Legendary Tate Coach Floyd Adams Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
January 20, 2012
A legendary former coach for Tate High School and Jefferson Davis Community College was inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Birmingham Friday night.
Floyd Adams was 179-37 at Tate High School, where he spent two years as an assistant coach before serving as head coach for seven years. He then moved on in 1984 to the college level at Jeff Davis in Brewton where he was 303-149 in 10 seasons.
Adams is a 1952 graduate of Escambia County High School in Atmore. He has been retired from coaching for over a decade.
Gladys M. Smith
January 20, 2012
Gladys M. Smith, 94, of Walnut Hill died Thursday January 19, 2012, in Pensacola. She was a retired seamstress with Vanity Fair Mills born in Opp, AL, on September 7, 1917, to the late Shirley and Bessie Knowles Money.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Smith, sister Hazel Parrish, and brother Buster Money.
She is survived by a son, Lamar Smith and wife Madonna of Dogwood Park; a sister, Lois Wells of Sopchoppy, FL, two grandchildren, Victor Smith of Crestview, Candace Eick and husband Eric of Leesburg, GA; and one great-grandchild, Ryan Eick of Leesburg, GA.
Graveside services will be Monday January 23, 2012, at 11 a.m. in the Walnut Hill Baptist Cemetery, with Rev. Ted Bridges officiating.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Regency Hospice, 4900 Bayou Blvd, #101, Pensacola, FL 32503.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Escambia Schools To Host Career Academy Showcase
January 20, 2012
The Escambia County School District Workforce Education Department will host the 2012 Empower Your Mind Middle and High School Career Academy Showcase next week.
The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, January 26 at the Woodham Middle School Gymnasium at 150 East Burgess Road. Families of fifth through ninth grade students in Escambia County are invited to attend the Career Academy Showcase to discover opportunities provided through career academy participation.
Teachers, students, and business partners from all middle and high school career academies in Escambia County will showcase their academies.
Representatives from the School Choice Office will be available to assist families with completing career academy applications.
The career academy application deadline for high schools is February 15; the deadline for middle schools is March 15. For more information, visit career.escambia.k12.fl.us/home/index.asp.
Hundreds Of Trees Given Away
January 20, 2012
Hundreds of trees were given away in Century Thursday as part of a Florida’s Arbor Day celebration.
Escambia County, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension, and Florida Forestry Service teamed up to give away Shumard Oak, Bald Cypress, River Birch, Mayhaw, Chickasaw Plum and Wax Myrtle seedlings.
Extension Master Gardeners were also available to advise participants on tree types and tree placement in the landscape.
A similar program was held Friday in Warrington.
The Arbor Day Celebration is funded through the U. S. Department of Agriculture and Florida Forestry Service with a grant administered by Escambia County Community & Environment Department.
Pictured: A tree giveaway Thursday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Authorities Seek Help To Solve Decades Old Century Murder
January 20, 2012
Authorities are looking for information in a 20-year old unsolved Century murder.
On, Saturday, October 27, 1990, 62-year old white male Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick was found deceased at his residence in the area of Cottage Street and Old Flomaton Road in Century. Investigators determined that Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick, also known as “Doughboy” or “Dawboy” was murdered.
Warrack was seen by a Century police officer about 9:00 the previous night when he responded to a prowler complaint at Warrick’s address.
He was described by family members as a World War II veteran, where he received injuries that led to him being disabled. He enjoyed passing his time at Flomaton Billards, according to family members.
Investigators are still looking for the person or persons responsible for Warrick’s murder. Anyone with any information regarding what might have happened to Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick, or anyone familiar with Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick during the time frame leading up to October 27, 1990, is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Poll Of Republicans: Prison No Longer The Only Criminal Justice Option
January 20, 2012
A poll sponsored by advocates for criminal justice reform found a large number of Florida Republicans appear to agree with them – that it is now OK to talk about getting a little softer on some criminals.
A number of politicians and interest groups have watched as crime has dropped, while the economy has tanked in recent years, leading to a number of discussions about moving away from some of the tougher “lock ‘em up” sentencing practices of the last couple of decades, primarily driven by Republicans.
A poll commissioned by the Florida TaxWatch Center for Smart Justice and Associated Industries of Florida and released Thursday found that more than 8 in 10 GOP voters in the state support additional use of things like work-release and treatment programs. The poll, conducted by Tel Opinion Research, surveyed 800 registered Florida Republicans who said they were likely voters. More than 6 in 10 of the respondents were over 55.
Nearly three-quarters, 73 percent, said they agreed that fewer people convicted of non-violent crimes should be sent to prison, and that the state needs a stronger probation and parole system. The poll also found that 81 percent support certain community-based alternatives to juvenile prisons.
By The News Service of Florida
J.L. (Joe) Watts
January 20, 2012
J.L. (Joe) Watts was called home to be with his heavenly Father on January 19, 2012. He was born to Joseph L. and Annie Watts on March 17, 1920, in Century.
He is preceded in death by brothers Howard and Heron, sisters Olice Sharritt and Mattie Archer.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years Jane; sons Joseph L. Watts III (Paula), Michael L. Watts (Linda) and daughter Julia M. Cates; his grandchildren Chad Watts, Les McGee, Brittany and Dakota Eggert, Rachelle (Kevin) Creel, Jennifer (Brad) Salmon. He had seven great grandchildren – Kacey, Tucker, Karagan, Kori Beth, Andrew and Jacob; one sister, Kathleen Broxson of Pace; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Watts proudly served his country in World War II in the South Pacific. He retired from the Air Force in 1964 and then went on to work for Kmart, Corp. in 1984. Joe loved to fish and hunt. He and his wife, Jane spent many hours out on the water together. Joe and Jane had a long happy journey thru life together. J.L. loved his Lord and was a devoted husband and father. We have so many wonderful memories of him. He will be missed so much.
Special thanks to Pensacola Health Center and Emerald Coast Hospice for their love and care.
Funeral services will be at noon on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at Olive Baptist Church with Dr. Ted Traylor officiating. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be Shaun Hall, Timmy Hall, Harold Rich, Cleve Hanks, Steve Hall and Jay Gaines. Honorary pallbearers will be Brad Salmon and Kevin Creel.
The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Monday, January 23, 2012, from 5-7 p.m.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South, Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Reported Chemical Exposure Shuts Down Escambia River Bridge
January 20, 2012
Concerns over a possible chemical exposure shut down the Escambia River Bridge on Highway 4 between Century and Jay Thursday morning.
A female reported about11:30 a.m. that she was overcome by some sort of chemical smell in her vehicle which prompted her to stop at the Santa Rosa County end of the bridge. The Jay Fire Department, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded.
The woman was transported by private vehicle to Jay Hospital in good condition.
Authorities were not able to pinpoint the alleged smell and quickly determined that there was no danger to the public before re– opening the bridge to traffic.
Further details were not available.
Pictured: The Escambia River Bridge on Highway 4 was shut down for a short time Thursday morning after a woman reported a possible chemical exposure in her car. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Academy Names New Head Coach
January 20, 2012
Escambia Academy has hired a new head football coach and athletic director who is no stranger to coaching.
Veteran coach Hugh Fountain is now on the job for the Cougars. For the last 6-years, he coached at Charles Henderson High School in Troy with a 106-67 overall record and 10 playoff trips in the last dozen years. He has also coached at W.S. Neal, Flomaton and Hillcrest Evergreen.
Fountain replaces Heath Gibson who stepped down after nine seasons with the cougars. During those nine season, Gibson led EA to the playoffs five times.
Elizabeth Dally Bazo
January 20, 2012
Mrs. Elizabeth Dally Boutwell Bazo, went to meet her Savior face to face on Wednesday January 18, 2012. Elizabeth was born to James and Liney Cobb in Northern Escambia County.
At a very young age, she was adopted by Clarence and Bessie Dally of St. Petersburg, FL. She graduated in the class of 1940 from St. Pete High School. She moved to Pensacola to join the Cadet Nurse Corps, graduating in 1944 as an RN. After a brief marriage to James Adams, she met and married Norman Boutwell. After the death of Norman, she married Ben Bazo.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by late husband, Ben Bazo; bother of her natural and adoptive parents; two brothers, John Hendley and Wes Cobb, as well as her adoptive brother, Ralph Dally and his daughter, Jeannie.
Left to miss her and to cherish her memories are her two sisters, Betty (herb) and Emma; her son, Michael (Hazel); two grandchildren, Trisha (Chuck) and Toby (Jamie); seven great-grandchildren, Kevin, Athena, Jordyn, Courtney, Hannah, Ezra and Elijah; also several nieces and nephews and a special Latina sister, Lolli.
She wished to thank all the staff at Specialty Center of Pensacola.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Church with Reverend David Robatzen officiating. Interment will follow at Bellview Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Faith CHapel Funeral Home South on Friday, January 20, 2012, from 5-6:30 p.m.