NWE All Stars Beat Shalimar 7-3
June 16, 2008
The Northwest Escambia Nine Year Old All Stars team traveled to Niceville Saturday night to take one Shalimar.
NWE defeated Shalimar by a score of 7 to 3. Zach Payne pitched for three innings and allowed no runs.
Center fielder Zachary Maholovich made an awesome catch in the 6th inning for an out.
NWE will travel back to Niceville tonight against Destin.
Ramona Preston story and photos for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured above: The NWE Nine Year Old All Stars, click to enlarge.
Tax Exemption Extended For McDavid Lumber Mill
June 16, 2008
A tax exemption for the West Fraser lumber mill in McDavid was recently extended by the Escambia County Commission.
The commission extended the West Fraser, Inc. Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for the McDavid Lumber Mill until 2010.
The tax exemption exempts the corporation of 100 percent of their ad valorem taxes until the year 2010.
The vote by the commission was unanimous.
Molino Pastor Attends Southern Baptist Convention; Escambia Pastor Nominates New President
June 15, 2008
A local pastor was among the 7,000 gathered at the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis, where the man nominated by another Escambia County preacher was named president of the 16 million member group.
Brian Calhoun, pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Molino traveled to Indianapolis this past week for both the actual Southern Baptist Convention and the preceding Southern Baptist 2008 Pastor’s Conference.
“The convention itself was great,” Calhoun said. “I enjoyed the spirit of the convention…the spirit of brotherly love and concern.”
Calhoun said he was pleased in the election of Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia, as president of the convention on the first ballot. Hunt was nominated at the convention by Ted Traylor pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.
“Pray for him. He has a big task before him. Our Convention needs renewal. Johnny is just the man to point us in the right direction,” Traylor wrote Friday on his blog.
“I pray that these next two years will be exciting times as we turn the tide and begin once again to grow and to reach our neighbors and our nations for His glory and for the expansion of His glorious Kingdom,” Hunt told messengers the day after his election.
He said, “We’ve been declining as a denomination. You can’t turn something around until you stop the tide in the direction it’s going.”
Statistics show that in 2007 Southern Baptists baptized the fewest number of people in two decades.
At the convention, the North American Mission Board unveiled an ambitious National Evangelism Initiative — named God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS) — with the goal of having “every believer sharing” the Gospel and “every person hearing” by 2020.
“I believe it is a good program,” Calhoun said. “Everything that comes out of the Convention is good, but it is not always something that every church benefits from. What works in Southern California might not work in Molino, and vice versa. But this sounds like a good program.”
“As I have been around the country and around the world, the laypeople I have talked with are ready to get out and do something for Christ,” former SBC President Frank Page said. “And I think given the proper motivation and direction, they’ll do it.”
Growth in the Southern Baptist Convention will come from cooperation among Southern Baptist churches, Traylor said.
“Southern Baptists are not easily understood by those outside our Convention. We are often called a denomination and I understand that. However, in the true sense of the matter we are a Convention of churches coming together to cooperate in Gospel ministry. Only when we trust one another and cooperate does the Convention work,” he said. “When the people of a local church decide to cooperate with people from other churches we are then able to join forces and do more together than we can ever do apart.”
“I am proud to be a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is now time to go to work. We have a world to touch in Jesus’ name,” Traylor said.
Pictured top: Brian Calhoun, pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Second picture: New Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt (left) and Pastor Ted Traylor of Olvie Baptist Church in Molino. TedTraylor.com photo, click to enlarge.
Hershey Games: Sweet Fun For Kids
June 15, 2008
Do you have a child that loves to run, jump and throw? Then Escambia County has an event for you.
Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting the Hershey’s Track and Field Games at the University of West Florida.
Boys and girls, ages nine through 14 are eligible to participate in this free event. Pre-registration is preferred. Registration on the day of the event must be done prior to 9:30 a.m. with the games starting promptly at 10:00 a.m.
Events, which will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m., will include the 50 meter dash, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash, 800 meter run, 1600 meter run, 4×100 meter relay, standing long jump and softball throw. Participants can enter three events, either two track and one field or two field and one track.
Participants will compete in boy and girl age groups of 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14, with prizes awarded to the top finishers in each category. Winners have an opportunity to advance to the regional competitions and ultimately qualify for the North American Final Meet on July 31 to August 3 in Hershey, Pa.
Now in its 31st year, the Hershey Youth Program has been hosting Hershey’s Track & Field Games as an exciting and memorable track and field event to promote active lifestyles, sportsmanship and to provide an opportunity for kids to be the best that they can be. Initiated in Charleston, W.V. by Dr. Donald P. Cohen in 1975, the Hershey’s Track & Field Youth Program has become the largest youth sports program of its kind in North America.
For the past 28 years, the mission statement has remained the same: To provide a quality recreation and school program where children have fun and are introduced to physical fitness through basic track and field events such as running, jumping and throwing.
To register for the event or for more information, please contact the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department at 475-5220.
Pine Barren Baptist To Hold VBS
June 15, 2008
Pine Barren Baptist Church will hold Vacation Bible School this next week, June 16-20, from 6:00 until 8:30 each evening.
For a list of other upcoming Vacation Bible Schools in the North Escambia area, click here for our events page.
If you would like to list your church’s upcoming Vacation Bible School here on NorthEscambia.com, or list any other community event, click here for our contact page or send an email to news@northescambia.com with your information.
Lawn Care Seminar: “My Weeds Look Better Than Your Weeds”
June 14, 2008
Love it or hate it, it’s that time of the year again…time to work on the lawn. If you have ever wanted to know how to improve your lawn, there’s a conference next week in Jay for you.
“Florida Lawn Field Day” will be held next Thursday at the West Florida Research and Education Center in Jay.
The conference will cover a variety of lawn care topics from top experts in the lawn care field.
Speakers and topics will include:
- When do you use a rototiller and when do you use a bulldozer?
- When to conduct an irrigation system audit?
- Slice and dice and poke some holes
- Killing bugs without using pesticides
- My weeds look better than your weeds
- Who would have thought there were rules…
- Mowing Practices: More than just going back and forth
Speakers will include Beth Bolles and Carrie Stevenson from the Escambia County Extension Service; Dr. Jason Dettman-Kruse, Theresa Friday, Dr. J. Bryan Unruh, Ken Rudisell, Phil Moon and Dr. Barry Brecke from the University of Florida; and Dan Mullions from the Santa Rosa County Extension Service.
The registration fee is $20 in advance or $25 at the door. The admission price includes lunch.
The conference will take place at the West Florida Research and Education Center at 4253 Experiment Road in Jay from 8:00 until 3:30.
For more information, contact Robin Vickers, events coordinator, at (850) 983-5216 Ext. 113 or email rvickers@ufl.edu.
Register online at wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu (scroll down and choose the conference under “June 19″).
Teacher Arrested For Shooting Horse, Then Setting Fire To Barn
June 14, 2008
A Flomaton woman, who is also a Florida teacher, has been charged with killing her horse Abby and burning her barn in an attempt to claim $100,000 in insurance money on a horse she reportedly bought for $800.
Brenda Gradia, 41, is also accused of claiming $30,000 in insurance money on another horse that she falsely claimed died of a snakebite back in December.
Gradia admitted to shooting her horse and then setting fire to the barn in the early morning hours of May 23.
She was arrested and charged with arson, cruelty to animals and attempted theft by deception. She is free on a $50,000 bond.
Gradia is a special education teacher at King Middle School in Milton.
Her home, and the barn that was burned, are about a half mile north of the Alabama-Florida state line. The Century Volunteer Fire Department assisted the Flomaton Fire Department with the barn fire in May.
Miller: No More Excuses Energy Act To Combat Gas Prices
June 14, 2008
Submitted by Congressman Jeff Miller
These days, gas money doesn’t go very far. Prices have soared to unprecedented levels and most people remember with envy the days when their finances weren’t patrolled around the rising cost of fuel. But despite the despair that comes with watching the numbers increase at the pump and the frustration over its continued climb, Republican members are combating high prices and taking action to relinquish America’s dependency on foreign oil. This is nothing new. Republicans have made countless proposals to alleviate high gas prices. Unfortunately, these efforts have not been matched by the Democratic majority.
It is incredibly frustrating that the House spends its time talking on resolutions “Marking the 225th Anniversary of the Treaty of Paris” and “Supporting the goals and ideals of the International Year of Sanitation,” instead of debating the best way to increase domestic energy supply. While these resolutions may be important for highlighting historical events and educational campaigns, they do not serve the American people well or do anything to lower gas prices.
The Republicans lost the majority and the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007. Since that time gas prices have risen by $1.73. A year and a half ago, the public was serenaded with the Democrats’ promise of energy reform and comprehensive legislation that would bring down the cost of oil. Now, we are entering into the summer months when increased travel and its subsequent demand for oil leads to higher gas prices. Where is the plan they promised the American people? Where is their Common Sense Energy plan to bring prices down at the pump?
We can no longer afford to have the Majority drag their feet on this issue. Starting this week and continuing throughout the summer, House Republicans will file a discharge petition each week the House is in session. These petitions will cover energy legislation focused on providing relief for the high gas prices. A discharge petition of the House of Representatives provides a way for Members to bring to the floor a measure not reported from committee. Essentially, it will allow deliberation on important energy policies that the Democratic leadership have tried to stifle.
The Republicans introduced a discharge petition on June 10 for H.R. 3089, the No More Excuses Energy Act of 2007. This comprehensive energy bill tackles all of the major topics of the energy debate. New American oil refineries, investment in clean energy sources such as wind, nuclear, and captured carbon dioxide, and the opening of the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and America’s Deep-Sea Energy Reserves are just a few of the solutions in this bill that will help combat America’s dependence on foreign oil.
No longer able to withstand the Democrat’s stalemate, House Republicans are aggressively tackling the energy problem. I signed the discharge petition for H.R. 3089, and plan to do so for every piece of energy legislation that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil and drive down the price of fuel.
County Set To Make Offer To Purchase Old Molino School
June 13, 2008
Escambia County will make a $2 million offer to purchase the old Wedgewood Middle School property in Pensacola and the old Molino Elementary School.
At Thursday morning’s County Commission Meeting of the Whole, the commission was set to discuss the purchase the old Wedgewood Middle property for a one-stop county facility. The Escambia County School Board’s asking price for the property located off Highway 29 north of W Street is $4 million.
The commission decided to offer $2 million for that property and the old Molino Elementary on Highway 95A in Molino. The school board’s asking price for the Molino property is $400,000.
Plans call for the old Molino school to become a community hub, possibly including a 5,000 square foot library, a museum highlighting Molino history, a small health clinic, a business incubator, renovation of the gym and one additional building for community events and private party rental along with other uses.
The Molino school closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary.
The school, which sits on nine acres along County Road 95A, first opened in 1939.
FHP: Speed Was A Factor In Serious McDavid Crash That Injures Century Man
June 13, 2008
A Century man was seriously injured in a one vehicle accident on Highway 29 in McDavid Friday morning. The accident happened near the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 164 about 6:50 Friday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Andrew Davis, 22, of Century was southbound on Highway 29 at a high rate of speed when he apparently ran off the road near Watson’s Convenience Store, struck a highway signpost and culvert. He then became airborne and overturned onto the highway. Davis was ejected. There were no passengers.
Davis was transported from the scene by LifeFlight with critical injuries to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Highway 29 remained completely closed for about an hour while southbound traffic backed up for several miles.
The FHP says Davis was not wearing a seatbelt and that charges are pending. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the accident. .
For a photo gallery from the accident, click here.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.