Escambia County Kicks Off The ‘Keep The Wreath Green’ Fire Safety Campaign
November 27, 2020
Escambia County Fire Rescue, in collaboration with the Pensacola Fire Department, will launch its annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign Tuesday, Dec. 1. While a joyous time of year, cold weather, holiday decorations and festivities can create serious fire dangers. Firefighters hope to reduce the number of fires by promoting simple, life-saving holiday safety tips each day in December.
During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths will also be on display at 21 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths also be placed outside Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall near the food court entrance. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home. In 2019, 13 bulbs were changed to red on county wreaths, and the city had one red bulb.
One of the 13 fires during December 2019 was in North Escambia. A predawn fire destroyed a Byrneville home in the 1500 block of West Highway 4 on December 12. 2019. Everyone in the home escaped without injury due to working smoke alarms and a dog alerting the family.
There were no injuries or deaths reported during the campaign.
If your home does not have a working smoke detector, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at (850) 595-HERO (4376) or (850) 436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.
Pictured above: A “Keep the Wreath Green” display at the McDavid Fire Station. Pictured below: A residential fire early the morning of December 12, 2019, in Byrneville. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida CFO: Be Scam Aware With Black Friday Shopping
November 27, 2020
Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis is warning consumers on this Black Friday to beware of potential scams surrounding and offering tips to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft.
- If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Be careful of unfamiliar merchants and be extra wary of items listed at prices well below those of other shops. The ultimate bargain may really be bogus or stolen goods.
- Use a credit card instead of cash or debit. Credit cards offer consumer protection if things go wrong with a purchase.
- Be careful of credit and coupon offers. Those last-minute deals that offer discounts in exchange for opening up a new credit account can be a trap to make you divulge financial information.
- Watch your account balances. Monitor your checking, savings, credit and any others for unauthorized charges or deposits. Report any suspicious activity immediately.
““Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year and, even with more Floridians turning to online shopping this year, it is imperative to protect yourself from Black Friday fraud and scams. Scammers are constantly using new tricks to steal your hard-earned money but the best defense is to know the warning signs of a scam before you fall victim,” Patronis said.
Fred Reynolds, Jr.
November 27, 2020
Fred Reynolds, Jr., 67, of Colquitt, Georgia, passed away at his residence on Wednesday, November 25. A graveside memorial service officiated by the Rev. Andy Merritt will be held at 11 o’clock in the morning on Saturday, November 28, at Gordon Cemetery in Damascus, where he will be laid to rest next to his parents.
Fred Reynolds, Jr., affectionately known as Junior by his family and friends, came into this world in Early County on December 5, 1952, to the late Fred, Sr., and Hattie Mae (Widner) Reynolds. He grew up in the Damascus area and graduated Early County High School Class of 1970.
The earlier part of his adult life was spent in the Albany and Cordele area where he worked with Good Year and Marvair Heating & Air Conditioning. Around 2000, Junior moved back to the Early County and Miller County area, where he lived until departing this world on November 25, 2020, at the age of 67.
Junior loved all things Georgia, especially Georgia Football and the Atlanta Braves, and racing.
He never married or had any children, but he had a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews who he spent much time with on weekends when visiting with them and his brothers.
Fred Reynolds, Jr. was preceded in death by his mother, Hattie Mae (Widner) Reynolds, and his father, Fred Reynolds, Sr.
He is survived by his brothers, Jimmy Reynolds (Cathy) of Century, Fla., Sidney Reynolds (Debra) of Colquitt, and Tony Reynolds of Donalsonville, and his nephews and nieces, Tony Reynolds, Jr., Jessica Reynolds Newberry, Kara Williams, Cameron Williams, LeAnna Reynolds, Matthew Reynolds, Laura Reynolds, Lisa Reynolds, Susanne Reynolds and Alexandria Reynolds.
Betty Joyce Nall Freeman
November 27, 2020
Mrs. Betty Joyce Nall Freeman, age 85, passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2020, in Jay, Florida.
Mrs. Freeman was a native of Century, FL, former longtime resident of Flomaton and Atmore and had resided in Jay, Florida for the past 8 years. She was a beautician at Eloise’s Beauty Shop for 30 years and a member of the Jay 1st Assembly of God Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, John Edgar and Frances Nall; son, Randy Freeman; brother, Johnny Nall and sister, Mildred McDonald.
She is survived by two sons, Ronny Freeman of Flomaton, AL and Rick (Doreen) Freeman of Hartselle, AL; nine grandchildren; twenty-seven great grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 29, 2020 at 1:30 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Rick Freeman officiating.
Burial will follow at the Pollard Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, November 29, 2020 from 11:30 AM until service time at 1:30 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Rick Freeman, Ronny Freeman, Ron Freeman, Nigel Freeman, Harley Freeman and DeLuca Green.
Cantonment Rotary Provides Thanksgiving Meals For Nearly 1,300 People (With Photo Gallery)
November 26, 2020
About 1,300 people can enjoy a complete Thanksgiving meal this year thanks to the members and friends of the Cantonment Rotary Club.
Wednesday the club distributed everything for a turkey meal to 325 families in the North Escambia area, including Quintette and Carver Park. The recipients were chosen with the help of local school guidance counselors who helped identify families that might need a little help this time of year.
The Tate High School cheerleaders volunteered Wednesday to help package the meals for delivery.
The Cantonment Rotary project continues to grow each year. In 2017, they provided meals for 545 people, and in 2018 it was 988 people.
The Publix at Nine Mile provided generous support for the Cantonment Rotary project.
For a photo gallery, click to enlarge.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Miracle League Holds Annual Turkey Fry (With Photo Gallery)
November 26, 2020
The Miracle League of Pensacola held their annual turkey fry fundraiser Wednesday at their park on East Nine Mile Road.
Volunteers with the Miracle League spent their day frying about 250 turkeys for a minimum $30 donation, with all of the proceeds going to benefit the Miracle League.
A small army of volunteers worked to deep fry the turkeys to perfection, rows of timers keeping track of the cooking time at a command center of sorts. Cadets from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office didn’t help with the cooking, but they did make sure the turkeys were nicely packaged and ready to enjoy for Thanksgiving.
The Miracle League provides physically and mentally challenged children a safe and spirited program in which they can hit, run, and catch on a baseball field – just like other kids. MLP offers a unique and memorable opportunity these children would not otherwise have. It is a place where every player plays, every player hits, every player gets on base, every player scores, and every player wins – every inning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Happy Thanksgiving! (And Here’s Some Turkey Art From Kingsfield Elementary Kids)
November 26, 2020
Happy Thanksgiving! Here is some turkey art to enjoy from students at Kingsfield Elementary School.
Chance Of Rain Sticks Around Through Sunday; Then It’s Turning Colder
November 26, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Patchy dense fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Areas of dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 62. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Low around 58. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 49.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
‘Fill The Mayflower’ Food Drive Will Help Manna Feed 130,000
November 26, 2020
Tens of thousands of area residents will benefit from the annual Fill the Mayflower food drive, which supports the operations of Manna Food Pantries.
Donations from the two-day event held earlier this week will provide more than 130,000 meals to neighbors in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Food collected during Fill the Mayflower will be distributed through Manna’s programs and partners in the two-county area, which have experienced increased need for food assistance this year. In response to the effects of coronavirus and Hurricane Sally, Manna has focused on supporting the needs of at-risk, vulnerable populations served pre-COVID-19, as well as those who suddenly find themselves unemployed or with reduced hours and have unmet needs. As a result, Manna has distributed nearly 600,000 pounds of food this year, including fresh produce, to neighbors in need.
“Over the past year, Manna has provided food to more than 30,000 people – significantly more than the year before,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna. “Fill the Mayflower raised the food and funds we need to help feed the hungry in the coming months. We’re so grateful to the Northwest Florida community for supporting this event and continuing to show an amazing capacity to help those in need.”
This Prison Inmate Asked For The Death Penalty After Murdering His Cellmate. The Judge Obliged.
November 26, 2020
An inmate at Blackwater River Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa County has been sentenced to death for murdering his cellmate.
Thomas Fletcher killed his cellmate, 33-year old Kenneth Jeff Davis, on September 22, 2018, by choking him from behind while inside their prison cell.
“He confessed to the crime and admitted that he committed the murder in order to be sentenced to the death penalty,” State Attorney Bill Eddins said. “Fletcher pled guilty to the murder but could not waive
an evidentiary hearing on whether the death penalty should be imposed.”
Judge Scott Duncan imposed the death penalty this week.
Fletcher was sentenced to life in 1995 for a murder in Broward County.