Harvey Suttle
Harvey Suttle died on Friday, June 13, 2026. A viewing will be held on Friday, June 26, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Melvin Miller Funeral Service, 302 Pickens St., Marion. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Old Oak Grove Baptist Church, 7... Read More
J.C. Fralin
Deacon J. C. Fralin died on Friday, June 13, 2026. A viewing was held on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Melvin Miller Funeral Service, 302 Pickens St., Marion. A celebration of life service was held on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Melvin Miller Funeral Service, with... Read More
State authorities on the lookout for screwworm
Alabama agriculture officials are reinforcing animal entry requirements in an effort to keep the New World Screwworm out of the state. The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) said the state is taking “proactive steps” following recent detections of the parasite in Texas and New Mexico. Enhanced interstate movement requirements are being implemented for... Read More
UWA to host Franklin-Covey leadership development program
The University of West Alabama’s Division of Lifelong Learning and Economic and Workforce Development will host FranklinCovey’s “6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team” leadership development program at the Black Belt Development Center, 126 Franklin St., Livingston, on July 21 and July 28, from 8 a.m. to noon each day. The program is designed to... Read More
Arthur Hartley
Arthur Hartley, age 80, of Akron, passed away peacefully at his home on May 31, 2026. He was born on December 22, 1945, to David and Mary Lane Hartley. Funeral services were directed by Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home (South) and held at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Akron on June 4, with Pastors Leon White... Read More
Cooking in the Black Belt
The more I’ve been baking, the more technically obsessive I’ve become about even the simplest projects. Chocolate chip cookies are the worst offenders in that regard. There’s an endless stream of opinions about what makes the “perfect” version—chewy, crunchy, cakey, Levain-style, pan-banged, double chocolate, triple chocolate, oatmeal, peanut butter, or the infamous “kitchen sink.” There... Read More
Marion native elected bishop in CME Church
The Rev. Dr. Richard D. Shaw, a Marion native, has been elected the 70th bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the nation’s historically Black Methodist denominations. Shaw was elected on the second ballot at the church’s 41st General Conference, held June 13–19 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The General Conference, which... Read More
McClenney selected to UA Early College Spring 2026 Director’s List
A total of 672 students enrolled in UA Early College during Spring Semester 2026 at The University of Alabama were named to the Director’s List with an academic record of 3.6 or higher. The Director’s List recognizes students enrolled in classes through the UA Early College program. UA Early College allows high school students to... Read More
District 1 commission contest awaits state party ruling as Bennett seeks support
More than a month after the May 19 Democratic primary, the contest over the Perry County Commission District 1 seat remains unresolved before the Alabama Democratic Party, and the challenger certified as the winner has gone public asking supporters to help fund his side of the fight. Donald Bennett defeated incumbent Commissioner Albert Turner Jr.... Read More
Coalition, Perry County Schools launch No Child Without a Bed
The Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers & Children and the Perry County School System have launched No Child Without a Bed, a countywide effort to provide beds for children who do not have one. The project is backed by a $20,000 grant from the Mark Cuban Foundation, which made a similar gift for a drive... Read More