HAMILTON — Hamilton’s track and field facility is on its way to being constructed after the Hamilton City Council awarded the construction bid to Avery Landscape & Associates to tackle Phase 1 of the project.
“We’re hoping to start June the 19th. That’s the tentative starting date of the work,” said Mayor Bob Page.
“The project was just over $6 million. We’ve got an additional $553,000 for the turf that the city’s going to pay out of packet (outside) of the contract.”

WINFIELD — Area senior centers are keeping busy with many activities for seniors. Winfield is no exception. They have recently taken a trip to Amish country in Ethridge, Tenn., held ceramics classes and as always, there are many activities at the community center where they meet.
Winfield Senior Center Director Susan O’Mary wants to let the public know about the Winfield Senior Center, what they can offer to those seniors and that they are always looking for volunteers.

Marion County Probate Judge Paige Vick received a certificate of completion from Michael Hill, senior attorney from the Alabama Law Institute, and Honorable Greg Cain, president of the Alabama Probate Judges Association for completing the “Basic Law for Probate Judges Course.”  This course was conducted by the Alabama Law Institute and the Alabama Probate Judges Association.

WINFIELD — The Winfield Public Library hosted a book checkout fair event on Saturday morning, May 20, to promote many new children’s books the library received thanks to a grant from the Pilcrow Foundation, as well as support from local donors.
The Children’s Book Project Grant awarded the library with an original total of 68 books with a total retail value of $1,200.08, which were all on display Saturday for interested children and families to see and check out.

HAMILTON — Hamilton Elementary’s $4.2 million school enclosure and renovation project is underway after the school received Public School and College Authority monies.
According to Marion County Superintendent Ann West, construction will be done on the southwest wing of the building, renovating bathrooms and enclosing areas connecting classrooms using the $4.2 million.

PLAINS, VIRGINIA — Two high school rocketry teams from Marion County traveled to the Washington, D.C. area to compete in the final round of the American Rocketry Challenge in Great Meadow in The Plains, Va. on the weekend of Saturday, May 20.
Teams took their rockets and made two flights, and after the first, teams had to make adjustments on the spot to account for a lower maximum altitude the rocket was required to reach.

WINFIELD — Winfield’s nationally acclaimed band will soon have a new album ready for the listening. The Dirty Clergy, a vintage and indie rock group, has songs written for an album titled “Hymns for the Trying,” which is due out sometime this fall on Cornelius Chapel Records out of Birmingham. It will be the group’s fourth album to date.
The group’s leader and guitarist, Brian Manasco, mentioned 40 songs for the album have been written over the past two and a half years and that they have narrowed down the selection for an album.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Middle School and High School Band gave their annual spring concert last Tuesday, May 16.  
The program consisted of three groups: the sixth grade band, the seventh and eighth grade band and the high school band,  and they did not disappoint.
The evening was a tribute to great composers of concert band music, and the well-rehearsed ensembles gave their audience a night of entertainment and culture.  

Sean Dietrich is a musician, columnist, novelist and podcast host, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Southern Living, Reader's Digest, Garden and Gun, the Tallahassee Democrat, the Birmingham News, the Mobile Press Register and his column appears in newspapers throughout the U.S. He has authored 14 books, with the 15th due out in November, and is the creator of the Sean of the South podcast.  

Governor Kay Ivey’s request  for Individual Assistance following the storms that took place in March of this year have officially been denied by FEMA.
Following the major storms in March, FEMA announced federal emergency aid was made available to the state to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes on March 24-27. This would not cover the second tornado that hit Marion County on the final weekend of March leading into April.

HAMILTON — Hamilton Mayor Bob Page has urged Hamilton dog owners to take greater care of their pets following an increase of dog attacks in the area.
Speaking to the Journal Record on Tuesday, May 9, Page stated the City of Hamilton will be cracking down on those not following pet ordinances following a string of problems caused by dogs in the community.
“People who are allowing their dogs to run loose and not keeping them in their yard are going to be sanctioned by a warning at first and then a possible citation,” said Page.

HAMILTON — After just over 18 years as a coach and teacher at Hamilton High School, Barry Peoples is stepping down from his position and heading to Amory, Miss.
Peoples, along with his wife Susan, will be leaving Hamilton after several years of serving at Hamilton High School and Marion County High School during his time living in the county.
Peoples recalled his time spent coaching at Hamilton, taking charge of both Hamilton’s football and basketball teams during his tenure.

HAMILTON — Hamilton Councilman Matthew Sims has had yet another arrest during his term on the Hamilton council. This latest arrest was on Monday, May 1.
Sims was arrested in December of 2021 for possession of a controlled substance, just a year and a couple of months after the start of his term on the Hamilton City Council.
Sims was due to appear in court for the matter on March 14 of this year, but did not do so.

HAMILTON — Current Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy and former Hamilton Police Officer Jordan Carter will be the new Hamilton Police Chief after the retirement of Chief Ronny Vickery.
Vickery, who announced his retirement last month, will work alongside Carter from June 1 until he officially retires on June 30.
Vickery, who hired Carter at the Hamilton PD, stated he is confident of Carter’s ability to lead the department.

WINFIELD — On Wednesday, May 10, for the first time in front of an audience, a cast and crew of over 50 will perform, Disney's The Lion King Jr. The production will be the 50th for Self Express Productions of Winfield and features kids from Hamilton, Fayette, Guin, Brilliant, Winfield and other surrounding areas. For director and choreographer Casey Kauffman, it has been a whirlwind six weeks of rehearsals that began with the largest auditions the theatre has held.

TUSCALOOSA – The Alabama Department of Transportation bid two projects on state-maintained routes in Marion County during the April 28 bid opening.
Rogers Group, Inc. will resurface, install guardrail and place new traffic striping on Highway 129 from the junction of U.S. Highway 278 northeast of Brilliant to a point approximately half a mile south of the junction of County Road 48. The 4.9 mile project was bid at $1.79 million and is expected to last approximately three months.