Robert Lawrence Fillmore
February 18, 2021
Robert Lawrence Fillmore, age 86, passed away on February 9, 2021. He was born on
March 10, 1934 in Escambia County, AL to the late Lawrence and Stella Godwin Fillmore.
He was a member of Presley Street Baptist Church and was a welder, farmer and truck
driver most of his life. He loved gardening and enjoyed turkey and quail hunting.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Barbara Graham Fillmore; three brothers,
Bill Fillmore, Jessie Fillmore and Jerry Fillmore and two sisters, Jane Davis and Luverne
Morton.
He is survived by his sons, Robert Glen Fillmore of Pensacola, FL, Jeff Fillmore of Atmore,
AL and Jason Fillmore (Julie McDonald) of Atmore, AL; his sister, Sang Hayles of
Atmore, AL, one granddaughter, Skylar Fillmore and his grandsons, Forrest Fillmore and
Justin Fillmore.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, February 13, 2021 at Noon at Johnson-Quimby
Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Joseph T. Simpson officiating. Interment will follow at
Pine Barren Baptist Church Cemetery in Davisville, FL.
Active pallbearers will be Forrest Fillmore, Justin Fillmore, Warren Mosley, James Bell,
Barry Fillmore and Kevin Fillmore.
Visitation will be Saturday, February 13, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. until service time at Noon
at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Nurses and Staff of Atmore
Community Hospital, Leigh, Leigh, Donna and Becky with Southern Care Hospice and Dr.
Sheldon Harigel.
For the safety of you and others, please practice social distancing requirements, though
wearing a facial mask is strongly encouraged.
Jerry William Keese
February 18, 2021
Dr. Jerry William Keese, age 83, of Hopkinsville, KY, passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at Jennie Stuart Hospital in Hopkinsville, KY.
Dr. Keese was a native of Anderson, SC, and had been a resident of Hopkinsville since 2014 coming from the Century and Flomaton areas. He was former pastor of First Baptist Church of Flomaton, and served as a minister for 60 plus years. He enjoyed traveling, organizing “Fun Folks” tours, golfing and was an avid reader. He was loved and adored by many. Mr. Keese was preceded in death by his parents, William H. and Hazel Leathers Keese; brothers, Sam Keese and James Keese; sister, Doris McCalister, and his former wife, Doris Stokes Keese.
He is survived by his wife, Mollie Keese of Hopkinsville, KY; children, Michele (Terry Burchett) Keese of Gulf Breeze, FL, Whitney (Jeff) Crain of Gulf Breeze, FL, Irene (Dewey) Bondurant of Flomaton, AL, Martin Broomes of Cantonment, FL, Jan Sales of Cantonment, FL; sister, Jean Bolt of Anderson, SC; nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; numerous other family members and friends.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, February 19, 2021 at 3:00 P.M. at Flomaton Cemetery with Dr. David Gardner officiating.
Pallbearers will be Jeff Crain, Scott Myers, Jim Bondurant, Jack Broomes, Terry Burchett, Wes Sales.
Please share your memories and condolences with the family at www.flomatnfh.com.
Flomaton Funeral Home Directing.
Stella Dixon
February 18, 2021
Mrs. Stella Dixon, age 78, passed away on Sunday, February 14, 2021 in Atmore, Alabama.
Mrs. Dixon was native and former resident of Perdido, AL and had resided in Atmore, AL for the past 36 years. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother. She loved sewing, quilting, gardening, cooking and canning. She was retired from Vanity Fair and a member of the Atmore Church of God. She is preceded in death by her husband and father of her children, Willie Hadley; son, Claude Hadley; two grandsons, Myles Shiver and Morgun Ridlehoover; great grandson, Aden Hadley; son-in-law, William Wells; seven sisters and three brothers.
She is survived by her four sons, Ronnie (Sissy) Hadley of Booneville, AL, Matt Clark (Lisa) Hadley of Milton, FL, Chester (Diane) Hadley of Booneville, AL and Willie Gordon Hadley of Atmore, AL; three daughters, Gladys Lavine (Danny) Minchew of Booneville, AL, Margie Wells of Perdido, AL and Becky Hadley Ridlehoover of Atmore, AL; daughter-in-law, Angie Hadley of Booneville, AL; one sister, Ella (B) Gilbert of Bay Minette, AL; special great granddaughter, Addison Clair Hadley of Booneville, AL; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Michael Farley officiating.
Burial will follow at the Lottie Methodist Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 19, 2021 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Chester Hadley, Mitchell Hadley, Willie Hadley, Joel Minchew, C.J. Hadley and Blakeley Sanders.
Honorary Pallbearer will be Larry Spellar.
Donald Athan Baggett
February 18, 2021
The Crimson Tide’s biggest fan, Donald Athan Baggett, 60, better known as “Donnie,” journeyed to his Heavenly home on Feb. 14, 2021 after a lengthy hospital stay due to health issues. Donnie was born in Evergreen, Alabama to Travis Baggett and Dorothy Fussell Baggett on Sept. 7, 1960. As a young child, Donnie, his parents and his brothers moved to Atmore and immediately became a part of the community through school and church activities. As a tail back for Escambia County High School (#40), Donnie made a name for himself in the football program. Donnie always credited Coach Buck Powell with keeping him motivated in team sports, such as football and basketball, and Coach Frankie Bell for instilling his lifelong love of weightlifting. Every year in high school, Donnie earned either Most Valuable Player or Most Athletic in football or basketball, but his favorite claim to fame was “finally getting to 300 pounds on the bench a week before graduating high school,” something he retold to his family often.
After his 1978 high school graduation, Donnie began a career at Georgia Pacific in Monroeville as a press operator. Later he joined Scott Paper Company in the timberland division, and this background enabled him to start his own business in the logging field. These connections ultimately allowed him to end up at International Paper, Pensacola Mill, working in the pulp mill and warehouse shipping as team leader for over 20 years. His favorite position there, however, was one for which his colleagues selected him, and that was Union Representative. “I probably should have gone to law school because I really enjoy language and logic,” Donnie always used to admit. “I guess fighting for the underdog as a Union Rep is the next best thing.” Donnie was a true believer in democracy and patriotism, serving as a major donator to Veteran causes and was an active member of the Republican Presidential Task Force.
One of the many things that Donnie loved in this life centered around anything that involved Alabama football and Big Al. He saved all kinds of Alabama memorabilia, including front page articles from most of their BIG WINS and special Roll Tide prints, shirts, or coins. Together with his wife Rita, the couple managed to raise their only child, Krystal, as an “All Things Bama” fan as well.
Donnie is preceded in death (just days prior) by both his mother and father; his wife, Rita; and his brother, Steve. He is survived by two brothers: Ronnie (Margaret) Baggett of Atmore; and Garry (Vicki) Baggett of Bratt; his daughter Krystal (Charles) Weaver of Dothan; Nephews–Stephen Baggett and Corry Baggett of Atmore; Alex Baggett (Kaylee) of Louisiana; and Nieces–Melissa Baggett of Atmore and Lexxi Baggett of Bratt. Donnie also has three grandchildren: Charlie, Kaitlin, and Braden of Dothan and two great-nieces.
Family will receive friends Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 9 a.m. at Petty Funeral Home with funeral services following at 10 a.m. with Rev. Tim James of Atmore Apostolic Church officiating. Burial will follow at Buffington Cemetery in Castleberry, Ala.
Active pallbearers will be Alex Baggett, Corry Baggett, Hunter Kite, Randall Morris, Robert Wells, and Bobby Wooten.
Dollar General Wants To Build In Walnut Hill. It Would Change The Future Of North Escambia Rural Zoning.
February 17, 2021
Dollar General is considering a location in Walnut Hill, and that could change the future of rural zoning across North Escambia.
Teramore Development currently has three properties under contract at the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 99A in Walnut Hill, next to Ernest Ward Middle School. One of the parcels includes building constructed in 1940 as the former Bryan’s Grocery and Hardware.
The Escambia County future land use category of the property is Rural Community (RC), and is it currently zoned Rural Mixed Use (RMU). The RMU zoning allows commercial buildings up to 6,000 square feet. There is no provision whatsoever to grant any exceptions to construct a larger commercial building.
Teramore wants the county to make a text amendment to Escambia County code to allow a commercial building up to 11,000 square feet in the RMU zone, with each request for any project over 6,000 square feet requiring individual approval.
If such a text amendment were to be approved by Escambia County, it would allow the construction of not just a Dollar General in Walnut Hill, but any development up to 11,000 square feet anywhere in the RMU zoning category across North Escambia, whether that be Walnut Hill, Bratt, Century outside the town limits, McDavid or Molino.
Buckley Davis of Teramore Development said they want to bring a 10,640 square foot Dollar General Store to the property. Teramore sent letters to 100 residents in the area, inviting them to a recent meeting to gauge community support. About a dozen residents attended the meeting.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Davis told attendees that Dollar General needs over 10,000 square feet for a new concept called “DG Fresh” that offers fresh produce and healthier grocery options. The concept, he said, is Dollar General’s current focus for new stores more rural areas with few food shopping options. Residents said they currently travel 8-12 miles to Atmore or 30-40 miles to Cantonment or Pensacola to shop for food.
Attendees at the Teramore meeting at the Walnut Hill Community Center were generally supportive of the idea of building a larger Dollar General in Walnut Hill, but concerns were expressed about the location next to the school.
The Dollar General parking lot would be accessed from Highway 99A. Residents said it is often difficult at best to see oncoming traffic when drivers pull out from Highway 99A to Highway 97. The speed limit on Highway 97 in the area, outside school zone times, is 45 mph, and the intersection is in a banked curve on the busy state highway.
Retired Walnut Hill pediatrician Cynthia Worrell-White said that outside traffic safety concerns, she has no issue with the proposed Highway 97 Dollar General.
“You’re not really going to an agricultural area in the middle of a field and going to take up good agricultural land. You’re going to a location that has already been a commercial site,” Worrell-White said. “It’s close to that hub of other buildings and EREC (Escambia River Electric Cooperative’s Walnut Hill office) and all. So I think that’s a good choice for those reasons.”
“We’ve got to make sure we keep those safety concerns and keep that intersection safe,” Davis said. “Besides that, I think it’s the perfect location.”
Other residents express concerns about a Walnut Hill Dollar General selling alcohol, but current Escambia County ordinances would prohibit alcohol sales due to the proximity to Ernest Ward Middle School.
Brett Ward, a local agricultural producer, said he was concerned about those yellow Dollar General shopping bags in a rural area. If they blow across Highway 97 into his cotton field and end up in his cotton bales, he said it will cost him money on the cotton market.
“There’s a 16 cent per pound deduction,” he said. “You’ll be hearing from me if that happens.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Walnut Hill resident Helen Ward listens to details about a proposed Dollar General near her home. Pictured top inset: A preliminary site plan for a new Dollar General in Walnut Hill. Pictured second inset: Cynthia Worrell-White. Pictured bottom inset: Buckley Davis of Teramore Development presents a conceptual drawing of a Walnut Hill Dollar General Store. Pictured below: The conceptual drawing and area map. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New 448 Area Code Coming To The 850, But A Mandatory Change To How You Dial Has Been Delayed.
February 17, 2021
A new area code is coming to Northwest Florida, but a mandatory change in how you dial has been delayed for three months.
The current 850 area code will run out of available phone numbers in early 2022, and state regulators approved the addition of the 448 area code to alleviate the number crunch. The new area code covers the same geographic area as the current 850 area code, which includes Escambia County to Tallahassee.
The new area code will mean a change in how Northwest Florida residents and businesses make calls. Since last August, callers have been able to use 7-digits or 10-digits (the area code plus the number) when calling. A mandatory switch to using 10-digits was set to begin on Saturday, February 20, but that’s now been delayed until May 22, 2021.
The delay is due to COVID-19 and companies and alarm companies in Pensacola needing more time to reprogram systems for 10-digit dialing.
The earliest date someone may receive a number with the new 448 area code will be in June.
Here are some other quick facts about the new 448 area code:
- Your current telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
- You will need to dial area code + telephone number for all local calls.
- You will continue to dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all long distance calls.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call.
- The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
- You can still dial just three digits to reach 911. You can also dial three digits to reach 211 and 811, as well as 311 and 511, where available.
- Telephone customers should remember to include their area code (3-digit area code + 7-digit telephone number) when giving their number to friends, family, business associates, and customers.
- Customers should ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment recognize the new 448 area code as a valid area code, and should continue to program 10-digit telephone numbers.
Cantonment Man Charged With Raping Underage Girl
February 17, 2021
A Cantonment man is charged with the forcible rape of an underage girl.
Josue Morel Lopez, 23, is charged with two counts of felony sexual battery of an underage victim age 12 or older while using force.
According to arrest report, Lopez would go to the victim’s home to see her sister and enter through her window. On the night of the incident, he instead went to the underage victim’s bedroom window. She recognized him and let him in the front door.
As she returned to her room, Lopez allegedly pushed her on the bed, began to strangle and rape her, according to an arrest report. The victim was treated for injuries, and a sexual assault kit was collected at a local hospital.
When the victim was interviewed, she told investigators that Lopez had previously sexually assaulted her about six years ago, the report states.
If convicted, Lopez faces life in prison on the capital offenses. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $400,000.
Woman Accused Of Stealing SUV From Atmore Gas Station Wrecks During Police Chase
February 17, 2021
An Ohio woman that allegedly stole a vehicle in Atmore led police on a chase that ended with a crash in Baldwin County.
Shortly before 7:30 Tuesday morning, 22-year old Hayli Lape of Columbus, Ohio, jumped into Chevrolet Tahoe that was parked at a gas station on Highway 21 in Atmore, according to police. She sped away, damaging the pump.
The Alabama Highway Patrol and Atmore Police caught up with the vehicle and pursued it south on I-65. Lape exited onto Baldwin County Highway 47 at Perdido.
Lape crashed and then attempted to get away on foot, according to Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks. She was apprehended a short time later. She was transported to North Baldwin Hospital In Bay Minette where she was treated for minor injuries and released.
Lape was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton without bond on charges of theft of property first degree, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement.
Rain, Isolated Severe Storms Possible Wednesday Night Into Thursday
February 17, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 9pm. Low around 46. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 27. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 34. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 64.
Escambia County Reports Four More COVID-19 Deaths, Another 102 Cases
February 17, 2021
HERE IS YOUR OFFICIAL NORTH ESCAMBIA AREA FORECAST.
There were four additional COVID-19 deaths and 102 more cases in Escambia County reported Tuesday by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 32,890 (+102)
Non-Florida residents: 3,403
Recovered: 30,855*
Total deaths: 598 (+4)
Long-term care facility deaths: 259 (+2)
Current hospitalizations: 120 (-3)
Number of tests reported last day: 1,283
Percent positive reported last day: 7.1%
Percent positive reported last week: 8.9%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 24,500 (+85)
Cantonment: 2,972 (+7)
Century: 1,135
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 450 (+2)
McDavid: 193
Bellview: 56
Walnut Hill: 49
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 12
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 16,557 (+41)
Non-Florida residents: 211
Total deaths: 244 (+1)
Long-term care facility deaths: 74
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 754*
Number of tests reported last day: 1,595
Percent positive reported last day: 3.3%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 7,947 (+17)
Navarre: 3,344 (+11)
Gulf Breeze: 3,104 (+4)
Pace: 1,311 (+5)
Jay: 511 (+4)
Bagdad: 31
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,837,285
Florida residents: 1,803,893
Deaths: 29,154
Hospitalizations: 76,525*
*“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. Most of these people are longer be 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.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***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 is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.