MONTGOMERY -  Gov. Kay Ivey, alongside the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and Alabama Counts!, announced final participation results of Census 2020 for the state of Alabama on Friday, Oct. 16. The census officially came to a close nationwide on Thursday, Oct. 15.
Marion County finished with a 61.1% self-response rate for the 2020 Census.
 The State of Alabama finished with an overall household response rate of 99.9%, on par with 48 other U.S. states.

HAMILTON - Five new businesses are preparing to open in the City of Hamilton.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page updated city officials on economic developments during a Hamilton City Council work session on Wednesday, Oct. 14,
The mayor says an incoming Domino’s Pizza will be located across from the North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton on Military Street South. He said the new pizza franchise is completely renovating the old Encore Rehab building.

HAMILTON - New garbage pick-up days are set to begin the week of Monday, Nov. 9, for Hamilton garbage service customers.
Hamilton Sanitation Superintendent Mike Johnson discussed the upcoming changes with the Hamilton City Council on Wednesday, Oct. 14, saying that after about month of implementation, the new garbage system is almost ready to launch.
Customers are set to be provided information of the change in their October water bills, which will be mailed today, Wednesday, Oct. 28.

GU-WIN -  Radio hit-makers Big Daddy Weave held an in-person concert alongside Grammy award-winning Zach Williams on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Blue Moon Drive-In theater in Gu-Win.
Production company Awakening Events has presented their Drive-In Theater Tour Series during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to present drive-in concerts that follow social distancing guidelines.
The concert series has seen the likes of artists such as TobyMac and Casting Crowns come and perform in Gu-Win.

GUIN - Guin City Mayor Max Maddox and members of the Guin City Council, whose terms will come to an end in November, said their farewells to the public and fellow council members during a regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 18, at Guin City Hall.
“I enjoyed working with everybody, I know we’ve had our ups and downs--everybody does, I guess--even families have their ups and down,” said Maddox.
“I think we got a lot done, I have no regrets. The only regret I have is the lawsuit with 3M. I’ve enjoyed working with you whether you believe it or not.”

WINFIELD -  The Alabama School of Fine Arts  announced the addition of a Winfield student to its enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year.
The Winfield student accepted into the school this year is Braylee Lynn for Dance.
 Lynn is among 100 new students from across the state that were accepted into the state’s only highly specialized arts and sciences pre-professional and college preparatory program for middle and high school students.  

One year ago, Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Secretary Hal Taylor were urging Alabamians to obtain their STAR ID by Oct. 1.
However, in response to COVID-19, President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Homeland Security to extend the deadline to obtain a STAR ID to Oct. 1, 2021.
This allows all citizens an additional year to obtain the more secure form of identification as government offices reopen, and pandemic-related health guidelines are lifted.

WINFIELD -  The Winfield City Schools Board of Education honored the late Ray McGaha and announced that they have begun placing gold memorial placards on seats in the football, baseball and softball fields to honor the memory of McGaha.
Board members took the time to remember McGaha stating that he always made sure to take care of students when they needed help and encourage those attending the school.

WINFIELD -  Winfield Mayor Randy Price honored Winfield City Council members Chris Ballard and Anthony Hallmark with plaques and keys to the city during a regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Winfield Community Shelter.
Councilman Jimmy Hayes was also awarded a plaque and key to the city, but was not in attendance during the meeting.
“I appreciate getting to serve with y’all for the past four years. I’ve enjoyed it and I think we’ve made a lot of good progress for the city and it’s been very a positive administration with y’all on it,” said Price.

BRILLIANT  - Today's generation enjoys many tools of communication in this current electronic age, beginning with internet providing immediate delivery!
But in the mid-1940s, television  wasn't yet on the scene, and with the AM radio, it was tough to listen to the news when thunder showers were nearby because of the static interruptions to the audio. Newspapers were and are today a dependable resource of what's happening and where.

Lawmaker to provide message of hope on Sunday

HAMILTON - Rep. Tracy Estes will be the featured speaker at Hamilton First Baptist Church on Sunday, Oct. 25. The first-term lawmaker will share the gospel in song and testimony in both morning services, beginning at 8:30.

HAMILTON - Bevill State Community College’s (BSCC) Welding Technology program in Hamilton is getting a shot in the arm through a $1.5 million Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant.
The award, which is a part of the commissions “POWER” grant program was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and will fund expansion measures for the Bevill State Hamilton Campus’ welding program by doubling its current capacity.

HAMILTON - City officials say local law enforcement will be cracking down on illicit drug activity in Hamilton.
During a work session on Wednesday, Oct. 14, Hamilton Mayor Bob Page said there has been a “public outcry” concerning illicit drug activity in the city.
“My reaction to this is to double-down on our police department, which I’m doing at this time, and our effort to stop illegal drug sales and use in the City of Hamilton.”

HACKLEBURG - Big 95.5 radio station owner Hutty Hutcheson will be expected to pay power expenses totaling $2,300 which were incurred during 2019.
At a Hackleburg Town Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 12, Hackleburg Mayor Darryl Colburn attempted to state his case for why he believes the bill should be lower.
Hackleburg Councilwoman Tabby Lolley brought the issue to the council’s attention during the council’s Sept. 28 meeting. She pointed out at the time that Hutcheson has been billed three times for the amount owed and has not paid.

HAMILTON - When news broke that Hamilton’s longtime Christmas charity Christmas for Kids would not be able to operate this year due to COVID-19, Jason Rayburn and Stacey Gann felt like they had to do something.
Rayburn and Gann, both of Hamilton and whose families have been friends for years, said they both felt the burden to act when they heard the news.
The two are conducting the drive modeled similar to the Salvation Army’s Christmas Angel Tree program, where individuals adopt children and are given their gender, age,  clothing sizes and wish list.

GUIN - Josh Weatherly said he believes that collaboration is a key component driving the success and continued academic progress of students at Guin Elementary in rural northwestern Alabama.
Weatherly has been principal for eight years at the preK-6 school. He taught the prior 10 years at Guin Elementary, which recently earned first-time honors as a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School. It is a 2019 ESEA Network National Title I Distinguished School, recognized for exceptional student performance and academic growth.

WINFIELD -  The Winfield City High School Marching Band will hold a benefit concert featuring Grammy and Multi-Dove Award winning artist Jason Crabb with special guest, comedian Mickey Bell on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.
The concert will be held on the baseball field next door to Winfield Free Will Baptist Church located at 1960 U.S. Hwy 43, Winfield, AL.
Tickets are $15 in advance for General Admission, $20 at the gate and $30 for VIP tickets (advance sales only).
Tickets may be purchased online at www.itickets.com.

Hamilton

Place 1: Wesley Steele - 539; Scott Tyra - 714

Place 3: Neil Sellman - 571; Matt Sims -  668

Place 5: Sherry Armstrong - 606; Scott Robertson - 641

Guin

Mayor: Max Maddox - 284; Phil Segraves - 364

Bear Creek

Mayor: Tammy Batchelor - 139; Rob Taylor - 161

Place 1: James Weeks - 166;  Mark Cofield -129

COVID-19 has shutdown this year’s Christmas for Kids drive, which provides more than 400 children with christmas gifts each year.
Sandy Sandlin, who has led the seasonal campaign since it began more than 35 years ago, lamented the cancelation, saying that challenges incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in organizing and executing the drive to be essentially infeasible.
The Marion County Department of Human Resources (DHR) has partnered with the Christmas for Kids to handle and review applications.

MONTGOMERY - Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday issued her 18th supplemental emergency proclamation containing an amended Safer at Home Order that includes an extension to the statewide mask requirement.
Individuals will be required to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public and in close contact with other people, as described in the order. This amended order extends until Sunday, November 8, at 5 p.m.
The order will remain in full force and effect until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, unless extended, rescinded or modified in writing before that time.