The Alabama Beacon

Once a prestigious school, Judson College in Marion was a private women’s college affiliated with the Alabama Baptist Convention. The college was founded in 1838 and closed its doors in July 2021. Deep in the heart of the Southland, Judson College was named for Ann Hasseltine Judson, a Baptist missionary. The weekend of Sept. 12...

A chat with Michael Preston Rice, P.E., civil engineer, EEFS Company

Michael Preston Rice has always had an interest in building. A native of Corner, he graduated from Auburn University in May 2009 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. The next year he went to work for the Alabama Department of Transportation in Birmingham, where he worked on some of the busiest sections...

Bessemer orders two Pierce pumper trucks for fire department

The Bessemer City Council has approved the purchase of two Pierce Enforcer pumper trucks for the Bessemer Fire Department, finding the purchase in the city’s best interest. The council said the trucks will improve the readiness, reliability and effectiveness of the fire department and promote the public health, safety and welfare of the city’s citizens....

Remembering George ‘Kilroy’ Franklin, a gospel voice from Bessemer

George “Kilroy” Franklin was a fixture in the gospel sound that made a joyful noise throughout Bessemer and beyond, and Bessemer residents recently mourned and celebrated his life. The service was held at Hopewell Baptist Church, 4817 Jefferson Ave., Birmingham, under the pastorship of Dr. Edward E. Rodgers, with the Rev. Amos Williams delivering the...

Judge dismisses Bethel’s residency suit against Gulley

A Jefferson County circuit judge dismissed Darral Bethel’s suit challenging Mayor Kenneth Gulley’s residency on Sept. 16, six days before the mayoral runoff, ruling that Bethel’s complaint did not allege facts that could show Gulley had moved his legal residence out of Bessemer. Judge David Hobdy of the court’s Bessemer Division granted Gulley’s motion to...

Bessemer runoff settles mayor’s race and four seats; results after press time

Bessemer voters went to the polls Tuesday, Sept. 22, to settle the mayor’s race and four other contests left undecided by the Aug. 25 municipal election. Final results were not available when the Star went to press Tuesday night. Full results will appear in next week’s edition. The runoff for mayor pairs incumbent Kenneth Gulley,...

MMI notifying former students that bank account data was exposed in February breach

Marion Military Institute is notifying people whose names, bank account numbers and routing numbers were in its files that an unknown person had access to its network for four days in February, according to a notification letter one Marion family received this week. The letter, sent on the school’s behalf by Cyberscout, an identity protection...

Beef and Forage Field Day set Oct. 16 at Black Belt research center

Livestock and forage producers are invited to the annual Beef and Forage Field Day on Friday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Black Belt Research and Extension Center, 60 County Road 944, Marion Junction. The field day gives producers a chance to get out in the field, see demonstrations firsthand and...

Shepherd appeals ADEM’s dismissal of her Arrowhead hearing request