KILLEN — Facing a touchdown deficit after three first-half turnovers, North Jackson coach Shawn Peek still liked his team’s chances at Brooks. Thanks in part to a tremendous third quarter Friday night by speedster Denzel Bynum, the Chiefs proved their coach right. Published November 7, 2009
HAMILTON — A year ago, Hamilton made it to the quarterfinals of the Class 3A playoffs. The Aggies are off to a pretty good start this year, too. Bud Coleman ran for two scores and caught a touchdown pass for a third to help the Aggies down Colbert Heights 31-20 in their playoff opener Friday night. Published November 7, 2009
COLLINWOOD, Tenn. — Jacob Davis threw four touchdown passes as Collinwood cruised to a 48-0 victory over McEwen in the opening round of the Tennessee state playoffs. The win sets up a rematch with county rival Wayne County next week. The two teams played in the regular season finale with Wayne County winning 28-14. Published November 7, 2009
A quick glance at the trophy case greeting visitors to Colbert County High School reveals just how prodigious the school has been on the gridiron. One mathematics award after another graces the shrine. Oh yeah, there's that football thing, too. Published November 6, 2009
Owners of the Florence Golf and Country Club late Thursday approved a more than $2 million offer from the city to purchase the West Florence property, pending approval by the City Council. Published November 6, 2009
Tuscumbia Police Chief Tony Logan said it doesn't matter what kind of ceremony takes place on Veterans Day; it's not enough to repay the debt Americans owe. Published November 6, 2009
Rogers fourth-grade teacher Russ White is anything but predictable. He may come to school wearing a fire suit to coincide with his science lesson on motion and design or he may be the "black hole" to help ease the students into a mindset for astronomy. Whatever the unit of study, White does what it takes to teach it. Published November 6, 2009
Police are looking for two men who are accused of breaking into a Sheffield home Thursday night and robbing the resident while holding a machete to her throat. Police said the break-in occurred just after 6 p.m. at a residence on East Ninth Street. Published November 6, 2009
The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce board of directors unanimously hired Nina McNatt at its new executive director. A group of seven directors representing each area of the county comprised the selection committee and supervised the interview/selection process. The committee presented McNatt's name to the board Thursday. Published November 6, 2009
Bernie's World You know what I've come to learn through the years? I've come to learn that we parents really get a twisted kick out of scaring our kids. Don't believe me? Well, let's take a look at what we have done throughout the generations to help soothe our kid's nerves at bedtime: "Would you like to hear a nursery rhyme?" we ask. Published November 6, 2009
A Shoals anglers remains in striking distance of victory in the Stren Series championship bass tournament under way on Pickwick and Wilson lakes. Published November 6, 2009
Jared Swinney said participating in Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful way to reach children who are less fortunate. "It's such a great ministry. I'm glad to be involved with it," said Swinney, manager of LifeWay Christian Bookstore in Florence, which is one of the drop-off points for the campaign. Published November 6, 2009
Commissioners know they need to replace the aging county jail, and John Smith, a Montgomery-based consultant, wants to put together a plan to help them. The 47-year-old jail is long past its expected lifespan. Sheriff Ronnie May said many of its problems are related to age. Smith has toured the jail and agrees something needs to be done. Published November 6, 2009
ARRESTS Colbert County sheriff Erica Marie Sharpton, 30, 1425 Alabama 157, Lot 8, Leighton; fraudulent use of a credit card. Jesse Clinton Ford, 26, 100 Blue Ridge Drive, Cherokee; unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Published November 6, 2009
Mr. Charles Edwin "Papa" Warren, 67, of Florence, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Published November 6, 2009
Roger Allen Otts Jr. 37, of Bessemer, Ala., died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at Winfield Hospital. Mr. Otts was a native of Alabama and had lived in Bessemer for the past year. He attended Hillcrest Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla., and was a self-employed master electrician. Published November 6, 2009
March 28, 1939-Nov. 3, 2009 Miss Mary Elizabeth "Mert" Mullins, of Florence, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Miss Mullins was a native of Huntsville. She graduated from Florence State Teachers College and taught first grade in the Muscle Shoals school system for 37 years. Published November 6, 2009
Mary Sue Holt, 60, of Florence, passed away Nov. 5, 2009, at ECM Hospital after an extended illness. She was a member of Bethel Berry Church of Christ. Published November 6, 2009
After almost five months of development, Muscle Shoals police Lt. Clint Reck learned that building and launching a Web site wasn't something that would take place overnight. Published November 6, 2009
Burnsville, Miss. James Michael Voyles, 41, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at Ludlam Funeral Home, Iuka, with burial in Mulberry Cemetery, Burnsville. Published November 6, 2009
Florence James Edward Rayburn, 60, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Visitation will be 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, at Greenview Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Salem Church of Christ. He was the husband of Carol Rayburn. Published November 6, 2009
Moulton Herbert Durwood Pankey, 69, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. today at Lawrence Funeral Home, Moulton. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home chapel, with burial in Moulton Memory Garden. He served with the Air Force in Vietnam. Published November 6, 2009
Virdie Ann Brewer Kramer, of Florence, Ala., was born Feb. 16, 1930, in Wayne County, Tenn., the daughter of the late George and Laura Brewer. She was united in marriage to Arnold Kramer on Sept. 22, 1972, and he preceded her in death on July 16, 2006. Mrs. Kramer was retired from General Motors in Detroit, Mich., and was of the Baptist faith. Published November 6, 2009
WestPoint, Tenn. John Wylie Kimbrell, 46, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, after a sudden illness. Visitation will be 2-6 p.m. Sunday at Loretto Memorial Chapel. The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel, with burial in Kimbrell Holler Cemetery with military honors. He was an Air Force veteran. Published November 6, 2009
LaVergne, Tenn. Benjamin Hendrix, infant, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Hendrix Cemetery, Giles County. He was the son of Clyde and Allicia Evert Hendrix. Neal Funeral Home, Lawrenceburg, is directing. Published November 6, 2009
James Elton Duboise, 88, Fayette, Ala., died Nov. 6, 2009. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. today at Nelson Funeral Home, of Fayette. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Nelson Funeral Home chapel, with burial in Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery. Presiding clergy will be Brother Michael Duckworth and Brother Clyde Stephens. Published November 6, 2009
Town Creek Dimpe Carl "D.C." Davis, 69, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at Jackson Memory Funeral Home chapel, with burial in Elmwood Cemetery. He was the husband of Agnes Clemons Davis. Published November 6, 2009
Mr. Eugene Clemons, age 81, of Florence, Ala., died Nov. 5, 2009. He was a lifelong resident of Lauderdale County. He was a retired contractor and owner of Clemons Roofing and Installation for more than 40 years. He loved his family, children and grandchildren. He was a great "Paw Paw" to all of them. Published November 6, 2009
Collinwood, Tenn. Lora Leigh Christian Berry, 42, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. today and from noon until 3 p.m. Sunday at Shackelford Funeral Home, Collinwood. The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home chapel, with burial in Memorial Gardens, Collinwood. She was the wife of Bronson Berry, of Collinwood. Published November 6, 2009
Sheffield Christopher Michael Angus, 28, died Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. Arrangements will be announced by Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. Published November 6, 2009
Here's to the Bad Girls, bless their hearts, who make all the Good Girls look good. There's one in every family. Everybody loves her, but hates how she acts. Her mother worries. Her grandmother prays. Her aunts and sisters all want to strangle her. And her nieces want to be just like her. Published November 6, 2009
The founder of Chick-fil-A and the editor of the Alabama Baptist newspaper have spoken at the Florence chapter of the National Exchange Club's prayer breakfast. But a man who went to heaven and back? That's a tough story to top. Published November 6, 2009
"If Anchor's going to run this bus line to Birmingham and all these other places, if it's profitable they'll make a go of it. Why do they need a government subsidy to do this? Leave my tax dollars alone. If it's viable, it will succeed. If not, it will fail. Enough said."
"Well, folks, just caution, caution, caution for this... Published November 5, 2009
In the Oct. 29 edition, a woman wrote a letter to the editor complaining that she was unable to buy tickets at a Shoals theater because she didn't have ID on the two minors with her, one of which was 13. She stated they were going to see "Zombieland," a rated-R film, which reviews have shown to be a very bloody, very graphic violent movie. Published November 5, 2009