PER Rescues Two Horses From Highway 168 Residence Friday
April 12, 2008
Authorities removed two horses from a residents on Highway 168 near Raines Road in North Escambia Friday afternoon.
Panhandle Equine Rescue took possession of the an Arabian mare named Raven and her eight month old colt called Racer, according to PER’s President Diane Lowery. She said PER had been investigating the case for about four months.
“The horses were not being fed properly,” Lowery told NorthEscambia.com. “After receiving two reports of the horses loose on Highway 168 and trying to work with the owner on several occasions, we decided we needed to take action before the horses or someone was killed on the highway.”
The owners voluntarily surrendered the horses. No charges will be filed, Lowery said.
They will up for adoption in 30 days. If you are interested in adopting, fostering or donating towards the vet bills, please go to www.panhandleequinerescue.org to get additional information.
Panhandle Equine Rescue is non-profit organization with the mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected, and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the by the court system in Escambia County to investigate equines in trouble.
Pictured: One of the horses rescued from Highway 168 Friday afternoon. Submitted photo, click to enlarge. Warning: While not graphic, some readers may find the enlarged photo to be offensive.
Renaissance Fair, “Taming of the Shrew” Today At Northview
April 12, 2008
The English Department at Northview High School will hold The Renaissance Fair at the school on Saturday afternoon from 2:00 until 6:00.
“The fair will be full of thrilling activities for all ages: face painting, costume contest, sack races, obstacle course, jousting at the dreaded Barbarian Pit, perhaps a trip to the daunting gallows and other activities,” said Raja Atallah, NHS 10th grade English instructor. Turkey legs and other “scrumptious foods” and drinks will be available.
The senior class will perform William Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” twice during the event, at 2:00 and 5:30.
Admission will be free for birth to pre-kindergarten , $2 for kindergarten to fifth grade and $5 for sixth grade to adult.
Pictured above is the cast of “Taming of the Shrew” back row (L-R) Bianca Harrington, Matt Zisa, Andrea Byars, Phill Mayhair, John Harold and Josh Holder. Front row (L-R): Sandie Sanders and Kalyn Vaughan. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Send Us Your Spring Break Pictures
April 12, 2008
We want your Spring Break pictures! This week was Spring Break for Escambia students, and we want to run a Spring Break photo gallery.
Email us and let us know what you, or your children, did for Spring Break, and send pictures . Email to news@northescambia.com with your information and your photos.
The 2008 Season Opens For Century Little League Ball
April 11, 2008
The 2008 little league ball got off to an official start Friday evening in Century with an opening pitch by Mayor Freddie McCall.
The six teams were all introduced by their coaches prior to the opening pitch at Showalter Park.
Pictured above: Century Little League President Kevin Merchant looks on as Century Mayor Freddie McCall throws the opening pitch for the 2008 season Friday evening at Showalter Park. Pictured below: Part of the opening ceremony. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
For a compete photo gallery, including photos of each team, click here.
Does your child play ball in Century, Molino or Walnut Hill? We need your help with pictures, stats and scores this year. Email news@northescambia.com and let us know how you can help provide coverage for the children in our communities.
Escambia To Make Drug Discount Card Available To All County Residents
April 11, 2008
A free drug discount card will be available to Escambia County residents beginning Saturday. The card will offer a discount up to 20 percent on common prescription drugs for those with no or inadequate insurance.
To get the free card, you must be a legal resident of Escambia County and provide proof of no or inadequate insurance. There are no enrollment fees, no forms to fill out, no age or income requirements, and no medical condition restrictions. The entire family is covered with just one card and virtually all commonly prescribed medicines are covered.
The card will be accepted at about 65 pharmacies in Escambia County. Century Pharmacy on Mayo Street in Century will accept the card, according to Pharmacist Julie Booth-Moran.
The drug card is the NACo Prescription Drug Discount Card from the National Association of Counties. Escambia commissioners were first going to cut membership in the association, but decided to continue to pay the $5,000 membership fee in order to make the discount card available to Escambia residents.
There is no cost to the county, county taxpayers, or consumers to participate. Caremark negotiates the discounts directly with participating pharmacies. Neither NACo nor the participating counties receive any revenue from the program.
The discount cards are provided free to residents living in participating NACo member counties across the country. A national network of more than 57,000 retail pharmacies honor the card.
The drug discount cards will first be available during the National County Government Week event Saturday, April 12 at the Pensacola Civic Center.
The will also be available at Escambia County Community Services, 2257 N Baylen St., and at the Escambia County Governmental Complex, 221 Palafox Place in the first floor lobby beginning Monday.
Century Sawmill Pageant Today
April 11, 2008
The 17th annual Miss Century Sawmill Pageant will be held at 1:00 Saturday at the Carver/Century K-8 School. The event is sponsored by the Century Lions Club.
The pageant is open to all children ranging in age from 0 – 18.
For more information contact Charlyn Madison at 256-6380 extension 234.
Ernest Ward FFA Students Bring Ag To Bratt Elementary Classrooms
April 11, 2008
FFA students from Ernest Ward Middle School brought ag to the classroom at Bratt Elementary School Thursday morning.
FFA members Devin Bell, Harley Caraway, Wes Chancery, Tyler Hester, Dustin Parker, and Lydia Weaver participated in Florida Ag in the Classroom at Bratt.
These students read “These Florida Farms” to the third and fourth graders. The FFA members also spoke with the fifth graders about their future attendance at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Florida Agriculture Literacy Day is an annual event held each spring in which hundreds of agriculture industry representatives read a designated children’s book about agriculture in elementary school classrooms around the state.
The event is a partnership between Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Pictured above and below: Ernest Ward FFA students participated in Florida Ag in the Classroom at Bratt Elementary School on Thursday. Principal Sheryl Pomeroy joined the EWMS ag students. Submitted photos. (Scroll down for additional photos.)
Unified Fire County Services Plan Presented To Escambia Commission
April 11, 2008
The first draft of the Escambia County Fire Services Unification Plan was presented to the Escambia County Commission Committee of the Whole Thursday.
On March 20, the commission voted to consolidate all fire departments outside the City of Pensacola into one unified county fire department. That vote required Escambia County Fire Chief Ken Perkins and Escambia County Volunteer Firefighters Association President Robbie Whitfield to present this plan to the commission by April 10.
The plan outlines 23 items that must be addressed prior to the planned implementation of the unified department on October 1. Those items include such things as the organization of the department, department goals, policies and procedures, job descriptions, career and volunteer annual evaluations, standardized training and record keeping, and a fire station staffing plan for both high and low volume stations.
“In approaching the unification process, 3 to 5 issues will be addressed each month, and final decisions will be documented through countywide guidelines, rules, policies, procedures, and/or directives. Routine weekly meetings will ensure that progress is maintained and issues are addressed quickly as possible,” the written plan states.
“It went really well; it’s coming together,” District 5 Commissioner Kevin White told NorthEscambia.com. “I’m very encouraged. I think we are on the right track.”
Perkins and Whitfield will return to the commission in about a month to update progress on the plan.
To read the complete plan as obtained by NorthEscambia.com, click here:
Escambia County Fire Services Unification Plan (pdf)
Pictured above: A McDavid Volunteer Fire Department truck on scene at a recent accident in Walnut Hill.
This Is Wildfire Awareness Week
April 11, 2008
The second week of April has been designated as Wildfire Awareness Week in recognition of Florida’s devastating 1998 wildfire season, when more than half a million acres burned and 337 homes and other structures were damaged or destroyed by wildfires statewide.
“March, April and May are usually the most active months of Florida’s year round wildfire season,” Bronson said. “We have been fortunate in the amount of rainfall we have received up to this point this year, but there is a very good chance that we will see an increase in wildfire activity over the next few months.”
The Division of Forestry responds to an increased number of escaped yard debris fires this time of year. Bronson urges residents to use caution when burning yard waste and to follow the guidelines set by the Division of Forestry.
- Burning yard waste does not require an authorization from the Division of Forestry, but you should check with your local city or county officials to see if there are any restrictions in your area
- Your fire must be contained in an 8 foot diameter pile or non combustible barrel and must be at least 25 feet from forests, 25 feet from your house, 50 feet from a paved public road and 150 feet from other occupied buildings
- Don’t burn on windy days or when the humidity is below 30%
- Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure it is out before you leave
- Keep a shovel or water hose handy
- If your fire escapes, you may be liable for suppression costs and damage to the property of others
Since January 1st, 2008, 776 wildfires have burned 14,523 acres in Florida. Most of these fires were caused by human carelessness.
“Floridians can take additional precautions to help prevent wildfires by reporting all suspicious fires to 911 or their local DOF office, never leaving a campfire unattended, disposing of cigarettes properly and making sure all vehicles and equipment have properly working spark arresters,” Bronson said.
Contact your local Division of Forestry office for more information on fire prevention tips and burning rules and regulations, or visit the Division of Forestry’s website at www.fl-dof.com.
West Fraser McDavid Sawmill Cutting 80 Jobs
April 10, 2008
Just over a year after taking over the McDavid Sawmill from International Paper, West Fraser is laying off about 80 employees.
The company announced Wednesday that it is cutting one shift from the North Escambia sawmill, all part of money saving plan. The Canadian based company blames the cuts on the poor housing market and the rising cost of timber.
West Fraser purchased the mill about a year ago, one of 13 sawmills purchased from International Paper.