Fayette County, the State of Alabama and the United States are all currently experiencing a spike in new COVID-19 cases. For the first few months of the pandemic, Fayette County had the lowest number of total cases in the state. Now, several counties are ahead of Fayette County in the fewest number of cases in the state. As of Friday, Nov. 20, Fayette County had 800 total cases of the coronavirus, with 16 deaths. The new cases are rising by approximately 10 cases per day.

The Berry Wildcats were poised to make school history as they welcomed the Brilliant Tigers to Fred Webster Stadium for the third round of the playoffs. On the line for the Wildcats was its first 11-win season in school history, the school record for consecutive wins, but most importantly to the Wildcats, the first-ever appearance in the fourth round of the playoffs. Brilliant kept the game close in the first half, but 20 second half points by the Wildcats resulted in a 42–21 victory for Berry and a place in school history.

The Lions traveled to Pickens County on Friday night, closing out the 2020 season with a loss at the hands of the Tornadoes. Pickens County won the coin toss and following Taylor Hubbert’s kick, the Tornadoes started from its 42-yard line. The Lions’ defense stood strong, holding the Tornadoes on the opening possession with stops in the backfield by Grayson Sullivan, Alex Barnes, and Colby Tidwell. Facing fourth down and 12, Xerrance Washington’s punt rolled out of bounds at the Lions’ 43-yard line.

The 24th Judicial Circuit’s District Attorney Andy Hamlin announced on Wednesday, Nov. 11 the guilty plea and 20-year sentence of a defendant who shot a woman in the head during a drug transaction. Brandon Keyth Graham, 40, pled guilty last week to first-degree assault. The victim, 47, was driving a vehicle on Kelly Loop near Fayette County Road 91 with Graham as a passenger on Dec. 6, 2017.

The Fayette City Council held its first full meeting as a new council on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Fayette City Hall. All members were present for the meeting. The meeting was opened with a prayer from guest Sean White. Will Ayers led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Councilman Eddy Campbell made a motion, that was seconded by Councilman Jerry Nichols, to reappoint Dawn Clapp as Fayette City Clerk. The motion was approved unanimously.

The Fayette County Commission held its annual organizational meeting on Thursday, Nov. 12 at the Fayette Civic Center. Prior to the start of the meeting, Fayette County Probate Judge Mike Freeman issued the oaths of office to the four commissioners who won seats during this year’s election. They are as follows: Commissioner Shane Hughes, re-elected from District 2, Commissioner John Underwood, re-elected from District 6, newly-elected Commissioner Wesley Jacobs from District 4, and newly-elected Commissioner Robert Townley from District 5.

Julie Stough and Brenda Webb took their oaths of office prior to the Nov. 10 Fayette County Board of Education meeting. Stough is the new member from District 5 and Webb is representing District 4. Details of the Nov. 10 meeting will be presented in next week’s The Times-Record.

The Belk Town Council held its first monthly meeting following this year’s qualifying and election cycle. All members of the council were present for the Nov. 10 meeting. The council members officially took their respective oaths of office on Nov. 2. The members of the council are as follows: Sherry Spack, Place 1; Bill Davis, Place 2; Karen Strickland, Place 3; and Jeannie Hollingsworth, Place 4. Mike Ellison is the mayor of Belk.

Chancellor Jimmy H. Baker on Tuesday, Nov. 10, named Dr. Joel Hagood as President of Bevill State Community College. “When you combine Dr. Hagood’s proven leadership with his local expertise you get an ideal candidate for Bevill State’s next President,” Baker stated. “Bevill State’s diversity in programs matches its diversity in geography and I’m confident that with Dr. Hagood at the helm the college will continue to move the needle on student success.”

The Glen Allen Town Council, during its Nov. 3 meeting, elected to cancel the town’s annual Christmas tree lighting event for this year due to constraints posed by the COVID-19 virus.
Mayor Allen J. Dunavant presented the agenda item before the council at its regularly scheduled council meeting. Discussion among the council raised numerous concerns with regards to planning, preparing and hosting the annual event, with the overall concern being for the safety of those who would be participating and attending the event.

The Berry Wildcats made the trip to Randolph County to face the Woodland Bobcats in the second round of the playoffs. The game featured a matchup of running offenses, and possessions were at a premium. The offenses for both teams got the ball seven times each during the game. The Wildcats scored on four of its seven possessions to take a 26-16 victory and advance to round three.

Hubbertville welcomed the Winterboro Bulldogs to Wiley Hollingsworth stadium on Friday night for the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The Bulldogs entered the stadium with a 9-1 overall record and was representing Region Five as the number 1 seed in the playoffs.

District Attorney Andy Hamlin announced on Friday, Nov. 6 that Blue Berry Hill was sentenced to serve life in prison for a 2019 murder in Fayette County. Hill, 19, of Cullman, was charged with murder in the 2019 shooting death of Joshua Devin Bush. Bush, 18, was found dead in the intersection of Sand Springs and Bly roads in rural Fayette County on Aug. 30, 2019. A passerby reported finding his body around 2:30 p.m., adding they had seen nothing when they drove through the same intersection two hours prior.

Many veterans attended the 2020 Veterans Day Program, held at John Morgan Brown Stadium on Nov. 9. The event was sponsored by Fayette County High School and Bevill State Community College, and featured Captain Brian Walden of Sanford University as the guest speaker.

After filing paperwork challenging Virettia Whiteside’s residency and subsequent election to the Fayette City Council from Ward 1, Scottie Porter later asked to dismiss the case. However, Porter now has filed additional paperwork asking to withdraw his “Motion to Dismiss” and proceed to allow a judge to decide the case. The paperwork asking that his motion to dismiss be withdrawn was filed in Fayette County Circuit Court on Oct. 30.

The new mayor and council members for the City of Fayette officially began their terms after taking their oaths of office on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Prior to the beginning of the meeting, Scott Davis, pastor of Fayette First Baptist Church, led the attendees in prayer. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by members of Scout Troop 45. Municipal Judge Steven Nolen administered the oaths, first to Rod Northam as mayor and then collectively to the city council members.

The Berry Town Council held its organizational meeting after receiving their oaths of office on Nov. 2. Fayette County Probate Judge Mike Freeman administered the oaths of office to the council members and mayor prior to the start of the meeting. Charles Tidwell was sworn in as the only new member of the council, replacing former Councilman Chris Rice in Place 2. Rice chose to not seek re-election.

Advancing to the first round of the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season, the Lions traveled to Cherokee County to face-off against the Cedar Bluff Tigers. Winning the coin toss, the Lions elected to receive the opening kickoff, with Austin Berryhill making the reception at the Hubbertville 41-yard line.

The Berry Wildcats entered the playoffs as a home team for the first time since 2015. Berry welcomed the Sumiton Christian Eagles to Fred Webster Stadium in the first ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron. The Wildcats made quick work of the Eagles by taking an early lead and cruising to a 50–14 victory.

The 24th Judicial Circuit’s District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday, Oct. 30, the arrest of 16 defendants indicted in Fayette County on drug-related charges following an extensive multi-agency investigation that spanned several months. Law enforcement agents seized more than $10,000 in cash, multiple vehicles, and numerous firearms during the operation intended to curtail narcotics distribution in Fayette County. Drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana were seized from the defendants.