The body of Randall Walker was reportedly found this past week in a parking lot in Meridian Mississippi. Walker was being sought in connection to the death of a Haleyville woman, Vicky Howton. (see story on hbtv.us). The forensics lab in Huntsville had stated Vicky’s death was not by natural causes. The actual cause of death of Howton nor Walker has been released. This story will be updated if and when that information is officially released.

On Friday,  August 7, the Haleyville Area Chamber of commerce met at Alabama Power with three special guests.  President Mike Evans introduced Garland Gudger, Poncey Robertson, and Tracy Estes. The three will be freshmen members of the state legislature next year. They promised to work with each other and represent the Haleyville area to the best of their abilities. The common theme was to get to know the people of this area and their needs.

At 12:12, Friday, September 7, ALEA Communications Quad Cities Post was notified of a single vehicle crash on Valley Drive in Winston County, near Arley.  The crash involved a UAB passenger bus with twenty-seven occupants.  The bus traveled down a steep hill, through an intersection, struck a large rock, then a tree.   There were eleven injured passengers transported from the scene.  Seven passengers were transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, two with serious injuries, and four were transported to Cullman Regional Medical Center in Cullman.  Nothing further as State Troopers continue to investigate.

Lakeland Community Hospital and Java Medical Group are proud to name Ashley Pool as the new Chief Operating Officer at Lakeland Hospital in Haleyville.

Ashley is a long-time health care advocate who considers patients, employees, and the community her life’s mission. Ashley grew up in a small town west of Athens, Alabama called the Coxey Community where she is a 1994 graduate of Clements High School. She is also a graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville having obtained her Bachelors and Master’s degrees in nursing. She has been a nurse practitioner for 16 years, a nurse for 21. In 2014, Ashley obtained a Masters in the Management of Health Care degree from Vanderbilt University. Through the years she has been a cardiac intensive care nurse, home health nurse, and worked with an internal medicine physician. She opened her own business across the street from her high school and provided health care to her community for 8 years before selling her clinic to Athens-Limestone Hospital. She presently co-owns and administrator of Pool Healthcare and Aesthetics in Athens. She has also been an adjunct professor at Athens State University believing an education is a powerful tool in ensuring one’s success.

Ashley is married to Tracy Pool, an ER physician at Athens-Limestone Hospital. She has 4 children and 2 stepchildren who she prefers to refer to as her bonus children.

ashley is excited about joining the team at Lakeland Community Hospital and wishes to continue her personal mission to be an employee advocate, foster community involvement and provide excellent customer service to Haleyville and surrounding area. She considers it her purpose to promote excellence in healthcare for all residents while preserving the small-town character where everyone is neighbors, friends, and family.

The body of Vicky Denise Liverett Howton, 53, was discovered Friday afternoon, August 31, in an unoccupied house at 1630 9th Avenue. Reportedly she had previously lived in the house and it was used to store household items. Her body was removed by members of the Haleyville Fire Department and sent to the Alabama Forensics Lab in Huntsville. On Tuesday afternoon, the preliminary report was returned to the Haleyville Police Department which stated she did not die of natural causes. Haleyville Police Investigator Tim Steien went back to the house to recover items to take to the lab as part of the investigation to determine what and who caused the death. Vicky had three children, two girls, and a son, who had placed missing posters around town earlier in the week.

A man from Mississippi, Randall Walker, who Vicky had met online had been living with her at another house on 9th Avenue is presently being sought in regards to her death. Reportedly, family members had tried to contact her since Sunday, August 28. At first, Walker gave excuses as to why she could not be contacted. Communication with Walker ended on Wednesday. The body was found on Friday. He was last seen driving a gold or beige 1999 Ford F-150 long base, single cab pickup with a Mississippi handicap tag B4198.

Tuesday, September 4 – A late afternoon crash in front of Walmart on Highway 195 resulted in the rider of a motorcycle, William McCullar being transported to Lakeland ER with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the pickup stated he was turning left into Walmart on what he thought was a green left turn signal. The bike and truck met head-on with the McCullar ending up on the hood of the pickup. Haleyville Police investigated.

Tuesday, September 4 – 11 a.m.-The Haleyville City Council met Tuesday (instead of Monday, a holiday) with Drew Thrasher absent. The Council met early, 11 a.m. in order to meet the deadline for certifying the city school board election by noon. Three resolutions were also approved. The first states the City of Haleyville will enter into a partnership with the Coach Safely Foundation to provide mandatory training required by the Coach Safely Act and to promote awareness of youth athletic safety and enhance the youth athletic experience in the City of Haleyville. The second approves a revolving loan for $150,000 through the Northwest Alabama Council of Local governments, (NACOG), for resurfacing roads in the Haleyville Industrial area. Specifically, the Old Hamilton Road from SR129 to 5th Street, used by Ridge Pointe Manufacturing, Alabama Avenue from SR129 to Dolphin Road, used by Mar-Jac Poultry and Winston furniture, and a section of Boar Tush Road from the railroad crossing to Sam Letson Industrial Road, used by all industry in the South Industrial Park.

The third approved the results of the election on September 4 for the two seats of the School Board. Barry Burleson and Chad Tidwell both received a majority of the votes for seats 2 and 3 respectfully and will assume their seats at the meeting of the Board in March 2019.

The next scheduled meeting of the Haleyville City Council will be on Monday, September 17, at 5:30 p.m. at the Haleyville City Hall.

With his permission, the following is a statement from Facebook by Shane Whitten:

First I want to say I love Bear Creek and I hate to see all the crap going on that is destroying our town. With that being said I have decided to hang up my badge and try something new in life that will be a better fit for me and my family. I loved being the Chief of Bear Creek and serving the great citizens of Bear Creek. I’m sad to leave but I’m excited the start of this new chapter in my life. It’s been a very long and thought out process. Lots of prayers and talking to god about what was best for me and my family and I feel this is where he is leading me. Thanks to everyone that supported me for the last 5 years it means the world to me. Thanks to Mayor Connie Bishop Morrison for the great opportunity of being police chief and always having my back. Also thanks to the city council for always having my back and getting us the equipment we needed to do the job especially Chris Gillum. And before it gets started I shouldn’t even have to do this but I’m not leaving bc I’m going to jail or I’m afraid I’m going to jail. It’s not because I don’t want to do my job. This has been in the works way before this stuff came out. I love bear creek and I wish everyone the best. I’m going to be a Millwright and learn some new trades.

Members of the 107th and the 117th Guard units from Haleyville and family members met at a local restaurant Saturday to renew their special bond and to honor the members who have passed. 

Earlier this week this vehicle was involved in the theft of a lawnmower from Cox Farms in Haleyville. If you have any information regarding this vehicle please contact the Winston County Sheriff’s office at 205-489-2115.