William “Bill” Gray Williams
June 17, 2015
William “Bill” Gray Williams, 90, went to be with his Lord on June 11, 2015. He was born November 24, 1924, in Ida, LA. He was an active member of Ferry Pass Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. Bill retired from the US Navy after 21 years of service. After his military career, he went to work at the Port of Pensacola and worked his way up to Assistant Port Director and retired after 23 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 ½ years, Lottie Bell Cooper; son: Ray Williams; son-in-law, Carl T. Young; father; Pink Williams; mother: Zula Nelson Williams; brothers, Clyde, Claude and CG Williams; and a sister who died at birth in 1915.
Survivors include daughters, Linda D. Williams Moss and Shirley L. Williams Young; grandchildren, Kevin C. (Donna) Young, Bryan K. (Wendy) Young, Desiree Vandruf (James)
Watkins; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday June 19, 2015, from 2 p.m. until funeral services begin at 3 p.m. at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
Brother Ken Cook will be officiating.
The family has entrusted Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home with all arrangements.
CSX Closing Cotton Lake Crossing Beginning Thursday
June 17, 2015
CSX will be conducting work on the railroad crossing at Cotton Lake beginning the morning of Thursday, June 18. The crossing is expected to reopen Friday afternoon. Access to the Cotton Lake landing and campground will be unavailable during this time.
“Maintaining railroad infrastructure is critical to minimizing service disruptions and preventing accidents and injuries. CSX spends more than $1 billion annually on improving and maintaining track, bridges, signals and other equipment to keep freight moving safely and reliably. CSX appreciates the patience of community residents as we complete this work as safely and efficiently as possible,” according to an Escambia County press release.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to travel with care through the work zone and to watch for construction equipment and workers entering and exiting the roadway.
Janice Allman
June 17, 2015
Mrs. Janice Allman, 70, passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2015, in Elberta, Alabama.
Mrs. Allman was a native of Pensacola and a resident of Elberta. She was of the Baptist faith.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Allman of Elberta; three daughters, Sandra Reed of Elberta, Tanne Vaught of Pensacola and Janice K. Watson of Elberta; two brothers, Jack Mandel and Harold Mandel, both of Pensacola; two sisters, Helen Golson and Martha Jensen, both of Pensacola; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be Thursday, June 18, 2015, at 11 a.m. at the Lay Cemetery in Elberta.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Man Charged With Attempted Murder, Armed Robbery
June 16, 2015
An Escambia County man has been arrested on multiple charges after he tried to rob a man who was standing in his front yard.
Ladell L. Wheeler, 23, was charged with attempted murder, armed robbery, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, altering/removing a serial number from a firearm, and resisting an officer.
The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Monday in the 400 block of East Bobe Street. Carlos Campbell, 41, told Officer Kevin Smith he was standing in his front yard talking on his cell phone when the suspect walked up to him and demanded money. After Campbell said he didn’t have any, he told police Wheeler, whom he doesn’t know, produced a firearm.
Campbell grabbed the suspect’s arm and the two men began struggling. Wheeler then fled the area, stopped and fired into the air. Campbell went into his house and went back outside a few minutes later. He told police that Wheeler, who was nearby, pointed the firearm at him and fired twice before once again running away.
Police arrested Wheeler in the area of Seventh Avenue and Yonge Street. Campbell was not injured in the incident.
Code Enforcement Changes Coming To Century
June 16, 2015
Escambia County Code Enforcement’s role in Century is about to expand, and, that, a former council member says, will pit neighbor against neighbor.
In early 2009, the Town of Century voted to enter into an agreement with Escambia County to bring code enforcement back to the town for the first time in several years. The agreement called for Escambia County to provide code enforcement for county and town ordinances within the town limits. It was agreed that enforcement would be “proactive”. Code officers were not to respond to citizen complaints within the town; rather, the officers were tasked with seeking out violators.
Monday night, Century Mayor Freddie McCall told the council that code enforcement’s “hands should be united”, allowing citizens to call in complaints, even anonymous complaints, to be checked by officers.
“It had become they (code enforcement) had to come and find it (violations) for themselves,” McCall said, asking the council to amend the interlocal agreement with Escambia County.
“If they don’t see it, we ought to let it go,” former council member Henry Hawkins said. Hawkins was a member of the council when the code enforcement agreement was finalized in 2009; however, he was absent from the council meeting in which a final vote was taken. “We don’t need to open a Pandora’s box….People will get mad at each other and call things in.”
“I personally don’t think they are very proactive,” council president Ann Brooks said. “I personally see a lot of things, if they would just look.”
“Can I remind this council that we got ourselves in a pickle with this before,” Hawkins said. “If I am mad at you, I am going to call in a complaint.”
Pictured top: After the owner of building at 9500 North Century Boulevard was cited by Escambia County Code Enforcement, he had the buildings demolished. Pictured inset: A dilapidated house that once stood in Century prior to the return of code enforcement. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McCall’s request to allow citizen code complaints was approved by the council 3-1, with Sandra McMurray Jackson voting against. Council member Annie Savage, who arrived at the meeting about a half hour late and missed most discussion on the issue, abstained from voting.
Escambia County Code Enforcement current visits Century one day per week.
Molino Woman Charged With Dealing In Stolen Property
June 16, 2015
Allegedly pawning a stolen computer tablet landed a Molino woman in jail on two felony charges.
Cherie Renee Wallace, 38, was charged with fraud providing false owner information on a pawned item and dealing in stolen property. She remained jail early Tuesday with bond set at $6,500.
Wallace allegedly pawned a Samsung Tab 2 in an Otterbox case that had been reported stolen during a residential burglary. According to an arrest report, she was identified by pawn shop staff as the person who pawned the property, and positively identified by a fingerprint.
The owner was able to recover his tablet after paying a balance due of $50.
Scott Leads Florida Delegation At Paris Air Show
June 16, 2015
Monday, Gov. Rick Scott led the inauguration ceremony for the Florida Pavilion at the 2015 International Paris Air Show. Governor Scott led a delegation of 17 Florida aviation and aerospace, and defense and homeland security small businesses, and economic development leaders at the Paris Air Show. This year, the Florida Pavilion is once again the largest of any state, showcasing companies that demonstrate the innovation and expertise that makes Florida an international business leader.
Governor Scott said, “Florida is the best state in the nation for business. We are here to meet with leading global aviation and aerospace companies so they know we’re serious about providing the best business climate in the nation in Florida. We have created more than 865,000 private sector jobs in four and a half years and the state economy continues to strengthen.”
The Paris Air Show provides Enterprise Florida and the small businesses and organizations exhibiting in the Florida Pavilion with a unique opportunity to demonstrate their competitive advantages in the aviation and aerospace industry. Governor Scott, EFI president & CEO Bill Johnson and EFI leadership are also hosting business development meetings with nearly 40 industry leading companies to share Florida’s business story with key industry leaders.
“We’re here to tell the Florida business story to every company we can meet with and to help the companies and organizations that have travelled with us to have a very successful show,” said EFI president & CEO of EFI, Bill Johnson.”
Pictured: The Florida exhibit at the Paris (France) Air Show, with a ribbon cutting (below) on Monday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Strike Late Night Deal, Pour $301M Into Last Minute Projects
June 16, 2015
.House and Senate budget negotiators struck a deal on a state spending plan Monday night moments before the stroke of midnight, pouring $301 million into projects at the last minute and closing out one of the more-raucous legislative debates in recent years.
Lawmakers did not exactly know how much the final agreement would add up to, but it is likely to be well more than $76 billion but south of $80 billion. The Legislature is likely to vote on the package Friday, after a mandatory 72-hour “cooling off” period starting when the document is printed. The vote will come 11 days before Florida must have a spending plan in place to avoid a government shutdown.
In a final negotiating session that started about 11:15 p.m. (EDT) Monday, House Appropriations Chairman Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, and Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, went through more than 100 pages of offers ranging across the state budget. Included in the documents were the final spending figures for public and higher education, as well as dozens of pages of details that comprise the fine print of the budget.
Also included: $151 million from the House and $150 million from the Senate in “supplemental” or additional funding for initiatives ranging from $6.8 million for school uniforms to $2.4 million for a line item simply entitled “springs” to $5 million for the Florida Association Of Free And Charitable Clinics.
Lawmakers also found time to direct that $1 million already in the budget be used “to conduct programs designed to expand uses of beef and beef products and strengthen the market position of the cattle industry in this state and in the nation.”
Corcoran called the session “one of the best I’ve seen in 30 years around this process” during an exchange with reporters after the meeting. He pointed to debates over health-care issues during the special session, which was called to deal with the budget after lawmakers couldn’t agree to a spending plan during their annual spring meeting.
“This has been one of the most remarkable sessions for open, transparent debate and fervent positions on both sides, respecting each other, respecting their positions and yet having that debate,” Corcoran said. “This is the way government should work.”
Lee also defended the last-minute nature of some of the added projects.
“You’re just now seeing it, but this has been the product of multiple days of discussions, multiple weeks, two sessions, and the fact that you’re just now seeing it doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a real inclusive process that we followed to get to this place,” he said.
But even some lawmakers were left trying to keep up with the flurry of offers as the House and Senate rushed to complete their work. Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, said the process for the final agreement needed to be slowed down.
“Just the mechanics of trying to keep up with what comes in front of you is difficult for people who have some knowledge about the process and, God forbid, people who don’t have any knowledge about it, then they’re lost,” she told reporters.
The special session started June 1 and could run through Saturday if needed. The state’s new fiscal year starts July 1. After lawmakers approve the budget, Gov. Rick Scott can use his line-item veto power to eliminate spending items.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Byrneville Elementary School Presents Year-End Awards
June 16, 2015
Byrneville Elementary School presented the following year-end awards:
Mrs. Linton’s Awards
All A’s All Year:
Kelan Jurey
Jared Riley Long
Even Matlock
Mia Turner-White
A/B’s All Year:
Ayden Atallah
Gavin Beasley
Mrs. Gilmore’s Awards
Reading-Highest Average
Jolee Sloan
Drake Allen Driskell
Emily Levins
Science – Highest Average
Jolee Sloan
Drake Allen Driskell
Emily Levins
Blake Yoder
Math – Highest Average
Emily Levins
Drake Allen Driskell
Jolee Sloan
Social Studies – Highest Average
Drake Allen Driskell
Blake Yoder
Jolee Sloan
A Honor Roll
Emily Levins
Drake Allen Driskell
Bradley Hamilton
Kaden Odom
Blake Yoder
Jolee Sloan
A/B Honor Roll
Tiana White
Hunter Barnes
Briana Dunsford
Leah Anderson
Aloysia Dortch
Kayla Johnson
Abby Weber
Mrs. Thornton’s First Grade Awards
All A Honor Roll for the Year:
Ryder Lee
Elizabeth Coleman
Savannah Hudson
Wade Bailey
A/B Honor Roll for the Year:
Mary-Clayton Dawson
Makenzie Levins
Easten Odom
Andrew Plant
Bree Robertson
Charlee Weaver
Citizenship Awards:
Makenzie Levins
Ryder Lee
Savannah Hudson
Top Reading Awards
Wade Bailey
Ryder Lee
Math Award Highest Average
Elizabeth Coleman
Science Award Highest Average
Savannah Hudson
Social Studies Award Highest Average
Wade Bailey
Technology Award
Charlee Weaver
Nicholas Walston
Mrs. Johnston’s Fifth Grade Awards
Highest reading average: Hunter Borelli
2nd highest reading average: Jace Gifford
Highest math average: Hunter Borelli
2nd highest math average: Kaitlin Gafford
Highest science average: Hunter Borelli/Jace Gifford
2nd highest science average: Kaitlin Gafford/Harley Walker
Highest history average: Hunter Borelli/Kaitlin Gafford/Jace Gifford
2nd highest history average: Harley Walker
3rd highest history average: Taylor Levins
“A” Honor Roll ALL year:
Hunter Borelli
Kaitlin Gafford
Jace Gifford
Shelby Rice
“A/B” Honor Roll ALL year:
Cody Adams
Tanner Boone
Dusty Carnley
Taylor Levins
Torka Mills
Harley Walker
Anthoni Weaver
Second Grade–Weaver
A Honor Roll
Logan Bevins
Maddie Mae Driskell
Madison Levins
Jayden White
Brian Yoder
A/B Honor Roll
Madeleine Atallah
Luke Diamond
Kerissa Dortch
Tyler Gilmore
Braden Glick
Mia Kornegay
Blake Shaw
Highest Language Average
Brian Yoder
Second Highest: Madison Levins
Third Highest: Maddie Mae Driskell
Highest Math Average
Brian Yoder and Madeleine Atallah
Second Highest: Madison Addisen
Third Highest: Braden Glick
Highest Science Average
Brian
Second Highest: Madison Levins
Highest Social Studies:
Madison Levins and Brian Yoder
Third Grade: Mrs. Dunsford
All A’s
Sarah Bailey
Riley Dawson
Madalyn Grimes
Meredith Johnston
Tyler Riggs
A/B
Alexa Castro
Kayla Glick
Kaylee Hamilton
Tyson McBride
Aydan Smith
Highest Reading Average: Sarah Bailey, Tyler Riggs
Highest Social Studies Average: Sarah Bailey
Highest Science Social Studies: Sarah Bailey and Tyler Riggs
Highest Math Average: Riley Dawson, Tyler Riggs
Escambia County Seeks Members For Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
June 16, 2015
The Escambia County Commission is soliciting applications for representatives to join the Escambia-Pensacola Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC), which was established per Florida Statute (F.S.) for the purpose of reviewing affordable housing incentives available within the County and to make recommendations concerning those incentives to the Board and City Council.
The committee will help with the development of the Local Housing Assistance Plan for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program. The Board is seeking to fill the following 10 slots, as outlined per F.S. 420.9076:
- One citizen who is actively engaged in the residential home building industry in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged in the banking or mortgage banking industry in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is a representative of those areas of labor actively engaged in home building in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as an advocate for low-income persons in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as a for-profit provider of affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as a real estate professional in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as a not-for-profit builder of affordable housing;
- One citizen who resides within the jurisdiction of the local governing body making the appointments;
- One citizen who represents employers within the jurisdiction;
- One citizen who represents essential services personnel, as defined in the local housing assistance plan
Members of the committee will meet quarterly and serve three-year terms. Positions will be recommended to the Board for approval in July and approved through resolutions in September 2015.
Citizens interested in serving should complete an application (enclosed below) or request a form via email at NED@myescambia.com. Completed applications should be forwarded to Neighborhood Enterprise Division/AHAC, 221 Palafox Place, Suite 200, Pensacola, FL 32502. All applications must be received no later than June 19 for consideration.
For more information, contact Meredith Reeves Nunnari, Neighborhood Enterprise Division, at (850) 595-0022, ext.3, or by email at mrnunnari@myescambia.com.