Melanie Johnson Is Kingsfield Elementary School Teacher Of The Year
January 31, 2023
Melanie Johnson was named Kingsfield Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year.
Johnson has taught for 29 years and is currently a third grade teacher.
NorthEscambia.com is continuing to spotlight Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area during January.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Charged With Child Sexual Abuse
January 31, 2023
An Atmore man is charged with sexually abusing a child.
Vonsha Mondez Jones, 28, was charged with sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old, sodomy first degree, and sexual abuse first degree.
The Atmore Police Department was contacted about the abuse case after the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
“The case worker was investigating a complaint from a child that had recently disclosed memories of sexual abuse and no lived in the Atmore area,” Atmore Police Department Sgt. Darrell McMann said.
The abuse began when the child was under age 12 and occurred over a three-year period, according to police.
Jones was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center.
Gloria York Ledkins
January 31, 2023
Mrs. Gloria York Ledkins, age 85, passed away, Sunday, January 29, 2023, in Atmore, AL. She was a lifelong resident of Atmore, AL. She was a member of Presley Street Baptist church for many years.
Mrs. Ledkins loved spending time with her family. She loved to read and watch TV especially “Gone with The Wind”. She enjoys putting together puzzles and loves to sew.
Mrs. Ledkins is preceded in death by her parents, Robert Eugene (Mae Blanche Stringfellow) York, husband, Ronald Ledkins, two brothers, Harold York, Claude York, and one sister, Doris Haynie.
She is survived by her one brother, Ronald “Ronnie” (Phyllis) York, of The Rock, GA; two sisters, Betty (James) Amerson, of Bratt, FL; Peggy Mauldin, of Bratt, FL; numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Graveside service will be held Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Godwin Cemetery with Rev. Ted Bridges officiating.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 12:30 PM until 1:30 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC.
South Highway 99 Resurfacing Underway From Walnut Hill To Bay Springs
January 30, 2023
An Escambia County resurfacing project is underway on South Highway 99 from Walnut Hill to Bay Springs.
About eight miles of the roadway is being resurfaced between Highway 97 and Highway 97A.
Drivers can expect lane closures during paving operations.
Pictured: South Highway 99 between Highway 97 and Tungoil Road as seen late in the afternoon on Saturday, January 28 . NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Volunteer Firefighter Named Florida’s Mother Of The Year
January 30, 2023
An Escambia County volunteer firefighter has been named the Florida Mother of the Year by the American Mothers organization.
Cheyann Smith, a mother of two, has served with the Beulah Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue since March 2018.
She joined the Air Force in 2012, where she took note of a mental health crisis in the military. She went back to school in hopes of aiding her fellow airmen. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s and is currently working on a doctorate of psychology.
“This is a monumental honor because those two little girls are my world,” said Smith. “Everything I do, I do for them. I hope they understand from the example I’ve set that as long as they work hard, stay committed, have self-discipline, and have good time management skills, they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. My ultimate goal in life is to raise strong, independent, kind human beings and be a mom that my children can be proud to call their own.”
She led several humanitarian drives before starting her own nonprofit Beacon — Be the One to Light the Way. The organization is dedicated to providing relief to individuals with food and housing insecurities.
Smith will be recognized during the American Mothers National Convention in Omaha, Nebraska, this April.
Escambia Expanding Perdido Landfill With Another 4.75 Years Of Space
January 30, 2023
Escambia County is expanding the Perdido Landfill.
Waste Services is constructing a 20-acre engineered cell that is expected to provide an additional 4.75 years of landfill life. The first loads of waste are expected to be placed in the new cell by early April 2023.
The design was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
“Our mission at the Waste Services Department is to handle the county’s residential and commercial waste in an environmentally responsible manner,” said Escambia County Waste Services Director Don Seitz. “Most residents don’t think about where their waste goes after they take it to the curb. Waste Services is here to make sure that it continues to be disposed of properly for years to come with this new cell and the most modern landfill design.”
After using approved soil and compaction techniques, a double synthetic liner system was installed. FDEP will provide final approval and permitting.
Pictured: Aerial views of the land cell during different phases of construction.
Tate High To Present Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ February 2-4
January 30, 2023
Mark your calendars…Tate High School’s Drama Department will present Disney’s The Little Mermaid February 2-4.
Performances will be at 7:00 nightly, and tickets will be $10 at the door.
Chance Of Showers, Other Mostly Cloudy For Monday
January 30, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night: Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 52. Southwest wind around 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.
Jay Woman Wanted On Animal Cruelty Charges
January 30, 2023
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
A Jay woman is wanted on animal cruelty charges, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Haley Nicole Lynne Williams, 30,is wanted on five counts of felony conservation animals – impound or confine an animal without sufficient food or water.
She is described as a white female, 5-feet 1-inch tall, 95 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1190 or Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP. Crime Stoppers callers could earn a reward up to $3,000.
Williams is pictured from a 2020 arrest.
Florida Gas Prices Up 17 Cents Over The Past Week
January 30, 2023
Florida gas prices rose 17 cents per gallon last week, reaching a two month high of $3.58 per gallon on Thursday. That state average then took a minor step back, declining almost 2 cents through the weekend at $3.56.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was one of the lowest in the state at $3.40. The low price Sunday night in North Escambia was $3.35 on Highway 29 in Cantonment, and $3.19 in Pensacola.
“Florida gas prices surged 32 cents per gallon during the past two weeks,” said Mark Jenkins, Public Relations Manager, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “It’s unusual to see big gains like this in January, but global fundamentals have kept upward pressure on prices at the pump. Oil investors are bullish that global fuel demand will rise now that China, the world’s largest oil importer, is reopening its economy.”