Annie Maude McCurdy
June 3, 2012
Mrs. Annie Maude McCurdy passed away on Saturday June 2, 2012, in Atmore.
Mrs. McCurdy was a lifetime resident of Atmore and a member of the Poarch Creek Indians.
She is preceded in death by her husband Willie McCurdy, her parents James and Zemmer Presley and one Sister Nummie Presley.
Survivors include one son, Wayne McCurdy (Mavis) of Atmore; two daughters, Dorothy Annette McCurdy Lane (Billy) of Atmore, Annie Stough (Danny) of Tuscaloosa; eight grandchildren; two Step grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday June 4, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at the Petty- Eastside Chapel with Rev. Leo Luker officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Rolin, Don Wayne Rolin, Dempsey Rolin, Ronald Rolin, Elvis Presley and Donald Presley.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Elections Supervisors: Back Off Voter Purges For Now
June 3, 2012
The organization that represents the state’s elected county elections supervisors is recommending they hold off on removing anyone from the state’s voter rolls in light of new concerns raised by the federal Department of Justice.
The DOJ notified the state Division of Elections and Secretary of State Ken Detzner this week that it is concerned that the state’s effort to cull illegal voters from the rolls may run afoul of a federal law that requires states to finish removing ineligible voters 90 days before an election. Florida is inside that window, with the primary scheduled for Aug. 14.
DOJ didn’t immediately order the state to stop removing voters, but along with the warning that Florida could be violating the law, demanded to know whether the state plans to continue the purge. The state’s effort is intended to remove non-citizens from the rolls, something state officials said was possible by matching voter registration lists with a driver’s license database that flags possible non-citizens. Critics have said the list is inaccurate and could lead to legal voters being purged.
On Friday, Ron Labasky, the legal counsel for the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections, sent elections supervisors around the state a memo suggesting they stop using the state list to remove people from voter rolls, at least for now.
“It suggested to them that … in light of the fact that the Department of Justice has some concerns about the 90-day window to remove voters that the supervisors just stop doing anything,” Labasky said.
Labasky’s advice is as the supervisors’ lawyer and he said the group hadn’t taken any formal decision on how to respond, meaning it remains up to individual supervisors to determine what to do with the information provided by the state in its efforts to remove voters.
State Division of Elections spokesman Chris Cate reiterated Friday that removing ineligible voters from the rolls is something the agency is committed to. But he noted the supervisors are ultimately the ones who will make the call.
“If supervisors have reliable information that someone is an ineligible voter, that voter needs to be removed from the voter rolls,” Cate said. “But the process is very important to us, and the supervisors have the responsibility of making the ultimate determination of ineligibility and removing ineligible voters.”
The question over the 90-day issue arises because the law doesn’t completely clearly define what is covered by the 90-day requirement. The law spells out that systematic voter removals should stop, but those typically include the removal of people believed to be felons, dead, or incapacitated – it’s not clear whether the law intended to include “special” efforts to purge clearly ineligible voters, such as those who are non-citizens.
Labasky also said that the state was trying to improve its list anyway – with state officials having advised local supervisors earlier this week that it was planning to go back over the list of more than 2,500 people it has identified as potentially ineligible to further vet them before recommending that supervisors consider them for purging.
That also was a factor in his sense that it makes sense to hold off on any new purges, he said.
Also this week Detzner’s office sought to get the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s help in improving the list. State officials want to cross-check the list that has been called into question with one from the Homeland Security agency that is thought to be more accurate.
By The News Service of Florida
Incumbents Win Poarch Creek Elections, Amendment Passes
June 3, 2012
All three incumbents on the ballot were re-elected in the 2012 Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal elections held Saturday, while an amendment on the ballot passed.
Stephanie Bryan was re-elected as vice chairman. She was first elected to the Tribal Council in 2006, and she also serves as chair of the Tribal Gaming Commission.
Sandy Hollinger and Keith Martin were re-elected to two at large Tribal Council seats.
A Tribal Constitutional amendment on the ballot passed, clarifying provisions related to the filling of vacancies for the officers and at-large positions on the Tribal Council.
Poland To Pensacola Bike Ride Hits North Escambia
June 2, 2012
In 2008, Chuck Campbell’s wife Carol spent her final days under hospice care Ohio. And Friday he crossed the Florida state line in Century just ahead of a finish for a 1,000 mile bike ride in memory of his late wife — from Poland, Ohio to Pensacola Beach — to benefit Covenant Hospital in both Ohio and Pensacola.
Chuck and is daughter, who lives in the Pensacola area, were impressed with hospice and began to volunteer. And then came the idea for the bike ride.
He pedaled out of Poland, Ohio, on May 3 with plans to arrive in Pensacola on Memorial day, but weather caused a few delays along the way.
Chuck has had a stowaway on his trip…a young “Flat Stanley”. Along the entire trip, he’s carried along a drawing of the popular traveling book character. This particular Flat Stanley was first mailed to Ohio by Jordan Stranec, a first grade student at S.S. Dixon Primary School in Pace. Flat Stanley hitched a ride back to Florida with Chuck. Due to weather delays in the trip, his plans to visit Mrs. Grant’s first graders at S.S. Dixon were ruined due to the end of school.
Pictured: Chuck Campbell crossed the Florida state line in Century Friday morning as he nears the end of a 1,000 mile bike ride from Poland, Ohio, to Pensacola Beach. Accompanying Campbell (seen in his hand) is the popular children’s character Flat Stanley. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
School’s Out (With 2012-2013 School Calendar)
June 2, 2012
Escambia County schools were dismissed for the summer Friday as students began their vacation break. The final day for teachers will be June 5.
Students will return to class in Escambia County on Monday, August 20, 2012.
Holidays for the 2012-2013 school year are as follows:
- September 3 — Labor Day
- November 12 — Veteran’s Day
- November 21-23 — Thanksgiving/Fall Break
- Christmas Break — December 22 — January 6
- MLK Day — January 21
- Spring Break — March 25-29
- Memorial Day — May 27
- Last Student Day — May 31
Pictured top: Eighth grade students at Ernest Ward Middle School take a traditional “Final Walk” Friday afternoon to end the school year. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
High School Graduation Schedule; Submit Your Graduation Photos
June 2, 2012
Here is schedule of remaining high school graduations across the area.
You can submit photos of area graduates, from them receiving their diploma to even candid shots with friends, to news@northescambia.com for possible inclusion in an upcoming photo gallery.
- Central High School, 6 p.m. June 4, Central High School
- J.M. Tate High School, 1 p.m. June 4, Pensacola Civic Center
- Pine Forest High School, 7 p.m. June 4, Pensacola Civic Center
- West Florida High School, 4 p.m. June 4, Pensacola Civic Center
- Booker T. Washington High School: 1 p.m. June 5, Pensacola Civic Center
- Escambia High School, 7 p.m. June 5, Pensacola Civic Center
- Pensacola High School, 4 p.m. June 5, Pensacola Civic Center
We Have A Winner: North Escambia Fantasy Five Ticket Worth $81,429.14
June 2, 2012
A Fantasy 5 ticket purchased Friday in North Escambia is worth $81,429.14.
The winning ticket, with numbers 09-19-23-26-29 — was sold at the State Line Gift Shop at 11208 Highway 97 in Davisville. It was one of three winning tickets sold in the state. The other winning tickets were sold in Jacksonville and Lake Alfred.
The $81,429.14 ticket sold in Davisville was not a “Quick Pick”, meaning the winner choose the correct numbers when purchasing the ticket rather than relying on computer generated numbers.
There were also 439 tickets with four correct numbers worth $89.50 each, and 11,949 with three of five numbers worth $9.00 each.
Great Weekend Weather
June 2, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Calm wind.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming southwest between 10 and 15 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Tuesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming north. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Ernest Ward Middle Holds Graduation (With 200 Photos)
June 2, 2012
The Ernest Ward Middle School Class of 2012 held a graduation program Friday at the school.
The students took part in the ceremony that had a slightly more casual and fun theme than a traditional high school pomp and circumstance graduation exercise.
Several students were honored with Superlative Awards with fun categories like Top Chef, Most Creative, Class Clowns, Loudest, Most Sarcastic and Mr. And Miss Perfectionist.
Superlative Award Winners were:
- Best Mathematician — Tristan Barrett
- Biggest History Buff — Ladarrius Thames
- Future Scientist- Jordan Taylor
- Top Chef — Emily Walston
- Best Author or Authoress — Madison Weber
- Biggest Computer Geek — Tyler Houston
- Avid Reader/Book Worm — Renee McGahan
- Most Creative — Meagan Ogle
- Highest Vocabulary — David Thorpe
- Class Clown(s) — Mark Lee, Kris Reber,
- Mr. Fashion and Miss Fashionista — Lillie Allen, Tyler Berry
- Biggest Flirt — Sharnice Spears, Jacob Dunsford
- Shyest — Elizabeth Sanders
- Loudest — Wykeyiah Barton and Sonya Dixon
- Most Hardworking — Haley Brown, Harmoni Till
- Mr. and Miss Perfectionists — Bethany Reynolds, Bradley Van Pelt
- Most Sarcastic — Jason Perritt and Lorri Harrell
Students participating in the graduation activities Friday at Ernest Ward Middle School were:
TOP TEN
- Haley Denenne Brown
- Abbie Elizabeth Johnson
- Moriah Renee McGahan
- Bethany Cheyenne Reynolds
- Savanna Brianne Roux
- David Franklin Thorpe
- Harmoni Faith Till
- Bradley Andrew Van Pelt
- Haylee Alease Weaver
- Madison Paige Weber
- Kaitlyn Noelle Abbott
- Jadlyn Skye Agerton
- Lillie Kathryn Allen
- James Austin Ates
- Shnala O’Daija Banks
- Olan Travis Barlow
- Nathan Andrew Barnes
- Tristan Michael Barrett
- Jessica Renee Barrows
- Tamara Lee Barrows
- Wykeyiah Sinclair Barton
- Olivia Antoinette Bellamy
- Matthew Dyllan Berry
- Tyler Christopher Berry
- Izaiah Malique Bivins
- George Dylan Bodie
- Jalyn Maddisen Bodiford
- Katelyn Michelle Born
- Alan Robert Brown
- William Christopher Brown
- Alexandria Lachelle Burt
- Demeteris Dontaye Burt
- Zachary Thomas Calloway
- Breanna Charmaine Campbell
- Ciara Ann Campbell
- Johna Monae Carter
- Colby Lee Clark
- Ureil Neil Codrington
- Judson Billyjoe Conatser
- Hunter Drew Connell
- Gavin Aubrey Coon
- Sonya Tameca Dixon
- Kasey Ray Dorch
- I’siah Lydell Dunn
- Jacob Wade Dunsford
- Sarah Elizabeth Dutton
- Leah Grace Fischer
- Amber Renee’ Freeman
- Bryce Ray Fugitt
- Ramsey Wade Gafford
- Nathan Anthony Galvan
- Ariel Danielle Garner
- Kaylyn Sierra Garnett
- Jamie Ray Garrett
- Hanna Nicole Ging
- Robert Zachary Glenn
- Jaelyn Kieran Goldsmith
- Christopher Gavin Grant
- Cheyenne Raven Gray
- Tristan Gregory Blake Green
- Dariane Breeze Guy
- Magen Marie Hardy
- Kuper Ray Harkness
- Lorri Hope Harrell
- Samuel Eugene Hassebrock
- Michael Heaton
- Jordan Noelle Helmeken
- Zachary Tyler Holland
- Tyler Ray Houston
- Brayden William Hubbard
- Jakeyia Vonshae James
- Aquarius Sharda Jay
- Angel Celeste Johnson
- Jacob Adam Johnson
- Tonie Breanna Johnson
- Richard Allen Jones
- Amy Ann Kite
- Kaitlyn Nicole Kleinatland
- Haley Marie Lambert
- Kendral Autumn Mae Langford
- Trevor James Lassitter
- Charles Mark Lee
- Trevor Dale Levins
- Madison Juanita Lundy
- Yhsyionia Shardez McConico
- Sykeema Anastasia McConico
- Cody Eugene McNeil
- Bethany Anne Merchant
- Kerri Cheyanne Merchant
- Hadiya Noelle Mitchell
- Thomas Monroe Moore
- Steffon Makyris Murphy
- Cody Carl Nellums
- Meagan Nicole Ogle
- Brianna Nicole Parker
- Kelly Oasis Payne
- Liberty Danielle Peebles
- Jason Andrew Perritt
- Eric Younge Phillips
- Kevin Ashton Pippins
- Joshua Nicholas Poston
- Benjamin Tate Preston
- Olivia Simone Price
- Terrance Malachi Prime
- Laurie Elaine Purdy
- John Triston Reaves
- Kristofer Todd Reber
- Courtney Nicole Reid
- Grady Bryant Rigby
- Darion Taylor Riley
- Danielle Chanel Robinson
- Elizabeth Anne Sanders
- Julian Carter Satterwhite
- Lindsey Nekole Sims
- Nathan James Singleton
- Jamilia Nicole Smiley-Knight
- Kyle David William Smith
- Levi Godwin Solomon
- Sharnice Labraishia Spears
- O’Neshia Kuina Spencer
- Kayla Nichole Stalvey
- Zachary Thomas Steele-Reich
- Warren Lamar Suggs, Jr.
- Colten James Sunday
- Brianna Monique’ Taylor
- Jordan Caroline Taylor
- Ladarrius Deante Thames
- Joshua Edward Thomas
- Jared Elijah Townley
- Asja Mo’na Trotter
- Olivia Danielle Trump
- Miranda Marie Vidak
- William Mcdonald Walker
- Emily Brooke Walston
- Brittney Christina Ward
- Carly Marie Ward
- Jensyn Lillian Troy Warner
- Brianna Letricia Weaden
- Courtney Bryce Weekley
- Austin Ray Whitehead
- Morgan Cheyenne Wiggins
- Timothy Robert Wiggins
- Sabrina Rena Wine
- Allison Joy Woodfin
Every Wondered Which Daylilies Will Work In Your Garden?
June 2, 2012
Have you ever wondered which daylilies to plant in your garden? “Mondays in the Gardens“ will feature “Dazzling Daylilies” on June 11 at 10 am at the UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center Gardens. Find out everything you need to know about collecting and growing these beautiful flowers. The program is under the direction of UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Master Gardeners. Tina Tuttle will deliver the presentation. It is free and open to the public.
Tina is a National Garden Club Horticulture Instructor. She serves as President for the Florida Flower Show Judges and Assistant District Director for FFGC District I. Additionally she currently serves as vice president for the Friends of the Gardens of Northwest Florida.
The UF/IFAS WREC Gardens are located on the Milton campus of Pensacola State College. Follow the signs on campus to find the gardens. The program will be in the Shade Garden.