Hazel Green, Alabama

2011-07-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

Some Hazel Green residents say power has become a serious problem in their neighborhood. They're upset about continued outages that are costing them physically and financially.

When electricity returned after the April tornadoes, residents on Elkwood Road in Hazel Green thought their troubles were over. But living without power has become their new reality.

Elkwood Road resident Frances Bennett explains, "This week alone we were out three times, last week we were out, it's a continuous thing."

Bennett says the bills are piling up with groceries she's had to throw away. "Just in the past couple of weeks, I've lost $1,500. (This receipt shows) I just went Friday. I dropped in the store $137.86. Well guess what, all those groceries are now in the garbage because I had no power."

Lighting strike sparks garage fire in Hazel Green

2011-07-06T19:23:00.001-07:00

Firefighters responded to a call of a structure fire in Madison County. The fire started around 10:30 a.m. at 123 Jane Drive in Hazel Green.

Traffic light approved for Charity Ln. intersection!

2011-06-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

Alot of you have wanted one, so now you're getting one. The dangerous meeting of Charity Lane & Highway 231-431 has needed a traffic light for a while now. Since DG has moved to that corner on the highway TE county has finally approved a stop light there.

Several wrecks have occured there in the last few years. Putting a traffic light there will reduce these greatly.

Commercial land for sale in HG on the corner of Charity & Highway 231-431

2011-06-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

18 acres of commercial land located on the corner of Charity & the highway is available to buy on the market.
•Price: $4,500,000 (U.S.)
•Size: 784,080SF (18 AC)
•Property type: Commercial, retail

Description:
Large corner lot in Hazel Green, located near Hazel Green High School. Area retailers include: McDonald's, O'Reillys, Sonic, Rite Aid, and Advance Auto Traffic light has been approved. Corner lot located near Hazel Green High School

DVDnow is coming to Griner's Supermarket!

2011-06-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Griners announced the addition of DVDNOW kiosk coming soon. The DVDNow kiosk represents the latest in self-service rental technology. Providing the customer with the option of either selecting their movie through the glass the front doors, or browsing using the intuitive touch screen user interface. Keep a look out for this exciting addition to our store.

The HG Dollar General is being moved to a new building

2011-06-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

If you have seen the new building being constructed on the intersection of Charity Lane and the highway, you are probably wondering what it will be. The new building being constructed is going to be a Dollar General. I know the thought that's running through your head right now: Why is there going to be a Dollar General built when we already have one? The reason is the current building is just leased by Dollar General, so their constructing their own business.

Ronald King of Hazel Green inducted into Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame

2011-06-18T02:29:00.001-07:00

Ron King was born in Arab, Alabama, on August 9, 1950, to Cecil and Annie Mae King. His lifetime involvement with sports began at Arab High School, where he was the starting guard on the Knights' basketball team his last two years of high school. Playing for Hall of Fame Coach Bill Morgan, Ron was the team's leading scorer his junior and senior years, averaging 23 and 29 points respectively. He scored 40 or more points per game 12 times his senior season and an amazing 54 points in a victory over Ryan High School his senior year, a record that still stands today. As the team captain, Ron led his team to a 22-7 record and earned a spot on the Honorable Mention All-State team. He was also selected twice to both the All-Marshall County and All-Area Tournament teams.

Ron started his collegiate career in 1969 at Snead State Community College under AJCC Hall of Fame and Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame Coach Emmett Plunkett until his retirement from coaching due to an illness. He finished the year under Hall of Fame Coach Bill Jones, averaging 9 points per game as a freshman. As a sophomore at Snead, Ron was coached by AJCC Alabama Hall of Fame and Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame Coach John Kitchens, and averaged scoring 23 points per game. Ron was selected to the Jr. College All-State team and was the leading scorer for Alabama Junior Colleges. In 1971, Ron signed with Athens State University and played for legendary Coach Oba Belcher where he led the nation by hitting 94.6% of his free throws. He was also one of the top scorers in the ACC Conference and was team co-captain along with Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame member Butch Looney.

After graduating from college, Ron played on several independent basketball teams, scoring an unbelievable 78 points in a game against the Birmingham Icemakers. He also played softball with the Bunch Brothers team of Arab, which finished fourth in the Softball World Tournament in 1976. Ron's Hall of Fame teammates included Bill Jones and Roger Ralph. Before hanging up his hat as a player, his teams won a total of five softball State Championships.

Ron began what would become a 31-year basketball coaching career in 1973 with three years at J.B. Pennington in Blountsville, Alabama, followed by two years at Chattooga County High School in Summerville, Georgia. He then returned to Alabama to coach 28 years at Hazel Green High School in Hazel Green, Alabama. Starting in 1979, he coached the varsity boys basketball team at Hazel Green for fourteen years where he compiled an overall record of 197-167, guiding the Trojans to two Madison County Tournament Championships and four appearances in the Sub-Regional game. He was also the girls varsity basketball coach for eleven years where he compiled an overall record of 211-128. His girls basketball teams were extraordinarily successful, winning five Area tournaments, were runner-up four times, advanced to Sub-Region three times, and won three Madison County championships. Ron was named Madison County Basketball Coach of the Year in 1987 and 2000. He also coached Track and Soccer during his coaching career at Hazel Green and was a Varsity Assistant Football coach for two years at Hazel Green. Ron was also the Hazel Green Middle School Boys coach for three seasons, compiling a 55-16 record and two Madison County Championships. He also coached the Hazel Green Middle School Football team for three seasons, coaching the team to an 18-3 record.

Ron coached every sport with the same passion he exemplified as a player and always endeavored to teach his players valuable life lessons through athletic competition. During his years as a coach in Madison County, Ron also used his coaching talents by coaching his daughters in many different youth sports. These activities included programs such as YMCA basketball and softball, AAU basketball, and travel softball. Many of these teams won County and State Championships. He was also able to coach and teach his two daughters about his love of basketball during their high school years.

Ron is married to Vicki King. He has a son, Mitch, and two daughters, Brittani and Morgan. He also has two granddaughters, Bailey (7) and Blake (1). Even though Ron officially retired from coaching in 2007, he still teaches Physical Education at Meridianville Middle School. He is now coaching his next future star, his seven-year old granddaughter. Ron also is an avid University of Alabama football fan and spends his spare time attending and watching as many Bama games as possible.