Last week the high school football season kicked off in fashion.Rarely does a season opener come with such drama and excitement as the Wadley-Horseshoe Bend game, or as much build-up and spectacle as the Handley-Heard County game.Starting with Thursday night, walking into the Wadley stadium I wasn’t expecting to see much of a ball game.I’ve…

The college football season arrives this week and it couldn’t have come at a better time. We have been inundated with bad news on the college football front the entire off-season, so it will be a refreshing change to just think about the actual playing of games for a change. Of course, some of the…

(WEDOWEE) Funeral services for Sara Burdette Benefield, 85, of Wedowee will be Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Wedowee with the Revs. Gary Henderson and Russell Hessley officiating. Burial will follow in Wedowee City Cemetery. Mrs. Benefield died Tuesday, Aug. 30, at Wedowee Hospital. She was born Oct.…

(LaGRANGE, Ga.) George Harold Clegg, 85, of LaGrange, Ga., died Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, at Hospice LaGrange. Mr. Clegg was born June 9, 1926, in Wadley, Ala., son of the late John T. and Cludie Kennedy Clegg. He retired from West Point Pepperell after 43 years. Mr. Clegg was an insurance agent, sold real estate,…

(HICKORY, N.C.) Martha Anne Ray Spivey, 75, of Hickory, N.C., died Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, at Palliative Care Center & Hospice of Catawba Valley. Born Jan. 5, 1936, in Roanoke, Ala., she was the daughter of the late Hortense Cottle and Billy Bruce Ray. Mrs. Spivey was a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Hickory…

(ROANOKE) Funeral services for Deborah Noles Nunn, 60, of Roanoke will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, at Quattlebaum Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Brian Moore officiating. Burial will be in Corinth Congregational Christian Church Cemetery, Wadley. Mrs. Nunn died Monday, Aug. 29, at Hospice LaGrange. Mrs. Nunn was born July 1, 1951,…

(LaGRANGE, Ga.) Ressie Lee Smith Henderson, 88, of LaGrange, Ga., died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, at her home. Mrs. Henderson was born Sept. 22, 1922, in Randolph County, Ala., daughter of the late Mark Oral Smith and Dovie Pauline Beck Smith. She was a member of Living Waters Baptist Church. Mrs. Henderson retired from Playtex…

(CARROLLTON, Ga.) Nellie Beatrice “Miss Bea” Moody Godbee, 79, died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011. She was born Sept. 12, 1931, in Randolph County, Ala., but grew up in Atlanta. Mrs. Godbee graduated in 1950 from Roosevelt High School. She was employed at WEAS that later changed to WGUN, “The Big Gun,” in Decatur, Ga., for…

(HUGULEY) Lessie Marie Boyd Kirby, 97, of Huguley died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, at her residence. Mrs. Kirby was born Oct. 12, 1913, in Wedowee, the daughter of the late Andrew Jackson and Cora Pearl Moore Boyd. She was a graduate of Randolph County High School and attended Jacksonville State University and beauty school. Mrs.…

(CARROLLTON, Ga.) Elton Ray “Raybo” Farmer, 53, of Carrollton, Ga., died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011. Mr. Farmer was born in Heard County, Ga., on Aug. 3, 1958. He was the son of the late Travis Farmer and the late Virginia Puckett Farmer. Mr. Farmer was a carpenter. Survivors include two daughters and one son-in-law, Jenny…

(DOUGLASVILLE, Ga.) Van Eugene “Gene” Brown, 82, of Douglasville, Ga., died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011. He was born Aug. 15, 1929, in Douglas County, Ga., to the late Benjamin Newt Brown and Blonnie Vansant Brown. Mr. Brown worked during his career as a used car salesman, loved traveling the country, and deeply loved his four…

(LaGRANGE, Ga.) Max New, 58, of LaGrange, Ga., died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011. Mr. New was born Sept. 29, 1952, in Wedowee, son of Adele Hanson New and the late Troy Randall New. He was a member of Unity Baptist Church, where he served as minister of music, youth and children’s ministry. Mr. New had…

(HEFLIN) Funeral services for James Lee Thacker, 69, of Heflin will be Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at 2 p.m. at Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church with the Rev. Steve Dempsey officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery. Mr. Thacker died Tuesday, Aug. 23, at his residence. Mr. Thacker was born July 14, 1942, the son…

(ALPHARETTA, Ga.) W.J. “Jack” Ritcherson, 90, of Alpharetta, died Aug. 22, 2011. Born May 22, 1921, He was a World War II veteran, having served five years in the Philippines. He was beloved by so many, especially his family. He is survived by his daughters, Gale Caldwell and husband Theo and Linda Keith and husband…

(DELTA) Funeral services for Violet Suggs Smith, 91, of Delta will be Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at 2 p.m. at Benefield Funeral Home in Lineville with the Revs. Mark Williams and Ronnie Key officiating. Burial will follow in Center West Baptist Church Cemetery. Mrs. Smith died Monday, Aug. 22, at her home. She was a…

As the story about grand jury indictments on page 2A reveals, methamphetamine continues to be a problem in Randolph County, just as it does throughout the state. There is much more involved than just the bust and prosecution. Cleanup of meth labs is an expensive proposition that requires special skills and disposal in approved sites.…

Randolph County Commission Chairman Douglas Sheppard, 44, of 4362 County Road 76, Wedowee, is facing new charges after the spring grand jury reported Tuesday, Aug. 16. On top of the four misdemeanor charges he is already facing, he was arrested on 15 new felony charges of using his official position for personal gain––for a total…

At approximately 9:35 p.m. Friday, Alabama State Troopers responded to investigate a single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a Georgia man. The crash occurred on Randolph County Road 439 in the Bethel East community, 17 miles east of Woodland. Christopher Rick Barnwell, 28, of Cartersville, Ga., was killed when the 2000 Dodge Neon he…