Hamilton Elementary named Bicentennial School of Excellence

HAMILTON - Gov. Kay Ivey has announced Hamilton Elementary School as one of 21 schools statewide to be selected at Alabama Bicentennial Schools of Excellence.
Ivey made the announcement on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) in Montgomery.
“We are so thrilled to be recognized by the Bicentennial Commission as one of only 21 schools of excellence across the state of Alabama,” said Hamilton Elementary School Principal Keith Smith.

 

Rye suggests ‘No Burn’ policy for Marion County residents

HAMILTON -  According to Fire Chief Tim Rye with the Hamilton Fire and Rescue Department, the Alabama Forestry Commission has issued a fire danger advisory for all counties in the state due to high temperatures and drought conditions.
Rye stated that while the forestry commission has not issued a temporary ban on individuals building burn piles for brush and other waste, they have warned against building them as they are at risk of creating wildfires.

Council votes to accept deed

WINFIELD -  The Winfield City Council formally voted to accept a deed for a building and a parcel of property at its Thursday, Sept. 19 meeting.
The building, located at 175 State Highway 253 next to the Christian Center of Concern in Winfield, is a former doctors office.
Both the land and the property have a total appraised value of $87,245, city clerk Angie Oliver said, referencing Marion County Tax Assessor maps.

Nichols named best in state

GULF SHORES - James Nichols, a maintenance supervisor for the Hackleburg and Bear Creek Housing Authorities, is being recognized as the best in the state for 2019.
Nichols was announced as the 2019 Maintenance Worker of the Year during the Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities’s (AAHRA) Annual Conference, which took place Aug. 19-22 at the Lodge in Gulf Shores.

Saudi oil field bombing unlikely to hold major effects on gas prices

American Automobile Association (AAA) spokesman Clay Ingram has stated that despite oil field bombings in Saudi Arabia, oil prices for Alabama will not be impacted with price increases.
“(Prices) are probably going to get a little bit higher, but, the good news is, it’s a very temporary situation,” stated Ingram.
“It’s probably going to last just a few more weeks and then (oil prices) should drop way down again.”

Pearce top recipient of Social Good scholarship

GUIN - Marion County High School 2019 graduate Mackenzie Pearce, Guin, has been named the lead award winner of a national scholarship.
The D’Andre D. Lampkin Foundation, based in Ontario, Calif., announced the winners of its annual Social Good Scholarship in late July, listing Pearce as the lead winner with a $1,000 award.
Sari Conner, Galion, Ohio, and Christopher McCrary, Atlanta, Ga., were both named $500 recipients.

FNB buys Alabama Power building

HAMILTON - First National Bank (FNB) in Hamilton has re-acquired an adjacent property and building which, until August, has been owned and operated by Alabama Power.
FNB President and Chief Executive Officer Brent Thompson told the Journal Record that it has purchased the property back and is already in possession of the deed.
Thompson said FNB sold the property to Alabama Power in October 1991, and now after 28 years, it will be use the space to improve operations.

Hamilton chamber to hold Scenic 17 Yard Sale

HAMILTON -  The Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the City of Hamilton, has announced the Bicentennial Scenic 17 Yard Sale on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4 and 5, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
The community is teaming up with several other communities across the state along Scenic Highway 17 to present the Front Porch to Curbside Yard Sale.
The event will take place at the Hamilton Walking Track where individuals will be able to attend and sell their items.

 

Trash talk continues

HAMILTON - The possibility of automating the city’s garbage operation is gaining momentum—a change that would require all Hamilton garbage customers to have a city-issued 96-gallon can.
Hamilton Street Superintendent Mike Johnson and Ingram Equipment Company North Alabama Salesman Will Hovater, whose company is based in Pelham, appeared at the Hamilton City Council’s work session on Wednesday, Sept. 13, to share details on the city’s options for a new garbage truck.

Parties agree to dismiss open records lawsuit

In a surprising-but-positive turn of events, the Bevill State Community College (BSCC)-Hamilton Campus Legislative Task Force for Education, BSCC President Dr. Kim Ennis and Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Chancellor Jimmy Baker filed a joint consent motion to dismiss the task force’s open records lawsuit in Montgomery County Circuit Court on Friday, Sept. 6.

Town handing over deed to Bozemans

HACKLEBURG -  Hackleburg Mayor Darryl Colburn now has the authority to sign over the deed to the Hackleburg Market to brothers Phillip and Chris Bozeman of Bozeman Family Grocery after the town council voted in favor of Colburn’s proposal 4-1.
The vote was made during a special-called meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12, in Hackleburg.
Council members Darrin Wiginton, Don Barnwell, Colburn and Eugene Marbutt voted in favor of Colburn’s proposal, while councilman Kevin Barnwell voted against it. Councilwoman Tabby Lolley was absent during the meeting.

Manufactured Home Installation course launches this month

HAMILTON -  Bevill State Community College (BSCC) has announced the launch of a new Manufactured Home Installation Training class on the Hamilton Campus.
The inaugural class begins on Tuesday, Sept. 24, and will meet two nights a week for 10 weeks.
Participants will receive a certificate of completion from BSCC and be prepared to work with certified home installers, and/or to take the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission Certified Installer Exam.

Marion Co. has poverty rate of 19.3%

Recently published data show Marion County’s poverty higher than the state average.
Alabama Possible, a statewide nonprofit organization that seeks to remove prosperity barriers, published a report in July showing that Marion County’s poverty rate is 19.3%—higher than the statewide average of 16.9% and noticeably higher than the national average of 13.4%.
The federal poverty threshold ranges from $12,488 for one person to $25,094 for a family of four. Marion County’s median household income is $38,049.

 

No citizenship question on 2020 Census essentially assures Alabama losing a congressional seat

The upcoming 2020 Census is extremely critical in Alabama and the rest of the states in the nation, as well. The Census affects the number of seats a state has in the U.S. Congress and ultimately the number of Electoral College Votes you have for president. Also, very importantly, the amount of federal funds the state receives will be effected.