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Last Friday the House of Representatives took a truly unprecedented step. The Democrat majority voted to change our rules and allow members to vote online in committee action on bills, and to vote by proxy on passage of bills and resolutions. That’s right, members of Congress can now vote from the comfort of our homes and not set a foot in Washington. We no longer have to show up for work, like millions of Americans do every day, even during this pandemic. Article One, Section 5 of the Constitution clearly requires a majority of members to b...
The legendary Speaker of the U.S. House, Sam Rayburn, coined a famous phrase he used often and imparted to young congressmen when they would arrive on Capitol Hill full of vim and vigor. He would sit down with them and invite them to have a bourbon and branch water with him. The old gentleman, who had spent nearly half a century in Congress, after hearing their ambitions of how they were going to change the world, would look them in the eye and say, “You know here in Congress there are 435 prima donnas and they all can’t be lead horses.” Then...
Amid myriad mixed signals about facemasks, incessant sensationalized reporting, and even outright fearmongering, Americans are repeatedly instructed to be afraid. The Chinese corona virus is certainly dangerous, but we are being told this pandemic changes everything. Our way of life is supposedly forever altered. Americans are scolded that going to work or any mundane daily activity could be deadly and surely selfish. Large gatherings may be forever unsafe and prohibited. Our governments are hesitant to relinquish power, slow to reopen our...
During an era when the President of the United States did not apologize for being American, the United States made war against North Vietnam. Beginning in 1965 American involvement in the war escalated dramatically and over the next ten years a variety of political actors and theories moved across the stage of this international drama. Jack Elliott Clemmons left Atmore, Alabama along with his best friend and other young men by bus in August 1965 bound for the Vietnam War. As the sparkling...
Families leave a legacy. In this region many were connected to the timber industry, farming, or the railroads. Some legacies are quietly kept in family journals, others are better known. This story is of a well-known family who helped bring much positive change to the region. Charles Swift came to the southeastern part of Baldwin County, Alabama with his brother in the 1880s. By the later part of that decade he was general superintendent and his brother logging superintendent of the Southern States Lumber Co. The brothers then went into...
Deer season 2020 is in the books and turkey season just came to a gobbling close. An Alabama Cooperative Extension System forestry, wildlife and natural resource management regional agent said many hunters ignore their hunting properties through the summer months, but attention to the wildlife plot is still important. Bence Carter said summer is an ideal time for hunters to enhance their property to benefit wildlife throughout the year. He recommends making plans for property maintenance during the winter months. However, it is not too late to...
Betty Jean Ballard, 84, died Friday, May 15, 2020, at a Mobile hospital. Mrs. Ballard was born Dec. 21, 1935, to Wiley Ash and Lilly Mae Lowery Clark in Castleberry, Ala. and had been a resident of Bay Minette for the past 10 years, coming from California. Of the Christian faith, she was a homemaker. A private family services was held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 20, at Craver's Funeral Home. Burial followed at Buffington Cemetery in Castleberry with Craver' Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Ballard was preceded in death by her parents; and four...
George H. Bolling, 64, of Brewton, died Thursday, May 14, 2020, in an acute care facility in Pensacola following an extended illness. Mr. Bolling was born Dec. 29, 1955, to Kenneth and Lela Bolling. Formerly of McKenzie, Ala., he served in the early 1970's in the 101st Airborne division and later in the Air National Guard, retiring with almost 30 years of service. He was also a member of the Forestry Commission and had received numerous awards both. A graveside service was held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, at New Home Cemetery in McKenzie with...
Odell Burch, 78, died Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at the Evergreen hospital. Mr. Burch was born Nov. 3, 1941, and had been a lifelong resident of the Brewton area. Owner of a towing and tire business for many years who traveled a lot, he attended the Range Assembly of God Church. A graveside service was held at 4:30 p.m., Friday, May 15, at Ramah Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery with Pastor David Harrison and Pastor Barbara Green officiating. Burial followed with Craver's Funeral Home directing. Mr. Burch is survived by his wife, Gail Burch of...
R.J. Bush, Jr., 74, of Brewton, died Friday, May 15, 2020, following a brief illness. Mr. Bush was born Sept. 25, 1945, to R.J., Sr. and Vader Jones Bush in Escambia County, Ala. A lifelong resident, he was a 1963 graduate of Flomaton High School and served in the U. S. National Guard. Of the Baptist faith, he was co-owner and operator of Bush Home Builders for 50 years with his brother, Johnny. The funeral was held at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 17, at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Edwards and Rev. David Dykes officiating....
Nancy Noble Chapman, 89, of Atmore, died Sunday, May 10 2020, in Fairhope, Ala. Mrs. Chapman was born April 24, 1931, in Clark County, Ala. Co-owner and manager of Chapman Ace Hardware, Inc. for more than 30 years, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, PCA in Atmore. A graveside service was held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, at Oak Hill Cemetery with Rev. Jim Thorpe officiating. Burial followed with Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Chapman is survived by one son, Will (Janice) Chapman; three daughters, Bess Chapman...
Miriam Lorraine Wiggins Crook, 86, of Brewton, died Thursday, May 14, 2020, following a brief illness. Mrs. Crook was born Sept. 27, 1933, to Andrew and Lizzy Kate Crawford Wiggins, in Pensacola and she remained a lifelong resident of Escambia County, Ala. Known as “Aunt Raine,” she was a member of the May Creek Methodist Church and a homemaker. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. John Sluder officiating. Burial followed at May Creek Cemetery in Brewton with Williams Memorial Fun...
Angela “Angie” Marie Gates, 82, of Brewton, died Sunday, May 10, 2020 in a local hospital following a brief illness. Mrs. Gates was born July 15, 1937, in Bayou La Batre, Ala. and was a long time resident of Brewton, coming from Mobile. A homemaker, she attended Brewton First Baptist Church. A private family graveside service was held at Union Cemetery with Rev. Drake Dorsett officiating. Burial followed with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Gates is survived by one son, Curtis Gates, Jr. of Atlanta, Ga.; five dau...
Tyler Dawayne Lisenby, 22, died Sunday, May 10, 2020. Mr. Lisenby was born Oct. 11, 1997, and was a lifelong resident of Brewton. He enjoyed video games and as a friend to everyone. A graveside service was held at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 17, at Weaver Cemetery in Appleton with Pastor Byrnes Pitts officiating. Burial followed with Craver's Funeral Home directing. Mr. Lisenby is survived by his mother, Melissa Kelley of Evergreen, Ala.; one brother, Gordon Kyle Lisenby of Evergreen; and one grandparent, Brenda Labrell of Evergreen. Mr. Lisenby was...
Clevie “Flossie” Evans Marin, 90, of Brewton, died Sunday, May 10, 2020, following a brief illness. Mrs. Martin was born Sept. 27, 1929, in Damascus, Ala. and graduated from Damascus High School. She later relocated to Brewton, where she was a homemaker and member of Catawba Springs Baptist Church. A private family graveside service was held at Catawba Springs Cemetery with Rev. Jeff Edwards officiating. Burial followed with Williams Memorial Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Martin is survived by two sons, Cosby Hayes (Bentley) Martin, Jr. and Wil...
Dorothy Beasley “Dot” Morgan, 81, of Flomaton, died Friday, May 15, 2020. Mrs. Morgan was a native and lifelong resident of Flomaton. A retired secretary from Flomaton Elementary and Middle School with 28 years of service, she was a member of Little Escambia Baptist Church. A graveside service was held at 11:30 a.m., Monday May 18, at Little Escambia Cemetery with Dr. Larry Patterson and Bro. Jonathan Hill officiating. Burial followed with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Morgan is survived by one daughter, Deborah (Gl...
Grady J. Slay, 85, died Sunday, May 17, 2020, in Mobile. Mr. Slay was a native of Stockton, Ala. And former resident of Lottie, Ala. Who had resided in Atmore for the past 30 years. A helper at the Atmore Senior Center, he was a retired maintenance worker with the Atmore Community Hospital and a retired technical sergeant with the U.S. Air Force with 20 years of service. A member of the Robinsonville Baptist Church, he was a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 22, at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral...
May Alice Winkle, 66, of East Brewton, died Sunday, May 10, 2020. Mrs. Winkle was born July 28, 1953, in Ann Arbor, Mich., and had been a resident of East Brewton since 2002, coming from Munith, Mich. She worked as a customer service representative at a convenience store. Mrs. Winkle is survived by one son, Dan (Shawn) Winkle of Michigan; two daughters, Lori (Brian) Smith and Patricia Winkle, both of East Brewton; one brother, Richie (MaryJo) Ulrich of Delhi, Mich.; and five grandchildren. Mrs. Winkle was preceded in death by her husband,...
The Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education approved several issues at its video conference meeting Thursday and heard updates from the School superintendent, including a revised protocol that allowed in-person graduation celebrations to take place. Superintendent John Knott congratulated the 2019-2020 retirees, noting that the total combined years of teaching experience this year's retirees share is 523 years. “I think that is the largest number of years I've ever read off,” said Knott. “I th...
The Flomaton Town Council has given Police Chief Chance Thompson permission to proceed with a volunteer chaplain program with the only expense to the town being about $400 per year to provide workman's comp insurance for the volunteers. Thompson told the council members that he's wanting to get three pastors who live in different districts in the town to serve as chaplains. He said they will be considered reserve officers and need to be covered under workman's comp. He said the chaplains can be...
Atmore District Court was in session Monday and Flomaton Municipal Court will resume its normal schedule in June on the first and third Tuesdays of each month after the Alabama Supreme Court lifted its restrictions on in-person court hearings. However, the high court's administrative order left in place an order stating that jury trials will remain suspended until Sept. 14. Although the court system has never been closed, the COVID-19 pandemic forced restrictions on most in-person court...
The Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education approved the following personnel changes at its Thursday, May 14 meeting. The changes are as follows: Resignation James Rogers, assistant band director at WS Neal Middle School, effective May 22, 2020; Molly Barnett, special education teacher at Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective May 22, 2020 Retirement Vickie Stamper, instructional teacher aide at Pollard McCall Junior High School, effective June 1, 2020; Jean Searcy, bus driver at...
A driver and passenger have both died since a two-vehicle crash that happened last Sunday on Highway 21 claimed the life of one of the passengers at the scene. Keshia Stallworth, 26, was killed when the 2019 Kia Rio she was riding in collided with a 2005 Chevolet Tahoe driven by 53-year-old Mary Lett, of Monroeville. Stallworth, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead on the scene. Jessica Talbert, 23, of Peterman, and Jazzmon Anderson, 28, of Monroeville, and Lett were all...
I've talked to several people over the past month or so in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some had been in lockdown, others had 'essential' jobs but schedules got moved around. Most all agreed that the pandemic and the state and federal guidelines have gotten us all thrown out of whack in terms of the calendar and routines we had in place. With many churches cancelling services, Sunday didn't seem like Sunday. Those who scheduled to go out to dinner a few nights a week were left at home...
It appears we are slowly creeping back to normalcy in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. More and more things are opening. In-person court hearings such as district court and municipal court have resumed. Libraries are opening their doors and yes, you can go to the probate judge's office and get your boat registration renewed for another year. But all of the openings still come with restrictions. The courthouse is limiting the number of people who can go into an office at one time; the libraries are not only limiting the number of people they are...
