Fire Destroys Century Family’s Home
December 27, 2016
Fire destroyed a wood frame home on West Pond Street in Century Monday evening.
The call came in just before 6 p.m., with the first emergency personnel on scene reporting that the home was fully involved and already mostly on the ground.
It was not immediately known how many people living inside the home but all were left homeless. There were no injuries reported.
The exact cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Century, McDavid and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Flomaton Fire Department, Jay Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also reported to the blaz
This was the ninth red bulb in the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign, representing the ninth residential structure fire with damage in the county this December.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
First Case Of ‘Strangles’ Reported In Escambia County
December 27, 2016
A disease called “strangles” has been reported in a horse in Escambia County.
The Equine Disease Communication Center says says one premise in Escambia County was placed under quarantine for strangles. The exact location of the horse has not been released.
According to the owner of the horse, it was brought back to Escambia County from the Bastrop kill pen facility in Louisiana on December 20. No other animals have left the facility since the clinical signs began.
This is the first case of strangles in Escambia County and the 24th in Florida this year.
Strangles is a contagious upper respiratory tract infection of horses and other equines caused by the bacterium, Streptococcus equi. The disease is contagious among horses. In rare cases, humans have contracted infections from the bacteria that causes Strangles.
File photo.
Escambia Property Tax Discount Ends Soon
December 27, 2016
Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley reminds everyone that the three percent discount on payment of real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends Saturday, December 31. All tax collector offices will be open normal business hours on Friday, December 30.
To receive the three percent discount, payments must be:
· mailed with a December postmark;
· left by midnight, December 31, in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations; or
· made online by midnight CST, December 31 at EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
Since all offices are closed December 31, January 1 and 2, customers who make their payment in person at any tax collector office on Tuesday, January 3, will receive the three percent discount, however, their payment will be dated January 3, 2017 not December 31, 2016.
We also offer a more convenient way to wait in line for walk-in services. Customers who do not have an appointment can still save time by texting an office location to join a line immediately. With this system, customers can check in from anywhere, receive status updates, and be able to request additional time, if necessary.
Text the office location to (850) 344-1875 (after 8:30 a.m.):
o ectc downtown
o ectc marcus pointe
o ectc molino
o ectc warrrington
To check the status of your taxes or to pay online, visit our web site at EscambiaTaxCollector.com. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the tax collector’s office by phone at (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252 or email ectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com with any questions.
Offices are located at:
- Downtown – 213 Palafox Place
- Marcus Pointe – 6451 North W Street
- Molino – 6440 Highway 95-A North, Suite A
- Warrington – 4051 Barrancas Avenue, Suite A
For more information, call (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252.
Negron Eyes Possible Medicaid Changes
December 27, 2016
With Donald Trump moving into the White House and Republicans controlling Congress, Florida Senate President Joe Negron said he wants to start working on a “framework” for how the state could move forward with major changes in the Medicaid program.
Conservatives have long discussed the idea of turning Medicaid into a block-grant program that would give states more flexibility in crafting details of how they provide health care to low-income residents. That discussion has been refueled with last month’s election of Trump, who has made Medicaid block grants part of his health-care platform.
Negron said he has he talked with Senate Health Policy Chairwoman Dana Young, R-Tampa, and Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Chairwoman Anitere Flores, R-Miami, about “building a framework for what a block grant program would look like now that there is a reasonable chance that would happen.”
“I don’t want to want to wait until the federal government acts and Congress acts and then we go into next session and try to build it,” Negron, R-Stuart, said. “I’d like to build out the model of what a Florida-run Medicaid system would look like, and then when Washington acts, Florida would be ready to go.”
Medicaid, which is funded by the federal and state governments, is a highly complicated program that provides care to about 4 million Florida residents, which children making up more than half of the state’s enrollees, according to presentations given this month to lawmakers.
The program is governed by federal laws, with states able to seek approval for what are known as “waivers” to make changes. Perhaps the best example in Florida is a waiver that the state has used in recent years to require most Medicaid beneficiaries to enroll in managed-care plans.
Broadly, a shift to a block-grant program would involve the federal government sending money to states, which would have more freedom to run the programs as they wish. But such a change would be controversial and need approval in Washington, with critics contending that it ultimately would lead to cuts in health-care funding for low-income people.
“A Medicaid block grant would institute deep cuts to federal funding for state Medicaid programs and threaten benefits for tens of millions of low-income families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities,” the Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said in a report posted online Nov. 30. “To compensate for these severe funding cuts, states would likely have no choice but to institute draconian cuts to eligibility, benefits, and provider payments.”
But with Florida, like Washington, fully controlled by Republicans for at least the next two years, leaders including Negron and Gov. Rick Scott are touting the idea of moving to a block-grant system — a change that Negron likened to inventing the “system from scratch.”
“I think that gives us a lot more flexibility for our Medicaid system and hopefully would, I think, provide an extraordinary opportunity for the House and the Senate to look at ways to perhaps make health insurance available to men and women who get up and go to work every day in Florida but maybe can’t pay the full cost of their health insurance,” Negron said.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Jessica Michelle Norwood
December 27, 2016
Ms. Jessica Michelle Norwood, age 29 of Auburn, AL passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2016.
Ms. Norwood was born in Pensacola, FL. She graduated from Flomaton High School in 2005 and attended Auburn University where she earned an Accounting Degree in 2010. While attending Auburn University, she was a member of the ASSN Alumni. Ms. Norwood was the owner and operator of her business, Hot Damn Jelly Company. She is preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Charles H. Sansom and her paternal grandparents, Silas N. and Maybelle Norwood.
Ms. Norwood is survived by her parents, Ronny and Beth Norwood of Flomaton, AL; maternal grandmother, Ruth Elizabeth Sansom of Pensacola, FL; maternal great-grandmother, Mary Stanton of Nevada; brothers, John Christian Norwood of Pensacola, FL and Joey Nevon Norwood of Hartselle, AL; sister, Elizabeth Rae Norwood of Flomaton, AL; special fur babies, Alffi and Pepper.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from 6 until 8 PM.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 30, 2016 at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel at 11 AM with Pastor Kathy Chavers and Maggie Silbernagel speaking.
Pallbearers will be Greg Bush, Denver Mosley, Cameron Fillingim, Matt Mize, Corey Williamson, Cody Turner.
Honorary pallbearers will be John Sansom, Michael Sansom, Chuck Sansom, Tracey Owens, Lane Whitworth, Darrel Owens.
Interment will follow in Flomaton Cemetery, Flomaton, AL.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Auburn Arts Association or Lee County Humane Society.
Two Arrested After Escambia County Shots Fired Incident
December 27, 2016
Two people were arrested after a shots fired incident Monday morning in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call about 5:30 a.m. in the 700 block of Fairfield Drive. No one was found to be injured.
The victim told deputies she was in a physical altercation with her ex-boyfriend when he fired a gun.
Tre-marcus Williams was apprehended while running from the crime scene in a car. Shaqur Fank, a passenger in the car, was found to have ammunition and narcotics on him.
Williams has been charged with aggravated assault, battery, firing a weapon and possessing a weapon.
Fank has been charged with possessing a weapon and drug possession.
2016 In Photos: January
December 27, 2016
Today, we begin our look back at the year 2016 in photos with a look at January.
A Hazmat team was called to Cantonment to investigate a suspicious white power received by a resident in a package delivery.
Above: A close call between an 18-wheeler and a train near Atmore. The train was forced to make an emergency stop.
Molino Park Elementary School students celebrated the 100th day of the school year by dressing up like 100-year olds.
A Florida Department of Transportation Gateway Beautification project was underway in Century on Highway 29 at the Alabama/Florida state line.
Florida Forest Services teamed up with the Abundant Life Assembly of God Church in Century to provide free fruit trees to needy families during an Arbor Day event.
Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown was injured in a motorcycle crash in Ensley.
MLK Day parade in Atmore.
Cantonment MLK Day parade.
A jeep and gasoline tanker collided in Cantonment.
Storms knocked out power to large area in late January.
Peighton Dortch was crowned Miss NHS 2016 at Northview High School.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Alton Godwin
December 27, 2016
Mr. Alton “Hawkeye” Godwin, Jr., 61, passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2016, in Mobile, Alabama.
Mr. Godwin was a native of Pensacola, FL and had resided in Poarch, AL for the past 16 years. Hawkeye loved family and friends and was of the Holiness Faith. He is preceded in death by his father, Alton Edward Godwin, Sr.
He is survived by his mother, Irene Godwin of Atmore, AL; wife, Bell Godwin of Poarch, AL; two sons, Joseph (Kathy) McGugin of Grand Bay, AL and Chad (Latasha) Godwin of Poarch, AL; one daughter, Chastity (Bunk) Peebles of Poarch, AL; one brother, Thomas Phillip (Cynthia) Godwin of Mobile, AL; four sisters, Glenda (Byron) Arrington of Milton, FL, Elizabeth Monachello of Atmore, AL; Katherine (Larry) McDuffie of Atmore, AL and Jackie (Joe) Andrews of Crestview, FL; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Ray Ward and Bro. Walter Rolin officiating.
Burial will follow at the Judson Creek Indian Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Adam Hadley, Eric McDuffie, Shawn Rolin, Kevin Andrews, Brian Couch and Jason Griffey.
Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny McGhee, Ernest Rolin, Odell McGhee, Mike Bethea and Tinker Rolin.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Rain Moves Into Forecast
December 27, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: A chance of showers before 9am, then a chance of rain between 9am and noon. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 67. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 20 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
New Year’s Day: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 71.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Eleanor Faye Campbell
December 27, 2016
Mrs. Faye Campbell, 76, born October 9, 1940, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, December 26, 2016. Faye married her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life, C. R. (Billy) Campbell, Sr. where they had celebrated 57 wonderful years together. They were married April 23, 1959, at the courthouse in Brewton, AL.
We believed in seeking God’s guidance and perfect will in our decisions in life together and giving him all praise and glory.
She was preceded in death by her sons, John Mark Campbell and Cleveland (Cleve) R. Campbell, Jr.; her mother, Mrs. Lovey Hawthrone Messick and great-granddaughter, Nevaeh Harvell. She is survived y her loving husband, C.R. (Billy) Campbell; her daughter, Trudy Campbell; her son, Billy Ray (Kay) Campbell; three sisters, Carolyn (Mike) Garza, Joyce Johnson and Donna Nolan; two brothers, Charles (Diane) Brooks and Russell (Judy) Messick; seven grandchildren, Brad Wood, Nicole (Damian) Harvell, Crystal Ramos, Trey (Alesha) Campbell, Cara Campbell, Caleb Campbell and Ciarra Campbell; five great-grandchildren, Raina Wood, Elijah Ramos, Serenity Harvell, Prestyn Harvell and Estelle Wood; many other friends and relatives.
Pallbearers will be Caleb Campbell, Ben Campbell, Stephen Campbell, Scott Campbell , Bud Campbell and Hank Campbell.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 29, 2016, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be Friday, December 30, 2016, at the funeral home at 1:00 p.m with Reverend Phillip Dean as officiating. Her final resting place will be at McCurdy Cemetery, Century, FL.