The real thing is finally here again. After months of filling our time with football recruiting and spring football, the real thing is back. Football season starts this week with the SEC Football Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. Okay, it’s not necessarily the real thing, but we are finally talking about the…

Last Wednesday, ESPN broadcast its annual Espy Awards show. The show recognizes and awards the greatest of everything in the American sports landscape. Well, I had a little problem with the Espys this year. In the category of best sports moment of the last year, there were four nominees. First was Phil Mickelson’s performance at…

Roanoke had its first homicide in at least four years Tuesday night, according to Chief Adam Melton. About midnight Roanoke police responded to a complaint of shots fired at 619 LaFayette Highway. They arrived to find Donnie Foster, 30, of that address in his upstairs apartment. He had been shot, and Randolph County Deputy Coroner…

In “A Streetcar Named Desire” Blanche DuBois said: “Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” A little kindness goes a long way. Too often we dwell on cruelties instead of the kindnesses shown us. Word of the declining health of one of Mother’s friends made me think of her with…

Leaders of the local Democratic and Republican parties canvassed the election results Tuesday morning and only two of four provisional votes changed. The July 13 runoff totals were certified by Democratic Executive Committee Chairman James Harris and Republican Executive Committee Chairman Bob Fincher. A provisional vote is basically a challenge vote when the voter says…

The Randolph County Commission is considering the feasibility of closing a section of roadway in the Woodland area being more particularly described as follows: Commencing at the intersection of County Road 59 and County Road 616, thence run westerly along said County Road 616 a distance of 1180 feet, to a roadway intersection, for a…

(ALEXANDRIA) Funeral service for Robert Keith Bryant, 42, of Alexandria will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at Dryden Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bobby Brooks officiating. Burial will follow at Old Davistown Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 Tuesday at the funeral home. He died Sunday, July…

Saying that leaving a vice chairmanship of the State Democratic Party would allow him to work more effectively on behalf of Alabama education, Dr. Paul Hubbert stepped down last Friday from that partisan leadership position in state politics. “I believe AEA interest is better served by my leaving any leadership role in the Democratic Party…

WEDOWEE—The Wedowee Town Council approved application for grants for new water lines during its July 6 meeting. Mayor Tim Coe said that at its last meeting the council approved an application for a $400,000 competitive grant and another application for a $250,000 non-competitive grant. The mayor said the town cannot receive both, but could fall…

(WEDOWEE) Funeral services for Clois G. Cummings, 79, of Wedowee will be Thursday, July 22, 2010, at 11 a.m. at Ava Methodist Church with the Revs. Harold Cummings and Richard Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m. on…

RCSO Arrest Charles Wyatt Morris, 35, of 1173 County Rd. 131, Wadley – failure to appear in court (DUI) – July 18 Narcotics Unit David Lerenzo Sims, 19, of 756 County Rd. 329, Wedowee – first-degree possession of marijuana – July 17 – in a traffic stop near the Swagg community. Chambers County Kenneth Michael…

The Randolph Leader has won an award in the National Newspaper Association’s 2010 Better Newspaper Advertising Contest. The Leader won third place for Best Series Ad Idea – Black & White, Daily & Non-daily Division, for a series of ads created by Emily Wilkins for Bank of Wedowee. The ads ran September 2-16, 2009. The…

Ever since the BP oil rig blew out on April 20, the company has made one public relations blunder after another. Suspicion about the company grew when we realized we weren’t getting credible estimates about the extent of the oil leak and resulting environmental damage. Then there was a series of statements that revealed a…

Arrests Robie Whaley Ray, 44, of 289 County Road 682, Roanoke – harassment – July 20, 2010 Larry Nekeia “Tick” Weaver, 33, of 848 Strong St., Roanoke – domestic violence – July 18 Doris Carr Gibson, 56, of Lanett – bad check – July 16 Delana Lynn Moore, 37, of 610 Randolph St., Roanoke –…

WEDOWEE—County engineer Burrel Jones said a contractor is on standby to help with freeze-damaged roads if the county cannot get its asphalt truck fixed. He’s called three companies trying to find parts for the truck. During the last Randolph County Commission workshop meeting, Commission Chairman Doyle Allen said, “There’s a limited amount of time remaining…

COUNTY OF RANDOLPH PROBATE COURT IN RE: ESTATE OF EULA M. BILLINGSLEY, DECEASED NOTICE OF PETITION FOR FINAL SETTLEMENT TO: Adrione Billingsley Tidwell Elonda Boddie Kisha Billingsley Jones Jarvis Jones Billingsley Latashia Billingsley Anthony Parker Mildred Anderson Roy M. Billingsley Alyssa Jones Billingsley You are hereby notified that on the 16th day of June, 2010,…

The Wadley Council is eagerly looking forward to beginning a much-needed water and sewer project. Mayor Jim Dabbs said they are opening the bids July 29 and will award them August 2. He was talking with Stan Nelson & Company of Birmingham Monday. The company is the engineer on the project. “I’m excited to get…

Few details were available but Pool Street and Lincoln Street are closed indefinitely to through traffic while CSX is doing work on the railroad and at the Pool and Lincoln railroad crossing. Police Chief Adam Melton said he was contacted Monday morning by CSX and was told about the road closure. The railroad expects this…

This was the plan. My family, Libby-the-Lab and I would head down to the coast. There I would spend the summer giving the Redneck Riviera manuscript one more read and looking for illustrations for the book. Then on April 20, the BP-Deepwater Horizon well blew and I had another chapter to write. So I got…