Thomas Douglas Adams
August 6, 2020
Mr. Thomas Douglas Adams, age 81, of Century, FL, passed away on Sunday, August 2, 2020 at his home.
Mr. Adams was born in Bluff Springs, FL, and had been a lifelong resident of the Century community. After he served in the United States Air Force, he worked for 40 years in the paper manufacturing industry in Cantonment, FL. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and vegetable gardening, especially growing tomatoes. Mr. Adams attended Poplar Dell Baptist Church, and was preceded in death by his parents, George W. Adams and Mary Jane Walker Adams DeWitt, and brother, George Melvin Adams.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan Adams of Century, FL; son, David Adams of Flomaton, AL; daughters, Alicia (Marty) Chavers of Denver, CO, and Marialena (Carl) Godwin, Jr. of Century FL; sisters, Virginia Jernigan of Bay Minette, AL, Martha (Wayne) DeWitt of Tallahassee, FL, Susan (Paul) Tonder of Pensacola, FL; grandchildren, Stephanie (Xzavier) Taylor of Century, FL, Blake (Kim) Wiggins of Century, FL, Ethan Chavers of Sevierville, TN, Evan (Tinsley) Chavers of Mobile, AL, Sydney Chavers of Denver, CO; great-grandchildren, Madyson Wiggins and Eastyn Wiggins; many other family members and friends.
Visitation will be held at Poplar Dell Baptist Church on Friday, August 7, 2020 from 9 A.M. until a 10 A.M. service time with Rev Mitch Herring officiating.
Interment will be in Poplar Dell Baptist Church Cemetery with Military Honors present.
Pallbearers will be Blake Wiggins, Ethan Chavers, Evan Chavers, Xzavier Taylor, Timothy Sapp, Steven DeWitt.
Honorary pallbearer will be Eastyn Wiggins.
Flowers are being accepted, but in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Poplar Dell Baptist Church.
The family is requesting that attendees please follow all social distancing guidelines.
Groundbreaking Held In Milton For Helicopter Company, 50 New Jobs
August 6, 2020
A groundbreaking was held Wednesday for a new hanger facility in Milton that is expected to bring 50 new, high-paying jobs to the area.
The new hangar facility at Peter Prince Airport will serve as the temporary home of Leonardo Helicopters, a Philadelphia-based aviation company. In April, county commissioners gave the go-ahead for design and engineering of the hangar, warehouse, and modular office complex. Construction on the new facility is expected to begin later this month.
“Leonardo Helicopters is exactly the kind of company we had in mind when we worked with the Navy to establish the Whiting Aviation Park,” said Commissioner Don Salter. “The company is not only bringing great jobs to the area, it’s also supporting the US military’s mission, and helping fulfill our vision to become a major aviation and aerospace hub in the Southeast.”
“Today’s groundbreaking is an important milestone in our shared commitment to providing the US Navy with both the best aircraft and the best, most immediate customer support for its critical training mission,” said William Hunt, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters – US. “Together in partnership with Santa Rosa County, the new hangar at Peter Prince Airport allows us to immediately begin maintaining the fleet locally as the first aircraft are delivered from our production line and while the permanent facility at Whiting Aviation Park is under construction.”
Leonardo is under contract with the Navy to deliver and maintain up to 130 new training helicopters that will be used at NAS Whiting Field. When infrastructure funding from Triumph Gulf Coast becomes available, the company will become the first tenant of the new Whiting Aviation Park and construct a larger facility there. The interim hangar at Peter Prince Airport will then be used to incentivize other, similar companies to locate operations here.
“Santa Rosa County is central to the highest concentration of military and private-sector aviation assets you’ll find anywhere,” said Erica Grancagnolo, Santa Rosa’s associate director of economic development. “With the Whiting Aviation park coming online, we will soon have the best aviation industrial site located in the heart of the nation’s most active military flight hub.”
Grancagnolo added that Leonardo’s experience is a model for how the county intends to pursue future aviation park tenants.
“We couldn’t ask for a better proof-of-concept than to have a company like Leonardo ready to move into Whiting Aviation Park before it’s even ready for tenants,” she said. “Our elected leaders acted swiftly to approve this interim facility, which helped us land this high-paying prospect and will continue to help us close more deals in the years to come.”
Whiting Aviation Park was created in partnership with the US Navy and shares space with NAS Whiting Field, a major rotary and fixed-wing training facility. An agreement between Navy and the County allows civilian companies in the park access to both the runways and towers on the airfield. County officials are working with Triumph Gulf Coast to fund infrastructure that support the operations of multiple companies on the site.
New Flomaton Head Baseball Coach Coy Campbell Indicted On Forged Instrument, Theft, Ethics Charges
August 5, 2020
New Flomaton High School head baseball coach Coy Campbell, Jr. has been arrested after being indicted on multiple counts.
An Escambia County (AL) grand jury indicted Campbell, 50, on seven counts of possession of a forged instrument, one count of theft of property third degree and one count of an ethics violation/using position for personal gain. He surrendered to the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and was released on a $25,000 bond.
“The charges stem from a criminal investigation into the handling of money that was collected during sporting events that took place for the school year of 2019-2020,” Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said.
In April, the Escambia County (AL) School Board approved Campbell’s transfer from W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton to Flomaton High School as a physical education and driver’s education instructor. He was also named head baseball coach.
At W.S. Neal, Campbell served as head baseball coach since 2001. He was also assistant principal at the time of his transfer.
Santa Rosa Sheriff Bob Johnson Positive For COVID-19 After Attending Sheriff’s Conference
August 5, 2020
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson confirmed Wednesday that has tested positive for COVID-19.
Johnson attended the annual Florida Sheriffs Association Conference in Bonita Springs last week. At least five people that attended have also tested positive.
“Sheriff Johnson did attend the Sheriff’s Conference. During the conference, Sheriff Johnson followed CDC Guidelines of practicing social distancing and the utilization of PPE (mask). Just after the Sheriff’s return from the conference, he felt a bit under the weather and decided to proactively test for COVID. The test returned positive,” said Sgt. Rich Aloy, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office public information officer.
The results of the test do not indicate where or how the virus was contracted. Our office has had members test positive before the Sheriff’s departure to the conference. More importantly, Sheriff Johnson is doing extremely well and is currently quarantined at his residence,” Aloy continued. “We want to share our thoughts and prayers to those members of our Agency who are currently having difficulties with their illnesses.”
About 60 people from across the attended the Florida Sheriffs Association Conference in person, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Corrections Secretary Mark Inch, incoming House Speaker Chris Sprowls and sheriffs across the state.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan attended the conference virtually.
Eight New COVID-19 Deaths Reported In Escambia, Santa Rosa On Wednesday
August 5, 2020
THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST.
There were eight total new COVID-19 deaths reported Wednesday in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties by the Florida Department of Health.
The Escambia County deaths were females age 55, 68, 84, 81 and 86, and an 86-year old male. The Santa Rosa deaths were a 97-year old female and a 76-year old female. At least four total from both counties were long-term care facility residents.
Escambia County cases increased 105 to 8,367. An additional 58 cases brought the Santa Rosa County total to 3,610.
Of the 951 tests results returned on Tuesday in Escambia County, 9.9% were positive, and 12.8% were positive from 410 tests in Santa Rosa County. Over the past week, the overall average positivity rate for Escambia County is 11.8%.
There were 202 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Escambia County as of Wednesday, according to data from the three local hospitals.
Of the 107 deaths in Escambia County, 63 have been long-term care facility residents or staff. There have been 30 deaths in Santa Rosa County, at least seven of those at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility and five in a long-term care facilities.
Statewide, there were 502,739 cases including 497,181 Florida residents. There have been 28,573 hospitalizations* and 7,627 deaths. The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals.
Escambia County cases:
Total cases — 8,367 (+105 since Tuesday)
Non-Florida residents — 875
Pensacola — 6,570 (+90)
Cantonment — 608 (+8)
Molino— 95 (+3)
Century — 80 (+1)
McDavid — 40 (+1)
Bellview — 10
Walnut Hill — 10 (+1)
Gonzalez — 7
Perdido Key — 5
Current hospitalizations: 202 (-13)
Deaths — 107 (+6)
Male — 3,290
Female — 4,074
Youngest — 0
Oldest — 105
Median Age — 38
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases — 3,610 (+88 since Monday)
Non-Florida residents — 25
Milton — 2,030 (+30)
Gulf Breeze — 522 (+9)
Navarre — 422 (+8)
Pace — 266 (+6)
Jay — 94
Bagdad — 8
Cumulative Hospitalizations — 177*
Deaths — 32 (+2)
Male — 2,095
Female — 1,474
Youngest — 2 months
Oldest — 101
Median Age — 39
Florida cases:
Total cases — 502,739
Florida residents — 497,181
Deaths — 7,627
Hospitalizations — 28,573*
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. These people may no longer be hospitalized. This number does not represent the number of COVID-19 positive persons currently hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
Free Produce Box Giveaway Today At Highland Baptist In Molino
August 5, 2020
A free produce distribution will Wednesday afternoon at Highland Baptist Church in Molino.
It will take place from 5-6 p.m., or while supplies last at the church, 6240 Highway 95A in Molino. It is limited to one box per vehicle, rain or shine. The produce is being provided in conjunction with the USDA and Gulf Coast Produce.
A produce giveaway will be held each Wednesday afternoon in August from 5-6 p.m.
For more information call (850) 587-5174.
Cantonment Man Facing Battery, Other Charges In Six Cases Involving His Wife, Two Other Women
August 5, 2020
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges for six different alleged incidents including battery, burglary and other crimes involving his wife and two other women between May 5 and August 1.
Robert Lewis Bassett, Jr., age 43, was charged with two felony aggravated battery causing bodily harm, battery, two counts of criminal mischief with property damage, burglary of a residence and multiple violations of domestic violence injunctions. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond Wednesday.
An adult female told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that Bassett punched her six or seven times in the face during a disturbance over $40 at a residence on Cedar Tree Lane. The victim, who was identified as a “friend”, suffered bleeding from the left side of her face, swollen eyes and had marks on her face and the back of her head, according to an arrest report.
In a separate incident, Bassett allegedly forced his way into a room at the Garden Inn and Suites by shoving a door into a female before punching her multiple times in the face. He then hit the woman multiple times with a wooden chair while claiming she stole $300 from him, according to arrest report.
The woman described Bassett as a former roommate that she resided with about three months prior, but they had no relationship. She suffered multiple cuts and bruises, facial swelling and a broken nose according to the ECSO. She was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment of a concussion.
In a third incident, Bassett was reported to be in a vehicle within three feet of a vehicle belonging to his wife and her mother’s house in violation of a temporary domestic violence injunction against him.
In a fourth case, Bassett allegedly punched his ex-girlfriend in the face multiple times with a closed fist at the T&W Flea Market, removed her keys from her vehicle’s ignition and threatened to kill her.
In a fifth case, Bassett allegedly violated an domestic violence injunction by flattening the tires on his wife’s vehicle. The woman told deputies they were in the process of separation.
And in a sixth incident, Bassett was charged with violating a domestic violence order by texting his wife, “I’m on my way. I need you.”
Bassett also has pending charges in Santa Rosa County, according to Escambia County Jail records.
Preliminary Report Into Fatal Atmore Crop Duster Crash Released By NTSB
August 5, 2020
The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a preliminary report on a fatal crop duster plane crash June 16 north of Atmore.
The crash about 7:30 a.m. behind a lake house on Gideons Lake Road just north of I-65 claimed the life of Eddie Gideons, a well-loved member of the local community.
The report states:
“According to the pilot’s spouse, he departed earlier on the morning of the accident to dispense two small ‘loads.’ On his return home he called and asked her to come outside of their residence to watch the airplane fly over. She said that the airplane flew over the house before making a climb straight up. The airplane then banked to the left, rolled right, descended straight down, and she heard a loud ‘boom’ shortly thereafter.
“Two witnesses that were fishing on a nearby lake saw the airplane flying below the tree line before it climbed straight up. They said the airplane rolled and descended straight down nose first. They heard a ‘loud thud’ and then silence. The witnesses contacted emergency services and assisted local responders in finding the wreckage.”
A FAA inspector examined the plane prior its removal from the accident site and noted that the nosk, cockpit and tail area were crushed, and both wings were crushed on their edges.
The engine and propeller were impact damaged and were recovered with the airframe for further examination.
The plane was a 2013 year model Air Tractor AT-502 single turbo-prop engine crop duster. The company’s website describes the plane as the “world’s most popular ag plane”. It was registered to Wallace Flying Service, Inc. based at 1001 McMullough Road in the McCullough community north of Atmore.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Century Town Hall Closed Today For Pro Cleaning After COVID-19 Infections
August 5, 2020
The Century Town Hall will be closed Wednesday for professional cleaning after two employees in that work in the building tested positive for COVID-19 last month. And the town has set new dates that they will accept utility payments on the phone, but drive-thru window payments and cash are out.
Monday night, the town council voted unanimously to hire the professional cleaning company after learning that town staff had cleaned the building. Mayor Henry Hawkins told the council “the little disinfecting we do in the day works”.
Wednesday was set to a be a day that residents could pay a utility bill at the town hall drive-thru window, but drive-thru service will not be available in the near future. Utility payments can be made 24/7 in a secure drop box next to the drive-thru window. Only checks or money orders are accepted in the drop box, not cash.
Credit card payments can be made by phone on August 6, August 11, August 14 and August 19. Century does not accept payments online.
For more information or further assistance call (850) 256-3208 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. or email kgodwin@centuryflorida.us or hhawkins@centuryflorida.us.
Sunny And Warm, Maybe A Few Afternoon Scattered Showers
August 5, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.