Mattie Ruth Messer Harrison
June 24, 2014
After joyously celebrating her 100th birthday in January, Mattie Ruth Messer Harrison received her angel wings on Monday, June 23, 2014. Mattie was born January 13, 1914, in Samson, Alabama to Gabe and Versie Messer. She lived and worked on a farm with her five brothers and two sisters. In 1940 she married Alton A. (Bud) Harrison and in 1948 moved to Jay, where they became active members of the community. She was a full time homemaker, and spent most of her time volunteering at Jay Hospital, working in her church, teaching Sunday school, acting as church clerk for many years, and enjoying being a member of the Jolly Jays. Mattie served as the site manager for sixty plus meal site, and spent many hours taking the elderly to doctors’ appointments, etc. She inspired many with her active and healthy lifestyle. After her husband’s death in 2004, she resided with her daughter for 5-1/2 years. At the time of her death she was a resident of the Terrace at Ivey Acres in Jay.
Mattie was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and two sisters, and her loving husband of 64 years.
She leaves behind to cherish her memories two children, Marolyn (Julius) Middleton, of Jay and Kerry Alton Harrison (Beverly) of Tifton, Georgia; two grandchildren she adored, Jon (J.J.) (Michelle) Middleton of Pace and Jennifer (Jimmy) Warren of Fairhope; and her four great-grandchildren, Chloe and Crosby Warren and Marlee and McClain Middleton. She is also survived by three special nieces, Miriam McKinney, Blondell Barberi, and Geraldine Samartano, along with many other nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Harrison will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, 2014, at First Baptist Church in Jay with Reverend Chip Fox and Reverend Frederick Barrow officiating.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 2 p.m. until service time at 3 p.m.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Terrace of Ivey Acres for spoiling her and to Dr. C. David Smith, NP Twyla Cotton, and Toddie Milstead and the staff at Jay Medical for taking such good care of her.
If desired, donations in her honor may be made to the Florida Baptist Children’s Home or to the Sanctuary Fund of First Baptist Church in Jay.
Infant Dies From Wreck Related Injuries
June 23, 2014
An infant has passed away as a result of injuries received in a June 19 traffic crash
The Florida Highway Patrol said Monday that Jaxon McCullung, age 1, passed away Saturday following the crash at Fairfield Drive and Baysprings Drive in Escambia County. In the accident, the FHP said 25-year old Jamie-Lyn Mullins drove onto the northbound shoulder, over-corrected, lost control and struck a utility pole.
Injuries to Mullins and a two-year old passenger were minor.
Anyone that witnessed the crash or that has any information regarding the accident is asked to contact Cpl. R. Harrigill at robertharrigill@flhsmv.gov or (850) 471-6927.
Showers, Thunderstorms Continue
June 23, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Monday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
- Wednesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Thursday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
- Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
- Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Burglar Steals Handicapped Dog From Kennel, Hits Convenience Store (With Video)
June 23, 2014
Authorities are working to solve early Sunday morning burglaries in Florida and Alabama that could be connected — one of which ended with the theft of a handicapped dog.
The dog, Bella, suffers from a broken back and needs a dog wheelchair to get around. She was inside her cage at the K-9 Cleaners kennel on West Nashville Avenue in Atmore early Sunday morning when a white male ripped a security camera from a wall and forced his way into the rear door of the business.
Police said he skipped over items of value including the register, instead going straight for the dog cages and taking nothing from the business but Bella and a cellular wi-fi modem before fleeing in an known type vehicle. The burglary and dog theft is under investigation by the Atmore Police Department.
Investigators have all but ruled out the man having any previous connection to the dog or its owner, who lives in Century.
Within a few minutes of that burglary, a white male smashed a window and entered the Davisville BP on Highway 97 in Florida, about five miles away. He fled the business with the cash register, which was recovered in nearby field later in the day, and cigarettes. The burglary is under investigation by the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said they are not positive that the burglaries are connected, but for now they believe they may have been committed by the same man.
Anyone with information on the K-9 Cleaners burglary or the whereabouts of Bella, should call the Atmore Police Department at (251) 368-9141. Anyone with information on the Davisville BP burglary should contact the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: Bella, a handicapped dog, was stolen from an Atmore kennel early Sunday morning. Pictured inset: A suspect’s face caught on camera as he removes a security camera from a wall of K-9 Cleaners in Atmore. Pictured below: In a separate burglary, a suspects jumps through a broken window at the Davisville (FL) BP station early Sunday morning. Pictured below: More images from K-9 Cleaners. Images for and by NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino, Cottage Hill Churches Bid Goodbye To Gantzhorn
June 23, 2014
A farewell and appreciation reception was held Sunday in Molino for Pastor Alan Gantzhorn of Aldersgate United Methodist and Cottage Hill United Methodist churches.
Gantzhorn and his wife Jackie are being transferred to a church in Jackson, Ala., after nine years in Molino.
“It has been an honor to serve as your pastor for nine years,” Gantzhorn told his congregation. “You have showered your love on me and Jackie in so many ways. Our time serving at Aldersgate and Cottage Hill has richly blessed us. God has now chosen to put me to doing his work in another place; but Jackie and I will always treasure our time here and our beautiful memories of the people of this charge.”
During Sunday’s reception, church and community members expressed their appreciation to Gantzhorn for his service to both churches as well as the Molino and North Escambia communities.
Pictured top: Paston Alan Gantzhorn and his wife Jackie were presented with a farewell gift Sunday — a double rocking chair inscribed “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go” — from Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Pictured below: Gantzhord poses for a photo during a farewell reception Sunday afternoon in Molino. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Early End Forecast For Insurance ‘Hurricane Tax’
June 23, 2014
Collected to help pay claims from the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, an extra charge on homeowners- and auto-insurance policies will be removed 18 months earlier than previously expected.
The 1.3 percent charge, added to most property and casualty lines, covers losses incurred by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund from those storm-filled seasons. Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet this week moved up the end date of the “assessment” to Jan. 1, 2015 rather than July 1, 2016.
“It’s a positive thing,” said Jack Nicholson, executive director of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. “People refer to this as a hurricane tax, and it will go away.”
The change was welcomed by the business and insurance community in Tallahassee.
“It means rates are going down a little bit, which is a good thing,” said Sam Miller, executive vice president of the Florida Insurance Council.
The charge, which first appeared at 1 percent in 2007 and was raised to the current rate in 2011, collectively hits policyholders for between $350 million and $500 million a year.
The charge is imposed on most property and casualty policies other than medical malpractice and workers compensation.
Nicholson said the fund, which provides backup coverage for insurers, was able to move up the end of the collection in part by settling the final claims for damages from Hurricane Wilma, which hit South Florida in October 2005, at $498 million less than what had been initially sought.
Also, the fund has received more money than expected due to an increase in policies statewide, he said.
Such a fee could return if the state is again hit by a large storm that depletes the resources of the fund.
The catastrophe fund, better known as the cat fund, currently has about $13 billion on hand and is expected to be able to raise an additional $4 billion, which is considered solid ground for covering most post-storm claims.
The state was hit by eight hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, which accounted for about $9.2 billion in claims to the cat fund. No hurricane has made landfall in Florida since those highly active seasons.
In addition to the cat fund assessments, customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. receive an additional 1 percent charge to cover losses from the 2005 storms. First imposed in 2007, the charge is expected to be paid off in June 2017.
by The News Service of Florida
Flomaton Hurricanes 11-12 Year Old Team State Bound
June 23, 2014
The Flomaton Hurricane 11-12 year old team won their district championship over the weekend. The team is now state bound. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Man For Questioning In Murder
June 23, 2014
Authorities are investigating a Sunday night murder in Escambia County.
Tabius Cardell Huff, 31, was shot about 10 p.m. outside a convenience store in the 5300 block of Jackson Street near Edgewood Circle. Huff was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has released a surveillance photo (left) showing an unknown male wanted for questioning in the shooting. Anyone with information on the shooting or the man in the photograph is asked to call Lt. Mike Gilmore at (850) 554-1222 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
State Program To Pay Marvel Comics To Redesign Captain Citrus
June 23, 2014
Marvel Comics, the creative home of Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the X-Men, might soon revamp the Florida Department of Citrus’ own caped crusader.
The state agency, as it redirects marketing dollars to help juice the industry’s sales, expects to finalize talks in the next few weeks with the Disney-owned company on a contract worth about $1 million to redesign Captain Citrus from a rotund creature from the Planet Orange into a male superhero.
Department spokesman David Steele said the goal is to transform the state program into a global brand.
“Marvel is dominating the superhero space at the moment, and we want to benefit from their genius as we work to get the message of orange-juice nutrition into the hands of children and their parents,” Steele said.
The proposal is to have a redesigned Captain Citrus appear in at least one printed comic book and two digital sequels alongside characters from the Marvel universe, such as Captain America and his cohorts in the Avengers, Steele noted.
While Steele said the story lines won’t be discussed until the re-launch, the idea is to “develop affinity for the character, deliver a message about the nutritional benefits of 100 percent Florida orange juice, and build loyalty for Florida citrus.”
Captain Citrus was created by the department in 2011 to get the message of OJ nutrition into the classroom.
The redesigned captain is also expected to play a role in the department’s new “There’s Amazing Inside” campaign, launched this week at the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference in Bonita Springs.
The money for the program and the new marketing campaign come as the department will no longer purchase high-volume TV time for ads, a move expected to free up about $13 million for branding and marketing programs.
“The evolving media habits of consumers, combined with (the Florida Department of Citrus’) declining revenues and unpredictable funding levels, it no longer made sense for us to lock up such a huge percentage of our budget in television buys,” Steele said.
The department’s funding mostly comes from a tax on the sale of oranges and other citrus.
The refocus comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects Florida orange juice production is down 22 percent from the same time a year ago. A large part of the drop is credited to the spread of an incurable disease called citrus greening.
The state budget signed June 2 by Gov. Rick Scott includes $3.5 million for citrus-disease research and $500,000 for in-state citrus-breeding programs and to develop and acquire new citrus varieties.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Limited Edition Watermelon Festival Shirts Available Now
June 23, 2014
The Twin Cities Watermelon Festival is this Saturday. And official, limited edition 2014 Watermelon Festival shirts are available now at the Century Town Hall during regular business hours. Shirts are $8 each.
The Twin Cities Volunteers First Annual Watermelon Festival will be this Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Showalter Park in Century. The festival will include family fun, craft booths, food, entertainment and more. For vendor information, call Kim at Century Town Hall at (850) 256-3208.
The Twin Cities First Annual Watermelon Festival is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: Hannah, Shelby and Maegan Godwin model their Twin Cities Volunteers 2014 Watermelon Festival shirts. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
