Mattie Mae Steadham Driver
April 5, 2013
Mattie Mae Steadham Driver, 75 of McDavid, passed away on April 2, 2013, in Pensacola, surrounded by her family. Mattie was born in McCullough, Alabama on September 4, 1937, to Wallace and Della Steadham. She was a lifelong resident of McDavid and retired after approximately 35 years from Monsanto. She was blessed with a talent of growing beautiful flowers and cooking for others. She enjoyed being outdoors, working in her yard, fishing with her grandchildren and visiting with family and friends. Mattie is preceded in death by her parents, Wallace and Della Steadham, a sister, two brothers Bob and Ben Steadham, her son, and grandson Rusty Fisher.
She is survived by her daughters, Rita (John) Fisher of Pensacola and Sue (Dwight) Hopkins of McDavid; three grandchildren, Helena Hopkins of McDavid, SGT. Hopkins, Tristan (SPC Hopkins Melanie) of Ansbach, Germany and Brandon Fisher of Pensacola; one brother, “Bo” Dudley Steadham of McDavid; sister, Margaret Kimmons of Jay; many nieces and nephews and best friend, Jean Boatner of Pensacola.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 6, 2013, at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mitch Herring officiating. Burial will follow in Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers will include SGT. Hopkins, Tristan, Brandon Fisher, Kenny McDonald, Jack Boatner, David Boatner, Alfred “Bubba” Kimmons, Jeff Steadham and Doug Walker.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Tate Cheerleading Tryouts To Be Held Next Week
April 5, 2013
Tate High School Cheerleading tryouts will be held April 8-12 in the Tate gym after school. Information packets can be picked up at Tate’s main office or online by clicking here.
Florida Alimony Overhaul Clears Senate, Ready For Full House
April 5, 2013
The Senate on Thursday approved a bill that will revamp the state’s alimony laws, with supporting saying it will give greater certainty to the amounts of alimony payments between former spouses. Senators voted 29-11 to approved the measure sponsored by Lakeland Republican Kelli Stargel.
The bill, for example, ends the concept of permanent alimony and also creates standards for the award of alimony based on the lengths of marriages. Stargel said she has tried to create a “fair framework” with the bill.
But Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, said she thinks the bill will have “bad, unintended consequences” and that it could create problems for women with children.
The House version of the overhaul has cleared committees and is ready to go to the full House.
By The News Service of Florida
ECUA’s Water Selected As ‘Best Tasting’ In Region
April 5, 2013
ECUA’s drinking water was selected as the “2013 Best Tasting Water” winner in a taste-test competition held recently in Destin. The annual event was sponsored by Region IX of the Florida Section/American Water Works Association (FS/AWWA).
Region IX is comprised of all water utilities in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
The FS/AWWA is divided into 12 Regions, each hosting their own regional competition. Participation in the Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest is open only to water providers within the geographical region who have not experienced any violations in the federal or state safe drinking water regulatory requirements. Destin Water users hosted the event and provided a panel of impartial judges. Each water sample was evaluated for taste, odor, color, and clarity.
“ECUA water has been recognized as the best-tasting water in the Florida Panhandle for the fourth time in seven years. Our Water Department staff have done us all proud,” said ECUA Board Chairman Larry Walker.
As a four-time winner of the Region IX competition, ECUA will now compete against the other 11 FS/AWWA Regions’ winners in the state-wide competition later this month in Orlando at the Florida Water Resource Conference.
Pictured: One of ECUA’s 32 water wells located on Tate Road in Cantonment. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Michael Chase Kaylor
April 5, 2013
Michael Chase Kaylor, age 18, of Damascus Road in Brewton, passed away Thursday, April 4, 2013. He was a native and life long resident of Escambia County, Alabama. Chase was a member of Pleasant Hill Holiness Church. He was a former student of W.S. Neal High School. He was a senior at Sparta Academy and played on the Sparta Academy football team as well as the All Star football team. He was Enrolled at La Grange College in the nursing program, and was musically talented with the guitar, violin, piano.
Michael was preceded in death by his grandfather, Walter Dennison and brother, Jordan Kaylor.
Survivors include his mother, Angelia Cardwell Kaylor of Brewton; father, Mike Kaylor of Linden, Alabama ; four brothers, Jonathan (Sarah) Stricklin of Brewton, Caleb Kaylor of Brewton, Trent Kaylor of Monroeville, and Hunter Mullins of Brewton; three sisters, Shanea Kaylor, Jaidan Kaylor and Hannah Kaylor, all of Brewton; grandparents, Johnny and Barbara Cardwell of Brewton; grandmother, Joyce Ann Dennison of Linden; nephew, Hunter Stricklin of Brewton, special family, Tripp, Angie, and Jacob Hendrix of Evergreen and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and a multitude of friends.
Visitation will be held Monday night April 8, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at W.S. Neal High School Auditorium in East Brewton.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Herman Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Weaver Cemetery.
Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is directing.
Pensacola Christens New Fire Boat
April 5, 2013
The Pensacola Fire Department christened a new fire boat Thursday morning.
“The City of Pensacola is very proud of our first-class fire department,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “As we look to continue developing our downtown waterfront and growing business at our Port, this new amenity and the enhanced protection it provides is invaluable.”
The 36-foot “Fire Boat One” was purchased with $612,000 from the Federal Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Grant Program. The boat will allow the Pensacola Fire Department to provide firefighting as well as medical and rescue services across Pensacola’s waterfront and Pensacola Bay, as well as to surrounding communities like Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach if necessary. “This fire boat is truly a regional asset,” said Mayor Hayward.
Over the years, the City of Pensacola has had several serious waterfront fires. In the 1940s and 1950s, a series of fires destroyed many of Pensacola’s waterfront docks and port facilities. More recently, in 2008, the popular Oar House restaurant on Bayou Chico caught fire.
Fire Boat One has a top speed of 45 miles per hour and a maximum pump capacity of 2,000 gallons per minute.
Pictured: The Pensacola Fire Department’s new Fire Boat One was christened Thursday morning. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Keith Allen Rolin
April 5, 2013
Mr. Keith Allen Rolin, 41, passed away on Thursday, April 4, 2013, in Atmore.
Mr. Rolin was a native of Atmore and a resident of Canoe, AL for most of his life.
Survivors include his parents, Clarence & Dianne Rolin of Canoe; wife, Anja Scheel Rolin of Germany; two brothers, Kenneth Wayne Rolin and Johnny Ray (Tonya) Rolin, both of Canoe; and one sister, Debra (Clayton) Coon of Atmore.
Funeral services will be Sunday, April 7, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel with Rev. Martin Gehman officiating.
Burial will follow at the New Home Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, April 7, 2013, from 12:30 p.m. until service time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
No Serious Injuries In Pine Forest, Longleaf Crash
April 4, 2013
There were no serious injuries in a Thursday morning wreck that tied up traffic near Pine Forest and West Florida high schools, and Longleaf Elementary.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 47-year old Timothy L. Wilson was southbound on Pine Forest Road at Longleaf Drive about 7:35 a.m. when he turned in front of a 2004 Cadillac Deville driven by 31-year old Toccara S Shine-Dees. Wilson’s Ford Explorer overturned onto its left side, while the Cadillac struck a pedestrian control signal.
Wilson and his passenger, 15-year old Dylan J. Shepherd, were not injured. Shine-Dees suffered minor injuries and was transported to West Florida Hospital.
Wilson was cited by the FHP for turning left in front of approaching traffic.
Atmore School Placed On Lockdown During Police Standoff
April 4, 2013
An Atmore elementary school was placed on lockdown this morning due to a nearby law enforcement standoff.
An Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pick up Clarence Shoemaker on mental commitment papers on Poplar Street near Presley Street, just a couple of blocks from A.C. Moore Elementary School. He had reportedly threatened his mother with a gun Wednesday night.
Shoemaker remained in the house for about 30 minutes as it was surrounded by sheriff’s deputies and Atmore Police officers. He was eventually talked out of the home by his mother and surrendered to police without incident.
A.C. Moore was placed on lockdown as a precaution during the incident.
One Arrested After High Speed Chase That Led To School Lockdowns
April 4, 2013
A high speed chase involving a suspect believed to have an AK-47 ended with three schools on lockdown this morning.
Deputies responded to Village Mobile Home Park on Highway 29 about 10 a.m. after a report of an armed disturbance. The suspect, 33-year old Ellis Roy Clark, had threatened the victim several times over the past two days and had returned this morning and begin to violently beat upon the victim’s door, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sena Maddison said.
The victim had observed a handgun in Clark’s possession and also indicated he believed that he carried an AK47 in the trunk of his 2006 Ford Taurus. Clark fled the mobile home park before deputies arrived.
He returned 15 minutes later, and the victim called law enforcement again. The suspect fled upon seeing arriving officers and was pursued to Longleaf Drive just east of Wymart Road where he lost control of the vehicle and was taken into custody. There were no injuries to officers or Clark.
Nearby Pine Forest High, West Florida High and Longleaf Elementary schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Clark has been charged with aggravated stalking, knowingly driving while license suspended/revoked, driving with an expired license, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, fleeing and eluding an officer and reckless driving.
Clark is facing additional charges of reckless driving, leaving the scene with injuries, driving with a suspended license and failure to stop for stop sign in connection with a traffic crash at Highway 29 and Ensley Street during the pursuit.
The Florida Highway Patrol said deputies were few blocks behind Clark he ran a stop sign from Ensley Street to Highway 29 and slid into a 1989 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 36-year old James B. Williams of Pensacola. Williams was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 23-year old Madeline Kathleen Gonzalez was a passenger in Clark’s vehicle during the pursuit. She was not injured in the crash. There were no charges filed against Gonzalez.
Pictured top: A high speed pursuit ended on Longleaf Drive not far from Pine Forest High School this morning. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
