The Alabama Beacon

Bessemer firefighter Joseph Kade Spraggins epitomizes the values honored by the Bessemer Fire Department. He is committed to fire service and the citizens of Bessemer. Spraggins was recently honored as the Firefighter of the Year at the 35th Annual Bessemer Business Awards First Responders Gala. The event was held at the Bessemer Civic Center. The...

A chat with The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan, retired Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Alabama

The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan, retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, is indeed a man of God. He was first elected bishop suffragan in 2007, then elected the 11th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama in 2011, consecrated in 2012, and served until the end of 2020. A priest and bishop...

Bessemer awards contract for new fire station

When was the last time a new fire station was built in Bessemer? Recently, the Bessemer City Council approved awarding a contract for the construction of a new fire station. Fire Station #2 Annex will be located on the corner of 19th Street and Carolina Avenue. Five bids were received for the project. The lowest...

Hueytown purchases new fire engine

The City of Hueytown has just purchased a third fire engine, and it is paid for. What is also important is that the first two fire engines are also paid for in full. Hueytown Mayor Steve Ware is a good steward of the city’s finances. Joining the fleet three weeks ago is a Pierce Arrow...

Darryl Barry, Cliff Fleming, Eric Frye, Joe Stroud, Jamie Black, Thom Perez, James Prince, Kelvin Washington and Patty Douglas

Black Family Restaurants McDonald’s supports American Legion Post #1228

Darryl Barry, Cliff Fleming, Eric Frye, Joe Stroud, Jamie Black, Thom Perez, James Prince, Kelvin Washington and Patty Douglas (above) The D. W. Segars Memorial American Legion Post 1228 in Hueytown is committed to helping veterans, their families and communities. They were completely surprised recently when notified that a local business wanted to help them....

CLIMB applications open for Perry County high school students

Perry County high school students interested in experiential learning, service and career exploration have until Friday, Aug. 28, to apply for the fall session of Community Leaders in Medicine and Beyond, or CLIMB. The free Project Horseshoe Farm program meets Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Aug. 28 and are available through Project Horseshoe Farm Perry...

Video shows raw sewage overflowing on Magnolia Street; pump station not running, resident says

A Marion resident posted video this week of what he described as raw sewage overflowing from a city sewer pump station on Magnolia Street and running downhill into a creek, writing that the city has been called about it multiple times. Forrest Hale posted the video in a community Facebook group. It shows liquid pouring...

Perry schools, clinics named in state rural health sector grants

Students in Perry County schools are in line for school-based mental health services under two of the 138 grants Gov. Kay Ivey announced Monday, Aug. 24, in the first round of the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program. Cahaba Medical Care Foundation, the Centreville-based community health center that operates a clinic on Washington Street in Marion,...

Uniontown Health Center to get $1 million federal renovation