Escambia County Launches Revamped Website
July 6, 2016
Escambia County has announced the launch of a newly-designed website. The revamped site was created to provide a user-friendly experience that makes it easier than ever for citizens, businesses and visitors to access information about the county from their computer, tablet or mobile phone.
The website was developed using the latest technology and a responsive design, making it compatible with all browsers and mobile devices. Users will also have the option to share information across all major social networking sites.
The site is organized to provide quick and direct access to all of the programs and services the county offers. A newly developed site-wide search engine has also been created to aid citizens who are not sure where to look for specific information.
The new website also features a “Sunshine Center” that includes “What We Are Doing” (meeting agendas, county projects, etc.), “What We Are Spending” (budget documents, purchase orders, etc.), “How You Can Participate” (meeting accommodations, board and committees, etc.) and “Important Information” (records requests, county districts, etc.).
Escambia County’s web team has been developing the new design over the past year, working with staff across the county to better support its multifaceted mission.
“This new design was created with the citizens of Escambia County at the forefront of everyone’s mind,” County Administrator Jack Brown said. “Our team worked diligently to make information easier to find and create a website that highlights our programs and services.”
Some of the new, enhanced features include:
- Escambia County Building Guide: A step-by-step walkthrough for citizens who plan to begin construction projects, including swimming pools, docks and housing.
- County Projects: Information about ongoing projects is easier than ever to locate with the new site, which includes subscription options for individual projects, allowing residents to receive updates and keep track of projects that interest them.
- Parks and Community Centers Matrix: This interactive guide allows residents and visitors to locate parks based on location or amenities, including playgrounds, walking paths and more.
- Road Issues: View road issues information from Escambia County, the city of Pensacola and the Florida Department of Transportation. Want to report a road problem? We’ve got you covered with the Report Road Issues page.
- Artificial Reef Interactive Map: This interactive map includes important information regarding several individual artificial reefs in the waters off Escambia County.
Visitors to the new site are encouraged to provide feedback and submit ideas to improve its design. The site will be continually updated, with new features being added regularly.
“Our web team remains committed to an ongoing cycle of improvements and enhancements,” Brown added. “Citizen feedback has been and will remain an integral part of the process.”
Suspect Drowns After Running From Deputies
July 6, 2016
A suspect drowned after running from deputies during the Fourth of July weekend.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday afternoon that deputies were investigating the theft of a cell phone about 5 a.m. Saturday at a bar in the 5100 block of North W Street. That investigation led to another bar near the intersection of Zarragossa and Palafox Streets where they observed the suspect, later identified as Johnny Hall.
Upon making contact with Hall, Hall handed the stolen cell phone over to deputies before fleeing to the dead end of Baylen Stgreet where he dove head first into the Baylen Slip Marina.
Upon surfacing, officers repeatedly asked Hall to come back to shore, which he refused. Within a few minutes, Hall went under the water, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Pensacola Police Department officers and dputies removed their duty gear before diving in the water, but they were unable to locate him in the dark water. Divers with the ECSO Dive Team, Marine Ops Unit and units from the Pensacola Police Departments were called to the scene to assist with the search and rescue efforts. .
“Unfortunately, by the time Hall was recovered from the water he was deceased,” the ECSO said in a statement.
Register Now: Former NBA Coach To Lead Bratt Basketball Camp Next Week
July 6, 2016
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will host a basketball camp next week with a former NBA, college and high school coach.
The camp for children ages 8-14 will be held July 11-15 from 9 a.m. until noon at the church. Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach will teach kids the fundamentals of basketball and Biblical awareness.
“We are fortunate to get someone of Coach Roger’s talents and achievements to head up this camp” said First Baptist Bratt Student Pastor Tim Hawsey. “He has a unique ability to deal with children, and his love for them is evident.” This is the fifth year the church has offered this camp.
Dutremble is a a retired coach and member of the International Basketball Hall of Fame. He career includes coaching at every level from high school to the NBA, and into international arenas, with a lifetime coaching record of 687-117 and seven national championships. He was selected “Coach of the Year” six times, and served as national team head coach to Belgium, Scotland, and Jordan. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, serving under Paul Westhead and Pat Riley, from 1979-83 and helping the team to three NBA championships with players like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The cost is $45 per student with a limited number of scholarships available. The funds are used exclusively to purchase shoes and basketballs for needy children in other countries where Dutremble conducts camps.
“One of the many things that blesses me about the camp is coach does not receive any salary,” FBC Bratt Student Pastor Tim Hawsey said. “The $45 registration fee will actually be used to purchase shoes and basketballs for children in other countries that do not even own a pair of shoes. Coach Roger will go to those countries and conduct basketball camps and leave the equipment with the children. Some of the children walk four or five miles just to attend his camps. So, we not only benefit from learning about basketball, but we are able to participate in missions, too. And, our church receives nothing from the $45, it all goes to Global Sports Outreach. We just have the joy of seeing children learning about basketball and Jesus at the same time.
All children participating in the camp will receive a certificate of completion and a t-shirt from Dutremble. For registration information, contact Hawsey or Sherrye Gilman at (850) 327-6529 or stop by the church on Highway 4 just west of Northview High School.
Scholarships are available if the $45 registration fee per child is not financially possible for a family.
Pictured: Students that participated in a previous basketball camp at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. Inset: Coach Roger Dutremble of Global Sports Outreach. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Lewis Jackson Rice
July 6, 2016
Lewis Jackson “Red” Rice, went to be with Jesus on July 2, 2016. Jack was born on July 27, 1926, in Pollard, AL. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Bess (Jackson) Rice; wife, Edna Rice; sons, Pete, Gary and Scotty; and his brothers and sisters.
Survivors include his son, Michael Shockley and daughter, Jacqueline Rice; grandchildren, Jennifer and her husband, Travis Shue, Pamela and her husband, William Kristoph, Michael and Ricci Lea Shockley and Chris Jackson; great-grandchildren, Tommy and Claire Kristoph; and Griffin and Murphy Shue.
Jack retired from Gulf Power after 33 years. He served in the priesthood at his church Community of Christ Church (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) for many years.
He was well respected and liked by everyone who knew him. He always had a smile and a joke for everyone who came in contact with him. He always offered a shoulder to cry on or advice to those who needed it. He will be missed very much, but he is at peace now and is with the love of his life, Edna.
Services will be held Friday, July 8, 2016, at 10 a.m. at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel. There will be no graveside service due to weather conditions.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, 2016, at the funeral home.
A reception will follow at Community of Christ Church, 2555 W. Jackson St., Pensacola, FL.
Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.
Vernon Doug McCraney
July 6, 2016
Mr. Vernon “Doug” McCraney, 56, passed away on Sunday, July 3, 2016, in Atmore.
Mr. McCraney was a native of Marietta, GA and had resided in Atmore for the past 50 years. Mr. McCraney was a respected sheet metal mechanic in Alaska and he always took care of his wife. He attended the Church of the Living God. He is preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Genese McCraney and a brother, Jerry McCraney.
He is survived by his wife, Hedy Peterson of Juneau, AK; second mom, Jean England of Mobile; one son, Zane Huff of Uriah; six sisters, Ann (Wayne) Waddell of Philadelphia, MS, Bobbie (Billy) Walker of Semmes, AL, Rita Ikner of Frisco City, AL, Janice Powell of Atmore, Debbie Fullbright of Atmore and Jo (Robert) Bexley of Mobile; one grandchild, Bladen Huff; two nephews, James McCraney and Jerry Wayne McCraney both of Atmore; two nieces, Deborah McCraney and Diane McCraney both of Atmore; a God-brother, Ricky McMillan of Tennessee; a God-daughter, Shania Ward of Atmore; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Friday, July 8, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Earl Harrison officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 7, 2016, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Billy Davis, Billy Powell, Matt McMillan, Jay Nickols, James McCraney and Jerry Wayne McCraney.
Honorary pallbearers will be D.J. Carter, Cody Davis, Keith Fullbright, Randy England and Dennis England.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Wahoos Drop Second Game To Mobile
July 6, 2016
The Mobile BayBears scored seven runs in the first two innings and handed the Pensacola Blue Wahoos its fourth straight loss, 10-0, Tuesday at Hank Aaron Stadium.
The BayBears jumped on starting pitcher Rookie Davis, one of the Blue Wahoos most consistent starters this season, with four runs in the first inning. Davis entered the game 6-2 with a 2.67 earned-run average and 1.08 WHIP.
Davis allowed all seven runs, four earned on nine hits and one walk in two innings. His record dropped to 6-3 and his ERA rose to 3.14.
Pensacola, which won the first half, fell into last place in the Southern League South Division in the second half at 4-8. The Blue Wahoos are now 18-23 on the road this season.
Meanwhile, Mobile starting pitcher Josh Taylor, 1-0, pitched a complete game shutout giving up just three hits to Pensacola. He struck out five and gave up no walks.
Mobile sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning. The first run scored when BayBears first baseman Kevin Cron singled to left field to score second baseman Jamie Westbrook. Pensacola’s Davis then walked right fielder Stewart Ijames with the bases loaded to score left fielder Kevin Medrano to put the BayBears ahead, 2-0. Mobile center fielder Tom Belza then doubled with two outs driving in Cron and third baseman Travis Denker to put the BayBears up, 4-0.
In the second inning, Davis got the first two batters of the inning out. However, Medrano singled, stole second and then Cron drove him in with a single to right field for a 5-0 lead. Denker doubled to put runners on second and third and they were both driven in by Ijames single up the middle to take a 7-0 lead.
Mobile just kept piling on the runs, going up, 8-0, in the sixth inning when Medrano reached on an infield single with two outs and scored on a wild pitch by Blue Wahoos reliever Evan Mitchell.
In the seventh, Ijames and Mobile catcher Oscar Hernandez hit back-to-back solo homers to start the seventh. It was Ijames’ 10th homer of the year and Hernandez’s fifth homer of the season.
Frances Maureen David Weiden
July 6, 2016
Frances Maureen Davis Weiden, 60, a lifelong resident of Pensacola, passed away on Saturday, July 2, 2016.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Maxine Graves Davis.
Frances is survived by her daughter, Shea Cravatt; two sons, Shawn Weiden and Sammy (Angie) Weiden; eight grandchildren; and two brothers, Jerald (Gloria) Davis and James Davis.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 8, 2016, at Bayview Memorial Park Cemetery with Rev. Manley and Rev. Wolf officiating.
The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. until 12:45 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South prior to services.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is entrusted with arrangements.
Ralph Minton Weaver
July 6, 2016
Mr. Ralph Minton Weaver, 84, passed away on Sunday, July 3, 2016, in Brewton.
Mr. Weaver was a native of Alvin, TX, former resident of Magnolia, TX and resided in Brewton for the past four months. Mr. Weaver was a loving husband and dad. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of Jay. He is preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.
He is survived by his wife, Von Weaver of Brewton; three sons, Nolan H. (Wendi) Sims, Jr. of Montgomery, TX, Anthony M. Weaver of Magnolia, TX and Christopher M. Rouse of Conroe, TX; two daughters, Angela L. (David) Smith of Conroe, TX and Paula J. Fotenot (Jeff Cuellar) of Conroe, TX; 17 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Pres. Jacob Sumrall officiating.
Burial was in the Sardis Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Chuck Reardon, Jerry Creamer, Raymond Creamer, Nolan Sims III, Anthony Weaver, Jr. and Harvey Kelley.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Chance Of Showers, Thunderstorms
July 5, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 107. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
North Escambia Fourth Travel Almost Trouble Free, Except For A Tree
July 5, 2016
Fourth of July travel in the North Escambia area was smooth and nearly trouble-free. There were no major accidents reported on Monday in North Escambia.
Holiday traffic on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill was temporarily blocked by a fallen tree. The tree fell across Highway 97 south of South Highway 99 about 4 p.m. Skies were clear and winds were light at the time. Volunteers from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue removed the tree from the roadway by about 4:30 p.m.
AAA projected 43 million Americans would travel on the Independence Day weekend. This represents the highest fourth of July travel volume on record and five million more travelers compared to Memorial Day weekend.
Gas prices for those traveling on the roadways were at their lowest since 2005. AAA estimated 84 percent of holiday travelers, more than 35 million people, would drive to their Independence Day destinations.
Pictured: A fallen tree blocks Highway 97 in Walnut Hill on the Fourth of July. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.