10,000 Pound Food Distribution Tuesday Afternoon In Cantonment
March 19, 2024
Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a 10,000 pound drive-thru food giveaway Tuesday afternoon, March 19 at Carver Park on Webb Street.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles.
There is a maximum of three people per vehicle that can receive a box, and each person must have their ID. For Tuesday’s event, there is also a limit of one meat item per box.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
rnoon, February 20 at Carver Park on Webb Street.
Reverend Russell H. Naron Sr.
March 19, 2024
Reverend Russell H. Naron Sr., of Cantonment, FL died Friday, March 8, 2024, at Covenant Hospice in Pensacola, FL. Born in Vardaman, Mississippi, he graduated high school in Rayville, Louisiana. He went on to attend Louisiana State University, studying veterinary medicine. Russell was a Korean War Veteran, serving in the United States Army as Supply Sargeant, in the “Hell on Wheels” tank division at the Grafenwoehr military base in Germany. After serving his country, Russell found success in the retail business, working for a department store.
Russell accepted God’s call to devote his life to preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister in 1964. He attended and graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with an Associate of Divinity in Pastoral Ministries in 1981. His pastoral career included serving many churches in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Virginia. He served for several years on the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board. Most importantly, throughout his career, he witnessed to countless people about Christ’s love and sacrifice on the cross as forgiveness of sin, and of a new life through Christ’s Salvation. He had the joy of presiding over the marriage of many couples, as well as the honor of conducting over 200 funerals throughout his career.
He retired from preaching full time in Virginia, spending his retirement years in Cantonment, attending Campus Church at Pensacola Chrisitan in Pensacola, FL. Without a doubt, he will be remembered by the church members he pastored. His accomplishments are evident in the impact he had on numerous individuals he led to the saving knowledge of Christ.
In addition to being a life-long servant of Christ, he was a deeply devoted husband to his wife, Clara “Tootsie” Naron. He was a father to seven children, a dedicated son, brother, uncle, and father-in-law. He is survived in death by his wife, Tootsie Naron; his children, Russell “Russ” Naron, Jr. of Biloxi, Deborah Ellen Knepton and son-in law, Howard of Mobile, AL, Spence “Buck” Naron and daughter-in-law, Vickie, of Semmes, AL, Royce W. Naron and Clay E. Naron of Biloxi, Jason T. Naron and daughter-in-law Mary of Alabaster AL, and Heather Naron-Hiller and son-in-law Kevin, of Odessa, FL. Further; and his six grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ford Naron and Huldah Ivalee Putnam and his sisters, Patricia McClure, and Edna Earle Brady.
Services for Reverend Russell H. Naron will be held Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. The family will receive friends for visitation from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 pm. Funeral services will begin at 12:00 p.m. with Pastor Joshua Burdick officiating. Rev. Naron will be laid to rest at Biloxi National Cemetery at 11:00am on Thursday, March 28,2024.
Honorary Pallbearers include Kevin A Hiller, Justin W. Naron, Lt. William Naron (Navy, active duty), Dylan Naron, David Kleindienst and Jason Waddel.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements
W.S. Neal Defeats Northview 2-1 (With Gallery)
March 19, 2024
W.S Neal 3, Northview 2
The W.S. Neal Eagles of East Brewton pulled ahead late in the seventh inning to defeat the Northview Chiefs 3-2 on a cold night in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
With feels-like temperatures in the middle 40s and winds gusting over 30 mph, Jackson Bridges was hot for the Chiefs on the pitcher’s mound, striking out 11 batters while giving up no hits and one run in five innings while walking four. Gayden Sheffiled took the loss for the Chiefs, allowing one hit and two runs while strikeout seven and walking four over two innings.
Brady Smith went 4-4 for the Chiefs at the plate with one RBI. Northview’s other run came on a sacrifice bunt from Colby Pugh. Sheffield, Wyatt Scruggs, Jase Portwood and Dane King each had a hit.
The Chiefs will host Pensacola Christian Academy on Tuesday.
Northview 7, W.S. Neal 1 (JV)
The Northview High School junior varsity defeated W.S. Neal 7-1 Monday afternoon in Bratt.
Gage Harrison earned the win for Northview in five innings. He allowed just one hit and one run while striking out 10 and walking one.
Will Strawbridge went 3-3 with three RBIs for the Chiefs with singles in the first, third and fourth innings. Harrison, Kobi Fiorenti, Tyer Gilmore and Jack Boutwell each added a hit for NHS.
The Chiefs will host Pensacola Christian Academy on Tuesday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Nelle Burnette Goodman
March 19, 2024
Nelle Burnette Goodman, 92, of Cantonment, Florida, passed away March 20, 2024. She was born in Barnesville, Georgia on November 22, 1931 to Harvey and Myrtle Burnette. She was saved on Easter Sunday night in 1941 at the age of 9 (83 years ago). She was filled with the Holy Spirit at the age of 16 while at Emmanuel College (now Emmanuel University). She first attended Mountain Gap Pentecostal Holiness Church, until the Barnesville PHC was built in her hometown.
Nelle developed a strong work ethic at a young age by working on the family farm milking cows and tending to the other farm and household chores. She also worked in her father’s grocery store for several years. She graduated from high school in 1948, and from Emmanuel College in 1950. In 1953, she married Hal Goodman and was a pastor’s wife for the next 40 years. Hal and Nelle pastored 6 different churches during this period across Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida within the Pentecostal Holiness Church. She had many duties besides being a pastor’s wife. She was a substitute teacher from 1958 to 1975, and notably served as the Alabama (now Alpha) Conference Women’s Auxiliary (now Women’s Ministries) vice president and president for 30 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hal Goodman; daughters, Rhetta Goodman and Julie Goodman; son, Ronald Goodman; parents, Harvey Burnette, Sr. and Myrtle Cook Burnette; and her brothers, Harvey Burnette, Jr. and John Burnette.
She is survived by her son, Tim Goodman, and her sister Carolyn Virginia Adams.
Services for Nelle Burnette Goodman will be held Monday, March 25, 2024, at Central Church Worship Center. The family will receive friends for visitation from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. The service will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Tim Nail officiating. Nelle will be laid to rest at Harvest Christian Center Cemetery following the service.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
EREC Plans Power Outage Beginning Late Tuesday Night For 2,000 Members
March 18, 2024
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has another planned power outage beginning late Tuesday night for about 2,000 members.
The scheduled outage will begin at 11 p.m. Tuesday and last for up to four hours in the following areas :Oak Grove, Walnut Hill, Davisville, Enon, McKinnon, Bogia, Barrineau Park, parts of Bratt, and parts of Molino. The outage will allow PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, EREC’s electricy suppier, to complete the installation of a new switch along their transmission line to the Oak Grove Substaion on Highway 99A. This outage will complete the work project that began with a previous planned outage back on February 26.
EREC planned to notify members about 2 p.m. Monday with phone calls and text messages to members with registered mobile numbers.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Century Asked For Nothing, Received Nothing In New State Budget. Last Year, It Was $1.885 Million.
March 18, 2024
During the 2023 session, the Florida Legislature appropriated nearly $2 million in funding for two major requests by the Town of Century. But the $117 billion 2024-25 state budget includes nothing specifically for the town after the mayor asked for nothing.
Last fall, local governments presented their state funding requests to the Escambia County Legislative Delegation — Sen. Doug Broxson, State Rep. Alex Andrade and State Rep. Michelle Salzman.
In October 2023, Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. addressed the delegation, thanking them for millions in state funding that has gone to projects in Century, including a bridge replacement, wastewater treatment plant repairs and repairs to a failed water well serving the state prison.
Gomez did not ask for any additional funding in the 2024 state budget. Instead, Broxson told Gomez that the town may need to be unchartered and taken over by Escambia County due to an ongoing problem of low tax base and needs that are “very great”.
Broxson said he had been dealing with Century during 14 years in the legislature, and the town’s tax base is low while needs are “very great”.
$1.885 Million Last Year
The town and then-mayor Ben Boutwell asked the local legislative delegation to fund two projects, one of which was fully approved and the other half-funded.
The 2023-24 state budget included $1.885 million for replacement of the Freedom Road Bridge in Century and half the money needed to replace a failed town water well serving the Century Correctional Institution.
The funding included $1,257,000 to replace a Town of Century bridge on Freedom Road with no required local matching funds.
On January 29, 2020, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue. Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure. Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or had extreme deterioration.
The closure turned Freedom Road into a cul-de-sac with one way in and one way out for residents, including the Camellia Gardens apartment complex.
The 2023-24 budget included $628,500 to replace the Town of Century’s Well No. 3, which exclusively serves Century Correctional Institution, half of the $1.297 million that was requested.
After multiple problems, the well suffered a catastrophic failure during the summer of 2022 and no longer provided water to the prison for staff and inmates. A shaft shattered into a dozen or more pieces and fell to the bottom of the well.
Neither of the projects have been completed.
Scammers Targeting Owners Of Lost Pets, Claiming To Be Escambia Shelter
March 18, 2024
Scammers are targeting Escambia County residents with lost pets, claiming to be the county animal shelter and asking for money.
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare has received reports of fraudulent text and social media messages to the public from persons claiming to represent Animal Welfare staff. These messages are being targeted to citizens with lost pets, claiming their pet has been brought to the shelter and asking for money in order to retrieve the pet or asking for access to their virtual assistant devices.
“These messages are not legitimate and are not associated with Escambia County and the Department of Animal Welfare,” the county said.
Animal Welfare staff will never ask for funds to be sent digitally to redeem a pet or access to a personal item. Redemption fees will be calculated at the time of redemption and paid in person. A list of animal welfare service fees is available here.
If your pet is missing, check 24petconnect.com under your zip code and the “Escambia County Florida Animal Services” location. Please visit the shelter in person to identify your missing pet. The shelter is located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive and is open Monday-Friday, 12-5 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Baseball This Week: It’s Time For The 29th Annual Aggie Classic
March 18, 2024
It’s time for the 29th annual Aggie Classic.
There will be over a dozen teams from across playing at five different host sites in two counties this week, all hoping to take home the Aggie Classic championship.
At 7 p.m. each evening, the host Tate Aggies will host Yukon, Oklahoma, on Monday; Perry Oklahoma at Tuesday; and Blanchard, Oklahoma on Wednesday.
The complete schedule for Monday through Wednesday is above for the entire tournament, just click to enalrge.
Daily entry fee is $7, or a tournament pass is $25. Cash and Venmo accepted at the gate. Regular season passed will not be acepted.
The winners will advance to games on Thursday.
In the past decade, the Aggies claimed the title in 2016, 2019 and 2022. (The tourney was canceled in 2020 and 2021.) Last year, the Pace Patriots claimed the Aggie Classic crown.
We will have coverage this week on NorthEscambia.com.
Patchy Frost Possible Tonight; Temps Near Freezing
March 18, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy frost after 5am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 32. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: Patchy frost before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 46.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Traffic: Here’s Where To Expect Construction Delays This Week
March 18, 2024
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- State Road (S.R.) 196 (Bayfront Parkway) Maritime De Luna Youth Duathlon – Drivers will encounter a road closure from Tarragona Street to Salamanca Street Sunday, March 17 from 7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for the Maritime De Luna Youth Duathlon.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Northbound and southbound traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street. The shift will be in place through the spring as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed through fall 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane (S.R. 296) – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- The left turn lane from Pace Boulevard to Massachusetts Avenue is permanently closed. Signs are in place to direct drivers traveling on Palafox Street to Pace Boulevard.
- The left turn lane from Palafox Street northbound to Pace Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue is permanently closed. Signage is in place to direct drivers traveling northbound on U.S. 29 destined for Massachusetts Avenue or Pace Boulevard.
- Scenic Highway (U.S. 90), from north of Interstate 10 (I-10) to Davis Highway –Drivers on Scenic Highway, between I-10 and Davis Highway, may encounter nighttime alternating lane closures Sunday, March 17 through Thursday, March 21 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews mill and pave the roadway. Flaggers will be present to safely guide drivers through the work zone.
- S.R. 297 Turn Lane Operations near Mandeville Lane – Motorists will encounter alternating lane closures Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for turn lane operations.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of S.R. 281/Avalon Boulevard to east of S.R. 87/Stewart Street in Milton - Drivers may encounter right turn lane closures on U.S. 90 eastbound, between McDonalds and CVS, Sunday, March 17 through Thursday, March 21 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews widen the turn lanes.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.