Local angels help DHR make season bright

A partial stack of Christmas presents at the Winston County DHR will be delivered by Santa Claus tomorrow night, Christmas Eve.

A partial stack of Christmas presents at the Winston County DHR will be delivered by Santa Claus tomorrow night, Christmas Eve.
DOUBLE SPRINGS - “I love getting gifts, but last Christmas, I didn’t get anything. I must be bad,” one eight-year-old boy told a Winston County Department of Human Resources employee recently. Santa Claus did not get to come see him last year, but that won’t happen this year, thanks to local individuals and businesses who have made sure the county’s foster children will have a happy Christmas morning.

Walker Area Foundation spreads Christmas cheer through grants

The Arley Women’s Club will purchase a sensory dome for Hamner Park with funds granted from the Walker Area Community Foundation. Shown in the discovery cave at the park is Laura Ulz, chairwoman of the park committee. Standing from left are Terre Sutherland and Barbara Wills, president of the AWC.

The Arley Women’s Club will purchase a sensory dome for Hamner Park with funds granted from the Walker Area Community Foundation. Shown in the discovery cave at the park is Laura Ulz, chairwoman of the park committee. Standing from left are Terre Sutherland and Barbara Wills, president of the AWC.
WINSTON COUNTY - For the greater good is the mission for many non-profit agencies, and local ones are benefiting from the generosity of a Walker County organization, which are in turn helping the public.

Lumber spilled on Highway 195

Workers and bystanders work to clean the lumber off Highway 195

HALEYVILLE - A truck hauling lumber accidentally spilled a part of the load onto  the middle of Highway 195 in front of Free State Lumber Wednesday morning, Dec. 16. Workers as well as bystanders were  busy cleaning up the lumber, as traffic from both directions on 195 faced a slight detour of going through a nearby parking area to avoid the scene. 

Relief fund set up to help employee burned in incident

Family, friends and co workers of Savannah Miller gather at the scene, while she is being treated by medics inside Regional Paramedical Service ambulance in the parking area of Banks Barbecue Friday night.

Family, friends and co workers of Savannah Miller gather at the scene, while she is being treated by medics inside Regional Paramedical Service ambulance in the parking area of Banks Barbecue Friday night.
HALEYVILLE - An employee of Banks Barbecue suffered burns Friday night, Dec. 11, when she opened the bin doors of the smoker and intense heat rushed out.

Water issue a double-edged sword

Bear Creek Mayor Rob Taylor shows where city water has pooled up from a leak.
BEAR CREEK - (Photo at right shows Bear Creek Mayor Rob Taylor examining town water that has pooled up at a drainage system due to a leak in a line). The water issue in the town of Bear Creek is a double edged sword, as the town is facing soaring water bills due to non-paying customers, while major water leaks are also proving costly to the town.

Lynn Fire Department ends year ahead

The new SCBAs are unpacked and inspected. Lynn received them Dec. 9.

The new SCBAs are unpacked and inspected. Lynn received them Dec. 9.
LYNN - A pleasant end to the year has happened for the Lynn Volunteer Fire Department despite the uncertainty the year 2020 has brought. Expensive items have been purchased thanks to two grants the department received recently. The most costly items are 16 brand new self-contained breathing apparatus devices used in most situations involved with the fire department.

Chronic Wasting Disease testing available in Winston

This freezer is at the front of the U.S. Forest Service office on Highway 33 in Double Springs. Chronic Wasting Disease samples are to be left in the freezer.

This freezer is at the front of the U.S. Forest Service office on Highway 33 in Double Springs. Chronic Wasting Disease samples are to be left in the freezer.
HOUSTON - Clorox cannot kill the disease. A temperature of 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit will not kill it. Chronic Wasting Disease, first identified in 1967, is a protein deficiency in the genetic makeup of deer, moose, caribou and other similar animals, including reindeer.

Black Coal Miners Cemetery information sought

James Ferrell stands in front of a possible grave which has sunken in. He has also flagged the possible grave along with many others in the area.

James Ferrell stands in front of a possible grave which has sunken in. He has also flagged the possible grave along with many others in the area.
BRILLIANT - Isolated between Highway 129 and Main Street, there is a small stand of woods about one-third of a mile in length. Stuck in between the roads on a knoll, in the city limits still, is an old cemetery which has been neglected for a number of years. Only three tombstones exist in this cemetery of forgotten souls, with others containing small rocks.

Addison restaurant building fire termed suspicious

From left, Helicon Fire Department Assistant Chief Neil Feist, Jimmy Collier, criminal investigator/fraud bureau ALDOI criminal investigation division of the Alabama Department of Insurance; Phillip Freeman, deputy state fire marshal and Addison Firefighter Aubrey Jones at the scene of the fire.

From left, Helicon Fire Department Assistant Chief Neil Feist, Jimmy Collier, criminal investigator/fraud bureau ALDOI criminal investigation division of the Alabama Department of Insurance; Phillip Freeman, deputy state fire marshal and Addison Firefighter Aubrey Jones at the scene of the fire.
ADDISON    -  An early morning fire  on Wednesday, Dec. 9, that heavily damaged the building that formerly housed Smith’s Barbecue as well as other restaurants is being termed suspicious, after authorities found a broken window at the front of the building.

Lynn's Christmas parade postponed

LYNN - The annual Christmas parade at Lynn, which was scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12, has been postponed to Monday night, Dec. 14. Line up for the parade is set for 6:30 p.m. with the parade beginning at 7. The town has the Christmas tree up currently and will have a tree lighting ceremony following the parade.

Haleyville native preparing for medical career through Auburn’s Rural Medicine Program

Jayci Hamrick (courtesy photo)

Jayci Hamrick (courtesy photo)
AUBURN - Auburn University’s long history of helping mold the state’s physicians of tomorrow continues this semester with a talented group of students ready to dedicate themselves to serving their local communities through the Rural Medicine Program, or RMP.

Reed gets unanimous approval for nomination to be Alabama Senate President Pro-Tem

Alabama Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed, who represents a portion of Winston County, is expected to take his seat as the Alabama Senate’s President Pro-Tem, second only to the lieutenant governor, when the legislature recovenes in February.

Alabama Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed, who represents a portion of Winston County, is expected to take his seat as the Alabama Senate’s President Pro-Tem, second only to the lieutenant governor, when the legislature reconvenes in February.
MONTGOMERY - The voice was unanimous among the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus that Majority Leader Greg Reed, who represents a portion of Winston County, will be the new president pro-tem replacing State Senator Del Marsh when the state legislature reconvenes in February.
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