HACKLEBURG - The work that American Legion Sonny James Post 165 Commander Tim Howard has been putting into the Wreaths Across America Ceremony has paid off.
“Once everybody found out about it, it took off,” Howard said. “I’m kind of surprised.”
Howard has been working for the past year to make the inaugural Wreaths Across America project a success at the Cedar Tree Cemetery in Hackleburg.

WINFIELD - Winfield seniors Walker Junkin and Josh Estes signed track and field scholarships with the University of South Alabama in Mobile on Sunday, Nov. 18.
The pair signed their scholarships to compete for the Jaguars at Winfield City High School.
Junkin participates in both the pole vault and decathlon events for Winfield and plans on being part of those events at South Alabama.

Whether we are ready for it or not, basketball is upon us.
For those of you that don’t know, I actually do not dislike basketball. I thoroughly enjoy it early in the season.
My enjoyment starts to fade about halfway through the year before being totally zapped come playoff time.

HAMILTON - Hamilton improved to a perfect 5-0 with the Aggies’ second victory of the season over Haleyville, 68-45, on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
The Aggies held a 34-26 advantage at halftime before outscoring the Lions 34-19 in the second half.
Hamilton’s Justin Webb led the way with 18 points. The senior added six rebounds and three assists.

HAMILTON - Hamilton earned its second win of the season with a 54-50 victory over rival Haleyville on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
Hamilton’s Paisley Sorrells finished with a game-high 21 points.
Mia Hollingsworth added eight points and eight rebounds.
Lexie Childers contributed nine rebounds while Gracey Dezso pulled in eight boards as the Lady Aggies improved to 2-3 on the season.

(Schools reporting: Brilliant, Hackleburg, Hamilton, Marion County and Winfield)

HAMILTON - Marion-Winston Community Action Agency Executive Director Jeff Fleming said his Agency will soon begin making appointments for financial assistance with utility bills for qualified residents.
The assistance will be provided through LIHEAP, which is the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

WINFIELD - In response to comments made by city residents, Winfield Mayor Randy Price told the council and audience during the Tuesday, Nov. 19, council meeting that he would be cleaning up the clutter at his businesses, as well as expecting other home and business owners to keep their properties presentable.
“We’ve had complaints about certain landowners with messy properties,” said Price. He told the council that he had received calls and comments regarding at least two disheveled residences in the city.

HAMILTON - C3 of Northwest Alabama is hosting a free event to educate its tri-county constituency about Opportunity Zones, a program established through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
The event will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 19, from 2-4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Guin. The event is being hosted at no cost to participants, compliments of C3 and its member municipalities and businesses.
Those who are planning to attend are being asked to RSVP with Katie Hallman by email to khallman@northwestalabama.org or by phone at 468-3213.

HAMILTON - Local economic development agency C3 of Northwest Alabama is hosting a Christmas Open House.

The event will take place on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 2-4 p.m. at C3’s main office located at 4020 Highway 43 in Gu-Win.

“In appreciation of the service and support, and as a valuable partner in our mutual efforts to grow the region of Marion, Fayette and Lamar counties, we hope that you will join our board of directors and staff for holiday refreshments and fellowship,” said C3 Executive Director David Thornell.

WINFIELD - Winfield’s Ivan K. Hill Recreational Park received a $10,000 grant from Komatsu Mining Corporation that will partially fund new all-accessible bathrooms.
This change was inspired by Girl Scout Wren Williamson, who approached both the park board and the Winfield City Council requesting that action be taken to make the bathrooms handicap accessible.
Williamson has been conducting fundraising projects, hoping to purchase an adult-sized changing table for the new bathrooms.

Regional agriculture specialists report that the cotton crop has been average this year and Marion County specialists say the county’s crop is falling in line with these reports—not too good or too bad.
Marion County Extension Office Coordinator Lisa Murphy stated that locally, the crop yields varied considerably.
“Several farmers have estimated that the cotton crop yield this year has produced between 750 pounds and 1,400 pounds of cotton per acre,” said Murphy.

WINFIELD - Mr. and Mrs. Chad Holdbrooks, Winfield, announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Kelsey Marie Holdbrooks, Birmingham, to Peyton Clark Thetford, Jr., Birmingham, the son of Dr. James Edward and Dr. Tara McCormick Bryant, Birmingham, and Mr. and Mrs. Peyton Clark Thetford, Mountain Brook.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry K. Hunter, Winfield, Mrs. Hal Ray Holdbrooks, Haleyville, and the late Mr. Hal Ray Holdbrooks.

BRILLIANT - Students from Brilliant School attended the UR KEYS 2 DRV Teen Driver Safety Summit on Thursday, Nov. 15. The one-day interactive event was held at Sumter Central High School in York.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Teen drivers have crash rates three times those of drivers 20 and older per mile driven.
However, teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable, and a statewide coalition is working with Alabama students through UR KEYS 2 DRV to address safe driving habits.

WINFIELD - The Winfield Pirate varsity cheerleaders competed in the regional championships on Thursday, Nov. 15, earning a berth in the state competition.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association North Super Regional Championship Cheerleading Competition was held at the Birmingham Crossplex in Birmingham, and the Winfield cheerleaders won first place among 3A varsity teams.

HAMILTON - According to information released from the Alabama Department of Labor in October, there is a consistent market-demand for nurses in the state.
Bevill State Community College-Hamilton Campus plays an important role in meeting the need for skilled nurses in the current economical environment.
According to the ADOL, registered nurses earn an average wage of $28.43 per hour.

On Saturday, Dec. 1, 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.

There are those who are called to serve in the military and there are those who are called to preach the Gospel. And then, there are those who answered the call to do both. For the month of November the Journal Record has been celebrating our veterans by featuring stories on local preachers who answered the call to both serve their country, and to preach the Gospel.   In Jesus’ Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22, many are called but few are chosen. On Nov. 7 we featured Jeremy Sorrells. On Nov. 14 we featured Harrison Walker.

HAMILTON - By a vote of 3-1, with councilman Tami Lewis  Williams voting against the measure, the Hamilton City Council appointed Wade Sullins to replace former councilman and current Marion County District 2 Commissioner Kenneth Cochran.
“We had a councilman elected as district commissioner. It’s this council’s responsibility to replace him with a new person to serve,” said mayor Bob Page.
Councilman Gene Sanderson nominated Sullins to replace Cochran.
After the council voted, Page addressed Sullins briefly.

Listed below are the dates and times for the Christmas parades for each municipality in Marion County:
• The Hamilton Christmas Parade will wind its way through downtown on Monday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m.
Santa will be available prior to the parade for Santa on the Square festivities at the courthouse from 3:30 - 5:30. Children can sit on Santa’s lap and have their pictures taken.

HAMILTON - The first Mayor’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Thursday, Nov. 29, beginning at 5:30 p.m. outside of Hamilton City Hall.
Beginning at 5:30, several groups will perform, bringing real holiday spirit to the ceremony.
Hamilton Boy Scout Troup 56 will begin the ceremony with opening prayer.
Hamilton’s elementary and middle school choirs will perform at the event. The ceremony will also feature performances from Hamilton High School’s Key Line Dancers and the high school color guard.

In other words, the 2018 elections are over. Thank God.
We have new/old officials in positions of power. Some with a lot, others with not as much as they may think. Voters have retained some, and sent others home to whatever lies in their future.
Naturally, we are very pleased with some of the electorate’s choices. Naturally, some not so much.

A few last thoughts and observations on our Nov. 6 General Election in Alabama.
Our new 55th Governor looked and sounded more like the old Kay Ivey, than the one we have seen the past few years and during the campaign.

HAMILTON - For the week ending on Wednesday, Nov. 21, a total of $5,005.26 has been donated toward this year’s Christmas for Kids campaign.
Sandy Sandlin, coordinator of the campaign, says this year’s goal is $40,000 to help purchase holiday gifts for more than 400 children.
“We are still needing around $35,000 more,” said Sandlin. “I hope this will raise awareness.”
All of the money will go toward buying clothing and shoes for children.
Among those who have made the most recent donations are:
• $200 - Anonymous;

BRILLIANT - During the Wednesday, Oct. 24, meeting, Brilliant Town Council members discussed unhappy residents who have requested multiple times that their residences be de-annexed from the town limits.
The issue has been brought up at the past three town council meetings by resident Jason Wilds, who wants his property de-annexed, along with his brother, Keith Wilds, and his mother and father, Nathan and Sheryl Wilds, who also want their properties de-annexed.

WINFIELD - The Winfield City Council approved a pay-raise for all of the city’s police officers on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
According to police chief Brett Burleson, this raise will allow the police department to stay competitive and hopefully draw new officers to the city.

HAMILTON - The City of Hamilton was awarded a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) by Gov. Kay Ivey for infrastructure repairs at the Ragsdale Hamilton Housing Authority, located on Highway 278 East.
The grant was presented to Hamilton Mayor Bob Page, Hamilton attorney Scott Hunt and Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, by Ivey in Montgomery at the State Capitol on Friday, Oct 26.
The repairs on the  housing location will include sewer, water, street and drainage, which are reportedly more than 60 years old.

HAMILTON - The following couples obtained marriage licenses during the month of October at the Marion County Probate Judge’s office:

Hamilton Police Department

HAMILTON - The following arrests and activities were reported by the Hamilton Police Department for the period of Nov. 13-19:
Incident, offense cases
Four for possession of drug paraphernalia; three each for fourth-degree theft of property and third-degree domestic violence; two for resisting arrest; and one each for possession of a controlled substance, fraudulent use of a credit/debit card, third-degree possession of a forged instrument, secon-degree promoting prison contraband and identity theft.