Atmore Man Arrested For Baldwin County Homicide
August 23, 2017
An Atmore man has been arrested in connection with a Tuesday morning murder in northern Baldwin County, AL.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office says 31-year-old Justin Brian Still has been charged with murder.
Deputies responded to call in Perdido Tuesday morning. They found a white male in his 20’s deceased with from an apparent gunshot wound on the side of Dallas Hadley Lane near Hoyle Bryars Road, about five miles from the Florida state line.
Further details, including the name of the victim, were not immediately released.
George Stone Offers GED Classes In Four Locations
August 23, 2017
George Stone Technical Center (GSTC) is offering Adult Basic Education/GED classes on the main campus and also three outlying sites, including Molino. They have open enrollment and students may enroll anytime throughout the year.
Classes are actively taught by certified teachers and personalized instruction is given based on each student’s academic level.
“We have the proven prescription for success to pass the GED test. We use direct instruction, as well as materials that are aligned to the actual content of the GED test,” said Patricia Harrison, GSTC counselor. “When students are ready to take the test, they can feel confident and assured of a passing score.”
GED classes on GSTC’s main campus on Longleaf Drive are held Monday through Friday offering class times in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Classes starts on the main campus on August 10.
If this location is not convenient, students may attend classes at one of the 3 outlying sites. GED classes are held at:
- Molino Community Center every Monday and Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Pathways for Change every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 9:30 am till 12:00. Free childcare is offered at the Pathways for Change site.
- Ensley Elementary every Tuesday & Thursday from 4:00 – 6;00 p.m. The Ensley Elementary site offers free tuition for all students enrolled in that program.
Classes will start at the outlying sites the week of August 21st. Students wanting to enroll in any of GSTC’s Adult Programs need to complete the online application by visiting www.georgestonecenter.com. To find out more about the variety of Adult Education programs offered by Escambia County School District’s George Stone Technical Center visit their page at www.georgestonecenter.com or call Patricia Harrison at 850-941-6200 ext. 2361.
Gulf Power Flips Switch On Major DOD Solar Installation
August 23, 2017
Executives from Gulf Power and Coronal Energy joined officials from the U.S. Air Force and Navy Tuesday at Naval Air Station Pensacola’s Naval Outlying Landing Field (NOLF) Saufley for the ceremonial “Flip the Switch” ceremony signifying the completion of the three largest combined solar facilities on Department of Defense property.
“We work hard every day to provide our customers with valuable and diverse energy solutions, and it’s a special occasion to see the vision we had for this project come to life today,” said Stan Connally, Gulf Power chairman, president and CEO. “Adding clean, affordable energy to our energy grid through the innovative public-private partnership that enabled the completion of all three of the portfolio’s solar facilities is a proud accomplishment for Gulf Power, and a significant milestone for the local economy, our customers and the environment.”
Ground was broken in November 2016 on the 120 megawatt Gulf Coast Solar Center that spans 940 acres across three Navy and Air Force sites in Northwest Florida. The ceremonial Flip the Switch was held at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola’s Naval Outlying Landing Field (NOLF) Saufley, which hosts the largest of the three installations spanning 366-acres, with nearly 600,000 solar photovoltaic panels producing 50 megawatts of energy.
The large-scale solar complex is just one of three military installations constructed by Gulf Power and developer Coronal Energy, powered by Panasonic. The projects will support the Department of Defense’s commitment to renewable energy and help further diversify Gulf Power’s energy portfolio and support the mission to provide safe, affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy for its customers in Northwest Florida.
The three-project portfolio, representing one of the largest combined solar projects east of the Mississippi, also includes the Eglin Air Force Base Reservation and Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field’s (NOLF) Holley Field. All three combined have approximately 1.5 million solar panels capable of generating up to 120 megawatts of electricity, enough energy to power nearly 18,000 homes each year across Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. These projects became operational earlier this summer.
“Considering the scale of the Gulf Coast Solar Center portfolio, collaboration between our team and the like-minded teams at the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Gulf Power has been an essential element of our success in developing these projects,” said Jonathan Jaffrey, chairman and CEO of Coronal Energy™. “The result is a landmark energy project that represents what is possible when our nation’s military and its leading energy companies like Gulf Power commit to renewables. We are honored to take our place alongside these partners for this historic project.”
Combined, the facilities have the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 3.5 million tons over 25 years. This figure equates to removing nearly 670,700 cars from the road for one year.
“The Navy continually explores commercially viable means of incorporating renewable energy into our base operations and communities, both on land and at sea,” said NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Martin. “The initiative we’re celebrating today, in which Naval Air Stations Pensacola and Whiting Field converted two dormant landing fields into fully operational and grid-connected solar facilities, showcases one path we’ve chosen. By strategically repurposing these assets, we’ve added resilience to our bases and created economic opportunity for the United States military and all of the project partners.”
Brigadier General Evan Dertien, 96th Test Wing, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin Air Force Base said, “The initiatives at Eglin, along with those at Saufley and Holley, support the Department of Defense’s commitment to renewable energy and are an impressive display of joint leadership that results in the effective pursuit of energy independence. We’re also empowered by the fact that the revenue received for leasing the projects on Eglin lands will afford us the opportunity to invest in Eglin’s on-base energy initiatives, all while offering long-term local benefits that can serve as a positive example to military communities across the country.”
The combined solar facilities contribute to the growth rate for renewable energy jobs in Northwest Florida. Since construction began at all three locations in November 2016, nearly 450 local laborers have been deployed.
The facilities are estimated to generate the following amounts of electricity:
- Eglin Air Force Base: 30 megawatts with approximately 371,000 photovoltaic panels, producing enough energy to power nearly 4,500 Okaloosa County homes for a year.
- NAS Pensacola NOLF Saufley: 50 megawatts with approximately 600,000 photovoltaic panels, producing enough energy to power nearly 7,400 Escambia County homes for a year.
- NAS Whiting Field NOLF Holley: 40 megawatts with approximately 475,000 photovoltaic panels, producing enough energy to power nearly 6,100 Santa Rosa County homes for a year.
Howard Vero Southard
August 23, 2017
Howard Vero Southard, 84, of Pensacola, entered Heaven Friday morning, August 18, 2017.
He was born Nov. 30, 1932 to Pearl Parnell Southard and Tom Martin Southard in Norfork, Arkansas. After attending school in Norfork, Howard and family moved to Mountain Home where after high school, he graduated from Wichita University in 1955 and then entered Naval Officer Candidate School. During his naval career, he flew as a Naval Flight Officer. One flight activity was with Photo Squadron (VAP-62) conducting monthly mapping updates of Cuba for two years prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served as the first Executive Officer of VAW-115, an airborne control squadron deployed on board the USS Ranger (CV61) to set up air control in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam in 1968. He later served as Executive Officer at Naval Air Station Dallas. He retired from the Navy in 1981 while serving as Executive Officer as NAS Atlanta. Following his naval career, he worked in the Civil Service at Saufley Field for 25 years.
On December 31, 1960, he married Lanara Stewart, and was blessed with three children, Celeste, Mark and Scott. Our children have been obedient to God’s Word in honoring their parents, especially while Howard has been sick. Celeste was there almost night and day when her Dad was in the hospital even though she worked. The Southard family moved to Pensacola in 1982 and joined Olive Baptist church. That was one of the best decisions we ever made. He was a deacon at Olive. What a devoted and humble man he was to God and family. Even when he was only capable of making 5 or 6 steps, he wanted to be in church. Bob Hill would come by the house, load up the electric wheel chair and take him to make sure his wishes were met. Nothing was more important to him than his Savior, wife, children and grandchildren. Howard worked hard, but always gave himself time to be with his children. He enjoyed being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and especially golf. He loved his golfing friends who helped him in every way possible to play as long as he could.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents; his seven brothers and sisters and their spouses, Clara (Hershel) Perry, Opal (Walter) Gorrell, Lela Southard, Clifton (Verna) Southard, Nola (Manford) Edens, Hugh (Wanda) Southard, and Betty (Delbert) Peters; sister-in-law, Margaret Campbell; and brother-in-law, Lorenzo Stewart.
He is survived by his wife of 57 wonderful years, Lanara Southard; and by his children and grandchildren, Celeste Southard of Milton, Mark (Joyce) Southard, and their children Nolan and Mia of Pace, Scott (Joanna) Southard and their children Molly and Kleet of Huntsville, Alabama; a special friend, Amy Miller has been by our side every step of the way. He is also survived by brothers-in law and sisters-in-law, Glen Campbell of Chumuckla, Millie and Jack Hare of Milton, Ruthie and Edmond Fortune of Pace, Mavis and Bill Morris of Huntsville, AL, Lorandal and Beth Stewart of LaGrange, GA, Jeannie Stewart of Pensacola; and numerous nieces and nephews.
As our 7 year old granddaughter wrote in a letter to her granddad: “The whole world loves you”, she spoke truth. He served a mighty God and left a legacy for all of us. He was respected by all who met him for his kindness, grace, humbleness and his strong faith in Jesus. This precious man was an example for all to live by. One of the last things he said to his wife, “do all you can to see that the children and grandchildren meet me in heaven one day.”
Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at Olive Baptist Church with Pastor Ted Traylor and Jerry Passmore officiating.
Interment was at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Jewell P. Watley Sport Hogg
August 23, 2017
Jewell P. Watley Sport Hogg of Cantonment, Florida, passed away August 21, 2017, at Covenant Hospice surrounded by her loving family. She was 96 years, 1 month and 22 days old and was very proud of her age. She was born in Rose Hill, Alabama, June 30, 1921, to Homer and Ealon Watley, both deceased. She had three brothers, Sammy, Dearril, and Joe Watley, all deceased.
She is preceded in death by two husbands, Thomas Sport and Everitt Hogg.
She leaves behind two daughters, Martha McLaughlin (Charles, deceased) and Sue Graham (J W); four grandchildren, Kim Pyle (Tim), Wendy Clarke (Walt), Tommy Graham (Mendy) and Robin Kent (Robbie); nine great-grandchildren, Logan Clarke, Tyler Clarke, Garrett Clarke, Sam Pyle and Ealon Pyle , J R Graham, Cole Graham, Mackenzie Kent and Cameron Kent; one niece, Norma Williams (Mack); and two sisters-in-law, Edna P. Watley and Mattie P. Sport.
Interment will be at Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Mary Greshan Portwood
August 23, 2017
Mrs. Mary Gresham “Sis” Portwood, 74, passed away on Sunday, August 20, 2017, in Flomaton, Alabama.
Mrs. Portwood was a native and lifelong resident of Flomaton, AL. Mrs. Portwood was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She worked at Vanity Fair for 27 years and she was of the Holiness faith. She is preceded in death by a son, Darrell James Howington; her parents and five brothers.
She is survived by her two sons, James A. Howington, Jr. of Nevada and Michael Todd Howington of Milton, FL; one daughter, Brenda Lee Tobey of Saco, Maine; two brothers, Huey Cleveland Gresham of Georgia and Ronald Wayne Gresham of Mississippi; four sisters, Marie Peebles of Flomaton, AL, Caroyln Smith of Byrneville, FL, Rosa Lee Lambeth of Flomaton, AL and Frances Louise Warren of Kerns, TX; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 24, 2017, at 12 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Donnis Bowman officiating.
Burial will follow at the Traveler’s Rest Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 24, 2017 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will Wade Pittman, Dan Bruan, Dwayne Gresham, Luke Peebles, Brian Peebles, B.J. Thompson and Donald Gresham.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Diabetes Foundation.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Wahoos Lose To Jackson
August 23, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos let a game slip away when Jackson Generals left fielder Jamie Westbrook crushed a homer into Pensacola Bay in the eighth inning.
The game-winning home run gave the Generals a, 3-2, victory over Pensacola, which fell to 20-26 on the season in one-run games.
Pensacola had chances to add more runs Tuesday in the second, third and eighth innings but left six runners on base and went 0-6 with runners in scoring position.
After scoring 8.5 runs a game and hitting .294 during its five-game win streak, the Blue Wahoos have scored seven runs in its last four games.
“If I knew that I wouldn’t be managing in Double-A,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly when asked about the Blue Wahoos offense. “We jumped on them early but didn’t do anything after that.”
Pensacola third baseman Nick Senzel broke his 1-for-14 slump by hitting a high fly ball that barely sailed over the right field fence into Hill-Kelly Hill with second baseman Arismendy Alcantara on base to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-0 lead.
The 22-year-old, who was the second overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, has belted 10 homers in the second half for the Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola drew 3,567 fans to Tuesday’s game at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The ballclub has 14 sellouts of 5,038 this season and has reached 267,230 total fans for the year.
To keep its streak alive of drawing more than 300,000 fans a season since its inaugural year in 2012, Pensacola must average about 4,100 fans in the last eight games of its current 10-game homestand.
Also in the crowd Tuesday was Hall of Fame coach Tony La Russa, the Arizona Diamondbacks chief baseball analyst. Jackson is the Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate. La Russa and Walt Jocketty, the Cincinnati Reds executive advisor to the CEO, took in the game together.
Kelly said he admires La Russa, the third winningest coach in baseball history, four-time manager of the year and three-time World Series champion. Kelly credits La Russa, then a White Sox manager, for advising him to take a pitching coach position with organization’s rookie league team in 1984.
“I’ve always looked up to him,” said Kelly, who has taken Pensacola to the playoffs three straight seasons. “I’ve read all his books and used some of his philosophies and incorporated them into my strategies.”
Kelly is trying to manage the Blue Wahoos to win its fifth straight half, which would be a Southern League record. Under Kelly, Pensacola is now tied with the Tennessee Smokies, which won four straight halves between 2009 and 2011.
The Blue Wahoos dropped to 27-30 in the second half and are 3.5 games out of first place in the Southern Division behind the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Jackson improved to 26-31 in the Northern Division
After the Blue Wahoos took the early lead, Jackson came right back to tie the game. Generals right fielder Kelly Dugan ripped a double over the center fielder’s head to drive in Jackson catcher Michael Perez to trail Pensacola, 2-1.
The Generals tied the game up, 2-2, in the fourth inning when shortstop Vladimir Frias smacked a hard liner into center field with two out to drive in Westbrook. Westbrook was 2-4 with two runs scored, a solo home run and RBI.
Meanwhile, in his last outing against the Mississippi Braves, Pensacola right-hander Keury Mella snapped a streak of 10 starts without a win. He failed to get his first win in 12 starts at home Tuesday but threw a season-high 103 pitches and gave the Blue Wahoos six strong innings. Mella, 3-10 with a 4.69 ERA, allowed two runs on five hits, three walks and tied his season-high with seven strikeouts — three Ks came in the fourth inning.
Ouida Burkett
August 23, 2017
Ouida Burkett, age 61, of Berrydale, Florida, passed away August 21, 2017. She was a lifelong resident of the Jay area. Ouida was a homemaker most of her life. She devoted her whole life to her family. She did have a few jobs to help out along the way, like at the Munson Nursery, Vanity Fair, substitute school bus driver, and working at Joan’s Cricket Farm. She loved the outdoors. Most days she could be found out in her yard, planting flowers, cutting grass, or sitting under the oak tree watching the animals feed. She also loved to paint and go fishing and use to love to go fox hunting with Pops. She liked to watch Nascar; her favorite driver was Casey Kahne.
Ouida was born on January 31, 1956. She is preceeded in death by her parents, Robert (Boots) Edeker and Dorothy Fay Mound Edeker; sister, Janet Edeker Crawley; brother, Royce Edeker; and brother in law, Danny Cumbie.
She is survived by her husband of forty-two years, Jack Burkett; daughters, Heather Hightower, and Angie (Brent) Jackson; and son, Wendell Burkett; 10 grandchildren, Ali (Brenan) Dykes, Sissy Jackson (Matthew), Brandy Jackson (Colby), Madeline Ates, Laci Burkett, Blake Hightower, Emma Burkett, Peyton Hightower, Alan Jackson, and Jax Burkett; one great-grandchild, Jace Jackson; brothers, Darren Edeker, Mickey Edeker (Brenda), and Joshua Edeker; sisters, Joyce (David) Ellis and Tracie Cumbie; father and mother-in-law, Buddy and Bernice Burkett; sisters-in-law, Jackie (Justin) Acree, TrishAnn Driver (Mike); brother-in-law, Greg (Kelly) Kimmins; special friend, Lynn Betterton; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 24, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the Jay Funeral Home, followed by funeral services at 3 p.m. with Pastor Kevin Nelson officiating services.
Burial will follow at Sullivan Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Dylan Cumbie, Jordan Jackson, Brenan Dykes, Richie Kerns, Jeremy Raught, and Joshua Edeker.
Joe E. Estes, Jr.
August 23, 2017
Joe E. Estes Jr., 73, went home August 19, 2017, to be with Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Joe was the oldest of three children born to Joe and Ruth Estes. He was born in Sarasota, Florida. He served in the United States Army, stationed at Ft. Benning, GA for three years. Joe married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Turner on April 6, 1962. After his military service, he worked for various construction companies in Florida and Louisiana. He retired as Operations Manager of Gulf Atlantic Constructors in June 2009.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Jana Jo and a granddaughter, Alexa Nichole Leckenby.
Precious memories will be treasured by Brenda, his wife of 55 years; his son, Joe E. (Tonya) Estes III; his daughter, Beth Estes (William) Jernigan II; grandchildren, Mike (Nicole) Leckenby, Kiersten Leckenby, Joe Estes IV, Alyssa Jernigan, Jake Estes and Luke Estes; great-granddaughter, Emmerie Parente; his sisters, Luci (Tim) Robinson and Becky (Donny) Godwin; brother-in-law, Steve (Eva) Turner; sister-in-law, Lisa (Jeff) Mills; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Thursday, August 24, 2017, from 5 p.m until 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 25, 2017, at 11 a.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery with full military honors.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Molino Man Leads Deputy On Short ‘Pursuit’ Home
August 23, 2017
A Molino man was jailed after fleeing from a deputy at the local Tom Thumb.
Michael Sanchez, age 22 of Effie Road, was charged with felony fleeing or eluding police, knowingly driving with a suspended license and marijuana possession. He also received traffic citations for an expired registration and attaching a validation sticker unlawfully.
An Escambia County deputy reported seeing Sanchez travel through the parking lot of the Tom Thumb at Highway 29 and Highway 97 with an expired tag. The deputy initiated a traffic stop in the parking lot with lights and siren, but Sanchez continued traveling, heading north on Highway 97 at speeds of 50 to 55 mph. He then turned on Effie Lane, traveling at 11 mph, until he stopped at his residence on Effie Lane. The deputy approached the vehicle with his gun drawn and removed Sanchez from the vehicle, according to an arrest report.
The deputy noted the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and reported finding marijuana with the vehicle, along with three capsules containing a white powder substance that will be lab tested.
Sanchez was also arrested on two outstanding warrants. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.