Phillips High School hosts career event

Two students put the pedal to the floor as they race simulated Formula 1 cars around a racetrack during the career event.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
BEAR CREEK – Phillips High School students had the opportunity to learn more about possible college and career paths at a career expo on Friday, Nov. 18.
Representatives from Honda, numerous programs from Bevill State Community College and other businesses were present to talk to students about their college and career options after high school.
Honda representatives presented students with information while they raced Formula 1 cars around a virtual track in a racing simulator.

Bevill brings back brown bag lectures

Rob Swinney, shown left with his wife Donna, is the first speaker at the Bevill Brown Bag Lectures since the pandemic began. He gave a history on the Buttahatchee.

By P.J. Gossett
General manager
HAMILTON — The Hamilton campus of Bevill State Community College has recognized the rich history of Marion County in the past by presenting Brown Bag Lectures. Speakers were given a chance to talk to the public about historical topics of interest from all areas of the county and northwest Alabama. Unfortunately, the pandemic shut the lectures down, but they have now returned.

RC&D projects total over $76,000

From left, Brilliant High School Coach Ryan Sanderson; SNAP-Ed Educator Ginger Eatman; RC&D members Drayton Crosby, Lauranne James and Vanessa King; State Representative Tracy Estes (R-Winfield); Senator Garlan Gudger; Jamie Colburn; Ryan Mays and Susan O’Mary stand in the newly renovated Brilliant High School Gym.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
BRILLIANT — The Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation and Development council announced that over $76,000 in grant funding  helped complete 13 projects in this year with help from Alabama legislators.

 

Bear Creek is dry

By Chad Fell
Courtesy of the Northwest Alabamian
BEAR CREEK — Church members across denominations in Bear Creek banded together voicing their disapproval and ultimately voting down a referendum that would have allowed for the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages in the town limits during a special election, Tuesday, Nov. 15.
A total of 104 voters cast their ballots in the election, which was held at the Bobby Bishop Community Center, with 64 voting no and 40 voting yes, when all the figures were counted by poll workers then posted on the community center door.

Hamilton hosts tree lighting ceremony

From left, Mayor Bob Page, Fred Hunter from WBRC’s Absolutely Alabama and Mrs. Claus gather to celebrate the lighting of the Christmas tree.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Holiday season has arrived in the City of Hamilton as Mayor Bob Page invited the community to city hall to celebrate the annual Christmas tree lighting.
The event, held outside of the city hall building in Hamilton, was on Tuesday night, Nov. 15.

New traffic lights coming to Winfield

The new traffic lights are a result of the damage downtown Winfield suffered from a small tornado which breezed through after Christmas last year. The light poles are seen being cut out of the roadway shortly after the tornado.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — New traffic lights should be installed around the first week of December, barring any more delays, according to Winfield Mayor Randy Price.
Price said during a city council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, that the installation of new traffic lights had been briefly delayed.
The traffic lights at the main intersection in downtown Winfield were damaged by an F1 tornado on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021.

County commissioners sworn in office

Larry Akers, right, is sworn in by Judge Mark Hammitte at the Marion County Commission Office in Hamilton.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Two new commissioners took to their seats as all commissioners were sworn in before the Marion County Commission meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the commission office in Hamilton.
Both Larry Akers and Greg Gunnin got their feet wet in their first meeting, setting rules of order for the next term.

Marion County advances to third round of playoffs

Marion County’s Riley Smith (#57) gets his hands on the jersey of a Valley Head runner and drags him to the ground. Also pictured are Jameson Webb (#51), Gavin Cole (#2), Brooks Junkin (#55), Cam Blanchard (#59) and Landon Morrow (#6).

GUIN — The Marion County High School Red Raiders are advancing to the third round of the state playoffs after a 27-6 victory over the visiting Valley Head High School Tigers on Friday night, Nov. 11.

Suicide Riley: A look into local WWII casualty

Ernest Ray Riley

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
APRIL 1, 1945, OKINAWA, JAPAN —  World War II was ending. The war in Europe was drawing to a close with Germany on the verge of surrender, and now the island of Okinawa stood as the final barrier between U.S. forces and the Japanese mainland.
After over a week of naval bombardment, U.S. troops made landfall. It would be one of the bloodiest battles of the war in the Pacific, with U.S. troops sustaining around 50,000 casualties as the battle raged through April and May, then into June.

Electric vehicle charging stations coming to Guin

Guin has received a grant of $407,000 to install six electric vehicle charging stations. The exact location is not yet known.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
GUIN — The City of Guin received a grant of $407,000 from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to install six new electric vehicle charging stations possibly at exit 26 on I-22, where the Holiday Inn in Guin is located.
State Representative Tracy Estes (R-Winfield) stated he was informed of the awarding of the grant on Monday, Oct. 31.

County celebrates jail groundbreaking

From left, Bob Burleson, Keith Nichols, Dale Holt, Angela Berry, Kevin Williams and Tim “Ears” Estes break ground on the new Marion County Jail facility in Hamilton. Not pictured is Commissioner Kenneth Cochran.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams and the Marion County Commission joined with government officials and leaders in the county to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Marion County Jail in Hamilton.
The event took place at the future jail site located at the Bedford Industrial park in Hamilton located near Marion County DHR Friday, Nov. 4.

Mathieson steps up for foster families

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — With the growing need of foster families in Marion County rising every year, Marion County has had its need of foster families growing as well.
Luckily for the county, Hamilton resident Melissa Mathieson has been one of a few to step up to the plate.
Mathieson began her journey in foster care after a storm damaged her home in 2017.
“When we were in the process of rebuilding our house, I always felt like we were building our house for something bigger than us or for somebody other than us,” said Mathieson.

Guin Elementary surpasses set goal for test scores

Guin Elementary School surpasses a goal of 70 percent for English/language arts for the school test scores. They reached 72.6 percent.

By P.J. Gossett
General Manager
GUIN — Malcolm X said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Josh Weatherly, principal at Guin Elementary School, prepared a goal for last year’s school test scores. When the results were released, Weatherly found the school not only met the goal but surpassed it.
“Last year for our goal, we wanted to hit 70 percent (for English/language arts),” Weatherly said.

Aniah’s Law on ballot Tuesday

Aniah Blanchard

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
MARION COUNTY — Next Tuesday night, Nov. 8, an important law will be on the ballot.
Voters will decide if Amendment 1, which will change Section 16 of the state constitution to allow judges to deny bail to violent offenders, will go into effect.

Commissioners award jail bids

Groundbreaking for the new jail will be Friday, Nov. 4, at 10 a.m. at the Bedford Industrial Park. Shown is the old jail.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — In a decision that may have been too close for comfort, the Marion County Commission voted to award several bids that signals the official start of the Marion County Jail construction.
Commissioners had eight bid packages on the table for their meeting on Monday, Oct. 24, at the commission office in Hamilton.
Bids were opened just last month, giving commissioners the cost of contracts for general works, detention and security, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, concrete, masonry and sitework to be done for the new jail facility.

Marion’s XC teams advance to state meet

Hamilton’s teams are, back row from left, Coach Scotty Sanderson, Jonathan Flake, Jake Webb, Josh Webb, Kaden Whitaker, Ian Cole, Lane Taylor, Anderson Streetman and Braden Bannister. Front row are MaKayla Peoples, Anne Wiginton, Madelyn Hulsey, Maya Jones, Jadelyn Dawkins and Jane Wiginton.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
MARION COUNTY —  Last Thursday, Oct. 27, Marion County cross country teams competed in sectionals to determine who would advance to the state meet.
Marion County High School, Winfield City High School and Hamilton High School will each be sending at least one team to compete in the state meet at the Oakville Indian Mounds on Saturday, Nov. 5.