HAMILTON — The Alabama State Board of Education has named Hamilton Elementary School to the National Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s Distinguished School’s program. The state board passed a resolution congratulating the school on Thursday, Dec. 12, and the Marion County Board of Education awarded a plaque to the school at their last board meeting on Dec. 17.
The resolution states the school was
selected for Category 1 of the program, which is awarded for excellence in student performance and academic growth.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Methodist Church hosted its 38th annual Thanksgiving Dinner for community members unable to attend or unable to afford a family meal on Nov. 28. There were 250 plates provided to those who signed up through Fred’s Pharmacy or the church.

MARION COUNTY — Nearly 5,000 locations held Wreaths Across America ceremonies nationwide in December, with more than 3 million wreaths placed on interred veterans graves. Shown are photos taken in Hackleburg, Hamilton, Bexar and Weston. The American Legion Sonny James Post 165 held a ceremony and wreath placement on Dec. 14 at Cedar Tree Cemetery in Hackleburg with assistance from Bikers Against Bullies NWA and BSA Troop 56 of Hamilton. Scout Troop 56 of Hamilton held a ceremony on Dec. 16 at the Marion County Courthouse with wreath placements at the city cemetery afterwards.

Hamilton High School Alumnus Jamie Brown is set to be inducted into the NCAA Hall of Fame and the Samford University Hall of Fame in 2025.
For Brown’s senior year at Samford University, under head coach Terry Bowden, the Bulldogs went 12-2 overall, making it to the semifinals of the national championship, resulting in their being number three in the nation. Brown was awarded the most knock outs of a competing team in a single season with 18.

HACKLEBURG — His goal is to train to make the U20 Canadian National World team that will compete in the World Athletics Championship in Oregon in 2026. He has many accolades. He is ranked number one in shot put, number one in hammer and number one in weight in the State of Alabama going into the 2025 track season. He is also just 17.

BEAR CREEK — The Bear Creek Town Council had to take quick action at their Wednesday, Dec. 18, meeting, to keep the water department in operation after over $20,000 in equipment was stolen during a break-in.
“We’re working on leads, and we have some leads,” pointed out Bear Creek Police Chief Eddie Collins.
Sometime between 1-4 a.m. on Nov. 26, suspect(s) cut open a fence behind the metal facility located by two water tanks on County Highway 106, entering the property, police said.

HAMILTON — The Marion County Commission discussed the possibility of increasing garbage pickup fees during a work session on Monday, Dec. 9.
County engineer Chris Willbanks explained during the work session that Marion County hauls the garbage it picks up from customers to a landfill in Franklin County.
That landfill has announced that it will be increasing its rates from about $40 per ton to about $65 per ton.

HAMILTON — Most of the time lately, there seems to have been little to no audience members present for public notice hearings held prior to the Hamilton City Council meetings.
But on Monday, Oct. 21, the public showed up, stood up and spoke up. Seats in the council room were filled, with  some members of the audience also having to stand along the sides of the room.
There were two different public notice hearings held back-to-back, with the first matter concerning a request for a road closing and the second addressing a request for property rezoning.

WINFIELD — The Winfield Fire Department has purchased new scuba equipment for its diving and recovery team thanks to a $7,000 grant from the Northwest Alabama Research Conservation and Development Council.
According to Winfield firefighter Blake Farley, the new equipment will give the dive crew better capability and upgrade existing equipment.

WINFIELD — Bowen Funeral Home is welcoming Davis Bowen as its new funeral director.
Bowen, who will turn 21 at the end of December, graduated from Winfield City High School in 2022.
Bowen shared that he never thought this is the direction his life would take, until he started to work at the funeral home with his dad.
“I started back when COVID started, and I was still in high school,” he said. “We weren’t in school, so I would come up here and work every once in a while, and that’s when I realized that this is what I want to do.

MONTGOMERY — State Senator Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) was selected by the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus as their party’s nominee for the position of President Pro Tempore of the senate.
The decision was made in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The previous pro tem, Greg Reed, will be stepping down to accept a position in Governor Kay Ivey’s administration at the start of the new year.
Gudger was first elected to the state senate in 2018 and is on his second term.

GUIN — Police responded to the scene of an ATM burglary and theft of money at State Bank and Trust in Guin in the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 6.
“About 5:20 this morning, a white truck pulled up to the ATM,” Guin Police Chief Daryl Spencer said. “They used tools to manipulate the ATM door, then once they got the door opened, they backed the truck up and used tow hooks with a chain to jerk the vault door open using the truck. They took the money out of the ATM, and there was a getaway car that was waiting on them nearby. They left the truck at the scene.”