Local Couple Attends Republican National Convention
September 4, 2012
At Atmore couple was among those representing Alabama at last week’s Republican National Convention in Tampa.
Jeff and Jodi Peacock were both alternative delegates for GOP nominee Mitt Romney.
Alabama delegates to the GOP Convention heard from breakfast meeting speakers that included former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, RNC chairman Reince Priebus, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, GOP campaign guru Karl Rove and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
Pictured top: Jeff and Jodi Peacock of Atmore at last week’s GOP Republican National Convention in Tampa. Pictured inset: Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks to the Alabama delegation in Tampa. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
John A. Robinson
September 4, 2012
John A. Robinson, 50, of Cantonment, beloved husband of Marcia, father of Johnathon and Cecilia, brother of Cathy and Jill Robinson and Mary Ann (Thomas) Boatright, brother-in-law of Rita (Robert) Lanquist, Reba (Tony) Silva, Tonia (Howard) Poltt, and Dean Collins, as well as many nieces and nephews, passed away suddenly early Sunday morning, September 2, 2012. John was employed at Ascend as a chemical operator and was a member of its fire department.
Services will be held at Faith Chapel North, Friday, September 7, at 12:30 p.m.
Visitation will be Thursday, September 6, from 5 -7 p.m., beginning with the Rosary at 5:00 p.m.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of the arrangements.
Geraldine Killam Campbell
September 4, 2012
Mrs. Geraldine Killam Campbell, 81, passed away on Monday, September 3, 2012, in Century.
Mrs. Campbell was a native and resident of Century and a former longtime resident of Bratt. She attended the Atmore Baptist Temple. Mrs. Campbell was a former employee of Vanity Fair and a Tupperware manager for years. She owned and operated New Beginnings Bible Book Store. She was a faithful Christian wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mrs. Campbell is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years Winfred “Peanut” Killam; son, Terry Killam; parents, Olen and Evelyn Gilley; brother, Donnie Gilley; two sweet babies; a granddaughter and a great granddaughter.
Survivors include her husband of seven years, Bruce Campbell of Century; one son, Gavin (Barbara) Killam of Birmingham; one stepson, Ronnie (Ann) Campbell and family of Tupelo, MS; two daughters, Gleda (Jerry) McElhaney of Bratt and Tara (Burton) Wiggins of Elberta; one daughter-in-law, Brenda Killam of Century; a sister, Dorothy (Billy) Johnson of Perdido, AL; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces andnephews.
Funeral services will be Thursday, September 6, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Doug Odom and Joe Lee officiating.
Burial will follow at the Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 5, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Chad Wiggins, Wesley Wiggins, Kyle Wiggins, Chris McElhaney, Dale Killam , Steven Knighten, Marvin Middleton and David Jurey.
Focus Now Turns To Democrats, Obama In Charlotte
September 4, 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As Democrats gather here this week to officially nominate President Barack Obama for a second term, their national convention is expected to have a strikingly different tone than last week’s Republican celebration.
In Tampa last week, GOP speakers and nominee Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, tried to use their nationally-broadcast platform to remind voters of the struggling economy and give them a reason to reverse course in hopes of turning things around.
By contrast, Democrats are expected to try to make the case that Republican policies were responsible for the financial crisis that sparked the Great Recession to begin with, and that Obama has things headed in the right direction and deserves a chance to see things through.
That case might already have been made more difficult when Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, told CBS’ Bob Schieffer this weekend that Americans weren’t better off than they were four years ago.
The convention is also expected to have less of a Florida feel than its Republican counterpart, in part because the GOP confab was held in Tampa and in part because there are fewer Democratic statewide elected officials than Republicans in Florida.
But Democrats will be keeping an eye on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, whose seat has turned into one of several the party hopes will allow it to hold onto its Senate majority. And former Gov. Charlie Crist, who bolted the Republican Party in 2010 and endorsed Obama in an op-ed piece in the Tampa Bay Times last week, is reportedly scheduled to address the convention.
State delegates are also expected to begin sizing up potential gubernatorial candidates for 2014, when Democrats hope Gov. Rick Scott’s dismal approval ratings will give them a chance to win the Governor’s Mansion for the first time since Lawton Chiles was elected in 1994.
Florida, however, will still be center stage. Republicans have conceded that a win for Romney in the electoral college becomes an almost impossible task if Obama carries Florida, and the president’s path to 270 electoral votes is also far easier with the state than without it.
That helps explain why Florida Republicans were chosen to deliver some of the more pointed criticisms of Obama from the podium in Tampa, criticisms that Obama will have to trump this week.
“Hope and change has become divide and conquer,” said U.S. Sen Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who was chosen to introduce Romney before his acceptance speech.
Perhaps ironically, the Obama campaign could try to focus more attention on the president’s foreign policy, a weak point when he ran against U.S. Sen John McCain, a Vietnam veteran, in 2008.
In his weekly address, Obama gave hints of how he might try to thread the needle between highlighting foreign policy achievements — the killing of Osama bin Laden, the end of the war in Iraq, the NATO operation that toppled Muammar Gaddhafi and the winding down of the war in Afghanistan — while projecting a forward-looking message about the next four years.
“As we turn the page on a decade of war, it’s time to do some nation-building here at home,” Obama said. “ … It’s time to build a nation that lives up to the ideals that so many Americans have fought for — a nation where they can realize the dream they sacrificed to protect.”
Still, the Obama campaign has signaled that it will not necessarily let up on its efforts to paint Romney as a political chameleon focused on helping the wealthy.
“The goal of our convention is to bring the choice in this election into sharp focus,” deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter said on a conference call last week.
But the campaign also hopes to make a potentially tricky case: That while even Democrats admit that the pace of the recovery is not as fast as it perhaps should be, Obama’s policies have paid off in helping to save the automobile industry and extend health care to millions of Americans.
“The country’s gone through a difficult period together, but we’ve made a difference,” said David Axelrod, one of the campaign’s chief strategists.
And Cutter noted that the 12 million jobs Romney promised to create in his speech to the convention matched the current Congressional Budget Office projections for job growth anyway.
“That wasn’t exactly bold leadership,” she said.
Blue Wahoos Fall 8-1 In Season Finale
September 4, 2012
Smokies catcher Anthony Recker drove home four runs, including a three-run blast to left in the seventh inning, as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to Tennessee 8-1 to close out their inaugural season in front of the 40th sellout crowd of the year on Monday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The Smokies finished the second half of the 2012 season with a 37-33 mark , while Pensacola ended their first season of Southern League play with a 34-35 record in the second half, as well s a 68-70 mark overall. The capacity crowd was the 40th hosted by the club this year in 68 home openings, while the Blue Wahoos will finish atop the Southern League in both total (328,147) and average attendance (4,825).
Tennessee plated the game’s first run in the third, taking advantage of a pair of Wahoos fielding miscues. Starting pitcher Austin Kirk reached on an error, and then moved to second on a single, before heading home on the second Pensacola error of the frame to go up 1-0.
The Smokies would then score a trio of tallies in the each of the sixth and seventh frames. CF Rubi Silva drove home two with his single to right, while 3B Matt Cerda capped the sixth inning rally with a run-scoring infielder single, push Tennessee’s advantage to four. After a Blue Wahoos run in the bottom of the frame, the Smokies answered back with Recker’s three-run blast to left.
Pensacola got their lone run in the sixth frame. SS Billy Hamilton led off with a single and moved to second and third on walks, before coming plateward on 2B Brodie Greene’s RBI single to center. Hamilton was held without a steal in the contest, which puts the new single-season steals record at 155 for Hamilton. Before the contest, Hamilton signed both bases he stole to tie and break the previous record set by Vince Coleman, while also accepting his California League Most Valuable Player Award.
Recker (2-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI) and Cerda (2-5, 1 RBI) collected two hits in the contest for Tennessee, while Greene led the Wahoos with three base knocks, in addition to multi-hit efforts from Hamilton (2-4, 1 R) and RF Josh Fellhauer (2-4, 1 2B). Fellhauer finishes the season with a .314 batting average, which puts him in contention for the Southern League batting title, pending how Mississippi OF Todd Cunningham and Montgomery INF Omar Luna fare later tonight.
Blue Wahoos starter Wirfin Obispo (4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss despite yielding just one run, which was unearned on just two hits in four innings of work. Tennessee LHP Austin Kirk (5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) earned the victory after giving up the lone earned run on just four hits in his 5.2 frames.
After finishing the year against the Smokies, Pensacola is slated to begin the 2013 campaign at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on Thursday, April 4 against Tennessee for a five-game series.
By Andrew Green
Euenn Fletcher Hayes
September 4, 2012
Euenn Fletcher Hayes, age 74 passed away on Friday, August 31,2012, at his home in Milton. He was a lifelong resident of Jay. He was in the Army National Guard and retired after 33 years from American Cyanamid. He was a member of Mt. Carmel Methodist Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and traveling and most of all spending time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his father, C.E. Hayes, mother; Lela Jane Hayes; sisters, Era Dean Woodfin and Rubye Butler; brothers; Jesse Hayes, Donald Hayes and Ralph Hayes.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Florence Chunn Hayes; daughters, Lisa Compango (Ed) and Kelly Pace (Jeremy); grandchildren Erin Willhoite, Tricia Compagno, Grant & Reid Pace’; sisters, Margaret Ann Hayes, Mary Frances Hendricks (James), Robert Hayes (Cecilia) and Roger Hayes (Debbie); brothers-in-law, Charles Butler and Charles Chunn; sisters-in-law, Glenda Hayes, Marilyn Hayes and Eloise Teeter (Ken); and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held Monday, September 3, 2012, at Mt. Carmel Methodist Church with Pastors Lennie Howard & David Byrd officiating services.
Active Pallbearers are his nephews; Kyle Hayes, Brent Hendricks, Ralph Hayes II, Tommy Woodfin, Oliver Woodfin, Chuck Butler and Jerry Hayes.
Jay Funeral home is in charge of arrangements.
Frank Richard “Rick” Hunt
September 4, 2012
Frank Richard “Rick” Hunt, age 55 of Atmore, passed away Friday, August 31, 2012, in Pensacola. He worked in radio and was known as “Rick Williams”. He was born in
Pensacola on December 10, 1956, to the late Paul Mitchell and Alneta Byrd Hunt, Sr.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Delois Hall Hunt.
Survivors are one son, Richard Paul Hunt; two brothers, Paul Mitchell Hunt, Jr., Terry Hunt; one sister, Sheila Hunt Mock,all of Atmore; two nephews, Mitchell Hunt and Jeffrey Hunt; and niece, Rachel Cook, all of Florida.
Graveside Services will be Wednesday September 8, 2012, at noon in Pine Barren Baptist Church Cemetery with military Honors. Minister Wanda Hadley officiating.
Family will receive friends Wednesday September 8, 2012, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Onelia Pugh Fredrickson
September 4, 2012
Onelia Pugh Fredrickson, 90, died peacefully on Saturday, September 1, 2012, in Pensacola. She was born in Molino on April 14, 1922, and lived most of her life in the Pensacola area, an active and vibrant member of her community. She retired from Monsanto in 1985 after nearly 30 years of service.
Onelia had many talents including painting, ceramics, flower-arranging and cooking. Her greatest talent was that of helping others, family and friends and even those she did not know personally. Her Christian faith was unwavering and unchanging; she was committed to the original doctrines of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and has been a member of the Pensacola Restoration Branch for many years.
Onelia is survived by her four children: Warren Boughton, Sr., Tim Pasquarelli (Diane), Carmen Paroby and Henry Fredrickson (Cathy); eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; her sister and brother-in-law, Allene and Alton Gilmore, her brother McGlaun Pugh and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Walter and Margaret Pugh, brother, Thomas Walter “Pat” Pugh and sister Marguerite Medley.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Rose Lawn Funeral home in Gulf Breeze. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the service hour. The service will be officiated by Onelia’s nephew, Elder Dale Gilmore, with assistance from Chaplain Dan Hamel. Interment will follow at Eastern Gate Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff of Homestead Village for caring gently for Onelia and to Hospice for the loving kindness shown to her in her last hours on this earth. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Covenant Hospice, 5041 N. 12th Avenue Pensacola, FL 32504.
Arrangements entrusted to Rose Lawn Funeral Home of Gulf Breeze.
Overnight House Fire In Byrneville May Have Been Arson
September 3, 2012
An early morning house fire Monday in Byrneville may have been the work of an arsonist.
Authorities are calling the fire in the 1200 block of Tedder Road suspicious, and it is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The residents had been away for several hours. When they returned to their two story home about 1 a.m., they found it full of smoke and called 911. When firefighters arrived, they found that a living room couch had been on fire and had been extinguished, and someone had tried to start a second fire in closet.
The home suffered heavy smoke damage throughout. Five people, two adults and three children, were left temporally homeless by the blaze.
The incident remains under investigation by the fire marshal and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Further details have not been released.
The Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton FIre Department and Escambia County EMS also responded to the blaze.
Seven Horses Seized, One Man Charged With Animal Cruelty
September 3, 2012
An Escambia County man is facing multiple animal cruelty charges after seven horses were seized by authorities.
The horses were seized by Escambia County Animal Control and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Bellview last month due to poor conditions, part of an animal abuse case that dates back to 2005.
Samuel Calvin Reuben, 78, was issued a criminal summons for two counts each of unlawful confinement or abandonment of animals and tormenting or depriving animals, according to Escambia County Clerk of the Court records. He is due to make his first court appearance on Thursday.
In 2005, animals on Reuben’s property, including horses, cows and goats, had to be removed and relocated until the property dried out and dangerous debris was removed, according to Diane Lowery, president of Panhandle Equine Rescue, a Cantonment non-profit group that serves as the court system’s equine cruelty investigative arm.
“After a couple of years, the horses were brought back to the property, only to have the conditions deteriorate once again. Finally, all of the horses were seized and taken to a safe and dry location. This time, it was worse than before,” Lowery said.
“They were very thin and standing in deep manure and muck. With all the rain we had, the property was flooded once again and four mares struggled through the mud not being able to find a dry spot,” she said.
The seized horses are now in the custody of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office awaiting a decision by the court.
Pictured: Seven horses were seized by Escambia County Animal Control and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office due to poor living conditions and malnourishment. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.