Peggy Delores Sweeney Bell
October 9, 2022
Peggy Delores Sweeney Bell, 68, of Flomaton, AL, born on December 7, 1953 in Milton, FL, passed away Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, FL.
Peggy was a homemaker, outstanding baker, cook and enjoyed developing new recipes which she freely shared with others. Enjoyed planting flowers, fishing in the lake on the family property, playing with her grandchildren and always there for her family and numerous friends. Many called her Mom and Granny even though they weren’t related.
Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Patrick Bell; parents, Howard and Lois Sweeney; sister, Connie Sweeney Kelley; paternal grandparents, Lee G. and Ruth F. Sweeney; and maternal grandparents, Mallie E. and Annie J. Barnard.
Peggy is survived by two sons, Terry Sheffield of East Brewton, AL, Christopher Bell of Flomaton, AL; and a daughter, Christina Bell of Pensacola, FL; one great-grandson; sisters, Janette Yeryar (Jeff) of Garcon Point, FL, Vivian Hall (Michael) of Bagdad, FL, Barbara Jean Hobbs (Eddie) of Anderson, MO; and brother, Ray Sweeney (Sherry) of Garcon Point, FL; six grandsons, Clint, Justin, Connor, Jake, Nale Sheffield and Hunter Bell; brother-in-law Benny Bell, sister-in-law Marilyn Holt; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Special thanks for the care and compassion from the ICU doctors and staff at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. on Monday, October 10, 2022 at Hollywood Cemetery with Rev. Pat Carden officiating.
Flomaton Funeral Home directing.
Ruth Ann Attkisson McCormick
October 9, 2022
Ruth Ann Attkisson McCormick was born March 3, 1936 in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee.
She graduated from Haylong High School in 1954, and then moved to Nashville andworked for National Life. While in Nashville Ruth met and married her beloved Charles (Chuck) Henry McCormick on May 26, 1957. Together they had one son, Charles Terrance (Terry) McCormick. Ruth Ann gave 32 years to the Department of Defense as a Supervisory Accounting Tech in the Civil Service. She was a member of Pine Forest UMC where she shared a pew for many years with her best friend Gwen Webb. Throughout her years she enjoyed crafting, sewing, painting, gardening and baking. She enjoyed collecting and especially loved to read books and talk to her
friends.
Ruth is preceded in death by her parents Ulner Clyde Attkisson and Annie Esterleen Goodwin Attkisson Hill, her siblings, Dorothy Clyde Attkisson Bush, Nathan Hale Attkisson and Robert Earl Attkisson.
Ruth is survived by her husband of
65 years Charles (Chuck) Henry McCormick, son Charles Terrance (Terry) McCormick (Alicia), two granddaughters, Pamela Ann McCormick Williams (Jason) and Ashley Lynn McCormick, as well as three great grandchildren, McKenzie Ann Williams, Reagan Alice Williams and Nolan McCormick Williams.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Veranda and Covenant West Florida Care Center for their loving care and support. You were a blessing. The funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday October 15, 2022 at Wilde Lake Church formerly Pine Forest UMC, 2800 Wilde Lake Blvd, Pensacola, Florida 32526. Visitation will be prior to services from 10:00-11:00 am.
UWF Downs Lee To Win Pack It Pink Match
October 9, 2022
Saturday marked UWF’s annual Pack it Pink Match as the 13th-ranked Argonauts defeated the Flames of Lee University, 3-1. Through a silient auction and donations taken at the gate, UWF raised more than $6,600 for cancer awareness and research.
The first set saw the Argos trail the Flames early on, as Lee jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead and stayed ahead for a majority of the match. Alex Oliver led the way for the Argos in the first as her 5 kills was only one off the game high of 6 from the Flames Hannah Upton, but UWF fell in the first set 25-23.
The second set featured a dominant Argonaut attack that out hit the Flames .333 to .000 and featured three Argos recording 3 kills or more in the set – Oliver had four, and Jacque Martin and Jenna Zydlo had three each. The Argos would use that attack to take set two 25-14 and tie the match up at 1-1.
Freshman Lily Sumner would provide the spark that head coach Melissa Wolter was looking for, as her 3 kills in the set to go along with Jacque Martin’s 4 and Jenna Zydlo’s 3 would pace the Argos attack to a 25-15 set win, and give the Argos a 2-1 lead over the Flames.
The fourth and final set was completely controlled by the Argos, as their 10-3 lead would prove to be too much for the Flames. UWF cruised to a 25-16 set win and took the match 3-1 over the Lee University Flames.
The Argos offensive attack would go on to outhit the Flames .325 to .128 for the match as three players finished with double-digit kills (Oliver 13, Martin 12, Zydlo 10). Senior Taylor Vaneekeren continued her stellar senior season as she would finish the match with a double-double of 44 assists (game high) and 11 digs to go along with 5 blocks.
Sophomore Meg Brackhan and senior Kierra Potts provided the anchors for the Argos defense today, as Potts would finish with a game high 7 blocks and Brackhan finished with a game high 20 digs for the match.
With the win today, the Argos improve to 17-4 on the season with a 9-1 GSC conference record. The Argos next match takes place next Friday as they head to Birmingham Alabama for the GSC Crossover Tournament.
United Way Day Of Caring Makes A Difference Across The Area (With Photo Gallery)
October 8, 2022
Hundreds of volunteers fanned out across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties Friday from the United Way of West Florida’s 29th Annual Day of Caring on Friday.
Day of Caring is a single-day, community-wide volunteer event organized by United Way of West Florida. United Way connects volunteers with local agencies and schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties needing service projects completed.
There were 64 volunteer groups with nearly 600 individual volunteers working on 66 projects in the two-county region.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Projects related to North Escambia area agencies, schools or volunteer groups included:
- Ascend volunteers worked on the cleaning and maintenance of the nature boardwalk at Escambia Westgate School. They also replaced two older wheelchair ramps that were not done last year when the new boardwalk was built.
- Led by a Tate alumnus, Community Health Northwest Florida worked to clean up and create an inviting seating area in the front of Tate High School, near the Jennings Building, so students can enjoy an outdoor space.
- Navy Federal Credit Union worked to clear and prepare the ground in front of the Tate High School Lipscomb Building for the installation of planter boxes. The culinary classes will use the planter boxes to grow an herb garden to incorporate into the curriculum.
- Volunteers from Florida Blue, Navy Federal, International Paper, and Junior League of Pensacola deep cleaned, organized and installed smoke detectors at the Ronald McDonald House.
- Escambia River Electric Cooperative volunteers worked to beautify Chumuckla Elementary School.
Since 1993, United Way of West Florida has coordinated more than 28,000 volunteers to complete projects across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Pictured above and first below: Volunteers from Navy Federal Credit Union and Community Health Northwest Florida volunteered at Tate School on Friday. Second below: Ascend volunteers worked on the nature trail at Escambia Westgate School. Third below: Volunteers from Florida Blue, Navy Federal, International Paper, and Junior League of Pensacola worked at the Ronald McDonald House. Bottom: EREC volunteered at Chumuckla Elementary School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cold Front Brings Slightly Cooler, Drier Air For The Weekend
October 8, 2022
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 51. North wind around 5 mph.
Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 81. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Byrneville Elementary Holds Fall Festival (With Photo Gallery)
October 8, 2022
Byrneville Elementary School held their annual Fall Festival Friday night at the school.
The family fun fundraiser had plenty of games, a silent auction, vendors, a hayride, haunted house, karaoke and more.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Crushes Blountstown 49-0
October 8, 2022
The Northview Chiefs are having their best season in over 15 years, rolling to a crushing 49-0 road win over Blountstown Friday night.
Headed into Friday night, No. 11 Blountstown was 4-2 with just one loss at home this season, and the Chiefs were at No. 7 in the state, tops in Region 1-1R.
The Chiefs took an early 17-0 lead by the end of the first and were up 21-0 at the half as they rolled to the big win.
The Northview Chiefs have not been 6-0 since way back in 2006 when they went 9-1 overall under coach Cody Keene, dropping the final game of that season at home 20-14 to Chipley. In 2012 when they won the only football state championship in school history, the Chiefs opened at 1-1, losing their second game to Marianna. They finished 2012 at 11-3.
Next week it’s the War Along Highway 4 as Northview takes the short trip on Highway 4 across the Escambia River to take on the Jay Royals (3-3).
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
West Florida Jaguars Top The Tate Aggies
October 8, 2022
The West Florida Jaguars defeated the Tate Aggies 41-7 Friday night at WFHS.
Tate High Coach Rhett Summerford was back in familiar territory Friday night. He left West Florida to return to his alma mater to take over the program at Tate.
The Jaguars were first on the big board with a touchdown run from 6-yards out to give WFHS a 7-0 lead. John Nicolas found Andre Coleman to put the Jags inside the five. Jones took it in to put the Jags up 14-0.
The Aggies answered with a Taite Davis pass to Diego Dukes for a 51-yard touchdown for Tate, 14-7.
From there, the scoring was all West Florida as they rolled on the win.
Tate (1-5) will travel to Pace next Friday night, while West Florida (4-2) will host PHS.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
High School Football Scoreboard
October 8, 2022
Here are high school football scores from across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Northview 49, Blountstown 0 [Game story...]
- West Florida 41, Tate 7 [Game story, photos...]
- Baker 28, Jay 0
- Pine Forest 28, Niceville 7
- Pace 44, Pensacola High 7
- Washington 66, Godby 34
- Navarre 38, Mosley 35 (Thursday)
- Pensacola Catholic 38, Gulf Breeze 17 (Thursday)
ALABAMA
- Escambia Academy 35, Pickens Academy 22
- T.R. Miller 39, Escambia County (Atmore) 0
- W.S. Neal 13, Flomaton 12
Pictured: West Florida defeated the Tate Aggies Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo by Jennifer Reine, click to enlarge.
UWF Study Pinpoints Suicide, Opioid Death Rates In U.S., Including The Panhandle
October 8, 2022
An analysis by a University of West Florida team identified areas in the contiguous United States where suicide and opioid death rates are high and where the deaths overlap.
The maps showed that suicide rates in the Florida Panhandle may be “high,” but not as high as what is seen in most of the western part of the U.S. The research showed that clusters of counties with very high opioid mortality rates are also clusters of counties with very high rates of suicide and are associated with each other.
Dr. Raid Amin, a distinguished University professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dr. Rodney Guttmann, professor in the Department of Biology, and former UWF graduate students Misty Uher, Matthew Holley and Bradly Rivera-Muniz studied suicide deaths and associations with several factors, including opioids deaths. Their research examined deaths in years 2000-2019. Out of nine significant clusters, six were bivariate (suicide and opioids) while three were only opioids.
“These results have the potential to provide a scientific framework that is based on surveillance, allowing health agencies to intervene and reduce elevated rates of suicides in selected counties in the U.S.,” Amin said. “The study is limited due to the resolution of the data at the county level, and some covariate data was unavailable for the entire period of the study.”
The observations have the opportunity to assist health agencies in these areas in identifying conditions that may be driving an unusually high rate of suicides and/or opioid deaths, according to researches.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.