On Feb. 13, 2023, Michael Wetzel joined Morgan County as its communications director after a long tenure as a reporter and editor with The Decatur Daily. He also has worked for The Dothan Eagle and Birmingham News after earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Troy State University. During his newspaper career, Wetzel won numerous press association awards for his sports, news and business writing, headlines, page designs and photography. In 1995, he won the prestigious alumni of the year award in print journalism from Troy State’s Hall School of Journalism.

He also has taught Spanish and ESL in community education programs in Morgan and Lawrence counties.

His role with the county includes producing its quarterly newsletter, The Voice of Morgan County, writing press releases, coordinating events for the courthouse, live streaming County Commission meetings and managing the Commission’s Facebook page.

He succeeds the county’s first Communications Director Sheryl Marsh, who held the position from 2012 to Dec. 31, 2022, when she retired.