16-Year Old Injured In Molino Wreck
November 19, 2009
A young driver was injured in a single vehicle accident in Molino Thursday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Francis Marquis, 16, of Cantonment, was northbound on Schifko Road at about 6:50 a.m. when she lost control, struck a dirt embankment and overturned. Her 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo came to rest upright in the middle of Schifko Road, just south of Barrineau Park Road.
Marquis, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by ambulance. There were no passengers in the vehicle. LifeFlight was called to the scene, but was canceled.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Engine 1819 from the Molino Station of Escambia Fire-Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the call.
Pictured above and below: A Cantonment teen was injured in this Thursday morning accident in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Urgent Plea: Heaters, Blankets Needed Now To Keep Elderly Warm
November 19, 2009
The Council on Aging of West Florida is seeking donations of small electric space heaters, blankets and funds to help the elderly avoid the serious health problems that can result from exposure to the cold.
Heaters and blankets can be dropped off at any location of Council on Aging of West Florida, including 6025 Industrial Boulevard In Century and 132 Mintz Lane in Cantonment. Only new items can be accepted.
Financial donations can be sent to Council on Aging of West Florida, PO Box 17066, Pensacola, FL 32522-7066 or made online at www.coawfla.org.
Seniors in need of a heater, blanket or other assistance should call 432-1475.
Government Consolidation: North Escambia Effects; Some Members Against
November 19, 2009
The Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission is continuing to develop a consolidation plan that could, with voter approval, combine Escambia County, Century and Pensacola into one entity.
Today, in part two of a series here on NorthEscambia.com, we’ll take a look at some of the commission’s latest activities and recommendations and what they might mean to residents of North Escambia, including the residents of Century. To see part one of this series, click here.
If the consolidation issue is to be presented to voters, the study committee must create a plan to be presented to the Florida Legislature in January. Several months and hours of meetings into the process, not all of the committee’s 25 members are in favor of creating that plan.
At a recent meeting of the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission, four of 19 committees did not vote in favor of the commission continuing the task of developing the consolidation plan.
“There were those that came onto this commission with preconceived notions on both sides, both for and against,” Commission Chairman Kenneth Bell told NorthEscambia.com. “Four votes against continuing is not dissension in a group of that size. I think that, overall, the group is fairly solid.”
“I do not know if I am for or against it,” Jimmy Cunningham of Molino said. Cunningham holds one of the 25 seats on the commission as a representative of the Escambia County Farm Bureau. He addressed some of the major concerns of consolidation recently with the Century Town Council.
“There will be special taxing districts with taxes proportionate to the services provided,’ Cunningham said. The plan calls for the creation of urban and rural districts. Urban districts, for instance, that have more access to law enforcement and faster response times will pay more taxes than a rural district with slower response times and fewer deputies. Current city residents would pay more fire tax because of a higher density of fire stations manned by paid firefighters, while rural areas would pay less fire tax to support volunteer-staffed fire departments.
As for the fire departments, he said the consolidated government model calls for the continuation of both paid and volunteer departments.
Another major point, Cunningham said, relates to existing debt obligations.
“Pensacola’s indebtedness can not be transferred to us in rural Escambia County,” he said.
The existing liabilities of the city, such as their pension plan and the Maritime Park, would remain within the boundaries of the present city. Persons that live in Pensacola now would be responsible for the taxes and fees needed to pay for the city’s pension plan and debts like the Maritime Park, while residents outside the current city would not.
If the voters in Century vote against consolidation, Cunningham told the town’s council, “the town of Century will stand just like it is”. If Century’s voters vote for consolidation, and it is approved in Escambia County or Pensacola, the town of Century would be dissolved into the consolidated government.
In theory, if voters in Pensacola and Century should approve consolidation and Escambia voters disapproved, Century and Pensacola would be combined under one government while Escambia County could operate as it does now.
“That would be an interesting scenario,” Bell said. “But I don’t see that happening.”
Northview High Honors Veterans
November 19, 2009
Northview High School held their annual Veterans Day program Wednesday morning at the school.
During the program, which was rescheduled from last week due to Tropical Storm Ida, Walnut Hill resident Billy G. Ward recounted his recent Emerald Coast Honor Flight to the World War II Memorial in Washington. Ward explained each leg of the journey while the Northview students viewed photos Ward took for NorthEscambia.com. To view the photos, click here.
Pictured above: Veteran Billy G. Ward explains photos taken for NorthEscambia.com on his recent Emerald Coast Honor Flight trip to Washington. Ward was the guest speaker at Northview High School’s annual Veterans Day program held Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cops Searching For Lego Thief
November 19, 2009
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a Lego thief.
A white male stole $735 worth of Lego sets from the Pace Target store, walking out without paying for a shopping cart packed with popular toys. He was seen entering a gray van, along with a blond white female.
The van (pictured left) is believed to be a late 90’s Honda Odyssey, gray in color, with no hubcaps. The male suspect was wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap.
Anyone with information concerning the identities of the two individuals is asked to contact Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers at 437-STOP, or the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at 981-2230.
Pictured top: Deputies are looking for this man who sole $735 worth of Lego toys from a Santa Rosa County Target store. The woman is believed to have been with the man. Pictured bottom inset: The van used in the crime. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Murzin Honored By Retail Federation
November 19, 2009
State Rep.Dave Murzin has received the Florida Retail Federation’s 2009 Legislator of the Year award for his work as chairman of the House Economic Development and Community Affairs Council.
Prior to the 2009 Legislative Session, Murzin met with business leaders around the state to seek their input on business development and economic growth. “As a result of those meetings, Dave helped author and pass Senate Bill 360 which will remove numerous burdensome government regulations and will have an immediate positive impact on Florida’s businesses—both small and large,” retail federation President Rick McAllister said.
Senate Bill 360, which revises Florida’s growth management laws to foster economic development, started in Murzin’s council and was passed by the Florida Legislature.
“My job is to create jobs and not just any jobs,” Murzin said after receiving the award “I want high paying jobs that compete with other states in this economy, and it truly requires state government to get the heck out of the way.”
Murzin has represented District 2 in the Florida House since 2002. Murzin is a Republican candidate for the District 2 Florida Senate seat currently held by Durell Peaden.
Poarch Creek Indians To Present Century Library Program
November 19, 2009
The Poarch Creek Indians teen dance troupe will perform Creek Native Dancing and demonstrate traditional customs this afternoon at the Century Branch Library.
The event, which is free and open to children of all ages, begins at 4:00 at the library, 7991 North Century Boulevard. For more information, call (850) 256-6217.
Everyone Wins: Welcome To The Miracle League
November 19, 2009
The 1A Northview Chiefs will take on the 4A Tate Aggies at noon Saturday at Tate with proceeds benefiting the Miracle League.
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 following is a NorthEscambia.com feature about the Miracle League from earlier this year.
Every game ends in a tie. Every player hits; every player scores. There are no strikeouts, no errors. Everybody wins.
Welcome to the Miracle League.
It’s a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons. With players from ages 3 to 63, there are 14 teams that play on the two fields at the Mitchell Homes Miracle League Park on Nine Mile Road.
“Abigail rounds second! She looks good this year, all decked out and playing some ball,” announcer Crystal Martinez says during an afternoon game at the Miracle League. “Loooook at her go! She’s headed home! She scores! Yeah Abi!”
That’s just the way a Miracle League game goes — always.
The players are in wheelchairs and walkers. Some handicaps are mental, some are physical.
Joshua heads toward the batter’s box in his walker to take a swing at the ball with his “buddy”. Each player has a “buddy” assigned to them to help them hitch, catch, throw or run the field.
“Go Joshua!” Martinez announces. “Good job!”
In the end, the game between the Orioles and the Twins was tied, just as every game has ended in a tie for the past nine seasons. The stats for each of the 150 players will be the same at the end of the season — perfect.
“It’s a wonderful thing for these kids,” Martinez told NorthEscambia.com after the game. “It’s about them getting to play a sport that otherwise they could not play…it’s about the smiles. I love to say that they are all stars when I am announcing.”
“I think it is a great thing,” said Stephen Gruenwald of Pensacola. His son James, 5, plays Miracle League ball from his wheelchair. “He enjoys it very, very much. And he loves the people; the volunteers are one of the best things.”
Players and volunteers come from not just Pensacola, but Mobile, Crestview, Brewton and points in between. Everybody is a volunteer that participates with the Miracle League. The are paid only in smiles.
“It’s a beautiful thing. Everybody here does it for one reason” volunteer Larry Powell said, placing his hand over his heart. “It’s here, in your heart, for these kids.”
“We have a guy that was a Marine for 32 years,” Powell said. “He will sit on that field with the smallest child and help them. It really gets to you.”
Each of the two Pensacola Miracle League fields is made up of 180,000 pounds of rec ycled tires formed into tiles painted to match a regular field. It provides a softer landing spot for a hard fall, while still providing a good bounce for the hollow core ball that is also designed to lesson injury potential. There are two seasons at the park, spring and fall. The rubber surface gets too hot to play in the summer.
The Miracle League needs more volunteers to serve as buddies, work the concession booth, pickup trash and many more tasks around their area of the Nine Mile Road ballpark.
The public is always welcome and encouraged to cheer on the players.
“It’s a special place here,” Powell said. “Everyone should watch one of these games. It will touch you.”
For more information on Miracle League, or to volunteer, visit www.miracleleaguepensacola.org.
Pictured top: Abigail gets a high five after a base hit during a Miracle League game in Pensacola. Pictured top inset: James takes a swing: Pictured bottom inset: Headed for home. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Free Seniors Thanksgiving Lunch Today In Byrneville
November 19, 2009
The annual Byrneville Community Senior Citizen’s Thanksgiving Luncheon will be held at Beulah Chapel Assembly of God at 11:00 this morning.
All seniors in the Byrneville community are invited to take part in this free meal, good fun and fellowship. The church is located on Highway 4A, north of Highway 4.
House Fire Reported In Century
November 18, 2009
Area fire departments were dispatched to a house fire on Freedom Road in Century about 3:10 Wednesday afternoon after a caller reported smoke coming from a house.
The first firefighters on scene in the 1000 block of Freedom Road reported light smoke from the home. The fire was an overheated toaster oven that had accidentally been turned on.
There were no injuries reported.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire-Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were all dispatched to the call.