Northview, Atmore Schools Score Cash With FNB&Trust Points Club
December 12, 2008
The First National Bank and Trust in Atmore distributed Points Club funds to area schools Thursday afternoon, paying out cash for points that three area schools earned at each home football game.
Each football program received $50 for each touchdown and $25 for each field goal scored during a home football game. Escambia County High School received $700; Escambia Academy earned $450. Northview High School was awarded $350.
Pictured above: Northview High School Head Coach Cody Keene receives a $350 Points Club check from the First National Bank and Trust Thursday afternoon. Pictured (L-R) are: Jessica Peebles, Tracy Hodgen, NHS Coach Cody Keene, Jean Nisewonger, Kathy Holland and Brandon Johnson. Pictured below, left photo: Tracy Hodgen presents a check to Escambia Academy Coach Heath Gibson. Pictured below, right: ECHS Principal Harvey Means (L) and Coach Kyle Davis recieve a check from Andrea Lassitter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Sunday Booze In North Santa Rosa
December 12, 2008
After consideration by the Santa Rosa County Commission, liquor sales in north Santa Rosa county will remain illegal on Sundays.
The Santa Rosa Commission voted unanimously Thursday to keep Sunday liquor sales illegal in the northern part of the county. Sunday alcohol sales are legal south of the East River in communities like Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway and the beach. That’s the area the county says is tourist driven enough for Sunday sales.
Several north Santa Rosa businesses had approached the commission to requesting that Sunday liquor sales be legalized to help their bottom line during the recession. Just as voters rejected Sunday sales during a 1998, the commission rejected the request.
Century Chamber Holds Christmas Open House
December 12, 2008
The Century Chamber of Commerce held its annual Christmas Open House Thursday afternoon and evening. Chamber members had the opportunity to network and check out the chamber’s decorations at the same time. Pictured above: Century Town Council Member Sharon Scott enjoys finger foods at the chamber open house. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Sixth Residential Fire Adds Red Bulb In Wreath Campaign
December 12, 2008
Escambia County lit another red bulb in the county fire safety “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign Thursday night, with the county experiencing residential house fire number six.
At 5:26 p.m. Thursday, a fire was reported in the 7400 block of Nokomis Street in Pensacola. (Editor’s note: This is Nokomis STREET in Pensacola, not Nokomis ROAD in North Escambia.) Firefighters found a large fire spreading quickly through the house. The fire, which originated from the hot water heater, caused approximately $30,000 in damage to the home. Firefighters also determined that while the home had a smoke alarm, it was not functioning and delayed the discovery of the fire. No injuries were reported. Firefighters from Bellview, Ensley, Beulah, and the Navy responded.
Escambia County Fire Rescue and the City of Pensacola would like to remind everyone that smoke alarms save lives. Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms at all or no smoke alarms that work. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. Here are a few safety tips concerning smoke alarms:
- Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
- An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) should be installed in homes.
- Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
- Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer’s instructions high on a wall or a ceiling. Save manufacturer’s instructions for testing and maintenance.
- Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps,” warning the battery is low, replace battery right away.
- Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use ten year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are ten years old or sooner if they do not respond properly when tested.
- Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
- Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician.
- If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a “hush” button. A “hush” button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.
- An ionization alarm with a hush button or photoelectric alarm should be used if the alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance.
- Smoke alarms that include a recordable voice announcement, in addition to the usual alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through the use of a familiar voice.
- Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These alarms use strobe lights. Vibration equipment can be added to these alarms.
- Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.
Escambia County Fire-Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department will continue the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign throughout the holiday season. This year, the fifth year of the campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 22 different locations throughout the holiday season. These sites are the Old Escambia County Courthouse on Palafox Place, the Public Safety Building on W Street, all 18 primary county fire stations, and two fire stations within the City of Pensacola. Every time firefighters respond to a residential fire a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.
Manna Food Pantries Not Leaving North Escambia; Need Increasing
December 11, 2008
With layoffs and a failing economy, the business of Manna Food Pantries is picking up across the county, including here in North Escambia. And, despite rumors, Manna directors say they are not leaving North Escambia.
“It’s just unbelievable,” Cathy Sowell, Manna Pantries program director told NorthEscambia.com. “We are seeing people that have never been here before. They were a working family until a job was lost. Then there savings was gone. The next thing you now, they were here for our help.”
At their main location in Pensacola, Manna served an average of about 120 people per day. Since November, that number has soared to up to 250 people for day looking for food.
Manna Pantries provides a short-term emergency food source for those in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Food is distributed at seven locations in the two counties, including Century, Molino and Jay.
A total of 948 people were provided food by Manna at their mobile distribution site at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino during the last year. Another 622 people were provided emergency food at Manna’s Century location in the past year, and 365 received assistance in Davisville. The Davisville location was closed by Manna early in the year. An additional 1,025 people were assisted by Manna in nearby Jay.
In all, over 30,000 people received Manna’s assistance in the past year. The agency distributed over 560,000 pounds of food.
Manna relies on donations of money and non-perishable foods to survive. About one quarter of that food is donated during the postal service’s mailbox food drive in May, and a majority of the other donations come during the November to December holiday period.
But about two weeks ago, Sowell was a bit worried. Her warehouses were down to mostly beans and soup, and that did not provide a nutritionally balanced bag of food to those in need.
‘Even with the economy down, those than can donate need to do so,” Sowell said. “We need help.”
If you are interested in helping the Manna Food Pantries, you can make food donations at any of the many food drives held in North Escambia during the year. A food drive is currently underway at the Century Branch Library. Or, you can visit any Manna location, call 432-2053 or visit www.mannafoodpantries.org/donations.html
If you need help from Manna, you can visit their web site at www.mannafoodpantries.org/pantries.html for complete information on receiving assistance.
North Escambia Manna locations are:
Century Pantry
7470 N. Century Blvd.
Intersection of Hwy 29 and West Highway 4
(next to the courthouse)
Thursday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Molino Mobile Pantry
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
6915 North Highway 29
Mondays 10 a.m. – noon
Jay Pantry
First Baptist Church
214 South Alabama Street
Tuesdays 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Northview’s Halteman Named To County All-Star Band
December 11, 2008
A Northview High School band standout has been named to the county’s honor band.
Briana Halteman was named as a flute player for the Escambia County School District’s All-County High School Honor Band for 2008-2009. She was the only Northview Tribal Breat member named to the band.
“I am excited that I made All-County Band since it is my senior year, and am really looking forward to this experience,” Halteman said.
Halteman current serves as the Northview Tribal Beat’s Drum Major (pictured left, click to enlarge).
Students were selected based upon auditions conducted by all District high school band directors earlier this week at Escambia High School.
The Escambia All-County Band will perform January 27 at 7 p.m. at the Pensacola High School Auditorium.
The complete list of band players and their instruments is below.
Northview High School
Briana Halteman, flute.
Tate High School
Rachael Cotton, flute; Leslie Ann Godwin, flute; Caitlin Boutwell, flute; Brianna Latourelle, flute; Samantha Bell, flute; Stephanie Bruce, oboe; Courtney Bonucchi, clarinet; Jill Wilson, clarinet; Alyssa Jackson, clarinet; Denise Rivers, clarinet; Avery Cobb, clarinet; Sarah Barlow, clarinet; Leigh Wisdom, clarinet; Miranda Crider, bass clarinet; Ashley Phillips, bassoon; Randi Silcox, bassoon; Steven Triplett, alto saxophone; Matthew Cassady, alto saxophone; Daeshen Smith, alto saxophone; Chris Hester, trumpet; Ben Carmichael, trumpet; Chris Snyder, trumpet; Kellie Gindl, trumpet; Michael Dobbs, trumpet; Michael Hall, trumpet; Jacob Dearrington, trumpet; Joey Hicks, trumpet; Andrew Fairbanks, French horn; Emily Creahan, French horn; Amanda Heathcoe, French horn; Jackson Willis, trombone; Matt Warren, trombone; Blane Pinney, trombone; Samantha Bruce, baritone; Jakob Wisdom, baritone; Ben Pement, baritone; Jordan Gutierrez, baritone; John Hassell, tuba; Eli Cawthon, tuba.
Pine Forest High School
Jessica Courtney, flute; Danielle Upman, clarinet; Hanna Moulder, clarinet; Joseph Wright, tuba.
Washington High School
Sasha Tittel, flute; LaKrista Battle, flute; Jeremy Watson, clarinet; Monique Starke, clarinet; Christina Ferguson, clarinet; Miriam Bellamy, clarinet; Jessica Harris, clarinet; Wilson Virgilio, bassoon; Raymond Spencer, tenor saxophone; Scotty Poyner, baritone saxophone; James Westmark, trumpet; Daniel Campbell, trumpet; Colin Mitchell, trumpet; Kalee Burns, trombone; Lindsey Harris, tuba; Brandon Spencer, tuba; Eric Kyles, tuba; Tevin Purifoy, tuba.
Pensacola High School
Dosom Bae, flute; Eileen Morse, baritone saxophone.
Escambia High School
Janae Baptiste, flute; Ralf Romero, flute; Hannah Bergstrom, flute; Katelin Greene, flute; Jovy Carambas, flute; Mary Murphy, oboe; Alehna Crowe, clarinet; Megan Beebe, clarinet; Chierstie Braas, clarinet; Allison Kane, clarinet; Lauren Burns, clarinet; Ashley Vanstraten, clarinet; Angelita Moore, clarinet; Nicole Samuels, clarinet and bass clarinet; Erica Thornton, bass clarinet; Ellie Margedant, contra clarinet; Bryson Viquelia, contra clarinet; Brandon Ramsey, alto saxophone; Mitchell Green, alto saxophone; Zack Blessing, alto saxophone; Larry Hughes, tenor saxophone; Richard Shasteen, tenor saxophone; Drew Pritchard, trumpet; Chris Polk, trumpet; Joel Everette, trumpet; Taylor Vanstraten, trumpet; Colin Slavin, trumpet; Kevin Unruh, French horn; Dontye’ Johnson, French horn, Jessica Dennis, French horn; Stephen French, trombone; Brendan Landrum, trombone; Steven Saul, trombone; Westin Giles, baritone; Ryan Ludvik, tuba; Dalton Dennis, tuba; Alex Berg, mallets; Jeff Cutaio, mallets; Dimitri Baptiste, mallets; Randall Massey, mallets; DeJarvea Bryant, percussion; Nicholas Berg, percussion.
Home-school
Kyle Hansen, French horn.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
December 11, 2008
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their students of the month for November. They are (L-R) Ashlynn Clemmons, Lily Townson, Harold Harrison and Austin Cunningham. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
New Program At Atmore, Flomaton Libraries To Allow Families To Talk To Deployed Relatives
December 11, 2008
Area families that have loved ones deployed overseas in the military will soon be able to visit public libraries in Atmore and Flomaton and visually communicate with video conferencing software.
Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced the “Connecting Families” program Tuesday. Families who have loved ones deployed overseas will be able to visit public libraries across the state and visually communicate with them using computers equipped with video web cameras.
The new program puts the video webcams and computers in more than 100 libraries throughout the state. The cameras and computers will soon be installed at the Atmore Public Library and the Flomaton Public Library. Families will be able to make appointments with the libraries when they can come in and use the technology to see and talk to their deployed family members.
“We’re grateful not only for our troops but also for the families who serve by their side, even though thousands of miles often separate them. Like our soldiers, the families sacrifice so much. Anytime we have an opportunity to help our brave troops and their families back home, we must take it,” Governor Riley said.
Rebecca Mitchell, director of the Alabama Public Library Service, said Alabama is the only state in the nation with this program.
Connecting Families is a partnership between the public library service and the Alabama Broadband Initiative that Governor Riley launched earlier this year. The program got its start thanks to grant funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
But the program’s real impetus came from Chief Warrant Officer Randy Hickman, who was unable to communicate via webcam with his family in Elmore County while he was serving in Iraq. The problem wasn’t due to a lack of broadband access at his base in Iraq, but rather because his home 20 miles outside Montgomery didn’t have high-speed Internet access.
Hickman contacted Governor Riley’s office, which got the Broadband Initiative involved. The Governor and Mitchell announced Connecting Families at the Wetumpka (Ala.) Public Library, with Hickman and his family in attendance.
The project got its first demonstration today at the Wetumpka library when Col. Christopher Morgan, who is currently serving in Afghanistan, visited with his wife Leslie and their children via the video hookup.
Pictured above: Alabama Gov. Riley stands with the family of Col. Christopher Morgan in front of a computer at the Wetumpka (Ala.) Public Library as they communicate with Col. Morgan, who is serving in Afghanistan, by means of the “Connecting Families” program launched Wednesday. The program will soon be available at the Atmore and Flomaton libraries.
Strong Winds Damage Agricultural Facility South Of Jay
December 10, 2008
Strong winds damaged several buildings at the West Florida Research and Education Center south of Jay this morning.
The facility received over $30,000 in damage, including a destroyed canopy, siding torn from a greenhouse, and a portion of the roof on an office building.
The winds, which employees of the facility at 4523 Experiment Road off Highway 182 say sounded like a tornado, struck just before 7:30 this morning.
There were no injuries reported.
Atmore Councilman, Mayor Pro Tem Passes Away
December 10, 2008
Atmore City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Eldred Pritchett passed away early Wednesday morning.
The Atmore News reports that Pritchett died at about 4:00 Wednesday morning after a long battle with cancer.
For more on this story, visit atmorenews.com.