Elijah Ray Ramos
January 12, 2024
Elijah Ray Ramos, of Molino, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at the age of 19. He was born in Pensacola, Florida on March 11, 2004 to Ray and Crystal Ramos. After high school, Eli went to work for the family business where he worked until his passing. Eli was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved the outdoors and hanging out with his friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandmother, Faye Campbell; grandfather, Billy Ray Campbell; grandmother, Juanita Ramos; and his great uncle, Raul Ramos, Jr.
Eli is survived by his father, Ray Ramos; his mother, Crystal Ramos; grandmother, Kay Campbell; grandfather, Raul Ramos, Sr.; his aunt/sister, Ciara (Codie) Callaway and their boys, Lawson and Fletcher; great-grandparents, Billy and Joyce Campbell; his uncles, Roy Ramos and Rodney Ramos; aunts, Wanda Ramos and Wendy Ramos; great aunt, Trudy Campbell; great uncle, mentor, and buddy, Tim Thomasson; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and many friends.
The family of Elijah Ray Ramos will receive friends for visitation at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Funeral services will begin at 12:00 p.m. with Pastor Philip Dean officiating. Burial will follow at McCurdy Cemetery (Fannie Road) in Century, Florida.
Pallbearers include Trey Campbell, Kody Lee, Tyler Swauger, Caleb Banks, Chad Sims, and Eddie Brown.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements. Y
Thomas Clayton Ward Jr
January 1, 2024
Mr. Thomas Clayton Ward Jr. age 80 passed away at his residence in Century FL. Wednesday December 13, 2023.
Mr. Ward was a life-long resident of Century FL. and was of the Baptist faith. He was a retired owner/operator of Thomas Ward Trucking, and retired Veteran of The United States Army where he served during the Vietnam era, serving alongside his late brother James L. “Booter” Ward.
In his spare time, Mr. Ward enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren which his love was unsurpassed.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years Kathy Ward of Century FL; stepson Scotty Hagan of Pensacola FL; daughters Debbie (Dennis) Finegan of Green Cove Springs, FL. Karen (Andy) Layton of Milton FL; brother Bennie (Jenny) Ward of Cantonment FL; Sisters Delois Brown of Bratt FL. Joyce Burkett of Byrneville FL. Barbara (Donnie) Kilcrease of Byrneville FL; grandchildren that were the light of his life Andrew (Taylor Hendrieth) Howell, Christina Finegan, Wesley (Brooke) Layton, Ashley Finegan, Delaney Hagan, Ian Hagan; several nieces and nephews, and a friend like family Jeff (Junia) Fisher of Flomaton, AL.
Mr. Ward is preceded in death by his father and mother Thomas Clayton Ward Sr. and Ruby Flowers Muse; first wife Margeret Ann Ward: brothers Byron “Bit” Martin, James L. “Booter” Ward.
Visitation will be held Sunday December 17, 2023, from 1P.M. until 2 P.M. service time at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services for Mr. Thomas Clayton Ward Jr. will be held Sunday afternoon December 17, 2023, at 2 P.M. from the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Brother Tim Floyd officiating. Interment will follow in Byrneville Cemetery with Flomatn Funeral Home Directing.
Jennifer Smith Is Kingsfield Elementary’s Teacher Of The Year
December 28, 2023
Jennifer Smith was named the Kingsfield Elemenatary School Teacher of the Year.
NorthEscambia.com is wrapping up 2023 by honoreing the Teacher of the Year from North Escambia schools over the next several days. Escambia County’s overall Teacher of the Year will be named in January.
Cantonment Man Caught During Traffic Stop Gets Five Years In Prison For Fentanyl Trafficking
December 13, 2023
A Cantonment man was sentenced this week to state prison on drug charges that resulted from a seat belt violation traffic stop.
Samuel Lee Purifoy, Jr., was sentenced to five years in state prison, with credit for 52 days served, for possession of fentanyl.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Purifoy’s vehicle in the area of North S and Delano Street. Purifoy smelled strongly of marijuana and appeared to be under the influence of marijuana, according to an arrest report.
A search of his vehicle uncovered marijuana and 86.3 grams of drugs in the vehicle, and $1,710 in cash was in his pocket, the report states.
Want To Have Your Say In The Future of Beulah? Two Master Plan Meetings This Week
December 3, 2023
Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh, county staff and Sigma Consulting invite the public to the Beulah Master Plan Design Charette Tuesday, Dec. 5, and Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Beulah Senior Citizens Center, 7425 Woodside Road.
This two-day charrette will allow county staff and Sigma Consulting to further engage with citizens and learn more about planning for Beulah. From 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 5, Sigma Consulting will hold a short presentation followed by activities designed to provide Sigma with residents’ preferences for design improvements to the Beulah Master Plan. From 1-5 p.m. on Dec. 6, Sigma will use an open design studio format to quantify and consolidate data collected from the previous day. A presentation will follow the open design studio from 6-7 p.m.
The Beulah Master Plan is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury under the RESTORE Act program
Ice Flyers Erase Early Deficit, Stay Unbeaten On Teddy Bear Night
December 2, 2023
By Bill Vilonam Ice Flyers Correspondent
When Gary Graham coached the Ice Flyers to their first championship 10 years ago, there wasn’t this kind of rivalry with Peoria.
There is now, of course.
For more photos, click or tap here.
That’s why the Ice Flyers 7-4 victory against the Rivermen Friday night, after the game was tied 3-3 at second intermission, carried extra meaning for the players and the crowd of 3,877 at the Pensacola Bay Center on Teddy Bear Toss Night.
Seven different players scored and the Ice Flyers had a 47-23 edge in shots in a game that started the wrong way for the home team, but ended with Pensacola keeping its unbeaten record (7-0) on home ice.
“I wasn’t part of it before,” said Graham, smiling afterward about the matchup with Peoria. “I’ve seen it first hand now. They tried to get us off our game early with the physicality side of things.
“And I thought our guys did a really good job of taking some punishment, going on the power play and basically making them beat themselves.
“Any time you can score seven goals with seven different guys, that doesn’t happen often. I thought the guys did a good job keep sticking with it.”
The Ice Flyers were eliminated from the playoffs last year by Peoria. They also won their most dramatic SPHL title against Peoria with a last-second goal to clinch the championship. This weekend’s pair of games are the only two in Pensacola this season.
The Ice Flyers trailed 2-0 midway through the first period. And then the game changed.
“It’s a big game for us. We don’t like them and they don’t like us. It’s a great rivalry,” said the Ice Flyers Mitch Atkins, named the game’s No. 1 star Friday with a goal and two assists.
The third period became the most eventful.
Less than four minutes into the period, veteran Peoria captain Alec Hagaman, who was part of the Ice Flyers last championship team in 2021, was thrown out of the game on a match penalty for slew-footing. The penalty is called when a player either kicks, grabs or knocks another players’ feet from behind.
It gave the Ice Flyers a 5-minute power play. Less than 90 seconds into the power play, Ice Flyers captain Garrett Milan scored on a one-timer shot from near the face-off circle after a perfect feed from Mitch Atkins.
It gave the Ice Flyers a 4-3 lead.
“I saw it out of the corner of my eye. The referee didn’t see it, but the linesman saw it,” Graham said. “A lot of times slew footing happens behind the play, because players are smart, they know where the ref’s looking.”
Seven minutes later, Malik Johnson put the Ice Flyers up two goals with his quick wrister.
But Peoria got a shorthanded goal with 5:07 remaining and now the game had a different kind of feel. That is until Atkins had the pivotal goal with a defender draped on him, who he shed and caused to take out Peoria goaltender Brendahn Brawley. Atkins regained control of the puck and made a whirl around move to wrist the puck into the open corner of the net.
“We came out (of Ice Flyers end) with a lot of speed,” Atkins said. “Once we got in the (Peoria) zone, Bondee (Ivan Bondarenko) has such a great vision and he made a great seam pass.
“It jumped my stick and I felt if I wrapped it the other way there wouldn’t be a lot still in the net. It was a fun goal and a good pass by Bondee to open things up there.”
Fittingly, Bondarenko scored the Ice Flyers final goal on an empty-netter while killing a penalty. Peoria pulled Brawley with 1:52 remaining to get a 6 on 4 situation. But when Rivermen defenseman slipped and fell inside the blue line, the puck was free and Bondarenko sealed the game.
Peoria led 2-1 at first intermission. The game began with a crowd-pleasing fight at the 7:40 mark between the Ice Flyers Sean Gulka and Spencer Kennedy. Both traded a flurry a punches for nearly a minute as the crowd roared and both teams saluted.
The Rivermen then got a pair of goals four minutes apart from Braydon Barker and Kennedy, two players who recently joined the team.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Barker, who played last season for Peoria, got his first goal this season on an assist from long-time veteran Alec Hagaman. The goal occurred with 10:12 left in the period.
Kennedy, who began the season in Roanoke, scored his first goal for Peoria with 6:58 left. Both Barker and Kennedy were playing in their third game for the Rivermen.
“They are a veteran group,” Graham said. “They capitalized on the very few chances they had. We made a couple mistakes and… boom it’s in the back of net. They are a team that can score very quickly, and we knew we had to keep the pace with them.”
But the Ice Flyers answered 27 seconds after Kennedy’s goal when Lucas Herrmann got his third goal of the season. The moment the goal lamp was lit, the stuffed animals were tossed across the ice from all sides as the signature part of Teddy Bear Toss Night for the first Ice Flyers goal in the game.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Peoria Rivermen vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
Drivers Getting A Road Construction Break Until Monday
November 24, 2023
Florida drivers are getting a little break from road construction during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, there will be no construction related lane closures on state roads through 11 p.m. on Sunday. The lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
United Way of West Florida Celebrates New Headquarters
November 22, 2023
United Way of West Florida proudly celebrated the opening of its new headquarters recently, symbolizing a significant step in the organization’s mission to unite and serve the communities of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. This achievement coincides with the anticipation of United Way of West Florida’s upcoming 100th anniversary.
The new headquarters, strategically located to enhance accessibility and engagement, symbolizes United Way of West Florida’s commitment to uniting and supporting communities across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. As the organization prepares to commemorate its 100th year of service, this new facility stands as a testament to its enduring dedication to creating a lasting impact in the region. In attendance for this evening were the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce, Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce, Cat Country 98.7, United Way of West Florida Board Members, sponsors, local non-profits, and community members.
Laura Gilliam, President/CEO of United Way of West Florida, expressed her enthusiasm for this significant development, stating, “The opening of our new headquarters is a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines our work. We are thrilled to have a centralized hub from which we can continue our mission of empowering individuals and improving lives. As we approach our 100th anniversary, we are inspired by the decades of impact and energized to shape an even brighter future for our communities.”
The upcoming 100th anniversary represents a remarkable milestone for United Way of West Florida, highlighting a century of service, partnership, and resilience. The organization looks forward to commemorating this achievement by renewing its commitment to addressing the most pressing needs in the region and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
The new office is located at 7100 Plantation Road, Suite 18
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bells Will be Ringing: Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Kicks Off
November 20, 2023
The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettle Campaign is back on in the Pensacola area, ushering in the festive spirit of Christmas. The Red Kettle Campaign is The Salvation Army’s primary fundraising initiative, providing life-changing programs and services throughout the year, including food assistance programs, emergency financial assistance, youth programs, and disaster response.
The 2023 Red Kettle campaign goal is $148,000. The Red Kettle campaign ends December 23, and kettles are in 19 locations in both Santa Rosa and Escambia counties.
The Salvation Army has an unwavering commitment to helping people in times of need, and the Red Kettle campaign is a critical source of funding that helps us meet that commitment,” said Captain Stephan Wildish of The Salvation Army of Pensacola. “The funds the community generously gives to the Red Kettle ensures families do not have to make agonizing choices between basic needs like housing, food, and medical care.”
The Salvation Army relies on the money raised through the Red Kettle campaign to provide Christmas to local families and safeguard the well-being of people in need through year-round programming and social services.
Volunteering as a bell ringer is an excellent opportunity to give back to the community while spreading the season’s joy. To become a volunteer bell ringer, please visit RegisterToRing.com and follow the prompts or contact Captain Stephan Wildish at (850) 432-1501 or email Stephan.Wildish@uss.salvationarmy.org .
IP Names New Manager Of Cantonment Mill
November 15, 2023
International Paper announced Wednesday that Hunter Morris has been named Mill Manager of International Paper’s Pensacola Containerboard Mill in Cantonment. In his new position, Morris will assume overall responsibility for safety, people engagement, commercial and operational excellence and community stewardship at the Pensacola Mill.
Most recently, Morris was the Operations Manager for the company’s Savannah, Georgia Mill. Morris joined International Paper in 2007 at the company’s Riegelwood, North Carolina mill. He has worked in several manufacturing and technical leadership roles of i increasing responsibility throughout his career with the company.
“I am excited to join the Pensacola team and my family and I are excited to move to the area and learn more about the people and community,” said Hunter Morris. “Being able to lead the team in Pensacola is a wonderful opportunity, and I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the Pensacola Mill.”
In a related move, Pensacola Mill Manager Scott Taylor has been promoted to Director of Manufacturing, Containerboard. In his new leadership role, Taylor will have oversight of the Henderson, Ky., Newport, Ind., Rome, Ga., and Springfield, Ore., Containerboard Mills. Since 2017, Taylor has been the Mill Manager at the Pensacola Mill. Taylor and his family will be relocating to the Memphis, Tennessee area.
“The time I spent with the Pensacola team and community has been immensely rewarding,” said Scott Taylor. “While my family and I have a sense of sadness leaving Pensacola, I am confident in leaving the mill team with Hunter and look forward to hearing about the continued successes and achievements of the Pensacola Mill.”