WINFIELD - James Lake with the U.S. Census Bureau addressed the Winfield City Council concerning the 2020 Census during a regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at the Winfield City Hall.
At the start of his address, Lake stated that he originally planned to visit Winfield to discuss the Census before the holiday period, but was unable to.
For the past several months, Lake has attended several municipal and commission meetings to discuss the importance of community awareness for the upcoming U.S. Census.

WINFIELD – The ninth annual meeting of C3 of Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance, will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the Pastime Theater Civic Center in Winfield.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the program will begin at 9. Attendees may enjoy coffee, a continental breakfast and networking with friends and business as they wait for the program to begin.
There is no charge to attend the meeting.

HAMILTON – Hamilton Mayor Bob Page has announced the hiring of Sadie Spears as a worker at the Hamilton Senior Center.
Page made the announcement during a quick Hamilton City Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 6.
Page recommended that the council pay Spears $8 per hour in the position.
Councilman Gene Sanderson made the motion to pay her accordingly, Bobby Joe Irvin seconded the motion and members Tami Lewis Williams, Wade Sullins and Herb Winsett cast their votes to give the pay amount unanimous approval.

HAMILTON – The son of a Hamilton police officer was escorted home on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 9, led by a host of police officers, sheriff’s deputies and firemen.
Gunner Pendley, 20, son of Hamilton Police Department Lt. Jimmy Pendley and Kimberly Reese, suffered a brain stem injury in July 2019 following a tractor accident. He has spent the last four months undergoing treatment and therapy in Atlanta, Ga.

HAMILTON - Marion County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Jimmy Mills has retired after 12 years at the helm.
Mills, the son of Odean and Letha Mills, was born on Dec. 24, 1965, in Amory, Miss., and was raised in Hamilton since the age of 4.
Mills and his wife of 33 years, Michelle, have two daughters, Samantha (Josh) Nunn, Hamilton, and Tabitha (Clayton) Dodd, who lives in Tuscaloosa, and three grandchildren: Indie, Oliver and Eli.

WINFIELD - The Pastime Theatre in Winfield will present the 13th Annual Mr. and Miss Valentine Sweetheart Pageant at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Winfield Elementary School Auditorium.
Sunday dress, semi-formal or formal attire is acceptable and Queens and Kings in each group will receive a sash and a crown.
Side awards include most beautiful/handsome, best fashion, prettiest hair, smile, eyes and most photogenic. Winners in each of the events will receive a sash.

HACKLEBURG – Jonathan Outz has been promoted as the new Hackleburg Police Chief.
The Hackleburg Town Council voted unanimously to promote Outz with a 90-day probation period during a two-hour council meeting held on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Former chief Jeremy Marbutt served in the position for roughly 10  months. He announced his resignation on social media in December, explaining he had accepted another local position. His official last day on the job was Friday, Nov. 29.

HAMILTON – Hamilton’s Ross Reed, 18, has earned Scouting’s highest honor—the rank of Eagle Scout.
Hamilton Boy Scout Troop 56 hosted Reed’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony on Tuesday night, Dec. 17, at the troops scout hut in Hamilton, friends, family and fellow Scouts attending.
Reed is the son of Mike and Michelle Reed. He has an older brother, Cole, who earned Eagle in 2018. He also has a younger brother, Lake.
During the court of honor, Reed presented his mother, Michelle, with an Eagle Mentor Pin for supporting him through the process.

HAMILTON – Absentee ballots for the Tuesday, March 3, primary are now in at the Marion County Courthouse, Marion County Circuit Clerk Denise Mixon said.
Election-related deadlines were announced in advance of the primary, which will involve presidential primaries for the two parties, plus a number of state and local elections.
Mixon, who will also serve as the absentee election manager during the primary, said absentee balloting would start today (Wednesday, Jan. 8).

HACKLEBURG – Radio business owner Hutty Hutcheson will pay a flat rate of $500 a month beginning Jan. 1 to rent space from the Town of Hackleburg.
Hutcheson owed the town multiple months’ rent and utility bills for using the old town hall building, where Hutcheson operates his radio station, Big 95.5.
Hackleburg Town Clerk Carla Rector told the Hackleburg Town Council at its meeting on Thursday, Dec. 19, that Hutcheson is now up-to-date on his rent payments.
Hutcheson’s rent was set at $300  a month plus utilities in last year’s contract.