For the first time since I was born, Santa Claus will not be stopping by my house this year with that special gift given exclusively from him!

In Alabama political history, the office of probate judge was the most powerful and prestigious position.

Sawyer James Hubbard celebrated his first birthday on Aug. 31. He was honored with a transportation first birthday-themed party at his Nana and Papaw’s pool, with family and friends in attendance. Sawyer is the son of Bo and Lisa Hubbard, Haleyville. His grandparents are Clayton and Konnie Cockrell, Haleyville, and LouAnn Hubbard, Hamilton. Sawyer’s great-grandparents are Vayrene Lowman and the late Ray Lowman and Ola Cockrell and the late Clarence Cockrell, all of Haleyville, and the late Wayne and Mattie Lou Brown, Hamilton.

GUIN - Kevin and Vickie Emerson, Guin, proudly announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Heather Victoria Emerson, to Dylan Craig Cornelius, the son of Benny and Karen Johnston, Red Bay, and Mike and Rhonda Cornelius, Hamilton.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Doug Emerson and the late Martha Gail Emerson and Ray and Carolyn Zoglmann, all of Guin.
She is a 2013 graduate of Liberty Christian Academy, Guin, and a 2018 graduate of the University of North Alabama, Florence, with a degree in psychology.

HAMILTON - Marion County High School Principal Jason Bourland has resigned from his position in Guin and has accepted a position as Supervisor for Marion County Schools.
The Marion County Board of Education accepted Bourland’s resignation at its Friday, Nov. 16, meeting.
Newly-elected District 5 board member “Coach” Don Jones, who was sworn in at the beginning of the meeting, made the motion to accept the resignation.
However, Jones said that he did so “under duress” as he was sad to see Bourland leave the position.

GUIN - Marion County beat Lynn 44-34 in the Northwest Alabama Conference Boys Basketball Tournament championship on Saturday, Dec. 8.
The Red Raiders’ Braden Pyron finished with a game-high 24 points.
Mason Ezekiel and Hunter Smith each had six points. Jerry King added four points.
Deuce Belk and Preston Walker scored two points apiece.
Friday, Dec. 7
GUIN - Marion County toppled Berry 75-46 in the NAC semifinals.
The Red Raiders scored in double-digits with Ezekiel leading the way with a team-high 25 points.

GUIN - Marion County lost to Berry 51-40 in the Northwest Alabama Conference Girls Basketball Tournament semifinals on Friday, Dec. 7.
The Lady Raiders’ Josie Lipsey finished with a team-high 12 points.
Cara Sullivan added 11 points. Erin Culp and Madison Stewart each had six points.
Caitlyn Jones added three points while Torie Taylor had two points.

HAMILTON - The Marion County Health Department released the following health inspection scores and violations for 39 restaurants, delis and lunchrooms conducted through the month of November.
(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.):
• Aggie Food Mart, Hamilton - 100: No paper towels at handsink;
• Midnight Bakery, Hamilton - 98;

Hamilton Police Department

HAMILTON - The following arrests and activities were reported by the Hamilton Police Department for the period of Nov. 27-Dec. 3:
Incident, offense cases

HAMILTON - Christmas for Kids has to break the halfway mark in its goal of $40,000 to purchase gifts for more than 400 area children.
For the week ending on Monday, Dec. 10, a total of $8,324.45 has been donated toward this year’s Christmas for Kids campaign. To date, that charity has only collected $13,329.70.
“We are still needing $27,000,” said Sandlin. “I hope this will raise awareness.”
Sandlin noted that donations can be made anonymously, in honor of someone and in memory of a loved one.

HAMILTON - Bevill State Community College (BSCC) students—and soon local high school students—now have access to a course which can take them from a student to a Mercedes-Benz technician in two short years.
BSCC will be officially launching its Mercedes-Benz’s Technician and Mechatronics apprenticeship program on Thursday, Dec. 6.
BSCC Dean of Instruction Dr. Leslie Hartley told the Journal Record that the Mercedes-Benz manufacturing plant located in Vance is now in co-op partnerships with BSCC and Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.

HAMILTON - The City of Hamilton is considering raising water and sewer rates to offset losses which the water department has traditionally suffered.
The Hamilton City Council met in a work session on Wednesday, Nov. 28, with Hamilton Water Superintendent Rodney Williams to hear the city’s options.
The current proposal would raise the minimum 2,000-gallon water bill from $48.38 to $50.19.

WINFIELD - A Winfield man was air-lifted to the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham after a vehicle fire left him with severe burns to his lower torso.
The man, who was characterized as a wheelchair-bound older man, will not be identified for privacy reasons.

HAMILTON - One of the first orders of business the newly-seated Marion County Commission took up at its Nov. 19 meeting was to question its membership in the C3 of Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance.
The meeting was the first official meeting since the four new commission members were sworn in on Nov. 14.

RUSSELLVILLE - The live-in boyfriend of Hailey Renfroe, 24, Hackleburg, was sentenced to prison for the death of Renfroe’s 22-month old daughter, Serenity Renfroe.

HAMILTON - The Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes have led to some necessary adjustments with a local mortgage bank, CIS Home Loans.
According to CIS Home Loans President Paula Reeves, due to developments in the mortgage market, it was necessary to lay off 14 employees in late November.
“We are very much financially sound, these adjustments were necessary to make sure that we stay financially sound,” Reeves said.
 

This is the season when we are supposed to think of others and not so much of ourselves. But we should be a little selfish this holiday season and give ourselves a gift. We should give ourselves the gift of a peaceful mind. The number one way to do that is by limiting the number of hours we spend in front of the television.
A television has never given anyone peace of mind; in fact, it does the opposite. Scientific studies have linked extended periods of television watching with depression. The more television a person watches, the more depressed they are likely to be.

I just recently listened to the broadway musical “Hamilton” sound track. I was very impressed.
There has been some backlash against the play due to a political stunt by the cast while Vice President Mike Pence attended the show.

Now that the dust has settled on this year’s elections, let’s look back at who are the big winners and losers of the year.

HACKLEBURG - The driver of a tractor-trailer rig was injured after a one-vehicle accident on Saturday, Nov. 24, according to a report from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
The 2015 International truck was travelling south and hauling two large aluminum coils when it crashed about a mile north of the Northfork Bridge near the 288 mile-marker at 11:45 a.m.

HAMILTON - Journal Record General Manager Les Walters said this month the Marion County newspaper will observe special holiday deadlines for the upcoming holiday season.
“We realize the deadlines may be of minor inconvenience for some of our advertisers and other regular contacts, but this is necessary to allow us to meet the holiday schedule,’’ Walters said.
“In order for our employees to enjoy a holiday with family and friends, we must have our Wednesday edition finished ahead of our regular schedule.

Hamilton Police Department

HAMILTON - The following arrests and activities were reported by the Hamilton Police Department for the period of Nov. 20-26:
Incident, offense cases

Thursday, Dec 6
American Legion Sonny James Post 165 invites everyone to join them from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Hamilton Walmart Supercenter parking lot for a Community Day.  Information will be available about the American Legion and will be able to sign up eligible veterans for post membership. Information will also be available about the Post 165 Auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion and Legion Riders. Information: 412-1314 or 412-8933 or email: legionalpost0165@aol.com

HAMILTON - Jack’s, Jack’s, Jack’s is back, back, back!
Hamilton residents will soon be able to quickly grab Jack’s made-from-scratch biscuits, hand-breaded chicken, bigger burgers and hand-scooped shakes without leaving town.
Hamilton’s new Jack’s, located across the street from the Hamilton Walmart Supercenter on Military Street, is set to open its doors on Monday morning, Dec. 6, beginning bright and early at 5 a.m.

HACKLEBURG - The work that American Legion Sonny James Post 165 Commander Tim Howard has been putting into the Wreaths Across America Ceremony has paid off.
“Once everybody found out about it, it took off,” Howard said. “I’m kind of surprised.”
Howard has been working for the past year to make the inaugural Wreaths Across America project a success at the Cedar Tree Cemetery in Hackleburg.

WINFIELD - Winfield seniors Walker Junkin and Josh Estes signed track and field scholarships with the University of South Alabama in Mobile on Sunday, Nov. 18.
The pair signed their scholarships to compete for the Jaguars at Winfield City High School.
Junkin participates in both the pole vault and decathlon events for Winfield and plans on being part of those events at South Alabama.

Whether we are ready for it or not, basketball is upon us.
For those of you that don’t know, I actually do not dislike basketball. I thoroughly enjoy it early in the season.
My enjoyment starts to fade about halfway through the year before being totally zapped come playoff time.

HAMILTON - Hamilton improved to a perfect 5-0 with the Aggies’ second victory of the season over Haleyville, 68-45, on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
The Aggies held a 34-26 advantage at halftime before outscoring the Lions 34-19 in the second half.
Hamilton’s Justin Webb led the way with 18 points. The senior added six rebounds and three assists.

HAMILTON - Hamilton earned its second win of the season with a 54-50 victory over rival Haleyville on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
Hamilton’s Paisley Sorrells finished with a game-high 21 points.
Mia Hollingsworth added eight points and eight rebounds.
Lexie Childers contributed nine rebounds while Gracey Dezso pulled in eight boards as the Lady Aggies improved to 2-3 on the season.

(Schools reporting: Brilliant, Hackleburg, Hamilton, Marion County and Winfield)

HAMILTON - Marion-Winston Community Action Agency Executive Director Jeff Fleming said his Agency will soon begin making appointments for financial assistance with utility bills for qualified residents.
The assistance will be provided through LIHEAP, which is the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.