The body of Kelsey Starling, the missing passenger from a two-vessel crash July 4 at Smith Lake, was recovered  Saturday, Oct.5.

Search efforts had resumed on Thursday, Oct. 3. Divers from Houston County Rescue Squad located what they believed to be Ms. Starling today in approximately 140 feet of water.  She was located in the approximate location that the accident occurred in Rock Creek.

Houston County Rescue Squad, Crane Hill Fire Department,  Logan Fire Department, Trimble Fire Dept., Smith Lake Task Force, Winston County Sheriff’s Office, Winston County Coroner’s Office, Winston County EMA, Cullman County Coroner’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol Division were involved in recovery efforts.

Sgt. Chad Pate, ALEA-Marine Patrol Division, Northern District Assistant Commander

Hal Guthrie, 82, who found Guthrie’s Restaurant in Haleyville in 1965 passed away Monday afternoon, September 30 after a lengthy illness. Funeral arrangements can be found here: HBTV Funerals

The Haleyville Fire Department responded quickly to an unoccupied house fire at 1632 9th Avenue Tuesday evening just after 6 p.m. The fire in the center of the house went from heavy smoke to flames through the roof. The quick professional action of the Haleyville Firemen saved the house from complete destruction. The house did suffer extensive fire, smoke and water damage. Neighbors stated the house had been unoccupied for some time. This is the sixth unoccupied house fire in Haleyville in less than a month. The cause of the fire is unknown.

The Haleyville City Council met Monday, September 16 with all members present. Mayor Sunseri presented a Proclamation celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Recovery Month to Angela Hill, of the Marwin Counseling Services. Look for an announcement on the hbtv.us Bulletin Board about wearing blue on September 25 in support of those in recovery from addiction. The Council approved the operation bills and Purchase Orders for August in the amount of $434,505.84. The Council also approved an ordinance calling the City’s outstanding general obligation school warrants, series 2014 for redemption and authorizing a funding agreement with the City Board of Education of the city of Haleyville for the issuance of a new warrant. The new Special Tax School Warrant, Series 2019 will be for approximately $8,510,000.00, of which the City will be obligated to $150,000.00 annually.

Mayor Sunseri announce he has hired Wes Donaldson, a former Winston County Deputy Sheriff as a new Haleyville Police Officer.

The next scheduled meeting of the Haleyville City Council will be on Monday, October, 7, 5:30 p.m. at the Haleyville City Hall.

As a result of the recent Haleyville Rotary Club Barbeque dinner at the Haleyville Middle School, a total of $4,000 was presented to the three school principals on Thursday, September 12. This money is outside the regular school budget and will be used for special events and prizes to help motivate students, especially attendance. Tickets for the dinner were sold by the students and the top salesperson was Shelby Shipman, who was honored at the meeting. Shelby has been a consistent top ticket salesperson for several years. Her parents Lisa and Scott Shipmen were present for the special lunch and cake she received. Scott is also a member of the Rotary.

The top sales by a school were by the Haleyville Elementary School, whose principal Christy Bice, used a unique motivation for her students. The top salesperson became acting principal for a day. Others in the photo above include Bo Wilcoxen, Principal HMS, Davey Reed, Principal, HHS, and Dr. Holly Sutherland, Supertendant HCS.

A fire of unknown origin destroyed a building on 6th Avenue in South Haleyville Monday afternoon September 9, just before 4 p.m. The building was once the John Baker store and later a residence. Like the three previous houses which have burned in the last three weeks, the building had been unoccupied for some time. The Haleyville Fire Department responded quickly and was aided by the Bear Creek, Delmar and Craft Fire Departments. Aside from the heat of the fire, the temperature was 95 with a heat index even higher. The building was a total loss. Firemen used some of their water on another house close by.

Later in the evening on Monday, around 9 p.m., the Delmar Fire Department responded to an unoccupied house fire on County Road 28, just south of Haleyville.

As of this time, the cause of these fires, (others below) while suspicious, is still unknown.

The ALFA Winston County Farmers Federation women’s committee is sponsoring a reception for elected officials and candidates on September 16, at the Traders and Farmer’s Bank Bldg downtown Double Springs. It will start at 6 p.m.  We have 4 of the candidates for U.S Senate confirmed to be there along with Twinkle Cavanaugh for PSC chair, some state judicial offices, and locals.

The second photo is approximately 40 minutes later than with most of the structure on the ground.

The third fire in three weeks of abandoned Haleyville houses has raised suspicions as to the origins of these fires. Sunday afternoon, September 8, the Haleyville Fire Department was dispatched at 3:08 p.m. to a structure fire on Highway 13 South, just across from H&R Block. HFD quickly called for help, mostly in manpower to fight the fire. Area Fire Departments including Bear Creek, Delmar, Craft, Pebble, Lynn, Hackleburg, Winfield, Brilliant and Ashridge responded. The building was originally the Boshell Chiropractic Clinic, then the Reece apartments. For quite some time the building has been vacant and empty.  The structure was a total loss. The fire is under investigation by the Haleyville Fire Department.

The Haleyville City Council held the first Council meeting of the month Tuesday, September 3, with Blue Russell absent. The Council first heard the financial audit report from the Sparks CPA firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.

The highlights of the report stated the City’s total net position exceeded its liabilities by $11,909,449. At the government-wide level, total assets and deferred outflows of resources decreased by $70,706 and total liabilities and deferred inflows of resources decreased by $1,067,302 for the prior year. The City’s governmental funds reported a combined ending fund balance of $3,868,464, an increase of $850,473 from the prior year. The portion of the total ending fund balance that can be spent at the City’s discretion is $2,813,517 and is presented as an unassigned fund balance in the governmental fund’s balance sheet.

Total revenues for the City’s governmental activities increased by $3054239, or 4% from the prior year. Sales and property taxes increased by $820,719, or 19% from the prior year. Fees, fines, and charges for services increased by $56,693, or 5.9%. Operating grants and contributions decreased $33,936, or 7.2% from the prior year. Capital grants and contributions decreased by $706,455 or 76.7% due to decreased federal funding. Miscellaneous revenues increased by $31,853 or 23.3%. Insurance proceeds increased $120,919, or 868.9%, from the prior year due to a roof replacement. Interest income increase $12,649, or 35.5%, from the prior year due to increased earnings.

Total expenditures for the City’s governmental activities increased by $483,100 or 7.7% from the previous year, The majority of this increase is due to expenditures related to the Health Care Authority of Haleyville and Winston County. The City provides funding to the Health Care Authority out of proceeds of its new one-cent sales tax. This increase was also offset by a decrease in public safety expenditures primarily due to a reduction in personnel costs.

In other business, the Council approved a bid from Fence Mart of hamilton in the amount of $2,585.00 for miscellaneous fencing repairs for the Dixie Youth Ball Field, the Sports Complex, and at the airport.

The next scheduled Haleyville City Council meeting will be on Monday, September 16, 5:30 p.m. at the Haleyville City Hall.

A single-vehicle crash has claimed the life of a Winfield woman.  At approximately 6:50 am on this date, a 2001 Ford Taurus was driven by Betty Jean Walker Sousy, DOB 1/24/1949, of Winfield, was traveling north on AL-233, approximately three miles east of Brilliant in Marion County.  The vehicle left the roadway to the right and struck a tree.  The driver, the only occupant, was transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham where she later died.  Nothing further as ALEA Troopers continue to investigate.