Seventh Candidate Enters District 5 Escambia Commission Race
April 18, 2008
A seventh candidate has tossed his name into the race for the Escambia County Commission District 5 seat.
Jim Barnett, a resident of Camde Lane in Molino, filed Thursday to run as a Democrat in the race.
Barnett ran unsuccessfully for Congress back in 1994 and followed that with an unsuccessful bid for the District 1 seat on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.
Other Democrats in the race are John Hartman of Gonzalez and Georgette Harris of Cantonment.
Republicans in the race are incumbent Kevin White of Molino, Randall McCrackin of Cantonment, Packy Mitchell of Cantonment, and Chris Washler of Cantonment.
The seven will appear on the August 26 primary election. The general election is November 4.
Former Poarch Creek Indian Chief Appears At Century Library
April 18, 2008
Billy Smith, the former chief of the Poarch Creek Indians, delighted children and adults alike Thursday afternoon at the Century Branch Library.
Appearing in traditional dress, Smith (pictured above) spoke to the children about safety with strangers while explaining traditional Indian customs.
“They are young, and we want to set the right example for them,” Smith said of the children.
Along with Douglas Daughtry (pictured left), Smith led the children in a “friendship dance” around the library by playing his traditional antelope skin drum. Smith was in a traditional Western Plains dance costume that he handmade. While his dance at the library lasted just a few moments, he said that competition dances at pow wows can last up to ten minutes.
Smith presented the children with copies of a photograph of him on a horse named Buckshot. He said he has distributed about 800,000 of the postcard photos to children around the country during the last several years.
Smith is the general manager of the Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve, a business enterprise of the Poarch Band Creek Indians. He served 18 years on the Tribal Council and serves on the PCI Gaming Board that is responsible for the new Windcreek Casino development north of Atmore.
“Windcreek” was Smith’s idea for the casino complex name, he said. It is derived from “wind” in the Wind Clan in Atmore and “creek” in Poarch Creek Indians. He was also responsible for the very first Poarch Creek Indian Pow Wow, an event that started on July 4 but was later moved to Thanksgiving weekend.
Pictured below: Children at the library are reflected in a mirror on Daughtry’s traditional Indian dress.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gas, Diesel Hit New Record Prices
April 18, 2008
We probably don’t need to tell you this, but gas is up…again. And diesel is now over $4.00 a gallon. It is becoming a weekly story here on NorthEscambia.com.
The price for a gallon of regular unleaded hit a high of $3.55 a gallon in Century on Thursday. In Molino, that same gallon of gas was selling for $3.49. In Davisville, it was at $3.52.
The highest diesel price NorthEscambia.com found in the area during our informal price survey Thursday afternoon was $4.16 per gallon at a Century station.
Pictured above: This station in Century was selling a gallon of regular unleaded gas for $3.55 a gallon Thursday afternoon and diesel for $4.16 per gallon. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Steeple Back On Church Two Months After Tornado
April 18, 2008
Exactly two months to the day after a tornado ripped the steeple from Highland Baptist Church in Molino, church members gathered Thursday to watch a new steeple once again top the church.
About three dozen Highland members, both adults and children, gathered in the church parking lot to witness a steeple on the church once again reaching toward the heavens.
“It’s just like what Jesus said,” said Highland Pastor Brian Calhoun, “that when the Son of Man is lifted up, I’ll draw all men to You.”
“The empty cross at the top of the new steeple tells us that there is hope in the cross of Christ,” Calhoun said.
Back on February 17, as the tornado destroyed homes in the Crest Lane area and then ripped he steeple off the church, slamming it into cars in the parking lot as 125 worshipers inside Highland took cover in the church fellowship hall.
The new steeple is exactly the same size as the old steeple, and it weighs in at 1,240 pounds.
“I think it’s great that it is back,” Calhoun said.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
A Week After Three Die In Crash, Memorial Erected; One Remains In Hospital
April 18, 2008
Thursday afternoon, withering flowers marked the spot by Highway 4 in Century where three people died last Friday night. More flowers were nearby, and a paramedic’s glove was on the ground a short distance away.
One survivor remains in Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, and a makeshift memorial has been erected at the site of the crash.
Jacob Castleberry, 17, of Jay was still listed in critical condition at Sacred Heart Thursday night. Three other people in the car Castleberry was riding in died as a result of the crash at Jefferson Avenue and Highway 4 at about 10:30 last Friday night.
Michael Joe Edwards, 17, of Brewton was driving north on Jefferson Avenue when he failed to stop at a stop sign (pictured above), driving across Highway 4 into the eastbound path of a 2008 Ford truck driven by William H. Arnett, 43, of Holt. Arnett’s truck struck the left side of Edward’s truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The FHP says Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene. Edward’s passenger Daniel A. Smith, 16, of Jay was also pronounced dead at the scene. A second passenger, Jessica L. Smith, 20, of Jay was later pronounced dead at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. The third passenger in the vehicle, Jacob Castleberry, 17, of Jay was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. The Smiths were brother and sister.
Arnett was not injured, according to the FHP. His passenger, Glinda M. Arnett, 30, of Baker was transported to Sacred Heart in critical condition. She was released from the hospital last Sunday night.
For more information on the accident and more photos, click here.
Pictured below: Three people in this car died as a result of a Friday night accident in Century. Pictured bottom of page: These flowers were at the scene Thurday afternoon NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Drug Raids Lead To Eight Arrests, Seizure Of 50 Dogs
April 17, 2008
Early morning drug raids in several locations in the north half of Escambia County led to eight arrests and the seizure of 50 dogs.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Narcotic Unit served warrants in the 1000 block of Barth Road north of Molino, the 800 block of Highway 29, the 500 block of Cedar Tree Lane in the Cottage Hill community, the 1700 block of Cedar Point Road also in the Cottage Hill Community, and the 600 block of Booker Street in Cantonment.
The arrests included Jabari D. Smith, 21; Tiakanimi R. Padgett, 25; Joshua Middleton, 19;Reginald D. Tucker, 32; Marvin D. Cooks, 34; Kuan White, 29; Fredrick T. Lee, 27; and Lamario Carter, 23.
All 50 dogs were taken to the Escambia County Animal Shelter. The dogs — 47 pit bull mixes, two Chihuahua mixes and one Husky mix — were not believed to have been involved in any sort of dog fighting, according to authorities. The dogs were seized at the Barth Lane, Cedar Tree Lane and Cedar Pint Road addresses.
A total of 306 grams of marijuana, 47 grams of crack cocaine and 19 grams of powder cocaine were seized.
Smith was charged with two counts of a narcotics violation. His total bond was set at $75,000.
Padgett was charged with multiple drug counts, including possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine with an intent to sell. His total bond was set at $320,000.
Middleton was charge with two counts of a narcotics violation. His total bond was set at $26,000.
Tucker was charged with four counts of a narcotics violation and possession of drug paraphernalia. His total bond was set at $120,000.
Cooks was charged with three counts of a narcotics violation. His total bond was set at $125,000.
White was charged with one count of a narcotics violation. His bond was set at $10,000.
Lee was charged with two counts of a narcotics violation and one count of trafficking. His total bond was set at $100,000.
Carter was charged with three counts of a narcotics violation, one count of providing false identification to law enforcement and violation of probation. His total bond was set at $56,000.
Deputies also took custody of three chickens.
Early Release And Late Start Day
April 17, 2008
Today was an early release day for elementary and middle school students in North Escambia. It was also a late start day for students at Northview High School.
Bratt, Byrneville, Carver/Century and Molino Park elementary schools were released at 10:40. Ernest Ward Middle School students were released at 12:30. Northview High School students could sleep in this morning…school for them started at 10:00.
Steeple Going Up Today At Highland Baptist Church, Public Invited
April 17, 2008
The public is invited to watch as Highland Baptist Church’s new steeple is installed at 1:00 this afternoon.
A major step in Highland’s recovery from the February 17 Molino tornado arrived Monday morning as the church’s new steeple was delivered.
The previous steeple at Highland Baptist Church in Molino was ripped from the building and slammed into cars in the parking lot during the tornado. The church suffered well over $100,000 in damage in its brush with the tornado that had about 125 church members huddled in the windowless fellowship hall for protection as homes were destroyed in surrounding neighborhoods.
The public is invited to watch the steeple raising from the church parking lot. You are asked to park in the area of the parking lot south of the church office building for safety reasons.
Pictured above and below: The new steeple is delivered at Highland Baptist in Molino Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos.
Poarch Creek Indians At Century Branch Library Today
April 17, 2008
The former chief of the Poarch Creek Indians, Billy Smith, will be at the Century Branch Library in full ceremonial dress at 3:30 this afternoon. He will talk about Native American dress and customs and demonstrating Indian musical instruments.
The event is best suited for children ages 4 to 12. For more information, call 256-6217.
Ms. Century Care Center Competes In Regional Senior’s Pageant
April 17, 2008
Mrs. Century Care Center, Jimmie (Mozelle) Roberts recently competed in the 8th Annual Ms. Northwest Florida Senior Pageant.
Mrs. Roberts was born in Wedowee, Alabama, on October 28, 1917, to W.L. Smith, a farmer, and Maude Wilson, a homemaker.
The family moved to Florida when Mrs. Roberts was only about six years old. She married Ortho Roberts one day before her seventeenth birthday. He later became a Santa Rosa County Deputy Sheriff, an electrician and a farmer. They were married 52 years before he passed away.
Mrs. Roberts was a Merle Norman representative for 16 years, until her husband became ill.
She has six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Roberts did not win the pageant, “but she put a scare into the competition,” Century Care Center Activities Director Mae Hildreth said.
The pageant was sponsored by the Florida Health Care Association.