Fayette Medical Center will remain open as local leaders and DCH Health System begin planning for the future of health care in Fayette County following the announcement that the hospital’s long-standing operating agreement will not be renewed in its current form. The Fayette County Hospital Board and the board of the DCH Health Care Authority announced Friday, Sept. 25, that the current lease agreement, which expires Sept. 30, 2027, cannot continue under its existing terms.
A Fayette woman was killed Tuesday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash in Fayette County. The crash occurred at approximately 3:36 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, on Fayette County 26 near Vick Road, approximately eight miles southeast of Fayette. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Karon K. Collins, 69, of Fayette, was fatally injured when the 2018 Ford Explorer she was driving left the roadway. The vehicle struck a ditch and then a tree before catching fire.
State Sen. Matt Woods and State Rep. Bryan Brinyark announced today that the Fayette County Board of Education has been awarded a $5 million grant to expand career and technical education opportunities for local students. The grant was made possible through a $150 million legislative appropriation that established a statewide grant program to expand career and technical education and workforce training in Alabama’s K-12 schools. Fayette County does not currently have a standalone career and technical education school.
The Fayette County Board of Education presented its proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget during a public hearing Sept. 8 before moving into its regular monthly meeting. The proposed budget anticipates approximately $32.36 million in revenues and $34.09 million in expenditures. State funding represents the largest source of revenue at approximately $22.15 million, followed by about $6.15 million in local revenue and $3.94 million in federal funding.
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.
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.
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.
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.
