An indoor motocross was held at the Fayette Multipurpose Complex on Saturday, Feb. 27, with events for competitors of various levels of age and skill. Although many of the competitors were from other areas of the state and country, several local participants also competed in the event.
The Fayette County Commission held a brief regular meeting on Feb. 22, followed by an executive session. Commissioner Barry Corkren and Commissioner John Underwood were absent from the meeting, with all other commissioners present. Fayette County EMA Director Russ Taylor told the commissioners that he had been asked to check on a new communication system for the county.
Hubbertville is having a dream season so far this year, with a newly lighted baseball field to play on and a no-hitter pitched in the opening home game. Hubbertville traveled to Lamar County on Feb. 22 and defeated the Bulldogs 10-9. Tanner McGough was the starting pitcher for Hubbertville, and allowed four earned runs on only three hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. Carter Hollingsworth pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief and earned the victory for Hubbertville.
Berry began its 2021 softball season with a 6-2 loss to Sulligent on Feb. 25. The losing pitcher for Berry was Kyla Edmonson, who allowed two earned runs on five hits in five innings of work.
Allie Taylor was two-for-three with a run scored, Gracyn Hydrick was two-for-three with a RBI, and Caitlyn Banks was two-for-three with a double. The Lady Wildcats lost its second game of the season 4-1 to South Lamar.
Despite losing its opening game of the week to Caldonia by the score of 3-0, Fayette finished the week strong with three consecutive wins. Landon Lowe started the game at pitcher for Fayette and suffered the loss, allowing three runs and only six hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. Blake Johnson pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the Tigers. Cooper Sanford had a double for Fayette, while Dylan Schloerb, Colton McCaleb and Blake Johnson each added hits for the Tigers.
The Fayette County High School Lady Tigers’ softball team got the 2021 season off to a good start by winning its first two games. Fayette opened the season with a 4-1 victory over the Dora Lady Bulldogs. Dora scored a run in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead before Fayette rallied in the bottom of the sixth to score four runs and seal the win.
Local businessman Jerry O’Dell has long had a vision to enhance the viability of the downtown area of Fayette. He, along with his business partner Pam Blackwood of Northport, recently bought the former Turner Hotel property and the retail stores below the property. Together, they envision transforming the property into a focal point of Temple Avenue known as “The District.”
Fayette County saw a wintry mix of weather during the first portion of last week that closed school and many businesses for at least part of the week. The sleet, snow, and freezing rain began on Monday, Feb. 15, although most major roads in the county were still in decent conditions until about dark. The conditions deteriorated rapidly overnight, and almost everyone in the county awoke on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 16 to light snow falling and ice on the roads.
The Belk Town Council selected Joe Waldrop at its Feb. 9 meeting to replace Jeannie Hollingsworth as the new member of the Belk Town Council. All board members were present for the meeting. Hollingsworth, a longtime member of the Belk Town Council, died as the result of COVID-related issues on Dec. 18, 2020. Councilman Bill Davis nominated Waldrop to fill the vacant council position at the start of the meeting. There were no additional nominations and Councilwoman Karen Strickland made a motion to close the nominations.
The Fayette County Board of Education voted to change the length of its grading periods from six weeks to nine weeks during its Feb. 18 meeting. Board member Julie Stough was absent from the meeting with all other members present. Many school systems in the same geographic area as the Fayette School System have already changed to four nine-week grading periods from the traditional six six-week grading periods formerly used. It was explained to the board members that the extra weeks would allow for more testing between grading periods.
The Berry Lady Wildcats lost a heartbreaker at home to Meek in a sub-regional basketball game by the score of 59-56. The game was close throughout, as the teams traded leads many times before Meek closed out the game with a road win to advance to regional play against R.A. Hubbard. Berry was led in scoring by Brooke Hill, who scored 23 points and had five steals during the game.
The Fayette County High School baseball team lost the Friday game and won the Saturday game against Bibb County to begin its 2021 season with a 1-1 record. The opening game on Friday night was a close, high-scoring affair as the Tigers lost 14-13. Langston Strawbridge and Cooper Sanford led Fayette in hitting during the game with two hits each. Strawbridge had four RBIs during the game. Blake Johnson started the game as pitcher for Fayette, allowing four hits and five runs in two innings while striking out a batter.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill visited Fayette on Tuesday, Feb. 9 and stopped by a local restaurant to eat with several Fayette citizens prior to speaking at a meeting. Merrill has visited each of Alabama’s 67 counties at least once during the year for each of the past several years.
Christine Fink, a resident at the Fayette Medical Center Long-Term Care facility, celebrated her 101st birthday on Friday, Feb. 12 with pizza and a special birthday cake. Fink said that she is doing good and still enjoys talking to her friends and the staff at Fayette Long-Term Care. “They have been wonderful to me,” she said of the staff. When asked her secret for long life, Fink replied, “Go to church, believe in the Good Lord, and say your prayers.”
Senator Greg Reed, who was recently elected President Pro Tem of the Senate, said that the legislative session has already passed three key pieces of legislation that will help individuals and businesses within the state. The legislation passed included eliminating the paying of state sales tax on any type of COVID benefits received from the federal government. This includes stimulus checks for individuals and the Payroll Protection Plan benefits for businesses. Also, the legislature passed legislation that will protect businesses from frivolous lawsuits in relation to COVID liability.
The Fayette City Council approved the purchase of a speed patrol trailer during its Feb. 9 meeting. All council members were present for the meeting. Prior to the start of the meeting, Dr. John Killian, director of the Fayette County Baptist Association, opened the meeting with prayer. Tre Pinkerton, a senior at Fayette County High School, led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Fayette County Commission agreed at its Feb. 8 meeting to partner with the City of Fayette to seek funds that would allow for the paving and/or resurfacing of McConnell Loop and 25th Street NE. All commissioners were present for the meeting. Commission Chairman Mike Freeman said that the City of Fayette had approached him with the idea of a partnership that would allow the paving of McConnell Loop and the resurfacing of 25th St. NE. He said that the combining of the projects could result in an overall savings of approximately $90,000 on the project.
The Berry girls’ basketball team was on top of its game last week, as they won the area tournament. They defeated Holy Spirit by a score of 74-37 on Tuesday, Feb. 9 in the Area 9 semifinals. Brooke Hill led the Lady Wildcats in scoring with 27 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Zoe Mauldin followed with 14 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, while Allie Taylor added 13 points to the scoreboard. Katelyn Willcutt scored nine points with 10 rebounds, while Anna Kate VanDee had six points, Maggie Hammack had three points and Lynsie Abernathy had two points.
The Fayette varsity boys and girls basketball teams ended their seasons last week with losses to Haleyville in the area tournament. The boys’ team lost to Haleyville by a score of 67-36. Steve White led the Tigers in scoring with 10 points, followed by Landon Lowe with seven points.
Darius Loyd and Lewis Cannon each scored six points, while Tucker Whitley added five points and Tucker Sanford scored two points. Lowe and Whitley were playing their first games with the varsity, after playing the remainder of the season on the junior varsity.
The Hubbertville Lions were defeated by the Berry Wildcats in the Class 1A, Area 9 Tournament on Monday, Feb. 8, by the score of 72-41. Senior Gage Key led the scoring with 13 points, with Brady Porter adding seven points. Gage Alexander and Carter Hollingsworth each added six points, while Cade Fisher scored three points for the Lions. Austin Berryhill, Brodie Porter and Greyson Key each added two points to round out the scoring. The boys finished their season with a 3-18 record.
