olf 8
July 27, 2020
Kevin Spinks
July 22, 2020
Kevin was the exact definition of a true man. His strong stature, noteworthy hands and approachable demeanor made him loved by all. He was often referred to as the gentle giant or big teddy bear; but he was mostly known to all as, Big K. Hearts like his, full of generosity and love made anyone in his presence feel special. His heart ultimately belonged to his family, first and foremost. Ona, his first-born child was the absolute center of his universe. She was so excited to meet the man that spoke to her every day, she decided to come a month early. She stole his heart as soon as we welcomed her into this world. Within 5 years, the completion of his heart was met when he was blessed with his second baby girl Kali. Her personality and sass could put a smile on his face no matter what the day had given him. He joked about being surrounded by women his whole life, but we all know he loved every second of it. I don’t think there is a more amazing girl dad out there. He was the solver of all problems…Go cart mechanic, bad dream chaser, hair style tester, but most of all the constant protector over all three Girls, Ashley, Ona and Kali.
He firmly believed that you earned everything through hard work. In 2003 he started his career with the Sheet Metal Works Union and became a Journeyman of his trade by 2007. He finished early, just another measurement of his ingenuity and sharp mindedness, nothing ever held him back. He took pride in the quality and craftsmanship of his trade, making him an asset to everyone he knew. If you needed anything, call Big K, he would find a way to make it happen. One of his favorite quotes was, “You’ll never know, unless you try”. There is nothing he wouldn’t do to help anyone in need or just to lend a hand.
Because of his strong work ethic, he was able to provide the most wonderful life for himself and his family. He enjoyed traveling to the Smoky Mountains, attending NASCAR races with the full experience, spending time on the river, fishing on East Bay, but most of all being around his family and friends (who he truly considered family) grilling and enjoying everyone’s company. Rarely would you see him without a big grin on his face enjoying the simple things in life, as he took nothing for granted. With his girls, his family and his friends by his side, all was right in his world.
He was inducted as a Tennessee Squire with the Jack Daniels Distillery in Tennessee and was an honorary boat shed mechanic in Molino.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Chester and Juanita Spinks, William K. and Syble Chandler, Leona McCullough, and Capt. Bud Arnold; and uncles, Bill Chandler, Jerry Lee and Robert Ging.
Kevin is survived by his wife and soul mate of 18 years, Ashley Brianne Spinks, daughters, Ona Lee (11 years old), Kali Paige (6 years old), father, Larry Spinks (Sandra Jackson), mother, Sharon Chandler Nelson (Malcolm Nelson); parents in law, Steven Arnold and Ramona Arnold; sisters, Angie Edmondson (Tim Edmondson), Kayla Nelson (Curtis Roughton), Jessica Morgan (Joey Russell), Michell Baxter, and Tonya Emmons; nieces and nephews, Hayley Gibson (Kody Gibson), Hunter Lee (Kaleigh Godwin), Logan Edmondson, and Lydia Edmondson.
Funeral services will be held at 2PM, Saturday, July 25, 2020 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Mike Mashburn officiating.
The family will receive friends at 1PM prior to services.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial account has been set up at Pen Air FCU for his beloved daughters Ona and Kali Spinks.
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June 3, 2020
Escambia County Finalizes Graduation Schedule For June 22-24 At Pensacola Bay Center
June 1, 2020
The School District of Escambia County, Florida, has announced plans for 2020 high school graduation ceremonies. After consultation with local and state officials, dates for graduation ceremonies have been scheduled and will be held as follows:
Monday, June 22, 2020
- 9:30 a.m. Escambia Virtual School & George Stone at Pensacola High School
- 4:00 p.m. Escambia High School at Pensacola Bay Center
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
- 9:00 a.m. West Florida High School at Pensacola Bay Center
- 2:00 p.m. Pine Forest High School at Pensacola Bay Center
- 7:00 p.m. Tate High School at Pensacola Bay Center
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
- 9:00 a.m. Pensacola High School at Pensacola Bay Center
- 2:00 p.m. Northview High School at Pensacola Bay Center
- 7:00 p.m. Booker T. Washington High School at Pensacola Bay Center
Important safety measures will be added to these graduation ceremonies from those held in the past. In order to adhere to social distancing guidelines, the following information is provided:
- Ceremonies will be live streamed. Remote viewing is encouraged
- Participation in graduation ceremonies is voluntary
- Face masks are encouraged
- Bags of any kind (tote bags, backpacks, etc.) are discouraged
- Seating is general admission, with six (6) tickets provided to each graduating student and distributed by their school
- Absolutely no replacement of lost tickets
- Graduation times have been scheduled to allow the Pensacola Bay Center to be sanitized after each ceremony
- No congregating after graduation ceremonies; graduates and families should go directly to their vehicles and exit the property promptly
- Graduates will be allowed to keep their cap and gown, and return these items to schools at a later date. This allows families to celebrate and take pictures with their graduates
- Graduates and guests will maintain social distancing while in the Pensacola Bay Center
- Anyone who has recently traveled outside of the country, had a fever within the last 14 days, or in contact with someone who was COVID-19 positive will be asked not to attend.
- All graduations will be live streamed for the general public for family members and friends who cannot attend, or to watch at a later time.
“The Escambia County School District is committed to recognizing and celebrating the educational successes of the Senior Class of 2020. Your hard work and persistence during these turbulent last few months has been admirable. We are eager and excited about coming together to celebrate the success of your high school career. We are finally going to make it happen and look forward to seeing you on June 22, 23rd and June 24th,” said Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. “Congratulations to the Class of 2020 graduates. Best wishes in your future endeavors.”
Cantonment Man Charged With Luring And Trying To Meet Underage Girl For Sex. He Was Met By Deputies Instead.
April 3, 2020
A Cantonment man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly luring and trying to meet an underage girl for sex on Thursday. Instead, he was met by deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Christopher James McElveen, Sr., 40, was charged with luring or enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, traveling to meet a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct and the unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
Using the profile name “Chris McElveen” on a commonly used social media platform, McElveen initiated contact on March 23 with an undercover investigator posing as girl under the age of 13, according to an arrest report. The social media site was not named by authorities.
The investigator informed McElveen several times that his online persona was an underage girl. McElveen stated “I would prefer younger but its all good” and he initiated sexual conversation. His chats included statements that included “Im okay with you”, “age and all” and comments that he has previously engaged in sexual contact with a seven-year old girl, the report states.
“McElveen sent several messages of his sexual intent, he began inquiring about if my parents we at home or at work and expressed wanting to meet. McElveen advised that he wished to get a hotel room for a few hours with the underage female, and once again named the sexual acts he wished to perform with the underage female,” the investigator wrote.
A meeting location was established on Thursday, April 2, and McElveen drove his gold GMC van to the location and sent a message to the undercover social media profile which stated “Im parked on the side”. He was taken into custody without incident, and a search warrant was executed at his residence at 801 Cedar Tree Lane. His cellular phone was seized as evidence pending an additional search warrant.
McElveen’s statements to investigators were redacted from the arrest report. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
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February 21, 2020
http://agenda.myescambia.com/agenda_publish.cfm?dsp=ag&seq=4563
Court Upholds Life Sentence For Mary Rice, Convicted Of Beulah Murder In 2017 Crime Spree
November 13, 2019
The First District Court of Appeal has upheld the sentence of Mary Barbara Craig Rice.
Rice was sentenced to life in prison on September 28, 2018. She and William (Billy) Boyette went on an eight-day, multi-state crime spree that caused the death of four women.
Rice and Boyette fled to a hotel in West Point, Georgia, where Rice eventually surrendered. Boyette was found inside their motel deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
She was convicted of first degree murder for the death of Kayla Crocker in Beulah and accessory after the fact for the homicides of Alicia Greer and Jacqueline Moore at the Emerald Sands Inn in Santa Rosa County. Crocker, a 2006 Tate High School graduate, was found by her mother on February 6, 2017, with a gunshot wound to her head.
Pictured top: Billy Boyette and Mary Rice captured on a game camera. Pictured below: The scene at the home of Kayla Crocker in Beulah shortly after her 2017 murder. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Highland Baptist Church History
October 25, 2019
provided by Highland Baptist Church, October 2019
Highland Baptist Church was organized in 1919 after Miss Ruth Riddle, a local school teacher, began a Sunday School at Highland School on Molino Road, west of Highway 29. With a gift of $200 from the State Mission Board and the donation of some land by Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Hastings, a building was erected in 1922 across the road from the school. The Molino Baptist Church, constituted in 1908 with twenty members, voted to join the fellowship of Highland. “Molino-Highland Day” was set aside as the two churches combined their congregations. The building materials from the Molino Church were used to enlarge the educational building.
In 1942, Highland, striving to be more centrally located in the community, purchased land with a gift of $75 from the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association. Under the leadership of Rev. E. E. Roberts, a lay pastor, the church began to grow; and on April 30, 1950, a new block building consisting of an auditorium and six classrooms was dedicated.
In 1953, the same year Rev. C. D. Fant became pastor, the church built a pastorium. This pastorium served as “home” for the next six pastors. After Bro. Tim Patrick was called as pastor of Highland, and living in the pastorium for a period of time, the church purchased and renovated a home on Firehouse Road that Bro. Tim and his family lived in. The pastorium was then turned into the church office, as it still is today.
On September 30, 1973, the two-story interim sanctuary and educational space was dedicated. So different from the past, of baptisms being held in rivers, swimming pools, creeks, or a baptistry in a sister church, for the first time, baptisms were held in the baptistry that was built in this interim sanctuary. The mortgage on this building was paid off several years early, with a note burning on April 25, 1982.
Started by Highland Baptist as a home bible study in 1983 under the leadership of Rev. J. W. Dubose, the Dogwood Park Mission was established. With ground breaking in 1985, during the time Bro. Rick Wolfe was pastor, and a sanctuary with classrooms being built, the mission was constituted as Dogwood Park Baptist Church in 1986.
The current sanctuary has a seating capacity of 500 and was dedicated on November 18, 1990.Through many blessings from God, the commitment of His people, and the vision of the faithful people of Highland, the note on this building was also paid off several years early in March of 1998.
The sanctuary, having seen many souls come to Jesus, baptisms, babies dedicated, and faithful members laid to rest, continues to shine bright as a beacon for all to be drawn to this “high-land” as a place of refuge and strength.
As the winds of time found us on our knees both through plentiful and lean times, September, 2004 found us battening down for the winds of Hurricane Ivan. Although we lost the original block “Highland Baptist Church” sign that announced a new pastor even before he arrived, as well as much damage due to the winds, the sun shone again in the morning!
Then, on February 17, 2008, at the close of Morning Worship, God held His mighty, protective hand over us again as a tornado passed over us taking the steeple and causing much damage to the property before making its way elsewhere. Truly, God Is Good . . . All The Time . . . And All The Time . . . God Is Good!”
The spring of 2013 gave us the opportunity to pray about and seek God’s will in purchasing the property located just north, across Nancy Lane, of the existing property. We consider this a blessing and a testimony to the faithfulness of God and His people. We began a “40 Days of Prayer” in September 2013 so that we could seek God’s will in how we could help in paying off the debt incurred by this purchase. This season of prayer culminated on November 3rd, which was designated “Chest of Joash Sunday.” A special offering was received to kick-off a campaign to pay the property off in one year! The title of this offering emphasis was, “For Future Generations.” “For The Glory of God.” God has continued to bless the efforts of His people as this note was paid off early. May we always continue to be good stewards of the Lord’s resources. The property, deemed the “Highland House” is used for additional parking and a Sunday School Classroom space for our College and Career Ministry, (CCM). This group of young adults also come together each Wednesday for a time of devotion, prayer, and fellowship. CCM has set about for their mission to be that of “service”. They have been able to serve here at home with projects around the church as well as implementing some clean-up work outside our community. These young adults are growing in their faith walk as they receive the blessings from God as they serve others.
For several years now, we have had the opportunity to be a Partner in Education with Molino Park Elementary. We hold an annual paper/supply drive to help the teachers and students with much needed items to start the school year off right! Programs such as Brotherhood and WMU, that have been in place and ministering to both men and women for many years, have been joined by the “Care Ministry” a homebound and Widows and Widowers Ministry, “New Beginnings,” a singles and singles again ministry, “CCM”, “Outreach Ministry”, and a “Missions Ministry”. This new “Missions Ministry” is a group of ladies that sew lap quilts, port pillows, personal hygiene kits for OCC, as well has many other projects to help bless those that are under the weather, homebound, or ill, to share the love of Jesus in a cozy, comfortable way. Many of these quilts have been given along with a “goody” basket put together by the “Care Ministry” to be delivered to both members of our church family as well as those in our community that could use a special touch. The Outreach Ministry has held Wild Game Dinner’s, Open Car Show’s, Pinewood Derby’s, Night With The Wahoos, and a Corn-hole Tournament/Football Big Screen Night! By far, the most wonderful part of these ministry opportunities is the fact that through these events people pray to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior!
All these ministries are successful due to the faithful believers at Highland that have the visions for ministry and choose to act on the leading of the Lord. Due to that faithfulness, Highland has continued to grow. It continues to meet and exceed every missions offering goal set by the church. As you can see, we are striving to impact our community one life at a time. In addition to all of the activities and events listed, we also have an ongoing evangelistic relationship with The Strength Team. They have ministered through our local schools, community, and our church. The Lord has blessed this evangelistic ministry with over 50 people making professions of faith. God is truly AMAZING! We only have to seek to do His will and give Him ALL the glory! It is so good to be a part of a church that truly desires to “impact eternity . . . one life at a time!”
Pastors of Highland Baptist Church
- Rev. W. H. Rumbley 1920-1926
- Rev. H. S. Higdon 1927
- Rev. C. C. Eiland 1928-1929
- Rev. B. A. Davis 1931-1933
- Rev. C. W. Crim 1934
- Rev. C. M. Agee 1935-1936
- Rev. W. H. Williams 1936-1940
- Rev. C. O. Stewart 1941-1942
- Rev. E. E. Roberts 1943-1953
- Rev. C. D. Fant 1953-1960
- Rev. Carl Franklin 1960-1963
- Rev. John K. Smith 1963-1969
- Rev. E. McCoy Bynum 1969-1971
- Rev. J. W. Dubose 1971-1984
- Rev. Rick P. Wolfe 1984-1987
- Rev. Tim Patrick 1987-1993
- Rev. Gene White 1993-1996
- Rev. Mark Boyd 1997-1998
- Rev. Troy Massey 2000-2003
- Rev. Brad Hockensmith 2004-2006
- Rev. Brian Calhoun 2007-Present
WSRE TV Changes Frequency; Viewers Need To Rescan
October 24, 2019
Viewers that watch PBS station WSRE over the air with an antenna will need to rescan today after a frequency move, but some may still have difficulty watching the station for another few days.
WSRE 23 and WSRE World, WSRE Create and WSRE PBS KIDS all moved frequencies overnight as required by the FCC.
“We be on our interim antenna until final facilities are complete next week. That means some viewers will have difficulty receiving us on the new channel. We will still not be at 100%, but should be next week. At that time anyone not receiving us will need to rescan again,” said Darrel Harrison, WSRE director, Engineering and Broadcast.
Viewers that watch WSRE through cable or satellite will not need to rescan, and no one will be required to purchase any new equipment or services.
Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held an auction of broadcast airwaves to provide more channels for wireless internet broadband services. WSRE did not participate in the auction; however, the FCC is requiring this station and nearly 1,000 others nationwide to move to new frequencies to make room for wireless internet services.
To rescan, select “scan” or “autotune” on the TV or converter box control menu to start the scanning process. Instructions are usually available by pressing the “setup” or “menu” buttons on the remote control. This move is happening behind the scenes, so the 23 channel number viewers know will not change..
Pictured: A WSRE antenna is installed recently. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Crash Claims One Life, Injures 8-Year Old Child
October 22, 2019
A single vehicle crash near Walnut Hill claimed one life and injured a child Monday night.
Clayton Joseph Cagle, 31, was traveling east on Pine Forest Road about a mile off Highway 97. He failed to maintain control of his 1999 GMC Yukon, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and strike a tree. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Both were wearing their seat belts.
An 8-year old passenger was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with minor injuries.
The Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
