State budget cuts are leading to the closing of the National Guard operations in Demopolis, officials with the Alabama National Guard announced Thursday.
The guard’s master plan included the closing and consolidation of 15 armories in the state by 2017, but budget cuts is forcing the organization to cut six additional locations, including its Demopolis site.
The National Guard Twenty Five Year Master Plan is to close the first 15 armories of which two have been closed to date in Albertville and Monroeville. The 13 remaining armories are located in the following cities: Sheffield, Scottsboro, Vernon, Jasper, Aliceville, Sylacauga, Camden, Fort Deposit, Jackson, Brantley, Elba, Geneva and Hartford. The six additional armories that will close are: Huntsville, Winfield, Alexander City, Demopolis, Marion, and Eufaula.

Also announced Thursday was the closing of Chickasaw State Park by Alabama’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The park is located along Hwy. 43 between Demopolis and Linden.
“It is with great disappointment that we have to make this announcement today,” said Gunter Guy, Commissioner of Alabama’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “Due to these recurring administrative transfers by the legislature from our department and the impact they’re having on our state parks system’s budget, we are having to make some very difficult decisions to offset the loss of revenue. These five parks were selected for closure because they have consistently lost money over the past several years. However, the Alabama State Park system is important to the majority of the people in this state and I hope that we can find a solution to this budget issue by the next legislative session.”

The Demopolis Times will have more on these closings in the Saturday, Oct. 3 edition.