Ronald Wayne Boone
April 17, 2025
Mr. Ronald Wayne Boone, age 80, passed away on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 8, 1944, in Atmore, Alabama, and spent most of his life in Bratt, Florida. Ronald was a devoted member of Shiloh Freewill Baptist Church, where he found joy and community throughout the years. His gentle spirit and warm heart will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Mr. Boone loved spending his days on the porch, where he could relax and enjoy the fresh air. Fishing was one of his favorite pastimes, and he often spent quiet mornings by the water, waiting for a bite. He cherished the time he spent with family and friends, whether it was sharing a meal or watching football together. Sundays were special for him too, as he attended church and felt a strong sense of community. In his free time, he liked to watch the History Channel, learning about the past. Mr. Boone also had a passion for planting a garden, nurturing flowers and vegetables alike. Each summer, he looked forward to traveling, exploring new places and creating wonderful memories.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Buford and Ada Lee “Kitty” Hanks Boone; grandmother Ola Mae Hanks.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Harvette Boone of Bratt, Florida; two sons, Ronnie and wife (Amber) Boone of Poarch, Alabama, Patrick and wife (Sandi) Boone of Rutherfordton, North Carolina; sister, Jean Worley of California; nephew, Greg and wife Catherine Worley; niece, Shawna Worley Lanier; five grandchildren, Sierra Boone (Terrance), Tanner Boone, Mylee Boone, Khloee Boone, and Brayden Jackson; great-grandchildren, Eli Newsome, Blayden Newsome and Talon Newsome.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Godwin Cemetery at 2 p.m. Reverend Josh Long officiating.
James Michael Coker
April 17, 2025
James “Jimmy” Michael Coker, Sr., age 91 of Atmore, AL passed away April 10, 2025 in Pensacola, FL. Jimmy began his journey August 2, 1933, to Jessie Maude (Keller) Coker and William Edgar Coker in Huxford, AL. He was one of nine children.
Jimmy Graduated Escambia County High School in Atmore, AL in 1951. He was then called into the Army to serve in the Korean Conflict. When he returned to the States, he enrolled at API college, which would later become Auburn University. Jimmy graduated August of 1960. He and Susie then married in 1961 and he joined his Uncle Earl Snyder in his furniture business at the same time. When his Uncle retired in 1975, Jimmy and Susie continued the business until April 1999, retiring after 38 years in business. Jimmy and Susie were married for 64 wonderful years. They only ever owned one home- and loved each other until death. They loved their business, motor-homing, Auburn football games, and spending time with their special granddaughter, Ashley.
Jimmy was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church. Jimmy was a very quiet, sincere, and loving family man who loved God, family, and Country with all his heart. Jimmy was a giver, and loved sharing with others.
Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Elbert Coker, George Coker, and Edgar “Billy” Coker, Jr. Four sisters, Evelyn Pierce Thurman, Millie Purvis, Bobbie Stallworth, and Peggy Lambert Moye.
Jimmy is survived by his loving wife, Willie Sue “Susie” Brown of Atmore, AL; his son, James “Mike” Michael Coker, Jr. of Atmore; sister, Faye (Mike) Blanton Morris of Molino, FL, and his granddaughter, Ashley Michelle Coker of D’lberville, MS.
Graveside services were held Sunday, April 13, 2025, at Oak Hill Cemetery with Rev. Jim Dietz officiating.
Internment was in Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL.
Active pallbearers were Bryan Bell, Rodney Coker, Chuck Dettling, Larry Houck, Brian Bruly and Steve Shirley.
Escambia County Tax Collector Bringing Mobile Services to Century And Walnut Hill
April 16, 2025
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be in Century tomorrow, and upcoming dates and locations have been announced through July.
MILO, a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, will be at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse on Thursday, April 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, including:
- Driver License Services: Renewals, replacements, out-of-state license conversions/reciprocations, and address/name changes.
- Identification Cards: First-time issuance and renewals.
- Vehicle Services: Registration renewals and replacements, title transfers, and parking placards.
- Tax Payments: Property tax payments.
- Business Tax Receipts: Applications and renewals.
- Certified Driver Transcripts
Written and driving tests are not available at the MILO unit.
This initiative aims to bring services to areas of Escambia County that may have limited access to traditional tax collector offices, particularly during disaster recovery or for residents in assisted living facilities, community centers, and correctional facilities.
Future MILO Dates in Century:
- May 15, 2025: Billy G. Ward Courthouse
- July 17, 2025: Billy G. Ward Courthouse
Future MILO Dates in Walnut Hill:
- June 12, 2025: Walnut Hill Community Center, Walnut Hill, FL
Florida drivers may renew their vehicle registrations for a period of one or two years and may renew up to three months in advance of the registration expiration. Vehicle registrations expire at midnight on the first owner’s birth date unless the owner is a business.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector’s MILO at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Gov. Ron DeSantis Slams Local Rep. Michelle Salzman Over Higher Ed Bill; She Fires Back
April 16, 2025
During a Pensacola press conference Tuesday morning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fired the first shots in what has since erupted in a war of words between the Republican governor and fellow Republican District 1 Representative Michelle Salzman.
Salzman, who said she was not even invited to the presser, is firing back.
During the press conference at Pensacola State College, DeSantis said both local representatives, Salzman and Alex Andre, were “behaving like Democrats”.
DeSantis’ beef with Salzman, who represents all of Escambia County except for the more southern end, is over a bill she filed. HB 1321 will remove the governor’s office from searches university presidents and puts the process back into the sunshine under Florida public records law.
DeSantis claimed Salzman’s bill is “cosponsored by the most flamboyantly left-wing Democrat”.
“She had been a very good, good ally for many years. She had a good conservative record. And I think what happens is these people go to Tallahassee, and they go native,” DeSantis said in an apparent slight to Salzman’s Native American heritage. She is a member of the Santa Rosa Creek Band of the Lower Muscogee.
“She’s doing the bidding of the leadership and the staff. She’s not doing what you sent them there to do. You did not elect her to undo our conservative reforms in higher education because I’m confident if she ran on that, you wouldn’t have elected her in the first place,” the governor said.
Salzman said DeSantis did a statewide phone callout across the state Monday night, asking Floridians to flood her office with phone calls. She said the call only prompted eight people to call her office, and only three of those were from her local district, and they support her bill.
Salzman said she and her supporters were not allowed to attend the press conference, with the only elected officials there being from Santa Rosa County. Escambia County Chairman Mike Kohler, a Republican, said he was also turned away.
In a lengthy exclusive interview with NorthEscambia.com, Salzman explained her bill and responded to the governor. To hear her complete response, see the video below or visit the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page.
Century’s New $35,000 Sign Has Been Installed
April 16, 2025
The Town of Century’s new $35,000 sign has been installed.
Last December, the town council approved the purchase from Plastic Arts Signs in Pensacola for the new sign, which includes an electronic message center. According to an agenda item by then-Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr., the sign will “enhance community visibility and branding” with a more modern design than the town’s non-functioning brick-based electronic sign. The brick sign has been removed.
Century funded the sign with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
The old sign (pictured bottom) also included the Century Branch Library. Gomez said in December that the town was in discussions with the West Florida Public Libraries, a system owned and operated by Escambia County, about potential cost sharing for the sign. The library is not on the new sign.
Pictured: A new sign outside the Century Town Hall on Tuesday, April 15. Pictured bottom: The town’s former sign, which has now been removed. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The One With The Home Runs: Tate Destroys Escambia; Jay Tops Northview
April 16, 2025
In high school softball on Tuesday night, it was a night of home runs for the Tate Aggie as they beat Escambia, and Northview and Jay each recorded a home run as the Royals came out on top.
Tate 15, Escambia 1
The Tate High School Lady Aggies were on fire Tuesday night as they destroyed the Escambia Gators 15-1 in mercy-ruled five innings.
The hits just kept on coming from the Aggies. In the second inning, Jordyn Banks hit a grand slam to center field. Kara Wine homered to right field to score two runs, and Carlyn Ham hit a solo home run to center field. In the third inning, Madison Smilie hit ad solo home run to left field.
Peyton Womack earned the win for Tate. In five innings, she surrendered three hits and one fun, walking two and striking out five.
Carlyn Ham went 2-3 for Tate at bat.
In JV action for Tate, freshman Bailey Parden also knocked a homer on Tuesday.
Jay 5, Northview 3
The Northview Lady Chiefs fell to Jay 5-3 Tuesday night in Jay.
The night saw two home runs — a solo home run to left field from Jay’s Mylee Frazier in the bottom of the fourth inning and a solo homer to center field by Northview’s Avery Stuckey in the top of the firth.
Jamison Gilman pitched four innings for the Lady Chiefs, allowing two runs (one earned) and one hit while walking one and striking out two. Mikayla McAnally went two in the circle for Northview, allowing three runs and walking two and striking out four.
Layna Lowry went a complete seven innings for the Royals, surrendering three runs on eight hits in seven innings, walking three and striking out nine.
Addysen Bolen and Avery Stuckey both had two hits for Northview with one RBI each. Riley Brooks added one Chief RBI.
Mylee Frazier had three runs batted in for Jay as she went 1-2.
Northview will host Baker Thursday in a district matchup, and Jay will travel to Crestview.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Clear, About 50 Tonight
April 16, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 49. Calm wind.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
Northview And Tate Fall In Baseball District Playoffs
April 16, 2025
Both the Northview Chiefs and the Tate Aggies fell Tuesday night in district playoff action.
Jay 2, Northview 1
Jackson Bridges went five and two-thirds innings for Northview, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits, walking four and striking out three. Landon Golden started for Jay, surrendering five hits and one run in seven innings, striking out eight and recording one walk.
Brady Smith went 2-4 for Northview, and Jase Portwood had home RIB as he went 1-3.
Cam Pierce went 1-2 with one RBI for the Royals.
No. 1 Central and No. 2 Jay will play for the Rural District 1 Championship on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Crestview 11, Tate 4
In the 6A District 1 semifinals, the Tate Aggies fell 11-4 to Crestview.
Zane Warrington went five and two-thirds innings for Tate, allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits while walking four and striking out six.
Kaleb Posta had three RBIs for Tate as he went 1-3. Taite Davis and Kaden Posta also had a hit apiece.
No. 3 Crestview will face No. 1 Pace on Wednesday for the district championship.
Vehicle Destroyed By Fire Outside Cantonment Dollar General
April 16, 2025
Fire destroyed a vehicle outside of a Cantonment Dollar General Store on Tuesday night.
The fire was reported in a parking area on the side of the Dollar General at 1429 South Highway 29 at Tate School Road.
There were no injuries reported and no major damage to the building. Upon arrival, Escambia Fire Rescue was able to quickly bring the fire under control.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and submitted photos by Candace Huddleston, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Blanked In Columbus Opener
April 16, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos began their road schedule with a loss on Tuesday night, falling 3-0 to the Columbus Clingstones in the first game at the newly-renovated Synovus Park.
In front of an eager sellout crowd of 5,041 fans, the Clingstones (5-4) christened their new home with a combined four-hit shutout of the Blue Wahoos (7-3). Starter Blake Burkhalter (W, 1-1) was the star, fanning eight batters over 5.2 innings and leaving six Pensacola runners on base to squander early threats.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Jacob Miller (L, 0-2) did his best to counter, becoming the first Pensacola pitcher to complete 6.0 innings this season, but surrendered a leadoff walk to second baseman David Fletcher in the third that came in to score on a subsequent wild pitch for the only offense the Clingstones would need.
Columbus added two more runs in the seventh with RBI singles from Carlos Rodriguez and Cal Conley against reliever Ricky DeVito, extending their lead to 3-0. They then handed things off to nine-time All-Star Craig Kimbrel, who struck out a pair in a scoreless eighth in front of the delighted crowd. Kimbrel, 36, was added to the Columbus roster on Monday in his attempt to return to the major leagues with the Atlanta Braves.
Hayden Harris (S, 1) finished off the Blue Wahoos in the ninth, ending a memorable night for the Columbus fans. Synovus Park, formerly named Golden Park and originally opened in 1926, underwent an extensive renovation to meet modern MiLB standards and lure a Double-A franchise back to town for the first time since 1990.
Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack collected the first hit in the stadium with a single in the first inning. Jared Serna extended his hitting streak to a team-high eight games with a single in the seventh. Mark Coley II made a sprawling catch in the left field corner in the bottom of the seventh and rob Adam Zebrowski of a potential two-run double.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Wednesday night. First pitch from Synovus Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET/6:05 p.m. CT.
File photo.