Norman Roscoe Byrd
July 18, 2015
Norman Roscoe Byrd, 91, of Pensacola, was called home to be with the Lord on July 1, 2015. He passed away peacefully while holding Kate’s hand, his wife of 65 years. A man of few words with a passion for God, his country, and especially his family, he made many sacrifices in life to secure their well-being. His dry sense of humor, wisdom, and love will forever be cherished by the loved ones he left behind.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie S. and Ida Bessie Byrd; and by his sister, Naomi Shaw.
He is survived by his loving wife, Kate T. Byrd; three children, N. Richard Byrd (Martha), Anne Free (Ben) and Gary F. Byrd (Jean); and two grandchildren, Garet Free and Megan Free.
The family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2015, at Farm Hill United Methodist Church followed by services at 11:15 in the sanctuary.
Interment with military honors will be at 1:15 p.m. at Barrances National Cemetery.
Visitation for the family will follow services at Norman’s residence.
Honorary pallbearers are Garet Free, Olin Tisdale, Randy Tisdale, Eddie Tisdale, Riley Tisdale, John Shaw III, Robert Junk, and Johnny Farill.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Farm Hill United Methodist Church, 1251 Muscogee Road, Cantonment, FL 32533 or to Covenant Hospice at West Florida Hospital, 8383 North Davis Highway, Pensacola, Florida 32514.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is entrusted with arrangements.
Infant Gabriella Lynn Casey
July 18, 2015
Infant Gabriella Lynn Casey of Atmore, passed away July 14, 2015, in Mobile.
She is survived by her parents, Colton Casey and Anna Presley; grandparents, Debra Presley and the late Eddie Presley, Jerry Casey, all of Atmore; great-grandparents, James and Jackie Presley, Lillie Casey, Loyce Strawbridge and the late Ronland Strawbridge all of Atmore; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.
Graveside services were held Saturday, July 18, 2015, at Nokomis Baptist Cemetery with Bro. James Hill officiating.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc is in charge of all arrangements.
Charles F. Adams, Sr.
July 18, 2015
Charles F. Adams, Sr. was born on October 31, 1928, in Canton, Ohio. Charles was a loving and nurturing soul who was devoted to his family. His greatest enjoyment was to watch his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow. He was a devoted Christian and a member of the Lawton Street Baptist Church. He was a great inspiration and well respected man.
Charles is survived by his wife, Wilma J. Adams; son, Charles A. Adams; daughter, Kathy (Randy) Holloway, of Georgia; granddaughter, Wilma (James) Lumpkins; grandsons, Charles (Heather) Adams, II of Mississippi, Brandon (Naduxa) Booker of Utah, and Logan (Ashley) Booker of Georgia; great-grandson, James Lumpkins, Jr., of North Carolina; great-granddaughter, Jessica Lumpkins; great-grandsons, Dylan Lumpkins, and Kevin Adams, of Mississippi; and great-granddaughter, Ruby Adams of Mississippi.
Funeral services were held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South on Saturday, July 18, 2015, with Brother Brockman officiating.
Interment was at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Pallbearers were James Lumpkins, Willie Howell, Charles Adams, II, Malcom Nix, Dylan Lumpkins and Charles Sims.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is entrusted with the arrangements.
Council On Aging Needs Fans, Air Conditioners For Seniors
July 17, 2015
The Council on Aging of West Florida is in need of donations to help senior clients stay cool during the hot summer months.
Many clients are in need of fans and air conditioners. Donations, which must be new in the box with a standard 120 volt plug, can be dropped off at the Council on Aging Office at 875 Royce Street in Pensacola.
Online donations towards fans and air conditioners can also be made by calling (850) 432-1475.
Escambia Set To Hire 24 New Firefighters, Increase Fire Tax
July 17, 2015
Escambia County homeowners will likely be paying an extra $15 per year for fire services, with the money going toward 24 paid firefighters bolstering the ranks at at least two fire stations.
Public Safety Chief Mike Weaver told Escambia County Commissioners Thursday that full-time staffing is needed at five fire stations in the county — Ferry Pass, Bellview, Innerarity Point, Myrtle Grove and West Pensacola — where volunteers have missed a large number of calls for service, between 10 and 60 percent of fire calls.
The most expensive scenario Weaver presented commissioners was $5.25 million per year for 73 positions — 60 firefighters for full staffing the five fire stations, plus filling 13 positions at stations around the county where paid crews have been cut from four to three firefighters. That top option would cost property owners an additional $42.03 fire MSBU.
Full staffing the five fire stations with 60 total firefighters would cost $4.41 million, or $35.30 per dwelling unit per year.
Weaver also presented commissioners with a bare bones $883,199 need, or $7.06 per residential property, to continue funding 12 paid firefighters at the Ferry Pass Station. The firefighters were placed at the station a few months ago after volunteer response problems, and they are currently being paid by dipping into reserve funding.
The commission gave preliminary approval to a compromise plan presented by Commissioner Wilson Robertson to increase the fire MSBU by $15 per residential property, from $85 to $100 per year, to fund approximately 24 firefighters — the 12 already at Ferry Pass and an additional dozen to be place elsewhere.
Weaver said the additional 12 firefighters will likely be used to man the West Pensacola Fire Station.
The commission is expected to give final approval to the $15 residential MSBU increase at an upcoming regular meeting. The commercial rate will increase from about four cents per square foot to about 4.5 cents, while the unimproved property assessment will increase from $11 to about $12 per parcel plus about six cents per acre.
Meanwhile, Escambia County is still working to bolster the number of volunteer firefighters, mostly through word of mouth recruiting by existing volunteers.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Traffic Moves To Highway 97 Temporary Bridge On Monday
July 17, 2015
Traffic on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill will be transitioned to a temporary roadway and bridge on Monday. It’s part of the replacement of a 75-year old Highway 97 bridge over Little Pine Barren Creek.
Last week, the approach lanes to the temporary bridge were paved, after months of work that began on the structure at the end of March.
The work is part of a $2.5 million contract which consists of replacing the existing structurally deficient bridge, including roadway reconstruction, milling and resurfacing, guardrail, drainage, new signs and pavement markings. Drivers will utilize a temporary roadway and bridge during construction of the new bridge. Work is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2016. No overweight loads will be permitted onto the temporary bridge (loads weighing over 88-thousand pounds).
The bridge is located at the intersection of Wiggins Lake Road, about one mile north of Ernest Ward Middle School. The bridge being replaced was constructed in 1940.
Pictured: A new temporary bridge on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill, as seen late Thursday afternoon, will be placed into service on Monday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Where’s The Beef? Deputies Seek Stolen Meat
July 17, 2015
Where’s the beef? — That’s a question the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office is asking today after a theft at a home outside Flomaton. Deputies believe someone in a small car helped themselves to hundreds of dollars worth of beef from a carport freezer.
About 1:00 Thursday afternoon, neighbors and nearby relatives watched as a small car pulled up to a home on Lister Loop off Oil Well Road. No one was home, and the vehicle sped away a short time later. When relatives investigated, they found that a carport freezer had been burglarized, and most of a butchered and frozen half of a cow was missing.
“This would be high quality meat wrapped in freezer paper, not in packages like from the grocery store,” Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said. “We believe someone may try to sell it, especially in large quantities.”
The suspects’ vehicle was described as a small car, possible a Fiat, that was maroon in color on the sides and hood with a white top.
Anyone with information on the theft is asked to call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office at (251) 809-0741 or their local law enforcement agency.
Slight Chance Of More Showers Tonight
July 17, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 106. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. West wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. South wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. West wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94.
Register Now For ECSO Neighborhood Watch Academy
July 17, 2015
Applications are now being accepted for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Neighborhood Watch Academy to be held July 21 at the ECSO Administration Building at 1700 West Leonard Street in Pensacola.
This free training is being provided to neighborhood volunteers for new and existing Neighborhood Watch programs, or anyone interested in preventing crime. The one evening seminar begins with a complementary meal at 5:00 p.m.
Much of the curriculum covers basic safety and security tips for the home, anonymous reporting and crime prevention through environmental design.
To register, click here.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Environmental Education Coordination Team Summer Camp Next Week
July 17, 2015
In an effort to help young students learn more about the importance of sustainable practices and preserving valuable natural resources, the Environmental Education Coordination Team will be offering a week-long summer camp July 20-24 at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center at 1300 Tobias Road in Cantonment.
The camp is open to first through fifth-grade students and will help encourage responsible environmental attitudes and actions in today’s youth. Participants will also be involved with several hands-on lessons and activities.
Registration is $150 per camper and $75 for each additional child, with materials for activities, mid-morning and afternoon snacks included. Registration space is limited. Click here to RSVP.