Alabama Community of Excellence Leadership Classes

Registration is now underway for the 2010 Alabama Community of Excellence leadership classes. The program is designed for those interested in taking an active leadership role in the community and becoming actively engaged in the development of Haleyville and Winston County. Class participation is limited to 15. The "Engaged Leaders for Better Communities Program" is now accepting applications for participants at no cost.

For more information and registration forms, visit www.haleyvillechamber.org, or call Sue Southern at Haleyville City Hall at 486-3121.

State Unemployment Hits Highest Number Since 1984

January, 2010, unemployment rates and numbers of jobless for Winston and surrounding counties

MONTGOMERY – Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees announced today that Alabama’s January 2010 unemployment rate rose to 11.1%, up from December’s revised rate of 10.9%. The unemployment rate for Winston County rose to 18.9%, up from December's revised rate of 17.2%.

This rate represents the highest since February, 1984, when unemployment in Alabama dipped to 11.0%. The all-time high for Alabama was 14.3% in December, 1982, at the tail end of the 1980-82 recession. Winston County is close to its 20-year high of 19.0%, hit in February, 1991.

Counties surrounding Winston and their rates are as follows: Cullman, 11.2%; Franklin, 13.5%; Lawrence, 14.6%; Marion, 16.5%; Morgan, 12.0%; and Walker, 13.4%.

Five Injured in 3-Vehicle Collision

Highway 195 at County Road 6 In front of the "Free State" barn Tuesday evening

The Alabama State Trooper office in Hamilton reported an accident Tuesday afternoon at 5:06 p.m. on Highway 195 in front of the "Free State" barn. Transported  by ambulance from the scene of the collision at the intersection of County Road 6 were Earl Rice, 77, and Gladys Rice, 59, both of Double Springs, who were in a 2003 Ford. Also reported injured and transported were Hector Manzone, 31, passengers Juan Manzone, 26, and Santo Gonzales, 50, all of Jasper, who were in a 1998 Nissan. Christopher Everett, 21, Double Springs, driving a 1993 Ford was uninjured.

Crimson Casual Fired Up

Production is rolling at Crimson Casual

Crimson Casual, Inc., is shipping product. The plant went online March 1, and the first order will roll out the door Tuesday, headed for BM Ingram Co. in Florence. Six local investors got behind the project, envisioned in February, 2009.

Jonathan Bennett explains the production facility to members of government and the media Tuesday

The company currently employs approximately 20 people, with plans to increase that number within the next 8 weeks. 400 applications were made to work at Crimson. According to Joathan Bennett, one of the investors, almost 300 applications were from former employees of Winston Furniture. "Our work force is the Winston Furniture work force that was left here, stranded basically," Bennett said. He added, "One of our biggest goals ... was simply to put people back to work."

Weather Makeup Days

Haleyville City Schools will make up missed days on Tuesday, March 16, and Wednesday, March 17.

2010 Senior Leo's Loveliest Anna Margaret Tank

2010 Senior Leo's Loveliest Anna Margaret Tank

2010 Junior Leo's Loveliest Abigail Poole

2010 Junior Leo's Loveliest Abigail Poole

Leo's Loveliest Results

2010 Senior Leo's Loveliest from left: Alexandra McCarley, 3rd Alternate; Maridy Stott, 1st Alternate; Loveliest Anna Margaret Tank; Mary Alls, 2nd Alternate; Caroline Colburn, 4th Alternate

2010 Junior Leo's Loveliest from left, Chau Huynh, 3rd Alternate; Audra Rye, 1st Alternate; Loveliest Abigail Poole; Erin Cain, 2nd Alternate; Lacey Burleson, 4th Alternate

Senior Miss Photogenic Anna Margaret Tank	Junior Miss Photogenic Hannah Cook

Workforce Trainer Talks To Chamber

Alabama State Board of Education Member Gary Warren, Chamber President Stan Watson, and AIDT's Ed Castille at the Haleyville Chamber meeting, Friday, March 5, 2010.

Ed Castille with Alabama Industrial Development and Training spoke to the Haleyville Chamber Friday. Speaking of chambers and similar organizations, Castille said, “You guys are the real economic development power in (Alabama).”

AIDT fulfills a vital role in Alabama’s efforts to attract new industry to the state. Its mission is to locate and train the workforce for industry. Castille said that when he talks to potential industry, he says to them, “If you come (to Alabama), we’ll find your workers and train them for you, at no cost to you.” AIDT is a member of the Alabama Community College System.