J.A. Butch Fillingim
October 19, 2017
J.A. (Butch) Fillingim, 75, was born January 29, 1942, and passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his love ones on October 14, 2017. Butch loved brim fishing with his buddies and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed watching and seeing his grandsons in whatever activities they were involved in. He was a member of the Hadji Shriners Antique Car Unit. Butch was always busy working on something and was not one for sitting around. He loved his girls and grandsons dearly. He loved his Lord and Savior and was ready to meet Him.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Sherman and Mary Fillingim; brother, Skippy Scherffius; and sister, Mary Ann Clay.
He is survived by his daughters, Jan (Terry) Brown and Diana (Phillip) White; grandsons, Bo Brown, Brandon Brown, Phillip Paul White and Cody (Dezi) White; six great-grandchildren, Bryce, Kash, Beckham, Brantley, Addilyn and Ava; brother, Henry Fillingim; and sister, Kathy Jackson.
Pallbearers were Bo Brown, Brandon Brown, Phillip Paul White, Cody White, Hank Fillingim, Jud Fillingim, David Fillingim and Daniel Fillingim.
Honorary pallbearers were Henry Fillingim, Frank Fillingim and Clyde Creighton.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Reverend Drayton Smith officiating.
Interment was in Spruell Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home Northis entrusted with the arrangements.
Sara Nell Transou Patrick
October 19, 2017
Mrs. Sara Nell Transou Patrick, 60, passed away Thursday, October 12, 2017, in Atmore, Alabama.
Mrs. Patrick was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore, Alabama. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Atmore. She is preceded in death by her husband, Foster Patrick; father, Sam Transou; grandparents, Alton and Florence Tennant; stepfather, Dr. James B. Thomas; and uncles, Dr. Harold Tennant and Curtis Tennant.
She is survived by her mother, Nell T. Thomas of Atmore, AL; and her sister, Teri Transou Turner of Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Funeral services were held Monday, October 16, 2017 at the First Baptist Church of Atmore with Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating.
Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were David Ragen, Eddie Lowery, Karl Robinson, Roger Owen, Hal Johnson and George McGhee.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Wrong-Way Driver Collides With Florida State Trooper On Highway 29
October 18, 2017
A wrong-way driver collided with a Florida State trooper Tuesday night on Highway 29 in Ensley.
According to the FHP, 37-year old Judy Ruhland of Pensacola was in a Chrysler 300 traveling south in the northbound lanes of Highway 29 near Devane Street entering a lighted work zone area. Trooper Knowles was traveling south on Highway 29 attempted to signal Ruhland by using her lights and siren.
The trooper accelerated ahead of Ruhlandand stopped in the paved median attempting to warn approaching traffic of the impending danger. Ruhland struck the left side of the trooper vehicle.
Ruhland was transported by Escambia County EMS to West Florida Hospital in serious condition. Trooper Knowles received minor injuries, and she was transported to Baptist Hospital.
The FHP said charges again Ruhland are pending analysis of a blood sample.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Great Sunny Weather Continues
October 18, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 77. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Century Council Approves New Town Logo
October 18, 2017
Monday night, the Century Town Council approved a new town logo that was designed in-house by clerk Christina Covan. The logo was approved on a unanimous 5-0 vote.
Dale Gilmore Named Tate High Teacher Of The Year
October 18, 2017
Dale Gilmore has been named Tate High School’s Teacher of the Year. Gilmore has been in education for 44 years with over 30 of those years at Tate High School. Gilmore is currently the Tate High School athletic director and American government teacher. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘Bonnie and Clyde’ Woman Gets 20 Year Sentence
October 18, 2017
The female defendant in dubbed a modern day Bonnie and Clyde for their multi-state crime spree last year has been sentence to two decades in state prison.
Brittany Nicole Harper pleaded no contest to charges stemming from crimes committed in Escambia Countyat the tail end of a crime spree encompassing Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida from January 26 through February 5, 2016.
Harper accompanied Blake Fitzgerald on a robbery crime spree during this time period.
Circuit Court Judge Scott Duncan accepted Harper’s plea and sentenced her to 20 years in state prison.
The local charges included principal to robbery with a firearm, home invasion robbery, three counts of false imprisonment and grand theft auto.
On February 4, 2016, both Blake Fitzgerald and Brittany Harper committed an armed robbery of the Famous Footwear on Davis Highway. Subsequently, in the early morning hours on February 5th, 2016, the pair forced their way inside the residence of a local family, holding them against their will for several hours before stealing their vehicle.
Due to local law enforcement’s efforts to locate them, they were discovered in the stolen vehicle. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office pursued Fitzgerald and Harper into Santa Rosa County. Fitzgerald was killed during an armed stand-off with law enforcement and Harper was taken into custody.
Harper also faces further prosecution for crimes similar to these that were committed in other states. She will now be released to be transferred to the other states to face the charges there.
Pictured top and bottom: The scene in February 2016 on Garcon Point Road at Saragon Lane, a short distance from where gunfire erupted, killing one member of a couple dubbed a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde by federal authorities. Pictured bottom inset: The home were a chase involving the Missouri couple came to an end on Saragon Lane off Garcon Point Road in Santa Rosa County. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Boy Scouts Learn About Government With ECUA Board Member
October 18, 2017
Boy and Cub Scout Troop 430 in Molino spent Tuesday evening with ECUA District 5 board member Larry Walker at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Walker spoke about his role and about local government. Meeting and speaking to an elected official is part of Webelos advancement and the Boy Scout “Citizenship in the Community” merit badge. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Fields of Faith: Community Worship Tonight At Northview
October 18, 2017
Northview High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes will host their 4th annual Fields of Faith at Northview High School tonight at 6:00 on the football field.
Admission is free; the public is encouraged to attend the student-led worship event.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Week 8 Football Playoff Point Standings Released
October 18, 2017
The Florida High School Athletic Association has released current projected football playoff point standings for local schools at the end of Week 8:
District 1-Class 6A
Escambia 39.00
Tate 34.83
Pine Forest 37.00
Washington 29.57
District 2-Class 6A
Navarre 36.00
Gulf Breeze 34.86
Milton 31.14
Pace 27.00
District 1- Class 5A
West Florida 41.14
Pensacola 28.14
Mosley 34.29
Arnold 27.00
Bay 28.57
Region 1-1A
Chipley 41.00
Baker 40.57
Holmes County 37.14
Bozeman 34.50
Vernon 34.50
Jay 32.50
Freeport 31.63
Graceville 26.80
Northview 25.88
Beginning this season, district play has been eliminated in Classes 1A-4A, with teams making the playoffs based on a points system. Classes 5A-8A retain districts, with the district champion receiving an automatic playoff bid.
For Classes 1A-4A, no region or district play is required, with each school controlling its own schedule. Four teams from each region (16 total statewide) will make the playoffs based on the new points system.
District play for Class 5A-8A remains, with 32 teams qualifying for the playoffs in each class. District champions will receive an automatic bid to the playoff and will receive a 1-4 seed based on the new points system. Four wild cards will be taken from each region based on points following the conclusion of Week 11.
For more information on the points system, click the graphic at the bottom of the story to enlarge and click here for a informative pdf.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.