Mr. and Mrs. Raymond and Mable Stophel
December 10, 2020
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond (age 86) and Mable (age 88) Stophel, passed away together on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 in Pensacola, Florida. They were married for 62 years.
Mr. Stophel was born in Bristol, TN, former resident of Ruffin, NC and had resided in Jay, FL for the past 62 years. He loved his family, his church family, his Lord & Savior and Alabama Football. He was retired from Greer’s Supermarket with 40 years of service, a Veteran of the Korean Conflict serving with the U.S. Army and a member of the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Stophel; brother, William Elkaine Stophel; two sisters, Margaret Ann Stophel and Gladys Draughn; two sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law.
Mrs. Stophel was a native and lifelong resident of Jay, FL. She was a homemaker, loved her family, her church family, her Lord & Savior, gospel music, driving in the country, eating out and working in her yard. She was a member of the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Mary Oglesbee and sister and brother-in-law, Pearl and Carl Standifer.
They are survived by one son, Mickey (Kathy) Stophel of Flomaton, AL; one daughter, Linda Ann Stophel of Jay, FL; two grandchildren, Brandon (Allison) Stophel of Perdido, AL and Rebecca Stophel of Flomaton, AL and two great grandchildren, Taelon Stophel and James Redmon, Jr.
Mr. Stophel is also survived by his two brothers, Harvey (Carolyn) Stophel of Ruffin, NC and Clarence Stophel of Clarksville, VA and one sister, Helen Montgomery of Ruffin, NC.
Mrs. Stophel is also survived by one brother, Willie (Bonnie) Oglesbee of Flomaton, AL.
Numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 10:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Gordan Dillashaw and Bro. Joe Johnson officiating.
Burial will follow at the Walling Cemetery in Jay, Florida.
Visitation will be held Saturday, December 12, 2020 from 9:00 AM until service time at 10:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Doug Peacock, Bobby Standifer, William Standifer, Steven Caraway, Jerry Nowling and R.G. Nowling.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Johnny Oglesbee and Billy Oglesbee.
Man Shot In Cantonment Wednesday Afternoon
December 9, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that happened Wednesday afternoon in Cantonment.
An adult male was shot in the foot in the 200 block of Sheppard Street shortly after 4 p.m. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The victim is being uncooperative with deputies and not providing details about the shooting, according to ECSO spokesperson Amber Southard.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Fire Destroys Storage Shed In Molino
December 9, 2020
Fire destroyed a storage shed in Molino midday Wednesday.
The fire was reported shortly before noon on Highway 97 at a home next door to Escambia County Farm Bureau. The shed was a complete loss.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire. There were no injuries reported.
Pictured: A shed burns on South Highway 97 in Molino midday Wednesday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Air Force Captain From Cantonment Charged With Sexual Battery Of Child
December 9, 2020
An Air Force captain from Cantonment is behind bars this afternoon charged with the sexual assault of a child.
Zachary Stephen Green, 31, is charged with capital sexual battery on a child under 12 years of age and two felony counts of child abuse. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Green admitted to a Department of Children and Families investigator that he committed child abuse by squeezing, pinching and biting two children, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. He also admitted to the sexual battery of one of the children, the report continues.
The report states Green also admitted an addiction to transgender pornography, but not child pornography.
Most of Green’s other statements to law enforcement were redacted from the arrest report.
Green’s occupation was listed as captain in the United States Air Force on the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Invited To Become Miami Marlins Double-A Affiliate
December 9, 2020
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos received a formal invitation from Major League Baseball to become the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins on Wednesday morning.
“We are very excited to be invited to partner with the Miami Marlins,” Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer said. “The Marlins franchise, fresh off a trip to the playoffs in 2020, boasts one of the top five Minor League farm systems in baseball. We look forward to completing the process to officially become an affiliate of the Marlins and to put an extremely talented, winning team in front of our fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Off the field, the Marlins share our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and bettering the community, and we look forward to being great partners to them both at the ballpark and away from it.”
When the license applications processes are completed, the Marlins will have their two highest-level affiliates located within the state of Florida, with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp making the jump from Double-A to Triple-A.
“We are excited to invite Pensacola to be the Miami Marlins’ Double-A affiliate,” Gary Denbo, the Vice President of Player Development for the Marlins said. “Pensacola is widely recognized as one of the top franchises in minor league baseball and we are pleased that our outstanding young players and Player Development staff will have the opportunity to continue their ascension to the Major Leagues in front of the great fans at beautiful Blue Wahoos Stadium.”
The invitation to join the Marlins farm system continues an exciting fall for the Blue Wahoos franchise. The team was recently awarded Baseball America’s Bob Freitas Award, given to the organization of the year at each level of the Minor Leagues, completing an impressive and historic triple crown of major awards for the team in 2020. Earlier in the year, the team was the recipient of the Ballpark Digest Best Double-A Ballpark award and Minor League Baseball’s Best Overall Golden Bobblehead, making the Blue Wahoos the first team in history to receive each of the three most prestigious awards available to Minor League teams in a single year.
The Marlins will become the third affiliate for the Blue Wahoos franchise. The team was previously a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization (2012-2018) and the Minnesota Twins (2019-2020).
“Our entire organization would like to pass along our gratitude to the Minnesota Twins for their partnership with the Blue Wahoos over the past two years,” Studer said. “On the field, they provided a playoff-caliber team for us. Off the field, they were excellent business and community partners, recently making a generous donation to hurricane relief efforts in our city. We wish the Twins nothing but the best.”
In a subsequent announcement, the Beloit Snappers were invited to become the Advanced-A affiliate of the Marlins. The Snappers, located in Wisconsin, are also managed by the Studers.
Molino Utilities Phone Lines Are Down
December 9, 2020
The phone lines at Molino Utilities are down, and the utility said Wednesday morning that it may be up to 48 hours before service is restored. Customers are asked to first call the regular number at (850) 587-5538. If that does not work, customers should call (850) 530-6707.
Arrest Made In Cantonment Animal Cruelty Case
December 9, 2020
A man has been arrested in a 2019 animal cruelty case in Cantonment.
Gregory Burns, 62, was arrested this week on a charge of animal abuse and later released on a $6,000 bond.
In April 2019, a nearby resident called PER to report that four horses appeared malnourished and were being kept in a barren pasture. One horse, Callie, was removed from the property at 316 Meander Lane off Highway 297A in Cantonment.
The in September 2019, three additional malnourished horses — Sassy, Montana and Legend — were removed and also placed under the care of Panhandle Equine Rescue (PER). Two of them were having difficulty breathing at the time, according to PER.
A report notes that there was no available grazing in the pasture, and the hay provided was old with black mildew in it.
“Panhandle Equine Rescue worked with this individual trying to assist him for a long period of time, and that did not result in a favorable outcome,” Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday. “We reviewed the case and determined that charges were appropriate.”
Pictured: Three malnourshed horses were removed from this property in Cantonment in September 2019. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo: Tate High Agricultural Mechanics Students Learning Real World Skills
December 9, 2020
Tate High School agricultural mechanics students are learning skills to be successful in the local and national workforce. The students cut and fabricated three different fire pit designs in Tate’s agricultural mechanics shop. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Overnight Fog Possible
December 9, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 42. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Calm wind.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 58.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
Escambia County Still Picking Up Debris. And Marking Ineligible Piles.
December 9, 2020
Escambia County is still picking up Hurricane Sally debris, and marking ineligible piles.
As of Tuesday, there have been 75,928 loads hauled and 3,865,756 cubic yards of debris removed — enough to fill 83% of the Superdome in New Orleans.
The final set out date for Hurricane Sally debris was December 1, with a goal to finish collections by Christmas.
Ineligible piles are being marked orange. Indelible debris includes items from landscaping, land cleaning, garage cleaning, illegal dumping, debris located on private property and debris generated by businesses. The resident or business will be responsible for removal. More information is in the graphic on this page.