Dwight Henry Brewer
October 5, 2023
Mr. Dwight Henry Brewer, age 68, passed away, Monday, October 2, 2023, in Century, FL. He was a lifelong resident of Flomaton, AL.
Mr. Brewer was an avid Alabama Football Fan and also liked watching a good western. He always enjoyed growing a vegetable garden, especially tomatoes. He really enjoyed going to the river and fishing, and was a skilled paint and body technician.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Doyle (Evelene Baker) Brewer, and one brother, Ronnie Brewer.
He is survived by his one son, Rodney (Roxy) Brewer, of Franklin, AL; two daughters, Kayla (John) Webb, of McDavid, FL; Lindsey Brewer of Century, FL; four grandchildren, Peyton Brewer, Troy Brewer, Jon Clifton Buckhault, Everlee Conway; one great-grandchild, Judson Brewer; other relatives and friends.
Graveside services will be held, Friday, October 6, 2023 at 2:00PM at Flomaton Cemetery with Bro. Alvin Cook officiating.
Pallbearers will be Rodney Brewer, Peyton Brewer, Troy Brewer, Clifton Buckhault, Adam Buckley, and Jim Blankenship.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC Atmore, Alabama is in charge of all arrangements.
Fire Destroys Large Shed At Funeral Home In Century
October 4, 2023
Fire destroyed a large shed behind a Century funeral home late Wednesday morning.
The fully involved fire behind the Jackson-McMurray Funeral Home on West Hecker Road was reported just before 11:30 a.m. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the structure fire and a small brush fire.
There were no injuries reported.
The 24×24 shed fire was reportedly sparked by a small outside fire that spread to the building. The main funeral home building was not involved.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department and the Jay Fire Department were among those initially dispatched to the fire. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com show the blaze before firefighters arrived on scene, click to enlarge.
Century Inks $1.257 Million Grant Agreement To Replace Freedom Road Bridge
October 4, 2023
We now have a timetable for the replacement of the failed Freedom Road Bridge in Century that has been closed for nearly four years.
And it may be nearly another three years before the first traffic crosses the bridge.
The 2023-24 Florida budget included $1,257,000 Legislative appropriation to replace a town-owned bridge on Freedom Road. Tuesday night, the Century Town Council voted to execute the funding agreement with the state.
A timetable calls for 30% of the design plans to be done by mid-January 2024 with the design mostly complete and ready for bids by May 2024. There are 273 days allocated for permitting. As of now, it’s expected construction will begin by May 2025.
The anticipated completion date is currently in June 2026.
On January 29, 2020, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue. Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure. Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or had extreme deterioration (pictured left and below).
The closure turned Freedom Road into a cul-de-sac with one way in and one way out for residents, including the Camellia Gardens apartment complex.
According to the Legislative funding request by Rep. Michelle Salzman, replacing the bridge will improve emergency vehicle access, provide a shorter and more direct route to the nearest hospital in Jay for some residents, and provide better access for residents in the area.
It is anticipated that the $1.297 million will cover construction and other costs like engineering and surveying with no matching funds required from the town.
Photos/graphics for and by NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Your Phone Will Receive An Emergency Alert About 1:20 This Afternoon. It’s A Test.
October 4, 2023
Expect a test alert on your cell phone this afternoon.
FEMA and the FCC will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) notification system at about 1:20 this afternoon.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. The test message will display in either English or Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset. The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions.
“This action is being undertaken by the Federal Government and is not an action being taken by Escambia County,” said Escambia County Emergency Manager Travis Tompkins. “However, this is a very needed test of the Federal Emergency Alert Systems. This system is utilized by the President of the United States to send a communication to the entire population, if necessary.”
All wireless phones should receive the message only once.
- Beginning at approximately 1:20 p.m., cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.
- For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
- Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
WEA alerts cannot be turned off, and switching to silent mode will not stop you from receiving the alert.
If the test is postponed for any reason, it will be rescheduled for October 11.
Gilmores Named Escambia County Farm Family Of The Year
October 4, 2023
The Gilmore family has been named the Escambia County Farm Family of the Year.
The award was presented to Ronnie and Debbie Gilmore along with Jacob and Carla Gilmore at the recent Escambia County Farm Bureau annual meeting at Molino Park Elementary School.
Debbie gifted Ronnie with their first heifer in 1992 and has grown to about 120 momma cows in the herd since then. They have served on various boards from Florida Cattlemen’s Association to Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association. They have both retired from the family business and now enjoy traveling with their twin granddaughters and their horses to shows.
Jacob has been involved in the family cattle operation since it began in 1992. Jacob was very active in both 4-H and FFA. Along the way, he met Carla, and they married in 2005. That began their journey into agriculture.
Together they represented Escambia County through the Young Farmers and Ranchers leadership program with Florida Farm Bureau. Carla has served on the 4-H Foundation board and numerous other committees. Jacob is currently serving as vice president of purchasing and finance for Gilmores and is currently on the board of directors for Farm Credit. He is active with the 4-H Foundation.
Jacob and Carla are the proud parents of twin girls Ella and Sydney. The twins are both active in 4-H and are very involved with horse shows and work on the farm.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ESCO: Sex Offender Failed To Register For Five Years
October 4, 2023
An Escambia County sex offender was arrested after failing to register in the last five years.
Lonnie Paul Rowland, 68, was charged with seven felony sex offender violations for failing to register as required and with a probation violation in a 2017 failure to register case. .
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Rowland was required to register twice per year with the Florida Sex Offender Database, but the last time he did was in November 2018. Deputies said he missed seven required registration dates.
Rowland was convicted of sexual battery in Indiana in 2013 and first registered in Florida in December 2017.
Northview Chiefs Sweep The Hoboes On Senior Night (With Photo Gallery)
October 4, 2023
Northview High School volleyball honored their seniors Tuesday night and swept three straight from the visiting Laurel Hill Hoboes.
The Chiefs defeated Laurel Hill 25-16, 25-16, 25-23.
Before the match, the Lady Chiefs recognized seniors Bailee Wiley, Kendal Beasley and Kayleigh Jay, along with manager Ja`Niya Hooks.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here. (Look for extra senior night photos at the end of the gallery.)
The Northview Chiefs (11-4, 2-3) will finish the regular season on the road in a district game at Central (6-11, 4-1) next Thursday at 5 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Register Now For Oct. 13 Northview Homecoming Parade
October 4, 2023
The Northview High School Homecoming Parade will take place Friday, October 13.
For free entry to participate in the parade, click here for an entry form and release (pdf). Registrations are due by Friday, October 6.
The parade will line up at noon and roll at 12:30 p.m. from Northview High School. It will travel east on Highway 4 before turning on Bratt Road by the Travis Nelson Park, around the park to Ashcraft Road to Highway 99, travel north past Bratt Elementary School, turn back onto Highway 4 and end at Northview. (Note that Ashcraft Road has a very narrow shoulder with no place to park.)
Some changes to this years parade schedule:
- Only parade participants will be allowed to enter Northview’s campus
- Students will return to 7th Period Following the parade festivities.
- Parents picking up parade participants from NWE, Ernest Ward, or other youth organizations outside of Northview may park behind the baseball field to retrieve the child.
- No one but parade floats should be entering through the bus loop at the end of the parade.
- Parade floats that park on campus will not be allowed to leave till after the buses leave.
Pictured: The 2022 Northview High School homecoming parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
William Joseph ‘Bill’ Bonifay
October 4, 2023
William Joseph “Bill” Bonifay, Jr, 79, of Pensacola, FL, passed away on Monday, October 2, 2023.
Bill was a direct descendant of Marianna Pingrow Bonifay of the founding families of Pensacola, FL. He was born in Pensacola, FL on April 22, 1944, into a Navy family, traveling much of his early life. He graduated from Tate High School in 1962 and served honorably in the US Army during the Vietnam conflict rising to the rank of E-5. In 1969, Bill married his beloved wife, Charlotte Nowell of Pensacola.
Bill worked most of his life as an Electrician, became a certified Thermographer and retired from Air Products in Pace, FL after 31 years. He spent much of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America where he was a past leader at the Troop, Council, Regional, and National levels. Bill served in the Ducks Unlimited programs for the youth, the National Rifle Association for the youth, was an Amateur Radio Operator, sponsored the Local Amateur Radio Field Day, was Past President of a local Gun Club and of a local Amateur Radio Repeater Club.
He was a member of the Ensley Masonic Lodge # 278 and was a 32nd degree Mason. Bill became a member of the Pensacola Scottish Rite on April 7, 1982, and a Perpetual member, 33rd degree. He was a member of the Past Knights of Saint Andrews, was Past President of the North Escambia Club, Past Commander of the Council of Kadosh, completed the Member Training program, the Master Craftsman program and received several Double Eagle Awards.
Bill became a Noble of the Hadji Shrine Temple on November 12, 1988, where he helped raise funds for the Children’s Hospital. He served as a Scottish Rite Liaison, as the Hadji Chief Teller, and received the Hadji Scimitar Jewel. Bill was also a member of the Royal Order of Scotland.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William and Gertrude Bonifay, as well as his sister, Susan Bonifay.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Charlotte Bonifay; two sons, Jason and Dustin Bonifay; a sister, Ann Kidwell; as well as his nephew, Lyle Simmons and niece, Julie Simmons.
Visitation will be held from 2:00pm until the Funeral Service to begin at 3:00pm Thursday, October 5, 2023, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, with Rev. Bill Flanigan officiating. A funeral procession will depart Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel at 9:30am for a Graveside Service to begin at 10:00am Friday, October 6, 2023, at Barrancas National Cemetery, with Army honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hadji Children’s Transportation Fund, 800 W. 9 Mile Rd., Pensacola, FL 32534.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Select Specialty Hospital of Pensacola, FL and West Florida Coronary Care Unit for their excellent care and support.
Near 90 Today; Cooler By The Weekend
October 4, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 87. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. West wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.
Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 81.