Younghance honored by Fayette County High School By Dean Maddox M.C. Younghance was recognized last Friday night before the start of the Fayette - Anniston football playoff game for his 44 years of service raising the American flag at all of the Fayette County High School home football games.

The Fayette Music Study Club met Thursday, Nov. 7 in the Fayette Civic Center. Self Express productions from Winfield presented several skits to the club during its meeting.

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, approximately 100 Bevill State Community College, Fayette Campus, students participated in the Alabama Community College System’s “Clean Home Alabama” initiative. In addition to students, teachers and faculty members also participated in the event. With more than 60 projects across the state, Clean Home Alabama is ACCS’s contribution to help “Keep Alabama Beautiful” as part of the state’s bicentennial year. Alabama’s 24 community colleges are hosting projects in every corner of the state, showcasing their commitment to serve their communities.

Anniston used a massive rushing attack to control the game’s tempo and defeat the Fayette Tigers 19-6 in a first-round state football playoff game. The Bulldogs outrushed the Tigers 241 net yards to 24, thus controlling the time of possession to earn the victory.

Advancing into the first round of the playoffs for the 10th consecutive year, the Lions traveled to northeast Alabama on Friday night to meet up with the Panthers of Spring Garden. Spring Garden, the top seed in region five, entered the contest with a 9-1 record and the Lions, with a 6-4 record, was seeded as the number four team from region six.

The Grateful Dead once sang about what a long, strange journey this has been. The Berry faithful who made the long trek to Calhoun County to see the Wildcats take on the Donoho Falcons could identify with this. The Wildcats were returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and looking to avenge a week seven loss in the regular season to the Falcons. Berry controlled the clock during the game, but big plays by the Falcons were too much for the Wildcats to overcome as they fell 34-6.

Two separate instances in Fayette County resulted in the death of accident victims. According to Fayette County Coroner Tim Kimbrell, Garrett Miles, 33, reportedly went hunting on Thursday, Oct. 31 off of County Road 47 in Fayette. When he failed to return, family members began searching for him.

On Nov. 3, Marion County 911 dispatch received a call about a 14-year-old male child who had been shot at 541 Smith Road in Fayette County. Winfield Police Department and EMS arrived on the scene, followed by Fayette County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

The undefeated 1949 FCHS football team was honored prior to the Fayette - Dora football game. The team finished the season 10-0 and only allowed 18 points scored against them during the season.

The Fayette Medical Center Long-Term Care facility celebrated Halloween by dressing up in colorful costumes.

The inmates were moved to the new Fayette County jail on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

Andy Hamlin, district attorney for the 24th judicial circuit, spoke to the Fayette County Commission during its Oct. 28 meeting about the need for a domestic violence - sexual assault investigator. “The toughest cases to try are sexual abuse cases,” Hamlin said. “Not everyone is equipped to sit down with a four-year old and discuss a sexual assault.”

The Fayette County School System improved its ACT scores and academic indicators for the 2018 school year, according to recent figures released by the state board of education. After trailing the state average in both 2015 and 2016, Fayette County saw a dramatic increase in 2017 and increased that score slightly in 2018.

The FCHS varsity volleyball team wrapped up its 2019 season recently by competing in the Area and Super Regional tournaments.

After an absence of several years, the Fayette Cross-Country team is back in action. Cross-country running is a 3.1 mile race over grass/dirt trails. The team competed in six regular season meets, and the sectional meet on Oct. 31 in Tuscaloosa. The team improved each week throughout the season. Carson Reese, a junior, qualified to compete in the state meet Saturday, Nov. 9 in Moulton. Henley Aldridge set the school record for a female 5K on Oct. 12 with a time of 23:57. Several of these young people also participated in other sports and activities while running cross-country.

Fayette defeated Dora 27-7, and is riding a seven-game win streak as it approaches its first-round playoff game against Anniston. Fayette had the ball for only one possession during the first quarter, driving the ball 69 yards in 14 plays before the drive stalled at the Dora 11-yard line and Fayette turned the ball over on downs to the Bulldogs.

Closing out regular season play, Hubbertville traveled north to Bear Creek to face-off against the Phillips High Bears, winning the game by a score of 48-16. Following the coin toss, the Lions received the opening kickoff at its 34-yard line. Utilizing runs by Blake Anthony and Gage Key, the Lions took its opening possession inside the Bears’ red zone. Facing second down and one, Anthony took the handoff around left end and headed for the end zone, but the Lions were penalized for a holding infraction, moving the ball back to the 19-yard line.

Hundreds of children and adults attended the Community-Wide Fall Festival, held at the Fayette Multi-Purpose Complex on Sunday, Oct. 27. The festival was sponsored by area churches as a safe place for kids at Halloween.

Fayette Medical Center hosted a "Pink Party" on Oct. 23 to raise breast cancer awareness and honor the cancer survivors in the area.