Panthers hope for homecoming win
Already tired of presidential race
Area Calendar Inside!
Eclectic Observer Page 4
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The
THURSDAY • SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 27, No. 38
EYCFL establishes gofundme for Holton boys By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
As the town of Eclectic continues to mourn for the Holton and Owenby families, the Eclectic Youth Football and Cheer League has established a GoFundMe account to assist the surviving family members. The Holtons were discovered inside their home on Sept. 11, both with gunshot wounds to the head. Their oldest son, Jesse Madison Holton, is accused of committing
the act. Mike was a beloved member of the community who not only served as the Mayor of Eclectic; he also served as the fire chief before taking office. Mike Holton was dedicated to the service of the community. April worked at the water company on Main Street in Eclectic and nearly everyone in town knew her. She would greet people with a warm smile that was contagious to others. While Eclectic is not crime free, nothing of this magnitude has occurred in the small
town before. The fact that Eclectic is a small town only deepened the hurt felt by so many. “We have immediate family in the league that were affected by this,” said Jake Youland, president of the EYFCL. “They also have numerous friends in the league.” Like so many, the league is hoping to ease the pain of this loss by expressing support and gratitude to the family, who so many knew and admired. “We’re here to do good works, not only within the league but the community as
well,” he said. “We felt like it was the right thing to do.” The EYFCL will also hold a Halloween dance on Oct. 29 and the proceeds from the event will go directly to the family. “It’s free entry with a can of food,” Youland said. “We’ll also be taking donations that night as well.” The Halloween dance will be held at The Field of Champions located at 455 Harden Street. The EYFCL encourages everyone to come out and show support to the Holton/ Owenby family.
Former Tallassee police officer arrested for assault
Council sets parade date, approves past audit By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
At the last town council meeting the mayor and council members convened to cast votes on a wide array of issues ranging from the dates of annual holiday events to financial audits from recent years. A proclamation was on the agenda for the presentation of the 2014 town audit, which the council voted on, said Deborah Rowe, town clerk. She said the amount of appropriations to be designated for the Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission was also approved in the monthly meeting. And a town “charge card” was set up, and a training fee for commercial construction set up by the state was introduced and voted on, Rowe said. Also, a date and time was chosen for the Eclectic Christmas Parade and set for Dec. 3 at 4 p.m., Rowe said, to be followed by a tree lighting ceremony.
A member of the Tallassee Police Department found himself on the wrong side of the law last Wednesday after the Tallapoosa County Grand Jury filed an indictment against 23-year- Smirnoff old Brandon Smirnoff for assault. The alleged assault occurred earlier this year after Smirnoff assisted other officers in the pursuit of a suspect who was attempting to elude police on an ATV. “The vehicle was eventually stopped and the driver was taken into custody,” Police Chief Jimmy Rodgers said in a statement. “It was at this point, while the individual was being transported back to a patrol vehicle, that he alleges that Brandon
File / The Herald
The Titus Bluegrass Festival returns Saturday with a star-studded lineup of performers. Entry is only $5 and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
GOT THE BLUES County Clare ready to wow the crowd in Titus By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
Shannon Slaughter and his group County Clare are busy getting ready to take the stage this Saturday at the annual Titus Bluegrass Festival. Slaughter said the event will mark his first time in Titus and that he is excited to participate in the event. The annual event
will take place at its usual location, behind the Titus Community Center at 5945 Titus Road, beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing until 5:15 p.m. Slaughter is no stranger to the world of bluegrass music. He has penned numerous songs that have received industry recognition and have been recorded by Blue Highway, The Lonesome River Band, Lou Reid and See TITUS • Page 3
See ASSAULT • Page 9
Legislators talk regular, special session at Tea Party meeting WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
William Carroll / The Herald
Wetumpka Tea Party President Becky Gerritson (standing) asks questions of area legislators during a town hall style meeting held at the Elmore Community Hospital Monday evening. State legislators participating from left to right are Representative Reed Ingram, Representative Mike Holmes and Senator Clyde Chambliss.
Local Alabama legislators were on hand at the Wetumpka Tea Party meeting Monday night to discuss issues facing the state and this year’s regular and special sessions. Participants included District 31 Representative Mike Holmes, District 75 Representative Reed Ingram and District 30 Senator Clyde Chambliss. Wetumpka Tea Party President Becky Gerritson acted as the moderator of the event, which was held at the Elmore Community Hospital. Gerritson started the discussion by asking each of the three elected officials what their biggest accomplishment was during the regular session held earlier this year. Each of the three
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agreed on the same premise, namely that passing the budget was probably the most important accomplishment. “Well probably the biggest thing is we got our budgets out ahead of time,” Holmes said, noting that it was relatively easy to complete the budget process as revenue streams, specifically for education, had increased significantly, but he noted that educational funding increases were not having the desired results. “Think about this, in 1966 the education budget was $275 million, today it is $6.287 billion,” Holmes said, he also pointed out that the increase was over 2000 percent. “I don’t feel like we are getting what we are paying for. We have proven See MEETING • Page 3
PAGE 2 • SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER on the experience of war, beginning September and ending in March. Discussions will be held in the Elmore County Museum from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: September 13th, October 11th , November 15th , January 10th , February 14th , and March 14th . All books and films will be provided for each participant in advance of each discussion. Recent veterans of the global war on terror are particularly encouraged to participate.
ONGOING EVENTS
Submitted / The Observer
Elmore County High School Homecoming Court 2016 The student body will vote to determine which of the senior attendants will be crowned homecoming queen. We will not announce the queen until pre-game the night of homecoming. Pictured seated from left are senior attendants Courtney Dunaway, Dallas Wade, and Hope Hill. Standing from left are freshman attendants Brianna Baker and Natalie Sullivan, Sophomore attendants Meredith Woodlieff and Georgia Adams, Junior attendants Alice Squires and Cassidy Reed.
September 24
Area Calendar
The annual Titus Bluegrass Festival will take place from
10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at 5945 Titus Road. Admission for the event is $5 and features Cottonmouth
Creek, Shannon & Heather Slaughter/County Clare and the Dustin Benson Band. Arts and crafts vendors will be on hand and foot and beverages will be available. Bring a chair, no pets and no alcohol at the event.
September 25
Calvary’s Call will be performing at Rushenville Baptist Church, located at 10098 Georgia Road in Eclectic at 10:30 a.m. Lunch will follow the service.
September 25
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The Human Society of Elmore County will be hosting its annual Bark in the Park event from 1 to 5 p.m. at Fort Toulouse. The cost is $5 per person over the age of 13. The event includes several pet related activities and events including the Pup Parade, microchip clinic, pet photography, pet kissing booth, children’s games, interactive demonstrations and more. The event was originally scheduled for September 18, but was reset due to rain over the weekend.
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October 1
The Trail of Legends Association will be hosting the 14th Annual Coosa River Challenge at the Swayback Bridge Trail. The event includes 3-6 hours of mountain biking, trail running, river paddling with lots of special tests throughout. The format is 2-person teams, which can be male, female or coed. Individual competitors are also welcome. Packet pick-up for the event will be September 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Coosa River Adventures in Wetumpka. For more information contact info@coosariverchallenge. com or call 334-514-0279.
October 11, November 15, January 10, February 4 and March 14
The Wetumpka Public Library, along with the Elmore County Museum, invites veterans and family members to sign up and participate in a free monthly reading discussion program
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 1-800-5482547.” ART EXHIBITION: There is a free exhibit of sixtyfive 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. SATURDAY NIGHT JAMBOREE: Every second and fourth Saturday of the month is the Highway 231 Saturday Night Jamboree at the Alabama League of the South Cultural Center Building at 12814 Highway 231 North in Wetumpka. There will be country, gospel, and rock and roll music in a good atmosphere. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be line dancing, no alcohol, no smoking and no charge. Donations accepted for upkeep of the building. Contact Ray Funderburk at R&R Music and things at 334-991-4682 or 224-8509804 with questions. SANTUCK FLEA MARKET: First Saturday, MarchDecember, dawn to 2 p.m in the area surrounding Santuck Baptist Church. An outdoor flea market with booths featuring arts, crafts, antiques, novelties, imports, food and more. Free admission to the public with free parking available. For info, call 334-567-7400. BLUEGRASS JAM: First Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka. All acoustic instruments welcome - guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass, singers. Beginner, intermediate, advanced and listeners. For info, call 334578-9485. SIT AND SEW: First Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka. All sewers and knitters welcome. Bring your own sewing
machine or hand-sewing project. Assistance and encouragement to help you through your project. Ironing board and iron provided. Free. For info, call 334-5789485 or visit www.arrac.org. POTTERY CLASS: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka For age 16 and older. $80 for four classes or $20 per week. Taught every Saturday by Rick Bowman. Bring your own tools or use art center tools. Center provides other supplies. For info, call 334-313-1646. CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP: Saturdays, 11 a.m. at the Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka. For ages 12 and older. $32 for four classes. Taught every Saturday by Cliff Wayne. For info, call 334-300-9394. MASTER GARDENERS LUNCH AND LEARN: Second Tuesday of each month, 12 to 1 p.m. at the Elmore County Extension Office, Wetumpka. Hosted by the Central Alabama Master Gardeners Association. Free and open to the public. Bring a sack lunch, drinks provided. For info, call 334567-6301 or visit www.aces. edu/counties/Elmore/. NAACP MEETINGS: Elmore County Branch NAACP Executive Committee meeting every 3rd Tuesday 6:30pm at MLK Center 200 Lancaster St, Wetumpka Elmore County Branch NAACP regular monthly meeting every 4th Tuesday 6:30pm at MLK Center 200 Lancaster St, Wetumpka. HHS 50’s AND 60’s CLASS REUNION: Several members of Holtville High School Alumni are planning a reunion that will span two decades - the 1950’s and 1960’s. This firsttime reunion will be held on November 11, 2016 at the Holtville Gymnasium beginning at 1:00 in the afternoon. Each class that has a reunion planning committee is asked to contact their classmates to relay this information so that “HHS 50’s and 60’s Reunion” will be a great success. SENIOR ACTIVITIES: “Prime Time” activities at the Wetumpka Senior Center, held at the Fain Center, 120 Cotton Street for those 55 and older: Regularly Scheduled Activities Monday-Friday - Lunch, 11:30 a.m. Cost is $1.60 donation if possible. SilverSneakers Classic Exercise Class - M, W, F at 9:30 a.m. - total body toning and muscular strength SilverSneakers Circuit Exercise Class - Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. - cardio workout SilverSneakers Yoga Class - Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. deep breathing, stretching, muscle relaxation Bridge Club - Wednesdays, Noon to 3 p.m. Audio Book Club- second and fourth Monday of every month at 1 p.m. - enjoy listening to a book on tape while knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. NEW REGULARLY SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES DIY Classes - Every first and third Monday at 1 p.m. Do It Yourself Classes to learn to make things you can use around the house, including soap, lotions, crafts and decorations. Uno Wednesdays - 1 p.m. every Wednesday take part in a rousing game or two of Uno. Sock Sisters - 1 p.m. every Thursday come and make non-slip socks to give to nursing home residents. Volleyball - Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Join us for an intense game of volleyball, using a beach ball! Bridge - Wanted: Bridge players for afternoon Bridge Club. Meets Wednesday afternoons Noon to 3 p.m. NOTE: For info on any Prime Time event, call 334567-1335. ECLECTIC: The Eclectic Senior Center is open every weekday until noon. For more info, call Deborah Rowe at 334-541-3581. Tallassee Recreation Center Community Announcements Funtastic Fort reservations for the pavilion or gazebo are made by calling the Recreation Department office at 283-4726. The fee for the pavilion is $40 for a two-hour period and the fee for the gazebo is $15 for a two-hour period, fees must be paid prior to the reservation date.
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Meeting
continued from page 1
that throwing money at it isn’t the answer.” Holmes also discussed issues with Medicaid and the state retirement system and that currently both systems are unsustainable. Chambliss agreed with Holmes on the importance of the budget. “Mike stole my thunder,” Chambliss said, noting that this was the first year where budget hearings were held prior to the legislative session. “We actually passed the budget early. Not everybody was happy with the budget, but we made use of the dollars we had.” Chambliss also discussed Medicaid. “Our problem in the state of Alabama is the growth of Medicaid,” he said. “We have to figure out how we separate those who are on Medicaid through no fault of their own to those who affect their circumstances to be on Medicaid.” Ingram said that in years past special sessions had to be called in order to get a budget passed. As all of the legislators spent some time talking about Medicaid, Gerritson asked Holmes to give some background regarding the program and why a special session was needed to resolve issue relating to Medicaid. Holmes said that Medicaid is a black hole and specifically referenced some of the fraud issues that legislators have been made aware of in the program. He also said that some changes were made in the state program to try to help manage the healthcare of qualified recipients to act in a preventative form in order to alleviate costs. Holmes stated that the primary issues is that Medicaid was underfunded and that funding issues were resolved by use of BP oil spill funds. Gerritson then asked the participants if they thought the main goal of the special session was approval of a lottery. “In my opinion that was the primary reason, Chambliss said. “Through some discussions and negotiations he
allowed some discussion of BP funds as a fallback provision.” Chambliss also stated that the legislature has authorized a forensic audit of Medicaid at a cost of $400,000, which received significant applause from the audience. Ingram noted that he voted against the lottery. “In my opinion I think that was the governor’s main objective,” Ingram said noting that he didn’t think the lottery would ever pass. Gerritson then moved on to the potential impeachment of Alabama Governor Robert Bentley. Chambliss said that he would be a juror in any proceeding brought before the state senate and therefore couldn’t comment, stating that he would be impartial and wait to hear all of the evidence before rendering a decision. Ingram and Holmes both stated that they signed the impeachment resolution of Bentley. Holmes said that the matter is currently before the Alabama House Judiciary Committee and that special council had been hired and had been working diligently on a case. Gerritson then asked the panel about recently convicted former Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard. All of the participants said that the state needed to move on from Hubbard and Chambliss in particular said that the handling of state business was already running much more smoothly with current speaker Mac McCutcheon in charge. During the audience question portion of the town hall style meeting, one member asked whether it was time to eliminate earmarks and place budgetary decisions solely in the hands of the legislature. Holmes said that this was one of the issues he ran on and Chambliss noted that the legislature has created a joint task force on budget reform to look at not only issues such as earmarks, but also tax exemptions/tax credits and a whole host of other similar issues.
Titus Carolina, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, Mike Bentley and Cumberland Gap Connection, and Ernie Thacker. One of Slaughter’s original gospel compositions, It’s So Hard to Stumble (When You’re Down on Your Knees) was nominated for a Gospel Music Association DOVE Award in 2010. Slaughter and his wife Heather moved to Alabama from North Carolina in 2010. “I married an Alabama girl, so it just made sense for us to make the move here,” Slaughter said. Slaughter said he learned about the festival in part through the Alabama Bluegrass Music Association. “We generally try to be anywhere ABMA is,” Slaughter said. “There aren’t a lot of professional bluegrass bands in Alabama so it is nice when we can meet and share a fellowship of
SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 • PAGE 3
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sorts with other musicians.” Slaughter said that he and his band are excited about the opportunity to come and play at the festival in Titus. “I think one of the good things about it is that it is a local festival for local people,” Slaughter said. “Other festivals are trying to get big in order to make a lot of money and as the price goes up, people get pushed out. This is a great opportunity for people to just come out, hear some music and have a good time. For us it means a chance to come down and play.” County Clare has been in existence since 2010 and is a family affair of sorts for the Slaughter family. “In 2010, I married a great singer and great musician,” Slaughter said speaking of his wife Heather. “I did a solo record around 2010-2011
and I wanted to have a band to bolster that.” Slaughter said that the group performs a significant amount of its own material. “We write about 70 percent of our own stuff,” he said. “We also do a lot of covers of popular songs.” The songs written by the group have attained chart-topping status. Slaughter said the group has recorded five or six top ten bluegrass songs, with one reaching number one. He said the group plays what he calls, “bluegrass with a traditional country feel.” “My wife and I are huge country fans,” he said, noting that his wife is a huge fan of George Jones, Merle Haggard and Conway Twitty. “We generally have a set list planned. My wife is coming as well and I’ll try to bring her up and have her sing.” Slaughter said the
group’s name County Clare comes from a song from the group New Grass Revival. “We were looking for something a little bit different,” he said. “Since we also happened to live in St. Clair County it just kind of stuck.” Slaughter and County Clair are one of three acts set to perform at the festival Saturday. The other two groups performing are Cottonmouth Creek and the Dustin “DBone” Benson Band. The cost to attend is $5 and no alcohol or pets are permitted on festival grounds.
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For additional information call 334-478-4289 • Special thanks to all who contributed or donated to this event. RAIN OR SHINE
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 • SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
OPINION
“Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.” --Thomas Jefferson THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
The Observer 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.
Our
Opinion
No need to panic and rush to the pump
A
gas leak in Shelby County has most of the East Coast in a panic. Gas prices are going up and some stations are running out of gas altogether. Crews are working non-stop to bypass the leak that allowed more than 300,000 gallons of gas to saturate the ground around the void in the pipe. ABC News is reporting that the fumes from the gas leak are causing animals to die and many motorists are freaking out because they are feeding off the fright they see on television and rushing to the pump like we are in the middle of the 1973 Oil Embargo or something. Before the panic forces us into rationing or something like it, we say relax and listen to the experts. GasBuddy is a website that tracks fuel prices all over the country. While they say there is reason for slightly higher prices due to a supply that is down because of the leak, GasBuddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan said the reason that stations are running out of gas is because of panicked consumers. “Though there have been
some fuel shortages in the states surrounding Alabama, measures taken by the states and federal government are ensuring that gas is still getting to impacted states (albeit more slowly) and that price spikes should be only temporary,” DeHaan said. “The higher prices are caused by panicked drivers who are running out to fill up tanks and gas buckets in anticipation of major shortages. “People should be aware the more they rush out in a panic, the higher prices will go up; motorists have complete control over this.” Several states including Alabama have declared states of emergency, which means that stations caught gouging prices could be charged with a crime that carries a hefty fine. The repair could be complete in a few days, a second pipeline has been converted for gas flow and trucks and barges are being used to get gas where it is needed. So relax. If you need gas get it. But don’t stockpile fuel. Don’t panic and maybe we can help keep prices from going sky high.
Already tired of presidential race before the debates
I
t is mid-September, fall is ever so slowly approaching, college and high school football are in full swing and I am already tired of hearing about the race for president of the United States. For regular readers of this column you will know that I am not a fan of any of the candidates. If ever there was a year for a “none of the above” selection this is the year. In Alabama, it appears the majority of people are Donald Trump supporters. Some are true Trump supporters, while others are simply Trump supporters because they are Republicans or because “he is better than Hillary.” Interestingly though he isn’t. Democrats supporting Hillary Clinton are no better. Some are true Clinton supporters, while others again support Clinton “isn’t Donald Trump.” Comparing Clinton and Trump and trying to figure out which is better is like comparing feces from two different animals. In the end it’s all ----… well you know. Regular readers of this column will also know that I rail against the media on a fairly regular basis even though I am a member of the media. It is quite
WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editorv
annoying to me that the media continues to fail to do its job to hold these candidates’ feet to the fire when it comes to their lies and misstatements. The sad thing is the media honestly knows what I am saying is true. None of these candidates would make a good president. Republicans, the general champions of small government, who have wailed against President Barack Obama and the Democrats for overstepping, want to elect a man who talks like he wants to run the country similar to how Benito Mussolini ran Italy, than as a limited government based republic. Recently the Dallas Morning News, generally one of the more conservative papers in the country ran an editorial stating the following, “Donald Trump is no Republican.” DMN is of course right, but that doesn’t stop many Republicans from bending over backwards to try and support their candidate. As for Democrats, Clinton isn’t really one of you either.
To many Democrats, Hillary is nothing more than a warmonger and corporate shill, two very dirty words when it comes to dyed in the wool Democrats. Sure she supports some Democrat causes, but she has also turned her back on others and created a whole host of enemies on the Democratic left. Perhaps instead of looking at this election as a bad thing I should look at it positively. I have always been against the two-party structure in this country. It leads to a dynamic of us vs. them, which is one of the primary reasons effective governance in this country has stalled. I am not necessarily advocating a European style party for every color of the rainbow metric, but I do think it is time for some fresh ideas, not the same tired contrivances regularly cooked up by our “established” parties. So if you want your country to get better, go do something in your own community. You can vote, but this year, more so than perhaps any other, your vote will not matter because truthfully all of the candidates for President stink. Carroll is the managing editor of the Tallapoosa Publishers newspapers in Elmore County.
Presidential politics: Your Ignorance v. stupidity
Opinion
Dear Editor, There is a tremendous difference between ignorance and stupidity. There is nothing wrong with being ignorant as it is a condition that can be corrected by education. All of us are ignorant regarding many things at different times in our lives hence the expression “I was ignorant of the fact until….” But once you learn the facts you are no longer ignorant and this education process goes on throughout our lifetime. Friday should have been such an educational moment for Donald Trump supporters. His “acknowledgment” that President Obama was born in the United States while simultaneously attempting to blame Hillary Clinton for starting the “birther” movement was nothing more than a blatant lie. Trump’s
public remarks clearly proved that he is a liar in addition to being a racist bigot. His claims regarding Clinton were immediately discredited, have previously been rated false by PolitiFact and have been given four “Pinocchios” by the Washington Post Fact Checker. Donald Trump has promoted the “birther” issue since at least 2011 as he has attempted to delegitimize our nation’s first black president. Now that his supporters know the facts they are no longer ignorant but if they chose to believe the facts is another matter. If they continue to believe Trump’s lies they are not ignorant, they are stupid and stupid is forever. As for the rest of us, don’t get mad, VOTE! Michael E. Waters Elmore
Eclectic Observer The
334-567-7811 • Fax 334-567-3284 email: news@thewetumpkaherald.com THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER (005-022) is published weekly on Thursday by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Periodical postage paid at Wetumpka, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Eclectic Observer, 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. •Obituaries - $.25 per word per paper. Additional $15 charge for a photo per paper. (Herald, Weekend, Observer, Tribune). •Weddings/Engagements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a 2-column photo. •Birth Announcements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a photo. SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Year in Elmore, Tallapoosa or Coosa County: $25 One Year Elsewhere: $38 The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription at any time. To subscribe or if you miss your paper, call 256-234-4281. © 2016 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher. ADMINISTRATION Steve Baker, publisher 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
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Most legislators heard about special session on TV news
F
olks, I have been observing and participating in the legislative process for over 50 years. Lest you think I am real old, I started paging in the legislature when I was 12, served in the House of Representatives close to two decades, and have been reporting on the legislative process for now close to two decades and I am here to tell you I have not seen a more up-and-down roller-coaster ride than the recently completed special session to deal with the lottery issue. Extraordinary special sessions of the legislature are the way to go to get something accomplished if you are governor. The legislature has to address the topic for which the governor has called the special session. It is called “the call.” During a regular session there are 500 bills introduced, granted a good many are local bills. However, there are a great many significant bills as well as the budgets. Therefore, there are a myriad of issues that the legislature can hide behind or get lost in the shuffle. The lottery issue has been looming for years. In fact, the Democrats in the House have been proposing it for close to a decade with the proceeds going to education, much like the Georgia lottery. Don Siegelman’s lottery would have passed in 1999 if the opponents had not created doubt at the last minute about sweetheart deals and chicanery hidden in the proposal. It has now been asleep for 16 years. In the interim, every state around us has started a lottery or full-fledged casino gambling with substantial money being reaped by our sister state’s governmental coffers.
STEVE FLOWERS Guest Columnist
Over the years, there has been an incremental weakening of moral opposition in the Heart of Dixie to purchasing a lottery ticket. There is still a 30 percent pious opposition in the state. That same percentage would also oppose drinking, dancing, and listening to secular music. Interestingly, there was about a one third bloc of senators and representatives, almost all Republican, who refused to let their constituents vote on the issue based on their piety. Even though the majority of the folks they represent would vote for the lottery if given the opportunity. My political observation is that their vote to disallow their people the right to vote may come back to haunt them come reelection time in 2018. People are actually incensed that the legislature could not simply pass legislation to let them keep their money at home. The lottery issue is a constitutional amendment and requires a three-fifths vote in both chambers to get on the ballot. That is 21 out of 35 votes in the senate and 63 out of 105 votes in the House. Then it would go on the ballot and you would vote yes or no. Polling indicates it would pass by a two-thirds vote. Our good ole Dr. Gov. Robert Bentley decided that the money-eating monster in the General Fund, Medicaid, needed feeding. Therefore, he called the special session and requested that the legislature address more funding
for Medicaid. Ole Bentley really is a good man, being a doctor he believes in providing adequate medical care for Alabama’s indigent older and younger people. Sixty-six percent of nursing home residents are on Medicaid and most of the children in the state are on Medicaid. Bentley is a good ole guy but he is not much of a politician or governor. The legislature has pretty much relegated him to being about as relevant as he was as a back-bench member of the House. However, in the past year he has become not only irrelevant, but somewhat of a joke. Bentley called the session and most of the legislators heard about it on the news. A special session can last 30 calendar days and 12 legislative days. There was an Aug. 24 deadline to get the initiative on the November general election ballot. He should have called the special session for July 15, not Aug. 15. That is about the only input he would have anyway. On another note, Bentley has pretty much been a failure in the legislative process. However, he deserves credit for showing resolve and statesmanship when it comes to standing up to the Vegas/Indian casino gambling interests and not succumbing to their intimidation. His decision to follow the constitution and leave the promulgation of the local casinos in the hands of the local sheriffs is to be commended. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www. steveflowers.us.
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 • PAGE 5
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PAGE 6 • SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
Autumn is in the air! It is one of the four seasons that we experience each year. The leaves turn vivid colors and then fall from the trees. The weather cools off, and many people begin to enjoy sports, such as football. Hayrides and pumpkins are everywhere you look, and hot cocoa is served to all. These are a few of the things that come with the season of Autumn! $XWXPQ RU )DOO LV WKH WKLUG RI IRXU VHDVRQV ZH H[SHULHQFH LQ D FDOHQGDU \HDU 7KH ¿UVW GD\ of Fall coincides with the Autumnal Equinox when the Sun is directly over the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere and occurs around September 23. The farther away we are from the sun, the cooler and shorter the days will become. Many activities occur at this time because of the nice weather. Oktoberfest is celebrated in many parts of the World, and Thanksgiving is celebrated in November in the United States. Animals begin to gather food in the Fall and make preparations for the Winter months. Birds begin to migrate south for the Winter, and farmers harvest their crops.
HOW MANY WORDS CAN YOU SPELL FROM THE WORD EQUINOX?
FALL WORD FIND
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$FRUQV $XWXPQ %RQ¿UH &KLOL OL OL &RUQXFRSLD )DOO )HVWLYDOV )RRWEDOO WEDOO DYHV +DOORZHHQ +DUYHVW +D\ULGH /HDYHV LQJ 3XPSNLQV 6ZHDWHU 7KDQNVJLYLQJ
FALL CROSSWORD WORD WOR Across Clues: 4. These fall from trees. rks the 6. Celestial event that marks beginning of Autumn. 8. Popular sport during Autumn. 9. Carved in the Fall. 10. Festival held in Europe annually. Down Clues: 1. Ride enjoyed during cool weather. 2. The weather becomes what? 3. Animals are busy in Autumn gatherin gathering what for the Winter? eason. 5. First month of the Fall season. rink. 7. Popular warm Autumn drink. 11. Another term for Autumn.
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THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 • PAGE 7
A look at the fleecing of America vs. the American Dream G
reetings from the corner of Bridge and Bridge! Fall is finally here. The high is only expected to be 91 degrees today! I think I need a jacket. Several years ago, Tom Brokaw used to present a weekly segment on NBC Nightly News. The segment was entitled “The Fleecing of America”. Each week, Brokaw would present a report on some financial practice having a detrimental impact on our nation’s economy. Too bad NBC did not continue the segment after Brokaw retired. I have what I believe is a perfect installment. It only took a small amount of research to put it together. I looked up the top 20 pharmaceutical CEO salaries for 2015. Do you have any idea
what the combined total is? Try $473,072,000 on for size. Yes, that is over four hundred seventy three million dollars. In 2015, 20 people made more than half of our state’s entire Medicare budget. I went to CVS last week to pick up a prescription for my daughter. As I stood in line, I could not help but notice the multitude of bags waiting to be picked up. I lost count at 200something, but my educated guess is that there were at least a thousand prescriptions waiting to be picked up. That would be roughly one for every 15 residents of our city area. I engaged in small talk with the other folks waiting in line and in the waiting area. Most appeared to be either retired or working class folk. Taking a gander around the parking lot,
JONATHAN YARBORO First Presbyterian
there were no exotic vehicles to be found. When I read the paper later in the day, I came across an article on the top 20 pharmaceutical CEO salaries in America. All of these images and the ongoing stories about funding Medicare in our state collided in a moment of numerical confusion. Where did that $470 million come from? It came from taxpayers; either in the form of insurance premiums, co pays, or taxes the government uses to
support health care. That can’t be right, can it? Yes, it can, and there is only one culprit to blame. We cannot hang the responsibility of this reality on corporate America, the government, the heath care industry, or any other single entity. The culprit to blame is basic, human greed. Tom Brokaw presented his segments on the fleecing of America with passion and integrity. I hope my casual observation would make him proud. There is something incredibly wrong with the picture I have just presented. Somehow, the land of opportunity has morphed into a land where the good of the whole is regularly sacrificed for the good of a few. Does society need the most cutting edge pharmaceutical services
available? Yes it does. Should the companies providing that service make a profit for their investors and reward their workers accordingly? Yes they should. The principle is not the problem. The off the chart disparity between producer and consumer is the problem. Every American of every variety should be able to look at this simple comparison and see that there is something wrong with it. The American Dream is not about greed. It is about opportunity for prosperity and contribution to the good of the whole. Which version are you dreaming of? Rev. Yarboro is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Wetumpka.
Religion Briefs Tallassee Church of Christ
Announces our new minister, Charlie Boddy. Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. Worship Service begins at 11 a.m. Sunday evening service begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday night services begin at 6 p.m. Visitor’s welcome at all services 334-2835437 209 Gilmer Ave.
Episcopal Church of the Epiphany
On Sunday, Sept. 25 at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, Maurice McCord will facilitate a discussion of the Lord’s Prayer, and at 10:30 a.m. he will lead the congregation in Morning Prayer. For more information,
visit the church website: http://epiphanytallassee.org/
Carrville Baptist Church
Sunday, Sept. 25, join us for our Fall Community Celebration. There will be inflatables, games, a train, pony rides, food and much, much more. Our regular Sunday Services are Sunday school 9:15 a.m., morning worship 10:30 a.m. and all Sunday evening activities are at 6 p.m. Our Wednesday night activities are at 6:30 p.m.
St Paul United Methodist
Family and Friend Day, Sunday Sept.
25 at 2 p.m. Rev J.D. Oliver will be the Speaker of the hour St. Paul Church Family. Rev. Hazell Stoudmire
one with you.
Notasulga’s First Assembly of God
The “River’s Edge Flea Market” is open every Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. All vendors are welcome: new items, old items, crafts, youth groups, ball teams, baked goods, produce and food. The flea market is sponsored by the East Tallassee UMC and is located across from City Hall. We will offer various priced booths. To reserve a space call Joan Wood at 334312-4913. All proceeds raised by ETUMC will be used for church-sponsored programs.
Will hold Homecoming on Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. until. Speaker will be David Bozeman.
Salem Macon Baptist
Forever Young will meet on Tuesday Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. Jan Griggs Martinez will be our speaker. She will be speaking on Alabama Baptist State Missions. Learn about what we Baptists do for God in Alabama. Bring a covered dish and some-
East Tallassee United Methodist Church
Area Churches AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-4413 Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8144 Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd. (Co. Rd. 3), Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-9143 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic 541-2006 Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-5754 Crossroads Assembly of God 2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 2855545 First Assembly of God 3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God 5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 569-2825 BAPTIST Abraham Baptist Church Millbrook Antioch Baptist Church 1115 Antioch Rd., Titus 567-2917 Beulah Baptist Church 2350 Grier Rd., Wetumpka 5142881 Blue Ridge Baptist 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-4325 Brookwood Baptist Grandview Rd., Millbrook Calvary Baptist 504 W. Osceola St., Wetumpka 567-4729 Central Baptist 3545 W. Central Rd., Wetumpka 541-2556 Coosada Baptist 20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic 541-4444 Faith Baptist 64 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 5674417 First Baptist Church 205 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-5191 First Baptist of Elmore Hwy. 14 Co. Rd. 74, Elmore Galilee Baptist 95 Old Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-4178 Good Hope Baptist 1766 S. Fleahop Rd., Eclectic
Goodship Baptist Hwy. 143, Millbrook Grace Baptist Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka 567-3255 Grandview Pines Baptist Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville Green Ridge Baptist 288 Turner Rd., Wetumpka 5672486 Harvest Baptist 2990 Main St., Millbrook Hillside Baptist 405 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Holtville Riverside Baptist 7121 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 514-5922 Lake Elam Baptist 4060 Gober Rd., Millbrook Liberty Hill Baptist 61 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-8750 Lighthouse Baptist 2281 Main St., Millbrook Living Water Baptist 1745 Grass Farm Rd. (Co. Rd. 80), Weoka Millbrook Baptist Millbrook 285-4731 Mitts Chapel Baptist 935 Cold Springs Rd., Deatsville 569-1952 Mt. Hebron West Baptist 150 Mt. Hebron Rd., Elmore 567-4441 Mt. Herron East Baptist Church 4355 Mt. Herron Rd. Eclectic, Al 36024 334-857-3689 Mountain View Baptist 1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka 567-4458 New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury 312-1878 New Home Baptist 1605 New Home Rd., Titus 5670923 New Hope Baptist 6191 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville 569-1267 New Lily Green Baptist 6504 Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville New Nazareth Baptist Hwy. 143, Deatsville Pleasant Hill Baptist Pleasant Hill Rd., Eclectic 5413460 Prospect Baptist Prospect Rd., Eclectic 567-5837 Redland Baptist 1266 Dozier Rd., Wetumpka 567-8649 Refuge Baptist Church 3098 Red Hill Road Tallassee 334-857-2638 Rehoberth Baptist 8110 Rifle Range Rd., Tallassee 567-9801 Rushenville Baptist 10098 Georgia Rd., Eclectic 541-2418
Saint James Baptist 1005 Nobles Rd., Wetumpka 567-6209 Saint James Baptist 101 Gantt Rd., Deatsville 5693006 Santuck Baptist 7250 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2364 Seman Baptist Seman, Alabama Shoal Creek Baptist 13214 Holtville Rd., Deatsville 569-2482 Springfield Baptist Hwy. 7, Millbrook Thelma Baptist 810 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 5673665 Titus Baptist 6930 Titus Rd., Wetumpka 334-531-2120 Tunnell Chapel Baptist 210 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2589 Victory Baptist 5481 Main St., Millbrook Wadsworth Baptist 2780 Hwy. 143, Deatsville 5692851 BAPTIST - MISSIONARY Atkins Hill 565 Atkins Rd., Wetumpka 5671141 Cathmagby Baptist 3074 Mitchell Creek Rd., Wetumpka 567-4787 First Missionary Baptist at Guilfield 412 Company St., Wetumpka 567-7455 Goodhope 1389 Willow Springs Rd. Wetumpka 567-7133 Lebanon 17877 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 5141097 Mount Canaan 1125 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-2141 Mount Pisgah 16621 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 5673668 Mt. Zion 371 AL Hwy. 14, Elmore, 567-2613 Mt. Zion #3 1813 Luke Paschal Rd., Eclectic New Home 5130 Elmore Rd., Wetumpka 567-5966 Second Missionary 760 N. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8601 Spring Chapel Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-6493 Sweetwater 163 Michael Lane, Wetumpka 334-538-9415 Tabernacle Baptist
1020 W. Tallassee St., Wetumpka 567-0620 BAPTIST - PRIMITIVE Bethel Old School 4625 Jackson Rd. (C.R. 103), Wetumpka Providence 4850 Chana Creek Rd., Wetumpka CATHOLIC Our Lady of Guadalupe 545 White Rd., Wetumpka 5670311 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ of Elmore 470 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 567-6670 Church of Christ Grandview Pines 165 Deatsville Hwy., Millbrook Cold Springs Church of Christ 5920 Alabama Hwy. 143, Deatsville Georgia Road Church of Christ 4003 Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-2804 Lightwood Church of Christ 251 New Harmony Rd., Deatsville 569-1510 Redland Road Church of Christ 2480 Redland Rd., Wetumpka 514-3656 Wetumpka Church of Christ W. Bridge St. At W. Main St., Wetumpka 567-6561 CHURCH OF GOD Elmore Church of God 10675 Rucker Road, Elmore Gethsemane Church of God 705 Cotton St., Wetumpka 5679886 Church at the Brook 2890 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Maranatha Church of God 2621 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 567-6786 Victory Tabernacle AOH Church of God Hwy 143, Millbrook Wetumpka Church of God Hwy. 9 N. Wetumpka 215-3091 CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN Cedarwood Congregational Christian 10286 US Hwy 231 N, Wetumpka 567-0476 Seman Congregational Christian 15970 Central Plank Rd., Seman Union Congregational Christian 8188 Lightwood Rd., Marbury 569-2122 EPISCOPAL The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2602 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee 252-8618 Trinity Episcopal Church 5371 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka
567-7534 St. Michael & All Angels Church 5941 Main St., Millbrook HOLINESS New Beginnings Holiness 865 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-9211 Summit Holiness 2050 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Temple of Deliverance Holiness 620 Alabama St., Wetumpka 514-3114 JEHOVAH’S WITNESS Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 9235 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-8100 LATTER DAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1405 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-8339 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Cobbs Ford Rd., Millbrook LUTHERAN Christ Lutheran Church 2175 Cobbs Ford Rd., Prattville PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church 100 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8135 Millbrook Presbyterian Corner of Main St. & Coosada Rd. Valley View Presbyterian - PCA 4125 Rifle Range Rd. Wetumpka 386-2386 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST First Elmore Seventh Day Adventist 210 Lucky Town Rd., Elmore 514-1020 INDEPENDENT METHODIST Claud Independent Methodist Church 81232 Tallassee Hwy, Eclectic 541-2552 UNITED METHODIST Cain’s Chapel United Methodist 96 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville 569-2375 Central United Methodist Church 11721 Central Plank Rd. Central Elmore United Methodist Church 40 Hatchet St., Elmore 567-8653 First United Methodist Church 306 W. Tuskeena St., Wetumpka 567-7865 First United Methodist Church 3350 Edgewood, Millbrook Harmony United Methodist Church 8000 Titus Rd., Titus Mulder Memorial United Meth-
DID YOU KNOW?
odist 3454 Fire Tower Rd., Wetumpka 567-4225 New Style United Methodist 64 Old Georgia Plank Spur, Wetumpka 567-9840 Oak Valley Station United Methodist 162 Parsonage Road, Tallassee 541-3924 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 1003 Pierce Chapel Rd., Santuck 265-6099 Providence United Methodist 1540 Providence Rd., Titus Robinson Springs Methodist Church 5980 Main St., Millbrook Trinity United Methodist 135 Little Weoka Creek Rd., Equality 567-9997 Union United Methodist 691 Central Rd. Eclectic Wallsboro United Methodist 11066 US Hwy. 231, Wetumpka CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Millbrook Church of the Nazarene 3251 Browns Rd., Millbrook PENTECOSTAL Faith Deliverance Church 475 Jackson St., Elmore 567-9209 OTHER Central Bible Chapel 3630 Edgewood Rd., Millbrook Chapel of Praise Hwy. 14, Millbrook Cornerstone Full Gospel 9301 US Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-9143 East Chapel MP Church Airport Rd., Millbrook Grace Bible Church 2251 Main St., Millbrook Gracepoint Community Church 78223 Tallassee Highway, Wetumpka 514-9292 New Life Church - Millbrook Sanctuary Worship Center 1688 Ceasarville Rd., Wetumpka Servant Fellowship Church P O Box 1423, Wetumpka 5672190 servantfellowshipchurch@windstream.net The Worship Center 2705 Williams Rd., Wetumpka Time of Refreshing Fellowship 117 E. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-7750 Victory Temple (Pentecostal church) 1173 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka 567-7779 Words of Life Church 105 Cousins Rd., Wetumpka 514-2730
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The Wetumpka Herald
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
Assault
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 • PAGE 9
continued from page 1
Smirnoff used force which exceeded that which was necessary. “ This investigation originally began in March when the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, State Bureau of Investigations and Federal Bureau of Investigations initiated an investigation to the alleged assault. Following the investigation, the evidence obtained was presented to the Tallapoosa gran Jury on Tuesday, September 13. According to Rodgers, Smirnoff has been arrested and is now out on a $5000 bond. “It is our understanding that he turned himself in on these charges to the Tallapoosa County Jail and is now released on bond to await trial,” Smirnoff’s was a member of the Tallassee police force for approximately 2 years. According to Rodgers, “this is an unfortunate set of events.”
JOBS available Advertising Sales Representative Alexander City & Wetumpka Offices As an Advertising sales representative you will be expected to develop new business and maintain an existing account base of clients for The Alexander City Outlook, The Wetumpka Herald, The Dadeville Record, The Tallassee Tribune, The Eclectic Observer, Lake Magazine, Lake Martin Living Magazine, Elmore County Living Magazine, Digital Sales and other special publications.
Salary+Commission, Excellent Benefit Package TPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualifications Must be able to work in a fast paced and deadline oriented environment. Candidates must have excellent oral, written, and communication skills including basic computer skills with Mircosoft, Google Documents and email. Great organization skills and self-motivated. Reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
Please email resume to marketing@alexcityoutlook.com
PAGE 10 • SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
SPORTS
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THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER
SIXTH SENSE: Panthers hope turnover sense leads to homecoming win By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
Creating turnovers require a developed sense. Elmore County’s defense has forced 11 turnovers through five games this season, including six last week that the team turned into its first Class 4A, Region 3 victory versus Childersburg at home. The defensive backs have eight picks -- five against the Tigers last Friday -- and when the Panthers’ (3-2) sixth sense kicks in and they win the takeaway battle, they are 3-0. “We just keep getting better and better, keep working hard at it,” senior Tyric Belyeu, who didn’t start playing cornerback until the third game of the year, said at practice Tuesday. “We keep practicing it, making it like a body movement where it’s just a habit. That’s how we create our turnovers and that’s how we win the game.” Off to its best start in eight seasons, the MontgomeryCatholic Knights (3-1) fly in for ECHS’s homecoming Friday and pit their aerial attack against the confident Panther secondary with senior Will Venable at safety, junior Terrence Head and sophomore
D.J. Patrick along with Belyeu. “Stop the pass. If we stop the run, they’re going to look to pass and if they don’t have that, we’ve won the game,” Belyeu, who picked off his first pass last week, said. “We just keep on fighting and have it to where they can’t pass the ball at all and all they have to do is run it up our gut. Our linebackers help out with that by filling in our gaps, ant it’s over with. “(Catholic) likes to throw the ball a lot. But that’s easy to stop. We just have to play fundamentals and do our job and get it done.” Offensively, Belyeu (6-foot, 160) had taken the reins as Venable’s No. 1 target at receiver as the senior has garnered five touchdowns on 18 catches for 386 yards. “Every time I want the ball. I tell Will, pass me the ball,” he said. “I can beat them, or if I want to run a stop, just pass me the ball and I’ll do the rest. We just have good communication.” Communication on both sides of the ball will be key this week, Belyeu said, as the Panthers come into the homecoming matchup against the Knights off a region
Cory Diaz / The Observer
Elmore County senior wide receiver and defensive back Tyric Belyeu (left) covers a teammate during 11-on-11s at the team’s practice Tuesday.
victory. “It was very big. It helped us out, I think it gave us more
confidence coming into this game. I think we’re going to be ready for it and be
prepared.” ECHS and Catholic kickoff at 7 p.m. at Burt-Haynie Field.
ASWA WEEK 5 FOOTBALL POLLS Class 7A
1. McGill-Toolen (28) (4-0) 354 2. Hoover (2) (4-1) 264 3. Hewitt-Trussville (5-0) 249 4. Central-Phenix City (3-1) 198 5. Bob Jones (4-1) 166 6. Lee-Montgomery (4-0) 157 7. Davidson (4-1) 100 8. Enterprise (5-0) 82 9. James Clemens (2-2) 41 10. Mountain Brook (4-1) 38
Class 6A
Cory Diaz / The Observer
Elmore County sophomore hitter Madison Traylor (8) lifts the ball over the net against Dadeville Monday at ECHS.
ECHS dominates, wins 10th straight By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor
For Elmore County volleyball coach Kimberly Moncrief, her team’s current 10-match win streak hides just as much as it reveals. The Panthers (10-2) defeated Class 4A, Area 5 foes Dadeville, 3-0, and Tallassee, 3-0, this week, and haven’t lost a set amidst one of the team’s more dominant stretches since Moncrief took over the program nine seasons ago. ECHS bounced back from dropping both matches in its season-opening tri-match, and while she’s been impressed with her team, Moncrief hopes they haven’t become overly confident. “That’s good (that we haven’t dropped a set), but I also wonder what will happen when we do drop one and have to come back,” the coach said. “How many sets we’ve won, I don’t look at that as much as how we’re winning sets. There’s been times in the past where we’ll play good competition, and we’re used to winning, and we’ll drop one and just give up.” While a thought for concern, Moncrief said she doesn’t doubt the leadership from seniors Hannah Traylor and Madeline Taylor, among others. Plus, the Panthers practice drills where they have to come from behind, down a set or a bunch of points, to win. “This team has fight in them and they push for every point. Nothing is a given,” Moncrief said. “We do work a lot in practice where they have to come from behind. “We emphasize every point matters. We want 100 percent effort 100 percent of the time, and we put them in situations out there where it drives that and enforces that.” Elmore County earned two area wins over Dadeville
Monday and at Tallassee Tuesday, improving to 4-0 and one step closer to hosting the area tournament for the seventh straight season. Sophomore hitter Madison Traylor paced the Panthers in the pair of matches with 16 kills, eight aces and seven digs. Hannah Traylor, senior hitter, collected 15 kills, including a team-high nine kills at Tallassee along with seven digs. Junior middle Hannah Hughes had six kills and a block, while junior setter Nicole Ferpes 13 had assists in each match. “Our area opponents are strong and fierce competition and they want to win, too. But we kept pushing and did the things that we do well, not letting the other team control the situation,” Moncrief said. “They didn’t let Tallassee control the game, and we controlled what we wanted to do.” ECHS returns to action Monday at Sylacauga at 5:30 p.m.
EMS gets 1st win of year vs. Southside The Eclectic Middle School volleyball won its first match the season over Southside Middle School Monday. Behind eighth-grader Madison Britt’s team-leading seven kills, the Panthers were able to stay ahead of the Tigers for most of the way. “I am really proud of my girls,” EMS volleyball coach Jenna Mead said. “We have worked really hard to get to this point.” Eighth-grader Katie Pollard helped Eclectic race out to leads with eight aces. EMS hosts Prattville Junior High School and Pike Road for a tri-match today at Abe Brown Memorial Gymnasium.
1. Blount (25) (5-0) 336 2. Spanish Fort (1) (4-1) 261 3. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (1) (5-0) 239 4. Opelika (2) (5-0) 212 5. Oxford (1) (5-0) 166 6. Clay-Chalkville (4-1) 162 7. Minor (5-0) 99 8. Park Crossing (4-1) 95 9. Hartselle (5-0) 75 10. Gardendale (4-1) 38 Others receiving votes: Wetumpka (4-1) 8, Ramsay (4-0) 7, Parker (3-1) 4, Saraland (3-2) 3, Chelsea (4-1) 2, Pinson Valley (3-2) 2, Hazel Green (2-2) 1.
Class 5A
1. Jackson (23) (4-0) 339 2. St. Paul’s (6) (4-1) 285 3. Russellville (4-0) 236 4. Mortimer Jordan (4-1) 196 5. Beauregard (3-0) 181 6. Etowah (4-1) 140 7. Scottsboro (1) (4-0) 135 8. Carroll (4-0) 60 9. Demopolis (4-1) 52 10. Central-Clay Co. (4-1) 34
Class 4A
1. UMS-Wright (26) (4-1) 344 2. Madison Acad. (2) (3-1) 258 3. Haleyville (2) (5-0) 242 4. Andalusia (4-1) 187 5. Cordova (4-1) 148 6. Leeds (4-1) 142 7. Munford (3-1) 133 8. Thomasville (3-0) 90 9. Rogers (5-0) 61 10. North Jackson (3-1) 50 Others receiving votes:
Jacksonville (5-0) 24, Handley (2-2) 19, West Limestone (4-1) 6, Tallassee (4-1) 4, Montgomery Catholic (3-1) 2.
Class 3A
1. Piedmont (28) (5-0) 354 2. Gordo (1) (4-0) 272 3. Opp (4-0) <ws>237 4. Montevallo (1) (4-0) 204 5. Oakman (4-0) 169 6. Mobile Chr. (3-1) 144 7. Colbert Co. (3-1) 102 8. Ohatchee (5-0) 86 9. T.R. Miller (2-2) 50 10. Lexington (4-0) 34
Class 2A
1. Elba (29) (4-0) 357 2. Fyffe (1) (4-0) 267 3. G.W. Long (3-0) 234 4. Lanett (5-0) 209 5. LaFayette (5-0) 165 6. Cleveland (4-0) 139 7. Washington Co. (3-1) 105 8. Tanner (2-2) 93 9. New Brockton (2-2) 61 10. Red Bay (4-0) 47
Class 1A
1. Maplesville (26) (3-0) 348 2. Linden (4) (4-0) 282 3. Spring Garden (4-0) 228 4. Cedar Bluff (3-1) 174 5. Addison (5-0) 157 6. Pickens Co. (3-1) 129 7. Sweet Water (3-1) 114 8. Decatur Heritage (3-1) 87 9. Wadley (4-0) 61 10. Georgiana (5-0) 57
AISA
1. Bessemer Acad. (29) (5-0) 356 2. Autauga Acad. (1) (4-0) 268 3. Monroe Acad. (4-1) 225 4. Escambia Acad. (4-1) 214 5. S. Choctaw Acad. (4-0) 50 6. Marengo Acad. (3-1) 141 7. Chambers Acad. (4-0) 133 8. Fort Dale Acad. (3-1) 64 9. Lowndes Acad. (3-1) 59 10. Pike Liberal (3-1) 50