INSIDE TODAY
Wags ‘N Whiskers
Inside, Page 2
Band issue shows need for appointed superintendents
EMCS to field varsity football for the first time Sports, Page 12
Opinion, Page 4
THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • JULY 27, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 118, NO.27
Crusade to keep hymn in football met with criticism By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
In a recent switch decision and with a newly aggressive tone The ECBOE superintendent put “Amazing Grace” back on the HHS band’s lineup and has vouched, in a recent statement, to defy “adversaries,” even at the risk of future legal actions to keep the 18th century hymn playing at football games. Asked whether HHS students could possibly fall into the category of “adversary” Andre Harrison, would
only say he stood firmly with his decision, and when asked whether it was worth it the risk of costly legal actions he said it was, “worth it to fight.” He said his decision was confidently swayed by learning more about the law through the school board’s attorneys, regarding the issue of playing one of the most seminal Christian hymns at a school sponsored public sporting event. Harrison had originally decided that the song should not be played before changing his mind. When asked if this was a political move in relation to
upcoming elections for Elmore County School Board superintendent, Harrison exclaimed, “Heavens no … I would do this anyway, regardless.” He prepared a statement regarding his latest decision, which was delivered by Jill Corbin, a media representative and spokesperson with Elmore County Schools, who was responding on his behalf Monday. His full statement read, “I fully support religious liberty secured by our first amendment rights. That is why
Enslen’s account of events verified
Commission approves courthouse annex bid By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
The Elmore County Commission sprinted through its regularly scheduled meeting Monday completing the work and business sessions of the agenda in about eight minutes, however they did take time to award a bid for the annex to the Elmore County Courthouse to the tune of $2,749,089. Five bids were submitted to perform work on completion of an annex to the Elmore County Courthouse. The bids were Bear Brothers, with a base bid of $2,474,000; Construction One, with a base bid of $2,377,096; Central Contracting, with a base bid of $2,530,000; Holley Henley See COMMISSION • Page 5
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See HYMN • Page 3
Probate judge’s testimony confirmed by attorney Bob Morris Corey Arwood / The Herald
It was nearly standing-room-only at the first Wetumpka Unity Forum, where Elmore County residents met on Tuesday to field questions to law enforcement officials regarding policing policies, and procedures, as well as to discuss universal issues with local agencies.
UNITY MEETING
Mututal respect despite brief exchange between PD chief , NAACP By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
A community forum convened Tuesday in which Elmore County residents and citizens of Wetumpka stood before representatives from nearly every agency of local law enforcement to ask questions, and voice their concerns regarding policing policies at home and across the nation. A number of people took to the microphone before the panel and directed their comments and questions to the officials throughout the nearly three-hour event. There seemed to be an overall atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding between the audience members themselves, who, at times, seemed to go out of their way to make themselves understood, both to other audience members as well as the panel of officials. Despite the sensitive nature of the subjects discussed, there were even minimal outbursts between audience members. A local man spoke who said his brother was killed by local law enforcement in 1966, and talked about the fears of “driving while black.”
By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
An area attorney has confirmed the version of events told to the Wetumpka Herald last week, further bolstering the testimony of Elmore County Probate Judge John Enslen. Attorney Bob Morris, who represents Elmore County School Superintendent candidate Richard Dennis, said that the version of facts presented by Enslen and former Chief Clerk of the Probate Office Brent Helms to the Wetumpka Herald last week was accurate, further calling into question the veracity of a recent television news story See ENSLEN • Page 7
Wright denied parole in infant burn case By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
While the local family of Gil Collar, who was shot and killed by police in 2012 at the University of South Alabama, asked that lethal force be a last resort, while at the same time expressing their gratitude to local police in a tearful exchange. The event began around 10 a.m. and was largely directed by Wetumpka Police Chief Danny Billingsley. Early on, Elmore County School Board Superintendent Andre Harrison made a brief announcement, and spoke about the importance of education, mentioning what he called his own recent “fights,” saying it
Melissa Wright will not be getting parole on her 25 year sentence for placing her infant child in an oven she set to broil in 2002. The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected her parole during a hearing set Tuesday morning in Montgomery. Wright had originally been sentenced to 25 years in prison for placing her infant daughter Ashley in an over, which Wright had turned to broil. According to 19th Circuit District Attorney Randall Houston,
See MEETING • Page 7
See PAROLE • Page 5
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