Helen Elizabeth Armstrong
February 24, 2025
Ms. Helen Elizabeth Armstrong, age 96, passed away peacefully in Century, Florida, surrounded by her loving family. A native of Bluff Springs, Florida, she spent most of her life in Byrneville. Helen was a devoted member of Beulah Chapel Assembly of God, where she found community and connection throughout the years. Her warm spirit will be remembered by all who knew her.
She loved spending time with her family, and there were so many activities that brought them together. Cooking was one of her favorite ways to show her love, especially when she made her special cat head biscuits and delicious lemon pie. Every Sunday, she would attend church and join in the joyful gospel singings, filling the air with music and laughter. She enjoyed playing games like dominos with her cousin Hazel and relaxing with word searches and crosswords. Listening to the radio was another cherished pastime, often filling their home with wonderful tunes and stories. All these moments created warm memories that she held dear.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Louis W. (Bettie Gay) Armstrong, four brothers, John Hugh Armstrong, Winston “Bill” Armstrong, George Armstrong, Clayton Armstrong and one niece Linda Smith.
She is survived by her two brothers, Herman Armstrong, of Byrneville, FL; Virgil E. (Anita) Armstrong, of Flomaton, AL; nieces, Betty Ann Tharp, Debbie Waters, Rita Adams, Joy Jordan, Jan Clark, nephews, Lawrence “Dick” Armstrong, Richard Armstrong, Paul Armstrong, numerous great nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral service will be held Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Byrneville Community Church with Brother Paul Armstrong and Reverend Fred Stallworth officiating.
Burial will follow at Byrneville Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, February 27, 2025 from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at Byrneville Community Church.
Pallbearers will be Lawrence Armstrong, Richard Armstrong, Louis Tharp, and Jerry Bondurant.
Walnut Hill Ruritan Holds 50th Annual Auction (With Photo Gallery)
February 23, 2025
The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club held their 50th annual auction Saturday in Walnut Hill with crowds bidding on farm equipment and hundreds of other items.
All proceeds from the auction benefit the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club’s community service projects in the Walnut Hill area. The auction is held each year on the last Saturday of February.
The auction included not only farm equipment, but also household items like tools and small equipment, lawn and garden items, antiques and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Hundreds attended the annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club farm equipment auction Saturday in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary School Names Students Of The Month
February 23, 2025
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their January Students of the Month.
They are:
- Kindergarten: Sydney Lashley and Brylee-Paige Smith
- 1st Grade: Kacki Sanders and Nevaeh Carnley
- 2nd Grade: Rebecca Cooley and Danny Parish
- 3rd Grade: Cambree Flowers and Baylee Gafford
- 4th Grade: Ezra Hall and Brayden Mullins
- 5th Grade: BJ McCall and Lilly Harper Jacobson
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More Rain Tonight, Sun By Lunchtime Monday
February 23, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers, mainly before midnight. Low around 46. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
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.
Molino Library Hosting Photography Meetup Group Monday Afternoon
February 23, 2025
Interested in learning morning about photography?
The Molino Library will host a photography group at 2 p.m. on Monday.
Whether you are taking photos with your phone or a professional camera, the group is open to everyone.
At the first meeting, the group will explore the magic of light and how it can transform a simple photo into art. Participants will learn the basics of using natural and artificial light to enhance compositions, capture emotion, and create striking images.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
What’s The Status Of A Costco For Nine Mile Road?
February 23, 2025
What’s happening with plans for a new Costco store on Nile Mile Road?
Short answer — nothing.
An engineering firm filed plans with Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) for the store back in June of last year. Then, in response to DRC feedback, updated plans were filed in late October 2024.
Since that time, the proposal has not gone before the DRC for consideration. Without a development order, the project can’t move forward.
A DRC Committee review on the resubmission has not yet been scheduled.
We reached out to Costco for comments on this story, but didn’t hear back.
What do the plans show?
The latest plans filed last October with Escambia County show the 172,580 square feet Costco retail store with a gas station and 885 parking spaces at 235 East Nine Mile Road, at the corner of East Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road. That’s the site of the current Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store. It’s several parcels totaling just under 22 acres.
The new plans are about 10 thousand square feet larger that the originally filing months earlier.
The plans show the existing Dairy Queen, Sam’s Seafood Restaurant and Wells Fargo to remain, with a Costco gas station constructed between Sam’s Seafood and Wells Fargo in an area that is currently a parking area for the old shopping center. The current Planet Fitness building will be demolished to make room for the new Costco if it’s approved.
Pictured top: The Costco in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday afternoon, February 22. NorthEscambia.com photo. Pictured below: Plans for a Costco on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. Click to enlarge.
County, Sheriff’s Office Again Warning About Those Toll Scam Text Messages
February 23, 2025
The county and sheriff’s office are once again warning residents about fraudulent toll messages.
Escambia County and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office have received reports of fraudulent text messages targeting the public from persons claiming to represent SunPass.The messages are requesting prompt payment to avoid fees and contain a link to a fraudulent website in an attempt to collect information.
Escambia County or Sunpass does not send text messages to SunPass or Pensacola Beach Annual Pass holders seeking information or action regarding their account balances or fees owed.
SunPass does not ask customers via text to make a payment or to take immediate action on their account. Messages from SunPass will come from the following email address or text number:
- Email: customerservice@sunpass.com or noreply@sunpass.com
- Text: 786727
Pace Walks Off With A Win In Saturday Game Against Tate
February 23, 2025
The Pace Patriots walked off with a 4-3 win Saturday afternoon over the Tate Aggies. The game in Pace was tied in the bottom of the ninth when the Patriots hit a solo home run.
Nathan Ozuna and Kaden Posta both had two hits for the Aggies. Posta, Nathan Connors, and Evan Taylor each recorded and RBI.
Zane Warrington went eight and two-thirds innings for Tate, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits, walking one and striking out one.
The Aggies will hit the road this week, with games at West Florida on Tuesday, Crestview on Thursday and Fort Walton Beach on Friday. Tate won’t be back at home until a March 4 game against the Milton Panthers.
Thunderbolts Defeat Ice Flyers In Shootout
February 23, 2025
In Saturday night’s rematch against Evansville, the Ice Flyers forced overtime, but the Thunderbolts claimed victory in a shootout.
Myles Abbate opened the scoring with a quick shot past goaltender Ricky Gonzalez, who was making his first start as an Ice Flyer.
Sam Dabrowski and Bronson Adams energized the home crowd of 6,829 when they dropped the gloves at center ice to close out the first period.
For more photos, click here.
Matt Wiesner evened the score with a hard-fought second-effort shot off a deflection from Eimantas Noreika.
Logan Vande Meerakker restored the Thunderbolts’ lead five minutes into the third period.
Nick Pryce tied the game again with a snipe from the faceoff circle late in the period.
After a scoreless overtime, Evansville’s Scott Kirton and Aidan Litke secured the win in the shootout.
Nellie Ree Burkett
February 23, 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, Rodney Sanspree & Roger Scott
Honorary pallbearer will be William Stewart
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements