Major exterior renovations underway at Perry courthouse, with more in store, says Turner
The work on Perry County’s historic Courthouse building has been hard to miss in recent weeks. Perry County Commission Chairman Albert Turner said the current project, the restoration of the fluted columns on the building’s east and west porticoes, represented an investment of $180,000. “This is the first phase,” said Turner. He said the project... Read More
150 Years Ago in the Marion Commonwealth March 28, 1872
Memorial Day—Will soon be here, and as yet we have not heard of any preparation on the part of the Memorial Association to observe it with the usual ceremonies or any ceremonies at all. Other communities and Associations are taking steps to honor the memory of our martyr heroes on that day, and we doubt... Read More
120 Years Ago March 29, 1902 in the Marion Democrat
Mrs. George Wallace, of West Perry, is visiting her sister’s family, Mrs. J.A. Nichols. Messrs. Haywood Flynn and J. Crawford of Hale County were in the city Wednesday. The Sunbeam Society of the Baptist Church will give an Easter egg hunt Monday. Messrs. Perry and Moses Wilbourne left this week for Birmingham where they have... Read More
Perfect weather, strong turnout ingredients in memorable Low Country Boil for Perry County Historical Society
Saturday night, March 26,witnessed the return of abeloved Perry County tradition. Perry County HistoricalSociety’s annual fundraiser,the Low Country Boil, was awelcome event after a weekof rain and thunderstorms.The weather cooperatedwith organizers all evening,ensuring an enthusiasticturnout as locals and guestsfrom out of town feasted onshrimp, sausage, corn, andpotatoes prepared in the traditional South Carolina lowcountry fashion,... Read More
Nonprofits serving Hale, Perry, receive almost $500k for home weatherization assistance programs in the Black Belt
The State of Alabamahas given over $200,000 toCommunity Service Programs of West Alabama.Funds will go towards assisting low-income familiesand the elderly with weatherizing their residences.Earlier this week, Governor Kay Ivey awardedgrants in the amount of $2.9million in conjunction withAlabama’s WeatherizationAssistance Program. Theprogram seeks to improvethe safety and efficiency ofhomes, particularly thosebelonging to the elderly,disabled, and... Read More
SA’s Webb and James tapped for all-state basketball
The Alabama Sports Writers Association All State Basketball team was announced on March 20. The team is selected by the ASWA prep committee following nominations from coaches from throughout the state. The top 20 players in the state are chosen into 4 teams as 1st team, 2nd team, 3rd team and honorable mention. This year... Read More
Flood waters overcome school bus in East Perry, driver gets rescued by boat
Ed. Note: All photos and video by Betty Ann Abernathy Sanders, who is quoted in the following story. Though last Tuesday night’s weather included a tornado warning for Perry County, it was flooding that caused the most problems in a night that saw severe weather batter the region. That pattern was expected to continue as... Read More
Downed trees block highways in Perry, power outages in Hale, and damage to the Faunsdale Bar and Grill in Marengo as storms batter the Black Belt
Severe thunderstorms battered the Black Belt for the second time in as many weeks on Wednesday night, spinning up as many as three possible tornadoes in Perry County. A line of powerful storms, which also brought heavy rains and damaging straight line winds, caused damage throughout West Alabama as they traveled east across the state. ... Read More
NWS urges caution in Black Belt ahead of approaching storm system
Hale and Perry Counties could see severe weather, including straight line winds in the 55-60 mile per hour range, as a powerful storm system moves across Alabama on Wednesday afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service says the storm system will begin to reach the state’s western border at around 5:00 this evening, and will... Read More
Francis Marion’s Running Rams Start Spring Strong
The Francis Marion Track and Field team (The Running Rams) competed at their first track meet for the Spring of 2022 at the Huffman High School Taxx Invitational 2022. The girls team placed 5th out of 11 teams. The boys team placed 4th out of 11 teams. Jamecia Hurt placed 3rd in the girls high jump.... Read More