Robert Amerson
August 12, 2017
Mr. Robert “RJ” Amerson, Sr., 91, passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, in Bratt, Florida.
Mr. Amerson was a native and lifelong resident of Bratt, FL. He was a member of the Bratt First Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Peter Amerson and Lottie Wiggins Amerson; wife, Margaret Himerwright Amerson; two sons, Danny Amerson and Eddie Amerson; one daughter, Sandra Amerson Wilson; step-son, Jimmy Hibbits; one sister, Vera Louise Amerson Hardy; three brothers, Oliver Peter (Pete) Amerson, Wallace Jerald Amerson and Dewey Eugene Amerson; one grandson, Lance Dawe and one great-grandchild, Macey Amerson.
He is survived by one son, RJ (Bobby) and Judy Amerson, Jr. of Bratt, FL; two brothers, Leo Edward Amerson of Canoe, AL and James and Betty Amerson of Bratt, FL; 11 grandchildren; 13-great grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 12, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Bratt First Baptist Church with Rev. Delbert Redditt officiating.
Burial was at the Godwin Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Rick Amerson, Pete Amerson, Jr., Kevin Amerson, Jeff Amerson, Drew Amerson and Pete Amerson, III.
Honorary pallbearers were the Senior Adult Sunday School Class (Bratt First Baptist Church), Jim Biggs, Joseph Gulley, Leo Odom and Hilton Hall.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Unsettled Weather Pattern Continues For The Weekend
August 12, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Seat Belt Credited With Saving Life In Highway 97 Crash
August 11, 2017
First responders credited the use of a seat belt and the air bag for likely saving a woman’s life in a crash Friday morning on Highway 97.
The female driver lost control of her Lexus, ran off Highway 97 and struck two large pine trees just north of Tungoil Road near Walnut Hill. She hit the first tree with such force that part of the wheel was embedded in the tree (see photo below).
The woman was able to walk away from the wreckage with just minor injuries, mostly from the seat belt and air bag. She was transported non-emergency to Atmore Community Hospital by Atmore Ambulance.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
BOCC Picks Design For New Escambia County Jail
August 11, 2017
The Escambia County Commission has picked a design for the new 720-bed Escambia County Jail and narrowed down the price tag.
Commissioners unanimously selected the bid submitted by Whitesell-Green and Caddell for $128.6 million, plus $5.8 million for upgrades. A second bid was submitted by W.G. Yates and Sons Construction $129.7 million for the basic design, plus $7.9 million for optional upgrades.
The board also voted to authorize staff and the selected design-build entity to utilize Owner Direct Purchases. This is a method whereby the county acts as the pass-through agency for a contractor on subcontracts or other agreements to purchase material. This will allow the county to purchase items associated with this project tax free at an estimated $2 million to $3 million savings.
With additional prep work, the total cost for the facility is expected to be about $114.8 million to replace the county’s detention center that exploded in 2014. There were two people killed and nearly 200 were injured.
The selection was made at a Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday, so the commission will be required to vote officially at the next regular commission meeting.
The Whitesell-Green/Caddell Joint Venture is a partnership of Whitesell-Green of Pensacola and Caddell Construction of Montgomery, AL. Company officials told the commission that they place to use as many local subcontractors as possible.
The new jail will be constructed at the site of the McDonald Shopping Center on the southeast corner of Fairfield Drive and Pace Boulevard, adjacent to the current 1980’s jail. The two facilities will be connected.
Construction could begin as early as January with completion in late 2019.
Today’s Weather? You Guessed It – More Showers And Storms
August 11, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Escambia Firefighters, EMS Crews Help Keep School Zones Safe
August 11, 2017
Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS units are standing by in school zones across the county with lights flashing to remind drivers to slow down during the first week of school. Pictured: A crew from the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue Thursday morning in the Jim Elementary School zone. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Head Back To Class (With Photo Gallery)
August 11, 2017
Thursday was the first day of school…so that means it’s time for our annual Back to School Photo Gallery.
We asked NorthEscambia.com readers to submit their back to school photos.
For a photo gallery, click here.
We apologize, but due to a tremendous response, we were unable to publish all the photos we received, and we are unable to add additional photos to the gallery.
Pictured top: Pre-K student Jase and fifth grader Aubree from Molino Park Elementary. Pictured below: Addyson, kindergarten at Jim Allen Elementary, and Brianna, seventh grade at Ernest Ward Middle. Picture bottom: Justin, Crista and Derek Kinley, fifth grade at Bratt Elementary. Pictured above inset: Laura Kinley, senior at Northview High. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Prisons Offer $1,000 New Hire Bonus, But Not At Century Or Santa Rosa
August 11, 2017
The Florida Department of Correction is now offering a $1,000 signing bonus for new hires at several correctional facilities across the state, but not locally at Century Correctional Institution or Santa Rosa Correctional Institution. The bonuses are paid upon completion of the correctional officer certification through either FDC or certain state colleges.
The hiring bonus is part of a three-tiered approach targeting staff recruitment and retention to ensure continued safety in Florida’s correctional institutions and communities. The recruitment and retention plan was recommended by Governor Rick Scott and approved by the legislature during the past legislative session. The plan also provides an increase in the base pay for correctional officers and a ten percent increase in pay for officers who work in the Department’s inpatient mental housing units.
Certified new hires are eligible to receive bonuses at the following institutions:
- Apalachee Correctional Institution
- Franklin Correctional Institution
- Gulf Correctional Institution
- Northwest Florida Reception Center
- Baker Correctional Institution
- Columbia Correctional Institution
- Hamilton Correctional Institution
- Mayo Correctional Institution
- New River Correctional Institution
- Reception and Medical Center
- Suwannee Correctional Institution
- Taylor Correctional Institution
- Union Correctional Institution
- Desoto Correctional Institution
- Hardee Correctional Institution
- Dade Correctional Institution
- Okeechobee Correctional Institution
Wreck Cuts Power To Cantonment Neighborhood
August 11, 2017
A single vehicle crash just after 9:00 Thursday night cut power to a Cantonment neighborhood. Gulf Power says about 140 customers on West Kingsfield Road near Highway 97 lost power a result of the accident. The power wasreported to be out until after 2 a.m. Friday. The driver of the truck refused medical treatment at the scene. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEcambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Firefighter Charged With Sexual Abuse Of Teen
August 11, 2017
A Poarch Creek firefighter has been indicted on charges that he had sexual contact with a teen.
Michael Leon Wood Jr., age 36 of Atmore, was indicted by an Escambia County (AL) grand jury on charges of second degree rape, second degree sodomy and enticing a child under the age of 16 but older than 12 for immoral purposes. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $250,000 shortly after turning himself in on the felony charges.
The arrest stemmed from an investigation that included the Atmore Police Department.