The South Alabamian News Podcast

Thomasville saw its season end with 20-1 and 10-1 losses to No. 8-ranked Lee-Scott Academy in the third round of the Class 3A state baseball playoffs in Auburn on May 6-7. The Tigers (21-11) captured the 3A Area 4 title and won 15 of their last 18 games —including 13 straight — to reach the quarterfinals. “I am incredibly proud of this group of guys,” Thomasville coach John David Phillips said. “W...

We think nothing about people being left-handed, other than crime shows teach us to notice these things since the Boston Strangler and Jack the Ripper were lefties. But with ten percent of the population being left-handed, it’s not a major concern to us. But there was a time when being a leftie was seen as a physical abnormality. The French speak of a socially awkward person as “gauche” — the pers...

Mr. Henry Odell Caten, 88, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 3, 2026, with his family by his bedside. Mr. Caten was a hardworking man who truly enjoyed life. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army, dedicating many years of honorable service to his country. Following his military career, he worked at Ciba Geigy for many years and retired as a chemical operator. Mr. Caten loved...

James Edward Boykin, 73, of Jackson, passed away Monday, May 4, 2026, at Mobile Infirmary Medical Center in Mobile. He was born July 18, 1952, in Butler to Robert and Beatral Boykin. James enjoyed spending time outdoors, fishing for catfish and hunting deer. He loved working on cars and took pride in roofing. Above all, he cherished his family, especially his grandchildren, and looked forward to f...

Community gathers in Thomasville to celebrate inclusion and achievement THOMASVILLE — Cheers and encouragement filled Gates Drive Park April 28 as athletes from across the county gathered for the Clarke County Special Olympics at D.F. Anderson Field. The annual event brought together special athletes, volunteers, supporters, sponsors and community members for a day focused on competition, inclusio...

THOMASVILLE — So Happy, partly owned by Thomasville grocery store owner Robbie Norman, finished ninth in the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2. That gave the Super Foods owner an entry in back-to-back Derbys. Coal Battle finished 11th last year. So Happy, who went off at 6-1 odds, earned his Derby spot after a strong run on the road to Churchill Downs. The colt broke his maiden in California, then won...

The only local race in the May 19 Republican primary is between incumbent Barry Chancey of Jackson and challenger Joe Parden of Coffeeville for the Clarke County Commission District 3 seat. Only voters who live in district 3 can vote in the race. The district includes part of Jackson and stretches north along the Tombigbee River and Alabama Highway 69 to Coffeeville and points northward. Chancey,...

The H. Clay Armstrong Masonic Lodge annually hosts a golf tournament and donates part of the proceeds to local agencies. This year, the lodge donated to the Regional Child Advocacy Center, Friends of Alpha Women’s Resource Center, the Clarke County Kingdom Builders and The Arc of Clarke County. Pictured are Anna Sims of the Regional Child Advocacy Center; Bubba Rikard, Bret Wildrick and Thomas Sch...

A student brought a handgun onto the campus of McIntosh Elementary School on April 27 and the incident was handled without disruption, according to authorities. A McIntosh police officer recovered an unloaded Glock 45 pistol from the school shortly after 8 a.m. and the weapon was secured without incident, according to school officials and MPD investigator Sam Commins. The student involved was turn...

Every year, the ladies of our church host a tea the week before Mother’s Day. It is a special tradition that brings everyone together for fellowship, a shared meal and a message that always leaves us with something to carry home. This year, however, the message began before our guest speaker ever stepped inside the church. On the Wednesday before Saturday’s tea, our scheduled speaker called our mu...

I have been watching a lot of YouTube and Facebook lately and the ads drive me crazy. So many of them feel fake and I often wonder if they are AI-generated. There are endless ads about losing weight. You would think everyone would be skinny by now. One minute there is a “Korean gelatin trick” and the next there is another ad explaining why it failed. According to them, it only didn’t work because...

A couple of years ago, Democratic Party legal groups found a sympathetic federal panel in the Northern District of Alabama, and that court created a new minority Democratic congressional district. That district came into existence a little more than a year ago. The Constitution gives state legislatures the power to draw congressional and legislative districts. For decades, Alabama’s Legislature cr...

MAY 10 Red Blood Cross Drive May 10 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Thomasville United Methodist Church in Thomasville. JUNE 1 White Smith Memorial Library, Jackson, will hold a board meeting June 1 at 10 a.m. and is open to the public. JUNE 6 Grove Hill Arts Council will host a Coffee Painting class June 6 at 11 a.m. led by local artist Karla Taylor. The class costs and includes supplies, with coffe...

Alabama Power has been named one of the most trustworthy companies in America for 2026, ranking No. 8 in the Energy & Utilities category on Newsweek’s annual list. The survey evaluates 700 companies across 23 industries based on an independent survey of approximately 25,000 Americans who submitted more than 100,000 evaluations as customers, employees and investors. The analysis also factored i...

Coleman Pilkington allowed four hits and didn’t walk anybody in a complete-game win as Thomasville nipped Providence Christian 3-1 in the decisive third game of the Class 3A second-round playoff series on May 1 at Donnie Fendley Field. The Tigers (21-9) go to Auburn to meet Lee- Scott Academy (24-11) in the quarterfinals with a doubleheader Thursday at 4 p.m. and a third game Friday at noon if nee...

GULF SHORES — Jackson High School won a third straight state championship in the Class 4A boys 4x100-meter relay at the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s outdoor track and field championships on Saturday. The Aggies pulled off the threepeat with two new members of the squad and without Mr. Football E.J. Crowell, now playing at Alabama, and Landon Duckworth, now playing at South Carolina....

Thomasville softball star Imani Brothers signed with the University of West Florida on April 30. Tigers coach Robby Carpenter said the Argonauts got a steal in Brothers. “She is one of the best players I have ever coached,” he said. “She is five-tool, a complete package. There couldn’t be a person more deserving … Her work ethic has been impeccable for six years. Her character matches that. “She h...

Kianna Smith was 3 for 3 with six RBIs, including a two-run home run, to pace Thomasville to a 10-1 win over visiting Leroy on April 28. Zion Howard earned the win, allowing three hits in a complete game. Kloee Rollins had two hits and an RBI and Aryana Burroughs added a hit and an RBI. • Thomasville 6, WCHS 4 On April 30, Howard allowed three runs on four hits in three innings to get the win. Rol...

Mr. James Richard Heathcock Sr. passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 26, 2026, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by the embrace of his cherished loved ones. Mr. Heathcock was a devoted, hard-working man whose unwavering love for his family was the very heart of his existence. Born on Oct. 25, 1940, he was one of nine children to John Heathcock and Beulah Heathcock. Mr. Heathcock endured a...

After being married for over 50 years, I have concluded the secret of a happy marriage is a happy wife. What it takes to make her happy is worth all the effort. Today, most marriages don't work. Divorce is on the rise in our country. A great philosopher, Groucho Marx, once said, "Marriage is the chief cause of divorce." There are all kinds of ideas along this line, and many of them...

THOMASVILLE — Thomasville police officer Dallas Hinton was killed in the line of duty on April 22 in a crash involving an 18-wheeler on U.S. Highway 43. Police Chief Mitchell Stuckey said Hinton, 25, collided with a box truck carrying cargo from the Port of Mobile at approximately 4:45 a.m. Hinton’s 2025 Dodge Charger struck the rear of a Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by Armon L. Washington,...

LEROY — Leroy’s Ja’Kavien Collins signed to play football at Lane College on April 23. Collins, a standout running back and outside linebacker for the Bears, averaged 103 rushing yards per game, scored 27 touchdowns and helped lead Leroy to a 13-1 record in 2025. “It was really more of like a last-minute thing that came up,” Collins said of his recruitment by Lane College. “When they did find out...

A long-distance cyclist from New Zealand stopped in Chatom last weekend as part of an ambitious journey across the South. Phillip Palmer, 67, a retired anesthetist, is traveling by bicycle from Los Angeles to Miami, documenting what he describes as a rewarding experience. Palmer began his trek on March 1 after arriving in Los Angeles and has steadily made his way east, reaching Washington County b...

The Jackson Woman’s Club, a civic organization founded in 1949 and dedicated to community improvement, service and educational support, continued its longstanding tradition April 21 by hosting its annual scholarship reception. Seven seniors from Jackson High School and Jackson Academy were recognized for achievements in academics, leadership, service and creativity. Emilia McDonald of Jackson High...

The 50th annual Old Time Fiddlers Convention on April 18 was dedicated to the memory of Winky Hicks, a longtime musician and devoted participant who passed away in December. Event organizer Tommy Fuller reflected on Hicks’ commitment to the event, noting that he was “always the first one to say he was coming” and consistently supported the local music tradition. In tribute, Hicks’ cousin Jimmy Hic...