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Around one hundred years ago the landscape of Escambia County and the surrounding area was vastly different than it appears today. It was the dawning of the automobile age yet the roads were still pig trails and better adapted to horse and buggy than gasoline engine. Highways such as 31 and 21 weren't even on the drawing boards in those days and airplanes were still in their infancy. A good example of how things were different in that era was the pine forests of the time. In the late 1890s the...
The picture accompanying today's column is from the 1955 McDavid School annual which was recently donated to ASHS by Ronnie Yaden and his sister Linda Yaden Steadham. Linda does not appear in the annual, being a 1 year old at the time; Ronnie is on the left in the middle row of McDavid's 1954-55 second graders. Ronnie, Linda and the rest of the Yaden family were my neighbors in 1955. We appreciate them thinking of us and we value the donation. I also do not appear in the 1955 annual, as I didn't...
"Happy Birthday Earline, hope it's your best one ever". Well howdy do, it gets better every year. Now it's public and thank you very much. Let me tell you all a bit about myself in case you haven't yet figured me out. I was born in the wee hours of the night on January 31st, 1941. Being the dead of winter it was COLD. In fact, my memory of how cold my birthday was is from hearing my parents tell about the situation at our house during my birth. My family lived in Flomaton, Alabama on the south side of the railroad tracks ( south side/wrong...
As the new quadrennium crests in Alabama government, everybody looks toward a new beginning. There is a new fresh four years ahead for the newly elected leaders. They are overwhelmingly Republican. The Governor is Republican and all of the accompanying constitutional officeholders are members of the GOP. More importantly, the State Legislature, both the House and the Senate are Republicans. In fact, over two-thirds of each chamber are Republican. It is a supermajority. The cards are lining up for these leaders to leave a legacy. That legacy...
Over the last several weeks, we saw a prime example of how our government is broken. A portion of the federal government shut down, the Coast Guard went without pay as they completed their dangerous missions, and Democrat Members of Congress refused to negotiate after several efforts and deals were offered. It is clear that Congress and the federal government are broken. Something must be done to make our government operate more effectively, and I have a few ideas of how we can fix our broken system. The United States is a country wholly...
Fake news is certainly detrimental to our body politic and civil discourse, but it’s apparently also dangerous. On a recent field trip to Washington DC for the “Right To Life” march, Covington Catholic High School students from Kentucky experienced firsthand the hate and weirdness of various activist groups, but they also learned that hatred stoked by fake news is vicious and quite possibly violent. The vulgar insults hurled at them were disturbing, but the death threats resulting from the media feeding frenzy and social media lynch mob were...
Who doesn’t enjoy drinking a warm cup of hot cocoa on a chilly day or night? Marie Heaton, a diabetic, likes to enjoy it as a late night snack before going to bed. When Marie, could no longer find her favorite instant cocoa mix in the grocery store, she got into the “detective mode”! She traveled to other grocery stores, did research, made phone calls and even tested recipes to try to find that particular delicious “taste” she had grown to love. Then she remembered that Peggy Bracken, former County Extension Agent for Home Economics, hosted a...
When things are not going our way, isn’t there a tendency to “pass the buck?” I mean it is relative easy to blame someone or something else, when we come up short, isn’t it? You know where the first recorded incident of “passing the buck” is located? It is found in the Bible in the first chapter of Genesis. The scene finds Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. As the plot unfolds, Eve is confronted by a sleek looking, smooth talking serpent. The serpent talks Eve into eating fruit from a forbidden tree that God had previously told Adam and Eve wa...
Ruby Mae Davis, 65, died Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, in Perdido, Ala. Mrs. Davis was a native of Bay Minette who had resided in Perdido for most of her life. She was of the Catholic faith. The funeral was held at 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 27, at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Steve Burton officiating and Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Davis is survived by her husband of 45 years, Millard Davis of Perdido; two sons, Stephen (Michelle) McDonald and Vic (Jessica) Davis, both of Bay Minette; four brothers, Ray Stewart of...
John P. Johnson, 59, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in Lake City, Fla. Mr. Johnson was a native of Milton, Fla. and had resided in Century for most of his life. He was of the Assembly of God faith. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Byrneville United Methodist Church with Rev. Chris Hawkins officiating. Burial followed at the church cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mr. Johnson is survived by the mother of his children, Kay; two sons, Donnie Johnson of Pensacola and Ben Johnson of Milton; four...
Elijah Lewis Lyons, 60, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Mrs. Lyons was a native of Atmore and 1976 graduate of Escambia County High School who enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he retired, after serving as an Aviation Assault Aircraft Specialist. He was an avid outdoorsman. The funeral was held at 9 a.m., Friday, Feb. 1, at Gaines Chapel AME Church in Atmore with Revs. Freddie Banks and Amos Smith officiating. Burial followed with full military honors at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery with Turner Fun...
Hettie Lewis Sanders, 80, of Walnut Hill, Fla., died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in Fairhope, Ala. Mrs. Sanders was born June 9, 1938, to John W. and Bertha Burnette Stovall in Scranton, Ark. She was a homemaker. The funeral was held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Bay Springs Cemetery in Bay Springs, Fla. with Bro. Kenneth Johnson officiating. Burial followed with Johnson Quimby Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Sanders is survived by two sons, Orville (Darra) Lewis of Bay Springs and Roy (Lynn) Lewis of Pace; two daughters, Bertha (Joey) Brown of...
Clarice Pugh Southwell, 86, of the Damascus community of Brewton, died Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, at a local hospital after a brief illness. Mrs. Southwell was a native and lifelong resident of Escambia County, Ala. A former employee at the Brewton Creamery and Brewton Ramada Inn, she was a homemaker and member of the Damascus Baptist Church. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Stephen Pugh officiating. Burial followed at Still Cemetery in Brewton with Williams Memorial Chapel...
Ivan Iconicum Stewart, 88, of Perdido, Ala., died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019 in Mobile. Mr. Stewart was born Nov. 3, 1930, to Frank Johnson and Mattie Bell Downey Stewart in Baldwin County. A retired mechanic with the U.S. government, he was a U.S. Marine veteran of the Korean War and member of the Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Church. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan, 24, at Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Church with Stony Daw officiating. Burial followed at the church cemetery with Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home directing. Mr. Stewart is...
Jessie Muriel Seale Swindle, 82, died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019 in Milton, Fla. Mrs. Swindle was a native of Brewton who resided in Canoe, Ala. for most of her life. Employed with Vanity Fair for more than 20 years, she was known from Winn Dixie in Atmore and BP in Flomaton by most. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Malcolm Harrelson officiating. Burial followed at Moyeville Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Swindle is survived by three sons, Edward...
Sylvester Thomley, 82, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in Bay Minette, Ala. Mr. Thomley was a native and lifelong resident of Perdido, known as “Uncle Syl” to many. Employed with Alabama Dry Dock for 28 years, he retired from the Baldwin County School Board with 18 years of service, was a lifelong cattleman and attended the Hall's Fork Assembly of God Church. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Revs. James Peacock, Angelo Thomley and Windell Hadley officiating. Burial followed at Bay...
Edna Glenn Thornton, 78, died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Byrneville, Fla. Mrs. Thornton was a native of Molino, Fla. who had resided in Byrneville for most of her life. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, at Byrneville United Methodist Church with Rev. Chris Hawkins officiating. Burial followed at the church cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Thornton is survived by one son, Richard (Lena) Thornton, Jr. of Pace, Fla.; three daughters, Peggy Sue Settle of Spartanburg, S.C., Johnnie Elizabeth...
Letha Elizabeth Brown Walker, 84, died Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. Mrs. Walker was a native of Atmore and graduate of Escambia County Training School, Knoxville College and Alabama A & M University. A retired teacher, she taught at Escambia County Training School and Escambia County High School. A member of Greater Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, where she served as the church secretary, trustee, Sunday School member, Missionary Society member, and Vacation Bible School Director, she was also a member of the PCRC, The Ladies of Essence Advisor, the Yell...
THE BRUTAL COLD AND FOG COULD NOT DETER RUNNERS WHO GATHERED EARLY LAST SATURDAY MORNING AT THE FIRST ANNUAL CENTURY CROSS COUNTRY CLASSIC 5K RUN/WALK TO BENEFIT THE CENTURY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THAT SET A 5K COURSE FROM ANTHONY PLEASANT PARK ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO SHOWALTER PARK AND BACK AGAIN. THIRTY MALE AND FEMALE RUNNERS AND WALKERS OF ALL AGES CAME TO SUPPORT THE CENTURY AREA CHAMBER’S EVENT AND AFTERWARDS ENJOYED WATER, FRUIT, AND BREAKFAST SNACKS. THANKS TO MATTHEW AND TERESA DOBSON W...
Come out to Whataburger located at 8340 North Century Boulevard from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, and be a part of the Whataburger Challenge, a partnering of Whataburger Restaurants LLC, Northview and Jay High School baseball teams and the Century community for a friendly endurance competition to support Northview and Jay High School baseball teams. The object is for contestants to compete by keeping their hands on an inflatable Whataburger cup while also competing in a series of elimination challenges until there is one winner left...
A Brewton man who has been behind bars for about two years accused of sexually molesting four young boys was out on bond for two days before being arrested after a fifth victim came forward claiming he was abused while he was 12 to 14 years old. William Douglas Smith, 57, was ordered last week to be held without bond on the new charges. Following a bond reduction hearing, Smith was released on $125,000 bond on Jan. 22, but was rearrested on Jan. 24 on sexual abuse I charges on a warrant signed b...
The 1976 graduating class of Flomaton High School came together to show their support, appreciation and congratulations to the 2018 Hurricanes on the Class 3A state football championship by raising $3,000 to go toward the championship rings for the players. Flomaton defeated Piedmont 23-12 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn to bring the state title to Flomaton for the first time in its history after playing football for 94 years. "We were just so excited for them," said Cathy Green a 1976 FHS...
A traffic stop last Thursday for an improper lane change on Highway 31 in Flomaton ended with the three occupants behind bars and two being charged with possession of methamphetamine. Flomaton Police Chief Bryan Davis initiated the traffic stop at 7:53 a.m. on a vehicle driven by Jimmy Jett Moore. Moore, 53, 3711 Highway 4A, Century, pulled into the Chevron station after Davis initiated the stop. Davis reported seeing an open can of beer in a front seat cup holder. Inv. Chance Thompson arrived...
Three Century council members who were served indictments on Jan. 3 alleging noncriminal violations of the Sunshine Law were in court Jan. 24 in front of a grand jury, resulting in two pleading no contest and receiving fines and a third rescheduled for next month. According to Jody Wright, with the State Attorney's office, Councilwoman Ann Brooks pleaded no contest to the charge of violating the Sunshine Law. Adjudication was with held she as fined $100. Brooks was not available for comment...
Jay High School's new construction academy students are building 14 tables, eight for the town of Jay's Bray-Hendricks Park to replace the ones that were there for many years and six for Opies Cafe on Commerce Street in Jay. Class instructor Steve Locklin said the town approached him about building them and the ideas took off from there. He said the projects will hopefully bring the community and the construction academy together, which is the ultimate goal. "When Eric Seib with the town of Jay...
