Tommy Arthur, age 74, who has ties to the Haleyville area, has been an Alabama Death Row inmate at Holman Prison in South Alabama since his conviction for a contract killing of a Muscle Shoals man, Troy Wicker. Prosecutors said Wicker’s wife Judy had hired Arthur to kill her husband. She was convicted for her role and served 10 years of a life sentence in prison. Arthur was on work release for having killed a woman in a Bear Creek business years before. Both she and Wicker were shot through the right eye.

Arthur is asking the governor to stay his planned execution on November 3. Arthur says he is innocent. His New York attorneys are also seeking a stay of execution in a federal appeals court.

To date, Governor Bentley has not stayed any execution during his two terms. Arthur has managed to stay alive by seeking stays of execution six times since 2001, some within hours of the scheduled executions. The last one in 2015 was made following Arthur’s lawsuit over Alabama’s lethal injection method. Arthur has actually had three trials, and this time he has requested testing evidence in possession of the state, specifically a hair from a black man he says was never tested. Originally, Judy Wicker testified a black man had killed her husband and raped her. A black inmate, who had served time at Holman with Arthur had confessed to the killing of Wicker and which brought about one of the six stays, but that confession was thrown out.

The Alabama Attorney General’s Office believes the last judge got it right and is asking the appeals court to again, throw out Arthur’s appeal and let the seventh planned execution on November 3 proceed.

More on this story and the letter to Bentley can be seen on Al.com.

The Haleyville High Lions defeated Fayette County last Friday night in varsity football 38-0. The Lions are now the regional champs! The Lion of the Week is Will Evans.

The Lions will play Central in the last regular season game this Friday night at Bubba Scott Field. Kickoff is 7 p.m. It will also be senior night. Be sure to come out this Friday night and support the Lions.

Listen to play-by-play of the game with Butch Foster and Craig Wakefield live on Paradise 92.7 or your smartphone app this Friday at 6:50 air time.

Alabama Cooperative Extension System is currently offering free seminars on estate planning. Many people may not know what estate planning is or why it is important.  Estate planning is important for individuals who wish to have some control over transferring property before and after his/her death.  With proper planning, families can avoid many of the problems associated with dividing a family member’s assets.

If you are interested in learning more about 1)  How to Make an Informed Decision by Avoiding Investment Fraud;  2)  Alabama’s Plan for Your Estate,  3)  Documents in An Estate Plan, and  4)  Should I make a Will or Trust.  Please plan to attend this free seminar on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, at the Traders and Farmers Bank Bernice Hilton Walker Building, upstairs room, located at 64 Main Street, in Double Springs.

Dr. Robert Tufts, Estate Planning Attorney and Auburn University Professor, will present information and answer questions relating to estate planning topics.  Call the Winston County Extension Office at (205) 489-5376 to pre-register for this free seminar no later than noon on October 31st, due to limited seating.  Refreshments will be provided for all participants.  This program is being sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Traders and Farmers Bank.  For more information, contact Pat W. Smith, Regional Extension Agent at 256-710-7706 or e-mail:  smithp7@auburn.edu

October 24^th -November 4

Delivery week of December 11

Navel Oranges

Red Grapefruit

Tangerines

Hamlin Oranges (Juice Oranges)

Red Apples, Golden Apples

Grand Slam Gift Box

(6 Apples, 6 pears, 3 Golden Apples, 16-20 Navel Oranges)

Holiday Gift Box 

(10 Navel Oranges, 10 Red Apples, 11 Red Grapefruit)

Premium Gift Box 

(6 Navel Oranges, 3 Pears, 6 Red Apples, 11 Red Grapefruit)

Mixed Citrus Box 

(20 Navel Oranges, 11 Red Grapefruit)

Citrus Trio

(10 Navel Oranges, 10 Tangerines, 11 Red Grapefruit)

TO ORDER call the Center of Technology Office

205-486-9481 or see any HCT student to order

POSITION AVAILABLE: VOLUNTEER FIREMAN

Must be physically fit and able to perform strenuous work in all types of weather. Must have a valid Alabama Drivers License. Must be over 18 years of age. Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE: City Hall or Fire Station #1 in Haleyville, AL Return all applications to Fire Station #1 at 610 State Hwy 13.

The closing date for applications is November 18, 2016, at 5:00 p.m.  Call 486.2435 if you need further information. E.O.E. – A.D.O.

A single-vehicle crash at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, has claimed the life of a Houston man.  Jeremy Adrian Overton, 45, was killed when the 1997 Toyota Tacoma he was driving left the roadway and struck a tree.  Overton, who was not using a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.  The crash occurred on Winston County 63, 10 miles east of Addison.  Nothing further is available as Alabama State Troopers continue to investigate.

• Senior Trooper Johnathan Appling

PHIL CAMPBELL, ALA. — Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) sophomore student, Kaylen Bishop, has been selected as a 2016 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Bishop, a native of Haleyville, was selected by a panel of independent judges from more than 1,100 applicants. Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars are selected based on outstanding academic achievement and demonstrated leadership potential.

This scholarship is designed to provide new Phi Theta Kappa members with financial resources to help defray educational expenses while enrolled in a two-year college while also encouraging participation in Society programs.

Bishop is currently majoring in secondary education, with a focus on History, on the Phil Campbell campus of NW-SCC. She plans to continue her education at the University of North Alabama.

The Leaders of Promise Scholarship is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. This Program awards 200 scholars with scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each, totaling $200,000.

The Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program was conceived by International Officers and launched in 2001. The program is a result of the Society’s long-range plan, The Alpha Project, which identified the need for scholarships to new Phi Theta Kappa members to assist in their obtaining an associate degree, while also encouraging participation in Society programs.

Mayor Ken Sunseri and Councilman Bud Wilson

The September general operation bills and purchase orders in the amount of $494,655.22 were approved by the Haleyville City Council at their regular meeting Monday evening.

Four resolutions pertaining to the new Sports Complex were passed. One authorized the expenditure of $54,275.00 for matching funds to a grant the city has applied for to build a community safe room at the new complex. The low bid of $38,176.00 from Stadium Pros was approved for stadium seats and $22,850.00 was approved for a 31 X 30′ metal equipment building. $11,098.78 was approved for a change order to the work on the concessions building.

Mayor Sunseri announced the city had applied for a Homeland Security grant for $13,963.81 for portable radios for the fire department. Another grant has been applied for in the amount of $185,000.00 for a pumper-truck replacement in the Fire Department.

Anita Lyons was appointed to the Library Board.

Royce Benefield was absent Monday and it was the last meeting for Bud Wilson. Wilson was recognized for his work as a city councilman for the last eight years. Wilson chose not to run for re-election and instead ran unsuccessfully for a school board seat. George Russell, who was elected in the last election will take his seat on the council at the next scheduled meeting on November 7.

The sixth annual Empty Bowls Dinner will be held at the Double Springs Municipal Building (old armory) on Thursday, October 20, so mark your calendars.  You get to sample all the soups you can hold and pick out a free bowl made in the Arts Council’s pottery workshop.  There’s also a silent auction, bake sale, and more.  Tickets are only $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, and the proceeds are split between the Winston County Arts Council and Main Street Ministries, two great local nonprofits run totally by volunteers.  The doors open at 5:00. Tickets may be purchased at the door or from any Main Street Ministries or Arts Council board member.