Dorothy ‘Dot’ Jean Norton
May 9, 2025
Dorothy “Dot” Jean Norton, 90, of Cantonment, Florida, passed away on May 06, 2025. Dot was born in Birmingham, Alabama on March 19, 1935.
She lived in several different places over the years growing up, including Hawaii, where she graduated high school. She met her late husband, E.L. “Bud” Norton while they were both working at Chemstrand. They were married for 52 years before Bud passed away in 2007.
Dot had a love for watching her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all her bonus kids play sports and being at the ballpark. Everyone at Cantonment Ballpark knew and loved Mrs. Dot.
Dot was an active member of the St. Jude’s Catholic Church, in Cantonment, Florida. She was a member of the St. Jude’s Ladies Alter society.
She is preceded in death by her husband “Bud” Norton; parents, Sue and Jim; and sister, Sue.
Dot is survived by her sons, Jimmy (Joy) Norton, Terry Norton, Mike (Tracey) Norton, and Kenny Norton. Her grandchildren, Chris (Bri) Norton, Ryne (Traci) Norton, Sarah (Brian) Revels, Timbo (Tabetha) Norton, Taylor (Austin) Eagle, Trinity (Logan) McKenzie, Trevor Norton, Trenton Norton, Bryant Norton; and several great-grandchildren; nieces Jamie and Margie; nephew, Daniel.
Visitation will be held at St. Jude’s Catholic Church on May 13, 2025 at 11:00 am, with a Mass to follow. Burial will immediately follow Mass at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church.
Kathleen Bryant Smith
May 9, 2025
Kathleen Bryant Smith
August 04, 1932 – May 01, 2025
Kathleen was a bright soul who was born on August 4, 1932, in Pine Baren. A vibrant and loving daughter to Willie Bryant and Reades Holmes. She was a beloved wife to her husband, James P. Smith, Sr. (deceased); sister-in-law to Robert Smith and Georgia Mae Wallace; and proud mother to her children: Willie (Ernestine) Smith, Hattie (James) Spellman (deceased), Michael Smith (deceased), Marie Middleton, Michelle (Paul) Hill, Terry (Michael) Sanders, and Chris Smith. She was a loving grandmother to: Nusha Smith, Coretta (Bernard) Morgan, Sharleeda (Tracie) Jordan, Anthony (Neva) Smith, Jermaine Smith, Starleena Smith, Bakari Taylor, Jabari (Keisha) Smith, Israel Taylor (deceased), Tempestt Middleton, Frances Hall, Jamila (Marquett) Griffin, Lashay Talton, Vivian Middleton, Joshua (Joselyn) Middleton, and a host of great-grandchildren. She was a cherished sister to her siblings, Eloise, Eddie Muriel, and Dorothy.
Kathleen had an unforgettable spirit whose light shined brightly in every room she entered. From a young age, she has displayed love and passion for singing and fishing, inspiring those around her with her boundless love and gifting.
She was deeply committed to her faith and her community, and known for her infectious smile, warm spirit, and unwavering kindness.
Kathleen touched the lives of everyone she met. Her energy and passion for life will never be forgotten. Though her time with us is gone, her legacy of love, compassion, and faith will continue to inspire all who knew her. She was the neighborhood mother.
Rest in peace dear Kathleen, your radiance and love will forever echo in our hearts.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at White Lily Baptist Church, at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at White Lily Cemetery.
Century Finalizes Plans To Seek $6.9 Million In Grants, Most For Community Center
May 8, 2025
The Town of Century has finalized plans to apply for $6.9 million in grants, most of which will go for a new community center.
This week, the town voted to apply for a $5.4 million Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from Florida Commerce to construct a new Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue. They will also seek $750,000 for a minor home repair program.
The town will also submit three applications totaling $750,000 to create the design to resurface of Barnwell Lane, East and West Cottage streets, and Cedar Street. The street portion of the request would be design only in anticipation of potential paving at a later date.
The minor home repair program would provide home repairs to address structural code enforcement issues and access issues such as ramps that would allow low or moderate income individuals to remain in their homes for a longer period of time. The town will determine later if roofing repairs or upgrades might be included.
If awarded, grant funds would construct a new Carver Community Center (design pictured below) on Jefferson Avenue. The town previously received a $3.255 million state grant for a community center on Jefferson Avenue, but most of the funds were clawed back by the state. The town was able to use $514,650 to pay for the engineering, architectural and grant administer expenses that left the town with no building but a complete set of shovel-ready drawings.
The town is accepting public comments to include with the grant applications. Comments should be emailed to cmoore@centuryflorida.us by May 12.
Pictured above: Howard Brown, interim town manager, explains CDBG grant applications to the Century Town Council and local citizens during a public hearing this week. Pictured below: The Carver Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Student Teams Place In Escambia County Battle Of The Books
May 8, 2025
Escambia County Public Schools hosted the annual Battle of the Books competition recently.
A total of 77 teams comprised of 341 students competed against each other to see who had the most knowledge of this year’s Battle of the Books titles. Participating students read up to 15 titles from this year’s Sunshine State Young Readers and Florida Teens Read book lists. Teams met before, after, and during school with their coaches to develop their problem solving and collaboration skills, and to discuss the books’ themes, characters, settings, and main events.
For more photos from North Escambia area teams, click here.
The competition included four rounds of fifteen questions each, culminating with a final Lightning Round as a tiebreaker.
Winners were:
3rd Grade
1st Place – 3rd Grade Ultimate Readers, Hellen Caro Elementary
Coaches: Daniela Reid, Keri Peel, Danielle Tomlin
Team Members: Ashton Adams, Dahlia Noell, Silas Tomlin, Ryatt Mays, Kelsey Mysak
2nd Place – Suter Rockin’ Readers, A.K. Suter Elementary
Coach: Paula Stillman
Team Members: Ellie Mahne, Alex Rainey, Robert Leahy II, Reese Schweigert
3rd Place – Pleasant Grove Readers, Pleasant Grove Elementary
Coach: Aaron Foote
Team Members: Oliver Shedd, Ari Holmes, Yessiell Perez, River Giuffria, Silas Davis
4th Grade
1st Place – N.B. Cook 4th Grade, N.B. Cook Elementary
Coaches: Dawn Jackson, Nicki Smith
Team Members: Ava Wall, Piper Bennett, Landree Williams, Zoey Williams, Theodore Shehadi
2nd Place – 4th Suter Dolphins, A.K. Suter Elementary
Coach: Paula Stillman
Team Members: James Thompson, Emma Emmert, Kylie Gambill, Yared Ash, Jack McWilliams
3rd Place – Lipscomb Word Wizards – 4th Grade, Lipscomb Elementary
Coach: Jamie King
Team Members: Aria Whitfield, Syrena Solis, Katie Nguyen, Jacey Cohenour, Taylor-Lynn Mortellaro
5th Grade
1st Place – 5 Guys in Ties, Ferry Pass Elementary
Coaches: Laura Hobbs, Madison Watson
Team Members: Ariel Vincent, Fabiola Vallecillo-Medina, Stella Kroeger, Harper Miller, Lillian Coates
2nd Place – N.B. Cook Stars 4/5, N.B. Cook Elementary
Coaches: Dawn Jackson, Nicki Smith
Team Members: Erin Larsen, Lucas Senkbeil, Emmi Olson, Weston Berry
3rd Place – Pleasant Grove Roadrunners, Pleasant Grove Elementary
Coach: Aaron Foote
Team Members: Luke Lalane, Roman Harris, Violet Diehl, Zylah McComb
Middle School
1st Place – Brown-Barge Team 2, Brown-Barge Middle School
Coach: Kristy Imhof
Team Members: Alex Robertson, Aden Khan, Cameron Powell, Lucas Ramos
2nd Place – Brown-Barge Team 3, Brown-Barge Middle School
Coach: Kristy Imhof
Team Members: Carter Murray, Luke Poole, Eldon Dionne
3rd Place – Ernest Ward Eagles, Ernest Ward Middle School
Coach: Sherri Stallworth
Team Member: Jaelyn Connors
High School
1st Place – Tate High School
Coach: Maryjane Gardner
Team Members: Lily McArthur, Reagan Hatcher, Emma Nigam, Lily Laughlin, Abby Lynch
2nd Place – The Bookies, Pensacola High School
Coach: Heather Horn
Team Members: Aiden Martin, Jaeda-Kai Eiwuley, Kaiya Arrants
Pictured: Battle of the Books teams from Tate High School (top), Lipscomb Elementary School (first below), and Ernest Ward Middle School (second below). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The REAL ID Deadline Has Passed. Here Is What You Need To Know.
May 8, 2025
May 7 was the federal enforcement date deadline for Americans to have a REAL ID.
The REAL ID Act became effective nationwide on May 11, 2008. Florida began issuing REAL ID compliant credentials after January 1, 2010. The new credentials have a star in the upper right corner of the card of a Florida driver’s license.
REAL ID implemented as nationwide effort to improve the integrity and security of state-issued driver licenses and ID cards, which in turn was designed to help fight terrorism and reduce identity fraud.
Most Escambia County residents — about 99% — currently a REAL ID, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford:
Here are some quick REAL ID facts from Lunsford:
- May 7 is not the last day citizens can obtain a REAL ID.
- May 7 is the federal enforcement date for REAL ID. Starting today, anyone 18 or older will need a federally accepted form of identification to fly within the U.S. or enter certain federal facilities. Acceptable forms of ID include a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, a valid and unexpired passport or passport card, an active military ID, or other approved identification.
- If you do not plan to fly in May or anytime soon, there is still plenty of time to get a REAL ID at your local tax collector’s office. Currently, nearly 99% of Escambia County residents are already REAL ID compliant.
- REAL ID is not a new requirement—Florida has been issuing REAL ID compliant cards since 2010. Although the law was passed by Congress in 2005, federal enforcement was delayed due to state compliance issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. The REAL ID Act requires individuals to present federally approved identification for domestic air travel and to access certain federal facilities, enhancing national security.
- A gold star will be displayed at the top right corner of your License or ID. If you already have a star, you are already Real ID compliant.
- If you have a valid, unexpired passport, passport card, or another form of federal ID accepted by the TSA, you may use that instead of a REAL ID for domestic flights.
- A REAL ID is not required to drive in Florida. If your driver license is not REAL ID compliant, you can still legally operate a motor vehicle as long as your license is valid and not suspended.
This Is Who Claimed A Winning $121,663 Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold In Beulah
May 8, 2025
We now know who had a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket sold in Beulah.
The ticket sold at the Publix at Nine Mile Crossing in Beulah was the only winning ticket in the April 25 evening drawing and was worth $121,663.84.
According to the Florida Lottery, the cash option on the winning ticket was claimed by Stephen Allen Jacobs of Satsuma, Alabama. The winning numbers were 4-11-16-19-26.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Slight Chance Of A Thursday Night Shower
May 8, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then a chance of showers between 7am and 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog between 1am and 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: A chance of showers before 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10am and 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Tate Lady Aggies Will Face The Horizon Hawks In Regional Quarterfinal Tonight
May 8, 2025
Tonight, the Tate Lady Aggies will open play in the 6A FHSAA Softball Regional Quarterfinals against the Horizon Hawks.
First pitch for the regional is 7 p.m. Eastern in Winter Garden, in the Orlando area.
At 8-14 the Aggies received an at large bid into the regional tournament. Horizon (20-6) is ranked No. 2. With a win tonight, Tate would play in the regional semifinals on May 13 against the winner of tonight’s South Lake at Navarre game.
We will have results and game details on Friday morning on NorthEscambia.com.
In other area 6A FHSAA Softball action tonight, No. 1 Pace will host No. 8 Fletcher.
Pictured: The Tate Lady Aggies closed the regular season with a 9-2 win over the Escambia Gators. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Shuckers Postponed By Rain
May 8, 2025
Wednesday’s scheduled game at Keesler Federal Park between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Biloxi Shuckers was postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, with two seven-inning games beginning at 5:35 p.m. Game two of the twin bill will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Man, 96, Dies Following Crash While Turning Into Pensacola Blvd. Walmart
May 8, 2025
A 96-year-old Pensacola man has passed away after a crash Wednesday morning on Pensacola Boulevard in front of Walmart.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the man was southbound on Pensacola Boulevard when he failed to yield the right of way and turned his SUV in front of a car that was headed north. The car struck the passenger side of the elderly man’s SUV.
The man was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. The 33-year-old female driver of the car was seriously injured in the 8:15 a.m. crash and was transported to a local hospital.
Further details were not released by FHP.
Pictured: A 96-year-old man died after attempting to turn into entrance to Palafox Square and Walmart on Pensacola Boulevard on Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
