Jimmy C. Foley
January 28, 2010
Jimmy C. Foley, age 68, of Cantonment, Florida died Sunday, January 17, 2010. He was a veteran of United States Army. Mr. Foley retired from Consolidated Freight and was a member of Cantonment Masonic Lodge. He was a life long member of Farm Hill Methodist Church. Jimmy was loved by everybody
He is preceded in death by his parents; G. P. and Bertha Foley and one sister Gwen Chappell and brother-in-law, Cliff Chappell.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years; Linda Foley, 2 sons; Jimmy (Kami) Foley, Scott (Vicki) Foley of Cantonment, 3 grandchildren; Katie (Jason), Brittney, Juston Foley of Cantonment, Jason Gayland, 1 sister; Sue (Doug) Patterson of Cantonment, 1 brother-in-law; Tommy and Shirley Oglesley of Cantonment, loving mother-in-law; Kathryn Thomas of Cantonment.
Funeral services will be held at Farm Hill Methodist Church on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 10:00 am with Rev. Fred Funcher officiating.
Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
Serving, as pallbearers will be Monte Chappel, Jermey Busby, Chris Chappel, David Ogleeley, Randy Ogleeley and Jason Gaylord.
Honorary pallbearers will be Melvin Gaylord, Doug Rittenbury, Tommy Brooks, Ray Smith, Buddy Plair and Russell Cain.
The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North-Cantonment on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Man Arrested For Robbing Tax Return Business When He Picks Up His Own Tax Refund Check
January 28, 2010
An Atmore man has been arrested and charged with robbing an Atmore tax return business after he returned to file his tax return — wearing the same clothing he had on during the robbery.
Keith Lamar Rodgers, 38, is charged with robbery.
On January 21, a black male wearing dark clothing entered the Rapid Return Tax Service on North Main Street in Atmore, demanded money and threatened to shoot the clerk. He fled on the foot, and tracking dogs from Fountain Correctional Facility were unable to locate him.
Employees at the business, who were not working the night of the robbery, identified Rogers as fitting the description of the offender when he went into the business to file a tax return wearing the same clothes he was wearing the night of the robbery, Investigator Robby Williams said. Atmore Police produced a photo lineup using the identification information that Rogers had provided to Rapid Return Tax Service, and the clerk that was working the night of the robbery made a positive identification of Rogers.
When Rogers returned to pick up his tax return check Thursday, the clerk immediately recognized him and called police. Atmore Police arrested Rogers after a short vehicle pursuit.
Sell Your Gold This Afternoon, Help EWMS Drama Club
January 28, 2010
The Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Club will hold a Gold Party fundraiser this afternoon from 4-7 in the school cafeteria.
If you have gold jewelry that you no longer want or need, you can sell it and get cash on the spot. Broken jewelry is also accepted. The broker will test and weigh the gold in front of you and offer you a price. For more info, email Katie Ward kward1@escambia.k12.fl.us
Woman, 91, Dies In Early Morning House Fire
January 28, 2010
An early morning house fire claimed the life of an elderly Flomaton woman.
Verda Mae Gandy Abrams, 91, died in the blaze at 65 Tulip Street in Flomaton. The fire was reported at 1:05 a.m. Thursday; the first firefighters on scene minutes later reported the house to be fully involved. Abrams’ body was found in a bedroom located near the front door of the brick home.
Two other people in the home escaped without injury. Their identities were not immediately available. One was believed to be in their 20;s, and the other in their 60’s.
Firefighters were on scene throughout the morning working to full extinguish the blaze. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fatal fire.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the fire.
Fire departments from Flomaton, Friendship, Lambeth, Century, Atmore, Jay and McDavid responded to the blaze. Escambia County (Fla.) EMS and the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department also responded.
Tulip Street is a short street between Highway 4A just west of Century and Old Atmore Road west of Flomaton. The fire was about 150 feet inside Alabama.
Pictured top: Firefighters enter a house fire at 65 Tulip Street in Flomaton that claimed an elderly woman’s life early Thursday morning. Pictured inset: Firefighters work to extinguish the fire. Pictured below: The body of Verda Mae Gandy Abrams, 91, was found inside the home. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Consolidation Supporters: Evers, Peaden “Under Control”; Murzin: More Interest In Legalized Pot
January 28, 2010
Most of the Northwest Florida legislative delegation is “under control” according to emails from supporters of governmental consolidation, but one member of the delegation says he has had more contact from the public about legalizing marijuana than for or against consolidation.
Emails obtained by ProgressivePensacola.com show repeated coordination between Ken Bell, who chaired the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission, and consolidation supporters Scott Remington (pictured), Jason Crawford and Dick Baker. Remington and Crawford are co-chairs of the pro-consolidation political action committee Escambia All For One.
- “We need to get a FIRM commitment out of Clay Ford. “I think I have Evers and Peaden under control,” Remington wrote to Baker, Crawford and Mort O’Sullivan.
- “I will work on Clay,” Bell replied.
- “I just spoke with Rep. Ford. He said to “keep it on the track” and he will do what he can,” Bell wrote in another email.
The legislative delegation — Rep. Clay Ford, Rep. Greg Evers, Rep. Dave Murzin and Sen. Durrell Peaden– is tasked with taking the consolidation plan and presenting it to the state legislature for approval and to have any public referendum set.
“The legislative delegation determines whether or not to file a local bill. So, you need to help us keep the pressure up, especially on Greg Evers, Dave Murzin and Durrell Peaden, to assure that the politicians live up to their commitment to allow any plan developed to go to the people for a vote in November 2010,” Bell (pictured) wrote in a January 8 email.
Murzin told NorthEscambia.com Wednesday night that he has had no contact from anyone on either side of the consolidation issue in months, except for a phone call from Crawford this week.
“I’ve had no other emails or calls in months about consolidation,” Murzin said. “I’ve had more emails supporting legalized marijuana than consolidation…Having no calls, no emails for a long time tells me it is dead issue,” he said.
Murzin said he has the consolidation plan in-hand, but he has not finished review it due to his current work on unemployment compensation legislation in the Florida House. “I will read it, analyze it and make the best decisions possible,” he said.
According to January 14 emails, a lunch meeting between Rep. Ford, Remington, Bell, Baker and Bell was scheduled to take place January 22 at McGuires Irish Pub. Baker emailed the group to inform them that O’Sullivan would also take part in the meeting.
To download all of Bell’s consolidation related emails, visit ProgressivePensacola.com (189Mb pdf package).
Jay Football Star Hendricks To Play For USA Jaguars
January 28, 2010
Jay High School football star Rush Hendricks has committed to play football for the University of South Alabama Jaguars.
Due to an injury, Hendricks only played five games during his senior season, rushing for 750 yards as a running back for the Royals. On the defensive side, playing linebacker, he had 45 tackles, eight of them for losses.
Hendricks has participated in summer camps at Florida, Florida State, Auburn and Alabama — where he made the Sabian team for two years. He’s been named a 2009 Pensacola News Journal Super Senior, and played offense and defense on the Pensacola Sports Association All-Star team.
Football is not his only sport; Henricks has played catcher and first base in baseball, part of a district championship team each year of his high school career.
The 225 pound Hendricks is also a star in the classroom at Jay High, where he is currently ranked second in the senior class with a 4.0 GPA in an honors curriculum.
Rush Hendricks is the son of Rick and Nina Hendricks.
Hendricks will officially ink his letter of intent with USA Jaguars on February 3. The Jaguars concluded their inaugural season with a perfect 7-0 mark while outscoring the opposition 321-41. During the 2010 season, they will face 10 four-year schools, including seven home games at Ladd-Peebles stadium in Mobile.
Ernest Ward Middle School Releases Honor Roll
January 28, 2010
Ernest Ward Middle School has released its honor roll for the second nine weeks.
Students on the Ernest Ward Middle School Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll are:
6th Grade All A’s
Tristan Barrett
Haley Brown
Jacob Dunsford
Christopher Grant
Abbie Johnson
Trevor Levins
Jason Ogle
Bethany Reynolds
Savanna Roux
Jordan Taylor
Bradley Van Pelt
Haylee Weaver
7th Grade All A’s
Shalmali Bhadkamkar
Austin Cunningham
Jessica McCullough
Amy Murph
Mallory Ryan
Chelsea Turner
Tamara Wise
8th Grade All A’s
Natyia Bailey
Samantha Barrow
Kasie Braun
Skye Brown
Katelynne Calloway
Anna Donald
Anna Fischer
Tamara Green
Jessica Lowery
Hilery Scott
Danny Slay
Courtney Solari
Jennifer Spears
Danielle Steadham
Courtney Weaver
Victoria Wright
6th Grade All A’s and B’s
Kaitlyn Abbott
Jadlyn Agerton
Katelyn Born
Alan Brown
William Brown
Hunter Commander
Leah Fischer
Amber Freeman
Nathan Galvan
Saige Garrett
Dariane Guy
Lorri Harrell
Jordan Helkmen
Tyler Houston
Kendral Langford
Trevor Lassiter
Thomas Moore
Meagan Ogle
Brianna Parker
Liberty Peebles
Wesley Peebles
Jason Perritt
Jamilia Smiley-Knight
David Thorpe
Harmoni Till
Brittney Ward
Carly Ward
Jensyn Warner
Courtney Weekley
7th Grade All A’s and B’s
Autumn Ates
Reagan Bell
Annie Bobo
Tristan Brown
Megan Bryan
Kristen Byrd
Kendall Cobb
Tiffani Cruce
Elizabeth Fillingham
Hannah Gibson
Christian Gould
Kyndall Hall
Julie Hester
Auden Lassitter
Logan Lee
Benjamin Linam
Aaron McDonald
Madison McGhee
Jaylen Parker
Tristan Portwood
Rachel Sepulveda
Logan Sherouse
Rickey Smith
Danielle Suggs
Cara Thompson
Morgan Ward
Kelton Wooten
8th Grade All A’s and B’s
Miriah Albritton
William Adreoli
Madison Arrington
Timothy Born
Trey Boutwell
Dale Brown
Morgan Digmon
Brittany Flota
Dakota Houck
Casey Jackson
Courtney Jones
Justin King
Chloe Leonard
Courtney Lewis
Alexandria Martin
Rebekah Miles
Rachel Presley
Tiffani Pritchett
Ronald Pritchett
Mikaela Santos
Jeremy Stacey
Lily Townson
Chelsea Ward
Raven Weaver
Church Awarded Grant To Improve Lives Of The Elderly
January 28, 2010
A Jay church was awarded a grant Wednesday to improve the lives of the elderly in their community.
The Jay Walking Outreach Ministry, a project of the Jay First Baptist Church, was awarded $12,500 from Communities for a Lifetime, a partnership between the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and AARP.
The Jay Walking Outreach Ministry provides seniors with home modifications such as wheelchair ramps, bathroom modifications, smoke and carbon detectors, and other minor home repairs to aid them in remaining safely in their homes. The program has served seniors in the community for two years.
It is the organization’s vision to be a resource to the elderly and disabled adults in the community, in effort to encourage happier and healthier living, according to program organizers.
Elder Affairs Secretary Douglas Beach presented the grant award on Wednesday.
Sacred Heart Hospital Dedicates New Cancer Center
January 28, 2010
Sacred Heart Health System dedicated a new Cancer Center Wednesday that combines some of the area’s leading cancer specialists as well as chemotherapy and radiation therapy in a facility designed for the comfort of patients.
The new $32 million center is part of Sacred Heart’s ongoing efforts to provide the most advanced cancer treatment to patients in Northwest Florida, according to hospital officials.
The new center, located adjacent to Sacred Heart Medical Park at Airport Boulevard and College Parkway in Pensacola, will open its doors to patients on Monday. Sacred Heart will hold an open house to allow the community to tour the new facility on February 20.
“Our vision is to be the region’s premier cancer center. The facility will combine excellent diagnostic and treatment technology, great doctors and staff, a healing environment, and individualized patient care supported by the latest knowledge and research,” said Laura Kaiser, president and CEO of Sacred Heart Health System. “The Cancer Center is evidence of our commitment to raise the standard of cancer care and help our patients and their loved ones overcome this disease.”
The new facility will consolidate and expand Sacred Heart’s cancer services. It will include:
Offices of the specialists with Sacred Heart Medical Oncology Group.
A spacious unit dedicated to outpatient chemotherapy that provides private rooms and comfortable semi-private areas for treatment of up to 35 patients.
A radiation oncology unit that offers advanced, highly precise technology for radiation therapy called the Trilogy Stereotactic System.
Other services such as lab and pharmacy services, patient education and support services, and cancer research staff that enrolls patients in research studies of the latest cancer treatments.
One of the most beneficial aspects of centralizing outpatient cancer services is the expedited coordination of services. Dr. Thomas Sunnenberg of Sacred Heart Medical Oncology Group said cancer care tends to be fragmented, which in turn causes delays in diagnosis and treatment, but the new center will bring physicians and staff together for multi-disciplinary planning of patient care.
By March, additional cancer specialists will be located in the center, including Drs. Gerald Lowrey and Rod Krentel, both board-certified radiation oncologists.
Dr. Sunnenberg said that putting a team of physicians in the same room, looking at the same images and test results, and planning together has been proven to make a difference in patient outcomes. “Everybody who is in this group – the radiation oncologists and the medical oncologists – participate in multi-disciplinary planning at least two times a week. It makes us better at what we do.”
The new center also will house social workers, Cancer Registry staff, a prayer and meditation area, conference space, a patient resource library and education classrooms.
“Our new Cancer Center will really bring a significant level of care to our community’s cancer patients,” says Terri Smith, vice president of Cancer Services. “When patients experience a center that houses all of the services they need and is dedicated solely to helping them fight cancer, it provides them with a greater sense of hope. Support is really an important key to battling cancer.”
Sacred Heart is affiliated with M. D. Anderson Physicians Network. As a result of this affiliation, Sacred Heart cancer patients gain access to the latest clinical care guidelines and quality initiatives developed by teams of specialists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, the nation’s leader in cancer care. The guidelines are founded upon research to determine the best known outcomes for patients receiving cancer treatment.
Experts at M. D. Anderson regularly communicate with Sacred Heart physicians via teleconferences where they discuss the cases of individual patients and share knowledge based on research. Physicians Network also provides Sacred Heart with ongoing rigorous review of its standards and practices.
For more information, call (850) 416-2770 or visit www.sacred-heart.org.
Century Care Center’s Gong Show
January 28, 2010
The staff and residents at Century Care Center recently took part in their own version of the old television series “The Gong Show”.
The Gong Show series, which first aired in 1976, featured variety entertainers in front of a panel of judges that could strike a large gong to force a particularly bad performer to stop.
During the Century Care Center Gong Show, Elaine Hill was gonged and won the prize for worst talent for her comedy routine.
For a look at the acts, click here for a photo gallery.
Pictured top: “The Unusual Supremes” Christy, Wendy and Gwen. Pictured inset: Jeannie Tweeter with her version of “Pants On the Ground”. Submitted photos by Mae Hildreth for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.