Sunny And Warming Until A Rainy Thursday Cold Front
January 10, 2023
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Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 73. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 73. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 33.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
M.L.King Day: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
FPL Donates $10K To Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
January 10, 2023
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment has received a $10,000 donation from Florida Power & Light through its charitable arm, NextEra Energy Foundation.
The donation will be used to promote environmental education to students and teachers in the Escambia County Public Schools. This includes elementary students, teacher training, clubs such as FFA, Science Honor Society, and others.
The funds from this donation will allow the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center to build new standards-based curriculum, enhance current standards-based programs, identify and remove invasive plants, provide habitat restoration, as well as improve current exhibits.
Through participation in these programs, students will explore the environment, come to understand environmental issues, and engage in problem solving, which will ultimately help them to develop a better understanding of environmental issues.
Buffalo Rock To Bring Up To 400 New Jobs To Santa Rosa County
January 10, 2023
Iconic beverage company Buffalo Rock will purchase 47 acres to build a new distribution facility at Santa Rosa County’s Northwest Florida Industrial Park @I-10.
The project is expected to bring 350-400 new jobs to the area – 150-200 that will be created here, and 200 that will be relocated here from other areas.
Buffalo Rock is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama where 85% of its products are manufactured. The company sells more than a billion containers of product each year.
“This is a very exciting time for our team, and a testament to our longstanding commitment to the region,” said Buffalo Rock Regional Vice President – Gulf Region John Isbell. “The retail landscape is growing, and this investment will position us to better meet demand. Additionally, our employee-partners will experience a first-class workplace with modern amenities. We recognize their positive experience is vital in best serving our customers, and the environment in which they work plays a significant role.”
“I’m excited to see that Buffalo Rock is making such a big investment in Santa Rosa County,” said Colten Wright, chairman of the Santa Rosa County Commission, who leads the board’s economic development efforts. “They will be the anchor and flagship company of our I-10 Industrial Park. Buffalo Rock bringing nearly 400 employees at wages higher than our area average, means they believe in Santa Rosa County and understand all that we have to offer. They will likely be the first of many companies flocking to our area.”
Groundbreaking on the project is expected in May 2023.
Cecil H. “Junior” Driver, Jr.
January 10, 2023
Mr. Cecil H. “Junior” Driver, Jr., age 61, passed away on Monday, January 9, 2023 at a Pensacola, FL hospital.
Mr. Driver was born in Munich, Germany and had been a resident of McDavid, FL before moving to Molino thirteen years ago. He was a member of the Century High School Class of 1979. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and had worked as a mechanic at Masland Carpets. He was a member of McDavid Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his father, Cecil H. Driver, Sr.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Cindy Driver of Molino, FL; his mother, Josie Driver of McDavid, FL; two sons, Nick (Heather) Driver of Flomaton, AL, Cody (Ashley) Driver of Molino, FL; daughter, Valarie Driver of Mobile, AL; brother, Scotty (Tracee) Driver of Jay, FL; sister, Cheryl (David) Beck of Lake Mary, FL; six grandchildren, Brianna, Morgan, Conner, Brantley, Hayes, and Hayden.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at McDavid Methodist Church with Bro. Randy Enfinger officiating. Interment will follow in Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. on Thursday at Flomaton Funeral Home.
Pallbearers: Jeff Steadham, Jeffery Steadham, Michael Hammonds, Daniel Kelley, Chad Burkett, and John Madison.
Glennis Carl Simmons
January 10, 2023
Glennis Carl Simmons, age 87, of Cantonment, Florida passed away December 23, 2022. He was born on December 8, 1935 in Brewton, Alabama to Travis and Cora Simmons. He was married to Betty Joyce Odom Simmons for 61 years. He had a career in Construction & Building Supplies for Owsley Lumber Company, West Lumber Company, Banner Builders Supply and Langford & Mills.
He was a member of Olive Baptist Church. He had a passion for fishing, hunting, baseball, football and his grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Travis Monroe and Cora Grissett Simmons; brothers, Doug Simmons, Cecil Carnley; son, Glennis C Simmons Jr.; son-in-law, Terry Lee Dorch. He is survived by his wife, Betty Joyce Odom Simmons; son, Devin K. Simmons (Amy); grandsons, Mark (Lindsey) Simmons, Chad (Lexi) Simmons; granddaughter, Karen (Ben) Kimsal, and six great grandchildren, brother-in-law, James (Jacque) Odom, nephews, Jason and Jacob. He was also involved in the following, President of Cantonment Little League, President & Treasurer of Tate High School Quarterback Club, Tate H.S. Student Advisory Board and Deacon at Pinewoods Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Covenant Hospice at Covenant Care 5041 N. 12TH Avenue, Pensacola, Florida 32504 or St. Jude Hospital at donors@stjude.org.
Memorial Service will be held on Monday, January 9, 2023 at 2:00pm at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Visitation will follow in the event room at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
William Charles Krushas, Jr.
January 10, 2023
William Charles Krushas, Jr. (Bill), passed away quietly at the age of 81 in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 7, 2023 with Jo Ann, his loving wife of 23 years, by his side.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Bill enlisted in the Air Force in 1959 and retired as Senior Master Sergeant having dutifully served his country for a total of more than 20 years of active and reserve duty. After retiring from active-duty service, he worked as a civil servant at NAS Pensacola for approximately 40 years. When Bill wasn’t working, he liked to relax. Relaxing for him usually involved more working. Working in the yard. Working on his house. Fixing things. Cleaning things. Building things. Tinkering on things. Building things, he could tinker on that he could then fix and that would probably require cleaning.
But Bill wasn’t just an extremely hard worker. He also had a seemingly endless thirst for knowledge. What he didn’t know he wanted to learn about, and this allowed him to be a vast resource for anyone who needed help. Bill was kind and generous. He was industrious and endlessly energetic. He was clever and witty. He was a good friend; a good son; a good father; a good brother; and a good and loving husband.
Bill is preceded in death by his mother and father, Ora and William Krushas, Sr., as well as his stepson, David Karrick, (Bubba). He is remembered by his wife, Jo Ann Krushas; his two sisters, Burgett Mobley, and Bobbie Cowart; his children and step-children, and their spouses, John Kingsley and Kym Embry, Tracy and Shane Leggett, Tera and Paul Schmidt, and James and Hailey Krushas; as well as cousins and nephews and nieces and an abundance of the most amazing and more or less well-mannered grandchildren a person could dream of. Bill will also be remembered by his good friend and neighbor, Bo Boyett. Not mentioned here are the countless other friends Bill met along his life’s journey, the men and women he served with, and even the random passerby who happened to be lucky enough to glimpse his charming smile and wit. He will be missed by all and forgotten by none.
Funeral services will be Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 10:00am at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Visitation will be prior to service at 9:30am.
Ruby Lois Cooper
January 10, 2023
Mrs. Ruby Lois Cooper, age 88, passed away, Saturday, January 7, 2023, in Pensacola, FL. She resided most of her life in Cantonment, FL. She retired from health care with many years of service. She was a member of Farmhill Holiness Church.
Mrs. Cooper enjoyed working in her vegetable garden, she also shared her crop of vegetables and loved to cook the fresh vegetables that she gathered. She enjoyed gospel music, and Christian Television Network. She really enjoyed going to the mountains and attending church.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Archie (Emma Presley) Ardis, husband, Johnny Cooper, one son, Warren Dean Cooper, and one brother, Grady Ardis.
She is survived by her two sons, John (Lisa) Dale, of Atlanta, GA; Daniel (Debra) Cooper, of Seminole, AL; two daughters, Wanda Massey, of Cantonment, FL; Pamela Cooper, of Cantonment, FL; two brothers, Hubert (Alice) Ardis, of Wimberly, TX; Danny (Renee) Cole, of Baton Rouge, LA; one sister, Emogene (Johnny) Wood, of Talladega, AL; ten grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, numerous nephews, nieces, and other relatives.
Funeral service will be Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 12:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC with Bro. Clyde Hughes officiating.
Burial will follow at Presley Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, January 15, 2023 from 11:00 AM until service time at 12:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Clifford Buck, Joseph Snow, Donny Thompson, Michael David, Daniel Cooper, and Johnny Cooper.
Honorary pallbearers will be Chance Coleman, and Clay Coleman.
No Injuries Reported In Semi, Pickup Crash On Highway 95A
January 9, 2023
There were no injuries reported in a Monday afternoon crash involving a semi-truck and a king cab pickup truck.
The crash happened about 1:50 p.m. on Highway 95A, just south of East Roberts Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Wanted For Causing Highway 97 Wreck, Robbing Victim At Gunpoint
January 9, 2023
Authorities have identified a suspect that caused a wreck and then robbed a victim at gunpoint on Highway 97 in Davisville about two weeks ago.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 45-year Edward Jerome Butler Jr. followed a vehicle and caused a traffic crash in the 11000 block of Highway 97, near the Piggly Wiggly, just before 6 p.m. on December 27. After the wreck, deputies say Butler robbed the victim at gunpoint taking cash, a firearm, and other property from the victim and the victim’s vehicle. Butler then used the victim’s credit/debit card to withdraw money.
Butler is wanted for battery, aggravated assault, larceny, grand theft of a firearm, robbery with a firearm, and fraud (illegal use of a credit card). Butler is considered armed and dangerous, according to the ECSO.
He was seen driving the white sedan pictured during the armed robbery.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Editor’s note: The mugshot above of Edward Jerome Butler Jr. is from a 2017 arrest.
Missing, Endangered Cantonment Woman Located
January 9, 2023
UPDATE: Hannah Louise Rolin has been located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered woman missing since Sunday from Cantonment.
Hannah Louise Rolin, 24, was seen Sunday in the 1000 block of Forehand Lane, just south of Neal Road.
She if 5-feet, 8-inches tall, 169 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. She may be in need of medical attention.s
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620