(Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a two-part series listing the honors and achievements of the members of the 2020 and 2021 Marion County Sports Hall of Fame classes. New inductees have been listed three schools at a time, alphabetically by last name.

Special to the Journal Record

The first time I remember feeling a loss of a good thing by “things that come to an end”. I was a kid of seven or so. I had just finished enjoying my very first Tootsie Roll Pop. (A customer of mine on my Chicago Tribune paper route gave it to me as a tip for good service.)
It was cherry flavored. My mouth started watering just now just thinking about that taste experience I had long ago. I guess back then I had been sheltered from candy by my parents. With a bunch of brothers and sisters, candy was not on our weekly menu.

There are few things in everyday life that teach our kids life lessons better than sports. As they grow up and play for different teams they learn about commitment, hard work, how to win with grace, and how to pick yourself up and move on after a loss. These lessons stay with them forever, and as a parent I know how valuable those experiences are. This is why we have to ensure sports, especially high school sports, remain fair and free of political influence. When Title IX was enacted, it did just that for female athletes.

Kay Ivey is doing a good job as governor. She is a strong and decisive leader, who has done more than steady the ship of state. She is getting things done. She is making her mark as a good governor.
She did a good day’s work when she got Jo Bonner to be her Chief of Staff. They make quite a team. This duo from Wilcox County were cut out to be leaders.
Kay Ivey is only the second governor to hail from Wilcox County. Benjamin M. Miller was the first. The Black Belt region of Alabama has spawned an inordinate number of governors and legislative giants.

By Luke Brantley
Staff Writer

By Luke Brantley
Staff Writer

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

HAMILTON - Haleyville attorney Cole Christopher and Jake Talmadge of Talmadge Septic Service addressed the Hamilton City Council on Monday, July 19, at Hamilton City Hall.
Last April, Jake received notice that the waste water plant wouldn’t be receiving any septic waste from any third party, but a few months ago, Jake drove by and noticed that one entity was allowed to dispose waste there,” said Christopher.
“We just want some clarity, are third-party bidders allowed to bring their waste up there and dispose of it, or is it open just for one person?”

By Scott Johnson
General Manager

HAMILTON - The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), in cooperation with Huddle House in Hamilton, is investigating a food handler who is infected with hepatitis A virus.
As a preventative measure, ADPH is suggesting customers who consumed food, whether dine-in, pickup, or delivery from Huddle House, located at 210 River Road, between the dates of July 9 through July 21, be identified.
ADPH doctors stated that anyone who ate the food during this time may need the hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin to reduce their chance of illness.

By Scott Johnson
General Manager

By LUKE BRANTLEY
Staff Writer

Samuel Webb has the need—the need for speed.
Webb, the son of LaDawn Lawrence and Heath Webb and a soon-to-be sixth-grader at Winfield Middle School, attended Aviation Challenge Mach I at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville in June.
According to the Space and Rocket Center, “The week-long educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and problem-solving.

By Luke Brantley
Staff Writer

Gov. Kay Ivey, State Rep. Chip Brown and Marion County State Rep. Tracy Estes and family of Aniah Blanchard gathered in Montgomery for the ceremonial signing of Aniah’s Law.
Blanchard was killed in 2019 by a man who was out on bond on charges of other violent crimes. Aniah’s Law would give judges more discretion to deny bail to those charged with violent crimes outside of just murder, such as kidnapping and rape.
According to Estes, the law has been in the works for a long time, and is finally being put on the ballot.
 

There’s an old saying that there are two sides to every story.
As journalists, this is a balance we seek out to avoid biased reporting. Or at least we should be seeking it. Talking to people on both sides of an event or issue is critical in finding out the truth, which is often somewhere in the middle. It’s sad to see how many news outlets, big and small, have forgotten this.
AL.com recently came out with an article that looked into a series of cases in which people were arrested for unpaid debts and held for a long period of time without trial.

Most states have one General Fund Budget. We are only one of five states that have two.
Some of you have asked why we have two budgets–one for the General Fund and one for Education. Here is why.

This past week was a pretty rough one if I’m being honest.
I’ve been a little homesick for Long Island where I grew up, and I finally got to visit--just not for the reason I would have wanted.
I was born in Los Angeles, but I was raised on Long Island, New York, in a place called Farmingville. I lived on a road called Falcon Court where there were two families who we would become familiar with.

Special to the
Journal Record

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

HAMILTON - Marion County commissioners chose not to use 6% of its $5.7 million in American Rescue Plan monies to pay the Alabama County Commission Association (ACCA) for legal and administrative aid on how the funds can be used.
By doing so, the commission will not be using  $346,294 to participate in the ACCA’s Investing in Alabama Counties (IAC) program, which will help participating counties plan and spend the Rescue funds.