Addison Tucker was crowned Hubbertville High School’s 2026 Homecoming Queen during halftime festivities at the Lions’ homecoming game against Brilliant on Sept. 4. Tucker received the crown from 2025 Homecoming Queen Zoe Whitson as her escort, Heath Tucker, looked on.
Addison Tucker was crowned Hubbertville High School’s 2026 Homecoming Queen during halftime festivities at the Lions’ homecoming game against Brilliant on Sept. 4. Tucker received the crown from 2025 Homecoming Queen Zoe Whitson as her escort, Heath Tucker, looked on.
The Berry Town Council appointed three officials to serve Berry Municipal Court during a special-called meeting Aug. 31. Pictured from left are Kaylee McCaleb, municipal court magistrate; Jack Bostick, municipal court judge; and Brandy Feltman, municipal court prosecutor. Berry Municipal Court will resume Sept. 29 at 6 p.m.
Plans for the future of Fayette’s Flag Park are beginning to take shape following another meeting with representatives of Your Town Alabama. Matt Leavell and Ben Wiseman met with local community members Aug. 27 to review ideas for redeveloping the downtown park and discuss how improvements could be completed in phases. The latest meeting followed an earlier planning session in June, when community members and local leaders discussed what they would like to see included in the park. Using that input, several concepts for the property were presented and discussed at the Aug. 27 meeting.
Ben Wiseman of Your Town Alabama explains features of a conceptual design for improvements to Fayette’s Flag Park during a meeting Aug. 27. Several potential layouts and improvements were discussed as planning continues for the downtown park. The next step will be developing a final plan for the mayor before the city moves forward with implementing the project in phases.
Plans for the future of Fayette’s Flag Park are beginning to take shape following another meeting with representatives of Your Town Alabama. Matt Leavell and Ben Wiseman met with local community members Aug. 27 to review ideas for redeveloping the downtown park and discuss how improvements could be completed in phases. The latest meeting followed an earlier planning session in June, when community members and local leaders discussed what they would like to see included in the park. Using that input, several concepts for the property were presented and discussed at the Aug. 27 meeting.
Timothy Vess Benton, who was indicted last month on two felony violations of Alabama’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, has been released from the Fayette County Jail after his bond was reduced from $1 million to $25,000. Circuit Judge Ben A. Fuller granted Benton’s motion to reduce bond Friday, Sept. 4. The State of Alabama opposed the request.
The above painting by Fayette Art Museum board member Joel Haney is this year’s design for Fayette Arts Festival t-shirts, which will be available for purchase at the event.
The 56th annual Fayette Arts Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fayette Civic Center and Art Museum, 530 Temple Ave. N. One of the longest-running arts festivals in Alabama, the event will feature artists and craftspeople from across the region, food vendors, children’s activities and special events celebrating Fayette’s artistic heritage. The festival will be held indoors and outdoors, rain or shine.
The Tigers’ Riley Vick (25) recovers a fumble for Fayette County in the second quarter of the non-region game against Lamar County. Vick also added six tackles, two assists, and one sack to the Tigers’ stats.
Fayette County overcame an early deficit and pulled away from Lamar County Friday night, Aug. 28, earning a 33-6 victory behind an efficient passing attack and a defense that shut out the Bulldogs over the final three quarters. Lamar County struck first, but Fayette County answered with 33 unanswered points, including 19 in the second half. Neither team found the end zone during the opening quarter, and the Bulldogs put together the first scoring drive of the night early in the second.
Hubbertville’s Charles Keeton (24) carries the ball upfield as teammate Landon Dodd (13) delivers a block during the Lions’ game against Tuscaloosa Academy.
The Hubbertville Lions jumped out to an early two-touchdown lead Friday night, but Tuscaloosa Academy rallied to score 32 unanswered points and hand the Lions a 32-14 loss at Wiley Hollingsworth Stadium. After forcing the Knights to punt on their opening possession, Hubbertville put together a scoring drive highlighted by quarterback Blaize Wakefield’s connections with Cruz Kizzire. Kizzire hauled in a pass and fought his way to the Tuscaloosa Academy 3-yard line, setting up the Lions near the goal line.
Members of the Hubbertville Lions baseball team show off their championship rings after being honored during a special pregame ceremony Aug. 28. The Lions received the rings in recognition of their 2025 AHSAA Class 1A state baseball championship.
The Hubbertville Lions added one more piece of hardware to their historic 2025 baseball season Friday night. Members of Hubbertville’s Class 1A state championship baseball team were presented with their championship rings Aug. 28 during a special pregame ceremony before the Lions’ football game against Tuscaloosa Academy.
At a recent meeting of the West Alabama Mayors Association in Millport, state and local leaders gathered to discuss issues affecting the region. Pictured, front row, from left, are Kennedy Mayor Jackie Mitchell, Millport Mayor Stanley Allred and Carrollton Mayor Mickey Walker. Back row, from left, are state Rep.-elect Phil Segraves; Kelli Wolfe, congressional field representative for U.S. Sen. Katie Britt; Pickensville Mayor Donald Sherrod; Coaling Mayor Gary Averett; Fernando Montemayor, Steel Dust Recycling plant manager; Jonathan Rushing, Steel Dust Recycling inventory control manager; Fayette Mayor Rod Northam; and West Alabama Regional Commission Executive Director Dennis Stripling.
Municipal leaders from across West Alabama met Aug. 20 in Millport for a West Alabama Mayors Association meeting that included a presentation on Steel Dust Recycling, regional service updates and discussion about the challenges facing local governments. The association brings together mayors and other municipal officials from communities across West Alabama to share information, discuss common concerns and hear presentations on issues affecting the region. Meetings rotate among communities throughout the area.
Fayette County Memorial Library Director Jessie Crowe shares the results of the library’s 2026 Summer Reading Program with the council.
The Fayette City Council heard updates from Fayette County Memorial Library and approved sewer rate increases and moved forward with more than $682,000 in paving work during its Tuesday, Aug. 25, meeting. All council members were present. Fayette County Memorial Library Director Jessie Crowe began the meeting with an update on the library’s summer reading program and upcoming activities. Crowe said the library held 38 programs during the summer and recorded nearly 2,000 participants. The library also held seven summer camps with the assistance of 10 high school and college-age counselors.
The Fayette County Commission approved annual bids, amended its 2026 transportation plan and reviewed plans for future road and bridge projects during its meeting on Aug. 24. Commission Chairman Mike Freeman was absent from the meeting, with Commissioner David Hubbert presiding in his place. All other commissioners were present. County Engineer Ben Snipes presented commissioners with the county’s annual bids for materials and services, which will take effect Oct. 1.
Hubbertville’s Kane Rushing catches a pass from quarterback Blaize Wakefield in the Aug. 21 game against the University Charter Trailblazers.
The Hubbertville Lions opened their regular season Friday night with a hard-fought 28-22 victory over the University Charter Trailblazers at Wiley Hollingsworth Stadium. Winning the coin toss, the Lions elected to receive, sending Landon Dodd and Kane Rushing back for the opening kickoff. Rushing returned the kick 10 yards to the Lions’ 30-yard line. Hubbertville wasted little time finding the end zone. After Charles Keeton gained 7 yards on first down, quarterback Blaize Wakefield connected with Rushing for a 63-yard touchdown with only 57 seconds gone from the game clock.
Receiver Colton Kelley moves the ball down the field after completing a pass from Zack Hollingsworth.
The Berry Wildcats kicked off their 2026 campaign by hosting the Class 3A Hale County Wildcats. After graduating a large senior class last year, Berry had a lot of new faces playing in key positions on both sides of the ball. The young Berry Wildcats played Hale County close for most of the game, but a couple of late touchdowns handed them a 42-22 loss. Berry won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Berry returned the kickoff to its own 30-yard line to begin play and put together a 13-play drive that took up more than half of the first quarter.
Zamarion Nalls drives it into the endzone in the first quarter of the Tigers’ matchup against the Gordo Green Wave on Aug. 21 at Libby Hankins Stadium in Gordo.
The Fayette County Tigers opened the 2026 season with a fight to the finish Friday night, trading the lead with Gordo before the Green Wave pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 33-27 victory. Fayette struck first, weathered a 19-point second-quarter surge by Gordo and reclaimed the lead in the third quarter before a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns put the Tigers in a hole they could not quite overcome. The Tigers received the opening kickoff and immediately began moving the football.
Pictured is the Flock automated license plate reader located at the entrance of Guthrie Smith Park.
As automated license plate-reading cameras draw increased scrutiny across the country and in Alabama, Fayette Police Chief Danny Jenkins says the Fayette Police Department has safeguards in place designed to prevent the technology from being misused. Fayette currently has two Flock Safety cameras. One has been located at the entrance to Guthrie Smith Park for approximately five years, while a second was recently installed near the Fayette Fire Department’s north station, across from the airport.
Two Fayette County families lost their homes to fires on Friday, Aug. 21. The home of Jeremy and Dwan Madden was destroyed by fire while the family was away. Jeremy Madden, principal of Northside High School and former principal of Fayette County High School, learned of the fire while attending the school’s football game. No family members were home at the time, and the family’s dog was also found safe. Fire also destroyed the Columbus Street home of Jennifer Peterson, a single mother of four boys, near downtown Fayette. All family members are reported safe.
A heavily damaged 2004 Nissan Sentra sits following a single-vehicle crash Sunday, Aug. 23, on Fayette County Road 23 near Dodson Circle Road. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 20-year-old Winfield man was killed in a single-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Fayette County. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Alexander M. Greene was fatally injured when the 2004 Nissan Sentra he was driving left the roadway, struck a ditch and a gate, and then struck multiple trees.
Fayette County residents could benefit from several projects included in more than $144 million in grants announced Monday as part of Alabama’s new Rural Health Transformation Program. Gov. Kay Ivey announced 138 grants to healthcare providers and institutions across the state, with projects covering rural areas in every Alabama county. The funding is intended to improve healthcare access, quality and outcomes in rural communities.
Capstone Health will expand its services into Fayette after receiving a federal grant to establish a new community health center in the city. The organization announced Aug. 18 that it has been awarded a New Access Point grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA. The funding will allow Capstone Health to establish a Fayette facility offering a range of health care services to residents of Fayette and surrounding communities.
The Fayette County Tigers’ offense lines up against Mars Hill Bible during the first game of the night.
The Fayette County High School Tigers got their first taste of action under the Friday night lights on Aug. 14, hosting a four-team football jamboree at John Morgan Brown Stadium. Fayette County was joined by Mars Hill Bible, Tuscaloosa Academy and Bibb County for the preseason event, giving the teams an opportunity to put weeks of summer workouts and preseason practices to the test before the start of regular-season play. The Tigers made the most of the opportunity, shutting out both of their opponents while scoring a combined 33 points during four quarters of jamboree action.
