Millard Houston Lambeth
October 31, 2019
Mr. Millard Houston Lambeth, age 86, of Brewton, AL passed away on Tuesday, October 29, 2019.
Mr. Lambeth was a native of and lifelong member of the Brewton and Flomaton communities where he worked as an equipment operator in the construction industry. He enjoyed deer and turkey hunting and was a member of Allen Smith Holiness Church. Mr. Lambeth was preceded in death by his parents, James Ernest and Iver Lee Lambeth; wife Betty Lambeth; son, Kenny Lambeth; grandson, Cody Nolan, and brothers, Crumpton, Burnace, Preston, Marvin, Bill and Bob.
He is survived by his son, Ricky (Jodie) Lambeth of Flomaton, AL; daughters, Darlene Lee and Charlotte Renee Smith, both of Flomaton, AL; brother, James (Nell) Lambeth of Brewton, AL; sisters, Cody Wedgeworth and Teresa Smith, both of Flomaton, AL; sisters-in-law, Marjorie Wingate, Clara Lambeth, Jean Lambeth; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren,
Funeral services will be held for Mr. Lambeth on Friday, November 1, 2019 at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel at 2:30 p.m. with Bro. Donnis Bowman and Bro. Chuck Scrivener officiating.
Interment will follow in Lambeth Cemetery, Flomaton, AL.
Pallbearers will be Stan Smith, Randy Lambeth, Phillip Lambeth, Shane Ward, Bryan Newby, George Hendricks.
Honorary pallbearers will be Darry Fore, George Ward, Andre’ Deslonde, Keith Holt, Billy Joe Knowles, Joseph Bagwell, Leroy Smith, Donald Newby.
Franklin Lamon Reaves, Sr.
October 31, 2019
Mr. Franklin Lamon Reaves, Sr., age 83, passed away Monday, October 28, 2019, in a Pensacola hospital after a brief illness.
Mr. Reaves was born in Castleberry, AL and had been a resident of Flomaton, AL for the past 51 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran and was a retired Research Technician at Monsanto. He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting and fishing. Mr. Reaves attended Friendship Freewill Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jackie Cordelia Reaves of Flomaton; a son, Franklin Reaves of Foley, AL; a daughter, Kasey (Mark) Watson of Pensacola, FL; one brother, Jacky (Carol) Reaves of Loxley, AL; a sister, Ann (George) Godwin of Tuscaloosa, AL; and three grandchildren, Colby Reaves, Kyle Reaves, and Jackson Watson.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, October 30, 2019, from the Chapel of Craver’s Home with Pastor Rusty Burnham officiating.
Edro D. Hall
October 31, 2019
Mrs. Edro D. Hall, 85 of Nokomis, AL, passed away October 29, 2019, in Atmore, AL. She was born on October 23, 1934, in Mineola, AL to the late Perlie Edward and Leona Jeter Daniel. She drove a school bus before working at First National Bank of Atmore as a Bank Teller where she retired with over 22 years of service. She was a lifelong member of Nokomis Baptist Church where she served as the church pianist and was a Sunday School teacher for many years. Mrs. Hall was known for her desserts and her famous chicken pot pie.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert Ray Hall; one sister, Geraldine Williams; and one brother, Joe Edward Daniel.
She is survived by her son, Terry Ray Hall and daughter Martha Hall, both of Nokomis, AL; two sisters, Fredna Stewart of Spanish Fort, AL and Jackie Presley of Nokomis, AL; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews and many family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 1, 2019, at 11 AM from the Nokomis Baptist Church with Bro. Jim Hill officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Brian Stewart, Damon Stewart, Roger Keith Stewart, Mark Presley, Ricky Fore, Frank Hyman Williams, Chris Wallace, and Darrell Miller.
Honorary pallbearers will be James Presley, Hilton Hall, Wilton Shambo, Don Smith, Christopher Corbitt and Daryl Williams.
Visitation will be held Friday, November 1, 2019, from 9:30 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. from the Nokomis Baptist Church.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Elementary Student Gets Finger Really, Really Stuck In A Desk
October 30, 2019
A fourth grade student’s finger got stuck — really, really stuck — in a desk Wednesday morning at Beulah Elementary School on Helms Road.
The Beulah and Bellview stations and Special Operations team from Escambia Fire Rescue responded to 9:46 a.m. call, and it took about an hour to free Ethan Rayner’s finger from the desk.
“He is doing great,” mom Courtney Rayner said. “It was very swollen, and now that the swelling has gone down it is bruised but not broken or anything. The fire department was amazing. The made sure he was comfortable as could be and told him every step as they did it.”
The rescuers took the time to pose for a photo with Ethan afterwards (and mom noted that it was “Wacky Tacky” dress day at BES for Red Ribbon week to explain his clothing).
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
North Highway 99 Was Just Paved. Now It’s Falling Apart. Why?
October 30, 2019
North Highway 99 was just repaved, and now it’s falling apart in several places. NorthEscambia.com reached out to find out why.
“We are actively investigating and trying to determine the source of the problem,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said, “so we can figure out how to solve it. I anticipate a redo.”
Work started in late May to resurface the county road from Highway 97 in Walnut Hill to the Alabama state line. The asphalt is now sinking, forming large ruts and cracking. It looks as if it is sliding away as it is pushed downward by passing traffic.
At least portions of the road will have to be milled and repaved. Just how much remains to be seen; it could be only failing sections or it could be much more of the 8.01 mile roadway.
“It’s going to get fixed, and it’s going to get fixed quickly when the source of the problem is found,” Barry said. “People will be held accountable. Those that are culpable will definitely be held accountable.”
Multiple core samples of the highway have been extracted and sent for analysis. “That’s going to tell a lot of the story about the source of the problem,” the commissioner said.
Low bidder on the project was Panhandle Grading & Paving at $2.4 million. NorthEscambia.com has learned that rather than hired an outside inspection firm, Escambia County was responsible for their own inspections and quality control as the project progressed as is often done on county projects.
Barry said he is ready to see repair work begin, even if that means starting before it is determined who is responsible for paying the associated costs.
“I promise the people that it will be fixed in a timely fashion. I will not force the public to wait and see who is fault; the rest we will work out,” he said.
North Highway 99 resurfacing was planned for 2024-25, but the Escambia County Commission fast tracked the advancement of $1,726,325 available in Local Option Sales Tax to last fiscal year and solicited bids.
The 8.01 mile roadway runs from Highway 97, past Highway 4 in Bratt and continues to the state line. It is a major north-south transportation corridor for the area. In addition to the school buses that serve Bratt Elementary on North Highway 99, buses travel the road twice-daily between Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Critically Injured In Three Vehicle Quintette Road Crash
October 30, 2019
A motorcyclist was critically injured in a three vehicle crash Tuesday evening.
The motorcyclist was transported by Escambia County EMS to a local hospital as a trauma alert after the 5:45 p.m. wreck on East Quintette Road near Highway 95A.
Additional information has not been made available by the Florida Highway Patrol as they continue their investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
State: Century’s Public Notice Of A Tax Increase Violated State Law
October 30, 2019
Century’s public notice of a tax increase last month violated state law according to the Florida Department of Revenue, forcing the town to try again.
In September, the town council approved a millage rate of .9204, which is about 10% greater than the rolled-back rate of .8361.
The levy of property taxes in Florida is governed by the Truth In Millage (TRIM) Act that dictates numerous steps that must be strictly followed. Improper steps can result in all state revenue being withheld for the fiscal year.
After NorthEscambia.com became aware of several possible violations of the TRIM statutes, we reached out to Interim City Manager Buz Eddy with the concerns. Town staff contacted the Florida Department of Revenue which has determined the notice did in fact violate state law.
The town will redo a public hearing to consider the tax increase on Monday, November 4 at 6:31 p.m. — over a month after the new fiscal year and budget started on October 1.
Pictured: Century council members Ann Brooks (left) and Sandra McMurray-Jackson await the arrival of councilman Luis Gomez in order to conduct a budget hearing September 23. Gomez was running only about threes minutes late, and the council proceeded with three of five members at the table. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely Through Thursday, Then Turning Colder
October 30, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 67. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday: Showers. Temperature rising to near 73 by 8am, then falling to around 53 during the remainder of the day. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Photos: Trunk Or Treat At The Quintette Community Center
October 30, 2019
Rain may have forced Tuesday night’s Trunk or Treat indoors at the Quintette Community Center, but it did not stop kids from having a great time.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Photos: Donuts With Mom At Molino Park Elementary
October 30, 2019
Molino Park Elementary School held Donuts With Mom Tuesday morning. It was a chance for students and their moms to enjoy a doughnut served by dads that stepped up so moms could take a break.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
