Essie Drew Josey
June 21, 2023
Essie Drew Josey, age 101, of Atmore, AL passed away on June 18, 2023. She was born on June 13, 1922 in Baldwin County, AL to James Alex Drew and Ettie Solomon Drew. Essie was a member of Brooks Memorial Baptist Church. She worked as a machine operator with Masland Carpets, Inc. until her retirement. She is preceded in death by her parents; her son, Randall Josey; her brother, Onas Drew and her sisters, Estelle Dean, Jessie Criswell, and Dorothy Barber.
She is survived by her son, Ricky (Glenda) Josey of Stockton, AL and their family, Matthew Bowen and Vicky Evans; the late Randall Josey’s family, Ashley Josey and Justin Josey; her brother, Wilburn Cleo (Mildred) Drew of Pensacola, FL; her sister, Voncile Branch of Atmore, AL and numerous great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 23, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. James Boyd officiating. Interment will follow in Lottie New Home Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 23, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore.
Driver Shot And Killed On Wallace Like Road Near Pace
June 20, 2023
A 24-year old man was shot before crashing his vehicle Monday evening in Pace.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said 24-year old Joseph Liebe was in the area of Wallace Lake Road off Quintette Road and was shot while driving away. His vehicle crashed into a nearby wooded area.
There were no other injuries.
SRSO detectives have identified a suspect and are actively working to locate and apprehend them.
No additional details were released.
Driver Charged With Highway 29 Hit And Run, Cantonment Man Seriously Injured
June 20, 2023
A 38-year old man is charged a Highway 29 hit and run early Tuesday that left a Cantonment man seriously injured.
Johnathan Schick was booked into the Escambia County Jail charged with felony hit and run. His bond was set at $2,500.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Schick was traveling west at 3:41 a.m. in a black Ford F150 pickup on West 9 1/2 Mile Road and failed to stop at the traffic light. He collided with a Volkswagen Beetle driven south on Highway 29 by a 19-year old Cantonment man. The driver of Volkswagen swerved off the roadway and overturned, coming to rest upside down in ditch. He was extricated by Escambia County Fire Rescue and transported to an area hospital in serious condition.
FHP said Schick fled the scene. Witness described the vehicle as a black F150 with heavy front end damage last seen traveling south on Highway 29. Troopers followed a trail of vehicle fluids from the scene to intersection of West Hannah Street and Walnut Avenue where the pickup was disabled due to damage from the crash. That’s where Schick was arrested.
Poarch Band of Creek Indians CFO, Two Others Killed In Wreck; Man Charged With Manslaughter
June 20, 2023
The chief financial officer of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians was among three people killed in a wreck caused by a man allegedly driving under the influence Sunday in Baldwin County.
PCI CFO Tim Speegle, 64, Christie Lowe, 47, and her daughter Margaret, 19, were pronounced deceased after the wreck on the Baldwin Beach Express in Robertsdale, according to police. Two others were injured.
David Colburn, 60, was booked into the Baldwin County Jail on a count of driving under the influence and three counts of manslaughter.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians issued the following statement Monday evening:
“As many of you may have learned Tim Speegle, our CFO, was tragically killed in an automobile accident on Sunday. Like so many others who were lucky to know Tim, we are deeply grieving his passing, and we are praying for his much-loved wife, Jeanna, who sustained critical injuries in the accident and remains hospitalized.
“Tim was a good man, through and through. He was generous, smart, funny, and deeply committed to our Tribe and its success. Tim’s contributions to the Poarch community will be felt for generations to come, and we hope that his and Jeanna’s children, grandchildren, mothers and extended family find some comfort in that.
“On a personal level, Tim was a friend to us all. He could be counted on in the worst of times to do the right thing and to make good decisions. In good times, he was a joy to be around – a caring man who loved his family, enjoyed life to the fullest, and was incredibly thoughtful and caring to others.
“Tim’s sudden passing is a sad reminder to all of us that we should appreciate each and every day and never miss an opportunity to tell those we care about how much they are loved.”
Chance Of Showers, Storms Tonight
June 20, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 87. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Flomaton Man Accused Of Breaking Another Man’s Jaw During Argument
June 20, 2023
A Flomaton man is accused of hitting another man during an argument, breaking his jaw in two places,
Jacob Michael Wright, 22, was arrested recently in a charge of aggravated battery causing bodily harm for the incident last year.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that on October 2, 2022, he was drinking alcohol with his friend “Jake Wright” when the two got into an argument at an address on Camberwell Road in Pensacola. Wright struck the victim in the jaw, breaking it in two places, according to an arrest report.
The victim’s jaw had to be wired, deputies noted.
Wright was released on a $10,000 bond.
Century Man Accused Of Burglary, Attempted Burglary
June 20, 2023
A Century man is charged with burglarizing one local home and attempting to burglarize another.
Travis Leigh Carroll, 31, was charged with unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, and criminal mischief with a prior conviction. All of the charges are felonies.
The owner of a home on Wood Street was watching security cameras at the residence when he observed someone wearing a hoodie that was walking around his property, looking through windows and glass doors, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Responding deputies located Carroll wearing a hood behind the nearby Century Lodge and attempting to flee on his bicycle, the arrest report states. He was detained and identified.
According to the report, Carroll is accused of attempting to lift a sliding glass door out of its track and opening the garage door.
Carroll advised his sick mother was getting $50,000 to use as a down payment on the Wood Street house, and he was looking through the screen glass door at what appeared to be an empty house. According to the ECSO, the house does not appear empty from the glass door and there are no for sale signs anywhere near the residence.
As deputies were working the Wood Street burglary, a citizen stopped to report that they had just observed Carroll prying on windows and attempting to enter a home in the 7700 block of North Century Boulevard. Deputies responded to find pry marks and damage to two windows.
County Paves Fisher Landing Roadway, Portion Of Parking Lot
June 20, 2023
Escambia County recently paved Fischer Landing on the Escambia River in Century.
Escambia County Public Works paved the roadway from the end of the previously existing pavement, including a portion of the parking lot to the boat ramp.
Dedicated in 2008, Fisher Landing is maintained by the Town of Century. The dirt roadway and parking lot were frequently damaged by floodwaters when the river rises. The town does not have a road grader, so the county would repair the road.
To reach Fischer Landing, turn on the unmarked road north of Highway 4 just west of the bridge across the Escambia River.
It was originally funded by the Florida Communities Trust through the Preservation 2000 Program and was developed with financial assistance provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection through the Recreation Development Assistance Program.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Watching Tropical Storm Bret In The Atlantic
June 20, 2023
Tropical Storm Bret formed in the Atlantic on Monday. The latest information is in the graphic above.
It is no longer forecast to become a hurricane.
Crash Near Molino Shuts Down Highway 97 Monday Evening
June 20, 2023
At least one person was injured in a wreck Monday evening on Highway 97 near Molino.
The crash happened about 7 p.m. on Highway 97 near Sunshine Hill Road. The road was closed for over an hour due to the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details.
Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
File photo.