Entries by Rachel McDaniel

The Pike County Board of Education discussed the Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget May 29, noting the $2.5 million increase in state funding is projected to maintain local tax rates the same while providing needed funding for school staff and programs. A Community Budget Meeting will be held Tuesday, June 5 at 12 noon to allow for public input. [Full story »] 

Between May 21 and June 4 local law enforcement agencies made the following arrests: [Full story »] 

By Anthony Vinson
advkdv@att.net

Our country is littered from sea to shining sea with citizens who believe, among other things, that vaccinations cause autism, that the former president was not a citizen and that the president before that one was behind an elaborate conspiracy to launch an attack on the country and blame it on terrorists. But wait, there’s more! Some believe that the earth is flat, that we never went to the moon and that the planet is routinely visited by aliens from distant galaxies who catch-and-release simple country folk. Others insist that man and dinosaur inhabited the planet at the same time. [Full story »] 

Pike County commissioners approved the third and final reading of the 2018-19 Fiscal Year budget at their Tuesday, May 29 special called meeting. The new $12.1 million budget is slightly higher than the $11.9 million budget for FY 2017-18 - and that budget was nearly $200,000 less than the previous year. [Full story »] 

Mrs. Rilla Joyce Reynolds Worshum, age 79, of Concord, passed away June 1, 2018, at her home. She grew up in Savannah, TN, daughter of the late James Reynolds and Merle Franks Reynolds.  She worked for A & P Food Stores for many years, retiring as an accounting clerk.  She was a member of Harps Crossing Baptist Church in Hollonville and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. [Full story »] 

Ms. Marie Louise Schmidt Wido, age 92, of Williamson, passed away June 3, 2018.  She was born in Philadelphia, PA daughter of the late William Carl Schmidt and Marie Louise Kautter Schmidt. She worked in the secretarial field. Marie lived in Ft. Lauderdale, FL for many years before moving to Williamson to be near her daughter.  She was a devoted Christian and very active in her church in Ft. Lauderdale. [Full story »] 

Bill Edwards, a banking pioneer in the area, died May 30 after a long illness. He was 87.

A native of Zebulon, he worked in the family canning business Bankston & Edwards Canning Co. which later became Besco. The company processed peaches, pimentos, citrus fruit and vegetables.

Bill joined the Bank of Zebulon, where his father John Joel Edwards was cashier. After Besco was sold in 1969, the family got more involved in banking. Bill became president of the Crawford County Bank in Zebulon. In 1972, Bill and his brother Joe helped organize and open Lamar State Bank. Two years later Bill became president of the Bank of Zebulon.

In 1981, a holding company for the three banks was established and United Bank was born. United Bank has judiciously made acquisitions in the years since and now has operations in 12 counties and more than 400 employees.

In addition to his wife Anne, Bill is survived by three children, Allie Edwards Armistead, Laurie Edwards Fisher and John Edwards Jr.; brother, Joe Edwards; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, June 4 at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Griffin. Visitation with the family will be held Sunday, June 3 from 5-7 p.m. at Moody Funeral Home in Zebulon.

Between Monday, May 21 and Friday, May 25 local law enforcement agencies made the following arrests: [Full story »]