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When the House returns to business next Monday, we will take up the National Defense Authorization Act I wrote about last week. Then we will take up appropriations bills for next fiscal year, which begins October 1, and likely another Coronavirus bill. This spring I voted for both of the CARES Acts, which together spent $3 trillion. That was on top of this year’s projected total federal spending of $4.8 trillion, which was already going to add $1 trillion to our national debt. With the CARES Act spending, however, the total deficit for this f...
The much-anticipated battle between former U.S. Senator and U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions and former Auburn football coach, Tommy Tuberville to capture the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate was the marquee event on Tuesday. Unfortunately, my column for this week had to go to press prior to the primary votes being counted. Polls indicated that Tuberville would win for one reason and one reason only, Donald Trump endorsed him. President Trump is extremely popular among Republican voters in Alabama. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind t...
Americans have been mired in racial turmoil for weeks now and it seems there is no end in sight. All sides are beyond upset, but also somewhat blinded by emotion and manipulated by politics. There are genuine issues at stake, but the looting and rioting have distracted from those issues and the real people affected. Sadly, the media has obfuscated the debate with highly biased sensationalism and politicians have failed to lead or unite the people. We are left with endless accusations, irrational solutions, and no one framing a cogent...
The years between 1861-65 were a trying time for those involved in the War Between the States. Adding to the turmoil was the misery experienced by those in captivity on both sides of the Blue and the Gray. Among the worst prisoner of war camps was Camp Douglas, Illinois which was located in what is today's Chicago city limits. In late December 1862, a very young Monroe County lad by the name of Private John William McKinley was captured at the Battle of Murphysboro and sent to the camp. In those...
With this Covid 19 pandemic just about everything has changed. One thing that hasn't changed that much thanks to the internet is doing family research. I've been able to continue my research at about the same as before the pandemic came about due to the fact that now a lot of research can be done online and you don't have to visit actual libraries to do research. Even with the fact that a lot of research can be done online, I still encourage anyone serious about family research to visit local libraries because a lot of times you can find local...
Remembering the days of playing with June Bugs tied on a string makes me know for sure we Smiths were born with gaps. So, at the ending days of July the figs were ripening full tilt. Mama was making fig preserves full tilt. We were eating figs full tilt like the season would end before sundown. The milk from fig leaves caused us to break out in a rash of hurt. Our tongues got raw from eating. Blisters on arms and legs and around the mouth caused from milk of unripe figs was reason to hang around the water well to wash off some fig rash hurt....
Trees are a coveted asset in the yard—that is until the trees present a hazard. Recognizing these potential tree hazards in the early stages could save a tree, as well as your wallet. Identifying Potential Tree Hazards Leans One of the first major signs of a hazard is a tree with a recent lean. Trees can lean naturally; they might be growing towards the light or away from other trees and structures. Beau Brodbeck, Alabama Extension community forestry and arboriculture specialist, said, “You should be very worried about a tree if a storm has...
Loyd Joseph Berthiaume, Jr., 68, of McDavid, Fla., died Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Mr. Berthiaume was born Dec. 16, 1951, to Loyd Joseph and Irene F. Boyd Berthiaume, and had been a member of the McDavid community for more than 50 years, coming from Fredericksburg, Va. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he worked as a self-employed carpenter and was a member of the Lions Club. He was of the Catholic faith. Mr. Berthiaume was preceded in death by his parents....
Sarah Gibbs Beyette, 83, of Atmore, died Thursday, July 2, 2020. Mrs. Beyette was born Jan. 29, 1937, to Ardie D. and Georgia Sarah Prestwood Gibbs, in Atmore. A member of First Baptist Church of Atmore, she retired as an accountant at Waller, Crook and Jones before working with Jerry Davis Farms. A memorial service was held at 4 p.m., Friday, July 10, at First Baptist Church of Atmore with Rev. Arnold Hendrix and Bro. Kevin Garrett officiating. Mrs. Beyette is survived by one daughter, Cara Roxanne Beyette of Foley, Ala.; three sisters,...
Clarence Eugene Carlton, 71, of Atmore, died Sunday, July 12, 2020. Mr. Carlton was born Jan. 17, 1949, to Lloyd and Lettie Thompson Carlton, in Bay Minette, Ala. He served 21 years in the U.S. Army and during his military career, he also served in Vietnam, retiring at the age of 38. He then became a contractor for Shell Oil (Gulf of Mexico) and attended Healing Waters Church in Bay Minette. The funeral was held at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 15, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home with Bro. Josh Long and Bro. Don Davis officiating. Burial followed...
Delray Godwin Dewberry, 95, died Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in a Mobile hospital. Mrs. Dewberry was born May 10, 1925, to John and Stella Godwin, and she lived in the Pineview community all of her life. A 1944 Flomaton High School graduate, she was a member of Pineview Pentecostal Holiness Church. The funeral was held at 2:30 p.m., Friday, July 10, at the chapel of Craver's Funeral Home with Bro. James Peacock officiating. Burial followed at Pineview Cemetery with Craver's Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Dewberry is survived by one brother, Robert...
Ouida Fay Searcy Grissett, 87, died Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Mrs., Grissett was born March 12, 1933, to Augusta “Gus” and Pauline Searcy, and had lived in the Barnett Crossroads area of Escambia County, Ala. for most of her life. Of the Baptist faith, she attended both the Canaan and Range Freewill Baptist Churches and loved to sew and quilt. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 12, at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Buddy Williams, Bro. Waylon Stuckey and Bro. Brandon Byrd officiating. Burial followed at Canaan Cem...
Timothy Jerome Hammond, 58, of Century, died Saturday, July 4, 2020. Mr. Hammond was a lifelong member of the Century community and he was employed by Masland Carpets in the maintenance department and for Cooper Transport. A 1980 graduate of Century High School, where he was a Century Blackcat football player, he was showcased in the Pensacola News Journal in 1979 as 'Player of the Week.' Of the Baptist faith, he was a blackbelt in karate and enjoyed the outdoors. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 16, with Flomaton...
Keith Leslie Hawks, 57, of East Brewton, died Friday, July 10, 2020, in a local hospital following a brief illness. Mr. Hawks was born Dec. 18, 1962, to Maurice and Claudia Jackson Hawks, in Flomaton and became a lifelong resident of East Brewton. A 1981 W.S. Neal High School graduate and U.S. Army/National Guard veteran, he retired from NuTex with 31 years of service. He was an East Brewton Auxillary Policeman and was on the Escambia County Alabama Rescue Squad. A memorial service will be held at a later date with Williams Memorial Chapel...
Kenneth “Kenny Ray” Jordan, 67, of Atmore, died Monday, July 6, 2020. Mr. Jordan was born July 27, 1952, to Franklin Buddy and Ella Ruth Stacey Jordan, in Atmore. He owner and operated Kenny's Glass Company. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 13, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home with Pastor Alton Lister officiating. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery with Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home directing. Mr. Jordan is survived by one son, Casey (Jennifer) Jordan of Atmore; one daughter, Brandy Short of Oregon; three brothers, Tommy (Betty) Jor...
Brian Linden Joy, 61, of Atmore, died Thursday, July 2, 2020. Mr. Joy was born Jan. 28, 1959, to Stanley G and Dorothy Styron Joy, in Rochester, N.H. and was a friend to everyone who knew him. A graveside service was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 11, at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating. Burial followed with Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home directing. Mr. Joy is survived by two daughters, Rebecca McKinley of Albany, Ga. and Stefanie Kockx of Woodbridge, Va.; his father; one brother, Steven Joy of Atmore; and two...
Larry Eugene McCoy, 74, of Nokomis, Ala., died Sunday, July 12, 2020. Mr. McCoy was born Dec. 5, 1945, to Wilbert and Mary Bloodworth McCoy, in Anna, Ill. He served in the U.S.Army 2nd Armored Division and was an E-5 SPC 2nd Class and served during the Vietnam War. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, he served 30 years with National Mine Service, also serving on the rescue team for which he was awarded the Coal Mine Rescue Hall of Fame Award for his 26 rescues. He then continued his protection with his Company Mc2 and worked for six yea...
Roger Lee Miller, 64, died Wednesday, July 8, 2020, in Atmore, Ala. Mr. Miller was a native and lifelong resident of the Escambia County, Ala. Area. He was retired with 10 years of service to Atmore Industries, seven years of service to Trus Joint of Castleberry and 29 years of service to Vanity Fair. A member of Atmore Apostolic Church, he was an avid outdoorsman, often vacationing on Lake Eufaula. A graveside service was held at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 12, at New Home Cemetery with Bro. Tim James officiating. Burial followed with Petty-Eastside...
Bobbie Wayne Poole, Sr., 83, of Castleberry, Ala., died Tuesday, July 7, 2020. Mr. Poole was born Feb. 2, 1937, to Curtis Albert and Dorothy Dunn Poole, in Castleberry and had been a lifelong member of the London community. Employed as a truck driver with Poole Truck Lines, Transas, Georgia Hiway Express, Joe Knowles Trucking and Evergreen Transportation, he retired with more than 50 years' experience as a trucker. He also farmed cattle and gardened vegetables he gave to community members. A graveside service was held at 11 a.m., Friday, July...
John Wayne Henderson, Sr., 77, of Flomaton, died Saturday, July 11, 2020. Mr. Henderson was born Jan. 27, 1943, to John Wesley and Katie Lee Henderson, in Flomaton. Living in the Byrneville, Fla. and Flomaton communities most of his life, he owned a construction business later in life and during his career, worked on many building and construction projects from the Hancock Building in Chicago to the Cochran Afroca Town Bridge in Mobile. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 16, at Flomaton Funeral Home with Brandon Rowell...
A registered sexual predator from Escambia County, Fla., who was living in Atmore is back behind bars after being charged with sending obscene photographs to a 15-year old. Ernest Powell III, 40, 178 Maxwell St., Atmore, was arrested by Atmore police Monday, July 13 and charged with transmitting obscene material to a child by computer. He is being held at the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on $500,000 bond. Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks reported that an investigator with the...
It's on to November with Tommy Tuberville and Jerry Carl claiming their respective Republican nominations Tuesday and James Averhart clinching the Democratic nomination in runoff elections that were delayed from March 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unofficial results released from Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill's office show Tuberville with 333,890 votes (60.74 percent) to Jeff Sessions' 215,831 votes (39.26 percent) to win the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate. Tuberville will now f...
A Flomaton man was arrested Friday for possession of cocaine when law enforcement officers searched him following a complaint of retail theft at a local liquor store. Aaron Keith Baxter, 33, 383 Wagon Wheel Road, was one of two males who entered Fusion liquor store in Century around 10 a.m., and were observed by the store employee putting a bottle of peach liquor down his shorts, according to an Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's office report. The store employee, Carly Haynes, said she knew the...
David Jennings grew up in Brewton, raised a family in Brewton and still has a daughter attending the Brewton City School System. He said it's his love of Brewton that has pushed him to seek the District 2 seat on the Brewton City Council in the Aug. 25 municipal elections. "I grew up here," Jennings said. "I went to school here and I work here. I want to be a part of making Brewton a great place to live for everybody." Jennings, 50, is a 1988 graduate of T.R. Miller High School and later...
Fellow members of the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission welcomed back Commissioner David Stokes, who attended Monday's meeting following surgery July 1 to remove a cancerous tumor from his colon. Stokes told the commissioners the surgery went well and that he was glad to be back. "It was better than what I was expecting," Stokes said. He said the cancer was removed during the surgery and there will be no follow-up with chemo therapy. "Now is time heal," he said. In a June 22 letter to Gov. Kay...
