Hendrix is a big draw at archery events
Published 11:58 am Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Atmore area residents continue to flourish in the local, county, state and national spotlight, and this week is no exception.
Blakelee White Hendrix, renowned archer, is rapidly moving up the ladder of archery competitions. Featured prominently in the Mobile Boat Show, the talented and pretty young lady is now being featured in a popular outdoor TV channel, Mass Pursuit TV. Magazines and other publications are also carrying her success stories.
The wife of Will Hendrix, she teaches archery at the Poarch Creek reservation. And now with the support of corporate sponsors, her archery feats are becoming more and more well known, even on the national level.
Her accomplishments include the 2015 National Women Open B Shooter of the year and the 2015 Open Bowhunters of Alabama State Champion.
In addition to these and other outstanding accomplishments, she is the 2015 Women’s B Alabama ASA State Champion.
Over 100 boys and girls are enrolled in her archery programs with the Poarch Creeks.
Her husband’s grandfather, Bill Hendrix, has to be extremely proud of her well-received recognition. Through the years, Bill has been one of our most loyal supporters of youth sports here. This is especially true in Little League and Babe Ruth League baseball. I remember his involvement in the 50s-70s, not only in leadership, but financially as well. I worked with him on several occasions when he was president of our league. He oversaw many city tournaments back then. My three sons and many other ball players became better at their game as Bill led a very superior program.
In some state news, we learn that authorities are beginning to ticket drivers who fail to pull over into the right lane when faster traffic on the right attempts to pass.
This “pull over” bill was passed last year, but some are ignoring it, state officials said. Now a newspaper report from Decatur said Rep. Phillip Pettus of Greenhill is sponsoring a bill “to limit the amount of time drivers could spend in the far left lane to no more than one and one half miles.”
Several road rage incidents have occurred with anxious drivers who become upset because drivers fail to pull over.
What about that election Tuesday. How did your favorite candidates do? Now the question is what will happen to those who are still in the running. I heard one TV pundit say “you know folks this was not just an election, it is a new movement.” Could be he right?
Keeping in the vein of nostalgia, which this column adheres to, I must mention a new TV channel which has come on the scene and which features “all nostalgia movies.” It is called GET TV and the movies date from the 70s all the way back to the 40s.
I first thought these movies had appealled to only those in my age group. But I read just the other day that younger viewers are finding them very enjoyable. The only complaint I have about the channel is the number of commercials. Actually, this is good because it means the channel is well supported financially. Some of the movies I have watched are not available on sites like Netflix and HULU. The station is on channel 373 on my Dish Network. I am not sure of the channel number on other networks but I learn it is available on all networks.
Give it a try sometimes if you enjoys those old black and white movies. And, you will find a sprinkling of some “technicolor” movies too.
Now let’s take a look at some news from 1970.
Three farmers brought in the first bales of cotton for the year. They were A.D. Sanders of Bratt, Claude Peacock and Mrs. J R Crowley.
Betty Kemp Farrar was selected Miss 1970 Escambia Maid of Cotton.
Ernest Ward head football coach Joe Latham was elected spokesman for North Florida District One Coaches Association.
Charlotte Hopkins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Troy Hopkins, was crowned 1970 Atmore Miss Little League Queen.
Winston Moseley, a Thomaston native, was named headmaster at Escambia Academy. He was a former principal at Lyeffion High School and had taught at Livingston University and at Baldwin County high schools.
Some notable coaches and managers in our local Little League and Babe Ruth League programs that year were Johnny Coker, Billy McDonald, Frank Patrick, Bill McCrory, Willie Bruce McKenzie, Weldon Vickery, Johnnie Woods and Weber Walters.
James Gulley was recognized for outstanding scholastic achievements during commencement exercises at Faulkner State Junior College.
Popular Creek Indian Chief Calvin McGhee passed away that year and lead a drive to gain federal recognition to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
Atmore’s Airport took on a new look that year. The landing and takeoff runway was extended from 3,850 feet to 5,000 feet. The Alabama Aeronautics Commission granted funds for the improvement.