Before we take a look at some local and area news I have some late oil news of interest.

Sources have told me that two new drilling companies to our area will make their debuts “soon.” They will set up drilling sites in the McCullough to Butler Street general areas. While these firms were not identified it was learned that they are being drawn to these locations because of the recent success of Venture Oil and Gas and Pruitt Production Company. These two successful drilling firms have brought in six producing wells here within the past year.

In fact this week Venture staked a new drilling location on Blackstone Properties (15-14 No. 1 418’FNL&1041’FWL.R5E. The 15,500 ft well will be probing into the prolific Smackover formation.

Venture is also staking a location in south Monroe County not too far from the Escambia County line and Stetson Petroleum Corporation is setting up a rig in Northeast Barnett Field.

Pruitt Production, which recently brought in the Chunn Properties well, has cleared location for another south Monroe County well but specifics were not released. Pruitt is waiting on a completion rig for its successful Monroe County Shumack 3-7 site (2213 FNL & 2093 FEL S3. T5N.R7E). Permit depth is 13,500 feet.

Unofficial reports indicate that the productive Mack well in McCullough may be tied into the refinery near Mason Properties and Alabama properties on Wayside Road. Production on the Mack well began a few weeks ago.

In a survey this past month we learned that several hundred families now share in those productive 160-acre spacing tracks. And, reportedly, most of those wells have the capability to generate up to 500 barrels of oil per day.

Now let’s take a look at some local happenings.

This weekend was filled several diversified activities including Williams Station Day, class reunions and the announcement of efforts to try to close down the Creek Casino.

There was one pleasant surprise on the main stage of WSD activities. As my wife and I had a tasty Carney Lodge barbeque sandwich in the shade of two oak trees our local doctors performing in a four-piece contemporary band entertained us. I never knew our doctors were musicians, but I must say they sounded real good.

My wife’s 1954 class reunion began on Friday night with a delightful dinner and ended with church services and a noon meal at Judson Baptist Church. Murray Ellison and Georgia Brooks, who are regular members of that church, were the official hosts for the class. By the way some of those class members ask that I personally relay thanks to Judson for asking them to come and be a part of the service and for preparing a fine meal. The entire congenial congregation seemed to be overflowed with joy for the class being there.

I understand several other class reunions were held this weekend too.

Now, the news about the Governor and his task force manager wanting to “knock on the doors of Creek Casino” seems a little far fetch. My information is they won’t knock on the local doors but would have to go to Washington DC and knock on some doors up there. Moreover, with only a few weeks remaining in the present administration, I hardly see where there would be enough time remaining for a “let’s get rid of the Wind Creek plan.”

And, here is another controversy that may be on the horizon. Homeowners and business owners situated on the sands of the Gulf of Mexico in Baldwin County and northwest Florida counties want the federal government to initiate combination wind and flood policies to help offset the rising cost of wind policies. As you probably know the flood policy is underwritten by the federal government and is partly paid for by our tax dollars. Wind coverage is not contained in flood policies. Now these Gulf residents want us to help pay for their wind insurance and add it to the flood policy. I am sure that plan has as much chance of being voted into law as a February hurricane rumbling through Atmore. This story, written by Jeff Army of the Mobile Press register, was carried on the Internet Oct. 20.

If you have Dish Network you may want to look for another carrier after Nov. l. That’s the date Dish and Fox programs part ways. That means no World Series and Bill O’Reily. Many of us receive Dish Network through Frontier Communications but this firm is not responsible for the dispute. Fox coverage of some National Football League and college football games would also be lost.

A report by TVPredictions.com Oct. 24 said Fox has issued a statement that “it’s not likely to settle its program dispute with Dish Network anytime soon.” Fox is also in a similar dispute with Cablevision. Those viewers have been without local Fox programming since October 1. But you will be able to watch these ‘lost channels” on your personal computer. Fast DSL internet now provides most of those Fox Channels.

Now, let’s take a look at a couple of events from 1966. Two prominent residents passed away in the fall of that year. Dr. J..O Lisenby died at the age of 70. He was regarded as one of the most professional and skillful surgeons in south Alabama. Having practiced medicine here since 1928, he also owned and operated Atmore General Hospital. He sold the hospital in 1954 and the name was changed to Greenlawn Hospital.

G.C. Benton, who held numerous offices locally, statewide and nationally with the American Legion passed away in early fall that year. He retired as a salesman for Armour and Company, but he was known to all as “Mr. Legionnaire.”

Chemstrand Corporation changed its name to Monsanto Textile Division in August that year. Many from here and surrounding area worked at that plant and quite a few retired from that firm.

All the local football fans are crossing their fingers hoping Auburn and the University of Alabama will run the tables without any losses before their big Iron Bowl matchup in Tuscaloosa in November. ESPN is already calling this the biggest college football game of the season. Auburn, with its super talented quarterback Cam Newton and Alabama with legendary coach Nick Saban could possibly be playing for a berth in the BCS Championship Game. As you know the Tide won it all last year and Auburn hopes to cash in on the big prize this year.

Next week we will look at more news from 1966. We have two remaining columns highlighting 1966 and then we begin another year from Atmore’s yesteryears.

“….yes, it always whispers to me….those days of long ago……”

Lowell McGill is a historical columnist for The Atmore Advance. He can be reached at exam@frontiernet.net