Funeral Services Held For Local Pearl Harbor Survivor Frank Emond, 104
January 21, 2023
Funeral services were held Friday for local Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Emond who passed away January 10 at age 104.
Following the funeral service at Oak Lawn Funeral Home, a graveside service was held at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Originally from Rhode Island, Emond enlisted in the Navy in 1938 as a musician. He played the French horn for the ship’s band and even got to perform at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York before he was assigned to the USS USS Pennsylvania. CWO4 USN (RET.) Emond, spent his naval career as a musician and band director. He was on the stern of the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) getting ready to play morning “Colors” on his French horn when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Emond then walked to the conductor’s stand, picked up the baton and proceeded to direct the band in “Stars and Stripes”.
After seven years of playing horn, he became a Navy bandleader, retiring in 1968.
He remained a music man; sometimes leading the music at Gonzalez Methodist and performing with the Pensacola Civic Band.
Last May, Emond broke his own world record when he led the Pensacola Civic Band in the seventh annual Pensacola Memorial Day Concert at the Community Maritime Park amphitheater.
He held the Guinness World Record as “World’s Oldest Conductor” for leading the U.S. Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note in Glenn Miller’s iconic “In the Mood” at the American Veteran Center’s “America Valor: A Salute to our Heroes”. He set the previous record at age 103 last November in Washington, D.C.
Photos for, and NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
District Leader Tate Beats Pace 46-38 (With Gallery)
January 21, 2023
The Tate Aggies beat the Pace Patriots 46-38 Friday night in Cantonment.
The Aggies took an 11-9 lead in the first period.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
With the win, Tate improved to 12-4 overall and 5-1 to lead 6A District 1. Pace fell to 00-9, 3-4 in the district.
Tate will travel to West Florida next Tuesday before hosting Pein Forest on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
JV: Pace Goes Ahead To Upend Tate In OT (With Gallery)
January 21, 2023
The Pace Patriots pulled ahead in overtime to upend the Tate Aggie 42-38 Friday night,
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Arbor Day Trees Gone In Minutes During Century Tree Giveaway
January 21, 2023
The Florida Forest Service and the Town of Century distributed 125 trees in just a few minutes during a Florida Arbor Day tree giveaway Friday morning.
“We had a big turnout,” Century Mayor Ben Boutwell said. A line had formed by start time, and most of the trees were gone, two per person, in about 10 minutes.
Live oak, red maple, mayhaw, red cedar and dahoon holly were available in Century. The red maple trees were the most popular.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ashton Brosnaham Park To Get $2.7 Million Locker, Multipurpose Building
January 20, 2023
The county will construct a new $2.7 million multiuse locker room facility at Ashton Brosnaham Park.
At a Thursday meeting, the Escambia County Commission approved a $2,714,510 contracted with AAA Affordable Structures for the two-story building (plans below) to meet the growing needs at the park off East 10 Mile Road.
Ashton Brosnaham has become a popular venue, hosting everything from the nationally televised SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament and other sporting events to birthday parties, family reunions and group meetings.
The open area within the new building will be suited for additional team lockers for those larger sporting events, and also compatible with the other activities.
The SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament will return to the park this fall. Last year’s event set attendance records. According to the SEC, there were 3,025 in attendance — the largest crowd for a game in the 37 years of SEC women’s soccer. The overall tournament also set a SEC record with 10,450 total fans. Escambia County will host the SEC Soccer Tournament through 2024.
And there’s another benefit from the tournament, the parks director said. Now that the tournament is packed up and gone for a year, upgrades to the facilities at Ashton Brosnaham remain to benefit local residents. There’s new turf on the stadium field, enhancements on the practice field, new fencing around the perimeter of the field along with other improvements.
“We made a lot of enhancements to brighten the facility. The SEC is here one week out of the year, but for 365 days a year our job is to serve the residents and the soccer community, Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes said after the tournament. “We know they (local players) are going to be proud, and they’ll always be able to say that they’re playing at the venue that the SEC Soccer Tournament was held at.”
The modular-type building is expected to be completed in August.
RELATED:
- SEC Soccer Tournament Sets Attendance Records, Provides Local Economic Boost
- South Carolina Upsets No. 1 Seed Alabama For SEC Tournament Title (With Photo Gallery)
- Ole Miss Shuts Out LSU; Mississippi State Tops Texas A&M. And Escambia County Wins In SEC Tourney Day One
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Fire Captain Joel Richardson Named Florida’s Instructor of the Year
January 20, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue Captain Joel Richardson has been named the 2022 Instructor of the Year by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association. The Florida Rapid Intervention Training Operations Group, a training organization instructing the FFCA since 2012, was also recognized for the award alongside Richardson.
Richardson joined ECFR in October 2009. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2012 and to captain in September 2022. Since then, he has served as the training/safety captain for ECFR. He has been a member of the Florida Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) Operations Group since its inception in 2012 and has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to training and mentoring firefighters in Escambia County and the state of Florida.
“The recognition of Captain Richardson at this level is an attestation of the hard work on and off duty that the men and women of ECFR put in every day to serve the citizens and visitors of Escambia County,” said Fire Chief Jason Catrambone. “Congratulations to Captain Richardson and the Florida RIT Operations Group.”
Each year, the Florida RIT Operations Group holds a competition throughout the state to reemphasize the basic Rapid Intervention Team elements of saving firefighters when in trouble or trapped. These skills include search and rescue, victim removal, radio communications, command and control, and aspects of firefighter survival. ECFR members are part of Florida RIT Operations Group and participate in the annual Fire Rescue EAST Conference in Daytona Beach.
“Escambia County Fire Rescue is fortunate to have such a great team as part of the organization and having three of our officer staff receiving awards is a testament to the great leaders we have,” said Deputy Fire Chief Paul Williams. “The entire organization is made up of men and women dedicated to the fire service and top-notch professionals.”
Richardson and the Florida RIT Operations Group were formally recognized during a ceremony at Fire-Rescue EAST in Daytona Beach on Wednesday.
Richardson’s and the Florida RIT Operations Group’s recognition continues a streak of honors for ECFR. Last month, ECFR’s Lt. Nick Gradia was recognized as the 2022 Professional Firefighter of the Year by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. And ECFR’s Assistant District Chief Yoshimi Core was named the 2022 Volunteer Fire Officer of the Year by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association.
Driver Airlifted After Highway 97 Rollover Wreck Near Walnut Hill
January 20, 2023
One person was seriously injured in a rollover crash Thursday night on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill.
The driver of a pickup truck was reportedly southbound about 5:30 p.m. when he sideswiped another vehicle, ran off the roadway, and overturned in a ditch and culvert about a half mile north of Mason Road.
The adult male was airlifted to the hospital by Medstar Air Care 2 helicopter from Atmore. His injuries were not considered to be life threatening.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
The Florida HIghway Patrol is investigating the wreck.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Christin Love Is Molino Park Elementary’s Teacher Of The Year
January 20, 2023
Christin Love was named the Molino Park Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
NorthEscambia.com is continuing to spotlight Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area during January.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Central Takes Two From Northview (With Photo Gallery)
January 20, 2023
The Central Jaguars took two in varsity action Thursday night against the Northview Chiefs.
Central 54, Northview 38 (Boys)
The Central Jaguars defeated the Northview Chiefs 61-21 Thursday night in Bratt.
The first period ended in a 4-4 tie, and the momentum continued with the Chiefs on top 15-12 by the half. Central battled back to a 21-21 tie before pulling ahead in the third period.
The varsity boys Chiefs (0-10) will host Flomaton (4-9) Friday night at 6:30.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Central 61, Northview 21 (Girls)
Central took a 16-1 lead in the first period on their way to a 61-21 win over Northview Thursday night in Bratt.
Northview varsity girls (1-10) will host Flomaton (1-5) Friday at 5 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Reminder: Bellview Library Closed For Maintenance
January 20, 2023
The Bellview Library, which just opened last September, is closed this week for maintenance.
The library will be closed through Saturday, January 21 for the work.
All events and programs for the week have been canceled, except an Arbor Day tree giveaway planned to 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 21 will take place.
During the closure, library return materials may be dropped off in the drop box outside the Bellview Library or returned to any other West Florida Public Libraries location. The Bellview Library will reopen on Monday, January 23.
NorthEscambia.com photo.