It wasn’t unusual to ride by the Clarke County Courthouse in Grove Hill on a Sunday afternoon and see a lone car parked at its base, which meant Judge Hardie B. Kimbrough was working. Kimbrough, who died on June 30 at the age of 88, left a legacy of dignified service and was the district attorney in 1971 when 10 members of the Allman Brothers Band were arrested in Jackson with illegal drugs. Kimbrough handled the case for the state and Probate Judge Fred Huggins heard it. The band members were held in the Jackson city jail and then the...

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Former journalist, teacher and U.S. Navy sailor Jay Russell has been selected as the new assistant principal at Thomasville High School. “My philosophy on education has always been that a truly successful school teaches the whole child, addressing academics as well as character development,” Russell said. Russell began working for the Thomasville City Schools in 2025, teaching sixth-grade social studies and serving as an assistant wrestling coach. Russell was born in Kemper County (Miss.) and raised by his grandparents, aunts and uncles. He graduated with honors from West Kemper High School in 1989. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and...

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Thomasville native and U.S. Army Maj. Andrea Bagley Bynum had one of the best seats for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Bynum observed the festivities from the cockpit of an Apache helicopter as she participated in a military flyover of the July 4th event. Bynum grew up in Thomasville and attended Clarke Prep School in Grove Hill, where she graduated in 2010. She was Clarke Prep’s first appointee to West Point, graduated in the top third of her class in 2014 and embarked on a military career. A variety of aircraft participated in...

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THOMASVILLE — Hundreds of residents gathered July 3 at American Legion Post 112 as Thomasville’s annual American Legion BBQ continued a community tradition that has brought families together since 1947. The event, hosted by American Legion Post 112 in partnership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the City of Thomasville, featured barbecue pork, chicken halves, baked beans, potato salad and bread while raising funds to support the Thomasville High School marching band and future community events. This year’s barbecue also featured the sale of Comfort Colors T-shirts displaying a historic photograph of the Thomasville American Legion from the 1950s...

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Former Baker High School and University of Alabama star Labaron Philon was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the No. 22 overall pick in the NBA Draft on June 23. The 6-foot-3 guard, who was a 2025-26 consensus third-team All-American and first-team All-SEC player as a sophomore, was thought to be a possible lottery pick but fell farther than expected. His four-year deal is expected to be worth .8 million, according to Spotrac. Philon said he is ready to prove himself. “That competitive juice is everything to me,” Philon told NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I feel like you have to compete...

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THOMASVILLE — Andalusia, Opp and Lineville won titles in the Cal Ripken 10-under state tournament at Gates Park June 26-27. No. 2 seed Grove Hill fell to No. 1 Lineville in the Pool C finals. Grove Hill beat No. 5 seed Westside B to make the championship game. Lineville earned its spot in the finals by beating No. 4 Fairhope B. In Pool A, No. 2 seed Andalusia defeated top-seeded Semmes 13-2 in the finals. Westside A beat Monrovia to advance before losing to Semmes. On the opposite side of the bracket, Andalusia defeated fifth-seeded Thomasville before defeating Semmes. In...

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GROVE HILL — Clarke County and Leroy got an early look at their football teams on June 23 when the Bulldogs hosted the Bears for a 7-on-7 competition at H.G. Prim Stadium. Clarke County coach Jason Massey said replacing an experienced secondary is among the team's biggest priorities this season. “We're very young in our secondary,” he said. “We've basically replaced almost our whole secondary. Today was a lot of learning for that group. … We're trying to find those four (starting) guys and we're waiting for somebody to step up and take the job.” CCHS is working through competition...

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THOMASVILLE — The historic Thomasville Theatre took another step toward reopening as its newly restored marquee was recently illuminated for the first time. Mayor Sheldon Day shared photos of the lit marquee on social media on June 25, highlighting the progress being made on the long-awaited renovation project. “It looks awesome!” Day said. “ Renovations continue on the interior of the building but it won’t be long and we will soon be able to watch a movie in Thomasville once again!” The theatre remains on schedule to open in the fall, according to owner Scott Lewis of Lewis General Contractors....

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Local veteran and author Roderick Pugh hosted a book signing at the Thomasville Public Library on June 18 featuring his book “2 Lives: Memoir of the 1st African American Sniper in the Iraqi Campaign & U.S. Army History.” The book is a collection of stories detailing Pugh’s childhood, adulthood and his time spent serving in the military. Pugh is a 13-year Army veteran and Thomasville native with ties to Pleasant Hill. “I had so much fun living in Thomasville,” he said. “I love my hometown, I love Pleasant Hill. I love where I grew up.” Pugh said his time in...

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