The best birthday present

Grove Hill celebrates America's 250th

GROVE HILL — Families from across the area gathered at S.P. Hudson Park on June 30 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday during Grove Hill’s annual summer celebration. The event featured food vendors, shopping, children’s activities, a youth sports fundraiser, the arrival of the Traveling American Flag and a fireworks display that capped the evening. Festivities began with the Grove Hill Youth Sports Hit-A-Thon fundraiser, followed by the opening of the vendor area and children’s activities, which included inflatables, football and basketball tosses, cornhole and other games. The Traveling American Flag was placed on display, giving attendees an opportunity to take... Article Link [https://www.clarkecountydemocrat.com/articles/grove-hill-celebrates-americas-250th/]

Bypass in Linden opens

The U.S. Highway 43 bypass in Linden — part of a larger project to provide four-lane travel from Mobile to Tuscaloosa — is complete and open to traffic. The new route, dubbed the West Alabama Highway, follows U.S. 43 from Thomasville to just north of Linden, where it connects with Alabama Highway 69. The new road follows Alabama 69 through Greenville to Moundville, where it will connect with the existing four-lane highway and continue to Tuscaloosa. “This is a major step toward completion of the Linden bypass and an important investment in the future of west Alabama,” Alabama Department of... Article Link [https://www.clarkecountydemocrat.com/articles/bypass-in-linden-opens/]

Second arrest after shooting

THOMASVILLE — A second manager at Mi Mexico restaurant was arrested for failing to report an altercation that preceded a fatal shooting at the business in June, according to the Thomasville Police Department. Jose Mendoza Chavez, 53, was arrested by the TPD on June 24 and charged with failure to report an incident in an open business. His arrest followed the June 23 arrest of Jose Ernesto Contreras Gutierrez, 39, a restaurant manager who faces the same charge. Both arrests stem from an altercation at Mi Mexico on June 6 before a shooting that killed Henry Christopher Howard, 26. Former... Article Link [https://www.clarkecountydemocrat.com/articles/second-arrest-after-shooting/]

Homeowner unhurt in fire

A house on County Road 9 in Sandflat caught fire on June 26 but homeowner Red Wilson got out safely, according to Thomasville Fire Chief Chris Owes. The home had smoke damage and Owens said he was unsure how the fire started. Article Link [https://www.clarkecountydemocrat.com/articles/homeowner-unhurt-in-fire/]

CPS teachers attend STEM

Clarke Prep Elementary teachers Abby Smith and Ella Etheridge recently attended the Steve Spangler Early Childhood Education STEM Learning Experience in Birmingham, where they explored engaging, hands-on ways to bring STEM learning into the classroom. The teachers participated in experiments and discovery-based activities designed to spark curiosity and encourage exploration among young learners. The training focused on integrating STEM concepts across all subject areas while helping teachers create meaningful, inquiry driven learning experiences. Topics included animal adaptations, the five senses, states of matter, weather, force and motion, friction, sink and float, electricity, basic engineering and building challenges. Article Link [https://www.clarkecountydemocrat.com/articles/cps-teachers-attend-stem/]