High Near 70 Today; Rain Friday; Winter’s Cold Returns Saturday
March 10, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 38. Breezy, with a southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 49. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 26. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
Free Wild Game Dinner Saturday At Highland Baptist In Molino
March 10, 2022
Highland Baptist Church in Molino will host a Wild Game Dinner and Fish Fry this Saturday evening.
The guest speaker will be Ethan Jago, retired USAF, avid outdoorsman and young adult minister at Olive Baptist Church. There will be hunting and fishing door prizes with a grand prize of a 12-gauge.
Admission is free for the 5 p.m. event. Doors open at 4:30.
Highland Baptist Church is located at 6240 Highway 95A.
Cantonment Man Charged With Weapons Offense For Allegedly Throwing Concrete At House
March 10, 2022
A Cantonment man is facing felony charges after allegedly throwing a large piece of concrete at a local home.
Cody Ryan Winters, 28, was charged with a deadly missiles weapons offense and felony criminal mischief with damage of $1,000 or more.
Winters allegedly threw a “large” piece of concrete, some 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter, at the garage door of a home on Millet Circle in Cantonment. The concrete caused an estimated $1,200 in damage.
Winters sent a Facebook message to the female homeowner describing how he was going to “damage their property and kill her husband and kick their five-year old son”, an arrest report states.
Hours before, Winters allegedly threw a large rock, making a hole in an enclosed trailer at the home next door.
Winters was released on a $5,000 bond.
Raelynn Dean Wins Jim Allen Elementary’s 4-H Tropicana Speech Contest
March 10, 2022
Jim Allen Elementary School fourth grader Raelynn Dean was the school’s 4-H Tropicana Speech Contest winner. She also received honorable mention at the county contest. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Margaret R. Nordan
March 10, 2022
Mrs. Margaret R. Nordan, age 92, passed away, Monday, March 7, 2022 in Brewton, AL. She has resided in Flomaton, AL; most of her life. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Flomaton, AL.
Mrs. Nordan valued her time she got to spend with her family. She enjoyed crocheting, fishing, and loved to read books.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Wilburn (Mary Crapps) Renfroe, husband, Aaron Burr Nordan, one son, James Michael Nordan, and four brothers, and one sister.
She is survived by her one daughter, Mary Anniele Eddins, of Mobile, AL; one sister, Mary Lou Lowry, of Jay, FL; one granddaughter, Tracy (Clarke) Allen, Montevallo, AL; two great-grandchildren, Kayla (Brian) Carstensen, of Calera, AL; James Allen, of Montevallo, AL; one great-great- granddaughter, Elizabeth Carstensen, of Calera, AL; other relatives, and friends.
Memorial service will be held Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 2:30 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC with Rev. Gary Wiggins officiating.,
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 10, 2022 from 1:30 PM until 2:30 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the American Heart Association P.O. Box 840692 Dallas, TX. 75284-0692
James Douglas Plair
March 10, 2022
James Douglas Plair, went to his heavenly home on March 8, 2022 surrounded by family and friends. He went to meet his Lord and Savior and his best friend, Billy Dortch.
James, known as Buddy or Bud or “No Toes” to everyone was born on May 7, 1951. He was also known as “Mayor on the Hill” in the Farm Hill community.
Buddy loved to hunt and fish and in his younger days race his boat. Known well for his high “Rooster Tails”.
Buddy is survived by his sister, Linda Williams; girlfriend, TJ Johnston; children, Lucky ad Missy Newburn; grandchildren, Skyla, Luke and Briana Newburn; Nephews, Walker Arnold, Jeff Williams and Anthony McCormick; niece, Jamie Parker; and many who call him, Uncle Bud.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lois Turberville Plair; sister, Delores Coleman, and niece, Shelley Parker.
Funeral services will be held at 1PM on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Burial will follow in Spruell Cemetery, Cantonment, Florida.
The family will receive friends from 5PM to 8PM on Monday, March 14, 2022 at the funeral home.
Registration Begins Now For VPK In Escambia County Schools
March 10, 2022
Registration is underway for a free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) for 4-year olds that reside in the attendance zone for a Title I school.
Title I schools with a VPK program are Bratt, Jim Allen, Molino Park, Brentwood, Ensley, Ferry Pass, Global, Montclair, OJ Semmes, Weis, West Pensacola, Bellview, Holm, Longleaf, Navy Point, and Sherwood elementary school.
Parents first need to complete the VPK Certificate of Eligibility at familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com or go to the Early Learning Coalition, 1720 West Fairfield Drive, Suite 100/400, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The child’s birth certificate and the parent’s proof of residence must be uploaded when applying for the Certificate of Eligibility.
After completing the VPK Certificate of Eligibility, parents should complete an Escambia County School District online application in FOCUS by clicking here..
Beginning on April 4, the parent or guardian should take the documents listed below to Spencer Bibbs Center at 2005 North 6th Avenue to complete registration, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Families residing in the Bratt and Molino Park attendance zones should take relevant documents directly to the school.
Documents required:
- Certificate of Eligibility
- Birth Certificate
- Proof of Residence (utility bill or lease)
- Immunization Record
- Physical (or appointment card for upcoming physical)
- Child’s Insurance Card
- Child’s Social Security number
- Proof of Income (2021 W2 for all adults in home)
Schools will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Registration is not complete until all documents have been approved and forms have been signed.
For more information, call (850)595-6915, extension 224.
Lem “Roger” Soles
March 10, 2022
On February 26, 2022, Lem “Roger” Soles, 61, passed away unexpectedly from complications and underlying health issues following open heart surgery. He spent his final hours with his sister Sonja, and a few close friends by his side. Roger is preceded in death by his parents, Master Sergeant Lem V. Soles and Opal R. Soles, of Baker, Florida. He is survived by his sister Sonja Ann Spirakis, (Joe) of Cantonment, Florida, and his nephew, Christopher Charles Gravat, of Madison, AL. Roger was a resident of Milton, FL.
Roger was born in Sumter, South Carolina, on April 6, 1960. The son of a globetrotting US Air Force veteran, Roger’s passion for traveling was realized at a young age. After graduating Valedictorian of Baker High School, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a Master’s of Science in Computer/Electrical Engineering. A lifelong learner, Roger took many continuing education classes at University of West Florida, Pensacola State College, City College of San Francisco, MIT, Stanford, and the University of Florida.
Upon graduating from Georgia Tech, his career started at Coca-Cola in Atlanta, where he worked as an engineer, patenting the Automated Ultrasonic Fountain Soft-drink Dispenser, as well as working on other ground-breaking technologies that would help propel Coke into the worldwide phenomenon they are today. After leaving Coke, Roger headed to the west coast and worked for tech giants like Microsoft and Oracle long before they were household names. His work with these companies while in their infancy, helped to shape the future landscape of technology as we know it. This was just the start of an illustrious career that spanned over 5 decades. Roger never tired of learning or striving to be the best in his field, and his strong work ethic made him a valued consultant with major tech players and educational institutions all over the world. Roger’s career in engineering and technology was central to his life and creative pursuits. He was an outspoken advocate for companies with sustainable business practices that valued community-building and social justice.
A lover of animals, Roger had several beloved pets whom he considered family, the closest being his Siberian Husky, Isis Sobaka Soles, his cat, Mr. Data, and most recently, Sugar, his Chihuahua. In the last years of his life, Roger carried Sugar everywhere with him, they were inseparable. Roger and Sugar passed mere days apart, and were right by each other’s side until the very end.
Roger had his mom’s knack for gardening and he valued the natural environment where he hiked, camped, and kayaked. These hobbies were also apparent in his fashion, as those that knew him well knew how much he loved his trademark Vibram 5 finger shoes.
Roger admired Jimmy Carter, Warren Buffet, Joni Mitchell, and the poetry of E.E. Cummings. He visited all 50 states, Australia, Japan, the UK, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Roger joked that NASA changed the name of the LEM (Lunar Excursion Module) on the Apollo moon lander to avoid copyright or trademark issues with his name. His dry sense of humor and brilliance were second to none and were on full display for those familiar with his “Dump Facebook” philosophy and his blog. Roger garnered an extreme amount of respect from everyone he encountered throughout his lifetime, and his loss will forever be felt by family, friends, and his respected colleagues. “If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy” – A. Gorman
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12:15PM on Sat., March 12, 2022 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Pat Mobley officiating. The family will receive friends at 11:30AM prior to services.
Cantonment Man Wins $1 Million On Lottery Scratch-Off Game
March 9, 2022
A Cantonment man has claimed a $1 million scratch-off Florida Lottery prize.
Ryan Martin, 27, claimed the $1 million prize from the new 500X The Cash scratch-off game at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $820,000.
“After winning on a few tickets last week, I decided to pick up another one on my way home from work,” Martin said. “I was in total shock when I saw that I had won $1 million and immediately called my wife to tell her the good news!”
Martin purchased his winning ticket from Nine Mile Raceway, located at 701 West Nine Mile Road. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.
The $50 game features a $25 million top prize.
Alleged Check Kiting Lands Man In Jail On Fraud Charge, Months After His Wife Was Charged
March 9, 2022
An alleged check kiting scheme landed an Atmore man in the Escambia County Jail, months after the arrest of his wife in the case.
Check kiting is a form of check fraud that involves taking advantage of the float time to make use of nonexistent funds in a bank account.
Derrick Jerel Rudolph, 35, was charged with third degree felony fraud. He was released on a $10,000 bond.
His wife, Sherry Williams Rudolph, was also charged with third degree felony fraud in July 2021. She has since entered into a deferred prosecution agreement which will allow the charges against her to be dropped later this year.
The Rudolphs had a total of six accounts with Pen Air Federal Credit Union. They opened a joint account for checking and savings, and individual accounts were later opened, according to court documents.
Shortly after opening these accounts the Rudolphs began to move money around between accounts, and they began to deposit worthless checks at drive-thru ATMs in Escambia County, the State Attorney’s Office said.
Investigators said Sherry Rudolph then wrote $2,820 in bad checks to herself and deposited them at Pen Air ATMs, mostly in Century. Pen Air records showed account balance inquiries to verify the funds were available, and then cash was withdrawn from ATMs, the report continues.
Derrick Rudolph followed the same process with bad checks, according to investigators.
All total, Pen Air reported a loss of over $5,000.