New Voter Drive Program To ‘Register At The Register”
June 24, 2008
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford has announced a new voter registration drive aimed at registering new voters through their local merchants. The
Register @ the Register program is a partnership between the Escambia County Elections office and a variety of Escambia merchants who have agreed to allow voter registration forms and voter guides to be made available to customers in their restaurants or stores.
So far, there are no North Escambia merchants participating in the program.
The participating retailers will distribute Florida Voter Registration Applications and the official 2008 Voter Guide, but will not assist voters in completing the registration or receive the completed forms. New registrants pick-up the forms at any of the participating locations and deliver or mail the completed registrations to the Elections Office.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford said the new program, based on a similar effort in Seminole County, will give potential voters additional opportunities to register to vote. “Through this partnership, we’re providing essential voter information to residents where they shop, work and play,” said Stafford.
Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning said of the effort, “Florida has many opportunities for residents to register to vote. However, innovative outreach methods like the Register @ the Register initiative by the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections prove that supervisors are going above and beyond to make it easy and convenient to register to vote.”
The forms can be found at more than 45 merchant locations in Escambia County, including: Walgreens, Starbucks Coffee, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Sonny’s BBQ and Tijuana Flats. Merchants who wish to participate in the program are encouraged to contact the Elections Office at 850-595-3900 or soe@EscambiaVotes.com.
While there are no North Escambia merchants in the program, Elections Specialist Theresa Keyes said that voter registration applications are available at a few locations in North Escambia:
- Century Public Library
- Century Bait Shop
- Mitchell’s Grocery & Seafood in Century
- Crossroads Service Center in Molino
Raylin’s The Name; Rodeo Is Her Game
June 24, 2008
Her name is Raylin, and rodeo is her game.
Raylin Spence, soon to be a ninth grader this fall at Northview High School, is good with a horse. Not just good, but really good.
Raylin recently brought home the Reserve Champion title from the Alabama Junior Rodeo State Finals in Montgomery.
But whether she’s at riding in a competition, or just riding for fun, Raylin loves the rodeo.
“It’s just plain fun,” she told NorthEscambia.com.
“Goat tying is my favorite,” she said, acknowledging that perhaps it is not as much fun for the goat.
She’s good at goat tying too, having brought home the the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Reserve Champion trophy for goat tying in the Alabama Junior Rodeo State Finals.
Raylin said she started riding horses almost right after she was born, and she was excited to get old enough to start competing in organized rodeos. She’s been riding in rodeos for the past four years.
“It’s fun. You get to meet new people,” Raylin said. “You get to travel and spend time with your family. My parents like to rodeo, and we just all have a good time.”
She competes in not only goat tying, but also barrel riding, pole bending and ribbon roping. She’s been a four time state qualifier in the ARJA for barrels, poles and goats. She’s been named a Top Ten All-Around Cowgirl for three years, and was the2004-2005 fourth place National Qualifier for the Alabama High School Wrangler Division in Gallup, New Mexico.
She said she loves her horses, Poko, 6, and Sammy, 15. She hopes to start giving riding lessons to others this summer.
In addition to rodeo, she’s pretty good at volleyball too. Raylin was the 2007-2008 Ernest Ward Middle School volleyball team captain, and she has made the 2008-2009 volleyball team for the Northview Chiefs.
She is also a youth member at the First Baptist Church in Atmore. Raylin is the daugther of Kevin and Shane Spence.
North Escambia Woman Gets Complete Makeover On NBC’S Today Show
June 23, 2008
A girls’ week in New York City ended with a North Escambia woman getting a surprise complete makeover on national television Friday morning.
Cheryl Golson of Davisville was selected from the crowd at Rockefeller Plaza in New York for a “Plaza Ambush Makeover” from NBC’s Today Show. Cheryl received a complete makeover…hair, makeup and new designer dress.
Cheryl, an ESE teacher at Bratt Elementary School was in New York with her daughter Shelby Bryan, Bratt guidance counselor Sheila Bryan, and Sheila’s daugther Jill Laborde, all from Bratt. The entire trip was to celebrate Shelby and Jill’s graduation from the University of West Florida.
On Friday, their last day in New York City, they decided to try to be in the audience on NBC’s today show. Today show producers picked two ladies from the audience for complete makeovers in a segment of the show called “Plaza Ambush Makeovers” that airs in the program’s fourth hour every Friday.
“We got lucky and got to be along the barricades,” Cheryl told NorthEscambia.com. “I didn’t know about the makeovers. Jill and Shelby were yelling ‘pick us, pick us’, but they were told that they were too pretty. Then they started yelling ‘do our mothers’.”
“They picked me and took me back to their wardrobe area,” she said. “Everybody else got to go to the Green Room.” The Green Room is where people appearing on the Today Show wait before going on the air. In the Green Room, Shelby, Sheila and Jill got to meet host Meredith Vieira and Grammy-winning pop sensation Rihanna before her Summer Concert Series performance.
Cheryl said the whole makeover process took about two hours with US Weekly contributor and fashion expert Jill Martin and hairstylist Louis Licari. Her hair was colored twice, and she tried on about six dresses, she said.
“I’d never even had my nails done before,” Cheryl said.
In the end, Cheryl ended up on national television with her new look. Her hair went from light ash brown to a reddish auburn color, and a complete makeup change. She was dressed in a Lafayette 148 silk dress and shoes from Nine West.
“The red just made her come alive,” Licari said. “Remember, redheads work as long as they are believable and this is a believable auburn color.”
“She’s a school teacher, and she has nothing like this in her wardrobe,” Martin said. “She’s going to find some place to go.”
When asked on the Today show how she felt, Cheryl said, “Wonderful! This is not my normal Friday at all.”
“She looks beautiful; I love it,” Shelby (pictured left with her mom) said on the show.
“She is the best mom in the world; she deserves it. She’s always put so much effort into her kids and then she’s never really spent as much time on herself,” Shelby said in an on-air interview prior to seeing mom’s new look. “Dad’s going to think she looks hot.”
“I was proud for her,” Cheryl’s husband and Shelby’s dad Ricky Golson told NorthEscambia.com. “She looked very nice. I was thrilled for her.”
“My daughter had called about 6:30 Friday morning and said mom had been selected,” Ricky said. “I was not sure what she meant. When I got in from work Friday afternoon, I googled it and found a link to the video.”
“I think she looks so good,” Shelby told NorthEscambia.com. “She always cared for us and has been a great mother. She just needed a new ‘do’.”
As for where Cheryl plans to wear her new designer dress, she’s not sure yet.
“I don’t know where I am going to wear it,” she said from her home Saturday. “I don’t think it will be Sunday School.”
The dress, which retails for $498 (click here to order) was accented by a shawl purchased by the Today show staff from a street vendor.
To see the complete video clip from the Today Show, click here. The clip begins with another lady that also received a complete makeover Friday morning. Cheryl’s segment begins about four minutes into the video. A DSL, cable or other high speed connection is needed to watch the video.
Pictured top: Cheryl Golson before and after her “Plaza Ambush Makeover” on NBC’s Today Show Friday morning. Photo courtesy NBC. Pictured below (L-R): US Weekly contributor and fashion expert Jill Martin, Sheila Bryan, Jill Laborde, an NBC makup artist, Cheryl Golson, hairstylist Louis Licari and Shelby Bryan. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Sunday Slow Speed Chase Lands Local Man In Jail
June 23, 2008
A short slow speed chase Sunday afternoon ended peacefully with a local man facing charges.
The chase began when Deputy Chris Knotts tried to stop Richard Payne II, 44, on Highway 4 at Highway 97 just before 6:30 Sunday afternoon. Knotts said Payne refused to stop, and he followed him at speeds from 25 to 35 miles per hour eastbound on Highway 4 and then south on Sandy Hollow Road.
Payne came to a stop near the bridge on Sandy Hollow Road, about 1.7 miles from Highway 4 and a short distance north of Gobbler Road.
Payne, who gave deputies an address in the 4800 block of Highway 164, was charged with DUI and failure to obey order to stop.He was being held in the Escambia County Jail on $5,000 bond on each of the charges.
Pictured top: Deputy David Bashore places Payne into the back of sheriff’ cruiser. Pictured below: Deputies Ellis Smallwood (left) and Chris Knotts (inside the driver’s door) search Payne’s Chevrolet S10. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.Pictured left: Payne’s jail booking photo.
Ray’s Chapel Names New Pastor
June 23, 2008
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia named Nathan Brown as their new pastor Sunday night.
Nathan and his wife Danielle are from Dutton, Alabama, near Scottsboro in the northern part of the state.
He is a recent graduate with a master’s degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He will officially being his service as Ray’s Chapel new pastor on August 1.
Pictured above: Retired Ray’s Chapel pastor Fil Enfinger and his wife Mary Enfinger, and Nathan and Daniel Brown Sunday night at the church. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Churches Will Hold Vacation Bible School This Week
June 23, 2008
Two North Escambia churches will give kids the chance to hit “Outrigger Island” during Vacation Bible School this week.
Vacation Bible School “Outrigger Island” will be held from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. Monday to Firday at Highland Baptist Church in Molino. For more information, call the church at 587-5174.
Vacation Bible School “Outrigger Island” will be held from 8:30 a.m. until noon each day this week at the First Baptist Church at 118 Morris Avenue in Cantonment. For more information, visit www.FBCCFL.com.
Motorcycle Driver Dies In Cantonment Crash Saturday Night
June 22, 2008
A Cantonment man died in a one vehicle, one motorcycle accident Saturday night in Cantonment.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Robert P. McDonald, 49, of Cantonment died in the accident about 8:45 Saturday night at the intersection of Pine Forest Road and Graham Road.
Troopers say a 2004 Hyundai driven by Gabrielle N. Taite, 18, of Pensacola was traveling north on Pine Forest Road when she traveled into McDonald’s path. McDonald attempted to take evasive action, causing his motorcycle to overturn and strike Taite’s Hyundai.
McDonald was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger on the motorcycle, Carol E. McDonald, 50, of Cantonment, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
Both McDonald victims were wearing their helmets, and Taite was wearing her seltbelt, the FHP said. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the accident.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Flomaton Teen Dies In Fiery Byrneville Accident
June 22, 2008
A Flomaton teen died Saturday in a fiery single vehicle accident in Byrneville.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Cody Ray Gafford, 16, of Flomaton died in the crash about 12:45 Saturday afternoon.
Troopers say Gafford was traveling south on Byrneville Road at a high rate of speed when he ran off the road and began to spin. His1998 Ford Explorer rotated across the road and began to overturn. That’s when the driver’s side of the Explorer struck a large tree and flipped upside down. The vehicle then caught fire.
Gafford was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.
Gafford was wearing his seatbelt, and the accident was not alcohol related, according to the FHP.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Century Volunteer Fire Department, McDavid Volunteer Fire Department and the Flomaton Fire Department all responded to the call.
Click here for a photo gallery from the scene.
Pictured above and below: A Flomaton teen died in a fiery crash Saturday afternoon in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Beth Moore Video Conference Held At Walnut Hill Baptist
June 22, 2008
About 100 women from across the area attended “Loving Well”, a one day women’s retreat by Beth Moore Saturday at the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
The retreat included four video sessions from Beth Moore and live music from soloist Leah Taylor (pictured left), who has released a CD and often performs at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.
“Today was a very special day and special experience as women from many different churches and denominations came together to worship our King”, said Somer Bridges, Conference Coordinator and wife of Walnut Hill Pastor Ted Bridges.
In addition to the video conference, the day’s events included a continental breakfast, catered lunch, door prizes and lots of fellowship.
“It was just awesome to laugh and sing praises to God with so many ladies”, Somer said. “We took a leap of faith when we decided to have this event, not knowing what the response would be. We never expected to sell out. It was a blessing to all the ladies involved in the conference as well as those working behind the scenes.”
Moore founded Living Proof Ministries, a biblical-based organization for women, in 1994. It is based in Houston, Texas, and it primarily focuses on aiding women who desire to model their lives on evangelical Christian principles.
Pictured above: Judy Sherouse (left) and her daughter Heather Godwin (right) listen at the Beth Moore Conference Saturday at Walnut Hill Baptist Church. Pictured below (L-R_, top: Sharon Poulsen, Tanya Lukers, Kate Sherrill and Anne Sherrill perform a skit at the conference. Pictured below, middle: Attendees watch a Beth Moore video session. Pictured bottom: “Loving Well”, a video conference from Beth Moore Saturday at Walnut Hill Baptist. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Dies In Fire
June 22, 2008
A Molino man died in an early morning fire Saturday, unable to escape from his burning travel trailer.
The fire destroyed the small travel trailer about 2:00 Saturday morning on McKinnonville Street.
The victim was identified by neighbors as James White, who lived alone in the travel trailer.
The Molino Volunteer Fire Department, the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department and the Cantonment Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters from the Molino VFD were able to quickly put out the fire in the small trailer, calling off the other departments.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshall’s office.