Lawmakers Back Higher Penalities, Costs For ‘Terroristic Threats’
November 23, 2015
People found guilty of making “terroristic threats” will face greater charges and have to pay for the fire-rescue and law-enforcement response, as well as any costs if public transportation is used for an evacuation, under a bill (HB 257) that received support from the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
The proposal by Rep. Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness, would make it a felony for calling in a threat.
“Currently under Florida law, terroristic threats are only punishable as a criminal mischief or disturbing the peace,” Smith said. “However, as we have seen across the nation these threats of violence must be taken seriously and require a law-enforcement response.”
A similar measure (SB 436) by Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, has yet to be scheduled for any of its three planned committee appearances.
by The News Service of Florida
Ernest Ward Middle Names Students Of The Month
November 23, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month for November. They are (L-R) Katelyn Wilson, eighth grade; Danny Antrim, seventh grade; and Hannah Hassebrock, sixth grade. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FFA Boxed Fruit Sale Is Underway
November 23, 2015
The annual Northview High School FFA Fruit Sale is underway with delivery before Christmas.
The NHS FFA is selling citrus in attractive 2/5, 1/2 or 4/5 bushel boxes perfect for gift wrapping. The Florida citrus is from RiverBrite in Vero Beach.
Orders must be made by Monday, November 30. The pickup date is Wednesday, December 16.
For an order form click here. Order forms and payment can be returned to Northview by mail (the address is on the order form), or dropped off at the school office. Fruits available include red apples, grapefruit, navel oranges, tangelos and Hamlin oranges. Mixed trio half bushels are also available.
For more information, call (850) 327-6681, ext. 248.
Cold Night, Patchy Frost
November 23, 2015
After a freezing start to Monday, highs today will warm into the 50’s before dipping back into the 30’s tonight. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy frost after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 32. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Patchy frost before 7am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 62. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. East wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. East wind around 10 mph.
Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind around 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.
Elam Gary Powell
November 23, 2015
Mr. Elam Gary “Gator” Powell, 56, passed away on Monday, November 16, 2015, in Perdido.
Mr. Powell was a native and former resident of Atmore, where he spent most of his life. He resided in Perdido for the past year. Mr. Powell attended the Healing Waters Church in Bay Minette.
Survivors include his two sons, Joshua Powell of Atmore and Jeremiah Powell of Perdido; two brothers, Donnie Powell of Mt. City, TN and Wendell “PeeWee” Powell of Atmore; one sister, Katie Presley of Atmore; and four grandchildren, Ethan Powell, Tabitha Powell, Jeremiah “ManMan” Powell and Luna.
Funeral services were held Sunday, November 22, 2015 at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Daniels and Rev. Thurl Pearson officiating.
Burial was at the Brook’s Cemetery in Lottie.
Pallbearers were Shawn McKinley, Dewayne McKinley, Gary Heathcock, Kenny Powell, Charlie Powell and Joe Odom.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Margaret Cofield
November 23, 2015
Mrs. Margaret Cofield, 83, passed away on Thursday, November 19, 2015, in Century.
Mrs. Cofield was a native of Brewton and a resident of Century most of her life. Mrs. Cofield was a retired employee of Monsanto with 30 years of service and she was of the Baptist faith. She is preceded in death by her husband, Millard Cofield; three brothers; and one sister.
She is survived by her two sons, Nickey S. Cofield of Atmore and Millard Lee Cofield of Kingsland, GA; one brother, Cecil Hodge of Jefferson, IN; one sister, Betty Flowers of Pensacola; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday, November 22, 2015, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Randy Steadman officiating.
Burial was at the Flomaton Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Murphy, Mike Massey, Paul Dykes, Gary Knowles, Dewey Bondurant and Dan Rudd.
Honorary pallbearer was Jaden Beales.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Winnie Ruth Johnson Rice
November 23, 2015
Mrs. Winnie Ruth Johnson Rice, 82, passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2015, in Jay.
Mrs. Rice was a native of Jay, and a resident of Century for most of her life. Mrs. Rice was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of the Pine Barren Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Ruth Johnson; brother, Winford Allen Johnson; and daughter-in-law, Nelda Rice.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Rev. Charles Rice of Century; one son, Roy Charles Rice of Walnut Hill; four daughters, Melody Rice (Mark) Bondurant of Flomaton, Fay Rice (Butch) Fillingim of McDavid, Kay Rice (Chuck) Yetter of Molino and Ruth Arlene Rice (James) Crawford of Gallion, AL; one brother, Wayne Roy (Sue) Johnson of Century; two sisters, Wilhelmina Johnson Simmons of Jay, and Willodean Johnson Crary of Bluffsprings; 19 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Barrow and Rev. Mike Harper officiating.
Burial will follow at the Pine Barren Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Carlos Koehn, Troy Merchant, Chad Chaudron, Chad Sims, Dale England and Joseph Merchant.
Honorary pallbearer will be Michael Peterson.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Linda Joiner Jordan
November 23, 2015
Linda Joiner Jordan, 72 of Bluff Springs, passed away Sunday, November 22, 2015, due to complications of COPD. Linda was born and raised in Chumuckla. She was the ninth child of the late Willie and Gladys Joiner. She graduated from Chumuckla High School and worked for Southern Bell Telephone Company for 10 years. Linda was a faithful member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Bluff Springs.
Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Earl “Fred” Jordan; parents; brothers, George, Harold, Maxi and Joe; and sisters, Opal and Dula.
She is survived by her sons, Noah Dale (Jenny) Asberry and Earl Frank (Katherine) Jordan; granddaughter, Janelle Gamble; great-grandchildren, Jakob and Michelle; brothers, Jack (Kathy) and Otis (Marie); sister, Dottie (Wayne); and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank Summer, Tara, Shere and Pam of Covenant Hospice for their wonderful care.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, November 27, 2015, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. James Hughes officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Covenant Hospice or a charity of your choice.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Deputies Honored For Saving Officer After Shots Fired In Cantonment
November 22, 2015
Two Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputes have been awarded Medals of Courage for their actions to save another deputy after he was shot at in Cantonment last September.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1500 block of Crystal Drive to assist EMS after the 19-year-old’s family thought he was having a heart attack. Sheriff David Morgan said the family believed the man had ingested some type of narcotics.
EMS was standing by and the family had been locked out of the house. Deputy Ty Brewton attempted contact with the suspect by knocking at the front door and was immediately met with rifle gunfire through the door. Due to the rural nature of the location, Deputy Brewton was forced into a dangerous area where he had very little concealment, no cover and no easy means of escape due to the suspect shooting continuously through the windows of the house.
Senior Deputy John Holcombe and Deputy Sheriff Kaleb Svoboda arrived on scene to assist. They immediately, without hesitation, volunteered to effect an officer rescue. While shots were still being fired. Deputies Holcombe and Svoboda approached the house knowing that the suspect had a superior weapon firing at them from a concealed position within the house. Deputies Holcombe and Svoboda had worked their way into a position near Brewton when the suspect came out the front door and confronted them just as they were able to physically lift Brewton over a privacy fence and cover his egress to safety.
After leaving the incident, Holcombe noticed that he had been seriously injured on his left leg. Holcombe had a puncture-type wound and he responded to the emergency room where the doctor informed him that he had been hit by a shot fired from the suspect. The injury required 14 stitches to close.
Holcombe and were awarded the Medal of Courage for displaying exceptional courage and selflessness in the midst of great personal danger.
The suspect in the incident, Christopher Allen Payne, remains in the Escambia County Jail awaiting trial on charges including two counts of attempted first degree premeditated murder and three counts of assault on officer.
Pictured top: Deputies John Holcombe and Kaleb Svoboda were award the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Medal of Courage for saving a fellow deputy that was being fired on repeatedly during a September incident in Cantonment. Courtesy photo. Pictured inset and below: The incident scene last September. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Reschedules Council Meeting
November 22, 2015
The Town of Century has rescheduled their regular meeting for the month of December.
The town council normally meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. However, in December, the council only holds one meeting. This year, that December meeting will be held on December 14, the second Monday of the month, at 7 p.m.
The Century council will return to their normal meeting schedule in January.