Marion police charge business owner with illegal use of card, attempting to elude
Marion Police Department has filed charges of illegal possession of a credit/debit card and attempting to elude against the owner of a local business. The criminal complaint in the case was signed March 23 and filed in Perry County District Court on Tuesday, March 29. In it, MPD’s Capt. Robert Sykes wrote that Monique McGaughy,... Read More
NWS confirms two EF-2 tornadoes ripped across Perry County Wednesday night
The National Weather Service is conducting preliminary assessments of storm damage across Alabama following Wednesday night’s severe weather, when a line of severe thunderstorms moved across the state overnight. As of Thursday night, NWS has confirmed that Perry County saw at least two tornadoes resulting form the storm. Both confirmed tornadoes have been classified as... Read More
Making history? All in a day’s work for Francis Marion’s Kristalyn Steadman
Kristalyn Steadman from Francis Marion has been a part of many firsts over the past few years. She helped start Francis Marion’s first ever cross-country team in the Fall of 2019. She captained the school’s first volleyball team in the Fall of And recently, she became the first Francis Marion student to receive an Army... Read More
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