rotted really badly.” He said they began work on a Friday and by the end of the day the two gazebos and tables were in pieces along the side of US Highway 231. The work was done by Kendall and his father, Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Buelman of the 187th Fighter Wing at Dannelley Field. Since Eagle Scout is the highest Boy Scout ranking, the elder Buelman said he wanted the project to be challenging. “It’s not some easy project where he can get his Eagle Scout and check off a block,” said Jeff Buelman. He said they were building

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PAGE A2 • APRIL 19, 2017

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Obituaries Willis “Buck” Carter

Mr. Willis “Buck” Carter, age 76, of Elmore, AL passed away, April 12,2017. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 3 p.m. at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, 150 Mt Hebron Rd, Elmore, AL, with Rev. Dr. Robert Mullins and Rev. Dr. Rick Carter officiating. Burial will follow in Davis Annex Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service at the church. Mr. Carter retired from Ingall Ship Building of Pascagoula, MS after 42 years of service. He was a member of Mt. Hebron Baptist Church. Buck is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Phyllis Carter; son, Christopher Carter of Cape Carteret, NC; daughter, Cindy Fox of Millbrook, AL; sisters, Ella Luckie of Daphne, AL and Faye Randall of Simpsonville, SC; brother, Dr. Rick Carter of Gulfport, MS. He is also survived by a step daughter, Julie (Mike) Hall of Montgomery, AL; step son Col. Rich Bell of White Sands Missile Range, NM; a very special grandson, Wilson Fox and Cade Fox; great granddaughter, Mya Fox and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Brookside Funeral Home, Millbrook, AL directing.

James William Norrell

Norrell, James William, age 63, passed away on Friday, April 14, 2017. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dallas R. Norrell and Lucile Mulder Norrell; one brother, David Norrell; and three sisters, Teresa Warren, Kim Norrell and Cheryl Norrell. Survivors include one brother, John Wayne Norrell; and one sister, Brenda Carol Norrell. Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Wetumpka Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services will follow at 1:00 p.m. at China Grove Cemetery, Wetumpka, Alabama 36093, with Rev. Gerald Wood and Michael Gross officiating. Wetumpka Memorial Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Bobbie Williams

Mrs. Bobbie Williams, 85, of Tallassee, passed away April 12, 2017. She was born August 13, 1931. Funeral service will be Friday, April 14, at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Eclectic with Rev. Britt Green and Rev. Kenny Hill officiating. Burial will follow at Good Hope Cemetery, Linville Memorial Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be prior to the funeral at the church from 1 p.m. until service time. She is survived by husband of 69 years, Howard McCormick Williams; sons, Stevie Howard Williams (Barbara) and Ricky Williams (Debbie); daughter. Linda Kay Hall (James); brother, Truman Jones (Phyllis); grandchildren, Shannon Hall Russell (Shane), Melissa Hall Chandler (Chad), Kelley Williams Wallace (Rod), Michelle Williams Smith (Casey), Tiffani Marie Williams and Steven Brett Williams (Jacie); and fourteen great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leon and Marie Jones; sister, Carolyn Graham and son, Mickey Wayne Williams. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Eclectic. She was always sure her clothes, jewelry and makeup were coordinated. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles and relaxing in her rocking chair. Online condolences at www.linvillememorial.com. Linville Memorial Funeral Home Eclectic, Alabama

Cleanup

continued from page 1

Dreyer said. “So many of the people that started with it are still with it, all of them that are physically able.” Last year, dozens gathered on shore and more were in boats bringing one haul in after another of debris and bags of smaller items. Dreyer sat on the shore with pen, notepad and calculator tallying up volumes, while it was tossed on shore and thrown into a garbage truck parked on site. Dreyer said it would work the same this year, with Elmore County and Alabama Power assisting. Each year she said the amount they take out of the lake largely varies with the weather patterns leading up to the event. She said more storms equal more trash and affect the type of trash found in the lake. In 2016, she said they gathered mostly “dry stuff” which she said come from severe straightline winds and tornadoes. Dreyer said they began a relationship with Alabama Power Co. early in the organization’s operation. “It’s good for both of us they’re getting their yard clean and we’re enjoying a beautiful lake,” Dreyer said. She said the company also supplies the trash bags, gloves and “grabbers” for the volunteers. After the event, which she said would end around 12-12:30 p.m., there would be a cookout and “Renew Our Rivers” shirt giveaway. She offered to anyone interested, “If you enjoy Lake Jordan, show up at Bonner’s Point.”

continued from page 1

two eight-by-eight pavilions and two new tables. The project also caught the attention of Perdue, which Kendall Beulman said was a plus. “If your coach is enthusiastic about something you kind of take the lead and go with (it),” Kendall Buelman said. The project had been set out on by former members of the troop, but was left incomplete after running out of time. Jeff Buelman said he and his son had not visited the park before beginning the project, but it had

frequently caught his eye driving. “I’ve been seeing those things for years and never thought much about it,” Jeff Buelman said. “It’s kind of a neat little area.” “I could see that some of the wood had rotted off,” said Kendall Buelman, who has been with Troop 50 since 2013. “The structure was falling down and in probably the next few years it would have collapsed.” He said his father was essentially serving as the project manager. Though the project centers on construction, planning and archi-

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Pet of the Week – Chloe

Chloe is about six months old, found as a stray. She is a very sweet and smart girl and was doing very well house training-wise with her finder. She is only about 35 pounds, so she is not going to get much bigger and is great with dogs, cats and children. Her face markings are quite striking. Our adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under one year old; cats over one year old can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee completely covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, de-worming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination (if old enough), and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian. To meet all the great pets at our shelter come to 255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka. For more information, go to our website at www.elmorehumane.org, email us at hselco@bellsouth.net or give us a call at 334-567-3377. We are open for adoptions Monday–Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m-3 p.m.

Scout

The Plant Farm in Santuck combined. “I had the idea, but I know nothing about plants, certainly not as much as Joe and Jackie do,” Bertarelli said. “They’ll be the brains there and take care of things.” Jackie Monk said she’s already been surprised at the amount of business the fledgling endeavor has drawn. “A lot of our old customers are finding out about us and coming to see us,” she said. “We’re getting a lot of people on the way to the lake. We’ve had people come from as far away as Lineville and even Huntsville.” Currently, the business consists of a single greenhouse and a shed under which Bertarelli said things like pine straw and mulches will be stored. Next, Bertarelli is planning a pole barn out front of the existing establishment that is segmented for farmer’s market stalls. “We want to get all local stuff,” Bertarelli said. “We’ve already got a corn man, a watermelon man and a honey and pepper guy. And they’re all local people. We’ve got other people calling in and inquir-

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tecture, Kendall Beulman said his ultimate goal is to also join the armed forces. He said having his Eagle Scout badge would help his enlistment chances. “Actually I’m planning on going into the Coast Guard. My inspiration kind of came from my cousin,” said Kendall Beulman. After a trip to Florida a few years ago the younger Buelman said “it just kind of captivated me until the point I wanted to join the Coast Guard.”

continued from page 1

ing, too.” Bertarelli said he hopes to have the pole barn and market spaces ready next month. Currently, plans are for the farmer’s market to be open Saturdays and Wednesdsays. But already there’s plenty available and Jackie Monk stays busy planting as many as 1,000 new plants a day in trays. “We’ve got tea olives, crepe myrtles, native azaleas, all kinds of vegetable plants, bedding plants, hanging baskets –I don’t know what all,” Bertarelli said. “And Jackie stays busy adding to them.” The Green House also sells decorative stands for plants. “We’ll be having a Mother’s Day special that people should watch out for,” Bertarelli said. Bertarelli said he expects to add at least one more greenhouse, but to top the entire operation off, he said, he plans an on-site restaurant. “We want a restaurant that serves food that doesn’t really compete with anyone in the area,” Bertarelli said. “We’re thinking maybe the best burger around, for one thing. We don’t want barbecue, because we don’t want to compete with Champ’s or any of our other neighbors. We want something that’s distinctly ours.” Bertarelli says the non-compete idea goes through his entire operation at The Green House. “We want to be a good neighbor and be as non-competitive as possible,” Bertarelli said. “We want to have our own little niche in the neighborhood and we want to offer the best of what we do offer.” The Green House is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

Reenactment

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

APRIL 19, 2017 • Page A3

Council

continued from page 1

Revolution, in the 1750s,” said Ove Jensen, site director at Fort Toulouse-Fort Morgan. “They’ll see what life was like on the frontier, how folks lived in the frontier forts, how the Creeks lived in their villages and probably what is most exciting to a lot of folks is we’ll have glimpses into how battles were fought or the kinds of military actions that took place in North America.” Some 100 re-enactors from around the county – and at least one regular from a great distance – will be dressed and equipped as they appeared in North America during the French & Indian War, Jensen said. “(The re-enactors) come from all over the country,” Jensen said. “I would say that the majority of the people are from the Southeast – Alabama, Georgia, Florida. But we will have a very substantial group from Tennessee and we even have folks from as far away as Anchorage, Alaska. This one gentleman puts this on his vacation every year so he spends some time during the spring visiting historic sites and he is the one from farthest away.” Jensen said he is particularly excited about one group of re-enactors who will participate this weekend. “We have a group coming down from Fort Loudown, our sister site in Vonore, Tennessee, that is coming down and we’re really excited about that,” said Jensen. “It’s the first time they’ve been down here in several years.” Jensen said after three years as site director following 21 years as a volunteer at the site, what he finds most captivating about the event is the way it makes history real. “I think seeing how history literally come to life,” Jensen said when asked what he thinks people will appreciate the most about the weekend. “You read about a number of things historically in books, but to actually see how people lived their lives – cooking over an open fire, the steps needed to load a musket, for example. It really brings the history books to life and that’s what the highlight is – the sights, the sounds, the color. Showing that it’s real people that did things different from the way that we do them today, but things that we can all relate to.” Jensen said that, if the weather is good, he would expect up to 600 visitors to the park this weekend for the 26th annual event. “It’s our oldest and biggest event,” he said.

continued from page 1

obligation, if any, by a public utility that is regulated by the Commission (APSC) is within the exclusive domain of the (APSC).” During the public comment period prior to the meeting, Dan McCrary, a partner in Birmingham’s Balch and Bingham law firm, spoke on behalf of Alabama Power Co. McCrary said “the ordinance leans very heavily on the attorney general’s opinion regarding the responsibility to pay for these relocations, but it omits any reference to the specific language in the attorney general’s opinion regarding public utilities regulated by the Alabama Public Service Commission.” McCrary went on to cite the portions of the opinion that said the PSC would decide what, if any, obligation to pay rested with a regulated utility. “Now, this conclusion is not surprising, given the APSC’s exclusive jurisdiction over rates, service regulation and equipment of Alabama Power,” McCrary continued. “And the Commission has a clear and long-standing policy regarding costs associated with non-standard, i.e., non overhead, service such as that contemplated under this ordinance. The Alabama Public Service Commission does not include such costs in general costs of service … rates paid by all customers. The Commission sees such costs as the result of a local decision with a local benefit and hence the cost is to be borne locally. Otherwise you would have customers that are maybe in one city paying for projects that benefit a different city or you might have customers located in a county that aren’t even in a city paying for projects that are in a city, maybe a very distant city. McCrary said in his more than 37 years of legal practice before the APSC he was “quite convinced” that it would not require Alabama Power to incur the cost of the relocation proposed in the ordinance. “I respectfully suggest that the city attorney reach out to the legal division of the Commission to confirm that view, if they haven’t done so already,” McCrary said.

After hearing from McCrary, Ty Fondren of AT&T, Paul Blake of Alabama Power Co., Pete Powers of Mainstreet Wetumpka, Johan Beumer of the Wetumpka Planning Commission and Elmore County Commission Chairman Troy Stubbs (Powers, Beumer and Stubbs spoke in favor of the ordinance), who spoke as a board member of Mainstreet Wetumpka, and after the normal meeting preliminaries of the invocation, pledge, roll call and approval of the last meeting’s minutes, the council went into the business portion of the meeting and immediately into executive session, requested by city attorney Regina Edwards to “discuss possible litigation.” The council remained in executive session for 40 minutes before emerging and unanimously passing the ordinance. “With support from the public, our merchants, Mainstreet, the Downtown Redevelopment Authority and our citizens, we felt like we had to move this forward,” said Mayor Jerry Willis after the meeting. “I’m sure we’ll have a lot of talks and discussions, but our merchants downtown are entitled to moving forward with the redevelopment of downtown.” In other action, the Council: • Approved and ordinance establishing July 21-July 23 as a “Back to School” Sales Tax Day; • Joined the mayor in proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month; and • Awarded to Kellis Vegetation Management of Columbiana a bid for the city’s vegetation management at a cost of $37,103 per year. The contract is for a maximum of three years. Prior to the meeting, Willis presented a plaque for the “Pride Award” to Wetumpka’s Scott King, honoring him for the role he played in saving the life of Lee High School student Tessa Desmet, who was shot outside the school where King teaches history. Another Wetumpka resident who came to Desmet’s aid and helped save her life – Angela Washington – was also due a “Pride Award,” but was not on hand to accept it.

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OPINION

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Facebook killing sparks quest for answers

n Easter Sunday, Steve Stephens pulled up alongside 74-year-old Robert Godwin in his late model white Ford Fusion on a Cleveland street. After a brief exchange during which Stephens asked the elderly mechanic to repeat the name of a woman, Stephens aimed a pistol at Godwin and executed the man at point-blank range. These types of things – these senseless killings – unfortunately happen in our American society every day. What makes this one different is that the video of the murder was almost instantaneously loaded to social media via Facebook. On Tuesday morning, an alert citizen spotted the car Stephens had been driving in his almost 50-hour run from the law in the parking lot of a McDonald’s in Erie, Pennsylvania. After a brief pursuit of the vehicle by police, alerted by the citizen’s tip, Stephens took his own life. Steve Stephens is dead. But his death won’t bring Robert Godwin back nor any solace to his family. Nor can we now put any measure to the amount of damage he’s caused our psyches, neither collectively nor individually. Collectively, most of us are appalled by what we either saw or heard happened on social media, a place where we often gather – ironically, more so on holidays like Easter Sunday than on other occasions– to exchange pleasantries, prayers for heal-

DAVID GRANGER Manging Editor

ing, safety, good wishes, etc., and photos of our children and grandchildren. Individually, the damage is deeply personal and much more difficult to gauge. It’s squirreled away in the minds of those whose minds are dark already, many from heredity, many from trauma, many for reasons known to no one. There are those among us who, seeing and hearing about Stephens’ deed, will somehow sickly be bolstered to commit their own atrocities. There will likely be copycats. All of this makes us, once again, question a freedom, a right, which we would have once held so pure and so harmless. Social media allows all of us the right to express ourselves to a broader audience through words, pictures and, most recently, video. Most of us use it responsibly. Sure, we may have the occasional political spat that becomes out-of-hand and hurtful, but that pales in comparison to how those mentally disturbed or wrongly motivated among us might use such a platform. Already, we’ve seen a young reporter and her videographer killed. Now, a 74-year-old loving

father. There have been countless cases of cyberbullying – and worse –that fall short of loss of life. Unfortunately, one senses that we’ve yet to see the worst. I don’t have the answers here. I enjoy social media as much as anyone, though likely in smaller doses than many. What I’m saying is that we must somehow, if possible, discourage its misuse. The best way to do that is to start with the youngest among us. As they grow old enough to begin their inevitable journey in the world of cyberspace, we must teach them to treat it as if it were real, talk to people as if they were sitting beside you and treat people as you would treat them to their face. More than anything, we must teach them that the virtual world is no place to go for comfort or to express frustration. Parents and trained professionals are here for that. I’m just as confused, frustrated and perplexed by what happened on Easter Sunday in Cleveland as anyone. I’m just as lost for answers. Maybe the absolute place to begin is at the beginning. By talking with one another. Face to face. Eye to eye. Living, breathing person to living, breathing person. David Granger is the managing editor of the Elmore County newspapers of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.

THE WETUMPKA HERALD (681-260) is published weekly on Wednesday by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Periodical postage paid at Wetumpka, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Wetumpka Herald, P.O. Box 99, Wetumpka, AL 360920099. ISSN # 1536-688X.

We reserve the right to refuse to print any advertisement, news story, photograph or any other material submitted to us for any reason or no reason at all. •Obituaries - $.25 per word per paper. Additional $15 charge for a photo per paper. (Herald, Observer, Tribune). •Weddings/Engagements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a 2-column photo. •Birth Announcements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a photo. SUBSCRIPTION RATES (includes Wednesday) One Year in Elmore, Tallapoosa or Coosa County: $50 One Year Elsewhere: $75 The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription at any time. To subscribe or if you miss your paper, call 256-234-4281. © 2016 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher. ADMINISTRATION Steve Baker publisher@thewetumpkaherald.com David Granger, managing editor david.granger@thewetumpkaherald.com NEWS Corey Arwood, staff writer corey.arwood@thewetumpkaherald.com Carmen Rodgers, staff writer carmen.rodgers@thewetumpkaherald.com Cory Diaz, sports editor Cory.Diaz@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . . . . . Ext. 306 SALES Brandy Bowman, marketing consultant brandy.bowman@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . Ext. 313 Stacy Adams, marketing consultant stacy.adams@TheWetumpkaHerald.com . . . . . . . . . . Ext. 305

Life is free down by the river

grew up around water. When I was a kid, there was a little creek running through our back yard. I spent countless hours back there catching crawdads, salamanders, and minnows. I only had to watch out for two things: snakes and glass. While I was never bitten by a snake, I did gash my big toe open once thanks to an idiot who decided to break a bottle. Who knows? Maybe I was that idiot. I hope not. If it was me, I learned a lesson with respect to our waterways. In recent weeks, I’ve been down to the Tallapoosa River here in East Alabama quite a few times. I’ve enjoyed its beauty and tranquility. It’s rather wide in some places, but there are also places where one can literally walk all the way across the river, and it’s just a mile or two from where my mom and dad grew up. They spent a lot of time on that river, and I plan on doing the same in the very near future. My dad and some of his friends once caught a 76-pound yellow catfish. I once caught a 2-pound catfish not too far away at my Uncle Curwood’s catfish pond, so I can kind of relate, give or take 74 pounds or so.

JODY FULLER Columnist

According to legend, one of my grandads used to skinny-dip down there. First of all, I can’t imagine my grandad swimming, period, and secondly, I sure as heck don’t want to imagine him swimming naked. Another distant cousin told me of his childhood river memories with his grandpa. He described to me how his pawpaw would slip off his shoe and fill it with water… and they’d drink out of it, which got him to giggling, but I could tell it was a special memory. I’m just thankful I never had to drink from either of my grandad’s shoes and am even more grateful for never having swam with them naked. I can’t wait to fish in the river, though. I fished it a few times when I was knee high to a grasshopper. We’d use just about anything we could find for bait, including grasshoppers, crickets, and, of course, worms. Maybe I’ll catch my

own 76-pound yellow cat one day. Even if I never catch a thing, there’s just something special about being down by the river, or better yet, on the river. One day, I hope to have a canoe or two, so I can make frequent trips down the river with family and friends. With the changes within each season, the water level, the wildlife, and nature in general, I simply can’t imagine it ever looking the same from one trip to the next. Every bend will bring excitement. The best things in life are free. Rivers are yet another example of God’s beautiful creations. I look forward to making memories with my loved ones on the Tallapoosa. If you ever want to hang out with us down by the river, you’re more than welcome, and I promise to have bottled water. I may even wear a swimsuit. Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www.jodyfuller.com.

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

APRIL 19, 2017 • Page A5

We will never be abandoned

’ve always known that the Resurrection was important. I know how crazy that sounds, but I’ve never been able to crystallize, at least in my mind and in my words, exactly why the Resurrection is important. I’ll never forget talking about what was essential to the Christian faith in a Sunday School class and saying that I believe everything flows from the basic fact that God made us and loves us. A woman looked up and said, “Well, at least give us the Resurrection.” And indeed, at least the Resurrection. And finally, I think, at least for myself, I’ve got it. For me, the important thing about the Resurrection has nothing to do with sin. That happens on Good Friday. Jesus died on Good Friday taking our sin with him. We are redeemed. The fact that the tomb is empty and Jesus risen is confirmation of the fact that God has come to us. And the women knew that. We know the story. Mary and Martha go to the tomb. On the way, there’s a great earthquake. They get to the tomb and they see an angel. As they would say in East Texas, “This angel, he weren’t

AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-4413 Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8144 Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd. (Co. Rd. 3), Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-9143 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic 541-2006 Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-5754 Crossroads Assembly of God

Wallsboro United Methodist Church 11066 U.S. 231, Wallsbooro

Rev. Ryan Johnson Pastor Rickey Luster, Music Director Sunday School....10:45 a.m. Morning Worship....9:30 a.m. Children’s Church.... 9:30 a.m. Thur. Night Service....6:00 p.m. You will receive a warm Welcome at this friendly, Christ-centered Church. NURSERY PROVIDED FOR ALL SERVICES

Wallsboro United Methodist Church 11066 U.S. 231, Wallsboro

no wimp.” This was the kind of angel you want with you when you face Satan, the Arnold Schwarzenegger of angels. He spoke and it was like lightening, his dress was white as snow; so fearsome that the guards were paralyzed, like dead men. And yet, as fearsome as he looked, even as a symbol of the Church militant fighting against evil, his gentleness came out as he said, “Fear not. You’ve come to find Jesus, but Jesus isn’t here, come and see.” Then he said, “Go,” and they went. On the way, they found Jesus in the garden. He greeted them, they worshiped him. Then they went to find and tell the disciples and the world. Redemption was confirmed in Resurrection, and that became the story of the Christian Church. That was the selling point, the astounding story – Jesus risen from the dead. It was like my brother, who once asked me, “Bobby, do you really believe Jesus was dead – died, dead and brought back to life?” I said, “Yeah, I do. Dead and brought back to life by God and God’s miraculous power.” Why? Well, let me tell

2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 285-5545 First Assembly of God 3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God 5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 5692825

BAPTIST Abraham Baptist Church Millbrook Antioch Baptist Church 1115 Antioch Rd., Titus 567-2917 Beulah Baptist Church 2350 Grier Rd., Wetumpka 514-2881 Blue Ridge Baptist 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 5674325 Brookwood Baptist Grandview Rd., Millbrook Calvary Baptist

Wetumpka Church of Christ 408 West Bridge Street

Jason Chesser Minister Sunday Prayer and Fellowship.......8:30 a.m. Bible Study.............9 a.m. Worship service...10 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study........7 p.m.

Visitors Welcome At All Services

504 W. Osceola St., Wetumpka 567-4729 Central Baptist 3545 W. Central Rd., Wetumpka 541-2556 Coosada Baptist 20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic 541-4444 Faith Baptist 64 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-4417 First Baptist Church 205 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-5191 First Baptist of Elmore Hwy. 14 Co. Rd. 74, Elmore Galilee Baptist 95 Old Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-4178 Good Hope Baptist 1766 S. Fleahop Rd., Eclectic Goodship Baptist

Hwy. 143, Millbrook Grace Baptist Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka 567-3255 Grandview Pines Baptist Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville Green Ridge Baptist 288 Turner Rd., Wetumpka 567-2486 Harvest Baptist 2990 Main St., Millbrook Hillside Baptist 405 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Holtville Riverside Baptist 7121 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 514-5922 Lake Elam Baptist 4060 Gober Rd., Millbrook Liberty Hill Baptist 61 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-8750 Lighthouse Baptist 2281 Main St., Millbrook

large...

...with the right kind of advertising. • • • • •

256.234.4281

Alexander City Outlook Dadeville Record Wetumpka Herald Eclectic Observer Tallassee Tribune

Living Water Baptist 1745 Grass Farm Rd. (Co. Rd. 80), Weoka Millbrook Baptist Millbrook 285-4731 Mitts Chapel Baptist 935 Cold Springs Rd., Deatsville 569-1952 Mt. Hebron West Baptist 150 Mt. Hebron Rd., Elmore 567-4441 Mt. Herron East Baptist Church 4355 Mt. Herron Rd. Eclectic, Al 36024 334-857-3689 Mountain View Baptist 1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka 5674458 New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury 3121878

First

“And we know that Presbyterian allChurch things work 100 W. Bridge St. together for good to thoseJonathan who loveYarboro God, Rev. to those who are the Sunday School..9:45 am Morning called Worship..11 according toam His purpose.” 567-8135

Harmony United Methodist Church 8000 Titus Road Titus, Ala.

Sunday Services at 11 a.m. Minister Dr. John Brannon There is Harmony at Harmony United Methodist Church!

– Romans 8:28

“In the name of the Lord Jesus – Welcome.”

Please join us.

Mountain View Baptist Church

has been made

Pastor

NURSERY PROVIDED FOR ALL SERVICES

you a story about what Jesus’ Resurrection and God’s redemption mean to me. I don’t know what his name was. I won’t ever know, but I think I’ll remember him forever. I pulled into the parking place at a quick stop to get a drink on the way back from Columbus. There was a van next to me, but when I looked over, I had a hard time seeing because of the sun. I kept looking and saw him. He was standing up in the driver’s seat. One hand was reaching up curled into the window that had been let down about four inches. Because of the sunlight, I really couldn’t see anything but his silhouette, but I could see that he was holding on to the window and his head was moving back and forth. I got out, walked around the van toward the store’s door, I looked back and could see that he was 13, 14 months old, dressed only in a diaper, all alone. When I looked in his eyes I could see the fear and the hurt and the pain and the

Many a small thing

Rickey Luster, Music Director

You will receive a warm welcome at this friendly, Christ-centered Church.

Trinity Episcopal

all alone, helplessly abandoned by other people and by God. That’s Good Friday. When Easter comes, I know I’ll never be abandoned by God. That’s the message of the tomb. That’s why we can’t go to the tomb to find God, because God and Jesus aren’t there. God and Jesus are alive in you and me. God and Jesus are with us always, and we will never be abandoned, even though we fear, even though we cry, even though we are afraid. Jesus is not in a tomb somewhere, but right beside us to hold us and to love us. It may be in the smiles or comfort of the people around us; it may be in a mystical, transcendent experience of being touched by the love of God, but Jesus is with us. Whenever we are sad or cold or afraid, whenever we experience Good Friday, we can be assured that Easter is not far behind, that Jesus/God will be with us. That’s why we come to the tomb – not to find Jesus, but to be assured he’s risen and with us. We leave the tomb, go into the world and experience the risen, living Christ; and shout with joy, “Alleluia, Alleluia, Christ has risen, Alleluia!” Bob Henderson is the rector at Trinity Episcopal.

Area Churches

Rev. Ryan Johnson

Sunday School..........10:45 a.m. Morning Worship........9:30 a.m. Children’s Church.......9:30 a.m. Wed. Night Service.....6:30 p.m.

REV. BOB HENDERSON

desperation. I could see his mouth was open, but he made no sound. I know that a child that age doesn’t understand when you say, “I’ll be back in just a minute.” All a child that age understands is you’re gone. He has no conception of whether you will be coming back or not. It’s like you’ve just dropped out of his life. But children do know what it means to be abandoned and alone. And even though a child that age doesn’t know what death is, a child that age knows that to be abandoned means to die. Now, you may wonder why I used the word “he.” It wasn’t an accident. When I looked at that little boy’s face and I looked into his eyes, I knew who he was. I recognized him. When I looked into his fear and his pain and his desperation and his loneliness, I knew he was me. Like him, I’m afraid. I’m afraid others might find out who I really am. I’m afraid that I really am as awful as sometimes I think I am. And I’m afraid when people do find out, they’ll leave and abandon me. I’m afraid in the very end, there I will be, abandoned, eyes searching, mouth open in a soundless cry,

567-4458 1025 Rifle Range Rd.

504 Osceola Street 504West West Osceola St. 334-567- 4729 334-567-4729 •••• Anthony Rhodes Rev.Rev. Anthony Rhodes, Senior Pastor Senior Pastor Sarah Swedenburg, Worship Ministries

Need your business to

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Derek Blankenship, Tammy Student Driver:Ministries

from the crowd?

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SUNDAY SERVICES SUNDAY SERVICES Sunday School...........9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship.....10:30 School........9:30 a.m. a.m. Morning MorningWorship.......6:00 Worship... 10:30p.m. a.m. Evening Evening Worship..... 6:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY SERVICES WEDNESDAY SERVICES Prayer Meeting...........6:00 p.m. Supper.....................5:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal.........6:45 Prayer Meeting........6:15 p.m. p.m. Student Worship........6:00 p.m. Choir Practice..........7:00 p.m. Calvary Kids...............6:00 p.m.

CEDARWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH 10286 U.S. Hwy. 231 Wallsboro 567-0476 www.worshipcedarwood.org

Roger Olsen, Pastor Sunday Bible Study..........9:00 AM Sunday Worship.............10:00 AM We are a Congregational Christian Church which, in the name of Jesus, invites all to worship with us. Nursery Check out our Facebook page

Call us, we can help!

334-567-7811

• • • • •

Santuck Baptist Church

7250 Central Plank Road 7250 Central C Plank Road “A Family of Families” “A Family of Families”

B.R. Pastor B.R. Johnson, Senior Pastor Larry Counseling Larry Gore, Adm. & Counseling Randy Godfrey, Education Randy Education Chad Middlebrooks, Students Amy Pugh, Director of Matt Fallin, Worship Children & Preschool Amy Pugh, Children & Students Preschool Chad Middlebrooks,

SUNDAY SUNDAY Sunday School........9 & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School............9 & 10:30 a.m. Worship...................9 &&10:30 Worship........................9 10:30a.m. a.m. EveningCelebration.................6 Celebration...........5 p.m. Evening p.m.

WEDNESDAY/FAMILY NIGHT WEDNESDAY/FAMILY NIGHT Programs for for every age Programs age 6:15 -- 7:30 7:30 p.m. 6:15

Wetumpka Herald Eclectic Observer Tallassee Tribune Alexander City Outlook Dadeville Record

Anthony B. Counts, Pastor Angie Gallups, Worship Leader Billy Reinhardt, Min. of Students SUNDAY Morning Worship... ....10:30 Sunday School.............9:15 Youth Choir .............. ....5:00 Evening Worship..........6:00 WEDNESDAY Fellowship Meal............5:45 Preschool/Children’s Choirs.........................6:00 House of Prayer............6:30 Preschool/Children’s Missions........................6:30 Youth Bible Study.........6:30

Send your church news and happenings to: news@The Wetumpka Herald.com _________ Call Brandy Call Jayne or Shannon at 567-7811 to advertise your church’s services in this space

PAGE A6 â&#x20AC;˘ APRIL 19, 2017

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

World Conservation

Things We Can Recycle Word Find

Conservation is the act of carefully protecting the planet from being polluted. A few popular terms for practicing conservation are â&#x20AC;&#x153;being greenâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eco-friendly.â&#x20AC;? People all over the Globe must recognize the importance of the Earth, its resources, and the need to practice recycling and conservation. We must responsibly use the resources on the Earth to keep from destroying them or depleting them to extinction. It is important to make sure that we have clean drinking water, pure land to grow healthy crops, and clean air to breathe. Conservation is also about protecting the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s animals and their ecosystems. All living things on Earth are important; together we make the ecosystem of the planet work. For example, humans and many animals require oxygen to breathe in order to live, and plants require carbon dioxide to live. Humans create carbon dioxide, and plants create oxygen. In turn, we help create what each other needs in order to live. Conservation of this ecosystem is vital to maintain a habitable environment so that the Earth will be a clean place to live for millions of years. Recycling is a way to be green. Reusing products produces less waste. Choosing products that have less packing materials is another way to reduce waste. Water conservation can be practiced by being sure water isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t running unnecessarily. Conserving energy can be done by unplugging appliances, using HQHUJ\ Há&#x201A;&#x2C6;FLHQW FRPSDFW Ă&#x20AC;XRUHVFHQW OLJKW EXOEV RU E\ VLPSO\ WXUQLQJ Rá&#x201A;&#x2021; DQ\WKLQJ WKDW is not in use. Preserving fossil fuels can be done by driving hybrid cars or carpooling at least once a week. A carbon footprint is a term used to describe how much damage one person does to the Earth in their lifetime. Learn what your carbon footprint is and how to improve it. This includes how much water you use (or waste), how much solid trash you throw away, how much air pollution your car creates, and whether or not you choose to recycle to reduce your footprint. Be kind to the Earth and all those who share it with you!

Find The 10 Differences In Each Picture

Shadow Match

3 1

Aluminum, Batteries, Books, Cardboard, Cars, Cell Phones, Christmas Trees, Clothes, Electronics, Eyeglasses, Glass, Grass Clippings, Leaves, Magazines, Mattresses, Newspaper, Paint, Plastic Bags, Televisions, Tires

Look at the pictures to the left of the kids practicing ways to conserve the Earth. Decide which shadow matches the pictures.

C A

Spend one week writing down everything S that you and your family throw in the garbage. At the end of the week, discuss with your class and family ways that you can reduce the waste you create. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Match Ans: 1-C, 2-D, 3-A, 4-B

A Special Thank You To All Our Sponsors!

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APRIL 19, 2017 • PAGE A7

Bulldogs tighten area title race, beat Panthers By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

The collision of Spencer Andrews and Ignacio Ruiz de Olano heavily tilted Friday night’s match to one side. Tied 1-1 in the 43rd minute, Andrews, Elmore County’s senior keeper, raced out to stop a through ball but ran into a streaking Ruiz de Olano, whose knee inadvertently plowed into his head, causing the goalie to exit the game with a head injury. Holtville took full advantage of ECHS’ backup goalie, Winston Scardina, netting three second-half goals and causing two own goals en route to winning the Class 4A-5A, Area 6 rivalry match, 6-3, at Boykin Field. “Spence is a real good goalie and we had to make an emergency substitution,” Panther boys soccer coach Norman Dean said. “The kids played hard, did the best they could. Sometimes, these things happen. That’s what I was telling them there at the end. Sometimes you’re dealt a tough hand and you got to play it, not manipulate it so things are in your favor.” The victory was the Bulldogs’ sixth straight and third Area 6 win of the week, defeating Marbury, 2-1 and Tallassee, 5-2, before handing the area-leading Panthers (5-4-0, 4-1) their first area loss on the year. “We’ve progressed like a lot,” HHS junior midfielder Colton Autrey said of the team’s current hot streak. “We’ve been practicing hard all the way through and we’ve just been developing skills. I think all of us are developing better skills with each other, getting better as a team. “I think that we are excited about maybe going to playoffs, if that goes through. I think we have a chance to go even further.”

Cory Diaz / The Herald

Holtville junior midfielder Colton Autrey (14) splits Elmore County defenders, sophomore Jason Aguilar (3) and freshman Brandon Aguilar (5) during the Class 4A-5A, Area 6 match Friday at Boykin Field.

Autrey led the way for Holtville through the area match parade, scoring a goal in each game and finishing with four total along with an assist. Freshman wing Miles Broom collected three goals, including two against ECHS, and Ruiz de Olano scored two. “Every time we score a goal, it just sets a fire into our soul. Then, we just

want to score another one and another one,” Autrey said. Senior forward Will Venable recorded his second hat trick on the season versus HHS. Senior defender Ben Watts had two assists. “Will’s a great kid. He played for us a couple of years ago. He decided to come back and play, and I’m really glad

he did,” Dean said. “He plays hard and he did a real good job for us. “It’s still open for (us to win) the region. We had a couple of starters that couldn’t play tonight. Maybe we’ll be full strength against Marbury and have a tough chance to win our first region.” Elmore County kicks off at Marbury Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Donley becomes first WHS track athlete to sign By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Tamara Donley knows how to finish first and it’s only fitting when her high school track and field career ends this year, she’ll track down another first. On Thursday, the senior sprinter made Wetumpka track program history, becoming the first athlete to sign a national letter-of-intent to compete in the sport in college, inking with Brenau University. A current holder of WHS girls track records in the 200- and 400-meter events, Donley said it meant a lot to her to be the first girl or boy track athlete to sign a scholarship. “It means that my hard work has paid off,” said Donley, who’s been a member of Wetumpka’s track team since the eighthgrade. “I feel like other people look up to me and want to go after the same thing.” Donley committed to Brenau, located in Gainesville, Georgia, last month after a campus visit. Shortly after that, she received an offer from the University of Mobile, but decided to stick with the Golden Tigers.

“(Mobile) offered me too late. I had already visited Brenau and made the decision about a month ago when I visited,” Donley said. “It’s a very quiet area, but it’s close to Atlanta. The surrounding area is very nice and quiet. “I know that other than me, there are girls just as good as me coming in. I know we’re going to make a strong team together and we’re going to get along because we’ve already established that communication.” A two-time Class 6A state meet individual qualifier, Donley looks to make it three seasons straight to close out her senior year at Wetumpka. To get ready for Brenau, the sprinter plans to train by herself over the summer in preparation. “(Golden Tigers head track and field coach Byron Kramer) was saying something about the heptathlon. I’ve longjumped, but it was never something that I’ve really done,” Donley said. “He wants me to throw the shot put. I’m curious to see how that would go. He wants me to run the 800 and I’ve never ran the 800. “I’ve got to put in a lot of work by myself.”

Cory Diaz / The Herald

Wetumpka track and field senior athlete Tamara Donley, withe her parents, signed a national letter-of-intent Thursday to run at Brenau University.

Dawgs’ Dismukes dominates Dadeville By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Kaylyn Dismukes threw herself a welcome back party Thursday night at the expense of the Dadeville lineup. In her first area start since returning to the circle from a rotator cuff strain she suffered during the offseason, the Holtville sophomore pitcher struck out 17 batters and did not allow an earned run as the Lady Bulldogs beat the Lady Tigers, 6-1, at home. Dismukes’ dominant performance in the Class 4A, Area 5 contest against Dadeville tied her career high strikeout mark gained as an eighth-grader in 2015 versus Elmore County behind the effectiveness of her rise ball. “It feels really good because I didn’t think I was going to be able to come back and do as good as I used to,” Dismukes said after the win. “I used to throw like 67 and I’m throwing like 60 right now, so it’s kind of tough to like really execute my pitches. “I don’t know, it just happens. I think you just have to execute with your

pitches like the rise ball. I threw a changeup for the first time in a long time and it worked.” Dadeville marked Dismukes’ ninth start of her sophomore season, pitching for the first time on March 27, a no decision versus Reeltown. Holtville (15-17) managed a 7-11 record before she made it back, with head coach Daryl Otwell throwing three different pitchers. Freshman Brooke Cooper got the majority of those starts, winning six out of 20 games and allowing 49 runs. “I got a lot of encouragement coming back from an injury like that. I haven’t pitched in six months, it was a lot of hard work to come back like that,” Dismukes said. “Having to sit around and watch them do it by themselves was really tough for me because I don’t like sitting around and watching. I like to go out and help. Like, if they were struggling and didn’t have anybody to help them pitch, they had to suffer. I don’t like to watch my teammates like that.” In the 5-foot-11 sophomore’s last two See SOFTBALL • Page 8

Cory Diaz / The Herald

Holtville sophomore pitcher Kaylyn Dismukes (17) winds up a pitch against Dadeville in the Class 4A, Area 5 game at HHS Thursday.

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Wetumpka falls short of playoffs, loses at Ben Russell By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

A two RBI double by Benjamin Russell’s Austin Elliott in the fifth inning broke open a close game for the Wildcats to defeat Wetumpka 5-1 and earn a spot in the playoffs next week. “We finally got some base runners,” Wildcat Coach Richy Brooks said. “We also got some decent at bats.” Elliott was able to punch one into right center field to score Brett Pitts and Nic McGhee with one out. Connor Brooks would score on a Wetumpka error. The Wildcat scoring was no surprise to Wetumpka Coach Mark Davis. “We walked the leadoff batter,” Davis said. “Anytime you walk the leadoff batter, it leads to scoring. We have to quit giving them the freebies up top and make plays when the ball is hit to us.”

The Wildcats had three leadoff hitters get on in the game. Brock Elliott provided the complete game effort from the mound and, like most of the season, helped carry the Wildcats. “We left Brock to pitch the game,” Wildcat coach Richy Brooks said. “He was excellent today. He had a couple innings with less than a double-digit pitch count and going into the last inning he only had 62 pitches for the game.” Elliott gave up five hits and struck out five in the complete game effort. “He has kinda been our horse all year and we have rode him,” Brooks said. “He has had only one bad outing all year and that was at Opelika.” Timmy Lawson led the way on offense with a hit and two stolen bases. The Wildcat outing earned the Cliff Williams / The Herald team the right to host Blount next Wetumpka’s Trey McCreary is tagged out by Benjamin Russell Timmy Lawson as McCreary slides into second week in the first round of the playbase. offs.

Submitted / The Herald

Wind Creek makes donation to new helmet quest Wetumpka WInd Creek Casino & Hotel presented the Wetumpka High School football team with a $8,376.24 check to go toward the program’s effort to purchase 86 new Riddell SpeedFlex helmets that cost a total of $27,520. New Property Manager Kay Simmons announced that the money was donated through a revolving non-profit drive where Wind Creek patrons can donate their non-playing money.

Lady Panthers pluck playoff spot from rival Dawgs By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Elmore County gave themselves a fighting chance to have the Senior Night ceremony it missed out on a couple of weeks ago due to weather when it defeated rival Holtville, 2-0, Friday at Boykin Field. With the victory, the Lady Panthers (2-6-0, 2-1) locked up a return trip to the Class 4A-5A playoffs after missing last season and left the door open to host the first round in the postseason needing a win at Marbury Thursday. “If we beat Marbury, we’ll host a playoff match, but if we lose we’ll be on the road,” ECHS girls soccer coach Jared Jones said. “Because of mixups in the schedule and rain outs, the girls didn’t get to have their Senior Night. I told them, ‘Look, if you go take care of Marbury, you’ll get another home game. That’ll be your Senior Night.’ “That’s what we’re shooting for to have Senior Night.” Senior forward Autumn Ware scored the playoff-clinching goal in the opening minutes and junior forward Kaylen Dunaway added the insurance goal in the first half as Elmore County avenged an Area 6 shootout loss to the Lady Bulldogs (1-12, 1-3) earlier this year. Sophomore Kyle Wright assisted Ware’s score. “We’ve struggled all year trying to move the ball up to the offensive end and unfortunately tonight, we give up two quick defensive goals and that was the difference,” first-year Holtville girls Cory Diaz / The Herald soccer coach Shon Boling said. “Everybody got Elmore County junior striker Kaylen Dunaway (3) gets hip-checked by a couple of Holtville defenders during Friday’s Class 4A-5A, Area 6 out of position and that’s hard to cover the entire match at Boykin Field. backfield as a goalie. “They never gave up, in the second half made know they want to get back to the playoffs,” Jones The Lady Panthers worked the ball around in adjustments to shut them down. Those two early said. “Those two early goals were the difference the offensive third orchestrated by Ware along goals were the difference.” and that’s what we wanted to do, score early.” with fellow seniors Dallas Wade and Alexandria Boling said the absence of team scoring leader, ECHS kicks off at Marbury tomorrow at 5:30 Baker, leading to the two early goals, a contrast Hannah Westbrook, due to a cracked bone in her p.m. from the earlier meeting between the two rivals. leg hurt the team’s offensive firepower. “For these three seniors, I’m super proud. I

Softball starts, she’s compiled 26 strikeouts along with giving up one earned run on three hits in 14 innings. For Dismukes, it’s been a long road to get back. “I have to do a lot of band work, stretching and just taking it slow and easy, not rushing back into it. I tried

continued from page 7

to rush back into it earlier and I had to go back in and get my shots and everything, so that didn’t work,” Dismukes said. “I take it easy, stretch and practice a lot, like every other day.” The Lady Dawgs already have nailed down the two-

seed for the Area 5 tournament, coming up next week at Tallassee. With their ace back in the pitching rotation, the team feels good about chasing down its third consecutive 4A Central Regional Tournament berth.

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National Dog Bite Awareness Week stresses prevention, safety By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

Last week was National Dog Bite Awareness Week and this topic is sadly important enough to share even a week after. The Alabama Veterinary Medical Association is encouraging all dog owners to be aware of the risks involved with dog bites and to learn about ways they can protect themselves and their families from dog-bite incidents. “Dog bites often happen during everyday activities among children and seniors,” says ALVMA President Dr. Hal Pate. “Certain situations can be more conducive to the risk of a dog bite. Protect your family and yourself by being familiar with preventive measures that will minimize the risk.” Every year, more than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs, with more than half of all victims younger than age 14. Each year over 6,000 dog bites are reported in Alabama and many require emergency room visits with some

needing hospitalization. Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs. According to a study completed by State Farm and the Insurance Information Institute, dog bites accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners’ insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2015, costing more than $570 million. This same year, more than 28,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs. Dog owners should review these helpful tips below and always be aware of their surroundings when they are with their dogs. Taking precautions to ensure safety for all involved is the best way to reduce the risk for dog bite accidents. If you are bitten, here is a checklist of things you should do: • If the dog’s owner is present, request proof of rabies vaccination, and get the owner’s name and contact information; • Clean the bite wound with soap and water as soon as possible; Consult your doctor immediately or

NOTICE WETUMPKA POLICE DISPATCH IS MOVING

EFFECTIVE APRIL 18, 2017 AT MIDNIGHT WETUMPKA POLICE DISPATCH WILL NO LONGER BE LOCATED AT THE WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT, 208 MARSHALL STREET. THESE DISPATCHERS WILL BE MOVING TO THE CONSOLIDATED 911 CENTER. THERE WILL BE A FEW MINOR CHANGES ON HOW WE DO BUSINESS: THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A DISPATCHER AT THE WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE WILL HAVE TWO PHONES LOCATED IN THE LOBBY: (1) DIRECT LINE TO 911 DISPATCHERS (2) A PHONE ALLOWING YOU TO CONTACT EVERY ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION IN THE DEPARTMENT AND A NON EMERGENCY PROMPT IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO AN ON DUTY PATROL OFFICER. IT IS IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT 911 CALLS WILL NOT CHANGE. ALSO NON-EMERGENCY CALLS AND ADMINISTRATIVE CALLS WILL STILL BE AT PHONE NUMBERS 567-5321 AND 5678432. ON THESE LINES YOU WILL PROMPTED TO THE CORRECT OFFICE.

go to the emergency room if it’s after office hours; and • Contact the dog’s veterinarian to check vaccination records. You can also protect your family from dog bites by following these simple steps: • Be cautious around strange dogs, and treat your dog with respect; • NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog; • Be alert for potentially dangerous situations; • Teach children - including toddlers to be careful around pets; • Teach children never to approach strange dogs or try to pet dogs through fences; and • Teach children to ask permission from the dog’s owner before petting the dog. Dog owners should take steps to prevent dog bites, too, including: • Carefully select your pet. Puppies should not be obtained on impulse; • Make sure your pet is socialized as a young puppy so it feels at ease around people and other animals; • Don’t put your dog in a position where it feels threatened or teased;

• Be calm. Always talk in a quiet voice or whisper – no shouting – and take a “time out” if you feel angry or frustrated; • Train your dog. Basic commands help dogs understand what is expected of them and help build a bond of trust between pets and people; • Walk and exercise your dog regularly to keep it healthy and provide mental stimulation; • Avoid highly excitable games like wrestling or tug of war; • Use a leash in public to ensure you are able to control your dog; • Keep your dog healthy; • Have your dog vaccinated against rabies and other preventable infectious diseases; • Parasite control and other health care are important because how your dog feels affects how it behaves; • If you have a fenced yard, make sure your gates are secure; and • Neuter your pet. According to the National Canine Research Foundation, approximately 92 percent of fatal dog attacks involved male dogs, 94 percent of which were not neutered.

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THE WETUMPKA HERALD

State’s corruption rivals that of Long’s Louisiana W

Submitted / The Herald

Holtville’s first and second-grade Students of the Month Holtville Elementary School’s first- and second-grade students of the month for March are (seated, left to right) Chance Pearson, Charlotte Stovall, Callie Ray Stephens, Darwin Flores, Chance Faust and Dylan Barrett; (middle row, left to right) Emma Guy, Brayden Whitehurst, Jamirah Harris, Micaylah Lindley, Connor Banks, Emmy King, Jase Keller and Sarah Hilyer; (back row, left to right) Kadaja Kirk, Aadon Motes, Koby Albright, McKenzee Nelson, Addison Hulin and Steven Blaylock. Not pictured: Jonas Mann

Holtville third and fourth grade Students of the Month

Holtville Elementary School’s third- and fourth-grade students of the month for March are (front row, left to right) Spencer Price, Cooper Lee, Kamarren Reeves, Lizzie Hilyer, Baylee Horn, Lacy Strength and Kylie Snowden; (Back row, left to right) Colt Wesson, Kayden Edwards, Travis WIlkinson, Tysen Glaze and Tyler Watters.

e in the Deep South have a unique history of political theatrics. The only northern states that rival our colorfulness are New Jersey and Illinois. In those two states you are expected to be corrupt, especially in Chicago. Our most colorful southern state has always been Louisiana. The parishes and bayous of the Pelican State gave us Huey Long and other characters. No other states can hold a candle to Louisiana’s brazen corruption. They not only expect their politicians to steal and cavort, they frown on them if they do not. The environment of Louisiana politics is bred towards corruption and debauchery. They not only gave us the glamour of the King Fish, Huey Long, they are proud of their infamous reputation. Well, folks, if you look at us here in the good old Heart of Dixie over the past few years we are probably giving Louisiana a run for its money. A cursory look at the record reveals that our speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Hubbard, was caught and convicted of taking bribes for sponsoring and passing legislation. Our 74-yearold doctor Gov. Robert Bentley fell in love with his 44-yearold number one advisor, lost all his wits and has resigned from office in disgrace. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge and agreed never to run for office again. The House of Representatives was

STEVE FLOWERS Columnist

poised to impeach him had he not resigned. Ole Bentley had become an irrelevant clown and fodder for late night talk shows. The state is better off with Lt. Governor Kay Ivey serving out the remaining 20 months of Bentley’s term. Bentley, in a charade promulgated by his desire to not be indicted for his shenanigans, gave the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions to the sitting Attorney General Luther Strange to avoid prosecution. Therefore, our new junior U.S. Senator is in Washington with the taint of Bentley’s scandal hovering over his head and the appearance that he is there due to audacious collusion. We have an even richer novel that has transpired in Jefferson County, our most populous and supposedly urbane county. It made national news a year ago when the mayor and president of the city council got into a fistfight in the Birmingham City Hall. However, a new development is even more bizarre. During the fall elections, Democrats won all of the Jefferson County judgeships. Along with the judgeships, Jefferson County voters elected a Democratic district attorney. Democrat Charles Henderson beat incumbent Republican Brandon

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Falls by over 10,000 votes. Get this folks, the sitting DA trumps up a perjury charge against the new DA a few days before he was to take office. Falls convened a grand jury on Jan. 12 and returned an indictment the next day on Jan. 13. Henderson was to take office the following Monday. As anybody knows, a prosecutor can indict a potato for anything at any time. This scenario proves that point. The loser, Falls, got the winner, Henderson, indicted for perjury. This is so bizarre and corrupt a situation that it makes the aforementioned stories pale in comparison. It makes Jefferson County and Alabama look like a third-world banana republic. There are rampant rumors that the state’s top watchdog, Prosecutor Matt Hart, is camped out in Jefferson County and massive indictments are on the way. It has been over 70 years since Louisiana had a similar scenario. Nobody has been as brash in between. The Louisiana King Fish Huey Long was assassinated on the steps of the capitol in Baton Rouge. Huey Long’s brother, Earl, followed his famous older brother as governor. Earl was one colorful character. His opponents decided to seize power from Earl. They took control of the state police and had Earl arrested and put in the state insane asylum. One of the best political movies ever is entitled “Blaze” starring Paul Newman and it illustrates this story of Louisiana political lore. I recommend it for entertainment. These past two years in Alabama politics would make for a good movie. This latest Jefferson County fiasco would have to be a part of the plot. Look out, Louisiana! We’ve got some good theater in the Heart of Dixie. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers. us.

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Coosa Riverkeeper, Mainstreet and Chamber join forces for project By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

Wetumpka owes its name to the Coosa River running throughout its limits, which historically served as home and subsistence for the Muscogee and later as conduits of trade and travel for settlers. So a partnership between “The City of Natural Beauty” with the river conservation group Coosa Riverkeeper seems natural. According to Auburn University’s Water Resources Center, the Coosa Watershed is the most biodiverse and largest segment, or “subwatershed,” of the Mobile River Basin. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources states there are 147 fish species and nearly a dozen unique to its basin. Plus, the Coosa and its tributaries are home to one of the most diverse and unique communities of aquatic snail “in the entire world. In all, 91 species are known from the system and 82 of those occur nowhere else,” ADCNR’s Outdoor Alabama website states. However with one of the greatest biodiversities came one of the greatest extinction events of its numerous species when the river was dammed. With its six dams, the Coosa also earned it the title as one of the most developed rivers in the state.

But through federal regulations and protections like the Clean Water and Endangered Species acts and the actions of state environmental agencies in conjunction with Alabama Power some of that diversity was regenerated. Such is the case of the renown Tulatoma snail, known locally and throughout scientific communities for reportedly being the first case in U.S. history of a snail rebounding from near extinction. This information abounds on scientific websites of universities and state environmental agencies, but it is also being published by a local organization spearheading downtown Wetumpka’s revitalization efforts. Main Street Wetumpka and Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce have begun a partnership of sorts with Coosa Riverkeeper, which, at its core states, “as the most aquatically biodiverse subwatershed of the Mobile River Basin, the fourth largest basin in the country in terms of streamflow, the Coosa Valley deserves protection from threats that could further degrade its remarkable character.” Among its efforts the nonprofit publishes a Swim Guide and now a Fish Guide offering regular updates from its teams of volunteers who take samples from the river, test them and publish the results online and through its app indicating where its safest to swim and where fish are safest to eat. Recently

they have begun mapping pollution and sewage spills on and near the river. Wetumpka however made it on their map with about five spill incidents, mostly related to storm water overflow. Coosa Riverkeeper Executive Director Justinn Overton said their work revolves around informing the public of their rivers’ water quality. “You can’t just look at a body of water and know if it’s safe or not,” said Overton. “To me it’s about your right to know … the info should be easy for you to access and for you to understand.” Over a lunch at Grumpy Dog’s, Overton said the mutual benefits of a partnership were discussed with Wetumpka Main Street Director Jenny Stubbs and Chamber Director Gerry Purcell. “Im really excited that both the Chamber and Main Street really see the value that the Coosa River has for the Elmore County area,” Overton said. Stubbs said Main Street was a young organization, having only been officially formed last year and focusing on the area overall, its natural environment and history in its drive for economic development downtown. “We’re very comprehensive in our approach. When your mission is to revitalize the downtown you want to take every aspect,” said Stubbs. “The history, the nature, the business – we try to to intertwine it all to improve the

CommunityCalendar NOW – June 2

The exhibition, Stardust: From the Alabama Pastel Society, is at The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery. This is a juried exhibition and is opened to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30p.m. on the second floor of the City Administration Building, 408 South Main Street, Wetumpka, Alabama. Admission is free.

April 20-22

Faulkner University’s Dinner Theatre presents “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Doors will open at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served between 6:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. The show will start at 7:30 p.m. Faulkner University Dinner Theatre is located at 5346 Atlanta Highway in Montgomery. Visit https://www.faulkner.edu/ undergrad/student-life/students-activities/dinner-theater/ dinner-theatre-schedule/ or call (877) 840-0457.

April 20-22, 28-29

Wetumpka High School Theatre presents “Ghost: the Musical” in the Wetumpka High School Commons at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free for ages 5 and under, $5 for ages 6 to 12, and $10 for adults. For more information call (334) 567-5158.

April 22

Wetumpka Elementary School will be hosting an

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success of the downtown and the longevity.” Overton said Coosa Riverkeeper is based in Shelby County and their labs are located in the town of Mt. Laurelt. She said they work with municipalities and a have a relationship with the Gadsden Tourism Board. It was the type of relationship she said she wanted to craft with Wetumpka. “They can call us and we can capitalize on each other and highlight the impact of the Coosa and Wetumpka in particular,” Overton said. She said she has not made direct contact with the city yet. “I really would love to create a multi-pronged approach to the area. Below Jordan dam is the most paddled stretch of river in the state,” Overton said. “Beyond that it’s bringing money to Wetumpka and the surrounding community.” The Chamber likewise has devoted a major effort to bringing nationwide and televised kayak bass fishing tournaments to the area, one of which will be held in May – all of which are held on the Coosa and its impoundments, or lakes. “We are big supporters of both organizations and very much appreciate what the Coosa Riverkeepers are doing. They keep tabs on the ecosystem around the river,” said Purcell. “And we’re doing pretty good there.”

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and Observer by calling 256-234-4281, faxing them to 256-2346550, sending your event to the.editor@thewetumpkaherald.com or logging on to http://www.thewetumpkaherald.com/.

Today is

April 19, 2017 Earth Day Celebration from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome to come and have fun! • Join us for the inaugural Poker for P-Pod at 2 p.m. at It’ll Do Tavern, located at 557 N Eastern Boulevard in Montgomery. All proceeds will go to the Peyton Elizabeth Cox Memorial Scholarship which was created to honor the life and legacy of our beloved P-Pod. Peyton was a well-rounded mix of beauty, brains, and talent. Her love for softball only came second to her academics. We have created this scholarship to honor one graduating senior softball player from Wetumpka High School that we feel best represents Peyton and the things that were most important to her. The scholarship will be managed by Elmore County Community Foundation. For more information visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ events/109509359551870/. • With author readings, workshops, vendors and exhibitors, author signings, and a lively activity area for children, this free public event is Alabama’s premier literary event. Thousands of people from around the state and the Southeast gather at the festival each year to meet their favorite authors and scholars. It’s a day of fun for book lovers of all ages! This year the Alabama Book Festival will continue our tradition of promoting reading and literacy to Alabamians of all ages and backgrounds at Old Alabama Town, located at 301 Columbus Street in Montgomery on Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tickets are available at http://alabamabookfestival.org/. • The Walk of Life is a 5K and 10K Run/Walk to raise money for those who cannot afford the lifesaving mammograms and breast cancer screenings they desperately need. The Walk of Life will take place April 22, from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. A separate Kids Dash will start at 9:45 a.m. inside the Riverfront Park..Every year, this landmark walk/run through downtown Montgomery, Alabama delivers a rallying moment for thousands of participants from all fitness levels united by a common desire to do prevent breast cancer. Whether you’re considering your first Walk or are a seasoned veteran, we want you with us at The Walk of Life. Get tickets at www.walkoflife2017.org • The Lake Jordan Homeowners-Boatowners Association is hosting our 25th annual “Renew Our Rivers.” Join us at Bonner’s Point at 8 a.m. to clean Lake Jordan. Gloves and bags will be provided and a picnic lunch will be served at 12 p.m. T-shirts, provided by the Alabama Power Company, will be given to all participants. For more information please call Barbara Dreyer at (334) 567-7551. • Dolly Boshell Singing at Antioch Baptist Church in

Titus. Supper will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the singing will begin at 6:30 p.m. Featured singers will be the Back Porch Pickers and Dr. Rick Jones. Everyone is invited. For more information, call Betty Boshell at 5671876.

April 22-23

Step-back into the 18th Century at the Ft. Toulouse French and Indian War Encampment! There will be educational demonstrations and cutting portraits for the duration of the event. Visit the link for more details: https://www.facebook. com/FortToulouseFortJackson/.

April 23-29

Eclectic Mayor Gary Davenport has declared this week as Parental Alienation Prevention Week and April 25 as Parental Alienation Awareness “Bubbles for Love” Day. On this day, at 12 p.m., ALFRA requests you take 10 minutes to blow Bubbles for Love in support of Parental Alienation Awareness in an effort to educate the public about this form of child abuse.

April 25

Zaxby’s in Wetumpka is hosting Spirit Night for Elmore County Child Protect Office from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. 10% of all sales will be donated. These funds will help provide services to child abuse victims and their families in Elmore County.

April 27-29, May 4-7, and 11-13

The Wetumpka Depot Players are ushering in warmer days with Neil Simon’s classic comedy, Last of the Red Hot Lovers. The play invites audiences to the “groovy” and “out of sight” days of the swinging sixties! Audiences will love this comedy with a surprising resolution. “This is a laugh a minute Neil Simon classic that our audiences will love, “ said director, Tom Salter. Tickets are available by calling (334) 868-1440 or visiting wetumpkadepot.com. The box office is located at 300 S Main Street in the heart of historic downtown Wetumpka.

April 29

Return of the dead! The Wetumpka City Cemetery Tour is here again from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.! Come meet Wetumpka community members from the 1830s through the 1990s. Tickets are available for $10 a piece at the Elmore County Museum or the Wetumpka Public Library.

May 2

The Elmore County Food Pantry, located at 515 W. Boundary Street, Wetumpka, cordially invites you to attend their Open House from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Come see and hear about the work of the Pantry, who they serve, and how they get it all done.