Cornelius Wilson, Sr.
December 2, 2010
Brother Cornelius Wilson, Sr. was born on September 5, 1936 to the late Mr. Porter and Lessie Wilson in Sardis, Alabama. He passed away on Wednesday, November 24, 2010. Cornelius, Sr. married Lula Mae Scott on October 6, 1957. During this union of 53 years, seven children were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Porter Wilson, Sr. and Lessie Bell Wilson; four brothers, Curtis, Dennis, George, Porter, Jr. and four sisters, Lena, Mary, Martha, and Christine Wilson.
He leaves to cherish his memories a devoted wife of 53 years, Lula Mae Wilson; three sons, Cornelius (Josephine) Wilson, Jr., Edward Wilson of Pensacola, FL, Johnny (LaSonya) Wilson of Molino, FL and four daughters Lucille ( James) Floyd, Christine (Christopher) Osborne, Felicia (Twain) Williams of Cantonment, FL, and Virginia (Mason) Brown of Selma, AL; one brother, three sisters, two sisters-in-law, 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, two aunts, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at New Faith Missionary Baptist Church.
Cold Night, Low About 30
December 1, 2010
Throw another log on the fire or turn up the thermostat; it’s going to be a cold night across the area.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Clear, with a low around 30. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 33. Calm wind.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Calm wind.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Disturbance, Kidnapping And Wreck Lead To Manhunt For Local Man
December 1, 2010
Escambia County deputies are looking for a local man accused of battery, kidnapping and theft after and early morning disturbance with his former girlfriend.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Brandon Ryan Switzer, 32, of Pensacola. According to Escambia County court records, Switzer recently resided at an address on Littleton Street in Cantonment.
Around 7:41 Wednesday morning, deputies responded to a reported kidnapping in the 300 block of Wiggins Lane in Pensacola, and a manhunt for Switzer followed.
Deputies were told by Switzer’s former girlfriend, Stacey Lee Markle, 24, of Pensacola, that she and Switzer were engaged in an argument. When Markle attempted to leave, Switzer allegedly grabbed her by the neck and pulled her away from their vehicle. Switzer then grabbed a five month old baby from Markle’s arms, throwing the infant into the back seat of a Saturn car.
When Markle attempted to get into the vehicle she says she was grabbed and thrown to the ground by Switzer. Switzer then drove off in the red Saturn with the five month old still in the backseat, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Switzer crashed the Saturn into a tree in the dead end of Jean Street, located near the intersection of Legair Street. When deputies found the vehicle it wasn’t occupied. A witness to the crash approached deputies and told them that Switzer, who was said to be bleeding from the head, approached her and handed her the infant. Switzer then walked into the woods, according to the witness. The infant was not injured.
Deputies and the Sheriff’s K-9 unit began an extensive search for Switzer but were unable to locate him. He was last seen wearing a white “hoodie” and tan jacket. He should also have an abrasion or laceration to the head.
Switzer faces charges of battery, kidnapping and theft. Child endangerment charges are being filed by the Florida Highway Patrol in connection with the crash.
Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Switzer is being asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Ernest Ward Reschedules Event, Will Excuse Absences For Playoff Game
December 1, 2010
Ernest Ward Middle School has rescheduled a planned beauty pageant and announced that absences will be excused due Friday due to Northview High School’s playoff football game in Jacksonville.
The Mister Mister Beauty Pageant scheduled for Friday night has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 14.
Ernest Ward students that have a verifiable absence Friday to attend the Northview playoff game will be excused, according to Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry.
Auburn QB Cam Newton Cleared By NCAA, Can Play Saturday
December 1, 2010
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton is eligible to play in the SEC title game this weekend, but the NCAA says Newton’s father did break rules when he shopped his son.
The NCAA released the following statement this afternoon:
Auburn University football student-athlete Cam Newton is immediately eligible to compete, according to a decision today by the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff. The NCAA concluded on Monday that a violation of amateurism rules occurred, therefore Auburn University declared the student-athlete ineligible yesterday for violations of NCAA amateurism rules.
When a school discovers an NCAA rules violation has occurred, it must declare the student-athlete ineligible and may request the student-athlete’s eligibility be reinstated. Reinstatement decisions are made by the NCAA national office staff and can include conditions such as withholding from competition and repayment of extra benefits. Newton was reinstated without any conditions.
According to facts of the case agreed upon by Auburn University and the NCAA enforcement staff, the student-athlete’s father and an owner of a scouting service worked together to actively market the student-athlete as a part of a pay-for-play scenario in return for Newton’s commitment to attend college and play football. NCAA rules (Bylaw 12.3.3) do not allow individuals or entities to represent a prospective student-athlete for compensation to a school for an athletic scholarship.
In conjunction with the case, Auburn University has limited the access Newton’s father has to the athletics program and Mississippi State has disassociated the involved individual.
“The conduct of Cam Newton’s father and the involved individual is unacceptable and has no place in the SEC or in intercollegiate athletics,” said Mike Slive, Southeastern Conference Commissioner. “The actions taken by Auburn University and Mississippi State University make it clear this behavior will not be tolerated in the SEC.”
“Our members have established rules for a fair and equal recruitment of student-athletes, as well as to promote integrity in the recruiting process,” said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for academic and membership affairs. “In determining how a violation impacts a student-athlete’s eligibility, we must consider the young person’s responsibility. Based on the information available to the reinstatement staff at this time, we do not have sufficient evidence that Cam Newton or anyone from Auburn was aware of this activity, which led to his reinstatement. From a student-athlete reinstatement perspective, Auburn University met its obligation under NCAA bylaw 14.11.1. Under this threshold, the student-athlete has not participated while ineligible.”
“We are pleased that the NCAA has agreed with our position that Cam Newton has been and continues to be eligible to play football at Auburn University,” Auburn University Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs said. “We appreciate the diligence and professionalism of the NCAA and its handling of this matter. “
During the reinstatement process, NCAA staff review each case on its own merits based on the specific facts. Staff decisions are made based on a number of factors including guidelines established by the Division I NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, as well as any mitigating factors presented by the university.
Reinstatement decisions are independent of the NCAA enforcement process and typically are made once the facts of the student-athlete’s involvement are determined. The reinstatement process is likely to conclude prior to the close of an investigation. It is NCAA policy not to comment on current, pending or potential investigations.
Names Released Of Women Found Dead In Woods
December 1, 2010
The names have been released of two women discovered murdered in a wooded area of Escambia County.
Wednesday morning investigators identified the women as Debra Ann Jones, 19, and Jamie Broxson (pictured top left), 25.
According to Escambia County Circuit Court records, Broxson was released from the Escambia County Jail last week after being sentenced to probation on possession of drug paraphernalia and trespassing charges.
Jones (pictured bottom left) was arrested November 8 for DUI property damage and driving a motorcycle without a license. She was due to appear in court November 29, but she was not present.
Both bodies were found Monday in a wooded lot near a Gulf Power substation. The Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Gulf Power security personnel around 12:22 pm, shortly after another Gulf Power employee reported finding human remains near the substation.
Sheriff’s investigators and crime scene technicians were immediately dispatched and spent several hours processing the scene for possible evidence. During this time, another body was located by investigators.
Based upon the condition of the bodies it is believed that one has been in the lot for seven to 10 days, the other 72 hours or less, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Details concerning the specific cause of death will not be released, until determined by the Medical Examiner. Investigators, however, suspect foul play.
On Tuesday morning Sheriff’s investigators and members of the Escambia Search and Rescue Team (ESAR) searched the wooded area with cadaver dogs. These specially trained dogs are trained in detecting the odor of decomposing bodies. As of Tuesday afternoon no other remains had been located.
Further details have not been released.
Pictured top left: Jamie Broxson. Pictured bottom left: Debra Ann Jones.
Lower Electric Bills For EREC, Gulf Power
December 1, 2010
A little good news for Escambia River Electric Cooperative and Gulf Power customers — electric bills are on the way down.
Over the past year, the “purchased power cost adjustment” for EREC customers has decreased $36 on an average bill of 1,000 kilowatt hours. EREC said the lower power cost adjustment is due to lower fuel costs being passed along to end users.
“
When we benefit from lower energy costs, we will pass that benefit along to you as a valued member of EREC,” the company said in a news release.
Beginning January 2011, the typical Gulf Power Company residential customer will see a 2.8 percent decrease on their electricity bill as compared to January 2010, according to the company.
Gulf Power said the decrease is primarily driven by a lower cost of fuel the utility uses to produce electricity. By strategically monitoring its generation fuel mix to use the most cost-effective generation available, the company was able to lower residential electricity prices for 2011.
“The bottom line is that fuel prices have come down and we’re passing that savings along,” said Jeff Roger, spokesman for Gulf Power. “It’s a drop that will directly benefit our customers.”
Late Night Fire Destroys Cottage Hill Mobile Home (With Photo Gallery)
December 1, 2010
Several Cottage Hill community residents were left homeless by a fire that destroyed their mobile home late Tuesday night.
The blaze was reported about 11:10 p.m. at the double wide mobile home in the area of McKenzie Road and Eastman Lane. The fire was reported to be out by about midnight; the home was a total loss. All occupants of the mobile home were reported to have escaped without injury.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Cantonment, Molino, McDavid, Ensley and Beulah stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze.
For more photos from the fire, including the aftermath, click here.
Pictured: Fire destroyed this Cottage Hill mobile home late Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Some Credit, Debit Customers Double Charged At Winn Dixie
December 1, 2010
Some Winn Dixie shoppers may have been overcharged for groceries purchased last Wednesday and Thursday.
An unknown number of shoppers were charged twice for purchases made on November 24 — one of the nation’s busiest grocery shopping days — and Thanksgiving Day, according to a company spokesman. The company blames the problem on a computer communications glitch that left some stores temporarily unable to process card transactions.
The overcharges hit both credit and debit card transactions of some customers of most, if not all, of Winn Dixies 485 stores in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia.
Winn Dixie officials said the company was working to determine the cause of the problem and refund any overcharges. Customers that may have been overcharged can contact Winn Dixie at (866) 946-6349.
Winn Dixie, which is based in Jacksonville, Florida, operates several stores in the area, including Cantonment, Pensacola, and Atmore.
Northview Reschedules Events Due To Playoff Game; Will Excuse Absences
December 1, 2010
Northview High School has made several schedule changes due to this Friday night’s away playoff football game in Jacksonville, and the school has announced that Friday absences will be excused for students that attend the game.
From Northview Principal Gayle Weaver:
Northview High School has had to make adjustments to the basketball schedule to facilitate needed personnel for the football game this week. The changes are as follows:
- December 2 home games against Pensacola Christian Academy will be played on January 6, 2011 at Northview.
- December 3 home games against Baker will be played on December 9, 2010. This is the only date which Baker had open within the two schools’ schedules. This change will necessitate the rescheduling of the senior class’ anticipated Powder Puff Game. Reschedule date will be announced later.
- Also, the Northview Tribal Beat Band has had to cancel its appearance in the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ Christmas Parade. Our apologies for this cancellation, but the band will be accompanying the team to Jacksonville.
- Although great importance is given daily to academics, to each sport, and to each extracurricular activity, the ability to play in the state football playoff series represents a monumental step for a group of young men, their coaches, and their families who have worked so long and so hard to reach this level. The Northview family is asking everyone to get behind our varsity football team and to make this wonderful, positive opportunity the focus of our Chiefs’ Spirit at the moment. Everyone, especially every Northview student, who has the ability to go to the game is encouraged to do so. All academic teachers and sponsors of other events are supporting this playoff series as our number one activity.
Thanks to everyone for their support.
Gayle Weaver
Principal
Northview High School