Chronic Pain is a three-part series about the opioid crisis and addiction. Part 1 ran in the July 3 issue of the Journal Record. Part 2 ran in the July 24 issue.

(Writer’s note: Sandra Brown and the late-Jerry Brown were featured in the Alabama NewsCenter’s “Alabama Makers” section on Monday, July 15. The article featured a gallery of photos and a short video. The Journal Record is running the article by courtesy of Alabama Power. SJ)

HACKLEBURG - Hackleburg residents will no longer have the ability to make payments to Alabama Power at the town hall after Wednesday, August 31.

Alabama Power, who recently made the decision to shut down its Hamilton location, has now made the decision to pull its payment service from the Hackleburg Town Hall building in downtown.
While the service is being removed from the building, individuals will still be able to make payments online and through other authorized stores.

WINFIELD- Five people were arrested on numerous drug possession charges after a hotel maintenance man discovered two people asleep in a Hampton Inn hotel room on Monday, July 15.
Winfield Police Chief Brett Burleson said hotel management contacted police after two people were discovered asleep in a room they should not have been in.
“They had paid for one room and had told the front desk that the air conditioner wasn’t working,” Burleson said. “So the hotel gave them another room and they just kept both rooms and had them a little party in both rooms.”

HAMILTON - City officials have  announced an opening reception for the “Alabama Then & Now 1819-2019 Traveling Bicentennial Art Exhibition,” which will be stationed at Hamilton City Hall beginning Thursday, Aug. 1.
The opening reception will take place at city hall on Friday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., where artists from around the state will be demonstrating  “en plein air” (in plain air, or outdoor) painting  at the historic Ernest Baxter Fite House built in 1927-1928.

WINFIELD - At the recommendation of Winfield Police Chief Brett Burleson, the Winfield City Council voted to hire two new police officers at its Tuesday, July 16, meeting.
Burleson appeared before the council to request the hires, along with some promotions within the department.

MARION COUNTY -  Individuals who have enjoyed fishing for Channel Catfish and Largemouth Bass in Bear Creek’s upper reservoir located in Marion County have been warned of chemical contamination by the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Channel Catfish has been deemed safe to eat as a meal only once every month, while Largemouth Bass has been deemed unsafe to consume entirely at this time.

HAMILTON - 25th Judicial District Attorney Scott Slatton has announced that the chief investigator position left vacant since 2016 has now been filled.
Lt. Rusty Hulsey, formerly the chief investigator at the Winfield Police Department, has been hired to fill the position.
The position has been vacant since 2016 when Gov. Kay Ivey appointed the former 25th Judicial chief investigator Tommy Moore as sheriff of Winston County.
Slatton said having no chief investigator in his office has hindered his ability to investigate cases.

MONTGOMERY -Marion County’s unemployment rate ticked up six percentage points to 4% from May’s record low of 3.4% according to data released by the Alabama Department of Labor.
In May, only 440 people of an available labor force numbering 12,857 were looking for jobs as compared to June when 515 people in Marion County were looking for work. The labor force is the number of people aged 16 and over who are either working or looking for work.

HAMILTON - Newton’s third law of motion states that, “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” According to Dr. Brent Boyett, the chief medical officer of Pathway Healthcare, the same rule applies to drugs. The disease of addiction Boyett describes addiction as a chronic disease that effects the pleasure/pain center of the brain. He said that pain and pleasure dictate everything we do. According to Boyett, the feelings of pain and pleasure are critical in survival.

HAMILTON -  The Marion County Jail has consistently held over 300 inmates in every one of the first six months of 2019.
The jail, constructed in 1979, was originally built to hold a maximum of 85 inmates.

HAMILTON -  “I don’t know anything about phone calls,” said Marion County District 2 Commissioner Kenneth Cochran when speaking with the Journal Record about the gas tax reallocation.

TWIN - Some places become known for good things and some places become known for great things. Through the Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Alabama, Marion County is becoming known for kindness and hospitality.
This year, the local Habitat chapter is celebrating it’s 20th home-build and college students from across the nation have been trekking to Twin since February to experience the hospitality and to also make the dream of owning a home a reality for a Winfield family.

According to newly-released data from 2006-2012, Marion County recorded the second-highest opioid prescription rate in Alabama with an average of 108 pills prescribed per resident.
Marion County comes second only to neighboring Walker County, which saw an average of 140 pills prescribed per person.
From 2006-2012, Marion County was supplied 23.1 million prescription pain pills. Walker County was supplied 66.4 million.

MONTGOMERY -  Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $378,605 grant to assist a non-profit organization that helps children in Marion and Walker counties who are victims of abuse or who have witnessed violence.
The Walker County Children’s Advocacy Center will use the grant funds to continue providing forensic interviews, therapy and advocacy to victims of sexual or physical abuse and their families at no cost.
“Victims of these horrible crimes should have access to help specifically tailored to fit their needs,” said Ivey.

HAMILTON - The Marion County Commission unanimously voted to fund the Marion-Winston Community Action Agency (MWCAA) with around $12,000 to pay for rent and mortgage assistance and to supplement its food program during a regular meeting on Monday, July 15, in Hamilton.
According to Jeff Fleming head of the MWCAA, this funding is known as the Phase 36 funding plan.
“I appreciate the commission for the support,” said Fleming.

HAMILTON - The Hamilton City Council voted to begin plans to refinance the city’s 2014 bond issue payments at its Monday, July 1 meeting.
The new payment plan would be adjusted to take advantage lower interest rates compared to when the bond account was opened in 2014.
The 2014 bond issue, which totalled $11,320,547.82, was used for several projects; such as purchasing new fire trucks, building the Hamilton Splash Pad, and purchasing the current city hall building.

HAMILTON - Hamilton residents are organizing a back-to-school cleanup bash to help kick off classes going back in session.
Volunteers will meet at the Hamilton High School football field parking lot on Saturday, Aug. 10, at 7 a.m. to organize into groups and begin work.
Marion County Schools held their first day back in school on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
Event organizer Tyler Knight requested volunteers bring hedge trimmers, weed eaters, pressure washers, rakes and gloves.

Despite tensions with Iran, Hurricane Barry and the summer travel season, gas prices in Alabama have remained low.
According to Clay Ingram, a spokesperson for the American Automobile Association (AAA) in Birmingham, low global demand for gas— combined with large amounts of domestic production—have insulated prices at the pump.
Ingram told the Journal Record at the time of the interview (Wednesday, July 17) gas prices in Alabama were averaging $2.43 statewide. This is 10 cents more than one month ago ($2.30), but 12 cents less than one year ago ($2.55).

WINFIELD - Two homeowners and two other suspects are accused of intentionally burning a Habitat for Humanity-funded home for an insurance payout.
The Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office announced on social media on Tuesday, July 9, that homeowners Jonathan Casey Morgan, 32, and Sydni Roshele Morgan, 32, both of Winfield, were arrested following indictments handed down by the Marion County Grand Jury on June 11 for the burning of the Morgan’s home in February 2018.