The Mobile County Commission on Dec. 22 opened its meeting with community recognitions and personnel acknowledgements.

The Bay Area Veterans Commission presented its 2025 Parade of Flags essay winners. Stephen Carey introduced the program and described the event; first-place winner Savannah read an essay saying, "I love Veterans Day...Veterans deserve more respect because of everything they have done for us," urging classmates to thank veterans and support them through posters, presentations or essays. Second-place winner Patricia Kushan and third-place winner Leary also read personal essays recounting family military service and the meaning of the holiday.

Commissioners and representatives from the Mobile Bay Veterans Association thanked the Bay Area Veterans Commission and the students for participating. The commission invited winners, teachers and veterans to the front for photos.

The commission then recognized eight employees who will retire effective Jan. 1, 2026. The agenda listed names, titles and years of service for each retiree and noted the group’s combined service total of 151 years and six months. Those named on the agenda included Dorothy J. Butler (Sheriff’s Metro Jail, 24 years, 4 months); Christine Brown (Tax Auditor, Revenue Commission, 33 years, 2 months); Beverly D. Grisby (Information Clerk, Youth Court Administration, 20 years, 3 months); and James K. Thompson (Sheriff’s Corporal, Sheriff Administration, 10 years, 4 months), among others. The commission presented certificates and invited retirees forward for photos and thanks.

Why it matters: the essay readings highlight local civic education and Veterans Day remembrance; the retiree recognition documents staff continuity and institutional memory within county government.

What happens next: winners and retirees took photographs at the meeting; no follow-up action was recorded beyond presentation of certificates and recognition.