Art At The Farm Today
November 21, 2009
Art at the Farm will be held today 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 8600 Rease Seales Road in Walnut Hill.
There will be local arts and crafts vendors, pony rides for the kids, food vendors, Christmas photos and much more. Bring the family and enjoy a day at the farm. Call Melissa Seales for more information (850) 207-2100.
The event will take place regardless of rain.
Santa Claus Is Coming; Event To Benefit Molino Ranch; Kid’s Coloring Contest
November 21, 2009
For the seventh consecutive year, Santa will make an early appearance in Escambia County at the much anticipated Santa Hay Ride. This year’s event will be held on Friday, December 4 at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.
This winter wonderland will be fun for children of all ages. Ride and sing on the hayride, enjoy seasonal, fun activities, such as inflatable “moon walks,” make holiday decorations, and have a chance to give Santa your wish list all at no charge. Bring your own camera for photos with Santa.
Kids can enjoy a holiday horse ride for a $5 donation to the Leaning Post Ranch, a Molino charity whose mission is to provide equine assisted activities and therapeutic riding to individuals with disabilities and at-risk youth in Northwest Florida. This family friendly event provides a great opportunity to make holiday memories that will last a lifetime. Come enjoy the festive music, cheer and holiday refreshments.
Area businesses, organizations and vendors can get involved in the festivities by decking the stalls. Decorate one or more of the many horse stalls at the Equestrian Center for the holiday season and be a part of this great community event. Each winner will receive a plaque. Setup and decorating can be done during normal business hours on Thursday, December 3 or Friday, December 4. Reserve your stall early.
Escambia County’s ECTV government access television is sponsoring a coloring contest for ages three to 12. Artwork will be judged age appropriately on neatness, creativity and originality. The coloring page can be found by clicking here or picked up at Escambia County’s Recreation Division, 1651 East Nine Mile Road or Public Information Office, 221 Palafox Place, Suite 410. The participant’s name and age must be on the page to qualify for the contest. All entries must be received at the Public Information Office by the close of business on Monday, November 30.
This is a season of giving, so this holiday event also serves as an official drop-off site for the Toys for Tots program sponsored by the Marine Corps League Detachment 066. Patrons are also encouraged to drop off broken or old cellular telephones, which will be exchanged for free minutes for overseas troops to call home for the holidays.
For more information on the hayride, coloring contest, stall decoration or the Leaning Post Ranch, contact Brandi Daigle, Public Information Office at 595-3476.
The Escambia County Equestrian Center is located at 7750 Mobile Highway. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and admission is free.
Rainy Night…
November 21, 2009
Expect a rainy Saturday night with showers ending by about noon Sunday. Here is your official North Escambia forecast:
- Tonight: Rain. Low around 52. East wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Sunday: A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68. North wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Don’t Forget: Northview Vs. Tate
November 21, 2009
The 1A Northview Chiefs will take on the 4A Tate Aggies Saturday at Tate.
Proceeds from the game will benefit the Miracle League of Northwest Florida, a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons that plays spring and fall at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
The Class 1A Northview Chiefs, under first year Coach Sid Wheatly, finished with a 7-3 record, a huge improvement over last year’s 2-8 season. The Tate Aggies were 7-3 this season in Class 4A.
Kickoff is at noon. Admission is $5. The Tate Showband of the South will perform at halftime.
Century Wreck Injures Four
November 20, 2009
(Updated with names) Four people were injured in a two vehicle accident late Friday afternoon on East Highway 4 in Century.
The four were in a Nissan car T-boned by a GMC Sierra pickup truck at the intersection of Old Flomaton Road and East Highway 4. The accident happened about 4:30 when the driver of the Nissan, Ryan D. Rodarte, 23, of Madison, Alabama, ran the stop sign at the end of Old Flomaton Road and traveled into the path of the pickup traveling east on Highway 4. The force of the impact sent the car about 85 feet into a nearby ditch.
Rodarte and and three passengers in the car were transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital. The Florida Highway Patrol identified the passengers as Jessica J. Imholz, 17, of Blythewood, South Carolina; Demario Jordain, 18, of Columbia, South Carolina; and Heather Dorner, 19, of Madison, Alabama. Imholz’s injuries were classified as severe; she was transferred by LifeFlight from Jay Hospital to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
The driver of the 2004 pickup, Jewitt W. Noland, 47, of Mary Ester, Florida, received only minor injuries in the accident. Noland was charged with driving with a suspended license. Rodarte, the driver of the Nissan, was treated on the scene and then charged with failure to stop at a stop sign and transported to the Escambia County Jail.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the call.
Pictured above: Four people were injured in the this Nissan in a two vehicle accident late Friday afternoon in Century. Pictured below: The driver of this GMC truck was not injured. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Student Leaders Discuss Their School With Malcolm Thomas
November 20, 2009
Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas sat down with student leaders at Northview High School Thursday morning to learn more about what they think about their school.
Just over a dozen students representing various clubs, organizations and sports were chosen for the round table discussion with Thomas.
“I feel like our teachers try really hard,” junior Sarah Killam told Thomas.
“So they are pushing you? Tell me about that,” the superintendent replied.
“It’s just different now because of the those scores,” she said. Last year, Northview was the only high school in the county to receive a “D” grade from the Florida Department of Education.
“You are one of my target schools for needing improvement,” Thomas told Killam. “This year, we are very serious about what we are doing. We are going to raise the rigor and make sure you are challenged.”
Students were encouraged to speak openly and freely with Thomas without school staff or faculty present.
Thomas is holding the discussions at each high school in the county, mostly with school leadership classes.
Pictured top and bottom: Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas holds a discussion with Northview High School students Thursday morning. Pictured inset: Junior Sarah Killam talks to Thomas. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jeff Miller: Obama Stimulus Money Spent In Florida Places That Don’t Exist
November 20, 2009
In his latest newsletter, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller looks at the Obama administration’s Recovery.gov website which he says shows that $11 million in federal stimulus dollars were spent in Florida Congressional districts that do not exist.
The following was submitted by Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla:
For weeks, President Obama has told us that his $787 billion “stimulus” package has saved or created over a million jobs. As proof, the Administration’s website Recovery.gov gave us the chance to look at the numbers.
So this week I looked through the President’s job claims. I learned that 52 jobs were saved or created in the 34th Congressional District of Florida. 5 jobs created in the 86th District. 46 in District 00. And although $460,000 of your tax dollars were spent in the 53rd District, unfortunately zero jobs were saved.
The problem is, these congressional districts do not exist.
Florida only has TWENTY-FIVE congressional districts.
In fact, according to Recovery.gov, over $11 million has been spent in Florida in districts that just aren’t there.
How can the President and Majority Party in Congress expect us to believe their dubious jobs-created claims when their own numbers are patently false? How can we trust the Administration to run the stimulus when they can’t even properly manage their own website?
Even the Obama Administration is perplexed. The chief federal oversight official for the stimulus program, Recovery Board Chairman Earl Devaney, confirms that it is impossible to certify that the President’s job claims are accurate or auditable. Ed Pound, the communications director for the Recovery.gov website, said he had no idea how these fake congressional districts received stimulus money. When asked by the New Orleans Times Picayune why recipients would plug-in phantom districts, Pound responded, “who knows, man, who really knows?”
I would say to Mr. Pound that the American people know. We know that the Administration is pulling a “jobs created or saved” number out of thin air despite the fact that the unemployment rate remains high. The people of Florida know. We know that although Democrats represent only 10 of Florida’s 25 districts, their districts received 60% of the stimulus funds.
These numbers reek of partisanship and potential corruption.
Instead of spending trillions of taxpayer dollars on programs that do not and will not create jobs, the President should focus on cutting taxes on small businesses and supporting an American economy that will create and sustain jobs. Republicans have a plan that will do just that.
*To take a look at your tax dollars hard at work in non-existent Florida districts, visit: http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=stateSummaryAllCD&statecode=FL
Deputies Target Speeders
November 20, 2009
Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Mashburn was working radar Thursday on Mayhaw Road in Walnut Hill in response to community complaints.
At a town hall meeting Tuesday night, Mayhaw Road resident Anthony Ford told Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White and Chief Deputy Bill Chavers that speeding was a problem on the road, which runs between North Highway 99 and Highway 164. Ford expressed concerns over the safety of children that live in the area.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies are also using radar to enforce speed limits on other North Escambia roads.
Pictured above: Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Mashburn finds the speed of a passing truck to be 24 mph Thursday on Mayhaw Road in Walnut Hill. The posted speed on the road is 40 mph. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Mmmm, Turkey: Byrneville Community Thanksgiving Meal For Seniors
November 20, 2009
Beulah Chapel Assembly of God held its annual Community Thanksgiving Lunch for Byrneville senior citizens Thursday. Dozens of seniors attended the lunch, which featured a full Thanksgiving menu of turkey, dressing and a variety of side dishes and desserts. Firemen from the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, including the crew of Engine 519, assisted church members in serving the lunches. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Poarch Creek Indians Perform At Century Library
November 20, 2009
The Poarch Creek Indians presented pow wow dances Thursday at the Century Branch Library.
Several dozen children enjoyed the performance at the library. For a complete photo gallery, click here.
The Century Branch Library and the other libraries in the West Florida Public Library system will be closed November 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving.
Pictured above: A Poarch Creek Indian dancer performs at the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: A packed house for the performance. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
