By Scott Johnson
and Louis Mellini

Loosened public health orders have made room for graduations to take place.
Graduations at high schools across Marion County will take place beginning tomorrow (Thursday, May 21) and again on Friday, May 22.
High School seniors statewide with passing grades have been considered “graduates” since in-class instruction was suspended in March.
The graduation ceremonies are now set to commence due to updated public safety orders which took effect on Monday, May 11.

By Scott Johnson
Managing Editor

HAMILTON - Officials want to tighten up accountability for how Hamilton businesses and facilities are disposing of grease.
Hamilton Water Superintendent Rodney Williams appeared before the Hamilton City Council during a work session on Wednesday, May 13, explaining the need for a local ordinance that would empower the city to obtain documented proof of how local facilities are disposing of their grease.

By Scott Johnson
Managing Editor

Marion County’s public school systems have distributed thousands of meals during the COVID-19 shutdown.
According to information provided by the Marion County School System and the Winfield City School System, nearly 61,534 meals were provided for children out of school during March and April.

By Kadena Air Base - Airfield Management

Okinawa, Japan - Today, we pay tribute to Master Sgt. La’Tanja Steele for her tremendous leadership and her absolute commitment to the Airmen and Families of the United States Air Force (USAF)--a commitment that she has delivered on for over 22 years, where she served solely in airfield management.  
Steele is the Deputy Airfield Manager for the 18th Operations Support Squadron Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

WINFIELD -  Long-serving Winfield Board of Education (BOE) member Brenda Taylor sat in on her final Winfield BOE meeting on Tuesday, May 12, at the Winfield Middle School library.
Members of the board such as Winfield Schools Superintendent of Education Chris Cook took the time to thank Taylor for her service on the board.

By LOUIS MELLINI Staff Writer WINFIELD - Winfield native Hilda Smith has been named a North Alabama Elite Tourism Professional, a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA). In Marion County, Smith, of Hampton Inn by Hilton Winfield, has been named a North Alabama Elite Tourism Professional for her contributions to the tourism industry. She was presented with a Walmart gift card.

Since 2003, the Jerry Lynn Smith Lancaster Scholarship is granted annually to a female Marion County High School (MCHS) graduate in her name. Rachael P. Foster has been named the 2020 recipient of the scholarship.

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

WINFIELD -  Winfield Mayor Randy Price expressed his concern about individuals pan-handling in downtown Winfield during a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 5, on the telecommunication app Zoom.
Price stated that he observed a family, who was traveling across the country, holding a sign and asking for financial assistance at the intersection in front of city hall and the Winfield Pastime Theatre.

FLORENCE - As many smaller United Way’s across the nation have been forced to do recently, United Way of Guin has closed their doors.
To ensure that those in need are still served, United Way of Northwest Alabama has stepped up to cover responsibilities in the Marion County service area.

By CASEY MILLS
Sportswriter

MONTGOMERY - On Thursday, May 14, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) announced the cancelation of all 2020 summer competitions, as well as released updated guidelines on sports-related activities.
 

NORTH FORK - Authorities say the remains of a Marion County man have been found two years after he was last seen.
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams told the Journal Record that local investigators have discovered substantial evidence that human remains found in the North Fork area belong to Zach Pike, who was last seen in May 2018.

HAMILTON -  The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) confirmed an inmate incarcerated at Hamilton Aged & Infirmed (Hamilton A&I) in Hamilton, has tested positive for COVID-19.
Hamilton A&I is a medium custody facility that opened in May 1981, for aged and infirmed inmates.
The facility is located just across the road from Marion Regional Nursing Home, one of the hot-spots for the COVID-19 outbreak in Marion County.