Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Names Chris Brown As New Chief
September 23, 2008
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department named Chris Brown as their new chief Monday night.
Brown is taking over the position following the recent retirement of Robert Stewart, who served as the department’s chief for 15 years.
“I look forward to continuing the department’s long standing tradition of service in Walnut Hill and surrounding communities,” Brown said.
Brown, 33, joined the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department in April of 1997. He had served at the rank of captain for the past four years. He is a certified instructor, has Firefighter I certification and a Hazmat endorsement.
He said he is looking forward to leading the team at the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, which has the largest district in Escambia County in terms of square miles.
“I’m just here to support the guys,” Brown said.
Pictured above: Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Brown at Walnut Hill’s Station 15 Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Century Want To Know About Your Disaster Plans
September 23, 2008
What would you do if you were faced with disaster? Have you an effective disaster plan in place to protect your home and belongings or property? Escambia County wants to know.
In 1998, Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, the Town of Century, and the Santa Rosa Island Authority were provided a federal grant through the Florida Department of Community Affairs to develop a Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS). This was a State of Florida initiative that was implemented to help reduce the spiraling costs of disasters. The LMS identifies specific hazards, man-made, natural, and technological, that could negatively impact our community, and as such, have created a strategy to try and mitigate our community against those disasters.
Escambia County’s Local Mitigation Strategy Group (LMS) has posted a ten question survey on the county’s website. This brief survey takes a few minutes to complete and includes questions such as: “Do you have flood insurance? What steps have you taken to prepare for a natural disaster? Would you spend more money on a new home that was disaster resilient? Are you aware that by mitigating your home against disaster, you may be eligible discounts on your insurance?”
Mitigation is the effort to reduce or eliminate the risks of injury and damage, to both people and property, against potential disaster events. This mitigation can be through mitigation construction type projects or through an educational outreach program to our community and its residents.
Your responses will help us greatly in planning for potential future disasters in the local area. The results will be used to guide the LMS in revising outreach and training goals.
To participate in the survey, visit www.myescambia.com. The survey will be available until Friday, October 3.
Mitigation can include items like:
- Hurricane shutters for a home, business, or government building.
- Hurricane roof clips or re-enforcement.
- Installation of tornado safe rooms
- Elevation of a flood vulnerable building or home.
- Flood proofing a home or business.
- Small drainage improvement projects that reduce or eliminate local flooding.
- Educational programs to educate our community on things they can do to protect and mitigate their families, their employees, and their property against potential disaster.
Northview High School’s NJROTC Wins Big At Gator Games
September 23, 2008
The NJROTC unit from Northview High School earned several awards at the recent Gator Games. Northview placed third overall at the annual event hosted by Escambia High School.
The Gator Games are comprised of 11 competitive athletic and fun events. Fifteen high schools from across the area participated.
Northview earned six trophies, including:
- 4th place team sit-ups
- 3rd place knot tying
- 2nd place wheelbarrow relay
- 1st place orienterring
- 1st place female push-ups
- 3rd place overall
“It was a team effort, and all the cadets had a great time,” said Northview Senior Naval Science Instructor Charlie Code.
Click here for a complete photo gallery from the event.
Pictured above: Northview’s NJROTC cadets with their trophies from the annual Gator Games. Pictured below: Northview’s NJROTC took second place in the wheelbarrow race. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Local Boys Attend Atlanta Falcons Game
September 23, 2008
Two local boys attended Sunday’s Atlanta Falcons game as the Falcons beat Kansas City 38-14.
Luke Ward (left) and Zachary Holland of Walnut Hill watched Sunday’s game in Atlanta. Both boys play football for the Northwest Escambia Football League. Luke is the son of Carl and Melissa Ward; Zachary is the son of Wayne and Amy Holland.
In the game, the Falcons (2-0) scored five touchdowns, racked up 378 yards on offense, had three interceptions, a defensive score and ended in a tie for the NFC South lead.
Running back Michael Turner rushed for 104 yards and a career-high three touchdowns while rookie quarterback Matt Ryan found Roddy White on a 70-yard touchdown.
Defensive backs Erik Coleman, Brent Grimes and Chris Houston each recorded an interception off second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen, who was starting his first NFL game. Houston returned his for a touchdown late in the game. The defense opened the game by forcing five straight three-and-outs.
Pictured above: Luke Ward (left) and Zachary Holland of Walnut Hill at Sunday’s Falcon’s game in Atlanta. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Farm Bureau: Time For Congress To Create Diverse Energy Supplies
September 23, 2008
The state’s largest general-interest agricultural associaton is calling for Congress to pass comprehensive energy legislation that will encourage creation of a more diverse domestic energy supply. As Congress returned to Washington this week, the Florida Farm Bureau Federation was pressing for a plan that will address all aspects of the nation’s energy needs.
“Farmers and ranchers in Florida and consumers across the nation are being beaten up financially by high energy costs,” said Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick. “Row crop producers are harvesting, the citrus industry is preparing to pick and our vegetable producers are looking toward the winter growing season. It is a critical time for our producers as they face escalating gasoline and diesel prices and fertilizer costs that have doubled in only two years and have been exacerbated by hurricanes. America is looking to Congress for leadership.”
Hoblick said consumers can expect higher costs due to increased shipping costs, and members of Congress can expect to hear from the public as well as from agricultural producers.
“What is needed,” Hoblick said, “is for Congress to develop a bipartisan, comprehensive national energy policy that focuses on energy independence while diversifying the sources of the nation’s energy supply.” Strategies, he said, should include tapping domestic oil and natural gas supplies as well as concentrating on development of renewable energy sources including ethanol, biodiesel, biomass, wind and solar.
Congressional action now will help assure consumers that fuel prices will not whip-saw in the future while stabilizing costs agricultural producers pay to plant, fertilize and ship their products. Florida, as the nation’s winter salad bowl and a major tourist destination, is especially vulnerable to increased energy costs.
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general-interest agricultural association with about 140,000 member-families statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, nonprofit agricultural organization.
Local Rotary Making A Difference In The Tri-Cities And The World
September 22, 2008
The Tri-Cities Rotary Club is looking for a few good members to join the club in making the tri-cities and the world a better place to live, even if it means buying a water buffalo or two.
The local Rotary Club, which includes Flomaton, Century and Jay, is involved in a long list of community projects, according to Bo Brantley, club president.
Locally, the club provides scholarships, Thanksgiving meals, Christmas meals, Christmas presents for needy children, support for the humane society, locator bracelets for alzheimer’s patients, dictionaries for elementary students and more.
The Tri-Cities Rotary recently sponsored “the biggest thing to hit Escambia County since Ivan,” Brantley said. That event was a “Bull Riding Blowout” in late August in Flomaton. The family friendly event feature bull riding, country music, food and more. “We worked hard, raised a little money. But, best of all, we brought some family friendly entertainment to the area, and everyone had a good time.”
The local Rotary Club has even had a hand in buying water buffaloes for little girls in third world countries.
“Sometimes the craziest ideas get the best results,” Leon Hirsh from the Pensacola North Rotary Club told local members. “A young girl with a water buffalo gains status in her world in is allowed to go to school to learn to ready. Without the water buffalo provided by Rotary, she would never have the chance to attend school or learn to read.”
Studies have found that the one girl that learns to read will learn to teach as many as five others how to read, Hirsh said, increasing the literacy rate in countries like India.
The 12 Rotary clubs that make up the Combined Rotary of Pensacola, were among the the first in the world to raise funds for water buffaloes. The group, which includes the local Tri-Cities Rotary Club, raised enough money to buy 50 water buffaloes. With a matching grant from the national Rotary organization, 100 water buffaloes were purchased to increase literacy.
The local club is also supports Rotary’s PolioPlus program.. The program works worldwide with one goal — eliminate all polio from the world. Vaccines are purchased for poor children around the globe, with the program having made dramatic progress against the disease around the world. Polio now basically limited to just four countries across the globe.
“That’s a wonderful example of how a club like the Tri-Cities Rotary Club can make a worldwide impact,” said John Tice from the Pensacola North Rotary Club. “This club, especially for its size, does a remarkable job.”
Sometimes the club’s efforts pay off in a more personal way.
Just before Christmas a few years ago, Brantley delivered a check to a local woman to buy Christmas gifts for her children and food for the holidays.
“We sat in the swing outside,” he said. “She cried. I cried. This club can having an amazing impact on the people in our community.”
Everything a Rotarian does is suppose to pass the “Four Way Test”:
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendship?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
The Tri-Cities Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at noon upstairs at the Escambia County Bank in Flomaton.
You can learn more about the basics of Rotary by clicking here. (700k pdf file)
Rotarians from around the world, including those in the Tri-Cities Rotary Club, partner for PolioPlus to rid the world of the diseases. Pictured above, a child in Moradabad, India, receives the polio vaccine from a Rotary Club member. Courtesy photo.
Northview’s Head Coach Recognized For Exceptional Sportsmanship
September 22, 2008
Northview High School and Cody Keene, head football coach, have been recognized by the Florida High School Athletic Association for Exceptional Sportsmanship.
Exceptional Sportsmanship reports are submitted to the FHSAA for acts that go “beyond orginary expectations”.
“I had the pleasure of officiating a game on Friday (9/12/08) that was on of the most enjoyable experiences of my 30 year offication career in high school sports,” wrote Bruce M. Breegle who served as the head linesman referee at Northview’s game at Chipley just over a week ago. Breegle said that Keene repeatedly referred to him as “sir” and was polite, much unlike many other high school head coaches.
“He was never critical or demeaning and always pleasant,” Breegle wrote. “This would be my pick for a sportmanship award for the year!”
Pictured above: Northview Head Coach Cody Keene at Friday night’s game at home against Walton. Pictured below the entire Florida High School Athletic Association Exceptional Sportsmanship narrative.
Two Adults Injured In Enon Crash; Baby Uninjured
September 22, 2008
Two people were injured in a one vehicle accident Sunday morning near Enon.
The accident happened just after 9:00 a.m. in a 90 degree curve on Highway 97A near Waters Ferry Road. The driver of a Chevrolet Z71 pickup failed to make the curve and hit a concrete ditch. The driver and a passenger were transported to the hospital by Atmore Ambulance. Their injuries were not life-threatening.
A baby in the vehicle was not injured. The baby was restrained in a carseat.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Atmore Ambulance and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the accident.
Pictured above and below: Two people were injured in this one vehicle accident Sunday morning near Enon. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Weekend Sports In Pictures: Northview, Flomaton And NWE
September 22, 2008
NorthEscambia.com had complete sports photo coverage this weekend from Northview High School, Flomaton High School and Northwest Escambia football.
Click here for for coverage from Northview versus Walton High.
Click here for coverage from Flomaton versus Leroy.
Click here for coverage from NWE versus Gulf Breeze.
Click here for video from Northview versus Walton.
County Meeting Tonight To Discuss Fire Unification Plan
September 22, 2008
Escambia County will hold a special meeting with fire-rescue staff and the volunteer fire chiefs to finalize the county’s fire department unification plan.
The Escambia County Commission was set to approve the unification plan at their meeting last Thursday, but they decided to delay the vote for at least a week.
Fire Chief Kenny Perkins says the extra week will give him the time needed to line up the support of all 15 volunteer chiefs and iron out differences over what to do about volunteer officers that do not meet minimum standards for their positions under the plan.
The meeting with the firemen and their chiefs will be held at the Bureau of Public Safety, 6575 North “W” Street tonight at 6:30.
The commission has scheduled a special meeting for Thursday to adopt the fire unification plan.
Click here to read the entire unification plan as it currently stands. (63 pages, 3.73 Mb pdf)
Click the following links to read recent NorthEscambia.com articles about the fire unification plan.