Alabama Man Charged With Boarding Train, Tampering With Controls. And Meth Possession.
April 6, 2021
An Alabama man has been charge with allegedly boarding a train near Flomaton, tampering with the controls, and meth possession.
The Flomaton Police Department responded to a report of an unauthorized person on a CSX locomotive near Hollywood Drive.
Randal Wayne Shugart, of Mountain Brook, Alabama, entered the locomotive and began to tamper with the controls, according to Flomaton Police. That caused an emergency code that locked down the engine. Police said he also caused damage to the locomotive.
Flomaton Police also reported finding him with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia at the time.
Shugart, 45, was charged with unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle (train), criminal mischief first degree, possess of methamphetamine, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
CSX Police are continuing their investigation into the incident.
Construction Work Continues Nightly On Highway 29 From Cantonment To Molino
April 6, 2021
Construction work is continuing nightly on Highway 29 between Cantonment and Molino.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, drivers can expect intermittent north and southbound lane closures between Muscogee Road and Highway 97 from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. for paving operations.This will include work at Muscogee and Becks Lake roads and Morris Avenue intersections, as well as the CSX railroad crossing.
Pictured: Construction work on Highway 29 at Becks Lake Road/Muscogee Road in Cantonment Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Patchy Dense Fog For Tonight
April 6, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 57. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. High near 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Unusual Century Council Meeting With No Action Items; CRA Meeting Called Off Due To No-Show Members
April 6, 2021
Monday night’s Century Town Council meeting was a bit unusual in that the council did not vote on anything, except ordinary acts to pay the bills and approve previous minutes.
The council heard updates on items including the Community Action Program and the Charter Review Committee during a meeting that lasted well over an hour, but there were no action items on the regular agenda.
The council barely had a quorum with two members absent; Leonard White and Sanda McMurray-Jackson did not attend. Mayor Ben Boutwell took part in the meeting by Zoom call due to an illness.
Earlier in the evening, the town council was to sit as the Community Redevelopment Agency. With only Luis Gomez and James Smith present, the meeting was called off due to a lack of a quorum. Council members Jackson, White and Dynette Lewis were no-shows.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
T.R. Miller Tops Northview
April 6, 2021
T.R. Miller defeated the Northview Chiefs 6-3 Monday night in Brewton.
The game was tried at three in the bottom of the fifth when T.R. Miller scored on a sacrifice fly.
Cameron Patrick opened on the mound for the Chiefs. he went three and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out one. Ethan Collier threw two and one-third innings in relief, allowing three runs on two hits and striking out three.
Luke Bridges went 1-3 for the only hit of the night for Northview.
Pictured: Luke Bridges at bat for the Northview Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
17-Year Old Faces Up To Life In Prison After Sexual Battery Conviction
April 6, 2021
An Escambia County 17-year old is facing up to life in prison after being convicted of a sexual battery last year.
Eric Demond Parrish was convicted by an Escambia County jury of one count of sexual battery (force likely to cause serious bodily injury), one count of battery, and one count of false imprisonment. Parrish is a juvenile and was tried as an adult.
On January 7, 2020, the Parrish sexually battered the victim without her consent, according to the State Attorney’s Office. In the course of the sexual battery, he placed his hands around her neck. As the victim tried to leave the home, then Parrish grabbed her by her arms and clothes and attempted to drag her back into the home and prevent her from leaving.
Parrish will be sentenced in May.
Jeffrey Allen Williams
April 6, 2021
Jeffrey Allen Williams, of Pace, Florida, beloved husband, son, brother, uncle, friend, and mentor to many, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on April 1, 2021, as a result of a motor vehicle accident.
In both his personal and professional lives, Jeffrey was kind, loving, devoted, generous, selfless, and humble. He embodied loyalty and integrity. He loved the Lord and his family, and he cherished the deep friendships he forged in life. His behind-the-scenes generosity benefited countless individuals.
Born on September 1, 1966, Jeffrey was the son of Linda Kay Williams and Kenneth George Williams. He began his life on a farm in Jamestown, North Dakota, and fell in love with engines at the age of 9, when his father gave him complete responsibility for driving and maintaining an 830 John Deere tractor. Jeffrey quickly acclimated to the Southern way of life, even acquiring a Southern accent after moving with his mother and sister, Shari Kaye Andrews, to Vestavia Hills, Alabama, at the age of 12. Jeffrey graduated from Vestavia Hills High School in 1984. He was a proud member of the Rebels’ marching band and an award-winning jazz ensemble, in which he played the trombone with great skill.
Jeffrey attended The University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he majored in mechanical engineering. He was a brother in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and was delighted when his nephew, John M. Hunnicutt, III, became a Lambda Chi brother at Huntingdon College of Montgomery, Alabama.
Following high school, Jeffrey worked as a crew chief with his friends Roger and Bobby Reuse in short track stock car racing, which some consider to be the real NASCAR. They competed in various venues, including Darlington Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, and the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola. It was at a race in Daytona where Jeffrey met his first wife, Evelyn “Evie” Lewis of Boone, North Carolina. Up to the time of his passing, Jeffrey maintained a warm friendship with Evie.
Jeffrey began his career in the HVAC business in 1984, working as a draftsman for Alabama Controls of Birmingham. Subsequently, he worked as a Controls Engineer, Controls Salesman, Controls Contracting Project Manager, and finally Senior Account Manager and Sales Engineer for Trane, a Division of the Ingersoll-Rand Company. Jeffrey received many awards and accolades while at Trane, including the 1990 Pace Setter Award; he also became a member of the 2003 Million Dollar Chiller Club and 2005 Million Dollar Club. Jeffrey left Trane in September 2014 and devoted his attention to one of his greatest passions-cars. He bought, sold, repaired, renovated, and hauled vehicles from all over the country with his friend and business partner, Ben Milam, previously of U Park U Sell of Prattville, Alabama.
From 2008 to 2014, Jeffrey served as the Executive Director of Vettes-4-Vets of Birmingham. He planned, organized, and oversaw multiple fundraising events to enrich the lives of our nation’s Veterans and their families. Jeffrey provided the logistics and led the primary annual fundraiser for Vettes-4-Vets at the Talladega Superspeedway. The event included a car show, Veterans’ appreciation ceremony and dinner, and track day at the Talladega Superspeedway for over 250 Corvette aficionados from multiple states, with annual attendance of 700 or more. Jeffrey is a Lifetime Member of the National Corvette Museum, and he served as the Ambassador to the National Corvette Museum for the Capitol City Corvette Club of Montgomery from 2006 to 2014. Jeffrey also served as President of the Mid-Alabama Corvette Club of Birmingham. His favorite places to be were car shows, with friends on the track, or driving the Tail of the Dragon. He was conferred the rank of “Dragon Slayer” in October 2009 by the Confederation of Corvette Clubs of Louisiana.
On January 1, 2015, Jeffrey married Allison Hunnicutt. To cement their relationship and Allison’s love of Corvettes, Jeffrey gave Allison a 2009 Crystal Red Metallic Corvette Coupe for Valentine’s Day 2014. Allison and Jeffrey enjoyed racing their Corvettes at the Montgomery Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, and Robling Road with their cherished friends in the Capitol City Corvette Club. Their great love story will live on in Allison’s heart forever, as Jeffrey was the love of Allison’s life.
In March 2016, Jeffrey took a job with Air-Tech of Pensacola, where he worked as an Outside Sales Engineer until the time of his passing. Jeffrey became an expert in Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) technology.
Jeffrey loved his churches-The Church at Brook Hills of Birmingham, Morningview Baptist Church of Montgomery, and Olive Baptist Church of Pensacola (and his Route 66 Connection Group at Olive). At The Church at Brook Hills, Jeffrey served as a sound technician under Reverend Rick Ousley and worship pastor Kelly Stephenson, while Evie served as worship leader.
Jeffrey is survived by his loving family, including wife Allison; father Kenneth George Williams (Donna Walsh); brother Kenneth George Williams, II (Becki Jo); sister Shari Kaye Andrews; step brothers Philip C. Roberts (Ashley Barkocy Roberts), Mike Roberts (Carol), and Shaun Roberts (Hope); brothers-in-law Jack Hunnicutt (Dwayne) and John M. Hunnicutt, Jr. (DeAna); sister-in-law Alexis Hunnicutt (fiancé Andrew Turk); numerous nieces and nephews; and dear friends whom he considered his brothers and sisters. Before his passing, Jeffrey filled the beautiful home he built for Allison with family members, who brought both of them endless joy, love, and laughter. The four special guests at the Williams B&B at the time of Jeffrey’s passing into Glory include niece Bowen Hunnicutt Rapala (Mark), Bowen and Mark’s two-year old son Hudson, niece Macy Shae Barkocy, and nephew Jeremiah Holcomb. As a child at heart, Jeffrey delighted in having a baby in his home and was enchanted by Baby Hudson. Jeffrey was an extremely loving, caring, and devoted man.
Jeffrey was preceded in death by his mother, Linda Kay Glass, and step-mother, Reba Williams.
Jeffrey, you are in our thoughts, in our hearts, and in every part of our lives. You will always be with us; and we will always be with you.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Word Walk, Inc., 6847 N. 9th Avenue, Suite A-177, Pensacola, Florida 32504, www.wordwalk.us.
Arrangements are with Faith Chapel Funeral Homes, 1000 S. Highway 29, Cantonment, Florida 32533. Services will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2021, with visitation at 12:00 p.m., and a Celebration of Life at 1:00 p.m., followed by a light lunch in the event room.
Janice Marie Seals Hall
April 6, 2021
Janice Marie Seals Hall age 65 of Atmore, went home to be with Jesus on April 4, 2021 Resurrection Sunday.
She was born in Atmore, Al on November 18, 1955 to the late William J Seals and Melvie Z Seals, was a native of Nokomis, Fl; where she grew up with her sisters and brother helping her parents work on their farm. She went to Davisville School and graduated at Ernest Ward School, and after she retired from Vanity Fair and New South Apparel; she graduated from Capps College as a Registered Medical Assistant. Then she worked at Walmart Vision Center and The Meadows Assisted Living. Growing up on the farm she enjoyed working outside in the garden and with her flowers,
She helped her husband of 46 years, do any kind of work outside and remodel their many homes they lived in. She grew up playing the guitar and singing gospel music, worked in the church as song leader, musician, Sunday school teacher and children’s church teacher. Her greatest past time was bream fishing and she could catch more fish than whoever was with her. She loved all her nieces and nephews and everyone else’s children.
She had happy and joyful spirit toward everyone and was loved for her beautiful (SMILE) that she was known for. We all will miss her greatly!
She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Ronald Gordon Hall of Atmore, AL; one brother, Michael Seals, of Davisville, FL; three sisters, Shelia Lee of Century, FL; Donna Jordan of Poarch, AL; Shereee Morgan of Flomaton, AL; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 10:00 AM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Brian Bruley officiating.
Burial will follow at the Pine Barren Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 7, 2021 from 6 to 8 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Zack Carter, Shane Seals, Brian Jordan, Chase Odom, Chris Burklund and Jeremy Shiver.
Escambia County Records 21 New COVID-19 Cases
April 6, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
The Florida Department of Health reported no additional COVID-19 deaths and 21 new cases in Escambia County on Monday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 34,990 (+21)
Non-Florida residents: 3,624
Recovered: 34,178*
Total deaths: 669
Long-term care facility deaths: 280
Current hospitalizations: 32 (+8)
Number of tests reported last day: 269
Percent positive reported last day: 6.6%
Percent positive reported last week: 4.7%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 26,098 (+15)
Cantonment: 3,151 (+2)
Century: 1,173 (+1)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 486 (+1)
McDavid: 210 (+1)
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 53
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 17,824 (+15)
Non-Florida residents: 230
Total deaths: 278
Long-term care facility deaths: 81
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 859*
Number of tests reported last day: 178
Percent positive reported last day: 7.3%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,497 (+7)
Navarre: 3,676 (+2)
Gulf Breeze: 3,311 (+5)
Pace: 1,432
Jay: 544
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,085,306
Florida residents: 2,046,280
Deaths: 33,710
Hospitalizations: 85,800
*“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.
Beulah Man Charged After Fracturing 2-Week Old Infant’s Skull, ECSO Says
April 5, 2021
A Beulah man has been charged after a 2-week old was taken to the hospital with a fractured skull and other serious injuries.
Brock Tatum Baumert, 27, was charged with first degree felony aggravated child abuse and was being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The mother of the 2-week old told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she went to a friend’s birthday dinner and left her daughters — ages 5 and 10-years and 2-weeks — in the care of Baumert, who was living at the residence with them.
“While she was away, she received several text messages from her 10-year-old daughter asking her to come home. She immediately returned home and found the two-week-old in a child’s swing with a bloody lip, a scratch on her nose and bruising around her face,” the ECSO said.
The mother immediately took all three children to West Florida Hospital. The 2-week old suffered a fractured skull, a fractured clavicle and had multiple bruises. The other two children were unharmed.
Baumert was arrested a few hours later. His relationship to the children has not been released.