By a 28-6 vote, the Alabama Senate approved Governor Kay Ivey’s Rebuild Alabama Plan (House Bill 2) for increased infrastructure funding. Alabama Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed (R-Jasper) said it was a major step toward modernizing Alabama’s crumbling infrastructure.

Governor Kay Ivey has awarded a $700,000 grant for a new way to help victims of sexual abuse and violent crime better cope with the fallout and the anxieties that can come with criminal justice proceedings. The Office of Prosecution Services is using grant funds to place Certified Facility Dogs throughout the state. Four facilities in Chilton, Houston, Montgomery and Madison counties will house, train, transport and care for the service dogs, which can be deployed to any of the 67 counties in Alabama.

Dr. Richard O. Rutland was honored by a reception and dedication ceremony on March 10 at Fayette Medical Center, honoring his lifetime of medical achievements in the Fayette community and naming the new medical library in his honor. Sandy Nolen, chairperson of the Fayette Medical Center Board, opened the ceremony by thanking Rutland and the other “forward thinking leaders” who helped lead Fayette into the future.

Fayette County High School held a “Meet and Greet’” at the school on Sunday, March 10 for new FCHS football coach Bill Smith and his wife, Ann Smith. Many people attended the two-hour event to speak with the coach and his wife. The Smiths said that they were very encouraged by the support of the community and Bill Smith said that he is eagerly looking forward to a successful football season with the Tigers.

The Fayette County Commission held a special called meeting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 7 to consider adopting a resolution in support of the “Rebuild Alabama Act” that is being considered by state legislators. All commissioners were present with the exception of Commissioner Barry Corkren and Commissioner John Underwood.

As part of Sheriff Byron Yerby’s pledge when running for office, he stated that the sheriff department vehicles that had formerly been unmarked would be identified.

The Berry Town Council approved the hosting of a September car show in Berry during its March 4 meeting. Councilman Russell Madison and Councilman Troyce Townsel were absent from the meeting.

Hubbertville traveled to Marion County for its first baseball game of the 2019 season and defeated the Red Raiders by a score of 5-4. The game was tied at four until Cannon Alexander had a RBI single in the seventh inning to give the Lions the victory.

Hubbertville defeated Brilliant 17-16 and lost to Marion County by a score of 6-3 during the week.

The Berry softball team traveled to Holy Spirit on March 7 and was defeated by the Lady Saints 15-0. Brooke Blanton pitched 2 2/3 innings for the Lady Wildcats, surrendering two earned runs on four hits and striking out two batters.

Each year, Kindergarten - 12th grade students from across the country can enter their artwork in the Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest. The contest requires student artists to depict a state fish. Prizes are awarded at the state and national levels in four categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12, with students in grades 4-12 writing a one-page essay about the fish, its natural habitat and the importance of that habitat in addition to submitting the artwork. Complete contest rules and the entry form can be found on the Wildlife Forever website, www.wildlifeforever.org

The Fayette County High School softball team suffered through a tough week of losses, losing a single game on the road on Thursday before dropping a pair of games during a tournament at Hamilton on Friday. Fayette jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning against Curry on Thursday, March 7, but the Lady Yellow Jackets stormed back with five runs in the third to take the 9-3 victory over the Lady Tigers.

Bevill State played Lawson State Community College a pair of home-and-away doubleheaders last week, splitting each of the doubleheaders. On March 7, Lawson State traveled to Fayette, with Lawson winning the first game by a score of 3-2.

National Nutrition Month is an annual nutrition education and information campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign, celebrated each year during the month of March, focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. In addition, National Nutrition Month promotes the Academy and its members to the public and the media as the most valuable and credible source of timely, scientifically-based food and nutrition information.

The West Alabama Mayors Association (WAMA) elected its 2019 officers during a regulary scheduled meeting held on Feb. 21 in Glen Allen. Millport Mayor Stanley Allred was chosen as president and Carrollton Mayor Mickey Walker was chosen as vice-president.  Each will serve a one-year term.

Bill Smith, a graduate of Russellville High School and former punter for the University of Alabama, has been named the new head football coach and athletic director for Fayette County High School. Smith was approved for the position at the Feb. 26 meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education. Smith said that he decided to apply for the coaching position because he had always admired the sports programs at Fayette County High School.

If NBC’s Monday night telecast of “The Voice” is any indication, Dexter Roberts is ready for another chance at the big time. Roberts, a Fayette County native and 2010 Fayette County High School graduate, literally had the four judges on the talent show begging him to select them as his coach. Roberts’ near-perfect rendition of Randy Houser’s country song, “Like a Cowboy” had judges Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend pressing their buttons simultaneously early during the song, while judge Adam Levine joined the party later.

The highly-anticipated reopening of the Fayette County Public Lake will occur at sunrise on Thursday, March 28. The 60-acre lake closed on April 2, 2015, and has remained closed for almost four years. Matthew Marshall, state lake coordinator for the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, said that prior to the closure of the lake, “The fishing was poor and the catch rate was low. Something had to be done.”

The Fayette County Board of Education honored its selections for Teachers of the Year in the county during its Feb. 26 meeting. Board members Waldon Tucker and John Stowe were absent from the meeting. Winning the honor at their schools were the following people: Kerri Smith, Berry High; Veronica White, Berry Elementary; Laura Lee Cochrane , Fayette Elementary; Jackie Dodd, Fayette Middle; Susan Ingle, Fayette County High School; and Darla Brantley, Hubbertville School.

The Fayette County Commission toured the new jail facility that is under construction prior to its Feb. 25 meeting. All commissioners were present for the tour and the subsequent meeting.
Work on the site preparation for the new jail began on April 2, 2018 and has proceeded at a fairly rapid pace despite a lot of rainy weather. The new jail is scheduled to be completed by mid-August.

The Fayette City Council heard an appeal from the Forestry Commission concerning a proposed three mil property tax increase to benefit the fire departments in the county during its Feb. 26 meeting. Council member Jason Cowart was absent from the meeting with all other council members present.

Bevill State Community College received an Alabama Power “Good Roots” grants totaling $4,900 this year for each of its five locations - Fayette, Jasper, Hamilton, Sumiton, and the Pickens County Educational Center. These funds will be used to plant trees and for various landscaping projects on each of the campuses. The Good Roots Grants were created to encourage projects that improve the quality of the environment in our communities, towns and cities by planting more trees.

During the month of February, designated as Career Technical Education Month, the Fayette County High School FBLA worked hard to raise money to implement its most recent community service project entitled “Messy Masterpieces.” Messy Masterpieces is an outreach project for schools that have after-school programs and is designed to provide a free activity for the children involved in the program.

Bevill hit the road for its first road trip of the season last week, winning two games and losing four. The Bears traveled to Itawamba Community College in Mississippi for a Monday doubleheader, losing the first gane 8-0 before winning a pitchers’ duel in the second game by the score of 2-1.

The West Alabama Juniors’ Club Volleyball team (Purple Storm) took first place in the Eighteens Division at the Cupids Battle Tournament in Moulton on Saturday, Feb. 2.

The Fayette County High School Lady Tigers opened its 2019 softball season with two impressive road victories. On Feb. 26, Fayette traveled to South Lamar to face the Lady Stallions and were victorious by a score of 8-6. Brandy Johnson pitched 6 2/3 innings to record the victory for the Lady Tigers. She allowed 11 hits and five earned runs while striking out four and walking three. The game was tied at six each entering the final inning, when Fayette scored two runs in the top of the seventh to seal the win.

The Berry Lady Wildcats’s softball season is off to a fantastic start, with two more impressive wins during the past week. For the season , Berry’s record is 4-1. The Lady Wildcats traveled to Brilliant on Feb. 25 and defeated the Lady Tigers by a score of 18-2. Blanton pitched six innings to record the win for Berry. She allowed only three hits and one earned run while striking out 13 batters. Lydia Young pitched 1/3 inning in relief and Allie Taylor pitched 2/3 inning, striking out one batter.

The Fayette County Cattlemen’s Association installed its officers for 2019 during its annual Steak Supper and Banquet, held on Feb. 23 at the Boy Scout Building in Fayette. New officers for the year will be Charlie Dale Jones, president;  Jimmy Trice, vice-president; Laura Rainey, treasurer; and Brad Cox, secretary. Ali Cantrell, director of education and outreach for the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, spoke briefly during the banquet, urging members to keep up with proposed legislation that might affect cattle producers.

Two tornadoes briefly touched down in Fayette County at approximately 6-6:30 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 23 according to Russ Taylor, Fayette County Emergency Management Director (EMA). The first tornado formed in Lamar County, with reports of damage in the Kingville area near the community of Crossville. Taylor said that was an EF 1 tornado and the tornado also did considerable damage in a predominately wooded area on Crawley Rd. in western Fayette County.

Horace Moore, owner and publisher of The Times-Record of Fayette and Mid-South Newspapers based in Haleyville, has been elected president of the Alabama Press Association. Moore succeeds Kenneth Boone, who is the new chairman of the board. Moore, a native of Winston County, began his newspaper career in 1964. He worked his way up through the newspaper he now owns, doing most every job in the building. In addition to The Times-Record, Moore’s company also publishes The Northwest Alabamian in Haleyville, The Journal Record in Hamilton, and The Pickens County Herald in Reform.

Rick McCabe of McCabe and Associates addressed the Glen Allen town council at its Feb. 5 council meeting. Council member Dustin Youngblood was not in attendance for the meeting.

Steven Nolen received the oath of office as Fayette's new municipal judge during the Feb. 12 meeting of the Fayette City Council.

In 2018, the Alabama Public Service Commission approved a new area code overlay for parts of west and central Alabama, including Fayette County, The area code 659 will soon be used in conjunction with area code 205. AT&T announced the new area code change, according to local telephone service provider CenturyLink.  The addition of the 659 area code does not mean customers will have to change phone numbers, and officials have made plans for a smooth transition.

The Fayette Medical Center Family Council and Fayette Garden Club members provided food on Feb. 20 for the Fayette Medical Center Long-Term Care and Hospital staff in appreciation for the services they provide to the patients under their care. This is an annual event that is hosted on the first Wednesday after Valentine’s Day by the two organizations.

Fayette County High School held its annual Coronation on Saturday, Feb. 23. Campus King is Blake Wallace, son of Rick and Stella Wallace, and Campus Queen is Lindy Hindman, daughter of Dale and Jeanie Hindman. Capebearers for the King and Queen were Camden Tucker, son of Luke and Lori Tucker, and Riley May Hindman, daughter of Dustin and Donita Hindman. The Royal Court was introduced, and 24 ladies and 24 men competed for the titles of Most Beautiful and Most Handsome.

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. History. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African-Americans. Since 1976, each U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Fayette Middle School annually celebrates Black History month by hosting an assembly.

The Ms. Bevill State Pageant 2019 will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 12 in the Rowland Auditorium  on the Jasper Campus of Bevill State Community College. The following Bevill State Scholarships will be awarded: Winner: - $500 Scholarship, First Runner-up - $350 Scholarship, Second Runner-up - $150 Scholarship.

February is National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month.  Fayette County has nine CTE programs countywide and two of those nine programs are located at Fayette Middle School: Business Management Administration and Family and Consumer Sciences.  CTE prepares both youths and adults for a wide range of careers and further educational opportunities. These careers may require varying levels of education—including industry-recognized credentials, postsecondary certificates, and two or four-year degrees.  

A “BEAR Tracks - The Path to Your Future” event will be held from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at Bevill State Community College, Hamilton Campus. It is never too late to get on track for your Education and Career! Come to the Hamilton Campus during the event (you choose when you want to attend) and get on track.

The Berry Lady Wildcats opened the 2019 softball season by playing a three-game series in a “Umpires Tournament" in Vernon on Feb. 16. The games were limited to a strict one-hour time limit. Berry defeated Sulligent in its first game by a score of 9-5. Brooke Blanton pitched 2 2/3 innings for the Lady Wildcats in securing the victory.

The Fayette County High School Baseball Boosters held its annual Banquet and Steak Supper on Friday, Feb. 15 at Bevill State Community College in the Earl McDonald Auditorium. The keynote speaker for the event was Rick Karle, former sports director at WBRC/Fox 6 in Birmingham. Karle worked 30 years as the sports director for WBRC/ FOX 6 in Birmingham. During those years, he won numerous state and regional awards for sportscasting, including 23 Emmy Awards from the Atlanta Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Science. Additionally, Karle won six prestigious Edward R.

The Fayette City Council awarded checks in the amount of $20,000 during its Feb. 12 meeting.
Councilmen Jason Cowart and Jerry Nichols were absent from the meeting with all other council members present. Fayette Elementary, Fayette Middle and Fayette County High School each received a check for $5,000 from the council. The Fayette Area Chamber of Commerce was also awarded a $5,000 appropriations check during the meeting.

The Fayette County Commission made additional board appointments during its Feb. 11 meeting. All commissioners were present for the meeting. Commission Chairman Mike Freeman opened the meeting with a moment of silence in memory of Edwin “Punk” Turner, who died on Feb. 10. Fayette County EMA Director Russ Taylor told the commissioners that FEMA has given its final approval for the Fayette County storm shelters, and has also closed the grant application for the shelters. Paperwork concerning the shelters has to be kept on file for an additional three years.

Alabama Pawn and Cash in Fayette has donated a limited edition, commemorative Alabama Bicentennial Henry 22 Rifle to be given away on April 19. Tickets are $10 each and all proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Fayette County Animal Shelter. Only 300 tickets for the rifle will be sold. Tickets are available at Alabama Pawn and Cash.

The Alabama Bicentennial Traveling Exhibit had its grand opening at Hubbertville School on Saturday, Feb. 16. Many historical exhibits pertaining to the state’s history, in addition to displays of a local nature were on display. Herb Hollingsworth was the keynote speaker for the event. The exhibit will remain on display at Hubbertville School until Friday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.

The Fayette Exchange Club honors the “Student of the Month” at Fayette County High School throughout the school year by presenting them with plaques at an Exchange Club meeting. These awards are presented to students who achieve academic success in the classroom, and are also very involved in extracurricular activities both at school and in their communities. The club presented the awards for December, January and February at its meeting on Feb. 4.

The Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance (EDA) honored Congressman Robert Aderholt, John Riley of Bolzoni Auramo and current and former board chairmen as the EDA held its eighth annual “State of the Region” meeting at the Vernon City Complex on Thursday, Jan. 31.

The eighth annual Alabama Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday will be observed Feb. 22-24. The tax holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday Feb. 22 and continue until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24. The towns of Berry and Fayette are participating in the tax holiday, and Fayette County is also participating, which means that no sales tax will be charged on covered items in those areas during the holiday. Glen Allen has chosen not to participate in the sales tax holiday this year.

The Bevill State Bears split a doubleheader with Motlow State of Tennessee, losing the early game 11-2 and winning the second game by a score of 11-1. Jared Barnes led Bevill in hitting with two hits, including a solo home run. Parker Hubbard suffered the loss for Bevill, allowing four hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings.

The Berry Lady Wildcats finished its basketball season on Feb. 11 by losing in the sub-regional tournament to Falkville by a score of 72-39. Brooke Hill led Berry with 15 points, five steals and five rebounds. Bailey Thomas added seven points for the Lady Wildcats, while Tyner Bowling and Zoe Mauldin each scored six points.