BELGREEN - The Hackleburg Lady Panthers secured their spot in the regional tournament after finishing as the runners-up of the Class 1A, Area 14 tournament.
The Lady Panthers started the tournament with a 12-2 win over the Lady Red Devils of Vina High School on Monday, May 3, before falling to Belgreen 6-4 later that day in the final game of the winner’s bracket.

By JESSE LAMAR
General Manager

HALEYVILLE - The Hamilton Lady Aggies started the Class 4A, Area 12 tournament with a solid 12-2 win over the Lady Tigers of Fayette County High School, but the momentum wasn’t enough to carry them to the area title as they fell to the Haleyville Lady Lions 8-4 in the championship game.
After starting the tournament with the 10-run rule win over Fayette County, the Lady Aggies were paired up with the Lady Lions for their first matchup of the double-elimination tournament.

By JESSE LAMAR
General Manager

OAKMAN - The Winfield Lady Pirates finished as runners-up of the Class 3A, Area 10 tournament to secure their spot in the regional tournament.
The Lady Pirates started the tournament with a comeback 7-6 win over Carbon Hill High School before falling to Oakman 3-2 in the next game of the winner’s bracket.

By JESSE LAMAR
General Manager

STEVENSON - The Hamilton Aggies saw their season come to an end on Friday, May 7, after falling in back-to-back games against the North Jackson Chiefs in the third round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 4A State Baseball Playoffs.
The Aggies fell 2-1 in game one after surrendering a late, lead-changing run in the bottom of the sixth frame.

By Scott Johnson Managing Editor WINFIELD - Winfield City High School (WCHS) senior Macy Grace Cummings, 17, signed with the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) on Monday, April 19, to cheer for the Blazers. She plans to study business at UAB with a goal to earn a real estate license. Macy Grace is the daughter of Shannon Cummings and Kelly Pollard and the granddaughter of Tena Pollard and the late-Larry Pollard and Tony and Jan Cummings. Her sister, Jacie, signed with Shelton State Community College as a cheerleader in 2019.

By JESSE LAMAR
General Manager

PIEDMONT - The Winfield Pirates forced a game three, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the second-ranked Piedmont Bulldogs, as they fell 2-1 in a best-of-three playoff matchup in the quarterfinal round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 3A State Baseball Playoffs.
The hosting Bulldogs claimed game one 5-4, sealing the contest a walk-off hit.
Piedmont was the first to score in the contest, grabbing a two-run lead in the bottom half of the third frame.

GUIN - The Marion County Red Raiders saw their season come to an end on Thursday, May 6, after falling in back-to-back games against the Falcons of Donoho High School in the third round of the Class 1A State Baseball Playoffs.

HAMILTON - Recently appointed Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party John Wahl made his first visit to Marion County during the Marion County Republican Party meeting on Saturday, May 8, at J & V’s Ole Smokehouse in Hamilton.
This was the party’s first meeting with a full attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic began back in March of last year. In attendance were also Marion County  Republican Party Chairman David Hall, as well as State Rep. Tracy Estes and Senator Larry Stutts.

HAMILTON - The Marion County Commission approved two new hires for the Marion County Sheriff’s Department during a regular meeting on Monday, May 10, at the Marion County Commission office in Hamilton.
Kyle Engle was hired as a jailer at the Marion County jail at $14.06 per hour and Riley Cagle was hired as a deputy at $16.23 per hour.
Both employees will receive a $.50 per hour raise after 60 days in their respective positions.

A Shottsville couple is seeking answers after an engine fire totaled their vehicle and damaged their home. They say the incident occurred immediately after their car was serviced at the Hamilton Walmart’s Auto Care Center.
On Saturday, April 24, Vicki Winsett’s 2015 Nissan Altima caught fire and became fully engulfed while parked in her driveway on Goggans Road in west Marion County.

All students enrolled in Marion County and Winfield City schools will continue to eat free breakfast and lunch through the 2020-2021 school year, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Traditional and virtual students have been able to eat free meals throughout the pandemic year. That benefit will continue through May of 2022. According to local child nutritional program (CNP) directors, if a student is eating both breakfast and lunch each school day, this would translate to a $675 benefit.

CULLMAN - Marion County High School (MCHS) continues to mark a historic year.
During the 2021 Alabama Class 1A Outdoor Track and Field State Championship which concluded on Saturday, May 1, in Cullman, the Lady Red Raiders were awarded the coveted Blue Map trophy, marking the first time ever for a girls team from Guin to secure a state title in any sport.

HAMILTON - Marion County is taking a big step toward solving its stray and animal abuse problem in supporting the Hoof or Paw organization, which is directed by Detroit resident Calen Weston.
Weston met with the Marion County Commission on Monday, April 12, to discuss five acres of land in the Pikeville area which was designated to the Marion County Humane Society in the past, which was never utilized.

The next municipal election will be postponed to 2025, per an act by the Alabama Legislature, extending the current terms of city and town officials to a fifth year.
The change affects each municipal election in Marion County, including those for Bear Creek, Brilliant, Guin, Gu-Win, Hackleburg, Hamilton, Twin and Winfield.

HAMILTON – Teachers will close-out possibly the hardest year of their careers with a parting gift.
Marion County Board of Education members approved Marion County School System employees for a one-time lump sum payment of $500 during its monthly meeting on Thursday, April 22.
Marion County Superintendent of Education Ann West said the payments are similar to actions taken by other school systems to thank their teachers for the measures they are undergoing to provide education during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

HAMILTON - Following several weeks of extreme weather since the start of the new year, Marion County is now faced with major roads in need of repair after facing extreme freezing and flooding on roads within the county.

Marion County Engineer Mike Shaw released a statement regarding the state of the roads and what needs to be done in the coming months.
“The Marion County roads have suffered significant damage as a result of the recent flood event and ice storm,” stated Shaw in his release.

The Marion County Extension Office will be hosting an Invasive Species Workshop on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at the Hamilton Parks & Rec. Building to provided training for landowners, loggers and foresters.
This workshop will take place both indoors and outside. Attendees will learn about worker protection standards, herbicide labels, application methods, invasive plant identification and their control options. After the inside portion, we will transition outside for demonstrations on calibrating sprayers, hack-and-squirt and basal bark application techniques.

WINFIELD - Winfield Police Chief Brett Burleson addressed the Winfield City council concerning a young new hire he wants to bring to the Winfield Police Department during a regular meeting held on Tuesday, April 21, at Winfield City Hall.
Austin Elijah Swanigan, 21, will be joining the Winfield Police Department after unanimous approval of Burleson’s recommendation to hire him.
“I’m pretty excited about this young man, he’s put in an application with us a couple of times,” said Burleson.