Debra Elaine Shields
October 27, 2018
Debra Elaine Shields, 56, of Molino, Florida passed away on Wednesday, October 24, 2018. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 from 3:00-4:00pm with a service following at 4:00pm at Grace Open Bible Church, 1701 N. Highway 95A, Cantonment, Florida 32533.
Myrtle Louise Peacock Gilmore
October 27, 2018
Myrtle Louise Peacock Gilmore, 105, passed away peacefully October 22, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. She was born December 15, 1912, in the Dry Springs Community of Pineville, Florida, to Luman and Lena Hollingsworth Joiner. Myrtle was one of five children.
Myrtle married Conard Cleveland Peacock in 1931. Together, they reared six children, Barbara, Bonnie, Voncile, Bernell, Wayne, and Tyrone. Their 50 years together included adventures such as working for the Forestry Service during World War II. Conard fighting fires, and Myrtle manning a 120 foot fire tower, triangulating fires and serving as a plane spotter during the war. After the war, they started the New Deal Café near the railroad depot in Flomaton, where soldiers could enjoy Myrtle’s good food on the way home from a long war. Later, they owned a small neighborhood store in Little Rock, Alabama. The family moved to Pensacola, where Conard worked for Bass Furniture, and Myrtle for Pleezing Grocery. Conard passed in 1981, shortly after their 50th wedding anniversary.
Several years later, Myrtle was courted by life long friend, Fred Gilmore. Their short, but delightful romance was a joy to watch, and Myrtle gained another daughter, Pat Bonner. Fred passed in 1991, after being married only five short years.
Born the daughter of a Holiness Circuit Preacher, Myrtle had a long history of serving others. Myrtle served the church as treasurer, Sunday School teacher, prayer warrior, and faithful member. As an elderly woman herself, she would provide rides for the older ladies of the church, meals for the sick and homebound, and make nursing home visits on a regular basis.
Myrtle loved the Lord, life, and family. Twice, Myrtle has celebrated five living generations, 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and most recently six living generations with the birth of her first great- great-great-grandchild, Johnathan Curtis Marti. And a sister Estelle Funk of Fairhope, AL. She is preceded in death by two daughters, Barbara Parker and Voncile Hughen.
Myrtle was well known for her many “Myrtle-isms”, such as, “I’m not a wealthy old lady, but I’m a healthy old lady”, “We shouldn’t judge others, but we can be fruit inspectors”, “The old gray mare, ain’t what she used to be”, “Don’t go get into any trouble, they won’t let me out to come get you”, and of course, “When you get home, call and let it ring one time. Then I’ll know you made it home ok”.
The family would like to thank Solaris Healthcare, the staff and residents who loved and cared for her, and shared their lives with her. Especially Sharon, Joy, Heather, Tina, and Mary. Also Emerald Coast Hospice, especially her nurse Robin, and volunteers Diane and Cindy, and long time friend Liz Richards. All of you helped to make her life richer to the very end. It was impossible to know her and not love her, and never doubt that she loved you right back.
A Celebration of Life was held at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home on Friday October 26, 2018.
Interment was in Little Rocky Creek Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ Cemetery.
Active Pallbearers were Terry McCall, Steven Peacock, Justin Morrell, Corey McCall, Parker Hudson, and Richie Tucker.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Kerry Eugene Harris
October 27, 2018
SSG Kerry Eugene Harris of Century FL, age 63, passed away October 26, 2018, at West Florida hospital. He graduated from Lake Weir HS in Fl 1973, enlisted US Army where he served as a wheel vehicle mechanic and retired and went to
Work for Dept of Defense as a logistics specialist, retiring aging in February of 2018. He served five deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He met his wife Connie Sue Dinwiddie and they wed in 1973, to this union they had two wonderful sons. Ryan Eugene Harris Ryan married Jennifer Nicole Kennedy, they have three sons between them, Jesse Kennedy, Nicholas Kennedy and Jaxton Harris; sonm Christopher Paul Harris, who Married Melissa Berringer and they had a son, Russell Harris.
Kerry also leaves behind a brother, William Paul Milam and wife Bev of Ca and his sister Priscilla Via of California as well as a host of nieces and nephews, and dear friends.
His twin brother, Jerry Guy Harris; mother, Maureen Milam; step-father, Paul B. Milam; and biological father, Bruce Oscar Harris precede him in death.
Kerry was known as a people person, never meeting a stranger, to his wife Connie he was a social butterfly, the love of her live. Those left behind in grief, mourn this great man and know he is no longer suffering, flying with his angel
wings, fly high and free. One day be re-united.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Friday Night Finals
October 26, 2018
Here are tonight’s North Escambia area high school football finals:
FLORIDA
- Pine Forest 35, Tate 20
- Northview 56, Snook Christian 0
- Jay 30, Freeport 26
- West Florida 21, Pensacola 0
- Escambia 35, Washington 12
- Pace 21, Milton 14
- Navarre 40, Gulf Breeze 12
ALABAMA
- Escambia Academy 48, Fort Dale 13
- Flomaton 20, T.R. Miller 13
- UMS-Wright 29, W.S. Neal 0
- Flomaton 20, T.R. Miller 13
- Williamson 7, Escambia County 2 (Thurs pm)
With $674 In The Bank, Century’s Gas Dept. Scrambles To Pay $33.6K In Past Due Bills
October 26, 2018
With just $674 in the bank, the Century Gas Department was scrambling for a way to pay $33,602 in mostly past due bills.
At an emergency town council meeting Thursday afternoon, the council voted to zero out a $11,030 reserve account and transfer $25,000 from a special revenue account in order to make payments that include health insurance premiums for workers and the actual natural gas sold to consumers.
The past due bills include $7,816 from BP Energy for natural gas, $1,200 to City Services and $912 to Florida Gas Utility due about 45 days ago. Another $10,638 is also 15 days past due to those companies. A $1,250 payment to the town’s financial auditor, Warren Averett, is 46 days past due, and $504 to Consolidated Pipe & Supply is at 50 days. Health insurance premiums of $2,567 to United Healthcare for gas department employees is 28 days past due.
Other “emergency” bills are less than a week past due – $236 to Verizon Wireless, $615 to Purchase Power, $30 to Louverne Starkie. One bill for $85.44 to Century Auto Parts was not past due as of Thursday; it has a Saturday due date.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said the emergency meeting was called for Thursday afternoon because “our bills would have been late”, and the town did not know if any service might be suspended before the next regular council meeting in two weeks.
“I called an emergency meeting; we got to get these checks out,” the mayor said. When asked if the town has every paid bills late before, he said, “we are breaking that habit”.
“We have lost our health insurance before. We ain’t going to do that again,” Hawkins said.
Council member Ann Brooks was out of town and did not attend Thursday’s meeting, and Louis Gomez was absent due to an appointment.
NorthEscambia.com will look at some of the other issues faced by the Century Gas Department in future stories.
Pictured: Accountant Robert Hudson (left) explains the Century Gas Department financial situation to town council members Sandra McMurray-Jackson, Ben Boutwell and Gary Riley Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Blalock Named Florida Social Studies Teacher Of The Year
October 26, 2018
Tate High School teacher Robin Blalock has been name the Florida Council for the Social Studies 2018 Florida Teacher of the Year. Blalock was named one of Escambia County’s Social Studies Teachers of the Year earlier this year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Lineworkers Killed By Suspected DUI Driver
October 26, 2018
Three lineworkers restoring power after Hurricane Michael struck by a vehicle and killed by a pickup truck pulling a U-Haul trailer near Chipley. The vehicle left the roadway and hit the men as they worked on shoulder.
Washington County Sheriff Kevin Crews said suspect John Goedtke (pictured) fled the scene before being arrested about five miles away. He was charged with DUI manslaughter, felony vehicular homicide and leaving the scene.
The victims were 52-year-old George Cecil of Cole Rain, NC; 22-year-old Ryan Barrett, of Roanoke Rapids, NC; and 60-year-old James Ussery of Chipley.
Even though the crews were not part of Gulf Power’s group of lineworkers, the company said the news was a tragic reminder of the dangers of working along the roadside.
“Nothing matters more than the safety of our customers and our storm crews, and after a storm of this magnitude, all of us must remain vigilant,” said Adrianne Collins, Gulf Power’s vice president of Power Delivery. “Risk from oncoming traffic is one of the biggest dangers our lineworkers face, and our community can assist with the protection of all our restoration team members by observing the Move Over law.”
Gulf Power offered the following tips:
Move Over law – The Move Over law provides safety buffers for those working or assisting others along Florida’s roadways including law enforcement, emergency responders, utility and sanitation workers and other public servants.
- The law requires motorists to move over a lane when passing.
- If they cannot move over, then they should slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
- If drivers violate the Move Over law, they could be issued a ticket, which could result in a fine as well as three points on their driver’s license.
Mad Scientist Night At Kingsfield Elementary (With Gallery)
October 26, 2018
Thursday was Mad Scientist Night at Kingsfield Elementary School.
It was night of madness for students, family members and faculty. From dry ice smoke to spider webs, from pumpkin oobleck to building with “bones” (AKA Q-tips), students got to experiment and create for a couple of hours of scientific wonder and adventure.
Photos by Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Better Fall Weather
October 26, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Becoming sunny, with a high near 70. West wind around 10 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 51. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Volunteer Sought For FloridaWest Board of Directors
October 26, 2018
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment on the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors.
Residents interested in serving on the board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business Friday, November 2. Resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502, or emailed to jhwitter@myescambia.com.