May 10, 2017 Wetumpka Herald by Tallapoosa Publishers

INSIDE TODAY

Wetumpka claims area softball title.

244-7778

Cancer took the life of a friend, but not his legacy.

SPORTS, PAGE A7

OPINION, PAGE A4

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

Wetumpka, AL 36092

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WEDNESDAY • MAY 10, 2017

THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM

VOL. 119, NO. 19

Commission talks high-speed Internet

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

The Elmore County Commission held a short but informative meeting, and, with little on the agenda, an important topic arose by way of the commissioner’s reports where an at-length discussion was held on the state of the county’s Internet service. “This is really and truly an economic development issue,” County

Commissioner Bart Mercer said at one point during his report. The talks seemed intended to not only inform residents of the commission’s efforts regarding access to high speed Internet service, but also to spell out what the nature of the relationship was between Internet service providers and the county commission. The topic of Internet service has circulated through social media at length, garnering dozens of comments and some

suggestions to take the issue up before the commission. Mercer said through his combined work with the Elmore County Economic Development Authority he had been looking into just what the county’s role was, its capabilities and its limitations in getting residents and businesses access to high-speed and broadband online access. He said he was aware of areas within the county that did not have access to

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Kayak Bass Fishing Trail makes local tourney stop By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

Local 3-18-year-olds can spend June and July under the watchful care of a Wetumpka police sergeant, having two meals a day plus snacks, taking field trips and playing at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. Sgt. Ella Roberts said registration is now open for the City of Wetumpka’s C.J. Deputy Summer Program. She gave a break down of the details she said parents and guardians needed or might want to know before registering a child in the program. Roberts wanted to relay these things to the public: • The last day of

this service. “You know it hasn’t been that many years back when high-speed Internet was not totally necessary to conduct life as we normally all would,” said Mercer. “But that’s changed. We have all of our businesses, in order for them to operate in a efficient manner and in order for our students to do their homework in many cases they have to have access to high

David Granger / The Herald

Thousands of rubber ducks race down the Coosa River Saturday, back. In the end, it was the duck belonging to Sam Adams of Montgomery crossing the finish line first, winning $1,500.

PRIZE-WINNING DUCK

Duck proves lucky for Montgomery man, Rotarians By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

“Rubber ducky, you’re the one …” So go the words to Ernie’s song from “Sesame Street” about his favorite bathtub toy. But on Saturday, some 2,353 rubber ducks found their way from Sesame Street to a section of the Coosa River here in Wetumpka

to help raise money for the city’s Rotary Club to use in its efforts to support charitable causes throughout the year. The ducks were bagged in a huge white plastic bag, hoisted above the river from the Bibb Graves Bridge in a bucket truck and, after a countdown, dropped in the river to race toward Gold Star Park on a course See DUCKS • Page A2

The water was warmer this weekend and the fishing was much better on both the Coosa River and Lake Jordan than it was for Wetumpka’s debut on the Kayak Bass Fishing tour in April with the oneon-one Best of the Best battle between kayak fishing titans Matt Ball and Jay Wallen. This weekend, Wetumpka’s twin waters were the battlegrounds for some 40 kayak bass fishermen from 10 states who participated in the city’s 2017 KBF Trail event on Saturday. “We had a good turnout for a first event,” said Gerry Purcell, executive director of the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce. “We had a little more than 40 fishermen who participated from 9 states, including the Carolinas and Ohio. “The fish were biting. We had some really good fish come from the Coosa. Had some good feedback from the anglers, a lot of them had never fished the Coosa. Some of them that never had were hesitant to fish the river, but they said they’d be back and try it. It was a good way for us to get our feet See FISHING • Page A3

Wetumpka Elementary students channel classic painters By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

The red carpet was rolled out at Wetumpka Elementary School’s “Art Under the Stars” for the families of the adolescent artists who’s inimitable reproductions of the styles of renowned painters’ styles adorned the halls of the school. Walking into the school out of the late Thursday downpour, parents and guardians were greeted by the students, who handed out brochures with information about the evening. Just off the red carpet, a local music teacher was playing and singing “’Til there

was you.” The hallways were dimly lit with stringed lights, hence “Art Under the Stars.” “Every grade level has an artist that they focus on recreating their artwork,” said WES Principal Bonnie Sullivan. “The theme this year was rolling out the red carpet and that’s why the red carpet was at the front of the building and we have children that are reading and telling about artwork so we kind of make it look like a museum type.” The hallways were separated by grades and the grades were designated a classic painter to emulate in whatever subject See ART • Page A3

Corey Arwood / The Herald

The halls of Wetumpka Elementary School were lit by stringed lights and decorated with children’s artwork while parents strolled to find their child’s own works of art. Pictured, Zaiden Bryant looks at his classmates work, while his mother, Mallory Glenn, and grandmother, Lisa Glenn, are helped by teacher Stephanie Munroe.

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Obituaries Mr. Ira Nolan Mathews Mr. Ira Nolan Mathews, 75, of Tallassee, passed away May 7, 2017. He was born August 2, 1941. Funeral service will be held Thursday, May 11, at 1:00 p.m. at Tallassee Church of Christ with Minister Charlie Boddie officiating. Burial will follow at Mt Hebron Church of Christ Cemetery with Linville Memorial Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 10, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Linville Memorial Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife of nine years, Margaret Carol Mathews; sons, James Kevin Harris and Timothy Allen Harris; daughters, Ira Velvet Simpson (Mark), Mary Louise Bowen (Edward) and Angela Dawn Miller (Chad); brothers, Richard Wayne Mathews and Donald Perry Mathews; sisters, Mary Jo Agner, June Elizabeth Papaspiros and Dorothy Mathews Hudson; grandchildren, Nickalus Elijah Buck Harris, Jesse Hunter Harris, James “Trent” Harris, James “Jamie” Harris Dorow, Austin Harris, Janice Dianne

Simpson, Jeffrey Mark Simpson, Jessica Mashell Simpson, Franklin Dale Simpson, Jeremy Chad Miller, Andrea Dawn Miller, Amanda Jones, Jason Edward Bowen, Tamara Fallan Harden and Mary Kimm Sanford; and great grandchildren, Beth Simpson, Eli Simpson, Jasmine Cousins, Joshua Cousins, Jacob Cousins, Kailey McGinty, Jackson Jolly, Dallin Simpson, Kaitlyn Dasher, Caleb Jones, Madison Bowen, Jayden Harden, Alyssa Jones, Haleigh Sanford, Jaycee Harden, Logan Jones and Dani Rae Sanford. He is preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Parker and Charlcie Elizabeth Mathews; wife, Mary Evelyn Mathews; sisters, Alice Faye West and Mildred Louise Abrams; brother, Charles Parker Mathews; and grandchildren, Helena Evelyn Bowen, Jonathan Bowen and Brandon Clyde Miller. Online condolences at www.linvillememorial.com.

Mrs. Marianne VanHouten, 68, of Wetumpka, passed away May 1, 2017. She was born February 27, 1949. A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 12, at 1:00 p.m. at Linville Memorial Funeral Home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, starting at 12 noon, at the funeral home. Marianne previously served as Association President for the Montgomery Chapter of the Learning Disability Association. She also worked for Student Support Services at J. P. Tech/Trenholm Technical College. She is survived by her husband, Donald VanHouten; daughter, Wendy McClimans (William); grandchildren, Isabelle McClimans, James McClimans and William McClimans; and many cousins, including Mary Eldridge and Millie Brown. The family extends special thanks to Tallassee Health and Rehab and also Community Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a local community food bank. Online condolences at www.linvillememorial.com.

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Former Elmore facility cadet pleads guilty to assault of handcuffed inmate STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

MONTGOMERY – Jeremy Walker, 26, a former corrections officer cadet with the Elmore Correctional Facility in Elmore pleaded guilty in federal court to a civil rights violation for assaulting a handcuffed man, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama A. Clark Morris, and Acting Assistant Attorney General Tom Wheeler of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Walker is a resident of Montgomery. As a part of his plea, Walker admitted that on July 3, 2014, while he was on duty as a corrections officer trainee at the Elmore Correctional Facility, he argued with and pushed an inmate. Walker and the inmate went to the ground and other corrections officers intervened. The inmate was handcuffed and placed in a holding cell. Walker’s brother, who was also a corrections officer, attempted to enter the holding cell, but other officers restrained him. Walker admitted that while the other officers were focused on keeping his brother from entering the holding cell, he ran into the cell and punched the handcuffed inmate in the head several times. Walker then threw

the victim to the floor. Other officers entered the cell and restrained Walker. Walker acknowledged that his assault caused injury to the victim. “The vast majority of law enforcement and corrections officers are dedicated to protecting and serving the public with honor,” said A. Clark Morris, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. “They walk a tough line every day they are on duty. However, when they cross the line and assault an individual that poses no threat, they will be held accountable for their actions.” “Law enforcement is always held to a higher standard,” stated Robert Lasky, special agent in charge of the Mobile Division of the FBI. “Due to our strong relationship with the Department of Corrections, these cases will continue to be a priority for our office.” Walker will be sentenced in federal court at a date to be determined. He faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Walker’s case was investigated by the FBI’s Mobile Field Office with the cooperation of the Alabama Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rand Neeley for the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Gabriel Davis of the Civil Rights Division.

County nonprofits receive CACF grants STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

The Central Alabama Community Foundation (CACF) awarded three grants of $1,000 each to three nonprofits in Elmore County. The grants were included in $69,726 awarded to nonprofits working in the areas of food, medical and family support and that provide services in Autauga, Elmore, Montgomery, Macon and Lowndes counties. The three Elmore County nonprofits that received grants were the Elmore County Pregnancy Center, Community Hospital in Tallassee and the Child Protect Elmore County sat-

ellite office. The Elmore County Pregnancy Center grant will allow the facility $1,000.00 to the Elmore County Pregnancy Center - to provide ultrasound tracking, client training materials and supplies for the Cradle Closet. Community Hospital Tallassee will use its grant monies to help fund its Meals on Wheels program. This grant will assist in providing 33 daily hot meals to eligible participants. The $1,000.00 Child Protect grant will to support victims of alleged child abuse who will be served by the Child Protect Elmore County Satellite office. This grant will provide a forensic interview and follow-up

counseling. The grants presentation ceremony took place at the Mary Ellen’s Hearth at Nellie Burge Community Center in Montgomery. The Central Alabama Community Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropic foundation created by and for the people of central Alabama. Individuals and corporate donors make gifts and bequests of any size for the betterment of our community. Through its grants program, the Foundation addresses a wide variety of needs and opportunities, supporting programs and projects in education, human services, health, cultural arts, and other civic concerns.

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Ducks bounded by air-filled fire hoses until the first rubber squeak toy crossed the finish line. “We had a tremendous response,” said

continued from page 1

Rotarian Dennis Fain, who coordinated the countdown for the duckdrop from the Graves Bridge via walkie-talkie. “I think this event is just

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going to keep getting larger each year.” In the end, it was Sam Adams of Montgomery whose rubber ducky really was the one, crossing the finish line first and winning Adams $1,500. Marsha Hicks of Deatsville’s duck finished second in the race and won her $1,000. Thirdplace winner was Aulie Minton of High Point, North Carolina, which won the out-of-state duck racer $750. With the money raised from Saturday’s fundraising duck race – which took place in conjunction with the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce’s kayak bass-fishing event – the Wetumpka Rotary Club earned a good head start

on monies that it will use to help the Elmore County Food Pantry, the Elmore County Pregnancy Center, the Wetumpka YMCA, Adullam House, Elmore County Humane Society and help fund the James Bart Hart Memorial Scholarship as well as scholarships awarded to its annual speech contest participants. For most of the Rotarians who helped with the duck race, the hard part came afterward. “It’s easy to drop them from the bridge all at once,” said Rotary Club President Eric Hyde. “Sometimes it’s a little harder to round them up one by one when the race is over.”

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

MAY 10, 2017 • Page A3

Commission

continued from page 1

speed Internet, so the need for that has changed drastically over the last few years, in my opinion.” Mercer said without access it limits those areas to both residential and commercial use. He talked about the capacity of the county’s involvement with cable providers and the nature of their relationships. “The commission does enter into franchising agreements with cable providers that will in-turn provide highspeed Internet, but we do not enter into an agreement that’s exclusive,” Mercer said. “Our agreement has nothing to do with what takes place in a municipality and it also, like I said, no one provider has exclusive rights.” He said it gave them the authorization to install the cable in county property or its right-of-way. To do that, he said a franchising fee is collected from the ISP’s costs to the

customer. He said there were multiple of these franchising agreements throughout the county and within them the county was limited in its actions. “There’s very few provisions in there that the county can set and regulate, in fact every franchising agreement we have now previous commissions have signed, we haven’t. This commission hasn’t done anything related to that as far as there being any franchising agreements that have expired since we’ve taken office.” He said through his research and looking into the agreements there were a few things that he said directly affected residents. One of which was the franchising fee, but also that the rates and costs of its services were not set by the county or what he said was called in the document the “grantor.”

Mercer turned to County Attorney Jeff Courtney for further glimpses into what he said was a lengthy legal document, known as the Cable Act. Courtney said the majority of the franchising agreements were governed through the bill, in which the fees charged were statutory. “It’s so statute driven that there really isn’t a lot of room for movement on a lot of issues,” said Courtney. Mercer spoke then about what the county could do to increase access to high-speed Internet. He said there were grants that would pay partly for infrastructure to be installed at public buildings and that could be a first step in that direction for rural areas. “We also want to make sure – and we have looked at this – to make sure that Elmore County is as business friendly as possible. That applies to whether getting

a cable provider or any industry that would like to operate in Elmore County or either locate in Elmore County. “But because the lack of broadband really and truly can adversely affect the current operation or future operations of business and … our citizens this is really and truly an economic development issue.” In response Mercer said he, along with other commissioners, had begun promoting ECEDA efforts to attract cable providers to the county just like a retailer or manufacturer. Mercer concluded, “I’ve probably learned more about broadband in the last three or four months than I ever knew but I want our citizens to know that we understand there’s a need for it. We also understand clearly that the importance of having broadband access is much more important now than it was a just a very few years ago.”

Program

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registration is May 22 • The program begins June 5 and ends July 31 • Its hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Registration sheets are at the WPD Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and should be returned to WPD during those same hours • A meet-and-greet is scheduled June 2 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for parents and guardians • Donations of supplies are welcomed at the WPD “A lot of the people in the community always give donations and we area always accepting donations,” said Roberts. Being in the summer months, Roberts said hydration is key and water or Gatorade made good donations.

Art

continued from page 1

they were assigned to

“When it’s really hot the kids like to go outside. (We) try to make sure they’re hydrated.” Snacks are welcomed, too, though she said to stay away from sugary foods, preferring instead chips, crackers or cookies. “It’s really funded on donations,” Roberts said. She said the Elmore County Board of Education provided the main meals of breakfast and lunch. Last year the ECBOE’s Summer Feeding Program supplied the meals along with a number of youth-based programs throughout the county. Roberts described a breakdown of a day in the program and the tentative schedule the children would be on. Around 8 a.m. she said they would have a check-in period, and shortly after would

paint, draw or craft. Other students were acting in performance pieces, dictating the history of the artwork

Fishing wet with this KBF bunch and introduce ourselves to some new fishermen.” In the end, it was fisherman from the neighboring state of Georgia who bested the pack. Mitchell White of Columbus, Georgia caught a five-fish limit totaling 87 inches to win the top prize. White also won $500 in KBF Bonus Bucks – additional cash and sponsors’ bonuses available to KBF Trail participants. “This is probably my 12th kayak bass fishing event. Kayak fishing is blowing up my month,” White laughed. “And it’s blowing up as a sport. The participation is almost double what it was last year. There are more kayak events and, of course, bigger fish help, too. “I caught my fish today on Lake Jordan, mostly using a lipless crank bait.” Finishing just behind White was Ron Champion, who totaled a five-fish limit of 85.25 inches and took $610 home for his efforts. Finishing third was Joshua Stewart with a total of 84.5 inches and fourth was Jake “Rooster” Garner with 82 inches. David Kittrell of Semmes, Alabama won the prize for the day’s biggest bass, landing a 21-inch spotted bass from the Coosa.

they were standing in front of or at various other points along the walk through WES. Some were shooting

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Taking home KBF gift certificates from this weekend’s tournament were Florida’s Tim Beers, North Carolina’s Chris Gravely and Rocky Ly and Daniel Parris, both of Georgia. “It was encouraging to see the out-of-state fishermen who participated,” said Purcell. “Hopefully, they had a good time and will spread the word among fellow fishermen and others about the things we have to offer here in Wetumpka.” Chad Hoover, the coordinator of Kayak Bass Fishing LLC, is certainly a fan of the town. Earlier in the year, he spoke of perhaps he and his wife honeymooning in town. He said this weekend that the couple had made arrangements elsewhere. “But, don’t worry,” Hoover said. “We’ll be back.” Purcell said to expect Wetumpka to have two KBF events next year, both later in the year, one likely in July and another in the fall. One event, he said, would be a two-day event. “We’re continuing to have discussions about hosting the KBF national championship in 2020, too,” Purcell said.

have breakfast followed by a 30-minute rest period before the first round of activities begins. Among those activities Roberts said there would be arts and crafts plus indoor and outdoor games. She said they would also have motivational speakers and have tentatively planned field trips plus WPD demonstrations of its K9 Unit. From 11 a.m.-noon she said they would have lunch followed by another 30-minute break and then their second round of activities. Around 3:30 p.m. she said a snack time was planned, and from that time on they would stay in the recreation center and get ready for their parents or guardians to pick them up. “All children must be signed in and signed out,” Roberts said. for Henri Matisse, others Vincent Van Gogh. Local artists also had their works on display. A teacher stood at the door of each classroom near a lamp-lit table taking tallies on the bids placed by parents or guardians for their child’s work. Overall, Sullivan said it was an effort

Roberts said a parent or guardian could designate a friend or relative on a pickup list. The program was named after WPD Cpl. Chris Deputy, who started it more than 10 years ago, and died in 2010. Roberts said it was roughly their third year hosting the program and it had doubled in that time. With an attendance of 50 the first year, it grew to 75 and now Roberts said on “any given day” there would be about 100 youths at the MLK Rec Center. Along with keeping them out of trouble and in a safe environment over the summer, Roberts said the program helped develop a bond with the children and police, part of the WPD community relations efforts. “So we can keep that strong bond with the children so that they know they can call us whenever they need us,” Roberts said.

to raise money for the classrooms. But she said fundraising was only part of the goal of the evening. “If parents want to make a donation, they’re welcome to make a donation, but mostly it’s to get them involved in coming out to the school and looking at the artwork and seeing their

child’s work,” Sullivan said. She said the event had been held throughout her 12 years at the school, and speculated it was started roughly 15 years ago. “We also have a group of teachers called a PLC, professional learning community that plans the event,” Sullivan said.

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OPINION

Page A4 • MAY 10, 2017

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Cancer took my friend, but not his legacy

onday was probably the most difficult day in my young tenure as managing editor for me to get out of bed and come to work. Never mind that was the last workday of the copy editor who has handled our pages since I started here. Never mind that today is the last day here for Cory Diaz, our longest-tenured employee at The Herald and a very good sports writer and we’ve yet to find a replacement. No, all that pales in comparison to the reason it was difficult for me to rise – and even more difficult to shine – on that beautiful May Monday morning. I lost a friend this weekend. To cancer. Up until I received a text from another long-time friend after returning home from an afternoon at Gold Star Park and Duck Dash on Saturday, my life had been relatively unscathed by cancer. I had lost a second cousin years ago, and that was tough. But this was different. This was a man with whom I spent a good deal of my formative years. And when I read the words in my friend’s text – “Nafe is dead” – my heart truly sank. I met Tony Nafe in the summer before we were to start our senior years in high school. We were both named state FFA officers in the early summer of that year. We spent that entire year together and most of the next several, as we both attended Auburn and ran with the same crowd. Tony was a Lauderdale County country boy’s country boy, but there was always something

DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

inside him that drove him toward success. He ended up dropping out of Auburn, joining the Army, marrying Dana, the girl of his dreams, and building a life influencing the lives of young men as the football coach and athletic director at Hope Christian School near Pelham. I heard some of those men speak about Tony on Sunday at his memorial service. They could serve as an inspiration to us all. They were without a doubt living testimonies to the life my friend lived. It was obvious Tony had played a huge part in turning these youngsters into Christian men. In our undergraduate days at Auburn, I would have never pictured Tony as a football coach or an athletic director. That would have been difficult. What would have been easy is picturing him as a husband, father and grandfather – all of which he was – going about the business of molding men in the way only a country boy who would compare his fight against carcinoid cancer to “a calf fighting a wet burlap sack” could. My friend Tony loved life and he left it too soon. For a man who wanted to appear so tough and cowboy and outdoorsy on the outside, he had a giggle that reduced him immediately to a child. There was innocence in that

giggle and the knowledge that life always gave you something to enjoy – to laugh about – with a child-like wonder. But Tony had cancer. He knew from the beginning he was in for a serious fight for his survival. Yet, he was the one there to comfort me when he found out that I had serious liver disease and would likely need a transplant. Someone with cancer telling me that I was going to be okay? Yes, that was my friend, Tony. I took advantage of the opportunity to say a few words about him Sunday at his memorial, but mostly I just wanted to say goodbye and to wish him a good trip home. You can relax, now, Nafe. The fight with the wet burlap sack is over. And you left one hell of an impression on all who knew you. As much as it may not seem that way to all of us, you won your fight and did it with dignity and such great courage. If only all of us could get behind the effort to fight cancer that way – not with our lives, but with our pocketbooks and your courage and belief it can be beat – and rid our earth of this scourge that steals from us such precious souls. A cancer-free world? Just imagine and please consider a gift to the American Cancer Society (cancer.org) today. Cancer sucks and it takes away from us daily the people that we love most – our family and friends. Cancer doesn’t care about your lifestyle, your diet or your habits. It simply wants your life. Let’s tell cancer that’s something to which it’s not entitled. And beat it.

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 36092-0099 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

A sweet church with sweet people On Sunday, I was the guest speaker at Eagle Creek Baptist Church on Highway 49 between Dadeville and New Site. I’ve known about this church for most of my life as it’s just a few miles from where both my mama and daddy grew up. In fact, my maternal grandparents are buried in the Eagle Creek cemetery. “It’s a sweet church with sweet people,” Pastor Dr. Tim Thompson said to me via an online message. Dr. Thompson, as many of you know, was the long-time pastor at First and Frazer United Methodist Churches in Opelika and Montgomery, respectively. Unfortunately, he couldn’t be in attendance, hence the need of a guest speaker. Like many of you, I’ve had a great deal of things going on over the past few months, ranging from bad and depressing to really bright and exciting. It’s just how life goes, but that dark cloud has been lingering for a few days now. I just do the best I can with what I have. Over the past week, I’ve found myself singing the old hymn “Trust and Obey,” which, along with “Amazing Grace” has always been one of my favorite songs in the hymnal. I really wasn’t sure what to expect as I made the drive up Highway 49. While I’ve spoken at

JODY FULLER Columnist

many churches, I’ve only spoken at one other on a Sunday morning in lieu of a preacher. I can talk all day long but a preacher, I am not. I knew it was a sweet church with sweet people, so I just trusted, obeyed, and prayed for God’s amazing grace. I walked in to the sanctuary and found a place to sit on the back row. It was a Baptist church after all. When in Rome… During the announcements, I glanced over my bulletin and began to tear up. The call to worship song was “Till the Storm Passes Over.” The congregational hymn was “Trust and Obey,” and you guessed it, the praise song was “Amazing Grace.” The fellowship song was “God is Good All the Time.” My talk went well. There was lots of laughter with a positive message of service to others. After the service, I stood on the porch and shook hands and hugged necks. Many, if not most, knew much of my family, so it almost felt like a family atmosphere. Some of them went to school with my

mama, and some went to school with my dad. One of them was at their wedding. Some of them knew my grandparents, aunts, and uncles on both sides of the family and had stories to tell. One lady sells tomatoes to mama and step-father. One sweet lady talked about how much she loved my grandmother and fondly remembered her singing the old hymns. Grandmamma didn’t attend Eagle Creek Baptist Church. She attended a nearby church but was always singing the old hymns, so she might have heard her belting out “The Old Rugged Cross” or “He Walks with Me” at anywhere from the nursing home to the grocery store. I was only there for a little over an hour, but it could not have gone any better. It was a sweet church with sweet people. The music, too, was sweet and could not have been more fitting. God is indeed good all the time. The storm shall pass. The Son will shine. We simply must trust and obey. His amazing grace is all we need. 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.

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This week’s article is a bit different from many I write and I do hope it is received in the spirit it is meant. I am not sure about many of you but I personally am getting tired of all the excuses, complaints and whining I hear in life. I am not just speaking of my life as a pastor in Wetumpka, I am talking about what I hear and observe in life, the media, entertainment and certainly personally. Excuses get in the way of success. My grandfather never allowed excuses; you took responsibility for your actions and life and if you didn’t like it you worked to make it better. I ran across an excellent article and wish I could share all of it with you, but space negates that so I share a portion of it with you. If you think your life stinks, it probably does. If you think the world is out to get you, it probably is. If you think you deserve more, you probably do. The only thing in the world holding you back from achieving greatness is, in fact, you. If you think the world is out to get you it’s because you have a poor attitude towards life – you’re looking at everything the wrong way. You’re

MAY 10, 2017 • Page A5

‘As he thinks within himself, so he is’ DR. JAMES TROGLEN First Baptist Church of Wetumpka

using the negatives to fuel you instead of the positives. You’re letting the negatives control your mind and, in turn, you’re allowing them control of your life. You’re letting the bad things win. You will never lose weight if you don’t change your eating habits. You will never improve your health if you don’t eat more vegetables and exercise. You will never get smarter or broaden your horizons if you’re unwilling to learn from others and read. You will never be happy if you’re constantly looking at the negatives. You will never reach happiness in your life if you’re constantly surrounding yourself with people and things that drain you. You are the reason you are unhappy, you are the reason you’re stuck in a rut and your

relationships are poor and you’re constantly criticizing others and looking for more. That’s all on you. There’s no way to sugar coat it. You may be your own worst enemy; you may be the only one who is standing in the way of your goals and your success. Life doesn’t owe you or anyone else anything, so don’t expect it. Don’t expect a million dollars to show up at your door, don’t expect to wake up with a rocking body, don’t expect to get your dream job if you don’t ever put work into it. If you want something you have to work hard for it. You need to make sacrifices and push through even when things get messy and complicated. You need to keep going when everything in you is telling you to give up because that’s the only way you’ll ever amount to anything great. If you think your life stinks it probably does. It’s just like the quote, “He who says he can and he who says he can’t are both usually right.” Don’t stand in the way of your own life. Don’t give up when things get hard because quitting will never get you anywhere. Instead work harder and work smarter. Believe in yourself when no one

else does so you can look back and say, “I told you so.” No one will believe you can do it until you do, so you have to want your own dreams. Others can want your dreams for you but you’re the only one who can make them happen and you’re the only one who can succeed or fail in reaching them. Stop doing things that don’t fulfill you. Stop blaming others for your problems and stop thinking life owes you something because it doesn’t. If you want your life to get better then start living like it. Start doing something positive in the right direction and don’t stop until you get there, then keep going. I fully realize the above is not as detailed as we would all like and there are certain absolutes that may not apply to all of us. But, there is more truth to it than we wish to acknowledge. Read it and just think about it. “…For as he thinks within himself, so he is (Proverbs 23:7).” Dr. James Troglen is the minister at First Baptist Church of Wetumpka and a regular faith columnist for The Herald.

Area Churches

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 2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 285-5545 First Assembly of God 3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home 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

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 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

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

large...

Pastor

...with the right kind of advertising.

NURSERY PROVIDED FOR ALL SERVICES

• Alexander City Outlook • Dadeville Record • Wetumpka Herald • Eclectic Observer • Tallassee Tribune

256.234.4281

New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury 3121878 New Home Baptist 1605 New Home Rd., Titus 567-0923 New Hope Baptist 6191 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville 569-1267 New Lily Green Baptist 6504 Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville New Nazareth Baptist Hwy. 143, Deatsville Pleasant Hill Baptist Pleasant Hill Rd., Eclectic 541-3460 Prospect Baptist Prospect Rd., Eclectic 567-5837 Redland Baptist 1266 Dozier Rd., Wetumpka 567-8649 Refuge Baptist Church 3098 Red Hill Road Tallassee 334-857-2638 Rehoberth Baptist 8110 Rifle Range Rd., Tallassee 567-9801 Rushenville Baptist

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 His567-8135 purpose.”

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

Rickey Luster, Music Director

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

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 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

Many a small thing

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.

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

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

Anthony B. Counts, Pastor Angie Gallups, Worship Leader Billy Reinhardt, Min. of Students

Derek Blankenship, Tammy Student Driver:Ministries

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

Children's Director

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 PrayerRehearsal.........6:45 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

Santuck Baptist Church

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

B.R. Johnson, Senior Pastor Larry Gore, Adm. & Counseling Counseling Randy Godfrey, 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 every age Programs 6:15 -- 7:30 p.m. 6:15

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;˘ MAY 10, 2017

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

Happy Mother's Day! On Sunday, May 14, Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s around the Country will be honored by their children and loved ones. Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day is a holiday that honors the Moms in your lives. The tradition of Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day in the United States that we celebrate today was created by a woman named Anna Jarvis. Anna Jarvis was the daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis who formed an organization in the 1860â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that helped teach Mothers how to care for their children. In the years following, she used the Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clubs to try and bring peace and unity among people who were divided over the Civil War. When her Mother died in 1905, Anna began a FDPSDLJQ WR FHOHEUDWH 0RWKHUV DV D ZD\ RI UHFRJQL]LQJ KHU OHJDF\ 7KH ÂżUVW 0RWKHUÂśV 'D\ VHUYLFH ZDV held in 1908. After years of lobbying and pursuing for it to become a National Holiday, President WoodURZ :LOVRQ GHFODUHG LQ WKDW WKH VHFRQG 6XQGD\ LQ 0D\ Rá&#x201A;&#x2C6;FLDOO\ EH NQRZQ DV 0RWKHUÂśV 'D\

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Hidden Words: Aayi, Ama, Ammee, Ema, Inahan, Ma, Maa, Mader, Madre, Mae, Maji, 0DNXDKLQH 0DWNH 0HUH 0RHGHU Mom, Mommy, Mutter, Mzazi y, Mother, r, M

Say Mom Word Find 7KH ZRUGV EHORZ DUH GLá&#x201A;&#x2021;HUHQW ZD\V WR VD\Âł0RPÂ´ around the world. Circle the hidden words.

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MAY 10, 2017 • PAGE A7

WHS trio selected to All-Star rosters By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Cory Diaz / The Herald

Wetumpka junior shortstop Alexis Austin (38) applies the tag to an Opelika baserunner during the Class 6A, Area 6 tournament championship game last Wednesday at Wetumpka High School.

Indians score 23 runs in two games to earn third straight area title By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Wetumpka showed it was the class of its area, scoring 23 runs and giving up just one hit in two games en route to its third straight area championship Wednesday at WHS. The Lady Indians (22-19) shutout Benjamin Russell, 8-0, Tuesday to clinch its fourth consecutive South Central Regional Tournament spot and to advance to the Class 6A, Area 6 title game, where they blitzed Opelika, 15-0, in three innings. “I thought they came out fired up,” Wetumpka softball coach Randy Belyeu said Wednesday. “I thought with as

emotional as the game was (Tuesday), they would come out dead but they weren’t. Every last player was fired up, ready to go, and the coaching staff appreciated it because you don’t have to coach much before the game.” Everything clicked for WHS, from senior pitcher Mary Beth Slater throwing a one-hitter against Ben Russell before sophomore Cassie Owens one-upped her to sling a no-hitter in the area title contest, to the offense producing 23 runs on 18 hits and the defense playing errorfree through both games. Nine different Lady Indians drove in a run, led by sophomore first baseman Amari McCreary’s five RBIs, including a

grand slam versus BRHS. “Amari has been hitting the ball well because she’s letting the ball travel. The only thing, we have to work with her about dropping,” Belyeu said. “But she’s just driving the ball, and she’s hitting the way she’s supposed to hit. As a power hitter, that’s tough to defend.” Freshman third baseman Madison Elmore collected four RBIs, while sophomore Anna Kate Norton had a two-run double in her lone at-bat for the tourney. Heading to Troy for the fourth straight season, Belyeu hopes seasoned Wetumpka veterans Slater, Kelsie Cornelius, Katelyn See TITLE • Page A8

Defense drives Dawgs to third straight area championship By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Through 40 games heading into the area tournament, Holtville committed 59 defensive errors. Almost half of the runs the pitching staff had given up were unearned, hindering HHS from reaching consistency. But in the biggest tournament of the season, the Lady Bulldogs (20-23) shored up their defense, playing mistake-free softball, as they downed Dadeville 8-2 Monday, then regular-season area top-seed Tallassee 5-2 before beating Elmore County 11-1 for the Class 4A, Area 5 title, their third consecutive area crown, Wednesday at Southside Middle School in Tallassee. “What I was most surprised with was our defensive play,” HHS softball coach Daryl Otwell said. “Earlier in the year, we couldn’t make routine plays. But in the biggest tournament of the season, we played error free for three games. “I think a lot of the girls were trying too hard early on. There’s a lot of first-year varsity starters. This week in the area tournament, they looked like they had settled in, looked comfortable and we were making strides in the right direction. It’s a great time to start doing that.” Errors cost Holtville both regular season meetings against Tallassee, who scored late runs off misplayed balls in both contests. In the area semifinals, the two teams played to a 2-2 tie through five innings and HHS shortstop Jordan Cousins

A trio of Wetumpka High School athletes were selected last week to the North-South All Star games in three different summer showcases. Chosen by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association, Wetumpka senior wide receiver Maurice Young was named to the south roster of the 58th annual Alabama High School Athletic Association All-Star Football Game, while rising senior shortstop Alexis Austin made the All-Star Softball Game south team and rising senior catcher Max Champion landed on the south squad for the All-Star Baseball Game. All three showcases are part of the AHSAA’s annual All-Star Sports Week from July 17-21 with the baseball and softball doubleheaders being played July 18 at Riverwalk Stadium beginning at 4 p.m. and Lagoon Park at 6 p.m., respectively. The football game will wrap the week up on Thursday, July 20, kicking off at 7 p.m. at Cramton Bowl. During his senior season – his only season with Wetumpka after transferring in from Edgewood Academy – Young hauled in 24 catches for 333 yards and three touchdowns, while amassing 565 total allpurpose yards and four scores in 11 games. Austin leads the way for the Lady Indians in hits (50) and runs scored (44) in her junior year from the leadoff batting spot to go along with her .400 batting average and 11 RBIs. For the Indians baseball team, Champion finished his junior campaign with a .292 average and 16 RBIs, both good enough for second-best among the Indians.

Lady ‘Cats take 4th in state tourney By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Cory Diaz / The Herald

Holtville softball team poses with the Class 4A, Area 5 trophy Wednesday after beating Elmore County, 11-1, in the area championship game at Southside Middle School in Tallassee.

sparked a sixth-inning rally bringing in Lauren Teasley to score on a bases-loaded walk before sophomore Haley Walker and freshman Brooke Cooper both had RBI hits that gave the Dawgs enough breathing room. “Our leftfielder Emmie Roberts made great catches and really kept us in the game late. Overall, the defense in the outfield, the infield, it was a 2-2 ballgame going into the sixth and we got the big hits, the ball fell our way,” Otwell said. “It was one of the most exciting, intense games I’ve ever been a part of.

“It was good to see us finish the game and not shoot ourselves in the foot.” In the circle, sophomore sensation Kaylyn Dismukes got all three wins, allowing five runs on 12 hits in 19 innings while striking out 16, including eight versus Elmore County in the championship game. Dismukes also led the Holtville offense, collecting a team-high eight hits during the tourney, including two home runs, along with five RBIs and five runs scored. Senior centerfielder Haley Mann drove in a team-high six runs on four hits and Cooper went 6-for-9 with

four RBIs and three runs. Heading into the 4A South Central Regional Tournament the way they are, Otwell said the Lady Bulldogs can be a force to be reckoned with in Troy. “We need to keep playing with confidence, playing hard and playing together,” Otwell said. “As long as we keep playing error-free softball, we should be very competitive at regionals. A lot of people weren’t giving us a chance to win the area tournament either.” HHS will play Bibb County to open regional play Friday at a time yet determined.

After erasing two separate tworun deficits, Edgewood Academy felt good heading into the bottom of the seventh trailing 5-4 to LeeScott Academy Saturday morning trying to stave off elimination from the AISA Class AAA state softball tournament. Top of the order was up for the Lady Wildcats and Faith Wheat, Madison White, Caity Jo Lee and Grayson Laney all reached, but the Lady Warriors got the lead runner out twice before Lee advanced to third while Laney ran out a play at first. With two outs and the tying run 60 feet away, eighth-grader Haylee Brown, who had hit a game-tying two-run home run in the fourth inning, lined out to the shortstop as Lee-Scott preserved its win. EA ended 2-2 in the state tourney, beating Monroe 12-2 then losing to Northside Methodist 5-0 and ousted Hooper 9-5 Friday night. “We were in a pretty good position,” Lady ‘Cats softball coach Mark Segrest said. “We were at the top of the order, got a couple of runners on, but it’s a game of getting the right hit at the right time. We just couldn’t do that at the end. Credit to LeeScott, they’ve come a long way this year and got the hits when they needed to get them.” First baseman Mary Smith gave the Lady Warriors both of their early leads with two-run See EDGEWOOD • Page A8

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Cole, she’s very superstitious. She’s doing everything like she did that year, and she’s making sure everybody is staying in the same spot in the dugout because she’s very superstitious. They’re passing on little wisdoms, so that’s appreciated.” The Lady Tribe opens regional tournament play Thursday at 1:30 p.m. versus Chilton County at the Troy Sportsplex.

Cole and Alexis Austin, all four a part of WHS’s state championship squad in 2015, show their younger teammates the ropes. “It’s an old hat for them, I’d hope, and they pass on their experiences to the younger girls. I think we only have three or four from the state championship team still on the team,” Belyeu said. “Like, Katelyn

THE GREEN HOUSE

Stanhope boys, girls soccer fall in second round By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

A late score broke an offensive stalemate despite both teams’ goalscoring prowess and lifted Daphne to the Class 6A second-round playoff victory over Stanhope Elmore, 1-0, Tuesday at home. Trojan senior midfielder Jackson Barber scored an unassisted goal in the 73rd, sinking the fourth-ranked Mustangs after a stellar season that featured a programrecord 16 wins and 101 team goals in 22 matches.

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It was the second straight season Daphne ended SEHS’s season. The Trojans defeated the Mustangs 3-0 in 2016 in the third round of the 6A playoffs at FosheeHenderson Stadium. The loss marked just the second time all season Stanhope, led by strikers Nathan Warlick, Marcos Cortes, Brayan Torres and Michael Torres Mercado, were held scoreless. The team put just three shotson-goal all match. SEHS senior keeper Alex McNeil stopped seven shots. The Stanhope Elmore

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girls soccer team couldn’t hang on to an early lead as freshman Tylee Mosley’s two first-half goals helped Baldwin County to a 3-2 second-round playoff victory Tuesday at SEHS. In the 17th minute, senior left wing Kelli Vaughn lifted the ball over the Lady Tiger keeper and crossed it in to find the foot of junior forward Madelynn Cantrell for the point-blank score to put the Lady Mustangs up, 1-0. Mosley knotted the match back up, beating SEHS defender Victoria Fife to a through ball

and skirted it past SEHS senior goalie Andrea Sanchez in the 20th. The freshman struck again 10 minutes later, capitalizing off a defensive clearance miscue and sending Baldwin County to halftime with a 2-1 advantage. Despite ratcheting up its offense and outshooting the Lady Tigers 17 to four in the second half, Stanhope only managed to net one score in the 57th minute from Vaughn, as Madison Beaver’s goal mere seconds before was the eventual gamewinner.

Bulldogs pair ink with Huntingdon By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Achieving youth league dreams with your best friend feels that much better. That’s what Holtville offensive line tandem Cody Clements and Nathan Smith accomplished Friday, both signing national letters-of-intent to continue their football careers together at Huntingdon College. “I’m just really excited,” Clements said. “It’s always something I’ve wanted to do. We always talked about going to the same college and playing football together since we were in the little league. It’s finally happened. It’s real special to be going there with my best friend. I know him, he knows me. We’ve been there for each other ever since we were young.” Smith (6-foot-2, 305) and Clements (6-foot-1, 280) have lined up side-by-side

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almost their entire lives on the offensive line, both starting for the Bulldogs since their freshman season. While both had other college football opportunities, they decided to stick together. Transitioning from high school to college, Smith said continuing to work alongside his friend will make it easier. “Yeah, it’s somebody you can relate with, connect with on the line out there with you,” Smith said. “It makes it a lot easier and it’ll help out a lot having somebody you’ve been playing with for years. Now, you’re going to the next level and playing with them. “We’ve had a lot of snaps together. We know how we work with each other. We’ve been with each other for so long out on Friday nights. Instead of struggling to learn other people’s technique, we already know each other.” Clements and Smith

said Huntingdon head coach Mike Turk wanted to find bigger guys for the Hawks’ line and they both feel like they’ll fit in well with the unit. The first Holtville football signees since defensive line standout Will Hogan in 2014, and even longer than that for offensive linemen, both hope to bring back attention to the Bulldogs’ program. “Holtville hasn’t had a lot of big guys. This past year, we probably had one of the biggest lines Holtville’s ever had,” Clements said. “All the youngers guys, between me and Nate, they ought to be getting some pretty good recruiting because of this past year. It’s real special.” “It feels good and hopefully we can get it started, getting more schools to start looking at our program at Holtville,” Smith added. “Hopefully, get some more people signed to college.”

continued from page A7

homers in consecutive at-bats in the third and fifth and scored the gamewinning run in the seventh, coming around on a leadoff walk. “They come in in the top of the seventh and we walked a leadoff, but she had already hit two home runs so we pitched around her. And most of the time, when you walk the leadoff, they score,” Segrest said. “That was probably on me.” Cory Diaz / The Herald Lee led Edgewood at the dish in the state tourney, Edgewood Academy senior second baseman Caity Jo Lee (9) with 10 hits and four RBIs throws out a Lee-Scott Academy runner at first during Saturday’s in four games. Brown hit AISA Class AAA state tournament game at Lagoon Park. two home runs and had a Segrest praised how the like this, where the coach team-high five RBIs and girls rallied around him changes, you’re going to also earned both of EA’s and came together. have some growing pains. victories in the circle. “The first thing I had We certainly had some. Taking over midway asked them to do is block We had three great seniors through the season after out what had happened that’ve spent a lot of time former coach Chris in the past and just come at Edgewood. They’re George suddenly resigned, to practice with a great just great people and great attitude. Every single leaders. At the end of the one of the girls came to day, we’re looking forward practice with that attitude to the future. The next few and gave phenomenal years, I expect us to be one effort,” he said. “Any of the top few teams in time you have a situation AISA.”

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Educate yourself to be a better pet owner during National Pet Week

By REA CORD Elmore County Humane Society

National Pet Week, May 7-13, celebrates the special bonds between pets and people, and encourages pet owners to ensure that they provide all of their animal companions – furry, feathered, scaly or otherwise – a complete lifetime of love. Pets are a huge part of our lives. They provide companionship and unconditional love no matter what the circumstances. They listen to us, cuddle with us, give us a ride on a trail, protect us and some offer therapy assistance and medical services. After all they do for us, this is the week to revisit how we can give back to them. National Pet Week focuses on responsible pet ownership including veterinary care, disease prevention and a healthy lifestyle. Be a responsible pet owner and: • Commit: Avoid impulsive decisions when selecting a pet. Select a pet that’s suited to your home and lifestyle and keep only the type and number of pets for which you can provide appropriate food, water, shelter, health care and companionship. Commit to the relationship for the life of your pet(s) by providing appropriate exercise and mental stimulation, socialization and training your pet. • Invest: Recognize that pet ownership requires an investment of time and money. Make sure your pet receives preventive health care (vaccinations,

parasite control, etc.), as well as care for any illnesses or injuries. Budget for potential emergencies. • Obey: Clean up after your pet. Obey all local ordinances, including licensing, leash requirements and noise control. Don’t allow your pet to stray or become feral. • Identify: Make sure your pet is properly identified (i.e., tags, microchips, or tattoos) and keep its registration up-to-date. • Limit: Don’t contribute to our nation’s pet overpopulation problem: limit your pet’s reproduction through spay/neuter, containment or managed breeding. • Prepare: Prepare for an emergency or disaster, including assembling an evacuation kit. Make alternate arrangements if you can no longer provide care for your pet. Recognize any decline in your pet’s quality of life and make timely decisions in consultation with a veterinarian. Keeping pets healthy requires teamwork. As a pet owner, you can partner with your veterinarian to help your pet live the happiest, healthiest life possible. Educate yourself on proper pet care and pet health problems by asking questions and finding the answers from reliable, trusted sources of information - such as your veterinarian and their staff. Visit http://petweek.org/pet-owners.html for additional information on pet health care from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Pet of the Week – Chaz Chaz is a one- to two-year-old male hound mix, about 45 pounds, very laid back and good with other dogs, but not so good with kitties. He has a most handsome red coat and really is a wonderful dog in search of a hound-loving family. 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 in 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.

PAGE B6 â&#x20AC;˘ MAY 10, 2017

NOW â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May 22

Registration is now open for the City of Wetumpkaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CJ Deputy Summer Program. Packets can be picked up and returned at the Wetumpka Police Department from 8 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5 p.m., Monday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday. The program will be held at the MLK, Jr. Center located at 200 Lancaster Street in Wetumpka. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be served daily at no cost. There will be daily devotionals, reading time, motivational speakers, field trips, arts and crafts, games, movies and ice cream Fridays! They are still in need of volunteers or donations such as water, snacks, and juice. For more information contact Sergeant Ella Roberts at (334) 850-2566 during regular business hours only, or by email at eroberts@cityofwetumpka. com.

NOW â&#x20AC;&#x201C; June 2

The exhibition, Stardust: From the Alabama Pastel Society, is at The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery. This is a

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

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.

May 11-13

The Wetumpka Depot Players are ushering in warmer days with Neil Simonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic comedy, Last of the Red Hot Lovers. The play invites audiences to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;groovyâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;out of sightâ&#x20AC;? days of the swinging sixties! Audiences will love this comedy with a surprising resolution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a laugh a minute Neil Simon classic that our audiences will love, â&#x20AC;&#x153; 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.

May 13

Venture Crew 380 will host a Breamfishing Tourna-

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ment. Registration will be from 7:30 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8 a.m. at Gold Star Park. Weighin will begin at 3:30 p.m. There will be a men, women, and children division. Cost is $50 for adults and $25 for children. Payout will be 50% of money taken in, depending on the number of participants. Call Bucky Chalker at (334) 399-8961 for more information.

May 16

Join the Wetumpka High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pride of the Tribeâ&#x20AC;? for Spirit Night from 5 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9 p.m. at Zaxbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Wetumpka. You can dine-in, carry out, or drive thru to participate. A portion of all proceeds will go directly to WHS Marching Band. â&#x20AC;˘ Tuesdays with Kelly will feature Patricia Jester of the W.A. Gayle Planetarium in Montgomery, operated by Troy University. Jester will talk about the planetarium, the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier astronomy education center, and its new Super Mediaglobe II, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first full-color single-lens digital projector capable of projecting the latest information gathered about our universe in its leading-edge digital-dome technology. Tuesdays with Kelly is a lunch and learn that begins each Tuesday at noon. Bring a sack lunch. Drinks and dessert will be provided and door prizes awarded.

May 21

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The Elmore County Historical Society is pleased to welcome Mrs. Ryan Blocker from the Alabama Department of Archives and History as our speaker. Mrs. Blocker will discuss the historical changes in wedding through past generations, why bridesmaids wear the same dresses, and fun wedding trivia. The meeting will be held at 2:30p.m. at the Elmore

County Museum. Refreshments will be served. The meeting is free and all are welcome.

May 27

The 4 th annual Hotrods in the Park will be from 9 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 p.m. at the Village Green Park in Millbrook. There will be a car show, food, and t-shirts. Admission will be canned goods to be donated to the Millbrook Welcome Center.

June 3

Elmore County NWTF Chapter Volunteers invite young people under the age of 18 and their parents to enjoy a day of outdoor fun at Fort Toulouse. Registration is free and includes lunch for the youth participant. Preregistration is required by May 31. Onsite registration will also be available. Supervised activities will include: crafts, archery, hunter safety, BB gun shooting, Hatchet Throw, Black Powder Shooting, and many other events. For registration information about this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jakes Event, contact Barbara Burchard, bburc24315@aol.com. Registration Form can be located on our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/ElmoreCountyNWTF/ or online at http:// bit.ly/2017ECJAKES.

June 17

Join the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce for an in-depth 5 hour paranormal investigation of the most haunted building in Wetumpka from 7 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12 a.m. Reservations include a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Paranormal 101â&#x20AC;? class at the Chamber. Register online at www.wetumpkachamber. com. Call (334) 567-4811 or email jyoung@wetumpkachamber.org for more information.

June 24

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

The Shoppes at Eastchase, Blackfinn Ameripub, the Montgomery Bicycle Club, and Ability Sport Network at Huntingdon College invite you to ride Cycling for sight at 7 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:30 p.m. There is are optional 20 mile, 45 mile, 65 mile and 100 mile fun rides to benefit the Montgomery Lions Club Community Foundation charities. This is the sevnth ride in the Alabama Backroads Century Series, This ride will commemorate Helen Keller, a native Alabamian who courageously challenged Lions Club members to become â&#x20AC;&#x153;knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness. Visit www.montgomerylionsclub.com for more information.

ONGOING EVENTS

The Dixie Art Colony Foundation exhibit located at 219 Hill Street in downtown Wetumpka will be open each Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. Our first exhibit at this location, features work by Dixie Art Colony artists Arthur Stewart, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Shiney Moon, Lousie Everton, Karl Wolfe, Billy Wilson and Genevieve Sutherland. Some of the work has never been publicly shown. For information visit DixieArtColony.org or follow us on Facebook. â&#x20AC;˘ Celebrate Recovery meets at Grace Point Community Church, located at 78223 Tallassee Highway, every Tuesday night at 6:15 p.m. All are welcome! These meetings are a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits, and hangups! For more information visit gracepoint.info. â&#x20AC;˘ Celebrate Recovery meets at Journey Church, located at 2960 East Cobbs Ford Road every Monday at 5:30 p.m. There is a meal and childcare provided.

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered 12-step for anyone struggling with addiction or life-challenging issues. Call Larry at (334) 832-5714 or visit myjourneychurch.com for more information. â&#x20AC;˘ Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday evening at 6:15 p.m. at Santuck Baptist Church, located at 7250 Central Plank Road. This is a Christ centered 12 step program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Call (334) 567-2364 for more information. â&#x20AC;˘ Fresh Start Recovery meets every Thursday from 6 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church Wetumpka located at 306 W Tuskeena Street. Fresh Start Motorcycle Ministry began when God laid it on the heart of a lifetime biker to minister to those with his background. All are welcome, not a requirement to own/ ride a motorcycle. Format used is the Holy Bible. For information contact ministry leader Paul Henderson at (334) 201-5428. â&#x20AC;˘ Gamblers Anonymous meets Saturdays at 6 p.m. at Cedarwood Community Church, located at 10286 U.S. Highway 231 in the Wallsboro/ Wetumpka community. Call (334) 567-0476 for more information. Griefshare Ministry meets on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. This ministry is for anyone who is dealing with the loss of a loved one and is seeking guidance and encouragement. There is a small fee for the materials and this is open to all people needing support. Contact the church office for more information 334-5674729 or visit www. calvarybaptistwetumpka. org or our FACEBOOK page @calvarybaptistwetumpka.

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