Closed bridge in Bankhead leading to new concerns


Randy Campbell, who frequently rides horses in the Bankhead National Forest, has noticed a safety concern caused by the old wooden bridge closed at the Sipsey Recreation Area.
BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST - Safety concerns for both hikers and motorists in the Sipsey Wilderness area due to an old wooden pedestrian bridge being closed after severe storm damage has been brought to the attention of both the Winston County Commission and the U.S. Forest Service.

Local students make Samford dean’s list

BIRMINGHAM - Samford University named the following local students to the dean's list for the spring 2025 semester.
Lauren Smith, of Crane Hill, English major;
Dayton Roberts, of Addison, law and history major;
Abigail Tidwell, of Double Springs, undeclared major taking a pre-pharmacy curriculum;
Tyler Clark, of Haleyville, international relations major;
Mia Edens, of Houston, architecture major. 

Haleyville Hometown Summer event series kicks off Saturday

HALEYVILLE - Haleyville Hometown Summer, kicks off this Saturday, June 14, at the Heart of Haleyville Park downtown with a first-ever farmers market for that location. A variety of events will fill the summer calendar at the park, located on Main Street, through August, noted Park Committee Member and Haleyville City Clerk Christy Harbin.

Addison hires its first ever female police officer

Two ladies who have made history for the Town of Addison are the first female police officer Ava Jo Talley, left, and Mayor Marsha Pigg, the first female mayor for the town.

ADDISON - History has been made in the Town of Addison with the hiring of the first female police officer, who will work as a resource officer at Addison schools, as well as on patrol when school is not in session.

First responders honored during 9-1-1 Festival


Pictured above are the first responders who received awards during the 9-1-1 Festival Friday, June 6. Front row, from left, Ray Cole, Lynn Fire; Gay Wright, Haleyville Dispatch; Laura Kelley, Winston Sheriff’s Office dispatch and Leanne Hughes, Regional Paramedical Service Ambulance. Middle row, from left, Randall Russell, Pebble Fire; Melissa Bollinger, Winston E-9-1-1; Carson Legg, Winston County Sheriff’s Office; Alex Hood, Double Springs Police; Daniel Revilla, Haleyville Police; Bryan Kirkpatrick, Lynn?Police Chief. Back row, from left, Bryan Lanford, Delmar Fire; Jessie Salter, Haleyville Fire; Tim Franks, Ashridge Fire; Christopher Franks, Bear Creek Police; Scott Abbott, Double Springs Fire and Jimmy Sutherland, Haleyville Rescue Squad. Not shown is Jacob Stidham, Bear Creek Fire.
HALEYVILLE - The Haleyville 9-1-1 Festival, which spanned Friday, June 6, and Saturday, June 7, featured live entertainment, vendors, children’s activities, a car show, tractor show and other events, but the main focus took center stage Friday night at a special awards ceremony honoring local first responders.

Fire claims Mt. Vernon Church


Church members at the site of where the Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church building burned this past weekend. From left, Klegg Jeffreys, Deacon Gary Jones, Minister Tyler Bunt and church member Rodney Buchanan.
NATURAL BRIDGE - Members of Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, a congregation dating back over 90 years at the site of the former King Schoolhouse, have been displaced after a raging blaze believed to have been sparked by lightning destroyed the church building Saturday, June 7.

Garner named interim superintendent of HCS

HALEYVILLE - The Haleyville Board of Education met in a special called meeting Thursday night May 29, and named Candy Hicks Garner as interim superintendent of Haleyville City Schools, filling the absence of Dr. Holly Sutherland, whose resignation as superintendent was also approved at the meeting. Sutherland will be leaving after June 6, to accept a position as superintendent at Hartselle City Schools. Voting in favor of Garner were board members Beth McAlpine, Boo Haughton, Chad Tidwell and Brian Thumper Vickery. Abstaining from the vote was Donna Jones.

Sutherland accepts Hartselle City Schools superintendent position


Haleyville City Schools superintendent Dr. Holly Sutherland has accepted the superintendent position at Hartselle City Schools. (Courtesy Photo)

HALEYVILLE - Haleyville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Holly Sutherland has been named superintendent of Hartselle City Schools.

Sutherland announced the news to a system wide gathering of faculty and staff at Haleyville Elementary School Thursday afternoon, May 22. 

A Haleyville native, Sutherland has served as Haleyville City Schools superintendent since 2017.  Prior to that, she was the principal of Haleyville High School for three years.

Her last day with Haleyville City Schools will be sometime in June.