Herbert Chauncey Boutwell
June 5, 2014
Herbert Chauncey Boutwell, Jr., 91, of Flomaton and Pensacola, passed on Monday, June 2, 2014. Mr. Boutwell was born September 21, 1922, in Exeter, New Hampshire to Herbert C. and Olive Fisk Boutwell. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The navy brought him to Pensacola. Mr. Boutwell retired from Gulf Power Company after 37 years of service. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Flomaton, former long-time member of Myrtle Grove Baptist Church and the Southern Baptist Brotherhood of Men. Mr. Boutwell was a mastergardener as well as a community and church leader, but his first priority was always his family.
He is preceded in death by his first wife of 54 years, Jenelle Shows Boutwell; second wife of 12 years, Mildred Bethea Boutwell; and his son, James Michael Boutwell.
Survivors include his sons, Herbert C. Boutwell III (Brenda), Joseph P. Boutwell (Rhonda), John T. Boutwell (Rosemary), Timothy W. Boutwell (Connie) and Benjamin D. Boutwell (Cheryl); daughter, Mary E. “Betsy” Wilkerson (Dean); stepchildren, Kathy White, Totsie Mims, Jodi Smith, Rabun Bethea, Dawn Cooper and Travis Bethea; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Thursday, June 5, 2014, at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel with Rev. Ron Lentine, Dr. Alton Butler and Rev. Jerry Keese officiating.
Pallbearers were Chase Boutwell, Brian Wilkerson, Erik Gotrich, Ryan Lassiter, Steve Broom and Mac Broach.
Honorary pallbearer was David White.
Interment was in Bayview Memorial Park with military honors.
Should friends so desire memorial contributions may be made to Covenant Hospice, 5014 N. 12th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32504.
BAYVIEW FISHER-POU CHAPEL is entrusted with arrangements.
Summer Dance Workshop Next Week In Byrneville
June 4, 2014
A Summer Dance Workshop will be offered at the Byrneville Community Center next week, June 9-13.
Classes will be offered as follows:
- 8:30 – 9 am — Pre-ballet (ages 3-4)
- 9:15 – 10:15 am — Ballet I (ages 5-7)
- 10:30 – noon — Ballet II and Jazz (ages 8-10)
- 12:30 – 2 p.m. — Ballet III and Jazz (ages 9-teen)
Proper dancewear and dance shoes are required. The registration deadline is this Friday, June 6. Contact Heather Leonard’s Danceworks by email at hldanceworks@gmail.com or on Facebook.
Pictured: Last month’s Heather Leonard’s Danceworks recital at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
4-H Property Purchase Complete, Open House Planned; Groudbreaking Set For New 4-H Building
June 4, 2014
The purchase of two parcels of property in Molino for Escambia County 4-H has been completed, and a new Escambia County 4-H Center on Stefani Road has reached the groundbreaking stage.
In 2012, the children and teens on the 4-H County Council voted to sell their 240 acre Langley Bell 4-H Center to Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal paid $3.6 million for the property next to the credit union’s campus in Beulah, and the Escambia County Commission agreed to construct a new 4-H Center on Stefani Road.
Escambia County has now closed on the purchase of two parcels totaling about 108 acres on or near Chalker Road. The county made the land purchases to house the 4-H’s animal science and outdoor education programs with reimbursement to come from the Escambia County 4-H Foundation.
One parcel is 79.5 acres in the 5600 block of Chalker Road and includes about 20 wooded acres, a pond and a 5722 square foot barn. The second property, located at South Highway 99 and Chalker Road, is about 28.7 acres and allows the main property to have road frontage on South Highway 99.
A few residential lots border the east side of the proposed 4-H site along Chalker Road, while the north side is bordered by a 50 acre improved agricultural lot. The southern and western sides of the site are surrounded by hundreds of acres of timber belonging to La Floresta Perdida, Inc.
An open house will be held at the new 4-H property on Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. with free hotdogs and hamburgers while they last and property tours.
“We are also asking our youth to help us prioritize educational projects they would like to see on the property,” Escambia County Extension Director Pam Allen said in an email “For those that attend the Open House on June 14th, there will be tours and a survey to complete. We will also ask others who cannot attend to give input at a later time as we plan out the structures over the next 1 to 3 years.”
“A critical component of using the property is to have restroom facilities constructed as soon as possible. Restroom construction, along with the livestock facilities, will remain a top priority as we move along in the process,” Allen continued.
On Friday, June 13, at 3 p.m., a groundbreaking ceremony will be held for a new Langley Bell 4-H Center building at 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment, the current location of Escambia County Extension.
The new 4-H Center will be a single story building just under 10,000 square feet that will include a multi-purpose room/auditorium with stage, kitchen, offices, reception area, life skills room, science room with wet lab, volunteer room with technology lab, county council,club meeting room and storage.
Pictured top and bottom: An existing 5,722 square foot barn on one of two parcels that may soon be home to Escambia County 4-H. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured inset: Two parcels will provide 4-H about 108 acres near Barrineau Park. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Bratt Davisville Water System Transfer Approved; Second In County With Possible Franchise Fee
June 4, 2014
The Escambia County Commission Tuesday night gave approval to the transfer of a franchise agreement from the Bratt-Davisville Water System to Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
About a year ago, the membership of the Bratt-Davisville Water System voted to be acquired and operated by EREC.
The franchise agreement between EREC and Escambia County is the second in the county among 17 such agreements that includes a provision that would allow Escambia County to charge a franchise fee to Bratt-Davisville’s customers.
Escambia County won’t charge the fee for now, and has no immediate plans to do so, but wanted to reserve that right. Commissioner Gene Valentino said he would like to one day see the ability to charge franchise fees added to all water system franchises in the county.
EREC, the electric provider in the Bratt and Walnut Hill areas, currently operates the Walnut Hill Water Works, which serves about 700 customers in the Walnut Hill area. When EREC purchased the Walnut Hill water system in 2001, that franchise agreement became the first to include a possible county franchise free. To date, the county has not charged any water customers the fee.
Editor’s note: This story was updated 6/4/14 at 2 p.m. after it was discovered that the Bratt-Davisville water franchise agreement with Escambia County was actually the second such agreement to include a possible franchise fee. An Escambia County department head provided incorrect information to commissioners during their meeting on Tuesday.
Pictured: The Bratt-Davisville Water System office on Highway 97 in Davisville, just south of the Alabama state line. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Mostly Sunny Weather To Continue
June 4, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
- Thursday Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west after midnight.
- Friday Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Saturday Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west after midnight.
- Sunday Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Monday Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Monday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Tuesday Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Atmore Stabbing, Finger Amputation Under Investigation
June 4, 2014
A weekend stabbing is under investigation in Atmore.
The Atmore Police Department said Tuesday that they responded to a fight at the North Main Trailer Park at 1106 North Main. They found 50-year old Ronnie Thomas of Atmore with a cut to his face and stab wound to his upper chest, and 45-year old Willie Banks of Frisco City had an amputated finger. The men had, officers said, been involved in an altercation.
Thomas and Banks were transported to Atmore Community Hospital by Atmore Ambulance. Thomas was later airlifted to USA Medical Center in Mobile where he was treated and later released. Banks was treated and released from Atmore Community Hospital with no other injuries.
Witnesses told investigators that Thomas and Banks got into an argument which escalated into a fight and the stabbing.
Atmore Police are continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone with information on the stabbing is asked to call Atmore Police Department Investigator Walden at (251) 368-9141.
Fizz, Boom, Read: Summer Reading Starts This Week At The Library
June 4, 2014
The Fizz, Boom, Read: Summer Reading Program gets underway this week at local library branches and continues through August 9.
Children and teens 6-12 are invited to participate in the West Florida Public Library’s 2014 Fizz, Boom, Read program, which focuses on experimenting with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).
The interactive program is a fun way for students to keep their minds sharp throughout the summer months. Join the library for the summer reading game and interactive enrichment programs where there will be prizes for reading books, a chance to take part in science experiments and meet new people.
Century Branch
Weekly on Thursday, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
- June 5
- June 12
- June 19
- June 26
Molino Branch
Weekly on Thursday, 6 to 7 p.m.
- June 5
- June 12
- June 19
- June 26
Tryon Branch
Weekly on Tuesday, 11 a.m.
- June 10
- June 17
- June 24
Main Library
Weekly on Wednesday, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- June 11
- June 18
- June 25
Southwest Branch – program to be at Big Lagoon State Park Amphitheater (12301 Gulf Beach Highway)
Weekly on Wednesday, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- June 11
- June 18
- June 25
I-10 To Highway 29 Ramp Closures Planned
June 4, 2014
The exit ramp from eastbound I-10 to northbound U.S. 29 will be closed today and tomorrow. Lane closures will be in effect from 10 p.m.to 6 a.m. nightly as crews install guardrails and remove a temporary barrier wall. Motorists will be directed to use the southbound U.S. 29 off ramp during the temporary closure. Drivers are reminded to use extreme caution when traveling through the work zone.
This work is part of the I-10 resurfacing project, which extends from U.S. 29 to east of Palafox Street. The project also includes the milling and resurfacing of all ramps and ramp shoulders associated with the U.S. 29/I-10 interchange, shoulder widening, guardrail upgrades, crash cushion replacement, removal of portable traffic monitoring sites (PTMS), installation of new signs, pavement markings and sodding. The entire project is slated for completion summer 2014.
During construction drivers will encounter overnight lane restrictions on both I-10 and the U.S. 29/ I-10 interchange. Lane closures on I-10 and intermittent closures or restrictions on the interchange will be limited to 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
All planned construction activities may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Bratt Elementary Presents Second, Third, Fourth Grade Awards
June 4, 2014
Bratt Elementary School recently presented awards to second, third and fourth grade students as follows:
Honor Roll
A’s and B’s all year
- Ethan Bingham
- Olivia Boatwright
- Noah Condrey
- Allyson Jones
- Alexis Moya
- Jacob Spence
- Hunter Johnson
- Raycer Watson
- Gage Eicher
- Scotty Elliot
- Joshlynn Helton
- Carsyn Dortch
- Zykuria Fountain
- Emily Stilwell
- Aden Lashley
- Tyteanna Dubose
- Rabekah Abbott
- Mayson Edwards
- Bryce Hall
- Berklee Hall
- Caitlyn Gibson
- Braeden McGhee
- Bailie Merchant
- Elianna Morales
- JP Gilman
- David Gilley
- Trent Knighten
- Erich Amerson
- Ryan Dove
- Jessica Loftis
- Gabbie Franklin
- Alyssa Moya
- Abbie Buford
- Blaize Parrish
- Casandra Davis
- Tessa Flowers
- Shelby Rice
- Gracie James
- Dallon Rackard
- Lakyn Bodiford
- Anyis Cabral
- Gracie Godwin
- Kara Hawkins
- Travis Nelson
- Addison White
- Jordan Wilson
Academic Achievement Award
A’s all year
Raegan Abbott
- Anna Adams
- Sarah Bailey
- Hayden Baker
- John Bashore
- Luke Bridges
- Emilee Cabral
- Kadence Calvert
- Shelby Cotita
- Emma Gilmore
- Maggie Godwin
- Ava Gurganus
- Zane Gurganus
- Tucker Hall
- Leah Hetrick
- Sarah Hetrick
- Sarah Kennedy Long
- Bryan Romeros
- McKenna Simmons
- Mia Starns
- Aubrey Stuckey
- Bentley Van Pelt
- Clay Wilson
Progress Award
Students who have made the most improvement during the year
- Denise Andrews
- Alexis Barnhill
- Riley Blackwell
- Macie Buford
- Landon Chavers
- Daelyn Fine
- Kohle Harigel
- A.J. Hasty
- JiKeir Hudson
- Brendan Hulley
- Kaleigh Macks
- Mary Grace Rice
- Torian Richardson
- Rachael Sanders
- Mandell Smith
- Vivyan Smith
- Alyssa Stabler
- Rebekah Stilwell
- David Stokes
- Madison Thomas
- So’Lae Trotter
- John Michael Ward
Outstanding Attendance
Students whose absenteeism, tardiness, and/or early checkouts equal no more than five days.
- Anna Adams
- Sara Amerson
- Haydn Baker
- Lakkyn Bodiford
- Tanner Boone
- Alexandria Brantley
- A.J. Broadhead
- Ana Bryan
- Emilee Cabral
- Ashton Cloud
- Miyhanna Davidson
- Sarius Davis
- Jacob Daw
- Scotty Elliot
- Jamyla Feagin
- Paige Gibbs
- JP Gilman
- Emma Gilmore
- Bryce Hall
- Jakayla Jackson
- Gracie James
- Wyatt Jarvis
- Hunter Johnson
- Trent Knighten
- Gage Lambert
- Aden Lashley
- James Loftis
- Jessica Loftis
- Megan McGhee
- Zion Newton
- Braxton Peebles
- Dallon Rackard
- Bryson Sanders
- Tyondray Sanders
- Arquavian Smith
- Anna Spence
- Jacob Spence
- Alyssa Stabler
- Emily Stilwell
- David Stokes
- Kaylea Townson
- Corbin Turberville
- Raycer Watson
- Tymiriana Wesley
Perfect Attendance
Students who have no absences, tardies, or early checkouts
- Riley Blackwell
- Kyle Blanton
- Jonathan Gibbs
- Bryson Sanders
Outstanding Citizenship Award
Students who best exemplify qualities of good citizenship, work habits, interaction with peers and teachers.
- Anna Adams
- Drew Albritton
- Sarah Bailey
- John Bashore
- Olivia Boatwright
- Lakyn Bodiford
- Aiden Broadhead
- Abbie Buford
- Shelby Cotita
- Emma Gilmore
- Maggie Godwin
- Zane Gurganus
- Tucker Hall
- Leah Hetrick
- Hunter Johnson
- Trent Knighten
- Kennedy Long
- Megan McGhee
- Bentley Van Pelt
- Matthew Pruitt
- Angel Schoonover
- Mia Starns
- Aubrey Stuckey
A.R. Awards
- Anna Adams
- Sarah Bailey
- Andrew Denton
- Tyteanna Dubose
- Mayson Edwards
- Emma Gilmore
- Aden Lashley
- James Loftis
- Alyssa Moya
- Samantha Pope
Art Awards
- Anna Adams
- Drew Albritton
- Sarah Bailey
- Alexis Barnhill
- Abbie Buford
- Macie Buford
- Ashton Cloud
- Nathaniel Crenshaw
- Jacob Daw
- Scotty Elliott
- Tatyanna Findley
- Ava Gurganus
- Kohle Harigel
- Tatum Hasting
- Kara Hawking
- Kennedy Long
- Elianna Morales
- Bentley Van Pelt
- Torian Richardson
- Rachel Sanders
- Kasen Sawyer
- McKenna Simmons
- Jacob Spence
- Emily Stilwell
- Madison Thomas
- Clay Wilson
Music Awards
- Sara Amerson
- Sarah Bailey
- Leah Berry
- Emilee Cabral
- Noah Condrey
- Scotty Elliott
- Paige Gibbs
- Gracie Godwin
- Maggie Godwin
- Zane Gurganus
- Summer Harrell
- Kohle Harrigel
- Kara Hawkins
- Jakayla Jackson
- Drake Jordan
- Jessica Loftis
- Megan McGhee
- Rebecca Peebles
- Bentley Van Pelt
- Caden Peterson
- Bryan Romeros
- Rachael Sanders
- Adrianne Shanks
- John Micheal Ward
- Leonte Wright
P.E. Awards
- Rabekah Abbott
- Reagan Abbott
- Anna Adams
- Drew Albritton
- Sara Amerson
- Emilee Bombee
- AJ Broadhead
- Anastasia Bryan
- Landon Chavers
- Chloe Criswell
- Cassie Davis
- Sarius Davis
- Ryan Dove
- Gage Eicher
- Scotty Elliott
- Emma Gilmore
- Gracie Godwin
- Zane Gurganus
- Tucker Hall
- Kara Hawkins
- Wyatt Jarvis
- Aden Lashley
- Sarah Long
- Bentley Van Pelt
- Shelby Rice
- Carter Sigafoose
- John Michael Ward
- Clay Wilson
- Conner Wolfe
Free Summer Food For Kids, Including Quintette Park Area
June 4, 2014
As the school year ends, classrooms and playgrounds will empty for the summer — but that will leave many Florida children hungry because they rely on free and reduced-cost school meals for breakfast and lunch.
Food banks, non-profits and community groups are trying to pick up the slack, using federal funding to help deliver up to two meals per day to kids who otherwise might go without.
The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the non-profit Florida Impact are working together on Summer BreakSpot, a program that provides healthy food to kids at local sites.
There is one such site in the North Escambia area…at the Quintette Community Park at 2490 Quintette Lane. Lunch hours are 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. For more information on this site or the program, call Dorothy Lewis at (850) 587-5426.
“The need goes up dramatically in the summer,” said Rebecca Brislain, executive director of the Florida Association of Food Banks.
“We know that the need is there, and we hear that from our partner agencies, that they are running out of food because school is out,” said Rachel Mohler, nutrition director at Second Harvest of the Big Bend food bank in Tallahassee.
The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the non-profit Florida Impact are working together on Summer BreakSpot, a program that provides healthy food to kids at local sites and reconstructed school buses.
Funding for the 2-year-old Summer BreakSpot program comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, funneled through the state agency. Last year, the program served 12 million meals to 300,000 Florida children, and the USDA reimbursed the state $29.5 million for them.
Erin Gillespie, a spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said the state and local partners — school districts, non-profits and religious and community groups — are trying to expand the number of locations where kids can get nutritious meals and enrichment activities.
The program has 3,400 locations statewide — typically recreation centers and affordable housing sites — “so that it’s right there where the kids are,” Gillespie said. “A lot of these families don’t have transportation, and they’re not going to drive across town to get a free lunch for the kids.”
The program also targets rural communities, where food worries for children can be common.
To find additional locations in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties:
- Dial 2-1-1
- Text “FoodFL” to 877-877
- Download the “Nutrislice” smartphone app
- Visit www.SummerFoodFlorida.org