Randolph County’s unemployment rate jumped to 14.9 percent in July, up from 13.4 percent the previous month. In July of 2008 the county’s jobless rate was 6.8 percent. The July 2009 rate represents 1,346 potential workers who cannot find jobs.The county’s joblessness exceeds both the state rate of 10.2 percent and the national rate of…

With the opening of the 2009 Southeastern Conference football season just over a week away, there is very little about it that has not been analyzed over and over again over the past few months. But just in case you haven’t been paying attention, here is a look at the most important unanswered questions facing…

(LaGRANGE, Ga.) Willie Frank Dean Sr., 91, of LaGrange, Ga., died Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at Hospice LaGrange. Services will be Friday, Aug. 28, at 2 p.m. CDT at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Standing Rock. Mr. Dean was born Sept. 1, 1917, in Chambers County, Ala. He was a retired automobile mechanic and a devoted member…

Wedowee drag boat racer Bill Henderson had a tough time at the Litchfield Nationals in Litchfield, Ill. this past weekend, but thanks to a little help from some friends and competitors, he managed to squeeze by and remain atop the points standings. “We tore up everything—computer, motor, cases,” Henderson said. “We’ve been so mechanically sound…

A Randolph County Sheriff’s Office patrol car was significantly damaged during a chase on Wednesday evening of last week. According to Sheriff Jeff Fuller, a deputy got behind a reckless driver, chasing him several miles at a high rate of speed. When the suspect lost control and slid sideways, the deputy was unable to avoid…

BIRMINGHAM—A former president of Southern Union State Community College, Joanne Jordan, was sentenced Monday in federal court on obstruction of justice charges, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, FBI special agent in charge Patrick James Maley and Acting Alabama Attorney Gen. Richard Minor announced jointly. U.S. District Judge Karon O. Bowdre sentenced Jordan, 67, of Ashland,…

Unnamed state and local officials plan to meet Friday with Wadley Mayor Jim Dabbs and a Georgia company interested in purchasing Plantation Patterns, according to Dabbs. He said he was asked to host this private meeting between the parties and he was pleased and eager to do so. Dabbs, state Rep. Richard Laird, some state…

Roanoke Councilman Mack Arthur Bell made a motion at Monday night’s meeting to lift the hiring freeze to hire a police officer to replace veteran officer Kent Wilson, but the motion died for a lack of a second. Mayor Mike Fisher said Wilson, who is now working for the LaFayette Police Department, had resigned. Bell…

Would you believe that our own congressional delegation requested 150 earmarks for private companies, and that (gasp) there were political contributions involved? Of course you wouldn’t. Aren’t we going through terrible economic times that require government to be frugal? Well, that would be an incorrect assumption. Of course there are those who would say that…

(BOWDON, Ga.) Robert L. Johnson of Bowdon died on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, at his residence. He was 71. Mr. Johnson was born in Randolph County, Ala., on Dec. 19, 1937, to the late Paul and Addie Richardson Johnson. He was a retired truck driver and of the Baptist faith and a member of Goldridge…

WEDOWEE—Randolph County Board of Education gave Superintendent Paul Gay permission to apply for Qualified School Construction Bonds for up to $2 million for the Wedowee Middle School project. Gay told the board the bonds would keep the system from using money in the general fund. The bonds are interest free for up to 15 years.…

Roanoke Utilities Board approved a refund of more than $160,000 to Wal-Mart for erroneous gas bills dating back to last fall. During a special called meeting of the board on Thursday afternoon of last week, Wal-Mart manager Tim Towry said his boss asked why they don’t use the actual readings instead of the averages in…

It all started early on the morning of the Fourth of July. I went down to the beach to set up chairs and tent so we could enjoy sand and surf and all the things we fought the British for—OK, we didn’t fight the British for this particular beach but let’s not get historical. Once,…

Swine flu, officially the novel H1N1 influenza virus, is circulating in Alabama. Already Alabama has experienced approximately 1,300 H1N1 influenza cases and two deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says virtually all of the influenza viruses identified throughout the country in the past week are the H1N1 influenza A viruses. Also, there are…

Arrests Sonya Lynn Hyatt, 34, of 32500 U.S. Hwy. 431, Roanoke – possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession over the legal limit for pseudo ephedrine and possession of cocaine following a traffic stop – Aug. 24 Anthony Bernard Holliday, 36, of 692 Gilham Rd., Roanoke – failure to appear in court – Aug.…

There’s a downside to everything in life, people. There can be no vaccines without first a sickness. There can be no harvest without the toil of planting. There can be no joy without the occasional sadness. No steak without slaughterhouses. No Luke Skywalker without Darth Vader. No newspaper without cutting down trees. And it most…