Berry started off the week on Monday, April 9 with a shutout softball win against Pickens County by a score of 15-0. Brooke Blanton started the game as pitcher for Berry and dominated the Lady Tornado batters, striking out eight of the nine batters she faced and allowing no hits. Blanton also contributed at the plate, going two-for-two with two RBIs and walked twice during the game.

Tatarian Williams, 28, of Fayette, accepted a plea deal in Fayette County Circuit Court on April 4 and was sentenced to spend the next 20 years in an Alabama Department of Corrections facility. Williams was arrested on June 10, 2016 and charged with drug trafficking and possession of drug paraphernalia following a raid on his residence, located on 3rd St. SE in Fayette. According to reports of the arrest, Antonious Charblye Delaney and Dionne Cherell Dixon were also arrested during the raid.

The Fayette Community Foundation held its annual reception on April 5 at the Fayette Civic Center to recognize the past year’s grant recipients. William Oswalt, chairman of the Fayette Community Foundation board of directors, presented opening remarks at the beginning of the reception.

The Fayette Garden Club presented its Community Service Award and scholarship during the Fayette Chamber of Commerce’s “First Tuesday” luncheon, held at the Fayette Civic Center on April 3. Mason Aldridge, a senior at Fayette County High School, was presented the Community Service Award and also received a $250 cash scholarship from the Fayette Garden Club.

Lucas Kimbrell was awarded the "High School Attending Two-Year College" scholarship at the 75th annual Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show Awards Banquet Saturday, March 10.

The Fayette Tigers baseball team faced South Lamar on March 23 and recorded a resounding 11-1 victory over the Stallions. Carter Sanford drove in a run on a groundout in the first inning, and Fayette notched four runs in the fifth to seal the victory. Sanford, Chance Stevenson, Luke Avery and Brett Linton all had RBIs in the crucial fifth inning for the Tigers. Avery had two-hits in two at-bats for Fayette.

Hubbertville traveled to its cross-county rival Berry on April 3, losing a heartbreaker to the 10th ranked team in Class 1A by a score of 9-8. Emma Nichols pitched a complete six-inning game for Hubbertville, allowing all nine runs of which only two were earned. She gave up 13 hits to the Lady Wildcats, while walking one and striking out an opposing batter.

The Berry girls’ softball team, ranked 10th in the latest Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 1A poll, won three-of-four games during the past week. The Lady Wildcats’ only loss of the week was to the third-ranked team in Class 2A, the Lamar County Lady Bulldogs. On Monday, April 2, Berry defeated Holy Spirit 9-2. Brooke Blanton pitched a complete seven-inning game, allowing one hit and striking out six opposing batters. Blanton also went two-for-four at the plate with a walk.

After a promising start to its newly-revived program, the Bevill Bears have hit a rough stretch of games, losing seven-of-eight during the past two weeks. The Bears hosted Southern Union on March 29, losing 13-1 in the first game of a double-header. The Bison used an eight-run fifth inning to seal the victory against the Bears. Parker Hubbard pitched 4 2/3 innings for Bevill, allowing 13 runs on just nine hits while striking out four.

Although some people thought it would never happen, the long-debated jail took a big step toward reality on April 2 as the official ground-breaking for the new jail occurred. The company handling the site prep is Price Civil Services of Tuscaloosa. The site preparation is expected to last approximately three months, followed by the beginning of the construction of the jail.

The Fayette City Council approved the purchase of a used dump truck for the street and sanitation department at a cost of $23,300 during its March 27 meeting Marty Weeks, supervisor of the Street and Sanitation Department, spoke to the council during a work session that was held prior to the meeting. He said that the motor in one of the department’s trucks was worn out, and said that the department needed another truck.

The Fayette County Commission voted to hire Mike Tomlin as the county’s road supervisor/superintendent during its March 26 meeting. County engineer Luke Porter said that several applicants for the superintendent job had been interviewed and following the completion of the interviews, his recommendation was to hire Tomlin for the position. Tomlin is already an employee of the county’s road crew and is familiar with the duties and functions of the department.

Ella Wilson celebrated her 99th birthday on March 25 at the Fayette Long-term Care Facility. She was surprised with a special birthday party by her family. Ms. Ella, as she is affectionally known by the staff and her many friends, wore her crown and sash to celebrate the special occasion. She was escorted around the facility on her birthday and was congratulated by the other residents and staff. Ms. Ella plays the harmonica and sings at many of the activities at the Long-Term Care facility.

McDonald’s of Fayette celebrated its “grand re-opening “ with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 27. The interior of the store was closed for a few weeks for a major renovation. The newly remodeled McDonald's will seat 70, and the outside seats will accomidate an additional 25.

The 10th ranked Berry Wildcats opened a busy week of softball by defeating Sulligent in both games of a double-header on March 26. Brooke Blanton was the winning pitcher in the opening game, striking out 10 batters and allowing only four hits as Berry defeated the Lady Blue Devils 5-0.

Hubbertville hosted its Hubbertville Invitational Round-Robin Tournament on Saturday, March 31, consisting of high school teams from Hubbertville, Berry, Brilliant, Marion County and Winston County. The Lady Lions started the tournament against Winston County, losing by a score of 9-1. Emma Nichols pitched for Hubbertville, striking out three batters, allowing no walks and two earned runs. Chelsea Porter, Cayla Tidwell and Haylee Pollard all had hits for Hubbertville, with Porter scoring a run and Tidwell getting the RBI.

Following a report from a victim and leads from citizens of the county, the Fayette County Sheriff Office arrested seven people for alleged burglaries and two other arrests for chemical endangerment of a child. According to the arresting officer, Corporal Roger Morrison of the sheriff department, the first notification of the burglaries was reported on March 18 for a residence located on Highway 13 North. Tips led to the arrest of a suspect in that case and the continuing investigation led to other suspects being arrested.

A Fayette County man was arrested and charged with the March 6 burglary of the Mayfield Fire Department in Tuscaloosa County. According to Officer Josh Hastings of the Tuscaloosa Sheriff Department, Randall Colby Glasgow, 32, of Hwy. 107 Fayette, was arrested on March 7 and charged with three counts of breaking and entering a vehicle, three counts of first degree theft of property, and one count of third degree burglary. Glasgow is charged with taking two fire trucks from the Mayfield fire station and abandoning them after he wrecked the vehicles shortly after leaving the station.

Although the weather might still be a little cool, the vibrant colors of spring remind you of the warmth just around the corner. Dogwoods, azaleas, tulips and other flowering plants are awakening with the splendor and beauty of the season.