Five Arrested On Drug Charges In Atmore
July 24, 2024
Five Atmore residents were arrested on drug charges.
Just before 7 p.m. on Monday, an Atmore Police Department officer was oun routine patrol when he observed a vehicle turn partially into a driveway on Sims Street and the driver flee from on foot.
The officer had not made any effort to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle nor was intending on stopping the vehicle, Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said. “The officer approached the vehicle and detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.”
The officer conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and discovered over 80 grams of synthetic cannabis (spice), a small amount of marijuana and numerous plastic baggies, McMann said.
The driver was later identified as Kendrick Bivins, age 22, of Atmore.
A few hours later, Atmore Police Department narcotics investigators assisted by the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office attempted to locate Bivins at a residence on Fisher Lane.
When the officers arrived at the residence, they observed three people flee from the residence through the back door. The three subjects were detained and identified as Tondrae Forney, age 21 of Atmore, Layton Frye, age 20 of Atmore, and Kendrick Bivins.
The officers then contacted and detained Kendarrius Bivins, age 21 of Atmore and Lea Odom, age 19 of Atmore, when the officers requested anyone inside the residence to come out. The officers obtained a search warrant for the residence due to the odor of marijuana coming from inside the residence.
Upon executing the search warrant the officers discovered over 50 grams of marijuana, numerous plastic baggies used to package narcotics, and digital scales, McMann said.
Forney, and Frye were charged with possession of marijuana first degree, possession of drug paraphernalia, and attempting to elude a police officer. Kendarrius Bivins and Odom were charged with possession of marijuana first degree and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kendrick Bivins was charged with drug trafficking, possession of marijuana first degree, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of attempting to elude
a police officer.
They were transported to the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.
Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Designated As Only Level One Trauma Center In Panhandle
July 24, 2024
Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola has been designated by the Florida Department of Health as the sole provider of Level 1 trauma care in the Florida Panhandle.
“With this designation, we join an elite group of only 11 Florida hospitals offering Level I trauma care,” Ascension said in a release. “We are also the only hospital in the nation to serve as a Level I trauma center for both Florida and Alabama.”
Level I trauma centers offer nearly every surgical and medical specialty at all times to meet the needs of the most complex injuries. Sacred Heart Pensacola’s ER is equipped to provide comprehensive care for all injury-related needs across all ages, from prevention to rehabilitation.
The hospital’s Level I trauma center includes 24-hour, in-house board-certified surgeons and anesthesiologists, over 10 specialty care teams on site and immediately available 24/7, and two neurosurgeons on call 24/7.
“This latest designation was made possible by the unwavering dedication of our trauma team members, who consistently go above and beyond to care for critically injured patients and their families with the highest level of skill, compassion and commitment,” Ascension said.
Ascension Sacred Heart has build two freestanding ERs within the last six years on Nine Mile Road and in Navarre.
“These ERs allow for rapid continuity of care between those communities and the hospital’s main campus, highlighting our commitment to meeting the needs of our communities across Northwest Florida,” the healthy system said.
Highland Baptist Holding Molino Community Back To School Bash Today
July 24, 2024
Highland Baptist Church in Molino will host the Molino Community Back to School Bash Wednesday evening.
There will be a school supply giveaway, snacks, lawn games and haircuts.
The event will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. on the lawn of the “Highland House” next door to the church at 6240 North Highway 95A.
Scattered Storms Likely Again Today
July 24, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms. Humid with highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the evening. Humid with lows in the lower 70s. South winds around 5 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Humid with highs in the upper 80s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Humid with lows in the lower 70s. South winds around 5 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Friday: Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 60 percent.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 60 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Sunday: Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 70 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the evening. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Monday: Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 70 percent. Heat index values up to 105.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Tate Aggies Volleyball Attends Florida Gators Camp
July 24, 2024
The Tate High School volleyball team recently attended a volleyball camp with the University of Florida Gators in Gainesville. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Seize Big Inning, Sink Shuckers To End Four-Game Slide
July 24, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos shook off recent struggles to begin a new week in a big way.
Taking advantage of erratic pitching, the Blue Wahoos seized the game with a five-run fourth inning and cruised to an 8-4 win Tuesday night against the Biloxi Shuckers to open their week-long homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium with a good feeling.
The Blue Wahoos led 8-0 into the ninth. They broke open the game in the fifth by scoring their first three runs without putting a ball in play to score. It was a welcome boost to end a four-game losing streak that began with a loss July 14 before the All-Star Break.
“We tried to flush last week as much as possible,” said right fielder Shane Sasaki, who reached base three times and helped to ignite the five-run rally. “Starting off this week with a win is good for the clubhouse. The vibes are always high when we win.
“We still stick together when we lose, but it’s a lot easier to carry that momentum, getting that first win out of the way… And it we just look forward to the next game.”
The Blue Wahoos got the first run in the third inning when Jakob Marsee produced a one-out double, then stole third and scored on throwing error.
In the fifth, they erupted against starter Jacob Misiorowski, the Milwaukee Brewers’ No. 2 prospect, who has faced the Blue Wahoos five previous times this season.
After Nathan Martorella led off the fifth with a single and Sasaki walked, Misiorowski went awry with pitch command. With one out and the bases loaded, he plunked Marsee to force in the second run, then gave up a wild pitch to score another run and walked in a third run. Paul McIntosh and Jacob Berry then followed with RBI singles before a double play ended the inning.
“When things aren’t going your way, it is really tough to scratch runs,” said Sasaki, who returned to the Blue Wahoos last Friday after missing 62 games with an injury.
“And I know everybody in the lineup was really focused on manufacturing runs somehow,” he said. “We don’t need that one big hit sometimes and just like (Tuesday) we stayed ready, tough at-bats and good things happen from that.”
Good things have happened to the Blue Wahoos (50-40 overall, 12-10 in second half) this season when facing Biloxi. This was their 13th win against the Shuckers (44-44, 14-7), who entered this week with the best second-half record in the league.
McIntosh smashed a two-run homer in the sixth inning, his eighth of the year, that enabled him to tie Griffin Conine for most runs scored (125) in Blue Wahoos franchise history.
The Shuckers got four runs in the ninth off Anderson Pilar before he ended the game and the team could enjoy their first home win since July 3, when they beat Montgomery to win that shortened home series before a 16-day gap between home games.
GAME NOTABLES
— This week’s series is the final meeting between these teams in 2024. The Blue Wahoos are now 13-5 against the Shuckers this season, including 6-1 at home… This year, the Blue Wahoos play the Shuckers less times than other division foes Montgomery and the Mississippi Braves.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Wednesday, 6:05 p.m.
Lura Mae Thomas
July 24, 2024
Lura Mae Thomas, 91, of Cantonment, Florida, passed away on July 21, 2024. She is now at peace and resting in the arms of her Savior.
Lura was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on June 21, 1933, to Robert Nathan Thompson and Grace Seale Thompson.
Lura lived life to the fullest. She loved bling, red and gaudy jewelry. She loved people and always wanted those around her to be happy and have a good time.
She loved her church families. For years she served as the door greeter at Harvest Christian Center and in recent years was the greeter at Calvary Way Full Gospel Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents Robert and Grace Thompson, husband Malcolm Thomas Sr; her brother Robert Thompson Jr; her sister Elsie Haddox; two of her sons Jackie Thomas and Robert Otis Thomas.
She is survived by sons Malcolm Thomas (Sandra); and John Thomas (Lois). 8 grandchildren: Rhonda Fleming (Durward), Rebekah Shamburger (Jeremy); Jackie Thomas Jr (Rachel), Laura White (Lee), Tara Johns (James), Robert Thomas Jr (Collyn), Nathan Thomas (Crystal), Charles Thomas (Christina). 19 great grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Jackie Thomas Jr, Robert Thomas Jr, Nathan Thomas, Charles Thomas, Durward Fleming and Jeremy Shamburger.
Visitation will be at 10:00am to 11:00am Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Harvest Christian Center in Cantonment, Florida. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am. Officiating will be Pastor John Whitaker.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
John Franklin “Johnny” Lord
July 24, 2024
Mr. John Franklin “Johnny” Lord, age 83, passed away, Wednesday, July 17, 2024 in Atmore, AL. He was born in Uriah, AL; and later in life moved to Garfield, KY; before moving to Atmore, AL; the past 3 years. He worked in the oil field for many years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge (Kentucky) and Friendly Holiness Church.
Mr. Lord enjoyed spending time with his family and attending church at Friendly Holiness Church. Fishing was a favorite thing to do, along with singing and playing his guitar. Eating out with family and friends, being able to watch westerns and Gospel television was also favorites of his to do. Alabama football was always a special time of the year, he was member of the Masonic Lodge as well.
Preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Franklin (Hattie Mae Brooks) Lord; wife, Glenda Lord; one son, Rodney Lane Lord, one daughter, Tammy Annette Blackwell; three brothers, Robert Edward Lord; Thomas Eugene Lord; Roger Lord; and three sisters, Gloria Almeda Lord; Lillie Mae Harris, and Ella Mae Boyette.
He is survived by his two sons, John Daniel Lord, of Birmingham, AL; Vince Edward Lord, of Birmingham, AL; one daughter, Lorie (James) Mims, of Birmingham, AL; one brother, Mason Lord, of Pineville, KY; three sisters, Irene Lord, of Atmore, AL; Mary Elizabeth Harris, of Milton, FL; Glenda Diane Kennington-Arrington, of Milton, FL; nine grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
Funeral service will be held Monday, July 22, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. with Rev. Ray Ward and Rev. Greg Harris officiating.
Burial will follow at Semirah Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, July 22, 2024 from 10:00 AM until service time at 11:00 AM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes.
Pallbearers will be Larry McDuffie, Adam Hadley, Eric McDuffie, Tony Embley, Thomas Godwin and Randal Ward.
William Ray Jones
July 24, 2024
The funeral service for William Ray Jones will be at noon, Friday, July 26, 2024, at Monticello (MS) Baptist Church, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Riverwood Family is handling arrangements.
On July 23, William Ray Jones (Billy Ray), the loving husband of 71 years and father of two children, passed away at the age of 95. Billy Ray was born Nov. 11, 1928, to Elige Jones and Glovie Harger Jones, of Piave, Miss. He graduated from Century High School in Century, Fla., in June 1947. He then volunteered for 18 months of active duty in the United States Army. After separation from the military, Billy Ray went to work for St. Regis Paper Company in Cantonment, Fla., and then continued his education in accounting by attending night classes at Pensacola Junior College.
Billy Ray’s work was interrupted by the Korean War, when he was recalled to active duty in September 1950 and was assigned to the 101st Signal Battalion at Fort Gordon, Ga. He departed Fort Gordon for Korea in January 1951, with a temporary stop in Japan for training in the latest communications changes needed for Korean operations. Billy Ray then served in Korea starting in April 1951 until November of that same year. He was awarded three medals for his service in Korea – the Korean Service W/2 Battle Star, Japan Occupation, and the United Nations Korean Service Medal.
In 1952, Billy Ray married Marjorie Pierce and later that year, both of them made the greatest decision of their life by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
After returning to his job with St. Regis Paper Company, he received several promotions before transferring to the new Ferguson Mill being built at Monticello in June 1967 to help establish instructions and procedures for new employees. A few years later, Billy Ray was promoted to accounting assistant plant controller, a job he held until retirement in June 1988. He was credited with 40 years of total service with the company.
Billy Ray was involved with many other activities during his working years and retirement. He always wanted to do things to help other people. Beginning with his church work, he was a Sunday school teacher for ages 1 through high school. He served as deacon at First Baptist Church in Cantonment, Fla., and at Monticello Baptist in Monticello. He was a church treasurer and also served on many other special committees, including the new church building and later the annex building at Monticello. After retirement, he participated with a local group that built six Habitat for Humanity houses in Lawrence County. One of Billy Ray’s treasured activities was his dedicated work in Scouting. He earned his Eagle Award (Scouting’s highest rank) in 1945 and worked very closely with Scout troops in Cantonment and at Monticello. He was scoutmaster for the Monticello Troop for several years, taking time for summer camps, canoe trips, and camporees with the local troop. Several scouts under Billy Ray’s guidance earned their Eagle awards during his time as scoutmaster. Billy Ray also enjoyed spending time working with the Historical Society in his hometown of Century, Fla., building a model replica of the town for the local museum.
Survivors are his daughter, Nancy Christian, and son, Tim Jones. He was the proud grandfather of Jennifer Crosby (Randy), Drew Jones (Rina), Reed Jones (Kaitlin), and Rachel Jones; and great-grandfather of LynnLee Crosby and Maya and Mirela Jones.
Billy Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie; his parents; sisters, Voncylle Ritchie and Margaret Lambeth; and brothers, Ken Jones and Elige Jones.
Motorcyclist Critical After Jacks Branch Road Crash
July 23, 2024
A motorcyclist was serious injured in a crash on Jacks Branch Road Tuesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 66-year-old Pensacola man was northbound on Jacks Branch Road when he lost control of his motorcycle. The motorcycle left the roadway to the right before the rider overcorrected and travel back onto the roadway “where the driver was unseated when (the motorcycle) fell onto its side”, the report stated.
The rider was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in critical condition.