Fayette County

On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force agents assisted Alabama Probation and Parole during a home visit in the 23000 block of Hwy. 18 E. in Berry involving probationer Grady Pendley. 

According to Sheriff Byron Yerby and Investigator Branndon Collins, officers discovered multiple narcotics and drug paraphernalia items. Substances found included fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana and Xanax.

Pictured above is CSM Skip Hocutt, who was part of the 877th Engineer Battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 through April 2004.

At the age of 17, Skip Hocutt made a promise that he’d make something of himself. That pledge led him to the U.S. Marine Corps in 1962 and launched a military career spanning more than three decades.

The plea hearing for Wendy Pamela Jean Bailey, the defendant in a high-profile child abuse case, has been postponed until April 13, 2026.

The Fayette County Commission held its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 27, at the Fayette County Courthouse Annex. The meeting opened with a prayer led by Commission Chairman Mike Freeman, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Freeman called the meeting to order, with all commissioners present except for Brad Cox and Wesley Jacobs.

On Thursday, Oct. 16, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle crash in the 2500 block of Co. Rd. 24. According to Sheriff Byron Yerby, minor injuries were reported during the incident. Marion County EMS assisted at the scene, along with the Hubbertville/Glen Allen Volunteer Fire Department. The cause of the crash remains unknown. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating.

The Fayette County Commission held a special meeting on Monday, Sept. 29 at the Courthouse Annex building to amend the current road construction budget and finalize the fiscal year 2026 budget. All commissioners were present except District Two Commissioner Shane Hughes. District One Commissioner Brad Cox opened the meeting with a prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pictured above are the “Zombies of Hwy 107”, Rebecca Reeks, Bloody Bentley, Jerry Jawbreaker, Zelda Zombie and Melted Mike. They have been stalking the Holmes family for the last 11 years.

For the Holmes family, October means mums, pumpkins and reanimated corpses -- or at least it’s been that way for the last eleven years.

Chris and Amber Holmes said that in 2014 is when “they” started showing up. At first there were just two, Rotted Ralph and Zombie Zeke. But, it seemed where one or two aimlessly amble, others began to congregate.

Photos by Fayette County Sheriff Byron Yerby

On Sunday, Oct. 12, at approximately 6:10 a.m., the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two vehicle crash in the 4800 block of Co. Rd. 67 in Bankston.

Sheriff Byron Yerby said that one driver sustained serious injuries and was airlifted from the scene and the other driver sustained minor injuries. Fayette County and Marion County EMS transported the patients and Bankston/Stough and North River Rescue Squad assisted at the scene.