The Berry Town Council held a brief meeting on June 5 to consider two items of business. Councilman Russell Madison and Councilman Troyce Townsel were absent, with all other council members present for the meeting. Also present for the meeting were Berry Mayor Jimmy Madison and Town Clerk Marie McCluskey.
A crowd of more than 100 people gathered on the Fayette County Courthouse lawn on Friday, June 2 to reflect on the memory of three men who gave their lives 20 years ago on June 7, 2003 while protecting the citizens of Fayette County. Two Fayette police officers, Corporal James Crump and Officer Arnold Strickland, along with police dispatcher Leslie “Ace” Mealer, lost their lives that day due to the senseless act of violence committed by convicted murderer Devin Moore (also known as Devin Thompson).
A public hearing for a proposed City of Fayette public transportation system was held on May 30 at Fayette City Hall. Fayette Mayor Rod Northam and all council members with the exception of Councilwoman Aliska Hughes-Monroe were in attendance at the public hearing.
One of the heroes from the era that Americans call “The Greatest Generation” is Wardell Wright, Sr. of Fayette, who currently resides in Jasper. Wright is 99 years old, with unique stories of being raised in Fayette County during what he calls “The Hoover Days,” referring to President Herbert Hoover’s time as president prior to President Franklin Roosevelt.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced C3 of Northwest Alabama, Inc. will receive a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to conduct environmental assessments and develop cleanup plans on properties located in Fayette, Lamar, and Marion counties.
Saturday, June 7, 2003 was a day that will forever be remembered in Fayette County for the heinous act committed in the early morning hours at the Fayette Police Department. Two Fayette Police Officers, James Crump and Arnold Strickland, along with police dispatcher Leslie “Ace” Mealer lost their lives that day due to the senseless act of violence committed by convicted murderer Devin Moore (also known as Devin Thompson).
A press release from Showa Best Glove in Fayette, issued on May 24, indicates that the facility will undergo a major layoff of workers as it continues to upgrade its manufacturing facilities.
As the weather warmed up, the crowd increased on the first day of the 2023 season at the Fayette Aquatic Park. The weather was almost perfect, and the opening of the season got off to a good start.
Members of the Fayette Junior City Council recently held a charity basketball tournament fundraiser and donated the $1,425 proceeds from the tournament to the Fayette County Memorial Library to help fund a section of the library that will be dedicated to “Autism Awareness.”
The Fayette Farmers Market began its second season in the downtown Fayette area on Saturday, May 27, with several vendors and lots of customers in attendance.
The Fayette County Commission held its May 22 meeting at the fellowship hall of Concord Baptist Church, at the request of Commissioner Robert Townley. All commissioners were present for the meeting. A local pastor, Terry Oswalt opened the meeting with a prayer.
The Fayette City Council held its regular council meeting on May 23. Councilman Jerry Nichols was absent from the meeting, with all other council members present. The meeting was opened in prayer, led by Caleb Hall, pastor at Fayette Church of Christ.
Despite a light, misty rain during the start of this year’s event, Organizer Milborn Savage estimated that more than 500 people attended the 25th “March for Jesus” walk and rally held in downtown Fayette on Saturday, May 20. The march began at the Depot Museum and concluded at the Fayette First Methodist Church, where a rally was held for a standing-room only crowd. Before reaching the church, balloons with Bible verses were released to carry a portion of the Word to parts unknown.
On May 21, the Fayette County Sheriff’s office, along with officers from the Berry and Fayette police departments, executed a search warrant in the 400 block of County Rd. 128 in Berry.
The search warrant was obtained after a lengthy investigation into the unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
The Balfour Award, the only award given to a senior at Fayette County High School during graduation, was presented last Friday night to Celie Cowart by FCHS Principal Jennifer Sanford.
The Fayette County Board of Education approved personnel items and contracts during its May 16 meeting. All board members were present for the meeting, with the exception of board member Julie Stough. At the beginning of the meeting, the valedictorians and salutatorians for the county schools were recognized.
Two highly-anticipated events are slated to return to the Fayette area this Saturday, May 27 – The Fayette Farmers Market and the opening of The Fayette Aquatic Park. The Fayette Farmers Market moved to downtown Temple Avenue last year, located in the vacant lot just north of the Fayette Depot Museum.
Fayette’s 25th “March for Jesus” celebration and prayer rally will be held Saturday, May 20, beginning at the Fayette Depot Museum and concluding at the Fayette First Methodist Church on Temple Avenue. The march and rally has been held in Fayette each year since 1997, with the exception of 2003, and also 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local area high schools will celebrate graduation this week. Berry will hold its graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m., while Hubbertville’s graduation will be Thursday, May 18 at 8 p.m. The graduation for Fayette County High School will be Friday, May 1 at 8 p.m.
Local mail carriers participated in the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual one-day food drive on May 13. The drive is held each year on the second Saturday of May, and is the largest one-day food drive in the nation.
