Dozier School Dig Unearths Two Bodies
September 4, 2013
University of South Florida researchers have turned their focus to the arduous task of identifying the remains of two boys exhumed from half-century-old unmarked graves before returning to unearth more bodies from a now-closed Panhandle reform school.
A team of 10 USF researchers and graduate students Tuesday wrapped up a weekend of excavating a burial site that sits just outside the Boot Hill cemetery at the former state-run Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, which is in the Jackson County community of Marianna.
The remains of the two boys are among at least 50 sent to the school between 1900 and 1952 who were buried in unmarked graves, said Erin Kimmerle, a USF anthropologist who is one of the leaders of the excavation.
Others have claimed the body count could top 100.
“We found coffin hardware, a little bit of coffin wood, that was unexpected given the amount of time that has passed,” Kimmerle said. And “dental and skeletal remains, so we have samples to send off for DNA.”
The researchers intend to return in October or November — the drier the weather the quicker the return — to exhume bodies from unmarked graves in other locations on the once 1,400-acre campus that now sits closed behind chain link fencing topped with barbed wired.
The state hopes to eventually sell the land, a move that has been put on hold. With the approval of Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet, the university researchers have a one-year window to search the grounds for reportedly unaccounted-for bodies.
Questions have arisen about whether boys, who reportedly died of pneumonia and other natural causes, were killed at the school.
The work Tuesday included recovering the coffins. The bones of the two long-dead boys, one identified as having died after the 1930s, have been sent to USF’s secured Forensic Anthropology Laboratory. The hope is to determine who they were.
Finding the additional bodies isn’t expected to be that difficult as much of the ground has already been scanned and locations of potential grave shafts have already been mapped out. But Kimmerle acknowledged that identifying any remains will be a long-shot.
“As children, they didn’t have direct descendants and the parents had their last known address over 50 years ago,” Kimmerle said. “So you really have to find aunts and uncles, and then the cousins and go down a generation or two and find where these people are living today.”
So far, the researchers from the Tampa-based university have received voluntary DNA samples from 10 families that believe they have relatives who died at the reform school.
The Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System provided assistance during the dig, while the search for relatives is being aided by cold-case members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Stephen (Steve) Henderson
September 4, 2013
Stephen (Steve) Henderson passed away peacefully on Monday, September 2, 2013.
A native of Pensacola, Steve was born on February 21, 1956. He was strong man of few words who never met a stranger, often opening his home and heart to people from all walks of life without passing judgement. He loved his family, friends, and was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed watching athletes from Pensacola succeed and was looking forward to the upcoming football season. His easy going and kind nature will be missed by all who love him.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Don Carlos Henderson and Gertrude Henderson (Willliams); and brothers, William (Bill) Henderson and James (Jim) Henderson.
He is survived by his brothers, Joseph (Joe) Henderson, Michael (Mike) Henderson and David Henderson; sisters, Patricia (Patsy) Henderson and Anita Max; daughters, Stephanie Henderson, Kristina Henderson and Jessica Bott (Michael); grandsons, Connor Henderson, Kody Nutt and Coen Bott; and granddaughter, Emily Nutt.
Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, September 6, 2013, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2013, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Jeff Henry officiating.
Interment will follow at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Jacquelyn Yvonne Steely
September 4, 2013
Mrs. Jacquelyn Yvonne Steely, age 64, of Flomaton passed away on Monday, September 2, 2013, at her home after an extended illness.
Mrs. Steely was a native of Repton, AL and a member of the Flomaton community since 1968 coming from East Brewton. She was a homemaker, a member of the First Baptist Church of East Brewton, and the Lupus Foundation. Mrs. Steely was preceded in death by her father, Lomac Hutcheson; sons, Tommy Steely, Jr. and Keith Steely; brothers, James E. Hutcheson and Gary Hutcheson.
Survivors include her mother, Mrs. Clara Iletha Hutcheson of East Brewton; husband, Mr. Tommy L. Steely, Sr., of Flomaton; daughter, Ms. Kellie Iletha Steely of Flomaton; and grandson, Tyler Jacob Steely.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 6, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Jerry Keese officiating.
Interment will be at Flomaton Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Brett Deslonde, Mike Donlan, Rusty Burnham, Pat Carden, J.R. Dunn and Pete Salazar.
Flomaton Funeral Home is directing.
Inez West Knowles
September 4, 2013
Mrs. Inez West Knowles, 81, passed away on Tuesday, September 3, 2013, in Grand Bay, Alabama.
Mrs. Knowles was a native of Bratt and had resided in Irvington, AL for the past 46 years. Mrs. Knowles attended the Faith Baptist Church. Her parents, Lonnie & Zolina West and grandson, Travis Golemon precede her in death.
Survivors include her husband, Gene Knowles of Irvington; two sons, Glenn Mooney of Pensacola and Floyd Mooney of Bratt; one daughter, Betty Golemon of Irvington; one brother, Cary West of Atmore; ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, September 4, 2013, at the Oak Grove Cemetery.
Burial will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Alabama
Ernest Ward, Northview Buses Delayed; EWMS Loses Phone Service
September 3, 2013
Due to severe weather, afternoon buses from Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High School were a little late this afternoon. The buses pulled away from Ernest Ward about 4:15 p.m.
Additionally, officials at Ernest Ward Middle School said the school has lost all telephone service due to lightning. They are unable to make or receive phone calls.
Century Public Hearing To Discuss New Playground For Showalter Park
September 3, 2013
The Town of Century will hold a public hearing next Monday to consider a recommendation from the Century Recreaton Advisory Committee to submit a grant application to renovate the existing playground area at Showalter Park.
The town is submitting two grant applications to the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. FRDAP is a competitive program which provides grants to local governments for outdoor recreational projects. The grants are administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
A public hearing was previously held August 19 on a $125,000 grant application for a splash pad at the Anthony Pleasant Sportsplex.
The public hearing next Monday will be for a grant application for $50,000 to replace playground equipment at Showalter Park. The current equipment is in poor repair and is not designed for disabled users. If the grant is awarded for the playground equipment, no matching local funds will be required.
The public hearing will be held Monday, September 9 at 7:10 p.m. during a regular meeting of the Century Town Council. The hearing and the meeting are open to the public.
Grant applications are due September 30. The 2014-2015 FRDAP grants are contingent upon approval of an annual appropriation by the Florida Legislature.
Pictured top: A conceptual drawing showing a potential splash pad at the Anthony Pleasant Sportsplex in Century. Courtesy graphic for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
$3.7 Million Project Making Safety Improvements On Jacks Branch Road
September 3, 2013
A $3.7 million project will enhance the safety of Jacks Branch Road.
The Florida Department of Transportation is funding the design and construction of the safety enhancements as a “Local Agency Program” project. Escambia County has bid the project, awarded the construction contract to Roads, Inc., and the county will manage the construction.
The work includes widening the travel lanes to 11 feet and added four-foot paved shoulders, along with some minor draining improvements. Escambia County will fund and perform milling and crack relief concurrently with the planned construction.
The project will begin at Muscogee Road to the south and end at Barrineau Park Road to the north.
Pictured: The intersection of Jacks Branch Road and Schifko Road. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Iconic Silver Screen Theatre Closes After 30 Years
September 3, 2013
An iconic Escambia County business announced its closure on Monday.
“After the end of the day, The Sliver Screen Theatre will be closing the doors for good. This will be the last day to watch a movie at The Silver Screen. We thank all of you for everything over the last 30 years,” the movie theater posted on its Facebook page about noon. “We hope to see you one last time.”
Over the years, The Silver Screen in Pensacola operated as a normal movie theater, a 99-cent theater and often advertised dinner and a movie combos. And it was known at one time for regular showings of the 1975 cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”.
“So sad to hear,” Jimmy Henry said on Facebook. “So many memories from my childhood as well as memories with my children.”
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Summer Of 2013 Was 4th Wettest Ever
September 3, 2013
According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, Pensacola recorded 34.41 inches of rain this summer (June 1 – August 31). This was 13.64 inches above the normal summer rainfall of 20.77 inches. This made the summer of 2013 the fourth wettest on record. The wettest summer ever recorded in Pensacola was just last year when 39.19 inches was recorded.
A volunteer observer for the National Weather Service in Gonzalez recorded 47.01 inches of rainfall June through August.
Mobile recorded 23.25 inches of rain this summer. This was 2.93 inches above the normal summer rainfall of 20.32. The wettest summer in Mobile was way back in 1900 when 35.70 was recorded.
Pictured: Flooding on July 11 at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia 4-H To Hold Adult Volunteer Program Open House
September 3, 2013
There will be a 4-H volunteer recruitment open house session this Thursday for persons interested in the 4-H Youth Program in Escambia County.
Attendees will lean about requirements and guidelines, training opportunities, volunteer activities and the role of 4-H volunteers in the community. These 45 minute sessions will include a program overview, learning stations and projects exhibits; session times are 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Escambia County Extension Office at 3740 Stefani Road.
For information on the Escambia County 4-H Adult Volunteer Program or the open house, contact Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230.