The South Alabamian News Podcast

JACKSON — More than 200 guests gathered on Oct. 23 at H.W. Pearce Memorial Park for the Alpha Women’s Resource Center’s annual fundraising banquet, which celebrated 33 years of life-affirming ministry across southwest Alabama. Executive Director Diane Pruitt opened the evening by sharing highlights from the past year and thanking donors, volunteers and community partners for their support. She emphasized the ongoing impact of Alpha’s free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, STI testing and treatment, options counseling and educational programs available to women and families in need. Featured speaker Sarah Eubanks shared her story of redemption. Once a self-proclaimed radical pro-choice feminist,...

Article Link

High school senior earns ,000 scholarship; runners-up receive [post_excerpt],500 and [post_excerpt],000 awards JACKSON — Zymiria Powell was crowned the senior high school queen of the Greater Clarke-Washington Fair Monday to cap the fair’s annual pageants. Powell, the daughter of Allegra Powell, received a ,000 scholarship. First runner-up Madison Sims, the daughter of Wilzy and Christina Sims, earned a [post_excerpt],500 scholarship and second runner-up Katlyn Beech, the daughter of Ricky and Rachel Smith, received a [post_excerpt],000 scholarship. Contestants from infants to 17 competed on Saturday at the Jackson Fairgrounds, followed by the pageant for high school seniors on Monday. Each contestant...

Article Link

David Demetrius “Meechie” Taylor was convicted of capital murder by a Clarke County jury for his role in an intentional killing during a 2021 robbery in Jackson, according to the First Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office. Thearthur Dixon was shot and killed on Jan. 28, 2021, while in his truck on Waterway Road near the Bradford Gravel Pit in Jackson. After a six-day trial, the jury deliberated for 35 minutes before returning the verdict. Evidence presented by the prosecution established that co-defendants Hikeem Edmond and Kylynn Taylor shot and killed Dixon in the furtherance of a robbery and established Taylor’s...

Article Link

Six people have been charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle and two were charged with murder in the shooting death of a Thomasville High School student on Monday, according to the Clarke County Sheriff ’s Department. Keyontay Young was identified as the victim by a school source. Shots were fired at multiple locations, including near a fire station, Marengo High School, Peachtree Road and County Road 6, according to the Clarke County Sheriff ’s Department. Jarvis Da’quan Packer, 20, of Dixons Mills was arrested by the Marengo County Sheriff ’s Office on Tuesday and charged with murder, two counts...

Article Link

Teen credits kindergarten fire drill for escape JACKSON — The way a local teenager escaped a recent fire without injury due to lessons learned in kindergarten fire safety programs highlights what Fire Prevention Week is all about, according to Jackson Fire Department Chief John Brown. “He told me he remembered what we taught him: If you wake up and smell smoke, roll out of bed and crawl on the floor to get out,” Brown said. “That right there was enough to solidify everything we’ve ever done.” The Jackson Fire Department marked the 75th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week Tuesday night...

Article Link

Jackson has a full fall and Christmas schedule, beginning with the 43rd annual Forestry Festival downtown on Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Included in the events will be the Smith Family Memorial Car Show, the truck and equipment show, lumberjack competition and the NWTF Turkey Call competition. Daylight Savings Time ends on Nov. 2. An open house for Jackson businesses is on Nov. 9 from 1-5 p.m. Attendees can get started early on Christmas shopping and enjoy holiday discounts and treats. A Veterans Day ceremony to honor and thank all living and deceased veterans is Nov. 11 at...

Article Link

The Jackson Home Health and Essential Care Clinic celebrated the opening of its new medical office with a ribbon cutting on Sept. 23. The clinic will provide services for wound care, vein care, IV hydration, red-light therapy and weight loss. The clinic expressed appreciation to the City of Jackson, Mayor Paul South and the city council, the Jackson Healthcare Authority Board, Smart- Bank and the Jackson Medical Center staff for their assistance.

Article Link

Officers with the Jackson Police Department reported the following activity for Sept. 29 - Oct. 5 arrests: Jackson Police Willie Lucyies, 41, alias warrant Davie Williams, 37, possession of a controlled substance Tylan McDonald, 22, alias warrant Anterius Southall, 20, harassment Anthony Yelder, 28, assault, criminal mischief James Calhoun, 31, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana second degree, obstructing justice using false identity Annie Campbell, 69, possession of drug paraphernalia Calls for serviceAbandoned vehicle: 2Alarms: 3Assist citizens: 5Burglary: 1Burns: 1Case follow-up: 1Chest pains: 2Clear parking lot: 2Criminal trespassing: 2Discharge of firearm: 2Disorderly person: 2Domestic violence: 7Drug activity: 1...

Article Link

The 2026 election cycle silly season is in high gear. Some candidates have already formally announced, organized their campaigns, and are out and about, doing what they need to do to win a high office on November 3, 2026. Then there are a few unlikely candidates who are still flirting with the idea of running. There are open seats for U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. It's perceived to be a wide-open election. If you haven't been keeping score, now-former Auburn head basketball coach Bruce Pearl, former Alabama national championship quarterback A.J. McCarron and SEC Network and sports talk...

Article Link

Clarke County License Commissioner Linda Goodman has joined the Republican Party, according to the Alabama Republican Party. Goodman, who has served as license commissioner for 22 years, told local Republican leaders that the Democrat Party’s values and beliefs have changed dramatically in recent years, moving further away from the principles she holds dear. She was the last Democrat elected countywide. Now there are 13 countywide elected Republicans. Two district school board seats and two district commission seats are represented by Democrats. The three elected judicial circuit officials are all Republicans. A few decades ago, every county office was held by...

Article Link