Leola Robinson Honored For Her 100th Birthday
February 23, 2023
The Town of Century has issued a proclamation recognizing the 100th birthday of resident Leola Robinson .
Robinson was born February 19, 1923, in Burnt Corn, Alabama, and known for raising her children and helping others in the community do the same, according to the proclamation.
She serves on stewardess board and mission board at Wesley Chapel Church and is a founding member of the Century-Flomaton Improvement Association. She earned a two-year teaching certificate from Alabama State University and attended Florida A&M University for two summers, paving the way for four generations of 12 FAME students to follow in her footsteps.
Pictured top: Brenda Spencer, a family member of Leola Robinson, accepts a proclamation on her behalf from Century Mayor Ben Boutwell. Pictured below: Leola Robinson was a frequent speaker at Century Town Council meetings into her 90s. She is pictured at a 2010 council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dirt Sharks, Aggie Mountain Bike Teams Place In Season Opener (With Gallery)
February 23, 2023
The Gulf Coast Youth Mountain Bike Association GCYMBA, kicked off its 2023 season this recently in the Alabama Cycling Association at Chewacla State Park in Auburn with the time trial prologue.
The GCYMBA is made up of 30 athletes grades 6-12 from Pensacola, South Alabama, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. With growth, the association now has two mountain bike teams – the Gulf Coast Composite “Dirt Sharks” and the Aggie Mountain Bike Team which consists of athletes from the Cantonment area.
Despite rain, middle school athletes represented the Gulf Coast very well in rainy and muddy conditions. Finley Fryfogle of the Dirt Sharks earned her first place podium with a big 20 second lead over her closest competitor in the sixth grade girls category. Sofia Franklin of the Aggie Mountain Bike Team won fourth place podium in sixth grade girls category. Braden Ruiz of the Aggie team won fourth place podium in the seventh grade boys category.
The high school athletes faced muddy trail conditions after continuous rain. The Aggie Mountain Bike Team’s Avery Storther won first place in the varsity girls category with a 20 second lead over second place. Eli Forehand of the Aggie team won third place in the ninth grade boys category.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Qualify, One Prefiles For Century Council Seats
February 23, 2023
As of Wednesday, two candidates have qualified and one has pre-filed for a special election to select two new Century town council members.
Shelisa McCall prefiled for Council Seat 3, meaning she must complete the qualification process to appear on the ballot. She is serving interimly in the seat and is president of the chamber of commerce.
Alicia Johnson and Eddie Hammond qualified for Council Seat 4. Both are former town employees, and Johnson was appointed on an interim basis to the seat in January.
Qualifying is open until noon Friday, February 24, at the Supervisor of Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place in Pensacola.
The special general election will be held on Tuesday, March 28. If three or more candidates qualify for either of the seats, a special primary election will be held on Tuesday, March 14. The qualification fee is $50, and candidates must be registered voters living in the Century town limits.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview FFA Celebrates National FFA Week With Breakfast
February 23, 2023
It’s National FFA week, and the Northview High School FFA celebrated with an appreciation breakfast Wednesday morning. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Slight Chance Of A Shower, High In The 80s
February 23, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A slight 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Breezy.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Breezy.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Michel ‘Wayne’ Nash
February 23, 2023
Michel “Wayne” Nash, 72, passed away Thursday, February 9, 2023.
Wayne was born on August 29, 1950 and was the youngest of James and Lyda Nash’s seven children. Wayne grew up in a modest home off a dirt road in the Ferry Pass community of Pensacola, FL. As a young man, Wayne grew up on the water. He loved his hometown and never wanted to live anywhere else in the world! After graduating from Woodham High School, Wayne entered the USAF and served as an aircraft mechanic during the Vietnam War.
Following his military service, Wayne returned to his beloved Pensacola, where his life changed when he met the love of this life, a single mom named Diana. She says “I knew I loved him the first time I saw him.” The feeling was very much mutual, as Wayne started proposing to Diana almost immediately. She eventually surrendered in the face of both her undeniable feelings and his unwavering persistence and they were married on March 15, 1986.
Wayne had many skills, but it was carpentry that he seemed to enjoy the most. He spent a number of years working in residential construction and eventually went to work for Pensacola State College in 1987 as a member of their maintenance team where he worked until his retirement in 2022.
When he wasn’t working, Wayne was busy raising a family. He was a member of Northridge Church and was a faithful volunteer, building countless sets and several playgrounds over the years. He loved church league softball and both played and coached teams for years. He and Diana also ran the church’s Wednesday night mission program for kids while their own children were small.
Throughout his life, Wayne’s love for the water never waned. Saturdays were filled with fishing adventures of one kind or the other. He loved introducing his children, nephews and grandchildren to his favorite pastime and spent countless hours in the sun, casting lines and watching the waves roll in and out.
Wayne Nash was an easy going soul, who appreciated the simple joys of this life. His best day involved time with his family, having his feet in the salt water, watching or reading a good western and a cold beer…maybe not in that order. Wayne deeply loved his wife, took good care of his family, and always showed up to help a friend in need. He will be remembered with the deepest affection and holy gratitude to God.
He is proceeded in death by his parents James and Lyda and by his daughter Sarah Joy.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Diana; his children, Lucas (Emily) Dorion, Michael Dorion, & Heather (Tim) Daniel; his 8 grandchildren, Kayla, Mallory, Nash, Trey, Lily, Olivia, Sarah Cate, & Lucas; his siblings, Warren Nash, Christen Manly, Donald Nash, George Nash, Linda Turner, & Jack Nash; his Best Friend and Brother in-law, Warren Kirkland, Sister in-law, Pat Kirkland, and their children Matt Kirkland, Kevin Kirkland and his daughter, Lexi, & Ryan Kirkland; and many more Nieces and Nephews.
Visitation and a “Service of Remembrance” will be held at Trahan Family Funeral Home on Monday, February 27, 2023. Visitation will begin at 10am with the service to follow at 11:00 a.m
Herminia Emely Dawson
February 23, 2023
Herminia Emely Dawson was born March 20, 1951, and she ran to the Lord’s arms Sunday, February 19, 2023. She loved her family, and everyone she encountered, in the name of the Lord. She set a beautiful example of love through serving family and community.
Herminia Emely Dawson is preceded in death by her parents Eduardo & Margarita Palacios and beloved husband of 17 years, Tommy Dawson. She is survived by her sisters: Rosario Perez, Margarita Palacios, Juanita Palacios; brothers: Abel Palacios, Eduardo Palacios, and Pedro Palacios (Carol); four children: daughter Jaquelin Lister and sons: Carlos (Jacksubelly) Valarezo, Rick (Melissa) Valarezo, and Michael Valarezo; twelve grandchildren: Carlos, Anna Marie, Allyson, Alexander, Roman, Valentino, Celeste, Carlie, Desiree, Christian, Javier, and Josiah; twelve great-grandchildren: Alaysia, Harmony, Avianna, Red, Isabel, Alonzo, Sophia, Titus, Hazel, Rylee, Carlos Jr., and Emilio. She also leaves behind her much loved dog Cujo.
Visitation will begin at 11AM Thursday, February 23rdat Faith Chapel Funeral Home North followed by a 12PM service by Pastor Mark Davis. Gravesite service immediately following at First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill (Cantonment).
Northview, Tate Open Baseball Season With Wins; Softball Teams Fall Short
February 22, 2023
The high school baseball and softball seasons opened Tuesday night for the Tate Aggies and the Northview Chiefs. Both baseball teams had wins, while both softball teams fell short.
BASEBALL
Tate 17, Navarre 4
- The Tate Aggies had a 12-run second inning and five home runs Tuesday night in a big 17-4 win at Navarre. Brayden Touchstone had two homers. Ethan McAnally, Drew Reaves and James Davis each had a dinger. Gabriel Patterson earned the win for Tate on the mound.
Northview 7, Flomaton 5
- Cason Burkett led the Chiefs driving in four while going 3-3 at the plate, and earned the win on the mound.
SOFTBALL
Gulf Breeze 10, Tate 0
T.R. Miller 21, Northview 2
- Aubrey Stuckey had a home run in the second for the Chiefs.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies beat Navarre 17-4 Tuesday night in Navarre. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Tries To Run Over Man He Thought Was Convicted Sex Offender, ECSO Says
February 22, 2023
A Century man is charged after allegedly trying to run over a man he thought was a convicted sex offender as he walked out of a liquor store.
Kinte Hassan Franklin, 45, was charged with felony aggravated battery using a deadly weapon.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Franklin was the driver of a maroon car with the window partially down outside the Fusion Liquor store next door to the Food Giant on North Century Boulevard.
The driver, Franklin, told him “I’m going to kill you because you are a convicted child molester,” according to an ECSO arrest report. He then turned the car around and struck the victim in the legs, the report continues. The victim’s wife was with him at the time. She told deputies that another occupant of the vehicle told Franklin, “You just need to run over this [expletive] you just need to kill him”.
According to the ECSO, surveillance video showed Franklin circle the parking lot multiple times and pull up to the victim and say something. The video then shows Franklin pull into a parking spot if front of the store, back out, and then pull forward, striking the victim with the vehicle multiple times.
Franklin was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice National Sex Offender Registry, the victim is not a convicted sex offender.
Annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Farm Auction Is This Saturday
February 22, 2023
The 48th Annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment Auction will be held this Saturday, February 25, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The auction includes not only farm equipment, but also household items like tools and small equipment, lawn and garden items, antiques and more.
The sale takes place at the Walnut Hill Community Center, 7850 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School. The deadline for adding lots is 8:00 the morning of the auction.
This is an open, no reserve sale. Ten percent of the price will be assessed to the buyer for all lots sold, with a $500 maximum. There is a $5 minimum fee per lot, and sellers must be present to “no sale” a lot. Settlement must be made the day of the sale with cash, check, cashier’s check or credit card. All sellers will be paid by a check in the mail.
For more information or consignments, call (850) 294-0395 or (850) 380-9973.