State Briefs

Christian Coalition gives voter guides MONTGOMERY [AP] – The Christian Coalition of Alabama has distributed 15,000 voter guides in two Alabama House districts that will hold special elections today.

Christian Coalition of Alabama President John Giles said all candidates were given an opportunity to answer questionnaires for the guide.

Elections will be today in House District 25 in Marshall County and in House District 104 in Mobile County. Acting director gets ADO post MONTGOMERY [AP] – Gov. Don Siegelman named Jim Hayes to be permanent director of the Alabama Development Office, a job Hayes has held on an acting basis since April 2000.

Hayes will continue as senior adviser to the governor, according to a statement from Siegelman’s office.

Siegelman said recruiting businesses to economically distressed counties will be a top priority.

“His integrity, experience and reputation for excellence will serve Alabamians well as he works with me to recruit and retain high-paying, high-skilled jobs,” the governor said.

Hayes was named acting director of ADO in April when Ken Funderburk resigned.

Hayes previously worked as Alabama revenue commissioner, president of J.P. Hayes & Co. Inc., and director of planning and acquisitions for the Louisiana Land & Exploration Co. He is a native of Brewton and earned bachelor’s and masters’ degrees from the University of Alabama. Man gets medals from Korean War MONTGOMERY – Edward R. Reynolds of Wallsboro fought with the Army’s Second Infanty Division in the Korean War but never received the Bronze Star and other medals he won 50 years ago.

That is, not until Monday, when Reynolds finally received his medals in a ceremony at the state archives building.

Deputy Attorney General Richard Allen, who also is a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, said Reynolds richly deserved recognition “for having served his country and for having survived some of the cruelest combat and weather conditions ever endured by the U.S. Army.”

Reynolds, who left Korea as a sergeant, in 1950 was part of a security platoon that guarded the Second Division’s forward command post.

The division pushed almost to the Chinese border at the Yalu River when hordes of Chinese troops entered the war and pushed back American troops.

The division, eventually pushed south of Seoul, had to fight its way out of North Korea, battling Chinese and North Korean troops as well as bitter winter weather. David White Former GOP director leads citizens’ group MONTGOMERY [AP] – Twinkle Andress, former executive director of the Alabama Republican Party, is becoming state director of Alabama Citizens for a Sound Economy.

In Alabama, the conservative group has focused on limiting big jury verdicts. Andress said the group will now work to educate the public on a broader range of issues, including school choice and Medicare changes.

Andress, 34, replaces Toby Roth, who went to work for the Business Council of Alabama as vice president for advancement.

Andress served as the party’s top staff person from November 1998 until Jan. 12, when she resigned to run for the party chairmanship. She lost to Marty Connors. During her tenure, she helped guide the party through the November election, when the GOP won 10 out of 11 state appeals court races.

“Twinkle is considered the top political catch, and we’re proud she joined Alabama CSE’s grassroots team,” President Paul Beckner said Monday.