Rockford McGilbert Peebles
August 2, 2022
Rockford McGilbert Peebles passed away peacefully on July 29, 2022 at his home in Walnut Hill at the age of 62.
Rocky graduated for J.M. Tate High School class of 1978. He worked for 18 years at International Paper in the Jordan room. After his machine was shutdown, He worked at Escambia County Roads and Bridges department for 16 years. He enjoyed driving the heavy equipment especially “his” bulldozer, which was his favorite. He enjoyed watching, The Weather Channel, Nascar, fishing, hunting and quiet evenings on the back porch.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Justine Peebles.
To cherish his memory, he left behind his wife of 30 years, Bonnie; daughters, Brandie (Robert) Ratcliff, Kristy (Rusty) Hunt, and seven grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, August 5, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Faith Funeral Home North. Visitation will be prior to service from 10-11 a.m.
David Lee Neff
August 2, 2022
David Lee Neff, age 61, of Atmore, AL passed away on July 29, 2022 at his residence. He was born February 9, 1961 in Pueblo, CO to John W. and Ann Tucker Neff. He received his degree from the Colorado State University and worked as an Electrical Engineer most of his life. David was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Atmore. He enjoyed many hobbies which included scuba diving, woodworking, cross country skiing and downhill skiing, tennis, camping, golf, archery, marksmen competition, elk hunting and fishing. He was a lifetime member of National Rifle Association.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Eric Neff.
He is survived by his wife, Christy Burkett Neff; daughter, Lisa Neff (Matt) Butters of Atlanta, GA and grandson, Charlie Roy Butters.
A celebration of life service was held Sunday, July 29, 2022 at the Neff’s residence.
Lois Rackard Amos
August 2, 2022
Mrs. Lois Rackard Amos, age 90, passed away, Saturday, July 30, 2022, peacefully at her home, with family at her bedside in Spanish Fort, AL. She was born January 11, 1932 in Uriah, AL; and resided most of her life in Poarch, Al; until moving to Spanish Fort. Mrs. Amos was a proud member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. She retired from Vanity Fair Mills with many years of service.
Mrs. Amos valued her time she got to spend with her family. She loved animals especially her cat, Rufus. She enjoyed traveling, camping and being outdoors. She always had a variety of hobbies she enjoyed doing, bead work, pottery, painting, basket weaving, shell carving, sewing, quilting and making ribbon shirts.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie (Nancy Percy) Rackard, husband, Gladden Amos, two sons, Freddie Pugh, Russell Hayes, one daughter, Donna Lord, numerous brothers, and sisters.
She is survived by her two daughters, Debbie (Barry) Westbrooks, of Spanish Fort, AL; Joyce (Glynn) Hall, of McDavid, FL; one sister, Warnice Anderson, of Pensacola, FL; eleven grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, special thanks to her loving caregiver, Kim Carnley with Martin in Home Care, LLC; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
Funeral service will be held Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. with Rev. Brent Pugh officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 4, 2022 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Griffin Hood, Justin Westbrooks, Lane Hamlin, Lawson Hamlin, Mayson Ikner, and Brandon Byrd.
Honorary pallbearers will be Terry Pugh, Mitchell Brown, Sean Hayes, Stephanie Hood, Brylee Watson, Miranda Watkins, Brenna Hayes, Jenni Glover, and Jeremy Byrd.
Mary Lou Waters
August 2, 2022
Mary Lou Waters, 67, of Cantonment, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, July 31, 2022.
Mary was born on October 21, 1954, in Pensacola, FL to Louis and Helen Laird. She was the third of fourchildren. In 1972, she married James Waters Jr. and they would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 15, 2022. They had two children, whom she devoted her time to. Mary started her career in the preschool department at Olive Baptist Church, which led to her becoming the Preschool Director at Hillcrest Church, where she served for many years. In her free time, Mary enjoyed reading, gardening, and baking. She will be deeply missed.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Helen Laird, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, James Sr. and Joyce Waters, and two sisters-in-law Mary Jo Watson and Wanda Lou Laird. She is survived by her husband, James Waters Jr., her two children Shannon Brock (Kayla) and Travis Waters, two granddaughters Amber and Hayley Brock, her siblings Donald Laird (Wanda Gayle), Roy Laird (Sandi), and Joyce Laird, her brother-in-law Virgil Waters (Carol), sisters-in-law Debberah Colquitt and Tonia Biggs, and many nieces and nephews and their families.
Special thanks to Dr. Juan Corona and Covenant Hospice for their compassion during this time. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 5, 2022, at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens. Open visitation from 9am-11am followed by a private family service. Pastor Jim Locke of Hillcrest Church will officiate. The family has requested the use of masks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hillcrest Church Preschool Ministries.
Monday Afternoon Fire Damages Atmore Home
August 2, 2022
Fire damaged a single family home in Atmore Monday afternoon.
The fire in the 600 block of Horner Street was reported just after 3 p.m. No one was home at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries reported.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the blaze.
The Atmore Fire Department, Poarch Fire Department and the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County (FL) Fire Rescue responded, along with the Atmore Police Department and LifeGuard ambulance.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Accused Of Scamming Homeowners For Fences That Were Never Built
August 1, 2022
An Escambia County man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly scamming three people out of money for fences that were never built.
Cody William Brown, 33, was charged with three counts of an organized scheme to defraud, three counts of grand theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Brown allegedly made a charge of $3,700 to a victim’s credit card on each of three consecutive days for a total of $11,100 to do work at a home on Steeplechase Boulevard in Beulah. No work was done, and no workers arrived, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Unable to reach either of two phone numbers provided for Gulf Coast Fence and Supply, the resident called the deputies to report what he believed “to be an intentional local scam”.
The victim later received a text message from someone claiming to work for “Kodiak Fence Company”, the company named on the victim’s credit card statement. The text claimed that the work would be done, but no further response was received, an arrest report states.
According to the ECSO, Brown is the owner of Kodiak Fence Company, the Kodiak business phone number was used on a flyer for Gulf Coast Fence and Supply.
Brown told investigators that the third charge on the victim’s card was a mistake, and that he would refund the amounts. He stated that he had been sick with COVID, and that is why he could not start construction on the fence. according to an arrest report. He also explained that he was in the process of changing company names.
Two weeks later, the victim again called the Sheriff’s Office to state he had not received a refund, and Brown told investigators that he would overnight a check to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to give to the victim. A tracking number was provided, but it continues to show only that a label was created but never shipped.
Brown also allegedly accepted payments of $2,100 and $1,375 from two residents on Jamesville Road for a fence between their properties. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the work never started and promised refunds never arrived.
Update: Man Charged With DUI In Becks Lake Road Rollover Crash That Injured Three
August 1, 2022
A Cantonment man has been charged with DUI in connect with a rollover crash that injured three people on Becks Lake Road in Cantonment Sunday night.
Ricky Lyn Brooks, 43, was charged with DUI with serious bodily injury to another person, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He remained in he Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon with bond set at $7,500.
A 13-year old was ejected from the vehicle and airlifted to a Pensacola Hospital by LifeFlight helicopter. An 11-year old and an 18-year old were also injured and transported by ambulance.
Brooks and another passenger in his vehicle refused transport.
The Cantonment and Ensley stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
IP Employees Scholarship Foundation Awards Four College Scholarships
August 1, 2022
The International Paper Pensacola Employees Scholarship Foundation has awarded four college scholarships.
The scholarships of $1,000 each were presented to:
- Tyler Daw, University of West Florida
- Emma Goldberg, University of West Florida
- Chase Horton, Florida State University
- Rachel Thomas, University of Central Florida
“We are proud to be able to award scholarships to these deserving young students. We wish them the very best in their educational journey,” said Laura Osborne, president of the I.P. Employees Scholarship Foundation.
Awarded annually to high school seniors, the scholarships were established more than 40 years ago. To be eligible, students must be a child of an active or retired employee of International Paper Pensacola Mill, be accepted by an institution of higher learning and submit an application with a qualifying ACT score.
Pictured: Scholarship winners (above) Tyler Daw, Emma Goldberg, (below) Chase Horton and Rachel Thomas. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver’s License Services, Vehicle Registration Available Tuesday In Century
August 1, 2022
The Florida Licensing On Wheels (FLOW) mobile office will be in Century on Tuesday.
FLOW is a standalone mobile office with technology to provide most motorists’ needs. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver license, obtain a replacement driver license, conversion/reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration and apply, renew or replace disabled parking placards. Written and driving tests are not available from the FLOW unit.
Vehicle registrations can be renewed up to three months and driver licenses up to 18 months in advance of expiration.
The FLOW mobile office will be at the Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse, 7500 North Century Boulevard on Tuesday, August 2 from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Citizens using the FLOW services are encouraged to visit EscambiaTaxCollector.com and click the “What Do I Bring” button for information on what is needed for these services. Staff from the tax collector’s office will be on hand to answer all FLOW service questions and questions concerning all other tax collector services such as property tax, business tax receipts, concealed weapons licensing, etc.
Pictured: The Florida Licensing On Wheels (FLOW) mobile office at the courthouse in Century in June 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rain Chances Increase Into Midweek
August 1, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.