By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Marion County Sheriff’s Department has again assisted the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency in stopping crime on I-22 involving a high speed chase.
On Friday, Dec. 2, driver Zachary Holmes and passenger Demarco Buck were both arrested after a chase at speeds of over 100 miles per hour on I-22.
Holmes was driving a white Dodge Hellcat during the chase.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Kids for Life organization, along with Marion County Department of Human Resources and several local volunteers were able to bring the magic of Christmas to Marion County’s foster families this past week.
Kids for Life, a non profit organization started by Hamilton resident Melissa Mathieson, held the event to give gifts and food to foster children and their foster parents during the holiday season.
The event was held at First Baptist Church, who also provided the meal for the event in Hamilton on Thursday, Dec. 15.

By P.J. Gossett
General manager

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton High School was one of several schools in Alabama to suffer a bit of a scare after serious threats were called into the school on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Hamilton Police Chief Ronnie Vickery stated the Hamilton Police Department was notified about a possible active shooter at an unspecified Hamilton school campus.
“We were notified about the possibility of an active shooter in Hamilton schools,” said Vickery. “They didn’t specify which school. It came from the state trooper’s office.”

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield Chamber of Commerce rescheduled the city’s annual Christmas parade from last Saturday to this Saturday, Dec. 17 at 5 p.m.
The parade was postponed Saturday morning after rain was forecast around the time the parade would start. The forecast was proven accurate as it did begin to rain around 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The tree has already been lit, but all other events will still be happening. There will be inflatables, music, childrens’ games and more beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — After months of evaluating different pay scales for county employees, the Marion County Commission is getting closer to implementing a pay scale after a work session held on Monday, Dec. 5, in Hamilton.
In attendance were Marion County Commissioners and department heads including Revenue Commissioner Barbara Cooper, Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams, Marion County Engineer Chris Wilbanks and Probate Judge Paige Vick.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — Winfield city councilman and longtime deacon of Winfield First Baptist Church Ed (better known as Eddy) Posey passed away on Friday, Dec. 9 at the age of 68.
Posey was a sitting member of the Winfield city council, and was a deacon emeritus at Winfield First Baptist Church after serving as a deacon and faithful member for many years.
Posey was born on Oct. 25, 1954, and graduated from Hubbertville High School in 1973, and then from Northwood University.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HACKLEBURG — Longtime Hackleburg servant and Town Councilman Ronnie “Doc” Hudson died on Wednesday, Dec. 7, in his residence in Hackleburg.
Born October 12, 1949 in Haleyville, he is the son of the late Berry Dee and Mildred McCurley Hudson and the husband of Joan Crowe Hudson. He had lived in Hackleburg most of his life and was a member of the Hackleburg First Baptist Church. He had worked for the Town of Hackleburg and Wrangler. He was also a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
BOSTON —  Don’t get Boston and Brilliant confused! There’s a difference—at least…there used to be.
Before the mines shut down and the two communities were incorporated into Brilliant, there used to be the Town of Boston, Alabama, located where downtown Brilliant is today. Brilliant, back then, was the area closer to where the high school stands today.

WINFIELD —  Donald T. Studdard was born in Howard (Fayette County), Alabama in 1934.  He passed away November 16, 2022.  
Studdard’s early years were spent in Jasper, where he attended elementary, middle and high school, and Walker College.  He began his career at Alabama Power Company, Gorgas Coal Mine.  

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Hamilton’s annual Christmas parade was postponed after some chilly and rainy weather blew through Hamilton on Monday, Dec. 5. Hamilton Mayor Bob Page stated he and councilman Scott Tyra were working with the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce, who organizes the event every year, to choose a new date.
The announcement for the new date occurred past press time Monday.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HACKLEBURG — Just weeks after Bear Creek voted no on selling alcohol within their city limits, the Town of Hackleburg is taking signatures on a petition for the same vote.
Currently, Hackleburg is what’s known as a dry town, leaving businesses unable to legally sell alcohol within the limits of the town.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Residents on the east side of Hamilton will be glad to hear that Hamilton’s newest Dollar General has completed construction and is now open for business.
Signs went up Thursday, Nov. 17, and the store opened Nov. 21, on Hamilton’s Bexar Avenue East.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
BEAR CREEK – Phillips High School students had the opportunity to learn more about possible college and career paths at a career expo on Friday, Nov. 18.
Representatives from Honda, numerous programs from Bevill State Community College and other businesses were present to talk to students about their college and career options after high school.
Honda representatives presented students with information while they raced Formula 1 cars around a virtual track in a racing simulator.

By P.J. Gossett
General manager
HAMILTON — The Hamilton campus of Bevill State Community College has recognized the rich history of Marion County in the past by presenting Brown Bag Lectures. Speakers were given a chance to talk to the public about historical topics of interest from all areas of the county and northwest Alabama. Unfortunately, the pandemic shut the lectures down, but they have now returned.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
BRILLIANT — The Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation and Development council announced that over $76,000 in grant funding  helped complete 13 projects in this year with help from Alabama legislators.

By Chad Fell
Courtesy of the Northwest Alabamian
BEAR CREEK — Church members across denominations in Bear Creek banded together voicing their disapproval and ultimately voting down a referendum that would have allowed for the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages in the town limits during a special election, Tuesday, Nov. 15.
A total of 104 voters cast their ballots in the election, which was held at the Bobby Bishop Community Center, with 64 voting no and 40 voting yes, when all the figures were counted by poll workers then posted on the community center door.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Holiday season has arrived in the City of Hamilton as Mayor Bob Page invited the community to city hall to celebrate the annual Christmas tree lighting.
The event, held outside of the city hall building in Hamilton, was on Tuesday night, Nov. 15.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — New traffic lights should be installed around the first week of December, barring any more delays, according to Winfield Mayor Randy Price.
Price said during a city council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, that the installation of new traffic lights had been briefly delayed.
The traffic lights at the main intersection in downtown Winfield were damaged by an F1 tornado on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Two new commissioners took to their seats as all commissioners were sworn in before the Marion County Commission meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the commission office in Hamilton.
Both Larry Akers and Greg Gunnin got their feet wet in their first meeting, setting rules of order for the next term.