Lula Thomas Graves
October 13, 2022
Mrs. , age 73, passed away Tuesday, October 11, 2022 in Flomaton, AL.
Mrs. Graves was born in Century, FL and had lived in Flomaton for the past thirty-three years, coming from Canoe, AL. She was an active member of Flomaton United Methodist Church where she taught the Senior Sunday School Class and sang in the choir. She led devotions at the Flomaton SAIL Center, and enjoyed canning. She loved doing for others, and dearly loved her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Graves, Sr.; a son, Ronald Graves, Jr.; a brother, Willie Ray Thomas; mother, Irene Frazier Hollingshead; father, Verbie Travis Thomas; and a step-mother, Ruth Thomas.
She is survived by a son, Denver Travis Graves of Flomaton, AL; one brother, Mac Hollingshead of Foley, AL; two sisters, Lorraine (Richard) Stuckey of Atmore, AL, and Hazel (Speedy) Brantley of Flomaton, AL; sister-in-law/sister, Gail Thomas of Century, FL three grandchildren, Tanner Travis (Nikki) Graves, Cole Graves, and Mason Graves; one great-grandson, William Noah Graves; beloved friend, Mr. Ed Little; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. from the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Rev. Kathy McKinley officiating. Interment will follow in Flomaton Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Flomaton Funeral Home on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at 11:00 A.M.
Pallbearers: Tanner Graves, Cole Graves, Mason Graves, Mac Hollingshead, Richard Stuckey, and Chris Thomas.
Honorary Pallbearers: Mr. Ed Little, Speedy Brantley, Pete Wilson, Joe Brantley, Wayne Stanton, Mac McKinley.
Photo Gallery: Tate Dig Pink Volleyball
October 13, 2022
The Washington Wildcats defeated the Tate Aggies Tuesday night in a “Dig Pink” game to support the Side-Out Foundation and their metastatic breast cancer research.
Washington won 3-1 over Tate, 25-20, 19-25, 26-24, 25-19.
The Tate Aggies (11-13, 2-4) will round out the regular season at Escambia on Thursday, and Washington (14-7, 4-0) will be at Pace.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The Bible Is Latest Challenged Book In Escambia Schools; Superintendent Says It’s Educational And Allowed
October 12, 2022
The latest challenged book in Escambia County schools is the Bible, but district officials said that restrictions wwere lifted today without a formal review because the Bible is legally approved as educational material in Florida.
Late last month, we told you about a Northview High School teacher that called for the immediate removal of over 115 books from school libraries until they can be reviewed because she said they are inappropriate in schools, mostly due to sexual language and graphic drawings that she believes actually violate Florida’s obscenity laws.
The number of challenged books in the district stood at 128 as of Tuesday with the addition of the Bible after a request for reconsideration was filed by Sarah Holland. The form filed by Holland does not identify her further.
According to Holland in her written challenge, the Bible “promotes sexism, sex, violence, genocide, slavery, rape and beastilaity. Includes examples of eating childre. Causes Religious Trauma Syndrome.”
She said the purpose of the Bible is to “indoctrinate children in Christianity” and noted that she had read the Bible “throughout my life”.
“The Bible is allowed in schools and has a place in education according to Florida statutes,” Escambia County School Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith told NorthEscambia.com late Tuesday afternoon.
A Florida statute entitled “Permitting study of the Bible and religion; requiring a moment of silence” states in part “The district school board may install in the public schools in the district a secular program of education including, but not limited to, an objective study of the Bible and of religion.”
“The Escambia County Public Schools will not move forward with the reconsideration of the Bible as a library or instructional resource, and will immediately return all copies to the general collections in district libraries,” the district said Wednesday morning.
Bill Slayton, Escambia County School Board District 5 member, said on Tuesday, “The Bible is a textbook protected by state law. Please allow the staff to explore and find a good solution to this. It’s (the restriction is) going to be removed.”
An October 9 email obtained by NorthEscambia.com from district Coordinator of Media Services Michelle White instructed media specialists to place the status of the Bible and 10 other newly challenged titles to “restricted”. It also instructed teachers to place their classroom copies into their school library’s restricted area by the end of day on October 13.
On September 30, Smith announced the implementation of a “Restricted Section” in school libraries. Books in question will be housed in the section, and parents will be able to opt-in their students to have access to the restricted book as they are being reviewed.
Rain Likely For Wednesday
October 12, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A slight chance of thunderstorms before 7am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 53. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 54. Calm wind.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Light east wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Robbery, Battery Of Her Girlfriend
October 12, 2022
A Cantonment woman is facing robbery and battery charges for stealing keys and a remote control from her girlfriend.
Tangie Mae Celestine, 32, was charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor battery.
Celestine forcefully took a keychain that contained a car key, other miscellaneous keys and an Amazon Fire TV Stick remote, according to an arrest report. The victim was not injured, but she did break an acrylic fingernail during the struggle over the keychain, according to deputies.
The incident was captured on video at the Executive Inn on Pensacola Boulevard.
Celestine was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,500 bond.
Escambia Florida Deputies Conduct Active Shooter Training For Escambia Alabama Schools
October 12, 2022
The Escambia County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office conducted an active shooter training Tuesday for teachers and school staff in Escambia County in Alabama.
Escambia County (Alabama) Sheriff Heath Jackson said they “put on a training like no other”.
“I’m proud to say our teachers and school staff are top notch. Big thanks to Sheriff Chip Simmons for his support and for always being our partner in serving our communities,” Jackson said.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mosquito Borne Illness Alert Issued After Confirmed Santa Rosa West Nile Case
October 12, 2022
The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County has issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory.
“A human case of West Nile Virus has been confirmed and there is a heightened concern additional residents will become ill,” according to the health department.
DOH-Santa Rosa reminds residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take basic precautions to help limit exposure.
To protect yourself from mosquitoes, the health department said toremember to “Drain and Cover”:
Drain standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or any other containers where sprinkler or rainwater has collected.
- Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that do not accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
Cover skin with clothing or repellent.
- Clothing - Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
- Repellent - Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, and IR3535 are effective.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
Cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house.
- Repair broken screening on windows, doors, porches, and patios.
Tips on Repellent Use
- Always read label directions carefully for the approved usage before you apply a repellent. Some repellents are not suitable for children.
- Products with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are generally recommended. Other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents contain picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or IR3535. These products are generally available at local pharmacies. Look for active ingredients to be listed on the product label.
- Apply insect repellent to exposed skin, or onto clothing, but not under clothing.
- In protecting children, read label instructions to be sure the repellent is age appropriate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mosquito repellents containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of three years. DEET is not recommended on children younger than two months old.
- Avoid applying repellents to the hands of children. Adults should apply repellent first to their own hands and then transfer it to the child’s skin and clothing.
- If additional protection is necessary, apply a permethrin repellent directly to your clothing. Again, always follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Thursday Escambia Commission Committee Workshop Meeting Canceled
October 12, 2022
An Escambia County Commission Committee of the Whole Workshop that was scheduled for Thursday as been canceled.
The BOCC has a regular meeting set for Thursday morning, October 20.
Marie Lesley King Anderson
October 12, 2022
Marie Lesley King Anderson passed away on October 1, 2022 in Goshen, Kentucky at the age of 88. She was born in Abbeville, South Carolina on April 8, 1934 to James Horace King and Daisy Jennie Marie Lesley King. She was a graduate of Abbeville High School in 1952 in Abbeville, South Carolina. She graduated Erskine College in 1956 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She received her Master’s Degree in Education in 1968 from Inter American University of Puerto Rico. She was a member of the U.S. Air Force Officer’s Wives Club, The Daughters of the American Revolution, Past Regent of Fort Pickens Chapter in Pensacola, Florida. She was a member of Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) and Keeping Off Pounds Sensibly (KOPS). She was a music and elementary school teacher.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Horace and Daisy Jennie Marie Lesley King; sister, Margaret Verner King Dickson. She is survived by her husband, George Morris Anderson; daughters, Melodie Anderson (Cody) Jones, April Anderson (Jason) Medlin; son, Kyle George (Candance) Anderson; grandsons, Cody Anderson (Shannon) Jones, Justin Andrew Jones, Luke McKinley Anderson and Xander Anderson Medlin; granddaughters, Aerial Aurora Staebell, Aubrey Marie Anderson, Harper Grey Anderson and Ellis Quinn Anderson.
Pallbearers are Cody Anderson Jones, Justin Andrew Jones, Luke McKinley Anderson, Xander Anderson Medlin, Cody Parris Jones, and Jason Medlin. Honorary pallbearers are James B. Dickson, Tommy F. Dickson, Gery Anderson, Tom Callison, Jim Callison and Paul Storey.
Funeral service at Olive Baptist Church on Friday, October 14, 2022 at 11:30am. Visitation on Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 6:00pm at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North and on Friday, October 14, 2022 at 10:30 at Olive Baptist Church.
Michael Tedder Of Century Gets 30 Years For Multiple Counts Of Child Sexual Battery
October 11, 2022
A Century man has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison for child sexual battery.
Michael Tracy Tedder, 30, was also designated as a lifetime sexual offender by Judge Jennie Kinsey after he pleaded to multiple counts of sexual battery by a person in familian authority and lewd of lascivious exhibition in the presence of a minor.
On October 20, 2021, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a local elementary school after a victim disclosed sexual abuse to a school counselor. The victim disclosed at school that she had been raped by Tedder. She stated that it hurt, and about the time she healed, he would do it again. The abuse occurred between January 1, 2020, and October 20, 2021.
During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Michael Tracy Tedder had abused additional victims.
“This defendant preyed on children that should have been able to trust him. With the sentence imposed, Mr. Tedder will no longer be able to harm innocent children,” Carrie Gilmer, prosecuting attorney, said.
When the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office went to Tedder’s home on October 20, 2021, to investigate the sexual battery allegations, deputies found Tedder and three others living in squalor with six children in two campers. The cases are continuing through the legal system for the others.
The Department of Children and Families removed the children.