Scott Nelson
September 24, 2012
Mr. Scott Nelson, 50, passed away on Monday, September 24, 2012, in Bratt.
Mr. Nelson was a native and former resident of Brewton and has resided in Bratt for the past 14 years. Mr. Nelson was an employee of Archer-Western Contractors .He attended the Abundant Life Assembly of God in Century. He is preceded in death by his father, Morris Nelson and a son, LCpl-Travis Nelson USMC.
Survivors include his ,mother, Louise Nelson of Brewton; wife, Beckie Sanspree Nelson of Bratt; son, Daniel Scott (Melissa) Nelson of Bratt; twp daughters, Jenna Nelson (Kevin) McCall of Brewton and Anna Nelson of Bratt; and five grandchildren, Quinton Nelson, Amber Nelson, Caitlin Nelson, Aydin Nelson and Jaxon Nelson.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, September 26, 2012, at 2 p.. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Dwenger officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 26, 2012 from 12:30 p.m. until funeral time at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Buddy Lovelace, Earl Self, Danny Self, Jimmy Self, Donnie Dubose and Van Self.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore is in charge of all arrangements.
New Highway 97 To Highway 29 Turn Lane Almost Complete
September 24, 2012
Work is nearing completion to add a new right turn lane from southbound Highway 97 to southbound Highway 29. Contractor Anderson Columbia is expected to complete the project this month.
Pictured: A new turn land from southbound Highway 97 to Highway 29 as seen Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Voter Registration Deadline Approaching For November General Election
September 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 9 is the last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for the November 6 general election.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election, but due to the Columbus Day holiday the deadline was extended. New registrations must be completed on or before the end of the business day on October 9 in order for them to be effective for the November 6 election, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford. Address changes can be made after the books close.
To check registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Am I Registered?”.
Escambia County citizens have several ways to register or update their record:
Online/By Mail: Visit EscambiaVotes.com and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License number, a valid Florida ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number in the appropriate space. Completed applications must be received no later than October r 9 to: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591-2601. Or, take the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola. Also, to have a form mailed to you, call (595-3900) or e-mail the Elections Office (soe@escambiavotes.com).
In Person: You can register at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, and several other governmental offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are also available to pick up at many locations countywide. For a complete list of locations throughout Escambia County, visit EscambiaVotes.com or call or e-mail the Elections Office.
For voters who wish to cast a ballot by mail (an absentee ballot), go to EscambiaVotes.com and complete the online request form, or call or e-mail the elections office. Early voting begins October 27 at several locations throughout Escambia County.
Nellie “Branch” Ward
September 24, 2012
Mrs. Nellie “Branch” Ward, 92, passed away on Friday, September 21, 2012, in Jay.
Mrs. Ward was a native of Troy, AL and resident of Jay for the past 69 years. Her last year was spent at Century Care Center. She attended the Pine Level Baptist Church. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, hard worker on the farm and church worker.
Mrs. Ward is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas L. “Bill” Ward; parents, Sam and Addie Branch; two brothers, J.D. Branch and Kyle Branch; three sisters, Bertha Bell, Bonzie Roten and Voncile Watson.
Survivors include her two sons, James (Shirley) Ward of Pace and Roy (Lillian) Ward of Jay; one brother, Garth Branch of Atmore; two sisters, Louise Sheffield of Troy and Frances Holt of Flomaton and four grandchildren, Sonia Bullock, Karen Welch, Nikki Dole and Tammy Ward.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at the Pine Level Baptist Church with Rev. Earle Greene officiating.
Burial will follow at the Concord Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Jeffrey Kelley, Don Dean, Heath Marshall, Jeffrey Bauldree, Dexter Hunter, Doyle Marshall, Mark Bauldree and Tony Starling.
Special thanks to Jay Hospital and nursing Staff, Dr. C. David Smith, Dr. Jeffrey Kelley and Covenant Hospice of Pensacola. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Covenant Hospice or the Pine Level Church Fund.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
One Injured In Traffic Crash At Atmore Church
September 23, 2012
One person was injured in a two vehicle crash at an Atmore church this morning.
The accident happened about 11:40 a.m. in front of Grace Fellowship on Highway 31 just east of Atmore. One person was transported by Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries.
The Atmore Police Department and the Atmore Fire Department also responded to the crash.
Pictured: One person was injured in a Sunday morning wreck at Grace Fellowship in Atmore. Submitted photos by Raja Atallah, click to enlarge.
6 People Involved In Bridge Wreck, No Serious Injuries
September 23, 2012
There were no serious injuries among six people in a single vehicle crash versus a bridge Sunday morning in McDavid.
The accident happened on Highway 29 at Mitchell Creek, just north of the McDavid Fire Station, about 9:25 a.m. The driver of a GMC Yukon was southbound on Highway 29 and apparently ran off the shoulder of the road and over-corrected. The vehicle apparently rotated, striking a concrete bridge railing and a guardrail.
A 9-year old child was transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital in good condition. Two other children and three adults were not injured in the crash.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol. The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Child’s Death Leads To Charges That Woman Beat Four Children Severely
September 23, 2012
An Escambia County woman was jailed after one of her children died, leading police to discover that four of her children had been severely beaten.
Nicole Renee Henderson, 27, was arrested on four counts of aggravated child abuse after an investigation determined that she severely beat four children with a belt.
The investigation began after 3-year old Markevion Hixon was taken by ambulance to Baptist Hospital Thursday night after he choked on a hot dog. Markevion died just after 7 p.m.
Henderson was Hixon’s legal guardian because his father, Demarcus Hixon, is in jail and his mother is deceased. Pensacola Police Department Detective Shannan Fortenberry said Henderson had been Markevion’s primary caregiver since September 3 when his father was arrested.
During an autopsy on Friday, a number of injuries unrelated to his death were found on Markevion’s body. The injuries were at various points of healing and were consistent with him being whipped with a belt or a cord, Fortenberry said.
Fortenberry said Markevion had injuries on his abdomen, legs, arms, chest, and back in addition to recent injuries on his backside that appeared to be friction type burns on both buttocks.
During an investigation Friday, it was determined three of four other children who live with Henderson also had been beaten and had similar injuries to those found on Markevion. Henderson said she used a belt when disciplining the children.
Four children – ages two, four, five, and six – have been removed from the home by the Department of Children and Family Services. Police said the investigation is continuing, and more charges are possible.
Henderson remained in the Escambia County Jail Sunday without bond.
Burglary, Purse Theft Suspect Targeting The Elderly Arrested In Georgia
September 23, 2012
An alleged purse thief that targeted elderly females, maybe even praying her way into a Molino home, is behind bars in Georgia.
Rebecca Jean Smith, 44, is being held in Walton County, Georgia, awaiting extradition on warrants from Santa Rosa County. She is also expected to face charges from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department.
Smith was identified after surveillance photos of her were published by NorthEscambia and other media. Three different individuals contacted the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and identified her. A truck in the surveillance photo was also identified as the same truck Smith had been driving for the last several months.
At least four times in August, Smith either stole an elderly female purse when the victim was outside working, or has stopped at an elderly female’s residence, stating that her “puppy is lost”, asking for a drink of water, and engaging in conversation before grabbing and running with a purse. She then immediately used the credit cards inside the purse at a local convenience store or retail business, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The Santa Rosa County victims were 43, 77, 78 and 91 years old. In Santa Rosa County, she will face four felony counts of illegal use of credit cards to obtain over $300, five counts of felony larceny grand theft, two counts felony burglary of a dwelling, one count felony larceny over $300 from a person over 65, two counts of misdemeanor petit theft and two violation of probation charges.
Escambia County: Molino And Cantonment
Authorities said Smith may also be their suspect in similar crimes in Escambia County.
A resident of Ridgecrest Lane told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she invited a lady into her home to pray with her because she was under the impression that the stranger was from a local church. The Sheriff’s Office said the woman’s purse was stolen, and her Navy Federal card used to make purchases at two Cantonment businesses. Few other details have been officially released as the Sheriff’s Office continues their investigation.
But family members told NorthEscambia.com that the 92-year old woman was approached at her home by a woman that said she was from the Beulah Baptist Church and would like to go inside her home to pray with her.
The suspect stayed and prayed with the woman for about 15 minutes. As the suspect started to leave the home, she told the elderly victim that she had left her cell phone behind on the sofa. After going back to get her phone, the female suspect left.
The victim later discovered that her purse was missing — including her keys with a Navy Federal financial card attached.
Family said the victim’s card was then used for $10 at Gee Willie’s convenience store on Highway 29 in Cantonment, and then to make two separate purchases totaling over $300 at the nearby Cantonment Dollar General store.
NorthEscambia.com was alerted to another incident involving someone making their way into the home of an elderly resident. A police report was not filed in the second incident.
And an elderly resident on Bet Raines Road said a woman came to her backdoor and started a conversation. The elderly woman was led to believe that the female was from a local church and invited her inside for a cold drink. The female then asked to use the restroom. And some point, the resident became uncomfortable with the situation and tried to call relatives. The suspicious woman then left.
Nothing was reported missing in the Bet Raines Road incident.
Criminal History
In 2006-2007, Smith was arrested or convicted of committing multiple offenses of burglary, theft, credit card fraud, forgery, and uttering forged instrument offenses. Authorities said many of her previous offenses matched the same method of operation as the current local cases.
When arrested on the Santa Rosa County warrants, Georgia authorities also charged Smith with at least one purse theft and two fraudulent use of credit cards offenses.
Smith will be extradited to Florida after her Georgia charges are disposed.
Century To Hold Final Public Hearing On $2.9 Million Budget
September 23, 2012
The Town of Century will hold a public hearing Monday afternoon before adopting a $2.9 million budget and setting the tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year.
The proposed 2012-2013 budget is $2,889,827. Last year’s $5,032,816 budget was unusually large for Century due to grant income and expenditures of $1,913,000. There will be no increase in ad valorem taxes this year to meet the budget for fiscal year 2012-2013, which begins October 1.
The budget hearing will be held at 5:01 p.m. Monday at the Century Town Hall, 7995 North Century Boulevard.
To view a summary of the budget in pdf format, click here.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Classic Cars And Pinewood Speedsters
September 23, 2012
Highland Baptist Church in Molino held an Open Car Show and a Pinewood Derby Saturday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
