Terrell reflects on the end of the year

Marion County EMA Director Eric Terrell is shown.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Marion County Emergency Management Agency Eric Terrell had an eventful end to 2021, taking a tornado, a plane crash and freezing weather head on.
Terrell, who was hired as the EMA Director on Jan. 1, 2020, spoke with the Journal Record about his whirlwind of a holiday period as well as his time heading up the Marion County EMA.

Fourteen candidates qualify for Marion County

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — As of Friday, Jan. 28, at 5 p.m., a number of people qualified to run for elected offices in the 2022 elections.
According to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website, which shows dates for the 2022 elections, both the Republican and Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate,  U.S. House, state and county offices will be Tuesday, May 24, with any necessary runoffs on Tuesday, June 21, and the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Marion County
candidates:
Incumbents will have an (I) after their names.

Jerry Brown Arts Festival Canceled

Well-known arts festival is canceled weeks before it was scheduled.

HAMILTON - In yet another major blow to the notion of “getting back to normal,” the 20th annual Jerry Brown Arts Festival has yet again been canceled just five weeks before the event was scheduled to kick off.
In a special-called meeting of the Northwest Alabama Arts Council on Monday night, Jan. 31, council members met to discuss strategies on how to overcome issues which had developed in the previous week with the upcoming event.

Saving a life

Police Chief Brett Burleson receives commendation for his life-saving response during a city council meeting on Dec. 21, 2021. Assistant Fire Chief Dewayne Norris also received commendation.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — Winfield Police Chief Brett Burleson and Assistant Fire Chief Dewayne Norris were recognized for their life-saving actions during a city council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021.
On Sept. 29, 2021, Burleson and Norris received a call of a man who had collapsed outside of L & S Building Supply in Winfield. They arrived on scene and were able to resuscitate the man.
Len Smothers, who owns L & S, said the man seemed perfectly fine before he fell.

Exhibit showcases work of Missy Miles

Hamilton’s multi-medium artist Missy Miles stands beside some of the paintings and gourd art she selected for her “Transitions” exhibit being featured now in the City Gallery at Hamilton City Hall.

By Kathryn Hirschfeld
Special to the Journal Record
HAMILTON — One of the most amazing artists in Marion County is Hamilton’s Missy Miles. Miles’ work can be found on many of the beautiful murals in each of the county’s cities and along the Alabama Mural Trail. Miles is also well known for her incredible gourd art.
But Miles also does so much more. She creates incredible acrylic, watercolors and Plein-Air paintings. Her artistic eye also helps her capture amazing photographs.

COVID-19 affecting students

Students change classes on Monday morning, Jan. 31. Marion County Schools Superintendent Ann West said Marion County schools saw a spike of cases, but that number has started to decrease.

By Louis Mellini and
Luke Brantley
Staff writers
MARION COUNTY — This round of COVID-19 outbreak has seen a noticible uptick in cases among younger people throughout the nation, putting strains on school systems throughout the country.
Marion County Superintendent  of Education Ann West and Winfield City Schools Superintendent of Education Randy Thomley spoke to the Journal Record concerning the recent spread of COVID affecting their respective schools.

Guin water board faces operator difficulty

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
GUIN — The room grew tense during the Guin Water and Sewer Board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 11 as the board discussed the need for grade IV certified operators for the water treatment plant.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) certifies water treatment plant operators on four levels, or grades, indicating how many hours of study they have completed and if they can pass a test at each level.

Winfield approves pay raise and sells storm scraps

The remains of a fallen city Christmas tree decoration are beside roof debris left behind by the tornado that struck downtown Winfield on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. The city accepted bids to purchase all of the debris by multiple individuals.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield City Council voted to move forward with plans to give a one-time pay raise to all full-time and part-time city employees using American Rescue Plan funds during its regular meeting on Thursday, Jan. 20.
The raise had been a subject of discussion for several weeks after mayor Randy Price asked the council to make sure they were keeping track of the numerous projects the city was undertaking which were eligible for the same funds.

Robberies lead to four arrests after chase

Montavious Dean

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
GUIN — Four suspects have been apprehended following a string of early morning robberies in Guin and Fulton, Miss.
Mya Chrishelle Gaines, 19; Montavious Dewayne Dean, 20; Malik Rushard Wilson, 20; and a juvenile offender aged 16, all from Memphis, Tenn., were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property, first degree, and attempting to elude.
All suspects, except for the juvenile, are being held in the Marion County Jail in Hamilton.

Wish hunt completes its 11th year

Jackie McDonald, Tommy Colburn, Kaleb Cayson, Scotty Harbor, Taylor Click, Chandler Cayson, Ashland Childers, Hunter Carter, Bree Carter, Heath Atkins, Jordan Humphries, Bobby Childers and Justin Click. From Left to Right

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON - Pine Hills and Oak Hollars Child Classic Wish Hunt took place for its 11th year at Maywood Christian Camp in Hamilton on Jan 6-8.
Hamilton natives Kaleb Cayson, 14, and his brother Chandler Cayson, 8, were joined by Guntersville native Taylor Click, 11, for a weekend of hunting and fellowship organized by Jeff Carter and several local volunteers and sponsors who host the event every year in Hamilton.
 The wish hunt is offered annually to children who have illness and to those living in the local community as well.

Hackleburg water tower restoration begins

Omaha, Nebraska-based painting crew Viking Painting begins work on restoring Hackleburg’s water towers.

By Louis Mellini Staff writer

Hackleburg began its water tower restoration project on Thursday, Jan. 13, starting with the water tower located right behind the Hackleburg Market grocery store.

Crews began work early in the morning washing and painting the water tower and will continue to restore Hackleburg's water towers.

At the end of last year, Hackleburg, using their $300,000 American Rescue Act funds, began the project after failing inspections on two out of three of their water towers in the previous year.

Board removes mayor as superintendent

The Guin Water Works and Sewer Board removes Mayor Phil Segraves as superintendent. Shown above are the treatment plant and the business office.

By Luke Brantley Staff Writer

GUIN — The Guin Water Works and Sewer Board has removed Mayor Phil Segraves as superintendent of the water board, after the mayor’s position was hired as superintendent in 1957. The board also had to address the fact that the pay for the superintendent position has been part of the mayor’s salary ever since.

During a water and sewer board meeting on Sept. 28, 2021, then-board member Trent Junkin made a motion to remove mayor Phil Segraves from the board as a representative for the city council.

Monoclonal antibody treatment being covered

Birmingham – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama continues to support the health, safety, and well-being of our members and has taken comprehensive steps to ensure they have access to the healthcare they need during the pandemic.
This includes providing coverage for the latest therapies, including the FDA-authorized COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment.