Harold Everett Godwin
June 29, 2010
Mr. Harold Everett Godwin, 75, passed away on Sunday, June 27, 2010 in Pensacola, FL.
Mr. Godwin was a native of Oak Grove, FL and resident of Pensacola, FL for the past 50 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, a retired employee from the Pensacola Monsanto manufacturing plant, followed by nuclear electronics work at locations around the nation. After this, he was a licensed realtor in the Pensacola area, most recently with Better Homes Realty before retiring full time. He was an avid golfer and devoted fan of NASCAR and the Florida Gators. A number of children and other family members are members of the armed forces, a fact of which he was extremely proud.
Preceded in death were his wife, Susie Godwin, and his parents, Jack and Arlene Godwin and a brother, Jimmy Godwin.
Survivors include: his son, Lieutenant Commander Harold Kevin and Cherie Godwin of Chesapeake, VA; two daughters, Audrey Suzette England of Knoxville, TN, and Laurie Suzanne and Greg Nita of Cibola, TX; five grandchildren, Jason England, Logan England, Peyton Nita, Delaney Nita and Kaitlyn Godwin; a brother, Cary Von and Connie Godwin of Altha, FL; and a sister, Diane and Raymond Jerkins of Atmore, Ala.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Roy Chewning officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 29, 2010 between 6:00 and 8:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be members of the VFW. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Overstreet, Jerry Overstreet, Jim Overstreet, Steve Morris, Matthew McGill, Raymond Jerkins and Art Wilson.
Tuesday Escambia Oil Update
June 29, 2010
Here is the latest BP oil spill information specific to Escambia County for Tuesday, June 29:
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Important Phone Numbers For Citizens
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Junkyard Business Or Not? Council Works To Decide; Residents Fight Against
June 29, 2010
The Town of Century held a public workshop Monday morning as they work to decide if a local man is operating a junkyard on his residential property and if what he claims to do for a living is or is not a business — all part of the process to determine if the council will vote to change the rezoning on his property to commercial.
George William Philyaw has been cited by Escambia County Code Enforcement for his property at 120 Front Street because it is zoned residential which does not allow his type of business to operate. He has told the town council that he simply collects metal for recycling until he has a “load” and then it is sold.
While Philyaw says he is operating a recycling business, the Century Town Council has questioned if it is not actually a junkyard behind his privacy fence. And the council has also questioned if his money-making operation is a business.
According to Council President Ann Brookes, Philyaw attempted to purchase a business license three years ago, but he was denied that option because his property was residential.
“From that time till to today, he has followed on with the same functions that he was at that time, and I think nothing has been said about it in all these years,” Brookes said Monday. She noted that Philyaw claims to not sell directly to the public from the property; rather, he sells his metal and other items on a wholesale basis.
She said it is an issue “whether or not there’s really a business that is going on there”, and she said that she was told that Escambia County would not require him to have a business license.
But residents surrounding the property are not happy with what they perceive as a junkyard in their neighborhood.
“It brings down the property value of all of our homes that are around there, and I think that ought to be taken into consideration,” Century resident Rose Wilson said as she presented the council with a petition containing about three dozen signatures of Century residents against rezoning Philyaw’s property.
The town’s land use consultant, Debbie Nickles said that Century’s ordinances do allow for “home occupations” in residential areas, but she described them more as being home offices. She said “home occupations” do not allow a visible change to the outside of a residence except for a small sign.
“This is not a home occupation,” she said, “Based on my site visit, I consider this a junkyard…junkyards refer to storage of materials.”
“He has a fence up. And if he closes those gates and we can’t see what he’s doing in there,” Council man Henry Hawkins argued. “We know what’s he doing, but if he erects a fence we don’t know if it’s still in there or not.”
“He himself applied for a business license, so therefore it’s a business,” Flomaton resident J.R. Jones told the council. Jones mother owned property near Philyaw until her passing a few months ago.
Longtime Century resident Lina Showalter spoke out against rezoning the property or allowing a junkyard to be located on Front Street, which she described as being the entrance to Century’s Historical District.
She also cited public outcry against the junkyard in the comment section of a recent NorthEscambia.com story. She read a comment from someone identified in their comment as “Parent of NHS Student (with Century address)”:
“Century’s past mayor had started a campaign to work on “cleaning up” and beautifying the town, while enforcing certain codes. I have seen an improvement and am encouraged by it. (Love the changes to the road side park on Hway 29). Don’t stop now. The businessman should abide by the laws in place. You owe it to the people who elected you to office. Have a heart to the people living in the residential area and have to drive by the place. Maybe the businessman could lease or rent a small area in a properly zoned area and use it as a business expense on his tax return,” the comment read by Showalter states.
According to Escambia County records, there is an active Escambia County business license for the property at 120 Front Street for a “retail peddler” business owned by Every Philyaw.
Every Philyaw (pictured left) told the council that she purchased the business license in order to sell lamps and other household items at a Pensacola flea market. She said the license, which was first active in 2008, was not purchased for William Philyaw’s business.
The council heard just two opinions in favor of allowing Philyaw to continuing operating from his Front Street property.
Samantha Rigby, who told the council she does not live in Century, said, “I think it’s a good thing he’s handling the recycling”, and a petition from the Century Lodge was presented to the council in favor of allowing Philyaw to operate a junkyard if it’s approved by the council.
Mayor Freddie McCall said that many of the Century Lodge members do not reside in the town. Jones pointed out that they occupy their building, which is located by Philyaw’s property, just a few hours per month while the residents in the area are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The council took no action on Philyaw’s rezoning request during their Monday workshop. Any decision will come at a future town council meeting. The next regular council meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 5 at the Century Town Hall.
Philyaw has deposited $600 with the town to be used for actual costs toward rezoning. If his rezoning request is denied, he will still forfeit the town’s actual costs.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Deputy Pleads Guilty To Assault, Battery On Wife; Resigns Job
June 29, 2010
An Escambia County deputy first arrested in January after getting into a fight with his wife pleaded guilty to battery and assault charges Monday in Escambia Circuit Court.
Edward Henley was sentenced to one year probation, during which he will not be allowed to carry a weapon. He will also pay a $625 fine.
Deputies responded to a 911 call on Kingsfield Road in Cantonment about 12:45 a.m. on January 16 where they found a marked ECSO patrol car in the driveway. Inside, they found Henley’s wife who claimed that she and Henley had been at a party earlier in the evening. She told deputies that they got into an argument that later escalated into a physical confrontation, according the Sheriff’s Office. Henley’s wife told deputies that he struck her several times at the residence.
The former sergeant has since resigned from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He had been a deputy for 22 years.
Softball: Northwest Escambia Beats Defuniak Springs 12-2
June 29, 2010
The Northwest Escambia 11-12 year old All-Stars beat DeFuniak Springs 12-2 in four innings Monday night at Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. With the win, NWE advances to play Niceville at 7:30 Tuesday.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Kristen Byrd hit triple to left field for NWE. Mallory Ryan pitched two innings with two strikeouts, and Courtney Peebles pitched two with two strikeouts.
Scoring for NWE were: Mallory Ryan 2, Kyndall Hall 2, Penny Banda 1, Courtney Peebles 1, Kendal Cobb 2, Addy Lee 2, Kristen Byrd 1, and Savanna Roux 1.
Pictured top. Kendal Cobb slides into second base Monday night as Northwest Escambia beat DeFuniak Springs 12-2. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The Northwest Escambia 11-12 year old All Stars after their win. Submitted photo by Kim Ryan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Durell Peaden Endorses Greg Evers To Take His Place In Senate
June 29, 2010
Greg Evers won a major endorsement Monday from Durell Peaden, the man that currently holds the Florida Senate District 2 seat.
“Greg is a true conservative who will serve the people of Northwest Florida well, and I am happy to give him my full support and endorsement,” said Peaden, who is leaving office after 10 years due to term limits.
“With Greg’s leadership, Senate District 2 will have a staunch and powerful advocate in the Florida Legislature. He will work hard to fight the current culture of big government that’s taking place in Washington and get Florida back on track and out of the hands of out-of-control government and spending.”
“I am grateful to Senator Peaden for endorsing me in my race for Senate District 2,” said Evers (pictured). “He has served the people of Northwest Florida proudly, and I look forward to continuing his good work in the legislature and stand ready to carry on his pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-business banner. Senator Peaden brought real conservative values and principles to the Florida Senate for 10 years as true public servant and, if elected, I intend to carry on that legacy.”
Evers faces Mike Hill, a graduate of the Air Force Academy and a small businessman, in the Republican primary.
School FCAT Results Due Today; Parents Must Wait
June 29, 2010
FCAT results by school are due today, but parents will continue to wait to find out how their child performed on the annual assessment.
FCAT results for reading, mathematics, writing and science are typically reported between mid-April and mid-June. Due to technical issues with a contractor’s database technology, extra time was needed this year to ensure each individual student’s results match up perfectly with their demographic information, according to the Florida Department of Education.
Previously, only results for third grade students and students who were retaking the 10th grade exam for graduation purposes have been released. The remaining results for reading and mathematics for grades 4-10, writing for grades 4, 8 and 10 and science for grades 5, 8, and 11 will be released today on a school report basis.
Individual student results will not be available for another week or so, according to Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
In an automated telephone call to the parents of Escambia students Monday night, Thomas urged those parents not to contact their child’s school with the release of today’s school report. An additional automated call in the coming days, he said, will notify parents when they can pick up their child’s paper report.
“It is the school district’s desire to release your child’s FCAT scores just as quickly as possible,” he said.
If the FCAT results are released today as planned, NorthEscambia.com will post summary results today and complete North Escambia school by school results Wednesday morning.
Softball: Tri-County Falls To Destin
June 29, 2010
Tri-County was eliminated from the Florida District 1 All Star Tournament for 11-12 year old girls Monday night with a 27-16 loss to Destin. It was the second loss of the tournament for Tri-County, which fell 26-8 on Saturday to DeFuniak Springs.
For more photos from the game, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Puppet Show: Free Library Summer Reading Program Continues Today
June 29, 2010
Summer reading programs are continuing at libraries across the area, including a puppet show today at the Century Branch Library.
The “Make A Splash” summer reading programs are going on each week at Century, Jay and Atmore libraries.
Schedules are listed below for each.
The Century Branch Library invites children to celebrate with summer library programs each Tuesday at noon.
- June 29 – David Stephens, puppetry
- July 6, Ross Mudge, sing patriotic songs
- July 13, Beau Broomall, magician
For more information, contact the Century Branch Library at (850) 256-6217.
The Atmore Public Library, will celebrate summer reading with six weeks of fun and reading. All programs listed below will be at 10 a.m.
- July 1 – Balloon Artist Day
- July 9: Awards Day
For more information, call the Atmore Public Library at (251) 368-5234.
The Jay Library will present their “Make a Splash – Read” summer programs each Monday (except July 5) continue through July 19 at 11 a.m. for 3-5 years old that are able to attend without a caregiver and at 1 p.m. for students who have completed K-5th grade.
- July 5 – Library closed for Independence Day
- July 12 – Surf’s Up for preschoolers; Island Luau for K-5
- July 19 – Rainy Days and Muddy Mischief for preschoolers; The Little Mermaid performed by Jacksonville State Unversity’s Children’s Theater for K-5
For more information, contact the Jay Library at (850) 575-6293.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Baseball: DeFuniak Beats NWE
June 29, 2010
DeFuniak Springs handed Northwest Escambia their first 9-10 year old All-Star loss Monday night, 11-1 in DeFuniak Springs.
NWE is 1-1 in the tournament, having beat Tri-County 9-8 Saturday afternoon.
Northwest Escambia will be in action again Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in DeFuniak Springs.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Submitted photos by Sandy Brown for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.