No Injuries When Pickup, Crane Collide; Crane Overturns On Hwy. 29
May 2, 2008
A large crane overturned across the southbound lanes of Highway 29 in Molino Thursday morning following a collision with a pickup truck.
The accident happened about 9:25 at the intersection of Highway 29 and Molino Road. State troopers say Kenneth Perry 34, of Molino was southbound on Highway 29. Road construction was underway at the time, with the outer lane of Highway 29 southbound closed to traffic with traffic cones.
Perry told troopers he left a business parking lot and did not know which lane was closed. Hewas driving his older model Ford F250 in the outer closed lane of traffic as he approached Molino Road and turned left into the path of the crane in the open lane of the highway. That collision caused the large crane to overturn across the southbound side of Highway 29, about 80 feet from the point of impact. The pickup truck landed in the ditch near the crane.
The crane was driven by Keith Lewis Strawbridge, 42, of Atmore, according to the FHP.
Neither driver was injured, according to officials on the scene. A 14 year old passenger in Perry’s pickup was not injured.
Traffic on Highway 29 remained delayed in the area for at least two hours.
Perry will be charged with making an improper turn and other charges are pending, according to the FHP.
All three people involved in the accident were wearing their seatbelts. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
Click here for more photos from the scene.
Pictured top of page: This pickup pulled into the path of a crane on Highway 29 in Molino Thursday morning. The crane is overturned in the background. Pictured below: The crane across Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Three Days, Two New Candidates In School Board Race
May 2, 2008
The second candidate in three days qualified Thursday in the race for the Escambia County School Board seat held by Peter R. Gindl, Sr.
Rick Lambert of Deerfoot Lane in Cantonment qualified for the seat Thursday, following Robert Tegenkamp of Pensacola who qualified Tuesday.
Others in the District 5 school board race for incumbent Gindl’s seat are Tom Harrell and Bill Slayton.
School board races are nonpartisan.
Molino Students Hold Relay For Life Wagon Parade
May 2, 2008
Molino Park Elementary School held a storybook character wagon parade to celebrate after a successful Relay for Life fund raiser.
Each grade created a wagon float. They paraded around the school’s back parking lot Thursday afternoon, one grade at a time, to lots of clapping and cheering.
The kindergarten’s orange pumpkin Cinderella wagon (pictured above) was named the day’s first place wagon.
Other character wagons were: The Three Billy Goats Gruff, first grade; The Elves and the Shoemaker, second grade; The Princess and the Pea, third grade; Snow White, fourth grade; and Rumpelstiltskin, fifth grade.
The students raised money for the school’s Relay for Life team by taking home donation envelopes. The Molino Park Relay for Life team will compete in the Relay for Life at Tate High School beginning Friday night.
For a complete photo gallery from the Molino Park parade, click here.
Local Girl Named Rodeo Queen
May 2, 2008
Julia “Nikki” Kelly of Molino has been crowned Queen of this weekend’s 17th Annual Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo.Five young ladies from around Escambia County competed for the chance to be the rodeo’s queen.
Nikki was crowned Qunne after four “challenges” were completed. Those challenges included an interview, grooming and tacking, horsemanship (riding pattern) and Queen’s Salute. Each rider had to be enrolled or home schooled in Escambia County in grades 6-12 with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Nikki, a freshman at Northview High School, will ride Friday and Saturday night in the grand entry of the rodeo. The other participants in the court will ride behind her during the grand entry.
The horse named Miss Will Impress You gained a bit of local fame back in December when its rider was the second to fall off a horse during the Molino Christmas parade. Nikki has spent the last two months training Miss Will Impress You for the competition.
The other contestants were T.J. Martin, Catherine Steck, Victoria Benson and Amber William.
The Seventeenth Annual Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo will be continue at 7:30 aturday night at the Escambia County Equestrian Center. The Equestrian Center is located at 7750 Mobile Highway in Pensacola.
Pictured top: Nikki Kelly and her horse Miss Will Impress You. Submitted photos.
Storm Downs River Cats 20-18
May 2, 2008
The Northwest Escambia Storm downed the River Cats Thursday, 20-18.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Ramona Preston photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE Panhandle Cafe Downs Molino 15-8
May 1, 2008
NWE Panhandle Cafe beat Molino 15-8 in local play.
Wade Jernigan hit a two run home run in the top of the sixth to help seal the win.
If you have scores or photos from any game in Century, Molino or Walnut Hill, let us know at news@northescambia.com
Molino Observes National Day of Prayer With Community Service
May 1, 2008
Dozens of people representing numerous churches gathered Thursday morning in Molino to pray on the National Day of Prayer.
“We pray for a special sense of You here in Molino, Lord,” Pastor Bryan Calhoun of Highland Baptist Church prayed. “We pray for revival here in Molino, and we pray that it would spread to Pensacola and around the world.”
About 125 people stood around the flagpole at Molino Park Elementary School at 6:50 Thursday morning to join in the non-denominational service. Those attending included pastors, moms and dads, teachers and others from the community. Children led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and in prayer.
“Dear Lord, we thank You for this day. Help the teachers get through the day,” one student prayed, bringing smiles to the faces of those in attendance.
“Thank you for letting us come here and pray at our school,” another student prayed.
About a dozen different churches were represented at the service. Baptists, Methodists, Catholics and more stood together and prayed.
“We pray for our churches. You told Peter that ‘upon this rock You will build Your church’,” Pastor Rob Hines from CrossFaith Church prayed. “Prayer affects the nation. Prayer is about to change something in this nation.”
A second Molino community-wide National Day of Prayer service will be held at 6:30 this evening at CrossFaith Church on Molino Road.
In the Bratt community, the sanctuary at the First Baptist Church of Bratt will be open for prayer until 7:00 tonight.
Pictured above: A student leads the group gathered at Molino Park Elementary School in prayer. Pictured below: The sun rises as people pray; people gathered to pray; and students lead the Pledge of Allegiance. (Scroll down to see all photos.) NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Another Candidate In Race For District 5 School Board Seat
May 1, 2008
A fourth candidate has qualified for the Escambia County School Board District 5 seat. Robert Tegenkamp of Pensacola qualified Tuesday for the seat currently held by Peter R. Gindl Sr.
Tegenkamp held the District 5 seat on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority from 2000-2004. He was unsuccessful in his 2004 bid for that seat, losing to Larry Walker.
Others in the District 5 school board race for incumbent Gindl’s seat are Tom Harrell and Bill Slayton.
North Escambia Residents Slow To Order $40 DTV Converter Coupons
May 1, 2008
Residents in the North Escambia area have been slow to jump on the bandwagon and order their free $40 coupons for the upcoming switch to digital television in February 2009.
Imagine watching your favorite primetime TV program, when all of a sudden your analog TV screen goes to black…for good. That is what will happen by February 17 of next year to those watching broadcast TV without a digital converter box.
The government is handing out $40 coupons to anyone that asks to help purchase the converter box, but so far the number of people requesting the coupons in North Escambia is relatively low. Each person is allowed to request up to two coupons. The coupon supply is limited. When the coupon allotment is exhausted, those that have not requested coupons will not receive the $40 savings.
In Century’s 32535 zip code, only 189 coupons had been requested as of last week. In the McDavid/Walnut Hill 32568 zip, 215 coupons had been requested. A total of 244 coupons had been requested in the Molino 32577 zip by the end of last week.
While those watching satellite or cable television, or those with digital tuner TV will not be required to connect a converter box in order to continue watching their favorite broadcast stations, a converter box would be required in order to watch TV when the satellite or cable system was not working.
In to order a $40 converter box coupon from the government, visit dtv2009.org or call 1-888-DTV-2009. The boxes sell at retail from about $40 to $70.
Here is more information from the dtv2009 web site:
On February 17, 2009, all full-powered television stations will begin broadcasting only in digital, as required by law. To assist U.S. households with this historic transition, the National Telecommunication and Information Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program to help Americans continue receiving over-the-air television after February 17, 2009.
Why is television going from analog broadcasting to digital?
The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 requires broadcasters to broadcast only in digital after February 17, 2009. Digital television promises to provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up some of the nation’s airwaves for use by emergency responders.
What is the significance of the February 17, 2009 digital TV transition date?
If households receive television programs over-the-air using “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna, they must take action to continue using their analog TVs after February 17, 2009. Consumers have three options, which include 1) buying a converter box that will plug into their current analog TV, 2) buying a TV with a digital tuner or 3) connecting their analog TV to cable, satellite or other pay service.
How can the public obtain a $40 coupon toward purchasing an eligible converter box?
From now through March 31, 2009, all U.S. households are able to request, on a first-come, first-served basis, up to two, $40 coupons to help pay for the cost of a certified converter box. Converter boxes are expected to cost between $40 and $70, however, it is a one-time cost with no monthly service charges. Coupons will expire 90 days after they are mailed and cannot be replaced.
For more information about the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, or to apply for coupons, visit www.DTV2009.gov or call toll free 1-888-388-2009 (1-888-DTV-2009). The hearing impaired may call the TTY number 1-877-530-2634 for information in English, and for information in Spanish, consumers can call TTY number 1-866-495-1161. Consumers can also request and submit a coupon application by mailing PO Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208 or by faxing 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632).
Where can the public buy a coupon-eligible converter?
Coupon-eligible converter boxes are only available at certified stores and online retailers where televisions and other consumer electronics are sold, as well as by mail-order. When the coupon is mailed to you, it will include an insert with a list of nearby, participating retailers. You can also go online at www.DTV2009.gov, enter your zip code, and locate participating retailers on a map.
What can the public do to plan for the transition?
Now is the time to identify whether any TV in your home is analog and receives over-the-air programming through “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna. Television viewers with these sets that are not connected to a pay TV service will need to take action before February 17, 2009, to ensure their TV sets continue to work. It is important to know your options and make sure your family, friends and neighbors are aware of whether they need to take action before the transition date. The important thing is that no one is left in the dark on February 17, 2009.
The TV transition deadline will be here soon. Working together, we can make this historic digital transition a success for all Americans.
Northview Senior Honors Night Rescheduled By One Day
May 1, 2008
The Northview High School Senior Honors Night has been rescheduled from May 22 to May 23 to allow the school one extra day to tabulate test results.
The school district recently implemented subject area exams (SAE’s) for all students, include high school seniors. The district’s subject area exams do not end until May 21, according to Northview Principal Gayle Weaver.
“There is not enough time to have the SAE’s sent downtown for scoring by the district, returned to the school electronically by the district, and averaged into grades by each teacher, for a timely ranking of seniors on May 22,” Weaver told NorthEscambia.com. “The timeline for ranking will be very close on May 23, but the guidance department is prepared to do everything they possibly can do to have the ranking in time for the Senior Honors Night at 7 p.m. on May 23.”
Northview seniors will graduate the following day, May 24 at 4:00.