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The beginning days of the War Between the States brought about a great deal of uncertainty and calculated political moves by leaders in Washington and Montgomery, AL (the capital of the Confederate states at that time). Among these calculated political moves the issue of re-supplying Federal garrisons became a major point of contention between the two governments. The South had warned that any Federal efforts to re-supply US coastal fortifications would be considered an act of war. During this...
I recently spent a few hours in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. I found it a pleasant, friendly town with an interesting history. The following information is from "DeFuniak Springs History" from the City of DeFuniak Springs street map. "On March 4, 1881 the Florida State Legislature incorporated the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad. As the survey party set out from Pensacola to survey the route for the railroad, they happened across an open area with a round lake. The party camped on the shores of...
Lamar and I set out to Center, Texas for a looksee. Lamar (The CEO) has talked for years about going to Center to find the reason why his Granddaddy Joesph Holland, founder of Hollandtown, Florida went to Center circa 1915-1919. Why he didn't move there is still unknown. He knows from family lore that it was at the suggestion of a friend to move there, buy some land and raise cattle. If Granddaddy Joe was planning to complete that venture his plans were cut short due to his unfortunate death in April of that year (1919) from injuries caused fro...
Before the new Congress began at the start of this year, I made a prediction: with the new Democrat majority, we could expect crazy season from the left, with Democrat members taking every chance they could to undermine President Trump. I don’t claim to have a crystal ball, but I think I hit the nail on the head in this case. So far in just the first month and a half of the 116th Congress, the Democrat Party has become the Obstructionist Party: they have stood in the way of strong national security measures, our American values, and P...
There has been a lot of talk about the advancement of women in politics over the past year. It has been suggested that more progressive states have led the way with this change. Alabama can very well make the case that we lead the nation in women taking leadership roles in our state. It is very doubtful that any state in the nation can claim a female governor and a female chief executive of their states leading business organization. Kay Ivey became Governor on January 14, after having been elected to her own four-year term in November. Kay had...
Sedition is a somewhat esoteric word. Seldom used, it means “conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state.” Depending on what side you are, you could be considered a patriot or a villain. Rebels like Ho Chi Minh, Mao, and Pol Pot were considered villains. Those who rebelled against King George III and King Louis XVI were considered patriots. The rabid “resistance” to President Trump also bizarrely consider themselves patriots, so they applaud acts of sedition as justified. Hoping to curry favor with the resistance...
Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in America? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an American has a heart attack every 40 seconds. Fortunately, many risk factors are things we have control over — such as our food and lifestyle choices. Making nutritious food choices and working in physical activity throughout the day are two excellent ways to help keep your family's heart beating strong. Heart Healthy Foods Fiber is great for heart health because it can bind with bad cholesterol and r...
Mary Calloway Bethune, 85, of Castleberry, Ala., died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, in a Mobile hospital. Mrs. Bethune was active in the Castleberry Strawberry Festival since 1987 and was a member of the Castleberry Baptist Church who worked at Diamond Gasoline in Evergreen for more than 30 years. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 20, at Cope-Keahey Funeral Home with Revs. James Brown and Robert Godbee officiating. Burial followed at Holland Cemetery with Cope-Keahey Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Bethune is survived by two sons, Larry...
Cecil Wesley Blackwell, 87, of Repton, died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, after an extended illness. Mr. Blackwell was a native of Repton and lifelong resident of Conecuh County who was a retired carpenter. A U.S. Army veteran, he was of the Baptist faith. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 21, at the chapel of Craver's Funeral Home with Bros. Jason Blackwell and Duke Bradley officiating. Burial followed with military honors at the Range Cemetery in the Range community with Craver's Funeral Home directing. Mr. Blackwell is survived by...
Wilfred Van Davison, 52, died Monday, Feb. 22, 2019. Mr. Davison was born April 20, 1966, to Curtis and Mary Davison in Atmore, Ala. A 1984 graduate of Escambia County High School, he began his career at Escofab, Inc., where he worked more than 20 years. Later employed by the Alabama Department of Corrections and Marvin's Hardware, he attended JDCC and earned a certification in A/C, heating and refrigeration and worked for ThyssenKrupp Steel USA. He later started his own business, “The Handy Man” service and attended the Mt. Gillead Mis...
Jamal D'Onte Duggans, 18, of Brewton, died Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, at Baptist Hospital in Montgomery as a result of a gunshot. Mr. Duggans was born Feb. 8, 2001, in Brewton. He attended T.R. Miller High School, where he played football and basketball. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, at Second St. Siloam Baptist Church in Brewton with Revs. Willie J. Blue and Eric Andrews officiating. Burial followed at Oak Grove Cemetery with Turner Funeral Chapel directing. Mr. Duggans is survived by his parents, Jerriod Duggans, Sr., of Key...
Sherry Elizabeth Dunsford, 55, of Century, died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in a Pensacola healthcare facility after an extended illness. Mrs. Dunsford was born in Brewton, Ala. And had been a life-long member of the Century community. She worked as a pre-school teacher with the First Baptist Church of Flomaton for more than twenty years and more recently, with Abundant Life Assembly of God Day Care Center, and she was a member of Faith Bible Baptist Church. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 27, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with...
Lester Tyrone Knight, 36, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. Mr. Knight was born June 17, 1982, to Lester and Linda Barnes in Atmore, Ala. A 2002 graduate of Escambia County High School, he attended the Gaines Chapel A.M.E. Church in Atmore and worked various. He enjoyed many outdoor activities and racing. The funeral was held at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, at Gaines Chapel A.M.E. Church with Rev. Amos Smith officiating. Burial followed at Stallworth Cemetery in Atmore with Christian Memorial Funeral Home directing. Mr. Knight is survived by his...
Mary Lois Raines Garrett Merrill, 93, of the London community of Castleberry, Ala., died Friday, Feb. 15, 2019. Mrs. Merrill was born Feb. 22, 1925, to Hannis and Agnes Raines in Conecuh County, Ala. She was a member of London Baptist Church for more than 70 years, involved with WMU, singing in the choir, and teaching VBS and discipleship training. She served on the benevolence committee, writing hundreds of get-well and sympathy cards to church members. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 18, at London Baptist Church with Bryan...
Century area residents gathered last Friday, Feb. 15, to join the Arbor Day Celebration and Tornado Remembrance event at the Ag Building located at 6001A Highway 4 in Century. Sponsored by the Escambia County (Fla.) Forest Service, the tree giveaway featured three different kinds of trees to be given while supplies last. Arbor Day is celebrated on different days in different countries. Florida’s official Arbor Day is celebrated on the third Friday in January. “This year, we have dogwoods, red...
I've been told on numerous occasions that I'm not the brightest apple in the bunch, but I have a hard time understanding why we should count illegal immigrants in the census that takes place every 10 years. We'll have a new census in 2020 and the Trump administration wants to add a question to the form. It's a simple question: 'Are you a citizen of the United States'. Some, mostly Democrats, have cried foul and law suits have been filed. The U.S. Supreme Court will have to make the final...
If you watch TV or surf the internet, you've seen those tear-jerking advertisements seeking donations to help save starving and cold dogs. 'For as little as $$$ a month you can help this animal find a safe home' is how most of these commercials present themselves. We're not asking you to not send money, but we are asking you to reconsider where you send your money. Paws Crossed Dog and Rescue in Brewton is working hard to find homes for stray animals, many who look just like the ones you see on those national commercials. But if you give your...
Conecuh County Sheriff Randy Brock said on Tuesday that he expects three men arrested earlier this month on first-degree assault charges to have those charges bumped up to murder in the wake of the death of a 17-year-old student at T.R. Miller High School in Brewton. Daladarius A. Smith, 21, Ladwaun Q. Smith, 20, and Aquarius Taylor, 18, all of Brewton, were arrested on Feb. 2 on charges of first-degree assault in connection with the alleged late-night shooting of Jamal Duggans, a 17-year-old student at T.R. Miller, on Feb. 1. Officials, who sa...
The town of Century welcomes new billing clerk Toni Simmons following an interview and a 3-2 split vote approval at Monday night's council meeting. An interview of candidate Simmons by the council was decided on at the Feb. 4 council meeting following Century Mayor Henry Hawkins recommendation to hire Simmons as billing clerk, and raise her pay hourly wage from $9.81 to $12. Councilwoman Ann Brooks said after checking the town charter, the council is only allowed to interview the candidate selec...
South Alabama Gas (SAG) District’s board of directors unanimously agreed to allow the company to distribute $450,000 of the surplus revenue it has retained from previous years to its member cities and towns. During Monday’s board meeting in Monroeville, the board was told that, according to state-mandated calculations, the district didn’t have enough revenue in fiscal year 2018 (FY18) to make any distributions to its member cities and towns. However, Neal Covington, a partner with the accounting firm of Andreoli, Robertson and Covington in Bay...
Century area residents flocked to the ag building Friday to pick up multiple species of trees to be planted throughout the community in celebration of Arbor Day. For more on the Arbor Day tree give away see our Photo Gallery....
Like many residents of Century the congregation at Century United Methodist Church saw their lives turned upside down in February, 2015, when a tornado roared through the town and literally knocked the 113-year old church off its foundation. While the physical foundation of the church was destroyed, the foundation of its members stayed strong. The original church was built in 1902 and has had to endure a fire, two hurricanes and a tornado. At 2 p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 24, the community is...
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz will be in Century and Jay today (Thurs.) hosting an open day event, visiting various venues in each town starting at 11 a.m. The first stop for Gaetz will be at Jay High School where Santa Rosa County School Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick and school administration as he visits classes to meet with students and teachers. Then at 12 p.m., he will be at the Royal Cafe at 5059 S. Alabama St. to host a legislative luncheon with invited officials before stopping at the Terrace at...
Blakelee White, daughter of Todd and Chris White, has been shooting her bow competitively since she was 13-years old. This year, she will be representing the area as a Professional Woman Archer. In 2018 she shot in the ASA Pro-Am National Archery Tour and out of seven tournaments she had two first place finishes, two second place finishes, one fourth place finish and two fifth place finishes. She was also in the top three of shooters of the year finalists and won her way to becoming a pro in...
The Century council approved several requests submitted by town grant writer and administrator Robin Phillips Monday night on amendments or change orders on houses currently being built in the town using CBDG and tornado emergency funds. Phillips said they received bids on the demolition and reconstruction of a house at 581 Church Street through the CDBG emergency set aside grant money for tornado recovery on Nov. 13. The low bidder was Parker Custom Built Homes in the amount of $160,000 and Phi...
