FPL Holds Hurricane Drill
May 13, 2022
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) held their annual storm drill this week, testing their response to a simulated hurricane.
During the exercise, Hurricane Constantine – a mock Category 3 storm – made landfall near Panama City. FPL employees were evaluated on their response and restoration efforts, including operations, logistics, communications and customer service.
The upcoming hurricane season closely follows hurricanes Michael and Sally — two historic storms that serve as stark reminders of the importance of storm preparation.
“FPL learns from every storm, and we must always look for innovative ways to approach how we restore power and serve our customers,” said Manny Miranda, executive vice president of FPL power delivery. “Today, we can respond to hurricanes better than ever as a result of the lessons we’ve learned from previous storms and the improvements we’ve made, using advanced technologies and the experience of our team.”
As part of the exercise, FPL also showcased innovative technology used to assist with storm restoration, including drones, which are used to assess damage safely and quickly after a storm and can often reach areas inaccessible to crews on the ground.
Jackie Randal “Butterbean” Dean
May 13, 2022
Mr. Jackie Randal “Butterbean” Dean, age 71 of Harrison Avenue in Jay, Florida, passed away Wednesday evening May 11, 2022. Mr. Dean was a native of Dothan, Alabama and a long time resident of Jay, Florida and had resided in Flomaton for the past 6 months. He was a truck driver and had worked for AAA Cooper Transportation, Genie Transportation and Campbell Sand & Gravel. Mr. Dean attended Century Church of Christ.
Preceded in death by his parents, James C. Dean and Bernell Gilley Dean; his wife of 48 years, Diane Simmons Dean; son-in-Law, Shannon Edwards; brother, Lamar Dean.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Karen H. Dean of Flomaton; son, Matthew Kirk Dean of Corning, New York; daughter, Heather Edwards of Jay; brother, David Dean of Canton, Georgia; sisters, Barbara Cooper of Newnan, Georgia, Leah Lathen of Jay, Lydia Dean of Pflugerville, Texas; granddaughter, Shawna Anell Johnson; two step-sons, Christopher (Nancy) Hammonds of Daphne, Andrew (Carla) Hammonds of Brewton; seven step-grandchildren, Tristan Montgomery, Shanna Smith, Kenna Pettis, Lexie Hammonds, Seth Hammonds, and Sydney Hammonds.
Visitation will be held Monday morning May 16, 2022 at from the Century Church of Christ from 10 A.M. until service time at 11 A.M.
Funeral services for Mr. Jackie Randal “Butterbean” Dean will be held Monday May 16, 2022 at 11 A.M. from the Century Church of Christ with Minister Jessie Claunch and Brother Greg Harris officiating. Interment will follow in Jay Cemetery
Billy Nathan Scott
May 13, 2022
Billy Nathan Scott, age 71, of Little River, AL passed away on May 6, 2022. He was born on July 30, 1950 in Uriah, AL to Jacob Millard and Lilly Mae Cooper Scott. He was a welder with Alabama Tank. He had the ability to give a new life to old possessions. He is preceded in death by his parents; his sons, Danny Wayne Scott and Timothy Harold Scott and his siblings, Perry Scott, Velma Odom and Roberta Johnson.
He is survived by his wife, Connie Reed Scott; his sons, Tony (Stephanie) Tolbert of Booneville, AL, Anthony Douglas of Birmingham, AL and Timothy Nathan Scott, who he raised like a son; his daughters, Ronda Kay Scott of Stockton, AL, Marie (James) Grice of Atmore, AL, Maria Hughes of McCullough, AL, Charlene (Michael) Jeter of Uriah, AL, Deloris George of Mobile, AL and Donna (Dan) Thompson of TN; his brother, Wilmer
(Jean) Scott of Bay Minette, AL; his sister, Annie Ruth Scott of Atmore, AL and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 13, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel in Atmore, AL with Bro. Cornelius Phillips officiating. Interment will be at Mamie’s Chapel Cemetery in Little River, AL.
Active pallbearers will be Kody Stewart, Nate Scott, Dalton Tolbert, Kenny Powell, Mike Johnson and Mitch Johnson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Overstreet, Wendell Powell, Jim Staff, Frank Odom and Ed Lietz.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 13, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. until service time 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Northview High School Listed For Sale
May 12, 2022
Northview High School in Bratt was listed for sale.
“For sale” signs were placed in front of the school Thursday morning. One of the many signs hints at the starting offer price…$20.22.
According to the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office, the 85 acre property owned by the Escambia County School District has a value as public property of $4.3 million. The main building is 81,000 square feet, plus there is a 46,500 square foot gymnasium, along with a football stadium, baseball field, softball field, paved parking and much more.
There’s also a Northview Chiefs trophy case documenting countless state and national awards, including a state football championship in 2012.
The school was constructed in 1996.
For more information, the Class of 2022 lists the school phone number.
The Northview High School Class of 2022 will graduate on Wednesday, May 25.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
30-Year Council Member Marie McMurray Honored With Murals At Century Park
May 12, 2022
The concession building at Marie McMurray Park in Century now has two murals honoring its namesake, a former longtime council member
Marie McMurry served on the South Flomaton then the Century Town Council for 30 years. She passed away in 2010 at age 84.
Her daughter, Sandra McMurray Jackson, now sits on the council and commissioned murals on each side of the Pond Street park’s concession stand.
“As her daughter, it makes me feel proud. It makes me feel good to pass by here,” Jackson said. “Not only was the park named after my mother, but to see her picture up here and it could stay for generations..it makes me feel good. I hope that the residents of Century, it makes them proud too because it brightens up the community.”
The murals were painted at Jackson’s expense by Pensacola artist Carter Gaston.
“He asked me what did she love. I said she loved flowers, so he painted her picture surrounded by flowers,” Jackson said. “I picked that picture because that was the picture that we had on her obituary. The picture on the other side, that was a glamour shot picture when I was working with the Department of Corrections. They dressed her up in her purple, her purple hat and all that.”
As our interview wound to a close, Jackson stood in front of the painting of her mother. She reached out and touched her face on the concrete block wall.
“I know my mom will be proud. I know she will.”
Pictured: Murals honoring 30-year council member Marie McMurray at the Marie McMurray Park on Pond Street in Century, and her daughter, current council member Sandra McMurray-Jackson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Claims $1 Million Lottery Scratch-Off Prize
May 12, 2022
An Escambia County man has won a $1 million top prize in the Florida Lottery’s 50x The Cash scratch-off game.
He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $890,000.
Haylock purchased his winning ticket from Murphy USA at 2690 Creighton Road. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off
Cantonment Woman Found Passed Out At Convenience Store Now Facing Drug Charges, ECSO Says
May 12, 2022
A Cantonment woman allegedly found passed out in a vehicle in front of a convenience store is facing drug charges.
Rose Marie Briones, 40 was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Briones was found passed out in a Nissan SUV with the engine running at a Circle K on Olive Road. Deputies were able to wake her up and get her to step out of the vehicle.
She appeared to be under the influence and declined to allow deputies to search her vehicle, an arrest report states. A K-9 responded and alerted on the vehicle.
Inside the SUV, the Sheriff’s Office said they found a glass container with cocaine, presumptive marijuana, four glass smoking devices with burnt residue, a baggie containing methamphetamine, and a grinder that contained a green leafy substance.
Briones stated that the items found in the vehicle did not belong to her.
She remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $3,500.
High Near 90, Slight Chance Of A Scattered Shower
May 12, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the evening.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 86. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.
Ascend Contributes $10,000 To ECSD Summer Reading Initiative
May 12, 2022
Ascend Performance Materials has made a $10,000 contribution to help support an Escambia County School District summer reading initiative.
The “Level Up with Summer Reading” program will run from May 25 to August 5. The district wide program will provide two to four summer reading books to each K-12 student, an additional two to four books for summer school students, and provide summer reading events hosted by various schools.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Puppy Rescued From Hole Last Week Is Making Full Recovery
May 12, 2022
A week ago, a little puppy named Bailey was rescued from a deep water-filled hole — with a snake — under a house in Byrneville. And today, we are happy to report that she’s on her way to a full recovery.
Bailey was discovered in a hole that was about four feet deep and located several feet under a house on Creamer Road in Byrneville. Only the puppy’s nose, mouth and one paw were above water in the hole. And there was a non-poisonous garter snake also in the hole.
Bailey’s family tells NorthEscambia.com that she’s made multiple visits to the veterinarian, but now she’s back to her old self again.
On May 5, firefighters from Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Engine 519 in Century and Century volunteers responded to the call to help Bailey. ECFR Lt. Scott Hunsucker was able to reach into the hole and use a broomstick to get a rope around the puppy. Using a special mask, oxygen was administered to the cold, shivering puppy and she was wrapped in a blanket before being reunited with her family.
Residents believe Bailey was the hole for several hours before she was discovered.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
