July 13, 2016 Wetumpka Herald

INSIDE TODAY

Community events

Inside, Page 2

Wetumpka 8U team falls short in state tourney

Cities should stay out of candidate policing

Sports, Page 12

Opinion, Page 4

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

Wetumpka, AL 36092

50¢

WEDNESDAY • JULY 13, 2016

THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM

VOL. 118, NO.25

2015 audit presented at council meeting

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

Wetumpka City Council accepted the 2015 audit at the last council meeting and an accountant with the accounting firm which conducted the audit gave a presentation saying the city’s financial statements “look really good.”

A certified public accountant with the firm Bern, Butler, Capilouto and Massey, P.C., stood before the

council and talked about highlights from their audit, its findings and what financial issues affected the city last year.

He talked about bonds from 2013, which the city refinanced and was paying off, as well as what Mike Celka called unfunded pension liabilities, which he said were affecting cities across the nation and Wetumpka at about $2.2 million last year.

However, Celka said that was offset by infrastruc-

ture, he said the city “picked up” and had not been “on the books” in previous years, like Cotton Lakes, Crystal Creek, Eagle Creek subdivisions.

“The good thing about it S&P (Standard and Poor) didn’t drop our bond rating,” said Celka.

He spoke about another issue regarding the city and federal grant funds and said it was the first time since 2002 Wetumpka had been subject to what he called the See COUNCIL • Page 5

5th annual River and Blues Festival set for this weekend

Corn Creek Park Road now open

By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor

Perhaps the most exciting part of Monday’s Elmore County Commission meeting was what didn’t happen Monday, as torrential rains caused the cancellation of the Corn Creek Park Road access opening ceremony.

Members of the Coosa River Paddling Club were present at Monday’s commission meeting to offer their thanks for the completion of the road project.

The project ends a lengthy period where there was no direct access to the popular park while the road project was ongoing. The road and park are both now officially open.

The commission made quick work of the rest of the night’s agenda: • The commission See COMMISSION • Page 3

CONTACT US

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

William Carroll / The Herald

Elmore County Art Guild Shirley Esco poses with artist Peggy Sant and her painting that took Best in Show honors.

THE WINNER IS. . .

Local artists take home prizes from art show

By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor

Area artists were honored Sunday as several took home cash prizes as part of the 32nd annual Elmore County Art Guild Show.

The show, running now until July

See ART • Page 7

Depot actresses talk about upcoming ‘Calendar Girls’ play

334-567-7811 • Fax: 334-567-3284

Meanor, Depot executive director.

“This show is such a celebration of courage and love. It will be an absolute joy for audiences to experience. No worry, there is no nudity in the production, but the scene where the ladies pose for the calendar is perhaps one of the funniest scenes I have seen on stage in a long time.”

“This heartfelt comedy about love, loss and enduring friendships features a wonderfully, talented cast,’’” said Calendar Girls director Stephen Dubberley. “The cast features Eleanor Submitted / The Herald Davis, Teri Sweeney, Brooke Poague, The ladies of the Tim Firth comedy “Calendar Girls” which opens Hazel Jones, Cindy Smith, Marcella Thursday at the Wetumpka Depot Players Theatre in downtown See DEPOT • Page 3 Wetumpka.

By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor

USPS 681-260

The Wetumpka Depot Players are bringing a little light-hearted humor to Wetumpka beginning Thursday as they present the Tim Firth comedy “Calendar Girls.” The play is based on the true story of a group of Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukemia research.

The play, which will run until July 30, is one of the most widely produced plays in the U.K. “The play is based on a true story of a group of middle aged ladies who posed nude for a calendar,” said Kristy

Today’s

Weather

95 75 High

30 at the Wetumpka Depot Players Theatre consists of 46 pieces from artists throughout the area in a variety of mediums including: oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, photography and sculpture.

The best of show award went to Peggy

The annual Wetumpka’s River and Blues Music and Arts Festival is scheduled to be held this Saturday, and will be the fifth year for the Cajun inspired eclectic event full of music, food, art and games.

The free event was said to hold two stages worth of entertainment from about six bands and a variety of styles including both crowd favorites and newcomers alike, ranging from the traditional Louisiana sound called zydeco, to classic rock and R&B. The city’s events and tourism manager, Tiffany Robinson, said the events were scheduled to begin around 3 p.m., later than usual, to help with the heat.

According to a city press release, there will be a “juried art show” and a children’s dedicated “Kid Zone,” also with art demonstrations, and activities like a mechanical bull, inflatables, See FESTIVAL • Page 5

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THE WETUMPKA HERALD

Obituaries Debra Reeder

Debra Lynne Reeder, nee Foster, known to family and friends as Lynne, 60, of Sugar Grove, IL, passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2016, after a long battle with cancer.

Lynne was an extraordinary woman, strong and fiercely loving, who touched and inspired so many people. Born to Howard and Maxine Foster of Wetumpka, Alabama on March 16, 1956, Lynne bounced around the country as a military brat.

Upon her graduation from Wetumpka High School, she enlisted in the Air

Force, where she played and sang in the Air Force Band.

She primarily served Reeder in the Panama Canal Zone and loved the adventure, riding through the jungles on her horse Allegro. She finished her Air Force career at Chanute Air Force base near Champaign, Illinois and lived there for many

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years where she became a fitness instructor and competitive body builder, met her husband Jeff Facer, and had daughter Lindsay. A few years later, Lynne changed careers and became an instructional designer.

She was a gifted business woman, succeeding first in senior leadership roles at numerous large companies, and later as the owner of a successful technology company. She met her husband Leon Reeder in Champaign, moved to the Chicago area, and had daughter Brynne. Lynne had a solid faith and sang on the worship teams at the churches she attended over the years. She loved serving at Hesed House and on the boards of Covenant Christian School and Inaside Chicago Dance.

She was an accomplished

seamstress, nationally recognized for the dance costumes and tutus she loved to make. She proved supermoms do exist by seamlessly running a business while ensuring her family’s needs always came first.

She was a devoted mom, attending every volleyball game her oldest played and taking on the task of homeschooling so her youngest could pursue a professional dance career. She loved her family, friends, pets, cooking, rollercoasters, wine, Spring Break trips, and the list goes on. Lynne is preceded in death by her mother Maxine. She is survived by her father, Howard, and her brother, Danny; her husband, Leon Reeder; her daughters Lindsay (Ryan) Hansen and Brynne Reeder; her beloved stepchildren Aaron (Cindy) Reeder and Lane

(Jared) Shaw; her “sister” Kimberly Holstine and “other kids” Kaelie, Michael, and Patrick; and her six grandchildren Braden, Madison, Julien, Harper, Jeffrey and Riley.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Covenant Christian School, 10 N. Edgelawn Dr., Aurora, IL, 60506, covenantchristianaurora.org/ covenant_circle_44.html or Living Well Cancer Center, 442 Williamsburg Ave., Geneva, IL, 60134, https:// livingwellcrc.org/donate-online.

Elvin Otis Luckie LUCKIE, Elvin Otis, a resident of Wetumpka, Alabama passed away Sunday, July 10, 2016 at the age of 84. Funeral services will be held

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at New Home Baptist Church in Elmore, AL. at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Eric Sutton officiating.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery with Gassett Funeral Home of Wetumpka directing. Mr. Luckie is survived by his wife, Betty Luckie, sons, Randall Luckie, William Luckie, daughters, Pamela Ellison, Cynthia Davis, Linda Luckie, 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Jamie Luckie, Keith Sauls, Hunter Hotard, Chance Atkins, Jason Spiegner, and Andrew Hams. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. until service time at New Home Baptist Church in Elmore. Online Guest Book available at www.gassettfuneralhome.net

Ongoing Events

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POOL SEASON: The Tallassee Pool season for 2016 will end Saturday, July 30. Hours of operation will be MondaySaturday from 1pm-5pm.

Daily pass is $3 per day and individual pass is $45, family pass for up to 4 in same household is $60 and 5 or more $75 for season.

First session of swim lessons for ages 4 and up (must be 4 by time of lesson) will begin June 13-June 24, Second session will be June 27 –July 8 (closed July 4) Third session will be July 11-22. Registration fee for Tiny Tots is $55 and Levels 1-6 will be $65. You may register at Recreation Department until Thursday, May 26 and after May 26 please register at pool.

WATER AEROBICS: Water Aerobics classes will go thru July 28th.

Classes will be each Tuesday and Thursday night at 7:00 pm at the City Pool. No need to register...just pay $3 each day you exercise.

Lap swimming will also be available during that time if you do not want to participate in the aerobic class.

SWIM LESSONS: First session of swim lessons for ages 4 and up (must be 4 by time of lesson) will run through June 24. Second session will be June 27 –July 8 (closed July 4) Third session will be July 11-22. Registration fee for Tiny Tots is $55 and Levels 1-6 will be $65. You may register at Recreation Department until Thursday, May 26 and after May 26 please register at pool.

CHILD FIND: The Tallassee City School System is launching its

annual campaign to assist children—birth to age 21—who have disabilities and may need special services. The campaign urges parents, service providers, and concerned citizens to contact Child Find, a program to locate, identify and evaluate children with disabilities or children who are believed to have disabilities.

The Tallassee City School System wishes to notify you of the availability of special education services in our public schools. If you have questions regarding our programs, or if you wish to refer a student, please contact Lynell Carr at (334) 283-5675 or Child Find (Alabama Department of Education) at 1-800-548-2547.”

ART EXHIBITION: There is a free exhibit of sixty-five works of art by the late Priscilla Crommelin featuring vibrant still life and floral paintings, portraits and landscapes at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery.

TENNIS LESSONS: Grassroots Tennis Association will be offering (8) Weeks of Free Tennis Lessons this Summer throughout the rural and inner city underprivileged communities.

A player can become a recipient of Free Tennis Lessons by contacting this organization before (May 27th, 2016) by calling (334-439-8198).

SUMMER READING PROGRAM: Readers of all age will explore all thing sports and fitness this summer as Wetumpka Public Library presents “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read” during their summer library program.

The 2016 Summer Library Program is open to young people, preschool, through young adult, with programs, prize drawings, story times and more. Preschool Story Time for infant through those entering kindergarten is on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. this is a year round program. Summer program for those entering first through sixth grade will meet Tuesday afternoon from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Wetumpka Civic Center beginning June 14 – July 26. The Teen Program for those entering seventh and up will meet Thursday afternoons beginning June 16 – July 28 in the Library for movies. Registration begins May 2, 2016. You may download a registration form from our website: www.wetumpkalibrary.com or come in for a copy. For more information you may call 334-567-1308. Find us on Facebook. All programs are free.

Submitted / The Herald

Hurst-Forbus Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Baker of Wetumpka announce the engagement of their daughter, Misty Baker Hurst, to Charles Ryan Forbus, son of Charles Everett Forbus of Equality and E’lissa Gallaher Ritchey of Wetumpka, Alabama. An August wedding is planned at the church in Old Alabama Town in Montgomery.

Elmore County Commission requests names of service members for memorial STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

The Elmore County Commission is requesting names of every Elmore County service member that has been deployed on behalf of our country since Sept. 11, 2001. The Commission recognizes the importance of continuing to memorialize the service and sacrifice of the citizens of Elmore County who have protected our freedom.

The original 9-11 Memorial was dedicated in June 2005. The Commission renewed efforts in June 2011 to request additional names through Dec. 2015. Two new granite memorials were added to the current layout just before Memorial Day of this year. The request for names from 2011 – 2015 produced an additional 175 names, which were added to one of the new memorials.

The Commission’s intention was to leave plenty of room to add additional names in the future.

Commission Chairman, David Bowen stated, “The Elmore County Commission wants every veteran that has served to be honored for their service and their names memorialized for posterity.”

This year marks 15 years since Sept. 11, 2001, and the Elmore County Commission is planning a rededication ceremony for Monday, Sept. 12.

Further details will be provided closer to the ceremony. The Commission is giving citizens another opportunity to provide names for the memorial prior to the ceremony. In order to allow time for the new names to be engraved prior to the ceremony, the Commission will accept names through July 31, 2016.

To submit the name of an Elmore County service member deployed since Sept. 11, 2001, citizens can visit www.elmoreco.org to fill out an online form or call the Commission Office at (334) 514-5841 ext. 5006. Name, rank, branch of service and dates of service needs to be provided.

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Depot

continued from page 1

Willis, Gayle Sandlin, Bill Nowell, Lee Bridges, Tatum Pollock, Mariah Reilly, Katie Therkelson, and Jay Russell” Gayle Sandlin, who plays Marie, the president of the local Women’s Institute, said the role was a challenge as the character is very unlike her own personality.

“Marie is very concerned about the WI and keeping up appearances,” she said. “She therefore becomes conflicted with other members of the WI who decide to pursue the nude calendar. I hope that most of my personality is not like Marie although in our personal lives we all find ourselves conflicted and often trying to control those around us.”

Sandlin said she really enjoys the opportunities community theatre and a play like “Calendar Girls” gives to participants.

“What makes community theatre so much fun is taking the words written in the script and weaving a set, lighting and acting into a story that audience members can join in for a few hours,” she said. “Community theatre gives you the opportunity to act in a role that is very different from your own personality and making that character come alive on stage.”

Cindy Smith, who plays Celia, said that her character is a “little different from the other girls.”

“She prefers the ‘finer’ things in life,” Smith said.

“She is secretly always trying to out do Chris. I love her spunk, and the fact that when it gets down to it, she may come off as almost overconfident at times, but she has insecurities just like all women do.”

Marcella Willis, who plays Ruth, said she feels her character is the one who grows the most during the play from initially insecure to confident.

Brooke Poague, who plays Cora, said the role suits her.

“I’m playing the role of Cora; vicar’s daughter, young pregnancy, single mother, very dry sense of humor and rather blunt,” Poague said. “You rarely question what’s on Cora’s mind and, for better or worse, that doesn’t take much acting on my part.”

The play is of course based on historical facts.

Sandlin said she actually learned quite a bit about the

Commission

JULY 13, 2016 • PAGE 3

women involved.

“I watched the movie first since the screenplay was written before the stage play,” Sandlin said.

“Additionally, there are BBC interviews with the women of Yorkshire talking about their personal journeys and the making of the film. There is another reunion interview that was very interesting to watch and provided insight into the characters and their journey of raising funds for the new settee in the relatives’ room at the hospital.”

All four ladies said theater goers will really enjoy the comedy and the interaction of the ladies involved.

“The most humorous part of the play, for the cast and I hope the audience, is the calendar shoot,” Poague said. “However, I also hope that the audience will leave contemplating the deeper meaning of the play.”

“I believe that theater goers will enjoy this show not only because of its well-written humor, but the message it sends,” Smith said. “The friendship these women have with each other is like family.”

“In addition to the comedy of the action on stage, I hope the audience will be able to listen to the dialog and hear the stories of all the women in the play and their background and history,” Sandlin said. “They are extremely varied, yet they all come together through the WI to raise the funds for the cancer wing of the hospital. Also, hopefully the audience will learn a little more about the British culture and sense of humor and the bond that has been formed from the women who participate in the Women’s Institute. “ In reference to bonds, the cast has formed quite a bond of its own working on the play.

“I am a new comer to the bunch and they (the other actors) accepted me like I have been there my whole life, right from the beginning,” Willis said.

continued from page 1

approved a cooperative mapping agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation. County Administrator Grace McDuffie said that the DOT uses digital aerial mapping acquired by the county every three years in a shared agreement.

• Commissioners approved a proclamation honoring the life of John W. Smoke. Smoke is the late husband of Commissioner Stephanie Daniels Smoke.

• Commissioners approved appointing Andy Dunn to act as HAVA machine custodian for upcoming municipal elections. McDuffie requested Dunn act in such capacity to ensure there is no damage to the equipment.

• The commission also approved a budget amendment for 2015 and 2016 bond issues.

McDuffie said that the amendments were necessary because the current budget was prepared before last year’s Oct. 1 bond issue and an earlier bond was not budgeted at all originally.

• Commissioners also voted to approve an amendment to transfer overtime allowance expenditures from the domestic violence line item into the sheriff’s budget. McDuffie said that last summer there were four officers who received overtime allowance who were assigned to domestic violence. Those officers have now transferred to the sheriff’s department and other officers who do not receive an overtime allowance have been designed to domestic violence.

• County Engineer Richie Beyer said that there have been developments in the contract negotiations between the county and Adullam House for lease of the old Board of Education Building located downtown. Beyer said the commission should have information to consider regarding the negotiations at the next board meeting.

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“The cast has become like family; a very diverse and usual family, but family nonetheless,” Poague said.

“There is always a camaraderie and bond formed with members of a cast that will always remain,” Sandlin said. “To me, that is one of the most fascinating parts of the community theatre. There is a wide spectrum of people of all ages, backgrounds, personalities, politics and opinions who come together to make the story of the particular production come alive.”

The show plays July 14, 15, 21-23, 28-30 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday July 17 and 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12/$15 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 868-1440 or wetumpkadepot.com. The Wetumpka Depot Theatre is located at 300 South Main in historic downtown Wetumpka.

Wetumpka

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RIVER HILLS SUBDIVISION – 19 lots, great views of Lake Tallassee, underground utilities, sewage. Prices start at only $20,000. 4 SOLD – 19 remaining.

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BEAUTIFUL BRICK HOUSE in Plantation Pines, 4 bd/3.5 baths, 1.6 acre lot very modern and pretty, REDUCED TO $310,000.

3189 LITTLE ROAD – 4 bd/2ba., large lot, very modern, & pretty, only $215,000.

8 ACRES – KENT ROAD – UNRESTRICTED, REDUCED TO $45,000.

TALLASSEE GILMER AVE. – 3bd/2 ba next to DQ, zoned commercial, REDUCED TO $99,000.

TALLASSEE BRICK HOME – on 1 acre with a 2 acre fish pond, 3 bd, 2 ba , large den and kitchen, garage, G screened porch, heat pump, ENDINlarge REDUCED FROM $159,000PTO $149,000. 8 more acres also adjacent to it.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY – 8 ACRES DING close to Walmart on Hwy. 14, REDUCED $189,000. PEN 548 PROSPECT ROAD, ECLECTIC – Beautiful home on 4 ACRES, 3 bd/ 2.5 baths, very modern and private, very close to Lake Martin. Reduced to $259,000.

TALLASSEE 854 E. PATTON – 3 bedrooms, 2 baths with 3 acres of land, $125,000.

OPINION

Steve Baker, Publisher William Carroll, Managing Editor Opinions expressed in guest columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the management of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.

Page 4 • JULY 13, 2016

“Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.”

--Thomas Jefferson

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

The Herald strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and, above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.

Beware of online romance scams Cities should stay out of candidate policing

R

H

ardly a day goes by that I don’t get a message from a random lady telling me that someone is using my photos in online romance scams. These photos are lifted from open sources such as Facebook and then used to create fake profiles on social media and dating sites. Military men are often the photo victim.

I’ve tried to laugh about it and sometimes still do.

Most of the time, they are so blatantly fake, I can’t fathom how someone could fall for them. I mean, do I look like a guy named “Tope?” Is it possible that I’m the first Captain General in the history of the U.S. military? Is there even a town named Texas City, Alabama? It’s simply ridiculous.

Although anyone can be a victim, the scammers target women who seem vulnerable: older, divorced, disabled, etc.

There is just about always a sad story on the scammer’s end.

Oftentimes, they are widowed with a child, and more times than not, they are deployed to some remote part of the world.

Fairly quickly, the scammer “falls in love” with the victim.

The scam can last for weeks, even months, until finally, a request for money is made. For many potential victims, that’s when the red flag is raised, but it should never get to that point.

With respect to Facebook, there should be a red flag the moment you receive a friend request from someone you don’t know, particularly if there are no mutual friends. Don’t just click on the accept button.

Take a look at the profile. If they only have a picture or two and the rest of the information on the page are life events, then it’s most likely a fake. If they only have a handful of friends, it’s most likely a fake. If their relationship status is widowed, that’s a dead giveaway; it’s a fake. If they are in the military, it’s most likely a fake.

If you do start chatting with them, be advised, they are very good at what they do. If you are vulnerable, they will exploit

JODY FULLER Guest Columnist

that. If they start telling you how much they love you, it’s most likely a fake. If they won’t Skype with you, then it’s most likely a fake. If they say they can’t Skype, have them record a video saying something you told them to say. If they can’t, don’t, or won’t, it’s a fake.

I’m very passionate about this, because I currently have a lady from Mexico harassing me online, because she was scammed out of $1,500 by a “James” Fuller using my photos. She thinks it was actually me. It blows my mind that anyone would send that amount of money to someone they don’t know. Furthermore, it blows my mind that someone would think I’d be dumb enough to use my own photos if I was trying to scam them.

Although most of the messages I get are from women in foreign countries, I sometimes get them from Americans, too.

I had a show for a church in Troy in January with a victim in the crowd. I think she’d already figured it out before that night, but it freaked her out. Heck, it freaked me out even more.

We live in a scary world where we have to remain vigilant at all times. Many people are looking for love in all the wrong places. Be careful who you speak to online. If you don’t know them, don’t talk to them. If you have a loved one involved in an online romance, then I encourage you to get involved and help your loved one before they get hurt emotionally or financially.

Lastly, for good measure, stay away from the free dating sites.

Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier.. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com.

334-567-7811 • Fax 334-567-3284 email: news@thewetumpkaherald.com THE WETUMPKA HERALD (681-260) is published twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday 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.

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ADMINISTRATION Steve Baker publisher@thewetumpkaherald.com William Carroll, managing editor william.carroll@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 Jayne Carr, marketing consultant Jayne.Carr@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . . .. .. Ext. 313 Molly Brethauer, marketing consultant molly.brethaur@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . . Ext. 305

ecently, I shared an opinion piece regarding the importance of making sure that local candidates actually follow the law and live within the districts and communities they claim to live in.

In that piece, I lauded one Tallassee city council member for outlining the importance of following the law. I did not intend for my opinion though to be misconstrued that the city had or should play a role in the legality of candidate qualifications.

Recently, the Tallassee City Council has had at least two closed-door executive session meetings, and one vote regarding the ability of candidates to be on the ballot. Also, they even went so far as to ask candidates for “proof” of residency, four of the five mayoral candidates complied. Let’s go through why all of this is very, very bad.

First, pursuant to Alabama law, executive sessions are only permitted in very limited circumstances.

Section 36-25A-7 says that such sessions may only be held for nine specified reasons. One of those reasons found in subsection 3 states: To discuss with their attorney the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, controversies not yet being litigated but imminently likely to be litigated or imminently likely to be litigated if the governmental body pursues a proposed course of action, or to meet or confer with a mediator or arbitrator with respect to any litigation or decision concerning matters within the jurisdiction of the governmental body involving another party, group, or body. Prior to voting to convene an executive session under this exception the governmental body shall receive a written opinion or oral declaration reflected in the minutes from an attorney licensed to practice law in Alabama that this exception is applicable to the planned discussion. Such declaration shall not otherwise constitute a waiver of the attorney-client privilege. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any deliberation begins among the members of the governmental body regarding what action to take relating to pending or threatened litigation based upon the advice of counsel, the executive session shall be concluded and the deliberation shall be conducted in the open portion of the meeting or the deliberation shall cease.

This reason appears to be the closest reason used by the city council to support their use of

WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor

executive sessions to discuss the matter of candidate qualifications, but it actually does not fit the intent of the statute.

This statute is meant to confer the protections of an attorney client privilege nature on the city council and allow council members to discuss sometimes sensitive information with the city’s attorney. For instance, the city officials may wish to discuss certain facts of a case, the open discussion of which could be incriminating, or to discuss facts that do not need to be discussed in public for fear they may create additional legal ramifications for the city. The discussion though of whether candidates running for city offices, specifically the position of mayor, are qualified or not is not one of the discussions that should be conducted in a closed door meeting.

When elected officials meet behind closed doors to determine the eligibility of candidates running for position, especially the positions they now hold, it creates the appearance of impropriety and the distinct possibility of corruption.

City officials could be plotting to challenge certain “undesirables” or simply those they wish not to challenge them for their positions.

While legally there is nothing against a city filing an election contest against a proposed candidate, it is actually a really bad idea in practice and is not an effective use of taxpayer dollars. Generally, individual taxpayers or the candidates themselves should file any legal challenge to a candidate’s qualifications. That is the most effective means of challenging such issues and places the contest in the locale most attuned to resolving the issue, the Alabama court system.

The problem with the way Tallassee handled the situation is that municipalities could simply meet and confer about which candidates they wish to contest and which they don’t, perhaps based upon actual altruistic reasons, perhaps for more nefarious ones. Who then polices the policemen?

This brings up another troubling issue. At some point, the city council requested that candidates submit

to them proof of residency. Again, it is not up to the city council to ask for such documentation. A recent elections manual produced by the Alabama League of Municipalities for the 2016 elections makes it clear: The receipt and filing of statements of candidacy constitute ministerial acts. The clerk and the mayor have no authority to judge the qualifications of a candidate including residency of the candidate. Their only job is to receive the statements which are properly filled out and see to it that the names of the candidates are properly placed on the ballot. If a question is raised concerning the qualifications of a candidate, a decision thereon should be made by a court. Before leaving the name of a candidate off the ballot after a proper statement of candidacy and the statement of economic interests have been filed, the mayor should have a court order or Attorney General’s Opinion to that effect.

The ALM then goes on to site Harris v. McKenzie, a 1997 Alabama Supreme Court case for the idea that courts must decide residency.

So, were the members of the Tallassee City Council secretly discussing candidate qualifications in a closed door meeting? If they were they were violating the law.

Interestingly, one candidate apparently even provided possible evidence that she might not live in the city limits and yet the council voted to take no action.

What then was the point of this entire song and dance? Why waste time even discussing it, especially when technically they have no real authority other than to possibly file a court contest case, which as stated above would be a bad idea?

Additionally, the time for filing as a candidate is not complete, perhaps another candidate will file a last minute announcement. What if that occurs? Is that candidate subject to the same policing activity as the others?

At this point, the city leaders in Tallassee need to wise up and stay out of the election contest game. If they are that concerned about who is running against them they need to contest those opponents themselves, filing their own actions in court and using their own money.

Don’t use taxpayers’ funds to fight your battles for you.

William Carroll is the managing editor of The Herald.

Race for White House should be fun to watch

A

s if we have not been inundated enough with politics this year, hold on to your seats. Over the next few weeks that is all you will hear, read or see. The Republican Convention is set for July 18-22 in Cleveland and the Democratic Convention will begin on July 25 in Philadelphia.

After a full year of primaries, caucuses and delegate collecting, the field is finally set for the fall campaign for president. After the July conventions are over, the race is on between Democrat Hillary Clinton and the Republican standard-bearer Donald Trump.

Trump has been the story of the year. He vanquished a field of stellar and sterling Republicans. It was quite a quest. He locked up the GOP nomination in May. It took Hillary a little longer to put away socialist Bernie Sanders.

In fact, Sanders won more primaries than Clinton and got almost as many votes.

The results of the primaries throughout the country reveal that there are two extreme political parties in America. The Democratic Party of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is extremely liberal and the Republican Party of Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions is extremely conservative. George Wallace would be hard pressed to run around the country today running for president as a third party candidate spouting his famous line, “There ain’t a dimes worth of difference in the national Republican and Democratic parties,” because there is a vast difference.

In fact, they ought to simply change the names of the Republican Party to the Conservative Party and the

STEVE FLOWERS Guest Columnist

Democratic Party to the Liberal Party.

There is a good reason we are a reliably red Republican state. We are indeed one of the most conservative states in America. Donald Trump will carry Alabama overwhelmingly in November and we will proudly cast our nine electoral votes for the GOP nominee for the tenth straight presidential election. We have voted for the Republican nominee in every election since 1980. A Democrat has not carried Alabama since Georgian Jimmy Carter in 1976.

The race for the White House will be fun to watch. You have a matchup of two brash, blustery New Yorkers. Hillary Clinton, the former First Lady, U.S. Senator from New York and Secretary of State is making history as the first woman to be the nominee of one of the two major political parties. She will also enter the fray as the favorite. The demographic changes in America and the slant of the Electoral College system favors a Democrat in the presidential selection process.

However, I contend that Donald Trump, the flamboyant New York billionaire is the best candidate the Republicans could have fielded. His contentious, bold, provocative and uninhibited statements and behavior appeal to nonpartisan independents and blue collar men in the pivotal Rust Belt states of Ohio, Michigan

and Pennsylvania.

One thing is for certain, Clinton and Trump have the highest negative ratings of any presidential nominees in polling history. For years political experts have professed that a candidate cannot win an election with a negative approval rating of over 25%. Unbelievably, the polls show that Trump has a negative rating of 60% and Clinton has an unfavorable rating of 54%. That is amazing, yet one of them will be elected President of the United States.

Experts say that Trump has to tone down his rhetoric. He must build a campaign infrastructure and he must be more specific with his campaign promises and not just use slogans and code words. Hillary, first of all, needs to warm up some, if possible. She comes across as remote and distant. She must woo and attract young voters. Millennials do not trust her. She also has to fight back when Trump blasts her because, believe me, he will. We are probably in for the most negative presidential campaign in your lifetime.

As the campaign evolves, remember national horse-race polls are irrelevant. Under the Electoral College system it is winner take all in each state. Therefore, about six pivotal swing states are the important cogs in the equation. You need to know what the polls are saying in the key battleground states of Ohio and Florida.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

Council “single audit rule.”

He said it was mainly a compliance audit and said it was a report conducted whenever a $5000 or more of federal awards were received or spent, and required a separate audit.

However, he said the amount had been raised this fiscal year and might be avoided as a result.

Otherwise, Celka alleged there were no instances of non-compliance found and all federal awards were spent on what they were distributed for.

According to BBCM’s website Celka is a certified public accountant and a member of groups such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Search and Rescue of Elmore County and was a president of the Wetumpka Lions Club.

Mayor Jerry Willis commented on the findings.

“I think that this council can be commended. We haven’t had a complete turnaround since ‘08, but we’re coming back up and it’s because of management, of how we manage the funding here in the city, pay the bills and provide what we need to provide for the citizens but to get where we need to be financially,” said Willis.

No other council member outwardly commented on the budget.

Willis spoke briefly about the council’s history with the city’s finances and the funds he said they inherited from the previous council in 2008.

“We were presented with a $1,250,000 budget (shortfall) by the outgoing council and there was no way we could manage and get to $10,250,000, so we cut, adjusted that budget back to about $9.2 million, and were able to make budget during those years. We have

Festival and face painting.

Robinson said there would be “a little bit of everything” as far as food went at the festival.

The event will stretch throughout Gold Star Park downtown, beginning behind City Hall and ending at the Wetumpka City Administrative Building and the Civic Center.

Robinson said there would be two stages, with music acts playing simultaneously but the opening act and headliner, she said, would begin around 6 p.m. and play to around 10 p.m. on the main stage, behind the civic center.

The main act is scheduled to go on roughly around 8:15 p.m., and goes by Rockin Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters.

The press release calls the performer the “James Brown of Zydeco,” and his band “top notch musicians,” and describes their music as “New Orleans funkiness, with a gumbo of soul, (and) R&B,” with the “best high energy show around.”

Robinson said it was one of the bigger events she first had a hand in developing through her time working with the city, starting around 2010.

Last year, she said the festival brought in over $12,000.

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

JULY 13, 2016 • Page 5

continued from page 1

steadily inched up since then,” Willis said.

From there he talked about a goal of getting the city’s budget into the $13-14 million range, at which point, he said the city would be viewed differently by ratings entities, like S&P, and the “bond market.”

He said the city’s borrowing limit is set at around $18 million and the city is currently paying on $12 million from a refinance he said was used for the sports complex and its projects.

Celka said these things had been done without raising sales tax.

Outside of the audit, the one other item discussed was regarding new radio equipment for Wetumpka police and a change in radio systems.

The city’s IT director, Jim McGehee, said the purchase of 30 Motorola handsets at $8,250 would be a “stopgap” in the overall upgrade.

They would be in use for about 18 months, he said, and were being bought at a reduced price of $265 per radio, compared to their usual price, which McGehee said was around $750.

It was the first reading on the topic, and is scheduled for a vote at the next council meeting.

The director of the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce, Gerry Purcell, spoke about upcoming events sponsored by the Chamber.

Purcell said a ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for July 14 for a downtown business, Scent Wizards, at roughly 2 p.m.

And, on July 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., he said there would be “women in business” reception at the Wetumpka Civic Center, called River Region Women in Business.

continued from page 1

“It’s a lot of work but at the end of the day it’s worth it,” said Robinson.

She said out of all of the city’s events, which she helped orchestrate, Wetumpka’s River and Blues, was “more like my baby” and she said she had watched it grow every year.

It was paid for by community businesses, Robinson said, and funded by sponsors.

She said the history of the festival stemmed from a similar event in Montgomery called Jubilee City Fest, which she said she worked at for a short time.

After it was shut down, a local committee was formed, with the city’s blessing, Robinson said, to create what would become Wetumpka River and Blues.

She said she wanted something in Wetumpka that was “good for the whole community” and with the tri-county area.

According to the city, in the 2013 Alabama Tourism Guide it was listed as one of the Top Ten Events in July.

Robinson said for those that attend to anticipate it being hot, and bring their own coolers, popup tents and lawn chairs.

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PAGE 6 • JULY 13, 2016

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THE WETUMPKA HERALD

Who is considered a good neighbor?

G

reetings from the corner of Bridge and Bridge! I do hope the blessings of summer are flowing for everyone in our community. The rumbling waters are welcome this time of year!

The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the best known morality stories in the earthly kingdom. A man encounters Jesus and asks what must be done to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells the man he already knows the answer.

Jesus asked the man what was written in religious law.

The man responds, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The man indeed knew the answer.

The answer was insuffi-

cient for the man. Having the answer does not always mean knowing what to do with it.

The man further questions Jesus, saying, “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus answers the second question with a parable. The common interpretation of the parable is that it provides a definition of “neighbor” on God’s terms. In this sense, the parable explains that everyone is our neighbor according to God. A closer look at the parable reveals a different perspective. Rather than explain who our neighbor is, Jesus uses the parable to explain what it means to be neighborly. Jesus explains what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.

In the parable, Jesus explains that a man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. He encountered

Wetumpka Church of Christ 408 West Bridge Street

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thieves who stripped, robbed and beat him; leaving him to die in a ditch. A priest saw the man in the ditch and moved to the other side of the street. A Levite also saw the man in the ditch and crossed to the other side of the street.

A Samaritan passed by, saw the man in the ditch, and had compassion for him. He helped the man up and took him to an inn for care. The Samaritan made an agreement with the innkeeper and paid for the wounded man’s care.

The Samaritan is the one

intervened who acted as a neighbor to the wounded man. There is much more to be learned from the parable, however. The labels have powerful meaning in our present reality.

The man left to die is an innocent victim. He did nothing to invite or deserve his fate. The priest is someone like me; ordained professional clergy in the church. The Levite represents a lay leader; an Elder or Deacon as we know it in our time.

What we find when we pay attention to the labels in the parable is unsettling.

The gospel is funny that way. God has a way of stepping on everyone’s toes at the same time. The teaching about what it means to be neighborly is quite a challenge.

If we think in the context of national news from last

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week, the man in the ditch is a young black man and the Samaritan is an off duty policeman. The beauty of the parable is that the man in the ditch could also be an off duty policeman and the Samaritan a young black man.

The parable teaches the lesson that the gospel does not play by the rules and traditions of the earthly kingdom. If any of us seriously wants to inherit the blessings God’s grace makes possible, we must keep the commandments and be neighborly to those dying in the ditch. We know the answer already.

Each of us, regardless of situation, must value the lives of others if we want to know peace.

Rev. Yarboro is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Wetumpka.

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TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Art

Improvements coming to Highway 14 in Elmore

continued from page 1

Sant for her pastel painting on paper of her grandson Ross.

Sant said that the painting took her a couple of weeks to complete and that she used pictures of her grandson as inspiration for the piece. Sant said she has been painting for about 40 years.

“I was never formally educated in art,” she said. “Mostly self taught and I read a lot about art and techniques.”

Sant is no stranger to art shows here in Elmore County, she recently acted as the judge for the Guild’s Sparking the Arts Youth Art Exhibition.

Sant said while her winning piece is painted using pastels she prefers oil paintings.

“I prefer oil because it is more forgiving,” she said. “You can move the oils around till you get something that looks close to what you want.”

Sant, who has lived in Wetumpka for a year said the guild and the city have been very cordial.

“Everyone is so welcoming,” she said.

“The whole city of Wetumpka has truly been a haven.”

Carla Luck, whose piece “Trio at Petra” won first place in the TwoDimensional Not Under Glass category said her piece was actually inspired by a trip to the famous Jordanian city.

“We took a trip to Jordan recently and we took a lot of photos, this one was intriguing,” Luck said.

It was from that photograph that Luck created her work in oil. Luck said she has been an artist for around 10 years and prefers to work mostly in oil, with some work done in acrylics. Luck said she was excited that her piece won.

“I am thrilled and elated,” she said.

“I knew about the show and figured I’d bring some work and see what happens.”

Ashlee Thompson, who won first place in the 3-D, Sculpture and Pottery category, is an adjunct art professor at Auburn University Montgomery. Thompson, who holds a master in fine arts degree, said that she has been working in sculpture since her time at Edgewood High School. Thompson won for her piece depicting the Chinese symbol for horse.

Thompson said her piece took around two weeks to complete and consisted of creating a mold and chopping up pieces of melted glass fired in a kiln.

Artist Judy Graves took first and second place for two of her watercolor pieces in the Two-Dimensional Under Glass category. Graves said she has been working artistically for 42 years and in that time has produced at least 100 pieces. Graves said she is very overwhelmed and proud to have won for her work.

Photographer Mitford Fontaine took the photography award for his piece “Swayback Bridge.” Fontaine said he has been taking pictures since he was 12 years old, when he was still using an old Kodak camera owned by his grandmother.

“I take a lot of nature, outdoor and landscape pictures,” Fontaine said, noting that recently he has staged a bird sanctuary and has been taking shots of avian wildlife.

Fontaine said while he was happy to win, he really just enjoys taking photographs and working on them.

JULY 13, 2016 • Page 7

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

The Alabama Department of Transportation through a cooperative effort with CSX Railroad will be advancing a construction project on a section of Alabama Highway 14 in Elmore. The upcoming widening project of Alabama Highway 14 will begin at the intersection of Coosada Parkway and end at the intersection of the unpaved portion of Lucky Town Road.

Senator Clyde Chambliss said, “This project has resulted from the hard work of many state and local government officials. In a time where improvement projects are hard to come by, the cooperative efforts of the business community along with state and local government are the reason this project is possible. I am thankful to see this much needed project advance.”

This project is a continuation of the effort by state and local government to make Alabama Highway 14 a four-lane corridor from Millbrook to Wetumpka driven by state and local government.

Elmore County Commissioner Joe Faulk said, “This project will have a lasting impact on Elmore County and be a catalyst for transformation and

growth in this county. The Elmore County Commission thanks ALDOT and the municipalities in Elmore County for their continued support for improvements to this critical corridor.”

The project includes two bridge replacements at Mortar Creek and the CSX Railroad, as well as improvements to the intersection of Alabama Highway 14 and Alabama Highway 143.

“This project has been years in the making, and I want to thank all involved for their efforts to bring this project to fruition. We are looking forward to the project being in place so the citizens of Elmore County can benefit from a safer, less congested commute each day,” stated Elmore County Commissioner Stephanie Daniels Smoke.

Elmore Mayor Margaret White added, “The Town of Elmore is excited for this project to move forward. We have been waiting a long time to get these needed improvements in place.”

ALDOT will begin advertising the project today for bids, which will be accepted on July 29.

ALDOT’s mission is to provide a safe, efficient, environmentally sound transportation network across Alabama.

For further information, visit www.dot. state.al.us.

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THE WETUMPKA HERALD

ALL ABOUT PEANUTS Are peanuts one of your favorite foods? Peanuts are not real nuts; they are legumes.

Just like peas and beans, peanuts grow in pods. Peanuts are native to South America, but they are now grown in many places around the World. They need a warm climate and time to grow. The peanut plant is a small bush about two feet high with small yellow ÀRZHUV 7KHLU EUDQFKHV VSUHDG RXW DV WKH\ JURZ :KHQ WKH ÀRZHUV ZLWKHU DQG GLH DQ XQXVXDO SHJ IRUPV DW WKH EDVH RI WKH ÀRZHU 7KLV SHJ JURZV LQWR WKH JURXQG DQG WKH peanut pod begins to grow. A peanut actually grows and ripens underground. They are sometimes called groundnuts or earthnuts for this reason. After peanuts are harvested, they are stacked for four-to-six weeks and allowed to cure, or dry out. When a peanut is ready to be used, many different products can be made from them. The most comPRQ RI FRXUVH LV SHDQXW EXWWHU 2WKHU SURGXFWV VXFK DV SHDQXW RLO ÀRXU DQG VRDSV are also made from them. They can be salted, roasted or eaten plain. In the 1800’s, George Washington Carver, a famous agricultural chemist, found many different uses for the peanut.

DID YOU KNOW THAT IT TAKES OVER 500 PEANUTS TO MAKE ONE JAR OF PEANUT BUTTER?

PEANUT CROSSWORD

WHAT IS A PEANUT ALLERGY? You have probably heard of one of your classmates being allergic to peanuts, but what does it mean?

When a person who is allergic comes into contact with peanuts, it can trigger a life-threatening reaction because their body thinks it is an invader. If a person tells you that they can’t be around peanuts, ALWAYS remove them right away.

WORD FIND

Hidden Words: Boiled Butter Carver Cure Earthnuts Flour Groundnuts Legume Nuts Oil Peanuts Peg Pod Roasted Salted Soap WHO

WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER? George Washington Carver was born in Diamond Grove, Missouri, in 1864 as a slave. His mother, Mary, was taken by kidnappers. In 1865, President Lincoln freed all slaves. Moses and Susan Carver had no children so they adopted George and his brother. They taught George how to read and write and realized how intelligent he was! They helped George get an education. He graduated from Iowa State University with a Masters Degree in Agriculture and became a professor. In 1896, Carver moved to Tuskegee, Alabama, to teach at the Tuskegee Institute founded by Booker T. Washington.

Carver conducted research on many things, but he was most famous for his studies on the peanut.

Often called the “Peanut Man,â€? he found uses of peanuts such as oil, to keep pests away from other FURSV IRU IXHO VRDSV Ă€RXU FORWKLQJ G\HV DQG XVH in plastics. He died on January 5, 1943. George Washington Carver Day is observed each year on January 5.

Across Clues: 3. Some people have an ____ to peanuts.

5. Peanuts grow inside _____.

6. Part of a peanut that grows into the ___.

8. Most popular food made from peanuts.

Down Clues: 1. A peanut is a _____.

2. Famous researcher of peanuts.

4. A peanut is sometimes called a ______.

5. Can be eaten roasted, salted, or boiled.

7. Peanuts do this while underground.

Crossword Ans: Across-3) allergy 5)pods 6)peg 8)peanut butter Down1)legume 2) Carver 4)earthnuts 5)peanut 7)ripen

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1 Twin Creeks Drive, • Tallassee, AL

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200 Executive Park Drive Tallassee, AL 334.283.2567 alantaunton@tauntoncpa.com

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220 Company Street • Wetumpka, AL

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Eclectic Family Dental Care, PC Tim A. Needham, DDS

585 Claud Road • Eclectic, AL

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ANGIE CARTER Associate Broker

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5376 U.S. Hwy. 231 Toulouse, AL

Body Shop L.L.C.

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Elmore Co. Farmer’s Co-Op 355 QUEEN ANN ROAD WETUMPKA, AL

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A 54 bed pediatric nursing home that accepts kids the ages 18 & under.

2853 Forbes Drive Montgomery, AL 36110 (334) 261-3445

PENN PLUMBING CO., INC. Residential & Commercial Repairs & Renovations 3307 Harrison Road • Montgomery, AL 334-244-1431

518 AL HWY 143 ELMORE AL 334-478-3827

450 Hackel Drive Montgomery, AL 36121 www.brmwater.com Phone: 334.273.1119 • Toll Free: 800.253.6619

ClassiÄeds

Lake & River Phone (256) 277-4219 Fax (205) 669-4217 The Alexander Alexander City City Outlook Outlook The

Reaching more more than than Reaching 22,000 households households 22,000 in Tallapoosa Tallapoosa and and in Elmore counties counties Elmore The Dadeville Dadeville Record Record The

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The Eclectic Eclectic Observer Observer The

Security Pest Control “The best against pests”

The Tallassee Tallassee Tribune Tribune The

The Wetumpka Wetumpka Herald Herald The

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

JULY 13, 2016 • Page 11

Humane Society prepping for Wags ‘N Whiskers auction

By REA CORD Executive Director of Humane Society Elmore County

W

hew! The 4th of July is an absolutely awesome day of celebration here in the good old USA, but one that shelters rather dread the day after. In this year’s case, it was a very long three-four days of fireworks, owners away from homes and a LOT of lost pets. Hopefully by now most have been reunited with their owners, but if not, and if you have not called your area shelter to report your missing pet, please make sure that is on your ‘to do’ list for tomorrow. To call us about your missing pet in Elmore County please reach us at 334-5673377 Monday-Friday 8-5 and Saturday 8-3. Also check surrounding area shelters as a good Samaritan might have taken your pet to a shelter in another county for many and varied reasons.

To reach the Montgomery Humane Society call 334-409-0622 and the Prattville-Autauga Humane Society is at 334-358-2882.

HUMANE SOCIETY OF ELMORE COUNTY NEWS We are thrilled to announce that we now have a new way for our supporters to donate other than via Paypal.

We now have links on our website homepage (http://www.elmorehumane. org/) and our Facebook banner so you can donate using your own credit card AND you have many options to tell us about your donation. You can set up recurring donations, donate in memory/honor of a loved one, donate for a specific use, share your donation if you choose and more. You will receive an immediate tax donation receipt and then we will follow-up with our thank you for your support. We are certainly grateful to all of our many supporters and hope this makes donating even eas-

ier for everyone!

Only three weeks until our 11th annual Wags ‘N Whiskers Auction on Friday, July 29 at the Wetumpka Civic Center, 212 S. Main Street, Wetumpka.

Check out all the items (less any ‘too late to classify”) that will be up for auction at: www.elmorehumane.auction.

This is both a silent and live auction and we can pretty well guarantee there will be something for everyone.

The doors to the Civic Center will open at 6 pm and be prepared for a long line to get in! DJ Ziggy from PowerSounds USA will be our Master of Ceremonies and you will definitely enjoy heavy hors d’oerves provided by Creek Casino Wetumpka. From 7:15 – 8 p.m., Scott & Michelle Williams, and the crew from High as the Sky Auction Company, will liven everything up during the fast paced live auction portion! Silent Auction bidding will go on throughout and continue until the final whistle. For your planning this is a fun evening that could well last until 9 p.m. bidding wise. Once bidding is over our many auction volunteers will then help

We are READY to BUY your

Merchandise (P r o d u c t ) If you have any product (listed at right) you want to sell retailers or dealer company contact us now!

Email: promopromosale@gmail.com or murayhard100@gmail.com

everyone collect their items and complete final payment processing.

Besides all the great auction items, there will be super door prizes and chances to win either a huge Alabama or Auburn Football basket chalked full of items!

You can pre-purchase tickets ($25 couple/$15 single) at our shelter (255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka) or at the door. We also have only a couple of tables seating eight for $300 – come to the shelter or call us at 334-567-3377 to pay for your table before they are all gone! And we have plenty of fliers if you would like to help us advertise around the River Region.

Our Silent Auction is a definite ‘go to’ event and all of the proceeds raised help us care for the 300+ pets with us during this very busy time of year. You are bound to run into many fellow animal-loving friends while also enjoying an evening of fun bidding, great food and knowing you are supporting a great cause!

Pets Electronic Agriculture Equipment Horses/Tack Livestock Exotic Animals Equipment Furniture Miscellaneous Antiques/Collectibles Automotive Parts & Accessories Clothing Bicycles Children/Toys Gold Coins/Hobbies Exercise Equipment Musical Instruments Air Conditioning/Heating Jewelry Motorcycle Parts & Accessories Crafts Firewood Food Gifts Plumber Equipment Fishing Equipment Fitness Equipment Building Materials Clothes Washer/Dryers Appliances Farm Equipment Caterpillar Parts

SPORTS

THE WETUMPKA HERALD

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Visit our sister website: TallasseeTribune.com

JULY 13, 2016 • Page 12

END OF TOURNAMENT JOURNEY

Cory Diaz / The Herald

Left, Wetumpka 8U All Star catcher Colton Ashmore prepares to apply the tag on an Oxford runner at home plate Saturday during the 2016 Alabama Dixie Youth AA Coach Pitch State Tournament at the Wetumpka Sportsplex. Right, Wetumpka 8U All Star pitcher J.B. Bowman throws the ball over to first base versus Oxford.

Wetumpka 8U All-Star team fades out of state tournament

By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Offensive struggles made for a quick exit for the Wetumpka 8U Dixie Youth All Star team this weekend, going winless in the 2016 Alabama Dixie Youth AA Coach Pitch State Tournament at the Wetumpka Sportsplex.

South Bibb manhandled Wetumpka, 17-0, in the first round game, before Oxford finished them off, 13-1, Saturday morning. In the two losses, Wetumpka managed nine combined hits.

“We couldn’t hit the ball,” Wetumpka 8U manager Terry Peake said. “We played great defense (against Oxford),

but you can’t win a ballgame if you can’t hit. That’s what it came down to.

“Overall, I’m satisfied with the kids. They still fought hard when they got down, they showed perseverance through it and they tried to push through, but we couldn’t get the bats crunk up like we’re supposed to.”

Defense kept Wetumpka in the elimination game early, as the game went scoreless through the first four frames.

Oxford broke the game open in the top of the fourth, with RBI singles from Jacob Ingram and Charlie Maniscalco.

Wetumpka limited the damage with shortstop Aiden Peake throwing to catcher Colton Ashmore, who tagged a runner out a home, keeping the deficit at 2-0.

Wanogho moves to Auburn’s O-line

By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Still looking for his first bit of college football playing time at Auburn, Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. will continue the hunt at a new position.

Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn announced Monday at SEC Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama that the redshirt freshman and former Edgewood Academy defensive line prospect will switch lines of scrimmage when the team begins fall camp this August.

“Prince is a guy that we feel very good about him,” Malzahn told reporters. “He was doing a good job at defensive line, but we feel like we had the proper depth there, and we’re going to develop him at offensive tackle. He has a good attitude toward that.”

Wanogho missed nearly all of last season with Auburn, nursing a broken leg he suffered in a basketball game with EA in January 2015, finally joining the Tigers on the practice field for their Birmingham Bowl preparation.

Before that, the 6-foot-8 Nigerian exchange student hadn’t played football before attending Edgewood for his high school senior year. In one season’s time, Wanogho exploded onto the recruiting scene, picking up more than 20 scholarships offers.

Wanogho’s inexperience has yet to hurt him at this point in his short football career, and Malzahn doesn’t think this move will either, given he still has four more years.

Next inning, Kamouri Henderson hit a grand slam for Oxford to stretch the lead to 6-0 in the fifth.

Leftfielder Joseph Roberts hit a solo home run for Wetumpka in the bottom of the fifth, but that was all the runs his team could muster. Roberts led his team for the tourney, with a hit in each game.

J.B. Bowman, Henry Evers, Logan Fawcett and Eli Thames each had hits against Oxford. Amari Jackson had a hit versus South Bibb.

“Those first three innings, it was tit for tat. It was three-up, three-down, nobody couldn’t get anything going,” Terry Peake said. “Oxford had two hitters that got them on the board. We still held them to two runs, then all of a sudden that grand slam gave them the

AWF to present top conservation awards STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

File / The Herald

Former Edgewood Academy standout Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. smiles after signing a national letter-of-intent to play at Auburn during the school’s National Signing Day ceremony on February 7, 2015.

“It’s going to be a little bit of a challenge, but we are going to work with him. We won’t play him until he’s ready,” Malzahn said.

One of seven redshirt freshmen offensive linemen on Auburn’s roster, Wanogho has embraced the position change, having put on 32 pounds since the 2015 season ended.

“He’s going to be a big guy whether he plays defense or offense, that’s just the way his body was made. He got with our training and diet that goes with it,” Malzahn said. “He’s going to continue to grow.”

The Alabama Wildlife Federation will present this year’s Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards at a formal banquet, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, at the Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville.

The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards, considered the most prestigious conservation honors in the state of Alabama, promote leadership by example and in turn increase conservation of our natural resources including our wildlife, forests, land, water and air.

Over the past 40 years, Alabama Wildlife Federation has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources.

This year’s award recipients are: Conservationist of the Year - Dr. David Thrasher, Montgomery; Wildlife Conservationist of the Year -

Submitted / The Herald

743 Kelly Fitzpatrick Drive•Wetumpka (Across from Elementary School)

567-9246

momentum the rest of the ballgame.

“We got them down two outs, after that we made a couple of errors. When they got bases loaded, that one grand slam kind of took the wind from us.

After all that, we still played ball, we tried our best to fight through that hole.

I thought we were going to get momentum where Joseph Roberts hit that home run, but that was the only life we had.”

Dropping both of their games at state, Peake said he hopes his team of 8-year-old All Stars learned to not get down on themselves.

“When it’s time for you to make your play, you make the play. Just never give up on anything. It’s a great group of kids, and they can play ball.”

Luis de Hechavarria, Orrville; Fisheries Conservationist of the Year - Chris Blankenship, Mobile; Forest Conservationist of the Year - Jimmy Bullock, Birmingham; Land Conservationist of the Year - Blythe Cotton Company, Town Creek; Water Conservationist of the Year - Dr. Pat O’Neil, Tuscaloosa; Air Conservationist of the Year - Georgia-Pacific, Naheola Mill; Conservation Educator of the Year - Doyle Keasal, Auburn; Conservation Communicator of the Year - James “Big Daddy” Lawler, Camden; Conservation Enforcement Officer of the Year - Officer Greg Gilliland, Munford; Legislative Conservationist of the Year – U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, Tuscaloosa; Judicial Conservationist of the Year - Judge Jim Main, Montgomery; and Hunter Safety Instructor of the Year - Mike O’Neal, Guntersville.

For more information about the awards and recipients, visit www. alabamawildlife.org. Tickets to the banquet are $40 and are available for purchase by contacting AWF at 1-800-822-9453.

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