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Alabama's rivers have always been a major transportation artery for commerce and travelers. In the early days of Alabama, flat boats and canoes made the journey down rivers and creeks carrying news and supplies to far flung settlements and villages. Before the War Between the States, the advent of the steam powered river boat brought rapid transport to cotton and commerce. Stories of the ships created an allure of romance and adventure. Sometimes the ships gave rise to legends even bigger than...
It's been dry. On my walk the other day I came to realize just how dry it's been around here this year. As the picture shows, I was able to walk across an area that is usually underwater. The "cypress pond" near the railroad in Bluff Springs was not even boggy. I googled "drought Escambia County, Florida" and found that there have been other dry years lately. A northescambia.com article from December 23, 2016 notes, "Despite recent rainfall that has greatly reduced the risk of wildfires and...
Escambia County Bank of Flomaton hosted a celebration for Customer Appreciation last Friday. I was invited to sell my book alongside the Alger Sullivan Historical Society group who were selling books; all things historical and local. So, the doors opened for business and the gathering of area folks who enjoyed refreshments and reconnected with friends and family. WPFL 105.1 Radio brought news, announcements and live interviews with many that shared their memories and talents from days current and bygone. The coveted historical calendars were...
Jeanine Payton Bell, 56, died Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, in a local hospital. Mrs. Bell was born May 5, 1963, to Pete Long and Caroline Clay in Century, Fla. She was raised by Inez Payton and attended Escambia County Public School. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at Jackson McMurray Funeral Home with Elder I. Bradley officiating. Burial followed at Century Cemetery with Jackson-McMurray Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Bell is survived by two children, Aubrey (Micki) Bell of Montgomery and Shwanda Payton Richardson of Century;...
During the month of December, I have had the opportunity to instruct students across all grades at Brewton Middle School in safe use of archery equipment. During the first week of December, students were instructed in range safety and about types of bows (longbow, recurve, and compound), their parts, and the advantages of types of bows available. After a couple of days of safety instruction, students were each individually coached through their first shot to make sure they knew where to nock their arrow and how the fletchings of the arrow were...
Dorothy Mae Brown, 84, of Atmore, died recently. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, at New Regeneration Baptist Church in Atmore with Rev. Donzell Young officiating. Burial followed at Pierce, Rabb and Montgomery Cemetery in the Freemanville community with Turner Funeral Chapel directing....
John “Jack” Roger Lee Burgess, 86, died Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 in an Evergreen, Ala. medical facility after a brief illness. Mr. Burgess was born Feb. 3, 1933, in St. Joseph, Mo. and former resident of Marietta, Ga. and longtime resident of Evergreen, Ala. A U.S. Army veteran, he was the owner and operator of Sierra Mattress Company and attended Heartland Church. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 9, at Fort Crawford Cemetery in East Brewton. Burial followed with Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing. Mr. Bur...
Douglas Edward Clack, 58, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, Ala. Mr. Clack was a native of Reidsville, N.C. and grew up in Brewton, where he was a 1981 graduate of W.S. Neal High School. He worked at D.W. McMillian hospital following graduation, and later with Alabama Ductile Company. After he moved to Atmore, he began working with Standard Furniture Company in Bay Minette. The funeral was held at 12 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at The House of God Church which is the Church of the Living God The Pillar, Ground And Truth...
Jim “JB” Burl Day, 86, died Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 in Pensacola. Mr. Day was a native of Huxford, Ala., and former resident of Century, Fla. who had resided in Brewton for the past 10 years. A member of the Century Masonic Lodge #213, Jay Order of Eastern Star Chapter 208 and the Springhill Primitive Baptist Church, he has retired from Champion Paper Mill with 40 years of service. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Friday. Nov. 29., at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Mitch Herring and Bro. Dawson Stanaland officiating. Burial fol...
Bruce Huey Eckert, 72, died Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, in Rabun, Ala. Mr. Eckert was a native and lifelong resident of Rabun. He was a member of the New Testament Church and was an avid outdoorsman. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 9, at the New Testament Church with Rev. Bubba Rolin and Rev. Tony Shackley officiating. Burial followed at the Bryars-McGill Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mr. Eckert is survived by his wife, Betty Joyce Eckert of Rabun; two sons, Kelly Wayne (Melanie) Barrientes of Houston and...
Jessie Lee English, 90, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in Atmore. Mr. English was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a retired correction officer of the Alabama Prison System, with 36 years of service. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel with Pastor David Cooper officiating. Burial followed at Miller Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mr. English is survived by one son, John Lee (Christie) English of Atmore;s two daughters, Patsy (Kenny) Taylor...
Mandie Kelley Lowery, 35, died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Knoxville, Tenn. Mrs. Lowery was a native of Milton, Fla. and former resident of Jay, Fla. who had resided in Bratt, Fla. for the past 10 years. A 2003 graduate of Jay High School, she was a member of the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God, where she was active in the Women's Ministries. She served in a nursing home ministry with the gospel group, Sandra and Friends. The funeral was held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the jay Cornerstone Church with Bro. Tim Floyd officiating. Burial...
Annie Mae Miller, 101, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. Mrs. Miller was born March 8, 1918, to Willie Irvy and Cindy Hicks in Repton, Ala. She was a member of the Second Mt. Triumph Baptist Church. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at Second Mt. Triumph Baptist Church with Pastor Marcus Lee officiating. Burial followed at Piney Grove Cemetery with Christian Memorial Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Miller is survived by seven children, Willie Hicks and Oci (Al) Hall, both of Oakland, Calif., Deloise Lawrence of Mesquite, Nev., Mary Lee...
Daniel “Danny” Norwood, 72, of Brewton, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 in an Atmore nursing facility. Mr. Norwood was a native of Conecuh County, Ala. and former resident of Lyeffion, where he graduated from Lyeffion High School and a long-time resident of Brewton. A member of the Catawba Springs Baptist Church, he was retired from Pollard-McCall Junior High School, where he taught from 1969 to 1980 and was principal from 1980 to 2006, with 37 years if service. He had several outdoor hobbies and coached basketball. The funeral was held at 1 p.m...
Barbara Ann Reyes, 77, of Ashford, Ala., died Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. The funeral was held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at Mothershed Cemetery in Freemanville, Ala., with Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Reyes is survived by one daughter, Roxie Reyes; two grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces and other family members. Mrs. Reyes was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur (Rocky) Reyes; her parents, Capers Houston Davis and Mary Malisa Davis; one brother, Jerry Capers Davis; and one sister, Myrlas DeNeil...
Donnell “Don” Rounsaville, 82, died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Atmore, Ala. Mr. Rounsaville was a native of Laurel, Miss. and former resident of Alaska who had resided in Atmore for the past 33 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Atmore, the Gideons and a contributor to the Younglife Team Organization. The funeral was held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Rickey Tedder officiating. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing. Mr. Rou...
R. Lee Roy Wiggins, 92, of Walnut Hill, Fla., died Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, in Pensacola. Mr. Wiggins was born Sept. 26, 1927, to Preston and Grace Langford Wiggins in Bratt, Fla. A member of First Baptist Church of Bratt and honorary deacon and past deacon at Walnut Hill Baptist Church, he was a mason, member of the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club for more than 50 years and was the first president of Walnut Hill Water Works. He served in the U.S. Army and on the draft board. A retired district conservationist from Escambia County, Fla. Soil and...
I remember the excitement when the Flomaton High School girls' softball team won the state championship; I celebrated with the T.R. Miller High School girls with their state basketball titles; the girls' track team at Jay claimed many state titles and the Royal girls' softball team made it to the finals. I watched for many years as my daughter played softball and could see the smiles on all the girls' faces. I grew up in an era where girls didn't have that opportunity. Even though Congress...
Since Monday's vote by the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission to name Karean Reynolds as the new chairman replacing Raymond Wiggins, who has served as the chairman for the past four years, we've been asked the question about how the commission chairman is selected. There was a time when the commission chairman ran for that spot in a county-wide election. There was also a time when each commissioner had to run county-wide for his respective seat. Devon Wiggins was the last county-wide elected chairman of the county commission and he left office i...
Foley Pipe Co., hopes to open its new pre-cast concrete plant in Flomaton by October, 2020, with a $17.6 million investment and about 35 jobs that will average $18 per hour plus full benefits. Jess Nicholas with Coastal Gateway Regional Development Alliance and Allen Butcher, chief financial officer for Foley Pipe Co., appeared before the Flomaton Town Council Monday to make the official announcement. The council later approved a resolution giving the company a 10-year non-educational tax...
Karean Reynolds was sworn in for his first term as the District 5 representative on the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission last November and on Jan. 21, 2020 he will take over as chairman of the board following a 4-1 vote Monday Morning. Reynolds, 38, is serving his first of a four-year term on the commission. "It's an honor and a privilege when your peers give you a chance like this," Reynolds said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity." Reynolds will be replacing District 2 Commissioner...
Longleaf Machining, LLC, located inside the Brewton Industrial Park, cut the ceremonial ribbon of its 8,000 square-foot addition Tuesday that includes a new piece of equipment that owner and president Thomas E. McMillan said will bring cutting-edge technology and more jobs to the business. "I've always wanted to make things," McMillan told the crowd gathered inside the new facility. "This machine will build something you don't find anywhere. This sets us apart." Technically, the new machine is a...
State Sen. Greg Albritton told members of the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission meetings are continuing to solve the problem with the $15 million bridge over the Conecuh River in Riverview noting lawsuits have been filed. Albritton said he and the other two members of the Escambia County legislative delegation, State Rep. Alan Baker and State Rep. Mike Jones "continue to work on this fiasco". He told commissioners a meeting was held last week with lawyers and the state's top engineer. He said...
Flomaton resident Ted Dean handed out a few smart phones to members of the Flomaton Town Council Monday night and asked them to pull up the Google map of Flomaton, which shows Martin Luther King Drive as Straughn Street. “I'm not being rude, but I was told if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a duck,” Dean said. He questioned who changed the name of Martin Luther King Dr. “Martin Luther King Drive does not exist,” Dean said. Utilities Superintendent Shaun Moye said the name has not...
Parades filled the streets of Flomaton, above, and Jay, below, this past Saturday as communities gear up for Christmas. Barnett Crossroads' parade will be at 11 a.m. this Saturday; Atmore will be parading at 5:30 p.m. the same day; and Brewton will hold its parade at 6 p.m. this Saturday. Century will parade at 5 p.m. Dec. 20. For more, see Page 1B....
