Your Phone Will Receive An Emergency Alert About 1:20 This Afternoon. It’s A Test.
October 4, 2023
Expect a test alert on your cell phone this afternoon.
FEMA and the FCC will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) notification system at about 1:20 this afternoon.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. The test message will display in either English or Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset. The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions.
“This action is being undertaken by the Federal Government and is not an action being taken by Escambia County,” said Escambia County Emergency Manager Travis Tompkins. “However, this is a very needed test of the Federal Emergency Alert Systems. This system is utilized by the President of the United States to send a communication to the entire population, if necessary.”
All wireless phones should receive the message only once.
- Beginning at approximately 1:20 p.m., cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.
- For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
- Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
WEA alerts cannot be turned off, and switching to silent mode will not stop you from receiving the alert.
If the test is postponed for any reason, it will be rescheduled for October 11.
Gilmores Named Escambia County Farm Family Of The Year
October 4, 2023
The Gilmore family has been named the Escambia County Farm Family of the Year.
The award was presented to Ronnie and Debbie Gilmore along with Jacob and Carla Gilmore at the recent Escambia County Farm Bureau annual meeting at Molino Park Elementary School.
Debbie gifted Ronnie with their first heifer in 1992 and has grown to about 120 momma cows in the herd since then. They have served on various boards from Florida Cattlemen’s Association to Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association. They have both retired from the family business and now enjoy traveling with their twin granddaughters and their horses to shows.
Jacob has been involved in the family cattle operation since it began in 1992. Jacob was very active in both 4-H and FFA. Along the way, he met Carla, and they married in 2005. That began their journey into agriculture.
Together they represented Escambia County through the Young Farmers and Ranchers leadership program with Florida Farm Bureau. Carla has served on the 4-H Foundation board and numerous other committees. Jacob is currently serving as vice president of purchasing and finance for Gilmores and is currently on the board of directors for Farm Credit. He is active with the 4-H Foundation.
Jacob and Carla are the proud parents of twin girls Ella and Sydney. The twins are both active in 4-H and are very involved with horse shows and work on the farm.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ESCO: Sex Offender Failed To Register For Five Years
October 4, 2023
An Escambia County sex offender was arrested after failing to register in the last five years.
Lonnie Paul Rowland, 68, was charged with seven felony sex offender violations for failing to register as required and with a probation violation in a 2017 failure to register case. .
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Rowland was required to register twice per year with the Florida Sex Offender Database, but the last time he did was in November 2018. Deputies said he missed seven required registration dates.
Rowland was convicted of sexual battery in Indiana in 2013 and first registered in Florida in December 2017.
Northview Chiefs Sweep The Hoboes On Senior Night (With Photo Gallery)
October 4, 2023
Northview High School volleyball honored their seniors Tuesday night and swept three straight from the visiting Laurel Hill Hoboes.
The Chiefs defeated Laurel Hill 25-16, 25-16, 25-23.
Before the match, the Lady Chiefs recognized seniors Bailee Wiley, Kendal Beasley and Kayleigh Jay, along with manager Ja`Niya Hooks.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here. (Look for extra senior night photos at the end of the gallery.)
The Northview Chiefs (11-4, 2-3) will finish the regular season on the road in a district game at Central (6-11, 4-1) next Thursday at 5 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Register Now For Oct. 13 Northview Homecoming Parade
October 4, 2023
The Northview High School Homecoming Parade will take place Friday, October 13.
For free entry to participate in the parade, click here for an entry form and release (pdf). Registrations are due by Friday, October 6.
The parade will line up at noon and roll at 12:30 p.m. from Northview High School. It will travel east on Highway 4 before turning on Bratt Road by the Travis Nelson Park, around the park to Ashcraft Road to Highway 99, travel north past Bratt Elementary School, turn back onto Highway 4 and end at Northview. (Note that Ashcraft Road has a very narrow shoulder with no place to park.)
Some changes to this years parade schedule:
- Only parade participants will be allowed to enter Northview’s campus
- Students will return to 7th Period Following the parade festivities.
- Parents picking up parade participants from NWE, Ernest Ward, or other youth organizations outside of Northview may park behind the baseball field to retrieve the child.
- No one but parade floats should be entering through the bus loop at the end of the parade.
- Parade floats that park on campus will not be allowed to leave till after the buses leave.
Pictured: The 2022 Northview High School homecoming parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
William Joseph ‘Bill’ Bonifay
October 4, 2023
William Joseph “Bill” Bonifay, Jr, 79, of Pensacola, FL, passed away on Monday, October 2, 2023.
Bill was a direct descendant of Marianna Pingrow Bonifay of the founding families of Pensacola, FL. He was born in Pensacola, FL on April 22, 1944, into a Navy family, traveling much of his early life. He graduated from Tate High School in 1962 and served honorably in the US Army during the Vietnam conflict rising to the rank of E-5. In 1969, Bill married his beloved wife, Charlotte Nowell of Pensacola.
Bill worked most of his life as an Electrician, became a certified Thermographer and retired from Air Products in Pace, FL after 31 years. He spent much of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America where he was a past leader at the Troop, Council, Regional, and National levels. Bill served in the Ducks Unlimited programs for the youth, the National Rifle Association for the youth, was an Amateur Radio Operator, sponsored the Local Amateur Radio Field Day, was Past President of a local Gun Club and of a local Amateur Radio Repeater Club.
He was a member of the Ensley Masonic Lodge # 278 and was a 32nd degree Mason. Bill became a member of the Pensacola Scottish Rite on April 7, 1982, and a Perpetual member, 33rd degree. He was a member of the Past Knights of Saint Andrews, was Past President of the North Escambia Club, Past Commander of the Council of Kadosh, completed the Member Training program, the Master Craftsman program and received several Double Eagle Awards.
Bill became a Noble of the Hadji Shrine Temple on November 12, 1988, where he helped raise funds for the Children’s Hospital. He served as a Scottish Rite Liaison, as the Hadji Chief Teller, and received the Hadji Scimitar Jewel. Bill was also a member of the Royal Order of Scotland.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William and Gertrude Bonifay, as well as his sister, Susan Bonifay.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Charlotte Bonifay; two sons, Jason and Dustin Bonifay; a sister, Ann Kidwell; as well as his nephew, Lyle Simmons and niece, Julie Simmons.
Visitation will be held from 2:00pm until the Funeral Service to begin at 3:00pm Thursday, October 5, 2023, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, with Rev. Bill Flanigan officiating. A funeral procession will depart Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel at 9:30am for a Graveside Service to begin at 10:00am Friday, October 6, 2023, at Barrancas National Cemetery, with Army honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hadji Children’s Transportation Fund, 800 W. 9 Mile Rd., Pensacola, FL 32534.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Select Specialty Hospital of Pensacola, FL and West Florida Coronary Care Unit for their excellent care and support.
Near 90 Today; Cooler By The Weekend
October 4, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 87. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. West wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.
Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Leslie Carole Clark Tuley
October 4, 2023
Leslie Carole Clark Tuley, 52, of Pensacola, FL, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, September 21, 2023.
Leslie was born July 29,1971, in Pensacola, FL, where she lived most of her life. She graduated from Woodham High School in 1989 and then attended the University of West Florida. There she met and later married her first husband, Jim Howard, in 1991. Her one foray away from Pensacola came when Jim’s employment transferred him to Illinois for a short time until they could find their way back. For 20+ years, she totally involved herself in the raising of three beautiful daughters. She nurtured them through elementary and middle school, and by the time they became students at Tate High School, she became a chorus volunteer for Destiny, a band parent for Kathryn, and a theatre audience for Angela. It was through theatre that she met director Steven Tuley. The next chapter of her life was ready to be opened, and she married Steven in 2014. For the last nine years of her life, Leslie recaptured her love of cross-stitching and jigsaw puzzling. She could enjoy quiet times sitting on the couch watching TV with Steve and her constant companion, Lily, who grieves her loss immensely. She was working on overcoming some plaguing health problems so they could enjoy their time together after Steve’s retirement.
Leslie is preceded in death by her parents, Gene Pearson Clark and Kathryn Annette Drummond Clark.
She is survived by her husband, Steven Robert Tuley; parents, Michael Warren Brock & Patricia Elaine Crane Brock; daughters, Destiny Elaine Howard (Blake) Thompson, Angela Gail Howard Holzapfel and Jonathan Holzapfel, and Kathryn Lorraine Howard; grandson, Wallace Edward Holzapfel; brother, Michael Russell (Tina) Brock; friend, Jim Howard; as well as a large and extended group of family and friends whom she dearly loved.
A visitation will be held 1:00pm until a Celebration of Life begins at 2:00pm Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, 2276 Airport Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32504.
$810K FEMA Drainage Project Planned For McElhaney Road in Bratt
October 3, 2023
Escambia County is set to soon begin a Hurricane Sally FEMA project to improve drainage structures on McElhaney Road just south of the state line in Bratt.
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.
The project is anticipated to start in October and take about 180 days to complete.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
October 3, 2023
Byrneville Elementary School has named their September Students of the Month.
They are:
- Kindergarten: Haven Lambeth and Jani’la Durant
- 1st Grade: Ava Culliver and Emma Cash
- 2nd Grade: Kipton Little and Sieanna Lambeth
- 3rd Grade: Evin Levins and Jonah Levins
- 4th Grade: Jonah Coleman and Connor Levins
- 5th Grade: Kallie Ikner and Kinsley McKinnon
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
