Minnie Gray Van Ling
March 3, 2026
Minnie Gray Van Ling, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 23, 2026, at the age of 92. She lived a long and beautiful life defined by Faith, Love and generosity, she was devoted to her family.
As a proud mother of Nine children, grandmother of eighteen grandchildren, and great grandmother to ten children, her family was her greatest joy and accomplishment. Nothing brought her more happiness than gathering her children and grandchildren close, sharing stories, laughter, and meals. Her grandchildren held a particularly special place in her heart, and she loved them beyond measure.
She had a remarkable gift for nurturing both people and passions. She expressed her creativity through quilting, stitching love into every quilt she made. She found quiet joy in growing orchids, tending to them with patience and care. In the kitchen, she was a wonderful cook whose meals became cherished family traditions. Her home was always warm, welcoming, and filled with the comforting aroma of something delicious.
Above all, she had a giving heart. She consistently put others before herself and taught her children from a young age to be mindful of those who had less. Through her example, she instilled compassion, generosity, and gratitude – Values that continue to live on through her family.
Her legacy is one of faith, love, and kindness and she drew her strength from her Lord Jesus Christ. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered in the lives she shaped, the lessons she taught, and the love she gave so freely.
She was preceded in death by her husband of seventeen years, Charles O. Van Ling: her grandsons, Bobby J. Campbell, Ernest B. Brown and Devan A. Brown and her parents William Thomas, and Julia Inez Lindsey.
She is survived by her nine children, Ronald R (Debra) Smith, Libbie D. Robinson, Darlene (Jim) Chavers, Shelia F. Henley, Gene (Renee) Brown, Lynn (Larry) Springer, A. Wayne Brown, Willard E Brown, Shawn L. (Amy) Brown; eighteen grandchildren ; ten great grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends who were blessed to know her.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Nonie’s Place by Covenant Care, 1901 North Palafox Street, Pensacola, Florida 32501
A Celebration of life will be held March 14, at 12:00 pm at Hamiltons Pond, 243 South Pine Barren Road, McDavid, Fl 32568
Hubert Ellis Howard
March 3, 2026
Hubert Ellis Howard, age 90, of Gonzalez, Florida, passed away March 1, 2026 in Pensacola. He was born in Apalachicola, Florida, on June 27, 1935 to Houston Howard and Elizabeth Lisco Howard. He was married to Peggy Courtney Howard for 65 years.
Mr. Howard worked for Air Products and Chemicals for 34 years and Wesco Gas and Welding for 27 years. He was a member of Gonzalez Methodist Church. In his spare time, Mr. Howard enjoyed playing softball, golfing, bowling, car racing and working in his yard. Mr. Howard served his country in both the US Marine Corps and the US Navy.
He was preceded in death by his parents Houston and Elizabeth Howard; sisters Gladys Howard, Marie Weber and Essie Woodworth and his brothers J.R. Howard, Joe Howard and Randall Howard.
Mr. Howard is survived by his wife Peggy Howard; his children Tony Howard and his wife Deanna, Tim Howard, Kelly Trowbridge and Shelly and husband Wayne McArthur; grandchildren Rachael and husband Matt Smith, Kaylen Thomas, Kyle McArthur, Molly McArthur, Wesley Howard, Diandra Howard and Christopher Trowbridge; great grandchildren Paisley Thomas, Emberlyn Smith and Hendric Smith; his brothers Billy Howard and Ronnie Howard; his sister Grace Paulchek and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Gonzalez Methodist Church in Cantonment at 12:00 Noon with Pastor Andy Perry officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service at the church from 11:00 AM until Noon. Burial will be in Gonzales Methodist Church Cemetery. Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Century CRA Eyes Plan To Tackle Blighted Areas
March 3, 2026
The Century Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) met Monday night to plot a course forward for improving a blighted area of the town.
The five members of the Century Town Council sit as the CRA board, with the board deciding to accept applications for the volunteer position and add two additional citizen members before its next meeting on June 23. The board elected member John Bass as president and Sparkie Harrison as vice president.
The board is expected to meet quarterly but held its first meeting in years just last month. The CRA has $191,151.89 in the bank, but held no discussion Monday night about finances.
In October 2018, the council approved a Tax Increment Financing plan for their redevelopment area, allowing the CRA to receive property tax revenues each year in excess of an established base rate. The appraised value of the property within the designated district was “frozen” in 2018, with that amount of tax revenue generated still designated for the town’s general fund, the county, and other taxing authorities.
The redevelopment area receives 95% of the property tax generated in excess of the frozen base value as property values rise. Along with small interest earnings, the CRA has spent nothing on improving the area to date, as far as we know from financial reports that were last published nearly three years ago.
The CRA funds can be used to improve conditions in the 510 acres bounded by Jefferson Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, East High 4 to the north and the center line of North Century Boulevard to the west. It also extends north on the east side of North Century Boulevard to include commercial properties up to, and including, the former Burger King (see map below).
Tax Increment Financing is a unique tool available to cities and counties for redevelopment activities. It is used to leverage public funds to promote private sector activities in the targeted redevelopment area. Property owners in the CRA pay the same tax rate as those in the remainder of the town.
TIF revenue can be used on a “pay as you go” basis, where the annual stream of revenue is used to fund small projects, or used to pay debt service costs over the life of a project lasting 10 or more years. Historically in Florida, TIF has been effective at generating large amounts of funding for capital investments for roadway improvements, flood control programs, water and sewer and drainage infrastructure improvements, parking lots and garages, neighborhood parks, sidewalks, street and sidewalk tree plantings, signs and building construction.
After a February 2016 tornado damaged or destroyed 40 homes and businesses, the town looked to address the long-term effects on the community of a downturn in economic development. That led to the redevelopment area.
The CRA plan sets a roadmap for future development and spending to eliminate existing conditions of blight and to encourage continued private investment. The plan also provides a framework for coordinating and facilitating public and private redevelopment within the area.
Future CRA meetings are set for 5:30 p.m., before the regular 6:15 council meetings, June 23, September 15, and November 17.
NorthEscambia.com photo and graphic, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Sentenced To Decade In Prison On Drug, Firearm Charges
March 3, 2026
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to a decade in federal prison on narcotics and firearms charges.
Timothy Lamar McGee, 43, pleaded in federal court for possession of more than 500 grams of cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol, and marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
According to documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant at McGee’s residence in September 2024. During a search of the residence, investigators located more than 600 grams of cocaine, more than 300 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol, more than 1,000 grams of marijuana, approximately $32,000 in United States currency, and four firearms.
McGee faced a minimum mandatory term of five years of imprisonment on each charge, to run consecutively, with the possibility of life imprisonment.
Update: ECSO Locates Missing, Endangered Woman Last Seen In Cantonment
March 2, 2026
UPDATE: Mary Edith Hudson has been safely located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered woman last seen Sunday night in Cantonment.
Mary Edith Hudson, 62, was last seen at 8:30 p.m. Sunday in the 800 block of Neal Road. She was wearing a black t-shirt with colorful turtles and gray sweatpants. She is 5-foot, 2-inches tall, 180 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes.
The ECSO said she may be in need of medical attention. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Highway 97 Resurfacing Project Begins In March, Including Drainage Improvements At Highway 29
March 2, 2026
A near $14.3 million resurfacing and stormwater project will begin in March on Highway 97 from Davisville to Molino.
The project will include resurfacing 22 miles of Highway 97, a state road, from the Florida-Alabama state line in Davisville and Atmore to Highway 29 in Molino. Existing travel lanes, auxiliary lanes, and paved shoulders will be resurfaced.
Stormwater improvements will be made at the Highway 29 intersection to alleviate historic flooding by installing an additional box culvert across the southern leg of the intersection and two additional cross drains on the northern leg of the intersection.
Additional work will include signage and pavement markings over the length of the project.
The $14,277,297.31 contract was awarded to Anderson Columbia Company, Inc.
The exact March start date has not yet been determined. Once work begins, the contractor will have 567 days to reach completion, plus any significant weather delays.
Highway 97 was last resurfaced in 2009-2010 at a cost of $5 million.
Pictured: Flooding at Highway 97 and Highway 29 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Return
March 2, 2026
The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards returned to their towers Saturday for the 2026 lifeguard season. Initially, Casino Beach will be staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. The lifeguards will shift their hours to 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. starting Sunday, March 8 to reflect Daylight Saving Time. As summer approaches, staffing will increase to cover up to eight towers, with increased staffing to begin Memorial Day weekend.
In preparation for the 2026 season, Pensacola Beach hired 10 new lifeguards and welcomed 65 returning lifeguards to a rigorous training program, including over 60 hours of open water training, emergency medical training and more.
Last season, Pensacola Beach Lifeguards performed 359 rescues from drowning and assisted swimmers experiencing distress. They also attended to 130 major medical incidents and assisted in locating 48 missing persons. Lifeguards made contact with beachgoers 439,629 times during the 2025 season, providing information about rip currents, beach condition flags and several other safety tips.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Administrator Rejects Board Recommendation, To Name Christal Bell-Rivera Next Library Director
March 2, 2026
Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno will not accept the recommendation of the West Florida Library Board of Governance (BOG) for the next director of the West Florida Public Libraries.
As we reported last week, the committee recommended Bradley Vinson, current coordinator of media services for the Escambia County School District, as its top choice to run the library system. The BOG’s second choice was Chris Hare, current division manager for WFPL.
According to the county, personnel decisions fall to Administrator Wes Moreno, but he is not bound by the WFPL BOG recommendation. The administrator’s choices for county department head positions such as the library director are approved by the Board of County Commissioners, which can vote them up or down.
On Thursday, Moreno will recommend Christal Bell-Rivera as the next library services director, according to a commission agenda. She is the current interim director, appointed by Moreno after the retirement of Todd Humble in November 2025.
If she is confirmed, Bell-Rivera’s annual salary will be $113,547.20 with a car allowance of $400 per month.
According to an Escambia County Commission agenda for Thursday, March 5:
“Bell-Rivera brings almost 20 years of general management and library operations experience in state and local government. She is highly skilled in budget administration; development and implementation of long and short-term plans, policies, and procedures; establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with outside partners, other County departments, and local leaders; and overall management of daily operations. Since beginning her employment with the County in June 2022, Mrs. Bell-Rivera has played a pivotal role in the improvement of the general operations of the West Florida Public Library (WFPL), which earned her a promotion to Deputy Director in March 2023 and subsequently to her appointment as Interim Director in August 2025. Mrs. Bell-Rivera has also become heavily involved in the library industry and has served as pre-conference facilitator and guest speaker for the Florida Library Association, is member of the of Florida Library Association’s Professional Development Committee and Leadership Subcommittee, and a recipient of the 2024 James Patterson Library Worker Bonus. Mrs. Bell-Rivera’s exceptional management skills and passion for librarianship make her the ideal candidate to continue leading WFPL and is hereby recommended for the role of Library Services Director for Escambia County, Florida.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Names Students Of The Month
March 2, 2026
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their January Students and Employee of the Month.
Pictured (L-R) with Principal Tyvanna Boulanger, they are: Brantley Driver, sixth grade; Hadley Weaver, seventh grade; and McKenzie Norton, eighth grade.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tow Truck Driver Honored for Stopping Wrong-Way Driver on I-110
March 2, 2026
Last month, a routine night at work turned into a life-saving intervention for a tow truck driver in Escambia County.
At about 10:30 p.m. on February 18, an automated wrong way driver alert was received on I-110 and was verified using traffic cameras by the FDOT District 3 Regional Traffic Management Center. As operators monitored the vehicle traveling against traffic flow and alerted nearby law enforcement, a nearby tow truck operator made a decisive and courageous choice, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
James Barlow, a tow truck driver with Secon Recovery & Towing, positioned his service vehicle to physically block the wrong way driver from continuing northbound in the southbound lanes at Airport Boulevard. “What might have appeared to be a split-second reaction was, in reality, a deliberate act that likely prevented a catastrophic head-on collision,” FHP said.
After being stopped, the driver corrected course, only to turn around and begin traveling the wrong direction again. Without hesitation, James intervened a second time, using his truck to block the path of the vehicle once more. He then remained on scene, maintaining a protective position until FHP troopers took control of the situation.
“Wrong way driving incidents are among the most dangerous events encountered on our roadway system, often resulting in severe or fatal crashes due to high-speed, head-on impacts. James’ awareness, quick thinking, and willingness to place himself between danger and the traveling public exemplify the critical partnership between roadway responders and traffic operations personnel,” FHP said.
The FDOT Traffic Incident Management Team and FHP Troop A honored Barlow for his bravery, professionalism, and life-saving actions. “His commitment to public safety reflects the very best of those who serve on the front lines of roadway operations,” troopers said.
