Karyn Ann Turner
August 7, 2025
Kayrn Ann “Kay” Turner, age 75, of Pace, FL, passed away on July 26,2025, peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Kay was born on March 28, 1950, to the late Rev. J. R. and Nell Turner in Montgomery, AL, and was raised in Atmore. A 1968 graduate of Escambia County High School, Kay attended Orlando College Medical Education Center, majoring in the Medical Assistant Program. She retired from Covenant Hospice, Pensacola, FL in 2007.
An avid reader, Kay enjoyed cross-stitching, watching English movies and series, and loving her dogs and cats. She was a member of Pensacola United Methodist Church.
Kay is survived by her two sons, William Turner McMurphy, Pace, FL, and Justin Tate McMurphy, Niceville, FL, sisters, Sheila Broughton (Dan), Opelika, AL, and Janice T. Smith (Mike), Canoe, AL. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Lauren and Luke McMurphy of Santa Rosa Beach, FL., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL with Bro. Paul LaSala officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the charity of your choice or The Florida Australian Cattle Dog Rescue @ australiancattledog.rescueme.org/florida.
The family would like to thank Vitas Hospice and Granny Nannies for the kindness shown to Kay and her family.
Thomas Taylor
August 7, 2025
Thomas Taylor, 57, of Pensacola, passed away on August 07, 2025. He was born in Pensacola, Florida on July 20, 1968, to Tony and Barbara Taylor. He was married to Mary Taylor for 35 years. Thomas had a career in utilities for Emerald Coast Utilities Authority. He had a passion for racing and spending time with family.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Taylor; son, John (Toni) Taylor; daughter, Jennifer (George) Bower; granddaughter, Amelia Bower; sister, Lynita Taylor; mother-in-law, Pat Warren; father-in-law, Tommy Warren; and lots of other friends and family.
Services will be held on Monday, August 11, 2025, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 a.m.
High Speed FHP Chase Ends With Crash Near Jim Allen Elementary
August 6, 2025
A high speed chase Wednesday afternoon ended with the suspect crashing into a wooded area near Jim Allen Elementary School on Highway 95A.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper observed a sedan traveling at a high rate of speed on Highway 29 near Nine Mile Road and attempted a traffic stop. FHP said the driver started to slow before accelerating away from the trooper, reaching speeds of 96 mph on northbound Highway 29.
The driver veered onto Highway 95A before losing control while attempting to pass another vehicle, crashing through a fence and into a wooded area where the vehicle overturned.
The driver attempted to flee on foot and was tased by the trooper, according to FHP, and was tased a second time when he again tried to flee.
FHP said the driver received minor injuries and was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS for evaluation. The trooper was not injured.
The release of the 29-year-old male driver’s name and charges are pending his release from the hospital and booking into the Escambia County Jail.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Boil Water Notice For Portion Of East Kingsfield, Majestic, Peaches Area
August 6, 2025
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) has issued a precautionary boil water notice is in effect for a portion of the Kingsfield Road area.
The boil water notice is in effect for :
- 2065-2160 East Kingsfield Road
- All of Peaches Lane
- All of Majestic Drive
- All of Majestic Court
This notice was issued after repairs were made to a broken 12-inch water main. Precautionary boil water notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Residents located in the specified area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours.
ECUA crews completed the repairs to the main and have flushed out the lines. Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
Escambia County Considers $200,000 Settlement In Century Woman’s Jail Death
August 6, 2025
Escambia County will decide Thursday if it will approve a $200,000 settlement in the death of a Century woman with special needs who died in the county jail in 2021.
The medical malpractice lawsuit was filed against Escambia County, which operates the jail, and West Florida Hospital. West Florida Hospital has already reached a confidential settlement.
Alia Wardell’s mother, Melania Smith, filed the lawsuit in January 2024 on behalf of her deceased daughter for allegedly failing to provide the life-saving medications needed to control Wardell’s diabetes and other serious medical conditions.
“Defendant West Florida Hospital’s nurse knew she was discharging Ms. Wardell in an unsafe manner, charting that she knew this patient would not do well because she needed constant monitoring hemodynamically and can get worse quickly,” the lawsuit states. “The nurse heard the patient say: ‘I can’t go to jail; I’ll die there.’”
The suit states the hospital discharged Wardell “in an unsafe manner and failed to ensure that the receiving facility was aware of her health needs, medications, and doses, specifically the life-threatening danger to Ms. Wardell for failing to take Desmopressin.” It further claims the hospital did not ensure that the Escambia County Jail was aware of the medications she was taking and the danger if she did not receive them.
The lawsuit states that a county EMT at the jail assessed Wardell and charted that she “does not have nor has been treated for diabetes…(and) failed to discover Ms. Wardell had prescriptions for the life-saving medications Desmopressin and Hydrocortisone.”
After a confrontation with another inmate, Wardell was assessed by an LPN who stated that she “had no preexisting conditions and not currently on any medications,” according to the suit, which further alleges that the jail failed to provide the medications.
The lawsuit claims the jail and hospital caused Wardell “to suffer severe physical and mental injuries, and death, as a direct result of their deliberate indifference.”
Wardell’s Hospitalization and Arrest
Wardell was seen in the West Florida Hospital emergency room on November 16, 2021, after being discharged with an altered mental status, adrenal insufficiency, adrenal crisis and other complaints. While in the emergency room, she asked to go to the bathroom, and a nurse discovered about five minutes later that she had fallen asleep in the bathroom on the floor, the lawsuit states. While the nurse was waking her, she allegedly became combative and was admitted under the Baker Act. She was discharged into the custody of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies on November 22, 2021, and taken to the Escambia County Jail.
She was charged with a November 17, 2021, incident in which she allegedly attacked nurses at West Florida Hospital. She was charged with five felony counts of battery for assaulting staff at the emergency room.
On November 28, 2021, she was found cyanotic and unresponsive in her cell and was not breathing when she was transported by Escambia County EMS to Baptist Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
The Proposed Settlement
Escambia County’s insurance carrier has recommended a settlement payout from insurance of $200,000 to settle all present and future claims and in exchange for a release and hold harmless agreement. The county has already paid a portion of the deductible and will be responsible for payment of the balance.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will consider the settlement recommendation from the County Attorney’s Office. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at 221 Palafox Place, in Pensacola. The settlement is one of the final items on the agenda and is expected to be considered very near the end of the meeting.
Escambia Man Gets Federal Prison Time Following Bicycle Traffic Stop
August 6, 2025
An convicted Escambia County man was sentenced in federal court for possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Julius Maurice Dean, 46, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
“Thanks to the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF, this violent felon has been removed from our streets,” U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin said. “My office remains fully committed to keeping our community safe by aggressively prosecuting these criminals and ensuring they are held accountable for breaking the law.”
According to court records, Dean provided a false name to law enforcement and fled from an officer on foot after a traffic stop was conducted on his bicycle traveling on the wrong side of the roadway in the area of Pensacola Boulevard and Van Pelt Lane. After being apprehended, law enforcement located a loaded, stolen firearm on Dean’s person as well as illegal narcotics. Dean has prior felony convictions for bank robbery, possession of a controlled substance, driving while driver’s license revoked as a habitual traffic offender, and grand theft of a firearm.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Century Picks Top 5 Town Administrator Applicants
August 6, 2025
Tuesday night, the Century Town Council narrowed the list of candidates for a new town administrator and set a date for interviews.
The mayor and council members each submitted names, with the top five making the cut. They are:
Charles Anderson
Timothy Day
Brian Luis Underwood
Peter Cavalli
Lisa Rouse
The council set public interviews for Thursday, August 14 at 6 p.m. Following the suggestion of council member John Bass, all interviews will be virtual “so there’s no competitive advantage” to a candidate who appears in person. Between now and August 14, each council member has the opportunity to individually interview the candidates on the phone.
The council plans to choose their next administrator at their regular meeting on August 19.
According to the job description, the salary range for the position is $112,000 to $137,000, with the likely salary offer between the minimum of $112,000 and the midpoint of the range, or about $124,500.
Here is brief information on each of the finalists:
- Charles V. Anderson (Saint Petersburg, FL): Anderson is the former city manager for Treasure Island, Florida, where he led disaster recovery efforts and managed multimillion-dollar budgets. With decades of military and local government experience, he specializes in crisis management, infrastructure planning, and personnel leadership.
- Peter Cavalli (Tampa, FL): Cavalli is the founder of Tampa Bay Training, LLC, and a former town manager for Kenneth City, Florida. He has extensive experience in public works, emergency management, and workforce development, as well as training programs for municipalities and private sector clients.
- Timothy J. Day (Cape Coral, FL): A former district manager for multiple Community Development Districts in Florida, Day brings over 30 years of experience in city/town management, law enforcement, and public safety. He has managed utility modernization projects, FEMA disaster recovery efforts, and financial audits for municipalities. He also served as a City Council member in Cape Coral for nine years.
- Lisa Rouse (Pensacola, FL): Rouse is the director of operations and marketing for two technology firms and a public sector consultant. She specializes in financial systems, utility oversight, and personnel development. A Pensacola resident, she is deeply involved in local civic groups and community engagement.
- Brian Louis Underwood (Fairhope, AL): Currently serving as grants director for Baldwin County Commission, Underwood has managed multimillion-dollar grant programs for infrastructure and disaster recovery. He previously served as executive director of the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program and has extensive experience in strategic planning, environmental stewardship, and intergovernmental coordination.
Editor’s note: Information for each applicant is a brief summary taken from more complete resumes, applications and/or cover letters submitted to the Town of Century. Applicant’s information and claims were not independently verified by NorthEscambia.com staff.
Escambia School Guardians Prepare To Protect In The New School Year
August 6, 2025
Escambia County Public Schools guardians are preparing for the first day of school.
The guardians serve as armed campus security officers. They are ECPS employees trained by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and their sole mission is to protect students and staff in public schools across Escambia County.
Ideal candidates for guardians have prior law enforcement and/or military experience and must have a passion for working with children.
The guardians go through an extensive training curriculum with the Sheriff’s Office that prepares them to safeguard schools.
Guardians recently returned to the ECSO range to sharpen their marksmanship, and to prepare for various school-security scenarios. Eight new guardians (pictured top) recently graduated after completing a minimum of 144 hours of training provided by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Professional Development unit, with an emphasis on firearms training.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Afternoon Pop-up Showers And Storms Likely Again Today
August 6, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday: A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%
James Dickey Avirett, Jr.
August 6, 2025
James Dickey Avirett, Jr., 68, passed away July 31, 2025 after a long battle with cancer. Jimmy, as he was affectionately known, was born in Dothan, Alabama on July 18, 1957. However, he lived nearly his entire life in Cantonment, Florida, growing up on Well Line Road. He began working at St. Regis Paper at the age of 19 and retired from International Paper after 44 years of dedicated service. He was very proud of his work at the Paper Mill.
Jimmy was preceded I death by his parents, James Dickey Avirett, Sr. and Carol Jane Avirett.
He is survived by his sons, Matthew Avirett and Brian (Christina) Avirett; and step daughter, Amanda (Justin) Canfield with his former wife, Cynthia Avirett; 5 grandsons, Hunter Bentley, Shayne Avirett, Dylan and Kyle Canfield; 2 step daughters, Brittney and Shannon Glass with his current wife, Angel Avirett; 4 grandchildren, Dallas Owens, Chase, Riley and Pressley Ritchey.
In his spare time, Jimmy really enjoyed digging for old bottles. He had a real appreciation for antiques and relics of the past. Jimmy also had an appreciation of his family heritage and had books on the subject. He really enjoyed fishing and boating with his kids and grandkids. He would also spend time taking the kids to Spring Lake and hiking around different areas in nature. Jimmy was a family man, he loved all the kids and they loved him right back. Jimmy will be missed tremendously by all who knew him.