‘Music On Main’ Featured Live Music And Shopping
November 16, 2018
Residents from across the area attended “Music on Main” in downtown Atmore Thursday evening. The event featured musical artists performing inside businesses in the downtown district. Pictured top: Lacey Garner performs at The Yellow Garden. Below: Justin Wall at Your Little Pink Boutique and Chris Hergenroder at Carl’s/Tot Shop. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Preston Farish Solomon
November 16, 2018
Mr. Preston Farish Solomon, age 88, passed away on Friday, November 16, 2018 in Pensacola, Florida.
Mr. Solomon was a native and life long resident of Walnut Hill, FL. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict serving with the US Army, where he received a Purple Heart, the Bronze Star V Device and numerous battlefield accommodations. He was a retired farmer and former employee at St. Regis Paper Co. He was a Freemason and a member of the Century Masonic Lodge, member of the Purple Heart Association, former director of Escambia River Electric and member of the Walnut Hill Baptist Church. He attended the Annie Jones United Methodist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bartow and Jodie Solomon; sister, Juanita Solomon Pacetti; brother, Bartow Solomon, Jr.; and granddaughter, Mattie Elizabeth Solomon.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patricia Solomon of Walnut Hill, FL; one daughter, Amelia Solomon (Randy) Frahm of Rockwood, TN; two sons, John Preston (Stephanie) Solomon of Walnut Hill, FL and Joseph Michael (Denise) Solomon of Markham, TX; and five grandchildren, Tabitha Frahm, Jordan Frahm, John Preston Solomon, Makenna Solomon Krenek and Levi Godwin Solomon.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 10:30 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Lee Bateman officiating.
Burial will follow at the Walnut Hill Baptist Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, November 19, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC in charge of all arrangements, Atmore, Alabama.
Rachel M. Stokes
November 16, 2018
Mrs. Rachel M. Stokes, age 83, a resident of LaFayette, Indiana formerly of Oak Grove, Florida went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2018. Mrs. Stokes was born June 23, 1935.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, November 17, 2018, at Jay Chapel ( 3853 Hwy. 4 Jay, Florida 32565). The family will receive friends at Jay Chapel on hour prior to services. Brother James Jones will officiate.
Mrs. Rachel Stokes is survived by her son, Bobby Mixon, and daughter-in-law, Sue Mixon of LaFayette, Indiana; one granddaughter, Connie Mixon and her husband, Matthew Brook; and three great-grandchildren, Taylor Brook, Kylie Adams (Austin Adams), and Gracen Brook. Mrs. Stokes was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Katie Stokes and a brother, Clarence Stokes. Mrs. Stokes was an active member of the Apostolic Tabernacle in LaFayette, Indiana. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be greatly missed. The family is grateful for the love, prayers, and support of family and friends; also her church family and the care she received from the many staff members of Milner Community Health Care of Rossville, Indiana.
Kent Baker with Jay Chapel and Keahey Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
ECSO: Cantonment Man Attacks Wife After She Cooks The Wrong Dinner
November 15, 2018
A Cantonment man is facing felony charges for allegedly attacking his wife after she cooked the wrong meal.
Brian Sherrard Baker, 31, was charged with battery by strangulation, false imprisonment and battery.
The victim told deputies that she got into a verbal altercation with Baker over her cooking the wrong type of food for dinner before he threw the food on top of her head, kicked her onto the ground and started choking her, according to an arrest report. She said he punched her multiple times and choked her so hard she could not breathe.
Baker allegedly would not let her leave home, shoving her onto the floor and holding her down with his foot on her head. He later shoved her against a counter, inflicting pressure on a recent surgical site, the report states. He also allegedly grabbed her around the throat, shoved her against a wall and threw a remote control at her head during an argument involving an internet provider.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report states the victim suffered multiple injuries.
Baker told deputies that the couple had an argument, but no physical altercation took place. The responding deputy noted visible markings and bruises on Baker’s arms.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
The arrest report does not specify what food items were in the meal that led to the couple’s initial argument.
Escambia Completes Vote Recount With Little Change
November 15, 2018
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections has completed a machine recount of three statewide races — U.S. Senate, governor and commissioner of agriculture.
In the Senate race, Republican Rick Scott gained three votes in Escambia County, and Democratic Bill Nelson lost two votes. In the race for governor, Ron DeSantis gained one vote, while Democrat Andrew Gillum’s total remained the same. In the race for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Republican Matt Caldwell and Democrat Nikki Fried each gained one vote in Escambia County.
In the event the Secretary of State orders a manual recount, the Escambia County Canvassing Board will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Friday at the Supervisor of Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place. If more time is needed, the canvassing board will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. All meetings are open to the public.
Pictured: The final day of recounting Wednesday at the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Fire Rescue Urges Household Heating Safety
November 15, 2018
Escambia County Fire Rescue is urging residents to use caution when heating your home.
Tips from Escambia Fire Rescue’s include:
Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heat sources.
Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn off when leaving a room or sleeping.
Never plug a space heater into an extension cord.
Never use a cooking stove to heat your home or dry clothes.
Place heaters on level, flat surfaces on the ground.
Have a qualified service professional inspect your heating system annually.
Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms.
Never use a space heater or any appliance with a damaged cord.
Click graphic to enlarge.
Atmore Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Child
November 15, 2018
An Atmore man has been charged with sexually abusing a child.
Lenson Lee Bethea, 54, was charged with sexual abuse of a child less than 12-years old and enticing a child for immoral purposes. He remains in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
On September 19, the Atmore Police Department Investigative Division received a report that a minor child had been sexually abused within in the city limits of Atmore.
Upon completion of the initial interview with the parent and the initial written report the Department of Human Resources was contacted. DHR initiated their investigation and contacted Child Advocacy to conduct an interview with the child.
DHR and the Atmore Police Department are continuing their investigation.
Florida Second Round Football Playoff Tickets Available Online
November 15, 2018
FHSAA playoff tickets are on sale for second round football games through GoFan, the official ticketing partner of the FHSAA.
Tickets are $8 each, the same as the gate price. A convenience fee is added to each online purchase.
Games listed below are mobile tickets only; a smartphone is required. Mobile ticketing allows fans to use their mobile device as their game ticket, providing a faster and more convenient entry.
Class 1A – Region 1
Class 6A – Region 1
Class 3A – Region 1
Sunny And Cold Today, Freeze Warning Tonight
November 15, 2018
There is a freeze warning tonight for all but the immediate coast.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Widespread frost after midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday: Widespread frost before 7am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 59. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 37. Calm wind.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Gaetz, Democratic Ally Back Veterans’ Marijuana Bills
November 15, 2018
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and a Massachusetts Democrat on Wednesday introduced a package of legislation to change the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical marijuana practices in an attempt to make cannabis a more realistic treatment option for veterans.
Gaetz, a Northwest Florida Republican, joined with U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., to prepare three bills that seek to learn more about how veterans use cannabis, to prepare better medical-marijuana education for providers and to protect the benefits of veterans who use marijuana.
“Our veterans are seeking alternative options to opioids and we should be supporting their desires not to be addicted to painkillers. Let’s not kid ourselves, people are using marijuana — including our veterans,” Moulton said in a statement. “We have an obligation to regulate it and make it as safe as possible. We also have an obligation to make sure our veterans are getting the best health care in the world. We have a long road ahead of us until medicinal cannabis is fully researched and legal, but we can take a few steps now to start figuring that out.”
A 2011 study conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that Veterans Health Administration patients were nearly twice as likely as the general population to die of an accidental opioid overdose, and recent survey data from the American Legion shows that veterans and their caregivers are interested in having medical marijuana as a treatment option.
One bill, according to Moulton’s office, would amend and codify an existing VA policy to protect a veterans’ benefits if they discuss their medical use of marijuana with providers. Moulton’s office said “not all health care providers respond in a standard way and veterans still fear and experience repercussions of some kind.”
“Medical cannabis has tremendous potential for veterans. It can reduce chronic pain, without the harmful side effects of opioids, and some early reports indicate that it may even have potential as a treatment for PTSD,” Gaetz said in a statement. “Unfortunately, many veterans fear discussing medical cannabis with their doctors, for fear that their benefits will be jeopardized.”
The second bill directs the VA to conduct a nationwide survey of all veterans and VA health care providers to learn more about how veterans are using marijuana.
The American Legion reported last year that 22 percent of veterans are using marijuana to treat a medical condition, and 83 percent of veteran households surveyed indicated that they think the federal government should legalize medical cannabis and 82 percent said they want to have medical cannabis as a federally-legal treatment option.
In 2016, the American Legion resolved to “urge the Drug Enforcement Agency to license privately funded medical-marijuana production operations in the United States to enable safe and efficient cannabis drug development research,” and to “urge Congress to amend legislation to remove marijuana from schedule I and reclassify it in a category that, at a minimum, will recognize cannabis as a drug with potential medical value.”
The third bill Moulton and Gaetz rolled out Wednesday would instruct the VA to partner with colleges or universities that “have incorporated medical cannabis education into their curriculum” to develop continuing education programs for VA health care providers.
Moulton’s office said the bundle of three bills has been endorsed by the Drug Policy Alliance, National Cannabis Industry Association and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
by Colin A. Young, State House News Service
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.