HAMILTON - The adult group home in Hamilton will be welcoming new residents soon, as state funds have made it possible for the facility to accept 16 residents from Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa.
The Hamilton group home is part of the Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center, which serves the mental health needs of five counties, including Marion, Fayette, Lamar, Winston and Walker.

HAMILTON - The Marion County Health Department released the following health inspection scores and violations for 37 restaurants, delis and lunchrooms conducted through the month of October.
(Priority violations, whose application directly contributes to the elimination, prevention or reduction of hazards associated with foodborne illness or injury, are listed following the restaurant name when applicable. Core violations are not listed.):
• Big Jerry’s Grill’n Mobile Unit , Winfield - 100;
• David’s Hometown Market, Hamilton - 99;

Hamilton Police Department

HAMILTON - The following arrests and activities were reported by the Hamilton Police Department for the period of Oct. 30 - Nov. 5:
Incident, offense cases
Two each for harassment and fourth-degree theft of property; one each for possession of child pornography, production of pornography with minors, second- and third-degree criminal mischief,  harassing communications and second-degree theft of property.
Citations, Arrests

The legendary Alabama storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham used to say, “Alabama is like a big front porch.” She was right, I have found that to be the case my entire life.

In the grand scheme of national affairs, or even those of Alabama, the PTA (parent-teacher association) meeting at Vaughn Road Elementary School in Montgomery on Oct. 9 didn’t make news of any sort. Fox News was not there, nor even a local TV station or newspaper reporter.

As we at the Journal Record looked over the 2018 Kids Count data, we were as surprised as most of our readers likely will be to see that Marion County was ranked 18 spots lower than last year in child well-being.
So we talked it over with VOICES for Alabama’s Children Deputy Director Rhonda Mann, who  gave us some ideas as to why the ranking may have changed so dramatically for our county.

HAMILTON - Falling 18 places from its 16th-place ranking in 2016 and 2017, Marion County ranked 34th out of the 67 counties in the State of Alabama for overall child well being, according to the 2018 Kids Count Data Book.
The large drop in well-being rates for Marion County could be attributed to a number of changes that took place over the past year, including education scores, an added mental health component and poverty statistics.

All four statewide constitutional ammendments were passed during the 2018 general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Amendment 1
Amendment 1, which authorizes the display of the Ten Commandments on state, school or public property, was passed statewide with 72 percent approval and 1,091,181 votes—431,568 “No” Votes.
Countywide, the ammendment received even more popularity with 90 percent approval, or 8,097 votes. There were 931 “No” votes.

Marion County recorded a below-average voter turnout percentage at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6,  during Alabama’s 2018 general election.
With about a 48 percent turnout, the county’s voter turnout percentage is the second-lowest general election turnout over the last decade.
The week prior to the election, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill predicted that turnout would range from 35 to 40 percent.

HAMILTON -  U.S. Marine Corps veteran Harrison Walker heard the call to minister in 1960, but it was a call he didn’t answer. In fact, he ran from it.
Walker first refused the calling shortly after joining the Marines in December 1959. After basic training in San Diego, Calif., Walker was offered the opportunity to go into seminary to become a chaplain.   

HAMILTON - Every Marion County office up for election in 2018 has been won by a Republican candidate.
A Marion County “red wave” overtook every race during the election on Tuesday, Nov. 6, securing public offices for 16 Republicans who will represent the area either on the local, regional or state level.
Twenty-one  other offices with implications for Marion County were secured in the Republican primary and runoff elections over the summer.

HAMILTON - Alabama’s school report cards will be delayed unless changes are made in the next two months.
Marion County Superintendent of Education Ann West told the Marion County Board of Education at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 16, that the Alabama State Department of Education is trying to tweak its formula for the report cards “as they strive to compare two incomparable tests.”

HAMILTON - Marion County sales taxes for education collected in Fiscal Year 2018 were the highest in the 10 years since the local school system began keeping records in 2008.
More than $1,714,333 in local sales taxes were taken in for the Marion County School System in the previous fiscal year—surpassing the previous high of $1,635,548 in Fiscal Year 2017. The newest total outdistanced the previous mark by $78,785.

WINFIELD - The Winfield Main Street Program is selling Veterans Day Banners that will be flown on the city’s decorative poles for military holidays and other special holidays.
According to Main Street Program Director Tammy Brashier, residents can purchase a veterans flag (size 18x36) for $100. The banners will be flown one or two times each year for three years, at which point residents can keep those flags or have the option of purchasing a new one.

This week’s column will be even shorter--hopefully sweeter--since we are left with just one team playing in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s State Playoffs Second Round.

WINFIELD - The Winfield Pirates used a balanced offensive attack to give Houston Academy problems to no end to defeat the Raiders going away, 40-3, on Friday night, Nov. 9, at Estes Hudson Stadium in Winfield.
The win improved the Pirates to 11-0 on the season and advanced them to the second round of the Class 3A State Playoffs. Winfield also extended its current winning streak to 12 games, going back to the final game of the 2017 season.

FLORENCE - Marion County was shut out for the first time all season in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 1A State Playoffs First Round by Mars Hill 55-0.
The loss dropped Marion County to 7-4 on the year after the Red Raiders finished 4-3 in Class 1A, Region 6. The victory improved Mars Hill to 10-1 overall after the Panthers finished a perfect 6-0 in Region 8.

Following a dominate display by Republican candidate, who gained every statewide and county office on the November ballot, Marion County political party leaders shared their insight into the Tuesday, Nov. 6, election with the Journal Record.
Marion County Democratic Executive Committee Chairwoman Susan Cobb said that on the national level, she was tickled that Democrats have control of the House and can keep President Donald Trump in check.

(There are those who are called to serve in the military and there are those who are called to preach the Gospel. And then, there are those who answered the call to do both. For the month of November, the month we celebrate our veterans, the Journal Record will feature four local preachers who answered the call to both serve their country, and to preach the Gospel.   In Jesus’ Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22, many are called but few are chosen.

WINFIELD - Crestwood Manor Apartments in Winfield, home to elderly and disabled residents, will be receiving a total renovation thanks to the Alabama Affordable Housing Association (AAHA).
The renovation is part of the housing association’s “Making Alabama Sweet Home Again” project.
This project is part of the housing association’s effort to either construct or rehabilitate housing structures in the state to provide more affordable housing to residents.

HAMILTON - A Marion County death row inmate will not have his case reviewed by the nation’s highest court.

MISSISSIPPI - Mississippi wildlife officials have confirmed the year’s second case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a white-tailed deer.
A deer exhibiting strange behavior was put down in Pontotoc County, Miss., near Ecru on Oct. 8. The deer had no fear of humans and attacked a dog, according to a report in the Clarion Ledger in Jackson.

With the “Season of Giving” fastly approaching, the Journal Record staff has been reminded of the joys available to those who give of their own resources and time to serve others. We would like to assist the Marion County community in getting involved and experiencing this joy.

It’s all fun and games...until you become a member of the media, that is.
This column is an informative piece about the transition from being a member of society to being a member of the media--a transition that was a bit bigger than I had anticipated.

Now, the real work begins--or at least this is what the calendar tells us.