Dillard Albert Bankston
May 23, 2014
Mr. Dillard Albert Bankston, age 75 of Century, passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2014, at his home.
Mr. Bankston was a native of Haleyville, AL and a resident of Century for 60 years. During his working years, he was an owner and operator truck driver. He was a member of Bratt First Baptist Church and was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Carrie Bankston; his son, Darryl Bankston; and granddaughter, Stephanie Macks.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Rochelle Burkett Bankston of Century; sons, William Macks, Danny Macks and Samuel (Cheryl) Macks all of Century; daughters, Lajuana (Keith) Reid of Byrneville, Sheila (Terry) Bryan of Bratt and Robbie (Bubba) Hammac of Century; brother, Willard Bankston of Century; sister, Jean Miller of Rogers, AR; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2014, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel beginning at 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. with Rev. Delbert Redditt and Rev. Mitch Herring officiating.
Interment will be in Moyeville Cemetery in Brewton.
Pallbearers will be Heath Bryan, Miles Hammac, Skyler Macks, Michael Jacobs, Lane Macks, Jeffrey Laborde, Adam Dudney, Levi Peters, KK Knowles.
Flomaton Funeral Home is directing.
Birmingham Rallies For Seventh Inning Win Over The Wahoos
May 23, 2014
Pensacola Blue Wahoos righty Robert Stephenson is tabbed as the Cincinnati Reds organization’s top prospect this season.
However, he has no wins and two losses, so far, in the month of May. Thursday night, he earned a no decision as the Blue Wahoos blew a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning and lost to the Birmingham Barons, 4-3, in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
In his last four starts, Stephenson has allowed four earned runs for an ERA of 1.50, struck out 28 batters in 24 innings and only walked eight. Opposing hitters are batting .167 against him during that span. He leads the Southern League with 61 strike outs total.
Now those are the numbers of a top pitching prospect, who has taken the mound since he was 9-years-old and now at age 21 throws fastballs clocked Thursday night at 99 mph. About a half dozen Major League scouts looked on as the No. 19 prospect in the nation (among thousands of minor league prospects) gave up one run on two hits, struck out six and walked four in six innings of work.
“He’s like a wild stallion,” Pensacola manager Delino DeShields said about Stephenson. “We just have to corral some of that energy and fire he has out there. He dominated tonight.”
Stephenson outpitched the Chicago White Sox No. 9 prospect, Chris Beck, who gave up two earned runs on four hits in five innings and struck out four batters.
Stephenson said he’s not worried about his stats. He wants to throw inside fastballs for first pitch strikes to hitters and not fall behind in the count.
“I’m not concerned about my wins and losses,” he said. “I just want to give my team a chance to win.” And “absolutely” strike hitters out he said grinning.
Wahoos pitching coach Jeff Fassero said the main things for Stephenson to work on in Pensacola are more consistency and mastering his change-up. Against the Barons, Stephenson’s second inning was inconsistent. That’s when he gave up three walks, one of which led to a run when the Barrons’ Rangel Ravelo scored on a double to the gap by Kevan Smith. However, Stephenson slipped out of a bases-loaded jam.
“He’s been looking better,” Fassero said about the Reds’ minor league player of the year last season. “He just needs more consistency of all his stuff.”
by Tommy Thrall
Pictured: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lose to the Birmingham Barons 4-3 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium Thursday. Photos by Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Blue Wahoos) for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Edward Ray “Bud” Stabler
May 23, 2014
Edward Ray “Bud” Stabler, 66 of Atmore, passed away Thursday, May 22, 2014, in Pensacola. He was a mechanic for Alabama River Pulp. He was born in Franklin, AL to the late Albert and Mary Stabler on October 25, 1947.
Survivors include his son, Ken (Regina) Stabler; daughter, Mandy (Rusty) Emmons, all of Atmore; one brother, Robert Stabler; two sisters, Ann McKinley and Betty Counselmen, all of Franklin, AL; and three grandchildren, Grayson Emmons, Garrett Emmons, and Mayci Stabler.
Services will be Sunday May 25, 2014, at 2 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Diane Everette and Speaker Beth Linam officiating.
Interment will follow in Huxford Baptist Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Saturday, May 24, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements
Reba G. Jeter
May 23, 2014
Reba G. Jeter, 90 of Spanish Fort, passed away Thursday, May 22, 2014, in Bay Minette. She was a retired cashier. She was born in Uriah on August 10, 1923, to the late Dewey and Geneva Ship Jeter.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Monroe Jeter; and sister, Doris Hayles.
Survivors include one sister, Gladys Slaughter of Stapleton; niece, Dianne Wilson of Spanish Fort; nephew, Jerry Hayles of Uriah; and a number of great nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be Saturday, May 24, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. at Mineola Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Saturday, May 24, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Sheriff’s Office Admin Building Temporarily Evacuated Due To Gas Smell
May 22, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office administration building was temporarily evacuated Thursday night due to the reported smell of natural gas.
Facilities staff from Escambia County were working with crews from Pensacola Energy and mechanical contractors to re-establish natural gas service to the building at 1700 West Leonard Street.
Natural gas service to the ESCO building, which normally supports boilers for hot water and dehumidification systems, had previously run off the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention building prior to the explosion of April 30.
In reestablishing service, the systems were fully activated early this evening and a call was made that alerted emergency crews to a reported smell of natural gas. The Escambia County Public Safety Department responded and, after evaluating the situation with crews from Pensacola Energy, cleared the building.
The building has since been determined to be safe. Escambia County Facilities staff, Pensacola Energy and contractors are now continuing work to restore natural gas service.
Corrections Admin Building Closes Due To Flooding
May 22, 2014
Flooding has forced the closure of the Escambia County Corrections Administrative Building on North Palafox Street and the relocation of services provided by agencies in the building.
Escambia County Corrections administrators are working to temporarily relocate to the Public Safety Building, located at 6575 North W Street. The goal is to have the Corrections’ administrative services reopened at the Public Safety Building on Friday, May 23.
The Corrections Administrative Building serves customers needing to pay court ordered fees, including cost of supervision, community service and worthless checks. Fees will need to be paid for at the Corrections Department’s temporary location at the Public Safety Building once it opens on Friday, May 23.
Individuals participating in the pre-trial release program or those who are on probation should not be impacted by this event. Since the original flood event in late April, pre-trial release participants have been directed to report to the Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 West Government Street. Pre-trial release participants should continue to report to the Blanchard Judicial Building until further notice.
Escambia County Probation Officers were relocated to the Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, nearly two weeks ago and those needing to report to their Probation Officer will continue to do so at the Central Office Complex.
Child support hearings have been relocated until further notice to the Juvenile Justice Center, 1800 St. Mary’s Avenue.
The building was first flooded during the April 29 rain event. Sometime between the close of business Wednesday and the start of business Thursday, the pump system used to remove water from the building’s subbasement failed causing water to rise into the basement level of the building. Escambia County Facilities Department employees discovered approximately five feet of standing water in the basement when they reported to work Thursday morning.
As a result of this flooding issue, the Escambia Corrections Administration Building has been closed and all utilities servicing the building have been turned off. The overnight flooding of the basement has compromised the building’s air conditioning system, plumbing and mechanical operations.
There were no injuries associated with the flooding of the Corrections Administration Building.
Century, Pensacola At Stalemate Over North Escambia Gas Franchise
May 22, 2014
It’s coming up on a month since the Escambia County Commission delayed a vote on natural gas franchise agreement to give Century and Pensacola time to work out their differences, and, so far, Century’s attorney says there’s been no conversation at all.
“Since that time I have not heard one word,” attorney Matt Dannheisser, who represents the Town of Century, said. “To be honest, I’m not surprised in the slightest…Their (Pensacola’s) track record has suggested to me we may not hear anything from them.”
Century currently holds exclusive franchise rights from Escambia County to provide natural gas service from the Escambia River westward to almost the Perdido River and from the Alabama state line southward to near Bogia. The franchise area includes Century, Byrneville, Bratt, Oak Grove, Walnut Hill and McDavid. The 50-year franchise was granted by the county in 1968 to the Town of Century (then known as the Town of South Flomaton) to provide natural gas services to the northernmost part of the county.
Pensacola Energy, formerly known as Energy Services of Pensacola, currently provides natural gas service to commercial customers in Bratt and Walnut Hill — within the Town of Century’s gas franchise area. Pensacola Energy provides natural gas to Ernest Ward Middle School and Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill, and Bratt Elementary and Northview High School in Bratt. They also provide natural gas service to an unknown number of residential customers near Kansas Road, Green Village Road and North Highway 99 in Bratt.
The Escambia County Commission agreed in late April to hold off about 90 days to allow Century and Pensacola to work out their differences prior to scheduling a public hearing on the proposed franchise.
Dannheisser accused Pensacola of trying to “muddy the water” and “confuse the county commission”. He said there are only two issues of concern to the commission — Century’s request to extend their franchise on the same terms as other gas companies in the county so everyone “plays by the same rules”, and Pensacola’s infringement into Century’s franchise area.
“Pensacola has been infringing in our franchise for quite some time,” the attorney said, adding that Century still does not know the extent of the infringement and how much revenue the town may have lost.
He said Century’s original intent was to obtain the franchise extension from the county commission, then address any issues between the town and city.
Dannheisser said none of the involved parties have been able to locate any past evidence of any agreement that allowed Pensacola to provided natural gas service in the North Escambia area.
If Century and Pensacola can’t come to terms, litigation is a possibility.
But the cost of litigation could exceed the benefits received, Dannheisser said, candidly adding the fact had been pointed out to him by Pensacola’s attorney “no less than 15 times…as if I were obtuse and could not recognize that right off the bat.”
Pictured top: A Pensacola Energy meter in front of Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill, inside the Town of Century gas franchise area. Pictured below: The Town of Century’s gas franchise map (click to enlarge). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Traffic Relief: FDOT Changes Traffic Signal Timing On Davis Highway
May 22, 2014
In order to accommodate the increased traffic congestion resulting from the Scenic Highway detour, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has changed the traffic signal timing along Davis Highway. Recent heavy rains and flooding in the area caused damage to Scenic Highway in several locations, with the associated detour routes having been designated as Davis Highway and Ninth Avenue.
These plans will result in a longer green time on Davis Highway which will allow for a more expedient flow of traffic during peak periods. The morning peak plan will favor the southbound direction while the afternoon peak plan will favor the northbound direction. These changes could also increase wait time for side street motorists entering Davis Highway and pedestrians attempting to cross Davis Highway.
The signalized intersections along the corridor will be monitored for the duration of the detour, and the signal timings will be adjusted and fine-tuned as necessary. Motorists are encouraged to be patient as ongoing roadway work is progressing to provide full recovery from the damage caused by the recent storms.
Alabama Conducting Reverse Traffic Exercise Today
May 22, 2014
The Alabama Department of Transportation will conduct its annual rehearsal of the plan that helped safely evacuate the Gulf Coast during Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Dennis in 2005.
On Thursday around 200 ALDOT workers and a contingency of state troopers and Alabama National Guard personnel will be positioned along I-65 between Baldwin County and Montgomery to simulate the activity associated with reversing I-65 traffic during an emergency such as hurricanes.
Traffic will not be reversed or detoured anywhere along I-65 during the reverse lane training exercise, but every other portion of the plan will be simulated.
Major Escambia County Heroin Distribution Ring Busted
May 22, 2014
Three people were arrested after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office busted an heroin ring and made the largest heroin seizure in the last 10 years in Escambia County.
The ECSO’s Narcotics Unit and SWAT team served multiple search warrants before daybreak Tuesday.
The Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) concluded a six-month narcotics investigation pertaining to the sale and distribution of black tar heroin in Escambia County, Florida. Black tar heroin is a potent form of heroin, mainly produced in Mexico and smuggled into the United States, according to deputies.
James Jonathan Mitchell, 50, was charged with battery, resisting an officer with violence, heroin trafficking and possession of drug paraphernalia. Phoebe Noelle Roper, 23, and Justin Wayne Williams were both charged with trafficking in opium/derivative and possession of narcotics equipments
During the investigation, investigators located an out-of-state supplier and local distributors and seized black tar heroin, steroids and prescription narcotics with an estimated street value of more than $45,000.
Multiple firearms were recovered including pistols, an assault rifle, a fully automatic submachine gun and a large store of ammunition, investigators said. A large sum of U.S. currency, vehicles, jewelry and other assets derived from the sale of narcotics was seized.
The investigation was initiated after law enforcement observed an influx of narcotics related crime and suspicious deaths attributed to heroin. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.
