Zoo Closed — Unless Escambia And Santa Rosa Find $125,000 Each
August 17, 2009
The Zoo Northwest Florida closed at the end of the day Sunday, and it could remained closed forever if Escambia and Santa Rosa counties don’t contribute $125,000 each by Friday.
The cash-strapped zoo has requested $125,000 from each county. Escambia County took a wait and see approach to find out what Santa Rosa County, where the zoo is located, would do. Santa Rosa commissioners declined to contribute general fund revenue to the zoo. Instead, Santa Rosa commissioners deferred the funding request to the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council. That group will discuss the request on Wednesday.
“I am optimistic that a positive financial solution for The ZOO can be reached with the support of the TDC & Escambia County,” Danyelle Lantz, Executive Director of The ZOO, said. “This is a temporary hurdle. We have plans in place to insure future financial self-sufficiency for The ZOO. This assistance will allow us the time needed to implement that plan, and get our feet firmly planted.”
Although The ZOO is closed to the public, essential staff will remain on-site to care for the animals. “The health and well-being of our animals has always been, and remains, our top priority,” Lantz stated. Funding is being provided by Animal Park Inc., the prior owners of The ZOO, to ensure that food, care and full veterinarian services are given to the animals.
Teachers Returned Monday; Plus: A Look Inside New Modular Buildings
August 17, 2009
Teachers in the Escambia County School District returned to work Monday.
Ten new classrooms have been installed this year in modular buildings at Ernest Ward Middle and Bratt Elementary schools. The two buildings, which totaled just over $1 million, provide extra space after the closure of Carver/Century K-8 School.
Five classrooms with included restrooms, five sinks and two closets were installed at Bratt Elementary. The improvements at Ernest Ward Middle included five classrooms, two closets, and one 24 by 36 foot restroom facility.
The modular buildings are hurricane rated, and they are connected to the main buildings at the schools with covered sidewalks.
Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said the modular buildings are not the “portables” that many adults remember from their days in school. Rather, he said, they are high quality near permanent type construction.
Pictured top: New modular buildings installed at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured in three photos below: A look inside the new classrooms. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Sweeps El Paso with 11-7 Win
August 17, 2009
The Pensacola Pelicans are rolling, topping the Diablos 11-7 on Sunday night to complete a series sweep. Ron Hill earned the win in Pensacola’s fourth straight, their nineteenth win in their last 26 games. The W, coupled with a Captains’ loss, extends the Pelicans lead in first place to 4.5 games.
The Pelicans came from behind again Sunday evening, watching as the Diablos put up four runs in two innings against Pelicans’ starter Adam Brandenburg. Kennard Bibbs walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. David Washington walked, and both runners moved up on a passed ball. Alvarez reached on an error by the third baseman, and Bibbs scored on the play. Even though Juan Camacho grounded into a double play, Washington scored from the third, and the Diablos were up by two.
El Paso added to their total with two more in the bottom of the second. Eddy Rodriguez singled and Bobby Andrews did too. Bibbs walked to load the bases, and David Washington walked to force in a run. With the bases still loaded Juan Camacho walked as well, giving the Diablos a 4-0 lead. Brandenburg struck out Mike Provencher to end the inning, but that would be the last batter he faced, lasting two innings, allowing four earned runs on three hits, walking five and striking out three.
The Pelicans earned a run an inning from the third through the fifth. Adam Deleo singled to start the third, moved to second on a Dallas Christison bunt-single, and made it to third base on Francisco Leandro’s base hit. Antoin Gray lifted a sacrifice fly to right field for his seventieth RBI of the year, plating Deleo.
In the fourth inning Marcos Rodriguez led off with a single, advanced to second on Adam Darby’s bunt-single, and came home when Deleo hit him in. An inning later the Pels scored again when Leandro started the inning with a walk. He moved to second on a groundout by Marshall McDougall, and came home on Marcos Rodriguez’s base knock. The Pels had made it a one-run game.
Bubba Nelson pitched for the Pelicans from the third through the sixth. Nelson was brilliant, allowing no hits, walking four and striking out four. Ron Hill pitched the seventh and eighth, yielding just two hits while striking out three. Hill was on the line for the win when the Pelicans scored five in the top of the eighth.
Joe Klein relieved El Paso’s Justin Mallett, allowing a leadoff single to Chase Burch. Adam Darby followed him with a single, and Adam Deleo made his third hit of the night a big one: Deleo connected for a two-RBI triple to score Burch and Darby, and the Pelicans had the lead. Pensacola added insurance by scoring Deleo on a Dallas Christison sacrifice fly. Reynolds singled, Leandro walked, and Antoin Gray had a double that scored both men, giving the Pelicans an 8-4 lead.
The Pelicans added three more runs in the top of the ninth against El Paso’s Mike Cervera. Adam Darby notched his fourth hit of the night, and Dallas Christison reached on an error by the third baseman. Kevin Reynolds made it to first on an error by the shortstop, and both Darby and Christison scored on the play. Reynolds would score the Pelicans’ last run when the pitcher made an error throwing to first on a Leandro comebacker. The Pelicans led by seven to enter the last of the ninth.
Hunter Davis came in for the ninth, and added a little excitement. David Washington singled to start, and with one out, Camacho doubled to score Washington. Provencher followed with a single to plate Camacho, and Jeff Vincent walked. Eddy Rodriguez reached on an error by the second baseman to load the bases, bringing Jerry Verastegui to the plate. He walked and Provencher scored. With one out, Andrews came to the plate as the tying run. Davis struck him out, and the game was up to Kennard Bibbs. Bibbs popped up to the second baseman, and the ballgame was over.
The Pelicans head to Shreveport four and a half games ahead in first place, five games up on the Captains. The Pelicans start the three-game series on Monday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Central Time.
Funeral Today For Area Marine Killed In Afghanistan
August 17, 2009
Funeral services for Lance Cpl. Bruce “Bubba” Ferrell Jr., 21, will be held today in Bay Minette. The marine from Perdido, Ala., was killed a week ago Sunday night in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb.
His body arrived by plane Sunday morning at the Mobile Regional Airport. The body was escorted back to the Bay Minette Civic Center by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Patriot Guard. Hundreds lined the route, waving flags and homemade signs honoring Ferrell for his military service.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 Monday afternoon at the Bay Minette Civic Center. Burial will follow at Bryars-McGill Cemetary near Perdido.
Ferrell joined the Marine Corps in November 2007, and was promoted to rank of lance corporal. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in May of this year as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He was a gradate of Baldwin County High School where he was an honor student and a member of the JROTC program.
Ferrell was a member of Fox Company, a rifle unit of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment of the Marine Corps. His tour of duty was scheduled to be just seven months.
He was recently engaged to be married.
Northview FFA Holds Officer Leadership Retreat
August 17, 2009
The Northview Chapter of the National FFA Organization recently held a student leadership retreat.
The chapter officers meet for a day long event to prepare for the upcoming school year. Officers participated in workshops at the Walnut Hill Community Center dealing with teamwork, communications and personal development as related to professional presentation in the workforce.
The 2009-10 chapter officers attending were Micah Byars, Lydia Weaver, Stephanie Solari, Allie Vidak, Heather Kite, Gavin Hinote, Wes Chancery and Devin Bell. Lance Blackburn and Lisa Bardin spoke to the officers concerning expectations in the workforce.
Click here for a photo gallery.
Pictured above: Northview FFA officers recently participated in a leadership retreat. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pelicans Acquire 2009 Caribbean Series MVP
August 17, 2009
The Pensacola Pelicans announced today that they signed right handed pitcher Francisco Butto. Butto, a 6’1” 200 pound reliever was the 2009 Caribbean Series MVP. Butto sported a 1.96 ERA with double-A Reading before the Pelicans acquired him.
The Venezuelan was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2009 Caribbean Series, saving four games and posting a 2.70 ERA in the February contest. After the Series, Butto was named to the Venezuelan roster for the World Baseball Classic.
Butto bounced back and forth between double-A and triple-A this year, playing eight games for triple-A Lehigh Valley of the International League this season. The rest of the year Butto pitched for the second place Reading Phillies of the Eastern League.
Butto, originally signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1999 as an undrafted free agent, advanced as high as triple-A in 2006 for the Yankees’ Columbus affiliate. Butto played the 2007 and 2008 seasons in the triple-A Mexican League, finishing the 2008 season with a career 3.33 ERA and 651 strikeouts.
Francisco Butto joins the Pelicans as they hunt for their first playoff spot since 2005. Currently leading the American Association South Division, the Pelicans clash in their last seven home games against tough division rivals clawing for a piece of the playoff puzzle. The Pelicans duel the Shreveport-Bossier Captains for a three game road series before returning home on Friday, August 21 against the powerful offense of El Paso for three meaningful games. The following weekend, the Pelicans close the regular season against the division-rival Captains in a critical four-game series.
The upcoming three-game home stand features the Pelicans celebrating the birthday of their mascot, Scoop, on Friday, with cake for all sponsored by The Cake Shop. Saturday is College Football Night sponsored by Extended Stay Hotels, and Sunday is Kids Day: all Kids Club members gain free admission when wearing their 2009 Club t-shirts.
Tickets are very affordable, beginning as low as $7. Tickets are available at Pensacola-area Circle K locations, or online at www.pensacolapelicans.com. Phone orders may be placed by calling (850) 934-8444.
Dollie Estelle Burkett Thortis
August 16, 2009
Dollie Estelle Burkett Thortis, a native of Bluff Springs, Fla., and a longtime resident of McDavid, Fla., died Friday at a local nursing facility. She was 79.
She had worked as a clerk at Cooper’s Grocery Store in Bratt, Fla., for 19 years.
Survivors include one son, Ervin Thortis of Christian Home; three daughters, DiAnn Stewart of Bratt, Michelle McNabb of Calhoun, Ga., and Shelia Lambert of Loxley; one brother, Johnny Burkett of Byrneville, Fla.; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 Sunday at Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home in Atmore, where services will be Monday at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Christian Home Cemetery.
Escambia Officials: Little Impact Expected From Tropical System
August 16, 2009
From Escambia County Emergency Management:
Escambia County Emergency Management officials are keeping an eye on Tropical Depression 4, as the county is placed under tropical storm warning. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere in the warning area within 24 hours.
(For details on the tropical system, click here.)
On the forecast track, the center of the depression should be very near the northern gulf coast of Florida by late this afternoon. Some strengthening is expected and the depression is forecast to become a tropical storm prior to reaching the coastline, but it is not expected to make significant impact our area.
“We may see some heavy rains as a result, but we don’t expect any high winds or coastal flooding,” said John Dosh, manager of Emergency Management. “This event is a good example of how quickly a tropical storm can develop. We won’t always have a lot of warning. This is why citizens need to be prepared throughout hurricane season.”
For information on how to prepare your home for a tropical storm or hurricane, visit www.bereadyescambia.com.
Plan Ahead: Claudette Good Reminder To Have Hurricane Kit
August 16, 2009
While Tropical Storm Claudette had very little impact on the Gulf Coast, emergency officials say it serves as a reminder that we are in hurricane season, and everyone should have a proper hurricane supply kit.
A hurricane supply kit should include:
• Batteries
• Battery operated radio
• Cash
• First Aid Kit
• Flashlight
• Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional telephone (not cordless)
• Important documents in a waterproof container or watertight re-sealable plastic bag
• Keep your car gas tank on full.
• NOAA weather radio
• Non-electric can opener
• Non-perishable food for 3 to 7 days
• Paper plates and plastic utensils
• Special items for babies, the elderly and pets
• Toys, Books and Games
• Two week supply of prescription drugs
• Water, at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
Residents are urged to monitor the local media for the most up-to-date information and use this as a time to make sure your storm preparations are complete as the tropics are expected to be extremely active over the next two weeks.
And remember, we post the latest storm updates on NorthEscambia.com. If the power fails, you can still access NorthEscambia.com on any Internet-capable cell phone.
Power Companies Are Ready For Tropical Storm Claudette
August 16, 2009
If your power goes out because of Tropical Storm Claudette, the four power companies that serve the area say that they are prepared to restore your power as soon as possible.
“Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Inc. is ready to respond should Tropical Storm Claudette cause damage to the EREC power system,” Sabrina Owens, EREC spokesperson, said Sunday afternoon. EREC serves about 10,000 of electric customers in northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Other customers in the North Escambia area are served by Gulf Power, Alabama Power and Southern Pine Electric Cooperative.
The following numbers can be used to report outages:
- EREC: 1-877-OUT-EREC or 1-877-688-3732.
- Gulf Power: 1-800-487-6937
- Alabama Power: 1-800-888-2726
- Southern Pine: 1-866-867-5415
And remember that if the power is out, you can still access NorthEscambia.com on most cell phones at www.NorthEscambia.com