HAMILTON - The Marion County Board of Education thanked Marion County School teachers during its meeting on Thursday, Nov. 19.
The board’s meeting took place during what the Alabama State Department of Education has declared “Thank Alabama Teachers Week,” which was observed the week of Nov. 16.
“Our teachers have had to go way above and beyond this year. It has been stressful and they have worked very hard,” West said.

Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) released a statement in regard to his new rural broadband legislation, the Enabling Extra Time to Extend Network Deployment (EXTEND) Act on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has showcased the critical need for efficient and reliable rural broadband. Teleworking, telemedicine, and virtual classrooms have been our reality for the better part of eight months, and it could continue into the new year,” said Aderholt.

HAMILTON - Sitel management has confirmed it will close its second call center in Marion County.
The company, which provides outsourced sales, technical support and customer service, has been among the largest employers in Marion County for nearly two decades.

MONTGOMERY -  Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday issued her 19th supplemental emergency proclamation containing an amended Safer at Home Order that includes an extension to the statewide mask requirement.
Individuals will be required to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public and in close contact with other people, as described in the order. This amended order extends until Friday, Dec. 11, at 5 p.m.

Democrat Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are being declared the winners of the Nov. 3 presidential election.
After four days of awaiting final vote tallies from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, legacy media outlets broke news on Saturday morning, Nov. 7, that the Biden-Harris campaign were determined to have the needed 270 electoral votes needed for victory.

Marion County voters showed up to the polls in droves and they showed up to vote overwhelming red.
Unofficial results from the Nov. 3 election show turnout for the county was recorded at 62.92%, with 13,834 total ballots cast out of 21,988 registered voters. Though more voters participated in the election this year, nearly 500 more registered voters resulted in the turnout being lower than in 2016.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill’s office has posted results showing the turnout to be 61.9%, or 2.29 million ballots received out of 3.71 million registered voters.

Local Democratic and Republican leadership believe the execution of Marion County’s election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, was a success.
Both candidates provided their opinions to the Journal Record prior to the majority of the media outlets projecting Joe Biden as president-elect on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Marion County Republican Chairman David Hall said he was very pleased with how the election was conducted locally, commending the work of Marion County Probate Judge Paige Vick, Absentee Ballot Election Manager Denise Mixon and Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams.

HAMILTON - A swearing-in and organization meeting was held for the newly elected Hamilton city officials on Monday, Nov. 2.
The meeting was conducted in the old city hall building (now the Hamilton Police Department) to allow for a large number of attendees.
Former circuit judge John Bentley administered the oaths of office for re-elected mayor Bob Page and the newly elected councilors Scott Robertson, Matt Sims, Ross Reed, Wade Williams and Scott Robertson.
Following the ceremony, the council began its organizational meeting, whereupon:

GUIN - New Guin Mayor Phil Segraves and Guin City Council members, both new and incumbent, were sworn in during the meeting held on Monday, Nov. 2, at Marion County High School.
Segraves, Bobby Bellew, Regina Salter, Kelee Williams and Joseph Benton were all in attendance, while Councilman Mineo Lindsey was not present for the ceremony.
Segraves thanked Judge Mark Hammitte for conducting the ceremony.
Following the ceremony, the council took a short recess to celebrate the  new Mayor and council members and continued with the meeting.

HACKLEBURG - New town officials were seated and sworn in to the Hackleburg Town Council on Monday, Nov. 2, during an initial planning meeting.

HAMILTON - Bevill State Community College is currently accepting registration applications for in-person classes for the Spring 2021 semester and the school is now running two initiatives to encourage students to enroll.
As a special enrollment incentive for current and future Bevill State students, and to welcome everyone back for on-campus classes and activities for the Spring 2021 semester, the college is offering a drawing for one laptop at each of its five locations.

MUSCLE SHOALS   -  Local and area officials, including the Hamilton Area and Winfield Chamber of Commerce, received a welcomed funding announcement on Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, from the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments of funds totaling over $1 million to be used to help businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
NACOLG Executive Director Keith Jones explained to a room of executives and officials at Muscle Shoals City Hall that there are actually two pots of funding that will help these businesses.

Election day is here at last.
Voters in Marion County and across the nation will go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to decide who will be the next president of the United States. Polls in Alabama will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The last day to request an absentee ballot will be Thursday, Oct. 29. Those must be hand-delivered or postmarked by Monday, Nov. 2. Those interested in voting absentee should contact Marion County Absentee Election Manager Denise Mixon at (205) 921-7451. Her office is located on the second floor of the Marion County Courthouse in Hamilton.

During the election on Nov. 3, Marion County residents will notice that six new state Amendments will be on the ballot.

HAMILTON - Prosecutors and defense attorneys have agreed to transfer the trial of double-homicide suspect Jimmy Cooper to Winston County.
Marion County Circuit Clerk Denise Mixon provided the Journal Record with an order filed on Thursday, Oct. 15, in 25th Judicial Circuit Court by Judge Lee Carter, issuing the venue change.
Carter’s order also scheduled a jury trial to hear Cooper’s case  on Feb. 22, 2021, at 9 a.m., at the Bobby R. Aderholt Judicial Complex in Double Springs.

HAMILTON - The 19th Annual Jerry Brown Arts Festival (JBAF) has been confirmed for the first weekend in March and will once again be held at the Tombigbee Electric Cooperative (TEC) in Hamilton.
Northwest Alabama Arts Council President Belinda McRae made the official announcement at the arts council’s Tuesday, October 13, meeting.
“The good news is—the show is on,” she said. “TEC General Manager Steve Foshee has said, yes, that Tombigbee would host the event.

MONTGOMERY -  Gov. Kay Ivey, alongside the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and Alabama Counts!, announced final participation results of Census 2020 for the state of Alabama on Friday, Oct. 16. The census officially came to a close nationwide on Thursday, Oct. 15.
Marion County finished with a 61.1% self-response rate for the 2020 Census.
 The State of Alabama finished with an overall household response rate of 99.9%, on par with 48 other U.S. states.

HAMILTON - Five new businesses are preparing to open in the City of Hamilton.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page updated city officials on economic developments during a Hamilton City Council work session on Wednesday, Oct. 14,
The mayor says an incoming Domino’s Pizza will be located across from the North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton on Military Street South. He said the new pizza franchise is completely renovating the old Encore Rehab building.