Column: Not the responsibility of the press to run public relations
We had to expect some pushback when we broke the story last week of the companies and personalities behind the purchase of the shuttered former campus of Judson College. As we understand the process, local leaders and public officials who have been meaningfully involved had to sign non-disclosure agreements early on to protect the interests... Read More
Sallie Sprott
Sallie (Lewis) Sprott, 78, died December 24, 2025. She was a resident of Marion, Alabama, and gained her heavenly wings on that day. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 11 a.m. at New Bethany Baptist Church. Ms. Sprott lay in state one hour prior to the funeral service. Interment followed inside the... Read More
Walter Dobyne Sr.
Walter Dobyne Sr., 78, died December 18, 2025. He was a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, and a native of Marion, Alabama. Funeral services were held Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 12 p.m. at Provewell Baptist Church. Interment followed at Provewell Baptist Churchyard Cemetery.
Geraldine Moore
Geraldine Moore, 74, died January 1, 2026. She was born October 8, 1951, to the late Mozell Moore and Mrs. Mabel Lee Rutledge Moore. She joined Provewell Baptist Church in Marion, Alabama, at an early age. Geraldine was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Roosevelt Moore, Walter Moore, Johnnie C. Moore, and Rev.... Read More
System will block out-of-state EBT purchases
The Alabama Department of Human Resources has announced a new system that automatically defaults all EBT cards to block out-of-state and online transactions. This change will be effective Thursday, January 22, 2026. While these transaction blocks are in place, EBT cards will automatically be placed in a “Block High-Risk Transaction” card status, and purchases cannot... Read More
Perry among poorest counties in Alabama
Ten Black Belt counties are the poorest counties in Alabama, according to statistics released by a poverty advocacy group this week. Alabama Possible issued their newest Barriers to Prosperity report on Wednesday, December 17. The report, which compiles statistics from numerous public sources, shows Alabama is the seventh poorest state in America. The findings show... Read More
Qualifying underway for primary election in Perry, ends Jan. 23
Qualifying for the 2026 elections is underway in Perry County, with several candidates already in the races as of Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 13. Candidate qualifying opened Jan. 5 and will continue through Friday, Jan. 23. Primary elections are set for May 19, 2026, with the general election to follow on Nov. 3, 2026. According to... Read More
Car break-in, damaged police vehicles, wrecked apartment lead to multiple charges in Marion
A Thomaston man has been charged in Perry County District Court after authorities say he broke into a woman’s vehicle, damaged two police cars, and wrecked her apartment during a domestic disturbance in Marion earlier this month. De’Marquees Travieon Tucker, 25, of Hillcrest Drive in Thomaston, is charged with: One count of breaking and entering... Read More
Callan JMB is likely behind Judson campus purchase
The Texas company now moving to redevelop the former Judson College campus is tied into a much larger network of public health contractors, cold-chain logistics firms, and Alabama political insiders, and one of the key figures at the center of that network is veteran Montgomery lobbyist Liberty Duke. Duke, who has represented the new owners... Read More
Commission approves tax abatement for Judson project
The Perry County Commission on Monday approved a county tax abatement for the still-unnamed buyer of the former Judson College campus, over objections from two commissioners who said they were not comfortable voting on an incentive package for a company they cannot yet identify. The resolution was presented under the name “Judson Property, LLC,” with... Read More