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.
AAA: Fewer Americans Forecast To Travel This Thanksgiving
November 26, 2020
AAA is forecasting that fewer Americans will travel for Thanksgiving this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health concerns and unemployment are the key factors in what is expected to be the lowest Thanksgiving travel volume in four years, and the largest yearly decline since the Great Recession.
AAA projects 50 million Americans will travel this long Thanksgiving weekend. In Florida, the expectation is 2.8 million travelers. However, these figures could be even lower as Americans monitor the public health landscape, including rising COVID-19 positive case numbers, renewed quarantine restrictions and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) travel health notices.
“AAA acknowledges that the decision to travel is a personal one,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The CDC says staying home is the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19. For those who still decide to travel, we urge you to take every precaution possible to protect yourself and others.”
Those who decide to travel are likely to drive shorter distances and reduce the number of days they are away. This makes road trips the dominant form of travel this Thanksgiving. Travel by automobile is projected to fall 4.3%, to 47.8 million travelers and account for 95% of all holiday travel.
AAA anticipates Thanksgiving air travel volume will be nearly half of last year – at 2.4 million Americans. This would be the largest one-year decrease on record. For these travelers, AAA notes holiday airfares are the lowest in three years. If flying, AAA reminds air travelers that in-flight amenities, including food and beverage services, may not be available. Also, as a precaution, wipe down your seat, armrest, belt buckle and tray table using disinfecting wipes.
Travel by “other modes” is forecast to hit record lows. This field – which includes buses, trains and cruises – is expected to decline 76%, to 353,000 travelers. The decline comes as cruise ships remain docked and more travelers opt for car trips instead of taking buses or trains.
Wednesday was expected to be the busiest travel day of the long weekend.
Jacob Oryan Bailey
November 26, 2020
Mr. Jacob Oryan Bailey, age 34, passed away on Friday, November 20, 2020 in Atmore, Alabama.
Mr. Bailey was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore, AL. He was a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians where he was an active member of HVOSSV TVLLVHVSSE (Ceremonial Grounds). He was a loving husband, devoted father and loved all his family. He was a carpenter, farmer, and a spiritual person. He was a PowWow dancer in grass dance and traditional. He was an avid outdoorsman, loving to hunt and fish. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Verlie Bailey; maternal grandfather, Eugene Blackwelder; maternal grandmother, Marie McAnally; uncle, Jerry Bailey and cousin, Joey McGhee.
He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Liesl O. Bailey of Atmore, AL; one son, Elijah William Bailey of Atmore, AL; two daughters, Kadence Marie Bailey of Atmore, AL and Poarcha Estehulwe Bailey of Atmore, AL; parents, Cheryl and William Bailey, Sr. of Atmore, AL; mother-in-law, Nancy Olkjer of Pensacola, FL; his beloved Pinky Bailey; one brother, Billy (Cheyanne) Bailey of Walnut Hill, FL; nieces and nephews, Kyiah Bailey, Sophia Bailey and Carson Bailey and countless aunts and uncles, Robin & Larry, Kathy & Joe, Cecelia & Rodney, Mackey & Russell, Ruth, Sabrina & David, Donna, Sonja & Rusty, Gary & Christine, and David McGhee.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 27, 2020 at 10:00 AM at the Restoration Poarch Community Church with Bro. Jerry Sanchez officiating.
Burial will follow at New Home Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 26, 2020 from 6:00 PM until service time at 10:00 AM at the Restoration Poarch Community Church.
Pallbearers will be Carson Bailey, Timmy Bailey, Timmy Barber, Thomas Banda, Burle Wiggins, Sr., and Chance Baggett.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Boone McGhee, Slick Corey, Trent Rayborn, Bo Slate, Chad Godwin, Stoney Dawes, Isaac Bernal, Bubba O’Barr, Paul Bell, Cedo Coon, Stephen Ledkins and Larry Bailey, Jr.
Escambia Records Two New COVID-19 Deaths, 122 New Cases
November 26, 2020
There were 122 additional COVID-19 cases and two new deaths in Escambia County as reported Wednesday by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Total cases: 16,223 (+122)
Non-Florida residents: 1,739
Total deaths: 299 (+2)
Long-term care facility deaths : 138 (+2)
Current hospitalizations: 90 (+1)
Number of tests last day: 952
Percent positive last day: 10.1%
Percent positive last week: 8.6%
Escambia County cases by location:
Pensacola: 11.914 (+79)
Cantonment: 1,229 (+22)
Century: 953
—-including 773 Century prison inmates
Molino: 195 (+3)
McDavid: 97
Bellview: 25
Walnut Hill: 18
Perdido Key: 14
Gonzalez: 8
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 7,192 (+104)
Non-Florida residents: 92
Total deaths: 100 (+1)
Long-term care facility deaths: 22
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 421*
Number of tests last day: 262
Percent positive last day: 27.8%
Santa Rosa County cases by location:
Milton: 3,854 (+34)
Gulf Breeze: 1,218 (Monday) (+14)
Navarre: 1,178 (+12)
Pace: 595 (+8)
Jay: 184 (+3)
Bagdad: 17
Florida cases:
Total cases: 991,676
Florida residents: 946,956
Deaths: 18,254
Hospitalizations: 54,133*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
*The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.