Silver Alert Issued For Missing Santa Rosa County Man
July 14, 2017
UPDATE: Mr. Flowers has been located.
A Florida Silver Alert has been issued for a missing Santa Rosa County Man.
Kenneth Flowers, 83, was last seen in the 6500 block of Sinclair Street in Milton. He was last seen wearing a white polo shirt with small stripes, blue shorts and white tennis shoes. He may be traveling in a 2016 Toyota Camry with Florida tag 362PAR.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1191 or 911.
Ward Stewart Eicher
July 14, 2017
Just before midnight at Oakwood Manor, on July 9, 2017, God graciously took my husband, our father and grandfather, Ward Stewart Eicher, home to be with Him.
Ward Stewart Eicher was born August 24, 1923 to Leland Herald and Hannah Johnson Eicher on August 24, 1923 at home in Ithaca, Michigan. He was the second child in a family of 10 children. At the age of 16, Ward answered the call of God and was baptized at the Senora Hall in Summerdale, Alabama, by Minister Harry Wenger. These vows meant much to him and he was faithful to them to the end. Ward went to 1W Service at the age of 21. He served with the Forestry Department in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Sequoia National Park, California. These years held special memories for him.
On February 23, 1947, Ward married Dolly May Holdeman, at the Senora Hall in Summerdale, Alabama. They enjoyed seventy wonderful years together. In 1949, they moved to the new vongregation in Walnut Hill, Florida. Here they built up their dairy farm with hard work and muscle. Ward and Dolly welcomed two sons and four daughters to their home. He was a loving father and husband. We as children remember our Dad as a spiritual father with a very positive outlook on life. He was a good provider and a hard worker. Singing was an important part of his life. He was a song leader for much of his life and taught us to love music too. His prayers were a meaningful part of his life and were an inspiration to all of us.
In July 1973, we as a family lost our youngest son and brother, Glenn Allen, age eight, in a tragic farm accident. It was a heart-breaking time for us and we all look forward to meeting him in heaven.
During the 1990’s, Ward and Dolly spent time in voluntary service in New York City, Gallup, New Mexico; Homestead, Florida; Albany, Georgia and Albuquerque, New Mexico. They have many good memories of these times and learned to love the many young people that gave their time in service.
In their later years of life, August 2010, Ward and Dolly built a cottage at Oakwood Manor. They enjoyed the past seven years in this close-knit community of Brooksville, Mississippi. They gratefully benefited from the loving care and the positive environment of the manor.
Missing him are his loving wife, Dolly; one son: Greg and wife Rita, Fountain Run, Kentucky; four daughters: Vicki and husband Greg Benner, Newbern, Alabama; June and husband Gale Unruh, Fountain Run, Kentucky; Rosalie and husband Galen Schmidt, Walnut Hill, Florida; Andrea and husband Galen Harms, Century, Florida; and a Gallup daughter who became a part of our family, Lana and husband Amos Yost, Montezuma, Kansas. Eighteen grandchildren and
thirty great-grandchildren. Three sisters: Eunice Smith, Oakwood Manor; Imo and Wilbert Peters, and Althea Dyck, all of Walnut Hill, Florida. Three brothers: Willie and Lois Eicher, Wallace and Judy Eicher, Wendell and Mary Eicher, all of Walnut Hill, Florida; one sister-inlaw, Wanetta and Mel Huxman, of Moundridge, Kansas, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Ward was preceded in death by one son, parents, parents-in- law, two sisters, one brother, five brother-in- laws, and three sister-in- laws.
The family wishes to express their deep appreciation for the outpouring of love and support they have received from the many friends and caregivers at Oakwood Manor.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mississippi Wins Pitching Duel 2-0 Over The Blue Wahoos
July 14, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos fans were treated to a pitching duel between Keury Mella and Mississippi Braves Mike Soroka.
Mississippi and Soroka ended up getting the win, 2-0, over Pensacola to snap a four-game losing streak.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly credited the 23-year-old Mella and the 19-year-old Soroka on their performances Thursday in front of 4,497 in Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“Those were two good young pitchers right there,” Kelly said. “Soroka got the best of him but Mella really competed.”
Mella, ranked the No. 19 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization, pitched his best game at home, Kelly said, and his best since his last victory June 15 against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. He worked seven innings, only the second time he has done that this season, and gave up two earned runs on six hits, had no walks and struck out six, which was one shy of his season-high.
“He was solid,” Kelly said of Mella. “He was very aggressive with his fastball and had good use of his breaking ball.”
Mississippi, which have now won two of its last 15 games, scored its first run in the third inning when center fielder Connor Lien scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by right fielder Keith Curcio. Curcio also hit a two-out homer into the Hill-Kelly Dodge berm in right field for the M-Braves second and final run.
Mella, who has yet to win a start in Blue Wahoos Stadium, retired the last seven batters he faced.
Meanwhile Soroka, who pitched seven scoreless innings, allowed four hits, had no walks and struck out six. He is now 2-0 in three starts this season against Pensacola, allowing just one run in 19.2 innings for a 0.47 ERA.
A Canadian who chose baseball over being a goalie in hockey, now has 10 wins to lead the Southern League and his 2.37 ERA is only behind Pensacola starter Austin Ross, who has a 1.44 ERA.
Soroka is ranked as the No. 33 prospect in Baseball America’s midseason re-ranking lists and the 13th best pitcher.
“For a 19-year-old, he has a great feel for pitching,” said Kelly, who said Canadian baseball players are usually a year behind in development because the weather doesn’t allow them to play year-round.
Pensacola had an opportunity to score in the third inning on Soroka with runners on first and second and two outs but third baseman Nick Senzel struck out. Soroka mowed down the last eight Blue Wahoos batters he faced. Pensacola got just one more hit in the last four innings of the game when second baseman Josh VanMeter hit a bloop single to left field to start the ninth inning.
Senzel increased his hitting streak to 13 games, going 1-4 with a double off of Soroka in the third inning. The Cincinnati Reds top prospect is now 19-50 during the streak for a .380 batting average. The 22-year-old Senzel has hit in 15 of his 19 games with the Double-A team since being called up June 22 from the High-A Daytona Tortugas.
Pensacola is 10-11 in the second half. The South Division champions in the first half are 50-41 overall. Mississippi is 5-15 in the second half and 39-51 overall.
Pensacola is almost done playing 20 games in a row before getting a day off July 18 after the series with Mississippi is finished. Kelly said it isn’t easy.
“Twenty-game stretches are tough in this league with this humidity,” Kelly admitted. “It’s a good challenge for the players. We just have to be smart. This is July and this is in the South.”
Kelly also reported that Nick Longhi, who was playing in his seventh game for Pensacola after being picked up by the Reds in a trade with the Red Sox, complained about soreness in his throwing arm and said it affected his swing. Longhi is hitting .316 with a homer and seven RBIs for the Blue Wahoos.
“It was precautionary to get him out,” Kelly said.
A Whopper Of A Case: FHP Looks For Burger King Hit And Run Driver
July 13, 2017
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a hit and run driver that struck the Burger King restaurant at Highway 29 and Old Chemstrand Road early Thursday morning.
The accident was reported about 2:45 a.m. while the restaurant was closed. The vehicle that struck the building had fled the scene before first emergency personnel arrived on scene. There was no description of the vehicle available.
The building suffered mostly cosmetic damage with a few bricks busted off the side of the building. The business opened as usual Thursday morning.
Anyone with information on the hit and run crash is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at *FHP or (850) 484-5000.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Florida EMS Looks To Cut Atmore Ambulance, Flomaton Response
July 13, 2017
Escambia County may soon provide ambulance service to the Walnut Hill and Bratt areas while cutting out Flomaton as a primary response area.
Atmore Ambulance has provided ambulance service for the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Davisville and surrounding communities in the 327 telephone exchange since 1978. A similar agreement is in place between Escambia County (FL) EMS and the Escambia County (AL) Healthcare Authority for Escambia (FL) EMS to provide ambulance service in the Flomaton area as far north as I-65.
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said Wednesday that “there are serious issues” with the service level provided by Atmore Ambulance. “They are not responding in any what that we can depend on the response currently, and that’s not much value.”
Public Safety Director Mike Weaver has requested that the Escambia County Commission include 12 new EMT’s in his budget for next fiscal year, including four crews of two to staff an Escambia County ambulance in the Highway 97 area. Preliminarily, the ambulance would likely be stationed at the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97, but Weaver said he would like that location eventually moved further south toward White Ash Road to provide a broader response area into Molino.
An Escambia County EMS unit is currently stationed at EMS Post 50 on Industrial Boulevard in Century. It is the primary responding unit in the Flomaton, AL, but Weaver wants to end that response across the state line, allowing increased availability for northern Escambia County.
Any changes depend on the budget approved by the commission for the fiscal year beginning October 1. Escambia County’s contract with Atmore Ambulance is to expire in November.
Century Chief Regi Burkett Retires After 40 Years In Fire Service, VFD Presents Awards
July 13, 2017
The Century Volunteer Fire Department held a dinner recently honoring Chief Regi Burkett who has retired after nearly 40 years in the fire service. Burkett served Escambia County and the Town of Century as a firefighter since 1978 and as VFD chief since 1987.
David Adams has been named the new chief of the Century Fire Station.
The department also presented annual awards:
- Firefighter of the Year: Kevin Bullard
- Officer of the Year– Capt. Chris Barrow
The Life Saver Award was presented to the crew of Century’s Engine 5 that responded to a house fire the night of January 23, 2016, on Jefferson Avenue.
The crew followed their training and worked as a team as they worked to complete a search of the dwelling and then worked to extinguish the fire. During the search, the entry team located a male victim that was in the home and removed him to the care of waiting firefighters and the EMS crew. Their actions that night directly resulted in saving the victim’s life.
- Life Saver Award – Capt. Shaun Moye, Kevin Bullard, Heath Burkett and Cody Calloway.
Pictured top: Ann and Regi Burkett. Pictured below: Century Volunteer Fire Department (L-R) Assistant Chief Gary Johnson, Chief David Adams, retired chief Regi Burkett and Captain Terry Bush. Photos by Larry Walker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Pop Up Thunderstorm Kind Of Thursday
July 13, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Scott Weighs In On Local Use Of BP Money
July 13, 2017
Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday advised a non-profit organization that will help administer BP oil-spill settlement money to use the funds in a “transparent” manner that has the best return on investment for Florida.
“In reviewing proposals, I ask that you prioritize projects that create good jobs for families in Northwest Florida, diversify the economy, and have measurable performance standards to determine the projects’ success over time,” Scott wrote to Triumph Gulf Coast board Chairman Allan Bense, a former state House speaker from Panama City.
Lawmakers this spring grappled with how to use money from the settlement that stems from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. Bills signed into law (HB 7077, HB 7079) directed that $300 million of the $400 million already received by the state go to eight Panhandle counties heavily impacted by the disaster. The legislation eventually will steer, through the Triumph Gulf Coast organization, three-fourths of the $2 billion the state is slated to receive over the next 13 years to Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton counties.
The legislation set minimums for how much each county will receive and expanded the Triumph Gulf Coast board from five to seven members, with the goal of providing more representation to less-populated counties.
In his letter, Scott outlined that the money can be used in the eight counties for property tax-rate reductions; local match requirements with the Rural Infrastructure Fund; workforce training; and local government grants. Money can also go to public infrastructure projects shown to do such things as “enhance economic recovery,” Scott wrote.
by The News Service of Florida
New Indictments Related To Newpoint Charter School
July 13, 2017
An Escambia County grand jury has indicted Newpoint Education Partners, LLC; School Warehouse, Inc.; and Red Ignition, Inc., the same business entities previously charged in 2016, with additional, similar crimes allegedly committed in Escambia County and other Florida counties.
The indictments charge Newpoint Education Partners, LLC (“Newpoint”), which formerly managed charter schools in Escambia, Bay, Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Pinellas vounties; and School Warehouse and Red Ignition, which were vendors used by Newpoint, with thefts of hundreds of thousands of dollars of public funds in connection with fraudulently billing charter schools for computers, furniture, equipment, and curriculum services and then laundering the proceeds of the thefts through multiple bank accounts to conceal the alleged crimes.
The latest indictments follow the announcement by the State Attorney that the dtate brought racketeering and organized fraud charges against Marcus May, the principal owner of Newpoint, and Steven Kunkemoeller, the principal owner of School Warehouse and Red Ignition, for the same alleged crimes.
The indictments resulted from a joint investigation by the Office of State Attorney and the School District of Escambia County.
No Serious Injuries In Four Vehicle Wreck
July 13, 2017
There were no serious injuries in a four vehicle accident Wednesday night at Chemstrand Road and East 10 Mile. One person was transported to a Pensacola hospital by ambulance following the 8:20 p.m. crash. Five others involved in the crash refused transport to the hospital. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
