FPL Surprises Escambia Veteran And Family With Christmas Decor
December 9, 2023
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), with help from the Navy-Marine Relief Corps Society surprised local Veteran Anthony Riley and his family with much-deserved holiday cheer, energy efficient decorations and presents as a thank you for his dedication to his community and country.
This marked the 16th consecutive year of FPL’s holiday program, which gives back to local heroes, like Anthony, for their service. Riley served in the Navy for 14 years, stationed on the USS John C. Stennis, the seventh of the Nimitz-class of nuclear-powered supercarriers in the United States Navy. He was the only soldier to reach second class in his department. Now retired, Anthony’s commitment to service is still evident in his everyday life, supporting his extended family through medical challenges.
FPL surprised the family this week with thousands of LED lights, solar-powered decorations and other energy-efficient décor.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tommie Lee Oliver
December 9, 2023
Tommie Lee Oliver, 92, was born on April 16, 1931 in Atmore, Alabama, and passed away on December 2, 2023 at Chester County Hospital in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Visitation will be held on December 11, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Shiloh Presbyterian Church located at 42 S. Fifth St. in Oxford. The Home Going Service will follow at 11:00 AM at the same location. Interment will take place at Oxford Cemetery.
Tommie Lee Oliver attended George Washington Carver High School of Century, FL.
Tommie Lee Oliver worked for Chester County Hospital.
Today: Molino and Flomaton Parades; Beulah Bash
December 9, 2023
The Beulah Bash, Molino Christmas Parade and Flomaton Christmas Bazaar and Parade are all scheduled for Saturday.
Beulah Bash
The annual Beulah Bash hosted by Marcus Pointe Baptist Church – Beulah will be held Saturday rain or shine at the Escambia County Equestrian Center Saturday December 9th, 2023 from 9 a.m. 3 p.m.
There will be craft vendors, food from local food trucks, a judged car show with custom and classic cars, and plenty of entertainment for all ages including kids crafts, inflatables, and more.
Over 4,000 people attended last year’s Beulah Bash.
Molino Christmas Parade
After an absence of several years, the Molino Christmas Parade returns for 2023.
The parade will travel West Crabtree Church Road and Sunshine Hill Road to the Molino Ballpark on December 9 at 11 a.m.
Registrations will be accepted at parade line-up. The fee is $50 for vehicles, $30 for UTVs, $20 for horses. Proceeds will got to a local family in need.
Marcus Pointe Baptist Church – Molino invites residents to the Don Sutton Ballpark following the parade for hot chocolate, filled stockings, and give-aways for the kids.
Flomaton Bazaar, Parade
The Flomaton Christmas Bazaar will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, along wih the annual Christmas parade. There will be vendors, food, a kiddie train and more in downtown Flomaton.
The parade will roll at 11 a.m. down College Street, across Highway 29, to Houston Street to Ringold to Palafox to College Street and back to the school.
Pictured: The 2019 annual Molino Christmas Parade NorthEscambia.com photos click to enlarge.
John Herman McDonald
December 9, 2023
John Herman McDonald, 85, of Cantonment, Florida passed away December 4, 2023. He was born in Cantonment, Florida June 16, 1938, to John William and Nettie Phillips McDonald. He was a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne in the Army. He retired with approximately 25 years of service from the Escambia County Road Department in 1984.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nettie McDonald; spouse, Dorothy McDonald; brothers, Wilmer McDonald, Wilburn McDonald, Carl McDonald, and Elvin McDonald; sisters, Mary Brooks and Dorothy Diemer; great grandson, Kolby Sconiers.
He is survived by his son, Franklin (Martha) McDonald; daughters, Jeannie (James) Murphy, Tammy (Buddy) Register, Sheryl Franks; grandchildren, Heather Surber, Brandi Gill, Darryl Crooke, Julie Asaro, Jessica Sconiers, Bubba Register, Aaron Crooke, Caleb Murphy, Susan Fullerton, Kim Hoffman, Thomas Crooke, and Kristie Gulsby; a host of great grandchildren – too many to count; Sisters, Marie Powell, Bertha Comans, Vera Volovecky, and Vivian Lambeth; and brother Charlie McDonald.
Pallbearers will be Darryl Crooke, Bubba Register, Aaron Crooke, Thomas Crooke, Caleb Murphy, Jason Asaro, Nick Sconiers, Josh Hoffman and Ryan Fullerton. Honorary pallbearers will be his great grandsons.
Herman was reunited in passing with his loving wife, Dorothy of 59 years. He was proud of his family. His grandchildren made his world go around; they were the light of his days. He was always willing to lend a helping hand where needed. Throughout the years he helped many people. He was always busy doing something whether it was working in his yard, woodworking in his shop, or working on his 1965 Chevrolet.
Pensacola Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Visitation for family and friends will be Monday, December 11, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m with Doctor Will Stone officiating. Graveside Military Honors will follow.
The family would like to say a special thanks to Ascension Medical group at Sacred Heart (Tori Shay Ghigliotty & Makayla) as well as HCA Florida West Hospital ICU & Neurology Department for their devoted care and support during our time of need.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to the 1st Baptist Church of Cantonment.
Jewel Smith Chandler
December 8, 2023
Jewel Smith Chandler, age 78, of Flomaton, AL passed away on December 6, 2023. She was born on November 27, 1945 in Bratt, FL to Daniel Smith and Daisy Little. She was a longtime member of Atmore Baptist Temple and enjoyed camp meetings in the summer
months. Jewel was a lot of fun, always laughing and enjoyed playing pranks. She loved to travel out west and to the mountains. In earlier years, she cherished motorcycle trips with her husband and cherished her family.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Daniel Smith and Daisy Little Bray; her brother, Billy Smith and her stepson, Terry Chandler.
She is survived by her husband, Joe Chandler; her son, Joey (Angel) Lister; her daughters, Michelle Hammonds and Alisa (Kenny) Pierce; her brothers, Leroy (Judy) Smith, Dean (Beth) Smith and Allen (Debbie) Smith; her sisters, Gladys Davis, Erma Davis and Melba
(Marion) Bartlett; her stepdaughter, Tonya (Tim) Lee; her stepson, Tim (Melanie) Chandler; twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday, December 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Doug Odom and Bro. Glenn Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL.
Visitation will be held Monday, December 11, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore, AL.
Jerry O. Fischer, Jr.
December 8, 2023
Jerry O. Fischer, Jr., age 61, lost his short battle with pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, in Pensacola, Florida.
Jerry and Elena Fischer welcomed their firstborn son on June 19, 1962, in Pensacola, Florida. He was a resident of Century, Florida, for over thirty years, graduating from Century High School in 1980. He loved playing sports, particularly baseball and football, and proudly represented the Century Blackcats in Black & Gold. After high school, Jerry played baseball at Faulkner State College on scholarship for two years. Jerry went on to work in various industries. He started in the oil fields as an insulator; worked in the family business, Photo By Fischer; employed as a Counselor at Hurricane Island Outward Bound, and finally landed with American General/AIG as an insurance agent.
Jerry is the husband of Ramona Fischer for almost thirty-two years; the father of Anna Lundy, Leah Surrette, and Jason Fischer; and Papa Fish to grandchildren Griffin and June Lundy. Jerry retired on disability in 2009 and was a happy man tending to his yard and trailing vincas; watching the deer, birds, and squirrels in the backyard; patrolling the Escambia River and gravel lakes for the best time to catch shellcracker; playing lively games of cornhole with close buddies; and passionately collecting and talking about old bottles. Grandchildren, Griffin and June added a brand-new layer of fun to Jerry’s life, and he enjoyed sharing his love of nature with them and taking them for rides on his zero-turn mower. The last fourteen years are what he calls his “bonus years” after beating colon cancer in 2007, 2008, and again in 2009.
Competition of any kind was right up his alley, which made him a natural when it came time to coach little league baseball at Northwest Escambia ballpark and help coach football at Ernest Ward Middle School. Later he enjoyed participating in the Northview Quarterback Club where he had an opportunity to serve as club President, and also earned Volunteer of the Year for Escambia County School District. He thrived on helping young boys develop their athletic potential, learn about team sports, and have fun doing it!
Jerry was preceded in death by his sweet mother, Maria Elena Sale Fischer.
He is survived by his father, Jerry Orson Fischer, Sr.; wife, Ramona Elizabeth Leonard Fischer; daughters, Anna (Caleb) Lundy, Leah (Payden) Surrette; son, Jason Fischer; grandchildren, Griffin and June Lundy; brother, Jeff (Junia) Fischer; sister, Julie (Chuck) Thornton; and constant companion, Bennett, his dog.
Funeral services will be held Monday, December 11, 2023, at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia, Florida, with visitation at 11:00 AM, and service at 12:00 PM. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Church in Century, Florida. Pastor Nathan Brown and Pastor Grant Norris will be officiating.
“Go-‘head!” and “Later, Babe!”
If you wish to make a donation in Jerrys honor, we support www.pilotsforchrist.com and www.pancan.org.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Cantonment Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Two Children
December 8, 2023
A Cantonment man is charged with allegedly sexually abusing two children who lived with him.
Nathan Toms, age 49 of Winter Circle, was charged with four counts of sexual battery against a victim over age 12 but under 18, four counts of molesting a child aged over 12 but under 15 and two counts of child abuse.
Two children told authorities that he sexually abused them between January 2017 and December 2019, according to an arrest report.
One of the children said the family “relied on Nathan financially” while living with him and they “did not want to upset the family dynamic”.
According to the report, Toms admitted during a phone call to sexually abusing the two children.
Seven other siblings lived with the family, and deputies state in their report, “There are concerns for the additional minor children between the ages of 10 and 17 still residing in the home with Nathan.”
Toms was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $710,000.
Two Finalists Named For Escambia Children’s Trust Director
December 8, 2023
There are two finalists for the next executive director of the Escambia Children’s Trust.
They are:
- Lindsey Cannon — regional executive director for the Children’s Home Society and
- Walker Wilson — executive director of the Downtown Improvement Board.
The ECT’s first executive director, Tammy Greer, resigned unexpectedly back in August.
Cannon and Wilson will be officially considered by the full ECT board at an upcoming meeting.
Northview High Students Receive Required CPR Training
December 8, 2023
Nemours Children’s Health Pensacola continued their work this week towards the goal to provide hands-on CPR training to every eleventh grade student in the Escambia County Public School District. These trainings, held in partnership with the American Heart Association, are led by Nemours Childrens Health pediatric specialists as a way to ensure that every high school in the Escambia County Public School District is able to meet the Florida statute that requires students in 9th and 11th grade to participate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Northview High School was the second school to receive training in the 2023-2024 school year. Students gathered in the gym to learn how to properly perform chest compressions on CPR manikins. According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. With more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occurring outside of a hospital setting each year, bystander intervention plays a crucial role in patient outcome.
By the end of the school year, more than 2,000 students across seven Escambia County high schools will have received training on how to effectively administer CPR, as well as instruction on how to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
In addition to training provided by Nemours Children’s Health, Escambia County Public Schools have also received CPR Training kits donated by the American Heart Association. In the coming years, these kits will provide the opportunity for thousands of students to learn life saving CPR skills that could make the difference between tragedy and survival/recovery for a cardiac arrest victim.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
University of West Florida To Mark Over 100,000 Graduates At Fall Commencement
December 8, 2023
The University of West Florida will reach a significant milestone, officially surpassing 100,000 graduates during the University’s Fall 2023 Commencement this Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
“Our 100,000 alumni have boldly entered the world and dynamically impacted their professions and communities,” said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. “Today, you’ll find our graduates filling roles as accountants and educators, nurses and military leaders, entrepreneurs and engineers. We are proud of their many accomplishments, and their support of the University as alumni tells us they are proud of their alma mater.”
UWF alumni have made their mark in all 50 U.S. states and in 70 countries around the world. The University has nine regional alumni chapters throughout the country that foster local connections to the UWF community.
UWF Alumni Association president Whitney Fike said the 100,000 milestone represents a lot more than an impressive number.
“The achievement of 100,000 alumni symbolizes a vast network of success stories, shared experiences, and continuing connections,” Fike said. “Each graduate contributes to the university’s legacy, and together, we celebrate the collective impact of knowledge, achievement, and lifelong connections forged within the UWF community.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
