DHR staff wears blue in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month

MARION COUNTY — The Marion County Department of Human Resources is feeling very blue, but in a good way. DHR employees recently came together dressed in blue to draw attention to National Child Abuse Prevention Month observed every year in April. The official “Wear Blue Day” was Friday, April 10.

Hamilton’s ‘Dinner on First - Best of Hamilton Business Awards’ set

Attendees are shown enjoying last year’s “Dinner on First - Best of Hamilton Business Awards” dinner event. This year’s special evening is set for Thursday, April 23.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to invite everyone to the “2026 Dinner on First - Best of Hamilton Business Awards” dinner event!

Miss Hamilton shares platform with city council; ‘Bullying Prevention Day’ proclaimed

Miss Hamilton Liliana Geier (left) and Hamilton Mayor Tami Lewis Williams hold a proclamation declaring March 16 as “Bullying Prevention Day” in the City of Hamilton.

HAMILTON — At its Monday, March 16, meeting, the Hamilton City Council welcomed Miss Hamilton 2026 Liliana Geier, who presented information on her anti-bullying program and a proclamation the mayor signed designating that day as “Bullying Prevention Day” in the City of Hamilton.

Marion County Commission meets with NTN-Bower officials

Shown right after their meeting with NTN-Bower officials on March 26 are Marion County Commissioners, from left, Keith Nichols (District 1), Kenneth Cochran (District 2), Greg Gunnin (District 3), Tim Estes (District 4) and Larry Akers (District 5)—along with county administrator Scott Hunt

HAMILTON — Members of the Marion County Commission organized a meeting on Thursday, March 26, with top local NTN-Bower officials in an effort to see if anything could be done about their news to phase out operations.

Former Ramp employee admits to sexual contact with minors

After terminating staff member Samuel Bentley’s ties to the organization upon being notified of allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor, the Ramp in Hamilton cancelled all events for a week, saying in a statement they would be “holding spaces for mourning, prayer and reflection.”

HAMILTON — The Ramp released an official statement on Wednesday, March 18, announcing Ramp staff member Samuel Bentley admitted to “inappropriate sexual contact” with a minor. The statement said someone came forward the week prior with allegations that the incident took place four years ago when they were a minor.

Clayton Buccaneer Homes honors ‘Women in Construction’

Shown on March 5 in honor of “National Women in Construction Week” are female workers at Clayton Buccaneer Homes in Hamilton, along with their supervisors. Courtesy photo

HAMILTON — Clayton Buccaneer Homes in Hamilton recently celebrated “National Women in Construction Week,” by recognizing their female workers with free commemorative T-shirts and a group photo.

Reminiscing with former fire chief Tim Rye: The best, the worst and the unforgettable

Former Hamilton Fire Chief Tim Rye sits at his desk on Feb. 24 during his last week on the job before his retirement after 36 years in the fire service.

HAMILTON — After 36 years in the fire service, beginning as a volunteer in 1990, going full-time in 1996 and acting as fire chief since 2013, Tim Rye of Hamilton retired on March 1.