Map Shows Amtrak Plan To Return Service To Northwest Florida, Perhaps Atmore
January 4, 2023
Amtrak service could return to Northwest Florida, and perhaps Atmore, according to an Amtrak map recently published.
An agreement is in place for a new corridor for Gulf Coast communities between Mobile and New Orleans, including connections with Amtrak’s Sunset Limited, City of New Orleans, and Crescent at New Orleans. The service does not currently extended east beyond Mobile.
The new map shows Amtrak service from Mobile to Jacksonville, with the route traveling through Atmore and Pensacola before heading further east.
Amtrak service between New Orleans and the east coast of Florida ended with Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.
Pictured: An Amtrak inspection train rolls in Atmore (top) and Pensacola (below) in February 2016. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Ends December With 16 Residential Structure Fires
January 4, 2023
Escambia County recorded 16 residential fires during December, represented by 16 red bulbs in the “Keep the Wreath Green” in the annual fire safety campaign.
Three of the fires were in the North Escambia area.
State Investigating Bratt House Fire
The Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson & Explosives Investigations is investigating the cause of a fire that left a family without a home Friday evening in Bratt (pictured top). The fire was reported about 5 p.m. in the 4000 block of Still Road, about 1.5 miles south of West Highway 4. The double-wide mobile home was fully involved when the first firefighters arrived on scene. There were no injuries reported, but two dogs were pronounced deceased at the scene. The fire was the 11th red bulb in the wreath.
Christmas Morning Fire Damages Cantonment Home
About 6:25 on Christmas morning, ECFR responded to a house fire in the 700 block of West Roberts Road in Cantonment. The fire was in the attic, so smoke detectors did not alert the occupants. Due to damage in the attic, the residents were displaced until repairs can be made. There were no injuries. This was the 12th red bulb on the fire safety wreath.
Makeshift Residence Destroyed By Fire In Cottage Hill
Improperly used extension cords are being blamed for a fire that destroyed an makeshift residence in Cottage Hill Tuesday morning. The fire was reported about 8:20 a.m. in the 1900 block of Smyers Road, north of Cottage Hill Road. Firefighters arrived to find what Escambia County Fire Rescue said was a “repurposed camper shell” burning. It was a total loss. ECFR said someone was living in the structure, but they were able to escape without injuries. This was the 13th red bub in the wreath.
NorthEscabia.com photo (top) and photo for NorthEscambia.com (lower) click to enlarge.
County Seeks Applicants For Escambia Children’s Trust
January 4, 2023
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking applications from county residents to serve on the Escambia Children’s Trust.
To be considered, applicants must submit the completed Escambia Children’s Trust application and questionnaire for gubernatorial appointments with an optional resume by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Resumes and both applications should be submitted via email to boardapply@myescambia.com or mailed to:
Jose Gochez, Program Manager
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
221 Palafox Place, Suite 420
Pensacola, FL 32502
The Board of County Commissioners will nominate three applicants per vacancy to be submitted to the governor for review and potential appointment. Following the board’s selection, the county administrator will notify the Governor’s Appointments Office of the selected applicants and additional steps from the nominees may be required.
To be considered for the Escambia Children’s Trust, Florida Statute criteria include the requirement that nominees have been residents of Escambia County for the previous 24 months and are willing to submit an annual Statement of Financial Interests Form. Florida Statutes also require that gubernatorial appointments are representative of the demographic diversity of the County’s population.
Per Section 125.901, Florida Statutes, the Escambia Children’s Trust shall consist of 10 members, including:
- The superintendent of schools;
- A school board member as appointed by the school board;
- The Department of Children and Families district administrator, or his or her designee;
- A judge assigned to juvenile cases as appointed by the chief judge;
- A c0ounty commissioner as appointed by the Board of County Commissioners; and
- Five members appointed by the governor from candidates nominated by the Board of County Commissioners to serve a four-year term.
In November 2020, 61% of participating voters in Escambia County supported the creation of the Children’s Trust to be funded by an increase in ad valorem taxes of up to a maximum of 0.5 mil. The Children’s Trust will provide early childhood education, safety, developmental, preventative, health, and well-being services, including after school and summer enrichment programs.
The ECT is responsible for assessing the needs of the children in the county and developing a strategic plan for addressing unmet needs, which must then be submitted to the Board. The ECT, like the county, must also go through the process of adopting a millage rate and budget in accordance with Florida’s Truth In Millage (TRIM) Act, and the CSC must submit an annual report to the Board as required by Florida law.
Back To School In Escambia County: Today For Teachers, Thursday For Kids
January 4, 2023
The Christmas and New Year’s break is coming to an end for students and teachers in Escambia County.
Teachers will be back in school today, January 4, for a non-student day. Students will return to class on Thursday, January 5.
The next holiday for students and teachers will be Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 16, and spring break is March 13-17.
Joyce Marie Lancaster Mothershed
January 4, 2023
Mrs. Joyce Marie Lancaster Mothershed, age 84, passed away, Friday, December 23, 2022, in Century, FL. She resided most of her life in Atmore, AL; aand she attended Mennonite Christian Fellowship. She retired from Vanity Fair Mills with many years of employment.
Mrs. Mothershed enjoyed listening to music, especially gospel music.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Alvin G. (Ruby Lee) Lancaster, and her husband, Rev. James Gladyn Mothershed.
She is survived by her one daughter, Lisa Mothershed James, of Florida, one granddaughter, Alyssa McCoy, of Maryland, numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, January 7, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Blaine Copenhaver officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Larry O. Pittman
January 4, 2023
Larry O. Pittman, of Cantonment, FL 32533, went to Glory to be with his Lord Jesus on December 31, 2022.
He was lovingly called “Pa” by his family and was dearly loved by so many. He was born in Brewton, AL, on May 8, 1948. He was married to the love of his life, Janice Diamond, for 56 years. He and his wife are the owners of Pittman’s Cantonment Building Materials. They opened their first lumberyard in 1972 and have been in the lumber business for 50 years. Larry had a passion for lumber and building; whatever he built would certainly stand the test of time. He loved people and was always willing to give a helping hand to anyone. He was not afraid to tackle any project, no matter how large it was. Larry also had a passion for his livestock and farming, he could spend hours at his barn working with his animals. He always made sure his grandchildren had a pony or horse to love and he had much enjoyment sharing these times with them. His family was his main joy in life. He always said that family had to stick together. Larry always had his priorities in order- God first, then family, and third work. He was a member of Family Worship Center. He enjoyed playing his guitar at church and rarely missed a Sunday. Everyone who knew him knew he was a Godly man and stood for what is right.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, F.O. and Louise Pittman; brother, Wayne Pittman; great nephew, Chase Owens; and in-laws Floyd and Mildred Diamond.
He leaves behind his wife, Janice Pittman, only daughter, Ashley Johnson (David) and three devoted grandchildren, Madison Young (Dalton), Dylan Johnson, and Dayvin Johnson and one great-granddaughter, Ansley Young. He is also survived by his sister, Helen Salter (Daryl) and numerous nieces and nephews.
His shining smile, comforting hugs, and charming personality will be missed immensely. Please join us for a memorial service on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Faith Chapel North (1000 S Hwy 29, Cantonment, FL). Visitation will be at 12:00, with the service following at 1:00. Interment to follow. Pallbearers will be Steve Johnson, Heath Owens, Shon Owens, Robbie Turner, Glenn Vaughn, and Toby Wallace. Honorary Pallbearers are Tom Andrews, Kevin Farrow, Cassie Fuqua, George Smith, Ray White, Roy White, George Diamond and Jerry Diamond.
Donna Yuhasz
January 4, 2023
Donna Yuhasz, 65, of Molino, FL, passed away January 1, 2023.
Donna was married to Gene Yuhasz for 26 years. She loved every moment of time spent with him at their home in Molino and would outfish Gene at every opportunity. She cherished her family and friends, and knew that family is defined by more than blood. Donna’s “green thumb” was something to envy; plants would thrive with her care. You would be sure to find her sitting on her porch in the spring watching hummingbirds.
Donna is preceded in death by her mother, Pearl Carnley; father, Doug Carnley; son, Trey Yuhasz and dear friend, Tommy Vance.
Donna will forever be remembered by her husband, William Eugene Yuhasz, Jr.; daughter and son in law, Tiffany (Daniel) Morgan; grandchildren, JD and Adelia Morgan; sister, Janet (Matt) Carter; sister, Ginger (David) Mayo; “side kick” brother and sister in law, John and Donna Yuhasz; “soul sister”, Leslie Vance, and an abundance of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and extended cousins that loved her dearly.
“Family isn’t always blood, it’s the people in your life who you want in theirs: the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what”. Maya Angelou
Visitation will be Wednesday, January 11, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Morgan Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Bryan Nisewonger, Duane Nisewonger, Brandon Mayo, Daniel Morgan, Lance Yuhasz and Jarrod Brown.
Rickey Edward McGhee
January 4, 2023
Rickey Edward McGhee, age 69, of Poarch, AL passed away on January 3, 2023. He was born on December 29, 1953 to Curtis Edward and Pearline Daughtry McGhee.
Rickey was a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and a sheet metal worker for the Civil Service. He served in the United States Navy. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lori Patterson McGhee; his grandchild, Alayna Blaire Knowles and his grandparents, Chief Calvin and Joyce McGhee, and Jack and Nora Daughtry.
He is survived by his sons, Justin (Cassandra) McGhee of Poarch, AL and Dylan Zane McGhee of Poarch, AL; his daughter, Ariel McGhee of Canoe, AL; his siblings: Rose Coon of Poarch, AL, Carrie (Randy) Martin of Poarch, AL, Tony McGhee of Pensacola, FL and Charlene McGhee of Poarch, AL and his six grandchildren, Miriah, Skylee, Rhea, Trinity, Nora and Rickey.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Friendly Holiness Church in Poarch, AL with Bro. Ralph Coleman and Bro. Ray Ward officiating. Interment will follow in New Home Cemetery with military honors.
Active pallbearers will be Clayton Coon, Samuel Bostic, Curtis Hayes, Homer Coleman, Kenny Coleman and Doyle Coleman.
Honorary pallbearers will be Roy Rolin, Kenneth “Radio” Rolin, Walter Lee Rolin, Jason Ward, Matt Wilson and Earl Simmons.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 6, 2023 from noon until service time at 2:00 p.m. at Friendly Holiness Church in Poarch, AL.
Ferrell Maurice Crowder
January 4, 2023
Ferrell Maurice Crowder resident of Cantonment, FL passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at the age of 90. He was born in Griffin, Georgia on March 6, 1932 to the late Harry Pierce Crowder and Nellie Kate Smith Crowder. Ferrell served his country in the United States Navy and then worked as a Steam Plant Operator for the Department of Defense.
He is preceded in death by his son, Steven Ray Crowder; parents; and siblings, Lenwood P. Crowder, Donald L. Crowder, Rachel Heath, M. Smith Crowder, Carol J. Brown, Norma L. Crowder, and Wallace A. Crowder.
Ferrell is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Martha Ann Goen Crowder; three daughters, Sheila A. Golden, Melanie J. Crowder, and Vicki L. Pehmoeller; son Maury Crowder; grandchildren, Jacob C. Weaver, Emily G. Crowder, Jesse M. Crowder, Michelle D. Smith, Nicholas A. Smith, Ryan A. Kukelhan, Carrie M. Kukelhan, Erica
A. Rozzero, Heather M. Pehmoeller, and Laurel E. Pehmoeller; and great grandchildren, Bryan L. Birmingham, Terry J. Birmingham, Alanea L. Agrecy, Austin G. Smith, Dagan C. Goodwin-Smith, Bryn E. Rozzero, and Paul M. Rozzero, IV.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 in Barrancas National Cemetery. A procession will leave Faith Chapel Funeral Home North at 12noon.
The family will receive friends on Monday, January 2, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
DeSantis Sworn In For Second Term, Sets Priorities
January 3, 2023
Governor Ron DeSantis delivered his second inaugural address from the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol in Tallahassee on Tuesday.
According to a statement from his office, DeSantis highlighted the progress that Florida has made to improve the lives of its residents as a result of his administration priorities, including guaranteeing access to high-quality education, creating a robust economy that continues to grow faster than the nation’s, providing access to resources for those recovering from hurricanes, and investing record funding into the Everglades and Florida’s critical water resources.
In concluding his speech, Governor DeSantis reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring our state remains the Free State of Florida and set priorities for his second term in office.
Here is the complete text of his speech as prepared for delivery:
Mr. Chief Justice, members of the Cabinet, and fellow citizens:
From the Space Coast to the Suncoast, from St. Johns to St. Lucie, from the streets of Hialeah to the speedways of Daytona, from the Okeechobee all the way up to Micanopy.
Freedom lives here, in our great Sunshine State of Florida!
It lives in the courage of those who patrol the streets and keep our communities safe, it lives in the industry of those who work long hours to earn a living and raise their families, it lives in the dedication of those who teach our children, it lives in the determination of those who grow our food, it lives in the wisdom of our senior citizens, it lives in the dreams of the historic number of families who have moved from thousands of miles away because they saw Florida as the land of liberty and the land of sanity.
Over the past few years, as so many states in our country grinded their citizens down, we in Florida lifted our people up.
When other states consigned their people’s freedom to the dustbin, Florida stood strongly as freedom’s linchpin.
When the world lost its mind – when common sense suddenly became an uncommon virtue – Florida was a refuge of sanity, a citadel of freedom for our fellow Americans and even for people around the world.
In captaining the ship of state, we choose to navigate the boisterous sea of liberty rather than cower in the calm docks of despotism.
We face attacks, we take hits, but we weather the storms, we stand our ground, and we do what is right.
As the Book of Psalms reminds us, “I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.”
We have refused to use polls and to put our finger in the wind – leaders do not follow, they lead.
We have articulated a vision for a free and prosperous state.
We have, through persistence and hard work, executed on that vision.
We have produced favorable results.
And now we are here today because the people of Florida have validated our efforts in record fashion.
Florida shows that results matter. We lead not by mere words, but by deeds.
Four years ago, we promised to pursue a bold agenda. We did just that and we have produced results:
We said we would ensure that Florida taxed lightly, regulated reasonably, and spent conservatively – and we delivered.
We promised we would enact big education reforms – and we delivered.
We said we would end judicial activism by appointing jurists who understand the proper role of a judge is to apply the law as written, not legislate from the bench – and we delivered.
We promised to usher in a new era of stewardship for Florida’s natural resources by promoting water quality and Everglades restoration efforts – and we delivered.
We said we would stand for law and order and support the men and women of law enforcement – and we delivered.
We promised to remedy deficiencies in Florida’s election administration and to hold wayward officials accountable – and we delivered.
We said we would support the areas in Northwest Florida stricken by Hurricane Michael – and we delivered.
And when Hurricane Ian came last year, the state coordinated a massive mobilization of response personnel, facilitated the fastest power restoration on record, and even quickly rebuilt key bridges that had been wiped out by the storm. We have stood by the people of Southwest Florida and we will continue to do so in the weeks, months and years ahead.
Because of these efforts and others, Florida is leading the nation:
We are #1 in these United States in net in-migration
Florida is the #1 fastest growing state
We are #1 in new business formations
Florida is #1 in tourism
We are #1 in economic freedom
Florida is #1 in education freedom
And we rank #1 in parental involvement in education
Florida also ranks #1 in public higher education
This is a record we can all be proud of.
And we are far from done:
Florida has accumulated a record budget surplus, and we need to enact a record amount of tax relief, particularly for Florida families who are grappling with inflation.
We must ensure school systems are responsive to parents and to students, not partisan interest groups, and we must ensure that our institutions of higher learning are focused on academic excellence and the pursuit of truth, not the imposition of trendy ideology.
Florida must always be a great place to raise a family – we will enact more family-friendly policies to make it easier to raise children and we will defend our children against those who seek to rob them of their innocence.
We will always remain a law-and-order state, we will always support law enforcement, and we will always reject soft-on-crime policies that put our communities at risk.
Florida is now in a golden era for conservation of our treasured natural resources. Our momentum is strong and we will finish what we started – we will leave Florida to God better than we found it!
This much we pledge and so much more.
It is often said that our federalist constitutional system – with fifty states able to pursue their own unique policies – represents a laboratory of democracy.
Well these last few years have witnessed a great test of governing philosophies as many jurisdictions pursued a much different path than we have pursued here in the state of Florida.
The policies pursued by these states have sparked a mass exodus of productive Americans from these jurisdictions – with Florida serving as the most desired destination, a promised land of sanity.
Many of these cities and states have embraced faddish ideology at the expense of enduring principles.
They have harmed public safety by coddling criminals and attacking law enforcement.
They have imposed unreasonable burdens on taxpayers to finance unfathomable levels of public spending.
They have harmed education by subordinating the interests of students and parents to partisan interest groups.
They have imposed medical authoritarianism in the guise of pandemic mandates and restrictions that lack a scientific basis.
This bizarre, but prevalent, ideology that permeates these policy measures purports to act in the name of justice for the marginalized, but it frowns upon American institutions, it rejects merit and achievement, and it advocates identity essentialism.
We reject this woke ideology.
We seek normalcy, not philosophical lunacy!
We will not allow reality, facts, and truth to become optional.
We will never surrender to the woke mob.
Florida is where woke goes to die!
Now Florida’s success has been made more difficult by the floundering federal establishment in Washington, D.C.
The federal government has gone on an inflationary spending binge that has left our nation weaker and our citizens poorer, it has enacted pandemic restrictions and mandates – based more on ideology and politics than on sound science – and this has eroded freedom and stunted commerce.
It has recklessly facilitated open borders: making a mockery of the rule of law, allowing massive amounts of narcotics to infest our states, importing criminal aliens, and green lighting the flow of millions of illegal aliens into our country, burdening communities and taxpayers throughout the land.
It has imposed an energy policy that has crippled our nation’s domestic production, causing energy to cost more for our citizens and eroding our nation’s energy security, and, in the process, our national security.
It wields its authority through a sprawling, unaccountable and out-of-touch bureaucracy that does not act on behalf of us, but instead looms over us and imposes its will upon us.
The results of this have been predictably dismal.
This has caused many to be pessimistic about the country’s future. Some say that failure is inevitable.
Florida is proof positive that We the People are not destined for failure.
Decline is a choice. Success is attainable. And freedom is worth fighting for.
Now fighting for freedom is not easy because the threats to freedom are more complex and more widespread than in the past – the threats can come from entrenched bureaucrats in D.C., jet-setters in Davos, and corporations wielding public power.
But fight we must.
We embrace our founding creed that our rights are not granted by the courtesy of the State, but are endowed by the hand of the Almighty.
We reject the idea that self-government can be subcontracted out to technocratic elites who reduce human beings to mere data points.
We insist on the restoration of time-tested constitutional principles so that government of, by and for the people shall not perish from this earth.
Florida has led the way in preserving what the father of our country called the “sacred fire of liberty.”
It is the fire that burned in Independence Hall when 56 men pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to establish a new nation conceived in liberty.
It is the fire that burned at a cemetery at Gettysburg when the nation’s first Republican president pledged to this nation a “new birth of freedom.”
It is the fire that burned among the boys who stormed the beaches of Normandy to liberate a continent and to preserve freedom for the world.
It is the fire that infused a young preacher’s dream, relayed at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, that the Declaration of Independence said what it meant and meant what it said: all men are created equal.
It is the fire that led a resolute president to stand in Berlin and declare “tear down this wall,” staring down the communists and winning the Cold War.
It is our responsibility here in Florida to carry this torch.
We do not run from this responsibility; we welcome it.
We will be on our guard.
We will stand firm in the faith.
We will be courageous.
We will be strong!
And we thank God and are proud to be citizens of the great Free State of Florida!
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
