By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton’s Lake Reed, younger brother of Hamilton City Councilman Ross Reed, made his return home on Thursday, March 17, drawing a big welcome from the Hamilton community.
Lake suffered a brain bleed in late January and has gained the support of those in the Hamilton and Marion County community.
Lake, 10, is the son of Mike and Michelle Reed and brother to Ross and Cole Reed.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Former Marion County Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Cobb turned herself in to the Marion County Sheriff’s department on Thursday, March 17, with charges of fraudulent use of a credit card. She was arrested and placed in the Marion County Jail in Hamilton.
Cobb’s charge dates back to an offense that occurred in October 2020.
IMAGE TAG HERE
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
GUIN — The Guin Water Works and Sewer Board met with Mark Smith, representing Krebs Engineering, to go over plans for a new, temporary addition to the water treatment plant which will allow the plant to filter out PFAS and other toxic chemicals from the city’s drinking water.
Lady Aggies win the Aggie Classic. Front row from left are Anna Beth Wilson, Meghan Jones, Leah Lawler, Paisley Sorrells, Hannah Hogue and Lexi Dobbins. Back row, Maggie Harbor, Addie Jo Wilson, Emily Jones, Michaela Otts, Aubrey Sorrells, Madison Metcalf, Hope Smith, Ella Kelley and Kaylee Ables.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Hamilton Lady Aggies varsity softball team won the annual Aggie Classic this past weekend in Hamilton.
The Lady Aggies won all of their games against Winston County, Sumiton Christian, Sipsey Valley and narrowly against South Lamar.
While I-22 has connected Hamilton to Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta and other areas, it has also increased the crime rate in Hamilton.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
Interstate 22’s completion in 2016 represented the start of a new era in Marion County with the promise and hope of bringing new business and industry to the area.
A dark side, however, has been rearing its ugly head as crime has loomed over the county with Hamilton being very close to now being the midway point between Memphis, Tenn., and Atlanta, Ga.
K-9 Jodie sits in front of the vehicle the juvenile was driving which contained drugs the K-9 found.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Marion County Sheriff’s Department made a big drug arrest involving two and a half pounds of marijuana and a runaway juvenile on Saturday, March 5, near exit 16 on Interstate 22 in Hamilton.
A sheriff’s deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s department was working speed enforcement on I-22 and attempted a traffic stop near mile marker 16 on a black Dodge Charger traveling near speeds of 100 miles per hour.
Guin water board attorney Todd Atkinson and mayor Phil Segraves listen to a discussion during a regular water board meeting on Tuesday, March 8. A class action lawsuit has been filed against the Guin Water Works and Sewer Board.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
GUIN — A class action lawsuit has been filed against 3M, the Guin Water Works and Sewer Board and other individuals and entities the lawsuit claims played a role in polluting the city’s drinking water and continuing to distribute that water to residents.
Mark Posey returns safely from Ukraine.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — Winfield missionary Mark Posey was woken by explosions around 5:30 in the morning on Thursday, Feb. 24. He got a call and answered his phone. It was his friends letting him know it was time to go. Russia was invading Ukraine.
Posey had originally planned to leave that day, but all flights had been canceled since the airport was now in the line of fire. He tried to reschedule a flight for the next day, but it was also cancelled.
A sign was placed on the window of Hamilton’s Dollar General on Military Street South after the store received several counterfeit $100 bills.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Counterfeit $100 bills have been making their way through cities in Marion County and has hit Hamilton businesses in a major way in the last month.
Hamilton’s Dollar General has stopped the acceptance of $100 bills after a recent breakout of customers using counterfeit money at the store.
Former Hackleburg Police Chief Jeremy Booth addresses the Hackleburg Town Council, voicing his support of new chief Kenny Hallmark
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HACKLEBURG — Hackleburg’s Town Council meeting ended on a bit of a sour note after council members Pam Pickens and Don Barnwell voiced their frustrations with mayor Darryl Colburn’s decision to appoint Kenny Hallmark as the new police chief in the town.
Following Jeremy Booth’s decision to resign just a few weeks ago, Colburn placed Hallmark in charge of Hackleburg’s police department.
Marion County girls hold the trophy high after their state win March 3.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
BIRMINGHAM — The time has come to resolve unfinished business and avenge a loss.
The Marion County High School Lady Red Raiders claimed their first ever 1A state title with a solid 72-55 victory over the Skyline Lady Vikings on Thursday, March 3 at the BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham.
County Commissioners Keith Nichols, left, and Tim “Ears” Estes, right, are shown inspecting items affected by bad water.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Marion County commissioners are determined to prioritize county water projects in order to serve those without access to water during a regular meeting held on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Missy Miles addresses the Hamilton City Council during a work session meeting, discussing her ideas for new murals in the city.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton artist Missy Miles met with Mayor Bob Page and Hamilton City Council members to discuss the potential for making new murals in the community during a work session meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at Hamilton City Hall.
Miles addressed council members with a powerpoint presentation highlighting various locations within the city that she stated would be good for a mural.
EMA Director Eric Terrell, right, says issues with sirens, like the one to the left, have affected the whole county.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Marion County has experienced quite a whirlwind week in terms of weather and has not been helped by its lack of a tornado alarm system.
Marion County was placed under a tornado watch on Thursday, Feb. 17, with both Guin and Winfield being placed under a tornado warning in the afternoon, which was canceled 20 minutes later. Residents noticed that none of the city’s tornado warning system sirens had sounded.
Guin Colored School/Guin High School’s first classes met in Real Chapel C.M.E. Church in Guin.
The teachers were, Cora Swanigan and Micha Terrell Warren.
The location for classes was the Joseph Northington place in Guin.
The county then built a two room school, the location of which now is the Curtis Wallace place.
The C.M.E. church was also used. Students were bused from Winfield, Brookside and Brilliant.
Dr. Jeremy Madden
FAYETTE — Fayette County High School Principal Dr. Jeremy Madden has qualified to run for the Republican nomination of Fayette County Superintendent of Education.
Mark Posey preaching to a congregation in a Ukrainian church, joined by his translator Marina Flegontova.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
DNIPRO, UKRAINE — In March of 2014, Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean Peninsula territory that previously belonged to Ukraine. Ukraine, which shares its eastern border with Russia, has been in a tense situation ever since.
Earlier this year, tensions started to rise once again as Russia built up troops along the border, and skirmishes between Ukrainian, Russian and Russian-backed separatist forces grow more common and violent.
Winfield City Schools Superintendent Randy Thomley is re-examining policies with board members.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield City School Board is planning on making changes to school policy in regards to the dress code and other areas.
The idea of making changes entered discussion during the school board’s regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 10.
School board attorney Todd Atkinson said the board needed to update the dress code to fit modern society.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton is about to get its very own rodeo after Matt McCracken announced the event to the Hamilton City Council during a work session on Wednesday, Feb. 16.
McCracken addressed the council to ask for support in the buildup to the event, which is set to be held in early May.
“We’ve got a group of cowboys who have contacted us and kind of taken an interest in Hamilton,” said McCracken.
Kenny Hallmark has been appointed the new police chief in Hackleburg. Photo is courtesy of the Northwest Alabamian.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HACKLEBURG — Hackleburg Police Chief Jeremy Booth has announced that he will be resigning after his short stint as chief of the police department.
In his place, Mayor Darryl Colburn appointed Bear Creek Police Chief Kenny Hallmark, who will begin his work as chief after serving out his two week notice in his current position.
“We hate to lose Chief Booth,” Colburn said. “He’s done a great job during his time here.
