Fund Set Up At Bank For Flomaton Wreck Victims
March 27, 2009
A fund has been set up at a local credit union for a family injured in an accident last Sunday near Flomaton.
The fund at Pen Air Federal Credit Union in Century to benefit the family of David and Leigh Smith.
The Smiths, along with their children — Samantha Bryant, a Flomaton High senior, and Curtis Smith — were also injured in the crash. Leigh Smith remains hospitalized with broken ribs, a broken shoulder and a broken knee. She is facing several surgeries, including one scheduled for this afternoon.
To help the family, donations are being accepted at any location of Pen Air Federal Credit Union, including the branch in Century on North Century Boulevard next to the post office.
To donate to the fund, mention the “David and Leigh Smith Fund” as set up by Kristy Lambeth. Proceeds will be used by the family for accident-related expenses beyond those covered by their insurance.
For more information on the accident click the headlines below to read that story:
Flomaton Wreck Involved Man Free On Manslaughter Bond For 2007 Traffic Deaths Of Atmore Couple
Four People Injured In Flomaton Crash; Two Transported By LifeFlight
Pictured above: A fund has been set up at Pen Air Federal Credit Union in Century for a family injured in this accident east of Flomaton Sunday afternoon. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FFA Students Take Part In Ag On The Hill Day
March 27, 2009
FFA students from Northview High School had the opportunity to take part in Ag on the Hill Day, meeting state leaders and taking part in a mock session in the Florida legislature.
FFA students Micah Byars, Lydia Weaver, Stephanie Solari and Brittany Thompson were joined by student intern teacher Jennifer Nobles and FFA Advisor Perry Byars for the annual event that introduces FFA students to state government.
The students were able to meet with Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, Sen. Don Gaetz and Rep. Greg Evers. They also participated in a mock legislative session and toured the state capital.
Ag on the Hill is sponsored by the Florida Association of Agriculture Educators, Florida FFA and the Florida Department of Education.
Click here for more photos from the Northview FFA trip to Ag on the Hill in Tallahassee.
Pictured above: FFA students (L-R) Stephanie Solari, Lyndia Weaver, Brittany Thompson and Micah Byars with Florida Rep. Greg Evers in Tallahassee. Pictured below: Lydia Weaver (L) and Stephanie Solari in the House chambers. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Just A Drill: Terrorist Attack On Poarch Reservation
March 26, 2009
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians, in conjunction with the Alabama National Guard and Alabama Department of Homeland Security, are conducting a homeland security exercise on the Poarch Creek Reservation today.
The exercise, known as “Dragon Slayer,” is a disaster response exercise meant to evaluate first responder efforts.
The scenario centers on the annual Poarch Creek Indian Thanksgiving Pow Wow with approximately 20,000 people. The situation that will play out will be considered a deliberate act of terror on the reservation.
This simulated exercise is the first ever conducted on a federally recognized American Indian Reservation. No other tribe has tested their disaster efforts with this type scenario. Exercise officials will use this event as a model for other reservations in the nation, according to Poarch Creek officials.
The Poarch Creek Fire and Police Departments, Health Department, local hospitals and ambulance services are joining with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Indian Health Service, Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Emergency Management Agency and other state agencies to determine what response is needed.
North Escambia Woman Found Murdered In Pensacola Dumpster
March 26, 2009
The person found murdered in a Pensacola dumpster has been identified as a Cantonment woman.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department said the body of Cheryl Renee Cain, 29, of Cantonment, was found in a dumpster at an abandoned gas station at the corner of Burgess Road and Highway 29 yesterday afternoon.
“The investigation continues and investigators are still waiting to confirm a cause of death pending autopsy results,” according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the sheriff’s department. “The case is being ruled a homicide.”
A maintenance worker located in Cain’s body in the dumpster about 4:00 Wednesday afternoon behind the closed Shell gas station. The location in near a McDonald’s restaurant and the Greyhound bus station. Deputies reportedly removed some evidence from the bus station.
The sheriff’s department had the entire dumpster, body inside, moved to their department to continue their investigation.
The exact cause of Cain’s death has not been released. She was identified using fingerprint records.
This was Escambia County’s fifth homicide of the year. One of those deaths was ruled justifiable by the state attorney’s office.
Pictured above: A murdered Cantonment woman was found inside this dumpster in Pensacola Wednesday afternoon. Pictured inset: A crime scene technician takes photographs in the dumpster. Photos courtesy WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Children’s Champions: Four Award Nominees From North Escambia
March 26, 2009
There are four nominees from North Escambia for the Children’s Champions of Northwest Florida awards.
Since 2003, has honored local groups and residents that have demonstrated service and advocacy on behalf of children in the area.
The seventh annual Children’s Champions Awards will be presented Friday morning at a Pensacola breakfast to honor individuals, organizations, businesses and youth that worked on behalf of children during 2008.
From North Escambia, the nominees are the Escambia County Farm Bureau from Molino, Adaem Estes from Molino, Escambia County Home Community Education from Cantonment and the Teaspoon Foundation from Century.
The following information on each nominee is taken from their nomination forms:
Escambia County Farm Bureau
Escambia County Farm Bureau has been instrumental through the years in youth development in: 4-H, FFA and Escambia County Schools. Escambia County Farm Bureau sponsors 4-Her of the Month and Year, livestock shows, natural resource programs and camps, public speaking programs, fairs, and AG Literacy in the Classroom (involving four schools and 250 students), Fall Harvest Day (nine schools and 500 students) and Food for America (12 schools and 1000 students). Farm Bureau is a major supporter of 4-H on the county and state levels.
The Escambia County Farm Bureau had contributed financially for the 4-Her of the Year Award for the past 50 years. The recognition starts with the 4-Her of the month recognized in the monthly 4-H newsletter with recognition of the top two Senior 4-Hers for leadership, citizenship, and project development. Monetary contributions for Fall Harvest Days – books for schools, AG in the Classroom and AG Literacy – books and programs, and Food for America – providing milk for over 1000 students. Also includes volunteering and support of local livestock shows, fair, exhibits and Ag in the Classroom.
Escambia County Farm Bureau is also responsible for the participation and coordination for the AG in the Classroom and AG Literacy Program, Fall Harvest Days, and Food for American programs. The 4-Hers of the Year Award is a very coveted award and a top award for Escambia County 4-H recognition. The desire of 4-H members to receive this award from Farm Bureau starts when they join 4-H as a major goal to achieve during their 4-H career.
Adam Estes
Adam Estes, member of the Escambia County 4-H, volunteers his time with the 4-H, which in turn serves many other community and non-profit organizations. Adam is also an Escambia County volunteer fireman.
Adam serves on two state 4-H committees and is district president. He has been involved in the steer meat project, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids, Food for America, Operation Military Kids, Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida, Lights of Hope Campaign and is a shooting instructor. He has applied for, and received numerous grants for the 4-H program. Adam is one of the teens of the first CERT team in Florida and is actively learning skills to help protect his community in the case of a natural disaster. These important skills filter over in the training he has received while becoming a volunteer fireman for Escambia County.
Adam learned many valuable lessons while raising his first steer for the Pensacola Interstate Fair in 2006. When it came to his 2007 steer he decided that he wanted to do it a little different. His decision started with a single idea of donating the meat of his steer to help other youth in the Escambia County Area. This idea evolved into a large project. Normally a steer project is completed through the course of a year by selecting a steer, halter breaking, daily feed care, grooming, clipping, and then showing and selling the steer. After the expense of the steer, feed and equipment, once the steer is sold there is profit for the youth. By donating his steer to the Ronald McDonald House, Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, and The Baptist Children’s Home, Adam knew that there was not much possibility for any profit.
While watching TV Adam saw a program on farm safety. He came up with the idea that Farm Safety 4 Just Kids would be a good program for our 4-H club. The 4-H club received a community pride grant to help fund the program. Adam leads the team of youth that go into the local schools to share the safety message. In March 2007 Adam and his team participated in the Food for America program at Northview High School. They brought the ATV and helmet safety program to over 500 youth from area schools.
Escambia County Home Community Education
Escambia County Home Community Education (HCE) has been instrumental through the years in youth development in the community, schools, day care centers, hospitals, community outreach and 4-H youth programs. In the past year HCE has donated 30,000 hours of community service at a value of $17.38 per volunteer hours for a total of $521,400.00. Several of their projects included Caps for Preemies at Sacred Heart Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Shower, Foster Care Program, “Ouch Dolls” for Health Department and local dentist and doctor’s offices, Sleeping Bags for the Homeless, ARC educational programs and Christmas Program for handicapped, UF Extension and 4-H programs, and a recycling program for St Judes Hospital. Contributions include monetary contributions for the 4-H Summer Camp Scholarships.
Escambia County Home and Community Education has provided leadership and motivation to club members from nine HCE clubs throughout Escambia County. They have been instrumental in planning, coordinating, and implementing programs in many areas to reach over 3,000 youth. Their dedication to outreach to the community in Escambia County shows diversity in programming and commitment.
Teaspoon Foundation
The Teaspoon Foundation invests in young people. The Teaspoon Foundation is involved in the investigation, locating, authenticating and preserving the artifacts, history, and heritage of Teaspoon as a Pre-Revolutionary period; facilitating and promoting cultural and heritage education in North Escambia County; and improving the quality of life in North Escambia County, especially the Century area.
The Teaspoon Foundation is involved with the Early Learning Coalition of Florida to put free books into the hands of children between the ages of zero and five through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. They found a way to completely sponsor every single child in Century to have these free books delivered right to their doorstep until they start kindergarten.
The group is involved in the Teaspoon Heritage Society where Children’s Heritage Parties are held where the experiences of the elderly are told to children in a “pizza party setting” and video taped during the process. They also host The Imagination Library Reading Party – a monthly reading party where the children bring their favorite Imagination Library books to a party and volunteers read to them, while their parents watch and learn how to read to and engage children in the learning to read process.
Carley Hetrick Wins NHS Got Talent Spring Edition
March 26, 2009
Northview High School junior Carley Hetrick was named the winner of the Northview’s Got Talent Spring Edition. This was Hetrick’s second straight year to win the competition. Pictured above: Carley Hetrick. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
New Hurricane Doors For Two Fire Stations
March 26, 2009
A contractor is installing new hurricane doors at the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue this week.
Two area fire stations will get the hurricane retrofits with grant money from the State of Florida.
The doors at the McDavid and Walnut Hill fire stations of Escambia Fire Rescue will be paid for with $35,543 in grants from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
The grant provides $18,132 for the hurricane shutters at the McDavid Fire Station on North Century Boulevard.
Another $16,411 from the grant money is being used for hurricane shutters for the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97.
Escambia County applied for the grants back on May 1, 2007.
Pictured above: A contractor is installing new hurricane doors at the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. The remaining white door in the photo above is scheduled to be replaced Thursday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Anderson Pulls Out Of Bid To Be Escambia’s Assistant Administrator
March 26, 2009
Cindy Anderson, executive director of Team Santa Rosa, has withdrawn her name to possibly become Escambia County’s deputy administrator.
Anderson tendered a tentative resignation late Friday to Team Santa Rosa, an economic development council that promotes Santa Rosa County. She told NorthEscambia.com that she has tentatively accepted the position of deputy administrator and economic development coordinator for Escambia County — a position that pays $120,000 a year.
But due to public comments and comments from commissioners about the position being filled during a budget crunch, she withdrew her name from consideration Wednesday.
She is expected to remain director of TEAM Santa Rosa. Anderson also serves as director of Panhandle Fresh, a marketing cooperative that assists agricultural interests with marketing their products to retailers.
Anderson served as county engineer for Escambia County for nine years prior to joining Team Santa Rosa. She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
Report Card Day In Escambia
March 26, 2009
Moms and dads…check the book bags tonight. Today is report card day in Escambia County.
The third nine-weeks report cards from Escambia County Schools will be sent home today.
Just over two months are left in this school year, with the last day of school on May 29. Students will get a week out for Spring Break and Good Friday April 6 to April 10.
Tickets Still Available For ABC Host Robin Roberts Event
March 26, 2009
Tickets are still available for “An Evening with…Robin Roberts” Friday at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.
The Good Morning America co-anchor will discuss a variety of topics including her love of sports, growing up in a military family, realizing her dream in broadcasting and facing the challenge of breast cancer. Roberts is also the bestselling author of From the Heart: Eight Rules to Live By.
Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door while availability remains. Seating is limited.
Tickets are still available for $35 each and can be purchased now at BaptistHealthCareFoundation.org or by calling 469-7906.
All proceeds from this event will benefit future Baptist Health Care oncology patient programs and services.