A custody exchange in the Hamilton Police Department parking lot just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, Christmas Day, led to a fatal shooting of the father of two small children. The location was used as a “safe place” for a custody exchange.

According to reports, a man had accompanied his girlfriend to pick up her children from their father. The father got out of his vehicle and accompanied his son to meet the mother’s boyfriend. The daughter had stayed behind. Reportedly, a verbal confrontation between the two men ensued. The mother stepped between the two but was unable to stop her boyfriend from shooting the father of her children.

Andy Cochran, 29, has been charged with murder and presently is in the Marion County Jail. Andy or Andrew Cochran was the manager of O’Riley’s Auto Parts in Hamilton.

City Of Haleyville Street & Sanitation will be closed Monday, December 24 and 25 for Christmas Holidays. Monday, December 24 route will be picked up along with Friday, December, 21 route. Tuesday, December 25 route will be picked up along with Wednesday, December, 26 route.

Also closed on Monday, December 31, and Tuesday, January 1. Monday, December 31 route will be picked up along with Friday, December 28 route. Tuesday, January 1 route will be picked up along with Wednesday, January 2. Thanks for your cooperation.

The Haleyville Board of Education met Tuesday, December 18, and approved the expenses for November in the amount of $1,544,501.57. Under consent items, the Board approved three uses of facilities requests, four field trips, and one fundraiser.

Under personnel the Board approved the hiring of Jenny Holliman as a part-time contract school nurse, Dewayne Melton as Special Needs Bus Driver and a change in placement for Alex DeLeon from the HES to the HMS.

The Serve With Pride Awards were made in honor of a former Haleyville School teacher Linda Godsey who is shown with this month’s recipients and respective Principals.

Elis Godsey, Linda Godsey, Ty Woodard, Christy Bice, Principal, HES

John-Barrett Godsey, Linda Godsey, Maegan Woodard, Bo Wilcoxsen, Principal, HMS

Anna Grace Rains, Linda Godsey, Drake Robertson, Dr. McCoy, Principal, HHS

The Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade had beautiful weather and a huge turnout after being postponed from December 7 because of rain. Many of the area churches and organizations sponsored floats and vehicles. Fire trucks and emergency vehicles from Haleyville and surrounding communities also participated.  The parade started next to CVS on 20th Street and did a clockwise trip around downtown. Videos of the parade are on Facebook under HHS and HMS Bands.

The Haleyville City Council had a very short meeting on Monday with only two items on the agenda. After approving the minutes of the Council meeting on December 3, the general operation bills and purchase orders for November were approved in the amount of $442,083.06. The next scheduled meeting of the Council will be on Monday, January 7.

Friday, December 14, members of the Haleyville Rotary distributed over 500 new toys to 128 families with 285 children. This is an annual project and was made possible by donations from companies and individuals and the Rotary Club. The demand was a little greater than anticipated this year and the Rotary Club found itself a little short on funds, but all who applied received at least two toys per child. If you have not and would still like to contribute, all monetary donations no matter how small will be greatly appreciated. Please make checks to the Haleyville Rotary Club and drop it by either Haleyville Insurance or the Paradise 92.7 FM radio station. Thank you and Merry Christmas from the Haleyville Rotary Club. Rotary meets each Thursday at noon at Lakeland Community Hospital. The next meeting will be Thursday, January 4 in the hospital boardroom.

The boxes for old discarded computers and other electronic devices are almost full and will be taken for recycling early next week. This will be your last chance to get rid of those old out of date electronic items you just did not have the heart to throw away because you know they don’t belong in the regular garbage. The boxes are located in the parking lot directly behind the Haleyville City Hall next to two old police cars. There is no charge for this guilt-free way of way of getting rid of your old computers, keyboards and anything electronic. Perhaps you have some old cable TV boxes and remotes, bring them and put them in the boxes. Help keep Haleyville and surrounding area clean.

Tuesday night, December 11, families and friends packed the Haleyville High School gym to hear a fantastic Christmas music concert by the HHS and HMS bands. From the beginners through the seasoned senior band members, the audience was thoroughly entertained by every note. Both bands had done very well this year placing extremely high in competitions.  Conductors Reggie Tolbert and Judd Williams and the bands received a standing ovation for their performance.