Boil Water Notice Issued For Entire Nature Trail Subdivision
March 29, 2023
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued by ECUA for the entire Nature Trail Subdivision.
This precautionary notice was issued due to localized water taste and color issues after a well was placed back in service from routine maintenance. PWBN are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure or concerns, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs. There was no loss of pressure and all sample results showed chlorine residuals within normal ranges.
Residents located in the specified area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours and the notice will be rescinded at that time.
ECUA staff resolved the issue at the well and have flushed out the lines. Residents within the PBWN area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of residual discolored water as a result of the flushing, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
Rare Supersized Hail Destroys Crops At Local Vegetable Farm
March 29, 2023
Supersized hail lashed a portion of the North Escambia area early Tuesday morning, destroying all of the crops at a Davisville produce farm.
Maeday Farm on Highway 97 in Davisville, about a mile south of Atmore, lost all of their remaining winter vegetables and everything they had planted for spring, according to co-founder Steven Elliot. Hail they estimated to be between golf ball to ping pong ball size beat all of the vegetables into the ground, including lettuce, radicchio, green onions, kale, spinach, cucumbers, squash and zucchini. Their animals and structures like greenhouses were not damaged.
Steven Elliot and his wife Meredith Elliot typically sell their produce at the Palafox Market in Pensacola, but they won’t be there for several weeks and they regroup and plan how to move forward.
“It was a big loss with everything gone in just a few minutes,” Steven Elliot said.
The supersized for Florida hail fell in an area along and within a few miles of the Alabama/Florida line just after 2 a.m. Tuesday. Some of the hail was documented to be about 2.5 inches, which the weather service calls tennis ball sized.
“I’d say that hail size is crazy big for here. Not sure I’ve seen it that big in 20 years,” WEAR 3 meteorologist Allen Strum said. He said a typical severe thunderstorm with large hail would have hail of one inch or larger.
Escambia County, Florida, officials said no damage was reported to the county or emergency services.
Pictured: Radishes (top photo), radicchio (first below) along with Swiss chard and kale (second below) were among the produce destroyed early Tuesday morning by large hail and Maedae Farms on Highway 97 in Davisville. Pictured inset and bottom: Some of the rare supersized hail that fell in the North Escambia area. Photos for NorhEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Elects Two Council Members During Special Election
March 29, 2023
Two interim Century Town Council members were elected Tuesday to their seats for almost the next four years.
In January, Shelisa McCall and Alicia Johnson were appointed to the council after no one ran for two seats during the 2022 election. Both won during a special election Tuesday by about a two to one margin.
Century Town Council Seat 3
- Shelisa McCall – 89 votes (66.92%)
- Evelyn Webber – 44 votes (33.08%)
Century Town Council Seat 4
- Eddie Hammond – 43 votes (32.58%)
- Alicia Johnson – 89 votes (67.42%)
“I feel very honored that the town of Century trusts me to do this very important job,” Johnson said after the votes were tabulated Tuesday evening at the Century Town Hall. “My big plans are to jump in with both feet, getting our infrastructure repaired, and building jobs, bringing jobs to the area.”
Turnout for the election was low. Just 14.06% (136) of the 967 eligible registered voters cast a vote in Tuesday’s election. There were 32 votes cast by mail and 104 in person at Century Town Hall.
Johnson and McCall will remain in their interim seats until they are sworn in on April 7.
Pictured top: Newly elected Century Town Council members Shelisa McCall (left) and Alicia Johnson (right). Pictured first below: Challenger Eddie Hammond congratulates Johnson Tuesday evening. Second below: Unsuccessful candidate Evelyn Webber said she still looks forward to serving the Century community. Pictured third below: Escambia County Canvassing Board members sign off on election results. Escambia County Commission Chairman Robert Bender (left) and Supervisor of Elections David Stafford (seated) served on the canvassing board along with County Judge Barry E. Dickson, Jr. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 29, 2023
Ransom Middle School recently named their Students of the Month for February. They are Addison Cox and Parker White. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gradual Clearing, Low In The 40s Tonight
March 29, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 45. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 76. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84.
Northview Boys, Girls Win Track Meet (With Gallery)
March 29, 2023
Northview High School’s boys and girls track teams finished first at a recent track and field meet, the first held at the school in Bratt in about a decade.
Northview had not hosted a meet in years due to the poor condition of the track, but it was recently resurfaced.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Team results and scores are below:
BOYS
- Northview – 157
- Flomaton – 152.5
- Jay – 151
- J.U. Blacksher – 85
- LEAD Academy – 71.5
- Central (Milton) – 13
GIRLS
- Northview – 182
- Jay – 140
- J.U. Blacksher — 98
- LEAD Academy – 91
- Flomaton – 30
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Hitting His Girlfriend With A Stick
March 29, 2023
A Century man has been charged with hitting his live-in girlfriend with a stick last December.
Jesse Lee Hall, 49, was charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon domestic violence related.
The victim told deputies that she and Hall became involved in an argument before he placed his arm around her and said that he loved her. When she did not reciprocate his affection, he shoved her away, according to an arrest report. The victim said she went and hid in the woods.
When she thought it was safe and exited the woods, Hall shoved her to the ground then forced her to walk to their house, the report states, while threatening her with a one and a half inch thick stick in his hand.
“Hall grabbed her and hit her with the stick so hard that it took her breath away,” the report states.
Deputies were unable to locate Hall following the incident, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Hall remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday with bond set at $10,000.
Escambia Property Taxes Become Delinquent On April 1
March 29, 2023
Unpaid real estate and tangible property taxes become delinquent April 1 in Escambia County, according to Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
Penalties of three percent for real estate taxes and one and one-half percent for tangible taxes will be assessed. Over $27.3 million remains unpaid, representing approximately eight percent of the tax roll. To avoid the penalty, payment must be made by April 1.
Payment options include:
- online by midnight, March 31, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com;
- mailed with a March postmark;
- left by midnight, March 31 in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations; or
- by phone at (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252 by close of business March 31.
Essie Mae Kirkland
March 29, 2023
Essie Mae Kirkland, 92, of Pensacola passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
She was born in Jay, Florida to Ira and Mattie Carnley and was raised on a farm where they grew vegetables and cotton which she mentioned picking cotton and many times getting pricked by the pods that held the cotton fibers. Essie loved running through her neighborhood and visiting friends and neighbors as well as walking to church. She and her younger sister Corine liked to play in and around a nearby pond, climb trees, lay back on the ground and listen to the birds sing. Essie’s father passed when she was 6 years old and her mother followed shortly after. She and her younger sister stayed on the farm and were watched over by an older brother until she left home for Pensacola at the age of 16, in 1947. Essie began working at Dainty Dell’s Restaurant that she truly enjoyed as she loved the comradery with the patrons and the owners. She soon married and started her family in 1948. She began working at *Chemstrand/Monsanto/Solutia (Eastman Chemical) which they often called “The Plant” in 1953 or 1954 as a Drawtwist Operator (twisting the manufactured yarn for Astro turf and Automobile tires) on the D shift and worked rotating shifts that changed every 7 days and raised 6 children during her 31 year tenure in which she retired in 1985 or 1986. After Retiring, she continued to nurture her family and help neighbors and friends while she maintained her home and yard that sits on an acre of land (she tilled, planted and maintained her own big garden). Essie was a member of Cora Baptist Church in Jay, Florida.
Essie is preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and three sisters as well as her son, Johnny L. Grubbs; grandson, Ray Junior Grubbs II; ex-spouse of 9-10 years, Hubert R. Grubbs and ex-spouse of 21 years, Alfred E. Edgar.
She is survived by her son, Ray Grubbs (Betty); daughters, Rita Hall (Jerry), Mary Sue Watson (Jimmie), JoAnn Hope (Willie), Donna Gist (Jim); 19 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and 33 great-great grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Thursday, March 30, 2023 from 1pm until the service begins at 2pm led by Pastor Gene Hudson. Pallbearers will be Fred Bergeron, Ray Grubbs, Keith Grubbs, Clayton Grubbs, Logan Vaughn and Willie Mack. Honorary Pallbearers are Jim Gist, Jerry Hall and Jimmie Watson.
In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made to Ethan Bergeron Foundation (great-grandson) at Servis First Bank 219 E. Garden St. #100 Pensacola, Fl 32502 (850)-266-9100 or 4980 N. 12th Ave. Pensacola, Fl 32504 (850)-266-9160
Jimmy Dean Colbert
March 29, 2023
Jimmy Dean Colbert, age 60, of Atmore, AL passed away March 22, 2023 in Mobile, AL.
He was born in Atmore, AL to the late John H., Sr. and Cubia Dean Hicks Colbert on February 6, 1963. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister; Linda Diane Rolin. He was a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
He is survived by his brother, Johnny (Jennifer) Colbert, Jr; his nieces and nephews: Connie Bartlett, Dustin Colbert, Douglas Rolin, Lynn Rolin Steele, Brian Pierce and numerous great nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 3 PM at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Clarence Rolin officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Douglas “Poncho” Kelly, James Colbert, Robby Hayles, Larry Watts, Justin Watts and Corey James.
Honorary pallbearers will be Tony Rolin, Wayne Colbert and John Kelly.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 28, 2023 from 2 PM until service time at 3 PM at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.