Special to the Enquirer 

Veteran journalist Michael Wetzel was named communications director for the Morgan County Commission recently, according to County Commission Chairman Ray Long. 

Wetzel comes to the county from The Decatur Daily where he worked for 35 years as a writer, assistant sports editor and copy editor. He also has worked for The Birmingham News, Dothan Eagle and Belmont Studios. He has won numerous press association awards for his reporting, photography, page design and headline writing. 

He also taught Spanish I and ESL part-time in the community education programs in Morgan and Lawrence counties. 

Among his responsibilities with Morgan County include producing a 16-page quarterly newsletter, writing press releases, updating the County Commission’s Facebook page, assisting with the administration of the county website and live streaming County Commission meetings. During his last six years with The Decatur Daily, Wetzel regularly covered the Morgan County Commission, crime and court proceedings. 

“Mike is certainly a great addition to our Morgan County family,” said County Commission Chairman Ray Long. “He comes with a great background in journalism and communications. He has done a superb job covering Morgan County for the local newspaper the past several years. He’s bringing some fresh ideas with him to the position. We look forward to his work keeping The Voice of Morgan County newsletter going as well as working on the county’s social media and website pages.” 

Wetzel was born in North Carolina and raised in Dothan and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Troy State University. He was named the university’s print journalism alumni of the year in 1995. 

He lives in southwest Decatur and has one son, Logan Michael Wetzel, who lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Wetzel replaces Sheryl Marsh who retired in December after 10 years as the county’s first communications director. His office is on the first floor of the Morgan County Courthouse on Lee Street in Decatur. 

He can be reached at 256-560-6093 or mwetzel@morgancounty-al.gov. 

Michael Wetzel Communications Director Morgan County Commission 256-650-6093 (office) 256-606-4818 (cell) mwetzel@morgancounty-al.gov