Who Will Pick Escambia County’s Next School Superintendent? These 22 People Will Play A Major Role.
April 20, 2020
The Escambia County School Board is set to vote Tuesday to appoint the members of the Superintendent Citizen Advisory Committee.
In November 2018, Escambia County citizens voted to move from an elected to an appointed superintendent. Malcolm Thomas, the current elected superintendent, will retire in November.
The search committee will consist of 22 members “with representation from all areas of the county,” according to a resolution to be considered Tuesday. Each of five school board members nominated four people to for the search committee, plus there are two union representatives.
Those nominated for the Escambia County Schools Superintendent Citizen Advisory Committee are:
District 1 – Kevin Adams
- Keith Hoskins, Pensacola, senior vice president of Greater Pensacola Navy Federal Credit Union, former district manager for Gulf Power, retired as captain United States Navy
- Brad Huggins, Pensacola, longtime communications engineer currently at AT&T
- Willie Kirkland, Jr., Pensacola, president of trucking company, president of Northwest Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation, members Escambia County Board of Adjustment, vice chairman Escambia County School Half-cent Sales Tax Committee
- Matthew Taylor, Pensacola, assistant principal Beulah Elementary School
District 2 – Paul Fetsko
- Ronnie Arnold, Pensacola, 25-year veteran of Escambia School District serving as teacher, coach and administrator.
- Nettie Eaton, Pensacola, over 40 years in education including high school principal and assistant principal, director of middle schools and elementary school principal. Member or board member of several organizations including Escambia Association of Administrators and Florida Association of Secondary Administrators.
- Ronald Rivera, Pensacola, director of development Chip Simmons for Sheriff, member Escambia County Tourism Development Council, advisory council member United Way
- Joe Snyder, Pensacola, principal Brown Barge Middle School, board member Escambia Association for School Administrators
District 3 – Laura Edler
- Dr. Joseph Herzog – Pensacola, professor in the UWF Department of Social Work
- Diane Mack – Pensacola, resident of Diane Mack Advertising, former Pensacola City Council member
- Carol McIntosh – Pensacola, retired Escambia School District administrator, board member of Movement for Change.
- Rev. Carl Reeves – Pensacola, pastor of the Greater Mount Lily Missionary Baptist Church.
District 4 – Patty Hightower
- Dr. Kimberly Krupa, Pensacola, director of Achieve Escambia
- Chuntell Patterson, Pensacola, real estate professional
- Russell F. Queen, Pensacola, 30 years with the Escambia County School District including 19 years as elementary school principal
- Walker Wilson, Pensacola, lumber broker, member of Escambia County Planning Board and multiple organizations
District 5 – Bill Slayton
- Walter Jay Armstrong, Cantonment, commander US. Coast Guard with two children at Ransom Middle School
- Jennifer Grove, Pensacola, vice president external relations Baptist Health Care
- Regina Lipnick, Milton, principal Ransom Middle School
- Robin T. Venettozzi, Molino, retired 35-year Tate High School teacher
Union Representatives
- Donna Harper, Pensacola, educator for 47 years, present of the location teachers’ union Escambia Education Association.
- David Elzbeck, Pensacola, president Escambia School School District Educational Support Personnel union.
The school board meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21.
Sunny Skies And Near 80 For Monday
April 20, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Low around 64. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. High near 81. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
The Number Of COVID-19 Cases In Alabama Dropped Saturday, Including By Two In Escambia County. Here’s What Went Wrong.
April 20, 2020
The Alabama Department of Health has explained how the number of COVID-19 cases in the state decreased between Friday night and Saturday morning.
“On the afternoon of April 17, in the course of electronic transmission of data, an outside entity mistakenly marked COVID-19 lab results as positive when they were in fact negative,” the ADH said in a statement. “The data team has been working since yesterday to correct this information and advises it could take a few days to completely resolve the information from the outside entity. The entity is cooperating with us in this effort and has reached out to providers who ordered tests through their facility.”
“No patients received incorrect test results as a result of this data error. The error only affected the numbers reported on our website and the dashboard,” the ADH tweeted.
Friday evening, the Alabama Department of Health reported 14 positive cases of COVID-19 in Escambia County, Alabama, and then decreased the case county to 12 by Saturday morning as the data was corrected. An additional case was reported on Sunday for a total of 13.
Florida Gas Prices At Lowest In Years
April 20, 2020
Gas prices in Florida continue at their lowest in four years.
The average price per gallon Sunday in Florida was $1.82, the lowest since March 2016. The entire state is now below $2.
In Escambia County, the average per gallon was $1.71 Sunday night, with one Cantonment station at $1.52. In Pensacola, gas was at a low of $1.49 per gallon among reporting stations.
“Gas prices continue moving lower as COVID-related state lockdowns keep Americans off the road, leading to lower demand for gasoline,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Nationwide, implied demand for gasoline has fallen nearly 60%. With fewer drivers on the road, refiners are reducing output. Crude oil prices sank to new lows last week, amid continued uncertainty of when conditions will return to normal. Meanwhile, wholesale gasoline prices remain at lows that could allow the state average to eventually sink to the $1.50s.”
This Week’s Road Construction Spots
April 20, 2020
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- · Pine Forest Road (State Road/S.R. 297) Construction Activities between Kersey Road and Stratford Road– There will be lane closures between Kersey Road and Stratford Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, April 19 through Thursday, April 23 as crews install the southbound inside lane and driveway connection to 5 Flags RV Park.
- · Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, April 19:
o Intermittent east and westbound lane closures on U.S. 98 from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
o Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to Nine Mile Road (State Road (S.R.) 10 / U.S. 90A)– Drivers will experience the following traffic impacts the week of Sunday, April 19:
o Nine Mile Road- Minor adjustments to the traffic pattern between Palafox Street and Untreiner Avenue. Motorists may experience alternating lane shifts as crews construct curb and gutter, and complete drainage improvements.
o U.S. 29- Traffic between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
- · Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10 / U.S. 90A) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) – Drivers will experience the following traffic impacts the week of Sunday, April 19:
o The Nine Mile Road eastbound travel lane, between Patrick Lane and Navy Federal Way, will be temporarily closed Thursday, April 23 between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to repair and restripe the roadway. One travel lane will be maintained during the work with flagmen onsite to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
o The far-right portion of the I-10 off ramp that connects to Nine Mile Road (Exit 5) westbound remains closed. Drivers can still access Nine Mile Road east and westbound using the other section of the ramp. The partial ramp closure is needed to reconstruct the ramp and will be in place through spring 2020.
- · I-10 Routine Maintenance east of U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway)- The westbound, outside lane will be closed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, April 20 as crews repair a barrier wall.
- · Perdido Key Drive (S.R. 292) Pedestrian Crosswalk at Flora-Bama- Construction activities associated with the project are underway. There are no lane closures anticipated at this time.
- · U.S. 29 Resurfacing from south of C.R. 184 (Muscogee Road) to S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway)- Crews will resume paving operations. Motorists can expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions. There will also be ongoing turn lane, widening, and median work with daytime lane closures at various locations on the project.
- · Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Intersection Improvements at New Warrington Road (S.R. 295) – Construction activities are slated to begin the week of Monday, April 20. The project includes milling and resurfacing, removing the existing right-turn bypass lanes to replace with standard right turn lanes, improve signalization, upgrade pedestrian features, construct a new pedestrian crosswalk west of the intersection, and perform minor drainage improvements. Lane closures will be allowed between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Santa Rosa County:
- · Avalon Boulevard (Milton) Removal of Existing Concrete Driveway – Drivers will encounter daytime lane closures beginning Friday, April 17 to Wednesday, April 22 from the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 4315 Avalon Boulevard in Milton, to remove an existing concrete driveway.
- · Highway 98 City of Gulf Breeze Landscape and Tree Trimming – Crews will be performing landscaping services from the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from Monday, April 20 to Wednesday, April 29. The work will begin at Bay Bridge Drive and end at the West side of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Drivers can expect to encounter lane closures during this time.
- · Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Bridge construction may require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Sunday, April 19:
o Intermittent lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to 2,000-feet east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
o Intermittent lane closures on North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- · U.S. 90 Corridor (Pace) Management Improvement Project- Crews are working during daytime hours in the median at Sanford Street and Bostic Lane laying sod and removing drums. Drivers will not experience lane closures.
- · S.R. 4 Resurfacing and Drainage Improvements from the Escambia River Bridge to Market Road (County Road (C.R.) 87A) in Jay – Drivers can expect shoulder closures throughout the project limits as crews perform paving operations.
- · U.S. 98 Safety Improvement from Villa Woods Circle to Ortega Park Drive- Crews continuing work at all seven locations within the project limits. Drivers can expect nighttime lane restrictions.
- · S.R. 87 Bridge Rehabilitation and Repair Over Yellow River- Motorists may encounter daytime southbound lane closures as crews continue expansion joint work.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Hillary Keith Nelson
April 20, 2020
Mr. Hillary Keith Nelson, age 63 of Jay, FL, passed away on Monday, April 13, 2020, in a Pensacola health care facility.
Mr. Nelson was born in Pensacola, FL, and had been a resident of Jay since the early 1980’s coming from Century, FL. He enjoyed playing basketball, coaching young people, and being with his family and friends. He loved his grandchildren. He was of the Assembly of God faith, a member of Beulah Chapel, and was preceded in death by his parents, Aubrey J. and Juanita Taylor Nelson, and brother, James Aubrey Nelson.
He is survived by sons, Jake Nelson and Riley Nelson, both of Jay, FL; sister, Linda Nelson Lee of Jay, FL; grandchildren, Noah Nelson, Aubreigh Nelson and Emmylou Nelson.
Graveside services were held on Thursday, April 16, 2020, at Cora Cemetery with Larry Pierson officiating.
Flomaton Funeral Home directing.
Lecia Byrd Johnson
April 20, 2020
Mrs. Lecia Byrd Johnson, 89, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2020, in Flomaton, AL. She was a native of Pollard, AL and a lifelong resident of Flomaton. She loved God, family, and friends. She loved reading her Bible and working in the church. She enjoyed working in her garden and listening to God’s song birds.
She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Rev. James (Jim) C. Johnson, Sr. of Flomaton, AL; children, Glenn (Charlotte) Johnson of Flomaton, AL and Deborah (Joe) Golden of Flomaton, AL; grandchildren, Marilyn (Chuck) Day, Tracy Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Cleve (Beverly) Johnson, DeeAnn (Jeffrey) Glenn, Kimberly Folau, Halee (Steven) Dean, J.B. Golden, John Golden, Jacob (Kayla) Golden, Matt Johnson, Marc (Lynne) Johnson, Luke (Renee) Johnson; great-grandchildren, Isaiah (Stevie) Day, Austin (Tiffany) Phillips, Jamie (Parker) Bell, Jonathan Phillips, Joshua Day, Breonna Dean, Bamah Dean, ALyssa (Garrett) Hart, Kaylyn (Cody) Martin, Lauren Johnson, Bethany Glenn, Tyler Dean, Isaac Phillips, Ivan Glenn, Titus Dean, Ruby Phillips, Joshua Phillips, Henry Phillips, Malachi Phillips, Logan Golden, Enzo Folauo’o, Noah Golden, Elijah Golden; great-great- grandchildren, McKinleigh Day, Addison Bell, Alayna Day, Presley Martin, Barret Bell, Everly Day and Greyson Martin; loving brother, Lamar Byrd; sisters, Frances, Dell and Annie Laura; numerous family members and friends.
Pallbearers were Daniel Johnson, Cleve Johnson, J.B. Golden, Isaiah Day, Josh Day, Tyler Dean, Ivan Glenn, Titus Dean.
Honorary pallbearers were Chuck Day, Steven Dean, Jeffrey Glenn, John Golden, Jacob Golden, Austin Phillips, Jonathan Phillips, Isaac Phillips, Henry Philips, Malachi Phillips.
Grand-daughters honorary pallbearers were Marilyn Day, DeeAnn Glenn, Tracy Johnson, Kim Folau, Halee Dean, Jamie Bell, Kaylyn Martin, Lauren Johnson, Alyssa Hart, Bethany Glenn, Breonna Dean, Bamah Dean, Ruby Phillips.
Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her daughter, Marilyn Denise Johnson; sons, Jimmy Johnson and Wayne Johnson; and her parents, Lyda Byrd and Lucille Bass; one brother and one sister.
Graveside services were held on Monday, April 20, 2020, at Mize-Wadkins Cemetery with Rev. Glenn Johnson and Rev. James C. Johnson, Sr. officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rev. James C. Johnson, Sr.’s Bible ministries.
Flomaton Funeral Home directing.
Suzanne Ruth McGee
April 20, 2020
Mrs. Suzanne Ruth McGee, age 71, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2020, at her home in Atmore, Alabama.
Mrs. McGee was a native of Corsicana, TX, former resident of Sunset, TX and had resided in Atmore, AL for the past 12 years. She served as a House Parent for mentally and physically challenged adults and was a member of the Robinsonville Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, William Thomas “Skip” McGee, Jr. and parents, Romeny and Betty Ruth Hammock.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, William O. “Billy Bob” (Alyssia) Mcgee of Atmore, AL; two granddaughters, Cheyenne McGee of Robinsonville, AL and Shawnee McGee of Atmore, AL and one sister, Sandra (Ed) Ellis of Ferriday, LA.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, April 21, 2020, at the Judson Indian Cemetery with Rev. Phil Johnson officiating.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Patrick DuWayne Hadley, III
April 20, 2020
Mr. Patrick DuWayne Hadley, II, age 26, passed away Monday, April 13, 2020 in Laurel, Mississippi.
Mr. Hadley was a native and lifelong resident of Bay Minette, AL. He was a 2013 graduate of Baldwin County High School, where he played football. He was employed with Southern Land Service as a tree surgeon and was a firefighter serving the Semmes, AL Fire Department.
He is survived by his father, Patrick Duwayne Hadley of Foley, AL; mother, Dorothy Jean (Chris) Stacey of Rabun, AL; wife, Codie L. Hadley of Bay Minette, AL; mother of his children, Courtney Bryars of Bay Minette, AL; mother by love, Christia Crawford of Bay Minette, AL; one son, Bryson Cooper of Bay Minette, AL; one daughter, Karla Hadley of Bay Minette, AL; two brothers, Preston Hadley of Birmingham, AL and Brandon Burkett of Rabun, AL; three sisters, Brianna Burkett of Rabun, AL, Michelle (Matthew) McCary of Bay Minette, AL and Charity Hadley (Gary, Jr.) Wise of Bay Minette, AL; aunt and uncle, James (Maria) White of Bay Minette, AL and numerous other aunts, uncles, other relatives and many other family and friends.
Graveside services were held Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the Bryars-McGill Cemetery with Bro. Tony Banning officiating.
Pallbearers were Chris Williams, Brandon Burkett, Levi Stacey, Dustin Shivers, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Dodge, Taylor Graham, Bree Paul, Cody Bolton and Chris Bolton.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
John David Godfrey, Sr.
April 20, 2020
Mr. John David Godfrey, Sr., age 61 of Jay, FL, passed away on Tuesday, April 14,2020 in a Pensacola healthcare facility.
Mr. Godfrey was born in Century, FL, and during his working years he worked as a supervisor in the oilfield industry. He was of the Protestant faith and was preceded in death by his mother, Muriel Godfrey.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Theresa Godfrey of Jay, FL; father, Richard Godfrey of Jay, FL; sons, J.D. Godfrey, Eric Godfrey, Bo Godfrey and Matthew Godfrey; daughter, Brandy Godfrey of Louisiana; brothers, Christopher Godfrey and Richard Godfrey, Jr, both of California, and two grandchildren.
There will be no formal services for Mr. Godfrey.
Flomaton Funeral Home directing.