Fayette County

The Kirkland-Bluff-Wayside Volunteer Fire Department showcased its newest fire engine during a fundraiser held recently at Kirkland Community Center. The newly-purchased fire truck is a 1997 E-One pumper with a command center cab, and replaces a 1979 Pemfab pumper the department used for 22 years. The newer pumper truck was purchased for $15,000 and was paid for with a loan. It came from the Holly Pond Fire Department with 7,700 service hours and was transferred to the Kirkland-Bluff-Wayside VFD on Sept. 5.

Qualifying for the 2024 election cycle concluded on Friday, Nov. 10, with few challenges in local races.

One of Alabama’s most historic roadways is traveling back into the limelight. Byler Road, the first road ever commissioned by the Alabama Legislature, is finally getting its historic due, thanks to $200,000 in funding spearheaded by State Representative Tracy Estes and Alabama Senate Pro-Tem Greg Reed. 

An inmate who escaped from the Alabama Department of Corrections was sentenced in March 2020 in Fayette County Circuit Court. Ricky Lavon Lay, 39, left his assigned work location in Bayou La Batre in Mobile County at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 24.

Qualifying is now underway for the 2024 federal, state and local primary elections. The local Republican Party started its qualifying on Oct. 10, and the state Republican Party started qualifying candidates on Oct. 16. The local Democratic Party and the state Democratic Party are also busy qualifying candidates, with all party qualifying scheduled to conclude at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10.

The driver of a fire truck tanker was fortunate to receive no injuries during a partial road collapse and subsequent tanker turnover on Monday, Oct. 2. The Kirkland-Bluff-Wayside Volunteer Fire Department had been using a 1977 International 1600 Loadstar tanker to wet an area of Cook Road, a dirt and gravel road, to help residents with dust conditions, due to the road being part of a current detour.

On Oct. 1-4, the Fayette County “Festival of Hope 2023” will be held at John Morgan Brown Stadium (Fayette County High School’s football stadium). The event will begin nightly at 7 p.m., and will be led by worldwide Evangelist Ronnie Hill from Texas.

A single-vehicle accident that occurred at approximately 5:49 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, has claimed the life of a Fayette man. Jimmy D. Feltman, 65, was fatally injured when the 2000 Harley-Davidson motorcycle that he was operating left the roadway and struck a tree.

The Fayette County Board of Education approved additional personnel items and contracts for the hew school year during its Aug. 7 meeting. All board members were present for the meeting.
Board member Brenda Webb opened the meeting with prayer, and board member Tierre Agnew led the Pledge of Allegiance.

This is the third of three articles highlighting inductees for the 2023 class of the Fayette Co. Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5 in the Earl McDonald Auditorium on the Fayette Campus of Bevill State Community College. FCHS graduate and University of Alabama broadcasting legend Tom Roberts will once again emcee the event. Tickets for the banquet and induction ceremony are $20 each, and the banquet meal will consist of a smoked chicken plate.