Eugene Emil Gabbert
November 19, 2021
Eugene Emil Gabbert
By wife, Brenda Joyce Gabbert
Gene lost his fight to stay here with us on earth, but he won the entrance through the Holy Gates of Heaven. He passed on to his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. We are members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, downtown Pensacola, but the visitation will be held at Cora Baptist Church at 1:00 PM and the service will begin at 2:00 PM; and burial will follow in the church community cemetery. Cora Baptist Church is located at 12953 Chumuckla Highway (197) Jay, FL.
I was fortunate to have spent 61 years of marriage to the most wonderful man and the most loving father to our daughters, Amanda (Mandy) Lynn (Tony) Simmons and Melissa Caroline Gabbert (deceased).
Gene was born on September 11, 1937 to Emil and Rosa Gabbert (deceased). His family lived on a 160-acre farm, in Howard Lake Minnesota with his parents and his three sisters, Joyce (Helmuth) Schmidt (deceased), Donna (Rodney) Anderson and Doreen (Sam) Merrill. Gene loved living on his family farm, as he did on ours her on Pine Level church Road, Jay, FL.
Gene joined the U.S. Air Force when he was nineteen and served 4 years of active duty and 2 years in Reserve. We were married on August 21, 1960, after I graduated from Bay High School, Panama City, FL; while Gene was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base. After he received his Honorable Discharge, he worked for General Dynamics for a while. He then worked for a private telephone company in Hutchinson, MN; until he got the job he wanted with Western Electric, making supervisor. After that, he went to work with Southern Bell and made supervisor there also. He then decided to become a John Deere Dealer, in Jay, FL. We opened our dealership in September of 1975; moving to Jay, FL; from Cantonment, FL; in January, 1977. We were dealers for 11 years. Gene worked for dealerships as a salesman for a while, and he was still farming. He then decided to retire from outside jobs to work from his home shop, repairing farm tractors and equipment. He loved restoring old 2- cylinder tractors, wagons, and other farm equipment.
Gene was proud when we received the U.S. congressional Award for sponsoring and hosting the Peanut Festival on our Farm, the first Saturday in October, every year. We thank Jeff Miller, who was our congressman in 2014. I also won the “Spirit of Santa Rosa County” that year, given to me, from the SRC Chamber of Commerce for our involvement in the community.
There was not much that Gene could not build, repair, or maintain. He built everything on our farm with his own two hands. He was a good man with a loving heart and soul.
Active pallbearers will be Shawn Jarrell, Stephen Jones, Jerod Jones, Jerry Jones, Tanner Laney, and Levi Findley.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Salem Saloom, Dr. Eduardo Puente, Tom Banjanin, Bob Barkley, and Arlan Shelly.
Rev. Matthew Dobson, Rev. Jim Lassiter and others will speak. There will be music and songs.
Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. Atmore, AL. is in charge of all arrangements
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mr. Eugene Emil Gabbert please visit our Sympathy Store.
Gladine Elizabeth McMillian
November 19, 2021
Gladine Elizabeth McMillian was born on April 21, 1941 and passed on November 18, 2021 at the age of 80. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thelton Lewis McMillian, Sr., and her parents, Marlvin and Elizabeth Boyd Gay. Gladine is survived by her five children, Cindy McMillian Haas (Billy), Karen Gundersen, Dwight McMillian (Terri), Kenneth Gundersen, and Thelton McMillian, Jr. (Christy); 13 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 22, 2021 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home in the Florida Room at 2:00PM. The family will receive friends from 1:00PM to 2:00PM prior to the service. Burial will be held in Barrancas National Cemetery on Tuesday November 23, 2021 at 9:00AM. A procession will leave Olive Baptist Church Campus at Warrington at 8:30AM.
In lieu of flowers please donate to American Humane Society or your favorite dog charity.
Faith-Based Pregnancy Resource Center Opens In Century
November 18, 2021
A new faith-based pregnancy resource center is now open in Century.
The Life Options Clinic provides pregnancy support, resources, and information for women and their families free of charge to anyone. The center is located in a county-owned building at 511 Church Street.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“Who we are, and what we do, is help families. That is what we do,” Life Options Clinic Executive Director Cindy Roberts said before a ribbon cutting Wednesday. .”We want to strengthen the family. We want to encourage the families so that they can come in.”
“We are a faith-based pro-life organization that everything that we present is done in love and grace and kindness, never judgment, or condemnation,” Roberts (pictured left) continued. “We are not here to force a girl to change her mind. We are here to inform her, and she’s going to make whatever choice she has to make. But if they choose to keep their baby, we come along beside them and walk with them on that journey.”
The Life Options Clinic offers pregnancy tests and ultrasounds (currently at their Milton locations but coming soon to Century). They make referrals for medical care, adoption information, housing, education, job searches and financial aid. The clinic also holds classes on topics including prenatal, nutrition, child safety, parenting, financial planning, other life skills and Bible students.
Clients that take part in the classes earn “baby bucks” that can be used in the clinic’s in-house baby store for baby and maternity clothing, toys, diapers, baby furniture and more. Baby formula and food are available without the use of “baby bucks”.
All of the Life Options Clinic services are free of charge and confidential, Roberts said.
The non-profit volunteer organization is donor supported, receiving support from numerous churches, community organizations and businesses. In addition to financial donations, the Life Options Clinic accepts donations of baby diapers and new or gently used clothing through size 2T.
The Life Options Clinic in Century is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. For more information, call (850) 904-3344.
Escambia County entered into a three-year lease with Life Options Clinic for the Church Street Property at $1 per year. There is an option to renew for two additional two-year terms. Life Options must pay for routine maintenance and utilities; Escambia County will take care of major repairs to the building and systems such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia School Employees Soon To Receive $1,000 For Pandemic Work – Except Teachers And Principals
November 18, 2021
Current Escambia County School District employees that worked during the last school year will soon receive an extra $1,000 — except for classroom teachers and principals.
Teachers and principals in the Florida previously received a $1,000 bonus from the state for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, the Escambia County School Board has approved $1,000 for other administrative, professional, instructional and educational support personnel that worked during the 2020-2021 school year, as long as they are still employed by the district.
“The School Board Members and I are so appreciative of the hard work and dedication exhibited by district employees during this most difficult of times. This is one of the ways we can communicate to everyone their commitment has not gone unnoticed, and we are grateful for their perseverance,” Superintendent Tim Smith stated. “It is our goal for the District to issue these payments before the close of the 2021 calendar year.”
To receive the $1,000 initiative payment, employees must have been actively employed on or before June 2, 2021, and be currently employed at the time payment is made.
Hiring Bonuses, Current Employee Bonuses And Pay Increases For Florida’s Correctional Officers
November 18, 2021
New incentives and a pay increase were for Florida’ correctional officers were announced Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Department of Corrections.
Effective immediately, the state will offer a $3,000 new hire bonus for all new correctional officers and a $1,000 hiring bonus for certified correctional officer applicants. At “high vacancy institutions”, including the Century Correctional Institution and Santa Rosa Correctional Institution, there is an additional $1,000 bonus.
Beginning in January, the state correctional officer starting salary will be increased 16% to $38,750.
In addition to an increase in correctional officer salary, all current state correctional officers will receive a one-time $1,500 bonus, and state probation officers will receive a $3,000 bonus this December.
“As so many cities and states choose to disrespect, degrade and defund the work of law enforcement, we want Florida to continue valuing our men and women of law enforcement today, tomorrow and for generations to come,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “This year, we have prioritized initiatives to recruit and reward high quality officers, especially corrections officers, and these new bonuses, effective immediately, will help support public safety positions within the Florida Department of Corrections.”
The minimum age requirement for a correctional officer in Florida is 18 years of age.
For more information, visit FLDOCjobs.com.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Northview’s Payton Gilchrist Inks With Huntingdon College
November 18, 2021
Northview High School’s Payton Gilchrist has signed to play softball with Huntingdon College. She played four years for the Northview Chiefs as a catcher, third base and shortstop. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Heroes Of Fall: Northview Chiefs Visit Byrneville Elementary
November 18, 2021
When you are an elementary school kid, you look up to the boys of fall that take the field on under those Friday night lights.
Members of the Northview Chiefs football team paid a special visit to the Braves of Byrneville Elementary School Wednesday morning. The players helped out in the car ride line and visited classrooms. The students cheered on their favorite Chiefs and presented them with homemade signs and cards supporting them in their regional semifinal game Friday night at Baker.
Many of today’s Northview Chiefs are Byrneville Elementary graduates.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cold Front Moves Through Today, Maybe A Few Showers
November 18, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 45. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 64.
Cantonment Man, His Girlfriend Charged After Rolling Altercation
November 18, 2021
A Cantonment man and his girlfriend were both arrested on multiple charges after an altercation inside a moving vehicle on an Escambia County Roadway.
Jeffrey Joseph Porter, 43, and Ella Nicole Nichelson, 32, were fighting inside a vehicle in the area of Blue Angel Parkway and Lillian Highway and were swerving all over the road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Porter took Nichelson’s phone during the altercation and pulled her back inside the vehicle against her will, according to an arrest report.
After conducting a traffic stop on the vehicle, deputies reported finding a marijuana in the vehicle, along with a bag of marijuana and a glass smoking pipe in Nichelson’s purse, the report continues. When Nichelson and her personal property were searched at the jail, a corrections officer found a substance that test positive for methamphetamine and more marijuana. They also found unknown white and grey powders that will be analyzed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Porter was charged with driving with a suspended license, petit theft, and false imprisonment. He was released on an $8,000 bond.
Nichelson was charged with two counts of smuggling contraband into a detention facility, possession of a control substance without a prescription and possession of marijuana. She remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $8,000.
Escambia Seeks $3.5 Million In State Funds For Community Center In Cantonment
November 17, 2021
When a veterans program was held Sunday in Cantonment, it was held outside on a basketball court.
The court was freshly pressure washed and decorated in red, white and blue at Carver Park. The skies were blue, and temperature was comfortable for most in the sun.
But the pretty weather wasn’t the real reason the Cantonment Improvement Committee held their first-ever veterans program outside. The veterans were seated on the outdoor basketball court because there is no indoor space for larger CIC programs.
However, that could change with a $3.5 million ask of the Florida Legislature. Tuesday, the Escambia County Commission voted to support Rep. Michelle Salzman in submitting the funding request on behalf of the county for a community center in Cantonment. If the state approves the $3.5 million, another $500,000 has been committed by District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry.
“It’s been an honor to work with the Cantonment Improvement Committee on this project,” Salzman said. ”Although it’s not a guaranteed win, it is certainly a step in the right direction for the residents of Cantonment.”
“I’m extremely excited to have our board support Representative Salzman’s appropriations request for a community center for the Cantonment community,” Barry said Tuesday evening. “I want to specifically thank Representative Salzman, the Cantonment Improvement Committee, and the Rotary Club of Cantonment for their continued support of my constituents, and look forward to continuing to move the Cantonment community forward.”
He said if funding is awarded the community center will be located in the Muscogee/Carver Park community.
About a year ago, the Escambia County School District agreed to make two acres of the 12.1 acre former Ransom Middle School property available for a community center, if construction on a community center begins within 7.5 years.
In 2015, Escambia County made improvements to Carver Park on Webb Street, located a short distance from the old Ransom Middle School. Those improvements include a renovated community resource center — a former school portable building that’s less than 800 square feet. he Cantonment Improvement Committee has managed the small resource center at Carver Park, faithfully holding programs and providing services in the building as space allowed until COVID-19. And they have advocated for a larger facility at the former Ransom property for years.
“The Cantonment Community Center will foster an environment that improves the overall quality of life for Cantonment community members by enhancing and increasing community building events and other activities to foster a strengthened sense of community in Cantonment,” the Florida House of Representatives appropriations request paperwork states.
The CIC would oversee programs such as financial literacy, homeownership, physical and mental health and more at the Cantonment community center, according to the application.
Pictured top and bottom inset: The current Carver Park Resource Center, a small portable school building, managed by the Cantonment Improvement Committee. Pictured top inset: A veterans program Sunday, November 14 held outside on a Carver Park basketball court. Pictured below: A portion of the 12.1 acre former Ransom Middle School property on Muscogee Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
