Thomas O. ‘Tom’ Norris
August 10, 2023
Thomas O. (Tom) Norris was born October 7, 1938, in Andalusia, Alabama, and passed away August 7, 2023 in Pensacola, Florida.
Tom was one of 11 children. He graduated from Florala High School in 1957. From there he went into the transportation industry for 43 years serving with the L and N railroad, National Airlines, where he ascended from Ramp Agent to management, and retired from management with greyhound bus lines.
He loved gardening and watching things grow as well as listening to gospel music. He was active with the Council On Aging calling bingo and serving where he could. Tom was an avid Alabama football fan and spent every football Saturday enjoying a game with his brother David.
Tom had a special love for his church, Gonzalez Baptist Church. There he served as deacon, the Manna and food for help food distribution ministries, choir, landscaping and anywhere else there was a need.
Tom was dedicated to his family. He took care of and provided for any that had a need. He would freely give good advice to all, especially to his nieces and nephews.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Willie Dalton Norris and Rosa Odessa Sauls; daughter, Jamie Suzanne Norris; son, Anthony (Tony) Ladon Norris; as well as 9 brothers and sisters.
Tom is survived by wife, Nancy Nobles Norris; daughter, Tracy Harris; granddaughter, Carrie Longmire Fisk, (Byron); great grandson, son, and buddy pal, Adrien Phillips; son in law, Paul Swafford; brother, Quitman David Norris; several nieces and nephews
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 12, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Gonzalez Baptist Church. Pastor Mike Mashburn will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the roof fund at Gonzalez Baptist Church or your favorite charity.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
$1.58 Billion Mega Millions Ticket Sold In Florida
August 9, 2023
One ticket sold in Florida was the sole winner of Tuesday night’s $1.58 billion Mega Millions drawing.
The jackpot winning quick pick ticket was sold at a Publix in Neptune Beach in the Jacksonville area. The jackpot prize winner has the option of receiving their winnings in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $783.3 million.
The winning numbers for the August 8 drawing were 13-19-20-32-33 and the Mega Ball was 14.
The retailer will receive a $100,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.
In addition to the jackpot prize, Tuesday’s drawing also produced one $2 million Florida winner from a ticket matching all 5-of-5 white balls. The $2 million winning ticket was purchased at Kwik Stop in Hollywood.
Two People Found Dead In Murder-Suicide At Cantonment Home
August 9, 2023
An investigation is underway after two people were found shot to death in a murder-suicide Tuesday night in Cantonment.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were called to a shots fired disturbance at 10:09 p.m. on Joshua Drive in the Bristol Parka area off County Road 97.
A man and woman were found deceased inside the home, and the ECSO says it has been ruled as a murder suicide.
Additional details, including names, have not been released.
Century Man Charged With ‘Beating’ The Mother Of His Child, ECSO Says
August 9, 2023
A Century man is charged with allegedly beating the mother of his child.
Jayden Constatine Jackson, 20, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and witness tampering.
The Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office responded to Atmore Community Hospital where the victim stated that she was spending the night with Jackson because they were trying to work things out. Jackson went through her phone and saw a picture of someone else and began beating her, according to an arrest report.
The victim told deputies that Jackson hit her with his fist and torch lighter before hitting her with a tall fan until it broke, the report states. He then allegedly held the lighter to the back of her neck. She stated he then held her in a corner by the bed and would not let her leave, and when tried to call 911, he took her phone.
“Jackson stated that if she told the police, he would kill her,” the ECSO report states.
Deputies said the victim suffered a black eye, cuts and bruises, and had a red mark on the back of her neck.
The alleged incident occurred on Backwoods Road in Century.
Jackson was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
Century Holds Budget Meeting; Talks Employee Raises, Department Needs
August 9, 2023
The Century Town Council held their first budget workshop Tuesday evening to plan their spending for the next fiscal year.
Employee expenses — salaries and benefits like health insurance — make up the largest single chunk of the budget. The town doesn’t know what health insurance will cost, but they will know soon from their insurance agent. The town is looking at mandated raises for any impacted employees as the minimum wage in Florida rises to $12 an hour on September 30.
Cost of living raises are also proposed for employees. Council president Luis Gomez, Jr. said the town should consider proactively making new hires as at least three current employees are over age 60 and could retire at any time.
Department heads have also submitted their proposals for departments including streets, water, gas and administration.
The council plans to hold a workshop in two weeks to review a draft budget before they begin the final approval and tax rate process.
The town’s new fiscal year begins on October 1.
Council members Alicia Johnson and Dynette Lewis did not attend Tuesday’s workshop meeting, while Gomez, Shelisa Abraham and Sandra McMurray-Jackson were present. Accountant Robert Hudson and Mayor Ben Boutwell participated by phone.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Reminder: This Route To Several North Escambia Schools Is Closed For Bridge Replacement
August 9, 2023
With the first day of school on Thursday, drivers are being reminded of a bridge closure on the primary route for many to reach several North Escambia schools.
Highway 4 is closed between Byrneville and Bratt to replace the Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek, potentially slowing traffic with a detour for drivers headed to Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Byrneville Elementary and Bratt Elementary schools.
Byrneville Elementary has added a bus stop in Bratt for families that live on the west side of the bridge; contact the school for more specific information.
The Florida Department of Transportation said the detour is expected to be in place for nearly a year for the $3,837,105 project to replace the structurally deficient bridge The bridge and roadway are owned by Escambia County, but the work will be done under a locally funded agreement with FDOT.
A 330-day detour is planned from Highway 4 to Bratt Road (the eastern end of Bratt Road closer to Century) to Pine Barren Road, to Highway 4 (near Northview High School).
The portion of Highway 4 closed since July 10 is 4.14 miles; the detour will be 5.67 miles. The average daily traffic count is 1,800 vehicles per day.
The bridge constructed in 1942 is 225 feet long and has wood supports, some of which were failing and were later reinforced with steel.
A smaller Highway 4 bridge located just to the east of the Canoe Creek bridge is not set for replacement at this time.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mostly Clear And Muggy Tonight
August 9, 2023
Another heat advisory is in effect again on Thursday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 78. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 107. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 80. Southwest wind around 10 mph.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 110. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 99. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 96.
Lane Closure On Pine Forest Southbound Near I-10 Through Friday
August 9, 2023
The southbound outside lane of Pine Forest Road will be closed just north of I-10 Wednesday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. for “power pole activities”, according to the Florida Department of Transporation.
The closure will be near 8600 Pine Forest Road at the new development just north of the interstate.
New System Allows Vehicle Registration Pick Ups In Molino — Without Waiting In Line
August 9, 2023
Back in May, Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford introduced a new way to pick up registrations from his office in Molino without the need to get in line.
The Molino tax office recently completed their 625th transaction using the Expressway lockers, and over 12,000 express transactions have been completed countywide.
“Expressway Lockers is a convenient way to renew and pick up your registrations on the same day without delay. Expressway Lockers can be used to renew registrations or purchase Florida specialty license plates,” Lunsford said.
Here’s how it works:
- Renew your registration online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
- Receive an email from “Luxer One” when your registration is ready.
- Scan your pickup code at the locker.
- No need to wait in line.
The Escambia County Tax Collector Molino Office is located at 6440 North Highway 95A, in the Molino Community Center complex.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Quickly Quieted In 3-0 Loss
August 9, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos suffered just their second shutout loss of the season on Tuesday night, falling 3-0 to the Chattanooga Lookouts in the opener of a six-game road series.
The Blue Wahoos offense managed just three hits, all singles, in a game that took only two hours to complete.
Evan Fitterer (L, 6-4) took the loss, allowing three runs in 5.0 innings. Alex McGarry opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first, and blasted an opposite-field solo homer in the fourth to pace the Chattanooga offense. Michael Trautwein capped the scoring with a two-out RBI single in the fourth.
That was more than enough for Julian Aguiar (W, 2-2), who turned in a dominant start with 7.0 innings of scoreless ball for the Lookouts. The righty, making his fifth start at Double-A, struck out seven without walking a batter and did not allow any balls out of the infield in the final five innings of his appearance.
The lone offensive bright spot for Pensacola was Nasim Nuñez, who extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an infield single in the sixth inning.
Marlins reliever Tommy Nance, making a rehab appearance in his return from a right shoulder injury, worked 1.2 scoreless innings. Dylan Bice, pitching in front of friends and family from his nearby hometown of Ringgold, Georgia, fanned three over 1.1 scoreless frames.
Ryan Meisinger (S, 9) worked around a two-out walk in the ninth to lock down a six-out save and complete the three-hit shutout.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Wednesday.