• State of the City

    Haleyville Mayor Ken Sunseri recently gave an update on the state of the city to the Haleyville Rotary Club. Sunseri stated sales and employment tax is up and the unemployment rate is now at 6%, the lowest in many years. The mobile home industry, which was the leading industry in this area at one time, is virtually gone. There are still many manufacturing and supply facilities in this area and all face a common problem, finding people to work. Sunseri stated the greatest competition has been the federal government. Sunseri said potential employees could take advantage of all the many government programs such as unemployment food stamps, medical and other benefits. Thus it was easier to stay and home and make the equivalent of $12.22 per hour without having to work.

    On a positive note, work is underway on the playground at the new sports complex. New hangers at the airport have just been completed and are full. The Cripple Creek subdivision project is now complete. The new sports complex has been a huge success and a boost to the city in bringing in out of town ball players and their families. The first month the complex was open the concession stand and field rentals grossed $25,000. Even though it is difficult to fully assess the full impact of the economics of the complex, it is obvious already, it was a good investment by the city.

    May city streets need paying and repair. Sunseri stated there is no money for paving even though he has over $3 million in paying projects on his desk.

    The next city council meeting has been moved from Monday, July 3 to Monday, July 10 because of the July 4th holiday.

  • Haleyville City Council

    The Haleyville City Council met Monday with all members present. The Council approved the May general operation bills and purchase orders in the amount of $169,198.32. The resignation of Haleyville Policer Officer Clay Wilson was approved. Wilson will be going to work for the Russellville Police Department. Mayor Sunseri hired Marc Casteel as a police officer effective July 5, pending his pre-employment physical and drug testing. Three life guards for the Haleyville swimming pool were hired as seasonal employees. They were Gracie Raines, Allison Watkins, and Blake Berry.

    The next council meeting which would be on the first Monday of July will be Monday, July 10, because of the July 4th holidays.

  • Haleyville City Council

    The Haleyville City Council met Monday, June 5, with Royce Benefield absent. A pay adjustment for city employees was approved which is a one-time salary supplement during the month of December to reward longevity in the workplace. The Council approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with Municipal Intercept Services in Montgomery to secure funds owed to the city by intercepting any refunds from the Alabama Department of Revenue to be applied to any debt owed to the municipality.

    A change order was approved to the Haleyville Sports Complex parking lot and walking trail paving project in order to balance the project contract. An agreement was approved for Creekside Erosion Control and Grassing in the amount of $9,373.20 for seeding 4.17 acres of slopes at the Sports Complex to prevent erosion. Approval was made for an agreement with 2 State Electrical Services for bi-annual service on 7 generators used by the city.

    Jade Bice representing the Haleyville Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Ken Sunseri and members of the council praised the city workers to including the street and sanitation department, police and others for their work to make this year’s 9-1-1 festival a success.

    Mayor Sunseri announced the hiring of Derek Henderson as a police officer effective June 19 and the hiring of two additional seasonal lifeguards for the Haleyville swimming pool.

    The next Haleyville City Council meeting will be Monday, June 19.

  • 9-1-1/Alumni Festivities

    Sweet Tea Trio performed before a record crowd estimated at over four thousand people who enjoyed the free concert Friday night, June 2 at the 9-1-1 festival in downtown Haleyville. The concert with headliner Diamond Rio was sponsored by the Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Haleyville. The festivities continued through Saturday with antique car and tractor shows, multiple vendors, and kids rides and activities.

    A combined HHS Alumni/9-1-1 Festival parade with the Haleyville Rotary Club Miss 9-1-1, Ashton Steele, 15, a Winston County High student was held Saturday Morning.

     At noon the HHS Alumni luncheon was held at the Haleyville Elementary School.

    Samuel Lee Masdon, III was honored as the 2017 Alumnus of the Year at the luncheon in a presentation by the Alumni Association President Debbie Wood.
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  • High Wind Caused Damage

      

    At 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, May 28, straight-line winds swept through the Haleyville area toppling trees, knocking out power and causing some serious property damage. The Haleyville City Hall and Centurytel were both utilizing their respective emergency power generators for most of the day as repair crews worked to replace a power pole and lines taken down by a tree on 9th Avenue in front of the Wallace Thrasher home. The home of Congressman Robert Aderholt was not seriously damaged when a large tree fell across the roof. A power pole with transformer was knocked down with a falling tree on 10th Avenue. There were no reported injuries.

  • HHS Graduation 2017

    Salutatorian Kylie Brooke Lovett and Valedictorian Kaitlin Gabrielle Woods were two of the 105 seniors who participated in the 108th Commencement Exercises and Graduation of the Haleyville High School Class of 2017 Friday night at Bubba Scott Field.

  • Arthur Executed

    Tommy Arthur, with ties to the Haleyville area, had an execution date set for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Holman prison. Arthur was granted a last-minute stay by the U.S. Supreme Court just before the planned execution. However, later in the night, the Court lifted the stay and Arthur was executed just after midnight. He had been on death row for 35 years and granted 7 stays to his execution, some following last-minute appeals. Thursday night, the “Houdini” of death row was finally put to death. In the 80’s, Arthur shot and killed a woman in Bear Creek, wounded one other, and was found guilty of killing a Shoals man while on work release for his first conviction.

  • BOE Hires New HHS Principal

    The Haleyville School Board met Tuesday night and approved seven items under new business, two requests for use of facilities, four field trips, three fundraisers, and amendments to the substitute teachers and lunchroom workers lists.

    The biggest item was the personnel changes in the school system. Erika McCoy was given a probationary contract as the new Haleyville High Principal, replacing Dr. Holly Sutherland who will become the new Superintendent of Education.

    Approval was given to the resignation requests from Savannah Smith and Emily Head.

    New hires approved include Brenda Scogin, Dylan Burleson, Amber Lambert, Sergio Mederos, Michael Holloway, Jacob McCarley, Emily Taylor, Alyssa Elliott, Toni Rai Sartin, Whitley Yocum, and Alex Fragale. The Board approved the non-renewal of Enjoli Godsey, Amy Smith, and Holly Comeens.

    Tenure was approved for Meagan Benford, Nichole Cook, Elaine Frix, Jayme Hall, Leigh Ann Hicks, and Lindsey Kilpatrick at the HES. Tenure was also approved for Elyse Aldridge, Lee Frix, Adam Lawler, Charles Moody, and Sarah Vice at HHS.

    Non-probationary status was approved for Reeta Hood, Rita Butler, Paige Hooker, Kristie Hyde and Emma Anne Hallman. Two transfers and one leave for approved.

    The graduation ceremony for 105 HHS seniors will be this Friday night at 8 p.m. at Bubba Scott Field.