Lucile Wigger Bamberg
Lucile Wigger Bamberg of Marion, AL passed through this life on March 9, 2022. She was 93 years old. She was born in her family home on January 29, 1929, in Greensboro, AL. Raised during the depression and later through WW II, like many of her peers, she knew of hardship, suffering and pain. Lucile... Read More
SBA opens disaster relief office in Sawyerville: Perry home and business owners may qualify for disaster relief
Alabama businesses and residents affected by the Tornado on Feb. 3, 2022, may apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced today. Administrator Guzman made the loans available in response to a letter from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s Authorized Representative Brian E. Hastings on March 2,... Read More
Perry County Community Arts Festival is this Saturday
Bring your entire family to the Perry County Community Arts Festival. The University of Alabama Artistic Literacy Consortium (ALC), is to offer residents the opportunity to enjoy music, hands-on art, dance, food, and more. The event will take place on Saturday, March 19th at the site of the historical Lincoln Normal School in Marion, Alabama. The... Read More
West Alabama Corridor project could threaten search for Mabila, the 500-year-old Black Belt city where Tuskaloosa fought DeSoto
Gov. Kay Ivey announced the expansion of Alabama Highway 69 through Hale and Marengo Counties within only a few weeks of another announcement of massive significance for the Black Belt: the discovery of evidence of the lost city of Mabila. The city was a part of the chiefdom of Chief Tuskaloosa, the legendary Muskogean chief... Read More
Stillman awards over $500k in scholarships to Francis Marion students in one day
Justin James, communications director and recruiter with Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, could barely conceal his excitement on Tuesday, and with good reason. He had come to Perry County, to Francis Marion School, to make a huge announcement: more than half a million dollars in scholarships for local students. “Today is by far the greatest day... Read More
Retired Marion business owner ‘Boy Gene’ Harris dies at 84
Eugene N. Harris of Marion died March 7 at age 84. He was born July 11, 1937, in Birmingham, to Joe Harris and Bessie Rosenblum Harris Shiller. He owned Nathan Harris’ Sons, a clothing store located in downtown Marion and founded by his grandfather, for many years. He was preceded in death by his parents. He... Read More
Charles Lightsey
Charles Arthur Lightsey, known to family as “PawPaw,” passed away at the age of 82 on March 4, 2022 in Bessemer, Alabama. Charles was born April 17, 1939 in Birmingham, Alabama to Arthur and Mattie Lightsey. He had six siblings. Charles graduated from McAdory High School in 1957. After graduation he spent three years in... Read More
UA’s Education Policy Center says Black Belt students lag in STEM proficiency, Perry at only 5%
The Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama, released a brief on STEM education in the Black Belt region as a part of Black Belt 2022, a series tracking issues impacting the region. The brief detailed that students in Black Belt counties perform significantly lower in STEM programs and testing, compared to non-Black Belt... Read More
Perry County Board of Education Superintendent leads charge to ease teacher certification requirements
Alabama educators and officials recently recommended suspending requirements for teachers in the state to take the Praxis content knowledge test. A committee of local and state educators held a work session that formulated the plan to bring before Alabama’s Board of Education in Montgomery. Consisting of representatives from both higher education and K-12, the group... Read More
As Black Belt tops state in high gas prices, local leaders warn tax repeal could doom Highway 69 expansion
In recent days, gas prices have soared nationwide and Alabama has not been immune to the hike. Everyday consumers and local governments alike have been on edge with petroleum prices now exceeding an average of $4 per gallon. AAA Alabama rated Perry County among the counties with the highest increase in gas prices. At $4.29... Read More