Like many in his generation, Stephen was an army brat born overseas. At the conclusion of his father’s service, Stephen’s family moved back to Talladega County. Like many in Alabama, the textile industry downturn led his father to seek a new path to providing for his family. This led to the family moving to the Wiregrass in 1995. It was in the Wiregrass that Stephen met his youth pastor’s daughter. In 2008, they married and settled down. They have been blessed with one daughter, Tallulah Grace.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

Turning Point, a domestic violence/sexual assault help organization offering free services to victims, approached the Reform City Council at their May 1 meeting. The organization wanted to lease a building in the city recently vacated by Alfa Insurance.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

At the Town Council meeting May 3, councilmembers voted to reinvest savings, gained from recent improvements, back into the community. The town saved money through both a good deal on surveillance cameras and audio-recording equipment, and a generous donation of office furniture and evidence lockers for the new Carrollton Police Department/City Court site.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

When Congresswoman Terri Sewell visited Pickens County on May 2, I was allowed a brief one-on-one with her after the Town Hall meeting, held at the Aliceville City Hall. My concern is Pickens County. I wanted to know, specifically, how we are being represented and fought for in Washington. With declining school enrollment and population, our county is facing a re-shifting of our schools and a revamping of our local hospital.

For the last four years, the Aliceville Museum’s annual fundraiser gala has been one of the social highlights for west-central Alabama. This year’s event promises to be the best yet with a Louisiana-style Crawfish Boil!  The gala will be held from 7:00 to 11:00 pm on Saturday, June 2 in the Museum's Events Room and Courtyard.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

Congresswoman Terri Sewell of the 7th Congressional District held a “Congress in your Community” Town Hall at Aliceville City Hall on May 2. Sewell makes a tour of the 14 Alabama counties she represents every year.

After an invocation by the Rev. James Wright of Mt. Hebron Baptist Church and a greeting and introduction by Aliceville Mayor Marva Gipson, Congresswoman Sewell began her Congressional update for the attendees.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

On behalf of the Health Resources Services Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), and Delta Regional Authority (DRA), The National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center) is excited to announce Pickens County Hospital has been selected to participate in the Delta Regional Community Health Systems Development (DRCHSD) Program.

Through the DRCHSD Program, the DRA and FORHP have partnered to support nine rural communities with an opportunity to receive intensive technical assistance (TA).

On April 5 thirty members of the R.J. Kirksey High School, Class of 1968 met in Aliceville to celebrate their 50th Class Reunion.  The event was held at, and catered by, Judi’s Café (formerly Savory Solutions II).

The formal reunion program featured presentations by classmates on the history of the school, a memorial tribute, reflections on the life journeys and noteworthy experiences of the participants, singing of the alma mater, and communal fellowship. It was a heartfelt and humbling experience.

At 8:38 a.m. on April 21, 911 received a call regarding a collision on Hwy. 82 Westbound at mile marker 2 in Ethelsville. The collision involved a Dodge Ram truck and a farming tractor.

William Douglas Wilcox, 77, the driver of the tractor, died at the scene. The tractor was not overturned but knocked off the road and into the ditch.

Forrest and Liberty Fire Departments, Pickens County Ambulance, Pickens County Sheriff, Pickens County Coroner, and Alabama State Troopers were all on scene. The collision is still an ongoing investigation.