It was a tough week for the Berry boys’ basketball team.
On Jan. 14, Berry hosted Meek and was defeated by a score of 49-40.
Tyler Lollar led Berry with 16 points, followed by Isaac Darty with 13 points. Levi Cannon had seven points for the Wildcats and Johnathan Locke scored four points.
Three new county officials who have never before held public office were sworn-in during a ceremony at the Fayette County Courthouse on Jan. 11. Mike Freeman took the oath of office as the new probate judge from outgoing Probate Judge William Oswalt. After taking the oath, Freeman administered the oath of office to the new Fayette County Sheriff Byron Yerby.
Fayette County Sheriff Department Deputy Sam Striegel retired on Jan. 11 with more than 44 years of service in law enforcement. Striegel began wotking as a patrolman at the Fayette Police Department in March 1972 nad worked for more than 16 years before deciding to try something different.
The Fayette City Council authorized a motion to prepare a letter with a proposal for a joint paving project with the Fayette County Commission during its Jan. 8 meeting. Councilwoman Linda McCraw was absent from the meeting and all other council members were present.
A logger from the Northside area of Tuscaloosa County was seriously injured in an accident in the Berry area on Thursday, Jan. 10. Berry Police Chief Gerald DeDeaux said that Larry Williams was apparently cutting a tree when the tree fell on him, pinning him to the ground.
The Berry Wildcats’ varsity basketball teams defeated its cross-county rival Hubbertville in both boys and girls basketball last week. The boys’ game was close, but Berry prevailed by a score of 52-46. Leading the scoring for Berry was Tyler Lollar with 12 points, followed by Isaac Darty with 11. Sam Franklin added seven points for Berry, while Levi Cannon, Isaiah Kizzire and Colton Abernathy each scored six points. Johnathan Locke rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats with four points.
The Fayette County High School boys and girls basketball teams traveled to Curry on Jan. 11, each losing critical area games to the Yellow Jackets. The boys team trailed throughout the game, although the deficit was only six points at the end of the third quarter. Both teams increased their scoring tempo in the fourth period, and the Yellow Jackets pulled away for a 54-41 victory.
Fayette County Probate Judge William Oswalt said that the biggest pleasure and honor in his working career has been serving the people of Fayette County for the past 30 years. He said that from day one, he entered into the office and duties as Fayette County Probate Judge determined to “treat people with respect and dignity.”
District Judge Jerry Clary was not born and raised in Fayette County, but there is no doubt that he is now a true Fayette County citizen. Clary attended high school at Tuscaloosa High before attending the University of Alabama. He received both his undergraduate degree and law degree from Alabama, then decided to open a private law practice.
A body believed to be Ashley Watkins was found on Jan. 2 in Tuscaloosa County.
The body of a woman reported missing in Fayette County was discovered by investigators with the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Office on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Ashley Tenneil Watkins, 31, was reported missing in December to law enforcement officers at the Fayette County Sheriff Office.
The City of Fayette received the second most rainfall ever recorded during the calendar year 2018. According to the rainfall data reported to the National Weather Service by Kristopher Gardner, the official weather observer for Fayette, the town received 78.95 inches of rain in 2018. This is second to the 81.38 inches of rainfall recorded by the city in 1973. The third highest total for Fayette was 15 years ago in 2003, when 77.69 inches of rain was recorded.
A ribbon-cutting and open house was held at White Oak Market, located at 113 Columbus St. East in Fayette, on Saturday, Jan. 5. White Oak Market sells custom built and refinished furniture from local builders, unique home accessories and gifts, jewelry, wall art and many more items. The store also offers furniture makeovers and decorating services, and offers layaways and gift certificates for their customers’ convenience.
Alabama Power Company recently awarded an “Efficiency Forward Grant” for approximately $7,000 to the Weldy Home to replace a heating/air conditioning unit at the facility. The Weldy Home, located in Fayette County, is a group home where girls who have been neglected or abandoned can receive nurturing and support in a safe family atmosphere.
Alabama Power Engineering Supervisor Russell Hill recently spoke to members of the Fayette Exchange Club concerning an extensive project that his company is undertaking in the Fayette area. Alabama Power is installing new power poles and a fiber-optic integrated system that will allow for quick restoration of power during a power outage.
The Fayette Tigers won a four overtime thriller at Class 6A Brookwood on Jan. 5 by a score of 41-38. The game was low-scoring throughout regulation, with Fayette leading 3-0 at the end of the first quarter and 8-5 at halftime. The game was tied 19-19 at the end of regulation.
Berry traveled cross-county to face area rival Hubbertville in basketball on Jan. 4 and defeated the Lions in both boys and girls basketball. Despite a two-week layoff during the holiday season, the Wildcats still appeared sharp as they easily won each of the games.
Two escaped female inmates from the Fayette County jail were quickly returned to custody after escaping on Sunday, Dec. 23. Deputy Barry Corkren said that Carol Ann Eaton, 34, of 588 Northam Rd., Vernon, and Julie Burrage Miller, 39, of 1144 Co. Rd. 101, Fayette, escaped on Dec. 23 at approximately 5:30 - 6 p.m.
We continue our review of stories from 2018 with headlines from July - December. Events from the first six months of the year were reviewed in last week’s edition of The Times-Record. July - The annual Fayette Tractor and Truck Pull was held on July 7 at the Fayette Multipurpose Complex. Shannon Taylor was hired as the new fire chief for the Fayette Fire Department.
Jeff Newman was selected as President Pro Tem of the state Alabama Board of Education.
A worker injured in an industrial accident at Georgia Pacific in Belk on Friday, Dec. 21 has been discharged from the hospital and is continuing to recover from the incident, according to a spokesman for the company. Rick Kimble, director of communications for Georgia Pacific, said that at approximately 1 p.m. on Dec. 21, Melissa Watkins was pinned and caught under a moving platform at the facility. She was freed from the platform and was having extreme difficulty breathing, Kimble said.
Jonathan K. Smith, who has practiced general surgery in Fayette for a decade, will be leaving this summer to train as a surgical specialist. Dr. Smith will begin a fellowship in oncology breast surgery at Rutgers University in New Jersey in August. Dr. Smith said he will announce his plans in more detail soon. Until then, he said, he will continue to see patients.
