Marion County’s October unemployment rate tied the state’s rate and is likely a new record.
According to data published by the Alabama Department of Labor on Nov. 15, Marion County dropped two points from September’s rate of 3%, falling to 2.8%—the same rate as the statewide average. The county’s unemployment rate this time last year was 3.9%.

• Scholarship program established in honor of Wayne, Joyce Pyron

By Scott Johnson
Managing Editor

VERNON - A Lamar County has been sentenced to life in prison for attempted murder for his actions involving kidnapping a woman from a store in Hamilton.
Marshall Lee Gray, 33, Vernon, pled guilty to attempted murder on Oct. 28 in the 24th Judicial Circuit Court held at the Lamar County Courthouse in Vernon and was sentenced to life in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections, according to a press release issued by Andy Hamlin, District Attorney of the 24th Judicial Circuit Court.

HAMILTON - On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Hamilton Civitan Club and Bevill State Community College-Hamilton Campus will hold their annual Breakfast with Santa event, which will take place from 8 - 11 a.m. in the Bevill Business and Community Center on the north end of the campus.
Children 12 years and under will be admitted for free, and attendees over 12 years old will be admitted for $5. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Cold weather on Wednesday, Nov. 13, broke records, according to National Weather Service Observer Eddie Pearce.
Pearce said temperatures dropped to 13 degrees on Nov. 13, bringing trace amounts of snow and breaking the previous record for November, which was set in 1968 when 17 degrees was measured.
The record high for the month of November was set in 2016, when 91 degrees was measured on Nov. 1.
Pearce said this is the second-earliest signs of snow on record. The earliest occurred in 1966, when snow was measured on Nov. 2.

WINFIELD - A heating malfunction resulted in all of Winfield City Schools being postponed and delayed last Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 12 and 13.
Many schools across north Alabama announced closures early last week due to wintery conditions. However, the Winfield closures were due to more complex—and costly—circumstances.

HAMILTON - Belinda McRae, a Hamilton native and long-time educator, is unopposed in her bid for a seat on the Alabama State Board of Education.
There is, however, non-candidate opposition for McRae—a referendum on the primary election ballot in March to make state school board seats appointed offices instead of elected.
If the amendment passes, all  sitting school board members will be removed and Gov. Kay Ivey will begin an appointment process.

HAMILTON - A Hamilton man is being charged with two counts of first-degree rape for allegedly performing sex acts on his girlfriend while she was incapacitated on drugs. Adam Blake Kivette, 33, Hamilton, is being held at the Marion County Jail in Hamilton on a $400,000 bond for the rape of a 35-year-old Hamilton woman. Hamilton Police Department Investigator Scotty Chandler told the Journal Record Kivette was charged with both counts of rape on Nov. 6. Kivette was already in custody at the jail for unrelated misdemeanors.

HAMILTON - Marion County Schools have experienced a decrease in enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year.
Marion County Schools Chief School Financial Officer Clint Green provided the Journal Record with the average daily membership (ADM) data on Friday, Nov. 8.
Current numbers show the county system experienced a drop in enrollment from the previous year, going from 3,235 to now 3,210 students across 11 school locations, losing a total of 25 students.
ADM numbers for the current school year for Marion County Schools by municipality are as follows :

HAMILTON - Marion County Schools collected a record $1,774,113 in education sales tax in Fiscal Year 2019. Marion County Superintendent of Education Ann West announced the collection at the Marion County Board of Education’s monthly meeting held on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The new record of $1.77 million dwarves the previous record set last year of $1,714,333 by nearly $60,000. The school system collected a record $154,823 during the month of September—$6,900 more than the previous year. In September 2018, education sales taxes generated $147,930.