Heath Nails, the new band director at Fayette County High School, said that he is well aware of the legacy of the FCHS band program, including the tremendous success the program enjoyed for many years under the direction of legendary director Jerry Bobo. “The Fayette band program has a long history of excellence,” Nails said. “Everybody knows Jerry Bobo and the quality bands that he had at Fayette. I saw this as an opportunity for me to be a part of something special.”

The Berry Town Council voted at its Aug. 5 meeting to repair the town’s water tank and adopt its plan for revenue expenditures under the new “Rebuild Alabama Act.” Councilman Troyce Townsel was absent from the meeting and Councilman Chris Rice arrived late. All other council members were present at the beginning of the meeting.

No police report was given for the month in the absence of Berry Police Chief Gerald DeDeaux.

A new family physician has opened a practice at Fayette Medical Center (FMC). Dakota S. Acton-Jones, MD, is accepting patients at the Family Medical Clinic at Fayette Medical Center. She will also see patients admitted to the hospital as a hospitalist. Dr. Acton-Jones comes to FMC from Pickens County Primary Care. She is board certified in family medicine and is certified in advanced cardiac life support, advanced trauma life support and pediatric advanced life support.

The Glen Allen Town Council elected to add the town’s mural to the proposed statewide mural trail. The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UACED) is in the process of inventorying all existing murals and is collaborating with municipalities across the state in the endeavor of creating a statewide mural trail.

Dr. Henry A. Spies of Bonham, Texas recently left $600,000 to the Fayette Medical Center Foundation and an equal amount of $600,000 to Fayette Medical Center Long Term Care.

After suffering cancellations in June and July due to the weather, the first “Tunes on Temple” of the summer took place on Aug. 2, despite being delayed by over an hour due to rain.

The Fayette County Sheriff Department reported that a man was shot on Wednesday, July 31 near the Bazemore Community following an apparent domestic violence altercation. Sheriff Department Investigator Heath Bolton said that the department received a phone call on the afternoon of July 31, stating that a person had been shot on County Road 65 near Bazemore.

A new surgeon with extensive experience has opened his medical practice in Fayette. David Evans, MD, MBA, MPH, has practiced general and vascular surgery since 1988. He is now taking appointments to perform surgery at Fayette Medical Center.

The Fayette County Board of Education met on July 30 to approve contracts and personnel changes prior to the beginning of the 2019-20 school year. The board accepted the resignations of Shuana Silas, elementary teacher at Hubbertville School; Sherry Taylor, part-time math teacher at Fayette County High School; and Allyson Tilley, teacher at Berry Elementary School.

The Glen Allen Town Council unanimously elected to refrain from seeking funding from the Alabama Power Foundation’s “Good Roots” grant program during its July 9 council meeting. Councilwoman Bobbie McCraw was not in attendance for the meeting. The Good Roots grant is available for municipal governments, educational institutions and non-profit organizations for the purpose of purchasing trees for planting in locations deemed as prominent areas, such as parks, landscaping projects and gateway areas.

The following people were sentenced in Fayette County Circuit Court during the month of June. The list was compiled from information received from the Fayette County Circuit Court.

John Thomas Campbell, quarterback of Fayette County High School’s 1949 undefeated 10-0 football team, died on July 16 at the age of 86. Campbell was the starting quarterback on the 1949 team, with Mickey Smith as the backup quarterback. The team’s closest contest during the season was a 7-6 win over the Hamilton Aggies.

The Fayette County Board of Education approved several personnel changes and contracts during its July 23 meeting. Board members Tim Fields and John Stowe were absent from the meeting, with all other board members being in attendance. The board approved Family Medical Leave for Barbie Mochelle Fields, beginning on July 31 and continuing until approximately Sept. 16. The resignation of Dustin Silas, assistant principal at Hubbertville, was accepted, effective July 5.

Mayor Ray Nelson appointed a budget committee for the 2020 fiscal year during the Fayette City Council’s July 23 meeting. All council members were present for the meeting. Nelson asked the President Pro Tem of the council, Cedric Wilson, to be the chairman of the committee. Councilman Jason Cowart and Councilman Eddy Campbell volunteered to be on the budget committee, and was subsequently appointed to the three-man committee by the mayor.

The Fayette County Commission voted at its July 22 meeting to resume holding its meetings in the annex building instead of the Fayette County Courtroom. All commissioners were present for the meeting. Commissioner Billy Joe Rodgers made the motion to move the meetings, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Joe Acker. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Josh and Casey Kauffman’s Self Express Productions company has once again delivered a big-time performance in Fayette, this time with an adaptation of the musical “Annie.” I attended the Saturday afternoon matinee performance, and if that particular performance was an indication of the quality of the other four performances, the play was a tremendous success with Fayette audiences.

A father is attributing God and prayers for the unexpected improvement of his son’s health.
“It’s a divine miracle from our Father in Heaven,” said Hamilton Police Department Lt. Jimmy Pendley, whose son was expected to either die or be brain dead after suffering a severe brain injury.

The Northwest Alabama Regional Congress was held on Friday, June 21 at the Russellville City Schools Complex. The Regional Congress strives to provide educational citizenship and leadership experiences, enhance youth self-esteem and teamwork, encourage the development of decision-making and problem-solving skills, provide opportunities for youth to develop social skills and to gain knowledge in cultural diversity, provide opportunities for youth to participate in regional-level competitive events, and to recognize and reward youth for project mastery and accomplishment.

Ronnie McCollum, a graduate of Fayette County High School, held his annual basketball camp at his alma mater last week. McCollum is currently the head basketball coach of a professional team in Lommel, Belgium. This is the 17th year that he has hosted the camp at FCHS.

During a special called meeting on July 16, the Fayette City Council voted to purchase the land from Norfolk Southern Railroad to build a walking trail. Councilman Jason Cowart was absent from the meeting with all of the other council members present. Mayor Ray Nelson scheduled the meeting during the council’s regular meeting last week for the expressed purpose of voting on the issue concerning the “Rails-to-Trails” land purchase.