SPORTS: Stanhope Elmore baseball sweeps Wetumpka, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 14 | $1.00
Holtville High School basketball coach terminated Holtville High School basketball coach arrested WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | VOL. 123, NO. 5 | $1.00
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By Cliff Williams AStaff virtual Writerteacher at Elmore County School’s Edge program terminated ElA was virtual teacher by at the Elmore more County Board of Education County School’s Edge program Thursday an and emergency has beenduring arrested charged called withmeeting. school employee distribAuting personnel issue was the obscene material to only a stuthing on the agenda. dent. InElmore January,County Emmanuel Andre Sheriff Bill Wilson II, 32said of Montgomery, was Franklin Emmanuel Andre arrested with school Wilsonand II, charged 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
employee distributing obscene material to a student. Wilson was the head basketElmore Counball coach at Holtville High tySchool Sheriff andBill was Franklin placed onsaid adWilson turned ministrative himself to auleave in Jan. 13 thorities. according to ElWilson County was the more head basketball Schools superWILSON coach at Holtintendent Richville School and was placed ard High Dennis. WILSON on“We administrative Jan. 13 had a re- leave port,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
according to Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. investigation and handed it off a report,”authorities. Dennis said to“We the had appropriate in January. “We had a He was also placed onpreliminary adminisinvestigation trative leave atand thathanded time.” it off toDennis the appropriate authorities. He said school officials was also placed on administrative follow the same procedure leave that time.” receive a when atadministrators Dennisofsaid school officials folreport allegations against low the staff sameand procedure when adschool employees. ministrators al“Once wereceive hand aitreport over,ofwe legations against know very little school about staff whatand is employees. going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
“Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with Franklin said investigators authorities if necessary.” with the Elmore County SherFranklin said with iff’s Office haveinvestigators the alleged victhe Elmore County Sheriff’s Oftim’s phone. Authorities collectfice have the alleged victim’s ed Wilson’s phone as well. phone. Authorities Wil“You could see acollected conversason’sbetween phone asthe well. tion two,” Franka conversation lin“You said.could “Mr. see Wilson is going thesomeone two,” Franklin said. tobetween contend had the “Mr. Wilson to contend security code istogoing his phone and someone the security code he was nothad responsible. There his phone and he was not reistoother information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
AFTER THE STORM Chamber holds luncheon Residents survey property damage, NWS crews on their way
welcoming members CLIFF WILLIAMS / THE HERALD
A Tuesday storm blew down trees around homes and businesses on Highway 229 near Cherokee Trail in Kent. Some cars sustained damage as did a few roofs. No injuries have been reported as of 3 p.m. Tuesday. For the latest information, visit www. thewetumpkaherald.com. By Cliff Williams Members Staff Writer of the Wetumpka The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon to install new officers and board attend the members for the first time in a while Thursday. chamber’s “A The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gathTaste of Our erings but the chamber celebrated the successes of Home Town” business in Wetumpka. luncheon. “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couCLIFF WILLIAMS/ ple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your THE HERALD attendance is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each See CHAMBER, Page A3
sponsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson was released on a Wilson.” $6,000 bond 90 minutes afreleased a $6,000 ter Wilson turningwas himself in on accordbond 90 minutes after ing to the Elmore Countyturning Jail himself in according to the Elwebsite. more County website.also Dennis saidJail Wilson Dennisother said Wilson coached coached sportsalso at Holtotherschools sports at Holtvillebeing schools ville including including being theand head track the head track coach assiscoach and assistant tant football coach. football coach. Wilsonsaid hasother yet tostaff havewould a trial on Dennis for the duties of Wilson at fillthe in charge. Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Police continue investigation, man no longer No alcohol license forsuspected The Ranch
CLIFF WILLIAMS / THE HERALD
Members of the Elmore County Commission pose with Edgewood Academy’s Jake Allison and his family as the commission recognizes Allison for a AISA Weightlifting State Championship.
Multiplex
By Jake Arthur Chief Videographer BY CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer Police are still investigating the fatal shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart parklot onCounty Jan. 20.Commission decided too The ing Elmore Police werewere dispatched parking lot almany complaints enoughtotothe say no to an p.m. for a “shots fired” call. cohol around license 10:45 to an event venue on Williams Road there, they found Centell Winston, north Once of Wetumpka. of Tallassee, dead a gunshot wound The 42 Ranch Multiplex justofoff Highway 9 near in Chapel the driver seat ofChurch his vehicle. Tunnell Baptist was denied an alAccording to vote Wetumpka police chief cohol license in a 4-2 last week. But the matwasofnot shoot-for ter hasGreg beenBenton, on thethis plate thea random Commission severaling. months. “This was a random “In late 2021, wenot heldrandom, a publicnot hearing to conact,”alcohol said Benton. believe the vicsider this license,”“We commission chair Troy tim and the perpetrator knew each other.” Stubbs said. “We had groups speak for and against This is the first homicide in Wetumpka the license.” in The the last measure homicide were in Stubbsover saidthree thoseyears. against the city took place in 2018. mainly residents having issues with litter and “It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” said Benton. See MULTIPLEX, Page A3 Benton didn’t want to speculate on the
CDC greenlights second COVID booster for adults over 50, immunocompromised See SHOOTING, Page A3
BY SIRI HEDREEN Multimedia Reporter
booster dose at least four months after their first booster of any pharmaceutical company. “Boosters are safe, and people schoolwide assembly at Holtville over the age of 50 can now get an High School. Elmore County Suadditional booster four months afperintendent Richard Dennis was ter their prior dose to increase their in attendance for the presentation. protection further,” CDC director “Kyle Futral is an exceptionDr. Rochelle Walensky in a al principal and is very said proacstatement. “This is especially imtive and innovative in his thinkportant for those 65 and older and ing and approaches to managing those 50 andDennis older said, with underlyhis school,” ing medical conditions As principal of Holtvilleincrease High their riskFutral for severe disease from School, has transformed COVID-19 as they are the most
likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time.” At the height of the omicron the school culture from that of a shift in a positive direction. The surge, those who were boosted school struggling with low mo- school experienced a 62 percent were seven times less likely to rale, achievement and attendance decrease in discipline referrals, be hospitalized with COVID-19 to a school that strives for excel- 50 percent decrease in chronic than the unvaccinated, according lence. By collaborating with staff, absenteeism, 7 percent increase to the and 21 issues times less many ofCDC, the school’s werelike-in the graduation rate, 33 percent ly to die. identified and addressed. Futral’s increase in CCR rate and a 20 perCOVID-19 leadership style ofvaccinations listening, en- arecent increase in ACT proficiency given by the Tallapoosa Coun-in the last five years. couraging, supporting, organizing ty Health Department on Monand challenging the staff and stuSee PRINCIPAL, Page A3 dents, caused the school culture to See BOOSTER, Page A3
CLIFF WILLIAMS / THE
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
The CDC updated its COVID-19 Staff Report guidance to recommend a second booster dose for the immunocomThe Alabama Association of promised and adults over 50, alSecondary School Principals lowing those at higher risk for se(AASSP) named Holtville High vere illness to receive fourth School principal Kyletheir Futral the COVID-19 shot. 2022 Alabama High School PrinThe comes after an aucipalupdate of the Year. thorization by the Food and Drug The High School Principal of Administration Tuesday. Those the Year award was presented to eligible areFriday, authorized to during receivea Futral on Jan. 28 their second Pfizer or Moderna
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Aretha Holley fills a syringe with the Pfizer vaccine at the drive through vaccination clinic at Great Bethel Missionary Baptist in 2021.
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