Members of the Haleyville Rescue Squad collected donations of food, water, and other supplies last Sunday for victims of Hurricane Michael witch devastated a huge area in the Florida panhandle and SW Georgia.  Aside from their parking duties, the Rescue Squad members also collected donations at the Haleyville/Fayette Football game Friday night. Saturday. members picked up items left at both O’Reiley’s and AutoZone during the week, then left for Florida in a filled 26-foot truck. Their destination was the Marianna Florida Evangel Church. The Church is feeding all the workers in that area including law enforcement and fire department personnel plus holding church service for everyone.

The Haleyville Rescue Squad thanks everyone who made a donation for the people who suffered from the loss of their homes and businesses from Hurricane Michael.

On Thursday, October 18, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Division pulled two vehicles out of Smith Lake. They were both recovered from the Lions Club Landing area of the lake, according to the Cullman Sheriff’s Department’s Facebook page.

The 2007 GMC Yukon and a late 80’s to early 90’s Mercury Grand Marquis appeared to have been in the lake for many years, with the Grand Marquis possibly being in the lake for decades.

Sheriff Matt Gentry said that is an ongoing investigation and they are working with ALEA to determine if the vehicles are stolen. He also indicated that the vehicles were found by fishermen who identified the vehicles on their depth finder before notifying law enforcement.

On 10/16/2018 at 6:00 PM the Quad Cities Trooper Post responded to a one-vehicle crash on CR 77 near CR 56 in Franklin County. The driver of the vehicle, Phil Campbell resident Ronnie Presley, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Franklin County Coroner. The vehicle left the road and roll over entrapping Presley in the vehicle. Speed was a factor in the crash. Presley was alone in the vehicle.

The Haleyville City Council met Monday with Jonathan Bennett absent. The Council approved the operation bills and Purchase Orders for September in the amount of $507,134.60. At the recommendation of Police Chief Kyle Reogas, Elana Olan was hired as the Police Secretary.

Following a public hearing which preceded the council meeting on the Council approved a modification to the Planned Unit Development ordinance approved by the city in 2006 specifically for the Gardens, a development at Newburg Road the Airport Road. This development was originally started by Bob Masdon but has been purchased by Royce Benefield. The change allows the combining of lots but retains the same restrictions in terms of setbacks and spacing for any buildings on the lots.

A contract for street paving was awarded to the Central Alabama Asphalt & Construction Company in the amount of $157,974.60. A change order was also approved correcting an invoice error of a contract with Mallory Burkhalter Paving on work already done.

City Project Engineer, Calvin Cassady, asked the Council to approve the application for funding for two projects at the Haleyville Airport. One is for obstacle clearance on the approach ends of the runway and the other for security fencing.

The City of Bear Creek asked for an extenuation of 6 months for officer repayment for an officer who transferred to the Bear Creek Police Department.

The next meeting of the Haleyville City Council will be on Monday, November 5.

The Haleyville Rotary Club recently donated $3600 to the three Haleyville Schools. Each school received $1200 from the Rotary BBQ dinner held before the first home football game. The Rotary Club and the schools thank everyone who purchased a ticket and helped with this project.

Show above, Rotarian Don Dimond, HHS Principal, Dr. McCoy, HES Principal, Christy Bice, HMS Principal, Bo Wilcoxen, Candy Marbutt, Rotarian Mike Evans, and the top ticket salesperson, Shelby Shipman.

The historic red 9-1-1 telephone which belongs to the City of Haleyville used for the first 9-1-1 phone call in the nation did not go to the Smithsonian as originally planned. Restrictions placed on the phone by the Smithsonian did not allow the city of Haleyville to “borrow” it back for special occasions. The phone found another home at the new National Law Enforcement Museum which opens this weekend in Washington. D.C. The Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce President Mike Evans is in Washington for the grand opening celebrations. Mike had the privilege to present Clint Eastwood with one of the City of Haleyville 9-1-1 coin.

The 8th Annual Empty Bowls dinner was held Thursday evening at the Double Springs City Hall. A packed house enjoyed many different kinds of soups and took home a unique Winston County hand-made bowl. This annual event raises money for two non-profit organizations, Main Street Ministries and the Winston County Arts Council. Lots of first-timers and the hundreds who have made this a not to miss event enjoyed the many kinds of delicious soups and cookies and the chance to visit with friends. If you did not attend this year, make plans to go next October. It may be a year away, but you do not want to miss this great event.

Betty McDougal and many other volunteers distribute free food, clothes, furniture,  meet contacts for health care, GED education, and counseling at Main Street Ministries on Highway 195 downtown Double Springs to hundreds of people every week. Recipients must register and qualify, but once they do, the resources available to them are amazing.

Once a year, two entities, Main Street Ministries and the Winston County Arts Council come together to produce a fantastic and delicious fundraiser. That event is TONIGHT. It’s called Empty Bowls and is held at the Double Springs City Hall (the old National Guard building on Highway 13 South of Double Springs). Volunteers cook up their favorite soup (including at least two or three kinds of chili) and personally serves it throughout the evening from their crock pots. You can pick out a beautiful unique handmade bowl to take home. You are given styrofoam bowls to eat from and you can have a sample of every one of the many soups available. Fresh bread is provided by the volunteers at Mainstreet Ministries as well as door prizes given out during the evening. It’s a night you will not forget.  I don’t normally personally endorse events, but this one is special. I have been going for several years, and my collection of bowls is still growing!

Tickets are available at the door,  serving starts at 5 p.m. today.

Monday- 10:30 a.m., Billy Waldrop, 88 of Haleyville was pulling up to the south-side entrance to Goars when he said his foot slipped off the brake and hit the accelerator, breaking out the glass doors and some of the blocks. Mr. Waldrop appeared to be uninjured and fortunately, no one else was struck or injured as a result of the crash.

In a special called meeting of the Bear Creek City Council Wednesday night, Councilman Jimmy Preston was chosen as the Mayor Pro Tem, which means he will serve as Mayor until a special election can be held.  After his selection, Preston stated: “from this point forward, everything is going to be done out in the open.” He said hopefully a special election for Mayor can be held as soon as possible, possibly in two months. Preston’s appointment fills the Mayor’s seat left vacant following the resignation of Mayor Connie earlier Wednesday morning.

The mayor and council have one major problem confronting the City. Presently, an investigation is underway by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation at the request of Connie Morrison into the finances of the camper space rental income at Twin forks Campground, which is run by the City of Bear Creek. This story will be updated as information becomes available.