The Fayette County Board of Education approved personnel items and contracts during its July 11 meeting. All board members were present for the meeting, with the exception of board member Tierre Agnew. Board President Tom Hubbert read the Personnel Action Report prior to voting on the items listed on the report. The items listed on the report were as follows:
Resignations: Tori Grace, Berry Elementary teacher; Angela Davis, Berry Elementary teacher; Carolyn Jungels, Hubbertville School teacher; and Kevin Bass, bus driver.

This is the first of three articles highlighting inductees for the 2023 class of the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame.  

Fayette Police Chief Danny Jenkins said that a response by officers to a call concerning an “unwanted guest” at a residence led to an arrest of a suspect on multiple charges. Dustin Glasgow was arrested at a residence on County Road 21, and charged with first degree burglary, second degree assault, third degree criminal mischief and attempted murder.

In the year 2020, a COVID pandemic encircled the world that caused people to drastically change their normal patterns of lives, including attending regular church services. Although the pandemic is now over, many people have not fully returned to doing many of the things that are important to them, including attending church. In October, there will be a countywide crusade in Fayette, entitled the “Fayette Festival of Hope 2023” that will seek to draw churches and Christians of all dominations together in a great revival.

The annual Fayette County Tractor and Truck Pull, held Saturday, July 8 at the Fayette County Multipurpose Complex, was a big success.

Governor Kay Ivey on Friday, July 7 signed a proclamation to set special election dates for the vacant Alabama House District 16 office. This seat was previously held by Kyle South, who resigned effective June 30 to serve as president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

After a four-year absence, the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet will have an induction ceremony this August for its Class of 2023 inductees. 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. Fayette County High School graduate and University of Alabama broadcasting legend Tom Roberts will once again emcee the event.

A brief, isolated thunderstorm produced large hail and caused some tree damage in the Bankston – Berry area of the county on Thursday, June 29, according to Fayette County Emergency Management Area Director Michael Stoker. Stoker said that due to temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees in Northwest Alabama last week, the heat caused isolated thunderstorms to occur in certain areas. The official high temperature for Fayette last Thursday was 97 degrees, with a heat index of approximately 110 degrees.

The summer heat and high temperatures are here, with temperatures approaching the 100 degree mark. However, the heat index last Thursday - Sunday was approximately 110 degrees, causing many to seek cool shelter in an effort to avoid the dangerously high heat.

The Fayette City Council held its regular council meeting on Tuesday, June 27. All council members were present for the meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Eddy Campbell led the meeting during the absence of Fayette Mayor Rod Northam, who missed the meeting due to attending a conference. Fayette County High School student Sean White opened the meeting with prayer and also led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Berry High School Lady Wildcats got next year’s season off to a good start, as they participated in the “Battle on the Diamond” softball tournament in Aliceville on June 16 and brought home the first place trophy.

The Bevill State Community College Department of Adult Education is proud to announce the launch of a new online Pharmacy Tech training class. The interactive online course is free of charge to individuals who qualify for Adult Education services.

Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) announced the expansion of the Alabama First Class Pre-K program. The department will initially add 69 classrooms in 30 counties this fall, providing seats for more than 1,200 children. The classrooms included in this first round are part of Governor Ivey’s specific education initiatives that include addressing turnaround schools and high needs areas, as well as reducing wait lists for Pre-K programs.

Bevill State Community College has partnered with The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing as part of the “UAB School of Nursing/Community College Joint Enrollment Pathway” to offer Bevill State students a seamless path from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The UAB School of Nursing/Community College Joint Enrollment Pathway is for students who are interested in earning their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree while still enrolled in their associate degree program.

Matt Belk was selected as mayor by the Belk City Council during the council’s regular monthly meeting on Thursday, June 22.

The Fayette County Board of Education voted unanimously during its June 22 meeting to name Dr. Kim Williams as the new principal of Berry High School. All board members were in attendance for the meeting. Dr. Williams is a 1989 graduate of Berry High School, where she was valedictorian of her senior class.

The Fayette Kiwanis held its annual “Youth Fishing Rodeo” on Saturday, June 24. The rodeo was held at Lake Hutto at Guthrie Smith Park.

The Fayette County Commission held its June 26 meeting at the Canaan Community Center at the request of Commissioner John Underwood. All commissioners were present for the meeting.
During the absence of Commission Chairman Mike Freeman, who was attending a conference meeting, Commissioner Wesley Jacobs stepped in as vice-chairman to conduct the meeting. Underwood led the commission in prayer to open the meeting.

Fayette Medical Center is the only hospital of its size in the West Alabama area to offer the latest in three-dimensional mammography services with its new “Hologic Selina Dimensions 3D Performance Mammography System.

Bevill State Community College Division of Workforce Solutions announces the return of the college’s Real Estate program. The first classes will be held on the Fayette Campus beginning July 31.