Leonard L. Donald, Sr.

October 31, 2012

Mr. Leonard L. Donald, Sr., 92, passed away on Monday, October 29, 2012. in Bay Minette.

Mr. Donald was a native of Pensacola and a resident of Nokomis, AL, since 1941. He was a member of the Nokomis Baptist Church were he was s past deacon, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School director and Training Union director. He was a veteran of World War II, retired from civil service, retired from Teledyne after 10 years of service and he loved to fish.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Frankie Jane Donald and one son, Buford Donald.

Survivors include his two sons, Leonard L. (Milner) Donald, Jr. of Atmore, and Billy Wayne (Frankie) Donald of Atmore; daughter, Vickie Donald of Atmore; ine grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, October 31, 2012, at 3 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Chris Pruitt and Rev. Houston Gill officiating.

Burial will follow at Serenity Garden Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday, October 31, 2012 from 1 p.m. until funeral time.

Pallbearers will be Mark Presley, Don Smith, Dale Robison, Roger Prewett, Ricky Fore and Daryl Williams.

Honorary pallbearers will be James Presley and Wayne Prewett.

Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Alabama.

Photos: Hundreds Attend Flomaton Fall Festival

October 31, 2012

Hundreds of people from Flomaton, Century and across the area attended the annual Fall Festival in Flomaton Tuesday evening.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Pictured: Scenes from the Flomaton Fall Festival Tuesday night in Flomaton, Alabama. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Lane Restrictions On Southbound Highway 29 Wednesday

October 30, 2012

Motorists traveling south on Highway 29 will encounter delays Wednesday near the Weigh-In-Motion station between Archer Street and North Tate School Road as crews replace a sensor. The Florida Department of Transportation said there will be lane restrictions, but no lane closures will be allowed between 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m.

Wednesday Is Final Day To Request Mailed Absentee Ballot

October 30, 2012

Wednesday is the final day for voters to requested an absentee ballot be mailed to them, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.

Voters can make their request by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone at (850) 595-3900, fax at  (850) 595-3914, email to absentee@escambiavotes.com, or by using an online form at EscambiaVotes.com. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address. Absentee voters may track the status of their ballot by clicking Track My Ballot at EscambiaVotes.com.

After Wednesday, a voter may still pick up an absentee ballot in person from the Elections Office. Voted absentee ballots must be received in the Elections Office (not at a polling
location) no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6.

In addition to absentee voting, early voting is being offered from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily through Saturday at five area locations:

  • Supervisor of Elections Annex, 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
  • Tryon Branch Library,  1200 Langley Avenue
  • Supervisor of Elections Main Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
  • West Florida Public Library, 200 West Gregory Street
  • Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway

Voters can also vote in person at the precinct on Election Day, November 6 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Mother, Son Charged With Molino Indoor Marijuana Grow Operation

October 30, 2012

A mother and son have been arrested in connection with a hydroponic marijuana growing operation raided earlier this month in Molino.

Michael James Hamilton, 45, and his mother, 63-year old Ora Jean Hart, were both charged with marijuana production and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On October 17, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit served a search warrant at 7781 Wesley Circle in Molino. Investigators reported finding 11 marijuana plants with a street value of $22,000 growing inside a garage and a separate shed behind the residence. Deputies also reported finding numerous lights and other equipment used to grow the plants indoors, along with numerous marijuana leaves, seeds and buds.

“There is no reason to lie; I grow the marijuana plants because I have glaucoma,” Hart told investigators, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. Hamilton told deputies he has been smoking marijuana for about 20 years, and he learned to grow the plants from the internet, the report states.

Both Hamilton and Hart told deputies that the plants they found were the second batch they had grown. She said she orders the marijuana seeds through the mail.

Pictured inset and below: An indoor marijuana growing operation discovered October 17 in Molino. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Local Teachers Earn Cash Grants For Their Classrooms

October 30, 2012

Several North Escambia teachers are among 97 educators will that will have a little extra money for their classroom projects this year thanks to the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation.

Grant recipients from 45 Escambia County schools and departments were awarded grants of up to $500.

North Escambia area grant recipients were:

  • Angela Avery, Ransom Middle School
  • Robin Blalock, Tate High School
  • Heather Gilman, Bratt Elementary School
  • John Hannon, Tate High School
  • Chet Truett, Ernest Ward Middle
  • Kim D. Whitfield, Ransom Middle
  • Sue Ann Young, Ransom Middle

Teachers will be presented with their checks at the Foundation’s Grants for Excellence reception on November 1.

Grant funds, which include $38,704.87 from the Foundation and $3,970.06 from Autism Pensacola, will be used to purchase curriculum and classroom materials for projects ranging from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) labs to literacy programs that will actively engage students and enhance classroom learning experiences.

Countywide, the foundation awarded grants to the following:

  • Alicia Abbuhl, Warrington Elementary School
  • Mark Alberda, West Florida High School
  • Theresa Anderson, Oakcrest Elementary School
  • Daniel Arndt, ESE/Hall Center
  • Angela Avery, Ransom Middle School
  • Dr. Alana Battaglia, Escambia High School
  • Saundra P. Bell, Hellen Caro Elementary School
  • Russell Bertles, Workman Middle School
  • Robin Blalock, Tate High School
  • Beverly Bledsoe, West Florida High School
  • Lisa Branscomb, Montclair Elementary School
  • Megan H. Brees, Global Learning Academy
  • Rose M. Briggs, George Stone Center
  • Mimi Brown, Warrington Elementary School
  • Debra L. Brown, West Pensacola Elementary School
  • Donna B. Burch, West Florida High School
  • Colleen Carbone, Bailey Middle School
  • Katherine Carter, Workman Middle School
  • Angelina Carter, Blue Angels Elementary School
  • Wanda Cobb, Warrington Middle School
  • James Coley, Weis Elementary School
  • Rosie N. Cooper, Washington High School
  • Laurie Cothran, Scenic Heights Elementary School
  • Karen Creamer, Washington High School
  • Karen Crisco, Scenic Heights Elementary School
  • Rena Croker, Longleaf Elementary School
  • Leslie R. Cuyuch, Workman Middle School
  • Virginia Davis, Oakcrest Elementary School
  • Philip Ebert, Ferry Pass Elementary School
  • Christie Fine, Lipscomb Elementary School
  • Stephanie Gaffney, Navy Point Elementary School
  • Marietta Gibb, Cook Elementary School
  • Renee Giles, West Florida High School
  • Kathy Gilliland, Pine Forest High School
  • Heather Gilman, Bratt Elementary School
  • ReNae Grant, Semmes Elementary School
  • Darlene Z. Hammons, McMillan Center
  • John Hannon, Tate High School
  • Anna K. Harageones, Ferry Pass Elementary School
  • Bobbie T. Harrison, District Extended – Hall Center
  • Michelle Helton, Jim Allen Elementary School
  • Sarah Henkel, Bailey Middle School
  • Laura Hershberger, Bailey Middle School
  • R. Lynn Hoffman, Semmes Elementary School
  • Shelia Holley, Oakcrest Elementary School
  • Thomas Anthony Horne, Workman Middle School
  • Barbara Jacobs, Bellview Middle School
  • Keitha Jenkins Brown, Escambia High School
  • Angela Karalekas, Blue Angels Elementary School
  • Joshua Kaye, Hellen Caro Elementary School
  • Kyle A. Kaye, West Pensacola Elementary School
  • Debra Faye King, McMillan Title 1
  • Maurine Kramerich, PATS Center
  • Michelle Leitner, Lincoln Park Elementary School
  • Matthew MacGregor, Escambia High School
  • Jason Majors, Escambia High School
  • Emily Marsh, Dixon School of the Arts
  • Sarah Mason, Blue Angels Elementary School
  • Kevin McAuliffe, Pine Forest High School
  • Ruth McAuliffe, Escambia High School
  • Lisa McCandless, Warrington Elementary School
  • Angela McFarland, West Florida High School
  • Nancy Melton-Buffington, Workman Middle School
  • Shaina Mitchell, Scenic Heights Elementary School
  • Theresa Mosley, Ferry Pass Elementary School
  • Angela Mott, Beulah Elementary School
  • Kim Nichols, Blue Angels Elementary School
  • Margaret Nowak, McMillan PreK Center
  • Tracey O’Connor, Ferry Pass Middle School
  • Jean Odom, Cook Elementary School
  • Rebecca A. Palmquist-Herzog, McMillan PreK Center
  • Sharon Powers, Longleaf Elementary School
  • Jeff Pribble, Escambia High School
  • Lori Puentes, Sherwood Elementary School
  • Marcia Rabbysmith, Hellen Caro Elementary School
  • Jackie Rabin, Pleasant Grove Elementary
  • Linda P. Reinhardt, Workman Middle
  • Kasi Rhyne, Bellview Middle
  • Dottie Ritchie-Riddle, Global Learning Academy
  • Jennifer Shiver, Holm Elementary
  • Susan Shockley, West Florida High School
  • Leigh Ann South, Oakcrest Elementary
  • Cindy Speed, Weis Elementary
  • Pam Strubhar, Beulah Elementary
  • Tina Taylor, Brown-Barge Middle
  • Chet Truett, Ernest Ward Middle
  • Jessica Truett, Lakeview Day School
  • Alyssa Tucker, Oakcrest Elementary
  • Kevin Turner, Washington High
  • Genita Turner, Dixon School of the Arts
  • Shawn Walker, West Florida High School
  • Dr. Roberta Wetzel, Bailey Middle
  • Carol Wheeler, Washington High
  • Michelle White, Ferry Pass Elementary
  • Kim D. Whitfield, Ransom Middle
  • Diane Wright, Beulah Elementary
  • Sue Ann Young, Ransom Middle

Tate Showband Of the South Earns Best In Class, Superior Ratings

October 30, 2012

The Tate High School “Showband of the South” competed in the Deep South Marching Festival last weekend in Theodore, Ala. The band competed against nine other bands and received superior ratings in all areas, including auxiliary, drum major, presentation, percussion and band. The Showband was also awarded Best in Class for Class 4A.

The Showband of the South will close out their 2012 season Friday night during Tate’s home football game against Washington High at 7:30. Seniors will be honored as the band presents their last performance of their 2012 show “Styx and Stones”.

Pictured: The Tate High School Showband of the South. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

FFA Fair Booth Winners Named

October 30, 2012

FFA booth winners from this year’s Pensacola Interstate Fair have been named. Winners were:

  1. West Florida High
  2. Northview High
  3. Tate High
  4. Ernest Ward Middle
  5. W.S. Neal
  6. Beulah Elementary
  7. Woodlawn

Pictured: The Northview High School FFA booth at the Pensacola Interstate Fair. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Reinhold Herman Bodtke

October 30, 2012

Reinhold Herman Bodtke 87, of Atmore, passed away Monday, October 29, 2012, in Century.

He was born December 25, 1924, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He joined the United States Navy on July 23, 1942. He was an Electrician’s Mate and received the Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal (2 Stars) and American Area Campaign Medal. He was honorably discharged from the United States Navy on April 28, 1946. He then worked at Acme Steel in Chicago through 1957. He retired from Chemstrand/Monsanto/Solutia in 1989. He is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Grace Ann Bodtke and his wife of 63 years, Linda Joyce Cobb Bodtke, whom he married on March 29, 1949.

He is survived by his sons; Jeff (Wanda) Bodtke of Hoover, AL. and Jim (Brenda) Bodtke of Bratt; grandsons, James Howard (Harmony) Bodtke, Jr., Benjamin Richard (Dawn) Bodtke and Kevin Vance (Ginger) Phillips; granddaughters, Jennifer Leigh (Michael) Robinson, Katrina Ward and Christy LeAnn (Richard) Peek, great-grandchildren, Jamison, Grace Ann, Kadence, Harleigh, Cameron, Emma, Jaylee, Ashayla, Nora, Vance, Rosson, Alexandra, Grey and Genevieve.

Funeral services will be Thursday, November 1, 2012, at 11 a.m. from the First United Methodist Church of Atmore with Dr. John Brannon officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery with Military Honors.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 31, 2012, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at  the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Molino Lady Astros Win Fall Tourney HS Division

October 30, 2012

Molino’s Lady Astros won the high school division in the recent USFA Gulf South Fall State tournament in Daphne, Ala. The Astros won four consecutive games, scoring 24 runs, while playing with one loss in the double elimination tournament.

Pictured: The Molino Lady Astros: (front, L-R) Gracie Kilgrease, Atmore Christian, utility; Caitlyn Hagan, Pace, catcher, Briana Rogers, West Florida, center field; Samantha Burks, Tate, shortstop; Leah Nipper, Uriah, Ala., utility; (back row) Jessica Briggs, West Florida High, pitcher, infielder; Megan Green, Pace, pitcher, infielder; Ashley Barnett, Tate, first base; Amber Peebles, West Florida High, infielder, outfielder; Lacy Boyd, Pace, right fielder. Not pictured: Ronnie Renfroe, – Tate, first base, pitcher; Taylor Campbell, Choctaw High, catcher. Head Coach Donnie Nicholson, coaches Shawn Green, and Mark Burks. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.

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