Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s An Overnight Forecast To Love
February 14, 2023
Happy Valentine’s Day! Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 61. South wind 10 to 15 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Thursday: A chance of showers before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between midnight and 3am, then a chance of showers after 3am. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 48. South wind around 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Washington’s Birthday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
Cantonment Company Seeks Temporary Concrete Crushing Permit
February 14, 2023
A local construction company has applied for a 14-day temporary concrete crushing permit at their business.
Chavers Construction has applied for the permit for 14 consecutive working days on their property at 801 Virecent Road in Cantonment.
Concrete material that has accumulated on the property over the last couple of years will be crushed on-site. The material will then be re-used as base material for Chavers’ own parking lot and road projects and not be sold or open to the public for sale.
The concrete will be crushed by Sunbelt Crushing between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday in a central location on the 18-acre property well behind the Chavers Construction office to minimize any outside impacts. The pile will be sprinkled with water during the operation to minimize any dust, and silt fencing will be used on all downhill slopes. The crushing location will not be visible from any road.
The Escambia County Commission will consider the temporary permit at their meeting on February 16.
Atmore Man Charged With Attempted Murder
February 14, 2023
An Atmore man has been charged with trying to murder someone inside a home on King Street.
George Edward Cooper, 44, was charged with attempted murder, burglary first degree, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, reckless endangerment, and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm.
According to the Atmore Police Department, officers responded to King Street where Cooper had forced opened the front door of a residence and attempted to shoot someone inside. He fled the scene, but was spotted by police a short distance away and taken into custody.
Cooper, a convicted felon, had a loaded firearm in his pocket when he was arrested, according to police.
Cooper was booked into the Escambia County (Alabama) Detention Center without bond.
This Is Who Had The Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
February 14, 2023
We now know who purchased a winning Fantasy Five ticket on Nine Mile Road last week.
The Florida Lottery says the ticket worth $36,427.41 in the February 6 drawing was claimed by Vardria Magbie Barnett, Jr. of Loxley. The quick pick ticket sold at the SP Foot Mart On West Nine Mile Road at Bridlewood Road was one of five winning tickets sold for the drawing. The other winning tickets were sold in Orlando, Hollywood, Miami and Vero Beach.
The 373 tickets matching four numbers won $78.50 each. Another 10,700 tickets matching three numbers are worth $7.50 each, and 89,577 ticket holders won a free ticket for picking two numbers.
Monday’s winning numbers were 3-7-9-21-26.
Fifth Grade Sign-ups This Week For The Ransom Middle School Band
February 14, 2023
Fifth grade sign-ups are going on this week for the Ransom Middle School band.
The band performed at local elementary schools recently, including Jim Allen and Pine Meadow (both pictured).
Fifth graders attending Ransom in the fall can click or tap here make an appointment for an instrument fitting on Thursday, February 16.
For more information, Lee Rigdon, Ransom’s band director, at rrigdon@ecsdfl.us.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bernice Tripp McGhee
February 14, 2023
Mrs. Bernice Tripp McGhee, 81, passed away, Sunday, February 12, 2023, at her home in the Poarch Community of Atmore, AL.
Mrs. McGhee was born August 22, 1941 to William and Pearl Tripp in Lone Oak, OK. She was married to John Arthur McGhee for 53 years before he passed away in 2015. Together they raised four daughters, Brenda, Sherry, Kim and Sheila. They moved from Waukegan, IL; to the Poarch Community in 1976. Mrs. McGhee lived in the Poarch Community for 47 years. While living in Illinois she worked at Abbott’s Pharmaceutical Laboratory and later Vanity Fair when the family relocated to Alabama. She spent the majority of her life as a homemaker for her family. She loved her family dearly, especially her eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She took pride in all their many accomplishments. She was even known as the “baby whisper”. She could softly and tenderly calm and sooth any child.
Mrs. McGhee is preceded in death by her parents, William (Pearl) Tripp; her siblings, Roady Tripp, Vinice Tripp, William Lee Tripp and Leon Tripp; her husband, John Arthur McGhee; her daughter, Sheila McGhee Caraway; her beloved granddaughter, Maggie Pearl Caraway; her son-in law, James (Jimmy) Dean; sister-in laws, Marie Martin, Francis Robbins, Julian Stacey, Hattie Mae McGhee and brother-in law, Clifton McGhee.
She is survived by her daughters, Brenda (Michael) Johnson, of LaGrange, GA; Sherry (Kenneth) Howell, of Helena, AL; and Kimberly Dean, of Atmore, AL. Her sister-in law, Maxine Johnson, of Atmore, AL. Her brothers, Bryan (Ellen) Tripp, of Zion, IL; and Veron Tripp, of Holdenville, OK; and her sisters, Georgie (Ted) Lewis, of Bowlegs, OK; Cleady Johnson, of Tampa, FL; and Betty Coleman, of Oklahoma City, OK. Her grandchildren, Olivia (Thomas) Morgan, of Marietta, GA; Mason (Catie) Dean, of Auburn, AL; Nicholas Howell and Sophia Howell, of Helena, AL; James (Emily) Dean of Spanish Fort, AL; Jon (Malori) Dean, of Atmore, AL; and Miranda Hudson, of Atmore, AL. Her great-grandchildren, Porter James Dean, Mallie Claire Dean, Emilia Pearl Hudson and Carson Elizabeth Johnson and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 17, 2023 at 12:00 PM at Poarch Community Church with Rev. Josh Long officiating.
Burial will follow at Judson Creek Indian Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 17, 2023 from 11:00 AM until service time at 12:00 PM at Poarch Community Church.
Pallbearers will be Mason Dean, Jon Dean, James Dean, Nicholas Howell, Kenneth Howell, and Thomas Morgan.
Honorary pallbearers Michael Johnson, and Nathan Martin.
Nancy Elizabeth Marks Williamson
February 14, 2023
Nancy Elizabeth Marks Williamson was 78 when she died on February 13, 2023. She was born on July 21, 1944, the only child of Edward Taylor Marks and Olive Hawkins Marks in Jacksonville, Florida.
She was baptized at Avondale Methodist Church in Jacksonville as a baby, confirmed in faith as a young woman and followed Jesus all her life. She went to Fishweir Elementary, Lake Shore Junior High School and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1962. Growing up she enjoyed summertime in Rutledge, Georgia where she and her mother visited with her Grandmother, Annie C. Barnes. She held fond memories of picking wild bachelor buttons and larkspur to place on the graves in the town cemetery, learning the stories of her ancestors buried there. On those visits she learned to sew on her grandmother’s treadle sewing machine and peel butter beans.
Growing up she was active in the Girl Scouts, dance, editor of her high school yearbook and her church where she volunteered teaching Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. Her love for teaching children led her to major in Elementary Education at the Florida State University where she was also a member of the Delta, Delta, Delta sorority.
It was at FSU that she met James Franklin Williamson “Jim” whom she married on January 3, 1965. The story is that she tripped down the steps of Jennie Murphree Hall at FSU into Jim’s waiting arms, and the rest is history. They were married 58 years.
Jim and Nancy started their life together in Pensacola, Florida. She was an elementary school teacher for Escambia County Public Schools and Jim worked for Sears.
Together Nancy and Jim had three children, Elizabeth, David and Kathryn. They lived and made life-long friends in Pensacola, Ft. Lauderdale, Jupiter, Miami and Gulfport, MS. Nancy’s love for children, teaching and faith was a gift to her children who she got to stay home with as they grew up. She enjoyed volunteering in their classrooms and as Girl Scout leader, going to dance recitals, making trips to the baseball park and band performances.
As the kids got older, Nancy began caring more for her own mother, delivering meals on wheels, and doing genealogy research for her family and friends. Her love of mystery, history and her family fueled her joyful genealogical research that became a blessing for generations to come. As a result of this work she became a member of Colonial Dames 17th Century, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Daughters of the American Colonists (DAC), Jamestowne Society, Clan Crawford, Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars (CSDIW) and the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC).
During their retired years together, Nancy and Jim loved gardening. She joined as a Charter Member of the Jasmine Garden Circle, the Pineglades Garden Circle, and the Garden Guild of St. Luke UMC. Nancy and Jim became local experts in horticulture, able to tell you the name of every plant, tree or shrub. They cultivated a beautiful back yard garden at their home with so many interesting varieties, and Nancy loved spending time in her later years on her hands and knees in the flower bed “relocating plants” (the term she used for weeding).
Nancy loved God, studying the Bible, passing on her faith to others and serving through her church, St. Luke United Methodist. She completed all the Disciple Bible Studies, the Companions in Christ series, was an active participant in Bible Study Fellowship and the Caring and Sharing Sunday School Class. She served many years as Chair of the St. Luke Altar Guild, coordinating weddings and making sure the sanctuary was prepared for worship each Sunday. It was Nancy’s faith in the faithfulness of God through Jesus that sustained her during the loss of her own parents and especially during the challenging and painful days of her cancer treatment. She thanked God that she got to live 20 years after her initial breast cancer diagnosis, and especially for the opportunity to get to know her grandchildren, Julia, JD and Hudson along with her great niece Gracie and great nephew Nicholas.
Nancy is survived by her husband of 58 years, James Franklin Williamson (Jim), her daughter Sarah Elizabeth Williamson, son Rev. David Andrew Williamson (Carolyn), daughter Kathryn Williamson Aufderheide (EJ), grandchildren Julia Sarah Williamson, JD Aufderheide and Hudson Aufderheide. She is predeceased by her parents Edward Taylor Marks and Olive Hawkins Marks.
Special thanks to people of Emerald Coast Hospice, Dr. Inclan and the Woodlands Oncology Staff, neighbors and all the many friends from the St. Luke United Methodist Church for their loving care for Nancy.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made in Nancy’s name to the St. Luke United Methodist Church.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with reception to follow at the St. Luke United Methodist Church. 1394 East Nine Mile Road Pensacola, FL 32514.
Interment will follow at a later date at the Bayview Memorial Park in Pensacola, FL.
Kingsfield Elementary PTA Sells 1,360 Valentine’s Day Candy Grams
February 14, 2023
The Kingsfield Elementary School PTA sold Valentine’s Day Candy Grams, and today they are delivering 1,360 of them.
For just $1, students could send anyone in the school a candy gram.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Boil Water Notice Issued For Highway 297A, Sherrilane Drive Area
February 13, 2023
A Precautionary Boil Water Notice as been issued by the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority for customers located in the following area:
- Highway 297A (Address Range: 2639 – 2830)
- Sherrilane Dr. (Address Range: 2334 – 2888)
- Creekwood Dr. (Address Range: 2634 – 2664)
- Pemberton Ln. (Address Range: 401 – 481)
- Woodman Ln. (Address Range: 2701 2772)
This notice is being issued after repairs were made to a broken 12-inch water main. Precautionary Boil Water Notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Residents located in the specified PBWN area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours and the notice will be rescinded at that time.
ECUA crews have completed the work and flushed out the lines. Residents within the PBWN area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
ECSO Searching For Missing, Endangered Cantonment Woman
February 13, 2023
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered Cantonment woman.
Mary Louis Fountain, 69, was last seen on February 6 in the area of Winners Circle off East Kingsfield Road. Deputies said she may be in need of medical attention.
According to the ECSO, she may also go by the name of Mary Henson Fountain.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.