The annual Pinewood Derby Race for Fayette Cub Scouts, Pack 45, was held at the Fayette Scout Building on Friday night, January 25. There were 32 Cub Scouts ages seven - 11 participating in the race. Each Scout with the help of his parents was responsible for designing and making his car from a kit which consisted of a block of wood and four wheels. The car could not weigh more than five ounces.

Both the Fayette boys and girls basketball teams faced Cordova at home on Jan. 28 and both teams were victorious. The girls’ team led for most of the game, but only took a slim 21-20 lead into the locker room at halftime. Fayette increased the lead in the second half, winning by a score of 46-33. Jada Savage led the Lady Tigers with 16 points, followed by Samantha Cox with eight, while Iteria Walker and Ayana Poe each scored seven points. Mackenzie Nelson added four points for Fayette, while Zana Smith and Kiera Savage scored two points each.

The Hubbertville boys basketball team traveled to Bear Creek on Jan. 31 and lost a heartbreaker in overtime by a score of 83-80. The Lions led by three points before a desperation shot at the buzzer in regulation for Phillips tied the score and sent the game to overtime.

The Berry Lady Wildcats closed out a successful regular season and head into the playoffs with momentum as they won all three games during the week. Berry defeated South Lamar on Jan. 28 by a score of 54-29. Leading the scoring for the Lady Wildcats was Zoe Mauldin with 14 points and eight rebounds. Bailey Thomas had 13 points, followed by Brooke Hill with eight points and Tyner Bowling with seven.

The path to fill more than 10,000 automotive manufacturing jobs within two years will be even more affordable in 2019 for 50 students in Alabama. The Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and Alabama Community College System (ACCS) have partnered to provide a total $180,000 in scholarships, as well as mentors, to 50 students who want to pursue a technical education certificate or associate degree in the automotive manufacturing industry. The deadline to apply is Feb. 28.

A historic first march and rally in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was held in downtown Fayette on Monday, Jan. 21. The event was organized by the Fayette County Ministerial Alliance. The celebration began at the Fayette County Courthouse and continued through the streets of Fayette to the First Baptist Church on Martin Luther King Drive. An estimated crowd of more than 200 people participated in the celebration.

Lance Tucker has accepted a job to be the head football coach at Bartlett High School in Tennessee, effective June 1. Tucker resignation as head football coach at Fayette County High School was accepted by the Fayette County Board of Education at its meeting on Jan. 15. The effective date of the resignation is May 31. At Fayette County High School, Tucker compiled a 76-31 record in eight seasons, including finishing as runner-up for the state championship three times during those seasons.

Kenneth Dawayne Elliott, 20, of Decatur pled guilty in Fayette Circuit Court to a second degree burglary charge on Jan. 10 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The plea deal was the result of a failed robbery and burglary attempt at the Fayette County branch of West Alabama Bank on Jan. 27, 2017. The original charges against Elliott were second degree burglary of a banking institution by force, first degree robbery, and attempting to elude a police officer.

The Fayette City Council addressed a speeding concern in a residential area of Temple Avenue during its Jan. 22 meeting. At the beginning of the regular meeting, Mayor Ray Nelson asked for an executive session to discuss “the good name and character of one or more individual.” A motion to enter executive session was made by Councilman Cedric Wilson and seconded by Councilman Jason Cowart. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote.

Forrest Deal, 16, of Fayette will be guest-starring in an upcoming episode of the TV comedy show “Young Sheldon.” The episode is entitled “David, Goliath, and a Yoo-Hoo from the Back,” and will air on the CBS network at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31. Deal filmed the episode of “Young Sheldon” at Warner Brothers Studio in Dec. 2018.

Headland High School Head Football Coach Danny Raines (center) was named the Alabama Class 4A Head Football Coach of the Year for the 2018 season by the Alabama Football Coaches Association. The former Berry High School coach led his team to a 10-2 record last season.The award was presented during a banquet on Jan. 26 in Montgomery.

The Hubbertville boys basketball team traveled to Vina on Jan. 22 and won a thriller by the score of 49-48. The game was close throughout, with Hubbertville leading at the half by a score of 21-17. Zach Hubbert led the Lions with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Brady Tucker had 11 points, followed by Tanner Upton with nine points and nine rebounds.

The Fayette boys hosted Curry in an area matchup for its only game of the week, losing by a score of 52-36. Leading the scoring for the Fayette Tigers was Harrison Whitley with 17 points. Landon Hamlett had 13 points and T’Marvic Smith scored four points for Fayette. Curry was led by Colton Aaron with 14 points, followed by Hunter Wilson with nine points on three three-point baskets.

The Berry High School girls basketball team played Lynn on Jan. 21 and dominated the court for a 45-19 win. The Lady Wildcats were led in scoring by Brooke Hill with 14 points, followed by Iannah Fields with 10 points. Tyner Bowling  had eight points, while Bailey Thomas scored six points and hit the boards for nine rebounds.

Lance Tucker has resigned as head football coach at Fayette County High School, effective May 31. His resignation was accepted at the Jan. 15 meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education. Board member Keith Madison made a motion to accept Tucker’s resignation and the motion was seconded by Tim Fields. Madison, Fields, Hubbert and Sullivan voted to accept the resignation, while board member John Stowe voted against the motion. Board member Waldon Tucker abstained from voting on the motion.

A rare total eclipse of the moon occurred on Sunday, Jan. 20. The total eclipse, also known as a “Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse," was visible in Fayette County from approximately 10:45 - 11:40 p.m.

County Engineer Chris Howell told the Fayette County Commission during its Jan. 11 meeting that the city has approached him about a mutually beneficial paving project between the city and the county. The city is proposing that the county use federal money that is at their disposal to pave a portion of County Road 21, County Road 38 West, a portion of 8th Avenue and 25th Street.

Fayette County Superintendent of Education Jim Burkhalter presented the results of the Alabama Education Report Cards recently released by the state during the board’s Jan. 15 meeting. Burkhalter said that the county’s scores were up at each individual school and for the system from last year’s scores. The Fayette County School System scored an 86 (B), compared to an 80 (B) last year.

The Berry Town Council released the data from its fiscal year 2018 audit, conducted by Kellum, Wilson and Associates, during its Jan. 8 meeting held at Berry Town Hall. All council members were present for the meeting. Phillip Eads represented the accounting firm at the meeting and stated that Berry received a clean audit with only a notation that the town needs more “segregation of duties.” He said this is a continuing yearly finding by his firm due to the size of the town and its limited resources.

The Fayette County High School Marching Band played in Governor Kay Ivey's inauguration parade in Montgomery on Jan. 14.