The Haleyville City Schools Board of Education met Tuesday, a week early due to the holidays next week. The Board approved a one-time payment to all certified employees of $100 and $50 for all non-certified employees. According to Superintendent Holly Sutherland, this was done as a “thank-you” to all the employees who have worked hard for STEM certification of all four schools, first in the nation to do so, in addition to many other great achievements.

Baseball schedules for HHS and HMS were approved along with the Board expenditures for the month of November in the amount of $1,597,079.10. Three field trips, two fundraisers and amendments to the substitute teacher and nurses lists.

Board President Donna Jones was recognized for having achieved Level 3 by the Alabama School Boards Association.

Principals presented the Serve with Pride Award to teachers in their respective schools. Vickie Bishop and Christy Bice, HES Principal

Amy Farris and Bo Wilcoxen, HMS Principal

Judd Williams and Bo Wilcoxen, HMS Principal

Kerry Brown and Davey Reed, HHS Principal

Reggie Tolbert and Davey Reed, HHS Principal

The Haleyville City Council met Tuesday night with all members present. The Council approved the general operation bills and purchase orders for November in the amount of $325,163.46. Mayor Sunseri read a proclamation condemning human trafficking and asking for citizens to help in reporting any activity which may involve this crime.

Royce Benefield was re-appointed to the Healthcare Authority Board.

The purchase of a new fire truck was discussed. The Council will make a decision at the first meeting in January. Meanwhile, an effort will be made to find the best price and take bids from local banks on financing the approximate $300,000 fire truck over 6 years.

Mayor Sunseri read an email outlining a  plan of RPS Ambulance Service to add an Advance truck in Hamilton to help reduce the wait time for an ambulance. The Advance truck will mainly be used as a transfer and discharge vehicle, and as a backup to the regular medic ambulances when needed. The medical services available from the Advance truck will be less than from medics in the ambulances, however, it will help meet the increased demand for medical transportation.  Plans call for a day Advance truck to be located in Haleyville also.

The Council discussed problems concerning a local business, then went into a closed session to discuss legal issues with the city attorney, Jeff Mobley. The City is exploring the possibility of revolting the business license due to complaints and problems.

The next Haleyville City Council meeting will be Monday, January 6, City Hall.

Presented by the Haleyville Fire Department, Christmas by the Lake continues to draw large numbers of people to view the Christmas lighting on the City Lake and to visit with Santa.

Christmas by the Lake will be opening Dec 11. Sunday thru Thursdays 6-9. Friday and Saturday 6-10. Every night till the 25th. Santa will be there every night except the 24th and 25th.

It’s not Christmas season until the kids get to tell Santa what they want for Christmas and that they did Friday night December 6 at the Haleyville City Hall following the Christmas Parade downtown. 

Students from the Haleyville schools, and other area school students attended a special program Thursday, December 5 at the Tombigbee Electric Cooperative Warehouse in Hamilton to hear the announcement of an award of $29,495,232 as a 50% loan-grant combination in the first round of the U.S. Department of Agriculture”s (USDA) ReConnect Pilot Program.

The company will use the awarded funds to develop an All-Dielectric Self Supporting (ADSS) fiber network and extend Freedom Fiber, the company’s ultra-high-speed fiber-optic service, to 1,100 square-miles of unserved areas of Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Franklin, Winston and Walker counties in Northwest Alabama. This investment is anticipated to reach 2,152 households, 20 farms, 15 businesses, 10 critical community facilities, five educational facilities, and one health care facility. Increased broadband will improve education, economic development, safety and quality of life.

Freedom Fiber is currently connected in Hamilton and Winfield, with construction underway in Haleyville, Hackleburg, Sulligent, and Vernon. If you have not signed up for Freedom Fiber, you can do so by clicking on this link: www.freedomfiber.com

A little over a year ago, a request was made on hbtv.us to support the effort started by Belinda Masdon Kimble to get Haleyville native Doug Kennedy into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. The effort worked! Doug will be inducted along with seven others at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) induction banquet in May, 2020. Below is the bio furnished by the ASHOF of Doug.

DOUG KENNEDY – PARALYMPIAN | Born Nov.13, 1958 in Haleyville, he is a Paralympic athlete who holds many world records. In 1991, at the age of 33, Kennedy dominated as the top wheelchair racer in the U.S. He was the world record holder for the 1500m, the 10K, the 15K and the 5-mile. He was a gold medalist in the 1990 Goodwill Games in the 1500m. He was on the 1988 and 1992 U.S. Paralympic Teams. His career began in 1987 when he won the silver medal in the Stoke-Mandeville Games in Albany, England in the pentathlon. He went on to win two gold medals for the U.S. National Pentathlon team in 1987 and 1988. Kennedy’s career was unmatched in 1990 as he was considered the greatest wheelchair racer in the world. He was given the Sington Award as the Physically Challenged Athlete of the Year for the State of Alabama.

The 52nd annual induction banquet is set for May 2, 2020, at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel. The eight newly inductees increases the total number of inductees to 369.

For more information on the other inductees click on the link below.

https://www.al.com/sports/2019/12/alabama-sports-hall-of-fame-announces-8-new-inductees.html

The Haleyville City Council met Monday with Drew Thrasher and Richard Bittinger absent. The Council approved installing LED lighting at the Boar Tush Industrial Area.

Mayor Ken Sunseri announced the hiring of two new law enforcement officers, Jordan Anderson and Skylar Handley,  effective December 5. Sunseri also announced that Santa would be available for visiting and photos at the City Hall following the Christmas Parade Friday evening.

The next scheduled Haleyville City Council meeting will be Monday, December 16, 5:30 at the Haleyville City Hall.

POSITION AVAILABLE: Accounting Clerk

1. Job Qualifications: Must be a high school graduate or equivalent.
2. Must be able to communicate effectively with the public.
3. Must be 19 years old or older.
4. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Excel and Word required.
5. Must be familiar with basic accounting procedures and the maintenance of journal ledgers, cash receipt registers, and other accounting records and be familiar with data processing procedures.

Applications may be picked up at the Haleyville City Hall. The closing date for accepting applications is December 2, 2019, at 5:00 P.M. E.O.E – A.D.A.

POSITION AVAILABLE: PART-TIME COMMUNICATION OPERATOR II

Job Qualifications: Must be 19 years of age. Must be able to work days, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed. Shifts are 12 hours in length. Must have a valid Alabama driver’s license and no criminal record. Applications may be picked up at the Haleyville Police Department. The closing date for accepting applications is December 2, 2019, at 5:00 P.M.  E.O.E – A.D.A.