Escambia School Superintendent Candidates Interviewed; Selection Set For Tuesday
August 28, 2020
The four finalists to be the next Escambia County’s next school superintendent were in the hot seat Thursday for questions from the school board and public. One of them will be named superintendent next Tuesday.
The finalist are Dr. Earl Johnson, executive director of leadership/operations for the Flagler County Schools with 13,000 students; Keith C. Rittel, superintendent in Provo Utah, with 18,000 students; Dr. Timothy A. Smith, executive director of high schools in Orange County with 212,000 students; and Keith Leonard, assistant superintendent of human resources in Escambia County with 40,500 students.
Each faced a series of question from the Escambia County School Board Thursday, and each finalist had 15 minutes Thursday night to answer questions submitted by community members. The interviews are available on the Escambia County School District YoutTube channel.
The finalists will individually meet one on one with each school board member on Friday.
The Escambia County School Board is scheduled to name the next superintendent Tuesday evening. Contract negotiations with the man selected will begin on Tuesday, and the board will vote on ratifying the contract on September 15.
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.
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gibson Road Bridge In Molino Fails FDOT Inspection, One Lane Closed
August 28, 2020
The eastbound lane of the Gibson Road bridge over Alligator Creek in Molino is closed after the bridge failed a Florida Department of Transportation inspection.
A county official said Thursday that the lane will remain closed as a repair plan is formulated and implemented.
Gibson Road runs between Highway 97 and Crabtree Church Road. The 78-foot long wood-supported bridge was built in 1959.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Rain Chance Continues Into The Weekend
August 28, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Volunteers Needed: Cleanup Day Saturday At Tate’s Pete Gindl Stadium
August 28, 2020
A cleanup will be held Saturday at Tate High School’s Pete Gindl Stadium to prepare for the 2020 football season.
The cleanup will take place from 8 a.m. until noon; volunteers can spend as little, or as much time, as they would like.
Participants are asked to bring any lawn equipment and safety gear. The cleanup will include the coaches’ storage room, old gym, press box and the Aggie Shack.
Gulf Power Team Of 180 Heads To Help Restore Power After Hurricane Laura
August 28, 2020
A storm team of 180 Gulf Power employees and contractors left Thursday to help with power restoration efforts in Louisiana after Hurricane Laura.
Traveling with the team is Gulf Power’s new community response vehicle, which can serve as a mobile command center for the crews as well as a charging station for customers that are without power.
Gulf Power joins its sister company, Florida Power & Light, who sent more than 900 employees and contractors earlier this week to assist Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas with their restoration efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.
“These communities are in dire need of help after having two tropical systems impact them – including a major hurricane. We are honored to be able to assist – just as so many have stepped up to help us in the past,” said Marlene Santos, president of Gulf Power. “We are in unprecedented times as we deal with a global pandemic and an extremely active hurricane season. As we aid our fellow utilities in restoring power, we will take every precaution to keep both our crews and the communities we will be working in safe.”
Gulf Power sent teams to support FPL earlier this month as Isaias brushed along the Florida coast as it headed north. Crews from both companies recently returned from working in New Jersey after Hurricane Isaias knocked out power to millions in the Northeast. Now, this deployment for Hurricane Laura marks the second time this month that Gulf Power and FPL deployed employees and contractors will work to support power restoration efforts following a hurricane.
The crews will follow COVID-19 safety guidelines to keep everyone safe, including social distancing, increased sanitation measures and wearing masks where appropriate. In addition, the crews are planning to be self-sufficient to limit contact with other teams. Signs on trucks remind the public to honor the 6 feet social distancing requirements that help keep the crews safe while they work.
When Gulf Power puts a team together to travel and assist other utilities, its first consideration is ensuring enough crews remain in Northwest Florida to maintain reliability at home and that no severe tropical weather systems are forecast to impact the area in the coming days.
Atmore Man Facing Multiple Weapons And Drug Charges After Search Warrant
August 28, 2020
An Atmore man is facing multiple charges after a authorities executed a search warrant in Atmore, locating guns and drugs.
Austin James Gray, Jr., age 42, was charged with possession of marijuana first degree, trafficking in synthetic cannabis, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and being a certain person forbidden to possess a firearm.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said agents and officers with the Escambia and Monroe County Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force, Atmore Police Department, Poarch Drug Task Force, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Department and the Alabama Department of Corrections executed a search warrant at 618 Franklin Street in Atmore.
Agents located a duffel bag with approximately 1.61 kilogram of synthetic cannabis (spice), 125 grams of marijuana and numerous scales and baggies for distribution, Brooks said, along with firearms.
According to jail records, he remained in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton Friday without bond due to a probation violation.
Editor’s note: The “Inmate” watermark was added to the photo by jail software.
Alabama Governor Extends Safer At Home Order, Mask Mandate Until October
August 28, 2020
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday extended her state’s Safer at Home order until October 2.
The order includes a statewide mask mandate that requires individuals to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public and in close contact with other people.
More information on the amended order, which was previously set to expire on August 31, is in the graphic below, click to enlarge.
Dorothy Eloise Steadham
August 28, 2020
Mrs. Dorothy Eloise Steadham, age 90, passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, in Pensacola, Florida.
Mrs. Steadham was a native and lifelong resident of McDavid, FL. She loved fishing, flowers, hummingbirds and mostly her grandbabies. She was a member of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Ben Steadham; parents, Ben and Clara Gilmore and son, Roy Steadham.
She is survived by her two sons, Nathan Hordy of Bratt, FL and Dalton Steadham of McDavid, FL; two daughters, Sandra (Mack, Jr.) Morris of McDavid, FL and Mary (Raymond) Cranford of Savannah, GA; nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 31, 2020, at 3 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Nathan Brown officiating.
Burial will follow at Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, August 30, 2020, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be David Steadham, Jeffery Steadham, Jonathan Godwin, Steve McCauley, Lee Jernigan and Michael Long.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Sara Ann Skelton
August 28, 2020
Mrs. Sara Ann Skelton, age 73, passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, in Mobile, Alabama.
Mrs. Skelton was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore, AL. She was HR Director with Masland Carpets, volunteer for the Red Cross and was known as the Ice Cream Lady. She liked to cook, fish, crabbing and taking care of her chickens, ducks, peacocks and her dog, Buddy. She is preceded in death by her husband of 26 years, Van Clayton Skelton; her parents, Bernard and Nellie Mae Tremer and two brothers, Jimmy Tremer and Tony Tremer.
She is survived by her son, Van Skelton (Rebel Gates) of Atmore, AL; daughter, Liz Skelton of Atmore, AL; brother, Leon Tremer of Summerdale, AL; sister, Kathleen Earhart of San Antonio, TX; two grandchildren, Zachary Edward Turner and Sara Miriah Kathleen Skelton; two God children, Bernard Bryant and Michael Jackson and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Monday, August 31, 2020, at 1 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, August 31, 2020, from 11:30 a.m. until service time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Waylon Rolin, Stephen Earhart, Sr., Stephen Earhart, Jr., Kendall McGhee and Joe Liffick.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bernard Bryant, Michael Jackson, Freddy Godwin, Matt Tremer, Tony Mason and Cody Ebbitt.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Maurice Vickery
August 28, 2020
Mr. Maurice Vickery, age 76, passed away on Monday, August 24, 2020, in Mobile, Alabama.
Mr. Vickery was a native of Huxford, AL and had resided in Semmes, AL for the past 40 years. Over the years he worked in many fields from delivery driver to mechanic, but mostly he worked in construction and became an electrician with Brown & Root. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alexander Comer and Eva Mae Weston Vickery; sisters, Mary Rice, Jean Majors and twin sister, Clarice Walls; and two brothers, Dalton Vickery and Comer Earle Vickery.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Vickery of Semmes, AL; one son, Anthony (Shannon) Vickery of Enterprise, AL; two daughters, Shelley (Bruce) White of Eight Mile, AL and Kimberly (James) Freeman of Semmes, AL; one brother, Dennis Vickery of Jackson, AL; three sisters, Gloria Thomas of Bay Minette, AL, Gaynell (Wayne) Drew of McCullough, AL and Janice (Albert) Fincham of Gordansville, VA; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday, August 28, 2020, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Don Davis officiating.
Burial was at Serenity Garden Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Steven Eddy, Bruce White, Chris George, Jason Hernandez, Josh Jones and Ronnie Macks.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to help with funeral expenses or the American Cancer Society.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.