Local students graduate from the University of West Alabama

LIVINGSTON - The University of West Alabama held fall commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 14, with President Ken Tucker conferring undergraduate, master and education specialist degrees to students of the colleges of business, education, liberal arts and natural sciences and mathematics and to the school of graduate studies.

HMS opening soup kitchen Christmas Eve to feed the hungry

Haleyville Middle School Principal Bo Wilcoxson and Assistant Principal Tammy Hatton invite those throughout the county in need of a hot meal on Christmas eve, to come to the middle school cafeteria.

Haleyville Middle School Principal Bo Wilcoxson and Assistant Principal Tammy Hatton invite those throughout the county in need of a hot meal on Christmas Eve to come to the middle school cafeteria.
HALEYVILLE  - Haleyville Middle School is opening its doors, while the entire school system opens its heart to those in need throughout the community for their first-ever soup kitchen on Christmas Eve ,Tuesday, Dec. 24.

Former mayor to fill vacant town council seat

Brian Heck is chosen to fill the vacant town council seat in a special called meeting Monday, Dec. 9.

Brian Heck is chosen to fill the vacant town council seat in a special called meeting Monday, Dec. 9.

LYNN - A former mayor will be on the town council seat vacated by Earl Gilbert when he left it to become the mayor after Jeff Stokes’ resignation Oct. 9. Brian Heck was chosen at a special called town meeting Monday, Dec. 9, with council member Bruce Odom nominating Heck.

Weather outside is frightful

Motorists traveling on Highway 195 in Haleyville experience heavy snow showers.

Motorists traveling on Highway 195 in Haleyville experience heavy snow showers.

HALEYVILLE -  Mother Nature provided a wintry mix in the form of sleet and snow in the area on Tuesday, Dec. 10, amidst a series of winter weather statements issued by the National Weather Service. Temperatures behind a cold front began to fall throughout the afternoon into the 40s and 30s, with snow showers remaining in the forecast for tonight. Travel could possibly be affected later tonight. The Alabamian will post any weather related updates as they become available.

Mallard denied parole

MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles denied parole to Laura Faye Mallard on Tuesday, Dec. 10.  Mallard is serving five years for criminal possession of a forged instrument out of Lawrence County.  She was sentenced in December, 2018.

A home place full of memories goes up in flames

Shirley Griffith and her brother J.C. Farris, stand at the site of a home place full of memories. Their brother Garland Farris safely made it out of the burning home early Saturday, Dec. 7.

Shirley Griffith and her brother J.C. Farris, stand at the site of a home place full of memories. Their brother Garland Farris safely made it out of the burning home early Saturday, Dec. 7.
LYNN   - The fire at an old family home place meant a great sentimental loss to a Lynn family, who are thankful the occupant made it safely out of the burning structure early Saturday, Dec. 7.

Heated meeting addresses park and recreation issues

Bear Creek Mayor Tammie Batchelor talks to a crowd of concerned park and rec parents and their children about several ongoing issues. Shown at right monitoring the situation is Police Officer Austin Lewis.

Bear Creek Mayor Tammie Batchelor talks to a crowd of concerned park and rec parents and their children about several ongoing issues. Shown at right monitoring the situation is Police Officer Austin Lewis.
BEAR CREEK   - The ultimate question that has arisen, despite tempers flaring and heated discussion at a public meeting Wednesday, Dec. 5, is whether or not the Bear Creek park and recreation board is a legal entity and how much authority does the board have under the umbrella of the town council.

Winston County included in USDA's rural broadband announcement Thursday

HAMILTON - U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy announced Thursday, Dec. 5, that USDA has invested $62.3 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-connectivity for more than 8,000 rural households, 57 farms...

Addison High School Band to march in Bicentennial Parade

Leaders of the Addison High School Band are ready to play in the Alabama Bicentennial Parade in Montgomery Saturday, Dec. 14. From left are Alex Bailey, Alley Ergle, Jadon Cook, Kyria Walker, Zac Stewart, Band Director Garrett McCurley, Andrew Stone, Jadeyn Woodard, Breanna Harris, Annsley Nuss, Quinton Womack and Michael Walker.

Leaders of the Addison High School Band are ready to play in the Alabama Bicentennial Parade in Montgomery Saturday, Dec. 14. From left are Alex Bailey, Alley Ergle, Jadon Cook, Kyria Walker, Zac Stewart, Band Director Garrett McCurley, Andrew Stone, Jadeyn Woodard, Breanna Harris, Annsley Nuss, Quinton Womack and Michael Walker.
ADDISON - A dream has come true for first-year Addison High School band director and former AHS band member Garrett McCurley. It is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for his band students, as they have been chosen as one of seven bands in the entirety of the state to march in the Alabama Bicentennial Parade on Dexter Avenue in Montgomery, celebrating the state’s 200th birthday, Saturday, Dec. 14.

Surprise remodel at AES brings tears of joy

Students give Addison Elementary Media Specialist Lynn Tuggle hugs once she makes her way into the library.

Students give Addison Elementary Media Specialist Lynn Tuggle hugs once she makes her way into the library.
ADDISON - A “maintenance problem” was only a ruse to keep Lynn Tuggle out of the media center of Addison Elementary School Thursday, Nov. 7, when the Addison Elementary Parent and Teacher Organization, along with the entire elementary school student body, surprised her with new furniture, window seats, curtains and other improvements for the library.

Bear Creek 2018 audit shows many discrepancies

CPA Don Wallace goes over facts and figures of the 2018 audit with the Bear Creek Town Council. Members from left, Heath Heatherly, James Loden, Jimmy Preston and Chris Gillum. At far right is Mayor Tammie Batchelor and Clerk Jamie Green.

CPA Don Wallace goes over facts and figures of the 2018 audit with the Bear Creek Town Council. Members from left, Heath Heatherly, James Loden, Jimmy Preston and Chris Gillum. At far right is Mayor Tammie Batchelor and Clerk Jamie Green.
BEAR CREEK - The town of Bear Creek’s long-awaited audit report for 2018, that has been on hold several months after town officials made a request to their previous auditor, was finally shared with the town council and public by newly hired CPA Don Wallace, who reported numerous financial discrepancies.

Haleyville selected as pilot city for first Rural Workforce Outreach Event

Officials, from left, Haleyville Mayor Pro-Tem Richard Bittinger, NACOLG Director Keith Jones, WC Commission Chairman Roger Hayes, Lakeland Community Hospital Administrator Gerita Rye, Haleyville Mayor Ken Sunseri, North Alabama Works Director Micah Ballard, Assistant Director Stephanie McCulloch, Eddie Martin, regional workforce council liaison of the Alabama Department of Commerce; Brenda Tuck, rural development manager for Department of Commerce; State Representative Tracy Estes and Mike Evans, Chamber.

Officials, from left, Haleyville Mayor Pro-Tem Richard Bittinger, NACOLG Director Keith Jones, WC Commission Chairman Roger Hayes, Lakeland Community Hospital Administrator Gerita Rye, Haleyville Mayor Ken Sunseri, North Alabama Works Director Micah Ballard, Assistant Director Stephanie McCulloch, Eddie Martin, regional workforce council liaison of the Alabama Department of Commerce; Brenda Tuck, rural development manager for Department of Commerce; State Representative Tracy Estes and Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce Director Mike Evans.
HALEYVILLE  - The city of Haleyville,  known the past 51 years as the Home of 9-1-1, is now known as the home of the first ever Rural Workforce Outreach Event being planned by state officials with an emphasis on economic development in rural Alabama.

Bear Creek reaches agreement with local business on rent cost

All members of the Bear Creek Town Council are in agreement on the new rental cost. From left, Heath Heatherly, James Loden, Jimmy Preston, Chris Gillum and Mayor Tammie Batchelor.

All members of the Bear Creek Town Council are in agreement on the new rental cost. From left, Heath Heatherly, James Loden, Jimmy Preston, Chris Gillum and Mayor Tammie Batchelor.
BEAR CREEK - The Town of Bear Creek has determined they would have $150,000 more in their coffers had they orignally rented the 50,000 square foot building to Aluma-Lite Products LLC at the “reasonable” rate of rent finally decided upon during a recent special-called council meeting.

Wood denied parole

Jory Scott Wood

Jory Scott Wood

FRANKLIN COUNTY - The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles denied parole to Jory Scott Wood Tuesday, Nov. 19.  Wood was convicted in February, 2019, of violating the sex offender notification law in Franklin, Colbert and Lauderdale counties and is serving a 15-year prison term.

Riggs, Neighborhood Bridges program two examples of outreach to others

Haleyville Civitan Club President Chad Fell presents Director of Student Services Susan Riggs a plaque on behalf of the club in recognition of her work with those with special needs.

Haleyville Civitan Club President Chad Fell presents Director of Student Services Susan Riggs a plaque on behalf of the club in recognition of her work with those with special needs.
HALEYVILLE  - Two examples of service to the needs of students at Haleyville City School were illustrated in a special award presented by the Haleyville Civitan Club to Director of Student Services Susan Riggs and instructions for the new online program Neighborhood Bridges.

Partnership effort places HCOT students in Elite 8 on outreach project

From left, Assistant Principal/COT Director John McCullar, Agriscience Teacher Jeff McKinney, students Karman Speakman, Erin Thrasher, Caleb Williams, Nash Collum and Julia Bonner, Drafting Teacher Jamie White and Winston County Extension Coordinator Zack Brannon.

From left, Assistant Principal/COT Director John McCullar, Agriscience Teacher Jeff McKinney, students Karman Speakman, Erin Thrasher, Caleb Williams, Nash Collum and Julia Bonner, Drafting Teacher Jamie White and Winston County Extension Coordinator Zack Brannon.
HALEYVILLE  - Students at the Haleyville Center of Technology have truly experienced how one of their projects can have a far reaching effect of helping others,  now that project has earned them into the Elite 8 at a state level competition possibly facing nationals.
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