Article from relates to "Back Through the Years in Marion County" in this week's edition

These pictures are proof that the town of Bear Creek has city limit signs, as it has been accused of not having. Top picture shows Mayor C.S. (Boots) Tidwell standing beside one of the signs that are located at each end of town. Photo at bottom (left) was made last spring in the city limits of Bear Creek, and shows automobiles passing school students who are forced to walk the highway to and from school daily. The picture was not posed. Lower rght is a likeness of the key figure of the Bear Creek “speed tra

These pictures are proof that the town of Bear Creek has city limit signs, as it has been accused of not having. Top picture shows Mayor C.S. (Boots) Tidwell standing beside one of the signs that are located at each end of town. Photo at bottom (left) was made last spring in the city limits of Bear Creek, and shows automobiles passing school students who are forced to walk the highway to and from school daily. The picture was not posed. Lower rght is a likeness of the key figure of the Bear Creek “speed trap” story, Police Chief Warren G. Miller. The Alabama Motorists Association has accused him of illegal traffic arrests and of collecting speed fines.
HAMILTON -- The following story was published in the Haleyville Advertiser on January 20, 1949. It is posted here in reference to a photo in the new segment beginning this week in the Journal Record titled "Back Through the Years in Marion County..."

School page is back!

Brantley

Luke Brantley, staff writer at the Journal Record, shows an older school page.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Journal Record is excited to announce that, this school year, we will be bringing back our school page!
Each week, one of our schools in Marion County will be featured on a page of the Journal Record with school news and pictures of students and faculty.
This is something that the Journal Record has done in the past, and we are excited to bring the news of what the kids and young adults in the county are doing in our great schools.

Hamilton obtains new ambulance service

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The City of Hamilton will now be using Northstar Emergency Medical Service and will establish the Marion County EMS ambulance service for the City of Hamilton following the Hamilton City Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 1, at Hamilton City Hall.
The city previously used Regional Paramedical Services for all of their emergency transport needs, but, according to Hamilton Mayor Bob Page, the city was not satisfied with the time it took for ambulance services to respond.

 

Mule Day returns

IMAGE TAG HERE

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The scent of roasted corn, funnel cakes and other familiar smells are set to return to downtown Winfield once again next month.
Mule Day is still set to return to Winfield on Friday, Sept. 23, for Mule Night and Sept. 24, for Mule Day. This will be the first time the once-annual festival will be held after it was canceled two years in a row due to the pandemic.

Wal-Mart adds tag scanning cameras

Walmart

New security cameras at Wal-Mart in Hamilton will scan tag numbers at the entrance and exit to help law enforcement.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Hamilton City Council approved entering an agreement with Wal-Mart to purchase two camera systems at the Wal-Mart property.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page stated that Wal-Mart will purchase one of the camera systems while the city will purchase the other.

Winfield 8U world series runners-up

8u

Winfield’s 8U boys win second place in the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series. From left are Lee Roland, Chason Bonds, Brooks Riley, Case Miles, Erik Butsykin, Brock Corkren, Blaine McNeal, Ames Poole, Ridge Stocks, Avery Tucker and Kolbe Windham.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
DOTHAN — Winfield’s 8U Dixie Youth baseball team finished as runners-up in the 2022 Dixie Youth Division II AA World Series on Tuesday, Aug. 2, in a narrow loss to North Carolina, wrapping up a 23-3 record season.
The team advanced to the World Series after defeating Fayette in the state tournament on Monday, July 11. They went on to represent the state of Alabama in the World Series starting on July 27.

Bill West remembered as mayor, inspirational teacher

Bill West

Bill West, a former mayor of Winfield, passed away last week.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — Former Winfield Mayor William “Bill” West passed away Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. West was mayor for two terms from 2000-2008.
West was instrumental in helping the city build the storm shelter next to city hall through grant money and other projects, according to former city clerk Candy Reed.
Before being elected mayor, West was a history teacher at Winfield City High School, a role in which many former students say he inspired them.

Phase one of new track approved

Ann West

Marion County Superintendent Ann West speaks during the Hamilton City Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 1, at Hamilton City Hall. Also pictured are Hamilton High School Principal David Cantrell (left, background) and Hamilton Middle School Principal Norman Ballard (foreground).

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON —Coaches and Hamilton school officials applauded as the Hamilton City Council approved phase one plans beginning the construction of the new Hamilton track facility.
This took place during a regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 1, at Hamilton City Hall.

Satcher is newly hired Brilliant football coach

From left are Roger Satcher, his son Asa Satcher and his wife Lea Able Satcher. Roger is a native of Stonewall, Miss., and has 37 years of coaching, teaching and administration experience.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
BRILLIANT — Brilliant School has hired Roger Satcher as the new head football coach after the resignation of former coach Brian Gunnels.
Satcher brings decades of coaching and school administration experience. From 1995 to 2005, Satcher worked as head baseball coach, defensive coordinator, assistant principal and athletic director for Jasper City Schools.

Schools take a look at safety measures

Saftey Meeting

Marion County and Winfield superintendents met with Marion County law enforcement officials at the central office in Hamilton to discuss school safety measures.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Marion County Superintendent of Education Ann West met with Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams as well as police chiefs from every municipality in the county to discuss safety and security in schools for the future.
In attendance were West, Winfield City Schools Superintendent Randy Thomley, Williams, Bear Creek Police Chief Doug Hallman, Hamilton Police Chief Ronny Vickery, Hackleburg Police Chief Kenny Hallmark, Guin Police Chief Doug Webb and Winfield Police Chief Brett Burleson.

Lightning strikes twice at gas facility

Shottsville fire

A fire occurrs at the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company of Kinder Morgan on County Highway 56 in Shottsville Saturday night.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
SHOTTSVILLE — Both the Shottsville and Byrd fire departments were called to a major emergency situation during the stormy conditions that occurred on the night of Saturday, July 30.
Shottsville Fire Department was the first to arrive on the scene to respond to the fire located on County Highway 56 at the facility operated by the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company of Kinder Morgan.
“We just saw a big ball of fire on top of one of the buildings,” said Shottsville Fire  Chief Jeff Williams.

Horsing around in Hamilton

Marion County Stampede Rodeo

Children enjoy the Marion County Stampede that took place just a few months ago. Gann aims to get youth interested in horse competitions.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — After the massive success of the Marion County Stampede just a few months ago, county resident Jamie Gann plans to bring more horse events on a more regular basis to the youth and other residents of Marion County.
During a regular meeting held on Monday, July 18, at the commission office in Hamilton, Gann suggested that the county lease him property located just off of Highway 43 South.

Winfield honors 8U, Cunningham

Trey Cunningham

Trey Cunningham

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield City Council recognized the 8U boys Dixie Youth state champions and discussed plans to honor World Championships silver medalist Trey Cunningham during its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 19.
Players and coaches of the team stood holding a celebratory banner as the council passed a resolution recognizing them for their achievements.

Signal light may stay

Wes Spiller

Wes Spiller from ALDOT discusses the traffic signal during a recent council meeting.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton business owners Watha Williams and Darryl Crabtree voiced their concerns about the potential removal of the stop light located on First Avenue Southeast in downtown Hamilton.
In May, Hamilton Mayor Bob Page and the Hamilton City Council voted to take down the stop light on First Avenue Southeast in order to alleviate traffic that builds up on Military Street’s main intersection near the Marion County Courthouse.

Murder in the first degree

James McCracken

James McCracken

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON —Hamilton resident James Ray McCracken was arrested on suspected murder in the first degree charges this weekend on Saturday, July 23, in Hamilton.
The Hamilton Police Department, along with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, made the arrest on the day of the incident.
McCracken, 77, born in November of 1944, is currently being held in the Marion County Jail in Hamilton on a $500,000 bond.

Miss Hamilton, outstanding teen visit Hamilton council

Miss Hamilton

Pictured from left are Hamilton City Councilmen Scott Robertson and Wade Williams, Mayor Bob Page, Miss Outstanding Teen Harper Howard, Miss Hamilton Emee Baldwin and Hamilton City Councilmen Matt Sims, Ross Reed and Scott Tyra.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Miss Hamilton, Emee Baldwin, and Miss Hamilton’s Outstanding Teen, Harper Howard, attended the Hamilton City Council to speak to the mayor and council about their time in Hamilton and their goals after winning the competitions.

Marion County surviving in drought conditions

Drought

Marion County is in a minor drought condition, facing abnormally dry to moderate drought this season.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
MARION COUNTY — The heat in Alabama, while not entirely abnormal for a July in the state, may have some farmers and gardeners slightly worried about droughts in the area.
While Marion County has certainly been no dust bowl this year, a recent report by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that Marion County is facing abnormally dry to moderate drought this summer.

SWAT trains for shooter response

Justin Cottingham

Justin Cottingham eases around the corner just out of a classroom in the hallway of Winfield City High School during a SWAT training exercise.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield City Police Department’s newly formed Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team swept the halls and cleared the classrooms of Winfield City High School on Thursday, July 7, during a training exercise.
Officers engaged in drills using unloaded weapons and trained using Simunition, blank cartridges that fire a paint marker and allow officers to safely train with real firearms without risk of severe injury.

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