Veterans Day Programs Planned Across Area

November 5, 2013

Special Veterans Day programs are planned for next week at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill and at the Veterans Wall in Century.

Jay High School Veterans Program

Jay High School’s SGA is inviting all local veterans and active duty personnel  Wednesday for doughnuts and coffee in the Media Center at 10:00, to an assembly at 10:30 in the auditorium, and to free lunch in the cafeteria at 11:30.  Matt Dobson will be the keynote speaker.  Please come and allow us the chance to say “Thanks”.

Ernest Ward Veterans Program

The Ernest Ward Middle School Annual Veterans Day Program will be held Thursday, November 7, at 9:30 am. All the veterans in the community are invited. The program will include patriotic music, dance, and presentations. The guest speaker will be Robert Doss from the Escambia County School District. Refreshments will be served following the program. The program will be held in the school gym, with parking behind the gym due to construction.

Molino Park Elementary School

Molino Park Elementary School’s “Melodic Minors” will present “Of Thee I Sing.”  Performance time is 6:00 p.m.; the event will be held in the school’s cafeteria.

Northview High School Veterans Program

Northview High School will have its annual Veterans Day program on Friday, November 8 in the school’s theater.   There will be two programs with the first program starting at 9:35 a.m. The second program will start shortly after the completion of the first program at approximately 10:30 a.m.

The guest speaker will be Mr. Gary Welch, an Army Veteran who served in Vietnam.  He is also a retired teacher from Northview High School.

Century Veterans Celebration
The Town of Century will hold a veterans celebration on Friday, November 8 at 10 a.m. The program will be held at the Veterans Wall in the Nadine McCaw Park on Highway 29. Seating will be provided. Guest speaker will be Congressman Jeff Miller.

Bratt Elementary Veterans Program
Bratt Elementary School will hold a Veterans Day Program on Friday, November 8 at 1 p.m.

Northview Quarterback Club Meets Tonight

November 5, 2013

The next meeting of the Northview High School Quarterback Club is tonight at 6:30 in the Northview Media Center. All current and prospective members are encouraged to attend.

Families can support the Chiefs by joining the Quarterback Club for just $10 per family per year. All of the proceeds go directly to help the school, the football program and the students.

Emma Ruth Wasden Cannon

November 5, 2013

Emma Ruth Cannon, 88, of Jay, passed away on Monday, November 4, 2013, at Jay Hospital.

Emma Ruth was born in Brewton to J.M. and Josie Wasden, and grew up in the Jay area. She overcame an early childhood illness and never allowed that to handicap her. She graduated from Jay High School and received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Troy State Teacher’s College. She began her teaching career in Santa Rosa county and retired in 1976, after a stellar career of 27 years teaching first and third grades. During her career, she held various offices in the teachers’ organizations and was named Santa Rosa County Teacher of The Year in 1974. She was also proud of her membership in Delta Kappa Gamma. After her retirement, she and her husband, Bud, spent much time traveling the country, visiting many states in their motor home. They also enjoyed spending time at their camp on Blackwater River fishing, boating, and entertaining family and friends. Emma Ruth was an active member of the Jay First United Methodist Church. She enjoyed many hobbies including crocheting, quilting, knitting, painting, reading, and flower gardening. She especially loved her roses, which she generously shared. But she never forgot her first love-that of her students. She took great pride in remembering their names as well as those of their families.

She is predeceased by her husband, Grady Clyde “Bud” Cannon, to whom she was married for 48 years. She is also predeceased by her parents, her sister, Drusilla Campbell and her brother, Randolph Wasden.

She is survived by her son, Grady Herbert “Herb” Cannon and his wife, Helen; three grandchildren, Jonathon (Kelley) Cannon of Arlington, VA, Jennifer Angeron of Milton, and Joel Cannon of Atlanta; two precious great-grandchildren, Reese Angeron and Isla Jane Cannon; sisters, Bobbie Whitley of Pace and Mary Alice (Bobby) McHenry of Jay; and brother, Mack (Mary) Wasden of Jay and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend thanks to her special caregivers, Bernice Barlow, Polly Harrison, Kim Acker, and Christine Fowler. They would also like to express their gratitude to Dr. David Smith, Dr. Bascom Raney, Dr. Jeff Kelley, and the nurses and staff at Jay Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2013, at Jay First United Methodist Church with Rev. Laura Weant officiating.

Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her nephews, Mahlon and Gary Campbell, Terry and Johnny Wasden, Beau and Steven McHenry, Bill Wasden and Barney Whitley.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Wednesday, November 6, 2013, at Jay First United Methodist Church. The family is accepting floral condolences or, if preferred, contributions may be made to the Jay Historical Museum, P.O. Box 265, Jay, Florida 32565. Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Donald Alvin Respress

November 5, 2013

Mr. Donald Alvin Respress, 57 of Atmore, passed away November 3, 2013, in Mobile. He was born June 12, 1956, in Atmore to the late Amon and Evon Dannelley Respress. He was a farmer most of his life and is preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Thomas A. Respress and Tony Respress.

He is survived by his sons, Douglas Respress, David (Julie) Respress and Adam Respress all of Atmore; one brother, Michael (Joyce) Respress of McCullough and three sisters Jean (Jerry) Mason of Atmore, Janice (Larry) Kyser of Pensacola and Susan (Frank) Maguire of Atmore; and grandchildren Taylor, Preston, Kayleigh, Kaitlynn, Kristina, Sean and Addison.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, November 7, 2013, at 2 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Mike Grindle officiating. Burial will follow in McCullough Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday, November 7, 2013 from 1 PM until service time at 2 PM from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

Michael Devon Odom

November 5, 2013

Mr. Michael Devon Odom, age 36 of Flomaton, passed away on Sunday, November 3, 2013, at Baptist Hospital.

Mr. Odom was a native of Atmore and a resident of Century before coming to Flomaton. During his working years, he worked for Grey Wolf Drilling as a drilling rig roughneck. He was of the Methodist faith.

He is survived by his parents, Richard and Sharon Odom of Century; wife, Rhonda Odom of Flomaton; son, Drew Odom of Flomaton; step-daughter, Kendall McDonald of Flomaton; brother, Jesse Odom of Century; grandparents, James and Barbara Wilson of Century; mother-in-law and father-in-law, James and Sharon Pate of Flomaton.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 6, 2013, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with speaker Ronnie Fore officiating.

Interment will follow in Byrneville United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Flomaton Funeral Home is directing.

Two Injured In NAS Pensacola Plane Crash

November 4, 2013

Two people were injured in a T-45 training aircraft accident Monday morning at Sherman Field aboard NAS Pensacola.

At about 10:30 a.m. today, a U.S. Navy T-45C Goshawk aircraft crashed at the approach end of a runwy. The two-seat training aircraft, assigned to Training Squadron 86, was conducting a routine training flight.

The two injured were transported to Baptist Hospital, including one by LifeFlight helicopter. An updated on their conditions was available. There were no other injuries reported.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Workshop Tonight: Century To Debate Possible Barnyard Animal Ban

November 4, 2013

The Town of Century will hold a special workshop tonight to discuss an animal control ordinance that will potentially limit or prohibit barnyard animals in the town limits.

Back on October 21, the town considered an ordinance that would make it illegal to keep any horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep or cattle within the town limits, except on property zoned as agricultural.  There are only three parcels of land in the town currently zoned agricultural.

But that barnyard animal ordinance was put out to pasture over numerous unanswered questions. There were concerns over if, and how, current animals might be grandfathered in and the possibility of variances being issued for some property owners.

Council President Ann Brooks said any barnyard animal ordinance should include provisions for minimum acreage and fencing.

Town consultant Debbie Nickles was tasked with researching options and returning with ideas and possibly a new ordinance for consideration during tonight’s workshop. The workshop begins at 6 p.m., just prior to the council’s regular meeting at 7 p.m.

Pictured: The Century Town Council debates a possible animal control ordinance during their last meeting in October. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Lost Burglar Gets Probation For Indecent Exposure

November 4, 2013

An allegedly drunk and lost Atmore man who thought the best way to get home was to get the police by dropping his pants has been sentenced in Escambia County, Fla.

Corey Nicolas Smith, age 23 of 21st Avenue, was originally charged with felony attempted burglary of a residence, felony attempted burglary of a conveyance and indecent exposure by the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office. All of the charges were dropped, except the indecent exposure charge.

Smith was convicted of indecent exposure and sentenced by Judge Michael Alle to 12 months probation and ordered to stay away from the victim.

Deputies responding to a reported vehicle burglary in the Warrington area back in June found Smith exposing himself  “in a vulgar and indecent manner”, according to an arrest report. The arresting deputy placed Smith in his patrol vehicle and “he stated he was drunk and did not know how to get home so he decided the best way was  to get  law enforcement by exposing himself to the …female in the vehicle,” the deputy wrote in his report.

Smith has previously tried to enter an apartment. The two occupants of the apartment exited to their vehicle. Smith tried to open the door of the vehicle but could not. He then pulled down his pants, exposed himself and began to perform a sexual act that was partially witnessed by law enforcement, the arrest report states.

Peanut Butter Drive Continues

November 4, 2013

The Escambia County Extension office, the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the EscaRosa Young Farmers and Ranchers and the Florida Peanut Producer Association are collecting peanut butter now through mid-November to help take a bite out of hunger.

The groups are accepting donations of unopened jars of peanut butter to be donated to local food pantries during Farm-City Week.

“Let’s keep children eating locally grown peanuts in healthy, nutritious, and yummy peanut butter,” is a slogan being promoted for the drive. The extension service said the average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before graduating high school.

Unopened jars of peanut butter of any brand can be dropped off until November 15 at any of the following locations:

  • Escambia County Extension office, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
  • Escambia Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
  • Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 North W Street, Pensacola
  • Escambia County Community & Environment Dept. 223 Palafox Place, 3rd Floor, Pensacola
  • Gilmore Services, 31 East Fairfield Drive, Pensacola

For more information contact Escambia County Extension at  (850) 475-5230.

Pictured top: Local peanut grower Rodney Helton and his granddaughters. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Three Escambia Students Awarded Prestigous American FFA Degree

November 4, 2013

Three Escambia County students have been awarded  the American FFA Degree, which is awarded to FFA members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA. The award is presented after the FFA member graduates from high school.

Northview High School FFA graduate Lydia Weaver accepted her degree on stage  during the annual National FFA Convention Saturday morning in Louisville, KY. West Florida High School FFA graduates Jake Scott and Justin Ryan Hall were also awarded the American FFA Degree but did not attend the convention.

Less than half of one percent of all FFA members receive the American FFA Degree, making it one of the organization’s highest honors.  The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 579,678 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,570 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Pictured: Northview High School FFA graduate Lydia Weaver accepts  her American FFA degree on stage  during the annual National FFA Convention Saturday morning in Louisville, KY. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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