Betty Sue Raughton
September 14, 2014
Betty Sue Raughton, age 60 of Jay, left on wings of angels September 13, 2014. She was a member of Cornerstone Christian Church. She taught Sunday school there as well as many of churches she attended. She enjoyed flower gardening and will be missed by her family and friends who she loved deeply.
She is survived by her husband, Charles Raughton of 43 years and mother-in-law, Mattie Presley, both of Jay; brother and sister-in-law, John and Ellen Raughton of Orange, TX; sister, Polly and husband, Mike Knight of Andalusia; and sister, Vivian Dyess of Dade City, FL; special nephew and niece, William and Margie Wells of Perdido; numerous other nieces and nephews.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Alion and Lummie Williamson; sisters, Katie Lou Raffeo and Mattie Smith; and brothers, Ranger Williamson and A.G. Williamson.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Concord Primitive Baptist Church with Bro. Bill Stewart and Fredrick Barrow officiating.
Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
A visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Jim Ray Colley, Tommy Castleberry, James Kirkland, Charlie White, Wes Mathews and Dennis Watson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Smith, George Hall, Dr. Bascom Raney, Clarence Smith and James Diamond.
A special thanks to Jay Hospital and Baptist Hospital four west, nurses and staff at Covenant Hospice and Summer Smith, from the Raughton family.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
John Wright “J.W.” Dewberry
September 14, 2014
John Wright “J.W.” Dewberry, 87 of Cantonment,passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2014. John was born in Repton, AL on July 30, 1927.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Myrtle Dewberry; parents, Byron and Ruthie Dewberry; one brother-in-law, Clyde Givens; and one brother, James Dewberry..
He is survived by one son, Edwin (Ann) Joyner; one loving and caring sister, Annie Givens; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was a faithful member of Farm Hill United Methodist Church.
Pallbearers were Alton Givens, Keith Givens, Johnnie Givens, Ronnie Givens, Ken Joyner, and Gregg Raughton.
Funeral services were held Saturday, September 13, 2014 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Stuart Worth and Rev. John Kuritz officiating.
Burial was in Pensacola Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Faith Chapel Funeral Homes, the staff and friends at Farm Hill United Methodist Church, the staff at Homestead Village, and the staff and nurses at Covenant Hospice for their prayers and support.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Federal Charge Dismissed Against Molino Man Convicted Of Stealing Copper Wire
September 13, 2014
Federal charges have been dismissed against a Molino man that allegedly took copper wire from aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola and then sold it.
Calvin Antwane Smith, age 28 of Cedartown Road, was sentenced in Escambia County Circuit Court August 4 by Judge Gary Bergosh to 36 months probation on charges of felony fraud providing a false statement verifying ownership of regulated metals, and felony dealing in stolen property. According to investigators, he sold two spools of copper wire to two recycling companies after the wire was stolen from his private contractor employer at NAS Pensacola.
He was then arrested by federal authorities and released on his own recognizance on a federal charge of larceny within a special maritime jurisdiction for stealing the wire, which was valued at less than $1,000. But federal prosecutors dropped the charge before Smith’s scheduled trial date.
He remains on probation following the Escambia County conviction.
Northview Rolls Over Chipley (With Photo Gallery)
September 13, 2014
The Northview Chiefs rolled over the Chipley Tigers Friday night in Bratt, 24-6.
The Chiefs lit up the scoreboard first with a 17-yard pass from quarterback Gavin Grant to Jacob Weaver. A missed kick, and Northview was up 6-0. Senior Keondrae Lett scored three touchdowns for the Chiefs, the first from a couple of yards out just a couple of minutes before the half, the second on a 75-yard run with 5:00 in the third quarter, and the final seal the deal TD early in the fourth. Lett’s third quarter touchdown was set up by a Nick Lambert interception at Northview’s 15 and a return to Chipley’s 33.
Overall, Lett was close to 240 yards on the night.
“I thought our offensive line did a good job tonight,” Northview Coach Sid Wheatley said after the win. “I thought our running backs ran the ball extremely well.”
Chipley’s only score of the night came a lateral when Northview appeared to think the ball was dead.
“Our defense stepped up big. We game them one touchdown in the first half kind of on a flukish play when we thought we had him stopped. We gave up no points in the second half, and that was huge,” he said.
Friday night might not be the only meeting of the year between Chipley and Northview. Both are in different districts in Class 1A and could feasibly meet again in regional play in late November.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Cheerleader, band, dance team and mini-majorette photos have been delayed for technical reasons and will be published as soon as possible.)
The Chiefs (3-0) will be off next Friday night and travel to Fort Walton Beach to play Choctaw on September 26.
During the two weeks downtime, Wheatley said the team will work “fine tune little things”. “We are not where we need to be, but we are doing enough, and we know we can do better.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: It’s Easy To Attract Hummingbirds
September 13, 2014
by Santa Rosa County Extension
Few sights are more thrilling in the garden than rapidly moving hummingbirds darting among colorful flowers. Hummingbirds, also known as hummers, are always a wonder to see, and it’s easy to attract them to your garden.
In Florida, we see three different types of hummingbirds, but the most common is the ruby-throated. This feathered jewel is only about three inches long and weighs as little as a single penny.
For their size, hummingbirds have among the largest appetites in the bird world. They feed every 10 or 15 minutes from dawn until dusk. During this period, they eat more than half their weight in food and 8 times their weight in water.
If you’re fascinated by hummingbirds, you probably hang out a feeder or two in the summer to provide them with sugar water. Artificial feeders will attract hummingbirds.
However, feeders should not be the sole source of food provided. The sugar solution may appeal to the hummingbirds’ sweet tooth, but it provides little nourishment. Nectar is much more vital to the hummingbird than just water and sugar. By planting certain flowers and shrubs, home gardeners can provide food and habitat for hummingbirds.
Typical hummingbird flowers are red, have a tubular shape and have no strong scent. But there are several notable exceptions to this general rule. Many plants with red flowers don’t contain very much nectar. Roses, petunias, geraniums and zinnias have brilliant colors but little nectar.
Plants that produce an abundance of flowers over an extended period of time and those that require little care are good choices. Native plants can “fill the bill” where nectar-seekers are concerned and should be used whenever possible.
Perennials that are recommended as nectar sources include butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), red basil (Calamintha coccinea), shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana), cigar plant (Cuphea ignea), firespike (Odontonema stricta), red star hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), and obedient plant (Physostegia spp.).
It’s also important to plant a mixture of nectar producing trees, vines and shrubs that have overlapping blooming seasons. This will insure that a continuous source of nectar will be available to hummingbirds throughout the growing season. Some of the species recommended include red buckeye, bottlebrush, firebush (Hamelia patens), wild azalea, trumpet vine, and coral honeysuckle.
Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds are not strictly nectar feeders. Insects and other invertebrates are the primary source of protein for adult hummingbirds and their young. An adult female can consume up to 2,000 insects per day. Small invertebrates including mosquitoes, gnats, small bees, fruit flies, spiders, caterpillars, aphids, and insects eggs make up the hummingbirds diet. So keep your plants free of pesticides. Pesticides destroy the insect food base vital to hummingbirds and their offspring, and may also contaminate the nectar they drink.
And if you do use artificial feeders, remember that the sugar solutions must be kept fresh. Florida’s hot weather can cause rapid bacterial growth in these feeders and birds that drink contaminated water could die. To avoid this, change the solution every 3 to 5 days. Clean the feeders with hot water and white vinegar. Do not use soap or chlorine bleach.
Tate Blows Away Panama City Bay (With Photo Gallery)
September 13, 2014
The Tate Aggies beat Panama City Bay 47-0 Friday night in Panama City in a game that ended with the mercy rule’s running clock.
The Aggies blew the Tornadoes away with 450 yards.
Tate’s first touchdown of the night came on a 10-yard fun from Alondo Thompkins. A few minutes later, the Aggies improved to 12-0 with a nine yard run keeper from quarterback Sawyer Smith. Smith found Payne on three touchdown passes, the first just seconds before the end of the half to put the Aggies up 26-0. The final Tate TD of the night came from reserve quarterback Jacob Hamrick from the one.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Tate Aggies (2-1) will celebrate homecoming next Friday at 7:30 as they host West Gadsden.
Photos by Jennifer Repine for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Gets 20 Years For Carjackings After Luring Victims Online
September 13, 2014
An Escambia County woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for carjackings and related crimes in which she used social media find her victims.
Brianna Nicole Armour, age 19, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Michael Allen to 20 years minimum mandatory state prison. Armour entered a guilty plea on April 29, 2014 to two counts of attempted carjacking with a firearm, one count of shooting at, into or within an occupied vehicle, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted delinquent under 24 years of age, two counts of aggravated assault by threat with firearm, one count of grand theft auto, and one count of criminal mischief.
Prosecutors said the defendant utilized the social media website “tagged.com” to lure all three of her victims into meeting her. In the first case, the defendant met the victim and drove to a local gas station whereupon the victim went into the store to purchase a drink. While the victim was in the store, the defendant drove off in the victim’s vehicle.
In the second case, upon Armour meeting the victim, she directed him to drive to a remote location. Once at that location, the defendant brandished a pistol and ordered the victim out of the car. When the defendant attempted to get into the driver’s seat, the victim managed to drive away. Upon driving away, Armour shot out the back window of the vehicle.
In the third case, Armour once again directed the victim to drive to a remote location. Once at that location, the defendant brandished a pistol and ordered the victim out of his truck. A brief struggle over the pistol resulted in the victim receiving a minor gunshot wound to his arm, after which the defendant fled on foot.
Florida Corrections Continues Terminations For Inappropriate And Criminal Behavior
September 13, 2014
Friday, the Florida Department of Corrections announced that in addition to the six members of its staff that were terminated Thursday, this week an additional seven were dismissed under the DOC’s new employee discipline policy.
Five employees of Lancaster Correctional Institution — Officer Earl Short, Officer Stephen Nygard, Officer Julious Riley, Sergeant Robert La Puma, and Sergeant Brittain Williams — were dismissed for battery on an inmate. Officer Houston Biddle of Okaloosa Correctional Institution was dismissed for a DUI arrest and Officer Glen Gordon of Desoto was dismissed for an arrest for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended/cancelled/revoked driver’s license.
Last week DOC announced a strict zero-tolerance policy for employee misconduct and DOC Secretary Mike Crews sent a memo to all employees. DOC employees who commit a criminal act will immediately be placed on administrative leave and the Department will initiate disciplinary action for their dismissal.
“The action we have taken this week makes it clear that we will not tolerate inappropriate behavior or criminal activity by our staff. Our staff should be held to the highest standards, and the zero-tolerance policy that we have put in place ensures that anyone who fails to do the right thing will no longer work for this agency. We value our culture of professionalism and integrity, and we will not let the bad actions of a few undermine and tarnish the reputations of all the hard working men and women in our department. Enforcement of our new discipline policy is a critical step in ensuring that happens,” Crews said in a written statement.
Six Florida Department of Corrections employees were arrested and fired for alleged wrongdoings at a Panhandle facility, as announced Thursday. For that story, click here.
Friday Night Football Finals
September 13, 2014
Here is a look at Friday night’s high school finals.
FLORIDA
- Northview 24, Chipley 6 [Read more...]
- Vernon 42, Jay 3
- Tate 47, P.C. Bay 0 [Read more...]
- West Florida 19, Cairo (GA) 7
- Niceville 48, Pine Forest 0
- Escambia 45, Rutherford 7
- PHS 25, Catholic 17
- Washington 48, Lake Area (LA) 7
- Navarre 49, at Pace 21
- Baker 42, Holmes County 13
- Rickards 28, Crestview 7 12
- Milton 48, Ft. Walton 21
- Arnold 37, Freeport 7
ALABAMA
- Leroy 19, Flomaton 12
- T.R. Miller 55, Cottage Hill 14
- B.C. Rain 29, Escambia County (Atmore) 6
- Ecambia Academy 54, Fort Dale 12
- W.S. Neal — (open)
NWE Chiefs, Cantonment Cowboys In Action Today
September 13, 2014
The Northwest Escambia Chiefs and the Cantonment Cowboys will both take to the field today.
The Northwest Escambia Chiefs will be back in action today against W.S. Neal at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium at Northview High School. Games will be played as follows:
- Freshmen at 4:00 pm
- Sophomores at 5:15 pm
- Juniors at 6:45 pm
- Seniors at 8:15 pm
The Cantonment Cowboys will be at the Bellview Packers Saturday as follows:
- Mighty Mites at 8:00 am
- Mini Mites at 11:00 am
- Mites at 2:00 pm
- Midgets at 5:00 pm
- Juniors at 6:30 pm
Cantonment Cowboy fans are encouraged to come out, wear maroon and white, and support the teams.