Billy Ray Smith, 43, of Fayette was arrested by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department as the result of a Fayette County Grand Jury indictment. He was charged with 12 sexual offenses in the indictment.

The Kirkland-Bluff-Wayside Volunteer Fire Department showcased its newest fire engine during a fundraiser held recently at Kirkland Community Center. The newly-purchased fire truck is a 1997 E-One pumper with a command center cab, and replaces a 1979 Pemfab pumper the department used for 22 years. The newer pumper truck was purchased for $15,000 and was paid for with a loan. It came from the Holly Pond Fire Department with 7,700 service hours and was transferred to the Kirkland-Bluff-Wayside VFD on Sept. 5.

The Fayette City Council held its regular council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Councilwoman Virettia Whiteside and Councilwoman Aliska Hughes-Monroe were absent from the meeting, with all other members of the council present. Chris Huynh, a member of the Fayette Junior City Council, opened the meeting with prayer. Fayette Junior City Council member Ann Carsyn Cowart led the Pledge of Allegiance.

A “Powderpuff” football tournament was held at Fayette County High School on Tuesday, Nov. 7, with female students suiting up for a series of flag football games and the senior football players coaching the teams. The three-game student tournament also featured male cheerleaders taking their new roles very seriously.

The annual seasonal event, “Christmas at the Park” returns this week to Guthrie Smith Park in Fayette. Christmas at the Park will start on Thanksgiving night, and the event will continue each night through Dec. 31.

The Fayette County Commission held its regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 13 at the Fayette Courthouse Annex building. Commissioner Wesley Jacobs and Commissioner John Underwood were absent from the meeting, with all other commissioners present.

The Hubbertville Junior Varsity football team capped off an undefeated season by defeating Hackleburg 36-0 in the North Alabama Conference championship game, played on Oct. 3 at Hubbertville.

After being extinguished for approximately 40 years, the Fayette Gas Board and citizens of Fayette made a concerted effort to relight the “Eternal Flame of Freedom” that was erected on the Fayette Co. Courthouse lawn in the 1960s to honor “Veterans of all wars from Fayette County.”

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda, Africa gave a special presentation at the First Baptist Church in Fayette to help spread the gospel of Christ and to let people know about the work they do to give abandoned and orphaned children a new start in life.

Qualifying for the 2024 election cycle concluded on Friday, Nov. 10, with few challenges in local races.

Masters-at-Arms and Third Class Petty Officer Jessica Duck, a 2021 graduate of Fayette County High School, addressed the Nov. 9 Veterans Day Program at Fayette Middle School.

An accident occurring at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 left one person injured and caused severe damage to the vehicles. The accident occurred between a 2017 Toyota Camry, driven by Hannah Brooke McCool of Sulligent, and a 2013 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Karen Viola Warren of Winfield. The accident was worked by the Fayette Police Department, and no additional information is available concerning the incident.

The Fayette Tigers traveled to Rogersville for a first-round playoff game against Lauderdale County and were defeated by the score of 35-14. Fayette started the game off in an electrifying fashion, as senior Dylan Schloerb received the opening kickoff and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown. Isaiah Stowe kicked the extra point and with 11:46 remaining in the opening quarter, Fayette had an early 7-0 lead.

One of Alabama’s most historic roadways is traveling back into the limelight. Byler Road, the first road ever commissioned by the Alabama Legislature, is finally getting its historic due, thanks to $200,000 in funding spearheaded by State Representative Tracy Estes and Alabama Senate Pro-Tem Greg Reed. 

Lewis Hindman was born on Feb. 23, 1935 and has lived in Fayette County all of his life, except for the time he served in the U.S. Army. Hindman was drafted into the Army in 1958, and after spending a short time getting processed at the Fort Chafee, Ark. reception station, he was sent to Fort Hood, Texas to receive his basic training and advanced training in artillery. Shortly before Hindman’s arrival at the base in Texas, another green Army recruit had also been sent to the base for basic training, a recruit by the name of Elvis Presley.

Hubbertville School celebrated its 100th year of existence on Saturday, Nov. 4 by inviting alumni, students, family, community members and friends to the school for a time of nostalgia and reminiscing. Many people attended the historic event, and were welcomed by current Hubbertville School Principal Tim Dunavant during a short program held in the school’s gymnasium.

A man walking down U.S. Highway 43 was struck and killed by a vehicle on Tuesday night, Oct. 31 (Halloween night). Brian Keith Alexander, 42, of Hubbertville, was walking near the intersection of Highway 43 and County Road 4, also known as Three-Bridge Bottom, when he was hit by a vehicle.

On Oct. 19, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Branndon Collins, along with Berry Police Dept. Officer Randall Kelley, located subject Caleb Early at a location in Guin. Early was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants with Fayette County, along with numerous other agencies. Early was in possession of methamphetamine and a trafficking weight of Fentanyl.