Timothy “Tim” Fontaine Currie
November 25, 2011
Timothy “Tim” Fontaine Currie of McCullough, AL, age 73, died Wednesday, November 23, at the Mobile Infirmary following an illness of several months. He was born April 26, 1938, in Atmore, the son of Frank Payne Currie and Mary Caine Currie.
A precocious and inquisitive child, he was allowed to enter the first grade at the age of five. He received all of his secondary education in the public schools of Atmore, graduating from Escambia County High School in 1955.
Tim then entered Auburn University where he earned a B. S. in Business Administration. While at the University, he participated in the ROTC program and upon graduation he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army. He spent his military life in West Germany where he met and married Lieselotte Stamminger in 1961.
Having decided not to pursue a military career, Tim returned to south Alabama and entered the family business in McCullough. Under his innovative leadership, the Frank Currie Gin Company grew from a small town gin into the leading ginning operation in the Southeastern United States with annual production reaching as high as 65,000 bales in one year. Tim received many awards in recognition of his achievements, including being named “Ginner of the Year” by the Southeastern Cotton Ginners’ Association. He also served on the boards of several statewide organizations involved with the cotton industry.
In the Atmore community, Tim was on the board of directors at the First National Bank, and served as chairman of the board for a number of years. He also was a long time member of the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce. In McCullough, Tim took a particular interest in the McCullough Cemetery which will be his final resting place. He was a faithful and generous member of Baptist churches in the Atmore area. Tim was most recently a member and a deacon of First Baptist Church. He not only was generous to the local churches but supported missions in many countries.
Tim was a member of the Richard Montgomery Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. At home, he was an avid crossword puzzler, reader and domino player. He loved learning new things and stretching his mind. He brought his own special brand of enthusiasm to his many and varied interests.
Tim was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Frances “Bebe” Payne Currie Kobos, and his wife of 45 years, “Lilo” Stamminger Currie. He is survived by his present wife Dianne Lyons Currie; and daughters Marianne Currie Garr and her husband Joe along with their four children, all of St. Louis, Heidi J. Currie of Mobile; brother Randolph N. Currie of Sylvania, OH; stepchildren Jared Leachman and Tammy Chlebowski and their children. Other survivors include brother-in-law Robert Kobos; sisters-in-law, Bobby Sue Brewer, Margaret Currie, Heidi Stamminger and Inge Stamminger of Germany; many nieces and nephews; and Crawford R. Caine and Ann Caine Clack, maternal uncle and aunt.
Funeral services will be at the First Baptist Church in Atmore, Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment will be at the McCullough Cemetery following the funeral.
Those honored to be pallbearers are “Tim’s Boys” : Mark Mack, Ron Bailey, Robert Moye, Quint Wilson, Randall Whately, Ricky Ward and Darren Carnely.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Atmore, AL. is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Seney Shivers Weyant
November 25, 2011
Mrs. Seney Shivers Weyant, 78, passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at a Baldwin County hospital.
Mrs. Weyant was a native and former resident of Flomaton, and a resident of Foley for the past year. She was a member of SAIL in Flomaton and attended the Little Escambia Baptist Church. Preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Tommy Shivers, and a daughter, Laurie Shivers Matlock.
She is survived by her husband, Don Weyant of Foley; her faughter, Brenda Salter of Foley; five grandchildren, William J. Salter, III, Matthew A. Salter, Michael Depew, Tommy Depew, and David Matlock; pne-great-grandchild, Angel Depew; and two brothers, Leon Johnson and Winford Johnson, both of Flomaton.
Funeral services will be Sunday, November 27, 2011, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Doug Hogg officiating.
Burial will follow at Poplar Dell Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, November 26, 2011, from 5:30 until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore.
Animal Shelter To Remain Open On Today’s County Holiday
November 25, 2011
The Escambia County Animal Shelter will be open on two county holidays, allowing residents to visit the facility to adopt a pet.
The shelter at 200 West Fairfield Drive will be from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, November 25 and Friday, December 23 in addition to the normal operating hours of Tuesday through Saturday from noon until 6 p.m.
For more information, call (850) 595-3075.
BBB Black Friday Tips
November 24, 2011
Black Friday has traditionally been the biggest retail shopping day of the year, though last year, Cyber Monday – the Monday after Thanksgiving – officially replaced Black Friday as the most popular shopping day.
Whether in the store or online, the Better Business Bureau serving Northwest Florida offers advice to help you with your holiday shopping:
- Budget your shopping money and stick to it. Avoid impulse buys.
- Look for the details on every sale and understand the specifics.
- Advertising can be tricky; don’t get stuck paying more for an item than you expected.
- Credit card offers from a store will offer a discount on your purchase but may also carry high interest rates.
- Keep all receipts and warranty information for each item purchased.
- Fraudulent charges are easier to fix if you pay with a credit card than a debit card.
- Return policies differ with every store. Make sure you know the conditions for returns and exchanges, including whether restocking fees are charged.
- If you purchase a gift card, look for hidden terms that can decrease its value.
- Don’t leave your wallet, credit card or purse on a counter or in an unattended shopping cart.
- Ask for a store manager if any advertised offer does not match the price listed on an item.
- Yelling at store employees and other customers won’t make the lines shorter. Anticipate crowds and take a friend along to enjoy the day.
- Credit cards provide the most protection if someone steals the credit card number or if you don’t receive an ordered item.
- You, the customer, are responsible for knowing and understanding each online retailer’s return/exchange policy.
- Beware of deals that sound too good to be true, especially extremely low priced on hard-to-get items.
- Ensure you have the most recent updates for spam filters, anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewalls installed.
- Read the site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used.
- Make a file to keep copies of all purchase confirmation web pages and e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
- Only shop on trustworthy sites; look for the BBB seal and other widely-recognized “trustmarks.”
- Never wire money to pay for a transaction and when on sites like Craigslist, only shop locally.
- Delete phishing emails such as those claiming a problem with an order or account in an attempt to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information.
- Actively keep an eye on your credit card statements to detect suspicious or fraudulent activity on your accounts.
- You are your best protection! Make sure your online purchase is secure by looking for the “s” (https://) in the URL and the “lock” symbol in the lower-right corner before paying.
One Dies In Escambia Apartment Fire
November 24, 2011
An Escambia County man died in Thanksgiving morning apartment fire.
The man was taken to Baptist Hospital after fire in the 200 block of Holmes Drive in the Navy Point area of Gulf Beach Highway. There were two other units in the apartment building that were not damaged by the 7:30 a.m. blaze.
Further details a have not yet been released; the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal.
Good Reading: Ernest Ward Eighth Graders Pen Turkey Poems
November 24, 2011
Have you ever thought about Thanksgiving from a turkey’s point of view?
Each year, eighth grade Language Arts students in Somer Bridge’s class at Ernest Ward Middle School are required to write a turkey poem from a turkey’s point of view.
Below are some of the turkey poems from this year.
Viva De La Revolution
By: Brayden Hubbard
Thanksgiving, oh, what a horrendous time.
Turkeys being eaten left and right.
The worst day for the turkey kind,
With no end in sight
As I watch each year in fear.
As they watch their fathers and brothers
Without shedding a tear,
To be cooked and buttered like the others.
But, no more I dare say,
When it is over there will be a jolt.
We have watched too long at bay,
This is the year the turkeys will revolt.
Untitled
By Tamara Barrows
Yo, Yo, my little chick,
The name’s Big Daddy.
Don’t you dare and take a pic,
Cause I’m feeling kinda crabby.
Don’t know what’s gonna happen sooner,
I’m getting sliced up.
Next thing you know I’m dinner,
Look at this tasty lump.
Now I know why,
I’m roasted and cooked.
Any you really can’t lie,
Thanksgiving is always booked!
Proud Turkey
By Zach Glenn
I’m a turkey in a pen.
It’s Thanksgiving time again.
Every year the farmer chooses,
The one who struts is the one that loses!
Still I walk around with pride,
When I should go off and hide.
I’m so big and I’m so fat,
I spread my tail and gobble…what’s that!
I was a turkey in a pen.
I’ll never see Thanksgiving again.
The farmer told me it’s too late…
Now I’m sitting on his plate!
Turkey Day Draws Near
By Bethany Reynolds
The wind is blowing cold
And the leaves are turning brown
I think I am being sold
For about one dollar per pound
I have heard about that dreadful day
With cranberries, stuffing, and pumpkin pie
But I cannot think this way
Because I really don’t want to die!
To live another day, oh my, oh my
I must be brave and face my fear,
I will hold my breath and hope they pass me by
So I can live to see another year!
Trip To Grandma’s More Expensive This Year
November 24, 2011
That Thanksgiving trip to grandma’s house was a little more this expensive year, with gas prices up about 50 cents per gallon over last year.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Pensacola metro was $3.27 headed into the Thanksgiving weekend, up from $2.79 last year and just $1.78 three years ago. The increase, for example, would raise the cost of a round trip from North Escambia to Atlanta in an average four-door sedan by about $20.
Around the North Escambia area, that gallon of gas ranged from $3.24 to $3.29 in an informal survey. The lowest Escambia County price on Wednesday afternoon was $3.19 at a station on Blue Angel Parkway.
AAA forecasts 42.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a four percent increase from the 40.9 million people who traveled one year ago. This is the first significant increase in any holiday travel this year. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 23 to Sunday, November 27.
“Driving AAA’s projected increase in the number of Thanksgiving travelers is pent-up demand from Americans who may have foregone holiday travel the last three years,” said Bill Sutherland, vice president, AAA Travel Services. “As consumers weigh the fear of economic uncertainty and the desire to create lasting family memories this holiday, more Americans are expected to choose family and friends over frugality.”
“This is the first significant increase in any holiday travel this year,” said Sutherland. “Memorial Day travel was statistically flat while Independence Day and Labor Day travel experienced decreases of 2.5 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively.”
Approximately 38.2 million people (90 percent of holiday travelers) plan to take to the nation’s roadways this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a four percent increase compared to Thanksgiving 2010 when auto travelers totaled 36.8 million. Automobile travel remains the preferred choice of transportation for holiday travelers as it is often more affordable, convenient and flexible. The current national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is approximately $3.39 per gallon, about 50 cents more than one year ago. However, the national average price is about 60 cents less than this year’s peak price of $3.98 on May 5.
Pictured: A gallon of regular unleaded was $3.29 Wednesday afternoon at this station on Highway 97 in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Congressman Jeff Miller: Thanksgiving Message
November 24, 2011
Throughout a given year, various events take place that remind us at that moment in time how blessed and thankful we are. These moments may be felt during a Sunday morning Church service or in the birth of a grandchild. They may be felt in the laughter of a friend or a hug from a family member. They may be felt at a graduation or a wedding, or even the passing of a loved one or a flag draped over a coffin. No matter how extraordinary or common the event, these moments allow us to take pause and reflect on the things for which we are grateful.
As we gather together with friends and family this Thanksgiving, let us all take time to remember these moments which make America the greatest country on earth, for which we are so very thankful.
We are grateful for a Declaration of Independence that taught us we are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights, including “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” We are grateful for a United States Constitution that was created by “We the People” and continues to guide our nation. We are grateful for the freedom to worship in a place of our own choosing and the freedom to speak out and to be heard, no matter the message. We are grateful for the differences among us that make us both unique and American, and for the courage to put aside those differences to rally as a nation when faced with a threat to our livelihood.
We are thankful for a rich history steeped in the traditions of American individualism, intellect, and ingenuity. We are thankful for a culture that rewards hard work with success, risk with reward, and service with gratitude, and for the undying American spirit that drives us to work harder, to achieve more, and to succeed. We are thankful for the countless blessings bestowed by our Creator, forged by our ancestors, and imparted to us to nurture for our children and grandchildren.
We are grateful for the brave men and women who fight for and defend our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan and across the globe as members of our United States Armed Forces. We are grateful for our veterans who served their country, kept us safe, and promoted freedom around the world, and for those who gave their lives in defense of this country, who will never be forgotten.
Finally, we are grateful for a nation that no matter the cost, no matter the struggle, no matter the sacrifice, its people will time and again rise to the occasion and continue to ensure a better world for the next generation of Americans.
In a year full of tribulations and triumph, difficulties at home and victories abroad, we as a country continue to have much for which to be thankful. God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
Sunny Friday, Weekend Rain
November 24, 2011
Bright sunny skies are in store for Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, but showers and thunderstorms will move in on our weekend, giving way to much colder temps next week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming southeast between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Schools Donate 21,000 Pounds Of Food To Manna
November 24, 2011
Children and employees across the Escambia County School District recently collected 21,000 pounds of food through the “Help Feed Your Neighbor” program. The initiative helped replenish Manna’s shelves at a time when the pantry is experiencing unprecedented demands in service paired with a decline in donations.
“Once again our employees have gone above and beyond what is asked of them. Their donations, along with the donations of our students and parents, allowed for many of our neighbors to have food on their table during this holiday season,” said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
Manna operates six pantries in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, and distributed 786,092 pounds of food in the last 12 months to 38,825 people. All services are offered free of charge to those in need. In addition, Manna also operates a Gardens Program that is dedicated to helping people learn more about how to be self-sufficient in growing their own food. The Gardens Program supports 18 gardens in schools throughout Escambia County.