It all began the night my wife got a call from one of her girl friends.“Guess what the Baptists have done?”My sweetheart was raised a Southern Baptist and despite joining me in Methodism, on occasion she still reveals influences and inclinations lingering from her earlier indoctrination in that faith. One such holdover was knowing that…
Roanoke’s first Saturday and daytime parade in a long time drew a crowd on a chilly but beautiful day. The crowd obviously enjoyed the variety of entries from a wagon train to dancing little girls. As always spectators lined the roads from U.S. Highway 431 through downtown. “Everybody I’ve talked to said they really enjoyed…
It’s time once again to surrender the soapbox to readers of this column for their annual opportunity to say things naughty and nice about what they’ve read here. Next week I’ll get to the nice part. Today’s column is devoted to those who took issue with the column or found fault with the columnist. My…
(ROANOKE) Services for Lonnie W. Noles, 72, of Roanoke will be Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008, at 1 p.m. at Benefield Funeral Home Chapel, Wedowee, with the Rev. Joe Bob Traylor and Wayne Spradlin officiating. Burial will follow in the Big Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, Roanoke. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from…
Many Randolph County residents awoke on Wednesday morning of last week to the sound of tornado warning sirens and flooded streets. Randolph County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director Donnie Knight said the rain gauge at his office showed 3.34 inches in a 30-hour period of time, but he heard from people in the northern end…
MONTGOMERY—State Sen. Kim Benefield, D- Woodland, has been named the 2008 Senate Legislative Leader of the Year by the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts (AACD). Sen. Benefield serves as chairwoman of the Alabama Joint Legislative Committee on Water Policy and Management and received the award for providing leadership in the development and implementation of a…
It’s time to change our beloved bowl system, the system that colleges hold so sacred that they have continually used it as an excuse to avoid even considering a playoff system. The bowls are no longer working in the best interest of the Southeastern Conference. The SEC is getting the short end of the postseason…
WEDOWEE—Randolph County Board of Education approved asking for bids for construction of a new addition at Wedowee Middle School. The new building will enable the kindergarten through third grades to be moved from the campus of Randolph County High School onto the WMS campus with the fourth through sixth grades. Superintendent Wayne Wortham told the…
LIBERTY GROVE—A Randolph County man is recovering at University Hospital in Birmingham after an accident with a shotgun last Thursday. According to Randolph County Sheriff’s Department investigator Gregg Dendinger, Timothy Holmes, 59, was attempting to shoot at a coyote when he tripped and the gun discharged. The 911 call came from the neighbor’s house at…
Hi, everyone. Thanks so much for all the goodies you have been donating to the shelter. We dogs and cats are really enjoying it all. Yum, yum. Some of us are even beginning to put on a little weight, which is a good thing. Do you have someone on your Christmas list who might want…
The Woodland Lady Bobcats were again perfect through three games last week, taking care of Wadley, Lineville and Ranburne with relative ease. Woodland began last week’s run with an 89-21 thumping of rival Wadley at home last Tuesday night. Wadley could find no answer for Woodland’s sharp shooting and stifling defense. Woodland took a 25-3…
“You must have sold a lot of papers on that” someone will often say about a news story. Or someone will say “Oh, they just want to sell newspapers,” as if that is a big money maker. I think most people know what pays the bills for newspapers is not paper sales or subscriptions but…
The Wadley Bulldogs did one thing all last week, and that is win games. Wadley continued to dominate the competition with wins over Woodland, Notasulga and Horseshoe Bend to remain undefeated on the season. Last week’s run began with a convincing 66-40 win over archrival Woodland on the road. Wadley jumped out to a 25-11…
The Randolph County Lady Tigers fought hard last week, but ended up losing two of three contests. The Lady Tigers started last week with a 73-58 win over area foe Lineville. Randolph County head coach Robyn Wortham said the team played top-notch defense against Lineville, which contributed to the important area win. “We got a…
The 2008 edition of The Randolph Leader’s All-County Football Team showcases one of the largest classes of All-County players ever. A total of 21 offensive players and 18 defensive players represent Handley, Woodland, Wadley and Randolph County. The All-County team was selected by the coaches of their respective teams and the Player of the Year…
Attorneys for Don Siegelman and Richard Scrushy got 48 minutes last week to persuade a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals their clients should receive a new trial. The panel of judges consisted of the chief judge of the circuit, James Larry Edmondson, age 62; a former chief judge of the court,…
On Halloween night Haley Beal of Weaver was trick or treating when her father, Jeff Beal, watched in horror as she was struck by what he said turned out to be a drunk driver. She is still recovering. A motorcycle ride was held on Dec. 6 to raise funds for Haley, Sheriff’s Deputy Donnie Grant…
ATLANTA—The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $444,233 in Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) funding to local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations in Alabama. Included in the amount is $26,125 for Bethel East VFD in Randolph County for operations and safety. “Local communities deserve to know they are served by well-trained local emergency…
The Southern Union women’s basketball team continued its winning ways in its last three contests, remaining the same as they have since the season began-undefeated. Southern Union blasted Andrew College on Dec. 1 by a score of 93-52 in what looked to be an outmatched game. “We have a lot more talent than they do,”…
Every year during the holidays new scams surface that call for potential victims to be on alert. Economic conditions this year are cause for extra caution, as tough financial times are likely to increase the frequency of fraudulent “opportunities” designed to make quick bucks for those promoting them at the expense of their victims. No…