Martha Verl Ellison
May 17, 2016
Martha Verl Ellison went home to be with the Lord on May 4, 2016, in Seguin, TX. She was born on April 17, 1941, to the late Calarence and Eve Dilmore. She is preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Billy, Shorty, Leah, Buena; husband, P.W. Ellison; son-in-law, Jimmy Powe; and grandchildren, David Gary Guy and Kyle Powe.
She is survived by four children, Joy Powe Gunn (Art Gunn), Belinda Shehan (Marvin Shehan), Lisa Colbert (James Colbert) and Scott Janes (JoAnn Janes); siblings, Herschel, Robert, Pat and Edna; 11 grandchildren, Chris Stacey (Jessica Stacey), Chad Stacey (Jenilee Stacey), Brandon Guy, T.J. Ashcraft (Kari Ashcraft), Troy Shehan, Cameron Janes, David Amerson (Dallas Amerson), Alexis Gibson (Derrek Gibson), Mercedes Janes Hard (Zach Hard); 13 great-grandchildren, Logan Stacey, Corbin Stacey, Kayden Stacey, Mattison Stacey, Kylee Rae Stacey, Jax Stacey, Bailey Guy, Brantley Guy, Blaze Thomas, Jacob Thomas, Caston Ashcraft, Zander Scott Hard and Axel David Amerson.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Brandon Rowell officiating.3
Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Melanie Shaw Branch
May 17, 2016
Melanie Shaw Branch, 38, passed peacefully into glory May 14, 2016, at her home. She was born December 12, 1977 in Pensacola, and was never far from the white sands of Pensacola Beach. She graduated from Tate High School and University of West Florida. She brought Classical Conversations to the Pensacola area and eventually coordinated several home school groups. She helped provide a unique learning experience to many families. Her love of music and sweet voice blended together as she served Dogwood Baptist Church where her husband Rusty served as pastor.
She loved Rusty and her children, Emma Rae, Elizabeth and Allen. Her sweet humble spirit will be missed by those lives she touched including her parents, Beth and Larry Morris; her brother, Mason and sister-in- law Danna; her sister, Merry Beth Low and brother-in- law, Jim; her mother and father-in-law, Debbie and Donnie Branch; brothers-in-law, Justin and Jeremy Branch, uncles, aunts, special cousins, nieces, other family members and many friends.
The family would like to thank those who supported Melanie in her battle with breast cancer. Also thanks to those who influenced and help mold her into a compassionate woman who was able to give and be a blessing to others. This was Melanie—she would not want attention drawn to her but to Jesus who was her sustainer and ultimate deliverer.
A celebration of her life will be Tuesday, May 17 at 10 a.m. at Faith Chapel North. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to The Florida Baptist Children’s Home, 1000 Chemstrand Road Cantonment, Florida 32533.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Happily Ever After: Local Couple With Cerebral Palsy Gets Married
May 16, 2016
A local couple with cerebral palsy married Saturday in an emotional ceremony in Century. Family believes that they are first married couple in Florida where both suffer from cerebral palsy.
Cody Michael Smith of Byrneville graduated from Northview High School in 2008. A short time later, he first laid eyes on Cristy Yevtte Rush at United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Florida in Pensacola.
The friendship, and then their romance, blossomed — visiting UCP and Christy was the best part of Cody’s life. Until his world came crashing down when the state transferred Cristy to a home in Fort Walton Beach.
“Cody could not stand living without her,” Cody’s brother Chad Smith said. “We would get him to Fort Walton Beach to see her when we could, but it was hard to do very often.”
Cody’s family waited for a room to open at the group home, and then they moved Cody to Fort Walton Beach to be with the love of his life about three years ago.
Dreams came true Saturday as the couple, both confined to wheelchairs, exchanged vows in a small ceremony in Century.
Cody waited at the alter in his wheelchair with smile wider than his black bow tie. Cristy’s empty wheelchair was next to him, as the beautiful bride was helped to walk down the aisle in her flowing white wedding gown.
In an unscripted moment after the ceremony, Cody and Cristy were lifted to their feet for their first dance.
The couple will reside in the Fort Walton Beach Developmental Center.
As they embark on their happily ever after, the couple expressed their thanks to all that attended their perfect day, because fairy tale dreams do come true.
Photos by Morgan Odom for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Marks Three Months Since EF-3 Tornado
May 16, 2016
There were beautiful blue skies Sunday morning in Century, exactly three months since a monster EF-3 tornado ripped through the town, injuring three people and damaging or destroying 109 structures.
On Church Street, in the midst of what some locals now call the “tornado zone” stands two white churches that tell the tale of the tornado. The Century United Methodist Church, built 114 years ago, still leans precariously after the tornado lifted it off it’s foundation and shifted the entire building about two feet away.
On this beautiful May Sunday morning, the old wooden Century United Methodist Church building stood silent once again as members met across across the street in a house owned by the church.
Meanwhile — “Heaven came down and glory filled my soul” — the sounds of hymns could be heard in the street from the 100+plus year old First Baptist Church next door. Battered and weathered by the tornado, it still stands.
Parts of the tornado zone in Century are like the Methodist church building….quiet and empty. Scores of families were without insurance, and they continue to wait for the wheels of government to turn and make housing funding available. They’ve applied; they have placed themselves on waiting lists for help. But the process is slow.
But like the Methodist church members meeting across the street, and those in the Baptist church, the people of Century continue to stand together in faith that there town will be made whole again. In time.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Partly Sunny Today, Rain Chance Rest Of The Week
May 16, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Officer Involved Shooting Under Investigation
May 16, 2016
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating an incident that occurred Sunday evening and resulted in a Pensacola Police officer being taken to a hospital for treatment after he was struck by a pipe and the suspect was shot by another officer.
The incident began around 6:20 p.m. near the intersection of North 16th Avenue and East Cervantes Street when a male suspect was reportedly driving with some traffic cones stuck underneath a stolen truck. The suspect refused to stop for police and continued driving recklessly until he finally stopped near Ruby Avenue and West Fairfield Drive.
The male suspect exited the truck swinging a large pipe at officers. One Pensacola Police officer fired at the suspect, who also was taken to a hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. The officer who fired at the suspect is on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
No names or additional information are being released by the Pensacola Police Department.
Learn About Escambia Emergency Medical Services During EMS Week
May 16, 2016
This week, Escambia County is celebrating National EMS Week. The week honors emergency medical service professions for their dedication to public service and raises awareness about the many services, resources and programs available to Escambia County citizens offered by their local EMS staff. This year’s theme is “EMS Strong: Called to Care”. Community activities include a poster contest and open house on Saturday, May 21.
Fourth graders in Escambia County Schools are being asked to join in celebrating EMS week by designing a poster relating to this year’s theme. All submissions will be displayed at Escambia County Public Safety and one winning poster from each commission district will be selected by EMS staff on May 18. The winning submissions will receive a pizza party for their class delivered by an EMS crew on May 20.
EMS Week will conclude with an EMS open house Saturday from 1-5 p.m. at Escambia County Public Safety located at 6575 North “W” St. Residents are invited to tour the emergency communications and emergency operations center, learn about the county’s disasters assets and capabilities like a mobile command center and mobile hospital exhibits, receive free blood pressure screenings, and meet their local Escambia County EMS Staff.
Escambia EMS Facts:
- Escambia County EMS, a division of the Escambia County Department of Public Safety, is provider of critical care, advanced life support, basic life support and bariatric transports. ECEMS provides these services to Escambia County’s 300,000-plus residents. EMS has an aggressive Public Education Information Program that provides valuable information for various groups, including students, civic organizations, churches, professionals and the general public. EMS also provides both hands free and hands on CPR training.
- Escambia EMS responded to over 39,000 emergency calls last year.
- There are 100 full time employees and 40 relief employees at Escambia County EMS. The staff consists of paramedics, EMTs, stocking clerks, fleet managers, billing staff, and their supervisors.
- Both EMTs and paramedics have the knowledge and skills to transport patients and provide them with emergency care. The biggest difference between them is the amount of education they receive and what they are allowed to do for patients. Emergency Medical Technicians are entry-level patient care providers. EMTs learn the essential skills to help in life-threatening situations and their education is the foundation for all other levels of provider. EMTs are educated in many skills including CPR, giving patients oxygen, administering glucose for diabetics, and helping others with treatments for asthma attacks or allergic reactions. Paramedics are advanced providers of emergency medical care and are highly educated in topics such as anatomy and physiology, cardiology, medications, and medical procedures. They build on their EMT education and learn more skills such as administering medications, starting intravenous lines, providing advanced airway management for patients, and learning to resuscitate and support patients with significant problems such as heart attacks and traumas.
- Escambia County EMS was a 2015 STEMI Silver Award winner. The STEMI award is part of the American Heart Association’s The Mission: Lifeline Recognition Program who acknowledges STEMI Systems, or EMS, Referring Centers and Receiving Centers, for their efforts to improve quality of care for STEMI patients. Silver is the highest award an organization can receive in the first application year.
- Escambia County EMS Services was also recently selected as a 2016 Florida Excellence Awards Best Practices winner for the implementation of a customer satisfaction survey process in which recently transported EMS patients are contacted by telephone asking them for feedback on the quality of the care provided. The information enabled them to measure patient satisfaction, engagement and loyalty.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall To Mississippi
May 16, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos came close to matching the heroics of Saturday’s walk-off win but left the tying run at third base as the Mississippi Braves held on for a 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon.
Jeff Gelalich walked to lead off the ninth inning and advanced to third on a pair of infield outs. But Stephen Janas coaxed a first-pitch swing from Tony Renda to end the game.
“We gave ourselves a chance,” Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said. “We got the tying run on base and winning run at the plate. He was only 90 feet away.”
Chris Ellis earned his Southern League-best sixth win for Mississippi before turning the game over to Janas, who held the Wahoos to one hit in their last three innings. Ellis helped his own cause with three of Mississippi’s eight hits, including an RBI double to open scoring in the third inning. He later scored on a single, the first of two hits for the Braves’ top prospect Dansby Swanson.
The Blue Wahoos led off the fourth inning with two walks before Gelalich’s RBI single, the first of his Double-A career, tied the game. Alex Blandino gave Pensacola a 3-2 advantage on his third home run in 10 games, but the lead was short-lived.
Swanson’s leadoff double to left field started a bases-loaded rally that forced Jackson Stephens out of the game. Former Pensacola catcher Matt Kennelly got a run home on a double play before Matt Lipka hit the eventual game-winner, an RBI single up the middle.
With Biloxi’s 2-1 loss to Chattanooga, the Wahoos remain a half-game out of first place in the Southern League South Division.
Marijuana Industry Sees Green In Florida
May 16, 2016
There wasn’t a tie-dyed shirt to be found last week at a gathering in Central Florida where the buzz was all about the business of pot.
More than 3,000 people from across the nation and seven other countries swapped information about grow lights, soil nutrients and safes — to stash money and products — at the marijuana industry’s premiere trade show. And the choice of Florida for the event was no accident.
“We’re here in Florida, because at all of our national events that we’ve hosted, we’ve had very strong attendance out of Florida. We are confident that when, and it’s not going to be an if, when Florida legalizes marijuana on a medical or a recreational level, the Florida market is going to be absolutely huge,” said Marijuana Business Daily CEO Cassandra Farrington, whose publication organized the three-day convention at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.
For the second time in two years, Floridians in November will have a chance to legalize medical marijuana for a variety of debilitating illnesses. A similar measure narrowly failed in 2014 to capture the 60 percent support required to pass constitutional amendments.
“(Florida) is going to be a bellwether state, not only in the Southeast, but across the country, for marijuana legalization,” Farrington said. “As such, the business opportunities here are accordingly very, very large.”
While Florida’s emerging market — projected to be home to the second-largest population of marijuana consumers, if the measure passes — was a draw for some of the convention attendees, for others the event was just an opportunity to network and scope out the latest equipment and merchandise in what some experts estimate is a $4 billion-a-year industry.
Wandering through the convention exposition floor, visitors could stop by the “Bud Bar,” which specializes in displays for marijuana dispensaries.
A few feet away, several men in white lab coats embroidered with a pot plant handed out green Mardi Gras-style necklaces festooned with flashing marijuana leaves.
A sign above a piece of machinery declared “Trimming sucks. The Twister T2 doesn’t.”
During an introduction to one of Tuesday’s speeches, Marijuana Business Daily Publisher George Jage begged the audience’s pardon before encouraging attendees to network, which “helps us all reach a little higher.”
And while the parties and after-parties were reminiscent of any other convention or trade show, the hosts, vendors and attendees were all mindful that the product that is the focus of this week’s event is different. While Florida is one of 24 states that have legalized some sort of marijuana, cannabis is still outlawed under federal law.
“The use, distribution or sale of any products containing THC is strictly prohibited at the event, in the exhibit hall, conference sessions or any other function space where the event is conducted,” the convention show guide warned. “Any individual who possesses, transports, or consumes any THC-based products is solely responsible for his/her compliance with local and state regulations.”
Florida legalized non-euphoric cannabis for patients with severe muscle spasms or cancer two years ago, but the products aren’t available yet. This year, lawmakers approved full-strength cannabis for terminally ill patients. But the November ballot’s Amendment 2, largely bankrolled by Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, would vastly expand medical marijuana for patients with a broad array of diseases. Morgan addressed the convention Tuesday.
“Your market is huge and the demographics are so perfect for cannabis,” said Sara Batterby, president and CEO of Hifi Farms in Hillsborough, Ore., who left her Silicon Valley job as a venture capitalist to start up a grow operation.
Baby boomers and seniors who may have experimented with pot “back in the day” might be more amenable to using cannabis as a treatment for ailments as they age, backers of ballot initiatives like Amendment 2 believe.
Adam Bierman, CEO of MedMen, hosted a fundraiser Tuesday night in the hotel’s presidential suite for United for Care, a political committee backing Amendment 2.
November — when 20 states will have marijuana-related measures on the ballot — will be a “watershed moment for the industry and policy in general,” Bierman, whose California-based management company operates in four states and Canada, said in an interview Wednesday.
“From a political standpoint, it becomes harder and harder to be against,” Bierman said.
A poll released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University showed that Floridians agree with Bierman.
The poll found that 80 percent of voters support the proposed constitutional amendment, which would allow medical marijuana for patients with a wide range of conditions, such as cancer, AIDS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Dixie Elixirs CEO Tripp Keber, called by some the “Gordon Gecko of the marijuana industry,” refers to his products as “a new wellness platform” superior to prescription pain pills or alcohol.
The industry creates jobs, helps sick people and puts money into state coffers, said Keber a developer from Alabama who launched his Colorado-based company six years ago and is now operating in six states.
Keber’s company will join forces with one of the six nurseries licensed to grow medical marijuana in Florida, he told The News Service of Florida this week.
“The fact of the matter is that the money is real,” Keber said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Reimagine Century 2016 Set For Saturday
May 16, 2016
The third Reimagine Century will be held next Saturday.
Community agencies, businesses, churches and others will come together on Saturday, May 16 to help the needy in Century and surrounding areas. Activities planned include a food giveaway, clothing giveaway, free haircuts and manicures, free laundry detergent and much more.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2p.m. at 440 East Hecker Road. All activities are free.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
