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Many Americans are probably unfamiliar with a “caste system.” Some may recall from long forgotten Social Studies courses that south Asian societies particularly Hindus subscribed to and some still do to a caste system. A caste system is the vertical stratification of society where mobility between castes is virtually impossible. It can get quite complicated, but in essence it’s a rigid occupational hereditary society. Whatever your parents’ occupation is, you are mandated to follow. Good for the Brahmins at the top, but pretty miserab...
The border agents, military and law enforcement personnel at our southern border are doing their best in difficult circumstances to combat both illegal immigration and attacks from Democrats and the national media. Today I’ll discuss the second half of my recent border visit. After inspecting several points of entry and other spots along the border, our delegation traveled to Fort Bliss outside of El Paso to the Joint Task Force Crisis Response. Many of the active duty soldiers here are working to free up border patrol agents to patrol the b...
Hollinger, as mentioned last week, was an up and coming community in southern Monroe County in the late 1800s. Yet history is more than the names of forgotten towns on the yellowing pages of old newspapers and maps. The real history comes in the every day lives of those who made their way through day to day living, who reared families, worked, lived and died in the areas they held dear. No story is more poignant to the above sentiment than the story of Gilbert and Mary Louisa Cruit, who lived...
Today I am thinking about the only grandfather I ever knew, my mother's step-father, Herbert Blackwell, known to us as Paw. The fathers of my parents, William Allen Chancery and Christopher Columbus Johnson, had died before I was born, but I had Paw. When I knew him Paw lived on a farm outside Evergreen, Alabama with my grandmother, Mary America Ridgeway Johnson Blackwell (better known as Maw) and my cousins, Willie (Buddy) and Janie Johnson. We looked forward to visits to the farm to see them....
Long weekends and Good Friday always bring up a memory. When a Good Friday memory floats to the top, it ain't flotsam and jetsam, it's a good 'un. So, I'm sharing, just how it should be. Right? Good Friday 1962 was the beginning of Easter weekend and a long weekend for B shift of Chemstrand. I had been invited to take a weekend ride up to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with three girlfriends. All of us were B shift, area 3, tire yarn, doff crew. We were single, employed, and free to do as we pleased. We did, but hit bumps along while finding our...
There are very few Alabamians left who remember the 1950’s story of Phenix City, Alabama. After World War II, a good many of the military soldiers, enlisted men, stayed on for a while. A host of them were stationed at Ft. Benning in Columbus, Georgia. As many of you know, Columbus, Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama are essentially the same city. They are only separated by a bridge and the Chattahoochee River. Phenix City figured that these soldiers needed some entertainment. Well, they got it in Phenix City. Our border city became the poor m...
Caution: School Beginning! ABC, as easy as 1-2-3! School will start soon for you and me kid! This little “ditty” is dancing through my mind now as children prepare to start the new school year this week. Can you believe it? Where did the summer go? Children, parents and teachers are all excited about it! YEAH! Some children are so excited that they are not conscious of their surroundings – including ongoing traffic. Let’s remember to slow it down when we see children walking or running around their schools and along the streets - especia...
Marie Jerkins Bush, 84, of Poinciana Place in Milton, Fla., died Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in a Milton nursing facility after an extended illness. Mrs. Bush was a native and long-time resident of the Range Community before she moved to Milton. A member of the Range Assembly of God Church, she was a homemaker who had retired as a seamstress with Vanity Fair Mills. The funeral was held at 3 p.m., Monday, August 5, at the Range Assembly of God Church with Bro. Jason Blackwell and Sis. Barbara Green officiating. Burial followed at Range Cemetery with...
Victoria Skye DeSilvey, 28, of Atmore, died Tuesday, July 23, 2019, in Mobile. Miss DeSilvey was born Nov. 28, 1990 to Roy Houston and Tammy Caraway Smith in Atmore. She was a homemaker. The funeral was held at 3 p.m., Friday, July 26, at McCullough Cemetery with Bro. Richard Daniels officiating. Burial followed with Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home directing. Miss DeSilvey is survived by her mother, Tammy (Scott Godwin) Smith of Little River, Ala.; one brother, Chad Houston Alverson; one sister, Tara DeSilvey; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins...
Rondal Macks, 75, died Thursday, July 25, 2019, in Montgomery. Mr. Macks was a native and lifelong resident of Century. Retired from Container Corporation with more than 20 years of service, he was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam Conflict. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Thursday, August 1, at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Rickey Tedder officiating. Burial followed at Ramer Baptist Cemetery in Lenox, Ala. with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mr. Macks is survived by one brother, Bobby (Juanita) Macks of Pace,...
Catherine B. Middleton, 86, of Atmore, died Sunday, July 28, 2019. Mrs. Middleton was born Nov. 8, 1932, to John and Dolly McDonald Ball in Monroe County, Ala. A retired seamstress from Vanity Fair Mills, she was a member of the Atmore Church of Christ. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 31, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Norman Newberry officiating. Burial followed at Bay Minette Cemetery with Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Middleton is survived by one son, Jerald Glenn Middleton, Jr. of Atmore;...
James Edward Mosley, 84, of Atmore, died Monday, July 29, 2019. Mr. Mosley was born Dec. 14, 1935, to Thomas Calvin “Arant” and janie King Mosley in Lottie, Ala. He worked for Container Corporation and was owner and operator of gas stations, including Mosley's and Fairview Texaco, and worked as a farmer. He was a member of Lottie united Methodist Church. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 1, at Lottie united Methodist Church with Bro. Henry Wilson, Bro. Brent Chancery and Bro. Gerald Coggin officiating. Burial followed at Lot...
Rachel V. Pritchett, 90, died Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019 at a Milton nursing facility. Mrs. Pritchett was born in Oak Grove, Fla. and had been a resident of Century for the past 74 years. Working as a nurse for Dr. Thomas Stewart at the Century Hosptial, she was a member of Century First Baptist Church. The funeral was held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 4, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Earl Green officiating. Burial followed at Flomaton Cemetery with Craver’s Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Pritchett is survived by one son, Erbie (Pamela) P...
Aubrey Glenn “Tobe” Sellers, 94, died Sunday, July 28, 2019, in Pensacola, Fla. Mr. Sellers was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore who served in the Vietnam Conflict as a U.S. Air Force veteran with 20 years of service. He was a member of the VFW, Carney Masonic Lodge #549, Scottish Rite and Brooks Memorial Baptist Church. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Saturday, August 3, at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Dale Patterson officiating. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home dir...
Mary Avanelle Jordan Spark, 90, died Thursday, July 25, 2019 in Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Mrs. Stark was born May 25, 1929, to George Dewey and Erma Lee Kelly Jordan in Little Rock, Ark. A member of the graduating class of 1947 Little Rock Central High School, she worked for South Central Bell Telephone Company in New Orleans, La. and in Flomaton. She retired from Touch-1 Long Distance Service in 1994 and helped pastor with her husband at New Home United Pentecostal Church in Atmore for more than 25 years. The funeral was held at 12:30...
Roy L. Steadham, 72, died Monday, July 29, 2019 in Century, Fla. Mr. Steadham was a native of Century and former resident of Ottawa, Kansas for 22 years who had resided in Century for the past seven years. A graduate of Century High School, he was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam Conflict and attended Sardis Baptist Church. The funeral was held at 10 a.m., Friday, August 2, at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Wayne Weekly officiating. Burial followed at Rigby Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mr....
George Newton Word, 93, of McDavid, died Monday, July 29, 2019. Mr. Word was born in Wedowee, Ala. and had been a resident of McDavid most of his life. A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, he worked as an accountant with St. Regis Paper Company for 40 years. He was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, where he served as deacon, treasurer, and a Sunday School teacher. The funeral was held at 10 a.m., Thursday, August 1, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Chip Barbs and Rev. Harold Brown officiating. Burial followed at Crary...
The 2019-2020 Jay High School marching band kicked off practice last week. With practices in the morning and afternoon five days a week, Troy State University graduate and Band Director Connie Wilkes said the band members are returning seventh through 12th graders. “Of all the band members, 14 out of 48 are rookies, so I've got a lot who've been marching,” said Wilkes. “Their strength is a great attitude and great work ethic.” The theme for this year is water, and the color is aqua. Wilkes...
Atmore residents Michael Lashan Weaver and Michael Bernard Pettway were arrested Monday on murder charges for the May 18, 2019 shooting death of Chirshawn Jermaine Westry, 19, in a shooting at the Atmore Family Life Center that also left eight other people injured. Weaver, 21, 7736 Jack Springs Road, and Pettway, 22, 209 10th Ave., are both being held in the Escambia County Detention Center on $500,000 bond each. The two men appeared before District Judge Eric Coale Monday afternoon for a bond h...
Starrett Jovanna Simpson was scheduled to move into her new housing unit at Troy University this Saturday, but instead her friends and family will be gathering at Hillcrest High School in Evergreen Saturday afternoon for her funeral following a tragic accident that claimed the 18-year old's life Friday night. Starrett was a 2019 graduate of Hillcrest High School where she finished third in her class. She was headed to Troy with her best friend Destiny Walton for at least the fall semester but...
A Brewton man was arrested July 27 and charged with possession of a controlled substance and dealing in stolen property after law enforcement discovered narcotics in the vehicle he occupied and a check on the tag of the vehicle reported it as stolen. Clay Frederick Kast, 64, 407 Juniper Ridge Dr., was approached by law enforcement responding to a report of a red Ford F150 pickup truck backed into a wooded area with two occupants in Pensacola July 27, according to an Escambia County Sheriff's...
Visitors at Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton on Highway 31 will see a new face this year as Director Sierra Stiles joins the Escambia County (Ala.) School System, filling the shoes of former director Jackie Word. Birmingham native Stiles and her husband, Jimmy, have worked in research and education for many years, teaching live animal programs all over the state of Alabama for decades. Many may recognize her from the program 'A Cooperative Environment,' sponsored by Powersouth Electric...
At 6 p.m., this Thursday, Aug. 8, the Jay Historical Society will host a book signing for Barnette’s Crossroads resident Earline Smith Crews, who has been asked to speak. Crews will have her book, “Life With The Top Down,” which were taken from her column and other writings, for sale and will be signing them. Crews will sign any books already bought and those for sale at $20.00 per book. Credit cards, checks and cash will be accepted. There will be light refreshments and guests are encourage to become a member of the Jay Historical Socie...
Author and photographer Glenn Wills will be at the Flomaton Public Library at 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 15, as part of his ‘Forgotten Alabama Bicentennial Book Tour’. Admission is free. Author of ‘Forgotten Alabama’ and ‘More Forgotten Alabama,’ Wills grew up in Huntsville and presently resides in Alabaster in Shelby County. He has traveled the entire state, all 67 counties, and spent thousands of hours and 50,000 miles or more documenting Alabama’s forgotten and abandoned structure that still exist. Wills will be selling and signing his b...
A Jay woman is likely looking at multiple citations Saturday after her vehicle veered across Highway 31 in Flomaton and struck a utility pole with her children inside the car unrestrained. Kimberly Ann Stinson, 36, 5223 Pitnic Road, was driving while her license was suspended, had no insurance, and had her two children in the vehicle who were not restrained. She was also not wearing her seatbelt. According to police reports, Stinson was traveling south on Highway 31 near the intersection of...
