Clifton Wayne Simpson
November 30, 2017
Clifton Wayne Simpson, 66, of McDavid, FL, passed away November 28, 2017, in Pensacola, FL surrounded by his loving family.
Wayne was born on February 22, 1951, in Flomaton, AL to Clifton James and Doris Simpson. He graduated in 1969 from Century High School in Century, FL where he excelled in football and baseball. After graduation Wayne joined the United States Army and served for nine years. In later years Wayne worked as a barber in Pace, FL. He was a member of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in McDavid, FL. Wayne enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, Nascar races and Alabama football.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Clifton James and Doris Brown Simpson; maternal grandparents, Van Daw and Maggie Hall Brown and paternal grandparents, John Jefferson and Lucy Belle McNeil Simpson.
He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Dianne Caraway Simpson of McDavid, FL; sons, Randy Shane (Amy) Simpson of Cameron, NC and Jimmy Wayne (Valoree) Simpson of Buckeye, AZ; daughter, Sue Simpson Edwards (Jeff Steadham) of McDavid, FL; grandchildren, Aaron Simpson, Andrew Edwards, Ethan Simpson, Zachary Simpson, Abby Edwards and Sawyer Simpson; great-grandchildren, Easton Edwards and Ellie Edwards; loving mother-in-law, Betty Mooney of McDavid, FL; sisters, Kathy (Tommy) Ward of Bluff Springs, FL and Carol Mathis of Jay, FL; brothers, Bobby (Beverly) Simpson of Flomaton, AL, Toney (Renee) Simpson of McDavid, FL and Darrel (Joy) Simpson of Century, FL; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Visitation will take place at Faith Chapel North Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. with funeral services starting at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Nathan Brown, Rev. Harold Brown and Rev. Brian Calhoun will serve as officiants.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations are made to Covenant Hospice.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Dump Truck Driver Injured In Cantonment Crash
November 29, 2017
The driver of a dump truck was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital following a single vehicle crash about 4:20 p.m. Tuesday. The accident occurred in the 1400 block of Highway 297A, just north of East Kingsfield Road. The truck was hauling a load of rocks. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Local Teen Won’t Be Charged For Killing Stepfather
November 29, 2017
The State Attorney’s Office has ruled a local teenager acted in self-defense and won’t be charged in the fatal shooting of his stepfather.
According to a newly released State Attorney’s Office report:
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Circle K on Pine Forest Road about 1 a.m. on Saturday, October 21. Milledge Gordon was located in the backseat of his vehicle with a single gunshot wound to the back. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Deputies located a handgun on the trunk of the vehicle.
Gordon’s wife and four teenage sons, ranging in age from 13 to 17, were on the scene and were transported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for questioning.
The family had gone to the Pensacola Interstate Fair prior to the incident. Gordon consumed a large amount of alcohol at the fair and had an argument with his wife prior to leaving. Gordon wanted to drive but his wife did not want him to because of his level of inebriation. She eventually gave in, and Gordon drove from the fair with his wife in the passenger seat and the four boys in the backseat.
Gordon was driving at an extreme rate of speed and swerving in and out of traffic as his passengers screamed at him to pull the vehicle over. He eventually pulled into the parking lot of the Circle K, which was closed at the time. He then began to attack his wife as his 17-year old stepson reached over the seat to stop the attack. Gordon exited the vehicle, got into the backseat as the boys attempted to escape from the other side of the car. Gordon was able to grab the 17-year old and get on top of him in the backseat and begin punching and choking the teen.
The 16-year old got out of the backseat and popped the trunk, which he knew contained his mother’s purse and a firearm. He retrieved the firearm and pointed it at his stepfather.
Gordon outweighed his stepson by approximately 80 pounds and was laying on top of the boy choking him. The 16-year old shouted at Gordon to get off of his brother but was ignored. He warned his stepfather a second time but Gordon continued to attack the old teen.
The 16-year old then fired a single shot, striking Gordon in the upper back. The boys attempted to render aid to Gordon and 911 was called. The wife and her four sons remained at the scene and gave voluntary statements to law enforcement.
At the time the teen fired the single shot, his brother was in danger of death or great bodily harm due to being choked by Gordon, according to the State Attorney’s Office. He reasonably believed that the single gunshot was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to his brother.
Partly Sunny And Warm Today, Fog Tonight
November 29, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Company Says No Starbucks For Molino; Another Restaurant With New Gas Station
November 29, 2017
The company planning a new convenience store in Molino says it won’t actually include a Starbucks, but rather another fast food franchise.
NorthEscambia.com published a story Tuesday that stated “the new convenience store/gas station will be constructed ‘with a Starbucks attached to the side’,” as taken directly and accurately from documents submitted to Escambia County by Milam & Co. Construction on behalf of Diamond Oil in Atmore. [Click here to read the entire document, or see excerpt below.]
But Roy White, president of Diamond Oil in Atmore, said Tuesday night that the “Starbucks” reference was a typographical or clerical error in the document. Instead, White said the store will include a franchise food outlet, but he can not name the company until agreements are complete.
“That was an error in the letter,” White said. “We will have a restaurant, but I can tell you it definitely will not be a Starbucks.”
The new convenience store — and the yet to be named restaurant — will be located on 8.22 acres at the northwest corner of the intersection, across Highway 97 and north of the current Tom Thumb store. It is planned to have two fueling station canopies — one for regular gasoline and the second for diesel and commercial vehicle operations.
The Escambia County Development Review Committee will hold a pre-application meeeting on store plans this Thursday afternoon. Before construction could begin,the plans must go through several more steps in the county approval process. At the pre-application stage, there is no assurance that plans will ever reach the construction stage or that the facility will have the currently outlined layout.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Thursday Is Final Day For Property Tax Discount
November 29, 2017
Thursday, November 30 is the last day to receive a four percent discount on real estate and tangible personal property taxes, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
Payments will receive the four percent discount if:
· mailed with a November postmark;
· left by midnight, November 30, in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations; or
· made online by midnight, November 30, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
Taxpayers are encouraged to pay online; however, other options are available such as mail, phone and in person at any of our four convenient tax collector offices.
To check the status of your taxes and pay online, visit www.escambiataxcollector.com. For more information, call the tax collector’s office at (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252.
Tate High Hosting Souper Bowl And Student Gallery Night
November 29, 2017
The Tate High School Art Department is hosting their third annual “Souper Bowl” this Friday from 5-7 p.m. in the Art building, in conjunction with Student Gallery Night.
Students have been working hard on handmade ceramic bowls and other arts and crafts to sell at this event. All the proceeds will go towards Tate’s ceramics program, with a portion of the profits going to benefit Sean’s Outpost, a local homeless outreach.
Student artists will also be selling a variety of artwork including photography, paintings, jewelry and more. Organizers said this is a great opportunity to get some unique holiday gifts. In addition, the first 25 people who bring a non-perishable food item or a pair of new socks to donate to Sean’s Outpost will also receive a free ceramic ornament.
“We find ourselves working harder each year to raise funds to pay for our materials — clay, glaze, tools and equipment. Aggie Artists accomplish a lot on a limited budget,” said Tate teacher Jennifer Rodriguez. “With a little more we could give our students more experiences, update ancient equipment and create bigger pieces of art with higher quality materials. By supporting our Souper Bowl you will contribute to students sculpting their ideas into clay, throwing bowls on the potter’s wheel and more, as well as helping our area homeless.”
During the event, there will be music, art, food and fun for all ages. The cost is $10 to purchase a handmade bowl plus food and drink, or $5 to purchase just food and drink. For more information, contact Jennifer Rodriguez a (850) 937-2300 ext. 601 or email jrodriguez1@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Molino Library Names Turkey Coloring Contest Winners
November 29, 2017
The Molino Branch Library held a Thanksgiving turkey coloring contest, with prizes awarded to the top art in each age category. Picture above (L-R), with the artwork below in the same order, are contest winners (Name not submitted), age 12; Camden, age 8; Megan, age 5; and Georgia, age 3. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century’s Jake Livingston Honored For Autism Fundraising Efforts
November 29, 2017
The recent 6th Steps for Autism event at the Blue Wahoos stadium raised over $50,000 for Autism Pensacola.
Participating teams raised $30,000 of the total. In second place for team fundraising was Team Rylee, Jake Livingston of Century. First in the business team was Team Ascend.
All funds stay local and support the mission and programs of Autism Pensacola, including safety, quality of life, and awareness initiatives in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
During his fundraising efforts for the Austism Pensacola, Jake also secured a $500 direct donation from the Century Town Council to Century Academy to support autism education. [Previous story...]
Pictured top: Jake Livingston was presented his second place autism fundraising team plaque Tuesday by Susan Byram, president and CEO of Autism Pensacola. Pictured below: “Sheriff” Jake Livingston at home in Hazzard County. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century To Officially Light Christmas Tree Thursday Evening
November 29, 2017
Century will hold an official Christmas tree lighting ceremony beginning promptly at 5 p.m. Thursday. The short ceremony will take place in the Nadine McCaw Park located on North Century Boulevard at Hecker Street. Children from Byrneville Elementary School will perform Christmas songs during the event. Pictured: Century’s Christmas Tree lighting ceremony last year in Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
