Sawmill Day And Car Show Today In Century
May 3, 2014
The 4th annual Sawmill Day and Car Show will be held todyin Century.
The car show registration will be open until 11 a.m., with awards at 2 p.m.
The day features entertainment, music, demonstrations, dancers, craft and restoration displays, and food and drinks.
The event is taking place in the Historical Park at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Fourth Street in Century.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Robert Earl Simmons
May 3, 2014
Mr. Robert Earl Simmons, age 54 of McDavid, passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2014, in Pensacola.
Mr. Simmons was a native and lifetime resident of Century, where he worked in the construction industry. He was of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his father, Leslie Simmons; brother, Ronnie Simmons; and wife, Teresa Moore.
He is survived by his mother, Vera Simmons of Century; son, Nathan A Mack of McDavid; daughter, Sarah Moore of Century and step-daughter, Jacqueline (Billy) Moes of Jacksonville; brothers, Donnie Simmons of Century, Ricky Simmons of Brewton, David Simmons of Century, Bobby Simmons of Jay; sister, Carolyn Brown of Brewton; and three grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held on Monday, May 5, 2014, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Wayne Marshall officiating.
Pallbearers will be Donnie Simmons, Ricky Simmons, David Simmons, Bobby Simmons, Todd Smith, and Chester Stewart.
Flomaton Funeral Home is directing.
Tate FFA Alumini Rodeo Is Saturday Night
May 3, 2014
The Tate High School FFA Alumni Foundation will present its 23rd Annual Rodeo at the James C. Robinson Escambia County Equestrian Center tonight. The rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m.
T Tickets can also be purchased the day of the event at the Equestrian Center gate at the cost of $10 for adults and $5 for children.
The rodeo is a project of the Tate FFA Alumni Foundation. The FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.
The James C. Robinson Escambia County Equestrian Center is located at 7750 Mobile Highway in Beulah.
The 23rd Annual Tate High School FFA Alumni Foundation Annual Rodeo is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Chadwick “Chad” Burris
May 3, 2014
Mr. Chadwick “Chad” Burris, 27, passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, in Foley.
Mr. Burris was a native of Century and a resident of Bluff Springs for the past nine years. Mr. Burris was an employee of Armstrong World Industries and a graduate of Bartlett High School in Memphis, TN. He attended the Vision Church of Flomaton. His parents, Lisa Sigler and Chuck Burris III; and grandparents, Helen and Ezra McCraney precede him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Ashley Burris of Bluff Springs; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Atha and Bobby Waller of Bratt; one son, Easton Ezra Burris of Bluff Springs; one brother, Ricky (Whitney) Burris of Flomaton; one sister, Heidi Burkett of Flomaton; and grandparents, Teen and Arnold Weaver of Bratt and Lois and Dick Burris of Memphis, TN.
Funeral services will be Saturday, May 4, 2014, at 3 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Ricky Hart, Rev. Sam Weaver, and Rev. Eric Johnson officiating.
Burial will follow at the Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, May 4, 2014, from 1 p.m. until service time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Brandon McCormick, Ryan Hurd, Jordan Lane, Willie Johnson, Rick Ness, Jeremiah Wilson, Mike Austin, and Ryan Malone.
Honorary pallbearers will be Todd Aceto, J.T. Johnson, Dustin Rector, Grover Barnes, Leslie Barnes, Stephan Howe (Chico), Richard Kiesling, and Randy Long.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Tommy Curl Saylor
May 3, 2014
Tommy Curl Saylor, 64, of Jay, died Wednesday April 30, 2014 at home. He was born to the late Quinton and Hattie Saylor on July 17, 1949, in Harlan, Kentucky, but raised in Rosspoint, Kentucky. Tommy graduated from Cawood High School in 1967 and enlisted in the United States Army. He did two tours in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division of United States Army and received many accommodations which included three Bronze Stars and Purple Heart.
Upon returning home, he married Linda Louise Seals on July 22, 1972, in Harlan. They relocated to Pensacola where Tommy received two Associate Degrees from Pensacola Junior College. He worked for Naval Aviation Depot in Pensacola before being transferred to Cherry Point FRC East. In 2009, he retired after 38 years as a civil service employee.
Tommy is survived by his wife of 41 years, Linda Saylor; four children, Brooke Saylor of Havelock, N.C., Jenna (Jacob) Kimmis of New Bern, N.C., Adam Saylor of Havelock, N.C., and Matthew Saylor of Jay; and one grandchild, Thomas Kimmis. He is also survived by his sister, Audrey (Gerald) Morrison of Pensacola; sister-in-law, Brenda (Junior) Cox of Knoxville, TN, Sherry Bingham of Harlan, KY, and Jerry (Lola) Seals of Cawood, KY; and numerous loved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 1:30 until 2 p.m. for family and from 2 p.m. until service tim at 2:30 p.m. for close friends on Sunday, May 4, 2014, at the Berrydale Baptist Church in Jay.
Burial will be with military honors.
Family members, sons, and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
James Berry “Red” Smith
May 3, 2014
James Berry “Red” Smith, 78, of Pensacola was born on July 21, 1935 in Bluff Springs and passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2014.He was a lifelong resident of the area. He retired after 33 and a half years with Gulf Power Company. He was a member of IBEW and served his country with the US Marine Corps.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Zell Berry and Lucille Cooper Smith; and brothers, Jack Smith, Walter Smith, and Winegair Smith.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 55 years, Carman Sue Walker Smith; sons, Randall James (Regina) Smith and David Barry (Denise) Smith; granddaughters, Patricia Lynn Smith, Sarah Katherine Smith, Jessica Alene Smith, and Jami Miranda Smith; and grandsons, Christopher Barry Smith and Cameron Spivey.
The family will receive friends at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home until service time at12:30 p.m.
Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery at NAS Pensacola.
Special thanks are extended to Adam Willis and Curt Warren of Emerald Coast Hospice for the professional care provided to Red.
Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to Manna Food Bank, Inc., 116 Gonzalez St., Pensacola, FL 32501 or Emerald Coast Hospice,1555 N Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32501 in memory of James Berry Smith.
Wahoos Snap Skid With 14-1 Win Over Generals
May 3, 2014
The Blue Wahoos snapped their three-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Jackson Generals on Friday night at the Ballpark at Jackson behind a strong start from Jon Moscot. The Wahoos hurler allowed just two hits and retired the final 13 batters he faced.
Pensacola scored single runs over four separate innings and got strong pitching from Moscot and the bullpen. Donald Lutz drove home two of the Wahoos runs with RBI singles in the first and fifth innings. He finished the game 2-for-2 with a walk. Rey Navarro also had a solid night at the plate going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Lutz left the game after the Blue Wahoos batted in the sixth inning. No update is available on his condition.
Moscot earned the win after working 7.0 innings allowing just the 1R/ER on only two hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Elvin Ramirez made his Blue Wahoos debut with a scoreless eighth. James Walczak pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the year.
The Blue Wahoos will try to make it two-straight over the Generals on Saturday night. RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-1, 1.86) will start for the Wahoos against Jackson LHP Cam Hobson (3-1, 3.14). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. at the Ballpark at Jackson.
by Tommy Thrall
Escambia County Road Closure List, Flood Status Update
May 2, 2014
[Updated noon] Escambia County remains under a state of local emergency.
Escambia County along with state and federal agencies has begun a full inspection of roads, bridges and other infrastructure to access damages.
An American Red Cross shelter is located at the Fricker Community Center, 900 North “F” Street, Pensacola, is open and currently has 68 people at the shelter.
Escambia County Road Closures:
- Ashland Avenue – flooding from Ashland to Ponderosa
- Atlanta Avenue and Augusta Avenue – bridge from Gulf Beach Highway to Selma Street
- Barrineau Park Road — at the bridge/Alabama state line due to flooding
- Bauer Road – construction from Sorrento Road to Gulf Beach Highway
- Blue Springs Drive – washout
- Burning Tree Road – bridge
- Chemstrand Road – washout from Boulder Creek Drive to Orby Street
- Detroit Boulevard West – bridge and washout
- Dog Track Road – washout from Dog Track Road North to Lillian Highway
- Fannie Road – bridge from Campbell Road to Carnley Road
- High Pointe Drive – washout at Constantine
- Interstate Circle – bridge
- Johnson Avenue – bridge from East Johnson Avenue to East Olive Road
- Klondike Road – bridge
- Lloyd Street East – washout at 20th Street
- Main Street – washout from A Street to Devilliers Street
- Mallory Street – sinkhole
- Massachusetts Avenue – flooding at Kelly Avenue
- Meadowbrook Drive – bridge from Meadowbrook Drive to Scenic Hills Drive
- Mobile Highway – bridge
- Morningside Drive – washout
- North Loop Road – washout
- Oak Valley Drive – washout
- Old Corry Field Road – bridge from Navy Boulevard to Idlewood Drive
- Piedmont Road – washout from Tronjo Drive to Hallmark Drive
- Pineville Road – bridge
- Ronda Street – washout from Daniel to Rufus
- Scenic Highway –washout from Whimbledon Drive to Scenic Highway Circle
- Scenic Highway – washout from Bayview Way to Logan Drive
- Scenic Highway – washout from just north of Olive Road to Nine Mile Road
- Stillbrooke Road – bridge
- Tarragona Street – washout from Gadsden Street to Jackson Street
- Tarragona Street – from Blount Street to Alcaniz Street
- Winthrop Avenue – washout
State Road Closures In Escambia County:
Northbound I-110 on ramp at Airport Boulevard is restricted.
Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) 150 feet north of Baywalk Circle is closed.
Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) south of Scenic Highway Circle is closed.
Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) north of Wimbledon Drive is closed.
Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) at Summit Boulevard is closed.
U.S. 90 1/2 mile west of eastbound I-10 is restricted.
S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) 3/4 miles south of I-10 is restricted.
U.S. 98 (Lilian Highway) at Trout Road is restricted.
U.S. 98 at S.R. 295 (Navy Boulevard) is restricted.
S.R. 289 (9th Avenue) at Carpenter’s Creek is restricted.
Residents in Escambia County who need non-emergency assistance can call the Citizens Information Center at (850) 471-6600. For emergencies, call 911.
Want To Volunteer After The Floods?
May 2, 2014
Florida Baptist Disaster Relief is setting up it’s Disaster Relief Command Center at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola
If you are interested in volunteering to help with disaster relief, go to Hillcrest Saturday morning at 8:00 for volunteer assignments. Hillcrest is located at 800 East Nine Mile Road on the corner of 9 Mile and Guidy Lane.
Raging Creek Sweeps Away Escambia District Fire Chief
May 2, 2014
The rescuer became the rescued during our historic flooding as an Escambia Fire Rescue district chief and his vehicle were swept away by a raging creek.
Beulah volunteer District Chief Steve McNair responded to possible water rescue and the report of a submerged car during the early hours of Wednesday morning. As he approached 11 Mile Creek on Nine Mile Road, his county SUV was rapidly swept away a few hundred feet into the woods.
The radio call went out that 201, McNair’s radio call sign, had been swept away by the raging flood waters.
“It happened fast,” McNair said Thursday afternoon. “I was in the vehicle under the water. I knew I had to remain calm and do the right thing. I got out and managed to get a hold of a tree and hang on.”
A firefighter spotted McNair clinging to the tree as the water rushed by from the rising creek. Other first responders in the area not on life-threatening calls made their way toward the creek, as dispatchers worked to find them routes that were not flooded.
A watercraft arrived on the scene, and Escambia firefighters fought the raging to creek to reach and rescue him from the tree.
“It was 100 percent the Lord,” McNair said. “There’s no other way I would have survived. I give Him all the credit for the great job done by the firemen.”
After a quick check from Escambia County EMS, McNair was on duty again, the rescued back at work as the rescuer.
Pictured top and inset: The aftermath for the vehicle of Escambia County Beulah District Chief Steve McNair. Pictured below: McNair looks over the vehicle after it was pulled from the woods Thursday. Pictured below: McNair’s vehicle in the woods, marked by an arrow. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
