Annual legislative forum moves to new location

The annual political forum and meet-and-greet event with Winston County’s state legislative delegation will be in a different location this year.
The event will be at Haleyville City Hall Thursday, Jan. 8, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a meet-and-greet with city and county officials and state legislators, with the forum beginning at 6 p.m. in the City Hall courtroom, organizers said.
Seated on the panel at the front of the courtroom will be State Senate Pro Tem Garlan Gudger as well as State Representatives Tracy Estes and Tim Wadsworth.
The forum, which will be moderated by Jeff Mobley, will begin with prayer from a local minister, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Student Government Association of Haleyville High School.
The forum will then feature a State-of-the-City address from Haleyville Mayor Dr. Ray Boshell, followed by a State-of-the-School address from Haleyville City School Superintendent Dr. Bill Bishop.
Mobley then will allow each of the three legislators to give updates, with the remainder of the event allowing the public to ask questions to the state legislators and to discuss issues.
“The forum is a great annual event where the state delegation gets to talk about the issues from the past session and project their thoughts on the upcoming session, starting January 13,” Gudger pointed out. “I appreciate everyone making this event a success.”
Estes added the forum was one of the most important events he attends each year.
“This gives the Winston County delegation the opportunity to meet with constituents from across the area, to exchange ideas, answer questions, provide information or simply exchange a friendly handshake,” Estes said.
“Since coming into office in 2018, I have never left the forum feeling as if our mission was not accomplished and people had not learned more about their government and what was being done to serve them in Montgomery,” Estes added.
Wadsworth is also looking forward to this year’s forum.
“It’s a time for the public to learn about the upcoming session and is a good question and answer opportunity for constituents to be involved in the process,” Wadsworth said.
“We always learn at the annual forum and I hope everyone receives good information,” Wadsworth added.

State of City address

Boshell, in the state-of-the-city address, will explain that the city has met all of its goals for the first 100 days in office.
Boshell explained that, despite the addresses given and the information presented, the forum will  help meet a shared goal, making sure Haleyville is in position to grow.
“We are just finishing up our 100 days (in office), and we’ve got everything on the list accomplished or in the works,” Boshell pointed out.
“It has challenged me to look forward to the next four years, the next eight years and such, what does the city need to do,” Boshell added.
“We are wanting to grow our industry. We’re wanting to grow the quality of life here.  We want to get some housing here because we need to grow as a town,” Boshell continued.
“We all are working together,” he said. 
Boshell has also been in discussion with Gudger about helping with the city’s industrial needs and opportunity zones, 12 of which will be covered over the next 12 months in a new revitalization plan, the mayor explained.
“That helps build relationships because if they hear what we are doing, maybe they are more likely to help the city or help the school,” Boshell stated.
The forum will also allow the public to listen to these needs and have more of an ownership in what’s going on, according to Boshell.
“People who come to that meeting will have a chance to maybe have a big impact on what happens the next four years,” he added.

State of School 
address

Bishop, who will deliver the state-of-the school address, described past forums as a valuable bridge between the schools, the Haleyville community and legislators.
“It has given students and educators a voice in conversations that shape state policy, while also helping legislators better understand the needs, strengths and goals of our schools and the community at large,” Bishop stated.
These forums, he added, have helped schools and communities have a greater awareness, provide mutual support and a stronger commitment of working together for long-term progress of each other, with support from state legislators.
“We value our legislators and appreciate their support in both education and our community,” Bishop concluded.

Parking for
 the event

Parking will be in the city hall parking lot, as well as the right side parking area behind some Main Street buildings and the lower parking area at the Community Safe Room, city officials confirmed.
A sign will also be posted, that any overflow parking will be in front of the vacant store building across from the left side of City Hall, officials noted.