GUIN - City employees are receiving additional benefits just in time for the holiday season.
The Guin City Council voted unanimously at its Monday, Dec. 2, meeting to begin covering 100% of individual employee health insurance premiums.
As health insurance premiums for the city are increasing 5%, Guin Mayor Max Maddox and City Clerk Rebeca Markham presented the council with different health insurance options during a work session preceeding the official council meeting.

HAMILTON -  A jury trial date has been scheduled for double-homicide suspect Jimmy Cooper, according to court documents.
A court order filed on Thursday, Nov. 21, by 25th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Lee Carter sets Cooper’s trial on Monday, March 9, 2020—more than four years following the Feb. 10, 2016, shootings that claimed the lives of two victims.
Arraignment was held for Cooper on Monday, Nov. 18, where he was formally read his indictment of two capital murder charges and first-degree kidnapping.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Visitors viewing Alabama’s Christmas Tree at the 2019 National Christmas Tree display in the nation’s capital will enjoy ornaments made by Hamilton High School students.
Twenty-two visual arts students at Hamilton High School (HHS) have created 24 one-of-a-kind ornaments for Alabama’s tree display in President’s Park in Washington, D.C.

HAMILTON - Among the many traditional sights and sounds of the Christmas season is a scene outside of stores of  an iconic red bucket with a cheerful person standing beside it ringing a bell.
Now,  Hamilton, Winfield and Haleyville have the opportunity to take part in this Christmas tradition.

Alabama Power has recently dealt with various scam complaints such as scammers calling and claiming to be representatives of Alabama Power or claiming that they are working with a public agency or government office looking to acquire credit card information from the individuals they call.
The company has responded by providing a list of tips to help individuals defend themselves against potential scams.
According to a release by Alabama Power:
• Alabama Power will never come to your door and demand an immediate payment.

MUSCLE SHOALS - Winfield Middle School and Colbert Heights Elementary School led the group of winners at the 2019 Northwest Alabama SCORE VEX IQ Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 16,  in the Patriot Center gym on the Northwest-Shoals Community College-Shoals Campus (NW-SCC).
Winfield Middle School’s team, Bad Memory, and Colbert Heights Elementary’s team, Bionic Blue, won the competition’s Excellence Awards.

HAMILTON - Circuit Court Judge Daryl Burt will run unopposed in his first election to become one of two circuit court judges for the 25th Judicial Circuit.
Burt was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey in February 2018 to his current position as circuit judge of the Alabama’s 25th Judicial Circuit, which covers Marion and Winston counties. He was selected by the governor to finish out the last three years of former judge John Bentley’s term, who was elected in 2014 and retired after 15 years on the bench.

MARION COUNTY - The 17th Annual Eldridge Children’s Home Toy Run benefit ride will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Individuals and motorcycle groups from Hamilton who wish to participate in the Toy Run should meet at the River Road Texaco in Hamilton at 10 a.m.
The store is located off of  Exit 14 on Interstate 22 and County Road 35, also known as River Road.
From the Winfield and Guin area, motorcycle riders are scheduled to meet at Jack’s or Webster’s Piggly Wiggly on U.S. Highway 43.

WINFIELD - Northwest Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Robert Henger addressed the Winfield City Council concerning the current state and progress of the Northwest Medical Center in Winfield during a regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Winfield City Hall.
“We haven’t turned a corner yet, we don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel yet, but we are making progress in every way possible, I believe,” said Henger in the beginning of his address.

GUIN - Guin city councilwoman Kathy Alexander has officially returned to the position after swearing in during the regular meeting held on Monday, Nov. 18, at Guin City Hall.
Alexander’s appointment to the city council follows the death of former councilman Troy Hightower who served on the council for 25 years.
“Troy wanted to adjourn every meeting, Kathy, that may be your job now,” said Guin Mayor Max Maddox jokingly after Alexander’s swearing in.

HAMILTON - Construction on a new Love’s Travel Stop and Country Store has postponed, company officials announced on Monday, Nov. 25.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page told the Journal Record during a phone interview that Love’s real estate project manager, William Gleason, has said construction could be delayed to as late as March 21, depending on weather conditions.
According to Page, Love’s contractors are currently working on projects in the midwest and have run into delays that are resulting in the Hamilton location’s start date being pushed back.

HAMILTON - A Marion County High School (MCHS) alumnus’ estate has made a donation of $1.7 million for scholarships to Guin students.
Birmingham attorney  Robert Cornelius appeared at the Marion County Board of Education’s monthly meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, to announce the donation made by the estate of Wayne and Joyce Pyron.
Wayne Pyron attended MCHS where he played football and developed his love for the game and Alabama football.