The Haleyville Lions Club carnival is open through Saturday night across from Wal-Mart on Highway 195 in the old Piggly Wiggly parking lot. The carnival is a fund raiser for the Lions Club local projects.

A single-vehicle crash at 12:25 p.m. today, May 10, has claimed the life of a Hamilton man.  Kerry Nicholas Cook, 30, was killed when the 2002 Chevrolet Tracker he was driving left the roadway, struck a bridge pillar and caught fire.  Cook was pronounced dead at the scene.  The crash occurred on Interstate 22, near the 22-mile marker, six miles east of Hamilton.  Nothing further is available as Alabama State Troopers continue to investigate.

A unique race was held Saturday with three electric cars on the campus of the Haleyville City Schools in the first competition of its type in Haleyville. The contest pitted cars built by student team members all following a set of rules to make it a level playing field for the competitors. In addition to the car built and driven by the Haleyville Center of Technology students, Decatur, and Clay County also competed. According to the HHS sponsor, Jamie White, two other schools had to withdraw because of school tests at the same time.

The winner was Decatur, Haleyville second and Clay County third overall following two races. The timed races were to determine how much distance the vehicles could travel in one hour. In the first race, Decatur was slightly over 23 miles and Haleyville approximately 15.

These cars can be built in any configuration, but the three-wheel design offers less resistance or drag. All the vehicles use the same size motors and batteries. The Haleyville Auto Zone furnished the batteries for the HHS entry. White pointed out the vehicles can cost as much as $7,000. Haleyville did not win, but the initial thought was the electrical wiring may have been too small. Jamie White pointed out there will be some other modifications.

The first race of this kind was held five years ago at Barbers Motor Speedway in Birmingham with only 4 cars participating. Last year the Haleyville students raced at Barbers along with 36 other cars in the same class. This was the first race hosted by Haleyville. White hopes to make this an annual local event. There are only three other such races in the state.

The students benefit by learning about engineering, electricity, mechanics, and working as a team. This is the fifth year of competition in Alabama and is becoming a unique sport which is developing a serious-minded following.

It takes a lot of people to support just one car. The driver is Clint Edwards. Tow crew is John Cavender, Hayden Ward, Brant White, Austin Taylor and Bryton Frost. Spotter crew is Austin Long, Dustin Childers, Conner Winters, Josefina Ruiz, Tyler Dodd, Gavin Godsey, Christian Marbutt, and Alex Smith. The Pit Crew is Dylan Bishop, Noah Tittle, Zack Cornelius, Luke Ryan, Hayden Kelly and Brandon Lyon.

Special thanks to the Haleyville Rescue Squad for providing traffic control for the two streets at the school during the races.

At the Haleyville High School Prom this year, just after the winner of Miss Havala Amelia Townsend had been selected, a life-long friend, Margaret Dale Stewert Pugh informed me about a four generation connection. Her mother Willie Mae Walker Stewart was Miss Haleyville in 1928, (before there was a Miss Havala). Margaret Dale was Miss Havala in 1960. Her daughter, Beth Pugh Townsend was Miss Havala in 1987 and Miss Haleyville in 1989. Her daughter, Amelia Townsend is this year’s Miss Havala. With Mother’s Day this Sunday, congratulations to all mothers for being the beautiful ladies you are. Thanks to Beth for the photos.

The Winston County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) received an anonymous tip on May 4 of possible drug activity at 123 County Road 3054 in Double Springs

Investigators Josh Silas and Brad Curtis and Deputy Caleb Snoddy went to the residence and made contact with subjects and spoke with them about the possible drug activity. The officers were given consent to enter the residence where they observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. They continued to search the residence and area around the house.

As a result of the search of the premises, the officers found methamphetamine (meth) and drug paraphernalia located in a vehicle in the yard of the residence which reportedly belonged to Roy Moody.

In the residence was found meth, drug paraphernalia, components to manufacture meth, marijuana, pills and evidence of a prior meth cook.

The following were arrested and all the subjects were charged with unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance 1st degree, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana 2nd degree. All were booked into the Winston County Jail.

Photos above in the following order:

Nancy Renea Cheatham of 123 County Road 3054, Double Springs, Age 43

Roy Oneal Moody of 1009 4th Ave Haleyville, Age 53

Joshua Huel Grimes of 1204 County Road 28, Double Springs, Age 29

Kimberly Sue Self of 5838 County Highway 34, Haleyville, Age 25

Two local Haleyville High Students recently took top awards in state-wide competition for SkillsUSA. Skills USA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. The program provides educational programs, events, and competitions which support career and technical education (CTE) in the nation’s classroom.

Bryton Frost took first place in Diesel Equipment Technology at the Alabama State Skills USA Competition. Bryton will be attending the National Competition in Louisville Kentucky this summer for the second time. Bryton is a 10th grader and has received many scholarships this year and last year as well. Hunter Jordan took third place in Automotive Service Technology as a Junior at HHS. We are very proud of both these young men and expect great things in the future from both of them.

The Haleyville Center of Technology (HCT) is having an electric car race this Saturday morning on on the streets next to Haleyville High School. The first race is at 10 a.m. The race is to promote STEM projects at the HCT. The public is invited, but come early, 20th streets and 20th Avenue will be closed for the race.

The Haleyville City Hall was packed with people for the open house on Monday afternoon. Governor Robert Bentley and Congressman Robert Aderholt both spoke briefly commending the city, and especially Mayor Ken Sunseri and the council for the new facility which will serve the city for many decades to come.

At 5:30 the Council held their bi-monthly meeting.

The Council first established a pay scale for part-time police and fire dispatchers then approved advertising for part-time dispatchers.

A change order for backstops at the new sports complex was approved, adding additional angled fencing to the top of the planned backstops.

Discussion and action on the renewal of the RDS agreements, alcohol tax, business license, occupational, sales and use tax was tabled.

The council voted to purchase a new Ford F-150 pickup fro Long-Lewis Ford in the Shoals for $28,704.50 for use by the head of the Street and Sanitation Department.

Mayor Sunseri announced the hiring of Wesley Marshall for the Street and Sanitation Department effective May 3.

The next council meeting was rescheduled from May 16 to May 19 due to the League of Municipalities annual convention that week.

The Haleyville Police and Fire Departments responded to a single vehicle crash Monday morning at 5:55 a.m. on 7th Avenue just south of Mineral Springs. The driver, the sole occupant, of a late model Mustang was entrapped in his car after leaving the street and crashing into a tree.

The driver, Michael Ellis Clark, 23, Bear Creek, was seriously injured and his car totaled as a result of the crash. Clark was transported by ambulance to Lakeland ER. The accident is being investigated by the Haleyville Police Department.

The Smithsonian has arrived in Haleyville! Many have asked, so here are a few details. The exhibit will open Sunday at 3:00 with a pep rally/ribbon cutting downtown Haleyville across from the Dixie Theater. Everyone is invited! We will have food from local restaurants and dignitaries will speak. It will be open until 5:00 Sunday. In the 6 weeks to follow, it will be open Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 10:00 am- 3:00 pm. It is free and open to the public. It will be open extended hours alumni weekend. With the theme of Hometown Teams, HHS was allowed to add pieces of our history to the Smithsonian exhibit. You will see memorabilia from a variety of HHS teams, Cheer Leaders, and the HHS band. If your church would like to tour the exhibit as a group, you can request it be open on a Wednesday night from 7-8:00 for a group viewing. We can also accommodate other groups of you let us know in advance. Just stop by anytime and visit! It is going to be awesome! #‎LionPride