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2016 All-Area Softball Team
Eclectic Observer Page 4
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The
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THURSDAY • JUNE 9, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 27, No. 23
Players denied access to public field By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editors Submitted / The Observer
This grainy image taken from video shot by Keith Golden shows the conclusion of an incident that Golden said he captured as part of a “video audit” of the Wetumpka Police Department.
FILMING FLAP
City hit by reaction to recording of Wetumpka Police Department
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Recent actions of Wetumpka police are under scrutiny after a video was published online that appeared to show officers in an exchange with a local man who was filming the police department. Wetumpka police said on Tuesday the department had to shut down its phone lines due to an overload of calls from across the country in response to
WANT TO SEE THE VIDEO? The video can be found at https:// youtu.be/a8B-OW4SoIM. Need more information? Contact Keith Golden at bamafootballfirst@ gmail.com
SEE THE CITY’S RESPONSE: The statement issued in the matter of the arrest of Keith Golden can be found on page 7.
OPINION: Managing Editor William Carroll weighs in on police video controversy.
Local man arrested after video he took of Wetumpka PD goes viral
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The man behind the camera in the recent video involving Wetumpka police, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on what Wetumpka police said were charges of interfering with governmental operations, after his video caused a city-wide stir from reactions of viewers who called in from across the nation.
See VIDEO • Page 2
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FRIDAY: HIGH 93 LOW 69
The Town of Eclectic Council meeting Monday lasted deep into the night, but it was a non-agenda item that garnered the most focus and several area parents and kids spoke in some detail regarding their inability to use the town’s public ball fields. Parent Brandy Isenhour spoke on behalf of the Thundercats travel softball team. Isenhour asked the town council for permission to use the town’s softball fields from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. Isenhour’s husband David also spoke on behalf of the parent of young girls playing on the team. “I coached travel ball for three or four years,” See COUNCIL • Page 3
Elmore County School Board holds marathon session, votes on long-standing issues By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Elmore County Board of Education held a meeting with a full agenda’s worth of issues spanning items that generated at times heated discussion. The discussions even included the personal testimony of those advocating for See SCHOOL • Page 3
See ARREST • Page 7
New Ivy Creek Cafe’ opens at Elmore Community Hospital By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
The Ivy Creek Café is now open to the public for lunch and the hope is it will eventually expand into breakfast and dinner options as well in the near future. The café inside the Elmore Community Hospital is now upgraded, with a new menu and new options for patients, families of patients and local diners. Hospital Administrator Michael Ritzus said that the new restaurant was part of an ongoing improvement plan for the hospital. Ritzus stated that having a top notch cafeteria is an important component of a community hospital. “We are not looking to compete with other restaurants in the area,” Ritzus said. “Our goal is to have an impact on overall patient satisfaction.” Ritzus said that the first step in improving the café was to hire a top class chef, which Ritzus was able to do in the form of current head chef Gary Garner, who has over 20 years experience in fine dining. “We offer country dishes with a spin,” Ritzsus See CAFE • Page 2
William Carroll / The Observer
Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis cuts the ribbon for the new Ivy Creek Cafe at the Elmore Community Hospital Monday afternoon.
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