Folmar finalizes coaching staff at Edgewood Academy
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SATURDAY-SUNDAY • JULY 16-17, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 11, NO. 27
Grand jury dismisses Golden charges
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
An Elmore County grand jury dismissed the criminal charges of the Coosada man who filmed Wetumpka police and was later arrested for allegedly “interfering” with police operations when his online video generated calls to their department. The jury came to the “no bill” ruling on Friday, said Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson, which meant the current criminal charge filed against Golden by WPD officials on “interfer-
ence with public safety communications,” a Class C felony, was thrown out. In a “no bill” reading, Robinson said follow-up evidence could be investigated and result in another trial, however, he said he could not say what evidence was used in the grand jury. “We reviewed all the evidence that was available,” Robinson said. He said he does not know what other evidence might be available and does not personally know of anything new, but if more emerged it would be presented to the DA’s office. Robinson mentioned the search con-
ducted on Golden’s property June 16 and said he did think there were follow-up investigations ongoing. He said if any evidence of criminality was found the case could be revisited. Evidence has been largely in question after days turned into weeks as The Herald attempted to retrieve a copy of the search warrant return listing the items taken from Golden’s residence by the WPD. According to Alabama law there is a 10-day time limit on returning the document to the judge who signed off on the warrant.
However, an assistant at the Elmore County Circuit Clerk’s Office said the warrant was given to them on Wednesday, July 13, nearly a month after it was signed. Golden’s attorney with the Dothan firm Buntin, Etheredge & Fowler said a “motion to produce” was filed to obtain the document. Circuit Clerk Bryan Justiss said it was a “gray area” regarding the 10-day timeframe to return the document, but said on Thursday someone with the WPD had delivered the document directly to the judge. See CHARGES • Page 5
Red Hill Community concert set for July 30
Local NAACP, Wetumpka police to meet
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Members to address recent events nationally and in communities By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
A meeting between local community leaders and Wetumpka police is planned for next week in regard to the tense climate from events involving law enforcement across the nation. Over recent weeks, incidents of police shootings and the targeting of police in Dallas has sparked both ongoing protests and outpourings of gratitude for police throughout the nation as well as in Alabama cities, extending both into Millbrook and Wetumpka. There were reports of a small protest held in front of the Wetumpka courthouse last Sunday and another after a Millbrook man called on others to rally in downtown Montgomery in response to a local police shooting that took place years ago. However, at the same time, residents of both cities have donated goods and delivered cards, flowers and made statements of appreciation to local law enforcement. The Wetumpka protest appeared to be made up of roughly a handful of people with signs in response to police shootings in past weeks in Louisiana and Minneapolis, while there seemed to be a larger crowd See MEETING • Page 3
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Participants gather at the Elmore County Board of Education Boardroom to see if they would be drawn as part of the random selection process for seats in the district’s new Pre-K program.
FIRST EARLY LEARNERS
Students chosen for county’s first Pre-K program By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
Parents and students learned Tuesday whether they would be part of the Elmore County School District’s first Pre-K class during a random selection process held at the Board of Education. The process selected 64 students – 32 for Wetumpka Elementary and 32 for Coosada Elementary – as part of a program that Elmore County Superintendent Dr. Andre Harrison said he hopes will be
a model program. “Our goal is to establish a model firstclass Pre-K program for the entire state,” said Harrison. Harrison said that when he first became superintendent he knew the district needed to reach students as soon as possible in order to be effective. “Early intervention is important for children to be able to achieve later in school,” he said. “I knew that this was something that we needed here in Elmore See PRE-K • Page 3
The Red Hill Community Club will be hosting a benefit concert at the old Red Hill School building located at the corner of Highway 229 (Red Hill Road) and East Cotton Road on July 30 to help raise funds for a new roof for the old school building-turned-community center. Red Hill Community Club President Paula Castelberry said that the building is an important landmark in the Red Hill community and that the club received an estimate of $30,000 to replace the roof on the structure. “My father helped build this building,” she said. “He was working for a local contractor at the time. Also my husband went to the school until the ninth grade.” The building also has additional historical significance. Club Secretary/Treasurer Ray Hall said the school was finished in the 1920s See CONCERT • Page 5
Leadership Elmore County seeks class of 2017 By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
Leadership Elmore County is gearing up for another year and another class of future leaders. According to LEC Chairman Jenifer Glover, the group took last year off to completely revamp the program. “We wanted to make it more of a curriculum-based program with a positive leadership aspect tied into each of our sessions,” she said. Glover said the program will consist of nine classes, of which participants must attend six in order to graduate. The classes will run from a group retreat in September until May.
“We will have a kick-off meeting in August and then an overnight retreat at the 4-H Center in September which will include a variety of team-building exercises,” Glover said. “Participants must attend the September session as it is one of the most important ones for getting to know your fellow class members.” Glover said that more than 170 participants have been involved in the program since its inception and that LEC is looking for 15-20 candidates for its 2017 graduating class. “We have had a wide range of people in the program from elementary school teachers to CEOs of major organizations,” she said. See LEADERSHIP • Page 3
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Pictured above are participants with the 2015 Leadership Elmore County class. LEC is seeking the leaders of tomorrow for its 2017 class.
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