James Merel Gulsby
April 16, 2016
James Merel Gulsby 79, of Seminole, passed away April 14, 2016, in Crestview. He was born on July 1, 1936, to the late Curtis and Evelyn Mixon Gulsby in Uriah. He retired from Conoco/Phillips Oil Company. He lived in many places while working in the oil industry, Fruitdale, AL, Atmore, Gretna, LA, Netherlands, Europe, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Dubai then after his retirement he resided in Seminole. He served in the United States Army.
He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother Curtis S. Gulsby, Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Tillery Gulsby of Seminole; children, Dewayne (Brenda) Gulsby of Franklinton, LA; Samuel (Ann) Gulsby of Northport, AL; Darryl Keith (Mary) Gulsby of Franklinton, LA; Randy (Sherry) Melvin of Stockton, AL; Rodney (Selina) Melvin of Seminole, AL. and Kathy Fayard of Gulf Shores; brother, Rudolph (Mary) Gulsby of Seminole; grandchildren, Kevin Gulsby, Crystal Wilbur, Dakota Gulsby, Salena Koehn, Michael Gulsby, James Curtis Gulsby, Latasha Jackson, Jessica Long, Kaylee Fayard, Cody Fayard; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, April 17, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ricky Skaggs officiating.
Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery with Military Honors.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 17, 2016, from 1 p.m. until service time at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jackson Braden Still
April 16, 2016
Infant son Jackson Braden Still passed away Saturday April 2, 2016, in Brewton.
He is preceded in death by grandparents, Merrill and Pat Still, and Steve Merchant; and a sibling, Steven Merrill Still.
He is survived by his parents, John B. Still and Stephanie Merchant; grandmother, Mary Merchant; two brothers, Hayden Thrower and Jon Christian Still; two sisters, Hannah Thrower and Mikaela Still, all of Atmore.
Graveside services will be Monday, April 18, 2016, at 2 p.m. at Judson Baptist Church Cemetery with Bro. Cornelius officiating.
Interment will follow in Judson Baptist Church Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Janice Ann Young
April 16, 2016
Mrs. Janice Ann Young, 55, passed away on Thursday, April 14, 2016, in Atmore.
Mrs. Young was a native of Greenville, MA, former resident of Pensacola and resided in Atmore for the past eight years. Mrs. Young was a member of the Friendly Holiness Church.
She is survived by her mother, Janet Huxtable of Atmore; husband of 26 years, Mike Young of Atmore; one daughter, Tinna Marie of Atmore; four brothers; four sisters and two grandchildren, Hailey Marie and Sean Michael.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Friendly Holiness Church with Rev. Ray Ward officiating.
Visitation will be Tuesday, April 19, 2016 from 12 p.m. until service time at the Friendly Holiness Church.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Cantonment Man Facing Multiple Drug, Weapons Charges After Traffic Stop
April 15, 2016
A Cantonment man is jailed on a list of drug and weapons charges after a Pensacola traffic stop.
Pensacola Police conducted a traffic stop on Olive Road on a vehicle driven by 31-year old Thomas Richard Moore III.
After K-9 alerted on the vehicle, officers reported finding Spice, several controlled narcotics and other prescription medications for which Moore did not have a prescription, a variety of drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine and a .38 caliber revolver. The loaded revolver was listed as stolen by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Moore was charged with possession of a new legend drug without a prescription, possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted felon, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a synthetic narcotic with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of marijuana.
Moore remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $34,500.
Slight Chance Of Showers Tonight And Saturday
April 15, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. East wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 76. East wind 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 76. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79.
Waiting List Remains Open For Century Tornado Housing Assistance
April 15, 2016
A phone line remains open for tornado victims inside the Town of Century to be placed on a waiting list for possible state housing assistance.
It is not yet known how long the waiting list will be taking additions due to limited funding. An interlocal agreement between the Town of Century and Escambia County is expected to go before the Escambia County Commission on April 21 spelling out additional details.
Only residents in the incorporated town of Century whose housing units were damaged by the tornado are eligible to apply. Owner occupants of manufactured homes are also eligible to apply if they own the property on which the home is located.
Century residents may call (850) 595-0872 to be placed on the waiting list. Residents must provide the following information when calling:
- Name
- Street address of impacted residence
- Contact phone number
Services will be made available to income-eligible owner occupants on a first qualified, first served basis as funding permits. Staff will follow up with applicants within five business days to determine program eligibility and to make appointments to begin the application process.
The following chart shows the maximum gross family household income requirements in Escambia County (effective March 28, 2016) for the housing repair and reconstruction activities through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program, or SHIP. Household income includes income received from all persons residing in the household and from all sources providing income to the household.
Applications are still being accepted for owner occupants needing housing repair or reconstruction assistance from the February 15 and 23 tornadoes. Owner occupants in unincorporated Escambia County can call the Neighborhood Enterprise Division at (850) 595-0022, and those inside the city of Pensacola limits can call the City of Pensacola Housing Office at (850) 858-0306 to apply.
Habitat For Humanity To Hold Open House On Saturday
April 15, 2016
Pensacola Habitat for Humanity will host an open house Saturday for interested persons to learn more about becoming Habitat homeowners.
The open house will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 2037 North Roberts Circle near Cantonment. Attendees can learn about affordable home ownership, Habitiat’s home buyer program and tour a Habitat house.
Scott Signs Key Health Bills, Vetoes Dental Measure
April 15, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed a series of health-care bills, including a measure that supporters say will help shield patients from getting hit with surprise tabs after going to hospital emergency rooms.
Scott also vetoed a bill that would have provided financial incentives for dentists to practice in underserved areas of the state. The bill (HB 139) had been unanimously approved by the House and Senate during the legislative session that ended March 11.
The measures signed Thursday included some of the most heavily lobbied health-care bills of the session. As an example, Scott signed a measure (HBÂ 221) that drew attention from health insurers, doctors and hospitals and addresses an issue known as “balance billing.”
That issue primarily deals with patients who have preferred provider organization, or PPO, coverage and go to hospitals for emergency care. Patients have sometimes gotten unexpected bills because doctors at the hospitals are not part of the insurance plans’ networks.
The legislation seeks to prevent patients from getting hit with those surprise expenses and, in part, sets up a dispute-resolution process for health-care providers and insurers to work out payment issues. State Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who has been an outspoken supporter of the measure, said it establishes a “balanced solution to the complex issue of medical billing.”
“This new law protects consumers by holding them harmless in times of both emergency situations when choosing a provider is not an option, and in non-emergency situations when communication may not be made clear regarding out-of-network providers who may be offering care,” Atwater said in a prepared statement. “As a result, consumers are left with a more affordable bill comparable to what they would have paid if the provider had been in their network.”
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, and Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, also will require health insurers to cover such services as speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy for people with Down syndrome. That provision, which expands part of a law that took effect in 2009 for people with autism spectrum disorder, was a priority of Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and was added in the final hours of the session.
Among the other bills signed Thursday was a long-debated measure (HB 423), sponsored by Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park, Rep. Daphne Campbell, D-Miami, and Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, that will allow advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe controlled substances. The bill would place some limits on the authority, such as restricting the prescribing of what are known as “Schedule II” controlled substances, such as codeine and oxycodone, to seven-day supplies.
Also, Scott signed a measure (HB 1175), sponsored by Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, and Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that is aimed at creating greater transparency for patients about health-care costs and quality. In addition, Scott signed a bill (HB 7087), sponsored by Sprowls, Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, that will create an advisory council that would make recommendations about increasing the use of “telehealth.”
In all, Scott signed 20 bills Thursday dealing with a range of issues including health care, education, transportation and property insurance.
Scott’s veto of the dental bill was something of a surprise — and was only the second bill he has vetoed this year. The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Travis Cummings, R-Orange Park, and Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, would have created a program to provide awards of $10,000 to $100,000 to dentists who work in underserved areas, such as rural areas or low-income areas.
The money could have been used for such things are repayment of dental-school loans or investment in facilities and equipment. But in a veto letter, Scott said, in part, that the bill was duplicative of other programs that provide dental care, such as the statewide Medicaid managed-care system.
“While I agree with the bill sponsors that maintaining good oral health is integral to the overall health of Florida families, I cannot support a program that does not place appropriate safeguards on taxpayer investments,” the veto letter said. “The bill does not require dentists who receive taxpayer dollars to hire a specific number of new employees or to serve a certain number of low-income patients each year. Furthermore, the bill opens the door for state dollars to be used to incentivize other high-income professionals.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Escambia Mira Awards Honor Most Creative Seniors
April 15, 2016
The Escambia County Public Schools Foundation honored 68 of Escambia County’s outstanding creative high school seniors at the 2016 Mira Creative Arts Awards Ceremony Thursday night in Pensacola.
Mira Creative Arts Awards recipients were nominated by their high school teachers for their achievements in the creative arts. At the ceremony, the students received commemorative engraved medallions and Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Jeff Miller.
Recipients of the 2016 Mira Creative Arts Award were:
Honorees are listed below under a photo from each school, scroll down, click to enlarge.
Escambia High School
Megan R. Berrian, Theatre/Chorus
Brody Cecil, Instrumental Music
Tyler Crowe, Instrumental Music
Rebecca Lin Edwards, Visual Arts
Carly Gill, Digital Multimedia
Veronica Guersney, Culinary Arts
Trevor King, Instrumental Music
Avery Lockett, Instrumental Music
Brianna Renee Miller, Yearbook
Kayla Jean Wood, Visual Arts
Northview High School
Jessica Amerson, Yearbook
Tamara Barrows, Visual Arts
Cheyenne Gray, Visual Arts
Abbie Johnson, Instrumental Music
Bethany Reynolds, Yearbook
Elizabeth Sanders, Visual Arts
Jordan Taylor, Yearbook
Harmoni Till, Theatre
Bradley Van Pelt, Writing
Haylee Weaver, Public Speaking
Pensacola High School
Allison Cramer, Theatre
Katherine Englemeyer, Instrumental Music
Lauren Heidenreich, Photography
Kierstan Johnson, Journalism
Darriell Jones, Visual Arts
Christian Kyles-Smith, Theatre
Ariel Noethlich, Visual Arts
Jonathan Voyles, Instrumental Music
Pine Forest High School
Benjamin Blevins, Robotics
Jasmine Brown, Visual Arts
Amanda Faller, Television Production
Trey Haynes, Vocal Music
Alyssa Javier, Vocal Music
Kristina McKinnon, Journalism
Tabitha Reno, Cyber Security
Jordan Riddle, Instrumental Music
Christopher Schofield, Instrumental Music
Callastasia Williams, Visual Arts
Tate High School
Sarah Mae Cagle, Mock Trial
Bryce Coots, Instrumental Music
Troy Craig, Theatre
Michele Danley, Visual Arts
Jessica Edge, Vocal Music
Tiffany Griffin, Instrumental Music
McClain Houdashelt, Theatre
Brianna Snyder, Instrumental Music
Cody Swilley, Instrumental Music
Kaela Tibbs, Vocal Music
Booker T. Washington High School
Kristen Bonanno, Visual Arts
Isaiah Gonzalez, Theatre
Kina Kawakami, Instrumental Music
Yuliya Sola Lee, Instrumental Music
Madison G. O’Toole, Visual Arts
Alana Marie Pacheco, Journalism
Cody Alan Paquette, Instrumental Music
Anna Safko, Theatre
Hannah Spears, Theatre
Jackson Van Matre, Instrumental Music
West Florida High School
Lynn Ruth Arthur, Photography
Cheynne Byrd, Instrumental Music
Lane Markham Isbell, Graphic/Digital Design
Melissa Jansen, Graphic/Digital Design
Katie McArthur, Graphic/Digital Design
Mariah McMullen, Instrumental Music
Bianca Mutter, Journalism
Stephen Rodgers, III, Visual Arts
Yana Thompson, Visual Arts
Stephen Woodson, Theatre
In 1987, a group of teachers at J. M. Tate High School created the Mira Awards to recognize talented and creative students in the arts and sciences. The following year, the committee approached the Foundation to bring the awards under its umbrella and to initiate county-wide student participation each year in the areas of writing, performing and visual arts, and other creative disciplines. The term “Mira” is Latin for the name of the brightest star in the constellation Cetus.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
Escambia Man Indicted For Premeditated Murder Of His Wife
April 15, 2016
An Escambia County Grand Jury has indicted 44-year old Christopher Crain for first degree premeditated murder in the death of wife, June Ann Crain.
June Ann Crain was found beaten to death of March 20, 2016, at the couple’s home in the 4100 block of Tonbridge Circle.
A witness found her in bed with blood on the wall and floor around her. She called 911 and deputies responded to the home.
Christopher Crain was taken into custody at the residence. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.