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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

By P.J. Gossett
General Manager
MARION COUNTY — Standardized test scores have been released for the 2021-2022 school year for the entire state regarding public schools. Students took the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program, along with the college-entry ACT test. The data is available online for each school or for comparison to other schools or districts.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
BEAR CREEK —Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a shooting that took place on County Road 99 in Bear Creek on Monday, Sept. 12, at 5:30 p.m.
County Deputies responded to a domestic violence incident that had allegedly taken place.
When deputies arrived,  James Anthony Sparks, was deceased from a single gunshot wound to the chest, according to Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams.

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
HAMILTON — Marion County Schools Superintendent of Education Ann West was selected as the School Superintendents of Alabama Superintendent finalist for District 7.
There are nine districts statewide, and each district has a finalist for the Alabama 2023 State Superintendent of the Year.  
“I am certainly honored to have been chosen to represent District 7 as a finalist for the Alabama 2023 Superintendent of the Year,” said West.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield City Council discussed the issue of a lack of storm shelters and storm shelter space in the city of Winfield during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
During a time to discuss old business, council member Keith Pollard raised a question surrounding access to a storm shelter on the east side of town that is located behind a locked gate on Tiffin Motorhome property.