More Rain Possible Today, Sunny And Dry Skies To Return

September 16, 2014

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

  • Tuesday A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
  • Tuesday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
  • Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
  • Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 66. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
  • Thursday Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
  • Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
  • Friday Sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
  • Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
  • Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
  • Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
  • Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
  • Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
  • Monday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

Pictured top: A distant thunderstorm as seen from South Highway 99 in Oak Grove late Monday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Tate Grad Lorzeno Long Leads Wofford College To Big Win

September 16, 2014

2013 Tate High School graduate Lorenzo Long led Wofford College Terriers to a 42-27 win over North Greenville Saturday in Spartanburg, S.C.

Long had 138 yards on 15 carries for the 1-1 Terriers and three touchdowns.

Long scored with 3:23 in the third on a four-yard touchdown run. After North Greenville went three and out and punted. With the ball back, Wofford used a 46-yard run by Lorenzo Long to move downfield. Long ended the drive with a one-yard run for a 35-20 lead with 12:33 left in the game.

After one first down from North Greenville, Wofford regained the ball and Long recorded his third touchdown of the day on a on a four-yard run for a 42-20 lead with 9:43 left on the clock.

Diane “Grammie” Wilson

September 16, 2014

Diane “Grammie” Wilson of Cantonment, age 74, went home to her Lord and Savior on September 15, 2014.

She is survived by her cherished children, Jeff (Enid) Murphy, Cindy Stokes, Jennifer (David) Middleton, Melissa (Michael) Johnson, Cary Wilson, and Lisa Ford; her eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters; and two brothers.

She was predeceased by her devoted husband, Cecil and her sister, Joan.

Visitation will be Thursday, September 18, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Faith Chapel North.

Funeral services will be Friday, September 19 at 12:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2385 Hwy 297A, in Cantonment.

Interment will follow at Pensacola Memorial Garden Cemetery.

Special thanks to the staff at Specialty Center of Pensacola for their dedication and service.

Arrangements are entrusted to Faith Chapel Funeral Home.

Gladys Chavers House

September 16, 2014

Gladys Chavers House, 82, passed away on Sunday, September 14, 2014. She was born in Escambia County, AL and grew up near Huxford, with brothers, Earl and Benson and sister, Juanita. On September 30, 1950, she married Gordon L. House of Uriah, AL and they spent 57 years together until his passing in 2007. They were married in Pascagoula, MS and moved to Pensacola, FL where she became a homemaker and mother.

They lived for 40 years in a home they built on Stumpfield Road. She and Dad were active members in the Christian and Missionary Alliance church, Burgess Road Baptist Church and Smyrna Baptist Church in Pensacola. When Dad retired, they built another home in Molino and moved their membership to Highland Baptist Church. She was the mother of two children, Tony and Connie; two grandchildren, Jesse House and Lauren (Kyle) House Davidson; and one great-granddaughter, Hayleigh Davidson.

Mother was a Christian woman that loved God and enjoyed singing. Mom loved being among family and friends, always dressing nicely and keeping everything clean was important to her.
A respected and loved lady among friends, family and community here on earth, she is now rejoicing in Heaven with Dad, Sherry, sister, brothers, parents, family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2014, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Brian Calhoun officiating.

Burial will follow in Poplar Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Uriah.

Family will receive friends Thursday, September 18, 2014, one hour prior to services.

Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.

Floyd Geary Gates

September 16, 2014

Mr. Floyd Geary Gates, 66, passed away on Thursday, September 25, 2014, in Pensacola.

Mr. Gates was a native of Atmore and lifelong resident of Century.

Survivors include his wife, Shelia Seals Gates; one son, Geary (Glenda) Gates; one daughter, Sharon B. (Salvador) Perez; two brothers, Robert L. Gates and Bobby R. Gates; two sisters, Wiloneese Coleman and Bonnie Williams; two grandchildren, Caleb Kyle Enfinger and Makayla D. Cuenca; and two lifelong friends, Daniel Capers and Don Conway.

Funeral services will be Sunday, September 28, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Ronald Hall and Rev. Paul Enfinger officiating.

Burial will follow at the Antioch Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Saturday, September 27, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.

Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.

Bernice Bell Stringer

September 16, 2014

Bernice Bell Stringer was born December 28, 1931, in Deer Range, Alabama. She finished her journey Monday, September 15, 2014.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Luke Stringer; and daughters, Janice Stringer and Diane Stringer.

Mrs. Stringer is survived by her children, Earl (Denise) Stringer, Jimmy Stringer, Joyce (Clyde) Hughes, Johnny (Kathy) Stringer; 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and one great- great-grandchild.

She was an elderly care giver for 20 years. Her faith in God made her the dear lady she was.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2014, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Bobby Porter officiating.

Burial to follow in Eastern Gate Cemetery.

Mary Harrison

September 16, 2014

Mrs. Mary Harrison went home to be with her savior on September 15, 2014. She was born to Horace and Julia (Cotton) Smith on November 12, 1926, and was 87 years young.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry (Buddy) Harrison and her mother and father and many brothers and sisters.

She is survived by one son, Larry (Brenda) Harrison; one daughter, Linda (Roger) Williams; one sister, Brady (Chuck, deceased) Ebersole; four grandchildren, Becky (Ronnie) Moore, Eugene (Natalie) Harrison, Wayne (Cindy) Harrison, and Melissa (Patrick) Fagnan; ten great-grandchildren, Billy Dykes, Brian Dykes, Felicia Jernigan, Justin Harrison, Brenan Dykes, Kayla Harrison, Brittany Ates, Tiffany Ates, Jamie Harrison, and Whitley Harrison; six great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She retired from Monsanto after 26 years as a draw twist operator. She was a founding member of True Worship Assembly of God and a former member of Jay First Assembly of God Church where she participated in the choir for many years. She loved her church family and loved going to church for worship, singing, and fellowship. She loved to laugh and had a wonderful sense of humor, often bringing a joke to share with her fellow church members. She loved to work in her flower garden, even into her eighties. She loved, fed, scolded, and prayed for each of her family, all with a genuine heart of love.

Pallbearers will be her two grandsons, Eugene and Wayne Harrison, and her four great-grandsons, Billy Dykes, Brian Dykes, Justin Harrison, and Brenan Dykes.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2014, with visitation from 1 p.m. until service time at Jay Funeral Home with Reverend Adam Peterson officiating.

Burial will follow at Jay City Cemetery.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff of Century Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Six Injured In Two Vehicle Crash Near Northview High

September 15, 2014

Six people were injured in a two vehicle crash near Northview High School Monday afternoon.

All of the injuries in the 4:15 crash at West Highway 4 and Pine Barren Road were considered minor. Four people were transported by Escambia County EMS and Atmore Ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital, and two reportedly went to Atmore Community by private vehicle.

The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

ECSO Seeks Witnesses To Weekend Convenience Store Murder

September 15, 2014

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a possible witness to the Saturday homicide of a 50-year old store clerk on Michigan Avenue.

The witness is described as a white male in his mid to late 40’s, between 5-8”and 5’-9” tall and weighing between 150-180 pounds. He had salt and pepper hair and was in the company of another white male. Both individuals were in a newer model white Honda Pilot with tinted windows.

The body of  50-year old Phuong Nguyen Truong was found behind the counter of  the TM Food Mart in the 1000 block of Michigan Avenue just before 2 p.m. Saturday when deputies responded to a reported shooting. Investigators believe the witnesses were in the store just prior to, or during the time the crime occurred. They are also believed to be frequent customers of the store.

Anyone with information on the incident or a witness is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Callers are not required to give their name and may earn a cash reward for information that helps solve the crime.

Century Man Gets Prison Time For Stolen Car Burned When Lighter Sparks Stolen Gas Can In The Backseat

September 15, 2014

A Century man will spend the next few years in jail for stealing a car that was accidentally burned after a a cigarette lighter was used to illuminate the passenger compartment, which contained a stolen gas can.

Joshua Jackson Grimes, 31, was convicted by an Escambia County jury of  grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of an unoccupied structure, second degree arson and second degree petit theft. He was sentenced by Judge Jan Shackelford to four years in state prison, plus ordered to $1,434 in court costs, fees and the investigative cost of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Grimes took a 2003 Hyundai Sonata without permission from a female on Tedder Road. Grimes allegedly drove to Wallace, AL, where he pickup up a teen male, the two of them riding around until the vehicle ran out of gas after dark back in Florida. Grimes then reportedly stole a gas can containing about four gallons of gas from the carport of a residence on Highway 168.

The teen said Grimes poured a “little bit” of gas into the vehicle to get the pair out of the area and then placed the gas can in the backseat of the vehicle.

A short time later, the teen used a cigarette lighter to illuminate  the inside of the vehicle, igniting the gas can and inside of the vehicle. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to a vehicle fire with a possible burn victim on Highway 168, but the vehicle was gone by the time firefighters arrived.

Grimes allegedly drove the vehicle to his home on nearby Wawbeek Road until morning and then returned the burned vehicle back to the owner’s home after daylight. According to deputies, the vehicle was charred on the inside, with a melted five-gallon gas can and a melted ice chest in the backseat.

The teen male was found to have suffered burns during the incident, and the case was referred to the Department of Children and Families for further investigation.

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