Clyde R. McCauley
November 24, 2019
Clyde R. McCauley, age 90, passed away Saturday, November 16, 2019. He was born July 27, 1929, in McDavid, FL and lived nearly his entire life in Pensacola. A Korean War vet he was proud of his army duty. He retired from NAS Pensacola 35 years ago. He remained active with fishing and golf until fairly recently. He coached Little League Baseball for many years which resulted in dozens, if not hundreds, of young boys becoming outstanding young men. As one of few living “Brownsville Boys” Clyde developed relationships that lasted decades. His quiet leadership and more importantly his walk with Christ, his Lord and Savior, has left a legacy to friends and family that will live forever.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jean McCauley of Pensacola; daughters, Jane Bonelli (John) of Pensacola, Joan Miller (Joe) of Cairo, GA and Suzanne Vickrey (Kevin) of Molino; sons, William McCauley (Teri) of Franklin, TN and Randy McCauley (Stephanie) of Molino, FL. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 27 great-grands & four great-great-grands.
In everything Clyde did, whether it was working, coaching, fishing, or golf he did so to the best of his ability and with joy and a smile. Known by many names: “Slick, Rock, Popsie & Papa” were among a few. He cared for his family, extended family and friends with unmeasurable love which was returned to him by all. He was a hero in the truest sense of the world.
Services were held Tuesday, November 19, 2019, at Myrtle Grove Baptist Church.
Interment was at Bayview Memorial Park Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is entrusted with the arrangements.
Early Morning Fire Destroys Camper In Molino
November 23, 2019
Fire destroyed a large camper in Molino early Saturday morning.
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the 4300 block of Crabtree Church Road about 1:18 a.m. after receiving reports of a structure fire. They found the camper totally destroyed at a home that is located about 2,000 feet off the roadway.
The fire was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Cantonment Man, Six Others Charged With Soliciting Sex From Teens Online
November 23, 2019
Seven people, including a Cantonment man, were busted in “Operation Rotten Pumpkin”, an undercover sting that targeted the online solicitation of underage teens for sexual activity.
The seven were arrested after the operation Wednesday and Thursday nights, according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chip Simmons.
Those charged were:
- James David McAllister, 34, Cantonment
- James Patrick Dibble, 20, Pensacola
- Kevin Gerald Dailey, 25, Pensacola
- Benjamin Larry Marshall, 33, Pensacola
- Ronaldo Castro Bautista, 54, Orange Beach
- Michael Dawayne Gulley, 23, Prichard
- Patrick John Bradt, 47, Crestview
Investigators used social media or websites like Craigslist and Skip the Games to pose as 18 or 19 year olds to engage persons in conversation. Then the investigators told the individuals that they were really 13 or 14 years old, according to Simmons.
“Hundreds of people were engaged, but the majority backed out quickly when they realized it was a 13 or 14 year old boy or girl,” the chief deputy said. The seven charged and another dozen or more continued the conversations and in some cases exchanged pictures. Those charged drove to a predetermined location under the pretense of a sexual meeting with the underage children but were instead met with deputies and the SWAT team. The investigation into other individuals continues.
“The children of Escambia County are not fair game, Simmons said.
“We need to guard our children,” Sheriff David Morgan said. “The are easily seduced into these types of activities.”
Operation Rotten Pumpkin involved the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, State Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security and the sheriff’s offices from Santa Rosa, Walton and Okaloosa counties.
Pictured page bottom: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chip Simmons (left) and Sheriff David Morgan at a press conference Friday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Man Gets Max Sentence Of 30 Years For Setting Pregnant Girlfriend On Fire
November 23, 2019
A Beulah man received the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison Friday for the attempted murder of his live-in, pregnant girlfriend by lighting her on fire and hitting her in the head with a sledgehammer multiple times with enough force to cause a brain bleed.
Kenneth Duaine Swanger previously entered a plea of guilty to attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder, kidnapping to inflict bodily harm or terrorize the victim, and aggravated battery on a pregnant person. He will be sentenced November 22.
Swanger, 43, and the 23-year old victim had been romantically involved and resided together for about a year preceding the offenses. The victim had originally worked for defendant as a maid prior to their relationship.
Between July and September 2018, Swanger set the victim on fire with lighter fluid, hit her over the head with a blunt object, and punished her with other numerous acts of verbal and physical abuse. Swanger misled friends and family by telling them the victim was a drug addict, and attempted to explain her injuries away as being related to her addiction. Though he told friends and family that he took her to the hospital and contacted law enforcement, it was later learned the victim was unable to leave the home without him, and he had screwed all of the doors and windows shut from the inside.
On September 15, 2018, the victim escaped, leaving everything behind, and ran to the Tom Thumb on Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road where she called her family in Mississippi. Once she received proper medical attention for her injuries, it was discovered she had second degree burns over 15% of her body, subdural hematoma, and broken fingers. At the time of her escape, she was 26 weeks pregnant with the defendant’s baby.
Hazmat Team Responds To Incident At Century Prison. Here’s What They Found.
November 23, 2019
A hazardous materials team investigated a suspicious piece of mail with a strange chemical smell was reported Friday afternoon at the Century Correctional Institution.
The Escambia County Fire Rescue hazardous materials team responded and determined the smell originated from a disinfectant wipe taped inside an envelope, according to an Escambia County spokesperson.
The envelope was apparently mailed to the facility on Tedder Road in Century and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. There was no official word if it was sent an inmate, but the facility does open, examine and read all routine mail sent to inmates according to Florida Department of Corrections protocol.
The envelope was reportedly taken a location outside the administration building, which is just outside the main gate.
The Florida Department of Corrections did not provide any further information.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
T.R. Miller Knocks Off Defending 3A Champion Flomaton (With Photo Gallery)
November 23, 2019
The T.R. Miller Tigers knocked off the defending 3A state champion Flomaton Hurricanes Friday night.
The Hurricanes took a 12-0 lead, but could not hold on in the 3-A quarterfinals in front of a packed house in Flomaton.
For a photo gallery, click here.
T.R. Miller’s Blake Jernigan was dragged down by Flomaton’s Alex Cash, forcing a fumble on the Tigers’ first possession. Flomaton’s Nicholas Turner then returned it deep into Miller territory, setting up a Daquan “Money” Johnson touchdown from two yards out on third and goal (second photo at bottom). After a missed two-point conversion, the Hurricanes were on top 6-0.
In the second quarter, it was Travon Brown ended an 85-yard, 15-play drive with an eight-yard touchdown at the pylon for the Canes (pictured left). Another missed two-point attempt and Flomaton was up 12-0.
The Tigers answered with a six yard touchdown run from Narkavis Campbell. The Tigers made the extra point to cut the Hurricane’s lead to 12-7.
With 11 second to go in the second quarter, a T.R. Miller’s Miller Hart found Darius Webb in the air between two Hurricane defenders for a 29-yard touchdown (first photo below). A good kick gave the Tigers a 14-12 advantage.
Johnson ended the night with 124 yards on 22 carries and 11 yards to two passes. Brown had 13 carries for 57 yards
The Flomaton Hurricanes ended their season at 11-2 record. T.R Miller marches on with their first trip to the semifinals since 2008 next Friday night at Mobile Christian.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Clear, A Bit Cooler Tonight
November 23, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Thanksgiving Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
Escambia Academy Falls Short Of AISA Title 23-6 To Autauga Academy
November 23, 2019
Escambia Academy’s fell short of an AISA Class AA championship with a 23-6 loss to Autauga Academy Friday.
It was the fourth straight meeting between the two teams for the state championship, and the third win for the Autauga Generals.
The Autauga Generals took a 7-0 lead before the EA Cougars answered. Sophomore quarterback Landon Sims threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to senior Ty Williams to bring the Cougars within one, 7-6 at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Troy University.
But the third quarter saw Autauga with two touchdowns in just 32 seconds, the second coming after a Cougar fumble.
“Defensively, we played probably about as good as we could play,” EA head coach Hugh Fountain said. “We had a few plays there at the end that gave them the points. But defensively I though we played really well.”
We just never could get into a grove on offense. We had so many penalties,” Fountain said of his Cougars, which were well north of 100 yards in total penalties. “It just kept killing any kind of a grove we could have to get into and move the football. I think really that’s what came back to hurt us.”
Escambia Academy’s season ended at 9-4 in the state runner-up spot.
The Cougars beat Autauga back in 2017 to win the state AA football championship, and EA also holds the AAA state football championship title from 2014.
Photos by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Playoff Finals
November 23, 2019
Here are Friday night football playoff finals from across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
7A Regional Final
Edgewater 28, Niceville 20
6A Regional Final
Escambia 39, Lee 13
3A Regional Final
Florida High 21, Pensacola Catholic 14
1A Regional Final
Baker 21, Vernon 20
ALABAMA
Class 3A Quarterfinals
T.R. Miller 14, Flomaton 12 [Game story, photo gallery...]
AISA State Championship Class AA
Autauga 23, Escambia Academy 6 [Game story, photo gallery...]
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Heroes For Christmas: Atmore Firefighters Holding Toy Drive Saturday
November 23, 2019
The Atmore Fire Department’s annual toy drive will be held Saturday, November 23. They will be at Walmart from 9 a.m. until, collecting Christmas toys for needy children in the Atmore area. The superheroes from Causeplay Gulf Coast will be on hand for the toy drive and will post for pictures.
The toys will benefit local children this Christmas.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.