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INSIDE TODAY
WEDNESDAY • SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. V l 29 29, N No. 37
Two charged with attempted murder after pursuit By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
A man and a juvenile, both of Eclectic, were taken into custody on Sept. 2 after a manhunt through various parts of Elmore County. Ronald Jason Mann, 32, who lists an address on Ginger Lane, and a 16-yearold juvenile were both charged with two counts of robbery in the first degree and attempted murder in the first degree. According to Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin, Mann and the juvenile picked up a middle-aged couple, who the suspects knew, from the 6000 block of Holtville Road in Wetumpka and drove
Commissioners change procedure for delinquent property tax collection By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
The Elmore County Commission discussed and unanimously voted to adopt an alternative method of collecting delinquent property taxes during a regularly scheduled work session and business meeting on Monday. According to Elmore County Revenue Commissioner Lee Macon, the resolution will change the sale of property to the sale of tax liens to ensure delinquent property taxes are paid. “We’re going away from a tax sale, which is the sale of property (and) gives certain rights to purchaser, to a lien sale, where we just sell the lien itself,” Macon said. “It helps keep a lot of that property that would rollover to the state every year in the county.” Macon said the resolution will allow people who have a lien placed on their property to retain their property rights. “For example, if my house goes up for lien sale, I will still have all the rights to the property.” Macon said. “This will allow the owner of the property to still have certain rights until due time, under that lien process.” Over the next six months, Macon said additional information about the resolution will be available on Elmorerevenuecommissioner.net. Additionally, the commission voted to authorize Elmore County Commission Chair Troy Stubbs to See COMMISSION • Page 2
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them to the “Purple Cow” Chevron gas station on Alabama 143 in the town of Elmore. Franklin said they forced the couple to withdraw money from an ATM, and the couple fled after they gave the money to Mann and the juvenile. Mann and the juvenile drove away and hit an iron Mann guard on a railroad crossing close to 143 in Elmore. According to Franklin, a 47-year-old “good Samaritan” saw their car was incapacitated and stopped to help. Mann allegedly tried to take the man’s cell phone and then stabbed the man seven times. “He actually was leaned over, trying
to look at the battery (in their car) when he was stabbed,” Franklin said. Franklin said Mann’s knife pierced one of the man’s lungs, his liver, his back, his neck and his lower abdomen. The man was transported to a nearby hospital and was reported to be in critical condition as of Tuesday. “We’re concerned about him, because he was in that condition last week. We’re hoping he’ll get better soon,” Franklin said. Franklin said Mann and the juvenile tried to leave in the victim’s car, but could not find the keys and left on foot. While police were searching for
Mann and the juvenile, Franklin said they received information from an area in Coosada that led to the arrest. Both suspects were arrested and booked into the Elmore County Jail on bonds totaling $750,000 each. Attempted murder and first degree robbery are both Class A felonies, which are punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison. Both cases were assigned to Elmore County Circuit Court Judge Glenn Goggans. Franklin said Mann’s arrest came only days after he bonded out of the Elmore County Jail on previous charges. “Mr. Mann is a frequent flyer here. He’s been in jail several times,” Franklin said.
BALES OF FUN
Eclectic’s annual Cotton Festival approaching By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
T
he town of Eclectic is getting ready to celebrate the 26th annual Alabama Cotton Festival, which will be held on Main Street from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 13. Assistant Town Clerk Elizabeth Geer said the Cotton Festival serves to celebrate the town’s origins as a cotton growing community while also providing
a plethora of fun activities for the whole family. Geer said the Cotton Festival will feature a variety of vendors, a live DJ, live entertainment, a car show, a dog show, an art and photography show, the Alabama Cotton Queen Pageant and a Kids Zone. “It’s just to get out there and mingle and have fun without technology,” Geer said. See COTTON • Page 5
Stock photo / The Observer
The Town of Eclectic is celebrating the 26th annual Alabama Cotton Festival on Main Street Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival serves to celebrate the town’s origins as a cotton growing community while also providing fun activities for residents.
County school board holds first budget hearing By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
The Elmore County Board of Education discussed federal and state allocations, as well as projected expenditures, for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years during a budget hearing Thursday afternoon. According to Elmore County Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Jason Mann, the majority of the allocations from the state increased from last year. The projected budget for the 2018-19 academic year is more than $106 million. The majority of funding comes from the state and roughly $26 million is expected to come in from local sources. Mann said they were allocated more than $67 million from the state to cover more than 11,000 students enrolled in Elmore County. However, they are expected receive less funding than initially stated due to fluctuating numbers of students at the J.F. Ingram Trade School, which is attended by residents of the Frank Lee Youth Center. He said the decrease will not affect day-to-day business. “I know for a fact the number in this budget is (currently) half a million dollars more than it’s going to be, come October 1,” Mann said. Superintendent Richard See BUDGET • Page 3
Body found at Kowaliga boat ramp on Lake Martin By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Seo Phyo Hong, 57, was found deceased at the Kowaliga boat ramp Tuesday morning at 5:45 a.m. No foul play is suspected in the death, according to ALEA officials.
A South Korean male was found dead at the Kowaliga boat ramp Tuesday morning. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol Captain Gary Buchanan said authorities were called to the scene at 5:45 a.m. where they found 57-year-old Seo Phyo Hong deceased. Though Hong has a Montgomery address, authorities were unable to locate any family members locally. “We are working through the South Korean consulate to notify any family in South Korea,” Buchanan said in a release Tuesday afternoon. No foul play is suspected in the death.
Cliff Williams / The Observer
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