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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth in a four-part series looking back at the year 2024 in Chambers County. Previous parts in the series can be found in latest print and e-editions of the Valley Times-News. 

 

Oct. 2

Local churches band together to help Hurricane Helene-affected areas

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, members of the Valley community have formed an effort to collect supplies for disaster relief thanks to the Chattahoochee Valley Church Network. The CVCN, a nondenominational network of churches and pastors, is mobilizing a 53-foot tractor-trailer full of cleaning and disinfectant supplies to transport to hurricane-affected areas like Tennessee and Florida. 

 

Oct. 4

Former Coca-Cola lot to be developed for hotel

The old Coca-Cola building is coming down this afternoon in preparation for developing a new hotel franchise. On Friday morning, the West Point Development Authority met to approve an intergovernmental agreement to move forward with a developer, requiring the city to contribute approximately $635,000 in infrastructure.

 

Oct. 5 

Special Day celebrates 45 years, over 1,000 participants

ROCKY POINT PARK — Special Day on West Point Lake has a way of becoming a bit more special with each passing year. The 45th one took place on Thursday at Rocky Point Park, and more than 1,000 people were there.

 

Oct. 12

Weldon talks and Ashmore walks at radio appearance

LANETT — A new radio station in Lanett was set to host a joint appearance by the two candidates whose names will be on the ballot in the Nov. 4 general election. Dr. Sharon Weldon and Winford Lee Ashmore are seeking the office of superintendent of Chambers County Schools. Weldon is the Republican Party nominee, and Ashmore is running as a Democrat.

 

Oct. 17

School Board votes to terminate LaFayette counselor after three contentious hearings

At a 4-2 vote, the Chambers County  School Board voted to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to terminate the employment of LaWendy Willis, the former counselor of LaFayette High School. The decision came on Thursday night after close to nine hours of testimonies.

 

Nov. 1

West Point sees record early voting turnout

Like the rest of Troup County and even statewide, West Point has seen high rates of voters turning out to take advantage of the early voting. West Point’s precinct on O.G. Skinner Drive has had over 300 voters as of Wednesday. 

 

Nov. 2

Community gathers to hear park plans for Fairfax Mill site

VALLEY — A crowd of approximately 40 people gathered inside East Alabama Fire Station No. 2 Tuesday evening to hear a proposal of how the Fairfax Mill site can be transformed into a public park.

 

Nov. 5

Weldon wins the superintendent race

Dr. Sharon Weldon has won the Chambers County School System Superintendent seat against opponent, Dr. Winford Ashmore. The Republican candidate received 10,007 votes compared to Ashmore’s 3,976 votes. She walked away with 71 percent of the votes. The provisional ballots will be counted next Tuesday. 

 

Nov. 6

Riley asks resident to leave after public comment

VALLEY — A Valley man who had asked to speak to the city council about a problem he was having with some new speed bumps near his home talked about the troubles he was having with them at Monday evening’s council meeting but was cut short when he started discussing personalities.

 

Nov. 7

County sees record voter turnout

Chambers County saw the highest voter turnout in recent memory with 55 percent voter participation, according to County Probate Judge Paul Story. Turnout across the state was quite high with 65 percent voter participation, according to Story.

 

Nov. 14

Update on West Point Dam, repairs to be completed Jan. 15

The maintenance project at West Point Lake causing lower than normal water levels is on schedule to be completed by Jan. 15 of next year. Jay Jamison, Operations Project Manager for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), said that water levels should return to normal operation levels by June as conditions allow. 

 

Nov. 15

Buffalo citizen signs warrant against commissioner for criminal trespassing

James “Moto” Williams, a Chambers County Commissioner, was arrested on charges of criminal trespassing in the third degree on Thursday at 3:53 p.m. CT. Private citizen, Brandon Clifton, signed a warrant against Williams earlier in the day. 

 

Nov. 23

Reco Newton sworn into CCSD District 1 school board seat

Reco Newton and LaShae Herring were sworn in to office during Wednesday night’s Chambers County School Board meeting. Herring will be returning to her seat after running uncontested, whereas Newton will be taking the District 1 seat after recently winning the race in November.

 

Nov. 

 

Dec. 5

It’s Our Pleasure: Valley residents react to Chick-Fil-A opening

It seemed like the entire county got up early for the opening of Chick-fil-A in Valley. Cars spilled out into the street and residents started lining up before the 6:30 a.m. opening time to get into the beloved chicken restaurant, the first of its kind in Chambers County. 

 

Dec. 7

Valley students march in Macy’s Day Parade

For those who turned on the TV on Thanksgiving, chances are you stumbled across the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, held annually in New York City. This year, channel surfers may have spotted two familiar faces. Of the 237 kids in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, two Valley High School students, Katelyn DeLoach and Gabby Stephens, were among the ranks. 

 

Dec. 10

LaFayette braves cold for Christmas Parade

LaFayette locals braved the cold for Christmas on the square and the parade on Saturday night. The festivities started earlier in the day with the second annual cookie crawl, brought back after the success of the previous year. 

 

Dec. 18

County gives update on progress of county lake, hopes for reopening in the new year

During the Chambers County Commission meeting, County Engineer Josh Harvill gave a brief update on the plans for the Chambers County Lake off of County Road 83 which is in the process of being reopened to the public since 2020. 

 

Dec. 19

EAMC-Lanier gets its new name

EAMC-Lanier is officially East Alabama-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital. A ribbon-cutting at the Valley hospital was held on a chilly Thursday morning to celebrate the occasion with clinicians, staff and community members. It was announced in July that EAMC-Lanier would become a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH).

 

Dec. 20

Starbucks is coming to West Point

Coffee addicts on both sides of the Chattahoochee River are in luck as Starbucks is coming to West Point in the new year. West Point Mayor Steve Tramell told the Valley Times-News on Friday that everyone’s favorite Seattle-based coffee franchise will be opening a location in 2025. The coffee shop will be located at Exit 6 in West Point next to the TA Travel Center.

 

Dec. 21

Outgoing superintendent recaps tenure at Chambers County School Board

The final school board meeting of 2024 also served as the final meeting for two of the highest-ranking members in the district: Dr. Casey Chambley, CCSD Superintendent, and David Owen, the Assistant Superintendent. Chambley is stepping down after losing his reelection bid in March to Dr. Sharon Weldon, who will take over the seat in January. Owen announced his retirement during the meeting. 

 

Dec. 21

Welcome to LaFayette mural goes up in downtown

LaFayette Main Street held a mural dedication and city sign reveal on Thursday, ushering in a new era for ‘first impressions’ into the city of LaFayette. The mural, a fall project sponsored by grants from the Alabama Department of Tourism and the East Alabama Community Foundation, was designed and painted by LaGrange artist Jim Frank with help from Thea McElvey. 

 

Dec. 31

Weldon sworn in as CCSD superintendent

Dr. Sharon was sworn in as superintendent of the Chambers County School Board on Dec. 31 after a hard-fought election season.