Escambia, Santa Rosa Ranked In Top 10 Areas Losing Most Jobs In USA
June 18, 2012
The Pensacola metro — defined as being all of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties — is ranked number 10 on a national list of cities losing the highest percentage of jobs.
The Christian Science Monitor said “for some regions, talk of a recovery is more wishful thinking than fact” in their recently published list. The list compiled according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“While two in three metro areas in the United States saw the number of jobs increase, the number of jobs in greater Pensacola actually decreased – down 4,600, a 2.8 percent decrease in employment,” the article states.
Robert Earl Lowery
June 18, 2012
Robert Earl Lowery, 80 of Cantonment, passed away Saturday, June 16, 2012. He was born December 4, 1931, in Jay to John and Ella Lowery where he was raised with five brothers.
After graduating from Samford University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he went on to touch many lives through his ministry and a career in family life counseling. He was the first full time pastor of Pintlala Baptist Church of Pintlala, AL. He was also a chaplain of Baptist Hospital and a pastor at various churches throughout Northwest Florida and Alabama. He was one of the original members of the Thursday Morning Group.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Louise Ray Lowery; children, Anita (Eddie) Kiser, Deborah Nichelson, Eddie (Lisa) Cloud, Deborah (Darwin) Johnson and Ronnie (Jessica) Cloud; 20 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. with funeral services to follow at 10:30 a.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Brother Fred Martin officiating.
Graveside services will be held at Providence Baptist Church Cemetery in Linden, AL, at 3 p.m.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Covenant Hospice.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Cantonment 6U All Stars Looking For World Series Championship
June 18, 2012
The Cantonment 6U All Stars are 3-1 in the Tee Ball World Series going on at the Gospel Projects Youth Athletic Complex in Milton. Cantonment will be in action again Monday at 7 p.m. With a win, they will advance to the championship game on Tuesday against NEP Gold, the team that handed them a loss Saturday in tournament play. Photos by Katie Mayo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four Escambia Residents Sentenced On Federal Drug Charges
June 18, 2012
Four Escambia County residents have been sentenced for their part in a federal drug conspiracy that was transporting large amounts of cocaine and marijuana into the Escambia County area.
Marquis Marchello Hopkins, age 31 of Cantonment, received five years probation based on the court’s determination that he was a minor participant in the overall conspiracy, that he immediately admitted guilt and that he cooperated with law enforcement.
Three other Escambia County residents received federal prison time.
Labarren D. Fields, age 34 of Pensacola, received a sentence of 200 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Jamil Demario Tenon, age 28 of Pensacola, received a sentence of 140 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Eldon Turmaine Abram, age 28 of Pensacola, received a sentence of 24 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, federal authorities identified a sizable cocaine and marijuana trafficking operation, with supply sources in both Texas and Georgia, transporting kilograms of cocaine and large amounts of marijuana into the Pensacola area for distribution. The ongoing investigation involved multiple states and federal agents in the Pensacola area coordinated closely with federal agents in Texas and Georgia.
Other indictments are pending in the operation, authorities said.
Myrtle Lee Diamond
June 18, 2012
Myrtle Lee Diamond, age 80 of McDavid, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, June 17, 2012. She was born in Jay on December 20, 1931.
She was a homemaker and helped her husband D.C. run the family store. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in McDavid. Myrtle Lee was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother to all of those who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her father Perry L. Kelley and mother Bessie L. Kelley; her sisters, Mary Bovia and Shirley Tidwell; her brothers, Wayne Kelley and Houston Kelley; and great-granddaughter Meagan Hinote.
She is survived by her husband and soulmate of 63½ years, David C. Diamond; three daughters Marie (Jerry) Gibson, Sherrie (Ron) Jones, Cindy Diamond and special adopted daughter Sheila Ashcraft; five grandchildren, Michelle (Randy) Hinote, Jammie (April) Gibson, Brandon (Amy) Scott, Nick (Robin) Jones, and Ashley Jones; 11 great-grandchildren, Gavin Hinote, Hunter Scott, Dakota Rivers, Austin Scott, Bailee Hinote, Wylder Gibson, Tara Jones, and Brant, Griffin, Cole, and Bethany Hyatt; and her precious dog Pepper and Blacky the cat. She is also survived by three sisters and four brothers; James (Jean) Kelley, Buck (Glenda) Kelley, Tink (Annie Ruth) Kelley, Jerry (Walterene) Kelley, Polly (Frank) Whitfield, Ann (Ben) West, and Joan (Jeff) Struebing.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 19, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at Jay Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Cora Baptist Church in Jay with Bro. Oglesbee and Bro. Hall officiating services. Burial will follow at Cora Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be her grandsons, Jammie Gibson, Brandon Scott, Nick Jones, Hunter Scott, Gavin Hinote and Randy Hinote. Honorary pallbearers will be her loving nephews.
The family wishes to thank Sacred Heart Hospital doctors and staff, and Joyce Goldenberg Covanant Hospice staff for all of their tender loving care….words cannot express our feelings. Also Life Care Rehab Center, Bro. Oglesbe of Grace Baptist Church, Bro. Hall of Cora Baptist Church, and many numerous friends and families for all of their prayers, visits, phone calls, and food during our time of need. A very special thanks to Nancy Rueb for her daily visits and providing food to the family.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
NWE, Atmore Come Up Short In Tourney
June 18, 2012
Both Atmore and Northwest Escambia came up short Sunday in the 2012 9-10U All Star District Tournament in Evergreen, AL.
Scores from Sunday were:
Andalusia 11, Atmore 10
Brewton 13, Northwest Escambia 1
Pictured: Action as Northwest Escambia faced Opp Saturday afternoon in Evergreen, AL, in the 2012 All Star District Tournament. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Margie Loree Brittingham Evans
June 18, 2012
Mrs. Margie Loree Brittingham Evans age 77, passed away Monday, June 18, 2012, in an Atmore nursing facility after an extended illness.
Mrs. Evans was born in Conecuh County, AL and had been a life long resident of Escambia County (AL). She worked as a production line operator at Georgia Pacific for a number of years. She was of the Holiness faith.
Mrs. Evans was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. McArthur Evans.
She is survived by one brother, Cecil Brittingham of Brewton; one sister, Pauline Strength of Brewton; one step-son, Douglas Evans of Brewton, two step-daughters, Gloria Green of Flomaton, and Maxine Evans of Brewton; and a number nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at 2 p.m. from the chapel of Craver’s Funeral Home with Rev. Matthew Brittingham officiating. Interment will follow in Pineview Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Mobile Baybears Beat Pensacola Blue Wahoos 10-0
June 18, 2012
Five Mobile pitchers combined to yield just three hits to Pensacola, while all but one of the eight position players in the lineup recorded a hit in the BayBears’ 10-0 win over the Blue Wahoos in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Sunday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Despite the loss, the Fish had already clinched a series win with their 6-0 no-hit win on Saturday evening, topping Mobile 3-2 in the five-game series. The defeat dropped Pensacola’s record in 2012 to 34-35, while the victory moved the BayBears’ mark to 40-30 to end the first half of the season. The capacity crowd was the 23rd of the season to take in a game at the bayfront stadium.
Four Mobile hitters, including C Rossmel Perez (3-5, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI), CF Evan Frey (2-3, 2 R, 2 BB), LF Marc Krauss (2-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and SS Wladimir Sutil (2-4, 1 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB) all recorded multi-hit efforts for the BayBears, with seven of the first eight hitters in the lineup collecting a base knock.
Mobile started the scoring in the second thanks to Sutil’s RBI double, while the BayBears then sent in a total of seven runs over the next three frames. Krauss drove home a run in the third with an RBI single and then took advantage of a Blue Wahoos fielding miscue to bring home an additional run.
Sutil then tallied his second RBI double in as many at bats in the fourth before Mobile took advantage of a Pensacola error for their second score of the frame. The BayBears then brought across three more in the subsequent inning thanks in part to run-scoring two-baggers by RF Alfredo Marte and Perez to make it 8-0. Mobile then sent in two more insurance runs in the eighth with a two-run shot by 2B David Nick, his second of the year.
Five BayBears pitchers, including starter Chase Anderson (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO), along with relievers Derek Eitel (4.0 IP, 3 SO), Eury De La Rosa (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO), Matt Gorgen (1.0 IP, 2 SO) and Kevin Munson (1.0 IP), combined to give up just three Blue Wahoos hits, as well as no walks. Eitel earned the victory to improve to 6-4 this season while Pensacola starter Kyle Lotzkar (4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 3-2 on the year.
With the first half concluded, five Blue Wahoos players will head to Kodak, Tennessee, for the 2012 Southern League All-Star Game, with starting pitchers Daniel Corcino and J.C. Sulbaran, along with infielder Didi Gregorius and outfielders Ryan LaMarre and Josh Fellhauer to be honored on June 19 at Smokies Park. LaMarre is scheduled to start at center field and leadoff for the South Division, while Gregorius is slated to hit ninth and play shortstop.
Pensacola will travel to Chattanooga to begin the second half, while the next homestand begins on Tuesday June 26, with a five-game series scheduled with the Jackson Generals.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Drew Hayes fired 1.2 perfect innings in relief in the Wahoos’ 10-0 loss Sunday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
William F. (Bill) Courtney Sr.
June 18, 2012
William F. (Bill) Courtney Sr. was welcomed into his Heavenly Father’s arms on June,15, 2012. Bill was born July 18, 1948, in Pelzer, SC, but had lived most of his life in Pensacola. He was a member of the Ensley Volunteer Fire Department and served his community for over 14 years, as was his father many years before. Bill had also been a member of Gonzalez Baptist Church along with his sister and mother.
Bill is survived by the love of his life, soul mate, and best friend, Vivian Hoffert; his children, William F. Courtney Jr., and daughter-in-law, Carla; Sue Prosser, and Brian Shaw; his grandchildren, Jonathan Courtney and his wife Kyndal Courtney, Ryan Courtney, Sean Harris, Lindsay Prosser, Lanny Prosser, Heather Shaw and Lauren Shaw; one great-granddaughter, Gracie; his sister and brother-in-law, Peggy and Hubert Howard; two nephews; two nieces; two great-nephews and one great-niece; and his best buddies, “Angel” and “Scooter”.
Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North at 1000 Highway 29 South.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, from 5 – 6 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Father’s Day Forecast
June 17, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast for the remainder of Father’s Day:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Sunny through mid morning, then becoming partly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. East wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. East wind between 5 and 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.