H1N1 Vaccinations Begin In Escambia Public Schools
October 23, 2009
Thursday, students at two Pensacola schools were the first in the county to receive the swine flu vaccine in Escambia County.
The H1N1 vaccination clinics will eventually be offered at K-12 public schools in the county. Eric Gilmore, Escambia County’s director of public health preparedness, said that he could not provide a timetable for vaccinations at North Escambia schools due to a short supply of the vaccine. He said that students would be given vaccination permission forms about a week prior to the vaccination date at their individual school.
The school vaccinations are expected to be completed by the end of November.
In addition, voluntary H1N1 mass vaccination clinics are expected to take place in North Escambia by December. Likely locations include Century, Walnut Hill, Bratt and Molino.
“We hope to make it feasible for anyone to receive the vaccine,” Gilmore said.
Because the majority of vaccine is being shipped to physicians, residents that do no wish to wait for mass vaccination click should first call their pediatrician, obstetrician and/or family practice physician to find out if the vaccine has arrived at their office yet.
The vaccine is available to pregnant women, caregivers and those who live with infants under six months, and children ages 6 months-18 years old at the Escambia County Health Department at 1295 West Fairfield Drive. It is available on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. There is no charge for H1N1 vaccine administered at the health department .
Molino Family Leaves U.S. On Two-Year Mission Trip
October 23, 2009
The Kent family of Molino departed the United States Thursday to begin what they have termed the “God-sized” adventure of becoming missionaries in Guatemala.
We first introduced you to Max and Julie Kent along with children Megan and Justin back in June. They were holding a weekend yard sale, selling all of their belongings as they prepared to head to the mission field. From their furniture, to their house, to their car, to their household furnishings — it was all for sale.
In July, they arrived at the International Learning Center (ILC) in Rockville, Virginia, to train for their upcoming mission service. They were commissioned as Southern Baptist missionaries on September 23. And Thursday, they boarded a plane headed for language school in Costa Rica before continuing to Guatemala in the coming weeks.
The Kents were able to spent the last couple of weeks at home, visiting with friends and family before departing the United States. Sunday night, they had the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings with their church family at Cottage Hill Baptist Church.
“I had spent much of the service…looking over the crowd to see if there was any person that had not had impact on our lives. The truth was that in the eleven years we have attended, everyone there has had a meaningful impact on our family. I guess that’s why we call them our church ‘family’,” Max said about Cottage Hill Baptist.
“So many have asked how they can help us and the greatest way that we know of is in prayer! Pray for us as we work towards learning and polishing our language and cultural skills. In order for us to be effective, we must learn the heart language of those we are going to. First we will acquire the trade language (Spanish) in Costa Rica and then must acquire the local language (Pokomchi) on the field. Pray for the hearts of those the Lord is preparing ahead of our arrival,” he said.
While Max assists another missionary in a small village near Cogan, Guatemala, Julie, who was a fourth grade teacher at Molino Park Elementary, will assist another missionary in Guatemala with teaching math.
This will be the first missionary trip for Justin, 6. For Megan, 12, it will be her third, having been on two international mission trips to Honduras and Ecuador.
“I am looking forward to the unknown and to see what He’s got in store for us,” Max said.
Volleyball: Chiefs Vs. Aggies
October 23, 2009
The District 1-1A Northview Chiefs lost to the District 1-4A Tate Aggies in volleyball action Thursday night.
Northview Vs Tate – Varsity
14-25 24-26 26-28
Shawna Montgomery 11 M Kills-7, Digs-2, Aces – 3, Blocks-2
Caitlin Hall 12 Setter Assists-12, Digs-1, Aces-1, Kills-2
Ashley Digmon 11 DS Digs – 1, Aces-5
Danielle Martin 12 LS Kills-1, Digs – 1, Blocks-2
Shaniqua Jones 11 M Kills-3, Digs-1
** Tate Winning**
Record – Overall – 8 -17; District 4 -4
Northview Vs Tate- JV
23-25 18-25
Trestine Dean 11 Setter Aces-2, Kills-1, Assists-1
Morgan Payne 09 Middle Kills-4, Aces-5
Josie Doucette 10 Middle Digs-1, Kills-3
Rebecca Masaitis 09 LS Killss-1
Billing’s Murder Suspect Gonzalez, Jr. Charged With Stabbing Inmate
October 23, 2009
Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. the alleged mastermind of the Billings murders, has been charged with stabbing another jail inmate.
Gonzalez, Jr., was charged with aggravated battery for stabbing inmate Kevin Dale Wilkins,29, with a pencil. Gonzalez. Jr. left his cell with permission to use the telephone and asked Wilkins to hold some paperwork. Wilkins refused, and Gonzalez. Jr. stabbed him with the pencil in the shoulder, according to the arrest report. When Gonzalez. Jr. returned from using the phone, he stabbed Wilkins once again in the shoulder with the pencil. The second stabbing was witnessed by a detention deputy.
Wilkins is jailed awaiting trial on a charge of sexual battery on a minor victim over 12 years old. He was arrested August 28.
Williams Station Day: Walnut Hill Man Responsible For Founding Atmore
October 23, 2009
A Walnut Hill man’s founding of the railroad supply stop that would later become Atmore will be celebrated this weekend with the annual Williams Station Day.
This weekend’s Williams Station Day remembers Atmore’s past, a past that started with William “Uncle Bud” Larkin Williams of Walnut Hill.
In 1816, John Gaylor settled in the Walnut Hill area on land from a Spanish Land Grant. A great deal of that land was later sold to Williams who began a logging and cattle operation in the Walnut Hill area sometime prior to the Civil War.
Just after the Civil War, in 1866, Williams opened a supply stop along the Mobile and Great Northern Railroad in the area that would later become Atmore. The area around the supply stop thrived, later becoming known as Williams Station. The name of the settlement was changed to Atmore in 1897.
As for Walnut Hill’s Williams, he served as a spy for the Confederacy during the Civil War. He was captured by the Union Army but was later released after he convinced the Union soldiers that he was just an innocent man traveling to Pensacola.
Williams allowed the Florida 13th Cavalry to camp at his Walnut Hill home, which was near the current Ernest Ward Middle School. A number of those soldiers died during their stay and were buried in a small cemetery. That cemetery was located between the current Walnut Hill Community Center and Bradberry Park. It is no longer recognizable.
Walnut Hill’s first log school and a Methodist Church were built on land owned by Williams near the present-day intersection of Highway 97 and Arthur Brown Road. The log church was later rebuilt and named the Annie Jones Methodist Church.
Sources: “Walnut Hill, A Historical Overview” compiled by Billy R. Ward from Escambia County Land Records researched by Robert Glenn Thrower, Sr. and “History of Ernest Ward School” by William Arthur Brown; and from northwestfloridacomm.com, compiled by students at Northview High School.
Pictured: William “Uncle Bud” Williams, the Walnut Hill man that founded Alabama settlement that would later become Williams Station and then Atmore. This photo is believed to have been taken at his 88th birthday celebration in McDavid on February 18, 1895. Click to enlarge.
Escambia To Host Barn Bash
October 23, 2009
Looking for a spooktaular event this weekend?
Escambia County will host the third annual Barn Bash on this Friday night at the Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per car. Haunting begins after dark.
Fall festivities include a haunted barn even scarier than before, ghostly hayrides, bounce houses, children’s games and scarecrow making. Some clothes are available to make a scarecrow; however, to ensure that you get to make one, bring your own old clothes. Concessions will also be available.
Wear your own costume for the costume contest. Costume judging will begin at 7 p.m. Prizes will be given for scariest, prettiest, best group, best couple and most original.
Organizers will also be collecting toys, treats, dry puppy and dog food, dry kitten and cat food, bleach, paper or cloth towels and newspaper for the animals at the Escambia County Animal Shelter.
For more information on Barn Bash 2009, contact the Escambia County Public Information Office at 595-3476, or visit www.myescambia.com.
Dogwood Dulcimers Perform At Century Care, Plan Weekend Jam Sessions
October 22, 2009
The Dogwood Dulcimer Association performed earlier this week for the residents of the Century Care Center. This weekend, they will hold a jam session at Lake Stone.
The jam session scheduled for the weekend at Lake Stone includes:
- Friday
- 6 pm Covered dish supper
- 7 pm Homemade Jam Session
- Saturday
- 1 pm Open stage
- 6 pm Pot luck dinner
- 7 pm Home Jam Session
- Sunday
- 9 a.m. Music Service
For festival information, contact Yvonne Ward at (850) 626-9981 or (850) 982-1997 or Ed Sapp at (850) 549-3864 or (850) 982-9924.
The Dogwood Dulcimers invites anyone, including beginners, to play a dulcimer or traditional instrument with them for free. The group meets every Monday 7 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church at 3400 Bayou Blvd., Pensacola and the second Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. at Cottage Hill United Methodist Church at 229 Williams Ditch Road in Cantonment.
Click here for the Dogwood Dulcimer website.
Pictured: The Dogwood Dulcimers perform at Century Care Center Tuesday afternoon. Submitted photos by Mae Hildreth for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Through His Own Eyes: WWII Veterans Take Honor Flight To Washington
October 22, 2009
A picture, they say, is worth 1,000 words.
So when just over 100 World War II veterans headed to Washington Wednesday on the Fifth Annual Emerald Coast Honor Flight so that the veterans could see the World Ward II Memorial — their memorial — NorthEscambia.com gave veteran Billy Ward of Walnut Hill a camera. We asked him to take pictures during his day and share them with you, our readers.
The pictures he brought back from Washington show the memorials, Jeff Miller and Bob Dole. But we also get a look inside and out the window of the plane, the fall colors of the trees in Washington, children playing, friends old and new together, and the veterans’ view of the grand homecoming back to Pensacola Wednesday night. The things he found important or interesting.
Ward’s eyes saw the fight for freedom in World War II. Wednesday, thanks to Emerald Coast Honor Flight, he was able to see the World War II Memorial with those same eyes. We invite you to click here for a gallery of Mr. Billy Ward’s photographs, and see the trip through his own eyes.
There were 103 veterans on Wednesday’s flight. They visited the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam, Korean and Iwo Jima memorials. They were joined by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, and former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole.
“The World War II Memorial was really something,” Ward said. “It was something I would not have expected.”
Ward, who was elected to served as Escambia County’s probate judge from 1973 to 1989, said he enjoyed meeting Dole, a former presidential candidate.
“It was all spectacular,” he said. “Absolutely spectacular.”
When the veterans arrived back in Pensacola Wednesday night, many received handmade thank-you cards from students at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Click here for a gallery of photos by veteran Billy Ward as he shows us the Honor Flight through his own eyes. The photos are in sequential order, following the trip from Pensacola to Washington and back.
Other North Escambia area veterans on Wednesday’s Emerald Coast Honor Flight include Robert Joiner of Molino, John Clarence Smith of Jay, James Ward of Jay, and Morris Clarence Ward of Jay. Suzanne Vickrey of Molino was also on the trip, serving as a guardian.
Pictured top: The Emerald Coast Honor Flight allowed 103 veterans to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington for the first time on Wednesday. Pictured inset: Billy Ward Of Walnut Hill meets former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole. Pictured below: The veterans’ view as they were welcomed back to Pensacola Wednesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by veteran Billy Ward, click to enlarge.
Century Eyes $140,000 Drainage Improvement Grant
October 22, 2009
The Town of Century is in the process of landing a $140,000 grant to improve drainage in an area south of the old Century High School.
The complete $540,000 project was designed prior to Hurricane Ivan, and it sat “shovel ready” since that time. The project would improve stormwater drainage in an area bordered roughly by Hecker Road to the north, Mayo Street to the west, Baptist Church Road to the east and a concrete ditch between Mayo Lane and Church Street to the south.
The town is working to determine if money from half cent sales tax or local option sales tax funds can legally be used to complete the entire project. If not, a portion of the project will be done using the $140,000 grant.
If the town is able to put matching funds into the project, Dale Long, the town’s engineer, said he would like to see the elimination of deep ditches along the narrow Archie Street.
The town will ask its attorney for any opinion on the legality of using half cent sales tax or LOST funds for this or any other drainage project.
Pictured above: This graphic shows the approximate area that would see drainage improvements if the Town of Century gets a $140,000 grant. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
More Contact Changes Push Bratt Renovation Near $1 Million
October 22, 2009
Additional changes have been approved to building renovations at Bratt Elementary School, bringing to the to-date expenditure on the project to $975,659.94.
The latest changes approved include:
- replace existing electrical outlet covers with stainless steel covers, $727.67 (principal’s request)
- move electrical disconnect in stage area and existing conduit in room 25, $702.03 (contractor’s request)
- paint bathroom ceilings to match wall color and paint existing doors and frames, $754.36 (principal’s request)
- modify transaction counter at front office by raising it approximately six inches, $678.76 (principal’s request)
- add electrical ground bus bar for additional surge protection for communications system, $698.14 (engineer’s request)
- modify existing boiler, $713.41 (owner’s request)
- lower urinal in bathroom (Room 16), $949.78 (principal’s request)
The total for the requested changes is $5,224.15. The entire project is being funding from half-cent sales tax funds for building renovations.