Local Pearl Harbor Survivor Celebrates 100th Birthday
May 22, 2018
Francis “Frank” Emond of Cantonment turned 100 on Monday, celebrating with a party at Naval Hospital Pensacola where he volunteers.
The Navy veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor greets visitors, answers the phone at the Quarterdeck and pushes patients in wheelchairs who need assistance. He has been a Red Cross volunteer for over 16 years and enjoys the interaction with patients and staff.
Originally from Rhode Island, Emond enlisted in the Navy in 1938 as a musician. He played the French horn for the ship’s band and even got to perform at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York before he was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) in Hawaii in the summer of 1941. The day before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Emond and fellow Navy musicians played at a dance and band contest. His band won the contest against other bands from the USS California (BB-44) and USS Arizona (BB-39). His band later donated the trophy they won in memory to the men from the Arizona. As the sun rose on Dec. 7, 1941, Emond was preparing for morning colors and the raising of the American flag.
That’s when Emond noticed the hundreds of Japanese planes that filled the sky followed by the sound of a torpedo striking a ship docked behind his battleship. In addition to being a musician, Emond was trained as a stretcher bearer and with the general alarm sounding amongst the sound of gunfire and explosions; he began retrieving injured and dead Sailors aboard the Pennsylvania.
Following the war, Emond remained in the Navy until he retired in 1968 in Pensacola. He is currently married and has two sons, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His 100-year-old brother still lives in Rhode Island.
“It’s important for everyone to give something,” said Emond when asked why he still volunteers at Naval Hospital Pensacola, “and time is something that everyone can give. It’s an important gift.”
Emond is a popular volunteer at Naval Hospital Pensacola, though not everyone knows his history. He is popular for the enthusiasm he brings to the hospital and the help he provides to patients and staff.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Receives $700K Grant For Housing Improvements
May 22, 2018
The Town of Century has received a $700,000 Community Development Block Grant to provide better housing for up to 10 local families.
With the approval, each family’s application will be completed and survey and site inspections will begin.
The top 10 applicants were:
Mary Griggs — 9421 Old Flomaton Road
Ada Mitchell — 181 Zion Street
Carrie Watkins — 190 Henry Street
Leonard & Rosie Howell — 111 W. Cottage Street
Carl & Jewel Hammonds — 231 Hudson Hill Road
Aubrey & Rosie Odom — 4661 Highway 4-A
Patricia Ewing — 231 East Street
Idanier Bradley — 30 West Highway 4
Ernie Dupue — 8 Maple Street
Paul Thompson — 30 Hobbs Road
Funding is not guaranteed for every applicant. Each application will be reviewed in the order listed above, and funding is dependent on the funds available and the applicants eligibility.
Pictured: Homes set for rehabilitation or replacement by the Town of Century include: 9421 Old Flomaton Road (top), 190 Henry Street (below) and 111 West Cottage Street (bottom). Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Students Enjoy End Of The Year Bash At Splash Pad
May 22, 2018
Byrneville Elementary School second and third graders were treated to an “End of the Year Bash” Monday at the Century Splash Pad at Showalter Park. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Sentenced For Heroin Death
May 22, 2018
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to life in prison for the death of a man that died from heroin use.
A jury convicted James Jonathan Mitchell, 54, of homicide by delivery of heroin.
Circuit Judge John Simon immediately sentenced Mitchell to a mandatory term of life in state prison. The sentence will be served consecutive to a separate 25 year sentence Mitchell is serving for trafficking in heroin from 2015. There is no parole in Florida so Mitchell will be required to serve the rest of his life in state prison.
Over the two-day trial, prosecutors presented witness testimony that on January 30, 2014, Mitchell sold black tar heroin to the victim Donald Davis, and a group of others. Davis’ wife found him deceased at their home later that evening. Two medical doctors presented testimony that heroin caused Davis’ death.
White Awarded Gandy Memorial Scholarship
May 22, 2018
Zachary Hunter White has been named the winner of this year’s Solon Lee Gandy Memorial Scholarship.
With a 3.0 GPA at Flomaton High School, White has played several years of baseball and football. He is active with the Flomaton Volunteer Fire Department and Friendship Freewill Baptist Church. He has also served as a Jr. Commander with the Royal Rangers Youth Group.
“Of all of the applicants, Hunter White’s essay really stood out,” said Committee Member Brenda Godwin, who is also Solon Gandy’s mother. “At the age of 17, he had a life-changing experience. Because of an accident with a large firework, Hunter was left with only his pinky finger and the palm of his right hand. This was also his dominant hand.”
“According to his essay, he has had to change his plans enlisting early in the Air Force, but he has mastered learning how to throw a baseball, with only his pinky and palm. He also had to figure out a way to swing the bat,” she said.
The Solon Lee Gandy Memorial Scholarship was established in 2008 in memory of Solon Gandy, a 1990 Flomaton High School graduate. Solon was a member of the 1988 Flomaton High School state baseball championship team and was a four-year member of the Hurricane football team. The scholarship was established to help foster the love of nature and sports in a deserving Flomaton and /or a Jay senior. The scholarship was started by Solon’s father, coach Bill Gandy, who passed away of cancer in 2015. Hunter White is the 20th recipient of the scholarship.
ECSO Beats U.S. Navy In ‘Boots Vs. Badges Challenge’ In Molino
May 22, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office beat the U.S. Navy in the Escambia County 4-H Council’s Boots Vs. Badges Challenge at the 4-H property Molino.
The teams competed in an obstacle course challenge. The event also featured an obstacle course for the public, kids activities, vendors, a car show and more.
The event benefited Gulf Coast Kids House.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Holding Local Career Fair
May 22, 2018
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking to hire troopers.
The FHP will hold a career fair on Thursday at the FHP Pensacola Station at 150 Stumpfield Road from 3-6 p.m.
The minimum qualifications are:
- United States citizen
- High School graduate or equivalent
- Minimum of 19 years old at time of application (no maximum age restriction)
- Valid driver’s license
- One of the following – one year of law enforcement experience (sworn or non-sworn); two years of public contact experience; two years of active continuous U.S. military service with an honorable discharge; completed 30 semester or 45-quarter hours of college credit from an accredited college or university.
Jackson Generals Beat The Blue Wahoos 5-0
May 22, 2018
The Jackson Generals put on an offensive showcase against the Blue Wahoos in Monday night’s game to complete the series sweep at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The game was called after the top of the eighth as the rain began coming down, which gave the Generals a 5-0 win.
Starting pitcher Wyatt Strahan (L 4-3) got off to a shaky start. The right-hander allowed a two-run double to Rudy Flores that gave the Generals an early 2-0 lead. His pitching woes continued as Kevin Madrano singled home two, which doubled the Generals lead to 4-0 after two innings. However, he finished strong and did not allow a run over his final three innings.
Arizona Diamondbacks top prospect Jon Duplantier (W 3-1), pitched six shutout innings and allowed just one infield single on the night. The Wahoos were unable to solve Duplantier and the Generals starter did not allow a runner in scoring position all night. Yuhei Nakaushiro pitched a scoreless inning in the seventh inning before the game was called. Jackson’s win handed Pensacola its first five-game sweep since May 3-7 at the hands of Chattanooga.
The Wahoos will have an off day Tuesday before continuing the homestand with a five-game series against the Tennessee Smokies starting Wednesday night. Right-handed pitcher Daniel Wright (2-2, 4.63) will start for the Wahoos against Tennessee right-hander Trevor Clifton (3-3, 3.83).
Gulf Power To Be Sold In Multi-Billion Dollar Deal
May 21, 2018
In a major move in the state’s utility industry, the parent company of Florida Power & Light said Monday it will buy Northwest Florida’s Gulf Power as part of a $6.475 billion deal.
NextEra Energy Inc. plans to buy Gulf Power, the Florida City Gas natural-gas company and ownership interests in two power plants from The Southern Company. The purchase of Gulf Power and the stakes in the power plants, which are subject to federal approval, are expected to close during the first half of 2019, while the Florida City Gas purchase is slated for the third quarter of 2018, according to a NextEra Energy announcement.
The deal would expand NextEra Energy’s already-massive footprint in the state. Its Florida Power & Light subsidiary is by far the largest electric utility in Florida, serving nearly 5 million customers. Gulf Power, with about 450,000 customers in eight counties, is the largest utility in the Panhandle.
Florida City Gas has about 110,000 residential and commercial natural-gas customers in Miami-Dade, Brevard, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. NextEra said it will buy a 100 percent ownership interest in a power plant near Cocoa known as Plant Oleander, which has contracts to sell electricity to the Florida Municipal Power Agency and Seminole Electric Cooperative. It also will buy a 65 percent stake in a plant near Orlando known as the Stanton Energy Center, which has contracts with the Orlando Utilities Commission and the Florida Municipal Power Agency.
“These transactions will provide meaningful benefits for the state of Florida, and Gulf Power and Florida City Gas customers, as well as NextEra Energy shareholders,” Jim Robo, chairman and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy, said in a prepared statement. “Importantly, these transactions are consistent with our long-standing, disciplined approach of maintaining the strength of our balance sheet and credit ratings, both of which are among the strongest in the industry.”
NextEra Energy plans to finance the deal through the issuance of new debt, according to the announcement. The $6.475 billion total includes NextEra Energy assuming $1.4 billion of Gulf Power debt.
Subsidiaries of The Southern Company, which is based in Atlanta, operate in numerous states. In addition to Gulf Power, the subsidiaries include Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power. The Florida Public Service Commission last year approved a settlement agreement that set base rates for Gulf Power.
In the announcement, NextEra Energy said that with the addition of Gulf Power, Florida City Gas and the power plants, the Juno Beach-based company “will be even better positioned to generate long-term shareholder value through a more robust financial profile, greater scale and an expanded platform for growth.”
by Jim Saunders The News Service of Florida
Driver Rolls Vehicle
May 21, 2018
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Sunday night.
The accident happened about 9:45 p.m. on Highway 95A at East Roberts Road when the driver of GMC Yukon lost control and overturned into the Wayne Frier Home Center lot. The driver’s injuries were not considered life threatening.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
