GUIN -  With the City of Guin’s waterpark set to open on the weekend of May 30, the Guin City Council discussed concerns for the reopening of the park during a regular meeting over telephone on Monday, May 18.
Mayor Max Maddox and councilman Bobby Bellew both recommended that hand sanitizer be placed at the facility and that whoever is placed in charge over the facility after opening take care to enforce social distancing.

HAMILTON - Street and sanitation operations will be divided into their own departments.
The Hamilton City Council voted unanimously to divide the city’s street department during a meeting on Monday, May 18.
The division came at the recommendation of former Hamilton Street Superintendent Mike Johnson,  who says the two departments will better serve the city with a separate supervisor managing street and sanitation work.

HAMILTON - International Cultural Exchange Services of Hurricane, W. Va., has announced Tammie Northam as a new local coordinator.
Northam will be working with families and schools in Hamilton and in the surrounding area. As the local coordinator, Northam is available to answer questions, give advice and provide general support to students and host families throughout the experience.

MONTGOMERY -  Governor Kay Ivey issued an amended Safer at Home order on Thursday, May 21, to be applied statewide.
The order, which includes an expanded list of items to reopen, went into effect Friday, May 22, at 5 p.m. and will expire on Friday, July 3, at 5 p.m.
This order effects the opening of entertainment venues, athletics programs, educational facilities, daycare programs and various camping facilities.

WINFIELD -  The Hampton Inn hotel in Winfield received its corporation’s coveted Connie Award on Friday, April 24, after being named the #1 Hampton Inn hotel in Alabama and being ranked the #6 Hampton Inn hotel in the world.
According to Hotel General Manager Chad Clark, the award, named after Hilton founder, Conrad Hilton signifies the hotel as one of the top performing properties within the brand and is only presented to hotels that have excelled in service and growing customer loyalty.

• Commission buys Bedford Industrial Park land for new jail

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

By Scott Johnson
and Louis Mellini

Loosened public health orders have made room for graduations to take place.
Graduations at high schools across Marion County will take place beginning tomorrow (Thursday, May 21) and again on Friday, May 22.
High School seniors statewide with passing grades have been considered “graduates” since in-class instruction was suspended in March.
The graduation ceremonies are now set to commence due to updated public safety orders which took effect on Monday, May 11.

By Scott Johnson
Managing Editor

HAMILTON - Officials want to tighten up accountability for how Hamilton businesses and facilities are disposing of grease.
Hamilton Water Superintendent Rodney Williams appeared before the Hamilton City Council during a work session on Wednesday, May 13, explaining the need for a local ordinance that would empower the city to obtain documented proof of how local facilities are disposing of their grease.

By Scott Johnson
Managing Editor

Marion County’s public school systems have distributed thousands of meals during the COVID-19 shutdown.
According to information provided by the Marion County School System and the Winfield City School System, nearly 61,534 meals were provided for children out of school during March and April.

By Kadena Air Base - Airfield Management

Okinawa, Japan - Today, we pay tribute to Master Sgt. La’Tanja Steele for her tremendous leadership and her absolute commitment to the Airmen and Families of the United States Air Force (USAF)--a commitment that she has delivered on for over 22 years, where she served solely in airfield management.  
Steele is the Deputy Airfield Manager for the 18th Operations Support Squadron Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

WINFIELD -  Long-serving Winfield Board of Education (BOE) member Brenda Taylor sat in on her final Winfield BOE meeting on Tuesday, May 12, at the Winfield Middle School library.
Members of the board such as Winfield Schools Superintendent of Education Chris Cook took the time to thank Taylor for her service on the board.