Betty Jo Rice Norwood
April 14, 2015
Mrs. Betty Jo Rice Norwood, age 82 passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2015, in Pensacola.
Mrs. Norwood was a native of Pollard, AL and a long time member of the Pensacola community where she served as the secretary for Community Baptist Church and worked as a caretaker in the home health field.
Mrs. Norwood is survived by her brother, Charles (Winnie) Rice of Century; sisters, Kate Bondurant of Century and Vicki (Douglas) Hussey of Hernando, MS; grandchildren, Tiffany Howland of Pensacola; great-grandchildren, Nathan M. Godwin, Mikayla C. Godwin, Alyssa N. Godwin and Kymani D. Betts.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2015, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 17, 2015, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel at 10 a.m. with Rev. Henry Lewis officiating.
Interment will follow in Pollard Cemetery in Pollard.
Flomaton Funeral Home directing.
Sherri Renee Jordan
April 14, 2015
Sherri Renee Jordan, 44 of Cantonment, was called home on Sunday, April 12, 2015. Sherri was born on January 29, 1971 in Pensacola. She attended PJC where she received her AA Degree in nursing. She was a member of Pinehaven Baptist Church where she was baptized on November 10, 2013.
Sherri was a loving wife, devoted mother and cherished friend to many.
She is preceded in death by her first cousin, Gabriel Carter.
Sherri is survived by her husband, Victor Mason; loving ex-husband, Tommy Jordan; two sons, Dustin Tyler and Kolby Taylor Jordan; grandson, Laedin Anthony Jordan; father, Sherman Powell; mother, Ruth Elliott; three brothers, Chuck (D.J.) Bell, Joshua (Halee) Powell, and Stevie Powell; five sisters, Crystal Isaac, Carrie Carter, Ashley Perkin, Teresa (L.A.) Vaughn, and Mel Powell; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2015, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Bro. Michael Graham officiating.
Family will receive friends from on Thursday, April 16, 2015, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Faith Chapel North Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Chuck Bell, Dustin Jordan, Kolby Jordan, Thomas Barnes, Joshua Powell, and Tommy Jordan.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Deputies Make Arrest, Recover AR-15 Stolen In Burglary
April 13, 2015
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one person and removed a stolen AR-15 from the streets.
Sunday afternoon, deputies responded to a fight at Oakwood Terrace on Truman Avenue. According to witness reports,a black male with a gun was in the back of the complex attempting to jump the wall. A male matching his description was located carrying a red bag and running along nearby train tracks. Deputies set up a perimeter.
K-9 Drago was deployed in the area and located the red bag which contained anAR-15 rifle which had been stolen in a home burglary on April 9th along with military grade ammunition.
Woman Found Dead After Minor Mobile Home Fire
April 13, 2015
A Cantonment woman was found dead following a minor mobile home fire early Monday morning in Cantonment.
At 1:35 a.m. the Cantonment and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a reported extinguished fire at the mobile home in the 3700 block of Vantage Road. When firefighters arrived, they found a mobile home with some fire damage, but no flames showing.
As they investigated, firefighters found the body of a deceased female. The other resident of the home was at the scene, but did not suffer any injuries, according to a county spokesperson.
The victim has been identified by family members as 44-year old Sherri Powell-Jordan of Cantonment.
The fire was reportedly contained to the kitchen area of the mobile home.
The fire and death are under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Further details have not been released. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, which also responded to the scene, said their agency is not actively investigating incident.
Pictured top: No fire was visible when firefighters arrived at this mobile home on Vantage Road in Cantonment early Monday morning. Pictured below: Firefighters on scene from Cantonment and Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
New Verizon Tower Planned For Highway 97
April 13, 2015
A new Verizon cell phone tower is planned along Highway 97 about halfway between Molino and Walnut Hill.
A Winter Garden, FL, company, Sam Inc, has a final application before the Escambia County Development Review Committee for a 150-foot tall monopole that is described in county documents as being for Verizon Wireless. The tower will be located on property on Highway 97 just south of Hendricks Lane that is owned by Jimmy and Susan Taylor of Cantonment.
Now approved by the Development Review Committee , the project can move forward at the applicant’s discretion into the permitting process.
Marijuana Rule Challenge Tossed Out
April 13, 2015
An administrative law judge Friday dismissed a challenge to a proposed regulatory framework for carrying out a 2014 law that allows limited types of non-euphoric medical marijuana in Florida.
The challenge was filed against the state Department of Health by an attorney for 4-year-old Dahlia Barnhart, who has an inoperable brain tumor, according to documents filed in the case. The challenge argued that the department did not follow the law when drawing up a proposed regulatory rule, in part taking issue with the way the department would select “dispensing organizations” that would grow, process and dispense the cannabis.
Administrative Law Judge Elizabeth McArthur ruled April 1 that the child didn’t have legal standing to challenge the proposed rule, but the ruling gave the girl’s attorney an opportunity to file an amended petition that would address the concerns.
McArthur, however, issued a final order Friday dismissing the case, saying the attorney had not filed an amended petition or other documents.
The department, meanwhile, still faces two other challenges to the proposed rule. Those challenges, which have been consolidated, are scheduled for a hearing April 23. Lawmakers have become frustrated with delays in carrying out the 2014 law. As soon as Tuesday, the full Senate could take up a bill aimed at speeding up the process of getting the non-euphoric cannabis to patients who suffer from conditions such as epilepsy.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
April 13, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School has named students of the month for March. They are (L-R) Gabrielle Peebles, eighth grade; Destiny Bradley, sixth grade; and Melissa Sunday, seventh grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Electric Coops Celebrate National Lineman Appreciation Day
April 13, 2015
Monday, Escambia River Electric Cooperative honored the hard working line crews who often work in challenging conditions to keep the power on. America’s electric cooperatives have designated the second Monday of April as National Lineman Appreciation Day.
“EREC linemen can be called to work at any hour of the day or night to restore power to our communities,” said Clay R. Campbell, EREC general manager/CEO. “They are often working in hazardous conditions where a mistake can cost a limb or a life. Our linemen, as well as linemen across the nation, truly deserve this special day of recognition.”
Line crews are “the first responders of the electric cooperative family, getting power back on and making things safe for all after storms and accidents”, according to a resolution adopted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative 
Association.
Senate Gives Nod To Evers Bill Limiting The Civil Liability Of Farmers
April 13, 2015
The Florida Senate voted 38-0 to approve a bill by Sen. Greg. Evers (R-Baker) to give farmers liability protection when they allow people to come onto fields before harvest time. Current Florida law provides a liability exemption when farmers allow a person to enter their land for the purpose of removing farm produce or crops left on the field.
The liability exemption under the proposal does not apply if injury or death directly results from the gross negligence or intentional act of the farmer, of from the farmer’s failure to warn of a dangerous condition that would be obvious to a person entering the property.
Evers represents the North Escambia area.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Rain Cancels Northview Baseball; District Softball Tournament
April 13, 2015
This afternoon’s Rocky Bayou at Northview baseball game has been canceled due to weather.
The 1A district softball tournament games at Freeport today have been canceled due to weather. Holmes County and Baker will play at 2 p.m. Tuesday; Northview will face Freeport Tuesday at noon — weather permitting.
Updated 3:30 p.m. to reflect new game time for Holmes and Baker.