Ernest Ward Cheerleaders Win Regionals, Headed To Nationals Next Year
November 17, 2008
The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders are headed to Orlando next year to compete for a national title.
The EWMS cheerleaders took first place in the Universal Cheerleaders Association West Florida Regional this weekend at Tate High School. That qualifies the girls to head to Orlando for the national championships.
Members of the squad, pictured above are: (front row, L-R) Jessica Lowery, Hannah Gibson, Katelynne Calloway, Ali Martin, Ariel Holland, Mariah Albritton, (second row L-R) Lana Clayton, Morgan Ward, Raven Weaver, Reagan Bell, Angel Mitchell, Paeton Hadley, (back row L-R) Ashley Mooney and Madison Arrington. Not pictured: Coach Ashley Godwin. Submitted photo f0r NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Helicopter Called To Search For Lost Hunter
November 17, 2008
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department helicopter was called to assist in the search for a missing hunter in Walnut Hill Sunday night.
The hunter had entered the woods a about a quarter mile south of Tungoil Road, in sight of, and about a quarter mile from, Highway 97. Deputies say he became disoriented as darkness fell and was unable to find his way out of the woods.
After he called his mother from a cellular phone, she called deputies. Several units from both the Century and Molino precincts responded about 6:15 Sunday night, along with the sheriff’s department helicopter. Authorities attempted to triangulate the man’s position from his cell phone signal, but that information indicated that he was near Ernest Ward Middle School…the location of the cell phone company’s tower.
The first deputies on scene turned on their blue lights and sirens while talking to the man on his cell phone. The hunter was able to walk toward the sound of the sirens and safely exit the woods prior to the arrival of the helicopter. He was not injured.
It was reported that the man did get a deer, which he drug out of the woods with him.
Short Pursuit Leads To Century Manhunt
November 17, 2008
A manhunt in the Century area Sunday afternoon turned up empty for area law enforcement.
Deputies have released few details due to their ongoing investigation, but do know they were looking for a “skinny” white male, five-foot-eight-inches tall, that was wearing a white t-shirt. He was reported to have passed some stolen checks at a Century convenience store, and he was wanted by Santa Rosa County deputies for a string of burglaries.
The suspect and his vehicle, an older car with no hood, was spotted by Escambia County deputies Sunday afternoon near Freedom Road and Highway 4. A short pursuit followed, with deputies losing sight of the car on Old Flomaton Road. The car was found abandoned a short time later near the end of Lake Street, just off Old Flomaton Road.
Deputies setup a perimeter around the area and called for assistance from the sheriff’s department helicopter and tracking dogs from Century Correctional Institute. The helicopter was forced to return to the hanger in Cantonment prior to arrival due to mechanical problems.
The search was called off without locating the suspect.
It was later reported to Flomaton Police that same man had attempted to return stolen items to a Flomaton convenience store sometime Saturday night.
Retired Walnut Hill Chief Video Tribute
November 17, 2008
Retired Walnut Hill Fire Chief Robert Stewart was honored at a reception Saturday night with a video tribute.
The video featured scenes from the fire department’s recent calls, along with scenes featuring the chief at work and at play. He was shown answering fire calls, with his new grandson, with his family, at department functions and even playing Santa Claus on his way to Enon Country Manor.
The video also featured a special “thank you” from Valerie (Baker) Brock, who thanked Chief Stewart for saving her life.
The video was produced by NorthEscambia.com using our photos and video footage, along with pictures submitted by fire department members and Robert’s family.
Watch the video by clicking play below. (If you do not see the video, it is because it is being blocked by your employer or school.)
To read about Saturday night’s reception, click here.
To read about Valerie (Baker) Brock’s accident, click here.
Gas Falls Below $2
November 17, 2008
Gas prices in Escambia County have fallen below $2 a gallon at many stations.
In Molino Sunday evening, the price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $1.91 per gallon at the Tom Thumb at Highway 97 and Highway 29. A week ago, that gallon of gas was $2.09 at the same station.
Sunday night, the cheapest gas in Escambia County was at the Sam’s Club on Airport Boulevard in Pensacola, with a gallon of regular unleaded at $1.82 per gallon. At least a dozen stations around Pensacola were below $1.90 Sunday night.
That’s less than half the price of gas back in July, when most stations were selling gas for around $4 per gallon.
Pictured below: Gas prices fell to $1.91 per gallon Sunday in Molino. One Pensacola station was down to $1.82 Sunday night.
Annual Thanksgiving Lunch For Seniors Thursday In Byrneville
November 17, 2008
The annual Thanksgiving lunch for senior citizens in the Byrneville community will be held Thursday.
The meal will be at 11:00 Thursday morning at the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God in the fellowship hall for all senior citizens in the Byrneville and Poplar Dell communities. All pastors and seniors in the area are invited to enjoy the free meal and great fellowship.
The church is located at 2311 Highway 4A in Byrneville.
Freezing Temps On The Way
November 17, 2008
Freezing temperatures are once again on the way.
For your Monday, expect sunny skies and a high in the upper 60’s. Tonight will be clear and cold, with a low in the upper 30’s. It will be sunny again on Tuesday, with a high in the lower 60’s.
Tuesday night will be clear and cold with a low around 28 degrees here in North Escambia. The winds wil be light, but scattered frost is expected in some areas.
Wednesday’s high will rebound to 65 under sunny skies. Wednesday night’s low will be back in the upper 30’s.
Blog: Why We Did Not Cover Obama. Or McCain
November 16, 2008
“Why didn’t you cover Obama winning?” It’s a question, that frankly, I’m tired of hearing. It wasn’t local, plain and simple. Our email has been hit hard with that question for the past 12 days, and I’ve even had someone literally get up in my face with the question.
The answer is simple…it was not local news that Obama won. If McCain had won, we would not have had any coverage either. I will point out that we did have live election coverage on election night, and we did post a story with county numbers from all the races, including president.
“But you cover Jeff Miller, and he’s a U.S. senator” I’ve heard that one too this week. Sure, we cover Jeff Miller, our representative. Mr. Miller may be a federal official, but he does local things and appears locally in North Escambia. He reads this website for a feel of what is happening in his part of the district. He stands here in Escambia County and does things. He’ll return my call, and he’s likely to return your call if you have a real issue.
President-elect Obama and McCain are not likely to return my call, nor is it likely that they are like to return the call of NorthEscambia.com readers. They don’t set foot in Escambia County and do local things. If either candidate had visited this county, or even Escambia, Alabama, or Santa Rosa, we would have covered it here on NorthEscambia.com. Then it would have been a local story.
When Sarah Palin visited Escambia County, we had coverage. Click here to read that story from October 11. When Michelle Obama visited Escambia County, we had coverage. Click here to read that story from October 22.
We are a local news outlet; we are the most read news source in North Escambia. It’s an honor that we’ve earned from our readers by covering local news. From local schools to local government, we cover local things. Look at the top of every page on this site notice what it says at the top of the page: “Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century & Walnut Hill”. Those are the larger of the many communities in North Escambia. We off course cover things in Bogia, Barrineau Park, Oak Grove, Davisville, Gandyville and a long list of other communities in North Escambia too. We just could not fit all the community names at the top of the page.
Obama did nothing locally. McCain did nothing locally. As soon as one of them makes an appearance in this county or returns my call, we’ll cover it. Until then, they are not local news.
Your Chance To Help Plan Growth For Entire Sector Of County
November 16, 2008
If you want to help to plan the growth of a portion of the North Escambia area, there’s a meeting coming up for you.
The Escambia County Long Range Planning Division will hold an Optional Sector Plan Alternatives workshop on Wednesday, November 19 at 6 p.m. at Ransom Middle School, 1000 W. Kingsfield Road.
The purpose of this workshop is to begin to build public consensus for a vision concept. Based on the results of the sector profile, the trend analysis and community values established in preceding public workshops, the planning team has prepared three alternative conceptual “build-out” vision plans. The team will present each alternative and provide a technical comparison. Individuals are encouraged to express support for one or more of the alternatives or suggest another alternative.
The Optional Sector Plan encompasses approximately 15,000 acres of land north of Interstate 10, south of Barrineau Park Road and west of Highway 29. It is a long-term conceptual planning project which will incorporate road networks, schools, parks, commercial and residential projects.
For more information, please visit the Planning and Zoning web pages at www.myescambia.com or contact Eva Peterson, project manager at (850) 595-3475.
Friends, Family Honor Chief Robert Stewart, Present Check From Fish Fry
November 16, 2008
Friends and family gathered at a Saturday night reception to honor Robert Stewart, retired chief of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
The department present Stewart a check for $3,671.68, proceeds from a November 1 fish fry. The department sold 750 fish and chicken plates at the annual event to benefit Stewart, who is battling cancer.
Fire chiefs from across the area attended to honor the man that spent over 30 years as a volunteer fireman in North Escambia.
“I greatly appreciate it,” an emotional Stewart said. “You just don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
“If you look around Walnut Hill, you see Robert Stewart all over it,” Century Fire Chief Regi Burkett said. Burkett and Stewart served on the county’s volunteer fire association board for over 15 years. “That’s the kind of person Robert is. He was a pleasure to work with.”
“You don’t know what it is like to have a friend until you know Robert,” Steve McNair, chief of the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue said. He presented Stewart with a plaque in his honor from the Beulah fire department.
“On behalf of the City of Atmore, I just want to thank Robert,” Atmore Fire Chief Gerry McGhee said. “Thank you. We are going to miss you.”
The Walnut Hill department presented Stewart with his chief’s helmet mounted on large fire shield cut from cedar wood.
Many in attendance were moved to tears as they viewed a video presentation in Stewart’s honor. You can watch the video by clicking here.
Stewart was a member of the Bratt Volunteer Fire Department from 1967 to 1977 and joined the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department in 1988. He became chief of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department in 1988 and served in that position for over two decades before his recent retirement.
Pictured top: Recently retired Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Stewart was present his helmet on a large plaque in his honor at a Saturday night retirement reception. Also pictured: Current Walnut Hill Chief Chris Brown presents Stewart with a $3,671.68 check for his medical expenses. The funds were raised at a recent fish fry to help Stewart with medical bills as he fights cancer. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.