Wednesday, 5:15 p.m. – A fire, apparently caused by lightning, destroyed a 150-year-old house on Alabama Avenue. According to Sue and Gurvis Sutherland, who lives next door, the house, known as the Autin House, has been unoccupied for years. It was damaged by the 2001 tornado, the roof was replaced and has been used for storage of old furniture. Sue stated there was nothing of great value in the house which was completely destroyed by the fire. Haleyville fireman, Craig Thomas, was reportedly injured when hit by bricks from a wall at the rear of the building. He was taken to the Lakeland Emergency Room, X-rayed, given medication and released. He stated he suffered a cervical sprain and some bruises, sore but OK.

he Haleyville City Schools Board of Education met Tuesday, August 28 and approved the board expenditures for July in the amount of $1,255,855.54. The Board also approved amendments to the school policies and procedures to include the Youth Suicide and Prevention Policy. School sponsor supplements were approved. The school instructional policy, a revision to the salary schedule, supplemental salary schedule and High School coaching assignments were also approved. Schedules for the fall fishing team and the cross country team were approved along with an amendment to the schools Code of Conduct.

The Board approved six requests for use of facilities, three field trips, and thirteen fundraisers. Three lists for the substitute teacher, lunchroom workers, and bus drivers were approved. Under personnel, the Board approved the resignation of Casey Fox as PE teacher at the HMS and varsity football assistant and head Junior Varsity boys basketball coach. A part-time grounds and maintenance student worker, as well as six breakfast workers for this school year, was also approved.

Recognized at the beginning of the meeting were the custodial and maintenance workers who keep the campus looking and working great. Pictured above with the School Board are (not in order) Jerry Corsbie, Barry Butler, Brenda Scogin, Chris Webb, Randy Jones, David Albright, Rita Butler, Steve Berry and Adam Knight.

With all five ballot boxes and one absentee box totaled, the winners for the two seats on the Haleyville Board of Education were Incumbent Barry Burleson for Place 2 defeating challenger Beth Moore and Chad Tidwell defeating incumbent Steve Stott for Place 3. Burleson had 529 votes (52.4%) to Moore 480 (47.6%). Tidwell had a total of 542 votes (53.2%) to Stott’s 477 votes (46.8%).

Saturday, August 25-Twi young children died as a result of an ATV crash in the Russellville area around 3 p.m. The children were 8 and 4 years old. Their names were not released.

Friday, August 24 -A driver from Mississippi entering Highway 195 across from Walmart caught the air hose for the emergency trailer brakes between the 53-foot trailer and the mud flap holder on his tractor. That immediately brought the truck to a halt, because it won’t move without it being connected. Haleyville Police officers diverted traffic through the parking lot and in front of Hardees, A wrecker was called, the trailer was dropped, disconnected and lulled to a parking area. The highway was reopened without further delay.

The unidentified driver stated he was driving a truck because as a degreed musician, music, so far, just did not provide the income he needed to live. He also said he hated rap but loved jazz and soul music. Elvis also drove a truck across Mississippi also.

Friday, August 24, a 9-1-1 phone call from a neighbor reporting a house fire just off Highway 129, just west of Haleyville was answered within 10 minutes.  A fire truck and firemen from the newly formed Craft Volunteer Fire Department, located on Thorn Hill Road, quickly arrived and called for help from Haleyville and Bear Creek. Pumper/tankers and firemen from both soon arrived, however, the mobile home, with additional add-ons was completely engulfed in intense flames and on the ground. The house reportedly belonged to Willy Dale Snider and had been occupied by his son Jason. No one was home at the time of the fire and the house was a total loss. The cause of the fire is unknown. CLICK BELOW FOR MORE PHOTOS Continue reading

A Chevy pickup which had been reported stolen in Phil Campbell on Monday was seen early Wednesday morning, August 22 in Haleyville by a friend of the owner. He followed the pickup to McDonald’s and then reported it to the Haleyville Police. Haleyville Policeman Brian Vickery followed the vehicle and made a stop on Highway 195. After confirming it was a stolen vehicle, Officer Vickery placed the driver, Chelsi Lynn Lawler under arrest and searched inside and found debit cards which had been reported stolen earlier that morning from vehicles in the Lakeland Hospital parking lot.

According to unconfirmed reports, two and perhaps as many as four vehicles had been burglarized around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning at Lakeland. After Chelsi was incarcerated in the Winston County Jail, she gave permission to Investigators to search her home in Bear Creek. Three Franklin County Investigators, Bear Creek Police Chief Shane Whitten, and HPD Officer Vickery went to her mobile home and found upwards of 50 items, most all had been reported stolen. Some of the items were 2 big screen TVs, DVD players, Play Stations, wheel rims, and numerous other items including 2 shotguns and 4 pistols.

Of the 6 guns, 1 shotgun and 2 pistols had been reported stolen. Assumed stolen, but no report filed was a 12 gauge shotgun and one 40 and one 45 cal pistol. If you think these guns may belong to you, or someone you know, please contact Bear Creek Police Chief Shane Whitten through the Haleyville Police Dispatcher at the Haleyville City Hall.

Haleyville City Board of Education announces the first budget hearing for the Haleyville School System 2019 fiscal year.  The hearing will be August 28, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Pride Room at Haleyville HighNotice of Budget Hearing, located at 2001 20th Street,  Haleyville,  Alabama  35565.  The meeting is open to the public.

Tickets are available from students at all three schools. Money goes back to the schools. 

The Haleyville City Council met Monday with all members present. The Council approved the general operation bills and purchase orders for July in the amount of $465,122.20.

The Council accepted the resignation of Haleyville Police Officer Austin Lewis who is now employed as a Bear Creek policeman. Eddie Collins was hired as a Haleyville Police Office. Collins has been a Haleyville Policeman before and has been working as a Winston County Deputy Sheriff.

An agreement was made for $2,000 for an individual to study the type animals found at the Haleyville Airport pursuit to Federal Aviation Regulations per a request from City Engineer, Calvin Cassady.

Glenn Roberts was appointed to the Housing Authority Board. The Council discussed advertising for a Fire Chief, but no action was taken.

In order to pave some city streets while the weather was still warm, the council discussed and approved a $150,000 revolving loan from the North Alabama Council of Local Governments (NACOLG).

The next meeting of the Haleyville City Council will be on Tuesday, September 4th, instead of Monday the 3rd due to the Labor Day Holiday.