Lt. Col. Charles Andrew Lambert
March 7, 2014
Lt. Col. Charles Andrew Lambert, 76, born in Vocation, Ala., on June 27, 1937, passed away March 1, 2014, in the Covenant Hospice Wing at West Florida Hospital. He was a graduate of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, MS and Florida State University. He also graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School. He was employed by Gulf Power Company for 25 years (Public Relations), Pensacola News Journal, Historic Pensacola Preservation Board and the Playground Daily News in Fort Walton Beach. He was a Lt. Colonel in the Army Reserves, 361st Brigade for 30 years. He was assigned to the Pentagon for various tours of duty.
He was active in Boy Scouts of America for many years. He would proudly say all three of his sons excelled to become Eagle Scouts. He was also a past president of the American Cancer Society, Pensacola Chapter, Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and Florida State Alumni Booster Club.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Lilla Lambert; youngest son, Todd Anthony Lambert; and sister, Joyce Westmark.
He is survived by his loving wife, Linda J. Lambert; sons, Dr. Mark Andrew and his wife, Pamela and their daughter, Isabella; Charles Douglas Lambert and his wife, Karen and their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth.
Charles lived in Molino, on Sunny Hill Farm, a horse farm with his wife, Linda, for 30 years. He faithfully attended Hillcrest Baptist Church. He was an avid Florida State football fan. He like to run/walk and he accomplished the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC on November 1, 1981.
The three loves in his life were: God first, family second and his country third; however, a very close first would have to be his Florida State football team. He lived just long enough to see the Seminoles reclaim the BCC Natinonal Championship.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ernest Spiva, Ed Addison, Gordon Van Mol, Jodey Harper, Steve Salter, Don Patterson, Tommy Cushing, Wayne Westmark, Jay Westmark, David Westmark and Dale Powell.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at NAS Chapel with Pastor Jim Reece and Pastor Pat Mobley officiating.
Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Covenant Hospice, West Florida Care Center, 3 North, 8383 North Davis Hwy, Pensacola, FL 32514 or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
David Allen Wingard
March 7, 2014
David Allen Wingard, 63 of Atmore, passed away Wednesday, March 5, 2014 in Talladaga, Ala. He had worked at Wingard’s Jewelry Store as a jeweler. He was born in Atmore on June 29, 1950, to John Graham and Margaret Garrett Wingard. He was a graduate of Escambia County High School.
He is preceded in death by his father, John Graham Wingard; and sister, Linda Siders.
Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Margaret Wingard Banks of Atmore; two sons, John David Wingard of Jacksonville, FL and Cody Wingard of Fort Collins, Colorado; one daughter, Michelle Wingard of Milton; and one brother, John Larry Wingard of Albaster, AL.
Services will be Sunday, March 9, 2014, at 2 p.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mike Grindle officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends, Sunday March 9, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 1 p.m. until service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Volunteers, Officials Team Up To Save Rescued Horse
March 6, 2014
Volunteers, family, friends, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Animal Control and the ingenuity of the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue came together Wednesday afternoon to help a rescue horse in need in Cantonment.
The horse, named Ebony, is being housed by Escambia County at Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment after being seized about a week ago from the 400 block of Crowndale Court. Ebony was severely malnourished when seized, according to PER President Diane Lowery. A second horse seized from the property was put down by a veterinarian due to its state of malnourishment.
But volunteers have been working, almost literally around the clock, to save Ebony.
Tuesday night, she fell in her stall, requiring numerous volunteers to get her back to her feet. She went down again Wednesday, with volunteers unable to lift her….until the crew of Cantonment’s Fire Rescue Engine 419 put their training and brainpower to work. The firemen designed a sling and used a ladder, chains, straps and a come-along to lift her. Once she was upright, a veterinarian was able to administer IV fluids.
“A lot of people have invested a lot of time, labor and emotions into this horse,” Lowery said. “I just oh so want to see her live.”
About 11 p.m. Wednesday, Lowery was preparing to begin watch over Ebony to make sure she remained upright and warm during the night.
“There’s thunder and it’s raining,” she said. “But I’ve got to go out there and check on her.” Lowery said she had IV fluids, plus a group of volunteers and the Cantonment firemen on standby in case she needed help during the night.
“We can’t say that nobody tried for Ebony,” she said. “Everyone has gone above and beyond.”
Lowery said the owner of Ebony and the horse that was put down are expected to face felony charges. The case is currently under investigation.
Pictured above: Escambia County Animal Control, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Cantonment Station and volunteers use a makeshift sling to lift Ebony Wednesday afternoon. Pictured below: Ebony, a malnourished horse seized about a week ago by Escambia County, was unable to get on her feet in her stall Tuesday night. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Tonight; Sunny By Saturday
March 6, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
- Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Sacred Heart: Door To Door Children’s Book Sales Are A Scam
March 6, 2014
Someone may be going door to door selling children’s books saying that proceeds will benefit Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, but hospital officials say it is a scam.
The individuals selling books door-to-door may identify themselves as working for “Experience Sales”, but Sacred Heart said they have no affiliation whatsoever with the group.
Anyone solicited with such an offer should call their law enforcement agency.
Fannie Road Near Century To Close Next Week For Bridge Replacement
March 6, 2014
Crews will begin construction activities on Fannie Road just outside Century next week.
The $1.8 million project will replace the bridge on Fannie Road over Dead Lake with a new concrete structure consisting of two 12-foot wide travel lanes and eight foot shoulders. Fannie Road will be closed during construction and traffic detoured on to Highway 4 and Highway 29 in Florida and Highway 29 and Old Fannie Road in Alabama. Restrictions will remain in effect through fall 2014.
All activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Man, 76, Dies After Home Invasion Beating
March 6, 2014
A family is looking for answers after a 76-year old man was found beaten to death inside his home late Tuesday night on Lakeview Avenue in Pensacola.
Family members say Ben Stallworth was beaten in the head and robbed. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says they found him on his couch with obvious injuries. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital were he was pronounced deceased.
Further details have not yet been released.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NJROTC Cadet Braun Receives Prestigious Area Award
March 6, 2014
Northview High School Cadet LCDR Kasie Braun, NJROTC Company Commander, was selected for the Area Eight ROTC “Joseph C. Gilliam Award”. Braun completed against cadets from 50 ROTC units in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana to win this prestigious award, a first for Northview’s NJROTC unit. Pictured: LCDR Kasie Braun watches cadets during a Pass In Review recently at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Florida House Panel: Not All Marijuana The Same
March 6, 2014
With just one “no” vote, a Florida House panel signed off on a measure Wednesday that would legalize a strain of non-euphoric marijuana used to treat children wracked by potentially deadly seizures.
House Criminal Justice Chairman Matt Gaetz, the sponsor of the bill known as “Charlotte’s Web,” called the bipartisan support historic because it’s the first time in modern history that the Florida Legislature has advanced any marijuana-related measure.
“That’s because people here in Tallahassee have realized that we can’t just have a bumper-sticker approach to marijuana where you’re either for it or against it. Not all marijuana is created equally. Here, this strain of marijuana can do a lot of good and has a very low likelihood of abuse,” Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, said.
Gaetz’s subcommittee approved the proposal (HB 843) after nearly an hour of testimony from parents and other advocates who believe the strain of marijuana called “Charlotte’s Web” can dramatically reduce seizures in children with a rare form of epilepsy.
Some Republican leaders, including Gaetz’s father, Senate President Don Gaetz, have galvanized support around the Charlotte’s Web measure as an alternative to a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow doctors to write prescriptions for marijuana. Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, also the boss of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, is pushing the ballot initiative, which will go before voters in November.
Under the proposal approved Wednesday, strains of marijuana that contain .8 percent or less of tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component in marijuana, and more than 10 percent of the derivative cannabidiol, or CBD, would be legal, along with the seeds of the plant. Supporters of the proposal say the amount of THC in Charlotte’s Web, which is not smoked but is ingested as an oil or paste, is not enough to get users high. The proposal also includes $1 million for research on the substance.
Peyton and Holley Moseley’s 10-year-old adopted daughter RayAnn is one of about 125,000 Florida children diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that can cause hundreds of seizures a day and does not respond to other treatments. The couple said they traveled to Colorado, where Charlotte’s Web is manufactured, and met with parents of other children who had responded to the treatment.
“These kids can walk now. These kids can talk now. These kids are saying ‘I love you’ to their parents for the first time,” Peyton Moseley told the panel.
The Florida Sheriffs Association is also backing the measure, which was amended on Wednesday to put the burden on people who are arrested or investigated to prove that the drugs they are holding meet the THC and CBD levels laid out in the bill.
Questioned by his colleagues about enforcement issues, Matt Gaetz said he hoped that state attorneys and other officials would not bring charges against growers and manufacturers or the physicians who distribute the substance to their patients.
But lobbyist Louis Rotundo, who represents a newly formed coalition of businesses and land owners interested in Charlotte’s Web, said the bill as passed poses problems for potential growers and suppliers.
“Frankly, telling me that it’s at the discretion of my state attorney or my sheriff, good men and women that they may be, leaves me a little queasy. I don’t think that you get a loan from a bank on a situation like that,” Rotundo said.
Rep. Gayle Harrell cast the only vote against the measure after asking a series of questions highlighting concerns about a lack of regulation over the substance, especially compared to other drugs.
“If you really want to solve a problem and just not legalize marijuana then you need to do it appropriately,” Harrell, R-Stuart, said.
But Rep. Dave Hood, R-Daytona Beach Shores, argued the bill is a “no-brainer” and implied that it does not go far enough to help cancer survivors like himself whom studies show can benefit from traditional medical marijuana.
“It is absolutely an abomination … for us to continue to have unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious rules that relate to marijuana,” said Hood, a lawyer.
The measure has two more committee appearances before heading to the House floor. A Senate companion (SB 1030) has not yet had a committee hearing.
by Dara Kim, The News Service of Florida
Molino Library Reads Across America With Dr. Seuss
March 6, 2014
The Molino Branch Library recently celebrated Dr. Seuss and Read Across America with stories, characters, popcorn a lots of reading fun. Several participants also took the “Reader’s Oath”, promising to read each day and each night (because it’s the key to “growing up right”). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
