Johnnie T Jumper, Jr.
March 25, 2021
Johnnie T Jumper, Jr. was born December 23, 1942 in Meridian, Mississippi and died surrounded by his family on March 21, 2021.
Johnnie joined the Army when he was 18. He was a Korean War Veteran and took great pride in his service. It was in the Army that he began to develop his skills as a mechanic.
In 1961 he married Vera Davis, the love of his life, and welcomed their first child in 1963. 10 years later he moved his family to New Orleans and soon after opened his diesel repair business, Diesel Technicians. Johnnie was the best in his field and was flown around the world for his expertise. His success meant that he was often away from him family for long periods of time.
In 1987 he decided to focus more time on his family, closed his business and moved back to Meridian. Five years later he bought his wife the old house she always loved in Cantonment and moved his family for the last time. He dedicated his life to taking care of his family. He was an active member of Aldersgate Methodist Church until his wife’s health would no longer allow.
Johnnie was always willing to help anyone in need. He had a caring, peaceful soul that came through in his words and deeds. He was famous for flashing a Peace sign anytime someone tried to take his picture. He will always be remembered for his gentle spirit and hearty laugh.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Vera Jumper, his parents Johnnie Jumper Sr and Elizabeth Jumper, his siblings Dot Strickland and Perry Cushman as well as 2 grandchildren.
He is survived by his children: Audrey Miller (Kevin), Johnnie Jumper III (Lisa), Holly Bodi (Robert), Debra Whitten (Bobby), Elizabeth Douglas (Trevor) and Wendy Bedsole (Paul).
He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Johnnie will be cremated and a graveside memorial service will be scheduled in April.
FDOH Reports No New Deaths, Another 34 COVID-19 Cases
March 25, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
The Florida Department of Health reported no new deaths and 34 additional COVID-19 cases in Escambia County on Wednesday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 34,624 (+34)
Non-Florida residents: 3,587
Recovered: 33,206*
Total deaths: 658
Long-term care facility deaths: 277
Current hospitalizations: 28 (+1)
Number of tests reported last day: 882
Percent positive reported last day: 3.3%
Percent positive reported last week: 2.7%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 25,808 (+28)
Cantonment: 3,119 (+2)
Century: 1,171
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 484
McDavid: 207
Bellview: 57
Walnut Hill: 53
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 17,644 (+28)
Non-Florida residents: 220
Total deaths: 276
Long-term care facility deaths: 80
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 844*
Number of tests reported last day: 411
Percent positive reported last day: 6.6%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,394 (+8)
Navarre: 3,639 (+8)
Gulf Breeze: 3,272 (+5)
Pace: 1,412 (+3)
Jay: 545
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,021,656
Florida residents: 1,984,274
Deaths: 32,850
Hospitalizations: 84,006
*“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.
Rain Possible Thursday Night; Wind Advisory In Effect
March 25, 2021
A wind advisory is in effect with winds gusting up to 35 mph.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 67. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Areas of fog before 1pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Bobby C. Miller, Sr.
March 25, 2021
Bobby C. Miller, Sr. passed away March 22, 2021 in Molino, FL.
He was born June 28, 1930 in San Antonio, TX to Harry and Stella Miller. Bobby married the love of his life, Wilma Lexine Floyd, after knowing her for only 3 days and they celebrated 70 sweet years together. They had 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 4 great, great-grandchildren. Bobby was very proud of all of them.
He enlisted in the Marine Corp when he was 17 and fought bravely with the 1st and 5th Marines during the Korean War at the Chosin Reservoir in 1950, in which he was one of only twenty survivors. Bobby was also a former member of the Free Masons. He retired from Monsanto and was a Deacon for Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church. Bobby was a friend to all.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Stella Miller; father, Harry Nicholas Miller, Sr.; sister, Dorothy Eichholtz; and brothers, Harry Nicholas Miller, Jr. and Jerry Miller.
Bobby is survived by his wife, Lexine Miller; daughters, Karen Wood and Donna L. Gatlin; and sons, Bobby C. Miller, Jr. and Michael R. Miller.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church with Dawson Standland officiating. The family will receive friends from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. at the church. Burial will follow at Little Flock Primitive Baptist Cemetery. There will be full USMC Military Honors at the cemetery.
Pallbearers are Matthew Gatlin, Jason Miller, John Miller, Austin Wolf, Dustin Ard, and Brad Shaw. Honorary Pallbearers are John Cobb, Tim Daniels, Harold Holder, Ronnie Beasley, Jimmy Ard, Creg Exner, and Mark Eichholtz.
Update: Boil Water Notice Lifted For Farm Hill Utilities Customers
March 24, 2021
UPDATE: This boil water notice was lifted Wednesday afternoon, March 24, after bacteriological sampling determined the water is safe to drink.
Farm Hill Utilities in Cantonment has issued a boil water notice for the southern part of their water system due to a water main break Sunday.
Numerous residents were without water service for several hours.
The precautionary boil water notice is in effect for
- Highway 97 (CR 97) south of Nowak Road
- All side roads off Highway 97 (CR) south of Nowak Road
- Nowak Road
All water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes should be brought to a rolling for at least one minute. As an alternative, bottled water may be used.
The boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
Woman With Rifle Exchanges Gunfire With FHP Troopers
March 24, 2021
A 43-year old woman who had possibly overdosed on drugs exchanged gunfire with Florida Highway Patrol troopers Tuesday evening before being taken into custody.
The incident began to unfold about 6 p.m. as a FHP trooper was conducting a traffic crash investigation in the area of Chemstrand Road and Ten Mile Road. A partially clothed woman approached the trooper and “voiced her concern of overdosing on drugs”, FHP Lt. Jason King said.
The trooper called for Escambia County EMS to evaluate the woman as she began to walk across the roadway, around a corner and out of sight.
As the trooper approached what appeared to be an unoccupied silver Chevrolet truck, the female subject sat up and presented a rifle, pointing it in the direction of the trooper,” King said. “An exchange of gunfire began as two more troopers and two Escambia County deputies arrived on scene.”
“At least one other trooper became engaged in the gunfire,” King added.
No one was injured by the gunfire. King said the woman was taken into custody and transported to Baptist Hospital for medical evaluation “prior to any arrest made or charges placed against her”.
The incident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence. The woman’s name has not been released.
Pictured: The scene at Chemstrand Road and 10 Mile Road shortly after a woman reportedly fired a weapon at law enforcement. Photos by Latino Media Gulf Coast and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
After 18 Years, The Search Continues For Melinda Wall McGhee
March 24, 2021
Wednesday marked 18 years since Melinda Wall McGhee went missing from her Atmore home, the apparent victim of foul play.
The morning of March 24, 2003, was a sunny start to the first day of spring break. Melinda, then 31, returned to her home about 8 a.m. after working the night shift as a nurse at a Bay Minette nursing home.
Her husband, Troy McGhee, was at work at Masland Carpets in Atmore. Their two children were at a babysitter, and Troy’s son from a previous relationship was at a dentist’s office. At about 8:30 the morning of March 24, 2003, Melinda spoke to her mother on the phone. It was the last time anyone known to Melinda would ever hear from her.
At about 4:00 that afternoon, husband Troy came home to find Melinda missing. There was blood and evidence of a violent struggle inside the home. He reported his wife missing.
Melinda’s vehicle was found parked near the house with her keys locked inside. Her purse and cellular phone were inside the residence. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
Over the years, there have been several searches for Melinda’s body or clues into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
In March 2009, authorities searched an area off Perry Lane in Wawbeek for clues in Melinda’s disappearance. Perry Lane is about a mile north of Highway 31 off Sardis Church Road near Old Atmore Road. The location is about three miles north of the Florida/Alabama line . On the last day of January 2009, authorities searched a water-filled gravel pit off Jack Springs Roads near the Judson Cemetery between Atmore and Poarch. All of the searches have turned up empty.
In 2010, authorities issued a death certificate for McGhee after a required seven year waiting period passed.
Anyone with information on McGhee’s disappearance is asked to call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department at (251) 809-0741 or their local law enforcement agency.
It’s Now Been A Year Since The First COVID-19 Case Was Reported In North Escambia
March 24, 2021
It’s now been a year since the first COVID-19 cases were reported in North Escambia.
On March 24, 2020, three of the nine COVID-19 positives in Escambia County were announced as being from Cantonment, eight days after the first case was reported in Escambia County. A local state of emergency had been declared, and parents had learned during Spring Break that their children would not be going back to in-person class in the Escambia County School District.
It would be about two weeks before additional positive cases were reported across North Escambia.
On April 1, 2020, the first COVID-19 case in Century was reported. There were 96 total cases in Escambia County at the time, including 15 in Cantonment and 66 in Pensacola.
The first Molino case was reported April 5. The first positives in Walnut Hill and McDavid were reported April 6.
Winning $68K Fantasy Five Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
March 24, 2021
Someone is over $68,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket at a Nine Mile Road convenience store.
The ticket sold at the Nine Mile Raceway near Lowe’s was one of three winning tickets sold for Tuesday night’s drawing and is worth $68,177.06. Other winning tickets were sold in Punta Gorda and Miami.
The 375 tickets matching four numbers won $87.50 each. Another 10,063 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9 each, and 92616 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Tuesday’s winning numbers were 11-21-22-23-25.
Flash Flood Watch Continues, Heavy Rain Possible
March 24, 2021
A flash flood watch continues for the entire area. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 71. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 65. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 78. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.