The Haleyville City Council met Monday, March 16 at the Haleyville City Hall in an unusual setting. Everyone, including the Council members, were seated with several feet between each seat. Mayor Sunseri explained the City was simply following the basic guidelines set down by the Governor by spacing people and a sanitizing hand wash, both entering and leaving the room.

With Richard Bittinger absent Mayor Sunseri and the Council heard from Ray Forester who expressed his thanks for all the help each year and a reminder the 10th Annual Mark Forester Price of Freedom Race is scheduled for May 16. Mr. Forester stated this event has provided 25 scholarships to date.

The Council approved the general operating bills for February in the amount of $357,337.38 and a tax abatement for Gumbo and Jazz.

An award was made to Stix Contracting for pothole repair at various locations in the city. Stix had the low bid of $35,000. $9,400 was approved for a sand change in the City Pool filtration system.

The next scheduled Haleyville City Council meeting will be on Monday, April 6 at the Haleyville City Hall.

Effective Until Further Notice

• NO VISITORS ALLOWED ON SENIOR CARE UNIT

• VISITORS LIMITED TO 1 PERSON PER PATIENT IN ALL OTHER AREAS OF THE HOSPITAL

• NO VISITORS UNDER THE AGE OF 16 ALLOWED

Thank you for your continued understanding and patience as we implement continued measures to reduce the spread of respiratory illness, especially the Coronavirus, to our most vulnerable patients.

For the most up to date information, please visit https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/2019-coronavirus.html  and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

Friday, March 13, 2020 – MONTGOMERY – This morning, Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Officer Dr. Scott Harris confirmed the first Coronavirus (COVID-19) case in the State of Alabama.

Secretary of State John H. Merrill is confident in the ability of the ADPH to monitor the potential spread of the virus and to treat the case(s) accordingly.

The Office of the Secretary of State has been in close communication with the local election officials in all 67 of Alabama’s counties to discuss Election Day preparation and encourage preventative measures to maintain the health and safety of voters.

As of today, the administration of the election will continue as planned.

Any person in our state is able to apply for an absentee ballot through contacting their local Absentee Election Manager. Absentee applications can be downloaded on our website AlabamaVotes.gov.

Voters who are concerned about contracting or spreading illness or have an infirmity may vote by absentee. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Thursday, March 26, and the last day to postmark or return an absentee ballot by hand is Monday, March 30.

Voters must submit an accompanying copy of their valid photo identification. For the full list of valid forms of photo identification, please visit our website.

Upon successful application, voters will receive an absentee ballot in the mail.

Contact our office immediately should you have any questions or concerns at (334) 242-7223.

A single-vehicle crash at 9:55 p.m., March 9, has claimed the life of a Russellville girl. Megan Gooch, 17, was killed when the 2001 Lexus ES300 she was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. Gooch’s cousin, Brianna Agee, 17 of Tuscumbia was a passenger and was critically injured and flown to Huntsville Hospital. Gooch was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash occurred on County Road 84 approximately 10 miles west of Russellville. No further information is available as Alabama State Troopers continue the investigation.

RE:  Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Lakeland Community Hospital is coordinating with the Alabama Department of Public Health on any patient that meets the screening criteria to initiate and to ensure appropriate monitoring.  Our hospital has taken every precaution to provide for the safety of our patients and our staff.  We have developed processes to properly screen and isolate individuals who present to our hospital meeting the CDC criteria for the virus.  At this time, we have not had any patients that meet the criteria.         

We urge the members of our community to practice good hygiene and to avoid coming to the hospital to visit patients if they are sick.  However, if they experience symptoms that correspond with the CDC criteria for Coronavirus, they should call their health provider immediately or go to the emergency room if symptoms worsen.

42024 Highway 195

Haleyville, AL  35565

205/486 – 5213

www.lakelandcommunityhospital.com

A single-vehicle crash at 11:50 a.m., March 2, 2020, has claimed the life of an Addison, AL man. Jerry D. Baker, 43, was killed when the Ford Fiesta he was driving exited the roadway and collided with a tree. Baker was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred on US 278, 2 miles west of Addison, AL. Nothing further is available as Alabama State Troopers continue to investigate.

The Haleyville City Council met Monday with all members present. Following a presentation and appeal from District Attorney Scott Slatton, the Council approved a request from Slatton for the city to help fund a specialized investigator to handle domestic violence, sexual assault, abuse and associated cases.  Slatton stated he had someone in mind, a female with 10 years of law enforcement experience and 5 years handling those type cases in the Shoals. Slatton’s request for $2500 per year was approved. The plan is to get all 11 towns and both counties and to help supplement money from the DA’s office to afford the additional special investigator.

The Council approved adding the assistant city clerk to the City’s signature card and the bid for winter paving project for 26th and 30th streets. Jimmy Elliott was appointed to the Upper Bear Creek Board.

There will be a public hearing for Gumbo and Jazz’s request for a tax abatement on Thursday, March 5 at 10 a.m. in the courtroom.

Park and Rec Department has hired Paul Johnson and Brandon Hensley to temporary seasonal positions at a rate of $10.

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

The 43rd Annual Leo’s Loveliest Senior Division was held Saturday night, February 29 at the HES Cafetorium. Sponsored by the Haleyville Center of Technology and the HHS 2020 Senior Class.Miss Molly Gilbert, Leo’s Loveliest 2020, Senior Division

4th Alternate, Carlee Lewis, 2nd Alternate, Anna Belcher, Molly Gilbert, Leo’s Loveliest, 1st Alternate, Carlie Pendley, 3rd Alternate, Reagan Kutis

Miss Photogenic and 3rd Alternate, Reagan Kutis

Miss Congeniality and 1st Alternate, Carlie Pendley