Ronnie Morris
June 17, 2019
Mr. Ronnie Morris, age 58, passed away on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at his home in Jay, Florida.
Mr. Morris was a native of Jay, FL, former resident of Bratt, FL and had resided in Jay, FL for the past five years. He was a loving father, brother, avid fisherman, woodworker and retired from Swift Lumber Company with 37 years service. He is preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie and Mary Morris; two brothers, Alton Morris and Preston Morris and infant son, Michael Morris.
He is survived by his daughter, Ariel Morris of Jay, FL; brother, Mason (Debra) Morris of Jay, FL; sister, Vivian Joiner of Jay, FL; two special nephews, Shannon (Cheri) Joiner of Jay, FL and Jeremy Morris of Jay, FL and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Daniel Lay officiating.
Burial will follow at the Sardis Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 20, 2019 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Randon Watson, Jeremy Morris, Thomas Rhoades, Cody Bell, Frank Lowry and Mickey Diamond.
Alabama Pursuit Ends With Crash In Florida; Driver Airlifted To The Hospital
June 16, 2019
A man being pursued by Alabama deputies crossed in Florida and crashed his van into a tree just west of Century late Saturday evening.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop on the van in Alabama, according to Sheriff Heath Jackson, when the driver crossed the state line into Florida. The man continued south on Creamer Road about eight-tenths of a mile. He failed to stop at a stop sign before crossing over Highway 4A and crashing into a tree about 6:30 p.m..
The man, whose identity has not been released, was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. An update on his condition was not available.
Jackson said he the traffic stop originated because the man was believed to have outstanding warrants in Alabama. He also said his department will be seeking additional warrants related the pursuit.
In addition to the Escambia (AL) Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County (FL) EMS and the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the crash site. The Florida Highway Patrol did not respond to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Cowboys And Cowgirls Place In Alabama State Rodeo Finals
June 16, 2019
Several North Escambia cowboys and cowgirls place in the Alabama state rodeo finals recently.
Four Ernest Ward Middle School students placed as follows as of year-end:
- Leila Mason finished 9th in pole bending
- Riley Blackwell Finished 5th in barrel racing; 10th pole bending; and 6th in goat tying
- Cody Pugh 3rd bareback steer riding
- Wyatt Jarvis finished 4th in chute dogging; 9th in breakaway roping, 3rd in all around rookie
At the high school level, the following Northview students placed as of year-end:
- Brianna Pugh finish the year 4th in breakaway; 6th in goat tying; and average champion in goats for the finals.
- Gracie Brasch finished 3rd in pole bending; and second in the average for pole bending for the finals.
And homeschool student Ashley Henderson of Pensacola: Alabama state champion breakaway roper and second place in the average; state champion barrel racer and finals average winner; 5thin pole bending; and was re-elected for a second term as the AHSRA student president. She also won the coral boots courage and caring award.
Pugh, Brasch and Henderson have qualified for and will be competing in the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming, in their respective events in July.
Happy Father’s Day! Daily Scattered Showers Return To Our Forecast
June 16, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
June 16, 2019
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending May 30 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Allgood and Captain Glover were on water patrol in the Pensacola Pass when they stopped a vessel coming in from off shore with fishing gear present on the vessel. While conducting a fisheries inspection the officers found two undersized cobia on board the vessel. Two of the vessel occupants admitted to catching the cobia and were issued citations for taking undersized cobia.
Officer Allgood and Captain Glover were on patrol when they saw a vessel violating a wake zone and driving in an erratic manner cutting across other vessels’ paths on several occasions. The officers conducted a stop to address the violations and saw several indicators of impairment. Officer Allgood administered field sobriety tasks and determined that the operator was impaired. Officer Allgood arrested the operator for operating a vessel while normal faculties were impaired and transported him to the Escambia County Jail.
Officers Long and Clark were on vessel patrol at Big Lagoon State Park in Pensacola when they saw a vessel violate a wake zone. After conducting a stop to address the violation, the officers detected several indicators of impairment. After field sobriety tasks, the officers placed the operator under arrest for operating a vessel while normal faculties were impaired and transported him to the Escambia County Jail.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Berryman received information that a subject fishing on the Pensacola fishing pier caught an oversized red drum and placed it in his cooler. Lieutenant Berryman arrived at the pier a few minutes later and located the subject in question who possessed a 34-inch red drum. Lieutenant Berryman issued the subject a citation for taking an oversized red drum.
Captain Glover and Officer Ramos were on vessel patrol in the Santa Rosa sound and conducted a resource inspection on a boat returning from offshore. The two occupants appeared nervous and during questioning admitted they had harvested a red snapper even though they knew it was closed season. A large red snapper was seized and a notice to appear was issued to the vessel operator.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Gulf Power Foundation Awards Nearly $1 Million in Grants To Nonprofits
June 16, 2019
The Gulf Power Foundation awarded nearly $1 million in grants to community groups through the Amplify! Northwest Florida program.
The grants supports nonprofit organizations in continuing to implement effective programs within the Gulf Power service area.
Recipients include:
- ARC of the Emerald Coast
- The Arc Gateway, Inc.
- Baptist Health Care Foundation, Inc.
- Basic of Northwest Florida
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Inc.
- Boys and Girls Club of Bay County, Inc.
- Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Inc.
- Children in Crisis, Inc.
- Children’s Home Society
- Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance of Northwest Florida State College Foundation
- Community Action Program, Inc.
- Council on Aging of West Florida, Inc.
- Dixon School of the Arts
- Emerald Coast Science Center, Inc.
- Epps Christian Center, Inc.
- Every Child a Reader in Escambia, Inc.
- Feeding the Gulf Coast
- Florida Wildlife Federation
- Food4Kidz, Inc.
- Fresh Start for Children & Families
- Girls Inc. of Bay County
- LEAD Coalition of Bay County, Inc.
- The Longleaf Alliance
- March of Dimes, Inc.
- The Nature Conservancy
- PACE Center for Girls, Inc.
- Pathways for Change, Inc.
- Second Chance of Northwest Florida, Inc.
- Shelter House, Inc.
- South Santa Rosa Interfaith Ministries
- Special Olympics Florida, Inc.
- St. Andrew Bay Center, Inc.
- Studer Community Institute
- University of West Florida – GeoData Center
- WSRE-TV Foundation, Inc.
- Youth Village, Inc.
The Gulf Power Foundation is funded entirely through resources independent of Gulf Power’s customers.
Florida Retailers Expect Father’s Day Spending To Total $133 Per Dad
June 16, 2019
The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) says Florida families will spend an average of $133 per person for Father’s Day, the second highest in survey history with special events, clothing, gift cards and electronics leading the way as gift choices.
“Consumer confidence remains high, unemployment is at a 10-year low, and our state’s economy remains strong which means Floridians have more money in their pocket to spend on fathers this year,” said FRF President/CEO R. Scott Shalley. “The retail industry remains robust, and I’m excited about what these spending numbers mean for our member retailers this year.”
The survey found 47 percent of consumers plan to give a “special outing” gift, such as a concert, sporting event or dinner. This category represents the largest share of spending.
Over half of those surveyed plan to buy for their fathers or stepfathers (53 percent) followed by husbands (27 percent) and sons (10 percent).
BOCC Special Meeting Monday To Discuss Local Option Sales Tax Funds
June 16, 2019
The Escambia County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Monday, June 17 at 9 a.m. to discuss Local Option Sales Tax III and IV funds. The meeting will take place in the board chambers of the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, found on the first floor of 221 Palafox Place.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Escambia Vehicle Burglar Gets 15 Years In Prison
June 16, 2019
An Escambia County Main
Domonic Marquis Culliver was convicted by a jury of attempted burglary and grand theft. He was immediately sentenced by Judge Thomas Dannheisser to 15 years in state prison.
On July 14 2018, police responded to a vehicle burglary at Babe’s on North Davis Highway. Culliver walked southbound from there to a parking lot. Once in the parking lot, Culliver attempted to pull on the door handle
of two vehicles, the doors were locked.
Culliver then turned and walked up to a third vehicle, a Cadillac Escalade in which he obtained access into the vehicle and stole $530 cash from the center console. Culliver then fled on foot and jumped a fence in the rear of the building. The incident was captured on surveillance camera.
On July 24 Dominic Culliver was identified as the suspect and ultimately arrested.
Culliver has prior vehicle burglary convictions and is currently on Alabama probation for robbery.
Culliver also has another case currently pending where he is charged with robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and grand theft.
Pedestrian Struck And Killed On Blue Angel Parkway
June 15, 2019
A pedestrian was a struck and killed early Saturday morning on Blue Angel Parkway in Escambia County.
Edgar Lloyd Proctor, age 56 of Pensacola, was traveling east on Blue Angel near Mobile Highway at 3:25 a.m. when his pickup truck hit a pedestrian walking west in the same lane, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The pedestrian was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The name of the pedestrian has not been released pending notification of next of kin. No charges were immediately filed.
File photo.