Bridge Academy held its grand opening on Thursday, February 23. The events started with a flag-raising ceremony conducted by members of the 131st National Guard Armory Alumni Association. Bridge Academy then held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the career tech campus.

Young ladies who have participated in local beauty pageants, including Miss Pinckard Laney Deloney and Junior Miss Ariton Addie Davis, and others, assisted in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

By Christina Faulkner

The Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2022 Excellence in Business Awards on Thursday, February 23, at the Ozark Warehouse. The event highlighted eleven categories in which local businesses and individuals excel in the delivery of their products and services.

By Christina Faulkner

Carroll High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) Cadet Captain Paul Swanson was honored at the Ozark City Council meeting held on February 21 for his selection to the Alabama State Superintendent’s Advisory Board. Swanson was also invited to attend Governor Kay Ivey’s Proclamation signing declaring February as Career Technical Education (CTE) Month in Alabama and serves on the state’s JROTC Leadership Board as the Vice President.

Enterprise, AL – The Enterprise Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the Enterprise way at the World’s Smallest St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Half Pint 0.5K on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on E. College St. This annual event will celebrate its 30th Anniversary, honoring its only parade participant – the Grand Marshal!

By J.D. Devine

The Carroll High School (CHS) Lady Eagles’ varsity softball team played their hearts out at the Kirsten L. Dean (KLD) Memorial Softball Tournament held at Straughn, AL, March 3-4. They played Straughn and Highland Home in pool play, and in bracket play, they faced off against Straughn, Zion Chapel, and Highland Home.

CHS vs. Straughn Tigers

Press Release – Southeast Gas recently awarded Community Betterment Funds in the amount of $11,000 to Ozark Dale County Economic Development Corporation (ODEC). Ozark Mayor and Southeast Gas Board member Mark Blankenship requested funds to enhance existing industry and recruit new businesses to the City of Ozark on behalf of ODEC. This year Southeast Gas will provide $164,000 to agencies like ODEC for commercial and industrial investments in Southeast Alabama.

By J.D. Devine

Montgomery-Governor Kay Ivey delivered her assessment of the current health, successes, and failures of Alabama as a whole. She also discussed her ideas on many areas and topics during her State of the State Address on Tuesday, March 7. She was officially invited to give the address by the Alabama House of Representatives, which is typically a formality. Her address was notable for her enthusiasm, sports metaphors, and the folksy, laidback way she speaks.  

Staff Reports

ELBA, Alabama – Sunbelt Solomon Services (“Sunbelt Solomon” or “SSS”), a leading provider of customized and sustainable electrical power solutions and services, today announced plans to open a service center in Elba, Alabama, that will offer electrical transformer repair and recycling, field services and equipment rental operations. Sunbelt Solomon will invest over $5 million to launch the facility, which will generate new employment opportunities, providing an economic boost to the Southeast Alabama community.

by Maggie Edwards

Agricultural advocacy took center stage on Capitol Hill during the Washington Legislative Conference (WLC) March 7-10, as passion and patriotism sent 140 Alabama Farmers Federation members to Washington, D.C. 

It was Chambers County farmer Jason McKay’s first WLC. He’s a partner in RL&M Cattle and RL&M Ag Services in Cusseta. 

By J.D. Devine

The Carroll High School (CHS) Lady Eagles varsity softball team soared beyond the reach of the Eufaula Lady Tigers in the March 21 away game. The Eagles arrived prepared to win.

By J.D. Devine

If you need a job, then you are in luck! Enterprise State Community College (ESCC) and Alabama Aviation College (AAC) hosted career fairs on Tuesday, March 21. The first career fair was held at the campus of ESCC and lasted from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. The AAC also hosted another career fair from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Ozark aviation campus. Both events were well attended by large numbers of potential applicants and representatives from a wide variety of companies.