Tanner Smith was born with Alport syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, characterized by end-stage kidney disease and other conditions. A student at Mississippi State, studying forestry, Tanner managed well until May 2024 when his doctors discovered only 5% kidney function and end-stage kidney failure. Smith went on hemodialysis at a clinic for three months, three days a week. When he switched to peritoneal dialysis, he did it at home every night. Tanner was placed on the UAB transplant list in October 2024 to wait for a match. This process sometimes takes years to complete. Tanner was able to manage home...

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GROVE HILL — The Clarke County Commission on Tuesday discussed mysterious damage to one of its tractor cutters and clarified its lack of authority over a World War I monument. Commissioners reported that an employee recently found the tires of a county cutter had been cut or shot. No police report was filed. They also noted that a new cutter, approved for purchase at the previous meeting, has been ordered and is expected to arrive in six to eight weeks. The commission emphasized that it does not control the monument in front of the Grove Hill Courthouse, which is city...

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JACKSON — AISA Class AA Southern Academy rushed for 240 yards in a 54-0 win over Class AA Jackson Academy Friday night. The Eagles (0-2) were hampered by sloppy play, including a bad punt snap, three fumbles on special teams and a pick-six. Southern Academy sophomore running back Patrick Thomas had 66 yards and a touchdown on a 28-yard run and sophomore quarterback Drew Rogers added a pair of 7-yard TD runs.

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Sunday our preacher shared a sermon that came to him because of a hymn that kept going through his head while he was driving the 20 plus miles to church that morning. The hymn was, “People Need the Lord,” written by Greg Nelson and Phil McHugh. The idea for the song came from a conversation between the two men during a luncheon in Nashville, where McHugh observed the pain in a waitress' eyes and said to Nelson, "People need the Lord, don't they?” The song became a popular contemporary Christian music classic, most notably recorded by Steve Green a leading...

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Georgia and Mississippi are joining forces with Alabama on a new powerhouse partnership to keep the Southeast at the forefront of automotive and battery manufacturing. The new partnership brings together the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia and Mississippi State University with the backing of governors from all three states, as well as Southern Company, Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power. State leaders announced last week the Mississippi-Alabama Georgia Network for Evolving Transportation (MAGNET), which will be headquartered at the University of Alabama. MAGNET will organize the region’s extensive and relevant capabilities and resources into a single, coordinated...

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The United Way of Southwest Alabama’s annual Clarke County meeting and awards luncheon is scheduled for Sept. 9 at 11:30 a.m. at the Grove Hill Senior Center. Doors open at 11 a.m. Keynote speaker Grove Hill Mayor Ross Wood, who has served as the city’s mayor since 2020, will share his thoughts on Grove Hill’s progress and the steps the community is taking to build a brighter future The event will also recognize individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact in Clarke County and supported the mission of United Way. The following award recipients will be honored: •...

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Pilots for Christ, the Monroeville based nonprofit providing free air transportation to patients in need, is rallying community support this month with two special initiatives. PFC’s primary aircraft will be grounded for required maintenance for two weeks this month — an essential ,000 investment to ensure safety and reliability. During period, the organization expects to spend an additional ,000 to ,000 on alternative transportation to make sure no patient misses essential care. “For over 30 years, God has provided for the ministry and again this year we will fly over 800 mission flights,” PFC Founder Tommy Lee said. “This maintenance...

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Hikeem Edmond was found guilty of two counts of capital murder by a Clarke County jury for the 2021 killing of Thearthur Dixon. After a seven-day trial, the jury deliberated for approximately two hours before returning the verdict to presiding Clarke County Circuit Judge C. Robert Montgomery. During the trial, District Attorney Stephen K. Winters and Chief Assistant District Attorney Bill McCorquodale presented evidence establishing that Edmond and codefendant Kylynn Taylor shot and killed Dixon inside his truck on Jan. 28, 2021, during a robbery. The shooting took place on Waterway Road near the Bradford Gravel Pit in Jackson. Defense...

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THOMASVILLE — Longtime City of Thomasville attorney Edmon H. McKinley was honored with a retirement celebration Thursday at the Thomasville Civic Center after a distinguished law career that spanned nearly five decades. The event drew friends, colleagues, members of the Thomasville United Methodist Church and numerous community members who gathered to share memories, enjoy refreshments and wish McKinley well in his retirement. McKinley, a native of Mount Vernon, was an integral part of the legal landscape in Clarke County since 1975. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar on Nov. 21, 1974, after completing law school at the University...

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GROVE HILL — Enrollment at the various Clarke County School District campuses is projected to be about the same as the previous school year, the chief financial officer said at the board of education meeting on Aug. 21. Only Wilson Hall Middle School in Grove Hill is expected to have an increase in enrollment, according to CFO Carmen Rotch. Last year’s total enrollment in the district was 2,029.95 and this year’s projection is 2,026, Rotch said. Rotch said she would have more accurate numbers at the second public hearing for the district’s fiscal year financial report on Sept. 11. “We...

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