In Her Own Words: Flomaton Teacher Remembers Logan Mitchell, 12-Year Old ATV Crash Victim
May 27, 2021
Flomaton Elementary School is remembering the 12-year old student that lost his life in an ATV accident last Sunday.
Funeral services are Thursday for Logan Bryant Mitchell.
Flomaton Elementary teacher Shawna Fillmore shares her heartfelt thoughts about Logan, in her own words:
“If the FES school motto were in the dictionary, I would want Logan’s picture next to it. On the first day of school this sweet kiddo held the door for me, and volunteered for all kinds of tasks that he saw and felt needed to be completed. He was an encourager and a friend to everyone. He was bold to speak about Jesus, he was bold to step out from the crowd, and he was bold in that he was a leader.”
“Every morning he and Sweet Braden were in charge of our homeroom’s breakfast and cleaning up. And every morning Logan never failed to chat and share his latest hunting story. Whether it be that he shot a snake, shot a rabbit, or shot a deer, he would give me alllll of the details, and I mean ALL and I soaked up every minute of it. He was always willing to carry on sarcastic conversations with me, to jump in on spontaneous competitive tasks, and to be sure that we would win field day’s “tug of war”. The impact he has left on my heart is quite large. I am so grateful that God chose me to be a part of his life. He showed me daily what it looked like to love friends and love Jesus. Colossians 1:17 says “He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” He is proof that God holds all creation in His hands. And I know he is in sweet Jesus’s hands right now. Oh how I will miss this sweet precious soul of a boy.”
Click or tap here for the complete obituary.
The ATV crash occurred about 5 p.m. Sunday on private property in the area of Upper Creek Road west of the Rock Cemetery, about a half mile from Highway 31. The Flomaton Police Department and the Escambia County Department of Human Resources are continuing their investigation.
Mitchell was the third Flomaton Elementary School student death in the past year. An ATV accident on May 28, 2020, claimed the life of 6-year old Trayton Adams, and 11-year old Jaden James, was killed in an October 3, 2020, vehicle crash in Walnut Hill.
Two Century Residents Charged After Altercation Involving A Samurai Type Sword And A Baseball Bat
May 27, 2021
Two Century residents were charged after an alleged altercation involving a sword and a baseball bat earlier this month.
Mariah Brianna Moore, 29, and Justin Eugene Moore, 22, were both charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The relationship between the two, if any, was not specified in Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reports.
A male and female were at their mailbox in the 4000 block of Highway 4A when Mariah Moore started a verbal argument before throwing rocks at the male, according to an arrest report. The male victim threw a rock back at Mariah Moore, at which time Justin Moore exited a residence with a bat at hit the male three or four times, the report continues.
Mariah Moore then cut the female victim with what deputies described as a small “samurai style sword”, the report states.
The female victim was transported to Jay Hospital; the male victim was treated on scene by Escambia County EMS.
Deputies noted that other individuals involved in the incident may face charges.
Justin Moore was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $15,000 bond; Mariah Moore was released on a $10,000 bond.
Dedria’s Gift Presents Scholarships To Two Escambia Academy Students
May 27, 2021
Dedria’s Gift presented scholarships to two Escambia Academy students recently.
The scholarship recipients are Austin Washington and Lillian Bonner. Dedria’s Gift honors the memory of Dedria Robinson, who was killed in a 2005 automobile accident at age 11.
Pictured: Nyesha Cottrell presented the scholarships on behalf of Dedria’s parents Reginald and Rita Robinson. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mahan’s Ninth-Inning Homer Powers Wahoos to Sixth Straight Win
May 27, 2021
Riley Mahan couldn’t have picked a better time to deliver his first home run of the season. In a 2-2 game in the top of the ninth, Mahan drilled a three-run homer off Jake Cousins (L, 0-1) and the Wahoos held on for a dramatic 5-4 win against Biloxi on Wednesday night for the sixth consecutive victory.
Cousins, who was the fifth pitcher used by Biloxi on Wednesday, entered the game in the ninth with the game tied at 2-2. Nick Fortes led off the inning with a single before Cousins struck out Tristan Pompey. After he walked Lazaro Alonso to put runners on first and second, Mahan crushed a no-doubter to deep left center to put Pensacola up 5-2.
Biloxi put up a fight in the bottom of the ninth against Brian McKenna (W, 3-0), who was in his second inning of relief.
David Fry homered on the first pitch he saw in the ninth to bring the Shuckers to within two. After back-to-back strikeouts, Tyler Fries singled to center before Ryan Aguilar drew a two-out walk.
The next batter was Tristen Lutz, who dropped a run-scoring single into shallow center to make it a 5-4 game. That brought up Brice Turang, who enters this season as the Brewers #1 prospect according to Baseball America. With the tying run at third, Turang flew out to left field to end the game.
The late-game drama in Wednesday’s game distracts slightly from the start of the contest, which featured two of best young pitching prospects.
Jake Eder made his fourth start of the year for the Blue Wahoos and allowed one hit in five innings. He allowed one run that was unearned in the third, after the Wahoos made two separate errors that allowed Friis to both reach base and score.
Outside of that, Eder was virtually untouchable, with Biloxi’s only hit a bunt single that was momentarily misplayed by Alonso in the bottom of the fifth. Eder struck out eight, bringing his season total to 34, which after tonight is the most in the Double-A South.
Biloxi had their #2 pitching prospect (_Baseball America_), Ethan Small on the mound who also struck out eight in five innings of work. He allowed two runs in his start, the first of which came after a first-inning walk to JJ Bleday and then an RBI double to Fortes. In the third inning, Peyton Burdick doubled and eventually scored after a couple of wild pitches.
The road trip continues tomorrow night when both teams will once again send out a couple of lefties on the bump. Brandon Leibrandt gets the nod for Pensacola (0-1, 9.00) while Biloxi will go with Leo Crawford (0-1, 9.26).
by Chris Garagiola, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
File photo.
FDOH Reports 21 New Escambia COVID-19 Cases
May 27, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 21 new COVID-19 cases reported Wednesday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 36,557 (+21)
Non-Florida residents: 3,697
Recovered: 34,102*
Total deaths: 700
Long-term care facility deaths: 287
Current hospitalizations: 29 (+3)
Number of tests reported last day: 484
Percent positive reported last day: 4.5%
Percent positive reported last week: 4.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 27,414 (+19)
Cantonment: 3,290 (+1)
Century: 1,185
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 497
McDavid: 216 (+1)
Bellview: 59
Walnut Hill: 58
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,493 (+13)
Non-Florida residents: 260
Total deaths: 291
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 916*
Number of tests reported last day: 355
Percent positive reported last day: 3.5%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,832 (+6)
Navarre: 3,804 (+1)
Gulf Breeze: 3,391 (+2)
Pace: 1,519 (+5)
Jay: 561
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,316,142
Florida residents: 2,272,898
Deaths: 36,647
Hospitalizations: 94,550
*“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.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Janie Suzanne Walker
May 27, 2021
Janie Suzanne Walker, beloved and devoted wife, mother, daughter, and teacher passed away and went to her heavenly home on May 26, 2021 at the age of 47 after complications from a recent surgery.
Janie was born on March 26, 1974 in Pensacola, FL to Robert and Kathy Newbold. Janie grew up in Pensacola and attended Cordova Park Elementary, J.H. Workman Middle School, and Booker T. Washington High School. Janie and her family were active members of First Baptist Church in Pensacola where she was baptized and married and she served as a Children’s Camp Counselor and played the trumpet in the church orchestra.
Following graduation from high school in 1992 with honors, Janie attended the University of Alabama where she received a Bachelor of Music Education in 1997. While at Alabama she was a member of the Million Dollar Band, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Quota Brass Quintet and Mu Phi Epsilon. Janie and her future husband, Chris Walker, met at Alabama and they were both members of the Million Dollar Band.
Janie started her teaching career in the fall of 1997 when she became the band director at UMS Wright Preparatory School in Mobile, AL. While living in Mobile, Janie played in the Mobile Pops Orchestra.
In the fall of 1999, Janie moved back to Pensacola and became the band director at Ransom Middle School. During her time at Ransom, her symphonic and jazz bands received consistent superior ratings at District Music Performance Assessments, and she had 18 students selected for participation in Florida all state bands. Janie also served as guest conductor for Middle School Honor Bands in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in Florida. She was selected as the Ransom Middle School teacher of the year for the 2020-2021 school year.
Janie commitments were her faith in Christ, her family, and the band program at Ransom Middle School. Since 2002, Janie and her family were active members of Hillcrest Baptist Church where she played at various times in the Church’s instrumental group. Janie enjoyed spending time with her family and being mom to her son, Andrew. She enjoyed traveling with her family to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sanibel Island in Florida and attending University of Alabama football games. She enjoyed teaching the love of music to Andrew and seeing him play trombone at Ransom and then seeing Andrew continue his music career with the Tate High School Band.
Janie had a tremendous impact on music education in Escambia County. She cared deeply for her students and wanted her students to reach their potential. She served as a mentor to other band directors in our area and she was always appreciative of the directors who guided her in her teaching career. Former students of Janie are serving in teaching positions at various middle school and high school band programs in the Florida panhandle and various former students are professional musicians.
Janie is preceded in death by her father, Robert Newbold. She is survived by her mother, Kathy Newbold of Pensacola; husband, Chris Walker of Pensacola; son, Andrew Walker of Pensacola; her brother, Robert Newbold (Amy) and their children, Jonathan and Anna of Daphne, AL; mother and father in-law, Judy and Marvin Walker of Gadsden, AL; brother in-law, Mark Walker (Julie) and their children, Matthew and Caleb of Jacksonville, AL.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 am until the Funeral Service begins at 12:00 pm Saturday, May 29, 2021 at Hillcrest Baptist Church on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola, FL with Rev. Jim Locke officiating. Burial will be held at Bayview Memorial Park in Pensacola, FL with Rev. Mark Walker officiating at the graveside.
Active Pallbearers will be Lee Rigdon, Jakob Wisdom, Tristan Workman, Robert Newbold, Andrew Walker, Matthew Walker, and Caleb Walker. Honorary Pallbearers include Jack Overman, Joe Hooten, Tim Willis, Dave Schmidt, and Janie’s co-workers at Ransom Middle School.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may made to the Ransom Middle School Band Boosters, Inc., 1000 W. Kingsfield Road, Cantonment, FL 32533-4621.
Finally, the family would like to thank the care provided to Janie by doctors Jarian Duke-Elmore and Jonathan Dean and the various doctors, nurses, and staff at Ascension Sacred Heart.
Video: Here’s How Traffic Will Flow On When The Pensacola Bay Bridge Opens
May 26, 2021
The Florida Department of Transportation has created an animation to show motorists what to expect when the Pensacola Bay Bridge opens to traffic. The video is meant to assist motorists in preparing for the traffic alignment on the bridge and instruct motorists traveling into Pensacola on how to navigate the 17th Avenue Flyover.
The bridge, expected to open by next week, will be two lanes for less than a mile on the Pensacola end and four lanes for remainder.
Click or tap here for direct video link.
Man Convicted, Sentenced To Life In Prison For Killing Escambia County Store Owner
May 26, 2021
A Montgomery, Alabama, man was convicted Wednesday morning of killing an Escambia County convenience store owner in 2016. He was then sentenced to life in prison.
Raymond Jerome Pruitt, 44, of Montgomery, Alabama, robbed the A&E Food Mart on Pace Boulevard about 9:30 p.m. on April 26, 2016. During the robbery, he shot and killed 53-year old Chung Lun Chiang, known as “Alan,” while he worked.
Pruitt’s crime spree began on April 5, 2016, in Montgomery when he stabbed his girlfriend and shot her with her own pistol as she tried to escape. Pruitt was soon identified as the prime suspect in five armed robberies occurring in Montgomery, Ozark, Troy, and Prattville, Alabama.
Cantonment Man Facing Weapons, Drug Charges After Allegedly Fleeing From Deputies
May 26, 2021
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges after allegedly running from Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies as they attempted o arrest him on an outstanding warrant.
Jeffery Jermaine Purifoy, 26, was charged with resisting arrest, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, tampering with physical evidence by concealing, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine and possession of a drug paraphernalia.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attempted to serve a fleeing and eluding warrant on Purifoy at an apartment complex on Massachusetts Avenue. Purifoy allegedly hid a stolen pistol and narcotics before running from deputies.
At the Escambia County Jail, a correctional officer reported finding a bag containing marijuana in Purifoy’s pocket.
New Area Code: The Very First 448 Numbers To Be Available In Century
May 26, 2021
The new 448 area code was official activated for the area last Saturday, and now we are learning that the very first 448 numbers will be available in Century beginning July 17.
The numbers were assigned to Inteliquent, a telecommunications company that provides services to wireless, cable, carriers and communication service providers.
Mandatory 10-digit dialing is effect for existing and new phone numbers in the 850 and the new 448 area codes. This includes landlines, cellphones and other devices. The 850/448 area code region consists of 18 counties in the Florida Panhandle, including the cities of Pensacola, Panama City, and Tallahassee.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
