Marilyn M. Ross
June 20, 2018
Marilyn M. Ross, 68 of Poarch, AL passed away Friday June 15, 2018, in Atmore, AL. She was a homemaker. She was born in Atmore, AL on July 20, 1949, to the late M.C. and Hattie Lou Presley Morris.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eugene R. Ross and son, Berry L. Ross.
Survivors include son, Steven (Regina) Ross of Poarch, AL; three brothers, Mack Morris of Pensacola, FL, J.R. Morris of McDavid, FL, and David Morris of Perdido, AL; four sisters, Mary Bell McGhee of Atmore, AL, Annette Nall of Huxford, AL, Lannette Turberville of Uriah, AL, and Gailette Moore of Atmore, AL; four grandchildren, Elliot Ross, Troy Ross, Alex Ross, and Abby Ross; and two great-grandchildren.
Services were held Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at The Friendly Holiness Church, with Bro. Ray Ward and Bro. Don Davis officiating.
Interment was in New Home Cemetery at Poarch, AL.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Escambia Voters May Decide Between Elected Or Appointed School Superintendent
June 20, 2018
Should the Escambia County school superintendent be elected or appointed?
That’s a question that voters may see on this year’s general election ballot.
The Escambia County County Commission will hold a public hearing at 5:31 p.m. on June 21 to consider an ordinance authorizing a countywide referendum to be held on the November 6 ballot concerning the appointment of the school superintendent in Escambia County. The superintendent would be appointed by the school board.
The county is considering the referendum at the request of Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. The Escambia County School Board approved a resolution in support of the request on April 17.
Mosquito Fogging Planned Tonight In Areas Around Muscogee Road
June 19, 2018
Escambia County Mosquito Control plans “fogging missions” tonight in an areas north and south of Muscogee Road.
To make a request for service or an area to be listed as a no spray area, please call 850-937-2188, submit an online request here or email mosquitocontrol@myescambia.com.
Click either map to enlarge.
FHP Looking For Hit And Run Honda Involved In Nine Mile, Hwy 29 Crash
June 19, 2018
The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a driver involved in a hit and run crash Tuesday afternoon on the entrance ramp from Nine Mile Road to southbound Highway 29.
The FHP said a gold-colored Honda with a Texas license plate made an improper lane change and struck a Chevrolet pickup truck and several construction barrels. The Honda then left the scene.
There were no injuries to any of the five people in the pickup.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Trooper J. Vennell at (850) 484-5000 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Driver Seriously Injured, Airlifted After Early Morning Wreck On Highway 97
June 19, 2018
One person was seriously injured and airlifted to the hospital after an early morning wreck on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill.
The driver of a passenger car was northbound on Highway 97 just north of Tungoil Road about 1 a.m. when the vehicle left the roadway, hit a culvert and went airborne before coming to rest near the woodline.
The adult male driver was transported by Escambia County EMS to the Molino Fire Station and then airlifted to a Pensacola hospital. His injuries were not considered life threatening.
The accident is being investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino, Walnut Hill and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Heat And Humidity: Heat Index Climbs Over 100
June 19, 2018
The heat index is expected to reach 100 to 102 today, and 100 to 105 on Wednesday.
If working outdoors during the heat of the day, be prepared to take frequent breaks, drink plenty of water and wear light weight, light colored clothing, while limiting outdoor activities to the cooler part of the day, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Northview FFA Chapter, Members Receive Top State Honors
June 19, 2018
The Northview High School FFA’s “Fresh From Florida Advocacy Program” was named the first place program in the state during the FFA state convention Wednesday in Orlando, one of many honors received by the chapter and its members.
The Northview High School FFA chapter was also name a Premier FFA Chapter, and a Florida’s Finest FFA Chapter. Raeleigh Woodfin was elected as FFA District 1 president, and State FFA Degrees were awarded to Cole Hassebrock and Cody Kite. America FFA Degrees were bestowed upon Tabithia Chavers, Brandon Korinchak and Mitchell Singleton.
Singleton also retired as retired as Area 1 state FFA vice president [earlier story...].
Formerly known the Food for America program, the Fresh from Florida Advocacy Program is designed to encourage FFA members to participate in agricultural literacy and awareness projects on the local level. The annual program, conducted by the Northview FFA in March, gave hundreds of students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more. The students even had the opportunity to make their own butter and enjoy it on crackers.
In addition to this year’s first place award. the Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” program was awarded first place in Florida in 2017 and three consecutive years from 2012-2014. The program received second place in 2015 and 2016.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bydlak Endorsed By Florida Chamber In Florida House Race
June 19, 2018
The Florida Chamber of Commerce Monday announced their endorsement of Rebekah Bydlak for Florida House District 1.
“Rebekah Bydlak is a candidate who is focused on serving the public and will ensure that free-enterprise principles and long-term solutions are put ahead of short term political fixes,” Marian Johnson, senior vice president of Political Strategy at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said. “The Florida Chamber is proud to endorse Rebekah Bydlak to serve in the Florida House.”
Bydlak was endorsed for her pro-jobs commitment and support of continuing to move Florida in the right direction, according to the Florida Chamber.
“As the daughter of a small business owner and as a nonprofit executive, I’m honored to receive the endorsement from the Florida Chamber of Commerce,” said Rebekah Bydlak. “Few organizations have done as much to defend job creators in my home state, and I look forward to fighting for free enterprise, economic growth, and job creation in the legislature.”
Florida Smokable Medical Marijuana Issue May Be On Hold
June 19, 2018
In a widely expected move, an appellate court Monday refused to lift a stay on a Tallahassee judge’s ruling that would allow patients to smoke medical marijuana if their doctors approve it.
The 1st District Court of Appeal’s decision means that patients will continue to be barred from legally smoking medical marijuana for the foreseeable future — at least until the appellate court issues a final ruling on the merits of the case.
Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers last month sided with Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan and a group of plaintiffs who filed a legal challenge after the Legislature included a ban on smoking in a 2017 law carrying out a constitutional amendment broadly legalizing medical marijuana.
Gievers agreed that the text of the constitutional amendment, approved by 72 percent of Floridians in 2016, allows patients to use any form of marijuana as their treatment.
Health officials, who argued that the amendment did not expressly authorize smoking and that the state had broad leeway to regulate medical marijuana use, immediately filed an appeal, which put an automatic stay on Gievers’ May 25 ruling.
On June 6, Gievers vacated the stay, prompting the state to ask the appellate court to keep it in place. The court sided with the state on Monday, saying that Gievers’ order vacating the stay was “quashed” and that the hold “shall remain in effect pending final disposition of the merits of this appeal.”
Whether patients should be able to smoke marijuana if their doctors recommend it has set off a partisan firestorm, with Morgan — a political rainmaker and registered Democrat who largely bankrolled the 2016 constitutional amendment — stirring the political pot.
Morgan told The News Service of Florida he had expected the appellate court to keep Gievers’ ruling on hold.
“Not surprised. Rick Scott could end the appeal today. It will cost him his Senate bid. The makers of opioids are cheering him on,” Morgan wrote in an email Monday.
Morgan has repeatedly asked Scott to drop the appeal, warning that the governor’s opposition to smokable medical marijuana will alienate moderate Republicans and independents in the governor’s quest to oust U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November.
Nelson, a Democrat, recently came out in support of doctor-ordered smokable marijuana for sick patients, as have each of the Democratic candidates seeking to replace Scott as governor.
In her June 5 order lifting the stay, Gievers wrote that plaintiffs Cathy Jordan, a Lou Gehrig’s disease patient who credits smoking marijuana with saving her life, and Diana Dodson, who has neuralgia associated with HIV, would suffer without having access to smokable marijuana.
“Individual patients Jordan and Dodson are exposed to irreparable harm on two fronts. First, they cannot legally access the treatment recommended for them. Second, they face potential criminal prosecution for possession and use of the medicinal substance,” the judge wrote.
On the other hand, “there is no evidence the defendants (the state) will suffer harm if the stay is vacated,” the judge wrote.
“Lifting the stay preserves the status quo by returning the law to its previous state as it existed following the 2016 adoption of the constitutional medical marijuana rights” and before the 2017 law went into effect, she added.
But during a hearing before Gievers, Assistant Attorney General Karen Brodeen argued that there was no hurry for the stay to be lifted, in part because of a lengthy state rulemaking process. Smokable pot “won’t be available for a long time,” if the courts ultimately decide that it is legal, Brodeen said.
“There’s no irreparable harm here. Nobody, at this time, can go to a medical-marijuana treatment center and purchase smokable marijuana. That’s going to take several months down the road, after an order that requires it to be available,” she said.
The legal tangle over smokable medical marijuana is one of at least eight marijuana-related administrative or legal challenges about the state’s burgeoning cannabis industry, which some experts estimate could exceed $1 billion in revenue by 2020.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Incumbent Boutwell Qualifies To Run For Century Council
June 19, 2018
Incumbent Ben Boutwell qualified Monday to run again for his Century Town Council seat.
Boutwell was first elected to the town council in 2014. In 2016, he resigned to run for mayor. His mayoral bid was unsuccessful, and he was reappointed by the council to succeed himself. He was then re-elected to the seat in a special election.
Photo courtesy Escambia County Supervisor of Elections for NorthEscambia.com.