Dorothy Croley Sims
January 4, 2016
Mrs. Dorothy Croley Sims, 69, passed away on Sunday, January 3, 2016, in Jay.
Mrs. Sims was a native of Century and a resident of McDavid for the past 47 years. Mrs. Sims was retired from the Town of Century with 30 years of service and she was a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her gather, Raymond Croley, a brother, Ricky Croley and daughter-in-law, Kim Sims.
She is survived by her mother, Mildred Croley of Century; husband of 47 years, Billy Sims of Century; four sons, Wayne (Debbie) Sims of Century, Greg Sims of Century, Josh (Karen) Sims of Atmore, and Wes (Kelly) Sims of Century; one daughter, Tina (Greg) Therrell of McDavid; one sister, Kathy (Terry) Bush of Century; 19 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 6, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Dervin Spears and Bro. Glen Johnson officiating.
Burial will follow at the Crary Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 5, 2016, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Travis Sims, Zachary Sims, Seth Sims, Dak Sims, Nathan Therrell and Caleb Therrell.
Honorary pallbearers will be Darrell Fore, Lane Sims, Jeremy Sims and Winton Brown.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
The Top 15 North Escambia Stories Of 2015
January 3, 2016
Here our picks for the Top 15 North Escambia Stories of 2015. The list was compiled to include those stories that were “big news”, had a great influence on the North Escambia area or had the community talking most during 2015.
15. Ernest Ward Middle School Grand Opening
An official grand opening and ribbon cutting was held in October for the newly rebuilt Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill.
The modern $20 million facility, funded by the half-cent sales tax, replaced a a campus that was among the oldest in the district. The oldest buildings at Ernest Ward, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945 to replace a campus ravaged by fire in 1943. That old school had been constructed to replace an Ernest Ward School that first opened in a log cabin in 1896.
Students moved into the Ernest Ward in January so classes continue while the old school was demolished.
14. Langley Bell 4-H Center, New 4-H Barns
A dedication ceremony and open house were held in May the new Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment.
Back in 1943 Minnie and Langley Bell donated 400 acres on Nine Mile Road for the county’s original 4-H Center. The property was given to Escambia County 4-H in a trust, with the Escambia County Commission serving as trustees. When the property was sold to Navy Federal Credit Union in 2012 for expansion, a new 4-H Center was planned on the Escambia County Extension Service property on Stefani Road.
Funds from the sale were also used to purchase 108 acres in Molino where a new 4-H Animal Science and Outdoor Center was developed, including new barns.
13. Iconic Molino Restaurant Closes
The iconic Fran’s Country Grill in Molino closed for good in October after a farewell and retirement party for owner Fran Hampton.
The restaurant reopened as the new location for Jimmy’s Grill a few weeks later.
12. Giant Generator Passes By
In October, a giant generator passed through the North Escambia area along Highway 29 at a snail’s pace. The equipment was transported from the Port of Pensacola to the Georgia Pacific Mill in Brewton.
The generator turbine was on a trailer that is 18-feet wide, almost 25-feet tall and 173.5-feet long. Along the way, utility crews were forced to lift, pull or remove and estimated 400 obstructions such as power and phone lines. Some residents were without power for an hour or two overnight due to the transport, but most the of the power lines were moved “live” without service interruptions.
11. Cantonment Dedicated Park Improvements, Resource Center
A ribbon cutting was held in May for improvements at Carver Park in Cantonment.
Improvements to Carver Park include a renovated community resource center, enlarged parking lot, volleyball court and re-striped basketball court. The improvements began in 2014 and were funded to Local Option Sale Tax dollars.
Much of the work at Carver Park has been spearheaded by the Cantonment Improvement Association, a group working, as their name implies, to improve the quality of life for all law-abiding citizens of Cantonment, with an emphasis on making sure children and safe and well-prepared.
10. Lillian Kings Passes, Museum Carries Her Name
The Molino community mourned the passing of Lillian King in February before celebrating her accomplishments in May.
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society Museum in Molino was officially dedicated as the “Lillian F. King Museum”. The museum was renamed in the honor of Lil King, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Molino Community Complex — housing the museum, the Molino Branch of the West Florida Public Library, multiple meeting rooms, and an auditorium — in the former Molino Elementary School.
9. New Health Start Program
The Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition opened their newest location in Century in June.
The new location offered a free immunization clinic, WIC and other services aimed at improving the health of children and pregnant women and their unborn babies.
8. Reimagine Century Brings Hope
Reimagine Century’s goal was to breathe new life into Century, where the faithful reached out to touch the hearts and lives of area residents in need in May.
The event included a wide variety of activities, including a 15,000 pound food giveaway, health screenings, AIDS testing, diabetes information, live music, fishing lessons from Mission Fishin’, free manicures, information from community agencies, a clothing giveaway, free lunch, and more for the needy in the Century area.
7. Announcement of the Bluffs
In November, plans were announced for “The Bluffs”, a new economic development site that could eventually be home to as many as 60 new industrial and manufacturing companies and more than 15,000 jobs.
The 6,000 acre master-planned development area includes about 1,700 acres of land that can be developed in an area east of Highway 29 bordered by the Escambia River to the east, Becks Lake Road near International Paper to the north, and the University of West Florida to the south
6. $80 Million In National Attention For Davisville
Davisville received national attention in April, and local residents waited to see who it would be after it was announced that someone who purchased a Powerball ticket in North Escambia for an April drawing and became the country’s newest mega-millionaire.
Alice Dawson, 60, of Frisco City, AL, chose to receive the winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $53,440,213.76. The State Line Gift Shop received a bonus of $40,000 for selling the winning ticket.
5. Volunteer Fire Department Woes
After much debate, Escambia County made changes related to volunteer firefighters, hoping to streamline the process of recruiting more volunteers rather than raising taxes or dipping into financial reserves to hire a large number of career firefighters.
Additional fire stations south of Nine Mile Road were staffed, while the need to maintain a strong volunteer base in North Escambia was highlighted.
4. $25,000 Century Business Challenge
The winners of the $25,000 Century Business Challenge were named in June at the Century Business Center. But in the end, it appears the contest may foster more winners by sparking a spirit of entrepreneurship and friendship in Century. Judges decided to split the $25,000 prize — with $20,000 going to East Hill Academy to be used toward a special needs school in Century and $5,000 to the Abundant Life Children of Hope Center childcare center.
East Hill announced plans to open their school by the fall of 2016, while the childcare center was already up and running at the time of the award announcement.
3. Northview’s Anna Barry Named Teacher of the Year
Northview High School teacher Anna Barry was named the Escambia County Teacher of the Year in February. The world history teacher was honored several times during the year, including a Shine Award from Gov. Rick Scott, the opportunity to toss the first pitch at a Blue Wahoos game, and a flight with the Blue Angels.
“I knew it was going to be a once in a lifetime experience, but it exceeded my highest expectations,” Barry said shortly after the Blue Angels flight. “I don’t even have the right words to describe it…it was really awesome.”
2. Tate Softball State Championship
The Tate High School Lady Aggies beat Sarasota 8-1 in May in Vero Beach to claim the FHSAA Class 7A state championship. Tori Perkins slammed an infield homer in the top of the seventh to help seal the win, brining home Casey McCrakin and Rachel Wright.
Later in the year, the team was honored by the Escambia County School Board and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Tori Perkins was named the state 7A pitcher of the year, and Tate coach Melinda Wyatt was named the state 7A coach of the year. Rachel Wright, Hayden Lindsay and Lauren Brennan were named to the state second team.
1. Highway 29, Highway 97 Traffic Signal
A new traffic signal at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino became operational in mid- June after years of planning and debate. For the remainder of the year, there were no major injury accidents at the intersection.
In December 2013, a Florida Department of Transportation study concluded that a traffic signal was needed at the intersection. A couple of months earlier in 2013, the Escambia County Commission affirmed its support for improvements at the intersection and expressed a willingness for the county to pay over a quarter of a million dollars for the red light, while numerous state and local officials called for the installation of the light to curb a stream of major accidents.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Near Freezing Tonight
January 3, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 54. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 50. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 60. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 52. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
Perdido River Flooding Subsides, Logs Left Behind
January 3, 2016
Flooding along the Perdido River at Barrineau Park has subsided, but a large log jam against the bridge was left behind. These photos were taken Saturday afternoon from the Barrineau Park Road Bridge on the Florida/Alabama state line. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pvt. Joslin M. Frye Graduates From Basic Training
January 3, 2016
Army National Guard Pvt. Joslin M. Frye has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Frye is the daughter of Carl J. Staples and Jacqueline J. Frye, and granddaughter of Dorothy L. Dale, all of Atmore.
She is a 2010 graduate of Escambia County High School in Atmore. She earned an associate degree in 2014 from Fortis Institute in Pensacola.
2015 In Photos: August And September
January 3, 2016
Today, we continue our look back at the year 2015 in photos with a look at August and September.
Put on a ring on it: Tate’s state champion softball team received their rings during an August Friday night football game.
The Tate Aggies opened their first season under new coach Jay Lindsey with a big 38-7 win over Biloxi.
The 6A Crestview Bulldogs defeated the 1A Northview Chiefs in Crestview.
Between 12,000 and 15,000 pounds of food were distributed in cooperation with Pensacola Caring Hearts and the Bay Area Food Bank at the Abundant Life Assembly of God Church in Century.
Ernest Ward Middle School beat Jay.
There were no injuries when a driver crashed into a house on Highway 29 near Cox Road in McDavid.
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A rainbow over International Paper in Cantonment during August.
The Escambia County School voted to name the gymnasium at Ransom Middle School as the “Joseph E. Murphy Gymnasium” in honor of Joseph E. Murphy.
The Cantonment Improvement Committee provided free school supplies at Carver Park.
A prayer walk was held before the start of school at Byrneville Elementary.
The annual back to school Prayer Walk was held at Molino Park Elementary School. Students and adults from Highland Baptist Church prayed for the Lord’s blessings on the upcoming school year.
Volunteers from the Ensley Lowes and the local community came together in August to spruce up the Atmore Area YMCA.
A double rainbow in Barrineau Park.
Free school supplies were available in August in Century for hundreds of children in need, thanks to a family honoring the memory of one of their own, in a program called “Deidra’s Gift”.
A driver slammed his pickup truck into a home on Tara Dawn Circle off East 10 Mile Road in September. There were no injuries.
Retired Veterans Affairs Service Officer Mike Hanks was honored with a retirement reception by VFW Post 7016 and the American Legion Post 90 at the American Legion Hall in Atmore.
A bat house moved to the 4-H property in Molino has enough space for 50,000 bats.
Molino Park Elementary School held a Fifth Grade Grandparents breakfast.
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band during a Friday night performance.
Escambia Fire Rescue Walnut Hill District Chief Chris Brown was credited for saving a man’s life during a mobile home fire near Century.
The Northview Chiefs defeated Van Cleave, MS, in Bratt.
Teams meat for the coin toss at Northview High School as the sun sets in the west.
Ernest Ward Middle School defeated Jay.
September was time for high school volleyball.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate this vehicle fire near Bratt.
A Barrineau Park Community Gathering was held at the community center on Barrineau Park School Road. Residents of Barrineau Park were joined by friends, family and neighbors for a day of family fun.
Hundreds of students gathered to pray at their schools in across the area during the annual See You at the Pole event.
The Century Town Council approve a property tax increase during September.
Award winning country music group The Band Perry made a surprise visit to Escambia County High School in Atmore.
Alli Bell was named the 2015 Homecoming Queen at Tate High School.
A Cantonment man was arrested peacefully after shooting at a deputy and an armed standoff .
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry held a town hall meeting in Walnut Hill.
The University of West Florida held their first-ever football scrimmage in September.
With feats like crushing concrete and bending steel, the Strength Team brought their strong inspirational messages to Highland Baptist Church, Molino Park Elementary and Jim Allen Elementary.
The Tate High School Drama Department presented “110 Stories”, a powerful look back at the September 11 attacks through the eyes of those that were there.
World renowned organist Tom Helms performed at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino, his boyhood home.
The Tate Aggies beat West Florida High School 17-3 at Woodham Middle School.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lawmakers Seek ‘Pay For Success’ Program
January 3, 2016
Two Republican lawmakers have filed bills that would create a program — dubbed “pay for success” — that would involve private investment money being used to pay for government services.
Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, filed a House version (HB 1049) this week, and Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, has filed a similar Senate bill (SB 1200).
The measures will be considered during the legislative session that starts Jan. 12. Under the proposals, the state could enter into contracts with non-profit organizations to provide targeted services. The non-profits would get private funding to pay for the services. Under the contracts, the state would ultimately make payments to the non-profits based on whether they meet “performance outcome measures,” according to the bills.
A news release from Sprowls’ office said private investors would receive a return on their investments only if there are “proven results” and that other states also are developing similar programs.
“This legislation uses private funding to solve social issues and allows for service providers to test alternatives to the status quo,” Sprowls said in the release. “On top of that, it exposes taxpayers to zero risk while holding those private entities accountable for outcomes.”
by The News Service of Florida
60 Arrested, Including Two Murder Suspects, In ECSO Warrants Sweep
January 3, 2016
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the results of a three-day warrant sweep that was held December 15-17.
A total of 75 warrants were served, and 60 people were arrested Many of the charges included drug possession, grand theft and sexual assault.
Two of those arrested, Vanessa and Troy Meeker, were wanted on outstanding Tennessee warrants for murder. After being arrested in Escambia County, they were extradited back to Sevier County, TN, to face those charges.
Pictured: Those arrested during an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office warrants sweep, click to enlarge.
One Airlifted Following Two Vehicle Highway 29 Crash
January 2, 2016
One person was seriously injured in a two vehicle crash Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 29 and Barrineau Park Road in Molino.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 60-year old Lawrence H. Shenk of Cantonment was stopped at a stop sign facing west on Barrineau Park Road when he pulled his pickup into the path of a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer headed north on Highway 29 about 2:15 p.m.
After striking the SUV, Shenk’s 2001 Dodge Ram pickup overturned and struck a stop sign and street sign before hitting a power pole and coming to rest on its left side. Shenk was airlifted with serious injuries by LifeGuard helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
The SUV also overturned. Driver Victor J. Rushing, Jr. received minor injuries and was not transported to the hospital. His passengers, 27-year old Carrena Rushing and two children were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Charges against Shenk are pending the results of blood tests, according to the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Cool Weekend
January 2, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.