Mary Beth Moore crowned Miss Tri County
Cantrell ready for debut season
Meet the area shelter Pet of the Week
LOCAL, Page 8
SPORTS, Page 10
HSEC NEWS, Page 5
Eclectic Observer The
WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 1, 2018
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 29, No. 31
Grant awarded to Kowaliga VFD By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
The Elmore County Commission approved a Hazard Mitigation Grant Award for Kowaliga Volunteer Fire Station No. 1, located on Prospect Road in Eclectic during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, July 23. According to Commissioner Bart Mercer, the grant will help fund an emergency generator at the station. A post on the commission’s blog says the
Winslett talks goals for Eclectic By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
Recently appointed Eclectic Town Council member Carmen Winslett said she’s been interested in politics since she can remember. Because she has focused on raising a family for the past two decades, Winslett said she has not had the chance to flex her political muscles until now. “You can’t make a change if someone’s not out there to do it,” Winslett Winslett said. Winslett said she is currently getting accustomed to the position, and has not thought of any specific changes she would like to see. She said, no matter what, her biggest priority was doing what is best for Eclectic residents. “I want any changes that I make to be improvements to the town as a whole. And by town, I mean the citizens,”Winslett said. Winslett, who was sworn in to serve on the council on July 16, has been an Eclectic resident for over six years, raised her family in the area and has volunteered in numerous events and programs throughout town. “I have the knowledge of how government works. I’ve worked in the community, and I’m raising my family here,” Winslett said. While she has not laid out any specific plans for her term, See WINSLETT • Page 2
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station’s emergency warning siren for the immediate area is tied into the generator’s electrical system. A total of $20,633 will be awarded to the fire department through the grant and it will match the grant by almost $7,000. The project costs a total of $27,510. The commission heard from Elmore County Firefighters Association Principal Officer John Wilson, who expressed his appreciation for the commission’s support and collaboration
with the county’s fire departments and firefighters. “I’ve been the chairman for about 15 years now, and we’ve always had a great relationship with the commission,” Wilson said. As a token of his appreciation, Wilson awarded a firefighter hat to each commissioner. “We also appreciate what he does, and all of our volunteer firefighters and departments throughout the county for their service,” commissioner Bart
‘GIVE GIRL SCOUTS A TRY’
Mercer said. The commission approved a retail table beer and retail table wine license transfer from Kim’s Korner Mart Inc. to Kim’s Korner Inc. of Titus following a public hearing, and approved the addition of a second plot of land for Castaway Island on Lake Martin. The commission also discussed opioid litigation. A letter from the commission’s legal counsel recommended members convene at a later date to discuss the matter under executive session.
Submitted / The Observer
Co-leader Randelle Luster said members of Troop 9192 participate in a variety of outside events and trips throughout the year.
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
Troop 9192 seeking new members By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
G
irl Scout Troop 9192, based in Eclectic, is inviting girls from kindergarten through the eighth grade to join for the 2018-19 year. Troop co-leader Randelle Luster said she expects new girls will join along with those who have previously enrolled at
ECS to apply new safety features
the new parent and registration meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 13, at Eclectic United Methodist Church. Through participation in Girl Scouts, Luster said she has witnessed firsthand how many girls are able to learn new things, form close, long-lasting friendships and become better people. “I have seen so many girls come out of See SCOUTS • Page 2
Elmore County Schools will be implementing new safety measures and continuing to maintain the measures that have already been in place for the 2018-19 school year, according Dennis to ECS Superintendent Richard Dennis. Dennis said he became more concerned about safety at ECS after the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. “Seventeen children getting killed in Florida was a big step in that direction. It really instigated it last year,” Dennis said. “We had evaluated the campuses. Most of the schools already had check-in sites, but in my evaluation, there were too many other access points that were available to the general public. I’m limiting those.” Dennis said ECS is erecting six-foot fences around the rear perimeters of all elementary schools. At a special called Board of Education meeting on Thursday, Dennis said the board is planning to award a bid to a construction See SAFETY • Page 2
Humane shelter auction raises more than $24K By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
The Humane Society of Elmore County set a fundraising record through the 13th annual Wags and Whiskers Silent Auction on Friday at the Wind Creek Wetumpka Entertainment Center. “We have a lot of people that love the shelter, and of course, there’s incredible items here to take home if you’re the winning bidder,” Humane Society Executive Director
Rea Cord said. “You come here and you get to socialize, you get to support the shelter, you get to eat great food from Wind Creek and you get to find treasures or maybe a great deal.” According to Cord, more than $24,000 was raised and the money will go to the organization’s efforts to care for all the animals at the shelter. According to Cord, the humane society usually takes in the most animals at this time of year, and there are See AUCTION • Page 3
Amalia Kortright / The Observer
Up to 350 people attended the 13th annual Wags and Whiskers and bid on a variety of items that were donated or collected from the Humane Society of Elmore County’s thrift store.
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