Marilyn Denise Wesley
April 18, 2021
Ms. Marilyn Denise Wesley, 65, of Atmore, AL (Canoe Community), entered into eternity on Monday, April 12, 2021, at Select Specialty Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.
A native of Atmore, Alabama, Ms. Wesley was an Honor Student Graduate of Escambia County High School in 1973. She was a 1978 Cum Laude Graduate of Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, with a B.S. Degree, Psychology and she completed Graduate Coursework (Master of Public Administration Program) at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL.
She had an extensive work history including as an Account Executive with the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce (Pensacola, FL) 1981-1988; Program Coordinator with the Escambia County Workfare Program (Pensacola, FL) 1988-1991; Director II-Department of Community Affairs, Escambia County Board of Commissioners (Pensacola, FL) 1991-2015; Special Program Manager-Developer, Engineering & Planning Resources, P.C. (Pensacola, FL) 2016-2019 and Escambia County Human Relations Commission-Interim Director (Pensacola, FL) 2019-2021. Also, she was a Community Engagement Representative (Consultant) Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, FL).
During her childhood, she was a member of Liberty Missionary Baptist Church (Atmore, AL) and she was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Pensacola, FL) serving as Congregation President. Her passion was service to others; and, she spent her life fulfilling that mission.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Jessie Wesley and her brother, Charles Wesley.
Those left to cherish loving memories of her life are her sister, Amy Y. Wesley of Union City, GA.; a sister-in-law, Sarah (Charles) Wesley; nephews and nieces, Ryan Donald, Reginald Donald, Amanda Donald, Eric Mose, Danyell (Kevin) Epps, LaFrederick Rowe; aunts, Voncile Wesley-Ford, Evelyn Louise (Jesse) Richardson and a host of extended family members, dear cousins and friends.
A public visitation will be held on Friday, April 23, 2021, from 12:00 – 5:00 pm and on Saturday, April 24, 2021 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at Christian Family Funeral, 4020 North Davis Hwy., Pensacola, Florida 32503. The Committal will take place at the end of the Saturday viewing (beginning 1:00p.m.) with Reverend Dr. James P. Brown, Sr. presiding. Retirement of her cremains will be in accordance with her wishes.
Fire Destroys Vacant Home In Quintette Area
April 17, 2021
Fire destroyed a vacant home in the Quintette area before daybreak Saturday.
The fire was reported at the end of Tyler Lane, off East Chipper Road, about 5:35 a.m. The 2,000 square foot wood frame home was fully involved when firefighters arrived on scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
There were no injuries reported.
The Cantonment, Molno, Ensley, Bellview and Brent stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Pace Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS were dispatched to the fire.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Legendary Football Coach Carl Madison Selected For FHSAA Hall Of Fame
April 17, 2021
Legendary football coach Carl Madison has been selected for induction into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
The football field at Tate High School was recently remained “Carl Madison Field” in honor of the legendary coach that led the Aggies to a 1980 state championship and is one of the all-time winningest high school coaches in the nation.
Madison, who turned 90 in January, sits at number two on Florida’s all-time football coaching victories list with a 326-129-7 record.
In addition to winning a state title at Tate, he took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 Eagle team was named as national champions by USA Today, and Madison earned the title of the National High School Football Coach of the Year. All in all, he coached at five different Florida High Schools including Ernest Ward, plus three out of state schools.
His football days began early at Escambia County High School in Atmore where he played tailback under Coach Herbert Barnes from 1945 to 1947, making him one of Atmore’s semifamous “Barnes Boys” with 30 straight wins. After a stint in the Army, from 1950 to 1952, Madison played college ball for Texas Tech and Troy State Teachers College in the mid-1950s.
Fresh out of college, Madison coached for four years beginning in 1957 at Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill. He moved to Milton High in 1961, coaching them to a state championship and 34 straight victories. He then took a coaching job at a Georgia High School, losing a state championship game in 1968.
Madison joined the coaching staff at Tate in 1971 on his way to winning that 1980 state championship. He left Tate in 1983, heading to Pensacola High for a couple of years. Then it was off to Pine Forest and those back-to-back state championships. He coached at an Albany, Georgia, school, another 10 years at Milton High and another short period at PHS during the period from 1989 until 2002.
In 2002, he took the head coach job at the small Jackson Academy in Alabama. The then 71-year old took over a team that had gone 0-10 prior to his arrival. He lost his first two games at Jackson, but he went on to win the state championship. The following year, Jackson was undefeated and won another state championship.
In 2009, Madison briefly came out of retirement to once again take to the field at Tate, this time as an offensive consultant.
Man Shot In Beulah During Domestic Dispute, Suspect In Custody
April 17, 2021
One person was shot and another was taken into custody Friday night in Beulah.
It happened about 8:30 p.m. in the 5000 block of Alder Avenue, just north of Frank Reeder Road.
A 20-year old male was transported to an area hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder. His injuries were not considered life threatening.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting stemmed from a domestic incident, and a suspect was taken into custody.
Further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate High Boys Tennis Headed To Regionals For The First Time Ever
April 17, 2021
Tate High School boys tennis is headed to regionals for the first time in school history.
The Tate boys team is runner-up in District 1-3A.With finals wins at the #3 singles and #2 doubles, the Aggies pulled through the three day tournament. The Aggies boys top five are:
- Prosser Crow
- Evan Hered
- Barry Harberson
- Alex Grace
- Payton Herrington
The Tate High girls tennis team is tied for second with Washington and will continue play on Monday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Showers And Thunderstorms Continue Through The Weekend
April 17, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then showers likely between 8pm and 2am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8am, then a slight chance of showers between 8am and 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 70.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Century To Vote On Gulf Power Franchise Fee Increase, Consider EREC Hike; Customers Will Pay Up
April 17, 2021
The Town of Century will vote Monday on a franchise fee increase for Gulf Power and will begin the formal process for Escambia River Electric Cooperative.
In 1994, the franchise fees for both utilities were increased from 3% to 5%, and now the council is raising the fee to 6%.
While the franchise fee is technically charged to the utility, both Gulf Power and EREC tell NorthEscambia.com that they pass the full cost of the fee on to their customers.
During a 7 p.m. meeting Monday, the council will hold a public hearing on the Gulf Power franchise fee increase before a final vote. A first reading of the EREC agreement will be held, and a vote will come at a future meeting.
Gulf Power customers with an average 1,000 kwh monthly usage pay about $140 a month, according to Florida Public Service Commission documents. The franchise fee increase will cost customers in the Century town limits about $1.40 per month. According to EREC, their average customers pays about $146 for 1,000 kwh, equating a franchise fee increase of $1.46.
Northview Softball Beats Jay
April 17, 2021
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Jay Royals Friday night 7-6.
Emma Gilmore pitched the win for the Chiefs, going six innings allowing five hits and six runs while striking out six and walking two.
Alayna Lowery took the loss for Jay Royals Varsity. The pitcher lasted six innings, allowing seven hits and seven runs while striking out six. Lowery had a homer in the seventh.
Pictured: Emma Gilmore on the mound for the Northview Lady Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Baseball’s Fryman And Glodfelter Commit To UWF, Licastro Commits To LBW
April 17, 2021
Three Tate High School baseball standouts made college commitments this week.
Junior pitcher Josiah Glodfelter and senior outfielder Jadon Fryman made commitments to the University of West Florida.
Senior Zak Licastor committed to Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia, Alabama.
Photos by Laura Glodfelter for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOH Reports 31 New COVID-19 Cases In Escambia County
April 17, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There were 31 new COVID-19 cases reported Friday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 35,392 (+31)
Non-Florida residents: 3,658
Recovered: 34,178*
Total deaths: 674
Long-term care facility deaths: 281
Current hospitalizations: 22 (-8)
Number of tests reported last day: 591
Percent positive reported last day: 6.2%
Percent positive reported last week: 5.8%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 26,432 (+26)
Cantonment: 3,182 (+2)
Century: 1,173
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 488
McDavid: 211
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 53
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 17,957 (+10)
Non-Florida residents: 241
Total deaths: 282
Long-term care facility deaths: 81
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 876*
Number of tests reported last day: 267
Percent positive reported last day: 5.0%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,560 (+8)
Navarre: 3,706 (+1)
Gulf Breeze: 3,322 (+1)
Pace: 1,452
Jay: 548
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,155,744
Florida residents: 2,115,191
Deaths: 34,330
Hospitalizations: 87,943
*“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.