Winfield cheerleaders place 13th in nationals

Right, the Winfield varsity cheerleaders celebrate with their trophy at Universal Orlando Studios. Left to right, front row: Bella Thompson, Baylee Pennington, Anna Claire Tidwell, Chloe Beth Kleypas and Lily Hubbert. Middle row: Coach Sandra Seals, London Wallace, Gabby McCullum, Bella Tidwell, Makinzie Jones, Kaelyn Weeks, Alyssa Travis, Caroline Butler and Coach Ashley Wilson. Back row: Jenna Westbrooks, Addyson Rhudy, Ally Tidwell, Kylee Harbin, Alaya Blackburn and Isabella Posey.

ORLANDO — Winfield City High School varsity cheerleaders placed 13th out of 58 teams at a national cheer competition despite a last minute injury. Winfield’s varsity cheerleaders competed in the National High School Cheerleading Championship in February in Orlando, Fla.

New Pilot donates $20,000

WINFIELD — A few weeks after its soft opening, Pilot Travel Center on Highway 129 in Winfield hosted an official ribbon cutting on Tuesday, April 15. Pilot’s Zack Mann, Hope Wilson, Cassie Clark, Allison Hinshaw, Haley Wheeler, JoAnn Cole, Tracie Inman, Ginarose Bizzle, Wendy Head, John Cunningham, Nick White, Russ Griffin and Hunter Candela were joined by members of the Chamber of Commerce, city leaders, and friends and family. Pilot donated $20,000 to Neighborhood Bridges, which will help Winfield City Schools.

WINFIELD — Pilot Travel Center General Manager Russ Griffin and Regional Manager Hunter Candela, joined by Superintendent Randy Thomley, Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Simmons, and Neighborhood Bridges Area Director Jill Spann; present Winfield City Schools with a check for $20,000, which will go to the Neighborhood Bridges charity. Neighborhood Bridges partners with Winfield City Schools to provide needs for students and families to help students succeed in the classroom. The event occurred on Tuesday, April 15, during the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Pilot station located on State Highway 129.

Bevill State’s Trent Credille honored


Shown is Bevill State Community College All-Alabama Community College Academic Team member Trent Credille of Hamilton (center) with BSCC President Dr. Joel Hagood (far right) and Alabama Community College System Senior Deputy Chancellor, System Development, Strategic Advancement, and Chief of Staff Susan Price.
HAMILTON - Bevill State Community College-Hamilton student Trent Credille was recently selected for the 2025 All-Alabama Academic Team, along with BSCC Fayette student Simon Smith.

‘Ready to soar’

Tyree Wilson, a Hamilton graduate, is playing the flute internationally and has also played in an orchestra for a movie soundtrack He also attends the University of Alabama

HAMILTON — Hamilton High School Alumni Tyree Wilson, 20, is traveling internationally to play his flute in orchestras, for solo performances and ensemble concerts, for competitions, as well as a two-week tour with an OperaMaya group in Mexico. He also participated in an orchestra recently which recorded a major motion picture soundtrack to be announced later this year.

Eleven Marion County students to participate in Pig Squeal

HAMILTON — Last week, the Journal-Record published an article on the upcoming 4-H Pig Squeal. The article featured Avery McCullough from Hamilton. While the Pig Squeal will feature students from Fayette, Lamar, Pickens, Walker and Winston counties, Marion County will also be well-represented. Eleven students from across the county will compete at the event.

MCHS Beta Club seeks funding


Reagan LeDuke, left, and Max Herdzik speak to the council on behalf of MCHS Beta Club.
GuinStudents representing Marion County High School’s Beta Club spoke to the Guin City Council on Monday, March 17, asking for assistance in funding the group’s trip to the national convention this summer.

NWAGD votes to aid Winfield in economic development-related gas line relocation

Shown are Winfield Mayor Randy Price (left) and Northwest Gas General Manager Heath Reed in front of the new Pilot Travel Center in Winfield. Due to ongoing construction in the area, a six-inch high-pressure gas main line will need to be relocated. The Northwest Gas Board of Directors have agreed to help offset the cost of moving the line for the City of Winfield.

HAMILTON — The Northwest Alabama Gas District, also known as Northwest Gas, serves more than 20,000 customers across the state, with a special new customer recently added through the construction of the newest Pilot Travel Center in Winfield on Interstate-22.

Participating Marion County 4-H youth are “oinking it up” by raising pigs for the annual Pig Squeal coming up next month.

Avery McCullough, 10, shows the pigs she is working with for the upcoming Pig Squeal on May 17. She is one of 10 Marion County 4-H youth who will be participating in the showing and then the auction afterward.

Participating Marion County 4-H youth are “oinking it up” by raising pigs for the annual Pig Squeal coming up next month. The event will be held on Saturday, May 17, at 10 a.m., at the Fayette County Multipurpose Complex at 650 McConnell Loop in Fayette.

Governor Kay Ivy awards $50,000 to Marion County Sheriff’s for stun guns

Shown are Winfield Mayor Randy Price (left) and Northwest Gas General Manager Heath Reed in front of the new Pilot Travel Center in Winfield. Due to ongoing construction in the area, a six-inch high-pressure gas main line will need to be relocated. The Northwest Gas Board of Directors have agreed to help offset the cost of moving the line for the City of Winfield.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has awarded nearly $297,000 to improve public safety in north Alabama, including $50,000 to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office “to purchase stun guns aimed at de-escalating dangerous situations and preventing injuries to both suspects and deputies.”

‘Dinner on First,’ elegant Hamilton chamber awards event set for April 22

Attendees are shown at last year’s “Dinner on First” event in downtown Hamilton, which showcases some of the “Best of Hamilton.” With elegant table settings and semi-formal attire, “Dinner on First” provides an opportunity for everyone to enjoy a special night.

HAMILTON — You can be a part of one of the best events to be held this year in Hamilton at “Dinner on First,” the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event that salutes the “Best of Hamilton.”

Marion County native first ever police chief of Detroit


Bryan McCraw places his hand on his grandfather’s Bible as he is sworn in as police chief by Detroit Mayor Keith King. Holding the Bible is McCraw’s friend, Kristie Bailey.
DETROIT — For the first time in its incorporated history, a span of 70 years, the Town of Detroit now has its first police chief. Robert Bryan McCraw, of Hamilton, was hired and sworn in as the town’s police chief on Monday, March 17, at Detroit Town Hall by Mayor Keith King. McCraw retired as the police chief for Guin and has also formerly worked with the Franklin County heriff’s Department.