Two of the law enforcement officers who help keep us safe in Winston County is Haleyville Police Investigator Tim Steien and Winston County Sheriff Tommy Moore.

The result of a recent study which places Winston County at number 5 on a good list was recently posted by Niche on the internet. Winston County made a top ten list which should make you feel a little safer. In a ranking of the safest counties in Alabama, Winston county was rated 5. The rankings were made from data from each county on the number of assaults, robbery, murder, burglary, vehicle theft and larceny. Limestone County was rated the safest.

A link to the Al.com story is available on hbtv.us.

Niche rates Alabama counties on other factors and Winston County received a C+. Slightly above average.  The Niche review stated Winston County has 24,256 residents. It has very low home values, very low rent costs, and average unemployment levels. Its citizens generally have low education levels and low-income levels.

At least, we can feel safe.

Shop online for almost anything at Rowe Building Supply here: Rowe Building Supply

Click for Eagle Carports and Grace Storage Buildings from Rowe

Haleyville Mayor Ken Sunseri has stated signs are being destroyed or defaced with graffiti.

Hundreds of city dollars are spent replacing these signs.

Please report anyone you see defacing a sign to the Haleyville police, 486-5201. Offenders will be prosecuted.

A two-vehicle head-on crash Friday afternoon at 6 p.m. resulted in one man being flown to UAB with serious injuries. William Brock, 29 of Brilliant was driving a Chevy Cavalier north on Highway 195 in front of Rowe Building Supply hen his vehicle suddenly swerved into the oncoming lane and struck a pickup driven by Bobby Rawls of Haleyville in his Chevy pickup. Brock was transported by ambulance to Lackland Hospital where he was transferred to a helicopter and flown to UAB. The cause of the crash is not known, however, drug paraphernalia could be seen in Brock’s car seat. A search of the car was made after Brock was extracted by Haleyville firemen with the jaws of life. The crash is under investigation by the Haleyville Police.

The Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce held a local candidate forum Friday at the Galley. Don Dimond asked questions selected at random by the candidates. Candidates and Chamber members shown above participated in the program. Council candidates with no opposition and already certified gave a brief talk. Left to Right Front Kris Burleson, Donna Jamerson Jones,Valeria Mae Burchanan Taylor. Back, Bobby Taylor, Richard Bicycle Bittinger, Christopher Jordan Wilson, George H. Russell,Steven “Bud” Wilson, Drew Thrasher, Ken Sunseri, Jonathan Bennett, Don Dimond.

Arthur Terry Hockaday, former manager of MASH Medical Supplies in Haleyville was indicted by a Winston County Grand Jury in August of 2014 and charged with theft of property, 1st degree. The charges resulted from Hockaday cashing checks written to MASH for his personal gain. The checks totaled over $100,000 in the course of a year.

On July 22, 2016, in a plea agreement, Hockaday was sentenced to 15 years in jail. However, Hockaday received a split sentence from Judge Carter and will be required to serve 3 years supervised probation before serving actual jail time. After his probation period, during which time he is expected to make restitution in the amount of $99,714.85, he will be able to petition the court to re-evaluate the case.

The Alabama State Department of Education previously set guidelines for local education agencies to partner with community agencies’ At-Risk programs.  The request proposals are available and may be picked up at the Haleyville Board of Education.

Any person working directly with students will be required to have a fingerprint and background check.  All community agencies must present a copy of your 501(c) 3 to receive an application form.  All forms must be completed and returned to Susan Riggs at The Haleyville Board of Education no later than  3:00 P.M.  August 26, 2016.

Open airplane hangers to be replaced by new fully enclosed hangers

The Haleyville City Council met Monday with Royce Benefield absent. After approving the minutes from the last meeting on July 18, the candidates running without opposition in the upcoming city election were presented certificates of election. The following names of those certified will not appear on the ballot. City Councilmen Richard (Bicycle) Bittinger, Jonathan Bennett, Drew Thrasher, Royce Benefield, and school board member Kris Burleson.

Thirteen election officials were approved for the five polling locations which will be open for the city election on August 23. Those polling places include the Neighborhood Facility Building, 21st Street Gym, Needmore, the Pebble Fire Department and the Delmar Fire Station.

The Council approved the low bid for hanger replacement at the Haleyville airport from Bama Builders for $409,000 pending approval of a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Council approved the authorization of Mayor Ken Sunseri to complete the FAA grant application and consultant selection for the hanger project. Total requested FAA funds equate to $422,687.00. Work should begin in October.

Shelter Products, a mobile home supplier, which has been located in Phil Campbell for many years, having met the criteria specified by the city and state was granted a 10-year tax abatement for it’s move to the Haleyville North Industrial Park. The abatement is on all state and local non-educational property taxes.

The Haleyville Industrial Development Board reappointments were Ricky McCreless, Gurvis Sutherland, and Richard Roberson. Appointed were Wallace Thrasher and Jonathan Lowe.

The next meeting of the Haleyville City Council will be Monday, August 18.