
Schools closed for rest of year
Gov. Kay Ivey and State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey announced last Thursday that all K-12 public schools in Alabama will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Both of Blount County’s public school districts – Oneonta City Schools and Blount County Schools – are affected by the order. The announcement extends the closure which began […]

Updated State and ADPH orders and recommendations
As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths continues to increase across the state, Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health continue to evaluate and update the state’s public safety order. The order remains in full force and in effect until April 17, 5 p.m. Prior to April 17, a determination will be made whether to […]
Blount County COVID-19 Update
It’s been one week since ADPH reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Blount County. As of press time, there are five cases in the county. Across the state, there are 974 confirmed cases resulting in 13 deaths with seven more under investigation. As news of the first confirmed case made its way through the county, people naturally had […]
From the Archives
The Southern Democrat, April 2, 1970Officials’ report: Sheriff’s department Sheriff J.C. Carr reports that two 1500-gallon moonshine whiskey stills and 3,000 gallons of mash were destroyed late Monday afternoon some three miles southeast of Hayden in the Nyota community. No more problems: solution found Surely all our school problems are on the way to being solved. For decades women have attended PTA meetings, frantically sought […]
Jack D. Faulkner
JACK D. FAULKNER, 82, Rosa, died March 21, 2020. He was of the Christian faith. Predeceasing him were parents Earl and Mary Black Faulkner and brothers Earl Dean Faulkner and Jasper Lindsey Faulkner. Surviving are wife Linda Lenoir Faulkner; daughters Vickie (Jackie) Scott, Pam (John) McMahon; son Tim Faulkner; grandchildren Ashley Scott, Austin Scott, Destin Faulkner, Beth Boles, Chad Barrier, […]
Herbert ‘Mark’ Hurst
HERBERT ‘MARK’ HURST, 63, Jacksonville, formerly of Blount County, died March 21, 2020. He graduated from Oneonta High School, where he served as SGA president, in 1974 and from Jacksonville State University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in sociology. He was associated with the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and Young Democrats. After 34 years […]