Escambia Health Dept. Suspends Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing
February 22, 2022
The Florida Department of Heath (FDOH) in Escambia County has suspended drive-thru COVID-19 testing due to a decline in demand.
COVID-19 testing continues to be available at several locations in Escambia County, including the rapid testing schedule outlined below:
What: COVID-19 Rapid Testing Schedule*
Where: FDOH- Escambia Fairfield, 1295 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL
When: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT
Who: All persons (ages 2 and up) who are experiencing symptoms or those who have been exposed to someone with known COVID-19.
How: Appointment needed. Call 850-595-6500 option 6 to schedule an appointment. Bring a valid form of identification. Rapid testing with results available within 30 minutes. Questions can be directed to FDOH-Escambia’s COVID-19 phone line at 850-595-6500 option 6.
Parker Road, Williams Ditch And McKenzie Being Repaved In Cottage Hill
February 22, 2022
Escambia County is in the midst of a resurfacing project in Cottage Hill.
Work is underway to resurface Parker Road from end to end. McKenzie Road from Highway 95A to Parker Road, and Williams Ditch Road from Highway 95A to Parker Road will also be resurfaced.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Suspect Extradited From Alabama, Now Charged With Century Homicide
February 21, 2022
A Flomaton man arrested in Atmore has now been extradited to Florida and officially charged with homicide negligent manslaughter for the death of a man in Century last year.
Timothy Lavon Johnson, 34, is in the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola with bond set at a half million dollars. He was taken into custody last week in Atmore.
Johnson is now charged with the murder of a man that died less than two weeks after he was found unresponsive with head injuries in Century.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an aggravated battery report on Hilltop Road at Alger Road at 11:18 a.m. on Sunday, July 18, 2021. The man, identified by family as Chris Hunter, passed away July 28, 2021, 10 days after he was injured.
Family members told NorthEscambia.com that Chris Hunter was the brother of Greg Hunter, who died days after he was found injured outside a Century bar.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Odom’s Bar on North Century Boulevard about 10 p.m. on June 19, 2021, to find 60-year old Greg Hunter down in the parking lot. At the time, investigators said it was a homicide and that he had been seriously beaten and left unconscious. But the Medical Examiner’s Office later said Greg Hunter died of natural causes (click for an earlier story).
Editor’s note: The cause of death of Greg Hunter at Odom’s Bar remains as natural causes according to the Medical Examiner’s Office, and Johnson is in no way accused in his death.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cloudy, Low Around 60
February 21, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
3G Services Shutting Down This Year; AT&T First
February 21, 2022
Cellular companies are shutting down 3G this year beginning with AT&T.
AT&T was set to be the first carrier to shut down its 3G network on Tuesday, February 22. T-Mobile said the 3G network that had been part of Sprint before the two companies merged will go dark on March 31, and its own 3G network will end on July 1. Verizon will end 3G service by December 31.
And the 3G shutdown will still impact customers of the likes of Straight Talk, Boost, Cricket, Mint Mobile, Tracfone and the other low cost companies — they use the networks of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
That means the end of service for phones and other devices that use 3G connectivity, such as some medical alert devices, tablets, smartwatches, home security systems, game cameras and other devices.
Most users of these services will, or have been, notified directly by the carriers if this discontinuation affects them. However, users of older phones used for 9-1-1 only purposes may not be notified if they do not have active service with the provider. Users of those older 9-1-1 only phones should be aware that they may not work after 3G service is discontinued.
3G debuted in 2002 and is coming to an end to free up bandwidth for more modern services.
Stanley Lamar Carnley
February 21, 2022
Stanley Lamar Carnley, resident of Robertsdale, AL, passed away on Friday, February 18, 2022 at the age of 70.
Stanley was born in Pensacola, FL on September 8, 1951 to the late Herman Lee Carnley and Louise Seals Carnley.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Ronnie, Adon and Wayne Carnley.
Stanley is survived by wife, Barbara Foster Carnley; son Eddie Carnley (Kristy); daughter, Tracy Suggs; granddaughters, Chelsea (Blake Rider) and Ashtyn Carnley; grandsons, Lane Carnley and Dean Stanton; great grandchildren, Connor Ryder, Natalie Ryder, Elizabeth Marie Stanton; and sister, Faye Carnley Johnson.
Graveside services will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022 at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola, FL.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 24, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Pallbearers will be: Dean Stanton, Lane Carnley, Blake Rider, Doug Carnley, Fred Carnley, Adon Jr Carnley, and acting as Honorary Pallbearers will be Jerry Weekley, Eddie Nims and Clint Carnley.
Florida Gas Prices Set New 2022 High
February 21, 2022
Florida gas prices increased another six cents last week, setting a new 2022 high of $3.51 per gallon. That’s 15 cents more than last year’s high, and the highest daily average price since July 2014.
The state average did drift lower over the weekend by a penny. Sunday’s state average of $3.50 per gallon is five cents more than this time last week; 90 cents more than this time last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.46, up 33 cents over the past month. A North Escambia low of $3.38 could be found at Cantonment stations on Highway 29 and on Muscogee Road. A low of $3.24 could be found at two Pensacola stations.
As tensions mount regarding a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, the energy market actually suffered its first week of losses last week. This snapped an 8-week streak of oil price gains. After reaching a new 2022 high of $95.46 per barrel on Monday, the price for U.S. crude declined 5% by the end of the week. That resulted in a 2% week-over-week decline of $2 per barrel – the equivalent of a five cent drop at the pump.
Dollar General Plants 20 New Trees In Century Park
February 21, 2022
When Dollar General removed nearly 20 trees from 1.5 wooded acres in Century last year for a new store, they agreed to replant trees at the site and at a nearby park.
Recently, the developer planted 15 red maple trees and five other flowering trees in the Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard, just northeast of the new store.
In 2019, the Town of Century removed towering longleaf pine trees from the park over concerns that if the trees were to fall, they might damage town property and structures in the park, or they could be a danger to traffic on North Century Boulevard. Town officials said at the time that they would plant new trees but did not.
Nadine McCaw Park, formerly known as Roadside Park, is along North Century Boulevard at Hecker Road in the heart of Century. The park was renamed for late town council member and lifelong resident Nadine McCaw in 2012. McCaw dedicated a large amount of time to Relay for Life and its mission of finding a cure for cancer. That cure did not come soon enough for McCaw; she passed away from cancer on July 7, 2011.
Pictured: Some of the 20 new trees planted by Dollar General in Century’s Nadine McCaw Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Alma Catherine Brown Hendrix
February 21, 2022
Alma Catherine Brown Hendrix, aged 83, stepped into the arms of Jesus on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, after a seven-month battle with cancer. Cathy was born to Ike and Ethel Upton Brown on May 16, 1938, in Eliska, Alabama. After graduation from J.U. Blacksher High School, Cathy moved to Molino, Florida and began working at Chemstrand. While living in Molino, she met the love of her life, Donald Hendrix. They were married on Feb. 16, 1957. Cathy was church secretary at Highland Baptist Church for several years. She then began working for the Escambia County School System and retired after 33 years. She and Donald enjoyed many years traveling around the United States and Canada in their motorhomes. Cathy was a long-time member of Highland Baptist Church where she served faithfully for many years. Cathy had the gift of hospitality and always made any occasion special. She was kind, generous, and gracious, and she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Cathy is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Charles Vernon Brown and her sister Sharon Brown.
She is survived by Donald, her husband of 65 years; her daughter Janice (Joe) Roman and her son Garry (Paula) Hendrix; four grandchildren, Lindsay (Nicholas) Davis, Rebecca (Logan) Szuch, Michael Roman, and Jacob Hendrix; and five great-grandchildren, Donovan Szuch, Connor Davis, Emma Davis, Norah Szuch and Piper Jane Szuch. She is also survived by her sisters, Joyce (Eric) Frye, Margaret (Charles) Fulton, Mary Sue Childers, sister-in-law Jeanette Brown, cousin Martha Jane Nash and many nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Michael Roman, Jacob Hendrix, Nicholas Davis, Logan Szuch, Roger Brown and Warren Roberson.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Owera, Nikki Kelly and the entire staff at the Woodlands, as well as the 4th floor staff and Covenant Care at West Florida Hospital for their care and compassion of our wife and mother.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The American Cancer Society.
Cheryl Aline Allen
February 21, 2022
Cheryl Aline Allen, a resident of Robertsdale, Alabama passed away on February 18, 2022 at the age of 77. She was born on April 7, 1944 in Evergreen, Alabama to the late Frank and Mildred Dean.
Cheryl was a nursery and pediatric clinic nurse until she “retired” in 1987 to help raise all of her grandchildren. She was a former Miss Fiesta of Five Flags. Cheryl was an avid Alabama football fan and loved to travel with her travel buddies, Jane and David Fulmer. She was her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader. Cheryl was a member of Hamilton Baptist Church. She loved to cook and bake.
She is preceded in death by her husband, James “JT” Allen; parents, Frank and Mildred Dean; and her sister Gay Ann Deason.
Cheryl is survived by her children, Renee Paul and Keith (Debra) Allen; grandchildren, Katy Sipper, Kayla Paul, Corey Allen and Summer Allen; great grandchildren, Skylar Sipper and Rylee Huggins; brothers: Ricky (Anita) Dean, Eddie Dean; along with many nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters -in-law.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at Hamilton Baptist Church with Bro. Drayton Smith officiating, music by Chris Kelly. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00p.m on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Pallbearers will be: Wesley Garner, David Allen, Tommy Mayhair, Edsel Allen, Tim Chavers and Scott Guy.