Tate Grad Jordan Chase Torrez Gets Two Chair Turns On ‘The Voice’
October 2, 2019
Tate High School graduate Jordan Chase Torrez nailed his performance on “The Voice” Tuesday night on NBC, securing a spot on Team Blake.
Using the name “Jordan Chase” on air, he performed “Makin’ Me Look Good Again,” by Drake White and garnered chair turns from judges Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani. The video is below.
“I’m so excited to be a part of Team Blake and representing Pensacola! P’cola, hope I made you proud tonight,” Torrez said.
“Wow, he’s 19 and his voice is like a man voice, a serious man voice,” Stefani said before calling his voice “honest”.
“Jordan, when you sing, it’s incredible,” Shelton said. “Because a lot of the time when someone has that sandpaper voice, they don’t have the range that you have.”
When asked what music genre he likes by judge Kelly Clarkson, Jordan replied blues and soul.
“His home is country,” Shelton said.
“Pensacola, that’s the south. So you got all those things going on,” Voice judge John Legend remarked.
“Jordan is already way ahead of his time as a vocalist,” Shelton said after being picked by Jordan.
“I recognize your natural gift, and it’s exciting,” Stefani said. “Jordan, honestly, was shocking to me.”
Jordan spent some of his early years in New Orleans and credits the city for influencing his love for music. When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Jordan’s family was forced to pack what they could and leave town. They eventually settled in Pensacola, but while struggling to find a new home base, Jordan turned to music to cope. He joined the church band and learned to play bass and drums, but kept his singing private.
Jordan graduated from Tate High School this past May.
Jordan and his parents, Mark and Melissa, hosted friends at a watch party Tuesday night at Sammy Barker’s on Nine Mile Road.
Pictured top: Tate High graduate Jordan Chase Torrez appears on The Voice Tuesday night (courtesy NBC). Picture top inset: Jordan watches his performance Tuesday night on The Voice during a local watch party. Pictured bottom inset: Mom Melissa Torrez watches her son’s performance on NBC. Pictured below: More scenes from the watch party Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Lexie Kittrell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Fire Responds To Small Fire At International Paper
October 2, 2019
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a reported fire at International Paper in Cantonment midday Tuesday.
The small fire was extinguished when firefighters arrived on scene after the commercial structure fire call about 11:50 a.m. There were no injuries reported.
Operations at the mill continued as normal during the incident.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Local Family To Appear Today, Thursday On Family Feud
October 2, 2019
A local family will appear on Family Feud today and Thursday.
The are officially the White Family from Atmore, but they are from across the North Escambia area.
The White Family team is Tracey McDonald, Morgan White and Aurora White from Pensacola; and Lauren Donaldson and Derek Wilson of Atmore.
Their grandparents are the late David and Ruby White from Atmore
“That’s why we chose to go by the White Family from Atmore,” Tracey McDonald told NorthEscambia.com. “We are so excited.”
Morgan White is a teacher and head cheerleading coach at Tate High School, and Tracey McDonald is a teacher at Ransom Middle School. Derek Wilson is retired from Holman Prison. Aurora White is a dental assistant for Dr. Kaitlin Blackburn in Pensacola, and Lauren Donaldson is a stylist at His & Her Style Shop in Atmore.
The White Family will appear during the show at 4 p.m. on WPMI NBC 15 both Wednesday and Thursday. They will be holding a watch party today at Ollie’s on Nine Mile Road during the show.
Pictured top: The White family on Family Feud (L-R) Tracey McDonald, Morgan White, Aurora White, host Steve Harvey, Lauren Donaldson and Derek Wilson. Pictured below: The White family competes on Family Feud. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Guest Viewpoint: Florida Hazardous Walking Conditions Law Inadequate To Protect Our Students
October 2, 2019
Wednesday wass “National Walk to School Day”. But children in Florida are often at risk when walking to school, according to Rob Doss, a retired Marine and educator, and the retired director of transportation for the Escambia County School District.
He believes the Florida’s Hazardous Walking Conditions” law is inadequate. Doss explains why, in his own words:
If I handed you a Florida statute entitled “Hazardous Walking Conditions” and told you that it describes the conditions under which a public school student’s walking conditions would be judged “hazardous,” what would you expect to find as you read it? Think of your elementary school child or grandchild for a moment. What criteria would you expect the Florida legislature to have in place that would adequately protect children as they’re making their way to and from school during the busiest traffic times of the day?
Think of an intersection that has stop lights like the one at Mobile Highway and Michigan Avenue or Barrancas Avenue and Navy Boulevard. Those are complex intersections with right turn on red authorized, left turn arrows, and free-flow right turn lanes…traffic moving in all directions. Let’s say that the intersection has a traffic volume of 3,600 vehicles passing through it every hour. That’s 1 vehicle passing through the intersection every second. Would you expect that intersection to be considered hazardous for a student to cross on their way to school?
Now, think about Kingsfield Elementary and Ransom Middle School students crossing at the intersection of Kingsfield Road and Highway 97, Tate High School students crossing Highway 29 at Kingsfield Road, Jim Allen Elementary School students crossing the intersection of Highway 29 and Muscogee Road, or Beulah Middle School students crossing 9 Mile Road at Rebel Road. Would you expect either of those intersections to be hazardous for your child or grandchild to cross on their way to school?
Finally, let’s think of a road that has a posted speed limit of 35 mph but has very little room for a person to walk on the side of the road. The road has a traffic volume of 150 vehicles passing by in each direction. That’s a total of 1 vehicle driving by every 12 seconds. Do you think the law would consider that roadway to be hazardous for a student – or any person for that matter – to walk along so closely or to walk on the roadway itself?
You would probably be surprised to learn that none of those scenarios are considered hazardous for public school students of any age under the law.
It’s obvious that section 1006.23 of the Florida Statutes, the law that defines hazardous walking conditions for public school students, is a woefully inadequate criteria for determining whether a walking route to and from school is hazardous for public school students. It neither safeguards public school students who reside within a reasonable walking distance of school nor encourages infrastructure development and improvement that would make walking to and from school safe for students. It’s particularly unfortunate that this statute is in the Education Code, a place where one would expect to find guidance that reflects a thorough understanding of the cognitive ability of children and the need to provide them safe access to quality education.
However, in probably every school district in Florida, including in Escambia, school districts transport those students around conditions that the state doesn’t consider hazardous. The state classifies those students as “ineligible” transported students and provides school districts no funding support to transport them safely like it does other students. But that transportation service is costly to school districts and when they find themselves in a crunch to fund classroom initiatives, they often look for resources elsewhere such as unfunded student transportation service.
In fact, ineligible ridership has become such an issue in Florida that for the 2017-18 school year, Florida school districts reported that they transported more than 90,000 students who were ineligible for a state funding contribution at a cost to local school districts of more than $92 million statewide. Escambia County reported transporting 3,506 ineligible students during the 2017-18 school year at a cost to the school district of nearly $3.5 million. Of course, not all of those students were transported because of hazardous walking conditions, but many were. The fact is, however, that the decisions that school districts have made to transport those students even without a state funding contribution has kept kids alive. What other choice have they had? The question is why, in spite of the existence of a statute in the Education Code that deals specifically with hazardous walking conditions for students, are Florida school districts left in that position?
The fact that the National Complete Streets Coalition has placed Florida at the top of the list as the nation’s most dangerous state for pedestrians and the fact that the nation’s 6 most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians – and 8 of the top 10 – are in Florida lends additional credence to the concern about the inadequacy of the hazardous walking conditions statute.
It’s well past time for the Florida legislature to adopt a reasonable, responsible, and cost-conscious improvement to the hazardous walking conditions statute like the one that I have proposed in order to protect children who encounter hazardous walking conditions between home and school.
Florida Forest Service Suspends Burn Authorizations
October 2, 2019
In light of extremely dry and dangerous conditions, officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center will not be issuing authorizations for broadcast or pile burns effective Wednesday until further notice. Burn authorizations will not be issued until conditions improve and the area receives significant rainfall. There are no burn bans in effect.
Authorizations from the Florida Forest Service are required for prescribed burning – acreage burns – and piles greater than 8 feet in diameter. Authorizations are not required for residential yard debris burning in piles less than 8 feet in diameter but Forest Service officials are strongly encouraging residents to refrain from any outdoor burning until the area receives rain.
“It is extremely dry and we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of fires here recently,” said David Smith, Operations Administrator for Blackwater. “The smart thing to do – the safe thing – is to just hold off on burning, right now.”
Firefighters from Blackwater – covering Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties have responded to wildfire incidents within the past seven days and there is little relief in the near-term forecast.
The Keetch-Byrum Drought Index for the district is 617 on a scale of 800 with Escambia County registering 610, Santa Rosa County 605 and Okaloosa County 635. These measurements put the area within the “severe drought” range, normal for this time of year should be between 241-420.
The KBDI is a continuous reference scale for estimating the dryness of the soil. The index increases for each day without rain (the amount of increase depends on the daily high temperature) and decreases when it rains. The scale ranges from 0 (no moisture deficit) to 800 (high moisture deficit). The range of the index is determined by assuming that there is 8 inches of moisture in a saturated soil.
Hot And Dry For Now; Rain And Cooler Weather Coming
October 2, 2019
Pensacola set a new all-time record high for October on Tuesday of 97 degrees. Relief is on the way in the form and rain and lower temperatures beginning Sunday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Authorities Searching For Career Criminal From Molino; He May Be Armed
October 2, 2019
Authorities are searching for a career criminal from Molino on an outstanding warrant, and they say he could be armed and dangerous.
Steven Ray Stokes, 54, is wanted for grand theft of a motor vehicle, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He has an active warrant for stealing a motorcycle from Cantonment in 2018.
Stokes is currently on federal probation for unlawful transport of firearms and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, according to federal court records. He was sentenced in 2003 to 174 months in federal prison followed by five years probation. His sentenced was later reduced.
He also served state prison time for multiple convictions. In 2002, he was convicted of running a chop shop on his property in Molino, along with racketeering. Over five dozen stolen vehicles were reportedly found on the property, along with over 50 pounds of marijuana. He would purchase wrecked vehicles at auction and swap the vehicle registration numbers onto stolen vehicles to be resold.
State records show he has also served prison time for convictions dating back to 1996 for trafficking in marijuana, selling cocaine, cocaine possession, fleeing from law enforcement and resisting an officer with violence.
Stokes’ last known address was in the 4400 block of North Highway 29, north of Highway 196.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620, Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or 911.
Dr. Mary C. (Diamond) Findley
October 2, 2019
Dr. Mary C. (Diamond) Findley, 92, of Jay passed away on September 28 at the Olive Branch Rehabilitation Center. Mary was born November 2, 1926.
She was a graduate of Jay High School and Florida State College for Women, now The Florida State University, (FSU). She later received her Master’s and Doctorate degrees from FSU.
After college, Mary was a Home Economist for the Escambia River Cooperative. She started teaching at Jay Elementary then went on to teach at Jay High School and later became the first woman principal in Santa Rosa County at Jay High School.
Mary was an amazing cook, avid reader and loved to travel. She was a very devoted Florida State fan where she served as FSU Alumni president and was an active booster member. She travelled extensively to watch her beloved Seminoles play. Mary married Hoyt Findley on December 20, 1946 who preceded her in death. Also preceded in death were her parents Cassie and Guy Diamond Sr., brother Guy Diamond Jr., sister Burlentine Karlen, granddaughter and great grandson, Nikki (Findley) Hagler and Chance Hagler.
Mary is survived by her children Burlin (Ann) Findley, Cecelia Findley, Nathan Findley and Melissa (Bob) Sidoti, her grandsons Levi (Kaylen) Findley, Michael (Julie) Brake and Jacob Brake. Her granddaughters Kelly (Kevin) Mitchem, Brooke (Wesley) Barnes, Kimberly Newby, Sara Brake, Karen (Wes) Welch, eight great-grandchildren, three brothers Marshal (Dot) Diamond, James Diamond, and Wallace (Shirley) Diamond, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at the Jay Chapel Wednesday, October 2, 2019 from 6-8. Funeral service will be held at Cora Baptist Church in Jay, FL, Thursday, October 3rd at 2 p.m. The family wishes to thank the staff of Jay Hospital, Olive Branch Rehabilitation Center and West Florida Hospital for their compassionate and loving care during Mary’s final days. Interment at Cora Cemetery.
Edith Margie Lee Lassiter Baggett
October 2, 2019
Mrs. Edith Margie Lee Lassiter Baggett, age 97, passed away Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the Atmore Nursing Home.
Mrs. Baggett was born in Conecuh County, AL, and was a long-time resident of Route 2 Castleberry. She worked as a seamstress at Vanity Fair for a number of years. She was a member of London Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Otis Baggett; two daughters, Judy E. Baggett and Shirley Baggett; and two sisters, Anne Raines and Avaline “Turk” Cain.
She is survived by two daughters, Gaye B. (Bob) Evans of Walnut Hill, FL, and Gayle Weaver of Walnut Hill, FL; one brother, A.C. Lassiter of Mobile; two sisters, Lois Baggett of Repton, AL, and Carolyn Fazenbaker of Montgomery, AL; brother-in-law, Harvey Baggett of Pensacola, FL; grandchildren, Tara Walden, Toby Weaver, Drew Miller, Renee Sassaman, and Marie Boyd; great-grandchildren, Logan Lambeth, Jami Andrews, Katherine Smith, Lindsay Miller, Matthew Sassaman, Mary Jo Sassaman, Grace Sassaman, Evan Sassaman, and Travis Boyd; great-great-grandchildren, Thomas Luke Spears, and Peregrine Sassaman.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. at London Baptist Church with Rev. Jason Blackwell officiating. Interment will follow in London Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at London Baptist Church on Saturday from 1:00 P.M. until service time at 2:00 P.M.
Pallbearers: Alan Lassiter, Don Baggett, Bill Baggett, Toby Weaver, Logan Lambeth, and John Pate.
Honorary Pallbearers: Marc Taylor, Sean Lassiter, Bobby Edgar, and Bob Evans.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Allie Mae Sexton
October 2, 2019
Mrs. Allie Mae Sexton, born April 7, 1932 passed away on Friday, September 27, 2019 in Century, Florida.
Allie met her husband, Jim, while he was in the Air Force. They married in 1952 and were stationed in several places during his service career. The one place they were stationed and she would always talk about was in Anchorage, Alaska during the 1964 earthquake. Allie was very happy for Jim’s retirement after that experience and he retired in 1967.
In 1967 Allie and family moved back to Bratt, Florida.
Allie worked several jobs as a bookkeeper, tax preparer and secretary. Her and husband, Jim, owned Bratt Trucking for several years.
She loved to work in her garden and crochet.
Allie became ill and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She resided at Century Care Center Nursing Home from 2009 until her death. Even with this terrible disease she never forgot her family and friends. Her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren meant the world to her. She would always say I Love You More.
She is preceded in death by her husband, James (Jim) Franklin Sexton, her parents, Oscar and Lennie (Miles) Wearren, sisters Georgia Lowell, Juliaette Hanks, infant sister, brothers James (Frank) Wearren, Pellar Lee Wearren, and Hollis Wearren.
She is survived by her daughters Linda Jackson (Atmore, AL.), Diane Lambert (Severn, MD), sister Doris Vivian Brown (Pensacola, FL), 4 grandchildren Rhonda (Dale) Solaas, Charles (Teresa) Waters, Kelli (CJ) Jackson, John (Niki) Lambert, 10 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
A special thanks and with love from their granny to great-granddaughters, Vickie (Robert) Bermudez, and Bethany Ann Jones for the summer school break they volunteered at the Century Care Nursing Home spending time with their granny and helping other residents.
Funeral services will be held Friday, October 4, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Cary Hanks officiating.
Burial will follow at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, October 3, 2019 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Charles Waters, Dale Solaas, Charlie Waters, Robert Bermudez, Steve Hanks and Gregory Wearren.
In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital.