“State courts resolve the most important legal matters in our lives, including child custody cases, settlement of estates, business-contract disputes, traffic offenses, drunken-driving charges, most criminal offenses and most foreclosures. More than 100 million cases are filed in state courts each year.“When you enter one of these courtrooms, the last thing you want to worry…

It’s hard to remember when we’ve had more choices in local party primary elections than we do next Tuesday. At a time when budget cutbacks and lack of tax revenue would seem to make elected office less desirable, more candidates have thrown their hats in the ring. Looking at it positively, in a year where…

We celebrate Memorial Day Monday to honor those in our history who died in the service of providing Americans with freedom. Dating from the Civil War era when graves of the fallen were decorated, it has evolved into more of a start of summer barbecue and swimming holiday. But across the nation events are still…

The Roanoke City Council accepted the old Commercial Bank building downtown from Small Town Bank as well as the old Snax Deli from Lamar Davis at Monday’s meeting. Mayor Mike Fisher said there were no strings attached, but an appraisal would have to be done on the bank building. When Councilman Mack Arthur Bell questioned…

Three Valley men were arrested on Wednesday of last week, charged with the May 18 robbery of the Roanoke Burger King. According to Roanoke Police Chief Adam Melton, two black males and one white male robbed Burger King at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday and fled in a black SUV with an undisclosed amount of…

Two burned vehicles last week, two more this week. In last week’s Leader, we read about two autos that were stolen and found burned off rural roads. This week, we find a suspicious burned car here and a Randolph County dump truck found burned in Talladega County. Randolph County Sheriff’s Office investigator Greg Dendinger said…

(ROANOKE) Memorial services for Carl Jackson Rowe, 71, of Roanoke will be Friday, May 28, 2010, at 4 p.m. at Quattlebaum Funeral Chapel with the Revs. Ken Griffith and Richie Farrow officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 3 to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 28. Mr. Rowe died Wednesday, May…

WEDOWEE – As Randolph County Board of Education wrapped up the 2009-2010 school year, it took care of much personnel business during its meeting on May 17. In personnel items, the board: € Accepted the resignation, due to retirement, of Barbara Parker, teacher at Woodland High School. Parker has been with the system for 25…

Local, district, state and national offices are up for election Tuesday, June 1. From local school board races to U.S. Senator, voters have choices on the Republican and Democratic tickets. In the primary you cannot split your vote. You must choose to either vote Republican or Democratic. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to…

(GERMANTOWN, Wis.) Joseph Mack Orr, 71, of Germantown, Wis., formerly of Wadley, Ala., died Saturday, May 22, 2010. Mr. Orr was a retired chief petty officer of the U.S. Navy. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” Fons Orr. Mr. Orr is survived by his children, James Kirby Orr and Julie…

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Teresa J. Olson, an unmarried woman, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Coldwell Banker Mortgage, on the 28th day of February, 2006, said mortgage recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Randolph…

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Christina W. Sherard and William Scott Sherard, husband and wife, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., solely as nominee for GMAC Mortgage Corporation DBA ditech.com, on the 12th day of April, 2004, said mortgage recorded in the Office…

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage dated August 29, 2007, executed by RHONDA LOVELESS and RICHARD LOVELESS, wife and husband, to MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. (“MERS”) Solely as nominee for MORTGAGEAMERICA, INC., which mortgage was recorded on September 7, 2007, in Mortgage Book 521, Page…

Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Shirley C. Allen, a single woman, to Colonial Bank, N.A., on the 4th day of November, 2003, said mortgage recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Randolph County, Alabama, in Book 454 Page 598; the…

(WADLEY) A celebration of life service for Mollie Mae Heflin, 92, of Wadley will be Monday, May 24, 2010, at 1 p.m. at Friendship Baptist Church with the Rev. Calvin Trammell officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Ms. Heflin died Wednesday, May 19. Survivors are two daughters and sons-in-law, Willie Mae and John…

(WADLEY)The funeral for Zula Bell Battle, 108, of Wadley will be at 2:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Wadley with the Rev. W.H. Trammell, eulogist, and pastor Sherrill Corson officiating. Burial will be in the County Line Baptist Church Cemetery, Wadley. Mrs. Battle died Monday, May 24, at Randolph Medical Center. Public visitation…

(ROANOKE) The funeral for Susan Renee North Allen, 48, of Roanoke will be Friday, May 28, 2010, at 2 p.m. at High Pine Baptist Church with the Rev. Richie Farrow officiating. Mrs. Allen will lie in state one hour before the service at the church. Burial will follow in the adjoining church cemetery. The family…

Abandoned 1995 Ford F350 pickup, VIN# 1FTJW35FXSEA63131 on my property, Ray Craft. Inquires call Ann Craft, 770-854-7915 (home) or 256-557-1612 (cell). (21-24p)

(WADLEY) Services for Linda Keel Hodnett, 53, of Wadley were Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 2 p.m. at Daviston Independent Methodist Church. Bro. Ray Dunn and the Rev. Jimmy Sprayberry officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. Mrs. Hodnett died Friday, May 21, at her residence. She was born Oct. 2, 1956, in Tallapoosa County…

(LINEVILLE) Funeral services for William Eugene “Gene” McDonald, 73, of Lineville will be Monday, May 24, 2010, at 2 p.m. at Benefield Funeral Home in Lineville with the Revs. Zenus Windsor and Malinda J. Weaver officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery in the Ofelia community. Mr. McDonald died Sunday, May 23,…