Local Student Grows Giant Cabbage
May 25, 2017
Savannah Hudson, who just finished the third grade at Byrneville Elementary School, is participating in the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program. Her cabbage weighs 17.5 pounds.
Bonnie Plants’ program originated to get more students interested in gardening. Bonnie Plants passes out cabbages to third graders with the students asked to grow and care for the plants. At harvest time, students can send a picture along with the weight to Bonnie Plants where they are entered into a $1,000 scholarship contest.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Michael John McKenzie
May 25, 2017
Michael John McKenzie, 29 of Atmore, AL, passed away Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Atmore. He was a warehouse worker with PCI. He was born in Mobile, AL, on September 25, 1987, to Troy Francis and Tammy Lynam McKenzie. He is preceded in death by his father, Troy Francis McKenzie; brother, William McKenzie; and cousin, Timothy “Gooley” Hayes, Jr.
Survivors include his wife, Jessica McIlwain McKenzie; mother, Tammy (Chris Burklund) McKenzie; grandmother, Bonnie Brown; step-father, Skeeter Crochet, Sr.; children, Shawn, Hunter, Hailey and Kailey McKenzie; brothers, Stephen (Dana) McKenzie, Nathan “Lil Shane” Powell and Skeeter “Bug” Crochet, Jr; one sister, Ashely McKenzie; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.
Services were held Thursday, May 25, 2017, at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Malcom Harrelson and Bro. Keith Lisenby officiating.
Active pallbearers were Randall Morris, James Smith III, Sketter Crohett, Billy Griffis, Keith Brown, Rudy Lynam, Justin McGhee, and Lance Hodges.
Honorary pallbearers Shane Ward, Terall Boutwell and Jerry Smith.
Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Dennis Scott Perritt
May 25, 2017
Dennis Scott Perritt, 54, of McDavid, FL passed away May 19, 2017, in Pensacola, FL. He was born on March 7, 1963 in Milton, FL.
He is preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Etheleen and Thomas Weekley.
He is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth H. Perritt of McDavid, FL; two sons, Gregory (Danielle) Perritt of Molino, FL; Jason Perritt of McDavid, FL; one daughter, Sarah Perritt of McDavid, FL; one grandson, Scout Perritt; two brothers, Jeff (Elaine) Perritt of Jay, FL and Barry (Melanie) Perritt of Pace, FL; his father, Joe Perritt of Pace, FL. His Aunt Carol Perritt was particularly special to him, as was a host of nieces, nephews, and all of his extended family.
Scott was employed with Alabama Power Company as a Fleet Technician for many years, and was well known and respected throughout the company. He leaves behind a large work family who will miss his heart of service and his quick wit.
A memorial service was held Thursday, May 25, 2017, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Stephen Houser officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Northview High Scott NJROTC, the American Heart Association, or the American Diabetes Association.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dottie Hayes Burdick
May 25, 2017
Dottie Hayes Burdick, 92 of Atmore, AL, passed away Sunday, May 21, 2017, in Atmore. She was a homemaker. She was born in Monroe County on July 7, 1924, to the late Riley and Grace David Hayes.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph Burdick; and one son, Donald Hadley; 10 brothers and sisters.
Survivors include her daughter, Imogene Boyington of Atmore; one sister, Gracie Mae Keymon of TN; seven grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 31 great-great-grandchildren and four great-great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held Wednesday, May 24, 2017, from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Sis. Helen Stewart officiating.
Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Jimmie Boyington, J.D. Boyington, Dustin Boyington, Billy Jr. Davis, Ashley Salter and Joe Smith.
Honorary pallbearer was Logan Dale Reeve.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Margaret Ann Mayo Bryan
May 25, 2017
Mrs. Margaret Ann Mayo Bryan, 87, passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in Jay, Florida.
Mrs. Bryan was a native of Century, FL and has resided in Poplar Dell, FL for the past 68 years. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of the Poplar Dell Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her son, Fred Bryan.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, W.A. Bryan of Poplar Dell, FL; one son, Bill (Jeri) Bryan of Cabot, AR; one daughter, Ann (Bill) Baker of Sarasota, FL; one sister, Claire Westmark of Pensacola, FL; two grandchildren, Greg Bryan and Meredith Baker; and three great-grandchildren, Chris, Haden and Caitlin.
Memorial services were held Thursday, May 25, 2017, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Mitch Herring officiating.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Molino Man Charged With Battery Of Pregnant Girlfriend
May 24, 2017
A Molino man has been accused battery on his pregnant girlfriend, who is the mother of his four other children.
Kendall Rashad Kennedy, 27, allegedly went to his girlfriend’s home and used his arm to hold her against a wall and choke her. The victim told deputies that the two began to argue over dinner when he pinned her against the wall and began slapping her in the face. The victim told deputies that Kennedy was fully aware that she was nine months pregnant.
The victim refused treatment by Escambia County EMS. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Amtrak’s Return To The Area In Jeopardy
May 24, 2017
President Donald Trump’s budget proposal released Tuesday would eliminate all Amtrak service in Florida and end ongoing efforts to restore service in Florida’s Panhandle and along the Gulf Coast. The proposal cuts funding for Amtrak’s long-distance routes, which includes all three routes in Florida.
“This just doesn’t make sense,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). “Eliminating Amtrak service in Florida not only affects the nearly one million Floridians who ride the train each year, it would have a real impact on our tourism-driven economy by making it harder for folks to come visit our state.”
The Gulf Coast Rail Service Working Group was established by the FAST Act in December 2015 to evaluate the restoration of rail passenger service between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Orlando, Florida. The previously-existing passenger rail service was stopped prior to Hurricane Katrina. Damage to the route has been repaired and freight service was restored, but the passenger rail service has not been restored.
In February 2016, a Amtrak inspection train across the Gulf Coast made stops at several location on the Gulf Coast, including Atmore and Pensacola. The train was packed with Amtrak officials, local officials and VIPs and the media to gauge the reaction to the possible return of rail service to the Gulf Coast.
Pictured top: An Amtrak inspection train rolls into Pensacola in February 2016. Pictured inset and below: The train also made a stop in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Clear, Cooler Tonight
May 24, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 81. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 62. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Light south wind increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Memorial Day: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Boil Water Notice Lifted: Filly Road, Filly Court, Winner’s Circle
May 24, 2017
Update 5/24 4 p.m.: Effective immediately, the Precautionary Boil Water Notice -PBWN- issued by the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) to customers located in the area listed below has been lifted. All results of bacteriological samples are clear.
A Precautionary Boil Water Notice -PBWN- has been issued by the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority to customers located in the following area:
- Filly Road
- Filly Court
- Winner’s Circle
- 791 and 803 E. Kingsfield Rd.
This notice is being issued following a break in the water main. Precautionary Boil Water Notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Residents located in the specified PBWN area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use 8 drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours.
ECUA crews repaired the main and have flushed out the lines. Residents are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at 850-476-0480 for assistance. Precautionary boil water notice guidelines are available on the ECUA website at www.ecua.fl.gov/water-quality/boil-water-notices-and-why-we-issue-them.
Special Election: Jay Residents Vote To Appoint Town Clerk
May 24, 2017
In a special election Tuesday, voters in Jay decided that the position of town clerk will be appointed every four years by the town council rather than elected.
The vote was 31 in favor of the change, 12 against There were no other issues or candidates on the special ballot.
With 43 total votes out of 405 registered voters, voter turnout was a low 10.62 percent. There were 30 ballots cast in person on Tuesday, while 13 were received by mail.