Nina Reeder Hall
January 14, 2022
Mrs. Nina Reeder Hall, age 83, passed away, Tuesday, January 11, 2022 in Atmore, AL. She was born and raised up in Jay, FL; but has lived most of her adult life in Atmore, AL. She retired as an RN, and was an Antique dealer for many years.
She valued her time she got to spend with her family and friends. She enjoyed cooking, reading John Grisham books, watching her favorite tv show CSI-Miami. She was an avid Auburn Football Fan and a Duke Basketball Fan. She loved going to Antique Auctions and making people laugh with witty jokes.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Franklin (Litora Estele Nobles) Reeder, husband, Robert Clayton Hall, one son, Marvin Allen Williamson, one brother, Russell Scott Reeder, and one sister, Bernice Faye Reeder Woodall.
She is survived by her one son, Thomas Edwards Williamson, of Pensacola, FL; one daughter, Shawanna (Tyrone) James, of Bay Minette, AL; three grandchildren, Tiara James, Ty’leaha James, Traegan James, sister-in law, Linda Sue Cooper, of Atmore, AL; numerous, nieces, and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 14, 2022 at 12:00 PM at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC with Sis. Helen Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow at Bay Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday January 14, 2022, from 11:00 AM until service time at 12:00 PM on January 14, 2022 at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Pallbearers will be Traegan James, Jason Hadley, Peyton Newsome, Allen Hall, Robbie Hall, and Terrence Newsome.
Former Tate High Homecoming Queen Entering Pretrial Diversion, Charges Could Be Dismissed
January 13, 2022
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK OR TAP HERE.
A former Tate High School homecoming queen is entering a pre-trial diversion program that, if successfully completed, will result in the charges against being dismissed.
Emily Rose Grover was a 17-year old juvenile at the time of her arrest in April 2021 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. She turned 18 just a few days later, and her case was transferred to adult court.
Grover and her mother Laura Carroll, former assistant principal at Bellview Elementary School, were charged by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with one count each of felony offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks, and electronic devices; felony unlawful use of a two-way communications device, felony criminal use of personally identifiable information, and conspiracy to commit these offenses. The misdemeanor conspiracy charge against both has been upgraded by prosecutors to a felony count.
If Grover does not meet the terms of her pretrial diversion, prosecution on charges against her will continue.
Carroll previously pleaded not guilty and is due on court next week.
Both were accused of illegally accessing the Escambia County School District FOCUS computer system and casting 246 votes for Tate homecoming queen in the fall of 2020. Grover won, but she was expelled and was stripped of the crown.
NorthEscambia.com photo (left) and Escambia County Jail photos, click to enlarge.
Century Collects $190K In Utility Back Billing From The Dept. Of Corrections
January 13, 2022
Century has collected over $190,000 in back billing under a new utility agreement wiith the Florida Department of Corrections for Century Correctional Institution, according to Mayor Ben Boutwell.
The new contract went into effect in late December and applied the news rates retroactively to March 2021.
The Florida Department of Corrections is Century’s largest utility customer, and the town was providing water, sewer and natural gas to the prison under a 2008 agreement. It’s estimated the town underbilled over $330,000 due to a faulty gas meter and the town’s failure to adjust the contract annually to match the Consumer Price Index (CPI). However, most of the underbilling was beyond a contractual two-year limitation. The town agreed to forgive the full amount with the new agreement.
Billings under the new five year contract, which has a three year renewal option, are anticipated to total nearly $615,181 plus the actual cost of gas each year — $181,121 more annually than the 2008 contract.
Going forward, annual CPI increases will be added each March.
Pictured: An elevated water storage tank belonging to the Town of Century stands just outside the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECSO Searching For Missing, Endangered Adult
January 13, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a missing and endangered adult male.
Damon Douglas Gill, 48, was last seen leaving the 7800 block of Lakeside Oaks Drive (near Beulah Road) on Friday, January 7.
According to the ECSO, he was driving a black in color 2021 Toyota Highlander with Florida tag #DV5479L. The vehicle was later recovered on Northpointe Boulevard.
The ECSO said he may be wearing a brown hoodie.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620
Update: The ECSO updated the color of the vehicle to black.
Beulah Academy Of Science’s Teacher Of The Year Is Jessica Lewis
January 13, 2022
Jessica Lewis was named the Beulah Academy of Science Teacher of the Year. She is a science teacher for the school. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Low Tonight In The Upper 30s; Rain Back In The Forecast By Saturday With Another Cold Front
January 13, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 38. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
M.L.King Day: Sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Saturday
January 13, 2022
Escambia County is partnering with UF/IFAS Escambia Extension and West Florida Public Libraries to give away 100 one-gallon trees at three libraries in southern Escambia County.
The giveaway is open to residents of Escambia County beginning at 10 a.m. at the following locations:
- Pensacola Library – 239 North Spring Street
- Tryon Library – 1200 Langley Avenue
- Southwest Library – 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
Two trees will be allotted per family. Trees are donated on a first-come, first-served basis and are available while supplies last.
Four different species of trees will be available: pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens); dahoon holly (Illex cassine); mayhaw (Crateagus opaca); and red maple (Acer rubrum). Each site will have 25 of each species as well as “right tree, right place” education and planting information.
Pictured: A red maple tree. Photo courtesy UF/IFAS Escambia Extension for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Food Distribution Set For Saturday In Molino; Free Pizza Party On Sunday
January 13, 2022
A food giveaway will be held Saturday in Molino, and the Molino Fellowship Ministry has increased their capacity to provide more groceries for the community.
The 10 a.m. distribution will take place at Molino Chapel, 6954 Nicholson Drive.
“Since our start in November, we have provided over 1,000 area families with fresh vegetables, meats, and can goods,” said Dr. Guy Heath, the pastor who coordinates the community program. “We provide a healthy variety from fresh fruits and vegetables to family size pork roast this month.”
The Saturday food distribution will be followed Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. with a pizza party fellowship open to the community.
Detroit Boulevard Closed For About Two Months
January 13, 2022
Detroit Boulevard is closed to through traffic from Kingfisher Way to Fowler Avenue.
Construction crews will be installing a new force main and sewer in the neighborhood. Traffic will be detoured to Nine Mile Road.
The closure was originally set to begin January 4 but was delayed for a week.
The project is expected to take two months and be completed by Match 11, 2022.
Click map to enlarge. NorthEscambia.com graphic.
IRS Announces It Will Begin Accepting Returns On January 24, How Long Refunds Will Take
January 13, 2022
The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation’s tax season will start on Monday, January 24, 2022, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2021 tax year returns.
The January 24 start date for individual tax return filers allows the IRS time to perform programming and testing that is critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly. Updated programming helps ensure that eligible people can claim the proper amount of the Child Tax Credit after comparing their 2021 advance credits and claim any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2021 tax return.
The filing deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and pay tax owed is Monday, April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. he due date is April 18, instead of April 15, because of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia.
The IRS anticipates most taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically if they choose direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax return
IRS Free File will open January 14 when participating providers will accept completed returns and hold them until they can be filed electronically with the IRS. Many commercial tax preparation software companies and tax professionals will also be accepting and preparing tax returns before January 24 to submit the returns when the IRS systems open.
The IRS started sending Letter 6419, 2021 advance Child Tax Credit, in late December 2021 and continues to do so into January. The letter contains important information that can help ensure the return is accurate. People who received the advance CTC payments can also check the amount of the payments they received by using the CTC Update Portal available on IRS.gov.
Eligible taxpayers who received advance Child Tax Credit payments should file a 2021 tax return to receive the second half of the credit. Eligible taxpayers who did not receive advance Child Tax Credit payments can claim the full credit by filing a tax return.
The IRS will begin issuing Letter 6475, Your Third Economic Impact Payment, to individuals who received a third payment in 2021 in late January. While most eligible people already received their stimulus payments, this letter will help individuals determine if they are eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for missing stimulus payments. If so, they must file a 2021 tax return to claim their remaining stimulus amount. People can also use IRS online account to view their Economic Impact Payment amounts.