Special to the Journal Record

While the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention (CDC) announced May 13 that people fully vaccinated for COVID-19 may go maskless in most places, Alabama’s nursing homes and hospitals are still under federal mask re- quirements.

The Alabama Nursing Home Association and the Alabama Hospital Associa- tion are reminding citizens that they will be required to wear masks when they visit their facilities, even if they are fully vaccinated.

By Scott Johnson Managing Editor HAMILTON - A woman running what neighbors have called a “puppy mill” has been arrested on animal cruelty charges. Julie Akins, 50, of Hazel Avenue in east Hamilton, was arrested on Tuesday, May 4, on 13 counts of second-degree animal cruelty and booked into the Marion County Jail. She was released the same day on a $6,500 bond.

By Scott Johnson Managing Editor HAMILTON - Motorists will soon spend less time waiting at red lights due to a now-approved overhaul of the city’s traffic light system. The Hamilton City Council voted unanimously during a meeting on Monday, May 3, to purchase camera-based sensors for $105,000.

By LOUIS MELLINI Staff Writer Gov. Kay Ivey announced that Alabama’s COVID-19 public health order will end Monday, May 31, 2021, and the state of emergency will end Tuesday, July 6, 2021.

By Scott Johnson Managing Editor Montgomery - The Alabama Legislature has voted to legalize the use of medical marijuana and now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk. The bill will give Alabama residents with qualifying medical conditions the ability to obtain a medical cannabis card to purchase marijuana for medicinal use if recommended by a physician.

MONTGOMERY – In light of a recent debate in the Alabama Legislature, Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, has confirmed his commitment to public education and his opposition to using public tax dollars to fund charter schools.
“Those who know me will attest to my long-standing commitment to public education, as a parent, journalist and former school board member,’’ Estes said. “Since returning to Marion County in 1991 to raise my family, I have worked closely with public education in some form or fashion and will continue to do so as long I have the health to serve.’’

By Scott Johnson
Managing Editor

Hackleburg - As of late April, the Town of Hackleburg is now operating its own sanitation detail to roughly 700 local accounts.
All customers east of U.S. Highway 43 will have their garbage collected on Wednesday. Those west of Highway 43 will be served on Thursday.
Customers are recommended to have their cans out by the road no later than 7 a.m.

By Scott Johnson Managing Editor HACKLEBURG - Nearly 70 individuals formed a human cross under Hackleburg’s caution light on Highway 43 on Tuesday, April 27. Over the last decade, the formation has become the way for Marion County and Hackleburg residents to remember the 25 people that were tragically lost when three tornadoes plowed through the area. The cross symbolizes the hope of resurrection in spite of the imminence of death--a hope that Hackleburg has seen realized as the town has been reborn out of the rubble of April 27, 2011.

Some of you have inquired how Alabama will fare in Washington after Senator Shelby retires at the end of 2022. The answer is that it will be nothing less than devastating for the Heart of Dixie. The amount of federal dollars that Senator Shelby has individually brought home is incalculable and irreplaceable. Alabama is going to be in the proverbial boat without a paddle in 20 short months. We will have negligible power in Washington and for a state that depends on federal dollars, that is not going to be a good position to be in for Alabama.
 

First-time Marion County authors M. J. Carley and Martha Young have both had works published in the past year. Both authors secured contracts with Christian publishing Covenant Books Inc. of Murrells Inlet, S.C.--Carley’s mystery and suspense novel Right as Rayne hit shelves in May 2020; Young’s Finding April was released Feb. 18, 2021. Carley and Young are both employees at NTN-Bower in Hamilton.

LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

HAMILTON - Recently appointed Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party John Wahl made his first visit to Marion County during the Marion County Republican Party meeting on Saturday, May 8, at J & V’s Ole Smokehouse in Hamilton.
This was the party’s first meeting with a full attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic began back in March of last year. In attendance were also Marion County  Republican Party Chairman David Hall, as well as State Rep. Tracy Estes and Senator Larry Stutts.

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

HAMILTON - The Marion County Commission approved two new hires for the Marion County Sheriff’s Department during a regular meeting on Monday, May 10, at the Marion County Commission office in Hamilton.
Kyle Engle was hired as a jailer at the Marion County jail at $14.06 per hour and Riley Cagle was hired as a deputy at $16.23 per hour.

By Scott Johnson
Managing Editor

A Shottsville couple is seeking answers after an engine fire totaled their vehicle and damaged their home. They say the incident occurred immediately after their car was serviced at the Hamilton Walmart’s Auto Care Center.
On Saturday, April 24, Vicki Winsett’s 2015 Nissan Altima caught fire and became fully engulfed while parked in her driveway on Goggans Road in west Marion County.

By Scott Johnson
Managing Editor

All students enrolled in Marion County and Winfield City schools will continue to eat free breakfast and lunch through the 2020-2021 school year, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Traditional and virtual students have been able to eat free meals throughout the pandemic year. That benefit will continue through May of 2022.

By JESSE LAMAR
General Manager

GUIN - The Marion County Lady Red Raiders are the Class 1A, Area 12 champions and have punched their ticket to the next round of the postseason after defeating the Lady Bears of Lynn High School in a shutout 15-0 victory.
The Lady Raiders started the tournament with a first-round bye after finishing the regular season as the top-seeded team.
The Lady Raiders competed against Lynn in their first game of the tournament, winning 14-4.

BELGREEN - The Hackleburg Lady Panthers secured their spot in the regional tournament after finishing as the runners-up of the Class 1A, Area 14 tournament.
The Lady Panthers started the tournament with a 12-2 win over the Lady Red Devils of Vina High School on Monday, May 3, before falling to Belgreen 6-4 later that day in the final game of the winner’s bracket.

By JESSE LAMAR
General Manager

HALEYVILLE - The Hamilton Lady Aggies started the Class 4A, Area 12 tournament with a solid 12-2 win over the Lady Tigers of Fayette County High School, but the momentum wasn’t enough to carry them to the area title as they fell to the Haleyville Lady Lions 8-4 in the championship game.
After starting the tournament with the 10-run rule win over Fayette County, the Lady Aggies were paired up with the Lady Lions for their first matchup of the double-elimination tournament.

By JESSE LAMAR
General Manager

OAKMAN - The Winfield Lady Pirates finished as runners-up of the Class 3A, Area 10 tournament to secure their spot in the regional tournament.
The Lady Pirates started the tournament with a comeback 7-6 win over Carbon Hill High School before falling to Oakman 3-2 in the next game of the winner’s bracket.

By JESSE LAMAR
General Manager

STEVENSON - The Hamilton Aggies saw their season come to an end on Friday, May 7, after falling in back-to-back games against the North Jackson Chiefs in the third round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 4A State Baseball Playoffs.
The Aggies fell 2-1 in game one after surrendering a late, lead-changing run in the bottom of the sixth frame.

By Scott Johnson Managing Editor WINFIELD - Winfield City High School (WCHS) senior Macy Grace Cummings, 17, signed with the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) on Monday, April 19, to cheer for the Blazers. She plans to study business at UAB with a goal to earn a real estate license. Macy Grace is the daughter of Shannon Cummings and Kelly Pollard and the granddaughter of Tena Pollard and the late-Larry Pollard and Tony and Jan Cummings. Her sister, Jacie, signed with Shelton State Community College as a cheerleader in 2019.