Reminder: Wednesday Is An Early Release Day For Escambia Schools
October 31, 2023
Wednesday, November 1, is an early release day for public school students in Escambia County.
All schools will serve breakfast and lunch to students on the early release day. Regular modes of student transportation will be provided.
Early release days provide teachers and staff regular opportunities for professional development.
For additional information, contact your child’s school.
Freeze Warning For Wednesday Night, Low Around 32
October 31, 2023
A freeze warning is in effect for Wednesday night with sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 possible from late Wednesday night through Thursday morning. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-
ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
There is also a red flag warning
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind around 15 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 64. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 37. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
FHP: Driver falls Asleep, Crashes Tanker With 1,000 Gallons of Methanol
October 31, 2023
A driver fell asleep and crashed a tanker truck hauling 1,000 gallons of methanol early Tuesday morning in Escambia County.
“The driver of the vehicle fell asleep at the wheel, and ran off the right shoulder of the roadway, and rolled into a ditch on the northbound side of Scenic Hwy,” according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. The crash happened about 1:41 a.m on Scenic Highwaway, just north of I-10.
The 50-year old driver was not injured, but Scenic Highway was closed for about seven hours to return the trailer to an upright position.
The Cantonment and Ensley Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were among the responding crews.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Family Identifies Century Homicide Victim As Young Father, Former High School Football Player
October 31, 2023
Family has identified a Century homicide victim as 20-year old Jaheem Durant, the father of a 2-year old.
Durant was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds on a sidewalk along North Century Boulevard, near Ramar Street about 1:15 a.m. Sunday.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident as a homicide, and there were no suspects immediately identified by deputies. Additional details were not available as the investigation continued. Investigators were working to determine if the shooting happened on the roadside or elsewhere.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Durant played high school football for both the Northview Chiefs and the Flomaton Hurricanes.
At Northview, Durant was named 2nd Team Defensive End for theFlorida 1A All-State football team. He was a member of the Flomaton High School first ever state championship team.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
More Details Released On Hurricane Sally Drainage Project That Has Closed McElhaney Road In Bratt
October 31, 2023
As we first reported over a week ago, McElhaney Road just south of the state line in Bratt is now closed for a Hurricane Sally FEMA project to improve drainage structures.
Tuesday, Escambia County aacknowledged that work is now underway and released addiional information. Traffic will be detoured along Old Bratt Road to south on Morton Road, to Cecils Road and west back to McElhaney Road. The road is expected to re-open by January 2024.
Residents, pedestrians, local traffic and emergency vehicles will have access to properties within the work area at all times; however, there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance may be blocked temporarily as equipment and materials are moved during construction
The $810,715.45 project will replace the drainage structures at 7200 and 8000 McElhaney Road. FEMA will fund $770,179.68 (95%) of the cost, while Escambia County will be responsible for $40,535.77 (5%).
The work includes clearing of all hurricane debris, removing damaged existing culvert pipes and riprap, installing a new pipe/box culvert, restabilizing and reconstructing the roadway pavement, and replacing riprap within the ditch bottom. Minor ditch regrading, resetting existing fence, and installing concrete ditch pavement will be required.
IT is scheduled to take about 180 days to complete.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Red Flag Warning: Burn Ban Issued In Santa Rosa, But Not Escambia
October 31, 2023
Officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are putting a halt to issuing authorizations for all prescribed or pile burns as increased winds and extremely low humidity arrives in the area for the next several days. The cold front coupled with a lack of rain over the past several weeks make for extremely dangerous conditions if any fires were to start.
The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch through Wednesday because of critically low humidity levels – as low as 15-20% – and sustained north winds of 15-20 mph with gusts to 30.
Burn bans are in effect in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, while Escambia County Residents are urged to not conduct any outdoor burning until conditions improve.
“We all know it’s dry and folks just need to be careful,” said David Smith, Operations Administrator for the Blackwater Forestry Center. “It’s not completely out of the ordinary to have a dry fall, but it’s important that people are cautious with what they’re doing in regard to fire until we get some significant rain.”
Pictured: A wildfire in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Florida’s Silver Alert Missing Senior Program Celebrates 15 Years, And Numerous Success Stories
October 31, 2023
This month marks the 15th anniversary of Florida’s Silver Alert program. Since the program’s inception in 2008, more than 3,200 Silver Alerts have been activated, with over 170 this year alone. Florida’s Silver Alert program has been directly responsible for more than 300 recoveries of missing senior citizens.
Florida Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Michelle Branham said, “With over 580,000 Floridians suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the Silver Alert program is essential for helping protect our most vulnerable population. Florida proudly leads the nation in funding for Alzheimer’s disease support services, and it is important we continue to support programs like the Silver Alert as our senior population continues to grow. I am grateful to our Governor for continuing to prioritize our seniors and those who suffer from dementia, and FDLE for their role in helping to keep our seniors safe.”
One of those Silver Alert success stories was four years ago when an 83-year old Beulah woman was found near Century a week after she was reported missing.
She was located off Highway 29 on North Canoe Road, a non-maintained dirt road. Her car was stuck deep in the sand of the roadway, where she had apparently spent most of the week. She was located by two Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies who responded to a report of a suspicious person.
She had apparently been living out of her car, which had a dead battery. She had food…an uneaten loaf of cinnamon bread was on the passenger seat after her rescue. But her major problem was a lack of liquid. She was transported to an area hospital suffering from dehydration.
Silver Alerts are activated statewide at the request of local law enforcement after a senior with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia (ADRD) goes missing in a vehicle. Once a Silver Alert is issued, information about the missing senior is communicated to the public through local media outlets such as NorthEscambia.com, lottery terminals and highway message signs.
Pictured: A Silver Alert missing senior was found in her stuck car on North Canoe Road in 2016.. Pictured inset and immediately below: There was food in the Hyundai Sonata. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Edmond Nathan Knowles
October 31, 2023
Mr. Edmond Nathan Knowles, age 80, went to Heaven to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, October 26, 2023. He passed peacefully at his home in Flomaton, AL, surrounded by family.
Mr. Knowles was born February 16, 1943 in Century, FL. He lived most of his life in Flomaton, having moved from Range, AL as a young boy. He was a faithful member of Little Escambia Baptist Church.
He graduated from Flomaton High School, class of 1961. While there, he played baseball and basketball and was very talented in each sport, especially baseball. He served in the Alabama National Guard from 1964-1970. He married the love of his life, Luverne, on July 14, 1966. They settled in Davis Subdivision in Flomaton, where they raised their 4 children and shared 55 wonderful years together.
He loved hunting and fishing and was an avid sports fan. When he wasn’t watching the Atlanta Braves or the Alabama Crimson Tide, he enjoyed spending time with his family and working in his garden. He could often be found outside, working with his hands, whether it was carpentry or mechanic work. He was a man of many talents, including drawing, and he could often be heard whistling while he worked. In 2005, after nearly four decades of saving, he cashed in his collection of 1,380,459 pennies, totaling $13,804.59, breaking the world record of the largest private penny collection.
He began his career working at the Rebel Oil gas station in Century, FL in the early sixties, and soon became a manager at the Rebel station in Flomaton. He later purchased that station, which at the time was called TCR, and renamed it Ed’s Service Station. It is still remembered by many as the TCR and always associated with Mr. Ed. He operated it for 43 years. After retiring and closing the station in 2006, he returned to work as a sales representative with Phillip Morris and a few years later he went to work at Advance Auto Parts in Flomaton where he worked until August 2023.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Luverne Morris Knowles; his parents, Edward Nathan Knowles and Doris Florine Blackwell Knowles; three brothers, Paul Knowles, Wayne Knowles, and Donald Knowles; daughter-in-law Krystle Knowles; and great-grandson, Evan Wolfe.
He is survived by two sons, Larry Knowles and Marcus Knowles, both of Brewton, AL; two daughters, Debbie (Eddie) Simmons of Flomaton, AL, and Lisa Knowles of Flomaton, AL; two brothers, Edward Knowles and Raybon Knowles, and a sister, Jean Knowles; four grandchildren, Meredith Wolfe, Alayna Simmons, Nathan Knowles, and Jack Knowles; three great-grandchildren, Scarlett Boutwell, Elias Wolfe, and Oliver Harris, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 3, 2023 at 2:00 pm at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC with Reverend Jonathan Hill and Reverend Larry Patterson officiating.
Burial will follow at Little Escambia Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 6 PM until 9 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Pallbearers will be Marcus Knowles, Brandon Knowles, Arness Knowles, Tommy Knowles, Timothy Knowles, and Eddie Conway.
Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Knowles, Terry Knowles, William Blackwell, Buster Crapps, Darryl Fore, Mickey Powell, and Andre Deslonde.
The family of Edmond Knowles would like to express their gratitude for the care and comfort given to him by Dr. Sheldon Harigel, Donna Leavins, Marie Grice, Rachael Wagner, Kimberly Boatwright, Kelly York, Kawanda King, and Ricky Tedder of Southern Care Hospice. Thank you, as well, to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Baptist Hospital.
Fields of Faith: Community Worship Service Wednesday Night At Northview
October 30, 2023
Northview High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes will host a Fields of Faith event at Northview High School Wednesday night, November 1 at 6:30 p.m. in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
Admission is free; the public is encouraged to attend.
Fields of Faith is a national student-led initiative. “Students invite, pray for, share with, and challenge their peers to read the Bible and follow Jesus Christ. An athletic field provides a neutral, rally point where a community can come together,” according to national organizers.
Pictured: A 2022 Fields of Faith Event at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Cold Snap Arrives For Chilly Halloween
October 30, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 65. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 38. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 47. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 78.