One person was killed in a single-vehicle crash on County Road 35 in Fayette on Saturday, Aug. 15. The crash occurred around 11 a.m. near the second bridge on County Road 35, in the area of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The Fayette Police Department confirmed that the crash involved one vehicle and resulted in one fatality. The identity of the driver had not been released as of press time.

Downtown business owners and community leaders gathered at Fayette City Hall on Aug. 13 to discuss ways to strengthen downtown Fayette and learn more about the city’s participation in Main Street Alabama. Fayette is currently a Network Community through Main Street Alabama, a nonprofit organization focused on revitalizing historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through economic development, community involvement and preservation. The Aug.

The Fayette City Council discussed more than $680,000 in proposed paving work, appointed a new city attorney and prosecutor and reviewed upcoming sewer rate increases during its Aug. 11 meeting. All council members were present. The first speakers, representatives of the Fayette Garden Club and Brother 2 Brother, thanked the city and community for supporting their recent basketball tournament and back-to-school event. Kathy Bordelon and Brother 2 Brother President Felix Caine said the groups organized the event to raise money for backpacks and school supplies for local children.

The Fayette County Board of Education heard a proposal for a Bible literature course, discussed classroom overcrowding and future facility needs and approved its five-year capital plan during its Monday, Aug. 11 meeting. Jared Wilson returned to the board to discuss plans for establishing a Bible as literature course, an idea he first presented to board members in January. Wilson said organizers have continued working on the proposal and have received encouragement from members of the community.

A Fayette County grand jury has indicted Timothy Vess Benton on two counts of violating Alabama’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), and he was arrested Aug. 4 by investigators with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Benton was booked into the Fayette County Jail, where his bond was set at $1 million. The new charges stem from events following a June 2025 ruling by Circuit Judge Samuel W. Junkin that modified Benton’s original sentence.

The Fayette County Commission approved an extended warranty on a piece of county road equipment and discussed restricting through-truck traffic on County Road 21 South during its Aug. 10 meeting. All commissioners were present except Shane Hughes. The commission approved minutes from its July 27 meeting before approving $22,505.91 in claims for the period. Of that amount, $17,594.73 was attributed to the county’s General Fund. The commission approved its annual contract with the Alabama Department of Youth Services related to the detention of juveniles who have been charged with offenses.

The Glen Allen Town Council met Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the town’s community center. All council members were in attendance for the monthly meeting with the exception of Councilman Dustin Youngblood. Mayor Allen J. Dunavant called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Councilman Robert Aldridge opened the meeting with a prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by the mayor. Dunavant brought before the council the Glen Allen Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation Plan. The plan is a requirement of the Rebuild Alabama Act (RAA), which requires the council to adopt a transportation plan annually.

Representatives from the Alabama Department of Transportation met with Fayette residents Thursday, Aug. 6, to discuss a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Highway 171 and Temple Avenue South. The public involvement meeting gave residents an opportunity to review plans for the project, ask questions and provide comments to ALDOT and City of Fayette representatives. The proposed project would convert the three-way intersection of Highway 171 North, Highway 171 South and Temple Avenue into a roundabout designed to allow the three legs of the intersection to function as one unit.

The Berry Town Council addressed several major issues during its Aug. 3 meeting, including a proposed residential development, police equipment upgrades, municipal court concerns and several infrastructure projects. After the invocation and pledge, Randall Kelley reported that the Berry Fire Department responded to 26 calls during July. Kelley also updated the council on the recent multi-agency kratom investigation that included the Berry Police Department. Kelley said investigators recovered 188 bottles of kratom products from one Berry store owned by an individual under investigation.

Federal, state and local officials gathered Tuesday, July 28, at Richard Arthur Field to celebrate the completion of a major airport expansion that leaders say will strengthen economic development opportunities throughout Fayette County. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the airport’s new hangar and expanded apron drew U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, State Sen. Matt Woods, State Rep. Brian Brinyark, representatives from the offices of U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and Gov. Kay Ivey, Alabama Department of Transportation officials, county leaders and local elected officials.

The Fayette County Board of Education approved personnel changes, salary schedules and several policy updates during its regular meeting on Monday, July 28, while also hearing an encouraging report on student achievement and plans for continued academic improvement. All board members were present. Following the approval of the meeting agenda, the board unanimously approved the personnel action report, which included resignations, transfers, new hires, temporary contracts and coaching assignments.

The Fayette City Council approved a new resolution governing the policies and procedures of the Fayette Fire Department, heard updates on several city projects and received information about community programs during its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 28. Councilman Tommy Williams was absent. The meeting opened with an invocation by the Rev. Chris Fluker, pastor of New Grace Baptist Church and the nephew of Councilman Cedric Wilson. Jackson Kimbrell updated the council on the ACE Leadership program’s ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.

What began as a routine session of Fayette Municipal Court on July 21 turned into a violent confrontation that left a Fayette police officer hospitalized after a defendant allegedly assaulted two officers while resisting arrest. According to arrest records, Gregory Steven Vaughn, 52, of Winfield, was charged with second-degree assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and violation of a protection-from-abuse order following the incident. The altercation occurred Tuesday evening during a packed municipal court session at Fayette City Hall.

Alex Navey Cochran, 20, was booked into the Fayette County Jail on July 20 on six counts of attempted murder. His arrest follows the arrest of his father, Charles Emmanuel Cochran, on July 9 for the same charges. No additional information about the case has been released. The investigation is ongoing.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and Berry Police Department were among several law enforcement agencies that participated in a large, multi-county investigation that resulted in the execution of 12 search warrants and the seizure of more than 1,500 kratom products on July 23. According to a press release from the 25th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, investigators from multiple local, state and regional agencies carried out search warrants at locations in Marion, Winston, Fayette, Walker, Jefferson, St. Clair, Etowah and Calhoun counties.

The Fayette County Commission approved a change to one polling location, renewed its annual school resource officer agreement and received updates on road projects during its regular meeting Monday, July 27. Commissioner Wesley Jacobs was absent. All other members were present. Following approval of the agenda, minutes and claims totaling $47,329.56, the commission addressed several items of new business. At the request of Probate Judge Mike Freeman, commissioners unanimously approved relocating the polling place for Precinct 159 from Palestine Church to Oak Ridge Baptist Church.

For nearly 70 years, West Body Shop has helped Fayette County residents put their lives back together after an accident. From repairing dented fenders on classic muscle cars to replacing sophisticated body panels on today’s vehicles, the family-owned business has adapted to decades of changes while remaining committed to the same philosophy its founder established in 1956. “Treat people right,” Eddie “Hon” West said, recalling the advice his father, Loyal West, passed down to him. “Be fair with your customers, and if there is a complaint, fix it.

The City of Fayette has formally responded to concerns raised earlier this year by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), defending its garbage collection policies while announcing several changes to its billing and collection procedures. The four-page response, dated July 8 and addressed to SPLC Senior Supervising Attorney Micah West, was prepared by City Attorney Dale Lawrence and shared publicly during the Fayette City Council meeting on July 14.