City officials and members of the Fayette Fire Department met June 24 to discuss proposed policy changes that prompted an extended discussion during the previous night’s City Council meeting. Present for the meeting were Fire Chief Shannon Taylor, City Clerk Sherry Fowler, Councilmen Floyd Rodgers, Steve Herring and Cedric Wilson, along with six members of the fire department. The meeting was held after the City Council voted to table proposed fire department policy changes and appoint a committee to meet with firefighters before the matter returns to the council.

The Fayette County Commission approved several routine items and heard updates on emergency management, road projects and equipment needs during its regular meeting on June 22. All commissioners were present. Commissioners approved minutes from the previous meeting and authorized payment of claims totaling $1,269,831 for the current period. The largest portion of those claims was related to the county’s Rebuild Alabama road program. The commission also approved the annual Insolvents, Errors and Taxes in Litigation report submitted by the Fayette County Revenue Commissioner’s Office.

The Fayette City Council discussed proposed fire department policy changes, received updates on paving projects and the city’s America 250 celebration, and addressed several other matters during its June 23 meeting. All council members were present. Southside Baptist Church pastor Kent Shepherd led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and the meeting was called to order. The council approved minutes from the previous meeting.

Community members gathered June 24 to help imagine the future of downtown Fayette’s Flag Park during a public design workshop led by consultants with Your Town Alabama. The “charrette”—an interactive planning session—was hosted by the City of Fayette as officials continue exploring improvements to the small downtown park dedicated to veterans. The project grew out of an ACE Leadership class proposal, and city officials hope the redesigned space will become both a tribute to Fayette’s history and veterans while serving as a gathering place for community events.

The 56th Fayette Arts Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fayette Civic Center and Art Museum, 530 Temple Ave. N. One of Alabama’s longest-running arts festivals, the event attracts artists, craftsmen and visitors from across the Southeast. The festival is a juried arts and crafts show featuring fine art, folk art and craft categories, with cash awards presented to selected participants. Organizers said many returning artists and vendors are expected to participate in this year’s festival.

Fayette County third graders posted some of the strongest reading scores in Alabama this year, with nearly all students meeting the state’s literacy benchmark. According to results released June 11 by the Alabama State Department of Education, 96.48 percent of Fayette County’s 142 third-grade students scored at or above the benchmark on the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) reading assessment. The county’s performance significantly exceeded the statewide average of 88.18 percent  and placed Fayette County among the highest-performing school systems in Alabama.

On Thursday, June 18, in honor of Father’s Day, the Brother 2 Brother organization visited with male residents at Fayette Long Term Care. They spent time with the residents, talking and bonding. They brought along goodie bags for the men present for this event.  Members of Brother 2 Brother who attended were Sean White, Joseph Brock, Gilbert Gay, Milborne Savage, Felix Caine, Mil Savage and Rev. Floyd Rodgers, Jr. On Friday, June 19, local pastors and community leaders served lunch to male residents, and sat down to eat and fellowship with them.

Children and families packed the Fayette Civic Center on Monday for an educational animal presentation hosted by the Fayette County Memorial Library as part of its Summer Reading Program. The Snake Show, presented by Brittney Johnson and her daughter, Auburn, introduced audience members to a variety of reptiles and other exotic animals while teaching about wildlife, habitats and conservation.

Fayette County voters returned to the polls Tuesday to decide two Republican runoff races, selecting Jeananne Edwards as the party’s nominee for Revenue Commissioner and Steve Sawyer as the Republican nominee for Fayette County Superintendent of Education. According to unofficial results released by the Fayette County Probate Office, 3,613 ballots were cast in the June 16 Primary Runoff Election. Fayette County recorded a voter turnout of 28.33 percent among its 12,755 registered voters. The closest race of the night was the contest for Fayette County Superintendent of Education.

The Berry Town Council discussed public safety technology, preparations for the town’s upcoming America 250 celebration, employee policies and several infrastructure issues during its June 8 meeting. Berry Police Chief Gerald Dedeaux presented a department activity report covering Jan. 1 through May 31. During that period, the department recorded 27 arrests, including 15 drug-related arrests, worked three traffic accidents, completed 32 incident reports, issued 66 citations and approximately 185 written warnings.

The Fayette County Board of  Education approved a series of personnel recommendations during its June meeting, including teacher hires, resignations, summer program contracts and coaching assignments for the 2026-27 school year. All board members were present for the meeting. The board accepted the resignations of Jackson Elkins, countywide paraprofessional assigned to Fayette Elementary School; Harley Holsonback, teacher at Fayette Elementary School; Isabella Butts, teacher at Fayette Elementary School; and Bailey Burleson, teacher at Berry High School.

The Glen Allen Town Council met Tuesday, June 2, at the Glen Allen Community Center. All council members were present. Mayor Allen J. Dunavant called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. Councilman Brad Whitehead opened the meeting with prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Dunavant. Following the pledge, Mayor Dunavant announced that the town had successfully secured funding through the Rebuild Alabama Act (RAA) Annual Grant Program to resurface 10 streets within the town.

Visitors to the Berry Civic Center may notice something different the next time they walk through the doors. What was once a beige, institutional-looking facility has been transformed into a warm and welcoming community gathering place through the efforts of Mayor Mary Lollar and a committee of local volunteers. The civic center serves many functions in the town, hosting municipal court, various meetings, a quilting group and numerous other community events throughout the year. Town leaders felt the building should better reflect the community it serves.

The Fayette City Council recognized a young local athlete, reviewed monthly financial reports and discussed several upcoming personnel and community projects during its June 9 meeting at City Hall. Mayor Rod Northam called the meeting to order with Councilmen Floyd Rodgers, Cedric Wilson and Steve Herring present. Councilmen Mickey Joe Morgan and Tommy Williams were absent. The meeting opened with recognition of Brodie Duckworth, who recently represented Fayette in the Alabama Park and Recreation Association Track and Field Championships.

The Fayette County Commission recognized the 2026 Class 1A State Champion Hubbertville Lions baseball team and received updates on road projects and state funding during its June 8 meeting. Before beginning regular business, commissioners presented a formal resolution honoring the Lions for capturing the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 1A State Championship. Commission Chairman Mike Freeman praised the team and the Hubbertville community for its continued success and strong support of student-athletes.

For Fayette County residents looking for a summer adventure close to home, Cullman County offers a unique combination of history, art and natural beauty that can easily fill a day trip. Located a little more than an hour from Fayette, the area is home to one of Alabama’s most unusual attractions, a historic covered bridge and plenty of opportunities to slow down and enjoy a day away without spending a fortune. The first stop on the journey is Ave Maria Grotto, located on the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman.

Just a few months after local officials warned residents about the growing threat of scams and fraud, a new scheme is raising concerns across Alabama. According to a June 3 alert from AARP Alabama, scammers are now posing as representatives of Publishers Clearing House and using FaceTime calls in an attempt to gain access to victims’ financial accounts. The scam begins with an unexpected phone call, text message, or other communication informing the recipient that they have won a large cash prize or sweepstakes.

The following people have been sentenced in Fayette County Circuit Court this year. The list was compiled from information recently received from the Fayette County Circuit Clerk Office.

• Kristy Darlene Honeycutt, unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Sentenced to 32 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Sentence is suspended and defendant placed on three year supervised probation;

A Fayette County man with an extensive criminal history has been sentenced to life in prison following his conviction on multiple felony charges stemming from a 2022 pursuit involving drugs, a firearm and an attempt to flee law enforcement. Matthew Bruce Page, 36, was sentenced June 4 after a Fayette County jury convicted him on April 22 of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, failure to affix a tax stamp, certain persons forbidden to possess a pistol and attempting to elude law enforcement officers.