Michael S. Slocovich
March 25, 2013
Michael was born in San Antonio, TX. He passed away March 22, 2013. He fought a battle with cancer since 2010. Michael went to be with the Lord to join his grandmother, Alma Cloud and grandfather, Earl Cloud and his Uncle Bert in Heaven. His special love for the Lord found him singing and using puppets in his youth group. He loved to paint pictures of palm trees, beach scenes, and fish. He had a tender heart for his family and will be missed. His favorite doctor, Dr. Paula Pyle, and Dr. Jung Gorton and Dr. Bray really helped him through his pain and suffering. Also a special thanks to his older brother, David, and sister, Debbie Tapper and staff at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Michael is survived by his mother and father, George and Sharon Slocovich; brother, David Slocovich; sister, Debbie (Leonard) Tapper; nephew, Neil Slocovich; and aunt, Earlene Edwards; other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Alma Cloud, his grandfather, Earl Cloud, and his Uncle Bert.
Pallbearers will be Bob Hodges, Bobby Hodges, Don McLaughlin, Doug Miller, Neil Slocovich, and Randy Youngstrum.
Honorary pallbearers will be David Slocovich and Jerry Cloud.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 28, 2013, from 10 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. at West Highland Baptist Church with Brother Larry Galbreath officiating. Interment will follow at Eastern Gate Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to West Highland Baptist Church, 1500 Hollywood Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32505.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Sarah Frances Harrison O’Leary
March 25, 2013
Mrs. Sarah Frances Harrison O’Leary, 51, passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2013, in Foley.
Mrs. O’Leary was a native of Atmore and a resident of Foley for the past year. Mrs. O’Leary was an accomplished gospel singer and loved her family and friends. Her parents, Elzie and Luverne Harrison, one brother, Harold Harrison and two sisters, Alice Ruth Harrison and Verna Mae Harris precede her in death.
Survivors include her Husband of 10 years, Kenneth O’Leary of Foley; one son, Patrick O’Leary of Ontario, New York; dog, Barney; four brothers, Earl Harrison of Atmore, Robert Harrison of Atmore, Donald Harrison of Atmore, and David Harrison of Brewton; four sisters, Mary Helen Jones, Dorothy Milstead, Linda Kaye Robinson and Glenda Faye Odom, all of Atmore.
There will be no services for Mrs. O’Leary.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of arrangements.
Alan Wayne “Killer” White
March 25, 2013
Mr. Alan Wayne “Killer” White, 54, passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Atmore.
Mr. White was a native of Milton and a resident of Atmore for most of his life. His parents, Carl Cecil White, Sr. and Sarah Conn White and one brother, John Harold White precede Mr. White in death.
He is survived by one daughter, Audra Nicole (Ronnie) Powell of Marianna, FL; two brothers, Carl C. (Georgia) White, Jr. of Midland City, AL and Mark White of Atmore; three grandchildren, Destiny, Triston and T.J.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, March 26, 2013, at 10 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery with Rev. Thurl Pearson officiating.
Pallbearers will be Pat Conn, Clinton Brown, Randy Baker, Jerrod Leachman, Mark White, Buddy Scott, Richard Everette and Steve Regan.
Honorary pallbearers will be Terry Gibbs, Murray Johnson, John Perkins, Danny Lowery, Robert Earl Brantley, Randy Dorriety and Brian Joy.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
James B. Sapp
March 25, 2013
James B. Sapp, 92, of Seminole, Ala., passed away Saturday, March 23, 2013.
Mr. Sapp was born in Flomaton to John and Rhoda White Sapp, and was a builder all his life. He was a master mason, member of Hadji Shrine Temple and past monarch of Zelica Grotto.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Lanette; son, David; two brothers and one sister.
Survivors include sons, Ron Sapp (Betty) and Robert (Jessie); daughter-in-law, Karen Sapp; and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 28, 2013, from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. Reverend Jack Parrish will officiate.
Jerry O’Gwyn Pugh
March 25, 2013
Jerry O’Gwyn Pugh, 63 of Milton, (Allentown) passed away peacefully into the arms of his heavenly Father on March 22, 2013, in his home surrounded by his loving family after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer. Jerry was born on April 27, 1949, in Milton to the late John D. and Margarette (Lucille) Pugh. Jerry was a lifelong resident of Milton where he was self-employed in the land clearing and reforestation business for over 40 years.
He is survived by his wife Barbara; his children, Jolie Pugh of Milton, Sonya (David) Fowler of Molino, Tonya (Steve) Hendrick of Charlotte, North Carolina; John Copeland who was a dedicated employee that was like a son to him; grandchildren, Rachel Hendrick, Zach Hendrick, Nicklas Fowler and niece Kara Jernigan whom he loved like a granddaughter; sister, JoAnn Pugh McKnight; brothers, David (Debbie) Pugh, Roger (Susie Broxson) Pugh, Tim (Marsha) Pugh and Gary (Amanda) Pugh, all of Milton.
He is also the brother of the late Leon Pugh.
Pallbearers will be Johnny Reymundo, Steve Smith, Eddie Hobbs, Benny Baxley, Rex Rayburn and Robbie Cooley.
Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Wade, Bobby Brown, Bill Smith, Jason McKnight, Marty Griswold and Mickey Parker.
Jerry enjoyed being outdoors as much as possible. He also loved spending time with his grandchildren. He had a passion for operating heavy equipment, especially a bulldozer. His presence and practical, sound advice will be greatly missed.
The family would like to thank Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Owera and their respective staffs at The Woodlands as well as Chasity Lowery with Covenant Hospice and all our family and friends for their support over the last two and one half months.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday March 26, 2013, at Lewis Funeral Home, Pace Chapel in Pace.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday March 27, 2013, at Lewis Funeral Home, Pace Chapel.
Burial will follow at Serenity Gardens in Milton, Florida.
Lewis Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements.
FHP Investigating After Driver Flees Creighton Road Crash
March 24, 2013
The Florida Highway Patrol is searching for the driver that fled the scene of rollover accident this morning. The accident happened about 7:05 a.m. on Creighton Road just off Davis Highway. Authorities said the occupant or occupants of the vehicle had fled the scene before first responders arrived on scene. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winter Returns? 30’s The Next Few Nights
March 24, 2013
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Missing For 10 Years: Search Continues For Melinda Wall McGhee
March 24, 2013
Ten years ago the morning of March 24, something went terribly wrong at a home on Kent Road north of Atmore. Melinda Wall McGhee, then 31, returned to her home about 8 a.m. after working the night shift as a nurse at a Bay Minette nursing home.
Her husband, Troy McGhee, was at work at Masland Carpets in Atmore. Their two children were at a babysitter, and Troy’s son from a previous relationship was at a dentist’s office. At about 8:30 the morning of March 24, 2003, Melinda McGhee spoke to her mother on the phone. It was the last time anyone known to Melinda would ever hear from her.
At about 4:00 that afternoon, husband Troy came home to find Melinda missing. There was blood and evidence of a violent struggle inside the home. He reported his wife missing.
Melinda’s vehicle was found parked near the house with her keys locked inside. Her purse and cellular phone were inside the residence. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
Over the years, there have been several searches for Melinda’s body or clues into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
In March 2009, authorities searched an area off Perry Lane in Wawbeek for clues in Melinda’s disappearance. Perry Lane is about a mile north of Highway 31 off Sardis Church Road near Old Atmore Road. The location is about three miles north of the Florida/Alabama line . On the last day of January 2009, authorities searched a water-filled gravel pit off Jack Springs Roads near the Judson Cemetery between Atmore and Poarch. All of the searches have turned up empty.
Anyone with information on McGhee’s disappearance is asked to call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department at (251) 809-0741 or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured above: Two photos of Melinda Wall McGhee who went missing in March 2003.
Tate’s Rivers Signs Soccer Scholarship With Belhaven
March 24, 2013
Tate High School senior Michael Rivers has signed to play soccer with Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss.
Rivers played soccer all four years at Tate High School, with two goals and 10 assists this year for the Aggies. He was chosen as this year’s Tate Boys Soccer Scholar Athlete.
In addition to his stellar performance on the soccer field, Rivers has earned numerous awards and accolades during this four years in ROTC at Tate. He is also an Eagle Scout and a member of the Tate’s Interact, Spanish and Beta clubs.
Pictured: Tate’s Michael Rivers has signed to play soccer with Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Negron, Gaetz: Cut Vehicle Registration Fees
March 24, 2013
Eliminating a quarter century-old tax credit for the insurance industry could allow the state to reduce the annual vehicle registration fees that were raised during the heart of the Great Recession, Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, chairman of the Appropriations Committee proposed.
Negron, who intends to formally present his proposal as a committee bill, predicted that by eliminating the tax credit established in 1987, motorists overall could see up to $220 million a year in savings if the 2009 vehicle registration fee increase was cut in half.
When the economy tanked at the end of 2008, lawmakers the next year, desperately seeking revenue but unwilling to raise taxes, made a controversial decision to raise fees on drivers instead. Opponents said it was regressive – hurting poor people as much or more than the wealthy.
The move, as lawmakers were facing a $6 billion shortfall, increased vehicle registration fees by 35 percent, as the cost of renewals, titles and driver licenses all were boosted.
“We were all elected, and we should make decisions that reflect our priorities today,” Negron said during the committee meeting on Thursday.
Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, quickly sent out a release supporting Negron’s proposal.
“In 2009, during a difficult budget year, the Legislature made the hard choice to increase certain fees associated with driving a vehicle in lieu of raising taxes, or taking draconian cuts to critical state services,” Gaetz said. “However, times have changed and it is time that we reprioritize and evaluate ways to keep more money in the pockets of hard working Floridians.”
The insurance industry tax credit was designed to offset the Insurance Premium Tax.
But Negron noted that only one other state, Arkansas, offers a similar discount that has allowed insurance companies to get rebates of 15 percent of the salaries of their employees in Florida.
House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, expressed interest in the proposal after the House session on Thursday, but said he’ll have his budget chairs review the plan.
“It’s an interesting idea,” Weatherford said. “I’m not a fan of those taxes either.”
House Minority Leader Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, intends to approach the proposal with caution.
“We would think that it would be a good idea to bring down the costs to everyday Americans who have to drive because in Florida we don’t have mass transit,” Thurston said.
“But we’re concerned about those type of proposals, because when you’re given incentives we want to know who is getting the benefit of those incentives?” he added. “Is it for working Floridians or are we just giving a handout to a big company without them having to be accountable, which we wouldn’t support.”
By The News Service of Florida