Craig Thomas, a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Haleyville Fire Department was recently recognized by the Board of Directors of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) for achieving 20 consecutive years of National EMS Certification. This distinction is an honor held by few EMS professionals.

To maintain his status as a Nationally Registered Paramedic, Craig completed, on a biennial basis, the most comprehensive recertification program for EMS professionals in America.

By maintaining his National EMS Certification and completing regular continuing education courses, Craig has demonstrated his commitment to providing exceptional prehospital emergency medical care.

Craig was National Registered as a Paramedic in 1997 and has been serving Haleyville and Winston County since 1994. Craig is also a Firefighter/Paramedic for United States Steel Fairfield Works Emergency Services and a Paramedic for Regional Paramedical Services.

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians serves as the National EMS Certification organization by providing a valid, uniform process to assess the knowledge and skills required for competent practice by EMS professionals throughout their careers and by maintaining a registry of certification status.

Everyone is invited to attend the Community Thanksgiving Service on November 19th at 6:00 p.m. at Haleyville First Baptist Church.

Veterans Day was Saturday, November 11, but local veterans were honored throughout the week starting with a program at the First United Methodist Church Monday. Thursday was the veterans program at the High School. Saturday was a lunch at the American Legion. The laying of the wreath at the Veterans Memorial was followed by a parade downtown. The events honored living veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the present day conflicts in the Middle East. The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) were the leading organizations whose purpose is to honor our veterans and keep patriotism alive. A job that was well done. Veterans Day photo album below.  Continue reading

The Annual Veterans’ Day Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony will be this Saturday, November 11at 2 p.m. downtown Haleyville. The lineup will be on 20th Street behind the First Baptist Church at 1:30. The Wreath Laying Ceremony will be at 1:45 at the Veterans Monument next to CVS. All veterans, veterans organizations, fire departments, law enforcement, civic organizations, churches, schools, and individuals are invited to participate. Floats, antique cars, military vehicles, motorcycles or other vehicles are invited to be in the parade. Point of contact is Mickey Holdbrooks at 269-0750 or David Ozuna at 269-9819,

Preceding the parade and wreath laying, the American Legion Post 33 will serve a Veterans Day meal from 11 to 12 noon at the Legion Hall for all Post 33 members, veterans, and their families.

Haleyville lost Friday to Rogers 45-7, thus ending the football season for the Lions.

The Paradise 92.7 Lion of the Week is Cal Taylor.

Let basketball begin!

Deitrick Wallace, 36, Haleyville, has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Neighbors had complained of a bad smell coming from the Wallace residence on 28th Street. On Tuesday, November 7, three pit bull dogs were found highly undernourished and two dead. The three live dogs were rescued by Johnna Waid Franks and other members of Free State Four Paws. Wallace was arrested in Jasper and transported to the Winston County jail Friday morning. He is charged with 5 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, with a $15,000 cash bond for each charge.

Haleyville Street & Sanitation will be closed Friday, Nov. 10 for Veterans Day. Friday’s route will be picked up on Monday, Nov. 13th along with Monday’s route. Thanks for your cooperation.

A house fire at 4321 County Highway 48 in Marion County Tuesday at 4:40 a.m. took the life of Kevin Pickens, age 40. His wife Leigh and 9-year-old child managed to escape the early morning fire. Haleyville, Bear Creek, and the newly formed Craft Fire Departments responded and quickly extinguished the fire. Reportedly, the fire started in the kitchen area but the actual cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal. This was the first official call for the Craft Fire Department which will be responding along with Haleyville to all calls in the newly designated Craft fire area until December 31. On January 1, Craft will be primarily responsible for its designated area on Thorn Hill Road, Highway 129, and parts of County Highway 48 and Highway 241.

The Haleyville City Council met Monday, November 6, with Jonathan Bennett absent. The Council approved a contract for various paving projects awarded to Mallory Burkhalter Paving for $39,476.40. The low bid for $38,153.00 by Shoals Paving was rejected because Shoals Paving is presently not current in paying occupational taxes to the City of Haleyville. The resolution also authorized the purchase of asphalt from the Bunn Asphalt Plant in Guin through the Winston County Road Department totaling $39,900.00.

A change was made to the City’s retirement program.  Presently City retirees with over 25 years of service are covered for health care for 3 years or age 65, whichever is shorter. The change is anyone retiring with 25 years after June 30, 2018, will only be funded for 18 months or until age 65 when Medicare should begin to cover the individual.

Because of the lack of air conditioning, a request was made to change the polling place at the 21st gym to the Senior Citizen Center, located on the bottom floor of the of the old elementary school, now Head Start building on 13th Avenue.

Mayor Sunseri announced he had hired Megan Lovett as Assistant Accounts Payables Clerk. Starla Watts was recommended by City Judge Jonathan Lowe to be appointed by the Administrative Office of Courts as Court Clerk effective January 1.

Four members of the City Planning Commission were re-appointed. Beverly Donaldson, Tim Nolen, Kevin Thompson and Don Posey.

The next scheduled meeting of the Haleyville City Council will be Monday, November 20.

The Winston County BamaCarry chapter will be hosting a “Meet The Candidate” November 7th, 2017 at the Galley restaurant. Starting time is at 7 pm. Sam McLure, Republican candidate for the office of Alabama Attorney General will be the guest speaker. Everyone is invited, bring a friend and come early to eat!