Family Identifies Century Homicide Victim As Young Father, Former High School Football Player
October 31, 2023
Family has identified a Century homicide victim as 20-year old Jaheem Durant, the father of a 2-year old.
Durant was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds on a sidewalk along North Century Boulevard, near Ramar Street about 1:15 a.m. Sunday.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident as a homicide, and there were no suspects immediately identified by deputies. Additional details were not available as the investigation continued. Investigators were working to determine if the shooting happened on the roadside or elsewhere.
Anyone with information is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Durant played high school football for both the Northview Chiefs and the Flomaton Hurricanes.
At Northview, Durant was named 2nd Team Defensive End for the Florida 1A All-State football team. He was a member of the Flomaton High School first ever state championship team.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
More Details Released On Hurricane Sally Drainage Project That Has Closed McElhaney Road In Bratt
October 31, 2023
As we first reported over a week ago, McElhaney Road just south of the state line in Bratt is now closed for a Hurricane Sally FEMA project to improve drainage structures.
Tuesday, Escambia County aacknowledged that work is now underway and released addiional information. Traffic will be detoured along Old Bratt Road to south on Morton Road, to Cecils Road and west back to McElhaney Road. The road is expected to re-open by January 2024.
Residents, pedestrians, local traffic and emergency vehicles will have access to properties within the work area at all times; however, there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance may be blocked temporarily as equipment and materials are moved during construction
The $810,715.45 project will replace the drainage structures at 7200 and 8000 McElhaney Road. FEMA will fund $770,179.68 (95%) of the cost, while Escambia County will be responsible for $40,535.77 (5%).
The work includes clearing of all hurricane debris, removing damaged existing culvert pipes and riprap, installing a new pipe/box culvert, restabilizing and reconstructing the roadway pavement, and replacing riprap within the ditch bottom. Minor ditch regrading, resetting existing fence, and installing concrete ditch pavement will be required.
IT is scheduled to take about 180 days to complete.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Red Flag Warning: Burn Ban Issued In Santa Rosa, But Not Escambia
October 31, 2023
Officials with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are putting a halt to issuing authorizations for all prescribed or pile burns as increased winds and extremely low humidity arrives in the area for the next several days. The cold front coupled with a lack of rain over the past several weeks make for extremely dangerous conditions if any fires were to start.
The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch through Wednesday because of critically low humidity levels – as low as 15-20% – and sustained north winds of 15-20 mph with gusts to 30.
Burn bans are in effect in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, while Escambia County Residents are urged to not conduct any outdoor burning until conditions improve.
“We all know it’s dry and folks just need to be careful,” said David Smith, Operations Administrator for the Blackwater Forestry Center. “It’s not completely out of the ordinary to have a dry fall, but it’s important that people are cautious with what they’re doing in regard to fire until we get some significant rain.”
Pictured: A wildfire in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Florida’s Silver Alert Missing Senior Program Celebrates 15 Years, And Numerous Success Stories
October 31, 2023
This month marks the 15th anniversary of Florida’s Silver Alert program. Since the program’s inception in 2008, more than 3,200 Silver Alerts have been activated, with over 170 this year alone. Florida’s Silver Alert program has been directly responsible for more than 300 recoveries of missing senior citizens.
Florida Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Michelle Branham said, “With over 580,000 Floridians suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the Silver Alert program is essential for helping protect our most vulnerable population. Florida proudly leads the nation in funding for Alzheimer’s disease support services, and it is important we continue to support programs like the Silver Alert as our senior population continues to grow. I am grateful to our Governor for continuing to prioritize our seniors and those who suffer from dementia, and FDLE for their role in helping to keep our seniors safe.”
One of those Silver Alert success stories was four years ago when an 83-year old Beulah woman was found near Century a week after she was reported missing.
She was located off Highway 29 on North Canoe Road, a non-maintained dirt road. Her car was stuck deep in the sand of the roadway, where she had apparently spent most of the week. She was located by two Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies who responded to a report of a suspicious person.
She had apparently been living out of her car, which had a dead battery. She had food…an uneaten loaf of cinnamon bread was on the passenger seat after her rescue. But her major problem was a lack of liquid. She was transported to an area hospital suffering from dehydration.
Silver Alerts are activated statewide at the request of local law enforcement after a senior with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia (ADRD) goes missing in a vehicle. Once a Silver Alert is issued, information about the missing senior is communicated to the public through local media outlets such as NorthEscambia.com, lottery terminals and highway message signs.
Pictured: A Silver Alert missing senior was found in her stuck car on North Canoe Road in 2016.. Pictured inset and immediately below: There was food in the Hyundai Sonata. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Edmond Nathan Knowles
October 31, 2023
Mr. Edmond Nathan Knowles, age 80, went to Heaven to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, October 26, 2023. He passed peacefully at his home in Flomaton, AL, surrounded by family.
Mr. Knowles was born February 16, 1943 in Century, FL. He lived most of his life in Flomaton, having moved from Range, AL as a young boy. He was a faithful member of Little Escambia Baptist Church.
He graduated from Flomaton High School, class of 1961. While there, he played baseball and basketball and was very talented in each sport, especially baseball. He served in the Alabama National Guard from 1964-1970. He married the love of his life, Luverne, on July 14, 1966. They settled in Davis Subdivision in Flomaton, where they raised their 4 children and shared 55 wonderful years together.
He loved hunting and fishing and was an avid sports fan. When he wasn’t watching the Atlanta Braves or the Alabama Crimson Tide, he enjoyed spending time with his family and working in his garden. He could often be found outside, working with his hands, whether it was carpentry or mechanic work. He was a man of many talents, including drawing, and he could often be heard whistling while he worked. In 2005, after nearly four decades of saving, he cashed in his collection of 1,380,459 pennies, totaling $13,804.59, breaking the world record of the largest private penny collection.
He began his career working at the Rebel Oil gas station in Century, FL in the early sixties, and soon became a manager at the Rebel station in Flomaton. He later purchased that station, which at the time was called TCR, and renamed it Ed’s Service Station. It is still remembered by many as the TCR and always associated with Mr. Ed. He operated it for 43 years. After retiring and closing the station in 2006, he returned to work as a sales representative with Phillip Morris and a few years later he went to work at Advance Auto Parts in Flomaton where he worked until August 2023.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Luverne Morris Knowles; his parents, Edward Nathan Knowles and Doris Florine Blackwell Knowles; three brothers, Paul Knowles, Wayne Knowles, and Donald Knowles; daughter-in-law Krystle Knowles; and great-grandson, Evan Wolfe.
He is survived by two sons, Larry Knowles and Marcus Knowles, both of Brewton, AL; two daughters, Debbie (Eddie) Simmons of Flomaton, AL, and Lisa Knowles of Flomaton, AL; two brothers, Edward Knowles and Raybon Knowles, and a sister, Jean Knowles; four grandchildren, Meredith Wolfe, Alayna Simmons, Nathan Knowles, and Jack Knowles; three great-grandchildren, Scarlett Boutwell, Elias Wolfe, and Oliver Harris, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 3, 2023 at 2:00 pm at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC with Reverend Jonathan Hill and Reverend Larry Patterson officiating.
Burial will follow at Little Escambia Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 6 PM until 9 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Pallbearers will be Marcus Knowles, Brandon Knowles, Arness Knowles, Tommy Knowles, Timothy Knowles, and Eddie Conway.
Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Knowles, Terry Knowles, William Blackwell, Buster Crapps, Darryl Fore, Mickey Powell, and Andre Deslonde.
The family of Edmond Knowles would like to express their gratitude for the care and comfort given to him by Dr. Sheldon Harigel, Donna Leavins, Marie Grice, Rachael Wagner, Kimberly Boatwright, Kelly York, Kawanda King, and Ricky Tedder of Southern Care Hospice. Thank you, as well, to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Baptist Hospital.
Fields of Faith: Community Worship Service Wednesday Night At Northview
October 30, 2023
Northview High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes will host a Fields of Faith event at Northview High School Wednesday night, November 1 at 6:30 p.m. in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
Admission is free; the public is encouraged to attend.
Fields of Faith is a national student-led initiative. “Students invite, pray for, share with, and challenge their peers to read the Bible and follow Jesus Christ. An athletic field provides a neutral, rally point where a community can come together,” according to national organizers.
Pictured: A 2022 Fields of Faith Event at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Cold Snap Arrives For Chilly Halloween
October 30, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 65. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 38. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 47. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 78.
ECSO: Burglar Caught In The Act
October 30, 2023
A 19- year old Pace man has been charged with multiple burglaries in Escambia County.
Joseph McGee is in Escambia County Jail is charged with four counts of burglaryy, larceny damaging property burglary – tools possession and drug possession
He was arrested early Sunday after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reponded to a burglary in progress on Mirabelle Circle.
Deputies arrived to find mcGee hiding behind a vehilce in a driveway. As deputies approached, he took off running but was soon captured in a backyard. Deputies discovered methamphetamine and blank business checks believed to have been stolen in his pockets.
When deputies returned to the residence they saw that a hatchet was jammed in the storm door in an attempt to pry it open. Additionally, deputies collected a machete and an open pocket knife near where the burglar initially tried to hide, the ECSO said.
McGee was charged with two residential burglaries and a vehicle burglary. He is believed to be a suspect in other burglaries from in Santa Rosa County
Charles Izelle Bailey
October 30, 2023
Charles Izelle Bailey resident of Pensacola, Florida passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at the age of 64. He was born in Atmore, Alabama on August 2, 1959 to the late Marion B. Bailey and Eunice Hall Bailey. Charles was an automotive painter by trade and worked for Coastal Paint and Body.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping with friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; maternal grandparents, Leslie and Lottie Hall; paternal grandparents, Izelle and Ruth Bailey; and numerous other loved ones.
Charles is survived by son, John Alec Bailey (Tara); granddaughter, Arianna Mollie Jane Day of Pensacola, Florida; sister, Judy (Carl) Daley of DeFuniak Springs, Florida; brother, Randy (Melodie) Bailey of Travelers Rest, South Carolina; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023 at Victory Assembly of God with Pastor Jeff McKee officiating. Burial will follow in Bay Springs Full Gospel Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. prior to services. Pallbearers will be Jason A. Lamb, P. Lamar Lamb, Jacob D. Bailey, Justin A. Cruce, Zackery X. Lamb, and O. Wendall Hall.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with
arrangements.
Jacquelyn Daniel Presley
October 30, 2023
Jacquelyn Daniel Presley (Jackie), beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend passed away peacefully October 16, 2023, at the age of 90 in her home community of Nokomis, Alabama.
Jackie grew up in Nokomis, Ala., attended Perdido Elementary and Perdido Junior High and Escambia County High School. She graduated from Mobile Infirmary School of Nursing with her RN degree. She was employed with Greenlawn Hospital, now known as
Atmore Community Hospital, for 42 years. Her hobbies included gardening, fishing, cooking, baking, being active in her church, watching Alabama football and spoiling her grandchildren. She was well known in her community for her cooking, especially her
cheese straws.
Jackie is preceded in death by her parents Perlie Edward and Leona Jeter Daniel; her husband James Ollie Presley, Jr.; son, Edward Allen Presley (Eddie), daughter-in-law Debra Presley; grandson Troy Allen Presley; great-granddaughter Gabriella Casey;
brother Joe Edward Daniel (Sue); and sisters Geraldine Williams (Frank) and Edro Hall (Ray).
Jackie (known as Jack to her family) is survived by her children Laura Presley Smith (Don) and Mark Daniel Presley; six grandchildren: Allison Presley Wynn (Guy), Anna Presley, Stephanie Roberts Maddox (Walt), Eric Roberts (Morgan), and Kelley Presley
Cotton; fifteen great-grandchildren: Troy Edward Presley; Cole, Cameron, Chasen, Ciera and Ceanna Wynn; Jacklyn Ash; Taylor and Eli Maddox; Christian and Peyton Roberts; Easton, Weston and Oaklynn Cotton; great-great-grandchild Kinsley Wynn;
sister Fredna Daniel Stewart; and special niece Martha Hall.
Visitation will be at 10 o’clock on Friday, October 20th followed by the funeral service at 11 o’clock, led by Bro. Dennis Daniels at Nokomis Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Nokomis Baptist Church cemetery.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.