City of Hamilton

HAMILTON — The City of Hamilton is now accepting bids for several surplus equipment items, as discussed during the Hamilton City Council meeting that took place last Monday, April 17, at Hamilton City Hall.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page announced that seven different items will be up for bid, five of which are vehicles.
The items include a Heil 20 yard garbage bed; an 8 yard dump truck bed; a 1981 GMC; a 1985 Chevrolet pickup truck; a 1987 Ford F-800; a 1990 Chevrolet CK20; and a 1997 Dodge pickup.

HAMILTON — All three Hamilton schools are set to get a major financial boost as the City of Hamilton has established the Hamilton Aggie School Foundation.
Typically, the City of Hamilton would fund Hamilton Elementary, Middle and High schools using alcohol tax monies at a total of $135,000 per year.
Now, with the new foundation in operation, the City of Hamilton will have $300,000 to disperse to schools for various projects that schools may need completed.

HAMILTON — The City of Hamilton is on the search for a new police chief after longtime law enforcer Ronny Vickery announced his retirement scheduled for the end of June.
Vickery has served as the Hamilton Police Chief for the past 10 years.
“With regrets, we’re going to be losing Ronny. I hate to see (him) go. He’s been a great chief for the City of Hamilton for a number of years now,” said Mayor Bob Page.

HAMILTON — The City of Hamilton has made the decision to yet again sponsor the Marion County Stampede during its second annual rodeo to be held in Hamilton.
The city will sponsor the event in the amount of $5,000.
Marion County Stampede organizer Matt McCracken was in attendance during the Hamilton City Council meeting to ask for sponsorship.
He also met with the Marion County Commission and Hamilton Kiwanis Club earlier that day.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Marion County Stampede in Hamilton has been named the Best New Rodeo of the Year and the Best $1,500 Rodeo of Year for the event that took place in 2022.
The rodeo event, which was held in the spring of 2022, was a huge hit in Marion County, drawing crowds from even outside of Marion County lines.
The Professional Cowboy Association at the rodeo finals in Biloxi, Miss. announced the awards on Saturday, Feb. 4.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON  — Human remains found in Hamilton in January have finally been identified as Justin Kyle Lovett, who was reported missing back in April of 2022.
Lovett’s remains were found on Jan. 7 in Hamilton.
According to Hamilton Police Sergeant Scotty Chandler, the remains were identified by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences through dental records.
Chandler stated the Hamilton Police Department is in close contact with the family of Lovett.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Pine Hills and Oak Hollars Child Classic Wish Hunt took place for its 12th year at Maywood Christian Camp in Hamilton on Jan 5-8.
The wish hunt is offered annually to children who have illness and to those living in the local community as well.
Each year, three children are chosen to come along for the hunt, but this year, four children were taken to hunt squirrels and deer.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton resident Eguel Belk celebrated her 103rd birthday this past week, with her party being held on her birthday on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton Nursing Home.
Belk, born in 1920 and a longtime resident of Hamilton, was raised on a farm in the Bexar community and attended the Ada Hannah School. Her parents were Carl Elliott and Eva (Wesh) Elliott.
“We just went to church and worked on the farm,” said Belk. “I’d help my daddy plow out on the farm.”

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton residents may have noticed lots of work being done near the Marion County Courthouse. Crews were busy Monday morning taking down the street light right before Hamilton’s main intersection and installing a blinking yellow light in its place.
For 30 days, Hamilton will not be using the old traffic light located at 1st Avenue and Military Street South.
On Monday, Aug. 15, the Hamilton City Council made the decision to cover the lights and make 1st Avenue Southeast a one way road.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton pickleball enthusiasts will be delighted to hear that the City of Hamilton approved the construction of two new pickleball courts near the Hamilton tennis courts near the recreation center during the Jan. 17, meeting.
The project has an estimated cost of $38,908.
Pickleball, similar to tennis, is an indoor or outdoor racket/paddle sport where two or four players hit a perforated hollow polymer ball over a 36-inch-high net using solid-faced paddles.