Van Douglas Sheffield
August 26, 2025
Mr. Van D. Sheffield, age 78, passed away Friday, August 22, 2025, at his home, in Milton, FL. Mr. Sheffield was born June 16, 1947. A native of McDavid, Florida, he was a graduate of Century High School, Class of 65′. Van proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, before beginning a long career as a truck driver, where he worked until his retirement. He enjoyed golfing, playing computer games, and spending time with his family and friends. He was a member of Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church, Bogia, FL.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Sam B. Sheffield, Jr. and Mattie Lou Sheffield. Siblings, William E. Sheffield, and Robert F. Sheffield.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Yeckley) Sheffield of Milton, FL. Siblings, Missy (Elton) Gilmore of McDavid, FL; Elaine Johnson of Pace, FL; and Sam (Anita) Sheffield of Tallahassee, FL; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Graveside services will be held Friday, August 29, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery in Bogia, FL.
Amanda ‘Lucy’ Amerson
August 26, 2025
Mrs. Amanda “Lucy” Amerson of Century, Florida passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 19, 2025 at the age 68.
Lucy as everyone knew her was a beautiful, sweet, kind soul. She was always cooking and baking something if not for her family it would be for church gatherings or to feed whomever was in need. Lucy attended Holy Ground Gospel Church in Flomaton, Alabama. Where she loved to sing God’s praise. To the children at church, she was the candy lady. Lucy never met a stranger and if she did, they would be family before you knew it, she had such a good heart and loved everyone with her whole heart.
She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Syble Ratliff, son, David Paul Amerson, siblings, Alma Dixon, Dallas Ratliff, Patsy K. Capps, and Patty Inman, nephews, Mark Dixon, Byron Ratliff, and Daniel Wood “Boone” and her best friend, Jackie Lambert, numerous other relatives.
Lucy is survived by her children, Alma (Larry) Day, of Molino, Florida, Justin (Wendy) Amerson, of Milton, Florida grandchildren, Camron (Leiah) Day, Cameron, Joey, Jake (Mel), great-grandchildren, baby, Ellie due in November Captain, Maddie, Penelope and Bonnie, nieces, who are more like her daughters Evelyn (Cliff) Emmons, Belinda (Daniel) Morgan, Michelle Ratliff, nephews, David Dixon, Bert (Dovee) Dixon, Eddie (Carolyn) Dixon, Kevin Dixon, and a host of great nieces and nephews.
Lucy was the last one of her generations. She is now surrounded in Heaven by the ones whom have gone before her. But mostly she is with Jesus and her son. We love you Mama. To know Lucy, was to love Lucy.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Petty Funeral Homes, LLC; with Sister Kathy Stophel officiating.
Burial will follow at Byrneville Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, August 30, 2025 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Petty Funeral Homes, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Cliff Emmons, Daniel Morgan, Kevin Dixon, Quinton Emmons, Dylan Dixon and Zeb Vega.
Honorary pallbearers will be Camron Day and Austin Dixon.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC Atmore, Alabama is in charge of all arrangement.
Ralph Lee Griffin, Jr.
August 26, 2025
Ralph Lee Griffin, Jr. 78, of Cantonment, FL, passed away on August 19, 2025.
He was born in Kerrville, TX, to parents, Ralph Lee Griffin, Sr., and Rose Griffin. Ralph was a perfect child, always considerate of others, playing with his siblings. He would always hang out with his friends, also very sweet and kind, all around perfect person.
In his adult years he worked as a chemical operator.
Ralph was an amazing dad, always wanted to show his girls how to build and fix things so they would be prepared for life. He was a loving and supportive dad and husband.
Ralph was part of the Patriot Guard Riders and the Army National Guard.
He is preceded in death by his mom and dad.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Debby Griffin; daughters, Tiffany Griffin, Megan Washington, and Sheena St. Pierre; numerous grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
Celebration of life will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 27, 2025, with visitation at 10:30 a.m. at Trahan Family Funeral Home, Pensacola.
Cantonment Residents Facing Felony Child Neglect Charges For Kids Allegedly Living In Filth
August 25, 2025
Two Cantonment residents are facing multiple child neglect charges. Deputies maintain they failed “to provide the care, supervision, and services necessary to maintain the children’s physical health, and living in an unsanitary household with dirty diapers, food, feces, and urine on the floor.”
Hannah Marie Nichols, 24, and Matthew Daniel Glover, 25, were each charged six felony counts of child neglect.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office went to the home last week to arrest Glover on an outstanding Santa Rosa County warrant for violation of probation in a previous child neglect charge. They found him hiding in the attic of the home.
“I observed the residence to be in complete disarray and filthy. There were many used diapers, with visible urine and feces in them, scattered on the floor with some piled in a bedroom containing a pack and play. The bedroom containing the pile of used diapers had papers on top, which were molded,” a responding deputy wrote in an arrest report. “I further observed urine and feces covering the bathroom floor and scraps of old, discarded food on the floors throughout the residence. The bathtub contained discarded empty drink containers, with many large flies in the bathroom, indicating that the bathtub had not been used recently.”
“The kids appeared to have not bathed and had full diapers, with one child appearing to have old, flaking paint on their arm,” the ECSO report continues. “The mattress on the top bunk of the bunk beds did not have support slats beneath it, leaving a child susceptible to falling through it, should they climb to the top,.” I observed insect activity within the home, to include flies, gnats, and cockroaches.”
According to the ECSO, Glover and Nichols were the only two adults in the home. The ages of the children involved were redacted from the arrest report.
Nichols remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $30,000, while Glover’s bond was set at $18,000 with a hold on the outstanding Santa Rosa County warrant.
Century Town Hall Reopens After Week-Long Closure
August 25, 2025
The Century town hall reopened on Monday after a week-long closure.
According to the town hall, utility payments made last week will be credited to accounts on Monday. There will be no late fees due to the town hall closure, and bill notices being mailed late. The town said service disconnects will resume on August 27 rather than the typical 25th.
The town hall was closed for a complete HVAC system replacement, including ductwork.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
State Office Of Public Counsel Vows To Fight ‘Unconscionable’ FPL Rate Increase Settlement
August 25, 2025
The Florida Office of Public Counsel, created by the legislature in 1974 to represent the people in utility matters, has objected to a proposed Florida Power & Light rate settlement, asserting that would increase FPL’s revenues by an “unconscionable” amount.
The proposed settlement scales back the increase FPL sought in a proposal filed in February.
As we reported last week, Florida Power & Light Company and 10 key stakeholder groups filed a comprehensive four-year rate settlement agreement with state regulators . The proposed agreement reduces FPL’s original revenue request by nearly one-third.
FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel called the settlement agreement a win for FPL customers.f
In a letter filed with the Florida Public Service Commission, Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler described the stakeholders that agreed to the settlement as a “minority coalition of very large customers” and said the “majority of FPL’s customers will see significantly increased” bills. FPL said the four-year settlement would result in increased revenues of $945 million in 2026 and $766 million in 2027, with additional amounts in 2028 for battery storage and solar projects.
The Office of Public Counsel said in the letter that the proposal would cumulatively increase FPL revenues by $6.753 billion through 2029.
“This is unconscionable,” the letter stated. “The self-interested ‘settling parties’ that crafted FPL’s minority proposal do not represent the vast majority of FPL’s customers and cannot make them pay excessive rates for the majority of FPL’s energy sales.”
No Rain, Lower Daytime Humidity And Cooler Nights Ahead
August 25, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 92. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Bonus Photos: Tate Aggies Fans, Band, Cheerleaders
August 25, 2025
The Tate Aggies opened their season at home Friday night with a big 21-7 win over Fort Walton Beach.
For a bonus photo gallery with the band, fans, student section and cheerleaders, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
The Tate Aggies will continue a three-game opening at home against Gulf Breeze on Friday, August 29 and against Pensacola High on Thursday, September 4.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia School Board Honors Northview Lady Chiefs Softball
August 25, 2025
The Escambia County School Board recently honored the Northview Lady Chiefs state runner-up softball team.
The Chiefs reached the FHSAA Rural Softball State Championship game for the first time in school history, bringing home the state runner-up trophy. The young team with just one senior also won the first regional title ever for the school as they went 22-7 under the leadership of head coach Amy Holland.
Many members of the team are multi-sport athletes and were unable to attend the school board meeting due to a volleyball game.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Decline About 10 Cents In 10 Days
August 25, 2025
Florida gas prices have declined 20 cents in the past 10 days, according to AAA. On Sunday, the state average was $2.93 per gallon.
The average price per gallon on Sunday night was $2.80 in Escambia County. A low of $2.60 was available at a station on West Nine Mile, while the North Escambia low price of $2.74 was available on Muscogee Road in Cantonment.
“Gas prices are moving lower as the unofficial end of the summer travel season approaches,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, there’s no guarantee this decline will hold through the holiday weekend. For almost a year, Florida gas prices have followed a pattern of declining for about 10 days, then rebounding 10-20 cents. While that could happen this week, pump prices should remain lower than last year’s Labor Day levels.”
On Labor Day 2024, Florida gas prices averaged $3.30 per gallon. The state average hasn’t returned to that height ever since. During that time, oil prices were trading at around $70 per barrel. On Friday, the U.S. price for oil closed at $63.66 barrel.
File photo.