Long-time broadcast journalist Mike Royer spoke about remembering and respecting the military during his address at the Community-Wide Veterans Day Program held at Bevill State Community College on Nov. 4 Royer is now the managing editor of WVUA 23 on the University of Alabama campus. He has just completed 43 years as a broadcast journalist, and has won numerous awards for his work as a journalist.

Qualifying has ended for next year’s March 3 primaries, and several candidates are set to seek local office. All of the contested local primary races next year will be within the Republican Party. Fayette Democratic Party Chairman John Underwood, who is also a Fayette County Commissioner, said that he is seeking re-election to his District 6 Commission seat, while Billy Joe Rodgers has qualified as a Democrat for the County Commission District 5 position that he currently holds.

Lisa Bright, CEO of the Will Bright Foundation, spoke at the Fayette Area Chamber of Commerce’s “First Tuesday” luncheon at the Fayette Civic Center on Nov. 5. She said that the Will Bright Foundation came about as a way to help others possibly avoid tragedy like her family faced when her son Will died of a heroin overdose at the age of 25.

Sometimes a football game is more than just a game - it is an event that reaches beyond what takes place on the field. Saturday’s Alabama - LSU football game was one of those special events. The past several seasons, this football rivalry has become one of the most competitive in college football.

The Berry Town Council voted to replace the Christmas lights in town and to apply for a “Rebuild Alabama” grant during its regular council meeting on Nov. 4. Councilman Russell Madison was absent from the meeting, with all other council members present. Also present for the meeting were Mayor Jimmy Madison and Town Clerk Marie McClusky.

Younghance honored by Fayette County High School By Dean Maddox M.C. Younghance was recognized last Friday night before the start of the Fayette - Anniston football playoff game for his 44 years of service raising the American flag at all of the Fayette County High School home football games.

The Fayette Music Study Club met Thursday, Nov. 7 in the Fayette Civic Center. Self Express productions from Winfield presented several skits to the club during its meeting.

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, approximately 100 Bevill State Community College, Fayette Campus, students participated in the Alabama Community College System’s “Clean Home Alabama” initiative. In addition to students, teachers and faculty members also participated in the event. With more than 60 projects across the state, Clean Home Alabama is ACCS’s contribution to help “Keep Alabama Beautiful” as part of the state’s bicentennial year. Alabama’s 24 community colleges are hosting projects in every corner of the state, showcasing their commitment to serve their communities.

Anniston used a massive rushing attack to control the game’s tempo and defeat the Fayette Tigers 19-6 in a first-round state football playoff game. The Bulldogs outrushed the Tigers 241 net yards to 24, thus controlling the time of possession to earn the victory.

Advancing into the first round of the playoffs for the 10th consecutive year, the Lions traveled to northeast Alabama on Friday night to meet up with the Panthers of Spring Garden. Spring Garden, the top seed in region five, entered the contest with a 9-1 record and the Lions, with a 6-4 record, was seeded as the number four team from region six.

The Grateful Dead once sang about what a long, strange journey this has been. The Berry faithful who made the long trek to Calhoun County to see the Wildcats take on the Donoho Falcons could identify with this. The Wildcats were returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and looking to avenge a week seven loss in the regular season to the Falcons. Berry controlled the clock during the game, but big plays by the Falcons were too much for the Wildcats to overcome as they fell 34-6.

Two separate instances in Fayette County resulted in the death of accident victims. According to Fayette County Coroner Tim Kimbrell, Garrett Miles, 33, reportedly went hunting on Thursday, Oct. 31 off of County Road 47 in Fayette. When he failed to return, family members began searching for him.

On Nov. 3, Marion County 911 dispatch received a call about a 14-year-old male child who had been shot at 541 Smith Road in Fayette County. Winfield Police Department and EMS arrived on the scene, followed by Fayette County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

The undefeated 1949 FCHS football team was honored prior to the Fayette - Dora football game. The team finished the season 10-0 and only allowed 18 points scored against them during the season.

The Fayette Medical Center Long-Term Care facility celebrated Halloween by dressing up in colorful costumes.

The inmates were moved to the new Fayette County jail on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

Andy Hamlin, district attorney for the 24th judicial circuit, spoke to the Fayette County Commission during its Oct. 28 meeting about the need for a domestic violence - sexual assault investigator. “The toughest cases to try are sexual abuse cases,” Hamlin said. “Not everyone is equipped to sit down with a four-year old and discuss a sexual assault.”

The Fayette County School System improved its ACT scores and academic indicators for the 2018 school year, according to recent figures released by the state board of education. After trailing the state average in both 2015 and 2016, Fayette County saw a dramatic increase in 2017 and increased that score slightly in 2018.

The FCHS varsity volleyball team wrapped up its 2019 season recently by competing in the Area and Super Regional tournaments.

After an absence of several years, the Fayette Cross-Country team is back in action. Cross-country running is a 3.1 mile race over grass/dirt trails. The team competed in six regular season meets, and the sectional meet on Oct. 31 in Tuscaloosa. The team improved each week throughout the season. Carson Reese, a junior, qualified to compete in the state meet Saturday, Nov. 9 in Moulton. Henley Aldridge set the school record for a female 5K on Oct. 12 with a time of 23:57. Several of these young people also participated in other sports and activities while running cross-country.

Fayette defeated Dora 27-7, and is riding a seven-game win streak as it approaches its first-round playoff game against Anniston. Fayette had the ball for only one possession during the first quarter, driving the ball 69 yards in 14 plays before the drive stalled at the Dora 11-yard line and Fayette turned the ball over on downs to the Bulldogs.

Closing out regular season play, Hubbertville traveled north to Bear Creek to face-off against the Phillips High Bears, winning the game by a score of 48-16. Following the coin toss, the Lions received the opening kickoff at its 34-yard line. Utilizing runs by Blake Anthony and Gage Key, the Lions took its opening possession inside the Bears’ red zone. Facing second down and one, Anthony took the handoff around left end and headed for the end zone, but the Lions were penalized for a holding infraction, moving the ball back to the 19-yard line.

Hundreds of children and adults attended the Community-Wide Fall Festival, held at the Fayette Multi-Purpose Complex on Sunday, Oct. 27. The festival was sponsored by area churches as a safe place for kids at Halloween.

Fayette Medical Center hosted a "Pink Party" on Oct. 23 to raise breast cancer awareness and honor the cancer survivors in the area.
 

Along with the cooler fall temperatures, the leaves on the trees are beginning to turn colorful.

The Fayette City Council heard a report from Chris Champion on the status of the Fayette Aquatic Park during its Oct. 22 meeting. Councilman Jason Cowart and Councilwoman Linda McCraw were absent from the meeting with the other council members being present.

Longtime businessman and former Fayette City Councilman, Brannen Perry, passed away at his home on Friday, Oct. 25. Perry served for more than 15 years as city councilman in Fayette, and also was a former owner of a Sears store.

The Fayette County Board of Education toured Berry Elementary School and Berry High School on Oct. 22 before meeting in the high school library for its monthly meeting. Board members  John Stowe and Tim Fields were absent with all other board members present for the meeting.

This Friday night at John Morgan Brown Stadium, the Fayette Tigers will host the Class 5A Dora Bulldogs at 7 p.m. However, fans will want to get to the stadium early, as the football team celebrates “Senior Night,” recognizing the parents of the senior football players, cheerleaders, majorettes and band members.

Fayette played its best game of the season on the road against Good Hope, defeating the Raiders 30-14 to secure the second place spot in the region. Winning the game allows Fayette to host a first round playoff game in two weeks against Anniston.

The last home game of the year is always special. However, the six Wildcat seniors, in addition to playing their last regular season game at Fred Webster Stadium, had even more on their minds. A win by the Wildcats over the Marion County Red Raiders would ensure that Berry would be the three seed from Region 6 heading into the playoffs. The game was closely contested and would not be decided until the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats fought hard and walked away with a 39–35 victory.  

With the threat of severe weather and heavy rain, the Pickens County Tornadoes arrived in Wiley Hollingsworth Stadium one night earlier than scheduled. Hubbertville won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kick, with Alex Barnes and Gage Key lining up deep for the reception. Key advanced the kickoff 10 yards, setting the Lions up at its 25-yard line.

Governor Kay Ivey paid a quick visit to Fayette on Oct. 21, stopping at the Fayette County Courthouse to make a brief speech and greet residents before traveling to her next stop. She was in town to help celebrate Alabama’s Bicentennial. “Alabama has a lot to celebrate,” she said. She also added that the best part of serving as governor is getting to serve the “great people” of the state.

The Fayette County Fair was held Oct. 16-19 at the multipurpose complex, and offered something for almost everyone.

Former Fayette and Sulligent police officer, Gary Hugh Farrior, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old. The sentence was pronounced by 24th Judicial Circuit Judge Sam Junkin on Oct. 16.

Fayette County High School celebrated the success of its AP scholar students with a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 18 at the school. FCHS was recently named an A+ College-Ready School of Excellence. In earning the recognition, Fayette exceeded its school-wide goal for AP qualifying scores during the 2018 - 2019 school year. The school had a total of 34 AP qualifying scores, with two AP scholars who passed three AP exams.

The Fayette Cub Scout Troop enjoyed a “Fishing Rodeo” on Saturday morning, Oct. 12 at the pond near the Fayette Airport. The fishing rodeo was sponsored by Tony Brown and Mike Freeman Ford, who stocked the pond with approximately 400 pounds of full-size catfish prior to the event.

County Administrator John Gordon announced his plans to retire from his position during the Oct. 15 meeting of the Fayette County Commission. In a letter to the commissioners, Gordon expressed his desire to retire, effective April 1, 2020, stating that he has “been blessed to work for the commission 22 years as of Dec. 1, 2019.

Dr. Jeremy Madden, principal of Fayette County High School, has been named District Seven South High School Principal of the Year. Madden is a 19-year educator who became principal of Fayette County High School in 2011. He attended Russellville City Schools and graduated from Russellville High School in 1993.

The Fayette Tigers used a tremendous rushing game to control the tempo in the second half and defeat the Haleyville Lions 27-13. Fayette scored 14 points in the first quarter, but allowed the Lions to score 10 unanswered points in the second period to cut the Tigers’ lead to four points at the half. Fayette closed out the second half by running the ball 28 times and throwing only five passes.