The Clarke County Democrat Podcast

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...

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 wort...

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I have said many times that I do not like politics. I have never had any desire to get involved in it. My husband, on the other hand, loves it. He enjoys every minute of it. Frankly, sometimes it gets on my nerves. That does not mean I do not have opinions. There are people I will support and people I will not support. Over the years, my husband and I have even found ourselves on different sides o...

Every year around this time, I always hear there is nothing to do in Clarke County. We may not have giant amusement parks or beaches in our backyard but one of the best things about living in Clarke County is that entertainment often comes in simpler forms. Sometimes all it takes is a sunny afternoon, a few friends and a willingness to get outside. If you're a golfer — or even if you've...

I had another birthday last week. Funny thing, I don’t feel any older. I thought I still got around just fine until I took that family trip to Europe. I thought I did a fair amount of walking around here, but when we did all that walking in Europe, I found myself lagging behind the younger family members. I was surprised because so many of my friends tell me I walk fast. Of course, I have to take...

JUNE 27 Thomasville will host its annual hometown celebration June 27 at 5 p.m. downtown. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. Watermelon Festival announced by Thomaston Historical Foundation on Saturday, June 27, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. East watermelon at the festival and take one home. The festival will take place on the old Marengo County High School grounds. June 28 Fulton Fireworks will be hosted...

Clarke Prep’s junior varsity and varsity cheer squads brought home multiple awards and individual honors while competing at the AISA Cheer Camp at Troy University. The Gators’ JV earned first place in the cheer champion and overall spirit categories and was second in the sideline champion category and the overall camp champion runner-up. The varsity captured fourth place in the cheer champion comp...

Fresh off a run to the AISA Class 2A state championship series, three members of Clarke Prep’s baseball team were selected to compete in the 27th annual Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Underclassmen All-Star Game. The Gators’ Camden Jones, Gray Wilson and John Allen Powell were selected to participate and were the only Alabama Independent School Association players invited. Jones, a rising ju...

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Grove Hill’s high school valedictorians and salutatorians were recognized and presented with awards at the city council meeting Monday, June 15. Front row from left are Mayor Ross Wood, Clarke Prep salutatorian Kady Thomas, Clarke County High School valedictorian Jamacia Ezell and Clarke Prep valedictorian Ella Davis. CCHS salutatorian Jack Fuller did not attend. In the background are Councilmembe...

Every year around this time, I always hear there is nothing to do in Clarke County. We may not have giant amusement parks or beaches in our backyard but one of the best things about living in Clarke County is that entertainment often comes in simpler forms. Sometimes all it takes is a sunny afternoon, a few friends and a willingness to get outside. If you’re a golfer — or even if you’ve never pick...

With our special hurricane section coming out this week, I found myself thinking back on the hurricanes I remember from my childhood. Some memories fade with time. Others stay tucked away in your heart. They may be small details — a hallway full of pallets, the smell of food cooking outside or the sound of grown-ups talking in serious voices — but somehow those are the memories that come back ever...

Prior to the primaries, I had disingenuously written that state legislative seats have become analogous to congressional seats. Very few incumbent legislators are even challenged and those who do get opposition are easily reelected. I was half right. Eighty percent of incumbent State House and Senate members did not have an opponent. However, I was wrong to assume that those legislative incumbents...

Alabama is on the verge of having a new governor. For the first time in nearly a decade, the occupant of the governor's office at the State Capitol will not be Kay Ivey. Ivey's path to the state's highest office was unlikely. In the early 1980s, she failed to win elected office in then-Democrat-controlled Alabama, losing a race for state auditor. After spending two decades in variou...

JUNE 19 The Clarke County Alumni Chapter of Alabama State University cordially invites all and your congregation to join in a Juneteenth celebration on Friday, June 19, at 4 p.m., at Jackson City Hall, 400 Commerce Street, Jackson. This year’s theme is: “Remembering the Past, Building the Future.” JUNE 20 CCHS Class of 1971 will hold its 55th class reunion June 20 at the Senior Center in Grove Hil...

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Last week, I was sitting at my desk in our sunroom doing what I seem to do most of the time these days — working behind a computer screen. One of the reasons I love working out there is because I can watch the squirrels and birds while I work. I keep bird feeders filled year-round and I enjoy seeing the different visitors that stop by each day. It is usually a peaceful place to work, with birds fl...

The May 19 GOP primary election resolved several important statewide races. In Alabama, winning the Republican nomination is often tantamount to election, making the Nov. 3 general election largely a formality for these candidates. Every statewide office in Alabama is currently held by a Republican. Four statewide races have already been decided. Tommy Tuberville for governor, Caroleene Dobson for...

I went to lunch with some friends the other day. They brought along a 91-year-old friend to meet another 91-year-old who had been his classmate. One lives in Monroeville and the other near Demopolis. They meet regularly, usually in Thomasville or Camden, to catch up and reminisce. Both men are still sharp-minded, which they consider a blessing. At their age, many of the people they once knew have...

JUNE 20 CCHS Class of 1971 will hold its 55th class reunion June 20 at the Senior Center in Grove Hill. Brunch will be from 10 a.m. to noon and a banquet at 6:30 p.m., with a cost of per person due by May 1. JUNE 27 Thomasville will host its annual hometown celebration June 27 at 5 p.m. downtown. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. Watermelon Festival announced by Thomaston Historical Foundation on Sat...

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