Madeline Iona Rogers
January 13, 2013
Madeline Iona, 82, went home to be with the Lord on December 26, 2012, in Pensacola. Mrs. Rogers was a caring and dedicated, registered nurse for 47 years. She was a graduate with honors of Touro at Tulane University in New Orleans. She worked for Baptist Hospital, Sacred Heart and University Hospitals since 1955 in Pensacola. Her specialty areas were surgery, neuro-medicine, and private duty. In addition, she loved God and Highland Baptist Church where she was actively involved in Sunday School, in mission work, and a youth sponsor. She had a beautiful voice and sang praises to the Lord. She was a Girl Scout leader for years for her daughters, supported Cub Scouts for her son and she loved the opera and country music. Mrs. Rogers was a lifetime member of the DAV Disabled Veteran, #57 Chapter in Crestview as well as a supporter of the Wounded Warrior Veterans from the Iran and Afghanistan Wars. She loved to read, do crossword puzzles and to crochet.
Preceding Madeline Iona Rogers in death was her husband, Paul Milton Rogers and her three sisters, Sula Mae Stephens, Alice McGee, and Mildred Edwards; her youngest daughter, Melody Rogers Howell (Terell and Donna Sims Howell) and her adoptive daughter, Marty Cobb Walker (Edward).
Survivors include her daughter, Zina R. Steinsiek (Captain Walter R. Steinsiek, III) of Pace; son, David Paul Rogers (Kathy Odom) of Cantonment; grandchildren, Brandy Jo Rogers, Jennifer (Jen) Howell Apflebach (Henry), Olivia Howell, Rebecca Howell Cholevik, Tara Howell Childers (William), Stephanie Steinsiek Montgomery and Kristopher Reeves Steinsiek; great grandchildren, Tyler Montgomery, Craig Cholevik, Maximus Cholevik, Xavier Cholevik, Hope Isabella Apflebach, Addison Grace Apflebach, Savannah Childers and Liam Childers, Deanna Walker and Kim McChesney.
In my mother’s own words: “She was a mother who tried hard to love all her family, who worked at her chosen profession for 47 years and who enjoyed her family and friends all her life. I leave God’s Blessings on my family always and in the future.”
A celebration of life will be held at Highland Baptist Church on Monday, January 14, 2013, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Brian Calhoun officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the service hour. A luncheon will be follow at noon. Flowers will be accepted or a donation of a Gideon Memorial Bible in Mrs. Rogers name.
National Cremation & Burial Society of Milton has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Two Die While Racing On Escambia Road
January 12, 2013
This story has been updated. Click here.
Two people died in a traffic accident early Saturday morning in Escambia County.
Witnesses told the Florida Highway Patrol that the driver of a 2000 Volkswagen Passat was racing the driver of an Acura on Blue Angel Parkway approaching Cerney Road. The driver of the Passat lost control and hit a tree.
The driver and the passenger — described by the FHP only as Hispanic males ages 32 and 21 — were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The late model Acura, metallic blue in color with aftermarket rims and exhaust, fled the scene driven by a white male.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000.
Man Gets 20 Years For Century Shooting
January 12, 2013
An Escambia County man will spend then next two decades in prison for a shooting five years ago in Century.
Vinson Sanders, 26, was sentenced to a minimum mandatory of 20 years in state prison by Judge Linda Nobles. Sanders was convicted in of aggravated assault and discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
On January 14, 2007, a vehicle pulled up at the Carver Community Center in Century, and Sanders yelled out the passenger side window at a group of people playing basketball, according to prosecutors. Sanders was seeking revenge against someone who had allegedly beat up his brother a day before.
Sanders became angry and pointed a gun directly at the victim, then proceeded to shoot multiple times as the vehicle drove away on Jefferson Avenue. There were approximately 50 people present including children at the time of the shooting.
A bullet ricocheted off the ground and grazed the victim in the chest, and several other bullets hit multiple cars.
Prior to being arrested in 2007, Sanders was sentenced to 5 years state prison in New York for armed robbery and was not transferred to Florida until 2012.
Pictured top: The Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Five Injured In I-65 Rollover
January 12, 2013
Five people were injured in a single vehicle rollover accident on the interstate north of Atmore Friday.
The accident happened on the northbound side of I-65 about six miles north of Atmore. The 32-year old female driver of a SUV lost control for an unknown reason and ran off the roadway onto a grassy shoulder where the vehicle overturned.
The driver, along with a male passenger about seven years old and three female passengers ranging in age from 14-18 were transported by Atmore Ambulance and Escambia County (Fla.) EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The names of the injured have not been released by Alabama State Troopers. However, officials said some of the injured are from the North Escambia area.
McCall Pumps Up Support For ECAT Gas Tax Exemption
January 12, 2013
Century Mayor Freddie McCall is pumping up support for a state exemption from Escambia County’s proposed four cent gas tax hike to support ECAT mass transit.
Armed with a resolution asking the Florida Legislature for the exemption, McCall addressed the Escambia County Legislative Delegation — Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram and Rep. Clay Ford.
Century has refused sign off on an interlocal agreement with Escambia County that would allocate additional gas taxes collected in Century to the county for mass transit. Town officials contend the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and may force the three gas stations in Century to close as they force drivers choosing to purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line at the first station they come to in Flomaton.
“It’s a quarter mile beyond the state line,” McCall told the legislative delegation during a public forum in Pensacola. “The service station will be taking all of our business.”
The Century Town Council passed a resolution Monday night asking the Legislature to exempt Century due to the town’s proximity to Alabama. The town says the gasoline tax is currently 27 cents less in across the state line in Flomaton.
The resolution also sates that the four cents for ECAT “benefits the south end of the county significantly more than the north end of the county”.
Without the exemption from the Legislature, Century’s refusal to to play along with the county’s new gas tax is perhaps a moot point.
Amy Lovoy, the county’s budget chief, said the county will still receive the additional gas tax proceeds collected in Century because Century will automatically be included if the tax is approved by Pensacola, the largest municipality in the county.
Pictured: Two of Century’s three gas stations at the intersection of East Highway 4 and Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
New $7.7 Million Main Library Opens
January 12, 2013
More than 200 people gathered Friday to celebrate the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the new West Florida Library main location at 239 North Spring Street in Pensacola.
The library reopened after a two-year renovation and expansion which nearly doubled the library’s size to 51,000 square feet. The two-phase project included the construction of a new wing on Spring Street, after which the original 1957 building was gutted and renovated. The new library includes an expanded children’s area, meeting rooms, coffee shop, bookstore and more. The library also includes more than 50 new computers, including a 10-station computer training lab.
“This library is a tremendous resource and asset for our community,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “Whether you’re coming to learn, to take online classes, or just to read a good book over a cup of coffee, this library will have something for everyone. This library is truly a beacon of possibility and a testament to our faith in tomorrow.”
The $7.7 million project was funded by $6 million in local option sales tax monies, a $606,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, surplus dollars from the construction of the Tryon Branch Library, and a $100,000 donation by the Friends of the Pensacola Public Library.
The ceremony also featured the dedication of a firefighter memorial and a new wing named for Maurice Bartholomew, a Pensacola firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty in 2000. Bartholomew, an avid reader, was based at the old Fire Station 1, which was previously located on the site of the new wing.
The new library becomes the City of Pensacola’s first LEED-certified building, incorporating a number of energy-efficient strategies, such as a tankless gas water heater and low-flow plumbing fixtures. The improvements are expected to cut the main library’s energy costs by as much as 15 percent.
Power To Be Cut Off In Walnut Hill This Morning
January 12, 2013
Power will be cut off in a portion of the Walnut Hill area Saturday morning .
Escambia River Electric Cooperative will upgrade a portion of their power delivery system and has scheduled an outage beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. The outage will last about an hour.
The outage will include the following areas, according to EREC:
East 99A, West 99A/Arthur Brown Rd, Jack Gibson , Morgan Rd, Oasis Trail, Kansas, Stewart, Corley, Railroad, Mitchell, North and South Cypress, Juniper, Pine Forest, Hubbard, M&M Lane, Koehn, Doran Rd, Smith Lane, Brushy Creek Lane, North Pineville Rd to Spence Rd, South Pineville Rd, Foster, Dagen Rd, Ryals Lane, Occie Phillips Rd, 97A, Goodale Lane, Enon School Rd, Kinzie Lane, and Dan Hall Rd.
Northview Beats Baker In OT; Robinson Scores 41
January 12, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat the Baker Gators on the road Friday.
In junior varsity action, Northview’s JV defeated Baker 45-24. The Chiefs outscored Baker 27-8 in the second half. Leading scorers for Northview were Keondrae Lett with 11 and Nick Lambert with 10.
The Northview varsity beat Baker 79-71 in overtime. The Chiefs went on a 12-4 run in overtime for the win after Baker hit a three-pointer with 0.9 seconds left to tie in regulation. Leading scorers for the Chiefs were Neino Robinson 41 and Cameron Newsome with 16.
Lowe’s Stores Looking To Hire Over 100 People
January 12, 2013
Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores in the Pensacola area are looking to hire over 100 people for full and part-time seasonal positions with the help of the non-profit Workforce Escarosa.
Interested individuals should apply online at www.lowes.com/careers. After applying online, applicants are advised to attend (and bring a resume) to the hiring event on Thursday, January 17, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. inside the Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola.
Representatives from area Lowe’s stores will be present during the event and intend to review resumes and conduct interviews.
According to Lowe’s:
- Rotating shifts/hours may vary
- Pay depends on experience
- At least 6 months of customer service experience preferred
- Must be willing to work nights/weekends/holidays
- Must be able to work outside in environmental conditions
- Physical ability to move and lift merchandise is required
Free Trees: Seedlings To Be Given Away In Walnut Hill On Monday
January 12, 2013
In celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day, Escambia County, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Extension and the Florida Forestry Service (FFS) will be giving away 4,000 seedling trees at two locations, including Walnut Hill.
Species include crabapple, mayhaw, cherrybark oak, river birch, wax myrtle and bald cypress. Participants will receive two tree seedlings of their choice.
The first event will be held on Monday, January 14, at the Walnut Hill Community Center (Ruritan Building) at 7850 Highway 97 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The second event will be held on Friday, January 18, in conjunction with the grand opening of the Southwest Greenway at the Jones Swamp Preserve Trail entrance at 198 Patton Drive, near the intersection of Brigadier and Patton Drive, in Warrington, also from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Extension agents and master gardeners will be available at both locations to advise participants on tree types and tree placement in the landscape.