By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Governor Kay Ivey made her well anticipated visit to Hamilton at the Tombigbee Electric Cooperative facility on Wednesday, April 20.
Ivey came to Hamilton and addressed the public in an event hosted by the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON - Marion County Emergency Management Agency Director Eric Terrell assembled a large group of municipal officials and first responders to meet in a major emergency preparedness meeting held in downtown Hamilton at the House of Plenty on Thursday, April 14.
In attendence were municipal mayors and officials from all first reponder organizations in the county.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Police Department is currently working a missing person case.
Resident Justin Kyle Lovett was last seen on Monday, April 11, at approximately 8 p.m.
Lovett is five feet, seven inches tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds and has brown hair.
Anyone with information on Lovett’s location is encouraged to contact the HPD at 205-921-7424.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
GUIN — Burglars broke into McGuire Drugs in Guin early in the morning on Thursday, April 14. According to owner Ralph Christopher, the burglars broke the glass in the front door around 1:30 and were gone within two minutes.
“They were in here for two minutes,” Christopher said. “I got a call and got down here at 2 a.m. The police were here, and there wasn’t anybody here. The police left, but I stayed here and slept in a chair until 8 a.m.”

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — A tractor trailer fire occurred on Interstate 22 on Thursday, April 14.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., the Byrd and Shottsville volunteer fire departments were dispatched by Marion County E-9-1-1 to the report of a tractor trailer fire on I-22 near mile marker one.  
Upon arrival, firefighters were met with heavy traffic and a well involved tractor trailer fire in a road construction zone. 
Hamilton Fire Department was requested for an additional water tanker. 

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HACKLEBURG — Hackleburg Police Chief Kenny Hallmark is officially back after being appointed by Mayor Darryl Colburn a little over a month ago.
Hallmark stated that he has enjoyed his work so far and is ready to stabilize the police force in the town and get back to how things were before he left in 2018.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — Winfield mayor Randy Price and police chief Brett Burleson expressed their concern over the Marion County Commission’s pressure to contribute to county jail funds during its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 15.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Governor Kay Ivey is making her way to Hamilton on Wednesday, April 20, at 10 a.m. at the Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, located at 3196 County Highway 55.
The event is open to the public and all  residents are encouraged to attend the event.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
Marion County Engineer Mike Shaw, 62,  has retired after 23 years working to improve the county.
The empty position Shaw leaves behind will be filled be Hamilton native Chris Wilbanks who will start his work on Friday, April 1.
“I’m getting older, and I want to spend time with my family--my kids and my grandkids. I want to maybe do a little traveling,” said Shaw.
Shaw stated that he feels that he has done a good job alongside his workers and Marion County Commissioners.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield Chamber of Commerce announced via Facebook post on Wednesday, March 23, that Mule Day is happening this year.
The annual event was called off the last two years in a row due to COVID-19 but is now scheduled for September 23-24 of this year.
Chamber of Commerce President Zac Hallmark said everything is set to move forward.

By Chad Fell
Courtesy of Northwest Alabamian
HALEYVILLE — A portion of Marion County Highway 48 collapsed Tuesday night, March 22.
Dale Holt, Marion County commissioner for District 3, reported that an old metal culvert in place since 1952 underneath County Highway 48 which connects highways 129 and 241 in the eastern portion of Marion County had deteriorated, causing a portion of the westbound lane of 48 to collapse.  The collapsed section of road is approximately 18 feet wide and 30-35 feet deep.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The prospect of the Hamilton City School System is an idea no more after the Hamilton City Council reached an agreement with the Marion County Board of Eduacation on Monday, March 21.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page stated that the city is waiting for the agreement between the two parties to be completed, but an agreement was unanimously approved during Hamilton’s City Council meeting on March 21.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton’s downtown area is gaining a major improvement as its curbs will now be handicap accessible.
Crews have been working everyday for the past week to complete the project that will make sure those who are handicapped are able to safely exit and enter sidewalks in the downtown area.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.