(HEFLIN) Robert Lee Pesnell, 56, died Thursday, July 4, 2013.Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 6, at Dryden Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Kevin Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in Lower Cane Creek Cemetery.Mr. Pesnell was the owner of Tri-County Plumbing. His motto was ” It’s not what we do,…

(MONTEVALLO) Brenace Boyd Birdsong, 94, of Montevallo died July 3, 2013. The funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 6, at First United Methodist Church in Montevallo. Burial will follow at New Home United Methodist Church Cemetery in Wedowee. She was born to the late Hoyt and Bertie Boyd on Oct. 12, 1918,…

(WOODLAND) Funeral services for Mary Clyde Lovvorn Stewart, 85, of Woodland will be Saturday, July 6, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Herren’s Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Scott Akin officiating. Mrs. Stewart died Wednesday, July 3, at her home. A lifelong Randolph County resident, Mrs. Stewart was born on Oct. 25, 1927, the daughter of…

(ROANOKE) Funeral services for James Herbert Denham, 82, of Roanoke will be Saturday, July 6, 2013, at 11 a.m. at High Pine Baptist Church with the Rev. Richie Farrow officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery. Mr. Denham died Wednesday, July 3, at his home. A lifelong Randolph County resident, Mr. Denham was born…

(WEDOWEE) The funeral for Eunice Mae Sims, 76, of Wedowee will be Saturday, July 6, 2013, at 3 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry Heard officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The remains will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Mrs. Sims died Tuesday, July 2.…

(ALEXANDRIA) Funeral services for James Elon “Jim” Moree Sr., 83, of Alexandria will be Sunday, July 7, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Quattlebaum Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Jamie Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in Antioch Christian Church Cemetery, Roanoke. Mr. Moree died Monday, July 1, at his home. A Randolph County native, Mr. Moree…

(WOODLAND) Funeral services for Franklin Daniel “Dan” Whitaker Jr., 59, of Woodland will be Friday, July 5, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Napoleon Church of Christ with Bro. Don Pruitt, Bro. Ronnie Prince and Bro. Kenny Prince officiating. Burial will follow at the adjoining cemetery. Mr. Whitaker died Tuesday, July 2, 2013, at his home.…

(SUMMERVILLE, Ga.) Betty Jean Pool, 81, of Summerville, Ga., died Monday, July 1, 2013, in a Rome, Ga., hospital. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 6, at 3 p.m. EDT at Summerville First Baptist Church with Dr. Paul Mason officiating with interment in Summerville Cemetery. Mrs. Pool was born in Clay County, Ala., March 13,…

I was shocked when it was alleged Paula Deen segregated certain workers in one work area and others in another area, according to race. Holy throwback to the ’60s and ’70s. I remember when the times were changing and jobs formerly reserved for whites opened up to blacks. I clearly remember when a manager allowed…

State Retirement System officials report they have a serious problem with some retirees they suspect are abusing the system. RSA rules forbid retirees from earning more than $23,000 annually from state agencies or educational systems which participate in the system. RSA General Counsel Leura Canary writes in the most recent RSA newsletter that some retirees…

In October of 1994, I had an article published in the “Dixie Living” section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It was titled “Seasided: Planned Community in Florida puts an end to carefree way of life.” The article was about the Seagrove Beach Fourth of July parade and how “Seaside,” the “planned community” next door, had taken…

The 19 firefighters killed Sunday near Prescott, Arizona represent the biggest single loss of firefighters since 9-11, and there could be more casualties before the year is out. Tom Tidwell, head of the U.S. Forest Service, said, “The last two decades have seen fires that are extraordinary in their size, intensity and impacts.” Intense, fast-moving…

WADLEY–T.J. McKinney appears to be like any other 4-year-old child. He loves Alabama football, playing with cars and monster trucks, and aggravating his 7-year-old sister, Amelia. T.J. and his parents, Justin and Jodie, have had quite a lot to deal with during this past year. It became obvious to them that T.J. was falling often…

WADLEY––Two men addressed the Wadley Town Council at its Monday night meeting about their concerns law enforcement is targeting logging trucks for tickets. Mickey Carter, owner of New Site Forest Services, Inc. of New Site and mayor of New Site, and Ray Clifton with the Alabama Forestry Association and executive director of the Alabama Loggers…

July 4-12 the Randolph County Animal Shelter will have its Annual Fourth of July Special on puppies, dogs, kittens and cats. Adoption rates will be waived. Fees for microchips and spay/neuter vouchers will still be in place. The shelter is overrunning with gorgeous animals who will make great pets so you have your pick. The…

Curtis Albert Eiland, 62, of Wadley was seriously hurt on Saturday afternoon while cutting a tree at the end of County Road 854 in the Corinth community. The tree went the wrong direction, and Eiland tried to run but was hit in the head by a big limb. He was taken by private vehicle to…

A LaFayette man was arrested on Friday of last week and charged with shoplifting several items from Walmart earlier in the month. Kantavious Lee Trammell, 20, is charged with second-degree theft of property. On June 14 and 15, Trammell is accused of taking six cell phones, headphones and three game controllers for a total value…

A Roanoke man was arrested early Thursday morning of last week, charged with breaking into the ATM at Wells Fargo. Charles Louis Garey, 28, of 460 Pine Valley Dr., Lot 33, is charged with third-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools and criminal mischief (damage to business property). Officers responded to an alarm at the bank…