Kennedy Rice, a rising senior at Thomasville High School, has arrived at Girls State at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Activities will continue through June 6.

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As mosquito season ramps up, the Alabama Department of Public Health urges all residents to take preventive measures to protect themselves and their communities from mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), and La Crosse virus (La Crosse). Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance; they can carry viruses that cause serious illness in humans. Fortunately, there are simple steps everyone can take to stay safe. Mosquito Habitat: Eliminate Standing Water Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water. One small container can produce hundreds of mosquitoes in a week. To prevent...

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It has been said that one way to measure success is whether you left a place better than it was before you arrived. American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson explained it this way: “To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived – that is to have succeeded.” As I look back at my 15 years at ADEM, I am confident Alabama’s environment is much better today than it was in 2010. I in no way claim...

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Qualifying begins Tuesday, June 10 for municipal elections, which will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Grove Hill, Jackson, Thomasville, Fulton and Coffeeville will all have elections. There have been some already announced for positions. The last day to file as a candidate for municipal office in Tuesday, June 24 by 5 p.m. The last day to establish residency to vote in a municipal election is Sunday, July 27.

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GROVE HILL -- A Clarke County Jury deliberated for 33 minutes before finding Tasha Nicole Merrick guilty of interference with custody following a three-day trial. Merrick was charged following the disappearance of then 14-year-old Leah McDonald on Mother’s Day, 2023. The State’s evidence at trial showed that on Sunday, May 14, 2023, McDonald had told her grandfather that she was going to the park to play basketball, and she left the home on her bicycle. When her grandfather went to the park to check on her fifteen minutes later, McDonald was gone. Her grandfather contacted Jackson Police Department who initiated...

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TUSCALOOSA — American Legion Alabama Boys State, one of the nation’s premier youth leadership programs, will be held this year at the University of Alabama from May 25–31. Sponsored by the American Legion, the week-long program brings together outstanding rising high school seniors from across the state for an immersive experience in state and local government, public service, and civic engagement. During the program, delegates will create a mock government from the ground up, running for office, passing legislation, and learning the inner workings of Alabama’s state and local government systems. Boys State is designed to equip young men with...

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This time 25 years ago as a new high school graduate, all I knew was that I was going to (hopefully) be a social studies teacher. I briefly explored other professions as they sparked my interest or were recommended to me, but I know that my calling for the first part of my career was to teach social studies. I did so for 13 years until I knew it was time to do something else. Educators are lifelong learners, so I conducted extensive research into the types of fields former educators often enter after teaching. Sales and corporate training were...

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The top three sellers in the World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser at Thomasville Elementary School. Each received an oversized chocolate bar, Talia Austin, third grade, 1 lb. bar; Major Hill, kindergarten, 1 lb. bar; Reinys Rodriguez, second grade, 5 lb. bar. Congratulations to the top sellers and thank you to all who helped raise funds for TES.

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The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) annually updates fish consumption advisories based on data collected the preceding fall by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). ADEM, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) collected samples of specific fish species for analysis from various waterbodies throughout the state during the fall of 2024 (492 samples: 42 collection stations). ADPH assessed the analytical results to determine whether any of the tested contaminants in the fish may give rise to potential human health effects. Fish consumption advisories are issued for specific waterbodies and...

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