Marion County Schools are receiving national attention as part of a broader recognition of Alabama’s recent progress in public education.
A recent New York Times opinion column highlighted improvements in student attendance and academic recovery across Alabama, citing the state as part of a growing “Southern surge” in education.
Speaking during a press conference regarding the Marion County Public Water Authority’s announcement of $5.7 million in funding for current projects, $8.9 in pending projects and future congressional earmark-requested funds, Alabama State Senator Garlan Gudger repeatedly thanked all those involved in initiating the projects.
He noted “today is a celebration day” for those who had worked hard for years, and are now seeing all their efforts coming to fruition.
In the photo below on the right, we can see the back of two T-shirts. One T-shirt says, “Love Shouldn’t Hurt.” The other T-shirt says “Stronger Together” and promotes Safeplace and the Purple Mile Walk (where this photo was taken). Safeplace sold their shirts to raise awareness and funds, while the Hamilton High School Junior Civitan Club sold the other T-shirts to also raise awareness and funds for local domestic violence survivors.
Marion County was as fortunate as anyone could realistically ask for regarding the recent threat of severe winter weather.
The forecast for Marion County was especially difficult to predict and the National Weather Service Office in Birmingham did the best they could trying to nail down the type and amount of precipitation we were going to receive.
The only thing we knew for sure was that a storm front was headed our way with drastically frigid temperatures following close behind.
My wife, Carlinda Ray, and I were honored to be a part of the Alabama Men and Women of Action mission team to Ecuador last Aug. 5-13.
AMWA, under the leadership of Donnie and Carol McWaters of Oneonta, directed four pastors and three of their wives, along with two additional volunteers, to assist in the installation of water filtration units for facilities in local communities near the capital of Ecuador, Quito.
(Editor’s note: The Journal-Record reached out recently to all the police departments in the county, as well as the sheriff’s department, to obtain end-of-the-year reports for 2025. We are grateful to all the police chiefs and sheriff Kevin Williams for allowing us to print this information, as well as each law enforcement official sharing a few words on their departments to go with the statistics.
This project is ongoing, and we will continue to print each city’s report as it becomes available.
HAMILTON — The Journal-Record conducted a brief “Question and Answer” survey with most of the new officers of the Hamilton Ronnie Gene Avery VFW Post 12245 to learn more about them, their military service and their top goals for the new post.
Shown below are their responses. We greatly appreciate their time, assistance and service in this endeavour, as well as their service to their country and their efforts on behalf of the new post in Hamilton.
It usually takes me quite a few weeks to come up with “My 3 Words” for the new year. This time, it only took me a few moments. Perhaps that’s because I’ve been doing this a few years now. Or maybe I just have more of a sense of the direction I want my journey to go in next year.
That’s what the three words are mostly for. Something to guide you.
Your Journal-Record staff members took a few moments out of their busy holiday print schedule to share a few of their favorite holiday traditions, both new and old, for readers to enjoy. We hope you have time to slow down for a few moments amidst your own holiday bustle and sip a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and savor these shares, and possibly recall a few of your own favorite childhood traditions or find some inspiration for new ones.
We attend many, many meetings. We attend far fewer Christmas parties. Yet... we couldn’t resist supporting Kids for Life and their recent fundraiser, “The Great Christmas Sweater Gala.” Promoted was “Dress Tacky, Give Generously, Celebrate Kids for Life.” What’s not to love about a chance to dress tacky and support a good cause?
Kids for Life IS the support organization for all things related to foster care in Marion County. Currently, there are 48 children in foster care here, although there are only 12 licensed homes in the county.
In a press released issued by the U.S. Mint on Wednesday, Nov. 12, a ceremonial strike event was held that day at the Mint’s Philadelphia facility where U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach struck the final, circulating one-cent coin (penny). The event marked the official end of the penny’s 232-year production run as a circulating coin.
A couple of weeks ago, I reached my 10-year milestone in journalism. I am truly grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work here at the Journal-Record for a stint of eight years, followed by another run of two years.
The people in Marion County are one of the best parts about this job. There are so many amazing, gifted, sharing and caring individuals who work here, live here, operate businesses here and are the backbones of the organizations that help support the communities.
We are extremely excited to share the news that the movement to form a new Hamilton VFW Post has been successful!
Just a few days before Veterans Day, local officials were notified the post had been approved at the state and national levels, with the designated number of 12245 and the dedicated name of Ronnie (Gene) Avery.
Many things have been written about the wars which Americans have faced since our country first arose. Freedom has been proclaimed from every valley to mountain top across the United States. Most people, though they have heard this, take to understanding this profound freedom should be the basic rights of all people. As I say all people, I’m talking about every shoe-wearing or barefooted human who walks the earth.
As we grow older, we tend to think about when we were younger, even when we gathered as men or women around the food table or tea table. Our past events are sure to be served there also.
This is where many of my thoughts grow from. Today, I want to elaborate on something that is embedded within my mind that probably will never go away.
As I take you, for those readers who personally know, back to the days of Vietnam, I want to give thought to something familiar--war. That conflict began from mid-1950 and ended with the U.S. withdrawal of troops in 1975.
It started with a whisper from God… and a wiffle ball field.
Brad “Bob” Burroughs was at the height of a respected law enforcement career, serving as a lieutenant and chief investigator for the Winfield Police Department. He and his wife, Whitley, were just two weeks away from welcoming their third child, Phoenix, when he shared something that had been weighing on his heart: a call to work full-time with the youth at their church.
With a grand re-opening held on Wednesday, Oct. 15, the Journal-Record was glad to see Elder’s Tacos & Steaks back in business in downtown Hamilton. Damage from a May 17 storage room fire had kept the restaurant closed for a few months during the restoration and repainting process.
The family-focused and God-first owners, Eldher Maeda, his wife, Nancy, and their 3-year-old son, Nayel (named from a combination of Elder and Nancy; “y” is “and” in Spanish), seem so very happy and excited to be back in business and able to serve their customers.
Around 2015, Tombigbee Electric Cooperative was researching and doing feasibility studies on the idea of bringing fiber internet to its electric co-op customers.
In 2017, the board committed to the project with the mission of “providing internet access to everyone, not leaving anyone behind,” no matter if the customer lived in a more rural area.
Their goal mirrored the original cooperative push of bringing electrical services to outlying, rural areas, but this time, with fiber optic cables and internet service.
Many times, in life, I have asked myself this question, on the quest of life, why would you be willing to die for what you believe in? With tens of thousands of people who purpose themselves to serve others, in their life, with thousands giving their lives up in a chosen pursuit, “Why would they do it?”
Well, let me say this--most of their intentions are not to die for others. They do not intentionally walk into dangerous situations with the idea of, “Here I am, kill me. I want to be a martyr.” However, most do enter those places knowing it could happen.
The Buttahatchee River Sportsplex in Hamilton was dedicated on Saturday, Sept. 20, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony also held at 8:45 a.m. at the new facility on County Road 42.
We are proud for Hamilton, Marion County and the region to be able to have this magnificent sportsplex available to the Marion County School System and perhaps even more partnerships in the future on a college level.
There are many organizations I cover as a writer at this newspaper. They are all worthy, and filled with amazing people I admire. Yet, there is one special organization which has stood out to me over the years, not just because of its great cause, but because of those who work behind the scenes and spend time they don’t have to help others at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.
With all the news circulating the world today--the many different news outlets and informational avenues--we, many times, find it hard to believe them all. As the world started changing over the last several years, most all of us have found that news has been hard to swallow.
(Editor’s Note: We have a special treat for readers this week — a response from Jimmy Brumley to Liba Payne Peters’ guest column back in July. We’ve chosen to combine his response and her followup remarks into a “co-guest column.” We are grateful to Jimmy and Liba for sharing their memories with us.)
HAMILTON — Journal-Record long-time reader Brenda Jackson said she enjoyed reading about Fannie Sisson's birthday party in 1950. “She was my great-grandmother, and I attended that party,” Jackson said. “I was 4 years old. She was a force of nature. Thanks!”
Sisson’s article was printed in the July 23, 2025, issue of the newspaper.
We asked Jackson to share more, and she continued, “I was 6 when she died. I do remember her, and I grew up with her children. She was big and loud. And I think she ruled the roost wherever she went.
HAMILTON — Journal-Record long-time reader Brenda Jackson said she enjoyed reading about Fannie Sisson's birthday party in 1950. “She was my great-grandmother, and I attended that party,” Jackson said. “I was 4 years old. She was a force of nature. Thanks!”
Sisson’s article was printed in the July 23, 2025, issue of the newspaper.
We asked Jackson to share more, and she continued, “I was 6 when she died. I do remember her, and I grew up with her children. She was big and loud. And I think she ruled the roost wherever she went.
Few things in life are certain, but one thing that is certain is that our lives change. When the 2025-2026 school year starts on Aug. 7, it will be the first time since 1988 that school will start without me.
For the last several years, I have often said I knew I was exactly where God intended me to be, but it was in spite of myself. I never had a grand plan. It was always God’s plan, and He led me every step of the way.
Four friends and I traveled to the beach on July 12th. After arriving at Panama City and getting settled in our cabin, we strolled to the sandy shoreline and had a ball splashing in the water and feeling the sand beneath our feet. We didn’t have to pack our luggage for our trip, and there was no need to make reservations. We didn’t need road maps. We all just turned right on Memory Lane, and we were off and running.
I’ve been blessed beyond measure to serve the community that helped raise me, to give back to the school that gave me so much, learn how much good other schools have to offer, re-establish roots in a county I love and to help guide the next generation toward healthier and sustainable futures.
SNAP-Ed has allowed me to turn a personal passion into a purpose, and I’m honored to be part of something that allows me to make a difference for others and give God the Glory for it.
No one wants to think of school when the heat of summer is encouraging pool time and ice cream on the porch, but there are small things you can do to help your student be a step ahead when the school year begins.
Summer learning loss is the loss of academic knowledge students acquire throughout the school year. Multiple studies have shown this to be a real phenomenon that most commonly affects math and literacy.
My hometown is the place where my life began, where my roots dig deep in the dirt--the dirt that makes me happy the minute I step my foot on the ground.
It’s the memories, connections and friendships that draw me to a time when life was filled with carefree laughter, love and hope. The deep ties bind me with an unbreakable hold for this town--the only place in the world where people remember my family and my growing-up years.
In July of 2017, my husband, Jason, and I decided to move to Marion County. For me, it was a move "back home." Jason grew up in Pickens County. So for him, it was a move to my roots. When I started looking for a job, I applied at several places. I started with what was familiar.
I grew up, starting in 4-H as young as they would allow. Even though a lot had changed over the years with Extension, I was still very familiar with it because of my 4-H experiences.
During their recent presentation to the Hamilton City Council, members of the Hamilton Aggie Schools Foundation Board were also asked by city councilor W. Ross Reed if they knew of any long-term projects for the schools they could share.
Board chair Melissa Hughey said one focus is the arts. She said the schools have discovered when they put in more arts, the kids behave better, attendance is better and there aren’t as many discipline problems.
I just returned from an exciting field trip to a place I hope to never visit again... or at least I hope to never stay at. And I’m calling it a field trip for this column, but it was actually a great tour of the new Marion County Detention Center (aka the jail) with our super sheriff Kevin Williams and a couple of my co-workers.
We’d all hoped to go, but last minute scheduling changes prevented Luke (sports editor) from joining us. But P.J. (editor) and Erin (ad manager) did get to go, and I’m glad we were able to share the experience.
With the arrival of warmer temperatures, I eagerly anticipate longer days and spending time a little more leisurely. One of my favorite things to do is to grab an icy glass of lemonade and a great book to while away a few hours outside.
No matter if I am sitting on a beach listening to the waves crash and dipping my toes in the sand or gently rocking on my front porch while petting one of my pups, a great book is the thing that pushes me into true relaxation.
By Kathryn “Chazz” Hirschfeld
Staff writer
May is National Foster Care Month and as director of the Marion County Department of Human Resources, I cannot let the month pass without sharing the importance of foster care.
This year’s theme is “Engaging Youth, Building Supports, Strengthening Opportunities.”
The campaign recognizes the important role people from all aspects of child welfare play in supporting children, youth and families. The theme highlights the need to create a child welfare system that authentically engages and supports young people who are preparing to leave foster care.
Over two thousand years ago, a miracle occurred that changed the world and those within it. A stopwatch to eternity has positioned us to look toward the heavens for His great and fabulous return.
We know Him as Mary’s Baby born in a manger, the Only Begotten Son of God, the Anointed One, the Good Shepherd, the Dayspring from on High, the Son of Man, the Promise, the Prince of Peace, Emanuel, the Tender Plant out of Jesse, the Redeemer, the Prince of Mercy, the Lily of the Valley, the True Vine, the Son of David and King of Kings.
You may not realize it, but one of the biggest businesses in not only Hamilton, but Northwest Alabama, is Northwest Gas, also known as the Northwest Alabama Gas District.
The “speak softly but carry a big stick” company is ran by a board of directors composed of the member municipalities who had the foresight to create the gas company seven decades ago.
It wasn’t easy. It’s been tough. It’s taken a lot of good decisions by a lot of great board members, managers and employees to create what the entire area benefits from today.
So, the subject of littering came up recently and Hamilton Ordinance Official Neil West had stopped by our office on a different matter, but while he was here, I asked him to share a few thoughts.
“I see litter. I see garbage. And it breaks my heart,” he said. “There are ordinances against littering from vehicles, including items that are blown out of the cars by the wind. There are ordinances against illegal dumping.”
When asked if he thought fines would help, Neil said he believed fines could help, but you’d have to catch the person in the act.
