Barrineau Park 4-H Club Hosts Pig Palooza
February 6, 2018
The Barrineau Park 4-H Club hosted a Pig Palooza this weekend.
Over 55 youth and adults learned about pigs — including how to show their balloon pigs, breeds, and parts of the pig. They also learned about how to care for the animal and produce the best possible pork.
The event was in preperation for the GCA & NRYO Livestock Show to be held at the 4-H Livestock Property at 5701 South Highway 99 in Molino on March 24.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Clarence Ruben Davis
February 6, 2018
Mr. Clarence Ruben Davis, age 80, passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2018, in Atmore, Alabama.
Mr. Davis was a native and lifelong resident of Davisville, FL. He was a member of the Carney Lodge #549, American Legion Post #90 (Atmore, AL) and the First Baptist Church of Canoe. He is preceded in death by his four brothers, Hilton Davis, Sonney Davis, Clarence Davis and James Davis and one sister, Martha Alene Singleton.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Willodeane Davis of Atmore, AL; three sons, Donald David Clemmons of Atmore, AL, Jack E. (Sandy) Clemmons of Walnut Hill, FL and Charles Rodney (Lisa) Davis of Cantonment, FL; three daughters, Jackie Killam of Tensaw, AL, Pam (Peter) Christensen of Pensacola, FL and Kimberly Lynn Dasalva of Pensacola, FL; one sister, Dorothy Moore of Atmore, AL; 13 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Waylon Stuckey officiating.
Burial was at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Joe Mitchell, Troy Clemmons, Tommy Clemmons, Del Clemmons, Keith Bailey and Pete Christensen.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, is in charge of all arrangements.
GOP Candidates For Attorney General Are Already Battling
February 6, 2018
Expect the animosity to grow in Florida’s four-way Republican primary for attorney general.
Rancor between candidates was on full display Saturday during a forum held by The Federalist Society, one of nation’s most influential organizations involving conservative and libertarian legal minds, at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort.
Ashley Moody, a former Hillsborough County judge who has been endorsed by term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi, called out Rep. Jay Fant, R-Jacksonville, for political-committee mailers painting her a “liberal,” which she called “misleading,” “unjustified” and “unworthy of the office.”
Fant — one of four members of the Florida House running for the state Cabinet office — replied to Moody that “issues matter, and just because the issues make you feel uncomfortable doesn’t mean you’re being attacked.”
“These campaigns get difficult, they won’t get easier from here when the grassroots gets out there,” he said, adding she supported Democrat Bill McBride over Republican Jeb Bush in the 2002 gubernatorial election, and her family was involved in a 2009 lawsuit against President Donald Trump.
The Moodys were among 54 plaintiffs who claimed “negligent misrepresentations” by Trump and the Trump Organization about investments in a proposed development along the Hillsborough River that never got built. The case was settled with a confidential agreement.
Fant also said mailers Moody called “attacks” didn’t come from his campaign or political committee. However, Fant’s campaign has repeatedly referred to Moody as being a “Clinton liberal” and even called for her to be prohibited from attending a recent Republican Party of Florida event. She wasn’t excluded from the event.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican, showed Saturday he’s going to make courtroom experience a way to distinguish himself from two of the four Republicans running for the office: Fant and Rep. Frank White, R-Pensacola.
Span, in a question to Fant, noted that he’s litigated “well over 500 cases.”
Fant and White both pointed to their executive leadership positions.
“This is the attorney general position, not the solicitor position,” replied Fant, an attorney who works for his family-owned financial-service companies. Fant added that the statewide office requires executive and policy experience.
White, when asked by Moody if he’s ever served as a lead counsel who’s brought a case to verdict, replied there are “many paths to be an effective attorney general.”
White, an attorney who serves as general counsel and chief financial officer for the chain of Sandy Sansing auto dealerships, pointed out that Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, previously served as attorney general in Oklahoma.
Pruitt, who was a speaker before The Federalist Society on Friday night, included in his pre-election background the state Legislature and co-ownership of a minor league baseball team.
Pruitt “took that skill set and zealously advocated for the rights of Oklahomans and also set standards and, along with General Bondi, to lead nationally in fighting the Obama administration,” White said.
White, whose political committee United Conservatives has sent a mailer calling Moody a “liberal judge” for having once registered as a Democrat, questioned her stance on Second Amendment rights involving private property, including college campuses.
Moody, who abandoned her Democratic affiliation by 1999 when she was appointed a student representative on the Florida university system Board of Regents, replied that “people have a natural right to defend themselves,” while not directly addressing private property.
The Republicans will battle in an Aug. 28 primary, with the winner moving on to the Nov. 6 general election. Two Democrats — state Rep. Sean Shaw of Tampa and Hillsborough County attorney Ryan Torrens — are running.
The exchanges between White and Moody weren’t as sharp as her banter with Fant.
Such exchanges were able to occur due to the event format.
The Federalist Society initially gave each of the four GOP candidates and Torrens a chance to introduce themselves and explain differences on issues. Shaw did not attend.
Initial topics included the Second Amendment, future U.S. Supreme Court selections, the use of outside counsel in the attorney general’s office and how they’d respond to issues such as tort reform and marijuana enforcement.
Other than Torrens, there were few noticeable differences in individual stances.
Before concluding the event, the panelists were given a pair of rounds in which they each got to directly ask another panelist a question. For each round, no panelist could be the recipient of more than one question.
Fant, blocked in the first round from going after Moody, asked Torrens how he and Moody were similar.
Torrens declined to take the bait.
“I know there is debate and discussion in this Republican primary about who the real conservative is, but I’m here running on the Democratic slate with my own proposals,” Torrens replied.
Torrens had earlier drawn laughs from the crowd when ask who he’d recommend to the U.S. Supreme Court if asked by Trump.
“I know you’re going to love this,” Torres opened, before declaring he’d suggest former President Barack Obama.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Judith Lands
February 6, 2018
Mrs. Judith Lands, age 76, of Andalusia, formerly of Jay, FL, passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at Andalusia Manor.
Judith was a loving sister, mother, grandmother, and friend to all that knew her. She loved to fish and taught her nieces and nephews how to fish, along with her grandchildren that came later. Everyone loved to go fishing with Judy. She also loved to cook and was great at it. She will truly be missed.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert C. Lands; daughter, Deborah Blackwell; son, Tony Smith; step-son, Jim Lands and brother, Tobie Jones.
She is survived by her daughter, Roxanne Powell; three grandsons, Dustin Smith, Trask Blackwell, and Matthew Pruitt; one granddaughter, Tiffany Wiggins; three sisters, Lou McCall, Jessie Martin, and June (Larry) Edwards; one brother, Barney (Sharon) Jones and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at Jay Chapel, 3853 Highway 4, Jay, FL with Brother Joe Macks officiating.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the Chapel.
Carl Arthur Caraway
February 6, 2018
Carl Arthur Caraway, 78, of Cantonment, FL passed away Wednesday, January 31, 2018. Carl was the owner of Universal Glass in Ft. Lauderdale for 27 years, and from 1990 to 2004 he served locally as a trustee for the Escambia River Electric Co-Op. He was also a proud member of the Elks Lodge and Moose Lodge. His other passions included farming, fishing, golfing, and especially halter horse competition where he won several grand championships.
He is preceded in death by his parents, J.B. and Gertrude Franklin Caraway; sister, Eloise Otnes and a brother, Homer Caraway.
He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth Caraway; stepson, James Dyer; brothers, Clark Caraway (Edna) of Bratt, FL and Douglas Caraway, Griffin, GA; sister, Hilda Malone (Jimmy) of McDavid, FL; nieces, Sandra Caraway, Amy Holland, and Lisa Cross; nephew, Wilburn Caraway; many great-nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins and close friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101 or to your favorite charity.
Services were held Tuesday, February 6, 2018, with Brother Nathan Brown officiating.
Interment will follow at Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Margaret Lynnette Blocker Reaves Secrist Johnson
February 6, 2018
Mrs. Margaret Lynnette “Nett” Blocker Reaves Secrist Johnson, age 84, of Jay, Florida went home to be with her Lord and loved ones who’ve gone before on Sunday, February 4, 2018, following a brief illness.
Lynnette lived most of her life in Berrydale, Florida. Though she was a nurturing and loving stay-at- home mom, for many years she was also employed at Vanity Fair (25 yrs), Milton, FL, and Scotts (Greers) Grocery in Jay, FL. She also worked as a caretaker to the invalid, which included family members and friends because of her servant’s heart to do the Lord’s will in her life. She accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Saviour at an early age at Pine Grove Baptist
Church, Berrydale, FL. Her greatest desire was to honor and serve Christ wherever she felt Him leading; teaching Sunday School and Training Union in France, Germany, and America, youth director, pianist from age 10, choir member and service on several church committees throughout her 84 years of life and a great prayer warrior. Churches in which she attended and served included Berrydale Baptist, Eastside Baptist, Milton, Jay First Baptist, First Baptist East Brewton, AL and pianist at Pine Grove Baptist until recently.
She was the wife of the late Rev. Holley Secrist and honored him in that capacity. Lynnette was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend to all those that knew her. She came to know and opened her heart of love to several military personnel stationed at NAS Whiting Field who were far away from home, taking some under her wing and keeping in contact over the years as if they were her own children. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, singing, playing the piano, and reading. She will be dearly missed.
She was born December 1, 1933, in Berrydale, FL, to the late Bozzy Blocker and Margaret Eloise Lewis Blocker Bradley. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by step-father, Sollie Bradley; late husbands, Rev. Holley Secrist and Lenard Johnson; son, David Allen Reaves; son-in-law, John Coy Goldmillion; brother, William “Bill” Blocker; sister, Henrietta “Susie” Bradley-Carey and brother-in- law, Richard Carey.
She is survived by her daughter, Shirley Ann Reaves-Goldmillion; son, Dewayne Daniel Reaves, Berrydale, FL; daughter-in- law, Cindy Tanner-Reaves, West Pensacola, FL ; grandchildren, John Drew Goldmillion, Pace, FL, Carrie (Matthew) Goldmillion-Maggard, Elizabethton, TN; David Reaves, Jr., Daniel Reaves and Melissa Reaves, West Pensacola, FL; seven great-grandchildren; brothers Lloyd “Buddy” Bradley (Paulette), Jay, FL, Rev. Robert Bradley (Libby), Brewton, AL, several nieces, nephews, cousins and her dog, Sassy B. Gail.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at Jay Chapel, Thursday, February 8, 2018, 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Baptist Church, Berrydale, FL.
Family visitation will take place on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The Rev. Robert Bradley will officiate.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Florida Baptist Children’s Home, Pensacola Campus, 1000 Chemstrand Rd., Pensacola, FL 32533.
Margie Brown
February 6, 2018
Mrs. Margie Brown, 70, passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2018, in Pensacola, Florida.
Mrs. Brown was a native and lifelong resident of Byrneville, FL. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, avid fisherman, gardener and collected glass whatnots. She is preceded in death by her husband, Henry Brown, parents, Elbert and Esther Boutwell and numerous siblings.
Survivors include one son, Cory (Betty) Brown of Pensacola, FL; three daughters, Sherry (Gregory) Chavers of Crestview, FL, Sabrina (Ronald) Fischer of Century, FL and Deborah Elliott of Pensacola, FL; one brother, Alton Boutwell of Jay, FL; one sister, Claudeen (Bud) Kimmons of Castleberry, AL; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Monday, February 5, 2018, at the Beulah Chapel Cemetery with Rev. Donnie Kimmons officiating.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Private Investigator Murder Suspect Released On Bond
February 5, 2018
A woman charged with the murder of a private investigator was released on bond from the Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon.
Ashley McArthur is facing a first degree murder charge for the death of 33-year old Taylor Wright, a private investigator and former police officer. Wright’s body was found off Britt Road, just west of County Road 97 near Muscogee Road in Cantonment.
McArthur was released at 3:37 p.m. on a $400,000 bond and is required to wear a GPS tracking device. Under the terms of her bond, she must live with her mother in Gulf Breeze and must stay within Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. She cannot posses a firearm, and she is forbidden from returning to the property on Britt Road in Cantnoment.
On September 14, 2017, Wright’s girlfriend reported that she was missing. The girlfriend gave a sworn statement to Pensacola Police that Wright had not been seen or heard from since September 8. Prior to her disappearance, Wright had told her girlfriend that she had placed a large amount of money in a safe deposit box that belonged to McArthur, her friend. Wright said she had tried to get her money back from McArthur several times with no success. Wright was trying to get the money back from McArthur for court proceedings related to Wright’s pending divorce.
On September 8, Wright and McArthur met so Wright could get her money. Wright and the girlfriend communicated back and forth via text until about 11:20 a.m. When the girlfriend did not hear back from Wright after numerous texts, she called McArthur. McArthur answered and said Wright could not come to the phone because she was riding a horse.
The girlfriend continued to try to communicate with Wright with no success until 7:58 p.m. when she received a text from Wright’s phone stating that she needed time to think and get her life on track.
On September 18, McArthur met with a Pensacola Police detective. She told the detective that she had picked Wright up on the morning of September 8 and they drove to various locations during the day before going to McArthur’s family property in East Milton to ride horses. She said they were there for about an hour before heading back to McArthur’s residence in the Pensacola city limits about 4:45 p.m. McArthur claimed that she went inside her house, and when came back out shortly, Wright was gone.
During the investigation, McArthur’s bank records and cell phone records were obtained. Bank records show that on August 16, McArthur deposited a cashier’s check in Wright’s name for the amount of $34,000 into McArthur’s personal checking account. The money has since been spent.
On September 14, Wright’s girlfriend reported that she was missing. The girlfriend gave a sworn statement to Pensacola Police that Wright had not been seen or heard from since September 8. Prior to her disappearance, Wright had told her girlfriend that she had placed a large amount of money in a safe deposit box that belonged to McArthur, her friend. Wright said she had tried to get her money back from McArthur several times with no success. Wright was trying to get the money back from McArthur for court proceedings related to Wright’s pending divorce.
On September 8, Wright and McArthur met so Wright could get her money. Wright and the girlfriend communicated back and forth via text until about 11:20 a.m. When the girlfriend did not hear back from Wright after numerous texts, she called McArthur. McArthur answered and said Wright could not come to the phone because she was riding a horse.
The girlfriend continued to try to communicate with Wright with no success until 7:58 p.m. when she received a text from Wright’s phone stating that she needed time to think and get her life on track.
On September 18, McArthur met with a Pensacola Police detective. She told the detective that she had picked Wright up on the morning of September 8 and they drove to various locations during the day before going to McArthur’s family property in East Milton to ride horses. She said they were there for about an hour before heading back to McArthur’s residence in the Pensacola city limits about 4:45 p.m. McArthur claimed that she went inside her house, and when came back out shortly, Wright was gone.
During the investigation, McArthur’s bank records and cell phone records were obtained. Bank records show that on August 16, McArthur deposited a cashier’s check in Wright’s name for the amount of $34,000 into McArthur’s personal checking account. They money has since been spent.
McArthur’s phone records never showed her in the area of the family property in East Milton, instead her phone showed her in the area of Beulah on September 8 from 11:52 a.m. until 1:44 p.m. and again from 2:40 p.m. until 3:33 p.m. Police discovered that McArthur’s family has property at 2201 Britt Road, in the same area as her phone indicated.
Pictured top and bottom: Taylor Wright. Pictured mugshot, inset: Ashley McArthur.
County Bans Big Trucks In 9½ Mile Road Area, River Annex Road
February 5, 2018
The Escambia County Commission has voted to prohibit large trucks on several roads in the Cantonment and Ensley areas.
Vehicles over 10,500 pounds gross weight will not be allowed on:
- River Annex Road, from Muscogee Road To Jacks Branch Road
- Nine and One Half Mile Road, from Pine Forest Road to US Highway 29
- Ten Mile Road, from Edendale Lane to Stefani Road
- Edendale Lane, from Ten Mile Road to Nine and One Half Mile Road
- Ashland Avenue, from Ten Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
- Bowman Avenue, from Ten Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
- Cove Avenue, from Ten Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
- Fowler Avenue, from Nine and One Half Mile Road to Nine Mile Road
The truck ban will not include trucks servicing or having business within the area.
The vehicle weight restriction on River Annex Road is under consideration due to layout of intersections, narrow width, roadway condition and potential shoulder hazards.
The restriction on the other roadways is under consideration to curtail truck cut-through traffic, which is undesirable on the designated roadways which are residential in nature and not constructed to support or accommodate volumes of heavy truck traffic, according to county documents.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
February 5, 2018
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 98 (Garden Street), State Road (S.R.) 196 (Bayfront Parkway), (U.S. 98 (Pensacola Bay Bridge through Gulf Breeze) Double Bridge Run- Drivers will encounter lane closures on the following from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 for the Double Bridge Run. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control.
- U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road – Alternating lane closures on U.S. 29 north and southbound, from Muscogee Road to West 9 ½ Mile Road, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Saturday, Feb. 10 as crews pave.
- State Road (S.R.) 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway – Intermittent and alternating lane closures between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Saturday, Feb. 10 continue as crews perform milling, paving, sidewalk and curb replacement.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I – The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Thursday, Feb. 8:
- Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound and U.S. 29 north and southbound.
- The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
- The exit ramp from I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 south (Exit 10A) will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured to U.S. 29 north (Exit 10B).
- Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north (Exit 10B).
- I-10 Widening from Davis Highway to the Escambia Bay Bridge – Intermittent and alternating lane closures on I-10, between Davis Highway (Exit 13) and Scenic Highway (Exit 17), and on Scenic Highway, between Whisper Way and Northpointe Parkway, from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Thursday, Feb. 8 as crews perform construction activities. The speed limit on I-10 will be reduced to 60 mph during nighttime lane closures.
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Alternating lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 11 as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road – Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Saturday, Feb. 10 as follows:
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: Eastbound traffic will continue to be shifted on to the westbound inside lane as crews prepare the area for construction of the support column for the new center bridge deck. Lane restrictions are Sundays through Fridays.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures as crews perform drainage work and prepare for upcoming traffic shifts. Lane restrictions are Mondays through Saturdays
- Upcoming traffic shift: Southbound U.S. 29 traffic between Hannah Street and I-10 will be shifted west onto temporary pavement Sunday, Feb. 11 as crews construct drainage improvements. This traffic shift will remain in place for many months.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – Traffic on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange has been shifted to the east so crews can reconstruct the southbound lanes of Avalon Boulevard. The shift will be in place through spring 2018. Drivers will also encounter alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Friday, Feb. 9 as crews work to widen the roadway. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, will also be encountered as crews reconstruct the overpass.
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 11 as crews perform construction activities.
- Garcon Point Bridge Routine Maintenance Operations- Crews will perform striping operations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 through Wednesday, Feb. 7. This will be a slow-moving operation, drivers are reminded to use caution and to watch for workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic on from the north end of the Yellow River Bridge to just south of Hickory Hammock Road, will be shifted to the newly constructed travel lanes Wednesday, Feb. 7. Variable message boards will alert drivers of the new traffic pattern. In addition, traffic between Hickory Hammock Road and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is complete.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.