Watch Valentino’s Combined Economic Plan Presentation Video
May 18, 2009
This is the video about an economic development plan presented Tuesday by Escambia Commissioner Gene Valentino at a joint meeting of the commission and the Pensacola City Council. The plan would see Century, Escambia County and Pensacola working together on economic development.
Under the plan, an independent economic development authority — the Pensacola Escambia Development Authority (PEDA) — to be led by a 15 member board with a $300,000 to $600,000 budget.
The video appears below (if supported by your browser).
Man Arrested For Failure To Appear For Bad Checks, Including Bad Check To Courts
May 18, 2009
A man living in Molino wanted for failure to appear on bad check charges — including a bad check to the Escambia County Clerk of the Courts — has been arrested.
Henry Lloyd Thompson III, 39, was arrested Friday and was being held in the Escambia County Jail on $2,000 bond on a charge of failure of a defendant on bail to appear. He gave deputies an address of 4273 Suncrest Lane, Molino.
Thompson was originally arrested on May 19, 2008, on multiple worthless check charges. He was charged with writing seven bad checks to Trisha’s One Stop totaling $1,530 and one bad check for $103.81 to Tom Thumb.
Thompson was also charged with writing an $85 worthless check to Ernie Lee Magaha, Escambia County Clerk of the Courts.
He was referred to the worthless check diversion program to allow him to pay restitution on the checks; he only completed the program on the check to the court clerk’s office, according to court records.
A warrant for Thompson’s arrest was issued on September 22, 2008.
Busy Two Weeks For NHS Class Of 2009
May 18, 2009
The next two weeks will busy for seniors at Northview High School. Exams, awards and more will lead up to graduation on May 30.
Senior exams will be today through Thursday. Seniors will clean out their lockers on Thursday, and make-up exams will be on Friday.
Baccalaureate service for the Northview Class of 2009 will be held at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 24 in the First Baptist Church of Bratt’s Family Life Center.
Seniors will receive their all-clear slips the morning of Tuesday, May 26, followed by Senior Fun Day in the afternoon. Graduation practice will be Wednesday, May 27 from 11:00 to 12:00.
Senior Honors Night will be Thursday, May 28at 6:30, and another graduation practice will be held Friday, May 29 from 9:30 until 11:00.
Graduation services for the Northview High School Class of 2009 will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 30 in the school gymnasium.
Local Firefighters Among Course Graduates
May 18, 2009
Escambia County’s first Firefighter II graduates include several North Escambia area firefighters.
The 18 firefighters had been taking classes since January for their certification. It was the first Firefighter II class offered by Escambia County since volunteer departments were unified into one countywide department.
North Escambia area firefighters receiving their Firefighter II certification this weekend included:
- McDavid, Station 9
- Alec Estes
- Walnut Hill, Station 15
- Philip Eubanks
- Cantonment, Station 4
- Wesley Barrnett
- Jeffery Bingel
- Matt Craig
- Kenny Fehl
- Kyle Passione
- Beulah, Station 2
- Zack Polk
Pictured above: Phillip Eubanks (left) from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Alec Estes from the McDavid station were among the 18 firefighters receiving Firefighter II certification over the weekend. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Schedules Two Workshop Meetings
May 18, 2009
Two special meetings of the Century Town Council will take place this week.
The council will hold a workshop today at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers, prior to the regular council meeting. They will meet with Robert Hudson to discuss the financial statements for the Town of Century.
The Century Town Council will hold a workshop Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the council chambers. They will meet with David Goetsch from Okaloosa-Walton College to discuss policies and procedures for the Town.
Video: That Rare Cloud That Had Us All Talking
May 18, 2009
Back on April 29, a rare cloud formation moved across North Escambia and South Alabama capturing the attention of many North Escambia residents. And now a series of photos from an area resident is giving us the opportunity to see the cloud in motion.
Forecasters at the NWS did not know exactly what to call the cloud formation, settling on calling it just an “arc cloud”. They say the cloud would have been formed by a rapid surge of warm moist air.
Matt Brook took a series of photos on Nokomis Road just off Highway 97 and put them together into a video. Click the video below to watch.
Reviewing high resolution visable satellite data, the weather service tells us that the cloud actually stretched from near Gulf Shores to Butler County, Alabama, for a brief period.
Pictured above: Walt Butler took this photo on Greenland Road in Davisville. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Communities Come Together To Honor Veterans, Military
May 17, 2009
Area residents turned out in Atmore Saturday morning to honor those that have and are currently serving in the military during a combined Armed Forces Day/Memorial Day parade and ceremony in Atmore.
Led by the Northview High School NJROTC and the Northview Tribal Beat marching band, the parade began the day’s events that ended with a ceremony at the Atmore City Hall.
“We are gathered here today while our nation is at war,” Atmore VFW Commander Lavon Martin said. “May God bless them for that service.”
Parade participants included the Northview band and NJROTC, the Escambia County High School NJROTC, the Pensacola High School Air Force JROTC, a unit from the Naval Aviation Technical Training Command, area fire departments, the VFW, and the American Legion.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the parade and ceremony.
Several NJROTC members from NHS and ECHS were honored after the parade. Click here for that story.
Pictured top: The Northview High School NJROTC leads the Atmore Armed Forces Day/Memorial Day parade Saturday morning. Pictured inset: Atmore Councilman John Garrard listens to a ceremony that followed the parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Keeping Score: No Murzin Bill Passes House
May 17, 2009
State Rep. Dave Murzin, whose district includes central and southwestern Escambia County, had no personally sponsored bills pass in the Florida Legislature during the last session.
Murzin has announced that he is running for the State Senate seat currently held by Durrell Peaden, Jr. who is unable to seek reelection due to term limits. State Rep. Greg Evers has announced his intent to seek the seat as well. For a look at Evers’ House record, click here.
He sponsored four bills, and all four died in committee:
- HB 493: Licensure of Nursing Homes and Related Health Care Facilities; Bill died in Elder & Family Services Policy Committee
- HB 495: Negligence — increasing burden of proof in slip and fall cases; Bill died in Criminal & Civil Justice Policy Council
- HB 1463: Civil Actions Against Insurers; Bill died in Insurance, Business & Financial Affairs Policy Committee
- HB 1513: Mail-In Secondhand Dealers of Jewelry and Precious Metals; Bill died in Insurance, Business & Financial Affairs Policy Committee
Murzin chairs the Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council. Five council bills passed, two failed and one was tabled:
Pass:
- HB 7091: Broadband Internet Service
- HB 7093: Pub. Rec./Telecommunications and Broadband Company Proprietary Business Information
- HB 7123: Military Base Closures
- HB 7125: Public Records/Public Meetings/Military Bases
- HB 7147: Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund
Fail:
- HB 7009: Public Transit, dealing with rail system timetable
- HB 7149: Elections; changes ID requirements and revises general provisions
Tabled
- HB 7147: Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund; changes amount subject to employer’s contribution
Pictured below: Murzin’s district.
Rain Today, Overnight Lows Around 50 Next Week
May 17, 2009
There is a 90 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms for your Sunday as a cold front moves into the area with cooler temperatures.
The rain chance tonight is at 50 percent. Rain will end after midnight, and winds will shift to the north with an overnight low of 53 by Monday morning.
Here is the rest of your National Weather Service Forecast:
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind around 10 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 54. Northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph.
NHS Tribal Beat Band Holds ‘Fun’ Awards Banquet
May 17, 2009
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Marching Band held its second annual NHS Band Banquet Saturday with an emphasis on fun.
The band’s second annual award, the Right Shoe Award, was presented to Justin Purvis (left), the person most improved in marching. Numerous other awards and gifts were presented to students, parents, volunteers and band boosters during the banquet at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
More “serious” band awards will be presented during award ceremonies at school during the next two weeks. But Saturday’s awards were all about fun, including such categories as “Most Like a Cartoon Character”, “Needs to Shave the Most” and “Biggest Flirt”.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the banquet.
The students voted the following award winners:
- Most Talented: Jake Carlson
- Cutest: Justin Purvis & Caitlyn Brown
- Shyest: Chelsea Parham
- Friendliest: Melissa Moretz and Lanie Eubanks
- Needs to Shave the Most: Jake Carlson, Seth Turner, Hayley Simpson
- Funniest: Wayne Marshall, Justin Purvis
- Most Like a Cartoon Character: Devon Dries
- Most Likely to have a Musical Career: Jake Carlson, Briana Halteman
- Most Likely Not to Show Up: David Ford, Danny Strobaegh
- Doesn’t Know Left Foot From Right Foot When Marching: Joseph Davis
- Mocks Mr. Tucker The Most: Justin Purvis
- Best Baton Twirler: Hayley Simpson
- Best Flag Twirler: Allison Spence
- Biggest Flirt: Allison Spence
- Spit Valve Fills the Quickest: Devon Dries
- Most Likely to Break Their Instrument: Lanie Eubanks
- Most Improved: Chelsea Parham
- Best at Marching: Briana Halteman
- Most Photogenic: Allie Bryan, Caitlyn Brown
- Best FSU Hair: Kolbi Cobb, Elizabeth Wright
- Most Spirit: Elizabeth Wright
- Most Fasionable: Wayne Marshall, Allie Bryan
- Most Unique Style: Wayne Marshall, David Ford
- Mr. Tucker’s Favorite: Colton Sims, Briana Halteman
- Mr. Wright’s Favorite: Elizabeth Wright
- Most Dependable: Briana Halteman, Lanie Eubanks
- Best Attitude: Melissa Moretz
- Forgot Their Black Socks Most: Devon Dries
- Made Most Pit Stops For: Devon Dries
- Best All Around: Briana Halteman
- Best Color Guard Choreographer: Allison Spence
- Daisy Dukes Award: Kolbi Cobb
- Most Theatrical Majorette: Hayley Simpson
- Prettiest and Cutest Smile: Caitlyn Brown, Lanie Eubanks
- Who Should be 2009-2010 Drum Major: Elizabeth Wright, Melissa Moretz, Colton Sims
- Who Should be 2009-2010 Assistant Drum Major: Elizabeth Wright, Melissa Moretz
- Seniors Who Will Be Missed the Most: Briana Halteman, Jake Carlson
Pictured above: NHS Tribal Beat members pose with some of their prizes. Pictured below: Seniors (L-R) Jake Carlson, Lanie Eubanks and Briana Halteman. Northescambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
