The Alabama Beacon

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...

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...

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...

Perry to receive $6.05 million in disaster recovery funds

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...

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,...

Black Belt farmer Charles Holmes has been named to the Alabama Agricultural Hall of Honor

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...

Due to chronic health issues, Fourth Judicial Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway has stepped down after 13 years on the bench.

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...

Council hears reports on new magistrate, repairs to GRC roof