Donald Branum
January 5, 2023
, age 85, of Atmore, AL passed away on January 5, 2023 in Atmore, AL.
He was born on April 23, 1937 to Ralph Edward Branum and Doris Griffin Boggan. He served in the United States Air Force until his retirement. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Betty Jo Branum.
He is survived by his daughters, Tracey Harting and April Alford; his stepdaughters: Tifiney Lavoie, Beverly Townsend and Wendy Locklin; his brother, Billy Branum; his sister, Jewel Hadley and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews and nieces.
Graveside services will be held Monday, January 9, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery with Bro. Austin Lee officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Established Foreign Manufacturing Company Seeks To Locate In Century; Town Council President Says No
January 4, 2023
A 50-year old foreign company with established American customers wants to lease a building owned by the Town of Century and bring new jobs, but the president of the town council is against the idea.
According to the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance, the company is looking to set up their first domestic manufacturing and warehouse distribution facility serving the oil and gas industry. They plan to hire five people initially, with a goal of 10 employees by the end of the year with an average salary of $46,570 — the average wage in the Pensacola area. The company hopes to begin warehouse operations by the end of February with a forthcoming expansion into manufacturing.
“They were originally planning to just do warehouse and distribution, exporting their products here,” Danita Andrews (pictured left), chief business development officer for FloridaWest, said. “They have quickly decided that they want to move forward with being able to manufacture here as well…It makes good business sense for them to manufacture here rather than continue from where they are.”
The company wants to lease a 40,000 square foot town-owned building in their industrial park known as the “Helicopter Technology Building”. The town re-acquired the industrial building at public auction for less than $1 out of pocket back in August 2009, following the town’s foreclosure judgment against the now defunct Helicopter Technology company. The building has sat empty since then.
The lead for the project came from the international division of Enterprise Florida at the end of October, and the company visited Century and other available locations in Escambia County around Thanksgiving.
“They manufacture a component for a part for the oil and gas industry, they’re actually a plastics and rubber extrusion company,” Andrews said, adding that the raw product is in pelletized form before it is poured into a machine and molded using pressure.
Most details about the company and their plans remain confidential during discussions, as is allowed and is standard in economic development in Florida.
Andrews requested that the Century Town Council vote to allow Mayor Ben Boutwell to negotiate lease terms with the company for final approval by the council.
“It comes back to this table,” Boutwell told the council.
“Ain’t nothing fixing to be done period if I have anything to do with it,” Council President Luis Gomez (pictured left) responded.
“Okay Mr. Gomez, just keep holding us back sir. Just keep holding us back. Keep holding us back,” Boutwell rebutted.
“I’m out. Y’all can vote on it, but that ain’t what my vision is for the helicopter building,” Gomez said before asking for a motion to allow the mayor to negotiate with “this ghost client”.
Council member Dynette Lewis made a motion, clarifying that it would allow Boutwell to work with not a “ghost client” but with FloridaWest to negotiate lease terms with the company. The motion was seconded by Jackson and passed 3-1 with Gomez against.
The company is offering a lease amount equal to a recent appraisal — $94,000 annually or $7,833 monthly — with the company paying for insurance, taxes and maintenance with a minimum five-year term.
Company officials will be in Century next week to meet individually with each town council member and look at any potential upgrades to the building. Andrews said they will need to expand the existing facility by some 1,500 to 2,000 square feet to accommodate a large piece of manufacturing equipment that requires a tall ceiling.
“There is no waste; there is nothing that would contaminate the water or the air,” Andrews said. “They can take any excess product and reutilize that again in the extrusion process. This is my understanding.”
“Twenty jobs in five years is nothing for the town of Century,” Gomez said. “They opened up a peanut factory in Atmore, which I know don’t have anything to do with us, automatically 200 jobs. That’s what I’m looking for for Century. That’s what I am looking for for Century. Something with some people that want to be transparent on their own, not somebody who comes in here under the cover of night. They’ve got to have all these stipulations under the cover of a backroom deal negotiated by somebody else. That’s not going to benefit Century.”
“It sounds to me like we put the cart before the horse. We want to give up all of this authority to the mayor to a person that we don’t know,” Gomez continued. “We can’t even do due diligence. We can’t do no type of research. We can’t see what the background is, but we are supposed to just come in here and give him (the mayor) the authority to negotiate on behalf of the town and then accept or not accept whatever they come up with.”
“I’ve got to stick to my convictions. I’m just tired of people coming into Century wanting to hide,” he said.
FDLE: Former Navy Federal Employee Sold Member Account Info On The Dark Web
January 4, 2023
A former Navy Federal Credit Union employee has been charged by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with selling customer information on the dark web.
Wade Hampton Helms, 34, of Arab, Alabama, was arrested on a FDLE warrant last week on one count of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks and electronic devices; eight counts of criminal use of personal identification information; 34 counts of unlawful possession of personal identification information; and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device. All charges are felonies.
FDLE’s investigation began in September 2022, when internal fraud investigators with a Pensacola-area credit union reported possible fraud related to Helms, who at the time lived in Pensacola and was an employee of the credit union.
Agents discovered that Helms misused his employee access to compromise dozens of credit union member accounts, taking the members’ personal identification information and providing it to third parties via the dark web. He also assisted the third parties to gain access to the credit union member accounts, resulting in the third parties stealing funds from the accounts.
The credit union has notified members whose information was compromised.
Helms was arrested by the Arab (Alabama) Police Department on the FDLE warrant and transported to Pensacola. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail and later released on a $47,000 bond.
Flomaton Police Seek Harassment, Trespassing Suspect
January 4, 2023
The Flomaton Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a wanted suspect.
Jeremy Alan Crapps is wanted for trespassing first degree and harassment for an incident on December 29 in Flomaton, according to FPD.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or their local law enforcement agency.
Map Shows Amtrak Plan To Return Service To Northwest Florida, Perhaps Atmore
January 4, 2023
Amtrak service could return to Northwest Florida, and perhaps Atmore, according to an Amtrak map recently published.
An agreement is in place for a new corridor for Gulf Coast communities between Mobile and New Orleans, including connections with Amtrak’s Sunset Limited, City of New Orleans, and Crescent at New Orleans. The service does not currently extended east beyond Mobile.
The new map shows Amtrak service from Mobile to Jacksonville, with the route traveling through Atmore and Pensacola before heading further east.
Amtrak service between New Orleans and the east coast of Florida ended with Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.
Pictured: An Amtrak inspection train rolls in Atmore (top) and Pensacola (below) in February 2016. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Ends December With 16 Residential Structure Fires
January 4, 2023
Escambia County recorded 16 residential fires during December, represented by 16 red bulbs in the “Keep the Wreath Green” in the annual fire safety campaign.
Three of the fires were in the North Escambia area.
State Investigating Bratt House Fire
The Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson & Explosives Investigations is investigating the cause of a fire that left a family without a home Friday evening in Bratt (pictured top). The fire was reported about 5 p.m. in the 4000 block of Still Road, about 1.5 miles south of West Highway 4. The double-wide mobile home was fully involved when the first firefighters arrived on scene. There were no injuries reported, but two dogs were pronounced deceased at the scene. The fire was the 11th red bulb in the wreath.
Christmas Morning Fire Damages Cantonment Home
About 6:25 on Christmas morning, ECFR responded to a house fire in the 700 block of West Roberts Road in Cantonment. The fire was in the attic, so smoke detectors did not alert the occupants. Due to damage in the attic, the residents were displaced until repairs can be made. There were no injuries. This was the 12th red bulb on the fire safety wreath.
Makeshift Residence Destroyed By Fire In Cottage Hill
Improperly used extension cords are being blamed for a fire that destroyed an makeshift residence in Cottage Hill Tuesday morning. The fire was reported about 8:20 a.m. in the 1900 block of Smyers Road, north of Cottage Hill Road. Firefighters arrived to find what Escambia County Fire Rescue said was a “repurposed camper shell” burning. It was a total loss. ECFR said someone was living in the structure, but they were able to escape without injuries. This was the 13th red bub in the wreath.
NorthEscabia.com photo (top) and photo for NorthEscambia.com (lower) click to enlarge.
County Seeks Applicants For Escambia Children’s Trust
January 4, 2023
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking applications from county residents to serve on the Escambia Children’s Trust.
To be considered, applicants must submit the completed Escambia Children’s Trust application and questionnaire for gubernatorial appointments with an optional resume by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Resumes and both applications should be submitted via email to boardapply@myescambia.com or mailed to:
Jose Gochez, Program Manager
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
221 Palafox Place, Suite 420
Pensacola, FL 32502
The Board of County Commissioners will nominate three applicants per vacancy to be submitted to the governor for review and potential appointment. Following the board’s selection, the county administrator will notify the Governor’s Appointments Office of the selected applicants and additional steps from the nominees may be required.
To be considered for the Escambia Children’s Trust, Florida Statute criteria include the requirement that nominees have been residents of Escambia County for the previous 24 months and are willing to submit an annual Statement of Financial Interests Form. Florida Statutes also require that gubernatorial appointments are representative of the demographic diversity of the County’s population.
Per Section 125.901, Florida Statutes, the Escambia Children’s Trust shall consist of 10 members, including:
- The superintendent of schools;
- A school board member as appointed by the school board;
- The Department of Children and Families district administrator, or his or her designee;
- A judge assigned to juvenile cases as appointed by the chief judge;
- A c0ounty commissioner as appointed by the Board of County Commissioners; and
- Five members appointed by the governor from candidates nominated by the Board of County Commissioners to serve a four-year term.
In November 2020, 61% of participating voters in Escambia County supported the creation of the Children’s Trust to be funded by an increase in ad valorem taxes of up to a maximum of 0.5 mil. The Children’s Trust will provide early childhood education, safety, developmental, preventative, health, and well-being services, including after school and summer enrichment programs.
The ECT is responsible for assessing the needs of the children in the county and developing a strategic plan for addressing unmet needs, which must then be submitted to the Board. The ECT, like the county, must also go through the process of adopting a millage rate and budget in accordance with Florida’s Truth In Millage (TRIM) Act, and the CSC must submit an annual report to the Board as required by Florida law.
Back To School In Escambia County: Today For Teachers, Thursday For Kids
January 4, 2023
The Christmas and New Year’s break is coming to an end for students and teachers in Escambia County.
Teachers will be back in school today, January 4, for a non-student day. Students will return to class on Thursday, January 5.
The next holiday for students and teachers will be Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 16, and spring break is March 13-17.
Joyce Marie Lancaster Mothershed
January 4, 2023
Mrs. Joyce Marie Lancaster Mothershed, age 84, passed away, Friday, December 23, 2022, in Century, FL. She resided most of her life in Atmore, AL; aand she attended Mennonite Christian Fellowship. She retired from Vanity Fair Mills with many years of employment.
Mrs. Mothershed enjoyed listening to music, especially gospel music.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Alvin G. (Ruby Lee) Lancaster, and her husband, Rev. James Gladyn Mothershed.
She is survived by her one daughter, Lisa Mothershed James, of Florida, one granddaughter, Alyssa McCoy, of Maryland, numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, January 7, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Blaine Copenhaver officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Larry O. Pittman
January 4, 2023
Larry O. Pittman, of Cantonment, FL 32533, went to Glory to be with his Lord Jesus on December 31, 2022.
He was lovingly called “Pa” by his family and was dearly loved by so many. He was born in Brewton, AL, on May 8, 1948. He was married to the love of his life, Janice Diamond, for 56 years. He and his wife are the owners of Pittman’s Cantonment Building Materials. They opened their first lumberyard in 1972 and have been in the lumber business for 50 years. Larry had a passion for lumber and building; whatever he built would certainly stand the test of time. He loved people and was always willing to give a helping hand to anyone. He was not afraid to tackle any project, no matter how large it was. Larry also had a passion for his livestock and farming, he could spend hours at his barn working with his animals. He always made sure his grandchildren had a pony or horse to love and he had much enjoyment sharing these times with them. His family was his main joy in life. He always said that family had to stick together. Larry always had his priorities in order- God first, then family, and third work. He was a member of Family Worship Center. He enjoyed playing his guitar at church and rarely missed a Sunday. Everyone who knew him knew he was a Godly man and stood for what is right.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, F.O. and Louise Pittman; brother, Wayne Pittman; great nephew, Chase Owens; and in-laws Floyd and Mildred Diamond.
He leaves behind his wife, Janice Pittman, only daughter, Ashley Johnson (David) and three devoted grandchildren, Madison Young (Dalton), Dylan Johnson, and Dayvin Johnson and one great-granddaughter, Ansley Young. He is also survived by his sister, Helen Salter (Daryl) and numerous nieces and nephews.
His shining smile, comforting hugs, and charming personality will be missed immensely. Please join us for a memorial service on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Faith Chapel North (1000 S Hwy 29, Cantonment, FL). Visitation will be at 12:00, with the service following at 1:00. Interment to follow. Pallbearers will be Steve Johnson, Heath Owens, Shon Owens, Robbie Turner, Glenn Vaughn, and Toby Wallace. Honorary Pallbearers are Tom Andrews, Kevin Farrow, Cassie Fuqua, George Smith, Ray White, Roy White, George Diamond and Jerry Diamond.