January 1, 2009 / Front Page

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Misfortunes of Louisiana Pacific's new OSB mill

The above photo shows the new Louisiana Pacific oriented strand board mill in better days, in March when the first OSB was produced. The $250 million mill was landed with much fanfare and a lot of incentives from Clarke County and the state. More...

John McCain's visit

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was the presumptive Republican presidential nominee when he visited Thomasville in April, speaking to Thomasville High School students and an audience at Alabama Southern Community College. More...

New mayors elected

Grove Hill and Coffeeville elected new mayors in municipal balloting. Jerry Newton won the office in Grove Hill and is shown with his wife, Jane, at far right, after the initial balloting in August. More...

World War II vet held in POW camp honored by VFW

By Arthur McLean Special to The Democrat

The Thomasville VFW post 5106 Ladies Auxiliary honored John Calhoun of Grove Hill at its Christmas dinner a few weeks ago. Calhoun is believed to be the last Clarke County survivor of prisoner of war camps from World War II. More...

Community

Capstone Bank building in T'ville

Capstone Bank officers and employees, Thomasville city officials and others joined in a groundbreaking for the new bank on Highway 43 in front of Goody's recently. More...

2008 Scenes

Boise tax dispute settled Janice Malone of the Clarke County Revenue Commissioner's office, Revenue Commissioner Chris Beverly and Boise's Rick Grant and Joey Blount are all smiles as a $3 million check for Boise's disputed 2006 and 2007 tax bills we More...

New arrival: Cole Remington Gray Pugh

Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Gray (Peggy Pledger) Pugh of Thomasville announce the arrival of a son, Cole Remington Gray Pugh born Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. at Springhill Memorial Hospital in Mobile. More...

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Church News

Scenes From 2008

Nicholsville church covered in snow A light snowfall delighted youngsters last January. The snow was heavier in Coffeeville and other western parts of the county with Grove Hill getting only a light coating. More...

Church Announcements

New Year's Eve Convention Style Singing - Midway Baptist Church of Thomasville will have a New Year's Eve singing Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 6:30 p.m. until. There will be a Clarke County Singing Style Convention. Rev. Rex Jackson is the pastor. More...

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Lifestyle

Resolutions for gardeners

Gardening With Dora
Dora Fleming

It is time for New Year's Resolutions and gardeners have those too. Mine, sadly, are often the same year after year. More...

Pray for Becky Wright

Memories & Recipes
Cindy Garrick

Our Christmas was truly a beautiful sight after Dean finished the lights. Everytime I drove home from the store at night I gazed in amazement at the scene. Christmas is over now and a brand new year is dawning. More...

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Looking Back At 2008

Here in no particular order are brief recaps of some of the major headlines of 2008. See more inside.

Full Story

Judge DuBose's downfall

Circuit Judge Stuart DuBose's short-lived judicial career nosedived and burned, possibly along with his personal life in 2008. More...

First black superintendent

Six months before Barack Obama was elected the first black president of the U.S., Woodie Pugh made history in Clarke County when he won the Democratic nomination for county superintendent of education, defeating incumbent Gerald Stephens. More...

Wood pellet plant for Jackson

New Gas Concepts announced plans to build a $118 million wood pellet plant in Jackson early last year. Shown at the announcement are Jackson Mayor Richard Long (standing), Gov. Bob Riley and Evan Bates, New Gas Concepts' CEO. More...

Judge Baxter stepping down

By Jim Cox Editor & Publisher

Presiding Circuit Judge Thomas "Tom" Baxter will retire Jan. 2, creating yet another judicial vacancy in the First Judicial Circuit of Choctaw, Clarke and Washington counties for Gov. Bob Riley to fill by appointment. More...

Sports

2008 Sports Scenes

Getting a fourth title ring

The Lady Gators of Clarke Prep School picked up their fourth straight state championship volleyball ring in a ceremony in front of the entire school in mid-February. Seniors Corrie Allen and Tess Ackerman have been on all four title teams. More...

Bulldogs get their own ball field

The Clarke County High School Bulldogs started practice for the 2008 season in February at the Gerald Stephens Athletic Complex, located next to Grove Hill Elementary School. More...

CCHS hoops team comes up short in 3A tourney in Birmingham

At right, Justin Burroughs goes up against 7-foot tall Bawa Muniru (34) in the Bulldogs' 48-42 loss to Madison Academy. Kenneth Kimbrough and Ronnie Osborne throttle a Winfield player in the 63-50 semi-final win. More...

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Editorial

New Year's blessings

Southern Style
Randall Franks

It was a blustery cold morning as Kitty and Pearl began their walk over to Maudie Pearson's house. They carried tins full of collard greens, black-eyed peas and hamhocks and some cornbread. More...

No tears for '08; uneasy about '09

Kisses for the new year but most have just as soon it be Fido

According to the Zogby/ Times Square New Year's Eve National Poll, the fourth annual Times Square New Years Eve poll conducted for the Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, co-organizers of the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Squar More...

'A New Birth of Freedom'

Congress Reports

Congress The 56th Presidential Reports Inauguration is just a few weeks away, and the nation's capital is abuzz with activity. More...

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Records

Clarke County arrests are published

Arrests booked through the Clarke County Jail during the week of Dec. 23 through 29 include: John Marion Jordan, 39, non-child support, $28,000 bond, arrested by Clarke County Sheriff's Dept. More...

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