The Frequency

Independent Jesse Battles says he won Alabama Senate District 10 by 74 votes out of more than 40,000 cast. Incumbent Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, has not conceded.

The Secretary of State’s website showed Battles ahead 20,341 to 20,289, a 52-vote lead, on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Battles said in a Facebook post that provisional and write-in ballots put his margin at 74, and he posted a photo of Etowah County Circuit Judge Sonny Steen administering the oath of office. Nothing has been certified. Jones wrote Tuesday evening that he trails by 72, called a Jones win “an uphill climb,” and said he will wait for the recount.

Alabama law triggers an automatic recount when the certified margin is 0.5% or less, unless the losing candidate waives it. At 52, 72 or 74 votes, the margin is well inside that line.

Battles was removed from the Republican primary ballot in February by the Alabama Republican Party. He blamed the “Montgomery Establishment” and gathered signatures to qualify as an independent. Jones won the May primary over Amy Minton, 54% to 46%. He began the campaign with about $432,000, raised about $1 million and spent $1.2 million. Battles raised $142,000 and spent about $135,000.

Chambers County is not in District 10, which covers Cherokee and Etowah counties and part of DeKalb. The result still shapes the Senate. If it holds, the chamber will have 24 Republicans, 10 Democrats and one independent. After the 2022 elections it had 27 Republicans and eight Democrats. Last week’s issue, using election-night returns, put the margin at 84 votes.

The recount begins after the result is certified.

Gov. Kay Ivey congratulated Gov.-elect Tommy Tuberville on Thursday, Nov. 5, and the two discussed the transition of power, according to a joint statement from Ivey’s office. The handover is set for Jan. 18. Tuberville won the Nov. 3 election by 65,927 votes in unofficial returns.

The statement said the two will keep working together through the transition.

Ivey took office April 10, 2017, when Gov. Robert Bentley resigned, with about three hours’ notice.

Chambers-Troup Group plans to convert part of the historic Shawmut Mill in Valley into a nonprofit community center, the Valley Times-News reports. Company representatives told the Valley Lions Club that construction could start as early as March and the center could open in early 2028.

A fitness center would go in the basement, a coffee shop on the ground floor and offices on the second level. The company says it will keep the mill’s existing brick walls and original floor design.

President and CEO Hyunwoo “John” Jean said the center will keep prices as low as possible. The new roof would use imported Korean ceramic tile in a traditional style, and the offices would have a Hanok-style entrance.

Chambers-Troup is a tier-1 Kia supplier in West Point. It makes air ducts for the Telluride’s heating and air conditioning systems and employs 140 people in Shawmut on two shifts. The Times-News did not report a cost or a funding source for the project.

Jean said there will be no $10 coffee.

King’s Way Apartments held its ribbon-cutting Nov. 6 at 7131 King Rd. in Valley. The project broke ground in September 2025. Tim Thrasher, executive director of developer Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, put the total investment at $19.1 million and the annual operating budget at $274,000. The LaFayette Sun reports that the Alabama Housing Finance Authority’s low-income housing tax credit program helped finance it.

Consultant Fred Bennett of The Bennett Group thanked the state legislature and Rep. Kristin Nelson, R-Lanett, for the workforce housing credit, which he called “a game changer” for building more housing like this. Nelson spoke at the ceremony. Mayor Leonard Riley said the city now owns 1,600 acres and wants to grow slowly, unlike Lee County, Opelika and Auburn. Bennett credited Riley with making the site available.

Monthly rents run $580 to $620. Property manager Kathy Bryant told the Times-News that seven units remain and should fill by the end of November.

Penton Raceway in LaFayette hosts two 2X Monster Trucks shows on Saturday, Nov. 14, the company’s first appearance there. The lineup is four show trucks and two ride trucks that seat about 8 to 10 passengers. There is a preshow meet-and-greet, autographs and photos, and a Power Wheels race for kids at halftime that is free to enter. Show times and ticket prices were not published in The LaFayette Sun’s report. Tickets are listed at 2xmonstertrucks.com/upcoming-events. The Kansas-based family company hires 15 to 20 local helpers in each community it visits.

Next is the second annual Chambers County Bulls & Barrels, hosted by the Chambers County Young Farmers at the Agricultural Arena in LaFayette on Nov. 20 and 21. Bull riding and barrel racing start at 7 p.m. each night. Proceeds fund the Young Farmers’ scholarships and events such as Farm-City Week. Chairman Caleb Gregory said the group was encouraged by last year’s attendance.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children under 12 and free for children under 2. Cash only.