D1 Commissioner Bergosh To Hold Town Hall Meeting Next Week
February 17, 2022
District 1 Escambia County Commissioner and Chairman Jeff Bergosh will host a town hall Tuesday, February 22 from 5:30 until 7 p.m. at Beulah Middle School.
Attendees will include county staff; District 1 ECUA board member Vicki Campbell, Escambia County School Board District 1 member Kevin Adams, and Debbie Malsberger from State Rep. Michelle Salzman’s office.
Bergosh intends to discuss countywide issues including COVID-19 response and recovery, new redistricting boundaries, the budget, the county jail and staffing issues, Escambia County Fire Rescue and EMS, Triumph Gulf Coast, and the RESTORE Act. There will be topics of interest to District 1 discussed as well, including OLF-8, the Beulah Community Master Plan, the District 1 library and Beulah fire station, and an elevated walkway and sidewalks for Beulah. Bergosh will also give an update on the Mobile Highway road project, the Nine Mile/Beulah interchange and transportation projects including Longleaf Drive and Avondale Sidewalk
Bergosh will also utilize “agree” or “disagree” cards so residents can answer questions posed during the town hall. Comment cards will be available so county staff can address residents’ concerns.
J.B. Johnson Jr.
February 17, 2022
J.B. Johnson Jr., age 65, of Century, FL, left this earth and went home to be with his Heavenly Father, on Tuesday evening, Feb. 15, 2022.
J.B. is survived by his loving wife of more than 45 years, Trudie Gilmore Johnson; his son, Jeff Johnson (Becky Hadley); daughter Sarah LeMesurier; son-in-law Desmond LeMesurier; daughter-in-the-Lord Tammy Jackson (Danny Jackson); brothers Ollie Johnson (Donna), Joe Johnson (Mary), and Lewis Johnson (Wanda); grandson Russell LeMesurier; granddaughter Madison Merchant and was preceded in death by his father J.B. Johnson Sr.; mother Vonnie Johnson; brother Johnnie Johnson; and sister Rachiel Kelly.
J.B. lived most of his life to glorify God. He had a heart for the lost and wanted for all to come and personally know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. He loved serving others and making a difference in his community. He did this by serving in his church in many different capacities over the years. He wanted people to know that they were loved by God and created with a purpose for something more than just existing in this world. He also served as a volunteer Firefighter with Station 5 in Century, FL for 20+ years. His desire to make a difference in someone’s life was not limited to who he knew but was open to any and all opportunities to help people who were in crisis. J.B. was willing to put his own life on the line, and did so many times, to let people know that their life had value and was worth sacrificing for. J.B. was also a dependable man who retired from Georgia Pacific, working for more than 30 years as a high angle confined space rescuer.
J.B. was known as a man of honor and integrity in his community. He loved his family and absolutely adored his grandchildren. He was a great Son, Brother, Husband, Father and Grandfather who worked hard to provide and be there for his family. He was a Rescuer as well as a Rescue Teacher. He considered it a privilege to teach the next generation about how to make a difference because he knew that life went way beyond his time on this earth. J.B. was also an Evangelist and if you knew him, then you knew something about his Jesus.
J.B. had a smile that was contagious and his laughter was loud and would catch the attention of everyone in a room. He radiated the love of God and did what he could to bring a moment of joy to everyone’s day. If you knew him, you loved him. He will be missed but never forgotten. The impact he made on his family and his community will continue on for generations to come. He may not have realized the legacy he left behind because he was just doing what J.B. did and that was to love, serve others and be a light for Jesus.
Services will be held at Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore, AL on Friday February 18, 2022. The family viewing will be 11:00 – 12:00, the public viewing will be 12:00 – 2:00, & the service will start at 2:00. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery/ Crary Cemetery. The pallbearers will be Jeff Johnson, Joe Johnson, Ollie Johnson, Desmond LeMesurier, Darin Barrow, and Jay Ates. Honorary pallbearers will be Barnie Jones & Lewis Johnson.
Don Ray Grant
February 17, 2022
Mr. Don Ray Grant age 86, passed away, Tuesday, February 15, 2022 in Pensacola, FL. He was born in Atmore, AL. and has resided most of his life in McDavid, FL. He enjoyed boating and was owner of Century Marine for 46 years. He was a member of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church for many years.
Mr. Grant enjoyed his time he got to spend and take care of his family, children, and grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hope (Mamie Lou Kent) Grant, three brothers, Winston Grant, Wendell “Tookie” Grant, and Delano Grant.
He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-two years, Faye Grant, of McDavid, FL; one son, Brian (Jodie) Grant, of Atmore, AL; one daughter, Alicia (John) Matlock, of McDavid, FL; sister-in-law, Charlotte “Dit” Grant, of Barnett Crossroads, AL; five sisters, Mabeth Avery, of TX; Martha Peacock, of Atmore, AL; Dartha Turner, of Atmore, AL; Glenda Faye Fields, of Barnett Crossroads, AL; Judy (Leroy) Smith, of Atmore, AL; six grandchildren, Grant, Evin Matlock, Byrson, Allison, Gracelynn, Emma Kate Grant, numerous, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church with Rev. Nathan Brown officiating.
Burial will follow at Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, February 19, 2022, from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church.
Pallbearers will be Michael Cox, Michael Hagan, Josh Webb, Nick Driver, Kevin Diamond, and Jared Simpson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Glenn Gavin, and Danny Leonard.
Mary Frances Burkett
February 17, 2022
Mrs. Mary Frances Burkett, age 74, passed away Saturday, February 5, 2022 in Atmore, AL. She was born in Bay Minette, AL; and has resided most of her life in Flomaton, AL.
Mrs. Burkett valued her time she got to spend with her grandchildren. She loved being at home, talking on the phone. She enjoyed her walks in the yard and going fishing. She was loved by all that knew her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Victor (Rita Banks) Hinote, husband, Freddie “Sonny” Burkett, one sister, Dorothy Tillman, two brothers, Jack Hinote, Phillip Hinote, and mother-in-law, Mary Burkett.
She is survived by her one son, Patrick (Sherri) Burkett, of Ball Ground, GA; two daughters, Pam Smith, of Flomaton, AL; Paula (Tracey) Sutton, of Brewton, AL; two sisters, Peggy Cobb, of TN; Betty (Johnny) McGallagher, of Pensacola, FL; three grandchildren, Dustin Odom, Abbie Burkett, Maddie Burkett, numerous nieces, nephew’s other relatives, and friends.
Funeral services will be held, Monday, February 7, 2022, at 1:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC with Rev. Mike Hutto officiating.
Burial will follow at Traveler’s Rest Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, February 7, 2022 from 12:00 PM until service time at 1:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Pallbearers will be Corey Johnson, Robby Lee, Chris Hammonds, Justin Byrd, Tracey Sutton, and Chris Moye.
Multiple Unlocked Vehicles Burglarized In Cottage Hill And Bellview; Weapons Stolen
February 16, 2022
Eighteen vehicles were broken into Monday night or Tuesday morning in Cottage Hill and Bellview.
All of them were unlocked, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Multiple weapons, credit cards and other items were stolen.
Five vehicles were burglarized in the area of Hollow Point Drive off Williams Ditch Road in Cottage Hill. Another 13 vehicles were burglarized in the area of Apple Ridge Drive and Apple Ridge Circle in Bellview.
Credit cards stolen from an unlocked vehicle on Boat Tail Court in Cottage hill were later used by a black male at a gas station located at the Wilcox Road exit of I-10 in Baldwin County, according to the ECSO.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured above and bottom: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigates multiple vehicle burglaries Tuesday morning in Cottage Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Pictured below: A suspect uses credit cards that were stolen from a vehicle on Boat Tail Court in Cottage Hill.
Tree Planted In Century To Mark Sixth Anniversary Of Destructive EF-3 Tornado
February 16, 2022
A new red maple tree now stands near the splash pad at Showalter Park in Century.
The tree was planted by the town and Florida Forest Service Tuesday morning — the sixth anniversary of an EF-3 tornado that struck Century on February 15, 2016.
As it grows, it will provide shade from summer sun for splash pad and playground visitors.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Century Rollover Crash
February 16, 2022
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover Tuesday night in Century.
The driver was headed north on Highway 4A just off Highway 29 when they lost control, ran off the roadway and struck a culvert. The vehicle overturned and came to rest upside down in the intersection of Highway 4A and West Hecker Road at about 7:45 p.m.
The driver was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered life threatening. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded and freed the adult male from the vehicle. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For Stabbing Death
February 16, 2022
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2020 murder.
Circuit Court Judge Coleman Lee Robinson sentenced Cecil Dwayne Pulliam to life for the December 18, 2020, murder on North Hayne Street in Escambia County. Pulliam stabbed another man with a knife at least 13 times.
Pulliam previously served 24 years in a California prison for sexual offenses.
At sentencing, Assistant State Attorney Alexander Liebmann argued that the defendant’s violent actions, criminal history, and extreme lack of remorse demonstrated that a strong incarceration sentence was warranted.
Low Tonight In The Upper 50s; Chance Of Severe Weather By Thursday Afternoon
February 16, 2022
An approaching cold front will bring a threat of severe weather for Thursday afternoon and evening.
There is a change of damaging winds and possibly a tornado, but the threat is greater north of I-65.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 3pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. High near 73. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Low around 48. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 66. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Washington’s Birthday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
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 77.
ECAT Honors Bus Driver For 47 Years Of Service
February 16, 2022
Tuesday, Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) honored bus driver Willie Carter for 47 years of service.
In celebration of Carter’s service and Black History Month, ECAT dedicated a bus wrap during a surprise ceremony.