Election Day Tips For Escambia Voters
November 6, 2018
Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford is offering Escambia County voters some easy tips for Election Day:
- For reliable election information, use trusted sources. Check EscambiaVotes.com, our official Twitter and Facebook pages, or call (850) 595-3900 for information or if you have questions.
- If you are unsure of your registration status, check EscambiaVotes.com, e-mail us at soe@escambiavotes.com, or call (850) 595-3900.
- Registration books closed to new registrants on October 11.
- Confirm the location of your polling place. It is listed on your sample ballot, voter information card, online at EscambiaVotes.com, or call (850) 595-3900.
- Photo and signature ID is required for all voters – if you do not present an approved form of ID, you may vote a provisional ballot.
- The ballot is long and includes 12 constitutional amendments. Take time to review your sample ballot to familiarize yourself with all the contests and bring it with you to the polls. A sample ballot was mailed to voters and can be accessed online at EscambiaVotes.com.
- Early voting ended Saturday, November 3. If you have not yet voted or did not request a vote-by-mail ballot by October 31, you must go to your designated precinct on Election Day.
- Busiest times at the polls tend to be 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
- Remember to make only one selection per contest on your ballot.
- You may not return your completed vote-by-mail ballot to your precinct on Election Day – it must be returned to the Elections Office by 7 p.m.
- If you requested a vote-by-mail ballot but chose not to return it and wish to vote at your polling place instead, bring your unvoted ballot package with you so it can be cancelled.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely For Election Day
November 6, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Patchy dense fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Veterans Day: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Century Unveils New Website
November 6, 2018
The Town of Century has official unveiled a new website.
The site was built and is hosted by Municode, a Tallahassee based firm. Century currently contracts with the company to make their code of ordinances available online..
Municode submitted a base bid of $4,000 for design, development and implementation of a new website and $1,500 for annual hosting, maintenance and customer support. An interest-free four year payment plan was offered. Municode has been in business for 66 years and works with over 4,200 government agencies across the country.
Townofcenturyflorida.com was to be constructed using content management system (CMS) that will allow town employees to keep the site updated.
The town’s previous website was last updated in 2015. That website was developed by an area marketing firm in 2012 for $5,950, part of a $11,450 package that also included a five year comprehensive marketing strategy.
Escambia Man Gets Three Life Sentences For Shooting At Deputies
November 6, 2018
An Escambia County man will spend the rest of his life in prison for shooting at Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies.
Russell Lee Enfinger was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences on three counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder. These life sentences are mandatory without any possibility of parole.
On November 24, 2017, deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Holly Street in reference to an anonymous phone call about a subject with an outstanding warrant. The homeowner gave the deputies permission to search that location and they encountered Enfinger sleeping in a back storage area.
After the deputies spoke with Enfinger, he pulled a handgun and pointed it at them. The deputies exited the shed and ran for cover in the backyard, seeking refuge behind a cabinet. Enfinger exited the shed and fired numerous shots at two of the deputies, striking the cabinet multiple times and narrowly missing the deputies.The deputies briefly returned fire before retreating to seek cover.
Enfinger fled the scene by jumping a fence that led into an alleyway where he was ordered to stop by another deputy. Enfinger fired one round at the deputy before his gun jammed and fled over another fence.
He was later found hiding behind a dumpster at a nearby Taco Bell where he was discovered to still be in possession of the firearm. Enfinger suffered a single gunshot wound andwas taken into custody without further incident.
Pictured: The scene at a Taco Bell on Nine Mile Road following deputy involved shooting last November. File photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DeSantis Pins Hopes On GOP Turnout
November 6, 2018
In his final push in the campaign for governor, former Republican Congressman Ron DeSantis told supporters on Monday that he can win the race if the GOP dominates election-day voting.
“I think if Republicans vote and vote in big numbers on Tuesday, we will win all of these races,” he said at a rally outside the Freedom Pharmacy on the east side of Orlando.
He was joined by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., state Rep. Matt Caldwell, the Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner, and Ashley Moody, a former judge who is the GOP nominee for attorney general.
DeSantis told reporters that he is entering election day “roughly at parity” with Democrat Andrew Gillum after the early voting period, which gave the Democrats a slight edge based on calculations through Monday.
But DeSantis, who stepped down from his Northeast Florida congressional seat in September, said “a lot of our super voters have yet to vote,” referring to loyal Republicans who have voted in the last three or four elections.
“We just have a lot of our voters who want to vote on election day. That’s just the way they are. We’re definitely going to win election day, so I’m looking forward to that,” DeSantis said.
Rubio sounded a similar theme in his remarks.
“This sounds like an oxymoron, but hear me out. This election is going to be decided on election day, not just by the counting of the (votes) but by who votes,” Rubio said. “I know a lot of people are waiting until tomorrow. But we have to make sure they vote.”
Another theme struck by DeSantis and his supporters on Monday was an appeal to Hispanic voters. His rally was held in Orange County, which has the third largest bloc of GOP Hispanic voters in the state, although its 28,000 voters are overshadowed by 275,000 Hispanic Republicans in Miami-Dade County.
DeSantis said his economic message of low taxes and limited government will appeal to many voters, including Hispanics, in contrast to his Democratic opponent, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who wants to raise corporate income taxes by $1 billion to pay for teacher raises.
DeSantis called Gillum a “committed leftist ideologue.”
“That’s just who he is. If he gets in there, Florida’ trajectory is going to change dramatically. I don’t think we want to stop our economic momentum,” DeSantis said.
Rep. Jeanette Nunez, a Miami Republican who is running for lieutenant governor with DeSantis, slammed Gillum for Tallahassee’s crime rate, which is above the state average based on population.
“We understand that a good economy is important, but if your communities are not safe, all of that is for naught. That is something our opponent has a terrible track record in,” Nunez said. “If he can’t keep the city of Tallahassee safe, he can’t keep the citizens of the state of Florida safe.”
The Orlando rally was one of five campaign stops scheduled for DeSantis on Monday, with similar appearances in Jacksonville, Vero Beach, Pinellas County and Fort Walton Beach.
He was joined at two of the rallies by Lara Trump, a daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump. The president himself held two campaign rallies in support of DeSantis in the last week, including a Saturday night event in Pensacola.
DeSantis used Trump’s backing to make the case that if he is elected, the state will be in a better position to receive support from Washington, D.C., in contrast to Gillum who has called for the impeachment of the president.
“You should have a governor who can work constructively with the administration in Washington to make sure Florida is getting what it needs,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis along with his wife, Casey DeSantis, a Jacksonville television personality, will vote Tuesday morning in Ponte Vedra Beach. They will watch the election results at a campaign party Tuesday night in Orlando.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Florida First Round Football Playoff Tickets Available Online
November 6, 2018
FHSAA playoff tickets are on sale for first round football games through GoFan, the official ticketing partner of the FHSAA. Mobile ticketing allows fans to use their mobile device as their game ticket, providing a faster and more convenient entry.
Tickets are $8 each, the same as the gate price. A convenience fee is added to each online purchase.
CLASS 1A
CLASS 5A
CLASS 6A
Click here and select game from list
Other Classes
Click here and select from list.
Gillum Vows Areas Won’t Be ‘Forgotten’ If He Wins
November 6, 2018
Most of the houses, the ones still standing, are crowned with blue tarps, and the heavy-duty trucks are still clearing massive trees snapped like matchsticks on the back roads surrounding the Sunrise Worship Center in Jackson County.
For many members of the almost-all black audience who came to hear Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum speak Monday on the penultimate day before what voters have been told is the most important election in their lifetimes, Gillum represents more than the opportunity to make history by putting an African-American in the Florida governor’s mansion.
The Tallahassee mayor also carries the promise of delivering what some of the region’s black residents feel has been lacking in the aftermath of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Michael, which made landfall in the Panhandle as a Category 4 hurricane on Oct. 10.
“We need more support in the black areas,” Lori Hall, 42, told The News Service of Florida after Gillum addressed dozens of area residents during a final bus tour Monday. “It’s like we’re forgotten about.”
Gillum veered from his typical stump speech, in which the gubernatorial candidate points out that he’s visited places like Calhoun County, The Villages and other conservative locales, to target the folks in the audience, some of whose homes still lack power.
“Marianna, I want you to know that, even though this area is often referred to as the ‘Forgotten Coast,’ you’re not going to be forgotten with the Gillum-King administration,” Gillum, 39, said, referring to his running mate, Chris King.
Florida “cannot be all that she needs to be if we’re leaving whole parts of the state” behind, he said.
“We can’t reach our highest heights of potential. If we get parts of our areas that have been devastated by hurricanes, and we’re not real smart about how we reconstruct these areas, you start to lose population. Folks start to go other places. Jobs and industry decides that they don’t want to open up again. They’ll go someplace else. That won’t work for us. That won’t work for you. So you need a governor that’s going to go to work on your behalf to make sure that we get you back to 100 percent, that will get you back whole, that will make this an area that works, for everybody,” Gillum said, eliciting a roar from the crowd.
Gillum is facing off Tuesday against Ron DeSantis, a Republican backed by President Donald Trump, in one of the most closely watched governor’s races in the nation.
Trump traveled to the Sunshine State twice last week to boost enthusiasm for DeSantis and for Gov. Rick Scott, who is running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama held a rally Friday for Gillum and Nelson in Miami.
Gillum’s drawn other A-list support as well; he’s been joined by black and Hispanic athletes and celebrities on the campaign trail since his surprise Aug. 28 victory in a crowded Democratic primary.
Over the weekend, for example, actresses Eva Longoria Bastón, America Ferrera, Rosario Dawson, Zoe Saldaña and others campaigned with Gillum’s wife, R. Jai, in Kissimmee, home to a fast-growing Puerto Rican population.
After traveling to Marianna on Monday, Gillum was slated to go to Monticello, Madison and Crawfordville — North Florida towns not far from the mayor’s Tallahassee base. He was scheduled to close out the last day before the election with a “Bring It Home Midnight Rally and Concert,” featuring rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, Angela Rye, DJ D-Nice and others at Florida A&M University, where Gillum began his political career as student body president.
And Gillum’s election-night party, which will also take place at FAMU, will have some star-power, as well. California billionaire Tom Steyer, founder of the progressive NextGen America organization that focuses on college-age and young voters, will join Gillum and King, after meeting with students near Florida State University.
Democrats across the state — and the nation — are hoping Gillum can help their party reverse course after being shut out of the governor’s mansion for more than two decades.
Holding a blue Gillum sign inside the church, Rosa Pollock said she is “just elated” that the mayor came to her town.
“I’m 72, but right now I feel like about 20. It just gave me so much energy,” Pollock told the News Service.
The windows on her Marianna home are still missing, and a large tree is resting beside the house, but the roof is intact, Pollock said.
Gillum hasn’t won her support because he’s black, but because of “what he’s saying he can do to help this area,” she said.
“I learned a long time ago not to see color. … But I am so proud, on the other hand, that he is like me,” Pollock said. “His blackness is just the icing on the cake. That’s a smart young man. Trust me. He knows what he’s talking about. And I can feel his sincerity. I can feel that. I’m pretty good about being able to tell that about people. “
Pollock, a longtime Democrat, said she sees a boost of enthusiasm this year, compared to previous governor’s elections in Florida.
“Because everybody’s like, oh no. We’ve got to get this thing changed. We’ve got to turn these red states back to blue,” she said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Eric Kinnaman
November 6, 2018
Eric Kinnaman, 57, passed on Novenber 5, 2018, at his home in Pace, Florida. He was born January 27, 1961, in Logansport, IN.
Eric was a 1979 Logansport High School graduate. He was a three sport athlete and the starting shortstop on the 1977 and 1979 State Championship LHS Baseball teams. He was named an Indiana Baseball All Star. He played baseball at Columbia Jr. College in Tennessee before going to the Memphis State University Tigers Baseball program for two seasons. Eric was employed with FedEx for 34 years.
Eric is preceded in death by his mother, Carolyn Sue Kinnaman.
Eric is survived by his wife, Andrea (married 1995); daughter, Erica (Cody); step-son, Cory (Katie); Andrea’s parents, Jerry and Dana Alford of LaGrange, Georgia; Andrea’s brother, Todd (Tammy) of Brighton, TN; father, James Kinnaman (Sue); two brothers, Ron (Mendie) of Logansport, IN and Brian (Linda) of Middlesboro, Kentucky; nephews, Connor and Cooper Kinnaman and Matt Alford; nieces, Brittany, Paige and Jacqueline Kinnaman and Michelle Amacker (George) of Aurora, Colorado.
A Celebration of Life will be held to honor Eric in Pensacola, FL at a yet to be named date.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Martha Ann Ziglar Dunn
November 6, 2018
Martha Ann Ziglar Dunn, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin and friend, passed away on November 2, 2018, at age 85.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Foster and Euna Ziglar; sister, Mandie Ziglar; and husband, Wyman Dunn.
She is survived by her son, Larry Dunn (Wanda) of Troy, Alabama; daughter, Elaine Dunn Ball (Robbie) of Cantonment; grandchildren, Mark Dunn, Rachel Dunn, Heather Ball, Charlie Ball (Robin); great-grandchildren, Belle Fehr, Tyler Dunn, Jacob Dunn, Noah Dunn; and so many wonderful cousins.
Martha Ann was born in Ozark, AL, on February 3, 1933. Raised as an only child in the country, she grew up loving her cousins, cats and dogs. She married Wyman at age 17 and celebrated 62 years together before he passed away in 2013. They moved to Pensacola, FL in 1954 when Wyman started working at Chemstrand. Although she had several jobs in the early years, her job as mother was most important. Later she worked at Gerald Newman State Farm Agency for 30 years, eventually becoming the office manager. Martha Ann loved to help people and get to know them in the process. She had a great love for her Savior and her church family. She was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church for over 60 years and was an active servant for most of those years. Martha Ann had an intense love for animals, rescuing many that were in her path and loving all that she saw. She loved nothing more than taking a trip and loading up as many family members as could go. Martha Ann was always ready for a party and happy to host or help, there was always room at her table for one more chair. Martha Ann loved her family fiercely and will be dearly missed.
A Celebration of Life Service at Faith Chapel North was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
Burial will be at Sandfield Cemetery in Troy, AL.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Hillcrest Baptist Church, the Sandfield Cemetery Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association.
We are grateful to Regency Hospice and Sabal House Assisted Living Facility for their tender care of Martha Ann.
Faith Chapel North of Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Robert Gonzalez
November 6, 2018
Robert (Bob) Gonzalez, 66, of Cantonment, FL, passed away on October 31, 2018, surrounded by those who he loved the most. Bob bravely fought a battle with cancer and he now walks whole again with our Lord and Savior.
Bob served in the Army and retired from the Alabama Air National Guard after 22 years of service in the military. He was a crew chief on the KC-135 Air refueling planes. He served in the Kosovo conflict, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He also worked on the International Space Station at Redstone Arsenal. Most recently, Bob provided upkeep and maintenance at Grandview Assisted Living which he most enjoyed. He was dearly loved by the residents who voted him employee of the month. His charm and quick wit brought them joy on the most difficult days.
Bob will be most remembered for his love of people. He made his home welcome to all as he watched NASCAR, cheered for Alabama or listened to classic country. Bob was an avid golfer who also loved hunting and fishing. He never missed a moment for a punch line or an opportunity for a high-five. Bob was a friend to everyone that stepped onto his back porch.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Myrtle Redd Gonzalez; his siblings, Glenna, Burrll, Ann and Larry; and his grandchild, Brody.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Deborah (Debbie) Vinson Gonzalez; his son, Steve Gonzalez (Heather); his stepsons whom he loved as his own, Ricky Eggart, Steve Eggart (Laura) and Billy Eggart (Betsy); his nine grandchildren who called him “Pap Pap,” Cale, Lola, Bella, Jackson, Della, Marshall, Lilly, Emma and Jacob; his nephew, Tommy Gonzalez; his nieces, Patty Blaydes and Tammy Longen; his brother-in-law, Jim Divens; and numerous family and friends.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 8, 2018, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Funeral services will be Friday, November 9, 2018, at 10 a.m., at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Brother Dale Patterson, a long time pastor and friend of the family, will be officiating.
Cremation will be handled by Faith Chapel Funeral Home and a private service will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery at a later date.
In the words of his beloved wife, Debbie, “His magnetic personality attracted everyone to his circle. He loved people and delighted in surrounding himself with a crowd. You could not be around Bob without participating in the fun. He will be remembered forever with love and with a smile by his family and friends.”