The percentage of Randolph County’s registered voters who actually vote is often higher than the percentage for the state as a whole. That is something of which we can be proud since we have so many registered voters. According to Tina Wysner of the Randolph County Board of Registrars, there are 15,047 registered voters in…

As expected, the percentage of registered voters going to the polls on Tuesday was down substantially from last month. There was much less on the ballots from which to choose this time since yesterday’s vote was about runoffs to select Republican and Democratic nominees for this fall’s general election. Democrats On the Democratic ballot, there…

Give a boy a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach a boy to fish and he’ll never stop pestering you to take him again. Ancient proverb Modern revision Looking back over the past year, I did a lot of stuff and had a lot of fun. But right up at the…

MONTGOMERY — There is more to the sudden departure of Roy Johnson as chancellor of the two-year college system in Alabama than meets the eye. A lot more. As they are wont to say on television, “stay tuned.” As for Johnson, shed no tears for him. He will remain on the payroll for eight months…

Roanoke’s Industrial Park is getting two new occupants, and the mayor said he is going to Montgomery Thursday to obtain help to ready the park for its newest occupants. It was announced in May that a manufacturing plant was coming, but at that time it was not named. Mayor Spec Bonner said he now feels…

A Bacon Level man has been arrested twice this week, both times charged with DUI in Roanoke. According to Roanoke Police Department investigator Billy Lane, Jonathan Curtis Wilson, 24, of 2409 County Road 75 was arrested on Friday night and early Tuesday morning and charged both times with DUI. During the most recent arrest, Wilson…

Woodland cheerleading The Woodland cheerleading signup for first through sixth grades will be Saturday, July 29 from 9 a.m. to noon. Prices for registration are $35 for one child, $60 for two children, and $70 for three. This will be the only signup date. For more information please call Debra Bowen at 449-2618, Lisa Gay…

(BYNUM) Services for Emma Florence Johnson Shoffeitt, 91, of Bynum will be Thursday, July 20, 2006, at 11 a.m. at Benefield Funeral Chapel, with Bro. Brett Hogland and nephew Don Gay officiating. Burial will follow in the Smyrna Baptist Church Cemetery. Mrs. Shoffeitt died Monday, July 17, at Beverly Health Care in Oxford. The family…

(ROANOKE) Ethel Patricia Ellington, 59, of Roanoke died Thursday, July 13, 2006, at Heartland Hospice, Austell, Ga. Services will be Tuesday, July 18, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Roanoke, with the Rev. R.L. Heflin officiating. Interment will be in Rocky Mount Cemetery, Roanoke. Ms. Ellington will lie in state at the church…

Savannah Viola Denney, 91, of 412 County Road 689, Ranburne, died Sunday, July 16, 2006. Mrs. Denney was born in Carroll County, Ga., on April 27, 1915, to the late Davis and Beatrice Huckerba Akers. She was a homemaker. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Leon Denney,…

(ROANOKE) Ernest “Ernie” Banzet, 66, of Roanoke died Thursday, July 13, 2006, at Hospice of West Alabama, Tuscaloosa, of complications from an extended illness. Mr. Banzet was born May 5, 1940, in Herndon, Kansas. He had worked as a machinist for Beech Aircraft in Witchita. He was a frequent contributor of editorial commentary to the…

(OXFORD) Graveside funeral services for Wallace L. Key, 77, of Oxford will be Friday, July 14, 2006, at 2 p.m. at the Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in Randolph County with the Rev. Steve Dempsey officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6 to 8 at Miller Funeral Home and Crematory. Mr. Key died Wednesday, July…

(GRAHAM) Andrew Gay Carter, 58, of 805 County Road 435, Graham died Wednesday, July 12, 2006, at Wedowee Hospital. Services will be July 15, at 1 p.m. at Oak Grove A.M.E. Church, Newell, with the Rev. Raymond Angel officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include his mother, Esther Carter of Graham; a…

Corruption in Alabama government is nothing new. Throughout the years officials elected and appointed have done things that didn’t meet the “smell test.” Much of this has been considered business as usual, though, with actions only occasionally drawing enough attention to warrant prosecutions. That’s one reason the conviction of former Gov. Don Siegelman came as…

NAPA Auto Parts in Roanoke fell prey to burglars on Saturday night when a large number of tools were taken from the store on U.S. 431. According to investigator Billy Lane of Roanoke Police Department, in addition to the tools, the thieves also took a 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle from the lower level of the store.…

The Roanoke City Council passed a wide-ranging nuisance codes/enforcement ordinance at Monday night’s meeting. The ordinance will affect areas throughout the city from rundown buildings to yards filled with non-running cars. An enforcement officer, who will be under Police Chief Adam Melton’s supervision, has not yet been selected. He could be hired or promoted from…

The 32nd Annual Southeastern Baseball Camp is under way at Southern Union State Community College in Wadley. The first session for the 13-and-older group will finish up today and the second session for the 12-and-under group will begin this Sunday and run through next Wednesday. Registration for the second session will be Sunday, July 16,…