Dreaming Of A White Christmas? Sorry, It’s Not Happening. Not Even Close.
December 23, 2021
Dreaming of a white Christmas? It’s not happening this year in North Escambia. Not even close.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast
Thursday: Patchy frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the morning.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Donald Wayne Maxwell
December 23, 2021
Donald Wayne Maxwell, 82, of Cantonment, Florida, passed away Tuesday, December 21, 2021 after a brief illness. Don was born on April 20, 1939 to Clyde and Letha Maxwell in Bristow, Oklahoma. After graduating from Pearsall High School, he went on to receive a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Physics from the University of West Florida. Over his lifetime, he enjoyed working at several occupations. He served in the United States Air Force and was deployed to Okinawa, Japan. He also worked as a contractor for NASA on the Saturn V rockets at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. Don completed his career by retiring as a civil servant from the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (NAMRL) aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Don enjoyed helping others. He was known for his ingenuity and being an extraordinary handyman. He volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store and was a 17 gallon donor at the OneBlood donation center. He was a loving dad and grandpa and lit up when he was with his grandchildren. We, his family, were blessed to have him as our rock and protector and will forever feel the loss.
Don was predeceased by his parents Clyde and Letha Maxwell, and his siblings Carl Maxwell, Doris Barnes, and Judy Baker. He is survived by wife Florence, children Donna (Mike) Moon, Gina (Tim) Shoffner, Connie (Richard) Clark, Tony (Ann) Thompson, Dianne (Jay) Watts, and brothers Darrell Maxwell and Jimmy Maxwell. He is also survived by grandchildren Danielle Perry, Evan Shoffner, Logan Shoffner, Mary Prescott, Joey Clark, Ryan Williams, Rachel Williams, Jessica Thompson, Jacob Watts, Jason Watts, and great-grandchildren Madeline Prescott and Charlie Prescott.
Funeral Mass will be held at 12Noon on Monday, December 27, 2021 at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church with Father George Thekku officiating. Burial will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 11am prior to services.
Pallbearers will be Tim Shoffner, Evan Shoffner, Mike Moon, Joey Clark, Jacob Watts, and Jason Watts.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that contributions may be donated to the St. Jude Thaddeus church building fund in Don’s name.
AAA Predicts Near Record Holiday Travel This Year
December 23, 2021
AAA is forecasting that nearly 6 million Florida residents will travel 50 miles or more as they hit the road, board airplanes or take other transportation out of town between December 23 and January 2.
That’s 4.5 percent fewer travelers than the record high for Florida set back in 2019, but it’s still 1.5 million (35%) more than last year.
More than 109 million people — an almost 34% increase from 2020 — are forecast to travel across the county. The bounce-back — 27.7 million more travelers than the 2020 holiday period — brings this year’s numbers in line with 2017 figures, and just 8% shy of 2019 – which was the highest on record.
Road trips remain the top mode of travel during the holidays, with over 100 million (91%) planning to drive to their destinations, despite gasoline costing $1.13 per gallon more than a year ago. Airlines will see a 184% increase from last year. More than 6 million people are expected to fly, while 3 million are booking buses, trains and cruises.
Local Drivers Get Break From Road Construction For The Holiday
December 23, 2021
Florida drivers will get a break from road construction for Christmas and New Year’s.
There will be no lane closures or other activities that impede traffic on major state roads throughout the Florida panhandle beginning at 7 a.m. on Thursday, December 23 and ending at 12:01 a.m. Monday, January 3, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century Prison, Century Town Officials Gift Bicycles To Six Deserving Children
December 23, 2021
The Century Correctional Institution presented six bicycles to the Town of Century to be gifted to deserving children in the community.
Mayor Ben Boutwell and each of the five elected council members were able to choose a child to receive a bicycle.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Charles Nathaniel Broadhead
December 23, 2021
Charles Nathaniel Broadhead, 70, of Pensacola, FL passed away on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. He was born on January 20, 1951 in Needham, AL to the late Nathaniel Broadhead and Willie Ivy Broadhead.
Charles retired from Webb Electric Inc. where he worked as an Electrical Superintendent Project Manager.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Charles is survived by his wife of 40 years, Judith “Judy” Graves Broadhead; three children, Wendi Broadhead Bradshaw (Emily), Lowell Rowland (Garilynn) and Keela (John) Murdy; seven grandchildren, Dylan Bradshaw, Dalton Bradshaw, Kaylyn Bradshaw, Christopher Rowland (Hannah), Ashlyn Murdy, Charlyn McLane (Dylan) and Bailyn Murdy; and one great grandchild, Ryatt Rowland.
Funeral services will be held at 1PM, Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. Burial will follow in Pensacola Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 12:30PM prior to services
Century Debates Hiring New Town Manager, Public Works Boss Or Some Other Next Step
December 22, 2021
The Century Town Council is debating whether to hire a town manager, a public works director or make some other move.
After nearly two years on the job, interim town manager Vernon Prather’s last day was November 30 after he opted not to seek a contract renewal.
The town rehired Leslie Howington as town clerk, and she proposed combining the town clerk and town manager roles.
“I just feel that a public works director would be vital for our town, for the future,” Mayor Ben Boutwell told the council this week. “So that’s the direction that I want to go.”
The mayor said he wants a public works director to run the town’s water, sewer, sanitation, parks and streets department, while he and Howington run the administrative side of things. With upcoming water and sewer projects, including work at the wastewater treatment plant, Boutwell said someone knowledgeable about those operations needs to be an overseer.
“We need a public works director; we don’t need a town manager,” Boutwell said.
“I’m looking for the benefit and progress of this town,” Council President Luis Gomez said. “We have a lot of projects coming in. I agree 100% we need somebody in the field.”
Council member Dynette Lewis said she’s not yet completely sold on the idea of creating a public works position. Rather, she said she wants to learn more.
The council took no action this week and will revisit the issue in January.
In addition to Howington, 10 people applied for the town manager position. To see the full list that includes former Century mayor Henry Hawkins, click or tap here.
Pictured: Century Mayor Ben Boutwell presented an appreciation plaque to former town manager Vernon Prather this week honoring his nearly two years of service. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Horticulture Technician Carol Lord Retires After Over 30 Years
December 22, 2021
Escambia County horticulture technician Carol Lord has retired after almost 32 years of public service.
If you’ve called or visited Escambia County at UF/IFAS Extension Services with a plant question in the last three decades, the odds are that Lord assisted you.
“Particularly in the springtime when everything starts growing, it was not unusual for her to spend nearly 8 hours straight answering calls or talking to office visitors. She is a wealth of knowledge of all things horticultural, and a whiz at identifying plants, diagnosing plant diseases, and making wise recommendations on soil and nutrient issues,” the Extension Service said in a social media post.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sunny Wednesday And One More Cold Night; Then Warming For Christmas
December 22, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 75. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Ernest Ward Middle Names Students Of The Month
December 22, 2021
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named Students of the Month for November. They are (L-R) Elias Michael Ridgley, sixth grade; Christian Noelle Caraway, seventh grade; and Hannah Ruth-Grace Stogner, eighth grade. They are pictured with Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.