Stephen M. Yerg, Jr.
December 24, 2014
Stephen M. Yerg, Jr., 83, a native of Century, and a long time resident of Molino, passed away December 22, 2014, in Pensacola. Mr. Yerg retired from International Paper Company after 42 years. He served in the Korean Conflict with the US Army. He was a free Mason for 54 years and served as secretary of Lodge 332 for over 30 years and was also a member of the Scottish Rite. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Cantonment.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Norma Yerg; parents, Stephen and Mary Yerg; brother, Jimmy Yerg; and daughter-in-law, Jody Yerg.
Survivors include three sons, Steve (Blieka) Yerg, Phillip Yerg and Keith Yerg; daughter, Stephanie (Greg) Carlisle; brother, Frank (Vera) Yerg; two granddaughters, Brittany Yerg and Alicia (Justin) Long; and three great-grandchildren, Michael Butler, Kaydance Long and Ariel Smith; and numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.
Special thanks to the doctors and nurses at Sacred Heart ICU and Select Specialty Hospital.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (curealz.org).
The visitation will be Saturday, December 27, 2014, from 1 p.m. until funeral services at 2 p.m. at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
Roger Freeman Cruit
December 24, 2014
Mr. Roger Freeman Cruit, 73, passed away Sunday, December 21, 2014, in Mobile.
Mr. Cruit was a native of Huxford and a resident of Atmore for most of his life. Mr. Cruit was an avid fisherman. His parents, Robert & Verna Cruit and two brothers, Wendell Cruit and Jimmie Cruit precede him in death.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Judy “Tina” Cruit of Atmore; one daughter, Terri Cruit (Dewayne) Dewberry of Bay Minette; one brother, Wayne (Cathy) Cruit of North Carolina; two sisters, Frances Sexton of Oklahoma and Jana (Randall) Gilmore of Mobile; five grandchildren, Cody (Jamie) White, Kevin (Stacie) White, Bobby Dewberry, Mark (Dasha) Dewberry and Matt Dewberry; and three great-grandchildren, Brenden White, Hayden White and Alexis White.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 27, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Leo Kent officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, December 26, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Josh Montel, Bruce Smith, Buckie Dawson, Joe Drew, Jeremy Rolin and Chad White.
Honorary pallbearers will be James Reed, Jim Biggs, David Gibbs, Billy Wayne Branun and David Smith.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
Violette Isabelle Rosique Montgomery
December 24, 2014
Mrs. Violette Isabelle Rosique Montgomery, age 87 of Flomaton, passed away on Monday, December 22, 2014, at her home.
Violette was born in Pollard on January 18, 1927. She grew up in Charleston, SC and went to high school at North Charleston High School until the tenth grade, but she graduated at Flomaton High School in 1952 and was a member of the National Beta Club and Honor Society. She met her husband, Ralph through the Assembly of God Church in Charleston, SC and she worked at the Navy Yard in Charleston during WWII. They courted for eleven months and were married on January 18, 1946. Violette’s mother and step-father moved back to Flomaton shortly before she and Ralph were married and Violette moved back with her parents in 1945. Eight years after Violette’s marriage to Ralph, their first child, Veronica was born. Seven years later their son, Clark was born. Violette and Ralph were married 62 years. During her working years in Flomaton, she worked for 11 years at Western Auto as a bookkeeper and clerk and Barrow’s Furniture for 5 years. She was a member of Flomaton Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Violette is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ralph and her brother, John E. Rosique.
She is survived by her daughter, Veronica S. Montgomery of Flomaton and her son, Clark A. Montgomery of Fairhope.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 26, 2014, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel beginning at 10 a.m. until a 11 a.m. service time with Rev. Homer Stewart officiating.
Interment will be in Green Acres Cemetery in Brewton.
Pallbearers will be David Johnson, Alton Hammac, Pat Carden.
Honorary pallbearer will be Robert Carden.
Teddy “Ted” DeWitt Findley, Sr.
December 24, 2014
Teddy “Ted” DeWitt Findley,Sr, 69, of Atmore, passed away Wednesday, December 24, 2014, at his residence. He was born in Mobile on November 9, 1945, to the late William Edmond and Johnnie Carter Findley. He was retired from Exxon Mobile, served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, was a member of Vision Church of Flomaton. He taught school at Escambia Academy from 1974-1977, and was an assistant Scout Master with the Boy Scouts.
Survivors are include his wife, Kathleen Gilchrist Findley, of Atmore; one son, Teddy DeWitt (Heather) Findley, Jr. of Corpus Christi, TX; one daughter, Tara Lynne (David) Findley Carter of Atmore; five grandchildren, Shelby Carter, Scarlett Carter, Wyatt Findley, Secily Carter and Rhett Findley; one brother and four sisters.
Services will be Saturday, December 27, 2014, at 10 a.m. from the Canoe First Baptist Church with Bro. Ricky Hart and Bro. Eric Johnson officiating.
Interment will follow in Canoe Freewill Baptist Cemetery with Full Military Honors.
Family will receive friends Friday, December 26, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Jerry C. Wise
December 24, 2014
Jerry C. Wise, 82 of Atmore, passed away Tuesday, December 23, 2014, in Pensacola. He was born on April 24, 1932, in Mobile to the late Jesse J. and Emma Lottie Tucker. He was an Aircraft Mechanic with Civil Service at Brookley Field, Mobile and NAS Pensacola. He served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Luvita Wise; son, Jesse G. Wise; sisters, Melba Jean Wise, Mary Joyce Anna, and Charolette Huggins.
Survivors include one son, Jerry A. (Rose Marie) Wise of McCullough; five grandchildren, Jerry Clinton Wise, Jean Peebles, Lisa Marie Burkett, Ariel Wise, and Miranda Wise; 19 great-grandchildren; three brothers, George J. Wise and James I. (Mattie) Wise, Sr., both of Pensacola and Michael Wise of Panama City, FL; and one sister, Claria Wise of Panama City.
Services will be Monday, December 29, 2014, at 2 p.m. from McCullough Christian Center with Rev. C.P. Phillips and Rev. Richard Daniels officiating.
Interment will follow in McCullough Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Clinton Wise, Jarrod Peebles, Scotty Burkett, Robert Flirt, Dennis Alford, and David Wise.
Family will receive friends Sunday, December 28, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Arrest Made In November Shooting Death In Beulah
December 23, 2014
A murder charge has been filed in connection with a shooting last month in Beulah.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday morning that 33-year old James Adam Greenwood has been charged with murder for the November 21 homicide of his stepfather, 65-year old Albert James Jones. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The arrest came after an “intensive” joint investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office.
Albert Jones was married to Greenwood’s mother, according to an arrest report, but they were living apart. On the day prior to the shooting, Jones went to the residence to retrieve personal clothing, but was not allowed access by Greenwood. He called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and a responding deputy told Greenwood that he could not restrict Jones’ access to the house or property, the report states.
The following day, Jones returned to the home, unlocked the backdoor with his key and attempted to enter but could not due to a security chain that was in place.
The entire incident was captured on camera. According to an ECSO report, Jones can be seen attempted to enter the residence with Greenwood telling him to contact his estranged spouse. Greenwood is wearing what appears to be a bulletproof vest in the video. Jones unlocks the door, forces it open by breaking the molding to which the security chain is attached. Jones then proceeds into the residence. Greenwood then fires at least two times with a shotgun. Jones is hit and injured, but manages to exit the residence and retrieve a handgun as Greenwood continues to fire.
According to investigators, the video shows that Jones did not have a weapon as he entered the residence.
Pictured top: Albert James Jones was shot at his residence on Mobile Highway in Beulah on November 21. File photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Work Begins To Remove Log Jam From Escambia River
December 23, 2014
Work is scheduled to be underway to remove a log jam from the Escambia River south of Century…nearly two years after the Escambia County Commission first awarded a bid for the project.
In February 2013, Escambia County awarded a $68,498 contract to Florida Forest Recyclers, LLC to remove the vessels and associated debris — including thousands of logs — from the Escambia River about one mile north of the Cotton Lake boat ramp. The agreement was not executed as written at that time.
The contract was awarded again in May 2013 for the same amount to the same contractor but was revised to waive the bond requirements at the request of then Interim County Administrator George Touart. The agreement provides for a one-time payment upon final completion and inspection of the project. The standard practice of the County is to require payment and performance bonds for projects in excess of $100,000. The project was set to begin by June 2013.
The 2013 bid from Florida Forest Recyclers was over a half million dollars lower than bids received from two Alabama companies. A $527,000 bid was received from Crowder Gulf Joint Ventures of Theodore, while DRC Emergency Services, LLC bid $792,622.14.
In November, Keith Wilkins, director of the Escambia County Community and Environmental Department, said Florida Forest Recyclers had reorganized into a new company, Southern Forest Recyclers. He said Southern Forest Recyclers has a $2 million contract for the wood from the logjam, and that the company was awaiting their final work permits from the Water Management District.
Liz Henderson of Southern Forest Recyclers said Monday that the company now has all of the permits needed to being work Tuesday. She said the company was moving forward with no money or assistance from Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
Boaters are asked to use care and obey posted signs for safety near the project, and boaters are asked not to enter the Escambia River north of Cotton Lake.
There is no time frame for the completion of the project, which is very much weather dependent, said Henderson.
Pictured top: A logjam stretches bank to bank, blocking the Escambia River near McDavid. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alabama Man Claims $54K Lottery Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
December 23, 2014
An Alabama man has claimed a $54,000 prize for a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket sold last week at a Nine Mile Road store.
Claude R. Mitchell of Mobile purchased the ticket for the December 18 drawing at the Publix on West Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road. The ticket was one of four winning tickets worth $54,467.31. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers were sold in Cape Coral, Dunnellon and Miami.
The 287 tickets matching four numbers won $122 each. Another 9,461 tickets matching three numbers are worth $10 each, and93,324 tickets holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
The winning numbers for the December 18 drawing were 2-10-16-22-31.
Legal Threats Over Nativity Scene Spark ‘Holy Night’ In Jay
December 23, 2014
“O night divine, the night when Christ was born; O night, O Holy night….”
The words to the classic Christmas carol “O Holy Night” echoed across the heart of Jay Monday night as nearly 300 people gathered at a corner lot at the town’s only traffic light. A huge turnout for a town of about 575 people.
“It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth…”
Old and young, preachers, friends and neighbors, Baptists, Methodist — from all walks of life — they gathered to celebrate that night in Bethlehem when Jesus Christ was born. Their meeting in front of a Christmas tree and a vintage Nativity scene was sparked by a letter a few weeks ago from an attorney for a Wisconsin group that represents agnostics and atheists claiming that a nativity display at the town hall was illegal.
For the first Christmas in about 40 years, the Nativity scene was moved from the town hall and placed on corner lot by the Santa Rosa Ministerial Association. Following the first report of of the Nativity scene’s fate on NorthEscambia.com, emotions in Jay ranged from outrage to disbelief that some lawyer hundreds of miles away would send such a letter, and outage and disbelief that the group claimed the letter was the result of a complaint from one of their neighbors in the close-knit town.
“We can blame this group; we can blame this town, we can blame governments, we can blame all these other people,” event organizer Nick Jackson said, “but look what is doing amongst us.”
They celebrated the fact that thanks to social media, and thanks to extensive media coverage, their little Nativity scene and the message it carries had spread far beyond their little town.
“Look around you tonight. Look what God is doing in this community. Look what God is doing among your church and your household,” Jackson said. “He is stirring us again. He is reviving the believer to stand and to speak out.”
Jackson said the entire episode had sparked revival in Jay and a Christmas celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ like none before.
“O night divine, O night when Christ was born…”
For more photos from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Strong Storms Possible; Flash Flood Watch
December 23, 2014
There is a flash flood watch in effect. Some storms tonight may be severe and produce heavy rainfall. According to the National Weather Service, 2-4 inches of rain is possible, with isolated higher amounts of 6-8 inches possible. Damaging winds, isolated tornadoes and flash flooding are also possible.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight Showers and thunderstorms. Some storms could be severe, with heavy rain. Low around 61. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
- Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 55 by 5pm. West wind 10 to 15 mph.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind around 5 mph.
- Christmas Day Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 38. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 63. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. East wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday Night Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Sunday A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
- Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
- Monday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.