HAMILTON — The City of Hamilton endured quite the weekend as residents were notified of an extreme contamination issue in Hamilton’s water system on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 8:29 p.m.
According to Hamilton Mayor Bob Page, the city’s water and sewer department observed silt in the water, causing a major issue for the treatment plant.
“We found mud in the river—silt mud—it was unexpected,” said Page.
“Someone had a pond dam break, and it flowed downstream and finally reached the river.”

HAMILTON — Hamilton police officers were involved in a high speed chase that lead out to Interstate 22 and involved multiple other law enforcement agencies.
On Friday, Aug. 18, at approximately 1:20 p.m., the Hamilton Police Department receive a report of an irate male at Wells Fargo Bank located on Bexar Ave West in Hamilton.  
Officers began responding and 9-1-1 dispatchers advised officers that the offender got into a silver Toyota Corolla.

WINFIELD — Winfield City Schools are partnering with Marion County Schools to allow students from Brilliant and Marion County high schools to attend career tech classes on Winfield’s campus.
Students will travel to the high school for two periods during the day, and then travel back to their school. These classes are currently meeting at the high school, but will be moved to the new facility located in the old SITEL building once it is fully completed and approved for use.

BRILLIANT — A single vehicle crash caused an RV to spread across both lanes of Highway 47 in Brilliant on Saturday, Aug. 26.
According to Marion County Emergency Management Agency Director Eric Terrell, the RV was traveling from Memphis before the accident took place.
“The RV was traveling from Memphis to somewhere down on the coast. They had a blow out and ran off the interstate,” said Terrell.
Terrell stated the vehicle came to rest across the entirety of Highway 47 in Brilliant.

WINFIELD — Former Winfield City Schools teacher Alexis Rodriguez, 29, has been arrested and charged with committing a sexual act as a school employee and rape in the second degree. He was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 15, in Winfield.
Rodriguez resigned from his position at Winfield Middle School on July 19.
Winfield Police Department Investigator Lieutenant Justin Cottingham provided the Journal Record with a release, detailing the reason for Rodriguez's arrest.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Aggie Marching Band has a new leader this year as band director Brandon Owens has taken over following the departure of former director Jack Rudisell.
Rudisell has taken a position at Shades Valley High School.
Owens, who began his work with the Aggie Band on July 17, comes from Harvest.

HAMILTON  — The Marion County Commission has hired an accounts payable clerk in what was a desperately needed move following the departure of former County Administrator Kalyn Moore.
This took place during a special called meeting on Monday, July 31, in Hamilton.
“In the past few months, the commission, along with Kalyn Moore, discussed the operations of the administrative office and how it could be made to be more efficient,” said County Administrator Scott Hunt.

HAMILTON — Signature witnessing for the execution of legal documents is still as important today as it was decades ago, especially for deeds, law purposes and a myriad of other uses. Notaries public, who witness such signatures and affix a raised seal or stamp upon it, have new guidelines to follow effective Friday, Sept. 1.

This page will update with Marion County schools' football scores throughout the 2023 football season.

Brilliant High School:
8/25/2023, vs. Waterloo, 64-0, W
9/1/2023, vs. Pickens County, 6 -34, L
9/8/2023, at Marion County, 12-44, L
9/22/2023, vs. Sumiton Christian (Homecoming), 45-6, W
9/29/2023, at Phillips, 40-6, W
10/6/2023, vs. Hubbertville, 13-55, L
10/13/2023, at Lynn, 6-63, L
10/20/2023, at Holy Spirit Catholic, 26-35, L
10/27/2023, vs. Berry, 0-44, L
11/3/2023, at South Lamar, 0-56, L

GU-WIN — The Blue Moon Drive-In Theater is shutting down its week-to-week normal operations, and the theater’s future beyond that has yet to be determined, according to owner Chris Curtis.
Curtis and his dad took over the theater and opened it as the Blue Moon in 1996. Curtis said he took over for the most part in 2002, and his dad passed away in 2019.
Curtis and his father were no strangers to drive-in’s. Curtis said his family owned several while he was growing up, such as the Amory Drive-In in Mississippi.

HAMILTON — Students in Marion County are back in the swing of things as school is back in session.
While many parents and students are adjusting into the daily routine once again, many in Hamilton have also likely noticed an increase in police presence on roads, especially in Hamilton.
Hamilton Police Chief Jordan Carter has increased the amount of safety patrol near schools in Hamilton.
He, along with his staff, are making efforts to have an increased presence on streets near schools after many have been speeding through the areas.

HAMILTON — Bevill State Community College in Hamilton is set to get a massive renovation project underway as they have received over $3 million to update facilities at the Hamilton campus.
This comes as part of $19 million, allocated by the Alabama Legislature,  for facility renovations and development as well as the purchase of needed program equipment at BSCC.
The Hamilton campus used funds to renovate the roof of the business center facility as well as renovate the cosmetology and welding program facilities.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton City Council approved spending over $90,000 on new police vehicles for the Hamilton Police Department.
During a meeting held at Hamilton City Hall on Monday, Aug. 7, Hamilton Police Chief Jordan Carter addressed the council concerning the vehicles needed for the department.
“We have had these police vehicles ordered for several months now,” said Carter.
The Hamilton police chief explained that each vehicle costs $34,984.76.

HAMILTON — New Hamilton City Councilwoman Sherry Armstrong was sworn in during a ceremony on Monday, Aug. 7, at Hamilton City Hall.
The swearing in ceremony took place prior to Hamilton’s city council meeting and was officiated by Judge Mark Hammitte.
“I’m excited, and I appreciate the opportunity to be able to serve the people in our city,” said Armstrong following her swearing in.
“I don’t know how to thank you all. I will try my best to do the best that I can for our (city).”

Hamilton Park and Recreation is having fall registration for NFL flag, soccer and football.
The price for NFL flag is $50 for 8U, 10U and 12U co-ed teams.
The price for soccer is $40 for 6U, 9U and 12U co-ed teams.
The price for volleyball is $40 for third and fourth grade or fifth and sixth grade.
NFL flag and soccer games will be held on separate nights for any wanting to participate in both.
For more information, call 205-921-4371 or visit hamiltoncityal.org.

The Northwest Alabamian and the Journal Record are joining forces to honor some of Winston and Marion counties’ greatest heroes.

HAMILTON — Tornado Talk, a website dedicated to tornado history, in partnership with the Journal Record, is offering a chance for the public to share their knowledge and stories concerning the 1974 Super Outbreak of tornadoes, for the approaching 50th anniversary. On Thursday, Aug. 10, representatives from Tornado Talk will be at the Journal Record office in Hamilton, at approximately 1:30 p.m., for research purposes and to record the stories from the public of the tragic events of that day.