Cracks just like these can be seen all over the current track surface.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton's walking track is set to get a major $75,000 facelift after the Hamilton City Council unanimously voted to resurface the facility during a meeting on Monday, Oct. 17, at Hamilton City Hall.
Marion County projects $1.9 million surplus in this fiscal year’s budget.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON —Things are looking up at the perfect time financially for the Marion County Commission. With the new Marion County Jail looming over the county's head, things have seemingly been looking negative due to the high cost of the jail’s construction.
According to the county's approved budget for 2023, however, Marion County is in the best financial shape it has been in quite some time.
Left to right, Tracy Estes, case manager Crystal Barton, director of case management Amanda Taylor and CEO Michael Windham stand with floor plans for the proposed renovations made possible by the USDA grant.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
MARION COUNTY — Multiple cities and hospitals in Marion County have received grants for different projects each city is undergoing.
The largest grant went to the City of Winfield for the hospital, Northwest Regional Care, which received a $1 million U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Rural Healthcare Grant.
According to Hospital CEO Michael Windham, the grant investment will be used to renovate rooms and purchase equipment and supplies for the care and treatment of long-term COVID-19 patients.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
MARION COUNTY — The Northwest Alabama Gas District approved newly proposed gas rate increases on Oct. 1.
For residential rates, the monthly customer charge was $11.54, and the gas cost $11.429 per MCF (MCF is an abbreviation derived from the Roman numeral M for one thousand, put together with cubic feet (CF) to measure a quantity of natural gas.)
The new residential rate for monthly customer charge is $12.54 and a gas cost of $12.429 per MCF.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Marion County Commission has joined the City of Hamilton and Alabama Power in supporting the Veterans Day program in just one month. During a meeting held on Tuesday, Oct. 12, commissioners unanimously voted to pay the City of Hamilton $2,600 in order to financially support the Veterans Day program at the Bevill Community Center in Hamilton. Marlon Holloway, who serves as the veterans service officer in Marion County, addressed the Marion County Commission in August to ask for financial support.
A trick-or-treater enjoys the Marion County first responders’ Trunk-or-Treat during last year’s Buttahatchee River Fall Festival.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON —Leaves turning and falling, the air turning cool and pumpkins being seen at almost every doorstep in the county can only mean one thing: fall is officially here.
With the new season, there usually comes the host of knocks at the door from costumed children asking for candy during Halloween. But, with times being as they are, has a classical Halloween become too dangerous for kids in Marion County?
Anna Kate Gruwell
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
AUBURN — Anna Kate Gruwell has her eyes on the skies.
Gruwell graduated from Winfield City High School in 2019, and while there, she made the decision to pursue piloting as a career.
Trey Cunningham, left, is pictured with Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The City of Winfield came out big time to show their support of track and field athlete Trey Cunningham, who, at the age of just 23, has already been touted as the greatest athlete to have come from the city.
Cunningham was honored before Winfield’s football game against Carbon Hill on Friday night and was again honored during a ceremony at Winfield High School on Sunday, Oct. 7.
Miss Hamilton Chandler Mordecai stands with Hamilton Mayor Bob Page after a resolution was passed recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Miss Hamilton, Chandler Mordecai, attended the Hamilton City Council meeting to voice her support of those who have been deeply affected by domestic abuse.
Mordecai, a Winfield native, started the initiative “Victory Over Domestic Violence” in 2014, which aims to help individuals who are in need due to situations of domestic violence.
By Chad Fell
Courtesy of the Northwest Alabamian
BEAR CREEK — Figures from the last census shows the Town of Bear Creek exceeded 1,000 in population, meaning the town now qualifies - and is preparing for - an election to allow voters to decide if alcoholic beverages can be sold or distributed in the town limits.
The town council voted Monday, Oct. 3, to have the wet/dry referendum election on Tuesday, Nov. 15, which will be after the general election.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — A three pickup truck car wreck caused one individual to be air lifted to Tupelo, Miss. on the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 23, in Hamilton.
According to Hamilton Police Officer Tyler Norton, near Bexar Avenue West and Chestnut Circle, a pickup truck came to a sudden stop, causing the truck behind him to come to a stop. Norton stated the third truck involved saw the two trucks too late and was unable to avoid the collision that ensued.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
GUIN — The City of Guin has announced on received a $272,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to help prepare a site for new industry.
According to Guin Mayor Phil Segraves, the new grant will give the city the funds needed to prepare a site for a new industry coming to the city, KJS Forest Products, which will be located at 644 Saw Mill Road.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Marion County budget discussions for the Marion County Commission nearly unraveled into a shouting match when the discussion of a new pay scale was presented.
The meeting took place during a work session meeting on Thursday, Sept. 22, at the commission office in Hamilton.
Present during the meeting were all commissioners, Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams, Revenue Commissioner Barbara Cooper and County Engineer Chris Wilbanks.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page stands in front of the Marion County Lake, which is now a part of Hamilton’s city limits.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The City of Hamilton annexed the property of the Marion County Lake, taking the city one step closer to taking control of the property from the State of Alabama.
This was approved during a regular meeting held on Monday, Sept. 19, at the Hamilton City Hall in Hamilton.
Brett Rayner
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — While the City of Hamilton isn’t a bustling metropolis that rivals that of New York, featuring a host of residents from all over the globe, Hamilton has had it’s own group of new residents from far off countries who have made the city their home.
Whether it’s a church or a dart hitting Hamilton on a map, people from all over seem to find their way to Hamilton and put down their roots to be a part of the community.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield City Council will be voting on the city’s fiscal year 2023 budget in an upcoming meeting during the month of October.
The council discussed the budget during its last meeting for September on the Sept. 20. The council discussed aspects of the budget, but a few items were still being planned and subject to change within the next few weeks.
The council planned to have a work session yesterday, Sept. 27, but it was canceled when a quorum could not be reached on that date.
Andrew Jackson, president of WAR Construction, is shown opening a bid package during a Marion County Commission bid opening for the new Marion County Jail in Hamilton.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The new Marion County Jail in Hamilton is a giant step closer to having a price tag on it after bids were opened for the project on Thursday, Sept. 22, at the commission office in Hamilton.
Many were present during the bid opening, including Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams, who has been waiting desperately for the new building to be completed.
Chris Yielding
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Two Hamilton residents died after a murder and suicide shooting involving a murder suspect who was out on bail.
Chris Yielding, 43, and his father, Charles Yielding, 80, were reported dead to emergency dispatchers by Chris Yielding’s mother on Monday, Sept. 19, at 3:15 a.m.
Yielding was arrested in August of 2020 for the murder of his partner Mandy Dozier and was released from the Marion County Jail in Hamilton on Jan. 25, 2022, on a bond amount of $506,000.
Council members look over plans for the track facility at old Munsingwear property.
By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton’s new Nature Trail and cross country track area have been getting new visitors and has been a hit with local residents.
During a work session meeting last week, Hamilton City Council members discussed the new success the city has had in bringing visitors to their newly updated nature trail at the old Munsingware property.
By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
BRILLIANT — Alabama district 17 representative Tracy Estes announced in a Facebook post on September 3 that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management approved a $1.94 million water system improvement project for the town.
Mayor Perry Franks said the project will allow the town to drill a new well for a better water source.
