The South Alabamian News Podcast

As I thought about writing my column this week, I realized we are entering May, which means graduation season is here. There will be awards programs, banquets, senior walks, baccalaureate services and graduation ceremonies. For many families, May will be filled with pride, tears, memories and a few nervous thoughts about what comes next. This year, graduation feels even more personal to me. My old...

Like the Alabama State Senate, the state House of Representatives will have very little turnover. State legislative seats are becoming analogous to congressional seats when it comes to incumbency. More than 80% of the Legislature is unopposed. The partisan makeup will be largely unchanged, with Republicans retaining a 75% supermajority. Leadership continuity will be strong between this quadrennium...

I have been watching YouTube a lot lately. You can find most anything on there. You can learn how to hang wallpaper, fix the display on your car, pack more efficiently for a trip, research places you plan to visit and watch cooking demonstrations to perfect dishes. I have watched some of all these things. In the winter, I put a yule log on my television and play classical music. YouTube is a handy...

NOW-MAY 1 The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking vendors for upcoming First Friday events. Vendors may offer homemade and baked goods, fresh lemonade and drinks, retail and boutique items, handmade crafts, artisan goods, specialty products and other unique finds. Those interested may register at www.jacksonalabama.org. The first event will be May 1 and feature the Cruise-In. APRIL 30 The...

Students from Washington County recently took part in the annual Native American Culture Festival on April 17 at McIntosh Elementary School. Indian education teacher Samantha Williams said the event provided an educational and interactive experience focused on Native American heritage, traditions and history. Throughout the day, students rotated through a series of activities designed to deepen th...

Thomasville rolled past visiting Hillcrest-Evergreen 12-2 and 13-3 to sweep the Class 3A firstround baseball playoff series on Friday. The Tigers (19-8) will host Providence Christian (11-15) in a second-round series beginning with a doubleheader Friday at 5 p.m. A third game will be Saturday at 11 a.m. if needed. In the opener, Isaac Parten allowed two runs on seven hits with 10 strikeouts in fiv...

No. 8-ranked Orange Beach hammered Jackson 12-0 and 20-1 Friday to sweep the Aggies from the Class 4A baseball playoffs. In the opener, the Makos scored 10 runs in the first inning and never looked back. Starter Lance Moseley took the loss, giving up nine runs on three hits in 2/3 of an inning. Carlos Barientos recorded the lone hit for Jackson, which finished 11-17. In Game 2, Orange Beach again...

Members of the Thomasville High School track team qualified for the state meet with their performances in sectional qualifying on April 25 in Andalusia. Pictured are Angel Johnson and Zion Howard (shot put), Kendra Kidd (long jump and discus), Imani Brothers and Lyric Thompson (each 100 and 200 meters and long jump) and Kirsten Marshall (shot put and discus). The state meet is this weekend at Cull...

• Clarke Prep 7, Southern 0 On April 30, Addie Hicks pitched a three-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts for the No. 4-ranked Gators in the first game of a softball doubleheader sweep at Montgomery’s Lagoon Park. Libby Knight had two hits and four RBIs, including a bases-clearing double in the sixth. Kelsen-Ann Davis, Brooke Brasell and Malli Gates each had two hits. • Clarke Prep 6, Bessemer 1 On Apri...

Thomasville’s softball team improved to 12-7 with wins over Demopolis and Clarke County last week. The Tigers will host the 3A Area 4 tournament on May 4 and open with Wilcox-Central at 10 a.m. • Thomasville 10, Demopolis 1 On April 23, winning pitcher Zion Howard allowed four hits and a run in a complete game and Zakiya Pritchett had two hits and five RBIs, including a three-run home run. Mary Li...

Trevor Hayes killed his first turkey hunting with his father, Travis Hayes, at Few's Hunting Club. It had an 11-inch beard and 1½-inch spurs.   Article Link

Mary Lynn Koen Carpenter passed away peacefully on April 21, 2026, with her daughter, grandson and granddaughter by her side. Mary Lynn was born on Sept. 29, 1940, to Leeora Koen Freelong and Joseph Cleveland Koen. She married the love of her life, Sammy Gray Carpenter, on Dec. 12, 1959. Together, they built a beautiful home and family. They were married for 59 wonderful years. For many decades, s...

In loving memory of Mrs. Patricia Baker, celebrating a life of love, faith and adventure. The Lord called home a beautiful soul on Monday, April 20, 2026. Mrs. Patricia Baker passed away peacefully with her loved ones by her bedside. Born and raised in Texas, Patricia later moved to Alabama, but her adventurous spirit led her to live in Scotland and India as well. She cherished traveling and explo...

Young visitors enjoy a painting station as vendors line the Pine City Farmers Market during its April 18 season kickoff and Earth Day event. The event featured local growers and vendors, as well as family-friendly activities throughout the day.   Article Link

Former Alabama House District 65 Rep. Elaine Beech announced she will seek the seat this year as an independent candidate. Beech said her decision came after the Alabama Republican Party removed Jessica Ross from the May 19 primary ballot. Ross was disqualified after a challenge tied to her participation in the 2020 Democratic primary. In a public statement, Beech said she was upset by Ross’ remov...

Charlee Phillips won for the Grand Champion steer and heifer in the Washington County Junior Livestock Association’s annual steer and heifer show and sale on April 14 at the 4-H Arena. The winners were: SENIOR SHOWMANSHIP 1, Kaylee Wright. 2, Abigail Panther. JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP 1, Charlee Phillips. 2, Isabella Phillips. LIGHTWEIGHT STEER 1, Isabella Phillips. 2, Kaylee Wright. MIDWEIGHT STEER 1, K...

McIntosh-area author, speaker and nonprofit founder Jennifer R. Griffin announced the release of the Reign Doll, which was created to inspire confidence, imagination and self-worth in young girls. The doll represents a message that every girl is born with a purpose and raised to reign, Griffin said. The doll is accompanied by Reign Doll’s rainy-day wish and a coloring storybook that encourages chi...

The 10th annual Washington County Turkey Hunting Calcutta raised ,000, with about ,000 benefiting this year’s recipients, Waylon Dungan and Zayne Taylor, who are facing serious medical challenges. The winners were:ADULT DIVISION1, Brady Rivers, 72.56.2, Owen Henry, 72.31.3, Wesley Parks, 68.06.YOUTH DIVISION1, Olivia Howard, 60.44.2, Jacob Scarbrough, 54.63.3, Kaden Williams, 51.63.   Article Link

ave you ever known someoneHwho thinks they know everything and refuses to believe they need to be taught anything? I have known a few people like that over the years. Truthfully, every time I start thinking about folks like that, I get reminded of myself. One of my earliest lessons came when I was about 5 years old. My dad was building our first new home. Because my dad was a contractor and his fa...

I have been thinking a good bit about death this week. Our church pianist died in her sleep Sunday night after playing for church Sunday morning. It was a real shock to those of us who took for granted she would always be here. Her death appeared to be from natural causes. That is the way I want to go — just go to sleep and not wake up. Still, she was only 61. That is a mighty young age in this da...

This is a big election year in Alabama politics. All constitutional state offices and all legislative seats are on the ballot. All 35 State Senate seats and all 105 House seats will be decided. Alabama is one of the most Republican states in America and that is reflected in the State Senate and State House. Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers. In the Senate, there are 27 Republicans...

NOW-MAY 1 The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking vendors for upcoming First Friday events. Vendors may offer homemade and baked goods, fresh lemonade and drinks, retail and boutique items, handmade crafts, artisan goods, specialty products and other unique finds. Those interested may register at www.jacksonalabama.org. The first event will be May 1 and feature the Cruise-In. APRIL 25 Boys...

The Jackson Police Department’s K9 Milo has assisted numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the Southeast in locating electronics devices and most recently found a GPS device on a local woman’s vehicle. The women came to the JPD concerned she was being tracked and Milo found the device underneath the vehicle. Milo has found hidden cell phones in jails, helped search vehicles for potential il...

Georgia-Pacific has donated ,000 to the Regional Child Advocacy Center in Grove Hill to support services for children and families across the region. According to center director Mary English, the contribution helped sponsor the center’s annual dinner and auction fundraiser held March 7 at the Jackson Community House. The event, which serves as the organization’s primary fundraiser each year, feat...

Federal officials have designated several counties in southwest Alabama as natural disaster areas due to ongoing drought conditions, opening the door for emergency assistance to local farmers. Clarke and Washington counties are among 30 counties statewide classified as primary natural disaster areas due to prolonged dry conditions during the growing season. Mobile County is one of 12 contiguous co...