Governor Kay Ivey recently released a statement pushing back against some of President Biden’s recent vaccine mandates, calling it federal overreach. Many other state leaders and officials have also spoken out against the new mandates for similar reasons.
At the same time, Texas is also challenging federal rulings with its recent abortion ban.
While it’s easy to get caught up in the all the arguments surrounding the issues of masks, vaccines and abortion, I’ve noticed something happening.

By Kay Ivey
Governor of Alabama

The notion that one cannot be an advocate for both women and unborn children is simply wrong.
Those that pit women against their unborn babies are not advancing solutions, but instead making these children the unjustified scapegoats when we could be making real, meaningful progress, not only for the women of today, but also of tomorrow.
No doubt, that includes those unborn baby girls. If we truly want to continue taking steps forward for women’s rights, let’s empower women and be a voice for unborn children.

Huntsville has rocketed past Birmingham as Alabama’s largest city.  It is not named the Rocket City for nothing.  The Census Bureau had been predicting this amazing boom in population in the Madison (Huntsville)/ Limestone area, but the actual figures recently released reveal a bigger growth than expected.  Huntsville grew by 20% or 35,000 people and is now a little over 215,000.  

HALEYVILLE – A Haleyville woman is being charged with arson following an investigation into a fire at her residence.  Christian Breanna Mooneyham, 28, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 2, on a warrant following an indictment issued by the Marion County Grand Jury for second-degree arson. Mooneyham was booked into the Marion County Jail and released on Sept. 9 on a $15,000 bond. According to Alabama Fire Marshal Public Information Officer Jennifer Bowen, Mooneyham’s charges stem from a fire at her single-family dwelling on County Highway 85 in Haleyville on June 4.

LYNN  -  The collision of a car and an 18-wheeler on Monday afternoon, Sept. 13, left a Winfield teenager dead. The driver of the semi-truck was transported for further treatment.
Cody Freeman, 19, the driver of a gold 2012 Chevrolet Cruz, was pronounced dead on the scene by Winston County Coroner Tracey Holley after Lynn Fire Department used the Jaws of Life on the vehicle to get to Freeman. Holley transported Freeman to the county morgue, authorities on the scene said.
Cody was preceded in death by his grandfather, Bill Burns and several other grandparents and relatives.

Marion County patrons will have more options available for them in the upcoming months for how they choose to shop for groceries.
Walmart - Hamilton has begun filling online orders and Winfield will begin accepting online curbside grocery ordering in the next few weeks.
Mobile and online ordering can be done through Walmart’s phone application or at walmart.com.

BEAR CREEK   -  Petitions are currently being signed in the town of Bear Creek by those supporting a referendum giving voters a choice about alcoholic beverages being sold or distributed in the town.
Code of Alabama Section 28-2A-1 states that any municipality with a population of 1,000 or more may change its classification from dry (no alcohol sales) to wet or wet to dry through a municipal election.

HACKLEBURG - Local elementary school students have sent bundles of letters to wounded American servicemen.
Hackleburg Elementary School and the Sonny James American Legion Post partnered together to write and send the letters to the soldiers who remain hospitalized in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., just outside Washington, D.C., who was wounded in the Aug. 26 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport.

The Journal Record’s general manager, Scott Johnson, is announcing that he has accepted a position as a reporter for the Lagniappe Weekly newspaper in Mobile.
The outgoing manager will have his last day in the newspaper’s Hamilton office on Friday, Sept. 24, and will provide remote support for one-to-two days to his staff as they make accommodations.
Advertising manager Melissa Mathieson will also be stepping down from her part-time responsibilities with the newspaper and will have her last day on Sept. 24 as well.

HAMILTON - The Marion County Commission meeting held on Monday, Sept. 13, saw several members of the community gather to plead to the commissioners to use American Rescue Act funds to serve those in Marion County who do not have access to water.
This matter was discussed during a public hearing that took place during the meeting at the commission office in Hamilton.
Among the crowd gathered during the meeting was Marion County Water Authority General Manager Jan Cummings and State Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield.

By Scott Johnson
General Manager

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

COURTLAND - Hackleburg and RA Hubbard held scoreless until the dying minutes of the fourth quarter during the Panthers’ second away game of the season in Courtland on Friday, Sept. 10.
Very little happened in the first three quarters with both teams unable to break the deadlock and score a touchdown.
Even in the final quarter of the game, the two teams remained at a stalemate until, with five minutes left on the clock, RA Hubbard scored a 32-yard touchdown run and scored two from the extra point attempt.

By Scott Johnson
General Manager

WATERLOO - The Phillips Bears earned their first win of the season on Friday, Sept. 10, on the road against the Waterloo Cougars 12-0.
Both teams entered the night without wins on the season.
“It's a big region win that helps our goal of getting to the playoffs,” said Phillips head football coach Adam Lawler. “We had better team pursuit on defense. Everybody just needs to play team football, and do their job.”

By Derek Trimm
WINFIELD CORRESPONDENT

By Jon Robert Page
HAMILTON CORRESPONDENT

My predictions from last week were mediocre. I was 3-3, accurately calling the Brilliant, Hamilton and Winfield games. Congratulations to the Phillips Bears for upsetting my prediction of a loss to Waterloo, and my utmost regards to the Brilliant Tigers for pulling off the win against Lynn in overtime. Maybe I’ll do better this week:

By Luke Brantley
Staff Writer

By Luke Brantley
Staff Writer

By Scott Johnson
General Manager

My husband and I left a democratic run state 25 years ago. We relocated here in Alabama, where my family originally is from. We knew this state believed and was run “by the people and for the people’s” freedoms.
Those freedoms now are under siege right now by a tyrannical, bordering on communism, illegitimate regime. It's time for U.S. citizens to save our great country.