Molino Ball Teams Formed, Still Need A Few Players
March 5, 2009
The Molino Recreation Association needs more players for several teams to complete their rosters.
“We have had a great response to the registration at the park,” Arty Kleinatland, Molino Recreation Association president, said. But a few teams are short of the needed number of players.
The need is as follows:
Baseball
WeeBall (3-4 yrs)- 2 teams, need 2 players
T-Ball (5-7 yrs) – 5 teams, need 4 players
Coach Pitch (8-9 yrs) – 1 team, need 2 players
Minor (10 yrs)- 2 teams, need 2 players
Major – 1 team
Softball
8U – 1 team, need 2 players
10U – 2 teams, need 3 players
12U – 1 team
16U – 3 teams, need 3 players
The Molino Recreation Association is also forming a team for juniors (13-15 yrs), six players are needed to form team.
To register, visit the ballpark any weeknight except Wednesday and see any board member or ask for information at the concession stand. Slots are available on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information, call Arty at (850) 516-2674.
Friday Deadline To Register For Ag Program For Producers, Landowners
March 5, 2009
Friday is the the deadline to register for a program for landowners and agricultural producers that will be held next week in Century.
The program will be held Tuesday, March 10 at the Century Ag Building on Highway 4. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the program starts at 9:30.
The program will highlight agricultural programs that are available in Escambia County from the USDA-Natural Resources Service, Farm Service Agency, Escambia County, University of Florida/IFAS Extension, Florida Division of Forestry, and Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District.
Lunch will be served following the program. RSVP by noon on Friday, March 6 to (850) 587-5404 ext. 102. Click here for more information (pdf).
In addition to the program, the Perdido Bay Tribe of Southeastern Lower Muscogee Creek Indians will have their Mobile Museum on site.
Honors For Bus Drivers From Bratt, Carver/Century And Molino Park
March 5, 2009
Three North Escambia bus drivers have been named as School Bus Operator of the Month at their elementary school.
Drivers of the month are Mikie Johnson from Molino Park Elementary, Vicki Godwin from Carver/Century School, and Vicki Eubanks from Bratt Elementary.
Tina Vickery, route supervisor for the north sector of the Escambia County School district, says the three were chosen by their peers for professionalism, team support and overall good work.
“These drivers work so hard to safely transport students everyday to school and back home,” Vickery said. “I am very proud of each of these ladies.”
At a recent awards ceremony at the Panhandle Restaurant in Century, the drivers were given their award and a gift bag.
Pictured above: North sector School bus Operators of the Month are (L-R) Vicki Godwin from Carver/Century, Mikie Johnson from Molino Park Elementary, and Vicki Eubanks from Bratt Elementary. Submitted photos for North Escambia.com.
Atmore Teen Receives National Community Award
March 5, 2009
An Atmore teen has received a national honor in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards – America’s largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteerism.
Alan Ash, 17, of Atmore, was named an Alabama state honoree.
Ash, a senior at Escambia Academy, launched a project to convert brightly colored T-shirts into hospital gowns for children. While visiting a friend stricken with brain cancer, Alan noticed how drab and uncomfortable hospital gowns looked. So, after his friend died, Alan worked with fellow members of his school’s Student Government Association to solicit donations of T-shirts, tailor them into gowns, and deliver 250 of the converted shirts to children at the Children’s Hospital of the Birmingham.
Northview Reclassifed By FHSAA; Number Of Games May Be Reduced
March 4, 2009
Northview High School has dropped one class under reclassifications released Tuesday by the Florida High School Athletic Association, joining Jay in Class 2A. And another big change is coming to non-football sports in Florida, with new limitations on the number of games that can be played proposed by the FHSAA.
In boys and girls basketball, Northview will be in Class 2A District 1 with Jay, Baker, Freeport, Pensacola Christian and Ponce De Leon. The same class for girls volleyball will include the same schools, minus Ponce De Leon.
Under the reclassification originally proposed by the FHSAA, Northview was in Class 3A, a class that includes schools with a 2008 fall population of 522-1305 . Northview had 544 students during the October week used by the FHSAA to determine the new classifications, but schools in the lower 10% of the population breakdown of each classification have the option of playing down one classification if it is deemed more suitable for district travel reasons.
Class 1A is for schools with 521 or fewer students, plus those that “play down” like Northview.
In preliminary district alignments released in December for football, Northview remained in District 1-2B. Under the “play down” rule, the Chiefs requested a move down one district to District 1-1A, also the same district as the Jay Royals.
Contest Limits
The FHSAA has proposed reducing the number of games in a number of Florida high school sports. (See graphic at bottom of page.)
Under the proposed rules, the number of proposed varsity boys and girls basketball games would drop from the current 25 to 20. For junior varsity teams, that number would drop to 15.
The same drop would be imposed for high school baseball and softball in Florida. Instead of the current 25 games, varsity teams would play 20 baseball games and junior varsity teams would play 15.
Volleyball would face the same major cuts, from the current 25 games to 20 for varisty and 15 for junior varsity teams.
Junior varsity football would drop from eight games per season to six.
The contest limits would be dropped under the proposal for other sports as well. For cross country teams, the current allowed 13 meets would drop to 11 for varsity and 8 for JV.
Golf would decrease from 14 matches per year to 13 for varsity and nine for junior varsity.
Pictured below: This graphic shows the changes proposed by the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Legislative Session Begins; State Rep. Murzin Speaks Out On State, Local Issues
March 4, 2009
Times in Florida have changed, and it is now time for Florida to change with the times — that was the message from Florida Rep. Dave Murzin as he weighed in on Florida’s budget and issues like government consolidation in Escambia County.
As the Florida legislature convened on Tuesday, lawmakers were facing an unprecedented budget shortfall perhaps as high as $5 billion.
“It’s not going to be pretty, and it is going to get worse,” Murzin said. “It is going to be 2010, if we are lucky, before we turn around.”
During his State of the State speech Tuesday night, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist urged the legislature to approve gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to raise $100 million per year for educatio.
Murzin is not sold on the gambling plan.
“We are desperate for money if we turn to Indian gambling for a few dollars,” he said.
Murzin said Florida has survived and thrived with a service based economic focus for far too long, services related to tourism in particular. Now that tourism is down, service jobs are being eliminated.
“When gas to $4 a gallon, people don’t go to see the mouse,” Murzin said, referring to the decline at the Orlando area amusement parks. “If people are worried about their jobs, they don’t go see the mouse.”
The overall Florida economy relies on sales tax and people coming into the state to spend their money, the state representative said. Now that tourism is faltering, so is Florida economy.
Additional problems arise with strict government regulation in the state, he said.
“We need to streamline the process,” he said of growth management in Florida, giving the example of a business that might be required to install turn lanes in order to build or expand. “Eventually you reach this point where it gets to be cost prohibitive.”
Here in Northwest Florida, local governments face an additional hurdle with economic expansion — Alabama.
“The state of Florida loses to Alabama because Alabama does a better job than Florida in economic development and incentives,” Murzin said.
On the subject of education, the state representative from Pensacola said that the state must restore funds cut from educating the state’s children.
“I don’t know where we will get the money to restore the cuts,” he added. “But we have to find it.”
On a more local note, Murzin said there may be problems with the possible consolidation of the Town of Century, Pensacola and Escambia County governments.
“There will be issues with things like the debt on the Maritime Park,” he said. The Pensacola Maritime Park will incur about $40 million in expenses.
“County residents did not have an opportunity to vote on the issue, but the debt is going to be spread to county residents,” he said.
Murzin is leaving the Florida House due to term limits. He is an announced candidate for the state senate seat currently held by Durell Peaden, Jr. State Rep. Greg Evers is the only other announced candidate for the post.
Pictured above: State Rep. Dave Murzin addresses the Tri-Cities Rotary Club recently. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
County To Sell Surplus Molino Property
March 4, 2009
Escambia County is trying to sell a piece of surplus property in the Molino area.
The county wants to sell a piece of property in the 6100 block of Schaag Road to the highest bidder than exceeds $3,648.
Escambia County acquired the property by tax deed in November 1982. The Escambia County Commission authorized its sale on April 4, 2007, with a minimum bid of $32,700. Eight bid solicitations were issued with no response.
In November 2008, the property appraiser reassessed the value of the land at $3,648.
The property includes a below standard house that is about 1,000 square feet.
For more information, visit www.myescambia.com
Pictured top: This map shows the property location off Schaag Road. Pictured middle: The house that is on the property. Click to enlarge.
Local Woman A Calendar Girl At 102 Years Old
March 4, 2009
Elmira Gandy Crapps, age 102, of Gandyville is the March “calendar girl” for the National Centenarian Awareness Project.
Her photograph and a brief biography are featured on the March calendar page of the NCAP (pictured left), a non-profit groups that celebrates active centenarians as role models for the future of aging. Each month the group presents remarkable centenarians and feature one on their inspirational calendar.
To read a NorthEscambia.com story about her 102nd birthday party, click here.
To learn more and download the March calendar page, click here.
The following is the story of Elmira Gandy Crapps, as submitted by Vicki Gandy Bagget:
“Another year, another president.” Those are the sentiments voiced by Gandyville’s oldest resident, Elmira Gandy Crapps, who celebrated her 102 birthday on Jan. 25 . Family and friends gathered at Poplar Dell Baptist (where she has been a member for over 75 years) on Saturday for the birthday celebration. “It’s a family event that we all really look forward to,” says nephew Bill Gandy. “We did the exact same thing with her father, John O. Gandy, who lived to be 108 and the reason for the naming of our community, Gandyville.”
Aunt Myra (as she is affectionately known throughout the community) is the third Gandy descendant to live over 100. In addition to her father, Aunt Myra’s great uncle lived to be 108. Two of her brothers lived to be 90 or older too. Aunt Myra traveled to this area with her parents, John and Victoria, four brothers (Colonel, Erastus, James and J.L.) and one sister (Eunice). She eventually met and married W.H. (Haynes) Crapps, and together they created a successful trucking business called Gulf & Southern Transportation, which operated for 45 years in Century and provided hauling services for timber, lumber and equipment. Although the couple had no children, they enjoyed 65 years together before his death. “I learned a lot about money,” Aunt Myra claims, “by being in business with my husband all those years.” She says she can sum it all up with this: “Don’t spend what you don’t have.”
It’s this kind of advice that Aunt Myra leaves to present and future generations, and her advice is being well-received as it is currently expected for inclusion in the National Centenarian Publication, a worldwide organization that honors citizens who are 100 years old or older. In answering the questionnaire for the Centenarian, Aunt Myra had to reflect on finances. She said that bonds, savings accounts and CD’s are the best and safest places to invest money, and a person should invest at least 20% of their annual income with an additional 10% going to charity and tithing. “Avoid debts. Do without if possible,” she advises. “This is something that a lot of younger people (ages 20 to 60) don’t seem to understand. I don’t think they manage their money well. Too many of them want handouts.”
In addition to her husband, Aunt Myra credits her parents for teaching her about finances. “We never went hungry because we raised our own beef and grew our own vegetables, but no matter how much we had, we were taught to share it with others. Papa said that God always notices those who serve others.”
Of the things invented during Aunt Myra’s lifetime, the two that have affected her the most are central heat and refrigeration. “We used to be so cold, especially at night, so when central heat came along, I just couldn’t get over it. And when we first got a refrigerator, I knew I could really stock up on all those sweets that I love!” she claims.
Having enjoyed excellent health all of her life, Aunt Myra credits good habits and good sense for this. She still tries to walk every day, and she has never smoked or drank. “I’m so thankful I can still get around,” she says. Coincidentally, she renewed her driver’s license two years ago and is still able to drive to church, the beauty shop and the grocery store.
When asked about some of her favorites, she listed “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire,” and “Andy Griffith” at the top. Christian Evangelist Billy Graham is one of her favorites as well, but she says that Roosevelt was by far her favorite president because he helped put people to work. “I liked his work vision for the United States,” she adds.
Will Aunt Myra make it to the 108-year mark like her father and great-uncle? “I never thought I would make it to 100! I just want people to remember me as being an honest, Christian person who always wanted to do the right thing. I want people to remember me as a lady who tried to live for the Lord, not necessarily one who lived to be 100+.”
Last year the Town of Century proclaimed Jan. 25 as the Elmira Gandy Crapps Day, and although most people would enjoy the publicity of this, Aunt Myra remains humbled. “I don’t know. I just had my very first fortune cookie, and the message inside was this: ‘The way to enjoy the future is to invent it.’ I’ll just keep on inventing my future as long as God allows.”
Pictured above: 102-year old Elmira Gandy Crapps receives a proclamation in honor of her 102nd birthday from Century Mayor Freddie McCall at Poplar Dell Baptist Church. Pictured inset middle: The calendar page featuring “Aunt Myra”. Pictured inset bottom: North Escambia resident Elmira Gandy Crapps at 102. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Department Mailing Surveys To Determine Quality Of Service
March 4, 2009
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department wants to know what kind of job they are doing, and they are mailing out a public service questionnaire to find out from the public
The sheriff’s department will randomly select individuals who have recently reported a crime and a mail the questionnaire to their home.
Citizens who receive a questionnaire will be asked to rate their experience with the sheriff’s office based on a series of questions. The department will then compile the questionairre results to determine the agency’s strengths and weaknesses concerning the quality of service provided to citizens of the county.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking citizens to give feedback concerning the quality of service that the public is receiving from the Sheriff’s Office through a new Public Service Questionnaire.
“This is an opportunity for citizens to give us direct feedback about their experience. We want to know how we are doing, good and bad,” stated 1st Lt. Eric Haines.
The first questionnaires will arrive in selected Escambia County mailboxes this week.
Suspect In Bratt Manhunt Still On The Loose
March 3, 2009
A manhunt in Bratt for a man wanted by Alabama authorities was called off Tuesday morning.
Authorities were searching for Buddy Lee Roberson, 40, after he fled from drug task force agents in Canoe, Ala.
Authorities believe the Roberson was picked up by someone in a pickup truck. They were believed to have headed back toward Atmore.
Atmore Police believed they had located the truck in the Briar Lake Subdivision, but they were unable to locate Roberson. The subdivision is located on Medical Park Drive in Atmore, just a few hundred feet north of the Florida/Alabama state line.
The Atmore Police Department called for the assistance of the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Department and a K-9 unit from the Century Correctional Institute just before 11 Tuesday morning in the area bordered by North Highway 99, Highway 168, Pine Barren Road and the Alabama state line.
The manhunt started about an hour earlier in the Canoe, Ala., area when Alabama authorities attempted to serve a warrant for a narcotics charge. Roberson fled, with the manhunt beginning in the South Canoe Road area south of Arthur Hall Road in Alabama. South Canoe Road become Pine Barren Road when it crosses into Florida. When the manhunt shift to the south, Florida authorities became involved.
Roberson was described as being a white male with long dirty blond hair.