John Berry performs at Springfest in Guin. Berry is in the middle with the guitar. His wife Robin is on the right. Berry’s bass player is on the left.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
GUIN — The City of Guin held its first Springfest, formerly known as Mayfest, on Friday and Saturday, May 20-21.
Vendors selling food, crafts and other goods set up downtown while live music played and prizes were won at the carnival.
From left, Hamilton Principal David Cantrell, Hubert Carter and his daughter Robin are pictured together after Carter received his high school diploma over 70 years after he would have graduated.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton High School graduates had the pleasure of sharing a quite beautiful moment with a very special guest during their graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 26, at Hamilton High School.
U.S. Army Veteran Hubert Carter, 89, received his high school diploma after over 70 years.
Cars are lined up at the E.T. Sims Recreation Facility in Hamilton, where residents cast their votes Tuesday.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
MARION COUNTY — Marion County residents voted in the primary elections that took place last week on Tuesday, May 24.
County residents went to the polls to vote their candadites for several poisitions that will be up for grabs in November as well as Marion County Sheriff, Marion County Coroner and two Districts of the Marion County Comission.
To the right, Sheriff’s Deputies Jordan Carter, left, and Garrett Weeks, right, stand in front of the 129 pounds of marijuana seized during a traffic stop on I-22.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
MARION COUNTY — The Marion County Sheriff’s Department’s plans to sweep up crime on Interstate 22 has already become a fruitful venture, with major events happening in the past week for the department’s joint efforts along with adjoining counties.
Left to right, incoming Beta Club state vice president Austin Berry, outgoing vice president Riley Pyron and Marion County High School Beta Club sponsor Amber Beckon being recognized by the Marion County Board of Education.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Marion County Board of Education recognized several students during its meeting on Thursday, May 19. Among the students recognized were Riley Pyron and Austin Berry, the outgoing and incoming state Beta Club vice-president.
Pryon and Berry are both students at Marion County High School. Pyron ran for state vice president last year, and this year Berry was elected as his successor to the position.
The traffic lights located at the intersection of Military Street South and First Avenue will soon be taken down in order to alleviate traffic in downtown Hamilton.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton residents may have noticed some increased road work this past week in Hamilton’s downtown area, leading to some increased traffic on Military Street South.
Residents should expect some more road work as the Alabama Department of Transportation aims to solve Hamilton’s “bottle neck” issue at its main intersection.
Marion County Department of Human Resources Director Kier Vickery speaks to those in attendance during the foster parent recruitment session held at the House of Plenty in downtown Hamilton.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Marion County Department of Public Health invited residents of Marion County to a foster parent recruitment session on Thursday, May 19, at the House of Plenty in downtown Hamilton.
DHR director Kier Vickery, Judge Mark Hammitte, foster parent licensing worker Melanie Norris and foster parent Melissa Mathieson spoke to those interested in fostering or helping foster parents in Marion County.
Formula shortages have affected the entirety of Marion County, causing many store formula shelves to look just like this one, located at Wal-Mart in Hamilton.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Marion County families relying on formula have had a rough time as of late, with the previous stocked shelves being left completely bare in some cases at local stores throughout the county, state and nation.
Back in February, formula manufacturer Abbot Laboratories, whose product Similac is among the most popular formula brands, shut down a major plant in Sturgis, Mich., after it recalled infant formula products following a federal investigation where four babies taking the formula developed bacterial infections.
IMAGE TAG HERE
Marion County
Primary Election
May 24, 2022
Unofficial Report
Precincts Counted (of 17) - 16 votes, 94.12 %
Registered Voters - Total - 27,715 votes
Ballots Cast - Total - 5,851 votes
Ballots Cast - Alabama Democratic Party - 147 votes, 2.51%
Ballots Cast - Alabama Republican Party - 5,702, 97.45%
Ballots Cast - Nonpartisan - 2 votes, .03%
Ballots Cast - Blank - 0
Voter Turnout - Total - 26.94
Voter Turnout - Blank
Famous country artist John Berry will headline Spring Fest in Guin May 20.
By P.J. Gossett
General Manager
GUIN — Widely known as May Fest, the Town of Guin is changing things a little this year. The event is now called Spring Fest and will be held later in the month on Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21, at the town square in Guin.
While the name and date have been changed, it still promises to be fun-filled family days. The event will begin Friday evening at 6 p.m. with country music star John Berry headlining the show.
The Guin Water Park, located on County Highway 16, is set to re-open in mid-June according to park director Tyler Markham.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
GUIN — According to Guin Park Director Tyler Markham, the Guin Water Park is set to open in mid-June after repairs are completed.
“We are going to do our best to have it open by the middle of June,” Markham said. “There are some structural repairs, just from time, that we’re having to replace and repair. That’s what will be the delay in opening it.”
Eric Terrell is the Marion County EMA director.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
MARION COUNTY — The Marion County Emergency Management Agency has officially launched its new telephone-based mass notification system county wide on Wednesday, May 4.
The EMA began taking sign ups for the new program EMA Director Eric Terrell has been pushing for since his arrival in the position a little over two years ago.
Hamilton held its first ever Marion County Stampede rodeo event this past weekend, drawing crowds from Marion County and surrounding areas to watch cowboys and cowgirls compete in various events.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Marion county Stampede on I-22 and Hamilton’s first Cowboy Day were huge successes this weekend, drawing big crowds from all over and outside of Marion County to enjoy Hamilton’s first inaugural rodeo event.
The event took place on Friday night, May 6 and Saturday night, May 7, at the field near the Tombigbee Electrical Co-op property with a special Cowboy Day held on Saturday morning in downtown Hamilton before the second day of the rodeo.
Artist Martha Fulghum (left) is pictured with Absolutely Alabama and WBRC Fox 6’s Fred Hunter after painting his portrait at Trace Barnett’s farm in Brilliant.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Artists and local business owners have been raving about the Alabama Plein Air Artists event that took place during the week of April 18 in Marion County.
Artists with the Alabama Plein Air Artists organization visited Marion County to paint scenes in front of businesses in Hamilton and other areas in Marion County.
The armory in Winfield stands vacant. The town plans to purchase the building to use as a new city police department.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The City of Winfield is moving forward with plans to purchase the old national guard armory. The building, if purchased, will serve as a new police station, according to Mayor Randy Price.
“What we’d like to do is move our police department over there, because they are out of room,” Price said. “We’d move the whole police department and court system over there and make it a municipal building. We’d remodel it to where the police would have more room.”
Officials gather at the new Twin Community Center and Safe Shelter during the opening house ceremony on April 24. Shown are members of the Town of Twin alongside Marion County Officials Sheriff Kevin Williams, Probate Judge Paige Vick and State Representative Tracy Estes.
TWIN — Concluding almost three years of persistent effort and teamwork, the Twin Town Council hosted a public open house to showcase a new community center and storm shelter.
The two-hour event was held on Sunday, April 24, with dozens of visitors from across Marion County in attendance to see the finished product. The facility was originally constructed to serve as the home of Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Alabama, which had since ceased operations leaving the almost new facility vacant.
Katie Harrison was the victim of the Citgo robbery on April 15 in Hamilton. The suspect stole $747 in cash and held Harrison at gunpoint.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton resident Katie Harrison was caught in the middle of an armed robbery this past week at the Citgo gas station convenience store located on U.S. Highway 43 at the old Harper’s Junction.
The robbery took place at 5:30 p.m. on April 15 while Harrison, who is six weeks pregnant with her third child, was the only person working inside the convenience store.
Matt McCracken addresses the Marion County Commission, asking for sponsorship for the upcoming Marion County Stampede in Hamilton.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The inaugural Marion County Stampede is nearly here and event coordinator Matt McCracken is rallying support and sponsorship for the event that will take place in Hamilton.
McCracken addressed the Marion County Commission to ask for sponsorship during a regular meeting held on Monday, April 18, at the commission office in Hamilton.
Missy Miles stands in front of a mural she created originally and will soon update.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
GUIN — Local artist Missy Miles will begin renovating the “Freedom Eagle” mural in downtown Guin this week. Miles originally painted the mural back in 2008, but over time, some of the colors and finer details have faded in the sun.
The mural is painted on the side of the Marion County Banking building overlooking Guin Memorial Park on the corner of U.S, Highway 43 and U.S. Highway 278.
