Gregory Lee Wiggins
January 5, 2021
Gregory Lee Wiggins, age 63, of Atmore, AL passed away on January 1, 2021. He was born on March 4, 1957, in Atmore, AL to the late Oliver “A.C.” and Carolyn Steele Wiggins. He was a retired Chemical Engineer and a member of Mennonite Christian Fellowship.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Nok Wiggins and his brother, Michael Wiggins.
He is survived by his daughter, Narisa Wiggins (Casey) Freeman of Atmore, AL and his sisters, Olivia (Franklin “Runt”) Bryan of Atmore, AL, Beth (Bob) Berry of TX, Peggy (Freddie) Hobbs of Atmore, AL, Jane (Holly) Bell of Atmore, AL and Sue (Jerry “Buck”) Sells of Poarch, AL.
No formal services will be held.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Gary Gordon Diamond
January 5, 2021
Gary Gordon Diamond, walked the stairway to heaven into the presence of our Lord, on December 26, 2020. He was born, March 27, 1964, to Joseph Thomas “Tommy” Diamond and Frances Fulford. He was married to Cynthia J Edmondson, his high school sweetheart, for 38 years and resided in Molino, Florida, where they both grew up.
He was preceded in death by his father, “Tommy”, his grandmother, Lucille Diamond Stewart and his grandfather, Gordon Diamond, Aunt Faye Macks, uncles, Curtis, Louie and Billy Ray Diamond.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy, daughters, Erica Robbins,(Will) and Katelyn Diamond; and son, Joseph(Joey) Diamond; nine grand-children, Joseph,(JT ) Caleb, AliMae, David, Iyianna, Addyson, Bentley, Kali and Kynlee; aunts, Carol and Kathryn Diamond, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Gary and Cindy were childhood friends who fell in love and got married in 1982. Soon after, he completed his military obligation with the U.S. Army, he began his amazing life with her. Cindy was his world. He was loving, caring and had a giving heart. As his children and grandchildren came, one by one his world grew bigger!
Gary found his second love of his life, as a firefighter, with the Molino Fire Department and then with the Navarre Beach Fire Department, working his way up to becoming the Volunteer Fire Chief then Captain at Navarre Beach Fire Dept.
Fishing, spending time with family and friends, at home and at “the river”, working at the Fire Department were just a few of Gary’s passions. He was a “HERO” to many and will forever be remembered as the one who sacrificed all he had to protect his family. He was the epitome of what a family man should be, as well as a husband, father, grandfather, friend and servant. He was a servant of God’s in the many ways he gave to others and did for others. I know that when Gary met the Lord, it was with the words; “Welcome home My true and faithful servant. Your days are done and now you can rest in peace.
R.I.P. Gary Diamond and know you were loved beyond belief.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at Olive Baptist Church at 11 a.m. with burial to follow at Highland Baptist Church.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Woman Crashes Into Wooded Area On Velor Road
January 4, 2021
One person was injured in a wreck near Oak Grove Monday afternoon.
An adult female driver lost control on Velor Road about 1.5 miles south of Highway 164 shortly after noon and crashed into a wooded area. The car plowed through a cedar tree and crashed into a pine tree. The car came to rest between three pine trees, make it difficult for the woman to exit the vehicle.
She was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries not considered life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Car Found Washed Away, Mostly Submerged In Big Escambia Creek (With Photo Gallery)
January 4, 2021
A car was found washed away and mostly submerged in Big Escambia Creek near Century Sunday. There was no one inside.
The car apparently entered the water from the creek bank directly adjacent to the Fannie Road bridge before it was moved by the current nearly two-tenths of a mile downstream from the bridge.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue reached the vehicle using a boat and searched for occupants with a negative result.
A man stating he was the owner of the vehicle later arrived on scene and told NorthEscambia.com and law enforcement that the car had been stolen from his yard overnight.
For a photo gallery, click to enlarge.
A front end loader was used to expand an existing dirt path to allow a wrecker to reach a sandbar near the vehicle.
In addition to Century firefighters, Flomaton MedStar EMS, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Flomaton Police Department and Flomaton Fire Department responded. The Fannie Road bridge over Big Escambia Creek is located just outside Century, about a mile south of the Alabama state line.
Pictured top: A car was found mostly submerged in Big Escambia Creek near Century Sunday. Pictured in order below: Firefighters in a boat use an axe to make access into the vehicle to check for a possible victim. The vehicle submerged in Big Escambia Creek. The spot next to the bridge were officials believe the vehicle entered the water. A view from the Fannie Road bridge looking toward the car in far distance. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
500 Escambia County Seniors Receive COVID-19 Vaccinations In First Large Scale Event
January 4, 2021
The first members of the general population in Escambia County received the COVID-19 vaccine Sunday. Vaccinations were given to about 500 preselected underserved adults 65 and older at the Brownsville Community Center.
It was part of a pilot program from the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Division of Emergency Management to test the most efficient way to distribute the vaccine. The adults receiving the Modenra vaccine were chosen in advance by the FDOH, and they will return for a required second dose on Sunday, January 31.
Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore said Escambia County was chosen by the state to host a closed “point-of-distribution” known as a POD. That’s why residents were required to have a voucher to receive a vaccine Sunday. County leaders had six days to put their plan together and distribute the vouchers.
“It’s exciting that we were chosen to do this,” Gilmore said. “It’s a monumental task, but we were honored to be able to do this for the community and help the state of Florida out and show them if this is going to work.”
Florida residents age 65 and older are the first from the general public to receive the vaccine under and order from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The health department in Escambia County has an online form for people age 65 and older to request an appointment to received the COVID-19 vaccine at a future time. For the appointment request form, click or tap here. Residents are asked not to call or walk into the health department for the COVID-19 vaccine. The form only asks for a name and phone number. The health department has not said when they will contact interested individuals 65 and older, or how an appointment can be requested without internet access.
Photos Rebekah Castor/WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
January 4, 2021
Ransom Middle School recently named their December Students of the Month. They are CeCe Campbell and Tristan Whitson. Photos for NorthEscambia.com. click to enlarge.
AAA: 2020 Florida Gas Prices Were The Lowest In 16 Years
January 4, 2021
Florida gas prices are off to their lowest start to a new year since 2019. The state average is currently $2.19 per gallon. Last year began with drivers paying nearly $2.50 per gallon. In 2019, drivers started the year paying around $2.16.
The lowest price in North Escambia Sunday night was $2.15 at a station of Muscogee Road, while a low of $2.05 could be found at two Pensacola warehouse clubs.
“Florida drivers saw big swings at the pump last year, primarily because the pandemic caused lower fuel demand both nationwide and around the globe,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group.
- Florida’s highest daily average price in 2020 was $2.56 per gallon. That was 24 cents per gallon less than the highest price in 2019.
- Florida’s lowest daily average price in 2020 was $2.176 per gallon. That was 36 cents per gallon less than the lowest price in 2019.
Gas prices for the entire year of 2020 averaged $2.11 per gallon. That’s the lowest annual average price in 16 years. The annual average price in recent years was $2.49 in 2019, $2.65 in 2018, and $2.37 in 2017.
“Although the fuel market remains optimistic about the long term recovery of fuel demand, thanks to the coronavirus vaccine; the shot term future of prices at the pump will likely continue to be hampered by reports of rising cases of Covid-19,” Jenkins continued.
Florida gas prices have hovered around $2.20 per gallon for the past 20 days. Crude oil prices have held steady during that same period. The state average price for gasoline is 4 cents more than a month ago, yet 31 cents less than this time last year.
Photos: A Couple Of New Outdoor Spots To Enjoy A Good Book At The Century Library
January 4, 2021
Visitors to the Century Branch Library will soon have a couple of new spots to sit and enjoy a good book. A new bench and picnic table have been installed outside the library. There are also sidewalk improvements and an improved bicycle rack are on the way.
The Escambia County Commission approved the improvements last January.
Pictured: Improvements as seen outside the Century Branch Library on Sunday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Week Begins With Nice Sunny Days And Cool Nights
January 4, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 55.
Four Additional COVID-19 Deaths, 192 New Cases In Escambia County, FDOH Reports
January 4, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVE STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
On Sunday, the Florida Department of Health reported four additional COVID-19 deaths and 192 new cases in Escambia County.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 23,206 (+192)
Non-Florida residents: 2,507
Total deaths: 383 (+4)
Long-term care facility deaths : 168 (+3)
Current hospitalizations: 198
Number of tests reported last day: 709
Percent positive reported last day: 20.6%
Percent positive reported last week: 17.8%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 17,007 (+151)
Cantonment: 2,021 (+16)
Century: 1,027 (+6)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 280 (+1)
McDavid: 144 (+1)
Walnut Hill: 39
Bellview: 33
Perdido Key: 17
Gonzalez: 10
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 11,656 (+164)
Non-Florida residents: 147
Total deaths: 130
Long-term care facility deaths: 25 (+1)
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 561*
Number of tests reported day: 371
Percent positive reported last day: 30.0%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 5,684 (+43)
Navarre: 2,285 (+37)
Gulf Breeze: 2,064 (+51)
Pace: 893 (+11)
Jay: 321 (+12)
Bagdad: 26
Florida cases:
Total cases: 1,365,436
Florida residents: 1,341,287
Deaths: 21,987
Hospitalizations: 63,332*
*“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 as a result, 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.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.