Cooking in the Black Belt
Admittedly, I haven’t always been a salad person. Well, unless it’s one of the mayonnaise-dressed cold salads that live in our fridge when the temperature goes up. Those salads are more of a coping mechanism, when I can’t be bothered to heat up the kitchen. Sure, you can make them healthy, but is that really... Read More
Perry teams advance in state basketball playoffs
Bobcats Defeat Rams in Montgomery on Monday The R.C. Hatch Bobcats advanced to the semifinals after beating Francis Marion by a score of 55-42. Isiah Thomas of the Bobcats scored 11 points and made 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, and 4 steals. Desarion Lewis shot 4 for 6 from behind the three-point line and... Read More
Perry to receive $6.05 million in disaster recovery funds
Perry County will receive more than $6 million in federal disaster recovery funding as part of a $28 million grant package announced Feb. 11 by Gov. Kay Ivey. The grants, funded through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program, will support two projects in the county: $1.05 million for drainage improvements along County Road... Read More
Perry to receive $6.05 million in disaster recovery funds
Perry County will receive more than $6 million in federal disaster recovery funding as part of a $28 million grant package announced Feb. 11 by Gov. Kay Ivey. The grants, funded through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program, will support two projects in the county: $1.05 million for drainage improvements along County Road... Read More
Hale tops list of counties with highest rates of foster care
Recent studies show that Alabama’s Black Belt region has some of the highest per capita rates of children in foster care in the state. Close to 6,000 children in Alabama are in foster care as of this month, according to data from the state’s Department of Human Resources. Counties with the Highest Foster Care Rates... Read More
HCSD reports arrests for controlled substance, assault, disorderly conduct
Hale County Sheriff’s Dept. has released the follow report of the department’s recent activity: Arrests February 16, 2026 Phillip Andrew Johnson, 46, of Akron, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Angela Lee Collins, 37, of Akron, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. February 17, 2026 Pierre Xavier Griffin, 39, of Demopolis,... Read More
Holmes Named to Alabama Agricultural Hall of Honor
Perry County farmer Charles Holmes has been recognized with one of Alabama agriculture’s top honors. Holmes, owner of Holmestead Farms near Marion, was named the Production Industry honoree in this year’s Alabama Agricultural Hall of Honor class at a banquet hosted last week by the Auburn University Agricultural Alumni Association. Holmestead Farms is a six-generation... Read More
Pettaway steps down after 13 years as circuit judge, Bryan Jones appointed
Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway Jr., who serves the 4th Judicial Circuit and Dallas County, has stepped down from the bench. Pettaway Jr. had served for thirteen years and was one year into his third 6-year term. The 4th Judicial Circuit includes Perry County, Hale County, Dallas County, Wilcox County, and Bibb County. Pettaway cites health... Read More
Council hears reports on new magistrate, repairs to GRC roof
Greensboro City Council heard in detail from former Magistrate Marjorie Davis, a 19-year public service veteran, about the training she has been providing for the new Magistrate Makaila Howard over the last month. Davis was matter-of-fact about the responsibilities of the position and effusive in her praise of her trainee Howard. “I am all about... Read More
Legal Notices Week of Feb 27, 2026 Western Star
LEGAL NOTICE IN THE FAMILY COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMA BESSEMER DIVISION IN THE MATTER OF: LANYAA DENISE NELSSON A Child. CASE NO. 68-JU2022-000588.02 SAH NOTICE OF PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS TO: MOTHER You are hereby given notice that a petition has been filed by the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources requesting... Read More