Ruth T.Godwin
October 13, 2010
Ruth T.Godwin passed away at age 87 on October 11, 2010. She was born in Isabel, South Dakota, on March 29th, 1923, and moved to Davisville in the mid 1920’s where she lived the remainder of her life and peacefully passed away in her home with family members by her side.
While living her full and complete life, she was involved with and contributed in many ways to individuals, the community, and the state. She graduated from Ernest Ward High School in 1941 where she was valedictorian of her class. She was also a member of the National Honor Society of her secondary school. Her adult life, she spent her time as a full time wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She and her husband built and worked their farm, and she was also a bookkeeper. She had many community involvements; a few that she was most proud of were her membership in The Davisville Community Club, The Democratic Committee, The Florida Library Association, The Pensacola Library Association, and the Florida Panhandle Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. She also organized the Walk for Lawton Chiles that started in Century. Ruth was the first woman to serve on the Escambia County Civil Service Board, appointed by Governor Chiles. All of these memberships and contributions were just a part of her dedication to the community that she loved and served.
Mrs. Ruth T. Godwin was preceded in death by her loving husband of 50 years, Vonzie C. Godwin; as well as her parents, Samual and Anna (Oetken) Tichi; two sisters, Doris T. Rigby and Nancy P. Tichi; and her granddaughter Aimee K. Godwin.
She is survived by three children, Sharon G. Davis, husband Jimmie; John V. Godwin, Sr., wife Deborah; Michael G. Godwin, wife Renee; and Dennis Rigby, wife Sherri. Along with her children, she leaves many additional family members including brother Samuel Tichi, wife Theresa; grandchildren, Doug Davis, wife Jeannine; Brian Davis, wife Susie; Rebecca Hall, husband Rob; John Godwin, Jr., wife Dawn; Karen Jay, husband Frank; Bradley Godwin, wife Terina; Katherine Escudero, husband Cristian; Josh Godwin, wife Brandy; Kristi Hughes, husband John; Chad Rigby; as well as 19 great grandchildren. Other family members that will miss her dearly are Don and Emma Hart, special friend Gertrude Bradley.
A memorial service will be held in honor of the life of Mrs. Ruth T. Godwin on Thursday October 14, 2010, at 2 p.m. from the First United Methodist Church of Atmore with Rev. Jim Reece officiating.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Emerald Coast Hospice or to the Aimee K. Godwin Memorial Fund in Care of University of West Florida Foundation, Inc., 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514.
The family would like to thank the staff of Emerald of Coast Hospice.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore is in charge of all arrangements.
Bicyclist Killed In Atmore Crash
October 13, 2010
A 57-year old Atmore bicyclist was struck and killed during the predawn hours Wednesday.
Tommie Lee Hampton, Jr., died in the accident about 5 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 31 and Medical Park Drive. Hampton was hit by vehicle driven by Joe Kolb of Mobile, who was eastbound on Highway 31 at the time of the collision, according to the Atmore Police Department. Kolb was not injured.
Authorities said Hampton, a resident of Martin Luther King Avenue, was dressed in dark clothing and his bicycle had improper reflective equipment. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
No charges have been filed.
Hampton was leaving a nearby convenience store when he drove his bicycle into the path of the oncoming vehicle, according to Atmore Police.
143-Lot Subdivision Gets Final Approval
October 13, 2010
Final plans for a new 143-lot single family home subdivision in Cantonment have been approved by Escambia County. Saverna Park will be located off of Well Line Road, just west of the Cantonment Ballpark. The commission approved four street names for the subdivision: Jacobs Way, Jesse Drive, Hesed Court and Perdido Road.
The preliminary plans for Saverna Park were approved in August, 2005, with construction plans approved on December 16, 2006.
Violent Crime Down In Escambia; Non-Violent Crimes Jump
October 13, 2010
Crime in Escambia County was up 7.9 percent for the first half of 2010 over the same period last year, according to the 2010 Semi-Annual Uniform Crime Report released Tuesday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Total violent crimes — murder, forcible sex offenses, robbery and aggravated assault — decreased 4.1 percent during the six months of the year in Escambia County, while total non-violent crimes — burglary, larceny and vehicle theft — increased 9.6 percent. Statewide, total violent crimes were down 10.7 percent while non-violent crimes declined 3.8 percent.
The total crime index in Escambia County was up 7.9 percent during the first six months of the year. Escambia County’s total index includes crimes under the jurisdiction of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department other other state and local agencies. The overall crime index for the beginning of 2010 was up 11.5 percent for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and down 2.9 percent for the Pensacola Police Department.
There were 10 murders in Escambia County — three within the city limits of Pensacola and seven in the unincorporated area of the county –during the first half of 2010, an increase over six during the same period last year. During the period, forcible rapes were up from 86 to 112, robberies decreased from 306 to 286 and aggravated assaults decreased from 917 to 855.
Non-violent crimes showed the largest increases in Escambia County, including the city of Pensacola. Burglaries increased from 1,484 to 1,640; larcenies jumped from 4,062 to 4,526; and motor vehicle thefts inched up from 335 to 336.
During the first six months of 2009, 30.2 percent of indexed crimes were cleared in Escambia County, while 27.9 percent were cleared in the same period this year. During January to June of 2010, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office cleared 24.2 percent of indexed crimes, and the Pensacola Police Department cleared 24.2 percent of their indexed crimes.
Voter Focus: Race For Florida’s Ag Commissioner
October 13, 2010
While he’s been in the pinstripe world of Washington for several years, Adam Putnam is a fifth generation cattle rancher. He wants to return to his roots, hoping he’ll be elected agriculture commissioner in November.
For Scott Maddox, technically running for the same office, the goal is a bit different. The sign outside the office he wants doesn’t just say agriculture commissioner, it also says Office of Consumer Services. And the person running that office shares some executive power with the governor and other members of the Cabinet.
Putnam, a Republican, was a former Agriculture Committee chairman in the state Legislature and says farming is in his DNA, making this the natural job for him.
Maddox, a Democrat – who notes he was raised on a South Florida farm – isn’t as deeply entrenched in the state’s rural heartland, but says he’s running for the right office, too. And he says he and Putnam would actually be similar commissioners when it comes to the state’s farm agenda.
“We agree on every agriculture item,” said Maddox, a former chairman of the state Democratic Party. “We disagree on Cabinet issues like drilling and the role of the consumer protection. If you look at what the office does, you think of the extension agents that come help you grow things, but they don’t work for the department. They work for the University of Florida.
“Consumer protection is very important because Florida leads the nation in fraud against consumers, ranging from mortgage fraud to targeting seniors,” Maddox said.
Putnam would seem a more traditional candidate for the state’s top agriculture job – and rural voters in most areas have trended to Putnam’s Republican Party in recent decades after a century of being more aligned with the Democratic Party. Putnam said the business of agriculture and its intersection with commerce are things he inherently understands.
“Growing up in a farming family with deep roots in the agriculture community, I have first-hand experience that can’t be taught or bought,” Putnam said as he announced his candidacy. “That perspective, combined with my knowledge of business and government, uniquely qualifies me to best serve our ever changing industry and state.”
Maddox, who is also a former mayor of Tallahassee, has tried to convince voters that Putnam really isn’t any more “farm” than he is – Putnam has been working in the halls of power in the nation’s capital from an extremely young age, having been elected to Congress in 2000 when he was just 26. Before that, he was a Tallahassee insider, having been elected to the state House at just 22. He’s a lifetime politician, like many would say Maddox is, but more removed from everyday Floridians, Maddox argues.
“The choice in this race is between someone who has spent their entire career and adult life in Washington, D.C., and a Floridian who worked in local government,” Maddox said. “I was a very young mayor…Congressman Putnam was a Tom Delay Protégé.”
Not only was he raised on a Homestead farm, Maddox also tries to bolster his agricultural credibility on the campaign trail by pointing out that he’s spent a lot of time helping out on his wife Sha’s family farm – and she’s a former “Miss Georgia Cattleman.”
A poll released recently by the Florida Chamber of Commerce showed Putnam leading Maddox 36 percent to 28 percent, suggesting it could be an uphill climb for the former capital city mayor. The poll, conducted Sept. 27-30, surveyed 800 likely voters by telephone and had a margin of error of 3.46 percent.
But Putnam told supporters on a conference call they shouldn’t read too much into polls showing him ahead.
“That’s one of the most dangerous attitudes you can have in a campaign,” Putnam said. “When I’m traveling in rural areas or agricultural areas, I get a lot of that (confidence). But when I’m traveling in Dade and Broward, I don’t get that at all. It’s very humbling to be traveling around the state and meet people who have never heard of the agriculture commissioner.
“They’ve never heard of Adam Putnam,” he continued. “They may never have heard of any of the other people running. But there’s 18 million people (in Florida). Twelve million are registered (to vote).”
Some were surprised to see Putnam running for a Cabinet post after rising through the ranks to the third-ranking Republican House leadership position in 2006, and becoming a regular proponent of the Republican message on cable TV networks.
But Putnam said when he announced he wanted to return to Florida that he “never caught Potomac Fever” and that he wanted to come back to be commissioner because “agriculture is in my DNA.” Some critics, however, suggested that being in the GOP leadership in the minority wasn’t going to be as easy as when Republicans controlled Congress. Other observers have suggested Putnam, still just 36, is laying the ground work for a future run for governor.
Agriculture is “my professional background, it’s my academic background, it’s what my family is involved in to this day,” Putnam said when he announced he was leaving Congress.
Maddox is also often pointed to as someone who has habitually run for office, and may have higher aspirations. He has served as president of the Florida League of Cities, been a speaker at the Democratic National Convention and partnered with a political legend, former House Speaker and Senate President Mallory Horne, in the Maddox Horne law firm. This is his third run for statewide office, having lost the Democratic primary for attorney general in 2002 and making a short-lived run for governor in 2005.
By Keith Laing, The News Service Florida
Pictured top: Adam Putnam campaigns at Fran’s Diner in Molino last year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Defeats PCA
October 13, 2010
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated Pensacola Christian Academy in both varsity and junior varsity volleyball Tuesday.
Varsity
The Chiefs defeated PCA in a five-game match, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-7.
Senior Shawna Montgomery led the Lady Chiefs with 11 kills, six blocks, six digs and seven aces. Sarah Killam added 13 assists, one kill and an ace, while Ashley Digmon had 14 assists, one ace and two digs.
Morgan Payne, a sophomore, recorded four kills, two aces, two blocks and a dig, and Katie Wieborg had three digs, one block, 11 kills and two aces for the Lady Chiefs.
Northview’s varsity improved to 6-14 overall, 4-3 in the district.
The Lady Chiefs have one remaining home match this season as they host Jay on Thursday. The JV plays at 5 p.m., and the varsity takes the court at 6 p.m. for Senior Night.
Junior Varsity
The NHS JV defeated PCA in two straight games, 25-8, 25-20 to improve to 3-0 overall.
The Lady Chiefs had one kill, one ace, five assists and one dig from Madison Arrington, and Danielle Steadham added three kills and one block. Lana Clayton had seven kills and one block, and Paeton Hadley had one kills, six assists and two aces for the JV Lady Chiefs.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Trike-A-Thon Helps Children’s Hospital
October 13, 2010
The Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center recently participated in the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Trike-A-Thon.
The Trike-A-Thon is designed children riding-toy safety lessons while raising money for St. Jude.
“The children discussed all week how to ride a bicycle safely and how they were helping support a cure for cancer research,” said Pam Townson, director of the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center. “The children had a wonderful time and were very excited about the event.”
The was the second year that the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center has taken part in the St. Jude’s Trike-A-Thon.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Landfill’s Methane Gas Now Powering 900+ Homes
October 13, 2010
Gulf Power’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy facility is now up and running, producing 3,200 kilowatts — enough renewable energy to power more than 900 homes.
It is the first renewable energy generation facility owned and operated by Gulf Power, and the first landfill gas-to-energy facility by its parent Southern Company. The energy capacity can be expanded as landfill methane gas production expands in the future.
The partnership between Gulf Power and Escambia County was launched officially in February, when Gulf Power broke ground on its $5.3-million facility. Gulf Power has a contract with Escambia County for the purchase of landfill gas and with LFG Technologies Development to build and operate the landfill gas-to-energy facility.
“The project showcases how Gulf Power can partner with Escambia County and other communities to produce affordable renewable energy while providing tremendous benefits for our community and the environment,” said Sandy Sims, manager of Gulf Power Public Affairs. “We will produce renewable electricity that will benefit Gulf Power customers and create revenue for Escambia County. And it gives us an opportunity to teach schoolchildren about renewable energy.”
Landfill methane gas is one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy, forming naturally by bacterial decomposition of organic material in landfills, according to Gulf Power.
Municipal solid waste landfills are the second largest human-generated source of methane emissions in the United States and methane is one of the most potent forms of greenhouse gases — 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Escambia County has a collection system in place and pipes the gas to the facility, where it is processed for use by the specially designed Caterpillar 1,600-kilowatt landfill gas generators. Water separated from the landfill gas will be re-used by the Landfill for its leachate system.
While this is the first such facility in Southern Company, Gulf Power has launched other partnerships that the company said benefits communities and the environment:
Gulf Power/Emerald Coast Utilities Authority — Less than a year after the scrubber started reducing emissions by more than 90 percent at Plant Crist, the plant will begin using millions of gallons of reclaimed water from the new ECUA Water Reclamation Facility. The water will be used by the scrubber system and for cooling operations at the plant. This partnership, which helps establish the ECUA plant as a zero-discharge facility to replace the Main Street Wastewater Plant, won a Sustainable Florida Best Practices award.
Gulf Power/Santa Rosa County — Gulf Power partnered with Santa Rosa County to install a meteorological tower on Navarre Beach to test the viability of wind energy. The partnership also provides renewable energy education for Navarre High School.
Pictured: Gulf Power Company’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy facility, including two 1,600-kilowatt landfill gas generators. Submitted photos by Sean Smith, Gulf Power, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Golfer Makes First Hole-In-One
October 13, 2010
Anna Jackson, a sophomore on the Tate Laddy Aggies Golf Team, made her first hole-in-one at Cypress Lakes.
Jackson, who has been playing golf for just one year, made the Par 3 on Hole 5 from 131 yards. She also had the Pace High School tournament’s lowest score.
Anna is the daughter of Tracy Dortch-Jackson and Johnathan Jackson of Pensacola, granddaughter of Randy and Sue Dortch of Bratt, and the granddaughter of Jarrett and Marcia Jackson of Cantonment.
Pedestrian Struck By Vehicle In Walnut Hill
October 12, 2010
A pedestrian stepped into the path of a vehicle Tuesday evening in Walnut Hill.
Barbara Syria, 65, of Walnut Hill, stepped into the path of a Toyota Sequoia SUV driven by Shnelius Spencer, 35, of Walnut Hill. Spencer was unable to avoid hitting Syria, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The accident happened just before 6 p.m. in the 5700 block of Arthur Brown Road near the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
Syria, who was struck by the front of the SUV and its passenger side mirror, was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital. Her injuries were not considered serious, according to the FHP.
Spencer was not charged in connection with the accident.
Pictured above and below: A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
