Honeycutt sentenced in Fayette Circuit Court


Jerry Martin Honeycutt

A Fayette County man convicted of attempted murder has been sentenced to serve life in prison, 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin announced. Jerry Martin Honeycutt, 80, was convicted of attempted murder, two counts of first-degree burglary and for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm after a trial in 24th Judicial Circuit Court in April. The sentence was pronounced at the conclusion of a sentencing hearing held Aug. 3 before Circuit Judge Sam Junkin.

 

Sports Hall of Fame holds induction ceremony


Shown are the 2023 inductees into the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame. From left, front: Patrick Stiles, Emma Herren Mitchell, Alexandria Henry, Mary Henderson-Slaughter and Rhetta Hollingsworth Tucker. Back: Henry Wright, Ricky Wakefield, Terry Cook, Corey Bowen, Bryan Everette, Seth Harkness and Brandon Stocks.

The Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame held its 2023 induction ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 5 at Bevill State Community College in Fayette. Tom Roberts, a Fayette County High School graduate and the retired director of sports broadcasting at The University of Alabama, emceed the event. He introduced each inductee and gave a brief biography of their accomplishments before the inductees addressed the crowd. Following are the 2023 Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame inductees.

 

Storms cause tree damage in county


This tree fell on Sunday afternoon on Highway 107, temporarily blocking traffic until workers and volunteers cleared the roadway.

High summer temperatures continue to generate strong thunderstorms and winds, causing tree damage and power outages throughout the county this past weekend.
Fayette County EMA Director Michael Stoker said that it has been an unusually active summer, with numerous thunderstorms and strong straight line winds causing tree damage within the county.

 

State budget great for Bevill



Bevill State Community College is poised to benefit from the legislative support of the historic Education Trust Fund Budget passed during the 2023 legislative session. Notable points of this ETF budget include:
• $551,286,557 allocated to the Alabama Community College System;
• $280,000 specifically earmarked for all the Bevill State Community College campuses;
• $350,000 designated for the Alabama Mine Safety Training Program located on the Bevill State Sumiton Campus;

Fayette finishes third in Dixie Youth World Series


The Alabama (Fayette) team finished third in the Dixie Youth World Series. Shown, from left, front: Coach O.P. Morgan, Amir Watson, Amarion Prewitt, Ace Bass, Judah Elmore and Carson Brock. Middle: Ryder Brown, Jase Eason, Brantley Porter, Brooks Fulmer, Jett Watkins and JuJu Griffin. Back: Coaches Bradley Eason, Casey Elmore and Jared Porter.

The Fayette seven and eight year old All-Star team traveled to Hattiesburg, Miss. to compete as the Alabama representative in the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series. The team represented its city and state well, returning home with the third place trophy in the Division II Tournament.

 

Council congratulates All-Star team


The Fayette Dixie Youth team, pictured at the July 25 Fayette City Council meeting, front, from left: Judah Elmore, Ace Bass, Carson Brock, Amarion Prewitt, Coach Bradley Eason, Coach Casey Elmore and Fayette Mayor Rod Northam. Middle: Coach Jared Porter, Coach O.P. Morgan, Brooks Fulmer, Brantley Porter, Jase Eason, Ryder Brown, JuJu Griffin, Jett Watkins and Amir Watson. Back: Council members Jerry Nichols, Aliska Hughes-Monroe, Tommy Williams, Virettia Whiteside and Fayette Jr. Mayor Benjamin Olive.

The Fayette City Council recognized and congratulated the Fayette seven and eight year old All-Star team for winning the state tournament and being the first team ever from Fayette to participate in the Dixie Youth World Series. All council members were present for the July 25 meeting, with the exception of Councilman Eddy Campbell.

 

Sports Hall of Fame Banquet is this Saturday



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.

 

Berry students earn FCCLA gold medals


Danni Kate Naramore and Alex Wilson display their FCCLA gold medals.

Berry High School’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Chapter was represented at the 2023 FCCLA National Leadership Conference, held at the Colorado Convention Center on July 2 - 6. Berry FCCLA students, Danni Kate Naramore and Alex Wilson, competed in STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) events and each was awarded with gold medals.

BOE makes personnel changes


Pictured is the Fayette County Board of Education at its July 27 meeting. Shown from left: Board President Tom Hubbert and board members: Tierre Agnew, Brenda Webb, Julie Stough, John Stowe and John Aaron.

The Fayette County Board of Education approved personnel items and contracts during its July 27 meeting. All board members were present for the meeting.

 

Strong winds cause damage in county


This tree toppled power and phone lines along Columbus Street West - Highway 18 West, and also blocked the roadway before workers and volunteers cleared the street.

Strong winds and thunderstorms hit Fayette County just after dark on Tuesday, July 18, causing considerable tree damage and knocking out power to some areas for several hours. According to Fayette County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Michael Stoker, high winds and heavy rains from the thunderstorm began at approximately 8:15 - 8:30 that night. He said that the winds generated by the thunderstorms contained gusts of approximately 50-60 MPH, as reported by the National Weather Service.

 

Hubbertville’s FCCLA places first in nation


Zoe Whitson (left) and Maci McCaleb pose with the first place plaque they received for Hubbertville’s FCCLA.

Hubbertville School’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA),     represented the school and its community well at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference (NLC), held at the Colorado Convention Center on July 2 - 6. Maci McCaleb and Zoe Whitson of Hubbertville’s FCCLA placed first in the nation in the FCCLA Chapter Website, Level Two, STAR Event, and also achieved well-deserved gold medals in recognition of their outstanding performances.

 

Commission approves ‘Rebuild Alabama’ plan



The Fayette County Commission held its July 24 meeting at the courthouse annex building. All commissioners were present for the meeting. Prior to the beginning of the meeting, Mount Joy Pastor Kelcey Hale led the commission in prayer. Fayette County Engineer Jarrod Milligan presented the commission with a FY 2024 “Rebuild Alabama” transportation plan that had been discussed by the commissioners in a previous work session. The transportation plan is funded through the county’s share of Rebuild Alabama funds and is required by law. The plan must be submitted by the commission by Sept. 1.

Sites to host ‘Small Business Workstations’



Entrepreneurs and small business owners are encouraged to take advantage of the new “HUB” – Small Business Plan Workstation locations that were recently launched at the following three locations in Northwest Alabama: Vernon City Hall Library, Bevill State Community College - Hamilton Campus, Bevill State Community College – Fayette Campus.

 

Sales tax holiday this week



The municipalities of Fayette and Berry, in conjunction with the State of Alabama, will participate in the annual school sales tax holiday on July 21-23. This is the 18th year that Alabama has held the tax holiday, and the seventh time that the event has been held in July. The sales tax holiday will begin on Friday, July 21 at 12:01 a.m. and end on Sunday, July 23 at 11:59 p.m.

 

Commission approves tractor purchase


Pictured at the July 10 Fayette County Commissioner’s meeting, from left: Commissioners John Underwood, Wesley Jacobs, Robert Townley, David Hubbert, Shane Hughes, Brad Cox and Commission Chairman Mike Freeman.

The Fayette County Commission held its July 10 meeting at the courthouse annex building. All commissioners were present for the meeting. The commissioners approved the agenda, minutes of the last meeting and the financial claims for the past two weeks at the beginning of the meeting.

 

Council approves loader repair


Fayette EMA Director Michael Stoker and Stephanie Holcomb of Red Cross are shown speaking to the council.

The Fayette City Council held its regular meeting on July 11. Aliska Hughes-Monroe was absent, with the remainder of the council members present. Prior to the start of the meeting, Andrew Self, pastor of Davis Chapel Freewill Baptist Church opened the meeting in prayer, and his son, Eli Self, led the Pledge of Allegiance.