Atmore Walmart Cutting Hours
May 23, 2018
The Atmore Walmart Supercenter is cutting hours and will no longer be open 24 hours per day. Beginning Saturday, June 2, the store’s hours will be 6 a.m. until 1 a.m..
“These changes are being made because we’re continually looking at how we can best serve our customers. Based on a recent review of shopping patterns at our Atmore store, we are adjusting hours and reallocating resources to better serve our customers during peak shopping hours,” Casey Staheli, senior manager of national media relations for Walmart, told NorthEscambia.com.
The Atmore store was a smaller, prototype Supercenter. At 69,197 square feet, Atmore’s Walmart is about one-third the size of a larger Supercenter. By comparison, the Walmart SuperCenter on Highway 29 in Ensley comes in at 215,599 square feet, not counting the garden center and patio.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Deputy Forms Special Bond With Students, Completes SRO Program
May 23, 2018
An Escambia County deputy has found a new passion as a school resource officer.
In March the Escambia County School Board approved funding for school resource officers and armed private security in all traditional schools in the county. Deputy J. Caraway has been working a day or two a week at Pine Meadow Elementary.
But according to the Escambia County School District, he enjoyed it enough to complete school resource officer training.
Mrs. Lassiter’s kindergarten class at Pine Meadow Elementary School made a special connection with him because he says he had more questions about law enforcement from this group of students than any others. So, he decided to treat them to a special lunch, pizza, and he arranged for a special visit from a K-9 officer.
Betty Spence Hare
May 23, 2018
Betty Spence Hare, 71 of Walnut Hill, FL, passed away Monday, May 21, 2018, in Pensacola, FL. She was a homemaker, born on December 5, 1946, in Escambia County, FL to the late Ranson C. and Evelyn English Spence. She was a member of the New Life Assembly of God Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Argent “Rabbit” Hare, and a sister, Dorothy Spence.
Survivors include three sons: Jeff (Jennifer) Hare of Dry Springs, FL, James (Regina) Hare of Walnut Hill, FL, and Joseph (Brehia) Hare of Bay Minette, AL; two brothers, Vernon (Linda) Spence of Geneva, AL and James W. (Jessie) Spence of Little Rock, AL; two sisters, Inez Freeman of Walnut Hill, FL and Carolyn (Ervin) Thortis of Christian Home, FL; eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Services were held Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at noon from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ricky Tedder officiating.
Interment was in Dry Springs Cemetery.
Active and honorary pallbearers were her nephews.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Early Morning Fire Closes Escambia County Taco Shop Named One Of The Best In USA
May 22, 2018
An Escambia County taco shop named one of the best in the country caught fire early Tuesday morning and is now closed for the time being.
The fire at Taqueria El Asador behind a Shell station on North Davis Highway at I-10 was reported at 3:41 a.m. Firefighters arrived moments later and found smoke coming from the roof. They were able to enter the building and quickly extinguish the fire.
In a social media post, the restaurant stated: “We are sad to inform you we will be CLOSED until further notice, due to a fire caused by an electronic malfunction. We are already working hard to open again soon. We will keep you informed, a look forward to serving you once again! Thanks for understanding.”
About a year ago, Business Insider and Yelp named Taqueria El Asador number four on their list of “The 50 best taco joints in America”.
Former Century Correctional Officer Charged With Stealing Drugs From Evidence Locker
May 22, 2018
A former correctional officer was recently arrested for allegedly stealing drugs from the work camp at Century Correctional Institution.
The Florida Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General charged 26-year old Joshua Vann Harrell with felony theft and tampering with evidence. Harrell is accused of taking “K2″ synthetic marijuana from an evidence locker.
The state says Harrell requested a sergeant open an evidence locker inside the Century Correctional Institution Work Camp, saying he needed to make sure he signed an evidence sheet or make sure a piece of evidence was signed. The sergeant complied before stepping away to answer a control room phone. She observed Harrell place his right hand into his pocket, but did not observe anything in his hand, according to a warrant affidavit. He returned to his post duty on the facility’s perimeter.
Officers reported finding a chain of custody form on the seat of the post vehicle used by Harrell, and they reported finding an evidence bag on top of a trash can located along the perimeter road.
The same day, another officer reported observing Harrell “wobble into the restroom” and become sick multiple times.
According to court documents, investigators determined that “K-2″ taken from an inmate was missing from the evidence locker.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on $7,500 bond. The alleged incident occurred in September 2017. The arrest warrant was issued in March 2018 and recently served.
Harrell resigned on September 23, 2017, according to Patrick Manderfield, press secretary for the Florida Department of Corrections.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
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.
Daily Rain In Our Forecast
May 22, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Memorial Day: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
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.