Dept. Of Corrections Announces Century, Santa Rosa Promotions, Transfer
October 15, 2012
The Florida Department of Corrections has announced promotions and lateral transfers at correctional institutions statewide, including Century Correctional Institute and Santa Rosa Correctional Institute.
The promotions and transfers included:
- James (Scott) White was promoted from major at Century CI to colonel at Santa Rosa CI.
- James Peters was promoted from colonel at Santa Rosa City to assistant warden at Gulf CI.
- Major Ronnie Segars was transferred from Gulf Annex to Century CI.
A total of 37 people were moved as part of the DOC’s leadership succession plan.
2012-2013 Florida Hunting Seasons Begin
October 15, 2012
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has announced 2012-2013 hunting season dates.
The statewide hunting season for gray squirrel on private lands has been extended. From now on, it will open the second Saturday in October and close the first Sunday in March. This season, the dates will be October 13 – March 3.
The chart below shows 2012-2013 hunting season dates for “Zone D”, which includes all of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, except for wildlife management areas. For complete information, including bag limits, see the FWC website.
Impact 100 Names Seven $104,000 Grant Winners
October 15, 2012
Seven community organizations were awarded $104,000 grants each Sunday by Pensacola Bay Impact 100.
The winners were chosen by vote of the 728 members of Impact 100. The group is comprised of women who contribute $1,000 each per year for membership. All of the membership fees are awarded in the form of grants each year to community groups. Since 2003, the group has contributed over $4.3 million.
Grant winners announced Sunday were:
Arts and Culture
- Friends of the Saenger, Inc. – Project: The Great Saenger Pipe Organ – Restoring the Heartbeat of Lady Saenger
Education
- Milk and Honey Outreach Ministries, Inc. – Project: “Going Places” Transportation Initiative
Environment, Recreation and Preservation
- Pensacola Lighthouse Association, Inc. – Project: Restoration of the Pensacola Lighthouse
Family
- Autism Pensacola, Inc. – Project: Parent Empowerment Pensacola (PEP)
- Manna Food Bank, Inc., dba Manna Food Pantries – Project: A Chilling Impact on Food Security
Health and Wellness
- Appetite for Life, Inc., dba Appetite 4 Life – Project: Equipped 4 Success
- Escambia Search and Rescue, Inc. – Project: The Advancement for Search, Rescue and Recovery for Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties
Pictured: Manna Food Bank Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker (center) receives a $104,000 check from Impact 100 Sunday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Ends Racial Criteria For Homecoming Court (With Photo Gallery)
October 15, 2012
A longstanding tradition of electing two homecoming queens — one African-American and one not — came to an end Friday night at Escambia County High School under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Jazmine McGinnis was named as the lone homecoming queen Friday night at the Atmore school.
For a photo gallery from the homecoming court and parade, click here.
Prior to this year, ECHS had used raced-based selection criteria to elect two homecoming queens and two homecoming attendants from each class.
To resolve the U.S. Justice Department’s concerns over these practices, the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education voluntarily adopted a district-wide non-discrimination policy for extracurricular activities. The policy ended the use of race-based election and selection criteria in all student activities. The agreement requires the district to fully implement and enforce its new non-discrimination policy, to notify parents and students of changes to student election practices and to provide compliance reports to the department for at least one year.
“It is time for the once common practice of segregating students by race in school activities to come to an end,” Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez said after the agreement was reached.
Escambia County’s agreement with the DOJ also means the end of a similar practice at W.S. Neal High School of using race-based criteria for election of students to its Valentine’s Day courts.
Pictured top: Escambia County High School’s 2012 Homecoming Queen Jazmine McGinnis with ECHS Principal Zickeyous Byrd (left) and her father, Charles McGinnis (right). Photos by Marcella Wilson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Little Extra: Absentee Ballot Return Postage is 65¢
October 15, 2012
Absentee ballots have been mailed to more than 30,000 Escambia County voters, and officials are cautioning that return postage is more than just a regular first class stamp.
The postage required to return the ballot is 65 cents because the ballot is two sheets rather than one. Absentee ballots must be received by the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office no later than 7 p.m. on November 6.
Suffering From Allergies? Don’t Blame The Goldenrod
October 15, 2012
The bright yellow flowers of the goldenrod are everywhere in the North Escambia area, taking the blame from allergy sufferers. But one of fall’s most colorful plants actually gets a bad rap, according to the University of Florida Extension Service.
The true culprit for all those sneezes and sniffles is ragweed, according to Environmental Horticulture Agent Alicia Lamborn.
Goldenrod plants are bright and showy, producing large, heavy pollen grains that are carried off by bees, butterflies and other pollinators rather than by the wind. Ragweed bares greenish yellow flowers in small heads which produce copious amounts of pollen, carried by the wind rather than insects.
Ragweed flowers are not showy which means these plants are often easier to recognize by their stems and leaves. Ragweed has branching purplish stems that are rough and hairy, and leaves which are smooth, but deeply divided into lobed portions.
Pictured: Goldenrods bloom alongside a dirt road in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Aaron Austin
October 15, 2012
Aaron Austin, 34, of Pensacola, died Saturday, October 13, 2012, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Aaron was born April 18, 1978, in Pensacola and has been a lifelong resident. He was a graduate of Pine Forest High School Class of 1996.
Aaron was employed with the ECSO, a job he dearly loved. He retired after 9 yrs. of service due to his illness. Aaron enjoyed the sport of boxing and was a referee for many local matches. He had a winning smile and was fun to be around. He enjoyed his family and many friends. If you were a friend of Aaron’s you knew he was a “true friend”.
Aaron was preceded in death by his mother, Mattie Gail Austin; grandfather, Raymond Smith, and grandmother, Helen Austin.
He leaves behind many loving memories and to cherish these memories are, the light of his life, his daughter, Avery Austin or as he called her “Toot”; father, Terry Austin; brothers and sisters-in-law whose bonds were tight and precious to him, Mike and Laine Austin, Stephen and Danielle Austin; grandmother, Louise Smith, nieces whom he called “his girls”, Katelyn, Kenzie, Kamryn, Kadyn and Kelsey; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, and his many “special friends” too numerous to name and all of his co-workers at ECSO.
The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, Tuesday, October 16, 2012, from 5 until 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, October 17, 2012, at 9 a.m. at the funeral home with Reverend Gordon Godfrey officiating and Jamal Brown assisting.
Active pallbearers will be, Joe Urquhart, Caleb Hazel, Steven Houghland, Allen Jones, Shane Sherock, Pat Roush, Eddie McLain and Matt Waite.
Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Covenant Hospice and a special thanks to Missie and Sunday.
Penelope Diamond Mayne (Penny)
October 15, 2012
Penelope Diamond Mayne (Penny), age 72 of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away October 13, 2012, at Maury Regional Medical Center surrounded by loved ones.
Mrs. Mayne was born October 30, 1939 in Memphis, to the late Luther and Dorothy Diamond, where she lived until the age of seven, at which time they moved to Jay. Mrs. Mayne was
a member of Cora Baptist Church in Jay. She never met a stranger and never hesitated to share what she had with others. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang over 50 years in the Cora Baptist choir. She was loved by all who knew her and she will be missed more than words can be expressed.
Mrs. Mayne is preceded in death by her late husband George E. Mayne, Jr.; father, Luther Diamond; mother, Dorothy Cochran Diamond; and long time friend, Lonnie J. McCulley, Jr.
Survivors include her son, George E. Mayne, III of Columbia, TN; daughter, Jennifer Mayne Lane (James) of Columbia, TN; grandchildren, Zachary and Caitlin Lane of Columbia, TN; brothers, Jay M. Diamond (Terry) of Mary Ester and Stuart M. Diamond (Susan) of Jay; niece, Cheri Diamond; nephews, John Diamond, Duane Diamond, Dustin Diamond, Drew Diamond and Dillon Diamond; and daughter of heart, Judy Austin of Columbia, TN.
Active pallbearers will be John M. Diamond, Mickey Diamond, Chad Diamond, Danny Carnley, Joe Edwards, and Alan Edwards.
Honorary pallbearers are Randall Lockett, Merlin Edwards, Roger Dobson, Marshall Diamond, and Russ Hammac.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 18, 2012, from 6 until 9 p.m. at Cora Baptist Church in Jay.
Services will be held Friday, October 19, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Cora Baptist Church in Jay with Rev. La Don Hall and Rev. Bud Docter officiating.
Burial will follow in the Cora Baptist Church Cemetery. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family and is in charge of arrangements.
We would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Ball and staff, and Maury Regional Medical Center nurses for the wonderful care that she received. Also a very special thanks to Alice Staggs for the wonderful care and friendship that she provided to mom over the last few years.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the family at 201 E 16th St Columbia, TN 38401.
Larry Williamson
October 15, 2012
Larry Williamson, age 53 of Jay, died on the river on Saturday, October 13, 2012.
His talent with woodworking and as a handyman was well known. His ability and desire to help others with his practical talents allowed him to show his affection for those he assisted, and to take pride in a job well done. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a loving and devoted son, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to many. He truly made the world a better place with his easy smile, quick humor, and boundless love. He will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his father, James Barry Williamson.
He is survived by his son, Chris (Jana) Williamson; daughter, Chassity N. (Fred) Bowles; grandchildren, Caiden Bowles and Alyssa Young; mother, Mary (Milton) Rogers; sister, Julie (Richard) Zimmers; nieces, Jessica Gilbert and Rebecca Zimmers, and his best friend LuLu the dog.
Visitation will be held on October 16, 2012, from 5 until 6 pm at Jay Funeral Home with services beginning at 6:00 pm.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Magdalene Roberson
October 15, 2012
Mrs. Mary Magdalene Roberson, 89, passed away on Saturday, October 13, 2012, in Brewton.
Mrs. Roberson was a native of Moyeville, AL and a resident of Brewton for the past 26 years. Mrs. Roberson was the oldest member of Moyeville Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Earl Roberson; parents, Dee and Julia Moye; two brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include her son, Aubrey (Pug) Roberson of Poarch; one daughter, Mattie Robbins of Brewton; one sister, Lucille Roberson of Pensacola; five grandchildren, Angela (Tony) Gresham, Kim Forbus, Marlene (David) McNairn, James Roberson and Chad Robbins; 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, October 16, 2012, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Steve Ward officiating.
Burial will follow at Traveler’s Rest Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be James Roberson, Chad Robbins, Ronald Burkett, Jason Forbus, Justin Forbus and Reece McNairn.
Honorary pallbearers will be Drake Robbins, Micah McNairn and Payton Robbins.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.