Rain Possible Today, Wednesday
May 8, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Calm wind.
- Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming north between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 82. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
Busted In Bed: US Marshals Nab Escambia Fugitive In Milton
May 8, 2012
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force caught up with a wanted Pensacola man Monday while he was sleeping in a hotel room one county away from where he was being sought.
Escambia County fugitive Dexter Antonio Locke awoke to Task Force officers standing over him Monday at the Red Roof Inn located at Avalon Boulevard and I-10 in Santa Rosa County.
After he was placed under arrest by the Task Force, a powdery substance what is believed to be almost quarter pound of cocaine, several thousand dollars in cash and some marijuana were found in the room, according to U.S. Marshals.
An unidentified 18-year old female was also present in the room but was not charged.
Locke iwas wanted in Escambia County on a warrant from September of 2011 revoking his bond on an arrest in which he was charged with trafficking heroin and cocaine.
Task Force Officers from FDLE, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties as well as Defuniak Police Department arrested Locke without incident around 12:30. It is unknown at this time what additional charges Locke will face. The apparent drugs and cash were turned over to Santa Rosa Narcotics Unit, which also assisted in the arrest.
The Marshals received this case about a month ago and have been following leads between the two counties. At times, the Task Force would conduct surveillance at this hotel and Monday they caught their break, according to a news released.
Once they confirmed it was Locke in themotel room, they immediately moved in. No resistance was met at the door as they were let in by the female. Locke was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Richard E. “Ricky” Richburg, Sr.
May 8, 2012
Richard E. “Ricky” Richburg, Sr., age 63, of Milton, passed away Saturday, April 7, 2012. He was born January 12, 1949, in Century, FL to the late Pascal & Sarah Sprow Richburg.
Ricky was a U.S. Army Veteran and of the Baptist faith. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, the true love of his life was his family, the heartstrings of joy in his life were his grandchildren and great grandchild.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 42 years, Pamela Yuhasz Richburg; three sons, Richard E. (Bonnie) Richburg, Jr., John (Krickett) Richburg, all of Milton, and Morgan (Kristy) Richburg of Holt; 12 grandchildren, one great grandchild; a brother, Bill Richburg of North Carolina; five sisters, Ann Cook of Beulah, Jennifer Arnette of Bay Minette, Mary Williams of Cantonment, Paul Jo Rayles of North Carolina and Donna Morris of Cantonment.
Private graveside services will be held at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens.
Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Donald Lyvon Phillips, Sr.
May 8, 2012
Donald Lyvon Phillips, Sr., 75, of Jay died Sunday, May 6, 2012, at his home surrounded by his wife and three daughters.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Eli “Bud” and Sadie Phillips; son, Donald L Phillips, Jr.; brother, Gerald Phillips and father-in-law, Floyd White.
Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of 31 years, Sharon White-Phillips; three daughters, Tammy Snelson, Kimi Smith and Carmen (John) Gustafson; grandchildren, Nate Phillips, Summer Alford, Lynzi (Frankie) Dyess, Jessica (Brian) Varner, Nick Snelson, Sydney Snelson, Jenny Gustafson and Lukas Snelson; great-grandchild, Dustin Dyess; sister, Maxine (John L.) Jones; special mother-in-law, Mary Dell White and many nieces and nephews.
Lyvon was born August 28, 1936, in Brewton and lived in the Berrydale community all his life. He was a building contractor and used his talents to help many friends and neighbors in the community. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed the outdoors. He was known as one of the “great storytellers” of all time.
Funeral services will be held at Jay Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at 2 p.m. with burial following at Walling Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Jay Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, from 6-8 p.m.
Active pallbearers will be Keith Jones, Nate Phillips, Nick Snelson, Lukas Snelson, Adam White and Justin White.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. C. David Smith, Jimmy White, Glenn White, Mark Phillips, Jerry Phillips, Mallory Cooley, Randy Cooley, Billy Morrell, Bobby Hicks, Duke Vunovich, Curtis Peaden, Hansel Prescott, Robert Ingram, Bobby Hicks, Harold Thompson and Huey Gay.
A special thank you to Dr. C. David Smith and staff, and Covenant Hospice employees, Tracey, Trish, Cathy and Kevin. Also, a very special thanks to niece, Paige Baxley and mother-in-law, Mary Dell White for their loving and compassionate care.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Escambia Honors Shining Stars
May 8, 2012
The Greater Escambia Community Foundation and WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast, presented the Shining Star Award to 39 Escambia County elementary students in a ceremony Sunday afternoon at WSRE’s Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio on the main campus of Pensacola State College.
Area principals and teachers selected the winners based on good citizenship, community service and adherence to the core values of the Escambia County School District: equality, responsibility, integrity, respect, honesty and patriotism. Each winner was awarded a certificate of achievement and a new bicycle and helmet.
From the North Escambia area, recipients (pictured at bottom of page) were:
- Lydia Smith, Bratt Elementary
- McKayla McConathy, Byrneville Elementary
- Logan Nelson, Jim Allen Elementary
- Dalton Brown, Molino Park Elementary
For a photo gallery, click here.
The complete list of 2012 Community Foundation of Northwest Florida and WSRE Shining Star recipients is as follows:
- Connor Queen, A.K. Suter Elementary
- Katelynn Barber, Bellview Elementary
- Bethany Faucett, Beulah Elementary
- Kristian “Nealy” Ard, Blue Angels Elementary
- Lydia Smith, Bratt Elementary
- Kiara Betts, Brentwood Elementary
- McKayla McConathy, Byrneville Elementary
- Gregory Posey, C. A. Weis Elementary
- Lillian Wiggins, Cordova Park Elementary
- Kyla Homewood, Creative Learning Academy
- Abdul Alsubaie, Ensley Elementary
- Allee McDonald, Episcopal Day
- De’Aveon Fisher-Primm, Escambia Christian
- Sara Siler, Ferry Pass Elementary
- Scarlett Nguyen, Global Learning Academy
- Mallory Mott, Hellen Caro Elementary
- Michelle Luther, Holm Elementary
- Logan Nelson, Jim Allen Elementary
- Aronje Palmer, Lincoln Park Elementary
- Alisha L’Orange, Little Flower Catholic
- Avery Resmondo, Longleaf Elementary
- Cason Forst, McArthur Elementary
- Dalton Brown, Molino Park Elementary
- Kayla Therrien, Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Trinity Holmes, N. B. Cook Elementary
- Michael Young, Navy Point Elementary
- Tejaun Browne, O. J. Semmes Elementary
- Kimberly Anguilu, Oakcrest Elementary
- Carlee Amberson, Pensacola Beach Elementary
- Madeline Markham, Pensacola Christian
- Natalie Gandy, Pine Meadow Elementary
- Rhapeepan Antrim, Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Griffin Pearce, R. C. Lipscomb Elementary
- Erin Meszaros, Redeemer Lutheran
- Dalton Wulzer, Scenic Heights Elementary
- Morgan Jacobs, Sherwood Elementary
- Helen Driscoll, St. Paul Catholic
- Ritchie Knutie, Warrington Elementary
- Exiquio Enriquez, West Pensacola Elementary
Above: Lydia Smith, Bratt Elementary.
Above: McKayla McConathy, Byrneville Elementary.
Above: Logan Nelson, Jim Allen Elementary.
Above: Dalton Brown, Molino Park Elementary.
Photos courtesy WSRE for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Lady Royals Win State Semifinals; State Title Game Tuesday
May 7, 2012
The Jay High School Lady Royals won their Class 1A state semifinal match this afternoon, 7-5 over Port St. Joe.
The 1A final game for the state championship will be played Tuesday at 4 p.m. (CDT). Admission will be $9 per game, with no passes. Live video will be available on NorthEscambia.com for free.
It’s the first trip ever to the state finals in fast pitch softball for the Lady Royals; the last time they went to state in 1988 it was slow pitch.
Pictured: The Jay Lady Royals celebrate their state semifinal win Monday afternoon in Clermont, Florida. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
LIVE VIDEO NOW: Jay Vs. Port St. Joe
May 7, 2012
LIVE video as Jay takes on Port St. Joe in Clermont, Florida. Video courtesy NorthEscambia.com and the FHSAA.
If you do not see the video above, it is because your home, school or work firewall is blocking external videos.
Retired Walnut Hill VFD Chief Robert Stewart Passes Away
May 7, 2012
Retired Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Stewart passed away Sunday surrounded by loved ones at his home in Bratt after a battle with cancer. He was 62.
Stewart retired as the department’s chief in 2008 after 30 years of service as a volunteer fireman in Bratt and Walnut Hill, the last 15 of those years as chief of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. He retired to spend more time with his grandson “Little Man” and to fight cancer. He later became active again in the department as his health permitted.
Stewart answered his first fire call in 1967 after the formation of the Bratt Volunteer Fire Department. The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club founded the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department in 1964 and donated a truck to form the Bratt department three years later.
For 10 years, he served the Bratt community as a volunteer fireman until Bratt VFD’s truck finally “wore out”. Walnut Hill and the Atmore Fire Department began answering calls in the Bratt community in 1977.
He was out of a volunteer fire department for about 10 years, until he joined the Walnut Hill VFD in 1987. For 21 straight years, he served the Walnut Hill department — the last 15 of those years as chief.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 8 from 6-9 p.m. at at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 9 at 10 a.m. at at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at Godwin Cemetery in Bratt.
Reprinted below are portions of an earlier story and interview with Robert Stewart after his retirement.
“1501 enroute”
March 9, 2001, was the beginning of what Stewart said was the most memorable call of his career.
The call was not far from Stewart’s house. It was a single vehicle accident, car versus a tree, on Highway 99 near Oakshade Road. When Stewart arrived, he and the other members of the WHVFD found a small sports car, literally cut in half, two pieces of car on the side of the highway. Inside, the passenger was not seriously injured.
But the driver, a 16-year old local girl, was gravely injured. Her leg was partial severed, a major artery cut. Her situation was worse than serious. In fact, she coded at least twice before arriving at the hospital. “Coded”, as in “code blue”, as in cardiac arrest. But Stewart and the rest of the emergency workers that day worked hard to get this young lady on LifeFlight.
In the end, she lost her leg, but she survived. Today, she’s a healthy, happily married 27-year old mother.
“I’ve been to a lot of bad wrecks,” Stewart said. “Sometime, people die. It’s always a good call when you can help someone that doesn’t die.”
But two words made this wreck different than many for the chief.
“Thank you.”
From death’s door, the young girl was able to return to tell Stewart and the rest of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department “thank you”.
“Sometimes they come back to tell you ‘thank you’,” he said. “It makes you feel good, and you know your department has accomplished something, when they came back to thank you.”
There have been others to return to thank the department over the years. But Valerie Baker’s accident just sticks out in Stewart’s memory.
“The ‘thank you’ means a lot, especially when they came to the department and thank everyone,” he said. “It just means a lot.”
“Not a Hero”
Stewart said he doesn’t consider himself a hero. The Walnut Hill volunteers are team, he said, with everyone working together to help the community.
He was labeled a hero at least once. It was another wreck, this one on State Line Road. A car was upside down in a water-filled ditch with three children inside. Stewart was the first on the scene, responding from his nearby home.
“I managed to get the door open and got the three children out of the ditch,” he said. “Their mom called me a hero. I was just doing my job.”
Cat In Tree? Been there, done that. Twice.
It’s a scene that’s usually in a children’s program…the fireman rescues the cute little kitty cat from a tree. But in real life, it’s not exactly so pretty.
One cat-in-a-tree call was on Highway 97 several years ago. 1501 and his wife, Diann Stewart (a.k.a. 1503) responded to the call.
“She ran the ladder up the tree,” he said. “I knew what I was in for. I put on a bunker coat, and gloves before going up to the cat.”
“The ole cat just froze on the tree,” Stewart said with a chuckle. “I needed both hands to peel it off the tree. It stuck like Velcro on that tree. I had to keep peeling that ole cat off the tree.”
The second time Stewart responded to a cat-in-a-tree call, he was perhaps a bit smarter. He sent his son Sam Stewart, also a volunteer fireman, up the tree. This call was at the home of a local pastor. The pastor told them to drop the cat, and drop it Sam did. The can landed on a lower limb of the tree, uninjured.
Scary Stuff
“When my youngins were in school, I did not like it when you’d get a call in the direction they were suppose to be coming from,” he said. “You were always it afraid it was going to be one of yours.”
“When you live up here, you are kin to somebody,” he said. “You always care about who it is.”
A Time To Work, A Time To Play
Stewart was quick to thank all of those that have volunteered with the Walnut Hill VFD over the years. And he expressed his thanks to the other volunteer fire departments in the area the assisted Walnut Hill, as well the county deputies, state troopers and others he worked with for years.
The biggest thanks went to those Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department members, a group he said he always enjoyed being around.
“I had the best bunch of firemen in the county he said, “and when they were done working and got ready to play, I had the biggest bunch of youngins in the county.”
“1501 Completed Assignment”
“It’s hard not to answer a call,” he said. The fire department pager still goes off in the Stewart home, alerting them of emergency calls. Diann remains with the Walnut Hill VFD as an EMT. “After 20 years, it’s hard not to go help someone.”
“I just always tried to help.”
Funeral arrangements for Robert Stewart are incomplete at this time.
Pictured top: Retired Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Stewart and his grandson Drew (”Little Man”) Kennedy watch from the sidelines at an accident on Pine Barren Road. Pictured top inset: Stewart receives a large plaque with his helmet during a retirement reception. Pictured bottom inset, Stewart is honored by the Walnut Hill VFD. Pictured below: Robert Stewart teaches fire safety to students at Bratt Elementary School in October 2011. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weekend In Photos
May 7, 2012
If you missed NorthEscambia.com over the weekend, you missed over 425 photos from several community and news events. Click an item below to view the corresponding story and/or photo gallery.
Live Webcast: Jay Lady Royals Seek Semifinal Win Today
May 7, 2012
The Jay Royals will compete in the Class 1A regional semifinals today in high school softball.
The Jay Lady Royals will face Port St. Joe Jr-Sr High at 11 a.m. (CDT) at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida.. Port St. Joe is coming off a 5-4 regional win over Liberty County. It’s the first trip ever to the state finals in fast pitch softball for the Lady Royals; the last time they went to state in 1988 it was slow pitch.
The 1A final game will then be played Tuesday, May 8 at 4 p.m. (CDT). Admission will be $9 per game, with no passes.
The game will be streamed live on FHSAAsports.com. Click here for the live game link.
Pictured top: The Jay Lady Royals prepare to leave Saturday for Clermont, Florida, and the Class 1A regional semifinal. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.