Escambia School District Bus Drivers, Other Support Personnel To Receive Raises
September 1, 2021
The Escambia County School District has reached a pay raise agreement for all educational support personnel (ESP), including bus drivers.
With the proposed agreement with the Escambia Educational Staff Professionals union, bus drivers will receive at least a 4% pay hike. A new, incoming bus driver will now earn $14.72 per hour, with training opportunities to receive a 50 cent increase.
The agreement, according to the district, will meet the school board’s goal to pay over $15 an hour to bus drivers
“We are excited about the pay increase for bus drivers and the potential to have an hourly wage over $15 an hour,” Superintendent Tim Smith said. “This increase will better compensate our bus drivers and help to recruit new drivers. We are also excited to be able to provide all other support personnel the equivalent of a 4% raise.”
For all other support personnel, an agreement was reached to increase the entire salary schedule by 2%, and give current employees a step-raise that is approximately an additional 2% for an overall raise of 4%. Furthermore, an additional Step has been created to allow for the promotion of our most veteran employees. A new employee on Pay Grade 9 will now immediately begin at Step 2, with a starting hourly wage of $10.17.
All impacted employees will have the chance to vote on the proposal. If ratified, the school board will then vote on the new agreement. If passed, the new salaries will soon go into effect retroactive to July 1, 2021.
COVID-19 Testing Available Wednesday And Friday In Cantonment
September 1, 2021
Community Health Northwest Florida will offer COVID-19 testing this week in Cantonment.
The drive-thru testing will be available at Cantonment Pediatrics from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.
Community Health said that due to exceedingly high demand, the availability of rapid tests cannot be guaranteed at this time.
Cantonment Pediatrics is at 470 South Highway 29.
Investigation Underway After Shots Fired At Atmore Gas Station
September 1, 2021
Police are investigating after shots were fired at a gas station on South Main Street in Atmore.
The Atmore Police Department responded to the Chevron station at the corner of South Main Street and Lindberg Avenue about 6:40 p.m. after reports of gunfire.
Officer arrived to find a gas pump nozzle on the ground and multiple spent shell casings. Anyone involved in the incident had already fled the scene.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The Atmore Police Department is continuing their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (251) 368-9141.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
EREC Sends Line Crews, Bunk Trailers And Showers To Help With Louisiana Power Restoration
September 1, 2021
Line crews from Escambia River Electric Cooperative are assisting a fellow cooperative with power restoration following Hurricane Ida.
After landfall of the Category 4 hurricane, there were 84,896 DEMCO customers without power in the Greenwell Springs, Louisiana area.
“Following any storm, our first priority is to safeguard our cooperative and make sure our members have power,” said EREC CEO Ryan Campbell. “As soon as we know our system is intact, then our crews are ready to go help others who were impacted by the storm.”
EREC has also sent five bunk trailers and a shower trailer to Washington — St. Tammany Electric Cooperative in Mandeville, Louisiana, to house cooperative line crews working to restore power there.
One of the biggest challenges facing electric utilities during power restoration after disasters such as hurricanes is lodging. It is difficult to find housing for hundreds or even thousands of workers in an area whose infrastructure has been devastated. EREC acquired trailers and renovated them into bunk housing for this purpose.
EREC’s five bunk trailers will sleep 33 people each, and the shower trailer has 10 showers and sinks. The trailers are self-contained, each equipped with its own generator.
“Rebuilding communities following a storm of this intensity will take time, but we want to do whatever we can to help speed the process,” said Campbell.
Pictured: EREC line crew members Cody Lewis, Philip Gandy, Matthew Reynolds, Thomas Nall and Gary McCaskill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lower Rain Chances Today, High Around 90
September 1, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Calm wind.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Labor Day: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Coastal Alabama Warhawks Baseball Coach Darrell Blevins Passes Away
September 1, 2021
Coastal Alabama Community College Warhawks head baseball coach Darrell Blevins has passed away. He was 53.
Blevins was entering his 16th season leading the Warhawks at the college’s Brewton campus and spent more than 30 years in organized baseball at the collegiate and high school levels. He also taught microcomputer applications full time as a faculty instructor.
“The three most important things in his life were his relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his family, especially his boys Kyle and Craig, and baseball. He tried to use the game of baseball to teach lifelong skills to young men, that would help them be successful both on and off the field,” said his wife, Denise Blevins
“Darrell was a standup guy and a pillar in our community,” said Dennis Fuqua, director of Coastal Alabama Community College’s Brewton campus. “He was very respected both personally and professionally, and one of his greatest attributes was that he was a man strong in his faith and he was an extremely hard worker.”
As a coach, he helped more than 90 players get the opportunity to play baseball at the next level, including NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA.
Blevins is survived by his wife Denise and their two sons Kyle and Craig. The family attends First Baptist Church of Brewton, where Coach Blevins was a deacon who taught Sunday school classes.
Vernie Lee “Barnhill” Gehman
September 1, 2021
Vernie Lee “Barnhill” Gehman, 83, of Atmore, Ala., went home to be with Jesus early in the morning on Aug. 27, 2021 in the comfort of her home and surrounded by family. Vernie was born on July 11, 1938 in Atmore and was the daughter of Petro Rosasco “P.R.” Barnhill and Ruby Lee McGhee Barnhill. She follows three of her siblings to Glory – James Edward Barnhill, Atmore; Roy Lee Barnhill of Daphne, Ala.; and Wilma Lee Barnhill of Atmore.
She is survived by her siblings Carl Raymond Barnhill, Atmore; Dillard Wayne Barnhill, Atmore; and Kenny Ray Barnhill, Phillipsville, Ala.
Vernie was the loving wife and partner in the Gospel mission of Martin E. Gehman for 65 years; they married on her 18th birthday in 1956. She was the devoted mother of the late Randy “Dale” (Darlene) Gehman, Akron, Pa.; Martin Gerald “Jerry” (Faith) Gehman, Atmore; David Wayne (Shyrell) Gehman, Atmore; Joe Lynn (Rhonda) Gehman, Pelham, Ala.; and Martha Elaine Gehman (Todd) Gookin, Atmore.
Vernie was a cherished Grandmother to 16 grandchildren and the greatest of Great Grandmothers to 17 great grandchildren, whom she kept daily in her prayers and in her love. In her lifetime, Vernie had many titles and occupations. She worked at the local cucumber shed in Atmore. At an early age she joined hundreds of local women working at Vanity Fair Textile Industry. She then became a full time mom and assistant manager of Marty’s Cabinet Shop and Furniture Company. In 1981 she became a general partner of Alabama Native American Broadcasting Company, including radio stations WASG and WYDH. She served as a receptionist and secretary. Vernie was a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and served as a receptionist for the PCI Health Department. More recently Vernie was involved in the operation of WGYJ-LP in Atmore, where she joined her husband as co-host to produce Mom ’n Pop’s Suppertime Gospel which is broadcast every day on WGYJ-LP.
Vernie dedicated her life to serving the Lord alongside her husband at Gospel Light Church in Atmore. Throughout her Tribe and the nearby communities, Vernie ministered to, prayed for, served and led people to Christ. Vernie was endlessly kind, warm and caring. She never met a stranger and was a dear friend to many. Vernie faithfully ran her race and has met her Lord and Savior in Heaven. If she were here today, she would encourage everyone to be prepared to meet her in Heaven, just as her mother Ruby did.
A viewing will be held on Friday, Sep. 3, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Gospel Light Church located at 337 N. Trammell Street, Atmore, Ala. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sep. 4, at Gospel Light Church with Bro. Clarence Rolin and Bro. Troy Shaffer officiating. Interment will follow in a public ceremony at Serenity Gardens Cemetery located on Highway 31, East of Atmore near the municipal airport.
Rebecca Higdon
September 1, 2021
Rebecca Higdon, age 72, passed away on Sunday, August 22, 2021 in Pensacola, FL. She was born in Jay, FL; but has resided most of her life in Flomaton, AL. She was a faithful member of Lighthouse Baptist Church.
Mrs. Higdon enjoyed going to church, singing and going to the mountains. She loved her family dearly and always valued the time she spent with them, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert (Effie) Little of Jay, FL.
Mrs. Higdon is survived by her loving husband of forty-seven and a half years, Kenny Higdon, of Flomaton, AL; two sons, Kenny Higdon Jr; of Flomaton, AL; Cleve (Beverly) Johnson of Spring Hill, TN; one daughter, Marilyn (Chuck) Day of Flomaton, AL; two grandsons, Isaiah (Stevie) Day, of Flomaton, AL; Joshua (Autumn) Day, of Flomaton, AL; six granddaughters, Jamie (Parker) Bell, of Flomaton, AL; Shelby Sasser, of Andalusia, AL; Kayla Higdon (Josh), of Evergreen, AL; Brandy Higdon, of Jay, FL; Kaylyn (Cody) Martin, of Springhill, TN; Lauren Johnson, of Springhill, TN; fourteen great-grandchildren, one sister, JoAnn (Johnny) Johnson, of Columbia, TN; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC with Bro. Chuck Day and Bro. Isaiah Day officiating.
Burial will follow at Little Escambia Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, August 30, 2021 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Pallbearers will be Parker Bell, Bailey Martin, Shannon Martin, Joshua Day, Dale Chavers, Daniel Higdon, Jacob Higdon, and Adam Martin.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jason Lambeth.
Blue Wahoos Offense Stalls In 6-1 Loss To Montgomery Biscuits
September 1, 2021
Chris Chinea’s solo home run was all the offense the Wahoos could muster as they fell 6-1 to Montgomery on Tuesday night at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.
Kyle Nicolas (L, 3-1) suffered his worst outing in his short tenure in Double-A. After going three starts without allowing a run, Nicolas surrendered a three-run home run to Ford Proctor in the bottom of the first, which set the Wahoos behind 3-0. He allowed another run in the fourth, after a walk and an RBI double from Niko Hulsizer, which made the score at the time 4-1. He was lifted from the game after four innings, which was the first time Nicolas was unable to pitch more than four innings since July 7th when he was still a member with the Beloit Snappers.
Pensacola had an immediate response from Chinea in the top of the second when he led off the inning with a solo home run against Jack Labosky. Chine finished the night 2-for-4. Despite his homer making it 3-1, Pensacola’s offense had no further response to combat the Biscuits. Pensacola was limited to four hits on the night and struck out 15 times.
Tuesday’s contest was the first game for the Wahoos in the past week. After a 1-0 win over Mississippi on August 24th, the rest of their series was canceled due to positive COVID tests, and a need for contact tracing. The Wahoos and Biscuits were the only Double-A South teams to play on Tuesday, with two series paused to allow for contact tracing, while Birmingham and Chattanooga were postponed due to rain.
With the loss, Pensacola sits three games back of Montgomery for the second and final postseason spot in the 2021 Double-A South Championship Series.
RHP Max Meyer (6-1, 1.97) will start Wednesday’s contest for the Blue Wahoos, and he will be opposed by RHP Jayden Murray (1-2, 2.36). Meyer’s ERA is currently the lowest in all of baseball, just ahead of Los Angeles Dodgers ace Walker Buehler (2.02). Firs