The South Alabamian News Podcast

Longtime Chatom pharmacist and community leader Elaine Hill Beech has been recognized with one of the pharmacy profession's highest honors for her decades of community service and civic leadership. Beech received the 2026 Bowl of Hygeia Award on June 8 during the Alabama Pharmacy Association's 145th annual Convention and Trade Show in Gulf Shores. The Bowl of Hygeia Award is presented an...

The U.S. Highway 43 bypass in Linden — part of a larger project to provide four-lane travel from Mobile to Tuscaloosa — is complete and open to traffic. The new route, dubbed the West Alabama Highway, follows U.S. 43 from Thomasville to just north of Linden, where it connects with Alabama Highway 69. The new road follows Alabama 69 through Greenville to Moundville, where it will connect with the e...

Jackson High School 2022 valedictorian Zachary Luke Chancey graduated in the Summa Cum Laude Honors College from the University of South Alabama with a bachelor’s of science degree in biomedical science in May. Chancey maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average throughout his college years. Chancey received honors and distinctions for his research and thesis on Type 4D Cyclic AMP-Phosphodiestera...

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...

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...

A very special lady, Mrs. Mary Davis, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on June 23, 2026, with her beloved niece lovingly by her side. Mary was truly one of a kind—a woman blessed with a beautiful personality, a generous heart, and a spirit that brought warmth and joy to everyone around her. She found great happiness in the simple pleasures of life, especially dining out, shopping, and spen...

Sherry Gail Burns Gaddis, 84, of Jackson, passed away peacefully at her home on June 25, 2026, surrounded by the people she loved. She was born on June 13, 1942, and lived a life defined by kindness, hard work, and a genuine love for caring for others. Raised as a farm girl, Gail learned the values of dedication and perseverance at an early age. She grew up helping on her family's farm, where...

Kevin was minister of education in a church I served. He’d often joke when asked what his job was by saying pastors and musicians get accolades after worship services, such as “Thanks for the wonderful sermon,” and “Thanks for the beautiful music.” But in contrast, church members would tell Kevin which toilets needed repairing. In another mission station, I didn’t have a minister of education to c...

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Clarke County’s 5.2% unemployment rate in May is the fifth-highest among Alabama's 67 counties, according to the Alabama Department of Workforce. However, Alabama's economy continued to show strength as the state reached a record number of jobs and saw wage growth across several industries. Statewide, Alabama's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3% in May from 2.8% in Apr...

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...

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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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Roy Larry Robinson, lovingly known to family and friends as Larry, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026, at the age of 78. Born on March 27, 1948, Larry was raised in Jackson, a community he proudly called home. He graduated from Jackson High School and went on to serve his country honorably in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He served aboard the Huey helicopter, demonstrating co...

Retha Elizabeth Purvis Harrell passed away peacefully at the age of 9, June 13, 2026. She was born on June 11, 1933, to John Purvis and Nancy Purvis of West Bend, and was the youngest, the beloved baby, of eight children. A lifelong member of Antioch Baptist Church, Retha faithfully served her Lord through teaching Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. In her later years, she continued her serv...

On Thursday, June 11, 2026, Misty Lynn Sullivan peacefully went home to be with Jesus, surrounded by the deep and tender love of her family. Misty was a beautiful soul who found joy in the simple blessings of life. Music held a special place in her heart, and she loved playing the guitar, proudly following in the footsteps of her daddy. Misty had a smile that could brighten even the darkest room,...

James Wilton Fore III, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Jackson Medical Center. He was born on Sept. 1, 1946, to his parents James “Red” Fore and Gladys Bumpers Fore. Jim was a devoted member of First United Methodist Church, where he faithfully served as the sound technician for many years. He enjoyed spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and gardening, pursuits that brought...