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MONTGOMERY — State Senator Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) was selected by the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus as their party’s nominee for the position of President Pro Tempore of the senate.
The decision was made in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The previous pro tem, Greg Reed, will be stepping down to accept a position in Governor Kay Ivey’s administration at the start of the new year.
Gudger was first elected to the state senate in 2018 and is on his second term.

WINFIELD — Winfield City Schools recognized Parker Spann for being the voice of the Winfield Pirates for over 60 years on Friday night, Nov. 15, just before the Pirates’ second round playoff game.
“It was a surprise to me, but it was very much appreciated,” Spann said.
Spann graduated from Winfield City High School in 1953, lettering in football, basketball and baseball.
Spann said his family moved from just outside Winfield into town in 1945, the same year Coach Estes Hudson came to town.

HAMILTON —In an effort to enhance road safety and protect first responders, Hamilton Fire & Rescue  is now integrating HAAS Alert's Safety Cloud® digital alerting into their fire apparatus. This collision prevention service enables the delivery of real-time alerts to Alabama drivers when emergency services are active in the vicinity.

HAMILTON — A hearing for District 17 State Representative Tracy Estes has been delayed from next Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 9:30 a.m. at the Marion County Courthouse. The hearing was scheduled for that day, but a continuance was approved on Nov. 8, 2024.
The case is now being prosecuted by Franklin County District Attorney Jeffrey Barksdale after Marion County DA Scott Slatton recused his office from the case.
The case will be judged by the Honorable Talmage Lee Carter.

BEAR CREEK — The condition of certain areas of Phillips Schools has alarmed members of the Phillips High School Alumni Association, who are asking school officials for more accountability to fix the issues.
These issues are reportedly being addressed, while other areas of the school are seeing major improvements, but changes cannot be made overnight, stressed Phillips High School Principal Tina Coan.

A two-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 1:05 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, has claimed the life of a Brilliant man. Christopher R. Camp, 43, was critically injured when the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport he was driving collided head-on with a 2021 Kenworth T440 concrete mixer driven by Daniel N. Smith, 57, of Hackleburg. After the initial collision, the Land Rover overturned. Camp was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Brilliant man arrested for threatening students
BRILLIANT — A Brilliant man was arrested for threatening two Brilliant High School students through social media on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 24.
“There (were students who were) threatened by someone who was not a student,” said Brilliant Police Chief Robert Snow. “Due to the timing and nature of the threats, they put the school on lockdown. We responded, and the sheriff’s department came with us. We found the guy who was making the threats away from the school, and he was arrested.”

WINFIELD — Winfield City Schools broke ground on its new football and track stadium facility, which will also include a new softball concession stand, on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Members of the school board and city council joined with football coach David McKinney, track and field coach Steve Reaves and long-time supporter of Winfield athletics Parker Spann at the site as ground work begins for the new complex.
The new complex was first approved last year and will include a new football field, a new track and a new concession stand for the softball field.

HAMILTON — Before the Oct. 7 Hamilton City Council meeting, those present heard from Seth Dawson of Dawson Philanthropy, concerning his organization’s ongoing efforts to help with relief efforts in hurricane-devastated areas in Florida and North Carolina.
He said his organization would be taking supplies to the areas in full knowledge that boats would possibly be needed to get them delivered to those in need. He also stressed his team members would be keeping safety in mind as they went to help “our brothers and sisters in the south.”