The Southeastern Conference bowl parade starts this week when Alabama takes on Oklahoma State in the Independence Bowl and ends on Jan. 8 when Florida takes on Ohio State.In between those two games, seven other SEC teams will be involved in bowl games. The conference that had the best record against non-conference teams during the…

WEDOWEE – In its last meeting of 2006, Randolph County Commission agreed to do some grading work to construct a rear exit onto Harris Street from the new Randolph County Health Department building in Roanoke. In other business, the commission: Were informed that District Judge Pat Whaley will allow community service workers to cut firewood…

(ROANOKE) Services for Helen Richards Burns, 84, of Roanoke will be Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, at 2 p.m. at Roanoke First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Paul Messer and the Rev. John Mann officiating. Burial will follow at Randolph Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends at the church from 1 to 2 p.m.…

The last few days of the year are a time of reflection and preparation. As we look back on the year that has passed, we take pride in our accomplishments and the obstacles that we have overcome. As we look to the future, we prepare for the impending challenges, hoping that the triumphs and mistakes…

The “last days” approach. Are you ready? No, I’m not talking ’bout The Rapture. I’m talking ’bout the countdown to Christmas and what you must do to contribute to the orgy of giving that puts the secular into the season, gives comfort and joy to merchandisers. I’m talking about the final rush that we rationalize…

A Valley man and Roanoke woman were arrested last week in Roanoke on drug charges. According to Roanoke Police Chief Adam Melton, his department received information about a subject from Lee County who came to the Roanoke area twice a week with prescription drugs to be sold. On Wednesday of last week, Roanoke officers conducted…

Wadley Town Council members voted to approve a franchise agreement for cable television after Council Member Toni Gay strongly questioned the agreement. The only other business in the brief meeting was hiring Michael Pearson, 58, as a full-time police officer with a three-month probationary period. Police Commissioner Catherine Stringfellow abstained on the vote, which she…

Councilman Richard Fetner has applied for a grant from Congressman Mike Rogers for a veterans’ memorial but has not heard anything back, he said at the last council meeting. Mayor Spec Bonner said he has discussed this issue with Fetner. There are very few Handleys left, and he has talked with them about making Handley…

(ROANOKE) Fannie Pearl Woodall, 90, of Roanoke died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, at Roanoke Healthcare Center. Services will be Thursday, Dec. 28, at 11 a.m. (CST) at Vines Funeral Home Chapel, LaFayette, with Minister Margie Carlton officiating. Interment will be in Handy Cemetery, LaFayette. The body will lie in state at the chapel one hour…

It’s time for New Year’s resolutions, and the most common of resolutions involves weight loss, usually for appearance reasons. There is another reason for maintaining a reasonable weight however. That reason is improved health, since obesity is implicated in such serious health problems as diabetes and heart disease. This standard New Year’s resolution is especially…

(WEDOWEE) Services for JoAnne Knight Garrison, 74, of Wedowee will be Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at 2 p.m. at Benefield Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Earl Rollins officiating. Burial will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery, Roanoke. Mrs. Garrison died Monday, Dec. 25, at Tanner Medical Center, Carrollton, Ga. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from…

(ROANOKE) Services for Billy Wayne Hendrix, 59, of Roanoke will be Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at 11 a.m. at Quattlebaum Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Bobby Kirby and the Rev. Rickie Farrow officiating. Burial will follw at High Pine Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 8…

(LAFAYETTE) Ben Burton, 70, of LaFayette died Friday, Dec. 22, 2006, at George H. Lanier Hospital, Valley. Mr. Burton was born in Chambers County on Feb. 22, 1936. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a retired timber cruiser. He was a member of LaFayette Heights Baptist Church. Services will be at LaFayette Heights Baptist…

(ROANOKE) Services Billie Ann Yeats Hodges, 79, of Roanoke were Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006, at 1 p.m. at Quattlebaum Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Paul Messer officiating. Burial was at Randolph Memory Gardens. Mrs. Hodges died Wednesday, Dec. 20, at Bethany House. Survivors include two daughters, Jane Ann Williams of Newnan, Ga., and Sue Edge…

(WEST POINT, Ga.) Sadie Clapp Rearden, 92, of West Point, Ga., died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006, at George H. Lanier Memorial Hospital in Valley. Services will be Friday, Dec. 22, at 11 a.m. EST at First Baptist Church of West Point with Dr. Tom Tucker officiating. Burial will follow at Marseilles Cemetery in West Point.…

(ROANOKE) Leah Karen Wiley, 47, of Roanoke died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006, in Roanoke. A memorial service will be held at noon CST on Tuesday, Dec. 26, at Stateline Fellowship, Five Points. Survivors include two sons, Tony Johnson of Atlanta and Kevin Wiley of Newnan, Ga.; a brother, Marty Johnson of Newnan; and a sister,…

(ROANOKE) James Snuggs Lane, 87, of Roanoke died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, in Roanoke. Mr. Lane was the second of three sons born to Walter Thomas and Gena Snuggs Lane. He was born Nov. 14, 1919, in Roanoke and was a graduate of Handley High School and Lees-McCrae College, Banner Elk, N.C. A veteran of…

(KINGSLAND, Ga.) Services for Mary Weathers Manley, 75, of Kingsland, Ga., formerly of Roanoke, will be Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006, at 2 p.m. at Springfield Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger Woodard officiating. Burial will follow at Randolph Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. on…

(LAGRANGE, Ga.) William Carl Pilgrim, 80, died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, at Hospice LaGrange. Mr. Pilgrim, born May 4, 1926, in Randolph County, Ala., was the son of the late Thomas Thad and Geniar Smith Pilgrim. He was a Korean veteran and a deacon at Wehadkee Baptist Church. He hunted, fished and rode up and…