Blackout In Bratt: Wear All Black To Tonight’s Northview Game
October 16, 2009
A blackout will hit Bratt tonight as everyone attending tonight’s Northview High game against Freeport is asked to wear as much black as possible.
“The team, senior class, faculty and staff, and other students are asked to wear black to show their united support for the Chiefs,” said NHS Principal Gayle Weaver. “We encourage everyone to come to the game, wear black, and help the Chiefs to take the bite out of the Bulldogs.”
Tonight’s game is an important district matchup for the Chiefs — a win over the undefeated Bulldogs could put Northview in a tie for the top spot in District 1-1A.
Senior Brad Lowery said the seniors wanted the blackout “to get everyone pumped for the game…since it is a huge game”.
Northview students and staff are also asked to wear as much black as possible to school today.
Tonight’s game against Freeport begins at 7 p.m.
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will also be recognizing future Chiefs before the game.
The Quarterback Club is inviting all Northwest Escambia and Century youth football players and cheerleaders to attend the game. The players should wear their jerseys and cheerleaders should wear their uniforms. The players and cheerleaders are asked to arrive by 6 p.m.; they will be introduced at 6:30 p.m.
Alabama Wreck Causes Power Outage; Driver Flees Into Florida
October 16, 2009
A driver that hit a power pole on Rockaway Creek Road near Atmore fled into Florida Thursday afternoon.
Witnesses described the vehicle as being a gold or tan Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix. The female driver hit the utility pole about 4:20 p.m. just north of the Alabama-Florida line on Rockaway Creek Road and continued south into Florida. Power lines were reported to be downed across Rockaway Creek Road, leaving an unknown number of residents in the area without power.
Officers from the Atmore Police Department and the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department reportedly located the vehicle behind a residence on Circle Drive off Rockaway Creek Road in Florida. Florida authorities did not respond to the scene on the Florida side of the state line because they were never notified by Alabama of the incident.
Anyone with information about the accident should contact their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured above: Workers from Alabama Power Company begin work to replace a broken pole hit a vehicle Thursday afternoon on Rockaway Creek Road. Pictured below: Both electric and cable television lines were downed in the crash. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Trio Arrested On Child Neglect Charges
October 15, 2009
Three Molino residents have been arrested on child neglect related charges.
The three, all residents of a Duxbury Avenue mobile home, were arrested on warrants after an investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, said the warrants stemmed from physical, not sexual, abuse allegations. The case, he said, involved five children — ages 1, 3, 5, 11 and two months — living in a mobile home that had no power at the time of the DCF investigation.
Tina Louise Ferrell, 46, was charged with child neglect and failure to report child neglect. She was released on her own recognizance. Carlton Edward Stackhouse, 32, was charged with child neglect without great harm and failure to report child neglect. He was released on $1,000 bond. Laraine Shirley Stackhouse, 52, was charged with failure to report child neglect. She was released on $5,000 bond. All three are scheduled to be back in court October 23 for an arraignment hearing.
Ferrell was arrested on a child abuse charge May 21 with one count of aggravated child abuse and one count of aggravated battery in connection with an incident at the Duxbury Avenue mobile home.
Ferrell and her husband were asleep about 7 p.m. on May 21 when her 10-year old child tried to wake her to get help with a one-year old child in the home, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. Deputies said when Ferrell refused to help with the infant and went back to sleep, the 10-year old tried to wake her again with drops of water sprinkled in her face. That’s when Ferrell slapped her husband and threw a plate at him, deputies said; the plate missed the husband and struck a three-year old in the head. The three-year old was treated and released from Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. The 10 and one-year old were not injured.
Prosecutors dropped charges against Ferrell on August 18, saying there was not enough evidence to prove their case without a reasonable doubt.
DCF did not say if the children involved in the incident have been removed from the home.
Pictured top: (L-R) Carlton Stackhouse, Laraine Stackhouse and Tina Ferrell of Molino were arrested on child neglect related charges. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bond Set At $1 Million In Baby’s Death
October 15, 2009
Bond was set at $1 million Wednesday for the woman prosecutors say threw her dead infant daughter into a trash can and left two of her other children alone while she reported them missing.
Christian Rochelle Woods, 21, is charged with manslaughter and two counts of child abuse for leaving the children, ages 18-month and two years, home alone for two days in a home with no power or water. The children were left with only a few cups of Jello to eat.
Authorities said Wednesday that the little girl found in the trashcan, Myleahya Woods (pictured left), weighed just 11 pounds. Prosecutors say she starved to death. The other two children found in the home, Myleahya ’s twin sister, Mykayhala (pictured right) and Jaterius Woods, 2, were also severely malnourished. When deputies found Mykayhala under a bed in the filthy Escambia County home, she was in a coma. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said deputies first thought Mykayhala was dead until her eyes fluttered.
Woods called deputies on Monday to report that her children were missing. But deputies became suspicious. They found Jaterius and arrested Woods on child neglect charges because he showed what they said was obvious signs of abuse. About 12 hours after her arrest, Woods admitted that Myleahya was dead in a trashcan on the back porch of her home.
Prosecutors said Woods’ family members had no idea what was going on with the children, and that she never asked for help.
The State Attorney’s office argued Wednesday that if Woods would treat her own children in such a manner, she was a risk if released on bond.
Her next court day is November 6 for an arraignment hearing.
Escambia Schools Take Part In iTunes Pilot Program
October 15, 2009
The Escambia County School District is part of a pilot program that is taking education to iTunes.
The Florida Department of Education recently launched a new iTunes Uweb site, providing free multimedia content to schools, parents, administrators and teachers both in Florida and around the world. As part of iTunes U, an area of the iTunes Store offering free education content, Florida’s new site provides access to audio, video, research and text files that are designed to enhance what, when, and where individuals learn.
“Through the iTunes U launch, Florida teachers are able to bring enriching educational experiences in multimedia formats to students and approach the learning process in new and exciting ways,” said Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith. “We’re happy to offer districts and educators this efficient content sharing tool and can’t wait to see the innovative materials and lessons they are able to build to enhance the education of our students.”
Anyone can access the media files on the site; it is free and open to the public. Florida is concentrating on providing professional development resources for teachers. It is not necessary to have an iPod to watch the podcasts, any modern computer with an Internet connection will work. iTunes U content is totally free of charge. Parents concerned about their children accessing other content on iTunes can “turn off” access to the iTunes store and allowed access to iTunes U using the parental controls in the latest version of iTunes. The iTunes software is available for free download.
To visit the Florida iTunes U site, go to www.floridaitunesu.com. The iTunes software can also be downloaded at that link.
Materials to be accessed through Florida’s iTunes U Web portal must first be submitted for review to Florida’s participating content partners where it will be subjected to a rigorous evaluation to ensure all materials maintain the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and relevance. Florida’s current content partners include the Florida Department of Education, Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, the Florida Humanities Council, the School District of Manatee County, Broward County Public Schools, Escambia County School District, Orange County Public Schools, the Florida Center for Instructional Technology, and Florida Virtual School.
Up For A Volleyball Team? Fourth Annual Scalpball Tournament Planned
October 15, 2009
The Northview volleyball team will sponsor its Fourth Annual Scalpball Tournament on October 31.
It will be a four versus four volleyball tournament for anyone over the age of 14. If enough teams register, there will be two divisions — 14-19 and 20 and up. Teams can be all male or female, or they can be coed.
“This will give everyone a great opportunity to play Volleyball on their level,” Northview volleyball Coach Betty Heaton said. “We are also giving an option to do ‘team shirts’ this year. Any team that wants to have the Scalpball shirt in their color has to put in their registration fees and $10 t-shirt money by no later than Oct 19th. Once a team chooses a color no other team can get that color.”
The tournament begins at 8:30 a.m. on October 31 and continues until the end of finals at the Northview High School gym and at the First Baptist Church of Bratt’s gym. Team fees are $3 per player if paid by October 16. For each week up until October 28, fees increase by $1 per player.
All proceeds benefit the volleyball program at Northview High School.
For tournament information and a printable registration form click here (pdf).
Learn How To Make A Rain Barrel At North Escambia Workshop
October 15, 2009
Want to help eliminate stormwater runoff, save on your water bill, and give your houseplants a chemical-free drink? You can learn how to conserve water, save money, and build your own rain barrel.
Escambia County Extension will host a Rain Barrel Workshop on Saturday, October 24, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Barrineau Park Community Center, 6055 Barrineau Park School Road.
The class is free and open 100 students. Materials are $55 if you would like to build your own barrel. Supplies are limited to 40 barrels. Preregistration and prepayment is required by October 19. Make checks payable to the Escambia County 4-H Foundation and mail to: Escambia Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, 32533, attn: Rain Barrel Workshop.
For more information, click here (pdf).
If you have more questions, contact Carrie Stevenson, ctsteven@ufl.edu or 475-5230.
Convicted Sex Offender Arrested In North Escambia
October 15, 2009
A convicted sex offender was arrested in North Escambia Wednesday for failing to properly register with the state.
Jerome Lydell Anderson, 31, of Century, was arrested by an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy on Pond Street in Century Wednesday morning on an outstanding warrant for failing to register as a sex offender.
Anderson was found guilty in August 2005 of the lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim 12-15 years old in Escambia County. He was sentenced to 35.7 months in state prison with credit for time previously served, according to court records. He was released from state prison on July 8, 2007, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
A warrant was issued for his arrest after he was listed as absconded — no longer residing at the last reported address given to the Florida Sexual Offender Registry. Sex offenders in Florida are required to notify the state of their most current address.
Anderson is being held in the Escambia County Jail on $2,500 bond.
Pictured: Jerome Lydell Anderson’s booking photo taken Wednesday at the Escambia County Jail. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Some Lake Stone Fees Increasing, But Seniors And The Disabled Get A Break
October 15, 2009
The Escambia County Commission will vote tonight to increase some camping rates at Lake Stone, but senior citizens and the disabled from Escambia County will not see a higher rate.
While the park currently breaks even — generating enough revenue to pay for its operation — Keith Wilkins, deputy bureau chief of Neighborhoods and Community Services, said the increased fees are to help fund a position in the department to oversee Lake Stone and other parks.
Escambia County residents will now pay $16 per night for Lake Stone camping instead of $13, and out of county residents would see the cost jump from $15 to $18. The rate includes electricity and water hookups.
Seniors and disabled residents will not see a fee increase, with the the daily camping fee remaining at $9. Non-resident senior citizens and the disabled will now pay $16 per night instead of $13.
Daily entrance fees for park visitors will remain at $1 per person. The park pavilion rental fee will remain at $30 for residents and $40 per day for non-residents. Campers renting 10 or more sites will pay a reduced rate of $20. Pavilion use requires a $50 refundable cleaning deposit.
Is Your Church Or Community Group Holding A Fall Carnival Or Festival?
October 15, 2009
Fall festival and fall carnival season is upon us, and NorthEscambia.com would like to help spread the word about your event.
If you church or non-profit group has a fall festival, fall carnival or other event planned, send the information to us now for inclusion on our “Events” page. Information can be emailed to news@northescambia.com or using our contact form.
Event listings are free for churches and non-profits in North Escambia and the immediate surrounding area.