Sumter County Alabama Chamber of Commerce

11/04/2026

Chiefs,

As many of you have heard, we lost our friend Chief Reid Vaughan. This morning, Wednesday, November 4, the Alabama Fire College will es**rt Reid home from UAB Hospital to Sumter County. The family and the Fire College would like departments with overpasses along the route to be present and pay tribute as he passes.

Departure: UAB Hospital, about 0900 to 0910
Route: I-65 North to I-20/59 West through Birmingham, Bessemer and Tuscaloosa, to Exit 1 in Sumter County
Speed: about 70 mph
Live tracker: https://aafctracker.netlify.app/ (open the link and click Follow Truck for near real time location)

Approximate pass times (based on an 0905 departure; times may run 5 minutes early or late; please be in place 15 minutes ahead and use the tracker for the most current position):

Confirmed so far: Birmingham Fire & Rescue (Exits 121 and 123) and Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue. Several Jefferson and Tuscaloosa County departments have also been notified.

We still need departments in Greene and Sumter Counties, including Knoxville, Eutaw, Boligee, Union, Epes, Livingston, York, Coatopa and Cuba, along with any Tuscaloosa County volunteer departments near the interstate. If your department can be on an overpass, please reply directly to me at [email protected] or call or text 205.415.1777 with:

Department name
Overpass location (exit number)
Contact name and cell number

Coordinate with your dispatch and local law enforcement for safe positioning on the overpass. No one is to stage on the interstate shoulder. Please stay in place until the procession has passed.

If you know a department along this route that may not be on this list, please forward this to them.

Reid gave so much of himself to the volunteer fire service in this state. Thank you for helping us bring him home.

Respectfully,

--
Respectfully,

Justin R. McKenzie

Fire Chief
City of Fultondale
205.415.1777

11/03/2026

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and our entire community during this difficult time following the passing of Chief Christopher R. Vaughan. He was such a blessing to our community and touched the lives of so many. His kindness, dedication, and service will never be forgotten. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. ❤️❤️

With heavy hearts, we prepare to approach this week in regards to the passing of Chief Reid Vaughan, Cuba Fire Department. The passing of a friend, a mentor, a spiritual leader, a confidant, and the one who typically had the answer or knew how to convince you he did.
To say his impact in the community and in public safety was great, would be an understatement. When massive emergency scenes were unfolding and chaos was developing, you could see a visible look of relief wash over the personnel when he rolled up and began giving orders and directing the scene like a scripted play. Sometimes he was Solo, sometimes he had his miniature version of himself in tow to help.
We cover our badges as a sign of mourning and respect for a man who helped develop the Volunteer Firefighter program into where it is today. He never had off time it seemed. Either in the office at the Fire College, answering late fire calls from home, tracking severe weather moving into the county, or in meetings with various politicians trying to secure funding or resource for the community. He knew no off time but somehow still managed to find time to spare if you needed a minute.
Bear with us in the coming weeks and months as we reel from this loss. Pray for the family and countless friends as the person they could take a problem to isn’t able to take that call. It seems God needed another pair of hands to help coordinate and sing.

May our “dash” be as full of life, service, and trust in Jesus as yours. Rest Easy Chief.

The Dash
by Linda Ellis

“I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end.

He noted first came the date of the birth and spoke the following date with tears. But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between the years.

For that dash represents all the time that they spent life on Earth. And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real, and always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more, and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?”

11/03/2026

10/30/2026

🚚 TRUCKLOADS JUST ARRIVED! 🚚

Keep your herd fed, healthy, and thriving—PVM 28% Cattle Tubs from Positive Feeds are officially back in stock at Sumter Supply!

Stop by the store today to secure your tubs before they’re gone.

10/29/2026

Join us for our Christmas Open House Sunday, November 8th, 2 to 4 p.m. Bring a friend, have some fun and cheer, and find something beautiful to give or keep!

10/28/2026

🦌🐟🪶 We are just over two weeks away from our 3rd annual Hunt and Gather, and we need YOU to tag someone you think needs to form a cook team! There’s no fee to enter, and all you need to do is cook at least 50 samples of your dish. Teams will compete in 3 categories: fur, fin, and feather. $300 to the winner of each division and $150 to the runner ups.

Let’s all join in the fun and celebrate our communities’ outdoor heritage on November 14th in our beautiful downtown! Great food, great music, fun for the kids…you can’t beat it!

Contact David Hawley at 205-499-0763 or [email protected] for cook team or sponsorship information.

10/28/2026

10/26/2026

💗👑 Introducing Miss Hunt and Gather 2026, Kaitlyn Allen, and her beautiful court!

Pictured from left to right:

4th Alternate – Violet Smelley
2nd Alternate – Ruby Edmonds
Miss Hunt and Gather 2026 – Kaitlyn Allen
1st Alternate – Aubree Etheridge
3rd Alternate – Sadie Dixon
4th Alternate – Aubrey Dunavent

Congratulations to all of these beautiful young ladies! We are so proud of each of you and hope you enjoyed your special evening! 💗👑

Record Journal
Livingston Alive

10/26/2026

Only 2 days until the Monster Walk! 🎃👻 Get ready to put on your costumes and join us for a spooktacular parade from the Library to the Courthouse Square. See you at the lineup at 3:45 p.m. this Wednesday! 🧙‍♀️🍬