The Fayette City Council failed to have enough members for a quorum to hold its May 26 meeting. Councilman Cedric Wilson and Councilman Eddy Campbell were in attendance for the meeting.  Councilman Jason Cowart was on a military reserve assignment, Councilwoman Linda McCraw was on vacation and Councilman Jerry Nichols was absent from the meeting.

The Fayette County Commission hired a new director for the Senior Citizens Center in Berry during its May 26 meeting. Commissioner Barry Corkren was absent from the meeting, with all other commissioners present. The meeting opened with Commission Chairman Mike Freeman stating the commission needed to hold an executive session to discuss a legal matter. Commissioner Joe Acker made a motion to enter executive session, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Billy Joe Rodgers. The commissioners present unanimously voted to enter executive session.

High schools in Fayette County have set their graduation dates for this school year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, special guidelines and regulations will be followed at each school.

Former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville visited Fayette on Thursday, May 28 as he continued his campaign tour for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Tuberville is in a runoff in the July 14 Republican primary with former U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions.

On Saturday, June 13,  Alabamians and out-of-state visitors alike will have the opportunity to fish for free in most public waters, including both freshwater and saltwater. Free Fishing Day is part of National Fishing and Boating Week, which runs June 6-14. The event allows residents and non-residents to enjoy the outstanding fishing Alabama has to offer without purchasing a fishing license.

As businesses and activities continue to normalize during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of cases of the virus in Fayette County has increased sharply within the past two weeks. Although Fayette County still is one of the counties with the fewest number of cases within the state, the counties numbers have seen a dramatic rise of seven new cases within the past 14 days. The total number of cases in Fayette County at press time was 16, with only Cleburne County posting a lower number of 15 cases.

Drive-up COVID-19 testing clinics will be offered at the Fayette County Health Department, located at 215 1st Avenue NW, Fayette, on Wednesdays beginning at 8:30 a.m. while testing supplies are available. Call (205) 932-5260 for an appointment and to pre-register. A physician referral is preferred.

This article is reprinted with permission from the “Starkville Daily News.” Ryan Phillips was at the scene of the accident, and gave a first-hand account concerning the ensuing rescue attempt. It’s a situation many emergency officials train for, but one that those who have experienced firsthand hope to never encounter again.

A Haleyville man was arrested and charged with an ethics violation in relation to his work as a probation officer. Michael Steven Painter, 49, of 5898 Newburg Road, Haleyville, was taken into custody Friday, May 15, and charged with an ethics violation of using a public office for personal gain and custodial sexual misconduct, according to Andy Hamlin, District Attorney for the 24th Judical Circuit in Alabama, which encompasses Fayette, Lamar and Pickens counties. He was booked into the Fayette County jail.

Patriotic banners are displayed for the first time this Memorial Day, thanks to an effort by the local VFW lodge and a grant supplied by the Fayette Community Foundation. The banners honor the memories of 110 Fayette County veterans who gave their lives during wartime service to their country.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Marketing Service, is announcing assistance to help 16 communities boost economic opportunities for their local farmers while promoting clean air, safe water, open space, and healthy food choices.

Despite a warning from state health officials that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, lives and businesses are continuing to resume a degree of normalcy. Governor Kay Ivey issued a new order on May 21, allowing more businesses to reopen with restrictions.

Sydney Farris, a 2020 high school graduate of Hubbertville School, signed a four-year athletic scholarship for powerlifting on Friday, May 15 with Missouri Valley College (MVC), located in Marshall, Mo. Farris competed as a junior elite in USPA powerlifting, and is a former national and world record holder for 52 kg. juniors. She was trained by Jessie Lindsey at West Alabama Barbell Club for four years, and currently self-trains at American Gym in Winfield.  

Although their senior seasons did not finish as planned, the students at Berry, Fayette and Hubbertville survived the COVID-19 pandemic and have made it to graduation. Help celebrate this momentous accomplishment with them by purchasing a copy of our May 20 edition with our annual commemorative graduation section.

The residents and staff at Fayette Medical Center’s Long-Term Care facility enjoyed a drive-through parade in their honor on Friday, May 15. After most residents had been secluded from friends and family members for almost two months during the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the community turned out to thank the long-term care workers and greet the residents. Seventy-eight vehicles paraded through the parking lot, with most of the vehicles adorned with balloons and signs telling their family members how much they have missed seeing them during the pandemic.

The Fayette City Council unanimously approved a motion at its May 12 meeting to proceed with the design phase to ultimately resurface the airport apron at Richard Arthur Field. Councilman Jason Cowart was absent from the meeting, with all other council members in attendance. Natalie Hobbs, senior airport engineer with Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, told the council that the Airport Improvement Grant available this year for the project would be 100 percent funded due to the provisions of the recently passed Cares Act.

Drive-up COVID-19 testing clinics will be offered at the Fayette County Health Department on Wednesdays, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. while testing supplies are available. Call (205) 932-5260 for an appointment and to preregister. The address of the Fayette County Health Department is 215 1st Ave. NW, Fayette.

The Fayette County Board of Education announced graduation dates for seniors at Fayette County schools during its May 12 meeting. Board Member Tim Fields was absent from the meeting, with all other board members in attendance. The tentative schedule for graduation is as follows: • Berry High School - Thursday, June 4 at 7 p.m. • Hubbertville School - Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m. • Fayette County High School - Thursday, June 11 at 8 p.m. All graduations are scheduled to be held in the schools’ football stadiums in an effort to abide by COVID-19 guidelines.

Since Governor Kay Ivey relaxed some of the restrictions on businesses under the “Safer-at-Home” order issued due to the COVID-19 virus, cases in Alabama have continued to steadily climb. However, state officials attribute some of the increase in numbers to more aggressive testing of people potentially affected. At press time, cases of the coronavirus within the state climbed from just over 10,000 cases last week to almost 12,500 this week. The number of deaths within the state has also risen from 400 to approximately 500 during the same time frame.