HAMILTON - Marion County Board of Education member Daryl Weatherly (Place 1 - Hackleburg, Bear Creek) took time during the Marion County Board of Education’s meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12, to recognize another public official.
The board member said bus drivers contacted him concerning poor conditions at an area at Hackleburg’s school grounds where buses would park.

WINFIELD - This weekend Winfield will welcome an extra 15,000 to 20,000 people into town for the 45th annual Mule Day Festival.
Winfield Chamber of Commerce president Debbie Killingsworth, in her first year in that role, says these last few days have been hectic as she prepares for the festival. On top of her chamber duties, Killingsworth also serves as the collection agent for State Bank and Trust.

HAMILTON -  The Marion County Commission met with Sonny Brasfield, the executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama to discuss the situation surrounding the Marion County Jail in Hamilton during a regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 16, at the commission office.
The Marion County Commission, along with Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams, have been in discussion concerning the jail since the cancellation of the contract with Tuscaloosa-based architects PH&J on Monday, Aug. 12.

BRILLIANT -   A former school bus driver employed with the Marion County School System was arrested on Sept. 12 and charged with violating the Alabama law that prohibits school employees from having sexual intercourse with students who are under the age of 19.
Ethan Corkren, 29, Brilliant, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 12, on the charge of a school employee having sex with a student.

HAMILTON -  A Marion County man is behind bars and charged with the Wednesday, Sept. 4, burglary and arson of a house on Posey Road northwest of Hamilton.
Teddy Shane Armstrong, 42, was arrested a few miles away that same day after attempting to hide in the back room of a mobile home shortly after the fire destroyed the house.
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams said Armstrong, a transient, is from Marion County but that his last known address was in Muscle Shoals.

HAMILTON - Gov. Kay Ivey has announced Hamilton Elementary School as one of 21 schools statewide to be selected at Alabama Bicentennial Schools of Excellence.
Ivey made the announcement on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) in Montgomery.
“We are so thrilled to be recognized by the Bicentennial Commission as one of only 21 schools of excellence across the state of Alabama,” said Hamilton Elementary School Principal Keith Smith.

HAMILTON -  According to Fire Chief Tim Rye with the Hamilton Fire and Rescue Department, the Alabama Forestry Commission has issued a fire danger advisory for all counties in the state due to high temperatures and drought conditions.
Rye stated that while the forestry commission has not issued a temporary ban on individuals building burn piles for brush and other waste, they have warned against building them as they are at risk of creating wildfires.

WINFIELD -  The Winfield City Council formally voted to accept a deed for a building and a parcel of property at its Thursday, Sept. 19 meeting.
The building, located at 175 State Highway 253 next to the Christian Center of Concern in Winfield, is a former doctors office.
Both the land and the property have a total appraised value of $87,245, city clerk Angie Oliver said, referencing Marion County Tax Assessor maps.

GULF SHORES - James Nichols, a maintenance supervisor for the Hackleburg and Bear Creek Housing Authorities, is being recognized as the best in the state for 2019.
Nichols was announced as the 2019 Maintenance Worker of the Year during the Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities’s (AAHRA) Annual Conference, which took place Aug. 19-22 at the Lodge in Gulf Shores.

American Automobile Association (AAA) spokesman Clay Ingram has stated that despite oil field bombings in Saudi Arabia, oil prices for Alabama will not be impacted with price increases.
“(Prices) are probably going to get a little bit higher, but, the good news is, it’s a very temporary situation,” stated Ingram.
“It’s probably going to last just a few more weeks and then (oil prices) should drop way down again.”

GUIN - Marion County High School 2019 graduate Mackenzie Pearce, Guin, has been named the lead award winner of a national scholarship.
The D’Andre D. Lampkin Foundation, based in Ontario, Calif., announced the winners of its annual Social Good Scholarship in late July, listing Pearce as the lead winner with a $1,000 award.
Sari Conner, Galion, Ohio, and Christopher McCrary, Atlanta, Ga., were both named $500 recipients.

HAMILTON - First National Bank (FNB) in Hamilton has re-acquired an adjacent property and building which, until August, has been owned and operated by Alabama Power.
FNB President and Chief Executive Officer Brent Thompson told the Journal Record that it has purchased the property back and is already in possession of the deed.
Thompson said FNB sold the property to Alabama Power in October 1991, and now after 28 years, it will be use the space to improve operations.

HAMILTON -  The Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the City of Hamilton, has announced the Bicentennial Scenic 17 Yard Sale on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4 and 5, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
The community is teaming up with several other communities across the state along Scenic Highway 17 to present the Front Porch to Curbside Yard Sale.
The event will take place at the Hamilton Walking Track where individuals will be able to attend and sell their items.

HAMILTON - The possibility of automating the city’s garbage operation is gaining momentum—a change that would require all Hamilton garbage customers to have a city-issued 96-gallon can.
Hamilton Street Superintendent Mike Johnson and Ingram Equipment Company North Alabama Salesman Will Hovater, whose company is based in Pelham, appeared at the Hamilton City Council’s work session on Wednesday, Sept. 13, to share details on the city’s options for a new garbage truck.

HAMILTON - Reports list Fred’s Xpress Pharmacy in Hamilton as closing following a bankruptcy filing earlier this month.
Fred’s Xpress, located at 1360 Military Street South, should not be confused with Fred’s Pharmacy, which is owned by Cole Sandlin and located at 797 Military Street South.

In a surprising-but-positive turn of events, the Bevill State Community College (BSCC)-Hamilton Campus Legislative Task Force for Education, BSCC President Dr. Kim Ennis and Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Chancellor Jimmy Baker filed a joint consent motion to dismiss the task force’s open records lawsuit in Montgomery County Circuit Court on Friday, Sept. 6.

HACKLEBURG -  Hackleburg Mayor Darryl Colburn now has the authority to sign over the deed to the Hackleburg Market to brothers Phillip and Chris Bozeman of Bozeman Family Grocery after the town council voted in favor of Colburn’s proposal 4-1.
The vote was made during a special-called meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12, in Hackleburg.
Council members Darrin Wiginton, Don Barnwell, Colburn and Eugene Marbutt voted in favor of Colburn’s proposal, while councilman Kevin Barnwell voted against it. Councilwoman Tabby Lolley was absent during the meeting.

HAMILTON -  Bevill State Community College (BSCC) has announced the launch of a new Manufactured Home Installation Training class on the Hamilton Campus.
The inaugural class begins on Tuesday, Sept. 24, and will meet two nights a week for 10 weeks.
Participants will receive a certificate of completion from BSCC and be prepared to work with certified home installers, and/or to take the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission Certified Installer Exam.

Recently published data show Marion County’s poverty higher than the state average.
Alabama Possible, a statewide nonprofit organization that seeks to remove prosperity barriers, published a report in July showing that Marion County’s poverty rate is 19.3%—higher than the statewide average of 16.9% and noticeably higher than the national average of 13.4%.
The federal poverty threshold ranges from $12,488 for one person to $25,094 for a family of four. Marion County’s median household income is $38,049.

The upcoming 2020 Census is extremely critical in Alabama and the rest of the states in the nation, as well. The Census affects the number of seats a state has in the U.S. Congress and ultimately the number of Electoral College Votes you have for president. Also, very importantly, the amount of federal funds the state receives will be effected.

WINFIELD - Two teenagers killed in an automobile accident are being mourned by friends and loved ones across Marion, Fayette and Lamar counties.
Tallon Burleson, Winfield, and Steven King, Vernon, both 19, died after the 2004 Jeep Wrangler they were travelling in left the roadway and struck a utility pole at 8:07 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30.

HAMILTON - The choice to re-enter the bond market in hopes of lowering interest rates has resulted in an out-of-the-park homer for the Hamilton City Council.
When it voted to refinance the 2014 bond issue in July, it was estimated the city would save about $400,000. Instead, financial officers were able to secure savings of more than $645,000, earning commendation from the city’s bond counsel, Rod Kanter.

HAMILTON - An Alabama 2020 U.S. Senate candidate and former Alabama Community College System   (ACCS) chancellor says his experience leading the state’s two-year colleges gives him an edge.
U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, who currently represents Alabama’s 1st Congressional District,  met with Marion County agricultural and health care leaders in Hamilton on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at OH! Bryan’s Family Steak House.
The 1st Congressional District includes the counties of Baldwin, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington, as well as a portion of Clarke County.

MONTGOMERY -  Marion County Commissioner Bobby Burleson has been presented with the Tenure in Office Award by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) for his 24 years of service to county government and the state of Alabama.
“It’s a great honor to complete 24 years and Lord willing, I’ll be able to complete four more,” said Burleson.
“I appreciate the people for having the trust and faith in me to do a good job for them. I’m still very interested in completing this (current) term and facing whatever the future holds.”

HAMILTON - A Hamilton-based loan company is in the planning stages of a new operations facility.
CIS Home Loans President Paula Reeves told the Journal Record that land currently being cleared behind  the company’s new administrative office building location, the former Fite Davis Atkinson Guyton & Burt law office building.
CIS (officially CIS Financial Services, which does business as CIS Home Loans) has been operating in Hamilton for 28 years and added its new location in July along with 9.2 acres.

HAMILTON - Hamilton’s three schools—elementary, middle and high school—have been written checks totaling $135,000 to enhance education.
The Hamilton City Council presented checks totaling $135,000 to Hamilton Elementary School, Hamilton Middle School and Hamilton High School at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

HAMILTON -  The Ramp completed the last of its three summer conferences on Saturday, Aug. 17, bringing around 3,073 visitors to Hamilton to attend the conferences.
Summer Ramp conferences were held on June 27-29, July 25-27 and Aug. 16 and 17 at The Ramp in Hamilton, bringing visitors from around the country and even abroad from international locations.

During each of the three conferences, attendees have the opportunity to attend a baptism at Williams Creek in Hamilton on the Saturday of each of the three months during the events.

Brilliant -  A single vehicle crash has claimed the life of a Winfield woman.  
At approximately 6:50 am on Saturday, Aug. 31, a 2001 Ford Taurus driven by Betty Jean Walker Sousy, 79, Winfield, was traveling north on Alabama State Route 233, approximately three miles east of Brilliant.  
The vehicle left the roadway to the right and struck a tree.  
According to State Trooper Cpl. Mark Stone of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Hamilton Post, the driver, the only occupant, was transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham where she later died.  

GUIN - Marion County High School Principal Dustin Silas and Guin Elementary School Principal Joshua Weatherly appeared before the Guin City Council to present their respective school reports on city tax money during the council’s Tuesday, Sept. 3 meeting.
Silas reported that the high school balance is $11,288.15 and Weatherly reported a current balance of $17,863.44.

WINFIELD - In an item of old business at the Thursday, Sept. 5, Winfield City Council meeting, councilman Jimmy Hayes questioned whether the city should accept the deed presented to the city by Northwest Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Bob Henger without voting on it first.

WINFIELD - Two Carbon Hill men are behind bars after being charged for the Aug. 23 armed robbery of Moore’s B&B in Winfield.
Curtis Cook, 37, and Taurus White, 23, are both being held in the Marion County Jail in Hamilton on bonds of $120,000 each.
Sgt. Brad Burroughs of the Winfield Police Department said an individual with a hoodie pulled tight around his face entered the store at approximately 12:58 a.m. and brandished a handgun to the female cashier.

HAMILTON - A Hamilton couple is being charged with first-degree manufacturing following an aerial drug search.
Eric Owens, 56, and Helen Hazelwood, 54, were arrested on Aug. 7 for growing two to three marijuana plants on their property in north Hamilton.
Both individuals were released the same day on bonds of $15,000 each.
The flyovers are conducted by helicopter by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Aviation Division and assisted by both the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Alabama National Guard.

HAMILTON - Last month, well-known Hamilton native son Clay Dyer was inducted into the “Legends of the Outdoors” Hall of Fame.  
The "Legends of the Outdoors" was established to recognize those outdoor sportsmen and sportswomen who, through countless hours of hard work and devotion to the outdoors, in both hunting and fishing, have played an integral part in setting the standards and guidelines for the rest of the outdoor world to follow.

HAMILTON - Maywood Christian Camp has completed its 55th camping season, launching a new college program and seeing about 2,700 campers throughout the summer months.
Maywood is a Church of Christ-associated camp located on 83 acres of land three miles east of Hamilton on County Highway 42.
This summer also was the inaugural year for a new college camping program called “Lift U,” which was implemented and saw attendees from more than 10 colleges.

HAMILTON -  David Thornell, president and chief executive officer of the Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance (Northwest Alabama EDA), addressed the Marion County Commission to provide an update on potential business and answer questions from commissioners during a regular meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at the commission office in Hamilton.

HAMILTON -  The driver of a live fish transport truck crossed the median going east-bound on I-22 and collided with an 18-wheeler, a collision that caused a fire and resulted in the fish truck driver losing his left arm.
Matt McCracken with Hamilton Fire and Rescue arrived at the two 18-wheeler collision near exit 11 on I-22 at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, in Hamilton.
“On arrival we found that a live fish transport truck had crossed the median and struck an 18-wheeler hauling shingles,” said McCracken.

HAMILTON - City officials in Hamilton are talking trash, specifically about the need for a new garbage truck—a move which could require customers to own a wheeled garbage can purchased from the city.

WINFIELD - A number of system projects are being specifically highlighted during Winfield City Schools’ 2019-2020 school year.
The Winfield City Board of Education approved the system’s 2019-2020 school year capital plan during its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Winfield Superintendent of Education Chris Cook presented the plan, saying that resurfacing the track was the system’s number-one priority.

WINFIELD - Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, attended the Winfield City Board of Education’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, where he was asked to give a legislative update.
The representative obliged, noting he was attending the meeting just to listen and visit with friends.
“We’re not letting you get off that easy,” said board member James Garner with a laugh.
Estes said the 2019 legislative session was very productive and passed a $7.1 billion education budget.