The Wetumpka FFA Alumni Championship Rodeo is coming to the Wetumpka Sports Complex May 2-3 Get tickets here – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wetumpka-ffa-alumni-championship-rodeo-tickets-1267826797079 Come on out to the Wetumpka FFA Alumni Championship Rodeo for a weekend of thrilling rodeo action and fun Welcome y’all to the Wetumpka FFA Alumni Championship Rodeo Saddle up for a weekend of thrilling rodeo action at the Wetumpka Sports Complex Get ready to watch cowboys and cowgirls compete in events like bull riding It’s gonna be a rootin’ tootin’ good time for the whole family grab your boots and cowboy hats and join us for a weekend of fun Main Street Wetumpka recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Fall Line Park welcomed all in attendance and recognized the dedicated park curators for their hard work and vision in bringing the park to life “It’s been a long time coming,” Greene said “The official ribbon-cutting for Fall Line Park.” You are the reason projects like this happen President/State Coordinator at Main Street Alabama “Main Street is a family and downtown district is a place where everybody can call home everybody gets a piece of it It takes so many people to do the right thing,” she said Wetumpka was one of the original Main Street Alabama communities was the first Director for the local nonprofit Wirth recognized Stubbs for her hard work and dedication to the organization Main Street Alabama Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair “Things like this just don’t come out of the ground I want to thank our primary funders of this.” “The entire project was made possible by fundraising efforts that’s what so important We raised every penny of it,” Fain continued Bobby Barrett with the Wetumka Lions club spoke about Sam Turner You cannot cover everything about Sam Turner in two minutes He was in Lions Club for 52 years and 2 months.” Sam’s father Cliff was a 50-year Lion’s Club member Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis spoke at the ribbon-cutting Willis also thanked park curators for their efforts to make Wetumpka a great place to live They know what we’re trying to do in Wetumpka and every day they’ve been supportive of what we are attempting to do here,” Willis continued I can promise you; we aren’t finished There’s a lot more coming to Wetumpka which is another great development that has happened in Wetumpka we applaud everyone that was involved in this To highlight the significance of the park’s name took the stage to explain the geological and historical importance of the Fall Line offering attendees insight into the natural landmark that inspired the park King originally characterized the Wetumpka impact crater “I’m here today to talk to you about the Fall Line,” she said “It marks the border between two different geological provinces that part of Wetumpka lay in.” The Fall Line separates the Appalachian Highlands and the Coastal Plain  The Appalachian Highlands stretch all the way from Newfoundland in Canada down to right here in central Alabama The Coastal Plains is a low-lying area of mostly flat land that is adjacent to the ocean it stretches along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico The Coast Plain formed during the Cretaceous Period That flooding caused the creation of the cretaceous Interior Seaway and the coast plain where we and a lot of the southeastern states in the United States rest,” Mays explained This is why marine sediment can be found in the area “There is a lot of preferential weathering that causes the elevation to be starkly different between these two provinces so we have very distinct low elevation and slope down here and a high and steep slope towards the Appalachians,” Mays continued wildlife and plant life can also vary greatly between the two regions We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at editorelmore@thewetumpkaherald.com or call us at 334-567-7811 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWETUMPKA, Ala. (WSFA) - The Wetumpka Police Department says the body of a missing 81-year-old woman has been found Authorities say Elizabeth Clark was reported missing Wednesday afternoon after last being seen around 1:30 p.m The Wetumpka Police and Fire Departments said they had been actively searching the area since the time of her disappearance and continued to look for her Thursday morning The mayor thanked the citizens who stepped forward to help by reviewing camera footage The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death is ongoing Willis said no additional details will be released at this time Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInELMORE COUNTY, Ala. (WSFA) - All baseball and softball program tryouts at two middle schools in Elmore County are being temporarily postponed according to Elmore County Public Schools Superintendent Richard Dennis The postponement comes as the school system works to finalize a plan that would create a vertical alignment between Wetumpka Middle and Redland Middle which both feed students into Wetumpka High School Dennis said an April 4th meeting with principals and athletic directors from WHS’s feeder pattern discussed the vertical alignment issue though specific details are still being finalized all athletic tryouts at the two middle schools are postponed until a final plan is in place Dennis’ office said current discussions support allowing the middle schools to keep their existing athletic programs He added that students from WMS and RMS “will have the opportunity to try out for a combined middle school team that aligns with the high school varsity and JV programs.” Those combined tryouts would happen before the two schools hold their individual school tryouts Because WMS and RMS both flow into the same feeder pattern for the high school Dennis said they would not be able to compete against each other parents will have the choice to decide which tryouts their student participates in We believe this model will provide more opportunities for middle school students to engage in athletics and prepare for future participation at the high school level,” Dennis said to discuss the direction of WHS’s athletics The high school’s principal and athletic director will be at the Wetumpka Community Meeting EDITOR’S NOTE: The school system is clarifying that the postponement affects only baseball and softball programs at the two middle schools Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWETUMPKA, Ala. (WSFA) - A couple of longtime Wetumpka residents will use Valentine’s Day to show some love for their community Jamie and Cathy Thornton will be joined by the City of Wetumpka the Wetumpka Downtown Redevelopment Authority and Main Street Wetumpka as they unveil a long-awaited new business The city says the Thornton’s new shop will be announced Friday at 11 a.m. at The Alleyway This will mark a significant milestone with the redevelopment of the last vacant building in the immediate downtown district Private investment in downtown Wetumpka has exceeded $5.2 million since 2016 “This upcoming addition is yet another example of the commitment from both public and private stakeholders to preserving and enhancing the heart of our city,” the city said in a statement The downtown Wetumpka area significantly benefitted from national exposure in 2021 when HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover” filmed multiple renovation projects Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store The owner of Grove Station has announced the bakery market and restaurant will be moving from Tallassee to downtown Wetumpka The announcement came at a news conference this morning It will be located in a long-vacant building at 105 Company Street The bakery will be open in the next six months with the hopes of having the entire building ready in 8 to 10 months “What I’m bringing here is a marketplace a wine and beer store and some delicious food for you,” Grove Station owner Corrie Sid said had purchased the building with a vision of reinvesting in their community  After months of planning and collaboration the City of Wetumpka’s Economic Development Department the Wetumpka Downtown Redevelopment Authority (WDRA) and Main Street Wetumpka worked together to make the property ready for Grove Station “Jamie and Kathy Thornton have been passionate supporters of this community for many years,” Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis said “Their decision to purchase and re-develop the building downtown is a testament to their belief and Wetumpka’s future Their investment ensures that this building which sat vacant for decades will now be a driving part of our downtown once again.” private investment in downtown Wetumpka has surpassed $5 million dollars The building that Grove Station will be moving into was the last vacant property on Company Street 8 On Your Side i-Team Saving Selma Pay It Forward What the Tech Mugshots Elizabeth Clark – Photo from Wetumpka Police Department The body of a missing Wetumpka woman has been found Wetumpka police say 81-year-old Elizabeth Clark was found around 8:30 a.m Clark was last seen around 1:30PM on Wednesday “We extend our deepest thoughts and prayers to Mrs and loved ones,” said Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis “May they find peace and strength in the days ahead and may the community continue to support them with care and respect.” Mayor Willis tells Action 8 News that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and passing remains ongoing Thanks to time in the national spotlight on HGTV's 'Home Town Takeover'—and a boost in tourism—this classic Alabama town is worth a visit A Wetumpka woman was killed and three others were hurt in a crash between a car and a pickup truck in Elmore County Alabama State Troopers say 24-year-old Dawnielle Rhodes was driving a car that was hit by a pickup truck driven by 20-year-old Elijah Arant Investigators say Rhodes wasn’t using a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene State troopers say Arant was injured and taken to Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery for treatment Two others were also injured and taken to the hospital: 24-year-old Skylar Bearden of Wetumpka and a 17-year-old juvenile who was in the pickup The wreck happened at about 7:36PM Friday at the intersection of Fern Road and Ceasarville Road The 28th annual Impact Crater Tour is giving people a chance to learn more about the meteor that changed the landscape forever A two-day event started today at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wetumpka The event started with a 30-minute presentation by experts who shared the history of the crater More than 300 people are expected to take these tours this year The meteor is estimated to have struck about 85 million years ago in the worst natural disaster in the history of what would eventually become Alabama The crater that is left behind is about five miles wide The meteor penetrated the Earth for 2,000 feet with an explosion greater than 175,000 nuclear bombs Auburn University geoscience students who studied under Dr who is responsible for a lot of the scientific evidence  involving the crater LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WETUMPKA IMPACT CRATER Recently it was announced that the very popular Grove Station restaurant is leaving Tallassee and making a move to historic downtown Wetumpka Grove Station Owner Corrie Sid purchased Wetumpka’s Our Place Cafe in 2024 and is excited about locating a second restaurant with Grove Station in historic downtown The will be located in the Overton Building which was purchased by Jamie and Cathy Thornton in January 2024 The Thorntons are renovating the building in preparation for Grove Station to move the business The unveiling saw a packed street with plenty of excitement Speakers included Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis Overton building owner Cathy Thornton and Grove Station owner Corrie Sid Sid spoke to the media after the unveiling saying she is so thankful for the Wetumpka community and officials which have been very welcoming “It is a wonderful opportunity for me and allows me to expand what I was doing in Tallassee It allows me to work with a city that is committed to small business It gives my staff here at Our Place and Wetumpka other opportunities for employment It allows me to offer what I know about food to the downtown community of Wetumpka.” Sid said she knew she wanted to move from the Tallassee community and began contacting other areas But she felt Wetumpka stood out and accepted her with open arms Officials told her they believed there was a wonderful opportunity available she said she had the same experience when she opened Grove Station in Tallassee “Older buildings have amazing charm and amazing challenges,” Sid said “Luckily I am aware of all the things I need to do to be ensure this building is ready to go.” “This is the last empty building in downtown Wetumpka “We are so thankful for everyone that’s investing in our town.” This long-vacant building is getting a new life thanks to the Thorntons and the Wetumpka Downtown Redevelopment Authority which are helping to bring new business to town Wetumpka has seen an amazing renaissance over the past several years A tornado that caused major destruction in the city several years ago was devastating but from the ruins came a new energy that is palpable officials and agencies coming together for a plan for downtown Officials have said watching this plan fall into place is the reward for untold hours and huge input from residents and business owners and we are honored to be part of this transition and for the partnership with the city and the redevelopment authority,” said owner Corrie Sid Sid said the new Grove Station will have many of the elements customers have come to expect She did not want to compete with the very popular George’s Butcher Shop Early plans are to get the bakery in place then continue with the overall development of the new Grove Station “It is important for us to get our baker over here and up and running She is baking now for some of our local coffee shops,” Sid said the entire building will be easily accessible from either side Customers can stop by the bakery and continue to walk through and pick up a sandwich from the deli a wine and beer store and delicious food.” Grove Station will be a specialty food market and gathering space featuring high-quality eats an artisanal bakery and amazing culinary experiences The plan is to have the bakery portion open for business within six to eight months with the other offerings completed within eight to 10 months The EA News welcomes Grove Station to Wetumpka and we believe the city will add another jewel to the crown of historic Wetumpka People in Montgomery and Wetumpka got the chance to celebrate Mardi Gras a parade was held in Wetumpka that brought out thousands Action 8’s Savanna Sabb and Carrington Cole were in Thunder Truck joining plenty of other parade participants in throwing beads to the crowds a block party was held at the lower end of Dexter Avenue with music and plenty of fun more and more Mardi Gras celebrations have been held in our part of the state Mardi Gras season will have its finale on Tuesday There was considerable discussion at the recent Elmore County School Board meeting regarding the proposed vertical alignment of athletic programs at Wetumpka and Redland middle schools The initiative aims to strengthen the school system’s feeder program potentially enhancing both the scope and competitiveness of its athletic offerings discussions are limited to aligning only two athletic programs between the middle schools “The only two sports that we are talking about are baseball and softball,” said Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis each middle school would retain its individual sports teams while also contributing student-athletes to a combined team made up of players from both schools Because both middle school teams serve as feeder programs for Wetumpka High School they would not compete against each other under the proposed alignment the vertical alignment of the two middle school teams is a change that some parents in the community have been advocating for reaching out to me wanting more competitive-level programs,” Dennis said “And I’m not saying the current programs aren’t competitive but when you split a big middle school in half you lose that competitiveness in some areas.” aligning the athletic programs could also increase participation in the feeder system—greater participation Dennis believes there are several high caliber student athletes in Elmore County that currently participate in “travel ball” sports Travel ball is a type of youth league in which teams travel to various locations for tournaments and games and it can incorporate a high-level competition and skill “Travel softball is not the only thing,” he said We have Tim Tebow athletes that are homeschooled and that’s what they do “You’ve got athletics at all levels of competition.” Dennis noted that the effort to align programs at the middle school level could potentially extend beyond athletics we’re trying to set the buffet table—not just in academics because those are just as important as athletics,” he said The Elmore County Board of Education will host another community meeting on Thursday the Elmore County Road Show will be presented Superintendent Richard Dennis encourages all parents to attend and stay informed “I hope I get some Redland people who did show up for the community meeting last week come next Thursday because you’re going to get to see the show and we’ll talk about it You’ve got people in your communities that are asking for we are trying to provide We have to figure out how to do it logistically These plans are only in the discussion phase School board members began discussion last week and are working to create a less fluid plan The Elmore County BOE is also changing its policy manual to expand extracurricular and co-curricular opportunities to students not enrolled in Elmore County School System Update on Middle School Athletics and Vertical Alignment with WHS the principals and athletic directors from the Wetumpka High School feeder pattern along with the secondary director and myself met to discuss the vertical alignment of our athletic programs While specific details are still being finalized we want to share the direction of the conversation and what it means for our middle school student-athletes all tryouts are postponed until a final plan is established The current discussion supports allowing each middle school to maintain its existing athletic programs students from both middle schools will have the opportunity to try out for a combined middle school team that aligns with the high school varsity and JV programs These combined tryouts would occur prior to each individual middle school’s tryouts The only current stipulation is that both middle schools fall within the same feeder pattern for Wetumpka High School and We believe this model will provide more opportunities for middle school students to engage in athletics and prepare for future participation at the high school level We appreciate your patience and support as we work toward a plan that best supports all student-athletes in our community The WHS principal and athletic director will be present at the Wetumpka Community Meeting at WHS this Thursday at 6:00PM to discuss the direction of Wetumpka High School Athletics Celebrate the New Year in Wetumpka with the annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show at Gold Star Park at midnight for a dazzling display of lights and colors over the Coosa River 2025Time: MidnightLocation: Gold Star Park This free event is perfect for families and friends to gather and ring in 2025 together Arrive early to secure parking and enjoy the scenic views of downtown Wetumpka before the show We look forward to celebrating the start of the new year with you