Tate Junior Varsity Boys Soccer Team Wins JV Tournament
December 5, 2021
The Tate High School boys soccer team took the championship title at a weekend JV tournament in Navarre.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Joy In Jay Christmas Parade Photo Gallery
December 5, 2021
The Jay Christmas Parade rolled through the town Saturday morning, followed by the Joy in Jay Festival.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Santa Will Visit The Molino Library On Monday (With Complete Schedule For All Branches)
December 5, 2021
Santa Claus is coming to the Molino Branch Library twice this month.
Santa will be at the Molino Library on Monday, December 6 from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. and Thursday, December 16 from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m.
The schedule is below for Santa’s remaining visits to West Florida Library branches. (Santa visited the Century Library last week.)
Pictured: Santa Claus visited with lots of good boys and girls last week at the Century Branch Library. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘Sweetest Name I Know’ – Christmas Parade Float Dedicated To Late Beulah Chapel Member
December 5, 2021
The winning float in Saturday’s Flomaton Christmas parade was the vision of a member of Beulah Chapel Assembly of God in Byrneville, and it was dedicated to her memory.
Church member Marie Willis Greene tells us the story, in her own words:
This year we are dedicating our annual Christmas float to the memory of Mandie Kelley Lowery of Bratt (1983-2019). Mandie was working on a theme for our next parade float and thought the theme, “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know” would be just perfect; she was given a vision.
COVID-1p prevented us from fulfilling her vision last year.
2021 is the year for the float to become reality. It’s definitely time for the float committee to have fun, enjoy getting to know each other better while making the float a reality, and of course the most fun is looking forward to seeing the smiles on the children’s faces as candy is distributed to all.
Close your eyes and you just might see Mandie’s huge smile of approval and feel her warmth.
I hope that the words below will give our readers and members who didn’t have the pleasure of knowing her a little glimpse of who our friend Mandie was.
On the afternoon of November 30, 2019, our congregation got word that our Sister in Christ Mandie Kelley Lowery, went to be with our Lord and Savior. Absolutely no one expected the Lord to call her home while she and her family were having a fun-filled vacation in Tennessee. I’m sure right now, Mandie would want to say.. “Always be ready, no one knows when the Lord’s purpose for you is finished”. In her short time on earth she bonded (a forever bond) to many of us at Beulah Chapel. She was such an inspiration and once you met her you had a friend forever. As our pastor mentioned at her celebration, she was a Virtuous woman who was on Fire for the Lord, just to name a few of the tributes.
The Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church float will also be in the Atmore Christmas Parade on December 11 and the Barnett Crossroads Christmas Parade on December 18.
For more more photos from the Flomaton Christmas Parade, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lavada Kelly Renfroe
December 5, 2021
Mrs. Lavada Kelly Renfroe, age 94, passed away, Wednesday, November 24, 2021 in Atmore, AL. She was born in Byrneville, FL; and has resided in Atmore, AL; since 1990. She was a member of Atmore First United Methodist Church. She served along side her “Preacher” husband for more than 35 years.
Mrs. Renfroe enjoyed vegetable gardening and working with flowers. Her passion was sewing, as she was a professional seamstress. She was a very kind and generous woman, who shared potato bread and fruits and vegetables from her garden with the neighbors.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Vanie and Clara Kelly, husband, J D Renfroe, grandson, Rodney Renfroe, three brothers, Charles Kelly, Calvin Kelly, Arthur Kelly and one sister, Vera Presley.
She is survived by her Three sons, Larry Wayne (Connie) Renfroe, of Atmore, AL; Ronnie James (Linda) Renfroe, of Leroy, AL; John Owen (Kathy) Renfroe, of Columbus, MS; numerous grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 28, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Atmore First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Larry W. Renfroe officiating.
Burial will follow at Byrneville Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, November 28, 2021 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at Atmore First United Methodist Church
See Acres Of Christmas Lights, Take A Hayride And More For Free At Runamuck Ranch In Bratt (Photo Gallery)
December 4, 2021
UPDATE CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE — CLICK HERE.
The Runamuck Ranch in Bratt has tens of thousands of Christmas lights, and you are invited to stop by and see them for free. And see the goats in pajamas.
Skip and Kristy Geiser opened the Christmas display last year, and it’s even bigger this year.
“We love sharing this with the community,” Kristy said.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Friday night, children were running and giggling, stopping to stare in awe at the displays. A fire crackled in a fire pit, making it smell like Christmas. The horses were a favorite stop, but there were more “oohs and awes” over the goats in pajamas (pictured below).
Nestled on three or four acres in the woods off Rigby Road, the display is walk-through (not a drive-through). Admission and parking are free, but donations are accepted.
Visitors walk a short distance from the parking lot down a lighted path and cross a small foot bridge into the Christmas wonderland. It’s in an open, park-like setting with lots of lights, inflatables, and animated displays.
Skip was in the driver’s seat of the tractor for the old fashioned hayride down a lighted trail.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “Sometimes the kids want to leave with the hay, but we have to let them know we leave it for the animals to eat.”
Concessions are available — hot cocoa, popcorn, cotton candy, hot tea, bottled water and more are mostly $1 each. A S’mores kit will set you back just $3. Only cash is accepted. There are picnic tables and lounge chairs, and propane patio heaters if it’s cold.
Runamuck Ranch is located at 4951 Rigby Road in Bratt (about 1.5 miles from Bratt Elementary). Take Still Road south off West Highway 4 turn left on Rigby Road and look for the signs. Don’t expect to see a lot of lights from the road; it’s a driveway back to the parking lot. (We found that Google Maps was a bit off on the location; click here for a map to the driveway.)
The lights festival is open Thursday-Saturday from 5:30 until 9 p.m. The gate closes at 8:30 p.m., and the last hayride is at 8:15 p.m.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Friday night at the Christmas lights festival at Runamuck Ranch in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
All Charges Dropped Against Former Police Lieutenant Involved In Fatal Pedestrian Crash
December 4, 2021
All charges have been dropped against a former police officer that was involved in a fatal pedestrian crash last September in Pensacola.
Alvin Odessel Godwin, 74, was charged with DUI manslaughter after his pickup truck hit a pedestrian who was walking westbound on an Airport Boulevard sidewalk between The Fresh Market and Sam’s Club.
But a toxicology report showed he did not have alcohol or any controlled substance in his system.
“A review of the totality of the circumstances leads to a finding that insufficient evidence exists to prove that the defendant’s apparent impairment at the time of the crash was caused by consumption of alcohol or controlled substances,” court records state. “The Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime lab’s analysis of the defendant’s timely legal blood draw determined that there was no alcohol or controlled substances in his blood after the crash.”
According to police, Godwin retired from the Pensacola Police Department as a lieutenant about 20 years ago.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Beulah Christmas Car Parade To Roll At 2 P.M. Saturday With Santa
December 4, 2021
The Second Annual Beulah Christmas Car Parade will begin at 2:00 Saturday afternoon.
Santa will be on his sleigh on the last float.
The parade will generally travel West Nine Mile Road between Tower Ridge Road and Beulah Road; Beulah Road between Nine Mile and Helms roads; Helms Road to Mobile Highway; Woodside Road, and Mobile Highway between Helms and West Nine Mile (see map).
Submitted image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With String Of Carjacking Attempts Around Nine Mile, Pine Forest Roads
December 4, 2021
An Escambia County man is accused in a string carjacking attempts around the Nine Mile and Pine Forest road area
Robert Nickalous Minter was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, two counts of attempted carjacking, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and criminal mischief. According to the ECSO, more charges may be forthcoming.
According to investigators, Minter attempted the carjackings at the Walmart at 9301 Pine Forest Road, in the 7000 block of Pine Forest Road and in the 700 block of East Nine Mile Road.
Minter remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday morning with bond set at $241,000.
Warm Weekend; Watching For Possible Storms Next Week
December 4, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Light east wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.