Since he won his bet with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on the SEC Championship Game, Gov. Bob Riley isn’t technically “welching” on the wager by attempting to refuse the Florida oranges he won. After all, to “welch” is defined by most dictionaries as “to fail or refuse to pay what is owed” and not to…

(NEWELL) Services for Mrs. L.V. Parker, 86, of Newell, will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, at Benefield Funeral Chapel with the Revs. Gary Baugh and Claude Bennett officiating. Burial will follow in Valley Grove Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday,…

(ROANOKE) Edgar Fois “Edd” Taylor, 61, of Roanoke died peacefully at his home on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, after a long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family. Edd was born Jan 28, 1948, in Roanoke. He was the only child of the late Howard Clark and Edna “Dinah” Burgess Taylor. He…

RANBURNE – Henry Doyle “Junior” Middlebrooks died on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. He was 57. He was preceded in death by his father, Doyle Middlebrooks, and an older brother, Danny Middlebrooks. Survivors include his mother, Geraldine Middlebrooks; his sister, Diane M. Herren Strain; and his nephew, Matt Herren; and two great-nieces, all of Woodland. Services…

(WEDOWEE) Funeral services for Lois H. Waybright Springer will be Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church with the Revs. Chris Mitchell and Keith Pressley officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12,…

(WOODLAND) Services for Durward Manly Allen, 82, of Woodland will be Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Quattlebaum Funeral Chapel with the Revs. Tim Whaley and Billy Watts officiating. Burial will follow at Randolph Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Mr.…

(WADLEY) Services for infant Katelin Elizabeth Caldwell of Wadley will be Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at 10 a.m. at Quattlebaum Funeral Chapel with Rev. Richie Farrow officiating. Burial will follow in High Pine Baptist Church Cemetery, Roanoke. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12.…

(ROANOKE) Services for William Earl Vaughn Sr., 82, of Roanoke will be Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Richie officiating and Bill Vaughn and Billy Smith delivering the eulogy. Mr. Vaughn will lie in state at the church one hour before the service. Burial will follow…

(MONTGOMERY) Nena Arlene Cumby Oliver, 92, of Montgomery, formerly of LaGrange, Ga., died Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at Crown Healthcare, Montgomery. Mrs. Oliver was born March 26, 1917, in Wedowee, daughter of the late William Ross Traylor and Nancy Frances Elizabeth Wright Traylor. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church and the Women’s Senior…

(HOGANSVILLE, Ga.) Harry Lamar “Fox” Bonner, 57, of Hogansville, Ga., died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, at Hospice LaGrange. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. EST Saturday, Dec. 12, in the Chapel of Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home in Hogansville. The Rev. Tommy McLeroy will officiate and interment will be in…

(ROANOKE) Services for Paul Gwen Moon, 85, of Roanoke will be at 12 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at Quattlebaum Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Tommy Burke officiating. Burial will follow in Randolph Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11. Mr. Moon…

(LINEVILLE) Services for Mrs. Georgie Lee Jenkins, 84, of Lineville will be Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Benefield Funeral Home in Ashland with the Rev. Zenus Windsor officiating. Burial will follow in Lineville City Cemetery. Mrs. Jenkins died Thursday, Dec. 3, at Lineville Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was a native of…

(LANETT) Mertie Tittle, 79, of Lanett died Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at her residence. Services will be Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 2 p.m. EST at Huguley Baptist Church with the Revs. Floyd Aikens and Michael Stiggers and Bro. Roger Adcock officiating. Burial will follow at Osanippa Cemetery. Mrs. Tittle is survived by her husband, Charlie…

(WEDOWEE) Services for Garry Dean Conger, 54, of Wedowee will be Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Rocky Branch Baptist Church with the Rev. Vernon Willis officiating. Mr. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery. Mr. Conger died Thursday, Dec. 3, at his home. Mr. Conger is survived by his wife, Jean Conger…

Police Chief Adam Melton has closed Knight Avenue from Main Street to White Street until further notice due to a crumbling building. Mayor Mike Fisher pointed to the top left corner of the building that is separating from the adjoining wall, presenting a danger to the public. He said it is the building owner’s responsibility…

Randolph County Narcotics Unit Jeffery Sean Lawson, 21, of 1521 County Rd. 56, Wedowee – failure to appear in court (second-degree possession of marijuana), probation violation, first-degree possession of marijuana and eluding law enforceent – Dec. 7 RCSO arrests Sandie Michelle Hill, 20, of 4996 County Rd. 26, Wadley – failure to appear in court…

Randolph County has been in the industry recruitment business a long time with a mixed record of success. It certainly doesn’t hurt to chase the large companies. The recruitment of Amoco Fabrics and Fibers Company, now Mohawk, to Roanoke is probably the best example of a big payoff from coordinated local efforts. There is even…

NOTICE OF CIVIL ACTION IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, ALABAMA DENISE GURLEY, PLAINTIFF V. AMANDA HARRIS, DEFENDANT Amanda Harris, whose whereabouts are unknown, must answer Denise Gurley’s Complaint arising out of the automobile accident that occurred on April 11, 2009, involving Denise Gurley and Amanda Harris, Denise Gurley is seeking damages and other…

Sojourner Truth, a former slave and matriarch of abolition, pronounced the following words in her spontaneous 1851 speech at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, “That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into…

“Ready for Christmas?” goes the casual question. Heck, no, is my proper answer. I do already have my tree up and decorated as well as the lights on the front porch, which is possibly earlier than ever. However, I don’t deserve the credit since most of it goes to my brother, who put the tree…