Mayor Ken Sunseri and Councilman Bud Wilson

The September general operation bills and purchase orders in the amount of $494,655.22 were approved by the Haleyville City Council at their regular meeting Monday evening.

Four resolutions pertaining to the new Sports Complex were passed. One authorized the expenditure of $54,275.00 for matching funds to a grant the city has applied for to build a community safe room at the new complex. The low bid of $38,176.00 from Stadium Pros was approved for stadium seats and $22,850.00 was approved for a 31 X 30′ metal equipment building. $11,098.78 was approved for a change order to the work on the concessions building.

Mayor Sunseri announced the city had applied for a Homeland Security grant for $13,963.81 for portable radios for the fire department. Another grant has been applied for in the amount of $185,000.00 for a pumper-truck replacement in the Fire Department.

Anita Lyons was appointed to the Library Board.

Royce Benefield was absent Monday and it was the last meeting for Bud Wilson. Wilson was recognized for his work as a city councilman for the last eight years. Wilson chose not to run for re-election and instead ran unsuccessfully for a school board seat. George Russell, who was elected in the last election will take his seat on the council at the next scheduled meeting on November 7.

The sixth annual Empty Bowls Dinner will be held at the Double Springs Municipal Building (old armory) on Thursday, October 20, so mark your calendars.  You get to sample all the soups you can hold and pick out a free bowl made in the Arts Council’s pottery workshop.  There’s also a silent auction, bake sale, and more.  Tickets are only $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, and the proceeds are split between the Winston County Arts Council and Main Street Ministries, two great local nonprofits run totally by volunteers.  The doors open at 5:00. Tickets may be purchased at the door or from any Main Street Ministries or Arts Council board member.

The Haleyville High Lions football team defeated Dora Friday night 42-6. Unfortunately, for Dora, it was their homecoming. The Lion of the week is a lineman, tackle Jon Tate Lollar. The next game is at home Friday, October 21 against Fayette County.

Listen to the game live on Paradise 92.7 or on your smartphone with the free Apple or Android Paradise 92.7 app.

A single-vehicle crash at 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, has claimed the life of a Haleyville man. Joshua Wayne Barnes, 35, was killed when the 2003 Toyota Avalon he was occupying left the roadway, overturned, and struck a utility pole. Barnes, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred on Alabama Highway 17, eleven miles south of Sulligent. Nothing further is available as Alabama State Troopers continue to investigate.

The Haleyville High School Cross Country Team brought home another 1^st place trophy on Saturday, October 8, at the “Dew It On The Trails” 5K cross country meet in Decatur at Point Mallard Park with an average time of 17:40.  Haleyville had 7 boys and 3 girls placing in the top 25!  Individually, Ja’Quan Cane finished in 2^nd place with a personal and school record of 16:45. Tristian Carter, Hamza Abusammour, Emmanuel Marchant, Adison Cook, Will Farris and Drake Robertson rounded out the boys in the top 25. Aly Donaldson finished 9^th overall for the girls with a time of 21:36. Icsel Marchant and Emily Farris rounded out the top 25 for the girls. Other team members, many of whom achieved their own PRs (personal records) include Ana Aaron, Lewis Barber, Dawson Wakefield, Brandon Parker, Mariano Sandoval, Zeke Shipman, Micah Lolley, John Robert Ellis, Sergio Mederos, Joel Nava, Luis Espinosa, Oscar Espinoza, Riley Miller and Gavin Miller. Hard working coaches include Elyse Aldridge, Lisa Cook, and Howie Lyons. This young team continues to grow, improve and impress!

– Kathy Barber

HHS 2016 Homecoming Queen Kelly Nicole Banks, daughter of Heath and Denise Banks, was escorted by her father Dr. Heath Banks. Kelly is a member of the First Baptist Church Youth Group and the drummer in the Youth-Worship Band. She is Co-President of the Student Government Association and President of DECA and Delta Theta Chi sorority. She is a student leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the Havala Year Book staff and a 4-year varsity basketball player.

The Marion County Solid Waste Authority will have an E-cycle event Saturday, October, 15 in order to take almost any item you should not put in your regular trash. The E-cycle event is to help keep our area clean and pollution free. No more TV’s and junk in ditches, please. Items which will be accepted are televisions, CRT monitors, copiers, fax machines, printers, laptop and desktop computers, telephones, small electric appliances, power backups, servers, VCRs, DVD players, etc. There is no charge except a small fee for TVs and CRT monitors due to what it cost to dispose of these items.

The location for the E-cycle event on October 15 is 550 Dr. Pyle Drive in Hamilton. Dr. Pyle Drive is located 3/10 mile on Airport Road after you turn off Highway 43 beside Dinelli’s Pizza. Cash or checks only and this event is open to anyone in the Marion or Winston County area. For more information call 205-921-2116.

Effective immediately October 11, 2016, there is an NO BURN ORDER inside the City Limits of Haleyville.   That means you can be ticketed for starting a fire inside the city limits.

A FIRE ALERT is now effect for the remainder of Winston County, the four surrounding counties to include Cullman, Walker, Marion and Franklin Counties and 41 others in Alabama.

The reason the Alabama Forestry Commission issued the alert is the current drought situation, continued lack Of precipitation, high probability of fuel ignition, and a shortage of available firefighting manpower and resources. With this extremely dry weather, conditions are such that any fire can quickly spread out of control, cause damage to our forests and a threat to homes. Over the last seven days, 307 wildfires have occurred across Alabama burning approximately 3,698 acres.

The fire alert will remain in effect until rescinded by the State Forester after conditions change.    Just don’t burn anything outdoors right now!

Homecoming Queen Kelly Banks with her court following the halftime program at the Haleyville/Good Hope football game.