Marion County’s December 2019 unemployment rate experienced a slight increase.
According to data published by the Alabama Department of Labor on Friday, Jan. 24, Marion County’s rate rose to 3%—a 0.2% increase from the previous two months, which maintained rates of 2.8%.
The county’s unemployment rate this time last year was 4.2%.
Surrounding counties’ unemployment rates include: Fayette County at 2.7%, Franklin County at 2.4%, Lamar County with 2.7%, Walker County with 2.8% and Winston County with 3%

HAMILTON – A healthy education budget has freed Marion County School officials to seek new sets of bleachers for two schools.
The Marion County Board of Education voted unanimously during its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22, to seek bids on new bleachers for both Brilliant High School and Phillips High School gyms.
Marion County Superintendent of Education Ann West told the board that new bleachers were a line item included on a recent heating and air conditioning upgrade for Phillips, which cost $350,000.

HAMILTON - Scott Slatton, district attorney for the 25th Judicial Circuit, has announced Leslie Smith as his office’s new Victim’s Services Officer (VSO), which will service both Marion and Winston counties.
Slatton announced Smith as the new VSO on social media on Saturday, Jan. 25, noting the position is funded by the $6.3 million grant awarded in December 2018 by Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). The monies are being used to fund a total of 88 VSOs statewide.

BEAR CREEK – Exactly one week after cancer claimed the 4-year-old life of Wyatt Spann in Winfield, the community of Bear Creek is mourning the loss  while celebrating the life of Madison Chase Hulsey, a Phillips High School senior whose life was also taken by cancer at the tender age of 19.
Hulsey, described by students and faculty of Phillips School as a strong fighter against the disease, lost his life on Thursday, Jan. 23, at Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, leaving behind a life of love and compassion his classmates plan to emulate.

WINFIELD - The Winfield City Board of Education has hired a new math teacher after the resignation of Carrie Jackson, who submitted her resignation after her arrest on Thursday, Jan. 16.
The board has chosen student teacher Lauren Gann, 21, to replace Jackson in the position for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year at Winfield City High School during a special-called meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at Winfield Middle School.

HACKLEBURG – After a lengthy, heated discussion, town officials have increased Hackleburg Town Clerk Carla Rector’s pay to $630 a week.
The Hackleburg Town Council addressed Rector’s pay during its Monday, Jan. 27, council meeting.
Rector, who has worked for the town for six years, has made $592 a week, or $14.80 an hour, without being compensated for overtime since 2014.

HAMILTON – The following are highlights about the major local positions that candidates are now qualifying for in the March 3, 2020, primaries.
Qualifying for the party primary elections ended Nov. 8, 2019. Independent candidates may qualify until March 3 to run in the November 2020 general election.
Marion County
Superintendent of Education

HAMILTON – Wilds Horse and Cattle Company has been designated as an Alabama Century & Heritage Farm.
Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Assistant Commissioner Bob Plaster presented farm owner Jason Wilds and his family with a certificate and signage honoring his family’s farm during a Marion County Cattlemen’s Association meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23, in Hamilton.

MONTGOMERY – A bond revocation bill is expected to be filed for consideration in the upcoming legislative session.
Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, announced on social media on Wednesday, Jan. 23, that bill sponsor Rep. Chip Brown, R-Mobile, plans to file the bill, which would be an amendment to the state constitution.
Estes said he had the honor of assisting with the bill and that it has been named “Aniah’s Law” in memory of 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard, who was murdered after allegedly being kidnapped by 29-year-old Ibraheem Yazeed.

HACKLEBURG – The 19th Annual Neighbor Day festival has been set for Friday night and Saturday, April 24 and 25.
The Hackleburg Town Council voted 5-0 to set the town’s Neighbor Day festival for the fourth weekend in April during its Monday, Jan. 27, meeting. Councilwoman Tabby Lolley was absent.
The council had previously discussed the possibility of moving Neighbor Day and combining it with the July 4th Fireworks Celebration during its Dec. 19, 2019, meeting. Holding the festival the first weekend of May was also discussed.