Today Is Voter Registration Deadline For The March Presidential Primary
February 16, 2016
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office will hold extended hours on Tuesday to allow voters to register or change parties before the book closing deadline for the Presidential Preference Primary.
Office hours will be 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations and party changes must be completed and received or postmarked no later than February 16, in order for them to be effective for the March 15 election. Address changes can be made after the books close. If you are unsure of your registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Am I Registered?”.
For more information, please contact the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections at (850) 595-3900, soe@escambiavotes.com or visit EscambiaVotes.com.
Thomas Reynolds
February 16, 2016
Thomas Reynolds, 57 of Pensacola, passed away Sunday, February 14, 2016. He had a full and wonderful life. He was born and raised in Pensacola to Thomas and Estelle Reynolds. He grew up in the hardware business and carried on his father’s legacy as the owner of Reynolds Hardware. He was a fun loving father and loved to entertain at the beach house, ensuring everyone had a good time. Later in life he loved to travel through the states and always took the scenic route. He loved the farm life and taking care of his cows with his loyal companion, Sugar.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Charlotte; daughter, Anna; son, Thomas; sister, Mary; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Tom was one of the most laid back and jolly people you ever could meet. He taught others to dream big, slow down and think outside the box. He will surely be missed by all.
Visitation will take place at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Thursday, February 18, 2016, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. followed by a short service.
Please come to enjoy the celebration of Tom’s life with friends and family.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Hilton Perry Davis
February 16, 2016
Hilton Perry “Cornbread” Davis, 87, of Atmore, passed away Monday, February 15, 2016, in Pensacola. He was retired after 35 years with Monsanto as a pump room operator. He was born in Davisville on July 30, 1928, to the late Pinkie and Verchie Godwin. He also served in the Army National Guard.
He is preceded in death by four brothers and one sister.
Survivors include three sons, Roy (Iris) Dunn of Uriah, Thomas H. (Donna) Davis, of Uriah and Ed Davis of Atmore; three daughters, Jann (Bruse) Lang of Brandon, MS, Betty (Dole) Gregg of Atmore and Joyce (Bobby) Morgan of Hilham, TN; one brother, Charles (Willodeane) Davis of Atmore; one sister, Dorothy Moore of Atmore; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Seervices will be held Thursday, February 18, 2016, at 2:30 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Paul Enfinger officiating.
Interment will follow in McCullough Cemetery.
Family will receive friends, Wednesday evening, February 17, 2016, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Emma Dean Holden Lindsay
February 16, 2016
Emma Dean Holden Lindsay, 94 of Atmore, passed away Sunday, February 14, 2016, at her residence. She was a seamstress most of her life and owned and operated her own business. She did alterations for B.C. Moore deptartment store for many years. She was a dietitian for Canoe Grammar school.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Raliegh Amos and Fronie Cannon Holden; husband, Thomas Henry Lindsay; son, Raliegh Lindsay; and her brothers and sisters.
Survivors include her son, Roger Lindsay of Atmore; two grandchildren, Robert Leatherwood and Douglas Scott Leatherwood; great-grandchildren, Jessica, Justin, Robert and Tanner; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be Thursday, February 18, 2016, at 11 a.m. in Lindsay Cemetery in Booneville, AL with Bro. Mike Grindle officiating.
Interment will follow in Lindsay Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Thursday, February 18, 2016, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Frank Johnson
February 16, 2016
Rev. Frank Johnson, 98, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 12, 2016. He was born on October 7, 1917, to the late Willie Lucille (Hughes) and Frank William Johnson, Sr. in Memphis. He is preceded in death by his devoted wife of almost 69 years, Betty (Laurent) Johnson and brother, Melvin.
He is survived by six children, Patricia (Robert) Husband, Carolyn Stiles, Frank Johnson III (Anna), Judy Rogers, Jim Johnson, and Jana Smith; and numerous grand, great-grand, and great-great grandchildren.
As a WWII veteran he was called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. After graduating from Baylor University in 1953, he served for over thirty years as a home missionary in Texas, preaching in both English and Spanish. Frank continued serving his country in the Army Reserves and retired with thirty years of combined service. Following retirement he and Betty moved to Pensacola to be with family, and shortly thereafter was called to pastor Ferry Pass Baptist Church. Years later, when his health forced him back into retirement, he became a faithful member of Plainview Baptist.
A celebration of his life will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2016, at Plainview Baptist Church with the Reverend Bill Flannigan and Reverend Brad Johnson officiating.
Interment will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery onboard NAS Pensacola.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., prior to services.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the staffs of The Veranda , especially the third floor, and Emerald Coast Hospice for their love and special care they gave our father.
In lieu of flowers, Dad has requested that memorial contributions be made in his memory to the parking lot fund of Plainview Baptist Church, 1101 W. Nine Mile Rd., Pensacola, FL 32534.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Cheryl Sue Fleming Halfacre
February 16, 2016
Cheryl Sue Fleming Halfacre, age 66 of Milton, passed away Sunday, February 14, 2016, after a long battle with cancer. Cheryl enjoyed spending time with her family, camping and fishing. She was an animal lover, especially her cherished companion, Charlie. She loved Tennessee, especially “Dollywood”.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Leroy and Mamie Fleming; sister, Carol Smith; brother, Billy Joe Fleming; and her niece, Pamela Argeris.
She is survived by her loving husband, Raymond E. Halfacre; daughters, Lisa Michelle Lee (Tyler) and Kim Andrews; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and her sister, Pat Sumlin (James).
The family would like to express a very special thank you to the nurses at Covenant Hospice.
Pallbearers will be Albert Hanners, Doyle Ellis, Johnathon Argeris, Todd Winans, Terry Brown and Bo Brown.
Honorary pallbearers will be Nikolas Argeris and Brennon Lee.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 18, 2016, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North at 12 p.m. with the funeral services beginning at 1 p.m.
Interment will follow at Spruell Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Four North Escambia Schools Closed For Tuesday
February 15, 2016
Four North Escambia area schools are closed for Tuesday due to the tornado damage in the area. The closed schools are Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Byrneville Elementary and Bratt Elementary.
The schools will be closed for students and staff.
Any student that lives in the Northview or Ernest Ward attendance zone but attends another school in the county (such as West Florida High) is also excused from school on Tuesday.
A decision about Wednesday will be made at a future time and posted on NorthEscambia.com.
Molino Man Charged With Trying To Stab Mom, 75, And Uncle
February 15, 2016
A Molino man has been charged with trying to stab his 75-year old mother and his live-in uncle with a knife.
Deputies responding to a disturbance in the 1100 block of McKinnonville Road arrived to find Alvin Richard Wallace rolling on the floor fighting with his uncle, trying to stab him with a buck knife. Deputies were able to separate the fight and detain Wallace.
Wallace’s elderly mother told deputies that he threatened to kill her and his uncle with the buck knife raised in his right hand. He had allegedly been drinking heavily before the incident and told deputies that he did have a knife in his hand but could not remember what happened, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Wallace, 51, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Escambia County Jail where remained Monday with bond set at $15,000.
Florida Lawmakers Float Boating Enforcement Changes
February 15, 2016
Law enforcement officers would need “reasonable suspicion” to stop and inspect boats sporting state safety stickers, under a measure that sailed through its final House committee.
The Economic Affairs Committee voted 12-3 to approve the proposal (HB 703), which would revise a state law about reckless and careless operations of vessels.
A key feature of the proposal would lessen the ability of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law-enforcement officers, county deputies and municipal police officers to use the pretext of conducting safety inspections to stop and search boats if the vessels display commission safety-inspection decals.
“I just want to give safe boaters the opportunity to be pulled over less,” bill sponsor Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, said. “Not that they can’t be pulled over at all.”
The proposal wouldn’t prohibit officers from stopping boats when there is reasonable suspicion or probable cause that violations have occurred, such as over-harvesting lobster or fishing out of season.
Workman said he advanced the proposal because boaters from his community complain about being pulled over “almost every time they go out” by officers who say they are conducting safety inspections or say they have seen people not properly in the craft.
The commission’s Division of Law Enforcement-approved decal, available after a boat has undergone a safety inspection, would have to be posted within six inches of the vessel registration decal, according to the proposal.
On non-motorized boats, which are not required to be registered, the decal would have to be located just above the waterline on the forward half of the port side.
The commission already provides the decals, which don’t have an expiration date.
Workman said he doesn’t intend to impose new restrictions on the safety decals, such as requiring the color to be changed annually.
“My fear is that if I mandate a different something every year I have inadvertently created an annual inspection process, which I don’t want to do,” Workman said.
Workman’s proposal also would redefine a law about the noncriminal violation of careless operation of a vessel.
“It will no longer be, if this bill becomes law, ticketable to give a ticket to a boater that you think their kids may be sitting unsafely on the boat, otherwise bow-riding, or if your wife is sunbathing on the front of a boat,” Workman said. “You can still be pulled over for it and lectured, but not ticketed.”
The commission issued 7,770 citations for a variety of violations in 2014, including 3,146 involving safety equipment and regulations, and 802 for the negligent operation of vessels, according to agency records. A year earlier, 6,909 citations were issued by the state agency, with 3,157 involving safety equipment and regulations and 2,227 for negligent operations.
The Senate version of the proposal (SB 1454) has received unanimous support from the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee and must still get through Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee and the Fiscal Policy Committee.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Tornado Watch In Effect; Showers And Thunderstorms
February 15, 2016
There is a Tornado Watch in effect until 9 p.m. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Washington’s Birthday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 70. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tonight: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9pm, then a chance of showers between 9pm and midnight. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 43. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 47. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71.