Maxine T. Brown
September 18, 2013
Maxine T. Brown, 82, of Huxford, Ala., passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2013, with her family by her side. She was born in Millry, Alabama on April 20, 1931, to the late George and Vernelle Britton Tew, her family later settled in the Huxford community. As a homemaker, Mrs. Brown enjoyed gardening, cooking and her involvement in First Baptist Church of Atmore, where she was a member.
Mrs. Brown in preceded in death by her son, Bobby Beech; daughter, Maudie Ridgeway; and brother, George Tew, Jr.
Survivors include her husband, Wilbur T. Brown; son, Mike Beech; daughter, Martha (Greg) Watts; son-in-law, Billie Ridgeway; five brothers, Prentice Tew, Ray Tew, Walter “T” Tew, Clatis Tew, and Delmer Tew; two sisters, Pearl Gant and Faye Hester; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services were held Tuesday, September 17, 2013, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kelly Brown and Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating.
Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be John Murray Ikner, Britton Ikner, Ross Beech, Jon Michael Beech, Ben Odom, and Wedenall Middleton.
The family would like to sincerely thank the caregivers for their attentive and compassionate care.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc, is in charge of all arrangements.
Photos Of Rescued Horse
September 13, 2013
Photos of rescue horse “Capona”. For the story on this horse, click here.
Bernice Daughtry Qualls
September 13, 2013
Mrs. Bernice Daughtry Qualls, 84, passed away on Friday, September 13, 2013, in Poarch.
Mrs. Qualls was a native of Atmore and a resident of Poarch for most of her life. Mrs. Qualls volunteered at the Poarch SAIL Center. Her husband, Robert Qualls; infant daughter; parents, Hawk and Ella Daughtry; two brothers, Obie Lee Daughtry and D.C. Daughtry; and three sisters, Vernell Aplin, Luverne Ward and Charlotte Reed precede her in death.
Survivors include her sister, Savannah Daughtry of Poarch; devoted niece, Kay Reymendo of Poarch; and a number of nieces, nephews, family and friends and special friend, David Kirby of Atmore.
Funeral services will Monday, September 16, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Friendly Holiness Church with Rev. Ray Ward, Rev. Dale Aplin and Rev. David Bryars officiating.
Burial will follow at the New Home Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, September 15, 2013, from 5 p.m. until funeral time at the Friendly Holiness Church.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
All Florida Lawmakers Registered To Vote In The Right District
September 3, 2013
None of the state Legislature’s members are registered to vote outside their districts, according to a letter from the Department of State obtained by the Tampa Bay Times.
“We have determined that the full residential address recorded as of August 29, 2013, in the Florida Voter Registration System for each legislator is located within the district to which he or she has been elected,” says the letter to Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
Gaetz and Weatherford asked for the review in the wake of questions asked by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and other critics who charge that some legislators don’t live in their districts.
by The News Service of Florida
Donald Elburn Morris
August 20, 2013
Mr. Donald Elburn Morris, age 59 of Brewton, died Sunday, August 11, 2013, in Biloxi, MS.
Mr. Morris was born in Mobile and had been a long time resident of Brewton. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, having served with the U.S. Marine Corps. Mr. Morris worked as a truck driver. He was of the Christian faith and was a member of the American Legion. Mr. Morris was preceded in death by his father, Mr. Marvin Raymond Morris and a brother, Mr. Marvin Stanley Morris.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Hazel P. Morris of Brewton; nephews, Daniel Morris of Gatlinburg, TN, and Raymond (Rachel) Morris of Fife Lake, MI; nieces, Gina Welch of Cantonment, and Angela Nicole Grantham of Axis, AL; four great-nephews; and special friends, Jane Middleton of Kinmundy, IL and Robin Delph of Maple, NC.
Funeral services were held on Friday, August 16, 2013 from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. Phillip Pettis and Rev. Barbara Pugh officiating.
Interment, with military honors, was at Green Acres Memorial Gardens.
Jesse Carle Amerson
August 15, 2013
Mr. Jesse Carl Amerson, 73, passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, in Pensacola.
Mr. Amerson was a native of Century, and resided in Flomaton for most of his life. He was a wonderful person, he gave so much and never wanted anything in return. Mr. Amerson is preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Gena Amerson and a grandson, Junior Walker.
Survivors include his wife, Jewel Amerson of Flomaton; three sons, Keith Amerson and Jody Amerson of Katie, TX and Darrell Walker; one brother, Rex Amerson of Brewton; two sisters, Linda Ryder of Milton and Ann Roberts of Texas; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Friday, August 16, 2013, at 12 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Jimmie Ray Colley officiating.
Burial will follow at the Flomaton Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, August 16, 2013, from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Scott Walden, Keith Amerson, Kyle Amerson, Jody Amerson, Christian Thrope, Justin Walden.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, is in charge of all arrangements.
Florida To Sue Georgia In Water Fight
August 14, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday that Florida will file a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court as part of a long-running battle with Georgia over water consumption.
The announcement came shortly after a U.S. Senate field hearing in Franklin County about the collapse of the seafood industry in Apalachicola Bay, with Florida senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio conducting the hearing.
The lawsuit is the latest move in a 23-year dispute among Florida, Georgia and Alabama over the water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin.
Florida has long argued that water use at the top of the system, in the metro Atlanta area, has reduced the downstream flow of freshwater to the Apalachicola Bay region, damaging northwest Florida’s critical oyster industry. Both Florida and Alabama contend that too much water is siphoned off upstream for Atlanta’s drinking-water supply
Last year, the Apalachicola Bay collapsed. The lack of freshwater combined with a historic drought to produce the lowest flows in 89 years — since they have been recorded. That followed a series of court rulings that sent the responsibility for regulating the flows back to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“It’s having a dramatic impact, and it’s because Georgia has taken our water,” Scott said. “The Corps of Engineers is not worried about us. That’s why Florida’s going to file suit against Georgia. Take this all this way to the Supreme Court.”
Scott called the lawsuit “our only way forward after 20 years of failed negotiations with Georgia.” Under federal law, a lawsuit between states can only be brought as an original action in the U.S. Supreme Court, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal called the move a frivolous waste of time and money when Georgia has waited more than a year for Florida to respond to a settlement proposal.
“Gov. Scott’s threat to sue my state in the U.S. Supreme Court greatly disappoints me after I negotiated in good faith for two years,” Deal said in a prepared statement. “More than a year ago, I offered a framework for a comprehensive agreement. Florida never responded. It’s absurd to waste taxpayers’ money and prolong this process with a court battle when I’ve proposed a workable solution.”
The Corps of Engineers, which controls the flows, relies on a 2011 ruling from a federal appeals court that says Georgia has a legal right to water from Lake Lanier, at the top of the river system. The ruling overturned a federal magistrate’s 2009 ruling in favor of Florida and Alabama.
Florida has asked Congress for help getting the Corps of Engineers to release more water downstream, to no avail.
The Atlanta area uses 360 million gallons of water per day, according to the governor’s office, and Georgia’s consumption is expected to nearly double to 705 million gallons per day by 2035 — about the entire amount of water in the Apalachicola Bay.
In his opening remarks during the hearing, Nelson said the Apalachicola River and bay are the “true economic engines of this region. Without more freshwater, this region’s economy could find itself in jeopardy to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Jonathan Steverson, executive director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, told Nelson and Rubio that Georgia’s consumption has increased to more than 90 percent of the water from the river system. Florida, in contrast, uses 2.5 percent.
He also said the formula for allocating water was weighted toward Georgia.
“Georgia is getting its piece first,” Steverson said. “The good lord giveth and Georgia and the court taketh away.”
A reworking of the formula allocating the flows is waiting for the Corps of Engineers to prepare a new environmental impact statement for the river system.
Representing the corps at Tuesday’s hearing, Col. Jon Chytka said the final version of the statement wouldn’t be complete until early 2016.
“The reason we don’t think we can expedite it is the technical complexities,” he said.
“Anything that needs to be expedited can be expedited,” returned Nelson. He asked Chytka what it would take to “get it done quickly.”
“Sir, we have to follow the law,” Chytka replied.
The hearing drew an overflow crowd and was preceded by a rally on the courthouse steps.
Historically, the Apalachicola River and bay have been major economic drivers for the region, producing 90 percent of Florida’s oysters and 10 percent of the nation’s supply. The commercial and recreational fishing industries of the river basin generate $200 million a year and support 85 percent of the local population, according to the Seafood Management Assistance Resource and Recovery Team, a group of seafood workers and buyers.
The bay’s waters also have made rural Franklin County a destination for seafood-loving tourists. But the quality of the seafood depends on a mix of freshwater and saltwater that can’t be achieved without the release of freshwater upstream.
Witnesses at the hearing said the seafood industry is being harmed because the freshwater flows are too low.
Fourth-generation oystermen Shannon Hartsfield and Ricky Banks testified to the devastating impact of the low flows on the local workforce. Banks said three of his family members had been forced to leave the state to find work.
The oystermen were glad for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s announcement on Monday that it will issue a fishery disaster declaration for Florida’s oyster harvesting area in the Gulf of Mexico. But they warned that only increased freshwater flows would keep their way of life intact.
“We’re used to doing it on our own,” Banks said. “But we’ve come up against something we have no control over.”
After the hearing, Rubio and Scott toured the riverfront and sampled fresh oysters on the dock with Republican Congressman Steve Southerland, who represents the area.
Scott said Alabama hadn’t yet decided whether to join the lawsuit.
Other Florida leaders supported the lawsuit. Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford released statements praising Scott.
“We don’t like to sue our neighbors,” Gaetz said. “But their intransigence has left us no other course.”
By Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Sandra Delois “Toot” Watts
July 16, 2013
Ms. Sandra Delois “Toot” Watts, 56, of Century, joined heaven’s illustrious choir on Friday, July 12, 2013, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
She was a native and lifelong resident of Century and attended Century High School. She was a faithful member of Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church where she labored for 50 years and enjoyed using her gift of singing by serving in the youth choir, young adult choir, choir #1, the inspirational choir, and the mass choir. Sandra loved to sing.
Those left to cherish the memories of her melodious voice are her son, DeMarcus (Tashan) Streety of Brewton; her mother, Nola Watts of Century; her father, Theodore Watts of Norfolk, VA; one sister, Vanessa Y. Watts of Century; three brothers, Norman Watts of Brewton, Cedrick A. Taylor of Century and David (Tiffany) Watts of Montgomery; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church family.
Celebration of Life services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2013, at the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church with the Rev. Kelvin Laster, pastor of the Bright Morning Star Baptist Church in Frisco City, officiating.
Burial will be in the Century Cemetery.
Public viewing will be held Friday, July 19, 2013, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Turner Funeral Home and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church. Her remains will lie in repose at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.
Turner Funeral Chapel, LLC is directing.
Small Biz Center To Offer ‘How To Do Business With ECUA’ Workshop
June 12, 2013
On Friday, the Florida Small Business Development Center with the UWF Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Program, will offer a free workshop entitled, “How to do Business with the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority” (ECUA). The event will be held in Pensacola at 401 East Chase Street, Suite 100, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The informational meeting will educate attendees about the potential of doing business with the ECUA, while increasing participation in obtaining future ECUA contracts. Participants will learn about the bidding process, qualification requirements, future business opportunities, and how the ECUA hiring process is conducted.
ECUA speakers will include; Bill Johnson, director of engineering, Peter Wilkinson, purchasing and store manager, and Frances Webb, HR generalist.
The workshop is free; however, pre-registration is recommended. For additional information contact, Laura Subel, PTAC procurement specialist, lsubel@uwf.edu (850) 595-0089 or register at clientsfloridasbdc.org/center.
Photos: Sunshine Math Teams
May 13, 2013
Below are photos from the Bratt, Byrneville, Jim Allen and Molino Park Sunshine Math teams.
For results from the recent event, click here.
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Bratt – 4th Grade Team 2 — 2nd place Overall
Bratt Sunshine Math Team
Bratt Sunshine Math Team
Byrneville 3rd Grade Team
Byrneville 4th Grade Team
Byrneville 5th Grade Teams
Jim Allen
Jim Allen Team
Jim Allen Team
Jim Allen Team
Jim Allen Team
Molino Park 3rd Grade Team 2, 1st Place Overall
Molino Park 3rd Grade Team 1, 3rd Place Overall