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Folks, our primaries are next week! On the Democratic side, the Presidential Preference Primary will be the big show and will be interesting to watch. On the right, the Republican Primary for the U.S. Senate Seat will be the marquee event. In addition to the Senate Race, you have two open Republican Congressional Seats in the First and Second Districts. You also have some important statewide Supreme Court and Appellate Court races on the ballot. Incumbent Supreme Court Justice Greg Shaw and Shelby County State Senator Cam Ward, are both...
Americans and Democrats in particular are facing a somewhat new phenomenon in electoral politics. Everyone knows money is a huge factor in any election and there is much consternation about how much money is too much money. But what about apparently unlimited money? People regularly grouse about the undue influence of money in elections and there are recurring efforts to control campaign money. Now comes Billionaire Michael Bloomberg willing to spend however much it takes to win. He has already spent about $500 million and is literally...
Military dispatches provide an important reflection of the significance of a geographic area during a war. The importance of Canoe Station as a military base and supply point is illustrated through the military dispatches exchanged by various commanders, on both sides, during the War Between the States. The coming of the Mobile and Great Northern Railroad in the 1850s provided commercial and transportation links to the backwoods of rural Alabama and in the process, the numerous small rail stops...
Contemplation. In my old dictionary, one of the definitions is “thoughtful inspection”. This seems like an old person’s word. The answer to “what ya doing?” from an old man sitting on the front porch, “Oh, I’m just contemplating.” Perhaps this is how common sense wisdom is gained by many of the elderly, a better insight of life and the world not seen by those younger, just contemplating. In the past years a few with front porch wisdom have shared that wisdom with later generations through their writings. One of these folks was A.V. Culpepper....
The Second Amendment is under attack like never before in our nation’s history, but I am leading the fight to preserve your constitutional rights. Last year, just weeks after taking power, House Democrats passed a bill to limit the constitutional right to own guns. Their misguided legislation would do nothing to address the underlying problem behind actions of mass violence. That bill, H.R. 8, would prevent lawful gun owners from selling their guns to other law-abiding Americans. If that bill became law, anytime a gun owner like me wanted to t...
Today, Theresa and Jerry Bell of Pineview live on a property named Legacy Acres. Located alongside Hwy. 113 between Flomaton and I-65. The farm has an event barn that is considered an agri-tourism business. The Bells live on and farm 200 acres of the original land purchased by Theresa's Great Grandfather Coleman Strength. A deed for a Land Grant was signed to Escambia County pioneer, Henry Morningstar on September 10th, 1873 by Alabama Governor David L. Lewis. Theresa's Great Grandfather, Coleman Strength bought 320 acres of the grant land...
The Escambia County 4-H and FFA Calf Show starts at 12 p.m., Thursday, March 5, with sale starting right after, at around 6 p.m. In March of 2019, youth from across Escambia County, AL and the surrounding area gathered for the 2019 edition of the Escambia County 4-H/FFA Calf Show at Perdido River Farms in Atmore, AL. The show saw 41 youth show off the work they did with their 8 heifers and 39 steer. For some of those youth, their financial rewards from showmanship or class divisions were enjoyed for a short time before they were invested into...
Rudy Clay Cooper, 56, died Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 in Bay Minette, Ala. Mr. Cooper was a native of Bay Minette and former resident of Loxley, Ala. who had resided in Bay Minette for the past 20 years. He was a member of the New Hope Community Church in Rabun, Ala. The funeral was held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Stapleton Church of God with Bro. J. P. Lambert and Bro. Doug Armentrout officiating. Burial followed at Whitehouse Fork Baptist Church Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mr. Cooper is survived by his...
James “Jimmy” Dean, 53, died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. Mr. Dean was born June 27, 1966, to Robert Earl and Shelvia Keel Dean in Atmore, Ala. He attended Escambia County High School, where he lettered in baseball and football. He was a member of the 1983 state championship team, the Blue Devils that won the 3A state title, then graduated in spring of 1984. He then went to Patrick Henry Junior College, where he led the team in hitting his freshman year, then transferred to the University of Montavello before he finished up at Auburn Uni...
Gale Frances Hastings, 61, died Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Brewton. Mrs. Hastings was born Dec. 17, 1958, in Connecticut, and had resided in Brewton for more than 40 years, coming from Lakeland, Fla. She was of the Catholic faith. A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced by Craver's Funeral Home. Mrs. Hastings is survived by her husband, William M. Hastings, Sr., of Brewton; four sisters, Ruth Hastings, Cindy Hastings, Karen Hastings and Donna Hastings; seven grandchildren; and numerous other extended family members and...
William “Bill” Brandt, 75, died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Pensacola, Fla. Mr. Brandt was a native of Century and former resident of Flomaton who had resided in Uriah, Ala. since 1988. Former owner of Bill's Truck Stop in Flomaton, he was of the Jehovah Witness faith. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Elder Richard Ash officiating. Burial followed at Rigby Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral home directing. Mr. Brandt is survived by his wife of 48 years, Charlyn Bra...
Paul D. Enfinger, 81, of Davisville, Fla., died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Pensacola, Fla. Mr. Enfinger was born Sept. 14, 1938, to A.V. and Daisy Smith in Dale County, Ala. He worked during his life in many jobs, such as a lifeguard, a disc jockey named 'Perky Paul', owner of Enfinger Plumbing Company, worker at Vogtle Nuclear Plant, a school bus driver, a prison guard, a soldier in the U.S. Army and as a farmer. A minister for more than 45 years, he was a missionary who pastored five churches during his life and founded Calvary Deliverance...
Mary Alice Edwards Johnson, 96, died Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in a Monroeville healthcare facility. Mrs. Johnson was born Jan. 2, 1924, in Range, Ala., where she lived all her life. She was a member of Hartwood Methodist Church. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, at Hartwood Methodist Church with Thad Evens and Rev. George Weaver officiating. Burial will follow at Hartwood Cemetery with Craver's Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Johnson is survived by numerous nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces. Great-great- nephews,...
Rodney Eugene Howell, 53, died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Molino, Fla. Mr. Howell was a native and lifelong resident of Molino, Fla. who was also of the Assembly of God faith. An avid dirt track racer since 1986, he was known as ‘Triple Nickle’ and raced at Florida and Alabama tracks andworked as a welder and fabricator. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. James Gay officiating. Burial followed at Traveler's Rest Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mr....
John Steven Watson, 75, died Monday Feb. 17, 2020, in Pensacola, Fla. Mr. Watson was a native and resident of Jay, Fla. who had spent most of his life in the Byrneville community. A U.S. Marine veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, he was a retired truck driver and member of the Byrneville Methodist Church. The funeral was held at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 21, at Byrneville Methodist Cemetery. Burial followed with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mr. Watson is survived by his wife of 50 years, Louise Levins Watson of Jay; three sons, Keith...
Nola Mae Watts, 81, of Century, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, at Jay Hospital in Jay. Mrs. Watts was a native of Atmore’s Freemanville community and had been a resident of Century for most of her life. A graduate of George Washington Carver High School, she has been a member of Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church for more than 70 years, where she has been a choir member, a Missionary Society member and a Sunday School teacher. She worked as a school cafeteria worker for many years. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 29, at Pilgrim Lodge...
If you don't know, polls in Escambia County (Ala.) will be open from 7 a.m. to 7p.m. Tuesday, March 3 for the Republican and Democratic primaries. The reason people in our area might not know we have an election coming up is because there are no local races on the ballot; our streets are not lined with political signs. We do have presidential primaries, races for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives and a few judgeships. We also have an amendment to the Alabama Constitution on the...
We are as guilty as everybody else by continuously praising police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other first responder and sometimes lose sight of other public workers who make our lives better. Don't get us wrong, first responders deserve all the credit in the world. Most of us wouldn't have their jobs even if we were paid much less doing it as a volunteer. Towns and churches hold events to honor those men and women. Those events are needed and appreciated. We need to tell them thank you. But we feel that sometimes...
A 62-year old Flomaton man is behind bars for the sexual abuse of a 7-year old girl and faces a possible 20-year sentence if convicted. Stanley Dean Smith, 591 Stanley Road, was arrested by Flomaton police Feb. 21 and charged with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12. He appeared before Escambia County (Ala.) District Judge Eric Coale and was issued a $500,000 bond. Flomaton Police Chief Chance Thompson said the mother of the young girl came to the police department on Feb. 15 to report...
A pastor of churches in Atmore and Monroeville was arrested last week after a Monroe County grand jury indicted him on one count of sodomy I and two counts of sodomy II Monroe County Sheriff's deputies arrested Garyl Jermaine Gibbs, 47, of Monroeville and booked him into the Monroe County Detention Facility last Wednesday. Gibbs is the pastor of A Call to Life Apostolic Church with churches in Atmore and Monroeville. According to Brian House, chief investigator for the Monroeville Police...
Last Thursday, Flomaton Elementary School teacher Blaire Singleton received a surprise visit from Principal George Brown, Superintendent John Knott, School Board Member Cindy Jackson and other personnel to honor her as the school's Teacher of the Year. Brown explained that the Teacher of the Year is picked by the other teachers each year. Singleton, who teaches 5th grade, held back tears when the entourage entered her room with gifts, flowers and a plaque. She also received a big hug from her...
Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr., praised the efforts of Utilities Superintendent Shaun Moye and his department for avoiding a possible health emergency when the sewer lift station pumps on Palafox Street, near Church's Chicken, malfunctioned Tuesday morning. Moye said the problem was discovered about 9 a.m. Tuesday when both pumps quit working. Moye added that the old pumps were beyond repair and he and another worker drove to Beaumont, Texas, to purchase a pump. He noted the old pumps had...
The Flomaton and Century chambers of commerce honored their top citizens, businesses and students Tuesday night during the annual awards banquet held at Flomaton's new Sweet Blessings Venue. Doug Welch was named Flomaton's Citizen of the Year and Jane Woods was honored as Century's Citizen of the Year. Flomaton's Outstanding Student award went to Mattie White and Keaton Brown was named as Century's Outstanding Student. Mike and Nancy Wedgeworth, along with their son Mike, accepted Flomaton's...
The Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education last Thursday approved a resolution opposing school start legislation to mandate a school calendar and discussed the importance of an upcoming HPV vaccination following a community wide survey to understand factors associated with health care access and HPV-associated cancer prevention for 5th and 6th graders. School calendar resolution The resolution is to oppose statewide efforts and ask all lawmakers representing the Escambia County School System...
A Century man is facing a felony burglary charge after neighbors on Front Street in Century reported a man present in and outside an unoccupied dwelling and the owner found recurring damage of a forced entry. Christopher George Pace, 37, 561 West Highway 4, was arrested Feb. 21 after homeowner Bobby Swords found evidence using a camera in his back yard that a white male, later identified as Pace, had been entering his house at 308 East Front Street, causing $150 worth of damage, according to an...
