Lois Christine Freeman
April 5, 2022
Mrs. Lois Christine Freeman, age 87, passed away Thursday, March 31, 2022 in Pensacola, FL. She has resided most of her life in Jay, FL. She was a member of Jay First Baptist Church. She was retired from Vanity Fair Mills with 24 years of service.
Mrs. Freeman enjoyed the time she got to spend with her family and her church. She enjoyed being an Eastern Star, and gardening. She was always known for speaking what was on her mind!
Mrs. Freeman is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Crocker (Blanch Lowrey) Harrison, one daughter, Tonya Barrow, two husbands, J D Freeman, Murdic Eddins, one grandchild, Brook Eddins, three brothers, and three sisters.
She is survived by her two sons, Mardic (Angela) Eddins, of Century, FL; Liston (Nancy) Eddins, of Montgomery, AL; one daughter, Peggy (Edward) Vann, of Jay, FL; nine grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 7, 2022 at Jay First Baptist Church at 12:00 PM with Rev. George Fredericks, Jr. officiating.
Burial will follow at Pine Level Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 11:00 AM until service time at 12:00 PM at Jay First Baptist Church.
Pallbearers will be Markus Eddins, Kris Eddins, Blake Eddins, Bret Eddins, Bart Eddins, and Ryan Holder.
Ricky Herrera
April 5, 2022
Mr. Ricky Herrera, age 47, passed away, Friday, April 1, 2022 in Atmore, AL. Mr. Herrera was born in McKinny, TX; and has resided most of his life in Atmore, AL. He was employed as a supervisor with Escambia Peanut Company with many years of employment.
Mr. Herrera loved his family, especially his grandchildren. He enjoyed playing cornhole. He loved tinkering around with different things. He enjoyed helping people, and he never met a stranger. He was an avid Alabama Football Fan. He loved animals and always took in many.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Camillo Gonzales and Angelita (Sepulveda) Herrera, one son, Ricky Josh Herrera, and grandmother, Cipriana Sepulveda.
He is survived by his loving wife of twenty-nine years, Melissa Herrera, of Atmore, AL; two sons, Isaac “Taco” Bernal, of Atmore, AL; A J (Casey) Campos, of Atmore, AL; two daughters, Jessica (Jason) Love, of Atmore, AL; Kari Herrera, of Atmore, AL; two brothers, John Herrera, of Owatonna, MN; Rubin Herrera, of Atmore, AL; one sister, Monica Herrera, of Twin Cities, MN; thirteen grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 8, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC with Bro. Michael Roley officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Taco Bernal, A J Campos, John Herrera, Herman Lafuente, Mikey Rodriguez, and Jose Louis Medina.
Honorary pallbearers will be Rubin Herrera, Chon Sepulveda, and Greg Phillips.
Arthur “Bud” Lambeth, Jr.
April 5, 2022
Mr. Arthur “Bud” Lambeth, Jr. age 78, passed away, Sunday, April 3, 2022, peacefully at his home in Atmore, AL. He had resided for several years in Flomaton, Al; and has lived in Atmore, AL; since 1986. He was a member of Little Escambia Baptist Church and also served in the United States National Guard for 6 years. He was a “Butcher” for many years around the Atmore area, and retired from Liberty National Insurance with 20 years of service.
Mr. Lambeth valued his time he got to spend with his family. He enjoyed going camping, fishing, and hunting. He enjoyed getting outside cooking out for his family and friends and taking care of his yard.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur (Mattie Mae Bedgood) Lambeth, Sr; three brothers, Charles Lambeth, Rufus Lambeth, William Bo Lambeth, three sisters, Alice Rea Lee, Gladys Brunson, and Bernice McHenry.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Judy Lambeth, of Atmore, AL; two sons, Shannon (April) Lambeth, of Fairhope, AL; Michael (Angela) Lambeth, of Monroeville, AL; four grandchildren, Jessica Lambeth, Trent Lambeth, Sara Katherine Lambeth, Ryann Lambeth, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at 12:00 PM at Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC with Rev. Doug Odom officiating.
Burial will follow at Little Escambia Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 6, 2022 from 11:00 AM until service time at 12:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers will be David Kirby, Charlie Rush, Matt Jordan, Pep Parrish, Kenny Rolin, and Russell Hammac.
Beulah Man Arrested On 20 Child Porn Counts
April 4, 2022
A nearly three month child porn investigation has ended with a 22-year old Beulah man.
Cobi Keith Haines was booked into the Escambia County Jail on 20 counts of possession of child pornography. He was released on a $2,000 bond.
On February 16t, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and Special Victims Unit, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations served a search warrant at Haines’ residence at 7360 Miranda Sue Boulevard, near Beulah Elementary School.
Items found inside the home revealed Haines had collected child sexual abuse material for several years and was in possession of over 20 files that depicted children as young as three-years-old, being sexually battered or engaged in sexual acts, according to the ECSO.
Investigators said the files depicting child sexual abuse material were found on Haines’ cell phone, as well as a USB drive, which was located by FDLE Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K-9 Maple
The Sheriff’s Office said none of the victims appear to be from the local area.
One Killed In Fiery Highway 97 Crash
April 4, 2022
A Pensacola man was killed in a fiery high speed crash near Walnut Hill Sunday afternoon.
The 65-year old male driver of a black Dodge Challenger lost control while northbound on Highway 97 just north of Tungoil Road. The vehicle failed to negotiate a curve and left the roadway. The vehicle hit a culvert, went airborne for about 180 feet before crashing into a ditch. The Dodge then collided with a large pine tree about 12 feet off the ground. The gas tank was ruptured, and the vehicle burst into flames. It was fully engulfed when first responders arrived on scene.
There were no other passengers in the vehicle.
Witnesses told the Florida Highway Patrol and NorthEscambia.com that the vehicle was being driven recklessly at a high rate of speed prior to the crash.
For additional photos, click or tap here.
Pictured above: A Dodge Challenger burns after a crash on Highway 97 Sunday afternoon, before the first fire engine arrived on scene. Pictured below: The first water on the fire. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
.
g>
Family Offer Thanks: Driver Slams Into Downed Tree After Last Week’s Storms
April 4, 2022
Early last Thursday morning, Jim Harrison of Walnut Hill was headed to work. Severe storms had passed through the area before daylight.
His wife, Amanda, said the family had prayed for protection from the storm the night before, and they had made it safely through the worst of the weather.
They did not know that high winds had downed a tree on Pine Forest Road, not far from Highway 97. Jim was unable to see the tree, blinded by headlights from a vehicle that was turning around. His GMC Yukon Denali crashed into the tree.
“He hit it and then sailed through the tree debris and into the ditch,’ Amanda said. “Thankfully he walked away with a busted lip and soreness from the air bag and that’s it.”
“The state trooper asked who was driving and Jim said, ‘I was at first but then Jesus took the wheel. Thank you God for your protection over him,” Amanda added. “It’s definitely a witness to the fact that God had him.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jordan Chase Torrez Teams With Platinum Ticket Winner, Advances On American Idol
April 4, 2022
Platinum ticket winner Kenedi Anderson picked North Escambia’s Jordan Chase Torrez in American Idol’s “Duets Challenge” as they advanced to Monday night’s show.
Anderson said she picked Torrez because she was obsessed with his voice.
The duo performed “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers, and they received a standing ovation from judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
American Idol, with Anderson and Torrez, will air locally Monday night 7-9 on WEAR 3.
North Escambia’s Jordan Chase Torrez and American Idol platinum ticket winner Kenedi Anderson. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Threat Of Severe Weather Increases For Tuesday
April 4, 2022
The potential for another round of severe weather has increased to enhanced (3 of 5) on Tuesday.
Damaging winds up to 70 mph, large hail and a fast moving tornadoes will be possible. Heavy rainfall may also lead to localized flooding concerns.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 77. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 43.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Tate Girls Lacrosse Team Gets Three Wins To Move Into Second Place In District
April 4, 2022
Tate High’s girls lacrosse team ended last week with three district wins, beating Navarre, Washington and Fort Walton landing them in second place.
Tuesday is Senior Night against Pensacola High, and Friday night will be the last game of the regular season against West Florida High.
The Tate High School girls lacrosse team is coached by Lee Jennings, Jason Strength and Candace Greenwell.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools Announce Volunteers Of The Year
April 4, 2022
The Escambia County School District’s Office of Community Involvement has announced its volunteers of the year.
ECSD’s Outstanding Senior Volunteer is Kathleen Varner, who serves at Tate High School (pictured). She and her husband, Mike, taught for nearly 30 years in Escambia County. Soon after retirement, Varner contacted Tate High School to express her interest in volunteering. For the past five years, she has faithfully volunteered weekly during the school year to contribute her wisdom and advice to help transform the Innovation Center into a user-friendly, up-to-date place for students and teachers to experience.
William Belen, a volunteer at Beulah Middle School, is the Outstanding Adult Volunteer. To date, Mr. Belen has served 121 hours and 35 minutes volunteering at Beulah Middle School. He serves in various capacities, from greeting students in the morning, to assisting in Career and Technical Education classrooms, to reading to students. When he is not volunteering in a lab or innovation center he can be found assisting in supervision at lunch.
Mallory Scarfert, a 10th grade Escambia Virtual Academy student, is the Outstanding Youth Volunteer. Scarfert facilitates a group of about a dozen students in grades 3-5 to help them prepare for the Battle of the Books contest. She has created Kahoot quizzes for students to use during this preparation time for the contest. Lipscomb students are looking forward to competing against other students in the county because of Mallory’s guidance during practice time.
Nominated by Global Learning Academy, Pensacola Subwest Rotary has been awarded the ECSD Family and Community Involvement Award. Throughout the pandemic, Pensacola Subwest Rotary’s support of Global’s family involvement programs has not wavered. They have been instrumental in the successful execution of several initiatives, including donating funds to supply to-go dinners for all of Global’s curbside family events, assisting with set up, distribution of at home learning activities and food, and break down of curbside family events, a back to school luncheon at the Pensacola Yacht Club for tachers, and donating bicycles for all pre-K students at the holidays.
Pictured: ECSD’s Outstanding Senior Volunteer is Kathleen Varner, who volunteers at Tate High School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.