While Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) officials continue to do all they can to keep chronic wasting disease (CWD) out of Alabama, unfortunately the latest news from our neighbors in Mississippi is not good. Another deer in the lower Mississippi Delta in Issaquena County, a 2½-year-old doe, tested positive for CWD last week. The initial CWD case in Mississippi last January was also in Issaquena County, confirmed in a 4½-year-old buck.

The Fayette County commission held its annual organizational meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14. All commissioners were present for the meeting and commissioner Joe Acker assumed the chairmanship of the commission until January 2019, when newly-elected probate Judge, Mike Freeman, will serve as chairman. Commissioner Acker asked Freeman to sit with the commissioners at the meeting table since he would soon be chairman of the commission.

The Fayette County Board of Education held its yearly organizational meeting on Nov. 13 at the Fayette Middle School gymnasium. Prior to the meeting the local school board toured the facilities at Fayette Elementary School and Fayette Middle School. The meeting also offered the general public an opportunity to address the board concerning any topic relevant to the local schools or the school board. No one took this opportunity to address the board.

The Fayette City Council voted unanimously to file a lawsuit to abate the former Cotton Mill property during its Nov. 13 meeting. All members of the council were present. Mayor Pro Tem Cedric Wilson presided over the meeting during the absence of Mayor Ray Nelson.

A very light dusting of snow fell and slightly accumulated, mostly on wood and metal surfaces, in Fayette County on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 15. While the snowfall was almost immeasurable, the temperature for Wednesday, Nov. 13 and Thursday, Nov. 14 stayed mostly between 30 and 40 degrees for the 48 hour period.

In a matchup of Tigers, the Deshler Tigers used a balanced and powerful offensive attack to take control of the game in the second quarter and defeat the Fayette Tigers 42-21. Deshler (7-5) will travel to Hokes Bluff for the third round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs, while Fayette is eliminated and finishes its football season with a 9-3 record.

The Fayette Long-Term Care facility held its annual Alabama - Auburn pep rally on Nov. 15 to the delight of the residents. They enjoyed facing the fans of the opposite team and, with the aid of the Fayette County High School cheerleaders, they cheered loudly and forcibly for their favorite school.

WBRC - 6 Meteorologist Wes Wyatt visited Fayette Middle School on Tuesday, Nov. 12 to talk to the sixth grade class about his work as a meteorologist and about becoming weather-aware during potential weather events.

Berry High School’s Volleyball team finished the season as the Area Seven Runner-Up and competed in Montgomery in the super regionals.

U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-Ala.) joined Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) in introducing legislation to increase wildlife managers’ ability to keep wildlife healthy. The bill authorizes a special resource study to determine how chronic wasting disease (CWD) spreads and could be prevented in deer and elk. CWD can affect both wild and domestic herds of deer and elk in 25 states. However, state recommendations for preventing the spread of the disease vary.

Our nation’s service academies are elite institutions that train students to excel in academics and military affairs. These institutions seek well-rounded individuals with a high level of academic achievement, as well as a commitment to athletics, student activities, and civic organizations. Famous graduates of these institutions include Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Jimmy Carter, as well as legendary Generals George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, and Norman Schwarzkopf. The academies have also produced numerous astronauts.

The Republican candidates Mike Freeman and Byron Yerby won the two biggest contested offices in the county during the Nov. 6 general election. Yerby defeated current sheriff Rodney Ingle and current state trooper Tierre Agnew to win the sheriff race in Fayette County. Yerby received 3,893 votes and captured almost 52 percent of the votes cast in the sheriff’s race, easily outpolling Agnew (1,845 votes) and Ingle (1,777) votes. Agnew was the Democratic nominee and Ingle sought his fourth term as sheriff running as an Independent candidate.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell R. Spillers, Jr. delivered the keynote address at the joint Fayette County High School and Bevill State Community College Veterans Day Program, Held at Bevill State on Nov. 8. Veterans Day is a day celebrated annually to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served their country honorably during times of war and peace. It originated as Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the first anniversary of the end of World War I.

Several Veterans' Day programs were held throughout the county last week to honor those who have honorably served this country in times of war and peace. This year also marks then 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

The Berry City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 5 at the Berry Town Hall. Councilman Troyce Townsel, Councilman Russell Madison and Councilman Calvin Madison were present for the meeting, and Councilman Chris Rice and Councilman Wesley Jacobs were absent. Berry Mayor Jimmy Madison declared that a legal quorum was present that would allow business to be conducted at the meeting.

The Fayette Tigers scored on its first offensive play and dominated the Randolph Raiders to take a first round playoff victory by the score of 26-8. The domination was so complete that Randolph accumulated only 40 yards in total offense prior to its last scoring drive of 97 yards. That drive by the Raiders was against the Fayette second and third team players after the outcome of the game had already been decided.

Hubbertville traveled north on Friday night to face the Waterloo Cougars. Advancing to the first round of the playoffs, the Lions season came to an end on the same field where its regular season began. The two teams met on Aug. 31, with the Lions exiting Waterloo with the win 49-18. This time, Waterloo got its revenge against the Lions, winning 20-15 and advancing in the state playoffs.

Matthew Austin Bolling, age 23 of Reform, was sentenced to 20 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to a lesser offense of possession with the intent to distribute. The plea deal was agreed to in Fayette County Circuit Clerk on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

For the first time in the storied history of the Fayette County Marching Band, the band has a true drum major to direct the music on the field. According to current FCHS band director Brent Traylor, the marching band at Fayette had never had a drum major to direct its on-the-field music. Traylor, in his third year at the school, added a color guard last year and he said this was just the next step in the progression to complete the band ensemble.

Jimmy Campbell of Fayette said that he always loved planes. His dad had been a pilot and Campbell said the concept and adventure of flying always fascinated him. As a young man, Campbell joined the Air Force in Feb. 1965, driven by two things - his love of planes and a desire to serve his country in the Arned Forces.