By Scott Johnson
General Manager

HAMILTON – Should Hamilton form its own city school system? They want to hear from you.

The City of Hamilton announced on Wednesday, Sept. 22, plans to host a public forum to discuss the issue openly. The forum is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. and will take place in the Hamilton Police Department’s courtroom (former Hamilton City Hall).

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

By Luke Brantley
Staff Writer

By Chad Fell
Northwest Alabamian

By Jon Robert Page
HAMILTON CORRESPONDENT

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

BERRY - Marion County High School Red Raiders spoiled Berry’s homecoming game on Friday, Sept. 17.
A last-minute touchdown by the Red Raiders in regulation would send the game to overtime and Marion County would clinch the win 20-14.  

In last week’s predictions, I went 4-2. I failed to foresee a loss by Hamilton and Brilliant. Let’s see if I can improve this week.

By Derek Trimm
WINFIELD CORRESPONDENT

Christina "Chris" Burgess has been named Senior Director of Finance for Community Eldercare Services (CES) in Tupelo, Miss.
Burgess has more than 30 years of health care finance experience. In that time, she has worked primarily in hospital settings, most recently with Northwest Alabama Medical Center Holy.
Burgess has a proven track record of improving cash flow and directing revenue cycles. She has developed proven strategies in the management of billing and accounts receivable. She will bring strategic insights and operational expertise to her new role.

Governor Kay Ivey recently released a statement pushing back against some of President Biden’s recent vaccine mandates, calling it federal overreach. Many other state leaders and officials have also spoken out against the new mandates for similar reasons.
At the same time, Texas is also challenging federal rulings with its recent abortion ban.
While it’s easy to get caught up in the all the arguments surrounding the issues of masks, vaccines and abortion, I’ve noticed something happening.

By Kay Ivey
Governor of Alabama

The notion that one cannot be an advocate for both women and unborn children is simply wrong.
Those that pit women against their unborn babies are not advancing solutions, but instead making these children the unjustified scapegoats when we could be making real, meaningful progress, not only for the women of today, but also of tomorrow.
No doubt, that includes those unborn baby girls. If we truly want to continue taking steps forward for women’s rights, let’s empower women and be a voice for unborn children.

Huntsville has rocketed past Birmingham as Alabama’s largest city.  It is not named the Rocket City for nothing.  The Census Bureau had been predicting this amazing boom in population in the Madison (Huntsville)/ Limestone area, but the actual figures recently released reveal a bigger growth than expected.  Huntsville grew by 20% or 35,000 people and is now a little over 215,000.  

HALEYVILLE – A Haleyville woman is being charged with arson following an investigation into a fire at her residence.  Christian Breanna Mooneyham, 28, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 2, on a warrant following an indictment issued by the Marion County Grand Jury for second-degree arson. Mooneyham was booked into the Marion County Jail and released on Sept. 9 on a $15,000 bond. According to Alabama Fire Marshal Public Information Officer Jennifer Bowen, Mooneyham’s charges stem from a fire at her single-family dwelling on County Highway 85 in Haleyville on June 4.

LYNN  -  The collision of a car and an 18-wheeler on Monday afternoon, Sept. 13, left a Winfield teenager dead. The driver of the semi-truck was transported for further treatment.
Cody Freeman, 19, the driver of a gold 2012 Chevrolet Cruz, was pronounced dead on the scene by Winston County Coroner Tracey Holley after Lynn Fire Department used the Jaws of Life on the vehicle to get to Freeman. Holley transported Freeman to the county morgue, authorities on the scene said.
Cody was preceded in death by his grandfather, Bill Burns and several other grandparents and relatives.

Marion County patrons will have more options available for them in the upcoming months for how they choose to shop for groceries.
Walmart - Hamilton has begun filling online orders and Winfield will begin accepting online curbside grocery ordering in the next few weeks.
Mobile and online ordering can be done through Walmart’s phone application or at walmart.com.

BEAR CREEK   -  Petitions are currently being signed in the town of Bear Creek by those supporting a referendum giving voters a choice about alcoholic beverages being sold or distributed in the town.
Code of Alabama Section 28-2A-1 states that any municipality with a population of 1,000 or more may change its classification from dry (no alcohol sales) to wet or wet to dry through a municipal election.

HACKLEBURG - Local elementary school students have sent bundles of letters to wounded American servicemen.
Hackleburg Elementary School and the Sonny James American Legion Post partnered together to write and send the letters to the soldiers who remain hospitalized in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., just outside Washington, D.C., who was wounded in the Aug. 26 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport.

The Journal Record’s general manager, Scott Johnson, is announcing that he has accepted a position as a reporter for the Lagniappe Weekly newspaper in Mobile.
The outgoing manager will have his last day in the newspaper’s Hamilton office on Friday, Sept. 24, and will provide remote support for one-to-two days to his staff as they make accommodations.
Advertising manager Melissa Mathieson will also be stepping down from her part-time responsibilities with the newspaper and will have her last day on Sept. 24 as well.