Willie Edward Smith
May 31, 2017
Willie Edward Smith, Sr. was born in Molino, FL on July 4, 1945. He went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at the age of 71. He was known by a lot of his friends and fans as the Guitar Man, when he played in the band. He loved his country and gospel music. At the end of each show they would close with a gospel song. Willie retired from Smith Bakery.
Willie is preceded in death by his parents, E.J. “Elluard” Smith and Lucia Margariet Smith; daughter, Tammy Lynn Smith; grandson, Daniel Smith; great-grandson, Curtis Smith; niece, Samantha Nowling; and several aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his loving wife, Betty “Kay” Smith; son, Willie Edward (Sandy) Smith, II; daughters, Sheila (Randy) Ballard and Christina (Chris) Cody; six grandsons, Christopher Phelps, Richard Ballard, Tyler (Kim) Smith, Devin Smith, Dalton Smith and Michael Cody; six granddaughters, Brittany Brown, Miranda (James) Benton, Skye Smith, Ashley and Kristian Ballard and Emily Cody; one great-grandson, Gabrielle Phelps with one great-grandson on the way, Jasper Wayne Benton; brothers, Melvin (Sharon) Smith, Charles Smith, Roger Smith and Paul Smith; sisters, Wanda (Robert) Cushing, Deborah (Cleve) Cushing, Hazel (Steve) Wilson and Leona (Don) Gafford; aunts, June Weaver and Mary Ann Patrick; uncle, Jimmy Denham; and several nieces and nephews.
Willie will be deeply missed by his wife and all of his family. He was a loving husband. The best thing that has ever happened to me. He loved all of his family. We were all very close and hope it will stay that way. That was his final wish.
Pallbearers will be Christopher Phelps, Chris Cody, Michael Cody, Richard Ballard, Randy Ballard and Michael Smith.
I want to give a special thanks to Brother Ken Johnson and his wife, Vickie for being here at our time of need.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help with the funeral arrangements.
Visitation will be Saturday, June 3, 2017, beginning at 10 a.m. with the funeral service to begin at 11 a.m. Brother Ken Johnson will be officiating.
Interment will follow at Pugh’s Chapel in Molino, FL.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Betty Marshall Burkett
May 31, 2017
Betty Marshall Burkett, 78 of Atmore, AL, passed away Tuesday, May 30, 2017, in Atmore, AL. She was a retired secretary from Alabama Power Company after many years of service. She was born in Atmore, AL on March 9, 1939, to the late Elmer Earl and Ruth Cole Marshall. She was a member of The First Presbyterian Church of Atmore.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Roy L. Burkett; and one brother, Franklin Marshall.
Survivors include one son, Jason Eric Burkett; and one daughter, Christy Burkett (David) Neff, all of Atmore, AL; and one granddaughter, Lisa Coleen Neff of Phoenix, AZ.
Services will be held Friday, June 2, 2017, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jim Thorpe officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends on Friday, June 2, 2017, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Lilly Miller Wells
May 31, 2017
Mrs. Lilly Miller Wells, 77, passed away on Sunday, May 28, 2017, in Atmore, Alabama.
Mrs. Wells was a native of Wallace, AL and had resided in Atmore, AL for most of her life. She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Johnny Miller and Elsie Burch; three sisters and two brothers.
She is survived by one sister, Shirley Kenney of Atmore, AL; a number of nieces and nephews and a special great-nephew, D’Angelo Riley of Bay Minette, AL.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at the Flomaton Cemetery with Bro. Ronnie Macks officiating.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Former Teacher, Coach Arrested For Sexual Contact With A Student
May 30, 2017
A former teacher and coach has been arrested for having sexual contact with a student.
Jason Paul Blaney, age 38 of 4884 Highway 4 in Jay, was employed by the Escambia County (AL) Board of Education as a math teacher, volleyball coach and softball coach at W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton.
Blaney’s May 26 arrest stemmed from a complaint received on March 30, 2017, by the Sheriff’s Office. He was released from the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on a $10,000 bond.
The case is still under investigation at this time and possible further charges may be pending. The case has been turned over to the District Attorney’s office.
Blaney was hired a W.S. Neal in 2009 after leaving Milton High School, to teach math and coach volleyball. He became softball head coach in February 2016. He resigned his teaching and coaching positions on April 12.
Escambia County, Century Free Up Housing Assistance Funds
May 30, 2017
A new agreement between Escambia County and the Town of Century will free up tens of thousands of dollars in housing assistance.
In May 2016, Escambia County made a total of $260,000 available to tornado victims in the town limits of Century for housing repairs.
To date, $174,761 has been expended or is currently allotted for 10 applicants. The original agreement between Escambia County and Century restricted the assistance to only those impacted by the February 2016 tornado in Century. The deadline for tornado victims to apply for assistance has passed.
An amended agreement recently passed by the Escambia County Commission will free the remaining $85,239 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance regardless of tornado damage.
The application procedure and timeline for the funding has not yet been announced.
Pictured: The first home in the town of Century completed under the SHIP Program through Escambia County and Habitat for Humanity. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECAT Offers Free Summer Rides For Youth
May 30, 2017
The Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) Summer Wheels Pass program is now in effect, allowing youth to ride ECAT free all summer.
The pass will allow youth 18 and under to ride ECAT from Memorial Day to Labor Day at no charge.
“We are excited that ECAT will be offering the Summer Wheels Pass to our students again this summer,” said Escambia County School Superintendent Malcom Thomas. “A bus pass can mean easier access to the public libraries, the museums downtown, summer activities all over town and even the beach. We hope the passes will encourage families to spend their free time giving their students new experiences as well as making frequent trips to the libraries because we all know that summer reading is a great way for our students to avoid the summer slide.”
The Summer Wheels Pass can be obtained with an application and a parent or guardian at the ECAT administrative office on Fairfield Ave. To download the Summer Wheels Pass application, please visit GoECAT.com or call Tonya Ellis at 850-595-3229.
Dedria’s Gift Presents Local Scholarship Awards
May 30, 2017
The charity Dedria’s Gift recently presented two scholarships to deserving Northview High School students.
Dustin Radcliffe will attend Pensacola State College to study music education. He plans to transfer to Troy University after two years.
Ta’Keyzha Johnson will attend Pensacola State College to study cosmetology. She hopes to go on from there to become an esthetician.
Dedria’s Gift honors the memory of Dedria Robinson who was killed in a 2005 automobile accident at age 11. The group annually provides school supplies for hundreds of children the Century area.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
May 30, 2017
Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
· Interstate 10 (I-10)/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I- Alternating lane closures on I-10 eastbound near the U.S. 29 interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 30 to 6 a.m. Wednesday, May 31 as crews perform paving work.
In addition, the U.S. 29 north to I-10 westbound ramp will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 30 through Thursday, June 1 as crews perform shoulder work. Traffic will be detoured north to make a U-turn at Broad Street to access I-10 westbound.
· I-10 Widening from Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to the Escambia Bay Bridge- Alternating lane closures on Scenic Highway (U.S. 90), between Whisper Way and Northpointe Parkway, from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 30 through Thursday, June 1 as crews perform paving work.
· Creighton Road (State Road (S.R.) 742) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway – Intermittent and alternating lane closures between 9th Avenue and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. beginning Tuesday, May 30 as crews begin sidewalk repairs and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades.
· S.R. 4 Routine Bridge Inspection over West Coldwater Creek- Alternating lane restrictions, 3.3 miles east of S.R. 89, from 8 p.m. Monday, May 30 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 31 as crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
· S.R. 30 (U.S. 98) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The eastbound, right lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 31 until 5 a.m. Thursday, June 1 as tankers deliver fuel to barges being used in the construction of the new bridge.
· Road Ranger Service Patrol on the Pensacola Bay Bridge – Service patrol vehicles will be stationed on each of the bridges between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends and major holidays. At other times, at least one unit will be on-call and available to respond within 30 minutes. Road Ranger assistance on the Pensacola Bay Bridge will be available by dialing the Florida Highway Patrol at *FHP (*347).
· Bayou Boulevard (S.R. 296) Resurfacing from Basiden Road to U.S. 90- Traffic shift and low barrier wall in place between Lakeview Drive and Conway Drive as crews continue working on drainage improvements. The traffic shift will be in place through the end of May.
· U.S. 29 (S.R. 95) Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- Alternating lane closures continue from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road and on Nine Mile Road near the U.S. 29/ Nine Mile Road overpass as crews perform drainage and bridge operations.
· Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29- Alternating lane closures continue on Untreiner Avenue as crews perform jack and bore operations.
Santa Rosa County
· I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281) – Alternating lane closures from the Escambia Bay Bridge to just east of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 30 through Thursday, June 1 as crews continue widening work. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange during this time as crews reconstruct the Avalon Boulevard overpass.
· I-10 Resurfacing from east of S.R. 87 to the Okaloosa County Line- Intermittent and alternating closures between the S.R. 87 interchange (Exit 31) and the Okaloosa County line from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 30 through Thursday, June 1 as crews perform paving operations. Motorists are reminded the speed limit is reduced to 60 MPH within the lane closure.
· Gulf Breeze Parkway (U.S. 98) Underground Utility Work at Woodlawn Way- The westbound, left turn lane at Woodlawn Way will be closed from 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 30 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, May 31 as crews perform underground utility work.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the construction zone, and to pay attention for workers and equipment entering and exiting the work area. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
This Week’s Escambia County Meeting Schedule
May 30, 2017
Here is the weekly schedule of Escambia County meetings:
Tuesday, May 30
Special BCC Meeting Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, First Floor Board Chambers, 5:30 p.m. (Agenda)
Wednesday, May 31
Committee of the Whole/Homeless Summit, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, First Floor Board Chambers, 9 a.m. (Agenda)
Development Review Committee, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 1 p.m.
Showers And Thunderstorms For Tuesday
May 30, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. West wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.