District 5 Town Hall Meeting Tonight
August 11, 2009
District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White will hold a town hall meeting tonight at 6:30 at the Escambia County Extension Office, 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment.
The District 5 meeting will begin with comments from the commissioner and proceed into an open forum where citizens may ask questions, share comments and concerns.
For more information, contact Commissioner White’s office at 595-4950.
Big Show: Perseid Meteor Shower
August 11, 2009
If the skies are clear, there will be a meteor shower show in in the heavens above North Escambia.
The Perseid meteor shower will peak Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, and astronomers say it will be a good show as earth passes through a swarm of dust shed by periodic comet Swift-Tuttle. NASA says you could see dozens of meteors.
Perseids can appear in any part of the sky, their tails all pointing back to the shower’s radiant in the constellation Perseus. Get away from city lights if you can. There is one light you cannot escape, according to NASA. The 55% gibbous moon will glare down from the constellation Aries just next door to the shower’s radiant in Perseus. The Moon is beautiful, but don’t stare at it. Bright moonlight ruins night vision and it will wipe out any faint Perseids in that part of the sky.
The moon is least troublesome during the early evening hours of August 11th. Around 9 to 11 p.m., both Perseus and the Moon will be hanging low in the north. This low profile reduces lunar glare while positioning the shower’s radiant for a nice display of earthgrazers.
“Earthgrazers are meteors that approach from the horizon and skim the atmosphere overhead like a stone skipping across the surface of a pond,” explains Bill Cooke of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “They are long, slow and colorful—among the most beautiful of meteors.” He notes that an hour of watching may net only a few of these at most, but seeing even one can make the whole night worthwhile.
Pictured top: Looking northeast around midnight Tuesday, the red dot is the Perseid radiant. Although Perseid meteors can appear in any part of the sky, all of their tails will point back to the radiant. Image courtesy NASA and Spaceweather.com.
Earnie Welch Forte
August 10, 2009
Earnie Welch Forte, age 89 of Pensacola, Florida passed away on Thursday August 6, 2009 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born May 2, 1920 in Crenshaw County Alabama to Robert and Fannie Lou Joiner Welch. She was the sixth of twelve children. In the mid 1920’s the family moved to the Pineview-Foshee Community in Escambia County Alabama.
She grew up in the country where they learned how to live on what could be raised, grown, canned, cured or made. Even as children her family worked hard and had great respect and love for eachother. She went to work at the Train Depot in Flomaton.. Later she transferred to the Depot in downtown Pensacola, Florida.
She married George Murl Forte on August 9, 1940. After their first child was born, George joined the Aircorp and became a Paratrooper to prepare for World War II. She raised their son alone and endured when her husband was listed as Missing in Action and then a Prisoner of War. She always knew that George would return and finally he did come home. They continued their life together, having five more children. When George died in 1965, she was left with four young children still at home. Everything she did was for her children and grandchildren.
She welcomed everyone into her home, a place of refuge, a place of comfort. You were greeted with ‘hey Sweetheart’ and a hug. You were welcome to stay for a quick lunch or stay for days. She was always looking for her children to come home. She had a meal and a glass of sweet tea waiting just for you. No matter how long you could stay she made you feel special. She made sure that you had what you came for, a meal, advice, a kind word or a hug. The last thing she always said was ” come back when you will” while standing on her front porch waving good-bye until you drove out of sight.
She was a member of Olive Baptist Church and a past member of the Jolly Rovers.
Our most precious Mama and Mamaw is welcomed in Heaven by her husband George, her grandson Kevin White, her Mama and Papa, her brothers Ray, Cyril, Bennie, Thomas and Leroy Welch, her sisters Avis White, Clara Mae Morris, Versie Crissman and Louise Forte.
She awaits the arrival of her children: Robert (Alice) Forte, Charlotte Lavonia Swearingen, Sandra (Galen) Carver, Ricky (Boopie) Forte, Roger (Tricia) Forte, Shirley (Pat) Callan.
Her grandchildren: Alisa (Scott) White, Robbie (Steve) Egee, Wendy (TJ) Aliff, Chad (Kathy) Copeland, Jenny (Eddie) Hernandez, Emily (Ben) Ferguson, Dacia (Barry) Bailey, Amber Dasho, Brian Forte, Brain (Ashley) Callan, Adam (Stephanie) Callan.
Her great grandchildren: Jonathan White, Seth and Olivia Egee, Thomas, Jared and Adam Aliff, Courtney Anderson and Sammy Hernandez, Autumn, Bailey and Benjamin Ferguson, Taylor Forte and Andrew Bailey and Conner Callan.
Survivors also include her sister Mary Frances Godwin of Century and her brother Everette Welch of Flomaton.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment with the Rev. Nicholas Gandy officiating. Interment is at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Steve Egee, Scott White, TJ Aliff, Eddie Hernandez, Ben Ferguson and Barry Bailey. Honorary pallbearers will be Chad Copeland and Brian Forte.
Thank you to our extended family and friends for your prayers and kind words.
Deputies Arrest 31 During Two Month Undercover Operation
August 10, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested 31 people during a two-month undercover operation that concluded Monday.
The operation targeted the drug trade in the Englewood area, also known as Shanty Town, in Pensacola during a sweep dubbed “Operation Town Haul”. In addition to the arrests, the operation resulted in the seizure of 125 grams of crack cocaine, 13 grams of cocaine, 140 grams of marijuana, five vehicles, six firearms, and $90,446.00 total cash.
To see the mug shots of those arrested and the charges against them, click here for the information as provided the Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured above: Those arrested during the two month “Operation Town Haul” conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. Click image to see the charges against against each person. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Report: Mexican Mafia Might Be Behind Billings Murders
August 10, 2009
Ties to the Mexican mafia have been mentioned by every suspect in the Byrd and Melanie Billings murders, according to a report published today by a local independent newspaper publisher.
Rick Outzen, publisher of the Independent Weekly, writes in an article on the The Daily Beast that each one of the seven suspects has mentioned the Mexican mafia, with one witness saying “Those guys will kill you”.
As reported last week on NorthEscambia.com, Henry “Cab” Tice, who has been charged with grand theft for stealing from the Billings’ finance company, told investigators that he borrowed $50,000 from the Mexican mafia, and that he was still in debt to them. In his dealings with the Mafia, Sheriff David Morgan said Tice would sell cars across the border to be resold in Mexico. The sheriff said the deals were cash, under-the-table.
Read more about the Mexican mafia connection to all of the suspects in the article by Outzen on The Daily Beast by clicking here (opens in new window).
Principal, Athletic Director Face Criminal Contempt Charges For Prayer; Defense Fund Established
August 10, 2009
Two Santa Rosa educators are facing criminal charges for praying in violation of a federal court order, and a criminal defense fund has been established to help with with their legal expenses.
Pace High School Principal Frank Lay asked the school’s athletic director, Robert Freeman, to bless a meal where sports boosters had gathered to celebrate the completion of a new field house.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in federal court almost a year ago against the Santa Rosa School District, Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and then-Santa Rosa Superintendent John Rogers. The suit alleged that Santa Rosa County Schools “persistently and persuasively promote their personal religious beliefs in the public schools and at school events”.
A federal court order earlier this year prohibited, among other things, any prayer in schools, “reading from a sacred text”, “calling upon a deity to offer guidance, assistance or a blessing” and religious services such as baccalaureate services. There are circumstances were student-led prayers are permissible, but school employees are prohibited to participate in the prayer, even prohibited from “a posture or manner that is likely to be perceived as an endorsement of prayer, e.g. bowing their heads, kneeling or folding their hands”.
Lay and Freeman were ordered to appear before a federal judge on criminal contempt charges for allegedly violating the court order. They are scheduled to appear in federal court on September 17. They could, depending on the judge’s ruling, be forced to pay fines or serve time in jail.
Several supporters, including Milton insurance agent Robert Smith have formed a legal defense fund to help the two men pay their legal expenses. It will, according to the site, take $8,000 for them to pay the retainer for a lawyer to represent them in the September 17 hearing.
The site, layfreemandefense.com, asks supporters to make donations to the Lay and Freeman Defense Fund at any First National Bank of Florida. The site is also selling t-shirts for $10.
The site also details a Sawmill Band concert and hamburger supper that will be held at 5:30 on September 10 at the Farmer’s Opry in Chumuckla to benefit the criminal defense fund.
The criminal defense fund was opened last Tuesday. By Wednesday, the balance was at $3,710. By last Friday, the fund balance had grown to $6454.35.
The lawsuit filed last year names specific events at several Santa Rosa schools, including Jay. The suit states that Jay High School held an invocation and benediction prayer each year from 2004-2008 led by students from groups such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The ACLU also complains in the suit that Jay High School has held baccalaureate services that were religious in nature.
The ACLU also requested documents from the Escambia County School District that might relate to religion or prayer. Specifically, the ACLU requested records from Escambia Schools about graduations and baccalaureate services. The ACLU public records requests also asked for the notes of all speakers at the event as well as any audio or video recordings of the events. The ACLU request extended to all schools in Escambia County, including Northview High School.
Read the complete criminal contempt order against Lay and Freeman by clicking here (pdf).
Molino Duo Win Pensacola’s Outcast Mega Shark Tournament
August 10, 2009
A Molino duo claimed the top spot in the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament this weekend in Pensacola.
Anthony Adams and Jeff Jordan reeled in a massive hammerhead shark weighing in at 399.4 pounds aboard Adam’s boat “My Amy”. The hammerhead was tops in the hammerhead divison of the fourth annual tournament at Palafox Pier, and it made My Amy the top small boat.
The almost 400-pound hammerhead was also large enough to give the Molino men the biggest overall shark in the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament by about 150 pounds. The second place finishers, Matt Bosler and Mark Bosler pulled in a bull shark at 246.6 pounds. The Bosler brothers were last year’s overall winners.
Funds raised in the shark tournament benefit the United Cerebral Palsey Foundation.
Pictured top: Jeff Jordan (left) and Anthony Adams won the 2009 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament this weekend in Pensacola with this 399.4 pound hammerhead shark. Pictured inset and below: More photos of the winning shark. Submitted photos by Deni Deron for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Church To Provide Free School Supplies
August 10, 2009
School starts in just two weeks in Escambia County, and for some families it is financially difficult to purchase the necessary supplies.
A Century church will provide free school supplies on Friday to help those in need.
Abundant Life Assembly of God will distribute school supplies at no charge on Friday, August 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church at 8040 North Century Boulevard.
Parents will need to bring their student’s list of necessary school supplies from their child’s school to the distribution.
Cats Scratch Pelicans; Pels Remain In First Place
August 10, 2009
The Fort Worth Cats salvaged a game in this three game series with the Pelicans, topping Pensacola 10-3. The Cats used a three run second inning to drive Pensacola’s starter Ulysses Roque from the game in his first start of the year.
John Allen led off the top of the second with a double, scoring when Kelley Gulledge singled. Both Gulledge and Matt Combs scored as well when Brian Fryer hit a double and the Cats jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
The Cats added another run in the third when Allen again led off with a double. He moved to third when Michael Bell flied out to right, and scored when Gulledge hit a sacrifice fly.
Another run came in for the Cats in the fifth inning, when John Allen walked, stole second, moved to third on Bell’s single, and scored when Gulledge hit into a double play.
The Pelicans tagged the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth on Adam Deleo’s first professional home run. The Pelicans wouldn’t score again until the ninth inning, watching as the Cats put up five runs in the eighth.
After Ulysses Roque pitched the first two innings, Bubba Nelson handled the Cats until the end of the fifth. Although Joey Wedner retired the Cats in order through innings six and seven, Fort Worth started hitting again in the eighth. Gulledge scored after reaching via walk. Garcia doubled, Combs did too, and Spenser Davis earned a base on balls. Fryer followed with a two RBI base hit, and Cameron Blair hit a RBI double. John Allen hit a RBI single, and after eight innings, the Cats led the Pelicans 10-1.
Pensacola rallied, but too late, in the bottom of the ninth. Against Cats’ closer Scott Vander Weg, the Pelicans put Antoin Gray on first with a single, and he moved to second when Marcos Rodriguez reached on an error by the shortstop. Chase Burch brought Gray in with a base knock, and Rodriguez scored when Dallas Christison doubled. The three Pelicans’ runs were no match for the Cats’ ten, and Joel Kirsten picked up his ninth win while Ulysses Roque was hit for the loss.
Roque lasted two innings allowing three runs on four hits, walking two batters and striking out one. Nelson pitched for nine outs, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks. Joey Wedner finished the game, yielding five runs (four earned) on six hits, walking one, and striking our four batters.
Dallas Christison went 2-4 with a RBI double, and Burch went 2-2 as well with a RBI. Adam Deleo went deep for the first time this year.
The Pelicans remain at home and will host the Grand Prairie Air Hogs for a three game set beginning Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Fire Departments Respond To Fire Call At Fire Station
August 10, 2009
Several Escambia Fire Rescue fire stations were dispatched just before midnight Sunday to the Ensley Fire Station.
Firefighters at the Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue reported smoke in their station at 8630 North Pensacola Boulevard at about 11:55 p.m. Sunday. The source of the smoke was not immediately known, but firefighters inside the station reported that they were unable to locate any flames.
Several other fire stations, including Cantonment, were dispatched to the Ensley Station to aid in the investigation.
There were no injuries reported.