Russell (Rusty) H. LaCoste, Jr.
February 25, 2025
Russell (Rusty) H. LaCoste, Jr., 69, went to heaven on February 15, 2025. Rusty was born on June 26, 1955, at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. He graduated from Woodham High School, was a proud member of the Moose Lodge, and retired from Ascend Performance Materials after years of dedicated service.
Rusty had a deep passion for family, cherished time with friends, and found true joy in the great outdoors. A true NASCAR enthusiast, he not only loved watching the races but also took to the tracks himself. Racing dirt tracks across Northwest Florida and South Alabama, Rusty’s competitive spirit and skill earned him many trophies. Above all, he enjoyed life most when surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, creating memories that will be treasured forever. His warmth, adventurous heart, and dedication to what he loved left a lasting impact on all who knew him.
Rusty was preceded in death by his parents, Russell H. LaCoste, Sr. and Etta Mae LaCoste, and his beloved granddaughter, Alexa Haley LaCoste.
He is survived by his loving wife, Carole K. LaCoste; his children, Rachel H. LaCoste, Dusty (Jessica) LaCoste, and Autumn Welter; his grandchildren, Madison, Lilly, J.D., Chloe (Zachary) and Ethan; his great-grandchildren, Lucas and Remington; his sisters, Glenda LaCoste and Sandra (Mack) Cramer; his niece, Pam; and his grand-nieces and nephews.
A Visitation with family will be held at 1:00 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 1st, at Faith Chapel North.
Rusty’s legacy of love, adventure, and family will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
Rex Morgan Sheldt
February 25, 2025
Mr. Rex Morgan Sheldt, aged 69, passed away peacefully at his home on February 21, 2025. He was originally from Willoughby, Ohio, and had previously lived in Painesville, Ohio, before moving to Davisville, Florida, where he resided for the last nine years. His warmth and kindness will be missed by all who knew him.
He loved spending his free time enjoying the great outdoors, whether it was hunting in the crisp morning air or fishing by the quiet lakes. Gardening was another passion of his, especially when it came to growing juicy tomatoes that he often shared with family and friends. In the evenings, he found joy in watching shows like “Swamp People,” “Pawn Stars,” and “Ax Men,” always fascinated by the stories they told. He also had a soft spot for tales of Big Foot, which added a sense of adventure to his downtime. Traveling to Ohio was a regular part of his life, allowing him to stay connected with family while cheering on his favorite football team, the Cleveland Browns. Being surrounded by loved ones during those visits made every moment special.
Mr. Sheldt is survived with loving wife of nine years Terresa Michelle Sheldt of Davisville, Florida; two step-sons, Joey (Maryanne) Palachek of Painesville, Ohio, and Mike (Amber) Palachek of Painesville, Ohio; step-daughter, Bethany Prado of Atmore, Alabama; his dog Max; brother, Steve (Angela) Sheldt of Sierra Vista, Arizona; four sisters, Janet (Dave) King of Madison, Ohio, Cynthia Hendricks of Pensacola, Florida, Paula Dyson of Key West Florida, and Marla Sheldt of Key West, Florida; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, Atmore, AL. is in charge of all arrangements.
New Escambia EMS Strategy Aims to Enhance North Escambia Response Times
February 24, 2025
Currently, North Escambia EMS crews report to work at the Walnut Hill Fire Station or EMS “Post 50″ on Industrial Boulevard in Century. But that will soon change.
“The intent is not taking ambulances from up there,” Escambia EMS Director Chris Watts said. “The only change is going to be where they’re physically deployed out of…there’s some limitations with having the crews report directly to Century and Walnut Hill to start their day.”
Under the new plan, EMS crews that will work in the northern part of Escambia County will report to work at the main EMS headquarters on W Street and then drive an ambulance north to either Century or Walnut Hill.
“Some of the issues that we’ve run into is when you have people call out sick or can’t get to work,” Watts said, citing January’s ice and snow as an example. There are also situations, he said, when a crew could currently arrive to work Century or Walnut Hill to find that there’s no ambulance because it’s on a transport to Pensacola. If that same crew had reported to Post 10, they would have had an ambulance to take north.
Expansion of EMS Services in North Escambia
Upcoming changes also include plans for a third North Escambia ambulance that will station in McDavid or Molino. “Probably Molino just, so it’s a little bit further south, which provides a little bit better coverage for the North End of the county, especially where we’re starting to get more and more development as we, you know, move north of Cantonment.”
Watts is quick to admit that a crew destined for Walnut Hill, Century or Molino might come on duty at W Street and then get dispatched to an urgent call elsewhere in Pensacola.
“If that is the case, the intent is that the night shift hasn’t gone home yet and they’re still in the north end,” Watts said, explaining that start times for northern crews will be staggered. “So, you are still not eliminating coverage. It’s not like we are going to abandon (the north end) and bring everybody back to Post 10 off W Street and then deploy resources….After they get up there, then we can bring the night crews down.”
New Partnership with Newman’s Ambulance Service
In addition, Escambia County has a new agreement in place with Newman’s Ambulance Services, the oldest privately owned ambulance company in Alabama and the second oldest privately owned service in the United States.
Newmans’ Ambulances units are now staging at the Flomaton Fire Station, just across the line from Century. Watts said they have agreed to accept Florida calls when a Century or Walnut Hill unit is unavailable.
Watts said he is confident that EMS response will improve in North Escambia. He said the new plan and schedule will be evaluated once it goes into effect in March, and he will make adjustments, if needed, to address any problems that arise.
Pictured: Escambia County EMS ambulance on scene at calls in North Escambia. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Names Students, Employee Of The Month
February 24, 2025
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their January Students of the Month and their January Employee of the Month.
The are:
- 6th grade–Siana Bonville
- 7th grade–Harleigh Grace Parsons
- 8th grade–Kaden Smith
- Employee–Phyllis Malone
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle Principal Tyvanna Boulanger with Students of the Month (L-R) Kaden Smith, Harleigh Grace Parsons, and Siana Bonville. Below: Boulanger with Employee of the Month Phyllis Malone. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Students Give Back to Escambia Animal Shelter
February 24, 2025
Bratt Elementary School students are making a difference for animals in need. As part of their School Service Learning Project, students organized a supply drive recently to support the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare.
The school collected 208 donations, including cleaning supplies and blankets, to help shelter animals stay comfortable while they wait for their forever homes.
To show their appreciation, Lead Animal Welfare Officer Sgt. Merideth Roberson and Animal Welfare Coordinator Gaby Negrete visited Bratt Elementary yesterday. They personally thanked the students for their generosity and shared ways the community can continue supporting local animals.
Warmer Weather On The Way This Week
February 24, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 9am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
RV Park Proposed For Walnut Hill
February 24, 2025
An RV Park is being proposed for Walnut Hill.
Matthew Coverdale of Pensacola is proposing the C&E Destinations RV Park between Cypress Street and Pine Forest Road, just north of Arthur Brown Road.
A written narrative provided to the Escambia County Development Review Committee states that the RV park would initially contain ten 25×35 concrete pads connected by concrete drive 200 feet in length from Pine Forest Road with a cul-de-sac. It states that the 20-acre parcel is being split out from a parcel at 24 North Cypress Street, and the applicant is seeking advance confirmation that the RV park would be allowed.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Up Over The Past Week
February 24, 2025
Florida gas prices on Sunday were up 7 cents on average in the last week, which is more than a 25 cents less than this time last year.
On Sunday, the state average was $3.10 per gallon, and $2.85 in Escambia County. A low of $2.59 was available at stations on West Nine Mile Road. In North Escambia, a low of $2.69 was available Sunday at two stations in Cantonment.
“Florida gas prices continue bouncing up and down, yet have remained within the same 25-cent range since early September,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, seasonal factors could apply upward pressure on pump prices in the next couple of months. Spring refinery maintenance season generally peaks in late February and March. This combined with higher fuel demand from spring travel and the switch to summer gasoline all typically contribute to higher prices in the spring. For context, last year, gas prices rose 30 cents from late February to the end of March.”
Ice Flyers See Lead Slip Away Into OT Loss Against Evansville
February 24, 2025
No team in the league has played more overtime games than the Ice Flyers.
This season, that element has only compounded the overall struggles.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For the second time in a three-game weekend, the Ice Flyers lost a two-goal lead in the final period, then fell 3-2 in overtime Sunday against the Evansville Thunderbolts, ending a crucial series at the Pensacola Bay Center in the least desired way.
“It’s like there is just a black cloud over top of us and we got to get rid of it,” said Ice Flyers coach Rod Aldoff, who returned earlier in the week for a third time in his career behind the Ice Flyers bench, after a decision was made to release Gary Graham from his contract.
Friday night, the Ice Flyers opened the series with a 2-0 lead in the third period, only to fall 4-3. Saturday night, they tied the game in third period, but lost 3-2 in the post-overtime shootout.
Sunday, a 2-0 lead was erased by Evansville’s Issac Chapman, who scored with 11:59 left to halve the lead, then tied the game with just 2:30 remaining.
In the 3-on-3 overtime period, the Thunderbolts got a 2-on-1 rush after an Ice Flyers turnover and Aidan Litke kept the puck and wristed a shot past Ice Flyers goaltender Ricardo Gonzalez for the game winner.
Playing in just his second game since joining the team this week, Gonzalez stopped 32 shots, including a penalty shot and other great saves, but Evansville’s resolve led to a big weekend. The Thunderbolts picked up six points to climb all the way into fifth place in the Southern Professional Hockey League standings.
The Ice Flyers (14-23, 8 OT losses, 36 points) gained just two points, but still closed to within a point of ninth-place Macon and only two points behind the Quad City Storm for eighth-place and the final playoff spot.
Confronting the Ice Flyers, however, is they’ve played more games (45) than any other team in the league. They also have to travel next weekend to Roanoke, Virginia to face the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, the third place team in the league for back-to-back games.
A two-week break between games will follow before the Ice Flyers host Quad City for back-to-back games March 14-15 that will like be make-or-break for playoff hopes.
“We’re past urgency,” said Aldoff, who guided the Ice Flyers to three of their four SPHL championships during his tenure. “It’s Game 7 every day for us.
“We played some good hockey,” he said. “I was impressed with the team overall. I used this weekend to evaluate a lot. I’m evaluating everybody in this situation… and I liked a lot of things.
“It’s just a matter of getting this cloud over our head (removed). Because we were in great position Friday night and great position (Sunday) to finish those games off. And we found a way not to. We have to change that.”
Blake Tosto was involved in both goals to give the Ice Flyers their 2-0 lead after two periods. He assisted on Greg Susinski’s first period goal, then Tosto buried a shot on a feed from Ivan Bondarenko during 5-minute power play in the second period.
But just as Friday’s lead slipped from the Ice Flyers’ grasp, this game took the same course.
“First (Evansville) goal, (puck) bounced off the boards and off the slot and bounced a few times right on their (stick blade) tape and the shot goes up high into the net,” Aldoff said. “It’s just sequence after sequence of bad puck luck.
“We fought hard. We did a lot of good things. We played a pretty good game as far as I’m concerned. The effort and tenacity was there. It’s just a bad bounce here or there.”
Both of Evansville goals followed situations where the Ice Flyers were unable to clear the puck from their zone. And too many times, when the Ice Flyers cleared the puck, it was a icing call and the faceoff was back in their zone.
“If you look at how Evansville played, one thing I think that’s important, is they got pucks and just flipped them out and they got to the red (center ice line) and flipped them in,” Aldoff said.
“That’s all they did for nine periods. There were times when we were trying to make plays when there was no play there. And we just need to flip those pucks out. Just get it out, get it deep and go to work on it.
So these are things, it’s a learning process, game management and knowing the situation you’re in. You don’t need to make something that’s not there. Just keep it simple and get it out and live another day and just keep doing it. They literally did that for nine periods.”
Here’s a quick recap.
FIRST PERIOD
The Ice Flyers caught a break when one Evansville shot clanged off the goal post with 6:30 remaining. Two minutes later, Gonzalez made a big save on a point blank chance from the crease area.
With 3:50 left in the period, Susinski got a feed from Tosto following a face off and rifled a shot through traffic past Evansville goaltender Cole Ceci, who finished the game with 37 saves and won all three games in net.
There were no penalties in the period.
SECOND PERIOD
Ice Flyers captain Jake Hamilton, returning from a five-game, league-imposed suspension, made his presence known by dropping a Evansville player during a brawl that led to each team getting two guys in the penalty box.
The Ice Flyers thought they had a second goal during the 13-minute mark, but the replays showed the puck hit the cross ball, bounced down and straddled the goal line before rolling away. The referee made the right call in waving it off, even though the goal light came on.
With 9:48 remaining Evansville’s Grayson Valente was hit with a 5-minute major penalty for boarding. During the power play, Bondarenko made a perfect pass to Tosto who buried the shot for the two-goal lead.
THIRD PERIOD
After Gonzalez thwarted Evansville’s Scott Kirton on a penalty shot – awarded after the Ice Flyers’ Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira was called for closing his gloves on the puck in the crease area with 13:31 left – the Ice Flyers seemed in good shape.
But Chapman gave his team momentum with a goal from just outside the faceoff circle. He then buried a wide open look with 2:30 remaining.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
WHEN: Friday-Saturday, both games at 6:05 p.m. (CST)
WHERE: Berglund Center, Roanoke, Virginia.
NEXT HOME GAMES: March 14-15 vs. Quad City Storm.
Nellie Ree Burkett
February 24, 2025
Mrs. Nellie Ree Burkett, 79 years old, passed away peacefully at her home on February 23, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. A lifelong resident of Atmore, Alabama, Mrs. Burkett was a dedicated member of Calvary Baptist Church. Her warm spirit and caring nature will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Mrs. Burkett was a warm-hearted woman who cherished her time with family, especially her grandkids. She loved being at home, where she could cook delicious meals like homemade biscuits, rice and eggs, and spaghetti. In her younger days, she enjoyed fishing, but as she got older, her hobbies shifted to crafting and watching QVC. Mrs. Burkett also had a passion for playing cards, especially Rummy, and spent twenty years working as a seamstress at Vanity Fair, where she honed her skills and creativity. Her home was always filled with love, laughter, and the wonderful taste of her cooking.
She is preceded in death by her parents, James (Iva Estelle Rutherford) Smith; husband, Tommy Burkett; brothers, A.G. Smith, Ed Smith, and Bruce Smith; sisters, Dellie Roberts and Susie Stewart.
Mrs. Burkett is survived by her only son, Danny (Tracey) Burkett of Atmore, Alabama; grandchildren, Victoria Burkett, Nick Mills, Asleigh Norris, Raven Weaver and Colby Burkett; great-grandchildren, Jax Brown, Emily Brown, Lizzie Stewart, Knox Norris, Collins Norris, River Norris, Greyson Maughon, Nova-Lee Maughon, Presley McCardy and Parker Burkett.
Funeral service will be held Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Colby Burkett, Nick Mills, Tim Albritton, Olan Albritton, Mike Burkett & Roger Scott
Honorary pallbearer will be William Stewart
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC Atmore, Alabama is in charge of all arrangements