Educators Invited To Apply For Free Florida Forestry Teachers Tour
February 10, 2022
The Florida Forest Service is inviting educators statewide to apply for an exciting opportunity this summer, the Florida Forestry Teachers Tour. The annual tour brings educators from throughout the state to Northeast Florida for an inside look at the state’s largest agricultural commodity. The tour is scheduled for June 21 – 24, 2022. Applications will be accepted through March 11.
Florida’s forests are critical to the state’s infrastructure and workforce, producing $25.1 billion in revenue each year and representing more than 124,000 jobs. The Florida Forestry Teachers Tour is designed to provide educators with an opportunity to learn how the industry meets the needs of the state’s communities and environment, from clean air and water to home goods and other wood products.
“The Florida Forestry Teachers Tour is one of the best tools we have to make the next generation aware of the importance of Florida’s forests and the career opportunities they provide,” said Erin Albury, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service.
Florida educators of all subjects and grade levels are encouraged to apply. All lodging, meals and tour transportation are provided at no cost to teachers through the support of private partners and sponsors, including the Florida Forestry Association, Project Learning Tree of Florida and Friends of Florida State Forests. The four-day event earns Florida teachers 30 Continuing Education Units.
To learn more and to apply for the Florida Forestry Teachers Tour, visit FloridaStateForests.org/TeachersTour.
James Hayward Formby
February 10, 2022
James Hayward Formby, of Walnut Hill, Florida age 73 passed away on Saturday,February 5, 2022. He was born in Spring Garden, Alabama on June 8, 1948 to Guy Hayward and Betty Jean Smith Formby, who preceded him in death. He graduated from Spring Garden High School in 1966, attended Georgia Tech, Gadsden State and graduated from Gadsden Business College.
Mr. Formby was a member of Lozahatchee F & M #97, the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club, Walnut Hill Fire Department and Annie Jones United Methodist Church.
Over the years, he was employed by First National Bank of Piedmont, Coca-Cola, Royster Fertilizer Co., Swift Fertilizer Co., Twin County Farm Service, West Florida Gin Co., Terra Industries, Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Escambia Grain Corp. and he owned and operated Center Farm Service, James H. Formby Trucking Co. and Mr. Transmission.
He is survived by his wife Cynthia Cooke Formby of Walnut Hill, FL. His daughters, Christine Formby Logan of Margaret, AL and Heather Formby Gill of Spring Garden, AL. His grandsons, Case and Canon Gill. Stepdaughter, Blair
Phillips Jean (William) and step grandchildren Landon Jean, Lane Jean, Paige Phillips and Cooper Phillips. A sister, Matha Formby Holmes (Rodney) of Piedmont, AL, nephew Jarrod Holmes (Lauren), niece Whitney Holmes Kennedy
(Kyle). He is preceded in death by his parents, son-in-laws Joey Gill and Bruce Logan, and stepson Brandon Phillips.
Funeral service will be held Friday, February 11, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Charles Melvin officiating. Interment will follow in Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 11, 2022 from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Walnut Hill Fire Department or the Spring Garden School Foundation.
CSX Crossing Closures: Quintette Road, Several In Cottage Hill Set To Close Thursday And Friday
February 10, 2022
[Updated 2/10/22] Here’s the latest update on the CSX rail crossing closures in North Escambia.
Quintette Road, Stacey Road, Williams Ditch Road and Cottage Hill Road are all set to be closed on Thursday and Friday.
There are also a small number of private roads that cross the tracks in the area. These residents will be notified when their road will be closed by a person knocking on their door or leaving a door hanger.
CSX is replacing tracks through the area and replacing the roadway at each crossing. A previously announced schedule was delayed due to weather.
Pictured: Previous work last week at the crossing on North Barth Road. NorthEscambia.com photo click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Shaun Wheeler Commits To Huntingdon College
February 10, 2022
Tate High School’s Shaun Wheeler has committed to play football at Huntingdon College. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Edward Clark Agerton
February 10, 2022
Edward Clark Agerton, age 85, passed away on January 31, 2022 in Oak Grove, FL. He was born on February 20, 1936 in Oak Grove, FL to Otis and Vera Melvin Agerton. He retired from the United States Air Force after serving twenty years and ten days. He worked with the Atmore Fire Department and the maintenance department of Century Hospital and Escambia County, Florida where he retired.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Lois Gibson and his daughter-in-law, Debbie Agerton.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara Cumbee Agerton; his sons, Robert Agerton (Melinda Stokes) of Monroeville, AL, James (Stacy) Agerton of Atmore, AL and Gene Agerton of Oak Grove, FL; special friends, Kristy and Kris Marshall; his grandchildren, Justice, Jadlyn, Tristan, Jameson, Ashley, Nick, Jordan and Mindy along with numerous great grandchildren. Graveside services will be held Friday, February 4, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist
Cemetery with Bro. Wendell Bishop officiating.
Active pallbearers were Willie Peebles, James Earl Hall, Wayne Thomley, Justice Agerton, Chris Marshall, Tristan Agerton and Andrew Bedgood.
Visitation were held Friday, February 4, 2022 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
James Byron Walker, Sr.
February 10, 2022
James Byron Walker, Sr. passed away on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at the age of 74. He was born in Pensacola, Florida on November 7, 1947 to the late William Robert Walker and Edna Marie Stewart Walker.
James was a graduate of Pensacola Technical High School. He worked for many years at Green Machine downtown off Main Street, as well as, Westinghouse. In later years James was the owner of Metal Craft Machine Works. He also worked 22 years for the Fleet Maintenance Department with Escambia County Road Department.
James enjoyed building, racing, and working on race cars and spent many years out at Five Flags Speedway.
He is preceded in death by his father, William Robert Walker.
James is survived by his mother, Edna Marie Stewart (Jimmy) Smith; sons, James Walker, Jr. and Jason Walker; grandson, Hayden Walker; brothers, Lamar Walker and Charles Walker; sister, Ann Walker; loved like his own, Arianna Landry and Aiden Blankenship; and numerous cherished nieces and nephews whom he loved very much.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Burial will follow in Pugh’s Chapel Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Chris Fritsche, Chris Newman, Chris O’Connor, Michael Rhodes, Branden Walker, and Bob Fritsche.
Rosa Lee Lowery
February 10, 2022
Rosa Lee Lowery, 92, passed on February 2nd 2022 in Nashville Tennessee.
She was born in Loxley, Alabama to Jake and Tisha White. Rosa Lee was a member of Cottage Hill Assembly of God church. In her free time, she loved to color in adult coloring books, plant and see flowers grow, and spend time with her family.
She is preceded in death by her late husband, J.T. Lowery; her father, Jake White; mother, Tisha Barnes White; and her daughter, Peggy McDonald.
She is survived by her daughters, Kathy Barba and her spouse, Gus Barba, and daughter, Sheryl Sharp and her spouse, Brian Sharp.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022 at Cottage Hill Assembly of God Church Cemetery.
Family will receive friends at 1:30 p.m. prior to service at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Atmore Man Gets Five Years In Federal Prison For Sawed-Off Rifle
February 10, 2022
An Atmore man was sentenced to five years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a sawed-off rifle.
According to court documents, 28-year old Cedric Jarrell Pierce was arrested on November 24, 2020, after he refused to stop for a speeding violation and led sheriff’s deputies on a 13-mile high-speed chase that began in Robertsdale and headed north in Baldwin County.
The chase ended in Bay Minette after deputies used a spike strip to disable Pierce’s car. Deputies arrested Pierce and searched the car. Under the passenger seat, deputies found a Remington .22-caliber rifle with a 14-inch barrel, which is less than the barrel length of 16 inches required by federal law. After recovering the rifle, deputies spoke with Pierce, who admitted that he ran from law enforcement because he knew he had the rifle and was not allowed to possess it as a convicted felon.
Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Pierce to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Beaverstock ordered Pierce to pay $100 in special assessments.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
West Florida High Emergency Academy Has New Ambulance Simulator
February 10, 2022
The Critical Care and Emergency Medicine (CCEM) Academy at West Florida High School recently added a SimRig in-class ambulance simulator.
The simulator allows students to be completely immersed in scenarios and controlled emergent situations prior to exposure to the actual incidents in real-world situations.
Realistic equipment such as working suction, oxygen administration, and physical attributes such as patient loading and unloading, confined quarters, and various distractors, allow the instructor to build and present patient care scenarios which test the students’ ability to apply critical thinking skills to a variety of ever-changing trauma and medical care problems.
“During the pandemic as our off-campus training options have been limited,” said Escambia County School District ETC Specialist Aish Adkison. “Having simulators and specific training equipment in our secondary Health Academy classrooms has been very helpful as teachers have continued to develop hands-on training scenarios for students.”
The purchase was funded by a CARES Act Governor’s Emergency Education Relief grant.
Jacquelyn “Jackie” H. Butler
February 10, 2022
Jacquelyn “Jackie” H. Butler, resident of Cantonment, FL passed away on February 5, 2022 at the age of 66. She was born on February 13, 1955 in Pensacola, FL to the late Andrew “Jack” Smith and Ceral “Lorena” Bass Smith.
Jackie was a graduate of Tate High School, Class of 1973. She enjoyed shopping, working in the yard, going to the beach and home improvement projects. Jackie loved spending time with her family, but most especially she loved spending time with her grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Levie R. “Ricky” Butler; parents; and two brothers, Gerald “Sonny” Smith and Jimmy Smith.
Jackie is survived by her children, Tiffany Ratchford, Carrie (Brad) Rice, and Brad (Joli) Butler; grandchildren, Leighton and Audrey Ratchford, Cade, Chase and Coby Rice, Brayden (Jesse) Gunter, and Brooke Butler; sisters, Shelby (Milton) Clark, Pat (Tony) Malone, Glenda Ackerman, and Sue (Mark) Bowden; along with many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Fred Stallworth officiating. The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. prior to services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.