Looking Back: County declared disaster
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Just 20 years ago, in 1998, Escambia County was declared a disaster by President Bill Clinton after drenching rains fell in this area. The declaration made it possible to get federal money for help. It was believed that more than 12 inches of rain fell on the area.
Gladys Gwin and her garden of calla lilies were shown in a photograph in The Atmore Advance. She started with a small clump which has grown to be longer than 12 feet. I am just awed by people who can grow just any kind of flowers. I, on the other hand can kill a plastic flower.
Heavy rains shocked people all over Atmore because of how fast it came down making it difficult to take evasive action.
I think I remember this one. We get so many flooding rains until they all start to run together.
The Atmore Arts Council was planning to perform “Lil Abner.’
Escambia Academy’s winners of the art show were pictured.
Two papers later people were still cleaning up after the flood.
Leigh Ann Lucas went on trial for the death of her two-year old child, Brandon Austin Lucas. She was found guilty after three hours of deliberation by the jury.
There was a story about a man, Wilbert “Bud” Rolin who lost his sight and was able to find a special friend, a yellow Labrador guide dog.
There was a story about Albert Hunninghake who served in the military during World War II, Korean War and the war in Vietnam. He, along with many other soldiers, were within dangerous proximity to the testing of the A-bomb in the Pacific. After the test, according to Hunninghake, they were required to shower several times a day and scrub down everything they touched. The end results are that ex-military men have been having health problems for years.
The Atmore Advance had a new publisher, Ryan Carter.
The Escambia County Band earned “Straight Superiors’ in competition in Troy.