Two boats collided on Smith Lake near Rock Creek Thursday evening July 4, around 10 p.m., resulting in five people injured and one person missing. Members of the Haleyville Rescue and ALEA Marine Patrol and other volunteers from North Alabama have been searching for the missing 26-year-old Kelsey Starling, a Troy native and speech pathologist at Tuggle Elementary School in Birmingham from Troy since Thursday night. With the aid of sonar brought in from Tennessee, the search was continued through Sunday afternoon until halted late in the day because of weather. The search began again on Monday morning. Starling was a passenger in a 2012 Mastercraft wakeboard boat driven by 23-year-old William Jackson Fite of Decatur. Fite was booked into the Winston County Jail early Friday on a charge of boating under the influence. Fite posted a bond and was released.

MONDAY – Sgt Chad Pate ALEA update:

There are no new developments at this time for the search on Smith Lake.  Christian Aid Ministries Search & Rescue Unit, Cullman County S.O., ALEA Aviation, and ALEA Marine Patrol are on scene.  The only new asset that is being used today is an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) that Christian Aid Ministries SAR unit brought down today.  It is being used to get a better image in the deeper water.

Glenn Collins, 55, Haleyville, was walking accross Highway 13 at the Friendly Convenience Store at approximately 9 p.m. Friday evening, July 5 when a car entered the highway from a side street headed north and struck Mr. Collins. Collins laid in the middle of the turn lane for a long time waiting for an ambulance to come from out of town. He was transported to the Huntsville Hospital where after a medical exam, he was released at about 2 AM. The driver of the car was uninjured and stayed at the scene until after the ambulance had left. Haleyville Police Department investigated the accident.

A boating accident Friday, July 5, around 2 p.m. near the Corinth boat ramp area on Smith Lake resulted in two injured and one death. According to reports, a boat with 4 adults and 3 children struck a floating log.  Reportedly, a 14-year-old male and a 12-year-old female were airlifted from the scene and one 12-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene by a Winston County Deputy Coroner. Names of the victims, all from Mississippi, have not been released. The accident is being investigated by ALEA.

Hollis and other special guests, including mon, dad and youngest sister entertained a group of 100 at the Lakeshore Inn Dining Room.  There was a reason they who came out, even on a Monday night the week of July 4th. It was to support the Winston County Arts Council. Watch for the next event. Always entertaining. A great deal worth far more than the ticket. 

The Haleyville City Council met Monday with Mayor Sunseri and Councilman Bennefield absent. Mayor Pro Tem Richard Bittinger presided with a quorum of four. The Council approved Mayor Ken Sunseri to enter into a contract with the low bidder in the amount of $762,880.00 to award this project to Double Diamond Construction Company, Inc. to construct the 2018 Neighborhood Improvements, (6^th, 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th Avenue, 22^nd and 24^th Street), Streets, Drainage, Water, and Sanitary Sewer, CDBG Project.

The Council approved the low bid for Phase I – Drainage Improvements from Lakeshore Drive to Armory Property in the amount of $39,300.00 to award this project to Mark Burrell to construct the Forest Park Drainage Improvements, Phase I, for the City of Haleyville, Alabama.

The Council approved a one-time salary adjustment during the month of December to reward longevity in the workplace. All part-time employees will receive $50, full-time $75 plus $10 for each year of continuous employment.

It was noted in the meeting Mayor Sunseri had hired Sara Harbin as a part-time Class 2 dispatcher and A.J. Brown as a full-time Class 2 dispatcher. Hayden Southern was transferred from full-time to part-time status.

The next regular scheduled meeting of the Haleyville City Council will be Monday, July 15, 5:30 p.m. at the Haleyville City Hall.

The Haleyville City Schools Board of Education met Tuesday, June 25 with the new President of the Board, Donna Jones presiding. The Board approved the operation bills for May in the amount of $1,356,724.85. The Board also approved policies, handbooks, guides, meal prices, sports schedules, the purchase of 220 Chromebooks for the HES and HMS for $44,850.00 and a 4% pay raise for the teachers. Two field trips and two fundraisers were also approved. A total of 27 personnel actions was approved, which included seven resignations, two medical leaves, several transfers and new hires including a probationary contract of Davey Reed as Haleyville High School Principal.

A special award was presented to Jon Luke Sauls on winning the Alabama Association of School Board’s “Road to Success” 1st Place Video for Haleyville High School!

The Haleyville Police Department is investigating the death of a 2-year-old boy reportedly brought to the Lakeland Community Hospital Sunday morning, June 23. The boy allegedly died of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot.  The boy’s body was sent to the State Forensic Lab in Huntsville.

The victim of the shooting has been identified as 2-year old Tripp, son of Bill and Alicia Hood.

A two-vehicle crash Friday at 4:20 p.m., June 21, 2019, has claimed the life of a Double Springs man. Jonathan Gunter, age 28, was killed when his Ford F150 truck collided with a tractor-trailer truck. Gunter was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred on AL 13 near the 252-mile marker, 13 miles north of Eldridge. Nothing further is available as Alabama State Troopers continue to investigate.