Kenneth R. Morgan
October 13, 2018
Kenneth R. Morgan of Molino passed away peacefully in his home Tuesday, October 9, 2018, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 75. Mr. Morgan was born in the Tatertown area of Pensacola on August 12, 1943. He worked in the electrical power industry for more than 51 years. He worked for R. H. Bouligny for 30 years, Gulf Power for 16 years, and Gulf Power Contractors for five years.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Grady and Mable Morgan; three siblings, Judy Pearl, Michael, and Perry.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Morgan, three siblings, Tim Morgan (Barbara), Pat Powell, and Teresa Morgan (Danny), three daughters, Sheila Bozeman (Steve), and Krystal Zepp (Matt), and Sammie Copple (Shane); grandchildren, Connor, Logen (Kaitlyn), Cameron, Will, Morgan, Gavin, and Quinton; great-granddaughter, Emmerson; and many special nieces and nephews.
Kenneth brought joy to family, friends, and countless children at local schools and other events as Santa Claus for many years. He was a gentle giant who loved, and was loved by all who knew him.
Funeral services will be held on Monday October 15, 2018, at Faith Chapel North. The family will receive friends from 4:30 pm until funeral services begin at 6:00 pm.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Rosalyn Slay
October 13, 2018
Ms. Rosalyn Slay, 65, passed away on Sunday, October 7, 2018, in Daphne, Alabama.
Ms. Slay was a native of Bay Minette, AL and had resided in Baldwin County, AL most of her life. She is preceded in death by her parents, Alvin Charles and Ruth Slay, Jr.
She is survived by her brother, Charles Edward Slay of Daphne, AL; sister, Martha C. Slay of Daphne, AL; nephew, Mark (Karen) Moore of Daphne, AL; two great nephews, Reilly Moore and Colston Moore both of Daphne, AL and one great niece, Kaylee Owens of Chatham, AL.
Visitation was held Friday, October 12, 2018 from 10:00 AM until 12 Noon at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Mary LaVonne LaCoste
October 13, 2018
Mary LaVonne “Vonnie” LaCoste, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend was welcomed into the kingdom of Heaven on October 10, 2018 following a characteristically courageous and hard-fought battle with Alzheimer’s. She was 82.
Born the sixth of seven children on April 9, 1936, in Jay, Florida to Andrew and Lilly Mae Dunsford, Vonnie had fond memories of her childhood where she helped pick cotton in her sharecropper father’s fields and learned to cook biscuits when she was so little she had to pull up a chair to stand on beside her mother. She was raised in both Jay and Century and attended Century High School, where she met the love of her life, Melvin LaCoste. At 16, she married Melvin and they shared 61 years of love, laughter, tears and joy before he passed away in 2014.
Melvin attended apprenticeship school and learned to be an electrician. The trade took the young couple from Pensacola to New York City in the early 1950s where a teenaged Vonnie who had never been to a city bigger than Pensacola learned to navigate Manhattan. Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, they made their home where work took them: Utah, Idaho, California, Texas and Birmingham, Ala. Vonnie never forgot the adventures their travels yielded, nor the friends they met along the way. But home for her was always Florida and she was never completely content until she was there.
Vonnie worked as a waitress as a young woman, and later at Monsanto, but her true calling was motherhood and she was never so happy as when she had a baby to tend to, whether it was one of her own four children, her many nieces and nephews, grandchildren or great-grandchildren. Babies and small children gravitated to her; she could soothe the fussiest and calm the most temperamental. While adults might try her patience, she had an endless supply for children, and never seemed to tire when taking care of them.
Beautiful, feisty, smart, funny-Vonnie was an introvert in an extravert’s body. She was happy to be alone with her nose buried in a book, but could be the life of the party telling stories and jokes. She took pride in keeping an immaculate home, cooking Southern food that could rival any five-star chef, and providing common sense advice and a sympathetic ear in equal measure to her children. She and Melvin were dedicated members of Smyrna Baptist Church for more than four decades and their church family was a constant anchor in their life.
Vonnie enjoyed traveling with her husband and with her beloved late sister, Betty Fuller, and especially loved the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. She loved country music artists like George Jones, Johnny Horton, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn and sang their songs to generations of children as she rocked them to sleep. But to her no one sang as sweetly as her own Melvin and she could never reconcile herself to being separated from him, even if temporarily. Those who love her are rejoicing in their reunion.
Vonnie was a matriarch of a massive extended family, all with personal memories of how she touched their lives. She will be remembered for her beauty-both inside and out-her fierce loyalty, her strong faith, her tender heart, and her passionate love for her husband and family.
Vonnie is preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Melvin LaCoste, Sr.; parents, Andrew and Lillie Mae Dunsford; sisters, Cammie Simmons and Betty Fuller; and brothers, Dewy, Rudolph, Cleon and A.T. Dunsford.
She is survived by her four children and 12 grandchildren, Skip LaCoste of Pensacola, wife Jean and children Kari LaCoste-Jones, Joshua and Sarah Emerich; Tim LaCoste of Slidell, La., wife Vickie and children Megan Gulledge, and Leanne and Chantry Huffman; Scott LaCoste of Chumuckla, wife Mitzi and children Wyatt and Cameron LaCoste and Alexis and Nate Gentry; and Jenny LaCoste Caputo of Austin, Tx., husband Anton and children Dante and Lexi. She also survived by nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers are grandsons Joshua LaCoste, Dante Caputo, Wyatt LaCoste, Cameron LaCoste, and nephews Bryan LaCoste, Danny Fuller and Marc Fuller.
Funeral services were held Saturday, October 13, 2018, at Faith Chapel North, with interment at Bayview Memorial Park, 3351 Scenic Hwy., Pensacola.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Michael Recovery Starts Amid ‘Unimaginable’ Destruction
October 12, 2018
Gov. Rick Scott called the destruction from Hurricane Michael “unimaginable,” as “homes are gone, businesses are gone.”
A state emergency-management official said all hospitals in the impacted region have reported some form of “critical failure” — water and sewage problems or infrastructure issues such as crumbling walls — that required patients to be relocated and medical field hospitals to be set up. (Pictured left: A patient from Panama City arrives at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola on Thursday.)
The official said that after Hurricane Irma in September 2017, a field hospital was required in the Florida Keys for a year, and similar situations may be required with Michael.
Similar issues were arising at nursing homes, and crews were flying in supplies to Florida State Hospital at Chattahoochee, which serves patients with mental illness.
Meanwhile, the state is expecting a surge in humanitarian needs, from a lack of food and water to housing
Scott traveled Thursday afternoon with the Florida National Guard to Panama City and Mexico Beach, where Michael came ashore midday Wednesday with 155 mph maximum sustained winds, the strongest ever recorded in the region.
Scott, who expressed frustration about people dismissing evacuation orders on Tuesday as Michael rapidly grew into a Category 4 storm, told evacuees not to return home as roads remain closed by flooding, downed trees and power lines.
“It’s going to take some time to survey and clear all the roads,” Scott said.
The Florida National Guard has deployed 3,500 members for search-and-rescue and humanitarian aid, with assistance from National Guard units from as far away as New York and Kansas. The Florida Highway Patrol has 450 troopers working in the Panhandle, while 150 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers are conducting rescue missions.
Search teams — working by air, boat and on the ground — have entered Panama City, Mexico Beach, Alligator Point, Eastpoint, St. George Island and Apalachicola. The U.S. Coast Guard ran 10 rescue missions into the region Wednesday night.
The Red Cross is bringing in 500 disaster relief workers.
More than 5,000 people were in 34 shelters that have been opened across the region.
by The News Service of Florida
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bodies Of Two Flomaton Residents Found In Texas; Third Resident Still Missing
October 12, 2018
UPDATE — The Junction (TX) Police Department said the bodies of two flood victims were recovered Thursday. Both were reportedly from Flomaton; their names have not been officially released by authorities.
“Search and Rescue operations located two bodies along the edge of the South Llano River approximately nine miles downstream from the South Llano Recreational Vehicle Park in Junction, Texas,” the department said. “…Names of victims will not be released until autopsies have been completed.”
Two other people, one from Flomaton and one from Texas, remain missing.
Previous story:
Three Flomaton residents are among four people reported missing after a flash flood Monday morning in Junction, Texas, about 140 miles west of Austin.
Charlotte Moye, Joey Huss and Mike McGee, all of Flomaton, have not been seen since they were apparently swept away by the South Llano River. Flomaton residents Janet Shultz, Todd Shultz and Darlene Huss were rescued on Monday. Janet Shultz was found about 23 miles downstream and airlifted to San Antonio.
Darin Hartman of San Angelo, Texas, is also still missing, according to local news reports.
Moye had gone to Junction to deliver a vehicle to another family member. The missing were at a RV park next to the river when the waters rose rapidly after a deluge of rain, sweeping everything away.
Numerous Flomaton residents are joining scores of others in the search, including the U.S. Border Patrol, Texas Parks and Wildlife and other agencies. The Junction Police Department said Wednesday that the search and rescue mission will continue for several days.
Pictured: A pickup truck buried by flooding along the South Llano River in Junction, TX. Pictured inset: State crews search from the air Wednesday along the river for four missing people. Pictured below: Vehicles, motor homes and other debris line the river area. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Power Crews Continue Restoration Efforts
October 12, 2018
Crews restored power to more than 25,000 Gulf Power customers without power in the wake of Hurricane Michael, but much work remains to be done in the Panama City area.
With power fully restored to all customers in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, Gulf Power crews, with more than 3,000 storm personnel from around the country, are descending on the Panama City area to begin the restoration and rebuilding process. But customers may not see the bigger bucket trucks with crews working on the streets until roads are cleared and safe.
“Our process following the storm begins with our evaluation teams arriving in smaller trucks that can more easily navigate through debris and damage,” said Gulf Power spokesperson, Jeff Rogers. “Those teams are working to determine the damage to our grid in Panama City, but roads must be cleared and made safe before crews can get their larger bucket trucks in to begin the restoration and rebuilding process.”
Once roads are made safe, and a strategic restoration plan is in place, crews will begin the restoration and rebuilding process. This process begins with transmission lines, which are the larger lines on the taller poles that bring power from Gulf Power’s generating plants to the substations. Planes and drones will be flying the lines inspecting damage and transmission crews will begin making repairs.
While the transmission lines are being inspected and repaired, substation crews will be inspecting and repairing substations. Substations step down the voltage of the electricity from the power plants to a level that powers homes and businesses.
While any repairs are being made to the substations, crews will be inspecting the distribution lines and beginning the restoration process. Distribution lines carry electricity from our substations to homes and businesses.
The strength of Hurricane Michael could mean a rebuild of infrastructure, which may take weeks in the hardest hit areas.
“Gulf Power is committed to restoring power to customers in every community we serve across Northwest Florida,” said Rogers. “We’re in this together, and this is why our crews do what they do — restoring power and hope for our customers.”
Athletes Run Cross Country Meet In Honor Of Breast Cancer Survivors
October 12, 2018
Athletes in cross country meet Thursday afternoon at Northview High School ran in honor of breast cancer survivors, including Athletic Director Obreonne Smith and teacher Vicki Cook.
Results:
Boys:
1st – Northview
2nd – Flomaton
Central ran individuals
Girls:
NHS, Flomaton, and Central ran individuals
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Cross country runners with breast cancer survivor Obreonne Smith (near center with sunglasses) before a cross country meet Thursday at Northview High School (photo by Crystal Godwin). Pictured below. Runners cross the finish line. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Trying To Find Someone Missing After Michael? Florida National Guard Can Help
October 12, 2018
The Florida National Guard has launched a website to report a person missing after Hurricane Michael.
There are serious communications issues, according to the Guard, limiting contact with victims. The State Emergency Operations Center will route the reports to the appropriate local agency for action.
EREC Sends Bunk, Shower Trailers For Hurricane Michael Restoration
October 12, 2018
Escambia River Electric Cooperative is pitching in to help neighboring cooperatives recover from Hurricane Michael.
EREC sent three bunk trailers and a shower trailer to Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative in Southport and two bunk trailers to West Florida Electric Cooperative in Graceville. These cooperatives received significant damage in Hurricane Michael’s devastating path through Florida. The trailers will be used by electric co-op crewmen during power restoration.
One of the biggest challenges facing electric utilities during power restoration after disasters such as hurricanes is lodging. “It is difficult at best to find housing for hundreds or even thousands of workers in an area whose infrastructure has been devastated. For this purpose, EREC acquired trailers and renovated them into bunk housing,” said Clay Campbell, EREC General Manager/CEO.
EREC’s five bunk trailers will sleep 33 people each, and the shower trailer has 10 showers and sinks. The trailers are self-contained, each equipped with its own generator. The sleeper trailers have central heat/air and individual lockers for each occupant. Each bunk has overhead lighting and electrical outlets for cell phone charging. The bottom row of bunks has nighttime floor lighting as well.
Pictured top: EREC’s Lee Acree, Philip Gandy and Danny Duncan will mobilize the trailers for use by line workers assisting with power restoration. Pictured inset: The trailers roll out of EREC in Jay. Pictured below: Inside on of the trailers. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Dept. Of Corrections Cancels All Weekend Visitations
October 12, 2018
The Florida Department of Corrections has canceled weekend visitation at all facilities in the state.
Due to the response following Hurricane Michael and “in an abundance of caution” the FDC canceled weekend visitation for all facilities statewide for Saturday, October 13, and Sunday, October 14. This cancellation includes all major institutions, work camps, work release centers and annex facilities.
“The secure operation of our correctional institutions is the Department’s chief priority. Additional staff from throughout the state are responding to affected facilities in the panhandle. This proactive cancellation will allow staffing flexibility to assist in returning institutions back to normal operations.,” the FDC said in a release.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.