County baseball teams out after first round of playoffs


Cade Fisher is shown getting a hit for Hubbertville.

All three county high school baseball teams made the Alabama High School Baseball Playoffs this year as area runner-ups, but all three teams had to travel for the first round of the playoffs and saw their seasons come to an abrupt end. Fayette traveled to play Lauderdale County and lost the first game by the score of 4-2.

 

Fayette defeats Berry, loses in WAC Tournament



Fayette started the week with a 15-5 victory over Berry. Maggie Mauldin suffered the loss as pitcher for Berry. Rylee Hill hit a home run and a single for the Lady Wildcats, with a run scored and two RBIs. Sarah Rice had two hits, while Danni Kate Naramore had two hits and a RBI. Kerra Aaron and Ashlyn Smith each had doubles, with Smith also driving in a run. No Fayette stats were available for the game.

 

Lowery pleads guilty to murder


Brandon Lowery

The fourth of five defendants in a double murder case from 2018 pled guilty Monday to serve life in prison with no possibility of parole. Andy Hamlin, 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney, announced the plea of Brandon Lowery, 38, on Tuesday, April 11. Lowery pled guilty to two counts of capital murder (murder during the course of a robbery) that stemmed from the shooting deaths of Hernan Antonio Padilla and Allen Clifford Sandlin.  

 

Fayette youngster takes farming to an extreme level


Liam Reed is shown tilling his field in preparation for planting his crops.

Liam Reed, the 11-year old son of Heath and Becky Reed, is your typical pre-teen child. He likes playing basketball and video games, spending time with his friends and family, and is a black-belt in karate. He is also a very good student in the sixth grade at Fayette Academy, where he is the president of the school’s 4-H Club. The thing that really distinguishes Reed from the other kids his age is his deep-rooted interest in farming.

 

Former barn is transformed into beautiful home


Pictured is the “Barndominium” home of Nolan Trice and Taylor Thomas. The home, located on County Road 21 North in Fayette, was transformed from a former horse barn and is now a beautiful, unique and spacious house.

The home of Nolan Trice and his soon-to-be wife Taylor Thomas, was transformed from a former horse barn into a beautiful, spacious home that would be the envy of most young families. Trice said that he wanted to build a new home, and a horse barn on their property that was no longer being used caught his eye. He said that he had heard of a new trend called “Barndominiums,” and thought that transforming the barn into a home might be a possibility.

 

Farmer’s Market to be ‘better than ever’


Shown is Stewart’s greenhouse, where plants can be started earlier for transplanting.

Lann Stewart, who along with his wife Donna own Stewart Farms, is the co-manager of the Fayette Farmers Market. He said that although they were pleased with the move the market made last year to downtown Fayette, they learned several important things and are making plans this year to make the market better than ever, with a wider-variety of fresh, home-grown products.

 

City Council donates to food bank


The Fayette City Council presented a check to the West Alabama Food Bank during its April 11 meeting. Shown from left, front: Councilwoman Aliska Hughes-Monroe, Jean Rykaczewski of the West Alabama Food Bank, Mayor Rod Northam and Councilman Eddy Campbell. Back: Councilman Jerry Nichols, Councilman Tommy Williams and Junior City Council Mayor Benjamin Olive.

The Fayette City Council held its regular council meeting on April 11. Councilwoman Virettia Whiteside was absent from the meeting, with all other council members present. The meeting was opened in prayer led by Alabama Department of Transportation Supervisor John McPeek. Councilman Jerry Nichols led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Annual Cleanup Day is Saturday



The City of Fayette will hold its annual Cleanup Campaign on Saturday, April 22. Participants will meet at Fayette City Hall that morning at 9 a.m., and the event is scheduled to conclude at approximately 11 a.m. - noon at the City Hall. The Cleanup Campaign is a project of Alabama’s PALS (People Against a Littered State).

 

Lightsey speaks to Commission about internet service


Britton Lightsey, of Tombigbee Electric, is shown speaking to the Fayette County Commission.

The Fayette County Commission held its April 10 meeting at the courthouse annex building. All commissioners were present for the meeting.
Ronni Rene Brasher, the Fayette County Extension Agent, spoke to the commission about the new classes for the Fayette County Leadership Program that will be resuming soon.

Town of Glen Allen receives award



The Town of Glen Allen was recently awarded a President’s Risk Management Award by the insurance divisions of the Alabama League of Municipalities. Approximately 800 public entities participate in one or both of the Alabama League of Municipalities (ALM) sponsored insurance programswhich are the Municipal Workers Compensation Fund (MWCF) and the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation (AMIC).

 

Area high school softball


Kylee Dunn is pictured getting a hit for Hubbertville.

On Wednesday, April 12, the Berry High School softball team defeated University Charter School by the score of 9-8. Kyrssa Fields pitched a complete seven-inning game to earn the win for the Lady Wildcats. Fields allowed seven hits and struck out nine batters to earn the victory.

 

Accident causes multiple injuries


Pictured is the 2005 GMC Canyon involved in the accident.

An accident occurring at approximately 10:06 a.m. on Monday, April 10 resulted in two people being transported to the hospital by ambulance. A 2005 GMC Canyon, driven by Fannie Sue Cargile, 88, of Fayette, collided with a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Alexis LaDawn Norris, 21, of Bankston, as the Canyon entered Columbus Street from 3rd Ave. NE.

 

Stoker named new Fayette EMA Director


Michael Stoker is the new Fayette County EMA Director.

Michael Stoker, a lifelong resident of Fayette County, began his new job as Fayette County’s Emergency Management Director on Monday, April 10. Stoker is a 1991 graduate of Fayette Academy, and has served the county for the past 31 years as an Emergency Medical Technician.

 

Fayette Community Foundation holds annual reception


Dr. Joel Hagood, president of Bevill State Community College, spoke concerning the importance of the Fayette Community Foundation.

The annual reception was held for recipients of grants from the Fayette Community Foundation on Tuesday, April 4 at the Fayette Civic Center. Fayette Community Foundation Chairman William Oswalt told the recipients that the foundation has awarded approximately $8 million in grants to organizations during the 18 years since the start of the foundation in 2005, including approximately $700,000 in grants for the current year

 

Glen Allen Council discusses Cleanup Day


Pictured is the former Glen Allen Community Center that was a topic of discussion during the council meeting.

The Glen Allen Town Council met in regular session on Tuesday, April 4 at the town’s community center. All council members were present for the monthly meeting. The council elected to conduct the annual spring cleanup on Saturday, April 29. The cleanup is being held in conjunction with the People Against a Littered State (PALS) “Don’t Drop it on Alabama” Statewide Spring Cleanup.

 

Baseball Roundup


Harrison Unger is shown pitching for Fayette against Winfield.

Fayette faced rival Winfield last week in a crucial three-game area series that could determine if either team would make the playoffs. Fayette began the series at home on Tuesday, losing to the Pirates by the score of 5-1.

 

Softball Roundup



The Berry Lady Wildcats defeated Hubbertville by the score of 2-0 on April 4 in the only game that either school played last week. Maggie Mauldin pitched the complete game shutout, allowing only five hits and striking out nine batters to record the victory.

 

Sheriff’s Office seeks public’s help


Kenneth Spinato is pictured above with his daughter Sherry Renshaw.

Editor’s Note: The following is a press release from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department asking for the community’s help in solving a murder investigation.

Over six months ago, in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, Kenneth Spinato was found deceased in his Fayette County home. Investigators quickly determined that Spinato was the victim of a homicide.