BY GENA HUFF, Editor
During the last couple of city council meetings, Reform city council members have had zoning issues brought to their attention. One of them, brought to the council on May 15, was from Dearl Hughes, who wanted to rezone a strip of land currently zoned as residential, but having commercial properties on either side of it.
Black-eyed Susans scatter their blooms along roadsides during most of the summer. The “Susan” is a member of the sunflower family.
BY GENA HUFF, Editor
Summertime has arrived. Or, almost, depending on how you look at it.
Astronomically, summertime begins on the Summer Solstice, which can fall anywhere between June 20 and June 22. This year, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Summer Solstice starts precisely on June 21 at 5:07 a.m. CDT. That is when the Sun reaches its northernmost point from the equator. The summer solstice is the day with the most hours of sunlight during the whole year.
Family Fun Day attendees take photos with a Gordo Fire Truck.
By Brian Hamilton, Correspondent
Gordo’s Housing Authority hosted its first ever Family Fun Day June 9 in conjunction with the 31st Annual Gordo Mule Day/Chickenfest.
Frank and June Z. Elmore
Frank and June Z. Elmore celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 7, 2018. They were married in Gordo, Alabama at First Methodist Church. Rejoicing with them are their children Holli Moss, Kara Griffin, and Josh Elmore, and 16 grandchildren.
Donald B. McCaa and Turkila Shauntell Mayhew
Ms. Mattie Mayhew of Aliceville is pleased to announce the upcoming marriage of her daughter, Turkila Shauntell Mayhew to Donald B. McCaa, son of Adaline McCaa.
The bride elect is the granddaughter of the late Jennie Hopson and Mary L. Barnes of Aliceville.
The prospective groom is the grandson of Mary J. McCaa and the late Ora Bishop of Aliceville.
The wedding and reception will take place on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. at 502 Gulfshore Drive, Destin, Fla.
Gary Smith, the owner of B&S Farms, always provides a wide variety of fresh produce that will satisfy the needs of every customer.
By JESSICA JUNKIN, Pickens County Extension Office
The Aliceville Farmers Market, located near City Hall, is open for business every Thursday and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. with just the right amount of vendors and activities for everyone to enjoy.
This venue has a large playground area for children, as well as a paved walking track around the covered pavilion. Fresh produce is the main attraction at the market, but other items are also available such as pottery, soaps, meat, and pastries.
Daniel Perez, 32, was shot and killed at his residence on Memorial Parkway in Aliceville, June 1. A suspect has not yet been arrested.
BY GENA HUFF, Editor
Friday night, June 1, between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., an unidentified man shot 32-year-old Daniel Perez once in the chest, with a hand gun, killing him. The homicide occurred at Perez’s residence on Memorial Parkway in Aliceville. Another resident, who was inside during the altercation, went to a nearby store for help. Identification of the assailant has not yet been made public. It is said the intruder was wearing a ski mask and/or hood, and long sleeves. A suspect has not been named.
By Brian Hamilton, Correspondent
Christopher Washington supporters were out in full force last Tuesday night at the Pickens County Courthouse to keep tabs on their candidate’s tightly contested race with Democratic sheriff nominee Tonnie Jones, who is Chief of Police in Aliceville.
Are you new to Medicare?
Questions beneficiaries often ask are; do I have Medicare or Medicaid, Part A or Part B, how do I select the right Part D plan, Medigap or supplemental coverage, managed care or HMO’s? What services does Medicare cover?
If these are a few of the questions in the back of your mind, you are not alone. Medicare is a very complex program and trying to understand your benefits can be overwhelming. Knowing the basics about Medicare is the key to making informed decisions about your coverage.
A six-foot American alligator caused a stir when it appeared in Aliceville. The animal was captured and released in the Tombigbee River.
BY GENA HUFF, Editor
An American alligator created quite the scene in Aliceville during the last weekend of May. The six-foot gator was spotted ambling across the grassy area behind Fred’s and near Buchanan Lumber Company, close to Baptist Line Road.
BY GENA HUFF, Editor
The Gordo City Council members were all breathing a sigh of relief at the Council meeting this month, on June 4. Mule Day had once again been organized, put on, cleaned up, and touted a success for another year.
With some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far, and the dew point in the mid-70s, the crowd was hot, but there were no heat issues for the emergency departments. “No major incidents,” reported Gordo Police Chief Todd Hall.
BY GENA HUFF, Editor
At the Pickens County Commissioner’s Administrative meeting June 7, amidst the talk of gravel, rip rap, road graders, and herbicide, County Coroner Chad Harless brought in something different when he came to notify the Commissioners the bills from the Coroner’s department were going to be higher.
“The Coroner’s office has been absolutely crazy this year,” said Harless. “I’ve had more in-depth investigation autopsies than I do in a three-year time period.”
By awarding grants totaling $924,255 to assist low-income and elderly Alabama residents, Governor Kay Ivey is supporting local agencies to lower energy costs this summer.
The grants are supporting Alabama’s Weatherization Assistance Program which provide funds to improve the energy efficiency and safety of qualifying homes. Priority is given to those with disabilities, the elderly, and low-income households with children.
Governor Kay Ivey, on May 30, announced the installation of the Alabama Sentry Program in the school system. This program will permit administrators in schools without a School Resource Officer (SRO) to maintain a firearm on campus, in a secured safe, in order to be prepared to respond to an active shooter situation. The purpose of the program is to provide an additional security measure in schools that do not have an SRO.
Janna Hoehn is searching for a photo of Wardell Perkins, a Vietnam soldier from Gordo.
Janna Hoehn, a resident of Maui, Hawaii, is helping put together photos from all 58,315 American soldiers killed or missing during the Vietnam War for the “Wall of Faces” online memorial on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website. To date, 53,000 photos have been collected.
BY GENA HUFF, Editor
At the Aliceville City Council meeting on May 23, unfinished business included an addition to the city’s Park Rental Agreement. At the council’s prior meeting, Mayor Marva Gipson wanted to add an amendment to the agreement which prohibits alcohol on site for rental events. Councilman Thomas Wilkins stated he wanted to have the city’s attorney, John Russell, make sure an amendment such as that would not infringe on the rights of citizens.
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West is advocating a Presidential pardon on behalf of Alice Marie Johnson, 63, currently held at the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Aliceville. Johnson is serving a sentence of life in prison with no parole for a 1996 conviction of drug conspiracy and money laundering.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is requiring all public housing agencies across the nation, including Alabama, to be smoke free by July 31, 2018. In November of 2016, HUD announced its final rule requiring all public housing agencies to implement smoke-free policies over the following 18 months.
Milton Ball, 41, of Aliceville, pled guilty last week to the charge of Robbery 1st Degree. The charge stems from a home invasion near Aliceville on January 12, 2018.
BY GENA HUFF, Editor
Mrs. Washington’s Fourth-Grade Class shows off their “Yackers” before shopping at the last Accelerated Reading/Positive Behavior Rewards Store of the 2017-2018 school year.
Aliceville Elementary School has had another successful year at the Accelerated Reader (AR)/Positive Behavior Rewards Store for 2017-2018. Students are given “Yellow Jacket Yackers” to spend in the store for different types of games, toys, puzzles, and merchandise once every six weeks. The “yackers” come in $1, $2, $5, and $10 increments and are earned through reading at or above grade level, and by showing positive behaviors such as helping others, improving schoolwork, good attitudes, being peacemakers, and exhibiting leadership qualities.
BY GENA HUFF, Editor
Jordan Nicole Kesler and Christopher St. Pierre
Billy and Hazel Kesler of Columbus, Miss. are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Jordan Nicole Kesler to Christopher Allen St. Pierre, son of John and Brenda St. Pierre of Columbus, Miss.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late James S. Jordan, Dixie G. Nickoles and Leon Kesler and Shirley Kesler of Columbus, Miss. She is a 2010 graduate of Caledonia High School, attended one year at EMCC, and is currently employeed at Handyland Exxon in Hinesville, Ga.
Christopher Chase Britt and Luci Danielle Lewis
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Lewis of Aliceville announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Luci Danielle Lewis to Christopher Chase Britt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chad Britt of Carrollton.
Miss Lewis is the granddaughter of Lucy Gates and the late Earl Gates, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Dean Lewis, all of Aliceville.
BIRMINGHAM – A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a former corrections officer at the federal prison for women in Alabama to 1½ years in prison for committing a sexual act with an inmate and lying about his contact with her while he worked at the facility. U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Bourbon announced the sentence.
