Fred’s is closing 159 locations by next May. Most will close before then. The Haleyville store next to the Haleyville City Hall on 21st Street is one of those locations. The closures include underperforming and unprofitable locations, which Fred’s said will include a “thorough evaluation of the company’s current operating plan as well as other potential alternatives to maximize value.”

With everything in the store marked down to reduce the inventory, Fred’s in Haleyville is due to be closed in the first part of August.

Fred’s also sold off most of its pharmacy assets to Walgreens, including its pharmacy patient prescription files and remaining pharmacy inventory. The company operated 179 pharmacy stores. The transaction closed at the end of the company’s fourth fiscal quarter. The downtown Haleyville Fred’s pharmacy is reported to still be Fred’s pharmacy and will remain open.

Fred’s was started in 1947 and serves the southeastern portion of the U.S.

The Haleyville City Council met Monday with Drew Thrasher absent. The Council approved the general operation bills and purchase orders for June in the amount of $325,799.58. Various equipment purchases were authorized for the street department in the amount of $55,199.00. The equipment, as well as a rotary tiller for the Park and Rec Department for $1,000 all, came from the Haleyville Water Department.

Original 1940 sign from Att’s Repair Shop, which was located Highway 195 across from what is now Littleville Road. Photo from Atticus’s grandson, Bobby Taylor.

The Council approved the purchase of signs to mark the southernmost part of Littleville Road between Highway 195 and 30th Street as the Atticus Taylor Road. Mr. Taylor, the father of Mitchell Taylor, donated the land for the road to the city many years ago. Mr. Taylor ran the Att Taylor garage on Highway 195 for many years, specializing in generators and automotive electrical work.

The next meeting of the Haleyville City Council will be on Monday, August 5. 5:30 pm at the Haleyville City Hall.

The search on Smith Lake for the missing boater, Kelsey Starling continues today. The search was suspended Sunday afternoon because of weather.