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The history of Southwest Alabama is like a patch work quilt composed of the lives of everyone who has called the area home. Each patch of the quilt tells a story and adds color to our area's history. No single area of this "quilt" tells a greater story than the history of Monroe County. History would not be as interesting if it were only composed of dates and names. The story behind the history is always more fascinating and as Mark Twain once wrote; "truth (or fact) is always stranger than...
We camped. It was cheap and fun. During the Oil Embargo of 1973-74 we had saved enough money to take a trip to Colorado. In his military days Lamar had been stationed at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and always wanted to show me the place that inspired him to go to college. He had been an airman assigned to the motor pool and drove those big, old coach buses that shuttled the cadets to concerts and the ski areas. He saw how a fellow with a degree had the upper hand and he wanted some of that. Once honorably discharged, he wooed me,...
Today's column is not so much history as thankfulness for living in a rural area. When my family arrived at Jimmy's Grill in Molino last Friday night we were surprised to learn that a band was playing on the porch. Quite a few people were sitting in the chairs set up just off the porch enjoying the music. We at first thought that was the waiting line, but learned that those people had either already eaten or had just come to listen. We actually had a short wait for a table. The band is one of the bands that participate in the Barrineau Park...
As we say goodbye to the summer of 2019, allow me to reminisce with you and indeed commemorate more than likely a summer exactly 50 years ago that was undoubtedly the most momentous summer in American history – The Summer of 1969. It is amazing what all occurred in America during the last six-weeks of the Summer of 1969. Richard Nixon was in his first year as president. He had escalated the never-ending Vietnam War and he had heightened the Tet offensive. The war was finally heading in our direction. A July assault on North Vietnam caused h...
Israel means so much to our nation. The American people have no better friend. As the only democracy in the volatile Middle East, Israel is one of our greatest partners on the global stage. And Israel, particularly Jerusalem, holds a close personal significance to many Americans of different faiths. Israel is a very special place to my wife and me. Four years ago, Rebecca and I traveled together to the Holy Land in a visit that affected us deeply. On this transformational trip, we renewed our baptismal covenant in the River Jordan. From the...
Americans are already suffering through perhaps the longest presidential election in history. Absolutely refusing to accept the results of the 2016 election, many Democrats are still fighting to reverse that result, but with 2020 upon us, dozens of deluded Democrats have been running for president for months now. So Americans never really enjoyed a break between presidential elections and now face almost two years of a wide range of zany Democrats campaigning for president. While each of the comical characters pursuing the Democrat nomination...
Labor Day is commonly celebrated as the last hurrah to summer! It’s lots of fun activities and a chance to spend time with family and friends during the last long 3-day weekend of summer. Friends, families and grilling make for a memorable holiday! My fellow colleague Janice Hall, a regional food safety agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, reminds us to be aware of safe food handling practices. “If we don’t handle and prepare foods in safe ways, we could make family, friends and ourselves sick,” said Hall. “Food that is handled,...
It was not a perfect trip…but it was an excellent one. After 92 days, 13 states and 7,200 miles I am home. What awesome sights. What a beautiful country we live in. Thinking of excellence got me to thinking about how that is generally not good enough for some people. Nothing short of perfection will do. Are you like that? Do you tend to be a perfectionist? Perfection is something to shoot for…but somewhere along the line most of us learn that things rarely come off as planned. Untimely things happen and performance suffers as a result. When thi...
Edna L. Archie, 69, of Detroit, Mich., formerly of Atmore, died Tuesday, August 20, 2019. Mrs. Archie was a native of Atmore and 1968 graduate of Escambia County Training School. Following graduation, she relocated to Detroit, where she began working for the Chrysler Company until her retirement in 2008. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, August 31, at Zion Star AME Zion Church with Rev. Jean Archie, Pastor and Rev. Denbray Archie officiating. Burial followed at Lucius Cemetery with Turner Funeral Chapel directing. Mrs. Archie is...
Johnnie Benjamin Coleman, 90, of Castleberry, died Tuesday, August 20, 2019 after a brief illness. Mr. Coleman was a native and lifelong resident of Castleberry. A former logger and retired truck driver with the Conecuh County, Ala. Road Department, he was a member of the Oak Grove Holiness Church and had several hobbies, including gardening and fishing. The funeral was held at 1 p.m., Saturday, August 24, at Oak Grove Holiness Church in Castleberry with Rev. Jeff Harris, Rev. Michael Cooper and Rev. Steve Pugh officiating. Burial followed at...
Stacie Edward Colter, 45, of Flomaton, died Friday, August 23, 2019. Mr. Colter was born in McRae, Ga. And had resided in Flomaton since 2008, coming from Tifton, Ga. A musician who played several instruments and sang, he worked as a carpenter in the home building industry and was of the Christian faith. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, August 29, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bobby Colter officiating and Flomaton Funeral Home directing. Mr. Colter is survived by his wife, Heather Davis of Flomaton; one son, Jack...
Grace Susie Cook Gatewood, 97, of East Brewton, died Saturday, August 24, 2019, after a brief illness. Mrs. Gatewood was a native of Elba, Ala. and lifelong resident of Bradley, Ala. and East Brewton. Former owner and operator of Gatewood Grocery, she was a homemaker with several hobbies and member of the East Brewton First Assembly of God Church. The funeral was held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, August 28, at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton with Rev. Fred White officiating. Burial followed at Old Bradley Cemetery with Williams...
Vernease Othella McGinitie, 85, of Brewton, died Saturday, August 24, 2019 in a local nursing facility after a brief illness. Mrs. McGinitie was a native and lifelong resident of Brewton who was a retired spinner machine operator at Monsanto with 16 years of service. She was a homemaker and member of the Zion Hill Baptist Church. Mrs. McGinitie is survived by her husband, John M. McGinitie, Jr. of Brewton; one nephew, Toby Ray (Jacklyn) Ryals; and one niece, Felicia Ryals (Gleen) Williams. Mrs. McGinitie was preceded in death by her parents,...
Clifford Earl Montgomery, 55, died Wednesday, August 7, 2019. Mr. Montgomery was born Oct. 17, 1963, to Frank and Emma Mae Montgomery and was a long-time resident of Freemanville, Ala. The funeral was held at 12 p.m., Saturday, August 17, at the God Temple of Deliverance Holiness Church with Elder John Williams officiating. Burial followed at Fairview Cemetery with Christian Memorial Funeral Home directing. Mr. Montgomery is survived by his daughter, Emma Jo Montgomery; two brothers, Otis Wilson of Radcliff, Ky. and Michael Montgomery of...
Emma Joan Fillingim, 87, of Atmore, died Thursday, August 15, 2019. Mrs. Fillingim was born March 27, 1932, to Jesse L. and Alberta Rohrkaste Bealor in Waukegan, Ill. Retired from West Florida Hospital Medical Records, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Atmore. A graveside service was held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, August 21, at Bayview Memorial Park Cemetery in Pensacola with Rev. Andy Gartman and Rev. Brennan Peacock officiating. Burial followed with Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Fillingim is survived by her...
A Century man is facing felony kidnapping and sexual battery charges after he allegedly pulled a female under the age of 18, walking along Highway 29, into nearby woods to assault and rob her. Na'keetric Devonte Davison, 27, listed as homeless, was arrested Aug. 21 and charged with sexual battery on a victim under the age of 18, kidnapping a child and commit sexual battery, felony battery, robbery and resisting without violence after law enforcement responded to a 911 call of a possible...
Tropical Storm Dorian officially became Hurricane Dorian at 2 p.m. Wednesday as it went through Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and was headed toward St. Croix and the U.S. Virgin Islands as a storm that could impact this area early next week depending on a lot of uncertainties. Escambia County (Ala.) Emergency Management Director David Adams said Wednesday that models being put out by the National Weather Service are 'all over the place' in terms of where the storm will go. The storm is expe...
The Jay Council voted Monday, Aug. 19, to approve to cash out a Certificate of Deposit (CD) to pay for work on the Livestock Market and to award the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) waterline construction to the lowest bidder. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to renovate the Livestock Market facility requires that the town pay contractors for work and will reimburse the town after the work is completed and paid for. The town opened a line of credit initially to...
Flomaton quarterback Zeb Vickery (11) , top photo, unloads a pass this Friday night when the Hurricanes traveled to Opp for a preseason jamboree and W.S. Neal cheerleaders, bottom photo, cheered on the Blue Eagles in their preseason matchup against Southern Choctaw. Escambia County High School and T.R. Miller also held a preseason jamboree gearing up for this week's opening of the 2019 season. See Page 6A and 1B for more....
If Alabama motorists want to save 6-cents a gallon on gasoline or diesel they need to head to the pumps before Sunday, Sept. 1, which is the date the first wave of Alabama's new 10-cents per gallon fuel tax goes into effect. Passed during the most recent session of the Alabama Legislature, the tax will increase by 6-cents a gallon this Sunday, another 2-cents per gallon on Oct. 1, 2020 and another 2-cents on Oct. 1, 2021. Estimates show each cent is worth $32 million and at the full 10-cents...
Alfonzie Cottrell spent most of his life helping others, especially the people of Century.. The 81-year old Century native died Monday, Aug. 26, leaving heavy hearts for those who knew him best. "He was a very respectful and honorable person who helped a lot of people," said Sandra McMurray-Jackson. "He was a wonderful man." Mrs. Jackson said Cottrell was famous for his turnip green patches he planted at various areas across Century and opened them up for anybody to pick when they were ready....
A Century man who was arrested March 28 when officers executing a search warrant found suspected methamphetamine in bags on the floor when they secured him and floating in the toilet is facing 15 years in state prison as a mandatory minimum that must be served day for day. Sim Brown, III, 24, 401 Bonwell St., entered a plea to one count of trafficking in methamphetamine (200 grams or more), three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, tampering with evidence,...
The Town of Jay had its first annual wastewater inspection Tuesday for this year and passed with just a few changes required from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Supervisor Alicia Jernigan was pleased with the overall outcome of her first inspection. “Until this year, inspections were done every three years after Gov. Rick Scott came into office, but I'm glad to see it go back to being done annually,” said Jernigan. “Gov. Scott had cut funding, so the Department of En...
An Atmore man accused of swapping 10 authentic $50 bills for 10 counterfeit $50 bills in the purchase of a car in June was arrested Aug. 20. Matthew Cody Blair, 28, 247 Williams Lane, agreed to meet with Zaccaha Matthew John Larose on June 19 at the Grey Goose Liquor Store on Highway 21 in Atmore to purchase a 1993 Honda sedan for $1,000, according to an Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office report. On June 20, law enforcement responded to 1004 Jo Jo Road in reference to a grand theft...
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, Community Health Northwest Florida’s (CHNWF) Century Adult and Family Care practice and Lakeview Center hosted a Community Open House and Ribbon Cutting at their newly remodeled building at 6021 Industrial Blvd. in Century. The facility is located across the street from the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center. The newly renovated and expanded building offers services by both Community Health Northwest and Lakeview Center. The expansion provides a large, open shared lobby space, additional medical exam rooms and much-...
