The rest of the year, the Times-Journal will be looking back on the top stories of 2016. Here’s a look at memorable stories from March and April.
March 2016
MCMILLAN WINS, JACKSON REELECTED

Perry County District Judge Don McMillan defeated Selma attorney Jana Garner for the open fourth judicial circuit judge position. District Attorney Michael Jackson was also reelected to his fourth term, beating activist Faya “Rose Sanders” Toure.
SHELTON NAMED SUPERINTENDENT

Hattie Shelton was named the Dallas County Schools Superintendent by the county board of education. She was previously assistant superintendent before being promoted to the top job. Shelton followed retiring superintendent Don Willingham.
51st ANNIVERSARY OF BLOODY SUNDAY COMMEMORATED

Thousands of marchers gathered the first Sunday of March at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church to remember the 51st anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
TWO DIE IN SHOOTING

Two men died following a shooting near the intersection of Marie Foster Street and Selma Avenue. The victims, T.J. Shelton and A.J. Lee, were the city’s first homicides of 2016. The two men were driving in a red Chevrolet Camaro belonging to Shelton’s brother when someone pulled alongside their car and opened fire.
CHAMBER HONORS TOP ATTRACTION, EVENT

The Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce honored its top attraction and event of the year in March. Members of the public voted Old Cahawba Archaeological Park as Attraction of the Year and Integrity Worldwide’s 5K as event of the year.
HOSPITAL APPOINTS NEW CEO

David McCormack was named Vaughan Regional Medical Center’s CEO. He came to Selma after most recently serving as interim CEO of Pioneer Community Hospital of Stokes in Danbury, North Carolina.
MAN DIES AFTER BEING SHOT BY BROTHER-IN-LAW

A Selma man died after being allegedly shot by his brother-in-law. The victim was identified as 35-year-old Christopher McNeil of Selma. Sandy Rhodes was charged with murder in connection to the shooting on College Drive.
VALLEY GRANDE COUNCIL MEMBER STEPS DOWN

A Valley Grande council member stepped down from her position. Jane Craig resigned from the council in a letter. Former council member Patsy Moore was appointed to finish Craig’s term.
WILD HORSES

Selma made national news over a story of horses wearing diapers. An ordinance requiring horses to wear diapers reared its head again. The ordinance was passed in 2013, and City Councilman Michael Johnson said the problem is an issue, especially in his ward.
SELMA STUDENT KILLED

Selma High School senior Cedric Williams, 18, was shot and killed shortly after 1:30 a.m. on the 2500 block of Etheridge Avenue. The death was Selma’s third homicide of the year.
April 2016
MAN DIES IN SHOOTING

Selma recorded its fourth homicide of the year when 27-year-old Byron O’Neal McDonald was shot and killed April 2 on the 100 block of South Maxey Street.
BLUE JEAN CHURCH WINS COOKOFF

Blue Jean Church won this year’s Alabama River Chili Cookoff contest. This year’s cookoff benefited the Selma Area Food Bank.
NEW TOURISM DIRECTOR APPOINTED

Landon Nichols, a Selma native, was appointed to the position of destination and marketing coordinator with the Dallas County Chamber of Commerce. The Meadowview Christian graduate came to Chamber after earning a master’s in public administration at The University of Alabama.
FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO COMMISSION

Valerie Reubin upset four-term incumbent Connel Towns to become the first woman elected to the Dallas County Commission. She lost her husband Daniel in March but continued to campaign for the office.
CONCORDIA PRESIDENT RESIGNS

Concordia College Alabama announced that President Tilahun Mendedo would resign in June. A search for Mendedo’s replacement continues into 2017.
SAFELITE BUILDING COLLAPSES

The Safelite Autoglass building on Water Avenue collapsed due to the riverbank’s erosion. Part of the building fell away into the Alabama River. The remaining parts of the structure were later demolished and the bank was rebuilt.

 

PERKINS INSTALLED AS PASTOR

Former Selma Mayor James Perkins was installed as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. He followed in the footsteps of the Rev. Frederick D. Reese, who served as the church’s pastor for 50 years.
SALVATION ARMY CLOSES CHURCH

The Salvation Army announced plans to close its in church in Selma but continued to offer social services to local residents. Majors Steve and Mary Welch were reassigned to Vicksburg, Mississippi.
CHURCH’S ROOF COLLAPSES

The roof of Green Street Baptist Church collapsed less than an hour after a Wednesday evening worship service concluded. According to “Historic Churches of Selma” brochure, the bulding was dedicated in June 1922.
RE-ENACTORS BRING BATTLE OF SELMA TO LIFE

The 151st Battle of Selma went out with a bang. The Battle of Selma came to an end with a memorial service at Old Like Oak Cemetery and re-enactment of the battle that afternoon — the Union won again.
ABANDONED HOMES BURNED

A 20-year-old Selma man was arrested for setting fire to at least four abandoned homes. The suspect, Anthony Oliver, reportedly told investigators he ignited the houses because somebody hit him in the eye.